Week in Pictures May 19-25

Monday:

Stella, once again didn't sleep good the night before. I checked her gums and yep, another tooth. That's the second one in a week, number 4. 

It was a little cool out at the beginning of the day and also overcast. Since it had rained Sunday, I thought I'd take Stella to the playground. Now that she's walking, there's more for her to do at it instead of just swing.

She was a little hesitant about the slide. She definitely preferred it when I slid next to her or even put her in my lap. 

 

Right after we got to the park, the sun came out and it got hot-quick. We were both in pants and I couldn't wait to get home to change. It's been cool in the mornings and warm in the afternoons but cooking back off again at night. We are eating all meals outside on the porch and I just got the fan out yesterday. Wednesday and Thursday there was a wonderful breeze blowing. 

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Tuesday:

We gave you a whole baby dill pickle to see how you'd react. You loved it!  Here you are with it. You walked around with it for about an hour just gnawing on it.

Well, I knew it would probably happen at some point and now it has. You fell off the bed. Actually, you walked off the bed. I was folding clothes at the foot of the bed and you were sitting there in the middle. I looked down for just a second and looked up to see you with one leg in mid air and the other on the bed. I raced to you only to see you hit the hardwood with your head. You screamed like you've never screamed before.  My heart just broke hearing and seeing you so upset.  Thankfully, you fell feet first instead of head first. That way, at least your feet/body caught you before your head banged the floor. It immediately goose-egged and turned bright red. I put some stuff on it to help with bruising and swelling and it really helped. You could only slightly tell something happened.

We took a shower together that afternoon because we were both so gross. When you got out, you walked over to the mirror on the door. You peed and then tried to walk and you slipped in it and fell.  You were holding something afterwards and tried to walk again before I could dry up the pee and your feet and you fell again, this time hitting your mouth with whatever you were holding. You cried of course, and laid your mouth on my arm/shoulder. When you lifted up, I had blood on me. Somehow you'd cut your gum. Needless to say, Tuesday was not a good afternoon for you.  I was glad when it was over and I'm sure you were too.

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Wednesday: 

We went back to the park this morning for a play date with Tom and Alice. They had never been to this park and they seemed to enjoy it. Tom, who's 4, really looked out for Stella. He's a pro at this since Alice is his younger sister.

Stella walked up to a boy who was probably 4 and he grabbed her arm and started shaking it. I wasn't sure what was happening but as he shook, he said, "Nice to meet you!" Then he ran over to his Mom and hugged her. She told him he did a great job. I guess that was something new they were working on. So cute and sweet.

After the park, we ran into Publix for a quick trip. She sat in the actual seat part for a little but then wanted to be held. On the way out I put her in the basket which she really seemed to enjoy. Then as we were returning our cart, a fire truck drove through the parking lot. I asked her what it was and she started pointing at it. As it drove by she followed it with her finger and its horn blew. She was so excited. 

I was craving a nice, big, homemade sandwich so I picked up ham, turkey, roast beef, salami & cheese. Stella fell asleep before we were barely out of he parking lot. I carried her to bed and made a classic summer lunch: sandwich, dill pickles, Pirates Booty and watermelon. It was washed down with a blackberry Izze. I sat on the porch and read a magazine. I could hear the leaves rustle in the breeze, birds chirping, the cars drive by on the main road and the occasional train about a 1/2 mile away. It was bliss. Stella and I eat almost every meal together. I love it, but it's also nice not to have to fuss over her. 

We headed up to the Marietta Library for a baby sign language class, but the lady offering it turned out to be sick and couldn't make it. We left and stopped by to see Daddy at work. All the girls went crazy over you, like always. 

Wednesday, after Donald got home we went outside to play while he finished getting everything together for the pool. Stella decided to share her snacks with Bandit. Bandit didn't turn down this opportunity to be hand fed.

At one point during this feeding frenzy, she tried to birdie fed him, as in stick Cheerios to her tongue, then stick out her tongue and either let B lick them off and out of her mouth or try to spit them in his mouth. Yeah, proud mama moment there. Yuck, yuck, yuck! Sadly, I couldn't get a picture of this sweet yuckiness.

My little froggy. 

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Thursday:

Aunt Ginger made this Minnie Mouse pillowcase type dress for Stella. She looked so cute prancing around the Mableton Farmer's Market in it on Thursday. 

It took me 45 minutes to be able to get this sleeping beauty. She has been fighting me SO HARD this week about naps and bedtime. 

Just hanging on the couch after nappy time watching The Chew while Mommy folds towels.

I guess since you've been hand feeding B, he felt like being nice and he actually let you sit on him horsey-style for a few seconds in the house. I was shocked.

My little strawberry shortcake playing in the strawberries. 

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Friday:

This girl can reach the bottom shelf of her books. She pulls them all down & flips through them. Then she'll bring some over for me to read to her. It's one of her favorite things this week.

Daddy left his new golfing hat at home and Stella decided to play with it.  She didn't care for it on frontwards, but preferred it on backwards.

This week and part of last, she actually let the hat stay on for the most part. She'll pull it off occasionally but she's a lot less bothered by it. However, she knows when bows or clips are in & HAS to pull them out. She also insists on rubbing her hands in her hair while eating. Needless to say, she's had a bath everyday for a week or two. We were still doing two or three times a week. 

Testing the water. It was fresh but warmed up quickly. 

Look at that belly!

You want to tug on all of the herbs now that you see Mommy picking them along with the other fruit and veggies. Our blackberries and blueberries are almost ready and I'll know you'll be snagging them and turning shades of purple almost everyday.

I pushed her for a while in the shade. She never made a peep. 

When I saw her like this I thought she was surely asleep, but nope. 

She's been flat out refusing the afternoon naps and fighting the morning one. I'm really not ready for her to go to one nap a day. I didn't even try to get her to go down this afternoon.  Of course, she was exhausted, but fell asleep nursing at bedtime which hasn't happened in quite some time. 

You've been in quite the dancing mood this week. I turned on the 60's and 70's oldies station on Pandora. The first song to play was "Pretty Woman." You just bounced all over the yard. "My Girl" was next. What a perfect and appropriate start.

You've started trying to slurp up the pool and bath water. You think it's so funny when I get on to you so you do it over and over again.  I do think it's funny, but I also think it's gross. You aren't picking up on that point though.

You pooped in your bathing suit so I hosed you off outside. You didn't mind so I sprayed you with the nozzle and you thought it was hilarious.  

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Saturday:

We drove over to Lake Wedowee that morning to be with Donald's family. Stella had her first plum and adored it. 

I took you tubing with me. You sat in my lap with your lips pursed and never changed your facial expression. We started bouncing and you continued with the most indifferent look on your face.  I was laughing and occasionally screaming, but you never looked at me or anything. After tubing for about 6-7 minutes, you finally decided you'd had enough and just started screaming.I think you may have been super scared and just didn't know what to do. Who knows? You rode with Daddy in the boat after that.  You loved splashing in the water in your float. We blew it up and you'd just float around and occasionally kick. We went back out on Sunday and you borrowed Ivy's life vest. You liked it a lot more.  You had so much fun playing with Ivy over the weekend. Y'all both share and give hugs and kisses. It's so sweet.

We were going to stay at the lake until Monday since it was Memorial Day, but the AC went out Friday and neither me, Daddy or you slept good Saturday night. Since we had stuff to do to prepare for Daddy being out of town and us going to Athens, we just decided to go ahead and head back Sunday night after dinner. You devoured a TON of fried catfish and corn.  I ate way too much too. I bathed you after dinner, we said our goodbyes and loaded you into the car. You were asleep within a few minutes and didn't even wake up when I took you out of your car seat when we got home.

New this week:

*You are turning into my little helper. You helped me load the washer and dryer several times this week.

*I took you out to get the mail Monday and you saw the little girl from next door. You really wanted to see her and even though you were barefoot, you walked down the street to see her.  You looked like a poor throw away child as Grammy calls it. You just had on a diaper and a shirt. At least this time you had on a shirt. The first time you met her, you just had on a diaper and she asked why you were naked.

*You try to feed the CPK with the bottle. Instead of placing it at her lips though, you bang it on her head. It's pretty funny.  You sometimes suck on the bottle and then share with her.

*You are starting to really want to share your food with B. 

*If we are up in the morning when Daddy leaves, you follow him out of the door. You like to stand on the porch right at the steps and wait for him to leave and wave bye-bye.

*You've started plopping down to cry and poke out your lip when you don't get your way or if you think I'm leaving you.

*I've started calling you Linus because you drag your blankets around with you while you suck your thumb.

*You really, truly scared me the other day. I was sitting on the floor in your room and you walked up behind me and threw yourself on my back while yelling, 'Yaaahhhhh!"  I turned around to see you with the camel in your hands and grinning like crazy.  

*You just tug on my shirt or pull it up or out whenever you want to nurse now. And I have to have both available so you can go back and forth while in my lap.

*Wednesday, I noticed it looked like you were getting ready to poop so I grabbed you and put you on the potty. You pooped and peed in it. I was very happy.  You sat on it for a little afterwards and I thought you were done. You were not. You pooped on the living room floor right before crossing the threshold into the kitchen and peed at the back door. Yes, it's a work in progress.

*You try to put my shoes and slippers on my stepping on top of them. You really are watching me all the time! 

52 Project: week 21

She loves "helping" me in the garden. She wants to pick the herbs, the lettuce, the berries. I can't wait until our summer garden is in. She'll be walking around constantly plucking tomatoes from our nine plants. I sure hope she really like tomatoes since Donald doesnt like them. 

52 Project; week 20

This girl cannot get enough strawberries. She actually crouches down and pushes the leaves aside to find them. She's knows to only pick the red ones. Our blueberries and blackberries will be ready soon and I'm sure she help me find the very best ones. 

Week in Pictures May 12-18

I have taken a ton of photos this week. Some weeks I may snap 2 or 3, other weeks I just can't stop. That was this week. 

Monday we had the Garden Club plant auction and social.  I snapped these two goofing off.  Stella is really into playing with her belly and belly button and likes to find yours. 

We went shopping at Goodwill. I was attempting to find her some sandals and play clothes , pj's and onesies. I didn't find anything for her, but I got a few "new" shirts. 

We went to K-mart afterwards and found just what I was looking for. 3 pairs of shorts and 3 shirts. All interchangable and 2 for $5. Plus the cutest pair of sandals. 

As you can see, our strawberry crop is good. Stella loves all berries and we have a ton of blooms on our blackberry bushes and bunches of little green blueberries ripening. I hope that by her being able to pick something and eat it fresh from the garden, she'll have a healthy and varied appetite. I'm also hoping she really, really loves tomatoes because I planted eight of them and Donald can't stand them. All different shapes and colors to peak her interest. 

As I picked these strawberries, I'd chuck the yucky ones aside. We enjoyed these, then 30 or so minutes later I see her walking around the yard, digging through the grass to eat the disposed ones. Nice!

Thursday we went to Costco. I had not been in a while so we really had to stock up. It was quite chilly out. We had on jeans and jackets. Crazy Spring weather. At least we were prepared for the refrigerated section of the store. 

We got back and I put Stella in her bouncy toy to play so I could put things away. I threw some puffs in the cup and she bounced like crazy and knocked some out. Later, after I got her out, she decided to crawl underneath and eat the leftovers. 

At the beginning of the week she picked up food from the floor. I assumed she was going to put it in her mouth. Instead, she walked over to the cabinet the trashcan is in , opened it and threw it over the top. I was shocked and excited. I asked her to pick something else up to throw away and she did. Later that night we practiced putting her toys away in the bedroom. She did pretty good helping me. 

She's been fighting naps and bedtime hard this week. Well, not necessarily the actual nap, just going down for it. She's actually slept a lot this week, it's just a struggle to get her to do so.

Well, she's truly discovered the doggy door on the porch. If I let her she would follow Bandit out of it. It would be bad since there's three steps and concrete at the bottom. I have to keep the dog gate up on the back door if I leave it open. 

Our neighbor's puppy, Sharpie is finally warming up to us. Stella loves him. He runs up to the fence and barks and she squeals in delight and runs to the fence to greet him.

Right after this was taken, Stella decided even though it was very windy and chilly out that it was an appropriate time to crawl in the pool. With her clothes and shoes on. 

This kid. She's actually crouching down looking for strawberries. 

Yesterday we worked outside. I just can't get over her cuteness in these overalls.  Ugh, love them.

She's learning to pet and pat B gently instead of banging on him.

But then she goes and kicks him. It wasn't hard, but definitely a kicking motion.

Daddy's little helper.

She was so excited to pick up the heavy measuring tape.

My little strawberry hunter is at it again.

She's actually brushing the leaves aside to find them. Guess she does watch everything I do.

Fresh from the garden.

She smelled delicious after this. Just like a strawberry.

This is the box the pool came in. I showed her how to crawl through it. I think she would have really enjoyed it more, but we left it outside and it rained without our knowing. 

New this week:

*You didn't sleep at all Sunday night. Monday afternoon I noticed your first top tooth (#3) peeking through your gums.  Poor thing.

*I always try to point out airplanes/helicopters when they fly overhead. We heard an airplane this week and it was flying low. You saw it and pointed to it.

*You are still such a big sharer. You want to share food, toys, stuff that isn't even yours. The other day you walked up, opened my fingers, placed Sophie in them and shut them and smiled. Warmed my heart.

*You like to follow Daddy out the front door in the morning and wave. You can make it over the threshold on the front and back porch very good now. You still need a little help with the back porch, but you can walk out the front door without holding on.

*I brought one of my Cabbage Patch Kid dolls up here last week. You LOVE her! You squeeze her tight, along with all of your other babies, animals and me. You even grunt when you do it. It's hilarious and I love your so passionate about hugging. You also patted me a lot on the back yesterday and this morning while hugging, as if to say, "Keep up the good work Momma."

*Daddy and I folded the sheets one night and threw you in the sheet and swung you back and forth like a hammock. Then we threw you into the bed and you laughed and laughed. 

*You can reach the bottom row of books on your bookshelf. All you want to do is walk around picking them out, bring them to us and have us read them to you.  We've read soo much this week. You love flipping the pages and opening the Peek-A-Boo flaps all by yourself. Also, any books that have animals or babies on the pages, you want to kiss them. Sometimes you kiss every page, other times you're more selective. It's the cutest seeing you purse your lips and make a smacking noise.

*Last night you fought so hard to go to sleep. I finally gave up and just let you mosey around while we ate supper. When you finally did go back down, you ran your fingers through your hair over and over again. I guess it's because I've done this since you were a little baby. Nina said she used to suck her left thumb (like you) and twist her hair with her right hand.  You also notice when a clip or bow is in your hair and you've been pulling them out. You haven't bothered with a ponytail holder yet.

*Today you took your box of books that is shaped like a barn and pushed it around the rug in your room while making a sort of  "Vroom" noise.  

*Daddy has been showing you how to get off the couch, recliner and bed feet first. You are picking up on it good.  I'm trying to show you how to properly crawl up and back down the stairs. Thank goodness we don't have any stairs inside the house or at the grandparent's house to worry about. The 4 on the front steps and 3 on the back are enough. Just yesterday you snuck away from Daddy while I was putting the lasagna in the oven and you were all the way at the top of the steps pushing the door open.

*You are getting faster and faster each day when you try to run. You sneak away from me like you did when all you could do was crawl. You look back at me while you do it, giggling like mad.

*You were playing in the garden at the beginning of the week and I knew there were ants near so I picked you up and moved you to another part. I walked away to get my gloves or watering can and you started screaming. I run over and your hand is covered in ants. They got you good. I felt so bad because I was trying to not let this happen but I ended up setting you down next to an even bigger but hidden bed.  After a few minutes though, they didn't seem to bother you. 

*I'm sort of trying EC with you. I'm so tired of fighting and I mean truly fighting with you at each and every single diaper change. I thought we'd give this a try. I bought a potty seat for the toilet on Thursday. We've definitely had more misses than hits the past few days.  I read to you and we sing and just sit there trying to get you used to it, but nothing happens.  Just tonight I noticed you crouching and grunting like you were pooping. I scooped you up and put you on the potty and you actually pooped in it. I was so excited because that's the first time you had done anything in the toilet.  Afterwards, I was getting a diaper to put on you and you walked into the kitchen. I walked in, but kept going towards the laundry room. Daddy all of a sudden goes, "Ewww. Your daughter just pooped in the kitchen." Whoops.  Then you walked through it. I just laughed and laughed. You got a bath after that.