Sick Lola

Poor Lola is sick again. The bark is back and worse this time I think. Her nose continues to run. And she's still congested. So back to the doctor I took her. This time, the dr sent us to get x-rays. The next day we found out the x-ray was negative which is good. The doctor still decided to give us an anabiotic to try and clear her up. I'm praying and keeping my fingers crossed it works. It's time for this baby to be 100%! 

Greta's 3!!

What an amazing parenthood journey we've had for the past three years. I remember the moment I found out I was pregnant. I remember seeing her on the first ultrasound. I remember when my water broke. I remember the labor. I remember when they said it was time for a C-section. I remember when I first heard her cry. And then finally I remember like it was yesterday....the moment I first laid eyes on her. Love at first site. She was crying. Had beautiful eyes. A little dark hair. Absolutely perfect! 

So for the past three years we've been getting to know each other. Learning from each other. Growing with each other. What a journeys it's been and it's only just begun. She challenges me daily with her confidence, independence and stubbornness. She makes me laugh and giggle and smile with her silliness. She melts my heart with her kind heart, big blue eyes and love of life. 

And now her top adventures and new experiences and memories... 

1. Becoming a big sister

2. Moving into a big girl bed

3. Getting rid of her paci

4. Being potty trained 

5. First roller coaster (for toddlers)

6. Learning to swim

7. Best buddy - Bucky - the red bouncy donkey 

8. Got to meet Mickey and Minnie, Elsa and Anna

9. Favorite show is Littke Eistein

10. Favorite color is blue 

11. Loves sweets, especially ice cream and chocolate 

12. Loves to sing and make up songs

More to come after I interview her :-)

Happy birthday sweet girl. I love you!

37 pounds (90th) and 37 inches (75th)

Happy St Patrick's Day

My little leprechauns

My little helper

I was busy trying to multitask and get dinner on the table and feed Lola. I turned my back to finish Greta's dinner and found it. Greta feeding Lola. So sweet. She was doing the same noises I make and Lola was opening her mouth up so good for her. Greta was also sneaking some yogurt for herself.

So thankful for her! 

Cabin fever

Finally a weekend to head north for Curran. Greta was super excited and everyday she asked if it was time to go to Papa's (and Julie and Jason) cabin. 

So Friday we loaded up the pickup and ventured out. Lola slept the entire was and Greta only a little. 

From the moment we arrived it was 4 wheeler fun - which she loves! 

Lots  of gator rides - which Lola enjoyed as well. 

Fun feeding the deer

Exploring the frozen pond

Reading stories 

Both girls also got their pictures by their signs... Lola's was a first

And then just before we left, Greta had probably the most fun when papa got the gator stuck in the mud. 

What a great weekend. So much fun with tons of laughter, love and food!

Lola's first words

I'll making it official - Lola's first word was dada! After saying it a few tones at home and lots at day care I feel confident saying it was her first word. 

The exciting part is that I feel many many more are close behind. 

I'm not a baker

I'm not a baker... There I admit it! It's true and no matter how hard I try and prepare and research and practice... I'm just not good at it. 

So for the first time... After 2 failed birthday cake attempts... I bought Greta's birthday cake. I know it shouldn't be a big deal but I feel a little like I failure. 

I'm not saying I won't ever try again but I'm pretty confident that for parties... I'll be buying from now on.

Me vs a mouse

Many have already heard the story. I need to document it on the blog. It's 5 AM and I just came out of the bathroom to come face-to-face with the most was sitting in front of the basement door. So I text Ryan who is in the other bathroom to hurry and come quick there's a mouse. He says get it and I said no hurry. So then I chase it down the hallway towards the front door and it goes into our front room where the kids toys all are. And it's there. Wait for Ryan to come and he grabs a shoe. And tries to get it but it scampers off into the pile of stuffed animals. The worst possible place for it to hide. So I start pulling off the stuff animals one by one while Ryan waits with a racket ball racket. Most mouse escapes again and now hides behind Greta's little kitchen. I now have a box and Ryan with his racket trying to get it into the box. He shoos it my way, I freak out and jump and the mouse runs under the piano. So now I'm screwed. Ryan says there's nothing he can do with it under there and he'll just have to leave it and worry about it later. I say no way I'm going to be able to anything why no there's a mouse under the piano. But he still leaves for work.

So I go work out while the girls are sleeping and come back up and start to clean. I decide to take Lola's chair downstairs and go in the bathroom return off my alarm that's going off and there's the mouse. I throw the chair on it and trap it underneath. And again I wonder what the heck am I going to do? So I go and get a box and slide it under the chair. I'm stomping on the chair and hitting it trying to squash the mouse as I see his little tail. I realize there's no chance of that knees underneath the plastic part.

So I start to carefully slide the box and the chair and the mouse towards the door, open the door, move Miller out-of-the-way and then proceed to throw the whole thing outside and off the mouse runs. I'm now sweating and panting and my heart is racing a mile a minute. I call Ryan and tell him how proud of myself I am. And then spend the rest of the daywondering  every time I hear a noise if it's another mouse. Because where there's one mouse there's always more. 

Parent teacher conference

Tonight I met with Greta's teavher - Miss Nicole. And got some great news! She said Greta is joy to have in class and they all just love her. Also she's so caring and tries to include everyone and is great at sharing. I was so happy to hear this as I was a little worried since she doesn't always like to share with Lola. 

On her assessment, she was a over average on everything. Only thing they said she couldn't jump forward - I'm quite certain she can. And said for the question does she find something to stand on if she can't reach something - sometimes because she's so tall she rarely needs to. 

Things to work on

1. Using her words when she gets upset and not grunting or humming

2. Cleaning up. I said that's probably my fault too since we are bad about it with toys at home. 

I asked if they would work on her letters with her. 

Then in September she will move to green room which is basically preschool and then the following year will move to pre-kindergarten. Yikes!  

But all in all a proud mommy!

Where does time go

I found myself getting a little sad tonight as I finished Greta's 2 year photo book. I feel like she's gone from a baby to a big girl in the blink of an eye. And the pictures really show it. 

This was only 6 months ago. 

And now... What a ham!

Lola 7 months

My sweet, smiley Lola bug is 7 months old! Wow does time fly.

Her new stuff... 

1. Can clap and loves to clap to singing

2. Waves hi or bye

3. Loves to babble, especially in response to Greta 

4. Sits up great by herself 

5. Can roll over, front to back and back to front 

6. Has a little temper - aka the Lola monster 

7. Started eating food - verdict is still out on it - definitely not as good of or as eager of an eater as Greta 

8. Can sleep through the night but loves waking up to snuggle with mommy

9. Makes a silly zerpert noise

10. Is quite possibly the smiliest baby ever 

Love, love, love this girl!! 

Lola's new tricks

Lola is learning lots and lots... Like clapping, making funny farting noises and now she can wave. 

http://youtu.be/RgJ94brZinc

What a character

Greta just cracks me up.  

Here are a couple of her latest shinanagins...  

Look mom I'm ready for school

Ready to go again... 

And while driving yesterday she told w a song was weird. Really how does she know what weird is. I had to laugh!

Oh the joy she brings to my life! 

Date night

Date night... Something I haven't said in s long time because we really haven't had a real date night. Well tonight we did. Thrivent Financial had a wine tasting in Ann Arbor so we went. Had wine. Laughed with friends. And enjoyed each other's company. It's been far too long. Need to do it more! 

Swim lessons

Greta started swim lessons back up yesterday at a new place - Goldfish. It's quite a bit more but I've heard so many good things about it, I decided we needed to try. And wow it did not disappoint. The facility is great. The people are so nice. And the best part... Greta liked it. 

I was really worried... It's the first swim class where I'm not in the water with her at a new place with a new teacher. Handling change and new things isn't always her strong suit... But I was proud of her. When it was time to go in she was nervous but I held her hand and she went right to her teacher. Then Lola and I went to watch (which isnt pool side but rather behind a glass wall).

At the end they said she did great for her first time. My prediction is that she'll be swimming by this summer!

Her floating on her back

Her teacher... Oh and she wore goggles.... So cute!