Picture Update

Calleigh has had a rash on her face that you can see in the pics. It's been difficult to get many good pictures of Calleigh because of the rash. You can see that she is eating well - she has outgrown all her newborn clothes and most of her 3 month clothes too. Dax has had a cold since Friday night (which he's passed to Calleigh). Both kids are doing well despite mild illness. I'm exhausted from it all (as you can tell, fewer posts and I'm disappointed to say I've taken a lot fewer pictures than I'd like lately). Matt's been very helpful playing with Dax in the evenings and getting him to bed. I'm not sure how I'm going to do this on my own when Matt travels. Oh - can't leave out the jealous acts as of the last few days. Dax tells me not to hold Calleigh when she cries - to hold him. He threw a block at her - but thankfully his aim is quite poor.

yikes! (email I got today)

FDA Approves Food from Clones against the Will of Congress and the American Public

Despite scant data, congressional action demanding further research and over 150,000 public comments in opposition, FDA approved the sale of meat and milk from cloned animals yesterday. In addition, the FDA will not require any special procedures for tracking or handling food products from clones. It will not require labeling of any kind on food products from clones or their offspring, depriving consumers of their right to know about the origins of their food. This action comes at a time when Congress has voted twice to delay FDA’s decision on cloned animals until additional safety and economic studies can be completed.

The FDA’s bullheaded action disregards the will of the public and Congress. FDA based their decision on an incomplete and flawed review that relies on studies supplied by cloning companies that want to force cloning technology on American consumers. FDA’s action has placed the interests of a handful of biotech firms above those of the public they are charged with protecting.

While FDA may deem these products safe to enter the market, companies like Ben & Jerry’s and Organic Valley have pledged not to use cloned animals or their offspring. Dean Foods, Hormel, Tyson and Smithfield Foods have also stated they do not plan to accept milk or meat from cloned animals, but have not addressed their plans regarding the offspring of clones.

Sign the Clone-Free Pledge! Let food companies know you won’t buy food from clones. While animal cloning has been banned for use in organic production, we need to let other companies know that we will not buy their products if they are from animal clones or the offspring of clones.

What else can you do?

1. Buy organic meats and dairy if you eat animal products.
The National Organic Standards rightly prohibit clones and their offspring from use.
2. Tell Congress to Label Food from Cloned Animals!
There are bills to label food from clones and their offspring in both the House and Senate. Contact your Congress members and urge them to support this important bill!



**If the links in this email don't work visit http://ga3.org/campaign/clone_pledge


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"I Want to Shoot 'em"

Dax's repeating words as he excitedly jumped into bed tonight. Daddy came home the other day with a suggestion from a coworker to try the cheerio method of potty training. I didn't know what this was. But tonight Dax played a game of shooting at the cheerios (we had Honeycomb, so he used that) to learn to pee in the potty. It worked! He also has an obsession with Gummy Bears so we've been withholding them from him except when he uses the potty. Hopefully we'll get this little boy trained before he outgrows his diapers which are getting snug.

Adjusting

We get the question often - How are you all adjusting to having 2 children?
- Calleigh is doing great. She gets held a lot and she sleeps a lot.
- Dax's favorite thing to do with Calleigh besides hold her is kiss her. He randomly throughout the day tells us he's going to kiss her and where (her head, hand, cheek, belly, etc.) then proceeds to do so.
- Mommy and Daddy are trying to remember what it was like with a newborn - is this the same or different than it was with Dax? Is this or that normal, etc.
- 12 or more diapers a day just for Calleigh - I don't remember changing this many.
- Dax isn't sleeping so well. (So neither are mommy & daddy)
- Naps are a bit challenging. Dax is taking lots of car naps at this point.
- Getting out of the house takes a lot of work.
- Restaurant dining is nearly impossible - to the bathroom to nurse, back to change a diaper, again to nurse, another diaper, etc.
- Dax doesn't like Calleigh to be crying: In the car "Mommy, Calleigh's crying. Mommy rub her. Mommy, she's crying..." Then Dax breaks into hysterics if she continues to cry. Then of course Calleigh cries more.
- Daddy has to do a lot more work than he had to do the first time around. I think he's exhausted.
- Daddy loves his baby girl and she loves him. She smiles and makes all kinds of sweet expressions when Daddy sings to her.

Jaundice

Update: We finished with the biliblanket! Numbers look good:)

We are treating Calleigh for jaundice using phototherapy (Belirubbin Blanket) at home in hopes that we do not have o take her to the hospital for treatment. Doc did another blood test this morning and we should know something this afternoon as to whether the home treatments are working. Please pray for healing of our sweet baby girl.
The glow undernaeth Calleigh is the phototreatment. She has to be on this light all the time for the next five days as long as her bloodwork shows it working.

Christmas Posed Shots

I know Matt's eyes are shut. It's the best one we got though.
Dax loves to kiss Calleigh.
This dress is swallowing her.
Anyone know how to remove a shadow? I like this picture, except for that.

Christmas Afternoom

Christmas Morning

Calleigh Bryn has arrived!

December 21, 2007
5:50 am
8 lb 3.3 oz
19 1/2 inches

more pictures

At the Park

Yesterday was beautiful. Dax and I spent some time at the park. There was one other little kid there and they followed each other around for an hour playing. So sweet. Also saw my OB. All is good - just waiting. My blood pressure is a bit high. Doc says its probably stress:)

Preparing Dax for Calleigh's Arrival

We have been trying to explain to Dax and prepare him for Calleigh's arrival. We've been roleplaying with this

cabbage patch doll (from my childhood) showing Dax how we take care of a baby, etc. This morning he pulled all the covers from his bed, put the doll on a pillow and pulled his red blanket over her. Then he pulled the white blanket over himself and read a book to the doll. This was so adorable to me because he set this up exactly like we do to put Dax to sleep (he gets the red blanket and Mommy gets the white blanket while Mommy reads to Dax.)
By the way - the book in the picture is Wild Animal Baby kids magazine. Its designed for kids under three and Dax loves them. My mom sent Dax a subscription last year and they have been really great.

Pregos Update

Went to the doctor today, but didn't see her b/c she was called out to an emergency. Just saw the nurse. Heartbeat was good. Measuring at 35. No signs of labor.

Please keep us in your prayers as I plan to have no pain medication this time after epidural problems with the last pregnancy.

Christmas Card Photos

I tried to take some pics in front of our own tree (which has been up since the first week of November), but the lighting in our home is limited. So this morning way before the mall opened, I dressed Dax up and took him to the Santa display to use the backdrop and the better lighting. I was afraid someone would ask us to leave, but the most difficult thing was getting Dax to sit long enough to snap a picture. So here are the Christmas card rejects - click.

Our Little Turkey

Dax started a MDO program a few weeks ago at a local church. He loves being around the other kids. They had a Thanksgiving feast last week and they got these turkey hats. When I arrived to pick him up, Dax was sleeping. As soon as he woke up he started asking for this hat. (Dax isn't really a hat fan.) He wore it proudly all the way home. He told us he was a princess. (We corrected that he was a prince:)

Saturday Mornings

We make waffles on Saturday mornings. Dax loves pouring and mixing.

Halloween

Dax dressed up to go trick-o-treating. He was very excited about the candy.

A Weekend at Mama & Grandpas

My first horseback ride at a fall festival.
Riding My Tricycle.
Feeding bones to Ivan & Katrina - holding a bone here.

My First Jack-O-Lantern

Dax didn't like the gooey inside of the pumpkin.

Mommy and Grandpa ended up doing all the work with very little interest from Dax who was off playing with his cars. I did convince him to take the eyes and nose out once they were already carved and I showed him a few times that its like a puzzle. He was finally interested when we put the lit candle inside.

The Cold Weather Finally Arrived

This is at our Music Together Class. I didn't think that I'd find a class I liked as much as the one in Dallas, but we did! Dax's music teacher is awesome. I cannot say enough about how great she is and Dax adores her. You an see this sort of fake smile - Dax has decided to smile for the camera. I never encouraged this because we wanted real pictures, but he's picked it up and you can see this smile is fake just for the camera.



This is at the park. The cold front came in and I was so excited - I took Dax to the park to play outside. All the equipment was wet from the morning rain and we were the only ones there. Dax isn't quite sure what to think of the strong winds.

How Old Are You? "2 Fires"

For More Party Pictures - Follow This Link

September Pics

Big Boy Bed

Dax has been in his own twin bed for about 2 weeks and is doing great. We read books and he gets a cup and then goes to sleep. He has never had a "lovie," but he does usually cuddle with this cup at night when he sleeps.

Healthy And Female

I went for my checkup today to make sure the baby was healthy and on target. I'm happy to report this is the case! We also know for certain that it's a girl. It's nice that we'll have one of each because I'm likely calling it quits after this one.

Keeping Busy In Houston