Cute Phillies Phans!

What better way to root for the Phillies than to dress the kids in the gear! Too cute! Just want to eat up those kiddos!

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Morgan and I went to playgroup today and she had a good time. After she warmed up (2 minutes) she 'played' with the other kiddos the best almost 2 year olds play together! It was a little bit of a smaller turn out, but sometimes that is nicer! Next week's playgroup will be Halloween themed so that should be fun!

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After playgroup Morgan, RJ and I headed down to Aston to visit our cousin Laura and her son Justin (pictured in the photo). It was great to visit with them and catch up! Morgan tried to destroy the house, but I think we managed to put it back together before we left...she did spill her whole prunes on her lap...thank goodness for an extra outfit in the diaper bag, good ol' diaper bag!

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Both kids fell asleep on the way home so only peaceful sounds came from the back of the car and the kiddie music could be turned off! Yipee, adult radio even if only for 20 minutes!

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GO PHILLIES!

Precious Moments

Morgan is very interested in "baby" RJ.

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Little things I'm sure I will not remember in 10 years...

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Morgan continues to call RJ "baby"

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Morgan will not get her diaper changed unless RJ gets his diaper changed

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Morgan wants to eat every time RJ eats (maybe she'll gain some weight!!)

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Morgan makes sure RJ always has both his socks on

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Morgan wants RJ to always have a hat on his head

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Morgan insists in keeping RJ covered (sometimes his face too) with a blanket

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Morgan loves to burp RJ

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Morgan loves to hold RJ

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RJ is just starting to focus on people and lifts his head to familiar voices

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Morgan wanting a clip in her hair just to pull it out and have Momma put it back in again...over and over and over again

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When Morgan gets up from a nap asking for anyone else except who gets her up!

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Morgan calling for "Momma, DaDa, Ace (Lacey), i-eee (Nikki)"

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Telling Morgan to say I love you and her response... "I ou" with a high pitch voice

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Morgan willingly helps clean, throw things away, and clean up her toys!

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Just a few things that I will never remember but love to see happening!

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I love my kids...even if they run me ragged during the day!

TANK!

Today was the first day I took Morgan back to the sitter since RJ was born. We will be taking her once a week for the rest of the time I am home so she gets some interaction with her peers and some time for her to have to herself without the 'baby' being around! It was hard for her to stay at the sitter! She cried as I left which as always breaks my heart, but I know she is only putting on an act for her Momma! When I picked her up this afternoon I was told Morgan had a great time playing with all her friends! I knew she would!!

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While Morgan was at the sitter I ran a few errands with RJ, did some wash, and headed to the nursing group I went to religiously every Thursday with Morgan from four days after she was born until I returned to work! I wanted to go and see how RJ was doing in his weight gaining! When he was put on the scale (butt naked) he weighed in at 7 pounds 10 ounces! A week and a half ago Monday at his first doctor's appointment he weighed in at 6 pounds 11 ounces! So even if the scales are a little different, he has still gained a ton of weight! My little tanker!! Night and day from Morgan! At group today there were a couple moms that I met when I went with Morgan that are also back with number 2! It was nice to chat and catch up a little bit!

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Did I mention RJ slept for a five hour stint last night! Awesome little guy!! Guess that's what happens when you have a wonderfully full belly! I didn't realize how loud little boys are when they sleep!! RJ loves to snort, moan, groan, sigh, yawn, etc all in his sleep! I have heard from many other moms that their boys were the same! Morgan was soooo silent! I am learning to sleep through the noise since RJ will be in his bassinet for quite a while longer!

Freddy Hill Farms!

What a fun day we had yesterday!! Aunt Meggie and Uncle Andy joined Daddy, Morgan, RJ, and I in a fun day of fall fest at Freddy Hill Farms. I (and Aunt Meggie) worked at the farm scooping ice cream for many years throughout high school and college breaks so we have a bond with Freddy Hill.

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Like every other crazy mother and father Bob and I wanted to have a fun fall experience with Morgan and RJ. Wanted to go to the pumpkin patch, take a pony ride, sit on big tractors, play in the hay, pick pumpkins, watch pig races, and eat homemade ice cream...spend all our money, and come home full of ice cream and happy with our pumpkin finds! We had a beautiful day to go out! It was very very crowded but we had a great time! Morgan was a little worried about the pony ride so we skipped that but she enjoyed everything else! RJ...well...he just slept and ate while at the farm. Guess you can say he had a good time!! We all found pumpkins we liked and had a good time with all the different activities going on! As always the homemade ice cream was delicious!

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We got home tired, hot, and broke, but most important happy! We had a lot of fun and seeing Morgan's delight in testing out new textures and walking gingerly around vines in the pumpkin patch was such a blast! Can't wait to go back again next year!!

Sleep

RJ is being a champ! He is sleeping 3-4 hour stretches at night! When he wakes up he eats and immediately goes back to sleep! It is great! Morgan is going down between 8:30-9 at night and sleeping until 8:30-9 in the morning so we are in good shape! RJ still sleeps away the majority of his day, but I'm sure that will change soon! Let's just hope his night habits don't regress!

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The weather has been beautiful! Morgan and I have been taking advantage of the weather and playing outside during some of RJ's nap time! Morgan loves to play with her balls, slides, and chalk! I love this weather! Warm during the day and sweater weather in the evening!

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Changing topics...the more I look at RJ the more I am not sure he looks like Morgan as a babe! He has some of the same qualities, but lots of differences are emerging! The shape of their head is different, they have different noses, different hair...but they are both beautiful! (Slightly prejudice) I think the RJ truly looks like a little baby boy!

Love it!

I am still a proud Momma of two! Having two little ones has been wonderful! RJ still loves to eat and when he wakes up in the middle of the night he eats and goes right back to sleep! That is the perfect little baby! At his doctor's appointment the beginning of the week he has already surpassed his birth weight weighing in at 6 pounds 11 ounces! Go champ!! We do not have to return for a month! With Morgan b/c she had such a hard time nursing (at first) we had a doctor appointment every other day for like the first two weeks! RJ was given a wonderful clean bill of health! He has gained weight, has no jaundice, and all his body parts look like they are in perfect condition! Thanks Doctor, you made our day!

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Morgan continues to be great with him, smothering him with kisses and being a big helper! She is great at getting things upon request...please get him his sock...please throw his diaper in the trash...she loves to help, so we give her helper jobs!

Total enjoyment!

These last few days have been wonderful! It is so amazing to have two children! I think I am still in awe that I now have a little girl and little boy! So far RJ has been great! Eating, sleeping, pooping...I have not wanted to put him down! Just watching him sleep in my arms and holding him against my chest...LOVE IT! Morgan has been a great big sister so far!! She loves to say baby, working on RJ but doesn't quite sound like RJ yet! She gives lots of kisses and likes to touch him!

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We have had many visitors which makes me very happy! The more people that come over the happier I am!

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MeMom and PopPop have been a big help too...Daddy has been home to help out as well! We'll see how it goes next week when Daddy goes back to work! I will be able to hold Morgan (finally!)...The nurses at the hospital said not to pick up more than 10 pounds for 2 weeks just to prevent anything negative from happening to my recovery...so Morgan will be happier and I will be happier to when my two weeks have passed!

Family of 4!!

We are officially a family of four! Bob and I feel so wonderfully blessed to now have a little girl and a baby boy! Morgan is infatuated with RJ right now...hopefully she will keep up the un-jealous attitude!

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Details...was due on Wednesday September 24, that date came and went. Felt great over the weekend and no baby. Monday went to school and when coming home I felt an odd twinge in the belly...maybe a contraction? Didn't hurt...so maybe just my imagination or a kick? Nope...from around 4pm on Monday until I went to bed around 10pm I got a slight (not painful) contraction every 1/2 hour. Slept until midnight when I woke up to a much more intense contraction. Contractions followed from then on until 5 am every 10 minutes. They began coming a bit closer together and by 9am the contractions were 5 minutes apart consistently and getting rough! Dropped Morgan off at Mom's best friend's house and started the 45 minute drive to the hospital! To make the long story short...we got there around 10:30am...I was told I was already an 8 and had a brief amount of time to decide on an epidural. I declined, the doctor broke my water, pushed for 9 minutes and RJ was born at 12:19 Tuesday (Sept 30th) afternoon! Just in time for lunch! Unlike Morgan...he began nursing immediately and was/is a champ!!! Delivery was definitely painful and I wasn't sure if I was going to make it...but it was all worth it! It was so wonderful to have that little, beautiful baby boy in my arms with no unnecessary medication in my system or his! I was so overwhelmed and excited! We still hadn't decided on a girl's name and to realize we had had a boy...it took all our breaths away!

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Morgan was 6 days early, 6 pounds 2 ounces, 19.5 inches long

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RJ was 6 days late, 6 pounds 9 ounces, 20.5 inches long

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I am so much in love...I am having a hard time not staring at my two beautiful children...not that I am biased or anything!

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Many more pictures to come!

Kisses!

For all those who wanted to see the belly...here it is!

Kiss the baby! Morgan has gotten really good at pointing to, touching, hugging, and kissing the little baby inside her Momma's belly! To do all these things though she must lift up Momma's shirt...as if she can't see or touch the baby without the skin to skin contact! I am not sure she knows what is in store when this wonderful babe graces us with their presence! While I was sitting down one of the little dogs jumped up on my lap and Morgan had a fit! She tried to climb up and take over, when that didn't work she attempted to push the little dog off my lap...of course to no avail b/c she needs to learn to share! This act of 'dog on lap, get off' happened three times tonight! I am just hoping she doesn't try the same with the new little one! Hopefully she will understand that the babe is not going anywhere and she soon will no longer be an only child! Time-outs may need to come in handy if she cannot understand sharing Momma's time. I too feel guilty already b/c I know I won't be able to give her all the attention she is used to! I will need to split my love and I know when this little one arrives I will be able to do it, but I am just a little emotional over the whole thing! I know I will have enough love for both my children, but has it really sunken in that I am soon ready to be a Momma of 2?!

Two days over

Here I am two days overdue and feeling great! Had a doctor appointment last night and he said I'm not ready for labor yet! He was very nice and kind! I was a bit scared after my appointment with a different doctor on Tuesday b/c she said I should make my Thursday appointment and schedule an induction! YICKES! I really didn't want that, I don't have too many fond memories of lying in a hospital bed waiting for the induction meds to kick in with Morgan...waiting and waiting, and waiting, and getting hungrier, and hungrier...you get the gist! Two full days of being bed-ridden with no food does NOT do a Momma good!

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I am very excited to meet this new little one, but at the same time I am sad...soon, too soon I will have to share my little babe with the rest of the world and he/she will never be solely mine ever again!! The babe will be amazing to have in my arms and to stare at for hours, the tiny bundle of joy that Bob and I created, but no more will I feel the kicking or the hiccups! No more waking up to a moving being inside me, instead waking up to a crying babe is what is in store!

We have a house!

Our house is up!! It really and truly looks like a house! It is amazing how fast it went up! The workers really know what they are doing!! Walking around the house and in the house we realized how big the house is going to be! It is really exciting to see our future house being built and to realize how many wonderful memories we will create in our new home! Each step we see being completed gets us more and more excited!!

West Chester Fun!

Today we went to the West Chester Restaurant Festival! Wow...it was so crowded! We hadn't been there in two or so years and I didn't remember it being so crowded...maybe people were coming before the Eagles game began! The festival is a big deal for lots of people!! Morgan wasn't too happy of a camper being stuck in her stroller or not being able to run around! I think she is teething and wasn't feeling great! The food we sampled was very yummy from the ribs to the mac-n-cheese to freshly made donuts! YUM!

Seeing double!

Bob, Dad, Morgan, and I picked out our granite countertops today! So many choices...I again hope we like what we picked when it is installed! It has golds, creams and browns in it! Dad said it was a good choice in case it gets a spill, burn, etc...it won't show the problem area as easily! So hopefully it all works out!

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Today was also the twins birthday party! It is hard to believe they are two! The time seems to be flying by! They got a lot of neat presents and actually had fun ripping open the wrapping paper! They are both so much taller than Morgan! Morgan will never get their height...but she still had a blast playing with them! Their uncle Rich gave them a toy keyboard that all the kids loved playing with including Uncle Rich! It was a blast to see them all playing together! The other hit was an easel that had one side for chalk! Morgan really enjoyed writing and Hannah enjoyed erasing! They made a good pair!

MAJOR PROGRESS!

Our house is going up by leaps and bounds!! Bob and my Dad went to look at the house on Tuesday night and the crew was still working on the framing at 7:00pm! On Tuesday the second floor was being put up and from the men's point of view the construction looked good! I can't believe how fast the house is being 'put together'! Bob said he stopped over last night and the entire house is now framed! From Tuesday night until Thursday night...that is fast work! Tonight we are going to pick the hardwood colors, the ceramic tile color, and I think the carpet colors...then tomorrow we are picking the granite for the kitchen counter tops! We are flying with all these decisions! Hope we still like our choices in March!! :)

Bumber at Work

One week to go and NO replacement for me yet at work! Yickes! That is very scary! We interviewed a candidate on Tuesday and we as a team thought she had great potential! We called her back literally within the hour after she left to offer her the job and she told us she would have to think about it for a day or two! WHAT?! Ouch! We thought she seemed very interested and would say yes right away! Then today...the bad, terrible, horrible news...she said she accepted a position somewhere else! What...we weren't good enough?!?!?! We are back to square one! The worst part about it...there are no other candidates right now AND no agencies in the area have therapists to send our way! I am really hoping that their is a miracle coming our way!! We really need one!!

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Onto a different topic...I can't remember if I wrote this before...but...Morgan can officially put her shoes on the correct feet now without any instruction! Yipee! I don't know how she learned that, but somehow she did! She is really growing up!!

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She was given a new toy (well a yard sale toy that just wasn't given to her before) of a turtle with shapes on it's back. You push down all the shapes, then push the turtle's neck into his shell and the shapes pop up again...over and over and over...loads of fun! Morgan figured out how it worked all by herself!! No one showed her how to do it, it is AMAZING how inquisitive these little kiddos are and what they figure out and how they learn about the world!

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She has added a word or two to her repertoire...wish I could say she has added ten...but she is still creeping along with her word usage... Her newest addition is 'El' for Noel (MeMom's poodle).

Patten Leathers

MeMom bought Morgan a pair of (generic) patten leather shoes today! After we tried them on her she refused to take them off! We put socks on and her shoes...but I guess she didn't like the idea of socks b/c she went out of sight, took off her socks and put the shoes back on the correct feet! Smart little cookie! It was a sight for sore eyes...a little naked baby running around with cute little shoes on!

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I think she is entering into the tantrum phase! At times now she is starting to lay down on the floor and scream b/c she can't have something her way! Too bad kiddo...Momma is in charge!! As soon as she realizes she isn't getting any attention she is up, happy, and running around again! Hopefully she won't fall into the habit of being fussy! She never has been and I'd like to keep it that way!!

ALL DAY SOCCER!

Wow! Today was definitely hot! Morgan and I went to see Leah play soccer in their final day of competition. It was an all day affair starting early and going late into the afternoon. Morgan and I made it for the middle section and saw Leah and her team win their third game! Go Leah!! It made me think about what my life will be like in 5 years! Imagine...sitting at the field watching Morgan playing some sport while watching Baby Lee x2 run around getting into mischief! It was nice that when Morgan got antsy today I could leave...but that won't be possible when it is Morgan playing and number two causing a fuss!

Baby thoughts

These pictures are of Morgan soon after she was born!

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Here we are a week and a half away from my due date and we are still at a loss for a girl's name! We have a list of about 25 names that have been randomly written down that someone has mentioned at some point, however Bob's and my top 5 do not match up at all! Hmm...what to do! I remember we had the same situation with Morgan. Bob really liked the name Morgan (primarily b/c it meant seashore) and no matter what other name I came up with it wasn't as good as Morgan for him! This time I want more of a say! If this little one is a girl I am just praying that we can come to a consensus by the time she is born! If it is a little boy we are set on that name due to his family name that needs to be passed down.

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This weekend I need to get all the baby stuff in order! I still can't believe it is time already! I remember getting all the gadgets and gizmos together when we were anxiously anticipating Morgan's arrival! The bassinet, the swing, the pack-n-play, the receiving blankets, the footie sleepers, the baby tub...I just can't believe I am doing it all again for baby number 2!!

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My emotions are definitely coming out! It is hard to think this little creature in my belly will soon be making an appearance to the rest of the world! I love being pregnant and I am not sure I am ready to part with the emotions and the special attachment only I have with this little one! The kick and the twist that lets me know s/he is still around, the hiccups that come at random times during the day, the butt move that makes a jut out in my belly...little things that I love about being pregnant! I am being selfish I know, but I'm allowed for a little bit longer!

Orange Plaid

I never thought I would say I liked plaid...but MeMom bought Morgan a few new end of summer clothes and my favorite outfit is her orange plaid shorts! Something about orange plaid on my Peanut tickles my heart! Every time I looked at her today I had to smile! I always smile anyway...but today I was grinning!

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Morgan's Daddy said she slept until 9:25 this morning and headed to the sitter a bit later than I had anticipated. Guess she needed the sleep! On a dreary morning it is hard for anyone to get out of bed! When I picked her up from the sitter she was in rare form! She is going to learn a hard lesson soon...little dogs do not like to be pulled, pushed, kicked, squeezed, sat on, shaked, shoved, or chased! MeMom's dogs are all around the 10 pound mark and are getting to the end of their patience with Morgan! Our 50 pound dogs deal with all the aforementioned verbs, but these little (old) dogs have short tempers...I have a feeling before too long I will be writing on here that Morgan has five teeth marks on her cheek (unless the toothless dog gets her). How do you make her understand?! Time out doesn't seem to work...so I guess we will just have to wait until she gets bitten and maybe that will teach her a lesson.

A tooth!

YES! We have another tooth making it's way in! I almost didn't even notice...but I found it! On the top...I think it may be an eye tooth! Slowly but surely she will get all her teeth! I guess I better start trying to brush her teeth on a more regular basis!

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Today was an ok day! MeMom watched Morgan throughout the day and she seemed to be in a pretty good mood! She slept in until after 9am! She is a good sleeper...let's hope that doesn't change! I am blessed...we'll see about this new little one very soon!

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Morgan loved eating the stirfry rice/celery/carrot/broccoli/meat concoction that MeMom made, however did not eat the meat part! She still isn't very fond of meat...we will keep trying...until then we will get protein in her some other way! She makes me so happy when she is actually eating and not just picking!

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MeMom finished trying on all her 12 month clothes from last cold weather season and I can happily say most of them do not fit! She actually grew!! Yipee!! We are moving onto 18 month clothes...better than 12 month clothes at almost 22 months!

Tears and shades

Today was the first day I had to drop Morgan off at the sitter since last June! Wow...forgot how hard it was! She wanted to stay on my lap and didn't want me to leave...through real tears and a lot of "Momma's" I pulled myself away and literally ran out of the house. As I drove to work grabbing the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white repeating to myself out loud..."She likes the sitter, she likes the sitter" I managed not to let a tear slide down my face! As soon as I got to work I got busy and tried not to think about Morgan...just hoping she had settled down and was having a good time like I envisioned!

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I couldn't wait to pick her up after school and as I walked towards the house I could hear her little voice saying, "Momma, Momma". When I entered the house she grabbed onto my legs and I picked up my peanut and gave her a big hug and kiss! Then she wanted down to go play with a toy...guess she adjusted better than I did today!

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Still organizing her things and came across her sunglasses that she insisted she wear around the house...too cute not to snap a picture!

School in session

Today was the first day for students to arrive. It went very smoothly and the day went by without too many interuptions. I got a lot of paperwork done...the one nice thing about being a Speech/Language Pathologist is that you have the first two weeks of school to complete paperwork and get your schedule in order!

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When I went to school this morning Morgan was still sleeping soundly...Bob said she didn't wake up until 9am! I am glad she got a good night sleep! She had a good day with her DaDa!

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I saw both my private clients and didn't get home until 7pm! Long day...and I was hungry and Morgan deprived! I missed my Peanut all day!! We ate supper and I played with her for a little bit before it was time for bed...although she could have stayed up longer and I wanted to play longer...my head couldn't have hit the pillow any later...I was pooped!