Christmas 2011

Lainey's first Christmas was full of travel, presents, and, sadly, illness. We hit Moline to celebrate Amelia and Oliver's birthdays and spend Christmas with the Brandi clan.  Lainey had her first introduction to bows and wrapping paper during the birthday festivities and was immediately hooked. I knew there was no need for actual presents this year! Of course she still got showered with books, toys and clothes from her Grandparents and Aunts, Uncles and Cousins. Everyone was kind this year giving toys that make minimal noise, but I don't think we'll get that consideration forever.

Discovering wrapping paper with Aunt Rebecca

Christmas morning with her cousin Amelia. Santa was good to both!

After Moline, we headed on to the "Heart of it All" for a visit with Grandpa Bob and Uncle Chris. Both went just a tad overboard on gifts for our little princess, but I guess I'll let it slide this year. I mean what six-month-old doesn't need a zoo of stuffed animals, multiple dolls, and a dancing Brutus Buckeye? (Not to mention all the other toys and books.)  And she has plenty of clothes now (although I did have to tell Dad it's okay to buy them in other colors than pink).

Grandpa and his little lady

Don't make me go upstairs! I want more presents!!!

As for the sickies...poor Lainey came down with a fever Christmas Eve afternoon. We knew right away the culprit--another ear infection. Luckily, an urgent care center was open Christmas morning. We got her started on some antibiotics, which seemed to do the trick until Wednesday afternoon when she woke her nap screaming and didn't stop for four hours. Off we went to another urgent care center. The doctor questioned the selection of anitbiotics she had been given, saying it doesn't always work well on ear infections. So, a new prescription was written. She seems to be doing well now, but we'll see how things look on Wednesday when we take her back to the doctor. Since this is her third ear infection in two months, Mark and I are going to ask about tubes. Everyone who has had babies with repeat infections says they work wonders and wish they had had them put in sooner than later. We'll see what the doc says!

All in all it was a pretty great first Christmas for our Lainey! We missed Grandma Pam a lot, but she was there in spirit and I know she is looking over our little girl.

Not enough pictures for you? Here's the full album of Lainey's Christmas fun: Christmas 2011



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Mmmmmm...Rice Cereal!

Lainey's been putting down the bottles like no one's business, so we decided it might be time to try some solids, starting with the ever-popular rice cereal. We're on day three. It's been a slow start and more ends up outside than inside, but she definitely seems interested and likes to "help" get the spoon into her mouth.

Eating is fun!

First Christmas Party

After bouncing back from a night with the stomach flu (and I now know whatever stomach thing she had going on over Thanksgiving was NOT the stomach flu), Lainey attended her very first Christmas party on Saturday! We dolled her all up in a fancy dress and toted her off to hang with her daycare buddies and get her picture with Santa. At the party, we got the chance to hang out with our good friends the O'Grady's, who take their daughter, Molly, to the same daycare. I got a pretty good photo of Jason and Mark with the girls. Such proud dads!

Happy on Santa's lap!

Dads with their girls!

Happy Five Months!

Elaine is five months old today, and she celebrated with her first haircut. Yes, we gave her a haircut. While most of her newborn hair has fallen out and is slowly being replaced with blond strands, she did keep a fringe of the dark stuff at the base of her head. This has been driving Mark absolutely nuts, especially as it continued to grow at a much faster pace than the hair on the rest of her head and, if I'm honest, was starting to have the appearance of a baby mullet. I was afraid we would end up making it look even worse if we tried to cut it, but I have to say Mark did a great job and it really does look better. She still has the strip of dark hair, so it will be interesting to see how that plays out with the blond hair coming in, but at least for now it no longer reaches over her collar. No more Kentucky Waterfall for Lainey!

For all the pictures from Lainey's exciting fifth month of life, click here: Lainey's Fifth Month

Five months old and looking good!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Elaine celebrated her first Thanksgiving today! And you may be thinking, "what an interesting color Mark and Kylie chose for their new couch." It's actually a blanket to protect our current couch from Elaine's projectile vomit that she has been experiencing this week. Poor pumpkin is on her second round of antibiotics to try and clear up this ear infection and either the meds are getting to her digestive system or she got a stomach bug on top of the ear infection (and her cold and teething). Needless to say, she wasn't feeling very festive today. But, she seemed to perk up after an early evening nap, so I'm crossing my figures for a puke-free night.

I was in charge of cooking the big meal today. My dad and Mark's parents kindly entertained little Lainey (we really had to twist their arms), while I worked in the kitchen. We almost had a mishap with the turkey due to a broken meat thermometer that never registered past 140-degrees. Luckily I had a spare instant-read thermometer and was able to pulled the bird out before it was dried to jerky. In the end, I'm happy to say all was successful and the entire family is stuffed to the gills!

Hope everyone had a lovely holiday!

Peek-a-Boo!

Lowlight of the weekend: Elaine has ANOTHER ear infection. And it's in both ears this time.

Highlight of the weekend: She's started giggling. And nothing makes her laugh harder than a little game of peek-a-boo with her mom.

Feed Me!!!

Lainey definitely knows what her bottle is and what it does. If I'm holding her on my hip while mixing her bottle, she'll grab for it and try to start sucking from an upright position. And god forbid I take it away for 5 seconds while I get settled into a comfy position on the couch. (At least I know her lungs are healthy.) She's also started holding her own bottle, although it's a hit and miss skill. Last night, however, she was holding on to the bottle so tight that I had to put some extra muscle into prying it from her mouth when it was empty.

Give me my food!