I found a giveaway :)

11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven is giving away a gorgeous Hotslings baby carrier!

To enter click HERE.

Its been awhile...

I cant believe I let this go for so long since I last updated this thing...
*phhhhhhhhhhhhhffffffffffff" (thats me blowing off the dust).

Its been busy in our house. Since I last updated, our total tooth count is up to 8, with a 9th (top molar) is coming in. She seems to be tolerating it really well, lets hope it continues until they are all in!

Halloween was busy but cold, we went to Nana and Papa's house in Binford. I think we'll continue that as long as we can, nothing like small town trick or treating, we can go to the houses we know and get good, hopefully safe candy to boot!



This weekend we went BACK to Binford, yup two weekends in a row, mommy and Nana are feeling pretty spoiled, for Deer Hunting opening weekend, Daddy and Grandpa Al were on the hunt for the perfect Buck and the perfect Doe.. nothing this weekend, the big one got away, as always ;) They are hoping to maybe go again next weekend. I hope they get SOMETHING, pepper sticks are calling my name.

Something else very exciting happened this weekend, Caroline took her first steps! Grandpa Al had just stopped in to see her, so mommy's mom and dad were both there to see the big moment! We are all so proud, she's done it again a couple times each day since Friday, she even got big girl shoes yesterday in Devils Lake.. so hopefully in a few days she'll be running with the big kids at daycare. Pictures to come when she wants to cooperate... ;)

I (mommy or Mandy) am starting a new position at my job tomorrow, so thats going to be a big change, Im moving to the big, BIG Blue Cross building, it will be very different to go to the private side from the Medicare side of the company. Im going to miss the girls I work with, but super excited for my little "promotion/transfer" :)

Mike's cooking up a storm... more soon!

Welcome back to the world of blogging..

Well, I guess even if people dont "comment" there could still be lurkers out there, who hopefully read this every once in awhile :) I have to pull pictures off from a website and get them up here, but I dont even know where to start....
The beginning of the month was the big 1st birthday, I still cant get over the fact that she's One already. We had a really, really nice party at a local motel and a lot of friends and family were able to come and enjoy the day with us. That weekend, Mike's mom and dad and Aunt came from Wisconsion and stayed with us, it was a long weekend all being crammed into our little apartment, but we all survived and we all were glad that they were able to spend some time wtih Caroline...
Not sure if I posted this or not, but she is crawling now (has been for about two months or so and is into EVERYTHING, not sure why I was worried that she wouldnt crawl ;) ) We finally got a baby gate up in the hallway so she cant escape, to many unknowns down that hallway, toilet, cat food, cat box... ish. She also has four teeth, with the looks of at least the next two coming in, poor kid cant get a break, they seem to be coming in sets.





Enjoy the two pictures, Emily did her one year pictures and Walmart even asked if they were professional :) Kind of neat to say, "Um, no, my sister took them with her camera". Speaking of the sister, she's off on a new adventure. Starts teaching in Mandan in the next few weeks, fifth grade! CRAZY! I cant believe she moved to another town, Im super happy for her, but I think Im kind of weepy and already miss her just randomly stopping by.

Caroline and I went to Binford this weekend, I always dread the drive, I dont know why, I get SO tired when I drive by myself, like scary tired. So I always find some beef jerky and mt. dew and seem to be fine. But I love when we get there. Caroline crawled UP Nana and Papa's steps, my heart skipped beats a few times, but she seemed to concqure it was watchful eyes of course :) We also went to an auction sale, man, I cant BELIEVE how ruthless antique dealers can be, I felt really sorry for the family. I really hope someday when we have to go through my Grandma and Grandpa's stuff or even my own parents, that everyone can just take stuff, or that they give enough stuff away so its not so hard. But on a positve, we got to see Craig and Kathleen! I havnt not seen them in SEVERAL years, as I can never get away when they come back to Binford, and they had yet to meet Caroline, so that was super fun. I had my first experience bidding on stuff as well, but I chickened out and didnt want to pay so much for stuff. :P David however, did get a really cute dresser that he's going to refinish for Caroline's room. It should fit in her closet for now, it'll be PERFECT for her shirts, pants, ect and I can go back to using her big dresser for blankets, ect. I also found, well was given, a copy of my Great-Uncle Clarence record! I've always wanted one, my dad has two copies and Im sure some of the other aunts and uncles have copies as well. I saw it go into a box and the girl got it for SUPER cheap, so I asked her if she wanted the record, and she looked at me clueless, Im sure she has/had no idea who he was. I offered her a couple of dollars for it, and her husband said I could just have it, I WAS so excited.

Other than that, nothing else new in world. We are trying to wean off bottles and are struggling, she throws her sippy cup across the room! Any suggestions, ideas are more than welcome. Im having a garage sale with a co-worker in two weeks, I think Im going to take time each night (maybe an hour a night and go through spaces that might have garage sale treasures..) tonight, the hall closet. Yikes...

I need to write a "big blog" on almost being one.. but for now

But for now. I've been reading this "Blog Hop" thing and I thought.. why not give it a try, my favorite recipe:

Taco Dip

1 package cream cheese
1 package sour cream
(I tried to make the two about the same size)
1 package taco seasoning

Mix all three ingredients together, serve warm or chilled and your favorite chips to "dip" :)

This has been the most requested theme, so I hope we have a record turnout. Please put up a post with your favorite recipe, or if you don't have the recipe, a photo of your favorite dish and a description. Here's a sample post I did for you: http://www.mcklinkyblog.com/2009/07/mcklinky-blog-hop-for-july-21-2009.html Also, be sure to submit your recipe here too: http://www.mcklinky.com/recipes.asp! I WILL CREATE A MckLinky RECIPE BOOK, AND MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO ALL BLOG HOPPERS FOR FREE! ...STOP

SOOOOOOOO BIG!

Exciting updates!
Last night Caroline pulled herself up on the couch!!! I was such a proud mommy! We wont mention that the last two nights she's decided its play time at 1:30 in the morning.... we also watched how she is "sitting" herself up! How cool to see all these milestones unfold. Pictures hopefully soon!

Not me Monday....

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I certainly did not order a made to order bow for my cousin's upcoming wedding for Caroline's hair to match her dress... Not me...

I did NOT spend a majority of Saturday and Sunday evening finding new blogs to read, only to end up winning a blog GIVE-AWAY and winning Caroline a tutu for her first-birthday...

I would never put Caroline's bottle further and further away from her in hopes that she would get up and crawl towards it, only to watch her push with her little feet and almost crawl!

I did not go garage sale-ing this weekend only to buy more clothes for my daughter who already has enough clothes to clothe four or five children... not me..

Give away I found

How FUN would it be for Caroline to win this tutu... check out her blog
http://michellepugh.com/

Slurp

She moves! Caroline gets up on her hands and legs and moves in a circle and when she needs to go a distance... she still rolls... anyways, wanted to share some more pictures :) This weekend we are going to Medora, ND and to Bismarck, to watch my cousin Casey and his children's choir sing during the Medora musical, I am so excited! I havnt been to Medora since I was 10-12 years old... and Mike has never been!

Caroline has also been enjoying these beautiful days at some local parks, she LOVES being outside, and she makes the most funny faces when the wind hits her in the face, I really wonder sometimes what she could possibly be thinking..

Update, its been awhile

Since I Facebooked (is that a word, it is now!) that I was going to update, I better update.. still no teeth, still no crawling, although it seems like her mode of transportation is going to be rolling... until walking, because, the last few days, she's started trying to pull herself up on this, mainly the bathtub, yikes and a table the moves.. oh dear... she'll get it soon. I also see little white bumps on her gums, yeah!!! :)

9 month pictures!!

Hard to believe her first birthday is only months away! We've been very busy this month, going and going. Caroline also had her first plane trip, we went to Wisconsion for her second cousin Dan and Jenny's wedding... will post pictures of that soon because blogger will only let me do five at a time... anywho, check out her adorable 9 month pictures, or a sample anyways, from the very talented http://resolutionsphoto.blogspot.com/
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Not me Mondays...

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

Here goes my first attempt.. plus I need to get back into blogging, because really it feels good to write, and someday Caroline can read about how crazy her mama is.. :)

*I did not change a stinky, filled diaper in my van in the Walmart parking lot, rather than face the bathrooms that scream disgusting.. NOT ME!

*I did not let Caroline roll away from me while changing her diaper, butt naked because it was cute, and who cares if she peed on the floor.. its washable..

*I did not stay up way to late every night this weekend, reading Twilight, nope not me..

*I did not put off laundry until it piled high so I could spend time with my adorable daughter and husband, nope not me.. (he can find his own clean clothes, right?)

*I mailed all letters on time to everyone who's been waiting for them, they are definatly not just waiting in my planner to be mailed since Easter.. nope not me..

Picture post.. sorry its sideways?

(I cant figure out how to flip it?!)

Had to share the awesome Valentines Day pictures Emily took... hope to take 6 month pics this weekend :)
Caroline also had her 6 month checkup on Tuesday, she weighs........ 13lbs, and is 25inches long.. still such a peanut! But the dr. said she is happy with her growth, ect. I still feel she weighs a little more than that, I should just ask them to use the digital scale, I like that one much better. She also had four shots :( It would've only been 3, but they gave her the flu shot.. she was pretty miserable today and I thought I would have to stay home with her, oh darn! But she survived, thanks to our wonderful daycare lady. :)

Happy 6 month birthday!

February 2, 2009
Dear Caroline,
Look how much you’ve grown! I cannot believe that its been six months, SIX months already since we’ve been graced by your presence in our lives. I feel so BLESSED and I know without a doubt your daddy feels the same way. Its hard to think that its ONLY been six months that I was so sick and went to the doctor only to tell me that you’d be coming early and that my blood pressure was to high, and you were not waiting for anyone, from day one you’ve defiantly had your own personality that has won the hearts of many. I should’ve known when you came flying out in 15mins and even barely waited for the doctor that you’d have a mind of your own J You amaze me daily, you are learning so much and try so hard to be independent. People say how good natured you are not fussy, and really you arnt, but look out world, when you get mad, you get mad. J You are also getting so good at communicating and you know who we are along with the important people in your life, (Dee Dee, nana, auntie em, ect.) your babbles and smiles make each day so much worth it. You are growing so fast and I cant wait to see what you discover next. I love you baby girl!

Love

mommy

Dear Caroline..

Dear Caroline,
Please start sleeping through the night again, your mommy is exhausted and your daddy gets crabby when I wake him up to help you in the night.. little arms do not need to be flapping in the middle of the night, its not play time, its sleep time... thanks...
Your sleepy mommy..

We're back!!

We are back!!!!!!!! After three months of not really blogging, I realized I really want to get back into this again, I've started reading/following other blogs and I really like this and who doesnt like talking about their own baby!
Caroline is going to be SIX months old next week, I can hardly believe it, she's still such a peanut, but she is grown in so many ways, this weekend alone, she tried so hard to crawl, her little butt was up in the air and you could just tell she wanted to go... soon enough. I also think she's cutting teeth, she was chewing on EVERYTHING this weekend. She usually puts things in her mouth, but this was definatly an exception.
We also picked up a high chair from Auntie Paulette this weeekend, she is still a little small for it, but it beats eating in the bouncy seat, we took lots of pictures of this "first" so I'll post them tonight when I get home..