Please, Spring...Please?

Everyone is always talking about the weather, but seriously, it has been quite the random question mark every day. One day you take your winter coat to work for the bitter outdoor recess, and the next day, it's beautiful and you find yourself out at recess longer because "...well, it's just so nice out...!"

This past weekend, we enjoyed an 85 degree day that we just had to spend outside! We pulled out a few toys, a blanket, a chair and we were all happy as could be. Here are a few pictures of our "hope this becomes more common in the very near future" day!

Spring Break 2011

For Spring Break this year, Siena and I got to go to warm, sunny, beautiful...Michigan. And by warm and sunny, I mean 45. It's still beautiful, I'll give them that, but not exactly a typical Spring Break destination. You won't hear me complaining!

Mom and Em came to visit us is KC the weekend before our Spring Break started. I LOVE having family come in to visit, and this was no exception. They watched Siena while Matt and I finished our last day before the break. We relaxed around the house most of the weekend. Matt and I got away for a little date night on Saturday night while our live-in babysitter (Grammie) hung out with Siena. I think all parties involved were perfectly content! You know it's good when you get a little "extra spending money" to go out on a date - I think Grammie just wanted us out of the house so she could have Siena all to herself. Once again, no complaints.

Sunday after church, Siena and I hopped in the car with Em and Mom and headed back to GR. We had to leave Matt in KC to do his track coaching. We were sad to leave him but thrilled with the opportunity. Ten hours later, we arrived safely back in GR. Between Auntie Em in the backseat, a Curious "Georgie" DVD, Elmo, and plenty of snacks, we were all content and happy! Our time in GR is always wonderful...busy and always on the go...but wonderful. Siena is at such a fun stage in life right now. (Pretty sure I've said that in just about every post, but it's so true!) Siena interacts so well with other people, so it was special to watch her spend time with the family in Michigan. We tried to spend some good, quality time with Great Grams and Gramps...now that they live in GR. Those are special moments. I forget how much I love Grandma's baking! Very special, unforgettable moments at their house. Watching Siena and Grandpa play with the beenie baby animals and seeing Grandma show her books and toys that I remember playing with - it doesn't get better. Siena made herself right at home and I know she loved playing there!

On a couple days that Mom didn't have to work, we took advantage of that time and went to see other family. I wanted to make every effort to see as many people as I could - it's not everyday that I get the chance! And of course, I want Siena to know them all and love them as much as I do! :)

The rest of the week, I tried to spend as much time with my sister as possible. We of course did a little shopping, and that's where this next story comes into play. I always go to Georgie's when I'm in Michigan. It's a great little consignment shop held in a huge old house. There are always little gems in there that Em and I dig for. Well, we introduced Siena to Georgie's this time. While upstairs, Siena found a "gem" of her own. She found it all on her own (trust me, I didn't help her pick that out) and just HAD to try it on, like all good shoppers do. Proud does not do her justice - she strut her stuff all over that shop. I'll have to work on her fashion sense in the coming years...

Some "bath time" with Grammie...

A few faces of a very happy girl...



To get back to Missouri, Siena and I had to fly home. You just never know how a day of flights is going to go with a year-and-a-half old kid. The plan was to get up early, pack things up, see Pappa and Mom off to work at different times, and then relax a little before heading to the airport. Not exactly sure what I was thinking or where my head was, but I was WAY late. We cruised to the airport and got checked in. I dressed my child (who was still in her PJs) in the middle of the airport and fed her breakfast...both things that didn't happen while my head was in the clouds. Needless to say, we made the flight, hung out in Minneapolis for a little while on a layover and then flew home to Daddy.

Not sure it gets better than a little one running through the airport yelling, "Daddy!" Thanks, Daddy, for letting your girls go spend some time in Michigan. It was great to come home to you.

18 Months and Taking Notes...

A year and a half...really? Amazing.

This stage of life is so fun. Her character is developing with each day and her personality is contagious. I can't begin to describe how much I love it and how much fun we have with her. I'm sure every mom says it and it's the cliche thing to say...you love each stage as much as the one before (if not more).

In Siena's short 18 months of life, she has taught me a lot about life. Of course I am filled with joy when I hold her and talk with her and play with her. But it's more than that. I learn from her what it looks like to be genuinely happy to see someone. I watch her face glow when she sees people or toys she loves. Her excitement and happiness for the little things in life stop me in my tracks. I need more of that in my life. I want the kind of joy Siena has when she hears the garage door open and she knows her daddy is coming in the door. I want to remember like Siena does that everybody in the room is important. (Not that I feel I need to go around to everyone and give them kisses and hugs and high fives and knuckles, but you get the point.) I want to have the dedication that Siena does to the things that matter to her. (Her obsession and love for Elmo and Sesame Street and Curious George is amazing...let alone her babies and puppy and books...) I want to remember as often as Siena does to pray. She truly puts me to shame. I know it sounds somewhat ridiculous and maybe overdramatic, but the point is this: I watch her and am reminded of the important things in my life. She's straightforward and to the point. She goes after the things that matter to her with her whole heart. Who couldn't use that reminder every once in a while?

We are watching a precious little human grow up right in front of us. She is 26 pounds (74th percentile) and 36 inches long (59th percentile). She's talking all the time - and most of the time about things we can understand and interact with. Sometimes combining 2 word phrases! She has her favorite things right now: Sesame Street (all the characters, especially Elmo), Curious George ("Georgie"), corn, grapes, her friends (Laney, Bryce, and Brady) and family, and music/dancing.

Another kind of funny/unique thing about her right now is the fact that she says "yeah" to most things, unlike the all too familiar "NO!" parents are usually told. It's pretty funny to hear her say that to most things! I don't know if she understands all the questions and things we ask her, but a lot of the time, she says "yeah" anyway. It makes us laugh. Now, don't get me wrong - she definitely knows the word NO and is not afraid to use it, but unless it's really something she doesn't want/like, she says "yeah"! Siena, you keep that up!!

She is still going to "Gramma" and "Bah-pa" every day, which she loves!! They teach her lots of fun songs and things over there and she loves spending time with them. It's a wonderful setup and we are truly blessed to have them in our lives, watching our precious little one. (We are blessed to have them in our lives regardless of the fact they watch Siena...but it's just an added bonus.) They love her to death and take the best care of her.

We recently started the initial stages of potty training. With the blizzard a couple weeks ago, we were home for a few days in a row. We took that opportunity of being snowed in to give it a try. The first thing we do when she wakes up is put her on her "Elmo seat". The rest of the days we were home, she ran around the house naked all day. We had plenty of "teaching moments" with wet spots on the floor, but she was successful a few times! And at least now, even if she has a diaper on or if she goes somewhere else besides the bathroom, she is aware of it and makes it known to us. It's a start. We'll see where it goes. (I promise to keep my "peepee talk" to a minimum...I just want it in here for the record.) :)

I could talk for hours about her, but here are just a few fun stories/moments of Siena in the past few weeks:

- She found a dollar bill on the floor a few weeks ago and she was looking at it real close. She was looking at the picture of the man on the front of the bill. When I asked her who she was looking at, she replied, "Opa"! (That would be my dad, who apparently to her looks like a very old revolutionary George Washington.) Funny, right?!

- She says, "Oh booyyy!" when she's excited about something. That's really funny to hear from an 18 month old...at least we think so!

- Siena was spinning around, showing a little baby how to dance. She must have spun herself one too many times because she ran head on into a stranger's leg and bounced right off...and then kept on running.

- She has learned "Itsy Bitsy Spider" with Grandma and Grandpa...and her favorite motion is "...washed the spider out!"

And here are some recent photos of our little love:

Some of the many faces of our very animated child...

For Siena's friend Laney's birthday, I made them both little BFF shirts. Both Laney's mom and I hope that really happens in real life someday, but for now, we get to call the shots, and they're best friends! Siena does love her "Way-nee"! Aside from the shirt...more animation...



I love this photo - a great nose kiss in action!



Why not go Hollywood for dinnertime?! Spice things up a little...
I suppose I should document the Blizzard 2011...a week and a half before Siena turned 18 months. :) It was a crazy amount of snow (and three snow days - yippee!)

Recently, we went up to Iowa to visit with some great friends! We always look forward to our time with them and this time was no exception! Lots of great food, good conversation, and plenty of laughter - the good, from-the-gut laughing. Our get togethers look totally different these days with 2 kids and one on the way, but they're the best and totally worth the crazy schedule planning (between a med school doc, an ultrasound tech, a salesman, and a couple of teachers...getting together takes planning!)

Derek, Kelli, Joshua, and baby girl Kent. Sweet family!
Tameem and Julie - love them.

The 3 boys who, when they get together, are as crazy now as they were 10 years ago when they met in college. Those 2 can get Matt to laugh like I can only dream of...I laugh just watching them, usually even when I have no clue what they're jokes are about or why they're laughing so hard. So good.

I think we experienced our first little "crush" this weekend. When Tameem got there, Siena was enamored. She was constantly trying to get his attention. She would tickle him, crawl on him, put her face right into his, sit on his lap, smile and laugh at him...she was laying it on thick! It was pretty funny to watch! She sure loved her "Tah-mee"! (She loved his girlfriend "Joo-ee" too!!)
God has blessed us more than words can express. We love our little angel with everything we got! You're doin' great, Siena! :)

Sledding!

This winter we have had a number of days off of school due to the lovely snow! It is so pretty when the sun is out and it makes outside look like a winter wonderland! When school gets called off, we get to be together as a family, which is the best perk of it all!
This last snow we got about 9 inches and it was that really pretty, fluffy snow. It wasn't too cold, so Matt, Siena, and I headed over to our friends, the Meyers, to go sledding with Bryce and Brady. It was a beautiful day!! We weren't out there very long, but the kids had fun! They were bundled from head to toe in everything we could gather! Siena definitely had that "snowsuit walk" going on, but it didn't stop her from having fun! The first of MANY dates in the snow!
Taking the "monster" hill in the innertube...


Siena and Brady trying to use their fingers to play in the sandbox. Brady had more luck than Siena with that, seeing that Siena's hands were stuffed into her coat, under mittens!
A swing ride will get giggles every time, no matter the season!!