Road Rage?

Visiting with Chicks

Omar and Josie were incredibly thoughtful to invite us out to visit the chicks at the poultry farm today. Needless to say, Allison may have outgrown her shy spurt. She adored the chicks and was not fearful of them in any way. I've ALWAYS wanted to grow up on a farm - I think it would be such a blessing. Well, I saw a little bit of that in Allison today - it made me so proud!

Here are a few of the pics:

Twenty Five Months

Dear Allison,

A few days ago - well, wait it has been over a week since you turned twenty-five months of age. I've written letters to you since, well, since January 17, 2005 - the day that Daddy and I found out we were pregnant. I've written to you about lots and lots of different things, but I found myself wondering this month what I haven't written to you about. I don't know where you are in life when reading this letter,you may have children of your own, maybe you do, maybe you don't. If you do, you may understand how difficult it is to describe an entire existence in a few words. It is hard to describe you, to put you into a group of letters. I think it is more difficult because you are my child - my view of your existence is wrapped heavily in emotion.

So as I sit here thinking of the past month and what I have yet to divulge about you, I think of the funny way you say that things are "cute" or "delicious". I think of how ticklish you really are or how easy it is to make you laugh. I think of Daddy and I mimicking the phrases that you say and the way you say them such as, "I like it!". I think of how for the longest time you awoke each morning looking for Ozzy and how now that has been replaced with the search for Daddy and his jeep. I think of the mornings or afternoons when you awake grouchy and all you want to do is sit and cuddle. I also think of when you are tired, you seem to tumble and fall down much more than normal. I think of the way you hold a doll or stuffed animal. I think of how since birth you have never liked to have a blanket on you while sleeping and how you don't really care to wear "warm" clothing. You tug at the long sleeves of your fall shirts and often manage to get atleast one arm free.

Alllison, you are the child who wraps kitchen utensils in receiving blankets and rocks them to sleep. You are the child that sings jingle bells (your version goes something like this: Jingle bells all the way") in mid October. You are the child that loves ketchup with popcorn. You are the child that will dance with me to mushy songs.

Love,
Mama

Halloween and a Princess

While Greg and I were thinking of what costume we could come up with for Allison, we received a surprise in the mail. A beautiful (and really awesome) princess costume made by my Mother-n-Law. It was really cute. Not shown in the pictures is this gorgeous cape my Mother-n-Law made to go along with the dress. On Halloween evening we went with friends to the mall for their festivities. We definitely loaded up on candy while there and was able to see many unique costumes. Afterwards we headed to sorority row. Sorority row was the place to be on Halloween. It was so much fun! Everything was very family friendly and they had activities for the kiddos. Allison enjoyed fishing for candy, having a butterfly painted on her hand and taking a picture with Belle.


One thing that I really enjoyed about Halloween was dressing Allison up. I put rollers in her hair and though they didn't stay long, it was so much fun!

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine,
You kissed me tender, under that tree.
You'll never know dear, how much that brown skirt,
Was like a magnet that pulled you to me.


I found this while digging for my voter's registration card yesterday. A couple of years ago when the ipod mini's had just came out - I wanted one for Christmas. Well, Greg kept hinting that he hadn't gotten me one for all kinds of reasons. Well, after opening all of my gifts I found this poem. Greg has done so many different things over the years to surprise me, this is just one example.

Well, if you read the bold and italicized words - my ipod mini was hiding under the skirt of our Christmas tree.

(Our first kiss was under a tree - in the rain, and when we first started dating, I used to wear this brown skirt that Greg really liked.)

Pumpkin Painting Playdate

We are so blessed to have such wonderful and creative friends. On Monday, October 29th we went to a pumpkin painting playdate. It was alot of fun. I am not sure who had more fun, me or Allison. Melissa and Ellie, the hostesses, create such a fun and welcoming atmosphere that there was never a dull moment! Here are a few pictures from the gathering:

She used the toilet!

Some of you know that I have been working to get Allison familiar with the potty. Well, this morning, after much work Greg and I decided to stop for a while - she just wasn't wanting to use the potty. This afternoon, while playing in her room she told me a few times that she needed to poop. I checked her diaper and after not seeing anything I didn't think anything of it. Well, I then sat her on the toilet after the third request. She peed and pooped in the potty. She even told me that she had used the potty. I was so excited - we called Daddy at work just to let him know. How exciting!!!

Mommy Q & A

I love Q & A's (just ask Amy), so I am taking this from Julia's blog!


1. How long have you been a mom? Since October 2, 2005

2. How many children call you Mommy? 1 - more hopefully soon!

3. Girl? Boy? Both? A girl

4. Did you know what you were having? Yes.

5. How old were you when you became a mom? 26.

6. How long were you in labor? 5 hours of induced labor

7. What’s your favorite thing about being a mom? I love seeing how she perceives the world. It is so neat!

8. What’s your least favorite thing? Disciplining

9. Do you want more kids? Yes! Yes! Yes! Although when seems to be changing on a weekly basis.

10. Do you plan on having more soon? Yes!

12. How many times have you been peed on? I think twice - if I remember correctly.

13. Barfed on? Does this count spit up? Allison has only barfed twice in her life - but spit up- countless.

14. Is your child named after anyone? Nope

15. How did you come up with their name(s): We loved the name Allison. We had a boys name, but then we found out we were having a girl. It took us a long time to find a name we actually liked.

16. When your child gets in trouble, who is the bad guy? Me - although Greg would disagree!

17. And who is the good guy? Daddy is the fun one! Which I love!

18. What is the longest you have been away from your children? I think twelve hours or less.

19. Bedtime routine? Depends on who puts her to sleep. Daddy gives her a bath and then will play the guitar and sing to her until she falls asleep. If I put her to sleep it is: bath, books, prayer, and sometimes she likes to be rocked for a little bit. We also like to snuggle alot. It is my time that I really get to snuggle with her!

20. Are your toes painted? Until today -they were painted a bright pink.

21. Last movie you saw in the theatre? I really don't remember. I do love going to the movies - I just haven't been in a couple of months!

22. One thing you will not give up just because you’re a mom? I don't know - they only thing I can think of is sometimes it is hard to balance the husband-wife relationship with the mommy-daddy role!

24. One thing you did give up now that you’re a mom: Vegging out and contemplating!

25. Best mom perk: Getting a chance to do the MOST important thing a human being could ever do for another human being. It just doesn't get any bigger than that. (<- I think Julia said it best!)
Also, I think it is pretty neat that you can make friends with just about any other parent - all because you both have children.

26. Snack that you sneak bites of from your child: Hmmm.. Allison and I share popcorn as an afternoon snack sometimes, but I don't usually sneak bites from her. I'm always gaging how much she eats.

27. When the kids are napping, you are: Chores, reading, or napping.

28. Where are your children now? Sleeping.

29. Favorite place to buy maternity clothes? I don't know - I had such a hard time finding clothes when I was pregnant. I think JC Penny, Target and Motherhood were the places that I shopped most.

30. If I could do it over, I’d do this differently: Spend more time cuddling and rocking with the baby and not worry about time ticking by. Focusing on the gifts of my child and not the challenges. Sticking to my routine, but not being afraid to be flexible (I'm going to have to change with number 2, that's for sure!) (<- Again, Julia said it best -- she of course has a gift with words)

Twenty Four Months

My Sweet Sweet Allison,
On October 2, 2007 you turned two years old. I'm not sure exactly where to start this update. Our world has changed as you have grown older. Every month there is a new development, well actually lots of new developments.
You are all about independence these days. Your father asks me quite often, "Where does she get this need for independence?" I really have no answer. Your need for independence is in everything that you do except a few times a day you so lovingly remind me that you still need me. You gently call to me to hold you, usually by saying,"Mama, I'm cold." I know - a strange way to ask and it has prompted me to drive you to the doctor to ask why you are so often cold, but then I realized she just wants to be held. Allison, I worry how much longer do I have to hold you? I joke with you father that you won't let me hold you when you are sixteen and even though right now it seems so far away - it really isn't.



Oddly enough you have added a new food group to your palate. You've begun a love affair with pickles, specifically with pickles and ranch dressing. I have been reading a book to you that mentions a pickle briefly and you have been asking for one ever since. Well, you Daddy bought you a jar and together you shared your first bite. I thought, " Surely she won't take a second bite." I was wrong, you've taken many bites of pickles since. And after a pickle or two, I have to tell you - "No more pickles today."


The other day your father mentioned one time to you that we would be leaving for the zoo the following day. Upon waking up the next day you crawled into our bed layed on my chest as you always do and said, "Go to zoo!" I was amazed that you remembered. You said it with such gusto! Now, I am very careful of what I tell you. I won't tell you that an event is going to happen unless I am pretty positive it will.


Well, my child, I have to tell you this with a sad heart - you no longer like for me to take your picture. When I ask - you run the other way. I have to sneak in pictures when I can which makes it hard for me to get good ones because you are so active. I tell you that you are going to be upset when you are older because I won't have many good pictures of you as a two year old, but you still run and laugh!


I find it so interesting that you love the same things as your Daddy: cartoons and sweets while you love the same things as your Mama: pickles and the outdoors. You do truly love being outside - and I love it! I love taking you to the park or just walking around our own yard. I absolutely love that you love the great outdoors. I know your Daddy loves sharing cartoons and sweets with you too!




My sweet sweet baby girl. I love you my brown eyes. You have such a sweet soul, I am so proud of you!

Love,
Mama

Back from Vacation!

We came back from a weeklong vacation on Monday. Coming back doesn't quite describe our actual vacation. We actually spent a fews days at home, but we were all together and no one had anywhere they needed to be! It was so nice. I think the hardest thing about vacation is coming back and re-adjusting to the "routine". I have to admit that I am a little spoiled on the days that Greg is off. He spends most of his time with Allison leaving me to do the things that have been piling up on my to-do list. I am excited to be back and eventually become re-adjusted back to our routine!

Laundy and Dancing

This evening while folding laundry I handed Allison one of her socks because she loves to put them on. Well, she asked for one of Daddy's socks too - she wore both. She then asked for, "clothes." So I gave her one of my t-shirts - which looked like a long lovely dress on her! Then she grabbed both of my hands and said, "Dance Mama." I obliged - we spent a good twenty minutes spinning around the kitchen holding hands and dancing. I know I will always remember that smiling, laughing face looking up at me!

Later we went into the bedroom where I have been cleaning out the closet. She grabbed a large gift bag and asked me to open it up. She then said, "Rock me to sleep." She laid there with her eyes closed, laughing, sitting in the bag while I sang Hush Little Baby to her and rocked her in the gift bag.

I absolutely love this pretending - it is so much fun!

Ramblings

We have so much going on right now. We are laying new flooring in the kitchen, repainting the bedroom, and gearing up to repaint the living room and the outside of the house. We hope to soon start a bathroom renovation by the end of the year. Also, we have vacation soon along with Allison's second birthday! So much going on around here! I have fell way behind on my updates to the blog! Forgive me!

You know what amazes me so lately? Allison's vocabulary. It is incredible. She is saying words I didn't even know that she knew! She is also starting to pronounce words really well.This morning she asked me to put a ball in her dress pocket. She said pocket so clearly and I was surprised that she knew the word! I am proud and a little sad. I know before too long she will loose her "baby talk" and I will miss the way she once said words! However, it will be nice to not have those moments where I really don't understand what she is asking for!

Twenty-three months and counting!

Dear Allison,
Today marks the beginning of the official countdown to toddlerhood. Since turning one years old you slowly moved into an "in-between" stage where you were growing out of babyhood into toddlerhood. Well, in less than a month you will offically be a toddler. What it really means is that I can no longer tell your age in months - you will be two years old until you reach three!

This past month has been eventful. I am finding it hard to believe that a month has already past since my last letter to you. You have accomplished so much. I am not sure if it is where you are right now or something that will continue for sometime, but you are soaking up so much information - it's amazing! You are an ace at your colors and now you point them out wherever you go. You've started to learn your letters and are doing quite well, but there are twenty-six of them! You are learning new words and phrases all of the time!

I started writing letters to you so that you will have a history or view of what you were like as a child. Allison, there is one thing that you should know about yourself. You are very set in your beliefs. Let me explain this by giving an example. Keep in mind - we've had this conversation regarding many topics! Here is a typical conversation between you and I:

Mom (pointing at a picture of a penguin.): "Allison, what is this?"
Allison: "a duck"
Mom: "Nope, it's a penguin."
Allison: "Duck, Mama."
Mom: "Allison, this is a penguin. Here is what a duck looks like." (pointing between two pictures, one of a penguin and one of a duck)
Allison (walking off making duck sound).

We have had this conversation regarding many topics. I have to tell you - I think it is awesome and have complete faith that you will one day soon know the difference between a penguin and a duck!


My sweet girl, last night while we were cuddling before bedtime, you grabbed my face with both of your hands and looked squarely into my eyes and said the three most awesome words, "I Love You." Daddy and I tell you that all the time, but you have yet to return the words. You and your father have a game about saying I Love You, but last night you said those three words to me! It was breathtaking!


Love,
Mama

[Picture A]


[Picture B]

I asked Greg to take a picture of Allison and I on Sunday after noticing that I am the one who is usually behind the camera (aka - I have a ton of pictures with Allison and Greg, but not very many pictures of Allison and I). So here are a few that he took this weekend. I do not take good pictures - I have this unconscious tendency to make my eyes really big right when the picture is being taken - I think it's the flash! So, I tend to have the "deer caught in the headlights look".

So, since I found this really neat element that you can add to your blog - I am adding a poll (to your upper left) and asking which picture you like best?




Here is a picture of Allison helping me cook. She loves to help out and she is always fascinated by me cooking!

My "Aaha" moment:
Lately, Allison has been saying that certain things are too big. The baby shoes are too big for Allison. The playhouse is too big for Daddy. I have been wondering for the past couple of weeks where she learned the concept of being too big? Well, one of Allison's favorite books is the Sesame Street book, It's Not Easy Being Big. It talks about how Big Bird is too big for some things and Elmo is too small for some things. Of course the book ends on a positive note (how to work together), but I can't believe it took me any longer than a second to realize where Allison learned the concept of things being too big!




We visited this new church on Sunday and the "cry room" is really nice. So we decided to visit that same church on Wednesday. Well, in the cry room you can see the pulpit. Allison was pointing out the boys and girls who were helping. We talked about that they were helping with the bread and the wine. Now she is on this big helping kick. She wants to help with everything - which is really nice. She goes around pointing out other people helping and even enlists herself quite often to help!

While my little one is napping (she is really in her bed sleeping) I will share a few stories that caught me by surprise this week.

The first one happened while we were all at Wal-Mart. A little boy a few checkout aisles over was fussing. We happened to walk out of the store at the same time as the little boy (who was still fussing). After we got into the truck and started driving off, Allison said, "Boy sad. (sobs, sobs, <- Allison pretending to sob). Little boy sad, Mama (boohoo, boohoo <- more pretending to sob). It caught me by surprise to hear her imitate the little boy and then put together that the little boy was sad.

The second one happened just the other day. Lately, I have been walking Ozzy at the park while Greg and Allison play on the playground (or swing for a really long time). Ozzy has a blue leash and collar. The other day we were leaving to go somewhere when Allison said, "Mama, Ozzy's blue rope." I thought that was pretty observant, plus I didn't know that she knew the word rope - I don't think I say it very much or at all!


I love the way she is putting together new sentences (or quasi-sentences) everyday. I also love to hear her acknowledge emotion and description of the events around her. There is not a day that passes where she doesn't do or say something that completely surprises me - sometimes it is hard to translate to those who weren't able to witness it for themselves.

Here is a really cute picture of Allison playing her piano. I just ran across it and decided to add it.

Two of my favorite pictures.

Here is a picture, taken probably four months ago, with Allison and her two cousins Caleb and Laramie. Everytime I see this picture it reminds me of the black and white pictures you find in your grandmother's photo album. I think it will be a picture that they will look back on!


Yes, they are playing together! Allison with her cousin Matthew. This picture was taken a few months ago!

Just some pics!

Going to the pool or lake? Nope - just going to the park. Allison wanted to take her life jacket on her ride in the truck! Of course, I couldn't buckle her up with the life jacket on - so she had to remove it, but not before I was able to snap a picture!


Allison is getting ready for church on Sunday. She is awesome at putting on her own shoes, but sometimes puts them on backwards. For whatever reason, I find this so cute!


"Hmmm?"


Normally, when I ask Allison if I can take her picture - she will say, "Cheese!" However, I couldn't get her to say cheese - so she said, "Teeth!" It worked for me!



Just a candid shot of Allison playing outside.

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Allison cooking with her Daddy!

Twenty-two months and counting

Dear Allison,
Today you are twenty-two months old. That means that twenty-two months have passed since we first welcomed you into this world. I cannot wrap my brain around that time has passed so quickly. Your father and I laid in bed last night wanting to grab you from your slumber so that you could lay next to us - just to have you with us. We, of course, talked ourselves out of it for fear of the outcome of possibly waking you up - but it was tough!
In my mind I compare the things that we did last summer with what we are doing this summer. It is amazing how much you have grown. Your father has been playing basketball in the evenings with some friends and while he is on the court we are at the playground. You are able to do everything that the playground offers and with no hesitation. As you climb the steps toward the top of the playground you count each step - one, two and then you start back again - one, two. You also like to point out the colors that you see around you.
Another one of your favorite things to do lately while we are out and about is point out the girls and the boys - this of course applies to those who are fifteen years and younger. Anyone who is older is considered a Mommy or a Da. You have such a big personality these days and are really fun to play with. You laugh often, loud and at a moments notice. You are doing really well learning the letters of the alphabet and have started using sentences these days. You will say things like, "Calliou eat apples." or "Daddy, shoes too small."
There are still a few words to decipher such as:
cookie - waffle or an actual cookie
bow - a pillow
towel - a blanket or an actual towel

Not only do you laugh at a moments notice, but you love to dance and whenever there is any type of music whatsoever playing - you will get up to dance or at the very least shake your shoulders in rhythm to the beat.
Tonight, I went to a friend's house for a "sewing party" and upon reminding your father that it was tonight that I would be gone for the evening his main concern was that you would be staying with him - he asked, "Allison doesn't have to go - does she?" He doesn't like his time with you to be taken away. Of course, while I was gone the two of you had a slumber party without the slumber!
I love you my sweet child and could not have ever imagined such a blessing being bestowed upon me as God has gifted me with you.

Love,
Mama

This is how we feel after our long wonderful weekend! Allison and I left early Saturday morning and hit the road for an almost two hour drive to visit Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins. We had a blast! We had a fun filled weekend complete with lots of playtime, swimming, meeting Molly (the cutest pup) and lots of love!. After what seemed to be a long drive we are finally home. I am thankful that we were able to spend quality time with all of our family (excluding two uncles and an aunt - they were missed as always)!

I discovered something this weekend. My brother and sister-n-law are constantly "spring cleaning" - getting rid of the "old" or too used. They clean out everything and donate to goodwill or the local dumpster several times a year. Well, when I first learned how to actually crotchet something I decided that I wanted to make my brother and sister-n-law a blanket for their upcoming wedding. I really tried hard for perfection and even made it in their favorite colors - green and blue. They have been married for 6 years now and I truly believed that they threw out my blanket after the first year. Alas, this weekend I saw it had survived amazingly through the years! I can't believe that they have kept it this long and if I never see it again it will not matter at all - I am truly touched that given their personalities - they have actually kept that blanket for this long!