Big Girl Bed

Sally transitioned to her new bedroom and big girl bed, upstairs, on Saturday for nap.  She has done great so far...much better than I anticipated!

She got up twice for nap and I laid with her for a few minutes and then she slept her normal duration.  Bedtime went even easier.  We did our same routine, read books with Mommy and Daddy.  Mommy says Good-Night, Daddy stays for a few minutes to snuggle and say prayers.  She went right down without a fuss. 

We did hear some pitter-patter at 5:45am Sunday morning as she found her way to our bedroom.  I was impressed that she came down and was able to find us, as she has never seen Reid and I sleeping, because she's always been "locked up" in her crib. I was surprised she was smart enough to come down rather than be scared and cry...like I think I would have done, had I been her, waking up in my new bedroom.  I think she wasn't able to find one of her nuks and was a little chilly from the extra fans we had going {it gets hot hot hot upstairs}.  She willingly went back to bed and slept until 8am!  Yesterday nap went perfectly as well as last night through this morning.  It's as if the Little Lady has been sleeping there for weeks!

So proud and excited!!

**More pictures to come of her new room later this week!

Sally's 2nd year photos

Happy Friday! My girlfriend, Liz, who took Sally's 2nd year photos dropped off the remaining photos this week.  Here is a quick video of the pictures.  Be sure to listen to the words of the song...Reid's pretty proud of his find on this one.  Of course it makes this hormonal preggo mama tear up every.single.time! I'd recommend searching YouTube or downloading the song to hear the rest of it.

Enjoy!

**I know your due date is really more like a "due month" because you never know exactly when the baby will chose to make his/her arrival, but according to our due date we are under the 100 day mark.  Only 99 more days until our due date! We're getting really and I mean really excited around here! D a y d r e a m i n g about snuggling with an infant!

28 months

With the cooler weather up in Ely, Sally had to wear warmer clothes. The feeling of putting pants on after a long hot summer can be a bit different.  She wasn't a fan!  She kept asking to wear a beautiful dress.  I decided with this week of nice weather, I'd let her pick out her dresses each day because I know the dress wearing days are limited, hence the fact that she looks like she's ready for Easter Mass. 

Click to view the previous months:

25 months

26 months

27 months

Buddies, Birthday, Bears and Horsie!

Here are the rest of the photos from our Ely weekend!

Thanks for the cute shirt Tiff!

Buddies

"Thanks for having me come play at your cabin, Izzy!"

Reid is pretty proud of these sunset pictures he snapped on his phone!

going for a ride!

They have an electric horse in the garage.  Sally had to say Good-Night and Good Morning to it each day :)

Bob sure knows how to make kids happy :)

Celebrating Pat's birthday! Not sure who's more excited about the cake :)

We went to the Bear Center where you can get up close to view them! Ted, Honey and Hope.  I think this one was Ted.

Honey walking into the woods

Hope eating right below Sally's feet

Dinner time...grapes!

They rest the grapes on the back of their paw and then eat them.  Such good manners!

One last ride on Horsie before we hit the road!

Thank you Bob, Donna, Pat, Tiff and Isabelle for your hospitality and a fabulous weekend filled with many memories!

Ely

We had a wonderfully relaxing time in Ely for the long weekend.  A HUGE thank you to the James Family for welcoming us with open arms, as well as the Christensen Family for inviting us along and providing so many extras! 

Many many pictures from Ely today! Tomorrow will be the second half of the pictures :) Enjoy!

After our 5 hour car ride and a pizza dinner we jumped on the boat for a before bedtime cruise.  Sally was in Heaven!

Helping Pat drive

Not sure who was more excited, Sally or Stella? :)

The next morning it was a bit crisp, but the sun was out so Sally insisted on putting her suit on.  She got in a quick "bath."

Thank goodness for Daddy to endure the chilly waters :)

A quick smile inbetween chattering teeth

Coloring with her BFF Tiff!

Enjoying another boat ride

"I love it, Mommy!"

Checking everything out

Of course this is what we wake up to, the morning of our departure :(

Saying "Bye Bye" to the water

Notice the Loon, "Hi Grandpa Joe!"

4 hours in to the ride home and she's still happy! She was a fabulous traveler! Still no napping in the car, but at least she doesn't get crabby! Lots of fun chatting and dance parties!

**Happy First Day of school to a lot of you out there! We hope you have a wonderful school year!

**A very special shout out to Daddy as he starts his first day of Grad school at Carlson tonight.  We're so very proud of you! xo

MN Fair!

One of my favorite bloggers recently posted on that venturing out with her daughter has "shifted from less of a responsibility of taking her with me into more of an experience of complete pleasure."

These were my exact thoughts and feelings as we experienced the Fair through Sally's world! We had planned for a while that we would go on Wednesday.  Daddy would leave work a little bit early so we could get a head start on our evening.  The only thing I was concerned about was potty.  She still doesn't go on a public toilet.  However, she doesn't have accidents either, but I didn't want her to be uncomfortable at the Fair so we decided on a Pull-Up.  I told her it was just special underwear and she still needed to tell us if she had to go to the bathroom.

You guys, we left our house at 3:30 and didn't get home until 8:30, she didn't ask to go to the bathroom until around 8 and we asked her if she could hold it until we got home. "Sure, Okay Mommy!" Reid looked at me on the drive home, "What do you think, do you think she stayed dry the whole time?"  I responded, "There's certainly a chance, I didn't go to the bathroom that entire time either, and I'm pregnant."  She was dry!! Such a big girl! But boy did she fill up Froggie :)

When we checked on her before bed, as we always do, she looked older.  I got a bit teary-eyed thinking back to our perfect family evening at the Fair.  How much fun she must have had, but more, how much fun she brings to her parents, to the people around her.  She's such a sweet girl with a big heart and we love her so!

Okay, okay, back to the Fair.  We did the oh so convenient park for free shuttle for free! My goodness, this is slick! I can't believe they don't charge anything for that!  Sally was ecstatic, she got to RIDE A BUS! Can you imagine the thrill of not having to ride strapped in to a car seat?  If not, just take a look at her face!

We got a few snacks/dinner after arriving and then headed to a few kiddie rides.

Reid's Favorite-Corn Dog

Mommy's favorite-pretzel.  There was a sweet old lady who couldn't get enough of Sally, as you can see, Sally enjoyed her as well...

Pink Horses!

Love her face!

They're my favorite

I tried to go down the slide with Sally.  Reid, "Jackie, there's no way they are going to let you climb those stairs being pregnant." grrrr, they caught me :( Reid got to take her instead, I suppose I do get to do quite a few things with her with being home that he doesn't get to experience...

So gentle

"P.U. Mommy, pigs stink"

As we were watching some of the Horse outside, a Mom and her mom came up to Reid and said, "My goodness, I don't think she could look anymore like you." Then she saw me and said, "I can see you in her too."  It doesn't bother me in the least that Reid gets all the credit for her cuteness.  They then noticed I was pregnant and were asking all kinds of questions.  Come to find out, she was also a teacher before having her two girls (2 1/2 and 6 months old) and then decided to stay home.  I kind of felt like we were suppose to swap numbers and arrange a play date.  Just typical friendly Minnesotans :)

A real Horsie this time!

Checking out the fish.  Love how her little hand rests on Reid's shoulder in complete love and trust!

Next came dessert.  Sweet Martha's Cookies with $1 all you can drink milk...HEAVEN!! Reid got the milk with Sally and I headed to get the bucket of the cookies.  I had my wallet and my phone so when I got the bucket I could only hold it and not sample any.  You should have seen the looks I got, pregnant lady with big ol' bucket of cookies, but she can't eat any...

My girl shares my love for sweets!

Mom, do I really have to take a picture before I can have a cookie?!

Nope, grab one and then smile at Daddy!

This one is for you, Mom and George :) Beautiful Sunset

Back on the bus, Sally waving Bye Bye to the Fair

Cheeeeeeese!

**Tomorrow, we're off to Ely, MN to hang with our good friends for the long weeknd. I'll be back Tuesday, I'm sure with a lot to share! Happy Labor Day Weekend! Be Safe!