A Whole New World

Things are changing at the Chapman house.  The lyrics of Aladdin's "A Whole New World" fit perfectly

A whole new world

Don't you dare close your eyes

Eleanor is now crawling all over the place. She is getting into everything. We have to keep a constant eye on her. There are few of Genevieve toys that she can't play with due to small parts. Plus Genevieve isn't a fan of Eleanor playing with some of her toys. She also tends to put everything in her mouth (something we never had to worry about with Genevieve). We have to vacuum frequently and keep an eye on any small crumbs or trash that may find there way into her path.

Genevieve has discovered that she is now strong enough and tall enough to turn door knobs and open them. Which means she can let herself out of her room in the mornings when she wakes up. There have been a few early mornings that we've found her sitting outside our bedroom door or in the living room playing puzzles. 

RSV Round Two

The Chapman house continues to be on quarantine. Yesterday Genevieve was diagnosed with RSV.

She had started coughing on Thursday evening which got progressively worse over the weekend and a runny nose developed. I was really hoping that was it. On Sunday afternoon when she woke up from her nap she had a fever. Tylenol and Motrin are keeping the fever in check. She does a pretty good job of taking the medicine.

She's handling being sick pretty well. She just wants to sit in my lap. She really hasn't eaten a thing. I know she's sick when she didn't want to eat the chocolate milkshake I got her yesterday.

Many prayers that Josh and I don't get it!

Luckily, Eleanor seems to have made a full recovery. She still coughs occasionally but the doctor warned that she might cough for weeks afterwards. 

Eleanor - 7 Months Old

I started writing this post days ago. It's been a crazy week and I just didn't get time to finish it.

On Monday, our sweet baby Eleanor was diagnosed with RSV. You would never know she was sick by how she's acting though. She is just super snotty and had a really nasty cough. I felt silly making the appointment and even sillier going to the doctor until we got the news that she tested positive for RSV. She is on an inhaler for a couple days. They wanted to see her again on Wednesday to check on her progress. She was doing great all day Wednesday, then Wednesday night she was super fussy. She refused to eat more than an ounce or two of a bottle at a time. She fought sleep for hours. At 1am she had a fever of 100.4. The doctor had told us to bring her back if she developed a fever (since she hadn't previously had one) or got worse. Once again I felt silly making the appointment. Josh ended up taking her since I was in charge of the craft at my MOPs meeting that day. In the 24 hours since we had seen the doctor on Wednesday, Eleanor had developed a double ear infection.  She is now on antibiotics. Her cough still sounds nasty but the doctor said she may still cough for weeks. I'm afraid to say it in fear that something else will pop up but I think she is finally on the mend.

Anyways...

Another month has gone by and our sweet baby Eleanor is another month older.

She is official a crawler. She gets up on all fours and belly flops herself forward then repeats till she gets where she wants. She is really fast at it. Nothing is safe from her. Genevieve only put food in her mouth, but we have a feeling Eleanor will not be like that. We have to always watch her particularly when Genevieve is playing with toys with small parts. Genevieve so far isn't a fan of Eleanor playing with some of her toys.

Also, during this week of sickness, Eleanor has cut her first tooth. Unsure if any of her symptoms this week have been due to teething.

She loves her pacifier. We had to pick a different brand from Genevieve to prevent jealousy and confusion.  She's starting to be able to put them in herself. I hope that once she's mastered this still she will sleep longer at night.

At each doctor's appointment this week, Eleanor was weighed. She is hovering right around 16 pounds. Crazy thing is that size 3 diapers start fitting at 16 pounds. Which would mean that Genevieve and Eleanor would wear the same size diaper. Although we could probably move Genevieve up to size 4.

Baby Dedication

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

On the evening of October 5, Josh and I dedicated Eleanor Josephine at Tabernacle Baptist Church.

We recognize our child is a gift from God, and give heartfelt thanks for God's blessing.

We dedicate our child to the Lord, Who gave them.

We pledge as parents that we will bring her up "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord".

We ask God's blessings upon her life, to guide, guard and direct her through all her years.

We got to share the evening with 2 other families dedicating their sweet babies. One of the families we've grown very close to since we've loved to Cartersville. They have two boys, both two months younger than each of our girls. It was a great to share in the evening with them.

My parents came down from Indianapolis and Josh's older sister was there for the evening as well.

Trick or Treat

Happy Halloween! This holiday is so much more fun with kids. We had an absolute blast.

Pumpkin George 

G's trick or treat bucket I made with the help of my friend's circuit machine

Our only fall decorations this year

The day started off with a costume parade, trick or treating, and party at preschool. We have a couple of costumes so Genevieve was a giraffe for preschool. She was not a fan of putting on the costume. But she loved it once I got it on her.

Every day after preschool, Genevieve wants to stop and talk to the "turtle man" as I call him. (No idea why I decided to call him the turtle man.) She likes to point out his flag, eye, hat, back and shoes. Yesterday she also insisted on pretending to feed him some of her Halloween candy.

After nap time, we headed to church for trunk or treat. For the evening, Genevieve was a ladybug (same costume as last year) and Eleanor was a bumble bee. We decorated our car with a rubber duck shower theme. The ducks were a hit with the preschool crowd. Many tried to take the ducks instead of the candy. Genevieve loved handing out candy to the trick or treaters.

After trunk or treating, we went door to door trick or treating with our friends in their neighborhood. Genevieve loved it. We only hit up a few houses on their block. The first house we went to Genevieve and her buddy Connor walked right into the house and were playing in the living room. Good thing it was our friend's neighbors and they thought it was adorable.

About to try to take a picture of 4 kids. So far this is the only one cooperating

My two little bugs

Best we could do with 4 kids age 2 and under

Eleanor - 6 Months Old

I can't believe this little bit has been with us for half months now. Where has the time gone?

She is desperately trying to crawl. She gets up on hands and knees and then belly flops forward. I would be shocked if she isn't crawling by the end of the week.

Still no teeth but I bet those bottom two will be making their arrival soon.

On October 30 at 10pm, she had her last nursing session. She is fully on bottles and formula now. I do have some frozen breast milk stored up that she will get to have while it lasts. She is loving her rice cereal. She seems so excited by food. Today at lunch I was holding her on my lap and she kept giggling and kicking her legs every time the fork came near her. We are going to expand her menu options soon.

Genevieve has started calling her by her name. E-E-nor!  She can't quite say it correct it though. It's so cute.

Eleanor - 5 Months Old

Yesterday Eleanor turned 5 months old. Since we were traveling back from Josh's grandfather funeral, I was unable to take the monthly pictures. So I took them today.

Newest tricks including rolling over. Front to back and so forth. She is all over the place. She's starting to stick her butt in the hair and push up really high on her arms, but never at the same point. Seems like she is desperate to crawl.

We are planning to start rice cereal soon and hopefully starting to wean her from breastmilk on to formula. She is a drooling mess and everything goes in her mouth. I'm thinking teeth will soon make there appearance. Genevieve cut her first tooth a week before she turned 6 months.

She's still not taking the pacifier. Not at all interested in it. Kinda wish she would take it to help her self-sooth herself. I'm thinking nap/sleep training is around the corner. She seems to still wake every 3 hours at night to eat.

Rolling everywhere - Even into G's house

I foresee taking monthly pictures to become more difficult

G was not interested in taking pictures with us today

Choo-choo ride at the mall

Grandpa Chapman

So blessed to have called this man my grandfather-in-law. His love for his wife just overflowed and usually left me in tears. I pray everyone gets to have an example of this type of love in their family. Because of him we have the last name Chapman and I use that last name with great pride. I pray that my girls will continue his legacy of loving the Lord and their families. This morning (September 24, 2014) he is worshipping in the presents of the Great Almighty and getting to talk with his beloved wife. It is a time of mixed feelings - sadness and great rejoicing.

Official obituary:

Claude M. Chapman, 92, of Angola died Wednesday, September 24, 2014, at Northern Lakes Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Angola.

Mr. Chapman worked as a machinist for the Dana Corporation in Angola for 39 years, retiring in 1989.

He was a private first class in the United States Army, serving during World War II.

He was a member of the Faith Baptist Church in Angola. He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Angola.

He was born March 8, 1922, in Massillion, Ohio, to Raymond L. and Verna (Hawk) Chapman. He married Jeannette Mae Shanks on May 21, 1960, in Hicksville, Ohio, and she died June 2, 2014.

Surviving are: two sons and daughters-in-law, Robert “Bob” and Linda Chapman of Angola, and Timothy “Tim” and Diane Chapman of Buchanan, Mich.; a daughter, Claudia Ridenour of Angola; 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; a sister, Lucille Christian of Columbus; and two brothers and a sister-in-law, Harold and Barbara Chapman and Myron Chapman, both of Sebring, Florida.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and three sisters, Olive Mae Robinson, Thelma Glick, and Joyce Hall.

Services will be at noon Monday, September 29, 2014 at Faith Baptist Church, 560 W. C.R 400N, Angola, with the Rev. J. Arnold Fair officiating. Burial will be in Circle Hill Cemetery in Angola with military graveside honors conducted by the United States Army.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon Monday, September 29, 2014 prior to the service at the church.

Memorials are to Faith Baptist Church.

Eleanor - 4 Months Old

Can't handle that this little one is 4 months old. She's growing up so fast.

Eleanor has recently mastered rolling from her back onto her belly. She hasn't quiet nailed the reverse though. I think she actually likes being on her belly because she can see what Genevieve is doing. She loves watching her big sister. Most of her big belly laughs are because of something Genevieve is doing.

Eleanor has stopped sleeping well at night. Everyone talks about a 4 month regression in sleep patterns. Research says it should last 2-4 weeks. Yesterday morning was a little rough. Around 11am Genevieve told me she wanted a snack and led me to the pantry. She pointed to the coffee. I guess it's bad when your 2 year old wants to make you coffee. Actually I think she just likes scooping the grounds out and pouring them into the coffee maker.

Eleanor is becoming a babbler. Last night she was starring at Josh and just talking to him.

I believe we've started the teething process. Eleanor is constantly drooling. Her shirts are usually soaked through by the end of the day. She is sticking everything in her mouth. This morning I noticed that little slits have appeared on her bottom gum where the teeth will come in. Genevieve got her first tooth a week before she turned 6 months. Only time will tell how Eleanor will compare in the teething process.

Hallelujah!! Eleanor has finally after weeks and weeks of trying decided to take the bottle. We tried 5 different types of bottles - Dr. Brown, Playtex, Avent, Medela and Tommy Tippee. Lucky number 5 was the key. A friend had an extra that she let me borrow. She figured it would have the same response as the others but was trying to be supportive. Crazy how well she's done with it. Josh and I are going away for a weekend in October and Josh's mom and step-dad are coming down to watch the girls. Luckily now we know she isn't going to starve while we are gone. I may even consider weaning her on to formula while we are gone. Genevieve was weaned at 6 months and this trip is falling a week shy of that same milestone for Eleanor.

Eleanor - Three Months Old

I think I always say this but time is sure going too quickly. Eleanor maybe my last baby so I'm trying to soak in and enjoy every moment.

Eleanor is doing really well holding her head up. If you are holding her, she wants to sit up straight or look over your shoulder but not lounge back.

Eleanor is smiling all the time, cooing at us when we talk to her and we think she even laughed once when Josh sneezed.

Eleanor has enjoyed going into her new Sunday school class while Josh and I are in church. The ladies enjoy rocking and snuggling her.

Eleanor (and Genevieve too) attended their first wedding a couple of weekends ago.

Eleanor still won't take a bottle. The little stinker! Josh is convinced that if we try every day for 2 weeks, she will eventually give in and take it. Today is day number 2 of this 2 week experiment.  We are hoping to go to a marriage conference in Chattanooga in October and leave the girls with Josh's mom. Obviously she will need to eat while we are gone so taking the bottle is necessary.

Tonight I am going to try having Eleanor sleep in her crib in her own room. She has been sleeping in our room in the pack n play. I've noticed that she has trouble staying asleep once Josh gets up. Hopefully her own room will help her get more shut eye.

I asked Genevieve if she wanted to take pictures with Eleanor. She said yes and laid down on the blanket even though Eleanor was in the chair

My 3 babies

 

Tummy time and learning about Sophie

Genevieve likes to play with the sticker when I'm done