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Cute Picture of Bekah

Last week, Bekah got really upset when I wouldn't let her open some of Ethan's birthday presents that were hidden in my room. I closed the door and wouldn't let her in. She got really upset and laid on the floor outside my room. 5 minutes later she was asleep. It was almost 5 o'clock at the time, so I left her there, and she didn't sleep much more than an hour because she heard Sarah crying a few times.

Grandpa's New Chair (purchased around Christmas)

It's the first time we've been to my parents' since Christmas, but my dad finally got his new chair. It is really comfortable and really big. Bekah andI could easily sit in it with room to spare.

Grandma and Grandpa Helwig

I hardly ever get pictures of my parents with either of my children, so this weekend I made a point to get at least one of each of them with Sarah.

The Weekend's Activities

This weekend we took our first trip since Sarah was born almost 8.5 weeks ago. We traveled up to Columbus, OH for my nephew Ethan's third birthday party. His birthday is not actually till this Friday, but my parents (Paula) are leaving to go to Yellowstone on Wednesday, and Bobby was supposed to go backpacking next weekend, so we headed up this weekend to celebrate. It was a lot of fun!!

Both my parents had to work Saturday, but Melissa and I took her two boys and my two girls to see the butterflies at Franklin Park Conservatory, and Rich and Bobby filled in some holes in their garage with cement. Later that night we spent time with my parents at their house.

On Sunday, after church we hung out at my parents for a bit and then headed over to my sister's house for the party. Bobby went a bit crazy with the camera during present time, but I will only share a few from the day. Enjoy!!

Smiling at Dad

Computer Time

Belly Time

Various Faces

Another Rough Night

I won't bore you with the details, but we went to bed at 11:30 and around 1:30, Sarah started waking up every 2 hours. She has never done this before during the night!!

Very tired.

A Happy Mother's Day....after a rough night

Sarah went down at 7:15 pm last night and didn't wake up till 3:30 am.

I fell asleep singing to Bekah at 7:30 pm and woke up at 7:45 pm. Bekah was asleep.

Bobby worked on papers for his classes due on Saturday counting as his finals. (this week)
I watched TV, folded clothes, and pumped a couple times.

We got in bed at 11:30 pm. Bekah woke up at 11:40 pm. I put her back, got her a drink, and told her I'd come check on her in a few minutes. I forgot, fell asleep, and she came in probably around midnight. When I woke up to Sarah moving around at 3 am, Bobby was still sleeping in her bed. I woke him up, went and warmed up a bottle of BM, gave it to him, and began to pump. (I am pumping exclusively right now until I heal from a daughter that eats aggressively.)

Since Sarah had been sleep for 8 hours, she did not want to go back to sleep. We traded her back and forth for about an hour trying to entertain her (very difficult considering we had basically no sleep). Bobby eventually took her to the living room so I could sleep a bit. I think he came back about 5 am, and she only stayed down around 45 minutes- 1 hour.

I got up with her while Bobby got a bit of shut eye. Bekah got up around 8 am, and the day started.

We had a nice time at church, and came home to a dinner of crab legs for Mom, steak for Dad, and chicken nuggets for Bekah. Red potatoes and veggies were had by all.

I got some cards, chocolate, and plant. I was also told that I can go get a pedicure and a hair cut this week. (and not at a 10 dollar hair cut place, I'm so excited!!!)

All in all, we had a good day. We were outside for a bit in the beautiful sunny weather, but a bit windy.

(I almost forgot, Bekah went "pee-pee" on the potty when we got home from church, but since then she has pooped and peed in her pull-up.)

3 Nights in a Row

Both girls down before Daddy got home. Bekah at 8 PM with no nap, AGAIN, and Sarah at 9:45 PM.
Bobby walked in the door at 5 minutes till 10 without calling me tell me he was on his way home. We're going to try to get to bed before midnight tonight. Sarah did something different than her "normal" last night and woke up around 2:30 instead of between 4:30-5:30, and Bekah got up at 7 AM because she went to bed at 7:45 PM, so needless to say, Bobby and I didn't get much sleep and are very tired.
Goodnight!!

Small Victories

My living room is a mess and I have a couple loads of laundry to fold, but both my girls are in bed for the night before 10 and before Bobby gets home from work.
This has never happened with the 2 girls, and it has been a while since this happened with Bekah.

We had a very busy day, and Bekah did not have a nap, so this resulted in her going down at 7:30 pm.
For the last couple of nights, Sarah has been going down around 9:45 and not waking up until between 4:30-5:30 am. Now if I can only get in bed before midnight, I'll be doing great!!

Playing in the rain

Bobby and Bekah were playing outside the other day when it started to down pour. Bobby's smart idea, let Bekah play outside. She got a bath right after she came in :~)

Multi-tasking Mom

If you can't tell, I am holding Sarah feeding her a bottle of BM (breast milk) while I try to push Rebekah in the swing with my foot.

Hopital video: Bekah meeting Sarah for the first time

Fun Times and Big Steps

Girls having belly time.

Bobby trying his "hand" at the sling. I'm using it right now to keep Sarah asleep after only approximately 1 hour of nap today.

This girl loves trying on shoes. She calls my high heels tap shoes.

Where she fell asleep last night. Sarah once again screamed while I tried to read to Bekah, so Bekah walked back down the hall. This is where I found her 10 minutes later.

Bathtime.

Content for a few minutes after she ate.

We had a milestone tonight. Bekah went poopy in the potty for the first time. Potty training has been a struggle. Sometimes Bekah will sit on the potty for 45 minutes, do nothing, you put a pullup on her and she's go. It's like she's holding it!! Well, after she woke up from her nap, I immediately put her on the potty and she pooped for the first time. She's pee-peed a few times but only after I've put her hand in warm water for several minutes and while she's watching Dora. :~)

Pictures Galore

Various pictures from the last week or so.

"Wanna play my Minnie game Sarah?"

New sling, with sleeping Sarah inside, not quite adjusted to where I'm wearing it now.
Coloring for hours lately, especially with her color wonder markers and paper.

Yesterday, while cooking dinner, I look over to see this stack of Dora books Bekah has made on the bench. Isn't it cool? And she's only 2.5.

Ooo, there's something out there!
Sisters just hangin' out.





How Bekah found us one morning. Bobby didn't feel like putting Sarah back in bed after he burped her one night, so she stayed with us.

My mom came over night at the end of April to help. Bobby had to drive all the way to Ft Wayne, IN (5.5 hours) to renew his local preaching license. He left after work on Friday night and got to his parents' around 1 am. He got up and left by 8 am, drove to Ft Wayne, drove to Marion to visit the Swans who had just had a baby, then got in the car and drove home by 7 pm. A long 24 hours. Needless to say, I didn't want to be by myself over night, so my mom came. It was great to have her here. We even got out for a lunch at PF Changs. Yum!!

Kite flying on a windy day. The game was Bekah holding it and letting go then watching Daddy run after it.

We all woke up Bekah one morning.

Finally

2.5 year old just now asleep.
Awake for 16 straight hours.

Energy

I put my 2.5 year old to bed at 8 pm because she got up at 6:15 am and didn't have a nap all day. It was a chore to get her to stay up till 8 pm. I couldn't read to her very long because Sarah was screaming in my arms. I prayed with her, kissed her, and said good night. Normally when she's exhausted she would fall asleep.
What is she doing tonight? She has been reading and playing in her room. For the last 10 minutes she has been coming down the hall playing with something and peaking around the pantry at me, seeing what I'm doing, and seeing if I'm going to react to her being out of bed.

Such a silly girl. I wish I had her energy.

Content Baby, Happy Mama, but sore neck

Another fussy night and another fussy morning led to a trip this morning to Target. I couldn't wait for someone to make one for me or order one online. I was worried about a sling hurting the pinched nerve I have in my shoulder, but actually, after wearing the Infantino SlingRider, my neck is sore.
But it doesn't matter, I'm going to have to build up that muscle. As soon as we got home, it was about 3 hours since Sarah had eaten, and needless to say, she was crying. I got out the sling, put her in it, and she slept immediately for another hour until I put her down to go to the bathroom and get some food. I think I'm going to be using it a lot, and until my neck is stronger, taking Ibuprofen. I also got online and ordered a baby Papasan chair using a gift card purchased by our small group. We're hoping she feels more secure in it than her normal bouncy seat and be less grumpy.