Halloween at Nana Ann's & Papa Dan's

EVERYTHING goes in her mouth! Even the pumpkin that is MUCH BIGGER than she is! She's not scared! LOL! She's thinking...."GET IN MY BELLY, PUMPKIN!"




Here are all the grandkids at Nana Ann's Halloween Party this past weekend. Marissa and Hailey were wicked witches with green faces, Cailyn was an adorable black cat, Elizabeth was a pudgy pumpkin, and then there was Hunter, he was himself, I mean, he was a devil.

Sleeping through the night...

So, for the past week, I have been intending on making Elizabeth's 6 month doctor's appointment for her. But for some reason, I just haven't made it that far as to pick up the phone and make the darn appointment. I'm wondering if it's for one of 2 reasons...1)I hate the thought of making an appointment for my daughter to be poked with a LONG needle. Like I have said in the past, I am not sure who it hurts more, me, or Elizabeth! Or, 2) I am in denial that my daughter is already ALMOST 6 months old! Where has the time gone! It seems like just last week when I was waking up at 4am on May 12, having some pretty painful contractions! Now, the pain I have is at 3am when Miss E decides to throw me off by waking in the middle of the night wanting to play!! (Where does the pain come from that you ask??? Well, it comes from the toothpicks I have to use the next morning to keep my eyelids open at work!!) I was just telling a co-worker today that I have been spoiled when it comes to Elizabeth's sleeping schedule. Since before I even came back to work full time (at 7 weeks) she has been sleeping through the night for us. Well, I shoud say she is sleeping through the night for me, as her daddy doesn't seem to hear her when she wakes up in the middle of the night! I've decided the next time she wakes up screaming bloody murder I will just push the little button on our smoke detector to make it sound like a fire alarm is going off. If THAT doesnt wake him up...nothing will!). Anyways, I got a tad off subject there, sorry!
We were talking about Elizabeth's sleep schedule...not her dad's!
She has been going to bed a little earlier that she used to as well. She used to stay up just about as late as we did (if you consider 10:00pm late!). She would have her last feeding anywhere between 9-9:30pm and then she would soon fall into a deep sleep. I used to think that she needed that last feeding so she could make it through the night without getting hungry. Now adays though, she is going to bed as soon as 7:30pm on some nights (and still sleeping through the night!). But her average bedtime lately has been about 8:30pm. And then I wake her at 6:20am to feed her & get her ready for grandma's house. And right around 9:30am she needs to catch up on sleep again! I feel bad for waking her up every morning, and I did once consider letting her sleep until she is ready to get up (which, on weekends, when I let her sleep, she sometimes sleeps until 8:30am!), but, if I did that, I wouldnt get to see the little squirt until 4:30pm every night, and I just couldnt handle that! Spending 45 minutes every morning with Elizabeth is what gives me the energy to make it through my day, until I see her again after work. I have a morning routine that I HAVE to follow. If I am even 3 minutes behind, it throws off my day! So, on those nights when Elizabeth doesnt want to sleep, and I dont want to wake in the morning...it usually calls for a LONG day at work.

Prop Me Up Beside the Pumpkin Mommy!

Elizabeth was able to hold herself up with a pumpkin propped between her legs. It was shorty after this that I realized, she was able to hold herself up just as well WITHOUT a pumpkin propped between her legs! She is getting so strong! And it seems she is entertained by the most simple things...whether it be a pumpkin, a noodle box, a piece of paper, tissue paper, the tags on her toys, or the strap that fastens her pacifier to her shirt so she doesnt keep dropping it!

The GREAT Pumpkin Patch with the Kiddo's

The Headaches are Worth the Memories!

One would say that I have been slacking when it comes to updating my blog, I would defend that by saying I have just been super busy enjoying my mommy time, and I just dont have the time to post updates every day! I have realized (& I have accepted) the fact that I am officially addicted to my daughter! I think that's because with being back to work full time, I don't get to spend as much time with her as I would like. She has been going to bed alot earlier than usual, so, that puts a damper on things as well! I spend a whole 45 minutes with Elizabeth in the morning before I go to work, and then by the time I pick her up from Grandma Bonnies & get gome, its close to 5pm, and lately, she's been in bed between 7:30-8:30pm. That's just not enough time!!
So, I was back home this weekend & at a baby shower for a friend, and someone asked to hold Miss E. I was ok with it...but I always feel like I am being a burden on someone when they have to hold Elizabeth so I can eat, or so I can mingle...b/c I know too many people that pawn their kids off so they can go do what they want, not taking into consideration the feelings of those they just pawned their kids off on. Anyways, it was commented to me on Sunday that "let me hold Elizabeth, you get to hold her when ever you want!"...I of course let this person hold Elizabeth without a problem (so I could shove my face full of delicious baby shower food!), but it got me thinking...I really DON'T get to hold E whenever I want. Granted, I see her & hold her more than what some people do (but that's because they live far away, or they dont make the time & effort to visit/see Miss E, Jamie & I!). So, it saddens me to realize that I only get to really spend 4 hours a day (give or take) with my daughter during the week, so when it comes to our weekend time together, I get pretty selfish. That's enough for me to want to quit my job and become a stay at home mom! Such wishful thinking...knowing there are JUST TOO MANY bills to pay to not have a job! Any-hoodle....
Life with E has been awesome lately! It gets better & better everyday! She is constantly changing! She is always smiling and babbling!! It will be soon enough when she says her first words. Of course, I am hoping the first word is "MaMa"...but, only time will tell! She has been learning that her tongue really helps make different noises and sounds. She has also figured out how to make a high pitched sound as well. It's pretty funny watching her make new noises. Then, over the weekend, my 6 year old niece Marissa taught Elizabeth how to make noises with her lips, while basically, blowing spit all over everything! (Similar to the motor-boating noise some "adults" make!) Its so amazing to see how she is catching on to things so much easier now-a-days! She likes to mimic others!
I have a rain forest music box attached to the side of Elizabeth's crib and every night when I put her down for bed, I push the button on the rain forest gadget, and it plays some soothing music that puts E into a deep deep sleep! Well, yesterday I had layed her down in her crib b/c she was acting as though she was tired...after she shut her eyes and was sleeping for a few minutes, I went to lay her down, AS SOON as she hit the matress, her eyes bugged out and she was ready to play again! That was a short cat nap! I let her roll around in her crib for a while as it seemed to be the only thing she would/could stay entertained by. I walked in after a few minutes, and I saw her rolling over to the rain forest music box, and she was reaching up trying to push the button to make the music start. She just wasnt strong enough to push the button in far enough to make the music play, so I helped her, but, its the thought of knowing that she knew exactly what she had to do to play the music, she just wasnt strong enough to make it happen! SOMEDAY! (That actually reminds me that I have to lower the mattress in her crib. Before I know it she will be pulling herself up and heaven forbit she be up high enough already to jump out of her crib! That could hurt!)
Gosh! What else has she been doing?!?!....she is slowly but surely learning to sit up on her own. We "practice" making her back muscles stronger & stronger every day! She sits up for short periods of time, playing with her toys, before she loses her balance and topples over!! I have a feeling that she will be able to hold herself up long enough for me to get some cute pictures of her sitting in her halloween costume. I cant wait to post pictures! She is also scooting ALL OVER now! Before she pretty much just stayed on the blanket that I lay out on the living room floor. It used to be big enough for her to roll over on & stay entertained by her toys. NOW she is wondering off the blanket...the other day I found her close to the front door. Last night I found her getting closed & closer to the kitchen. And she still hasnt figured out how to crawl on her hands & knees, but she is getting closer & closer every day!
This past weekend, we made the trip back home to Nana & Papa's. We took all of the kids to a pumpkin patch. Now, that was an experience....a 5 month old, a 10 month old, a 2 1/2 year old, a 4 year old & a 6 year old! Let's just say I needed a drink by the time the day/night was over! (I needed a couple, actually!) The pumpkin patch we went to back home wasnt as fulfilling as the one Jamie & I took Elizabeth too a few weeks ago. There just wasnt as much to do...and there was an admission fee. The one we went to a few weeks ago was not only better, but, it was FREE! It was nice to be able to get all of the kids together though, even if it caused more of a headache than anything! We will be having a Halloween gathering at Nana & Papa's this coming weekend, so I am sure I will be making sure I pack the Tylenol! I am looking forward to it though. I always look forward to all the grandkids getting together b/c its not very often (other than holidays) that it happens. No matter how big of a headache it causes in the end!

New Fall Decor, New People & A Parade...One Busy Weekend!

Well, we had yet another busy weekend! Miss Elizabeth was able to meet some new people, and see some new things. Saturday morning, my dear honey & his uncle FINALLY got my fall decorations set up in the front yard! My corn shocks, hay bale, and a half finished scarecrow (it still needs a head! Any suggestions!). I cant wait to dress E up in her halloween costume and attempt to take pictures.

My friend. Sara from high school was in the Dells, so we made the trip over there to see her (& her daughter Maddie, her boyfriend Jason, her brother Josh & his girlfriend Carrie!) YEA SARA! You made my blog! LOL! Anyways, this was Sara's first time seeing Miss E, so it was pretty special. Sara's daughter is 8 now, and Miss E is almost 5 months. I'm not sure if they will be close enough in age to want to "run around together" when they are older, like their mommies did...but...if they do, we will DEFINATELY have to keep an eye on them! If they have any chance to be like Sara & I were in high school, we're in for some T-R-O-U-B-L-E! We met for lunch at the River Walk, then walked the strip, and stopped at a few stores. It was GORGEOUS out! Then, Elizabeth & I went home, rested & when Jamie got done with work, we went back to see the gang, and ate pizza and visited. It was a long time over due for Sara & I to hang out again! It was fun! The guys did their thing (watched football of course & talked sports) while the girls...well, we shared recipes, talked baby talk, reminiced about old times! (Now, a few years ago, you get this group together and we wouldnt have been sitting at home, catching up, we probably would have been at Nigs' tipping a few back!

Anyways, it was a great night of catching up, but, eventually we had to go. It was way past Elizabeth's bed time (& mommy's as well!).
Sunday we made the trip back home to my Grandma's in Kieler. It was the big bad Kieler Parade you know! I have never been to the parade before, but, I guess, for being a small town, it's a pretty good parade, and, that it was! The weather was icky, and most of the family watched the parade from the dining room at Grandma's, but the older kids all went out on the street to get the candy (and they got ALOT of candy! Geesh!). We ate, visited, ate some more, before making the trip BACK to Reedsburg! I'm sure we spent more time driving, than we did at Grandma's but, it was definately worth going back for. I have definately learned, now that we have Elizabeth, that going home to see the family means so much more to me that it used to! Even though it probably cost us $30+ in gas to go back, for only a few hours, it was worth seeing my Grandma smile when we walked in the door. And it was totally worth seeing the smiles on my parents face when they pulled in the driveway. And of course...they all smiled and had to fight over who was going to take Elizabeth first! LOL!

We were all tucked out by the time we got home. E was in bed by 8pm, I was in bed by 9pm, and I have no idea when Jamie zonked out! Monday morning came way too soon...and another week has begun!

It Only Gets Better!

I was able to capture the moment last night when Elizabeth was playing in her exersaucer!! She LOVES the giraffe, and no matter what side of the saucer she plays with first, she ALWAYS finds her way to the giraffe, and the giraffe ALWAYS finds its way into her mouth. Never fails! She has a blast in this thing. It really is the best $10 I've spent in a long time! She's really amazed by every gadget & toy on the saucer though. It entertains her usually long enough for mommy to make supper! I really wish I could get into her mind and know what she is thinking at times! Lately, she has been so full of smiles. And she's starting to giggle on her own. At first, she would just giggle if Mommy and/or Daddy were tickling her, or being silly, now she giggles when she is entertaining herself with her toys. I'll come into the living room while she's playing with her toys, only to find her laughing at her puppet cow, or laughing at the plastic links she loves to play with. She is easily entertained, which really comes in handy when I am trying to get a few things done! This little girl has been a blast for the past 4+ months! And everyone says it only gets better! I can't wait!