Miss M's activities

Miss M is a busy woman lately and at some point she started talking ALL THE TIME.  She repeats the same thing over and over until you acknowledge that she has told you something or asked you a question.  She is putting 3 words together to make short sentences. I have no idea when this happened. I think it just sort of happened. Andrew will comment that he didn't know she said "insert word/phrase" and I just look at him because I don't know if it's new or not. I can't keep up with her anymore.

She's obsessed with accessories. I do buy them for her but she loves them. She loves hats, sunglasses, necklaces, watches, and whatever else she sees that you might be wearing that she would like to wear.

We were in St. Louis visiting Aunt Jessie, Uncle Craig and baby Jack (who isn't much of a baby anymore since he's almost as big as Miss M in height and weight!).  Jessie and I went to the store to buy me shoes and maternity clothes and ended up buying only stuff for the children.  They are so much easier and more fun to buy than adults.  I ended up getting Miss M a bunch of stuff. The store was having a sales so most stuff was $1.99 and then Jessie had a coupon!

She got a new hat, sunglasses, tutu, shirt, necklace and summer shoes and she insisted on wearing them all as they came out of the bag!

The children were able to take a bath together which was cute and fun. Jessie gave them both mohawks since Miss M thought that Jack looked so funny.

We make a lot of treats around here these days because it entertains Miss M and I like cookies and stuff I shouldn't eat more now being pregnant than when not pregnant! She was doing really good at pouring the measuring cups of ingredients in the bowl until I gave her the chocolate chips. She proceeded to eat the chocolate chips until they were removed from her care.  

Aunt Nessie and Miss M go to the fish store a lot when they are together. Miss M loves going to the fish (pet) store.  She runs around like a crazy person from one fish tank to the next.  When you mention Aunt Nessie's name she will usually make a fish noise which just shows she associates Aunt Nessie with the fish store. Well with it being winter and our limited activities I have hijacked Aunt Nessie's fun activity and started taking her to the pet store when we're close to one.  She's so funny to watch run around and talk to the fish or scream about what color the fish are - well only when the fish are blue since until a day or two ago it was the only color she could say - we have advanced to saying red now.

In an attempt to find things to do with Miss M on cold days that require her to burn energy and me to sit on my rump we started putting her blocks in a line like a balance beam and she runs down them until she throws herself in the bean bag. She loves it. She throws herself into the bean bag all the time. And she does it backward too which is scary b/c there have been times when the bean bag hasn't been behind her because she doesn't look.  I saved her life which is more of a frequent occurrence than I would prefer!

In the video below she says she's hurt but she's not. She says she's hurt a lot and she's not so no fear it's a safe enough activity!

Entertainment

Miss M owns what feels like 8 trillion toys and all she wants to do is sit on the counter, riffle through cabinets, and play with k-cups and tea bags.

She's been playing on the counter for about a half hour. Her lunch is cold now.

She usually plays with her other toys for 4.3 seconds each.

Pictures from the week

We have been busy ladies this week so far. It's been a good week but busy with paint estimators, plastic wrapping windows for extra insulation, listening to the security system lady sell me a security system (which she successfully did) and running errands in the city and in town.

I had, yet another, doctors appointment and dropped Miss M off at my friend's house to play.  When I came back a few hours later I found Miss M in a Snow White princess dress with purple fairy wings. She refused to take it off. I was afraid we were going to have to leave with it and bring it back later but with a little convincing (bribery) I managed to get her out of it.

We ended up just spending the entire day in the city and so for lunch we treated ourselves to the golden arches. It's no secret that Miss M likes dip.

What some of you may not know is that Miss M thinks she's a St. Bernard. Here she has a napkin under her chin. She puts all kinds of things under her chin and walks around as though it's normal.

Yesterday (Wednesday), the weather was a little warmer so we were able to go try out our new backyard. Miss M still isn't convinced she really likes grass but she appeased me and kicked the ball around a few times. We ended up in her car and went for a walk around the block a few times.  

She's wearing her rain boots in the pictures as she found them in her room when we were getting dressed and refused to take them off until much past dinner time. 

Miss M's hands were cold by the time she was ready to come inside so I made us a special treat (hot cocoa) to warm up. Miss M had her own big girl cup and she did so well with minimal spilling.  

Miss M loves to accessorize - here she has on her sunglasses and rain boots while she plays with the new Leap Frog computer that Aunt Cathy and Uncle Nathan bought her for Christmas.  

 She figured out where the music button was and felt it more appropriate to dance!

And a bit more randomness and baby #2

I found this picture on my phone. I took it when we were at Great Grandma's for Christmas. This is Miss M's new "cheese" face. She loved playing with all GG's toys that were toys from either Grandma Lu and Aunt Lynne or Craig and I. She's playing at an old desk that I fondly remember playing with as a kid. It was a lot of fun for reasons I can't remember but Miss M liked it too which was sweet.

Okay.  Time to switch gears and talk about baby #2 instead of Miss M. Gasp.  I am not really worried about Miss M freaking out about baby #2 coming along b/c it happens to kids every day and b/c I can't let myself. It does no good to dwell on how ticked she's gonna be when this baby enters the world.

We had an ultra sound last week and found out that the baby is for sure a boy!!! It's hard to believe. I don't know why since there was a 50% chance it was a girl or a boy.  I thought it was a girl since my pregnancy has been pretty consistent with my pregnancy with Miss M minus the over consumption of donuts.  Thankfully I am not working and thus not going to Dunkin' Donuts everyday and therefore have managed to pass stage one of the gestational diabetes obstacle.  I have to retest in four weeks. I don't know why but that's what they told me today.

The ultrasound technician did have a hard time measuring and looking at the baby because he was moving all over and turned the wrong way.  I have to go back tomorrow so she can look at and measure the spine and maybe a few other things. I hope this baby cooperates tomorrow as I would prefer not to reschedule yet again. All these doctor's appointments are not really convenient when you have a toddler to tote along with you or find someone willing to take her without abusing a friendship!

Baby #2's profile.

When I was pregnant with Miss M, we took a lot of pictures of me progressing through the months.  We don't take any similar pictures this time. I have decided it's not because we are already neglecting baby #2, but rather we used to take pictures before we left for work when I was cleaned up (not always the same as showered) and presentable for a photo opportunity.  Now when Andrew leaves for work I am either still in bed or look like I just rolled out of bed (which I probably did).  Maybe one day I will be presentable for a pictures of my ever growing belly.

Baby #2 is much more active than I remember Miss M being at this stage.  He's all over the place all day everyday.  I wonder if I am consuming too much caffeine or if this is the life I need to prepare for with a boy!

A lot of randomness

There's been a lot going on over here.  A lot. Probably more than I would prefer. I prefer easy and low key.  We moved a week or so ago. I have officially lost track of time.

Moving is a lot of work. I don't understand why people 1) enjoy moving 2) do it more than a few times in a lifetime.  Unless there are major changes to shake up the family around here, ie a new job in a far away location, I don't ever want to move again.  Thankfully, we had a lot of help come and unpack boxes and put stuff away and keep Miss M busy and out of trouble.  Grandma D came home with us after Christmas and Nick and Callie and the girls came up the following day.

We couldn't have done it without them. We have one box left to be unpacked (current tense b/c I haven't unpacked it since they left). They followed directions at just putting stuff wherever they saw fit b/c I didn't care. I was curled up in the fetal position in the corner overwhelmed with all the boxes and wondering where all this stuff came was in our tiny apartment. I have been able to find most stuff and unfortunately the time Nick took to organize the pantry might not stay organized for very long.

I am still overwhelmed everyday with the amount of things that I need to get done and the amount of things I want to get done.  I sometimes (not often enough) try to remind myself it's a 30 year project and not a 30 day project but there's so much I want to complete and check off my to-do list.  I get a few things done each day but it never feels like enough.

We did get a babysitter for Miss M on Sunday and we ventured (back) to the hardware store and then to Ikea.  Ikea is overwhelming. I am not sure whether I am that big of a wimp and can't handle anything or if there is honestly too many overwhelming things happening at once!  We restrained ourselves from buying most of the store. Our main goal was to buy a kitchen table and chairs. We succeeded and Andrew put it together in a matter of hours. It's a lovely table and Miss M even got her own chair!

Keep the judgement of feeding Miss M Apple Jacks to yourselves, please.

We made up an excuse to make brownies last weekend.  Miss M loves to help.  I let her stir the already stirred brownies and then because she needs exposed to life experiences I let her lick the spoon. I know there's the Salmonella issue but I have licked plenty of brownie spoons and haven't gotten sick so I took the chance. As predicted, she enjoyed herself. 

It has been cold. It's winter. I know it's to be expected but it doesn't have to be appreciated. I have been trying to keep Miss M busy because if she's not busy all she wants to do is watch the television or play with the iPhone.  I let her watch enough television and feel guilty about most of it but I have learned that the biggest lesson about being a parent is learning to live with guilt because there's enough of it. I could list all the guilt I live with regularly with Miss M but shall refrain to keep things on the lighter side (at least for tonight).  

She loves her choo-choo's (as she affectionately refers to them). She now has two Thomas and Friends trains. I made her a really pathetic train track to drive her trains around (and to make her daddy-o feel guilty...he needs some guilt too...and get her train table built...which is a long story for another day which hopefully can be explained sooner than later). 

Her babysitter gave her a set of paints. I was rather terrified of the paints b/c of staining but it seemed to wash right off the table and out of her clothes so we painted tonight at her new table.  It's not that cold in the house rather she still just likes wearing her hat.

Glimpse into Christmas part I lost count

Finally we ventured to Great Grandma and Grandpa's and we got to see Great Aunt Lynne and her woof doggy.  Miss M liked the woof puppy as she referred to her.  The dog is harmless, keeps to herself and plays chase without realizing she's playing chase with a toddler!

We took a lot of pictures. It was fun to see how much Miss M liked playing with the toys that Craig and I played with as kids. 

Miss M watching Handy Manny with her new Handy Manny doll from Grandma Lu. 

There are pictures from long ago with Craig and I using this chair.  As with her love for little table sets she enjoyed the little chair fit for her.

Miss M was set on having a pencil behind her ear because Manny has a pencil.  

 Miss M received gloves from Grandma Lu and was so excited and ran around the house with them on.

 A girl needs a break to eat M&M's.

 She also needs a break to catch up on some Handy Manny and relax.

 Great Grandma and Great Grandpa and Miss M and I. I held her because I was afraid she would try to nose dive out of their arms. She's notorious for her it and it's scary when she does it.

 We found the chair for her and then I didn't have to take any more pictures!

  Miss M says ta-da.  The end.

Glimpse into Christmas part 3

In addition to having Christmas at Grandma D's we attempted to get all the grandkids in a picture together. The grandkids range from Miss M (however old she is - uhhh - 20 something months) to 13 years old. 

It started out promising. There are seven here. There are supposed to be seven. 

 Miss M is on her way out.

There are only six and one (mine) looks like she's not into more pictures. The seventh one didn't go for the bribes so there were only six on the steps.

The oldest four were saints. They sat there and smiled through all the screaming, tears and bribery.

I can't stop laughing. I love this girl. She's one dramatic three year old.

It's a good thing we only try to take pictures of all seven of them once or twice a year. It's exhausting work. 

Glimpse into Christmas part 2

Next we ventured the five hours to Grandma D's house. Road conditions were a bit uneasy for a portion of the trip, but Miss M survived without a stop or any unnecessary screaming at me.

She seems to be a better (less needy) passenger when it's just the two of us. It seems like she knows I can't get everything for her that she wants and she stays more content than when Andrew and I are together.

Grandma D's house is always fun because there are cousins to play with and lots of new (to her) toys to explore.

Here are a lot of Miss M before we went to Grandma's to open presents. They make me so happy because they are about the only pictures of Miss M looking relatively interested in getting her picture taken.

  

 Applying make-up before departing for Grandma's.

She did this on her own. 

Miss M received a puzzle with her name spelled correctly - and it wasn't even special ordered!

We tried to take a picture of the three of us and it turned into us with all the girls! You'd think they were all ours with as cute and happy as they look!

 Here is how the picture of the three of us turned out.

Merry Christmas! 

Glimpse into Christmas pt 1

Miss M is napping. I predict my time is almost up. I spent a lot of time on the phone and now I am trying to get pictures uploaded.

Christmas and all the corresponding travel went really well.  Miss M was an angel in the car when I needed her to be (bribing her with an ipad or phone did not hurt matters).

Miss M was a lot of fun this year. She was so delicate with opening presents. She hasn't figured out the concept of ripping open a present so fast and moving on to the next one before she realizes what was in the last package.  It made things a little calmer and easier because we weren't scrambling to keep up with her. 

She was also very delicate with the Christmas trees. She liked the ornaments which she referred to as "balls" and she touched them but rarely did I have to worry about her destroying an ornament, eating Christmas lights, opening presents prematurely, or pulling the tree over.  

We did Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa Calhoun's first but we don't have many pictures because there were so many others taking pictures. 

We did take some random pictures.  

Our main purpose in traveling to Grandma and Grandpa Calhoun's was to provide support for the donation surgery. We were just fortunate to celebrate Christmas while we were there.

Craig and I the night before the big surgery.  One of the last times Craig will be photographed with six kidneys (because being pregnant I have four!) between two people. 

Miss M on Thunder or Lightening. I don't know what the horse was officially named. It doesn't matter. She loved it.  She also seriously loved Jack's roller coaster. I only seem to have videos of her going around. I will work on that later.

 Miss M loves tables that are her size. This table is Grandma Nan's.  She ate all her meals at the table and did quite well. She didn't make any more of a mess than she usually would while eating. She did get a new little table for her new room for Christmas from Grandma and Grandpa Calhoun.

 She liked wearing Grandpa's Santa hat although it doesn't fit.

Here is an attempt at the video of Miss M and the roller coaster.