Just being a toddler And Paci-Fairies

Sweet girl loves her scooter!

What a precious smile!

Rachel and Bradley are extremely different in many ways. For one thing, they have very different temperaments. Rachel is very easy going and agreeable and somewhat reasonable for an almost 4 year old. She's always been pretty agreeable and distractable. We didn't really realize just how reasonable she was until we had Bradley. He's precious and sweet and can be extremely easy going, but he can also be completely unreasonable...meaning if he's got one thing on his mind, that's it. There's no changing it and he's going to keep reminding you of it until he feels satisfied that he got his way. I think just because he isn't as agreeable as Rachel has always been doesn't mean he's completely unreasonable, but that he does have a very strong will. He's also got the disadvantage of being the second child. I know darn well that Rachel got to do just about whatever she wanted (within reason) because we didn't have to consider another child. Of course, things are much different for Bradley since he has an older sister and things don't solely revolve around him and his wants like they did for Rachel. I try to remind myself of all these different variables when I start to think that Bradley's being unreasonable. Because, that's really not fair to him. He's such a sweet, lovey, huggy, silly boy and I love him dearly.

Rachel will be 4 in May and unfortunately, we have allowed her to have her pa-pa (pacifier) this entire time. She only uses it at night to help her go to sleep and it is not allowed out of her room, nor does she even ask for it at other times, but still that's pretty silly considering her age. However, I take sole responsibility for this. Nick has asked for us to get her off the pa-pa for a long time and I've been too scared (and lazy) to tackle it. I know I'm not giving her enough credit because she's an extremely bright, content, precious child and I know she can do it if we ask her to. I haven't wanted to do it because I couldn't think of a good way to go about doing it. But, just the other day, I caught a few minutes of Supernanny. I think Nanny Jo has some really good ideas and techniques that are simple and successful. Anyway, she had a family whose 3 year old still had a pa-pa and she suggested a "Paci-Fairy" who you gave all your paci's to in an envelope and then she left you a prize in return. I thought it sounded ingenius and worth a shot. So, tonight I was reading to Rachel and had not given her a pa-pa and it was almost time for me to turn out the light. She remembered and asked where it was. I told her that she didn't need it and she, getting choked up, said "I do need it". So, I said, "well, if you want to sleep without it tonight, the "pa-pa fairy" will take your pa-pa's and give them to babies who don't have any and she'll leave you a prize." Well, this excited Rachel and she was giddy thinking about what prize the pa-pa fairy would leave her. I was secretly excited too, thinking about how I could sneak in there tonight and leave her a couple of small items that Rachel's never seen and would be "paci-fairy" worthy. So, I was singing Rachel her last 2 songs and she said, "mom, (REALLY choked up), I not ready to get my prize from the "pa-pa fairy" tonight, I'll do it tomorrow." So, I said, "it's okay sweetie, we'll do it tomorrow night" and she went to sleep with her pa-pa.


Oh well! I know we can do it, but I think it'll take a little more "talking up" and her actually putting her pa-pa's in an envelope for the paci-fairy so she doesn't have them there next to her bed for an easy grab. So, I'll let you know how it all turns out...as soon as we're successful!


Until then, I'll allow Rachel to use her little pa-pa and feel comfortable until she's ready to send it to other babies. (She did inquire whether or not her pa-pa would go to JuJu's baby or not, which I assured her it would.) She's the sweetest, little doll and I love her dearly!!!

Cousins

Rachel and Bradley are so blessed to have 3 cousins and 1 on the way! They're very close to cousin Julia since she and Rachel met when Rachel was just 1 day old. Rachel and Julia are more like sisters...loving each other and getting mad at each other almost the same amount. They also love their cousins, Thomas and Heather, who they don't see that often, but love as much. Today, we got to babysit for Heather while Thomas and Aunt Erin went to the pediatrician. Rachel and Bradley were ecstatic to have a little baby in the house. They hugged and kissed ALL over her and were in her face a ton! Rachel wanted to hold baby Heather as much as I would allow her to and Bradley thought she was fascinating until he realized that she was in my lap where he should be. He really liked her, but since he's MY baby, he wasn't quite sure if he was ready to share me with another. We had a great time watching baby Heather sit and observe and put anything in her mouth that she could reach. She was very good and very easy. When Thomas and Aunt Erin returned, Rachel and Bradley got to play with Thomas, which they all loved! Right before Aunt Erin, Thomas and Heather were about to leave, we noticed that Thomas and Rachel were really examining Rachel's make-up kit. It's a large case that has about 20 different lip glosses, chapsticks and some nail polish. Upon closer examination, we realized that Thomas AND Rachel had put on some lipstick. It was quite hilarious to see Thomas in that shade of pink...and most of it was above his lip, but it was really cute! Rachel had on her glitter lip gloss and has gotten pretty good at putting it on her lips, so they both looked quite "pretty"! :) It was such a fun day with the cousins!

Also, Rachel is anxiously awaiting this weekend because cousin Julia, Uncle Matt and Aunt Wendy are coming to visit. She has asked me almost every day, (sometimes more than once a day) "Is Ju Ju here yet?" She has no idea when "Friday" is or how many more days it is before she arrives, but she cannot wait!

Looking Back...

Our lives changed so much on two separate occasions...May 4, 2004, when we were blessed with a beautiful baby girl. Rachel Jane Milligan was born on a Wednesday morning at 10:33am via c-section. She was 7 lbs. 5 oz. and 20 in. long. She was a delight because she was our first child and we didn't know what to expect. We really didn't know what we were doing. We were first time parents, we were scared, overwhelmed and tired. But, it was so much fun figuring it all out along the way. I was extremely over-protective of Rachel. I wanted her all to myself. I enjoyed every minute with her and couldn't stand to be apart from her. This is probably why she NEVER spent the night away from me until November, 2007, when she was 3 1/2 years old! I don't regret or feel sorry for that either. I truly loved all of the time that I was able to devote to my first child. I know that no other child will receive as much individual attention nor could I give that intense attention again. And, that's okay with me, because I'll love all my children just as much, it will just be more spread out.

July 22, 2006, when we were blessed with a beautiful baby boy. Bradley Franklin Milligan was born on a Saturday evening at 10:17 pm via VBAC. He was 8 lbs. 4 oz. and 21 in. long. He was a delight because he was VBAC, which meant I got to experience all the really cool things about childbirth that I've always heard my mom talk fondly about...my water breaking, contractions, pushing a baby out of my body...there's just nothing cooler or amazing or miraculous. Then, it was so cool because he was a little boy and we knew everything would be different from Rachel, for the most part. He was such an easy infant...sleeping all the time and nursing constantly. Thanks to my laziness, he kept up the nursing for 14 months! He's been an absolute joy, but of course he's fit into our family and I've had to divide my time between both kids. It's actually been very easy most of the time. Rachel has loved Bradley so much since he came home from the hospital, that she's wanted to include him in everything. I certainly haven't felt as overprotective of him as I did of Rachel. In some ways, I've gone entirely in the other direction. I've welcomed anyone who wanted to spend time with us and even take the kids so I could have a break or go to an appointment. And, he spent the night away from me for the first time when he was 16 months...a far cry from what I did with Rachel!

But, boy have they both been such fun and such little blessings. It's hard to believe that Rachel is about to be 4 and Bradley will be 2 very soon. My, how time flies!

Pump It Up

WHEEEEEE! Rachel loved doing this slide!!!

Bub and sis on top of the mushroom


Rachel "tickling" baby Tyler in his mommy's lap



Ashley...mid air!

Bradley trying to carry more than one ball!

Rachel and Bradley having a great time!!

Rachel...action shot!

Right now, we're resting after a tiring, but very fun morning at Pump It Up. We met our friends, Emily, Wylie and Ashley and their baby cousin, Tyler and his mommy, Allison. We had so much fun running around, sliding, jumping, falling and going through obstacle courses. Rachel got bopped in the head a couple of times when she and Wylie collided, but nothing that could stop us from having fun. Bradley had a blast in the basketball bounce pit where he kept running from one end to the other as fast as he could with a ball in his hands. He would fall down each time, but he loved it and kept giggling. Rachel did both obstacle courses several times...by herself and went up and down the slide a hundred times. I got to accompany Bradley up and down the large slide too. He LOVES it, but it's a work out for an out of shape mommy like me!!!

We left there and went to Sam's for a coke, pretzel and slice of pizza. We love Sam's and had fun looking around while munching before heading home. It was a great morning and is going to be a great afternoon too! I'm meeting my oldest, dearest friend for dinner! Nick's going to feed, bathe and put the kids to bed all by himself...what a man! I couldn't ask for a better husband and father for me and my kids!

Camping Out

In the tent in our Princess sleeping bag
Peeking out!

Rachel has been asking for months to have a "camp out" in her back yard. Yesterday, Nick finally indulged her and put up our real tent in the yard. We did not sleep in it or anything, but Rachel thought it was so neat just the same. She played in it for a good hour and even wanted her princess sleeping bag in it. Hairbaby joined her, along with some nameless baby dolls and their own sleeping bag. It was really cute, once again, watching the simple things that excite Rachel. She's such a precious, sweet, extremely imaginative child and I love her so much!

Bradley didn't get to enjoy the tent yesterday, since he was napping, but he got in it this morning. He was excited about it too, but couldn't quite get the gyst of stepping over the entrance into the zipper opening. He tripped several times, which made him really mad. Right now, Rachel is going through a daddy stage...wanting him to do things with her. (Daddy is loving this stage!!) And, Bradley's still in a very mommy stage...always wanting mommy to do everything with him. He'll yell "mamama" as loud as he can until I respond. He's even started doing this when he wakes up from his nap...calling me loudly until I come remove him from his crib. He's a very lovey-boy, giving me squeezy hugs and wanting to be held all the time. It sure is nice to be loved and needed so much. I know I get a little tired of it sometimes, but it sure is flattering to have someone want to be around me that much!!! He's a very sweet, precious little boy and I love him so much!!!