Baby Tierney on the way

I have been feeling a little off for over a month now. I have taken a few pregnancy tests in July but they were negative. But I knew something was going on. I was so positive that I avoided going too far in the hot tub, avoided alcohol and all the usual even though I had no proof. The day after Liesl's 3rd birthday I was so sure of myself that I knew I had to take another test. I was having some pretty severe symptoms of a baby. Monday I got up the courage to test if it was a baby or if there was something else crazy going on. I went to lunch and picked up a couple tests. When I took it in the work bathroom I was waiting and waiting for results that had so instantly appeared that I thought they were the control results. Then I looked again and still didn't believe it. When I got home I took another to show Jim I wasn't pulling his leg. Both positive. Yesterday evening I visited the Dr and got a blood test and got the positive results again today. Definitely pregnant but not sure how far along I am. Per my calculations and the way I am feeling I am thinking 7 weeks. We will see when I go into the OB and find out how far I am. I cant wait to hear the heartbeat and see an ultrasound. I wonder about the sex of the little baby. Liesl is excited about her new sibling. We have been talking about it and what it will be like to be a big sister. I will continue to discuss it with her so she is ready for the new change. I believe she will be a good big sis. I cant wait for her see/hear proof. Biggest decision now is whether to go to Crittendon or Beaumont.... I found a Beaumont Dr that has midwives in thier group. But then there is the closeness and familiarity and awesomeness of Crittendon. It seems like the one Dr that I didnt like out of the OB I had with Liesl is no longer with thier group which is great. We shall see. I have to make an appt soon here

Birthday Celebrations

Alot happened in July and apparently I missed blogging in July and am only noticing almost half through August??? How could you Momma! Well, to catch this up:

Liesl knows her right from left and she knows others right from left. She can point out someone's right or left hand while facing them. Pretty good for an almost 3 yr old. I have been kind of concerned about her wandering eye, so much so that when I went to the optometrist I asked them about it. Apparently I really should take her to a pediatrician optometrist and get it checked out. She has been doing it more and more lately. I know my prescription has really increased in the past 3 years. She has been doing spectacularly on the potty. Yesterday was a 1 pull up day for her and she didn't even break a sweat. it is so funny watching her yell "I'm going poop!" and run to the potty to not have gone poop or tinkle in the pull up and make it. She really is loving her puzzles. Especially on the potty. She will whip out 3+ puzzles when sitting on there all on her own. I don't think she knows that she can do the puzzles outside of the bathroom sometimes. She was really upset in the car because of an accident she had. When we got to Ruby Tuesdays she announced to the whole restaurant that she had gone poop. There were several snickers. 

We went to the Fairytale Festival at the Ford house a couple weeks ago with Sandi, Dee, Scott, Melisa and Mom. Grady and Liesl had a blast with all of the kid friendly stuff like the playhouse, three Little Pigs houses, Story time carpet, wading pool which Liesl was the leader of the pack in getting everyone to swim. Both Grady and Liesl's diapers almost exploded from the absorption. There was a crazy Mad Hatter guy that did a really good job, Some princesses that the kids loved to talk to. Tattoos (Grady chose a boy fairy for his arm and Liesl chose a Pirate skull of course). We missed out on Cinderella's Carriage because the kids were starting to melt. had a little snack along the trail and met some pirates. All around a good day. Too bad I was on call that day and actually had to end up working while walking. thank God for Smart phones!

We have been going to the zoo quite often and visiting Liesl's dinosaurs. They never get old for her.She still studies them all individually and knows who they all are. I like how she can categorize what all of them are and names them. We took a little train ride at the zoo on Sunday on the way back home from Amber and Erin's Wedding (Congratulations you two). I dont think I have been on that train in over 25 years. It was really fun, especially to be able to go direct to the African Safari stuff right away. I cant wait for the new Lion exhibit to complete.

 

This past weekend was Amber and Erin's wedding. You guys did an awesome job. The venue was gorgeous. I wouldn't have changed a thing. Thank you so much for including Liesl in your day. She was very happy to be a lady in waiting to you and do all those girly things that go along with being in a wedding. She even got to wear her same flower girl dress that I love from Scott and Melisa's Wedding from the Fall and her crown. I put her hair up in little curls and rows with green jewels and the crown. She was so funny that day. I had to have several discussions with her on how important her job was and what was going on and who was following who and she was picture perfect. She kept telling me all day she was a bridesmaid and that she got married which was super cute. She walked down the aisle flawlessly with Autumn, rounded the front of the gazebo and sat down with mommy and got her "due sucker" for her perfect performance as promised. Thank you also to Aunt Gloria for the beautiful pictures you took of her in the gardens. I also cannot wait to see Amber's photographer's pictures. Although he had little patience for our little toddler's squirming and put her in very few group shots I think that he got some good ones thanks to Shannon and my antics behind the camera.  Liesl was the first one on the dance floor (even before dinner and was so stubborn about leaving it that she didn't want anything to do with me. She avoided me all evening thinking that I was going to take her off of it.

Liesl is quite the swimmer. She really is a little daredevil. She has been practicing with  Oma in Barb Gater's pool this summer  and hanging out with Colton and Kayla (Barb's grandchildren). We also have a bigger sized wading pool in our backyard that we have hooked up her little Tykes slide to and she goes in all the time. She has gotten used to blowing bubbles, getting her head wet, loves to jump into your arms in the deep end. Loves hot tubs and is starting to show beginnings of doggie paddle. I am hoping to get her into more lessons in the Fall. She spent hours in the pool right before the wedding 730 to 1030 and good for that too because she managed a good length nap before we had to get ready to go

Couple weeks ago Gavin and Liesl made cupcakes together (with the Mom's help of course). They turned out very well and the kids had a fun time doing it together. I was glad to get a bunch of pictures of them.

Gavin just turned 3 last week, happy birthday to you little guy. Your party was fun and your mom did a great job! I liked the little tent and decorations. Wish we didn't have so much going on that day

Sandi turned 70 and we all went to the Whitney to celebrate. All of the kids "hit the wall" at one time or another during the evening. thank god Ro works there and was able to get us a private room to contain them. I am glad that the kids did as well as they did and played nicely together minus a few flying objects during dinner. Thanks Dee and Sandi for the gift bags to help keep them occupied. Sandi, your speech was perfect, thank you for all you said. We feel the same about you too. You have been a big influence in our lives as well.

This year Liesl is having a Pirate themed birthday beach party. She is quite excited about the birthday and we have been ramping up activities in August and will be continuing through the month. uncle Dennis went to Gen Con and bought her a tri corner leather pirate hat. She is really loving it. thank you uncle D! She also loves her Thomas track and looking forward to going shopping with her own money.She has been practicing for her party with all kinds of mini celebrations. All last weekend she was getting cake and blowing out candles. She still knows that it isn't her birthday yet. When we mention it she says my birthday isn't today or isn't yet.

Yesterday Liesl went to the Bounce house with Kayla and Colton to start her celebrating. Mom said she had a blast running around there with them and there was no part that was left un-played on there. She then went to McDonald's play-land afterwards and continued the playing. She was so good I decided to take Oma and Liesl to see the Smurfs (which Liesl insisted on) wish I hadn't given her a choice. She has been going to the movies a bit this summer because Opa shouldn't be out in the heat. I don't think I hear any complaints from Liesl. She has seen Winnie the Pooh probably too many times to count and has gone to see Cars II  with Momma and Daddy. She loved it.

Dinosaurs and Doggies

This past Friday I watched Gavin while Tommy and Heather had a night out on the town. Liesl was super tired so was in bed by 7:30. She slept though the whole evening so gave me time to focus on Gavin. He was super quiet and good for me. He ate a lot of popcorn and watched a few movies, colored and munched on snacks. Liesl woke up about 12:30 when Jim came home and snuggled with Gavin and I until he fell asleep on the couch at 1:30. He had his first overnight Yay Gavin!

Saturday we took Liesl and Papa Jack to the zoo to see the Dinosaurs. Pretty much that is what we saw too. All the other animals were resting and or out of sight there. We tried to see the Apes and got brief glimpses of them. Watched the camels and deer. Played on the playground briefly. Had snacks that I packed near the Coney Island and that was pretty much it.  Liesl was just as interested or more interested in the dinosaurs than any of the other times she had been there and studied them extensively. I think she actually spent more time studying them this time. While Daddy mowed the lawn, Liesl and I met some neighbors and accross the street to the beach and made sandcastles in the sand with their 2 girls.  They were very nice and I am hoping to hang out with them more.

Sunday, Liesl let us sleep in til 11. She came in and watched the Lion King and drank her chocolate milk until Momma woke up. We got a lot done in the garden and I planted some more vegetables in the garden. I think I am going to have to expand that area out to accommodate more. I transplanted some strawberries off the lawn into a pot to see if I can get some to grow. I have transplanted a raspberry bush as well. Evelyn sent me some of her plants from her garden. I planted some poppy seeds and a butterfly garden out front. I am hoping that it grows so late in the season (crossing fingers). We then got together all the doggie things we had left over and got supplies from Meijer like a crate and collar and picked up Stormy. We cleaned him up really good and started training in the crate. He is such a good dog, he has already found his potty spot and his place to chill when we are home and has gotten used to sleeping in the crate. He was sleeping like a log this morning in there. I am hoping to get him used to walks again. He is so much happier now. I feel better that he has a stable environment to live in. He sat outside on the leash for hours yesterday drying off, soaking in the sun and sniffing the air. He looked super happy and relaxed out there. Liesl is very gentile with him and loves to pet his soft fur. I will have to post pictures of the little guy soon.

Playing Catch - UP

The past couple weeks has been filled with Zoo time with the Perrys. We went again to see the Dinosaurs. It was just as exciting as the first time. The kids rode in the radio flyer wagon the whole way like tourists to an ancient land studying them as they went. We then visited the new National Coney next to the exhibit and then the Apes and polar bears which was enough. The little baby chimp was very cute and still small (the one that is Liesl and Gavin's age). He was still clinging close to his momma and she kept a watchful eye on him. The kids really enjoyed interacting in this exhibit with them and checking out both the gorillas and chimps.

Amber's shower was also a blast. Liesl and Autumn had a good time at Oma's house playing in the basement while we had adult time upstairs. It was a rough morning already with her and I was thankful for it. She was in a much better mood when we got done with the bike trip to Oma's to the party and could see everyone. Not that the bike ride did it. that actually cheered her up. I think she was taking issue to all of the rush of the morning and resisting the movement.

This past weekend for Father's day we went to the Stoney Creek Beach with the Perrys and went swimming. The kids had a great time snacking on the treats we brought with us and playing in the sand and water. They were in far longer that I think any of the adults cared to stay in. Later that day after lunch we all went for a bike ride after picking up the Perrys at their house to the Mill for ice cream on the Paint Creek Trail and then some playground time. Monday through Wednesday I had some time off and took Ota up to the cottage. We had a good time there playing in the lake. She actually enjoyed having her life jacket on. She tried many times to run out the back door to go into the lake and I had to chase her. We ended up having to lock up the house to prevent escape. A few times we kayaked to the playground on the other end of the lake to go swimming and play on the jungle gym and merry - go - round. We were playing a game on the jungle gym she called pirate/princess. I was Princess Coconut and she was Baby Pirate Captain Stegosaurus. She had captured me and locked me up in the cave as she said it and I would escape every once in a while. The second time we went to the park, Liesl and I got chased back by thunderstorms. It rained most of the weekend but we also managed to have 2 campfires and smores this weekend. Liesl enjoyed them but ate the smores as separate pieces. At one point I had turned my head and she downed a whole chocolate bar. On the way back home the rain was crazy. We decided to visit Oma Gabi for dinner and take some of their gear back home for them. Oma and Liesl and Grandad were happy to be reunited. Cant wait for mom to get back so I can have my biking buddy back.

Go on a bike ride Momma?

I hear "Go on a bike ride Momma?" every night....and I follow through for her. Pulling that bugger is like going twice the distance without it. I would like to see how fast I would go without it. Have been going about 20 or miles a night and last night I started Zumba on the Wii which is a pretty sweet workout game. It teaches you a bunch of dance moves and incorporates them into a workout, It is a very fun way of working out and I could possibly know what I am doing when Amber's wedding comes around. Liesl was asleep when I was doing it last night. I am curious to see her do it too. Think she is gonna like it. Jim really likes the music they have in it. Heather and I have been talking about opening up a home day care in the "Lorin basement"...."soon" we shall see how quickly I can get that going. I have to do some cleaning and remodeling and such and I would like to get some cots. Melisa has indicated that she might be interested in going in on it with us when her school year is up I think next year. So we would have a pretty decent "staff". Sounds like an awesome bunch of ppl to work with. Liesl would love it too. PLUS. it would allow Melisa to get pregnant sooner I just realized! I sure have enough stuff to have one. Liesl has really been enjoying the hot weather. Plays in the pool and on the swingset and slide. We makshifted a waterslide into her kiddie pool from the little tykes slide. She has been visiting places like Partridge Creek and playing in the fountains. We took the cover off Barb Gater's pool last night and she should have the pool ready by next Monday. Liesl is quite excited about it.

We went to the zoo for thier new Dinosauria exhibit last Saturday and Liesl was in her glory. The people around us got a big kick out of the way that she studied each of the dinosaurs and identified them and described them to us. They have such a big exhibit there. There was a 1/2 mile trail with I think over 25 dinos, all animatronic. It was like the Science center but outside and bigger but without being able to control the dinosaurs....ohe yeah and way cheaper! They also have a new coney island right outside the exhibit in the zoo. It was really hopping there. We didnt last long after the dinosaurs. She kind of had a little meltdown. It was hot and no nap yet so she crashed.

Tonight Liesl and Grady are gonna have  a play date and Liesl is pumped. I mentioned it and she hasnt stopped talking about it. She has been getting a lot of time with Kelly's kids Cayla and Colton. I guess they were all supposed to go for a ride in the buggers the other day and have not made it out.

UNO

Liesl has been working dilligently on getting potty trained. And why not? She gets all kinds of treats for "being good on the potty". Yesterday we celebrated a whole day of being dry. She had a very good day. Mostly she plays with her animals on a little table in the bathroom. Yesterday she worked on puzzles all day. Last night before bed when she needed to go we played about 7 games of UNO which she won all of the games (and no I didnt just let her win). She is really good at it and likes to play. I have a Whinnie the Pooh version of it for her. She is really rocking out the trainer pants and panties. Sometimes wearing 2 trainers and 2 panties stacked on top of each other. Hoping that she keeps up all of the hard work. She has been dry every night as well in either a trainer or diaper.

She has also been sleeping very well in her toddler bed. She loves to go and sleep there and drag her chosen stuffed animal of the night to snuggle with. For the most part she has not been found without this round plump soft sheep that she calls Lammie in there. She has recently acquired a T-Rex called Rexie and a fuzzie little bear that Daddy is calling her Courdoroy Bear. She sleeps in there all night on her own like a big girl. When she wakes, she sings Mom-ma over and over until I come. ifk I do not wake up she will crawl up and turn on the light in her room and leave, closing the door and then come into our room and close the door climbing up with us to snuggle until her "POST TEST" has completed. Sorry a little computer humor we use.

Dennis brought her some books again this weekend. Courdoroy Bear, Where the Sidewalk ends and one other I cannot remember that was too old for her as of yet. She is loving Courdoroy Bear and read almost all of the poems in Where the Sidewalk ends. She really liked the cadence of the poems. We have been reading nonstop lately for her.

This past weekend Oma Gabi and I took Liesl to see the dinosaurs at the Detroit Science Museum. They have an amazing exhibit with anamatronic dinosaurs showing proof that many dinosaurs has feathers. Very super interesting. She watched both the IMAX and most of the planetaruim shows both on dinosaurs cuddling her Rexie the whole time. She really enjoyed all the fun dinosaur facts that she learned there. She is fascinated with how dinosaurs become the fossilized bones that we see today and tells everyone that they fell in the mud and became bones. That evening we BBQ'd with Aunt Gloria who gave her this cute little hawaiian outfit that she has been parading in ever since. We then watched the 2nd Pirates of the Carribean movie to get ready for this Friday. We plan on going to see the new 4th movie at the drive in at "the Dome". Sunday we had all of "the Halsalls" and Ota over for BBQ rescheduled Mother's day dinner. We have been having a great time with our new grill I got on Mother's day. I think we have almost gone through a whole tank of gas with it.

With all of the vacation I took in the past couple weeks I have gotten a lot of gardening done and I am really ready to to for the spring planting. I have some veggies indoors waiting to be planted. Jim put in an edible cherry on the side of the house to replace my cherry that blew down this winter/spring and I have a peach that I am hoping to put in soon too. All of the flower beds are ready for more flowers and I had daffodils and grape hyacinths come in. I am also getting my bearded irisis budding now and the lilacs have bloomed. I am so excited about getting my lavender in the garden I have been working on too. Just wish it would warm up enough to do it and even mow the lawn again!

Playing Catch up

Dee, there is no shame in getting busy and not being able to blog regularly but I am sure that the updates will flow a lot more freely for you. Hopefully I will be in the same situation that you are in now soon too! NOT WORKING! I have been off alot in the last week because mom and dad are on a bike trip in New Orleans. having a great time. Basically, sitting for Ota and Liesl. One of them teases the other incessantly... you can guess which one which makes the sitting more difficult. Other times he is a great "Mother's Helper" which allows me to get some housework and gardening done.

Which reminds me, Liesl is starting to get interested in our garden prepping. I have been cleaning out the beds out back for my "Salsa Garden" and the flower beds on the side of the house with her help. She loves to be shown all of the different "creatures" as she calls them when I come across them while digging out the overgrown grass and weeds. We found a hibernating toad, worms, a grub and some spiders in there. She doesn't want to touch them of course but she loves to look at them when I announce them. She has her own Dora Gardening Gloves, shovel and rake (pink of course). I am hoping to get more done this Friday when I am watching the 2 of them again. Last week I bought a chainsaw to remove the tree that had fallen between the houses and shocked daddy.... I don't know why that would shock him. It was fun to be able to take care of that myself. I am hoping that it gets moved to the back (by his big strong hands) this weekend. I have aspirations of getting the front yard weeded and edged too this week since I have few plans through Tuesday. We shall see.

Easter was great. Thanks to uncle Dennis for the special Easter treasure chest, gold doubloons, booty and special riddle story that I would LOVE to make into a book. You put some serious work into that mister. Thank you also to the Perrys and especially the Perry kids for sharing Easter with us and our 93 egg hunt. It was a blast! Cant believe the eggs all got found so fast! Also thank you to the Easter bunny and helpers for all their hard work hiding all of those eggs and coloring them for the kids to find! Thank you to Oma Ronnie and Opa Peter for the fabulous Easter dress that Liesl wore (pictures will come soon) Like I said this is catch up time here.

I have been able to get a lot of organizing in Liesl's room done in the past week too which was my 2nd project on the "list". I put up a shelving unit for her to organize her endless supply of plastic animals. Melisa and I were talking yesterday about how great her pretend play is. She really does play by herself well and make up stories with all of her animals. They talk to each other and act out great screenplays in the back seat or living room. I have moved a lot of her toys into her room including her desk and I am looking to put in shelves in the closets of her room to hide her toys. Got rid of all the "baby" toys and boxed them up too. Thanks mom for going on vacation!

Liesl has been sleeping strait through the night in her own bed for some months now. We are so proud of her but miss her so much cuddling next to. She loves having her own room and her own space to sleep in. Next to go through is the hard core potty training which she has actually been more than half way to most of the time. When she is at home she will ask to go to the potty 50% or more of the time which is good but when she is on the road it is much harder for her to focus on it. Potty treats really have been encouraging for her.

Last week, Thursday we visited the U of M Museum of Natural History with Ota and Daddy. Liesl loved the Dinosaurs as usual and wanted to take pictures with every one of them. She really knows what all of their names are too and can branch similarities with them and modern day "creatures". She has quite an extensive Dino collection now too which is super cool for her to be into "boy stuff". We finished off the day with a dinner at the Blue Tractor which has killer burgers which Liesl really seems to be into as well. Driving home was not the greatest though. I was sooo tired and Ota was teasing her a little and she hadn't had a nap either so was babbling and yelling and at one point had to tell the two of them that I needed 5 minutes of quiet or I was going to pull the car over.

Monday, we visited Kiki and Sydney (Sydney is a little younger than Liesl). The two of them had an awesome time at camp. We went for a flower hike and took a lot of pictures and stream jumped. it is so funny watching the two of them because they look so much alike and sound identical and have the same weird sayings that I cannot come up with right now. They played alot with babydolls, and horses (which Liesl is also way into) and Barbies. What a great day that was. Been too long since we all got together.

Tuesday, Aunt Melisa and Liesl and I went to the zoo via the Science Center... apparently the Science Ctr is not open on Tuesdays. Who knew. Guess we will try the Science Ctr Friday Maybe so we can see their new Dinosaur exhibit. The zoo was great. Liesl wanted to run the whole thing though. We got her some frog figurines which she has been playing with. She says the frogs are Hoppy... we thought she said Happy and she corrected us. Think she had a little joke there without knowing it. Thanks for all of the fun for the past 2 months. pictures hopefully to come soon!

Oh yes! and dinner on Easter was great Melisa and Scott. Thank you so much for your hopitality