Saturday, September 8, 2012

**Warning** Venting Blog Entry

Ok. I need to vent. I typically dont share political views via the internet... But There are 2 things that will be on the Minnesota Ballot this November, they are looked at as "party issues,". and in my opinion... They shouldn't be.

The first is voter ID amendment. Who in their right mind would be against this and what in the world would be a reason to be? There are SO many false facts out there. Truth is, ANYONE, legal to this country, a MN resident, and not a felon, will be able to get an ID if they don't have one already, at no cost. Therefore, the argument that people who are poor or elderly can't vote... Based on what facts? In the last election... I could have voted in THREE places: under my maiden name by my parents house, my mom said my name was still listed under hers. In Rosemount, which was where I voted, and in Inver Grove Heights, because Dan and I were living at his dads. What is wrong with this picture?? A LOT. This just frustrates the heck out of me.

Next, the marriage amendment. Why is this a party issue, too? Why are supposed "republicans" against this? It is completely against everything they stand for... Limited government and freedom. Anyone close to me knows I consider myself a conservative, vote typically (not always) republican. I am 100% against this amendment. Any person should have the freedom to marry who they want. It has no affect on my life at all. It just once again seems like common sense. Again, someone doesn't have to agree with the lifestyle... But who are you to tell someone they can't get married??

Why have both these issues come down to democrats vs. republicans?? If these two very important questions were being presented to the public in a fair and neutral manner, maybe people wouldn't look at them with jaded eyes, just because a certain party is affiliated with it.

In my opinion, and again, it is just my opinion, but in my opinion, the choice is just common sense for both these questions we will see on the ballot come November. Yes voter ID should be required, and No, marriage shouldn't be limited to just a man and a woman.

Ok. Vent over.

Monday, September 3, 2012

Pre-School Jitters

Tonight marks my 24th night before the first day of school. Can you believe that? 24 straight years of going to school... 7 of which have been teaching... The rest of me as a student. It's a different feeling as a teacher. But with 6 years under my belt, I still get anxious nervous. Good nervous... But still a little anxious. I am not so anxious about school and the kids. It is trying to keep up with house chores, dinner, and keeping up with my almost 20 month old! You see, if I am so tired I want a bowl of cereal for dinner, that is fine. But Brynn, I need to do better. That is the part where the anxiety comes in. Laundry, cleaning, etc. I know it will get better too when soccer is over.

On a side note... I got some awesome new nail polish I am digging. It is a mint color. I'm in love with it.

Ok, so Brynn has cut 2 teeth in the last week. Her other bottom molar, and then one of her pointy teeth. She's been kind of cranky and not eating well, but at least sleeping ok.

Capstone is printed and officially done. I plan and bringing it to Hamline this week and hopefully making my Sept. 15 deadline. Yay!

Hope all my teacher friends have a great first day tomorrow! :)

Sunday, August 19, 2012

I Was Called Miss!

Ok... I don't know why this was so exciting to me, but yesterday while checking out at Rainbow the cashier called me miss! I feel like I get called ma'am all the time... and it makes me feel old. I then wonder if I look old enough to be a ma'am... and what constitues someone choosing to call me ma'am or miss? I know... way too much thought into it. However, it made my day hearing her call me miss :)

Summer has flown by I don't have much of a baby left anymore... she is such a little toddler. She has really started talking a lot. When she opens her mouth to say something, most of the time we know what she is saying or wants. It helps a lot with the communication piece. She knows a lot of her animal sounds, too... dogs, cats, ducks (which she loves), and monkeys. She has enjoyed playing with her big duplos, which has been nice. She still loves Mickey Mouse, but Elmo is a close second. When we see babies at the store, she will point to them and say baby. I would say that has been the most exciting thing over the last month. She is really beginning to make connections to things. She will see babies, airplanes, water on TV, and point to them and say the word.

So my last post about being clueless... fortunately that didn't last long and it was due to teething molars! Brynn's molar popped through and then crying at night stopped. She has been a lot better.

Soccer started last week... it has been going really well. I am more worried about the adjustment when I am back at work and coaching and Brynn will have such long days away from me. It really is only for September though so that will not be too bad.

Capstone is just about complete. I am just waiting on the final ok so I can type up my table of contents and print. I can't wait until it is all said and done. Then I wont feel guilty spending my time doing things around the house.

Speaking of house... we are still enjoying our home so much. We really like Cottage Grove and the convenience of everything. The dogs are getting more used to having a yard, and Brynn loves being able to run around outside, too.

Brynn is getting pretty good at dribbling the soccer ball. I got some video of it but it also got Maia and Kolby being obnoxious... so once I edit it I will have to post it. Otherwise... here are some pics from the last month.


Brynn at the beach on the St. Croix




Saturday, July 7, 2012

Going From Confident to Clueless...

Well, what a week it has been. Temperatures reaching 100 degrees, feeling even hotter with humidity. It has been a long last 10 days. The AC has been running non stop, and it has been awfully difficult with a 17 month old that loves being outside. Finally, last night the heat broke, and it felt amazing not having that humidity today.

So, the title of my blog post is how I have felt over the last week or so. I transitioned Brynn from 2 naps a day to 1, and that went well. She has been going down every day about 12-12:30 and sleeping about 2 hours. Now, I don't know if it is coincidence... I am assuming so, but her bedtime has been an absolute disaster. Not only that, she has been so clingy. I can't do anything without her. if I set her down even to try and make her breakfast, she is huggung my legs whining "up, up." This is where I feel so helpless. Do I pick her up? It is so innocent but yet I am rewarding what she wants. Why does she want me to pick her up? Just for attention? Because her mouth hurts from teething? Hence where the clueless feeling comes in.... I just feel like all day long I have been battling her.

Bedtime now has become a battle. She has always been amazing at going to bed. A self soother. I could put her down right after reading her book, say nigh nigh, she would say it as I walked out. I would shut her door, and that would be that. Even though it has only been a few nights, it feels like that was an eternity ago. She clings to my neck when I try putting her in bed yelling "no! no! no!" I then try to rock her and she fights that for a while... and then finally cuddles into my chest. When she is finally calmed down, I lay her in her crib, and then she ususally whines and I rub her back a little bit until she is out. Then I have to sneak out of the room trying not to make the floor squeak, and hoping she stays asleep. I feel like I am walking on pins and needles with her, and I hate this feeling. I love her so so much, and just feel like I have no idea what I am doing, if something is wrong with her, or if what I am doing is making it worse. So, I feel as though I am going from a place where I felt so confident in my parenting, to feeling clueless again. I am hoping that is normal?? And that throughout raising her I will go through periods of time where things come easy and I feel confident, and then times will be tougher and I will feel clueless. I am just a person who likes being in control, and the fact that I feel as though I am not in control of this, makes it even harder. I am really struggling.

Brynnie has a nice scratch and bump on her forehead and a huge scratch on her knee... she loves to be outside and is a daredevil. I am hoping they heal by next Saturday, we are having pictures done by Kevin. Otherwise, I hope he can do some awesome photoshopping. I can't wait to have her pics taken, we haven't had any prof pics taken (besides candids at her birthday party) since she was 6 months old. I hope the weather is nice, and she is a little more herself.

We celebrated my Grandma's 90th birthday on June 30. It was a lot of fun. So many friends and family came to celebrate. It was so very hot, but it was so nice to see everyone.

We also have a completed fence now! It looks really nice, it turned out great. It has been such a treat to be able to let the dogs run around. You can tell they aren't used to it though... they definitely are dogs that like to be around me and dan. They really only like being out there if we go out with them. Here is a picture of the aftermath of Kolby playing fetch... Brynn wasn't too sure what to think.



We had a great 4th of July. We went over to Dan's Aunt and Uncle's on White Bear and had a lot of fun. With the heat and humidity, the lake water was so warm. We went swimming and even got to go on the jet ski. I even took Brynn for a little ride. We had good food, drinks, and of course good company. Dan's grandma and grandpa were in town from SD as well, so it was good to see them. On top of all that, Suter and Parise signed with the Wild! It still seems sureal to me. I am SO excited for this season. Now let's hope they both stay healthy...

Here is Brynn and Dan's cousin Berit :)

Here is Brynnie and Berit and Dan's cousin Sonja!

Brynn has her 18 month appt. on Wednesday, shots are not going to help with her attitude she has had lately. However, I am hoping the doc has some answers for me about what has been going on with her. Otherwise, this week not a whole lot else is going on. We just plan on enjoying the much nicer weather, and hopefully Brynn will be back to herself. My gut tells me it is teething... she has yet to get any molars or eye teeth, and she has been drooling and chomping on things a lot lately. She still only has her 8 teeth... but like I said, hope the doc has some answers. I will post after her appt with her stats :)

Friday, June 22, 2012

Love, Love, Love Having a House!

I must say... it was worth the wait. I am so in love with our home. I know my love is just going to grow and grow as we make it our own. I have so many plans an ideas, now we just need to find the time and help to do them! Especially help... because it is impossible to paint with Brynnie running around :) Of course my #1 goal this summer is finishing my capstone, and I am getting there! I can't wait to be done and be done with school.


I have already been enjoying my time with Brynn. It is hard not to go shoppping and spend money while being at home... and Dan I know doesn't like that :) I am trying to be good though.

Brynn has enjoyed the yard a lot. She loves swimming in her pool, running through the flowers, spalshing her hands in the bird bath (gross). We get our fence put in next week and that will be so nice, too!

On another note... I am LOVING Cottage Grove and our location. Seriously. We are within walking distance to Kingston Park, which is soccer fields and a playground. Our neighborhood just is friendly and I love walking around it. We are super close to Target :) Dan doesn't like that. LOVE our Rainbow... I am just really loving it.




Brynn is just talking so much! I will try and attempt all of what she is saying, but I am sure I will forget some. Her favorite number is nine. When she sees letters or numbers, she always points and says "Nine, Two, Nine." Love it. I always ask her if she is ready... and she responds with "Ready!" She sings 2 songs... twinkle twinkle (she only sings the "up above the" line) and a commercial song for Dreamlites... haha it is so funny. It was on Sprout a lot and she LOVES the song, so we sing it. She says "Uh Oh," "All Done" when she is done eating, "Ouch," "Please,"-- sometimes she just signs it though. She signs more and please. She says "Mai-Mai"... she sees her and says it, but now she calls Kolby Mai-Mai too :) She says "nose", "eye," "Cheese," (when she sees the camera-- I think that is thanks to Liam :) "Nigh Nigh", of course "momma and dada" She loves to say the word "exercise"... she says it every time we read The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton. She also love to say "purple" when we read one of her books of colors. It is funny what she enjoys saying. She also says "Chalk" (Which sounds like a not so appropriate word when she says it) and "walk"... she also says "Side" (for outside). She will say "Elmo" when she sees Elmo. She loves her baths, so if I ask her if she wants to take a bath... she yells "Bath!" and runs to the tub. She also says "Brush my teeth"... when I ask her if she wants to brush her teeth. She loves brushing, and I hope that continues! She also says "stuck" if she cant do something. I am sure I am missing some, but those are the ones she says most often. It is so fun how her language is just exploding!

Just this week I have been able to ask her to go get things! I will tell her to go get her juice or milk, and she will run to get her cup. She is really understanding a lot of what we are saying to her.

Tonight we are planning on heading to the Kaposia Days parade. It will be her first, and I hope she enjoys it! As far as the rest of the weekend, we have to trim our bushes for the fence installation, and some other things we need to get done around the house. As we begin to update the house, I will be posting pics. I wanted to post some of Brynn today, but I am carless because Dan is getting his fixed, and he has mine which is where my camera is:) Pics will have to wait! I will try to update sooner.

Feeling so blessed and content, and loving life right now :)

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

LOTS of Updates

Ok... having a toddler, working full time, getting ready to move = not a lot of updates on the blog. The toddler is making it probably the hardest-- especially a toddler that doesn't stop moving! Brynnie is on the go and would live outside if I would let her. She is climbing all over everything and anything, and also trying to jump off whatever it is she is climbing on top of. She is saying new things each day, and surprises us with what she understands. She calls all crayons/ markers/ etc. chalk... because we use chalk a lot outside. We ask her if she is ready for her bath and she says "bath?!" and will run to the tub when we are down stairs. She says "Mai Mai" for Maia since we call her that... but hasn't figured out that isn't what you call Kolby :) She is just so much fun. I do wish she would learn to stop throwing her food on the floor. This is driving me nuts. We will keep working on it, but let's just say there has been a lot of "no" being said in our house lately.

I am getting ready to be done with school. Last day with the kiddos is tomorrow. It has been a good year, and a pretty easy transition to working with a child. I think the fact that Kelsey and Kevin have been so good with Brynn, and Brynn loving it there has helped a lot. However, I am SO looking forward to the next few months!!

Besides the end of the school year approaching... of course most of you know we bought a new home and we are moving in this Saturday! This has been keeping us busy... trying to get some things done-- painted-- and boxes hauled. I am SO excited, but also know we will have a never ending wish and to do list once we are in the house. Oh well... it is so worth it and I can't wait to be in there, have the fence in, and be able to relax in the backyard with the dogs running around!

Brynn is what I consider a pretty good eater. She finally has eaten banana, but definitely not a big fruit eater. She still loves her meat. She also loves black beans. She is still signing more and please a lot when she wants things... and she does it mainly for food, but will for other things, too. I will ask her to say please when she wants something and she will usually sign it for me. Thanks Kels! :)

Now that summer is just about here, I will be better about updating. On top of moving and getting settled, and having brynnie, my capstone has been taking up a lot of time-- as it will continue to this summer. Boy, I can't wait until that is done. Anyway, that's about all I have for now. I am exhausted and plan on heading to bed very shortly :)

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

House and talking!

First of all... Now that I know what it feels like when you feel movement from a baby... I have phantom kicks ALL the time. how am I supposed to know the real thing when the time comes to be pregnant again?? Just a thought I had since I feel it and it freaks me out since there is definitely no baby in there...So weird.

Anyway.. I have a chit chatter on my hands! Her vocab is just bursting, it is crazy. She understands so much. When I ask her if she's hungry and wants dinner, she runs to the gate at the stairs to go up. Last night I asked her if she wanted a bath... And she ran over to the bathroom. She is even starting to count! Last night in her bath, I swore she grabbed the foam 9 and said "nine!". I figured it was coincidence. Brynnie does love books. We read counting books, and count a lot... Well Kelsey today heard it as well... Was counting 1-4, and 8,9,10. 9 being her favorite to say. Its not just me who heard it. She also says up as she is clawing at my legs so I hold her. It is just so crazy! I love it.

Onto the house. We got it! We were supposed to have our inspection today, but it got cancelled and rescheduled for Thursday. Just can't wait, but it will best hard once we move in, andi am going to want to have everything done and just decorate! I am so excited to have our own space and yard... And make it our own.