First day with no daddy....

Today is my first test of my mommy hood.. John heads out for a few days and I am solo. I know, some of you are dealing with MUCH longer and more painful deployments but for me, this has been looming over me in a dreadful way. I know I will survive but I can't help but whine about it first.. :) (sorry honey)


So, John and I decided to no longer have a monitor in our room at night... the day after I went and purchased a new one when our second hand-me-down decided to only have one volume setting.. LOUD.. The decision came the other night when I was crabby and stressing out I am sure about being alone with both girls. John and I were having some pillow talk and I was really grumpy and whining about hearing all the noises newborns make.. To quote myself "I just can't sleep when all I hear all night long is grunting, burping, croaking and farting" We both just fell out laughing and ended up in tears! God has a way of lifting our spirits just when we need it most I'd say! So we turned off the monitor and opened Addison's door as well as ours. Works great! I was initially concerned that AJ would wake Annabelle up but so far it hasn't been an issue! Yeah!

Addison is doing well. She has become a little more fussy and gassy after starting her on the breast milk. I plan to go a few more days and then switch back to formula and see is that changes her fussy ways. I hope so. Other than that, she is a very good little angel. She is eating between 3-4 ounces at a time about every 3-4 hours. We got a 4 our block last night between feedings so pray that I get those too when John is gone.

Annabelle has become a little more needy too but we expected that and have been waiting for it to happen. She adores her little sister and is willing to help as much as a 22 month old can. We do have some exciting news to share about her potty training. She used the potty twice yesterday and is really aware of the need to go! I really put potty training on old for a while with the new baby and all that adjusting but it seems maybe she will get her needed attention by actually using the potty, we certainly do dote over her when she uses it! We are very thrilled about this!! She also has accomplished singing her A-B-C's! and counts to 11 now! Now the ABC's isn't quite the full "official" version of the ABC's but she is very close to it! She also knows the letter A and that it is the first letter of her name! Big and small are her other new favorite things to point out, that and water towers (still) and silos.. :) She is just an amazingly wonderful child...

Odie had his appointment Monday and is getting better. He will be in the boot a bit longer but will be out of the boot and in just a brace when they come back the end of December! He will be able to walk without the walker, can climb stairs and DRIVE! This, I know, is the most important thing... and I know both he and Gran are happy to get life back to normal! Keep praying for him and for him to heal 100%

I am heading to Grammy and Papa's today for the day to prevent cabin fever. I really dislike this time of year (minus Christmas, of course) when it is just ugly outside and there is little to do. Annabelle planed to play with Craven but it seems he is getting a cold and we don't want to expose Addison to that just yet!

Love to you all!

Carolyn (and family!)