We thought we were in the clear...

Not so much.  No hives the first time she was on amoxicillin, a small sigh of relief.  No hives the second time she was on amoxicillin, a large sigh of relief for that was the point Maya and I each broke out.  A third prescription for a third ear infection, bring it on.  Eight days later... a miserable little girl. These picture don't do it justice and she became much worse but I thought I would spare her and haven't pulled out the camera again.  The itching is driving her insane, she isn't really sleeping and the worst of it is on her face.  Hoping they go away soon!!!

We took her to Children's urgent care to get them checked out.  They put her in the cutest little hospital gown... she finally got in a little rest while we waited for the Benadryl to kick in.

First Birthday

Since Laurel's birthday falls at the end of March, we weren't confident enough to rely on nice weather for a celebration at a park.  We are busting at the seams in our house, so didn't want to crowd it with a party at home.  Instead, we took the family bowling!  Although Laurel is a bit young for bowling, the rest of the family had a great time and she enjoyed laughing at our bowling skills.  Picture are tough to take in a dark bowling alley, but here are few that turned out.

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!  I can not believe you are already one.

Sadly, the kids were not the only ones to pull out the ramp.  Here Maya is showing off her skills.

Bennett, celebrating a great roll (???  I have no idea what you call it!).

Birthday girl practicing her walking.

Maya carefully placing the candle she picked out on Laurel's birthday cupcake.

She didn't eat a bite!

The fam.

One Year!

Hard to believe it but Laurel turned one a couple weeks ago. These last twelve months have flown by. We had her appointment this morning and everything looks great. She weighs in at 18lbs 11oz (15%), is 28.25 in tall (20%) and her head circumference is off the charts big! 

- She has taken a couple steps on her own here and there. She loves to walk around holding our fingers... I think she just needs to get a little confidence to know she can do it. I can imagine it can be tough to balance such a large noggin :-)

- I often find her mimicking our actions. I caught her trying to put her socks on her feet and she loves to try to color like her big sister.

- At her appointment her doctor asked if she is staring to show emotions... I had to give her a resounding yes. She giggles when happy, yells when angry or frustrated and asks for hugs when sad. She wears her emotions on her sleeve.

- When she sees something she wants she reaches out her hand and yells until you give it to her.

- She definitely takes after me and has a very shy streak. She teases by grinning at others than burying her face into my shoulder. But once she has warmed up to you she will give you lots of love.

- She is a carnivore at heart and given the choice would just eat ham, eggs, sausage and meatballs.

- Still NO teeth!!!

New glasses!

She picked them out all by herself - and although the sales lady tried to push her to get pink ones, she stuck to her guns and went with the blue.  These are more breakable than her other pair, but she really needed the nose pieces to keep them from sliding down.  An issue that has been frustrating her for some time.  I can only hope they don't break in a week!

I've got lots to catch up on so hopefully I can find some time to post soon.  Laurel turned one, we celebrated her birthday by bowling and just had a great easter weekend!  Lots of fun pictures to post.

You are loved...

And will be missed.  Your great-grandkids were lucky to meet you.  Your grandkids were lucky to live their lives with you.  Your stories will continue to be told.  I know you will be smiling down at us and singing to us from heaven.  I love you, Grandpa.

I think I have the only kid...

who loves going to the doctor's office so much that she is literally counting down until she turns 3 because that means she gets to go again.

And then there was the time she had a full on, drop to the floor tantrum because she didn't want to leave the eye doctor.

I will just be thankful it isn't the opposite!

11 Months!

I am a bit late in this post, but Laurel celebrated 11 months by coming down with RSV/bronchiolitis, an ear infection and hand, foot and mouth disease all at the same time. It was a rough time for us all, but she seems to have finally recovered... and the rash around her mouth is finally gone. 

Getting her to sit still for a picture is near impossible these days, but after many, many tries we finally managed a good one.

- She is doing well in her new class, although it is taking her a little time to warm up to her new teachers, she really loved her old ones. She gets to see Maya out the window everyday and I am told she gets really excited to see her.

- She practically runs along the furniture and does really well walking behind her push toys. I caught her trying to stand up from the seated position without holding onto anything this week.

- She loves be upside down, which makes carrying her a bit dangerous. You never know when she is going to throw herself backwards.

- She doesn't have the same patience or attention span for books as her sister, so most of what we read her are the books with textures that you touch on each page. I was watching her read the other day and realized she now reads all books by rubbing her hand on each page... textures or not.

- She yells at us when we take away something she wants. And she wants everything Maya has.

- We have been working on sign language, and she has mastered "all done". Although, I am not sure she fully comprehends the appropriate time to use it.

- She continues to be a good eater and a crappy sleeper. Pretty much the exact opposite of Maya. The only food she had refused is hummus, and although she slept through the night a couple weeks before getting sick and has slept through the night again the last couple nights now that she has recovered, I have no faith it will continue.

- Still NO teeth!!!

- I love that she is incredibly opinionated, I love that with anyone other than us she is bashful yet at the same time gives huge smiles, I love that I don't have to make a separate meal for her, and I love her big gummy smiles while she is dancing away.