Waiting

Mommy has been waiting for Daddy to bring home his laptop to download new pictures from the digital camera (still can't find that cord). Anyway, Mommy thought she had better go ahead and write something because it could be awhile before Mommy gets some new pictures.

Katelyn is growing like a weed. That baby loves to eat, and she's not very patient either! The instant she pops open her eyes, she starts wailing. Katelyn also loves to be held, which is nice, but also is a slight problem when Mommy needs to do other things. Too bad Mommy doesn't have 8 arms like an octopus.

Joseph discovered the wonderful world of cutting up things with scissors. Mommy got him a small pair of scissors. He spent all morning cutting up pieces of paper. Unfortunately, Mommy left a recipe book on the coffee table, and Joseph cut that up too...sniff sniff.

Audrey's favorite phrase to say recently is "stop it!" Unfortunately, she must have picked it up from Mommy. Audrey loves Katelyn, but she doesn't always know how to treat the baby so Mommy is always saying, "stop it" to her. Like when Audrey pokes the baby in the eye or tries to lie on top of her or tries to pick her up by the head or shoulders. Mommy should think of a new phrase. So anwyay, now Audrey tells Mommy to "stop it!" And, she says it with a lot of attitude. The other day Mommy told her not to say that and she slapped Mommy. Audrey has been spending alot more time in the time out place recently. On a brighter note, Audrey can be very sweet. Whenever Mommy opens her arms, Audrey starts laughing and comes running to Mommy to give hugs and kisses. Mommy loves her little "Porkchop."

Mommy hears Katelyn crying so that's the end of this post.

Walmart Run

So Mommy decided to take Joseph, Audrey, and Katelyn to Walmart this morning to pick up a few things. Audrey really needed more diapers and Joseph wanted to get Wall-E since it came out on DVD today. Mommy stuffed Katelyn full of milk so she would sleep. Mommy also spent a long time convincing Joseph before leaving for the store that he could not ride in the shopping cart and would have to walk. Joseph finally agreed that he was a big boy and could walk.

Mommy got everything as quickly as possible. Mommy told Joseph to stay close to the cart and at the very least within eyesight. Joseph only ran off once. When he got back, Mommy soundly told him not to do that again. Mommy told Joseph that she gets scared when she can't see him. He didn't run off again and stayed with Mommy the rest of the time. After we were done shopping, Joseph asked if we could eat at the McDonald's inside the Walmart. Mommy thought that sounded like a good idea. Katelyn woke up just as we were wrapping up lunch and started crying. She stopped crying as soon as Mommy started the car. Audrey fell asleep on the way home.

Overall, it wasn't a bad experience. Mommy has been afraid to leave the house with three kids. Now that she's gotten out with all three kids, it wasn't that bad. Maybe Mommy will consider going out again tomorrow. The weather is supposed to be in the 70's tomorrow which is very unusual for Oklahoma in November. Mommy wants to take advantage of the nice weather. Daddy is in Tulsa for work today and may be there for a couple of days. It would be nice for the kids to get out since there may not be too many more nice days.

Today's weather is nice too. Joseph is playing with the little boy across the street. He and Braden take turns going to each other's houses. Today Braden has two other friends over so Joseph is having a great time.

Time Out

Mommy and Daddy have been very lax with disciplining Audrey, mostly because she's so stinkin' cute. However, Mommy and Daddy have decided to be better about implementing time outs for Audrey when she misbehaves. Joseph gets so excited when Mommy or Daddy start counting (1...) and he quickly says (2..3...that's time out for Audrey!). Kids are so funny! Mommy has to remind Joseph repeatedly that he is NOT in charge.

Katelyn is growing like a weed. The kid is an eating, pooping machine! Katelyn is also a very cuddly baby and loves to be held....all the time! Mommy always wanted a baby that liked to be held, but it is difficult when there are two other children that need attention. Audrey exhibited her first signs of jealousy this morning. Mommy was watching cartoons with Audrey after breakfast when Katelyn woke up and started crying. Mommy told Audrey she had to go get and feed Katelyn. Audrey started crying and said, "no" and then had a total meltdown. She flung herself on the ground and had a little tantrum. A few minutes later, she came over to Mommy and Katelyn and gave Katelyn a kiss on the head and said "Baby!" This has been the first time since Katelyn was born that Audrey acted like she was upset about anything related to Katelyn.

Joseph has still been having some issues related to going potty. Mommy thinks he is doing it for attention. The problem only started once Katelyn was born. Joseph says that it's "too hard" for him to go potty, and he has been peeing in his pants at least once a day. Sometimes he wets the bed at night too. Joseph was pretty much accident free for the last year. Hopefully this phase will pass SOON!

Mommy is trying to decide if she wants to do the infant potty training with Katelyn. It worked well with Audrey until her recent potty issues. Now Mommy is not sure all the effort was worth it. Mommy needs to think about this some more.

Since Mommy lost the cable that enables her to download pictures from the digital camera, she has to wait for Daddy to download pictures for her on his work computer. Maybe the next blog will be about some of the fun things that we did when Tania and Zoe were here.

Pediatrician Visit

Mommy took Katelyn for her 2-week newborn check-up yesterday. Dr. Redwine said Katelyn was a "shining star." Her bruising is all gone from her face. She weighed 8 lbs. 4 oz. when Doss took her to see Dr. Redwine last wednesday. Yesterday she weighed in at 8 lbs. 14 oz. Katelyn loves to eat! Katelyn also grew 1/2 an inch. Except for the squishy spot on the top of her head and the red rings around her eyes that will go away in time, Katelyn is a happy, healthy baby.

Audrey also had an appointment with Dr. Redwine. Dr. Redwine prescribed another round of medication for Audrey. Her previous pediatrician had treated her for a condition that appears to have resurfaced. Also, Audrey has been resisting using the potty when she has a bowel movement. That is making potty training extremely difficult because she doesn't want to go potty. The pediatrician in Katy had Mommy give Audrey Miralax once a day. It's been almost two months and Audrey still will not go potty even though she is not constipated. Dr. Redwine said that it's quickly becoming less of a physical thing and more a psychological issue so Audrey will need to see a G.I. specialist to try and rectify the situation before it gets worse. Mommy will be glad to have Audrey's "potty issue" sorted out soon so that she can resume potty training.

Speaking of potty training, Mommy had heard that kids sometimes regress in their training when a new baby arrives. Joseph seems to be having a hard time with the new baby. He is nice to her, but he is having more tantrums and has been having numerous "potty accidents." Mommy certainly hopes that this phase will pass. Audrey on the other hand, seems to have taken to the new baby really well. She loves to give Katelyn kisses and hugs. She is really sweet to her new baby sister. Mommy and Daddy are pleasantly surprised. We worried more about Audrey being not so nice to Katelyn due to previous jealousy issues whenever Mommy babysat other kids. So far so good though.

Halloween

Mommy bought Joseph and Audrey's Halloween costumes before baby Katelyn was born. Joseph said he wanted to be a pirate. Audrey didn't have a choice. Mommy saw a cute Minnie Mouse costume at the Disney store and couldn't resist buying it. Katelyn did not get a Halloween costume this year since Mommy didn't want to take a 1-week old baby out in public.

Joseph called himself "Pirate Joe" and really got into Halloween this year. Look at that fierce face!

Audrey screamed when Mommy tried to put on her Minnie Mouse costume. She also did not like the mouse ears and kept pulling them off. Mommy insisted that Audrey wear the costume that Mommy bought for her. Mommy was able to get some pictures of Audrey before she ditched the ears.

The kids were able to wear their Halloween costumes twice. The ward Halloween party was on the tuesday evening before Halloween. There was a chili contest and of course the trunk-or-treat in the parking lot. There was also a hayride and other fun things for the kids to do. Daddy took Joseph and Audrey to the party. Mommy stayed home with Katelyn.

On Halloween, Daddy and Mommy's friend Tania took Joseph, Audrey, and Zoe (Tania's daughter) trick-or-treating around the neighborhood. Daddy pulled the kids in the wagon. Mommy and Katelyn stayed home and handed out candy. Apparently there were some near mishaps involving the wagon tipping over and kids falling out. Daddy said that he needs to think of some other way to transport the kids next year. Afterwards, the kids enjoyed their Halloween treats!

Zoe as a cute strawberry!

Joseph loves those pixie sticks! Mmmm...sugar!

Audrey eating M&M's. She loves CHOCOLATE!

Zoe is Audrey's age and they are like sisters. Zoe and her Mommy drove all the way from Katy, TX to visit and to help Mommy with baby Katelyn.