And there is another

Another tooth that is. Yes, more crabbiness, lack of sleep and screaming.

And along with the two teeth that came in her mouth, so did a little attitude. What happened to my sweet little angel girl? She has been throwing things, pushing me away from her and whining a whole lot.

To top it off I have a cold. It is a head cold. I am so stuffed that my head feels like it is going to explode. Doesn't help when your baby is whining and crying. I am so glad that I don't work tomorrow.

I think it is going to snow here tonight. I am not looking forward to the snow. We still need to get three tires on our car replaced. We don't want to buy new ones because we are giving the car back at the end of the lease which is in a couple months. So we are in search of used tires, and have only been able to find one thus far.

Lack of Sleep...

This week has been a bit rough for us here. Alyssa has been crabby and waking up in the middle of the night screaming, with tears. I felt so bad. I didn't know what was wrong. She wasn't warm, she didn't have cold-like symptoms, so I didn't think that Alyssa would be teething. (Which is what everyone told me to look for in a teething baby). On Friday, I felt in her mouth, tiny little bumps. She really gives me hard time looking into her mouth. She clamps her mouth shut...nothing is getting in there, unless it's food. When she was talking and laughing on Friday, I also got to see it. This little white thing in her mouth poking out. I can't believe my little baby has a tooth.

My poor baby, this is why she has been so cranky. That explains it all. I know this is only the beginning. There are a lot of teeth that need to come in.

In Demand

The baby shower went wonderfully (for my friend due in Feb). There was a little more people than expected. About 20 RSVP'd and about 80 showed up. But we accommodated well. She got a ton of stuff, she should be occupied with putting things together for a little while.

Thursday is Turkey day....Yeah!! We will be going to my aunts house (dad's side). My mom has to work and my in-laws have yet to invite us. They do this all of the time. They either wait to the last minute, or they don't ask at all. Then they get mad that we never "eat" at their house. (We ALWAYS visit on EVERY holiday)!!!

I found out we have the coolest thing on our cable box. It is called IN DEMAND. You can pick TV shows or movies and play, pause, rewind or fast forward them. How cool is that??? We can't see the lastest and greatest movies (they cost money, like Pay per view), but I will take some that are playing on HBO or Showtime any day!! So yesterday I watched Cat in the Hat. Loved it. It was cute. It was so neat because I paused it so I could get Alyssa ready for bed. I can't believe how sheltered my life is....

Second Baby Shower & Alyssa Talk

I know I haven't posted in about a week, I have been very busy. I am now getting everything together for the second baby shower that I am helping throw. I have made these really cute poems and game sheets. Of course, I am so creative that I am going to cut them into little dresses. Of course, after about 20 sheets of paper cut into little dresses, I curse myself for ever thinking of this damn idea. So every moment of spare time I have had this past week has been cutting cute little dresses for the baby shower on Sunday.

Gary, Alyssa and myself went to a get-together on Saturday night. There was a little girl who was two months older than Alyssa there. She was crawling everywhere, cruising along the furniture and even taking a few steps on her own. Alyssa stared at her in admiration, as if she longed to be wondering the room grabbing at all the things she should not be touching. She then looked down grabbed one of her toys and resumed playing in her safe little cozy spot where she doesn't move.

The other night I put the remote control (which she loves) just a little out of her reach. She grabbed for it twice and thought to herself, I don't care if I have that remote, I really don't want it. Why would I go out of my way for that??

I know, I know, I really am thankful I am not chasing her everywhere. Alyssa truly is a wonderful baby. She eats well, sleeps well, plays well. I couldn't ask for a better baby. I am actually afraid to have more babies as this will come back to haunt me in the future.

I told Gary the other day, I wish I could freeze this time frame. It is wonderful. She hasn't broke through any teeth yet (so she isn't crabby). She has been going to bed without any problems for the past few weeks. She doesn't even cry or whine unless she is tired or hungry. She isn't getting into everything because she isn't mobile. I know things only get better, but at this point, I would change diapers forever to have her stay like this!!!

Well, I hope that Sunday's shower turns out well and hopefully I won't be planning any other baby showers in the near future. It really makes a dent in the wallet.

And the one with flowers

One more picture to show off.

I absolutely love this outfit. I almost didn't buy it. I bought the shirt and thought I really didn't need the dress. A few weeks later, I went back to buy the dress, because I realized I should have bought it to begin with. I couldn't find it anywhere. I was so bummed. I was looking through the clearance rack and what did I find, but one dress left. And it was her size too! It was meant to be.

New Pictures

We have so much fun taking Alyssa to get her pictures done. I can never choose only one.

I bought this outfit at the Osh Kosh Outlet store at an outlet mall that is over 2 hours away. When driving home, I was looking at the outfit again and noticed I bought that hat in a 12 month size. I was so upset thinking that it wouldn't fit her head and that I wouldn't be able to return it. When we got home I immediately tried it on Alyssa. It fit! I always thought she had a bigger head, but I didn't know it was that big!

Miscellaneous Thoughts

Sorry I haven't posted in a while.

Gary is on vacation. So that means that he hogs the computer all day long!

Saturday night we went to a surprise 50th birthday party for my uncle. He was very surprised. (it was great). My aunt came in from Florida to surprise everyone, including my grandma. And my grandma was one pissed off lady when she found out that my aunt was in town the night before and she didn't know it.

Since the party was an adults only party, Alyssa wasn't allowed to come. That was OK since everyone was pretty much drunk and stupid all night. So, we took Alyssa to see my aunt on Sunday afternoon before she left to go back to Florida. It was a nice afternoon and all of my other aunts and uncles ended up coming too.

Yesterday, Gary and I went wondering around our town. We went to lunch, the mall and Toys R Us. We bought Alyssa a couple toys to let her play with now. She doesn't have much besides rattles and stuffed animals, so we thought we would get her some toys more appropriate to her age. Well, all she wants to is eat them. We bought her a phone that makes noise and a Minnie Mouse that crawls and makes noise. Life at our house just got much nosier!!

I tried to put Alyssa on her hands and knees to see if she would want to be like Minnie, but all she did is scream. Normally she will roll herself over 2 seconds after being put on her tummy, but this time, all she did was scream. I don't think my baby will ever crawl. She still doesn't even roll from her back to her tummy. I am beginning to worry about that part. I mean what kid won't roll both ways by the time they are 7 1/2 months old?? Seems a little strange to me. My doctor tells me to not be concerned, but that was at the 6 month checkup.

I guess I just had a bunch of ramble today. Now I have to go to work. I really just want to crawl back into my warm bed and go back to sleep, but I don't have that option today. I really need to thank my lucky stars that I only have to work part time and quit my whining.

Everything Looks Good

A few weeks ago when Alyssa had her urinary tract infection, her doctor scheduled an appointment to make sure Alyssa's insides were working properly. She wanted to make sure that there wasn't any reflux with her bladder and kidneys that caused the urinary tract infection.

It was a confusing drive to the hospital and Alyssa was crabby from not taking a long nap. She fought to get the ultrasound done and she screamed when they had to strap her to the little table to stick the catheter into her.

She was a stubborn little one. When they dripped the dye liquid into her bladder, her bladder quickly became full. She refused to pee. She was screaming and holding it in. After a couple minutes, the doctor ordered the nurse to take the catheter out. As soon as it was out, Alyssa immediately peed all over the table. (Good Girl!!!)

The monitor showed her tiny bladder and the dye that filled inside of it. When she released urine all over their table, it only went down. Nothing refluxed back up into her kidneys!! YEAH!

So, everything is OK and she doesn't have to be on any type of antibiotics.

My mom came with me, since she is somewhat familiar with this hospital. (My youngest sister was 10 weeks premature and had to stay incubated at this Babies & Children's hospital until her lungs fully developed).

As we were leaving, my mom felt it necessary to make the comment that Alyssa was a stubborn girl, just like her mom. How rude?!?!

Does My Husband Read?

I always wondered if my husband read my posts. My website is saved in my favorites, and he easily has access to that. Don't worry, honey, if you do, I don't mind. I am just curious.

Today is our 3 year anniversary. Part of me thinks, "wow, 3 years, that seemed to fly by". And the other part of me thinks, "only 3 years, it seems like we have been together forever". Now, with that second statement, I don't mean it bad in anyway, only that I almost can't remember a time without him.

I guess it is appropriate to tell the story on how we met. Now it isn't really exciting, but I still like to tell it.

In July of 1998, I was working as a cashier for a local grocery store. This was after I was kicked out of college. I met a girl, who then became my really good friend (due in December). She always told me about this guy who was at their house all of the time. She said he needed a girlfriend, so she didn't have to see him everyday. (Her husband is Gary's best friend since they were 3). So, I went to a get together at her house one day. Gary sat in the corner, reading a newspaper. He didn't even say one word to me, except for the "Hi", when we were introduced. To say the least, I wasn't interested in someone who didn't even want to talk to me.

My friend was disappointed, but not surprised. She said that he was a very shy person when he first meets people. (I now find this to be very true!)

A few months later, I saw Gary at a bowling alley. He was with his best friend and I was with a couple friends. A friend that I was with knew Gary and started talking to him. Since I was there, I was involved in the conversation. I noticed that he was so nice and funny. I thought to myself, "I should take the time to get to know this guy".

My friend then gave Gary my phone number, and we talked all of the time. Our first date was to go see the movie "Titanic". We would hang out everyday. I realized this is the most amazing man I ever met.

He proposed to me two years later, on March 27, 2000. It wasn't anything that he planned out. But there is a reason behind that. He is the type of person that gets so excited to give you a present, he can't wait for a day or a time or a cue to give it to you. It is like those presents burn a hole in his pocket. He has actually given me birthday presents a day or two early, because he can't wait. So, he gave me the beautiful ring in our kitchen as soon as he got home from the store. He did get down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Of course, I said yes.

We spend a long year and a half planning a great wedding. Everything turned out beautifully. It was a beautiful fall day. I couldn't have asked for better weather. It was well worth the money we had spent. Then we had a wonderful honeymoon. We took a 4 night Caribbean cruise and then spent 2 days in Disney World. It was the best vacation ever!!

And now here we are 3 years later, with a house and a baby. We have been truly blessed with everything that has happened in our lives. It's almost like I am waiting for the roof to cave in.

And honey, if you are reading, I love you and Happy Anniversary!!!

This was the first costume...

This was the first costume I picked out. I put it on Alyssa and of course we took pictures. For some unknown unexplainable reason, Gary didn't like the pig outfit. (I am telling you, this Halloween costume thing was the hardest decision of our lives thus far).

So, I took the pig outfit back.

After getting these pictures back, I realized that I should have went with my first instinct and kept the pig costume.

Introducing my little pumpkin...

Here is the second costume that I bought. I called Gary while I was in the store and made sure that the pumpkin costume would pass the daddy inspection for his little girl's first Halloween. He said that it did.

Even though I was a bit more partial to the pig costume, she made a damn cute pumpkin.

She will always be my little pumpkin!!