Our first Popsicle

Stephanie enjoyed her first popsicle yesterday. Nothing fancy....just some I had in the freezer from when I couldn't keep much else down. She LOVED it! We are going to make yummy (healthy) popsicles and frozen yogurt popsicles this week....yum! She had a blast playing outside in her diaper! After she finished her popsicle we played with bubbles and on her slide. It was such a pleasant evening....I was able to stay out for about an hour! Looking forward to cooler fall evenings so we can enjoy more time out back! This girl LOVES to be outside just like her Mommy :) Enjoy!

We have an Elmo Problem......

This little girl LOVES Elmo!! She cracked me up when she wanted to wear her Elmo outfit to watch Elmo.....too bad she REFUSED to keep her eyes open when she looked at the camera :(

Notice the gate on the left side of the picture....that's how we keep the dogs out of her space while she is still able to go in and out and she pleases. It's GENIUS (Thanks Michelle)

I HAVE A SHOWER

Here is the shower in the middle of this process. Josh has all the pictures on his computer of our "Attack of the Mold" stuff......this is what it looked like after Michael and Daddy tore everything out. There was SOOOO much mold and ick behind the tiles!! Luckily the studs were fine and we didn't have to replace anything extra.

Notice the old bathtub hardware (gold)my BEAUTIFUL new bathtub hardware and the fun little accent work

Gary did with the tile on the ledge.
my BEAUTIFUL new shower!!!! I even have a little shelf for all our stuff. We extended the shower a tiny bit (two inches or so) including the shelf between the shower and tub inside the shower (it used to be outside the shower). It looks SOOOOO good!!!

My shelf....love it!
We are going to paint our cabinets a chocolate brown, SLOWLY replace the faucets and lights so they match the brushed nickel. Then when we have some $$ (maybe Christmas or something) we will have our bathroom textured and paint it a khaki or light mocha.....we'll have green, orange and brown accents to tie it into our bedroom. YEA!! It's a long process but will be so pretty once it's done! Plus, I love doing the work and can't until Mary is here so painting and such will have to wait (I like doing it myself :) I can use the shower Saturday and CAN'T WAIT! It has been hard sharing a bathroom with Stephanie (she LOVES to get into all our stuff.....EVERYTIME I HAVE TO USE THE RESTROOM!) Only a few more days :)

Silly Little Girl

Some days Stephanie wakes up from her nap and plays with her people....which means I hear her and I go in to get her (she NEVER calls for me, Miss Independent :) Every now and then I wake up and realize it's been more than her 1 1/2 naptime....today was one of those days. I could hear her talking in the monitor but couldn't see her. I PRAYED she still had her diaper on and that I wasn't going to walk into a mess like I had Monday (UGH!). This is what I found today....it was dress up time :) Notice one shoe on (the wrong foot), a shirt around her leg and a shirt on her arm (like a purse). This girl empties her dresser drawers MULTIPLE times a day! It's so stinkin cute! We gave up folding clothes!! We just throw all the shirts in one drawer and all the pants in another. She is to the point now where she will help clean up most of the time. My appologies for you not being able to see her face with all that hair! We have to take out her "bow" (rubber band) before nap or else she pulls it out and chews on it....scary!

So what's new in our world

Our girls are growing and keeping us busy! Mary is about 2lbs and a little over a foot long. She moves and grooves all the time....especially when I'm trying to go to bed at night. Stephanie loves to lift up my shirt and give Mary kisses....so cute!

Stephanie is a super busy little monster and I'm lovin every minute of it (well almost every minute...the refusing to listen to me when I feel like garbage is hard :) She loves to color, run around, wrestle with Boulder, climb on EVERYTHING, and crawl into her tunnel and let Boulder push her around. They crack us up!!

She talks a TON! She loves to to talk on the phone (both pretend and when there is actually someone on the other line). She has enjoyed the freedom she has now that I have redone the bedrooms and she has a playroom and bedroom. The dogs can't get back their since I put a gate up (like Michelle did). It allows her to go play when she wants. Her little people are in her bedroom and the rest of her toys are in the playroom.....she goes back and forth all day :) I already bought her Christmas and Bday present....she's getting the Little Tikes dollhouse, accessories and grandma's house. It's the exact same one Kati, kim and I had growing up! I'm super excited!! I let Stephanie play with it at my parents before we hid it....she LOVED it!!

We went Dairy Free a couple weeks ago per Josh's research and request. We had all been fighting congestion and such for several weeks. He did some research and asked me to look into it....I was sold! It's been a smooth transition for the most part. We have no cheese, almond or coconut milk, coconut milk yogurt and ice cream...it's so yummy! The hardest part is hidden dairy....in breads, pretzels, crackers and of course at friends houses or restaurants. We are working hard to really restrict dairy when we are out and about......our bodies let us know is some slipped by because we wake up stuffy and congested the next morning, IT'S CRAZY! We do soy but in limited portions......there is some research linking too much soy to hormone imbalances. It's crazy how much information is out there about what we put in our bodies yet most people have no idea.....it's kinda like vaccines. Why is all this information kept suck a secret?? baffles me.

Josh is gone until the 24th and then he leaves for another two weeks in November. So far we are surviving (thanks to help from Mom and Dad!) Seriously, we can't ever move away from my family......especially with Josh's job! I wouldn't make it without them!

Well that's about it. Sorry it's been FOREVER since I've been on here! It's been a rough time.....when I feel good I have so much I need to do and once it's done I usually feel like garbage again. I'll feel so much better....in January, haha!

More fun Stephie Jo Pics

Auntie Kimmi got a hold of Stephie's hair.....awww, they match!

Stephie was so tired!

sweetie pie sleeping with her "wion". Her Papa Bill searched HIGH AND LOW to find just the right stuffed animal.....Lion is PERFECT!!

Stephie loves her big girl bed! It does offer more freedom though....we have to pat her back until she falls asleep or else she gets up and plays. No biggie!

She loves to help with the laundry.....this afternoon she wore Daddy's socks

Big girl loves to play with her playdough....she plays and I can do dishes without help :)

A Day in the Life of Stephie Jo

Just about every morning we have oatmeal with Daddy then snuggle up for some milk (almond) and cartoons. She always has to have this blankie when she watches in the morning...so cute!

Eating her oatmeal and yogurt.

relaxing before naptime.....this NEVER happens!!

A friend gave us an Elmo costume for dress up....she LOVES it! I look forward to the day she decides she needs to wear it to the grocery store (Josh isn't so excited about that :)

Playtime with Katie Jo......They played dress up, colored and followed eachother around.

I see you, Katie Jo!

SO very proud of herself!! This kid LOVES pretties!!