Bouncing Back After Baby: 3/21 - 3/27

[MCmom]

Today Leah turns 6 mths old, and she had her 6 mth check-up this morning. She weighs 17 lbs, 3 oz, and is 26" long. She is my littlest baby. Elijah was 23 lbs at 6 mths, and Moriah was 21 lbs. Leah ofcourse cried and cried when she got her shots, but she stopped right after it was done. Now she's happily playing in her walker.

Elijah and Moriah are doing so much better now that they are on antibiotics. Leah has a cold still, but she's gradually getting better. It was confirmed today by her Dr., that Leah has exzema (sp?). It's a skin condition that may or may not go away as she gets older. This is my first experience with this. I feel so bad for my baby, b/c she has these patches of red spots on various parts of her body. It's obvious they irritate her, b/c she's always trying to rub and grab at the red patches. I have a tube of medicated lotion which will help.

I'll be back to post personals, I need to get lunch started now. Til then!

Good morning all!

Mary, I just wanted to tell you about my experiences with eczema. I have had it all my life. It is always worse when I am stressed out. I had it really bad when I was a single mom going to college. I have not found anything that has helped. I try not to use cortizone, because I hate to put the steriods in my body, and I am sure I have had tons of it on me over the course of my life. I do occaisionally use it if the itching is really bad. The best thing to do is not scratch, and although my parents told me that over and over as a child, it was not until the last few years that I actually heeded that advice.

That said, ever since I have started lc'ing, my eczema has been better. I have had a couple of little outbreaks, but nothing too bad. I wonder now if sugar makes it worse. I don't really know. Maybe it's wheat. Maybe it's other junk that is in the food that I no longer eat (like oreos and chips, etc).

The other thing that I have found is really important is lotion. I put lotion on every day after my shower and on my hands almost every time I wash them. I am allergic to Vaseline intensive care, and sensitive to purfumes in other lotions, so I usually use just one kind--Jason's Natural's E.F.A. It has essential fatty acids in it and some people think it is an essential fatty acid deficency (or the body's inability to use them--something like that)is a cause of eczema. I really don't know if it's the efa's in the lotion that helps or not. I just like the lotion. I avoid putting it directly on the eczema. I have found that putting lotion (except medication) right on the rash makes it worse.

Emily occasionally has little outbreaks, and so I try to keep her lotioned up, and that seems to help.

Sorry this turned into a book.
Good luck.

[curlyque]

Mary: Marlee had eczema as a baby. The ped. had given me a prescription for a cream that the pharmist had to make up. Had to pick up the cream a day later after handing in the script. She eventually outgrew it. Hope Leah does too.

We were supposed to bring Marlee to Montreal tomorrow but have decided not to go. My ex called last night and said that outside the US Consulate/Embassy building, people were protesting and burning American flags. Doesn't sound like a friendly place to be right now. With our US license plates who knows what can happen.

Have a great weekend. Don't think I'll get a chance to stop by.

Stephanie

[MCmom]

I'm back! Leah took a nice, long nap with me, and after that she took a turn for the worse. She's been incredibly fussy, crying off and on. I gave her some Tylenol, so hopefully that will help some. I always know the day of her shots will be a rough one.

I'm going to try to remember some of the posts from the last tread.

KimATC - I was given a paper at the Drs. office, which said I could start finger foods now for Leah. She still seems a bit young for that, but I may try a little something every now and then. I've also been trying to work with Leah on the sipper cup, but she currently thinks it's another chew toy.

Stephanie - Sorry to hear about Roarke being sick! It seems like so many people are sick this month. March has been the worst month for us, in terms of illness.

I hope your workouts shed those unwanted pounds for you. It sounds like you're certainly determined enough. I lost some weight after Leah was born, then I maintained for about 3 mths, before I started losing again.

Thanks for sharing about Marlee. I hope and pray that Leah outgrows it too.

Rebecca - With all your running
around, you're definitely getting some exercise. It's not like your always sitting around eating bonbons.

Thanks for sharing about your DH's job. His job really sounds interesting, it's too bad it has to be so far away.

Thanks for sharing about your experiences with eczema. I'm glad it got better for you when you started LC'ing. I'll have to try the lotion tip. I have some stuff called Eucerin, which is supposed to be really good. Before I was sure that Leah had eczema, I bought some. A lady at my church, who's son has eczema, recommended it.

Don't worry, I don't mind books.

Lee - I can't remember what you posted, b/c Leah is currently crying her little heart out. I'll have to go back and re-read your post, and post again later. It's hard to think right now! Bye til then.

MaryC

[MCmom]

I'm back on Sat. morning! I'm hoping to get a walk in today, before my DH leaves for work. Lately, b/c of everyone being sick, I've been unable to exercise much. I have to run though and pick up some pics from K-mart, which will cut into my time, so who knows what will happen.

Lee - I hope your not posting last night, meant you got some extra sleep. I hope it wasn't b/c you were doing housework. I layed down and took a 2 hr. nap yesterday. I initially took Leah with me, but then Elijah and Moriah joined in, so all 4 of us were taking a nap at the same time. How nice is that?

I asked my mom about spring break, and she said it starts on Good Friday here. I can't believe you guys have it a whole month early. Does that mean you (meaning the kids) get additional time off for Easter?

I have added baby cereal to the veggies before, but it seems weird adding it to the fruits. Some of the fruits (like peaches), seem to be the most runniest. I'll have to try mashing my own. Peaches are out of season right now, but there are other fruits to try. It end up being cheaper doing it myself.

MaryC

[LisaBisa]

hi guys...I'm back from my break.

I'll post more later...but I just wanted to say HI

Lisa

[MCmom]

Lisa - I hope you got the break you needed. Now stay away from that Playground, and you'll be just fine! I'm looking forward to reading all the latest news.

MaryC

[Lee A]

Hi Mary-I wish I'd gone to bed early.We've got mice in our house right now.We got 3 so far and I thought that was it and just now I saw another one.Great.My eldest screamed last night having dreams that mice were running over her.My DH banged his leg on the table running to see what was wrong.Even tonight she had a hard time getting to bed and made me check it thoroughly.Cody has been extremely fussy too.I pick her up,she wants down and when she's down she hangs off my leg.I haven't had a moment to myself all day.Do I sound frazzled?She's been up all through the night too so I am wiped.

I'm glad you got that nap and it sounds nice.How are the kids and did you get your walk?My cousins had excema.My 3 y/o always gets little rashes on her arms in patches ever since she was a baby.I'll have to ask at her next checkup.

I think at Easter the kids get about 4 days off but I'll have to check.It is early,there's still snow on the ground(despite the rain).It's not like we can go do something fun.I let the kids go out with their umbrellas today.

Hi Lisa-welcome back Yeah I get a headache reading the PG posts.How's Michael?Rolling the other way yet?

Hi Steph-yeah there's been alot of shameful behaviour right now.It probably isn't the best time to travel.I read a post about a military wife with her kids being practically accosted leaving the base to go to the doctor.How sad is that?

Hi Rebecca-I love a good book Especially since this is about the only reading I do in my day.

Anyway guess I'll head to bed tho there's a mouse in my house

[LisaBisa]

dammit...I had LONG post all typed out.

And I lost it!!

dammit...

Alright, lee, I'm sorry you had such a rough night!

Congrats to Leah 6 months already!! Wow

Stephanie HI

Dreamer HI

Michael is doing well. he has 3 teeth coming in, so he's been pretty grumpy. He hasn't learned to roll over the other way yet. Hopefully soon. I'm hoping he learns to sit up soon too.

I'm doing well. Not losing, not gaining, holding my own.

Have a good day all

Lisa

[curlyque]

just a quick check-in. I have a sleeping baby attached to me in the sling which makes it hard to type.

Lisa: Nice to see you back!

Stephanie

[MCmom]

Everyone is currently well, but I'm not holding my breath that it will stay that way. Practically every time I lay Leah down on her back, she rolls to her belly, and then she gets upset. It will be nice once she learns how to roll back over again. Or she learns to scoot. I imagine it's got to happen sometime in the next month or two.

Lee - Mice is a terrible problem to have. We had an ant problem last year, which was fairly easy to take care of. I hope you're able to get rid of them all, before they populate into an even bigger problem.

So you get frazzled too? Some days I'm ready to crawl into bed early, just to have a few hours to myself (before Leah wakes up). I always look forward to when my DH has off from work, b/c the extra help is nice.

I've managed to get in two walks, since I typed last. The weather here has been good, but who knows how long it will last. There's still time to get another snowfall in.

You haven't mentioned your dog the last month or so, how is he (she?) doing? We decided to hold off another year on getting a dog.

Lisa - I can practically feel your frustration! I hope sometime soon, you're able to post another long one. Michael has 3 teeth coming in?? Wow. Leah still shows no signs of any teeth yet.

Stephanie - Thanks for letting us know you're still around! How is the WW going?

I've got a screaming baby here, so got to go!

MaryC

Hello everyone.

I am posting right now so that I can avoid the dirty kitchen that is staring me down. Last night, I left the dishes in the sink and I woke up to them so I won't be doing that again, but I am in no hurry to do them either. This is the 1st free moment I've had all day--all 3 of them are asleep! Hurray!

Anne has 1/2 days all week for conferences, and then spring break next week. The forecast is for rain as far as the eye can see, so it looks like we will all be a little stir crazy by the end of this.

Mary, I am glad everyone is feeling better.

Lee, Mice! What a pain! We had mice when I was a teenager. We lived in a split level house, and I was downstairs, under the kitchen. At night I would hear them running up along one wall, then they would turn and go down the other wall until they got to where they would get into the cupboard in the kitchen. It still gives me the willies to think about it, so I really, really feel your dd's pain.
I hope things are getting under control there. Just try to remember to breath.

Lisa--I HATE that! SOOO frustrating!
I hope little Michael does ok w/his new teeth. My oldest dd started getting teeth at 4 months and they just kept coming in--they didn't bother her at all! I would be so surprised to see a new tooth in there! (I wasn't so lucky with the other 2)

Well, I'm off to do the dishes.

Sigh....

[Lee A]

...well I'm nodding off here so bear with me.Late,rough night last night.Still never got this mouse.It's a smart one.Cody spilled a whole bottle of vanilla(brand new) down the heater vent(one of my helpers left it on a shelf she can reach)

Hi Lisa-so are you putting Ambesol or Orajel on Michael's gums?Cody seems to prefer a cool cloth.

Hi Steph-nice to see you.I keep meaning to adjust my sling to Cody's size.

Hi Mary-We've lived in this house 4 years and had one mouse come in about 2-3 years back.We're starting to get spiders and stuff again.Such things are quite hard on the kids psychologically.
Glad you got out for some walking.I actually got on my rower tonight but I didn't want to.The thought of putting on a swimsuit this weekend is scaring me(we promised to take the kids to the pool this Sunday)...we're still getting snow here.

I have loads of daily dog stories.Best I don't tell you

Hi Rebecca-I always do my supper dishes in the morning.Our mouse is doing the wall,cupboard,behind stove thing.I could hear it scratching this morning as DD had breaky so I kept talking(loudly)and she didn't notice.I'd told her they were all gone.So try to have a good break

[curlyque]

Mary: WW is going ok. I'm not measuring every single thing anymore, I can pretty much eyeball it. I lost another pound last week ( with an all day cheating fest the day before I weighed). I still want to snack in the late afternoon and evening but have been trying to get taht under control. The portioning at meals time is okay for me, it's the snacking in between meals that gets me. I know for sure that once Roarke is totally weaned I will be LCing.

Susan: I procrastinate with household chores all the time and then regret not doing it when I had the time. I've been lucky so far with DH. When I was pregnant I was on restricted activity, no exertion or straining, etc. DH took over all the housecleaning (he cleans better than I do) He still does most of the housecleaing even though I am no longer pregnant. The only thing he doesn't do is dust and wash the sinks. He'll do the toilets but not sinks, weird. I'm not complaining...I used to do the whole house myself.

Lee: I live in the country so we get field mice in the house (walls). We have traps in the garage and basement. Last year, we took in a stray cat. He was sick so we kept him the basement away from our 2 cats. Well, that year we had no mice at all. I didn't realise that Smokey was catching and eating them until this year when we no longer have Smokey and the mice came back.

Lisa: I hope Michael is feeling better. With Marlee, after she got the first 2 bottom teeth which was a rough time, the rest came without any warning. No drooling, no grumpiness, nothing. I would look in her mouth and there would be another tooth! I hope the same thing happens for Michael....and Roarke!

Well, my little man is falling asleep in his bouncy seat, so I'm off to take a shower while he naps.

Stephanie

[MCmom]

Leah is so attached to me, much more than my other two were at this age. She's the only one I solely BF, so I wonder if that has anything to do with it. Leah cries if anyone else holds her. Even my DH can only hold her for a limited time, before she starts crying for me. She reaches her arms out for me, when she sees me. Sometimes I feel like she's an extension of me. Anyone else experience this?

Rebecca - Don't tell anyone, but I usually do dishes every other day. I know I shouldn't admit to that. I'm still so limited with my time, and my energy isn't what it could be. Leah still doesn't sleep through the night. I was happy that she made it till 4:30am last night, before she wanted to BF. I keep promising myself that I'll become more organized, and better at cleaning up around the house, once Leah gets old enough to play on her own.

I'm so proud of myself. My mom treated the kids and I to McDonalds today, and I only ate a double 1/4 pounder w/ cheese (no bun). I was very hungry, not having eaten in hours, but I wasn't tempted a bit by the smell of french fries all aorund me (we ate in the restaurant). I'm definitely back in the LC game now.

Lee - Have you thought about getting a cat? Cody is pretty smart to be able to get a bottle of vanilla open by herself. My children still need help with opening bottles and such. Moriah can't even open a door half the time.

Spiders already?? It seems a little early for that. My DH sprayed our basement last summer, and we barely saw any spiders around the house. If Elijah saw a spider, he'd try to kill it himself. Moriah would just yell for someone to come and kill it. They don't seem to be bothered much by them. In the summertime, they enjoy watching me kill flies with a flyswatter.

I'm surprised you aren't parading around in a bikini, you skinny gal you.

Stephanie - Whether it's LF or LC, I hope you find something to help you lose the weight, and keep it off. I wish it could be an easy task for everyone, myself included. I'm finding even with being really good with my eating, and exercising, I'm still losing weight very slowly. I heard the weight-loss slows down as you near your goal, but I still have 48 lbs to lose. Oh well, I still have ketosis to look forward to.

Susan?? Do we have a new poster?

MaryC

[Lee A]

...I forced myself to exercise tonight too.I also took the kids for a walk today.Yay me.I've been eating LC except for some snacks(I made apple/peach pie tonight)...

Hi Steph-the mouse I saw went down a heat vent and we put a trap in it and closed the other ones.No sign of it,so maybe it found it's way back outside?Snacking is hard for me too later in the day,yet I have to force myself to get around to eating breaky.
What a nice DH you have to help out.

Hi Mary-good for you being strong! You go girl I still never made it to any fast food restaurant.Good thing they aren't around and when I go to town we're too busy.I tried on my swimsuit tonight,blech...I had my DD take a picture of me(she was 3 at the time)in a bikini when I lost my weight before I got pregnant.It was a reminder of how important toning and firming can really be.I look good with clothes on though

I don't know if Cody took the lid off or if one of her sisters loosened it.I wouldn't put it past her though.She is in to everything!

We had a fly in the house too.My kids used to be good at squishing spiders but I think they are turning into girls now We get these awful long legged spiders(Hobos)and the females are poisonous and the males bite.They don't have sticky web so they're more agressive.We get them every spring and fall.Ticks are another thing I'll have to keep an eye out for and the girls don't like bees.Maybe winter is the best time of year LOL.

Oh yeah Cody is my clingy baby too.I BF all of them so maybe it's 3rd baby syndrome?She's up alot through the night and nursing so I'm fearing I'll have a difficult time weaning her.

Anyway I should run,it's late.

Hi Kim-how's it going?

Hi Lisa-I caught Nick's post on the PG,very thought provoking.

y'all take care

[LisaBisa]

Hey guys.

I'm pumping, so maybe I'll have time to post longer.

Things so far are pretty good here. Today was shopping day, so that was fun. I went to little crawlers group...but mr crankypants decided to cry unconsolably, so I left. Poor little guy. Lee, to answer your ??...I give him tylenol for the pain when he gets like that. Thats what my doctor suggested.

Michael is doing well, he's teething...I can see three rigth below the surface, poor little guy. But, its like last time, good for a couple days, bad for a couple.
He's so precious. I just wanna kiss him all the time

Personally, I'm doing alright. My weight is pretty steady. I got a library card! I've read 2 books and I'm working on my third. *I got it saturday* I also got a couple of gardenign books...because I NEED to figure out what I'm doing w/ my yards. Spring is here, and its great. Most of the snow is GONE GONE GONE!!

Nick is doing well...as always

Mary...good on you resisting temptation!! I do my dishes every night. I empty the dishwasher in teh morning, and fill it all day long. After I feed Michael his solid food, his dish goes in the dishwasher, and I start it. Now, when I didn't have a dishwasher...I did NOT do them every day! I'm basically lazy I don't know why Leah is like that...Michael isn't...thank goodness. Could she be doing that 'making strange' thing early?

Stephanie...glad WW is going well! Lucky you a DH that cleans everything. Since I"m SAHM I do everything. except make Nicks lunch. he does that He also picks up 'stuff' I'm NOT good about that. But, my house is basically clean. thats all that matters

Lee..good for you! Exercising! I hope yoru mouse did go outside.
Cody is in to everything? fun eh? Michael can't even roll in two directions much less crawl or walk and he's already getting into everything. He loves grabbing the stuff off of his dresser *where I change him*...oh well. :0

Oh, and I agree w/ you...That was an interesting question he asked. Its hard times we're living in right now. I'm glad to have my faith to depend on.

KIM wher eare you??
Alright...I'm done pumping...I'll talk to you all tomorrow!

Lisa

[JustKim]

Here I am! I'm on spring break this week so I've been hanging out at home with the kids and mega spring cleaning the house!

Lisa I can't decide what to do with our yard either. We have a huge backyard...but I fear our dog will tear up any flowerbeds I put in

Uh Oh Sydney just woke up she has a cold again

I'll check back soon!

[MCmom]

We took Leah to get her 6 mth pics taken today. I opted to have them sent via e-mail too, so I'll send them out to anyone interested. I was so proud of my baby girl, she did so well. The dress she wore is going to be her Easter dress. I picked it up at a 2nd hand store for only $5.50. It was a steal. You should be so proud of me Lee.

Now that we got to experience spring like weather for a week, winter is returning the next few days or so. I'm definitely not happy about that. There's even snow in the forecast.

Lee - Exercising and eating mostly LC - yeah for you! If you want to get toned, I've heard BFL is supposed to be good. You have to be super dedicated and disciplined though. You need to have plenty of time to work out too. I personally could never do it. At least not at this point and time in my life. At least you look good in your clothes, I'm still working on that one.

I wish Moriah would be more "girly." She likes playing with Elijah's toys, and she hates having her hair done. When she gets to pick out a toy at the store, she picks out things like a dinosaur, or a lizard. I can only hope she'll outgrow it. If not, I can try to make Leah my girly girl.

I don't think we have any poisonous spiders around here. At least I've never heard of anyone being bit by one. Ticks can be found in wooded areas, but we don't have any around our house. I've never heard of anyone having a problem with ticks. The biggest scare we had was last year with the mosquitos. I was PG and worried about getting bit, and contacting the West Nile virus. The lack of bugs during the winter is nice.

It could be the "3rd baby syndrome." I have a friend who has 3 children. Her youngest was (and still is at the age of 3) her clingiest child. She said her DD didn't start getting attached to her daddy, until just recently. I hope it doesn't take that long with Leah. My DH is already hurt that Leah doesn't want to stay by him. I feel bad for him, b/c he likes holding her.

I'm starting to worry about weaning Leah too. She luvs BF'ing so much. She still won't drink from her cup, no matter how consistently I try. I don't plan on weaning yet, but I don't want to be BF'ing a toddler. I only hope she cooperates with me, over the next few months.

Lisa - Poor Michael, teething is no fun. Leah is teething too, but with no teeth coming through, she's only in the beginning stages of it (drooling, sucking/gumming her fingers). It's weird, b/c both my other children had a couple teeth by this age. Not that I'm complaining, I've heard the horror stories of BF'ing with a baby who has teeth.

I want to go to the library! I miss reading, it feels like ages. I need to get some gardening books too. My yard is a mess, left from the previous owners. I've never planted anything in my life, so I have some serious learning to do. I have major projects inside and outside our house. I wonder how much I'll be able to do this year.

Leah could be "making strange." It would be early, but I guess it's possible. It still doesn't explain why she doesn't want her daddy to hold her. He's no stranger. Oh well, what can you do.

How's the working out going? Still going gung-ho with the exercising? Just remember that maintaining is better than gaining.

KimATC - Good to hear from ya! I will be doing some serious cleaning too next week, b/c of Moriah's upcoming b-day party. I look forward to having a clean house, if only for a day. Sorry to hear about Sydney having a cold. I hope she feels better soon. With the weather changing so drastically in the next few days, I'm sure my kids will be sick again too.

MaryC

[Lee A]

...busy night.I had to watch Survivor and The Bachelor.I have 4 loaves of bread just about to go in the oven(2 rye & 2 white).I wanted to go workout and just may after I log off.Cody was fussy so I rocked her in front of the PC.

Hi Kim-sorry to hear Sydney is feeling poorly.Mercy what a year for this stuff.I'm just crossing my fingers the kids stay well for awhile.I never planted the last few years because my kids dug it up.This year I may try some wildflower experiment to the front of the house and away from the dog.The kids would have fun tending it.

Hi Lisa-well we had one mouse free day anyway.Tonight we found one in a trap behind the stove and I heard one in behind the cupboards.We're going to have to search high and low to figure out where they get in.It's going to be an unusual year I'm sure...I need a library card too.I still haven't read Jane Auel's new book and it's almost been a year.How was it?

Hope Michael cuts his teeth soon.Cody has been really irritable with hers.She's had her eyeteeth just near the surface for the longest time but she won't chew anything and help them through.

Hi Mary-I'm very proud of you Yes I'd like to see Leah's pic.You can email me.Can you upload it to the site at all? Glad she did well.I never did a professional one with my kids.I so need to get new pics on my webpage.

It snowed here today so we had some cooped up kids.The only thing about ticks is they can carry Lyme disease.West Nile freaks me out(as well as this new pnuemonia virus).We live in heavy mosquitoe country.

I'd like to BFL and by nature I'm quite dedicated but at present all my energy is directed towards the family.

Cody seems to be getting past some of the make strange stuff,actually smiles at people in the market now.She's growing so fast,after weaning comes potty training...Cody likes a cup but for night lots of BF,all night practically,that'll be a hard habit to break.I relent because I need the sleep.

Anyway I should run.I so need to clean my oven,maybe tomorrow...

[JustKim]

Mary I'd love to see a pic of Leah! My email is kimatc@atkinsfriends.com

Today I tackle the basement! YUCK! It is unfinished really I just need to vaccuum down there and clean by the laundry area. This summer though I plan on going through all of the boxes of stuff we have and be totally merciless and get rid of a lot of stuff that we're just pack ratting! I'd also like to get some of those metal shelving units and put those up along the walls...that will definitely ease the clutter! Our workout room is downstairs, but all of the :stuff" is getting in the way <G>

I get such a kick out of Sydney most days. Now she says "ba ba" and she will crawl to the kitchen and stand at the counter where we keep her bottles and formula and will holler ba ba until we make one! Quite the little I know what I want and I want it now girl LOL

[LisaBisa]

I'd love to see a pic of Leah too. My e-mail is lisabisa@sympatico.ca

Kim...Sydney sounds so cute. All Michael can say is AAAAAHHHH AAAAHHHH

Lee, the Jean Auel book was good. Want me to lend it to you?

Mary...I've never planted anything either. I've never even had a houseplant!

That reminds me...we HAVE to get Easter Pics...I've got a lot of people I want to send a wallet too.

Alright...Baby is being fussy. *he woke at 5 am this morning *

Have a good day!

LIsa

[curlyque]

Hi everyone. I have a few minutes, I think. Roarke is napping but I hear him moving around a lot so he may wake up any moment.

Lisa: I'm a SAHM too. Michael works from home as well so we are together 24/7. It works for us very well. Some people say "How can you stand to be around eachother so much?!" We are a lot closer since I stopped working 4 years ago. We are still like honeymooners.

Lee: Good luck catching the mice. We seem to only have a problem in the fall when the weather gets cold. I guess they look for somewhere warm to hide. I also read the Jean Auel series. I read them all one after the other last year. Supposedly there will be one more and that will be the end of the series.

Mary: I'd love to see the picture. My email is estrin2@sover.net. Gardening is alot of fun. I never had a garden until I moved here. I love doing a vegetable garden and flowers are my favorite. Once you get started, you get hooked! I'm itching to get out there and clean up the flower beds. I see some daffodils and tulips coming up.

Kim: Spring cleaning...we need to do that. Sydney sounds adorable. Roarke has started to become very verbal. He woke this morning and was babbling away for 20 minutes after he was fed. It was so cute.

Well, I guess that's it for me...he's calling ...

Stephanie