Some "friend fun" time back in DM

Gwen loves her cousin and best friend, Riley :) They have so much fun together...as you can see! We felt bad though. Gwen got so excited that she bit Riley towards the end of the night, pretty bad. Didn't break the skin, but you could see it instantly. She never bites when she is mad, only when she is really excited?! Is that weird? We have been very adamant with not letting her get to that point because we know how hard it hurts and don't want others to have to get bit. Riley was a good sport though and still loved Gwen after that.




We had brunch with a few of my girlfriends and their babies when we were back. We wanted to make sure we saw Katy and Becky since they would not be there the rest of the time we were back. It was a great time and all the babies really enjoyed each other. Gwen was much more up for going to other people this time and loved sitting on everyone's lap. She loved her pancakes more, but hey, make sense :) hehe. Jason had an instant buddy with William. He loved him!

Gwen actually TOOK this picture of Becky, ha! (hence the thumb in the way...)







We hung out with Becky, Jake and Max Anderson a bit more than usual this time and that was really wonderful. Max and Gwen even took a bath together! Gwen's first coed bath taking experience. She even wore his PJs afterwards...now THAT was cute! Becky babysat Gwen while we went cake tasting and Gwen has now discovered her love for mini tables. We are going to have to get her one for her bday. It must be something about being "their size" that they love. I suppose I would too though.









One of the best things we got to do this time was see the new babies from a few friends of ours. Kara and Zach had little Kennedy about 4 months back and this was the first time we got to see her as well as Tom and Lori's new 6 week old baby, Lillian. Of course it was great seeing Jemma (Tom and Lori's other daughter, and Evan, Kara and Zach's other son) too!

We had so much fun seeing the new tots. Made me want another :) but not yet, hehe. Gwen LOVES babies. He favorite word is "baby" and she thinks anything with arms and legs (furry or not) is her "baby." I can imagine how cool it was for her to see real babies. :)








Finally, to end the Friend Fun time...Gwen was not the only one who got to hang out with friends, hehe. On New Year's Eve, JJ, Jason's sister, babysat Gwen for us so we could go out to our friend's Beth and Tim's New Year's Eve bash. It was so much fun and not only did we enjoy ourselves, we found out we make a pretty amazing team in Beer Pong as well as Flippy Cup. Seriously, didn't know Jason had it in him. He was the star of the night. I mean I knew I was amazing...even though it is a rare occasion we have a beer, let alone play a drinking game, lol. We stood tall and people were proud, HA! We then finished the night at Gabbie's apartment seeing some more friends we didn't get enought time with at all, but that seems to be the way it goes when we are back. Gwen had a great time with her Auntie as well. Even if she "cried all the time" like her cousin Jackie told us, lol. So funny.

Some pics from NY Eve.






Last but not least, we finally got to see Kyle and Heather. It seemed like we never could make a time with them and I am glad we finally got to go out and have a dinner with them. Gwen loves Kyle, but this time she LOVED Heather! They bought Gwen a Spiderman doll...it is the same size as she is and she loves it so much it is adorable. Kyle and Heather are coming out to visit us in April. Kyle has been there before to see us, but this time we get both!






We did plenty of wedding planning while we were back as well. Cake testing, ceremony location visiting, even took both sets of parents out to dinner at the reception location to test the food. It was a great time. We got a lot done, but sometimes still wish we were there for not only wedding planning, but in general. We really miss being home and Gwen is getting so close to her relatives it really hurts us when we have to leave them. Eventually we will be back, but for now, these little visits of chaotic fun will have to do.

OH, I did buy my wedding dress while we were back. I will not be posting it, lol, but it is BEAUTIFUL if I do say so myself. I love it so much I want to wear it all the time. It was even more special because my mom was there. I was worried I would have to go dress shopping alone in NJ and it was a crappy feeling to me, but instead I got both my mom and my soon to be mother in law, my matron of honor, Becky, bridesmaids Beth & Amy and my personal attendant, Jennifer all with me! How lucky am I to have such amazing friends and family who will drive to all extents to be with me on that special day :) It really was perfect. I can't wait!

Gwen - Gift Wrapped :)

This was fun :)

Almost 20 months

I have to write this first before I forget but last Thurs. January 14th (my parents 32 anniversary actually) Gwen was taking a bath and stood up, pointed to her bumm and then her potty. I asked her if she needed to go potty and she said "yea" and tried to climb out of the tub, lol. I picked her up and wrapped her up in a towel and sat her on her potty. She WENT! She actually told me she had to go and then she went potty. A real one, not just a tinkle, lol. Jason came in and we all celebrated with high fives and a big flushing finale, ha!

She is getting better and better with letting us know. It's great. I hope she is completely done by 2 years...but that is just a hope, hehe.

She is now saying some new words such as:
Shirt
Juice
Your
Puppy
Muse (meaning music)
Now
This
Clock
Shoes (although it sounds like Sooze sometimes, lol)

I think those are the newest ones, but new words are coming out every single day, it's nuts! I really don't want her to start talking "adult" talk because I love hearing HER language, ya know?

She also knows which room is what. If you stand in the foyer and say "go to the kitchen" she goes. Mommy and Daddys room, she goes. Your bedroom, she goes, etc...AND, now this is hilairous, she is starting to understand what goes IN the fridge and what goes IN the cupboards. She will bring the cans and boxes over to the cupboard area and she will put the cheese and cold items in the fridge. We need to film this. Today she picked up a BAG of potatoes and took them from the entry way of the kitchen to the cupboard under the microwave and put them "away." and I could not stop laughing. That bag is HEAVY!

The wedding planning is coming along nicely. We have the reception and ceremony locations booked. I have a photographer and baker booked. Talking with a DJ and Florist currently, OH and I have my dress! So, I have some pretty big items set in stone. Still don't have an officiant, but I might ask the pastor I grew up with to marry us. If I can't get married in Sioux City with him, I would love if he could come down there, ya know?!

Sioux City Xmas '09

Ok so remember how I said DM was cold and snowy??? Well Sioux City was freezing and burried. NO JOKE! I have not seen that much snow since I was 7 and they cancelled Halloween. I remember because I wrote a letter to the Gov. VERY upset about the cencellation, HA!

As we got closer to SC from when Jason's parents dropped us off the more snow and wind and cold appeared. Jason and I were shell shocked...we were taking pictures like we had never seen that much snow, complaining, lol. I didn't wear any other shoes except snow boots and I actually had to use my gloves and hat! Gwen got a new winter coat from my parents and boots as well. Even if we don't have to use them that much out here, it was well worth it and needed there! Seriously, NJ has made us go soft with weather.

Tell you what though...that weather was a blessing because everyone in SC was snowed in and could not have Christmas until that Sunday so we go to go!!! I was kinda sad I was going to miss it to begin with, but the snow worked with me and allowed us to be able to attend :) hehe...I do always get what I want...right Tom?

Christmas was at my sister and brother in laws this year for the first time rather than my parents house. It was great except the 10 foot snow drifts we had to drive BETWEEN to get there, ha! No in all seriousness, Iowans are made to drive in that crap and we were perfectly fine. Xmas rocked, the food was great and my sister's place was amazing. Gwen also had a great time with all her relatives and didn't need to have anything to do with Jason and I, lol. Riley and her are best friends I swear! They are flower girls together so I can imagine how fun that will be for them :) Gwen got a lot more clothes (YAY!) and some random toys, blankets and diapers, HA! Books too...Santa actually got her a lot of books this year and a Monster Bowling set, lol. She made out very well.

Jason and I went to a movie after Xmas was over. Gwen passed out instantly and my parents were fine with listening for her if she needed anything, which she didn't. So, we got a little date and went to see Avatar in 3D...awesome. Although I don't know what was more fun, driving through the snow to get there or the movie! HA!

I made another montage of Xmas at SC. Click on it to make it bigger in a new window.

DM Xmas '09

Well we missed the big storm. Got out of NJ in time and only about 1 hour delay in Chicago to get to IA. We were so freaking happy about that. We overpacked in case we have to stay the night in an airport, so we were ready, but not willing to do it if need be. Good thing it was not needed!

An uneventful travel story really. Gwen was great, hardly slept. Jason had gotten food poisoning the day before we left so that was not fun and he slept more than all of us on the way there, but he needed it. We had just taken the sucky (pcaifier) away from Gwen for good the week of the 18th of Dec. and she was doing awesome. Not asking for it, sleeping without it, perfect. UNTIL I had to bring it on the flight with us...they say you need them sucking on something during take off and landing and I didn't really know what else would work so I brought it. She saw it, addiction started instantly. Ugh. We let her have it to calm her down for that week we were back, but the same night we got home, we took it away again and are happy to say she is 100% sucky free (again)!

Xmas in DM was awesome. We had a great time and Gwen really enjoyed all of her cousins and family members. She was much more open to others this time reaching out for them, going away from us to be with them, even got babysat by JJ, her auntie and Laurie her cousin! She loved it! We got A LOT of clothes, which is axactly what we needed for her. Now she does not look like she is wearing highwaters all the time, lol. Some fun toys and one of her most favorite gifts of all was a baby doll and a Spiderman doll, lol!

She definitely enjoyed the cookies, but didn't really eat much food while we were there which was odd to us. We have never had to deal with the whole "picky eater" thing and were worried she was going to become one. She even didn't eat much at all for about 1 week after coming back to NJ...but she is back on track now, lol. Good to go. Man I would hate to have to deal with a picky eater...annoying and we only had it for like 2 weeks!

Anyways, there was a lot of snow in DM and it was cold there. I honestly didn't think I would ever have forgotten how cold it gets in IA, but I did. Nothing like what Sioux City felt like, but wow. More on that part later. Jason's mom and dad drove us half way to go see my parents on Sunday (they met us to go the other half of the way a day later than planned) because of the weather in Sioux City, but they dealt with the winds and snow for us on Sunday and that meant a lot.

Here is a montage of Xmas in Des Moines. If you want to see the images bigger, just click on the actual picture and it will come up in a new window at a larger size.

Thanksgiving 2009

We had visitors this year! YAY!

My parents and my sister Deb and her husband Dave came up to visit us this Thanksgiving and it was wonderful! My parents stayed for 10 days and Deb and Dave for 3.5. We had so much fun and Gwen got a lot of needed Grandparent time. My parents watched Gwen for about 9 of the 10 days they were there so Jason could finish his work and so we could go take my sister and Dave around the town. It was nice having time alone with another couple (especially since it was my sis!) but what was even nicer was seeing Gwen grow from such a small time of interaction with others. She loved it and actually cried when my mom and dad didn't get back in the car at the airport. It really breaks our hearts. We will move back sometime, but not yet. My parents on the other hand keep saying they will move out here, LOL!!

We did all the touristy things like Macy's Parade, Macy's windows, Rockefeller Center / Tree, Bus Tour, Ground Zero, South Street Seaport, The Rockettes, Central Park Strawberry Fields, Perry Street (for my sister who is a HUGE Sex in the City fan...)and of course hit up some bars and good food :)

Gwen really loved the parade and all the balloons. I wish we would have gotten closer, but we arrived so late because of a train mishap that we were about 100 feet into a side street across from Central Park West. We didn't get to see any of the bands or floats, but the Balloons were amazing (although oddly enough seemed to have a lot to do with Balls...right everyone?!?! hehe) and my sister and I decided we are going to invent the Pocket Bleachers :) (copyrighted so back off, lol)
Here are some of my favorites of Gwen oogling over the balloons!



Snoopy looks like he is going to be crushed between Jason and Gwenie!



Of course Gwen needed her own balloon, we love Nemo!





Jason and myself cooked Thanksgiving dinner for everyone too! Dave helped with the gravy because I did't have any patience for gravy this year, lol. Deb helped me make her baked sweet potatoes since last year she never told me to drain them and I ended up making what I like to call, vomit soup. I will say, this year the baked yams ended up being my favorite thing! It was a wonderful meal and such a relief that we actually have a dining room table now, that 20lb turkey would have made the card table buckle, LOL! I did end up making Turkey Noodle Potato Soup with some of the left overs and we STILL had turkey left!



My mom took some pics of the decorations and of the food making and the final product so I will post them as soon as I get them. Can't wait till Xmas now, we miss everyone!

Spiderman

My parents bought Gwen a Spiderman mask for the fun of it a while back. She likes to put it on and walk around wearing it. We thought she just figured it was a hat or something, lol. UNTIL last night.

Jason was gone and Gwen and I were playing in the living room when I heard her talking to the DVDs. She was pointing at them (specifically 3 of them) and giggling and pointing at her face. I just sat there listening because it is one of my favorite things...listening to her conversations with random items.

I finally went over to her and asked her what she was saying and she pointed again at the DVDs then her face. I looked at the DVD she was pointing to and it was Spiderman (all 3 of them) and I about cracked up! I then asked her where her Spiderman mask was and she ran off to dig into the toy chest and pulled it out!

So for the first 10 minutes of So You Think You Can Dance, Gwen was dancing with a Spiderman mask on and THAT was entertainment. I took a pic with my phone. Now all she needs is a Spiderman doll for sure!



Don't worry, she can breathe!