What Happened to My Mellow Baby??

So much for the mellowness of Aubree. This week the fussiness has started. It lasts each evening from approximately 7 to 11. It makes for very unrelaxing evenings which is something I was quite used to (and also the time that I would write this blog). Nonetheless, I feel like I shouldn't be complaining because once she is asleep at 11 pm, she's asleep for the rest of the night, minus the times she wakes up to eat. So thankfully I'm not having to be up for hours during the middle of the night with a wailing baby or anything like that. And she's still sleeping for a good portion of the rest of the day. Of course, as I write these words about her, she's actually lying peacefully on the Boppy looking at me with these big innocent eyes that say "Mommy, I know you're writing stuff about me."

This week we've been a lot more active than we were last week. First off, Aubree made her first appearance at church on Sabbath (yes, that was actually last week I realize). Afterwards we went out to Tampa (aka, Ocoee) to Allen & Tangie's for lunch. It was Tangie's birthday so they had about half dozen people over. Calleigh and Braelyn had a great time running around the house while Aubree enjoyed a nice nap.

Here's a summary of what we did on the other days:

• Sunday - First Watch for an early breakfast and then over to Ron & Elaine's in the late afternoon for swimming and salad bar.
• Monday - We went to Trotwood Park in Winter Springs to go to the new splash playground. Thankfully between the overcast skies and shade, Aubree survived the heat. I don't mind it personally but I didn't want Aubree to bake in the sun. It was very crowded but Calleigh fit in just fine. We fed the ducks afterward. Actually, let me rephrase that. I fed the ducks while Calleigh took the bread and stuffed it in her own mouth.
• Tuesday - Story time at the library. Calleigh didn't participate as much as usual in the songs. Hmmm, not sure what that was about. Maybe we haven't been there much lately so she lost her mojo.
• Wednesday - Mall.
• Today - Jonathan and Kristine came over for a few hours. Always a great time! Jonathan and Calleigh get along really well.

Each of the times that we've gone out, I've managed to fix the schedule so that Aubree just before we leave and then eats again when we get back. I have NO problem whatsoever with nursing in public but when I'm by myself, what do I do with Calleigh while I'm nursing Aubree? The only place where it would work is if we're in some enclosed area where Calleigh can't escape (like the splash playground). But if I'm nursing at a place like the playground in the mall, it would be a big challenge to nurse Aubree while at the same time running after Calleigh when she runs out of the playground into the mall - - and she will do it, rest assured.

I've also realized over the last few days that it's time to pull the trigger on the double stroller. I've been making do with the Moby, which is great, but I need another alternative. I went for a walk yesterday around the neighborhood with Aubree in her stroller and then Dewey, Marlee, and Calleigh all on leashes. Boy, that was quite an ordeal. I'm having Duncan do some research but I've already pretty much figured out that I don't want a side-by-side stroller for the mere fact that Calleigh would probably poke, hit, and harass Aubree to death if she were in reaching distance of her. Not that she intentionally wants to hurt Aubree or anything (at least I don't think so). She's still just learning to be gentle - - a long process to be sure. So I've decided that I want one of the Sit-N-Stand strollers that has a second seat that the toddler can either sit in or it can be removed so they can stand. Hopefully I won't regret the decision.

Calleigh has had a much better week this week with the whole attention thing while I'm nursing Aubree. Last week was pretty rough - - I'm attributing a lot of it to the fever in the early part of the week. I'm trying to pay as much attention to her as possible when Aubree is sleeping so that we can still have some good bonding time. Here are a few Calleigh tidbits from this week:

• Recently she's started telling us that "It's okay to do poo-poo. It's okay to do pee-pee." I think she may have gotten this from one of her potty training books. This is what she says when she's going poo-poo in her diaper. The other day she said this as she headed into the dog crate. She sat in there for a few minutes doing her business. Then she came out, lifted up the lid on the trunk where we keep the books, took one out, and went back into the crate to finish up! Where did she get this from??
• Whenever we change her diaper she says "Mommy, please go gently, sweetly, and smartly." I'm glad she's figured out to use the adverb instead of the adjective but it's so curious why she wants us to go sweetly and smartly...
• She is obsessed with buckles. She's constantly buckling anything that has a buckle on it - Aubree's car seat, the highchair, the swing, etc. Of course, that also means I'm constantly having to unbuckle it all because she hasn't mastered that yet. When I put her in the highchair or her car seat, she immediately tells me that she wants to do it by herself.

And some Aubree tidbits:

• She took her first "real" bath at the end of last week. She didn't seem to mind it at all which is quite different from Calleigh who cried the whole time during her first one.
• So far Aubree hasn't taken to the binky at all. When you stick it in her mouth, she starts acting like she's choking. Occasionally she'll take it but it usually falls out within a few seconds.
• She is definitely spitting up more than Calleigh ever did. I could pretty much count on one hand the amount of times Calleigh spit up. Meanwhile, Aubree spits up once or twice a day.
• Early this evening I put her on the Bobby for some tummy time after being inspired by the video of Camden doing the same thing. What did she do? Immediately falls asleep for the next two hours. Apparently she likes being on her tummy.

I will end here as it is nearly midnight and it's time to hit the couch. It sounds like Aubree has the hiccups (for like the millionth time) so actually, this may not be goodnight after all.