Preston turns 1!

Wow- its been a while since i have updated- but boy have we been busy! We headed back to IL on August 17 for a week of vacation= spent divided between Kyle's parents house and my parents house. We spent the 17-20 at his parents, and the 21-25 at my parents. We had such a fun filled week. Here are some highlights:
-We celebrated my birthday on the 18th by having a "Date day" in Galena, IL- browsing downtown, wine tasting, having a beer at the local brewery, and then dinner at Vinny Vanucchis- an amazing Italian restaurant.
-We celebrated Preston's 1st birthday low key all day then having my parents over to Gary and Julies for dinner that night.
-The rest of the week spent at my parents was nice as we got to spend time with my sister's family- whom we hadn't seen since March! The kids had a ball playing together! We did our usual trip into Krape Park so the kids could ride the merry-go-round (only 5 times this time!) :) It was also Pearl City's homecoming that weekend, so after Preston's party on Saturday, we all headed down to watch AMAZING fireworks. They were soooo good. We got in lots of family time, and I also go to meet my friend's new baby, Beckett. Overall, a great "summer vacation!"

We got back into our routine on Monday- and Preston had his one year checkup on Tuesday morning.
Stats:
Weight- 24.35 lbs (Reese as only 22 lbs at 1 year) -- 71%tile
Height- 32 inches (Reese was only 30 inches at 1 year) -- 95%tile

He is a big boy! Healthy and everything is looking good. I am going to try putting whole milk in his formula bottles to see if his tummy can handle it. He has been doing great with the milk based formula, so lets hope he does good! He has also FINALLY been sleeping through the night for the past 3 night. Going to bed around 8 and waking up around 6-7 am. Only took a WHOLE YEAR! :) Hoping that pattern continues as I finally feel like I have some energy through the whole day and not exhausted by 2 pm!

Ill update with pictures from our vacation when I have more time!

Planes and....Indians

Reese has had quite the last couple of days! On Sunday- we took her to her first movie in the theater- Planes. She LOVED it! I'm not sure which she liked more, the movie, or the huge bucket of popcorn :) She did awesome and only got antsy during thelast 15 minutes (but so did every other kid.) Preston stayed home with a sitter, so Reese had Kyle and I all to herself, which I think she enjoyed.
We also took her to her first baseball game last night in downtown Indy- the Indianapolis Indians played the Cincinnati Clippers. We left during the 6th inning (as it was already 930) but when we left they were losing 3-1. Not sure how the game ended up- but we had a great time. Preston stayed home with a sitter again- so she got two days with mom and dad alone! That doesn't happen very often!

Update on Preston- his finger is pretty much all healed. He might have a small scar- but I am just glad it healed so quickly. We had a rough night Sunday night though- and headed back to the ER after he cried from 8 pm-1 am non stop, holding his left ear. I could not get him comforatble, and nothing was helping. After our visit (and getting home at 3am) turns out it was an ear infection, so he is on meds for it. I'm not 100% that they are working as he is still tugging at his ear- so if not better by tomorrow- I'll call  our dr. and maybe switch prescriptions.

I got a little girl time on Saturday- spending the day in Springfield, IL with some of my close girl friends from college. We had a great time catching up- eating lunch at a brewery, catching come rays outside, and then heading to the IL State Fair  (I mean... beer tents) that evening. It is always good for the soul to have some quality girl time (especially if you are a mom.) It was just what the doctor ordered- I needed some time away and it was perfect!

Update on Reese- she starts gymnastics tonight at a new facility since we have moved and is very excited. Each session is 8 weeks long- 45 minute classes. This is at a true gymnastics center- unlike the last one which was at the community rec center.
We have also found a preschool for her which she starts the first week in September. It is located in a church- but it is amazing. I took a tour Monday and signed her up before I walked out the door. She will go Mondays from 9-12 and Thursdays from 9-1, all school year (Sep-May.) I got such a good vibe from the teachers, and the preschool (18 mo-5 year) is only 3 years old- so it is in great condition. I am happy I found one, and she is happy to get to meet new friends soon.

We head home this weekend for a week vacation back in IL. We will split our time between Kyle's parents and my parents house. We will packs with family time, and even get to spend time with my sister and kids as they will be back too. We are very excited as we haven't seen them since March- and probably won't again until Christmas. We will also celebrate Preston's 1st birthday back home and have his party for all our family to be there. We can't wait!

First of many...

Yesterday we took our first trip to the ER with Preston. I was getting Reese ready for nap in her room, and Preston was crawling around on her floor like usual. I turned my back to lay her in bed, and Preston let out a loud and non stop scream. I turned around to find his hand caught in the hinge of Reese's toy box. At first, I thought he just shut it on his hand so I picked him and walked around calming him down. About 5 minutes later, I saw blood on my hand. Hmm, further investigation lead me to see he had a huge, deep, long cut on the inside middle of his thumb. Not an ordinary cut, one that makes you think, yikes, we need stitches! So, Reese got lucky and got out of bed and we loaded up in the car to head to the ER. I called my dr. office first, but they dont do stitches, so they recommend I just head to the hospital. Poor Preston was so sad the whole way there- not only was his finger hurting, but it was time for a bottle and a nap too, so he was very unhappy. We got in our room quite fast, and after it would examining it, they thought it would need stitches, but were unable to give Preston the numbing shot in his finger- thus leading to not being able to have it stitched. Instead, the used a deep tissue glue on it to seal it up- hoping he can keep in on for 3-5 days without picking it off first. If it does come off in the next two days,w e go back to evaluate it again to see if it is healing properly. After some tylenol, a bottle, and heading home, he slept for 3 hr and 20 min yesterday afternoon- his longest nap ever. He seems in better spirits today, so I hope it is less painful.

Reese had her 3 year appointment on Tuesday. Here are the stats:
Weight: 31.1 lbs (55% tile)
Height: 38.25 in (71% tile)

Reese turns 3!

This past Wednesday we celebrated Reese turning 3. It is crazy how fast time flies. We had all of our family out (minus my sister's family) to our house for the weekend to have a party for Reese. Everyone had a great time. Kyle's whole family arrived Thursday afternoon, so we went to the Children's Museum Friday morning before my parents got into town. Friday afternoon was spent swimming and enjoying the great weather. Saturday was spent prepping for the party. We had about 18 people here (family plus some friends of ours) and Reese had such a great day. She got lots of neat presents and loved hanging out with her cousins and friends. Here are some pics from the weekend.

Cupcake for breakfast- you only have a birthday once a year! :)

Her new dollhouse (for her new Barbies too!)

New scooter from Aidan and Aubrey

Babies at the party- Xavier, Mollie, and Preston

Holy heat wave

Indiana summer has finally arrived- welcomed with temps in the low 90s with heat indexes in the 100's for the past 5 days and not letting up anytime in the next 7 day forecast. The humidity has been out of control- even Reese now asks if it is humid outside before we go out and play. Play outside has been limited to early in the morning or right before bed time- unless we are in the pool. Our daily walks are now being taken right after breakfast to avoid the extreme heat. Today when we got back (around 9) Reese told me she was too sweaty and confused :) She is attempting to use more and more adjectives each day to describe things and especially how she feels- but sometimes doesn't use quite the right one. I asked her what confused meant, and she said hot- hmm, not exactly :) Yesterday we were in the pool before lunch as the temps were already mid 80s by 9:30. Having a pool this time of year sure is nice, especially since I am home all day with the kids. We use it once, if not twice a day most days- and sometimes hop in after dinner too!
Last weekend we stayed cool by having some friends over to grill out and swim. Hannah is 3 months younger than Reese, and Mollie is 2 months younger than Preston. We have gotten together with them a handful of times since moving here- but this time Preston LOVED playing with Mollie. Giving her kisses and following her around. Hannah and Reese played great together too and had a blast swimming. Sunday we were literally in the pool ALL day. I got in with Reese at 10- we got out for lunch- I laid in the pool while the kids napped- and then we all swam again after their nap. By 5:00, I was all sunned out, but got a nice little tan out of it!

The 4th and more

Man, these past few weeks have flown by! We have been so busy I can't believe it is already the middle of July- summer is flying by. We celebrated the long holiday weekend by having Kyle's parents out to our house for the first time. Reese showed them around and had so much fun playing with them for the 3 days they were here. Unfortunately, it wasn't the best of weather, so we only got to swim one day, but still had fun anyways. They, along with the rest of the family, will be back in a few weeks for Reese's 3rd birthday/party!

Preston is moving and groovin', and eating like a horse. I can't get the food on his tray fast enough before fistfuls enter his mouth. He is not picky what so ever, and I have to cut him off when I think he is probably full. I hope this is not a sign of what he is going to eat like when he is a teenager. He is now "walking" along furniture, waving bye, saying mama and dada, and giving high fives. He is sleeping ok most nights, but still wakes once or twice- sometimes not able to put himself back to sleep on his own. I yearn for the day I get to sleep a full night- I know it's going to happen someday, but I sure thought it would have been by now!!

Reese is loving the new house and the new neighbors girls down the street. She has already managed to have them wrapped around her finger, as they knock on our door wanting her to come out and play. Ellie, 10 and Reese (same name!) 7, love playing with her, as she does them too. Bonus- they also have a dog, Sophie, who Reese adores. The girls have had a lemonade stand the past couple of days, and Reese loves yelling "YEMONDADE" to the people driving by. So cute. Exactly the summer memories as a kid I want her to have. We have also begun the preschool search since I want her to go for a few days a week starting in September. I have gotten a few recommendations, and I am leaning towards a preschool located within a church (not biblically based though.) I am touring the Lutheran church's preschool program next Wednesday, and have already gotten her on the waiting list since there a 4 kids ahead of her to get in as they started registration last January. If I don't like it, I'll take her off, but I figured the sooner I get her on the list, the better. I have gotten many good recommendations for it though (the girls- Ellie and Reese from down the street- also went there) and everyone has great things to say about it. Fingers crossed!

Reese also started swimming lessons last Monday. We go every Monday for 5 weeks. It is a private lesson from someone in our neighborhood. She did ok last week, but wanted to just jump in and swim around instead of actually "following" the lesson. I had to help re-direct her a couple times to do what the teacher asked, but she ended up doing fine and cried when we left. Guess that's a good sign-she must have liked it!

Happy 4th of July!

10 mo old

Her first haircut- just a trim!

Sparklers on the 4th-not too sure about them

New neighbors

So much as happened this last few weeks, I'm just going to throw random thoughts at you here and there :)
First, we have been BLESSED with great new neighbors. We are in a culdasac (spelling?! not so sure) with 4 other houses, and have met 3 of the 4. So far, we have been brought homemade chocolate chip cookies from the girls 2 doors down, and a beautiful bouquet of flowers from the neighbor 2 houses the other way. Such friendly people! We are also lucky to have mostly "younger" neighbors, as the people right next door just had a baby boy last week, and the people across the street have a 1 year old girl. Today as I was out trimming the lilac bushes, our neighbor right next door (a couple in their 50s- maybe 60s since they are both retired) came over to check when the kids nap schedule was so he didn't wake them doing lawn care! How considerate! Thus far, we are so lucky to have such great neighbors.
Preston had a rough go right when we moved in. Crabby, fussy, and not eating led me to believe an ear infection again, and last week a the doctor, I was right. Then on Sunday- he woke up with a bright pink eye- so I called the doctor on call and he was put on eye drops. We are still on his antibiotic for his ears, and now with drops three times a day until Sunday, he isn't liking me so much :)
We are excited to have some friends over Saturday (hoping it doesn't rain) to grill out, swim, and enjoy some adult beverages. Our friends we met in Greenfield are coming up for the afternoon (they have 2 young daughters, Hannah and Mollie) and we invited the neighbors from across the street  over with the 1 year old, Olivia. Preston is going to have to hold his own with all these little girls!