tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56432040003961233992024-03-05T11:54:32.096-05:00The Brez BlogTheresa Breslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880852012326491741noreply@blogger.comBlogger206125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643204000396123399.post-30018809111055076402016-09-19T17:19:00.000-04:002016-09-19T17:20:07.241-04:00Super William<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Z just turned 9 months old over the weekend, but if you haven't noticed, I've subtly switched to bi-monthly updates. Even numbers only! So sorry, you'll have to wait to hear ALL about the pain she's been inflicting on me with her two new teeth. ;) </div>
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This is a post about a little boy. A little boy who never stops talking until he climbs into bed with an oversized dump truck toy and a water bottle <i>with ice</i> and lays down for a snooze. </div>
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Of note:</div>
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// When he argues in favor of something, it's because "We ALWAYS do X." Fancy logic. E.g.,</div>
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<li>Will - I want a cookie.</li>
<li>Me - No, we don't eat cookies before dinner.</li>
<li>Will - BUT WE ALWAYS. We ALWAYS eat cookies. ALWAYS.</li>
<li>Me - No.</li>
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// If you ask him whether he wants to do something fun, he will say with great exaggeration, "That is a GREAT idea! I'm so exciiiiited. I can't wait!"</div>
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// He thinks that "diarrhea" is a body part. (Don't ask me how this came to be.)</div>
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// When he directs you to do something, he will tell you to reply "Yes, ma'am."</div>
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"Daisy, sit! Say, yes ma'am, Daisy. Sit!" -__-</div>
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// If you ask him to do a little task for you, he'll say, "Yes, please." E.g.,</div>
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<li>Me, carrying Zelie and 23094834 other items - "Oh, Will, can you open the door for me real quick?"</li>
<li>Will - "Yes, please!" And runs to open the door. </li>
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// "I AM SUPER WILLIAM!"</div>
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// He says his favorite thing about his daddy is that his daddy's name is William, too. </div>
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// He says his favorite things about Zelie is wrestling with her. (Not allowed.) </div>
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// He doesn't sign anymore, but when he <i>emphatically</i> wants something, he automatically rubs his tummy to sign "please." He doesn't remember any other signs he used to use on a daily basis a year ago.</div>
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// His favorite color is blue. </div>
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// And he says his best friend is mommy. (Blogged this one down for all of history because you know that one won't last much longer.)</div>
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That's all for now.</div>
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Time to go sneak some cookies before dinner. </div>
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Because WE ALWAYS.</div>
Theresa Breslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880852012326491741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643204000396123399.post-16507865464962991382016-09-10T12:30:00.001-04:002016-09-10T12:30:13.725-04:00Hitchhikers <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Happy happy Saturday. Will has his first defense trial on Monday, so it feels as though it's perpetually Wednesday over here. Although the kids <i>did </i>wake up at 5am today, so it felt like we had him longer than usual this morning. -__-</div>
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The Wills have been going on little hikes over the weekends recently, and finally Zelie and I got the chance to join. We live at the edge of a valley and there are tons of small mountains around us. On Monday, we hopped in the van, parked at the edge of a neighborhood across our town's main street, and just hiked around for a couple hours. </div>
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Will wore his fanciest socks.</div>
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You can see the windmills in the distance. Windmills. Windmills as far as the eye can see out here.</div>
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Toward the east is the Air Force base. To the right in the photo below is part of the dry lake bed the installation is on. SO scenic on base. Let me tell ya.</div>
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Atop one of the little peaks was a giant cross.</div>
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Zelie was not impressed.</div>
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She's the ultimate hitchhiker. She napped for about an hour of our two-hour hike. It was her best nap all labor day weekend. I was in a crouch that entire time so her head didn't bob all around. Extra ice cream for me that night.</div>
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Nursing sesh atop a mountain. NBD. </div>
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Something tells me Bear Grylls has never done this. When do I get my own show? (We've been watching all the Running Wild with Bear Grylls episodes. Everything is so staged and product market-y, but always so very entertaining.)</div>
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Staged kids photos in 3… 2…. </div>
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Aaaand we're done.<br />
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Theresa Breslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880852012326491741noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643204000396123399.post-350784365766608132016-09-04T22:50:00.001-04:002016-09-04T23:01:26.240-04:00Budding Photographer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Trying to get back into blogging means breaking out the "good camera." For me, photography worth sharing just leads to the words flowing and to the blog posting. Because YOU KNOW it's a total faux pas to post more than one Instagram pic per day. (Did you know this? It's a social media rule of etiquette invented by high schoolers, I think.) But having an expensive camera in my hands is sort of <a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2016/09/the-slow-life.html">like busting out the baby food</a>. It becomes IR-RE-FREAKING-SISTABLE to my two-year-old. </div>
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Just like the Puffs, if the kid begs and begs (+begs+begs+begs), my stoic facade is slowly but surely chipped away, and, finally, I relent. I'm no match for him. It happens <i>just</i> that poetically, but with about 5,000% more whining. So right, I let my two-year-old have at it with the DSLR (in aperture mode, the only setting I shoot in because … lazy).</div>
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BUT YOU GUYS, here's the first photo he took:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PD69VK2XcoVvovNPUR2mXH0JBSt7SlpVPad12yzDCNvCdrBLreKTqsv4GBcVHIc6N69mLiK-HTTWBUqysiy0y3yUT3Dc7lyn7g8D-HpdGR4_kYHMFVXusfJDVMS7AI__e29X81Kl100/s1600/DSC_0502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PD69VK2XcoVvovNPUR2mXH0JBSt7SlpVPad12yzDCNvCdrBLreKTqsv4GBcVHIc6N69mLiK-HTTWBUqysiy0y3yUT3Dc7lyn7g8D-HpdGR4_kYHMFVXusfJDVMS7AI__e29X81Kl100/s640/DSC_0502.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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WHAT UP subject actually in focus. </div>
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93 photos of the carpet later and I thought, let's get this kid outside and see if he can get a photo of me and the hubs. You know. There was that Love Your Spouse Challenge going on recently on Facebook where for seven straight days you posted pictures of yourself and your spouse. I was tagged to participate, but couldn't bring myself to even start because I literally could not find any photos of just Will and I taken after 2014. </div>
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Face-swaps don't count.</div>
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But, look! August 2016, at your service.</div>
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47 blurry pictures of rocks later, andddd . . .<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvGgmna6pqe_U2VoM2TV1UkV_iIroFIYUy2PkbB9qQSJyUNL3ZHWPA8gT1eJ5Q-i5TkdcbD3_m43CTRih1s5tuqIYVDviwJPb9oZua_Wf6h1YeH_6EesTxZSi_LWjNgr8b6PuNtvJMaM/s1600/DSC_0512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvGgmna6pqe_U2VoM2TV1UkV_iIroFIYUy2PkbB9qQSJyUNL3ZHWPA8gT1eJ5Q-i5TkdcbD3_m43CTRih1s5tuqIYVDviwJPb9oZua_Wf6h1YeH_6EesTxZSi_LWjNgr8b6PuNtvJMaM/s640/DSC_0512.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Dump truck: A still life.<br />
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WHAT IS HE TRYING TO EXPRESS?????</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK42EYiYEZdHANQhGs1IIdr8LU7QIkh-JJzH5_W45epGCBUV9p9JYOCcUoCiW9L9APebORPBtO6Le5WtUihS09NDA7StdcZC72llTXS6NpEoQVWd33sUnYJ_s0ZSPK6YdaBuM9WOCilxg/s1600/DSC_0518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK42EYiYEZdHANQhGs1IIdr8LU7QIkh-JJzH5_W45epGCBUV9p9JYOCcUoCiW9L9APebORPBtO6Le5WtUihS09NDA7StdcZC72llTXS6NpEoQVWd33sUnYJ_s0ZSPK6YdaBuM9WOCilxg/s640/DSC_0518.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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It's sweet, really. He takes SUCH delicate care of the camera (for the most part) because he knows what a privilege it is to use it. When the camera is away, he's taken to holding up various toys to his eyes and pretending that it's a camera. "Say cheese!" </div>
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Yesterday, he managed these:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_zhjh0ajtOf2nQj5-GAuXiO6YT3u-ulbwHGO_9NxMZV2tV4_G7cpE0QKeGlR2zQOKJp3bm1Zk-mDLM-cnbLE-ZApAUhlNfvzqTZqBNaHS-w0CkOwuWeTnTW6iIYV6l-8Lds2faI0WlQ/s1600/DSC_0617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_zhjh0ajtOf2nQj5-GAuXiO6YT3u-ulbwHGO_9NxMZV2tV4_G7cpE0QKeGlR2zQOKJp3bm1Zk-mDLM-cnbLE-ZApAUhlNfvzqTZqBNaHS-w0CkOwuWeTnTW6iIYV6l-8Lds2faI0WlQ/s640/DSC_0617.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPSTymKaPYNFLSZ-MzWAJmGBARB0DdpAc4E5Hzq3qNGUUNgXhuZ_JdZB1PBURz_hb_sLN_QwmYezf3Ff68VEU7rJjq0g8YPVMkLMRqKsoUyLKFOfKffcqltDHyrXiiMCeI_lsBvFLcfI/s1600/DSC_0618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPSTymKaPYNFLSZ-MzWAJmGBARB0DdpAc4E5Hzq3qNGUUNgXhuZ_JdZB1PBURz_hb_sLN_QwmYezf3Ff68VEU7rJjq0g8YPVMkLMRqKsoUyLKFOfKffcqltDHyrXiiMCeI_lsBvFLcfI/s640/DSC_0618.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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LOLZ Daisy. </div>
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And my favorites:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglemgkENnBdT6r5GcLJnWEqTeXQKNNhMxjb5sLD-lbpLb7rjuy7yO0m4Od5Nff0uw4ZiH6Fju4AqzKowA2Sz88jPmMqR2ENYlKPBwWFhcZSi3RIHpx-2NwSZuB3cmwXBQ-8s-ELjlCFwQ/s1600/DSC_0620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglemgkENnBdT6r5GcLJnWEqTeXQKNNhMxjb5sLD-lbpLb7rjuy7yO0m4Od5Nff0uw4ZiH6Fju4AqzKowA2Sz88jPmMqR2ENYlKPBwWFhcZSi3RIHpx-2NwSZuB3cmwXBQ-8s-ELjlCFwQ/s640/DSC_0620.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnh7myjRj33YEqLA-Lkm3Pn_xRYXTUvYsb8CayXz_8BRUVNg5rMR_lvIHwevJCNOH7nOGY1w5GrEVOscUtrE-RKr4bUm8kr9OjFlY86UmqktjpkXuC1lWIZzddHvzdH5Cvv3mT-OLs2c/s1600/DSC_0623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnh7myjRj33YEqLA-Lkm3Pn_xRYXTUvYsb8CayXz_8BRUVNg5rMR_lvIHwevJCNOH7nOGY1w5GrEVOscUtrE-RKr4bUm8kr9OjFlY86UmqktjpkXuC1lWIZzddHvzdH5Cvv3mT-OLs2c/s640/DSC_0623.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I couldn't capture the light in these leaves like this if I tried. And I do try! So that's embarrassing. </div>
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ANYWHO. If you want to schedule senior portraits or your next family session with my toddler, you know where you can contact this tiger mom.*</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">*$500 non-refundable session deposit</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">;)</span></div>
Theresa Breslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880852012326491741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643204000396123399.post-77238115325588435612016-09-03T14:07:00.003-04:002016-09-03T14:13:15.661-04:00The Slow Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Just a little photo journal of sorts on life as of late. Things have been pretty slow lately. Actually, <i>very</i> slow. We shed all our commitments (i.e., friends) with the move, and being that we live so out of the way now, it's been easy to keep our calendar free of volunteer and social commitments. We are a good 25 minutes from base and church is 25 minutes in the opposite direction. We live in a very small community and haven't met many of our neighbors yet. </div>
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I don't hate it. Not one bit. We've grown to love and depend on our weekday routine of getting out of the house before it gets too hot—either running outside with the duallie or going to the gym where the kids get some socialization—coming home for lunch and long afternoon naps, and spending what's left of our little afternoons playing, reading, and watching movies. </div>
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Our new house has a bay window in the dining area that looks out to a most panoramic view of . . . a privacy fence. Naturally, it was deemed the perfect "dancin' spot" for underwear-clad hip-hop routines. As one does.</div>
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If only the neighbors could see. Damn privacy fence.</div>
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Zelie watches on in amusement.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xvZGxi9ZrjvTE6_HVHXNak5YiKO-ePfGrTlRLUP-ek2QRRGHz5xUYEpIuRawEGYxhcc4mGpsTko5zUzTg-jFSubZApoihgulqyKEwDeegNfGtEI-IBV6k4xNJolEhQWH2r79uSlgjNc/s1600/DSC_0490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xvZGxi9ZrjvTE6_HVHXNak5YiKO-ePfGrTlRLUP-ek2QRRGHz5xUYEpIuRawEGYxhcc4mGpsTko5zUzTg-jFSubZApoihgulqyKEwDeegNfGtEI-IBV6k4xNJolEhQWH2r79uSlgjNc/s640/DSC_0490.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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Or is that the face one makes when teasing a mother after another failed attempt at sweet potato puree?</div>
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I have complied an extensive list of solid foods Zelie will eat:</div>
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Slowly, but surely, we are making progress with solids. </div>
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Solid <i>foods </i>that is. Human foods. She will sit down and eat a couple ounces of pureed food now without <i>total</i> mess. She loves Puffs, too. I don't think she'll be an early weaner like her bro. I kind of think I'll be nursing her until she hits college at this point, but hopefully that's the irrational side of me . . . </div>
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Z is SO CLOSE to walking. She stands up on her own in the middle of the room and the other day she took her first step before carefully lowering her bottom to the ground. She seems pretty motivated. Little Will was taking his first steps at 9 months and truly took off walking at 10 months, so I'm excited to see whether she'll beat him.</div>
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SIBLING RIVALRY Y'ALL. Girls rule, boys . . .</div>
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I don't even know what to call that.</div>
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But he's a fun, sanguine kid, who can be just as naughty as the sweetness those photographs exude. </div>
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He's lacked blog attention as of late, so aside from his weeknight serenades from the bay window, here is a little more about our little guy: He always skips H through P when he sings the alphabet. He always skips the number 4 when counting to 6 (his current max). He still pronounces Zelie "WEH-EE!" even though he can pronounce Zs. "Say Zzzz-ELLIE…" "Zzzzz WEH-EE!" He can identify all his colors and knows the letters W, M (upside down W, naturally), O, B. And Z for Weh-ee, of course. He loves all things machines, and knows the difference between a fighter jet from a cargo plane, a tug boat from a ferry, a van from a race car, an excavator from a dump truck. </div>
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He's been repeating things we adults say in the most hilarious ways. He calls me "babe" and "dear" - "Thanks for makin' dinner, babe!" He'll ask a question and upon hearing the answer, he'll exclaim "WHAT!" as adults do patronizingly to kids. He's started repeating me saying, "No, no, no, no, no!" in a gentle tone, something I've been using to admonish Zelie when she crawls to our hallway night light or the dog food bowls like a moth to a flame.<br />
<br />
Ask him what he wants to be when he grows up and he'll say "a <i>happy </i>priest!" And yet he can NOT for the life of him keep his hands folded during grace or not flail his body around during nightly prayers. Skip a prayer though (sometimes Will forgets we added the St. Michael prayer, apparently) and you will quickly and forcefully be admonished.</div>
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Getting so big. And yet . . .</div>
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Every time I get out the baby food to sit down and try and force feed his sister, he immediately comes up begging, asking for some. "I'm a baby, too! Can I have a bite?"<br />
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No. </div>
Theresa Breslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880852012326491741noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643204000396123399.post-21121210342533034372016-08-18T10:21:00.001-04:002016-08-18T10:21:17.399-04:008 Months with Zelie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYA1ID523bu3JvN5CNvGdHOMAT2ZWM4QGASUDZHBwIPWVZZASrTxHGdJQbMwzD9lgIIwd27grMUrLywuf3xvi7ULRLs1QxSNdRiRtqWSBm_55KAMhg1U6houd09cqk1i0Ee8ENUtE9STc/s1600/DSC_0460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYA1ID523bu3JvN5CNvGdHOMAT2ZWM4QGASUDZHBwIPWVZZASrTxHGdJQbMwzD9lgIIwd27grMUrLywuf3xvi7ULRLs1QxSNdRiRtqWSBm_55KAMhg1U6houd09cqk1i0Ee8ENUtE9STc/s640/DSC_0460.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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This girl. Glasses and hair exist only for her entertainment, never beyond her exceptionally strong grasp. She has a seriously low, loud growl, and she's constantly shrieking and clapping her hands. Is there a time when her arms are not flailing? Questionable. She's got personality, and it's LOUD. I guess when you've got to compete for attention with the 2.5 year old who NEVER. STOPS. TALKING. </div>
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Let's get right into the nitty gritty.</div>
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<b>EATS.</b><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
AKA THE STRUGGLE. I have been suffering through trying to feed this baby solid food twice a day for approx. two months. It's always a huge mess, something I didn't mind much with one kid, but now is a big inconvenience. But we forge onward. I don't want to jinx, but it seems—as of this week—that she's warming up to them. She LOVES Puffs all of a sudden (YAY MY FAVORITE PARENTING TOOL) and she's starting to actually open her mouth to take bites of things. Baby steps. Baby steps. </div>
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Breastfeeding is going much more smoothly than it was with Little Will at this point. Probably because she actually likes it. She isn't as distracted. She's never taken a bottle, though we haven't really tried (no point, unless you want to volunteer to come watch her for an entire day? *sob sob sob*), so yeah, she's really into the boob. </div>
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Her routine is pretty solid now that we are settled in the new house - 6:30 nurse, 10:30 nurse after nap, 12:30 lunch (solids), 2:30 nurse after nap, 5:00 dinner (solids), 6:30 nurse for bedtime, and then a 4am-ish nurse. </div>
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<br />
<b>SLEEPS.</b><br />
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Great improvement has been had in this area. She struggled with sleep from about 3-6 months with the 4-month sleep regression. And then there was a period of time after the move when she was dropping her third nap, so things got dicey at night again (3+ wake-ups) and I decided to sleep train/night wean. She goes down at 6:30, takes a 4am feed, and wakes for the day at 6-6:30. I could probably drop that 4am feed with some effort, but at this point I really don't mind it. </div>
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UNLESS I STEP IN DOG PUKE ON MY WAY TO GO IN AND FEED HER. (This morning's episode. Can you tell?)</div>
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<br /></div>
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She takes two naps a day. Typically one short nap in the car in the morning (30-ish minutes) and then a longer afternoon nap (1-2 hours) that overlaps with big brother. </div>
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We had both kids in the same room for a while, but I moved Z into the pack n play in the guest room for sleep training purposes. (She'd always nap there so Will would have access to his beloved train table.) Even though they never woke each other up, I didn't want to risk it. Then immediately after sleep training, they both came down with colds so I kept them separated. And now I suppose it's just inertia, she's still in there. Maybe I'll move her back soon. </div>
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Maybe I'll just make this face</div>
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and not deal.</div>
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<b>POOPS.</b></div>
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Siggghhhhh. When babies start solids, man, it's never fun. Every poop is a blowout, but the timing is always unpredictable. So that's fun. She's in size 4 disposables, which was pretty cool, because Little Will could squeeze into the same size, so I was only buying one box of diapers each time. BUT, little dude is potty trained now, which is so much better. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This girl hates diaper changes with something fierce. Feeding her and changing her diaper are some of the most frustrating parts of being her mom, but she makes up for it by always giving me a round of applause for my efforts.</div>
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<br />Theresa Breslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880852012326491741noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643204000396123399.post-69303020751784970012016-08-17T18:44:00.001-04:002016-08-17T18:44:42.776-04:00The Smoothest PCS There Ever Was<div style="text-align: justify;">
We've been settled here in SoCal for an entire month and a half. Apologies for the lack of updates. Although if you follow us on Instagram or Snapchat you know we made it here safe and sound. I gotta say, for all my hemming and hawing over the move the weeks leading up to our PCS a month ago, it was <b>THE SMOOTHEST PCS THERE EVER WAS. </b>Everything fell into place at the <b>very last minute </b>such that we couldn't have planned it any better ourselves. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The two biggest sources of stress were: (a) the movers weren't scheduled until the very last minute and (b) we didn't have a place to live at our destination. We expected that our things would be in temporary storage for at least six weeks, and maybe even up to six months if we decided to play the waiting game for a house on base (<a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2016/02/on-earthly-detachment-we-know-our-next.html">our original plan</a>). The rental market during PCS season in the tiny town nearest to the base moves so very fast and our attempts at securing a rental off base before the move were very, very frustrating/unsuccessful. Postpartum hormones + moving uncertainty made me a real fun lady to be around, let me tell ya.<br />
<br />
The movers told us, oh a week and a half ahead of time, that they'd be coming the day after our scheduled departure (no bueno). But like I said, it ended up working out perfectly. The kids and I flew out on a Monday, so I scheduled us to view a house first thing in the morning on a Tuesday. The first and only house I saw was sufficient (and way under BAH to boot), so I took it and put down a deposit right then and there, so that I could tell the movers where the destination was. The lease was signed by Friday.<br />
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AND THEN GET THIS. …<br />
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The movers came on Saturday.<br />
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Here were are overjoyed to greet them.<br />
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So we only did a week in TLF (temporary lodging on base) with the kids and our stuff didn't have to go into temporary storage at all.<br />
<br />
BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE. …<br />
<br />
Not a-one thing was missing or damaged in the move. (I've heard too many horror stories to even recount.)<br />
<br />
Will and his dad made the four-day drive and arrived the following Monday evening with the rest of our things. So the moving truck actually arrived before Will did, who was pulling a trailer full of designated "important" things - like the vacuum cleaner, washer/dryer, and kids' cribs. Waiting on that stuff was the only real hiccup of the move, but my mother-in-law and I were able to do a ton of unpacking over the weekend. <br />
<br />
So Edwards Air Force Base.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uirhYNrYBqK6GDvkdvrOKRDubwI4OsEP9GvEWz11DRCslOv9CLgjbXIli8r0mD6Bc5F2nIqdjG35MXdY8YURKoHAxsMUg1W46N2EKMlonUpIpZH1WTL6aItL9gnelUNb0u8KCZeQLU8/s1600/IMG_2437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uirhYNrYBqK6GDvkdvrOKRDubwI4OsEP9GvEWz11DRCslOv9CLgjbXIli8r0mD6Bc5F2nIqdjG35MXdY8YURKoHAxsMUg1W46N2EKMlonUpIpZH1WTL6aItL9gnelUNb0u8KCZeQLU8/s640/IMG_2437.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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It is <i>really </i>remote.<br />
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They like to say, "It's in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of everything."<br />
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Lots of sonic booms.<br />
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Everyone has an RV.<br />
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My lips are forever chapped.<br />
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BUT, drive a couple hours in any direction and you are somewhere amazing. Like here:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdkTApUF3b6fnYO25xwmzUAKsTrjniNdUhyphenhyphenAbfLiVKnyGQK4j1BFR4Nc3w-PljQopf-pUqCwvjXZbre80jw-7zIuZKwZIVRBlQdSjzN0umpgMuhxF6mM-DmsBm5JZILU4r8Wgy0-iwTw/s1600/IMG_2675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdkTApUF3b6fnYO25xwmzUAKsTrjniNdUhyphenhyphenAbfLiVKnyGQK4j1BFR4Nc3w-PljQopf-pUqCwvjXZbre80jw-7zIuZKwZIVRBlQdSjzN0umpgMuhxF6mM-DmsBm5JZILU4r8Wgy0-iwTw/s640/IMG_2675.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
(Santa Monica Pier.)<br />
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<br />
We've made it to the coast a couple of times so far.<br />
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During the week, the kids and I have settled into an easy little routine. Our life is basically gym-Costco-library or GCL for all you old Jersey Shore fans. (Admit you know the reference.) Pretty much every morning, we hit the YMCA about 20 minutes away toward civilization. Some days we hit up Costco next door afterwards. Zelie gets her morning nap in the car on the way home. I nurse her, we eat lunch, and then both kids go down for naps around 1-1:30. Then afternoons are either for hanging out at home (currently throwing puffs at Z while LW watches Netflix to finish up this post!!) or hitting up the library.<br />
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It's kind of nice to slow things down after ending up with so many commitments the past few weeks at Scott. The kids are thriving. Since getting settled, Little Will turned 2.5 and has suddenly potty trained and started being able to identify letters and colors (after SO MUCH STRUGGLE, seriously). And Zelie is 8 months old today! (Don't worry - photos have been taken and her eat sleep poop deets are forthcoming.) </div>
Theresa Breslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880852012326491741noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643204000396123399.post-8126506228676476962016-06-17T22:04:00.001-04:002016-06-17T22:04:59.212-04:006 Months with Zelie<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hey, y'all. It's been a while. Lots to update, so buckle up. This one may be a doozie. </div>
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When I <a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2016/04/4-months-with-zelie.html">last blogged</a>, Zelie was but a four month old blob of squish. Now she's a six month old blob of squish. It's a subtle difference, but read to the end, and I think you'll come to really appreciate the nuances.</div>
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Her personality is still very very happy and giggly. She kicks her legs and squeals with delight regularly. Belle of the ball at the commissary, this one. Unfortunately she is regularly in my lap when this kicking and squealing happens and I have a frightening assortment of bruises on my legs. </div>
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She has powerful legs. Some would call them thunder thighs. </div>
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She spends way too much time in <strike>my</strike> her favorite baby toy, the walker. </div>
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But I was given the OK by her physical therapist, sooooo it's fine, right? </div>
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Let's just dive right in with the baby stuff and I PROMISE you, the various life updates will just flow right out of my fingers. </div>
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<b>6 Month Well-Baby Stats:</b></div>
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<li>18 lbs., 11 oz. (93rd percentile)</li>
<li>67.9cm long (84th percentile)</li>
<li>42.6cm of lopsided dome (56th percentile)</li>
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<b>EATS</b></div>
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Breastfeeding is going well. Since my last update, I've battled a couple supply dips here and there, but nothing constant nursing couldn't fix. On the form at the doctor today, I wrote that she eats approximately every 2-4 hours for approximately 5-30 minutes each session. So that narrows it down for ya.</div>
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She's tried her first few solid foods just this past week. We started with throwing her some table food to keep her occupied in her high chair - sweet potato <strike>fries</strike>, mashed up peas, watermelon, and banana. Not sure anything actually made it into her belly. Yesterday I tried spoon feeding her a puree for the first time and it was an adorably epic fail. I forgot to try today, but this weekend we'll work on purees a little more to see if we can get her to figure out swallowing. </div>
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<b>SLEEPS</b></div>
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Dude. My blogging hiatus has mostly to do with the lack of sleep that occurred from 3.5 months to 5.5 months. This was indeed a two-month long <a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/myths-vs-realities.html">four month sleep regression</a>. My girl was NOT interested in sleeping at night. Or during the day for that matter, but nights were hard. </div>
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Also during this time I started going to the gym with the kids in the mornings, so any bit of afternoon nappage was used to shower and eat, so there was no time/interest in blogging. **Impromptu postpartum weight loss update** I started going to the gym back in March and ever since I've lost over 10 pounds and 5% body fat. I reached my pre-pregnancy weight May 3 at 4.5 months postpartum. (I only know this from my Fitbit app! I'm not THAT crazy proud of it. ) BUT, my clothes STILL weren't fitting - so now I'm working in a lot of strength training to get my core back. I am 3 pounds below my pre-pregnancy weight, 20 pounds down from New Years, and my ab muscles are only just starting to come back together. But anyway - I LOVE being able to go to the gym and I will miss it deeply when we move. </div>
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Back to the sleep stuff . . . Z turned the corner - FINALLY - a couple of weeks ago. Now she is typically waking only once between 6:30 and 6, but up for the day pretty early. The longer stretches are such a game changer for me though! I no longer DREAD the thought of going to bed. Moms you know what I'm talking about.</div>
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<b>POOPS</b></div>
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I've been lazy about cloth diapering, so it's been all disposables for a while now. We went on a trip to Chicago and it took me, oh, I dunno, about THREE weeks to get caught up with the laundry. And at that point she grew out of Size 3 diapers, but obviously I have about 100 left, so I need to use them up while they still kind of fit. </div>
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She will go several days without pooping - a solid week recently - and then just unleash her fury all at once. I changed five poopy diapers of hers today and two of them were massive blowouts. </div>
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When I last updated, Zelie was battling TERRIBLE skin issues and was doing PT for <a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-rock-n-play-to-crib-transition.html">plagiocephaly/torticollis</a>. About a month ago, we finally saw a pediatric dermatologist for her skin, and she was diagnosed with eczema, psoriasis, AND cradle cap. She also had staph colonization that exacerbates her eczema. So her treatment involves nightly bleach baths, Elidel, steroidal ointment (when necessary - haven't actually needed it!), and ketacanazole shampoo. </div>
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It seems like a lot, and to be honest, going from weekly to nightly baths are kind of a pain in the butt, but her skin is utterly perfect now. </div>
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No <a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2016/02/two-months-with-zelie.html">photo shoot head polishing</a> necessary. </div>
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Every night is a long process. Fill up the tub with water and 1/4 C bleach, throw in the kids to soak for 5-10 minutes. Then on top of that we must drain, rinse, and lather them all up. Rinse again. Then on top of that we have to apply Cetaphyl cream, any necessary ointments, and wrestle them both into jammies. I've done the whole rigamarole once by myself and needed a life vacation afterwards. Will and I have developed a good routine, but skip just a day and you see a big difference in their skin. </div>
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She was also recently discharged from physical therapy! She has a little bit of weakness and tightness left on one side, but it's barely noticeable and not contributing to any delays so we high-tailed it out of there. Her head is still asymmetrical, and it probably always will be, but we are confident that it will (a) round out just a little more naturally and (b) she will inherit a full head of hair, such that it won't be noticeable to the naked eye. </div>
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Fingers and toes crossed anyway.</div>
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She is sitting up on her own (way better than <a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2014/08/6-months_5.html">Will was at this point</a>). </div>
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She puts everything she can in her mouth, and will attempt to put your face skin right on in there. </div>
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She is constantly planking, pushing up to all fours, and rocking back and forth. She scoots around a little bit backwards, too. It's only a matter of time before she takes off crawling. </div>
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We have two weeks left in Illinois before <a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2016/02/on-earthly-detachment-we-know-our-next.html">the big move</a> to California. We still don't have the packers/movers scheduled (thanks, TMO) and we still don't have a place to live on the other end. We've been stagnant at number 9 on the base housing wait list for a couple of months. We did try pursuing a rental in the nearest town 20+ miles away, but we were passed up for another renter even though the move-in date isn't until August. Homes get scooped up quiiiick near the base. It is PCS season, so we'll see what opens up in the area when we arrive. Until then we'll just be like Zelie - wanting to move, trying to move, but not really. </div>
Theresa Breslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880852012326491741noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643204000396123399.post-75891100081053536542016-04-20T16:07:00.003-04:002016-04-20T16:07:49.081-04:004 Months with Zelie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Well, you know how it goes. I had a whole post typed out and then *poof!* The Internet ate it. I will NEVER get this up if I don't do it now! So here is the TL;DR version:</div>
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Zelie is 4 months! We love her. She sleeps pretty well (eats 2x a night) and nursing is cruising along. She is beginning to show her very LOUD, active, and crazy cheerful personality. She will have no problems keeping up with her big bro. We are doing PT for plagio and torticollis and she smiles through most of the torture exercises. Puts everything in her mouth. And has THIS FACE:</div>
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SIBLING LOVE.<br />
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She has a growing devotion to Our Lady, just like her patroness.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deep in prayer.</td></tr>
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Oh and she drools a lot.</div>
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The hair curtain continues to close!<br />
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William at <a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/four-months.html">4 months</a>.</div>
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Theresa Breslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880852012326491741noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643204000396123399.post-89929925522529603922016-03-22T15:28:00.000-04:002016-04-07T15:06:50.154-04:003 Months with Zelie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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She turned three months on St. Paddy's Day. I sort of thought this post would never happen because I kept procrastinating this photo shoot, but I did it! HUZZAH. Nap time is a finite amount of time, you know? </div>
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So let's talk about little Zelie, whose personality has really come out the past month.</div>
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She's a screacher.</div>
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This is exactly what she does when she screeches. Over and over. And it. is. hilarious. (For now at least.)</div>
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I'm sort of nervous about this because we have some air travel coming up. Just me and the two kids. By myself. Please say a Hail Mary for me.</div>
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I guess I'm praying the jet engines drown her out. </div>
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She's adorable though. I can always get a smile or a giggle out of her. When the camera's not in front of my face anyway. </div>
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At her <a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-rock-n-play-to-crib-transition.html">plagio appointment</a> on March 7 (so, a little over two weeks ago), she was 14 lbs, 2 oz. (85th %ile) and 24 inches (83rd %ile). I prefer having her in leggings and onesies unlike her brother because she's too long for 6 month sized sleepers, but she's swimming in 9 month sized. Her size 2 Huggies diapers are getting a little snug, but I'm sure size 3 will be too big, too. </div>
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She does pretty well in the car seat, as long as the car or stroller is moving. And she still generally hates being worn facing me in an infant carrier, Ergo or Moby, makes no difference. I am SO happy I splurged for the Ergo360. </div>
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<b>EATS. </b>Ah, she is the sweetest little nurser. At the end of a feed, she will stare up at me and smile and coo. Vast difference from her brother who would just puke all over me.</div>
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I've seen a big uptick in spit-ups, which I think corresponded with the <i>end</i> of a growth spurt, so I'm hoping that slows down. </div>
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She's definitely spaced out feeds to 2.5 to 3 hours during the day and she's gone 9 hours between feeds at night (just the once though). </div>
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Haven't offered her any bottles this past month. Just out of laziness. Hope I don't end up regretting it!</div>
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Oh and still wearing boob diapers. You know you were wondering. </div>
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<b>SLEEPS. </b>As you already know, she's <a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-rock-n-play-to-crib-transition.html">crib trained</a>! It's been really great. We use blackout curtains and a white noise machine in her room, put her in the halo swaddle, sometimes pop a pacifier in, and she's usually asleep very quickly. And she's pretty much never napped less than 45 minutes in her crib (unless she's had part of her nap in the Moby - which has happened and she transferred well), so it's nice to know that I can actually complete an entire task (like a blog post!) once she's asleep. </div>
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She typically wakes at about 6:30 and needs a nap about one hour after waking for the day. If she wakes between 6 and 6:30 I'll try and get her to go back down, which is hit or miss. (Yesterday was a hit and she slept from 6-8am, today was a miss and she was up for the day at 6.) Her wake times are generally around 1-1.5 hours. </div>
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She has about 5 naps a day, give or take. I try not to let her nap past about 6:30pm to have her in bed by 8, but sometimes I fail because it's nice to eat dinner while she's asleep. Bedtime is between 7 and 8, but I think that 7:30-8 seems to be a better window.</div>
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She wakes anywhere between 1 to 4 times during that 12 hour window. It's been pretty unpredictable which is a bummer, but I think it's usually twice. But on the rare occasion when I get a 4 or 5 hour stretch, it really is magical. Still no diaper changes at night which makes it all very bearable. When I hear her on the monitor, I zombie walk into her room, un-swaddle her arms, nurse her on the very comfortable guest room bed half-asleep, burp her, swaddle her arms back up, put her down, and shuffle back into bed (or hit up the bathroom if I'm feeling cRaZy). This usually takes about 10-15 minutes. It's really not so bad.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ScO-lIuSy5Mq7CebYvMIdNdckWm2zSDZ9nBGPmegp6YUbbF7kjVBMvov6DN3VhXY6Sl0ENAFpboP40-ptgHTpgYQBwdsahNimWjKEOHAjttqPMDneHI0D2j1mbnsFVIOJImy8CZgVA/s1600/DSC_0293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ScO-lIuSy5Mq7CebYvMIdNdckWm2zSDZ9nBGPmegp6YUbbF7kjVBMvov6DN3VhXY6Sl0ENAFpboP40-ptgHTpgYQBwdsahNimWjKEOHAjttqPMDneHI0D2j1mbnsFVIOJImy8CZgVA/s640/DSC_0293.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>POOPS. </b>We are back to cloth diapering, which is going fine. A couple of her diapers started leaking because the PUL broke down, so that's kind of annoying. I thought it was a fit issue, but the PUL is absorbing pee, so it's definitely just the 2-3 diapers that have been over-used. Otherwise, it's super easy and I can't wait until it's warm enough to just have her in a diaper and t-shirt. She still rarely poops (every 3 days or so), but when she does, she poops the poops of 100 babies. And it reeeeeeks. Little Will may have pooped all day err day, but at least it wasn't as dense and smelly. So he had that going for him. Props, lil' man.</div>
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This head doe. </div>
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She's still rocking a cone head. And she's got the same weird rat tail that Little Will had. </div>
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I call it her hair curtain. </div>
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<b>MILESTONES.</b></div>
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// Rolling tummy to back. She can crush some tummy time. I am certain that we will get to her PT eval for her neck and they will be like, Ummmm why are you here. </div>
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// Starting to grip objects in her hand. If placed in her hand. Nothing <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25469589/superbaby-alert-cam-newton-claims-his-1-month-old-son-is-already-walking">superbaby</a> status. </div>
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// Lost 80% of her hair.</div>
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// Crib-trained.</div>
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Like don't you just want to squeeze that belleh?</div>
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<b>LINKS.</b></div>
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<a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2014/05/three-months.html">Will at 3 Months. </a></div>
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Zell-Bell at <a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2016/01/one-month-with-zelie.html">1 Month</a> & <a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2016/02/two-months-with-zelie.html">2 Months</a>.</div>
Theresa Breslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880852012326491741noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643204000396123399.post-16665160295119881452016-03-13T19:56:00.000-04:002016-03-13T19:56:12.128-04:00What We Wore Again<div style="text-align: justify;">
I wasn't sure whether I was going to participate again this week, until I saw this picture Will snapped in the church parking lot on this rainy, dreary Passiontide Sunday. Obviously I couldn't resist posting.</div>
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Walking beside him, by the way, it looked like the umbrella was floating along on its own. So hilarious. Oh, and it wasn't even raining anymore. </div>
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Zelie's Mass outfit:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAEYYr_CSvlZqsPnhzcoCjq-AEwrXUtPMeCOjQRONOVmtazhQ4b8n8vd8zNKgnQnw3OnMjUQuiWmbBylbCzb2z1mw_Mr1_Fz3nCTIiaqlao3qsp4FHOAyWKbWrEjoSSckoCuOKW9ydYg/s1600/FullSizeRender-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAEYYr_CSvlZqsPnhzcoCjq-AEwrXUtPMeCOjQRONOVmtazhQ4b8n8vd8zNKgnQnw3OnMjUQuiWmbBylbCzb2z1mw_Mr1_Fz3nCTIiaqlao3qsp4FHOAyWKbWrEjoSSckoCuOKW9ydYg/s640/FullSizeRender-16.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Squish squish squish.</td></tr>
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<b>Outfit deets:</b><br />
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- <b>Moi</b>: The trench. (Here's the <a href="http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=185037012&vid=2&locale=en_US&kwid=1&sem=false&sdkw=classic-trench-P185037&brandCvoSid=EYQ422MG7P79&sdReferer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bananarepublic.com%2Fproducts%2Fouterwear.jsp">black version</a>.) It's sort of new-to-me in that I bought it a year ago when I was working full-time and thought it would be a nice, light coat to wear to and from work. My third time wearing it, a co-worker pointed out that the security tag was still attached. You know, the one that makes the door beep. Door always beeping and then the store workers waive you through saying <i>oh, your'e fine</i>! Only I wasn't fine. The security tag was still attached. It took me a year to go back to the store and have it removed. They didn't even ask for a receipt because I was wearing a fussy Zelie in the Ergo and Will was throwing.a.fit trying to get out of the stroller making everyone in the store very uncomfortable, so that was nice because I definitely don't know where the receipt is one year later! (Where was Will? He was trying on khakis. So many khakis.) Blouse is <a href="http://www.loft.com/utility-blouse/380567?prodId=380567&defaultColor=4899&colorExplode=false&skuId=19891927">LOFT</a> (also worn <a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2016/02/a-boy-his-boots-rest-of-us.html">here</a>). Pants are <a href="http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=257353092&vid=1&locale=en_US&kwid=1&sem=false&sdkw=maternity-the-pixie-side-panel-ankle-pants-P257353&sdReferer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F">Old Navy Maternity</a> (derp - only 6 lbs to go though). Shoes are <a href="https://factory.jcrew.com/womens-clothing/shoes/pumpsandheels/PRDOVR~95993/95993.jsp">J. Crew Factor</a>y. </div>
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- <b>Little Will</b>: Jacket purchase documented <a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/this-that.html">here</a> (Target). Khakis from <a href="http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=98295&vid=1&pid=196570002">Gap</a>. Boots documented <a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2016/02/a-boy-his-boots-rest-of-us.html">here</a> (Target). Just realizing how much I document clothing purchases for the little man. Strange. Little Will's outfit inspo BTW:</div>
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<tr><td><a href="http://images.halloweencostumes.com/products/17813/1-1/adult-fisherman-costume.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://images.halloweencostumes.com/products/17813/1-1/adult-fisherman-costume.jpg" height="400" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://images.halloweencostumes.com/products/17813/1-1/adult-fisherman-costume.jpg">Source</a>.</td></tr>
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- <b>Zelie</b>: Dress is Baby Gap. Bow is <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/ZoZuBaby">Zozu Baby</a>. Jeggings are Koala Baby hand me downs. Blanket is <a href="http://littleunicorn.com/collections/cotton/products/cotton-swaddle-watercolor-rose?variant=1167217280">Little Unicorn</a>. </div>
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Big Will looked the cutest out of everyone (you should see those new khakis ;) ), but of course he ran off before I could document. </div>
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Have a blessed week. One more left until Holy Week!</div>
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<a href="http://rosie-ablogformymom.blogspot.com/2016/03/what-i-wore-sunday-passiontide.html">Linking up</a>, of course:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26K2kX_5EfB3auDrQSeOfRKHZcRebX_ERTkXz2Y3NDOfwl1-uJyZ7WAzp1yspCvnQMTqsh7QI6WDEh2oW8a827cNE588ucX_SdZhD6c-yG0qbMLDaG1RTDhVg6NofIwMucP3y6Y-rbvhP/s1600/what+I+wore+sunday.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26K2kX_5EfB3auDrQSeOfRKHZcRebX_ERTkXz2Y3NDOfwl1-uJyZ7WAzp1yspCvnQMTqsh7QI6WDEh2oW8a827cNE588ucX_SdZhD6c-yG0qbMLDaG1RTDhVg6NofIwMucP3y6Y-rbvhP/s400/what+I+wore+sunday.png" width="400" /></a></div>
Theresa Breslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880852012326491741noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643204000396123399.post-65541842732962052992016-03-10T14:20:00.001-05:002016-03-10T14:31:54.471-05:00The Rock n Play to Crib Transition<div style="text-align: justify;">
I started drafting this post Monday, but <a href="http://sylcell.com/2016/03/08/lovehate-relationship-rock-n-play/">Sylvia</a> beat me to the punch. Pics of sleeping babies in the rock n play and all. (Former attorneys turned SAHMs think alike.) Click over if you want to read about an older babe's transition.<br />
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This is the ultimate in mommy blogger posts, but WHATEVER. When you are dealing with kids' sleep issues it CONSUMES YOU TO THE CORE.<br />
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So anyway.<br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">Little Will didn't spend too much time in the rock n play. I switched him to the crib full time early on, around 5 weeks, because I had to get up out of bed to change his diaper anyway. (I had 99 problems and 98 of them were dirty poop diapers in the middle of the night.) </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtAHB4AvE0-j0gWoIuHsEa0F7NiiqVkDMBLBNGgoKbGvc0FUgOKFsXeaJetwD80fybA2a0lH68qZe9ZVORx1teP6p_539cj8Pjts9TzQpHM-zrPVeHZv6cBl2K87JW7wCcgkOvLY0XA/s1600/photo+2-6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtAHB4AvE0-j0gWoIuHsEa0F7NiiqVkDMBLBNGgoKbGvc0FUgOKFsXeaJetwD80fybA2a0lH68qZe9ZVORx1teP6p_539cj8Pjts9TzQpHM-zrPVeHZv6cBl2K87JW7wCcgkOvLY0XA/s640/photo+2-6.JPG" title="fisher price rock n play" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">omg fat squish</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;">I had no idea that rock n plays weren't really recommended for nighttime sleep and knowledge of this fact was not really necessary to my life, so, moving on . . . </span></div>
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Enter baby number two. Our sweet Zelie loveddddd the rock n play . . . </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdi1LmtX8zwqYErdKP5PwsycPmGjWayTaG1ilYKMBCfUrmr4urdOMNcwo4waLIdsK4MUKTxZ6Z3mlpNEwvyaNBF7wmvgpqSsBERpecpfLHHkzUDfWgJjn9NVfuyKOSqClfYSbUXd3bw/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdi1LmtX8zwqYErdKP5PwsycPmGjWayTaG1ilYKMBCfUrmr4urdOMNcwo4waLIdsK4MUKTxZ6Z3mlpNEwvyaNBF7wmvgpqSsBERpecpfLHHkzUDfWgJjn9NVfuyKOSqClfYSbUXd3bw/s400/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two days old. First nap in the RNP. </td></tr>
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And the rock n play loved her back.</div>
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She was consistently going 5-6 hour stretches in the thing in her first two months of life. When she woke once or twice a night, I could grab her, nurse her in bed, put her back, and go back to sleep. I got <i>real</i> used to my easy peasy five hour stretches every night. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmKfj-aUBqMxaWJRPq3ettGkT4wiFH5w2kT80xHk6j77yKHguY5Lml8dAtg1-QCXZ__rJgxKBaulg7ij_0eiFt5nyh1GH_0I8Pc_2YLrob6zKBScUSNXTZ_icgO7mEpGh2hOE1HIR3g/s1600/IMG_9420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmKfj-aUBqMxaWJRPq3ettGkT4wiFH5w2kT80xHk6j77yKHguY5Lml8dAtg1-QCXZ__rJgxKBaulg7ij_0eiFt5nyh1GH_0I8Pc_2YLrob6zKBScUSNXTZ_icgO7mEpGh2hOE1HIR3g/s400/IMG_9420.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 weeks old. RNP Strong. </td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Glorious.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">But it was not meant to be. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPDJiqhi-xHV8FSRbaeuLOBpF3S0GGe7o8lin5MwN-hr2FdTon6U2irau-3UTy2YiEaEsyd8eYRD0tFE_uQWwW1qHsvRH00n-cvIO-Hksin1nSpvRSTVuubmBZqvJ2nmS92gYwVNnMw/s1600/FullSizeRender_2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPDJiqhi-xHV8FSRbaeuLOBpF3S0GGe7o8lin5MwN-hr2FdTon6U2irau-3UTy2YiEaEsyd8eYRD0tFE_uQWwW1qHsvRH00n-cvIO-Hksin1nSpvRSTVuubmBZqvJ2nmS92gYwVNnMw/s400/FullSizeRender_2.jpg" title="plagiocephaly" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">So here's the deal. Look at that picture above. A few weeks ago, <i>just </i>after Zelie's two month checkup (of course) I noticed that Zelie's head was a little asymmetrical. At first I thought nothing of it. I sort of just laughed it off because:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.racebending.com/v4/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Coneheads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.racebending.com/v4/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Coneheads.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">I'm a 90s kid. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Babies don't always have perfectly round heads, you know? </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">But then it started to bother me. I looked into it a little bit and started reading about <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plagiocephaly">plagiocephaly</a>, <i>i.e.</i>, flat head syndrome. Then I noticed her head always tilts to one side (her right) and she has a preference for turning her head to the left. The flat spot on her head corresponds to her head turning preference.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9fzexLGRhWvLQntCzKEk3eXcdJ_cVeEtPmQ4UROF8Ild1EamOJsRaeINYIe_4_ZMofn_qypwT-gEn0rz-soJA_EtNxJ-594GbF9Y99H1nKSovttFx3dOgTOacSC2X8C06asl_fjsEQ/s1600/FullSizeRender_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9fzexLGRhWvLQntCzKEk3eXcdJ_cVeEtPmQ4UROF8Ild1EamOJsRaeINYIe_4_ZMofn_qypwT-gEn0rz-soJA_EtNxJ-594GbF9Y99H1nKSovttFx3dOgTOacSC2X8C06asl_fjsEQ/s400/FullSizeRender_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But it's the cuuutest little tilty tilt. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTvqXXoGLPQAxsvD8NzMdSW8rNIxvS2Z6TPsG6aFHE8-IAUArM0BDHOkzsusSsy38RrX2wW0KEbM3gMh-FuelvWafTShj0ZoFkQ1P6GjrgzAwL11W_kDIJ8xdXZ2JWK6y8xdtX8BWIQ/s1600/FullSizeRender_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTvqXXoGLPQAxsvD8NzMdSW8rNIxvS2Z6TPsG6aFHE8-IAUArM0BDHOkzsusSsy38RrX2wW0KEbM3gMh-FuelvWafTShj0ZoFkQ1P6GjrgzAwL11W_kDIJ8xdXZ2JWK6y8xdtX8BWIQ/s400/FullSizeRender_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">A friend sent me <a href="http://www.candokiddo.com/news/2014/9/21/part-2-whats-wrong-with-bhd">this article</a> (written by a pediatric occupational therapist) which essentially led me to believe the rock n play was exacerbating her head and neck issues. </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Damn you experts. </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">From the blog:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-size: 17px;">Most babies are born with very subtle muscle imbalances from being all squished in the womb. One side of the neck might be a little tight or one side of the torso slightly curved. When you place your newborn in a semi-reclined position, gravity pulls her into that preferred "womb position", further exacerbating asymmetries. This is a contributing factor for Torticollis - one-sided neck tightness that often requires therapy to correct and often leads to one-sided head flattening. The cure for most minor newborn asymmetries? Lots of opportunities for movement and play to stretch and strengthen out of the womb position.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="text-align: center;">So I immediately switched her to the crib and took <a href="http://www.candokiddo.com/news/2014/8/17/preventing-flat-head-syndrome">other steps to help round out her dome</a>, including limiting her time in the car seat (which means the duallie, too), wearing her in the Moby or Ergo more often, and increasing tummy time. </span><span style="text-align: center;">I took her to the doctor where she was diagnosed with plagiocephaly. He gave helpful advice like "I've never dealt with this before" and "maybe keep her left side to the wall in her crib so she looks right . . . ?" (I'll spare you of that rant, but NOT HELPFUL MUCH?!?) </span><span style="text-align: center;">S</span><span style="text-align: center;">he begins PT next month to help with her head turning preference (though it's probable that her neck will be fine by the time we actually get to the appointment). We're just doing everything we can to avoid the 23-hour-a-day helmet. </span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">Anyway, the transition. </span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">I know some people go to great lengths to make the transition easier, like using pillows, propping up the crib with books, and rolling up blankets, etc. First of all, I wasn't willing to do that with my mostly immobile two month old. Because SIDs. Secondly, because of her neck and reading too much on the stupid Internet </span><span style="text-align: center;">I was pretty motivated just to rip the bandaid off, so to speak, so that's what I did. </span><br />
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I was already putting her down in her crib occasionally for naps starting around 6 weeks. She was more aware of her surroundings and so she would no longer take naps in the rock n play. That was fine. She was doing pretty well swaddled with the pacifier in her crib. I got lots of flights of stairs on my Fitbit with the running up and down to re-insert the pacifier a few times until she'd settle into her nap.<br />
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Eventually, maybe around the 8 week mark, I also tried putting her down for the beginning of the night in her crib. Before going to bed, however, I would bring her back to our room in the trusty old rock n play for the remainder of the night. She'd either wake on her own around 9 or 10 or I'd pick her up for a dream feed type situation before going to bed. BUT, it was still 50/50 on whether she'd actually fall asleep in her crib in the beginning of the night. On an off night, we'd just have to hold her until we were ready to go up to our room for the night.</div>
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So once I figured the rock n play was messing with her neck (she was 10 or 11 weeks), I decided I'd grit my teeth and just go all-in with the crib sleep. </div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">The first night was <b>HELL</b>. Will and I were up with her all night. I'd nurse, rock her to sleep, put her down, and then she'd wake and Will would insert and re-insert her pacifier. All. Night. Long. That first night I actually ended up co-sleeping with her in the guest room bed, so that I could re-insert the pacifier without getting up. Stupid pacifier.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">The second night was also Hell, but an outer ring of Hell, I suppose. She woke four times, but managed to fall asleep more easily the first three times. The fourth time (at 4:30am) not so much, but it seemed like progress, so we kept at it. </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">The third night, was, you guessed it, Hell! But by this point, we were at like, the fourth circle, so it wasn't too bad. She woke only three times this night, but put herself back to sleep adequately each time after a short bit of nursing. </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">She's been waking three times per night ever since, around 10 (while we're still up, so essentially a dream feed), 1-2am, 4-5am, and then waking up for the day at around 6am. She went two nights in a row with only one wakeup where I got my hopes up really high (she did a 9 hour stretch!!! all the praise hands), but then went back to her three-fers. I'm only getting up twice, which is essentially<a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2014/05/three-months.html"> what Little Will did at this point</a> (but with more diaper bombs), so I'm pretty content to deal with it. I'll be forever hopeful that she'll do the 9 hour thing again. </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">The rock n plays (yeah, we have two, judge away) are packed away for good. I've already seen improvement in Zelie's neck and she is becoming a rockstar at tummy time. Her head looks the same if not worse, because she's still sleeping on her back obviously. So maybe I'm just being overly cautious and paranoid . . . but that's my job. I'm a mom. Why they pay me the big bucks. </span></div>
Theresa Breslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880852012326491741noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643204000396123399.post-60225397093950614482016-03-06T15:22:00.000-05:002016-03-06T15:22:17.812-05:00What We Wore Sunday<div style="text-align: justify;">
Clawing my way out of my sleep deprivation hole to present to you another edition of "Theresa Pretends to Fashion Blog" thrown together in the hurried minutes before leaving for 8:30 Mass. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0wSg4xHIxdVQ9Maqiyzs_0PwyP8fw3tiBWpqCmmWqwk2cTHz_r41P4D8ToWNtOYoDPHUGUtgVXdC2Z3KH8Gj9vcnnMBsOCtlTlZkxqSv5lRmZ1bh57putN7RW-PxNnxgl1iwubX5eA/s1600/DSC_0281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0wSg4xHIxdVQ9Maqiyzs_0PwyP8fw3tiBWpqCmmWqwk2cTHz_r41P4D8ToWNtOYoDPHUGUtgVXdC2Z3KH8Gj9vcnnMBsOCtlTlZkxqSv5lRmZ1bh57putN7RW-PxNnxgl1iwubX5eA/s640/DSC_0281.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXerlm0_rHudqMAo0gANhSgT7rT0sXAJBCeSO7q9Jj2Gvb-U7iz4rsD-mZdFCJeD-YTSdVxzunVc27pqvu_7d4gR6fDLomQpP4bIW0jpYdJiscEfVB5813yfptYNJB-aqPxJzYw5COPw/s1600/DSC_0284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXerlm0_rHudqMAo0gANhSgT7rT0sXAJBCeSO7q9Jj2Gvb-U7iz4rsD-mZdFCJeD-YTSdVxzunVc27pqvu_7d4gR6fDLomQpP4bIW0jpYdJiscEfVB5813yfptYNJB-aqPxJzYw5COPw/s640/DSC_0284.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcDN5SouMbFVFuoj62XbSepUFI6D3G48kwJIScJk8JhT5wO00AQFl-OnZcCXFARTniZ0d7JauEmb-Oe6Y0QB0OUo_6hyIVUROEYYvbW1aUyQFN0NMWHwF12-8Zj6p_NpK-47UdTzVng/s1600/DSC_0285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcDN5SouMbFVFuoj62XbSepUFI6D3G48kwJIScJk8JhT5wO00AQFl-OnZcCXFARTniZ0d7JauEmb-Oe6Y0QB0OUo_6hyIVUROEYYvbW1aUyQFN0NMWHwF12-8Zj6p_NpK-47UdTzVng/s640/DSC_0285.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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This week we had (a) one formerly well-rested baby transitioning from the rock n play to the crib (more on that this week, I'm suuuuure) and (b) one toddler growing more stinking molars (seriously, who decided we needed so many sets of them anyway?). As a result I have mainly been using nap time to partake in my favorite coping mechanism of staring aimlessly at the wall eating ice cream. Rough week, y'all. Here's to a new one!</div>
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<b>Of note: </b></div>
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- The winter static cling situation almost rendered every photo taken NSFW. And yet I have no idea until looking at these pictures because I don't own a full length mirror and I'm wearing what I like to call my Spanx of Steel. Anyway, WHERE ARE YOU SPRING?</div>
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- The explanation regarding sock on Little Will's hand. He wandered into his room after we already dressed him and found the one sock with the race car on it (i.e., his "choo choo train sock" - ???) and insisted on wearing it. I wasn't going to change his socks so our compromise was that he got to wear it on his hand. YES, he kept it on his one hand all the way into the church.</div>
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- Which was a longer time than usual because our car needed a jump start for the third time thanks to the toddler who likes to pretend "drive" and turn on all the lights and signals. (After the second jump start I stopped letting him do it, but I guess I didn't drive enough in between jump starts? IDK. The battery is only a year and a half old.) </div>
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- But we made it in by the responsorial psalm! (Just goes to show that Will is now a professional at jump starting the car.) </div>
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- Little Will got an A- for his Mass behavior today. He stayed in the pew the whole Mass, which is so so rare for him. I can hope he's turning a new leaf, but it's probably just the result of feeling off from the teething. I only docked a few points because he got in a screaming match with another kid somewhere in the church. Seriously, it was like some sort of whale call where one child across the church made a high-pitched scream and Little Will thought he had to answer it with a high-pitched scream. It's a hard cycle to break. </div>
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- Zelie got another A+ today. She didn't even need to nurse during Mass for the first time in probably two months. Lots of happy noises and minimal farting FTW. </div>
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- I KonMari'd my wardrobe this week which leaves me with approximately three Mass-appropriate ensembles that fit. I would LOVE to do an entire post about what's left in my itty bitty Fourth Trimester wardrobe (9 lbs to go!). Requirements include: pooch friendly, nursing friendly, somewhat resistant to bodily fluids of all varieties, machine washable (obviously), AND no ironing required. But we'll see if I ever sleep again. </div>
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<b>Outfit deets:</b></div>
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- Me: Dress is <a href="http://www.loft.com/henley-shirtdress/396438?skuId=20172367&defaultColor=2644&colorExplode=false&catid=catl000013">LOFT</a> (currently on sale!!). The boots are Lucky Brand bought from 6pm.com a couple years ago for under $100 and they are awesome. (<a href="http://www.6pm.com/lucky-brand-hibiscus-honey-cornelian">These</a> are similar.) </div>
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- Zelie: Sweater is Baby Gap. Obsessed with the quality of this little cable knit sweater! It has held up really well through frequent machine washes and dries. (<a href="http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=107316002&vid=1&locale=en_US&kwid=1&sem=false&sdkw=floral-cable-knit-cardigan-P107316&sdReferer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gap.com%2Fproducts%2Fbaby-girl-sweaters.jsp">This</a> looks similar.) Her leggings are <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/WholeParentingGoods">Whole Parenting Goods</a>. All Nell's stuff is great quality, too, and leggings have major longevity size-wise. She's also rocking an <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/266903737/adore-a-bull-size-6-12-months-durham?ref=shop_home_active_4">adore-a-bull onesie</a> from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/BullpinApparel">Bullpin Apparel</a>. </div>
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- Will: Shirt is Baby Gap. (<a href="http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=1025471&vid=1&pid=580607002">This</a> one is similar.) Pants are <a href="http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=1040328&vid=1&pid=581770072">Old Navy</a>. The sock is from Target, I think. Just call me if you really like the sock and want the sock. You can have the sock. We've got two of them. </div>
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Linking up with <a href="http://rosie-ablogformymom.blogspot.com/2016/03/what-i-wore-sunday-laetare-and-stop.html">Rosie</a>, who also creatively has the word blog in the name of her blog. Kindred spirits!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjUr5_NDGfcTrYvWzUqZugklTsDcrMnJSvfFo0Nl3vhiUREN_LcMMXrCXYR3C3oTwhr7el9gkqIzFVKdn881XDn5IAr1eIc8MObZnuUCj85qiMnqDU4SmmxaTMtC6pd2UtSTJUxEYu0Tx/s1600/what+I+wore+sunday.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjUr5_NDGfcTrYvWzUqZugklTsDcrMnJSvfFo0Nl3vhiUREN_LcMMXrCXYR3C3oTwhr7el9gkqIzFVKdn881XDn5IAr1eIc8MObZnuUCj85qiMnqDU4SmmxaTMtC6pd2UtSTJUxEYu0Tx/s400/what+I+wore+sunday.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://rosie-ablogformymom.blogspot.com/2016/03/what-i-wore-sunday-laetare-and-stop.html">Click on over.</a> </div>
Theresa Breslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880852012326491741noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643204000396123399.post-70096969754172329802016-02-28T16:26:00.000-05:002016-02-28T16:48:53.838-05:00A WIWS Revival!<div style="text-align: justify;">
It's been almost two years since I've participated in the What I Wore Sunday link-up, but we're bringing it back, baby. </div>
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(For a stroll down memory lane, here's <a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/what-i-wore-sunday-some-shots-from.html">my first time linking up back in 2013</a>, getting a stealthy "bump" shot while 4 weeks pregnant with Little Will. OH EM GEE. Blog attention for the dogs. Whoa.)</div>
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Anyway! <a href="http://rosie-ablogformymom.blogspot.com/2016/02/what-i-wore-sunday-keeping-it-real.html">Rosie</a> is spearheading the<b> WIWS Revival</b>! Take a photo of what you wore to Mass this weekend, post to your blog or Instagram, and link-it-up bay bay! I have found so many blogs and made some lovely friends (no really!) through this link-up, so I hope it gets boppin' again. </div>
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It's also a less than totally awkward excuse to remember to get pictures of myself with the kids. I seem to only take photos of myself when there's a baby bump to acknowledge. I'll be so happy I schlepped myself in front of the camera years from now, I just know it. </div>
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WELLLLL, HERE WE ARE.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuTDKJPKmNlWXfzq7SW2eTXf4qUuK6vksNYRfi0tUL8GzGVx7IjiAKrJzasZnNdbKCVXmVSFBrQg-UxRyBPBJfeziXRxsl3xyFDiUamZ_ODzh08YjWvgkj7vissl97o_zPS7fyEpgxA/s1600/WIWS+2-27.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuTDKJPKmNlWXfzq7SW2eTXf4qUuK6vksNYRfi0tUL8GzGVx7IjiAKrJzasZnNdbKCVXmVSFBrQg-UxRyBPBJfeziXRxsl3xyFDiUamZ_ODzh08YjWvgkj7vissl97o_zPS7fyEpgxA/s640/WIWS+2-27.JPG" width="412" /></a></div>
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Mad props to my photographer who had me change my pose <i>just slightly</i> so that I was blocking that pile of little boy clothes on that dusty table behind me. He's always had an eye for fashion blogging.</div>
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We Vigil Massed it last night to attend another baptism today. (Our second Sunday in a row!) Little Will is two years young, and little did he know at the time that he was about to embark on the memorable occasion of his first ice cream cone ever after Mass. He got chocolate wasted and spun in circles around Cold Stone Creamery. Definitely my child. Baby Zelie is two months and some change and is GOING HARD in that jean jacket, am I right? She shed it about five minutes into Mass. So short lived. Sort of like all that hair she was born with. Mom (that's me) is sporting a J.Crew Factory tunic that was actually purchased after <a href="http://rosie-ablogformymom.blogspot.com/">Rosie</a> herself shared the link to the sale on her Facebook page a month or two ago. Nursing and postpartum pooch friendly. It was a final sale type situation (like $15 including shipping), but <a href="https://factory.jcrew.com/womens-clothing/loungewear/tunics/PRDOVR~C9354/C9354.jsp?color_name=blue">this</a> is similar if you are looking for something like it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjUr5_NDGfcTrYvWzUqZugklTsDcrMnJSvfFo0Nl3vhiUREN_LcMMXrCXYR3C3oTwhr7el9gkqIzFVKdn881XDn5IAr1eIc8MObZnuUCj85qiMnqDU4SmmxaTMtC6pd2UtSTJUxEYu0Tx/s1600/what+I+wore+sunday.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjUr5_NDGfcTrYvWzUqZugklTsDcrMnJSvfFo0Nl3vhiUREN_LcMMXrCXYR3C3oTwhr7el9gkqIzFVKdn881XDn5IAr1eIc8MObZnuUCj85qiMnqDU4SmmxaTMtC6pd2UtSTJUxEYu0Tx/s400/what+I+wore+sunday.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Find the rest of the pretties <a href="http://rosie-ablogformymom.blogspot.com/2016/02/what-i-wore-sunday-keeping-it-real.html">HERE</a>. </div>
Theresa Breslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880852012326491741noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643204000396123399.post-18244143213315619302016-02-25T14:49:00.001-05:002016-02-25T14:49:20.467-05:00Postpartum Running, Four Weeks in<div style="text-align: justify;">
As we are staring down the barrel of a move to SoCal, I obviously need to be bikini ready year-round, so I'm hitting this postpartum weight loss thing hard! </div>
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Going almost as hard as this guy:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJohqdOqpZn5Pzk-H8HVKYMwm5ZqNyMCOY3jSXOujwCI8V5dNXlJZhyTSNtaG1IO-WFLJN-AFvcChTqbq_i4rMJQNx0becgDQZMZQW4aQwAW_AKfa09mdPTOw6_yPdCe5_cSqRJmyrw/s1600/FullSizeRender_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJohqdOqpZn5Pzk-H8HVKYMwm5ZqNyMCOY3jSXOujwCI8V5dNXlJZhyTSNtaG1IO-WFLJN-AFvcChTqbq_i4rMJQNx0becgDQZMZQW4aQwAW_AKfa09mdPTOw6_yPdCe5_cSqRJmyrw/s640/FullSizeRender_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zFZ5GKceBhG6CarYOy9T0Q5WCjvjDEWDPhZie9RoclufjC2Za-t4KK8B2v6YXLUzFjKQg7IUZXwtbRFB197e4fKeamUxv-LXIFoXMckv52xzospPPtt33oebCgi6MjmiTQZp18W6Ng/s1600/FullSizeRender_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zFZ5GKceBhG6CarYOy9T0Q5WCjvjDEWDPhZie9RoclufjC2Za-t4KK8B2v6YXLUzFjKQg7IUZXwtbRFB197e4fKeamUxv-LXIFoXMckv52xzospPPtt33oebCgi6MjmiTQZp18W6Ng/s640/FullSizeRender_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcYT41NDCJM75-jqspXVT7jZiCGkuqcTHLkxodLLKT5PfuqigYJvlvuMYXTftkbFS8BJF8sm2TMPjXkn9yv0cDQekbwZUV2nJh-IuBsuglhVq573Ej0qKeuLXWesKAZAmGW4Ce2_07w/s1600/FullSizeRender_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcYT41NDCJM75-jqspXVT7jZiCGkuqcTHLkxodLLKT5PfuqigYJvlvuMYXTftkbFS8BJF8sm2TMPjXkn9yv0cDQekbwZUV2nJh-IuBsuglhVq573Ej0qKeuLXWesKAZAmGW4Ce2_07w/s640/FullSizeRender_3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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He's so cool. </div>
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<a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2014/05/three-months.html">Flashbacks</a>, anyone? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2jceypjCaTf4hUCagAYC1_CZtRnFD-VcZq6HbBvp-HNmK2qQ4nr8pt3TxPVeDktFdK0mYxHTgQAPB6ceBxfv32RjYHXgCkE-JsHhL3NdLUL_DOynqUrGPe_YzEG4RHK7Qj1reoaF6g/s1600/DSC_0596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2jceypjCaTf4hUCagAYC1_CZtRnFD-VcZq6HbBvp-HNmK2qQ4nr8pt3TxPVeDktFdK0mYxHTgQAPB6ceBxfv32RjYHXgCkE-JsHhL3NdLUL_DOynqUrGPe_YzEG4RHK7Qj1reoaF6g/s640/DSC_0596.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEhRKCtFUxr1G_cK5v1uQQ2G_LGTal3ss7zY4btrcoEiIQTDf23nHDPOXrBzzu5wD92PE-KqsBybcu_XAr2KxCDNWxXcQBpa3tVibfk3XSlINKAA4RWw9EjObrdbjF0i8BufKl8z9xw/s1600/DSC_0594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEhRKCtFUxr1G_cK5v1uQQ2G_LGTal3ss7zY4btrcoEiIQTDf23nHDPOXrBzzu5wD92PE-KqsBybcu_XAr2KxCDNWxXcQBpa3tVibfk3XSlINKAA4RWw9EjObrdbjF0i8BufKl8z9xw/s640/DSC_0594.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Anyway, you know that's a joke. The bikini thing. My standards are much lower, like having clothes that fit semi-properly again (you know, spare tire troubles), and to be fit enough to keep up with the kids. In the physical, literal sense. Cuz I can only use terms like "fleek" and "TURNT" ironically nowadays. </div>
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So here's where we're at:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3piU-h4k7gU_LAgfQ1UabCy17qUDi91X7tXzvuSXEkGOFbOoDOu2pFWkZwo3YfWnH3_vYwK530qMsWrC54UGQj5kwYCGXIr5Aop-oaKe-ZTapSahZ5_nh9Hq-yp1Qt9psJJD9Z9u2fg/s1600/IMG_0476.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3piU-h4k7gU_LAgfQ1UabCy17qUDi91X7tXzvuSXEkGOFbOoDOu2pFWkZwo3YfWnH3_vYwK530qMsWrC54UGQj5kwYCGXIr5Aop-oaKe-ZTapSahZ5_nh9Hq-yp1Qt9psJJD9Z9u2fg/s640/IMG_0476.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Since starting to exercise again, I've been squeezing in runs three times a week between the BOB, the gym, and the treadmill in our garage. And I have ten pounds to go on the weight loss front (slowwwwly and steadily making progress… peaks and valleys, peaks and valleys). </div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Finding time to exercise with two kids is hard. Like, wayyy harder than with one. At this point after having Little Will (we were a little farther getting into Spring), I was already running 5 milers and </span><a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/well-that-escalated-quickly.html" style="text-align: justify;">training for a marathon</a><span style="text-align: justify;">. Ugh, I was so annoying. Go away Theresa from two years ago. I will note that the we didn't make it to the marathon due to an ill-timed TDY. TDYs are just the worst!</span></div>
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But once the weather gets a little nicer, I think it will be a lot easier to increase my mileage per week. I will take the kids out in the Duallie with anything greater than 45 degrees and anything less than 20 mph winds. Unfortunately, that bar has not been met on most days. Illinois, y u so windy? And how is it STILL February? </div>
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On Monday, however, 45 degree weather and mere 15 mph winds meant that I ran 2.5 miles with the Duallie and both kids fell asleep in the stroller and BOTH STAYED ASLEEP for OVER AN HOUR after we got back home. </div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">!!!!!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-NCGmmPuCvEvqTo03vI4nc3SVmgPHo1ZpMjPsE1Ay78zCzcsGkXWcM8waRb8a6syF2wPplcIHz6YyzUUpy1WBXrK7CM78O-x7-6yx8VgFoGMuEx9U5SFYQQiiPAKIX_JXTtuv9njKAg/s1600/FullSizeRender_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-NCGmmPuCvEvqTo03vI4nc3SVmgPHo1ZpMjPsE1Ay78zCzcsGkXWcM8waRb8a6syF2wPplcIHz6YyzUUpy1WBXrK7CM78O-x7-6yx8VgFoGMuEx9U5SFYQQiiPAKIX_JXTtuv9njKAg/s640/FullSizeRender_4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4uBfwrV-GWkTWF8xlgI7PVbxP00X25auKGCypufuoAiiXbHRnrWxiW5CCJZ3l3V3Gm7-QCCyf2q4a_k_fIz8Re_F7_wVXF3A_QdMNZHBf3W76AXCVnMGS8mL6_li1avc57MhnOkiFAA/s1600/FullSizeRender_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4uBfwrV-GWkTWF8xlgI7PVbxP00X25auKGCypufuoAiiXbHRnrWxiW5CCJZ3l3V3Gm7-QCCyf2q4a_k_fIz8Re_F7_wVXF3A_QdMNZHBf3W76AXCVnMGS8mL6_li1avc57MhnOkiFAA/s640/FullSizeRender_5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Yes, Will insisted on bringing his mailman truck and his dad's golf glove that he likes to wear around the house. I know I'm a broken record, but <i>toddlers are so weird</i>!!! Boy do I love 'em. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwglxecy8AuAsL1XUyAh-oKKLFP2LvKgiPPeXXRcicggZCSs_3dyecYgxGz-dNrg6As5k0JSO0FQ8E-GuZy6R-cl_hCYLS9tEE72TB6TWuO73BlNvw2nBGbtItm0ZO-JgcoAoIRCUfGw/s1600/FullSizeRender_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwglxecy8AuAsL1XUyAh-oKKLFP2LvKgiPPeXXRcicggZCSs_3dyecYgxGz-dNrg6As5k0JSO0FQ8E-GuZy6R-cl_hCYLS9tEE72TB6TWuO73BlNvw2nBGbtItm0ZO-JgcoAoIRCUfGw/s640/FullSizeRender_6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">So I kept them both bundled up in the garage like that, ate lunch, and did various chores until they both woke up. Will's lips were blue for a while (oops) but I think he got over it.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDIf9w1z1eHnneUEwWWrU4P4oJHsY7jQBurh8D_6qh1f2bJv4VTMU-1hMWqMWhsi3CXyv2nDXex3M1GgqFb90Kq1Rlb34Z1ZmuvH0w8saT4t4Q1KXLz8_I2tXrVEm4ZLBgjmPQmLmzhg/s1600/FullSizeRender_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDIf9w1z1eHnneUEwWWrU4P4oJHsY7jQBurh8D_6qh1f2bJv4VTMU-1hMWqMWhsi3CXyv2nDXex3M1GgqFb90Kq1Rlb34Z1ZmuvH0w8saT4t4Q1KXLz8_I2tXrVEm4ZLBgjmPQmLmzhg/s640/FullSizeRender_7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">The Duallie is SO HARD to push against the wind. I was able to maintain a decent just-barely-under-10 minute mile pace with the thing for those 2.5 miles. BUT, I ran with just Zelie in the single BOB and flew through 4 miles with no problem. So the extra work is paying off. Some day I will keep up with <a href="https://sarahandrobchronicles.wordpress.com/">Sarah's</a> Duallie filled 7-day step count. ;) Dream the BIG dreams, people.</span></div>
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I've considered workout videos at home or other classes/programs to get in shape and I'm just all, <i>that takes too much mental energy! </i>In addition to figuring out which bra won't be too tight or too loose (#nursingproblems) and whether everyone is fed and accounted for, I just can't. I need to be able to strap on some shoes and run for as long as I can for as hard as I can and call it a day. Can I get an AMEN? </div>
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When Zelie gets a little older, I'll be more comfortable taking her to the Y childcare room. I can obviously head to the gym at night after everyone is in bed or in the wee hours of the morning, but WHO HAS THE ENERGY. Sleep > Fitness. Until then, 3x a week is actually going pretty well. I feel so much stronger already! Sweet sanity!</div>
Theresa Breslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880852012326491741noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643204000396123399.post-45132146397057848872016-02-24T15:31:00.000-05:002016-02-25T15:06:19.392-05:00On Earthly Detachment (We Know Our Next Base)<div style="text-align: justify;">
So it's official as it's gonna get until we actually arrive on base and the powers that be tell us we're in the right place (as far as I'm concerned). </div>
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We are moving tooooo . . .</div>
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. . . </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9YwC-zkswdn1bjJj6IVlHMnnIIp5__1X94GHBmkfzSJs69mvz-wS5p_4x3obLgoJz78n0sulZ-OhzE9OqLwqbGqQqb4H2OX2nvhsQ-ezK123tjR0uB3ahHtheHZJGNL2p8gtc-XZOg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-02-24+at+1.28.12+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9YwC-zkswdn1bjJj6IVlHMnnIIp5__1X94GHBmkfzSJs69mvz-wS5p_4x3obLgoJz78n0sulZ-OhzE9OqLwqbGqQqb4H2OX2nvhsQ-ezK123tjR0uB3ahHtheHZJGNL2p8gtc-XZOg/s640/Screen+Shot+2016-02-24+at+1.28.12+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Edwards AFB</b></div>
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(That's the little red blob IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MOJAVE DESERT.) </div>
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Edwards is very isolated, about 30 minutes from the closest city. BUT! Year-round sunshine. Los Angeles is a 2 hour drive away, Las Vegas and San Diego are 3 hour drives away. And other cities like San Francisco and Phoenix are within reasonable driving distance. There will definitely be a lot to explore on the weekends. Not to mention we get to talk like The Californians. "Take the 40 down to the 405 and hit up Santa Monica, bruhhhhh!"</div>
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And if you are like me and have no idea where the Los Angeles really is on a US map, here you go:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofPKLz6XPgLtD49OjF0XVA-g4GbO4t9Zi0MtWD6ISNEeLkk_BFy8uZf04XDMbnI-algXNKkAW52q3p7qOLNAOsXdVtuoqBNUImgqLh5hTbhn7OTp-KfFMgz7WTvJZz7085n05FZatqQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-02-24+at+1.31.35+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofPKLz6XPgLtD49OjF0XVA-g4GbO4t9Zi0MtWD6ISNEeLkk_BFy8uZf04XDMbnI-algXNKkAW52q3p7qOLNAOsXdVtuoqBNUImgqLh5hTbhn7OTp-KfFMgz7WTvJZz7085n05FZatqQ/s640/Screen+Shot+2016-02-24+at+1.31.35+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Seems like a doable walk with the Duallie. </div>
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It's definitely farther from family than we were hoping for. You know. We were hoping to move to the right on that map, but instead we're going wayyyyyy left. But we do have some west coast friends and family that can hopefully give us a warm welcome. And I'm hopeful that our desert locale means the kids will be less prone to contract runny noses and I'll be sucking out <a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2016/02/two-months-with-zelie.html">less boogers</a>. </div>
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Will also got the position he was hoping for, Area Defense Counsel (ADC), so it's an exciting career move for him. He'll be the boss of his very own little unit and get tons of really great trial experience. But back to the boogers. No one gets runny noses in the desert, right???? </div>
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Some other good news is that we have actually been getting to know our new neighbors for a while now:</div>
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<a href="http://images.amcnetworks.com/amc.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/bb_blog_season_2_renew_key_art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.amcnetworks.com/amc.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/bb_blog_season_2_renew_key_art.jpg" height="376" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.media3.hw-static.com/wp-content/uploads/20th-century-fox-s-raising-arizona-movie-stills_5304064-400x305.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.media3.hw-static.com/wp-content/uploads/20th-century-fox-s-raising-arizona-movie-stills_5304064-400x305.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://malikaziz.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/reese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://malikaziz.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/reese.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://web.pdx.edu/~cem3/looney/img/coyotecliff.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://web.pdx.edu/~cem3/looney/img/coyotecliff.png" /></a></div>
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I've got lots of desert jokes. </div>
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The move will take place sometime in July, which gives me approximately four months to KonMari the crap out of this house. We will definitely be downsizing in square footage and there's also a pretty good chance that we'll be spending a few <i>months</i> in temporary housing while we wait for a house to become available on base. So just when I'm ready to say all my stuff "sparks joy" - I'll get to say goodbye to it for an undetermined amount of time. </div>
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My initial reaction is one of "EHHHH" (high-pitched, nasally whine), because who wants to be without their precious stuff for months, but then <a href="http://martinfamilymoments.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-nomad-life-and-lenten-lessons.html">Colleen</a> shared this quote in her post today: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgdzyEaEZyl-dD_ajjJMbAzWVmrcjCV9VjLF_1HlvI0BjHVf_bQcLOqNfacsca4vDMtZU3sX2kizrLeQpbOpAzl5nBBv010WFblJEnMLoL6Vfsa2uwBsxioHScNlub8d11LL4mNeBxQ/s1600/DoAllInYourPower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgdzyEaEZyl-dD_ajjJMbAzWVmrcjCV9VjLF_1HlvI0BjHVf_bQcLOqNfacsca4vDMtZU3sX2kizrLeQpbOpAzl5nBBv010WFblJEnMLoL6Vfsa2uwBsxioHScNlub8d11LL4mNeBxQ/s640/DoAllInYourPower.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Oh, Christian poverty. How very poignant. </div>
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I've always thought I'm pretty detached from all my stuff, bragging that I am <i>basically</i> a minimalist, the one in our relationship that throws everything away. I barely shop and I'd be pretty darn happy wearing the same three outfits on rotation, I am soooo laid back, ermahgerd. And then you are faced with the proposition of <i>actually</i> doing without your precious King-sized bed, KitchenAid mixer, and random assortment of baby gear/furniture for a couple of months and you discover you are a big fat phony. I am a big fat phony. I am weak and I need a heck of a lot of grace to help me detach from earthly cares, St. Therese. Help me out, please?</div>
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So the thought of getting organized for a cross-country move is a little daunting. (Heaven help me if we ever go overseas! I'm exhausted just thinking about it.) And the clock is ticking to check off remaining items on our Scott AFB bucket list. (We still haven't been up to Chicago, etc.) We will miss St. Louis so much, but lots of pretty darn exciting times ahead. </div>
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And we can't wait to meet our new neighbors! </div>
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;) </div>
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Theresa Breslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880852012326491741noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643204000396123399.post-1482658818819216862016-02-23T21:57:00.002-05:002016-02-23T21:57:31.501-05:00A Boy & His Boots (+ the Rest of Us)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Fear not. This post is heavy on the photos and light on the rambling. I just wanted to share some new family photos we took over the weekend. Word on the street was that Saturday was going to be unusually beautiful, so during a Friday morning (black) coffee visit our good friend, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/laurenscharmer/">Lauren</a>, suggested that we crash her Youth Minister Retreat happening up the road from us in Belleville. We'd get to pop in and see her during their down time and she'd snap some family photos on the grounds. #momblogger was all LET'S GO. Win-win. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcrt3sLxRqco7BVtMHwfairwVhqprq3zF4gsG5oG4bhwahghWHg4qmt0zPjY1VFSTSnuMv-VJL4XqHcqGKsdGsSUwM3migZmwgKofp6jODlfGHvXil2oADANQrFq_tKJF94zj8ElKCA/s1600/DSC_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcrt3sLxRqco7BVtMHwfairwVhqprq3zF4gsG5oG4bhwahghWHg4qmt0zPjY1VFSTSnuMv-VJL4XqHcqGKsdGsSUwM3migZmwgKofp6jODlfGHvXil2oADANQrFq_tKJF94zj8ElKCA/s640/DSC_0005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYoUmuBLERXcD0hIDZBesuqr4-7S7w746_ZDoChTfMlxKT6CPgXZPT3FRDVMRwA1dKyeCD0Dxq1lVmdJKh_voSzGNC5to0akFbX0TyiSF59DdZGS_nQwQlS_vNsWVp5P5Jwgii_VNj_A/s1600/DSC_0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYoUmuBLERXcD0hIDZBesuqr4-7S7w746_ZDoChTfMlxKT6CPgXZPT3FRDVMRwA1dKyeCD0Dxq1lVmdJKh_voSzGNC5to0akFbX0TyiSF59DdZGS_nQwQlS_vNsWVp5P5Jwgii_VNj_A/s640/DSC_0009.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqWL7NEqxzmIEbH2lAlAiul35DPhaoYpSmrmfaXCli_XeIXUiAOxmTPCqg0OqbVCCUA3_5zEZ9Xo-8ENbzdGYCfexhP_4ufpg97HW7a9gqg5e2PCD5ahnhPf7X6TrFgRrdI_YiDj53Q/s1600/Lala+4.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqWL7NEqxzmIEbH2lAlAiul35DPhaoYpSmrmfaXCli_XeIXUiAOxmTPCqg0OqbVCCUA3_5zEZ9Xo-8ENbzdGYCfexhP_4ufpg97HW7a9gqg5e2PCD5ahnhPf7X6TrFgRrdI_YiDj53Q/s640/Lala+4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Not much more explanation required. BUT, Little Will's cowboy boots are pretty torn up. We're not quite sure how they're even supposed to fit, but I'm afraid they're getting a little too small and we'll have a Chinese foot binding-type situation. (He really does want to wear them the moment he sets his eyes on them.) Well, we got him new boots. </div>
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I present to you: the galoshes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfwW38xXpXzMRkGwm6EAaZpz9KrYCRirG8Kamqa9gD3WaTv6sUotH6PzJJzdrXxDBXbpCIaCYbo30TDyyPrKkCXF0C2HrVCuoEcI7ZpfF8etREO4SS7bT7jdG1P4yVw5j2-nkw03uEQ/s1600/DSC_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfwW38xXpXzMRkGwm6EAaZpz9KrYCRirG8Kamqa9gD3WaTv6sUotH6PzJJzdrXxDBXbpCIaCYbo30TDyyPrKkCXF0C2HrVCuoEcI7ZpfF8etREO4SS7bT7jdG1P4yVw5j2-nkw03uEQ/s640/DSC_0020.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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May they bring us as many spectacular memories.</div>
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He already insists on wearing them everywhere, even though we bought them a size up, so they are HUGE. Like, he tries to run in them, but they stay in the ground and he flies forward. You'll notice his knees are pretty torn up as a result. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKF6x7qKFMVBrwhVb9gI06mhWTx2kXclCeyKwXGMGzNrMWoTmfEJfsCAtT-oz0dNz9h6FJjru3VW1b4PHiK3tYmZbAzOvxI3NX-ZWbsyJQjACF3-xEuhjEcVCNQ_TPcy-PYch8qb74qw/s1600/DSC_0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKF6x7qKFMVBrwhVb9gI06mhWTx2kXclCeyKwXGMGzNrMWoTmfEJfsCAtT-oz0dNz9h6FJjru3VW1b4PHiK3tYmZbAzOvxI3NX-ZWbsyJQjACF3-xEuhjEcVCNQ_TPcy-PYch8qb74qw/s640/DSC_0022.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKxuiSAaSmbYgL6i-FoHv8Hmn_UKYGsB_MrcilfQLDhirP5LbY3beSlWbXxN8r0dmgdwDvb7Yx2RTK9GPNyMLBHgw4qB3DxBZP-lXqwAZSKWn11UtVFgvwbjkD-_fXI3kv2igSfYO6Q/s1600/Zelie+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKxuiSAaSmbYgL6i-FoHv8Hmn_UKYGsB_MrcilfQLDhirP5LbY3beSlWbXxN8r0dmgdwDvb7Yx2RTK9GPNyMLBHgw4qB3DxBZP-lXqwAZSKWn11UtVFgvwbjkD-_fXI3kv2igSfYO6Q/s640/Zelie+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyu5mmfaL198jQCqtepkyP70j20CHsW0OScwRs109gOq71HzkRr-SVl9Bk05BFUepVobnXnInqTeaBYE58dLbFwL0UChu31W0LPJFfl6fMVsDVQvWuP3iDhi8RWf4T44KX03k5FJ5kg/s1600/DSC_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyu5mmfaL198jQCqtepkyP70j20CHsW0OScwRs109gOq71HzkRr-SVl9Bk05BFUepVobnXnInqTeaBYE58dLbFwL0UChu31W0LPJFfl6fMVsDVQvWuP3iDhi8RWf4T44KX03k5FJ5kg/s640/DSC_0025.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Despite the boot-related tantrumming, is this little boy PRACTICALLY HEADED OFF TO COLLEGE? OR IS IT JUST ME?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqc5FLelowTsbo7A3SFyOF6BDrQWGowG5Wc7JK8Ef0tob7jZ_n3oV1fnEsf4P-skp4powkfC0PaOVRPH2-cQPsiswHfrQE0F8JNOMfc38czSMPBLF3_1k-ysUO47jaKynaYSHX0k6SPw/s1600/DSC_0072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqc5FLelowTsbo7A3SFyOF6BDrQWGowG5Wc7JK8Ef0tob7jZ_n3oV1fnEsf4P-skp4powkfC0PaOVRPH2-cQPsiswHfrQE0F8JNOMfc38czSMPBLF3_1k-ysUO47jaKynaYSHX0k6SPw/s640/DSC_0072.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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All the crying emojis ever iMessaged, inserted here.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvE9HxZmhxMm0e5cjMDDWpJ7NMxrOoDUDGDtL4d0f4ajF-d3S-yifoi66cgJwQ1y_8_o4nc-KGaGPigf-bDOF2nSEoqr3t9LWEs63NAGAfddxtrTyNVWbt4-3Vf5ktTkUtZyCDlXzxwg/s1600/DSC_0084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvE9HxZmhxMm0e5cjMDDWpJ7NMxrOoDUDGDtL4d0f4ajF-d3S-yifoi66cgJwQ1y_8_o4nc-KGaGPigf-bDOF2nSEoqr3t9LWEs63NAGAfddxtrTyNVWbt4-3Vf5ktTkUtZyCDlXzxwg/s640/DSC_0084.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And here.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWJkGchF3L3EMogNxmWiIbUrBw5hPw3oEPG-m5JFjUtfU5tzOEiqMkEPaOugLzzFjQqABWgwP1t7HxUwoeS7B26hPO9cJ8C0mfQzEbM5864orXbW_gjUJAfuD1OWOyBZexDbkhExTXQ/s1600/DSC_0089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWJkGchF3L3EMogNxmWiIbUrBw5hPw3oEPG-m5JFjUtfU5tzOEiqMkEPaOugLzzFjQqABWgwP1t7HxUwoeS7B26hPO9cJ8C0mfQzEbM5864orXbW_gjUJAfuD1OWOyBZexDbkhExTXQ/s640/DSC_0089.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And here.<br />
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The end.<br />
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<br />Theresa Breslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880852012326491741noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643204000396123399.post-74240921584502550062016-02-22T15:05:00.001-05:002016-02-22T15:05:44.789-05:00Two Months with Zelie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEoxXfVJSuyoFwswoxdWiGkQXcCWwLPflx7Gwke0bTzXd3_hpvNRNeKxEdjKfrydShLbipiK2iRiWjp9BU32THCaTFKa0GXm231b_Siu5NXJOxGsGs8V-wRIinJ_xF__-b10kxzWPfSQ/s1600/Zelie+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEoxXfVJSuyoFwswoxdWiGkQXcCWwLPflx7Gwke0bTzXd3_hpvNRNeKxEdjKfrydShLbipiK2iRiWjp9BU32THCaTFKa0GXm231b_Siu5NXJOxGsGs8V-wRIinJ_xF__-b10kxzWPfSQ/s640/Zelie+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Two months with Zelie outside of my belly. How ya like that?</div>
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I spent a half an hour Saturday buffing this girl's head in anticipation of these photos. Her cradle cap is on fleek. Her head looked great for these photos, but now it's Monday and it's already returning. </div>
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Like her brother, she has a ridiculous amount of boogers. But she surpasses him in talent by sneezing them out all the time. I think her record is a good foot away of propulsion. Sometimes they just stick straight out so that I can snap a pic and send it to my mom who has a ghastly fear of snot. If I could just not have to suck anymore boogers out of anyone else's nose, that would be appreciated. The air is just <i>so </i>dry here this time of year. I'm hoping that there are in general less runny noses at our next duty station. It's plausible. </div>
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Cheeks here sits at 12 lbs, 12 oz (81st percentile) and 22.5 inches (45th percentile). I was surprised to see that at this point, <a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2014/04/two-months.html">Little Will weighed more</a>, being that she had almost a pound on him at birth. Same height though! She's just less of a blob. She likes to push up with her legs and she <i>hates </i>resting her head on anything. Unless she's laying flat. She has a total cone-head with a perfectly flat back thanks to it and the ultimate bald spot/mullet on the back of her head. </div>
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She is more aware, making eye contact, giggling, and cooing. She really enjoys FaceTiming. She seems to be very observant and focused (as opposed to her brother who needed to be everywhere all at once all the time). Her tongue is sticking out a majority of the time, like in the pic above. </div>
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Anddddd now for the Sleeps, Eats, Poops… shall we?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFgg_V3RU9fyHHqiXsauE14hXwmM_DRyZ0E0ruhg6zwl9IiS1lqe6Hkfuokk_apfiDFLXdg3YiUwwhgQwVqGtk_rfM9je74TrlF6Ntzjhh3w1tKVajtLGgnCp7eO-i7jtlzQjARDv2w/s1600/Zelie+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFgg_V3RU9fyHHqiXsauE14hXwmM_DRyZ0E0ruhg6zwl9IiS1lqe6Hkfuokk_apfiDFLXdg3YiUwwhgQwVqGtk_rfM9je74TrlF6Ntzjhh3w1tKVajtLGgnCp7eO-i7jtlzQjARDv2w/s640/Zelie+1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>EATS. </b></div>
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Still nursing on demand and it seems like she's able to go longer stretches between meals during the day, but I don't really know. I'm not keeping track! Her naps are getting longer and her nighttime sleep is fine, so I'm not hyperfocused on getting her into a routine like I was with Little Will. She is a quick nurser like her bro was and only takes one side per session right now. My supply seems to have regulated a lot quicker with her, so I'm not lopsided (!), but I still have pretty forceful letdown that causes her to cough and sputter a bit. Breastfeeding is still messy, plenty of leakage and spit-up, and boob diapers are life. </div>
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We've offered her the bottle about four times in her life and she's never really taken to it. I'm not really worried about it because I have no plans to leave her. We'll keep trying though. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_28iFPeSUwUOUWYW0IJdl3fAGuCUtewlSulKWFmeOHzSFnoRMs5W_qCibWugO2OZ7pfi33NghLwCOqqiNLgYgvEMdguKaAZhIAmZloeP02uQUFxpD9xV4x45D5zr3V9iIiPJJ7xkU3A/s1600/Zelie+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_28iFPeSUwUOUWYW0IJdl3fAGuCUtewlSulKWFmeOHzSFnoRMs5W_qCibWugO2OZ7pfi33NghLwCOqqiNLgYgvEMdguKaAZhIAmZloeP02uQUFxpD9xV4x45D5zr3V9iIiPJJ7xkU3A/s640/Zelie+3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>SLEEPS. </b></div>
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With her newfound awareness of her surroundings, she is less and less able to sleep in arms, the car seat, or the rock n play downstairs. She can get a good nap in the Moby and her naps her crib have gotten better and better. In a typical day at home, she'll take at least one long (1 hr or more) nap in her crib, swaddled with the sound machine on. This morning she went two hours and it was awesome. She typically takes a pacifier to fall asleep during the day, but not always. She usually falls asleep pretty quickly, but sometimes I have to go back in a couple times for pacifier reinsertion. </div>
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Night sleep hasn't changed much. She'll go a five or six hour stretch in the beginning of the night if I leave her be, and then usually up every three hours after that. She'll either go down for the night at 8-ish in her crib OR she'll refuse to fall asleep altogether and stay up with the adults until 10 or so. This girl can fight sleep pretty dang hard. If she's in her crib, I like to go in and get her around 10:30 for a dream feed and then keep her in our room the rest of the night. The couple times I've done this have worked out well for only one waking at about 3:30, then up for the day at 6:30. The past few nights though, I'm telling you, she wakes up a second time at 5:30 just to fart on me. I try to nurse her, but she's not all that interested. She just has gas. Then goes back to sleep until 6:30 when she'll nurse again. </div>
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She generally falls back asleep pretty easily at night. If I've been up longer than thirty minutes, though, I very maturely and not whiney at all make Will get up and rock her back to sleep.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6aO4QcgCuUHC_ylx4NUDXN0mYtfdXH4oMog63gnVZLu1WHp8djWOIHJKWE6ys5OT2RK_cNp05fZQguSiVdPa7Wdx-N1QxnYKZTsVEupRMrPniEShrKt1iPxXHhmpuAnfVbRKsN_P6vg/s1600/Zelie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6aO4QcgCuUHC_ylx4NUDXN0mYtfdXH4oMog63gnVZLu1WHp8djWOIHJKWE6ys5OT2RK_cNp05fZQguSiVdPa7Wdx-N1QxnYKZTsVEupRMrPniEShrKt1iPxXHhmpuAnfVbRKsN_P6vg/s640/Zelie.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>POOPS. </b></div>
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Z has the best pooper! She goes days without pooping. Usually she has a big diaper every three days or so. The trade-off is that her farts are THE WORST, seriously. And she farts on me all through the day (and night - see above), but I'd much rather change less poops. We go through a lot less diapers and obviously no rashes as a result. It took us FOREVER to get through a big box of Size 1 Huggies and just when we ran out (and she outgrew them), she had her two month shots in the thighs and screamed her head off when I put her in a cloth diaper. So I made Will go out and buy another big box of Size 2 Huggies and I'm guessing these will last a while, too. I'll try cloth again when those get low. But yeah, we might just stick with disposables since it's not really costing us much more. </div>
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Time will tell, friends. Time will tell. </div>
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<b>LINKY DINKS.</b></div>
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<a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2014/04/two-months.html">Will at two months. </a></div>
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<a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2016/01/one-month-with-zelie.html">Zelie at one month. </a></div>
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And all about <a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2015/12/our-daughter.html">her birthday</a>. </div>
Theresa Breslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880852012326491741noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643204000396123399.post-26673542971021308202016-02-17T23:15:00.002-05:002016-02-17T23:15:33.436-05:00Latest & Greatest<div style="text-align: justify;">
My baby boy is TWO! We did it big with a mailman-themed Happy Birthday extravaganza. (AKA we invited three people over for cake.) Will's parents sent this HILARIOUS mailman get-up for his birthday, just in time for the little party. That mail carrier bag has seen all manner of vehicles . . . planes, trains, automobiles, you name it. It's not quite as beloved as his cowboy boots, but it has a special place in his heart, for sure.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsEpD5IZ3umkwT_RH9HeV2beJOj-DS8iR0PHBBjw69JBZafo3bzvFsxkvJYMyfwCh1lbyKzD0zW2H_Jvd9qgs2NDz11aeMmwp4MVopfq_IhyphenhyphenI3HaZ42L4TGcUyAYgd1SCPZ7xZDMg0tA/s1600/FullSizeRender_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsEpD5IZ3umkwT_RH9HeV2beJOj-DS8iR0PHBBjw69JBZafo3bzvFsxkvJYMyfwCh1lbyKzD0zW2H_Jvd9qgs2NDz11aeMmwp4MVopfq_IhyphenhyphenI3HaZ42L4TGcUyAYgd1SCPZ7xZDMg0tA/s640/FullSizeRender_3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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He was pretty pumped for his b-day this year. He practiced blowing out candles leading up to the big day thanks to Advent. And we taught him the Happy Birthday Song through the whole month of January. He still bolts out a "Happy Bahhday, YAH YAHHH!" x 4 … blows air, "YAYYY" + claps every so often. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmF3Zcj3CRcpJhsR_IiyTaSjKmPQf7bOZtW3FHSyywBAwSUsZTvCDVszyYZZd56f16Qm0XNQElEdJNX_RerXqk7nqatZRnMMPA0EPFxPjowk9hzhhdHTGJpzqt8zKHIxzqF2GZXwHpww/s1600/FullSizeRender_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmF3Zcj3CRcpJhsR_IiyTaSjKmPQf7bOZtW3FHSyywBAwSUsZTvCDVszyYZZd56f16Qm0XNQElEdJNX_RerXqk7nqatZRnMMPA0EPFxPjowk9hzhhdHTGJpzqt8zKHIxzqF2GZXwHpww/s640/FullSizeRender_4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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All of his hard work definitely paid off. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZJfl_djtiychb-sPPiKV3DKuDIWPfY79yjgFwcxHTrBxJgEptg5cBxla9TuPCBIT1zxKXTJsnSGRP3gPpc5DWUJv7ryt-kfDL4RvT3OhkDJ6zO_G7NFXas-rsGVg150Yn2ufUlkyjg/s1600/FullSizeRender_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZJfl_djtiychb-sPPiKV3DKuDIWPfY79yjgFwcxHTrBxJgEptg5cBxla9TuPCBIT1zxKXTJsnSGRP3gPpc5DWUJv7ryt-kfDL4RvT3OhkDJ6zO_G7NFXas-rsGVg150Yn2ufUlkyjg/s640/FullSizeRender_5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Those candles didn't stand a chance.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPQPaiDjYbugnMggqG-XV800biW-xXwujO7MHiqcZwvWCOPoVGSOBR003lQ1S-2UyknU-PtRZBJ06_3F_Fi7dkiHSHzGE2feNPUrT6_AH1pX6o4yo8dXnwngnYF1OhWFiD6kbOvn3rg/s1600/FullSizeRender_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPQPaiDjYbugnMggqG-XV800biW-xXwujO7MHiqcZwvWCOPoVGSOBR003lQ1S-2UyknU-PtRZBJ06_3F_Fi7dkiHSHzGE2feNPUrT6_AH1pX6o4yo8dXnwngnYF1OhWFiD6kbOvn3rg/s640/FullSizeRender_6.jpg" width="474" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hashtag fun fam!</td></tr>
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Indulge me for a sec, because I really can't believe how old and big and smart he's getting. Every few days he'll really surprise me with something new he says or does. For example, he just started shouting "PANCAKES!!!!" every time we pass The Egg & I on 64. We love brunch. It's just odd because you really can't even see the building from the highway. In the same vein, he shouts "JESUS!!!!" every time he passes our church. (We have a Ordinary Time routine, okay?) </div>
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He just started recognizing where we are when we drive around. He cries tears of agony every time we turn in the direction opposite of the base. Because he knows when we go on base we get to see airplanes, the occasional freight train, and, of course his favorite, his daddy. </div>
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He's getting more serious with his toys and it kills me. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHcCxBhu9i_1L6vOXmwkNvFk0sfI16Zq3mslf9j5Ac1xnKnhAKRuInC9azFDcRUt765NPSmYB47FMvFmk3WxVDxBzjzHPA98ZrzE7ahPtPxN4tpYevSWNXvG03jiWRD00Uwa9aC6PQg/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHcCxBhu9i_1L6vOXmwkNvFk0sfI16Zq3mslf9j5Ac1xnKnhAKRuInC9azFDcRUt765NPSmYB47FMvFmk3WxVDxBzjzHPA98ZrzE7ahPtPxN4tpYevSWNXvG03jiWRD00Uwa9aC6PQg/s640/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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When he wants to do something specific with his toys, he'll usually whine "HELP PEEEZ!!" and then just do it himself because he can. I really think he underestimates his own abilities sometimes and defaults to asking for help.</div>
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Toddlers, man. Keep you on your toes.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hi Z.</td></tr>
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Zelie's all, I'm bald!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUj8uWR7TuTK_KKKeJpD0x1w0BgmuWkjTQZW89BXNdOq-eOmWkY99WPh6QeCNA90wL2VzkCuAFBHh9MJVYQIs69fN8tTI4NaxY8PKPfy2Jdfl97BOcy037YIErvcwlADSh6qXfuycAw/s1600/FullSizeRender_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUj8uWR7TuTK_KKKeJpD0x1w0BgmuWkjTQZW89BXNdOq-eOmWkY99WPh6QeCNA90wL2VzkCuAFBHh9MJVYQIs69fN8tTI4NaxY8PKPfy2Jdfl97BOcy037YIErvcwlADSh6qXfuycAw/s640/FullSizeRender_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Zelie turned two months old today. I'll have a full post that includes all your intricate poop deets, but I want to wait until after her checkup on Friday so I have her stats. She is still <i>tall</i>. (Pic above was from a couple weeks ago. And how cute is the bandit bib from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/WholeParentingGoods">Whole Parenting Goods</a>? Obsessed.) </div>
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You may have noticed I chopped all my hair off. I just finally had to take the plunge and get the mom lob. It was time. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkLT2vjjHz3tb5ISigL7fI1AtLWq2rCa_B0Hdlp5wtoBSyEMsZTOZY48W_8432gnywLSn6N50_12k5I8r3OE_pdOrIMXyEgZDysfCc4tKFhBqhkw7b7cQMqov_Aw9XfWsEWDGOcDDgg/s1600/FullSizeRender_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkLT2vjjHz3tb5ISigL7fI1AtLWq2rCa_B0Hdlp5wtoBSyEMsZTOZY48W_8432gnywLSn6N50_12k5I8r3OE_pdOrIMXyEgZDysfCc4tKFhBqhkw7b7cQMqov_Aw9XfWsEWDGOcDDgg/s640/FullSizeRender_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezs10gtl6vuq_sxXp94ark5S-mmBmBx1yZSAiAiIUSb6ySQkWbBLxyj2Slj0bvgZtIReGll860RhA1duibbyNXpZrg8quSbqTBH6YfxJspe77yrt_KtIbWtvKhNioA_FquXvIPtqHVQ/s1600/FullSizeRender_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezs10gtl6vuq_sxXp94ark5S-mmBmBx1yZSAiAiIUSb6ySQkWbBLxyj2Slj0bvgZtIReGll860RhA1duibbyNXpZrg8quSbqTBH6YfxJspe77yrt_KtIbWtvKhNioA_FquXvIPtqHVQ/s640/FullSizeRender_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I had no idea that my cut and style would be free as a perk for donating. I was super pumped! And of course I haven't been able to get my hair to look as good as it does in the pic above, but c'est la vie, no? I could straighten my hair ALL DAY and nope.</div>
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Postpartum running is going well! I have been taking it slow. My longest run so far has been 3.66 miles on the treadmill. The weather is supposed to get really nice over the next few days, so hopefully I can hit the pavement with the duallie. I've managed to lose a couple more pounds, but I still have about 11 pounds to go to hit my pre-pregnancy weight. But I finally bought a pair of jeans that actually sort of fit, so I am in less of a hurry. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't hang.</td></tr>
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Lent is here! You may or may not have noticed I haven't been on social media much. Here's what I've been up to: </div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Deleted social media apps from my phone (Bloglovin', Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat). I can fire up the old MacBook to check Facebook or read blogs, but I generally don't because it. is. so. slow. I've been trying to especially limit time spent on my phone during the day when I am supposed to be parenting. So far, so good. So, so good. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">I am working on the Blessed is She Lenten Workbook. I've been loving the journaling. (Big surprise right? I mean I do have this crazy blog.)</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">I've been limiting processed sugar. I say limiting because I am breastfeeding and stopping my nightly chocolate milkshake is a big freaking deal for me. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Less screen time for Little Will. It got out of hand there for a while. I'm feeling like I have much more energy lately to get out of the house and/or figure out things to do with Will at home, so it's been a lot easier to implement this. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">We are donating a portion of our tax refund.</li>
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I did a bad thing and tried to bring both children to Ash Wednesday mass by myself on base. It made <a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2016/02/monday-funday.html">this bad morning</a> look like child's play. My first mistake was going to a different parish than our usual so that we could attend a full mass that didn't interfere with meal times or naps. We arrived early because it was snowing and I wanted to make sure I got a parking spot close to the building. Little Will was unusually hyper waiving and yelling "HIII" to everyone who walked in as the unofficial greeter. Once mass started, he didn't want to stay in the pew, which is normal, but when I took him out to the vestibule, he screamed his head off. Nothing would console him. I had Zelie in the Moby wrap because I knew I'd be in and out of the pew with Little Will. ANYWAY, once the meltdown of all meltdowns occurred a whopping five minutes into mass, I decided that we just needed to leave. WELL, I had to go back into the church get my bag. We slowly and quietly creep back in as not to be any more of a disturbance. At which point Little Will ran up the center aisle and bum rushed the priest as he gave the homily, yelling "HIIIII!" and waiving. I grabbed my bag and power walked toward the front. A parishioner grabbed Little Will and pointed him back toward me. At which point I made awkward eye contact with a gentleman who I'm sure was at least an O-6, probably a four-star general because that's what happens. Zelie's head was bouncing around in the Moby, pretty unsecured, while I make the looooong walk of shame down the aisle out of the church. More melting down while I buckle poor little sis into her car seat and we slowly make our way outside into the snowy white abyss.</div>
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So I guess what I'm saying is Lent started off with a bang. Just trying to make things extra penitential around here.</div>
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I promise the transition from 1 to 2 has still been pretty smooth! We've just had a few … moments.</div>
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Last, but not least, you may remember back in October when I blogged about how we would soon be getting <a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-wheel-of-where.html">our next base assignment.</a> Well, that notification got pushed back to February. We waited and waited and waited as Will's colleagues got the news. And finally, today, we got the "unofficial" news of where we'll be living come July. Hint: it's NOT in the direction we were trying to go (East). I won't jinx it by disclosing it here, but as soon as we get official orders (in a couple more months), you'll be the first to know. ;) </div>
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Theresa Breslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880852012326491741noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643204000396123399.post-80743710989940812632016-02-01T15:49:00.002-05:002016-02-01T16:03:22.533-05:00Monday Funday<div style="text-align: justify;">
You know it's been a good morning when everyone ends up crying in their underwear.</div>
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+1 adult (not pictured).<br />
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I knew there would come a day when the seedy yellow stools hit the fan. Today was officially that day.</div>
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We were all dressed in clean clothes looking well groomed. There was a decided lack of cooperation by the underlings, but we were slowly inching toward the car, grocery list in hand! Ready to tackle that meal plan.<br />
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Zelie pooped and spit through her outfit and mine. Normal newborn stuff. Roll with those punches.<br />
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Will on the other hand JUST COULD NOT LIFE at all today. The back of his neck was itchy and it turned him into an inconsolable, angry beast. For example, I was sitting nursing (a hungry and very gassy) Zelie and he needed me to hold him and console him because he was trying to blow a fart on his arm and he COULDN'T DO IT. And WHAT KIND OF MONSTER ignores her child undergoing such torment?<br />
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His inner monologue:<br />
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<i>Dearest Mother,</i></div>
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<i>I see you are rather occupied nourishing your less-capable offspring.</i></div>
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<i>However, have you noticed the debacle I am in? </i></div>
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<i>I require a fart noise.</i></div>
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<i>I am unable to make said fart noise at this juncture. </i></div>
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<i>Please acknowledge my hysterics until I become occupied with something more important.</i></div>
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<i>Ooooh, dog food.</i></div>
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<i>I love sniffing dog food.</i></div>
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<i>Byeeeee.</i></div>
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<i>Yours Truly,</i></div>
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<i>William Hugh (age: 1)</i></div>
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The fart noise problem. Just one example in a sea of options.<br />
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Every time I held Zelie (who oddly did not want to be set down all morning), he would say "TOO?!" meaning he wanted me to pick him up, TOO. Get it? Yeah, it takes me A REALLY LONG time to figure out what he means when he says things. So I cooked lunch with Zelie in the Moby and holding Will on my hip (or clawing at my legs when my arm needed a break). </div>
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At least I was burning calories because you bet I was stress-eating tater tots by noon. </div>
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Cue the mom guilt. I truly did want to help him because I read [the first half of] <a href="http://www.amazon.com/No-Drama-Discipline-Whole-Brain-Nurture-Developing/dp/0345548043">this book</a>, which basically says you are raising a narcissist if you don't connect with your child when they are throwing a tantrum. My e-book loan expired before I could reach the second half of the book, so I basically don't know what to do after that. Something about redirection. Surely he will turn out okay, even if my attention and my hands are divided. If not, there's always boarding school.</div>
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Aaaanyway. </div>
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I hope your Monday is going a little better. Toddlers able to make fart noises when required, babies pooping mainly in their diapers and spitting up in areas that don't involve pools of liquid in the center of your bra? All the normal stuff. </div>
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Theresa Breslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880852012326491741noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643204000396123399.post-47803425513062895212016-01-28T22:46:00.000-05:002016-01-28T22:46:48.159-05:00Two Under Two<div style="text-align: justify;">
First of all, thanks for the support and commiseration after my <a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2016/01/postpartum-running-take-2.html">last post</a>. As of this week, I've been cleaning up my diet <a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2015/09/food-rules.html">again</a>. I went for a one mile run today pushing the duallie in 20mph winds and it was a new level of struggle for me, but ya gotta start somewhere. Then Will offered to stop by Chickfila and pick up shakes and WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT FROM ME? I said yes. Yeah I'm into fitness! Fitness milkshake in my belly rn. So things are off to a great start. </div>
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Anyway, I only have one week to go to wear the badge of the honor that is mom of <b>two under two</b> (so pithy!), so a photo dump/overly-detailed post of how we spend our days seems in order. Little Will thrives on routine, I think, so the general flow of our weekdays look exactly the same. </div>
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Husband Will is usually out the door at 7am before we start our day, about around the time Zelie wakes for the day. Little Will not soon after, though I can usually let him roll around in his crib while I finish giving Zelie Breakfast #1. Every morning, I enter Will's room and he greets me with an emphatic "HI MOMMY!" If he's up in time, Little Will usually protests that his dad has to leave for work, but as soon as I mention he gets to watch choo choo trains or Mickey Mouse when daddy leaves, the tears magically stop and he starts waving bye-bye and aggressively walking Big Will to the door. </div>
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His parental affection only goes so far, you see. </div>
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I typically let Little Will watch a show or two while I drink coffee and wake up. Zelie cluster feeds, cluster poops. Will eats breakfast, too. Usually fruit, oatmeal, or a muffin with some orange juice (<i>i.e.</i>, water with a splash of grovestand Tropicana… last thing this kid needs is more sugar… what's the word for it? Oh. MANIAC.). I'll ask him if he made a poopy, to which he responds, "No, thanks!" I check him, find one (always), and tell him he needs a new diaper, to which he responds, "No, thanks!" I grab him, cheerfully make him say "yes, ma'am!," and change his diaper. Then we'll usually spend our morning doing something to get out of the house. Commissary, Target, Playgroup, repeat. 'Tis our life cycle.</div>
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Upon our return, he MUST be given the opportunity to "drive" the car. You see, this involves Will crying real tears until you put him in the driver's seat of our Subaru. You MUST then shut the door ("bye bye Mommy!") and allow him at least 3-5 minutes of pushing every button in the car. There are smudgy little finger prints all over my rearview mirror. The hazards are always <i>always</i> turned on. There is a 70% chance a blinker is on when you start the car. I use this opportunity to bring Zelie inside along with the diaper bag and any groceries. </div>
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At this point, I prepare lunch. Little Will occupies himself by delivering mail in his Winnie the Poo car (a $1 yard sale find), climbing on furniture, and building all manner of houses made out of blocks, Legos, and his IKEA children's chairs. The mailman truck needs a house (a "meh meh how"), the choo choo trains need a house ("choo choo how"), and—you guessed it—the school bus needs a house, too ("bah bah how"). </div>
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Still working on pronunciations. </div>
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There is only one thing he is guaranteed to eat and it is cheese. Anything else is a bonus, though he loves eating "bubbies" which I discovered means "smoothies," (to my surprise, not boobies, which he is obsessed with since Zelie nurses all day) only because he (crying real tears, always) pointed at the blender yelling "BUBBIES"! This is my opportunity to guerrilla attack him with spinach. </div>
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1pm. Glorious nap time. </div>
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I take care of chores, read, nurse Zelie, feed myself, and/or veg with some Netflix. Lately I've been watching Jane the Virgin and I'm kind of loving it. Jane is a Catholic virgin from Miami who is accidentally artificially inseminated and becomes pregnant. About halfway through the series, there's an unexpected fart joke, when I knew— I just knew—this was my type of show. Also, a singing St. Therese statue. (Just watch the show.)</div>
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The afternoon is spent—dare I say it?—running outside?!</div>
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No, I won't jinx it. But it did happen today. </div>
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Usually Will doesn't wake until about 3pm, so we just hang out at home until dinnertime. Today I think he was trying to sing the ABCs when I went to get him out of his crib. Random. We build more houses, read books, draw, try unsuccessfully to avoid another episode of Chuggington, etc. We'll get dinner started. Little Will loves sitting on the counter, grabbing things, and declaring them his. "MINE!" he says. "Put that down," I say. "Not a toy." To which he responds, "No, thanks." I measure the ingredients, he dumps it in the bowl. Usually I can get him to sit still on the counter with some snacks.</div>
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Around 4, Little Will starts asking "dada here?" every time the dogs bark. (They bark at everything that moves outside.) By 5:30pm, Big Will is actually home and please believe his little super fan is at the door to greet him. Chance of wearing pants: 50%. Chance of wearing cowboy boots: 95%. </div>
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The rest is dinner, running circles around the kitchen island over and over, quality time with the fun parent, bath, and bed. You know the drill. </div>
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And an illustrative photographic display:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVHIK22B8iOaQga0N8-iEUS3e1CjFiZ6QiW1ikxRuW9a5X2niFupU3Kp2pK7FNSu7-i18BAk_sTCUqcG4Kqm4nDQLI1WE708Xvw80YDktN9mQ1sUnV97V8nHZXL6QDCDdcx6w8AiesbA/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVHIK22B8iOaQga0N8-iEUS3e1CjFiZ6QiW1ikxRuW9a5X2niFupU3Kp2pK7FNSu7-i18BAk_sTCUqcG4Kqm4nDQLI1WE708Xvw80YDktN9mQ1sUnV97V8nHZXL6QDCDdcx6w8AiesbA/s640/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning hangout. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgynv8V2Ewi4RIn2ckfX0hds0Y2A-023TnjYa0bd-HaN04LxvMxcNbM80T9jRN4lh_NdmGS2Y3AzNYVVvAXiKDinFtDZPyKnPUkcKNuVbl1Oz5-wZe9leFc1-GzhoeE_LvtgixbRUvKQ/s1600/FullSizeRender_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgynv8V2Ewi4RIn2ckfX0hds0Y2A-023TnjYa0bd-HaN04LxvMxcNbM80T9jRN4lh_NdmGS2Y3AzNYVVvAXiKDinFtDZPyKnPUkcKNuVbl1Oz5-wZe9leFc1-GzhoeE_LvtgixbRUvKQ/s640/FullSizeRender_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Helping" in the kitchen.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU9IgwYmqClY79t-teE10POdOYBBlRCl1U7mNsl6r8i80TuglAwcIP0ZeOt3tZQN61LU9G-YgOQmu71BsRkO5SgiiIhhA03QrGDYc2xEfEYTJlda25ywwIi_uzp1pPEMmjjwZaGje4Kw/s1600/FullSizeRender_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU9IgwYmqClY79t-teE10POdOYBBlRCl1U7mNsl6r8i80TuglAwcIP0ZeOt3tZQN61LU9G-YgOQmu71BsRkO5SgiiIhhA03QrGDYc2xEfEYTJlda25ywwIi_uzp1pPEMmjjwZaGje4Kw/s640/FullSizeRender_3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Zelie reject paci. Declared "MINE!" by you-know-who.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6enGJDFcMPtK8OE01FL06Lx9Q8ReuF-xUAgGxcowrnOgj0RI6lDnl4KDZF7G_ZRCgxDQEAzOc6GOCj3A10A7qko7pUAoCUPwqR9wwWt7iDGHBX2lRnyYsdXPHOj-7eDR96qv0vfvjA/s1600/IMG_9868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6enGJDFcMPtK8OE01FL06Lx9Q8ReuF-xUAgGxcowrnOgj0RI6lDnl4KDZF7G_ZRCgxDQEAzOc6GOCj3A10A7qko7pUAoCUPwqR9wwWt7iDGHBX2lRnyYsdXPHOj-7eDR96qv0vfvjA/s640/IMG_9868.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying to get out the door. Distracted by cuteness.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipQXmxo7RVrTjHeYATue39udO1p7C-t6pB7YeVsBFpD31c3ov6ULD1KJ65mwPZtlVQHinlQXDtTAvuPhZ8bwhV9CpoTbIB7qB0oe1X8eQYxy757g_qHyCaoO5lBraBjDH5V9ZhIcSIA/s1600/FullSizeRender_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipQXmxo7RVrTjHeYATue39udO1p7C-t6pB7YeVsBFpD31c3ov6ULD1KJ65mwPZtlVQHinlQXDtTAvuPhZ8bwhV9CpoTbIB7qB0oe1X8eQYxy757g_qHyCaoO5lBraBjDH5V9ZhIcSIA/s640/FullSizeRender_4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One-on-one time with my girl during Little Will's nap.</td></tr>
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<br />Theresa Breslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880852012326491741noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643204000396123399.post-9288815935268573982016-01-23T16:31:00.000-05:002016-01-23T16:31:02.059-05:00Postpartum Running, Take 2<div style="text-align: justify;">
Time is blazing by as usual and I am about to be the golden 6 WEEKS POSTPARTUM, which means I'll [hopefully] get the all clear to start exercising again. </div>
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Let's all pray that I can get back to it with this much panache:</div>
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Don't worry. I'll <i>probably</i> wear pants. No guarantees.</div>
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Last time, in true first time mom style, I wanted to show EVERYONE just how NOT FAZED by childbirth I was, so <a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/postpartum-running.html">I went and ran 3 miles at 4 weeks postpartum</a>. I was SO SORE for the next few days that I kind of freaked out and googled too much about prolapse (don't do it… don't do it) and took it easy until after my 6 week appointment when I was deemed fit for exercise. I've never been one to listen to my body, but that was more ridiculous than usual, even for me. </div>
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But I got an Aria Fitbit scale for Christmas—don't worry, I asked for it—which lets me know that my BMI is obese at 26.6. I know, I know. I just had a baby, but the weight on the scale has pretty much refused to budge as well. With Little Will's pregnancy, I gained about 15 pounds more more and the number on the scale continuously dropped over that first month postpartum. This time? Not so much. It was all probably water weight, I got real swole, but it's still annoying to see the scale not moving. SURE, I eat ice cream every. single. day., but I'm BREASTFEEDING. The weight is supposed to FALL OFF OF ME, RIGHT? </div>
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So here I am at 5.5 weeks postpartum (much more reasonable than 4.5 weeks, right?) and I am just itching to get back in the game. It's way too cold to take out the BOB Duallie occupying half the garage, so I am relegated to weekend runs outside or the treadmill. (I did take the Duallie out for a walk recently when it was unseasonably warm and HOLY HELL that thing is heavy to push with two children inside of it! So many props to <a href="https://sarahandrobchronicles.wordpress.com/">Sarah</a> for her blazing fast Duallie paces.) I also have a gym membership at the local Y which has a childcare room, but Little Will HATES being left there; they would always come find me to retrieve him within an hour when I was huffing and puffing on the treadmill during my third tri, reading self-help books that made me feel inadequate. And I'm not quite ready to expose Zelie to the petri dish of winter germs. </div>
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This one, on the other hand?</div>
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Proudly packing on those pounds. </div>
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Theresa Breslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880852012326491741noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643204000396123399.post-54521531250007325682016-01-17T15:47:00.001-05:002016-01-17T17:11:17.817-05:00One Month with Zelie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHNJ8EOeTMUl-5BBLuPm1MLQajYsIwoIWnrmzjfa0bsMehdfITyU2zpKaiT56BYfWehkkFAsfruVQmsznq2yfgcvJcjdpjQdml6IgStiv086lvsNGu47HiOUxLyX0HuTXxjNvE4e6Gg/s1600/Zelie+One+Month.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHNJ8EOeTMUl-5BBLuPm1MLQajYsIwoIWnrmzjfa0bsMehdfITyU2zpKaiT56BYfWehkkFAsfruVQmsznq2yfgcvJcjdpjQdml6IgStiv086lvsNGu47HiOUxLyX0HuTXxjNvE4e6Gg/s640/Zelie+One+Month.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Dream baby!</div>
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Dream. Bay. Bae. </div>
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Shameless intro: We love her so much! Besides being innately cute and wonderful, she is just beginning to coo and smile at us. When awake, she is super alert and can really hold her head up well. It takes a <i>lot</i> for her to cry, but when she does cry, it's real tears (just like big brother). All in all, we can't imagine life without her! Blah blah blah, all those postpartum baby love hormones talking here. </div>
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I had just three days with the two of them by myself in between Will's parents visiting and my mom visiting. It was like starting this two kids thing on training wheels. I went really well, even with Little Will sick and skipping naps. I managed to make it out of the house with both of them two of the days (Starbucks —> Target & Commissary, the usual). Big Will is working long hours (he had a discharge board and has been prepping for trial all weekend), but truly - I'd rather be taking care of two kids not pregnant, than one kid while super pregnant and uncomfortable. I really really like being not 9 months pregnant. The training wheels come off this week, though, while Will is in trial and I have these two kidlets all to myself all day. </div>
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Sticking to the syllabus, let's talk eats, sleeps, and poops.</div>
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<b>THE EATS. </b> Breastfeeding was rough for the first two weeks. <a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2015/12/zelies-first-days.html">Really rough.</a> Around Christmas, I was wincing in pain (and there may have been a few tears) during the first minute or so of her marathon nursing sessions. Things took a turn at the two-week mark, when the ole nips healed. Ever since, she's been growing more and more efficient at the boob and it's wonderfulllll (especially during those middle of the night feeds). She is really easy to nurse. I was a loyal Boppy-user with Little Will, but now I never use it because she seems to actually help me out and hold herself up to the boob. (Will was just a super floppy babe. I know this to be a thing now.)</div>
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I've been feeding her on demand and she's more of a comfort nurser than Little Will was at this age, I think. I think it's in part because my oversupply isn't as bad, and partly because she just likes it. I definitely do have forceful letdown/oversupply again which leads to some coughing and choking. She only nurses from one side per session and has trouble keeping up with the flow, so she takes breaks, leading to cluster feeds. But this is usually in the mornings and evenings, so that we can run errands in the late mornings/early afternoons before Little Will's nap and all is well. </div>
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Breastfeeding in public. I think I've nursed her more in public this first month than I did with Little Will during his entire 11 months on the boob. I've nursed her in the pew all but one Mass, I think. It's made getting out and about so much easier. I figure most people are going to be looking at the crazy toddler climbing on things, spinning around, making animal noises, rather than the discreetly nursing mom. I'm always covered anyway. Amateur lactivist that I am.</div>
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<b>THE SLEEPS.</b> She's been sleeping in the Rock n Play next to our bed, swaddled in the Halo, usually with the help of a pacifier. I mentioned before that at 2 weeks old she slept 7.5 hours straight. While she hasn't kept up quite the same stamina for sleep, she consistently sleeps in 3-5 hour stretches. WOOT WOOT. About 70% of the time she wakes only once between 10 and 7. And then the other 30% of the time, she'll wake twice, but usually she goes right back to sleep (and on the rare occasion she needs a diaper change or some rocking, daddy to the rescue). </div>
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She typically takes itty bitty cat naps throughout the day in arms or in the car seat, but she'll usually have one long nap coinciding with Little Will's when I can furiously clean up toys and try and make our house not-gross. </div>
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<b>THE POOPS. </b>I switched her to cloth diapers for a few days and we had a few too many blowouts out the leg holes. I figured her legs were just too skinny for the one-size all in ones we have, so I went and bought disposables. The first Pampers I put her in . . . blowout through the leg hole. Obviously. So we'll probably be back in cloth soon. (For the record, Little Will is in disposables for the rest of his diaper career.) She seems to have big poops less often rather than the stream of poop all the time that Will had (with accompanying NEVER ENDING diaper rash). AND!! She usually doesn't poop at night, which is great and means no diaper changes in the middle of the night. <i>Dream baby, dream baby, dream baby. </i></div>
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The poop section is your fave, admit it. </div>
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Highlights:</div>
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// <a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2015/12/our-daughter.html">Being born.</a></div>
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// <a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2016/01/zelies-baptism.html">Being baptized.</a><br />
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// Her first pumped bottle (not a huge fan, only took 2 ounces).</div>
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// Surviving her first month at home with a sometimes curiously destructive (and contagiously sick with croup and a cold) big bro.</div>
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During our little photo shoot, Will kept running up to me with one eye shut, like he wanted to look through the camera. And touch it. And destroy it. With his crusty face.</div>
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This kid. Speaking of, here's <span style="text-align: justify;">Little Will's </span><a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/one-month.html" style="text-align: justify;">One Month Update</a><span style="text-align: justify;">. Squish.</span>Theresa Breslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880852012326491741noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643204000396123399.post-36062951442821679902016-01-13T00:14:00.001-05:002016-01-13T00:14:15.913-05:00Zelie's Baptism<div style="text-align: justify;">
Zelie was baptized on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (at 3pm no less!). Before she was born, we'd planned to have Zelie baptized at our normal parish, St. Clare. However, after leaving a message with the parish office to set things up, Lauren, Zelie's godmother, told us that one of her priest friends had offered to do a private baptism if we wanted. Well, after not getting a call back from our parish office (which is odd) AND discovering that Lauren's friend, Father Sullivan, was free for a January 10 (Baptism of Our Lord) baptism, AND discovering that he was also going to be attending the Saints Louis and Zelie Martin canonization mass, we decided it was a sign that this was the way to go. </div>
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Did that sentence make any sense? </div>
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It's getting really late… I can't proofread. Just can't.</div>
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Fr. Sullivan went above and beyond, and graciously offered to hear confessions beforehand. (Don't worry, we got him a really nice bottle of liquor for his efforts. #Catholic.) Lauren, Will, and I got our souls all squeaky clean. I also had him bless a rosary gifted to Zelie from Grandpa Ned that he bought during a quick stop at Belmont Abbey. </div>
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It was a really special ceremony. Not that all baptisms aren't <i>really</i> special, but you get what I'm saying. <a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2014/04/a-homecoming-easter-baptism.html">Little Will was baptized on Easter Sunday</a> in front of a packed house, so we had to make an effort to do it up big. Will's parents were in town and some close St. Louis friends came, toddlers in tow. Little Will led the charge of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/_spJRfOw5v/?taken-by=theresabreslin">getting into things he shouldn't behind the altar</a>. Then afterwards, we had dinner across the street at a nice Italian place with didn't skimp on the cheese in its lasagna. SDG.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smuggling out some holy water.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indelibly marked.</td></tr>
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Welcome to the Church, sweet Zelie Clare!</div>
Theresa Breslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880852012326491741noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643204000396123399.post-33654206717646934312016-01-05T12:56:00.001-05:002016-01-05T12:56:08.293-05:00The Paternity Leave Beard (& Other Recent Phenomena)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Well, Zelie is now 2.5 weeks old and things are going really well. Like, <i>too</i> well. It will all surely devolve into chaos, right? Surely.</div>
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The adjustment from 1 to 2 so far has been much easier than 0 to 1. It's mostly because Will is still home on paternity leave (<a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/one-down-one-to-go.html">and not TDY across the country for two months</a>), which has been a game changer. He goes back to work next week, but I only have to survive two work days in between his parents' visit and my mom's visit. All said and done, I have helpers for Zelie's entire first month. We expect his days will be pretty long once he goes back, so I'm just trying to brace myself for it. </div>
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This little guy has one more month of being a one-year-old, so let me tell you all about it . . . </div>
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We've been trying to teach him the lyrics to Happy Birthday in anticipation. Not going great. He's gotten plenty of practice blowing out candles thanks to our Advent wreath.<br />
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God bless him. I was promised by other moms that he would have a language boom when his sibling arrived. I'd say for him that proved to be about 80% true. When you talk to him, he will mostly just repeat the last two words of whatever you say, but then much later he will sometimes spontaneously say something that will show he was actually comprehending what you were telling him. E.g.:<br />
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Me: We are gonna go to Esther's house to play after night night today.<br />
Will: Nigh nigh today!<br />
Me: Yeah…. Wanna go see Esther?<br />
Will: See . . . Esther!<br />
<i>An hour later, sitting at the table eating brunch . . . </i><br />
Will: Esther house after nigh nigh?<br />
<i>Raised eyebrows, tears of joy, and relentless applause from overly proud parents.</i></div>
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He still has hilariously odd pronunciations for words we use every single day. Water = Mah-woo. As many times as I shout "WA-TERRRR" at the kid, I just can't break him. Charlie = Bye-ee (House - he always tacks on "house" after he says Charlie. He really likes visiting Charlie's house). Zelie = Wuh-ee. Even when we have him make the Z sound, he'll say "Zzzzz Wuh-ee!!!"<br />
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He also does cute stuff, like when we ask him, "Hey do you want to go for a ride with Daddy?" He'll say, "Otay!" as if it's a given. "Do you want a banana?" "Otay!" But mostly he'll again repeat the last word of your question.<br />
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He can count . . . to 2. "One. Two. One. Two." as he points to whatever's he's counting. We're working on it.<br />
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He's been an gloriously awesome sleeper lately. His schedule has shifted since Big Will has been home on paternity leave, since we've all been able to stay up later and sleep in later, but it's definitely been for the best. Bedtime is typically closer to 8pm, wake ups between 7:30 and 8, naps around 12:30 (lasting 2-3+ hours, hooray!). I'm hoping it keeps up because I'd like to wake Zelie for her first feeding at 7am and be done before Little Will wakes for the day. So far, so good. Just trying to prepare myself for juggling two.<br />
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He's beginning to take more interest in Zelie, in an aggressively affectionate way, like climbing on her rock n play and/or violently rubbing her head and/or going in for the head-butt kiss.<br />
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Anything and everything is a telephone. He will hold lunch meat up to his ear and pretend it's a phone. I've encouraged him to pretend the person on the other end is a woman named Denise. We don't know anyone named Denise and I just think it would be hilarious for him to put a toy horse up to his ear and say, "HELLO DENISE!!!" In time it will happen. With repetition. In time.<br />
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Of course, he's pretty temperamental, as is typical. Terrible twos or whatever. Meh.</div>
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He is constantly begging to go outside, like in these photos (from Sunday), when it was freezing outside. Constantly whining and begging to watch Mickey Mouse (which is just code for cartoons, in general). Constantly begging to drive the car (sometimes we let him sit in the driver's seat, which he just think is the best thing ever). Sometimes he just whines and we don't know what he's asking for, thanks to his odd pronunciations of things discussed above. When he doesn't get his way he makes these faces. </div>
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But, again, he's pretty easily distracted by his existential pain, if you so much as make a fart sound in his direction . . . </div>
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He is still utterly obsessed with the mailman. He shouts MAILMAN! whenever a UPS, USPS, or FedEx truck goes by. He has a sixth sense for mailmen, I'm telling ya. On Sundays or holidays we have to tell him that the mailman is at church, so won't be coming by. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forlorn. "Where mailman go?"</td></tr>
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He pretty much loves any and every cartoon on Netflix (which I'm sure will prove helpful, if not make me feel really guilty that I'm neglecting him). Lately it's Special Agent Oso, which if you didn't know, is a show about a stuffed bear who helps children complete important tasks like checking out a library book, setting up a gerbil cage, or preparing pancake batter. Oh, I happen to have some photographs of Little Will helping his father prepare pancake batter. What ARE the odds?</div>
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Probably wanted to sit IN the mixer. Or something.</div>
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Toddler entertainment haunts me. I have the 3 special steps Oso song stuck in my head during Zelie's late night feeds. Sometimes it's the Little Blue Truck lyrics stuck in my head in the middle of the night. Not annoying at all . . . </div>
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In other news, please enjoy Will's short-lived but impressive paternity leave beard. He has to go in for a meeting this afternoon and had to shave it off. Most upsetting. But now he's rocking a 'stache (curiously within Air Force grooming standards, while a beard is not), so perhaps you have that to look forward to. </div>
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Zelie is easy peasy compared to Mr. Temperamental Toddler. She's gotten much more efficient with her nursing and I haven't had any pain at all in the past few days. I definitely just needed some time to heal from her first few days on the outside. She is a ferocious sucker and we utilize pacis a lot. But y'all, newborns are so much easier the second time around! I'm not sure whether she's just that much easier a baby or whether I'm that much more easy-going. Probably a combination of the two. I'm not obsessing over her diaper output and when and how long she nurses. I'm already aware of the obscene amount of poop and spit up that is normal for this stage. (Will was much more prolific in that regard.) She does have much manlier gassiness (low-pitched and loud, yo). But it's chalked up to funny baby stuff, rather than being cause for concern that I'm doing something terribly wrong with her nursing schedule. </div>
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At her 2 week checkup last Wednesday she was 8lbs, 13oz and 22 inches long. She's 99th percentile for height! No idea who that comes from, but we're not expecting it to last. ;) She's in size 1 diapers and 0-3 month clothes already, since the 2 week mark. At that point we got the green light from her pediatrician to let her sleep at night. That night she went 7.5 straight hours! It was amazing. Ever since, she's typically been waking once per night (in the 11-7ish window) around 3am, sleeping in 3-4 hour chunks, which is just fine by me. The only downside is that she's been taking a REALLY long time to fall back asleep. On the whole, however, I am sleeping much better than I was at the end of my pregnancy, so I'm just trying to get the sleep while the gettin's good. </div>
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She's not really on the typical 3-hour routine during the day that Will fell into so easily. I'm not sure whether I'm going to put the energy into getting her into a predictable routine at this point, since she's sleeping pretty well at night. The past few days, she's been wakeful in the mornings and then sleeps a lot later in the day. Unlike Little Will was, she loves to nurse and suck, so when she's awake, it's basically offering the paci and breast a lot to see what she really wants. We'll just alternate a lot if we're home. We were out and about yesterday morning and early afternoon and she did really well in the Moby, in the car, and nursing while out and about in general. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even Zelie knows that's not how that works.</td></tr>
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Whatever happens once this glorious paternity leave period is over, I'm enjoying it while I can! Maybe it's the calm before the storm, who knows. I'm sure I'll loyally relay all the minute details when the seedy yellow stools hit the fan. </div>
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MOM BLOGGER 4 EVA!<br />
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Theresa Breslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880852012326491741noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643204000396123399.post-77985677083439411802015-12-26T18:51:00.002-05:002015-12-26T18:51:48.677-05:00Christmas 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXFFVUolje4y5V7Jo01mxcQC9Clh-xCzJU46jGcQQuHtK8OZ7cEW2kYZB9t4Pb69FR9gwHSvbGt_pPr55Hf0UQMfl8Eo-8GgvCYWcCh5bYCv3qfmedCsm09JyWzYibWygk-m70JiTldw/s1600/Merry+Christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXFFVUolje4y5V7Jo01mxcQC9Clh-xCzJU46jGcQQuHtK8OZ7cEW2kYZB9t4Pb69FR9gwHSvbGt_pPr55Hf0UQMfl8Eo-8GgvCYWcCh5bYCv3qfmedCsm09JyWzYibWygk-m70JiTldw/s640/Merry+Christmas.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Merry Christmas! This will be the only card we're sending this year, a "virtual" one. Zelie is a whopping nine days old, still single digits, so I think I get a pass. </div>
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If you think she looks traumatized in the pic above, please see the outtakes below . . .</div>
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Little Will rocked the same bow tie and suspenders as <a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2014/12/christmas-2014.html">last year</a>. And ALWAYS the cowboy boots. From sun up to sun down. Usually, but not always, on the correct feet. </div>
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Zelie continues to be on the nice list (despite the breastfeeding woes, which I think are slowly improving).</div>
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I was pleasantly surprised at how excited Little Will was to open gifts this year. "If you sit still and show your teeth (<i>i.e.</i>, smile), you get to open a present!" worked well for us. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Books from Nana.</td></tr>
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Just photoshop me in on the left. Wouldn't mind some airbrushing either. But how perfect are these sweeties? Ugh! If there was ever a time for cliche sayings like "my heart is so full!!!!" this is it. This. Is. It.</div>
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We went to the Christmas vigil mass at 4:30pm again. AKA the most crowded, ridiculous mass evah! Of course, Zelie had a deadline to nurse again right at 4:30, so we got there early. Necessary anyway for Christmas mass, if you want to find a seat. We were extremely lucky to find seats in the pew, 30 minutes early!!, so I sat down and got to nursing with my cover. All was well until everyone stood for the entrance hymn and the curious six year old behind me stood up and could see down the cover…. Awkward. Am I a lactivist now?</div>
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We attempted family photos with the uncooperative toddler. </div>
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Little Will was more "active" than usual, as they say, during mass. (I say, he be crazy.) Will already had to take him out of the pew, within the first five minutes actually, so they were walking around the back of the church when Father Jim called all the children to come sit on the steps leading up to the altar during the homily. Little Will walked straight up to the front, around all the kids and up the stairs to the side, and then ran back toward the tabernacle in the back of the church. I heard people laughing and then Will walking past everyone, but I didn't realize what had happened until I got the run-down afterward. </div>
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This one. Keep an eye on him . . .</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Punk.</td></tr>
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Even though he had some naughty behavior just before the big day, Santa came! The grandparents got most of the kids' gifts, with the exception of some <a href="http://thebrezblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/st-zelie-martin-peg-dolls.html">peg dolls</a> I got in a second exchange. Jima (my mom) came through with the BIG gift, the ginormous dune buggy Power Wheels car that took up half the living room. </div>
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He was terrified of it. (I'm kind of terrified of it, too.) </div>
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He warmed up to it eventually when he saw how much fun his stuffed animals had sitting in it, then he spent the rest of the morning sitting in it playing with his other new toys and eating cinnamon rolls off the coffee table. We even convinced him to take it for a spin, once up and down the driveway. But no more. Let's take it slow, okay? In his ripped jeans and cowboy boots, he was a bona fide Ricky Bobby doppleganger. </div>
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My dad came to visit! He arrived late Christmas morning, bearing more gifts, of course. Not to mention it's been awesome having the extra set of hands. This morning, I got to sleep in, and when I got up, Will had already hit up the commissary and there was a pancake feast awaiting me! I ate it one-handed on the couch while nursing and eventually Little Will wandered in and started eating off my plate, but still a pretty amazing way to wake up in my opinion.</div>
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Last night, we went to our neighbor's for Christmas dinner after a last minute invitation. Thank goodness! I would have served Chinese food. Delivery of course. Instead we got to enjoy a delicious homemade meal! And no dishes! (We have the BEST neighbors.)</div>
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Currently typing right-handed, with Zelie in my lap, and a hoppy brew in my left hand, watching bowl games. We're about to watch the Redskins clinch a playoffs slot. And Chinese food is on its way. I'd say Christmas is off to a good start!</div>
Theresa Breslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880852012326491741noreply@blogger.com3