Definitely A Girl

In having a discussion with Irelyn's day care provider and my own observation, Irelyn does not like to get her pretty little hands dirty. She has a hard time with really messy foods and won't eat them (most of the time).  It's even more evident and funny when outside.  She tries so hard to avoid touching the grass or dirt with her hands.  But, our yard is not exactly level and although she is a good walker for 13 months- uneven terrain is more difficult. Of course she falls down every now and then.  She will keep her hands up while falling and tries to stand without using her hands.  I think its really cute!

She does really like the outdoors and hates coming back inside.  Hopefully we start getting some consistently nice days SOON.  We bought her some outdoor toys and I am waiting to try them out!  I guess the sandbox I've been wanting her daddy to make may be put on hold til she learns its okay to sometimes get your hands dirty.  She does of course love to wash her hands.  The dogs water dish is an everyday battle.

Easter...again

First of all I want to wish everyone a Happy Easter! 

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.

Last week I had a little glimpse into what life as a stay at home mom might be like as well as a single mom. The conclusion....there is a reason why it takes 2 people to make a baby and I'm glad I have a job.  No, it was fine and I love being with my daughter.  I just like adult interaction as well!  Tuesday, Irelyn had a bad cold and pink eye and I was also sick.  I have to say that was one of the most difficult days.  I felt terrible and just wanted to lay around.  I feel bad about it, but I pretty much let her get away with anything that day.  (of course within safety) She was actually really good, as she typically is, and entertains herself quite well. Daddy was gone on business all week.
  On Friday I decided to take her to Good Friday service by myself.  I have never seen her so active in a public place.  She WOULD NOT SIT STILL.  I was a little embarrassed because Good Friday is generally a pretty somber service and here my daughter is, one of the only babies there and walking up the aisle and running away from me with a big goofy grin on her face.  Little stinker!

I had to work on Easter, but we had a nice dinner after with both our parents and my sister.  Irelyn got spoiled by the big Bunny and I think ended up with 4 Easter baskets!  Here are a few pictures from Easter Sunday....

Miss Independent

For awhile now Irelyn barely allows us to feed her.  She has to do it herself.  Baby food went out the door before she was even a year old.  Pretty much everything has to be finger foods.  This morning I decided to give her some yogurt along with her french toast.  She let me feed her a few bites and she really enjoyed it.  Then, she grabbed the spoon and dipped it in herself and feed herself with the spoon!!  This is the first time I have seen her do this. She hasn't mastered scooping so she doesn't get much on the spoon, but still pretty good for 12 months old.  However, she quickly realized there is a much faster way to do this.....

Needless to say it was everywhere!!

Just to share a few other moments from this passed week....
Irelyn started making this face alot...

She had a date with her boyfriend, Elijah, and I caught them doing this.....

Then, she enjoyed some relaxing time in her chair with her feet up...

Have a great week!

Easter and More Birthday

I am a little behind in my blogging and a little ahead in my holidays.  I have been busy the past couple of nights working on a photobook of Irelyn's first year for myself, my MIL, and my GrandMIL.  Still not done, but coming along.
I normally get home about 5 and make/eat dinner and play with Irelyn until bedtime.  Then I have about 2 hours at night to clean, do laundry, relax, or work on other things depending on how late I want to stay up.  And I like sleep.

Anyway, this past Sunday we celebrated Easter and Irelyn's birthday with my side of the family in Westby.  I have to work Easter Sunday.  BOO.  The day started rough and Joe ended up not going with us. Another BOO. I won't get into all that, but its fine now.  Irelyn and I showed up to church 10 minutes late.  I didn't realize it was confirmation Sunday.  It was full and we couldn't sneak into a seat in the back so I had to walk half way up and around people. Awkward. Irelyn started her 'stranger danger' a little later than I think most babies do.(at almost a year)  For church it comes in a little handy.  She sat on my lap and ate animal crackers the whole time. 

My plan worked perfectly and she fell asleep in the car shortly after we left church and woke up right before we got to my Grandma's.  'Stranger Danger' did not come in very handy when we got there. She hadn't seen most of these people since Christmas.  I felt bad.  She was so clingy.  It took a little while, but she started to come around.  She got some wonderful gifts.  They were perfect for her.  They included a toy phone (obsessed with phones), cute clothes, and musical (with guitar! I like to play with that one:)) and look and find books which I had just been wanting to get for her. My Grandma was so sweet and got her a cake as well.  We had wonderful food and had a good time.

Pretty Girl enjoying the 80 degree! weather

 

A new favorite toy

Plan continued to work perfectly.  She was sleeping again a few minutes after we left and slept all the way home.  Plus, we missed the storms.  However, I do think if you would have taken my blood pressure when driving through La Crosse it would have been sky high.  The tornado warnings on the radio would go off ever 2 minutes.  It was clear in front of me and green/gray/black behind me. I decided not to look behind me.  I just concentrated on getting my baby home, but it was all fine.  We hung out in the basement as a precaution for a little while, but the storm was short and over quickly.  We in Holmen did not get the hail that La Crosse got and I was very lucky to have gotten through just in time.

Happy Tuesday!

Trina

The Children's Museum

OKay when I typed the title of this most I sang it, so when you read it you have to sing the little song from the commercials, if you know it.  If you don't know it, make one up, but it has to be sung not read :).

So my story for today really starts last night.  We were watching shows we had DVR'd and then the 10 o clock news. (insert tangent here).  Its starting to bother me and makes me feel like an old lady that I stay up for part of the news and then go to bed most nights.  I remember my parents doing that.  Did I really change into that already???  Anyway, there was a story about the "Teddy Bear Clinic" happening at the Children's Museum sponsored by Gundersen Lutheran.  I half listened and thought it was cute.  Then they said" free teddy bears", then "free admission", and then "Saturday."  I actually backed it up to make sure it was Saturday as in the next day.  Perfect.  I had been thinking about taking her to the museum, but thought she was still too young.  But hey, its free and we have nothing else to do.  Joe needs to work on the lawn and other things around the house, but Irelyn and I got nothing.  We'll go.  I then debated between going to the Children's Museum or to see the Easter Bunny at the mall.  But, Joe said he would maybe like to go with to see the Easter Bunny so we will save that for another night or next weekend. 

Saturday started out great.  Irelyn slept til 8 (wow 12+ hours) and I slept til 9!  (another tangent) Joe and I agreed awhile ago that if we were both home and had nothing else going on we would each get one weekend day to sleep in and the other would get up with Irelyn.  Saturdays he gets up and Sundays I do. 
We got ready and met my Mom at the museum.  It was packed.  I have never been there before, but I'm pretty sure it is not always that busy.  But, it is a big place and we found plenty of room to explore.  We checked in and got Irelyn her bear, which we named, Checkers.  I felt a little bad because she is too young to go to all the stations to have her bear "go to the hospital" but they were really cute and I hope in the next few years we will get to do that.  I have one suggestion for the organizers.  Add a physical therapy station!  I would totally come man that station and help rehab the little bears so they could get better and go home :). 

So, Irelyn enjoyed the 0-4 area which was more age appropriate for her.

  She also enjoyed pushing the cart and gathering the orange in the Kwik Trip store, climbing in the tree house, getting her hands wet in the river, and driving the boat.  We had a snack and headed for home.

She had a short nap.  A little while later I gave her a kiss and she felt really warm.  Took temp.  101.3 :(.  She was still pretty playful and happy but would lay her head down on my shoulder and laid down on the floor a couple times.  Even though it was getting later in the day I decided we would lay down together for a LITTLE bit.  Joe ran some errands.  Next thing I know it is 7 o clock!  Uh oh.  We got up and I told Joe he should have never let us sleep that long.  We did supper and bath and Irelyn went to bed at 8:30.  I can't really believe that.  I thought I screwed her up worse than that.  I did probably screw myself for the morning, but we shall see.  I'm pretty sure her fever came down some.  I really hope so because we have a big day tomorrow.  Another birthday party for her with my Dad's family combined with Easter celebration in Westby.

Happy Weekend Everybody!

Trina

The Outdoors!

It's FINALLY nice enough outside to take my baby out!  I have been waiting a long time for this!  She was so young last year we couldn't do a whole lot outside except go for walks.

We were able to go to the park that is less than half a block from home today. 

She enjoyed the swings and slides, but mainly I think she just liked walking in the grass and exploring "outside."

We tried out the backyard of our house too, but there is WAY too much dog poop that collected all winter.  I refuse to pick it up without a pooper scooper.  Daddy will have to do it. :) She also likes playing on our deck, but I need to put a gate on the steps. 

She is at such a fun age and now that spring is finally here it makes me a little anxious for summer!

Career Predictions

Daddy says you are going to be a "scientist" because you "figured out" that you can lean over and eat with your mouth off the table rather than use you hands.  I say you picked this up from watching Bella (the dog). You also eat like this from the floor at times :).

 Mommy predicts you will be a....... Nurse.  Just a guess, but you are very kind and you take care of your baby everyday.