We traveled to New Orleans for the first time this weekend since Addison was born. We went for Reid's first birthday. Before the party we stopped at a friend of our's who lives in the same neighborhood as Phil and Georgina do. We knew one of our friend's was also going to be there with her new baby. However, we were surprised to see another one of our friend's with a baby. She has wanted a baby for a really long time and recently went through foster care classes to get a foster baby to adopt. She was getting a 6 year old in a few weeks that we knew about, but had just been called on Friday to pick up a 6 month old baby. We are so, so excited for her!! And he is adorable!! In the picture with the babies in the carrier's, he is the one to the far right.

Reid's party was fun. He is so adorable! Since Addison has been born we haven't been able to see them enough. He is getting to be a big boy! He is trying to walk, and was pushing Quinn around on his ride on/push toy. Quinn took Regan for a ride in/on her two battery powered toys. Reid waited patiently for someone to take him for a ride, but the girl's kicked him out. I think Reid and Addison will be as close as Regan and Quinn. Reid was trying to get to Addison just like Quinn used to try to get to Regan. I thought that he just wanted his chair, because he kept trying to lay on her. But when we took Addison out of the chair, and Georgina was holding Addison he tried to climb on top of her in Georgina's lap.

I don't know how much we will be traveling before Addison can take a sippy cup. It is not as easy traveling with two as it was with one. But we enjoyed our little trip.

New School

Regan has been wanting to see her new school that she is going to go to next year. She always talks about how when she turns three she is going to go to her new red school. So, today I drove her by it and as she was looking out the window she said "Wow, that's a lot of school I have there."

Addison's Baptism

Addison's Baptismal weekend was busy! We are so happy that so many members of our family were able to come share it with us to help make it special. If anyone has pictures, please e-mail them to me as my camera decided to malfunction that day and I only have what my mom and grandfather took.

Rolling Over

Addison is rolling over, but I don't think it is intentional. She is rolling over a lot from her back to her tummy. I think it is more that she is rolling up onto her side and falling over. She ended up on her tummy in her bed this morning and tonight and both times woke up and was mad that she couldn't get back to her back. She rolled twice on Saturday from her tummy to her back during tummy time. Of course, when we tried to get it on tape she did not want to cooperate.

Festival International

The Imagination Mover's were performing at the Festival International here in Lafayette this weekend, so we took the girls. The Festival International is like a mini-jazzfest and the Imagination Mover's are Louisiana's version of The Wiggles. Regan liked it, but I think it was a bit hot for her. Luckily the stage was near the courthouse building, so Addison and I hung out under the overhang of the courthouse and out of the sun. We were eventually joined by Matt and Regan.

Neighborhood Friend's

Regan's neighborhood friend's that she plays with almost every afternoon came in our backyard today to play on Regan's new swingset, but ended up playing with playdoh. Ella (the other little girl in the picture) told us that she was making and Ostrich's nest. She just turned four. I am quite sure I did not know what an Ostrich was when I was four. Kid's today!

Daddy's Little Girl

I went out to dinner with friend's last night, so of course Addison woke up at 4:45 to eat instead of 7:30am like she had the night before. She went back to sleep and Matt went to the gym. Well, before Matt got home from the gym she woke up again with a dirty diaper, tee-teed while I was changing her diaper and as luck would have it all of her suits were in Regan's room. And she did not want to go back to sleep. So, when Matt got home I put her on a pillow with him and she snuggled up to him and went right to sleep. So cute! Of course, as soon as Addison went back to sleep Regan got up and wanted to see her Daddy. Luckily Addison was asleep enough to where I could move her to her bed without disturbing her and then Regan got in bed with us and snuggled a little bit.

Playdate

We had a playdate at our house, and the kids were really good. Our poor friend Chapin is surrounded by girls, but I think he follows the policy of if you can't beat them....join them. He is really into playing baseball right now, but when he was over here he dressed up with the rest of the girls.

A Day of Doctors

We went to the ENT and the Pediatrician today. They were able to test her left ear at the ENT, and she can hear! So nice to have it confirmed. They couldn't test it at first because, like her sister, Addison is a talker. And she was talking away. So, I gave her a bottle and she was quiet enough to pass. Her left ear is still infected, of course, but the doctor said to just let it drain and don't do the eardrops anymore. She is confident that after Addison's surgery she won't have anymore ear problems. And she fears that if we keep giving her the drops that she could become immune to them and while we are killing the bad stuff we are also killing the good stuff. I completely agree with her. So, that is the new plan of action.

The pediatrician said that her lungs sound really good, so now we just need to do the breathing treatments as needed.

Tomorrow is the orientation for the school that Regan will go to next year. It has been a busy week!

Swing Set

The swing set was delivered today. I think I was more excited than Regan. She had a lot of fun playing on it, and went to bed pretty easily so I think it wore her out. Mission accomplished. When the guys were putting it together she asked what they were doing back there. I told her that they were putting her and Addison's swing set together. I made sure to include Addison, because I am trying to get her used to the idea that everything isn't just her's anymore. So she says to me....She's a little little for that.

A+

I took Regan to the dentist today and she said Regan get's an A+ for her teeth. She said her enamel growth is good and no cavities. Regan, of course, did not want to open her mouth for the dentist. But she eventually gave in.

Addison's Turn

Well, now Addison is on breathing treatments. I noticed that she was wheezing this past weekend. I've never had an allergy in my life, and I have two kids that seem to have allergies. We have all the stuff for breathing treatments (we own a nebulizer now), so I called the on call doctor and asked if I could go ahead and give them to her and bring her in on Monday. He said that was fine, so that is what we did. I took her in yesterday and they tested her for RSV. It came out negative (thank goodness), so they prescribed an oral steroid to open up her lungs, an oral antibiotic because her left ear has a lot of fluid and just because it is her (as the doctor said), and breathing treatments every four hours for 48 hours and then as needed. I called them today, at their request, to let them know that she is still wheezing. They said keep doing what we are doing and bring her in again on Thursday.

Addison at Four Months

I tried again today with Addison, and it went much better. I think she is starting to feel better from her shots. Poor Baby.

First Attempt at Addison's Four Month Picture

I tried to take Addison's picture on her actual four month birthday, but she was not feeling well from her shots and not cooperating. The only person she would smile for is Regan when Regan sang to her. So, I had to bribe Regan to sing to her by telling her I would take a picture of her after I took a picture of Addison if she would sing to Addison.

Addison's Four Month Well Visit

It was a busy day today in the Manning household, and it began this morning with Addison's four month well visit. It went really well. Dr. Baumboree was really pleased with her weight gain. He said that because her weight gain is progressing so well that the plastic surgeon might consider doing the surgery at 6 mos. if her tissue growth is good. This was music to my ears, especially because one of the ENT's said that she thought that they did the surgery when the baby was 20 lbs. This really concerned me since Regan, who was a big baby, was only 18 lbs. at a year and for a while after that. Anyway, Dr. Baumboree doesn't want us to start rice cereal yet. I think he wants to wait to start solids after her surgery. That was a little disappointing, but overall it was a really good appointment.

Here are Addison's Stats:

Height: 24 1/2 inches (55%)
Weight: 13 lbs. 3 oz. (50%)
Head Circ.: 17 inches (92%) I have two big headed kids. : )

Regan's New Hat

Meredith brought Regan a beret back from France. Isn't it adorable?

Regan loves hat's and she really loves this one because it is a hat and she can pull it down over her eyes and play peek a boo. A hat and a toy all in one. What more can you ask for?

Regan and Meredith

Regan got a "new" house today. One of my friends had it and wanted to get rid of it. Regan loves it and played in it a lot today. Meredith is visiting for a few days, and was lucky enough to come on the day that we got it. She and Regan played ice cream parlor. She told Regan that she liked Chocolate and Regan told her that she liked the "white one." She asked Regan for some cookies, but told her that she didn't have any. I guess she was fresh out. Regan is loving having her own personal playmate, and I think she will be sad when Meredith has to go home.

Regan Reading to Love a Lot

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7029053469893662833&hl=en

Breathing Treatments

Regan has allergies that just won't quit. We are doing breathing treatments again. We have come a long way from the first time we had to do them when Matt held her down and I held the mask on her. Now she sits and watches t.v. and holds the mask herself.

Easter Morning

As usual the Easter Bunny brought more for Regan than he did for Addison. Next year Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny are going to have to start evening things out or Addison might start to notice. : )

We also got the girls a swing set and we are just waiting for it to be delivered.

Now that Regan is potty training I had to get her out of the all in one pajamas. I bought her the nightgown and the short set. I thought she would like the nightgown better, but she likes the short set better. I am not sure if it is because she likes the short set or if she likes it because it only has one character on it.

She was very excited to get the Cinderella DVD, but did not watch the whole thing. It is a little long for her attention span. I also think that she likes the idea of the princesses more than anything else.

Right Ear

I took Addison to the ENT for her follow up visit for her tubes. They were able test her hearing in the right ear, and she passed!!!! So exciting! We knew that she could hear, but it is nice to have confirmation. We have not been able to re-test since she failed right after she was born. They couldn't test the left ear, because it is infected. They sucked out the Yuckiness, and gave me a prescription for more ear drops. They said we will be able to test her left ear in 14 days, and then they will give us a continuous prescription, because they agree with me that it is going to stay infected until she is able to have her cleft repair. The good news is with the tubes there won't be any permanent damage.

Regan is sick, too. This morning I was taking her temperature with a digital thermometer that has an alarm to let you know that it is done. Regan says to me when it rains we are finished. It didn't make sense, so I repeated it back to her and she said it again. It still didn't make sense so I repeated it back to her again. So, she says rings....like a bell.

Regan with her husband

I'm sure that you all remember that Regan's friend Christian has declared that he is going to marry Regan when he gets older. Well, he has taken it to a new level. Now he says that he is going to marry her and they are going to have a daughter named Charlotte. He told Matt that Regan was going to have a baby in her tummy. Matt was not thrilled with the idea of that. : ) He got the above pictured vehicle for his birthday. Regan tried to ride it by herself, but she doesn't understand how to control it. Christian is more than happy to take her on rides, though. On this particular day his dad was running the sprinkler, so Christian kept riding into it and sitting there. You can't tell by the look on Regan's face in this picture, but they both thought it was the funniest thing ever.

Easter Bunny

We went to see the Easter Bunny today after Kindermusic. We went with the same friend that we went with to see Santa, and it worked again....like a charm. Addison did not cooperate, but what are you going to do. She was more interested in chewing on her dress than anything.

Per Request

I am posting a picture of Regan's Big Girl room as requested by some. Now tell me why she wouldn't want to sleep in there. Her only reason is "Because I don't want to." Okay, then.

We went to the zoo yesterday with some of our playgroup friends. I wish that I would have had my camera to film Regan. Her favorite part of the zoo is the "choo choo train." It's particularly exciting right now, because we just got two zebras. Well, Regan likes to say All daboard the whole train ride. And she says it at the top of her lungs. Maybe she wants to be a train engineer when she grows up, I don't know. I'm not even sure where she learned that. She also put her hand on her friends shoulder and told her "that was very nice of you to share your goldfish with me." She's our little nerd. : )

Addison is doing much better with eating since we went to the pediatrician and he prescribed the antihistamine. I have been pulling so much stuff out of her nose lately, it is amazing that she can breathe. I still obsessively weigh her...although, I have relaxed about it a little bit....and she has gained 4 oz. since Tuesday.

Regan is doing really well with potty training. She has been wearing panties all day since last Saturday with no accidents (knock on wood). She won't poopy on the pottie....even though we have a care bear that she wants (as if this house needs another stuffed animal) sitting on the kitchen counter as bribery...and waits until her nap because she knows that we will put a diaper on her. That's fine with me, though. I know it will all come with time, and now I can relax about losing my deposit at the school that we plan on sending her to next year.

Weekend

We had a busy weekend this weekend. It seems like the Spring is just as busy as Christmas time. We have a birthday party almost every weekend. Next weekend we have three. We didn't have one this weekend, but we did have a neighborhood party Saturday evening and I had my twice annual tea on Sunday. Matt's mom was nice enough to come to keep the girls for our party and to help Matt on Sunday while I went to Mandeville.

We took Regan to the park on Saturday afternoon. It was a beautiful day, so we wanted to be outside. She had fun sliding on the slide and feeding the ducks with her dad. Addison slept through all of the fun.

I took both girls to the doctor today for the first time by myself. It wasn't to bad. I was right, and Addison had only gained 2 oz. since last Tuesday. He said he is not worried, because she has fat stored up. He thinks she is not eating well because she has a lot of congestion and it hurts. So, he gave me a prescription for that. We also have to give her 2 oz. a day of apple/prune juice to help with her constipation. He said Regan looks good. She had a bad cough that had sounded croupy a few days ago. He had given her an oral steroid, and that seems to have done the trick with the croup. He said her cough now is allergy related with all of the pollen in the air.

Sorry it's been so long

Sorry it's been a little while since I have posted. Nothing really exciting has been happening here. Regan has slowly but surely been continuing with her potty training. I have been letting her go naked at home for the past couple of day's, and she has been recognizing the urge to go tee-tee. I still feel completely clueless with this, but am listening to other parents advice on what worked for their children. Thank goodness for mom friend's is all I have to say. We are planning on moving her to her big girl bed soon. She is not wanting to give up her crib, so we are expecting a rough transition. However, Addison will want to move in soon (or her parents will want her to move out) so Regan has to move to the beautiful room that has been prepared for her. She does not do change well.

Regan is getting funnier every day. Some of her most funny comments have been the following:

Matt: I love you
Regan: Well, THANK YOU DADDY!

She has to call Matt every time she tee-tees on the potty. Today we got Matt's voicemail and I told her to leave a message. So, she says in an uncharacteristically quiet voice "I tee-teed on the potty." and then her normal loud voice says "Mommy, he's not der!"

She has learned all of her letter's and there sound's. She likes to figure out what letter's start with. It started with us asking her what letter words started with, but now she likes to do it on her own. However, she does not always pronounce things right. So, she will say things like tookie starts with a T!

Sometimes I feel like I should just follow her around with a video camera.

Addison has another ear infection, and is on ear drops. Even though we are not thrilled about another infection, an infection with tubes is better than an infection without tubes. I am concerned that she is not gaining like she should with the on demand schedule, so we may be going back to every three hours during the day when we go back for her next weigh in. We shall see. All in all, though things have been much better. She is very smiley, and loves to be talked to. It's so much fun!

Addison at 3 months

Went to see the Dr. on Tuesday. Addison is now 12 lbs 6oz. We can now feed her on demand during the day and night, instead of a set schedule. We only have to go for weigh-ins every two weeks. This message posted by Matt (you could probably tell already by the lack of colorful language).

UL Baseball Game

Matt took Regan to the UL Baseball game today with some of our friend's. He said it was fun, but that Regan was more interested in playing on the stairs than she was in watching the game. Apparently, she was trying to get our friend's little girl to play with her on the stairs and she was trying to get Regan to sit. Maybe Regan will be a leader after all. She seemed to have had fun, and was very excited that she saw our neighbor from across the street. She is a twelve year old girl, and Regan is really taken with her. She played with Regan one evening, and now anytime she is outside Regan is her shadow. I think she may rue the day she ever paid attention to Regan.

Addison Update

I took her to the doctor yesterday and she had gained six ounces again. They said that I now only have to bring her in every week, and if she continues that I will eventually only bring her in every other week. He also said that we can let her start feeding on demand at night, so no more waking her up every three to four hours to eat. Matt was especially excited!

We also saw the ENT yesterday. She said that her right ear looks perfect, but that there was still some fluid in her left ear. But she said it was much better. The tubes have been a godsend. Knock on wood, we think we are over the hump. They will check her hearing in the beginning of April, and then we just have the surgery. After that she should be as good as new.

Addison Smiling

Princess

Regan wanted to put on her princess costume to twirl around in her pull up diaper. She really likes the pull up diapers, but still doesn't get the concept of the potty. She will sit on it, but doesn't always go. I can't figure out if she doesn't get the concept, or if she doesn't want to stop what she is doing to go potty. Maybe a little of both? This is still progress from where we were, but I just feel clueless with this whole potty training thing.

Story Time

Regan likes to read to her stuffed animals before and after her naps. Don't ask me how she has room to sleep in her bed, but she does.

Weight Update

I took Addison for her twice weekly weigh in. She had gained 6 oz., which is especially good since she just had surgery on Monday. She has been doing really well since her surgery. She still has pain from it, especially when she yawns but the ENT said that that was normal. The Pediatrician said that if she has gained well on Monday that I can start bringing her just once a week to get weighed. So exciting!!!