School Days

Millie's first week of preschool was awesome.  We found out on a Thursday that she qualified and by Tuesday she was on the bus headed to class.  I'll dive into the details of her school, but first humor me and look over our cute pictures.

Waiting on the bus to arrive.  Love those two so much.

Even Baby Louis wanted to see all the excitement.

She has a wonderful bus driver.

First, let me explain why I put my little 3 year old on a bus instead of driving her to school myself.  She was so excited to ride the bus!  As soon as it pulled up she walked up the steps ready as can be.  I had to grab her and force her to give me a kiss.  After she got on we followed her bus to school so we could sneak a peek at her getting off.  She did fabulous--like an old pro.  Had we driven her to school we would have pulled our car up to the front of the school and let a teacher take her out of the car and walk her into the building.  Much less exciting for her and not sentimental for this Momma...so bus it was!  Yes, it is a short bus, and she shares that bus with 3 little boys that also live in our neighborhood.  Earlier this week her bus driver (Tammy) complemented me on having a talkative child.  She loves chatting with Millie since the other kids tend to keep quiet.  That's my girl.

We've been working with a preschool here that is affiliated with the school district (for special needs) and the city (so anyone in the city can enroll for a fee) since December.  I've taken Millie in for different testing to see if she qualified for special needs through the school district which would mean becoming a student at this preschool.  My initial concern was her speech, but after much testing they determined she was still behind a bit socially and would benefit from an integrated preschool classroom.  So she's in a classroom with "caught up" children as well as a few in her similar situation.

She loves going to school, and I'm so excited for her to get some extra help (that I can't provide) that will teach her how to communicate and interact better with her peers.  And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thrilled to get a few hours twice a week to spend with just Louis.  She's happy, I'm happy.

Tomorrow she goes back, and she gets to do a "show and tell" for her class.  When she's older I'll send her with something really cool like her first diaper or the picture of her wearing her Daddy's wedding ring on her arm.  I'll never get over my walking miracle.  For now I think I'll settle for a stuffed puppy she calls "Penny" after our favorite dog.

Glasses Party

We found out a few weeks ago that it was time for Millie to get glasses. In an effort to get her excited about them my sister suggested throwing her a glasses party. Lucky for us our family here in town (mostly) has poor eye sight, too.

We all put on our glasses together, learned how to put them away in a case, read "Fancy Nancy Spectacular Spectacles", ate a big chocolate pair of glasses and gave Millie a LalaLoopsy named Specs. Her reaction and love for Specs exceeded our already high expectations. Man, I'm good.

We think she's pretty darn cute in her new purple glasses, don't you?

Why, Hello There!

Hi!  I'm Niki.  You might remember me.  I blogged all about being a Mom.  I dished all the details of Millie opening her eyes for the first time, how she was doing each week, and her progress after the hospital.  I shared with you what a blessing it was to be her Mother, how cute her yoga poses were, and how devastating it can be when the power gets cut off and you lose an entire freezer of frozen milk.  I shared with you our excitement of her becoming a big sister, and even shared with you our handsome man, Louis.

Does any of this ring a bell?  Well, it's pretty obvious my weekly blogging days are  behind me.  I thought I was on the monthly blogging schedule, but now I see I can't even promise that.  I'll share with you a few reasons why I've been so bad at blogging, and maybe you can help.

First, let me catch you up on a few highlights of this winter:

We blessed Louis.  We did this in South Carolina while we were visiting for Thanksgiving.

Can't resist a baby in a bonnet.

 Since Millie has a Thanksgiving birthday, it's hard to resist throwing a small, family-only party.  That still amounts to 50 or so people!  We had a tea party and I think it was her best party yet.  I had very little to do with this one.  My hands were full of Louis so my family took the reigns.  I think it will be her last big party for a while.

We provided a few necessary dress up items,

served fancy food and tea (plus Lemonade),

and did our best to keep our pinky fingers up!

Over Thanksgiving we were able to visit Santa and introduce him to Louis:

We had a wonderful Christmas morning.  We only have so many hands, and the video camera won over the regular camera, so these are pretty much our only pictures.

Millie still didn't completely "get-it", but I feel confident she will next year.  She loved our elf, Jimmy, and adored all the Christmas decorations.  She still asks me about random decorations and concludes that they are all in the basement on her own now.

Our Christmas morning was slow (so wonderful!), warm, and full of Lalaloopsy, My Little Pony, and Minnie Mouse.  The rest of us had some fun things, too.

Louis loved his exersaucer from Buck's parents.  Santa didn't mind we put it out for him with his stocking.  Since this didn't get it's own post I should mention he rolls over now, is absolutely adorable, and just finished his first ear infection.  He's a sweet boy and we can't snuggle him enough.

Millie started dance class this week.  She's been asking me about going for weeks now, so on Monday morning she was completely dressed two hours before class started.  Her ballet shoes are completely broken in, too.

It was only 30 minutes long, and doesn't have a recital (bummer) but she doesn't know any different.  She truly thinks she's Angelina Ballerina, and so do I.  She's the most spirited in her class, and doesn't see the point in stopping for a plie when there is twirling to be done.

As promised, here are my reasons for not blogging:

1. I keep hearing about blogger saying to bloggers that they have reached their data limit.  I didn't get this message, but I can't be far from it.  What's the solution?  I haven't felt like I have time to figure it out, so I avoid blogging.
2. I was considering blogging earlier, but I was shook to the core by the horrific event that happened in Connecticut.  I wish I could share my thoughts and feelings on it, but I truly have to push them out of my head still or I'm consumed.
3. My house is still pretty undecorated.  I really should decorate in my free time.  Or shop for decorations.  Or maybe someone can come visit and take over the cooking, cleaning, and child watching while I decorate?
4. My church assignment (Cub Scout Committee Chair) is time consuming and stressful.  It's not always time consuming, but I always feel like if I have free time I should keep teaching myself how to run the program.  Currently I'm planning our Blue and Gold Banquet, Friends of Scouting drive, Rechartering, and the yearly program.  I know, you'd think I'd be an expert on all things scouting but having never worked with the boys and the actual nitty gritty of advancement makes even buying the awards for Pack Meeting a challenge.
5. I have yet to consistently make dinner  for my family.  I used to be great at menu planning, and am just starting to feel like my head isn't constantly spinning so I should probably use my free time to plan that out.
6. Should I blame my kids?  Maybe, but honestly I could blog while they sleep.  I love spending as much time having fun with them as possible, but keeping a record of family is pretty important too.  It's a toss up I guess.
7. This one is pretty big.  My MacBook is on it's last leg and can barely hold my pictures.  I don't have a smart phone, so I rely on a regular camera for pictures mostly.  That means I've got to load them, cross my fingers my computer cooperates, then blog.  We have a new computer, I just need to work out an internet issue there and I'll be back in business.

So that is it.  If blogger will let me, I will promise you at least one more post soon.  Millie got glasses (and they are adorable!), and to get her excited about wearing them we are throwing a glasses party later this week.  I promise to post pictures of at least her, but maybe more if I remember to take pictures.  I'm assigned to speak at church on Sunday so blogging will be a welcomed distraction.

Confessions

I know what you're thinking.  How is it even possible for her to have such a darling little boy?  Well my friends, I do not know.  Man I love him.

It's probably quite obvious by my lack of blogging that being a Mother to two children is challenging for me.  I thought I'd just lay it all out there for you, just to catch you up on my life these days.

Confession 1:  It took us forever to really get down nursing.  I didn't get to nurse Millie, and Louis is quite lazy (should we say easy going?) so the first 6 weeks were challenging.  Six weeks is a long time!  He's still not a super star but he's getting fat and I'm not in pain so we're happy.

Confession 2:  Having two kids is hard.  I feel like the biggest wimp in the world admitting that.  I mean it's only two kids.  Lots of people have more, for pete's sake.  It's getting easier, don't worry.  My source of encouragement has always been my Aunt Molly telling me it was harder for her to adjust to two than it was to three.  Another huge help was getting a double stroller (thanks Dad!) that would work for our needs.  I went with this one because I shop more than I go to the zoo so I needed it to work where a cart wouldn't (those dang tiny carts at Hobby Lobby and Ross).  Now even running to the Dollar Store is a million times easier.

Millie playing on her new mattress on one of our potty training days.  She didn't wet the bed, don't worry. 

Confession 3:  We stopped potty training.  I've been dreading admitting it to the world, but I figured I'd have to eventually since I admitted we were starting on Facebook.  I put it off because I didn't want to do the off and on potty training.  I cleared a week, read up on everything, implemented everything I read about (including potty training in one day) and after five intense days of going to the bathroom every 5-15 minutes and Millie not once willingly peeing in the potty we called it quits.  She would literally squirm and hold it for 45 minutes while sitting on the potty just to avoid going.  Even after she went (from not being able to hold it any longer) and got tons of praise and treats she still never was willing to go again.  We're going to let her lead 100%.  Sure she'll be 3 next month, but it was obvious (after 5 days) that she's not ready.  Oh well.  She's happy, healthy, smart, kind, beautiful and a great big sister.

That's it for confessions.  Unless you want me to add that my house is a serious mess and still undecorated, I'm burning food more frequently and I have yet to go around and meet my neighbors.

On the plus side I get to witness beautiful moments like this instead:

Louis was crying so Millie gave him a baby and "blanket" to hold. 

 And I made Millie's Halloween costume, which she loves:

It looks better when she's standing, but she' knows how to pose like a Mermaid so this is what I got :)

I love these two children so much.  In just the last week I have watched Millie's play time mature so much.  Seeing her act out what her toys should say to each other (and sometimes she uses her hands in the car if toys aren't handy) just melts my heart.  She takes great care of Louis, sleeps wonderfully in her big girl bed, and is really understanding so much.  It's incredible to watch.

Louis is getting chunky (love) and smiles all the time.  Melts my heart.  He also sleeps really well so I'm getting a good amount of sleep at night.  He loves being held (with help) by his big sister and doesn't seem to mind her kisses either.

Ironically they are both awake now and screaming their heads off.  Music to my (well rested) ears :)

And something is burning in the oven.

You're Gonna Miss This

Am I the only one that can't handle listening to "You're Gonna Miss This" By Trace Adkins?  I mean really.  My sneaky Pandora Josh Turner station played it before I could say no.  Fast forward thirty seconds into the song and I'm in tears listening to my two babies crying while I try to throw together some dinner.

It was terrible and great all at the same time.  I've been feeling pretty stressed and overwhelmed here and there, but I am so thankful for these two little blessings.  Sure, they can't be happy all the time.  We have about two time frames that make me want to hide but the rest of the day is pretty great.

I love just watching Louis while he eats or just wants to play.  I imagine what he's thinking and it's always a tender moment.  Millie loves any of my time I can spare (and I love to give it to her) but what really warms my heart is watching her imagination blossom when she plays by herself.  She can play for hours with tiny little dolls.  It is so incredible.

We're currently having our house painted (hooray!) so I'm staying out of the house and can't load new pictures.  To tide you over, I thought I'd share the pictures of Millie and Louis meeting for the first time in the hospital.  Enjoy.

Living by family is great!

Millie's first look.  I love Karen's face in this picture.

Don't you just love Lily's smile?

The Bishop even came to see us!  He also happens to be Uncle KC.

The whole thing was a bit confusing for Millie.  Poor thing clung to Buck and I but is all sorted out now.

So there you have it.  Millie and Louis are great friends now (at least Millie worries about Louis, I'm not sure Louis pays her much attention yet).  Instead of always asking where Mommy is when I'm not around she now looks for Louis.  She still looks for me some though.  I love this exhausting time we are having but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to many months down the road when they can play together.  I'm looking forward to that but I know I'm gonna miss this, too.

Little LEB

He's here!  We love him to pieces, and spend all our free time adoring him.  That should explain our delay in sharing the great news and darling pictures.

For fun I thought I'd throw in one of my last pregnant pictures.  I am so glad to no be pregnant anymore.  I could write a book about how wonderful it is, but you're here to see my baby so lets move on.

Hanging out with my cousins.  We loved living with them.

Allow me to introduce Louis Emery Bagwell:

I had to include this picture.  I hope it captures the pure bliss and amazement I was feeling.

Here is proof that he weighed almost 8 pounds...which obviously is gigantic when compared to his big sister.

 

We are proud parents.

I can't believe how different he looks now.  I think he's handsome just like his daddy.

He's got quite the fan base, too.

Millie moved her rocker like that.  She loves "baby woo-wis".

My sweet cousin Lily.  I just love this picture.

 We literally didn't officially decide on his name until after he was born, and actually chose his middle name on a whim as we were announcing his birth to our family.  We knew we wanted to pay tribute to Buck's great name (Landrum Earle Bagwell IV) but didn't want to name him LEB V and have to come up with a nickname, so we though keeping the LEB initials was a good idea and Louis Emery it was.  We call him Louis and Louie, so feel free to do the same.

We love this little boy.  I know I will love all of my children, but it honestly surprised me how quickly I became attached to him.  I'm sure a lot of it had to do with my more traditional birth experience this time.  I loved Millie right away, but I gave myself a little bit of time to get attached to her.  It took a while before I could touch her and it took forever before I could provide her any sort of care.  Louis needed me right away and I'm so thankful for that.

I was so nervous about having a boy.  I've been stuck in Barbies/Dress Up/Tea Parties gear my whole life, I just wasn't sure what I'd do with a boy.  You know what?  I still don't know what I'm going to do with him but I don't care.  For now I'm going to rock him, sing to him, feed him and let his big sister stick (and pull out) his pacifier in his mouth.  It's great.

Millie is really a good sport about everything.  Having her visit me in the hospital was a nightmare for everyone, especially my Aunt Karen since I stayed there but Millie left each day.  Millie and I are very attached to each other.  It was really hard to watch her freak out when it was time to go.  Now that we are home she just loves her little brother and feels comfortable knowing I'm around.  She always checks on him in the crib, and if he's crying she tells me he's hungry.  She gets a kick out of his car seat being next to hers in the car and of course she feels the need to climb into all of the infant toys (play gym, infant seat, swing) and use his pacifier.  The funniest (though it's not super funny at the time) is when she tries to copy his cry exactly, often in the car.

Just so you're filled in on all our business I may as well mention that we closed on our first house when Louis was just four days old.  Yes, that means we moved into the house when he was four and five days old as well as had my Mom and Buck's parents come to town to meet the little fella.  The joke was on them since they had to do a lot of manual labor.  Now that Louis is two weeks old we've purchased a home, our first brand new appliances (washer and dryer), a second car and moved into our home.  Major life events covered recently: moving, buying a home, getting a new job, and having a baby.  Looks like we only missed getting married (glad we checked that off five years ago) and someone close to us dying (think healthy, safe thoughts y'all!).  Yes, I am a bit stressed but honestly I think I'd be stressed if we were just covering one of those events.  Why not take them on all at once?  I wouldn't recommend it, but it isn't as bad as you'd think...as long as you don't mind your house looking very messy for a few months.

Unpacking is slow moving, but you saw how cute Louis is so I don't need to explain why it's taking me so long.  I love my kids.  I've got two.  That's crazy.

The Great Mid-West

We have made it to Geneva, IL.  We actually made it a few weeks ago, but between house hunting and visiting with my family blogging was put on the back burner.  I actually haven't even written about our vacation to Florida yet.  Maybe someday you'll hear how great Disney and Sarasota were.

I was a bit nervous to see how Millie would adjust to moving.  We have technically moved four times with her already, but she is now old enough to remember stores and people she loves.  She even recognized streets in Connecticut (like when we drive by Dad's work or when we turned on our street). She had grown particularly fond of Stew Leonard's, a fabulous grocery store full of animatronics, fresh ice cream and a few live animals out in front.  All day long she would talk about wanting to see the cow, which she is deathly afraid of when we actually go near the cow.

Thankfully we have moved to the edge of country.  We went to a pool party right after we got here, complete with scenic views of cows:

 She loved it!  She obviously loves arm floaties and goggles, too.

I mean how many times have you found yourself at a pool party surrounded by grazing cows?  I think we're going to like it here.

Our first weekend here was Geneva's Swedish Day's Festival, so we hauled everyone downtown to watch a local band, 7th Heaven.  It was great, especially because they mostly covered familiar songs.  As we were sitting there I couldn't help but reflect back on our first weekend in Connecticut watching the fireworks in New Canaan.  That was the cleanest city event full of the most well dressed people I had ever been to.  It felt like we were in a movie with a classic Big Band playing in the background, clean cut kids playing with frisbees on the beautifully manicured lawns and everyone visiting pleasantly with their neighbors.  It was great.  In stark contrast at the concert here in Geneva I actually saw tattoos, cut off shorts, large-armed women dancing passionately to the music, and men wearing socks with sandals.  It felt like home.  That is the scene we grew up with.  I'm sure if I looked hard enough I probably would have found a port-a-potty, too.

We're house hunting, and feeling some fire under our feet with this baby boy on the way.  There are very few places for rent in this area, so we are positive we are buying a place.  In the mean time we are living with my Uncle, which works out nicely because they are all off on their five week vacation.

My new doctor here is nice and smart, but I can't help being thankful for the superior care I received in Connecticut prior.  I feel confident he'll be able to care for me and deliver our baby, I'm just thankful we ironed out everything with my Doctor in Connecticut first.  I think this doctor would have done things a little differently.  The plan is for my cerclage to come out the first or second week in August.  I have read about women going into labor within 12-24 hours after that, but some still end up needing to be induced.  So that gives me a nice range of the first week in August through the second week in September to expect our baby to be born.  I'm hoping for the second week in August since my Uncle and his family will be back, and I really hope I don't go much past that.  I probably will, darn it.  I'm just so looking forward to sitting down and slouching again.

Hopefully my next post will be about our home, but I can't make any promises.  My Uncle's house sure is comfortable :)