>For some time I have speculated, but I now feel confident in saying that along with “Dog” Thea also says “all done.” After she nurses she will pull herself away from me and she says, “ah-da.” Since we use the sign for “all done” and ask her if she is finished at the dinner table, this makes sense to me, oh, and its cute.
>Anyone in Iowa City can tell you that if you want to see some huge bald eagles, go hang out by the river during the winter time. We decided that today’s 35 degree weather warranted a trip out to see what we could see. I guess we picked a bad spot to stalk the eagles though, because the only ones we saw were so far away that Leila didn’t really get much of a look at them.
Just think how much better this will look with my new camera though? ; )
>In a discussion at work today with a couple of friends, one of which is 6 months pregnant with twins, the subject of a “push present” came up. Now, if you know me, then you know that extravagant gifts are not a part of my everyday reality, but in 2006 when there were no daycare and diaper bills, I was pleasantly surprised to receive diamond stud earrings on the day my first daughter was born. They are beautiful and simple. Princess cut just like my engagement ring, and I wear them every day, only taking them out for cleanings. Leila happened to be born 2 days before my 2 year anniversary so whether I was given a “push present” or an anniversary gift is debatable, it was a bit of a two-for-one.
Fast forward 3 years and life is a lot different in our little family. One thing is the same though, I was having a baby. The idea of a push present didn’t even enter my mind, I had bigger things to worry about, like busting out of the hospital, getting home to Leila and cuddling up with my new baby in my own bed!
When Cory and I pulled up to the house with our new little baby on board I opened the door knowing that my parents and sisters were there to greet us, but I was also greeted with one of my favorite smells…fresh brownies…yum. Two important dessert eating facts about Tricia: 1. I love brownies. 2. The chewy edge pieces are my favorites. Thus introducing my “push present”:
>This picture isn’t from today, and actually I am going to schedule this to post tomorrow.
This baby carrier was a gift, quite possibly the best baby gift I have gotten. It is an item that costs more than I would have spent, but is worth every penny. This carrier is an ergo, and though I have used it lots with both Thea and my nephew Sawyer, this is the first time I have worn Thea on my back.
>Went well, I will update with pictures later, but right now I can’t seem to locate my card reader to load them…plus, we aren’t done…ugh. Thanks to my Daddy, the best painter I know for his awesome work! 🙂
Here are some pictures of our weekend’s work…
What Leila did with her Aunties and Grandma while we worked…
>Another reason that I am not a fan of the Holiday season….the adjustment to “real life” again.
We came home from a weekend in Tabor planning to start off the next day on our regular routine again, instead Leila came down with the stomach flu and we spent the next 3 days at home. Though Thea and I escaped the pukefest, I have not felt well all week. Leila is back to her regular self and is bouncing off the walls with excess energy that I can’t match or even begin to deplete.
The house is a huge mess, I am behind at work and we have A LOT of work ahead of us to get ready to sell the house. This weekend is painting, hopefully the fresh paint will get us off to a fresh start for 2010. Spring can’t get here fast enough!
>If I am going to manage to blog every day for a month, you should expect some snoozers here and there…
When grocery shopping must happen after work, we tend to make a stop at Taste Of China for dinner. The woman who works at the cash register there recognizes us, both by our order and by our faces.
Cory always gets General Tso’s Chicken, I normally get Kung Pao but not today…stomach is not up for it today. The girls get chicken Lo Mein with no veggies…I know, totally healthy.
Tonight Leila wanted to try out chopsticks like daddy.
She did not want to hear the snap of the sticks coming apart though!
>
1. Drink 8 glasses of water every day for three weeks (0/21)
2. Work out 3 times a week (A dollar a week!)
3. No fast food for one month (0/30)
4. No beer/alcohol for one month (0/30)
5. No fried foods for a month (0/30)
6. Stop eating chips for one month (0/30)
7. A day without pop (A dollar a day!)
8. Finish Couch to 5K program (I think this deserves a bonus…maybe 50 bucks?)
9. Self Breast Exam each month (0/12)
10. Try a vegetable I have never had
11. Grow and eat my own veggies
12. Go a week with no carry out
13. Unplug’ for 3 evenings a week – no Internet, no TV
14. Set up weekly cleaning routine schedule
15. Stick to weekly cleaning routine (0/52)
16. Make my bed every day for a month (0/30)
17. Organize and back-up all digital photos

18. Work a volunteer shift at the food pantry
19. Attend Church service
20. Read a book
21. Complete an online PMP Prep module
22. Find a podcast related to work and listen to it once a week
23. Make cookies and mail some to someone I am thinking of
24. Take a trip to visit my brother
25. Go on a girls night out
26. Go on a date with my husband
27. Send a random gift to a friend
28. Send a card to someone I’ve lost touch with
29. Send Christmas Cards
30. Visit a brewery
31. Visit a winery
32. Not log into facebook for a whole week.
33. Blog every day for 30 days straight (11/30)
34. Blog about items I complete on my list
35. Read Bible every day for one month (0/30)
36. Donate to Charity
37. Donate blood
38. Take the girls somewhere fun/educational that they have never been to (1)
39. Make a homemade gift
40. Pay off the credit card
41. Freeze 5 meals for later use
42. Deliver homemade dinner to a friend
43. Spend a day with just Leila
44. Spend a day with just Thea
45. Take the kids on a picnic
46. Visit a park we haven’t been to
47. Try a new work out 3 times (0/3)
48. 30 days with no Candy (0/30)
49. Teach Leila a new game or song
50. Sew something I haven’t made before
51. Visit a zoo
52. Call a family member I don’t often talk to
53. Make a new craft project with Leila
"We are not put on this earth for ourselves, but are placed here for each other. If you are always there for others, then in time of need, someone will be there for you.
-- Jeff Warner
"What I want to say to you is that sometimes life catches you by surprise and you feel unequipped to handle what it brings you, but every bit of life you've lived before that moment equips you to live through it. That's what I would give to you."
-Fanni Victoria Green-Lemons (talking to her daughter)
If there is any secret to this life I live, this is it: the sound of what cannot be seen sings within everything that can, there is nothing more to it than that.
"The most important thing she'd learned over the years was that there was no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one."
-Jill Churchhill
Jumping Daisy 