...8 Months Later

Last we spoke, the lovely Stella was just over two. Now, she is nearly three and her sibling to be will be here in about three and half months. She is thrilled! Also, we bought a house... which is actually a small trash hole in the center of Duluth. We are tearing it down and hoping for speedy rebuilding so that baby #2 can be born there... I'm worried to say it plainly. Otherwise, mothering is going well. I miss having a place we call our own, where Tinkerbell and I can be comfortable and invite friends over. But mostly, we are happy. The following pictures are in sequence... do enjoy.

September 2009 - Her first face painting.












October 2009 - Enjoying our last glorious month at Chester Terrace.









November 2009 - Helping Papa and Uncle Steve set up the concrete tables at Lake Avenue Cafe.











December 2009 - Posing in her new swimming suit. Yes, she chose it.



January 2010 - Going away party for Mama Amanda and Liona - a sad day for all. Also, Stella finds our she's going to be a big sister!






February 2010 - Photo shoot by the Mama. I had fun, she didn't.








March 2010 - Who doesn't love a good bubble bath?!








March 2010 - In Billings to visit her new cousin Liam. Stella falls in love with babies all over again.








April 2010 - Watch out boys, her Papa just sharpened the knives!




May 2010 - A cold day in May, but at the beach. Should be an awesome summer.

She's growing up so fast, but slow too. The pictures help me realize that I haven't missed anything. I miss my friend Amanda and her daughter every day. I miss hanging out with just Seth and Stella. I wish I could eat dairy products without getting a migraine. In my perfect world - our house would be finished, Amanda would be driving down for the birth of baby #2 and Rogan Josh would be simmering on the stove.

Life is good... or it will be soon.

Happy Halloween!

After the bath...

After a slightly intense trip to a thrift store with Amanda and Liona, and then dinner, Stella took a nice warm bath. Afterwards, she was very chatty. She has quite the agenda.

Stella: I, me be right back.

Me: Oh, where are you going?

Stella: Sioux Falls

Me: Really? What are you going to do there?

Stella: See Gramma Muh-kus.

Me: Oh fun... what else?

Stella: See A-wyn (Aeowyn)... Go Beeto Ingwin (Burrito Union)... Go apark... Go astore, and buy a fan.

Silly girl.

Stella's Happy Birthday

She's two years old... and acts like it too! Yesterday was Stella's birthday, and what a day it was. It started like any other day, except for the presents and constant requests for the "happy birthday song". So, after a large breakfast of yummy french toast, she opened her mamapapa present. A new pink "cramera". Loves it and has already taken many, many pictures. Also helped set up her new slide. Turns out, it's not just a slide, but one of those silly jungle gym sorts for outside... oh well, she loves it. Then comes the downward spiral.... oh boy. She runs down the hall at an alarming speed and takes a face dive straight into the hinge on the door. She cried. I did too. Recovered but with a HUGE goose-egg on her forehead. Next she managed to jump off a stool unassisted and land on her head. Then she backflipped herself off the new slide. Later, she cracked her lip open on the window..... Thank God nap time was next - she can't get hurt while she's sleeping.

Later that evening, friends came over for Stellie's Party. Lots of adults, 6 little girls and one baby boy all on the deck above our neighbors apartment, Stella loved every minute of it. We ate smoked pulled pork that Seth worked on for at least 10 hours, as well as homemede caraway cole slaw... droool. The beer and juice and tea runneth over. For dessert: "cakes" on a stick.

Really, what little kid wouldn't want their cake on a stick. With sugar highs in full on GO mode, it started raining and the party moved down back to our place. Have you ever seen 6 little sugared up kids in a 10x12 room (including two adults) all trying to play on a slide that takes up an eighth of the space? It's a miracle no one got hurt, and even more amazing that we didn't have to break up any fights!

Stella's Dream: A baby! She even got to help change Sully's diaper for her birthday. EWWW!

Stelle's sweet girlfriends (L ro R) Kiera, Stella, Aeowyn and Liona

Thank you everyone for making Stella's party a great time!

haircut

Almost 2 years old, this little bean has a personality all her own. She loves babies and makes a point of asking for a baby brother almost daily. (No, there isn't one on the way.) She thinks it's great to call us by name, and smiles deviously when we react. She does her version of pirouettes, arabesques and the down dog pose... quite well too, for an almost 2 year old. She's scared of loud noises, including thunder and pounding, but not her own VERY loud voice. She potty trained herself and can walk up and down steps unassisted. 2' 10.5" tall and 25 lbs, she is the sweetest lovey in the world.

A couple weeks ago, miss Stellie received her first hair cut... well, trim. I trimmed 3 inches off the bottom and gave her bangs - Seth's reaction (and mine) we don't like it! Ack. Oh well, it's grown on us and I'm learning that after naps, a spray bottle is our best friend, besides, it's just hair, it will grow back.

Undies!

Stella is 21 months and 9 days old today. This past Christmas, at 16 months she received a potty chair. I thought, yea, she'll get to it eventually. But to my bewilderment, she has used it everyday since, even if it was only once or twice, training herself just like I would hope. Grandma Marcus was up from Sioux Falls this week and bought Stella new underwear.... so far, it's going well. She has officially stayed dry for 2 days, yelling "potty chair" whenever she she has to go. Who would have thought that this could be so cute? And at only 21 months she is well ahead of most of friends. Walking in Papa's footsteps, maybe we should get her name on the waiting list for Cornell? Haha - maybe it's still a little early. Here, she poses in her new undies! How sweet.

Cheeeese!

She's a funny funny little child, and I'm convinced, beyond a doubt, that the crazy comes from papa. I suppose though, that is why I love her.... and Seth too. I love the crazy. Currently she is 2'9.5" tall and 25 lbs which puts her in about the 50th percentile for both. Her hair is half way down her back and her language never ceases to amaze me. She loves doughnuts and penguins, playing with her friend Liona and jumping in the lake. She thinks flossing her teeth is grand and pretend bakes a lot of cupcake, eggs and soup. She also currently loves peaches... because that's all I ate when I was pregnant? Who knows. She's a cool kid, and a lot of the time, my best friend. Love her.


Stella's signature "cheese" smile. Yep, those are stickers on her head.


































And the doughnuts I told you about.... yes, she really does love them.