Just an update...

So we are still going strong with CIO and for 3 nights in a row has slept in her bed the whole night! It's working great for naps too she cries for maybe 2 minutes and then takes a hint... It kin of makes me sad when I hear her wake up and cry because she still has a cough and now her nose is quite runny -- until it's unbearable she is going to stick to our routine. The only other thing that worries me is the position she is in when she falls asleep. She is literally bent in half. It looks so uncomfortable. I tried straightening her out the other day but it only woke her up. Maybe it will just make her really flexible and not do any damage to her little back.

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!!!

We let Reese open her present when it came in the mail... we weren't patient enought to wait unil V-day!!

The sleep chronicles...

So far I am so please at how Reese is doing with CIO (crying it out). Why didn't I do this sooner? Last night I mentioned she cried for 5 minutes and went to sleep and slept until 8:30 the next morning. There were a couple times I heard her wake up and whimper for a minute and then went back to sleep. Today I put her in her crib for her nap and this time she cried for 2 minutes maybe and then went to sleep for 2.5 hours! Tonight I put her in bed at 9:25 and not a peep at 9:27. I was able to get a full nights sleep last night and couldn't be happier! We'll see how tonight goes...

P.S. I am so annoyed at our upstairs neighbors why are they noisier at night than during the day. If they wake my child up there is going to be **** (bad words) to pay!!! Sorry I don't want to be one of those neighbors who complains -- but seriously can we be respectful?

Busy Weekend...

So this weekend Reese and I went to Preston. We had a baby shower to attend on Saturday but decided to take a few extra days to hang out with my family. We got down there Thursday and spent the rest of that day hanging out with our good friends Kate and Sadie. Reese loved having a little play mate - there is definitely truth behind the saying "double trouble." We went to Logan and went shopping and enjoyed some Jamba's.

Friday we visited Grandma at work (good ole' PHS) and she took the liberty of taking her around and showing her off. Naturally Reese performed as a good little monkey should. She waved, danced, and teased everyone she came in contact with. We spent most of the afternoon at Grandma Nan's (Reese's Great Grandma). I was trying to finish up a quilt that I was giving for a baby shower the next day and while Reese terrorized Nan's house. She successfully had goldfish crackers smashed all over the front room floor, threw my scrap fabric all over the kitchen (and even made a game of throwing the scrap fabric in Grandma Nan's hair), and not to forget she bullied her cousin Dylan to a speechless stupor (he was so afraid of the wild woman).

Saturday was pretty eventful. Early in the morning my friend Josie and I went to Logan to visit a friend who just had her baby and chatted he morning away with stories of the "good old days." It was great seeing some old friends. That afternoon was the baby shower for Josie and Amanda. Thankfully I had my quilts done (I about threw my sewing machine out the window the previous day when it kept acting up while trying to finish Josie's quilt). Saturday night we just played around at my mom's house and left to come back home early Sunday morning.

Tonight I'm finally being brave and letting Reese cry herself to sleep. I'm tired of sleepless nights. I know I should have done this eons ago but it's hard to not comfort her. Attempt 1: Left her in her room at 9:45 cried for 5 minutes and fell asleep. We'll see how the rest of the night goes. Wish me courage!! I feel bad for our upstairs neighbors, oh well! They deserve it with their game nights and stupid blasting radio!!
Josie's quilt. I forgot to take a picture of Amanda's - it was hot pink and lime green.

Reese made some new friends at the baby shower. Kate had a lot of nieces and nephews to keep her entertained.

All dolled up and ready to head to Grandma's!

I heart Jamba Juice. They used our extra juice and made a little jamba for each of the girls. They even cut the straws to fit in their little cups! As cute as it was we soon learned that these could not be enjoyed without adult supervision!

Superbowl Weekend...

We went home for the weekend to spend time with both of our families. It was the first time we've been home since we moved to Rexburg. It was nice to spend time with everyone. We started the weekend off spending time in Preston. Friday night we went to the boys high school varsity game (since my mom does the score book for the boys teams) - it was a pretty sad game... almost worse that watching a church ball game. Not at all how I remembered the games being when I was in school. Saturday morning my mother, Reese and I made a quick trip to Logan to pick up a few things for a baby shower I'm going to next weekend. While we were in Wal-Mart I noticed there were actually 2 employees working that can pierce ears and I was finally brave enough (yeah I'm the one that had to be brave since Reese had no idea what was coming). We got her ears pierced. We almost did it back in October but there was only one person working and they advised she might not let her 2nd ear get done after she got the first one done. She did so great! She didn't even cry! She kind of whimpered for half a second and then was perfectly fine! My mother pointed out I was a much bigger wuss when I got mine done (I was like 6 months) she said I screamed my head off. Sunday we were in Downey to watch the game. We had extreme nachos for dinner and Reese loved that! She loved even more that she could just pick what she wanted off of Daddy's plate. If she picked up a chip with out any cheese or meat on it she would dip it in some on Todd's plate. I should have taken a picture of the cheese ALL OVER HER FACE, but you'll just have to use your imagination. Reese even got 2 fists full of M&M's while daddy wasn't watching and shoved them in her mouth faster than she has ever eaten anything before (which goes to show she knows when she's doing something wrong). I'm surprised she didn't have a tummy ache later --

She showed a lot more interest in my mom's cat this weekend. She would pet him so softly and just say "oh yeah" over and over again. She even gave him loves by pressing her face up to his tummy which scared me to death because I know how easily that cat can turn on you. It's been declawed and since then has become a biter (since it is his only defense), surprisingly he never retaliated while Reese annoyed him.

Sorry this isn't the best picture of her new earrings but it's the only one I have right now.

In the car on the way down to see the Grandma's, shoveling chicken nuggets into her face and wearing mommy's sunglasses.

We also went to a Marsh Valley game Saturday night since Todd's dad had to be there. She loved both basketball games - especially the pep bands. She danced and cheered during both games. They were her first games and she loved them.

PS Candi we got Reese's birthday present today and she LOVES, LOVES IT!! I don't have any pictures right now since my battery is dead. She loves to point at the different characters and smash her face into them. Perfect present! I had looked at these one time but they weren't ever available when I tried to order them -- so good job for reading my mind! (For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about it's a Sesame Street Pillowcase with her name personalized on it with a character behind each letter).

Self proclaimed night owl...

So I can no longer fall asleep before like 2 Am - blame it on wanting a few hours of peace and quiet to myself or my addiction to caffeine. Reese is also still sick and I'm pretty sure she'll be waking up again anytime soon. Last night was a nightmare. She kept having these coughing fits (which during the day hardly ever coughs), and she would wake herself up crying like every hour. So I am extra frazzled today due to the lack of sleep. Oh and did I mention it was also -25 degrees that night - I'm sure that didn't help her cough at all... even with the heater on it was chilly. I would so rather wish her sickness upon myself I feel so helpless when I'm trying to do everything to comfort her and I know she just feels like crud.

Yesterday was Todd's birthday and after he was done with work and homework (what a way to celebrate a birthday) we went out to eat at the Hard hat grill or something like that. Everything in the restaurant was construction themed. I believe even some meals are even served to you in a dump truck. Only in Idaho, right? Todd's brother Thomas came up from Idaho Falls and came out to eat with us. We'll continue to celebration during the Superbowl when we are home with the rest of Todd's family and actually have some cake.
Reese had a nice vapor bath tonight. What bathroom is complete without it's own basket ball hoop? Reese uses the loofa to 'slam dunk.'

Reese helping mommy make dinner. She was stirring up her own little concoction.

Kiss anyone? Mmmm lasagna face!

Meow...

Ok this is kind of random but I was watching The Soup tonight and I forgot how much I heart spaghetti cat. It really is quite stupid but it cracks me up every time I see the stupid clip. I figured since spaghetti cat brings me so much joy I would share him with all of you. If any of you are wondering what the crap I'm talking about just watch the soup or find the clip on you tube... it may be more of an accustomed taste but I heart the cat in spaghetti.

Reese's first picture. We got her some of those color wonder markers that only color on the special paper and she loved to color but one she started eating the marker tips her coloring was done. Ok I helped a little on the picture... I obviously wrote her name but she really did do most of the rest. I look forward to when she really starts getting into drawing pictures I'm curious to know what her little mind will come up with.

So not much else going on... Todd's birthday is this weekend (the big 25)... hopefully we will be able to get some friends up here to help celebrate. It kind of stinks being so far away from everyone. We are planning to make a trip to see our families during the Superbowl... and I think we are going to re-celebrate then.

I'm so exhausted after this week... I haven't been able to sleep well so my days have kind of slurred into one long drowsy day. Reese woke up yesterday morning with a cold -- gosh I hate having sick kids, more than I hate having a cold myself. She has been so moody too, no doubt due to the fact she doesn't get a good nights rest because she is so stuffed up. She wakes up every few hours and I pump her nose full of saline drops (which I might add should be an Olympic event because it is almost impossible to get her to hold still) but after all that she drifts back to sleep until she's plugged up again and wakes herself up. Fun Fun!! I love the Johnson and Johnson vapor bath...I've even used it for myself. I love the smell of eucalyptus and it clears the congestion up so well! So Reese takes a couple more baths during the day to help her feel better. She doesn't mind at all she loves to take baths!

Well tomorrow Thomas will be coming up to watch Reese while we go to the temple. It's been few months and hopefully my dress still fits... so I'll see y'all another day.

Just a little free time...

So I am feeling slightly more productive today... I've got all the laundry in washing, went for a walk and Reese is taking a nap. I won't mention that I slept in until 10:30... oh whoops I just did. These are just a couple pictures from yesterday... I'm trying to get Reese to play in her room more so she doesn't drag everything out into the living room so when people randomly stop by (like the upstairs neighbors did last night) my house doesn't look like toy land has taken over. She is starting to get into dolls a little bit - which she doesn't get that from me I played with boy toys growing up. However, I believe Todd did own a few my little ponies growing up. She knows how to give the baby loves and kisses but she totes the baby around like a football and literally throws the baby in the stroller. Can you imagine how she would treat her little brothers and sisters? Well we found her toothbrush that she got for Christmas now maybe she'll stop taking ours all over the house. She knows exactly what to do when you tell her to "brush, brush, brush."

No big plans for the rest of the week. Maybe we will try and make it to the temple this weekend.. we don't have an excuse since a temple is so close now... I can see it right outside our window. We've been really bad at making it a priority lately. So I should have also listed that as one of my new years resolutions. Once a month is not too much at all to ask for... well I better go switch the laundry so people don't get mad.

Too many Dr. Peppers in my system to go to bed...

So one of my new years resolutions should have been to drink less pop... So I'm wide awake thanks to the bubbly goodness that is Dr. Pepper and I also took a late nap after dinner so here I am surfing the web and I thought maybe I would just gab a minute about the nonsense that makes up my existence. So I would like to note the getting to Reese to bed has been going a lot better this week. I've written down a schedule that I would like her to be on and I'm going to do my best to get her to fall into that schedule. I know I should have done this eons ago but it was so hard before we move up here because Todd and my schedules were so all over the place. It was especially hard when he was working over nights... as I have mentioned on previous posts. So Todd is back working on an overnight shift for the next month to help prepare the store for inventory coming up- which is bummer since I hate sleeping alone, on a positive note he is home at noon. So this also adds to me staying up later because it feels like my only free time to just do whatever... if it's reading a book or refreshing my photoshop skills. I just don't have the time it seems like during the day. In an ideal world I could do whatever I want while Reese naps during the day but it seems like something else always creeps into those few hours like cleaning or straightening up something that is a lot easier to do when I don't have my little miniature shadow. I really want to spend more time sitting and playing with her since I missed out on a lot of that while I was working full time. I already feel guilty the times I turn on Elmo's world to divert her attention for a few moments. I don't want her to grow up and be a couch potato.

Sorry to who ever may be reading this it's kind of my only chance to vent or blabber on about what's going on since I can't at the moment find my journal.

I am excited about a recent purchase off of Ebay. I bought 3 of the LDS file folder activity books that I'm excited to put together for Reese. My mom had these same books and I thought they were way cute to have for church. Plus in combines teaching Reese about the gospel. I'm having the strangest feeling of de javu (I'm sure that is spelled wrong) so if I've mentioned these things before just go along with it.

So back to the New Years Resolutions I mentioned in passing... things I would like to expand further on this year would include: 1-being more serious with announcement projects. I really need to get a portfolio put together or something, it's definitely something I have a passion for and it's just on the back burner at the moment. 2- take a cake decorating class. I always watch the Ace of Cakes show on the food network and I would kill to be able to learn how to do that (ok maybe not quite to the magnitude that they do... but on a much smaller scale). 3- Get more organized in everything! House cleaning especially I feel like the only time I get my house really clean is when someone is coming over... it needs to be on a more regular basis, not that I'm a pig but it's something I could improve on. 4- cook new food! We are most definitely in a rut! I've got tons of recipes from friends in books, not to mention what is available online -- and I cook the same things week after week. Lunch is something I struggle with the most I'm sure Todd is sick of me telling him to fix a sandwich. He deserves a little variety. 5-Ok I better wrap this up with Exercise. I cringe at the thought! Gone are the days when I could eat whatever and never exercise and still have a trim body (not that I was ever a twig but I wasn't so dissatisfied with my shape). I don't care for the "softness" that makes up majority of my body between my rib cage and knees... it just has to go. So if anyone has any exercise routines that works well for them.. feel free to divulge. It's too cold most days for a walk and I just don't know what to do. I've been thinking about buying a step. When I took Aerobics at ISU we used these quite often and I thought they could be quite fun without taking up hardly any space... anyways I need to take action instead of just talking about it and putting it off for the next day.

Ok really sorry this ended up being a lot longer than expected... there is a glimpse into the craziness that swirls around in my brain. Enjoy!

Just hanging out at home...

Just a lazy day... sitting at home playing with mama, while daddy does his homework. So for those of you who don't know Reese loves her pooh bear. She saw this one into JC Penney -- and my mother let her hold it while we shopped around the store (big mistake Grandma)... she screamed her head off when we took away so we could leave the store. She honestly would not stop crying until Grandma Nan went back and bought it for her and she was all smiles after that. Don't worry I don't plan to make a habit of buying her whatever she cries about not getting. You could really see how much she loved the Pooh bear. She still hugs and loves him at home and it is probably one of her favorite toys. She demonstrates her affection in this photo with a kiss. She loves to give kisses.

Playing with the ball popper Uncle Justin gave her for her birthday... it's hilarious when she first turns it on she acts almost more stressed out that the balls are going everywhere. She flaps her arms like a bird and scurries around trying to pick up all the balls. It's a toy that gets shut off by mom and dad when it gets late at night...

Reese being a naughty little girl ripping the owl out of her pop up book. Some of her books we have to keep out of reach and she can only read with adult supervision. Somehow she got a hold of this one and let er' rip.