Monday, January 31, 2011

Feeling Extra Special

Wow was I celebrated this weekend! Every where I turned there was a new surprise, even if it was Reid getting the flu (poor guy). He was a trooper and stuck it out!

My birthday has a new meaning after having a little girl and realizing what the birth day is really all about! Thanks Mom for carrying me for 9 months and going through labor...even if it was only 45 minutes =)
It all started Friday, when Reid got home from work and surprised me with flowers!
a little bit of Spring in our kitchen!
We met up with our good friends at the Park Tavern.  You get a free pizza for your birthday, it's big enough to feed a small army!
Sally loves pizza! See cute little Lucy in the background =)
Kari, Tiffany and I went to get our nails did Saturday afternoon.  Was so fun to be with such great friends, chat and be pampered! Thanks girls!
I came home to another little surprise on my flowers. Sally and Daddy sure know that Mommy likes sweets!

You can kind of see the pretty nails-Thanks Tiff!
We decided to venture out for an afternoon snack.  We headed over to Yum! and shared a delicious cookie and hot chocolate.  Sally was a big fan!

Do you see Sally's look of death? "Daddy, don't you dare help me with this glass of water even though it's way too big for me!"
Reid arrange for our babysitter to come and watch Sally while we had a night out.  A night that I thought was going to be the two of us, however, Reid had something up his sleeve!
We stopped at the Dover for a drink before our dinner reservations at Bennihana.  I had a glass of wine that they filled to the brim! Happy Birthday to me! Doesn't he look great?! You'd never know he wasn't feeling well!
We had reservations for 6:45. When we got there they told us our table wasn't ready.  However, little did I know, this crew was hiding behind the wine rack waiting to be seated before me. Reid was pointing my attention in other directions and I was totally oblivious! It was a great surprise! Thank you all for being such a big part of my day! I'm thankful for all of you!
What a good looking  group, even if one of us had to dodge an egg ;)

As I was watching our babysitter cross the street I came into the kitchen for yet another surprise with cake and candles.  Did Reid do a good job or what?!

Sally was excited to give her Mama her gift and her homemade card!
 Thank you so much to everyone for making my day/weekend so wonderful.  I appreciate all of the phone calls, Skype calls, text, facebook messages, cards and gifts, you mean the world to me! 

Looks like Sally and I better start planning for Daddy's big day even though it isn't until April.  The bar has been set pretty high!

Friday, January 28, 2011

This & That

She's almost as big as her Daddy

Playing around with the Webcam

Cheeeese!
Have a wonderful weekend!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Fresh Air!

There was some melting going on around these parts yesterday.  The clouds parted and the sun came out.  Sally had just gotten up from her afternoon nap.  I asked her if she wanted to go outside, something she hasn't been asked for a really long time.  I wondered if she'd even understand what I was saying. She started to clap her hands and saying "Yessth, yessth, yessth." Then she paused, got a concerned look on her face and said, "brrrrr!" Then she started listing everything she'd need, bootzs, mitttttins, hat, cooooat, pantzs, brrrrr.

It was amazing at how much a little Vitamin D can do for your outlook! She was waving and saying Hi to everyone that would pass.

Pink Princess! Thanks Ella for letting us borrow your snow stuff!

running...well, as best she could with all of her gear on

At some points I couldn't see her because the snowbanks are too high

These next to videos are pretty cute and show how excited she was to be outside.  Sorry for some of the camera movement, I was teaching her "ready, set, GO!" and by doing so I'd run a little bit myself.  Also, she doesn't get hurt when she falls, she actually started laughing because of how difficult it was for her to get back up on her own. 




If we're lucky we might get to venture out today and tomorrow too!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

We're blessed

Wow, are little ones resilient! Sally surely bounced right back! She was begging for all kinds of foods yesterday, however, I wasn't quite ready to open her diet back up to whatever.  We stuck to the B.R.A.T diet, just in case.  I remember thinking, before becoming a mama, how in the world do people clean up puke without throwing up themselves.  It's so weird when the time actually comes and you have to do it.  It's just that, you do it! Even if it is 6 times!  I don't know how to explain it, but it's just different when it's your own child.  If I can nurture her and grow her in my belly, I suppose I can clean up her puke...just not every night please.

A few things I learned through all of this:
*thank goodness for hardwood floors, makes clean up so much easier
*thank goodness for a supportive husband
*thank goodness for washing machines
*Sally is almost two and we have only had a total of TWO nights where we were up pretty much the entire night.  Two, I'd say we're pretty lucky.  There was one night as a newborn where she wasn't a fan of sleeping and then last night when her stomach had a mind of it's own
*Since Sally was about 3 months she would only fall asleep in her crib.  She doesn't sleep in the car and she will not fall asleep in your arms.  I got to witness her stubbornness to falling asleep in my arms.  Her eyes were doing the heavy thing for about 5 minutes before she finally let herself relax, close them and sleep.  We could only be in her room in the rocking chair, otherwise she thought it was time to play.  Even though it was dark outside and the clock said 2am.
*I remember being a little girl and the comfort of my mom rubbing her hand on my forehead and pushing away my hair.  Sally was a big fan of this as well. 
*The realization that, I'm now that mama that is that comforting touch brings me to tears. 
*I love my job.  This motherhood thing is simply amazing!
*Most importantly, we're thankful, thankful that that's the worst we have to deal with.  During the middle of it all, I thought about those mothers having to care and comfort for their sick child because they're going through chemo or radiation.  We are very very blessed and we thank God for that every.single.day, and pray for those that are facing those challenges!

Sally loved the fact that she got a lot of "extra" baths through it all.  She's getting creative with her "touders" (towers)

I'm happy to report that she now knows the "duck" is a pig, even though it's shaped like all of the other ducks.  She's getting smart!
**A quick request.  My good friend Tiffany is due in May and she was just in the hospital passing Kidney Stones.  From what I hear, it can be more painful than childbirth.  So, needless to say, she could use a few prayers for relief and comfort. Much appreciated!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Taking a Sick Day

Our little punkin pie was not feeling too well last night.  She was up from 11-4am throwing up.  Needless to say, we're taking some R&R time today...hope to be back tomorrow...if the rest of us don't get it.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Sovereign Grounds

We had a great family weekend filled with lots of family time.  We were recommended this cute little coffee shop in South Minneapolis called Sovereign Grounds.  It has a regular coffee shop on one side and a kids play area on the other.  Sally was in heaven! Lots of toys to play with and lots of cute little kids to watch and play with.  It was so much fun! We will definitely be back!

Don't mind her crazy hair, there's lots of static these days!



Peek-a-boo, wanna play with me?


**see the adorable twins in the background? **

haha, I couldn't resist


not sure what's up with the tongue?

They even had a pet turtle there! Sally loved it!
Quick video with the turtle :)

Friday, January 21, 2011

Sly Grin

As I've stated before, Sally L-O-V-E-S to read! She picks the same books over and over and then one week those books will change.  This week it has been her Nursery Rhyme books.  She also loves to read it to me.  So funny how she'll remember and copy so many of the things I do for each song, based on just looking at the picture.  She's very sweet and innocent in this video until she spots the remote.

Take a look at those eyes.  She knows what's up! I do have to say, I love the fact that when she's doing something she's not suppose to, she'll shake her head and say, "No No No" as she's about to do it.  If she finds something that she knows she's not suppose to have, she'll grab it and I'll hear her little pitter patter, snicker snicker, as she comes to show me what she has, with the same sly grin on her face as you see at the end of the video.  I'm glad she's not a hider.  You know, one that does something naughty and tries to hide the fact they did it, or they get really quiet in the other room.  I can only hope she'll continue this way into her teen years and always feel comfortable sharing with Reid and I what she's doing, good or bad.

Have a wonderful weekend! Stay warm if you're in MN.  If not, be thankful you didn't wake up to a temperature of at least -15 degrees. 

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Proof of Affection

I kept all of the picture Christmas cards we received.  Sally loves to go to the side of the fridge throughout the day and shout out people she knows or to give extra hugs and kisses.  She's a nut who's got a lot of love to give! Take a look...

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Eskimo Kisses

Sally loves to give free hugs and kisses, whether it be to her daddy or her milk cup. She's an affectionate little girl. Recently we taught her how to give Eskimo kisses, you know, rubbing noses together. Here's a picture of her in action!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Grandpa Joe

Here is one of my favorite pictures of my sister, me, and my dad.

My sister recently made a fabulous post on my dad.  Remember, she's the writer, I'm the math brain.  I won't even try to write my own version here, because she nailed it. Exactly.

It's funny, because I was just talking with a girlfriend yesterday about Grandpas and how they seem to be so sappy and such great grandpas.  Sure, the grandmas are wonderful, but you expect that, right?

Like my sister, and I'm sure many people in my family, there really isn't a day that I go without thinking about him. Some days more than others.  It's especially more than others since having Sally. 

I wonder what he would have been like as a grandpa. I can imagine and picture it and know he would have been a great one.  One where his grandchildren would beg and plead to go visit Grandpa Joe. 

Do me a favor, hop on over to her blog and take a minute to read it.  He's part of who Sally is and I love that!

Monday, January 17, 2011

Taking Baby for a Walk

Sally loves her babies! She was sad when we had to leave the Nursery at Church because she wanted the baby, she was sad when we had to leave our Friend's house because she didn't want to leave the "Girl" (an American girl doll). She's such a good mama already! At home she takes her baby for a walk all the time. She does the same route and is so funny! Can't wait for Spring when she can walk up and down the sidewalk!

**Sorry for the quality it was recorded on my phone.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Neighbor Friends

The other night our ECFE class was cancelled because of a water main leak.  Our good friends from class text us and invited us over for dinner and play time for the girls.  It's so great having such great friends who are in the same toddler stage we are.  Neither of us has to worry about the unpredictability of our girls' behavior whether it's being extra sweet and nice, or extra whiny and not sharing.  We don't have to worry about judgement of how we're parenting, because we pretty much parent the same way. 

It's so nice to only live a few blocks from this great family we bounce ideas off of each other all the time.  Do you do this, what do you do when she does this, does it drive you crazy when she does that, isn't it so cute when she does that...that sort of stuff :)  We so look forward to being great friends and watching our girls grow up, not too fast of course!
Girlfriends

Thursday, January 13, 2011

She's been hanging around too many boys...


Dancing to the ABC's

Not sure if she thinks her hand is in a pocket or if she's just copying her Uncles? :)

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Teacher's Pet

At ECFE when we are all sitting in a circle singing songs, Sally loves to sit up in the front on the couch by the teacher. She loves to be her helper and grab the next prop for the next song.

Here's another teacher at her ECFE class.  Sally likes to keep her close because she knows she's the keeper of the bubbles! One of Sally's favorite activities at class!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Using a Spoon

Slowly, but surely Sally is starting to prefer her spoon over her fingers.  She tends to get pretty excited and proud of herself!

Monday, January 10, 2011

Vroom Vroom

Sally is oh so sweet with her dollies.  However, she loves a good monster truck! Take a look!


Friday, January 7, 2011

20 months

Tomorrow Sally turns 20 months. 12-20 months went WAY faster than 0-8 months. Can we freeze time for a little bit? She's getting too big too fast. Before we know it she'll be off to Kindergarten!


This was a video earlier this week in the post playing with Nana and Grandma, but I don't think it loaded right, so here it is again! Enjoy!

**9 years ago Mommy and Daddy went on their first day!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Mickey Mouse

Sally and her cousin, Cannon, were in awe of Mickey Mouse. This was from when Reid and Marc were little. It has a cassette tape and he reads a book, moves his mouth, and his eyes open and close. The kids could have sit for hours just listening and watching Mickey!

"Are you for real?!"

"Hey Cuz, can you believe what you're seeing?!"



Buddies!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Baby Doll

Grandma and George got the girls the perfect Christmas gift, baby dolls and a stroller. It's the first thing Sally asks for in the morning. She's already such a good mommy! Thanks Grandma and George for the great gift!

Hanging out with her Godmother

"DOLLIES!"


Baby's hungry!

Monday, January 3, 2011

Playing with Nana & Grandma

Sally loves her play time with her Grandparents. Sally helped Nana get ready for Christmas Eve dinner. Nana let her play with her lipstick :)



We had Christmas with my family on New Year's Day. There's always a chance there will be a dance party...we love our Glee!