BG-isms

• Everything is now her favorite. Her favorite game, toy, CD. She will grab it and exclaim "Dat my favwit!"
  
• She has started telling me "I love you mostest". It's adorable and warms my heart every time.
  
• She loves to point out big trucks while we are driving. This morning she spotted one and said while pointing "Dat big twuck! Wight thewe, Wight thewe!"
  
• She also loves yellow cars. She will occasionally point out other colors, but if she sees a yellow car or truck, she gets very excited.
• She understands the concept of too loud. Her new piano has a volume control and I tell her to turn it down. She looks at me with the most inquisitive look and asks "Dat too loud?"
  
• Anytime I call something big, she tells me it was actually little. If she coughs and I say "That was a big cough!" She will say "No, dat little cough."
  
• She is very concerned about others eating her food. If she leaves the room, she has to make sure to tell Mommy or Daddy "Don't eat my soup!" Sometimes it takes some reassuring that Mommy will not eat her soup.

Christmas Gifts

This year for Christmas, we decided to go light. We only gave gifts to the children in the extended family, and cards to the parents. (Merry Christmas, here's a picture of us!) We went light on gifts for each other and only did a few things for BG. We figure she is small enough that she won't really know or care if Santa brings one gift or 100.

At least that was the plan. I stuck to it. I bought JM a few small things. He is really into running right now so I bought him some running accessories. He, got me this...


An iPod Touch! It really is the perfect gift. I have been playing around with it and it is fabulous. I am on the hunt for a new cell phone and we have been debating on a smart phone vs. a regular phone. I really wanted a calendar feature but don't need a data plan (more $$) or all the other bells and whistles. So JM got me this, which has everything I need. Now I can get a simpler (aka cheaper) phone and still have everything I need. Thanks honey!

BG got spoiled by family. I knew she would (another reason to limit gifts from Mom, Dad and Santa). My SIL gave BG a keyboard similar to this.


I had been hesitant to open it because it looks noisy. Finally I broke down yesterday and she loves it! It comes with a microphone and makes all kinds of sounds, drumbeats, and rhythms. It is noisy, but lots of fun. I'm hoping it will inspire her to take piano lessons someday.

She also got a laptop from Grandpa. Another toy she loves. It's actually nice because it's small enough to transport but still has plenty of games and activities to keep her busy while we, say, go shopping at after Christmas sales.


Speaking of such sales, did anyone else try to go to the mall on Saturday?! It was so busy! I'm not sure these people got the message that we are in a recession. The mall was packed. The crowds rivaled the pre-Christmas shopping crowds. Had we known, we would not have gone. But we did. We barely survived.

Digital Photography

I love the digital age. I love that I can take as many pictures as I want and not worry about wasting film. I love that I can see my pictures right away. I love how easy it is to alter my photos, remove red eye, crop, etc. I love how easy it is to upload my pics to any number of photo sites to get them printed.

What I DON'T love is that this process seems to take me days. How do you choose which photos to print when you take 100 at every occasion? Once I do finally narrow it down and actually get them printed, I'm still not done. I still have to find the time to scrapbook them. For this reason, I typically end up printing pictures once a year. And it's always after Christmas. I get excited because "Look look! Walgreens is doing 4x6 prints for only $.10! I can't pass up only ten cents each!"

So that is what I have been doing for much too long today. And that is what I will be doing all day tomorrow. Uploading, cropping, and debating how many prints I need of BG carving a pumpkin. Then I have to decide which pictures I will need for the next 12 months. Which ones does JM want for his office? Which disc has the family photos on it? Why do we not have more pictures of us as a couple? Will I really scrapbook the two pictures from the one afternoon that BG looked really cute, but there was no story behind it? But if I don't print them and memorialize the moment, why did I even bother getting out the camera in the first place? Should I wait to scrapbook until I get prints from the pictures my mom took? Will that ever happen?

AAAaaaaggggggggghhhhhh!!! Now I remember why I only do this once a year. It's too exhausting. Does anyone have an easier method for this chaos?

Merry Christmas!

We have had a great Christmas. It included all the Christmas necessities - family, food, and presents. We had a great time. Here are a few pictures from our holiday. I hope all of you had a very Merry Christmas as well!

BG was very meticulous about opening presents. She carefully tore the paper one little piece at a time. She did really like opening presents though. She was so excited to get new toys and even the clothes. She clapped her hands and was so happy. The hardest part about Christmas is having to put down one new toy to open another.

BG and Daddy hanging out, opening presents at Grandma's house.

BG got this necklace from her uncle and loved it. She wore it all day long.

Grandma made these great aprons for all the girls this year. BG loves her and it is so adorable on! We had to bribe her to take it off for nap time. Thanks grandma!

Even though Christmas gets so materialistic, I appreciate the chance to remember the birth of Christ. He is the reason for the season and it's a time to remember Him. He truly is the greatest gift of all.

Pregnancy Test

Don't get too excited now. No, I'm not announcing that I'm taking pregnancy tests. Just that I saw one for sale. At the Dollar Store.

I may be crazy, but I don't think I would buy a pregnancy test from the dollar store. In the end, it wouldn't be saving me any money. Because if I bought one from the dollar store and took it, no matter what the result, I wouldn't trust it. This would mean I would have to go to a non-dollar store, buy another one, just to double check. So I would be buying the higher price one plus that dollar version, making my dollar wasted.

Plus it was in line at the check out. You know, were all the last minute items are that they are trying to get you to buy on an impulse. It was sitting there next to the candy, gum, batteries. A pregnancy test! I'm not sure how many women are standing in line waiting to buy their dollar wares, see the test and think "Wow, I have been meaning to take a pregnancy test, I just haven't had the time." Just saying, I don't think a pregnancy test is really an impulse kind of purchase.

I hate winter

Is it cold and snowing and miserable where you live? It is here! It even snowed in Las Vegas, which apparently hasn't happened in a zillion years.

In my neck on the woods, it's not only cold, it's really really windy. I don't like cold but I REALLY don't like cold plus wind. We're not talking little gusts either. These are huge, hurricane-force winds that practically blow you off the sidewalk. In fact, when walking from my car to my office this morning I stole BG's blanket and used it like an old-lady head scarf. It was that bad.

I took the liberty of downloading some local pictures so you appreciate the weather here right now.



Sure this first one makes it look like a beautiful winter wonderland, but just scroll down a little. You'll see what it actually looks like outside right now.




Yep, that pretty much sums it up. This is the view from the local news camera of the valley. I want to go home, sit by the fire and drink some hot chocolate. *sigh* At least it's Friday.

Work Christmas Party

JM's office Christmas party was on Tuesday. I was actually excited to go. It's a rare occasion that we get to go out for a nice dinner without BG for. free. What's not to love?

Besides that, I get to dress up! Yes, I'm all girl and I like to dress up and look pretty. Sometimes I like to wear smokey eyes, but I can't exactly wear that to work. I would get some pretty strange looks. So I use this office party as the perfect occasion to get myself a new top, wear smokey eyes, and eat a free meal with yummy dessert.

I told JM I wanted to take a picture (to blog obviously) and he laughed. I told him we could either take pictures at home before we left, or at the party. So he graciously agreed to a picture at home. Sorry it's a bit dark, we don't have great lighting in our front room.


How bad is it that a goal in dressing up is to look hotter than all the other wifes? Yeah, I'm pretty shallow huh? I'll hang my pefect hair and smokey eyes in shame...

It's Been How Long?!

I hate it when you discover three hours later that you have a leftover bit of green lunch stuck in your teeth. How embarrassing! Why did no one tell me?

At least Jon Voight knows how I feel. At least I wasn't photographed with the offending broccoli. There is a bright side!

Holiday Shopping

This year we are going really lean for holiday shopping. We have informed all the relatives that we will be spending less and what we are spending will go to other families who are in greater need than ourselves. After all, do I really need more sheets or another sweater? We have been incredibly blessed and would rather help those who are having a difficult time this year.

Having said all that, we are still getting BG some gifts. I'm not so cruel to not give a child any sort of Christmas. With all the talk of how horrible the economy is and people losing their jobs, I'm curious what all of you are doing this year. Is the economy creating a pinch in your holiday shopping plans? Take the poll on my sidebar. My answer is we'll be spending less than we did last year.

Sorry Ladies, He's Taken

This is my cute little brother. He is a good Mormon boy who has been home from his mission for, count them, three years without getting married. In any other world, being single at 24 is normal, but not in this culture. He is the last in our family to get married and has patiently waited for the right girl. (BTW, little bro, I found this pic by googling your name. I was surprised how quickly you popped up.)


Last night he was officially taken off the singles market. He propsed to his girlfriend and she kindly accepted. The proposal scene looked something like this since it happened at the temple.

So for any of you ladies who had an eye on him, you are too late. The lucky winner of this boy is a California girl with curly hair and a sweet smile. The happy couple will wed in April. Congratulations little bro!

On an unrelated wedding note - any Office fans see it last night? I can't believe that Angela is going to have to tell Andy! Do you think he'll stay on the show?

The Dreaded Dentist

All my childhood, I saw the same family dentist. We all saw him for years and he was all we ever knew in a dental experience. My parents developed a friendship with the man and they even vacationed together. My parents assured us he was a great guy, but we all knew better.

We knew that he was really the dreaded dentist the took pleasure in our pain. He savored the idea of poking, pulling, and prodding our poor, sensitive child mouths. He deliberately befriended my parents so they wouldn't take our sides.

I hate needles. Always have, always will. Any shot is bad, but a shot in the mouth is downright traumatic. I used to (and still do on occasion) sing/hum to myself to get through dental visits, shots, and anything other than your basic cleaning.

I vividly remember one particular visit. I couldn't even tell you what I was there for, but it required shots. It must have been a filling at the same time as a regular check-up because I was not prepared for any shots. Dr. told me I would need shots and lifted up the syringe. I asked if he would give me a minute so I could mentally prepared myself for what was coming. He denied my request and immediately shoved a needle into my sensitive gums, resulting in tears. WTH! Really?! He was in such a hurry he couldn't have given me another 30 seconds to process the situation?! It was horrible and I have (obviously) not gotten over it.

It wasn't until I went away to college and had to find myself a new dentist that I learned not all dentists are so cold and uncaring. In fact, a visit to the dentist can happen without fear, dread, and tears. My current dentist is great. So for those (many) family members in dental school, please be one of the good ones. I know kids don't always understand or have the most patience, but you can prevent a lifelong fear of the dentist.

Join Mama Kat's writing workshop by clicking here.

Great photo

When we took our family photos, the hubby took this great picture of BG. I love that it shows her motion and her enthusiasm.

Christmas Cards

Does anyone have a good suggestion for where I can get super cute Christmas cards that ship quickly and are dirt cheap? That's right, I always want it all. Oh, and since you're on the computer anyway doing research for me, send me your address so I can send you a Christmas card. Otherwise, you can consider this your Christmas card.
Merry Christmas!

Papa's Goats

We went to Papa's house for Thanksgiving. Papa has goats and BG was so excited to see them. When we actually got there, she wasn't so sure about the goats. She didn't want to feed or pet them and required her Daddy to stay close by her.
Notice the look of fear and scepticism in her eyes? Even after all the talk of the goats, actually seeing them was unnerving.
Apparently goats eat everything. Papa is beginning to regret buying the goats. Oh, and they are LOUD! They assume any person walking within eye shot means they will get fed and they start crying for food.
This is Papa trying to convince BG to feed the goats. He was trying to get her to hold the oats, but she wouldn't have any of it.
This is the closest she got to the goats. I thought it was kind of funny since she loved the goats at the petting zoo. Not sure why, but I guess this was different, and not in a good way.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

The Big Man paid a visit to BG's school at their holiday party last week. I bribed her in line with ice cream if she sat on his lap. When it was our turn, she ran right up to him. Not sure if that was due to the bribe or that she is just really friendly. Either way, she was happy to tell him she wanted "toys" for Christmas.
She had no problem telling Santa what she wanted for Christmas.
I was lucky to get her to look at me and smile. I have half dozen other pictures where she is giving the camera her classic blank stare.

New Friends

After yesterday's depressing post, I thought we all needed something upbeat. So, I have to tell you about a great new friend I made! I think we can all admit to blog stalking and following people we have never actually met. Well, I met one of those stalking relationships and she is so great!

I have been stalking/emailing Annike for a few months now. She was coming into town for Thanksgiving and we set up dinner. I was so excited and nervous! What if she didn't like me? What if I wasn't witty enough? What if we didn't have anything to talk about? It was like a first date. The funny thing was, she was asking herself all the same questions and we laughed about it together.

We met, ate, and had a great time! She is super cute, down to earth, and all around fabulous. We talked about life, marriage, kids, blogging, all the things you would normally discuss with a girlfriend. We chatted for several hours before my hubby started texting asking if I was ever coming home.

I, of course brought my camera. I told The Man that I had to take a picture of my bloggy friend, so I could blog about it. He rolled his eyes. But when I got to the restaurant, I had a camera with no card. So, Annike took this picture (because she too had a camera) and sent it to me. She how much fun we are having?! Oh, and this is just a testament that the lighting at Rumbi's is anything but flattering for anyone. If you haven't met Annike, go check out her blog. She is great!

Test Results

It didn't go well. I left crying and it took all I had to actually send my scores to the schools I have applied to. I'm sure after the drudgery of viewing hundreds of applications, they will appreciate the good laugh my scores will induce.

I'm not being dramatic here either. My scores are below the range of accepted scores for the schools I wanted to attend. When one school says "We rarely accept anyone with a score below X", my score is below X.

It's really disappointing that I don't even have a good reason for why they are so bad. I studied hard for months. I feel like I really did what I reasonable could to prepare. I didn't feel overly nervous while taking it (other than knowing I was doing poorly).

For those of you who know me, know that I am a bit of an overachiever. I just want to be the best at everything I do. Is that too much to ask for? Wait, it is?! Well I refuse to accept that. I'm annoyed that I've never been a good test taker. My scores do not adequately portray my abilities. I'm sure everyone who scores poorly says this, but I really believe it! It's unfortunate that those scores are what I will be judged on.

So my confidence is down, along with my scores. I've shelled out hundreds for study books, practice tests, the actual test, and application fees. My confidence about getting into school is down. I suppose there is still a chance, but it's only that - a chance. I'll let you know in February what the schools say. (sigh)

Test Day

Today is the big day! Today I take the GMAT. I have studied for 3 months and we'll see today how it pays off. I didn't sleep too well last night; I was nervous. I must be anxious because I woke up at 6:20 am Sunday morning, jumped out of bed thinking it was test day. It took me a few minutes to realize it was Sunday and I went back to bed.

This morning I was telling BG how it was a big day for mommy. She responded by telling me it was a little day for BG. How cute! Keep your fingers crossed for me. I will take any good thoughts or prayers that you want to send my way!

Happy Thanksgiving

Here is a short list of some of the things I am thankful for this year, in no particular order.

1. My husband
2. BG
3. The gospel
4. A home
5. Secure jobs
6. Reliable transportation
7. Living close to my parents
8. Extended family
9. Friends
10. Blogging
11. Making new bloggy friends
12. Flannel lined pants
13. Professional opportunities
14. Jewelry
15. Sunsets
16. Fires (in the fireplace, not blazing out of control)
17. Cute shoes
18. Fun handbags
19. Animals
20. Homemade cheeseball
21. Good health
22. Financial stability
23. The miracle of the human body
24. Happy children
25. Primary songs
26. Jesus Christ
27. Modern technology
28. Telephones
29. Papa's goats
30. Christmas lights

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

The Duck Says..

Quack-a-whack.

Trust me, you don't want to disagree with a 2 year old on animal sounds. A duck does NOT say quack quack. A duck says Quack-a-whack. As an adult, you would think I should know this by now. Apparently, I don't.

Black Friday

Do any of you participate in this crazy, yet time-honored tradition? I do. Almost every year. Usually with my mom. We wake up long before the crack of dawn, blindly pull on some clothes, throw our hair back into ponytails, and venture out into the dark to snag some deals. When we arrive at our first destination, there is usually a HUGE line of other crazy women out hunting for deals. We wait patiently (or not) in line until the all important hour arrives, 4 am. Or sometimes 5, 6 if we are feeling really lazy. The store doors open and the mad rush begins.

All patience and kindness is out the window and it's every bleary-eyed shopper for herself. Mom and I have our list of "must haves" and rush to those items first. We forgo the carts because you are hard pressed to get one. Once we have managed all the Must-haves, we move on down the list. It is wise at this point to have someone get in line to check out because it will take a while. Last year my coed cousins came with us and stood in line while we continued our powershop. We eventually make it to the cash register, pay, then pack our treasures into the car. Then on to the next store! This truly is the "shop till you drop" day and ends with a nap sometime around noon.

Last year's shopping trip was cut short for me. I had to head home at 6am because my husband got sick. He ended up in the hospital having surgery later than day. Remember that fun?

This year I'm not sure if I will go, and here are my reasons why.
1- My mom is going to California for Thanksgiving and I'm losing my shopping partner.
2- For the first time in MANY years, I actually have to work that day. stupid hospital job...
3- I, like many people, am a bit concerned about our finances right now and fear I will overspend.

Despite all these reasons, I am still draw to the ads. I have spent far too much time today online searching our which stores are already posting their ads (Kohl's, Wal-Mart) and which ones are not (Target, Best Buy). I am still eager with anticipation of the shoppers high that is associated with the day. I get so excited looking at and picking gifts for family off the glossy ad pages. Maybe it's a good thing I have to work. It might just eliminate any desire for me, knowing I will have to work after shopping, do my hair, and wear something other than sweats.

Jewelry Giveaway

Mama Kat over at Mama's Losing It is doing a blog giveaway. And guess what the prize is? A pair of my handcrafted earrings! Be sure and stop by her blog to enter. All you have to do is visit my website, pick your favorite piece then leave a comment on her blog stating which piece is your favorite. Go check out her site to see the earrings the winner gets! See, so easy to enter and win. Go now!

Germany

While I have been home suffering from impending death (aka, the flu) The Man has been in Europe on a business trip. He traveled to at least four different countries on his trip. He sent me these pictures. I'm pretty sure they are all in Germany, but I can't be sure. Someday, we will go together and actually get to do the touristy, sight-seeing kinds of things. But for now, his work pays for him to go and he tries to scope out the places we would want to visit together.

Snowman

Ok, these pictures are really old, but I wanted to finally post them anyway. We got our first real snow of the year on Nov. 5. The roads were horrible so we opted to stay home and build a snowman instead. Only here can you build a snowman when your pumpkins are still on the porch!
I had to bribe her to kiss the snowman, but it made for a cute picture.
This is BG "helping". No, she isn't putting the smile on the snowman, she is eating the raisins that make the smile. The snowman ended up looking pretty unique with only half a smile.

The flu continues.

BG is finally starting to feel better. But now I have caught whatever she had. It's horrible. I'm guessing I will not be blogging too much in the next few days and I try to rest and rehydrate.

It seems like everyone I talk to is or have recently been sick. Have you been sick? Take the quiz on the side bar.

The Flu Sucks

*Warning! Graphic illness related stories ahead! Consider yourself warned.*

I've decided to officially name the ailment at our house the flu. BG woke up with a slight fever and after last night I decided to stay home with her. She has been fairly happy today but more clingy and doesn't want to eat anything. I got her to drink some water and orange juice. Then for lunch I had the great idea to make smoothies. I figured if her food were in liquid form, she might be more inclined to take it and it would get her some more nutrients.

Well, she did drink some. I was all proud of myself. After lunch, we sat on the couch to read some books. She was acting really tired and sad so we snuggled on the couch and read. Then it happened. Again. She threw up all her smoothie. I don't know if this is just me or a mother thing, but I would MUCH rather her throw up all over me and my clothes than the couch or carpet. It's so much easier for me to strip down to wash clothes than either the furniture or carpet.

So as she started, I pulled her close to me and we both got covered. Gross. However, most of the couch was spared and none on the carpet, so yay for that. She is now in bed and I have for the second time today cleaned up her barf. The second load of barfy clothes are in the wash. I decided I so need some blog time to myself while she naps. And I hope she naps for a long, long time. We both need it.

School girl

Yesterday BG looked so cute I just had to take some pictures. This is a new skirt I bought for her and I just love it.
This picture was taken in the morning when she was feeling fine. Not in the evening after she threw up all over a blanket and the carpet. She also got a little on the Ensign magazine and was really upset that she threw up on the prophet. I'm so glad my mom was here to help with the whole mess. Not so much fun for her, but so much better for my sanity to have someone there. She even cleaned up most of it. What a great mom I have! Love you!

Since we have both been sick for over a week now, I'm getting a little tired of it. I have considered the possibility that we both got flu shots a week ago Friday. Could that have anything to do with it or just an odd coincidence?

GMAT, Here I Come

I did it. I scheduled my appointment to take the GMAT today. I'm a little nervous about it. I take it on December 1. That is two weeks away! The schools I am applying to have their first deadline on December 1. I was hoping to make that deadline for the best chance at scholarships. When I went online today to schedule my test for Nov, the appointments were all full and I was bummed out. But then I checked out the school requirements again and at least one of them will accept the unofficial scores that you get the day of the test to review your application. They won't offer admittance until they get the official scores, but at least by taking the test Dec 1, I can be part of the first pool of applicants.

So now I am officially two weeks away from test day. It makes me nervous just thinking about it. But I have studied hard for months now. I will keep studying these next two weeks and hopefully, that will pay off. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Toddler Love

I feeling pretty lousy today. After primary practice this morning I came home and laid down on the couch. I told BG that mommy wasn't feeling well and she needed to be extra good.

She lightly stroked my arm. With all the love and concern of a 2 year-old she asked "You want honey?"

It made me smile. For the last week, with her sore throat, I have been giving her honey and explained that it will help her feel better. I think it has, or it's just really yummy because she keeps asking for it. It was so sweet of her to offer something that helped her feel better to her mommy that is not feeling well.

TGIF

Really, that's all I can say. Man, am I glad it's Friday. Not that my weekend will be relaxing. There is primary program practise tomorrow morning coupled with housework, laundry, grocery shopping, etc. Sunday is the program and a nap after that. Still, it sounds better than being at work. It's been a really long week.

BG still has a cough and I have a sore throat. Just when I thought it was going away, it came back. I'm not sleeping well and I'm really cold. Not sure if that has to do with the illness, oncoming winter, or poor circulation, but I am freezing all the time. Even with sweaters and layers. Even when the thermostat says 70 degrees. I don't believe it so I turn on the fire too. Oh, and the man is still gone on business. Do you feel sufficiently bad for me or should I go on?

Ok, ok enough whining. I'm just really glad for the weekend. TGIF!

The End is in Sight

Remember how I've been preparing for grad school ? Well, I have been studying 4-5 days a week since September for the GMAT - the graduate entrance exam. I have most definitely hit a rut and am so bored with it. On one hand, I just want to take the test and be done with it. On the other hand, there is no way I am going to shell out the $250 registration fee until I know darn well I'm prepared. I am not taking this test more than once!

Today as I was thinking yet again, it's time to study but I'm so bored of it, I looked at the calendar. I had originally planned to take the test the end of November. That is only 2 weeks away people! I am in the home stretch! I think I will end up actually taking the test early Dec, but it is within sight. That was just what I needed to light the fire again under my butt and hit the books. I only have a few weeks left and I want to make the most of the time I have to study, study, study.

I have started my applications for the few schools I will be applying to. I'm working on the essays and have made a list of things I still need. Yesterday I faxed my request to send transcripts to my schools of choice. I really am plugging along. That is really encouraging for me. I am not the most patient person so it's a little hard that this process takes so long. But today I realized that I am closer than I think. I'm a few weeks out from the test - which will really determine my chances of getting into school. I just have to wrap up my applications then wait to hear from schools.

Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are a Marilyn!

You are a Marilyn -- "I am affectionate and skeptical."

Marilyns are responsible, trustworthy, and value loyalty to family, friends, groups, and causes. Their personalities range broadly from reserved and timid to outspoken and confrontative.

How to Get Along with Me

* Be direct and clear

* Listen to me carefully

* Don't judge me for my anxiety

* Work things through with me

* Reassure me that everything is OK between us

* Laugh and make jokes with me

* Gently push me toward new experiences

* Try not to overreact to my overreacting.

What I Like About Being a Marilyn

* being committed and faithful to family and friends

* being responsible and hardworking

* being compassionate toward others

* having intellect and wit

* being a nonconformist

* confronting danger bravely

* being direct and assertive

What's Hard About Being a Marilyn

* the constant push and pull involved in trying to make up my mind

* procrastinating because of fear of failure; having little confidence in myself

* fearing being abandoned or taken advantage of

* exhausting myself by worrying and scanning for danger

* wishing I had a rule book at work so I could do everything right

* being too critical of myself when I haven't lived up to my expectations

Marilyns as Children Often

* are friendly, likable, and dependable, and/or sarcastic, bossy, and stubborn

* are anxious and hypervigilant; anticipate danger

* form a team of "us against them" with a best friend or parent

* look to groups or authorities to protect them and/or question authority and rebel

Marilyns as Parents

* are often loving, nurturing, and have a strong sense of duty

* are sometimes reluctant to give their children independence

* worry more than most that their children will get hurt

* sometimes have trouble saying no and setting boundaries

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy

Thanks Friends

Thanks for everyone who is concerned about BG. She is doing much better. I, on the other hand, have now gotten sick. Yesterday afternoon I was feeling pretty miserable. Sore throat, migraine, etc. So I did what anyone should do when they are sick. I packed up and went to my Mommy's house. She made me chicken soup and Papa read to BG so I didn't have to stress over her. It was great. Thanks Mom & Dad!

I am feeling a bit better today, but still not great. I hate being sick. It's a good thing I have a frozen pizza and frozen burritos in the freezer. I think that is what we'll be eating tonight. yum!

Croup Update

I am hoping the worst is over. BG slept all night long last night without a peep. She is still coughing a little bit today, but happy and upbeat. Hopefully the really bad night we had was the last! Oh, and I'm feeling fine thus far.

Preparing to Disappear

Just a heads up to my two blogging fans, I will be dropping off the face of the earth. Not by choice really. More out of necessity.

Last night was the third, and worse, sick night for BG. She slept in Mommy's bed coughing and spewing germ-infested saliva 2 inches from my face all. night. long. So I fully expect to be near death's door in 24-48 hours. Poor little thing.

The Man took the day off work and took her to the doctor. The Doc said she is sick. He suspects it may be croup and in addition to the honey we have been giving her, recommends bundling her up and taking her outside into the freezing cold to help her breathing. He kindly informed us that we can do this as often as every half hour throughout the night. Should be fun. I think I'll try the running hot shower approach first. Why not waste water during all the fun?

So, I will be managing a sick, sleep-deprived toddler while trying to stave off the infection myself and packing my husband for his business trip. Oh yeah, did I mention I get to do all this by myself. It should be a fun weekend. If you know some teenagers that need firsthand experience with birth control, feel free to send them my way! I'm sure after this weekend at my house, they will think twice about their own weekend plans.

Product Review

On a recent shopping trip I bought some of these flannel lines pants from J Crew. Can I just say, they are AMAZING! I live in a cold and wintery part of the world and am always cold. From about Nov to March I am complaining that it is too cold. I hate that my muscles clench up and my fingers are numb.

These pants are one step in the other direction. I tried them out yesterday (first snow of the season) and they worked beautifully! They are fuzzy warm, like you are wearing a blanket under your pants. I think I need 4 more pairs so I can wear them every workday of the week.

You can find them on the J Crew site, but I bought them at the outlet store for a lot less. These pants almost make winter something to look forward to. Almost...

Welcome Obama!

His mantra was change, We Can Change.
And we have.

Congratulations to Barack Obama! He did amazing things in the election. This election had an 11% increase in voter turn out over last presidential election. That's impressive. He inspired young voters, a traditionally hard-to-reach population. He proved that our vote does count. We have been watching the election coverage all night and we are celebrating at my house.

I was really impressed with McCain's speech tonight. He was incredible gracious, and kind. Good for him.

I am so grateful to live in this great country where we can vote. We have the great ability and responsibility to get involved and let our voice be heard. We have tried to tell BG about the importance of voting. Earlier tonight I had the following conversation with her on the way home.

Me: I am going to take you home and you will stay with Daddy while Mommy goes to vote.
BG: I come too.
Me: You want to come vote?
BG: BG vote too.
Me: Ok. Who are you voting for? John or Barack?
BG: Ba-wok
Me: You want to vote for Barack?
BG: Vote Big wok.
BG: -pause-
BG: And little wok.
BG: Two woks!

I hope as a country we can now unite for the better of everyone. No matter what, Barack and his administration are in need of our prayers as they lead this great nation.

What a Memory

Doing BG's hair in the morning is usually a fight at best. She usually doesn't want her hair done but it is constantly falling in her eyes.

This morning I decided to do something a little different from our normal hair routine. I did two half pigtails but didn't pull them all the way through on the final wrap. So it left two nubs on the top of her head. She really liked it and starting saying she looked like her friend K. It took me a minute to figure out what she was talking about. But then I realized that when we went to the pumpkin patch with K, her hair was done in the same style. That was almost a month ago! I was surprised that she has remembered that.

Bakers Delight

I don't know what it is about this time of year, but it always makes me want to be in the kitchen baking. This is pretty unusual for me because I'm not a baker, at all. (I just barely figured out how to make cookies and it's only because I got a family recipe from a friend that included strict preparation instructions such as how long to beat the mixture, etc.) I enjoy cooking, but am not that great. But for whatever reason, when the air starts getting cooler and thoughts are turning to Thanksgiving, I get all ambitious.

I have already made a batch of pumpkin bread - which I love! Yum. Tonight I am going to try sweet potato fries. I made two batches of homemade tomato sauce from my garden tomatoes. And anything with squash or pumpkin sounds delicious. I also love soups. I love how they warm you up and taste great as leftovers. During the winter we plan on at least one pot of tasty soup each week to last a few nights. Wow, all this talk is making my hungry...

When Did This Happen?!

We were cleaning the cars the other day and BG was helping. I cleaned one side of the dash while she sat on the other side. We switched and that put her on the driver's side. It was shocking to suddenly turn around and she BG sitting in the drivers seat. What?! Huh?! When did my baby start driving? Weird. I'm sure when it actually happens it will feel the exact same way. Except it will be real. Scary...

Happy Halloween!

I was so excited for Halloween. I love the cute, kid-friendly parts of Halloween. (Not so much the scary, gory parts.) I had prepped BG and we had practiced what to say when the neighbors opened their doors. She says a pretty cute "trick or treat!"

She had a really fun time. She asked to go to the next house and usually remembered to say thank you. She was a little confused why we were only going to the houses with lights on. She carried her candy bag the whole way all by herself. were only a few time that I had to carry her. She is really into counting and counted all the pumpkins on everyone's proches. There Dad stayed behind to hand out candy to the other kids and he even confided to me this morning that he actually enjoyed it this year.
On the porch with our pumpkins. I have pictures of carving the pumpkin but haven't made it that far in the blogging world. I'll try and get those posted. BG loved that too.
BG was a dog. Her costume made it so she couldn't really turn her head. I don't have many pictures of her smiling. I think that is because when she smiled, the fur got in her mouth.
Checking out the stash. I decided to draw on some whiskers at the last minute and am glad I did. I think they turned out cute. She got to eat half a sucker last night and had the rest this morning. Mom ate a few pieces of her candy. We had a great time!

Halloween Memories

In all the prep that is going on to make Halloween great for BG, I was thinking about Halloween memories from my childhood. Mom always made us eat dinner before we went trick-or-treating. A good rule that is hated by children everywhere. As we got older, she would be yelling at us from the kitchen to come eat as we walked out the door. I have vague memories of chili for dinner, but that just be one particular year, and not a tradition.

I remember the Talking Pumpkin for many years. My dad rigged a speaker system to the family's carved pumpkin and it would "talk" to visitors as they came up to our house. It was pretty funny to leave the bowl of candy out then give the teenagers a scare when they tried to take all of it. We thought that pumpkin was the greatest, magic thing EVER! Dad was nicer to the little kids who talking to it.

For many years we dressed up in family themes and the dog was always part of the fun. Big bad wolf, cowardly lion, etc...

My mom didn't have a maximum age for trick-or-treating (like some families) so I went with friends through high school. I think after a point, we realized watching scary movies with boys was more fun.

Now I'm excited to create some great memories for BG at Halloween. This will be a fun year because she gets it much better. Oh, and she can actually walk. That helps with the trick-or-treating. What fun Halloween memories do you have?

Pumpkin Patch

A few weeks back we went to the Pumpkin Patch. BG had a great time! We went with one of my friends and her daughter. K is a year older than BG but she loves following her around. She will ask for K for days after playing together. We all had a great time.

BG loved all the pumpkins and insisted on carrying her own. She still loves to carry it around the house. It has spent much more time in the house than on the porch. I think BG is afraid it will get lonely out on the porch. I bought another bigger pumpkin this week to carve. We'll see how that goes.

Halloween Party

The neighborhood Halloween Party was on Sat. BG and I went. The Man was being a party pooper and refused to go. BG had a fun time. There was chili, cornbread, and pumpkin desserts. The kids did a parade around the gym. After a long line of kids there was a huge break in the line. Leading the second line, was BG. She wasn't quite sure how the whole parade thing worked.

Even though BG really wanted to be a cow for Halloween, I couldn't find a cheap cow costume but we did find this dog. Since she loves dogs, I think it will work just fine. She loves to snuggle with the costume and pet it. Who wouldn't! It's really soft.


BG had fun with her friend, E. Anytime E left the table she would ask "Where's E?" It was pretty cute and I managed to get at least one picture of them.

Sweet, sweet alone time

Today I took the day off work. And I took BG to daycare. There really is a good reason for that. I took a practice GMAT test under test conditions - so three hours of computer testing. Fun. I didn't do as well as I'd hoped on the test, but it did give me the afternoon child-free.

I know I should have done something girly and just for me, like lounge while eating ice cream and painting my toenails. Instead I cleaned the house. Not very exciting to most but desperately needed around here. It was actually really nice to just clean without having a two year-old under foot the whole time. I also went grocery shopping. All alone. Aaaahhhhh....

I was hoping to get more done that I did, but at least it gives me a head start on Saturday chores. Since I've finished a lot of the basics, maybe I can get to the others things tomorrow that I never have time to do. Like mopping the floor or organizing my office. Who knows!

Happy Birthday Sis!

Today is my lovely sister's birthday. I won't mention which one, but she is still young and looking great! Be sure and stop by her blog to wish her a happy birthday. I hope you have a great day Jules!

Why Halloween will suck this year...

Blog Stalking

I have been doing a bit of blog stalking today and found some great ones.

Overheard in the Ward is, well just what it sounds like. It's a hilarious blog of funny things that are overheard in church houses everywhere. Many of the funny things are things children say. What's not love? Here is just one little sample, but be sure and stop by for a good laugh.

Parent: Nicholas, that was your choice. You’re just going to have to live with the consequences now.
Nicholas: But, I don’t want to live with the Consequences, I want to live with you!

Seriously, I was laughing out loud nearly crying. Go visit it. Now!

Great Weekend

We had a great weekend. Friday I got off work early and when I got home, The Man was already there. Apparently he hadn't been feeling well and worked most the day from home. But he was feeling better so we strapped BG into the stroller and walked over to the Scarecrow Festival happening just down the street.

There were helicopter rides and BG loved seeing the helicopters. She points them out in the sky and know the difference between that and an airplane. Good think she didn't realize you could take a ride, otherwise we would have been in trouble. We walked around the activities and visited the petting zoo. Then we walked home, had some dinner and relaxed.

Saturday was a busy day but a fun one. I got up and went to Super Saturday and made some fun crafts. One of the things I bought was FHE packets complete with stories, pictures, etc. I sat down to color the pictures only to realize that coloring is not as fun when you are an adult. I remember loving to color.

After Super Sat, I came home and got us all ready to go for the day. We took BG to Grandma's house so The Man and I could have some time together. We went to the Utah football game and had a great time. Utah won by a landslide, which is always a good thing! It was a lot of fun being back on campus with the memories. After the game, (which was a really short game, only 3 hours) we went to a movie. We saw Eagle Eye. It was ok. I was glad we only paid for matinee priced tickets. We went back to Grandma's to pick up BG and went home.

It was a busy day but it was so nice to spend some time with my sweety. After being gone for so long, it was a much needed day out together. Thanks so much Grandma for taking BG! I know she had a great time with Grandma because 1-She always does and 2-she asked to go back to Grandma's house first thing this morning. Now I just have to finish the laundry and housework that didn't get done. Such is the price for a fun outing-filled weekend.

Tasty Chicken

On Friday we went to the local petting zoo. BG had a great time and loved seeing the animals. We bought some corn from the vending machine to feed the chickens and this conversation took place.

BG: I eat that. (while pointing)
Man: (Laughing)
Me: You want to eat the corn?
Man: I think she means the chicken.
Me: No. BG, you want to eat the corn?
BG: No. I eat chicken.

Good to know I won't have to deal with a vegetarian diet anytime soon from my 2 year old.

Writer's Workshop

Mama Kat does a weekly writers workshop where she provides a prompt and all the bloggers in bloggy-land write about it. I have never participated, but thought I would this week. Why not! The prompt I chose:
What do you love to create?

My gut reaction and instant answer is jewelry. I know most of you are aware of my hobby/business, but I really love it! I love putting together all the pretty beads, crystal, pearls, etc and turn it into a beautiful, wearable piece of art. I've never been able to draw, paint or do other "arty" things, so this is really fun for me. I also love learning new techniques. I get excited when I find a new method or tip online or in a book. Then I want to run right home and try it.

I love that with the same basic supplies you can create such an infinite variety of fun accessories. For those of you with a shoe or bag obsession (also me), you understand the high that comes with finding a great new pair. The excitement that comes when you realize a new outfit to pair them with. I feel similar to making jewelry. I get such a thrill when I can create something new, something to make a woman look beautifully feminine and sparkly. Making jewelry for me is like putting on that outfit that you know makes you look hot. That little bit of haughty smugness for knowing you are going to turn heads and that you deserve it.

If you haven't checked out my lovely creations, please visit now at jessicastrongdesign.com. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

I'm Exhausted

Tonight my honey returns after a 12 day business trip. And boy am I glad.

This morning there was a melt-down at my house. BG was fighting and whining over every aspect of the morning routine. Whining about changing her diaper, getting dressed, putting on shoes, doing her hair. All the while we're running later and later for work/school. Finally I snapped. I'm not proud of this but I yelled at her then put her in her crib. I slammed doors as I ran to my room and we both cried on our own beds. We both needed a time out.

After some time I felt calm enough to go back and deal with the situation. I went back to her room and we had a talk. I told her she needed to listen to Mommy and not fight me every morning. She knows the morning routine and she needs to be happy and get ready. I also apologized for yelling at her. After that she got ready fairly quickly and mostly happy. We were, of course, already 20 minutes late by then.

So I texted the Man this morning and told him what happened. He told me I'm off BG duty for the rest of the week so I can take a break. I really need a break. That's one thing I love about my Man. He is really good about giving me a break when I need one.

This is mostly why I hate having the Man travel. I can handle it him being gone - I miss him, but as an adult, I can handle it. It's hard for BG and it's hard being a single parent during that time. It always gives me great appreciation for what he does at home. It also gives me great appreciation for single parents. I am ready to pull my hair out after 12 days. Single parents do it all the time. That deserves a round of applause.

Twilight Update

I finished the first book. I am so proud of myself! Mostly because I am not a reader. I suppose that's what happens when The Man is out of town for a week. It has actually been kind of nice. I've spent some quality me time. But I am really happy to get the Man back. It will be nice to have some help at bedtime again. Bring on book number 2!

Parental Note-to-Self

Making cookies for FHE is a lot of fun.
Eating homemade cookies is delicious.
As the mom, I'm allowed more than one, two, three, or more cookies.
As the mom, I should not allow BG more than one cookie.
But since I let her have two, I should expect it to impact bedtime, complete with eating as slowly as possible then throwing a tantrum over every minute detail of the bedtime routine.

I tried to talk her into giving the second cookies back to me to save it for tomorrow. It didn't work. She wasn't about to give up her cookie.

Post #100!

It took a year to get to 100, but I made it! In blogger tradition, here is a list of 100 things you may, or may not know about me and my little family. Ok, mostly about me.

1. I have an irrational fear of driving behind any truck/vehicle with something sticking out of it's bed. I am afraid of it falling out and impaling me. Same goes for things attached to the top.
2. I have been know to faint while giving blood and sometime when getting shots.
3. The man has traveled to Brazil, Europe, and Japan for business within the last year.
4. I have stayed home with BG during each of those trips.
5. I have been growing my hair out for the last year.
6. I am thinking about cutting my hair short again because it's getting unruly.
7. I think Jon Stewart is kind of sexy.
8. BG's favorite song is "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star"
9. Runner up favorites are "ABCs" and "Hello".
10. BG's new favorite lovey is her pink bear and she can hardly go anywhere without it.
11. The tomatoes in our garden have taken over all the other plants and we're afraid of they morphing into "Killer Tomatoes".
12. The Man planted popcorn kernels in our garden and they actually grew.
13. The corn from said seeds don't have too much promise. Small kernels spread far apart.
14. I have visited the Farmer's Market almost weekly since it opened to buy produce. Yum!
15. BG loves dinosaurs.
16. The Man and I will have our 6 year anniversary this month.
17. I don't like my job.
18. I just bought a new giraffe print handbag and LOVE it!
19. I have recently become a news junkie and check CNN.com far more than anyone should.
20. The first day I wore my newest cute, blue heels, I tripped on them and fell down the stairs at work. (Only one or two stairs, no injuries except my pride.)
21. I have never traveled beyond the North American continent.
22. I love jackets.
23. I have been searching for the perfect beige trench coat since I didn't buy the one I loved at Banana Republic several years ago.
24. I am always drawn to skirts while shopping but rarely wear them.
25. I drink lots of water.
26. I am addicted to chapstick and carry it with me at all times.
27. BG didn't walk until she was 17 months old.
28. Up until walking, BG's method of movement was scooting on her bottom.
29. After BG burbs, she says "Thank you burb".
30. BG has started asking "You ok Mommy/Daddy?" when we get upset or frustrated.
31. BG loves all dogs but especially Moab, my parent's pooch.
32. The Man comes home with blisters from Foosball at work.
33. The Man has taken up running and is really enjoying it.
34. Our favorite Italian restaurant is Carrabba's. Yum!
35. My man is a brownie over cookie kind of guy.
36. BG loves yellow buses (school buses) and points them out on the road.
37. Last summer was the first time I had ever had a pedicure. (criminal, I know!)
38. I love designing and making jewelry.
39. The Man is a self-taught web programmer.
40. We used to have a German Shepard named Tunza.
41. My FIL called our dog Tumor.
42. Our family loves Pixar movies.
43. I love watching Project Runway.
44. I was giddy with excitement over the return of The Office this season.
45. I go the church (almost) every week.
46. The Man has never been to Disneyland.
47. I'm not a great cook but I try to make nutritious meals for my family.
48. I rarely will consider a recipe if it takes more than 30 minutes to prepare.
49. Our family doesn't eat much meat. Mostly because it takes longer to prepare.
50. I've hit the half-way point of my list!
51. I love candy corn.
52. BG loves The Backyardigans.
53. Even though I was raised near the rocky mountains, I don't ski or board.
54. I don't really like winter much at all.
55. The Man has staples in his knee from a past surgery.
56. We make a mean guacamole.
57. I had braces twice.
58. I was a dancer growing up.
59. I am a huge advocate of reading.
60. I rarely read myself.
61. I teach primary (5-6 year olds) at church.
62. BG likes to count things.
63. BG has just recently been counting correctly, with all the numbers between 1-10.
64. I have been studying for the GMAT 5 days a week since the first of Sept.
65. I used to be a nail biter.
66. I enjoy scrapbooking.
67. I'm really "thrifty" (aka cheap) and refuse to buy most things full price.
68. I already have all of BG's summer wardrobe for next summer - bought on sale in the past few weeks.
69. I don't like most fish, but I do like good fish.
70. BG gives the best hugs and kisses.
71. She also likes high fives and knuckles.
72. I have no middle name.
73. Fall is my favorite season.
74. I love Italian food.
75. I don't eat pork.
76. The Man is a great shopping partner - when he's in the right mood.
77. I love mint chocolate chip ice cream.
78. I frequently have violent dreams.
79. The Man and I met in a rat research lab.
80. We have 3 college degrees between the two of us.
81. BG loves to color.
82. I'm not sure what I want to be when I grow up.
83. The Man is not so into sports (which makes me happy).
84. The Man has an uncanny ability to links obscure actors to all the roles they have played.
85. I quickly forget books after I read them.
86. BG is working on potty training.
87. When asked what she wants for dinner, BG always says Pizza.
88. The Man drove my (at the time) ideal car when we first started dating, a 1997 Honda Civic Ex.
89. I took his hat after our first date and he wasn't sure he would ever see it again.
90. I also took his graduation ring shortly after we started dated. He was also concerned about not getting that back.
91. He got both back; we have lost the hat but still have the ring.
92. The first time I met his family is was at a graduation picnic for him and we played baseball.
93. The first time he met my family was the day after our first date at my brother's mission homecoming party.
94. The man is a workaholic... I mean a hard worker.
95. The man has lost 50 lbs in the last year. Great job!
96. I don't weight myself.
97. Sometimes I love BG best when she is sleeping.
98. We have a moth problem at our house and it really annoys me.
100. I love my family and look forward to a great future!

Wow! Some of those could be a post in and of themselves. Maybe I'll pull from this list when I can't think of anything to write.

I Be Cow

What is the answer to, "What are your going to be for Halloween?"

Now I just have to find the cow costume.

Twilight

I have caved and finally started reading Twilight. I know, I know, gasps all around. I started last night and stayed up until 11:30 reading. On a work night, that's really late for me. Ah, who am I kidding? That's really late for me any night.

I am on pg 153 and Bella has just finished researching vampires but decides she is still smitten with Edward regardless of his vampire-status. The girls are about to go dress shopping. No one spoil it for me on with the comments! Oh, and if you have the others you want to lend to me, let me know!

Don't Vote

Saw this great video about voting and thought I'd share!

Pay it Forward

I was the recent winner of a Pay it Forward post and this is what I got! My cousin does vinyl letters and I asked her to make our last name to go on these blocks. I already had the blocks and had been meaning to do letters on them for almost a year now. Anyway, I'm pretty excited about how they turned out.

Since I won on a Pay it Forward post, that's what I have to do! The first three people to comment on this post will get a lovingly handcrafted something from me. The catch is that you then have to do a post like this and pay if forward to three other people.

See Duckies

BG loves ducks. Near her school there is a small river and ducks are often there on our way home. It's pretty much the highlight of her evening commute to see the ducks.

Yesterday I strapped her into the car and off we went. She was her usual excited self to see the ducks and I kept telling her, "Let's see if we can see them". When we got to the river I pointed them out and said, "Look! There's the ducks." She was being a little whinny in the back seat and he plea was getting increasingly agitated as she asked "See duckies? See duckies?!" I again pointed to them and told her they were right there.

After an even more agitated request to see the duckies I turned around to see what was the matter. Then I saw why she was so upset. I had hung the dry cleaning next to her and it was blocking her entire view. I had to laugh, and yet it was so sad! She was so excited to see the duckies and I kept telling her to just look, but all she could see was Daddy's shirts hanging in a plastic bag. Poor thing. Sorry BG! Tonight I promise we'll see the duckies.

Bangs

We have decided at our house we are no longer having bangs. By which, I of course mean we are growing out BGs bangs. I remember the process of growing out my bangs as a long and painful one. I recall my mother fighting the concept for as long as possible because she thought it would be too difficult. I remember growing out my "side bangs" was torture. (Was that a horrible 80's thing or just in my family?) Essentially the bit of hair closest to my ear was cut short like a boy's so I had nothing the tuck behind my ear. Ewwww Just thinking about it reminds me of mullets, butch cuts, and all other bad 80's hairstyles. Double ewwww, and my sister and I both had perms! I'll have to see if I can find a picture of my sis and I with our *hot* 80's do's.

BGs bangs have hit the point, yet again, where they need to be trimmed or let them grow out. This time we'll try the second option. I had never planned on her having bangs in the first place. But her darn hair falls forward and it was always in her eyes so I caved and cut bangs. So far, the process hasn't been too bad. We put her hair in a ponytail of some sort every day. That's not so unusually from our normal routine anyway. It does limit a bit what we can do. For example, it I want a full ponytail, I have to do two. One little one on top to keep her bangs back and the big normal one. On the days she won't sit still long enough for two ponytails, we are limited. I did get out one of her baby barrettes the other day and those actually work well for holding bangs back.

How long will it take to grow her bangs out the the length of her other hair? It took two years for her hair to get to where it is now. That is a lot of ponytails. I'm starting to see why my mother dreaded the 'growing out of the bangs', and even more the great logic behind never cutting bangs in the first place.

Candy Corn Update

They are all gone.
They were delicious.
Told you they wouldn't make it to October.

Potty Update

An update for any of you who are interested. (Hey, Elise asked, so I'm posting!) BG is doing pretty well at the potty. She will notify me about half the time when she needs to go. She has even been pretty good about going at church the last few weeks. We bought the Pull-ups and they help as an incentive, but only some of the time. BG is pretty particular and lets up know when she wants to wear a diaper or a Pull-up. And if you try to get her to wear the other, watch out! If she is really into playing or anything else, she has a hard time breaking away to go potty. I think that's when we have accidents.

Still no success at #2 at home. She asks me to change her after she is done. She loves the M&Ms, so using those as a bribe are working out well. Sometimes I think she'll ask to sit on the potty just to get one, but we stick to the rule that she has to actually GO to get one. We brought the little potty onto the main level so there is a potty close by at all times.

Although daycare will help in the potty training effort, I keep wondering if that is inhibiting her progress. They have up to 6 other kids to watch and they potty/change diapers on a timetable. I keep wondering if I should take a few days (or a week) off work to stay home to do potty train. If she sat on the potty every hour would that help? She loves her big girl panties but not enough to keep them dry. So that's the update. Still working, but going well.

Random Cuteness

I have a habit of taking cute pictures of BG with the intent of posting them on the blog, but never doing it. So I thought I'd take some time tonight to post a few of the random samplings I've taken over the last few weeks. BG has become attached to this pink bear. She has had it for almost a year but just recently has really started to like it. This was one of those rare days she let me do something with her hair and she insisted on braids.


BG loves the TV. In fact, I think a little too much. Tonight after I told her No to watching her TV shows, she started asking to watch Mommy's TV shows. I had to get it on video. She was giving me the saddest puppy dog eyes, you'd think I was denying her food. Her favorite shows are Max & Ruby, The Backyardigans, and The Wonder Pets.


She loves to help in the kitchen. She will open the pantry door and ask to get her stool out to help. She is good at helping dump things into a bowl and stirring *kind of*. It's fun to have a little helper in the kitchen.

And one last tid-bit. She has taken to calling me "Nonny". I'm not sure why. She can say "Mommy" just fine.