New Journal Site on Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Thankful on Thursday, November 23, 2006
Me, Mama! on Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Personal hygiene tips from our 3-year old? on Sunday, November 19, 2006
Where has our month gone? on Thursday, November 16, 2006
Happy 14 months! on Thursday, November 9, 2006
Em & Addie's Halloween Pics on Monday, November 6, 2006
Where to begin... on Sunday, November 5, 2006
Whirlwind weekend... on Sunday, October 22, 2006
Miss Smarty-Pants on Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Ahhh.... on Friday, October 13, 2006
Weird sort of day. on Friday, October 13, 2006
We're back... on Sunday, October 8, 2006
Ah Jeez... on Friday, September 29, 2006
On...off...on again! on Friday, September 29, 2006
Back to the grind... on Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Five years ago...where were you? on Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Happy 1st Birthday, Sweet Baby... on Saturday, September 9, 2006
Home Sweet Home... on Friday, September 8, 2006
The End of the Pull-Ups Era... on Saturday, August 19, 2006
Conversations you might have heard... on Saturday, August 12, 2006
Mama's got a brand new bag... on Thursday, August 10, 2006
More missing going on here. on Wednesday, August 2, 2006
Missing In Action on Wednesday, July 19, 2006
10 months...the countdown is on. on Monday, July 10, 2006
And she's off... on Sunday, July 2, 2006
Update... on Friday, June 23, 2006
Hello from Sunny California... on Thursday, June 15, 2006
Last Chicago Entry... on Thursday, May 25, 2006
Aaack! Reality creeps in... on Monday, May 22, 2006
Addie turns 8 months old! on Tuesday, May 9, 2006
Successful trip! on Monday, May 8, 2006

---

Moving on... on Friday, April 28, 2006 @ 14:18 PM
A quick update for those of you following our moving saga.

We are headed out tomorrow to search for a home for the moving company to dump all of our stuff in next month! Our stuff officially hits the road on May 30th, and although we haven't sorted out our plans yet, sometime between then and June 1st, we'll be on a plane to our new zip code!

So far the process has been pretty painless, pretty busy, but all-in-all not too bad. I have been talking with realtors and rental agents and have about 12 houses already lined up to see next week when we are there, so I feel pretty confident that we'll be able to live with one of them -- it is only for a year or so, so I guess it doesn't have to be our dream house. :-)

J.'s company is paying for the actual move, which includes packing up the house, yeah!! That right there is a huge load off of our plate. But I have been trying like crazy to whittle down all of our stuff...since when did we accumulate 12 different sheet sets?? It has been really liberating to pare down all of our winter clothes! Plus we are planning on a garage sale and I've decided to part with all of the baby stuff we no longer use. Yes, we are not kidding...we are stopping at 2 girlies! I thought it would be much harder to chuck all of this stuff, but honestly it feels so good to be so much...lighter!

The girls are doing great. Pretty oblivious to all of this still. Em knows that we are moving to LA (to hear her say LA is priceless!) and getting a new house. I know she doesn't really understand that it means no more Lauren and Jillian and pretty much everything she knows. But I think she will adjust really well - she is so resiliant. She is actually going to spend the week in Michigan/Chicago with Nena while we go to California to look for a place. My sweet mother-in-law actually offered to take both girls...and believe me it was a very difficult decision, imagine a week kid-free! (I know, I know - I will hardly be able to stand only being Emma-free, much less both girls!!) But with Addie still nursing, we would kind of have to just throw in the towel and pretty much wean her...and as much as I love knowing I am only 4 or 5 months away from having my body back...I am sad that it is only 4 or 5 months away, too. I just am not ready, and honestly, don't want to have to buy formula for 4 months. (Yes, I'm also a cheapskate!) So...long story, short - Addie is coming to LA with me, we are meeting J. there (he left for SF this morning!) but I still think it will be 100x easier with just A. to cart around. She is much more portable and doesn't require as much.

What else...I know there were a few cute things from the girls that I wanted to write in here so I wouldn't forget them. And...hmmm, I have probably forgotten them already.

Addie is now able to grasp, and put into her mouth, pretty much anything that is within reach - she especially loves Cheerios and fruit puffs. She really is growing up so fast! Her first tooth is poking through right now and should be fully through any day now. I know I have said it before - but if it is possible she may be an even better baby than Em was...and Emma was an exceptionally happy and good baby. Maybe it is because she is the second kid and has to be a lot more patient, or maybe she is just a very good-natured baby...but even in her worst "pain" she is really quite good.

Oh...I remember the Em story now. She constantly amazes me with her imagination and creativity, she has been playing with her dollhouse and has entire little conversations and re-enactments that are very complicated and really, really amazing. But earlier this week she and I were cuddling and watching Diego and they were talking about Anacondas. This is how our conversation went:

E: Mama, do you like Anacondas?
M: No...Mommy doesn't like snakes.
E: Oh. Does Daddy like Anacondas?
M: Nope, Daddy doesn't like snakes, either.
E: Oh. Well I like them, they are our friends.
M: Hmmmm...ok.
E: When Addie gets bigger she will say, "Emma what is an Anaconda?" And I'll say "Addie, it is a snake, but don't worry they are our friends!"
(me laughing...)

And THEN...
A few days ago Addie was sitting in her highchair, mind you this is a couple days after the above conversation.

E: Oh, Addie you say - "Emma what an anaconda is?"
A: (squeals and laughs at Emma, like always)
E: And I tell you..."Addie it is a snake, but don't worry they are our friends."
A: (more smiles and squeals)
E: I know, I'm not scared either - I will help you, Tiny.

Totally warmed my heart. She is so sweet with Addie it is almost too much to watch sometimes. But the carrying on both sides of the conversation was just TOO much. She is so, so fun...well, 80% of the time. The other 20% is a story for another day.

---

It is done. on Thursday, April 20, 2006
And then she was three... on Sunday, April 9, 2006
Dear Addie, - Please, please stop! on Saturday, March 25, 2006
Happy 6 months to our little sweet potato! on Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Soooo big! on Monday, February 27, 2006
Happy 5 months, Addie! on Wednesday, February 8, 2006
Sleeping beauties... on Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Happy New Year! on Tuesday, January 3, 2006
Yeah! We made it to 3 months!! on Friday, December 16, 2005
Happy Thanksgiving on Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Quick update on Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Happy November on Wednesday, November 2, 2005
New milestones for the Girls on Monday, October 17, 2005
Happy 1 month, Addie! on Monday, October 10, 2005
On our own... on Wednesday, October 5, 2005
Week three...and still doing ok. on Monday, September 26, 2005
She's here...and it is quiet?? on Thursday, September 15, 2005
Still waiting... on Tuesday, September 6, 2005
A practice run on Friday, August 26, 2005
We are ready! on Friday, August 19, 2005
Another month slips by... on Tuesday, July 26, 2005
2nd half of June! on Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Happy June! on Tuesday, June 7, 2005
It's May Already?? on Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Birthday Postscript on Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Happy 2nd Birthday! on Tuesday, April 19, 2005
All grown up on Wednesday, March 9, 2005
The Big News... on Tuesday, March 1, 2005
The Mary Poppins' Kite on Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Your Mary Poppins' Kite on Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Worst month ever... on Thursday, February 3, 2005
Happy 2005! on Monday, January 10, 2005
Merry Christmas on Thursday, December 23, 2004
Santa's Nice List on Thursday, December 9, 2004
The mansion, an ER visit, Mickey, Mickey and more Mickey on Tuesday, November 23, 2004
My toddling toddler on Tuesday, November 16, 2004
Jeez...I'm slipping. on Wednesday, November 3, 2004
Happy October again! on Monday, October 4, 2004
From Emma... on Monday, September 20, 2004
Trying to catch up... on Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Happy August! on Wednesday, August 4, 2004
Rolling right along... on Tuesday, July 27, 2004
First Haircut on Monday, July 12, 2004
Happy July! on Wednesday, July 7, 2004
My little fishy on Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Crazy summer days... on Tuesday, June 8, 2004
She's up...and she's off. on Tuesday, May 25, 2004
Will it ever stop raining? on Friday, May 14, 2004
Happy May! on Tuesday, May 4, 2004
Back from vacation.... on Thursday, April 22, 2004
Doctor Visit on Monday, April 12, 2004
Happy 1st Birthday, Emma G! on Friday, April 9, 2004
Unsteady steps... on Tuesday, March 23, 2004
New album time and one month to go. on Tuesday, March 9, 2004
Happy March on Monday, March 1, 2004
Another week flies by... on Friday, February 20, 2004
10 months and another tooth... on Wednesday, February 11, 2004
No wonder.... on Thursday, February 5, 2004
Snowy week on Wednesday, January 28, 2004
We have a tooth! on Monday, January 19, 2004
9-month Birthday on Monday, January 12, 2004
Happy New Year! on Friday, January 2, 2004
Merry Christmas to All... on Wednesday, December 24, 2003
Almost Christmas... on Wednesday, December 17, 2003
Whew...8 months! on Wednesday, December 10, 2003
Happy Thanksgiving on Sunday, November 30, 2003
Fast and furious on Monday, November 17, 2003
Happy November on Sunday, November 2, 2003
Crawling and teeth... on Tuesday, October 21, 2003
Happy 1/2 Birthday! on Friday, October 10, 2003
Sitting up and eating new foods! on Tuesday, September 30, 2003
Baby emotions running rampant... on Wednesday, September 17, 2003
Our happy traveler is 5 months old today! on Tuesday, September 9, 2003
Another month down. on Tuesday, September 2, 2003
On to the growth chart! on Wednesday, August 20, 2003
Unpacked, but still no pictures. on Thursday, August 14, 2003
Homeownership and rice cereal. on Wednesday, August 6, 2003
New house on Monday, July 28, 2003
Last week here... on Sunday, July 13, 2003
We made it to 3 months... on Tuesday, July 8, 2003
Sleeping through the night? on Wednesday, June 25, 2003
2 month checkup on Friday, June 20, 2003
Happy Two Month Birthday! on Tuesday, June 10, 2003
Sleeping in the big bed! on Monday, June 2, 2003
Thanks to the cutest niece... on Friday, May 30, 2003
Getting back into a routine... on Tuesday, May 27, 2003
A little slow this week... on Thursday, May 22, 2003
One month checkup. on Tuesday, May 13, 2003
Growing so fast... on Wednesday, May 7, 2003
We have a new house! on Tuesday, April 29, 2003
Happy Two Week Birthday on Wednesday, April 23, 2003
Hooray for small victories! on Friday, April 18, 2003
Happy One Week Birthday to Miss Emma Grace on Wednesday, April 16, 2003
No, she isn't here yet. on Tuesday, April 8, 2003
Still no change. on Wednesday, April 2, 2003
Nope...not yet. on Monday, March 31, 2003
Growing up and out. on Monday, March 24, 2003
Still in there. on Wednesday, March 19, 2003
What's going on in the Fun Stuff album on Tuesday, March 18, 2003
Fun stuff! on Tuesday, March 11, 2003
We made it! on Friday, March 7, 2003
Almost out of the woods. on Friday, February 28, 2003
New polls! on Saturday, February 22, 2003
Another checkpoint, and Baby is fine! on Friday, February 21, 2003
Will we really make it 9 more weeks? on Thursday, February 13, 2003
Another week down. on Wednesday, February 5, 2003
The day has come... on Friday, January 31, 2003
Our Second Trip to the Hospital! on Tuesday, January 28, 2003
Our first trip to the hospital... on Thursday, January 23, 2003
Jet-setter baby... on Wednesday, January 15, 2003
Happy New Year! on Friday, January 3, 2003
One week and counting. on Wednesday, December 18, 2002
Week 21-22 on Monday, December 9, 2002
It's a ..... on Wednesday, December 4, 2002
We've made it halfway and Happy Thanksgiving! on Thursday, November 28, 2002