- Eat chicken....and loves it! Thinking about trying turkey next.
- wave bye when someone is leaving (and not just to wave). She waved bye to me Monday when I left her at Miss Rebeccas.
- Says "Mama". Kati and Kim think they heard it Sunday....I heard it for real when I picked her up from Miss Rebecca's yesterday.....ALL the way home!
- "Says" more and all done in sign language....her own sign language. Instead of touching her fingers together for more she does this funky wave, one handed towards the sky. Instead of the hands up and waving for all done she puts her hands up like "I don't know". It's super cute and actually very consistent!!
- Her favorite past time is playing out front in the leaves....she loves to crunch them and throw them.
- Eats Cheerios ALL the time...sometimes by the handfull.
- Loves to let the dogs "taste" her food.....then she eats it. Neither of the dogs will take it out of her hand. They lick it and then she eats it.....kinda yucky but really cute!
- Still loves her Jumperoo....but not really getting into it, she loves to go up to her horse and pet it....super cute!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Little is OH so Big!!!
New things Stephanie does.....IN THE LAST 7 DAYS!!!!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Weekend Fun
What a wonderful couple of weekends!! Last weekend was Kati's bachelorette party and I've finally gotten a montage ready. This weekend we had her bridal shower, the Hogwarts Festival and some really fun time playing in the front yard. Stephanie has been sick the entire week....and you would never know! Tuesday we went to the dr after her getting a cough Monday.....upper respiratory infection. I was home with her Tuesday and Wednesday....thought she was getting better so she went back to Miss Rebeccas. Friday her cough was worse so we went back to the dr after school.....DOUBLE ear infection! And this little trooper never complained, whined or was ever really fussy!!! I felt bad that she has been sick and we hadn't done anything :(
Saturday she had a blast at Auntie Kati's shower! Tons of friends to see and paper to eat :) Then we went home for a nice long nap before heading out to the Hogwarts Festival. They turned this kids park into a mini Hogwarts and Hogsmead....very cool! We looked around some and headed home....can't wait to take her next year!
Today we cleaned the house, did something special for Gamma's birthday (shhhh, it's a secret) and then played outside until Daddy came home. Stephanie had a blast in the grass! She's such an outdoors girl (like her momma). It was a WONDERFUL, fun filled weekend!!! Enjoy the pics!
Saturday she had a blast at Auntie Kati's shower! Tons of friends to see and paper to eat :) Then we went home for a nice long nap before heading out to the Hogwarts Festival. They turned this kids park into a mini Hogwarts and Hogsmead....very cool! We looked around some and headed home....can't wait to take her next year!
Today we cleaned the house, did something special for Gamma's birthday (shhhh, it's a secret) and then played outside until Daddy came home. Stephanie had a blast in the grass! She's such an outdoors girl (like her momma). It was a WONDERFUL, fun filled weekend!!! Enjoy the pics!
Kati's Bachelorette Party (Last Weekend) and Shower (Saturday, Nov 25)
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Picture Update.....FINALLY
The weekend came and left pretty fast! Saturday was Kati's bachelorette party and we had a blast! We went to the zoo, got lost in the Cowtown Cattle Pen Maze (way fun!) and then headed back to our side of town for a yummy Mexican food dinner. Stephanie had so much fun with her Gamma and Gampa. She was one dirty, tired little girl (had played outside).
Sunday Josh slept and Stepahnie and I kept busy. We grocery shopped, cleaned, did laundry and then cleaned out the garage!! I finally pulled the Jeep in! It's been a year and a half since we have been able to walk from one end of our garage to the other, so parking my car in it was obviously out of the questions :) So the house is clean, laundry done, food in the fridge and the car in the garage....fun weekend!
Stephanie woke up Monday with a YUCKY cough! She was acting fine though so she went to Miss Rebeccas and I went to work (expecting a phone call). The call never came, Stephanie did great and her cough went away....until 10 that night. Stephanie woke up off and on with her cough. Tuesday she also had a fever so we stayed home together, went to the dr and rested. She has an upper respiratory infection, but her chest and ears are fine (Thank God). I'll stay home with her again tomorrow and am hoping all is well for her to go back to Miss Rebeccas Thursday. Today she and I watched cartoons, took long naps and cooked. I made Stephanie a TON of food! She now has green beans, acorn squash, pumpkin, sweet potatoes and, for the first time, sweet potatoes and chicken! She had sweet potatoes and chicken tonight.....LOVED IT! She also can eat Cheerios like a big girl! Where has time gone! Enjoy the slide show.....
Sunday Josh slept and Stepahnie and I kept busy. We grocery shopped, cleaned, did laundry and then cleaned out the garage!! I finally pulled the Jeep in! It's been a year and a half since we have been able to walk from one end of our garage to the other, so parking my car in it was obviously out of the questions :) So the house is clean, laundry done, food in the fridge and the car in the garage....fun weekend!
Stephanie woke up Monday with a YUCKY cough! She was acting fine though so she went to Miss Rebeccas and I went to work (expecting a phone call). The call never came, Stephanie did great and her cough went away....until 10 that night. Stephanie woke up off and on with her cough. Tuesday she also had a fever so we stayed home together, went to the dr and rested. She has an upper respiratory infection, but her chest and ears are fine (Thank God). I'll stay home with her again tomorrow and am hoping all is well for her to go back to Miss Rebeccas Thursday. Today she and I watched cartoons, took long naps and cooked. I made Stephanie a TON of food! She now has green beans, acorn squash, pumpkin, sweet potatoes and, for the first time, sweet potatoes and chicken! She had sweet potatoes and chicken tonight.....LOVED IT! She also can eat Cheerios like a big girl! Where has time gone! Enjoy the slide show.....
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Life is Flying By
Well my sister Kati comes home today for a whole month! She moved to Cali this summer and hasn't been home yet. Am SO excited to have her here!! Her wedding is November 9th, she's here to do all the last minute stuff. It's going to be a busy and SUPER FUN month! Today we will kick it all off with a family trip to the airport, lunch, a visit to the Pumpkin Patch and dinner. Stephanie will be so excited to see her Auntie Kati!
Life on the home front is great and slowing down....some. Josh has had a couple days off after working 3 weeks straight, 16 hours many of those days :( It was a strain on us both....but things are back to "normal". I am starting to get on track with balancing work, mommy, wife and housekeeper. I'm trying to stay up with the house stuff, yard work and get some extra things done as well. The closet is FINALLY cleaned out (was supposed to do that before Stephanie was born, hehe). My front and back yard look nice (thanks Gamma and Gampa for watching Stephanie last night), but could spend another weekend out back before it's what I want. I have a fridge full of wonderful meals cooked and ready to go (spend three hours the other day just cooking for us....makes the week so much easier!). Stephanie has PLENTY of food in the freezer. Her newest veggie, pumpkin. She LOVES IT, so her Momma's girl ;) My next project, paint our bathroom.....will try and get that done Josh's next drill weekend.
This past week we took advantage of Josh having a day off and we went to the Pumpkin Patch. Stephanie was WAY MORE interested in the hay and grass instead of the pumpkins ;) We took a million pictures and let her get nice and dirty. She never sneezed or got a rash.....hoping she doesn't have my allergies! I, on the other hand, had to go home, wash my clothes and shower because I am SO allergic to the hay! Oh well, I'm used to it and it was so worth it! We had a blast as a little family! and Stephanie got her first pumpkin....it was a whole $1 (wish they sold the ones she could eat that cheap!)
I am looking forward to the coming weeks/months. It's full of my favorite foods, smells and memories! Josh bought me a cookbook that is EVERYTHING pumpkin :) I plan to try out a recipe or two this weekend (Kati loves pumpkin too). I have become pretty good at cooking fresh sugar pie pumpkins.....want to make some fresh pumpkin for the recipe's I have.....
Picture updates to come:
Halloween. NOT a big holiday for us and NOT something I really like....but our kids will trick or treat and that's about it. So little is going to be a Ladybug. We'll go to a few friends homes for pictures and then spend the evening at Uncle Mikie's and Auntie Kimmi's house for some fun.....I really think we should make it a tradition! I'll bring something pumpkin ;)
Thanksgiving:My boss approved my taking off two days the week of Thanksgiving that we work this year. Miss Rebecca (Stephanie's babysitter, my good friend) planned a family trip thinking that our holidays would be the same as last year....sadly they are not and we have to work two days the week of Thanksgiving. Now that I have them off I have a full week with my little, and we get to celebrate a family Thanksgiving with Josh. We'll have Thanksgiving dinner as the Brooks' three Tuesday (Josh has to work Thanksgiving day). Then on the actual Thanksgiving Day Stephanie and I will head over to Gamma Claudette and Gampa Steve's house for dinner with the Koehler and Merrill families...will be fun!
Christmas: My FAVORITE time of year! Starts the day after Thanksgiving with fun and festivities and doesn't end till January 1st....tons of family, food and great fun! Sure to have a million pictures ;)
Well enjoy this montage, pumpkin patch was a blast! Will go again today and post more pics later. Much love!
Life on the home front is great and slowing down....some. Josh has had a couple days off after working 3 weeks straight, 16 hours many of those days :( It was a strain on us both....but things are back to "normal". I am starting to get on track with balancing work, mommy, wife and housekeeper. I'm trying to stay up with the house stuff, yard work and get some extra things done as well. The closet is FINALLY cleaned out (was supposed to do that before Stephanie was born, hehe). My front and back yard look nice (thanks Gamma and Gampa for watching Stephanie last night), but could spend another weekend out back before it's what I want. I have a fridge full of wonderful meals cooked and ready to go (spend three hours the other day just cooking for us....makes the week so much easier!). Stephanie has PLENTY of food in the freezer. Her newest veggie, pumpkin. She LOVES IT, so her Momma's girl ;) My next project, paint our bathroom.....will try and get that done Josh's next drill weekend.
This past week we took advantage of Josh having a day off and we went to the Pumpkin Patch. Stephanie was WAY MORE interested in the hay and grass instead of the pumpkins ;) We took a million pictures and let her get nice and dirty. She never sneezed or got a rash.....hoping she doesn't have my allergies! I, on the other hand, had to go home, wash my clothes and shower because I am SO allergic to the hay! Oh well, I'm used to it and it was so worth it! We had a blast as a little family! and Stephanie got her first pumpkin....it was a whole $1 (wish they sold the ones she could eat that cheap!)
I am looking forward to the coming weeks/months. It's full of my favorite foods, smells and memories! Josh bought me a cookbook that is EVERYTHING pumpkin :) I plan to try out a recipe or two this weekend (Kati loves pumpkin too). I have become pretty good at cooking fresh sugar pie pumpkins.....want to make some fresh pumpkin for the recipe's I have.....
Picture updates to come:
Halloween. NOT a big holiday for us and NOT something I really like....but our kids will trick or treat and that's about it. So little is going to be a Ladybug. We'll go to a few friends homes for pictures and then spend the evening at Uncle Mikie's and Auntie Kimmi's house for some fun.....I really think we should make it a tradition! I'll bring something pumpkin ;)
Thanksgiving:My boss approved my taking off two days the week of Thanksgiving that we work this year. Miss Rebecca (Stephanie's babysitter, my good friend) planned a family trip thinking that our holidays would be the same as last year....sadly they are not and we have to work two days the week of Thanksgiving. Now that I have them off I have a full week with my little, and we get to celebrate a family Thanksgiving with Josh. We'll have Thanksgiving dinner as the Brooks' three Tuesday (Josh has to work Thanksgiving day). Then on the actual Thanksgiving Day Stephanie and I will head over to Gamma Claudette and Gampa Steve's house for dinner with the Koehler and Merrill families...will be fun!
Christmas: My FAVORITE time of year! Starts the day after Thanksgiving with fun and festivities and doesn't end till January 1st....tons of family, food and great fun! Sure to have a million pictures ;)
Well enjoy this montage, pumpkin patch was a blast! Will go again today and post more pics later. Much love!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Grandparents Rule
Stephanie had a visit from ALL THREE of her grandparents tonight at THE SAME TIME....seriously! This little girl is not lacking in the love department. ;)
**Notice my yellow walls. I painted it last weekend while Stephanie played at her Gamma and Gampa's house. Another reason grandparents rule, I can get housework done while Stephanie is having fun**
8 Months Old and So Much Fun
Being a Mommy is the best job ever!! Stephanie is 8 months old, FINALLY crawling instead of scooting, pulls up and walks (while holding on), feeds herself, drinks from a sippy cup and is the coolest little girl I know ;)
Playing in her new "farm". I found this at our favorite store....$11 because it was missing a few parts....she doesn't mind at all :) She hasn't gotten her toys out for a week now....she just plays in the farm.
Reading a book and talking to Daddy
Climbing over Boulder to get to Mommy's books. He just sat there....These two are best buds (with an 80lb weight difference)
She climbed up into the freezer....I was cracking up!!! She either had her eyes on the soy beans or the Popsicles ;)
Her first time at the park. We went over to Mum's apartment and played on the park....so much fun!Lost of a Loved one....brain dump
Tuesday was the hardest day for me out of the year....it is every ear, for the past 17 years. Tuesday was the anniversary of my aunt Tetti's last day with me, and first day with Jesus. My aunt Tetti, Stephanie Anne Christy, died at the young age of 20 after a short, but well fought battle with colon cancer. She was my best friend, my hero and probably my favorite person in the world. She always made me feel special, loved and welcome, even with her friends. We moved from California when I was 2 but my parents made sure we went back home several times a year. Despite the many miles between us we stayed close and continued our special bond. As a kid I was a "loser" in school and didn't have many friends (except my Valerie.....love ya girl!) My aunt Tetti was WAY COOL! She was beautiful, had friends, was a cheerleader, drill team, always had cute boys around and got to hang out at the beach. When you're a little girl looking to be big these are the things that matter! Oh, and she got me a New Kids on the Block watch when my mom wouldn't get it for me ;)
Each year and each time I hit a "milestone of life" it is bittersweet.....it is something I am having the joy of experiencing and my aunt did not. People tell me "she's not suffering, she's happy, you should move on". All I will say is each deals with grief differently and I've come A LONG WAY from where I was 7 years ago in my grieving process. Let me explain for those of you who didn't know (my parents had no idea until a few years ago).
Part of the problem was I never really grieved her loss. I was 10, angry, disbelieving and ended up handling my grief by either crying myself to sleep when nobody was around or by convincing myself she wasn't really gone and would call me up any day (seriously, I blocked out all rational thinking and clung to the thought she was here and just busy). It wasn't until I was 20 and had "passed her" in life that I really felt the impact of what I had lost, what I longed for and what would never be. I think it was that year that I finally let my heart feel what my head had known all along, she was gone from this Earth, life was forever changed and I was pissed. I know, not a nice word but there really isn't a better one. Josh and I had just started dating and the poor guy had no idea what he was about to have thrown at him....a person crazy with grief and quickly falling into depression. I would call him at all hours of the night crying so hard I couldn't talk. He would drive over and just sit with me on my parents front porch while I cried. I couldn't talk, I couldn't process.....I had about 10 years worth of tears to shed (and I did!) This year was the happiest time in my life, Josh and I were dating and knew we would be married......but it was shadowed by the fact that my aunt wasn't there when I wanted her, when I needed her and I wasn't able to share this joy with her. I would cry, yell, and cry some more everyday on my way home from college classes. Finally I realized I had to DO something, find an outlet.....I created a scrapbook full of wonderful memories of my aunt Tetti, I wrote her letters, made a special trip to California to visit her grave for the first time, watched her memorial service more than I can count and then, when the light finally started to shine again I got a yellow rose tattoo on my foot in her memory. All of her girlfriends wore yellow ribbons to her memorial service and left a yellow rose for her at the grave. Oh, and I told Josh if we ever had a little girl her name would be Stephanie (needless to say he didn't argue :)
This tattoo was the end of a very hard, very long and very healing year. Josh stayed by my side, despite my craziness :) My relationship with God grew to a depth I didn't know possible....it's amazing to me that I could be so angry with Him, that He would "allow" and love me still. and finally I was able to see past that fact that my aunt was gone and able to have her be a part of my life still as a role model and hero. My aunt is still here, in my daily life and in such a positive way now. Yes, I still have my days and Josh can see them coming, knows what to do and we get through it but overall it's positive memories, laughs and the peace that she is with her heavenly father, safe, and if she could she would be smiling down on me and sending me all her love.
So now I'm a mother, one more thing on my "list". No, I probably shouldn't "keep count" of all the things I am enjoying that she didn't.....oh well, that's just how it is. Knowing life is short I think I am able to enjoy things that much more, get rid of the junk in life and hang on to the things that are important. It's amazing to me how the heart is able to keep people "alive" long after they have left this earth. So I sat on the couch Tuesday with Josh and my little Stephanie, we talked about life, our family and surprisingly for me....not a tear was shed. My aunt is here with me, she would want me to enjoy being a mother and to find joy in life.....I'm there :) Here is one of my favorite stories of my aunt and the picture I look at every morning when I get ready for my day.
So, my aunt wanted me to sleep in bed with her when we would go back to California for a visit. I was a kid and could never stay in one place very long :) If I got out of bed and left her room mom would make me sleep in the guest room with them. So my aunt got smart....she told me that I better stay in her bed because the "boogey monster" lived under it, only came out at night and would grab my feet and pull me under if I got out of bed......IT WORKED! I never got out of bed again and TO THIS DAY have a hard time getting out of bed at night (and think about the boogey monster everytime I do).....LOL, she loved me to pieces and would do anything to keep me with her. These are the things I cling to.
Our last picture together before I was an official "Texan"....Pretty sure we were at a McDonalds. My Papa still has the hat Tetti is wearing in his office.
Each year and each time I hit a "milestone of life" it is bittersweet.....it is something I am having the joy of experiencing and my aunt did not. People tell me "she's not suffering, she's happy, you should move on". All I will say is each deals with grief differently and I've come A LONG WAY from where I was 7 years ago in my grieving process. Let me explain for those of you who didn't know (my parents had no idea until a few years ago).
Part of the problem was I never really grieved her loss. I was 10, angry, disbelieving and ended up handling my grief by either crying myself to sleep when nobody was around or by convincing myself she wasn't really gone and would call me up any day (seriously, I blocked out all rational thinking and clung to the thought she was here and just busy). It wasn't until I was 20 and had "passed her" in life that I really felt the impact of what I had lost, what I longed for and what would never be. I think it was that year that I finally let my heart feel what my head had known all along, she was gone from this Earth, life was forever changed and I was pissed. I know, not a nice word but there really isn't a better one. Josh and I had just started dating and the poor guy had no idea what he was about to have thrown at him....a person crazy with grief and quickly falling into depression. I would call him at all hours of the night crying so hard I couldn't talk. He would drive over and just sit with me on my parents front porch while I cried. I couldn't talk, I couldn't process.....I had about 10 years worth of tears to shed (and I did!) This year was the happiest time in my life, Josh and I were dating and knew we would be married......but it was shadowed by the fact that my aunt wasn't there when I wanted her, when I needed her and I wasn't able to share this joy with her. I would cry, yell, and cry some more everyday on my way home from college classes. Finally I realized I had to DO something, find an outlet.....I created a scrapbook full of wonderful memories of my aunt Tetti, I wrote her letters, made a special trip to California to visit her grave for the first time, watched her memorial service more than I can count and then, when the light finally started to shine again I got a yellow rose tattoo on my foot in her memory. All of her girlfriends wore yellow ribbons to her memorial service and left a yellow rose for her at the grave. Oh, and I told Josh if we ever had a little girl her name would be Stephanie (needless to say he didn't argue :)
This tattoo was the end of a very hard, very long and very healing year. Josh stayed by my side, despite my craziness :) My relationship with God grew to a depth I didn't know possible....it's amazing to me that I could be so angry with Him, that He would "allow" and love me still. and finally I was able to see past that fact that my aunt was gone and able to have her be a part of my life still as a role model and hero. My aunt is still here, in my daily life and in such a positive way now. Yes, I still have my days and Josh can see them coming, knows what to do and we get through it but overall it's positive memories, laughs and the peace that she is with her heavenly father, safe, and if she could she would be smiling down on me and sending me all her love.
So now I'm a mother, one more thing on my "list". No, I probably shouldn't "keep count" of all the things I am enjoying that she didn't.....oh well, that's just how it is. Knowing life is short I think I am able to enjoy things that much more, get rid of the junk in life and hang on to the things that are important. It's amazing to me how the heart is able to keep people "alive" long after they have left this earth. So I sat on the couch Tuesday with Josh and my little Stephanie, we talked about life, our family and surprisingly for me....not a tear was shed. My aunt is here with me, she would want me to enjoy being a mother and to find joy in life.....I'm there :) Here is one of my favorite stories of my aunt and the picture I look at every morning when I get ready for my day.
So, my aunt wanted me to sleep in bed with her when we would go back to California for a visit. I was a kid and could never stay in one place very long :) If I got out of bed and left her room mom would make me sleep in the guest room with them. So my aunt got smart....she told me that I better stay in her bed because the "boogey monster" lived under it, only came out at night and would grab my feet and pull me under if I got out of bed......IT WORKED! I never got out of bed again and TO THIS DAY have a hard time getting out of bed at night (and think about the boogey monster everytime I do).....LOL, she loved me to pieces and would do anything to keep me with her. These are the things I cling to.
Our last picture together before I was an official "Texan"....Pretty sure we were at a McDonalds. My Papa still has the hat Tetti is wearing in his office.
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