Future Photographer

I have quite a few cute stories dancing around in my head but I just have to tell this quick one!  Yesterday M totally set up a photoshoot for two of her bears and baby Stell-Stell.  I was getting her clothes ready for our upcoming holiday trip and she came in with the camera wanting me to turn it on.  I said, "Honey, our camera isn't a toy.  Mommy doesn't want you playing with it without Mommy or Daddy to help you.  Can you wait for me or go have Daddy help you?"  She chose the later and Daddy on the other hand, said it was ok if she just had it.  I decided to come out and see what she wanted the camera for anyways.  She was putting her babies on the computer chair, turning them this way and that, and saying "Cheese!" as she took pictures (with the camera pointed at her! -- I guess that's the only way she ever sees a camera!)  She didn't stop there.  Baby Stella needed some on her own.  Then the bears had their turns.  Then, she got some props (a blankie and such).  It was so stinkin' cute!  And, I have to admit, it was a great activity for her to do on her own while I finished packing!

Feeling crafty

Alright, I had to show some pictures of the gifts I made.  Because, what is a craft if it isn't shared?  : )  Right?  I love, love, love how my little cookie containers turned out.  I used my cricut -- of course -- and had a border on one side and one big "object" -- stocking, snowman, or tree, depending on the front theme -- on the back.  I embellished the front with my favorite glitter glue from my BFF (so easy and totally finishes a project!).  I punched a tag with my Creative Memories punch and viola!   

Mmmm... and the cookies were delicious, if I do say so myself!  I made my cake mix cookies, colored store-bought frosting red or green and flavored the red almond and the green mint.  Yum-o!


As for the para gifts -- see the drama in an earlier post -- I think they turned out lovely, too!  I made nine different "Holiday" cards (which I didn't take a picture of of course) and attached them to the outside of the bag with ribbon as well.  Remember the phrase was stolen from my wonderful SIL -- I can't take credit!

Step 1: Tie hand lotion and soap with twine.

Step 2:  Oh, check out those cute tags I made last weekend!

 Step 3: Attach tag to twine with pretty ribbon.

Step 4: Put in bag from Bath and Body Works and repeat!

Couldn't Sleep...

Why not win stuff?

It's been a very long while since I've even ventured over to Take It From Me, but I couldn't sleep this morning and thought it was a good use of my... err... time.  JJ and I went to bed early last night (seriously, we started watching MacGruber, both looked at each other, admitted we were too tired, and went to bed about 8:30) - so I do feel well-rested even if I STILL SHOULD BE SLEEPING!

Ok, here are the latest giveaways:

• Sweet Ride jewelry --- I think I would totally get the family tree necklace for my Mom... supercute!  However, it wouldn't be complete with grandkiddos, which would be sweet, but we still haven't decided on THE name (and aren't sure if we're done!).
• EarthLover --- I'll be honest, I'm not an organic freak, but the stuff on this site is beautiful!  AND there's a free frame up for giveaway!
• Gift Skins --- I had NO IDEA what this company would be all about looking at the title.  Actually, I was thinking "skins" for iPods or something.  BUT, it's custom wrapping paper!  How cool is that?!
• Boogie Wipes --- I'm not sure if we'd *need* these because we're currently trying to keep M from taking all the tissue out of the box and using it for her nose --- she DOES throw them away when she's done it's just that they're not really used!  BUT, did you see the chamomile with aloe?  That sounds so sooooothing!
• KinderGlo --- M has the moon and loves it!  I think it's pretty neat too!  They have some new designs -- did you see the angel and the hippo?  CUTE!
• Wikki Stix --- I use these at school, but I think miss M would love them too!  Look at the car trip kit!  Or the card making kit! 
• Trading Phrases --- I love wall decals - they are SO practical.  There are so many great phrases/fonts/colors to choose!  Oh my!
• ShaToBu --- It can't hurt, right?!  : )
• Sharpies AND Rubbermaid!!  --- I'm in Heaven... do you know this about me?  Do you know that I'm an office supply junkie??
• InsideOut --- Love a capella!
• Snowfire Hats --- Who doesn't love a cute winter hat?  I mean really...

It's NOT about the presents!!

And about presents.  JJ and I really go back and forth on this one.  I am NOT all about the presents BUT I am all about the thought.  And I think a lot about people, ok?  : )  For example, the paras I work with.  Priceless gifts.  I could NOT do my job without them.  One of the other resource teachers (CM) put out an email asking if people wanted to do a potluck for them or something to show our appreciation.  Do you know what some people wrote back ??  They didn't have enough money... or para appreciation is in the Spring.  Are you kidding me?  I totally understand about the money (JJ wishes I understood just a little bit more) -- but it's NOT about the money.  Especially in a potluck.  Bake rice crispie bars or bring an easy salad... these ladies, of course, ARE participating in the staff Christmas party (with white elephant exchange) AND the "secret snowman" exchange.  Mmm-hmm.  Enough about that.  It just gets me going. 

So anyways, CM and I asked for WHOEVER was interested to pitch in about $5 or whatever they could spare and we went to Bath and Body Works and got some very lovely gifts --- I made them cards and will wrap them up with fun tags that say "Thanks for giving us a hand." (stolen from SIL LJ -- she said her kiddos traced their hands with the same message and gave lotions to their Sunday School teachers last year!  Supercute, huh?)

JJ's theory on presents is, "If you need something, go get it.  I'll give you something whenever I see that you need something." kind of a thing.  He's really not that Scroogish, but I think he tries to offset my abundant giving attitude a little.  His new line is, "What on EARTH are you going to be doing for Christmas when we actually have some money??!"  So speaking of presents, I asked for a new water bottle for Christmas (oops... I baked one of my other ones in the dishwasher) --- and he gave me a new one yesterday that is perfect!  BUT besides that, he also gave me a BEAUTIFUL necklace.  Have you seen the necklace he gave me for my very first Mother's Day?  It looks like this -- so lucky for me that JJ would be ok checking in on Sportsman's Guide!  Well, totally on his own, he found one with two kiddos.  Ok, makes me cry a little just thinking about it.  What a sweet, sweet man, who knows what I love ---- the THOUGHT behind a wonderful gift!  Next year maybe we'll work on the Christmas time line, but I'm also a sucker for, "Do you want your gift now?"  : )     

'Tis the Season

Christmas.  What does that word mean to you?  For me it's:

• change all the decorations in the house!
• bake tons of goodies (and try not to cause gestational diabetes with sugar overload)!
• buy thoughtful presents and make even more!
• listen to Christmas songs 24/7 --- remembering the "All Christmas, All the Time" radio station when JJ changes it!
• read books/watch movies/talk to M about Baby Jesus and why this time of year is so special!
• start new traditions -- but what?  

I want to create magical memories for my sweet daughter and I feel a lot of pressure (from myself) to do the right things so that this is a special time for her.

One thing we've done is buy a Little People Nativity -- every day she choose ONE MORE thing for the Nativity and we talk about it.  Of course she chose a bunch of the animals first (she LOVES animals) but then we got into the more significant roles.  I call M my precious angel sometimes, and it was so cute when she pulled the Angel from the box and after hearing what it was, declared it a "Precious Angel!"  Yesterday her "thing" was for us to put batteries in the manger.  Now, when the Angel is pushed down, it sings Away in a Manger and M insists that everyone get up and dance in circles like ballerinas.  (I've been kind and refrained from getting Daddy doing this on video...)  : )  I've taken pictures each day and plan to make M a little "My First Nativity Book"... possibly along the lines of "The 12 Days of Christmas"... ?  I don't know, but I have the pictures for whenever I'm ready for that step!

Just some randoms...

JJ had finals week last week (yippee that they're done!) -- plus they were all very successful (100% on one of them if I may brag up my fabulous husband -- it's my blog -- YES I can!) -- SO guess who's home with Miss M for this week and next Monday and Tuesday until I'm done with school?!

M tells knock-knock jokes!!  Randomly yesterday she busted out, "Knock-knock!!" It took me a while, but I eventually figured out what she was saying, so I said, "Who's there?!"  So now she says, "Knock-knock!!  Who's there??"  I told JJ, HEY!  Did you know M tells knock-knock jokes?  He said that yes, in fact, she had been saying them all day!   

Daddy has been super Daddy!  Last night when I got home a delicious supper was cooking.  JJ has been trying to get me to expand my food choices ---- which totally does need to happen.  He made a fabulous meal of pork chops and risotto plus some corn on the side (remember -- half of your plate should be veggies?!).  And.... duh duh duuuuh... it was DELICIOUS!  He used one of my favorites cereals to crust the pork chops, which was a total hit and familiar taste in an unfamiliar dish.  Plus by the time I turned around after M had finished avoiding eating (she only wants cookies, ice cream, or cereal (so she can pick out the marshmallows) lately --- Daddy did say she had a great lunch though), Daddy had cleared the table and put the dishes in the dishwasher!  Wahoo!  Merry Christmas to ME!

More fun with my Med Student...

I had Josh recheck my ears tonight and he said that hey! there was fluid behind my ears. A little while later I blew my nose (for like 10 minutes straight as I have been lately...). JJ said, "Hey! Can I look again?". Cool! The fluid was gone!

M wanted a turn but wanted to watch Daddy look at her ears at the same time... not so possible poor thing. We'll try again some other time!

I always knew he was a smarty...

For a few days now I have been suffering from a cold.  But, c'mon, I"m a teacher, this is not an unnatural occurrence - especially in the winter!  However two nights ago my ear (left one specifically) was killing me to lay down and sleep.  It wasn't better by the time I got home from work, so (and this is the part where having a med. student around is very helpful!  I recommend it!.... or maybe not... never mind... : ) ) I had JJ get out his trusty black bag and check out my ears. 

Right one: fine, fine. 
Left one: hey!  You're right!  You DO have an ear infection!  Cool! 

Then he quickly showed me on his iPod - of COURSE he would have about 10 apps related to medicine.  Look!  This is what your ear looks like!  They'll give you some amoxicilin - it should be fine during pregnancy.

Coool... so off to Walgreens I went (my family practice doc's office had closed about a half hour before this discovery... boo!).  The NP there declared that hubby gets "An A+ on ears!"  I do in fact have an ear infection.  WELL, come on now, otitis media, acute/chronic, NOS.  Bring on the amoxicillin party...    

More on my big girl...

Last night, M told us she was poopin' (which is interchangeable for going potty right now) - we're working on her saying she has to GO potty rather than she IS going.  But, she did get much praise for telling us - Daddy gave her the ole' pep talk about how proud we are of her and we want her to tell us before so she can go on the big girl potty, etc.  Afterward, I gave her the usual choice of diaper, OR pull-up OR big girl undies (the ones with PRINCESSES on them!).  She chose big girl undies.  A little later JJ decided to take out the garbage and get the mail.  M has become a little clingy about, "Where's Daddy going?  Why's Daddy leaving??" so we just decided to all pile in the van to take this short jaunt.  Leaving our little parking lot we saw some beautiful lights down a street close by.  We did the chore-part of the trip, and then decided to go drive around looking at lights.  It was so much fun!  And it reminds me of many times doing that as a kiddo.  THEN we realized - she's got big girl undies on!  Oh boy!!  But, she stayed dry the entire time - all the way, in fact, until bath time!

THEN, at bedtime, M decided she wanted to sleep in her big girl bed (!!).  What's more, she decided she didn't only want her baby blankie, but she wanted a big girl quilt!  Of course she ALSO wanted Mommy to lay next to her.  I told her that I'd sit next to her on the floor and rub her back for a little bit.  We said our prayers, listened to some lullaby music and kissed Stell-Stell (M's baby).  Any time I rustled, she looked at me sternly and said, "Sit."  I left after a bit and she cried.  I gave her a little time, but it became apparent that she was out of bed.  I went back in and told her that if I needed to come in again, I would be putting her in her crib.  We had one quick cuddle session where I rubbed her back, and then I put her back down and she laid down like a big girl.  I told JJ what was happening and he couldn't believe it.  In the past, she's always begged for her crib.  I'd put her in her big girl bed, rub her back, etc. and she'd cry, "Crib!  Crib!"  On our way to bed, we checked and there she was, just snoozing away in her big girl bed.

About 10:30, she was crying so I rushed in (I wanted big girl bed to be a positive experience!).  She was still in her bed, so I praised her for that, but it seemed like she had had a bad dream.  She had her arms out weird and didn't want me to rub her back, didn't want me to rock her, but she was just crying, crying.  I finally just sat with her in my lap for a little bit.  Then she got out of my lap and crawled right back into her big girl bed and laid down.  She's still there now...

Such a BIG GIRL!

Ice cream and cakey cake!

While I was on maternity leave with the divine miss M, there was a Baskin-Robbins commercial I will never forget: Ice cream and cakey cake!  Ice cream and cakey cake!  Ice cream and cake!  Do the ice cream and cake!

Do you know which one I'm talking about?  Anyways, this was in my head as I was thinking about how little self-control I have (always) but especially when I'm preggers.  Today I just had to have some Cold Stone.  I found a coupon not too long ago that was burning a hole in my pocket.  I don't know if it was worth the trauma to my child as I explained to her that we were just picking it up - we had to have supper FIRST and then we could have a little desert.  But, it sure was cute to sit on the couch as a family and have a little ice cream together as we watched "Fortune!" (Wheel of Fortune, M's favorite TV show).  M has this new crazy cackle when she realizes she's going to get a supreme treat.  Note to self: I need to get that on video...

But, my terrible eating habits were not even the exact reason I got on blogger today.  I wanted to update you on my Points to Blue!  Today, during my lunch, I watched a webinar about eating healthy (did you know about half of your plate should be veggies??).  I swear I actually watched it too, though it was tempting to do just a *little* paperwork on the side.  That webinar was worth 5000 points (!) and put me up to $75!  I cashed in and have a fabulous gift card to Target headed my way! 

HUGE Praise to share!

God is so good!  I just have to share a quick answer to prayer.  We love, love, love M's daycare.  She learns so much, loves her teachers, brings home fabulous projects, etc.  BUT, it's expensive.  And we're living off of my salary here people.  We knew we'd have to make a change before baby boy needs daycare BUT we just found out that a gal at our Church --- and the sister/SIL of the couple that hosts our Bible Study is willing to take M (and baby boy if necessary) through May.  W00t!  Let me tell you how great God is:

1) M's buddy J (son of our Bible Study hosts and I would definitely say "our friends" now!) also goes there twice a week - his mom J works two days a week and one day a weekend as a nurse.
2) Daycare lady (M) has a four year old who: loves playing dolls, singing, dancing and younger kids.  Funny thing.  M is a kiddo who: loves playing dolls, singing, dancing and older kids.  PERFECT!
3) Daycare lady and her family go to our Church - I just like knowing M will be in a Christian home, exposed to Christian things while we can't be with her.
4) Daycare lady won't charge us for any days we aren't there.
5) Oh, and did I mention, daycare lady is about $100 PER WEEK cheaper?  yeah, yeah, yeaaaaaaah!  Hello money for size 1 diapers!  ; )

Change is always tough for me.  Yes, I was the one bawling through the last day of high school.  Not because I wasn't thrilled to go to college, but just because... because it was over!  The last day.  I've been getting weepy thinking of M saying goodbye to her little friends and teachers.  They hardly look at me they are so sad to see M go.  I know that she's always been in good hands and they truly care about my baby girl and I am so grateful for that!  This is a great opportunity for our family and starting in January we will be thrilled with this new place, too, I know!

Traumatizing start to the week

A little while ago I posted about the worst phone call I ever received (when M's elbow was out of joint), well... this morning I had to make the worst phone call I've ever had to make.

Picture this.  7:00ish, I start the van with our automatic starter.  Then I finish getting M and myself ready for the day, get all bundled up, and head out to the van.  Some background info: our starter runs for 30 minutes and then shuts off.  I get M all settled in - get her strapped in, get her car blankie on, get her situated with her traveling sock monkey, and of course, get sock monkey's blankie ready.  Then I close the door.  This is the part that is so crazy it could only happen to me: right about as I was closing it, the 30 minutes expired and the car shut off.  and locked.  My baby inside.  My purse inside ---- which means, my cell phone, car insurance info (you know the guys that will come unlock the car) and most importantly in my purse - my KEYS.  I'll admit.  I panicked.  I tried all of the doors just in case.  Then I realized I had to do something.  Three huge blessings: 1) We don't live in ND anymore!, 2) The car had been running for a half hour and was toasty!, 3) Our neighbors are awesome!

Of course it is JJ's finals week (pray for him!) and he was not available.  I ran to our neighbors - lovely family who happened to still be home.  The mom let me borrow her phone to try JJ (to at least get a hold of our insurance).  No answer.  I left a message: call me at this number!  Then I called my Dad - same insurance and he must be able to do something!  He answered but as I was talking to him, my neighbor had gotten her cellphone and called AAA.  I heard her say, "And there's a baby in the car!!"  I hung up with my Dad and then neighbor said that the time frame was between now and 9:45, but this is a top priority car unlocking situation and they'd be there soon.

It wasn't until I started talking to my Dad that I completely broke down.  I'll admit.  I was bawling.  JJ called our neighbor's phone and I blubbered to him what I had done.  I told him I'd call back ASAP on my cellphone so he'd know we were all good.  In the meantime I hung out by M's car door.  She was SUCH a trooper.  Oh my goodness.  Besides being a stinker and taking off her hat, mittens AND all of her blankies, she sat pretty much content.  We played peek-a-boo, she showed off her boots, and we waved from different windows.  She did start to get a little restless, but I really can't blame her for that!  A person came in seriously under 10 minutes.  I don't even think he said one word and it took him definitely under a minute to get into the driver's side.  I ran around and I pretty much could've kissed him, but instead held back with a weepy, "THANK YOU!"  I unlocked all the doors, grabbed my baby and held her tight, all the while bawling like a little girl.  My neighbors were practically cheering for me as I thanked them up and down.

Poor M did just fine until she saw Mommy all broken down.  She started crying and we went inside our house for a while.  I called JJ back, my Dad (who suggested I have our insurance's number somewhere besides just my purse!) and my Mom (who had been called by my Dad and who had called and left a text wondering what was going on).  Then I called work crying like a baby (and the secretary said, "OH!  I did that once.  That's terrible!  Take a deep breath!  You're fine, your baby's fine, and we'll see you later!).  Next I called M's daycare to say we'd be there but late and what had happened - another very sympathetic response.  Then M and I just cuddled for a little bit.  I decided we really had better restart our day so I got M bundled back up again.  As we got closer to the car, M looked at my sternly and said, "Door."  Yes, honey!  Mommy WILL not lock you in the car again.  Promise!

This evening, at least three times she's said, "M sad."  One of us will ask why she's sad and she'll reply, "Mommy crying."  Oh my sweet, sweet, precious girl. 

So.  Note to self.  NEVER leave the keys in the car under any circumstance!   

Getting back into it...

I'm pretty sure all my titles have ellipses in them... hmmmm... 

This morning MVJ woke up about 5:30 (I didn't even hear her, but did notice when JJ got out of bed to see what she was up to).  I couldn't fall back asleep (and didn't really want to get back to sleep too much anyways) so I got up and................. exercised!  What is my new motivation you ask?  Well of course I want to have a healthy pregnancy but beyond that our health insurance (BCBS) has a very cool incentive program.  You can attend health things through the district BUT you can also log minutes in say, wiifit, or housecleaning, or taking walks, or even heavy labor!  (Oh... not that heavy labor?)  THEN you can redeem your minutes for GIFT CARDS!  To pretty much anywhere!!  I am up to $40 (we have to redeem by the end of December and then we can load up again until next December, and you can redeem at any time).

Last night I decided to get the wiifit out with MVJ and it was HIlarious!  She just watched me for a while (which was a huge blessing) but then of course she wanted a try ("M's turn!").  I set her up on... I can't remember what the actual game is called, but it's the one where you do kung-fu stuff.  I held the wiimote and nunchuck, and she was on the board.  We tried SO HARD to get her little kicks to register, but they never did and alas, we had to move on.  Next she tried some step aerobics.  I chanted what she was supposed to do "Step up!  Step back!  She really kind of got the hang of it!  It was so cute!  And you know how the little miis bounce?  She was totally bouncing right along!  We set up her own profile (because of course it kept saying "Your weight has changed!  Do you want to continue?") and now we have a cute little crawling baby in our wii fit plaza - she can't register and do any of the activities - but she hangs out with us anyways...

I had not logged in to wiifit since May... and in that time I lost 8 lbs!  Sounds kind of odd considering I am 26 weeks pregnant (tomorrow)... BUT when you add in the physical and emotional stuff with packing and moving not to mention chasing after a toddler, it makes a LOT more sense...  Plus, I have two rooms at my school -- on opposite ends of the building.  I love wiifit, and not just because I can boast that I did some extreme step aerobics with my father-in-law, mom, dad, husband and friend JPJ at 6 am... : )

Just a few things...

Ok, first of all, can you believe it is DECEMBER?!  Crazy! 

M has a new thing she does (that pretty much breaks my heart every time...).  When she is crying she'll say, "M crying.  M sad."  : (  One time over Thanksgiving after a nap, she was crying, so I went up the stairs to get her.  By the time I was at the top she had stopped crying, and started, instead, announcing that she was crying.  It was too cute.  "M crying!  M crying!"  It's also interesting hearing her name herself.  She is called SO MANY things because she has way too many nicknames, but the one's that's stuck for her... well... I guess technically I shouldn't write it on my blog, it it ends in "ie".  : ) 

She does tend to perseverate on things.  We were at the grocery store on Monday and in the car next to us, a puppy was sitting in the driver's seat and the car alarm was going off.  Thanks to her Wheels on the Bus song, M knows all about what horns on the bus do.  Sooooo, for the whole evening just about all she would say is, "Puppy!  Beeping horn!"  I guess sometimes I would kind of egg her on because she's so darn cute.  I would say, "Puppy??  What did the puppy do??"  Anyways, it was an engaging form of entertainment.

Update: M slept through the night.  Plus either she didn't cough at all or I was too much in a deep sleep to hear her cough!      

(check) Lesson Learned

M has had a cough since Monday (I blame the "new" germies in ND!) and has been up at night because of it.  That is zero fun for anyone, especially since I worry about my little girl until I know she's back asleep.  Daddy and I each took a turn last night rocking her because she woke herself up crying and wasn't able to put herself back to sleep after a reasonable amount of time.  You know teethie meddies?  Called by their real name here...  Anyways - they have cold medicine.  We love their teething tablets so much we thought we couldn't go wrong with trying the cold medicine as well.  It does seem to help - and she's always much better during the day.  After hearing her cough all night last night I figured I should give her another does of medicine.  I kept telling myself - the next time she coughs - the next time she needs someone to hug her back to sleep - etc.  Well, finally at about 6 am I decided to make my move.  I should also preface this story with the fact that M looooooves to take medicine.  She immediately asks for more every time (so sad for her that she can only take one dose...) and sucks the dropper right down to the bottom. 

I went into her room after a coughing episode and found her asleep on her tummy.  (sleeping - should've been my first clue...)  I gently rubbed her back and asked if she wanted to take some meddies.  (no response - still sleeping soundly - should've let her continue sleeping) I, instead, lifted her up out of bed and proudly showed her the meddies I had for her.  She went slightly crazy.  She basically started swimming on the floor, crying, and saying, "no, no, no".  After many attempts to 1) calm her, and 2) get her to take the darn medicine so I could put her back to sleep, I started to have to go to the bathroom.  The child was not even letting me hold her - going limp and struggling free of me - so I decided to run to the restroom and maybe a little alone time would help.  She dashed from the room, heading for the living room, and I heard Daddy picking her up and talking to her.  She was telling him, "Sleep!  Sleep!"  He was able to put her back in bed where she fell back asleep for another hour before she woke up for the day.

I know I've done stupid parenting things in the past AND I know I will make several more mistakes before I'm done, but note to self: DO NOT WAKE A SLEEPING BABY.