Messmore Christmas & Grandma's 85th Birthday

Beth, Kinley, & Grandma 

On Saturday January 14th we drove up to Rock Island for a late Messmore Family Christmas celebration.  We had made the 2.5 hour drive once with Kinley when she was 1 month old and she slept the whole time so I was hoping that we would get lucky again.  She did really well until we were 45 minutes away and then the ultimate meltdown began.  She didn't want her paci or her toys or to talk to mommy - she was just mad and wanted out!  We thought she would cry herself to sleep but no such luck.  We finally had to pull over at an exit to get her out of her seat to calm her down and get her cooled off.  I feel bad for calling her this but she was definitely a "hot mess."  : )

Andy & Alicia

We finally made it up there just in time for lunch.  Kinley was one of 3 new babies in the family so it was exciting to get them all together.  

Evan woke up!

Kinley was 4 months, Hailey was 7 weeks, and Evan was 4 weeks.  I still can't get over how much difference a few weeks makes when babies are this young.  Kinley looked like a giant compared to her cousins! 

Most of the great-grandkids

We ate lunch and took some time to catch up with family that we don't get to see nearly enough.

Cousins

Stan & Char cuddling Evan

Amanda, Ashley, & Kari

We also took some family pictures but we were missing a few.

Messmore kids & their husbands/wives

The whole family minus a few!

After lunch we sang happy birthday to Grandma and opened presents.

Happy Birthday!! 85!

Kinley enjoyed watching the party from her bumbo seat like a big girl. 

(and yes we were sitting right next to her)

It was so nice catching up with everyone and I always wish we had more time to just hang out!  I really can't wait to get together again to see how much the babies have grown!

New Years Eve 2011

For New Years Eve we decided to go up to Scott's sister's house like we used to a few years ago.  They always host a fun party & have kids running around like crazy!  

We got up there Friday afternoon and decided to go to Cheli's for dinner & to watch the Blackhawks game.  It's a bar named after Chris Chelios, a former Blackhawk player.  It had a really fun sports bar atmosphere with lights & horns and everything - it sounded like you were at the game.  I was kind of nervous how Kinley was going to take the insanity but she did ok...until the horns started going off!  It was way loud & it scared the poor girl.  She got used to it after a while but I still felt bad especially since she was sleepy.  We also had the BEST fried asparagus ever. *mental note to get that every time we go up*

Cheesin' at Cheli's

We lounged around & had donuts and coffee the next morning which was a nice change of pace for everyone.  Then Kim, Sue, & I got ready to go shopping at the outlet mall nearby.  I knew when we pulled up  that I was in mommy mode as I said, "no, we don't need to go to Coach or any of my other normal places...let's go to Carter's, Children's Place, Gymboree, etc."  (I admit that I did squeeze my eyes closed as we walked passed Coach, ha!)

Our little diva on NYE!

Aidan had hockey practice that afternoon so after we were done shopping we swung by the rink to meet the rest of the gang & pick up Kinley.  We grabbed lunch from Portillo's on the way home & I was way impressed with that place.  They had workers outside in the cold waiting to take orders so your food would be ready when you finally got to the window.  This place was still crazy busy at 2:00 in the afternoon!

We went home and had a relaxing girls afternoon until I decided to shower.  While in the shower Sue knocked on the door and said they needed the bathtub because Kinley had a blowout!  She doesn't usually have them so I knew it needed immediate attention, haha.  I threw my hair in a towel & put some sweats on.  I didn't know what to do with this poor screaming child so I jumped in the tub with her!  I'm sure it was a sight to see!  I squated in the tub in my sweats & tried to clean her, too bad no one had their camera!

Lobster races!

Everyone arrived later that evening and it was time to snack and prepare for the lobsters!  This is the only time that we have lobster besides when we're in Florida so we were excited!  Tim put down newspaper so we could have lobster races.  None of those guys moved too quicky though so it was time to throw them in the pot.

Kinley is NOT a lobster fan...yet!

Then we feasted, enjoyed a few cocktails, and counted down until midnight.  Kinley was a super party girl and stayed up until 10pm, woah! haha.  At approximatly, 12:30 I went upstairs to bed.  Gone are the days of partying until the wee hours, especially if there's a bed that close!  We had so much fun and all the kids agreed that we should do this every year!

Even the kiddos got in on the lobster action!

2011 brought so much excitement that we can't wait to see what 2012 has in store!

Range Visit

The Range's came up to visit in late December so I snapped a few quick pics.  Mia & Gus were way to busy to take any pictures so I got mama Katie with Kinley.

 Katie is due with their 3rd baby in March, yay!

 Kinley was a little cranky at this point...maybe it was the out of control bib, ha!

Check out my cute outfit from Grandma!  That's all for now - shortest post ever!

Megan & Matthew visit!

My Aunt Marsha & Uncle Jack had a get together a few days after Christmas since my cousins Megan & Matthew would be home to visit.  Megan is doing her residency in Michigan so she hardly has any time to come home and Matthew just got transferred to Kansas City for his job so it was great to visit with them.

Dr. Megan & Kinley

It was Megan's 1st time to see Kinley since the party this summer when she was in my belly!

Scott, Michael, Andy

Me, Alicia, Beth

We got an exciting surprise that night too - Ian & Stephanie are expecting!!

Soon-to-be daddy & mommy!!! 

Steph practicing with Kinley

Ian with Kin - check out her belly! I love it! 

Friends & cousins - pretty girls!

Our little family

There were a couple other new babies there, too!

Tera's son Dakota

Whitney & Riley 

Grandma & Kinley playing with one of her favorite toys

Kinley couldn't decide if she wanted to stand up...

or sit down with Aunt Beth.

Scott & his babydoll

It got late so we decided it was time to call it a night.  And good thing we did, I think a few people stayed up until 3am...not naming any names...  We had a blast catching up and hope to do it again soon!

The Paci Game

Sleep...Hmmm...Remind me what that is again?!

Yep, we've been having those kind of nights at our house since Christmas.  I'm not sure where it came from, but it needs to stop (quickly).  Kinley was always a good sleeper from the beginning.  During the 1st few weeks, she would wake up to nurse but she outgrew that phase pretty quickly.  I would have to look back at the blog to see when she first slept through the night but it was a lot earlier than I had anticipated which was great!

The current problem is that she just wants her pacifier back in her mouth so she fusses until we come in and stick it back in.  As soon as it's in her mouth she grabs it, immediately closes her eyes, and she's off to dreamland before we're back in our bed.  This process happens every 45 minutes to an hour from midnight to 5:30 when I finally get up to nurse her.  She sleeps well from 8pm to 12-1am & then it's on.  This.is.getting.really.old.

I know it could be worse, we could actually be getting her out of bed to feed her or rock her back to sleep so sticking the paci in isn't a huge deal.  BUT, not getting to sleep for more than 45 minutes at a time is starting to wear on us.

The internet & baby message boards have been my best friend lately so I googled the issue & a lot of people said that you just need to let them cry until they get over it.  This could take a few nights but they quit "needing it" to sleep.  I figured that was the answer I would find so I kept looking...  Who really wants to listen to their sweet baby get so upset over a pacifier?  (I guess I'm a pushover, or a new mommy, whatever, but I don't).  The only other thing that we can think of is that she might not be getting enough to eat during the day so she's hungry and the paci satisfies her until she eats in the morning. 

Hopefully we can figure it out in the upcoming weeks & get our good sleeper back!  I'm sure like every other phase I'll look back on this and hardly remember how exhausting it was.  But for now, it's all I can think about!  Does anyone have any advice or know anyone that this has happend to?  I don't think it would be so bad if she hadn't spoiled us in the first few months with great sleep! 

With all of these angel baby pictures, you'd think she's the best sleeper in the world!  The only thing that's helping me get through this is to remind myself that I get to see my sweet Kinley's face everytime I get up.  : )