Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Chocolate

  • I thought I'd write this in here, it's kind of past tense, but I forgot about it and now remembered. On Christmas Eve Mica kept telling my Grandpa, his Great Grandpa to go downstairs with him. Mica was very persistent about my Grandpa needing to go downstairs with him. Finally about about the 5th time of asking, my Grandpa said, "Why do you want to go downstairs Mica?" Mica said, "To get some chocolate Grandpa Kent." The reason why it's so funny is because right in the next room there was a whole table full of cookies and chocolate set out for anyone to have.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Nakid Guitar

  • I was getting the boys ready for bath's last night. I had to run in to get Isaak's PJ's, and when I came back Mica had Isaak playing a guitar (I swear it wasn't staged). It was rather funny seeing a naked baby playing a guitar. In one he looks like he's singing and in another he's in motion. Mica looks like he's part of the Red Hot Chili Pepper's band.

Off to Work We Go!

  • This is what it looks like when it's time for us to go in the mornings. So much to remember! I run through a check list in my mind (Travis doesn't remember much). The list is: Diaper bag, pump bag, computer bag, daddy's lunch/water, mommy's lunch/water, mommy's purse, fresh milk for Isaak and Mica, baby food for Isaak and if needed diapers and milk cubes. Then it's the two crazy kids we have to pack into the car seats.

Mica Wanted to Play in the Snow

  • Mica wanted to play in the snow. He lasted 20 min. We just got him some snow boots, so he was excited to wear them.

Monday, December 29, 2008

Apel Side

  • We got these taken in the fall. I didn't post them because they were Travis' parent's Christmas present. Payton is Travis' sister (Laura's) son. Isaak is 4 months, Mica is 3 years and Payton is 4 years almost 5 years. There's about 1 1/2 years apart from Payton and Mica. They seem to play pretty well together.
  • Isaak was tired when we went to take the photo's, so I just got him to go to sleep.
  • They are at such hard ages to get a good photo. I think they turned out well.

The Apel Family

  • It's not the best photo of us, but it's not bad either. It's so hard getting both boys to smile. Isaak is 7 months and Mica turned 3 in Aug.

Christmas Magic

  • Mica's favorite gift received was what he got from my mom and dad (Grandma and Grandpa Spiehs). The Polar Express train that fits with all his Thomas stuff. He was so excited! He got it Christmas Eve, and woke up at 2:30 AM crying, saying, "I want to play with my Polar Express train Daddy".
  • Days before Mica found a ShopKo card (credit card size), and was caring it around saying that it was his magic ticket to get on the Polar Express train. He kept giving it to Travis to punch, and wanted to put it in his shoe for safe keeping. I went ahead and made him a "real looking" ticket. I realise that "Believe" wouldn't look like that backwards, but hay he's just a kid and won't know the difference.
  • Christmas morning Mica was surprised the cookie we left for Santa was gone, the fire place doors were left ajar and the top of the tree lights were fixed. He was overwhelmed with all the presents!
  • Mica is playing mostly with Isaak's gifts. They light up and have many sounds. He also plays with them a lot because many of them are left in the living room, and Mica's toys are kept in his room. I don't want Isaak putting small piece's in his mouth.
  • It's funny that Mica tattles on Isaak for playing with his toys, but it's perfectly fine for Mica to play with Isaak's toys. Hummm...something wrong with that picture.
  • Mica was scared of his peacock puppet at first, but now likes it. I thought that may be the case. That's how most kids are with puppets. Some of them look so real-and this one does!
  • Isaak of course liked the tissue paper in the mouth. He does like sitting up and playing with toys too. The boy is rocking back and forth on all 4's. Soon he'll be crawling. I give it another month, then he really be into his toys. He rolls around to get to another location.

Christmas Blues

  • Christmas went well, except that many more family members got Mica's stomach flew (Including Isaak and me). Daddy had it 3 or 4 days prior. I didn't eat as much junk as usual, which is good.
  • Isaak had many poops up the back that smelled like B.O. He had a head cold on top of the tummy issues. He was pretty fussy. I felt for him.
  • He's back to waking up a few times at night, but for good reason.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Dentist in 12 Months

  • Mica wouldn't open his mouth up for the dentist. We have to go back in 12 months. I think I'll go buy a few books on going to the dentist. I have ones on going to school and all other kinds of books, but none on going to the dentist.

Preschool Program

  • Mica did great at his Preschool Program! He sang and did the actions. They were up on stage for 20 min. It was fun seeing them, and hearing the songs that I've heard bits and pieces of in our house. I was really proud of him.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Team Geotrax - All Aboard!

Mica keeps pretending to be a train. The guys I work with warned me that boys are full of sound effects, and now I'm hearing them over and over again. His favorite movie right now is the Polar Express and he's been asking to watch Geotrax. He recites bits and pieces of them, then runs around the house going, "Chugga, chugga, choo, choo". I'm not quite sure how to spell his sound effects, but it sounds just like a train. He even makes the stopping sound.

Now when I ask him what he wants for Christmas, he tells me, "Geotrax Grand Central Station" - $55. I got him everything I'm going to get him, so I hope he's not too disappointed. He already has tons of Thomas stuff past down from my nephew. We got Mica a toy guitar, Isaak a baby guitar, Mica a peacock puppet, Isaak a toy peacock from Lamaze and other random stuff. He's getting more Thomas stuff from my mom as well.

Peacock?

  • Mica's preschool teacher told my sister Terra that Mica tells everybody else to stop singing during their practice rehearsal. He's a star in the program, and tells everyone he's not a star, he's a peacock. What a strange child I have. I do have to admit, it's something we can laugh about later. I just hope he does fine in the program tonight.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Stomach Flu

  • It turns out my mom threw up last night too. Mica must really have the stomach flu this time. Now we've exposed my sister's whole family. Wonderful! Not really! We've been hit hard with stomach issues this year!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Preschool Program

  • Evidently Mica hasn't been a good sport about practicing for his preschool program. My sister called the teacher to ask about something in regards to her own son, and asked about Mica too. Mica gets mad when others sing because he wants to sing. He doesn't follow orders either.
  • Mica hasn't had stomach problems since before Thanksgiving, and yesterday he threw up all over Terra's carpet after preschool. His stomach issues are always on preschool days, so part of me wonders if he gets worked up when going. Then I get worked up because he's worked up. No one likes the idea of their kid throwing up or having diarrhea at someone elses' house. I have taken him off cow's milk, mixed fiber in his oat meal or juice and give him Activia Yogurt.
  • There are stresses at home too. Isaak is fairly new into his life, then him getting sick didn't help.
  • Terra says he gets excited every time to go to preschool, so I don't know what to think. He's one of the youngest in the class, I hope I didn't send him too early.
  • He needs to work on being able to be in groups, cognitive skills and listening while in groups. All of which preschool I would think would help him. It's always hard knowing what to do as a parent. You question yourself all the time with little things. I understand what my parents went through now.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Scary

  • Mica has been pulling this thing where he gets up ever so quiet, and comes to find us. All the sudden I look up and there is Mica. Last night after the kids were in bed, I was wrapping Christmas gifts (I don't think he saw anything), and I looked up and there is Mica. He did this to me 2 other times: 1. I was awake, feeding Isaak one morning. I look over to the side of the bed, and there's Mica. 2. I was in the kitchen doing dishes, Mica was down for a nap, poof, there's Mica. He scares the crap out of me. The boy is usually loud, so it throws me for a loop.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Busy Bee's


  • We've been extremely busy at our house lately. I've been baking cookies, making almond bark candy, and getting ready for all the holiday events.
  • I finally got a holiday photo of the boys I like. I had to do a little Photoshop work. Mica was cut out and placed into a photo with Isaak (who was already smiling). Mica is at such a hard age to get to smile. He has his tongue hanging out of about half the photo's. On the back of the cards this is what it says:
  • Apel Family of 4, Case Study
  • Travis Ray Apel is a 33 year old father
  • Works at Larson Dental Lab
  • Likes to work on sculpture and custom jewelry
  • Alissa Ann Apel is a 32 year old mother
  • Works at The Creative Center
  • Enjoys working on her computer and baking
  • Mica Zachary Apel is a 3 year old male
  • He started preschool in the fall
  • Knows the essentials (letters, shapes and colors)
  • Likes to play with trains
  • Favorite animal is a peacock
  • Is hardly quiet and most always on the go
  • Isaak Jaxon Apel is a 6 month old male
  • Had Meningitis at 2 months
  • Passed his last hearing test
  • Pulls hair on a regular basis
  • Is a good eater and spitter
  • Sits up on his own with a smile on his face
  • The Apel family wants to wish you A Happy Holiday!

Monday, December 8, 2008

You Rock Baby

  • Isaak is rocking out with his Baby Legs, leg warmers.

Christmas Photos

  • We're trying to get the perfect Christmas picture. We decided to go with Isaak being in a package because he's our BEST present this year. We still need to take another round of photo's. Isaak either has his hands in his mouth, grumpy, or Mica won't smile.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

I Would Not Could Not Eat a Radish

  • I know a radish is a strange thing for a kid to eat, but we try new foods at our house often. Our rule for Mica is: That he needs to at least try a bite (a slice of radish in this case). He tried a bite, and said, "It is hot daddy, can you blow on it?" Daddy blew on it, and then Mica ate most of the radish. It was like daddy actually cooled it down for him. Silly kid.

Bull Dog

  • Isaak is the happiest bull dog I've ever seen!

Brothers

  • Most of the time Mica plays little attention to Isaak, but deep down inside he really loves him. Mica tells Isaak he's his best friend (although lots of people are). They are cute together.

Locked Up

  • I bought these foam puzzle pieces because we have hard wood floors. I thought the little ones would have fun with them. Mica was having a blast with the pieces, but here he looks like he's locked up.

Daddy and Isaak

  • I think Isaak looks like Daddy (minus the hams on his legs), and Mica looks like Mommy.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Selfish

  • I was selfish and ordered myself two mommy products. The moonstone necklace is a teether. I'm addicted to the site www.mom4life.com

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Sitting Up Now

  • Here's Mica at the same age Isaak is now.
  • Early last week Isaak (6 months) started sitting up on his own. He still slouches in the Bumbo seat, but when he's on the floor he sits up for awhile on his own.
  • His cousin Elijah (8 months) is almost crawling. He rolls around to get where he wants to go.
  • I love this age because they are always doing new things.

Thanksgiving

  • Our trip went well. Mica cried off and on in the car on the way down. He had trouble sleeping, and could not get comfortable. Really they both did better than expected in the ride to and back.
  • Mica asked when we were going home after we got to Grandma and Grandpa Apel's, but then turned around and asked when we were going back to Grandma and Grandpa Apel's after we left.
  • Isaak was all smiles most of the time, unless he was fighting sleep.
  • We loved the turkey dinner. Yummy!
  • I can't forget, Isaak experienced his first snow.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Drive Home

  • Last night on our drive home after picking up the boys, Mica said, "Mommy I have a squirrel running all over me"! I asked him, "Is he tickling you Mica?" He said, "Yes Mommy" and giggled. I told him not to let the squirrel bite Isaak.
  • Then Mica was telling me all the people that are his, "Best Friends". He told me that Evan (his cousin) was his favorite sister. Funny boy!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Thankful

  • It's almost turkey time. I'm excited to go to MO. Mica keeps asking me everyday, "Are we going to go to Grandma and Grandpa Apel's house today Mommy?" It should be a good visit. I wounder if Isaak will sleep the whole drive? I hope he's happy in the car. It would be so nice if we could hold him in the car. The safety of car seats is great though.
  • On Mica's preschool paper he wrote, "I'm thankful for mom". Dad wasn't on there, so I teased Travis a little. Evan's said, "I'm thankful for turkey". Funny kids.

Hearing Test

  • Isaak passed his standard hearing test! They give one to kids after having meningitis because of potential scar tissue. He had a little trouble with the first part because he wouldn't stay quiet (babble, babble). I had to plug him up with his binky. Then he did fine. I had to keep him looking forward for the second part of the test, and he kept wanting to look over to the sides with the sounds, lights and Winnie the Pooh the whole time. He was only supposed to look over there when the sound happened. Someone came in to play with him, to keep him looking forward, and he heard pitches that she couldn't hear.
  • I was a little annoyed that they said that they usually see them back in 6 months, then once a year after that. This was never told to me when he was sick. They told me that they needed to see him back one last time, and that was it. I'll have to call his doctor on that one.
  • I remember with Mica, Boy's Town Clinic kept wanting to see him back after his staph infection and tongue problems. Mica's primary doctor told me, "Mica talks fine and doesn't need to see anyone anymore". He talked the doctor's ear off when we went in one time. I'm all for being on the safe side of things, but sometimes I think doctors are out for the money, or maybe it's the experiment side of things. I felt like Mica was interesting to the doctors because of his funky tongue. It had little to do with them solving any issues we had. He compensated very well. I don't want anything to be a precursor to make health insurance to sky rocket more.
  • I am happy that Isaak did pass his hearing test. I thought he would because he responds to his name, loud noises and toy sounds.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Doctor

  • I did ask Harrison (Mica and Isaak's doctor) about Mica's tummy issues again. Every couple weeks he gets diarrhea. Then a day or two later I get what he's had. This has been going on a while (since the end of September). I've went through our food, not sure this is it because Travis hasn't gotten anything. I've switched us to Soy milk, push the yogurt intake, still every couple weeks tummy issues. I'm thinking we might have IBS Irritable Bowel Syndrome? It happens with Mica only on Preschool days, then with me after he's gotten it. Stress brings this on. I've always had a sensitive tummy. I'm going to look into it more.

Doctor

  • Isaak had a well 6 month visit today. He's all good. He weighs 15 lbs. 12 oz. (20%) and is 26.5" (55%). Mica was always 10% on weight and 70% on height. Isaak has what Travis calls "hams" for legs. His head circumference is good too 42.2 cm. They worry about head circumference with having had meningitis. He has his hearing test next week. Harrison his doctor thinks he'll pass with flying colors, but it's good to be on the safe side. Isaak got lots of shots, even his first part of his flu shot. He barely cried. What a sport.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

RaZberry Teether

  • I just got Isaak this teether that all the moms in my Baby and Me Group have been raving about. It's called a RaZberry teether. It's $5.00. I got mine off a site that has no shipping: http://mom4life.com/
  • Bumpy texture soothes your baby's gums.
  • The first hands-free all silicone teething pacifier.
  • Stimulation multi-textured teether, soothes while they play.
  • Non-Toxic 100% medical grade silicone.
  • BPA & Phthalate Free.
  • I got Isaak the Blackberry one. It's too early to tell if he likes it.

Busy Times

  • I have to stay late at work tonight and next Tues. night for Career Explorers. Travis and I are going to an auction at The Bemis where one of his sculptures is at on Fri. night. We celebrate my sister's birthday Sun. night. Then next Wed. we go out of town to celebrate Thanksgiving, our nephew Payton's birthday and Christmas with Travis' side. Busy, busy! I so wish I didn't have to stay late at work (on these Tues. nights), but I do get comp time for it. It will be interesting traveling with the boys for 5 hours. I hope all goes well! It always makes me nervous traveling with a baby.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Sitting?

  • Isaak still isn't sitting yet. We haven't been the best with practicing with him. This is when I wish we had carpet. Travis looked that up in Mica's baby calendar; he started sitting at this time 6 months. Every kid is different, but it helps to compare.

Slept Through the Night

  • Yes Isaak slept through the night! A big contrast from Sat. where he woke up so many time that I lost count. I was debating if he was teething, but poof now he acts like he's fine.
  • Travis looked in Mica's calendar to see when Mica cut his first teeth, it wasn't until he was 8 months old, Isaak is 6 months right now. I have late bloomers with cutting teeth. My sister Terra's boy is 8 months and he has 7 teeth already. It makes it a lot easier to feed them table foods when they cut teeth earlier. It took Mica awhile to eat real meat, he was way past a year because he didn't have his back teeth yet. I remember that being a huge issue because of his funky tongue, the doctors were worried he would have problems eating. He eats fine now. Worries for nothing.
  • One good thing about Isaak not having teeth yet, I don't have a biter on my hands.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Stupid Health Insurance

  • My health insurance is going up again-25%! I get so sick of this! Travis and I don't have the greatest insurance due to working at small companies. I just wish it would get better. Just venting my frustrations.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Best Friends

  • Evan and Mica are such close cousins that they act more like brothers. Evan picks on Mica, Mica acts like a know it all and most the time they are fighting over toys.
  • Just today, I got a call from my sister Terra, telling me that when she laid them down for their nap; Evan said, "Mica you're my BEST friend". Mica responded back, "Evan you are my BEST friend too". It's pretty cute when they are like that.

This is When You Really Love Your Kids

  • I've been putting both boys on my bed in the morning to get dressed and Mica rolls around with Isaak. He hugs him, kisses him. I just love those moments. Too bad it's not always like that. Most of the time Mica really doesn't want anything to do with Isaak.

Bad Night

  • Saturday night was rough! My head cold was in full force. I put Isaak to bed 5 times before 2 am. Something was off with him, I hope not an ear infection, maybe teething? I still feel no bumps, but he has been drooling. Every time I laid him down he started to cry a pain cry. He had no fever. Travis got so irritated he went on the couch and covered his head with a pillow. He wasn't that much help that night.
  • My nephew that is in third grade spent the night (that's not why the night was rough). He woke up at 4 am, and Mica thought it was time to get up. He was all bright eyed. He said, "Mommy my tummy hurts, I'm hungry for cake". His tummy didn't hurt, he was just hungry. Both the older boys went back to sleep well.
  • Then Mica got up at 6 am. So much for sleeping in.
  • They say you gain an hour of sleep after fall day light savings time. I don't think so. Ever since day light savings time happened my boys are up at 5 or 6 am. No sleeping in.

Head Cold

  • I have my first head cold of the season. I don't think I need to worry about Isaak getting it. He is the one that gave it to me. He was all snotty a week ago.
  • Mica and I have not had stomach issues for a couple weeks. I'm hoping we're past that. I took cow's milk out of our diet, and replaced it with soy. I'm not sure if that was the source of the problem or not. He's drank cow's milk since he was one and has had no stomach problems until lately. Then I've had issues at the same time. I'm wondering if it was stress or a virus we kept passing back and forth? Not sure.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Little Squirt

  • I was squirting my frizzy hair down this morning (it gets frizzier the more kids I have and the older I am). Mica comes trotting into the bathroom and wanted me to squirt his back, so his peacock feathers would grow. He is obsessed with peacocks, and it keeps getting stranger. I guess it's not any stranger than having an imaginary friend. I had to laugh because it was pretty funny! I simply play along. I like to encourage his imagination.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Turkey Baby

  • Now that it's November I can put him in this cute outfit. My mom is with him on the bottom photo.

Fun Times

  • Fun times in the ExerSaucer.

Playtime

  • Isaak at his Baby and Me Group. You can barely see him, he's all the way on the left on the couch, cousin Elijah is next to him (he was a dinosaur), and my sister Terra is above them.

Happy Halloween

  • Both the boys on Halloween. Mica's shirt says "Peeka" on the front and "Boo" on the back, Isaak's says "I love my mummy". They sure do look like brothers.

Isaak Red Hot Chili Pepper

  • Here's Isaak as a red hot chili pepper. He has those scary eyes in a lot of his pictures.

Mica Dino

  • Mica was a dino for Halloween. He kept telling everyone he was going to be a witch. I've had to hide his candy with all his stomach problems.

Disclaimer

The opinions on this blog are my personal take on products and topics relating to motherhood. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me.

I am not compensated to provide opinions on a variety of topics. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are my own. If I claim to show knowledge of certain topic or product I will only endorse products or services that I feel, based on my expertise, are worthy of such endorsement.

If you have any questions about this blog, or want to get in contact with me please email me at: anapeladay@gmail.com