Lauren 16 months

Lauren Grace - December 27, 2009

Lauren Grace - December 25, 2010

Lauren is a little spit fire.  She always is keeping me on my toes.  She has added a few more words to her vocabulary: "Papa" for my dad, ball, tickle tickle and Hi.  She loves to say Hi when people walk in the door or if we are in public.  She gets really excited if she hears the door opening and she has to run to the kitchen to see who is home.  She has been great with her little sister.  There is still some jealousy issues.  She doesn't always like to share, especially when it comes to sharing the bumbo chair.  Ever since we got it back out for Kaelin, Lauren has taken control of it.  She sits it over by her toy box and plays with all of her toys.  She is sweet most of the time with Kaelin.  She loves to give her kisses and hugs.  It's the most adorable little grin when she grabs Kaelin and squeezes her tight.  One of Lauren's new favorite things is tickling.  Not herself, although she does giggle quite a bit.  She loves to tickle other people. She loves to sneak up and tickle my toes.  Yesterday she was sitting with me on the couch.  Every so often, she'd reach behind me and say "tickle tickle" and tickle my back. She gets the biggest kick out of other people laughing.
Favorite foods include: Cheese, green beans, yogurt, eggs, fruit sticks, peaches, ravioli, corn, popcorn and anything that is on mommy's plate.  She eats all the time.  We don't always get to eat at the same time because of the baby.  So sometimes I have to eat, after I have let her down out of her chair.  She then likes to stand next to me, like a puppy and beg for more food.  Lauren drank her first glass (1/2 glass) of juice the other day without spitting it out.  She still doesn't seem very interested in it though.  I tried giving it to her again and she had one sip and shook her head "no". 
Oh well...Well that's about it for the updating for now.  Time to get lunch ready for the kiddos!

Yellow Ribbon Christmas

Yellow Ribbon Christmas

by Kristen Erickson

Christmas, this year, is not like before.
My dearest soldier is gone and fighting a war.

I anxiously wait for a letter or phone call.
But he works everyday, and some days we hear nothing at all.

The children, so innocent, they miss him so
And, oh how I wish I could kiss him under the mistletoe.

The presents, I wrapped, and labeled from him.
Thanks to technology, he was able to watch as they opened them.

It’s still not the same, most will not understand.
But as a military family, we sacrifice for this great land.

I don’t need jewelry or other fancy things.
I am always the happiest when the phone rings.

We talk about our day, we laugh and we cry.
Christmas seems no different than the other days that have gone by.

We keep our faith in the Lord, He’ll never astray.
He sent his son for us, and we celebrate Him on this day.

The presents have been opened and now the kids are asleep.
I lay here in bed, and my eyes begin to weep.

A great day was had, filled with the ones I hold dear.
But my love, my soldier, is the one I want here.
 

© Poem "Yellow Ribbon Christmas" Kristen Erickson 2010

A smile so bright!

 

My sweet, beautiful, smiley, Kaelin

I am so lucky to have not one, but two beautiful, precious baby girls.  

There are days that I just feel like breaking down, but then I get to look at Lauren & Kaelin and all the world seems so much better.  I hope Kaelin's beautiful smile brightened your day even the slightest bit!

Kaelin 3 months

My K-bug is 3 months old (yesterday).  It seems like just yesterday that we brought her home from the hospital.  I just can't believe how fast both of my little girls are growing up.  I only wish their daddy was here in the states to see them grow up.  It seems like the year from being born to one year of age is when they change the most.
Both girls had their well check last Thursday.


Kaelin Deborah - 3 months
Weight: 9lbs 1.5oz (90th percentile)
Height: 24 3/4 in.   (90th percentile)


Kaelin had to get 3 shots, and she was not very happy.  I expected her to stop crying after a little bit, but nope..this little girl has some lungs on her.  She cried and screamed at the top of her lungs for a good 10 minute afterwards.  Periodically throughout the afternoon and evening she would let out a few wails.  We gave her some Tylenol before bed and she slept for nearly 11 hours.  She was exhausted.

Miss Lauren Grace also had her check up at the same time as her sister, Kaelin.  Lauren had to get her follow up flu shot, and 2 immunizations.  She took it like a champ.  She cried for about 20 seconds and then was back to her busy body self.

Lauren Grace - 15 months
Weight: 24lbs (68th percentile)
Height: 33 inches  (98th percentile)

Both girls are tall like their daddy!
They are growing leaps and bounds everyday.  It's so fun to watch them interact with each other the older they get.  Looking back when I found out that I was pregnant with Kaelin when Lauren was only 4 months, old.  I thought, NO WAY is this happening.  I can't handle this.  Now, I wouldn't have it any other way.  I love my darling little girls and I know they will have a special bond as they get older too.
Love you to pieces Boo Boo & K-bug!! MUAH!!!

30% Cash back on diapers?? What? what?!

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Hey friends! Check out this great deal that I am bringing to all of my friends for diapers.com!  They have great deals on bulk diapers, wipes and many many more things.  Our next purchase from there is a side by side double stroller that is on sale for $78.99.  We are waiting for our cash back to be credited to our diapers.com account (takes approx. 10 days to credit)  and then we will use our diaper credit towards the new stroller.  You, too, will get your own savings code to pass on to your family and friends once you sign up at www.diapers.com  ...So start shopping and start saving big bucks.  Diapers.com will also send you emails on sales, coupons, free shipping ect. Don't forget enter KRIS4065 at the checkout to get your special savings! See the box above for details!
Merry Christmas!!
Love, Kristen!!

Weight loss update...

Update:  I promise I have not been avoiding this post!  If you have noticed, each Monday, I have been updating my weight loss on the ticker to the right of this column.  I just didn't feel the need to write EVERY single Monday.  There wasn't much to write about for a weekly post.  So from now on I will write a post once a month and update weekly on the ticker.  Things have been going pretty well.  I have just cut down my portions and started exercising at a gym.  I am really enjoying Zumba and just started a cardio kick boxing class.  I am catching on pretty quickly to the Zumba, and the kick boxing will take a few more times to get it down.  I have been walking on the treadmill and doing the ellyptical as well.  I have a love/hate relationship with the ellyptical. I love it because it's less straining on my knees but hate it because, boy does it burn!  Last night I did a 20 minute hill workout with resistance ranging from 1-10.  5 minutes in I thought I was going to fall off the machine..but I kept on going.  10 minutes in, same thing..just kept going.  5 minutes left to go..I had to stop and take a breather for about 10 seconds, almost quitting for good...but I didn't and I am so happy that I didn't now :) Now, if I can only get the courage to do it again! lol!

So what you all have been waiting for:

Starting weight:  11/15/2010     250lbs
Current weight:  12/13/2010     241.6 lbs
Total weight loss to date:  8.4lbs!

My biggest struggle?  Not constantly weighing myself.  I am working on only weighing myself once a week.  It's so hard.  Everytime I go to the bathroom I want to step on the scale and I need to STOP!  It's so disappointing to gain here, lose here, water weight..etc.
So I know this much at a time likely won't keep up.  But, I am going to keep up what I am doing, and 50 lbs in a year is a definite goal that I can reach!!

One month down

WOOOHOOO!! Today marks one month since Kevin left for Iraq.  There have been ups and downs but we are all doing great.  It helps that we get to talk to him almost everyday via MSN messenger, Skype or phone calls.  I think it definitely helps my sanity to be able to talk to him.  I don't know if it will always be like this, but for now, I will take what I can get and be perfectly happy with it.  Everyone says the first two weeks are the hardest. I would have to agree. Adjusting to him not coming home at night, crying every time Lauren would say dadda, crying myself to sleep.  Things are slowly getting easier.  My heart still hurts because I want him here but my head knows there is nothing I could do that would bring him here right now.  I can't remember the last time I sobbed...that's a good thing right?  I still tear up every so often when I see things like families picking out their Christmas tree, or decorating or sledding.  I think this is all perfectly normal to feel this way.  At least that is what Kevin is telling me.  He is my biggest encourager.  I couldn't do this without him, and ironically I wouldn't be in the situation without him.  God sure knew what he was doing when he brought us together.  We are made for each other.  I'm the storm, he's the calm..and it all works out in the end.
So, yes, one month down, and 11 more to go.  I do get to see him mid tour sometime, so it's nice to break up the entire 12 months. 
Please continue to pray for his safety and well being, as well as the other soldiers overseas in all areas of the world.

Rub a dub dub

Kaelin loves the tub!

Lauren's first day...

Lauren had her first day at "school" today.  I was struggling with the fact of sending her somewhere for social interaction and to get her out of the house for a few hours each week, and what would break our bank.  I researched all daycare centers and I stumbled across Calvary Baptist Church.  I had attended CBC in 2007/2008 while living at my parents.  I found that they have a program called "Morning's out for Mom's".  It is two days a week for 3 hours in the morning.  The cost is the eqivalent of a day and a half at some of the other daycares in town.  It ends up being around $3.50 an hour.  That is totally affordable.  Not to mention, it gives me a bit of a break too.  I would have enrolled both girls but the limit the number of students that are able to enroll each school year.  I am very thankful that they had one opening up in Lauren's age group.  Here is a picture of my little cutie patootie, all bundled up and ready to go. 

I wasn't sure how my sweet munchkin would adjust.  With the exception of hourly daycare while I was at Dr's appts, back when she was only 6 to 8 months old...she has always stayed home with either myself or Kevin.  I dropped her off and she started playing right away.  She was introduced to some of the other little kiddos and she just smiled.  I ducked out of there fairly quickly.  I didn't want to make a big deal out of it.  I am not going to lie, my eyes filled up with tears as I walked down the hallway and out the door. 

When I picked her up, her teachers said that she did fabulous.  They had never had a child transition that well from staying at home to a social setting.  I am hoping that it wasn't just beginners luck!  I was worried about how she would do because she normally takes a mid morning nap and usually is pretty cranky until she gets one!  She must have been too busy and having too much fun to even think about naps.  She was asleep in the car before we had even made it a block down the road.  It was too adorable.  They wore her out!