Midweek Confessions

I have been a terrible blog commenter lately and don't even really feel that bad about it. Partly because some of the blogs I read are ..bigger and cooler.. blogs than this little old blog so they don't usually respond and let's be honest. That is so discouraging!

I have sworn off coffee and pop but have had both this week. #Caffeinefail

My sister compared me to a spoiled bratty teenage girl because I use hashtags. I told her that all my cool (blogger) friends do it so it makes me cool too. #coolonlytomyself

I'm (sadly) relieved that Josie's hair has visibly grown because I was worried she'd look like a little boy with her new haircut (if I didn't put bows or ribbons in it). I think it just brings me back to the days when I legitimately looked like a boy (thanks mom) with the haircut AND clothing choices at times.

I found a tick on Buckley this morning (just crawling on him not attached yet THANK YOU GOD) and freaked out. I then proceeded to put on my big girl pants and remove it from him with Josie in one arm and her stuff in the other. Once removed, I had a mini freak out again because it got off of the clump of hair (sorry, Buck but its a small price to pay to not end up with lime decease) and got directly on me. I just imagine it disappearing from sight by crawling up and into my shirt. I really really really really hate ticks.

Happy Wednesday!









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Day Dreams of the Moment

The anticipation that comes with the last two weeks before I'm done working is keeping my mind active, to say the least. I spend a large chunk of my day thinking about what we will do with our time together, mother and daughter, while the sun is shining, rain is poring, snow is falling. There are so many different times of year that will create obstacles, perfect afternoons, challenging circumstances, moments we'll always remember.

Mostly, I find myself dreaming about the next couple of months. With beautiful summer weather, the possibilities seem endless. We will have so many things to fill our time! I picture us swimming, splashing in water when it is too hot to do anything else, learning how to play at the park, chasing my little baby toddler around while she figures out how to walk with confidence, run, recover from falling, and so much more. I see us having delicious cold treats and moments with us just enjoying the weather. Parks will be explored, pools will be visited. Won't it be wonderful? I know there will be moments when she is overwhelmed or too exhausted. I know we'll have off days, but these dreams are keeping me going these last two weeks of work.

Then my mind settles for a brief moment on the more distant future of those dreaded winter months locked in the house, just her and me. That is overwhelming to me. I cannot imagine what I will do to keep her entertained, stimulated, learning. I know that we will get a routine and that she won't know anything different. I only let my mind sit on that scary image for small pockets of time. There is no need to get freaked out! So many things change and happen. Who knows what I will find for us or what she will like to do.

I want to bake bread. I want to read to her consistently. I want to listen to music and keep her little body dancing. I want to go on bike rides and walks and get to know the nearby park like the back of our hands. It's going to be a great summer.




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Big steps

Our girl took her first real walking steps today (written on Monday  night). I picked her up from Grandma's since Mike wasn't going to be done with work before me, and she was holding on to the railing by the stairs. I knelt down and did the typical "come here, Josie!" that you do when you want her to walk and she turned and teetered towards me with the biggest grin and laugh coming from those sweet little lips! We were all so excited and she could feel it and knew she was doing something big. She made it the whole 5 feet or so without falling and even had the dog walk by her without throwing her off balance. 


I'm so glad that auntie Elizabeth was there to witness that scene. She walked a couple of steps towards Daddy at home but she was tired and wasn't up to it as much. I love that she can tell what we want her to do and just gets the biggest kick out of it.


Seriously, I've said it before and I'll keep on saying it. This age is so fun.

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Living the Dream

I have some wonderful big news to share with you all. Starting on May 4th, I will be staying at home with Josie full time! I have three weeks left at work and can hardly even wait to start this new phase in life. She's at such a fun age - it seems like perfect timing. God's plan and timing is always perfect.


Big news number two! I will be starting a piano studio as well. So far, I have collected 3-4 students (which is wonderful and a true blessing) and would like to get at least 6-12 more by the end of summer. It will be in my home and will be on Tuesdays,Wednesdays, and Thursdays in the afternoons. It works so great because grandma will still get plenty of Josie time while I am giving lessons, and I will have a lot more time with Josie and our future children while still having something I'm so passionate (yes it's true - this is where my heart is even though I say I don't really know) about to keep my mind working hard.


Sometimes I get a little scared that I will be lonely or driven crazy by the routine or "sameness" feeling day in and day out, but just like any job there will be good days and bad and I am just being realistic by expressing these fears. The excitement more than wins out in the end. Of course there will be days when Josie is sick or crabby or fill-in-the-blank but then I remember that there will also be those days when I get to witness the big things and enjoy sweet moments I wouldn't get if I was working.


We're hoping that me being at home will take some pressure off of Mike since he has to help me so much when I am working full time. This will give him more time to focus on his business and do the quality work he is capable of (and has been doing). Yes, he'll be the breadwinner and there is always pressure and stress in that role, but God is good and we have faith. We are so thankful that this is something we can afford to do and are not taking that for granted. 


So you readers that are local - let me know if you are interested in lessons (adults or children!) or if you know someone that is.

Seriously though. Praise the Lord!


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Finally... Easter revisited

Easter.

I forgot to take a picture of the Easter dress. And she wasn't feeling the sitting still.

My grandparents got to come out and the loved it. To get them up the stairs, Mike and my dad had to do a chairlift type thing using the wheelchair and it worked well. The only thing was the my grandma was terrified of going down. She was a champ and powered through, but she had a tight grip on those handles.

It was windy and chilly so us ladies spent most of our time inside. The men, on the other hand, put the boat in, waded out in their waders (?), and worked on getting rid of the weeds from the beachy area. They must have thought it was 80 degrees instead of 40...

We went to church in town (a good 45 minute drive) and then came back out to enjoy the rest of the day at the lake. We actually ate the Easter meal on Saturday so we just grilled burgers on Easter and ate the rest of the leftovers from the day before.

Here's the desert I made. So rich but so delicious! Cookie on the bottom, mini Cadbury egg inside, butter cream frosting, and peanut m&m's. I just ate the last one today. I probably won't make them again, but they were good!

Auntie Lara provided the Easter gifts, since I didn't do the basket thing this year. We'll definitely do it next year and years after that, but I didn't think she'd understand what was going on. She enjoyed the gifts without the basket either way. She got a ballerina barbie (her very first barbie I should add) and bubbles. I feel like there was more but we left them at the lake so there would be fun toys out there and I didn't get a good look... sorry auntie!

Randomly, we looked outside and saw a lone turkey running (seriously, like sprinting for it's life) across the yard. By the time we got the camera out, it was almost in the woodsy part of the yard, but I really did get proof! See??

It just looked so silly running and then later flying all by itself. A great Easter if I do say so myself! 

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Nine Months

Ok you got me. She turned 9 months old almost two weeks ago... better late than never!

There was no cooperation on the picture front. I got a lot of flipping, crying, and squirming and no good toothy grins. She makes the rules.

This month, Josie has shown us that she is silly and loves to laugh. She loves when we say "I'm gonna get you" and wants us to chase her all over the place. Grammy and Papa have figured this out too and she is thrilled any time any of us do it.

She had another ear infection and was diagnosed with Roseola. She made it through, but it was hard on us! At least she is a generally happy baby so it only brings her mood down a couple of notches.

She's started waking up at least two times every night, much to our dismay, and absolutely needs the pacifier to sleep soundly. I'm not sure what our plan is for ridding her of that at this point, but she has a couple of months left before I have to start some time of weaning process.

Jo still loves to eat almost everything, but there are a few things she hasn't been as excited about. She didn't love strawberries (shocking, I know) and no longer likes avocado (can't blame her there). She loves a ton of foods though and the list goes on an on. A few examples: any type of fish (tilapia, salmon, etc), pineapple, pickles, string cheese, cheddar cheese, bread, and carrots. She got a little burnt out on the cheerios and bananas so we're taking a break for a while. I don't want her to not like these easy simple foods so we'll give her a chance to like it again later.

She usually eats all three meals a day, two small snacks, and bottles before sleeping. I have no idea how much milk she is drinking but it's definitely less than it was before. She's growing a ton and definitely not lacking in that respect so we're not worried.

She is in the 75% for both height and weight. Staying right on track!

She loves loves loves chasing Buckley around, but he hates it. He is so afraid of getting in trouble! He looks at us like please no, please help. I can't say it enough how glad I am that he acts like this. It is so much better than the alternatives.

She's not quite walking, so that prediction wasn't right, but she is getting so close. I do think she is satisfied with crawling so although she has the ability to walk, she won't necessarily push it immediately. I am done trying to figure this girl out. :)

She had her first experience with grass since it's been such a nice spring. She immediately crawled on to my lap (which she never ever does) and cried when I put her back. I get that it is prickly, but I bet it's only a matter of time before she gets over that and wants to be outside all of the time.

Overall she's a happy baby that loves adventure and new things. She doesn't really seem to be afraid of other people and loves seeing Grandma when we go to daycare. She's still figuring out how to wave and isn't interested in clapping. But dancing? Oh this girl likes to dance! It makes my heart so happy - she is a joy!

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Parent fail

Today I had to swipe my finger through Jo's mouth to get the dog food out while holding back the urge to be sick myself. She was so pleased with herself for successfully getting it, and did not seem in the least discouraged from it by it's taste.

I think she and Buckley need some time apart to find out who is the person and who is the dog. Clearly, thing are a bit muddy in this area.




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Stylish chica

Grab a tissue, another monumental moment has happened with this growing-too-fast baby girl. She got her first haircut today!

Is there anything cuter than a baby bob? She looks so young yet so grown up. We are very happy! I brought her my friend who cuts my hair as well and she did an amazing job. Josie didn't cry at all (even though we are battling those evil teeth) and Heather (hair stylist extraordinaire) was patient and spot on. She didn't miss a single spot even with Josie moving all around! I couldn't get pictures of the process since she was sitting in my lap reading me her favorite book, but trust me. She did great. :) Mom on the other hand, kind of a hot mess right about now.

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Josie is teething again (I really wish there was a way to be sure it is teething and not a new ear infection or cold) so she's sick and miserable with a fever that goes as high as 102.8... I hate it and just want my baby girl to feel better. She's such a good sport when we can get the temp down from that scary high number but man let me tell you. When it is high like that? She's ticked off. Nothing makes her happy and she screams/whines constantly. I can't be mad though, I would be worse than that! Nobody would want to be around me. :)

I had a bunch of pictures started on a post and then turned off my computer causing said post to disappear. So maybe sometime soon I'll dig those up and post them (if you're lucky).

This weekend, hubby got a bunch of little things done on our huge to do list and I didn't. Yep, I held us back big time and he blew me out of the water. I would blame it on the need to have a lazy weekend, but I feel as though I am like that more often than not and he is always working working working... as usual I am calling out for motivation to come find me.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow I have the day off! Maybe I can be super productive then. Or maybe not since I'll be hanging with a sick little girl. Prayers please. :)



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