18 Month Checkup

This morning we went for Millie's 18 month pediatrician appointment, which was good timing since she's been sick.

Turns out...she has an ear infection. :(  So this will be her first time on antibiotics...hopefully it clears up fast and she starts feeling a little less irritable.  She's so unpredictable...she didn't cry when they gave her a vaccination shot today but she did completely melt down when I tried to feed her lunch.  Sigh...

Stats: weight 23lbs 2oz (30th percentile), height 34 inches (95th percentile), head 18.5 inches (60th percentile)

Barney is the Current Favorite

Millie has never really latched on to anything, other than the pacifier, so I was quite surprised today when Barney just had to go everywhere with us.  We ran a few errands, and she insisted that Barney come in the store with us.  Later this afternoon, we went to the park and Barney was definitely present.  I found it hilarious.

I thought her little sick bug was gone, but Friday night it started coming back.  Saturday morning, she woke up with 102 fever and was feeling terrible.  This is a big deal for us, since her fever has never been over 100 and she's never been full-fledged sick.  I found it terrifying, even though I knew it wasn't anything serious.  After several days, she seems to be feeling much better but not 100%.  No MDO today. :(  You can tell she's still not feeling great in this pic...something in her eyes looks tired.

serene

She set him down for only a second to run off and then came to her senses and snatched him back up.

Puzzles!  Millie has gotten pretty good at puzzles...she now has two that she can do fully on her own.  These are her concentration lips.

Mealtime has become a nightmare.  Being sickly this past week, she hasn't wanted to eat or drink anything.  I'm pretty sure we've started some terrible habits this weekend that are going to be painful to break.  But we were pretty desperate to get some nourishment in her, so I even let her have some gatorade while taking a bath.  Kind of gross, right?!

Oh sheeeee...

Millie says something resembling "oh sheeeee" about a million times a day.  JKK & I can't wait to find out what she actually means by this.  Until then, it has become our new go-to curse word around the house. ;)  Stub your toe?  Oh sheeeee!  Forget to feed the dog?  Oh sheeeee...  It sort of works for everything.

Mills has also started using the word "no".  So far, it hasn't been in a true negative context...meaning she isn't telling me no every time I ask her to do stuff.  However, she does use it correctly when I ask her a question.  You'll see in this silly video....you also get to witness her fake laugh.  There are so many things I want to capture on video these days, but it is so hard to time it right.  Plus, she's starting to get a little camera shy.  I'll try to get some video of her new somersault action when I get the chance.  She's been doing great with the physical stuff...she almost has her somersault but it goes a little sideways at the end.  Proud as can be though...

She caught a little bug earlier this week, but she's already back to normal and went to school today.  Phew!  Momma would hate to skip one of those blessed MDO days. ;)

Currently

Millie is learning to gallop!  Watch video here

We've made considerable progress in turning the current guest bedroom into Sydney's nursery.  First up was to clean out the bonus room, which will now become the guest bedroom.  Check!  Millie thinks it is her personal exercise area now.  Just call her Flash...

Now we have strange pieces of furniture strewn around the house until we can get them sold on Craigslist or given away to charities.  Case in point: futon in the sunroom...however, Mills isn't complaining because it is a good place to watch TV and (poor sick) daddy makes a good pillow.

How's that new year's resolution about baked goods coming?  No??  Me neither...

Papa and Grandma Tricia got Mills the cutest outfit for Christmas.  Unfortunately, she didn't want her picture taken before school this week.  Such a cute little fun-hater at times...

Millie made this at school on Thursday.  Mills...if you're reading this someday, I'm not putting down your crafting skills here, but what exactly did you do on this project?  It all looks a little too perfect for an 18 month old. ;)  Not sure if I should be proud or skeptical...

FINALLY!  We turned the car seat around this week.  I think it has made a real difference.  Not 100%...there was still some crying on the long ride home from the Bentonville library, but most of the other car rides have been great.

Happy 9th Birthday, Beansie!

Millie has been in love with her baby dolls...it's so sweet to see her loving on them.  BTW, can you tell Millie's face is really filling out?  We think she's had a little growth spurt lately because she has been eating more than usual.

It was barely warm enough to go to the playground yesterday, but it was so lovely to get out of the house!

Little Miss Crankypants

That's Millie's new nickname, for the time being.  I'm sure being stuck in the house for winter has something to do with it.  Also, her lack of communication skills...she's been very frustrated when we don't understand what she wants by pointing or whining.  And there has been a lot of pointing and whining lately.  Or possibly it could be the two new bottom molars.  Basically, I'd classify her as emotionally unstable at this point because she can switch to the silliest, happiest toddler on earth in an instant. ;)

recently, she seems to wake up from naps with a wonky ponytail and a bad attitude

 serious face (she officially has a mullet...sorry Mills)

Thursday was her first day back in Mother's Day Out since Christmas break.  For the 24 hours leading up to it, I made sure to ask her (in my happiest voice possible) at least 100 times if she was ready to go to school and see Ms. Erika ??  I think it may have worked because she didn't cry when I dropped her off!  Next week, she starts going to MDO both Mondays and Thursdays.

I think Beansie is enjoying being the only pet-child in the house

And Buddy seems to be adjusting very well to my mom's place...we've FaceTimed with him a couple of times, and my mom sends videos regularly.  Millie loves any chance to see our furry Buddy (and me too, of course...miss him tons).

Millie's version of a drive-in

Hey lady!

Friday, it was warm enough to take a walk to the neighborhood playground.  Mills was VERY excited to be there!

However, after getting hit in the head by a swing (empty), falling down some stairs, and being made to get back in the stroller...she had had enough and had an epic meltdown.  It resulted in me having to hold her hand all the way home, like this.  Not the most comfortable way to walk home.

tea time!

loves playing with the Duplo blocks (Thanks Aunt Kathy!) with daddy

JKK found a very useful iPhone app...mustaches on babies crack me up!

20 Weeks (Halfway!)

On Sunday, I was officially 20 weeks pregnant; hard to believe we are already halfway there!  I love this pic because I'm halfway with baby girl #2 and this is also Millie Bear's half-birthday.

We've decided on a name for our precious new one...Sydney Diane.  Awwww....I just love it.  Diane is sort of a family name on my side.  I have an Aunt Diane (whom I adore) and my middle name is Dianne (two n's)...but we are just going with one 'n' for our Syd.  Funny story: when I went to OSU, the registrar's office messed up and put three n's in my name.  Wowza.  So we'll just keep it simple. ;)

It's been so fun to already have the name in place (we didn't decide until much later with Camilla); we now refer to her as Sydney most of the time.  We also tell Mills that baby Sydney is in my belly (and sometimes we have to say things like "stop kicking Sydney"...or "get off of Sydney").

Today, we had our 20 week doctor appointment and ultrasound.  This ultrasound re-confirmed that she is, indeed, a girl.  Full speed ahead on the nursery now. ;) 

Sydney looks healthy and is growing right on track.  I feel her move daily now...and she was quite active during the ultrasound.

 one arm above her head and one in front of her face

 tiny baby feet

I've been feeling great, and clearly I've been eating heartily.  The doc wasn't too proud of my 9 pound weight gain in one month.  Yikes!  Thank goodness the holidays are over and we can banish baked goods from our house to get back on track....and luckily, it looks like I've burned myself out on Pringles, so that shouldn't be a problem to give up either. ;)  Bring on the veggies...

A Visit from Papa, Gma Tricia, & Hillery

Yesterday, my dad, Tricia, and her daughter, Hillery, came out to visit for the day.  We went out to lunch and Millie got to open her Christmas presents from them.  It was a good day. ;)

 Daddy left the room...I asked "where'd daddy go??", and she did this

 Mills got very excited about this kitty cat shirt!

 and the puzzles have been a big hit...

Millie has really been into coats lately.  Papa asked her if she wanted to put on her coat and go outside, and she practically sprinted for the door. ;)

Thank you guys for coming to see us!