A Quick Peek

I'm trying valiantly to get a handle on all of the video I have stored up of my kiddo. If you thought the walking was cute, just take a gander at this mini.


Quick Peek from Anne on Vimeo.


If you're a grandparent or great aunt, you'll want to watch the whole 2 1/2 minutes as well.


Long Peek from Anne on Vimeo.


And just because it's sweet to see teeny babies talking...I guess I'm reminiscing. In no time, she'll be heading off to school.


Storytime from Anne on Vimeo.

Since Last Tuesday

Walking from Anne on Vimeo.

Five Seasons

Some people say that in Michigan we really only have two seasons, Winter and Construction. As true as this oft may be, I want to put a name in the suggestion box for a fifth registered season. I call it Waiting. Another working title could be Almost There.



Spring always comes eventually. It's just that during the Waiting season, Winter tends to come and go. Spring seems to ebb and flow around here. One day we're teased and tempted by high temps and actual, bright Spring sunshine, and the next Winter snatches it all away and throws cold and snow back in our faces.

I'm looking forward to 'soon' being 'now'.

For Several Minutes At Least

As any mom will tell you, when there is something great that keeps your kid occupied for a good stretch of time, you will do anything to obtain that thing. Fortunately for us, lately these things have been good old household objects.

Exhibit A: The Water Bottle

Ideally for baby girl, the bottle would be full of water that she could drink, choke on, drink some more and then dump all over herself. We do however, usually try to refrain from giving her a full bottle. Luckily, the empty bottle brings a great deal of entertainment.






Exhibit B: The Laundry Basket

Now I will admit here the truth that I myself often put the baby in the basket to transport laundry where it needs to go. A girl only has so many arms. Plus, darn it, it's just cute to see babies in baskets.



Exhibit C: The Blush Brush

We have a cupboard on either side of our bed in which I keep lotion, cough drops, nail stuff, hair clips and other miscellaneous odds and ends. What could be more fun for a baby than rifling through such a cupboard? Thankfully, she doesn't know what everything on those shelves is used for.


Exhibit D: The Water Bottle

Have I mentioned how much fun this bottle was? Because really, she was busy playing with it for quite some time. As you can see here, she loves her bottle.








Exhibit E: The TP

Everyone knows the all-time best baby toy is a roll of toilet paper. It's not necessarily the easiest to clean up, but if it lets me go to the bathroom in peace, it's ok with me.







What are/were your kids favorite household toys?

Some decisions are harder to make than others.

It's generally pretty easy to choose what to wear in the morning. Is it warm? Wear flip-flops. Is it cold? Put on a sweater.

It's not a hard choice to pick between a vanilla latte and plain black coffee, for me, that's a simple decision. I'll choose the latte any day.

When I get the chance to buy a new book, it might take a little longer to peruse the aisles and find a way to pick between the good old classic or the newly acclaimed title.

Then there are the decisions about how to raise your kid. Choosing what is the healthiest to feed them, how to train and discipline, which toys are or are not safe, where to send them to daycare/preschool/school etc and so forth.

This week offers us another chance to make a decision. It should probably be put in the medium-decision folder. It will definitely impact your life, but it doesn't compare to the which college to go to or who to marry folder.

This week marks the beginning of the Lenten season. Tomorrow we will be heading to IHOP for free pancakes and enjoy a dinner (or brinner?) of stuffing our faces with syrup and starch. Wednesday we will be heading down the block to Sacred Heart to participate in an Ash Wednesday service.

This year I am finding it difficult to decide what to give up for Lent knowing that whatever I take out should be replaced with time spent with God. I need to start a spring cleanse as winter eating has definitely caught up with me. Frankly, I just need to be spending more time with God. There will probably be some tv cut out as well as some computer time.

I've still got two days to decide specifically.

What are you giving up for Lent this year?

I Guess It's Tuesday

Apparently, I totally jinxed myself by saying my kid was a good sleeper. Isn't that just how it always goes?

With only one nap under her belt yesterday, I expected a great night but she woke up twice and then got up at 6:45. Now, some of you may have early risers and are used to this kind of activity, but my girl is an 8:00 getter-upper. Anything before that is unholy in my opinion.

Let's hope she naps well at daycare today.

In other news, my latest post is live at 5 Minutes for Going Green. My hands are itching to get into the dirt.

Sweet Sleep

We seem to have hit a beautiful milestone that I didn't think would ever arrive.

At five weeks old, my precious bundle of joy began sleeping long stretches at night with no interruptions. Almost every night would find her sleeping a little bit longer at a go and her Mama and Daddy rejoiced with their amazingly gifted child.

We were prepared for a downturn in the sleeping to come around month four, which is truly did. In reading different parenting sites and advice blogs I heard about the Wonder Weeks. According to this research, there are 8 key times in your baby's development when their sleep patterns (and practically everything else they do) are affected by what is currently developing in their brains. Week 16 is one of the main spurts. Basically, their brain is on overdrive and their bodies can't quite keep up! Sometimes it causes extra sleep and other times it keeps them awake at all hours.

Randall recovered a few weeks later and started sleeping heartily again. Until the six month stint hit along with her deciding to push out a bunch of teeth. From six months until very recently, baby girl had a rough time sleeping. As all parents know from the start, sleep is a precious commodity to be treasured at every turn. We had some nights where she would wake every 5-10 minutes for up to two hours and other nights it was once an hour all night long. She always went to bed very easily but fussing would ensue at any time.

There were colds and changes in her schedule, travel and lots of teething. We did a bit of cry-it-out, a bit of rock-it-out and a bit of please-God-make-her-sleep. I think we had resigned ourselves to the fact that we would never get a full night's sleep again.

However, something must have finally clicked in her head. My girl is healthy, happy and once again sleeping like a champ for 12 hours straight, in spite of another tooth popping out at the moment. Her Mama and Daddy are so proud, knowing that we can really take none of the credit. (also knowing that it could change at a moment's notice.)

Darn it, this kid is the best.

Happy Hearts

Today was a busy day running around. There was a haircut to be had for the hubby (at which point he remembered that he had left his dress shirt for work at home and we had to stop at Target for a replacement) a free lunch from Moe's to be picked up, then off to work for the afternoon and evening.

Baby girl loves going to church. There are tons of new fun toys to explore and she spent at least twenty minutes or more climbing into and around the infant bouncers and the exer-saucers. She was exploring her roots.

Fortunately, she went down easily for a nap so I was able to prep for work. Since I planned to teach tonight, I had to learn my story and check the props as well as get my regular stuff set up and ready to go for my own volunteers.

There were quite a few missing pieces this evening, but there were also a great group of people who were willing to just pitch in and fill empty spots wherever they were needed. I can never get enough of that kind of amazing attitude!

After a long night and a great service, we tiredly headed home to prepare dinner and put the babe to bed. She soaks in the people and attention from everyone around but crashes soon after getting home. What a nice surprise to find valentine's in the mail from The Grandparents.

It's time for that chicken pot pie I just took out of the oven and a little bit of tv recorded from last night before we crash into bed ourselves ready to go to work again tomorrow morning. Weekends are long, but they are good.

Happy Hearts Day to you!

My Review of Britax Roundabout Convertible Car Seat - Tan Swirl

Toys R Us

The Britax Roundabout® compact convertible car seat is renowned for safety, comfort, and convenience. The Roundabout's compact size is ideal for use with vehicles with limited rear-seat space. The tangle-free, five-point harness with three harness heights ensures a snug and secure fit. ...

Britax Roundabout Convertible Car Seat - Tan Swirl

A great carseat!

Anne Michigan 2/11/2009

4 5

Pros: Comfortable, Great Features, Safe, Sturdy, Easy to install, Lightweight, Easy to Adjust, Stylish

Best Uses: Toddlers, Infants

Describe Yourself: First Time Parent

A friend had recommended this seat to us, but we still tried another before realizing she was right in the first place. This seat is compact and works great for our car. Baby seems to be very comfy and loves her new seat. I love the velcro to keep the straps in place so I don't always have to fish around for them when I'm putting her in. Very easy to use, install and fasten her in securely while also being less pricey than some fancier models.
Love it!

()

Since baby girl is still too small to face forward, she gets to continue watching the world fly by backwards. She doesn't usually enjoy getting into the car (it usually means leaving something fun she was doing) but once she's in her seat she just stares at the scenery as it goes by.

Food or Fiction

We've apparently passed the, "I don't want to eat that" stage and hopped directed into the, "give me more, give me more, give me more" stage. Sometimes I can't feed this kid enough! Though, when it's not what she wants and there IS something else she would prefer, a fit will inevitably be thrown.

She seems to enjoy a good fit now and then. She is definitely not a fan of getting changed. Especially when said fit would cause poo to go all over our body and clothing during the changing. It's lovely, really.



I couldn't help but just laugh at her today. I was able to get her cleaned up, and though much screaming and twisting and turning ensued, a new diaper was put on. However, the tantrum didn't end there. One would have thought she was worshiping me with all the bowing down and arms thrown at my feet if it weren't for the sobbing and tears that went with it. Course, she could have just been repentant. It was just hilarious. She's too little to be offended so I got a hearty chuckle at her sad expense.

All that to say, she has been so super sweet and adorable lately. This kid gives the best hugs, wrapping her arms tight around your neck and patting your back. I can't get enough.

In other interesting (only to me, I know, but this is my blog for my own posterity, right?) news, the kiddo has been sleeping through the night. Every other night. For some reason, one night she will be up for hours whining and fussing in her bed and the next night she'll happily sleep 12 hours in a row. Keeps me on my toes, this one does.

Plus, it also appears that if I put her down at juuust the right time, she will nap for three hours straight. This is great for getting tons of housework done. Or for a lot of internet downtime with coffee and my blogs. Or whatever.

Saved By the Mailman

Some days my head is less screwed on than others.

Today seems to be one of those days.

My list is long:

1. Fix and finish taxes on Turbo Tax. Something went awry and I want to get it submitted.
2. Dishes
3. Laundry - clothing & diapers
4. Tidying
5. Sweeping, vacuuming, dusting. Ugh, it's a mess.
6. Send out thank-yous and birthday cards.
7. Work on baby book--I'm actually almost finished.
8. Work on blurb photo book--I'm almost finished with this as well.
9. Program music and lyrics for our family production this Wednesday.
10.Make dinner for tonight and plan a menu for the week.
11. Start my small group study book.
12. Sewing repairs. The pile is small but they are things that urgently need fixing.

For some reason, it seems like there is likely more to be done, but this is all that is coming to my brain right now. At any rate, in the midst of my working this morning, I got most of my thank-yous and birthday cards written and mailed with no concern for any consequences.

Who would have consequences for mailing out birthday cards anyway?

Apparently, I would.

Half an hour after I retrieved my mail from the mailbox, there was a knock on the door.

"Great," I think. "Here I am in my bathrobe, jammies and glasses on." It was noon and still I hadn't yet gotten myself presentable for the day. (Hey, back off! It's Monday, what do you expect? I'm lucky I'm getting so much done as it is!)

I open the door to find my mailman standing there.

"Is this yours?" he asks.

He handed me my credit card. Apparently, I had tried to mail it.

Things I Love Thursday - If it Makes Baby Happy, It Makes Mama Happy

My baby girl has been Miss Grouchy Pants for the last week or so. Pink eye on top of a regular cold makes any baby miserable. She hasn't been eating well and has been super clingy all day long. The upside is that she gives amazing hugs.




While I don't condone plopping my kid down in front of the tv for an extended period of time, there is one kids' show that she loves to watch whether it be online videos or recorded on the dvr. About once a day, we sit and watch a couple videos and she rocks back and forth to the music. I will warn you that these songs get STUCK in your head. They are so simple it's almost ridiculous. Specifically for preschoolers, kids are encouraged to dance along with the songs and learn to brush their teeth, not eat food off the ground and that it's ok to like bugs.

As much as it is a silly show, it is not horrible to watch. They have real musicians and actors guest spot and there good little lessons to be learned for tiny tots. Plus, the music is actually really good much of the time. It is not all baby pop, but a good amount of house music or tunes that are more indie pop.


At any rate, I'm a fan of Yo Gabba Gabba and my baby girl is too. It's the only show she'll watch to the end. In fact, today she got so cozy watching an episode, she fell asleep right on my lap. We haven't had a good snuggle nap in months and it was fabulous. Makes mama happy.


Napping from Anne on Vimeo. A photo would perhaps have been more appropriate here, but there wasn't a camera handy and the flash likely would have woken up the babe. So you get to watch me nap. Does it inspire you? I hope so. Go take thee a nap!

To see what everyone else is loving today, check out The Diaper Diaries.

It Only Takes 5 Minutes

My first post is live at a great green blog! Simple, easy things you can do to reduce, reuse & recycle. This week I wrote about something that has been heavily impacting all of us recently. Cold. Feel free to check it out and give me a little bloggy love.

It's 3 PM and I'm Just Now Drinking My Coffee

Some days just go like that, don't they? My list for today is long and varied. Laundry, dishes, cleaning, contacting volunteers, organizing, sewing and then a party this evening. None of that has happened yet due to a clingy baby with a yucky cold.

So far I've gotten a shower, tidied one room and gotten one small thing sewed. Lately, I've been making her a bunch of these bibs. Repurposing an old white towel with some cute trim around the edge makes the perfect bibs for this little mess maker.



Three have been completed so far and they are the easiest thing ever. I made two with a cute, thick ribbon and one with wide bias tape I had. Hammer on some snaps and she is good to go.

Hopefully, I will get the rest of my list accomplished after we get home from the party and she is down for the night. Long lists either motivate me or tire me out. Today, I'm tired.

Mom-gestions

Here at the crazy household, there has been something of a war going on. Every day around 1 and 6 there is calm happiness before an angry, messy storm. It can strike at any moment, brought on by practically anything.




I tend to be a generally patient person, not getting flustered easily or angered quickly. However, for some reason, the war just puts me on edge.

It's a stage they have to go through, I know that. The testing. "Will Mom say, 'no' when I throw my grapes this time?" She has to learn how to do it herself and it's going to get messy, I'm aware.

In the meanwhile, as we pass through this lovely bit of time, I was hoping to get some suggestions from those of you who are fabulous veteran moms or dads.

What were your kids' favorite foods? I think I need to have a longer list of options to draw from. What did you find helped get them to eat what you put in front of them. Ideally, how did you get them to eat a good, balanced diet? I can't fathom feeding her mac & cheese at every meal, though I know every kid would prefer that.

Basically, what were your baby feeding successes? What other trouble spots should I be looking for coming up?

Thanks in advance for the great advice! Hopefully, you are all staying warm on this very cold day. If you live in the south, please don't rub it in.

It's All Theoretical

When it's registering as zero outside does that mean there is no weather? And if there is no weather, wouldn't that mean that the weather can be anything I want it to be? And if it is whatever I want it to be can it be oh, say, 75?

Until my theory proves itself to be true, I'll just stay here under my blankets with my sixteen layers on, snuggling with the cat and drinking lots of hot beverages. Hubby can fend for himself.

Pink Party

Here I am at my first birthday party! I got all dressed up in my party dress and party pants. Do you see them? They have presents on them, so that's why they're party pants. Plus, they're pink and match my party. It was pink too. Balloons and streamers and plates--all pink. I am a girl, after all.









They made me wear this silly pointy hat, which I found to be ridiculous, but I put up with it to make everyone else happy, cuz I'm a nice baby like that.











Mama thought she would be silly and wear one too. Who even came up with this pointy hat idea?











I may have gotten a little overwhelmed by all the people. It was kind of crazy at my house, I'll tell ya. But I totally handled it like a trooper, sharing all my toys and everything.







Here you can see me and 7 of my little friends. There were 5 more running around somewhere. Like I said, it was a little bit crazy some of the time, but tons of fun.









Mama made piles of cupcakes along with a huge pan of mac & cheese and several yummy meatloaves for everyone. All my favorites.







Not to mention the snacks and fruits and punch. I could probably eat grapes all day long.








Then! They let ME have a cupcake. Though I thought I had been told not to play with fire, here they are coming at me with a lit candle. Myself not knowing how to blow it out, they did it for me. I'm hoping to learn that skill for next year.





I wasn't quite sure what the big deal was all about so I figured it would be safest to poke delicately.











Mmm...I sure to like sprinkles.












Look! I'm Sprinkle-Face!









Ok, fine, you want me to shove it in my mouth, I will. All this fuss about me making a mess.







What's next? Presents? I like presents.








Well, folks, that's it for another year. Of course, I still have a party with my Grandparents this weekend. I'll be ready with my silly hat on again.










Oh, and Mama says it's a 'delurking' day and that you all have to leave a comment.

Has it Been So Long?

Since it's fun for me to look at the comparison shots here is my little babes year's worth of monthly pictures.

Just a few hours old and still so teeny tiny.


























Her little bitty jeans hitched up to her armpits all Urkel-like.


















We prop her up and quickly take the shot before she plops over on her face.








So proud of herself in her little swimmy suit just in from the kiddie pool.








She still loves her Raggedy dolly. Or any dolly with yarn hair. She adores her new baby doll. Maybe because she can relate to how the doll has no hair.



















Oh, the cute baby meltdowns. Nowadays, if we say, "No!" or in some cases, even suggest a disapproving stare, she will burst into huge crocodile tears. If she would just stop throwing her food on the floor we wouldn't have this problem.



























And here it is. The 12 month picture. I'm lucky that this picture turned out. Some days baby girl is a squiggly little monkey who won't sit still long enough for a couch photo shoot.









Here's to another fabulous year my sweet punkin!

Shortie

I love finding great little short films and this one that I watched the other day was definitely worth a look. Grab your favorite beverage and a friend and take a few minutes to watch this mini. You'll be glad you did!

I've got oodles of baby pictures to edit and long lists of things to do around the house, but I have been getting excessive amounts of guilt passed upon me that I haven't blogged in so long. Can you believe someone would guilt trip me like that? Someone I love so dearly? Geez, honey, just go get your own darn blog, would you?




Baby girl is much healthier. She is eating normally and she is her happy little self again. PLUS, she is almost sleeping through the night again. This beautiful little child started sleeping through the night at 5 weeks old has not gifted us with many solid hours in months. We are so very thankful she is cooperating again! I'm sure the sickness and all the teething did not help her sleeping situation so my fingers are crossed that it is up hill from here on out. (someone tell me it will be!)

Today we'll be taking down the Christmas decor. After that I just need to clean. Someone has a first birthday party coming up and this place is a disaster! What is it about the holiday season that has such a penchant for messiness? Or maybe it's just my house, who knows.

I'm ready for this new year. I'm trying not to resolve a million things, but just one or two. I always put such unrealistic goals on myself and then find frustration at the end. One however, is making better use of my nap times. That's to say that sometimes I need to be taking a nap and sometimes I need to do more than just putter on facebook. Maybe read a real book. Hmm, sounds like a plan.