My Favorite Things

These are a few of my favorite things now that I'm becoming a big girl.

I love helping my mommy in the kitchen. I got to make cookies the other day. I even measured the oatmeal and spooned in all the M&Ms. Mommy didn't tell me that you could eat M&Ms until one dropped on the floor. I decided that I should try one, and it was yummy. Why didn't she tell me? I was pretty impatient while the cookies were baking and cooling off. I just wanted to eat one. They sure were delicious. And I don't know what mommy is talking about in the movie. She didn't make the cookies for daddy. She made them for herself. I was home to see how many she ate.


I also love painting with water. I've learned that if I say "more water" mommy fills up my bucket with the hose. Then I can paint and paint. My favorite thing to paint is the deck, but I enjoy painting my shoes too. Every time we're outside, I want to have my water paint and paintbrush. And you'll never believe what fell off my paintbrush when I was painting so hard on the deck - a tiny, sharp screw. Mommy acted like it was a big deal that I found it and brought it to her, but she gave it to me in the first place!


I love babies. Today I got a new carrier for my baby. The cover was in the laundry, but I still got to play with this part. I can carry my baby all around. I put her carrier on a chair beside me while I was doing puzzles. I tried to take the carrier and baby in my crib tonight, but daddy and mommy put the stop to that. Instead the carrier had to sit in the chair right by my bed so I can stare at it all night and dream about it being in the crib with me. At least I can snuggle with my baby. Mommy keeps talking about having this baby in her belly, and I really don't get that yet. This is my baby, not something in her belly.

Two More

No, we are not having twins. I discovered two upper molars had popped through today. That would explain lots of things about the past few days. Teething has not really been an issue for us as of yet (well, we only do have six teeth at 19 months). But yesterday especially was terrible - more meltdowns than the last month. I asked her if her teeth were ouchy, and she said "ouchy". I guess she was trying to tell me. Today was a much better day, although she did scream multiple times while using her spoon at lunch. Perhaps she bumped the sensitive gums.

So here we are, on to eight teeth. Maybe soon we won't have to cook her apples anymore.

Poor Titus

Where does she come up with these ideas? I thought it was pretty entertaining, so I was glad to see the camera was sitting in the kitchen and I could capture it. He is such a good sport, and I think looks fairly nice in beads.

Frozen blueberries...

are so messy, but oh so yummy.

Easter

We had a great day celebrating Easter. Had an Easter basket filled with toys, friends over for lunch, an Easter egg hunt, and lots of time to play outside. In spite of all the traditions that seem to go along with the day, it was most importantly a day reflecting upon the blessings we have because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Thank you for restoring our relationship with God the Father.

Eggs

Dying eggs for Easter. She had the most fun putting the egg in and out of the dye. Eventually she told daddy "no" to holding the cup for her. The eggs did not exactly turn out fabulously, but we had a good time.

Can you tell she poked her finger through the green one? Let's just say several were cracked after this.

Disregard the loud music in the background. It sounds like we were really jamming, but the music didn't seem that loud at the time.

Bye Bye Ne-nees

Friday was the last day for Adde to have her nuks (or ne-nees as she calls them). Mark would say this transition was harder for me than it was for Adde, which is why I have pictures of her on her last morning with her nuk. I know it's irrational, but I felt like I was taking away one of her security items. Well, actually, I was, but she can't depend on her nuks forever.

So Adde decorated a special "big girl bag" that we put all her nuks in (minus the one I found under her mattress later in the day), taped it shut, and said bye-bye. I told her she was giving them to the baby because she's a big girl and doesn't need them anymore. We put them outside for the baby to come pick up (yes, a little stretch). She sucked on one for a brief moment before throwing it in the bag. But she did do really well saying goodbye. However, I will note that the next day we were playing with bubbles at the table, which is where we said bye to the nuks. When bubble time was over, I told her we were all done with bubbles. She got this terrible look on her face and started to cry, as if to say, will I ever see them again? I promised her we would play bubbles the next day. Here's the bag of nuks and Adde's tape job to keep them inside.

On the first day without nuks she complained for about 10 minutes at nap time and 5 at bedtime. The next day nap time was a disaster, but she went to bed without crying. Tonight was the same way. I am so fortunate for how well this transition went. I definitely cried more than Adde. My little girl is growing up. (I have tears even as I type this...I blame the pregnancy hormones.)

Papa, Mahma, and Poopy Visit

We just finished a great week of family visiting. Grandpa and Grandma Rohrer and Toby came to visit. Adde started saying all of their names once they were modified a bit. She was so excited to have everyone staying at her home. Every morning she would ask for the puppy right away and want down to give him a big hug when she found him. Grandma and Grandpa visiting meant that mommy and daddy got a fabulous break from childcare, mommy got to sleep a lot, and daddy got to stay home from work and do some projects around the house.

Adde kept us all busy. Pictures are separated below into indoor fun, outdoor fun, and out and about. She played so differently this week as she had new toys and new playmates. I'll let the pictures tell the story.







And a few movies just for kicks...






A wonderful week of fun. I'm not sure what I will do all of next week to keep her occupied. Thanks for a great week papa and mahma!

Fabulous Friday

...and it sure was. Some days we just have so much fun, and yesterday was one of those. What a joy it is to just smile and laugh with your child. My heart overflows with love for this little girl and I pray that she knows that everyday.

She enjoys putting on her sunglasses herself. Then she just smiles at me because she knows I think it is so funny because most often the sunglasses are upside down and completely crooked.

She carries so much loot around with her. Sometimes she has to house some of it in the stroller to take with her. Here she has two purses, both filled with items, a bottle, lanyard, baby, pig, blanket, and a few other small items in the stroller seat. Then she proceeds to walk around with all of this stuff.

This is the face of the little lady I love.

Pop Quiz

Thought you might enjoy a little quiz and I might enjoy writing one. My teaching license is about to expire, so maybe this will count in the renewal process.

1. Why are my (Lana's) quadriceps so miserably sore, to the point where it hurts to stand up?
a. Bending over to pick Adde up too many times in one day.
b. Running too far in the nice weather.
c. Picking up dog poop.

2. What was Adde's response when the nurse asked her if she was excited to become a big sister?
a. No
b. Yes
c. Puppy
d. No response. She went mute.

3. Which of the following is a recent statement of Adde's?
a. No ni-ni mama.
b. The puppy poop.
c. Both

4. Who set the table in the picture below?
a. Mark
b. Adde
c. Lana
d. Titus

5. Where was this picture taken?a. the park
b. the mall amusement park
c. Target

The answers...
1. c - My quads are sore from picking up Titus poop for 1 1/2 hours on Saturday. Is he worth it?

2. a - Adde responded "no" she was not excited to be a big sister when out in public even though she tells Mark and I repeatedly that she is going to be a big sister, be nice to the baby, etc.

3. c - Adde has said both of these things. She is putting words together now...so exciting!

4. b - Adde set the table. She now enjoys taking over all of her "things" and puts them at her spot (most of the time). It's awesome to see her wanting to help around the house.

5. b - This picture was taken at the Mall of America amusement park. You notice she looks kind of happy here, which was about the only time she was happy - when sitting on a park bench watching people. She cried through the other rides (including the carousel) and refused to get on several others. On the carousel we had to sit in the bench reserved for handicap patrons because she refused to get on a horse. Maybe next time she will be braver.

So how did you do?