Sometimes I wonder...

why I bother making my bed everyday. Usually within minutes of completing the task a huge lump appears....

A lump with a face...

but it's a cute face...

that loves to play in mommy and daddy's bed.

I have to admit...it's a tempting bed. Snuggled down in the pillows and covers, this little face loves to watch cartoons.

Another fun new hair do! She looks like such a little girl with her hair up in piggy's!

What I've been up to....

It seems like a minute after the new year, I was hit with the nesting bug. What ever energy I have these days is spent sorting and organizing baby clothes, putting the final touches on the nursery, deep cleaning the house and throwing a lot of things away....and of course finishing all my sewing projects for the baby.

I've made diaper and wipe holders, a ton of receiving and swaddle blankets, new curtains for the baby's room, a nursing cover, and these fun car seat covers. (one is for my sister-in-law, who's baby should be here any day now.)

It's times like this that I'm so grateful my mom convinced me to take sewing classes in high school...and then gave me a sewing machine for graduation. It's become an invaluable skill that continues to save me money!!

I would like to introduce....

our new housekeeper. She's a little short, but she gets the job done!

Princess Hair

Reese's hair is finally getting long enough to curl and do some fun things. She especially loves it when I curl it. We call it her princess hair. She looks in the mirror and says, "Princess hair mommy...sooo pretty!"

Daddy Daughter Sledding...

Arnold has been disappointed that all our snow storms seem to come during the week. By the weekend all the snow is either gone or turned to solid ice. He was dying for some good daddy daughter snow time. So one night he decided to go ahead and take Reese out for some fun in the dark. We had gotten some fresh fluffy snow and it was perfect.

Reese was so excited and had the best time riding in the sled with daddy!

Finally...Christmas!

My delay in blogging lately can be blamed on Photobucket. I was having problems uploading photo's, but I think we finally got the problem fixed. Unfortunately that means I'm way way behind. So here we go....

CHRISTMAS!! We had a great Christmas. It was so relaxing and fun. Santa did not disappoint, and neither did Reese. She had so much fun opening all her presents. It took her almost 2 hours. She had to take time to play with each toy after opening it.

She especially loved her new kitchen. In the weeks since Christmas this has proven to be a very good investment. Santa is one smart cookie!

Reese had particular fun with her stocking. So many little fun things.

Reese loves her new computer from Grandma & Grandpa Nordfelt, snuggled in her new blanked from Grandma & Grandpa Thiebaud.

This is pretty much how we spent the rest of the day...doing nothing but relaxing and eating. It was heaven!!

Reesy facts...

Reese's imagination play has exploded lately. Today she came running into my room with her hands cupped, "Look mommy, froggies!" Apparently she found an entire family of pretend frogs living behind our couch. She made me hold them one my one while she fed them pretend milk. Then she put the them in the pocket of my sweater for safe keeping. Through out the day she would come and check on them and feed them.

Reese doesn't like us to call her by any of her nick names anymore. If we slip up she gets very upset and while waving a finger at us she says, "no, no, no, no...I Reesy!"

When I ask Reese to do something that she doesn't want to do, she no longer tells me "no", she just looks as me, shrugs her shoulders and says, "sorry mommy". I've decided it's better than being told "no". At least she's apologizing in advance for misbehaving.

Another little brilliant act of defiance is when I start to tell her something she doesn't want to hear, like it's time for bed, or it's time for bath, or it's time to clean up. Before I can even finish my sentence, she gives me the hand, says "stop", and then shushes me with one finger to her lips. What kills me is that she does it with such confidence, as if it's really going to work.

She's getting anxious...

I was laying on the couch yesterday when Reese came over, lifted up my shirt, kissed my belly (she's been doing that a lot lately), then she started knocking and the following ensued...

Reese: Baby come out, play with Reesy.

Mom: She can't come out yet honey, she's still growing.

Reese: Her sleeping?

Mom: Yes, she has to get a lot of sleep so she can be healthy and strong when she comes out.

Reese: No mommy, her come out now! Reesy bored (her new word), play with sister.

Mom: Sorry honey it's just not time, but very soon.

Reese: (shrugged her shoulders, made a sad face, hung her head and walked away.)

I'm very curious to see how happy she'll actually be when this baby finally arrives. I know it's going to rock her world just a little...

...but regardless, she's getting very anxious just like her mom.

New Years

I'm not one to make New Years resolutions; I never have been. In fact this may sound crazy, but I've never really been much of a goal setter; not officially anyway. I never write stuff like that down. In fact the few times in my life that I've tried to write down goals or have been forced to so (you know those lovely church programs), it always backfires and I never get anything done.

I have, however, always been good at accomplishing anything I set my mind to. Usually I just decided one day that I want to do something and that's it, something clicks inside me and I start doing it, or taking steps to make it happen. That's just how I roll. It's always worked for me. It must be that stubborn independent streak in me.

I mean really, I know all the things I need to be doing, or doing better, or working on. I don't need to write them down. When I'm ready, when my mind and heart decide to make it happen. It will happen...trust me!

But just for fun. I thought I'd give this "writing down" thing a try this year. Besides...most of what I need to or want to accomplish in the next 12 months is going to happen, whether I like it or not.

1. Finish my last 12 weeks of pregnancy, before it kills me.

2. Potty train my 2 year old, before I finish #1.

3. Finish my sewing projects before I finish #1.

4. Stop complaining so much to my husband about all my aches, pains, and misery...but not until I finish #1. (Sorry my love)

5. Get through a nights sleep without 3 pillows, half a bottle of Tums, and a dozen trips to the bathroom. Once again...after I finish #1.

6.. Train my new sweet baby to sleep through the night by 8 weeks, just like her sister...ok, so maybe this is more of a dream, or hope, definitely a wish and a prayer.

7. Enjoy every minute I get to spend with my husband and two girls this summer, fall and winter; miscarriage free and pregnancy free.

There might be a few other things I want to do, but I'm not going to take the chance, write them down and jinx myself. If they're supposed to happen, don't worry, they will happen.

PS. To Grandma's... Christmas photo's will be coming soon.