And we're off! (and 18 mo pic)

Yippee! To Mexico in the morning! It has been pretty much a nightmare getting ready for an international trip with Loren out of town. Not to mention I'm dealing with round 2 of mastitis. Ugh. But tomorrow at this time I'll be on the beach with my mom and Kate. Phew. I've really been looking forward to this!

Here is Kate's 18 month old picture. I didn't really think she looks like either Loren or me, but after looking at this pic and mine around the same age, she look more like me than I thought. I'll try to scan it in when I get back.

Wish us luck on the airplane!! Adios!

Spring Spring Spring!

Spring Spring Spring! It was Spring....

Kate went to Mimi's (next door neighboor) 1st birthday party today. It was so beautiful outside! They did an egg hunt in the back yard. We are so glad to be able to spend time outdoors again.

I have such a hard time getting her to look at the camera!! Notice the dress in action!

Here is the dress I made for Mimi's present (excuse the wrinkles!)

We have such a great neighborhood. Here are Kate and Loren racing with the kids (and parent:) from across the street.

The people aren't the only ones benefiting from the nice weather-the diapers are also taking advantage of the sun. Can't wait to get my garden started after Spring break!

Kate loves building towers (she does have a family full of engineers...). I found her in my pantry yesterday stacking the cans!

Finally one actually looking at the camera! Kate knows how to say "cheese!" for the camera, but I'm just not fast enough, even with digital SRL!

Stalling

It's official. We've been had. Outsmarted by our 18 month old. It took us at least a week to see it for what it really was: bedtime stalling.

As you all know, getting Kate to eat has always been a task, so anytime she tells us she actually wants to eat, we sprint to the kitchen and throw open the fridge. So apparently, Kate noticed this, and devised a plan: at bedtime, tell mom and dad "eat! hun-ry!" and it will effectively delay bedtime by getting them to run to the kitchen and offer food. Sneaky little thing! The thing is, sometimes she'll eat a bit, but sometimes nothing we offer is what she wants.

On the 5th or 6th night, it dawned on us...she isn't actually hungry. She's stalling. The old glass of water at bedtime trick. And we fell for it. Granted, if she'll really eat something, I'm willing to put up with a bit of stalling for a full tummy.

As Kate would say..."oh boy..."

T-11 days

The countdown to spring break is on! 11 more days until Mexico! The inservice exam today went about as expected...I got to question #25 before I ran into one that I was actually confident that I knew. Oy. At least it is over and behind me now! I'm off to work on a statistics assignment this afternoon, and I have another review of my oral health literacy research proposal on Friday, but I think I deserve some sewing time, don't you?? I've got to get some felt food cut out to take to do in Mexico on the beach...

My sewing machine was acting up, so I took it to the shop for some help. Turns out I was using some goofy kind of thread, but the tension was also off. I felt a little silly when they asked me why I was using the thread (umm...because that was what I had and it was the color I wanted). Always lots to learn. Too bad I'll never know everything!

Here is my first dress attempt for Kate, not totally finished, but close. I still need to hem and sew the bows on permanently and put buttons on the straps. I copied a dress that she already has that I liked. It is reversible. This one is pretty plain, but I think now that I've made a pattern for it, I could do some variations. I saw some beautiful fabric at the fabric store when I was there for my machine, but I refrained from buying it because my husband has been watching the credit card transactions recently...(shhhh). Ok, time for statistics...yuck...

Apron in action!

Here is the owner of the crayon apron! Happy Birthday Ryder!

Projects

Here are a few more recent projects...

Loren HATES it when I put things on the stairs. I think it is very practical and efficient- you clean one floor and put the items to go to the other floor all together where you will notice the the next time you go up. No. Not allowed...and Kate dumps out a basket if I put it there, so I made a bag that hangs on the banister.

More shoes

And a purse for a monogram bridal shower coming up

Next up...the American Academy of Periodontology Inservice Exam...ugh...so far the practice exams have been scoring at 50-60% yikes! Moratorium on sewing until the exam. March 17. And then I have to give a lit review on denture options (zzzzzzzzz) March 19.

But then...Spring break!! 27 more days until Kate and I go to Mexico with my mom and Aunt. I'm just trying to keep that in mind--take the nice camera or no? I'd hate to have it stolen, broken, lost, etc. but I'd love to get good photos of us when we are there...we'll have to see.

Sometimes you just gotta give in...(or up...)

Sometimes it just isn't worth the fight...

Sigh...yes, even the most well-intentioned, over-educated parents can end up feeding their child French Onion dip for dinner on occasion. Ummm...dairy group?? No, the chip wasn't included. It was just acting as the spoon. Hey, you try to get her to eat!

Even though she doesn't want to eat, she does love to cook. "Cooking! Food! Eat! Hun-ry." Interesting that her kitchen floor looks similar to mine after I've made dinner...hmmm. I think there is even a baby having a temper tantrum on her floor, too!

It is so fun to see Kate starting some imaginative play where she pretends. She pretends to cook (with my felt food!! yippee!!) and puts her babies to bed "night night baby...peeping" (=sleeping, said always in a whisper).

She also loves her stroller "go-wee". Here she is grocery shopping, checking out the nutritional content of Special K. Highly advanced for her age, you know...
Nah, I'll pass on the Special K, give me that French Onion dip!

And I couldn't resist one more pic with her hair in pig tails...they are just so darn cute! Such a shame they don't last.