The Kids Keep Growing!

I've been waiting until I have all my information on both kids, but I can always update so...

Cameron had his 6 month check up on November 29, at 7.5 months. He's huge and growing very well. He weighs 19 lbs 4 oz and is 28 in long. What a big boy! He already wears 12 mos clothes, sometimes 18 mos. his dr. said he's perfectly healthy, which there was no question, and he's right on track for everything else. He does, however, need an evaluation for a molding helmet for positional plagiocephaly. his evaluation is scheduled for Friday at 10 am so I'll update about that. He received his immunizations and his flu shot. He did have a fever that night and the next day from those but that's normal for him.

Mackenzie had her 2 year check up on the 6th. She is 31 3/4 inches tall and 24 lb. She gained 1 lb in 6 mos, from all of her running around. She, just like Cameron, is perfectly healthy and is doing great in every aspect, except speech. She didn't need any shots except her flu shot, no fever or anything, which is normal for her. A bit of an update on her speech...she has more than a speech delay. Her speech pathologist has diagnosed her, 95% sure, with childhood apraxia of speech. We're continuing with the therapy she's getting at this point, as she grows and her needs change, her therapy will change with her.

All in all, they're very happy and healthy, and they have some very proud parents. We can't wait to see how they both progress with everything they do!

Christmas Decorating!

I usually decorate the Friday after Thanksgiving, but this year was so busy with Mackenzie's birthday party and our anniversary so it was put off until Saturday.

Anyways, Mackenzie helped me this year decorate the tree and she had so much fun! Decorating has never been something Marty really got into, but he sure loves watching her do new things! She helped me hang all of the non breakable ornaments, even though, if she had her own way, they would have all been in the same spot on the bottom of the tree :)

After the babies went to bed, I put up the rest of the decorations and hung the stockings. I love how our house looks when it's decorated for the holidays!

We don't usually buy new decorations, but this year I bought a babies first Christmas ornament for Cameron, and a countdown until Christmas for the both of them. Mackenzie loves the countdown because it has Santa on it. This year, she loves anything with Santa! I hope she feels the same way when we go see him. She cried like crazy last year.

Merry Christmas!!!

Mackenzie Turns 2!!!

Ok so I'm a bit behind, but what do you expect of a busy mom :)

Mackenzie turned 2 on November 23rd! She had three parties this year, one with most parts of her family.

Saturday, November 19th was her first party with my moms family. It turned into a disaster and I thank God she won't remember it when she's older, but we won't get into details. We bought pizza and pop and I made a yummy cake. Pretty proud of the way it looked because I'm not good at making cakes look pretty :) She got a few outfits, a Dora doll for the bath and her favorite, a princess tea set.

Wednesday was her actual birthday but dad wasn't able to make it home. I took the kids to grandpa and Gege's (Carol) for lunch. Plus, Aunt Ney Ney was in town! Aunt Ney Ney got her princess dress up stuff, which she loves and wears everyday.

Of course, Thursday was thanksgiving, which is always busy. Marty got home late Wednesday so she opened her presents when she woke up. We got her an outfit and a 30 piece playdoh set! She loves playdoh. We went to Marty's moms around noon. We had her birthday with them then since everyone was in town. She got 2 baby dolls, a new purse, folding table and chairs, her size, and a mini pillow pet! She sleeps on that every night!

Friday, we had her party at Grandpa and Gege's! All aunts were there except Ney Ney who was in school or working. Our friends Tim and April came to join in the fun! We got her a Cinderella cake from meijer. Grandpa and Gege got her a Cinderella balloon and doll. They also got her 3 new outfits and a big magnadoodle. Aunt Danielle got her a princess music set (recorder, tambourine, maracas and a harmonica). Aunt Taylor got her a princess cup with a straw. Best part-it doesn't spill! Aunt Jo got her a bunch of Abby Cadabby stuff (sesame street character), which she loves. Tim and April got her the Leapfrog Tag Junior reading system. We do a lot of reading with regular books, but this is great when she wants to read while I'm cooking, cleaning or feeding Cameron. Aunt Melody and Uncle Curtis got her a gift card from Carter's, who children's clothes I love. I just ordered her a dress and leggings, so we're just waiting for it to get here!

We had a very busy week of celebrating, and it's hard to believe that she's already 2! Time really does fly as you get older.

Busy and stressed

These last few weeks have been the most stressful I think I've ever had. I love my kids but being with them 24/7 can really make you crazy. So, Saturday night they spent at Grandpa and Gege (Carol). Mackenzie just started calling her that on Friday! Too cute.

With the kids at my dads, Marty and I had the night to ourselves to do whatever. When I left dads, I had a massage appointment. It was much needed. I had never been to this place before so I wasn't sure what to expect but it was very comfortable and relaxing. I had an hour massage and it was only $55. The cheapest I have seen around. I was so relaxed by the time it was over, I almost walked out without paying. Whoopsy!

After my massage, I picked up Marty and we met up with friends Tim and April at London Grill for dinner. It was pretty good, but not as good as we remember. But decently priced so not terrible. After dinner we had a drink at a small bar in town that Marty and I had never been to. Nothing special, but made huge long island iced teas. As big as a beer, it was pretty crazy. From there we went to Tim and April's for a while. I learned to not drink chocolate wine after anything. It was yummy, but I payed for it all day Sunday. I'm not a wine drinker so I'm not used to any of the after effects.

Sunday was a very lazy day. I took a 2.5 hour nap, Cameron slept for 1.5 hours and Mackenzie napped for 3.5 hours. Marty spent that time to work on his car.

All in all, it was a nice weekend, and I'm way less stressed out and feel like I could deal with anything these kids throw my way.

Today, they're going to Grandma Shelly's for a bit while I have a meeting for a ski lift operator job tonight. It's not a guaranteed job but something to get us some extra money for Christmas will be nice.

The rest of the week will be spent with Mackenzie at school and getting ready for Mackenzie's birthday parties and her birthday which is all next weekend and next week. And getting the house ready for my Mary Kay holiday open house which is on Sunday! Hopefully that will be successful!

Happy Halloween!

We had a good Halloween weekend and Monday.

Friday Marty got home at a decent time, for dinner we ordered my somewhat newly favorite pizza, the New Yorker from Upper Crust. So yummy!

Saturday Marty and I took the kids to the annual Halloween carnival at church. It's the first year that we went, so we weren't totally sure what all there was. They had a lot of games and the trick or treat trail. We did the trick or treat trail but not the games. They were all a bit too old for the kids. We are planning on going back next year, and Mackenzie should be able to play some of them then. After the carnival we took the kids to see Grandpa Mike, Marty's dad. After there, we did grocery shopping and came home for a late dinner. We also learned, Mackenzie can not go all day without a decent nap yet. After the kids went to bed, Marty and I finished carving pumpkins. Mackenzie carved hers on Thursday.

Sunday came and Marty left for work :( while the kids and I went to church. The rest of the day was spent relaxing at home.

Monday was of course Halloween!!! The kids were in there costumes by 3:45. Cameron was a little monkey and Mackenzie was Cinderella! They were so cute. Marty's mom came up to see Morgan in her school parade. She was a character from Monster High. I have no idea what that is. Then she came over here to trick or treat with the kids. They have the businesses in town hand out candy before homes in town so we trick or treated there. Once Marty got home, we went trick or treating to houses and handed out our candy until around 8 when we ran out of candy.

All in all, it was quite a nice weekend with the whole family together.

Decided and sick

I did all of my thinking about cosmetology and decided I was going to do it! Then my childcare fell though, so that decision really made itself. It must be God telling me to not take Mackenzie out of school.

So, I have put in a few applications for part time work just to get some much needed adult time. Now, it's time to wait and see how all of that pans out. At least I can work around Mackenzie's school.

Today I'm just now getting over this nasty sinus cold and cough. It's nice because I'm feeling better, but Cameron's got it horribly. I'm constantly wiping his nose, he's sneezing like crazy and he can't have his binky to sleep because he can't breath :( Poor guy. It's seem, as well, that it's trying to get Mackenzie as well but she's fighting like crazy. I really hope she doesn't get it, but who knows.

I'm not going to my Mary Kay meeting tonight because Cameron is sick and so is Grandma Shelly (Marty's mom), and she usually babysits on Monday evenings. Hopefully staying home and out of the chill will get these kids healthy so they'll be ready for trick-or-treating in a week!

Every year at Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek, they have the Zoo Boo. You get to see the animals that are still out, ride the train and do the trick-or-treat trail. It's a lot of fun for the kids. We took them for the first time this year, and Mackenzie had a blast! Mackenzie is Cinderella this year, and Cameron is a cute little monkey! I can't wait for Halloween this year, she's going to have so much fun!

A lot to think about

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. Like a lot of people, it's tough to pay everything and still have anything left over to enjoy later. Also, I want to work, but without being able to finish my nursing classes because of the waiting list, I can't get a decent job that pays for daycare plus more money to pay the bills. So I've been looking into other things with less schooling and decent pay.

I have found...cosmetology. I've visited a couple campuses in town and got a lot of information on both programs. If I decide to try this field, and of course finish nursing once I'm accepted, I have the choice of one of those schools. The other school does not accept student loans. However, I liked all things about this school better, tuition is just more expensive.

So now I have choices to make. Kind of exciting to try something that's completely different from everything else I've done. It makes me nervous though, it's completely new! I'm not a perfectionist, I'm just very competitive. I want you to do well for yourself, but I feel like I have to do it better than you :)

I'm gonna take a couple days to think about my decision, but at this point, I'm leading more towards doing it!