Happy Birthday!!

Just wanted to say Happy Birthday to my Dad (Papa Dave!) Wish we could have gotten together with you today, but we're thinking of you and love you so much! I was hoping Lila would hold the sign a little better, but she was bound and determined to eat it instead! Happy Birthday!

Trip to WI, among other things

We spent the weekend in WI visiting Ryan's extended family and overall, it was a really nice trip! Many of his family hadn't yet met Lila, so it was fun to show her off a little. For the most part she was a really good little girl, got a little fussy towards the end since her nap schedule kinda got messed up, but other than that... no problems. The car ride was a breeze on the way over there, and she slept the WHOLE way home, so I got to lounge in the back seat and read. (Twilight series, of course.... yes... I'm one of THOSE people!)

When we first got over there on Saturday, we stopped at Ryan's Aunt Sylvia's for awhile. She made us lunch and we got to sit and visit. It was all fine and dandy until miss Lila decided to grace us with a mess. I'm talking the messiest Poop Explosion in history!!!! No kidding, it took 3 adults to clean her up, and we still ended up with poop on all of her limbs, the floor, my shirt, and somehow, the kitchen tablecloth!!! The picture of her in the sink.... yep, that's why! Ha! Oh the joys of babies!!!

Later that day, we went over to Ryan's Grandma Ginny's, and ended up having dinner with her and a few of his Aunts, Uncle's, and cousins! His Aunt Deb and Uncle Joe let us crash at their place that night (Thanks you guys!), I'm pretty sure it was just cause his Uncle Joe wanted a little more "Lila time!"

It was church on Sunday morning, then pancake breakfast back at Grandma's! We headed out around noon-ish, and were back at our house by 5!

Now it's back to work for both of us, and it's going to be a busy week and weekend! We have friends coming over on Thursday to visit and have some pictures taken, then Ryan's Dad and brother-in-law Kurt are coming to the house Friday to start working on the basement. They are going to move the furnace and water heater out of the walkway, so they are actually in a logical spot. Hopefully, all goes well, and we don't end up with no heat and cold water for too long!

Miss Lila has been a pretty good girl, but she was a little "off" on Monday. I'm suspecting she either has more teeth coming in or she's got a little fluid in her ears, that's bothering her. She was kinda grouchy, sleepier than usual, and still doesn't want to eat hardly anything in the way of solids. She was happy to eat her dried apple puffs and her graham sticks, but other than that... she say's NO WAY! I fear that she may have a bit of a temper too, because if you try to get her to eat, she throws quite the fit... red-faced and all. Oh well, we'll see what happens! I did post one picture of her with her hair in a bow! I was quite excited that it's now long enough to pull together and clip up! She kinda looks like Pebbles from the flinestones, but hey... it's progress! Ha!

I'm looking forward to my week off, I have to finish work tonight, and am back again tomorrow, then I have a WHOLE WEEK OFF! I just checked the weather too, and it looks like it's going to be reasonably nice out! Lila loves being outside, and I love going out for walks with the whole family when Ryan comes home from work. Sometimes it feels like it's the only time him and I get a chance to talk! Guess that's about it for now! Good night, well actually, good morning!

She's so dang cute!!!

Aahhhh.. the weekend is here!

FINALLY!! It's Friday! Whew.... thought it would never get here! This week felt particularly long for some reason, I'm very glad it's over! I really missed my family this week while I was at work. All I wanted was to be home spending time with them. Lila seems to grow by leaps and bounds and I feel like I'm missing so much when I'm gone in the evenings. She had "dress your best" and "crazy hair" days at daycare this week. Ryan is the one who gets her going, so bless his heart, he even remembered to take pictures (they weren't great though). She won "CRAZY HAIR" day with her Rock Star mohawk!!! My little rocker, haha, I love it!!!
Ryan had to be to work early yesterday morning when we normally do our "Lila swap" when I get off work. My father-in-law was able to get her and spend 45 minutes or so with her until I could get over there to pick her up. I met him at a Caribou, and the minute I walked in the door, her face lit up and she gave me the biggest smile! I melted! She is amazing! My little gift from God, I couldn't love her more!!!! She normally is really good about eating her food, but the past few days, she must be on hiatus, cause she's much more interested in playing with her food than eating it! She's most definately got some "reserve", so I'm not really worried about her not eating much. It's not like she's gonna waste away on me.... those thighs alone would keep her going for a week I'm sure! HA!
Yesterday we spent time outside (even though it was quite blustery). She would make the funniest faces when a big breeze would hit her, then she'd laugh like it was the greatest thing! We took a nice walk when Ryan got home from work, and I was delighted that it was warm enough to wear shorts!!!
Today is a little cooler, but still nice, so as soon as miss Lila wakes up from her nap, we're headed out to run some errands! Oooh... grocery shopping... so exciting! Ha!
This weekend we're heading over to WI to visit Ryan's extended family. Many of them haven't had the pleasure of meeting our pride and joy, so we're going to go show her off! It'll be a busy weekend, with plenty of time on the road, but it's important to get over there and see everyone, so now is as good a time as any! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

It's Monday again. Bah. Mondays are tough... ya know? Especially when it's rainy like this... hard to get motivated to do anything. Yet, it's the perfect day to get that stuff done. Laundry, dishes, pick up, more laundry, pay bills, another load of laundry... yadda yadda. I actually was quite a bit more productive today than I thought I would be, even though I should have tried to take a nap since I work tonight. We have Lila's "confrences" tonight at daycare, then I'll head off for my first of three nights of work.
The weekend was pretty great actually. Ryan finally started feeling better after batteling an awful cold all week. Lila's 2nd bottom tooth popped through and has now been sleeping through the night again... HOORAY! So all weekend she slept from 8p-6am, which in turn, meant that both mommy and daddy slept well too! It's really amazing what sleep can do for a person's mood and demeanor! We got to see some friends as well. The Quint's (Heather, Jason, Ryleigh, and Landree) came for a visit on Saturday. We took some pictures of the family, but mostly Miss Landree, as she is 4 months old now!! What a big girl! It was so great to visit with them! Ryan told me I talked to much.... Sorry guys, I just wish we could see each other more than every other month. Cory and Abby came down last night and had dinner too, we never seem to see them either... man, it sucks being a grown up....everyone has commitments and responsibilities and time for visiting really is limited. Guess it makes you really appreciate the time you do get!

I guess I can't claim that I'm always all that responsible however. I am going to be a bridesmaid in my friend Sarah's wedding in a few weeks. Yesterday around 11, I'm in the shower, getting ready for a day of hanging out and loungin with Ryan and Lila on the couch, my mom calls.... Ryan comes into the bathroom and says "Ana, when in Sarah's bridal shower?" to which I answer "May 2nd... same day as her bachelorette, why?" He says "your mom's on the phone and says it's today" I say " Na uh, it's on the 2nd". He asks me where my invite is and I tell him it's on the fridge next to the wedding invitation. A few seconds later he comes back in the bathroom and informs me "You're a BAD friend! It's today ", to which I reply "Oh *#@!...". Am I a loser or what?? Nice friend huh? Seriously, I got the invite, looked at it, said to myself "oh, cute invitation" and stuck it on the fridge. Never even spared a glance at the date.. I'm a moron. Geez. Well, at least I made it there.

Anyway... the week will probably be par for course, nothing to exciting going on. Lila does have "Dress your best Day" and "Crazy Hair Day" this week at daycare, so I'll be sure to get some of those pics up when I can. I think the weather is supposed to be nice, so I'm looking forward to how green everything should be after a few days of rain, once the sun comes out!

So big!

Why I do what I do

I need to go to bed. I am exhausted. I can barely see through my Burning eyes... but , I had one of those days that reminded me why I am a labor nurse and why I love my job! It was a busy night where no one sat down, because everyone was crazy busy, and because everyone was helping everyone else. I had the great pleasure of helping 2 families welcome new blessings into their lives. Two families that were NOTHING alike, yet I felt a strong bond with each of them, and this morning as I get ready to go to bed, I pray for them and for the lives of these brand new little people that they brought into the world! I'm so lucky to have a job that I love and even though our economy is upside down and I don't know what will happen with my job in the future, right now I'm feeling happy and blessed. These families had an amazing life experience this morning, and I got to be part of it! What an awesome privilege!!!! Through my days of complaining, my irritation with some patients, and Doctors, and management, and other nurses.... I continue to do this job, because on occasion, I have a day like today and remember why I do what I do.

Happy Easter, Here Comes Spring! HOORAY!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter and got to enjoy the beautiful, yet slightly windy weekend! How rare to have nice weather on Easter in MN, isn't it supposed to be sleeting and 25 degrees or something?? I have barely slept in the past 2 days, but I very much enjoyed spending time with my hubs and baby girl today (oh, and the rest of Ryan's family too!!) I probably should have stayed home and gone to sleep when I got home from work this morning, but I decided family time was more important. Who needs sleep right?! Lila got her little basket from the Easter Bunny which included a new Baby Einstein DVD, a book, a plushy lamb, and her cow rattle. She liked the grass in the basket the best I think! Ha! She looked so darn cute in her bunny PJ's this morning, with her still sleepy eyes! Oooh, I could just squeeze her!

We spent the day with Ryan's family in Eagan which was nice! We had a good brunch, and took a family walk to burn off all the extra calories. (well... sort of) Last weekend we kind of did Easter with my Dad and step-sisters (and their respective families), but unfortunately, we weren't able to meet up with my Mom and the Bongard clan today. ( I hope you all had a wonderful day at Dolly's. I missed you!) (Oh, and Happy Birthday Zoe!!!) Then we came home and had a nice evening together before I had to come into work, so all in all... pretty great day!

Miss Lila is such a stinker, she's scooting her little self all over the place lately. This evening before I came into work, I was doing some work on the computer and she was playing on the floor next to me. The next thing I know, I look down and she's not there. Low and behold, the speedster has gotten herself across her room and is under her crib! Ha! I got down and asked her what the heck she was doing.... of course she just grinned at me and giggled as I pulled her out! (not before I snapped a picture of course!)

Ryan unfortunately is not feeling his greatest right now. He's been complaining of a sore throat for a few days, and I haven't been feeling tip-top either. Lila has the never ending runny nose, and a little cough, but I'm hoping that's as far as it goes. Ryan rarely gets sick, but when he does, he's usually down for the count, so I'm crossing my fingers that a little Advil Cold N' Sinus will do the trick and he'll be back to top speed in a few days!

I do have tomorrow off (kinda, Lila is with me for the day), but then am back at work Tue-Thur nights. Our weekends are already filling up so fast, it seems like May will be over before we know it! Sheesh.... time flys huh? Anyway, now I'm just rambling (my pooped out brain needs to focus on my patient), so I will end with wishes to everyone for a warm, sunny, happy week!

Hmmm...

It's been an up and down day for me. Mostly up, I think.... but the down, well, it's a big downer. Work has been tough lately, the moral is pretty crappy and today I'm feeling it more than ever. I really do love my job, but after all this chaos, I'm not so sure I'll be nearly as happy there. Guess we'll see.
On a better note, Lila seems to be feeling much better! She had her 6 month check-up today and is doing great! My big girl is 18lbs and almost 28 inches (70% for weight and head, and 97% for height!) She doesn't have an ear infection (thank goodness), just a little fluid build up, probably from being so congested the past week! She did get another 3 shots today, to which, she loudly protested, but she was a fairly happy little baby the rest of the day! This was quite a blessing, because Ryan is in Detroit tonight for business, so it's just me, Lila, and the hounds! I'm hoping she sleeps well tonight, however, being sick the past few weeks has really thrown a wrench in her sleep patterns and it's been quite awhile since she's slept more than 4-5 hours in a row. I think tonight may be a good night to attempt a little sleep training. I'm encouraged by the pediatrician, who informed me that most 6 month olds should be sleeping through the night; no need for midnight feedings. Guess we'll see how this goes huh?
Well, Lila is down for now, I'm gonna go get in my J's and sit on the couch and finish watching the series finale of ER (it's taken me a week to get through it!), then I might read a little. Good night to all!

6 Months Old

My baby is 6 Months Old today! I can't believe it! It doesn't seem possible that it was that long ago that she blessed us with her arrival. I feel like crying because my baby is getting so big, so fast and even though I love every second (even when she's Lila the Grouch, like today), and look forward to lots more milestones and memories, it's so hard to come to grips with the fact that she's growing into a little girl, and soon won't be a baby anymore. I know, I know, I'll have lots more moments like this, but WOW, it really goes so fast! Okay, enough tears, she's sleeping now so I'd better get the laundry done! (my precious darling is batteling some teeth today which makes her not such a happy camper!) Oh my big girl!

Teething and stuff

Oh the joys!!!! Miss Lila showed us her first tooth on April 1st and you can see 2 more working their way through. Needless to say, she's been just a DELIGHT (dripping with sarcasm)! Last night was probably the worst... she just wasn't into the whole sleeping thing. Didn't want to eat, didn't want her nuk, just wanted to be held and chew on her hands. Fine, except at 1am, her wants and mine were a little different. Ugh. It is really exciting to see those little teeth popping through, but kinda sad too. No more of those huge toothless grins :( She's getting so big, every day she gets a little closer to crawling too! She now gets up on her knees and rocks like crazy. She also is apparently the queen of pilates, cause she can hold a push-up pose or "downward dog" like a pro!! Seriously, she balances on her hands and toes and picks her butt up in the air, it's hilarious!

Even through her crankiness, she still makes me smile and laugh, even when I want to be annoyed. The way her bottom lip pouts out when she's whiny, is just too cute to be frusterated with! Ha!

We've spent the weekend at my Dad's with my sister and have had a nice visit. My step sisters and their families are coming up today and we're having our "Easter" this afternoon! It will be nice to see them all! I have the week off, with the exception of Tuesday when I have to take a class for work and then am going to a concert with Ryan that night. Should be a fun day, busy though! Other than that, the week will hopefully be a productive one, again tackling the projects around the house that get put off when I'm at work. I plan to get Lila's Easter pictures taken on Monday, so I'll get those up as soon as I can. Have a nice Sunday!