The beauty of the binkie

<p>This week we discovered Jeannie likes to soothe with a binkie. Thinking this might cut down on the spitting up. Wednesday we had a big family day at the zoo for the second time this week. Of course the part I enjoyed most was the ape house. The babies were busy playing together and rolling around in the grass. We managed to sneak Jer in through the members entrance and met up with aunt Gloria. It was a beautiful day out and there was everyone and thier brother out at the park. We all shared some half pb sandwiches and then headed out to the WAB for lunch. Liesl was kind of crazy with Colton on the patio and took off upstairs and hid from daddy in a photo booth. Jer,Scott and Mom came back to the house and hung out for the afternoon and slept through some kids movies with us trying to recouperate from the day. It was fun hanging out with Jer until the wee hours talking. Always an interesting and insightful story from him. Mom and I went up to the cottage with the girls yesterday afternoon. Aunt Barb's handyman is working on renovating the cottage bathroom. Looking forward to that. Jeannie sat in her car seat on the beach with her binkie while Liesl swam and I mucked the lake. She had an awesome time playing in the lake with Oma and I but seriously needed a bath or should I several after being in there. We are on our way to west branch to go to the lumberjack for lunch. Looking forward to seeing daddy again when we get back.

Jeannie is 6 weeks. Can't believe it

Mom and I and the girls have been going to the cottage a lot in the past couple of weeks so Jim can get the house all painted and carpeted and a new couch moved in. We got a lot accomplished up there and it is getting a face lift. Hoping to go up there more and the renovations will be nice. Liesl even has her special toys up there and Jeannie her pack and play. We visited Sturms and Dee and Grady this weekend and had fun at the farm in Blanchard with Grady and Dee. After an overnight at the cottage and a sleep in and a wonderful walk in the woods we headed back. Liesl was treated to a carriage ride by Oma and she really loved it plus the chicken dinner. We waited up for daddy watching the wizard of oz and Alice in wonderland on our new couch with our new paint job. Can't wait to show our "new house" off. Jeannie has been very vocal lately and spent a lot of time giggling at aunt Gloria on daddy' s birthday. Daddys birthday was great. He even got a piper games and tons of friends and family and fun. Jeannie sleeps a ton still but when she is awake she is so aware and her neck is super strong. She can scooter herself forward and lift herself on her arms very easily. Liesl has been getting a little more normal since everything has been slowing down. She is very glad for summer to be here.

Life changing events

Liesl has been through a lot of life changing events this past month. She rolled very nicely with the birth of her little sister at the beginning of April but mid month we lost Ota in a terrible accident. Liesl asks about him almost every day because he was so much a part of her life and they loved each other so much. She asks if she can wish on the evening star and says that she wishes that she could see Ota again. They had an amazing week before he passed, playing all day one day together. The day of the accident he saw almost everyone because it was Jeannie's coming out party. He had a very good day with all of is and got to hold little Jeannie and told Samantha how much he loved to hold her because he loved the way she smelled. He also said that Liesl was his beautifiul angel and Jeannie was his other angel and was going to be as beautiful as her sister. We all miss him terribly and it has been rough for all of us to explain to a preschooler the events that have come to pass. They have left Liesl clingy and on an emotional roller coaster that everyone can't help but notice.  We fight for finding normal every day. Thursday we had a family picnic at stoney and I sat back and watched daddy with liesl on the swings. They looked so beautiful and happy I saved that moment in my mental pictures. More followed during our picnic and I appreciated the beautiful day and company. It was a very healing time.

Jeannie is a very good little baby. She sleeps a bunch and is not hard to put down.......yet. let's hope this keeps up. She does a lot of spitting up though and I wonder how she is gaining so much. She is mommys little piggy. Most of the time I can't even keep her in clothes she spits up so fast. I have been using cloth diapers and wipes still only have 7.....waiting on another 36. Hope they come soon. She is very alert when she is awake eyes wide open and watching you... Studying you. She props herself up on her elbows a little. She has had her first bath too now. Yesterday I took her into the shower with me and it was probably 30 minutes before she got spit up all over again. I have been wiping her down with the home made face wipes and some exima cream because she is breaking out so bad. Today she had her first bottle from Oma. Oma took her for an hour while I ran home for something. Good thing I was prepared and pumped earlier in the week. We have new carpet now and soon paint so have not spent a whole lot of time at home. Looking forward to some family time with the barbeque and swing and planting my garden. Liesl loves gardening. Let's hope that keeps up

Jeannie's arrival our Easter Lily

Last week I went into labor. It was a really slow one I think because I relaxed through the contractions. Thursday about 5 pm they started at 3 minutes apart and stayed that way until she was born Saturday at 12:57 am. Thursday night, thinking that she was ready to come, with the contractions only 3 min apart we called the on call doctor and went into delivery. Although the contractions were steady and getting more powerful they weren't progressing to delivery so the nurses sent me home to get some rest at 1 am...uhhhhgh. When I had my appt in the morning the ob told me to maybe wait a couple hours and go back. well I waited until 9 pm.....after a long day of contractions and hanging out with Heather and Gavin I had had enough and decided to go back in. Liesl was all ready with her overnight at the Perrys. Thanks guys. I had made some progress but still had some work to go. After the doc came in and broke my water dialated only to a 6 it all went out of control and I was exhausted. I still only had about another 30 min to go and delivered her at 12:57 am Saturday April 7, 2012. She was 7 lb 7 oz and 20 inches long, Jean Lily Tierney. I only spent Saturday in the hospital and was released on Easter Sunday in time to go to Easter dinner at Melisa and Scott's. It has been an easy week for us with this little one having done it before and my recovery has been easier. She had her first bath on Sunday the 15th and lost her umbilical cord stump around the same time. I have been using cloth diapers....still waiting for more to come in. She does much better with those than the pampered which give her a red bottom. Liesl is very excited to be a big sister and every chance she gets to hug and kiss on her she is all over it. I am so happy to finally be with both my girls. Thank you to everyone that visited in the hospital!

Since Jeannie was born on Easter Saturday we didn't get a chance to hqve our Easter egg hunt with Liesl and Gavin. This past Sunday we had brunch with Heather and Gavin and went outside to see what the Easter bunny put in the yard for them. The kids were so excited about the egg hunt and to hang out with each other. It was nice to do it when things had settled a little. I am suprised that liesl has taken so well to overnights at Oma's house and with Gavin. My big girl is getting so big and independant. She is also doing awesome in swim class. What a great April.

Spring?

Liesl qnd Gavin have been hanging out a bit playing outside in the warm weather that has so abruptly left us. We were so excited to have our family over for St Pattys day earlier for shepherds pie and Irish fare. It was gorgeous out. We had to Windows open and everything airing out last week but had to turn the heat back on this week. I have tons of seeds started and growing in the window now. Have been bringing them in and out on cold days and nights. Hope they are getting heartier. Jim is going to majorly extend the garden to accomodate them hopefully making us more sustainable and self sufficient and not worrying about all those nasty chemicals. Liesl know what all my seedlings are, I am proud of her. We got a magnolia tree for the front yard which as pretty sad with the cold weather. She will bloom again. We are already into tulips, daffodils, hyacynth, crocuses all done. Everything is blooming so early. All my flower beds are ready for action.
Liesl is being quite the good big sister hugging and kissing my belly and saying age can't wait for Jeanie. Not too long now I M about to burst. My due date is fast approaching and I feel her moving around like crazy and she is poised to pop out. They didn't check me this last appt but I think I am getting effaced fast. I feel some Sharp java which I think are some short braxton hicks. We will see. Anytime now. Got all the chlothea cleaned, spot treated and pristine, sorted and put away. Am so excited to use them again. Just need to get the car seat out of the attic and cleaned and mommy, daddy and Liesl packed for
The hospital and we are ready to go. Happy birthday grandad. We love you.

Excellent week so far and more to come

<p>This week has been amazing weather outside and we have been taking advantage of it all. Have bbq'd tons and gardened some. Played in the Romeo park with Shannon and later with Heather and Gavin. Love that park and Liesl loves the climbing wall. We also visited Wolcott with Heather and Gavin which was super fun for everyone. All of the animals especially the goats and sheep were running to me because they knew I was pregnant and so were 9 of them. And due at the same time! The farm center store was open. First time ever for me and we took advantage of it buying special ice cream for dessert later. The kids were super excited. Afterwards we all went back to our house for bbq. It was so summertime out and we gwen wonderful grilled meats, veggies and the kids played on the swingset til past dark. We burned in our newish fire pit in the back and the kids "burned" marshmallows and called it camping. Perhaps we will camp out bqck before April. What a great week and especially great day it was. Hope the weather lasts. Then today Jim noticed my crocuses have bloomed. Yay spring. Thank god we had time to clean up the garden so they could emerge. Plus I think my other seeds have started themselves. I hope the poppies come up!

Rest of the weekend vacation

Well mom didn't really make it through unscathed from our adventure at the hill. She came back from the urgent care with a serious brace. Hope this doesn't last. She is wanting to get back on her bike and ride. we spent Monday night at the local movie theatere. If I knew that place was so cheap! The kids loved the weird atmosphere of all the taxidermied animals. Colton and Barb had already headed for home so we weren't such a big troupe anymore. We watched my favorite children's book the Lorax made to a movie and Liesl has told me it is now her favorite as well and can't wait for dvd. Tuesday we slowly made it out of the cottage. It was funny, every time we blinked those kids were worried we would be leaving. They had such a great time entertaining themselves and running around exploring. We slowly made our way home driving stopping at Zehnders for chicken dinner and a place called past tense. The kids really behaved themselves so well I am proud of them all. Great job!
Liesl really missed daddy and was so happy to be home. She was jumping around all over him all night. This morning we had to shop for Everything! We. Bought tons of groceries and she was such a good helper. No issues. Think she is getting out of her 3's craziness that lasted forever. They said 6 months. We shall see. Swim class tomorrow will be a good test for the week. Liesl and I cleaned up the garden in the back by tearing out that horrid rose bush to make room for out vegtables. It was a bear! I filled the whole yard waste container. Then we filled another cleaning out her rock garden and the lily patch. I found my lavender and was so excited. I thought that was a failure last year. I feel so accomplished I planted that from seed. Yay me! If it stays warm I can get the rest of this garden in shape before the little one comes. The inside of the house is another story. Thank you my wonderful child for a great day!