The "Wonder"-Wife's World

...needs a little table (and some chairs to match!) 

THANKS BIG BAPA AND GREAT GRAMMY!  What a special Christmas present for our little girls!  Grandmommy came over today and delivered this terrific table.  Kate might need a little bit more time to grow into her chair...but Elizabeth had a blast coloring, snacking, and just plain enjoying a table sized just right for her. 

Anyway...we've had a hectic week.  Mike has had to work LOTS of hours...and by lots I mean, like until midnight last night.  The girls and I have just been hanging out...but really, could life ever be "mundane" in our house.  Of course not!  This week its been Mugho.  Poor guy...in obvious pain, but we couldn't figure out what, and day by day we were getting more concerned.  So yesterday afternoon I found myself packing up the girls and the dog and heading to the vet....yep...fun, fun...just picture me trying to cart Kate in her carseat (mind you...Kate is no longer what  you would call "light"), Mugho on his leash, and hold onto Elizabeth's hand as we tried to make our way in the door.  And, of course, they had "squeezed" us in...with the promise that the wait wouldn't be long since I was bringing two little ones...(I do really like our vet...really...not trying to complain)...but, of course, the rest of the world apparently needed to be "squeezed" in at the same time.  They did quickly get me into the exam room...which is precisely when I noticed that in my haste to leave the house my shirt and pant most definitely did not match.  But by then I was really beyond caring...my goal, survival...to keep Kate from crying, Elizabeth from trying to chase a quite pained Mugho around a tiny exam room.  And did I mention that it was also dinnertime for Elizabeth...he he!  Anyway...we did survive...and found that Mugho's pain has something to do with his jaw...though they can't be sure what until they put him "under" to do some dental work next week.  Poor guy...but at least we know that is the root of his general weirdness and skittishness this week...I, for one, was starting to fear that Elizabeth had hurt him or something. 

And that, dear friends, is a "slice" of our week.  Fortunately daddy has tomorrow off, so we will be enjoying a three day weekend....complete with a trip to the bounce place and perhaps even a date for Mike and I.  My mom was over today, and we were able to get several projects felted (I'll post pictures soon), and conveniently my new glasses came in and I was able to run and get them while she stayed with the girlies.  On top of that I feel like I/we have really come to a breakthrough point in discipline with Elizabeth...and I am feeling quite hopeful and encouraged in that realm.  On that note, I'm off to spend some time with the fam!

Still smiling...I promise...even though the computer decided to loose the first version of this post I typed up...argh!  Okay...kind of my fault...I probably should have saved the draft.

1. Splashing through the rain and puddles with Elizabeth today...and having a day warm enough to air out my toesies and let the raindrop splatter down on them in my new Chacos (a super fun Christmas present from my m-i-l!).

2. Enjoying some fun with my parents Saturday afternoon/evening...some wii bowling...dinner and a lemon cake...and watching Elizabeth in rare form...seriously this girl went crazy when poppy and grandmommy arrived...bouncing off the walls, talking twenty miles a minute...soaking up all the love and attention (wait..that's normal behavior these days!).

3. Kate's first cereal...and her big sister who was so into helping with this experience! 

4.  Actually dragging myself out of bed early and having time (and motivation) to walk in the treadmill two days in a row...amazing how it really does jumpstart my productivity for the day!

5. Getting ALL the laundry washed and folded (at least for a couple hours till the piles started again last night!)...let me tell you, it was an ALL day endeavor!

6. Finishing some knitting projects...now they just need to be felted.  I've finished two stocking (like the one on the left in the picture...once felted they'll be the size of the one on the right!).

7. Watching Libs grow to love Kate more and more each day...she LOVES hugging and kissing Kate...helping her play...talking and singing to her...and just about anything involving her baby sister.  Also fun is watching Kate's eye follow her sister everywhere...not too long and she'll be chasing big sis around!

8. Our wonderful trip to the children's museum...watching Elizabeth run and climb and explore...discovering the joy of the carousel (Lib's has loved talking about it..."ride lion, raffe (giraffe), horse!"...and getting to hang out and catch up with some friends.

9. Making Elizabeth her first puppet...daddy's old sock, black button eyes, a red ribbon tongue, brown yarn hair...and, of course, a red ribbon for her hair!  We've also had lots of fun putting on puppet shows!

10. In the words of Elizabeth..."new fridge!"...better yet...a bargain...half price!  (Yep...gotta love a bargain...especially when its on something you've been looking for...in the right color and model!).  Thanks to poppy for his bargain hunter eye...and to daddy and Uncle Nathan for their brawn in moving it in!  You've also gotta love Libs artwork adorning it...makes the home complete!  I have to tell you that this girlie is PROUD of her pictures...especially the "Jesus pictures" she colors in her Sunday school class at church...she loves to carry them throughout the house telling us about that weeks lesson.  "One God, mommy"  "God big and strong, mommy!"...and so on!

Katherine Christine...our little Kater Alligator, Kater-bug, Kate Kate...can it really be that today marks five months of life for you?  I am amazed that time has passed by so quickly.  It is hard to believe how much you have grown and changed in such a short time.  Just a month ago you were still learning to bring your hands up to your mouth and keep them there....now you are grasping toys to chew on and shake.  You love soft and snuggly things...blankie bear is your current favorite, but you are also loving the snuggly pink elephant mommy found just the other day.  You are starting to like laying on the floor more these days and have mastered rolling onto your side quite well...but so far you aren't so sure about actually rolling over...you sure like when mommy and daddy help you practice!  You love the exersaucer...especially chewing on the giraffe's ears.  In general you like being upright and able to check out the world around you.  Precious girl, you light up the room with your smiles and giggles...and they grow bigger and brighter each day.  You most definitely are our little heartbreaker...with sparkling blue eyes and the most kissable chubby cheeks ever.  When it comes to sleeping you have finally graduated out of your tight little swaddle (you were our little burrito for so long!); you're sleeping with both are out of the blanket...of course, you do clutch ever so tightly to blankie bear and another snuggly blankie (one for each arm!).  You even fall asleep all on your own these days...typically without any tears.  Mommy and daddy are oh-so thankful that you sleep twelve blessed hours a night!  Just the other day you had your first taste of "solid" food...some rice cereal, compliments of daddy.  You weren't sure what to think about it...pushing most of it back out with your tongue....but you did get quite a kick out of holding onto the spoon when you were finished.  I think you've been watching your big sister...who is quite taken by you these days.  Sweet Kate, you have most definitely captured all of our hearts (grandmas and grandpas and aunts and uncles included).  I love you precious girl!

As a sidenote, you were quite photogenic after your nap this afternoon...and mommy was able to catch some big smiles and wonderful expressions!  Here you are at five months!