Halloween

Regan was so excited for Halloween this year. She could barely contain herself, she was so excited to go trick or treating. We had to tell her she couldn't go trick or treating unless she ate dinner, because she didn't want to eat she was so excited. She kept changing her mind about what she wanted to be, and finally decided on Belle today. It was always a princess, of course, it was just a matter of which princess. Luckily we have almost all of them, so she could change her mind. Originally I was going to dress Addison as Snow White, and then Regan wanted to be Snow White. Well, Snow White is one of the only princess costumes that we don't have and I happen to know that she is getting it for Christmas. I finally talked her out of Snow White and into Sleeping Beauty. So, all along she was going to be Sleeping Beauty and then today she decided she was going to be Belle. Addison on the other hand barely tolerated her costume. Especially the wings. She kept her head band on the whole night, though. I was surprised.

Addison and I went to Regan's halloween party at school. It was fun, and the kids were adorable. I could never be a pre-k teacher though. I told Matt that he has to go next time, because I thought my arm was going to fall off from holding Addison for so long. She is a little potato. I thought I might get a break tonight, but Matt got new glasses and Addison was not liking them. I think I am going to have a sore arm tomorrow.

Dentist

Regan went in for a checkup today and Addison went for her first visit. They said that they both look good. No cavities. They were able to scrape the vitamin stains off of Addison's teeth. They said if we brush them right after we give her the vitamins she won't get stains. Regan was a really big girl today. She let them polish and floss her teeth. Every other visit we have had to hold her down while they looked at and counted her teeth. I actually felt like I got my money's worth today.

First Parent/Teacher Conference

Regan's first parent/teacher conference went really well. There are no requirements for pre-k 4 and she knew everything that they evaluated her on. They seemed most impressed that she knew Matt and I's real names. Her teacher said she is a sweet kid and she has no problem's with her. What every mother wants to hear.

This Weekend

We had a busy weekend this weekend. Matt was supposed to go to a hunting class in New Orleans, but their was a propane accident so he couldn't get there. I had a playdate on Saturday with one of our friends. We went to a "bounce house" and Regan had a ton of fun. On Sunday we went over to the North Shore to see the new baby and we stopped and visited some other friends. Today we have Regan's first parent/teacher conference. She stayed with her Granny overnight for the first time with out us. They are coming here today and Granny is going to watch both girls when we are at the conference.

Pumpkin Patch

We went to the pumpkin patch after school today. Regan and Addison had their first hayride, and after about 50 shots I finally got one of them both smiling and looking at the camera. Thank goodness for continuous shot and digital cameras.

Sibling Rivalry

Now that Addison can crawl and get to her sister's stuff, instead of select objects being brought to her, we are starting to have a little bit of sibling rivalry. Today Addison was trying to play with Regan's paper. Which Regan was having none of. So, I told Regan to pick five things that she did not want to share and she had to share everything else. I read some article that said that this would help. Since Addison was trying to get her paper; and I don't want her to have paper right now anyway I tried to start Regan off by saying okay your paper, your Elmo, and three more things. What else do you not want to share, and she tells me "all of my toys in my playroom."

Playing with the Leap Frog Table

Big Girl

Apparently Addison has decided that she is a big girl. Yesterday she did not want to take her bottle, and today she ate her first grilled cheese. I told her she cannot give up her bottle until she figures out how to drink from a sippy cup. When that happens I am more than happy for her to give it up, but not until. She seemed to really enjoy the grilled cheese, though.

Addison is Crawling!!

Addison started crawling today. Not very fast or very far (which I like....easy to keep up with). She will only crawl if she really wants something and there isn't anything else within reach. But she is definitely crawling. So exciting!!

Addison 10 months

Apparently I did not take a 10 month picture of Regan, because we were in Maine.

Addison is half scooting half crawling

She will only do it if she really wants something. And if you try to keep moving it just out of her reach she will sit up and get mad. And if she can stretch to get it, she will. But she will scoot/crawl to get something if it is just out of reach, and that is progress. She is also doing well with her pulling up to standing exercises. I don't think it will be long before she is doing that on her own. She will also stand and play with the Leap Frog table. Whereas before therapy she wouldn't stand at all. She has come so far in the past couple of weeks, and I am very proud of her.

Addison's 2nd Physical Therapy Appointment

We went to Addison's 2nd PT Appointment this afternoon. It went really well. The PT was very happy with her progress. She said that she doesn't usually see progress this quickly. She obviously doesn't know how obsessive I can be. Regan went with us, and she said that probably throughout their lives I will be trying to reign Regan in, and nudge Addison forward. She said that it is just their personalities. She also said that Addison has little to no motivation to move because her sister will give her whatever she wants. This was demonstrated soon after when Regan had a toy that Addison wanted and Addison raised her hands and let out a cry and Regan handed it to her immediately. She gave us some more exercises to do, and we go back in four weeks. She said if I feel like we need to go back after two weeks that I can call and make an appointment. But she thinks that four weeks will be fine.

My roommate from College, Darcy (Aunt Darcy to Regan), came to visit for a to short visit. We had a lot of fun. She played a lot with the girls. Regan, of course, thought she was her personal playmate. Yesterday was Darcy's last day, and Regan was basically telling me to get lost. Which is fine. It so did not hurt my feelings, I was wondering what it would take for Darcy to move in with us. While she was here we ate a lot, shopped in Baton Rouge, went to Tabasco, and shopped for some smocked dresses. They don't really wear smocked dresses in Montana, so Darcy couldn't believe that we have whole stores with nothing but smocked dresses in them. We found a great deal on some Christmas dresses for the girls, and Regan wanted to try them on. I think she liked them just because they were red. She's not to happy that she has to wait until Christmas to wear it. I bought an orange fallish one and Christmas ones, and I got one for each of the girls. When we were leaving the store we were trying to explain to Regan that two were for her and two were for Addison. So she says to us, I want both red ones.

Sat Up by Herself

Addison sat up for the first time today. When Matt went to get her from her bed this morning she was sitting up in her bed. Of course, she hasn't done it while we are watching. But now we know she can do it.

Already Seeing an Improvement

The main exercise we are supposed to do with Addison is to put her up on all fours (in a crawling position) and push her bottom towards the floor. I am already seeing an improvement. At first she would only tolerate them after her morning nap and then only a couple of times and then she would start getting aggravated. Today she has gone straight to sitting every time I put her up on all fours, and will even stay up for a minute or two and rock back and forth. She still doesn't get herself to all fours, but I think that will be next. I am so excited to be seeing an improvement this quickly.

Trendsetter

Every now and then Regan's Aunt Darcy sends her care packages. She sent her this skirt and hair thing (which Regan made into a bracelet) a while ago, but Regan just sort of re-discovered it. This how she went to Target today, minus the cd player.

The Princess On Her Throne

Now that Regan is not napping I am having to be something that I have never been before.....creative. Thank goodness they have books to help you fake it. Today we made a crown that kept her occupied for a whole ten minutes. After we made it, I asked her if I could take a picture of her. She said yes, and wanted to take it in her rocking chair. And no, I did not pose her. : )

Addison's Physical Therapy

Her Physical Therapy Consultation went really well. They confirmed everything that we thought. She isn't that far behind, and she is most likely behind because she had a lot going on in her early months when babies are usually building muscle during tummy time. They said that it's not going to take her very long, and without physical therapy she would probably be fine. But this will get her up to speed, which is what we want. We go next week again, and then she said we will probably go once a month after that. She gave us some exercises to do with her. I am very excited that we are getting started, and that I wasn't wrong in my mother's intuition.