learning to share

We are trying to learn to share at the Cellon house. Not working so well at this point :)
Taylor says "will I ever be able to use that tablet?"

Thankful

On this rainy, dreary day I am so overwhelmed with thankfulness. My husband goes to work every day whether he is sick, tired, lonely, cold, wet, etc. He goes and provides not only for our family, but for our country. He has done and will do things that I can't even know about. He has gone days and weeks without showers. Days without food. He has been hotter then I have ever been and colder then I ever can imagine. He has seen things that my eyes will never know. He has been to war and back, war and back and now is preparing to go again. He gives all that he has to his God, his family and his country. He does this all, not expecting anything in return. Most people don't even realize (and some of it is of course "top secret" that I don't even know!) the sacrifices that he makes on a daily basis to defend our freedom. The sacrifices that sometimes our family endures together. I am proud to be able to support him and stand with him as he makes sure our country stays free and safe. Thank you Blair. Thank you all veterans and families. We know what you go through and the pain endured. THANK YOU!

Rolling, Rolling, Rolling...

Miss Taylor is very close to crawling and continues to roll all over. This is her rolling into the kitchen - Bailey and I were eating breakfast and I think she was just lonely!
Bailey excited to see Taylor join us. (She wanted to wear the hat on our 7:45am walk) :)

Mommy's Helper

Above is Miss Bailey looking like she is in trouble....because she was! She had been "helping" me in the kitchen EVERY time I go in there....and she has even started to "help" when I am not in there. I found her like this the other day. Please take note that these are GLASS spice jars and she was STACKING them. Oh boy oh boy.

How could you stay mad with this happy face though? We quickly replaced the glass jars with plastic ones and she played away.
My big girl Taylor loving sitting up and reaching for things.

Say CHEESE! The girls just love their daddy.

Elmo Pumpkin

Bailey picked out a good pumpkin when we went to Mike's Farm a week or so ago (forgot camera for that event :(). On Halloween, we asked Bailey what she wanted to carve and she said, "Elmo!". So, Daddy was put to work (trust me when I say you do not want me drawing anything put stick figures).
Yea! So proud of my pumpkin!
Daddy's girls
Ever tried to take a pic with your kids and they so wouldn't cooperate? We had lots of fun though!

Halloween fun and Taylor update

For Halloween, we went to an 80's themed Party for our SS Class. Everyone looked awesome! Blair and I didn't really join in the "dressing up", but it made me make a goal to put some effort into it for next year :).

This is Gracie and Emma
Taylor the bunny :)
Isn't her tail just he cutest thing?
On another note, Taylor has not been doing well on the Elecare either. Her reflux (which she didn't have breastfeeding) and rashes have been worse. SO, after 5 days of formula, I have gone back to breastfeeding. So far, she is doing well. It is such a quandry to know what is best for each child. With Bailey, her reflux/rash was almost completely due to food allergies. (overall, 50 %of ecsema is caused by some type of allergy). With Taylor, this doesn't seem to be the case after all. Her ecsema is bad no matter what we do (so bad that every nurse, doctor who sees her is like, "oh my, what is this?" ;)). SO, the next plan is for me to breastfeed without limiting my diet and see how she does. I am so glad that we tried the formula though, even if unsuccessful, b/c it allowed me to know that her rash is most likely not caused by food. Now I just keep praying for her poor little skin. We constantly lube her down and have to put cortisone cream on her 1x/day. I would love to not be able to use the cortisone, but she wakes up like every 2 hours if I don't just a scratching herself silly. Sorry for those that don't want to know all this info. Who knew feeding babies could be so dang stressful!

Allergic to an anti-allergenic formula!?

Well folks, I knew my kids were special, but this takes the cake. We put Taylor on Neocate with DHA and ARA in hopes that she would tolerate it well. It is an amino acid based formula that you get mainly through prescription (at around $60/can). She was on this for 48 hours and was just more fussy and her rashes were really getting worse with each bottle she took. I finally gave up last night and switched her to what Bailey was on (Elecare). Similar formula, but it has no DHA and ARA or coconut oil in it. Taylor is doing much better and even slept through the night last night without having to eat! I pray that this is the answer to her problems :). I think it is crazy that I have 2 highly allergic kids, but am thankful that overall they are healthy and can grow and thrive on these formulas.

Weaning due to Food Allergies....

Following in her big sister's footsteps, it has been determined that no matter what I avoid, Taylor is allergic to something in my breastmilk. Her eczema is so bad that the pediatrician was really worried at her appointment (at to be honest, she was having a GOOD day as far as her skin goes, ha!). We have decided to do a trial month of Neocate (a prescription formula especially for extra, extra sensitive children like mine who have multiple food allergies). I was worried b/c Bailey had such a hard time transitioning from breastmilk (which is sweet) to her prescription formula (which smelled like dirty sweat socks). I just gave Taylor her first 2 oz bottle and she took it fairly well! YEAH! Such an answer to prayer.

I HATE giving up on breastfeeding. I LOVE the idea that I may once again soon be able to eat anything with egg, milk, cheese, and soy in it. Pizza anyone? Dessert? Starbucks? Cream Cheese? Mayo? Yummy! But, I would happily continue on this strict elimination diet if Taylor was doing well. She is not and that brings us to where we are. I have made sure to enjoy every nursing we have had the last 2 days as I knew our time was coming to a close. This probably will be our last child, and thus my last nursing experience. I never knew it was such an emotional bond between your child and you. My body kept my baby alive for 6 months! How amazing is that :). I WISH we did not struggle with food allergies and am secretly jealous of other Mother's who are able to breastfeed without paying attention to EVERY single crumb that goes into their mouths.

I am proud of myself and try to think of all that I have accomplished rather then what I will not be able to (my goal was always to breastfeed for one year). For ONE YEAR total of my life I have been EGG and MILK free. Wow. I don't know many others who have had to do that ;). So, I am thankful to God for this experience and closing this chapter with tears in my eyes, but am also thankful their is a prescription formula that will heal my baby of her issues.

Taylor 6 months

Taylor Annaleigh Cellon is 6 months old today! We had her Well Child Visit today and these are her stats:
wt-16.8 lbs
length- 25in
head- 41.9cm.
As far as I can tell, these are all in the 50% range! She seems longer and leaner then Bailey was, but I guess she just carries it well :). This is when Bailey's head got HUGE-and has since stayed in the 99% arena. I guess Taylor lucked out with a littler noggin.

This is how I found her today after we got home! She will be getting in trouble very, very, very soon :)

At 6 months Taylor you are:
-rolling literally all over the downstairs. You just started sitting up well, but still fall often. You prefer to be rolling around so you can "get to things".
-sleep all swaddled with socks on your hands so you don't scratch yourself. You sleep 7:30-6:3oish waking up around 4:30 to eat.
-you take a short morning nap, 2 hr afternoon nap (most days) and a very short late afternoon nap most days.
- Still are nursing, however after the appointment with the pediatrician, we are going to start you on prescription formula. Mom can't figure out all you are allergic too and your ecsema is driving all of us crazy (it cleared up when Mommy wasn't eating for 2 days!). You don't let it slow you down much, you just itch and scratch as you go along :(.
-started on pears and squash with not much success. Pediatrician said to wait a month or two to restart due to all the food allergy issues.
-Are starting to make some sounds such as da na la
-Is a joy to be around- I just love cuddling you and stroking your fuzzy little head. I wish in one way you could stay this small forever, but know that I will love you in each stage of your life.
-LOVE your big sister- you have started pulling her hair!
-are beginning to get a little more hair (lt brown) and your eyes are just like your daddy's- brown as brown can be :)

Sneak Peak

Guess who is going to be a bunny this year?
My sweet Taylor!

We have a SS costume party to all go to on Friday- the adults are coming "80's themed". I have some ideas in the back of my head- it will be fun to see what Blair and I come up with. I am also excited that Bailey will get to show off (isn't that a Godly principle to instill in your children ;) to her friends at the drop in daycare on base for a few hours tomorrow when I take Taylor to her 6 month well child appointment. I'm sure she will have the bestest costume there! HA!

Cold vs. Hot

The weather around here has been pretty wacky lately. Last week it was high of like 50 one day and then a few days later it approached 80. We are trying to enjoy wearing our summer clothes "one last time" and pulling our winter layers out "for the first time" . Here are some pics of the lastest happenings. Above is Pete and Bailey looking at something (a bug?)

Here us Bailey "helping" Pete study in the tree house. I love that they have a special relationship- he has two daughters back home (4 and 2) with a son on the way early next year. I am sure he misses them greatly.My baby girl is starting to sit up!

Bailey's first sitting up experience in the same outfit at pretty much the exact same age.
Cutie pie
And..the cold day! All bundled up being silly inside
So happy..and bald...poor girl :)
Bailey sitting in the chair too! (she was only 4 months at this pic though)- so much bigger then Taylor-you can really see the chubbiness factor here ;)

Oh My Butterfly!

Grammie Cellon made Bailey a GORGEOUS fall festival (ie-Halloween)outfit to wear to our parties and such. It is so fancy and pretty. I could never even dream of creating something so wonderful for my girls. Thank you Grammie! Bailey LOVES it and has worn it all day since we got it in the mail. She also made Butterfly wings to match :)
Precious Butterfly Princess
Absolutely Adorable!
Taylor in amidst all the festivities- lifting her "weights" :)

CrockPot Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

I made this soup last week and loved it. I thought I would post it since it is VERY easy, VERY frugal and makes a TON. We served it with homemade bread machine honey butter rolls and I literally could eat this everyday now that it is cold outside. ENJOY :).

Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
Copyright 2007 Publications International, Ltd

3 cans (14 1/2ounce) chicken broth (I used homemade stock)
1 lb chicken thighs (can be frozen)
2 cups water
1 cup sliced celery
1 cup diced carrots
1pkg (6 oz) converted long grain and wild rice mix with seasoning packet (not quick or instant rice)
1/2 c. chopped onion
1/2tsp black pepper
1 T dried parsley flakes

1. combine all and put in large crockpot. mix well.
2. cover and cook on low 6-7 hours or high 4-5 hours until chicken is done and tender.
3. shred/ cut chicken and add back in.
4. serve with bread. Try this Peasant Bread for an easy, non-bread machine bread

This made enough for probably 12 servings. I froze a bunch when after a couple days I still had a huge bowl left.

Taylor on the move at 5 months

It is so fun to see Taylor explore her world. Bailey was much to fussy to be bothered with much exploring...she would rather sit and cry and wait until someone brought her the toy then go and get it (hence the not crawling until almost 10 months). Taylor, on the otherhand, started rolling over at 10 weeks and now is rolling all over the room to get places (Bailey not once rolled around the room like this). I have been on the floor with her for awhile catching up on some volunteer stuff and one minute later she was on the other side....
and then she was getting into the baskets! I think this is hilarious...at 5 months old! What in the world will happen when the girl can crawl?!?

Gator Family :)

Travis (my bro) took some pics of us when we were in Florida- here is the best one of the 4 of us!

On another note, boy are we glad we won that game yesterday. We did not watch it due to having a prior commitment outside the home, but we kept up with the score via the phone internet. Whew! I am almost glad we weren't watching.....it seemed like it was a nail biter.

Hope everyone has a great Sunday afternoon- we are bundled up and wearing multiple layers as it is like 44 degrees outside. I love fall!

My first big craft moment..

On the retreat this weekend one of our "crafts" was making a wreath. This is mine! I was so proud of myself, even if another friend made my bow for me and all the materials were already bought :). I went to Michaels and got the wreath hanger and was so overwhelmed going in there with all the stuff (they had 3 ROWS of Christmas stuff out already- I love Christmas, but goodness, it is barely fall!). I am sure some people find Michaels inspiring, but I am just confused when I go in there. Give me a huge clothing store and I can come up with some amazing deals though :). Speaking of, I went to Old Navy last night and scored a $1.99 nice shirt along with a few other great deals :).

Blair is sick still...he has been fighting something now off/on for a few weeks. This morning we all kinda lounged around. Bailey does everything in "2's". Notice the 2 blankies, 2 loveys. She has tried to put 2 paci's in (literally!), but wasn't satisfied with the result. Here is Jace and Bailey playing yesterday. Little Sydney had her 2 week check up appointment and is back up to her birth weight. She is such a cutie! Jace and Bailey are playing more and more "together". My favorite moments were when Bailey was playing with her ipod thingy and Jace and her were just dancing away! They also enjoyed fresh out of the oven honey butter rolls along with lots of running and squealing.

Grammie and Grandma outfits- thanks!

Thank you Grammie and Grandma for Bailey and Taylor's outfits today. There is a definite chill in the air! I changed out all of us 3 girls clothes for the winter. (well, I added my fall clothes- which I haven't worn in 3 years due to pregnancy, postpregnancy and pregnancy! to my closet). It is so exciting to bring those clothes that Bailey wore out for Taylor and those new clothes that were given to us for Bailey. I am so thankful they will be warm and cozy. We just need to get Bales some socks and shoes.... she has been wearing too small socks with crocs lately ;).

My girls
Sweet, sweet Taylor. I just want to eat her up...in a non-momma-eating-child-way ;)
My sassy princess. I feel she is following in her Momma's independent, bossy footsteps..... we have been very DILIGENT in our discipline lately in this house. Time out is a frequent happening. We try and mix it up with some fun as well :)

Harvest Time!

I had the pleasure on going on a Women's retreat this weekend in Emerald Isle, NC (about 45min away). I was able to take Taylor due to the whole nursing thing and we had a blast! Blair kept Bailey and they had fun as well. Blair told me they went out to eat in Wilmington, went to the USS North Carolina and pretended Nemo was in the water, and went to church this morning. This was the first time Blair had kept one of the girls overnight by himself and he did very well! I came home to a happy 2 year old all dressed up pretty for church with her hair done and everything :). The them for the retreat was Gal. 6:6-9