Do not adjust your screen

Nope, you're not seeing things and you didn't miss any posts, I played a little catch up this week and because I have mild OCD I like to post the girls' letters on their actual birth date ... my two loyal readers (I think I've lost a few) know that I'm perpetually several days late these days ... oh well.  Better late than never, eh?  At any rate, I hope you enjoy the pictures and quick glimpses into our lives.  I'd love to know you were here by reading your comments, but lurking from afar is fine too : )

Who needs toys ...

... when you have pants?!?!

Sister love (a series)

 

Curlzzzz

I spy with my little eye ... some little curls !  Charlotte's hair is growing like a weed and starting to curl up, just like her sister's.  They still look nothing alike, but maybe they're have the same soft curly cues?

A princess and her peticoats

"I think I'll only wear one of my princess skirts today."  Said no toddler ever.  Why wear one princess skirt when you can wear four?  For reference, the fourth skirt is hiding just below the third (we only have so much torso to work with); the necklace is referred to as an amulet (and is a nod to Sophia the first); and the shoes she's wearing are her glass slippers.  Got it?  No?  Don't worry, you'll be swiftly corrected.

A day at the museum

Anna and I had a super fun date at the Cincinnati Children's Museum last month; Gigi was supposed to go with us, but wound up staying home with Charlotte due to an ear infection and nasty cold.  Anna's a bit in-between being ready and able to enjoy all that the regular museum had to offer (and a little too shy at times), but is a bit too grown-up for the toddler area.  That said, we found plenty to see, do and explore and we had a blast!  We played, we laughed, we sang, we built and then toppled over, and we ate lunch together afterwards.  A trip to the gift shop, a selfie out front, and jumping down the steps on the way to the car completed our fun morning.

Letter to Anna: Month thirty-five

Dear Anna,

I can’t believe that you’ll be three years old when I write this letter next month.  Wow!  Some days I feel like you’re two going on twenty and then you curl up in my lap or ask for a hug when you need reassurance and you’re my little girl all over again.  You have a heart of gold and are caring beyond your years at such a young age. 

You’re a girl through and through and back again.  You love to dress up as a princess, love all things pink, anything with glitter is a must, and you love to twirl and dance.  Sophia the First is one of your favorite shows and you can probably re-enact most episodes, and so could we given the number of times they are played.  You love to wear necklaces and refer to them as your “amulet”, just like Sophia, you have a pair of pink mary-janes that you refer to as your “glass slippers” and feel that you’re transformed into a princess with the simple addition of a dress or a skirt to your wardrobe; even in my robe or overcoat you’ll ask “Mommy, are you a princess today?” 

You’re growing and learning new things every day and sometimes it’s hard to pinpoint exactly where you picked something up.  I joked a few months ago that I’d likely still be helping you get dressed and undressed when you went to college, and then almost overnight you’re doing it independently.  Slowly and veeeerrryyyy deliberately, but independently.  One day you insisted you put your own underwear and pants on in the morning, sat down, sorted out the back from the front, and asked me if you were putting your foot in “the right tunnel?”  Shirts are a little harder, but you’re getting there, and are pretty good with shoes, only needing confirmation that “this is the right one, Mommy?” as you put them on.  You also LOVE the rain boots your Grandma got your for your 2^nd birthday, and I must admit they look adorable on you.  We had to put a child-lock on the coat closet door to limit the use of the accompanying umbrella, but that’s pretty cute too.  You’re getting much more opinionated about what you wear and I’m starting to lower my standards when it comes to matching or rotating outfits; as long as it’s clean and relatively fits, and gets you out the door before Noon, we’ll go with it. 

Your Dad does your bath most nights, a tradition that started when I was too pregnant to bend down and has continued as I nursed and now rock Charlotte to sleep. You guys have a ton of fun and I love to hear about all of the crazy happenings.  Most recently you love to use the bar soap to clean-up specific body parts and tell your Dad that you’re “cleaning off your messy Bessies.”  We’re not sure where that came from, but that’s a nickname your Grandpap called your Dad’s Grandma, so we love it and know Grandma Bessie (your middle namesake, Elizabeth) is beaming down with a big smile and lots of pride.  You insist on sleeping with about 12 blankets and 15 stuffed animals in your bed and will sometimes wake up pretty sweaty, telling us that “I’m all sweater-y!  Just all sweater-y!” 

We’ve been trying to make a point to do special “Anna dates,” especially you’re older and can appreciate outings in a different way than Charlotte.  Last month I took a day off work and we went to the Children’s Museum.  It was SO MUCH fun.  It was so great to just let loose with you and I enjoyed watching to you play and interact.  I loved the questions you’d ask, watching you enjoy the stations, seeing your eyes light up when you had put the pieces together at a station, and all of the hugs throughout the day.  You’re such a special little girl!  We enjoyed lunch afterwards, took a stroll through the gift shop, played in the fountains outside the museum, and took selfies before we headed to the car.  It was a perfect day and you were the perfect date. 

As much as you love alone time with us, you also love your sister fiercely.  You tend to her when she’s not feeling well, encourage her when you’re playing, tolerate her hair-pulling, lack of social skills and toy stealing, and genuinely want what’s best for her.  She was sick for several days last month and you wanted nothing more than to comfort her and help her feel better.  You’d pat her head and back, bring her toys, and offer comforting words.  It was true cute overload. 

Overall, you’re just more and more aware of the world around you and are able to understand situations regarding emotions.  We’re working on “listening ears” quite a bit now and I hate to squash your creative juices, but sometimes we can’t spend 20 minutes in the morning playing while we’re getting dressed.  I’ve started to try to make you understand consequences while keeping my cool and will often explain that I’m going to count to three and after that I won’t be as happy anymore.  It seems to work as you’ll usually perform the task at hand (usually brushing your teeth) and will ask “are you still happy Mommy?” as you finish up.  I went away on a girls’ trip for a couple of nights and the day I was returning you asked me over the phone “Did you go see the horsies, Mommy?  And find your friends, Mommy?”  I had been at Keeneland and I did find my friends, you were spot on! 

As grown up as you’re getting, you’re still my little girl.  You still cling to me in new situations, look to me for reassurance, and give me the best hugs.  Ever. With the sweetest little arms.  I hope you’ll always delight in showing me something new you’ve learned, will need my guidance, and will keep on giving those hugs. 

Love,

Mom

Letter to Charlotte: Month thirteen

Dear Charlotte,

I feel like the last month has flown by even faster than your first year, you’ve changed so much and are growing so fast!  Over the last month you weaned yourself from nursing, are now drinking whole milk from a sippy cup and eating real food (no more purees), and just yesterday you took your first steps.  Where did the infant that smashed her cupcake into her face go?  Because the little baby I remember has been replaced with a full-fledged toddler.

Because of the timing, your birthday party took place a few days after your actual birthday, which meant we were able to celebrate for several days, and you loved all of the attention.  You had so much fun seeing all of your immediate family, loved when we sang to you, loved opening presents (you might have loved the wrapping and tissue paper the most!), and loved being the center of attention.  You’re such a sweet and even-tempered girl, and although you have your Mommy-moments, you loved having such a big group around to celebrate you!

You’re weaned now and although I miss the extra-special bond that came with nursing, we were ready, and not rushed, when it ended.  I waited until after your birthday party and we slowly started trying different sippy cups; it took a few to figure out which one you liked the best and then it took about a week to get you used to the taste and temperature of whole milk.  We supplemented with whole milk smoothies that you still like to drink, but you did amazingly well.  I came down with a nasty cold a few days after your birthday party and that actually helped me finalize the weaning process.  We dropped your morning session first and that was easy because it was replaced with  breakfast in your high chair with me and Anna, and the night time session was the last to go.  I will always remember the first day I rocked you to sleep without nursing you.  I cried a little, but it was happy tears.  We’d made it!  I still rock you to sleep most nights and I will do that for as long as you’ll let me, it’s our special time and you’re my special girl.

You continue to be a rock star eater and we can always tell when you’re not feeling well or overly tired by the amount of food left on your plate.  You’re pretty open to most foods, but especially love fruit.  We shop over the weekend for our weekly meals, but it never fails that we have to make a return trip by Thursday to stock up on more produce.  You’re getting great at using those pincher fingers to pick up your food and will be ready to start practicing with a spoon pretty soon.  You’re great at telling us “all done” in sign language at the end of the meal, but are still working on the sign for “more” … you currently just yell at us to indicate that you’re still hungry and would like a second serving. 

You love to wave say “hi” and wave “hi” and “bye” to anyone and everyone.  Us, your teachers, the cats, even Mickey Mouse when he comes on the TV.  You’ve also learned to tell us you’re “soooo big” by throwing those little arms above your head when we ask “how big is Charlotte?”, and the grin that comes with it melts my heart.  You also love to read books.  And I mean love.  Before kids I would never have believed that an infant / toddler would actually understand anything about a book, but you do.  You love touch and feel books and have a rotation of about four that are your favorites.  You also LOVE Mr Brown Can Moo, by Dr. Seuss.  You’ll sit and go through those five books for hours; you know exactly where they are stored in the bookcase and will seek them out. 

You continue to have one of the most pleasant personalities of any baby I know, you’re just a happy, happy girl.  The only times you tend to fuss are when you’re tired, hungry, or not feeling well.  You had a couple of ear infections last month and it broke all our hearts to see you so down and out, you ran a fever for several days and just wanted to cuddle.  And, although I loved the extra snuggles, I was very happy to get my smiley girl back when you were on the mend.  You moved to a new room at school this month, now with the more mobile and bigger kids, and did great.  Your teachers were shocked at how content you are and just love you to pieces.  You cried at drop off for a few days, but acclimated quickly and are the apples of Miss Heather and Miss Denise’s eye. 

You’re on your way to walking and took your first steps just yesterday.  Or today if you count what we told your Dad.  You’re getting more stable and can go from a squatted position to standing and back again pretty well and can coast around with assistance like a pro, but you’d yet to take any unassisted steps.  Until yesterday at your Gigi’s.  All of the sudden you stood-up, took 4 steps and then did it again. Your Dad wasn’t there, so we set you up to do the same thing when we got home : )  I’m predicting that by the time I write your next letter you’ll be off and walking full speed ahead. 

Watching you grow from a baby to an infant and now moving into the toddler stage has been such a treat and every “first” amazes us just like it’s the first time we’ve ever seen anyone, anywhere crawl, take a step, put a bite of food in their mouth.  Your big little personality shines through in everything you do, from the minute you wake up when we hear you talking to your stuffed animals, to the big grins all day long, to the sweet snuggles at the end of the day. I can’t wait to be a part of so many more of your “firsts”, but hope they don’t come along too soon, because for now I love the special Mommy-moments and the fact that your Dad, your sister, and I are your first loves. 

Love,

Mom

Giving up gluten

About five months ago I started to have pain in my right knee and the only thing I could faintly remember that could have caused the sudden pain was twisting it one evening during bath time with the girls, nothing drastic and nothing overly physical.  It was a busy time at work and at home and I knew that there’d be no easy diagnosis; so, Advil, elevation and ice (when I remembered) were what I hoped were the quick fixes.  Mid-December I finally saw an orthopaedic surgeon at the practice that treated me when I broke my arm in 2009; three office visits and an MRI later that I learned a cyst had formed on my knee joint and was causing the pain and swelling.  Synovial chondromatosis was the official diagnosis and the first course of treatment included a steroid injection, a compression sleeve (for high impact activity), ice, elevation, and four weeks of physical therapy. 

None of which worked.

So, arthroscopic surgery it was.  In early February I went under the knife for the second time in my life.  Luckily this time I didn’t wake up to learn I had cancer.  Whew.  (Kidding … sort of)  They were able to remove the cyst and the inflamed lining of my knee joint in about 30 minutes.  The recovery process was fairly quick, I was back doing most normal activities within a week and felt much better than before the surgery, but still had swelling and some pain.  Physical therapy helped me to regain strength I’d lost, but at a post-op visit my surgeon noted that the synovium (joint lining) was extremely red and inflamed; more so that he’d ever seen in a patient without an underlying tear or dislocation.  The cyst he removed was about 1 cm in diameter, there’s no rhyme of reason to why it formed, and I’m now at risk for future cyst formations.  In the meantime a synovial biopsy and follow-up blood work revealed that I have the early stages of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

But, I’m not even 35?!?!  What the what?

I’m almost eight- weeks post-op and still having aches and pains in my bad knee, and still have some physical limitations.  I have swelling in both knees, more pronounced in my right knee and blood tests lean toward a full-blown RA diagnosis.  I’m on a high-dose pain reliever and anti-inflammatory twice a day that’s helping very little and still has me hobbling at times and awake with aches and pain in the middle of the night. 

Enter all the talk of gluten free diets. And how it seems like a bunch of hooey and another fad diet to me. 

Until I talk to a neighbor that has been gluten-free since last June and started the diet as a means to see if it would help with swelling she had in her foot, a running injury.  And, it did, and she feels great!  She doesn’t have celiac disease, but clearly has some level of gluten intolerance.

I spent a few days reading up on joint swelling and going gluten free and have read countless stories of people that found relief by giving up wheat.  And to boot they have more energy, have lost weight, and ditched prescription medication, not to mention the digestive benefits.  

So, I’m giving it a try.  If giving up a few things on my plate means that I’m able to more naturally get back to my more active self, then I’m game.  If it means there’s a chance I can ditch the prescription medicines, count me in.

As I sat in the rheumatologist’s office during my first appointment, I read in Arthritis Today (yes, this is a real magazine, and yes, I was reading it), that losing one pound of body weight takes the equivalent of four pounds of pressure off your knee joints.  This gave me the swift kick in the rear that I needed to truly focus on losing those last 10-20 pounds that have been hanging around the last few years.  Imagine lifting 40-80 pounds of pressure off your joints just by eating better and exercising regularly?!

Gluten is found in a wide variety of foods, but mostly those that I don’t really need to be eating anyway.  I’m three days in and realizing that it’s a lot easier to stick to diet restrictions for your health and not just a number on a scale.  Did I ever need to nosh on those goldfish snacks or graham crackers the girls left laying around while I'm making dinner?  No. Will I miss the bread basket when eating out?  Heck yeah!  Luckily wine and dark chocolate are still on the menu : )

I’m taking it a day and a food at a time, adjusting our meal plans to accommodate some newer foods and some healthier options.  Lucky for me, I know several people going down this diet-road and because it’s a popular diet there are a ton of options at the grocery store down the street, no specialty store needed.  Sure I’ll miss bread and pizza crust, but it’s a very small price to pay for my health.  And, if I see results after a month, there’s nothing to say that I can’t cheat here and there.  I’m a Kentucky girl, after all, I’ll HAVE to have my fried chicken from time to time. 

My goal is to regain full use of my knee, including the ability to run.  Charlotte is weaned and I'm ready to hit the open road!  I’ll keep you posted on my progress and any good gluten free recipes I come across. In the meantime, wish me luck ... and enjoy a piece of bread for me.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ...

CUPCAKES!  Yes, not the traditional next line, but that's what Anna and her cousin, Aiden, were most excited about at Charlotte's birthday party.  After running up the stairs, sliding down, bopping balloons, checking out Charlotte's new toys, they were ready to refuel with pure sugar.

So much energy!  At this point they were chanting "cupcakes, cupcakes, cupcakes!!!!!"