Boppa and Nana

I really like this picture, because both of my parents are smiling so nicely, and they all were genuinely laughing (I don't remember about what.)
I haven't posted in quite a while, because nap time is when I usually get online, and naptime has been quite challenging lately. Also, I've had internet problems- while I was in Madison last week, cable internet was supposed to be installed, however there was a problem with running cables all over the back of our house (we didn't want to), so I went out and bought all of the components for a wireless network. Now, I need the cable guy to come back and get me hooked up! In the meantime, my dial up was disconnected, because they thought I had started with my cable- woah! I can't go a day without internet, what were they thinking?
I am writing now, in relative peace and quiet. I put A in bed, told a story about frogs, B is gnawing on his hand in the bouncy seat at my feet, and Mike is off playing softball. Today my baby is four months old! Wow, how time flies.
Tomorrow during block time, I am going to JCP to get B's four month picture taken. Then, after lunch the whole family is going for B's 4 month appointment. Should be a good time.
Saturday we are heading to Wisconsin for yet another shower for Bridget and Maren, hosted by my aunts. I think we're just going to go for the day, since nighttime away from home with A has been NOT FUN as a rule.
Although, I should give her credit for the great job she did the first time sleeping in a tent this past Saturday. We had gone down to Mike's homeland, and his mom's side of the family was camping somewhere in Jackson County. We stopped by the campsite, said hello to everyone, then headed to Sioux Falls, SD, where Mike's grandpa is in the hospital. Then we headed back to Jackson Co, got the tent set up in the dark, blew up the air mattress, got A to sleep, and sat by the campfire for awhile before hitting the sack ourselves. B only woke up once during the night to nurse, and I sat up in a camp chair inside the tent with my boppy. Boy was it cold, lifting my shirt up! I'd like to try camping again soon, but I think I'd almost want to take the plunge and get a pop up camper. Then I could haul it all around the country to all of Mike's fastpitch games... that will be a whole other story! Bye for now. I might not post again until I have cable!!! Woo hoo! Katie

Mr. Personality

Sorry to leave you hanging after the last post....everything is back to normal, and probably was 15 minutes after I wrote that post, but you know when you are right in the middle of it, it's hard to see getting past it.
B has really started to change. He is getting much stronger, and actually rolled from his front to back, in front of Grandma, Bridget, and me, while we were visiting Bridget and Maren in Madison this week. He is such a talker- always cooing, inhaling while making a noise, and shreiking excitedly! We had a really nice visit in Madison, and while we were gone Mike got a lot of things done around the house. I think he really would enjoy living by himself- he is neat as a pin when there isn't a two year old tornado in the vicinity.
I think we are planning on a short trip to Mike's parents this weekend. His mom's side of the family is going to be camping. I can't envision all of us in a tent, especially since B still nurses a few time per night, so maybe we'll go and hang out with everyone around the campfire, and then go sleep at his parent's house like wussies. I'll let you know what transpires... K

Rough Day

A has been as equally delightful as challenging today. Our latest potty training technique is wearing a swimming suit, with no diaper or underpants. She has told me twice that she had to go potty, the first time actually peeing on the potty, and the second time a poop fell out of her suit when I took it off- but very close! Naptime was very frustrating today- I'm too close to the situation to discuss just yet. Suffice it to say, I am searching for a babysitter, as I realize how close to insane I've become. I'll check in later, when I'm a happier, more rested person. --K

Tuesday's Task

My assignment for the morning was a trip to the cleaners. It's amazing how one little errand takes the whole block of time between breakfast and lunch. #1 is currently napping, after not eating any of her lovely, nutritious lunch, and #2 (unfortunate nickname) is trying to figure out how to get his whole fist in his mouth. I just put a kick piano at the foot of B's crib, to see if that will help with our current problem of early morning waking. It might not be a viable option though, because he gave a few kicks, and the toy played some musical notes, and his lower lip just jutted out in the saddest, cutest way. This happened a few times, so either he doesn't like the tunes, or it is too loud, or he might get used to it. Anyway, the sleep has been getting better. I'll nurse B around 10:30/11:00 pm, right when Mike and I go to bed. Then he wakes up to nurse around 2 or 3, and then around 5 or 6. Then he might fall asleep for about twenty minutes after the early morning nursing, but then he is absolutely wide awake. And he doesn't understand what a nice thing we've got going, with his sister sleeping until 7-7:30ish. Oh, I guess I'm just happy that he is sleeping better at night. Now we have to work on getting him to be more awake during the day.

Bridget is home alone with Maren for the first time today, as today is Steve's first day back at work. She is doing really well, other than a mention that they were going out to buy a white noise machine.

We are going to an open house at A's school tonight, to meet her teacher and see her classroom for book buddies, starting next week. Otherwise the only thing I have going on this week, other than Thirsty Thursday, is getting ready for B's baptism on Father's Day. I am excited about the cake I ordered from the Edelweiss Bakery in Prior Lake. It is called a strawberry chantilly cake, and it is a white cake with white chocolate frosting and strawberries! Yummers, as Rachael Ray would say.

Speaking of RR, does a reference to her, or the food channel in general give away the fact that I'm in my fourth decade of life? I got a haircut on Saturday, and my stylist was probably mid-twenties, and when I said I'd like my hair like Rachael's, all I got was a blank stare. I like my hair, by the way, although I avoided showering as long as possible, since she did the whole blow dry and style thing, and I can never replicate the results. My hair is so wavy after giving birth, who knows if it will stay that way. My hair is still about shoulder length, but now with long layers, and some face-framing bangs ( just like R.R.), but since I don't have a flat iron, and I didn't bother to blow dry this morning, it has bushed out, and looks pretty wild. I might have to look into this new-fangled thing called a flat iron. I'm going to be cool yet, you just wait! -K

Happy Birthday Steve!

Here is Milk and O's exclusive first photo of our new niece, Maren Elizabeth, purchased for $4 million. I forgot to mention in my previous post that Maren was born on Steve's 30th birthday! What a birthday present. Good thing for Bridget, so she'll only have one date to remember.

One more week of lollygagging (?) around, before A's summer program, "book buddies" begins. Then I'll be dropping her off at school on Monday mornings for book buddies, and Thursday for block time. I might even get tired of Target after a few weeks..... I'm trying to imagine such a thing.

Grandma is done teaching for the school year, so her garage sale-ing season has begun. A is the proud new owner of a Little Tikes slide for the back yard. It was suggested (by her dare devil grandparents) that we put the slide so sliders land in the kiddie pool, but I don't think A is that bold of a kid. She has spent much of the time over the last several days naked. It usually starts out when some item of her clothing gets wet somehow, and then all of a sudden she has stripped down to nothin'. It has been a plus for the potty training department, since she's very aware that she is peeing. She went twice on the potty today alone! Woo hoo. I still have to get her training underpants finished- they are going to be adorned with Elmo, Cookie Monster, Big Bird, all snorkeling, with red ribbon bows. Fancy pants!
---Katie

Bad Blogger! Bad Blogger!

Hello! I am here- I am alive! If you're still checking this blog, that is. Where do I even start? How about Memorial Day weekend. Our plans for that weekend changed when I received a phone call from Bridget at 5 am on Friday- she was pacing the halls at the hospital. Finally, her water had broken! We got packed up and left for Madison at 11. Maren was born around 6:30 p.m., with a head of black hair! Mommy and baby are doing well.

We left Madison on Saturday, and went to B's first Twins game on Sunday. A was content, as she shared her seat with a bucket of popcorn. We left during the fifth inning, and took the light rail both ways. That was a good experience.

Last Friday, we went over to Hope and Chad's, so Chad could take a look at my computer, and the girls could play. My computer came home with us that night, its cord on the other hand, decided to take a vacation at their house for a week.

Aaghtthh! I can't upload the picture of my new niece- you just wait- CABLE internet is on its way!!!!! Woo hoo!!!!