Bon Voyage! Off to Tahoe we go....

We are leaving! Tomorrow! Bright and early - we leave for the airport at 6 AM, and our flight is something like 8:30 AM. My parents are on their way down, to stay over, then drive us to the airport, and then take our furkids for us. *sniff sniff*. I'm so sad to leave them, this will be the longest we've been away from them EVER. I know they'll be fine at my parents - Treble especially loves his "Paw paw" for all the walkin' they do, but still.....they are my babies, too.

First, we have a layover, then we fly into Sacramento, CA.. From there, we'll drive to Lake Tahoe, and enjoy CJ's family reunion. Monday AM, we'll leave for Sacramento and fly out to visit Mooshie and her family. We are staying at her parent's house, which is only a few blocks for her house. We'll be home Thursday, August 2nd, from our whirlwind tour of the Western United States.

Adding to our fun when we arrive tomorrow, we'll be having a late lunch with a girl who is also on the private message board that Mooshie and I first met on! How cool is that? Jeri Anne and her two BEAUTIFUL, gorgeous boys Austin and Ryan, are going to drive in from their town (around 45 minutes away) to meet us for lunch. To say I'm excited to see them is an understatement!

I went and had a Reiki session this AM, as I haven't had one in quite a long time (maybe since I've been PG?). It was heavenly and I could feel the energy coursing through my body. My gal said she could see "lots of colors" coming off me, and I was "zoning". I first dropped our pumpkin butt off at my coworker, Leanne's house, where her and her 4 year old niece, Eliana, were kind enough to love on Keifer for me. On the way back to Leanne's house, I stopped at a Barnes and Noble to pick up THE BOOK of the year: yes, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Whooooooo. *cue ghost sounds* I'm very excited to read this, as I was up way past my bedtime last night re-reading book #6 (The Half -Blood Prince) to refresh my memory - I find that I read them so fast I forget what has happened two years later when the new ones are released. It is ONE heavy book - and it'll be in one of my two diaper bags I'll be carrying - I'll have my JuJuBe Packabe on my back (my fave diaper bag of all time) and my JJB BeSmall on my arm - like my purse. I've got the diaper bags packed to the brim with extra clothes, our hotsling, diapers, toys, books, bottles, anything and everything you can think of. How are we going to carry baby? LOL. Harry is probably the heaviest thing I have in my carry-ons, but it'll be worth it. For once, we are NOT bringing our laptop computer on our trip *Gasps go up around the country*. I asked CJ NOT to bring it, as we are on vacation, and I find with a computer, we get sucked into surfing online and the quality of our interactions are not as great. LOL. Gee, I sound "so poetic" and funny about that. So, I won't be online for message boards, blogging, or emails until after August 2nd. I wonder if I'll need any type of meds for my withdrawals I know I'll have? LOL.

Anyhoo, I'm off to start packing for myself. Keif's items are spread out all over her bedroom floor - since we'll be in Tahoe, I've heard it gets cool at night, so I've got sweaters, sweatshirts and long pants, along with her swimsuits (one being the cutest Harley Davidson one, in honor of Papa Jimbo), hats, blankets, etc. etc...........

In honor of Harry Potter (*say that in your British accents, now!*), look what I found: A recipe for "Butterbeer" which Harry and his pals are always swigging! Here it is: CLICK HERE

My friend Leanne, and her helper, Eliana, this AM

See what happens when I leave Keifer alone so I can pack? *just kidding, LOL* But, she IS transfixed by the TV whenever she sees it flashing about*

Go Go, Keifer!

WHOOT WHOOT!
Our little angel girl has been sleeping at home for up to 11 hours in a stretch! Yahoo! And we didn't do a thing to get her to do this! We are so excited - especially her mommy, who lives for sleep! *hee hee*. And, the next best thing is, when she wakes up , alot of the time, she'll drink her bottle and fall asleep AGAIN for an hour or two! *Hallelujiah*

She didn't do too well sleeping at her Nana and Papa's the last few days (pics to come), but she did great once we got home.

Please pray she does well on our upcoming trip - we leave in 2 days for Tahoe and then we're flying up to visit our egg angel, Mooshie, and her family. To say we are excited is an understatement! I have a PILE of Keif's clothes in her room on the floor - I may as well pack everything she fits into!

Here is a picture from this weekend of our Goddaughter (my cousin's 2 year old) Aubrie watching baby "Keiser" sleeping............

Summer fun with family

Last week, we traveled up to my hometown for CJ's annual hockey alumni golf reunion - and it's been one year since his Hockey Hall of Fame induction. Wow, one year ago, we were waiting with baited breath, wondering if we were PG. Hard to believe how fast time goes by.

We got to my parents house late Wednesday night - and we knew we were in for it when Keifer refused to nap All. Day. Long. *oye*. She also refused to sleep on the car ride up, and when we got to their house, she proceeded to scream bloody murder for over an hour (due to being overly tired). Not fun.

Thursday, we dropped Daddy (CJ) off at his hotel for his weekend of festivities, and then Nana, Mommy, and Keifer visited Great-Grandma Gina and Papa, who just loved her to pieces. As always, Keifer took her "poop" while visiting (she seems to do this whenever we are visiting them, LOL), and then we came home for a long visit from my Auntie Barb and our Goddaughter (my cousin's daughter) Aubrie (who is now 2).

Aubrie is INFATUATED with Keifer. She is literally obsessed with anything and everything that is Keifer related - or in her words: Baby "Keeser". It is so adorable to watch. She loves to kiss Keifer like there's no tomorrow, and was so cute to watch trying to share her toys with Keifer. Keifer just looks at her with wonder, and wonders why this chatty, wriggly, beautiful girl is always kissing on her and shoving toys in her face. Hee hee. When Keifer took a nap, Aubrie had to stand and watch her sleep and it was sad to say goodbye to baby Keifer.

Friday, my mom and I went to see the fifth Harry Potter movie, while Papa Dale babysat Keifer. Luckily, she was perfect for him, and they played hard for a few hours. Then, mama went to dinner with some good friends of hers that night while Nana and Papa got more time in babysitting.

Saturday, Keifer finally adjusted to sleeping in a new crib and slept beautifully through the night. We all visited Great-Grandma Hanson and Great-Auntie Jeanne, and Keifer showed off her new talking skills, and let her Great-Auntie Jeanne feed her a bottle. Then she went on a road trip up to Mommy's friend's family cabin, and met some new boyfriends (my friend's new nephew Max, who is 2 weeks younger than her). We got back to Nana and Papa's and Daddy was there, resting. We packed up the car, and we all came home, sad to say goodbye to Nana and Papa.

"Cool" Aubrie with her shades that her Uncle fixed for her

Kisses, kisses, kisses for her favorite baby "Keeser"

Cousins

Ohh, my thumb, sweet thumb.... Tboy taking a much deserved break (after baby duty with Aubrie around) Nana Dian with her favorite girl

Meeting another boyfriend, Max, and his grandma Dar Happy to be home again

Hair

Lately, I keep seeing ads and VH1 specials for Hairspray, the movie that is coming out in a few weeks.
Now, I can recall YEARS ago watching the original John Water's version of this movie, and for the life of me, I can't remember much about it, other than Ricki Lake was in it and it made her a household name.
Now, seeing all the commercials on this movie, I am literally BURSTING with excitement to see this movie! Being the movie buff that I am, its unusual lately to get me too hyped up about a movie- as there have been a lot of duds in the past few years. But this one looks different. It looks fun - lots of costumes, big hair!, dancing, singing and a good message - about acceptance of people who are 'different'. Right up my alley. I can't wait to see it!

And speaking of HAIR.......

If I would've known just HOW much hair I would be losing on a daily basis after being PG, I would have seriously started collecting it in a large bag. I would do this because I honestly could have made a wig or two out of all the damn hair I have lost in the past few months. It seriously grossed me out. Like, I want to almost vomit at the sight of the AMOUNT of hair that I am losing.

First, I wash my hair: when rinsing the soap out, I'll run my finger through the wet hair and produce CLUMPS of hair. Then, combing the wet hair out: again, more clumps by running fingers through the hair, as well as off the comb. Then, putting product in usually gets me a few more fist fulls. Finally, stying the hair. I go around the bathroom wiping up buckets of hair after each styling session, and throughout the day, I stop to clean the hairs off my clothing. It is literally disgusting (have you caught on that I'm grossed out by this? LOL). I just hope that the hair loss stops pretty soon, because begin that I have such fine, limp hair to begin with, I cant' afford to lose much more! HA!

One year ago, Keifer moved in

One year ago today was our Embryo Transfer and right about now, I was passed out in bed, dozed on Valium and scared out of my mind -praying this would work.
Keifer was one of three and had decided to stay put, and settle down for a long winter's nap.............

Here's the recap

One year anniversary of......

Yesterday was our one year anniversary of our Egg Retrieval Day!
Unbelievable: one year ago, right now, our little angel girl was just a tiny cell, dividing into many cells, to create this beautiful little human being.
Crazy how fast the time went.

Who is that baby in the mirror?

Keifer has started to become more aware of "that other baby" in the mirror: you can totally see her wheels turning in her head as she looks and 'chats' to the other baby - and in her car seat, she is really trying to figure out how that baby got in the back of her car to peek at her! LOL. She is JUST starting to blow a few raspberries with her drooly lips and is as fun as ever.

At work, we have a song we sing (with an empty picture frame) that goes:

Looking in the window,who do I see?
I see (child's name), looking at me!

So with the mirrors, I like to sing to Keifer : looking in the MIRROR, who do I see? I see KEIFER LYNN looking at me!

I've added a PERMANENT link to our dropshot video clips on the side -----> so you can find them any ol' time. Enjoy!

Big girl chatting to herself in the mirror:
Enjoy watching it yourself

My first parade: boy, was it HOT OUT! I didn't last long. Here I am with Dad, Uncle Corey, and cousin Abby I LOVE my mobile & I especially seem to look at the blue dog: is that because of my innate love for puppies?

Happy 3 months old, Keifer Lynn!

Here we go, watch out people: my mama got camera happy!

Watch how my face gets COVERED in drool!
Nice drool,eh?

I try to eat everything!
Long & lean

Sage? What are you doing in MY photo shoot?

Keifer is doing so good - she "talks" all the time - and often barely moves her mouth - I said she's be a good ventriloquist! (LOL)
She is really strong when she kicks and I swear she'll be rolling from back to tummy very soon - her right leg is her 'kick start the cycle" leg!
She loves to put her fists in her mouth and eat her bibs - the bibs we have to wear constantly because she is a drool machine.
She is becoming very aware of the dogs - especially Sager -well, Sage is always in her face! She stops and just stares and them and was starting to smile at Treble the other day (her silent protector).

Yesterday, the dogs were howling at some random person walking down the road - and Keifer stopped eating, turned her head towards them and started making this high-pitched squealing sound - was she trying to howl with her fur siblings? LOL.
When we have the TV on - she is entranced by it (UH OH!) CJ Likes to say she's watching the MN Twins with him!
She really listens to voices and when she heard her Papa cough down the hall and out of sight - she completely turned her head towards his cough to look.

Our girl is LONG - her legs seem to stretch forever and her 3-6 month clothes barely fit!
She is sleeping in long stretches at night - thank goodness - goes down around 7-9, is up once about 6-7 hours later to feed, then goes back to sleep for another 4 or so hours.

Our girl K is an eating machine~! She will eat around 4-6 ounces every 2-3 hours on the dot - she is a very happy, chilled-out baby unless she is hungry or tired.

I think I've found a babysitter across the street - she is 13, has taken the classes and has babysat before - I took K over to visit with her and her mom (who is a Peds nurse) last night -so mommy can maybe go to the gym while K is sleeping and not bring her? Our gym does offer child care for children ages 3 months and up - so I will try to do that, but sometimes I may just want her to stay home with her comfortable surroundings. (*plus mama is nervous*).

Out-of-town Family Fun

Last week, the days preceding the Fourth of July, CJ and I packed up the Envoy and headed up to his parents in Grand Forks. It was a long drive, with 2 pit stops to change and feed our angel girl, but it went very quickly and we are so proud of how WELL she did!
We had such a fun time - and the time, it went by SO fast!
We stopped in Fargo on our way up to visit CJ's uncle and aunt, but only Carol Beth was home (Kermit was at their cabin).....and boy, did Great-Auntie Beth love on our little girl! She barely looked at CJ and I as we entered; it was all about Keifer and Keifer sure loved her! *big smiles* The fur kids also enjoyed the pit stop, as they had their noses stuck to the ground for the entire 45 minutes we were there, becoming mini-hoover vacuum cleaners! LOL.
Then we got to CJ's parents, where Keifer was eagerly anticipated. We had a great time - it was very relaxing. We spent Monday hanging out, and Nana's good friends came over to see our girl. We got a great dropshot video clip of them chatting away - Keifer is trying to join in!
We had a fish fry Monday night, and Tuesday CJ and enjoyed a date afternoon at the movies-where we laughed ourselves silly at "Knocked Up",and did a few errands. That night, we had dinner out, and CJ enjoyed the rest of his evening visiting with some old high school friends while mommy stayed back with Keifer and the fur kids - who were traumatized by all the fireworks shooting off.
We got home the evening of the Fourth, just in time to watch our city's display of fireworks right outside our window -we get to sit on our couch and not worry about bugs! LOL.

Clones?

napping in Nana's bed - we were watching the View & daddy got mad (LOL)
Nana likes the pouch, too! Meeting Nana's pals Great-Auntie Beth

Taking a bath in Nana's sink!

Happy 4th of July ~~ 2007

Hope you had a happy and safe Fourth of July!! We spent the last 3 1/2 days in Grand Forks, visiting CJ's parents - Nana and Papa! Nana had the best time taking care of our girl -she was an excellent babysitter so mommy and daddy could take some breaks and actually go out on a date! (and see "Knocked Up", which was really good and made both mommy and daddy tear up at the end because of the whole baby thing, and the love.........).

We are home and will upload more pictures and stories about Keifer's Grand Forks adventures. Let's just say - we have an angel girl on our hands (knock on wood!). She is the best baby! And Treble and Sage also had a ball - except for the whole fireworks thing. They are currently both shut up in our closet, hiding under blankets after being traumatized by all the fireworks going off (and this is AFTER we gave them their vet-prescribed anti-anxiety medication. Poor fur kids).