Sibling Class

Yesterday afternoon Michael and I took Eleanor to the Sibling Class here at Mayo. It was for 2 to 3 year olds and so it was geared for that age group. I would highly recommend this class! The instructor was so great with the kids. She first read a book to the kids with pictures of what the baby looks like inside Mommy's tummy. We then all took a tour of the Labor & Delivery area - including the nursery. There were two babies in the nursery and one of the nurses brought out one of them and unwrapped him for the kids to see. Eleanor was just enthralled! We then saw where Mommy will be in her hospital room. It was a great reminder for Michael and I too (on some of those hospital policies!).

Of course, playing with the babies was the best part! Eleanor learned to hold the baby gently...

wrap it in a blanket & change its diaper.

She was such a proud looking little girl in the class! We then took her to McDonald's for dinner as a special treat. Admittedly, it's our favorite time of year at McDonald's due to the infamous Shamrock Shake!! :) So, needless to say, it was a treat for us too!

Fieldtrip!

Before I get to our fieldtrip pictures, we had to take a couple of pictures of Eleanor's new haircut. I took her in yesterday for her first "bob." Her hair was just getting too snarly and hard-to-manage. At Cost Cutters she had to stay so still in the chair so that they could get it even and she did a great job! They took off about an inch and a half off. I couldn't believe it had gotten that long!

Here is the back.

OK, now for our fieldtrip. We've done this a couple of times, but I've never brought my camera. We take the city bus downtown and visit the library. We live right on a bus route and I take the bus when I go to work and she always comments about the busses that go by. This wasn't her first time riding, but it was still exciting! Here she is waiting for the bus to come (on a corner right across the street from our house).

Riding the bus is so exciting!

Here she is at the library looking at the fishtank - one of our favorite things about going to the library!

Another favorite thing is looking at this huge homemade dollhouse on display. As you can see, it has real working lights! The details are amazing - tiny little toys, people, & furniture. It's so fun to look in all the rooms. The front of the house is also fully finished and decorated - complete with a huge cherry tree in the front yard!

We always have such a nice time going to the library. We got 5 new books and a DVD.

On a side note: We missed our departure bus from downtown today and I was so frustrated! I was so sure that it left at 11:55 and instead it left at 11:42. We literally saw it leave while we were waiting to cross the street. At that time of day the busses only leave every hour. So, here I am stuck downtown with a hungry toddler and I'm carrying a purse, packback, and our new library treasures! Luckily, I thought to just head to my work building and there were several of my co-workers eating lunch. They offered her some of their extra food to satisfy her until we could get home! Thanks co-workers - you know who you are!

On a second side note: All of these pictures were taken with our brand new camera! I've been so disappointed with our other digital camera (which many of you may know!). My aunt & uncle, Janis & Jim, kept their eye out for me and they ended up purchasing this great camera (with some extra coupons) from Cost Co for us. So far, I'm so happy with it! Thanks J & J!

Highlights

I wanted to share with everyone (especially all you young mothers) the best Christmas gift that we gave Eleanor this year - it's the gift that keeps on giving, or so they say! Highlights Magazine (remember those in your dentists office waiting room when you were a kid?!) came out with a junior edition. It's called High Five and it's geared for 2 - 6 year olds. Eleanor has gotten three months worth now and just loves them. First of all, she loves to get mail so that is always fun. But, she loves reading the poems & stories in the magazine. She has fun doing the hidden picture find (and is quite good at it, I must say!). We have read them over and over again. There is even one poem that she has completely memorized.

I would highly recommend these magazines for the little ones in your life - makes a great gift too! Here is the website for those who want more info: http://www.highlights.com/

Big Girl Room!

As promised, I'm finally posting some pictures of Eleanor's big girl room! Doesn't she look so proud?! She has transitioned amazingly well. She loves her new room and often plays in there reading her books and listening to her CDs. We may eventually move her Rose Petal Cottage in the corner and free up some space in the basement play room.

This bed was Michael's Grandparents' and after Grandpa Mohs died we took the bed & matching dresser from his home. It was a 70's looking wooden bed with a shiny stain on it. I sanded it down (this was years ago before kids!) and white-washed/distressed both pieces. I was really happy with the way they turned out. This was our guest room/office before it became Eleanor's room.

A cozy reading corner.

On the left is her bookshelf (which we are residing ourselves to the fact that it will never stay clean because she's constantly taking books down) and toiletry area. With her still being in diapers, I still needed a place for all her diapers, lotions, hairbrushes, etc. On the right is the matching dresser to the bed.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Big girl bed & sicky McSick...

I have good news & bad news. The good news is that Eleanor transitioned to her big girl room & big girl bed with no problems this weekend. She slept the last two nights in her new bed and I didn't hear a single peep out of her - nor did she make any attempt to climb out! I'll take some pictures of her cute new room soon. I'm still decorating a bit - not sure where to hang some things on the walls.

The bad news is that she's had a fever all weekend - average of 103 degrees! Unfortunately, my first thought is always that she has a UTI (urinary tract infection). She is prone to those. But, I'm trying not to panic as there were several kids who were sicky McSicks at daycare last week. If her fever doesn't break today I guess we'll be heading to the clinic tomorrow.

I'll post some pictures soon!

I'm 31!!

Today is my birthday. I'm starting to really get old!! Eleanor thought I should get a Pooh cake. She remembered that that is the kind of cake she had at her birthday in September. I'm always amazed at her memory!

Michael and Eleanor both got me nice cards, a dozen roses, and Mamma Mia on DVD. Eleanor and I have been listening to the soundtrack on my ipod like crazy and so I'm sure she'll enjoy watching some of the scenes from the movie. She always asks me to play "Mamma Mima."

It's also Dolly's birthday today! She's 6. She's celebrating by going to the groomers. Unfortunately, nothing too special for her. :(

A video of Eleanor wishing me a Happy Birthday! I was trying to get her to tell me about the Pooh cake, but that was unsuccessful. Oh well, it's still cute!

Princess books

Eleanor has just gotten into the Disney Princess phenomenon. I wasn't exactly pushing it, but amazingly they pick up on this stuff! She's been going poopy in the potty (no pee pee yet) and so Grandma Mari Lee got her these adorable Princess books. There are 8 princesses (Pocahontas & Mulan are not as exciting as the others!) and they all fit into a little carrying case. The stories are very short (Princess Stories for Dummies anyone?!) and so they keep her attention span. :)

Thanks again, Grandma ML!

The Twilight Saga

Earlier this week I finished Breaking Dawn for the second time. I've read the entire series - twice. That's 2,489 pages. So, I guess in total that's 4,978 pages. Plus, I have read the unfinished 264 page manuscript of A Midnight Sun (Twilight from Edward's perspective) on Stephenie Meyer's website. This series has consumed my life since October and now I think I finally have to put these down. Thank God the DVD of Twilight is coming out on March 21st! I don't know what I'll read now...

scrap-e-blog

As you can see, we have a new look for our blog! This is thanks to scrap.e.blog (and to Amy for letting me know about it!). This website has free blog templates and the woman running the website will do a free (yes, free!) customized blog title for you. Here's the link if anyone is interested.

http://scrap-e-blog.blogspot.com/

Hope you all like it!

Christmas Highlights 2008

Here are just a few highlights (Natalie sent me 559 pictures to sort through!) from our Christmas vacation in North Dakota. Enjoy!

Looking out the big picture window at a "reindeer!"

Sledding with Daddy.

Natalie, Mom and I going to see the Twilight premiere!

Eleanor in her Christmas dress.

Group shot (minus Joe who had to work at the hospital on Christmas Eve).

Family shot - 2008

Bahnka, Gramma & Eleanor (and Matty) - 2008

Eleanor and Auntie Natalie

The menagerie of presents.

In the middle of the present opening craziness, baby needed a diaper change! :)

Eleanor putting cookies & milk out for Santa.

The cookies & milk are gone and Santa left a note! :)

Christmas morning - Eleanor got a new diaper full of all kinds of goodies for her baby. Needless to say, it was a hit!

Eleanor & Uncle Jordan

Uncle Joe

Group shot on Christmas Day - this one is with Joe!

That's all folks! Very special memories were made.

We're so proud...

Last night during dinner we had the news on (I know, I know, we shouldn't have the TV on while we're eating!) and Eleanor was chewing away. It didn't appear that she was paying any attention to the news whatsoever. All of the sudden, she points and says "Barack Obama." Clear. As. Day. Right after he got elected I pointed to his picture and told Eleanor that he was our President...but, that was way back in November! Boy, the things they pick up on - and retain!

Church Dress

Whenever we say that we're going to dress Eleanor up she says "church dress." Or, for December it was "Christmas dress." We did, indeed, get dressed up to go to church this morning and put on this adorable new dress from Grandma Mari Lee. I just had to get out the camera!

It seems that she gets bigger every day and I know once we have the new baby, any "baby" that Eleanor still has will be no more. Most people comment on how tall she's gotten since her 2nd birthday - we agree. She's definitely gaining in height. She is a sweet, sweet, little girl and we feel so blessed to have her.

Winter Wonderland

It truly was a winter wonderland this year for our Christmas vacation in North Dakota. They got a record (last time I checked) 33 inches of snow for December. It seemed like every day we were there they got more snow. Eleanor loved getting outside and walking around or getting pulled in Bahnka's big snow shovel. She also had fun spotting a deer in the yard one afternoon which she quickly said was a reindeer. Her, Daddy, & Uncle Jordan then went out to look for "reindeer tracks."

Bahnka pulling Eleanor and vice versa!

My parents property completely covered in snow. It was really beautiful.

These were the only shots I took on my camera because, as I stated earlier, Jordan & Natalie took enough for a lifetime! :) Natalie informed me that she send me 4 (yes, 4!) discs with pictures. So, obviously, there will be more Christmas pics coming soon!