11 years

Doug and I celebrated 11 years of marriage this past Saturday night. It has seriously flown by, although time certainly has gained speed with the addition of children. Funny how that is. I am seriously blessed to still be in love with my husband, to consider him one of my best friends.

We celebrated by going to dinner, we went to www.urbanpl8.com. That restaurant was recommended to me because they have a gluten free and paleo menu. So, I was able to order and not have to worry about dairy, soy and gluten and have a yummy meal. It was so nice to be able to go somewhere and have many options. Garlic was just the big offender there, but it was easy enough to pick something off the menu. I can't wait for the next 11.

Doug

Ok, as I am busy tagging all my posts to make sure I don't favor a child over another I realized I have hardly any posts about Doug. So, we need to fix that (not that I have many of me, but still). So, be on the look out for some more Dadda posts.

Speaking of, he is training up for www.ragbrai.com which is July 22-28. So, he has been on the bike more to gear up for is. It is something I hope to do at some point because I have always wanted to visit Iowa. I think doing it on a bike would be awesome. Therefore, I sent him to do some recon work. Haha. Actually, all of his cycling buddies are doing it, so he should have a great time.

10th Anniversary of 9/11

Today is the 10th anniversary of 9/11.  I remember where I was when the events began to unfold.  Doug and I were at Emory due to a collapsed lung and other injuries he received from a motocross crash.  My mom called us up and told us to turn on the news.  I remember feeling such shock and disbelief that something like that could happen in the US.  I am very lucky in that I did not personally lose anyone that day, yet I still feel like I suffered a personal loss that day.  I just wanted to acknowledge this sad day in our history. 

Plumbing

Had to take some pictures of Dad and Jack fixing our backed up sink.  Well, trying to fix the sink.  The snake I bought wasn't long enough, so we had to call a plumber.  15 minutes and $220 later our clog was fixed.  Doug then replaced the faucet which was leaking.  Of course, nothing in life is easy.  The new handle hit the new sprayer.  So, the quick fix was to swap out the new handle with the old. Problem solved. 

Jack helping with the sprayer

Wanting to know if he can turn it on yet

And the new faucet didn't fit.  Life can't ever be easy

Ironing

I have hated ironing for as long as I could remember.  I just wasn't any good at it.  The iron I used was the one Doug had when I met him.  14 years ago.  It wasn't until my mom came over and used my iron and told me it was broken did I realize why I wasn't any good at ironing.  It helps to have a working iron.  Now I see how it actually DOES iron out the wrinkles.  Amazing.

Mountain biking at Yellow River

Yesterday Doug and I went for a short ride at Yellow River.  It was such a beautiful day.  When I got to the trails all I really wanted to do was lay down on a blanket and take a nap.  Instead, I finished getting ready and put the front wheel on my bike.  I met Doug at the trails and he was already out riding.  After a  bit, I decided to call him since he wasn't back at the truck.  He showed up minutes later and off we went. 

I felt pretty good on the bike, which was nice since I have only been on 2 rides in the last few months.  We went on a trail that amazingly enough, I hadn't been on before.  I thought I had ridden all the trails there, since I have ridden there so many times.  It wasn't single track, it was really more of a road than anything else, but it was downhill and it was FAST.  I loved it.  I think I went the fastest on my bike I have ever gone.  I just love the downhills.

Operation Night Wean

Success!

So, up until 3 weeks ago, Abby was starting to wake up to nurse about every hour to two hours, then getting up for the day at 5am. I was literally a basket case. I was a sucky, screaming, angry mom. I was logging her night wakes to implement the No Cry Sleep Solution, so I was really seeing how little sleep I was getting. It was also affecting her naps. She couldn't nap for 2 hours without waking to nurse. Then, finally, at midnight on Wed, Sept 29th, I. just. couldn't. take. it. anymore. Nursing her at night felt like nursing my dad (not that I have, but you get the picture). I went into our bed room and told Doug, I couldn't do it. He needed to go in there. He did. He sat with her while she pitched a tantrum on and off for TWO hours. He sat next to her crib, held her, rocked her, talked to her while she cried and screamed and played and then finally she fell asleep. I HATED it. Doug and I don't believe in CIO (Cry it Out), so he had no problem sitting with her. (I brought Jack into bed with me since they share a room). Then the next night, Thurs, I dream fed her before I went to bed and when she woke around 12am, Doug went in and did the same thing. Then, Friday night, I went to bed at 11:30pm and slept until 7am?!!?!?!!!? I slept 7.5 hrs for the first time since before she was born. Possibly since my 2nd trimester. I think I could have ran a marathon.

Since then, she has been sleeping through the night. I HATED it she was crying but since Doug was with her the whole time, according to Dr Sears, that isn't CIO (although, it sure felt like it was). I do wonder if Doug wasn't in there and we did do CIO, if she would have cried for more or less time? She didn't cry for a straight 2 hrs, she would ramp up and then down. The 2nd night I went in when I heard her really getting mad and just made it worse. Doug was not happy. I am still the only one to put her to sleep, but hey, at least I am getting 7 hrs at night. It is AMAZING the difference sleep makes. Seriously. It has almost been 2 weeks and she has only woken up one other time after the first 2 nights and Doug went to her and stayed until she fell asleep. Sometimes she will cry out and then fall back asleep. She is still nursing during the day and I added back her after nap nursing session (which she had dropped). I am just so happy!