Tiny Tots Gym

I signed Nora and I up for a class through the Rec Center called Tiny Tots Gym. I think it's good to get Nora playing with more kids her age. Helps her figure out things like sharing, being nice, and how to react when someone takes your toy or hits you. Plus, I'm always hoping to meet a new mom or two during the classes.

This class is mostly an unstructured/self-led class. There are many toys, balls, slides, climbing things, etc. out for the kids to play with. So today, I thought I'd be that mom and bring along my camera to give you a look at what we've been doing the past few Monday mornings.

Here are some of the toys they have out --

This has a steep and fun slide on the other side of the staircase. And I just realized how the two pictures above makes it look kind of scarce, but it's not at all.

There is also a short amount of time we all come together (if you can get your child to stay there...) and sing a few songs. During this time, Nora usually stands up and dances while the other kids either sit on their parent's lap or meander away for another toy.

These are the mats we have circle time on.

Today, Nora mainly played with the balls

and this see-saw type of thing.

Then she had to have Guy sit on the other side and rock with him.

After all, he goes everywhere she goes.

At the end of each class they get a sticker!

The Pox?!

On Thursday, April 28th, Nora had her 15 month pediatrician appointment. She weighed in at 21 lbs. 3 oz. (the 25th percentile) and measured just 29 inches long (the 15th percentile).

Yup, this little girl - with the muffin top and rolls - weighs less than 75% of the other girlies her age. Gotta love baby rolls.

I digress.

At her appointment she got a chicken pox vaccine. The great nurses at North Arlington Pediatrics told me she might develop a small rash on her left arm around the site of the vaccine in about a week. Well, a week and 2 days later, I notice small red dots on her arm and a little on her chest. Not too concerned because of what the nurses said, I thought I'd just keep an eye on it. It was accompanied with an unusual crabby and clingy mood. I just gave her a bit of Tylenol thinking it was a reaction.

Sunday, the bumps started to spread. Monday morning I called the doctor's office asking if it was normal for the vaccine reaction to spread like that.

I didn't think it was chicken pox because they weren't raised bumps but then again, I don't know how those start. Sure enough -- it wasn't common and they said I should see a doc. So my speckled daughter and I scheduled our sick visit and off we went.

Phew! Not the pox. Turns out all it is (was) was a viral rash she caught from... well, that's still the question. She said the non-contagious rash would continue to travel around her body for 7-10 days. Luckily as of today I can barely see any dots. And it's only been 5 days. I guess she's just a champion viral rash fighter.

And in no time, she was back to her dog-loving self.

New Wheels

It's the end of an era, folks. We traded in the trusty and dependable Rav4 this week. At the time of trade in, it had a whopping 226,412 miles on it. I would have been interested in seeing how far she would have gone before she just couldn't do it any longer. But then again, I wouldn't want to be the one on the side of the road with a child, probably 2, and an 80 pound dog, finding out either. So we decided it was time. After all, we needed the extra space.

So, Dan and I ventured out to CarMax to test drive a few options of 7-passenger, non-minivan options. We looked at the Buick Enclave and a GMC Acadia and drove a Honda Pilot and a Ford Expedition. After seeing the price and all the bells and whistles we didn't expect to get from the Ford Expedition, it was a done deal (despite the fact that neither of us really thought we'd buy that day.)

Alright, I can't wait any longer. Here are the pictures of our new fancy-dancy car.

2007 Ford Expedition - Eddie Bauer Edition

power lift gate

still lots of room behind the 3rd row

and even more if you ever have to fold down the 3rd row (using an automatic button)

convenient bucket seats in the middle

and even a DVD player for the kids when we go on road trips

Front seats

the "control panel" where I can operate the heated and air conditioned seats and lots of other fun things. (I didn't even know you could get seats air conditioned... but you can!)

I am loving this car. I love how it looks on the outside. I love the inside. I love all the SPACE. I love that I can sit as a passenger with Nora behind me in her seat and still have plenty of room between the dash and my knees. I love that when you stick the key in the ignition the seats move back to your position (or Dan's depending on the key). I just love it all, so far.

29 for the first and only time

I don't think I'll be one of those people who want to hang on to their 20s. Have another 29th birthday next year. I think all that only happens in the movies. Then again, I didn't just turn 30.

Birthday breakfast. I asked her to smile for the picture.... she's getting better at smiling on cue.

This year, my birthday was one of the hottest I can remember. And it wasn't just because I'm pregnant. Nope. It was in the mid 80s. And it was humid. But it was perfect weather for the plans we had. I had invited Lindsay and her daughter, Mallory over to play in the splash table.

Lindsay brought me a HUGE decaf iced mocha from Caribou that I gulped down 1.4 seconds flat. And even though it was only 10:00 in the morning it was hot enough for our girls to get into their suits and splash in the water.

While both Lindsay and I sat watching them through the lenses of our cameras, Nora and Mal splashed, laughed, and played.

It was very exciting!

BFF's

Of all the toys they have, they chose to play with a wet wad of paper towel. Typical.

All the playing can really work up an appetite.

All cleaned up and fed. Now it was time to relax.

She looks so grown up in this picture.

Nothing better than seeing my darling daughter having a blast with a great friend for my birthday!

Mother's Weekend

That's right. We didn't just celebrate Mother's Day on Sunday here. We celebrated all weekend long.

On Saturday, Dan's parents came down for a work day/Mother's Day. I know what you're thinking... a work day and Mother's Day rolled into one? That doesn't sound like too much fun. I know that's what you're thinking because that's what I was originally thinking. But after Mary Ann offered to come down Saturday to help clean up after the floor went in and help us do whatever else it was that we needed to do to keep progress moving on the kitchen DIY remodel, I figured, OK...we'll combine the two. After all, that's what mothers do for their children (and children-in-law). And a working day it was. So much so that I didn't even get out my camera. Boo.

After a hard morning of work, we had a lunch of burgers and brats on the grill with potato salad, fruit, and some great desserts.

Sunday, my mom came down to spend the day with us. The beautiful day started with church and then an "snack/appetizer" lunch. We were able to spend nearly the entire day outside which gave me a chance to screw on handles and hinges to some of the cupboard doors. By the day's end, 10 doors were successfully hung. (I can't wait to show you the kitchen before and after pictures. It's turning out wonderfully.) And then had tenderloin, mashed potatoes and veggies for dinner. Scrumptious!

Nora gave me a gift certificate for a mani-pedi that I've been talking about getting for weeks. Now I've got no excuses not to get one! Thanks, Missy! You're the best daughter I could EVER ask for.

Easter

So I'm a little behind on posting.... OK, a month behind.

But with the wonders of the blog, it'll show up like I'm on top of things {see posting date}. Tricky, I know.

Easter was great this year. We came into Wauwatosa Saturday afternoon for Easter dinner with the Guenther side of the fam. Nora got to play with a new shopping cart Grandma bought her.

She thought it was hilarious to ram the cart into Greg. He was a good sport.

Notice the big ol' bump on her forehead? Hey, sometimes accidents happen when you have a 70 and an 80 pound dog around.

Did Nora know what I was talking about Easter morning when I told her the Easter Bunny came for her? Nope. But she did enjoy going through her Easter basket (which was totally different from last Easter)

Trying on her new sunnies.

Eating the M&Ms she found in the eggs.

Waiting to go to church in the only picture I have of her in her Easter dress.

After church, we made our way to West Bend for the Holmes Easter celebration. Nora fell asleep on the way there. That was her only nap for the day which meant a tired and hungry Nora joined the party. What makes a tired, hungry baby better? Getting undressed! So we took off her Easter dress (hence, the above picture being the only one) and then let her eat. Ahhh... much better.

Spent some time outside after a delicious lunch doing some fun activities.

Like playing with bubbles with Gram,

trying it herself,

and then showing Dad just how good she was at it. Watch out, Daddy!!

Then Gram and Dad took her for a little walk down to the fire pit and back.

Me with the second little one on Easter. And as a side note, I'm having a braxton-hicks contraction as I type this. Not at all painful, just funny how only the right side of my belly will harden like a rock (happened this way with Nora too.) Prepare yourself body! Prepare now so I can have another easy and successful labor!

sun kissed

Busy week + GREAT weekend = lots of pictures to share!

Last week, some days were rainy and cooler so we:

Played inside one rainy day.

Baked cookies for Uncle Greg another day.

Chocolate & Peanut Butter Chip to be exact.

Luckily for me, there were some that didn't fit into the package! (and Greg, I really hope they weren't all crushed by the time you got them)

Learned where our belly buttons are.

Had a play date with her bestie, Mal.

Took a walk with Mal and her mom, Lindsay, at the forest preserve. Clearly a little too close to nap time.

Finally got to play outside when it wasn't so muddy.

Got a little dirty.

Watched many planes go overhead.

Shared a snack of chips and salsa with Dad.

And perfected the game of peek-a-boo.

Then... the weekend.

The glorious, sunny, and hot-enough-for-shorts-and-tank-tops-weekend.

With the help of Dan's mom, we are re-surfacing our kitchen cabinets.

So I started my project of painting the hardware. First, I let them soak in water and vinegar for an hour or so.

After they were scrubbed and dried I set them up on cardboard for the first coat.

Sprayed them with a primer.

But I don't have a finished product to show you. Yet.

Dan also replaced our front light with a more up-to-date version. Works great!

And I spent some time practicing with my mega-zoom lens and got some great shots.

Had lots of birds at the feeder.

Another other unwanted pests.

Which made us get one of these. Those crafty squirrels ate through the rubbermaid bin we had been storing our bird seed in.

Sunday was in the mid-80s and felt oh-so-good. Proud to say I didn't get sunburned but I did get a little lighter shade of pale. Nora had a blast playing with her splash table for the first time (she got it for her birthday)

Laughs with every pour that made the water wheel move and splash her.

Not every pour made it in the cup. After the initial shock of getting the cup dumped on her she laughed up a storm and loved being soaked.

Being in shorts also meant the first scraped knee. It didn't seem to phase her.

Maybe that was because she enjoyed some of Dad's beer to help numb the pain. (No, she really didn't have any... the bottle was empty.)

And what better way to end the weekend than with a beautiful sunset in your backyard.

Hope your weekend was every bit of wonderful as ours.