Not my baby much longer

Sweet Caroline,

2 1/2 years ago you entered this world and took it by storm.  After 20 minutes of labor I was holding a 9 pound little girl with a thick, dark head of hair.  You were the most easy going baby and slept through the night at 4 weeks old.  You have brought such joy and laughter into our family.  You have also brought a little stubbornness, opposition, and moments of frustration.  However, we would never trade a moment for anything.  In a matter of days you will no longer be the little sister but the big sister.  I am excited to see you in the role of Big Sister.  You have a new found love for taking care of your baby dolls.  You love to rock your babies, change your babies' clothes, potty train your babies and even discipline your babies.  You talk about Baby "Udson" a lot and often tell him to "come out!"

Even though you are now the big sister you will always be my baby in my heart.  I know you will teach Hudson the ropes around our house.  You will be his protector and his friend.  As you move into your new role we may have our ups and downs but I choose to remember the ups more than the downs.

I love our special cuddle times each night and how when I say "I love you" you respond with "love me!"  You will always be my Sweet Caroline.

Love,
Momma

Tonsils No More

What kind of a parent schedules a tonsillectomy on Good Friday?  The parent who is pregnant with her 3rd child and doesn't want to spend a month of summer vacation recovering when you could be outside playing and soaking up the sun.  At least the parent was nice enough to schedule her sister to have a tonsillectomy as well so she had someone to share the experience with.  

The Dickmeyer girls were troopers!  There were no tears during the pre-op blood work and no tears the morning of surgery.  Now the recovery was a different story.  

The procedure lasted about 20 minutes and we were home with both girls about 3 hours after checking in at the surgery place.  Emmy met us at home with McDonald's for the girls and Starbucks for the adults.  

The girls ate cheeseburgers and french fries like no body's business.  

We spent lots of time cuddling, but only with mommy.  Daddy was the butler and got anything we needed.  

We also spent a lot of time on the couch watching Doc McStuffins.  

Arts and crafts time with Daddy.  

New jammies from Emmy for we were stylin' during our recovery.  

Through the midst of recovering Grace picked up an ear infection and a stick neck.  While Caroline decided to cut some teeth.  We survived which is all the counts.  I hope that when I look back on this 5 years from now I am like the other parents who told me that they know their child had their tonsils out, but they just don't remember it.

T-R-O-U-B-L-E

                          

How do you not look at this face without laughing?  Caroline LOVES life.  She is always looking for a good time whether it is:  

a morning talk with Grace

playing cars with cousins and uncles

going for a little drive

or adoring Baby "Ro"

or acting silly with daddy.

Caroline has big things happening in her life.  The potty is starting to come along.  I think she has finally gotten the swing of things.  We have a minor set back with the flu and going #2 in the potty but I am sure she will be back at it in no time.

Her speech is coming along very nicely too.  She is starting to form sentences and just today Grace said, "Mama, I think Caroline can say whatever she wants."  Her new favorite things to ask when someone leaves is ""(name of the person), come back?"  All while pushing her shoulders up and down in a questioning way.  

Caroline is signed up and ready to start preschool in the Fall.  To say we are a little nervous is putting it lightly.  Grace was more than ready for school and was ready for school and wanted to learn all she could.  Caroline may be our little social butterfly when it comes to school.  I know she will do great and will certainly provide some good teacher lounge stories.  

Caroline is anxiously awaiting the arrival of "Udson."  She likes to pat my belly and say, "Hi, Udson" and give him a kiss  The other night she was cuddled up on my lap and Hudson was kicking.  She looked at my belly and said, "Udson, op it!"  They are going to be best of friends I know!  

Next month brings a tonsillectomy so start sending your prayers our way!

In the great green room....

Caroline turned to 2!  The morning graced us with a snow storm but that wasn't going to stop the birthday girl from celebrating.

Keeping with tradition the birthday girl chose where to have lunch.  She chose McDonalds.  We opted to eat at home because of the weather, plus that meant the girls could stay in their jammies longer.  

After nap time Grace gave Caroline her birthday gift.  Grace thought Caroline would like Lady and the Tramp because she LOVES doggies.

It was a hit!  

 Then we decorated and waited for the guests to arrive.  

                    

"a comb, and a brush, and a bowl full of mush"

"a quiet old lady who was whispering 'hush"

"a pair of mittens.  Goodnight socks"

"three little bears sitting in chairs"

"Goodnight little house" 

 The food was all placed and waiting for the guests.  

Uncle Chris arrived for some pre-party tickles.

Caroline learned how to tell how old she was. 

 We even had live entertainment provided by Carter and Grace.  

 The guests arrived and partied like ROCKSTARS!  

The party ended with a cousin sleepover minus 1.  Rose will join as soon as she is not dependent on her mother for food.  

Caroline is now 2 and loving every minute of it!  

24 months, no longer counting her age by the months

This picture pretty much sums up Caroline and her unique personality.

Not so lady like.  

Caroline celebrated her cousin Sam's birthday.  It was a beach party and Caroline certainly enjoyed herself!  

The almost twins.  

Caroline enjoyed the Christmas season too.  She made her first trip to Coney Island and learned how to unwrap presents. She is very much into baby dolls and takes her job as a mother seriously.  

Caroline also graduated from physical therapy.  I wish I could say the same about potty training.  As for now I am going to just say nothing and hope for the best.  

23 months

The last post before the 2s.  Where has our baby gone?  

The halls have been decked at the Dickmeyer house.  Caroline LOVES the decorations. She likes to stand by the trees and say, "eyes."  She is learning that we look at the trees with our eyes and not with our hands.  She has no clue what Christmas is about but sure does enjoy the lights and sounds of the season.  

I wish I had pictures to share of Caroline's second Thanksgiving, however, we sat down to have lunch at Emmy's and Caroline decided to throw one HOLY fit.  After about 3 minutes of the fit I took her into the pac n' play and 2 minutes later she was sound asleep and remained that way for the next 3 1/2 hours.  She doesn't understand why we all have to sit down together for a meal when we do that all the time already.  

Caroline has one heck of a daddy.  Rich is committed to raising Caroline to become a daughter of the King.  He is very intentional in his parenting.  He is committed to reading Caroline a Bible Story EVERY night.  This past month they started their 4th Bible together.  

Caroline also started speech therapy this month.  Her friend "Arah"(Sarah) comes once a week.  Caroline has warmed right up to Sarah and is working hard.  Grace gets to help out too.  Caroline is starting to put more words together and not being so worried about saying words perfectly before trying to say them.  The physical therapist now only comes every other week and is thinking about discontinuing services but first would like to see how she does going up and down steps without a rail, seriously lady she is only 2!  

I can't believe next month brings the 2s.  Part of me feels like Caroline was just born and another part of me feels like she has been a part of the family forever.  It will be interesting to say the least to see what the 2's bring.  

22 months

If you didn't laugh when you looked at that picture then you need to scroll back up because you didn't truly see the photo.  Caroline is the life of any party she attends.  She has one speed and that is GO!  As Caroline is going she is talking a mile a minute.  She is starting speech therapy because there is a concern that her speech may be delayed.  However, her first day of speech therapy she talked up a storm to the therapist.  Her new favorite thing to say is "aser"(Gracer).  She then gives Grace a hug and says, "how u?"

Caroline loves her baby doll.  She loves to rock her baby, sing to her baby and play "This little piggie" with her baby.  She loves her new baby cousin, Rose.  She likes to admire her, gently touch her and then go on about her business.  

This month we carved pumpkins.  Well Caroline painted a pumpkin but she sure enjoyed herself.  

Caroline is gearing up for her 2nd birthday.  Ok, maybe her mom is but still I am sure it will be a good time had by all.  

Until next month......