Conspiracy theory

Another weekend has come and gone, yet feels like there wasn't one at all! Luckily I got some major cleaning done (which was needed, bad). Unfortunately Gracen started feeling yucky (yet again--I hate you winter!) on Sunday afternoon, running a slight temp. So we gave her some motrin and she was back to her ol' self, only a little groggy. We put her to bed around 8, and could hear her coughing quite a bit. Around 9:30 she woke up and was on fire. She had a temp of almost 105. So naturally I freaked out. Called the nurse, who told us to give her more motrin and then I called my Dad and he said yes to the motrin and use a cool washcloth. If her temp didn't go down in an hour it was time for the ER. Let me tell you, I was not ready for my first ER visit, and luckily fate was on my side and her fever broke a little over an hour later.

Meanwhile, Hadley girl had a GREAT night! She only woke up twice! So I am convinced they conspire against us, and when one has a good night, the other keeps us up. Ahh parenthood.

Let's just say I'm tired.... again. Happy Monday!

Cross one off the ol' list!

So last night I did it! I created my meal from scratch. Yay for crossing one off my list! (Well I used a jar of spaghetti sauce, and boxed noodles, but really I don't have time to make either of those 2 from scratch!) Here's my proof:

First I mixed together 2 eggs, 1 cup of spinach, a bag of mozz cheese, and 1 cup of ricotta cheese

Meanwhile I boiled 12 jumbo shells

Then I stuffed my shells with the yummy cheese mixture

Slathered (i don't think thats pc chef talk but whatev) it in sauce, popped it in the oven and waited... impatiently i might add

Meanwhile Gracen happily watched while snacking on an apple

and Hadley girl ate some yummy cereal in her big girl high chair

The end result, topped with more cheese of course

Bon Appetit! I must say I was impressed with myself!

Friday State of Mind

I'm pretty sure I've been in a Friday state of mind since Monday. I guess that's what happens when you're dog tired from getting up 4 times a night! Ms. Hadley must be going through a growth spurt or something, (I'm going to go with teething, becuase that's my fall back excuse for everything!) becuase she is up 4 times a night, chug a luggin. She probably eats 20 oz (give or take) and then has maybe 8 during the day + cereal and fruit 2 or 3 times. This girl has her days and nights CONFUSED! No idea how to help her correct it.. the "nurse" told us she'll figure it out. I didn't like that answer. I thought maybe we should restrict her napping to only 2 hours at a time. But of course her response was "I don't think you should wake a sleeping baby". Wake up lady! All the books and docs nowadays reccomend waking up new borns every 2-3 hours to eat. I don't see how this is any different. Your answer is outdated and frankly I'll make up my own. Ha!

Let the creative juices flow..

Something very exciting is in the works! So my sister Jaime made some letters for Gracen when she was born to hang on the wall. And I was obsessed. We all joked that she should start a business. For Gracen's 1st birthday her and my sister Steph made her a table and chairs that matched the letters. When Hadley was born she too got some letters. Christmas rolls around and Jaime made her a step-stool for the bathroom. Finally, after almost 2 years of telling her to make a business out if it (she's also made many letters for her friends kids) I have convinced her! I'm going to help her put them on a website to sell them. Since I have all of her products, I'll be the brains behind this operation (scary I know!)

So all 3 of you that read this (haha) that know/have kids that would like some personalized hand created things, stay tuned for photos and information on how to buy!

T-Rex take 2!

So the last post was titled T-Rex for a reason, I'm not crazy. Well.. not that crazy. I was going to write about the whole weekend, but realized just talking about taking away Gracen's paci was long enough. So anyhoo. On Saturday we drove to KC to look for "big girl" furniture for Gracen at NFM. (Nebraska Furniture Mart). I love NFM, I could walk around for days and days and that still wouldn't be enough. After picking out some bunk beds and a new dresser, we headed to T-Rex for lunch w/ Papa, Michelle, Aunt Nanie and future Uncle Matt. There was so much to look it, and I think Gracen was still a wee bit scared of the loud noises and giant dinosaurs. Although we do enjoy Dinosaur Train on PBS.

We were thinking about making her one of the stuffed animals (like at build-a-bear, only build-a-dino) but the girl already has a million stuffed animals, and when Gabe brought her to look at them she wasn't interested in creating the dino, but the accessories. All she kept pointing to were the shoes. She is my daughter after all!

Here's a couple o pics from the lunch, they had these awesome fish tanks right in the middle of the tables and tons of life size dinos all over the restaraunt.

Hadley girl just hangin out with Papa

Gracen and Daddy looking at the fish tanks (you can't really see the fish tank, bad lighting)

Is she not just the cutest thing you ever did see? Besides Gracen of course!

T-Rex

What a nice surprise this morning when I went outside and the sun was shining. Hello Spring! One more reason I'm excited that it's March. More from the weekend as promised!

So Friday I decided that this was going to be the weekend that we took away Gracen's Paci. Now this was a personal dilemma for me, becuase as a kid I was unhealthily obsessed with addicted to, my pacifier. My parents have told me stories of how they used to hide them on top of bookshelves thinking I wouldn't get to them. Then sometime later they would find me hiding in a corner with it after I had climbed up and got it. So I feel pretty hypocritical taking hers away, considering I still remember being devastated when they took it away from me.

Every parenting book I've read, doctor or friend I have talked to, has recommended to get rid of it by age 1. Gracen will be 2 in a couple weeks. Whoops. Since Christmas time, I've been saying when she turns 2 we'll get rid of it. BUT, I love birthdays. And I did not want her to associate such a special day with getting rid of her paci, so we had to move the date up a bit. It was starting to interfere with her eating (or at least that's my excuse as to why she sometimes refused to eat dinner), and was generally driving me and Gabe up the wall with whining for it.

So Friday night, we were done with the paci. And I must say Gracen took it all in stride. Much to Gabe and I's relief. Before I put her to bed I told her "You're a big girl, and big girl's don't need paci's". Much to my surprise she said Ok, and laid down. As soon as I shut her door, she started to cry. I knew it couldn't be that easy! After only 5 minutes of crying, Gabe being the softy that he is, was starting to second guess taking it away. And I will admit it's hard to let your 2 year old scream bloody murder when your 5 month old is asleep in the next room. So after 30 minutes of letting her cry, we couldn't take it anymore. But it was my decision to take it away, so I told Gabe I'd be the bad guy. I went into her room and told her she was a "big girl" and asked if she wanted to sleep in the "Big girl" bed. She said yes. So we went in the guest room and laid on the big bed and she was out within a minute, and not even a whimper! Didn't even wake up once during the night. Now that's what I call success!

SpLiSh SpLaSh!

First off, Happy March! Second, what a weekend! Seriously where does the time go? We had a jam packed 3 days, and it's hard to believe it's Monday already. Unfortunately, Friday night I didn't get to make my spinach and cheese stuffed shells, so I didn't get to cross it off my list. But on the bright side, we got to go swimming! By "we" I mean Gabe and Gracen, I don't even own a swimsuit at this point in my life, and it was pretty much Hadley girls bedtime. So we sat nicely on the side and watched Daddy and Gracen attempt to swim. Gabe's niece (and goddaughter) Sierra turned 11 on Friday so they went and got a room at the Holiday Inn to go swimming. The one here has a big ol' waterslide, and we thought Gracen might have fun, and we always like to have play time with cousins.

This is her attempting to enter the pool, it was pretty chilly water, she went futher in then I thought she would!
 

This is her "caught in the headlights look". Soon after we were out of the pool.

Instead of the big pool, we headed over to the hot tub where she had some fun w/ her cousin Noah. He's 3 months older. Showin some love, such a sweetheart!!

She finally warmed up to the hot tub. She loved the bubbles, and by the time she was really having fun it was time to go home :(

But we did have a really great time! And there's much more to blog about including getting rid of the Paci!! But that's all the time I have right now, so I guess you'll just have to stay tuned!