Alena's B-Day Party!

Alena's first b-day party Saturday went well. It was kinda crazy, but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, especially Alena. She got lots of wonderful things including a complete spring/summer wardrobe (which was great, because she didn't have any spring/summer clothes). All the outfits are absolutely adorable (stayed tuned to the blog to see pics of some of her new clothes as the weather gets warmer). I can't wait to play dress up, girls clothes are so much more fun! She also enjoyed her cake, although it was a little anticlimactic. It was white cake with white icing and although she was covered, it really didn't look that messy. Also, I forgot to give out pictures at the party so I will make sure everyone gets some. Anyway, thank you to everyone for making Alena's first birthday such a special day!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALENA!!

As most of you know, today (March 24), is Alena's first birthday. Her party is actually tomorrow, so today will be spent running around finishing up party preparations. I have to pick up her pictures and the cake, get new tires, go to the dry cleaners and pick up the dog from the groomers, just to name a few. The boys started spring break yesterday, so they have to go everywhere with me too, so this day is going to be nuts! When I get home I have to start making food, finish laundry, and clean the bathroom--lucky me! It will all be worth it when the party goes well tomorrow. I'm glad Alena doesn't know today is actually her b-day, because it is not going to be very fun one. Although she typically likes shopping (since she's such a people person) and we will probably go out to lunch, so it won't all be bad, just busy. The pictures are the day we brought her home from the hospital and then one I took just now-- big difference! HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY ALENA!!!

Alena's First Birthday Pictures

Alena got her first birthday pictures taken last Friday. She smiled okay this time, but it was very hard to get her to stay still and smile at the same time. Here are the four poses I purchased, although the one in the chair is cropped better now. I'm suppose to pick them up this Friday, so I will have them by the party this weekend.

What a Crazy Week!

Sorry, I haven't updated the blog in awhile, I was really sick all last week and then my big research paper was due this week, so things have been kinda hectic.

I'm feeling much better now, but all last week I was miserable! I was diagnosed with Erythema Multiforme Minor which is the mild form of Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Thankfully, I had the mild form, because the severe form is about 15% fatal. The mild form was bad enough, I couldn't eat, talk, or function for about five days straight. It was basically just a severe allergic reaction, but it took the doctors awhile to figure out what it actually was since it was so obscure. I'm still on about 20 pills a day, but I am definitely back to normal finally--YIPPEE!

Alena and I went shopping today and went out to lunch. She was such a good girl all day long. We bought a bunch of stuff for her 1st B-day party next week, and I got her a few presents even though she was with me (she promised she would act surprised!) I can't believe she is almost a year old! She gets her 1 year picture taken on Friday, hopefully she will cooperate. She's such a happy girl, but she is also a big wiggle worm which can make pictures rather difficult. We should have them back by the birthday party so everyone can see them!

We are keeping the Tooth Fairy busy!

Alex lost one of his front teeth last night and the other one is really loose, so before too long I think he may have a big hole in his mouth. They just started losing teeth last year, which is a little behind most of the other kids their age, but now that they've started, half the teeth in the mouths are lose. I'm afraid they are all going to start falling out at once, but so far that hasn't happened. Plus they are not like I was when I was younger, if I got a lose tooth I would sit there and mess with it constantly until it came out. They are completely opposite, they don't want to touch it nor do they want us anywhere near it. Their first few teeth they lost, it took them so long to get them out that the new tooth was nearly half way in. The one Alex lost last night wasn't already coming in that far so he has a pretty big hole this time, it's too cute!

Fun Birthday WebSite!

I received an email the other day with a link to a fun little website. You type your birthday into it and it tells you all kinds of fun little facts about how old you are. It also has links at the bottom that tells you about movies, tv and music. I'm sure the older you are the more fun it is, but it was fun anyway! Check it out!

http://www.frontiernet.net/~cdm/age1.html

That doesn't really happen, does it?

The other day Alena and I did some shopping at Dollar General (I've had a personal ban on Wal-Mart for about a year now and there is nothing else by my house, but that's a blog for another day). Anyway, as we leave I put Alena in the car and go to the back to load up all my purchases. Just as I opened the hatch, I slipped and almost had a serious fall. Luckily I caught myself at the last minute and avoided a painful and embarrassing event. After I composed myself, I glanced down to see what was the cause of this potential mishap---it was a banana peel! I thought that kind of thing only happened in cartoons and slap stick comedies. Actually it wasn't just the peel, I think it was the better part of the banana that had been run over a few times. After I discovered what it was, I found the whole situation a lot more funny and I was even more thankful I hadn't actually fallen, the last thing I would've needed at that point was smushed banana all over me!

Cheap Gas Website

We saw this web site on the news last week and now I check it religiously. It shows where the cheapest gas prices are and you can earn free gas and other prizes by helping keep the prices in your neighborhood up-to-date!

http://www.stlouisgasprices.com/

Happy Birthday, Brian!

Today, (Feb. 8) is Brian's 29th birthday! Unfortunately, it is also Wacky Wednesday and he chose to work open to close today anyway. We went out to Hot Shots last night, where he had his pool league, and I think we are going out to dinner tomorrow night, and then having quite a few people over on Saturday night, so I think he will have plenty of celebration time. Only one more year until the
BIG 3-0! Happy Birthday, Brian!!!

Alena's First Official Steps

On Monday, Alena took her first official steps. She has been walking around furniture and things since September, but never really let go. For about the past month she has been letting go and standing there for a little while before losing her balance, but wasn't actually going anywhere. On Monday she walked from the fireplace to her tall toy on the floor. It was only about three steps, but she made it there. She continued to walk two or three steps here and there throughout the evening, so I don't think it will be long before she is unstoppable. Way to go, Alena!!

Alex's Hero

Alex brought home an assignment from school on Friday entitled, "My Hero." Underneath the hand drawn picture was the following:

"My dad is my hero because my dad is really kind to me. My dad fixes a lot of things that are broken. My dad is a nice person. My dad is the best hero ever. My dad is one year older then my mom. "

Brian was really touched, as was I. It was too cute and nice to know, especially since it could have been Spongebob or something ridiculous.

We are all getting OLD!

Our friend Joe (of Joe & Joanne), turned thirty on Monday, Happy Birthday, Joe! We all went out on Saturday and celebrated, probably too much, but everyone had a good time. Anyway, Joe is the first one in our group of friends to turn 30, and it has really been making me feel old this past week. Whenever Joe turns an age, we all eventually follow (some sooner than others), Jeff will turn 30 next month, Doug in March, Brian next year, and so on. It's a very scary thing. Before long I will be hanging out with a bunch of thirtysomethings! I don't know why this has been bothering me so much, they say you are only as old as you feel and I feel 23 and Brian should only be 25. We all are still just a bunch of kids (who all have our own kids), I just can't believe how fast time goes by!

Guitars Galore!

I thought everyone might want to see a picture of the boys with their guitars they got for X-mas!

More Pics from the Play Date

Lots o' Babies!

Alena had a play date Saturday afternoon. Alivia (6 months), Jack (6 Months), Lexy (3 months), and Brayden (5 weeks), all came over to play and they were all so cute together. Davin (8 months), Jacob (11 months) and Anthony (1 year), were unable to attend this time, but we plan on doing one every couple months, so hopefully we will have even more babies next time. Everyone seemed to have a good time, I can't wait until they all are walking around, it will be nuts! We lined them all up in their car seats to get a group photo, which was the only way to keep them all still!

I am the worst mother ever!

Okay not really, but it was not a good day. Tuesday, I was planning on going into work at about 10, since I didn't go to work on Monday. I overslept till 11 (it was raining of course), got up, got me and Alena dressed as quickly as possible, grabbed the diaper bag, and ran out the door. We got to work at 12, my boss left for lunch and all was good until about 1:30, when I noticed a foul odor coming from you know who. I got out wipes, the changing pad and... no diapers!!!! In my frenzy to get out the door, I had forgotten to double check the diaper supply. I couldn't leave until my boss got back from lunch, in the meantime she is growing increasingly irritated. Rick finally comes back about 2:30, walks in an says "EWW, what did you eat for lunch?" I explained the predicament and left promptly. Rick was spraying lysol as I walked out the door. Needless to say, it was a pretty stinking ride home!

The 1st, 1st of many!

As most of you know, we kinda had a baby boom last year. We know about 10 people who had babies throughout the year, including us of course. My cousin Becca was the first, when she had Anthony last January. We all went to Anthony's first B-day party on Sunday. The whole time I was there I couldn't help thinking about how many first birthday parties I would attend this year. We had a lot of fun and as you can see, so did Anthony. I guess Alena's first is just around the corner, I can't believe how fast it goes by.

Now you want to unwrap!

All through X-mas we tried to get Alena to unwrap her own presents. Most of the time she would try for a little while, but we usually ended up unwrapping them for her. The other day I caught her in the kitchen tearing into a bag of dog food! Now where were these skills a few weeks ago?

Night of 1000 spills!

Okay, so it was actually only two, but whatever. I bowl on Thursday nights, this past Thurs. Brian didn't feel like staying home with the children by himself, so we all went to the bowling alley. The boys were playing in the nursary and Alena was just hanging out with us, being her usual adorable self. When it was my turn to bowl, I went to hand her off to Kathy across the table and wouldn't you know she kicked Kathy's 32 oz. soda all over Kathy and Linda. Everything was soaked, Kathy had to rent bowling shoes since her's were covered in soda- it was a mess! Got that cleaned up, bowled badly, went home, and just as I walked in the door, I went to set my own 32 oz. soda on the table, it slipped out of my hands, and exploded all over the kitchen floor. What a night!

X-Mas Presents!!!!

One thing I forgot to mention about New Year's Eve was that all of our group, did our X-mas together. Jeff & Kim got us Margaritas, Joe & Joanne got us a necklace and a PS2 game, and everyone got the children something as well . Jeff & Kim got them planes, which is bad enough, but Joe & Joanne (which from now on I will commonly refer to as J & J) got the boys GUITARS, yes real acoustic guitars, one for each of them! Alena also got a cute little Fisher Price guitar, which isn't nearly as noisy. J&J are lucky they do not have children, because if they did I would be getting theirs a drum set this year. Anyway, they really aren't as loud and obnoxious as I was expecting, and they are very educational, but I may have to send them to their house to practice. Up until the guitars, the worst was probably Amy who got them both skateboards this year, I told her I would forward the emergency room deductables to her! In all seriousness though, we have great friends who love us a lot, and any gift is appreciated and cherished, but I will remember when you all have your own children. Thanks again, guys!!!!