Photos of the kids

This weekend we finally did some 6 month shots of Elena and 3 1/2 year shots of Jackson. We still need to do some family shots, but we were pressed for time. It was so hot outside I thought I would die and Jackson wasn't very cooperative. Elena fell face first one time right into the dirt, she didn't like that too much. She also fell backwards one time, didn't care for that either. lol She LOVED the grass though, it was hard keeping it out of her grubby little hands. Overall I think the photos came out pretty good, although I wish the wind hadn't been blowing her bangs in her face and I wish we had gotten better shots of her piggies. We really need to get a family shot of us though, we just need more time. I don't have any shots of the 4 of us I don't think.
http://JohnReed.smugmug.com/photos/sspopup.mg?AlbumID=3060890

Catching Up

Gosh it's been so busy and crazy lately, I haven't had time to update. Father's Day went well. I didn't do anything really special for John, just got him some clothes he needed and the kids got him a nice frame and book. We took the kids to the zoo and Adventure Center and had a great time. Very tiring and hot, but good. Jackson had a blast. It was Elena's first time to the zoo and I forgot my camera. Doh!!!!

We're still working late, but it's getting a little better. Soon we might actually get to go home in the evenings together, woo hoo! I'd love that. We are going through some massive fits with Jackson. I tell you, the terrible two's are nothing compared to the tyrannical three's. Yikes!!! Elena is even starting to throw a few fits here and there. Yes, my sweet "always happy" Elena. She has quite the temper, it's just not often. She's trying so hard to crawl, she's like a little inchworm. She scan scoot along, but is really trying hard to get up and crawl. Won't be long. I'm going to really have my hands full with that one. She's quite different that Jackson was. He was actually pretty easy, we just never realized it. lol Funny how having more kids make you realize how easy things were before.

I'm really enjoying having a daughter, more than I guess I expected. It's going to be harder to let her grow up as she's the last and I feel very sentimental. I'm just appreciating every stage she goes through because with Jackson I was always in a hurry for him to grow up a little. To walk and talk and be his own little person, that I really didn't appreciate him just being a baby.

We've had some issues with Jackson and his school and we are considering moving him. Ugh it is such a struggle to find a good school. I just want to find a perfect fit since I will have a combined 7 years with both kids. We had a talk with the director and hopefully things can be resolved. A spot at a school we had been looking at opened, but it was for 2-3 and Jackson needs 3-4 age group. So still on the hunt and hoping that his school will get better or we will find a better one for our needs.

I also noticed this past week that I had a piece of missing jewelry. Great! I think it was stolen, had to fill out a report, and also had to get my locks changed this week as well. grrrr. So overall it's been a frustrating week, but I'm still lucky because things could always be worse.

Update

Elena's dr. appointment went well. She is 15.2 lbs and 26 1/2". That puts her in the 50th percentile on weight and 75th in height. She had to get more shots, poor thing. She always gets a little bit of a reaction and acts cranky for the next few days. Oh the joy! She is a very sweet baby though so I really shouldn't complain. When she's happy, she's so happy, but it's the same when she's mad too. There's really no in between with her. I have to say though I am really enjoying her more as a baby than I did with Jackson. With him, I was so anxious for him to be walking and talking, that I didn't appreciate the baby stage. Since she's the last, I savor every minute, or try to at least. She's 6 months old now, and it really does just fly by. I had a little bit of a hormonal meltdown today at work, one of the things is I know she will have to go to daycare quicker than I want, and John was great at saying she could possibly stay at the shop a little longer than we originally anticipated. I really hope so. I wish I could work and keep the kids both at the shop with me, but it's nearly impossible to get my job done with just Elena, can you imagine with the two of them? Yikes! I don't know maybe I can switch to part time on the daycare and work, who knows. I want my cake and to eat it too! lol

We've been working so much lately, yep, late again tonight, that it is so draining, because I just want to be with my family. I feel like they are all being neglected and it's tough. Life should be about spending time with those you love, and even though technically I am, it's not the quality of time I would like to share. Here's hoping we calm down a little bit at work so I can spend more time with them. Not too calm though, these kids get darn expensive, so we can always use the business. lol

Elena's so fun to take out. She absolutely adores most people, especially those who fawn all over her. She's just almost always so happy and she just seems to really appreciate the little things you know. A very good quality, one I should work on myself. I love hearing how beautiful she is, but if I had a dollar for every time I heard how she looks like Baby Suri (Tom Cruise's kid), I would be a rich woman. Of course I guess it's better than hearing that she looks like Don Knotts. lol Well, I guess I've bored you all to tears long enough.

A tiring day

Today has just been a crappy day from the start. Elena is making me so stressed right now because she's not very interested in nursing anymore, she wants real food instead. So when I try to feed her, she's grunting and kicking and screaming, ugh. I wish she would just take a bottle great, but she's not really into those either, just baby food and cereal. Oh and paper, gosh that girl wants to eat all paper she can get her hands on.

I won't go into the details of my day, as I would just get more frustrated. I just thought I would vent for a minute and then I have to get back to work. Yes, I'm working late tonight. Wasn't planning on it, but had so much stuff come up today, that here I am. At least it's quiet though, as hubby took the kids home.

Elena has her 6 month checkup tomorrow, I hope she does well and that if she gets shots, they aren't too bad for her, or Mommy either. Jackson is good. He spent the night at my Mom's this weekend, and I missed him horribly. She doesn't understand how I can miss him so much when he's only gone for 24 hrs, but I do miss him. We do everything together as a family. We had kids because we wanted to spend time with them. I always joke about wanting to get rid of them, but then when I do, I just miss them terribly. Yes, I suppose I am crazy. Damned if I do, damned if I don't. Maybe I just like to bitch. lol

Oh Elena slept in her crib for the first time Saturday night. It was certainly time as she is WAY too big for her bassinet. We finally put it together, yes, we are slackers, well actually just way too busy. She didn't do so well the first night but she did great last night. Yay!! Of course I worried all night about her suffocating on her blanket or something happening to her. What would I do if I couldn't worry? It's just in my nature. Anyway, the kids are good, hubby is driving me nuts, and I now I must go back to work. I'll update tomorrow about Elena's appointment. Wish her and me luck!

Elena's firsts

Yesterday Elena said her first words "hey Da Da". I was changing her diaper and John came in and I told her to say " hey Da Da" and she did. Granted John and most people think I am insane, but I know what I heard. She's really been working hard to talk lately. Jackson was an early talker and I really expected the same of her. Anyway, later that evening, I was holding her and John came into the room and she got all excited and said "Da Da" again. This time John heard her and agreed it did sound like she said it. Yay, a little validation! Of course she probably won't say anything else for months, but it was still nice.

Another first of Elena's, but not in a good way, was her first fall. I had her on my bed, and was getting some milk out of the fridge and then I was going to get her and go to work and I heard a loud thud and then a scream. Yep, you guessed it, rolled right off the bed onto the floor. Poor girl looked like a scared shrieking turtle, with her legs flailing in the air. My poor little girl! Yes, a total bad mommy moment. Of course John made me feel bad by saying I pushed her off the bed, but I got the last laugh on him, as he had her on a little kiddie bed at the shop and she rolled right off and got her head wedged under Jackson's little motorcycle. Poor girl has had a rough day!