Hi (insert your name here)!

Someone had once mentioned to me that they were not able to leave comments on our blog. I checked it out.. and changed the settings...... so it should work now.

Today- after getting out of the bathroom with one of the kids. I found Kierstin on top of the counter digging in the animal cracker container. She looked right at me and made a monkey sound... and then said "yummy yummy". I'm not really sure how she got up there... I'm assuming she pulled the chair over and climbed right on up. That's our chooch for ya.... a climbing little monkey!

Kierstin went on the potty twice yesterday! She was pretty proud of herself.. and I was pretty proud of my little girl too! I put some undies on her and later on she peed her pants. But right before she went she told me "POTTY"... and then peed. So she knew what was about to happen. I'm not going to push it on her though.. she is still young. Although, I might get her some pull-ups. She might think those are pretty neat!

Happy Mothers Day!... a little late

I have no picture from yesterday... we are still without a camera :( I had a great Mothers day! Kierstin colored me a picture with daddy and gave it to me Sunday Morning. Jamie was such a great guy throughout the day... cleaning for me... going and getting me things.. While I just sat around and did basically nothing :o) I like Mothers day!

I was thinking yesterday... It's hard to remember what it was like before I was a mom? (This pretty much sums it up) I know I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed. Now I like to go to bed by nine on the weekends! I brushed my hair every day- now it's thrown in a pony tail almost daily. Before I was a mom... I cleaned my house more.. I never tripped over toys laying around everywhere.. even the bathroom.. or basement! Before I was a mom.. I had never been puked on.. pooped on.. spit on.. chewed on.. or even peed on! I had complete control of my mind and My thoughts. I slept all night. I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could give shots!! I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep. I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn’t want to put it down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn’t stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my lifeso much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom as much as I do! I didn’t know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn’t know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn’t know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn’t know that something so small could make me feel so important. I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known The warmth, The joy, The love, The heartache, The wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn’t know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.....

So to all the Mommys out there... Happy Mothers day! (I know it's a day late) Actually, happy Mothers day to everyone.. we all mother each other in some way.

Loads of Love!

Hello Spring!!

Okay- There won't be any pictures up for awhile. We are without a camera for now :( I'm going crazy because I'm pretty "snap happy"! :(

We have been enjoying the nice weather out.. Yesterday we Rollerbladed and Biked over to the park. It's the first time we actually brought Kierstin to the park. (We have a pretty large swing set in our backyard). She didn't really know what to think? She of course went right for the swings.. something she could of done at home- but she loves them. She also loves to walk up the slides. I wonder why all kids think thats necessary?

Kierstin has managed to become more of a monkey these days. Her climbing skills amaze me! Awhile ago I found her in her room standing on her changing table. She saw me and immediately started making sounds like a monkey. I moved it in her closet and she still manged to get to the top of it. Under all her hanging clothes I could see her little grin. What a stinker. Her new thing is to pull the kitchen chairs somewhere so she can reach things. Her favorite is the telephone. She has figured out the button to record a message. (so if you call us- and you don't really know whats going on.. it's probably a message from Kierstin). I listened to our messages yesterday and there was one from her and Mollie. "Mommy Hi Mommy Daddy... " and then Mollie threw in a few "eena" (trina). And then I could hear myself saying "Kierstin get down" It was cute.

Kierstin has also taken on a new love for Apple Jacks. They are her new favorite food. She will eat sometimes 4 or 5 bowls for breakfast (keep in mind she never really finishes it.. but she thinks she needs a refill every few minutes). She sure has been a character lately- you know that "look" I was talking about last blog? Well.. she thinks it's funny to do it to her food now. Last night she did it to a French fry. She thought it was funny. And made sure both me and Jamie seen it. She cracks me up!

Kierstin has been a stinker lately. All about Mommy. I know I'm cool but seriously come on.. :o) She has been spending a lot of time with daddy lately. I have been doing a lot of running around this week doing a few things. She loves her daddy time... but as soon as I get in it's like.. whine whine whine.

I know I don't really write to much about what I'm up to... or Jamie. I guess Kierstin is pretty much our life now :o) It's funny how being a parent changes you. And how your priorities change. Plus- besides her our life isn't that interesting.

Well- hope everyone is having a great week!

Lots of love!

Oh and I got this as a fwd.. and thought it was a good read!
Happy Early Mothers Day!

This is for the mothers,

who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up puke laced with Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying, "It's okay honey, Mommy's here". Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies who can't be comforted.

This is for all the mothers,

who show up at work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purse. For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew Halloween costumes.

And all the mothers who DON'T.

This is for the mothers,

who gave birth to babies they'll never see.

And the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes.

This is for the mothers,

whose priceless art collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors. And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal bleachers at football , hockey or soccer games instead of watching from the warmth of their cars, so that when their kids asked, "Did you see me, Mom?" they could say, "Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world," and mean it.

This is for all the mothers,

who yell at their kids in the grocery store and swat them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream for ice cream before dinner. And for all the mothers who count to ten instead,

but realize how child abuse happens.

This is for all the mothers,

who sat down with their children and explained all about making babies. And for all the

(grand) mothers who wanted to, but just couldn't find the words.

This is for all the mothers,

who go hungry, so their children can eat. For all the mothers who read "Goodnight, Moon" twice a night for a year. And then read it again. "Just one more time."

This is for all the mothers,

who taught their children to tie their shoelaces before they started school.

And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead.

This is for all the mothers,

who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.

This is for every mother,

whose head turns automatically when a little voice calls "Mom?" in a crowd, even though they know their own offspring are at home – Or even away at college.

This is for all the mothers,

who sent their kids to school with stomach aches, assuring them they'd be just FINE once they got there, only to get calls from the school nurse an hour later asking them

to please pick them up Right away.

This is for mothers,

whose children have gone astray, who can't find the words to reach them.

For all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when

their 14 year olds dye their hair green.

For all the mothers of the victims of recent school shootings,

and the mothers of those who did the shooting.

For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs in horror,

hugging their child who just came home from school, safely.

This is for all the mothers,

who taught their children to be peaceful, and now pray they come home safely from a war.

What makes a good Mother anyway?

Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips? The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time? Or is it in her heart? Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time?

The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M.

to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby?

The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M. when you just want to hear

their key in the door and know they are safe again in your home?

Or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when you hear news of a fire,

a car accident, a child dying?

The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our thoughts are

for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation...

And mature mothers learning to let go.

For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.

Single mothers and married mothers.

Mothers with money, mothers without.

This is for you all. For all of us.

Hang in there. In the end we can only do the best we can.

Tell them every day that we love them. And pray.

18 months.... going on 16

Don't Give me that look

Such a big girl!

Kierstin is 18 months today!!! She sure is growing up fast! She started the day off with a total melt down. God forbid I go into the bathroom without her. I hardly get a shower in peace these days. She was out side the door screaming and banging on the door for me. She seemed to settle down after daddy had to give her a time out. It's really weird how she can be screaming like crazy and in a blink of an eye she's fine.... I guess I use to be able to do that as a child to. She sure has her fake cry down to a tee. Besides that we've had a pretty good day... oh besides the temper tantrum at the grocery store... UGH. We spent most the day outside- finally it's nice out again! Kierstin loves it outside and we now have to spell O-U-T-S-I-D-E she's ready to go out as soon as she gets up in the morning- she puts her shoes on and says Bub-bee (bub bye). It's pretty dramatic for her when we can't go "bub-bee"... or if we aren't quick enough to get out there.

Kierstin is pretty good at rolling her eyes these days.. it's kinda comical. You can just say "kierstin don't give me that look" and she'll give you this scowl. I attached a picture above of her giving her baby the look.

We did some shopping today.. home depot, old navy, target,pick and save... We are in the midst of putting new door knobs/lights/cabinets knobs around our house. We have this really yucky gold color everywhere in the house. I hate it. We are slowly going the way of the buffalo ( I really have no idea what that means? Jamie says that sometimes.. and I have no Idea what he's talking about). Anyways... Jamie is up stairs now trying to put the new light in the kitchen. Jamie managed to clean the garage out today to. It really needed it. Jamie has been doing a lot of things lately.. I think I'll keep him around ;)

Our house is a disaster though... I think that comes with spring/summer right? Instead of inside cleaning you're outside.. dragging the dirt back in. I should probably be cleaning instead of writing a blog I suppose.

Also wanted to note that today would of been Adams Birthday.. he would of been 25. Miss you buddy.

finally a post

So I haven't been keeping up much on the blog lately. I'll get better... I promise.
We just got back from Vacation a few days ago. It was extremely enjoyable. I really want to move to Arizona. I was very depressed to get off the plane to this freezing weather. I often wonder why I live in Wisconsin... out of all the places... why Wisconsin? I suppose warm weather will come eventually?? We missed Kierstin like crazy.. but got to talk on the phone to her every day. She is getting to be a little gabber mouth. She cracks me up.

On vacation we got to relax, gamble (I won 300$.. woo hoo), take a boat ride, see the grand canyon, golf, go to vegas... it was very very nice. And beautiful... especially the grand canyon.. it was breath-taking!!! We had so much fun... If I didn't miss kierstin so much- I think I might of just stayed forever!!!!

I got my wisdom teeth taken out yesterday... I was expecting to be in major pain today- and actually I'm feeling pretty good. I still find it weird that they can just put you to "sleep" in 30 seconds and you wake up later - remembering nothing. I'm glad I finally got them taken out.. they were starting to really bother me!!!

Well.. it wont be another month before my next post....
Hope all is well
Love to you all!
:)

Vacation Slide Show

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Me and the Beautiful Bride!

Some friends From High School!

This is her "I'm being a stinker" face

I'm not Irish.. (at least I don' think)... but figured I'd wish everyone a happy St. Patrick's day! Mostly because I couldn't think of a title!

Here is a new list of Kierstin's words she's saying! (some are repeats.. and I'm probably forgetting some)

1. Ball
2. Big Bird
3. baby
4. ba ba
5. moo moo
6. kitty
7. puppy
8. woof woof
9. three
10. duck
11. more
12. bite
13. thank you
14. tee tee tee (tickle)
15. daddy
16. mommy
17. beep beep
18. bath
19. yeah!
20. nigh nigh
21. naughty
22. HI
23. bye
24. bub bye
25. la la
    
26. Justin
27. Mollie
28. Ayla
29. potty
30. diaper
31. butt
32. hot
33. brrr
34. stinky
35. rhyme out
36. paper
    

- that's all I can think of-

I headed to Lewiston this weekend for a Friends wedding. It was great seeing my friends and catching up on life.. and reminiscing about old times! Funny - we are all married now and having kids. Seems like yesterday we were talking about boys and starting drama. I love how I hadn't talked to some friends for awhile.. but I was able to just pick up where we left off. Heather was absolutely beautiful! It was great to see her so happy and in love.

Jamie stayed here with Kierstin. He had a little trouble with the door over the weekend! He went to get the mail and the door handle broke off - so he was locked outside.. and Kierstin inside. Luckily the neighbor was able to jimmy rig it open some how. How scary though- especially with Kierstin.. who knows what kind of trouble she could get into! I'm pretty sure I would of just busted the window. Glad he didn't though. One time Frodo (our cat) locked us out of the house.. but, that's another story :D

Kierstin is busy as ever.. but whats new? She is a spit ball of energy.. she is like the energizer bunny.. keeps going and going and going. She absolutely loves to watch me cook. She gets pretty mad that she can't see whats going on -from where she's standing. So that almost always leads to her hanging on my leg whining to be held. Maybe she'll be cooking for us soon?

Kierstin likes to say HI to everyone these days.. especially when we are in a store- EVERYONE that she sees- she says "HI" to.. it's actually really adorable. One time at Walmart the cashier told her she was cute and she said "thank you". What a stinker! She is so smart... she blows me away with all the things she does.. and understands. It amazes me!

HOPE EVERYONE HAS A GREAT WEEK!
OUR LOVE- TO YOU