Trick or Treat

--

Brannon had to work tonight but he did leave his office early to be home when the girls and I got home so he could help me get them in their costumes and he could see them before he had to leave for the night! We got them dressed, attempted some pictures (previously posted) and the girls and I went to see Grannie for a few minutes before heading out to the streets for some trick or treating. They were both very excited to get candy - wanting to eat each piece as we walked to each house! Since it was just the girls and I - I didn't get many pictures, but here are a few that I got!

--

I think Bella was telling Brooklyn that she had to say "Trick or Treat" in order to get the candy - as you can see Brooklyn was listening to her big sister...

--

I don't know why it is so blurry - but it was such a cute picture. They would walk up to the doors -but they wouldn't knock. Instead Bella would scream "trick or treat"...she said it loud enough that most people didn't need her to knock!

--

They seemed to have a good time! We were gone for close to an hour and a half - but that included a stop off at Nana and Paw-Paw's too....we walked though (unlike so many that drive their cars from house to house)...
--

Double, Double Toil and Trouble

--

Bella decided a couple of weeks ago that she wanted to dress up like a "mean witch" for Halloween. So we set out and found the perfect little witch's costume! We had planned on Brooklyn being a princess, so we just got her some tights and a new tiara to go with the costume Bella wore last year. They put on their costumes one Sunday and as soon as Brooklyn got the princess one on - she proceeded to try and take it off saying "i don't like it, i mean witch"! So...we set out again and were able to find another "mean witch" costume. Hence why they are dressed as the exact same thing - it was their choice, not mommy's! Without further adieu - here are our two little witches (they didn't want to be cooperative for a picture - so this is what we got)!

==

--

Ready for School - Halloween 2008

--
These were taken this morning before we left for school.

Brooklyn - almost 2 years old
--
Bella - 3 years
--
Mommy, Bella and Brooklyn (& Baby #3, although not pictured)
--

Happy Halloween

--
--

Halloween

--

by Mary Jane Carr

--

Witches flying past on broomsticks,

Black cats leaping here and there,

White-robed spooks on every corner,

Mournful moaning in the air,

Goblins peering out of windows,

Spirit-things that rap and run-

But don't be scared-it's just October,

Having one last hour of fun!

--

Poem taken from this website.

Bloggy Absence

--
Sorry for the absence over the past week! We've been a bit busy it seems. The girls and I drove home to Anniston on Friday, October 17th to see my dad who was in the hospital. It was a nice trip but it is a lot of driving for one person - especially when that one person happens to be 8 months pregnant! We came back that Sunday and it was back to reality getting ready for the school/work week, etc. Luckily - the girls and I had cleaned the house the Thursday night before we left - so there wasn't much to do as far as cleaning goes!
--
When we were on our way to supper that Sunday evening (just after returning home from Anniston) - we got a call that they had decided to do a heart cathedar and a "start and stop" procedure on my dad on Monday morning. They did the heart cathedar and found that he had 4 blockages; therefore, he was scheduled for open heart/quadruple by-pass surgery for the following Monday, October 27th.
--
We all drove to Anniston again this past Sunday and came back on Tuesday. He is doing well and was moved out of ICU yesterday. He is having to undergo another procedure in the morning as his heart as gotten out of the regular rhythm it had gone into after the surgery (he had an irregular heartbeat prior to surgery) - so they will be doing the "start and stop" procedure to try and fix that. In addition, he is being treated with medication for congestive heart failure.
--
Between travelling the past two weekends, working full time, having 2 very active little girls and having another baby on the way - blogging had to take a back seat! I will try and get back on track with posting on a more regular basis! For now, I will leave you with some random pictures taken within the past couple of weeks!
--

Mommy and Brooklyn
Mommy and Bella
--

Sleep Training - Night 9

--

So - we are a week and 2 nights into this experiment! If you haven't figured it out yet - Brooklyn gets put in her crib first. We even had to turn her little heater on because poor girl when she woke up Monday morning she was shivering saying she was cold (bad parents! Of course, she had stripped herself of her nightgown {that she insisted on wearing - we had her in pants pajamas} and was only in her diaper). Bella didn't want to go to bed (surprise, surprise) because Brannon has put "The Bee Movie" on and she kept saying "it not over yet"! Brannon turned it off assuring her we could watch it another time (the child knows what the DVR is - saying you have it recorded for me later)...So off she went to her room, climbed into her bed, under her covers and that was that! She didn't even fuss and she stayed in her room with the door OPEN!!!!

--

She was up around 12:45 and I laid down with her for a few minutes and she was fast asleep again, then she was up one other time and I did the same thing and then she was up again at a little after 5, and I just let her snuggle up with us!

--

Again- I am feeling very good about this whole thing - I know she isn't sleeping through the night - but my first goal was to get her to go to her own bed and go to sleep on her own - which she is doing now! So, next step is to figure out how to get her to sleep all night - which I have no idea what to do! Our house is pretty small so everybody hears everything and I'm certain when the baby arrives, she will be up when he/she is up during the night when the baby is up.

--

Sleep Training - Nights 6, 7 & 8

--
Because I know you are all on pins and needles to see how this "experiment" is going!!!
--

The girls and I left Friday around noon to head to Anniston for the weekend - I knew this would cause a major "kink" in the sleep training! But that's ok - you're always going to have things come up that you just adjust for. For nights 6 & 7, the girls slept with me at my mom's! Bella actually fell asleep on the floor Saturday night while I was packing up our stuff - so I just moved her to the bed - does that count as "putting herself to sleep"?!?!?

--

Sunday night was back to the routine of sleep training! Brooklyn went in her crib like an angel! She played for a few minutes but was asleep shortly. Bella went into her room (although she had the most pitiful face) saying "I want you to lay down with me". I told her I wasn't laying down with her tonight - that she was a big girl and could do it! We hugged her and kissed her goodnight and left the room. A few minutes later, still crying, she came out to Brannon saying she wanted water (in her defense - we do typically fix them both a sippy cup of water for bed) -so he got her some water and she came into my room for "mommy hug" as she called it. Then I went and covered her back up and she stayed in her room - WITH THE DOOR OPEN - and pretty much cried herself to sleep within about 5 minutes. She got up twice - once at 12:45 am and I took her back into her room, laid down with her and ended up sleeping there until after 2 because I fell asleep. Then she was back at my bedside at around 4:45 and I just put her in our bed (did I mention I was exhausted and fighting a cold/allergies - so I just gave in - bad mommy)!

--

So all in all - I'd say that's not bad! We are getting her to the point to where she is at least staying in her room without having to close the door on her. So that's a definite improvement! Remember - Rome wasn't built in a day!

--

Sleep Training - Night 5

--

So last night...Well - Brannon works late on Thursdays (as I've mentioned) so it is just the girls and I. Last night I just grabbed them a happy meal and we went home - I didn't eat because I didn't get to eat lunch until after 2, so I really wasn't hungry. They were quite happy with their dinner and watched Wizard of Oz while they ate at the "little table"! While they ate, I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. I cleaned up both their rooms, straightened their beds, vaccuumed, cleaned the bathroom, cleaned the kitchen, living room and our room. This is a lot to do after working all day (in my opinion)! In the midst of all this, I was putting clothes in the washer (at least the little bit that Brannon hadn't already done for me!!). By this time it was approaching 8 - bedtime! I put Brooklyn in her crib - such an easy method!!! She went right to sleep. Bella then started walking out towards the living room saying she didn't want to go to bed. I explained that it was bedtime and she had to. She wanted me to lay down with her - so I did for a minute and then explained that Mommy had to get up to do a few more things. She cried and didn't want to stay in her bed - so I hugged her and kissed her, told her I loved her and closed her door - at which point screaming ensued - but it only last a bit. I went about ironing Brannon's clothes for work and when I was done with that I went in and checked on her again - which only caused her to start crying again. I closed her door and decided - I'd just let her be. She was asleep within a half hour clutching her little lamb. I opened up her door and went about climbing (i.e. folding) mount laundry! I went into Brooklyn's room ever so quietly (or so I thought) to put their clothes away and she woke up. So she helped me put their clothes away and then I sat in my rocker with her for a few minutes and snuggled with her (something I don't seem to get to do that often) and then put her back in her crib with a few extra hugs and she was out!

--

Finally around 10:30 last night - I finished all the clothes, putting them away included. I was exhausted. I went to sleep. I was so asleep - I didn't even hear Brannon come in from work nor get changed or anything! I'm not sure what time it was but I felt Bella climbing on top of me. She apparently did hear Daddy come in and he put her in bed with us, where she slept the rest of the night...

--

So for Thursday night - Kid - 1; Parents - 0!! Oh well - they'll be nights like that!!!

--

Sleep Training - Night 4

--
Sorry to leave you "hanging" with our exciting life of transitioning our 3-year old out of our bed and intot her own - things were a bit crazy at work (that will be a whole other post at another time). This would be Wednesday night. Wednesday was a bit off the routine because Brannon didn't get home until a little later than usual and I didn't have it in me to cook (like I ever do)...so we were late getting to supper thus late getting home. When we got home Bella said she was still hungry (tactic, if you ask me) but she did eat another piece of toast and then had to finish coloring a picture. I went to bed! Brannon put her in her bed and closed her door - she cried, of course, but only for a few. Then during the night she was only up twice and I did lay with her both times but it was only for about 5 minutes each time. Then she did get in our bed at about 5:00 or so Thursday morning - but like I said, I get up at 5:30 anyway, so I don't mind that snuggle time!
--
So, while we are not completely there - we are still headed in the right direction (at least that's what I'm telling myself)!
--

Cotton Pickin' Time

--
It's that time of year again!! Cotton pickin' time! We didn't get any "good" pictures of the girls in the cotton..But here are the ones we got.

--

Walking with Daddy to PawPaw's field! Every cotton field we see is PawPaw's, regardless of whether it is or it isn't, according to Bella.
Bella "picking" some cotton
Brooklyn in Daddy's arms - she is definitely a Daddy's girl lately!
Mommy and the girls in the cotton field

A picture of the cotton - the cotton did really well this year

Cotton pickers out in the field! The girls love to see the tractors - as with the cotton fields, any tractor we pass is always PawPaw, regardless!

--

How Many of You Are There?

--

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 3 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

--

Sleep Training - Night 3

--

So this will bring me current to tonight - Tuesday... Brannon works late on Tuesdays, so it is just the girls! We stopped by the store tonight and picked up some shrimp for the girls, I made dinner, cleaned kitchen, got pajamas on, took out the trash and went to see PawPaw and Nana (at the girls' request). We got back about 7:15 - we got everyone ready (fresh diapers/pull up, etc) and I put Brooklyn in her crib after lots of hugs from her and then I told Bella she had to go in her bed. She was already saying she didn't want her bed and that she wanted me to lay with her. I laid with her and we talked for about 5 or 10 minutes and I told her I was going to my bed at which she immediately starting getting out of her bed and crying. I simply told her goodnight, that I loved her and closed her door (we have a safety knob cover over the inside door knob so she cannot open it - we do not leave the door closed all night - once she is asleep, her door is opened so that she can get out if she needs to). She screamed. I could hear her throwing toys around the room and after a few minutes she started banging on her door, which made quite a loud noise, luckily it didn't wake up Brooklyn! I ignored it all - I am of the mindset that if I get up and acknowledge everything she is doing, she will see that she gets a reaction out of such behavior and continue it. If I ignore it - then she'll get the picture that those behaviors do not work, so why bother...

--

I just went in to check on her and she is sleeping peacefully in her bed, all snuggled under her covers and everything. It is 9 pm and everyone is in their own beds ASLEEP!!! Night #3 is a success in my book!

--

Stay tuned (if you're interested) because once we get Bella situated and used to going to bed by herself - we'll shake things up by transitioning Brooklyn out of her crib in her "big" bed, as she calls it!

--

UPDATE: So Bella was up twice during the night and she came into our room and stood at my side of the bed and said "I want you lay with me", so I did - but within 5 minutes she was back asleep. I tried to just lay beside her without her touching me (she likes to hold my arm when she sleeps) - so that way she was still putting herself back to sleep. Then around 5 am - she was back and I just let her snuggle with me - I get up at 5:30 anyway, so I don't mind that. Of course, when Bell was up the second time (around 2 am or so) Brooklyn woke up and Brannon got up with her and he put her in our bed where she slept the rest of the night. Luckily - with Brooklyn this really is a rare occurrence - I just told her this morning to not get too comfortable!

--

All in all - I still think it is a step in the right direction - and you know "Rome wasn't built in a day"!

--

Sleep Training - Night 2

--

So we're really doing this - making our precious little 3-year old sleep in her own bed! We started a ltitle earlier this night - around 7:30 - I read books (5 I think), we said prayers, and then we told them it was time to go to bed and that Mommy and Daddy were going to their bed. Bella screamed, which led to Brooklyn screaming. We closed the door - that made things worse - especially for Brooklyn (remember- we don't want this to be traumatizing). So Brooklyn sat up with Brannon for a bit and I laid down with Bella. When I told Bella I was going to my bed - she screamed. I closed the door, told Brannon that Brooklyn needed to sleep in her crib until we got Bella more situated and I went to bed - with both kids screaming! Bella only cried for about 10 minutes - Brannon kept a check on her and opened her door after she feel asleep. Brooklyn only cried in her crib for a few seconds before going to sleep!

--

While there was a bit more of a fight this night - she still slept in her bed - only getting up and asking me to lay with her once (I can handle that for the most part)!

--

Sleep Training - Night 1

--
WARNING: This is one of those posts you may choose to skip - but this is our life and that's what this blog is all about!!
--

So if you follow the blog...you'll know that Bella has been in our bed since around February of this year! This was something I swore never to do - but it started around the time I went back to work and most nights it was just easier to let her snuggle with me in bed, plus I felt bad for going back to work and them being in daycare when they were used to having Mommy around 24/7 - it was an adjustment for us all. Well - baby #3 will be here in 8 short weeks and this 3-year old (as adorable as she may be and she is quite a good snuggler) has got to get out of our bed!

--

So Sunday night was the night to kick it all off! We attempted a nap time run through which ended with her climbing up in my bed while I was napping and snuggling with me. We told them it was bed time and we went into their room (their beds are now pushed together because they both agreed that they wanted one big bed - hey whatever works, right?), we talked and said prayers and then we all laid there together for a few minutes before Brannon and I left. She screamed, of course. We left the door open at this point but each time either of them left the room, we would gently walk them back into the room and put them back in their bed. Well, long story short - I ended up laying down with them until they were both asleep - not exactly what I had planned. Well - then I was up no less than 4 times because Bella would come in our room and say "I want you lay down with me" - so I did. I figured it was the first night and we would ease into this new routine for them (especially Bella). All in all - not a horrible night, but not a great one either.

--

On a side note - we were not ones to put our babies to bed awake when they are newborns as everyone suggests. In my case - the baby usually falls asleep nursing, so I'm obviously not waking the baby up just to put her/him to bed awake. At around 9 months - we start the "sleep training" where we start putting the baby in the crib while he/she is awake. With Bella - she cried for over 2 hours the first night (we seriously questioned whether we were tormenting her, or ourselves for that matter), the crying lessened each night and on the twelfth night - there were no tears. Brooklyn was a little older when we started this because of our living situation. Brooklyn maybe cried for 5-10 minutes the first night and very rarely cries at bedtime when we put her in her crib! So we know this works and it just takes a little time - maybe more now that Bella is older and we've already created the habit of her sleeping our bed...

--

Stay tuned for updates...Nights #2 and #3 to follow shortly!

Countdown to Baby!

--
With 9 weeks to go (yes we are in the single digits for weeks to go - wow!) - I thought I'd post a picture of our "Countdown to Baby" Calendar! The girls are super excited about the new baby - one day they want a baby boy and the next day they want a baby girl! Who knows!
--

Brannon told me that I put the "heart" on the wrong day because the baby would be here on the 9th, not the 12th - but I put my "due date"!

--

I want to listen to Brooke's heart...

--

The girls have been congested lately (as have Brannon and I), so Brannon brought home his stethoscope and ear "checker" - to listen to the girls chests and check their ears to be sure that nothing was settling in their chests and that their ears were clear! Bella loves to use his stethoscope and on Saturday - Brannon and Brooklyn were snuggling on the couch and Bella found his stethoscope on the table and said "I want to listen to Brooke's heart". She knows how to put it on and everything! It was too cute not to get a picture of it!

--

--

Dreamland Ribs

--
It is no secret that Brooklyn will eat most anything and is not afraid to "get dirty"!! We went to Dreamland on Saturday and Brannon got ribs and Brooklyn was not going to let him eat them all!! Here is a quick snap of her eating her rib, with a little help from Daddy!
--

Roll Tide

--
The girls have these cute little Alabama dresses - that are way too small to be dresses, so we've decided to use them as shirts!
--
Bella is becoming such a little poser for the camera!
--

Brooklyn follows suit with most anything that Bella does - so when Bella posed, she of course, had to as well!
--

I was trying to get a picture of them together - but I couldn't get them to look at the camera at the same time, so here are my attempts!--

Again - Bella posing and Brooklyn, well she had her morning snacks and that is way more important than getting her picture taken!

--

On a side note, Brooklyn's face is MUCH MUCH better - actually it is pretty much all cleared up. We will certainly be keeping that lotion away from her!!! Poor thing - it looked like it actually scorched her face...

--