Saturday, February 26, 2011

Our First Family Trip to the Zoo!

 It was such a beautiful day that we had to go to the zoo! It was our first family trip to the zoo and I should beat myself for not getting a pic of all of us together - I'm horrible for that. Anyways, Julia always has a favorite activity for the day.  Last time was the monkeys and today was the carousel. It even beat out ice cream and snow cones with Mommy and Daddy. We couldn't get her away. She didn't even want to ride it again - she just wanted to entertain and run around it. Days like today make me realize how fortunate I am to have such a beautiful and growing family. Eventhough there can be days that I don't think I will make it through, having Julia, Jarred and McBaby really does make life so much sweeter:-)
A rare shot of Julia and I together...McBaby even snuck in there.
Julia being Julia - entertaining an audience:-)
 
 Daddy and his little girl.
Checking out the toucan.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Valentines 2011

So I hopped on the train this year with getting Julia involved in this holiday...so it's really a Hallmark made holiday but it's all about LoVe so I'll celebrate it!

Julia has been hard at work making crafts. I've been trying to make 10-10:30 craft time and have done pretty well. Julia enjoys it as well. Our first craft was cards for the grandparents. Below is a sample:

We used crayons and I introduced stickers to her which she loves. She will randomly bring her bag of stickers to J or I at night. It's so awesome to watch her little fingers figure out how to get those sticky hearts from her hands to the paper. It's really great for her dexterity it seems and helps her learn to focus on one activity.
Another craft I discovered was window shapes. I bought contact paper and laid it out on her table. She then put pieces of construction paper on it that I had cut up. I then put another piece of contact paper on it. I then cut the heart shape. These are included in the grandparents VDay packages along with suction cups so they can hang them on their window.


I also included mini-accordian's in the Grandparent Vday Bags (photographer mommy craft:-)
Another fun Valentine thing this year : finding Julia some cute Vday outfits! The first is an etsy creation! Pants by Sarah Roses and shirt by WeeWhimsey Couture . Both ladies do amazing detailed work with quick turnover time on orders:-)

Here's the second. Coco BonBons shirt which is a local designer located in Brentwood and Target (Circo) tights. I love the 80's feel of this outfit with her hip denin jacket:-) It's all Julia - carefree and laidback but always in style:-)

Oh and we can't forget the gifts. Her Daddy sent her flowers and I got her a couple things although the only thing that got opened today was her diaper bag. You can see she is already a teen girl in the making chatting on her fake cell phone.


From Daddy

Sick but we Survived!

Oh what a week. Jarred had to leave for a week long business trip the day after Julia and I came down with something...whatever it was left us with sinus infections and a prescription to amoxicillin. Needless to say it was a rough week for me and my sanity and patience have been beyond tested. Incompetent plumbers, tile installers not as OCD as myself, Jarred being gone the whole week while we were both sick, unnecessary snow (which I no longer photograph because I despise it)....I'll just stop there. It was a no good terrible horrible week but I survived and now I'm blogging.
Saturday was our first beautiful day in what seems like months so eventhough Julia was uber snotty and I had the energy of a turtle we headed to the park. The guilt of keeping her trapped in our germ coated house just got to me. Oh and of course she had a blast. She even made a friend. Julia loves being outdoors and the second she gets an opportunity she's out the door.

Vmmm, vmmm...she loves wheels.
She's starting to go up and down steps standing up...I know she's getting so independent but I'm so proud of how driven, adventurous and determined she is:-)

 Her little friend for the moment. He couldn't walk so she decided to crawl with him.

Sunday morning I woke up feeling like I was dying while Julia was waiting by the bed with her bottle shaking it at me':-) After I got moving off to her kitchen she went to make me' breakfast...do you think she realizes how crappy mom feels? She has played more independently this week and let me get some cat naps in. It has made me realize she really is in touch with other people's feelings even at such a young age. She is truely a blessing and angel.
Making breakfast for us.
What a mess she is - pajamas, one high heel of mine and her bracelet from Halloween.

On a positive note, Jarred has returned, our tile has been corrected and Julia and I are feeling a bit better.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

She's 18 months- wow!

So Julia just turned 18 months and boy is she! I'm just intrigued by hEr and her intensity in life. She has begun to craft and for this Vday actually made the grandparents cards and window ornaments:-) She definately has an opinion and is miss independent! She insists on Doing things herself although she still has plenty of moments where she needs me and I'm good with that. She is a bright shining light in my life but in do many others. She just emits this vibe that just brightens everyone it seems. She doesn't know a stranger when it comes to kids and women ( men beware she is very weary of you and I hope it stays that way). So what is wild woman doing now??

What She's doing Now:
Counts to 3 from rote memory
Identifies animals, colors and common items verbally
Puts puzzle pieces in correct location
Loves to babble - I wonder what she is saying?
Tries to sound out words when asked
Stacks 3+ blocks
Kick the ball really well - she's a soccer star in the making!
Puts items in baskets and cleans up when asked
Very independent- carries her own bookbag and lunchbag into
school
Can put her shoes on and take off coat then hang on hook / trying to put clothes on and take off
Imitates people , cars and animals
Starting to independently eat with fork
Laughs with other people
Finally drinking through a straw cup
Words she is saying: yellow, school,
Favorite things: Sesame St, Yo Gabba Gabba, stickers, dancing, shoes big & small, sushi (california roll),
Holds books and acts as if she's reading
Sings / hums
Dances with music

Baby Names, Nesting and CRAVINGS!


So I'm 16.5 weeks pregnant and feel 25...oh and I look it. I'm definately gaining more with this one and having crazy cravings ( ranch and chips from Chilis, fruit again, chicken salad, omelets, kitkats). I am feeling better so I've begun nesting and determined to Finish decorating our home by June!!

Let the nesting begin...
I found this great bench and piece of art at TJMaxx the other night and it's perfect in our entry. Now guests can sit down and take off their shoes comfortably! Just beware Julia loves shoes and will hide them.

So here is a big shot of the living room ...everyone is asking so this is what I've created - cozy contemporary I like to call it - the pink toys make it cozy!
Next week I'm going to start choosing photos and etsy prints to create a collage behind the sofa. Oh and I must decide on dining room chairs!!

Baby Names
Funny thing though- we have no idea what we are having but I do have a sneaking suspicion the house will be filled with estrogen - but we have pretty much narrowed the names down to two for a girl and one for a boy. We are obviously not the people who want to meet the child before we name it. We are the - think about what it will look like on a resume or affect their well being.