Week 7 and 8: Two under 2

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Pictures! Anna at 17 months and Izzy at 2 months

I didn't think having 2 kids would busy, but from the time we get up to the time we go to bed we're on the move! Since I do these in weeks, I should probably go in chronological order.

The weekend before I went back to work, I decided to try rock climbing at Calvin's new rock wall. I'd never done it before and I usually play it safe and not try those kinds of things. But Alex and Gary talked me in to it, so up I went. I went up about 3/4 of the way and knew that was enough for that day. It was quite intimidating, but I'd try it again. :)

Monday ended my maternity leave, so I made the trek back out to Spring Lake once again. So far, it's been going well in terms of all of us getting out the door with all 7 bags, yes 7. One for Anna, one for Izzy, my purse, my lunch bag, a personal bag, Gary's lunch bag and sometimes a plastic bag or backpack for Gary. That doesn't include a possible doll or blanket that Anna bring with her. I think we've got it down for now. Mornings go as follows: wake up between 5:30 and 6, Gary feeds Izzy while I start getting ready, then we both get ready, wake up Anna, Gary gets Anna ready, I get Izzy ready and finish up myself, Gary brings Anna down to have her "pre-breakfast" of milk and Cheerios he fills lunch bags, I bring Izzy down with any other paraphenalia from upstairs and help finish getting everything ready, finally we usually all walk out the door between 7:10-7:15. Not too shabby for the Tidd's who love to sleep. :)

Izzy's doing great! We had a little scare last week with some blood in her stool, but it ended up being a tear due to her bowel movements changing with having more formula. I'm sure you all wanted to know, but it's what happened. :) So I got that phone call before lunch. Then just before the end of the work day, I get another call from daycare about Anna having a 103 temp. So the next morning, Izzy went in to the doctor, all was good and Anna had a fever due to teething. So she spent the day with Grandpa that day. We found out that Izzy is already 10 pounds 2 ounces. She eats all the time! Anna didn't get to that weight until about 15 weeks and Izzy wasn't quite 9 yet. Can they be anymore different!?

With the temp, I stuck my finger in Anna's mouth to see what else was coming in. Well, we thought it was just 2 molars and the bottom two 2nd teeth. Come to find out, it's all 4 molars and the bottom teeth. No wonder! It took about a day and a half of Tylenol and Motrin to finally break the fever. And let me tell you, she's a joy to be around! Oye. Hehe. It's just a phase.... it's just a phase.... :) On a happier note with Anna, she's really come into her own in the last couple weeks. She will try saying just about anything we ask her to. She says "no" - I know, not good, "door", "kitty", "get down" which sounds more like "gee...doooo", she knows how to make the kitty sound and eats really well with a fork and spoon. She's still a sweetheart of a little girl giving hugs and kisses to us and her sister, she's just going through a rough patch with all these teeth invading her mouth. Poor girl.

Our basement is fully drywalled! It's feeling more and more like a room we'd all spend time in together. Now on to mudding, taping and painting! That was a major project getting to this point. Gary did a lot of wiring to account for his networking and cable needs....err....wants. :) He's very proud of it and it's what he's wanted to do for so long. I know we'll all enjoy it! Our next big project of the week is my craft show this weekend. My friend Jenn and I have collaborated our talents and created Blossom Studios, a photographer and design business. We'll be debuting it this weekend at our church, Fairhaven Ministries, hopefully booking sessions and selling some gifts! If you're in the west Michigan area, it's this Saturday, March 21 from 9-3 in the gym. Come and visit!

Otherwise we're all surviving and so excited that spring is pretty much here! Now comes garage cleaning, veggie garden creating, flower planting and painting! Oh the endless projects. :)

I hope this finds all of you well and gearing up for spring!
Love,
Gary, Christie, Boog and Iz-meister