Snow and Our Cutie!

Jan. 17--Lauren has learned how to climb. She's also learned that she can use objects (like her toys or her daddy) to get higher. Here she was, trying to corner one of the cats.

Jan. 17--I cannot get Lauren to stand still long enough to get a picture of how tall she has gotten!

Jan. 20--We were snowed in!! Look at all of the snow we got!! Lauren thought it looked fun, but she did not enjoy touching it! She wanted to get in the car to go to school! My school and Lauren's both had a 2 hour delay due to the snow. There were some areas that got more, but the delay was mostly due to some of the more remote areas who received rain that froze, so the roads weren't that great in those areas.

Jan. 24--Lauren, eating her string cheese, while I was trying to get a decent picture of her dressed up to hang out with the Neigh-Neighs. You can see that her rash has gotten worse on the left. Doesn't she look cute in the shirt Aunt Suzy got her??

My camera went missing for several days (until I found it at school in my laptop bag), so I have not been good about taking pictures. We've been busy and silly lately with Paul back in school and Lauren and I playing. Lauren and I do a LOT of dancing around the house the nights Paul is at class. My little white girl dances like a little white girl--sometimes it looks like she's having a fit of some sort, but she cracks me up! Any time she hears music, regardless of where we are (store, restaurant, church--yes, she jams to hymns!--car, house, school), she dances if something catches her ear!

After her 4th round of antibiotics, she finally cleared up! However, her behavior last week got a little off to the point that daycare said she was tearful and cried easily (not her usual happy), so I got her in. She had fluid in her ear, but it was NOT an infection. As a result, I've been allowing her her pacifier more often, so now she has an awful rash around her mouth. The poor kid can't win!

Yesterday I was sterilizing her pacifiers, forgot about them, and melted all but 2 of her pacifiers while ruining the pan. Our house reeked (and still has an odor) of burnt plastic. That's one way of breaking the habit!

I calculated some of the words that Lauren says, and she's up to around 31. Paul had noticed an increase in her correct annunciation of sounds within the past week. We both agree that it sounds like Lauren is trying to put together small phrases of 2-3 words, but we cannot discern anything specific.

Our Steelers Baby

Here is Lauren posing for Paul while watching the game.

Here is Lauren laughing at Paul for his obsession with getting her posed just so.

Thanks go to Grandpa and Grandma Ryan in Arizona for the cheerleading uniform (she was doing toe-touches in church today), Great-Grandpa McCaslin for the blanket, and Mama for the Terrible Toddler Towel (which is different than our Terrible Towels).

We had a win in Pittsburgh 35-24 against the San Diego Chargers. Steelers play Baltimore next Sunday. I debated whether or not to wash Lauren's uniform, but Paul bribed her with a Hershey Kiss to get her to pose, so Lauren's top was dirty.

A "Chip" Off the Old Block

01-07-09: Daddy and Lauren have found a new way to rough-house. Here is a play-by-play.
Up we go!

This is fun!!!!

Whee!!!!!!!!!

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!

Ta-da!

01-08-09: Here is the "chip" off the old block. We've recently diagnosed Paul as being a "Chip-o-holic" and are trying to keep these things out of the house. Paul wasn't paying attention to Lauren who stole his bag of chips and had herself a tasty snack!

01-11-09: Mama and Lauren sporting our Steelers apparel for the big playoff game today! Lauren even wore her outfit to church today! We got a lot of, "Ahh, how cute in her cheerleading uniform!" Then we heard, "Poor kid! The Steelers?" We smiled politely and assured everyone that we also cheer for the Panthers.

Go Steelers!! They beat the Chargers tonight, 35-24! Woo-hoo!!!

01-11-09: Grandpa "O.F" and Lauren reading a book and doing a puzzle at the same time!

We've had a busy week back to work and school. I had a lot of meetings this week and will this coming week, too. Paul starts back to school this semester, taking 3 classes. Chaos will return.

We got a suprising phone call from Arizona last week. My grandparents will be coming in June for a visit! This sparked a LOT of excitement in our home. Paul has become remotivated to continue work in the kitchen. We found someone who can help who works reasonably, so he'll start next week. Paul now wants to get the little things (like trim, painting, and the kitchen) done before our guests arrive. (Had I know this sooner, I would have had Grandma call and say that they were coming!)

Lauren goes to the doctor on Thursday to see how her ear has healed. She's still tugging at her ear and tried to stick a pen in it today to itch! She's also sleeping poorly again, so we're expecting a referral to the ear, nose, and throat doctor.

Catching Up December!!

December 2--Lauren standing in front of the tree in downtown Conover after the lighting ceremony.

December 2--Santa, Lauren, and Mommy--Lauren wasn't sure what to think of Santa this year, so we just got close enough for one shot!

December 14--Paul tried desperately to get Lauren to cooperate to take a fun Christmas picture. (This chair was a gift from her Grandparents Wade and Great-Grandpa McCaslin for her first birthday.)

This was actually the first picture he took of Lauren. I doesn't look too bad! I'll have to try to figure out how to post his edited version with a border. (This was a chair given to Lauren from Great Grandma Wade in September. Lauren LOVES to rock in it because it's a good size and the harder you rock, it plays Braham's Lullybye.

December 14--Lauren riding her 1st John Deere tractor. This was a gift from last Christmas that we just pulled out. She won't be riding it for long I expect.

December 14--This was just too cute not to post!

December 22--Mommy and Lauren in front of the fire. My stipulations for our family's early Christmas was to have the fire lit, Christmas music on, and cookies to eat. Paul got me some socks, a few sweaters, and chocolate pearls in the form of a necklace and earrings.

December 22--Lauren breaking into her stocking.

December 22--Lauren found a BIG back of Hershey Kisses (her favorites) in her stocking! She was so excited! Now she doesn't have to pretent to like my Kiss Cookies!

December 22--Lauren opening her Fridge Phonics. Ours are actually Dishwasher Phonics because we're less likely to step on the letters if on the floor next to our dishwasher. Lauren loves to listen to the Alphabet Song. However, she usually pushes the button several times, so I'm not sure she'll ever learn the WHOLE song, in the correct order...

December 27--Great-Grandpa McCaslin, Grandma Wade, and Lauren with Lauren's new Steelers blanket from Grandpa! Grandpa was so excited to see Lauren this year! This was the first he'd left the nursing home for a family affair. We were pleased to see how well Grandpa looked and how much strength he has gained since September. He ate like a horse and even had a beer! (We had to limit everything because he wasn't used to eating such good food at one sitting.)

December 28--Lauren didn't want to put on her cute John Deere sweatshirt, but we were leaving, so she didn't have a choice. Grandpa Wade bought her sweatshirt for her. It was the smallest size the store had, but the good news is that she'll be able to wear it for a while.

December 28--Daddy and Lauren waiting for the Miles's to arrive to breakfast.

December 28--Kim, Jacob, and Justin!! This was the first time we'd met Jacob, but we have his picture on the refrigerator. Lauren likes to look at it and say, "A-ob," but she didn't know what to do about meeting Jacob in person! This was the first time I'd seen Justin and Kim since they got back from Spain almost a year ago! We had a great visit, but of course, it was too short, as always.

December 28--Lauren and Jacob inspecting the floor of the restaurant. (Lauren found an old breakfast potato that I quickly tossed to the other side of the restaurant...)

December 28--Lauren watching the Steelers game at Aunt Ivy's house. It was mass choas with all of the kids running around and the adults playing several different games. You should note Lauren's Steelers T-shirt (and the pouty lip face that I described from the last post).

December 28--Lauren and her cousin, Evie! I couldn't get the two of them to look at the same time!

December 28--"I'm going to do something devilish, but I'm going to keep you guessing until you least suspect it..."

December 29--Lauren and her cousin, Maydison, reading a book. Maydison just LOVED Lauren to pieces and played with her throughout the entire visit. Lauren enjoyed her older kindergarten cousin, too.

December 29--All of the girls (Lauren included) coloring together.

December 29--Lauren, Paul, Alyssa (purple), Maydison (pink), and Kyleigh (coat) posing for a family picture.

January 1, 2009--Here's my cheesing girl, wishing everyone a Happy New Year! Lauren's New Year's Resolution is to sleep through the night for Mama...unfortunately, Lauren is not doing well with her resolution.

Christmas and New Year's

December 24--Paul has been experimenting with his cameras, so he used Lauren as his model. Isn't this adorable?

December 24-Lauren received another chair for Christmas! Of course, she loved it and didn't complain to adding it to her collection. She did, however, ask for a footstool to prop her weary legs, so she pulled her rocking horse in front of her to use! When I grabbed my camera, she naturally let down her legs.

December 24--Grandma Wade reading The Night Before Christmas to Lauren.

December 24--The end...

December 25--Merry Christmas, Grandpa Wade! (Lauren is eating a banana, her favorite fruit.)

December 25--Grandma Wade decided to have Lauren continue a Wade Christmas tradition. When they were younger, Paul and Luke would make their parents coffee then take their stockings into their parent's room. The parents would drink their coffee while the boys tore into their stockings. Kay leads Lauren upstairs to our room, carrying hot cocoa (Paul doesn't like coffee) for Daddy.

December 25--Lauren getting ready to wake up Daddy...

December 25--Lauren tearing into her stocking. She got some rubber ducks for the bath and some hair ties and barettes.

December 25--She REALLY liked the Gerber Graduate mac and cheese meal she found!

December 25--Cousin Evie, Jon, and Lauren, playing around. Evie is exactly 4 months older than Lauren. She's named for Great-Grandma Evelyn Wade and Lauren is named for Great-Grandpa Laurence Wade. December 25--Lauren thought that her cousin Kolby's bug book was pretty awesome, so she had to read it!

December 25--Lauren's cousin's got these cool pop up tents with a sleeping bag for Christmas. Lauren was a little reserved around her cousins, but she really enjoyed the tent. She thought it would be fun to play peek-a-boo with Grandpa Wade!

December 25--Lauren, Aunt Ivy, and Uncle David at the Wade Christmas party Christmas evening.

December 25--Lauren unwrapping a book from Papa and Grandma Bernosky.

December 25--Paul, Lauren, and me, posing for our family Christmas picture.

December 25--My mom shared some Gold Fish with Lauren (Lauren's FAVORITE!!), so Lauren thought it would be kind to feed my mom. We discovered that when Mom would open her mouth for the fish, Lauren opened her mouth, too! It was a neat trick!

December 25--Lauren and Mama trying out the wagon from Papa and Grandma Bernosky. We were able to be pulled around the house by Paul to try it out before going outdoors.

December 25--Lauren trying out her wagon in the snow. It went great, but if we had to deal with snow more frequently, we'd have to let out some air from the tires. We also had to leave the wagon in PA until March when Paul's parents come down because we didn't have enough room to haul it (and some other items) back.

December 25--Lauren and "Unc-ah" Josh snuggling on the floor. Lauren adores her Uncle Josh, and he recipricates the feeling. Lauren learned how to say "Unc-ah" over Christmas and spent the trip back being entertained by Josh. Both of them fell asleep. Lauren woke up first, and we heard her exclaiming, "Unc-ah! Unc-ah!" from the back. She was attempting to hand Josh a toy and he slept on.

December 29--Lauren and her Papa.

We went to the Cadwallader's for our annual New Year's Eve bash. We had a great time, as usual. I instituted Pajama Night to go along with Suzy's "Find the Worst Wine to Drink" Night. Our wine was a lot better than we all expected. However, I think that the wine night has been expanded to either the "worst tasting" or the "funniest name" as our wine was called Fat Bastard.

December 31--Here are Harris, Lauren, and Nick chair surfing in the living room. This was Lauren's first time, but the boys were as gentle as can be with this sport. No one got hurt (thankfully) and a ball was had by all.

Lauren was the last kid awake. However, she started around 9:30 saying, "Night, Night, Mama," but whenever I mentioned this to Paul, he said Lauren was doing great. She was asleep before we left their driveway!

Lauren went to the doctor earlier in the day on the 31st. Her right ear refuses to clear up. She has had 4 different antibiotics and there isn't any difference. We were told that when we go in two weeks, if things have not cleared, we will be referred to an ear, nose, and throat doctor to see if she is a candidate for tubes. Despite this, Lauren is in pretty good spirits. She has whiny times, but she is more devilish than not which I think keeps her going.

Lauren also has a new face to show when she doesn't like something or when she's irritated. She puckers her lips, squints her eyes, and wiggles her nose. It's so hard not to laugh because it's a cute face. Due to my marathon post, my camera card has been in the computer rather than my camera so I've not had the opportunity to capture the face.