Canton Tree Farm

About 3 weeks ago, the weekend right after Thanksgiving, we loaded up the car and headed to Canton. Unfortunately it was not for trade days because I'm dying to go, but this was a fun reason also. We decided that this year we wanted to go pick out our tree from a tree farm and cut one down ourselves.
We Googled the nearest tree farm place and decided it was close enough for a nice drive and headed down.
When we got there I was pleasantly surprised by this place. There was a large area of trees to choose from. Cut and uncut. There was a Santa for pictures and little rides the kids could ride. Even a small roller coaster, ferris wheel and a corn maze. All the rides looked like they were there for years and years because they were the metal kind. I thought that was neat.
We walked around to find the perfect tree to cut down, but it turned out that the trees that we liked better were the ones that were already cut, so my mom pretend to cut down the tree for Maddie to see what that was all about.
Reese hung out with me and slept the entire time. She'll enjoy it more in a couple of years. After the rides, Maddie saw Santa. She was nervous and didn't want to go up to him, but she warmed up to him quickly after he started talking to her.
It was a really fun day and I hope we get to go back. Apparently they have a pumpkin patch also so that would be fun too.

It was a bright day. (I'm thinking about just using this for our Christmas card this year) 

Maddie took advantage of the vacated seating. She hasn't been in that stroller in a LONG time. 

One of the rides

   

Looking for the perfect one!

 

Some nice employees took our tree to the front to get wrapped. 

The corn maze. This was actually pretty difficult. We could never find the right way out. We ended up getting turned around and exiting towards towards the entrance. I think Brian would have tried it again, but I was ok with not finishing correctly. But I can see how people get trapped in corn fields especially when it's green and full. 

I felt bad for Maddie here. She was SO excited to go down this slide, but I think it was too tall and fast because she was crying when she came down. She later decided to try it again, which I was surprised, but she cried again. Maybe next year :(

Over all, we had a great time! I'm glad we went and had that experience!

Reese - 2 Months

Little Reese is TWO months old! (on the 4th)

Actually, its a little past. But only by a few days.
Reese is doing great. We went to her check-up on Wednesday the 5th and she is 12.12 in weight which is 90%. 22.5 in height 50% and 15.25 head 50%. So....She's short and fat.
She is doing much better with colic and reflux, although I know when she's got a bubble because the screaming is non stop.

She still likes to be held at all times and she used to just cat-nap through the day. However, on Thursday I started letting her nap on her belly and WOW! What a change! So far, shes been taking great naps. She definitely likes sleeping on her tummy so much more. I keep her on her back at night, but for naps, this is how we will roll.

At her Dr.'s appointment, she got 3 shots and that was so torturous. She screamed and cried, but it passed quickly.
She also laughed at me for the first time that day. I know its a little early for her to be laughing but she did! (She laughed and played again with me this morning!). When she laughed the first time, she was kind-of bouncing on my legs while leaning on my chest as we were waiting on the Dr. to come into the room. SO I held her up a bit and helped her bounce a little better and she just looked at me and gave me the biggest grin then let out a few chuckles. Her tummy probably fluttered I'm guessing. She is definitely starting to interact more with people and her toys. It doesn't last very long but its a start!

I have also noticed that she likes being at home. She likes her bed and her smells. She also doesn't go to other people very easily. She loves baths and loves her fingers. She has no problem sticking her whole fist in her mouth. One time she was trying to suck her thumb but every time she stuck it in her mouth she gauged. I watched her do this about 3 times and it was kind of funny. She wears size 2 diapers and 3 month outfits, but the 3-6 months work also. She likes to snuggle and burrow her head in my arm while she sleeps.

I have also been giving her some apple juice. She's starting to have some issues down under. I thought she might have a problem with the new taste, but her eyes opened up SO wide and gulped it all down. I don't think we will have any feeding issues with this one.

Maddie still LOVES her new baby sister and is so proud to show her off to anyone and everyone and is a big help when I need something.

We love you Reese!  

Time-sharing

A few weeks ago Brian and I had the opportunity go through a time-share experience. Brian got a letter in the mail inviting us to a 90 min. presentation. We decided it would be a fun experience. my parents get invited to time share presentations at least once a year. So we called and scheduled an appointment knowing full well we would NOT be buying into this thing. We just want the free trip.

When the day came, we dropped Maddie off with his parents and took Reese with us on the long-ish drive to east Texas to some tiny little town by Tyler. Its so small, we literally could not find a gas station when we needed one. We drove until I thought the car was about to sputter and eventually we found a mom and pop gas station that was about 100 years old.

We finally found where we were supposed to be and got checked in and waited for them to call our name. We waited and waited. Finally, some dude with half a brain came to greet us. For example: when he greeted us, he looked at Reese, who was at the time about 3 weeks old and asked:
guy:"Oh! how old is she?
Me: "She's 3 weeks."
guy: " So...she's brand knew?"
Me: "um.....yea."

There was another time when he looks at Reese and tries to make conversation.
guy: "Who does she favor?"
Brian: "We don't know quite yet, she's kind of a mix right now"
guy: "When will you find out?"
I was confused by that last question. It took me a minute because I was thinking "find out what?" then I realized that he was talking about when will we find out who she resembles. As if there is a magical date out in the universe that says. Yep. Now it's time. You will look like________.

This was just a little bit of how our conversations with this sales guy went. Looking back at it now, the poor guy just didn't know anything about kids and he was a little socially awkward which is no reason for me to judge him. But all that combined with what should have been a 90min. presentation that lasted ALL DAY LONG and the fact that he was a sales person who looked like he needed a shower and he drove us around to show us the grounds in a 1980's beat up Chevy that smelled terrible of diesel. I had to hold Reese in my lap in the back seat on the deeply dry cut leather seats through the windy roads looking at cabins literally thinking "this is where this maniac is going to kill us and drop our bodies." It would have been a great Law and Order episode.

After the tour we arrived back to a large room full of sales people trying to make a sale to unsuspecting un-informed visitors like us. He talked some more about the time-share then fell silent. This thing was taking way to long. I finally told him we don't want to buy the time share, it just wasn't in the budget (They were asking for a $4,000 deposit. Are you kidding me? No thanks.) He says "Ok, that's ok, you don't have to but we have to wait for one of the managers to come over and talk to you so the presentation can be over." I had just about reached boiling point at that time. We had been there for over 3hrs. already. Our tour guide didn't tell us that we were waiting on a manager to come talk to us. We waited in silence for about 30 min. when a manager came over. He then tried to sell us this AMAZING deal. no.thankyou. I couldn't believe all the things he was saying. He had a comeback to all the reasons why we couldn't buy in today. After he realized we would not be doing this today, he called one more guy to come to our table to try his luck with us. He was less obnoxious, but I was SO done being there. I wonder how many people end up buying in just to get these people to stop talking.

After that ordeal we left the large room and went into another waiting area to claim our prize. We waited there for about 20 min. Our name was called to claim our prize from an older woman that smelled like cigarettes. We walked out with a trip to Hawaii and a cruise to the Bahamas.

I don't know if I would like to do that again. Maybe after the memory from this one wears off a little bit I will be able muster through another presentation. We are excited about going to Hawaii. We are hoping we can make it this summer. There are black out dates and what not, so we need to check into it. We will probably not be able to make both trips since we cannot take the cruise on their black out dates from June-August and that is the only time we can take a trip since my mom will be out of school. Reese also needs to be old enough for me to leave her that long.

If you choose to go on a time share presentation, be warned. Stay strong. Get the prize.

Happy FAll!

This post will mainly be a photo dump. Not much has changed since a couple of weeks ago, but I wanted to add a few recent photos on here.
I love Fall. I love everything about it. To me there is so much more to get excited about right now then in the summer time, but I think that has a lot to do with the fact that I have kids now.  

Last Thursday Maddie had her Thanksgiving Feast at Preschool. This year the 4's class were in charge of making the desert and Maddie was excited about that. Maddie is having so much fun at Preschool, I hate that this will be our last year for a while.

As far as Reese is concerned, she is a very sweet girl. She LOVES to be cuddled at all times even when she's not having gas or reflux problems. Which, I feel so bad for her and I'm still trying to figure out what to do about it. And, I finally figured out how to work my Moby wrap so I see myself getting a lot of use out of it in the future. 

Reese has also become a little more alert and she is starting to smile. She had one really good awake moment the other day on her play mat and I just happened to catch it. 

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!

Reese: 1 Month

The 4rth marked Reese's one month. October flew by, I can't even believe it.

Over all, I was kind of surprised with how much easier this time around has been. Ive heard that having two kids is so much harder, but then, any number of kids after that is no big deal. Because after two kids, whats one more right? I think for me, having one that's 4 years old has a lot to do with it. She's not AS needy as say, a two-year old. Also, I already knew what to expect. The late night feedings didn't come so much as a shock to me as they were with Maddie.

Yesterday Reese had her one month appointment. I knew she had grown but I was anxious to know just how much. She started off being 8lb's 3oz and 19.5 in. She is now 10lb's and 6oz and 21.25 in. I could not believe she had grown that much. She is 75% for weight and 50% for height. She also got the 2nd round of the Hep. B shot. It was a sad sight to see, but she actually got over it quickly. 

So far, she is a pretty easy baby. I try to feed her right before I go to bed around 10:30 or 11:00 then she sleeps a 4 hr stretch then 3hrs. It takes us from 30 min. to 1hr to get changed and eat. The only issue right now is that she is VERY gassy. Not so much colic but gas. Milacon didn't seem to help but Gripe Water seems to help a little and that's what we used with Maddie also.  She is also much more alert and doesn't just fall asleep AS easily anymore. She fusses a little before she falls asleep and generally I have to hold her until she does fall asleep, then I can put her down. Sometimes I just cant do that like when I'm trying to get ready to leave the house, then she just fusses and I have to keep going back and fourth trying to keep the paci in her mouth. I think she's going to like cuddling much more then Maddie did.

Maddie and Reese. Reese is 5 days old.

Maddie has been a big help and she loves to do it. Reese is her real life baby doll and I have to constantly remind her not to squeeze Reese so hard. Maddie loves to help change diapers and make sure my stash is replenished. She helps give Reese a bath and change her clothes. She also loves to help with sticking Reese's paci back in her mouth and bounce the bouncer when my hands are full.

I walked in on Maddie "reading" Reese a story.

She loves to fall asleep like this. Its her Tummy Time.

I love both my girls and I know we will have so much fun together in the years to come!

Pumpkin Patch and Trunck or Treat

Wow, October has been a very busy month! For the better part of the year I couldn't wait for October to be here, and now, its almost gone!
Every Year I take Maddie to this cute little pumpkin patch at this church down the street for pictures and for her to pick out a pumpkin for school. This year sister came with us and I had them in cute outfits for great sisterly fall photos. What I have realized lately is what was really fun with one kid, is now exhausting with two. Not that its not fun, and I do wish Reese would stay this small forever, but it is very tiring. We got dressed and made it to the pumpkin patch ready for the perfect photo opp, and sweet girl spit up ALL OVER her outfit. Great. I decided to let Maddie pick out a pumpkin and take just a couple of her and maybe just one of the two of them together and call it a day. Maybe we will have better success next year.

On Thursday, I went up to Maddie's preschool to watch her find her decorated pumpkin and take pictures of her with the animals at the petting "zoo".

 sweet friends

I always feel bad for the animals this time of year. These kids can be rough. 

 Sunday night we went to Trunk or Treat. I wanted to make the girl's costumes this year, but I just couldn't make the time. My great idea will have to wait till next year when I'm not so busy having a baby. Maddie has a couple of princes costumes from the Disney store that I told her she could choose from this year. Luckily she was somewhat happy with that. I bought Reese a onesey with a tutu on it that says I love Halloween. Nice and simple.

Brian was Gumby.

Maddie and Olivia

Maddie and Bethany

Maddie and Madeline

Maddie, Hailey and Courtney. I only had about 4 sec. to shoot this picture. I'm impressed 2 out of the 3 are looking. 

I thought this trunk was hysterical. 

 Reese chillin' trying to stay warm because it was SO cold this year.