Concert fun

Just got back from the Rascal Flatts concert with my sisters :-) and Karle - who we took for her birthday. Great show!!

And I can't help sum it up in a top 10 list... 

1. There is no way that kid is old enough drinking - said many times by me

2. Some girls need more material for their clothing - no way will Greta ever leave the house wearing a string bikini top and dazzy duke shorts if you can even call them that. And if you have to hold your dress down while you walk so your butt doesn't show- it's too short!

3. People... Look in the mirror before you leave the house and ask - does this really look good? And be honest ... Cuz honey... It does not!

4. Drunk old people dancing cracks me up!

5. Older people wearing clothes for teenagers... See #3

6. Don't make out in front of people it's not polite

7. Sitting behind a guy that is 6'5" isn't fun

8. Wearing 5 inch heels at a concert is a bad idea on so many counts. 

9. Hearing your niece tell Yeah! when the bands asks if you're ready - priceless 

10. Dancing and singing with your sisters makes it a great night

And yes I realize that saying many of these thing I have officially become an adult and a mom.... But I don't care - in fact I love it!

16 months

Woah! Is it possible Greta is already 16 months?!?

Her top 10 from this month
1. Went on her first four wheeler ride and first ride in Daddy's car (even if it was just to the barn)
2. Is talking up a storm and says a couple 2 word sentences - like I did.  I do.  Made it.
3.  Has the best laugh and giggle.
4. Favorite toy is still her baby dolls.
5. Got 2 molars (so she has 5, almost 6 teeth now)
6. Love to read books
7. Enjoys watching Little Einsteins and Curious George.  Also got to watch parts of Finding Nemo, which she loves and kept saying fish, fish, and turtle.
8. Is stubborn and tells you what she wants or doesn't want with yes and no.
9. Love to be outside - especially in her pool or the garden
10. Is a great eat - loves her fruits and vegetables and is all done nursing.

She makes my heart so happy! 

All done breastfeeding

After 16 months, I decided it was time to stop nursing. And to my surprise it has been an easy transition. Greta really hasn't complained too much - I just told her mommy doesn't have any more milk and she accepted that. Deep down I was hoping she would be more sad, but she wasn't so that's another sign she's growing up. I'm happy to be down but sad because now I really feel like she's not a baby.

Also my boobs haven't had any problems. Think my gradual decreasing of nursing really helped. I even went bra shopping and now don't feel like I have saggy mom boobs - lol. It's the same things in life. 

My lessons learned from this first breastfeeding experience
- people respect it and get it.  I had several nice experiences were people let me use rooms or offices or closets when I needed to breastfeed or pump.  Just ask.
- it takes time and energy and is not for the weak.  I don't even want to begin adding up all the hours spent nursing and pumping.  But would I do it all again and for as long?... definitely.  It was a very rewarding experience - especially when you have a healthy baby and then can help other babies.
- don't quit.  Bloody nipples, blisters, engorged... all of the above, but I pushed through.
- Teeth do make a difference.  Greta waited until 13 months to get teeth, thank goodness!  And I could definitely tell a difference when she had them.  And yes biting hurts!
- it's free!
- baby's don't like the cover-ups or at least Greta didn't.  And I didn't like them either.  I loved watching Greta while she nursed.  It made my heart happy.
- Take all the advice and help you can get at the hospital. Yes they get up in your business but let me tell you... they know what they are doing and it's so worth it.
- My boobs aren't the same at all.  But a good bra helps make all the difference.

As it's national breastfeeding month... here's a shout out to all the mommy's sticking with it!

Poop

A new first at our house... Greta has been practicing sitting on the potty after bath. And tonight she did the same. Mommy on her potty. Greta on her potty. And a baby doll in the little potty. She doesn't go but sits there.... Good practice I think! 

Well tonight she decided to go poop... Just not on the potty. Instead she went in the living room on the carpet.  A big ol turd! Not quite sure when she did it, and luckily Ryan found it before we went to bed. 

Then she was concerned about it. And kept saying poo poo.

Proud I guess that she didn't go in her diaper. And laughing like crazy!! 

Bath is fun again

Finally we've overcome the fear of the bathtub! Hallelujah! No tear. Fighting. 5 second baths! 

Oh it's a great feeling!!

Molars oh my!

Greta has had a fever the last couple days and I was thinking it was teeth but never guessed which ones! Before this, she just had the 2 bottom front ones and 1 top front one. Well not anymore!! 2 top molars came through!! Looks so funny because of all the holes where teeth are still missing. Hopefully they will start filling in.

A funny picture Ryan snapped as I ticked here so we could see the new teeth. 

Garden harvest in high gear

Our garden is going crazy! We have so much stuff and there are only 3 of us! So this weekend we froze beans. It was a family effort. Ryan and I cut and Greta helped "snap" the beans - she didn't do too bad. She also helped wash them. We did 8 bags of green and 5 yellows. More to come!

Plus the zucchini are going crazy as well. I think I have 7 in the frig now. Not sure what I'm going to do with them all. 

Banana peppers like crazy as well! Broccoli is great! Kale I don't like and we have tons! 

The sweet corn is almost ready. Yeah! 

And the spaghetti squash or what should be this year is looking good too. 

Think I'm going to have to put a Greta's Garden stand out front. 

Not feeling well

We'd been doing so good. Greta hadn't been sick in a long time - well for her standards. But the yucky bug has struck. Lots of coughing and being tired and clingy. After day care. Allied yesterday around lunch to let me know how much she was coughing, I called the dr. And they got us in that night. Good news - no croupe or pneumonia. Bad news - it's a cold with no real way to treat it. Last night we started up the breathing treatments again. Greta now has an inhaler but she wanted no part of that so we sat for 10 minutes watching Curious George and me struggling to keep it in front of her month. 

After a long night... More for mommy, hopefully ah will have a better day. She's still sleeping now. 

Waiting for a ride

Ryan got the seats back in the Chevelle and Greta wanted to sit in it.

Then she kept asking for a ride.

Outdoor fun!

Greta loves being outside.  Just ask her and she'll tell you.  Outside.

After her nap we took a walk to the barn.  After doing some weeding in the garden, I asked Ryan to fill up the tub for Miller... figuring Greta would also enjoy splashing around.  Well... as I was filling up the tub, Greta walked behind Ryan's truck... and when I talked back to see what she was doing, she was standing in the middle of a big puddle.  Shoes and all.  And was so proud of herself.  As I go to get Ryan, she gets tired and sits down.  Oh my!!

Then she goes over to the tub and gets in!

So funny!

Messy girl

Love that Greta doesn't mind getting dirty. Day care said she sat and played in the dirt almost the whole time they were outside. And when I picked her up... It showed. 

So we just added to it. Love the watermelon! 

Another tooth

Finally up to 3 teeth! Seriously, in 15 months that's all. Going to check with the doctor if she thinks that's okay.

Her top left one is now visible! 

I dread the day when the big ones start coming in. 

Talking up a storm

Seems like in the last week Greta vocabulary has grown immensely. Even day care has noticed. She also repeats the last word you say or attempts to. It's crazy how fast she's growing up.

Going to try and list a few... 

Greta

Mama

Dadda

Boo boo (which she has on her knee)

Knee

Pat

Baby

Rock

Bath

Paci

Ride

Row

Miller

Joe

Grandma

Papa

Mary

Twinkle

Pat

George

Outside

Pool

Turtle

Snake

Birdie

Milk

Water

Swing

Walk

Lots of food - bread, fruit, meat, pea, bean

All the animal sounds

There's so many more but these are some of her most used. 

Nursing update

15 months and still going strong. But I made the decision yesterday I was going to start cutting down. I only nurse in the morning and at night, so I'm going to cut out the morning - figure that will be easier. 

She's quite demanding and point or pokes at my chest and says milk. Mama milk please. Or more milk. I know it's a sign she's tired when she does it. I've also been really tough in the middle of the night to not nurse. Yes we've had some rough moments. Tough mommy even came out a few times. But we made it through.

So first day results... a success! And my boobs survived 24 hours without nursing- even bigger success! On to day 2.

The deck view

We love our new deck! I'm so glad we did it! We've enjoyed it every day! Meals, pool time, tanning, napping... Even playing under it in the rocks.

It's amazing how ending the night, watching the sun set and reflecting on the day can bring peace and closure. It's a great view from our deck. 

Up north fun

Friday night we loaded up and headed up north for the week! First stop Curran (also know as Ruth Lakke North). Great weather and lots of fun! 

Greta is a huge fan of the 4-wheeler and went on lots of rides with Papa. Sha even feel asleep several times on the ride. She kept saying "Ride. Papa." And "Beep beep." She also loved the row boat and said "Row. Row. Please." 

We swam lots! Jason and Ryan attempted to make a rope swing and jumped from the bucket. Julie and I even went in!

Then on Tuesday we loaded up and headed up Arcadia. Much cooler temps but still lots of fun. A stop at the beach to play in the sand. Fun on the play ground. Ice cream. Little people. Tennis and a round of golf for Ryan and I. 

Then Thursday afternoon we hit the road to come back home and enjoy a weekend at home before heading back to work.

2,000 plus ounces

Well I emptied out the deep freeze today and donated it to a good family. Josh and Josh are expecting twins and my milk will help get them off to a great start. 

Feel honored that I could help!