Two months

Charlotte turned two months old on Thursday and I just finished updating the video/slide show I posted for her one month birthday.  Here's the updated version!

Smile!

I haven't been very good about keeping the blog updated with pictures of our girls, but Charlotte is on the tail end of being a little sick girl!  She had a little cold for a while and after spending last Saturday night screaming for hours on end, we decided a trip to the pediatrician was in order on Sunday morning (thank you for "on call" hours).  She was diagnosed with her first ear infection and a stomach virus.  She seems to be doing much better now and hopefully as she gets to the end of her antibiotic, she'll continue to improve.  At the appointment she weighed 10 lbs., 10 ozs, so she's growing pretty well in spite of the illnesses.  

In happier news, she rolled over for the first time from her tummy to her back on Tuesday!  We haven't had a repeat performance yet, but I'll keep you posted.  She is also starting to stay awake for longer periods of time and becoming more and more alert.  Jeff calls this the "blob" stage and I think she's slowly emerging from it!  

Caroline is doing well.  She has been on a puzzle kick lately and she has gotten to be really good at doing puzzles that are pretty difficult (in my opinion at least for a 3 year old).  There is a United States puzzle that she got for Christmas that she loves.  She wants us to tell her the names of the states as she finds their proper place and also tell her someone who lives in each state (I don't know people in every state, so this can be a chore).  Puzzles were one of my favorite things to do when I was younger and I really enjoy helping Caroline with her new-found pastime.  

I have to go back to work in a little over a week, so my time alone with Charlotte is getting short!  I do miss the people I work with, but I'm not quite sure how leaving my baby for at least part of each day is going to go.  I'm thinking there will be a few tearful days at the office at first. 

 

Answered questions

Are the producers of Lost having mercy on us for all of the confusion of the end of last season that they are actually starting to answer some questions and not merely raise more?  Things are far from clear, but they certainly made some connections.  I was so intent on the story line last night that I almost didn't realize until the end of last night's episode that we didn't see the Oceanic 6 at all.  

As for answered questions, I guess we know now why Richard Alpert visited Locke when he was a young boy; Locke told him to.   Charles Widmore is far more involved in the Island and it's crazy time travel tendencies than was apparent at first.  He was an Other at some point, how they/he got there is still not clear, but he once lived there, and he was the one behind Daniel's research.  Daniel is definitely far more than a meek scientist.  He had some pretty dangerous research going on and wasn't afraid to try it out on a human who is apparently now very sick.  Oh, and he recognized the woman on the Island who brought him to the bomb ("Ellie" I think), is that his mom (I'm thinking Mrs. Hawking has to be his mom, right?)?  The H Bomb and the freakish tendencies of the Island are somehow tied together (the H Bomb needs to be buried and last episode we saw the Dharma people almost tap into something radioactive when mining underground).  

I loved seeing Desmond stand up to Charles Widmore.  I thought it was interesting that Widmore didn't like that Desmond was possibly involving Penny in the mix with Daniel's mother.  

Still lots of unanswered questions, but I like the feeling that I was actually making some connections during last night's episode.  

Flashback Friday: This makes me giggle

The year must have been either 1985 or 1986 because that is the school year that I was in the third grade at Westminster Elementary School (Mrs. Holden's class).  Why do I know I was in the third grade?  Well, the third grade is the year my mom allowed my hair to be cut in the hideous bowled cut you see below and also allowed me to choose these stylish glasses.  Banner year for Ashley!  I have not forgiven her yet.  

My cousins and my brother and I are on Alicia's bed at her house, apparently all really excited about eating M&M's.  As a side note, the trip to the "Pack A Sack" (as we called it, in actuality it was probably a 7 Eleven in those days) was definitely a high light to any summer day, so the excitement could very well be about the trip to the convenience store to purchase those M&M's.  I am sporting the hairstyle horror for children of the 80's and, obviously, no shorts under that blue jean skirt.  Where was mom?  Drew is looking nonplussed about being the only boy and I think just to accentuate his "boyness", he is wearing the vest to his leather fringed cowboy outfit (I wish he was wearing the chaps that go along with it).  Erin (far left) is trying to crowd me out apparently, and Alicia is just enjoying her candy with her legs crossed like a real lady.  

We spent a lot of time with our cousins growing up; I have many really good memories of our time together.  This picture makes me laugh and cringe all at once; I love that it captures just a regular day of the four of us laughing and being kids together (speaking for myself, not the most fashionable kid).  M&M's still make me pretty happy, and it is good to remember that often it is the small things in life that make our lives joyful.  

Jump to some other Flashbacks here.  

When am I?

Oh my.  A lot of questions were answered and many more asked on the Lost premiere last night.  I don't know how you could even begin to explain or analyze it all.  Jeff sat down to watch it with me last night and he is not a big Lost fan.  He used to hate the show and now he's come around.  A little.  He will watch it, but this is a show you have to really pay attention to and keep up with each week.  He started asking questions like, "so how did those people get off of the island?"  and "what's the deal with the flashing light?"  It was then I realize that you cannot explain this show, it can't really be done, you have to actually watch it to get it all.  

So, with that being said, I have to give my take on last night's episodes.  There is no longer any doubt that the island and all of it's mystery and weirdness have something to do with time travel.  I think that was pretty certain by the end of last season, but now there is no doubt.  The island is tripping and hopping around in time.  One minute they are at the blown up hatch (=future) and the next minute they are at the hatch covered in brush, occupied by Desmond (=past).  I'm not sure of the full extent of Daniel Faraday's role, but he creeps me out sometimes.  I'm wondering if Desmond heard him say his mother's name or if Daniel made the time jump before he could get it out.  That's obviously what it looked like last night, but it also looks like Desmond is headed to Oxford to find her, so we'll see.   As for Charlotte, her intentions have always seemed a little suspect to me, but looks like she'll be needing to find her "constant".  Daniel didn't say anything to her about that though and last season he helped the Losties find their constants so that their brains didn't explode.  I'm wondering what the Daniel/Charlotte connection will be, I don't get the sense that it's romantic.  

Let me just say:  I love Hurley.  The producers said that he is the heart of the show and after last night I totally agree.  He just wants to do the right thing.  And it was the sweetest moment in my Lost recollection when his mom said, "I believe you."  I teared up; it is so rare to get that kind of moment on this show.  Oh, and I also had a baby seven weeks ago, so maybe it was hormonal, but it really was a sweet moment.  Ben's interaction with Hurley almost made me not dislike him.  Almost.  They are showing a human, caring side of Ben though, which is new and interesting.  I'm not sure how he's going to swing getting the Oceanic 6 back in 70 hours (wasn't that what the white haired lady said?).  They are all in L.A. though (aren't they?). 

On Kate.  The lawyer coming to her house freaked me out.  I don't want anything to happen to Aaron.  And wasn't that the dad from "My So-Called Life"?  In any event, looks like Kate is ready to head somewhere, perhaps she doesn't know yet that it is back to the island.  I also can't get away from all of the Biblical and religious allusions the show has, so I'm wondering what part "Aaron" (read:  Moses' older brother who is his "voice") will play in this, if any.  Maybe I'm looking for too much there.  There was definitely something less than friendly going on with Sun when they met up at the hotel.  I'll be anxious to see how that plays out.  Oh, and Jin is definitely NOT DEAD.  

John Locke is obviously finding out what always made him "special".  I'm not sure this is how he thought that would play out, but there you have it.  His interactions with Richard were interesting.  I wonder what role the island time hopping has on Richard, who obviously hasn't aged in 60 years or so.  Does it kill him?  Move him?  On another John note, did they ever explain why they are also calling John "Bentham" (sp?)?  

So much more to the show, but that's what stuck in my mind from last night.  Looking forward to next Wednesday!  

Here's a link to Shannon's Lost recap (always good).  

updates!

I thought this picture was a great way to start this post!  Gotta love that precious girl!  

I've been really bad about posting updates on Caroline and Charlotte, so I apologize! Jeff went out of town this past weekend and so our "normal" schedule was thrown away and I'm starting (starting) to get back on track. The girls are both doing well - nothing exciting to report (which can be a good thing). Charlotte has definitely changed a lot in the past few weeks. She looks less and less like a newborn and more like a semi-chubby baby. Regrettably, with those newborn looks, she's also lost that good sleeper trait that she had at first and has gone to being a not-so great sleeper much like her big sister. At least this is nothing new for me, I've done the crazy sleeping before (albeit three years ago) and it really doesn't last forever. Charlotte can count herself among a small group of people in this world who I will miss sleep for and still love them in the morning.  We'll go to Charlotte's 2 month check up next week and she'll get her first round of shots (no fun!), I'll be sure to update her stats then!

Caroline and Jeff went to the park in the evening a few days ago.  She loves the park; she's so brave, she climbs to the top of the "tower" you'll see in the third picture without any fear and comes back down (which for me would be the scariest part).  

Hope all is well!  

Doogie Houser, M.D.

Who else thought Doogie Houser was AWESOME?  He was a doctor!  He had a computer!  In his room!  At this point in my life I have only one question: where did the nickname "Doogie" come from? I've not come across another Douglas that goes by Doogie.

This is hysterical.

More pictures!

Amelia posted a bunch of great pictures from their visit on her blog.  Click the link to check them out.  

Our week

The other night when the BCS Championship game was on, we let Caroline sit with us for a while before bed time to watch part of the game.  She thinks every football game features LSU, so she kept saying, "Go Tigers!" or "L - S - U!"  We were trying to explain that the teams playing were Oklahoma and Florida.  She sat there for a while and then out of the blue said, "Who is Barack Obama?"  I told her that he was going to be our next president.  She replied, "What is the president?"  I tried explain that concept by telling her that he leads our country.  I couldn't get that sentence entirely out of my mouth when she interrupted saying, "Oh, yeah!  I see the alligators!"  So much for the civics lesson, she had spotted the Florida "Alligators" mascot.  

This morning I was checking my email on the computer while Charlotte slept in her swing and Caroline played with play-doh at the table.  Caroline came running into our room and grabbed my hand saying, "Come see!  I'm sharing!"  I was terrified that she had put play-doh in Charlotte's hands, so I hurried into the other room to find Charlotte's little legs covered in Caroline's green blankie.  Caroline was so proud of herself; she said, "Look, I'm sharing green blankie with Charlotte.  She needs it."  If you have ever been to our house at nap time or bed time, you know that Green Blankie is very special to Caroline and she can't sleep without it.  She is usually pretty possessive with that blanket, so it spoke volumes that she wanted to share that special blanket with Charlotte.  I put some pictures below of the two of the girls after Caroline gave Charlotte the blanket.    

Jeff and Caroline at the pier at the LSU lakes on Saturday.  

Caroline, Charlotte, and green blankie

Charlotte looks like she really appreciates the gesture!  

Hope all is well!  

Lately

Life since Christmas has been busy and good!  We've had time with family and friends, and quiet (it's all relative, right?) time at home.  Drew and Amelia were here for a few days and it was a great visit.  We miss them already and while their visits are such a joy to us, they remind us that we wish lived closer to one another - a couple of visits a year just aren't enough!  

Caroline has mastered the big girl bike and no day is complete without a bike ride.  Jeff took her out to LSU the other day and they literally rode for two hours (5 miles??).  She loves it. 

 

Charlotte is doing well too, she still eats like a champ and is sleeping pretty well too (you can't fault a five week old for having a few sleepless hours every now and again).  I'll be anxious to see how much she's grown when we go for her two month check up.  

I think Jeff and I will have our first grown ups only date night on Friday and I'm looking forward to that.  When I talk about parts of my life that don't involve taking care of a baby or a toddler I always say, "I need to be a person."  And I don't mean that in a derogatory way about being a mother, because genuinely nothing gives me more joy - but I need to remember that there are other parts to my life as well.  Hopefully Friday will help bring me back to personhood!