Another Sullivan on the way...

Taylor (or Tay-Tay as the girls call her) showed up at our house the other night with some exciting news to share:

They are thinking end of July time frame...selfishly hoping for a little boy so Brendan will have a buddy!  Although that could mean double trouble!  :)

Some Worthy Reads

I think once you have been through pregnancy and childbirth that you love to read stories about them. Here are a few I have read recently that I would like to share:

-a funny one about feelings and appearances during pregnancy
As It Turns Out - Post Edit
-a beautiful post about childbirth especially with her third and ver premature baby
A Defining Moment
-about preparing for labor
Pain In The
-and this has been around lots of blogs lately....but one of the most honest and beautiful birth stories I have ever read about a baby born with Down Syndrome....READ IT but have tissues ready, beautiful pics too
Nella Cordelia - A Birth Story

Cradle Cap

Both Angelica and Emma had cradle cap as babies so I was expecting it to hit Michaela at some point. While it definitely is not as bad as the other two....it helps that she has a lot of hair to hide it. Burt's Bees Apricot Oil though basically clears it right up!! I just rub a good amount on her head and let it sit and soak in. Then while I give her a bath....take a baby brush and scrub the area really well....all the yucky skin will flake right off and yet the skin is soft with the oil. It works wonders and I love it...she even got to sport a little Mohawk hair-do!

Congrats Congrats Congrats

To my good friend and college buddy Beth....she delivered TWO healthy baby boys yesterday. She had been having regular checks for awhile and had been very uncomfortable these past couple of weeks but was trying to keep those babes in as long as possible....to see her journey you can check out her family blog. Yesterday she gave birth to Blaine and Christian....two good size babies for twins...one was over 5 pounds and one just under. I haven't seen Beth since my wedding 6 years ago when she was expecting her daughter Beth, now a big sister!!! Wish I was closer to help and meet the babes...keep us posted with pics...and I am dying to know if they are identical or not!! Please keep them all in your prayers as they adjust to these two new beautiful additions!!! Love and miss you guys!

BOYS

My pregnancy prayer list keeps growing (seen on sidebar) and the news of more BABY BOYS keeps growing too....at least my little girl will have a lot of potential wonderful husbands to choose from!!!

Congrats Peck Family!

My friend Ellie delivered a healthy, beautiful baby girl this morning at 2:01am. Miriam Thérèse weighed in at 7 pounds 13 ounces....and I can't wait to meet her and see more pictures. I originally met Ellie through Coffee and Diapers and feel very blessed that we have become friends....just hope they can find a way to move to Bremerton from Whidbey!! Ellie - get rest and talk to you soon!

Missing the "Moo-Moos"

Well, Emma is officially done nursing (sniff sniff). I think mama is having a harder time with it than she is. About a week ago I realized that nursing was just getting to be more of a comfort for Emma than anything and I was getting so tired and feeling so sick with this pregnancy that it was time to wean. My goal has always been to nurse for one year and yet I remember with Angelica that I loved it so much we just kept going.....until I was 6 months pregnant with Emma and my milk production stopped. She was 16 months old. Emma had slowed down a lot anyways but still would like to nurse before naps and still quite often during the night. She has always been a strong, avid nurser so I was a little worried about the weaning process with her. So we started with the days.....and day one went perfectly fine...we just came up with a new nap time routine and she has had no problems. So then after three days of that I cut out the night time nursing....AAAHH....it was a LONG two nights!! I have always referred and taught the girls that nursing is called "yum-yums". A friend had recommended coming up with a term when I was pregnant with Angelica if I planned to nurse beyond the age that they could talk so we wouldn't get embarrassed in public with them demanding it. It has worked very nicely for us. Emma though has decided to always call nursing "moo-moos", so funny because we still said yum-yums. So we had two long nights of her screaming for the "moo-moos" and me desperately wanting to just give in....but I didn't. And she has gone over a week now with no moo-moos or yum-yums at all!! After 17 months of nursing my baby....it makes me a little sad, but I am trying to tell myself I have another hungry baby arriving in 6 months who will eagerly be anticipating the moo-moos....as will I!! It is such a special bonding time with the babes!!!

Side note: Emma still does not like regular milk unless it is chocolate....just like her PopPop did!

Babies Babies Everywhere

I have meant to post congrats over these past several weeks for several friends who have had babies....wish I was at that stage!!!

Christina Jones - baby girl, Kelsey Marie

Erin Anderson - baby boy, Isaiah Marcus

Sarah Keller - baby boy, Benjamin Michael

Congrats to all and can't wait to meet the little ones!!

Delta Crib Recall

Click HERE if you have a Delta Crib (which both of ours are) to find out about the fix it kits for the recall problems.

Babies Can Sleep Anywhere

...even with their faces pressed against their crib with their arms hanging out...in a squatting position!! This is how Emma decided to finally fall asleep after we let her cry it out some. I guess she just got too tired yelling and decided to close her eyes for awhile...we will see how long it lasts. I was able to move her back to a more comfortable sleeping position. She has still not been sleeping in her own bed at nights and I am trying to get her used to it...wish us luck! Not that I mind the cuddle time...but she is a mover during the night and I think is waking up to nurse out of habit and comfort now more than the need to eat. I think the teething has been making her not sleep as well either....but because she is so active and mobile now, I would like to not have to worry about her rolling or crawling off the bed if she wakes up! Angel was in her crib for the most part by 6 months so Emma has been spoiled a little longer...I think because I have found it much easier to just sleep and nurse than go to the room and such...we shall see how it goes! We took video, but unfortunately it is coming across to dark....

A new addition...

...the potty chair!! We recently (and finally!) went and got the "big girl" potty. Angel has been dragging it to every room with her and getting used to sitting on it. Now that I have the pull ups (and used up all my excuses of a new baby, vacation trips, no potty etc)...I think it is time to start. I believe she is ready and I hope this new adventure and training goes well, really not looking forward to it. Wish me luck and if you have any pointers....PLEASE PASS THEM ON!

Homemade Baby Food

Well, last week was the first time for Emma that I did my BIG homemade baby food day. It is so nice to get this done and have the flexibility of grabbing whatever cube of food I need from the freezer. Not only does this save a ton of money and not having to get overloaded with empty baby food jars, it is healthier with no preservatives and gives you the ability to give small portions at a time and mix all kinds of food combos together. I mostly steam everything, but I did bake the squash and boil the peas. I use THIS website for tips and tricks. I then blend everything and pour the purees in ice cube trays because each cube is about one ounce of food. Then I freeze and put in labeled Ziploc bags. Here is what I was able to make out of everything:

2 sweet potatoes = 30 ounces

1 butternut squash = 38 ounces

1 acorn squash = 13 ounces

6 pears = 26 ounces

4 peaches = 26 ounces

11 carrots = 18 ounces

1/2 bag peas = 25 ounces

Welcome Baby Dominick!!

My friend Mary Beuschel had her sweet baby boy this morning at 9:43 am. Dominick weighed in at 8 lbs 3 oz and 21 inches long with redish hair!! Way to go Mary, poor thing has been in the hospital since Monday night when her water broke!! Mama and baby are doing well! Thanks for letting me visit and see ya last night, hopefully I was a distraction for you! Can't wait to meet little Dominick!

New cousin

I have more details on my cousin's baby. His name is Bryan Alexander and he weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces and 20 inches long. So beautiful...congrats Heather, Kyle and Blake. Hope we can meet the kiddies soon!!

Welcome Babies

Congrats to the O'Kray family on their new little daughter, Guadalupe "Pita" Belen Maria O'Kray, who arrived on July 1st. Can't wait to see lots of pics!!
And congrats to my cousin Heather and family on their new little son who arrived TODAY!! No name or pics yet...will keep you posted.

Love these posts

This excerpt is from a comment from this great post!! (reminded me of how I felt at my sister's wedding in Feb!) "It is easy when faced with so many parenting choices to become immersed in the rightness of one dogma, to need to justify it over all other philosophies. But our role as fellow mothers is to support without judgment of each other, to allow for differences of philosophy." - The info in the comments sections also made me want to go buy a Baby Ergo...sounds amazing especially when the Moby doesn't work as well as they get bigger and the weather gets hotter!

THIS was the other post that had preceded the above one, LOVED IT.

New Baby!!

Congrats to Jolene and family. She delivered a healthy baby girl, Julianna Jolene, yesterday (on the baby's due date). Julianna weighed in at 6 lbs 9 ounces and 18.6 inches long. I posted this pic because the hospital site had the pic and info all wrong. Thanks Jolene for allowing me to visit and hold your new bundle of joy!! (and Happy birthday to you today!)