Coloring eggs

Hannah waited so patiently tonight while the eggs boiled. 

She wanted to do everything 'by herself' so once the eggs were cooled down she got to pour the vinegar, drop in the color tablet, add water, draw on the egg, drop in the egg into the color, stir the egg, scoop the egg out of the bucket, and set the egg on the rack to dry.

Mommy, what's this?

Tonight while we were playing outside, Hannah saw something on the ground.  I turned the corner to find her like this, calling my name, asking 'what's this?".   I love how she was able to fold in half to get close enough to see for herself.  It turned out just to be a splatter of red paint.  Her reponse to that was "oh".

Daily smiles brought to you by Hannah

Often times I run into people that I haven't seen for a while.  They always ask how the kids are and after that ask to see pictures.  Thanks to my iPhone I can access an endless supply of pictures of the girls. 

Today was one of those days, I saw a few people that I haven't seen for a while and when  I went into the photo album on my phone I came across this picture.

There is an Elmo Monster Maker application on our iPods.   Within the application you make a monster, give him/her eyes, nose, hat or hair, choose a background, etc.  Then you can either make your monster play with Elmo, dnace, or pose for pictures...there is even a button to take a picture of your monster.  Apparently Hannah found that button and took this picture, leaving it in my iPhone photo album to find at a later date.

It sure put a smile on my face today.

Hot mess

Hailey has been 'off' lately.  For a while now we thought she was teething because she was having really loose stools.  Jackie was changing her diaper 4-5 times a day and most days we would  pick her up and find that she would be in different clothes that what we dressed her in that morning.
This past Wednesday she started throwing up.  The first time was in the middle of the night, she was crying so I went to pick her up and snuggle her and she showered me with her mouth full of vomit :-)  (Hey, you are the one who choose to keep reading this...)  That night I changed Hailey's clothes 4 times, her diaper 5 times, and my clothes 3 times.  It was not a fun evening.  The other night she got me again and if you saw my recent Facebook status you will see how that night turned out for me.
Today we were at grandma's, I thought she was done but nope- got me again.
When I saw this picture tonight I actually found myself wishing that I was cleaning up more messes like this instead of the ones that I have been lately.

MOA

Drive from Champlin to Mall of America:  45 minutes

Lunch, Point Pass, snacks, and ice cream:  $43.78

Watching your child's face when they meet their idol:  Truly priceless

I have been meaning to take Hannah to Nickelodeon Universe for a few weeks now.  Ever since she stopped using her nuk at night.  I always want to be sure to celebrate these accomplishments.  I looked online before we left and found out that at 4:00 today Dora and Diego were going to be at the mall for a meet and greet.  We were planning on getting there around 11:00 am today so even though I really wanted to take her to see them, I just wasn't sure whether or not it would work out that way.  So, I didn't mention it.  I kept it in the back of my mind and waited.

We got to the mall, Jennie, Kim, Kristin, and Grandma Chris meet us there.  We ate lunch, went on rides, shopped a little, ate snacks, etc.  Hannah had a great day!  We were getting ready to think about leaving and I asked her if she wanted to go and see if Dora and Diego were here. Of course she said yes, not having any clue what this meant. 

We went back to the park and approached the 'area'.  Sponge Bob was there when we first arrived but it wasn't long until he left and Dora and Diego came out.

WHOA....Hannah almost lost it.  She started yelling 'Hi Dora' and waving.  She then told me that she wants to go and give Dora a hug.  We got into the line and waited for our turn.  Hannah was so antsy and the whole time we waited (which was not long at all) she talked about Dora and Diego and how she wanted to go and see them.  Right before it was our turn I was telling Hannah that it was almost time for us, we were going to turn the corner and see them.  The look on her face will be forever stamped into my brain.  She was so excited.  She clenched her little fists together, had the biggest smile on her face, and started shaking.

Finally it was our turn.  We turned the corner to meet them and just as I thought, she was a little nervous to get down and be on her own.  She was really interested in meeting them but wanted to stay in my arms as she did.  She hugged Dora, kissed Diego while having a starstruck look on her face the whole time.

When our turn was over she wasn't too happy.  Kimmy offered to take her again so back in the line she went.  This time when it was her turn she was actually ok with standing next to them. 

My heart still flutters when I think about what that must have meant to her.  It was so fun watching her experience that.

Backseat Conversations Take 1

Hannah and I always talk while we are in the car together.   

This series will explore those conversations.

Mom:  "Boy, am I hungary."

Hannah:  "You hungary mom?  Daddy will feed you, daddy always feeds us."

Mom:  "He will?  That's wonderful. Are you going to help him make dinner tonight?"

Hannah:  "Sure will mom.  I sure will."

Wash, wash, wash your hands

Wash, wash, wash your hands

Wash the germs away

Wash and wash and wash and wash

and wash the germs away

(sung to the tune of Row, Row, Row your boat)

Why do you grow so fast?

Hailey started using a highchair this week.  She looks so cute sitting in there.

She looks so big sitting up- all by herself. 

I gave her a sippy cup thinking it would give her something to play with and she almost picked it up and started drinking just like she knew just what to do. 

As fun as it is watching her grow and develop, it also is driving me crazy that she is getting so big already.  How can she be sitting up in a highchair snacking on Gerber puffs and drinking from a sippy cup?!

1st, 2nd, and 3rd

  "Mom, this is the first path, and the second path, and the third path.  These paths take us places"

How many times a week do I find myself wondering where she gets these things from?

Mom, see what I can do

Brian does this thing with his eyes where he can keep one still while the other moves off to the side.  Hannah cracks up when he does this.  She always tries to do it too.  This evening Brian and I were cracking up watching her facial expressions and she tried to mimic her daddy.

Happy Birthday to me!

Happy Birthday to me!  Today is my 34th Birthday.  Looking at where I am in my life I couldn't be more blessed.  I have an amazing husband, a career I love, two beautiful little girls. 

As a little birthday gift to myself, I am going to allow myself to call it a night.  To not worry about the fact that I just 'threw' together a weeks worth of blogging and then I posted a picture of my family and should be spending all night pouring my heart out about how they make me feel, etc.  Instead, I am going to bed.

A day in the life of Soda

Just in case you were wondering how Soda was doing?  She is still hanging in there just fine.  Hannah hasn't asked to sleep with Soda lately but she still assures that Soda is taken care of during the day.  Today I found Soda in Hailey's swing, Hannah pushing her chanting "Go baby go!"

Relax

"Mom, I want to relax."

This is how Hannah tells us that she wants to sit on the couch with the couch reclined.  As you can see, her feet don't reach the edge of the seat but she doesn't care.  Here she is, sitting on the couch, digital camera on her lap (just in case), playing on 'her' iPod, with her Dankie.  I could just sit and stare at her all night, watching her grow up right before my eyes.  Oh, that's right, I do :-)

Phone call with mommy

Hannah:  "Hi Mommy, are you home wif me and daddy and Hay-dee?"

Mom:  "No honey, I am in Iowa for work for a few days."

Hannah:  "You at work mommy?  Ok."

Mom:  "Did you have a good day today?"

Hannah:  "Daddy get me and bring me from Jackie's. Blaghey drupedy flaupadoiueoiuha wearstem adobuy, hee hee, foinhdskih adoiup;mleiouwokj."

Mom:  "Oh, that sounds good like you had a really good day.  I love you.  You be good for daddy."

Hannah"  Ok mommy, bye!"

Hmmmm, wonder what that was all about :-)

Sure am going to miss you

I am heading to Iowa today for work.  I am attending a Central Region Users Group in Des Moines and will be gone until Friday.  When I first thought about going, you two were the first things that entered my mind.  I almost didn't go.  If I had chosen not to go, it would have been because I wouldn't want to be away from you girls.  I decided to go.  I need to do this.  I want to do this.  I am really interested in going to this conference to network, meet people, and hopefully learn a thing or two.  I will think about you the whole time I am gone and when I come back I am going to eat your cheeks off!

Mommy's BIG helper

I know I have talked before about how helpful Hannah is.  I can't stress that enough. 

I had to get some things done around the house this weekend and right when I got started, Hailey needed to eat.  I got her set up on her boppy pillow and asked Hannah if she wanted to feed her. Well, not only did she help me out by holding the bottle and feeding her, she provided free entertainment as well.

Makes me wonder

This is Benji.  Benji is Bob and Grandma's dog. 

Benji spends a good part of his day perched on the couch looking at the world outside.  Whenever you drive to grandma's and pull up into the driveway, you can bet that Benji will be in the window- waiting.

He will run from one window to the other, to the huge sliding glass door in the back barking the whole way letting any and everyone know that he sees something.

It makes me wonder why a dog who seems to be obsessed with knowing what is happening outside pees and poops inside the house.  Why wouldn't he want to be outside?  I will never understand that dog.

63 and sunny

It was 63 degrees outside today. 

This morning when I went to let the dog out I could hear the birds chirping and could smell the air.  You know, that smell of spring. 

The sun was out most of the day today and we even got out for a walk.

First time this year we went outside without a jacket.

I am ready.  I am so ready.

The thought of just going outside without having to buddle everyone up.  Walking to the car without worrying about slipping on the ice. 

I am looking forward to playing outside with the kids and opening the windows.  There comes a time each winter when I think that we should move somewhere warmer.  Why would ANYONE in their right mind live in a frozen tundra like this?  Then the spring comes and I remember....I wouldn't appreciate spring as much if it wasn't rescuing me from winter.

It's funny living in Minnesota at the beginning of spring.  When the temperature starts to hit around 40 degrees people stop wearing jackets, some people actually start to wear shorts.  There will be snow still on the ground but when it hits 50 degrees you will even see kids playing outside without jackets. 

You sort of feel as though you are part of a club,  here in Minnesota during this time of year.  We love to talk about the weather and on days like today I can actually see why.

Just like that

Brian and I have been trying to come up with a way to get Hannah to give up her nuk.

She has never gotten it at daycare.

She only has it at home when she is either taking a nap or going to bed.

She loves this thing.

I didn't want to take it away from her when Hailey was born because I didn't want too many huge changes happening at a time.  I didn't want to take it away a few months ago because she was potty training and I didn't want her to get too frustrated with being expected to do too many 'big girl' things at once.

The other night Brian had asked what my plan was going to be.  I told him that I will start working on it.  I had a few ideas...the Nuk Fairy could come at night, she could use it to 'buy' a toy at the store, I could start cutting it up, I could just take it away-cold turkey.  We had so much success bribing her to use the potty and then using the potty chair for #2 that I thought, couldn't hurt.

I told her a few nights ago that if she could start sleeping without her nuk we could talk about going to the mall to go on some rides and we could bring Jennie, Kimmy, and Kristin with us.  That was it.  That is all that she needed to hear.

"Put my nuk in the drawer mommy, I don't need it.  I want to go to the mall with my girls."

Three days, no nuk.

This girl is making things WAY too easy!

You be the judge

Here is a picture of Soda.  Hanging out on Hannah's chair waiting for her to get home from Jackie's.
Hannah has been sleeping with her ever since Maddie's party.  The other night I tucked Hannah and Soda into bed.  When Hannah woke up the next morning I found Soda like this.  Sitting all by herself on a chair across the room.
I asked Hannah what happened...this is the response I got - "I bringed Soda there, she was done taking a nap."

Like I said, I think she is settling in just fine here.

Too much Diego?

Hailey was fussing the other night and Hannah, coming to her sister's rescue as she always does, comes running over to see if Hailey has a toy to play with or needs her nuk put back within her reach.

Hailey had her nuk so Hannah asked her if she needed a toy.

"I will get you my field journal, ok?  You can play with it."

Hannah runs into her bedroom and out she comes carrying this thing from her bedroom.   She set it in front of Hailey and told her that this was her field journal and Hailey would have fun playing it.  "See, it plays music too". 

Field journal?!  There is only one possible explanation....Diego.  This girl is addicted to Diego and his animal rescuing. 

Sometimes when moments like this occur I wonder if I let her watch too much TV.  She dosen't watch all that much but I am not going to lie, some nights when she gets home from Jackie's all she wants to do is sit at the computer and watch 'her shows'.  We let her.  Not every night but we let her.

I shouldn't feel bad.  I have a well rounded little girl who is smart, active, has a crazy imagination, can play with others, and play by herself.  Plus, a little TV never hurt anyone :-)

What you doing dada?

Brian has been working from home a lot lately.  Last night Hannah was on the couch eating her snack watching him.

Hannah: "What you doing dada?"

Brian: "Working buddy"

Hannah:  "Mama, dada's workin' it!"

Hi Princess!

I love my camera.

Hannah picked up her princess phone tonight, this is a play-flip-phone and on the part that flips up there is a picture of Cinderella. 

Hannah picked up this phone tonight, from across the room, and says "Hi Princess, we'll be there soon."  Then she starts laughing at the phone (well, at the princess she was talking to on the phone...wonder what she said?), I got my camera ready because I knew that with my lens I would be able to zoom on her and get a picture of this and I did.  Even though this picture makes it look as though she were posing for me, she wasn't.  She was so busy in her conversation that she was oblivious to the fact that I was taking a picture of her.

I love my camera.

Resemblance

WOW!  I was looking through some pictures tonight and everytime I would pass by this one I was AMAZED at how much Hailey looks like Nicolas here.  Nicolas, Kas as he is called by his family, is my nephew.  Such an adorable, sweet, funny, and charming little boy :-)

The story behind the picture

I decided that I wanted to take Hailey's newborn pictures myself.  It was hard for me to justify taking her to a stuido and paying someone to take pictures when I have a camera capable of doing it myself. 

One day on my maternity leave I decided that that would be the day that I would figure out how to pose Hailey and get some cute newborn pics.  I got a black blanket out and taped it up on the wall to serve as a backdrop.  I then got a picture frame, removed the glass and the mat.  My boss had sent me flowers to the hospital when Hailey was born and they were getting close to the end of their life, it was time to put them to use so I picked some from the bouquet and set them up in front of the frame.  I had to figure out a way for the frame to stand up so I stacked 12 pks of Diet Coke behind the frame so it had something to lean against.  I placed a pillow underneath the blanket so Hailey would have something to lay on.  I was ready!  I took some pictures of the 'empty' scene to assure that I had the right lighting...lights on or off, curtains open or drawn, flash up or down...you get the picture.

Finally, I got Hailey undressed and placed her inside her picture.  I started backing up so that I could get the shot and then it happened....the one thing I hadn't thought about...how was I going to get a newborn baby to lay on a pillow on her side?!  *Bloooop* out she came.  She rolled right out of that frame onto the floor.  She was not happy about that.  She didn't scream or cry - nope, instead she peed.  All over me, all over the floor, all over the blanket.  I quickly put a diaper on her and wrapped her in a blanket and got things cleaned up.  I went to grab her again and *beep*, "what was that?!"  Oh yeah, I forgot that I had made some brownies that day and that *beep* was my notice that they were done and ready to come out...are you kidding me?!  So, I got the brownies out of the oven, removed Hailey's diaper, set her back inside the frame and *WOOF*...*Bloooop*.  Someone had decided to walk their dog in front of our house and Nash needed to let us know that he saw them, that scared Hailey right out onto the floor again.  Poor girl :-(

After about an hour and a half, we finally had the moment, I finally got Hailey to lay long enough to snap a few pictures.  They didn't turn out as good as I was hoping but all and all after the whole ordeal I was happy just to have been able to take any at all.   I sometimes regret not taking her to get her pics taken professionally but then again, we wouldn't have this story to share if we would have gone to Penney's.

Build-a-Bear (Monkey) Workshop

This weekend Hannah was invited to Maddie's Birthday party at the Build-a-Bear Workshop.  All of the kids got to choose any animal they wanted.  As part of the party all of the kids would get to choose the animal they wanted to make, choose an outfit to dress it in, stuff it, bathe it, and take it home :-)

Hannah had her eye on a bright blue bear with lime green, red, and orange peace signs on it.  Luckily I was able to talk her out of it and with Tyler and Carter's help she chose a new one.  Of course they persueded her into choosing a monkey...I wasn't about to complain about that choice. I feel really guilty that I did't let her get the one she really wanted but I wasn't about to let Stacey spend that kind of money on a stuffed animal that I would secretly want to throw away when nobody was looking.  Luckily as Soda came alive she became really attached.  She had a blast picking out a pink vest with ruffles and a pair of silver sunglasses for Soda.  She got to step on the peddle of the stuffing machine and once Soda was complete she got to bring her to the bath tub to give her an air bath.

Since Soda's arrival she has been taken for stroller rides, watched Dora and Deigo, has been chewed on by Hailey, and sleeps with Hannah (nap time and bed time).  She is adjusting well to her new life and I think she is going to settle in just fine here.

So big!

Hailey has graduated to the bath seat.  About 3 weeks ago we put away the baby bathtub and took out the bath seat.  She loves it!  She still teeters a lot while sitting in it but you can just tell that she feels like such a big girl in it.  She likes to splash in the water and fish for toys to chew.  She likes the sound of her voice echoing in the bathroom and as soon as her feet hit the water she starts talking and cooing.  Hannah loves talking baths with Hailey.  I get Hailey all covered in soap and bubbles and Hannah helps me rinse her off.  I can't get over what a great big sister Hannah is and it makes me so proud to realize that we had something to do with what a great kid and sister she has turned out to be.

My decoration

My sister posted a picture of some purses the other day.  She made a comment that the purses have become part of the decoration in her house since they have been there for about 6 months. Today, I realized that I too have items in this house that have become 'part of the decoration'. 
This Vikings snowman is one of these decorations.  You might be thinking to yourself, 'well, it is part of the decoration in the winter months'....you'd be half right.  This Vikings snowman was purchased one winter and has hung on this doorknob ever since.  It has been about 6 years now.....sorry, Kari, that record crushes your unattended purses :-)
I should probably be more embarrassed about that....

Batter, Batter, Swing Batter

This past weekend we were at the Busta's and they have a little batting cage set up in their garage.  Hannah wanted to give it a try so Shane got Maddie's bike helmet and taught her how to swing a bat.  I don't know if I am truly ready for this....she is growing up so fast and watching her learn for the first time how to swing a bat and hit a ball off of a tee...where did my little girl go?!  If you see her will you send her home to me?

Mommy, I going to fart on jew

Hannah is such a silly girl.  She is always making jokes and laughing.  Ever since she was little I have been amazed at her sense of humor.  How does someone that little 'get' jokes and when things are funny.  The other night we were wrestling around and I was tickling her.  She was laughing really hard and between her squeals she was telling me to stop.  She ended up grabbing my hand, placing it on her bottom and then said "Mommy, I going to fart on jew (you)".  Then sure enough she let one go, right on my hand.  I pushed her off of me onto the floor and she ended up on her hands and knees laughing at herself.

We have so many of these moments together and I cherish everyone of them. 

Cutters

Hannah found a pair of scissors in a little grooming kit that was in a drawer in her room.  She was real happy, like she had won the lottery.  All weekend long she wanted to use the cutters to cut paper.  I asked her if she uses scissors at Jackie's and she assured me that she has.  She knew exactly what to do with them and a few times told me about how dangerous they could be and that she would be "berry, berry careful" so I figured as long as I were watching her it would be fine.  She has been real careful and after she spent a better part of the day on Saturday cutting a peice of paper into smithereens I realized that this could just be the next best thing next to Dora.

This time, she went to get the 'cutter'.  I asked her to stay on the couch where I could see her so that I could be sure she was being careful. 

Mommy:  "Hannah, you be real careful with those scissors.  They can be very dangerous and you only cut paper, ok?"

Hannah:  "I am not a baby, mom.  They are only berry dangerous for babies like Hailey."

Well...I guess she told me