Dr appt today

Jeannie has a well visit for 1 yr old today. Not entirely looking forward to it. We will see. I have her all clean and getting down for a nap now. Have to be ready in a few hours. Let the judgement begin.

The next 2 teeth seem to be close behind. She has been drooling like crazy and slept 15 hrs yesterday plus a 5 hr nap.

She is a pro at walking now and scoots all over. Her new toys are both of the girls preoccupation and they are sharing and playing together nicely.

Liesl saw me working on a painting last night and wanted to "paint like mommy" so i got her some good paper and a palate and brush and was impressed with her lovely abstract. She said she was going to "sell it to Oma". Oma agreed to take her to panera for payment

Happy birthday Jeannie

What a great party for Jeannie mom hosted and worked her butt off for. Jeannie had a great time. She loved all the singing to her and people saying happy birthday made her smile. Thank you all for the wonderful gifts and for coming to celebrate with us.
Yesterday i found that she cut her second tooth. This one was on top. So now she has a match to the bottom and 2 more next to those not far behind. She sure ate yesterday like she has a full mouth of teeth yesterday. She ate half a slice of pizza and daddy says she went through a quart of strawberries like a wood chipper. Her cake experience was hilarious. She put her face right in there, then massaged it into the ice cream then got a big hunk of it for her mouth then cried because it was everywhere. Partygoers were positioned for the event like paparazzi shootting film like crazy around her. The girls looked very cute dressed to match and Liesl helped her with all her presents. Its 11 and the girls are still asleep

Please share any photos you have!

Elmo

The kids love Sesame Street. Last night Jeannie got an Abby Cadabby doll from uncle Dennis so we are watching an episode with Abby this morning. She responded with saying Elmo for me. This morning when she woke she managed to squeak out UP finally which I have been waiting for. But the best of all is that she responds a lot with nodding her head up and down when she wants to say yes. I must tape it

Jeannie turning 1

Sunday Jeannie is turning 1. I can't believe how fast the year has gone by. She has advanced and changed so much in this year. Yesterday, when mom and I were at the toys r us I couldn't make my mind up on Jeannie's present so I put her down and asked her to choose. She walked up and looked at each and thought about it and then finally chose one by pointing at it. It was very cute. She has been allowed to choose a lot. Usually between cereal and baby food. She is always very decisive. The other day she called Robbie baby and then Robbie. It wasn't super clear but we could tell what she intended. They were sitting side by side at the lunch table. She can't wait til he can romp. Liesl is very excited to play with Jeannie and her new toys. The intention of a lot of the toys we got for her birthday were for the girls to play together. She gets better every day at walking. I think also she is pushing another tooth because she seems to be feeling her gums with her tongue.

We are all specially excited about Jeannie's new playhouse for the backyard fit with even window boxes we intend to plant our strawberries we started into. Not excited about the building of it. Also getting a sun and sand table from aunt melisa and uncle Scott which is oh so super exciting. We will be doing some serious outdoor playtime. Can't wait til Robbie can cruise and join in. I hope this playhouse doesn't get in the way of the super huge garden in the making. Have stepping stones planned and multiple bed sites and about 50 tomatoes and peppers each sprouted and thriving. Cucumbers came up a little. Herbs, strawberries, watermelon, pumpkin, beans and peas and carrots and more,. My lavender keeps getting bigger. Looking forward to expanding there too. Will also get some blackberries and raspberries for the side of the shed and my mothers day fruit tree of course

Walking across the room.

Jeannie has been a lot more comfortable with walking and walked clear across the room today. She loves her Easter gifts, lots of books and stuffed animals and has been playing and reading.

Prayers to all our loved ones going into surgery

Cottage for Grandad's Birthday and Easter

We visited the Natural History Museum in Ann Arbor earlier this week per Liesl's request and she had her usual good time although it was quite stressful with the crazy Ann Arbor driving and little people who refuse to go to the potty when there is a potty available. Both kids enjoyed the dinosaurs and Liesl gave daddy a tour, telling him all about the dinosaurs and what their names were

Went up to the cottage to do spring cleaning and finish up our winter reno jobs. We got quite a bit done including the toilet in the one bathroom, the whole other bath which doesnt "fit" the cottage at all and my dad describes as luxurious, and mom's bedroom which looks great now. Cant wait to see the rest of the cottage transform....but I am done with reno for now except our guilty pleasure of watching HGTV renovations. The kids did amazing up there. Liesl and I colored some eggs which I left there accidentally of course. They were awesome looking too. Jeannie took more steps this weekend 6 in a row but she was nekked of course. I almost finished a painting last week. I am doing some last minute changes soon, hope I dont blow it. Celebrated Grandad's birthday up at the cottage. We managed to pull together chocolate cupcakes and come strawberry cream cheese frosting with what was edible from the fridge and visited the China Buffet for dinner which came back to haunt me. The kids had a good time there, both ate well.

We got back last night and I had to make some more glow in the dark colored eggs. They are currenly lying in wait for Liesl and a dark egg hunt.

Easter festivities

Melisa and Scott invited the girls and I to spend the night friday after a family fun night at their church. There was a bounce house and all kinds of mini games, miniature golf and a super cool maze. Very carnivaly. The next morning we all went on an Easter egg hunt at their community center. See ven Jeannie got to participate. She walked around with Oma and picked up eggs and put them in her basket. after the egg hunt Liesl and Melisa's niece Adeline played all afternoon. They had a great time together. I let her grandma know she could play anytime she was in town.  Liesl also got a playdate/tea party with colton at omas this week. Jeanniw played with robbie. They were all very tired out at the end of the day and so were we from yoga which was amazing. I got zero sleep quite a few nights this past week but it seems to be getting better. jim and i took the kids to the natural history museum in Ann arbor to see the dinosaurs. Liesl loves it there and jeannie seemed to appreciate it too.Jeannie walked up to 5 steps this week at a time and the teeth seem to have calmed down.