Sickness

This winter has taken a toll on our house this year sickness wise. We just cannot seem to shake the junk that is going around. Alissa has had colds off and on since November. I have had a few colds myself. I generally do not even get sick. That's the weird part. Last week I had the pleasure of laryngitis. This is the first time that I have completely lost my voice. From beginning to end, it was about 5 days or so.

When we were driving home from school last week, Alissa had 20 questions to ask me- or so it felt. It was nonsense questions that really were of no importance to me..but they were to her. Everytime I would answer, she could barely hear due to my laryngitis. She would get upset and say DON'T WHISPER! Well I couldn't turn my head to look at her, because I had to drive. I was so frustrated by the millionth question. Mommy? me...WHAT Alissa. I love you she said. My heart melted and I immediately because unfrustrated. I love that girl. She makes my heart smile.

Well my laryngitis did get better. But, Chris aquired a sore throat. His didn't get better. Sunday he went to urgent care. Bronchitis was the diagnosis. At this point he had a sore throat for over a week and barely able to swallow. Alissa had a nasty cough wasn't able to shake it. I decided to take her Sunday evening to urgent care. The diagnosis...strep, bronchitis, and an ear infection. This is the first time my baby has had anythign other than a cold. So...Chris and Alissa are both on antibiotics and we are conviced that Chris had strep. The Dr's at urgent care evidently didn't feel the need to culture his throat after that being the reason for his visit. Yeish. But....everyone is slowly starting to feel better.

I cannot wait until Spring so we can all get outside and enjoy some fresh air. It's needed to clear the house and our lungs of all the sickness.

Time is Passing Too Quickly

Oh boy!! Time just keeps flying by! Here we are at the end of 2010 and I have no idea where this year went. Alissa is super big. She's 3 and is miss personality. she loves to laugh and has just started the pretending phase. It's so funny to see her care for her baby dolls and when she does...she says things that Chris and I do to her! Her favorite books right now are Ratattoulle and If you Give a Mouse a Muffin. Her favorite TV show is Little Bear. She loves him!! She will watch it all day every day if she could. Her new facination is dresses. She will put them on and twirl around. She just loves to wear them. She is starting to listen MUCH better than she has been. Still not potty trained, but I'm going to let it go until summer and try again then. Maybe she'll have a renewed interest in it. To update previous posts ...she is completly binky free. That's been since the summer or so. she's also in a big girl twin bed and does great!! The last part of being a little girl is overcoming this potty hurdle. But timing is everything I guess. I jsut can't believe my little girl is growing up. It's going by so fast. Here's an updated picture from us. Wishing you all a great 2011!!!

School

Alissa has started day care which we call "school". She's in the pre-school room and doing quite well. It's been three days and quite an adjustment. Here's some photos of her first few days. Picking a day care was a chore. We visited four. The one we chose...each day she's there- my heart is filled with confirmation we chose the right one. The staff is amazing there!!!

The Case of What are You Doing?'s

Last week, I was using my cook book. The whole morning Alissa had been asking her famous question- " Mom, What are you doing?" So I had already been bombarded with that question by the time this situation had arrived. Alissa had gotten a hold of my cookbook and ripped out a page. Alissa- "Mom, What are you doing?" Me- " I am using tape on the holes. I am doing this because you ripped it out and now it won't stay in the book. I am putting the tape here so it closes the holes and keeps it in the book. And please don't ask what I am doing because I just gave you an extremely thorough explanation." Alissa- "Mom, what are you doing?" *sigh*......

Long Overdue

Man, I have seriously been slacking on the posts. It's terrible. A lot has been going on- or at least it feels that way. Alissa is so big. I can't believe how big she is. Here's the latest scoop:

-We're potty training. Gummy Bears have served as a well deserved reward. We have to be careful because EVERYTHING seems to have peanuts in it. She is severly allergic to them. And she LOVES the gummy bears. We have had pull ups for quite some time because she has figured out how to take off her diapers. We did buy "big girl Dora's" (toddler underwear) awhile back. She did show interest but then it faded. Well yesterday...she undressed, put underwear on (the right way), and put her shorts on. I was so impressed!! No accidents from 5pm until bed. That's about 4 hours!!

-Alissa loves blue. Her favorite color is hands down- blue. Her favorite shirt is the blue bike one. It's a shirt that I will take a picture of to show her when she gets older. I really should frame the shirt. She will wear it every day if she has the option.

-Alissa can count to 14. She does get tripped up when she gets to 7-9 ish. But 10 she gets right back on track.

-Alissa loves outdoors. She will spend every waking minute outdoors if she can. She is a water bug too. Any pool she can find...she is in it.

-Alissa also had her 1st hair cut. Not too much, but a trim to even it out. I did save the hair =)

Chris and I are here too. We're looking into getting Chris a 2nd job and putting Alissa into day care. We both need a change of pace for now and I think it would be good for Alissa to make some new friends.

Mother's Day

I am really blessed as a wife and mother. This year, from a mother stand point, I am totally enjoying Alissa. She is walking, talking, and her personality is in full bloom. She says full sentences for the most part. Her first full sentence was" Mama, ho-dee caw caw me." Interpretation...Mama- I want to hold the bird. She is completely fascinated with birds. She loves the outdoors and is my little cuddle bunny. She loves her mama. She is a daddy's girl though. While she loves the mama comfort side..she enjoys the daddy time as well.

From a wife stand point I have been blessed this year. I received lillies at work and then suprised the following day with a hair appointment, escorted by my hubby. He showed up at work and told me we needed to leave RIGHT NOW. He had everything all set up for me. Work already knew as well! I'm honored that he thought to pamper me this year. I do have an amazing husband!! He knew me well enough to know that if he didn't drag me there I wouldn't have made the appointment myself.

Life is going good...just seems like it's going way too fast.

Here's the most recent picture...Alissa and me on on Easter Sunday.

So Frustrated

Lately I have been a ball of frustrations. First is with Alissa. Potty training is going down right horrible. I guess I'm used to dogs and with a treat...it's easy rewarding. Alissa has shown interest in the potty and would have great waves of success. Lately...it's wishy washy. There are times where she'll do great and then others where she screams to sit on the potty and yells.."NO POBBY NO POBBY". *sigh* I know it takes time but I feel like no progress is being made. Another one of her newest "tricks" is de-robing. When you put her down for a nap or for bed...she will take her pants off, take off her pull up and go to sleep. Most of the time, she'll pee on one side of the bed and sleep on the other. It's getting so tiresome. As much as I try I can't get her to sleep with at least her pull up on. Last night I went in her room twice and put it on. The second time to find a bed full of pee and a sleeping daughter. So...stripping the bed and washing her sheets has happened 2 times a day for the last few weeks. The dr's office game me a good idea that we will try. We are going to try putting on a footed sleeper, but cutting off the feet. We will put the zipper in the back and hopefully she won't be able to undress. I don't mind her sleeping in just her pull up..but she won't keep that on.

The second frustration is with work and where I'm at. I so want to be a photographer. I have had 2 opportunities to buy a decent camera. So...I began praying about it. I didn't get the answer I wanted to hear. The Lord is telling me to be patient. I am where He wants me at the moment and everything will fall into place in His timing. He has given me to versus to mind lately...Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. and Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. It's comforting to know God is in control...but as an impatient human...I want the end product now!! LOL. So, I will keep plugging along and trust that His timing is perfect. He knows the desires of my heart.

I know I have been bad at posting lately, but I will put up some updated posts and pictures soon!! For now..here's one of Alissa about a month or so ago. We were playing with our best friend Joel and wearing his hard hat!