I waddled my 41 week pregnant self onto the maternity floor at the Knox Community Hospital. "What are you here for?" I looked down at my about-to-pop self and responded, "I am here to have a baby."
Here we are February 16th, 2013 and my little sweetheart is one now. We chose to use her birthday as a time to get together with family and eat. We spend Friday evening with Grammy in Bedford county Pennsylvania. We were spoiled with ham pot pie, egg custard pie, and banana nut cake with maple icing. Saturday afternoon we met at Great Aunt Ruth's house and played with Cayden, Cohen, and Leif! (Toben enjoyed Lars too) Lasagna was for dinner and we had many available cakes, including an amazing as always chocolate cake courdesy of Tina.
(Add pic of Grammy with 5 great grans here)
Thank to everyone for your presence and presents. :)
Recently I went to a Moms2Mom meeting where we discussed how we all stay sane during the winter months. This was a fun talking point and we all had a good time laughing. I can honestly say we have been handling the winter months pretty well here.
We always start the day with a nice breakfast together and usually a requested episode of 'Little Einsteins'. Crayons have become like regular toys for the past couple months since we brought the drawing table down to the living room. Toben likes to use his markers at the dining room table since 'hes a big boy now.'
Play-doh has been Tobens favorite way to make a mess in the dining room. Keeps him occuppied for a good half hour or longer. Thanks to some Play-doh Christmas gifts, the desire to get the dough out was revitalized. We get it out at least every other day now. Fiona has recently joined in, but I have to watch her pretty closely or she'll take a little bite. (Says non-toxic on the label)
Toben's bedroom has become Duplo Central. We have an amazing set of blocks for him thanks to family who continue to give us much appreciated Duplo sets! Occassionally we all head upstairs and work on the Duplo city. Currently it includes: a huge red and yellow house for the Mayor or Weyantville, an all blue castle for Minnie the Mouse, an amazing zoo, and one heck of a Cars themed gas station. Tobens favorite part of the city is the train that he pulls through it.
Spontaneous we have dance parties in the kitchen where the radio is located. Let me explain how its spontaneous. Fiona will see the radio and either point and grunt or just start bobbing her head up and down to the music in her head. Or perhaps Toben will come up to me and say, "Mom, you want to dance with me?" Then Ill start the music and we all sing and dance and giggle. Some of the best moments of my day happen during these dance episodes.
The kids use up their energy by scooting through the house on the ride on toys. Round and round. All day. During these times, I am able to get in some knitting. Knitting has been so calming and rewarding for me this winter. Knitting is just the task as mother of a baby and a 3 year old needs. I am able to drop it at a moments notice if I need to get to a child for any reason. And, at the end of the day I have produced something tangible. Something that makes me feel like I did more today than 'just be a mom'. I've enjoyed giving some of the baby hats that I knitted away as gifts to some friends too.
Last week, we watched our DVD collection of The Avatar: The Last Airbender Book One. Toben hung on the episodes like babies do with Elmo's World. Now he even has incorporated fire bending into his imaginative play.
Fiona still loves to play with her bitty baby that we keep in the living room in a cradle that I had my baby dolls.
The kids love to get out all the pots and pans and 'play cook' on the kitchen floor.
Fiona wearing the cupcake hat I made her for her 1st birthday coming up.
We have movie nights with popcorn.
We play Mario Wii, and Frogger and DDR on the Playstation 2.
Playing Frogger using the DDR mat
We are looking forward to Fiona's first birthday and seeing some family members soon! :)
