Sunday, August 30, 2009

She said it!






On Friday night (also known as fantasy football draft night) Caitlin finally said da da! It's so cute and she's said it sparingly over the last 24 hours. I can't wait (I'm sure Dennis can't either) when she starts blabbing on about da da, da da, da da like she does with her b sounds right now.

Ooooo, I made her a new baby food yesterday and she actually kinda liked it. I saw it in a magazine and thought it was really pretty. It's basically hummus with beets....but the color is like a hot pink! Then I thought to myself "Why are you making a baby food that stains worse than carrots?"...and my answer? The color. It's silly I know, but it's sooooo pretty!!!!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Thank you!


Caitlin wanted to thank Uncle Jonathan and Aunt Kelly for the jean package! Although, I think Aunt Kelly had a little more involvement since I'd oooood and ahhhhd over those jeans when we went on our shopping spree together :) Thank you very much you guys.....you two are always so thoughtful!

Today, as a staff, we went over our new language arts program with two representatives from the company. Although it would have been nice if it happened earlier, many things were demystified and clarified. The bummer thing is that I couldn't find one of the teacher's editions to work on over the weekend. Oh well, I'll just have even more homework the first day of school. And I felt like having a panic attack at school today. I found out that this is my year to be evaluated again. I absolutely hate the process and get so super stressed and nervous about the whole thing! I know it's silly, but it just freaks me out! I think this year I'm going to ask my principal to sit to the side of me where I can't see him.....that might help a bit.....argh!!!!!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Progress



Progress has been made in my classroom. I think I'm ready for tomorrow. I brought science and social studies planning homework home, but I don't think I'll get too much done since it's so late. But having a plan of what I should plan will help significantly. The major thing looming over me right now is a hint of a sore throat. I'm hoping it's just in my head or the result of talking too much over the last several days. Regardless, I cannot get sick now!!!!!

Caitlin ate so much tonight that you would have thought we hadn't fed her for days! She ate 2/3 of a jar of baby food and I sliced up 1/8 of a banana, 1/2 oz of cheese, 1/4 of an avocado, 1/2 a pear, yogurt melts, and cheerios!!! Then she decided she really wanted to nurse about 20 minutes before she usually does. Crazy girl!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Preparations Continue


Okay, I am SOOOOO not ready for school to start. My room is a complete disaster and I don't have anything planned out for the first week! I did get my parent letter done, so that's one thing off my list. Caitlin is staying at daycare for an extra hour and a half tomorrow so I can work on things. Normally, the Thursday before school starts, we have a good portion of the day to work in our rooms. But this year our principle has planned out the entire day chalk full of meetings. The clock is ticking and I'm affraid I'll run out of time!

Caitlin sprouted her 6th tooth yesterday! Now she has two on the top and four on the bottom. She is also pulling herself up on the coffee table without getting frustrated. She's army crawling faster everyday and follows us throughout the house now. Sleeping is going well and most nights she's only been getting up twice (I'm totally digging that)!

I'm super exhausted tonight and I hope I get to bed early. Sweet dreams.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Happy Birthday Chi-Sai!


Today is my step monster's birthday. Her week of celebration begins tomorrow with a Clint Black concert and then it's off to Victoria, Canada! I wish her a very happy day and a fun filled vacation!

Yesterday I went into work again. I so didn't get enough done and my room is still a complete disaster! I was thinking about going in today or tomorrow, but with Caitlin, I don't think I'd get much done anyway, so I'm not going. I'll head back down next Tuesday but I'm thinking I may need to stay an hour or two longer than I have daycare set up.....but we'll have to see.

I finished the first Sookie Stackhouse novel (about vampires if you didn't know) and it was pretty good. It's interesting reading it after watching the first season of it on Showtime. I have the second book on hold at the library so I'll read that as soon as it comes in. I was going to read "Interview with a Vampire" because I'd heard it's really good. But I also heard it's kinda scary so I nixed that idea because I don't want to give myself nightmares. So I've finally gotten to a book I borrowed from my friend Kris at the end of the school year, "The Boleyn Inheritance." I'm really enjoying it so far and I'm super glad I read "The Other Boleyn Girl" first.

I'm off to do some organizing (hopefully) while Caitlin is napping. Oh, and I'm trying a new hairdo. I parted it like normal, but then I gathered it into a low ponytail. I'm not sure how long it'll last today.....it kinda feels really weird!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Preparations Have Begun


Today I headed back into work to ready my classroom for the upcoming school year. I spent most of my time in my first grade classroom unpacking our new language arts program and figuring out what I will be teaching on my Fridays. We decided that I would teach social studies and science plus anything else that I want to teach. Tomorrow I'm going to tackle my Title 1 room. It is a complete disaster! I'm hoping I can get everything back into it's place so I can start planning next week.

Oh, while we were visiting J, K, B, and M, Caitlin sprouted two new teeth! One on the top and one on the bottom. She now has five teeth!....and I think her sixth one will be arriving within the next week or so. I just hope it comes in less painful than the other two.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Fun in the Sun


Today we got back from visiting J, K, B, and M. They had beautiful weather. Yesterday it was about 99 degrees with a slight breeze....just lovely. I went school clothes shopping which was a huge event and took practically all day. While Kel and I were at the mall, Dennis and Jonathan stayed home with the kids so they could all nap and then play. Apparently no one wanted to take naps. Brady was the one who napped the longest which was about an hour. Normally, he sleeps 2-3! Although, the kids seemed pretty happy when we returned home with Red Robin. I absolutely LOVE Red Robin! All those fries and ranch! Plus the greatest California Chicken burger....EVER!!!! Dennis also had a really good burger. It was a Jamacan Jerk Chicken burger with jerk seasoning and grilled pineapple...mmmmmmmm. They gave us so much fries and ranch that we didn't even make a dent in them....and there were four of us!

They kids really enjoyed playing with each other and Caitlin misses her cousins already! I know we do! Thanks for a great weekend J and K!







Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Moments


Caitlin is learning how to brush her teeth. Tonight was the first night I gave her the toothbrush and she knew just what to do with it!


Caitlin got SUPER excited when she was rolling the ball back and forth to daddy. She would quiver with excitement.


Discovering she can pull her self up on the stool and grab the things that fall behind the computer desk.


Just a little exploration bump.

Monday, August 10, 2009

The great little things that brighten my day.


The smell of my shampoo and conditioner in the morning.

Cool Whip

Sitting on the couch with Dennis and just "vegging"

The smell of my laundry detergent

Caitlin's HUGE smile in the morning....afternoon....and night

Being in the car when a Garth Brooks song comes on

The lingering sent of Dennis's chapstick after he kisses me in the morning

Naked baby Caitlin

Smelling Caitlin after she's all lotioned up

Dennis saying "Hey, girls!" when he gets home from work


These are the little things that just make my day.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Where do I start....


1. Caitlin had two REALLY good nights of sleep
2. One of those nights she slept for 8 straight hours!!!!
3. She's had a low grade fever since Saturday because she's teething
4. When I went to get her from a nap, she was starting to pull herself up on the rail
5. Dennis lowered her crib to the lowest setting.
6. She's trying to pull herself up on anything she can (while still wobbly)
7. While kneeling, she can push herself up on one leg in order to get into a standing position
8. She's been on a finger food only kick for the past several days
9. Dennis is really good at sneaking in the unwanted food
10. She has moved from saying "da da" to "pa pa"

In a nut shell it's been busy here. Plus, with my horrible addiction to Bejeweled Blitz on Facebook, I've been running out of time to blog. And yes, I do spend that much time playing. Help!

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Toe Prick


That's all Caitlin had to endure at her 9 month check up! She gained 1lb 11oz and now weighs 15lbs 11oz which puts her in the 5th percentile for weight. As for height, she is 26 inches long which falls within the 10th percentile. I think she may be a little thing :) The doctor was impressed with what and how much she eats. She told us to take advantage of it while it lasts! Caitlin has also started "talking." It sounds like she's either saying "bottle" or "bye-bye." Really, it's just a variation of "ba ba." So far she can say the following sounds: k, b, f, v, and sometimes I think I hear L. Dennis and I are both stressing the m and d sounds in hopes that she'll say "ma ma" or "da da." In due time, in due time.

A few days ago we started working on reducing the night time feedings. We changed up her bedtime routine so that I feed her before putting her in the bath and then down for bed. So far it has worked flawlessly. I'm not sure what middle of the night feeding we're working on next, but it'll definitely have to happen during a weekend. Maybe Dennis and I will make a movie marathon out of it. That way we won't have a hard time falling asleep each time we let her cry it out. Hmmmm.

Well, it's off to my Bejeweled Blitz addiction. I played for almost 3 hours the other day!

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Happy Birthday Nancy!

Happy Birthday Nancy!!!! She is a wonderful friend and super fun to be around....I just love her laugh and quirky word choices! Enjoy your day and the GIANT cupcake! Sorry, this was the only photo I had access to since I forgot to take one when I was over for lunch :)

Caitlin 9 Monts....Yesterday

Our blasted internet was down yesterday so I wasn't able to blog. It seems like everyone on Facebook is also complaining about the same thing. But on a super exciting note, Caitlin turned 9 months old yesterday. And she started walking forward when you hold her hands and walk backwards. I couldn't believe it! She absolutely loved it too and was giggling up a storm! She still hasn't crawled on all fours, but we really don't think that will happen. We have her 9 month check up today and I don't think we have any shots on the schedule! Woo hoo!!!!!!



Sunday, August 2, 2009

What A Wedding!

What a wedding! Dyani and Peter were married yesterday at a winery. It was a gorgeous day, warm, but not too warm. The flowers were beautiful and the food was AMAZING....don't even get me started on the cupcakes! She had two flavors....champagne cake with a fresh raspberry filling and lemon buttercream and chocolate with mocha buttercream and a chocolate truffle filling! Let's just say I had more than my fair share of cupcakes! There were several SATC references throughout the ceremony which were really fun. I danced for at least 2 hours straight and it was a good thing I had already taken my shoes off. I had worn them for all of an hour and I already had a big blister on each toe! Dancing barefoot on stone tile was a much better alternative to blisters! Caitlin and Dennis had a great time too. Caitlin had salmon for the first time and she really liked it. I also let her try some of a cupcake too! By 6pm she was exhausted. Only having taken one nap earlier that morning, she was having a hard time keeping her eyes open that night. Dennis and her left shortly after that while I stayed and did my bridesmaids duty.....dancing up a storm with the bride! It was such a beautiful day and I am so happy for Dyani and Peter!