Crib Boot Camp

Way up there on my list of New Years Resolutions is to transition Arnold from the swing/bed in our room to his own room an crib.
He has been up every hour or two and I (we) need some sleep AND he could roll out of his swing any day now (surrounding it with pillows on the floor doesn't seem like the most responsible option).

So, night #1 - 2 hours in crib. He awoke at 9:30 pm and I gave up for the night. Night #2 (last night)- 2 hours on the front end (our bed in the middle) and almost 5 hours after putting him back at 2 am.

Of course, then there's the totally irrational anxiety of wondering if he is still breathing, etc. I think I'm going to buy a wireless webcam so I can see him ALL the time on my iPhone.

New Year... More sleep?

Tired Toddler

Maybe she has grown accustom to sleeping in this position.

Almost Home

After a nice Christmas in Alabama and another 14 hours on the road, we are almost home. Brad, again, drove the entire way. I got some sleep and dogs and Emma Claire and Arnold slept soundly - better than they do normally. Now they are awake and calm. Emma Claire says "I made it light in here" (the sun is up now).
We are loaded to the rim with the Santa goods. There is one packed away toy that spontaneously "yee-hawed" a number of times in the first hour of our drive. Thank goodness he went to sleep.
We had a good trip, but it is always good to be home sweet home. Wondering how much snow is in our driveway to dig through.
Looking forward to posting our photos maybe later today.

White Christmas in Alabama

The snow followed us to Alabama. What a surprise to wake up to a beautiful white Christmas morning!

Trash

We are nearing Alabama. About an hour and a half from home. Emma Claire and Arnold slept through the night (as did I). Brad drove the entire way.
I asked Emma Claire to look out the window of the car and tell me what looks different (getting at the lack of snow). Her response was "trash". Yes, there is way more litter here.

And... We're Off!

At last, shell on top of the wagon, kids - check, dogs - check (I actually did double check to make sure we had loaded the dogs). Headed South.
Emma Claire has been ready to go to Alabama since she woke up this morning. She got a new suitcase from santa's Minnesota drop off and was thrilled to pack it.
Since we started our trek at 7:15 tonight (one hour ago) she has asked multiple times "where is Alabama" - far, Emma Claire. As we drove out of the neighborhood, she pointed to each house, saying "that's not Alabama". She also said "I bet Rowie will have fishes"!
Arnold screamed for the first hour. Finally, both kids are sound asleep. Emma Claire said "I am so cozy, mama". Arnold looks pretty cozy, too, despite his objection to the situation at first. Sophie and Rudy, too, - cozy.
Listening to our book on CD, although I am going to get some sleep.

Junie B: Jingle Bell, Batman Smells

Brad and I took Emma Claire to her first play this Sunday at Hopkins Stages Theater. A performance of Junie B's Jungle Bells, Batman Smells.

I thought it was really cute. Junie B (I have since learned) is a book series about a 1st grader. The play was probably a little over Emma Claire's head (the kindergartners and above who are familiar with the books could appreciate it), but Emma Claire loved it anyway. She sat quietly most of the time and just watched. She did try to wiggle out of her seat once (because Tuna and Bean didn't have room...).

At the end, she kept asking to "come back again". I think we will do that.

Santa 2010

I took Emma Claire and Arnold to Macy's 8th floor "A Day in the Life of an Elf" yesterday. I have been trying to get Emma Claire excited (at least not afraid) to see Santa for some time now. She enjoyed the display, but kept asking "Is Santa here?". Poor Emma Claire has lots of Santa anxiety. So, I didn't force the issue and Emma Claire chose NOT to sit on (or get near) Santa's lap. (anyone remember last year?... (on right))

Arnold didn't seem to mind the big guy (as you can see). Emma Claire stood in a corner of the room (as far away as she could get without leaving the room). She did, however, tell me to make sure I told Santa that she wanted "a pink necklace and a pink bracelet" (which I did). She panicked when we left the room, afraid that I didn't get that message to him.

Maybe next year...

Grace Place Christmas Program 2010

At last... I had a child in the church Christmas program! I have been so excited about this service since Emma Claire started Grace Place this fall.

We did our best to get primo seats. I guess you have to camp out to get front row. We managed a few rows back on the end.

The toddlers come in for just a few simple songs and then make their exit. They are always the hit of the show, because it is inevitable that someone will say something funny over the singing. This year, there were a couple of "Hi Mommies" and one big "NO" between songs. Typical.

Emma Claire actually stood there and sang and did the motions. She has been singing away at home lately. She loves the Christmas songs. So, between the church program and her school program, she has got them down and there is no doubt in her mind as to what Christmas is about - "Baby Jesus birthday".

I will hopefully post the video soon. In the meantime, here are some pictures... (of the program, along with some photos in front of our tree).

A free photo slideshow by Smilebox

The Bickersons: Christmas song for Emily

The Bickersons: Christmas song for Emily

17

Brad's dad called me last night and said "So, you lived through your first REAL Minnesota blizzard" - I did, and lived to tell about it.

My 6th winter here and I have learned that things rarely stop because of snow - even when there is a lot if it. People still go to work, grocery stores still have bread and eggs on the shelves, roads and sidewalks are plowed - people (or crazies like Whitney and I) even still get out for 5am runs.

However, what happened yesterday was a little different. It was like nothing I have ever seen. It just kept snowing and snowing and snowing. 17 inches and 4 shoveling sessions (compliments of Brad - I bet he spent 4-5 hours out there shoveling - super husband, in my opinion - The photo of him shoveling at top was round 1. By the time he finished, there was at least 2 more inches on the driveway), it stopped. Everything seemed to come to a halt. The metro transit system even shut down. Sil-Pro Christmas party cancelled (along with seemingly every other event in the cities). That just doesn't happen often around here.

I am thankful I didn't need to get anywhere. Have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed the day from the comfort of my warm home (for which I am also very thankful) with family in jammies all day. We watched Christmas movies on the couch and baked cookies as we watched the snow pile up to the point that the snow banks were at the height of the kitchen window-

what could be better than that?

NOW we are looking at a few days of MAYBE getting to a high of 0.

(Photo of the "Boat Ride" we went on in Emma Claire's rocker)

Click here to view these pictures larger

Closure

I went for a follow up with my hemotologist, Dr. Morton, yesterday. I don't know that I've talked about her at all or not, but I love her. She is young and she is British, so has the nice accent. But, more than that, she is one smart woman. She knows her stuff and has given me outstanding care throughout this whole ordeal.

Anyway, I got lots of good news at my visit with Dr. Morton yesterday. My last ultrasound is clear, I can come off the coumadin and I don't need to follow up with her again (unless I have another pregnancy, or problems). So, I now feel closure to the health issues that have made for an eventful year. I am looking forward to a 2011 that is fairly "uneventful". I have a new appreciation of good health and am thankful every day that I am, once again, "normal".

4 Month Visit With Doc Hobbs

The Stats...

Weight: 12 lbs. 12 oz. (41%)

Height: 25 1/2 inches (67%)

Head: 16 3/4 inches (50%)

The shots are never fun, but Arnold cried for about 10 seconds and was then over it and back to his smiley self. Developing as he should be.

Talked mostly to Dr. Hobbs about SLEEP (or lack of in our household)... Plan: Arnold to his room in the New Year. Emma Claire back in her bed ASAP (try a "rewards" or "pass" system). Will keep you posted!

Gingerbread House 2010

Brad and Emma Claire built a gingerbread house this weekend. Not every daddy would build a cardboard platform, carefully designed and painted to look like snow with a moat - complete with a bridge (how else would you get into the house???) - for their little girl's gingerbread house :-).

"I'm Not Sassy"

Yesterday at pick up from Calvary, I am going through the usual battle with Emma Claire to get her coat on so we can go home.

"Emma Claire, you need to stop being sassy". Her reply: "I am NOT being sassy, I am being whiiiny".

Re-Re and His Legs

Poor Rudy woke up Monday morning with aproblem in his hind legs. They just weren't working all of the sudden. He could hobble around a bit, but his paws just drag when he tries to walk. He wouldn't eat or drink or go potty before I went to work. I let him out back and he just sat in the middle of the yard in the snow. I decided to leave him home and check back at lunch. After a morning of anxiety, I found out Whitney was home sick from work (not thankful she was sick, but happy she was home). She came to the rescue and checked in on Rudy and took him home with her for the afternoon and pampered him with love, Christmas music and hot dogs :-)

I left work early and took him to the vet. Basically, they think it is definitely a nerve issue, but not sure the cause. He is lacking "proprioception" (a word takes me back to kinesiology in college) in his hind legs, but he does have some feeling (pulls away when pinched). The vet gave us a muscle relaxor and anti-inflammatory med and said to see how he does the next few days.

Two days later, things are looking up. I was really worried. Rudy was pretty pitiful there for a while. I saw a tiny bit of improvement yesterday and today he is getting back to his normal self. Even able to go up and down the stairs.

Although the attention I give our pooches lately is less, and they do drive me bananas some days, I do love our dogs. So does Emma Claire and, no doubt, Arnold. I am so happy Rudy is not permanently crippled.

Hand Me Downs

The coat Emma Claire is wearing was mine at her age - she wore it to brunch at the Women's Club last weekend. Emma Claire thought that was pretty neat. Hard to believe I was ever that size!

Womens Club Photos

Birthdays: Tuna and Bean

Emma Claire: "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday Tuna and Beeean. Happy birthday to you". (they are 2 :-)

"Up Shoes"

Emma Claire had a few good one-liners during the Macy's Parade last week. She had on her ballet shoes for her dancing most of the time. She needed her "pom-poms" as soon as she saw the cheerleaders (her pom-pom is a gold and maroon Gophers pom from a game earlier this year - hey, there's an idea for Christmas...). She asked brad to "Hold me up like the cheerleaders" - which thrilled both of us!

When the Rockettes did their thing, Emma Claire quickly said "oh, I need my up shoes" and ran back to her room and returned with the red snow white high heels for her dancing - can't be a Rockette in flats!

I Love My Feet

Arnold's new "thing" is holding onto his feet and rolling from side to side - so cute :-)

Uggggh

Just erased all my photos on our shutterfly site on accident! All it took was one click of my mouse and...POOF. Working on getting them all back up - a fairly easy fix, just takes some time. They go back to 2008, so it will take a bit and the links on my previous posts may not work, but I intend to fix it. Soooo mad at myself!!!