2008 IN REVIEW

Filed Under Bailey's Birthday, Christmas, Cloth Diapering, Daddy, Disney Vacation, Eighteen Months, Eleven Months, Fifteen Months, Firsts, Fourteen Months, Hair, Halloween, Nineteen Months, Play, Professional Pictures, Seventeen Months, Sixteen Months, Ten Months, Thirteen Months, Twelve Months, Twenty Months | 4 Comments

We were so blessed with a wonderful year. No major catastrophes, no deaths in our families, a daughter who has stayed healthy (with the exception of a few colds) and continued to grow and learn and amaze us… Here are the highlights of our year.

January- please note her lack of hair, compared to now

February- and Bailey is walking!

March

April- happy first birthday, Bailey!

May

June

July

August

September- Jonathon and I went to Disney World

October

November

December

Happy New Year!

Loves Puzzles

Filed Under Seventeen Months, Video | 2 Comments

Bailey really likes doing those wooden puzzles and she gets a lot of comments about how good she is at putting them together. Must be because her mommy and grammy have a love for jigsaw puzzles Here is a video of her doing a puzzle a month or so ago- just got Jonathon to upload and the quality is crappy because of how he converted it but here it is-

Grant’s Farm Halloween Night

Filed Under Grandparents, Halloween, Outings, Seventeen Months, St. Louis | 3 Comments

Last weekend we went to Grant’s Farm for their Halloween event. It is every weekend in October, I think. It was $20 a car to get in, but no per-person admission. So it wasn’t too bad considering that we fit the three of us and my parents all in our car! I think it was really well done. It was cheesy kid-scary stuff. Like Bailey was not afraid of anything except this woman dressed as a witch who kept trying to talk to the kids. She was really nice, but they were scared. Anyway. We met Dave, Amy, and Kaitlynn and Christopher, Emily, Emily’s parents, and Ella there. We all rode on the tram separately and then met before the goats.

These first few pictures are from when we were waiting in line for the tram. The line started on the parking lot side of the bridge, for those of you who are familiar with GF. It was the longest I have seen the line but my guess is we waited no more than 20 minutes.

Also now you get to see what Bailey’s Halloween costume is. I know I was being funny keeping it a secret. She is going to be a frog. She loves her costume and wore it the first part of the night, before she got too hot.

Here’s a really funny one of me, when we were riding the tram. I just never have any normal pictures of me with Bailey!

Once we got into the park, we took a bunch of pictures on the bench. Obviously it’s not easy getting pictures of three toddlers. And Bailey and Ella kept poking at each other and trying to kiss.

I loved seeing my little Muffin in her frog suit. However, quite a few people commented on how “HE” was such a cute frog. I knew that was going to happen. I have to remember to glue a bow to the head of the frog suit before she wears it again.

When you walked through the park, there were things like ghosts in the trees, and at one part it looked like giant moth traps, and some version of the Scream guy. But if it was stuff your kid was going to be scared of, it would be really easy to distract them so they didn’t look up at those spots.

I tried to get a shot of Bailey and Ella kissing (again) but I was too slow. They kept doing it but I just didn’t get the timing right with the camera. They were so cute and funny. I am so glad that the girls are starting to interact with each other more. It’s fun to watch them develop their little friendships.

Bailey and Grampa- and she was no longer wearing her frog costume because she got really hot in it. It was about 70 degrees out- too warm for a busy girl to be wearing a long furry suit!

Family picture in front of the Anheuser-Busch sign/logo, but our flash didn’t light up enough to really get a good shot of it.

We went and enjoyed our free drinks and let the girls run around and play. Bailey was definitely busy the whole time. She found a Grants Farm stroller that someone had abandoned and wanted to go for rides in the stroller, then the girls decided it was more fun to push the stroller. She also danced A LOT and got so sweaty.

My mom bought Bailey one of those wand things with spinning lights in it. She was obsessed with it for about five minutes. Then it quit working, they traded it for another one and it was put together funny, so they ended up returning it. We got her some glow necklaces and a different wand for next time we go out at night.

Relaxin’

If you live in the area and you haven’t been to Grant’s Farm for their Halloween event, you have to go before they close for the season!! We had a great time and will definitely do this again next year.

First Haircut

Filed Under Firsts, Hair, Seventeen Months | 8 Comments

Bailey had her first real haircut tonight (other than me attempting to trim it). We went to Snip Its. Their regular kids haircut is $18, but we had a coupon for half price. Also, they will do bangs for only $8.99 so I have a feeling we will go there in the future when her bangs need to be cut. For that price, its not even worth messing with it myself!

The place is really cute. It is super busy/overdecorated but it definitely kept Bailey’s attention during her haircut. The girl who did her hair was really fast. She created bangs for her- like actually sectioned them off so that they are defined and separate from the rest of her hair now. I had her cut them kind of short- well they ended up a little shorter than I wanted them by the time they dried- but I wanted a significant difference between where they started and stopped so I could pull her non-bang hair up easily and not have to separate it out with a comb. If that makes sense. She also trimmed about a half inch all the way around. Bailey got a toy to hold during the haircut, and then afterwards she got a ponytail and got to choose a special ribbon.

She got to put a “ticket” in a prize machine. It is a big machine that dispenses little things like rings and plastic toys. So the kids always get a reward for getting their hair cut. She also got a first haircut certificate and a little lock of her hair in a tiny ziploc attached to it. We bought some new shampoo that they said will be easier to rinse out of her hair than the Johnsons stuff. Maybe less shampoo battles now??

This was the before picture that I took, before we got out of the car. You can see how long and scraggly her bangs were.

Look at her feet. They never stop moving, ever. I’m glad I finally captured them in motion.

She was really good during her haircut. She sat still and the woman even commented on how great she did for a first haircut. I am attributing it to all the hours she has spent having her hair styled by Mommy!

Ta-da!

I forgot to mention they gave her a balloon, too. She spent the entire car ride yelling “Bad, bad, bad” at the balloon. I have no idea why.

We also celebrated with an ice cream cone afterwards.

Not Me Monday #4 (I think)

Filed Under Not Me Monday, Seventeen Months | 10 Comments

Can’t believe it’s already that time again!

This week, I did not let the housework get so far behind that I had to enlist my husband’s help. Again.

Bailey did not watch Elmo while wearing her sunglasses.

I did not watch helplessly as my baby landed forehead-first on the sidewalk. I did not have tears in my eyes as she got a huge bruise within minutes. That is NOT her millionth forehead bruise since she started walking.

We did not keep Bailey out until almost 11:00 on Saturday night. We were not at Grant’s Farm for their Halloween party. And Bailey does not think she is the dancing queen. No, she doesn’t like to dance like a crazy girl in the midst of a bunch of costume wearing kids and tweens.

I did not turn off Jonathon’s cell phone so the alarm wouldn’t go off this morning. (Relax, it’s a weekend. He didn’t have to work!) I did not purposely make us miss our Sunday school class so I could sleep a little longer.

Bailey did not start saying “No way” to everything. She also does not call me “honey” when she wants something.

We did not finally get the hot tub filled and running today after over two years. The last time I went in the hot tub was not right before I found out I was pregnant with Bailey. We would never let it sit there unused for that long.

For more “not me’s” check out My Charming Kids!

Modeling

Filed Under Clothes, Outings, Seventeen Months | 3 Comments

Bailey likes to try on her clothes with me and we even took her to Kohl’s and got her to try on some outfits for us the other night while we were shopping. It’s hard to tell whether to buy 18 month pants (still a little long but she is almost 18 months already) or 18-24 when they are too big, but might fit her through the winter. It’s different now that she is walking and will step on the bottoms if they are too long.

The other day, she was wearing a summery outfit. I always think its going to be the last day she can wear something warm like that, so I end up taking lots of pictures. Here she is modeling her outfit, accented by our modern furniture and carpet that needs to be cleaned.

And in other news… we went to the zoo yesterday. The weather was absolutely gorgeous. Amy and Kaitlynn, and Emily and Ella were there, with Emily’s parents too. The girls really had fun together. Emily and her parents left to go out to lunch, and Amy and I walked around for another hour or so and then ate at the zoo. Bailey and Kaitlynn interacted more than I have seen before. They were so excited to play together. They kept leaning their faces together and laughing and showing each other their belly buttons.

Of course, I didn’t bring my camera since I almost always have it with me at the zoo and we have like ten hundred zoo pictures. But here is one that I stole from Emily. Bailey is in the bright pink shirt, the closest little girl to the camera.

Wordless Wednesday- In the Glider

Filed Under Books, Seventeen Months, Wordless Wednesday | 8 Comments

I promise I did not pose Bailey for these pictures. She was just so cute with all her stuff gathered in her chair with her. I had to run and grab the camera- and for once she was still in the same place when I came back! Her new favorite book is Are You My Mother?

I should also note that since I took this picture, she ATE the spout of her sippy cup. So now we are minus one sippy cup. But it was an annoying one anyway- she could bang the stopper out of it and then dump milk out to fingerpaint in. I know, I’m getting un-wordless…

Almost 18 Month Word List

Filed Under Seventeen Months, Talking | 2 Comments

Trying to keep up with Bailey’s vocabulary- she is learning about five new words a day right now and it is so fun to hear what she says! She’s no longer just repeating new words if we say “Bailey, can you say ball?” or whatever- she is naming new things on her own now. Here is her current vocab, at least what I can think of right now- feel free to not bore yourself with this if you don’t care, but I want it to be a record for me until I manage to get the baby book off the shelf and update!

mama
dada
up
more (mouhrrrrr)
yes -always whispered
no
please (puh puh puh)
go
moo
nay nay -horse
book (buh)
home (homo)
bird (birrr)
ssss -what does a snake say?
roarrrrr -what does a lion say?
owl (owwullll)
hi
fish
cheese (cheesh)
animal (me mi mo)
poop
slide (zide)
Dora (duh duh)
ah ah ah -what does a monkey say?
ball (baw)
toe
head
arm (ahm)
quack quack (duck duck)
tweet tweet (doot doot)
juice (joosh)
red
blue (boo) she can identify blue things but does not know any other colors
green (geen) at lights she now yells “Geen go! Go! Geen!”
dog (daw)
hello (howwo)
Elmo (Emmo)
meow (mee-o)
mom -instead of mama sometimes, so sad
papa -her great grandpa
help (hep)
OH NO
bad bad bad
Addie -said today for her friend Addison
Tiny (Nee) great grandparents dog
sock (sah)
be bo -our word for belly button, from a Sandra Boynton book
knee
eye
nose (no)
mouth (muh)
ear
frog (fe ra guh) said in three whole syllables
Amen (ahmee)
love you (uvoooo)

Pictures from Grant’s Farm and Lone Elk

Filed Under Friends, Outings, Seventeen Months, St. Louis | 2 Comments

These pictures are from last weekend… we went to Grant’s Farm on what we thought might be the last really warm day of the year. Well, we were wrong and we got a few more good ones this week! We met some friends up there (my friend Renee–wearing green and her husband, SIL, and nephew) and hung out with them for a while.

About two minutes after we left GF, Bailey fell asleep in the car. We knew it would ruin her nap since she would sleep the whole way home- then it would be just enough that she wouldn’t need to go back to sleep (plus it was already like 4 p.m.) so we decided to go drive through Lone Elk Park to kill some time. Apparently it’s elk mating season. There were signs warning us to be careful. I was excited because I knew we would see animals! Here is the first elk we saw.

This guy was really close to the car

We also saw a bunch of buffalo/bison which are my favorite! They were kind of far away, and I didn’t want to get out of the car because of the whole elk mating season thing. I think next spring, we are going to bring a picnic and do some hiking there. I remember that there are some trails and picnic tables. But most people just drive through and maybe stop for a picture or two.

After we got home, Bailey woke up and played in her Cozy Coupe in our garage. Every time we walk past it, she has a huge meltdown if she can’t go for a ride.

Wordless Wednesday- My Birthday

Filed Under Birthdays, Family, Seventeen Months | 5 Comments

Since we have had these pictures in our camera for a few weeks now I thought I would share! These are from my birthday celebration with my family.

About My Daughter- 17 Months

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We are shockingly close to one and a half years, here. I am so proud of my little girl that my heart could just burst. I am also so incredibly sad that all these little times together are slipping away. One of these days, she will not need me as her favorite play mate. I know that is the goal here, but I can’t imagine it not being just Mommy and Muffie.

This kid, she loves to read. Honestly, she reads like no child I have ever seen before. She reads anywhere she can. She will read anything you give her. (Reminds me of myself, reading the back of the cereal boxes at breakfast when there is nothing else around). Her other love is physical activity. Climbing, running, jumping, anything. She is really a good jumper now and likes to hop across the room. A pediatrician friend of mine was shocked by her jumping ability last time she saw her. She also likes to crouch down like a frog and then jump up. We are taking a motor skills class and Bailey loves the gross motor activities but doesn’t really want to stand or sit at a table for the fine motor stuff.

The vocabulary is expanding daily. She is becoming a monkey and will repeat a lot of things we ask her to. She now says “Elmo” instead of just “Mo”. I know that’s a small step but I am already imagining all her cute pronunciations slipping away. She can name a lot of her favorite foods, but calls almost every drink juice (or Joosh, as she says). We went to the park yesterday and she likes to slide so much now. She says “Za” for slide. I know, it’s not close, but she’s trying.

Bailey loves to wear only one shoe. She will ask for help to put one shoe on, or in the church nursery she likes to take just one shoe off. It must feel interesting or something, because she has done that for a few months. Maybe she likes the unbalanced feeling when she walks… that is the only thing I can think of! She is also starting to hold food herself, like corn on the cob and apples. She thinks she is really big when she eats stuff like that. She also hates to get her hands messy, like playing in sand or play-doh. Wonder where she gets that from? I am kind of an OCD hand washer!

She loves to say her prayers before bedtime. it’s just in the last month or so that she has started caring. Now when we are in her rocking chair she will fold her hands (or help me to fold mine) and bow her head. It amazes me that the child who can never sit still for anything, can sit still for this!

I love this little girl more than life. What did I do without her for 26 years?

I think this picture captures her so well- with the one shoe on, reading in a laundry basket!

Longest Nap Ever

Filed Under Seventeen Months, Sleep | 4 Comments

Bailey slept today from 1:15 to about 4:45. I know some of you have kids who do that regularly, but Bailey has always been a good night sleeper and crappy napper. It was amazing to have a THREE HOUR BREAK this afternoon!

Magic House Free Admission Night

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We went to the Magic House last Friday night because it was free admission. I will NEVER do that again. We have taken Bailey there a few times before and she liked it- and they raised the prices (it’s now only free for kids UNDER one, whereas before it was free for kids under two)- so we thought this would be a good chance to go check it out again before we buy a membership. Well, it was so busy. It was just horrible. Normally during the day, it’s a fairly nice, mom and kid type crowd. Well, all the dirties and everyone else came out of the woodwork for the free night. You know, parents who scream and don’t watch their kids? The families who normally don’t go to these events and have no idea how to behave? Yeah, they were all there.

We stayed about an hour or so and then we ended up leaving and going over to my grandparents house. We decided to definitely get the membership, because Bailey had so much fun. She could play in the Little Bit of Magic (kids under 6 years old) area for about 12 hours if we let her. And there are plenty of opportunities for climbing and sliding and crawling, as well as educational/science-y things. I think we are going to get just the basic $60 membership and keep doing our Parents as Teachers classes instead of Magic House classes. Otherwise we would have to pay for the $120 membership PLUS the price of the classes and that seems like a lot right now.

Here are some pics of the Bug from Friday night. You can click on them to enlarge.

Red Light, Green Light

Filed Under Seventeen Months, Talking | 2 Comments

Something fun that my mom taught Bailey- when she sees a traffic light, she yells “GO GO GO!!!” She used to yell it whether we were approaching a red light or a green light. We have had lots of talks about “Stop Dogs Stop, the light is red” and “Go dogs go, it’s green ahead”* and she finally knows the difference. Now I’m not saying that she could pick out red and green in another situation, but when it comes to lights she knows the difference. If we’re sitting at a red light she watches for it to change. As soon as it changes to green, she starts yelling at me to go.

Also, I am not sure who taught her this but when we go down hills or around a corner she says “Weeeeee! Weeeeeeeee!” My mom says she didn’t teach her, my friend Faith said Bailey did it in the car with her but she didn’t teach her, and it wasn’t me or Jonathan. So that leaves… nobody. Is it possible that she came up with it on her own?

One more random thing. Today Bailey walked into a spider web for the first time, at the park. I personally HATE spider webs especially touching my face, but she laughed out loud. Then she proceeded to tear down the rest of the web with her bare hands. Ick.

* From the book “Go Dog Go” by P.D. Eastman- it’s one of her favorites.

Wordless Wednesday- Laundry and Reading

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Bailey came with me to switch our laundry to the dryer (we have SO much laundry that we are behind on from vacation!!) and when I turned around she was like this- so I ran for the camera-