"Why, Mama?"

Amelia's first sled.

She picked out this outfit and wanted to dance by the Christmas tree.

Pretending it's raining inside.

"Why?"

It started. The one word question that dominates our conversations as of late.
It started last Thursday and has been used more and more frequently as the days go by.
I knew it was coming. I had been waiting for it. And now it's here.

"Don't tip your sippy cup over." "Why?"
"We have to go to the grocery store." "Why?"
"Be careful. The sidewalk is icy." "Why?"

So, Amelia wants to know why at 28 months. An amazing signal that her mind is expanding quickly and that she's really beginning to understand cause and effect.
Another developmental milestone. I'm just making a note of it.
Hilarious Amelia-isms to follow regarding this topic, I'm sure...

Amelia's Letter to Santa

Dear Santa Claus,

I want some presents. I want an Elmo toy, a dolly with crazy hair, and that's it.

What do you live in? This is my new house.
I got a horsey-rocker. Do you have reindeer, Santa?
Dear Santa, Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas.

I need some buttons for my gingerbread.

Love,
Amelia

And you're how old???

Tonight as Amelia fought with me about going to bed...

"I don't need sleep. I need to play and that's the truth."

Well.

Growing Pains...

The girl is growing...FAST. No really, she's having a growth spurt. How do I know? Pants that were way too long a month ago are fitting perfectly. Her legs are finally catching up to her long torso. She's eating everything in sight. She's moody. Now the latter could be caused by several different things, she is 2 now, but I'm going with growth spurt. Her sleep patterns are changing, again. And tonight at bed-time, she complained of pain behind her knee. She was confused by it and wasn't sure if it itched or if it hurt. Poor girl fell asleep holding her knee up to her chest. Again, all signs point to growth spurt and growing pains.

Amelia had her 2 year well check with a new pediatrician here in Lansing. Visits to the doctor have always been...how do I say...painfully painful. However, another sign that she is growing (although she did cry through the entire visit) is the fact that she actually did what the doctor asked; opening her mouth while tears streamed down her face, letting her listen to her chest and back...all the while crying and interjecting an occasional "don't check me! I don't want a check-up. I don't want to, I don't want to...." Heartbreaking. I even told her before the visit that there would be no pokes and that nothing would hurt this time...just a check up. Well, surprise. Though I didn't mean to, I lied...hemoglobin check means prick to the toe. Wow, she was NOT happy. And I felt terrible too.
Gratefully, she understands more therefore she can prepare for what's to come when it comes to the doctor, she can ask questions, reassure herself by playing doctor on her stuffed animals, and she even asked the doctor personal questions about her family...responses regarding her 2 year old son seemed to please Amelia and made the doc seem a little less scary. She acted like a big girl despite all those tears. And I was very proud of her. Lots of praise and hugs as well as a trip to the diner across the street for a post doc visit vanilla shake seemed to erase the pain. At least most of it.

She's healthy. All that growing turned out the following results: At 27 months she weighs 30 lbs putting her in the 78th percentile for weight. She is 37 1/4 inches tall...96th percentile. And her head is, as always, off the charts...this time at 99 cm.

She's growing and sometimes painfully fast. Whether it's my heart aching for things to slow down just a bit, or Amelia's little legs aching from sprouting up so fast so she can one day tower over her mother, it's the growing that is the journey and it's those painful moments that makes all the others so sweet.

Songwriter

Amelia's First Song...

I like roses
I like snow
I like snowflakes
when they on my nose.

Her Dad is so proud.

The Story of the Suckie

It has been one month and 13 days since Amelia has used her suckie.
It all began 2 years and 2 months ago when my peanut was born and was swept away to the NICU even barely before the fog of c-section meds wore off. All the plans to snuggle, take pictures and videos, pass her around to family and friends, open new baby gifts...were replaced by this new and scary and almost incomprehensible situation. Suddenly the plans had changed. Suddenly the control was handed over to these (wonderful) strangers to make most of the decisions regarding her care. Suddenly, I was unable to hold my newborn...Amelia could not be removed from her "giraffe" and therefore could not be held but once a day. Can you imagine? We couldn't snuggle her and she couldn't snuggle us. We did our best to soothe her with our voices and the touch of our hands...but a baby needs more. And what about when we couldn't be by her side in the wee hours of the night?
Enter the suckie. Enter the caring, reassuring and pleasant nurse with the loud southern accent who ran to find her one when Ameila was wailing and the nursery seemed to be out. Boom. There it was. Decision made.
You see, pre-Amelia's birth, I had planned on forgoing the use of a pacifier all together. I thought after our baby was born I would do my best to be sure she didn't rely on a pacifier for comfort. Well, that didn't happen. And rely on it she did...for 2 years.
When we finally brought her home from the hospital, Amelia relying on her suckie was at that point insignificant, (as were a lot of other things I had planned) compared to the miracle of just being able to bring her home. I was just grateful that there was something that worked to comfort her during those weeks. The green suckie became a very important part of our lives. VERY important. Like most kids addicted to a pacifier, Amelia grew more and more fond of hers as the years passed.
Along with the sucking came the always cute twirling of the hair at the early age of about 5 months. It started with Amelia touching and playing with my long hair while I nursed and rocked her to sleep, which I always found totally endearing. Later, closer to 10 months to a year, Amelia started twirling her own hair to fall asleep while either nursing or sucking on that green suckie. Don't forget the "mommy shirt," which Ford introduced at 4 months of age in an attempt to calm Amelia's hysteria while I was out Christmas shopping. So the magic three...the sucking, the hair twirling, and the sniffing of the mommy shirt became Amelia's vices, her necessities of comfort, the magic that put her in that trance before she drifted off to sleep each and every time...

Amelia loved her suckie. Wanted it all the time. Enjoyed it when other babies and toddlers had one too. She understood the happiness it brought to them. Amelia only enjoyed the "Soothie" type pacifier, the green one handed out at the hospital. I tried other brands, offering different sizes, shapes, firmness...nope, she had her fav and she was sticking to it. During Amelia's first trip to see Santa at the mall, I remember seeing a little boy of about 2 years sitting on Santa's lap with his green Soothie in his mouth and thinking to myself, there's no way Amelia will still be using that green infant suckie at that age, no way...

Our pediatrician in Nashville told me the pacifier had to go by the time she turned 2. Said it would affect the development of her mouth if she kept it any longer. I had horrible visions of buck teeth, of mouth pieces to correct a suckie induced overbite, braces with rubber bands and head gear...
But the older she got, the more attached she became. I tried to limit her usage to nap-time, bedtime and car rides. But she would find them, stick them in at will. And admittedly, we gave in often, knowing the immediate and soothing affect it had on her. Amazingly, it really does do what it says...not only does it soothe a crying infant but it actually pacifies a whining toddler, immediately and effectively. There were some days where I too loved that green suckie.

Flash forward to Labor Day 2009. Amelia and I take a trip to Cross Village, MI to spend the weekend with family (minus Ford...home studying) at Uncle Mike's cozy cottage on Lake Michigan. All is well, Amelia sucks the suckie all the way on the 5 hour ride north. But something unexpected happens that night...at bedtime, jammies on and mommy shirt in hand, exhausted from our day at the beach, she is distraught. Something is wrong with her suckie..."something hurts" she repeats. She often says this not because something actually hurts but because something doesn't feel quite right. I noticed one of the 2 suckies has a small tear. I offer her the other one. She is equally distraught. I do some inspecting, though she won't let me look in her mouth, and notice there is a dog hair on this suckie. Maybe that's it. I wash it. Still a no go. Amelia refuses, but is very upset about it. After hours of suckie drama and crying, she finally falls asleep. Without. The. Suckie.
With support from the family vacationing with us, I use this never before available window of opportunity to detox Amelia of her vice.
The next day, to my shock and amazement, she does not ask for it until nap-time. I offer her the sole suckie. She tries it. Again, something is not quite right. Exhausted from playing again on the beach all day, she falls asleep quickly and painlessly. I am thrilled, and the same that night...a little complaining but fairly smooth sailing. Are we home free? Could it be that easy??? NOOOO...really?? No binky fairy? No purposefully altering the suckie to make it undesirable, no forcing the issue and going cold turkey? I virtually had to do nothing. I was feeling VERY grateful for this free pass. But it didn't last. When we returned home, things took a turn for the worse. Back in her own bed, Amelia asked for it. Wanted it. Needed it. Uh oh. I got a little nervous. After reading a little about it and talking it over with Ford I had decided that if this very thing happened, I would encourage Amelia to pass on and hand down her suckies to the many new babies that had been born that month, including her new baby cousin Will. She was thrilled with this idea. Whew. She climbed down off my lap, helped me pick out wrapping paper and a bow, wrapped up one suckie and put it in a very special spot on her bedroom floor so we could take it to the post office after nap. She was happy with this. But sadly, she could not fall asleep. The affects of suckie-withdrawal had set in. She could not relax, she could not sit still, she could not find the comfort she needed to get sleepy, not from me, not from rocking, not from anywhere. She was upset. I felt terrible. No nap. We mailed the suckie to Baby Will. We all praised her and told her how proud we were of her. What a big girl she was now. She seemed generally okay with this.
However, the withdrawal scenarios lasted the next 2 weeks and although there were several times I wanted to cave and let her have it just to fall asleep, so she could rest, I didn't. And it was hard. I tried to remind myself that this too is just a phase. That one day we will know what it is like to not have the green suckie in her mouth or on her mind.

That day is here. It can be done. Amen.
It is bittersweet to me. I admit, I am thankful I don't have to worry about carrying those things around with me, worrying about dropping it on say...a public bathroom floor (nasty), I don't have to battle with her about taking it out, and I no longer have to think about how I'm going to go about getting rid of it. But sadly, along with the giving up of the green suckie, came the disinterest in hair-twirling, and lastly she could care less, most days, where her mommy shirt is.
Shoot. Apparently, one goes they all go. Amelia does not want to talk about the suckie. She has started to in the past and quickly stops herself and moves on to something else. It almost seems too hard for her to talk about it or even to think about.
It may seem small, but it is in fact a big, no huge, step toward being a kid. A big kid.
She did it.
No more suckie.
Next...diapers.

More of the best...

The cuteness just keeps coming. Yesterday, during our pre-nap ritual, we snuggled on the bed and read books together. This time we read books we had checked out from the library. I read to her "My Favorite Things" which is just the lyrics to the familiar song from the Sound of Music put to wonderful illustrations. She asked me to read it (well, I actually sang it) a total of 3 times and after the 3rd time she commented on the last line of the song: "And then I don't feel so bad." She doesn't like it when anyone feels bad, she gets very concerned. I explained to her that sometimes when we are sad, if we just think of our favorite things, we feel better. She liked this explanation and lay there next to me looking content. I asked her what some of her favorite things were...
A: "um...flowers."
Me: "oh that's a good one!"
A: "and Mommy"
(my heart grows and I respond with "awwww" and then she says quickly....)
A: "yur my friend..."yur my BEST friend."

Amazing.

The Best

While watching Amelia eat her applesauce snack at the table in her blue polka-dotted dress...
Me: Amelia....Amelia....
(she looks up)
Me: I love you!
(she smiles)
Amelia: yea...to the WORWLD!

Just some thoughts on toddler hood...

The blog is changing. I just looked back at some earlier posts and realized I have become less insightful about parenthood and have focused more on reporting things that are new, funny and cute and, well, factual.
Does this mean I've become a seasoned parent? And that I am no longer as enthralled with the newness of parenthood and all its wonder? Absolutely not. Just the opposite in fact. But I do think I have become a bit more confused...

I have been thinking a lot about this phase in our lives, the toddler phase. I have been thinking about how quickly the baby phase went by and how from now on I will be spending the rest of my parenting career actually communicating, I mean really engaging in conversation, with this little person. She can talk back now. And talk back she does. With every day I wonder if I am responding the right way, teaching the right way, phrasing my comments correctly. If I'm being too lenient, too firm. If I am picking too many battles or letting too many things slide. Everyday is like a test that I didn't study for. I feel like I should have some notes to refer back to when a new situation arises. A study guide, a cheat sheet if you will. I mean sure, instinct seems to carry me pretty far, but sometimes, just sometimes, I wish I already had 3 or 4 toddler behavior books read and under my belt, and committed to memory. Don't get me wrong, Amelia is really truly a great kid. She's not even that challenging of a toddler. We deal with some whining and the occasional defiant "NO!" or "don't" or even when I lead her gently or pick her up and away from something of interest she pulls out the "don't pull me, Mom!" Oy.

Will she be fighting me from here on out? Calling me out when she feels wronged. Standing up for herself and putting into practice her words of power...like "NO," and "DON'T" and maybe eventually "I don't care what you think" or even an "I hate you?" Really? Does toddler hood really give us a glimpse into the teenage years? So I've read. (Okay, so I've started to read a toddler behavior book).
Okay, that was a bit of a tangent and maybe a bit dramatic...I mean I'm talking about a two year old, but stay with me here...
They push and test and try to pull away from us as they become more and more independent and more drawn to the world outside these safe and familiar parental walls. Yet we press on in faith (and I do pray a lot) that we are raising decent, respectful, confident and loving human beings as we continue to guide and teach and respond in the right way, at least we hope. All the while we achingly long to keep them close...and we secretly live for the moments when they succumb to needing us, wanting us and openly loving us more than anything. "Hold me, mom." "I snuggle you." "I want you."

I heard on NPR tonight while driving in the car, an author talk about the theory that she keeps in mind while writing her books. That God is depicted in the Bible as being like a parent who guides and teaches and remains very involved in the beginning but by the end of the story He has stepped back, has become more silent and ultimately lets his children live out their lives, with the hope that what He has taught them will resonate in their minds and hearts and continue to guide them, even when He is no longer talking.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Amelia-isms

An update on Uncle Ed. His surgery was very successful! Praise God! The surgeons were able to remove the whole mass, which is so amazing. We are all so grateful and relieved. He has spent some time recovering in the hospital and was able to return home yesterday only to run into some other post-surgery complications. He was airlifted back to Detroit where he is resting comfortably but will need to remain there for some time to undergo more tests. Please continue to pray for him...for good test results and ultimately for the best possible scenario...healing. And please continue to pray for his family...for peace, comfort and strength.

Some Amelia-isms...
We took Amelia to Mackinac Island this past weekend. We were able to visit our friends there, whom we have missed so much, and at the same time we were able to have a bit of a family getaway. Probably our last vacation for some time. We talked about it plenty before our arrival, the boats, the horses, the bikes. When we got off the boat, she just took it all in and seemed to love the whole experience, well...with the exception of the ferry...she wasn't so sure about that. On the last night, as she lay between us tossing and turning...she was having trouble falling asleep...my back to her, she finally became still and I thought for sure she had drifted. Then suddenly, I felt her hands on my back and felt her breath on my ear...it was then she whispered loudly...
"MOM! WHERE MY CAR???"
Smiling I said, "your car?"
"WHERE MY CAR GO? I SEE IT."
I explained to her that her car was in a parking lot and we were going to take a boat in the morning to get to it and then drive back to Grandpa and Grandma's house. She was content with this and laid back down. Later Ford and I laughed about the fact that she must have been lying there thinking 'well, this must be it...horses and bikes from now on...no more cars...I wonder if I'll ever see it again.' Ha.

Yesterday, as Ford sat down at the table to share a snack with her, he suggested they say a quick prayer. She agreed, put down her snack and folded her hands. He said the quick standard prayer but was surprised to hear Amelia chime in. He looked up to see her with hands folded and eyes closed...
"Um...Bess you Lord...annnnd Jesus loves me." :)

Today Ford took her to the pool after he got home from work and on the walk back he asked her, "Amelia, should we take the sidewalk home?" She exclaimed with glee..."YEAH!!" A few seconds later she ran up to him with her hand extended...
"Herego, Dad, herego."
He responded, "What's this?"
She said happily, "A piece!"
"A piece of what?" he asked.
"Sidewok. Take it home!"

Prayers for Uncle Ed

Prayer request today. Please add Uncle Ed, my Dad's older brother, to your prayer lists. He is undergoing surgery in Detroit to remove a brain tumor this morning. Pray for a successful and thorough surgery, a quick recovery, minimal pain and complete healing! Please pray for his family as well, for strength, comfort and peace to fill their hearts during this stressful time. Thank you!

An update.

Amelia napping in her "clickers."

We've been in Michigan for some time now, a month actually. We've been living with Grandpa Hank and Grandma Claudia...they were kind enough to take us in during this big transition...even during their own transition from the UP. Amelia has her own room, which has been really nice. I tried to bring as much from her room in Nashville to make her feel comfortable...I think it has worked with the exception of the first few nights when she awoke confused and crying in her familiar bed but in an unfamiliar setting. Overall, the transition has been smooth. The packing process and actually getting ourselves out of Nashville took so long, I think she too was actually ready to get on with things. So hard for a little one to understand. In fact, about mid-way through the packing, while living amongst boxes and in total disarray, Amelia was enjoying her breakfast at the table with my mom one morning when she showed her the cup of water she was drinking and said, "ice, Grandma?" My mom looked in the cup and said.."no, there's no ice in there," not realizing Amelia was actually asking for some ice. Amelia then peeked back in the cup, looked at my mom and said..."no ice, it's packed." And on another occasion while playing amongst boxes, boxes and more boxes while we busily worked around her...she exclaimed..."all done packing!"
How do you explain to a 2 year old that once we put everything we own and that is familiar to her in big brown boxes and then load them all into a "big trailer" that we will drive for 10 hours and 500 miles away from the only home she's ever known...not to mention never to return to again...and then we will live with Grandpa and Grandpa until we can find employment and a house of our own to live in where she will have a new room on a new street, and we will go to new parks and meet new friends to play with...but we will still talk to our old friends on the computer and over the phone and see them only "sometime soon...and..." As best you can, that's how.
What has helped is the fact that it's summer, and and she is having an awesome Michigan summer vacation, ie a trip the Petoskey and Lake MI for the 4th, G & G Turrell's cottage, visiting grandparents, aunts and uncles and playing with her many cousins, G & G Loto's POOL! She's having a great time. However, along with the move and her rapid approach to age 2, has come some new and undesirable behavior. Plenty of whining most days and the word "NO" in all it's glory, has a become the word of choice in her times of distress, confusion, anger, sadness, tiredness, and of course just plain defiance. There are some days that I wonder if I actually counted how many times that word left her lips, if the number would exceed 50...100? But no matter, it is a phase and the more she tests, the more I am reminded that her new 2 year old self is becoming more aware and independent and at times feeling less secure. So, boundaries, in what seems to be at times a boundary less new world, are what keeps it together. Knowing what to expect from us, even when we don't know what to expect ourselves. Tough some days. But what's not tough...hugs, kisses, snuggles and lots of I love yous...even if our normal routine is all messed up and even when we don't know what is to come.
And what is to come? Well, after much anxiety and nervousness about moving to Michigan during such economic turmoil...this just in...Ford was hired to teach at Lansing Community College this fall (thank the good LORD!) and he is also interning for Senator Clark a few hours a week where he has been put in charge of some big projects and thus gaining invaluable experience and networking opportunities. He starts law school at MSU at the end of August. We have started looking at houses...houses to buy. A first for us. And that is where we are now. Faithful and hopeful for good things to come. Once again, the Lord has blessed us, life is good and we are together.

Roll with it...

How will she react to leaving Nashville? Her house and yard? Her room? Her friends? I try not to think about it because it really does make me sad. Sad mostly to leave the place where she entered this world. The place in which she is the most familiar. There's something big about that...even if she doesn't remember. Today she understands the concept of "home" in the tangible sense anyway. When we've been out a while, and especially when she's tired, she'll pleadingly say..."home." And lately when she walks in the front door, she shouts gleefully "HOME!" She even knows which street is ours and loves to exclaim, "OUR STEET! OUR STEET! when we make the turn onto Beechwood. But no matter where we are in the future, she'll forever be able to say, I was born in Nashville, TN.

So we are leaving for the North in 11 or so days. We have begun the arduous task of packing. Slowly. I did, however, pack up all of the framed photos around the house. That really made the place feel a bit empty. Those pics, along with phone calls, Skyping, conversations and night time prayers are what keep her in touch with our far away family and friends. The frames that sat up on a ledge behind the couch were amongst her favorites to look at. She would stand up and peek her little nugget over the couch cushions, touch them all of course, and talk about all of the faces displayed there.
And then one day, when she woke up from her nap...those familiar faces simply were not there.

"Mommy, pitures?" with palms turned up and eyebrows raised.
"I packed them, in a box, so we can take them with us. Remember? Where are we going?"
"Mitchigun!"
"Yes, that's right! Who lives in Michigan?"
"Grampa....Gramma..." she begins to make a list...
"That's right, and who else?"
"Mommmmy..." she says.
"and Christopher" I add.
"and Mommmy..."
"and Sofia," I continue.
"and Mommy...."
Ford pipes in..."I think she wants to make sure you'll be there too."
"Yes, Mommy will be there and Daddy too..."

So, she's aware, as aware as her almost 2 year old mind can be, that something is up. And all I can do is make it fun, include her in the packing, and pray that she transitions smoothly. But what I think it comes down to for her is the reassurance that we will still be together, that no matter where we are; no matter what state, what house, what bedroom...all that matters is that we are here for her, and that we love her...when she has questions, when she's sad and when she just doesn't understand.
Then again, she could have a total party through this all and I could just be projecting my sentimental sappiness on her...via this blog only, of course.
Either way, here's hoping she can just roll with it, with lots of love and reassurance and of course with a little piece of these first few years of her life, this house, our friends, and Music City always stashed away somewhere in her subconscious...onward and Northward.

Bless her heart.

It's official. An official announcement. We are moving back to Michigan at the end of June. Ford is going to attend law school at Michigan State University. They've offered him quite a hefty scholarship that's too good to pass up. So, we pack up or little lives and move on Up North. More to come about the move but for now...
My brain works differently from most people...(well, especially my husband's brain) when it comes to organizing, planning and packing for that matter. I realize my methods may seem random, erratic or even ridiculous to some...but they make perfect sense to me. That said, we have so much to do to get ready to go. Most of the house is in shambles...we have begun sorting and pulling things out of drawers and cupboards in preparation for a yard sale on Saturday. Well, one project leads me to another room where I see another project needs attention and so on and so on...well somehow last night I randomly started a photo project...Amelia's photo album. Yes, I've been a slacker with the photo albums and baby book, but I figure the blog gets me off the hook in that capacity. I've only taken 3000 pictures of the kid and have the first 2 years of her life backed up on disc...just haven't printed them and placed them in a album yet...waiting for a whole day to myself to do that? Right. So, last night was as good a night as any....
I got as far as the pregnancy pictures...you know the proverbial side view photos of my tummy from one month to the next to see the growth progression from (semi) flat to ginormous.
This morning. I showed Amelia my work. I showed her how my tummy grew and grew and I explained to her that it was her in there, when she was just tiny, growing inside my tummy, getting bigger and bigger...
She listened intently, wide eyed and intrigued.
I asked her if she remembered. She nodded and said "suckie."
I asked her if she had a suckie in there, she nodded and said..."uh huh."
Next I asked her if it was warm and cozy in there. "Uh, huh," she said.
"What color was it in there?
Confidently she replied, "GREEN!! PINK!!!"
Nice. "Really?" I asked.
"Uh, huh."
And then she opened up my robe, paused and then patted my tummy and said..."get in."
"You want to get back in my tummy?" I asked her.
She smiled, "Yeah."
Bless her heart.
Sometimes I wish she could.

Saturday morning...

ZUMBA!

pink ship shops

We are on our "summer schedule" as I like to call it. Amelia has been sleeping late, taking late naps and ultimately going to bed late. Too late for a one year old, in my opinion. I have been working on getting Amelia to put herself to sleep...yes the saga continues. (Another blog in and of itself). But let's just say that it's taking her longer to fall asleep than usual. So...this morning Amelia woke up not at 8:00 am like every other day as of late...but at 5:45 am. She's napping now (and so is Ford) and as I sit here alone listening to the thunder (it's been raining here for what seems like 2 weeks straight) I have been thinking about what a memorable Saturday morning this one has been...

Ford had Amelia out for a walk in the rain, outfitted with rain coat and umbrella at 6:30 am, followed by a yummy breakfast of daddy's scrambled eggs and waffles. When I woke up Amelia was quick to tell me about the snail they had discovered crawling up her blue plastic cup, that had been left out on the porch overnight. She then she showed me the fort she and her daddy built between the desk and the couch equipped with pillows, blankets, dollies, stuffed animals and books. Next, while changing her diaper in her room, she discovered her "simming suits" in her drawer and immediately began to put on the purple floral bikini with sarong...with a little help she was ready to go...where? ZUMBA class at the YMCA. On Saturday mornings there is a parent/child ZUMBA class, which is really a dance/aerobic/free movement kind of exercise class and I have been wanting to take Amelia to...and today was the day. Ford came too, knowing it was going to be something to see, no doubt. Upon arriving, Amelia was a bit intimidated and clung to my neck...I jumped in and started dancing while holding her and encouraging her to watch the other kids and their fancy moves. I took her to the back of the class and set her down on her feet where she finally loosened up a bit and agreed to hold my hands and dance with me. Soon, she was in the center of the room, shaking her booty with the best of them to African beats, Latin grooves and even a little Ton Loc...yes, Funky Cold Medina...and she was loving every minute of. The best was when the instructor yelled for everyone to go get an exercise ball and when all the big girls went running to the back of the room, Amelia did not hesitate, or even look to see where I was, and she was off like a shot, following the masses. I'm pretty sure she had no idea where everyone was going, but she sure wasn't going to miss out. Hilarious. As ZUMBA class was winding down, Amelia was just getting started. She pleaded to the instructor in her little voice and used her toddler sign language "MORE, MORE!" But class was over, we thanked the nice lady and off we went...
And to top off our eventful Saturday morning, we stopped by the little shop that sells pink flip flops (we were waiting for her size to come in) and picked hers up. Thinking Amelia would crash from exhaustion on the ride...she actually did not stop talking and babbling all the way home..."zumba, dance?! booty? booty? booty? um zumba...um girls...dance...ship shops, pink ones!...yah!" What a day, and all before nap.

p.s. check out the music on my new playlist feature...well, it's already playing, right? Turn it up! Dance! It's fun!

Did I just say that?

Amelia is almost two...as sweet as she is, there are times when she certainly acts like a two/three year old. I find myself being caught off guard at times with some of this new and interesting emerging behavior. I haven't read any books about this topic yet, like I have with most other topics. At this point, it's all instinct. As a mom in my (mid) thirties, :) I feel like I should have the maturity and patience to handle whatever this little tiny person has to dish out, right? Should all be a breeze, right? I'll just know what to do and say, right? For the most part, yes, this is usually the case. But I have to laugh at some of the things that have come out of my mouth in the midst these toddler tantrums. I have been surprised some of my off the cuff responses on more than one occasion and have had to ask myself, "did I just say that???"

"THAT is unacceptable behavior." (Super Nanny influence).
"Mister doesn't like it when you scream." (Blame it on the cat).
"Amelia Sava!" (Yes, this is the ultimate. Utilizing the middle name means Momma means business. Who am I kidding, she doesn't even know that's her middle name yet...and for real, did I just say that???)

Loves to pray.

Amelia loves clicking in her patten leathers...handed
down from cousinsSofia and Kate. She often makes me wear my high heels too.

Amelia hiding behind the chair (from the thunder).

Christopher, Amelia and Sam on Easter.

Amelia loves to pray. Lately she folds her hands and closes her eyes when we pray at dinnertime. We usually say the traditional "Bless us, oh Lord and these thy gifts..."

Amelia interjects a word here and there when she can. This morning I had a chuckle when I overheard she and Ford praying before they ate their cereal...
Ford continues..."from they bounty, through Christ our Lord..."
Amelia interjects:
"my bouncy.....amen."

Did she just say that?

I sneeze. "Bess you, Mommy." And then continues eating her cottage cheese.

After an outing to Radnor Lake with Ford and upon returning, Ford says, "Amelia, tell Mommy what kind of bird we saw up in the tree."
Eyes all big with wonder she replies, "ooood-pocka." (Woodpecker).

Playing with Ford on the side porch: Jumps up and down continuously, for fun, and then says, "Dada...jump...I woch." Pulls herself up on a chair, pushes back her hair and waits for Ford to start jumping.

Walks up to me after finishing a snack, holds up her hands and says..."Mommy, wosh honds...wipe honds...Meesta...ped heem." (Apparently she wanted to pet the cat but her hands were covered in hummus.)

As she listens to me talk to my mom on the phone about how I have been on the look out for some cute summer sandals for Amelia...
"Mommy...um, sheep-shops...pink ones...mall."
Did she just ask me to take her to the mall to buy pink flip-flops?
I believe she did.

Oh, the talking! And talking and talking....

First of all. My camera is still broken. I have been taking film photos these past few weeks but sure enough have not gotten any developed. So no new photos. I've posted an older one, of Amelia trying to dress herself. I found her this way. She had gone to her room to find a shirt (to put on top of the one she was already wearing) and climbed up on the couch and spent the next 10 minutes quietly trying to put in on. The kid is determined to dress herself. She even has a thing or two to say about what I pick out for her to wear at times. This morning she went and found a flowery knit skirt to pull on over her hippo pajamas. She is currently outside with Ford wearing the above described outfit. Self expression. One and a half years old and already picking out her outfits. I may be in for it.

An update: If you read my last blog, Baby Finn is home now. He is doing much better from what I understand. He will have to be on a strict diet for the rest of his life. As far as neurological damage, I'm not sure that they know yet...so the keep praying for him! I know the prayers are greatly appreciated.

What's new with Amelia these days...it's been some time since I've posted about her. The biggest thing is the TALKING. She's saying it all these days. Three to four word phrases even. Like "mommy sirt lellow." This morning she was talking to herself about Ivey and Elsa coming home from their trip to Colorado..."ome, Ivey airpane...ome, Elsa airpane." She actually spouts off entire monologues of which I can understand every third word or so. And I smile and nod and and reply when I can or say enthusiatic things like "really?" "woww" to which she replies all wide eyed "yah" and then just keeps talking...It's amazing how all of those words are just up there in her little brain and they just form and come out of her mouth at will now. Everyday we hear words she's never said before and it couldn't be more fun. She has started calling us "honey" because we say that to her and she hears us say it to each other.

One of the reasons I did not post a blog these last few weeks was because we had a string of visitors. First cousin Anna, then Uncle Tom, Aunt Maryellen with Sarah and Kera, then Grandma and Grandpa Turrell. Then for the the Easter weekend, Grandma and Grandpa Lotoszinski with Aunt Michelle, Sam and Christopher. It was a busy and fun filled few weeks. Easter was great complete with Easter bonnet (from G & G Loto), an Easter egg hunt, Easter baskets featuring such goodies as a brand new jump rope, books, bracelets, stickers and plastic eggs filled with coins for the water fountain. (How nice to believe that the only purpose for money is to throw in the "wa-wa.")
So a last random "picture this" if you will...
Sam and Christopher had an unusual string of good luck playing "The Claw" game featured at the hotel in Indianapolis on their trip down south. Literally upon arrival, (bless them), they could not wait to shower Amelia with at least 8 - 10 of their prizes, so sweet. Apparently they "could not lose." Amelia became the happy recipient of such carnival quality prizes as a large pink pig, a kelly green lamb, a difficult to describe bright blue and green multi-colored bunny...and you get the idea.
As I spent the week cleaning up and putting away Easter remnants after all had departed, I decided that our house was already over-flowing with toys and so I chose a few of our "claw" friends to take out of circulation, for now, and store in the basement. I placed them strategically by the basement door with the empty Easter baskets, etc. to put away after Amelia went to bed. Last night, right before she went to bed, Ford decided to take a few things down...Amelia happened to round the corner and caught a glimpse of Ford as he walked down with an armload, pink pig peaking over his shoulder. I could see the panic hit her and right then I knew that she knew the fate of her new friends...Ford had shut the door behind him but that did not stop her...Amelia immediately dropped to her tummy and pushed up the flap to the cat door, poked her little face through the opening and cried out to save who she could "PIGGY! PIGGYYY!" Tears and more crying out...heartbreaking. Ford was caught in his tracks and of course he felt he had no choice but to turn around and come back upstairs, with piggy and friends in hand to return them to their rightful owner.

Baby Finn

No photo today. Our digital camera is broken, again. Not sure when it will get resolved at this point so bear with me.
This blog is a prayer request for a little baby here in Nashville named Finn. He is the newborn son of a friend of my good friend Elizabeth. I met Courtney once at a play group at Elizabeth's house where Amelia and Courtney's 3 year old daughter, Maggie, played.
Courtney gave birth to Finn on March 18th. Within a few days of life, Finn was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called Isovaleric Acidemia and he was admitted to the PICU at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital where he remains for now. From what I understand, this is a rare disorder in which the body does not break down protein and thus overproduces ammonia. The high levels of ammonia caused some major problems for Finn early on they weren't sure at one point if he would make it...but thankfully they have managed to get his levels down and he improved. He is still in the ICU and has a ways to go. Amazingly, his doctor at Vandy, happens to be one of the leading authorities on this disease and even developed the protocol for treatment for it. Huge blessing! Though he continues to show signs of improvement, his parents have been prepared for Finn to have possible neurological damage.
This is where you come in...please pray for little Finn. For his comfort, for NO neurological damage and for complete and total healing of course! Please pray for his parents and family to find peace and hope during this very difficult and stressful time. We all know and have seen what amazing things God can do and we all know the power of prayer. So lift him up and add him to your daily prayer list. I know his family appreciates it. Healing happens.

?

Outfit by daddy: wool winter scene sweater, polka dot shirt,
pink capri pants,polka-dot socks, green sunflower shoes...

First ponytail!

First spring breaker! Cousin Anna came down to Nashville for her spring break from Interlochen Center for the Arts in Northern Michigan (where she works). We were so happy to have her and Amelia loved her. Wish I had a picture of them hanging out but I failed to take any at first and then our camera broke...could be a while for new blog photos. The above were taken with Anna's camera. Much fun was had by all, Amelia and Anna bonded, and Anna was able to witness many firsts this past week...

1. First ponytail! Her hair is finally long enough in the back to make the teeniest pony...regardless of it's size, she was so proud of it and she pointed out that she was now like Mommy (who wears her hair in a ponytail almost everyday these days) and Anna, and of course "I-I" (her pal Ivey). I have to admit, I got a little choked up...again.
2. Shoes! Amelia puts her own shoes on now. Somehow she knows which shoe goes on which foot. She even velcros them closed, hops to her feet and then claps for herself.
3. While coloring in a coloring book, Amelia dumped out the contents of her crayon box, (I'm talking the big box of Crayola crayons with colors like "Tumbleweed" and "Mac and Cheese"). I decided to take advantage of the moment by encouraging Amelia to practice taking turns with us putting the crayons away. We each took a turn and as I encouraged Amelia to put another crayon away, she hopped to her feet and walked away declaring "mommy turn!" Hmmm.

Anna left this morning and Amelia is still talking about her. Sad to see her go but her visit kicked of a slew of spring break visitors! Can't wait for more fun!

Melting...

Outside at dusk, in jammies, on a warm spring evening...chasing Mister.

Breakfast with Bearw.

One of my favorite things about being Amelia's mom are the surprises. It seems that she manages to pull them out at just the right times. The kind of surprises that remind me she is becoming an independent, sweet and loving little girl. A little human that I have the privilege of guiding and teaching, nurturing and loving. As scary and challenging as it seems some days, and as I often find myself questioning myself at every turn, it's the most important job I have ever taken on and absolutely without question, my very favorite. The rewards are immeasurable and sometimes, well, surprising.
Lately, after a few books and only a few minutes of rocking together in her big cozy rocker, she has been asking to lie down in her bed to fall asleep in her favorite position. On her tummy, knees tucked in, bum in the air, hands placed under her belly with elbows out (to keep them warm I imagine) with her mommy shirt tucked on up under there too. But yesterday was a little different...as I was laying her down in her crib and she assumed this cozy position, she picked her head up, turned her big brown eyes up at me and for the first time, without me saying it first and without prompting, she sweetly and softly said "ub youuu." For those of you who don't read Amelia language, that means "I love you." I swear if it was possible to melt away, I think I might have right then and there. And surprisingly, as if my heart wasn't full enough, I actually felt it grow. It was quite possibly the sweetest surprise.

Happy 19 months!

Elsa and Amelia sharing a hug at the zoo.

Amelia and Ivey checking out the iguanas.

A little sidewalk chalk with GiGi.

So excited to go to the pool with Daddy.

Warm and sunny spring evening on a blanket in the grass.

Amelia is 19 months today. Hard to believe in just 5 short months she'll be 2. She had her 18 months well visit this past week. Happy to report all is well and she did great. She is a healthy toddler top to bottom. She did cry the entire time we were there...beginning in the parking lot. I think we have a bit of a reputation at the office now. :) She is 24 lbs and 12 oz which puts her in the 60th percentile for weight. She is 32.5 inches tall...75th percentile for height and her head is 49 cm...97th percentile. :) Yes, overall the visit was a bit stressful, but as promised mid doctor visit we took her out for a pizzie when it was all over. She ate almost 2 pieces and seemed to forget about how upset she was and even hi-fived us when we told her how brave she had been. Poor little nugget.
Some new things in our world. Amelia has started calling herself "Mimi" as this is what her little friend Elsa across the street has stated calling her. Admittedly Amelia is a tough one for the little ones to say. Where before when Amelia would try to verbalize when she wanted something or related herself to something going on around her, she would point to herself, eyebrows raised, and make kind of a questioning high-pitched "mm?" Now it's pointing at herself while asking, "Mimi? Mimi?" As if to say, "can I have some of that?" or "it's my turn?" or "i have one of those too?" It's pretty cute actually.
She has also started calling me "mommy" instead of "mama." It's bittersweet in a way since she's been saying mama since she was a wee one. Lots of new words, even tougher ones like "bookstore" and "outside." She likes to point out when people have on "jeans," which is interesting to me since she hardly ever wears them and I don't recall talking about them extensively at any point. She is intrigued by Smokey the Bear on the back of her Little Golden Books as he wears jeans...no shirt or shoes mind you but he does wear a hat and he carries a shovel. It is a little odd, can't blame her for wondering.
Oh, and tonight after her bath, she ran her little naked self down the hall and into the kitchen to see Ford who was doing the dishes. I stayed behind to clean up the bathroom and after a few minutes I heard..."OH, YUP, that's your poop, don't step in it." I walked in to find Amelia had pooped on the kitchen floor. A first...only took 19 months.

Tea with monkey and pee pee on the potty!

Tea.

Crumpets.

Isn't it a lovely morning, monkey?

Well, today was a big day. It started off like any other day, morning tea with monkey, playing outside in her tutu, the usual. But what made today different was actually quite a big event in our world! The first pee pee on the potty! And isn't that just the way it goes that it caught us all a bit off guard. Here's the story:
Ford and Amelia were playing in the living room as I cooked dinner in the kitchen. He noticed she was fidgeting with her diaper so he asked her, "do you have to go pee pee?" She nodded. "Do you want to go on the potty?" She nodded again.

Now keep in mind, Amelia has not been all that interested in actually sitting on her potty, and when she does, it's very brief and nothing ever happens, but the wheels are always turning so we act out the whole thing anyway.

So, off to the bathroom they went...off with the pants and diaper as she sat down on her little green and blue, ten dollar, plastic potty. She stood up after a few seconds, turned around, looked down at her potty and waved goodbye to her pee pee...as usual, there was no pee pee there but Ford went along with it as we always do. She decided to sit down again and Ford asked her if this time she wanted to look at a magazine. Again, she nodded. She flipped through the pages and they exchanged small talk when suddenly, Ford caught a glimpse of something glistening...pee pee! He called for me and I ran in...she stood up, looked at her real live pee pee but seemed a bit oblivious as to the magnitude of what had just taken place. So, we clapped for her and congratulated her and the bigger deal we made of it, the happier she was. Ford gave her some toilet paper and she even wiped! (She's been practicing wiping for a few weeks now). She beamed with pride as all three of us sat in the bathroom, Amelia still on her potty, clapping gleefully as she looked back and forth at Ford and then myself, still trying to figure out what the all fuss was about.
It was then that I had one of those moments...when I feel like it's all happening too fast. How did we get here...already? Really? Ford and I exchanged a knowing glance as we continued to clap and I swallowed over the growing lump in my throat. She's big now, I kept thinking, not just because she finally peed on the potty, tomorrow she may want nothing to do with it, but because she can. Next thing I know she'll be attending her first day of school, riding a bike, losing her first tooth...
Next, there was hugging and more praise and I asked her if she wanted a treat...more excited nodding...and she ran down the hall with her little bare butt, toward the kitchen, still clapping.
I didn't even care if reinforcing the whole potty thing with a treat was the wrong thing to do, because it seemed like the right thing to do and she enjoyed every little bit of her little dish of vanilla ice-cream, very much.

OUT!

Library story hour.

Exploring.

Amelia and GiGi...kind of look alike in this one...she is her mommy.

Ford and Amelia out looking at the moon.

Enjoying soup and bread with GiGi. She insisted they sit together.

Determined.

Bubbles.

It has been very warm here in Nashville...spring-like even. Which is good, great actually and we are enjoying every minute as I am reminded by native Tennesseans, it will get cold again. Since the warm weather started, we have spent every free minute outside, playing...ball, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, lots of walks and pushing the dolly stroller up and down the block and even a trip to the zoo. Amelia LOVES being outside. In fact, as soon as she wakes up she heads for the door enthusiastically yelling, "OUT! OUT!"

Lots of perks about being outside right now...the temp of course, seeing neighbors out and about, lots of "doggas" on walks with those neighbors, no chiggers or mosquitoes, and all of the running around and fresh air makes for one sleepy kid at nap and bed-time. Love it!
Above are a few photos of Amelia enjoying this sneak peek of spring.

Up and Down

Trying out undies, sort of.

Playdoh horse. She had some help from Daddy, they make a nice team.

So, notice anything about the two pictures above? Same exact expression, green suckie in mouth and hair twirling. This is what Amelia looks like when she's tired. But the fun ensues regardless.
I think the blogging has slowed, not because there is nothing to write about, but because there is too much to write about. One and a half is an exciting and fun and busy and challenging age. I'm just not sure how to choose a topic these days, there are so many.
So a brief run down on what's new...

Amelia is talking A LOT, lots and lots of new words and two word phrases at the most. She tries so hard to speak in sentences, bless her heart, it's just not quite understandable yet, she's getting there. The language development is a constant source of entertainment for me. Love it.

The potty is intriguing these days. We read potty books and she gets excited, points at herself, climbs down off of my lap and runs to the bathroom to look at her little plastic potty (which has never been used) and then runs back to finish the book. She does not want to actually use it yet, but she's making the connection.

Amelia was sick for 2 weeks upon our return from Michigan. Boy, that was a challenge. She had a viral bronchial infection with a fever that lasted the whole first week. She was absolutely miserable. Of course, the mommy was sick too, oh my. Neither of us were sleeping and we were both pretty cranky. This was the sickest she's been in her short little life and it lasted the longest as well. What comes next is too long of a story and a bit too graphic, but midway through the illness, we were introduced to the big wide world of toddler constipation. Scary at first as Amelia was having episodes of severe belly pain and I did not know why...who would think constipation? She poops every day! And to make it even more exciting, the first episode occurred on a Saturday which meant our pediatrician referred us to Vandy ER since the office was closed...Vanderbilt Children's Hospital ER on a Saturday evening...not fun. They were able to get to the bottom of it (no pun) and were able to get things moving in the right direction (again, no pun...awful). The whole constipation thing was actually a big surprise to me, like I said, she never gave me any cause worry about this. So, now we rethink the diet a bit, cut way back on dairy, she loves, loves, loves cheese...and add more fiber. Things seem to be working themselves out and she's pretty happy these days! Poor kid. What a crappy few weeks...the puns just keep flowing out...i don't mean to, really...

Okay, what else...books continue to be a huge influence in her life. So many real life scenarios will remind her of a story or a book we've read and she'll smile and laugh and say "book!" and try to tell me which one. It's so cool to watch her wheels turning. She's also making the connection between herself and the outside world by pointing at herself when she recognizes something she has, or does or knows. She is also getting into her opposite books these days, recognizing up and down, near and far, happy and sad, etc. She likes to act them out even. She's taking interest in learning colors, counting, and letters as well. So fun.

Next...while in Michigan, much to my devastation, she picked up the undesirable behavior of hitting. Not hard luckily, but it's still hitting...herself, me, Ford, and other kids. I wasn't ready for that one...even reading in several of my toddler books that hitting and biting (luckily she is not into biting) are a normal part of a toddler's development did not make me feel better. Thankfully, the behavior has subsided since returning home to TN. We've been working on it but I also think she was a bit overstimulated by the traveling, many visits and and new environments while home for the holidays. Hopefully it's over, keep you posted on that one. Oh, if she hit any of your kids while in MI, I am so sorry. She's not a bully, really...

One other challenge that keeps coming around, and I know I am not alone on this, is sleep. One and a half seems to be an in between stage...getting almost a bit too big for a crib but not big enough for a big girl bed. On one occasion, while upset and not wanting to be in her crib, she figured out how to swing her leg over the rail while exclaiming "out! out!" and managed to actually make it out...and not gracefully I might add. Scared me silly. She was totally and completely fine and I don't think she'll do it again, as I think it scared her too, but now I am like lightning to her crib side when she wakes up as to not give her the chance to even think about it. This is a challenge, as well as very tiring, since she is not quite ready for a toddler bed and I'm not ready for her to be wandering around the house in the middle of the night! Although she has not attempted it since, I am exploring different options...any suggestions would be appreciated...???

See, I could keep going on and on with the daily happenings...this blog would be a mile long and I'd never ever get any sleep... and you'd be bored to tears probably, but think of it this way...someday Amelia will read the pages of this blog and maybe, hopefully, find it pretty interesting. She might like to learn about the many exciting happenings during her young life, the things she did and how old she was when she did them, how cute and smart and funny I think she is, how challenging and scary and rewarding and wonderful being a parent is, and how totally miraculous it is to be her parent.
I'll just end here for today.

Just a laugh...

Well, it's Sunday night, we have been sick...since Wednesday might I add...and I have had very little sleep but to keep up with my New Year's Resolution, I had to post this quick blog.   It's 10:28 pm and I'd like to be in bed by 10:30 pm here it is...just a laugh.  

Here is Amelia with Bella and Camille Angebrandt, daughters of our good friends Scott and Jessica back in Michigan.  We stopped by for a very quick and much too short of a visit over the holidays and the girls played!  It was so fun, especially the dressing up...if this doesn't make you laugh, then...well I don't know what...

Christmas 2008

Amelia loved the rug in Grandma Turrell's kitchen.

She missed Mister.

First sit-in with the Storey's (minus Dom).

She's not officially a member of the band.

First snow/sledding experience.

This was the most enthusiasm we got from her out there.

Nice boots, Ford.

Pink Christmas tutu from Auntie Michelle.

Daddy put it on her backward. No matter.

Bestest gift of Christmas...the dolly stroller from Santa.

Loving the tutu back in Nashville.

Oh my, has it really been almost a month since I posted. I am a blog neglecter I found out today. I don't want to be known as a blog neglecter. So, among others, my New Year's Resolution: post more blogs, more often. I can't believe I let the month slip by without noting some important moments. Busy with holidays, preparing, traveling, a certain toddler...but still.

So, happy holidays and happy 2009! December was a great month. We had fun preparing for the holidays here in TN and ultimately traveling to MI for an almost 2 week visit.

Amelia has done a ton of growing up this past month. She always grows in leaps and bounds when we visit MI. Constantly surrounded by family and friends, she absorbs it all and always seems a different kid once we get back home to Nashville. I can safely say that she is in full-on toddler mode. I guess the start of 2009 marks the official end to baby-hood and the beginning of the wonderful world of toddler-hood.

Amelia is talking so much more, repeating words like crazy and even putting together a few phrases. She has started adding "a" to a lot of her words. My favorite: pizza = "a pizzie (sounds like a-pete-see)." Christmas and our trip to MI was great for expanding her vocab as well. Lots of talk about Santa and snow, singing new songs about jingle bells and reindeer. We practice the names of friends and family regularly but seeing everyone really helped to commit them to her memory. Good stuff.

We spent the first half of our trip with my family in Rockford where we were literally snowed in for quite a few days. Tons and tons of beautiful lake-effect snow! Amelia had her first experience "playing" in it at Aunt Michelle's house. By playing in it I mean allowing someone to hold her well above the ground and never having the need to come into any sort of contact with it. Her reaction was much like that of her reaction to sand this past summer. She did not care for it. But after we brought her in the house, she cried hysterically to go back out. Guess it takes some getting used to. So back out we went and she did warm up a little. She even went sledding with Ford and Grandpa Hank a few times. The photo above is the most she smiled the whole time she was out there. Can't you see how much fun she's having on the inside? :)

Christmas morning we spent at Michelle's and then we headed off to Lansing to see Great Grandma Alice and lots of the Lotoszinski clan; then off to Aunt Stefeni's for dinner and more gift opening and Christmas enjoy with the Stornants! A very busy day but Amelia loved every minute, she was in on all of the action and showed no signs of slowing. See, big-kid stuff.

The fun wasn't over as we packed up the next day to and headed to Grandma and Grandpa Turrell's house to celebrate with the Turrells. Amelia noticed Grandma Pat's kitty rug in the kitchen immediately and spent some quality time talking to the two black Christmas cats. She even sat on it during the gift opening. Poor kid missed her cat.

We stayed with G & G Turrell the remainder of our trip visiting and playing with cousins, aunts & uncles and a few friends.

Sidebar and humble plea for forgiveness: For those of you whom we did not see this trip (and I'm going to throw in a "whilst" here) whilst we were in Michigan, we are deeply saddened. Please forgive us. Matt, Sarah, you are never will be on our "short list." I didn't even have the where-with-all to make a list. But if I had, you would be at the top of it, along with everyone else whom I would add to that list.

We headed out on New Year's Eve and rather than drive straight through we split up our trip and stopped for the night in Indianapolis where we rang in the new year in a Holiday Inn Express. Well, one of us rang in the New Year with Dick Clark's Rockin' New Years Eve and all of Times Square. The other two didn't quite make it.

Anyway, we are back in Nashville. Amelia is extremely happy to be home. Upon our arrival, she walked around the house excitedly, pointing and naming all of the things she apparently missed. "Chair! Beawr! Bed! Meow-meow!" etc.

By the way, this was a bit of a boring post, I admit. More of a documentary of sorts. If I had been up to speed with posting previous to this, I may have been a bit more interesting, maybe even a little funny. However, it's 12:15 am...I fear that if I don't go to sleep, my toddler will wake and I will never even make it to my bed. You see, my toddler has begun some new toddler-like behavior...but I will save that for another day...