A Productive Weekend

We had a very busy and productive weekend. We had fun. We got a ton of stuff done. Thanksgiving and fall decor has been officially packed up and put away. The Christmas bins are all over the garage. New Christmas lights for the house have been purchased. The lights are up. The tree has been taken out of it's box, assembled, and decorated. Christmas shopping is almost done. Gifts are wrapped.

Saturday I worked for a bit. Got a much needed pedicure. I also decided that I was sick of staring at my grown out highlights and much despised gray hairs and that I could not wait until my hair appointment next Monday. So I brought some color home from work and...

Whad'ya think?

I like it.

I have been trying to decide where to hang our stockings this year. In past years we have hung them on the mantle like most people do. But the stocking holders are heavy and sharp, and I just know that a certain somebody would most likely pull it down on herself. So we hung them from the garland on the banister at the top of the stairs.

These two were pretty excited about it.

On Sunday morning while Claire napped, Hannah helped her Daddy put up our Christmas lights outside.

While they did that, my Mom picked me up, and we went shopping. It was so nice to do without the kids. We had fun.

I bought this ambiance lamp for my kitchen. I love it.

I also found these adorable miniature parsons chairs for the kids, and a sign that I hung in the kitchen.

The picture on the left is the decor on my mantle, and the picture on the right is just because I like it.

The halls have been decked.

Now I need to go get some egg nog.

Happy Holidays!

Thanksgiving '09

We had a very nice and very low key Thanksgiving.  Jake worked until 4:30, so the girls and I just hung out at home and got a few things ready for dinner. 

This picture is of them watching a dog show on tv while we ate lunch.  They both thought it was great.  Hannah loved all the different dogs, and Claire just laughed everytime we said anything.

It was a beautiful and clear day.

I made place cards for everyone and on the back of them during dinner we all took turns flipping ours over and reading and answering the Q's that I wrote on the back.  Some questions were about the history of the holiday, and some were to name what you are thankful for.  I know, I'm cheesy.  But it was fun.

The girls cooking up a storm. (Not.) My parents ordered our meal from Polly's Pies.  It was delish.  My Mom is a fabulous cook, but this year we all just did not feel up to the task.  I bought the appetizer and pumpkin pie from Sam's and we called it a day.  It was great.

My Mom brought me these pretty Christmas plates for hosting, and my sister brought these beautiful flowers.

Claire was so good.  I think she enjoyed her 2nd Thanksgiving.  Is it bad that I do not even remember her first one at all?  I was so sleep deprived that I don't remember much from those first few weeks. 

Hannah was so excited about her sparkling cider in the fancy glass.  She is such a big girl now.

During dinner we all went around the table and said three things that we are thankful for.  When it was Hannah's turn, without any prompting she answered, "chocolate milk, Abbey, and my nie nie (her blanket)". 

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving as well!

Thankful

I think I can safely say that I am finally feeling better. Finally. My ears popped a little bit today (they are still feeling plugged, but a tad better), and my cough is getting better everyday. Thank goodness. You really do appreciate feeling good after you've not been feeling very good. My health and my family's health are definitely something that I am so very thankful for. I am thankful for so very much. I am so thankful for my wonderful and ever so helpful husband. And I am so thankful for my beautiful baby girls.

I'm also thankful for the Coffee Mate pumpkin spice cream for my coffee. It makes me happy. Especially since the cost of the pumpkin spice latte at Starbuck's went up to $4.20 for a grande. Ridiculous.

I am also feeling better because I finally have some energy back. I was feeling so down, and so tired for so long, and that is just not me. Tonight I felt motivated to be productive so I moved my furniture around in the family room, vacuumed underneath the couch cushions and set the table for Thanksgiving dinner (I work all day tomorrow so I wanted to have it done). I also made butternut squash for the first time tonight. I steamed it and added butter and brown sugar. Claire looved it.

Here's a peak at my table...

Before Jake went to work today we went shopping to get the girls some new jammies. They both have been needing new pj's, and of course we had to buy some matching Christmas ones.

Yes they are both drinking chocolate milk. Oh c'mon, you know you give it to your kids too.

Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!

This year I'm also thankful for blogging. I've reconnected with lots of old friends, met many new, and convinced a few others to become bloggers too.

One more thing... Who's going shopping on Black Friday? I can't because Jake has to work, and there's no way I'm waking up babies and bringin em with me. I've gone before. It's madness, but it's fun.

Happy Turkey Day and blessings to you!

12 Months

Looking back over Claire's first year, I think it has gone incredibly fast. Certain moments and milestones really do feel like yesterday.

She has changed so much this last month. She's not yet walking, but she has taken a few short steps here and there. Her diet has grown quite a bit as we have added many new foods to her meals. She loves spaghetti o's, yogurt, french fries (of course), bananas, cantelope, macaroni n cheese, and pretty much anything that she can feed herself. We turned her carseat around, so she is now forward facing like her big sister. Her first real word has officially been said... "Abbey" (dog's name). And she tries to say Hannah. She now goes to the toy box in search of certain toys, and if Hannah comes up to it she will quickly close the lid and scream. She has four teeth right now, and I think she may be working on a few more.

She lost a pound from her last doctor visit, so today she weighed 25 lbs even, and she is 33 inches long.

Here is a look back at Claire's pictures that I took each month.

It really is crazy how much babies change the first year.

Not Much to Blog Since I've Been in This Fog

I have not been feeling good for just about all of November so far. I caught bronchitis, which never completely went away, and then I caught some other head cold on top of that almost two weeks ago, and my ears have been plugged up and my head has been filled with fluid ever since. It has been driving me crazy. I knew that last Monday when the doctor at Urgent Care told me nothing was wrong but my allergies that that was not the case...

Friday morning I was feeling much worse, and I felt like I was having a hard time breathing. Then that feeling only got worse the more I worried about it. My Dr is out of town, so back to Urgent Care I went. Thank goodness that my Mom lives so close and was willing to come over here with the girls so I could go. Anyway, long story short, turns out I have a sinus infection and a respiratory infection, and they gave me a breathing treatment (which helped but made me so lightheaded and made my hands and arms go numb). Not just allergies.

Anyway, I've started antibiotics but I still don't feel much better. My head and ears feel like they are going to explode and never get unplugged. I've never had a sinus infection before. Have you? If so did your ears feel so plugged up like you can't hear but really you can? How long did your sinus infection last? Forever? That's what it feels like.

Alright, I know nobody wants to read my whiney poor me complaints anymore so I'll leave you with a few cute pictures.

Jake and I are grabbing Miguel's for dinner and going to see The Blind Side tonight. If modern medicine isn't helping me out, maybe a date night with my handsome husband will.

Claire's Cupcake Celebration

I am sure that it seems that all my recent blog posts have been about my girls and their birthday celebrations, so I'm sorry if you are getting sick of it, but here comes another one.

It's official now. I no longer have a teeny tiny little baby anymore.

Tonight my parents came over and brought dinner AND dessert! Thanks so much Mom! The way I have been feeling lately I have not grocery shopped, cooked, or even made or bought a birthday dessert for Claire. My wonderful Mom made a delicious oh so good dinner that she brought over to my house tonight, and she bought Claire's cupcakes and cake for me today too. You're the best Mom. It's so fun to see the girls faces light up when they see my parents. Who needs a huge party when you've got Gamma and Geeps!

Hannah got to open up a couple presents tonight from Aunt E (my sister). They both really liked this Strawberry Shortcake Christmas dvd. Hannah wants to watch it, and Claire wants to eat it.

Happy Birthday Claire!! We love you!

Okay, now I promise I will blog about something non birthday related soon.

Claire's 1st Birthday

I am feeling a little guilty that we had no big plans for Claire's first birthday.  I know she's only one, and she doesn't know any difference, but I feel bad.  Tomorrow is her actual birthday, and I work from 9-3:30, and Jake works from 3-11:30.  Poor Claire.  No party.  No big outing to Tom's Farms.  I feel bad.

So since Jake and I both won't be home together tomorrow, we let Claire open up her presents from us this morning.  It's hard to buy for the second child (especially when she is the same sex as the first) because everything that is Hannah's is basically Claire's too.  They share everything.  So we went pretty small for her birthday but I think she liked what she got.

On Sunday night during the witching hours of 4:30pm and 6:30pm, Claire was especially fussy (think it's more teeth) and Hannah was especially whiney.  So we let Claire open up one of her presents.

It's a pretty cute game called Elefun.  The elephant's trunk blows straight up and spits out butterflies and you have to use a net to catch them.  It's a little old for Claire, but Hannah loved it.

I am posting this not so very cute picture of myself, only because I think it is so very cute of Claire, and I can't believe how much she looks like I did when I was her age.  I will have to find a comparison picture to post soon.  And check out how long she is, she almost looks as tall as me. 

Horsing around on Daddy, cause that's what Daddies are for.

This morning Hannah briefly thought it was her birthday again.  Very confusing.  She gladly joined in to help Claire open up her gifts.

Later on today after opening gifts.  I thought she looked darn cute today.  I can't believe she is one.  She melts me.

Now if only I would start feeling better soon.  I'm glad we didn't have a big party or anything planned because I just can't seem to shake this cold or whatever it is that I've had.  I actually spent 2 and a half hours waiting at Urgent Care today to see a dr because I thought maybe I have an ear or sinus infection.  2 plus hours of waiting, just to have him tell me I have allergies.  Nice.  No buddy, I know what my allergies are like, and my problem right now is not my allergies.  I guess it's just going to have to run it's course whatever it is. 

I take Claire to her one year check up next Monday, so I will do a follow up post with her one year stats. 

She's Still Celebrating

Last Saturday was Hannah's birthday, but true to how we do it in my family, she's still celebrating...

Sunday- Hannah had a visit from Kelly & Derek, and they brought her some really fun presents. 

Monday- Jake took her to Toys R Us to spend her birthday money from Aunt Donna.  She bought a hoola hoop and a ball.  And she came home with a birthday crown and a balloon for being in the birthday club.

Tuesday- On Tuesday was her cupcake party at preschool.  She got a birthday package, the class sang to her, and she got to be line leader all day.

Wednesday- Jake and the girls met up with his Mom for lunch who is vacationing out this way and she had all kinds of birthday gifts for Hannah and Claire.  And last night my Dad stopped by after work to drop off another gift from Aunt Glenda and Uncle Dave. 

See, I told you.  She's still celebrating.  I think she is going to keep it up until Tuesday.  Then it's Claire's birthday. 

These are the cupcakes I brought to her school party.

I had fun getting to spend the morning with Hannah in school.  She seemed pretty excited to have me there too.

I really enjoyed watching her interact with everyone on the playground.  I also met a few other teachers who were very nice, and all had nice things to say about Hannah.  All the kids were loving this set up that they had to jump over. 

That last bar was pretty high, and Hannah cleared it every time.  I was impressed.

And this would explain why she always comes home with shoes full of sand and completely dirty socks.

She said it was the "most perfect preschool day ever".

My feelings have changed somewhat about Hannah's teacher and the school now.  I have learned of a few people whose kids also had the same teacher and I think she is just hard to get to know.  She does seem to be warming up to me more and more.  And Hannah loves her.  So I'm happy.  She's happy.  Being in her class made me feel warm and fuzzy.  I'm not worried anymore.

On a different note, I am feeling much better today than I did yesterday.  But right now my cold medicine has worn off, and I am going to go search for some more...