Little Ladybug

Guess what I found today?

You're right! It's a little ladybug! I was eating breakfast when I saw her crawling on the window.

Come close and see her tip-toeing across my hand. Sometimes she crawls upside down onto the other side of my hand. Silly ladybug! Other times she opens her wings and flies away. That part always surprises me a little. But aren't you proud that I'm not scared?

Is she a little girl? Where does she go when she flies away? Why did she stop moving?

I'm all finished holding her. Would you like to hold my ladybug?

Spring In The Shire

I love a windy day. I love the way my skirt blows around. The way my hair twists into all sorts of shapes. And, the way it feels to run down the hill with the wind at my back.

One more time daddy!

Look at Daddy and smile Ava.

You see, the faster we do this the faster they'll let us get down. Here...I'll help.

Little Quack

Daddy and Giggler

Thanks for the new chair Papa and Mormor! It fits perfectly!

AND, it will grow with me as I get older! Hurray!

A Casual Lunch Conversation

During lunch today Julianna turned to me and said, "Momma, I wanna get married."

Sigh. Kids these days, they just grow up so fast. : )

The Rhythm's Gonna Get You

I must have been having a "spunky" type day about a month ago because I purchased a "Hip-Hop/Cardiokickboxing" dvd set. I say spunky because you have to remember who I am...I'm 5 ft 10 inches tall. Girls my height don't make compact movements. We don't do triple lutzes or toe-touches or pretty much flips of any kind. Don't get me wrong, we can be graceful. We just can't be jiggy.

I'm the girl who chose non-contact, no-coordination-needed sports in high school like track, cross-country, and one season of swimming. All for good reason. I tend to make seriously large, exaggerated movements while dancing which has resulted in my sister dubbing me "The Whirling Dervish."

But, I was feeling spunky so I popped that dvd in yesterday with Jules in tow and said "Let the games begin!" I guess I should have seen it coming when the "hip-hopper" seemed unusually enthusiastic. Or perhaps I could have picked up on it when the "life-line" move (or basic dance step) seemed terribly confusing. Julianna apparently picked up on it because she vacated floor and climbed onto the couch. At one point she even asked, "Momma, you dancing?" It was definitely more of a question than a statement. I managed through the ten minutes opener and I even ventured through a second, ten minute routine. I'll be honest. It wasn't pretty. The music said "J Lo" and my body movements said "Cotton Eyed Joe." I think I am missing something, I think it's called "flava." And, (Monique) I'm pretty sure homey don't play that.

Don't think that's the last of it, though. Nope. I am gonna practice that stuff. And you better just watch out. The next wedding or cruise or just large family gathering, we'll see who's got the flava. So watch out.

Yeah.

True that.

My Girls

These days Ava is always ready with a smile.

Ava is so cute about tummy time. She really doesn't think much of it. She prefers to suck on her fingers and slowly roll to her side. There's almost nothing we can do to persuade her to stay looking around when she's decided that she's done. That'll do mom, that'll do.

Maddie had a great visit with us on Monday while Antaun cleaned their house and cooked a yummy surprise birthday dinner for Kimberlee. Maddie was skeptical about staying alone with us at first. Julianna, on the other hand, was practically turning cartwheels. It was all Jules could do to contain her enthusiasm. Still getting used to the surroundings, Maddie didn't want to leave my lap for about fifteen minutes. Those were probably the longest fifteen minutes of Julianna's life. She did everything she could think of to lure Maddie away. She danced, she played musical instruments, she got the ball out and kicked it down the hall, she even rolled somersaults across the floor.

Nothing.

Then, as is common in human nature...Julianna gave up momentarily and began playing with her toys. Slowly Maddie eased over to see what she was doing. They played for hours, laughing most of the time. I would say, though, what really sealed the deal for Maddie, is when Julianna fed her blueberries and pieces of grapes. She was "in" and pleased to no end.

Aunt Kimberlee was gracious enough to suggest and lend us Maddie's Bumbo Chair on Monday. We were all anxious to let Ava try it. Julianna made sure to test it out a dozen times before Ava got in.

"Fweet Ava"

The Smartest Child In The Universe

Lately, Julianna has been entertaining us with all sorts of new words, expressions, impersonations, and kindnesses. For example:

• "Momma, sit down. I need uh have a conver-station wif you."
• "It's like uh competition momma. A competition." (As she is kicking the soccer ball down the hall)
• "Oh momma. You look so pwetty! I like dat pwetty dress you momma! Pin around."
• "My toes are creaming (screaming) momma! Fix it." (Her socks had gotten a bit scruntched at the end)
• "I ex-uh-size a bit mom. In uh few mints. I be right back, mom." Jules walks over to my 5 lb hand weights and lifts one. "Two, free, fo, five, six, seven...dat's good. (Sigh) I tretch on mat. Cue me." (as she motions for me to scoot out of the way! : )
• "We say 'Happy Burfday uh Aunt Kimmie.' I sit in hall. I hiding. I not be cared (scared) Say 'surprise!' Kimmie says 'oh!' Her 'prised!" (Julsie makes a surprise gasp sound and then chuckles, puts her hands on her cheeks in a surprised expression, and then laughs)
• As we pulled into grocery store parking lot (our last stop for the day), I said "Here we are." Julianna said, "Grocery store! We get milk and... i-cream and... pancake mix and... cerweal and...some begetables." The funny thing about that was I told her back at home what we were going to get maybe twice. We had shopped for two hours at Target and Michael's before getting to the grocery store. And, I had actually forgotten that I wanted to get pancake mix! : )
• The other night we had a big family dinner and Julianna hugged and kissed each person good-night before we left. Thirteen kisses and thirteen hugs. Just as Chad was carrying her out to the car she said, "Wait dah-ee. I not say good-bye Aunt Kelly. Where Kelly?" Kelly had gone into the other room for a minute. How sweet was that?! She not only remembered exactly who she hadn't said good-bye to, she wanted to make sure she gave her a hug and a kiss!

Okay. So after I taught for five years, I swore that I would never be one of those "My Child Is Genius Parents." However (I know that this will come as a HUGE shock to you) My child is, in fact, the smartest kid in the entire universe. Just in case you wanted to know.

Visitin' Folk

"Cool Aunt Jackie" (CAJ) & Ava in the bjorn

Sliding is too fun!

Kari & Ava catch up

Lovely Lady

Snuggly

Sweetie Pie Ava Grace

Momma & Ava

Our First Foursome Shot!

* Kirsten came to visit, too! I just can't find any shots with her in them. I think she was mostly taking pics of others! As soon as I find them I'll put 'em up!

Whirlwind of a Week

The last seven days:

• Put the house up for sale
• House cleaning ensues
• Are those two things out of order?
• I decide you can have a clean house- you just can't live in it
• Show the house five times
• Sell the house (!!)
• Pick relatives up from airport (three different times)
• Make all the family favorite foods (Norwegian waffles, beef stroganoff, blueberry muffins, YUM!) and new ones (homemade ice cream and apple crisp)
• Ward off a cold
• Show the house one more time just in case the offer falls through early Sunday (yep) morning
• See two movies (Hitch, Stranger Than Fiction)
• Stay up late laughing hysterically several nights in a row
• Have two deep conversations
• Get a consult from personal trainer and cousin Kari on my new work-out plan (hurray!)
• Go shopping several times (grocery and trinket)
• Return relatives to airport (two different times)
• Wash the car
• Pay some bills, read some mail
• Look for new houses
• Meet basic needs of family and self (food, baths, lotioning, nursing, nose wiping, hugs, book reading, dishes, diapers, airplane rides...)
• Crash after writing this post

The Good News & The Bad News

1. The Good News: We had a wonderful 70th birthday surprise party for Chad's grandma last weekend. She was totally surprised and the expression on her face was priceless! Everyone had a ton of fun. Julianna got to see Courtney and hung on her leg the entire evening. : ) Which made Courtney feel very special. : )

The Bad News: Julianna caught a chest cold. She catches a cold or virus every time we have a large family gathering. Is she just so sensitive to this type of thing? I don't know. But, it's aggravating and my mother bear fur gets a bit ruffled.

The Good News: Jules is handling the cold really well. She's been coughing a lot but the breathing treatments help a lot. Hopefully by tomorrow the worst will be gone.

2. The Good News: Ava had an excellent 2 month check-up. She's a healthy 12 1/2 lbs (70 %ile) and (90 %ile in height).

The Bad News: Ava has eczema. Yeap. She's exactly the same age as Jules when she started spotting. It's in all the same places and it looks exactly the same. Ugh and double Ugh.

The Good News: Maybe it won't be as bad this time around. It's not as much of a shock, I know the routine, I have the medicines. If the skin condition continues on into childhood and adulthood the two sisters will be able to support each other. It might be kind of aggravating for one to have perfect skin and the other to have trouble, you know.

The Bad News: Ava had to get shots and since I was running late, Jules had to come with instead of going over to my mother-in-law's. Jules screamed "NNNNNOOOOO!" until she turned red...then purple as her sister was stuck with the needle (four times!). She jumped out of the chair and pointed her finger at the nurse, "Stop it! Stop it! Leave her 'lone! Ava!" It was just about all I could do to keep it together. One, because Ava was screaming. Two, because Julianna was screaming.

The Good News: Julianna was displaying protective qualities for her little sister. She wanted to protect and care for her. It's something that is hard to teach. I am glad she already has them. AND, now I know better.

3. The Bad News: We have a ton on our plate right now. Many things to do. Many unknowns. For a list maker and struggling perfectionist it's hard to have so many balls to juggle.

The Good News: Chad and I (after only one fight : ) are on the same page. We have a list, a plan, and we're moving (literally) in the same direction. : ) More on that later.

Happy Birthday!

HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY CHAD!

I can hardly believe that Chad and I are thirty. I tell ya'. Where does the time go? We had a family party for Chad tonight and we watched old family videos from his 10th birthday. It was really fun to see him back then. He has all the same mannerisms and facial expressions. I just know if I'd met him then I'd have been instantly in love! Chad's the best person I've ever known. He's my very best friend and the person I love to see every day. No one can make me so angry or laugh so hard. I cherish all those special moments we have together, especially when it's just the two of us. It's very important to have that- if not essential. May we always carve out time to sit and enjoy each other. Happy Birthday My Dear Sweet Wonderful Husband!