Snowy Fun

We got a couple of inches of snow late Monday evening/early Tuesday morning.

Of course Olivia wanted to go out in it as soon as she found out about it.

Michael actually stayed home from work (because I had a staph infection on my leg that had to be drained in the ER in the middle of the night--grrrr!).  So he was able to take her out to play.  Poor buddy wanted to join the fun!

Michael was just finishing up the shoveling by the time Olivia got bundled up and headed out.  I'm not sure if you can tell, but she is pushing her lawn mower to "help" shovel. :)

It wasn't really packing snow (again!), but we had bought a cheap sled to use.  There is an area between our house and our neighbors in the back that is a slight "hill".  Michael made her a track.

A little blurry, but you can see the "hill".  It was perfect size for Olivia.

We took bubby's 11 month pictures while they were out there.  Then it was back to watching them.

She had a blast outside!  She's been begging to spray the snow with colored water like last time.  She we scrounged up some bottles and they played with them for a bit (the pictures didn't turn out).  They came in soon after and got all cuddly and warm on the couch! Yay for snow days and an awesome daddy who takes kids out to play! :)

Healthy Habits

We were exposed to a LOT of germs in the month of December.  We traveled to Indiana twice and both times there were people in our direct contact that were sick--both the flu and colds.  The entire family that I babysit for came down with the flu, including the grandparents.  Laurie babysat for our birthday date and texted half way in that she had a fever.  Plus, we got an email from Olivia's preschool that there were multiple illnesses reported, including strep and the flu.

Through it all, we remained healthy.

Admittedly, Michael and I both have pretty good immune systems. Thankfully, our children seem to have followed suit.  But we also do things to prevent illness.  This was the approach of our pediatrician in Texas, and we have been doing these things for three and a half years now with great success.

I mentioned before that I was going to post about it, but I don't think I ever did.  So here you go.

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I am a HUGE believer in Elderberry.  It was recommended to us by Olivia's pediatrician as an immune booster.  It is sort of expensive, so I generally give it to her on days that I know she might be exposed to germy kids.  So while in Texas she got it on MOPS and Little Gym days.  She gets it on Preschool days now.  Or on days where she was exposed to a sick person.  She loves taking it, and takes it herself.  She asks for it regularly.  She takes 1 tsp a few times a week.  If she does start to get a runny nose or sniffle or anything even remotely close to a cold, I load her up with 2 teaspoons a day.  Multiple times now it has kicked the symptom within 24 hours and didn't move into a full blown cold.

Because of our success with her, Michael and I have started taking it as well.  We take the pills (also ordered from Amazon) because they are cheaper.  You can make your own elderberry, but I haven't gotten that crazy yet. ;)  Some elderberry (mostly homemade) has local honey in it, so obviously don't give that to a child under the age of 1.

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It was also recommended to us to give Vitamin D3 drops as an immune booster during cold and flu season.  The bottle tells you how many drops to give.  Olivia gets 8 drops in her mouth and Logan gets 6.  It is berry flavored and they both love it.  This is less expensive, so I try to do this every day.  I was also told a while back that I had a Vitamin D deficiency and to take Vitamin D3 supplements.  I take little gel caps and give them to Michael to take when I remember.

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Both our Texas pediatrician and our Ohio pediatrician have emphasized just how important probiotics are.  Getting probiotics from food that naturally have them is best.  Unfortunately, my kids aren't going to eat sour kraut or drink fermented tea. :)  I do try to give them both a yogurt daily when possible, but I also supplement with a powder probiotic.  Right now Logan is using an infant one that was purchased directly from our pediatricians office, but once that is gone both kids will be using the same one.  I just mix it in applesauce or put it in a drink for Olivia and Logan gets his in his bottle.

Olivia also takes a regular multi vitamin every day.  We need to get Logan one, but haven't yet.

Those 3 things keep my kids as healthy as we can be.  Sickness happens.  Immunity needs to be built.  I understand that.  But we don't need to have a constant runny nose or hacking lung for the entire fall and winter season.

Olivia has been to the doctor twice for a sick visit.  Once was when she had strep and the other when she had a staph infection.  Neither of which could be prevented by vaccines or oils or natural remedies.  Other than that, she has been relatively healthy.  She's never had an ear infection (no milk for three years?), and very rarely gets a cold.

Logan hasn't had a sick visit yet.  I'd like to keep it that way for as long as possible.

I've already turned a few other people into elderberry believers (right, Laurie?), so I thought I'd share for anyone else who may be looking to keep their family (or themselves) as healthy as can be.

11 Months--Logan

Logan Michael, you are ELEVEN months old!

The ONLY lying down pic I could get

What have you been up to?

*Well, for starters you were NOT interested in taking pictures this time around.  Thankfully I was still able to get a few good ones, but it was a battle of the wills for sure.  (This is a copy and paste of the first sentence of your sister's 11 month post.  You two...)

*Your stats have remained mostly the same this month.  You are still in size 9 month clothes, size 12 pajamas, and size 4 diapers.  You also eat and sleep on the same schedule you have been on.

*What has changed are some of your motor skills.  You are cruising around like a pro now.  You can also walk pretty well when using your push walker.

*You can stand by yourself for extended periods of time, too.  You don't stand yourself up in the middle of the room, but you let go when holding on to something.

*You are also a climber! You climb up on anything you can.  This is new territory for us.  Good thing all of the dressers and book shelves are bolted to the wall!

*You also like to get yourself into tight spaces.  You have mastered the army crawl, of sorts.  You put your head down and lead with it by dragging it on the floor.  You will crawl under or through anything you can.  We always think your head is going to get stuck, but you generally manage to get your way through!  It's quite impressive.

*You love music.  You dance or bob your head like Stevie Wonder.  :)  I won't be surprised if you play the drums some day.  You seem to enjoy drumming/banging.

*Your favorite thing to do is to get into and (attempt to) play with the things you are not suppose to--wires, remotes, phones.  You are just like your Boppa.  You love wires and electronics!!

This is how much of the photo shoot went.

*We are working on high fives and waving bye bye, but you aren't too interested.

*You don't give kisses yet, but if we ask for one you make the smacking sound with your lips. :)

*Your first official word is Boppa.  I can't believe you betrayed me. ;)  You do say Mama, but it's not very consistent.  You definitely associate the word Boppa with your daddy, so I think that is the winner.

*You have started mimicking our words to a certain degree.  I was telling you to say "bye bye Boppa" the other day and you repeated it multiple times.

*We don't use too many signs, but I do try to reinforce "more" since the alternative is you screaming at me for another bite.  You do it sometimes, but sometimes you resort to yelling.

*You love to eat. You can be a little picky though, and definitely very messy when self fed.  One of your favorite foods is a banana.  One of your least favorite foods are carrots.

*You have 7 teeth and that 8th tooth will be popping through any day now!

*You shake your head no when you know you are doing something you are not suppose to.

*You have a LOT to say and you usually say it at a volume that is a little too loud for your Boppa. :)

*You absolutely LOVE bath time or any time you can play in the water.  If the water in the tub gets turned on you get very, very excited.  You love to splash.  I think you will be our water baby!

*You are still mommy's boy.  You want a lot of attention from me.  You cry when I have to put you down or leave the room.  Hopefully we are coming to the end of this stage.

*At the same time, you adore your Boppa.  You light up when he walks in the door.  He is ready to move on from playing princesses with your sister to cars, trucks, trains (or whatever) with you!

*You have a sensitive spirit.  If Boppa says your name too loudly (to get your attention while eating) you get the quiver lip and start to cry.

*If in the right mood you can play with your toys independently for a good amount of time.  I just think you look so cute when you are sitting on the ground entertaining yourself.

I tried to go back to get a good picture on his chair and this is what happened...

*You seem to be fearless.  We have to keep our eyes on you!  You would climb down the stairs head first if we let you.  You attempt to stand up on your changing table every chance you get.  You aren't afraid of much.

*You really like your sister--even though she smothers you and isn't always nice.  You two are starting to play together more, which is fun.

So that was the end of the photo shoot.

*We have been working on the sippy cup thing.  You are doing pretty good, but still need to be reminded to tip it up.  My goal is to move from bottles to sippy cups at 1 year, so we have a month to master it. ;)

*You really are hilarious.  And you know it.  You keep us laughing and you haven't even started talking yet.  I think you are going to be just like your daddy--class clown with a good sense of humor.

HAPPY ELEVEN MONTHS, BUBBY!

WE LOVE YOU!

Christmas with Family

After our morning of Christmas fun, we headed over to Michael's grandma's house for lunch.  Olivia couldn't wait to open presents!

Michael's grandma puts little baggies/stockings on the tree.  We pick numbers and then choose a stocking off the tree.  Each stocking has money in it.  The little kids got their own little money holders.  Olivia was proud of her $10!

Michael's cousins decided not to exchange gifts between the adults, but rather to buy for the kids.

The kids played with their toys and colored during the afternoon.

After most of the people left it was time for round 2!  Logan and Olivia got to open presents from their grandma!!

Don't mind the marker on Logan's cheek... he got a cap off of a marker (and has done it at home multiple times since. ugh!)

On Friday we loaded up after lunch and headed to Ft. Wayne where most of my mom's side of the family lives.  We met my cousin Erica and her kids at a play place on Friday night.

Then on Saturday we headed to my mom's house for the family Christmas.

The kids got to open even more presents...

and eat a bunch of junk food. (Olivia anyway)

Logan crawled around playing, attempted to climb the stairs every chance he got, and avoided being held by anyone that wasn't mommy or daddy.

Olivia got to play with my cousin's kids.

We always stay with my grandma when we go back.  Olivia has grown to really like going to Gigi's house.  (She use to be more stand-offish, but now Logan takes that role.)

Logan still keeps his distance, but I'm sure it won't be long before he warms up to it all and is asking to go to Gigi's house too.

That sums up our Christmas.  We are back in town.  Michael is back to work.  The Christmas decorations are down and put away.  Now we just have to find a place for all of these toys!!

Christmas Morning

Because of Logan's morning nap and trying to get ready, packed up, and out of the house for lunch across town--we had to wake Olivia up on Christmas morning to do gifts.  She hates getting woken up, but eventually decided to come down and check things out.  The first thing she did was take the phone off Logan's Santa toy, grabbed an Ariel toy from her stocking, and then assessed the cookies.

We had to point out her Santa gift, but she was pretty happy to have gotten what she asked for PLUS a new princess doll on each bed!

Logan went right towards his Santa gift.  He walks really well with it, too. I think it is his favorite gift.

Logan got Olivia a Barbie car.

And Olivia got Logan a toy smart phone

Each year Olivia gets a Disney movie to add to her collection.  This year she got Sleeping Beauty, which she has been asking to watch for weeks.  She was very excited.  Logan is going to get Pixar movies and he got Cars this year.  They also both their ornament.

I think they had a good morning.  After all the presents were opened we went upstairs for a yummy breakfast.  Logan went to bed for his nap and Olivia got to watch Sleeping Beauty.  Then it was off to the first of two family Christmases.  More to come.