Merritt Girls

Moving up!

Today Laney started in the 1 year old room. While this is cheaper, I was not ready for this. While she hasn't been with Grandma Betty in a little while now - she has at least been in the baby room and Grandma Betty was close. This room is all the way across the building. She has to wear shoes all the time, she can't have a bottle, and she has to be off her formula. While I knew this was coming, I was going to use up every day I had over the next 12 days before she is officially 1 to keep her a baby. Well, my timeline got moved up yesterday.

So, today, I put her stuff in her new room, put her new shoes on and brought her a sippy cup. She drinks out of it fine, just wants her bottle when she is ready to sleep. So... we will see how it goes today.

Today Kaylen had her Christmas Party at Dance. This was our first year at Dance so we did not know what to expect. I was told the kids just have their part and we sit and watch them. I did not know it would be a sort of recital. If I had known, I would have told the Grandparents so they could come watch. We did get pictures and video that I will be posting. I do want to apologize though. I really had no idea what to expect.

She is walking! She has been teasing us for a while but today she finally took about 5 steps. It is happening too fast this time. My baby is growing up.

Kaylen got her first haircut today. I know, we are 3 but with her curly hair I really wanted it to grow. She did so good and I think it will grow much better now. Pictures will be added. I didn't get a whole lot as I got busy watching.

Laney is taken care of by a wonderful lady named Grandma Betty at daycare. Grandma writes the best notes of what has gone on with her during the day and I know she truly loves our little Laney Bug.

This is today's note:

'Laney made my day as always. Lunch try to feed cut up peaches. She chew & chew - eyes got BIG - and spit it out after 4 tries. I mashed them up and oh how funny. Did see her crawl some today. Laney played with Kennadi in the P.M. They did good!!! (they normally fight) What happened with the tooth fairy? I guess I'll send a map to her so the fairy will get Laney some teeth. Grandma Betty 4:00 p.m. CRAWLING'

So with that it began. Laney started crawling today. 8 months, 3 weeks, 4 days.

Laney 8 Months

- Getting mobile. Not crawling but she some how figures out how to get where she wants to be
- Really loving watching her sister. She's perfectly happy as long as Kaylen is running around somewhere in her view.
- Could be rotten. I did nothing to add to this I'm sure. I blame her chubby cheeks. I'm unable to stop kissing them.
- Weight 18 lbs. She seems to have to go to doctor at least once a month so we get monthly weigh-in's.
- Size 4 diapers (Kaylen wore size 5 - 6 months ago)
- Size 12 month clothing.
- Since we finally moved Kaylen out of the bed - she is trying to work her way in the bed. Not good.
- Still my favorite Laney Bug.

Laney - 7 Months

- Sitting up all by herself
- Says 'Dada' - I get no respect.
- Didn't like Mom and Dad going on a trip.
- Has some seperation anxiety
- Back to waking up at night because she is worried we are not there I think.
- Sleeping until 8:00 am
- Not sure about weight - need to check.
- Wearing size 4 diapers. 9-12 month clothes.

Laney - 6 Months

- Almost setting up all by her self. Little wobbly.
- Getting spoiled - not by me - I don't know who is doing it.
- sleeping through the night but wakes up at 6:00
- 26 inches - 16.5 lbs.
- Wants to eat whatever you are eating.
- She is growing up too fast.

When it started I never thought we would make it to this day. Wow is she a tough kid. She never wants to sleep and totally has a mind of her own, but, that is what makes me love her so much too. Like at night when I'm trying to get her to sleep and she is doing everything she can to stay up she'll snuggle close to me and say "I love you so much mama." I'll say "I love you too Kaylen, now go to sleep." and she'll say 'Oh, but mama, I just love you so much.' How can you have a bad day with that.

She is still tiny. 25.6 lbs and 37 inches tall. She is in 3T clothes but that is if the pants are cinched up. She has TONS of curly hair that is so hard to fix but looks so beautiful with her giant blue eyes. She has been in two different daycares and it doesn't matter which one she was in she found some way to charm the teachers and everytime I pick her up she is attached to their sides. Bryan even asked "How is it that you girls take over every place you go?"

She sings all the time. Barney songs, Disney songs, Church songs. She is constantly singing. She has a great memory - probably adds to her OCD.

She is just so fun. We really are lucky God trusted us with her.

Laney - 5 Months

This is always one of my favorite months. What can I say about this kid she is so great.

* Weighs 15 lbs (6/3/09)
* She is still very ticklish
* She is constantly eating her hands
* She is eating cereal regularly
* She is VERY in love with her Daddy
* She is a sleeper (Thank you!!!)
* Goes to bed promptly at 7:00 every night.

I gave Miss Laney some cereal today. She has been eating like crazy and not sleeping well so I figured I'd see if it would help. She didn't seem to interested so we are going to wait until she is 4 months old and try again. Only a couple more weeks. We'll see what the Dr. says.

Life took over again and I haven't been able to update. My work schedule has changed a bit and Dad has been taking the girls to daycare. The daycare really enjoys this as it is not an easy feat for Dad to get two girls ready for the day. We all know what Kaylen's hair looks like so you can imagine the time it takes to tame that beast.

I updated on Laney so let me now update on Kaylen. She is really talking sooo much now. SOmetimes that is good, sometimes that is bad. She has learned so many songs at school. The best is 'Jesus Loves Me'. This must be her favorite because at random times through out the day she'll just mumble a bit which is, I assume is 'Yes Jesus Loves me' because next she sings very loud and very slow "A BIBLE tells me so". Not The bible, A Bible. And the A BIBLE is VERY loud. It cracks me up.

At night she reads "Goodnight Moon" and several other books. I love it because when she finishes she says 'E End'.

I really am blessed to be the mother of two awesome little girls.

Laney - 3 Months

- She has really started talking and smiling.
- She even giggles sometimes if you tickle her belly.
- She has the cutest rolls on her legs.
- She loves watching her big sister play.
- She is still waking up at night but only once which is great compared to Kaylen.
- She sleeps all by herself in her bed like a big girl.
- She loves her twice daily lotion massages from Grandma Betty at daycare. Grandma says that she knows when it is coming and gets very excited about them.
- Size 3 diapers. Moved up to 3-6 month clothes sometimes even just 6 month clothes.
- Even more squishy this month which is so nice to cuddle with.

Facts about Laney - 2 Months.

- Wearing size 2 diapers. Kaylen wore size 1 until she was 4 months old.
- Is growing out of 0-3 month clothes lengthwise although the belly is pretty big also.
- She is smiling and cooing now.
- She does this when big sister comes and talks to her. They are probably plotting our demise already.
- Miss Betty at daycare says she is running the show there. All the pregnant teachers come and hold her all the time. So I'm sure she isn't spoiled.
- Still tan.
- Eyes still blue.
- Still squishy.

****Update***
Took her to Dr. and she weighs 13 lbs 5 oz and is 23 inches tall. This is the same size Kaylen was at 6 months. They will be wearing the same size clothes soon.

The house of death.

So if you don't want to get sick, don't come around us. We are all flirting with death or have been over the last couple weeks. Two weeks ago Kaylen woke up on a Saturday throwing up. That lasted a couple days. Then I got it. Then midway through the week her eyes were red and matted aka Pink eye. Late last week Laney started having nasal congestion. It has just gotten worse and after I went back to work Monday, I had to take off yesterday to take her to the Doctor. Finally Bryan came home last night looking like someone from the movie 28 Days. He went to the doctor today and has pink eye in both eyes, the flu and an upper respritory infection.

Fun times with the Merritts.

I did find out that Laney now weighs 10lbs 3oz at 6 weeks. If you compare that to Kaylen she was 9lbs 0oz at 10 weeks. Needless to say the feeding is going well this time.

I'm back dating this for her 1 month information.

Some facts about Laney at 1 Month.

Some things about Laney:

- She eats all the time. Sometimes she'll give me 3 hours sometimes only 1 1/2.
- I don't think she looks like her sister.
- She has a nice tan.
- Her hair reminds me of an old man.
- Because she eats so much she is nice and sqishy. Perfect for cuddling.
- When you pick her up she tucks her legs in a ball.
- She has the cutest rolls on her legs and arms.

Well we are still surviving. Kaylen is doing well at her new daycare. There are mostly boys in her class and they are pretty rowdy so she spends alot of time watching her teacher said.

Laney is still in the eat, sleep, poop mode. She has moments of being awake but not a whole lot.

Bryan is coaching all the time right now. We hardly ever see him so I've done alot of single parenting which is tough and exausting. I don't know how people do it. This explains the lack of updates as I try to catch up on some rest and actually take a breath when Kaylen is a daycare. By the time I look up from laundry, feedings, and diapers, it is time to pick her up and then the real fun begins. Dinner, playing, and bedtime. Then it all repeats the next day. Not much time for updates or anything really. Probably why I've almost lost all my baby weight as this time I do have to remind myself that I haven't eaten.

So, to everyone, we are doing fine, baby is growing, we are so busy we don't have much time for visitors right now but I'm trying to put up lots of pics so everyone can see our new addition.

Thanks for checking on us.

Today was Kaylen's first day at her new daycare. I just dropped her off and it went very well. She went right in, took off her hat and sat down to eat breakfast. I brought in her stuff and walked by the room and she waved to me and said "See you mama". No tears, no screaming. It helped that they had cartoons on and we all know if you are watching TV she is your best friend. God knew that I needed it to be a smooth transition, my raging hormones could not have taken anything less. They would have had two bawling people in there if she started crying.

Well we are home and trying to adjust. Two is much harder than one. Laney is easy actually it is her sister that is a handful but that is no change. Just now when we could normally take a break we have to take care of Laney so it is definatly hard work.

Laney had a bit of Jaundice when we left the hospital so I took her to her new Doctor on Friday to have her first check up. He said it looked normal and that now that my milk has come in she should be fine. Also she eats non stop almost so it is already much better today.