Allergic reaction

Poor Ainsley is allergic to amoxicillin.  We found this out middle of last week after she was started on a course of antibiotics for an ear infection.  About 7 days into her treatment, she broke out in a rash that got worse and worse.  By the second day of her reaction, she was covered in a hive-like rash and was limping from all of the swelling in her knees and ankles.  Turns out she has what is called a serum sickness-like reaction to the antibiotic.  

Thankfully, she is now recovering and is weaning off of the steroids that were prescribed to help with the rash.  

Go Fish

So, the latest craze at our house is "Go Fish".  I found some fun cards and thought Clara would like to learn to play.  Well, she LOVES it, and we now play at least 10 times each day.  The cards are hilarious; they are color coded (instead of asking for numbers, you ask for colors), but the color names are fancy...chartreuse instead of green, cafe au lait instead of brown, etc.  She has eaten it up, and now that she is reading a little more, she thinks she is hot stuff reading off the fancy color names.  

The cards - so cute!

Ed and Clara in a serious game before bedtime

Ainsley "reading" the instructions

Clara with her matches

So much fun watching her learn fun, new things....she is growing up quickly!

Miss Roly Poly

Little Miss Madeline is rolling!  She was having tummy time yesterday afternoon and flipped from her tummy onto her back - 2 times in a row!  Clara and Ainsley were watching her play at the time and went crazy!  They were hilarious with their praise for her - can't wait to see their reactions when she starts her new tricks...

LaSonia, Lasagna

LaSonia is our favorite check-out clerk at Publix.  I am very loyal to Publix for my grocery shopping, and LaSonia is just one of the reasons for that.  She is incredibly friendly, always interacts with the girls, and when I was 9 months pregnant, continued to tell me how great I was looking - even when I wasn't!  Well, a few days ago, I was running errands with Clara, and Publix was our last stop.  As we checked out with LaSonia, Clara was giving her an earful about everything - school, Madeline, Ainsley's birthday party, etc.  When we got back to the car, here was our conversation...

Clara: She is really friendly, Mommy.
Me:  Yes, she is.
Clara: And her mommy is really smart.
Me:  Why do you say that?
Clara:  Because Lasagna is the perfect name if you work at the grocery store.

It had never occurred to me that LaSonia's name sounded like lasagna.  Leave it to a 4 year old!  As I tried several times to explain the difference in sound between the 2 names, I finally gave up.

Yes, her mommy must be really smart.  :)

Madeline

Our sweet baby girl is already 3 months old!  She has been lots of fun the past few weeks as she is "talking" more and more and full of smiles!  She continues to be a great eater and has been sleeping through the night for several weeks - yay!  The big girls are really enjoying her, and I love watching them interact with each other.

Also, more good news on the medical front.  She had her surgery follow-up this week, and  they will not need to see her again!  Still no "official" explanation as to the abnormal x-ray and barium enema, but we are grateful that she is healed and doing so well!

Ainsley's Birthday Party

This past Saturday we celebrated Ainsley's birthday with family and a few friends.  It was a beautiful day here - 75 degrees and sunny - which made for a fun time for everyone.

Our meal...

Strawberry cupcakes with fun toppers!

Making a wish!

Blowing out the candles!

Yum!

Happy birthday!

Learning how to make "2" fingers with Uncle Kyle

Madeline enjoying the party with Da

Ainsley with Clara and our neighbor, Emma

We had lots of fun and enjoyed celebrating Ainsley's special day!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Ainsley!

Our sweet Ainsley is 2!  Hard to believe that 2 years have passed so quickly.  More on her birthday celebration later, but I thought I'd share a few things about our sweet girl.

Ainsley

For her birthday dinner (which was spaghetti - one of her favorites), we went around the table and shared a few of the things we love about Ainsley.  Here are a few of the highlights...

*Very affectionate and loves to give big hugs (and bury her arms and face into your chest - she gives great hugs!)
*Says "thanks" instead of "thank you" - sounds so grown up; it cracks us up!
*Loves to wrestle (from Clara)
*Her deep dark brown eyes - just like Daddy's
*She's a good dancer (from Clara)
*Talks with her hands - VERY dramatic :)
*Her beautiful brown curls (finally getting some hair!)
*She knows her ABC's (from Clara)
*Loves to pray and say "Amen"
*Swinging on the tire swing and playing on the playset together (from Clara)
*Prances when she walks
*Loves the word "so" and uses it often..."I'm so tired...I'm so precious...I'm so 2!"
*Is a Daddy's girl :)

We love you, sweet girl, and look forward to this next year with you! Our prayer for you...

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you 

will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.  

Philippians 1:6

Happy Birthday!