Chubby Cheeks

Where did Ellery get these chubby cheeks? I am going to have to do some digging and find baby pictures of Rob and I and compare. Although, when we were at music class this weekend one of Mason's friends grandparents were in town and they commented that Mason finally grew into his cheeks and I said "well look at the next one, she has a lot to do before she grows into those cheeks."

St. Joseph

Grandma Ellen sent us a St. Joseph figure to bury in the yard to bring us luck in selling the house. We made it a family adventure and Mason didn't want to bury it he wanted to play with it.
Legend has it that if the statue is buried upside down with the feet pointing to heaven he will help sell our house. You can also point him towards your home or towards a new home; we choose to face him towards our home. Here is the kicker, we have to dig him up and give him a "place of honor" in our new home once we sell this house. Wish us luck!

Mason holding Ellery

Mason doesn't get the dear in headlight look every time he holds Ellery now. I also found him on the floor the other day with the boppy pillow around his waist and he was reading books. He still sits down and pats the floor letting you know he wants to hold her. I now place the boppy around him and lay her in his arms in the boppy. He loves it and when I take her away he signs and says more. When he is done he does push her away. I did have her on my lap the other day and he came at her and put his arms around her like he was going to pick her up. He loves to kiss her and hug her no matter where she is sitting. Note the bunny in the picture. He doesn't sleep with it, but he does carry it around all day.

Care to join us for breakfast

Mason still loves the bunny that was given to Ellery as a gift. This morning he found bunny in the living room and carried him into the kitchen for breakfast. The last time I took him away and he had a fit and wouldn't eat for 15 min. I don't allow toys at the table, but this morning I decided to humor him and placed him in the chair next to him. Bunny joined Mason for breakfast and Mason shared all of his breakfast with him. It was adorable to watch. Maybe if Bunny eats it Mason will? I will have to give Bunny cheese and eggs and see if that works!
Mason is struggling with Ellery. I think it is hard on him with Rob out of town and only so much of me to go around. Every time Ellery cries Mason comes running up to me and says up, so I can't go pick her up. He also used to walk down the stairs every am like a big boy going forward while you hold his hand, but now he wants to be carried. Usually only wants to be carried when I have a little miss in my arms. I am trying to give him more positive praise, it seems all I ever tell him is "that's never good" and redirect him.
Rob got home late last night. Ellery and I were out for her first girls night out. She was held all night and everyone enjoyed her. I found myself swaying while I was standing and talking like I had her in my arms when I didn't. She was so excited to see her dad she spent half the night up with me and then the other half with him. She is sleeping like an angel now, but Mason is up and going full force.
Rob has been invited back to Omaha, but they won't know if they have a position until the end of April. So it looks like we are going to end up in either Omaha or Columbus.

Girls Night Out

It looks like we threw Ellery a 1 month birthday party, but it was just girls night out. Everyone had a great time holding her and I felt naked without her. I better enjoy these next 6 months, she is easy to cart around.

1 Month-Ellery

Ellery is a month old today! She is growing like a weed and sleeping for 3-4 hours at times. The 3am feeding still tends to be a 2-3 hour process, but we are working on that.
She remains congested but is getting better. I ended up calling the nurse yesterday to make sure I didn't need to do anything else for her and learned a trick with the bulb suction. I never had to bulb suction Mason so this is all new for me. The trick after you use the saline drops is to plug the side of the nose you aren't suctioning with your finger while you suction the other side. I was able to get some serious secretions from her with that trick! Sure she hates it and screams, but she breathes much better afterwards!
FYI-If you have towing insurance on your auto policy you can get reimbursed from locking your kids in the car. I suggest you add it to your policy, I never dreamed I would lock my keys in the car let alone with our children inside!

Vicks Vapor Rub

Ok, so I got the email telling me to place Vicks vapor rub on your kids feet to help with coughing and my mom told me to do it as well. Mason started coughing on Sat. night, just a few times and even barked a few times. I thought "oh xxxxx" not the croup, but the barking went away, but the cough stayed. Rob was on call Sunday night and has left for his Omaha interview Monday morning. (keep your fingers crossed for him) Sunday night was a rough night for all left at home and so Monday night I thought what the heck. Lets try this Vicks business on the feet. Mason didn't nap on Monday very long due to the coughing so I lathered his feet up and placed them in socks after his nap and then did a second application before he went to bed. Whaa Laaa, he didn't cough except when he first went down.(less than 10 min) Is he getting better or is it the Vicks? Who knows, but I am a believer.
Sad news is that little missy is getting more congested as well. So she has been sleeping in her car seat, getting saline drops down her nose, had to pull out the blue bulb syringe, sitting on the bathroom floor for steamy showers with vapor bath in the air, (I even let her cry for a bit to really open the lungs), and still getting antibiotic in her eye. Send your get well wishes to the Chaplin house along with sleep vibes! :)

Happy Easter

One quick story, Mason went and got a diaper today and so we asked if he wanted to sit on his potty chair, and he tinkled out a bit in his chair! Yeah. We were so excited we gave him an M&M for it. We will see how far bribing our child will go.
We did go out and play in the snow today.


We did go out and enjoy our 12+ inches of melting snow. We threw Easter eggs on top of the snow with one M&M inside and Mason went crazy finding them. He would open up the egg and eat the treat before he went onto the next egg. He asked for help in the snow from Rob, then he decided that sitting on the side of a snow bank and throwing snow was just as fun. Ellery hung out in her car seat outside with us sunning herself. We did put her in her cute purple hat from Paris that Ed and Laine brought back for her.

Bunnies and Monkeys at the Zoo

We got 12+ inches of snow again yesterday. We are now listed as #2 in the record books for snow fall for the year at 95+ inches. Needless to say we are getting tired of the snow.

We went to the Zoo for Egg Day at the Zoo today and had a great time. The Egg Hunt was lame, but Mason is too young to know that. He did get to color bunny ears and meet the Easter Bunnies. He loved the coloring and every time we walked by the table, we had to sit down again for him to color more. He absolutely loves coloring.


He did however go nuts for the monkeys. He was jabbering and talking up a storm to the monkeys. We couldn't understand much of what he was saying, but I think I will take him to the zoo more often to encourage his verbal skills. We kept Ellery in the stroller, but we let Mason roam a bit and he would run to each monkey exhibit point them out, talk to them, and then run to the next. We only visited the monkeys this trip to the zoo, I am excited for him to see the other exhibits once it warms up.

Bath Time-Picture Compare

I still can't believe I locked my kids in the car. Luckily the weather was nice and 40 deg. I contemplated not blogging it, but someday I will find it funny. My mom locked me in the trunk and then shut the door and asked where are the keys as I scream I have them. She luckily ripped the back seat forward and I slid them through a small whole. It was 90+ deg and we were trying to sneak me into the sand pit so we didn't have to pay for me. Ohhh the lessons you learn.


Ellery's eye is looking much better and she is growing like a weed. Rob got back from his interview last night and says he can really see a difference since he missed us for 3 days. Columbus looks promising, but we will see what happens in Omaha next week.
I gave Ellery a bath tonight and found a similar picture of Mason. Mason is on the left and Ellery is on the right. I was hoping for a mini Mandi, but we might end up finding out what Rob would look like as a girl????

Call Social Services

I took Ellery to the Dr. and she has been placed on antibiotic ointment for her eye. She thinks it is a blocked tear duct that got infected.
The real drama came in after the Dr. visit. I loaded up both of the kids, placed my purse in the passenger seat from the passenger door, grabbed my cell phone and my keys and went to get in the car but it was locked. I didn't panic, I had my keys, but when I look down at my keys I realize I grabbed the alarm remote and not the car remote/keys. (I am not sure how the car got locked, I didn't hear it lock but I am thinking it must have pushed up against me while placing Ellery in the car?) I then ran back inside the Dr office asked for a phone book and started calling lock smiths. The first one I called said they would be here in 15 min, I stated I have children locked inside the car, can't you come faster? They told me NO. I remained calling other locksmiths as I waited for this one to arrive and no one else had prompter service. As I am waiting for them to arrive, my pediatrician walks out and I blurt out, I've locked my kids in the car. She offers to stay with me and says don't worry I've done this twice myself. She ended up leaving while I let tears stream down my face while playing peek a boo with Mason in the car. Ellery cried at the beginning but then fell asleep. Mason was a champ, didn't phase him at all he kept wanting to play more peek a boo. The lock smiths arrived and unlocked the car and $105 later I was off for destination home.

Stroller Fun

It is finally warming up here and melting all of our snow. I can get the stroller out and make it from street to street without having to push through snow or ice. I drove to daycare yesterday morning, and it is a work out loading both of them for a 5 block drive and then unloading to take Mason into daycare. It was raining so I couldn't walk yesterday, but it has warmed up to low 40's so I have been walking and it is much easier. I think Mason likes his seat, he did freak out again the other day when I loaded Ellery first, but this morning he did better and tried to climb up in his seat himself.
Mason is expressing his independence. We read books every night before he goes to bed and he used to sit on your lap and let you read and hold the book. Now he sits on his little bench and holds the book himself but wants you to sit beside him. This morning I was feeding Ellery and he brought me a book to read him, I tried to sit him next to me, but he threw a mini fit because he wanted to sit on my lap. I think he is getting a bit jealous of the time it takes to feed Ellery.

Sweet Little Angel

Ellery slept like an angel last night. She was up to feed a few times but her 12 o clock appearance was less than two hours counting feeding time. She is still congested and had a goopy eye this am. I have a call out for the nurse at the Dr's office to call me back. I am not sure if it is a blocked tear duct or something more. Dr. Daddy is out of town so I can't rely on his expertise. Mason had a blocked tear duct as well when he was 3 weeks old, and green drainage from the eye really freaks out an adult critical care nurse.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

We had a very uneventful day, not like how we used to spend St. Patrick's Day. Things sure do change when you have little ones. We shipped Rob off today for an interview in Columbus, OH. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers, although I am cheering that Omaha, NE works out best so we can be closer to home.
Rob let Mason hold Ellery while sitting in his lap yesterday. So today Mason kept sitting down on the floor and patting it so I could lay Ellery across his lap and let him hold her. A couple of times while I was holding her he came up to me and tried to pick her up himself. I let him hold her a few times today, but he kept signing more every time I took her away. He also signs milk every time I feed her, and is very interested in the breastfeeding process. He also tries to put on Ellery's clothes, socks, and bows. Today he was running around with her pants on his head.
Ellery is growing, I think I am noticing how fast she is growing more than I did with Mason. She isn't staying up all night anymore, but we have noticed a pattern of her being awake from 12-3am. Eeeek, trying to get her switched around. She is still congested, but I think feeling much better than the other night.
Irish wear compliments of Grandma Ellen.--THANK YOU!!!
I couldn't resist, Rob caught the perfect picture of Mason showing you his fish lips.

Let the Madness Begin

I love watching college basketball and I love March Madness. Very excited to watch the Jayhawks this tournament. This is how terrible I am at watching college basketball. Mason points to the TV and says basketball then goes and gets one of his balls and throws it into his basketball goal. We try not to have the TV on too much when he is around, but I somehow think it ok for basketball to be on.

Ellery Friday Night Party Girl

Ellery had an interesting Friday night. She stayed up and partied until 3am. It was a rough night, and Rob was called out on a transport so I didn't have any back up. We made it through it minus some tears shed on my part. It is just a terrible feeling when you can't console your child. I think she has a virus, she had a temp of 99 deg and she is congested. Once she blew out her diaper for the 3rd time of the night she finally went down. I bet her poor little tummy hurt. I think I need to thank Mason for it, I am convinced he brought it home from daycare.

Easter Egg Hunt

Mason went to his first Easter Egg Hunt this morning. It was cold and only 30 deg so Miss Ellery was bundled up. I feel bad we didn't take any pictures of her, but it was way too cold to get her out of her bundle. Mason enjoyed picking up all of the eggs and placing them in his basket. We are happy because we get to eat the contents of the eggs. He is still young enough he doesn't realize or know about candy. We also got to meet the Easter Bunny. Mason wasn't sure what to think of the Easter Bunny, but he warmed up quicker than his usual 30 min.

Lotsa Fun Playroom

I was brave and had my first outing with two kids by myself. I had planned for a 10:30 am departure and made my goal, wasn't easy, but we made it. I used to carry Mason all the time and now that I have Ellery in the car seat, we are working on holding hands. He is doing great with the hand holding, I think he enjoys being a bit more free. He is in a stage of expressing independence.
Our destination was the Lotsa Fun Playroom and I think Mason had lots of fun. They had a ball pit that Mason wasn't too sure about it in the beginning but after about an hour he was jumping in and out and loving it. He has a 30-60 min grace period to warm up to new things and then he is a crazy man. If we would have left before he warmed up to it he wouldn't have cried when we had to leave. Ellery slept the whole time.

Ellery in my old outfit

Here are a few photos of Ellery in one of my old outfits. She is adorable of course. I was an April baby so I wore it all summer. It is starting to warm up here, it got up to the 40's. I am looking forward to it warming up so I can dress the little Miss up in cute summer clothes! I can dress her all cutsie now, but it gets covered up by blankets.

Grandma Ellen Leaves

Grandma Ellen left this morning. We had a great time visiting with her and she was a lot of help. She might be coming back in a few weeks to visit, she can't get enough of the little ones!
You can see Mason is being gentle with Ellery in the picture. He just can't resist touching her! At least this time he is being gentle, he likes to point out her nose and eyes and it ends up just one big poke.

2 Weeks Ellery

Ellery had a weight check today and she weighs in at a whopping 8lbs 1 oz
She is growing right before my eyes and I am still amazed I have her. She is a great baby. She is sleeping 3-4 hour stretches at times. She isn't settling it to sleep soundly until after her 10 or 11 o'clock feed, but then she does great for the night. Rob is nicknaming her Little Squirt. She squirts out her #2's and they have gotten us both a bit messy, very impressive coming from such a small little girl. Here is a funny story, the first few days we had Ellery home we kept checking her diaper and were getting concerned because she was dry. We were feeling in the front of the diaper like we do on Mason and not the back, poor thing sat in urine for a few extra hours.

20 Months-Mason

Mason is officially 20 months today. He is doing ok with being a big brother. He still likes to drive his cars on Ellery's face and is working on being gentle and easy. When he does have the gently aspect down he approaches her and then pets her head like he pets the dog and cat. Very cute and nice.
He is having a bit of trouble around meal times. I am not sure if it is because he is so tired or if it something he can control. He now sits at the table rather than in his highchair with a tray. It has been converted into a booster seat. He would rather sit in a regular chair and struggle with his meal, but I make him sit in the booster seat because I can strap him down and contain him. He is a finicky eater, but getting a tad bit worse since Ellery has arrived. We were giving him tons of options when we would say NO and throw it, but we have closed the buffet and give him a few options now and end the meal if he gets too cranky. Rob assured me he wouldn't starve and it would be ok, and wouldn't you know Dad does know best.

He can officially catch a ball now. He currently loves playing with the punching balloon balls and throwing them up in the air to catch. He loves building blocks and puzzles. He also loves coloring, he requests to color every morning first thing after breakfast and then multiple times throughout the day. He is quite the artist. He broke a crayola the other day and kept trying to put it back together and then wanted me to fix it. He also loves to sing songs and do the motions for the songs. He loves the alphabet song, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, If Your Happy and You Know It, Wheels on the Bus, and Itsy Bitsy Spider. My goal is to teach him I'm a Little Tea Pot next.

Grandma Ellen Visits

Grandma Ellen has been visiting for the past week. She has been a big help and Mason loves playing with her. I think Ellery enjoys all of the snuggle time as well. She has spoiled both with lots of love and special treats. Mason currently has a shamrock balloon that is as big as him. We went to the mall the other day and Grandma Ellen bought Ellery some adorable outfits. You know she didn't buy her anything pink or girly until she arrived, because she didn't believe Ellery was a girl. She thought the Dr. made a mistake since she had three boys herself. I still can't believe I have two children, and it is a joy watching Grandma Ellen interact with them.

Ellery's First Bath

Ellery's umbilical cord fell off yesterday, Looks like she is going to have an outie. She got her first bath in the kitchen sink tonight and really relaxed into it and enjoyed it.

Monthly Pictures

I know they say you don't have as many pictures of the second child as you do the first, but Ellery will have monthly pictures with an 8x10 piece of paper so you can see how she is growing every month. I tried different things with Mason and wasn't consistent and started doing the piece of paper with him when he was 5 months. So in 5 months we can do a comparison of the two! My regret on this picture is that I forgot her cute little head band. She is cute as can be and slept great for me last night. I actually had to go and wake her at 3.5 hours to feed her and then she waited 3.5 hours after that feed to cry. What an angel. She is sleeping all day today, so maybe she was worn out from all of her other active nights.

The sweetest thing happened last night. I had to wake her at 12pm to feed, so she didn't cry and arouse Mason. When I went to place her back in her crib, Mason got up and wanted a hug. He was wide awake and playing, so I rocked him for a bit and then said, its time to go back to sleep and he got back into his crib, laid down so you can cover him up, and blew me kisses good-bye. He blows you kisses every night when you put him down, but I don't usually get them in the middle of the night. He is a great sleeper and more cuddly since Ellery arrived. I am sure it is an adjustment for him, but I like him all cuddly and loving.

Ellery Dr. Appt

Ellery had her first Dr. appointment today. She is doing well, a wee bit jaundiced, but nothing like how Mason was. He had to go on a billi blanket here at home and she is in the clear of having to do that. All is good, some nights she sleeps and others she decides should be her awake time. Mason is doing ok with her. She was crying the other day and he tried to feed her a piece of card board. We let him give card board to the dog as a treat and I guess he thought she might like it as well. He likes to love on her and give her hugs and kisses. We give group hugs and kisses at night and Mason leaned over to give Ellery a kiss on his own tonight without any prompting. It warms my heart.
Her stats come in at
Weight: 7lb 6.5 oz
Height: 20 inches
Head Circumference: 33 cm

Signs of Jealousy

It warmed up to 40+ degrees today and we thought we should get everyone out for a short walk. Rob bought a toddler chair adapter for our stroller for Mason to sit in. He now sits on the front of the stroller and it is pretty darn cute. We were placing Ellery in the stroller, the part where Mason is used to sitting and he had a mini melt down. I think he thought he was going to be left behind or replaced. He calmed down quickly when he got into his new seat and I think he really enjoyed it. It sits him up a bit higher and he is king of the stroller.
He is also fascinated in watching me feed Ellery. He gets all close and just watches, afterwards he tries to lift my shirt. He has always enjoyed sticking his hand down a shirt, and he still enjoys it if not more now. He truly is Rob's child!

Artwork

Rob had a great idea when Mason was born to make a canvas with our hand prints and Mason's. It turned out so cute for Mason we thought we should do one for Ellery, but with feet instead.

1 Year 3 Months and 2 Weeks Apart

Mason and Ellery are 1 year, 3 months, and 2 weeks apart.
I get warm fuzzies at night when I have both of my children tucked away in their beds. (Ellery is starting to sleep better at night) I stand in the middle of the room and just take it all in. It still feels like a dream that I have Mason and now I have a Mason and an Ellery. I was worried I wouldn't have enough love to go around, but it makes me love everyone more including Rob. He is such a good father and a wonderful husband.

First Family Outing

We went to Mason's music class today and had lunch in the coffee shop afterwards. We are going to have to allow more time than usual getting two kids out of the house. We were right on time and didn't forget anything or anyone so that is a good sign. Mason still isn't sure of Ellery, still working on the words easy and gentle are going to take some time and Ellery will become very tough in the meantime. Mason tried rolling one of his cars on her face today. We are all a bit tired including Mason, but wouldn't trade it for anything! Ellery currently sleeps better during the day than at night, would be ok if I had only one and could sleep when she sleeps. We will have to stimulate her more during the day. My goal for the next child is to deliver them during the day rather than at night, then you don’t start the process with no sleep.