catch up

We are thankful for many things. An important one to both Jim and I are our families. We had the opportunity to be able to spend time with both sides, and celebrate with 3 different turkey feasts. Seriously my "hold it for the holidays" weight challenge at work is already in the tolite.

It was worth a try on both parts to get Grandpa and Grandma with their own respective grand kids. Maybe we'll try a little earlier in the night next time.

I am thankful

I am thankful for a God who loves us sooooo much! Who knows everything, provides, and is in control! I am thankful for a beautiful family. A husband who loves unconditionally, and 2 healthy children. God has blessed me with so much, and to Him I'm greatful.

I am thankful for Kadence and her giggles and smiles.

I am thankful for Lucy's beautiful voice, and insight into life.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

18 months

In the last few weeks, Kadence has grown in leaps and bounds. She is saying so much more and trying to repeat almost anything. Her favorites include "nnnnnnnnoo" "miiiiiiiiiiinnnnne" (both said with that much enthusiasm every single time they are uttered) "mama" "dada" (which is a new one in the last 3 weeks), "ball"--today "dooor" (for Dora). We are still working on Lucy's name--every once in awhile I think I hear her say a "ceee". "babies" "mi"-milk, "muh"-more, "ott" for hot.

She has quite the personality. She is still a screamer. Piercing. The kind of screams that people don't even look over in the store and look like they feel bad, or "I've been there", they want you to take that loud kid out of there as fast as you can. (Oh my, can you believe she brings a kid in the store like that?) She is also trying to figure out how to deal with her frustrations. She has stopped biting for the most part, but is a hair puller, face scratcher, and hitter when she doesn't get what she wants or can't figure something out. I do think she has made Lucy a bit tougher though. You can see things making sense in her mind though, even though she can't communicate it through words. (she now knows when she hits Lucy--she puts herself in the hallway for timeout--amazing that she can put it all together) She loves bathtime, outdoor time. She loves babies, feeding them, patting them, and "ssssssss"--putting them to sleep, with her finger up to her mouth.

Kadence plays so well on her own, and loves anything that Lucy is playing with. Lucy is a wonderful big sister, so encouraging, helpful, and loving. I love to watch Kady mimic her big sister, or beg to do anything that Lucy is doing. She loves to hide things and play peek a boo. She is now just starting to "read" books by herself. BABABABABABABA...quite entertaining. She wants to do everything herself. I love the age of self realization and exploration.

Kadence loves to feel like a big girl and pretend to go to the bathroom on the little potty. She was having a great time sitting on it yesterday while I was getting ready. and yes I let her do this with her pants and diaper off. Up and down, take the seat out, close the lid, open it and sit back down. Then I saw her climb on top of the lid....I put my hands up and said "tada" so proud she climbed up by herself.............and then she braced herself on the wall, and I saw the true look on her face. PLOP, yes a huge turd plopped right on the cover of the potty. Well, we'll work on opening the lid for next time.

I love my little Kadence. You bring an unbelievable amount of joy to my life, and a rise in my blood pressure. and get ready.....your dad and I are up for the challenge!

100 things about me

1. Sometimes I forget how old I am--I think I just stopped counting at 30
2. I love broccoli
3. My shoe size has grown with each pregnancy
4. My favorite movies to watch are romantic comedies
5. I love being a mom
6. I did not like the itty bitty baby stage of parenting--much to my disbelief
7. I love my husband
8. God planned our meeting and dating perfectly
9. I'm not a huge seafood fan, would rather have a great steak any day
10. I love to aimlessly walk around Target...even with screaming kids...just to see what's new
11. I love doing laundry, washing, drying, and folding.
12. I HATE putting the folded clothes away
13. I enjoy working, I think it makes me a better mom
14. I don't do mornings
15. In the last week I think I've become addicted to coffee
16. I only like my coffee with flavored creamers
17. My favorite color is pink
18. I hope that we never get a pet
19. I guess we do have one...it's a fish that just won't die. I mean I NEVER feed it
20. We had cats as pets growing up, they were my favorite: toes, mittens, frisky, tisha
21. I like a clean house, not just a picked up house
22. My one regret in life is telling Jim to cancel the cleaning lady when we got married
23. I like to cook
24. I wish I could really cook like my mother-in-law
25. I love to bake--cookies, cakes, mmmmmmmm
26. My favorite season is spring, when everything is new
27. I'm not very spontaneous
28. I feel safer with a plan, and then a plan B
29. I am an anesthesia clinical nurse
30. I do not like bugs, but have been very brave since having kids
31. I once called my brother in Kalamazoo to come and kill a spider for me when I lived alone in GR.......it was ENORMOUS
32. I do not like to be tickled
33. partly because I am ticklish everywhere
34. The farthest place I've traveled has been Tahiti for my honeymoon
35. I would love to visit Italy
36. I think guy's feet are really gross, especially my husband's
37. I had a sticker collection as a kid
38. I also had a collection of stuffed animals and kept them in a net
39. I play the piano
40. I talk with my hands
41. I wish I had more motivation to exercise
42. I grab the "oh shit bar" of the car on average 2 times when Jim is driving somewhere
43. Jim's biggest pet peeve is me as a passenger seat driver
44. I always drive 5 miles above the posted speed limit
45. I've never gotten a speeding ticket
46. I've never been the driver in a car accident
47. I love to drink real hot chocolate in the winter, with cool whip and sprinkles
48. When I was in junior high I prayed and prayed to put on weight....now I pray and pray to take it off
49. I love throw blankets, Jim would kill me if I ever came home with anymore
50. I rarely am ever alone, and my house is rarely quiet
51. I love to sit and have drinks with my friends
52. Jim and I both played the saxophone in high school. I was definitely first chair, and he was second.......we will argue this point until we die
53. I like to listen to country music
54. I used to have a shirt that said : I'm naturally blond, please speak slowly--seriously
55. I scrapbook, but have now turned that all on-line, and blogging
56. I enjoy organizing, even though there are many days you can't tell by walking in my house
57. When I was pregnant with Lucy I craved break and bake cookies and ice cream (every night)
58. When I was pregnant with Kadence I craved hot dogs and pop tarts
59. I like my hair better short, but not butch short
60. Change makes me very anxious on the inside, but I don't always let it show
61. It's the girls nap time and I'm still in my pajamas
62. I love Christmas...I like to give better than receive
63. I hope to never stop learning
64. I am very blessed to have our entire family in Michigan now
65. I would much rather rent a movie and watch it at home then go to the theatre
66. I have a slight obsession with Bill Knapps chocolate cake
67. My car is a stick....
68. my first stick I drove from Kzoo to GR with Kelli, it was so stressful that I didn't drive it for like a week afterward
69. My favorite car was my yellow VW bug
70. I like to sing to my kids...I did not get the Herrema music genes
71. I wish I knew more stories about my grandparents
72. I like my eyes, bluish-grey
73. I was a cheerleader in high school
74. I my be one of the worst downhill skiers....this is something I do not enjoy anymore
75. My brothers and sister and I used to ice skate on our ponds and play hockey
76. I will never home school my kids
77. I am pro-life
78. I need to read more of the Bible
79. I am finally at a point in life that I can read books for fun again
80. My poor skin....I used to be such a sun worshiper...not as easy with kids
81. I love the beach, the smells, sounds, and warmth
82. Coming up with this list is much harder than I thought it would be, or maybe just more time consuming than I pictured
83. I am a perfectionist
84. I try....but am not a fashionista.....I rely on my friends to help me with this
85. I love necklaces
86. My favorite piece of jewelry is my engagement ring--Jim did an amazing job with no input
87. I have lots of moles, and I hate them
88. I have the worst teeth...I blame most of it on genetics....I swear half of our savings goes into my mouth.
89. I always have my toe nails painted
90. I try and keep my fingernails short, and never bother to paint them because I have to wash my hands too much as a nurse--it's just not worth it
91. I love laughing with my kids
92. My favorite TV shows right now are The Office, Biggest loser, and desperate housewives
93. You will also catch me watching say yes to the dress and toddlers and tiaras
94. Those pageant moms are crazy, and almost always fat
95. I am not afraid to do dirty work outside, like move a woodpile
96. Sometimes I think I share too many details with Lucy--it makes my jaw drop at times (like right now did you know she has a baby in her tummy, and I told her good mommy's that have babies in their tummy's need lots of sleep--it is suppose to be nap time--and she said don't worry, I already pushed it out)
97. I make applesauce every fall from the tree in our front yard
98. I love our house
99. One of my favorite times of day is when Jim gets home from work and we're all together
100. I did it! There are many days that I never get a chance to focus on me.......or write about me. I would love to read someone else's list--hint hint

What I really wanted to be doing today

I'm sure you all have "one of those days"....and that's what my work day was like...here's to better times:

living life as a young diva

ROAD TRIP...however far my car will take me

hanging with friends

Reading a good book

Enjoying the laughter of something so simple...like sticker art

Coloring with my girls, even if they decide to see what markers taste like

Watching Cinderella in my pj's on a featherbed with my best friend

Or really just pouting (what a lip!) and throwing a tantrum....

Doctor, Doctor, give me the news....

Dr. Koops assessing the situation

Charting by exception (actually by what sticker you want at the end: heart or x-ray)

Fixing the problem on the bear's hospital bed....don't bandaids cure all?

Happy Halloween

Another cold halloween in Michigan! Good thing we picked out such cute weather appropriate outfits! Seriously they were just too cute, and it was way too cold and windy!

The girls and their pumpkins

The "ghost" of Kadence..........ooooohhhhhh

Lucy loved pulling on Kady's doggie tail

Kady LOVED trick or treating....she was all into it only after a few houses. She knew exactly what to do, even without words...Lucy is such a good teacher! (Lucy was the first to get pooped out though and want to go back home)

THE LOOT! They didn't know what to do with it all!