christmas 2011

Our season of 2011 christmas has  been on going. We started celebrating the holiday on Christmas eve at my parents house and we will have our last celebration of Christmas tonight, new years eve. In total we had five Christmas celebrations! Audrey actually opened presents this year compared to last year where she just tried to eat the paper. She obviously doesn’t get to the concept of what Christmas is all about, but the skill I’m working on this year is waiting while other people open presents and that it’s not all about “her” getting presents. The holiday is always such a wonderful time to reflect on the past year, more so that the new year will be here tomorrow. Our family is so thankful for a healthy and happy year. We’ve had many changes in our life this past year, but I would say they have all been great changes. We left the city life to a more rural slower life. Kenneth and I both started new jobs. Audrey is living and loving being in the same town as her grandparents evans. We have started a family ritual of having Sunday night dinner with my parents.

As I’m sitting here on the couch at Dan & Ruth’s, I’m thinking how lucky I am. I was laying on the couch reading a book (Hot Sweaty Mama), Audrey is napping and I looked out the window and I see my husband going crazy on the four wheeler. He’s like a little kid…going up and down on the street and going in circles. I’m guessing he is having so much fun because we finally have SNOW to enjoy! Audrey played outside for an hour and a half with her grandma this morning! They have a good 5-6 inches here…we had none in Roseau when we left yesterday. I feel even more blessed as I look over at the Christmas tree and see soo many gifts under the tree still. We truly are blessed with an amazing family. Now I just say Grandma Dan cruising on the four wheeler…he’s acting like a little kid out there now tooJ

Last night I took in a good movie with Ruth, New Years Eve. It was a great movie to reflect on what new years is all about. Reflecting on the past year and setting goals for the upcoming year. Here is the start of my new year goals.

-complete the insanity series

-run a 10k (fargo) or DL ½ marathon

-be blessed every day.

-try to always make someone else’s day better

-do an outing with Audrey at least once a week (park/swimming/games…etc)

-always find the positive in every situation

-become stronger…physically, mentally, emotional, and spiritually

-save my money from surveys & scentsy to buy an iphone with internet and or ipad

 

Beyond these goals I have set for myself on the upcoming year I also want to continue to raise a healthy, disciplined and happy girl. We feel blessed that she has been relatively healthy. I do believe that her health is partially a reflection of being structured with a routine (eating, napping, sleeping).  I want to her to become herself, but at the same time help guide and give her guidance of being a respectful child.

 

18 months

Audrey 18 months

Audrey, where has time gone? It amazes me that you are a year and half years old. There are many ladies I know, that who had baby’s the same time Audrey arrived. It amazes me how these women function with a child the same age as Audrey and another peanut on the way or already arrived. Audrey you keep me so busy. Maybe it’s because I don’t know how to multitask with a beautiful baby/toddler in my presences.  J This age, 18 months, is such a fun time to watch you develop. It amazes me how well you can comprehend questions I ask or commands I tell you. You are becoming a smart girl who loves to dsicover things. You already try to test your parents. Most recently if your dad says “no,” you come crying to me saying, mommmmmy. At night when you wake up you call…mommmmy? Mommmmy! On a typical night if I find your nuki for you, you go right back to bed. We have removed your bumper from your bed….therefore your nuki falls out of your crib.

You are still a good eater, but have been finicky the past few days. You prefer milk or water over juice. Recently you have had an obsession with crackers and pickles. You love baby dolls, working on puzzles, watching baby Einstein movies, laying on the couch with dad before bed, lying in bed with mom, going to papa and mama’s hosue, turning on the Christmas lights and saying “ooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhh” with big big eyes. If I ask you what Santa says…your response is “ho ho ho.” You are such a delightful little girl! 18d.jpg (image/jpeg) 1,336K18month.jpg (image/jpeg) 1,036K DSC03615.JPG (image/jpeg) 2,410K

First Basketball Game

Kenneth had his first basketball game as a head coach in Roseau. It was a very exciting game...between both teams the biggest margin of points was 3 the whole game. It was exciting from the start to the end! Roseau scored with 6 seconds left to go up by 1 point. Within those last 6 seconds, Lake of the Woods took the ball from one end of the court to the other end and ALMOST scored. Thankfully they didn't. :) Here is a picture of Audrey after we got home from the game, of course I forgot to bring my camera with to the game. A girl named Ellie, gave Audrey a ring pop and oh my...did Audrey love it! We even got to see Grandma/Grandpa Hayden. They made the trip up for the game and we enjoyed watching it with them!!!!

painting

Audrey enjoyed the world of painting for her first time, Sunday December 4th, 2011. Your dad totally didn't think we needed to introduce you to paint yet, but I insisted it's a kid thing! You made a hand print christmas tree and also painted with paint brushes.

Penny Saver

Audrey, you are doing such a good job at saving your coins. Whenever you find a coin on the floor, couch, or anywhere you run and it put it in your piggy bank. I also noticed yesterday that you have learned to go to your dad when you want money. But you need to remember to ask him first before you take...

What Audrey's up too at 17 1/2 months

What Audrey’s up too…

 

Being busy

Standing on the edge of her crib, trying to climb in and out

Eating popsicles

Wanting her nook a-l-o-t

Jumping in her crib and says “boing, boing, boing,” while jumping around

Doesn’t want her diaper on or tells you when she poops

Climbing on .everything

Weighs 29 pounds 12 oz

Has been eating with her fingers again lately, had been using utensils very good before

Drinking out of cups

Doesn’t like baths or showers

Hates putting her coat on

Reading books

Pulling out all of the towels in the kitchen drawer and throwing them on the floor

 

 

 

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is always a great time of the year, a time to reflect on what you’re thankful for. We have spent thanksgiving with both sides of the family Since moving to Roseau, I think we will create a tradition of spending thanksgiving with the Runyan side of the family as we see the Evans’ side many times throughout the year. By spending thanksgiving with the Runyans, it’s another opportunity we get to see that side of the family. The Runyans’ have created a thanksgiving tradition that is something I look forward to each year. We go shopping in Brainerd on Black Friday. I would have to vote this year was the most peaceful shopping there has ever been with stores opening at midnight; we left at 3:30am. I got about 80% of the Christmas Shopping done!!

I’m thankful for a relativity healthy and happy family. Since return home from thanksgiving, Audrey got the flu! L Tuesday night after work we headed over to a friend’s house for a play date. Audrey had been pretty needed since returning from our vacation, but that is partly her personality. We got home at about 6:15pm and I went to lay Audrey down for bed at 7:05 and she just stared at me as I laid her in the crib…and there it came. L All over her face, eyes…yuck. Let’s just say, after 2 new sheets in the crib, 2 carpet cleanings and 2 wood floor cleanings our girl was fast asleep at 9:15pm. Audrey’s Great Aunt Audrey was transferred to the grand forks hospital for an infection she has. They were doing surgery when she arrived last night…add her to your prayer list!

I’m blessed I get to spend today at home with Audrey, even though she is under the weather. I get to stay home with her two extra days next week as her daycare has vacation and I’m taking the two days off from work.

 

happy anniversary

this past week my parents celebrated their 30 wedding anniversary. kenneth and i volunteered to organize a party/get together to celebrate such an accoplishment...however my parents just wanted us to join by attending the lifecare medical center gala. it's one of the most elegant events held around roseau. it's a fundraiser for the lifecare medical centers in roseau county. if you were just an average person wanting to attending a dinner plate cost $75.00. however you can buy a table for 4+ people at a much higher rate which includes many adventurous things to try (wine, food, etc.) it reminded me of an adult prom :) there are many (100 +) items for silent auctions, live actions, deal or no deal, or last chance raffles. the auction items went between $25.00 to $1,000+). the theme of this years event was "global partnership." therefor we tried many different types of global foods. my favorite was the steak and cake :)

redo20

I'm blank because...

 

I’m weird because…
I can’t sleep with my hair in a pony tail.
I don’t drink more than two glasses of water a day.
I don’t like when people wear shoes in my house.
I like Doritos with nacho cheese and nacho chips with cream cheese/salsa /cheese/taco sauce.
I wish for something whenever its 2:22, 1:11….etc.
I probably make my daughter kiss me 15 times a day.
I could eat pasta 4 times a week.
I have never cut my daughters toe nails.
I only eat salads with ranch dressing.
I take a bath twice a week.
I wouldn’t spend more than $20.00 on a purse.
I almost always go straight to the clearance section in a clothing store.
I HATE when dishes are left in the sink overnight.
I do a happy dance when I get a package in the mail.
I don’t eat breakfast during the week.

I’m a bad friend because…
I’m not great at responding to messages right away.
I make myself too busy and don’t spend enough time with friends.
Often when a friend talks, I always try to relate to what they are talking about. Sometimes I just need to listen…

I’m a good friend because…
I want to see those I love succeed.
I love friendship, I wouldn’t be me without my friends.
I love my friends kiddos like they are my own.
You can show up at my house at midnight to talk about your bad day.
I’m always up for a girls night.
I enjoying doing activities and events with friends.

I’m sad because…
I wish all my family lived closer.
I wouldn’t be seeing my sister and brother along with their families for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
I too often get consumed with being a mom.
I sometimes let little things get in the way.
I miss shopping at Carters Outlet and Trade Secret Outlet.
I miss working in a school and teaching kids, sharing resources, and having a regular schedule.
I miss my mommy friends and kids in Delano.

I’m happy because…
My family is healthy and happy.
I have my “own” house.
We are building the life we wanted.
Audrey is beautiful.
My husband is my best friend.
My job is amazing flexible.

I’m excited for…
Making some DIY projects.
Black Friday Shopping.
Snowman building with Audrey & Ken.
Christmas decorating.
Cousins laughing.
Eating a lot of food over the holidays.
Playing games.
Movie watching on life time with my mother in law.
Family time.

a little fun

thanks to my dear friend, chantel vatnsdal, i've been having a blast taking some photo's of audrey and editing them. i'm so excited to be able to use her camera as i hope to capture the perfect photo of "not sure what" to turn it into a canvas for our living room. enjoy these photos

audrey jane...catching up

Audrey contiunes to grow and change daily. It seems over the past week she has just really started to comprehend your questions even more. When I ask her a question...I truly believe she understands what I'm asking. She has her opinion about everything. She never wants to nap or go to bed...if you ask her..."no."

She continues to be a great eater...the only thing she doesn't love is meat. She will always try it, but then spits it out. It must be the texture she doesn't dig. The only type of meat she eats on a regular basis is hamburger meat if it's a hot dish or spaghetti. She loves milk and water. She never asks for juice but will drink it when it's offered.

Audrey sleeps pretty well. This past week she slept straight through the night solid. Then the last two nights she has woken up to have a drink and goes back to sleep within 2 minutes when I start to rock her. It seems as if for the past couple months her sleeping goes in streaks. She will sleep great for a week or two then regress by waking up in the night. I think it's something to do with teething. She has 12 teeth, including 4 molars. With all of her molars she never needed any medication for them. I must comment that I love how well Audrey goes to bed. For about the past month or two....Audrey has been going down without any tears. I walk her into her room, say her prayer, get mr. bear, lay her next to mr. bear, cover her up with a blanket and say goodnight. Before I used to tell Audrey it was time for bed, walk her into her room, say her prayer, lay her in her crib and walk out. Now I guess I show a little more love. :)

Audrey has started to be an avid climber...climbing chairs, stairs, onto the bay window etc. She loves loves loves playing with baby dolls. She tries to feed them milk from her sippy cup. Burps their backs, lay's them in a crib/chair. She is a little rough at times with her dolls...but has never been rough towards real baby's! Which is good. Audi loves to hold her cousin, Elsie. Whenever Elsie comes over...she runs to her and tries to pick her up to hold her...adorable!

Having grandparents in the same town of us, is one of the best things ever. It amazes me how well they connect and respond. It's such a blessing for Audrey to be able to have them right here and help out whenever we need someone. We have started a tradition of doing Sunday night dinners with my parents. I think it's something that is very special and our kids will grow up having that tradition. It's a way we will always make sure we seem them once a week (often times we see them multiple times during the week though). Not only do I feel blessed that we have my parents here...but family. Last night Audrey got to enjoy playing with her second cousin, Camren, after dinner. They played catch, tickled each other, looked at books, hugged and just were able to enjoy that time together.

Pumpkins/Halloween

Here are some update pictures of Audrey from Halloween. Audrey dressed us as a Lion. The first day we put her costume on...she didn't like it! The fur around her face was driving her crazy. Then we put it on her, on the actual day of Halloween and she wore the thing ALL DAY! For Halloween they had a party at daycare, so they ate treats, bobbed for apples, did projects and shared their treats.
We went to a few houses for trick or treating and then came home to give out candy. Every time our doorbell rang, Audrey would run to the door and just look at the costumes.

apple

is it called an obsessison if daughter asks for an apple about 6 or 7 times a day? she does eat at least one a day. i'll just keep the old saying in mind....an apple a day keeps the dr away.

updates!!

man, i'm sorry it's been forever. i had a few people ask me if i quit blogging...but i was just on a temporary leave of absence. :) almost everyday i would think to myself, i should update the blog and it never got done! tonight i have an event for work in greenbush, so i have some free time for about an hour and thought i'd update you on life.

so updates on my last blogs....morning workouts...went extremely well and i was happy with how i felt about myself. for some reason thought i have not gone in two weeks. my hope is to start doing that again. the days i would work out in the morning, i felt soo much better/healthier/happy all day long.

potty training, went good while we kept up at it. my plan was to introduce audrey to the potty, then when she started daycare (September) to back off and see if audrey seemed interested in it on her own. the answer was no. about two weeks later she would tell us poopy if she was pooping or gas...however the next week our daycare provider was going to be gone (husband having hip surgery) so we didn't really want to start the process and have to take a break while audrey went to her back up provider. so we just thought we'd wait. were still waiting mostly because i feel i have no time for it right now.

ken's job is going good. i think he has a good handle on how the schools up north work and operate. there aren't as many young males in this school as to how many there were in st. michael, so i think it took some to realize that he will just have old friends. :) his cross country team has one meet left, the section meet on Friday. he has been very busy preparing for the upcoming basketball season.

i got a job. it's not my dream job, but it's been a great job so far. i'm the director of little brother/little sister program in roseau, lake of the woods, & kitson county. that job is only part time, but they had another part time job in the head start classrooms for me to assist with. so i pretty much work full time, however the job is sooo flexiable. no two days are alike, i'm in the office and doing a lot of traveling throughout the four counties that we provide services too.

audrey is growing so much. her hair is getting longer, her personality is developing, she walks/runs/talks all day. she sleeps pretty good. i would say about every other night she wakes up at some point and wants to be rocked back to sleep. her last dr apportionment was rather interesting. she didn't want to be in the room/dr office...but we survived.

between audrey and i, we've been to the clinic once a week for the past month. it's a good thing one of my friends works there...i have something to look forward too when we go. :)

this past weekend, MEA, we spent in ada. it was a great weekend, relaxing, watching volleyball, and hanging out with grandparents. ruths volleyball team won the moorhead tourney (alot of a, aa, and aaa schools). they won some huge games!!

enjoy these pictures and i'll post more.

Morning Workouts

This morning was my first day of doing a workout at 6 am. I love the feeling ALL DAY LONG of not having to think....when am I going to work out today? Nap time? No...I like to get other stuff then...Ahhh working out is one of those stresses for me...always on my mine unless it's done. All day today I have felt so relaxed, able to enjoy the day, enjoy Audrey, and get other stuff done without thinking about when I'm going to do it.

I went for a jog outside it was 3.7 miles long, about 30 minutes long. It was very peaceful to enjoy the morning, wave to people headed to work, see other walkers/joggers, and clear the brain time. My goal is to keep working out in the morning before school starts. I'm thinking I want to go run 2 or 3 days and then do circuit training the other 2/3 days. If I do really good at being dedicated to this I'm planning on taking the weekends off. Please help keep me accountable and ask how they are going or IF I'm still doing them.

potty update

The weekend we were up at the lake. Everything was busy and new. She wanted to go go and keep playing. She would still "sit" on the potty in the morning, before nap, after snack, supper, and bedtime....but she would sometimes sit for 2 minutes and sometimes 5. Since being back at home for less than 48 hours she has been more than willing to go sit on the potty for long periods of time (sometimes 2 minutes up to 25 minutes when I tell her were done all done trying). We look at books, play, talk, and eat cookies or popsicle. She has gone pee on the potty two different times, both times being in the morning after she wakes up. After she went pee, we put her diaper back on...within an hour she had peed more in her diaper. I even thought she peed ALOT in the potty. I'm thinking we will need to add in another time in the morning, because the time from waking up to before nap is a long time to hold it/not try. :)  Today after lunch, she sat on the potty for about 25 minutes and then I told her we were all done. She immediately stood up, picked up her diaper and handed it to me. As I proceeded to put the diaper on her, she then sat up in my lap and I felt warmness rush into her diaper!!! That stinker!! Oh the joys of potty training.

Someone suggest to me that kids will purposely hold there pee on the potty until you put a diaper back on because that is their security. They've been used to peeing in that thing for the past year. I was doing some reading at http://pottytrainingearly.com/ and they have two different methods of potty training. One allows your child to go bottomless for a few days or wear underwear...then they lose that security feeling of the diaper. You are prone to have accidents the first days but I guess they say it works.

I talked with our child care provider today as I figured she was going to think we were nuts for doing this. Audrey is starting child care when school starts and I'm subbing. But she was completely on board with it. Plus it helps that her numbers wouldn't be too big right when school starts as a handful of kids will be headed back to school. So time will tell how this will contiune to go....but I'm hopeful. I'm not anywhere near ready to "give up." As that will only make it more challenging later I hear.

:)

call me crazy

Audrey is going to start using a potty to go to the bathroom. She woke up dry 3 out of the last 4 nights and is very interested in playing/sitting on the toilet. We had picked up a little potty chair at a garage sale for at Grandma & Grandpa's house. We will bring that one to there house when her new one arrives in the mail. :) Again, I maybe crazy but I'm willing to try. We have a system down that she will sit on the potty when she wakes up in the morning, before lunch, after nap, before dinner, and before bed time. Now this is just our first attempt at this...there is another method that seemed rather interested to me where you let your baby be naked at home to learn to see the signs of when they need to go to the bathroom (bouncing, fidgeting, rocking...ect). After you learn those signs, every time you see them doing the signs...you bring them to the potty. Strange.

I was starting to think I was crazy for trying this at an early stage, but the more researching I've done....the more normal I feel. There is actaully a thing called "Elimination Communication" where you virtually potty train your baby from birth. Weird, but so fascinating to me! If you know nothing about it (as I didn't), google it...you can learn something new today.

glimmer of potty training hope

Yesterday and today I've had some thoughts when Audrey has waken up. Her diaper has been dry as a clean diaper both days when she has waken up. Could it possible she's ready to be potty trained? Joke, I know that is far away...but hey maybe it's a sign she will be ready sooner than later when we get to that point of parenting days. :)

Here are some photo's form the past week. Audrey is talking more and more. Loves being outside, playing with her baby doll, playing with her new play kitchen, playing with my old drivers license, going to the ball park to run in the out field, and sleeping in! Audrey loved eating veggies from the garden and fresh fish! She is starting to like to eat meat ( turkey with cheese dogs :) )!!

difference in child care

I thought it would be eye opener for some people to see some of the difference between child care in the metro versus rural northern minnesota.

Metro                            

Must put down deposit- 2 weeks      

$150.00 a week, no free days                                       
Pay every week, on a specific day                                                  
Must put money down to hold your spot, if child hasn't started yet                   

 

Rural Northern Minnesota

No deposit required

Can do drop in for $22.00 a day, 3 days (part time) a week $18.00/day, or 4 or 5 days (full time) a week $18.00/day

  Pay every other Friday, or else when it's convenient for you

No money down, just pay when you start

 

Things that are the same:

Paperwork is the same

Praying that the care will be the same

Lots of toys and activities

Spends a lot of time outside

We have had good luck with child care provider thus far in life!!

What were up too....

Everyday Audrey is amazing me by how much she is growing and changing. Her 8th tooth finally came through with the 9th one working it's way in. She has been sleeping great (12 hrs a night/ 2-3 hr nap). We think she must be doing some major growing with all the sleep she is doing. It suprises me how much she can comprehend. If you ask her, "should we go outside?" YAH, get's excited and runs to the door and waits. If you ask her if she wants to eat...she waddles fast to her high chair and hangs on it until you lift her up. She is defently not afraid and enjoys testing the limit. In our house we have a bay window, one day I looked to see what she was playing with and she was standing IN the window trying to wave at her dad, who was mowing the lawn...really audrey?

some days we will let audrey choose what she wants to eat for breakfast or snack. all of her food in the fridge is at her level, so she is able to point and grab what she wants. her favorite food that she will pick EVERYTIME we let her is...snack pack pudding! choclate, vanialla, or butterscotch.

another day we were riding bike and audrey was in her bike cart. she keep tryign to stand up and turn around, even with her seat belt on. I had told her about 8 times to sit down. she immeditally sits down and smiles at me. After the 8th time of asking her to sit down, i got off my bike and looked into her eyes and said "sit down" and pointed at her. She counteracted by pointing at me and saying a bunch of baby words. :) Stinker~

Audrey is very verbal at speaking, some baby word and some are even in the adult english language. She is walking very good, tips a lot whens he is tired. She still takes 2 bottles a day, morning and night.

Kenneth has been busy preparing for the school year, mostly working on things for cross country and basketball...things he can do now and not worry about this fall or during the school year. Ken makes me laugh....he is such a amazing husband and father. Everyday he suprises me about certain things...like how some nights he's in charge of putting audrey to bed, and when she wakes up...i find her in the same clothes from that day :)