Lola's Trip to the Salon

This weekend, Lola had ~ technically ~ her second hair cut.  Her first was when she was about 6 months old:

http://www.cutestofthebunch.blogspot.com/2010/04/lolas-first-haircut.html

She was talking like crazy the whole way there, and then, like usual, she got very quiet once we got there.  She was very intrigued watching everyone getting their hair done, while we waited.  When it was her turn, she sat in the booster all by herself and had a purple cape to cover her up.  As soon as Miss Lyndi started to play with her hair, she was totally relaxed and looked like she could have fallen asleep she was so comfortable.  Her favorite part was getting it curled.  After we got home, she kept looking at her curls in the mirror and telling me "I like getting my hair cut!"

A little mommy and Lola time

Lola's swim teacher always has her nails painted and Lola has become quite intrigued.  Lola and her talk about it all the time and Lola has recently started to ask about getting hers painted.  So.... we had a little girl time this past weekend!

Bode is 6 months old!

This has been an exciting month with lots of new fun Bode happenings!  He is able to sit up (you have to make sure his little bottom is in the right place or he tips over though!).  He can flip from tummy to back and from back to tummy, however he really hates being on his tummy, so we don't see that very much.  He has two cute little teeth on the bottom.  He loves to eat his vegetables and fruits - his favorites are sweet potatoes and squash and almost all fruit.  Anything and everything he can get his hands on, he will put in his mouth. 

Bode and Lola are starting to be so cute together.  He always has big smiles for her when she plays with him and he is really starting to interact with her.  They will roll around together, hold hands and he will "talk" to her when they are playing.  He loves to watch cartoons in the morning - his favorite is Chuggington! 

Fevers, Infections, Viruses.... and a first tooth!

What an exhausting last couple of weeks!  I will be anxious when this month is over and we can hopefully move into some spring weather and get these germs out of the house!

It started 2 weeks ago when Lola started in with a terrible cough, congested nose and temperature.  I let it go for a couple of days, but overnight, her temperature got up to 104 and that was all I needed to make me decide to call the doctor.  He said it could possibly be strep, but he wasn't going to put her through the test for it since he would treat it regardless.  So, her and I snuggled on the couch all afternoon and she was just miserable.  I felt so bad for her and so helpless.  The night before, I thought 104 was bad, but that afternoon, it got up to 105.  Scared to death, I called the doctor back just to double check that everything was still okay.  They said it could take a few days for her fever to go down and to try a cool bath.  That was torturous to hear her yell "too cold, mommy!  too cold!"  Finally, by the weekend, she started to feel better.  And then Bode started to cough.............

I didn't waste much time on this one, since I figured he just had what she had and would need to be treated.  Unfortunately, his was worse.  He was diagnosed with RSV and an ear infection last Monday, so we were sent home with breathing treatments every 4 hours and antibiotics.  When we were going back to the doctor on Wednesday for a follow-up, I just knew that he was worse and sure enough... now a "very nasty" double ear infection and the RSV was worse.  Luckily, his oxygen levels were still okay.  If they got too low, then he would have had to be hospitalized.  So... more breathing treatments, a different and stronger antibiotic and a steroid.  Our doctor warned us that the steroid can make him very agitated and "mean".  A mean 6 month old?!  After a few more days, he started to show some improvements. At his check up on Friday, both the RSV and ear infections were getting better.  We still have a week left of breathing treatments and then hopefully by Friday, he'll be off of them. 

This was actually one of the more calm breathing treatments.  He usually is fighting, screaming and flailing around, but he was just too tired to fight tonight. 

Oh yeah.... in the midst of it all, I noticed that he has his first tooth!  Poor little guy has had a rough week!  

Nothing much going on...

There hasn't been too much going on at the Preston household lately.  Just some odds and ends.  We've had to take Bode to the doctor trying to figure out what might be going on with him.  Almost every time he drinks his bottles, he will turns away, screams, arches his back - like he's almost in pain while drinking.  His doctor has prescribed him 2 different acid reflux medications but neither really seem to be working.  He goes in for his 6 month appointment soon, so we'll see what else he thinks. 

Lola still loves her swim lessons and is doing really well.  She looks forward to going every week.  She loves singing new songs that she's learned at church.  Her newest one is "light mine... let it shine, let it shine"

Here are just a few random pictures. 

Bode is 5 months old!

Bode had an exciting month with a few new milestones.  He can now roll from front to back and back to front, although I didn’t exactly witness the back to front.  I set him down on his back and turned to do my hair and when I looked back, he was on his stomach.  Since Lola wasn’t around, I figured he must have done it!  He loves to play with his little hand toys and is getting much better with his hand-eye coordination and hanging onto his toys.  He has actually started to reach out a little for things that are in front of him.  He’s very ticklish and has a cute little giggle when you tickle his belly.  And just today, he started to make this funny new sound.  Kind of a spitting / trying to blow bubbles sound! 

He has tried cereal, sweet potatoes, carrots, squash and green beans …. And pretty much, can’t stand any of them!  Every time I try a new one, I think “maybe this one will be the one he’ll like”.  Nope, you darn near have to pry his mouth open to get anything in.  Hopefully he’ll learn to like something soon! 

(he still doesn't like to smile for the camera)

A few Bode pics...

Green Sled

Lola got a sled for Christmas from Grandma Paula and Papa Dana.  Since Christmas, that sled has sat in our garage and every time we would pull into the garage, Lola would say "green sled?"  But with all of the green grass that was still on the ground, the sled wasn't getting much use. 

Finally... some snow! 

My Birthday

On January 14th I celebrated my 31st birthday.  It was a very low-key day, which was just the way I liked it.  Brian, Lola, Bode and I enjoyed the day together at home and then my parents came up in the evening so Brian and I could go out to dinner with some friends. 

Swimming Lessons

Lola started swimming lessons tonight.  I had been talking to her about it for awhile trying to prepare her for what they may do with her.  Apparently, all of the hype worked because she was out of control today!  Bouncing off the walls wondering if it was time to put on her swimsuit yet - she probably asked me fifteen times!  I told her when daddy got home from work, that is when it would be time to go.  When Brian walked in the door, she yelled "Swimming Lessons!!" 

When we walked in, she immediately got shy, of course, but they were very friendly and very good with her.  There were a couple of lessons / swim team practice going on at the same time, but she was the only one in her class.  Her teacher put a back floaty on her and just spent the time walking with her in the water and letting her kick her feet and blow bubbles in the water.  She put her on the side of the pool and held her as she jumped off into the water.  When she hit the water, the teacher took her under real quick and when she came up, Lola was choking a little and was a little unsure of what just happened, but then she wanted to jump again, so it must not have been that bad.  When the 30 minutes was up, her teacher asked if she was ready to get out and she said "No, more swimming!" 

(These aren't the best.  I just got a new camera, so I'm still trying to figure out the settings).

She must have really started to have fun, because she randomly started to climb on her teacher.  She said "Lola, are you a monkey?" and she said "I'm not a monkey, I'm Lola Preston!" 

Lola's Big Girl Bed

For Christmas, Lola got all kinds of fun things for her new big girl bed, which we put together on New Years weekend.  We had been talking about it for awhile and I was so excited to put it all together!

She's in such a unique position.  On one hand, we tell her that she's such a big girl (potty training, dressing herself, new bed, etc.) but on the other hand, no matter how old she gets, she will always be my baby Lola. 

She knew I was in her room working on her bed, but her and Brian were doing something else in another room.  When I got it done, I called her in and she got a huge smile on her face, started clapping her hands and yelled "Lola's new bed!"  I was so excited that she liked it!  I went to go get the camera and as I came back in, there she sat on her bed, reading her books out loud.  And in one moment, I went from excitement to tears.  What was my baby doing in this big bed?!  What have I done? 

Random Photos

A few pictures of Bode eating his cereal...

Lola and Bode both had their Illinois shirts on for the "double header" on Saturday (both basketball and football!). They were 100% not cooperating to get both of their pics together, but I did get Lola... plus her ponytail, which I just mastered!

More Christmas

At my parents on Christmas Eve night...

 The kiddos with their stockings

Bode with his Christmas Eve gift - a "Baby's First Christmas" ornament.  Lola's was a Noah's Ark ornament. 

Santa came!

Bode's Santa gifts

Lola's Santa gifts

Bode got a Kawasaki 4-wheeler from Darren!  

My nieces 

Since we had a very non-White Christmas, the girls had to demonstrate Lola's new sled from inside! 

Merry Christmas!

(a little late with the Christmas pics!)

We had a wonderful Christmas, both with our new family of four as well as both of our families.

In typical Preston fashion, we did our Christmas early (the 21st).  Brian and I are just like little kids and can't wait to open presents!  

Lola's presents had purple ribbons...

Bode's had blue and lime green ribbons (the colors of his room).  Lola loved finding the right ones under the tree and handing them out. 

Lola handing me one of my presents (Brian was VERY generous this year!)

Bode with his gifts

Lola with her presents.... She loved her Disney Princess nightgowns and her jewelry box with the twirly ballerina. 

Brian with his presents

  

Bode's 4 Month Update

Bode had a good check-up on Friday.  He weighs 15 pounds (45th percentile) and is 25 inches long (50th percentile).  Brian is a little nervous because Lola was always really tall and so far Bode is just average, so he's got some growing to do! 

He told us that we can start with cereal, fruits and vegetables.  We gave him the cereal that night and I had the video camera up and running for an America's Funniest Video moment when he made funny faces and tried to figure out the soon.... but it was pretty uneventful.  He seemed like he'd been doing it for weeks! 

And lastly... the giggle is now official (because I heard it)!  :)  We were playing peek-a-boo the other night before the bath and I got it!