First bath time together...

Well we gave it a try but Brooklyn is still a little young! She's been using the infant tub in the kitchen sink but she's growing and soaking the kitchen with her crazy splashing. I wanted to get them both baths tonight and figured we'd try it together.

Tuck was very gentle and tried to share his toys with her, it was cute. I only kept Brooklyn in there for a short time and probably won't do it again until she's a bit bigger. She didn't whine or anything, happy little baby.

Lovely weekend outside!!!

Yehaa! Both kids feeling much better and the sun was shining all weekend! We had decided days ago to stay put this weekend and rest up for the back to school again next week. Tuck woke up Saturday morning and said, "Eat outside, deck." okay buddy, on the deck you go. Nahne and Uncle Jeff came over mid-morning to play which worked out well because we slept in a little. Brooklyn is not back to sleeping her normal self yet so we have been up a lot at night, me feeding her at least 2 times again. Jay took her downstairs early morning and I got to sleep until 7:30am!!!

Anyway I really wanted to tackle my flower beds so we brought the kids outside. Actually Brooklyn didn't stay up long so when she fell asleep, I put on the gardening gloves and Jay took Tuck to mow the lawn. Tucky loves tractors and we've figured the safest way to involve him is to have him ride in the trailer. That way he's away from the mower but still gets to have a tractor ride. Uncle Jeff even got roped into going for a ride too... yeah he loved it, we know. I weeded, moved plants around and mulched my flower bed. It was the first time in a long time that I could work for over an hour straight, no interruptions...crazy! Nahne and Jeffy hung out with the kids and we had a big BBQ on the deck in the sun!





Mimi and Poppi stopped by on their way back from Florida. They had driven down over vacation week to visit with Big Annie (Tucky and Brooke's great-grandmother). We visited for awhile on the deck and of course, Tuck was reeling in the attention.

Today we all got up, had breakfast and loaded up the truck for a trip to Bingham. We were going pick up a raft that we bought and check out the other gear. It ended up being a nice day so Tuck got to play outside with Daddy as he blew up rafts. He had his foamie kayaker attached to a NRS strap and was dragging it around, how funny. Brooklyn took naps and enjoyed the weather too. We're all super excited to finally have a raft!!! I want Jay to rig up a fishing frame so we can do some river float/fish trips, Tuck would absolutely go crazy!

After both kids had long naps on the ride home, I clipped nails, gave Tuck a haircut (good one I might add) and then baths. Off to bed and back to work tomorrow.


By the way, my dancing pajama boy was grooving to "Hey Soul Sister" by Train. He absolutely loves that song and every time it comes on the radio we have to stop and dance with him!

Vacation week at home

Well I think we might be rounding the corner on these nasty colds. Tuck is definitely doing 100 percent better and Brooklyn is working that way, although she is still not feeling great yet. The weather has been great the last couple days so that we've been able to get outside a ton. I'm hoping that the fresh air will help with their recoveries.



The deck is definitely Tuck's favorite place to be. We've moved a bunch of his toys out there and I end up lugging more from inside as well. Hey, he's contained and he loves it. Casco sits right next to him. Lately he's been parallel parking his vehicles while Brooklyn and I swing, it's really funny. She likes the fresh air too and today I let her lay down and kick while I used the swing. Tucky kept coming over to say hi and give hugs, what a cutie. I got some cute shots of them together, not easy as fast as he moves.







While Brooklyn was napping the last two days, Tuck and I have starting working with the flower beds. I'm teaching him to pick weeds, not the pretty flowers. He has his own little tools and despite not liking to have dirty hands when he eats, he loves the dirt! He's helped me repot a few plants and is quite careful handling them, well most of them. I can't wait for him to help with the garden, he'll love it!

3 more days of vacation and getting past these colds. It has been so nice not to have any schedule, well except for those 3 doctors visits...

Home with sick kids

Yikes, now another one is sick... So after Tuck's bout with his cold/pneumonia, he is now feeling much better and the energy/appetite is back. He's still got a little cough but he's rounded the corner I think.

Brooklyn however, has caught his cold and she's having a rough one now. Poor little girl. I brought her to the doctor yesterday when Tuck got checked out and now she's being treated for the same thing he was. Her congestion is primarily in her head now although she has a nasty cough, but they don't want it to turn into pneumonia at all.
She's been sleeping about 3+ hours in the morning but can't settle enough to get a good nap in the afternoon. This has been super challenging because I know she's tired and now that Tuck's energy is back, it makes for an interesting day. Last night she was up at 2am and after feeding her, Jay brought her downstairs and gave her a little nebulizer because she was really coughing badly. After that she was able to sleep for a few more hours, waking us up at 5:30am... The night before she slept through the night for the first time, although I think it was because she was so exhausted.


Luckily it's school vacation week and we're able to be home with zero plans. I just want them both to feel better, I hate watching them be sick and not being able to do much about it.

Since Tuck is now feeling better, he's wanting to be on the deck again from the time he gets up until bedtime. I've resorted to bringing all his big toys outside for him, otherwise he tries to move them himself. He asked for breakfast on the deck this morning... I walked outside after a few minutes yesterday to see him line up all his cars and tractor into a big line and call it a "choo choo." It was really cute. He also got to help me re-pot the tomato plants that we started growing in late January...they're really big now. He loves playing in the dirt and is interested in plants so I took some lettuce we have growing and now he has his very own "Tuck plant."


Oh and that sticker design on the window... I was taking care of Brooklyn for a few minutes and noticed Tuck was quiet... so we walked in to find all 30 of his dump truck stickers on the window and crayon connecting them. Yes I know this will be the first of many!

Gray Animal Farm w/Dunn's

A rainy weekend and no plans at all...love it! We don't have these very often and we desperately needed one with Tucky being sick all week. Things are getting better for him though and he's eaten the last two days!

We all slept in a little this morning and we all needed it. Brooklyn's been waking a few times to eat so she must be heading into a growth spurt or something. Luckily Tuck slept really well, 12 hours straight to be exact and you could tell that he was feeling better this morning.

The Dunn's called us and said they were heading to Gray Animal Farm. It wasn't super sunny out but it wasn't raining either and I thought it would be good for us all to get out. We met them at 9:30ish and had Tuck in a stroller and Brooklyn in another, carseat and all since she was sleeping. Parking wasn't an issue as we were the only people there...place to ourselves.

The sun kept popping out for brief moments as we visited the animals. They were surprisingly active for being chilly and quiet out. We fed the bears their food and the deer got some corn kernels. Tuck was also showing Sage how bears growl and I'm not quite sure if she liked that. We almost walked right past the deer, they were blended in well. The moose came out of hiding, we saw ducks, owls, eagles and especially the peacocks! They were strutting their stuff around and also making noises, very loud noises.

Brooklyn slept in her car seat stroller and then I carried her in the Bjorn. She got to face out a little and then she slept for a good hour or so facing in. We spent a few hours there and both Tuck and Sage were ready for naps. Brookie woke up just as we were leaving so I fed her in the truck and Jay gave Tuck a snack before we left. I'm glad we got out and I know Tuck was excited to see the animals...even though this morning he asked to see a giraffe??? haha

Tough week back to work

Sick toddler, baby not taking bottle, I'm back to work... definitely a big transition for us all. Somehow Tuck came down with a nasty cold that has worked itself into a fever, ever since Monday afternoon. Jay got out of work early, picked Tuck up at Cindy's and has been home with him ever since. He's pretty miserable right now but luckily he has been able to sleep a lot the last couple days. Last night wasn't so great, he was up a lot and just not feeling well at all. Jay said he slept most of the day today but still wants to play a lot too. He isn't eating much at all but luckily he's able to drink lots of fluids. I'm really hoping this passes quickly and that Brooklyn doesn't catch it. I'm out of sick time after taking 3 months of maternity leave so Jay's staying home with Tuck and that has worked out well. Tomorrow Grammy EE is coming down to take care of Tucky.


Brooklyn has been going to Cindy's because I don't want her to catch it and it's much easier to care for Tuck by himself. Plus, she is starting to develop a nice little routine at Cindy's, well besides not totally taking a bottle yet. We have had some nice developments though and she is sucking on the bottle more regularly, although still only taking an ounce or two.

Right now I'm feeding her when I drop her off in the morning, driving to Cindy's at lunch to feed her. Then she's been sleeping most of the afternoon, maybe having an ounce at Cindy's but waiting until I get there around 4pm to feed her again. It seems to work for her and is making our lives manageable. The bottle taking thing will come, but in the meantime she's happy, gaining weight and I feel okay about it.



I bought Brooklyn a bumbo seat off Craigslist the other day and we tried it for the first time tonight. I had one for Tuck but he spit up so much that we really didn't use it a lot. Brooklyn loved it, which I figured she would because she loves to look out. She sat in there for over ten minutes, just watching Tucky play trucks. It was really cute because he wanted to show her all his toys. What a good big brother!

Two more days this week and then we're off on school vacation. I am so looking forward to laying low with the kiddos, hopefully with Tuck's sickness gone!

Playing at Penobscot - foam boater

It seemed like we hit all parts of the state this weekend! Friday night after Jay got out of work, we drove up to EE and Papi's house in Waterville to visit with them. On Saturday morning we all got up early, well Tuck started it off at 6am with "Play, Mommy, Daddy." I had to go to Bingham to my First Aid/CPR course all day Saturday. Jay, Elise and the kids also came up for the morning to look at a raft and then I was able to feed Brooklyn a few times as well. I was surprised when I got out to find Jay giving her a bottle though, and she was actually taking it. It was probably the first time she has taken a bottle and not fussed, we were all quite happy!



Mimi, Poppi and Uncle Jeff picked the kids and I up in Waterville later Saturday afternoon and we drove down to Penobscot. Jay had to get in a day of ski patrol on Sunday so he stayed there and went up early the next morning.

Janet and Uncle Trap were already down there and we stayed at their house. It was the first time that Tuck, Brooklyn and I stayed in the same room. They were both tired so it actually went pretty well. However, Tuck had on a nightlight and every time I heard a noise, I woke up and check the kids. Twice Tuck had rolled off his little inflatable bed so I picked him back up, he didn't even wake up. Brooklyn woke up at 3am to feed and after I fed her, I unplugged the night light and we all slept better.











It was a chilly day, but nice to be down at Penobscot. Jeff, Janet and I took Tuck to this little brook and spent about an hour playing with his foam kayaker that Daddy made him for Easter. Jeff and I cleared out the debris and there was enough water to have it go through the culvert. I don't know who was having more fun, Tucky or us!

We spent most of the rest of the day inside because it got much colder out. Around 4pm we left and drove back to Oakland to meet up with Jay. Mimi helped give the kids baths and after eating lasagna, we loaded the car and headed out around 7pm. Brooklyn was exhausted from crying with some gas pains so she fell right asleep. Tuck was overtired and wouldn't go to sleep. Once we hit Augusta, he started screaming "Mommy" as loud as he could, waking Brooklyn. I had to ride up back with them and try to get him to stay calm but he wouldn't go to sleep. It was not a fun ride but he did go to sleep as soon as he got home.

We were gone all weekend and I hope that's it for awhile. Now that I'm back to work, it's too hard right now to go away like this and it's not fair on the kiddos to not get to bed on time on Sunday night. One more week of school and then it's vacation week!