Getting Ready for Denver

We are finally realizing that we leave for Denver in a couple days.  Every day kind of runs into the next for us so the trip snuck up on us.  We are excited to see everyone!!

We are not so excited about getting ready nor are we looking forward to airport travel with the two little ones.  It's so much work to just travel as adults, we are a little stressed about doing it with two babies.  I think we're going to ask for special screening because I can't imagine undressing myself to go through security, plus somehow manage to break down the stroller and carseats, while holding a baby.  I need to grow some extra arms before Tuesday!

We plan to pack everything tomorrow and then pack last minute stuff Monday night.  We will also clean on Monday.  Caren has kindly agreed to take us to the airport and then pick us up when we come back.  It saves us about $20 a day in parking fees, so it's a big help!

I took the kids out by myself again today.  I have to tell you, it is a ton of work!!  Getting in and out of the car takes awhile and is incredibly exhausting.  This is only the second time I've done it by myself and it was easier this time, so I hope each time gets even easier.

I took them to the mall so I could go to Children's Place.  I bought some really cute outfits for family pictures.  (Che is taking them while we're in town.)  I can't wait to see what they will look like!!  I also went to Target to get some baby stuff.

Charlotte used to yell for a few minutes before falling asleep.  For the last week she has started all out crying and it's lasting about 20 min.  She doesn't cry for the entire 20 min, but we still can't take it.  Neither one of us agree with cry it out (see my last blog post on CIO), until maybe they are like 13 and slam the door and cry.  It just feels cruel when the only way they can communicate is through their cry.  We are all for teaching them how to soothe themselves, though, so that they don't rely on us to do it for them.

Well, intermittent soothing from us (back rubbing, talking, singing, etc.) seems to make her more hysterical and more food, a diaper change, or other soothers (lovey, musical toy, blanket, etc) don't seem to help.  So, I bought her a new aquarium crib soother.  It has a soft light, nice music, and little fishes that swim across the screen.  It made me sleepy looking at it in the store.  We've used it for one nap and for bedtime and no more crying!!  I think we've helped her find something to soothe herself.  It feels so much better to not have to hear her little cries.

Charlotte is also catching onto finger foods.  We gave her some pieces of chicken breast tonight and she loved it.  She hasn't figured out 'pinching' with her thumb and forefinger yet, so she puts everything in her fist.  I love her little chewing motions and how she picks things up and then scrapes her fingers in her mouth to get it off her hands and into her mouth.  She also likes to eat directly from the bowl of pureed food and is losing patience for the spoon.  Tonight I let her pick the carrot puree up with her fingers/hand and then lick it off.  She loved getting messy and having the independence.  We both were messy, but we had fun. 

She has almost figured out the sippy cup too.  She doesn't bite on it as much and instead will close her lips around the sipper to drink.  She loves the half apple juice/water and the water with a touch of lemonade in it.

The kids are really starting to interact with each other now that Cooper rolls over more.  Every time they make eye contact they smile or laugh at each other.  Here are some good ones of them playing today.

The hand is coming down...

Whap!  Right on his face.  He's still smiling.

Here it goes again:

And just as she's about to touch him, he really starts laughing.

"Roarrrr!"

So cute.  I'll post some video on the next post.