"I Hope You Dance"

Oh boy do I have some fun pictures to share from our last few weeks!  We have been busy busy with family and friends since the beginning of December, really, but the past few weekends have been no doubt some fun play time!  Carly's godparents, Chris & Nikki, arrived on Friday and left this morning.  They were only here for the weekend but you can bet we packed as much into the weekend as possible, and had a splendid time doing it!! Truth be told, it was one of the most memorable weekends we've had in a while.  We just love having them come visit...super fun people!

First on the docket was Friday night.  I worked until 7pm, so after they arrived Brian & Carly took them to Disney Quest, a 5-floor interactive arcade, essentially.  After I got off, Nik and I took Carly home to put her to bed and then caught up on some girl talk while the boys continued playing.  Then, we were up until MIDNIGHT (Brian hasn't seen midnight in a long, long time) playing cards. :)

Saturday morning we were up early and headed to Animal Kingdom.  We took a safari and rode Expedition Everest a couple of times.  It was a gorgeous day!

I dropped the clan off at Magic Kingdom and drove around for an hour and a half so Carly could get a good nap in.  We had dinner reservations at Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue at 4pm, so they took a boat from MK and met us there.  This was the best dinner show we've ever been to...just an all around fabulous experience.  It's all you can eat ribs, fried chicken, cornbread, potatoes, corn, beans, drinks and strawberry shortcake.  It was nearly a 2 hour shin-dig and our little C-bear sat in her high chair the ENTIRE show.  If you have ever been out to eat with a near 1-year-old, you know how amazing that is.  She LOVED the show...I mean, we really thought she was in heaven.  We kept giving her more food to munch on as she stared in awe at the performers (who were also giving her a lot of attention).

Toward the end of the show, the performers gathered up some actors from the audience, and lo and behold someone from our table was chosen to be the beauty!! It was the icing on the cake!  We also had front row seats, so we were right up in the action!

We completely intend to go to the show again, but fully acknowledge that nothing like it will ever top that experience again.  Can you tell we were having a good time?

We headed to MK to meet some princesses and watch the parade before heading home for the evening.  We all crashed upon walking in the door from our busy busy day.

Sunday Brian had to go back to work, so the rest of us headed to Hollywood Studios.  Nikki is a fabulous singer and had the opportunity to audition for the American Idol Experience.  She was chosen to perform in a show and rocked it out singing Lee Ann Womack's, "I Hope You Dance."  This will not be the last time we see Nikki Voss up on that stage!  Throughout the rest of our time at DHS, people kept coming up to Nikki and telling her what a great job she did.  Two little girls even asked if they could take a photo with her! 

Brian met up with us at one of Disney's mini golf courses that evening and we enjoyed a round of putt-putt.  Then it was Giordano's Pizza for dinner and another round of Presidents and Peons (card game).  What a fun, fun weekend with two of our favorite people!  Chris & Brian have been best friends for well over a decade and he married the most delightful woman...who happens to be just perfect for him!  They really love Carly and will be great parents....I hope in the near future!! ;)

Now, we shall rewind to last weekend and share the fun time we had with G&G!  Rich and Rhonda came in on Friday the 18th and came home to Carly & Jen (our nanny) having some quality time together.  Friday evening was playtime and after C's was down for the night, game time.  We love playing cards with them and jump at the opportunity to do so.

Saturday I had the luxury of sleeping in and then headed to work.  I really wasn't around that day but from my understanding the whole day was filled with toys, books and walks...Carly's three favorite things. :)  Sunday morning was a repeat of Saturday...sleeping in for this mama and then off to church.  Late in the afternoon we all headed to Winter Garden to see our soon-to-be-hope-to-be-house, shopping and my birthday dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse (a first for all of us).  We had a delightful time and Carly got some great quality time with her grandparents.  The weekend was too short, and off they went the morning of my birthday.  So glad they were able to fly down!

We really do love having visitors.  It makes for some really fun experiences and some wonderful memories.  Next week we get to spend time at Animal Kingdom with my child-hood neighbors, welcome my Mom into town and have Carly's birthday party on the 10th.  Until then we are going to soak up some down time just playing, snuggling and wrestling (which Carly has decided is very fun these days).  And...with all the standing C's been doing as of late...I think we might just get some steps in there as well. :)

Oh, and we'll most certainly do some dancing. :)

"Today's Your Special Day"

I am officially one quarter of a century old.  I feel so old...NOT! I love that I'm still in my mid twenties and am enjoying life being a young mama, having a career and still being on this crazy Floridian adventure.  Here's what I was doing/looking like last year on my birthday!! HA!

Brian and I established this wonderful tradition a couple of years ago to spend an entire day celebrating whomever's birthday it is.  I have come to really love this tradition and I look forward to all the memories we will make as a family for the next several years.  I'm just brewing ideas for what we will do for Carly this year!  Anyway, since we are only off one day a week together, we have to celebrate each and every birthday on a Wednesday.  So that's exactly what we did!  On my special day, Brian got up with Carly and let me have some extra beauty rest, then had my little girl come wake me up with hugs and kisses.  He made his homemade pancakes and sausage and then it was off on a run for Carly and I and some mowing for him (running was totally part of the celebration...otherwise I spend all day feeling guilty). 

After some productivity, we headed out for lunch, making a quick stop at Old Navy where I got a super cute dress!  We ate at the restaurant we've been eating at on birthdays for nearly a decade: Macaroni Grill.  It did not disappoint!! In fact, they have changed their menu and it is even better than it has been in the past.  Carly was so good and we seriously had the most delightful meal out as a family that we have ever had!!

Next we went to visit our soon-to-be-hope-to-be-house and let Carly play on the playground in the neighborhood. It was her first time going down the slide all by herself!  She LOVED it!  What joy it brought us to watch her having such a thrilling first.

Then we were off to Magic Kingdom, because, why not?!  We just walked around and rode Brian's favorite ride, Buzz Lightyear!

We took the boat over to the Polynesian Resort to get some self-serve Dole Whip and walked along the beach until we found a hammock to watch the MK fireworks from.  We put Carly to bed right when we got home and you'd think the night would have come to an end...but it most certainly did not!  The ISU Men's Basketball team was playing that night so Brian and I enjoyed some popcorn while cuddling up on the couch to watch them win! 

And my absolute favorite picture of the day: our matching outfits! I went to her closet looking for something that would remotely match me and ended up finding almost the exact same thing!! :)

This weekend Brian's parents were in town, so we celebrated with them as well (that will receive it's own post, however) and today I am having lunch with a friend and then a play date with another.  I've been well celebrated...so tonight will be a perfect low key evening. 

One-quarter of a century. I wonder what the next 25 years will bring...

"She's a Butterfly" {11 Months}

Carly is two days into her 11th month and in just 29 days she will begin her second year of life.  I'm sad to see the baby stage go but completely excited to take on her toddler days with her.  I can just imagine the fun we will have together!

She is a delight to hang out with day in and day out.  Still the greatest, most rewarding and fun job I've ever had.  She doesn't seem to have an interest in walking...so I think she might just crawl forever!  A couple months ago she was cruising so well we thought she would be off by Christmas, but she has far missed that deadline. ;)  I realize that walkers are much, much faster than crawlers, so I will take her on all fours a bit longer.

Here's what our Carly is up to this month:

• Is very good at playing with the apps on the iPod and enjoys swiping the screen
• Wants to talk on the phone essentially all day long, and if she hears a familiar voice she grins from ear to ear
• Loves watching videos of herself
• Can say; Mama, Dada, Hi, Ya, Icky (ah-gee), Jacob & JT (well, I assume she could still say his name)
• Continues to use sign language very well and claps, says more please, all done, so big, amen (this is a new one), hi and bye
• Enjoys being thrown, tossed and "dropped"
• Has become quite the little climber...so watch out!  She has gotten herself in some predicaments and tries to do some very unsafe things...
• Finds a consonant and rolls with it for a few days, telling all her stories using that letter.  Our favorite was the week that she puckered her lips and all day long said, "Doo, doo, doo, doo, dooooooo"
• Found the cupboards in the kitchen and very much enjoys exploring in them
• She knows how to get down from the couch, a chair or the bed by turning around and putting feet first and sliding down until her feet hit the floor
• Has learned how to throw a tantrum and practices this new skill about once or twice a week.  We shall see how it evolves and when Brian and I will start discipline.  Probably not this month, though
• reads, Reads, READS!  She loves to read her 10 favorite books and particularly enjoys the ones with flaps to uncover something else.  She has memorized most of them--last week as I was reading to her one of the pages says, "this baby wants her mama."  I only read, "this baby wants her..." and paused.  To my delight she said, "mama!"  Brian and I were SO impressed!
• Is delighted if I let her unravel the toilet paper, but she knows she is not suppose to.  The look she gives right before diving in is pretty funny.
• Took a hiatus from taking a bath for a while and is back at it in our big tub...and loves it!
• Is one of the friendliest babies around, flashing her toothless grin at anyone passing by :)

Her schedule has surprisingly stayed fairly consistent with what she was doing a month ago.  She consistently takes longer naps every 3 weeks for about 5 days and then returns to her 30-40 minute naps.  She's always been inconsistent on that...so I'm over it.  I will, however, likely pray everyday that my next baby is a good sleeper as it has been a point of stress this year. The only other difference is that she dropped one of her feedings last week.  She is down to nursing 3 times/day.  I think its been very interesting to just let the evolution of weaning work itself out.  We shall see what these next few months will look like....especially considering she is still getting up in the night to nurse.

5:30am-nurses and goes back to sleep--in her own crib...the sleeping with us ended when we were too stimulating for her--she goes back down without a peep.
7:30am-up
8:00am-breakfast
9:30am-snack
10:35am-11:15am-nap (consistently sleeps about 40 minutes at a time)
1pm-nurse
1:30pm-lunch
3pm-snack (this lady eats all day long)
3:30pm-4:10pm-nap
6pm-dinner
8pm-get ready for bed...usually asleep between 8:15pm-8:30pm

I'd say that covers it!  Here are a couple of 11 month photos!

Carly is becoming quite the butterfly as she begins to step out in the world and explore and learn all on her own.  How exciting!! :)

"Life is Highway"

We have had a really good week.  Coming off of a rough one, it was good to have great quality time, much productivity, time with family and friends and one very happy girl.  Monday started out just wonderful as I met Brenna for lunch at the Grand Floridian Cafe and then got to see Brian's aunt and uncle there as well (I think I actually mentioned those two things last post).  Tuesday began a week long jaunt of changes for Carly but one very, very happy girl.  I don't think I've ever seen her so happy for such a long period of time before.  She is just the funnest person to be with these days...and getting easier and easier all the time.  I think the biggest reason is because she has finally, after nearly 11 months, decided that she might actually enjoy taking a nap longer than 30 minutes.  This past week she has woken up so happy and rested and ready to take on the rest of the day (until yesterday, of course, when she didn't take one single nap all day long...lol).  I hope she chooses to continue those long periods of slumbering!

Wednesday was my favorite day of the week.  Brian got up early to continue the house painting extravaganza (not like this whole moving thing will ever actually happen), and then we all marched out the door to meet Crystal and Dick for lunch at Le Chefs de France!  We had a wonderful experience, and I think we all really enjoyed our meals, as well!

We enjoyed walking around EPCOT together for the next several hours, and our time included; Brian getting to ride the newly refurbished Test Track, an Oolong Tea Slush from China and Brian and I getting to ride Soarin' together for the first time since little miss was born!  Crystal and Dick graciously volunteered to hang out with Carly while Brian and I enjoyed a quick half hour date. :)

Carly perfected her "sucking thru a straw" skills!

Thursday was the normal Carly/Daddy day and I closed at work, so I actually got to hang out with them in the morning...but it meant Friday morning I was totally beat.  Carly was more than happy to play on her own while I laid on the living room floor resting.  Carly has also really grown fond of her babysitter, Jen, and it makes my heart smile when Jen walks in the house and Carly dashes after her grinning.  As stressful as this year has been trying to keep Carly out of daycare, I think I'm glad I did it.  At some point Jen will likely get a full-time job and have to step down, but for now we are loving having her around!  And...Carly is only a month from being one, so at that point she would probably enjoy the socialization of daycare.

Each Saturday morning, Carly and I watch a little boy named Jacob, and then Jen comes over in the afternoon to watch them both while I head to work (I always work a late[ish] shift on Saturdays).  Carly and Jacob are 5 months a part and now that they are used to one another, really enjoy having each other around.  Jacob will fuss if Carly stops playing with him and Carly likes to stroke his hair, crawl on top of him, steal his paci, eat his food, you know...;) 

This week I am also back to eating normally as my "project get-skinny" regimen came to a screeching halt when I realized my milk supply had completely plummeted.  I had it all worked out and had been planning the whole month of December to lose these last 10-15 pounds by eating only fruits and veggies with a very small amount of protein in the morning (ie 2 eggs, a can of tuna, 3oz of chicken, etc.) starting on NYE (one day before everyone else starts their weight loss plans).  It was very hard, but going very well until Carly started to get frustrated while nursing.  The next day started my work week and I pumped mere drops!  So, all I have to say is that maybe my body is the type that has to have the extra fat in order to produce milk...AND...it better just start falling off when I wean Carly.  So. Frustrating.  As soon as I started eating a normal consumption of calories again, it went right back up.  Interesting...

Carly has been waking up with some curls this on the right side of her head this week as her hair continues to grow each day!  I am thrilled about them and just had to do a quick photo shoot of her latest development. :)  The first photo is the look she gives me when I ask her to smile, and the next two are photos where I am actually making her laugh.  She's a born model. ;)

And...here's a video of her most recent findings in the house.  Needless to say all the doors are always shut these days.

"Oh, Dear, What Can the Matter Be?"

I suppose I should pick up where I left off...almost one week ago.  After my parents left, we entered a tough 5-day stretch.  I suppose it wasn't the greatest way to start off 2013, but I'm not in the least bit superstitious, so it didn't really matter.  I was really dealing with the difficulty of saying goodbye, knowing I wouldn't see three of the four of them again for over 2 months, which brought to the surface the 5 main reasons I don't always like living here, which caused many tears all throughout the week.  I think it's weird to cry in front of Carly, so I saved my tears for drive time and bed time.  I went into this monologue with Brian about yet again why I don't want to be working and just cried for a good 45 minutes on Wednesday night.  I really don't know what my problem is...I love my job and it is absolutely the best arrangement God could have laid in our laps for this period of our life.  You see, I am a very rational person, so my mind is usually very good at trumping my heart, but when I feel hurt or sad my heart just stomps all over my mind.  I just want to be with Carly all the time...and leaving her sucks.  There are very few weeks that I don't cry on my way to work.  It's ridiculous, really, but sometimes you can't fight it.  I certainly want to move to our soon-to-be-hop-to-be-house, but I think I'm scared its not going to let me have the flexibility to step down from my job if need be. 

I wasn't the only basket case in the house last week, as our little Carly wasn't feeling super great, either.  Wednesday she was hit hard with who knows what, but by Thursday afternoon she was happy as a clam. It was the strangest thing.  She had a fever of 101.1, a stuffy nose, was tugging at both her ears, wouldn't eat and slept most of the day.  For the first time in her life, she actually crawled up to me and just laid down on my lap and snuggled.  Thursday Brian was going to take her to the doctor while I worked, but by the time he was ready to go she seemed totally and completely normal. So then, of course, we tossed it up to teething (yes, she is 10 and a half months old and has no teeth), but those pearlys are still pretty deep in those gums.

Carly has also become quite the pro at tantrums.  I think they are hilarious, but Brian is totally bothered anytime she lets out a squeal and will immediately start entertaining her with every trick up his sleeve.  He calls it re-direction, I just call it being scared of tears. ;)  She really doesn't cry much anymore, she's gotten pretty good at communicating her needs, but if we take something away, try to clean her up from a meal, change her diaper, leave her with a stranger, etc, etc, she flips.  I am looking forward to seeing what these become and am ready for the challenge of working with my strong willed child.  My niece is also very strong willed, and I've enjoyed observing and learning from the ways her parents work with her.  I think it's a total blessing to have a strong willed kid, because if directed in the right way and nurtured well, a strong willed person can have a big affect in the world.

This week's mood had a quick change late in the week and has been great ever since.  I had a very good meeting with my boss and am going to get to be a part of a lot of great things happening over the next year. the Disney Company has launched some state of the art technology in a project called Next Generation Experience (NGE) and are in the opening phases of rolling NGE out within parks and resorts.  I am fairly certain every facet of the Resort will be affected by NGE, which means there will be cool changes at Downtown Disney.  It's still super top secret, so I can only mention what has been made public, and I really don't even know that much about it, but it excites me to think of what we get to be apart of over the next several years.

Carly also got some new toys that she is absolutely in love with!  Apparently the season of gifts might just continue on through her birthday...goodness gracious!  One was an activity walker from one of Brian's Cast Members and the other a little scooter from our neighbors across the street, who have showered Carly with gifts all year long.  She is so, so proud of herself that she can push that walker through the house and looks like such a big girl sitting her on scooter!

Yesterday I had the most delightful lunch with Brenna at the Grand Floridian Cafe and Carly got SO much attention.  At one point the manager even came over and said, "I just have to meet this cute and smiley baby that everyone is talking about in the kitchen!"  After lunch we took a walk to the Polynesian where Carly was enthralled with walking on a bench that overlooked a fountain.  Cruising and water...her two favorite things!  Brenna took some cool pics of her, so I'll have to share those once she sends them to me.  After our walk we got to spend about an hour socializing with Carly's great-uncle, Dick and great-aunt, Crystal in the lobby of the Grand.  They are coming over to our place for dinner this evening and then we are all going to EPCOT together tomorrow.  Sounds fun to me!

Well...I'd say that was a lot of words with not a lot of photos...so here's a little video that doesn't really tie into this blog...but shows what happens when mommy leaves the lid off the Cheerios container. ;)

"I Simply Remember My Favorite Things"

Reflections of 2012

Over the next several years, I am sure I will use every line from this fabulous song, but today it seemed appropriate as I, like most, was looking back over the past year as I snuggled into bed last night at 9:45pm.  As Brian and I laid in bed listening to the many fireworks going on around us (they are legal here), we talked about our top 5 memories from 2012.  I thought about mine long and hard, and to my surprise couldn't come up with a favorite memory beyond, "Carly."  I enjoy spending time with family, yet the trips to Iowa this year with a newborn and a baby were a bit stressful, and I couldn't pick just one of the many visitors we had, so I decided that for this year, here are the things I will remember most:

1. Delivering Carly and those sweet 48 hours of holding her on my chest that followed
2. Snuggling/Sleeping with Carly in the mornings all year long
3. Nursing Carly
4. Playing with Carly and watching her develop each week
5. The evolution of my heart as we molded from a couple to a family

As I waved goodbye to my parents and siblings on Sunday, tears started streaming down my face and I cried the whole way home.  Each time I drop someone off at the airport, it reminds me that it will be at least a month before I see that person again.  It hurts my heart.  I don't like this arrangement of massive amounts of quality time all jam packed into a weekend or a week followed by a period with zero quality time.  I've never liked it, and I probably never will, but part of being content is finding the joy of making memories together for that short time.  A friend posted this quote the other day after hearing a sermon by Tom Nesbitt.  He said, "Contentment is not having what you want, but wanting what you have."  I thought that was a neat way to describe it and it hit home with me.  As long as Brian and I are living far from the people we love most, I will battle this concept of contentment.  It's been a struggle all year long, and I'm going to continue to work on finding joy here in Florida in 2013.

This year has been "the year of change" in my life, and tops 2010...a year I thought was unbeatable as far as change went.  2012 was a fabulous year, and probably the most important in terms of who I was, who I am and who I will become.  I am so looking forward to another year of joys, as my baby becomes a toddler and I get to communicate with and experience the world through her eyes.  Hopefully this year I am challenged to become more patient, gentle, and loving and seek to know Christ deeper. 

Alright, enough about that.  I have more to write about as this post covers 4 different topics: Reflections of 2012, Trey's Birthday Celebration, The Vanderploeg/Hood Family Visit (which I've been meaning to post for weeks) & Little Carly Tidbits.

Trey's Birthday Celebration

I have already touched on most of the visit from my family, but we ended up having a really nice time celebrating Trey, so I thought I'd include some photos from his birthday.  I mentioned us having lunch at Sanaa, and it was absolutely delicious!  Most of us got a platter of rice, shrimp and chicken, all in different sauces.  I got a Durban spicy sauce and green curry sauce...which was my favorite.  Tiff got a butter sauce that ended  up being the best of any dish, and my mom had a fabulous salad on naan bread.  We had an array of animals gallivanting outside our window and for the first time, Carly showed a real interest in the animals.  I think we will start taking her to Animal Kingdom more now that she notices them!  There was a big bird that kept coming up to her highchair right next to the window and flirting with her.  She, of course, flirted right back!

 
We also celebrated him by taking him to Disney Quest, a 5-floor interactive video game theme park, mini golfing, eating at Planet Hollywood, seeing Les Miserables (Brian and I were working for that, though),  ice cream at Ghiradelli and renting some movies to watch at home.  I think he was well celebrated! Trey is headed to Colorado next year to attend Denver Seminary, so we won't get to see him when we come to Iowa.  That will be SO hard!  He's a great brother and a fantastic uncle...he was giving me some advice this week and I stopped him and said, "Trey your maturity makes me want to throw up!"  It was meant as a total compliment as he is the most mature 22 year old I have ever met!  I just couldn't believe my "little" brother was giving me such sound advice.  He is going to make a fabulous counselor!

The Vanderploeg/Hood Visit

My Uncle Tim, Aunt Sherry (Dad's sister) and my cousin Shayla, along with 4 of her 5 kids (JT, Emmie, Zola & Piper) came for a visit a few weeks ago.  Joshua had just taken off on a month long trip to Nigeria to bring home their daughter, Devine, who they have been pursuing for over 2 years now.  So they decided they needed to take their minds off missing their Dad and came to the "happiest place on Earth."  We really enjoyed our time together; spending time with them at Animal Kingdom and at Hollywood Studios.  Our favorite part was the Osborne Lights.  Carly proved to us her intelligence by blurting out her first word: JT!  We couldn't believe it, but I have a video to prove it.  He felt pretty good that she could point and say his name on command. :)

I also want to ask for prayer for the Hood family as Joshua is still in Nigeria and has had some hiccups working with their government in getting Devine the proper documentation to get her a passport.  Our family is pleading with God for their safety and for this adoption to be finalized so they can transition into becoming a cohesive family all finally living under one roof.  God has called Joshua and Shayla to quite the challenge, and they will need many prayers as they head into the next few years. :)

Little Carly Tidbits

As you all know, babies change at such a rapid pace, it's nearly impossible to document it all, but here are a couple of things I've noticed over the past few weeks:

• Carly is a quick learner.  She has grasped new concepts quickly and can learn a new game after only a few tries.  One example of this was her ability to learn who each member of my family was and find them in a room when asked where they were.  My Dad also worked with her a few times to touch his chest when he said, "Where's Grandpa."  By the end of the week she could point to him without much focus and the first time when prompted.

• Carly continues to show strong preferences toward or against an array of things or situations.  One example is her preference toward one page in each of her books.  I thought this was so interesting that I actually decided to lay out all her favorite books and photograph the page she turns to and focuses on when we are reading.  She flips the pages until she finds her favorite one and then wont turn the page again!  If I turn it to continue on, she will just turn it back.  Pretty silly.  

 

• Carly is very fast when it comes to cruising and she has learned that if she takes her hands off of the ottoman and stands up without holding on that we will clap.  She therefore does this frequently, but has figured out that she can cheat and lean on the ottoman with her elbows while still clapping.
• She is an excellent kisser!  That is one of my favorite things about her and I think I've mentioned it before, but its so sweet to get a kiss from her.  She will give them without hesitation anytime during the day if asked, but expects to give us both a kiss goodnight. :)

December was a fabulous month, complete with a trip to Iowa, a visit from cousins, Christmas with my family, a nice uneventful New Years Eve and all the holiday festivities that come with the fun month of December!

Happy New Year 2013!