Happy Birthday!

It is birthday season in our family now. Every month (and sometimes every week) is someone's birthday from now until summer. Today, is mine! It's also Hannah's 11 month birthday...she is almost a year! The day was pretty normal and uneventful, as birthdays are when you get older. We went to Mom and Dad's for dinner and cheesecake...yum! We are going to go out with some friends this weekend and then hang out afterwards.

Hannah's First Steps!!!

She did it! She took her first steps...just before her 11 month Birthday! She is not really 'walking' yet since she is still so unsteady...crawling is definitely a faster mode of transportation. But, she is soooooo proud of herself! She smiles and giggles every time she lets go and takes a step. She bounces so much, that it is what makes her fall. I will have to get some pictures of her and a video soon. She is going to be a pro though by her birthday!

Aly's New Wheels

The girls got a Barbie Jeep complete with a real working radio! Dan's cousin's daughter out grew it, so he passed it on to us. She was soooooo excited about driving it! Even though it was really cold, Dan took her out for her first driving lesson...it will take her a little while to get used to it, but this summer is going to be really fun (and tiring) watching Aly drive Hannah around in the little Jeep.

Deep Thoughts from a 2 year old...

God continues to reveal his character to us through the girls. As a parent, there is no greater joy (other than your children loving you) than watch your children love and care for one another. No wonder he wants us to love each other...doing so bring Him joy!! Here is just one example of how Aly is teaching me this!! While the girls were taking a bath tonight, Dan took Hannah out of her ring and she was playing freely in the tub. She was slipping and sliding everywhere, but loving every minute. I came in and sat down to watch them. Hannah was getting her face really close to the water and this is how the conversation went:

Jenn (talking to Hannah): You better be careful, girl or you are going to get water up your nose.

Aly: No! I don't want Hannah to!

Jenn: Don't want her to what?

Aly: I don't want Hannah to die! Then I won't have a sister anymore...

Jenn: Awe...sweetheart! I won't let anything happen to our Hannah! You sure love your sister don't you?!?! (At this point Hannah did slip and go under. I immediately grabbed her and she was fine...she didn't even cry!)

Aly: Mommy, take Hannah out now! I love her!

I didn't really know what to say! I didn't know Aly even knew what dying was! I mean, I am sure she really doesn't understand, but she must know enough to know that Hannah wouldn't be around! She amazes me everyday with what she knows. I am so thankful that they love each other the way they do! We are very blessed!

Attack of the Killer Toenails

It is no secret that Aly does NOT like to have her toenails cut. And by that, I mean she loathes it! If she even senses that you might be considering even looking at her toes, she screams. I decided that was a battle I was not going to pick. If she wanted her toenails to grow and curl under her toes, then fine...I just won't buy her sandals! However, yesterday she started complaining about her foot hurting. I knew it was the toenails...some of them were actually growing back into her toes! I didn't know what we were going to do!

When Dan got home I told him we were going to have to hold her down. He thought bribing would be a better option. She was way to smart for that. Even PJ Sparkles wasn't worth going under the clippers! We just let it go and planned on doing a sneak attack...maybe while she was sleeping. Then, by the grace of God, she took her socks off to show Dan what the problem was. I came over to look and grabbed her foot. I wasn't planning on getting the opportunity and I didn't have the clippers ready so I just tore it off with my nails. Success!! She started screaming, but I kept going. Before we knew it I was on to the second foot. All the while she is wailing. In the midst of her pains she manages to cry "I wanna go buy PJ!!!" This kid forgets NOTHING!!

I finished up the toes and got her dressed to go to the store with Dan. They went to Target first, but they didn't have the doll. Then they went to Meijer. After searching the toy department, they finally found it. In the meantime, a severe thunderstorm is brewing and high wind started to rip through Blacklick. Meijer's power actually webrand nt out while they were there! They got soaking wet, but they made it home safely and now Aly is the proud owner of a brand new PJ Sparkles!

A Sobering Experience

I enrolled Alyssa in pre-school today. Yes, our baby. In pre-school. THIS fall. Let me tell you it was harder than I expected! I had originally planned on sending her to Gahanna Christian Academy because I have heard really good things about it from teachers at school. So, we went to take a tour a few weeks ago. It didn't feel right at all. The teacher wasn't very nice, the building seemed really old even though it was built less than a year ago and there were high school students way too close to the pre-schoolers than I felt comfortable with. Aly didn't really seem to like it either. Oh no! She is going to be so behind! I'm not ready, she's not ready...that has to be why I don't feel comfortable here!

When we left there I was really disappointed. But, I immediately called another pre-school that one of my good friends sends her children to. I figured, What the heck? Let's just check it out. The director was awesome and let us come right over. So, we went there to take a tour as well and...we both loved it! It seems so fun and inviting. I could also tell they really focus on getting the kids prepared for kindergarten. Plus, it was over $400 cheaper per year!! Way too good to be true! I knew it was hard to get in and open enrollment wasn't for a few weeks. My friend told me to get there at 5:45 to make sure I get her a spot!!

Open Registration was today and that was an experience all on its own. I got there at 6am and I was #22 in line...they weren't even going to start taking registrations until 8! Who knew it was this hard to get in to pre-school 7 months in advance?!?! It was nice to have a few hours of time to myself though. I got to start reading a new book, "The Shack" by William Young, that Dan has been reading. -- As a side note, you should check it out! It is really good...very sad...but it reveals God in a very real way you never would have thought about. -- Aly got in with my first choice, Tuesday and Thursday morning classes. September 8th is the big day!

It is a mix of emotions...on one hand we are excited for her. I know she is going to love it! She loves to learn! On the other hand, it is really sad that she is growing up so quickly. Our sweet little baby girl is going to be going to school at Stoneybrook Early Learning Center. She is going to have her very own teacher, friends, a backpack and snacks. I can't believe she is old enough for that already!! I can't believe WE are old enough for that already!! I feel like it was just yesterday I was pregnant with her and painting her nursery. Now she is an beautiful, independant, sassy pre-schooler! Wow! The good news is though that I won't have to go through this process for Hannah, since Alyssa is already a student she will get priority registration. Aly, a student?!?! Time sure does fly by! And it keeps getting better...

Creekside in February

Last summer, one of our very favorite things to do together was going to Creekside in Gahanna to feed the ducks and get ice cream at Coldstone. Since it was 50* on Sunday, we decided to go feed the ducks. It was fun, but the ducks were too afraid to walk on the ice to get to us...and the bread. I can't wait until it is warm and Hannah can walk around with Aly! This summer is going to be so much fun!

(Hannah wasn't feeling too well...can you tell she just wanted to go home!?!?)

Random Pictures

These are from the new camera I got...I LOVE it!! Not only is the camera great, but I have some pretty great stuff to photograph too ;)

Hannah just being Hannah!

Aly in her new grocery store! I can edit, crop and turn all the picture into b&w and sepia tones IN the camera...now I am obsessed with b&w pictures!
Aly hasn't liked getting her picture taken lately so all the ones I have are from the side...

Look at how blue those eyes are!!

Welcome Back to the Blogging World!

So, the last few weeks have been really busy around here and I haven't had a chance to blog about it. Not that there is anything really new, or big...we have just been hanging around here at home. I got a few snow days last week so got to spend some extra time with the girls. Although, we were all sick with colds so we couldn't really do anything. Aly had it the worst I think, along with a double ear infection. Plus, Hannah is also getting 4 new teeth on top of her cold. This has been a really brutal winter for us, sickness wise. It has literally been one thing after another! I can't wait for it to warm up! I am also taking another college class and I bought a new camera so I have been distracted a lot lately. With all that being said, I thought I would share a few of my favorite 'did you hear what she said?' kind of stories from the last few weeks:

Aly has learned to negotiate- Last night I was trying to give Aly her anti-biotic. She HATES taking medicine...when I need her to at least AND the doctor called in chewables this time- not a good idea. It was not going very well, so I keep putting her in time out until she would take it. She is so stubborn! Finally she said, "Maybe if you get me PJ Sparkles, I will take my medicine..." I was speechless, but managed to get out "Ugh, it doesn't work that way honey! Maybe you can get PJ Sparkles for you birthday...if you take this and start going on the potty..." PJ sparkles is a doll she saw on TV. We are learning the power of advertising...she wants EVERYTHING she sees on TV lately. She finally ended up taking her medicine, without the promise of PJ, but it took her 30 minutes to chew it up once I got it into her mouth! If anyone is looking for a birthday gift...

Hannah said her 1st word- I have been trying not to admit it, because I wanted her to say 'mommy' first, but I can't ignore it anymore...she says 'daddy'. Well, it actually sound more like 'dah-eee' but she only says it to Dan or when she holds the phone up to her ear like she is calling him, so I know that is what she means. Aly's first word was 'ball'. What does a mom have to do to get a 'MaMa'?!?! That's ok I guess...she is still a mommy's girl...for now. I am excited and proud of the little booger. I can't believe she is almost one!!

Aly likes Christian music- Aly likes to listen to 'songs about Jesus' in the car and a few days ago Dan and I were talking so the radio was still off. She asked for us to put the music on like 4 times before we realized she was asking for something. She finally screamed, "I want to hear a song about Jesus!". Then, Dan hit the wrong preset button and turned on WNCI by accident instead of 104.9 and some pop music stated blaring. Aly started screaming again, "That's not it! I want a song about JESUS!!". She clearly knows the difference!! At least she wants to listen to family-friendly music!

I'm sure there are lots of other stories, but I don't have time (or the memory right now) to share them all! It is never a dull day around here! I will have to stay more current from now on so I don't forget! And, I will post some picture soon from my new camera!