I Love Her Weirdness

Millie's pretty weird...and I love it.  I haven't been around that many toddlers, so I suppose it's fairly normal. ;)  She cracks me up a hundred times a day.

Last week, she started making a new face, which I happened to catch on video here.  It took me awhile to realize she was trying to get me to notice her new facial expressions.  Now, when I ask her to make her new funny face, she does this:

Ask her for a picture and she runs to one of the doors in our house.  You gotta be quick though because she only gives you a split second to take the pic.

This kid adores shoes....and loves saying shoe and pointing out shoes.

Coloring has been very big lately...she asks to color (pronounced cullah) many many times a day.  But then she only actually colors about half the time.  She really just likes to put the crayons back in the bucket.

Oh my, flash cards are also a current favorite activity; she loves for us to call out the animals for her to find.  It's cute to hear her ask for the "cards"...pronounced more like car.  When she gets the animal right, she claps for herself, of course.

She expects a lot of praise these days...and loves a big production.  So we oblige often.  There is a lot of clapping and high-fiving going on in our house.  She even tells herself "good job" or "good girl". Watch her Jumping Video.

Nighttime naked time is still a nightly activity.  We enjoy watching her...she gets so silly.

For some reason, she's been pulling up her pants into shorts a lot in the past week.  I guess she's ready for Spring?!

I asked her to make a funny face...too bad it's blurry

 bucket hat to play peekaboo

She's the silliest, and we love it!  And we definitely love all talking.  Yesterday, we went to an early morning appointment and I took some video while JKK drove.  Millie saying "snow" is the cutest thing ever: snow video

27 Weeks, A Date Night, & more Tums please

27 weeks today; only one more week until I'm officially in the third trimester.  Feeling large and in charge...thank goodness these pics are taken from the side.

Last night, JKK & I went on a date!  We used a website called care.com to find a local babysitter.  It is a really great website where you post a babysitting, nanny, petsitting, or housesitting job and applicants can apply for your specific job.  They have reviews, background checks, & standard info readily available so that you have a pretty good idea about them before you even talk to them.  The girl we used last night was fabulous!  She is a senior at the U of A, and unfortunately, she is graduating in May and probably moving out of state.   However, it is so great to know that we now have a resource for babysitters that we can (mostly) trust.  Anyhoo...back to last night: The babysitter came a little early to let Millie get used to her again (she came once before to introduce herself in person), and Millie was really enjoying showing off for her.  I had to dust off the old maternity work clothes and away we went to a fancy dinner at Ruth's Chris.  It was so sad for us to leave Millie upset, but not even 10 minutes after arriving at the restaurant, we got a text saying she was already asleep!  Success!  That certainly put our minds at ease and allowed us to enjoy our decadent dinner...and wow, it was delicious.  I told JKK on the way home that I felt like such an adult having to hire a babysitter.  ;)

As far as the pregnancy goes, I'm still feeling pretty good...just tired.  Sydney is kicking and poking and jabbing more and more every day.  Aaaaaaannnd, I'm finally to the "Tums Stage".  This came right about now during my last pregnancy also.  Tums have become part of the daily diet.  Blerg.  Could be worse, I know. ;)

27 weeks down, 12 weeks to go...

A Big Week

Last Thursday was Millie's Valentine party at school.  I was more excited than she was...I used to love holiday parties at school.  Sadly, this picture doesn't do justice to her very flashy outfit for V-day.  Her top has a super sparkly heart made of pink and black rhinestones and her shoes are hot pink glitter.  Cutest valentine I've ever seen.

Oh my, she ADORES Ms. Erika...Mills always runs straight to her to be picked up.

Millie received the cutest and most creative valentines!  Here are a few...

goldfish cracker valentine

hot wheels valentine

new shirt for her new status ;)

I think she had fun at school that day...they each got to decorate their own cookie.  Cookies are probably her favorite thing in the world right now; they make good bribes to get her in the car seat.

Friday, I drove to Tulsa to spend the day with my dad for his birthday.  It was absolutely lovely.  Just he and I enjoying the day together.  We went to lunch and then since we both love to read, we spent some time at the used book store.  Unfortunately, I took no pics to commemorate this day...how very unlike me.  Happy Birthday, dad...love you!

Then on my way home, I picked up my mom from the airport in Tulsa.  She came to visit us for the long weekend, and we are very grateful. :)  Millie certainly remembered who Nana is from previous visits and from FaceTime.  It took no time for her to attach herself to "NeeNee", which is her way of pronouncing Nana.  I am so happy that this visit didn't coincide with anything else we had going on.  Poor Nana got to be in the mix of a very emotional week when she came for Christmas while we were taking Millie's bink away and packing up Buddy to move to Colorado with her.  I was in no state of mind to properly enjoy my mom time.  I'm happy to report that it was completely different this time and even though she just left a few hours ago, we're already missing her terribly.

Nana introduced Millie to blankets.  This sounds sort of silly, but Mills doesn't sleep with a blanket and hasn't spent much time snuggling with us in our bed (even though we try, she just wants down).  Anyhoo, Mills loves it!  She likes being wrapped up and tucked in, she likes putting them on the floor and laying down with her baby dolls, she even likes wearing them like a cape.  It's basically a new, amazing toy!

While the girls were playing, JKK was busy making progress on Sydney's nursery: crib & bookcase...check!

Mills & Nana spent a lot of time coloring together this weekend

And Sunday, it was warm enough to go to the park!

 wheeeee

Sunday, mom and I also got to go to lunch by ourselves to celebrate her half birthday!  Telling mom/Nana goodbye today was hard, but I love seeing how her and Millie are bonding.  Come back soon NeeNee (we'll work on that pronunciation)!

I Win!

I have the best valentine ever...swoon...JKK.  Let me count the ways I love thee...

1)  He is the best daddy in the world.  He takes her for walks when she's begging to go, even when it's too cold for mommy.  He lets her crawl all over him and bounce up and down on him, even when it looks slightly painful.  He's so happy to see her when he comes home at lunch and after work at night, and it is clear the feeling is mutual.  He reads to her and puts her to bed every single night.  It's so evident how much he loves her; it melts my heart.

2)  He is such a thoughtful hubby to me.  He gets gas in the car, so I don't have to get out in the cold and/or listen to Millie whine when the car stops.  When I was leaving for Wisconsin super early two weekends ago, he switched the cars out in the garage so that I didn't have to wait for the car to warm up.  He completes and marks items off of my never-ending to-do lists on the weekends.  He gets me presents for holidays that we've already agreed not to get presents for.

3)  He's a badass breadwinner.  I'm grateful on a daily basis for the life we are able to live and the opportunities we have because of JKK.  I don't tell him this enough.  I know how lucky I am to have the opportunity to stay home with our little girl(s).  He has drive and ambition, and I admire and respect him.

4)  He has tons of energy and needs very little sleep.  It's amazing and inspiring.

5)  I'm seriously in awe of his patience with this toddler stage (especially since I don't have much).  He's so good with her when she's melting down; I'm so thankful there is one of us in the house that can keep their cool.  If it wasn't for him, Millie's teeth would never get brushed.

6)  He's tall, thin, and handsome.  Yay for passing down his genes to our girls!!  And maybe Sydney will get that pretty blue eye color of his...

7)  He loves to celebrate.  Oh man, I REALLY love this about him.  Promotions, crazy calendar dates, anniversaries, birthdays, sporting events, national whatever day...he's always up for a mini-celebration.  I'm not even doing this justice by explaining it right.  I can't count how many times I've mentioned something and he's said "well, we have to celebrate".  And it makes me smile just thinking about it.

8)  He's adventurous but doesn't have much opportunity to use it.  This old ball and chain has really put a damper on his ability to travel and see the world, which he so badly wants to do.  I hope some day he'll get to do and see more of those things on his list.

9)  He's intelligent.  He doesn't have to count on his fingers to figure out the time two time-zones away from here.  He can estimate how long it will take him to complete a task he's already halfway through.  He can figure a tip at a restaurant in 2 seconds flat.  Just kidding...these examples are all my own problems.  But seriously, he's very smart and it's sort of impressive.

10)  He's handy.  He can put anything together and fix almost anything in the house.  It has saved us a lot of money and time over the years.  This guy knows his tools.

11)  He's involved:  always present at my pregnancy dr. appts and at Millie's various appts.  He's also very involved in how to take care of/feed our little beast.  When I left for the weekend to go to Wisconsin, I didn't even have to leave instructions...that's how much he knows what's going on with her.  I don't mean for that to sound insulting...it's just that he works full-time and I am in charge of doing most things with her between 6am and 6pm.  So it's pretty great that he pays attention and helps out so much at home (especially on the weekends) when he's putting in a full day at work too.

12)  He has good taste and manners.  I value his opinion and feel like I've learned so much from him over these past 10 years.

I am one lucky girl...Happy Valentines Day to my love, JKK.  smooch

My Funny Valentine

Less than two weeks ago, Millie's teacher sent home a note to request that we bring in a valentine for each kid in the class.  I don't know where my head was, but taking valentine's to school had not even occurred to me.  Thus, I was in a bit of a rush to come up with something for the party tomorrow.  Thanks to Jamie and JKK for helping me pick out the mustache theme!  I think they turned out great...funny, just like our gal. ;)

I made these chocolate mustache suckers to go along with the cards.

And for the grownups, I made some of those pretzel buttons you see on pinterest everywhere...they are super delicious, especially with peanut butter m&ms.  We took some up to JKK's work today after Little Gym.

Little Gym was a riot today...the kids love that place!  Usually, Mills doesn't really love the airmat that much...won't even stay on it for a full minute.  However, today she got on it before it was even blown up; just waiting patiently...

While we were on the airmat, Cayden came and had a seat in my lap for some snuggle time.

kiddos are all jumping away...such a change from a year ago when they couldn't even sit up on it

Little Miss OCD had to line up all the red balls on the balance beam ;)

 and we always end with some much-loved bubble time...

Happy Valentine's Day tomorrow!  xoxo

25 Weeks...plus a little bit

I had my 24 week doctor appointment last week, and all looks good!  I heard Sydney's heartbeat...nice and strong.  And I had my glucose test, which must have gone well because I haven't heard anything from my doctor.  She said it was a "no news is good news" kind of thing...they'll only call if there is a problem with my glucose test.  I asked my doctor when we could schedule the c-section (I'll have one again, even though I don't have placenta previa this time), and she said they aren't scheduling that far out right now.  However, she said to plan on it being Friday, May 17th, if all goes according to plan.  Last time I didn't make it to the scheduled date, so we'll just see how it goes...

I'm feeling super great...love this stage of the pregnancy.  I'm not quite waddling yet, but it is getting much more difficult to put on my socks.  If Mills was a little older, I'd have to teach her how to do it for me.  I feel Sydney kicking and moving all throughout the day, and those little kicks are getting much more forceful where I sometimes flinch.  The only thing I'm having trouble with at the moment is sleeping at night.  I had this problem last time as well...never getting a good night's sleep.  It's like all of a sudden I become the lightest sleeper in the world.  Argghhh...so I feel tired all the time.  I'm feeling guilty because I worked out much more with my first pregnancy, but this time I'm feeling much more sloth-like.  Blerg.  At least I've managed to stay away from the Dairy Queen Blizzards this time...so far.

Syd's nursery is coming along!  We've moved everything into the new guest bedroom, aka the bonus room.  Tight squeeze in there, so we apologize to anyone who comes to stay with us.  We had the nursery carpet cleaned this week, and Millie is loving the wide open space.  See Video of Mills log-rolling in Syd's room We just received some of the nursery furniture, so guess what JKK gets to do next weekend?!  Can't wait to see it all start coming together!

Crafty Ladies

Momma, Baby Stella, & Millie on the new couch in the sunroom.  Mills thinks it is her personal duck-watching platform.

More artwork from MDO...they learned about rabbits last week.  Are her hand cutouts supposed to be the whiskers??  

And they learned about sheep the week before that...I really like the head tuffet (sp?).

I had plans to make a Christmas wreath out of burlap, but I never got around to it in December.  So I made this super cute (in my opinion) Valentine's Day wreath for our front door.  I've never worked with burlap before.  I don't think I ever want to again.  It smells awful and sheds like a scared cat.

When she's in the mood, you can get a really good cheese face out of her ;)

Millie slept until 7:45am this morning!  That has never happened in the history of Millie.  I was on the verge of going upstairs to make sure she was alive when she finally woke up.  It was amazing...I was able to get ready and eat breakfast and make her lunch ALL before she was up.  I kept thinking...oh, so this is what those other moms get to do in the mornings.  I thought it was an urban legend.  Millie has always been my alarm clock...usually between 6-6:30.  I don't know what happened this morning, but let's hope it is a trend.  JKK cracked me up as he was leaving for work (before she was up) when he said I should tell her he was disappointed in her decision to sleep in this morning.  He likes to see her in the mornings. :)

Yesterday, the weather was just warm enough for a playdate with Tracey and Grey at the playground.  I'm pretty sure none of them knew I was taking this pic.  We've been lucky again this winter and haven't had it too bad...maybe Phil was right and an early Spring is in the works.  Fingers crossed...

19 Months Old

Today is Millie's 19 month old bday!  My goodness, the talking has really taken off.  She points out everything now...in the car it's all about looking out the windows for cows.  In the sunroom, it's looking for ducks in the pond.  At the playground, she's on the lookout for birds.  And when she spots one of these things, she yells it out at the top of her lungs...DUCK DUCK DUCK!  She says night night to Beansie.  She tells daddy to take off his coat when he comes home from work.  She asks to have me put on her shoes.  And when she asks for more of something (pronounced moooorrr), it's so sweet, you can't say no.
Here's some video of her saying her name: Millie saying "Millie"

Yesterday, we went for a walk in our super sweet new stroller.  It is so amazing and has 16 different configurations to turn it into a double stroller, but I love how you can only use it for one kiddo too.  Also, I'm trying to practice with Mills to leave her shades on so she won't slap herself in the face every time the sun hits her eyes.

Today was Millie's first day in the "Beasts" class at Little Gym.  It is for 19 months old - 3 years old, so she'll be in this age group for awhile.  Save the date: we booked her second birthday party at The Little Gym for Saturday, July 6th at 3pm!  Wheeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

Nice to Meet You, Baby Kyle

This weekend, I FINALLY got to meet Jamie's sweet baby boy...Mr. Kyle Joseph.  He was born on Christmas day, so I was thinking they would name him something like St. Nicholas, but I'm glad they went with Kyle because it really fits and is super cute on him.

I mean...look at this sweet face...

I was pleased to spend plenty of time walking him around doing "the jiggle" to keep him happy

Momma Midge...doing great!

In this pic, I swear Sydney is kicking him and he doesn't look to be enjoying it. ;)  He has the most expressive eyebrows and a million different "looks" that made me laugh.  Love him already.

While I got to go play with a precious newborn, JKK stayed with our own not-so-little (but still precious) bean for the weekend.  Here are some of the pics/video I got from JKK this weekend that cracked me up:

Video: Millie hates when the sun hits her face

super cheeseball

 night night time

Mills can get a better look at those ducks in the pond if she gets down to look out the bottom sunroom windows...she's smart that way

 purse and phone in hand 5 minutes after waking up

I love getting so many pictures and videos while I'm away; it definitely makes it a little easier to be away from those two.  They seemed to have a great time together, and JKK is now officially the favorite.  When he got home from work tonight, it was all about daddy. :)

 nighttime naked time...one of her favorite things lately

 I was very happy to see this little face today...missed her mucho grande.