Pumpkin Picking

About 3 weeks ago we headed out to Pataskala to Lynd Fruit Farm for some goodies for the Scully's, and lets be honest, for the fresh pumpkin doughnuts. It was the last nice weekend we've had here, so thankfully we went when we did. It was packed and Josie had so much fun walking around the market and throwing everything in the stroller.

She picked out pumpkins for all the kids at her party, and then it was time for doughnuts. I wasn't sure if she would try them, given her track record of trying new things. BUT she couldn't resist and loved her doughnut! It was covered with sugar, so she was a mess, but totally worth it.

Once we loaded up at the market, we headed to the field to pick out Josie's pumpkin. Since we were a bit early, the field wasn't trampled down, and it was a little hard to walk around, and the prickly things were really sharp, so we didn't spend too much time deciding. 

We gave Josie the choice between these two- figured it was easier to narrow it down. She chose the one her hand is on, but told us "it's too heavy" she was right!

Here is a flash back from the farm last year! She couldn't even walk. 

I have my 6 week check up today, which also means that Cate is 6 weeks today! Where has the time gone??? My leave is already half way over *tear*. 

One Month

Last Friday, Cate turned one month old! Where has the time gone? I swear the first month seemed to take forever with Josie. Probably because we had so many feeding issues, and we didn't have a crazy toddler running around to pass the time.

We had her one month check up the same time as Josie's and Dr. Niland said she looked perfect. She has a couple of red bumps on her head and her back, but she said those should go away within the next year. Thankfully they aren't too big.

Cate is a superstar eater. She came out ready to nurse and hasn't looked back. Like I said before, sometimes she wants to eat every 1.5 hrs, but we recently have had a few 4-5 hour stretches in the night, so I'm pretty thankful for that.

She likes to be held, much more than Josie, so I don't really get a whole lot done during the day. I may need to get a baby wrap so I can wear her and get some things done. She's still too small for the Ergo carrier, but she is my new shopping buddy. We have taken lots of trips to target, kohls, the grocery store, etc. She sleeps through it all. I think shes going to be a good sleeper like her sister. Josie will be screaming, jumping up and down, carrying on and Cate will stay asleep. We could only hope she's like her sister!

I have lots of pics from the fist month since I didn't do an update. She has changed so much already, and while I see a lot of Josie in her, I think she takes more after Dada. Her favorite place to be is on my chest. Sometimes when shes really fussy in the middle of the night and wont sleep, I put her on my chest and she's out in 5 minutes. While we cant do that forever, as long as we get some sleep now, I don't care.

one of my favorites

just pooped face

2 weeks

love this outfit- wish it came 

in my size

Here is her one month pic. I wont do a comparison this month with her and Josie, because Josie looked all skeletor, so will do it next month. She has gained 3 pound since leaving the hospital! When your first kid only gained 9 oz, 3 pounds is a major victory!! 

1 month stats

Height- 21.75 in (81st %)

Weight- 9 lb 4.5 oz ( 45th %)

Head- 14.75 in 

Diaper Size- NB-1

Clothes Size- NB

Two

Well, its hard to believe but our "little" Josie turned two on Sunday. The past year has absolutely flown by and we now have a full blown toddler on our hands, who is into everything and learning so much every day.

We went to see Dr. Niland yesterday and she couldn't believe how big she's gotten. She stood on the big girl scale, and got measured against the wall. They also predicted how tall she would be based on her stats today...shes going to be a big girl.

We had a really small party on Sunday. Considering we have a newborn, we didn't want to have a ton of people over and Josie doesn't do too well in big crowds besides.

her special Snoopy cake that Jen made

Ever since Chloe's birthday, Josie has loved to sing "Happy Birthday", and all week long we talked about her birthday and how old she would be. She would tell us "2!" and then say she was going to get some birthday cake. WELL when the time came to sing, this is what happened...never seen such a puss on by a kid before. She did NOT like everyone singing to her and looking at her. Poor thing didn't even blow out her candle. Frankie had to help her. I have to say, that is exactly how I am. I don't like all the attention on me- she will probably have to take 5 Imodium at her wedding like I did! 

she finally ate some when no one was paying attention

her horsey from Aunt Keri 

and Uncle Frank

I know babies change a lot during the first year, but Josie had a huge transformation during her second. Mainly in the hair department- hahahah. I cant get over how much she has grown and how smart she is. She understands absolutely everything we say and tells us exactly what she wants. She can count to at least 10, is learning her ABC's, her days of the week and the months of the year. She is so funny and witty, but also really sensitive. She gets her feelings hurt easily, and needs time to adjust to new surroundings. She needs time to warm up- even with those she knows well. 

Nick and I are so proud of her and love watching her grow and learn everyday. She is such a joy to be around and has taken to her baby sister really well. She always asks for her if she doesn't see her, and doesn't like poo poo to get too close to her. I thinks he is going to be very protective and likes to mother her babies, so I bet she will start doing the same soon. 

huge change within a year!

Here are her stats

Height- 37 in

Weight- 34 lb

Diaper Size- 6

Shoe Size- 8W

Clothes Size- 3T

Fruit and crackers are her favorite foods and she is still sleeping like the dickens. She has literally fallen out of bed and stayed asleep on the floor, and never wakes up when Cate is crying in the night. Thank goodness, don't know what we would do with two kids up. She has recently started taking her diaper off at night, therefore peeing the bed. Of course she never wakes up even though shes soaked, so we have been doing a lot of laundry and started putting her in pull ups at night. This morning she told me that she "likes her new diapers". We plan on potty training soon- just need to find a weekend that we are here and not busy.  She will also be starting soccer class with Nick next weekend on Saturday mornings. Really looking forward to that. She loves to watch soccer and kick her ball around. 

That's about it for now on Jo Jo- she's our superstar. 

Welcoming Catherine Marie

Well, she's 3 weeks old, and I have about 20 minutes to myself, so I figured, I better update the blog!!

I don't even know where to begin, so might as well start from the beginning. I was induced again, and we had to be at the hospital at 5 am! I was thankful for the early start, we didn't sleep much anyway. Grandma came down the night before to stay with Josie, and Nick and I were off early the next morning.

We thought it was going to be a relatively easy and quick delivery, considering I was 4 cm and 70% effaced when I arrived. They got me started on pitocin right away and my contractions kicked in. At 9 they broke my water and then my contractions started getting really heavy. I think I got my epidural around 11 and man did that hurt more this time! I felt a huge zing down my right leg and thought for sure I was going to be paralyzed! (not really). At this point, I started to relax and we were watching The Price is Right.

The nurse started to notice Cate not handling the contractions to well and she had a lot of "variables" which means her heart rate was going up and down a lot, more than it should. She was steady for a long time at 125-130 bpm, and was dropping into the 50's and 60's. They started to have me move positions to get the baby to move and calm down. Dr. Charles came running down into the room to see what was going on- at this point they had to flip me on all fours, I guess that helps the baby move and calm down- it seemed to work for a minute, and that sure was interesting considering I had no feelings in my legs whatsoever.

Things settled down,they inserted an internal hear monitor and watched her closely. Then things went south again, Nick said he heard Dr. Charles come running down the hall, there were literally 6-7 nurses in the room flipping my on my hands and knees again, giving me oxygen, massaging my belly, and injecting me with something to counteract the pitocin, because Cate wasn't handling it well. Dr. Charles stayed with me for about 30-40 minutes to monitor me and the baby, but was fully prepared to take me in for an emergency c-section if things didn't improve. Holy hell, that was scary. AND to top it off, Cate was facing up and not down, so we really needed her to turn as well before delivery.

After all of that, Cate calmed down, turned and it was time to push. She was out in less than 10 minutes, but I had 11 hours of an interesting labor that's for sure. Once she was born the delivery nurse said her cord was really short, and that was probably the cause of all the stress.

Sorry for the spread eagle pic, Nick didn't want to cut the cord

so I did! :)

Dr. Charles- could she be any cuter!

Dada finally getting to hold his new

baby girl

Josie and Grandma came by that night before bed. They wouldn't allow children in the labor and delivery area and I was happy about that. I wanted to be cleaned up and IV free when she came, but that didn't happen since it took forever for my epidural to wear off and for them to get Cate's blood screen back. She was so happy to see Nick and I and to meet her baby sister. I wish she would have held her, but we'll take no crying any day!

her new Chica doll from Cate 

The next day we had lots of visitors. Grandpa came and went to lunch with Josie and Nick, and then Keri, Frank, Frankie, Chloe, Aunt Jeanne and Uncle Mike came as well. It was a room full! 

Chloe was not happy when Mama and Dada were holding Cate

heading home- she barely fit

Simba came running up to smell Cate

and Josie told him "NO, POO POO!"

flowers from Aunt Mary Ann

and Uncle Jimmie

special balloon that Josie picked out

Flowers from Josie and Grandma

We noticed a lot of distinguishing features right away. She has two dimples and small ears just like Josie and I. She has the longest fingers I've ever seen, definitely like Great Grandma Ginny, and super long feet- like freakishly long. I think she is going to have deep set eyes like Nick and thank god she got the Mediterranean skin like Dada and Josie as well. I now have two brown babies thanks to Nick. She didn't get the full lips like Josie, but her bottom one is much fuller than the top and she has more hair. 

I will have to get some pictures out and compare the two side by side, but we can definitely tell they are sisters. Nick says we have twins, but I can tell the difference for sure. She keeps me much more busy than Josie did. She likes to be held and wants to eat all the time, sometimes every hour and a half, so that leaves little time for anything else. 

Will have another update soon- screaming baby calls.