21 Months!

Ok, so I guess I will go until 2 years with monthly updates…then we’ll see (I probably won’t be able to stop then either!)

First, Rose is definitely talking more. She is clearly responding to yes and no questions. I would give her credit for about 8-10 consistent words and then a bunch of other words that just pop out here and there. She is also working on learning a few more signs to make communication easier. Rose is also a master at shaking her head 'no', so we definitely know when she is not in favor of something. 

Rose is proficient with using utensils for about 80% of a meal and is drinking from mugs and water bottles J

She is starting to use just her fingers to hold crayons and markers and is imitating dots, lines, and even her attempt at a circle. She can also put beads on a pipe cleaner.

Rose will give a ‘high 5’ when asked and joins with others in clapping. She is also doing motions with songs such as Wheels on the Bus and Twinkle Twinkle. At our music class on Saturday mornings she enjoys clapping and stomping her feet with all the other kids. 

Right now Rose REALLY enjoys pretend play with her teapot and baby dolls. She also continues to love to play with water and be outside as much as possible no matter how cold.

Rose also got a recorder from her speech therapist and is able to blow through it to make her own music, I actually really love to hear it J

Rose is getting up and down stairs with minimal assistance; I think she just needs to be a little taller to hold the railing and then she could do it by herself.

Rose is full of personality. Part of that personality is doing what she wants, not what mommy wants to teach her. Rose can easily stack 5 small blocks, match several shapes, and point to requested colors…when she wants to.  Most of the time she just wants to empty her beans all over the floor and try to color on my walls, LOVE HER J

So I have 3 months to plan her second birthday…I have a theme and a list, so wish me luck!!! (Justin also needs a kick in the butt to get her present from us done, I have been planning it since I found Pinterest (yes, another plug for Pinterest) and now he is down to 3 months and I keep adding to it).

We celebrated this week sick and injured… Rose and I were sick and Justin was injured L

The whole week Rose and I have had a runny nose, she is getting much better; me, not so much. I will hold off on posting pictures of the large quantities of snot coming from our noses. Luckily there have been no fevers or other symptoms, so no flu here!

Justin must have been feeling left out of the sympathy, so on Wednesday he shot himself with a nail gun J After a trip to the emergency center to pull it out he ended up with stitches.

**A slight deviation here…he ended up with stitches in two places… He only had one nail in his thumb, but the doctor started to cut at the wrong place. This was not a huge oopsy, but just a reminder that doctors, like everyone else, are human, and do make mistakes. So if you have something serious you are going through, PLEASE get at least a second opinion (I’m pretty sure all insurances cover at least a second opinion, maybe even out of network?).

Anyway the upside for Justin is that he has gotten out of washing dishes since Wednesday J

UNTIL tonight, when we remembered we have gloves, so YAY for me J

And it was nice that he could resume his dish washing duties, because today was a heavy dishes day. Now I know that most pots and pans say ‘dishwasher safe’, but from my experience working at Bed Bath and Beyond, this is not recommended, so we wash all ours by hand. 

To make your mouths water...

I found a recipe on Pinterest for an Egg Ring (lhttp://www.navywifecook.com/2012/01/bacon-egg-and-cheese-ring.html). I am not a big fan of store bought dough, but this really made breakfast quick and tasty. 

 We had a romantic dinner for 3 tonight :) Rose thought the candles were fun.

We had Salmon pinwheels stuffed with spinach and feta along with asparagus and rice. I actually was not a huge fan of the pinwheels. The other week I made Salmon with a honey mustard glaze that is really my favorite.

Dessert was Justin's request: Chocolate Lava Cakes. There's nothing to not like about these :)

I was also a little crafty this weekend and made a Valentine's Day wreath for our front door. I have TONS of Rose's finger painting and drawings, which I just can't throw away, so I am always looking for something fun to do with them. Here is what I came up with: they are hearts overlapped with a smaller heart with her hand prints in the center. I pasted everything to piece of cardboard. 

Weekend Wrap-Up

Another week! I can't believe how quickly January is going, mostly that we haven't had more snow :( The company I work for allows us to use our personal or vacation time to stay home when the weather is awful, but so far I haven't had to use any this year. If I don't use my personal time by the end of June I loose it, so I took 2 hours on Friday to spend a little more time with Rose even though there wasn't any snow :)

Even though, house projects have been moving at a snail's pace around here, things are getting done! Justin did finish Rose's book nook this weekend, now I just have to decorate it a bit more. I'm not sure if I want to frame some old children's book or get a wall decal about reading to put on the wall.

We also purchased a bath robe for Rose, I think this makes her look like such a big kid, where is my baby? Rose is enjoying her nightly yogurt with a story, hopefully this becomes a place where she loves to read.

Justin also spent time this weekend demolishing the ceiling and a wall in what will be our master bedroom. He *thinks* it will be ready by the spring...so that is constructions talk for sometime this summer, if you're lucky ;) Here's a panoramic view of the mess:

So while Justin was busy on the house, Rose and mommy had lots of time together. Saturday was a really easy day. After a family trip to the farmer's market, we went to music class. Rose was a totally different little girl this week. She stayed with the group the entire time and imitated lots of motions. We had a blast! Sunday was a bit different. She started out the day pretty happy and had a very productive speech therapy session, but it was downhill from there. Her nose stated running and except for when nana and papa visited, not much made her very happy this evening. Hopefully she gets a good night sleep and wakes up happy because we are home together tomorrow!

Weekend Wrap-Up

Ah, so this weekend was much slower than last weekend, which I think we all needed. Saturday after heading to the farmer's market, Rose and I went to her music class. This was our first official session and week 1 of 10 focusing on drums. Rose was great with clapping and stomping her feet when the group did and she also really likes playing with the instruments, but at other times she preferred to look out the window. We'll see how it goes after she has a few more sessions.

Rose and I then got to spend most of the afternoon together since Justin was off on a computer job. While daddy was away Rose decided she and mommy should stay very busy...so she only took an hour nap for me.

Rose thinks penguins need coffee so they can have lots of energy too!

So in this next sequence, Rose started off by having a snack of strawberries and coloring very nicely...

Then she decides it would be fun to smash the strawberries on the paper :) 

Ah, here is her: 'I know I shouldn't have, but I did anyway' face'.

So if that wasn't enough fun, we then emptied out all the books and decided to sit in the container :)

I was very pleased that Rose showed interest in her nesting cups, usually any activity I suggest is quickly dismissed, but she stayed with these for almost 10 minutes. We stacked them, nested them, and even pointed out colors. 

So, I think there is a special place in a luny bin for us moms who give our children containers of beans. While Rose really loves to play in them, they often end up all over my floor. I just figure the enjoyment she gets for it is worth the time it takes to clean up (and she does help clean up, kinda!). We hide stuff in the beans and fill and dump in lots of containers. 

Rose ended the weekend putting a bead on a pipe cleaner by herself for the first time, Rose loves her fine motor activities. Rose also did a forward roll this weekend, but it was kind of by accident, so I don't know how much credit to give her for that one...

My favorite memory of the weekend though, was Saturday night when Justin and I were having a snack before we put Rose to bed and headed out for our date while my parent's stayed at our house. So, Justin and I were sitting on the floor and there was just enough space for Rose to sit between us, so she did. We sat there eating cheese and pretzels for a bit and it was just a sweet moment as a happy little family :)

Flower Girl Take 1

This weekend was SUPER busy and it didn't help that Justin was home Friday due to hurting his back :( I keep telling him to do Yoga with me...

Anyway we got to help set up a bit and go through the rehearsal on Saturday. This is Rose's first flower girl appearance and I think she did wonderful. She was pulled down the aisle by a 4 year old with mommy as her personal attendant (just in case she decided not to say seated!).

(I saw this sign idea on Pinterest...gotta LOVE Pinterest!) 

Sunday was the BIG day for my little girl. Everything was beautiful and Rose especially liked that Nana and Papa were there too!

(So Rose is definitely teething, but I think she is starting to suck her thumb/fingers when in new situations that cause her some uncertainty or she is getting worn out. Unfortunately, by the end of the evening when we took Bridal Party picture, her fingers were in her mouth nonstop, I think it drove me nuts more than it bothered anyone else.)  

 At one point the ring bearer was in the wagon and Rose was pulling it...we got everything right before the ceremony!

 Kate is very special to my grandparents who were also at the wedding and Grandma made her a quilt!

We stayed as long as Rose could make it. The reception had over 250 people and was pretty loud for Rose. I had wanted to stay for the cake cutting, but by 7:30pm not even punch could make Rose happy, so to bed with her.

It's hard to believe Justin and I will be celebrating 7 years this June :)

Mommy Time, Play Dates, and Cousins

So a few times a year I get extended periods to play 'stay at home mommy' with Rose. My company very generously gives me Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day off, so I only need to use 3 vacation days to have off from Christmas Eve until January 2, 2013. Last year Rose and I didn't do much. She was still taking two naps a day and I was on a pumping/breastfeeding schedule, so we were just home bodies. I held Rose for both her naps, I treasure every moment I got to hold her. This year all she wants to do is run around with mommy chasing her. Rose is now also eating anything and everything and taking one afternoon nap in her crib. What a tremendous difference in just one year.

We also were busy during this break. Nana came on Wednesday to stay with Rose a few hours while I did some shopping. Rose also took a record 3 hour nap, so Wednesday was a really easy day for this mommy :)

Thursday we had a play date with Andrea and Lena. Poor Andrea had a flat tire on the way to our home, luckily no one was hurt and Rose and I picked them up and Ryan (Andrea's husband) was able to take care of the car while we enjoyed our morning together.

Friday's play date was postponed until Monday. So Rose and mommy did have a whole day together. We went to A C Moore for some craft items and Rose and I tackled some projects in her bedroom. I had a great day with my little girl. I love making her laugh and giving her lots of hugs and kisses.

My sister and the kids came to PA on Friday night for the annual Bechtel family Christmas on Saturday. We were a bit worried if we would be able to make it out due to the snow. Before Rose's nap we budded her up in her snowsuit for the first real romp in the snow.

After Rose's nap we made some calls and decided we could safely make it to the Christmas gathering and so Rose got to hang out with her cousins :)

Rose found this cart and thought it was the PERFECT device for pushing all her toys...

Rose also got more cousin time on Sunday when we joined them for breakfast and then when they stopped in at our home before they returned to VA.

Justin worked a half day on Monday due to getting some time in plowing on Saturday. So Rose and I enjoyed a little more mommy daughter time.

We celebrated New Year's Day with the traditional pork and sauerkraut with Papa and Nana.

Now we must return to our normal schedules, but the holidays were lots of fun and the extra time together was the best part!!!