Swing low, sweet baby!

I scream, you scream, we all scream....

Belle

As a special treat, Daddy and Mommy took us to Baskin Robbins on Sunday. Mommy and I usually share a scoop or two, but as you can see from the photograph I took over control of the spoon. Mommy wasn't giving me big enough bites. Lilly just watched from her car seat. Mommy said she was too small, yet, to have ice cream. Mommy told her when she turns one, she can have ice cream too -- unless Daddy caves before then. But he said something about what's "good for the goose... and gander." I don't know what that means. I just know it doesn't sound good for Lilly!

Easy eating!

Lilly

Belle and I are both exploring new foods. I'm finally getting the hang of this eating thing. Mommy and Daddy gave up on solid foods for awhile since I kept pushing it out with my tongue. Then I had several shots at my well-baby visit on Feb. 15 and they made me sick. I ran a fever from 101.9 to 102.6 for several days. Dr. Rubin said I couldn't start solid foods until after the reaction to the vaccines subsided. I measured 26 inches long (off the chart) and weighed about 13 pounds (which was normal percentile). Mommy was alarmed because my weight has gone down but Daddy reassured her that I was fine because I was resting my leg on the side of the scale and so it wasn't an accurate reading. I'm sleeping much better now. I occasionally wake in the middle of the night, but a pacifier and some music put me back to sleep. I fall asleep on my own now -- which is a big relief for Mommy.

Belle has been a little cranky lately. She fascinates me really. The tantrums she throws -- it's bizarre! I just sit and stare at her. Occasionally, I suffer injuries from her lashing out. She got frustrated last week and clawed my hand. I let her know it hurt, though! Then later she pointed to my hand and said, "Boo, boo!" like she didn't know that she hurt me! Can you believe it?

Bonjour!

Belle

Bonjour! It's been so cold outside that I get bored easily. Daddy sure does a good job of entertaining me though. We play silly games and he lets' me dress up in his clothes. Mommy thinks I look like a little French girl in this hat. I sure was happy to get out of the house some this weekend. We all went out to eat Friday night at Hardings. It took an hour for us to get our food, but I was pretty good while we waited. When we finally got our food, I devoured my food -- starting with French fries! I hate 3/4 of my grilled cheese and had a few bites of Daddy's salad. Ooh, and I forgot we had friend mushrooms with cocktail sauce as an appetizer. Mommy couldn't believe I was eating so well and such varieties of food. But when I mistakenly took a grape tomato from Daddy's salad thinking it was a grape, I spit it back out in Mommy's hand. She sure doesn't mind gross stuff anymore.

Our newest cousin & ailments

We have a new cousin -- Kadence Whitehair. Unfortunately, Belle and I were still feeling under the weather this weekend so we didn't get to meet her. But Mommy, Daddy and Aunt Sara did. They said she is really tiny compared to us. It will be awhile before we see her or get to play with her. She was born early and like me, she was born with a bit of jaundice. We had a good time in Morgantown this weekend visiting with relatiaves, despite our illnesses. Aunt Sara babysat us for a couple of hours while Mommy, Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa attended a church dinner and dance. Belle was up to her old tricks though, and tried to trick Aunt Sara into letting her do things she knows she isn't supposed to do.

Unfortunately, we're both still recovering from illness. Belle visited Dr. Rubin on Monday and her ears are all clear now. He said she didn't have to take any more medicine, which is good because her albuterol made her jumpy Sunday night. I heard Mommy was pretty upset with her becuase she wouldn't go to sleep. I slept most of the car ride home, but Belle woke me up when we still had 45 minutes left in the car! She can be crazy when she gets upset. I find it fascinating, really.

Then Monday night I didn't feel well. I have been constipated since Friday and it was really hard to get it straightened out again. Luckily, I didn't have to make a trip to see Dr. Rubin because I have to see him on Thursday this week. Belle has to go to another doctor, her kidney doctor, tomorrow. I hear she has to have another test done that isn't so pleasant. Poor, Belle. She got sick tonight and threw up all over Mommy and herself while Mommy was reading her a bedtime story. Course, that's what she gets for drinking dirty bath water. Mommy keeps telling her to quit, but she doesn't listen!

Rolling over

Raspberries

not only can I roll over from my tummy to my back and my back to my tummy, but I can do this...

Let's goooo Mountaineers!

We're glad the Mountaineers won today against Seton Hall, but we're happier that Daddy was home with us -- especially since we've been sick all week. He was at the Rutgers game when we came down with our colds. Lilly and I both had fevers, snotty noses and just generally didn't feel well. I have an ear infection. Lilly just has congestion. My congestion was in my chest so Dr. Rubin put me on albuterol. I have to go back for a check up on the 12th and then on Valentine's Day I have to go visit Dr. Chiang to see if I still have reflux in my right kidney. It's a busy time visiting the doctors. I heard Grandpa Bott and Great Grandpa Bott had to visit the doctor a lot recently too. I hope they feel better. We're going to visit them in Morgantown next weekend. I have a special birthday present for Great Grandpa Bott. We can't wait to see them, Grandma, Aunt Sara and our new second cousin -- Kadence Whitehair.

First food

Lilly

Mommy was so tired of me not sleeping through the night that she decided I might be hungry. The answer? Let's try solid foods. So they gave me my first taste of rice cereal. Unfortunately, the tongue reflex is still there so I didn't eat the food easily. Most of it ended back out on my bib and chin. I haven't been feeling so great, which has affected my appetite and sleeping patterns. Belle and I both had to visit Dr. Rubin on Thursday. At first, he thought we had RSV, but a test confirmed that we didn't. I had to endure pain on behalf of Belle. The lab technician stuck a swab up my nose and left it for a minute. I was not happy about that. I don't know why Belle couldn't undergo the test, instead of me!

Belle

Well, I got sick again! Good news, I think this has finally convinced Mommy and Daddy that maybe daycare isn't the best option right now. I don't think they would mind so much that I'm sick, but I gave it to Lilly this time. It's hard not to share germs, when we have to share toys and well, I occasionally take Lilly's pacifier, or blanket or wipe my slobbery hands on her face! I have enjoyed playing with her more though. As you can see from the photo, I even occasionally hold her. I wasn't too happy about sharing bath time with her recently. Mommy held Lilly in the tub and we took a bath together. I prefer Lilly to have her own bath in her tub as to not interrupt my play time.