22 months

Only 2 more months and Greta turns the big 2.  And wow has her vocabulary grown and her motor skills.  She talks and talks and sings and dances and runs.  She has also started grunting and whining a bit more, but I'm working to stop that.  Still can't ask for a better girl.

Her top 10
1. Went sledding for the first time.  And didn't really enjoy it.  Likes the snow as along as she's not cold.
2. Love Curious George.  I could post this every month, but she really does.  I think this month we watched the most.
3. Slept walked at school during nap time.
4. Has a great imagination and loves to play and pretend to give you food to eat.
5. Love to grocery shop in the pantry.  Like 5 days in a row, she practically would empty it out in either her shopping cart of on the food or to me at the table, and then "check out".
6. Learned some new songs - "Where is Thumbkin", "A Whole World" and something about fish - keep forgetting to ask day care what the song is.
7. Has the best laugh ever!  And she even has a silly fake laugh.
8. Love to build with the legos and blocks.  A little engineer in the making?
9. Likes playing with play dough - a lot!
10. Is the light of my life and brightens the life of those around her.

Happy Birthday Jules!

A great reason to drive up to Saginaw... to celebrate Julie's birthday and to have Genji!  Something I miss a lot not living in Saginaw.

The most recent picture I could find of Julie and Greta.

So since Ryan was working, Greta and I went for a little road trip.  We stopped in Birch Run and did some shopping.  Greta got 2 new pairs of shoes, even though I think she would have taken like 10 pairs.  Then we drove to Saginaw to have dinner with Julie and Jason, Mom and Dad, and Uncle David.  And let me tell you it was worth the drive!

The food was soooo good!!  And Greta really enjoyed watching the chef cook in front of us.  So fun to watch her experience new things.

Steroid side effects

In trying to research why Greta has been acting so off and different from when she's just sick. I discovered this article. 

http://community.babycenter.com/post/a24289859/toddler_reactions_to_steriods

And yes she has been it all. Cranky. Hyper. Dramatic. Winey. Restless. Sleepy.  Indecisive. 

I definitely don't remember the side effects being this bad last time. However this time it was a much stronger dose and 2 days worth. Just wanting my baby back to normal!! 

Last night from 2 am on we were up. Tried rocking. Laying in my bed. All crying and screaming. Out there. No lay down. Finally I asked if she wanted some milk around 4 and she said yes. So I decided to also give her some motrin to help calm her down. After 10 minutes of crying about me not letting her watch George, I convinced her to go rock with me. And finally at about 4:30 she drifted off to some peaceful sleep. 

Now at 7:30 I let her sleep and wish I would have slept longer. Hopefully she wakes up soon since I do have to go to work today.

Sleep Walking

So as s teenager (Id say) I was a sleep walker. Would scare the crap out if my dad and come down the stairs, usually saying I'm late for something. 

Well today during nap time Greta had her first sleep walk. What??? That's what o said too. But several witnessed it. She was sleeping on her cot. Got up. Eyes open. Walked toward the table. The girls thought she was coming for a drink of water. But walked right past it, not acknowledging anything. So one of the teachers took her hand and led her back to bed and laid her down. And she feel back asleep. 

Strange!!! 

The Farm Movie

Almost 20 years ago, dad and the farm made a video about farming. Kids and adults loved it and watched it over and over. 

This weekend I decided to show Greta, curious if she'd recognize her Papa. And immediately when he came on... She yelled Papa!! And then every time we saw him... My Papa. That my papa. Priceless! 

Dad... You haven't aged a day since 1995!

Sick baby

Well Greta's sick :-( We had a good stretch going but all good things must come to an end. Friday she came home with the bark. So we started breathing treatments the next night. And I didn't think they helped. But kept them up. Slight fever on Saturday so started motrin and that's like the miracle drug for babies. She perked up about an hour after. Another breathing treatment before bed.  Lots of hacking. Sounds just like me. Skipped church. Coughed all day. Just wasn't herself. 

Then a loooong Sunday night and Greta sleeping on me. So restless sleep for her and little to none for me. 

Decided it was time for the doctors. And glad I did. 2 steroid treatments. Continue breathing treatments every 4-6 hours. Continue motrin. 

Tonight I put her to bed at 6 and she happily went. As I listen to her cough, I know it's going to be another long night. 

Tired and cranky

That about sums up Greta and my night... I got very little sleep with her on me half the night. She got restless sleep and then a very very short nap after the doctor. 

Meltdowns tonight included

Watch Olaf after she told me she was all down and waked to the family room.

Spilling her milk on

Accident 

Miller eating a blueberry off the floor

Wanting rice. Not wanting rice.

Play with blocks. No blocks! 

Take a bath. No bath! 

Mine included... 

Greta not stopping crying and whining 

Only wanting mommy. Usually I love this but not when you gotta pee and need 2 minutes.

My patience were being tested tonight and I'm not proud of my reactions at certain points. Need to continue to work on it. It's not her fault she doesn't feel good. Here's to a better tomorrow. 

My little reader

Greta loves to read!  And I love that she loves to read.  Lately she's all about readying herself and I have to say she has quite a few booth memorized.

Her favorite books right now...
1. Are you my mother?
2. Brown Bear, Brown Bear (again - she kind of forgot about it for a while but now loves it again).
3. George anything

Winter Fun

Our first of I hope many days or rather minutes of winter fun. It was finally above zero, reaching 25 so I decided we should go sledding.

Well after getting Greta and myself all bundled up, I was exhausted and needed a nap. But I ventured  on. Then after about 5 minutes of being outside and one face plant, Greta was done and wanted to be carried. 30 pounds naked I can only imagine how much she weighed with all those layers. Then I really needed a nap. But I ventured on.

Ryan hooked up the sled behind the 4-wheeler and we went sledding. She didn't love it and kept saying I don't want to... But in the end I think she somewhat liked it.  Even thought the pictures doesn't show it.

After we came it, I fed her lunch. Then we all finally took a nap. Happy mommy! 

Too many toys

It's official!  We have TOOOO many toys!  I don't know what to get rid of because she plays with them all, but I've got to do something because the family room drives me crazy every night.

My solution - buy a toy box storage thingy.

Result - a little more organization and surprisingly way more room in the family room.  For what?  More toys!  Ugh!!  But I did move her house that she likes to play in, into the living room and am going to work to move more in there and make a little play area in there.

But for now, I guess I feel a little better.  Okay, not really, but I'm going to keep telling myself it's better.

Now if only Greta would put the toys back in it.  Baby steps I guess. 

Love my sleeping baby

While downloading pictures I realized I am slightly obsessed with taking sleeping baby selfies. I'm treasuring these moments as I fear some day she won't want want to cuddle or let me rock her to sleep or fall sleep on me. So I cherish these moments when she looks so peaceful and innocent. Like a little angel.

My fav!!

Merry Christmas!

A wonderful Christmas we had this year.  Greta enjoyed opening presents.  Learned some Christmas songs.  And was a joy (well most of the time).

Christmas Eve - Mom and Dad came down for dinner and to go to church with us.  Greta was super excited.  After Church, she opened her one present of PJs and a new Christmas book - A Curious George Merry Christmas.  Then Ryan read her the book and off to bed she went.

Christmas Morning - Greta slept in to about 7:00!  Yeah!!  Merry Christmas to me!  Then we got up and had breakfast - her request.  I had made a breakfast casserole in the crockpot and it didn't turn out too well - was a little dry.  But none-the-less, we ate it and had donuts from Mom.  Then the present opening began.  Her big gift was a new chair from Pottery Barn - and she loves it!

Then after presents we headed to Unionville for the first celebration.  Mom and Dad outdid themselves on thoughtful gifts.  And as Julie said... Family, love and laughter truly is the best gift!

Mom and Dad swapping a toilet seat gift from Mary.

My best friends

The original 5

The whole family

Then home for a few days, and then off to Fort Wayne to celebrate with the Delaney's.  More family fun and lots of food!  There was no going hungry there.

A new tea set from Aunt Jen and Uncle Ian

The boys in their varsity jackets

Then back home for a few days before back to work.  The vacation always goes by too fast and it did again this year.  But many great memories and looking forward to a great 2015!