Visiting Felicity!

Felicity

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEMOM!!

Felicity, MeMom, Morgan Felicity & MeMom

Happy Birthday to a wonderful mother who is always there for everyone!! No matter what she always gives more than she should for those she knows and loves and for strangers too! We all love you mom, even if we don't tell/show you enough! Thank you for all you do!

We came down to Maryland to visit little Felicity! She has surpassed her birth weight by an ounce! She now weighs 7 pounds 4 ounces! She is so tiny compared to RJ!! Just 5 months ago he was smaller than her...now he is a tank! She is still in the precious quiet easy going stage! Working on two weeks old! Wow! Hopefully she will stay quiet and content for her Momma and Daddy!

Tired-Stressed Out Thursday

Last night was a doosey...Morgan had a difficult time sleeping, she went up to bed around 8:30 and needed comforting around 9:30 and then again around 10:30. She fussed off and on throughout the night. Ear infection? Teething? RJ didn't sleep too great either...he didn't really want to cuddle in bed or sleep in his bassinet...he wanted to be rocked in the chair while nursing for a big chunk of the night. (Momma's little monster!)

Dropped RJ off with Aunt Anne and headed to the doctor with Morgan to get everything checked out. Didn't really want to take RJ into the germs and Aunt Anne was kind enough to watch RJ on short notice! Morgan could answer "bottom, ears, and mouth" to the question of what the doctor was going to look at per lots of rehearsal in the car. Doctor checked her out...no ear infection, no molars cutting through (although her gums were a bit swollen in the back), and the rash on her hiney did not look fungal. So...we got some steroid to use on the rump for two weeks to clear up whatever type of rash she had, and a refill on helping her poop medicine then headed home. I guess that was good news...nothing was wrong...but sometimes one would wish something was wrong that we could 'fix'!

Dropped Morgan at the sitter and headed to go get RJ from Aunt Anne. He had a great time and was entertained by the Giampa twins. I'm sure he was wide-eyed watching them all around him!

Then came the absolutely crazy news! Long story short...because I am on maternity leave and do not have a current salary we were not going to qualify for our mortgage. Now...why would you tell us this one week before we were going to settle!! Nothing I can do about my working situation now! The mortgage guy commented that he was unaware that I would be out on maternity...hello...isn't that part of your job?! You knew we were expecting a little one, wouldn't you question how long the maternity leave would be?! I know I am not the FIRST pregnant lady to get a mortgage! Frustration setting in... luckily Dad is co-signing with us, but geez... I feel like a child again needing Daddy to bail me out! I also feel bad, he shouldn't have to do that for us...but very thankfully he willingly said he would sign until later notice when we can refinance and actually own the house ourselves! If it is not one thing it is another!! Our whole dealings with for this house has been very stressful! Only a few more days to go... THANK GOODNESS!

What?

These last few days have been full of 'what?' Sorry for the delay in a post...things have been busy and I've been a bit overwhelmed!

A couple days ago RJ sat unassisted in the tri-pod position without falling over for several minutes! Is that considered sitting?! Before he even hits 5 months!!

Morgan came down with another bout of ringworm...or so I think! (She now has a doctor appointment on Thursday to confirm with an actual medical professional)

Yesterday Morgan came down with a fever of 101 or so making her hush hush all day! She didn't want to talk all day! She loves to talk so it was strange for her to play mute all day! Not sure if it was a secondary characteristic of the ringworm or if it was a secondary of teething...maybe her 2 year old molars working their way in?

Last night RJ slept for a straight 6 hours! FINALLY!! After he got rid of his cold he has been much happier and sleeping better! Thank goodness, I was getting extremely sleep deprived!

Morgan's favorite food to eat right is fruit snacks. She has been referring to them as "a-as" from day one. Cute! Today she asked for "rui-as". Her approximations are beginning to sound more like real words! She is growing up!!

This morning...Morgan the monkey climbed out of her crib, opened her door and came into the hallway then closed her door and was calling for "Momma" from the top of the steps! Insane!! Hopefully she doesn't continue this trick!!! I don't want to move her to a bed yet, but if she continues these acrobatics then we will need to move her sooner rather than later!

Just pics

No time to write...just a few pics of the kiddos...

RJ has gotten a terrible cold...so he has been all time consuming! Try to write soon!

Recap from Yesterday

Waiting...

and waiting...

and WAITING...

AND WAITING...

and FINALLY the announcement!

We got the first call early am that Nikki and Bobby were at the hospital and she was 6 cm dilated. Around 8am she was up to an 8. Bob, the kids and I got ready and left to head down around 10am...anticipating our "It's a..." any moment as we drove. We got down to the hospital in Annapolis with no call so we stopped at Denny's for a quick bite to eat before heading over to the hospital...still no call...waiting, waiting, waiting! Poor Nikki! Around 2:30pm her Dad appeared from being with her and said she was going to start pushing shortly. Bob, the kids and I continued to wait...Aunt Meg showed up...still waiting...MeMom and PopPop showed up...still waiting...Bobby came down around 5:00 announcing Felicity Nicole Rounay had been born around 4:30pm after an hour and forty five minutes of pushing and a drug free delivery for Nikki! Wow!! Congratulations Rounay FAMILY!! My brother...now a father...I'm sure he will be amazing...but that is scarey...Bobby...a FATHER!!

We are are so excited...back dating...I had a dream a month or so ago now that she was going to have a girl, Aunt Meg had a dream a week or so ago that she was going to have a girl...and poof...she had a girl! Nikki is so ecstatic! She thought she was going to have a boy...so a girl excited her sooo much...she commented, "I can't wait to play barbies with her!"

Felicity

Happy and tired Daddy with his daughter Felicity!

Proud Aunt Beth and Felicity!

We can't wait to go visit again and have Morgan and RJ meet their new and first cousin!

WELCOME LITTLE ONE!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FELICITY ROUNAY!

Happy Birthday Felicity Nicole Rounay! You were born today to your wonderful parents! Lots of love!! You were born around 4:30 in the afternoon, weighed 7 pounds 3 ounces and were 19.5 inches long! You are going to have so much fun with your cousins and they can't wait to meet you! Hopefully Morgan and RJ can make frequent trips down to visit you! More tomorrow!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Happy Valentine's Day! Bob and I celebrated our meal (with the kids) on Thursday night because he is working all weekend. It was nice, slightly romantic with a candle burning, and lots of love because we shared our meal with our love bugs!

Daddy was very thoughtful and bought me flowers today. I was very surprised because I did not expect anything and found them on the table when I woke up!

The rest of the day was relaxing. Went up to the house (twice...once with Pop Pop and once with Aunt Meggie), MeMom made stuffed hoagies for supper, and then the kids and I relaxed the rest of the night (while Daddy worked and the rest of the family went to see the play that Daddy and I saw last weekend). Oh, Morgan also gave out her V-day cards that she made to the family (I went to the store to buy cards and got there around 9:30am...the store didn't open until 10am...that was an omen to have Morgan make them and save the money!) Nothing else exciting to report, just love to all!

What a day...

Today has been a bit rougher than usual! Last night started out great! RJ fell asleep and was put down in his bassinet around 10:15pm...but then he was awake around midnight...put back down around 1am...awaken (as was I) by Daddy coming to bed just a little bit after 3am...at which time RJ decided it was time to get up for the day! He was up until just before 7am when he nursed back to sleep (FINALLY). Don't worry... at five after eight Morgan woke up (earlier than usual) and we all got up by 8:30am. I woke up with a case of the sleepies and a nasty headache which has just gotten worse as the day has progressed.

We stopped over my in-laws to pick up a dining room light fixture they kindly bought for us to replace the silly fake gold one that we noticed hanging when we visited the house yesterday. After visiting Grandmom for a little while we headed over to Lowe's to pick up a few odds and ends for the house and then back to the new house to drop everything off. The house is looking better...but I was really surprised to find only one carpentry guy there working when we got there...maybe everyone was out to lunch, but it didn't look like any personal belongings were left for their return, so I guess they really weren't working today! Things that make you go hmmm...with only 21 days to go! Guess they know what they are doing...

After we got home Morgan went down for a late nap and Daddy took a nap leaving RJ with me... wish he would have taken a nap so I could have napped too, but no such luck! I am really trying hard today to have patience...this headache is putting me on a short fuse!

Daddy headed to work and Morgan ate two yogurts and some grapes for supper...that is what she wanted and I wasn't about to argue with her...I didn't have the energy! She watched a few episodes of Mickey and headed to bed. The whole time we could hear RJ crying, but he needs to learn I can't hold him ALL the time!! I had to get Morgan to bed and needed both arms! Let's pray he sleeps better tonight!!

House update

Just a few new pictures from the house! We are starting to get excited now...the countdown is officially on!

doorbell!

kids bathroom

kitchen sink

laundry room tub! (to wash very dirty objects...and dogs!)

kitchen

Beautiful "Hot" Winter Day?

Today was a gorgeous day! I am bummed that I forgot to take my camera outside with me today! We had so much fun! As we went outside this morning the neighboring farm kittens were wandering around our driveway. Morgan and I sat down and the cat I nicknamed Paws (b/c he was all black except for his white paws and white chest) came over and enjoyed getting pet from both Morgan and me! Maybe I should kidnap him to catch mice at our new house?! Hmmm... Next Morgan, RJ and I went for a walk on the nearby walking path along with Lacey and Nickel! I felt pretty empowered...handling not only my two kiddos but the two strong dogs as well! On the walk we saw lots of little wildlife including several squirrels, birds, fish, other dogs and other humans! Everyone seemed to have a similar idea...get out of the house! After we got home from our walk we played outside with Morgan's outside toys. She did not want to come inside! Neither did I, it was so beautiful!

Was yours, now his!

Morgan's eyes lit up when she saw this contraption! The exersaucer was a blast out of the past for Morgan and she actually seemed to remember it! She tried to climb in...only falling over with the saucer on top of her was not her idea! I explained she was too big to climb in but she could play with the toys from the outside and show her brother how to play. That seemed to make her happy and she entertained RJ in the exersaucer for a good ten minutes before she got bored, wandered away and RJ started fussing! A free ten minutes for me...although I ended up just watching anyway! A new toy to hopefully keep him content for a brief moment, even if it is so I can hit the bathroom!

On top of the new toy...RJ also had his first pool experience! I took him over to the pool today to see how he would like it! He was cool, calm, and collected the whole time! He just floated around in my arms without a tear! He was a champ for his first underwater experience too! Just a couple big blinks and a 'what did you just do to me Momma' look, but no tears! I love the pool and want my kiddos to enjoy swimming as much as I do!

Morgan was at the sitter today. When I picked her up I was told she wanted to play more with the babies than she did the little girl her age! Guess she likes being the big helper! She had a good day, although she didn't want me to leave her! She got over it after I told her to see what she had for breakfast! (As all the kiddos peered into her never-ending cold bag!)

Side note...RJ woke up this morning with two humongous cuts on his face today! I just filed his nails down... guess it's back to the drawing board!

Magic in the air!

Today Aunt Melanie, the kiddos and I got up for church and headed to breakfast. (Daddy went into work to do some overtime and catch some speeders!) RJ amazingly slept through almost the entire mass and Morgan only called out a few times...thank goodness for food! She nibbled on fruit snacks and pancakes throughout mass today. She did say a few "Amen's" and held hands for the Our Father...so she is slowly getting used to mass. Oh, and she gave our weekly contribution to the basket as it came around (that is her favorite part). We all had a yummy breakfast after mass, although RJ woke up half way through asking for his breakfast!

We rushed home, fed RJ and got a bottle ready for Morgan before Daddy rolled in the door and we again left for an afternoon out! Laymen Playmen (a local amateur group of people who put on plays) were putting on the Wizard of Oz. It was a nice performance. My aunt and cousin were both in it and my uncle took care of all the lighting and sound. Dorothy seemed a little shaky, but the scarecrow and the lion made the show! Bob and I enjoyed it and headed home to rescue poor Aunt Melanie from our cherubs!

Got home and Morgan was still napping and RJ was being held (when held, he doesn't cry...so holding him makes him much more enjoyable!). Daddy made steak for supper and soon after supper Aunt Melanie headed home b/c she had to get ready for work tomorrow! I enjoy not having to get up at the crack of dawn for work!!

NEW TRICK!! RJ can now grab his feet and almost has them up to his mouth!! Magic is in the air!

MeMom and PopPop rolled in the door a little before 10 from visiting the family down in Maryland. Still no baby news from Auntie Nikki...although she said she's ready!! RJ is all smiles tonight, hope it keeps up!

Right Here!

Right Here...Morgan's newest favorite phrase! Everything is "ight hea" when I ask her where something is! She has been answering "yup" for a week or so now to a yes/no question. It makes me think about what I am saying...do I say yup a lot? or right here! a lot? Hmm!

Today was a busy day! After I discovered that somehow my expensive Northface Jacket had fallen on the floor where one of my dogs (probably Lacey) chewed several holes in it we all headed out to breakfast. After we gobbled up breakfast and had full bellies we headed over to check out our new house. We were told it would be left open so we could get in, nope! It was locked and we had to wait until someone showed up to unlock it. Go figure! Once in I got to see the granite! It looks really nice! I think it went well with the cabinetry! Now for a paint color...I am thinking maybe gold? After wandering around our house and looking in all the rooms for anything else possibly new (as I noticed the sinks don't look very wide, nice and deep but not too wide, and the kids bathtub looks shorter than a standard tub) we headed to the paint store to see what colors we could find! I think I took 40 different color swatches to start pondering about colors! This will be a tough decision b/c I don't want to make a mistake and repaint in 2 years! Carting the samples home we gave Morgan a quick bite to eat and then her bottle before whisking her away for nap. RJ got nursed so he became glassy-eyed and content as Daddy and I looked over the paint samples! I originally wanted to do an accent wall in the family room that matched the kitchen color but that seems to be going no where b/c now I am thinking of a goldish color in the kitchen but a brown tone in the family room (which wouldn't match too well). We'll see! RJ's room is decided on! I am still thinking about a Mickey theme for Morgan's room but we'll see about that one too! Maybe a green tone for our room? Just thoughts, need to ponder a bit more!

Aunt Melanie came over to watch the kids for us while we went out to Bob's after-holiday party for work. It was a very nice affair! I had my first alcohol since...hmm...can't remember! Bob had a 'good' time if you know what I mean and it was nice to socialize with the other wives - we don't get to see them very often, I just hear hear-say from Bob that came from the other husbands...which I'm sure gets twisted a bit!

We got home after our night out to find RJ asleep on Aunt Melanie! I'm surprised Aunt Melanie was still awake...after 11 at night if RJ falls asleep on me I'm usually a goner too!

Missed saying goodnight to my kiddos, but they were well behaved for Aunt Melanie and that is all that matters!

No baby call yet from my brother...it will be any day now!! Maybe tomorrow...

Bathtime!

A couple cute pictures from bathtime!

Rough, very rough day

Today was a rough day. I love my children so very much but today they really pushed my buttons and pushed me to the edge!!

RJ has been having a difficult time separating from me. Whenever he is put down on the floor to play with his overhead toys or sat in his swing or bouncy seat after 3 minutes he starts whaling. I pick him up and a switch turns off and he is the happy baby I know and love! Now... the last few days he is having a hard time letting anyone else hold him but me. He has been crying anytime I pass him off to anyone! I can not get anything done! I tried putting him in the Bjorn but he wiggles and squirms and I can't reach what I am trying to do! Today I had to do some dishes and make lunch for myself so I put him down and he screamed and screamed! I could not take it!!! I picked him up and tried to calm him down, no luck...still screaming in my ear (and Morgan was down for a nap...we can't have him wake her up!! Not when he are trying to get her to continue napping). Maybe he was hungry? Tried that and he screamed louder. I did not know what to do...so I put him down in the sun room and closed the door and let him scream for a little while, while I indulged in some yummy chocolate...that is a good fix right? (A BIG fall of the diet I have been doing!). After I regrouped I went in and picked him up and he slowly calmed down and fell asleep...so would I after all that crying, I'm sure he exhausted himself! Any suggestions on how to stop crying?!

Morgan...oh...my Morgan... She wanted to sit on her potty in the kitchen today. Great!! She sat down on her potty and read her Elmo-potty book and her "Where's the poop" book without a drop of pee-pee. She said all done and said "iapa" (diaper). I told her not yet and to stay in the kitchen. She kept bugging me to get a diaper so I finally told her, ok go bring Momma a diaper. Well...in the process she came back to me in the kitchen and said "uh-oh" pointing down. What did I see but a wet leg... Morgan went into the family room and somehow managed to pee not only on the carpet in front of the basket that holds her diapers but in the basket that holds her diapers?! Pee everywhere...on diapers, on the wipes box, on the basket liner, on the pasty cream, and on the rug in front of the basket! URGH! Couldn't you have just gone in the potty?! Immediate bath after that wonderful trick!

I really love my kiddos...but today they really tried my patience! (And did I mention RJ is still only sleep maybe 2.5 hour chunks...so minimal sleep under my belt doesn't help much!) Pray for me!