Birthday Weekend

Everyone told me that she would grow up before my eyes, but I didn't believe it... or didn't want to believe it. But now I am a believer. The last couple of weeks Calli has really turned into a little girl. All the baby stuff is gone... except that bottle. It her crutch!!
She talks up a storm, and sings and remembers the stories we read at night and answers Mickey when he asks if she knows which tool they should use to solve the problem.
We turned her car seat around so she can see what we see; she was AMAZED!! It was so fun to experience that with her for the first time.
She will also tell you when she doesn't want something, or to do something... or actually all the time. She says NO! all the time. She is feisty and independent and strong. She might play shy but she loves people and will talk to everyone... (wonder where she gets that!!)
We had a great birthday weekend. We got her a tricycle and although she didn't seem interested at first she really got into it.
I didn't get a lot of pictures at her birthday because I was having such a good time soaking it in.
We went to the doctor today for her 2year check up. Stats: 29 lbs. 11oz, 34 inches and 47 cm.
She is doing great! And no shots... love when there are no shots.
Here are some videos and pictures from the weekend.
(note... I couldn't get the videos to load so check it out on FB)

 

Ch ch ch changes...

Things are changing round here... big time.
I am leaving the U to a new job at a big insurance company. I never thought I would but the right opportunity came at the right time and what can I say... I grabbed it.
I will be the program support specialist for diversity and inclusion; which means that I will support all programs both internal and external for diversity and inclusion. It is a group that is in the HR department, so I don't need to even think much about the insurance product at all.
It will be a lot of the stuff that I am currently doing as far as the events and projects but with a different focus. A focus that has always been close to my heart.
Wahoo...
Of course I am also scared... starting a new gig is always a little nerve wracking for me.

Also, my mom has decided to retire. I think it is going to be great for her.. and probably scary. She has always identified very closely with her job and considered a lot of her client close like family so that will be tough as well.

Calli is a little weary of all the changes.

More snow

We are totally over it! The snow is crazy tiring. Here is something to lift your spirits.
Calli was playing quietly in the other room... I know, always worrisome, and she started calling to me... I stuck... I stuck.
When I found her, this is what was happening. I knew that she was ok and that we had to record the moment before she got unstuck.

Winter break

This week Calli's daycare has been closed. Hubby was home Monday and Tuesday and I am home the rest of the week. Monday and Tuedsay happen to be REALLY cold days so the duo had to stay home. Hubby was pulling his hair out by the end of the day Tuesday with our rambunctious toddler. So I knew I had to step up my game to keep this kid under control.
Yesterday we woke up at 6:30am very happy and ready to tackle the day. By 9:30 I was ready to get out even though we didn't have plans til 11. Calli and I have had a couple of successful trips to the library and since it is so close it is my go to plan. So we headed over there. We got there a few minutes before they opened and only had about 50 minutes to spend... perfect in toddler time. When we got to the kids section there were a bunch of other toddlers getting ready for story time!! Score. We have never done story time before, mostly because they are during the day. At first Calli was indifferent to it and wanted to leave, but then they pulled out the drums and she was hooked!!! It was hard to pull her away. Next we accompanied Nonna to her doctor's appointment and then off to lunch and some retail therapy!!! She was so good.

This morning we had some errands to run before we headed out on our adventure. This time Jaime and Rob joined us. We were going to go to the Science Center but since we only had a few hours we decided on the Wadsworth. They have a Coney Island exhibit that I was interested in seeing. Calli was awesome. She loved hearing her echo as we walked around but that was the extent of the naughty. She stayed close by the whole time and seemed genuinely interested in the exhibits. We ended our adventure at Bear's Smokehouse where we (minus Calli) got to enjoy some deee-lish BBQ.
Tomorrow we are planning a playdate to Timber Gyms in Newington. If that doesn't work out I have some tickets to Imagine Nation in Bristol.
 I wasn't that excited about having to take this time from work, I am working on a huge project right now. But we have had an amazing time and I am loving it. It helps that the weather has been cooperating.
Hope you have a great day!
xo
S

38

Tomorrow I turn 38. I've been walking around singing "Knock knock knockin on 40s' door...."

Not since I turned 25 and then again at 35, have I felt the weight of a birthday. 
25 because it was a quarter of a century and that just felt like a lot (now I know better).
35 because I had just lost my baby and I was thinking about trying again and what that was gonna mean being 35, and I just wasn't in the mood of celebrating.
And now 38 because it is so close to 40 and there are still so many questions to consider.

I was very lucky last night to get the opportunity to celebrate my birthday with my best friend at my favorite restaurant; without kids and without husbands. What a TREAT. She is seriously my touchstone and we have so much in common. She understands me, gives great advice and knows when I just need someone to listen to me.

I'm not sure what tomorrow will hold... literally and figuratively but I sure am excited to find out.

xoxo
S

21 months

Calli is now talking in full sentences. Mostly to tell us No she is not going to do the thing we have asked her to do... no mommy, no close the door... no mommy, no shirt... you get the idea.
We survived a nasty stomach bug last week and so this weekend was full of tickles and snuggles and kisses. I can't believe we are 21 months in. The baby is gone and toddler tantrums are in full swing. I can't help but laugh... except when she is kicking and swatting and spitting... those I HATE.
Here are some of the cuter things she is up to...
Calli likes to ask what everyone is doing, especially around bedtime. When you tell her what other people are doing she likes to tell you that she is supposed to be doing that too... daddy watching movie?... Calli too. But when someone is sleeping she is quick to say no sleeping.
Calli can count to 15. We used to count the stairs to ten and then all of sudden this weekend she kept going to 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15. I was so surprised.
Calli got a stool for Christmas and is loving pushing it up to the kitchen counter to see what she can get her hands on and in!!
She can name a bunch of animals and their sounds.

All in all we are having a blast!
xo
S

January

It is so cold. I barely know how to dress myself on a daily basis much less the little one.
We are just getting over some major bugs in our house. We all had a cold over the holidays. It was almost (a suspicious ear and eye) an ear infection for Calli. It was a bad cold for me and hubby got off the easiest.
Fast forward to this past weekend... I stayed home on Friday because I was just miserable with another cold.  Coughing, sore throat, watery eyes... the works. Calli had a not great, not bad day at daycare on Thursday but was great at night so I brought her in on Friday in hopes of getting some rest and kicking my cold to the curb. I thought she was just getting my cold. She stayed all day on Friday and had had a good day when I picked her up.
Saturday, 2am, she calls for me. Greg gets her out of the crib, brings her to me, she spends about 3 minutes in our bed and vomits. ALL OVER.  Then spends the next 6-8 hours vomiting every 15-30 minutes. It was just about the worst way to spend a night. I felt so bad for her... and for us. She started to feel better at about 8:30am. Then I limited her water and food intake the rest of the day in hopes of keeping the bug away.
Sunday we were all ok...
Monday morning 4am, hubby got it...yesterday, he got it again.
I am sitting here crossing my fingers I don't get it.

UGH!
s