A Very Kentucky Christmas

Shopping on Christmas Eve.

A visit to see the Big Man.  Anne looks skeptical huh?

A new blanket from Nanny and Paw Paw Neal.

[No caption necessary.]

New mugs from the Good Earth in Holland, Michigan.  They are the best!

Our little elf on Christmas morning.

Christmas morning chaos.  3 families.  6 kids.  Too many tired adults.

Annelise with her new Wonder Pets toys.

Surprised by my new purse - "How did he know?"

What every girl needs - a princess ballerina music player jewelry box!

"What?!  Diamond earrings?"  This was a good year for mommy!

From Nanny to Elli.

And yes, this was Annelise' favorite toy - the gift bag.

There's daddy, with his signature gift.  A sander from Paw Paw!

Annelise, clad in her Christmas pj's, droopy diaper and a candy cane sucker.  

Where'd she get that?

Christmas Eve and a Visit to See Santa

Even though we don't teach Santa at home we thought it would be cute for the girls to see him while we were at the mall today. There is a reason why this picture only includes Elli. Merry Christmas to all! Enjoy!

Sent to you from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry...you know you want one.

Almost There and We're Still Smiling

So far so good! Kentucky, here we come!

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Merry Christmas!

Christmas Bells, Christmas Bells

I love the Sunday before Christmas.  I love all the Christmas decor, the carols and praising the baby who became a man and sacrificed His life for me.  

But, I also love the beginning of the service, when all of the little children stand on stage and sing Christmas carols.  We have been looking forward to this day for a few weeks, helping Annelise learn her "Christmas Bells" song and even bought a new dress for the occasion.  

And she got stage fright. 

She remembered nothing of her song.

She stared straight ahead.

The entire time, she did not move an inch.

Then, when it was time to get off the stage, she screamed "NO! I sing, I sing!" and threw a fit deserving of a spanking.  No, I didn't photograph that part.  I was too busy cooling my red face and laughing nervously.

After church I was met with "oh, her kid was the one throwing the fit" and "thanks for giving us a good laugh."

Here's to gearing up for next year.  I think we might be sick that day.

A Typical Sunday Night

Spent on the couch, enjoying our sweet girls.  

Yummy Potato Soup

We made the yummiest potato soup today - and I'm going to share the recipe so that I can refer to it again in the future.  All the credit goes to my mom.  She makes this in the winter and it is a great family, comfort food, kind of meal.  Enjoy!

2 Leeks
4 Celery Stalks
1/2 stick salted butter

Melt butter in stockpot over medium heat, add chopped leeks and celery.  Cook on low to medium heat until softened.

3 large russet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
1 can of chicken broth

Once vegetables are soft, add potatoes and chicken broth.  Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until potatoes begin to soften and break apart.

*I gently mash the potatoes with a wooden spoon, creating a creamy soup mixture.

1 tablespoon flour
1/2 cup warm water 
Wisk together in small bowl

When potatoes are to the desired consistency, add flour/water mixture.  Stir often.  Soup will begin to thicken and bubble.

Add one cup of milk, salt and pepper to taste.  Allow to simmer on low until ready to eat.

Servings: 4 one cup servings

We served this soup just like my mama, with a loaf of crunchy french bread - slathered with butter and heated in the oven at 400 degrees for 5 minutes.  Its the perfect addition to this comforting bowl of soup.

So Much to Blog

The girls are growing so fast and I feel like I just can't keep up with documenting all of their milestones.  I'm not a baby book kind of gal, so this blog is our only compilation of photos and memories.  Boy, I hope blogger doesn't expire (read: become nonexistent) before they're old enough to appreciate all of these posts.

Elli Grace - 10 weeks old

Annelise Louise - 10 weeks old

I think they look like sisters.  But Elli Grace definitely looks more like my side of the family.  She is a pretty content baby.  Eats like a champ and sleeps like a champion!  Last night she slept 12 hours.  Its a beautiful thing.

Annelise is at a very entertaining stage.  Everyday she learns something new and I'm always surprised at her progress.  She has so much energy and adds such a joy to our home.  I can't wait to celebrate Christmas with her this year.  She's going to LOVE opening presents.

Saying "CHEEEEEESE!" - 23 months

Speaking of Christmas...We're headed to Kentucky for Christmas again this year.  I'm so excited for the festivities to begin...after the dreaded six hour drive, that is.  Marrying someone whose family lived six hours away sounded like such an adventure, before we had kids.  I am now very jealous of my friends whose families live in the area and they have a mere five miles and fifteen minutes to go between homes.  Here's to hoping for an UNcranky drive, clear roads and sleepy girls.  We can't wait to see all of our loved ones for the holidays.

And I'm probably going to shock all of you (because you know I don't aspire to be a good cook) but I've made some pretty darn good meals lately and thought I'd share.  The pictures don't do them justice, but trust me, they were tasty.

Cream Cheese Crockpot Chicken - easy and oh so good!

 

Hanky-Pankies - Kentucky Style

Brown a pound of ground sausage.  I used regular this time, for Annelise, but spicy is great too!  Drain grease and mix in 8 ounces of cream cheese.  Serve open faced on toasted rye bread.  Not healthy, but very tasty.  You can also serve these as an appetizer on mini rye bread slices.  I took them to a Christmas party last year and they were a huge hit!

And last, but certainly not least, we had family portraits taken a few weeks ago by More Than Words Photography By Tammi.  She was more than patient with our almost two year old and miraculously got some great shots.  Enjoy!

 

Happy Friday everyone!

Another Monday

But not just any Monday...

This happens to be the first Monday (or any day) that Elli has slept through the night!

The first time always scares me.  Matt woke up at 5:30 wondering if he should get her up.  I protested very loudly, but a small voice in the back of my head said "Maybe she's not ok.'  Silly me, I know better than that.  And, she slept until 8!  What a glorious morning.

On another random note...I just saw Elizabeth Taylor's White Diamonds commercial...you know, the one that was filmed 20 years ago and has been playing ever since.  Do you think she knows that we know she doesn't look like that anymore? 

Coming Out From Under This Cloud

We've been sick around here.  Of course, I haven't had to endure a head cold in years.  I should have figured that the year we have a toddler and a newborn at home would be the year we all get sick.  And, as you probably assumed, it started with my toddler.  We blame her for bringing this snot-nosed enemy into our home.

Alas, we are slowly on the mend thanks to lazy days, HOT showers and Advil Cold & Sinus.  That stuff is seriously gold wrapped up in a little capsule.  Love.

In more pressing (read:depressing) news, I go back to work in four weeks.  I fully intended to have my wits about me during this maternity leave.  Instead, I feel less prepared to reenter the workforce than ever.  The clock is ticking in so many ways.  And I still have to find childcare!  Anyone want to watch my two kiddos for pennies on the dollar while I work to keep our family financially afloat.

"Well, when you put it that way..."

Will Elli Make It to Her First Birthday?

Sometimes Anne loves her sister too much.

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It Goes So Fast

I feel like Thanksgiving just flew right by us this year.  We enjoyed a wonderful time with my parents.  It was a little strange, being just the four of us, but kind of nice too.  A quiet dinner and dessert followed by great conversation and football.  One of the more low key Thanksgivings that I can remember.

And now, my living room has been rearranged to make room for the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree that adorns our front window.  Our mantel is full of Christmas ivy, stockings, ornaments and candles, all singing their own little Christmas tune.  I love this time of year.

I'm just hoping it doesn't whiz past me as quickly as the other holidays have.

We Made the Paper!

Check it out... Wireless Zone in the News!

Cup of Joe

Its 8 am and I'm already enjoying my second cup of coffee while two pecan pies bake away in my oven.  I love Thanksgiving.  I have so much to be thankful for...

A healthy family.
Two beautiful children.
A wonderful husband.

Oh and who can forget the fact that the God of Heaven, the One True God, chose me from my pit of sinfulness to be His child.

Amazing.  Truly Amazing.

Success!

I was sure I was crazy this morning when I decided to take the girls to the grocery store by myself.  I mean, what mother in her right mind would take a newborn baby and an almost two year old to Meijer the Monday before Thanksgiving all by herself?

That would be me (though some may beg to differ on the "right mind" part).  I am proud to say it was a huge success!  Thank goodness too, because Matt works a long day today and won't be home until well after bedtime for the two kiddos.  Had we not enjoyed such a wonderful experience, it would have made for a much longer day for mommy.

Now, who wants to help me get this house cleaned?

A Rash No More

Its been three days on the soy formula and Elli's face has improved immensely, not to mention her demeanor.  Matt and I have been in awe at what a wonderful child she has been.  Content, sleeping long hours and best of all, not screaming after each feeding.

Elli's face before.  (This picture doesn't quite do it justice.  The rash was much worse in person.)

And after using the soy formula for just 36 hours.  What an improvement.

So, I'm not sure what to make of it.  I tried nursing her yesterday and it was a disaster.  Her rash didn't return full scale, but she was back to being a fussy, unhappy baby.  I can only deduce that my breastmilk, for whatever reason, bothers her.  Could it be a milk allergy?  Who knows.  Now I have a freezer full of breastmilk and am not sure if I should donate it, or save it for a rainy day...just in case she grows out of this stage.  Do I quit pumping and let my milk supply stop?  Oh, the questions.

For now, I'm just happy to have my sweet, contented baby back.  Thanks for your prayers!

Doctor's Visit

Before I get into the update from the doctor, I did want to tell you that we tried using soy formula last night to see if Elli's condition improved.  Wouldn't you know she slept longer last night (full and satisfied) and woke up looking like a different baby.  No large red patches on her face.  Just dry skin.  I was amazed at the difference.

But, I still took her to the doctor, to get a fourth opinion.  He was bewildered.  Could be severe baby acne...but unlikely.  Could be an allergic reaction to the antibiotic...but why only on her face?  Could be an allergy to dairy coming from my breastmilk...but again, why only on her face?  Could be a combination of severe eczema, baby acne and cradle cap all in one.  So many questions...so little answers.  I told him about the limited success we had with the soy formula which peaked his interest.

The diagnosis:  Continue to try to soy formula for a week to see if she improves.  At that point, we can retest the breastmilk to see if there is any digression.  We're also going to try a steroid cream which treats eczema on some of the drier patches around her mouth.

Hmph.  Not exactly the outcome I was hoping for, but certainly more direction than I was given on Monday.  I like this doctor.  I think I'll keep him.

Now, off to bottle feed my baby and then pump.  How time consuming!

More to come...

Research

Thank you all for your suggestions on what the cause of Elliora's rash could be.  We woke up this morning with hopes that it would be better, but it is indeed worse.  The rash has changed from small, red bumps to large, red, dry patches of skin.  It almost looks like her skin has been burned from the inside out.

I've been doing some research on my own and have found so much evidence that suggests this is a reaction to the amoxicillin I was taking.  But, one can never be sure.

To add to the stress, I called the doctor today to schedule another appointment, since the rash isn't getting better, and found out that the nurse practitioner we always see is no longer there.  When did that happen?!  We just saw her a week ago and she didn't mention it.  Maybe she didn't know?  Maybe she wasn't allowed to say?  Either way, I'm distraught.  I have never taken my girls to their actual doctor, because we liked Jenn so much.  Poo!  Now I feel like I'm starting all over.

Sigh.  So, here I am, wishing for those "healthy" days I took for granted during Annelise' first months.  I never realized how hard it is to have a sickly kiddo with no idea what's going on.

Rash Update

I love medical mysteries...

When they are on shows like House or ER.

I hate them when they happen to my family.

I took Elliora to the doctor yesterday, fully confident that they would have a solution for her rash/acne/face disease.  Much to my dismay, the doctors (yes, they had to call in more than one) were unable to determine just exactly what this mysterious rash is.

One was convinced it was baby acne.  But, I quickly caused her to doubt, stating that the timing of my taking amoxicillin and the day the rash broke out was too coincidental.

The other had no idea, but encouraged me to stay away from the antibiotic for at least a year.  "If it were my kid, I wouldn't risk it."

But, neither offered me a solution in getting RID of the rash.  Which was my purpose in going to the doctor in the first place.

So, Elli woke up today with what looks to be a worsening condition.  I've been off the antibiotic for more than 4 days, drinking lots of water, and there is no improvement.  Today, her eyes are swollen and she looks like she has red hives.  Its almost like she got a sunburn from the inside out.  The areas that are the worst are dry and peeling - and fire engine red.  Poor thing.  Have any of your kids experienced this?

Please pray that she gets better soon.  Otherwise, we're back to the doctor demanding answers and a solution.

Rash, Icky Icky Rash

I'm a terrible mother.  Ok, I don't really believe that, but it makes me feel better to say it.  Elli has a horrible rash.  And I'm not exaggerating.  I'm not certain where it came from, though I have my suspicions.  It started out looking like baby acne, then spread all over her head, eye lids, inside her ears and onto her chest and back.  So, we're headed out to the doctor today (if I can get them to answer their phone!) to find a cure.  The poor thing looks like she has a disease.  I suspect it could be from the amoxicillin I was taking last week for a double ear infection.  Or possibly she caught the same bug Matt and Annelise had and this is the way it has chosen to make its presence know.  Either way, we've got to get this taken care of!

Hm...its Monday.  I haven't decided how I feel about it yet.  The trip to the doctor will probably determine it though.

My First Smile

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Oh the Sickness

Its happened...something that occurs once a year...

Matt is home sick.  Poor thing came down with the same thing all of his students have...

No, not H1N1 (that we know of at least).

Just a sore throat, achy body and headache.  No fever that we can tell.

Plus, Annelise has a horrible cough/cold and I have an ear infection.

Little Elli is the healthiest thing around here.  For now...

Oh the sickness.  Please go to someone else's house.

Photo Op Failure

Lets just say I'm glad I didn't pay to have their pictures taken.

Trick or Treat.jpg

Alayna the elephant and Anne the lady bug. The girls had a blast! Anne loved saying "cookie treat" at each door.
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One Month

I'm a brave mommy.  Elliora had her one month well-child check-up today.  And for convenience' sake, I decided to schedule Annelise' flu shot.  Am I crazy?

Fearful that this appointment was going to be like a quick visit to...hades...I went over-prepared with Halloween candy galore.  Let's just say bribing a two-year old with smarties is now the best idea EVER.

Surprisingly, Annelise got two shots (one in each leg) and only let out a small whimper with a few tears.  It was much better than I anticipated.  She was a peach.

And Elliora is growing like a weed.  She is 9 lbs. 14 oz. and 22 inches long.  I almost don't know what to do with a child that actually eats and grows.  She's in the 75th percentile for everything.  I'm so proud.

Tonight, Matt and I are going on a youth staff retreat to a comfy hotel in Grand Rapids.  Annelise will be spending the night at Papa and Gigi's house with her beloved cousin Alayna.  I'm only slightly disappointed that we won't get to take her trick or treating tomorrow night.  My excitement at sleeping in a king sized bed and eating out are superior to candy collecting in the rain.  But, thanks mom and dad for doing the dirty work for me.

Oh to Sleep Like This

Isn't she sweet?

Loving Fall

I have two cans of pumpkin in my cabinet, but no evaporated or sweetened condensed milk.  Someone tell me how I can make a yummy, pumpkin dessert without the latter two items?  This love of fall is killing me without pumpkin yumness in my house.

Regarding fall...and babies - which obviously the two go together...mhmm - Elliora is growing like a weed and sleeping a little better at night.  We go to the doctor tomorrow for her one month check-up.  I swore I wasn't going to say it, but alas I give in, I can't believe its been a month already.  At her last appointment, she gained a whopping pound in less than a week.  I'm fairly confident tomorrow's results will be similar.  She's a fabulous eater...much unlike her sister who still refuses a full meal per day.  What will I do with her?

Speaking of Annelise...she's been dramatically stripped from the spotlight since her sister entered our world.  Yet, she has adopted much less of the sibling jealousy than I first feared.  Did anyone else notice that their first born became a giant when they brought a new life into the world?  It seems like overnight Annelise has gained ten pounds, began speaking in full sentences and went from a size three shoe to a five and a half overnight.  My wallet is screaming!

Lest I leave him out as well, Matt has been adjusting to having another girl in the house.  He loves being a daddy - especially to daughters - but the lack of sleep is beginning to take its toll.  He's been sleeping on the couch in order to get a full night's rest.  Last night as he scooped up his pillow and blanket for another night in the living room we both sighed, unable to acknowledge a better solution, but hoping this one would end soon.  Annelise slept through the night at 12 weeks.  I'm aiming for that.

Ok, my novel of a post is finished.  I have no new pictures to share...I've succumb to the reality that your second child really is photographed less than the first.  Sorry Elli.

My Little Chubbers

A New Venture

Wireless Zone of Holland

Becky Bartlett, Owner - Jason Parks, Sales Associate - Matt Bartlett, Store Manager

My parents have realized a dream of theirs this week:  Opening a family business.  For years my dad has talked about buying a franchise of sorts.  When they began talking seriously about purchasing a Wireless Zone , I have to admit, I was skeptical.  But this week, Wireless Zone of Holland opened its doors to serve the wireless needs of the community.

If you know my family - you are not surprised at the choice of franchise.  We have always been a little technology-obsessed (to say the least).  It wouldn't be out of the ordinary for you to visit our family Thanksgiving and find us talking about the latest cell phone technology or wireless communication.  The Wireless Zone business model fits us well.  It is the largest carrier of Verizon Wireless products and services, which we are loyal to.

And to keep in the spirit of a family run business, I will be helping out as Director of Marketing.  Its a natural fit, being that its my current profession and I already work for my dad.  I'm very excited about the opportunity.

So, in an effort to support the business...ahem...I purchased a Blackberry Storm yesterday.  I love technology.

Its One of Those Days

Annelise woke up yesterday with a slight fever and a nose running like a sieve.  Elliora slept a total of one hour last night, crying whenever she was awake.  That's a lot of crying.  Nothing would console her.  My poor husband slept on the couch in an effort to get a few hours of sleep before tackling his busy day at school.  Every so often, I would hear Annelise sniffle, cry and cough from her room through the monitor and wonder if I should go tend to her.  Then, the baby would begin screeching again and I would stop to focus on keeping the peace so that the entire house wasn't awake.  

So, you're not surprised its one of those days.

Since I don't can't nap (yes, its the worse curse in the world when you have a newborn) I'm stuck finding ways to get rest today.  I think reading a good book and soaking in a scalding hot bathtub is one way.