Patience is a virtue

I can only imagine how frustrating it must be to not be able to get your own shoes on. BUT she did figure it out all on her own! :)

Talking on the phone

It starts early these days!

Bubbles are awesome

Playing bubbles with Daddy and Ramsey!

baby dancing!

We can thank the Toddler Tunes channel on digital cable for the killer dance moves!

The poor man's scrapbook

So I have very high aspirations of scrapbooking Jenna's life, but am also realistic that I simply do not have the time to create pretty pages in a formal book.

Rather, I have been updating a Word doc I have saved on the laptop every few days with little tid bits of info about Jenna..things she is saying, doing, little things that happen. All those things I think I will remember but somehow find a way to forget about.

Just looking back at entries from the past couple months there are already things I had an "oh yea! I remember that" moment.

So, while there are no ribbons or stencils involved, I am so glad I have started this.

Now I need to back the info on the laptop to the external hard drive so I do not lose it!

Thank you early mall hours

Today we got up and dropped my car off for service...as usual we had an early start to the day and as usual wer etrying to decide how we would be spending the day aka entertaining Miss Jenna. Jeff had the brilliant idea to take Jenns to the mall sicne it opened early and not many other kids would be there.

We had so much fun. She played in the play areas a bit but mostly enjoyed walking through the mall like a big girl. She walks / runs with such a purpose! At one point she reached up, took my hand with her right hand and grabbed Jeff's with her left and we walked through the mall like that. She would look up at us and smile. It was so cute and one of those moments I will remember when she is all grown up and wants nothing to do with us :)

What a difference a year makes!

I made this online - CRAZY how much she has changed :)

Been awhile since we pulled an all nighter

Last night was one of those nights where you earn your stripes as a parent. Jenna has had a crackly chest cough for a couple days, the sneezing and runny nose started yesterday and then last night the fever started and her inability to sleep (i am guessing ear infection).

It had been a LONG time since we pulled an all nighter. We were up with her watching Nick Jr, trying to get her to drink water and pushing Motrin and Benadryl. So long as she was upright she was better. Sigh. Meanwhile my eyes are burning and I just want to lie in bed.

I see pictures on Facebook of friends' babies napping on the couch, etc. Jenna will not sleep anywhere but where she is supposed to (crib, pack n play or her cot at school). I guess we did TOO good of a job "not letting her" sleep on our bed etc. Last night I would have paid for her to sit upright on the couch and fall asleep.

Im taking her to the oed at 11.30. Not that I hope she has an infection, but I bet he will say "Its a bad virus plus teething. Go home." At least I will know I got her checked out.

The things I get excited about now

Today Jenna was pooping in her diaper...she tries to "hide" now when she goes. After she was done, we asked her "Did you poo poo in your diaper?

She just stared at us.

We then say "Do you want your diaper changed?"

She immediately hauled ass to her room, laid down on the floor (where we change her diaper now) and put her feet up in the air. It was insane! Very cool and we were so proud that she understood and is starting to notice potty related events. Potty training will be awesome - can not wait to get rid of diapers!

My how the thing I get excited about have changed...!

Music & Pizza

Video of Jenna enjoying 2 of her favorite things - music (on a commercial on TV) and pizza.



I love seeing her dance!

Jumping!

Jenna is a crazy woman and likes to go fast and be jostled around / rough housed - good thing Jeff likes theme parks bc I can't hang. Today Jeff was jumping with her and she was signing more and ramdonly started saying "Jump!"

3 weeks from today...

We will be in the car with a toddler starting our trek to NC for Christmas! I am excited and so nervous all at the same time. I feel like it is a rite of passage of sorts to make a road trip with a baby so here we go!

Of course, tips for car travel are always welcomed.

I CANNOT believe Christmas is 3 weeks from friday. I cannot wait to get home, see our families, meet my parents' new puppy, go to Kan Pai for Jeannie's bday dinner, eat good food and even enjoy the cooler weather.

:-)

My friend had a baby today

A former co-worker of mine delivered her first child today. As I heard the news, I of course was so happy for her and glad to hear that mom and baby were both well, but I also had this thought of "She has no clue how much her life is about to change. In. Every. Way."

People say that to you when you re pregnant or a new Mom..."You have no clue....Wait for this...Wait for that." And it is true there is no way to prepare someone for what parenthood brings - the good, the bad and the ugly.

I remember my Mom saying to me after Jenna was born, "Now you have a true idea as to how much I love you." Indeed and about how much she "gave up" or changed in her life to do so.

I try to give advice and insight to friends that are expecting and I tend to be an open book and very honest. So, I do not paint it all as sunshine and roses, because it just isn't. Life does not work that way. Yes, there are moments when I think "what have I done!?"

But so many more of the moments are looking at our daughter, not believing that she grew in my stomach and I delivered her and that she is now this walking, talking, laughing, happy, healthy, beautiful little girl that I am SO proud of and could cry just looking at.

So much development lately

I had read that the 15th month is a big one in terms of cognitive development and man do I see it!

Jenna is starting to really "get" things...we tell her to sit on her chair, she goes and sits down. We ask her if she wants something she says "no" , not just shaking her head. She is saying SO many more words and will say things like "Ribbit" when she sees a frog. I know I can thank Primrose for a lot of that - they work with the kids alot with reading, flashcards, etc.

It is so much fun to see her learn and grow. I also CAN see the tantrums starting though and the frustration from not being able to tell us exactly what is going on in her little head. But, the signing does help and a lot of patience for mom and dad.

So, yeah, the terrible 2s do not wait for that 2nd Bday...

So glad we put the tree up

I had seriously considered not putting a Christmas tree up this year. I had heard horror stories from other moms about how their babies had torn them down, hurt themsleves, made things stressful etc.

Jenna LOVES the tree. She actually tried to plug it in herself when we get home so she can see the lights. We have told her to touch things "nicely." She puts her hands behind her back when she is trying so hard not to touch! See below...

Do not get me wrong, we have had a few broken ornaments after a moment of her yelling "BALL" and smacking one (I forgot how tall she is!). :)

The time has come

I knew it was on it's way - the time when we could no longer take Jenna out to nicer restaurants. McDs? Sure. Local pizza joint? OK. But a sit down seafood joint with friends? Not so much.

I was THAT Mom - chasing her around tables and following her around the place while the rest of my party ate (of course Jeff took a couple turns too.)

It was either that or listen to her scream while being confined to a highchair. So, I opted for walking around. Oh, and once she realized that people in the palce actually LIKED her coming over, it was on.

It's not that she is being bad - she is just being a normal toddler.

So, it is babysitter or qucik and easy dining for awhile :)

Working on Daddy's laptop

Jenna letting us know it is time to eat!

Jenna LOVES to eat. She now not only signs it to us but walks into the kitchen and attacks her high chair!

Jenna playing with Ramsey!

We are so proud of our 2 babies playing well together :)