Visitors, Skiing, and Thanksgiving - oh my!

So I'm still being lame and not updating very often. It's been crazy busy between having visitors, celebrating holidays, managing a newborn who still isn't on a very good schedule, dealing with a croupy toddler, Fogg accepting a new job and generally living life. First, I give you the updates on the family then I'll give you the haps on our visit from Dale, Georgette and Gabby, and April.

Not widely advertised, Fogg was looking for a new job. He got one! A great one! We are really excited about his new opportunity. Not only does it come with more compensation (a huge plus) but it is also a huge step in his career. The company is called IPNS and we are so excited about his future there. He started Monday after Thanksgiving and the first day went well.

Reed got what we think is croup the day before Thanksgiving. He asked to go to bed over an hour early on Wednesday, left Thanksgiving dinner of which he ate none to go down for a nap voluntarily. Then the dry cough started. He's been handling it like a trooper but sometimes it gets the best of him. We've been doing the humidifier a lot and getting him to drink fluids along with just laying low at home. Seems like today it's getting a bit better.

Nora is having a hard time meaning so am I. She doesn't do great with the schedule and her bowels cause her great discomfort. I've been doing what I can to get her "moving" but each day is different and the nights as well. She has a hard time sleeping without being held so I'm trying my best to train her. I'm still trying to tell the difference between the "i have to poop" scream and the "i want to be held" scream. Most nights I'm up feeding her 3 times which in my opinion is 2 too many. I'm getting tired, which means that I get frustrated and don't do a great job sticking with the training. I'm trying to stay positive and motivated to get her on schedule as best as I can. She is SOO different from Reed at this age so it's like learning to do the newborn thing all over. Thankful that I don't have to go to work after these long (maybe short?) nights but feel nervous that I won't have it fixed by the time I do go back to work. I'm trying to do babywise as it worked so well with Reed and I still reap the benefits to this day. It's harder when you also have a toddler and are trying to things like laundry or cleaning or running errands. The biggest thing is trying to keep her awake after feeding (sometimes she is good and sometimes not - especially if she goes in the car after a feeding, she will go to sleep) and trying to get her to fall asleep on her own (without being rocked to sleep). I'll keep working on it!

I'm trying to enjoy Nora being so small as it does go fast, though I struggle when I'm tired and frustrated. Reed has been great as a big brother and continues to be the best little boy ever. I struggle a little with the day to day stuff, trying to keep up and stay organized. As you know, I'm very organized and planned so it is hard for me to not have a schedule or accomplish anything.

So Fogg's brother Dale, his wife Georgette and their daughter Gabby came to visit over Thanksgiving. At the last minute, my best friend April also came into town and spent a few days with us and her sister. We took Gabby and Georgette skiing at Snowbird on Wednesday. It was beautifully sunny and warm and it was Gabby's first day skiing. After just a few runs she was stopping and turning on her own. I think she like it quite a bit! Reed also took a run and by the end he was doing a good job with his wedge to stop. I look forward to bringing him up again soon.

Reed after skiing:
Uncle Dale with his new niece

Gabby and her cousin Nora. Gabby took every opportunity to hold Nora, it was so cute!
Reed and Gabby played together all week and played very hard. Everything Gabby did, Reed had to do as well. Here they are watching TV one afternoon.
We also went to the tumbling class, loved this picture of Reed with the streamers, he loves this part of class.
Nora celebrating her first Thanksgiving

The three Dick and Fran Fogg grandkids

Here are two reasons that I'm thankful:

How Nora spent her first Thanksgiving dinner

Sitting down to dinner

Yummy food. We are standing because Gabby taught us an "active" prayer to bless the food.

We went to see the new Muppet's movie after we ate. It was Reed's first time in a movie theatre. He did a great job watching the whole movie, though he walked up and down the row of seats several times. Nora also went, but she slept the whole time.
Friday, I took Georgette and Gabby up skiing again at Snowbasin. Gabby did great and loved all of her runs. I left early to take Reed home, he was really sick at the time and needed some TLC and a nap.

April came over to stay after Dale, Georgette and Gabby left on Saturday morning. April loved playing with Reed and holding Nora. Here they are taking a nap together.

Well, that's all for now. Gotta get going to get Nora back on the schedule for the day. I'll try to get some more pictures of Nora and post again soon!

Cheers~