Mama's bad ass rocker girl....and a pic of pure JOY

We are the Youth Gone Wild

Aye, yie yie!!!!!!
This is PURE JOY: she loves the shower

Row row row your boat......

...I've been rowing theboat by getting back in the routine of needles in the tummy boat since Tuesday of this week. Three mornings of shots that have so far been no problem. It's a very small amount of Lupron that we're shooting into me, so it's not too big of a change (YET). CJ is enjoying his doctoring duties (again) and we're remaining optimistic that I AM going to be PG before too long. We talk about how much K will enjoy being a big sissy, as she is totally infactuated with babies of all shapes and sizes. The first thing she does when she walks into Elaine's in the morning is point out baby B. and go up to him to touch (gently, of course). Our girl is a tender heart (like her mama and daddy) and we are so excited at the possibility of having another one. Some days I wonder if I can take the stress of another child, but the thought of the love and excitement it would add to the house makes it more desired than not.

Work is going well. Because I am not on the assessment team this year, after many years of doing that as part of my job, I am feeling somewhat stress-free, as the burden of managing my time between my classroom duties/caseload and the tasks of assessing multiple new children is gone. Now, I'm working on schedules and paperwork, and figuring out how to blaze a new trail as I am teaming with an Early Childhood Family Education class this year in the afternoons. The parents of MY students will also be here for the parenting education part of the classes, and this is the first time we've teamed with the ECFE classes. The other teacher and I are very excited to work together, and the excitement and happiness of doing something new has me looking forward to the kids starting in a week and a half.

This weekend, K and the pup pups, and I, will be traveling home to Papa & Nana's to visit. Uncle Joe from Phoenix is home, and it'll be a fun-filled, family and friend packed weekend (as always). Hopefully we'll get some needed down time, too (Right, Nana?), as K is still fighting her "back to school/child care annual cold", with her little coughs all night long and drippy nose.

Wordless Wednesday: She's sitting on top of the world

Looking out the 3rd story all-glass window at the Children's Museum

* she was very nervous about stepping onto that mat that has a see-through bottom!*

Ladies: Start your engines (needles)

The shots have begun. Dr. CJ is back in da house. Let's get this show on the road! *this time, in my tum tum tummy*

It's the end of mama's summer with K

Yes, it's true. The days of summer have come to a close for mama (me) and my angel girl. *sniff* The tears are being held back; I cannot say it's going to be easy to re-enter the world of working full time. * I just hope I don't throw up a little in my mouth like I did last year - HA!* I've gotten used to waking with my girl between 6:30 and 7:30 each day, greeting Sage & Treble with many kisses and squeals of delight, watching our music while we eat our breakfast together, and the cuddles and play. We took leisurely walks each day with the fur kids, and we did so many fun and exciting things- the library, Baby Ballroom classes, the pool at the gym, the play dates (galore), the MOA, the zoo (*many times at 4PM when the crowds are smaller*), and the malls. And, oh yes, the napping. The wonderful opportunity to nap for brief amounts of time when K went down for her naps. *sigh* I'm a girl who likes my sleep!

Yesterday, CJ took the day off of work and we spent 2 hours at the MN Children's Museum, where K had a ball, especially in the Habitot room, and of course, the "music studio", where she shook her booty and charmed big and little kids alike. We had our first experience with sidewalk chalk (a success), that managed to get both K and mom's clothes full of fine, white dust. The memories we have of this summer are precious, and although time always goes so fast, I am so glad that we had a chance to do so many "firsts" with our girl the past few months. Wish me luck as we hobble into the real world bright and WAY TOO early on Monday AM.

Trying to pose w/Papa Jim & Nana Marge

Nana rocking K to sleep

The other Nana (Di) and Papa (Dale) getting ready to have more fun going out to eat (it's what we all do best!)

Nana Di with her girls

Puppers in love

*sigh*
I love these dogs

Wordless Wednesday: Diaper boxes aren't just for diapers anymore

Kiss Kiss *kissing cousins*

Keifer adores her older cousins, Abby & Mason

New water table

Smooches to Abbers So funHuman (and doggie) pile up on Nana!
Nana & her loves (+ Abby's friend in the middle)

These shoes are made for walking!

Nana & Mama ordered K some new shoes, since she has practically put a hole in her shoes she has now (from using her big toe for balance). At the suggestion of a friend, I checked out See Kai Run shoes and fell in love. So soft, the leather, and more flexible soles than the Stride Rite ones we bought her last month (I call them her clown shoes, *snicker*). We ordered K's shoes for Fall and she was over-the-moon with excitement when I opened our box the other day and she saw the new shoes.

Here she is trying them on. * and I cannot believe our big our girl's feet are! Size 6!*

First, we strap them on!

She is so proud and excited!

modeling them
Holding onto her new"eliza" while wearing one, as well as a new "livi"
Our girl is so cute: when we get ready to go somewhere now, she'll sit on our bottom step (of the landing) and helps me put her shoes on to go!

Happy (belated) 16 months, Keifer

K turned 16 months this past Sunday; here are some of the many faces of our delightful, loving, chatterbox of a girl:

Typing blockades

I had a cyst (or a "who knows what it is ") removed from the underside of my index finger yesterday, and am all stitched up and bandaged beyond belief. Typing without my pointer finger is taking some getting used to, so forgive my lack of posting this next week. Whew, that was an effort just to type that out! LOL

La la la la: K + (M)Elmo

I'm not a big one for having kids watch TV, or using TV as a babysitter", unless it has something meaningful in the content. At work, with my kids, if we're doing a particular theme, then I'll whip out my trusty Videos of....say, "Goodnight Gorilla", or "The Very Hungry Caterpillar", or the all-time favorite, "Corduroy".

As I've mentioned at times, K has LOVED watching The Signing Time show on PBS. Unfortunately, we lost the show that we had saved on our DVR when we had to replace one of the DVR boxes. Since then, we haven't found the show anywhere, and still haven't made a move to purchase the shows. (Lazy-am-I).

Occasionally, I'll have some Noggin show, or maybe Curious George on in the background when we play, but other than our usual Music Videos to start our AM, K and I just listen to our music via the computer or radio.

The past few months, CJ and I have introduced K to Cookie Monster and Elmo through toys we've found or a balloon (Cookie). Keifer had NO idea what or who these characters were, other than we've told her and made their sounds for her to imitate (she's quite the cute little Cookie Monster herself). A few weeks ago, I put on Sesame Street for her, and when Elmo came on, the world stopped for a moment for Keifer. ELMO! The furry, cute, bug-eyed dude she had to play with was singing and dancing (her favorite things EVER) on TV. She was hooked. Since then, we've watched a few DVRed episodes of Sesame Street with K, and she loves it. Today, the episode's theme was "laundromat" and socks played a major theme. Combine SOCKS (our girl is obsessed with socks), Elmo, singing, dancing, and kids, and well, you've got yourself a fan for life. And, surprisingly, I don't find Elmo annoying at all, especially compared to that big purple dinosaur that bugs the crap out of me. LOL. And who could not like a show that teaches kindess, teaches life lessons, teaches letters and numbers CONSTANTLY, and is FUN?

As for me, well, I can still sing the "1,2, 3, 4, 5 - 11, 12" song by memory and apparently was an avid SS fan (watching it the two times a day, AM and PM, they showed it) when I was younger. I think it's great in it's educational value and heck, since K will watch it while I get laundry and lunch started (and actually ATE my own lunch without jumping up for her), well, it's OK by me. *and I even find myself singing and dancing along with the cute, (not yet annoying) characters! And heck, some of the songs they sing are CLASSICS, people! *

Wordless Wednesday: I love my new....BENCH!

Thanks, Nana & Bumpa Dale.

Prayers please?

My friend Emilie had another scan yesterday to check on her cancer. She didn't receive good news - new growth is developing.
Please go over and send her some prayers or good vibes. My heart is still in pieces for her and Stephen and the boys.
Thanks.

Our counting kid

K has started to repeat after us whenever we count out things (which we do unconsciously all the time), and it's so sweet. Now CJ is determine to make her a child prodigy and have her counting to 5 by age 16 months! LOL. She will say "two" and sometimes "three" after we prompt her with "one", and sometimes I'll hear her chattering in her own babble, with the "counting intonation" that we use. So sweet. *sigh*
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Baby, baby, baby: I like you!

K and I enjoyed a swim play date today with 4 month old Aidan and his mama, Courtney (my former coworker). What a DOLLY. Seriously. Holding this light -as-a-feather sweetie pie had my ovaries wishing they could pop out eggies for another baby NOW. He is just so personable, and good natured! He and K had a blast at the pool - although K had more fun walking around the patio area and running away from mama, rather than swimming and splashing today - her new found freedom with walking has kicked up a notch.
Afterwards, C and Aidan came over for sandwiches and guacamole and chips (and put up with me on the phone with Freedom Drug relaying information for my IVF meds), and K was obsessed with "baby, baby, baby!". She was so cute. She kept making her kissing sounds towards him, and after lunch, proceeded to help "rock, rock, rock" Aidan in her chair, and give him some more quick, sneaky pecks. She also helped make sure the baby had his pacifier whenever he dropped it. He loved it and was fascinated by her. What a fun (and tiring) day for K and mama! And, watching K interact with the baby made me feel somewhat confident that she would love to have a new baby sissy or brother (hee hee).

rock, rock, rock

nice, baby
big cheese from Aidan
going in for a kiss

Tackle mama.....

This is one of K's favorite things to play. She is such a cuddle bug on most days, and is into kissing anyone and everyone. Watch out, boys everywhere. But I digress......

When we're home, playing on the floor, she often comes over to sit on my lap, and usually will start bouncing up and down, in hopes I"ll start her Tick tock song and throw her about. Our little game we play is I'll lie down on the floor and say "oh no, don't get me" and she'll squeal and laugh and come over to "get me" with a loving tackle. At first, she used to get so excited she actually would sometimes bite me (um, OW), but has learned that is a no-no. Like our "headless" shot here of us tackling each other?

What's funny too, is if I attempt to do sit-ups with K in the room, she thinks its our tackle game. And - when I'm breathing out in exhaustion and misery, she'll imitate me huffing and puffing by blowing herself. LOL.

New things we enjoy at home

Keifer received this cool slide from her big cousins Abby & Mason last weekend, and LOVES to climb up it. She wasn't so sure about going down the slide, but has since conquered that fear: by going down on her stomach and hands (crawling, really). In all reality, it makes sense. Young toddlers are still developing their sense of balance (vestibular system) and "where their bodies are in space", so by crawling down on her tummy, she not only has control of her environment and safety, but she is also able to feel the slide and feel the input of it in her body, and isn't wildly flailing down the slide, unsure of where she is in space (now how is THAT for a lecture on your bodie's sensory status? Can you tell I'm all ready to go back to work and deal with kids who might have sensory system issues? LOL).

So proud of herself climbing "up up up"

Getting into position to start the descent
Going, going....
...and back up! So excited. But this time, once was enough for her.......
And K also loves to get into Daddy and Mommy's socks and attempt to put them on her feet. I'll have to try and get a video clip of her trying- she concentrates VERY hard and says "sock, sock". Here she is modeling the late-summer fashions of "one sock on" a leg.
*and notice we've taken out one of her Little People toys? She LOVES the slide - we're working very hard on the concepts "up" and "down - Wheee!" Her favorite part is that the slide has a button that you can push to hear the kids' laughing. She giggles along with them. She also enjoys wildly flinging the swing around and saying "swing, swing!"

What are we listening to? You must hear this:

First off, Mama and K have been enjoying listening to the Juno soundtrack in the car. It's a mix of many different alternative-folky type music, and has some fun, catchy tunes that you'll be singing along with in no time. I also love the fact that it combines the Kinks *Well Respected Man* with Buddy Holly *a long-time favorite of mine, actually since I was 10*. Listen; I bet you won't be disappointed. I even catch Keifer bobbing her head to some of the tunes in the back.

And in K's corner, she has LOVED listening to Sing Along with Putumayo's disc,that combines "delightful folk and blues classics". I wasn't so sure I'd like it: one listen and I was HOOKED! Seriously! Rufus Thomas sings in a groovy, soulful fashion Old MacDonald had a Farm and K was singing along the first time with the "Eee Eye, Eee Eye, Ohhh's". I like the Bellybutton Song,and I'm sure once K understands the lyrics a bit better, she'll giggle along with me, as she is obsessed with everyone's belly buttons these days! I also pictured myself swing dancing across the living room when Red, Red Robin came on.

More soon! I promise! We're just enjoying our summer non-stop!! :)

Lots to come.......

Lots to post on
I have a post it note filled w/jottings that I want to blog about
Time doesn't allow it these days, but will get to it soon!!!

Wordless Wednesday: The Shirt Says it all For Us

"Loved by All"

The Dark Knight: we finally saw it!

Finally (as if it's been out forever, instead of 3 weeks! LOL). We saw The Dark Knight last night (for date night!). We tried to get into our local IMAX theater, but it was sold out and the line was unbelievable to get in. So we had to take it down a notch and see it in a 'regular" theater, which I was a bit displeased about (movie theater snob? Maybe?).

CJ and I both loved it, but we agreed that it could've been a tich shorter (and maybe a subplot or two less?). It seemed like so many stories were thrown into one movie.

Heath was amazing. Just amazing. You forget he's Heath. I kept trying to remember him as Ennis in BrokeBack Mountain, one of my favorite movies, but it was impossible. He really did embody the character "the Joker". He was scary, plain and simple, and he made it seem effortless to be the villain. It made me feel so incredibly sad that he is now gone, and I made CJ stay through the credits just to see the dedication to him at the end.

I was also pleasantly surprised at how well Aaron Eckhart did as Harvey Dent. His twist in the end of the movie was unexpected for me, and I admired his acting chops as well. It reminded me that I really enjoyed him in Erin Brockovich as her boyfriend who was so manly, yet nurturing.

Now, if we can see this movie again in the full IMAX glory, I'll be a happy camper....but I do need to get to Mamma Mia before the summer ends.

What did K do on summer vacation? Well.....

Here's a photo recap of a couple of busy weeks we've had with many more fun times! *besides the ones we 've already posted, like ECSE GTG's , Ballroom dancing, and many swim and play dates!*

Mama & me w/her high school/college pals and their kids The little ones had a good lunch and the ones who could talk got to know each other! (K won the piggy piggy award!)
K and her new pal, Fiona (a mini-me of her mama, Tanya)K's new boyfriend (of many) Finn (*K was more excited about the remote here!*)
Who are YOU? Finn shared his super cool tunnel with Keifer
which she thoroughly enjoyed, as you can see

Finn's Grandma, Leanne (mama's coworker and dear friend)
Leanne's niece, Eliana (who met K last summer!) and doggy, Walter, who loved licking K (luckily, K loves puppies and loved him kissing her,and kept chasing him around, calling him "Sage, Sage!")
Mama's online friends MN GTG w/their kids

then some of the little girls shared some shopping and gossip!
K loves the goats at the zoo - they tickle her hands and toes And some more ballroom experiences: dancing with our instructor, Meghan

singing and acting out The Noble Duke of York
Dancing with mama and saying "hi" to Daddy
Thanks for looking through ALL of these!