did you see it?

Our new house has many things to offer us, one of them being the wonderful outdoors that we've been missing since leaving home for college all those years ago.

My husband and I both grew up in small towns -- mine being only 550 people and I lived 5 miles west of that little town. So, we both have a rich history of living with nature, fresh air, quiet back yards and a sky full of stars on clear nights. Living in a college town and then one of the largest suburbs in Illinois, we've grown to miss the quiet life. So, when we started looking for a house to buy, we knew we wanted a little land to go with it -- to bring us back to our small town roots a bit, but without really leaving the amenities that come along with living in the suburbs.

As I look outside our windows, I long for spring -- I can't wait to see what flowers and plants are just waiting to bloom in our yard. I looked out the window this afternoon, and look what I saw:



the most beautiful male cardinal, all plumped up and keeping warm in this frigid winter weather. I think he was actually posing for me here -- I was only about 2 feet away from him in the house.

Isn't that cool?

Our 1st Sleepover

Our first sleepover was actually held at our house -- we had the babysitting kids over for a night of fun, pizza and a movie. I was a bit nervous about having the 3 kids plus our toddler daughter for the evening. They have a 4 year old son that our daughter plays with all the time while I'm at work -- I was more nervous about the just-turned-9-year-old and the about-to-be-12-year-old. I mean, our house is set up for toddler-ville, not a pre-teen society. I asked their mom to pack games and activities -- in case the older ones were bored. I was pleasantly surprised, that they all played and got along so well -- in fact, my husband and I were actually able to sit down at the table and talk for a while as they played! On a normal evening around here, the toddler demands all of our attention, so it was nice to have her occupied for the evening with other ones more her age.

Here they are -- just 'getting ready' for bed -- laying out sleeping bags, choosing where they were going to sleep. Our toddler daughter kept saying, "I'm going to sleep with the kids". We let her try it -- but, at 11PM (as I was falling asleep on the couch downstairs), the toddler comes down and says, "I can't fall asleep -- I need my bed". So, back up we go and put her to bed -- the rest of the kids were fast asleep!!

The next morning, as we were getting ready to go to church, Holly (the just-turned-9-year-old) made scrambled eggs and the kids enjoyed lounging around in the their pj's for a bit!

It was a fun evening and I told my husband -- I think we need to have them over more often -- our daughter was entertained and we actually got to talk to each other!!

Our first 'real' drawing

Our little 2 1/2 year old daughter is growing up SO fast -- sometimes that's a good thing and sometimes it's a little rough around here with attitude! One of the fun things she is doing now is expanding her artistic abilities. These pictures were done at the babysitter's house:

LOOK -- 'real' pictures!!! These were the first pictures where she actually drew something other than scribbles! It makes me so excited to see these -- like a rite of passage into toddlerhood and beyond!

Getting better.....SLOWLY

So, I gave up and was defeated by my illness and went to the doctor. I got to the point of being dizzy when I would stand up and lay down and I finally said I'd had enough....

It was a double ear infection!!! WHAT? Do adults really get ear infections anymore? I had them as a child -- I actually had them a LOT as a child. Then, I had another one when I was in college and now again. I'm on an antibiotic, but my ears are still pretty much completely blocked. I can only hear a loud ringing in my ears.....it really makes it hard to get to sleep at night.

So, there you have it...the final stage of this illness. Lesson for everyone out there -- go to the doctor earlier than I did!!

STILL sick...

Yes, I'm still sick here at our house...now, it's morphed into some sort of stomach bug -- I found myself all dressed for work and ready to walk out the door, when BAM -- I needed the bathroom. I was really wishing it was morning sickness, but no -- I've also started my period today! What a nice way to start the week, huh?

Got a case of the Sickies?

Did you get the bug too? We officially have every bug of the winter season to date! I was so proud of our family last week, when everyone else was talking about how sick they all were and how "it's SO BAD this year!" -- in the back of my mind I was like, 'wow, we're doing good -- we haven't caught anything this year'.

I spoke way to soon! I came down with the chest-nose-sinus-ears-aches-cough-can't breath cold and have been battling it for almost a week now, but the worst has been the past 2 1/2 days. I stayed home sick from work yesterday and was going to try to get into work today but....

Our toddler daughter woke up this morning vomitting! So, now she has some sort of stomach bug. She had the sniffles and cough for a couple of days, but was doing better last night.

My husband had the sniffles and sneezes for one day and then he was better -- yes, ONE day! How does he get away with that? It's not fair at all!

The only one not sick at this house is the cat....

Thank goodness for PBS -- we're watching Super Why as we speak, so mommy can get away from the germs for a minute! Hope there's something good on next...maybe a little Seasame Street or Barney? I don't really care what it is, as long as it holds her attention!

I broke out the disinfectant wipes...I know they'll come in handy today! :)

3 days in a row...

NO NAP -- for 3 days in a row now, what's with that? Please, please don't tell me she's ready to 'give up' her nap! That's my sanity, it's my resting place, it's my entire being and you're going to tell me she might be ready to give it up? NO WAY! I won't stand for it!

She's up there in her room, still in a crib -- I mean, she's not 3 yet and I'm not ready to let her be a 'big girl' in her room. So, we still have the crib. She's been up there for about an hour and a half, talking, reading and then being quiet for periods of time. Each time I think she's asleep, I hear her calling for me again.

We are still sick -- I was up all night coughing, my poor husband was probably kept up by the barking dog laying next to him. I would have come downstairs and slept on the couch, but I heard a loud thump and then I was scared -- I am very skittish when it comes to noises after dark -- have always been that way. In my mind, there was someone with a ladder against our house (the thumping noise was the ladder being rested on the side of the house) and they were trying to crawl into our windows. Now, in my mind, if I just lay real still they would go away, but if I got up they would jump out at me! Crazy, I know - but that's how my brain works -- I've got lots more stories/ideas/theories where that came from.

Getting back to the no napping story -- I know we all need some extra sleep -- the toddler went to school today, I masked her cough by some cough medicine and she appeared to be fine. Gave her some more medicine before nap, but of course I'm a good mom and I gave her the alcohol-free sort of medicine -- that's why she's still up!

Maybe there's some sort of stimulant in cough medicine and that's what's keeping her up? There must be some other reason than the crazy notion that she's 'giving up' her nap......right?

FOUND

FOUND: men's wedding ring!

So, this is actually quite embarrassing if you ask me. My dad came up with his trusty metal detector to search our back yard for my husband's lost wedding ring and he didn't really even need it! He put new batteries in the metal detector and went to 'level' it or something like there -- where you have to get the detector set to the certain kind of soil. So, he was leveling it, heard a little noise and looked down and there was the ring! It was at the end of the steps on our back porch.

Just like I said....right under our noses. We just needed a wiser nose to find it! :)

WANTED:

WANTED: Nanny 911

Two posts in one day? Yes, because we are reaching desparate times here at our house! Our 2, almost-3-in-April, year old daughter is pushing all of the right buttons at all the wrong times. For the past week, or pretty much since the holidays ended, she has demanded 100% of our attention 100% of her waking hours. The only time she'll sit quietly by herself, is when the TV is on and she's watching one of her shows. Other than that, it's, "MOMMY I need this, MOMMY I want that, MOMMY I need you to play with me NOW" and on and on and ON.

I think there are several factors going on here and I am just reaching for some advice and guidance.

1. she received LOTS of attention around the holidays -- Christmas occurred for 2 straight weeks around here. Then, there was New Year's and both sets of grandparents were up visiting and spending the night. Now that everyone is gone, it's just us and she still desires that level of attention.

2. she's coming down with a cold -- the same one I have, so I know she's not feeling 100% healthy right now. I wouldn't mind the lounge around, lay on the couch sort of illness (like I've been feeling for the past 4 days), but NO -- she wants to play, play, PLAY -- get out all of the toys, make a large mess and then refuse to clean up!

She was yawning all morning, coughing up a lung after lunch and now has been sitting in her room for the past 2 hours talking and requesting to get out of her bed (in between yawns)-- I think it's a test and I refuse to give in!

Honestly, I think part of the problem is that she's 'testing' us -- how far can she go before we 'break' and give in to her demands. But, my husband works long hours and doesn't get home until pretty much bedtime, I have been under the weather for the past week, so neither one of us has any energy to deal with a toddler: BINGO -- I think we have found our problem.

The solution: please call Jo-Jo from The Nanny - I could use her right about now!!

MISSING:

MISSING: men's gold wedding ring

Yes, that's right, my husband lost his wedding ring! The story goes something like this: he was peeling potatoes (to make mashed potatoes) into our kitchen sink. We don't have a garbage disposal, since we live in the 'country' and are on our own well and septic system. So, he decides to toss the potato peels out into the backyard -- you know, to 'recycle' and add some fertilizer to the ground. (yes, we are pretty much recycling freaks!) Well, he comes back in the house and announces, "my wedding ring flew off when I threw the peels outside". Now, you know in Illinois during the winter, it's dark pretty much by 4:30M. So, we bundle up, grab some flashlights and search the yard for a sparkly golden ring. No luck last night.

I go out again today-- in the overcast, freezing, slightly snowing daylight and again have no such luck.

I called my dad -- he's an avid metal detector, but since he's retired -- he's 'busy' today. He penciled us in for Wednesday to search our backyard for my husband's wedding ring -- wish us luck!

My parents swear that no bird or squirrel will run off with the shiny treasure, but I'm not so sure. I'm sure when we find it, it will have been 'right under our noses'!