We had a wonderful and relaxing Thanksgiving this year thanks to Trisha and the Halverson girls and Nana. We had the BEST turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, noodles, ham, green bean casserole (you're my hero Lindsey) and 9 pies! This year we ate at Torrie Jo's house in Eltopia since she officially has the biggest kitchen out of everyone. The kids mostly played on the Wii and Lauren chased Nana around all afternoon.
This year I am thankful for:
* My health and the health of my husband and baby girl (even though we have had a rough year of colds and sniffles...gotta love daycare)
* My marriage...we all know it was a rough year on us and I FINALLY feel like we are on track and WILL make it
* My parents...for being the BEST parents and more importantly the BEST grandparents a little girl could ask for
* Travis' family for being so supportive of us and helping us out in so many ways
* Pam and Steve for allowing us to come and visit them in South Carolina when I desperately needed to get away from the stuff going on here
And most importantly, I am thankful that I am alive and able to wake up each day with my husband and our darling little Lauren. "We may not have it together, but together we have it ALL".
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
A Year and a Half Ago...
A year and a half ago I gave birth to the most beautiful baby girl in the entire world. I remember being so scared about not knowing what to do and how to be a mother...but it seemed to fall into place naturally. It has been a difficult year and a half, but I wouldn't trade it for anything because this little girl has changed my life and the lives of the people around her in so many ways.
A year and a half ago seems like a lifetime ago when I stop to think about all that we've been through since that wonderful day. We have survived fevers, ear infections, teething, crawling, walking, falling down, the flu, and many other illnesses...and we've stuck by each other.
Dear Lauren,
We could not have predicted what an adorable little girl you would turn out to be...though we hoped you'd turn out that way. You are the sweetest and smartest little girl I have ever known. I love waking up in the morning to your talking jibberish. I love the hugs and kisses I get from you just because you love me. I love that you are so curious about all the things around you. I love that you can grab a book and come and sit on my lap and we can read together. I love that you are so friendly and say hi and bye to any and everyone. I love that you repeat just about anything Daddy and I say (though we need to watch what we say a little more). I love that you are independent (even though it makes me a little nuts sometimes). I love that you can go anywhere and do anything and be so happy about it. I love that you make your Daddy and me laugh all the time. I love that you make your Daddy worry (paybacks babe). I love that when I get home from work at night you meet me at the door with a big hug and a kiss. I love listening to you laugh, scream and squeal when you are being tickled. I love watching you sleep at night.
But most of all, I love that you are MINE! I love you more than you will ever know, but I will continue to tell you EVERY day. You are my little girl and you always will be. I can't believe you are already 18 months old...the time has flown by. Please always know how special you are and how much you are loved.
Love,
Mommy :)
Saturday, October 10, 2009
The Morning Ritual
I know this may not excite some of you, but our morning routine here has been absolutely priceless the past few weeks. Daddy wakes up at 5:30 and leaves Lauren and I to sleep a little longer while he gets ready for work. Lauren wakes up at 6:30 and helps Daddy feed Jock while I try to drag my tired butt out of bed. Lauren gives Daddy BIG hugs and a kiss and waves goodbye...I get a kiss from Daddy too. Mommy changes Lauren's diaper and puts her in her high chair to eat breakfast (usually a banana and either a piece of french toast or a blueberry waffle) so Mommy can get Lauren's lunch ready to take to daycare. After breakfast, Lauren has a sippy cup of milk (soy, of course, since we are allergic to milk) and enjoys an episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Imagination Movers (which she boogies down to) while Mommy gets ready for work. Then Mommy changes Lauren's diaper again, puts her clothes on her and distracts her with the task of putting on her shoes so Mommy can do her hair (which she HATES). We put on the shoes and wash the face off and Mommy says "let me see my beautiful girl!" and Lauren smiles and JUMPS into my arms.
We go into the dining room and pack our lunches up (Lauren has a fancy lunch box and a back pack now) and Lauren blows kisses to Jock in his kennel. We put our jackets on and head to the back door. My daughter cannot simply walk outside...she LEAPS from inside the house to outside and yells "Hi!"...and slams the door shut.
She loves the world and it shows in her personality which I am so lucky to get to to see every morning and though sometimes I feel stressed and rushed in the morning, I wouldn't have it any other way.
We go into the dining room and pack our lunches up (Lauren has a fancy lunch box and a back pack now) and Lauren blows kisses to Jock in his kennel. We put our jackets on and head to the back door. My daughter cannot simply walk outside...she LEAPS from inside the house to outside and yells "Hi!"...and slams the door shut.
She loves the world and it shows in her personality which I am so lucky to get to to see every morning and though sometimes I feel stressed and rushed in the morning, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Silly Lauren
Lauren has been cracking us up lately...
Last Saturday night, Kylee came and stayed the night with Lauren and they had a sleepover in the living room. I made them a bed on the floor and they fell asleep watching Sleeping Beauty. In the middle of the night, Travis and I were awakened by Miss Lauren standing next to our bed wanting to crawl in with us. She didn't even really make a peep...it was so funny!
That same night that Kylee stayed the night, the girls took a tubby together. I went in to wash Lauren's hair and Kylee was teaching Lauren what a duck says. She was doing this really funny Donald Duck impression (without saying anything, just making the noise he makes) and Lauren kept copying her. Now she does it all the time! Last night I was getting her tubby ready and as she was throwing her toys in, she picked up her rubber ducky, looked at it straight in the face, made the duck noise Kylee had taught her, and threw it in the tub! Hysterical!
I was getting ready for work this morning and Lauren was walking around saying "no no no no no no no no no" just randomly. When I dropped her off at daycare this morning, they were listening to a song that went "no no no no no, yes yes yes yes yes" over and over and over. Hmmmmm...wonder where she got it from?
Last Saturday night, Kylee came and stayed the night with Lauren and they had a sleepover in the living room. I made them a bed on the floor and they fell asleep watching Sleeping Beauty. In the middle of the night, Travis and I were awakened by Miss Lauren standing next to our bed wanting to crawl in with us. She didn't even really make a peep...it was so funny!
That same night that Kylee stayed the night, the girls took a tubby together. I went in to wash Lauren's hair and Kylee was teaching Lauren what a duck says. She was doing this really funny Donald Duck impression (without saying anything, just making the noise he makes) and Lauren kept copying her. Now she does it all the time! Last night I was getting her tubby ready and as she was throwing her toys in, she picked up her rubber ducky, looked at it straight in the face, made the duck noise Kylee had taught her, and threw it in the tub! Hysterical!
I was getting ready for work this morning and Lauren was walking around saying "no no no no no no no no no" just randomly. When I dropped her off at daycare this morning, they were listening to a song that went "no no no no no, yes yes yes yes yes" over and over and over. Hmmmmm...wonder where she got it from?
More South Carolina...from Lauren
Friday we spent the day hanging out around the house getting ready for the BBQ we were having that night. I got to go swimming with Poppy and played on the steps of the pool with Nanny.
All of Nanny and Poppy's friends came over later on and we pigged out! Poppy made the best ribs we'd EVER eaten...yummy stuff! We had ribs, corn on the cob, some tasty rice (which Mommy still wants the recipe for), beans, and lot's of other good stuff. The adults drank Funky Monkeys and all I got was some lousy Gatorade...darn! After dinner we all went swimming (in the dark) but there were lights on around the pool. We were having a lot of fun until the bats started dive-bombing the pool and Nanny and Poppy thought we should get out. Mommy got me in my jam-jams and Brian (Nanny and Poppy's friend) rocked me to sleep (it only took about 2 minutes).
On Saturday I was kind-of sad because I knew I was going to have to say good-bye to Nanny and Poppy. Mommy packed suitcases all morning and I hung out with Nanny. We played outside in the swing and hung out on the porch. Here are some pictures of me being silly!
All the chairs broke so I had to sit on top of the table...
Giving the alligator kisses...
Giving Nanny loves...
Dear Nanny and Poppy,
We had so much fun visiting South Carolina! Thank you so much for all the goodies you bought me and Mommy and for letting us stay with you. You took us to some very pretty places...and I really enjoyed the zoo. I can't wait to come visit you again!
Love you!
Lauren
All of Nanny and Poppy's friends came over later on and we pigged out! Poppy made the best ribs we'd EVER eaten...yummy stuff! We had ribs, corn on the cob, some tasty rice (which Mommy still wants the recipe for), beans, and lot's of other good stuff. The adults drank Funky Monkeys and all I got was some lousy Gatorade...darn! After dinner we all went swimming (in the dark) but there were lights on around the pool. We were having a lot of fun until the bats started dive-bombing the pool and Nanny and Poppy thought we should get out. Mommy got me in my jam-jams and Brian (Nanny and Poppy's friend) rocked me to sleep (it only took about 2 minutes).
On Saturday I was kind-of sad because I knew I was going to have to say good-bye to Nanny and Poppy. Mommy packed suitcases all morning and I hung out with Nanny. We played outside in the swing and hung out on the porch. Here are some pictures of me being silly!
All the chairs broke so I had to sit on top of the table...
Giving the alligator kisses...
Giving Nanny loves...Dear Nanny and Poppy,
We had so much fun visiting South Carolina! Thank you so much for all the goodies you bought me and Mommy and for letting us stay with you. You took us to some very pretty places...and I really enjoyed the zoo. I can't wait to come visit you again!
Love you!
Lauren
Sunday, August 16, 2009
South Carolina
On July 8th, Lauren and I flew to S. Carolina to visit Nanny and Poppy (Travis' parents). We had so much fun and even thought we might just stay there because we loved it! Travis took us to Portland to catch our plane and we were able to have a wonderful dinner with Tyler and Katie at Olive Garden before we left. Our plane didn't leave until 10:30 p.m. so we had some time to kill. Lauren was an excellent passenger (considering she was in a confined space and was sitting on my lap)! She fell asleep at take-off (literally closed her eyes and went to sleep as we were going down the runway) and woke up when we landed 6 hours later in Charlotte, NC. Nanny and Poppy were there waiting for us and Lauren was so happy to see them.
I spent most of that first day sleeping since I was not only jet lagged but thrown off completely by the time change. Pam made a wonderful dinner for us, a pork roast and green beans and bacon in the crock pot (yummy) and we settled in for the evening.
Friday we spent the day shopping and enjoying the sunshine. The weather was crazy hot down there, but the humidity was so nice. I felt like I got facials every day.
Saturday we went to the zoo! It was hot dog day at the zoo and apparently ALL of Greenville wanted hot dogs that day because the zoo was packed! I've never seen so many people stand in line to get a hot dog in my life! Lauren was amazed by the animals and blew every single one of them kisses. She loved the elephants and the monkeys and the giraffes the most. She even got to feed a goat!
Nanny and Lauren checking out the elephants!
The next day, Nanny and Poppy took us to Falls Park. It was the most beautiful park I had ever seen. There was a waterfall right smack dab in the middle of it and people were playing in it and dogs were running around and it was just gorgeous! The other attraction at Falls Park is the pedestrian suspension bridge that you walk across to get from one side of the park to another. It was pretty cool but also a little creepy since you could feel it move slightly when you walked across it.
We walked across the bridge and around the other side of the park and then back across a different little bridge and we stumbled upon a kids water play area. There were so many little one's running around and there was water shooting up out of the ground...it was so cool. Nanny took Lauren by the hand and they went and explored and Lauren was in heaven.
After we left the water play area, we sat down at a restaurant and enjoyed a nice cold beer...well, Steve, Pam and I did. Lauren enjoyed a nice cold glass of water and watched the birds run around and beg for food. Then we walked down the hill and went to the Reedy River and Lauren and Poppy went and played in the middle of it.
On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we didn't do much other than shop and hang out by the pool (which was fine by me) and I loved it!
Lauren eating a banana for breakfast (she wanted one almost every morning)...
Lauren eating blueberries for a morning snack (which she also wanted most mornings)...
Lauren playing with bubbles that Nanny was blowing for her...
On Thursday evening we went to downtown Greenville to "Downtown Alive" and listened to an awesome band. We drank a few beers, danced, laughed at the little boys chasing Lauren around and even ate some Mexican food for dinner. It was so much fun and Lauren had a blast dancing with her Poppy!
Showing off her belly...
More to come tomorrow...
I spent most of that first day sleeping since I was not only jet lagged but thrown off completely by the time change. Pam made a wonderful dinner for us, a pork roast and green beans and bacon in the crock pot (yummy) and we settled in for the evening.
Friday we spent the day shopping and enjoying the sunshine. The weather was crazy hot down there, but the humidity was so nice. I felt like I got facials every day.
Saturday we went to the zoo! It was hot dog day at the zoo and apparently ALL of Greenville wanted hot dogs that day because the zoo was packed! I've never seen so many people stand in line to get a hot dog in my life! Lauren was amazed by the animals and blew every single one of them kisses. She loved the elephants and the monkeys and the giraffes the most. She even got to feed a goat!
Nanny and Lauren checking out the elephants!
The next day, Nanny and Poppy took us to Falls Park. It was the most beautiful park I had ever seen. There was a waterfall right smack dab in the middle of it and people were playing in it and dogs were running around and it was just gorgeous! The other attraction at Falls Park is the pedestrian suspension bridge that you walk across to get from one side of the park to another. It was pretty cool but also a little creepy since you could feel it move slightly when you walked across it.
We walked across the bridge and around the other side of the park and then back across a different little bridge and we stumbled upon a kids water play area. There were so many little one's running around and there was water shooting up out of the ground...it was so cool. Nanny took Lauren by the hand and they went and explored and Lauren was in heaven.
After we left the water play area, we sat down at a restaurant and enjoyed a nice cold beer...well, Steve, Pam and I did. Lauren enjoyed a nice cold glass of water and watched the birds run around and beg for food. Then we walked down the hill and went to the Reedy River and Lauren and Poppy went and played in the middle of it.
On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we didn't do much other than shop and hang out by the pool (which was fine by me) and I loved it!
Lauren eating a banana for breakfast (she wanted one almost every morning)...
Lauren eating blueberries for a morning snack (which she also wanted most mornings)...
Lauren playing with bubbles that Nanny was blowing for her...On Thursday evening we went to downtown Greenville to "Downtown Alive" and listened to an awesome band. We drank a few beers, danced, laughed at the little boys chasing Lauren around and even ate some Mexican food for dinner. It was so much fun and Lauren had a blast dancing with her Poppy!
Showing off her belly...More to come tomorrow...
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
My Big 30th Birthday...that was not so fun!
Lauren and I went to visit the family in Coeur d'Alene over the weekend to spend my 30th birthday on the lake and have a bit of a vacation together. We went up Thursday evening after I got off work and we made it there by around 9:30. Of course Lauren had slept almost the entire way so when we finally got to Kelli and Barry's house, she was wide awake and ready to entertain. We tried to stay awake and wait for Papa Mike to get there, but by midnight we were exhausted.
Friday afternoon my Dad and I and Lauren ventured off to Cabela's in Post Falls. Lauren was really into checking out the fish in the big aquarium, but was not too sure about the stuffed bears and deer and elk in the middle of the store. Dad and I thought they were pretty cool though.
Brandon and Angela and I decided to got to the casino on Friday night, so Brandon's friend Austin met up with us and we rode the free bus from the parking lot at the movie theater. We had so much fun! Angela and I played the penny machines for a while and then decided to give up and go drink instead. We caught the bus home around 2:30 and called my Dad to come pick us up at 3 a.m.!
On Saturday (the 4th of July and my 30th birthday) we headed out to the store to get food and snacks for the boat, since we were going to be out there for a while. Barry was able to get a great deal on a boat slip in the Silver Bay Marina so that we could be on the boat to watch the fireworks and not have to load it back on to the trailer later. We were out on the boat for a few hours and I was starting to feel really light headed and tired, so I packed up Lauren and we headed to the house to cool off for a bit.
We went to go have dinner around 7 at Tony's on the lake and when we got there I was so nauseaus and dizzy that I had to leave the restaurant and go lay in the car while everyone ate. I didn't make it too long before I text my Dad and said we had to go. I ended up sleeping all night and missed the fireworks.
Woke up Sunday morning and was feeling pretty good. Had some strawberry shortcake for breakfast (which was supposed to be my b-day dessert) and got ready to hit the road. On the drive home, I started feeling ill again and had to pull over in Ritzville to throw up. Needless to say, by the time I got home I was wanting to die.
All is better now and Lauren and I are headed to South Carolina tomorrow!
Friday afternoon my Dad and I and Lauren ventured off to Cabela's in Post Falls. Lauren was really into checking out the fish in the big aquarium, but was not too sure about the stuffed bears and deer and elk in the middle of the store. Dad and I thought they were pretty cool though.
Brandon and Angela and I decided to got to the casino on Friday night, so Brandon's friend Austin met up with us and we rode the free bus from the parking lot at the movie theater. We had so much fun! Angela and I played the penny machines for a while and then decided to give up and go drink instead. We caught the bus home around 2:30 and called my Dad to come pick us up at 3 a.m.!
On Saturday (the 4th of July and my 30th birthday) we headed out to the store to get food and snacks for the boat, since we were going to be out there for a while. Barry was able to get a great deal on a boat slip in the Silver Bay Marina so that we could be on the boat to watch the fireworks and not have to load it back on to the trailer later. We were out on the boat for a few hours and I was starting to feel really light headed and tired, so I packed up Lauren and we headed to the house to cool off for a bit.
We went to go have dinner around 7 at Tony's on the lake and when we got there I was so nauseaus and dizzy that I had to leave the restaurant and go lay in the car while everyone ate. I didn't make it too long before I text my Dad and said we had to go. I ended up sleeping all night and missed the fireworks.
Woke up Sunday morning and was feeling pretty good. Had some strawberry shortcake for breakfast (which was supposed to be my b-day dessert) and got ready to hit the road. On the drive home, I started feeling ill again and had to pull over in Ritzville to throw up. Needless to say, by the time I got home I was wanting to die.
All is better now and Lauren and I are headed to South Carolina tomorrow!
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