19 months

Wow! When did it happen that greta is growing up so fast. She's now closer to 2 than 1. It was a great month and here's her top 10.

1. Moved to the blue room at day care. 

2. No more pacifier at day care (trying to figure out how to stop it at home)

3. Talks and talks and talks. I swear after the first day on her new room she was talking more. She eve gets 3 word sentences out.

4. Favorite song is Greta, Greta, jump up and down! She ten tries so hard to jump up and down. More spins in acid me and stamps. But the cutest thing ever!

5. Has a slight attitude... At least she knows what she wants and its afraid to tell you.

6. Loves Curious George.

7. Dressed up as a cupcake for a Halloween party at day care.

8. Has the best laugh and giggle and cheesy smile.

9. Is all about "Greta do it." Look out now! 

10. Pushes my buttons, challenges me and makes me love her more each day.

Will update the picture when I get my computer fixed :-(

Acts of kindness

I'm no saint but I like to help people when I can and its so refreshing to see other people doing the same. Was great to see a young man give up his seat on the bus for an older woman.

I'm going to try and add to this list when I see something. 

Beet harvest 2014

One of my favorite things about being a farmer's daughter is riding in the sugar beet harvester with my dad. There's nothing like it. Growing up we all loved it. My friend Jenny and I would spend hours out there riding in the tractors and the trucks to the factory. Great memories there. Going to try and find a picture of us.

And now as an adult I still love it. It's. A great time to just sit and ride and watch my dad be the amazing, brilliant, hard working man that he is. As technology and farming advances it is hard to imagine everything that he needs to think about and worry about and know about. I was in awe with his new harvester and all that it could do.  Everytime I looked down I saw something new. Incredible!

What was even better this time was that Greta also got to ride with dad and experience the same joy of farming. I think dad loved it more. She kept saying Papa. Ride big tractor. Sugar beet. Precious!

So here's to all the hard working sugar beet farmers out there, especially my dad. Thank you for all you do.  For the hours you work. The dedication you have. And for giving us the best sugar in the world!

Belgium bound without Greta

LWell it finally happened. I knew it was bound to happen but was hoping it wouldn't. I got told to go to Belgium for a couple big marketing meeting. To say I was nervous, anxious and down right freaking out is understatement. I felt guilty for leaving, mad because I had to go, sad because I would miss her and nervous to be on a different continent if something were to happen. 

Good news... I survived - thank goodness for FaceTime and texting pictures and videos. Greta survived - in good hands with daddy and grandma. And the meetings were actually somewhat useful and I got a waffle.

Here's hoping I don't have to go back for a while or that she and Ryan can come next time.

Dropped plate

At dinner last night Greta was helping clear the table like she always does. We'll this time she dropped one of our black plates and horrible crying and tears preceded.  Unfortunately at the time we thought the noise just scared her and didn't think much of it. Then as I was giving her a bath I saw the poor little black and blue big toe. Felt horrible!!! Should have put ice on it or something. 

She's a trooper though and I got her calmed down pretty quickly. Then it was boo boo... Toe... Plate. Very sweet but I'm sure it hurt like crazy!

The big move to the toddler room

If I haven't been saying it enough, Greta just isn't a baby any more - despite my efforts to keep telling her to stop growing.  Yesterday she made the move to the toddler room.  And the first day was great!  They said she had a good time painting and playing with the other kids. They even said as they were singing songs, one called out each kids name during the same and she keep saying Greta!  Greta!  Anxiouly waiting for her turn. 

Also after I picked her up from school, I swore she was already talking more and more clearly.  Crazy how fast it's happening.  I just hope and pray it's a good transition.

Also great news... no pacifiers in the toddler room... so that will help a lot in trying to break her habbit.  I wasn't sure how to do it, but this will be a great start.  I think after my next trip I might start working on it at home.  But we'll see... she's pretty attached to her pacci at night and in the car for long trips.

Happy Birthday Evan!

In honor of Evan's 5th birthday we packed up and headed to Fort Wayne for the weekend - always fun! 

Saturday, we headed to the putt-putt place for the party - where there was pizza, cake and ice cream and a bounce house!  So fun!  I even had my fair share of time in there with Greta - who after not being so sure about it at first, ended up loving it.  We bounced and bounced and there were many tears when we had to get out. 

And Evan is a huge batman fan, so I dressed Greta up in a batgirl outfit for the party.  And since she's a ham, here's her cheese face!

 

I also love seeing her play and interact with Colin and Evan.  They are so cute together.  

We played outside lots too. Greta even helped push Colin on the swings.  And she wasn't even trying to push him out - lol.

 

A great time had by all!

Our beloved Joey

It's been a rough couple weeks around house with Joey... we've watched him slow down, work harder to get up and down the steps and now start losing control of his bowels.  I'm not sure how much time we have left with him and that breaks my heart every time I think about it.  Its breaks my heart even more that Miller won't have him around anymore and neither will Greta.  She adores him.

Here's hoping we can make the last bit of his life a memorable one.

Marti Gras baby

My last trip was to New Orleans... so of course I had to bring back from beads and fun glasses that I got at the conference... and Greta had a great time with them.  She even put them on Miller!

Happy birthday to me

I got home late Thursday night (my birthday was Friday)... Greta started to wake up about 7:00 am and I snuck into her room, and said Hi baby!  And with the biggest most beautiful smile, she looked up and me and said Mama!  Like mama you're back, you're really here!  It was the best birthday present I could have ever imagined!

Due to bad weather, we couldn't go to the zoo like we wanted (Ryan and I both took the day of).  So we went to lunch and then bought a new ceiling fan for our room and then came home and played  Greta took a great nap... and since it was my birthday I decided to as well!  Then we headed to Mac's - our favorite birthday place because you get a free meal.  Greta was great!

So another year older, another year wiser.  So what have I learned...

• Being a mom is the best thing ever - I can't even remember life without her.
• Being a mom is the hardest thing I've ever - but I can't remember what I did without her.
• Life isn't about waiting for that perfect moment, it's living every moment like it could be your last.
• Sometime you just need to jump in puddles or jump in a pool with your clothes on or laugh so hard it hurts.
• Traveling is always harder on the mommy than the baby.
• How much you can get done during a nap is an art.
• I get more done before Greta wakes up in the morning than most do in their entire day - dishes, laundry, lunches made, emailed checks, some emailed replied, pick up, and who knows what else.
• Change is inevitable, it's what you make of it and how you grow from it that matters.
• There's always more to learn.

Traveling again

I love my job but hate traveling.  Right now I'm in New Orleans and in two weeks, I had to Belgium for what will be the longest time I have ever been gone from Greta.  When I think about it, I cry, my stomach starts to hurt and I want to throw up.  Moms should never have to leave for the kids for this long. 

18 months old

Wow has time flown!  I definitely don't have a baby anyone.  She continues to grow and amaze me more everyday.

Top 10
1.  Repeats everything I say - amazing the words she can get out.
2.  Is starting to put 2 words together to make little sentences.
3. Is a biter :-(
4. Loves, loves, loves her baby dolls.  She loves to get up close and say "Hi" in the sweetest way ever.  And got to hold a little baby at day care... they ladies said she was in her glory!
5.  Can eat and eat and eat.  Sometimes I think she eats more than me.
6.  Still only has 8 teeth.  The 4 font and the 4 molars.
7.  Loves sports :-)  Says football, touchdown and boom (when people get hit). And enjoys kicking the ball and golfing.
8.  Is very independent - or wants to be.
9.  Is a little ham
10.  Has so many facial expressions.

Love her more each day!

18 month check up update... she's perfect (of course).  We saw her new pediatrician, Dr. Frei and it went well... didn't even have to get any shots.

Weight: 28 lbs. 5 oz (95th percentile)
Height: 34 1/2" (98th percentile)
Head Circumference: