Christmas 2014

We had a rough start to Christmas week. We visited Dollywood and the indoor water park the weekend before Christmas. On Saturday half the crew started feeling sick and by Sunday all the grandparents felt sick. Well, Sutton and I were scheduled to ride in the car with them. They all coughed the whole way home. Once home it turned out they all had the flu. By Monday I was down with the flu too. I just kept waiting and holding my breath praying that sweet Sutton wouldn't get it. However, sure enough on Christmas Eve she spiked a fever after her doctor's office was closed. She too test positive for the flu. We cancelled all our traditions and just waited and prayed for the worst to pass. We told Craw he could open up our Christmas Eve presents (they were family matching pajamas). You have to love a 4 year old opening presents because he was not amused with the pajamas at all!

 We let Sutton open hers. This is before the sickness really set in so we were still getting smiles and laughs!

 After the kids went to bed on Christmas Eve we watched as Santa and his helpers set up all of the toys and presents. We couldn't wait for the kids to wake up on Christmas morning. Craw got a teepee and a polar bear sleeping bag with his name on it, a train that is set on a roller coaster track, and Sutton got a chair with her name on it.

Sutton woke up, ate, and went back to bed before Craw was even up so Brad and I took a picture in our matching pjs. 

 Craw was in awe. He loved seeing that Santa ate his cookies and drank his milk. He loved seeing all the presents set out as well.

Again, I will remember this Christmas as the one where Craw just kept asking for more presents. He kept being so disappointed that he didn't get a train and it broke my heart. We thought it was time to move on past the train stage but Craw just still loves trains soo much. He tore through his presents and wanted more and more!

Here, Sutton wasn't too sick but as the day went on she got a little more pitiful. Brad started feeling sick and it just wasn't a good day health wise for the Redds.

 We even took shifts at Nana and Papas house to try and prevent the cousins from catching our bugs. Craw again just kept tearing through gifts and was sad that there were no trains. Poor little guy hopefully he won't remember that this was a year without trains!

The cousins came over so we could all exchange gifts and at least see each other. The kids loved seeing each other on Christmas afternoon.

I had these adorable matching Christmas outfits for Craw and Sutton and S didn't even make it out of her pjs.

 We had to get our annual picture outside of the Redds. We left shortly after lunch so that we wouldn't contaminate the whole house. When we got home Brad was feeling sick and I just remember it not feeling like Christmas. Luckily, it didn't phase Craw. He had a ball playing with his toys and everyone has since recovered!

Brad loves his coffee in the mornings

I have been talking about matching pajamas for years now. He really didn't have a choice this year. At least he thought I was funny.

sweet girl loves holding her own bottle 

after her flu diagnosis---seriously how pitiful is she

kids went wild at nanas house.

Craw loved his sleeping bag.

 The only picture I have of the two munchkins together on Christmas!

Sutton 7 Months

My sweet little peanut is 7 Months old and happy and cute as can be! I can't believe how fast the year is flying by. You are such a happy little pumpkin! You will smile at anyone who wants to talk and play with you! Whenever someone gets your attention you turn your little head towards my chest with a big ole grin on your face.

7 month Stats:

Weight: 15.2 lb (15%)
Length: 27 in (70 %)

• Eating: You either nurse or take a bottle five times a day. I still always nurse you in the morning. Then you eat around 10, 2, 5, and 7:30. You take about 6 ounces of milk in your bottle. You have a combination of formula and breastmilk depending on how much milk I have pumped. You drink nutramigen (for milk protein allergy). It smells so awful but you seem to like it and take it interchangeably with breastmilk.

You started solids this month. We started with sweet potatoes and then moved on to carrots, squash, and peas. We have tried to stick with veges for now. You have had bananas, pears, and apples as well. You have taken to the food very well. You started with half a jar of food and now can take a whole jar at each sitting. You either eat solids once or twice a day.

• You have tried puffs as well but you don't seem to like them right now.
• You are still in size 2 Pampers Swaddlers
• You wear 6 month clothing. You could use some new sleepers as some of the 6 month ones are getting snug.
• You have been a wonderful sleeper for us. You sleep from 7:30-8 until 6:30-7. You have only woken up once in the middle of the night and it was when you had the flu. After the flu passed you were waking up around 5:30 for a few days but luckily you are back to your normal self. 
• You also were a wonderful napper until right before you turned 7 months old. We decided it was time to get rid of the mama roo at nap time because you were almost falling out of the thing and it has resulted in shorter naps (went from 2 hour naps to 30-45 minute naps so we are currently working on a new schedule to try and fix that)
• You tried rice cereal once or twice before when aunt cat was here but we officially started baby food at 6 months. You started with sweet potatoes--carrots-peas-bananas-pears-apples. So far it is going great. You seem to get the concept of eating a little better than your brother. 
• You usually sleep on your side or tummy. You like to make your way to a corner of the crib so that I can't see your face in the monitor.
• You still don't sit up very well for how mobile you are. We are working on making you strong. It is probably due to mommy carrying you all the time because I don't want to set you on the wood floor.
• You found your toes and like most babies when you get a hold of them you try and put them in your mouth!
• You love chewing on things. ---teethers (your purse teether, the keys, bath toys) and that keeps you pretty occupied.
• You do well in the car now!!!!! this is probably the greatest thing that could have ever happened. You don't scream the whole car ride anymore. We usually give you a bunch of toys and they keep you entertained.
• You also found your fingers for real this past month. I mean you suck on them to soothe you and in the car. You suck the pointer and middle finger on your left hand. It will be interesting to see if you turn out to be a lefty. 
• You love anything with bright lights and sounds and it grabs your attention right away. The toothbrush (electric) and hair dryer usually keep you entertained.
• You love turning on your side and resting your body weight on your side (almost like a side plank) and you will look at whoever is talking and just grin.
• You like your jumper for nana and papa (you don't like to hang in it when I am around but they say you do great).
• You just light up when you see Papa. He just loves you to pieces and takes such great care of you. Of course you love Nana too but sometimes papa will take you and nana will take Craw.
• You don't ever really fall asleep while eating. I will nurse you and then top you off with a bottle and then you will start smiling when you are all full...then we just lay you in your crib.
• you love bath time. You will chew on a toy and just relax.
• You just love holding your own bottle. If we even try to help you ...you swat our hands away.

We are so grateful for the turn you took this past month ---you are soooo much happier. You grin, smile, laugh, and cackle and it has been so amazing to see this transformation.

You got the flu on Christmas Eve which was just so sad and terrible. Luckily since you had the first dose of the flu vaccine I feel like it was not nearly as bad as it could have been. You didn't even get to wear your precious Christmas outfit and we were all so worn out buuuut you are healthy now and we are so grateful! You are just a little doll and we love watching the way your face lights up when you see Craw. You melt our hearts every single day and I am just so sad that the time is flying by so fast. I want you to stay this sweet little innocent baby that I can hold and love on all the time!