Museum of Science and Industry

I started my vacation right with a day for me and the girl to bond. I took her to my favorite museum. Steve had told her about the baby chick hatchery in advance so that's all she wanted to see but she really enjoyed the airplane too. Oddly enough, she could care less about the Christmas trees.... Sigh.....

Kissable

We did a little trick or treating at my niece's house yesterday. Sharon got Gretchen these wax lips and she couldn't wait to eat them.... Hee! I put her pictures out on Flickr if you want to see her as the Cat in the Hat (the twins were thing 1 and thing 2)....

Last Summer of One

With the boys still in the hospital, we have been careful with Gretchen. She isn't sure really what to think: mommy's not pregnant yet there are no brothers here.... She knows I visit them in the hospital; I usually get the cold shoulder from her when I she know that I was there ("no! I want Daddy" or "I don't want you Mama"). So hospital time on the weekends is minimal.

Every weekend we try to do something fun. A few weeks ago was the annual carnival/summer days for our town. We went to the parade and then to the carny rides. The week after that we went to the beach. Steve and I were not thinking! We didn't bring towels or swimsuits. I guess we thought she wouldn't want to go in the water. Boy were we wrong! She really liked it (see here for yourself!....
This past weekend Steve's friend brought over his son so they could play. This week we took her to Six Flags. We took her on smallest coaster they have and she really liked it. It scared me to death (I was worried she would fall out) but she was fine.

So our little girl is doing fine - she's getting a lot of attention but since it's the last summer she'll have as the only child, I think it's okay. She certainly is a free spirit. The other day we were leaving the library and Gretchen saw a bald woman wearing a bandanna on her head. Gretchen saw her and said at the top of her lungs: "Mommy, SHE'S A PIRATE!". I wanted to crawl under our car..... But once I got in the car and we pulled away, I could help but laugh a little... (hopefully the woman saw the humor in it as well.....)

Here are pictures from this summer.... (and pictures of the twins)

Girls Day Out

Gretchen is in need of a little one on one time with me so I took her to the Kohl's Children Museum today. She is at a good age for this place since it's so hands on. Their water room, music room, and Potbelly's play restaurant were the big hits of the day. We spent four hours there and she did not fight me to leave which is good because I had a pounding headache. It was worth it though!

My Good Girl

A lot of people have asked how Gretchen has been holding up now that the babies are here but not at home. She visited me in the hospital daily just about and I was very honest with her about what was going on. She knows that they are not ready to come home but she kind of thinks they are sick which I guess isn't untrue. I don't want her to be scared of them. Anyway, she is doing really good. In this picture, we were trying to occupy her during one of the hospital visits so I let her listen to my nano (I picked the songs). She didn't like anything I was playing so who knows what kind of music she's going to like!

The Little Ballerina

We enrolled Gretchen in Beginning Dance (for 3 year olds) to help with coordination and because she likes to dance. I think she is the one of the younger threes in her class but of course one of the cutest in my humble opinion. Here she is doing an exercise. She is supposed to jump over the stuffed animal and then do a turn... Hee!

Feverish Summer

This weekend, in my infinite wisdom, had a slumber party. We were "babysitting" my 11 year old niece so I thought it would be a good idea to have Steve's best friends' kids (8 yr old girl and 6 yr old boy) to stay as well to keep my niece company. What I didn't count on was Gretchen getting hand foot mouth disease and spending 70% of the time in my lap. She did perk up once in a while when the Motrin would break the fever but it was not nearly as fun for her as I had hoped. Plus, I am hoping the kids did not catch it since we didn't know what was wrong with her until everyone left. She is taking antibiotics for an ear infection so we thought it was just that.... But when Steve woke me up in the middle of the night early Sunday, Gretchen's 104 fever freaked both of us out. We were sponge bathing her until the Motrin kicked in! Thank God for Children's Motrin!

Anyway, today she is much better. Acting like joyous, mischievous self! Hopefully that means the worst is over for her. I can't believe we're having more kids.... I don't look forward to the bugs and illnesses they will get......

My Birthday "Pordy" (how she says it)

We had a beautiful day for Gretchen's party. She and her little friends celebrated in Dora style with little sombreros..... While the adults struggled to keep me sitting down (I didn't do much I can say....), the kids seemed to really enjoy themselves. See for yourself the pictures!

Saturday July 5th!

Despite the events of this week, Gretchen's birthday party this coming Saturday is a go! Instead of cooking all the sides, we ordered them today from the grocery store. Steve will do the meat. We will have someone clean the house so I can remain on bed rest. It will be weird not running around but I will get to at least talk to my guests this year! It would take a serious condition to derail the party and we would call all of you (or do a phone chain) if that were the case. Call us if you need directions. See you Saturday at 1pm!

Gretchen's Birthday

We will be celebrating her birthday on Saturday July 5th! (If you plan on attending, please email me!)

Start 'em Early

Gretchen attended her first cubs game a few weeks ago. I was so proud - she watched a little of the game but more importantly, she sat in her seat. We were thinking it might be a mistake to buy her a seat. She proved us wrong and sat patiently in her seat....Of course she had a hot dog, cotton candy, juice boxes, etc.

Donald Duck Said Hi to Me!

I had a conference in Orlando a few weeks ago so we decided we take 3 days and hit Disney World. Gretchen really liked it. I think Steve and I expected her excitement to be more but she is only two years old. The highlights: hotel swimming pool, Pooh's Playground (not even a ride though she did like the Winnie the Pooh ride), Cinderella character dinner, Mickey's parade at Animal Kingdom, meeting Minnie Mouse and the Nemo show/ride. Lowlights: still not a fan of fireworks....

Anyway, we survived it as a family despite the heat, the long days and Steve's broken foot. We didn't take as many pictures as I would have liked but here are the best ones.

Mommy Daddy Don't Leave

I am not sure what has gotten into her but Gretchen has entered a weird phase where she gets very attached to one of us and focuses on us with an intensity that makes my hair stand on end. She doesn't want us to leave without her. It just breaks my heart - Steve says she's working me. While I don't doubt him, it takes some kind of strength for me to just move on. I don't know if she senses the pregnancy and our expectant behavior or what? My friend Lisa says she senses it. Maybe.... I'm hoping once summer hits we will be able to keep her busy and tired. We have been walking her around the block to get her ready for walking at Walt Disney World (we go soon!) and that does knock her out! If only it didn't make me tired too....

Spring is finally here!

While I am not a fan of the Good Friday snow we got, Easter was a lot of fun. We hid eggs for Gretchen to find in the house. She got very good at unwrapping foiled chocolate eggs!

Winter Blahs

Some of you have asked when I am going to update the blog. I know – I have been slow to post updates. I am taking two classes this quarter and I have been swamped. I keep reminding myself how this is worth it since I will be finished with graduate school in June. Winter's death grip on us has not helped either. The view from my desk at work is a hill of snow. I think soon I will not see anything else.

Anyway, we are doing well. We have been working on potty training but she is just not ready. We are ready but she is not. Very soon, we will be transitioning to a toddler bed so I think that it will help to feel like a big girl. We are getting a little stir crazy being inside all the time so we have taken Gretchen to the mall a few times to run around and ride the carousel they have there. She especially likes the boats at Bass Pro Shops. When it is warm enough, we go outside so play in the snow but Gretchen has a love/hate relationship with the snow. Like most toddlers, her likes and dislikes change with the wind! Especially when it comes to eating…. I am continually flummoxed by Gretchen’s food preferences since she does not like the same thing from day to day. You still have to offer her everything you are eating because MAYBE today she will eat it. Of course, when she says to me “Mommy you’re pretty” I forgive all of these little grievances.

We are looking forward to spring! Easter will be here before you know it! I posted a new video and some recent pictures if you are interested!

Sing it Mama

Gretchen has been a lot more musical of late. For Christmas we got her a music set with a tambourine, jingle bells and other noisemakers. Between the instruments and her little songs, I think we may end up with a musical child (Joy!). The down side is that I don't know the words to enough kid songs. I wanted to avoid teaching her stuff like the Oscar Meyer bologna song but I ended teaching her the baby bumble bee song (I know version 1 and 3) . I am not sure which is worse. She loves the part where we squish up the baby bumble bee - when we get to that part, she yells out "Sing it Mama!". I might as well teach her Little Bunny Fufu! Sigh.... Did I mention we've taught her Borat quotes ("the suit is not black!")?