Bunch of random pictures

Just a bunch of random pictures from the past few weeks.

Climbing up to play on Mommy's computer..


Julia loves walking around with her Blankie on her head and then playing Peek-a-Boo.



Julia loves stripping down to just her diaper on the days we just hang out around the house. Here she is pushing Elmo around in her shopping cart, while wearing TWO purses and her snow boots.




Playing with her purses (and you can see Elmo in the stroller).



Chilling out on the couch just like Daddy does!



Silly girl!!

Playing in the snow

It was snowing yesterday. We ended up with about an inch or two by this morning. We took Julia out in it yesterday morning because she woke up and said "It's snowing!"

Julia got her new snowsuit and snow boots a few weeks ago, so we tried them out! (even though there was very little snow on the ground yet) We stayed out for about 45 minutes and her face was all red.

The book aisle!

For most kids, it is the toy aisle you cannot get them out of. For Julia, it is the book aisle!!

I had to stop at the store after work to pick up some cat food. Julia came with me since we stopped on the way home. Julia no longer wants to ride in the cart, but wants to help push it. I am okay with this as long as she stays right next to me and does not go running off (which she did and resulting in much crying when punished).

At one point we walked past the book aisle. She took off running into it and refused to leave! She kept picking up book after book and looking at it and showing me. (the little kids books were right at her height) After about 15-20 minutes I finally had to carry her out of the book aisle kicking and screaming, because she did not want to leave.

My little book worm!

She can read!!

The other night Jerrod decided it was time we start working with Julia on learning to read. On of her favorite books is "Baby Boo". Jerrod was reading it to her the other night. He read it very slowly, pointing to and saying each word. Julia quickly recognized the word "baby" after a few pages. She would shout "baby" when Jerrod pointed to it. He thought she was actually recognizing the word, so he wrote it on a piece of paper and asked her what the word was. She immediately said "baby"!!! WOW!!

Then the next day I told him to use different paper and writing utensil to write "baby" and see if that made a difference. It didn't!! She again immediately said "BABY"!!

So then he worked with her a little more. She can now read four words: Baby, Dog, Cat and Julia!! (Can you tell Julia is an animal lover?)

I am AMAZED that at less then 2 years old, she can read words!!!!!!!

More ice cream

Julia really takes after the Ernst's when it comes to liking ice cream. I can remember my Grandpa Ernst eating a bowl of ice cream everyday. Growing up we always had ice cream in the freezer and ate it most night. I still LOVE ice cream, and eat it frequently. (It was a LONG 10 months when Julia was allergic to dairy and I could not eat ice cream!!)

Last night I was getting ready to make supper and I asked Julia what she wanted for supper. Her reply? "Ice Cream!!!"

She did get ice cream for desert!

Ice Cream, Ice Cream!!!

I think during the summer when Jerrod's parent's watched Julia on Fridays they would stop at the Dairy Queen on the way home from the bank and Julia and MiMi would share an ice cream sundae.

When driving home on Saturday, Jerrod wanted a Cherry Lime-aid from Sonic, which happens to be located right next to the Dairy Queen. Soon as we pulled out of Sonic, Julia starts saying "ice cream, ice cream". She much have remembered the sundaes from this summer! We tried to offer her some of the lime-aid, but she wanted nothing to do with it and was crying for "ice cream, ice cream!!". We told her we had ice cream at home, but she finally fell asleep and did not get ice cream.

Then on Saturday evening, we had a Thanksgiving dinner to go to. It was also Jerrod's birthday the day before. Since I was gone all day helping my family butcher, we did not get to celebrate it. I finally made him a cake on Saturday and we were going to have it when we finally got home from the dinner. One the way home Jerrod was telling Julia that she was going to get to eat some of daddy's birthday cake, and somehow the word "ice cream" slipped out. That is all it took to get her started again about wanting ice cream.

We finally get home and I get her a bowl of ice cream before I even get Jerrod's cake out. We sing Jerrod Happy Birthday and cut the cake. Julia refused the cake and just wanted more ice cream!! So she got a second bowl of ice cream! She did eventually eat a couple bites of cakes, but still wanted more ice cream! I finally drew the line on ice cream after two bowls of it. It was bedtime after all!

Busy holiday

We had a very busy holiday! Three dinners to go to, a family butchering, and a teething toddler!!

Meals went good. Julia is DEFINITELY more sociable this year than she was last year. Several of Jerrod's cousins asked when Julia started talking since Julia actually comfortable enough this year to talk!! They were amazed when we told them she has been talking to a year and a half and could say hundreds of words. I think she will always be somewhat shy, but so is her mom and dad.

Julia is also cutting 2 year molars. I don't know how many since she refuses to let me look. By I can tell by the chewing and crankiness. Luckily, she has been pretty good about it and if it is really bothering her, Motrin helps a lot!

Baby boofs and fishes..

Julia loves helping feed the fish. If it was up to her, they would get fed multiple times a day.

The other day we needed more fish food. I thought Julia would like the pet store, so I took her with me. She LOVED it. It was not one of the big, major pet store chains. This was a small store that mainly had fish and small animals, but did have a few puppies and kittens. Two whole walls are just fish tanks. Julia kept walking along all the fish tanks pointing. She thought they were so neat. We also got to see the baby boofs (puppies). She thought they were pretty cool too. She them had to check out the reptile room and all the bunnies, birds and kittens at the front of the store. We probably spend 20-30 minutes in the store (when it only took 2 minutes to pick up the fish food), with her just checking out all the animals. At one point a guy walked right by us carrying a big bully-type dog. I though Julia would freak out with a big dog coming that close, but she was GREAT!!

I think she enjoyed this pet store more than she did the Newport Aquarium we took her too. I guess it has been almost a year since we took her there, a lot has changed since then. I think another trip there is in order!

The toddler's helper and "The Trio"

Last night when I went to pick Julia up from daycare she came running up to me and said "I pooped". So I wanted to change her before we left. At daycare, after they get their diaper changed, they have to wash their hands. As I was helping Julia wash her hands, this little girl came up and gave me the soap to use on Julia's hands. She then asked if she could give Julia a hug before I put her coat on. I said sure. They gave each other a big hug and it was very cute. Then this little girl (who is older than Julia) asked if she could help zip up Julia's coat. I told her to go right ahead. She zipped up Julia's coat and helped put on her hat. I them told Julia to tell her "thank you". Julia thanked her and wanted to give her a hug and kiss. She took the hug, but was not too sure about the kiss since Julia kisses on the lips.

I did not know what this little girl's name was. I see her all the time, but she is actually in the older toddler's class (called the Big Bears), where Julia is in the younger toddler's class (called the Baby Bears). These two classes share the same areas and are often playing together.

So this morning I was asking Julia's main caregiver what this little girl's name and how she helped last night. The caregiver said, "Oh, that is Kalynn, she is a little mommy". I was telling her the only kids Julia really talks about are Ayla and Brooke. The caregiver laughed and said "oh yes, The Trio". "The Trio?" I asked, "so they must play together a lot?". The caregiver chuckled again and said "oh yeah, Ayla, Brooke and Julia; the little Trio".

Sounds like Julia has some buddies at daycare. I am really glad. I was worried that she might be too shy and stick to herself. It is good to know she has friends she likes to play with. But I really have to chuckle that they are nicknamed "The Trio". That is just too cute and funny!!!

Bugs

We seriously think Julia is going to be an Entomologist when she grows up. She LOVES bugs, which is funny considering she is so scared of everything else.

She is just fascinated by bugs. Looking at them, picking them up, taking about them, etc... She even calls all bruises, cuts, freckles, moles, etc. "bug", as in bug bite. She has even gotten pinched (enough to draw blood) by some beetle with pincher claws when she picked it up at daycare outside. Every time we see a bug, we have to stop and examine it.

Today she had to wear her "bug" shirt, even though it was short sleeved. It was a t-shirt with lady bugs on it. She made sure everyone at daycare knew she had bugs on her shirt!!

Who know such a scared-y cat would LOVE bugs?!?!!

"My buddy"

Gavin is our youngest cat. He is a white long-haired cat who is deaf. He also apparently has a VERY high pain threshold. I don't know if it is because he is deaf or what, but Gavin is a perpetual kitten. He is always getting into something. He can be a real pain. BUT.......

He has more than earned his keep with Julia. Julia loves Gavin and Gavin loves her. Julia will beat on him, pull his hair, lay completely on top on him, and just generally be rough with him.(We don't allow these behaviors, but you know how toddlers are.) Gavin will just lay there taking the abuse and actually PURR through it!!!!

The other day while Julia was loving up on Gavin, I asked her if Gavin was her buddy. She replied "My buddy", while patting him. So now she will go up to Gavin, give him some loving and say "my buddy".

They are best buds! Well, until Gavin plays with one of her toys then he is a "bad kitty" according to her.

Kisses for Elmo

Julia and Elmo are still inseparable!

She has never shown an interest in dolls before, but wow, she is with Elmo. I had to buy a small pack of preemie diapers for Elmo, because she thinks Elmo needs a diaper on and needs to be changed often; complete with wiping him with a baby wipe.

Now, we have to give Elmo kisses all the time. Bedtime is the worse. She want me to rock her for a few minutes before bed. During that time I will have kissed Elmo MANY times!!! She also is always giving Elmo kisses. I think she might kiss Elmo more than she kisses us!!

I think I might work too much

Since my family does Christmas on Christmas Eve, I thought I might take a vacation day that day so we are not rushing around. (I get Dec 25 and 26 off)

I looked up how much vacation time I current have just too make sure I was not running low. I found out not only do I have a BUNCH of vacation time, but I am actually getting close to the point that I have so much that I might start losing it!! (We are only allowed to carry over a certain amount each year).

I think maybe I work too much and don't take enough vacation time!

Since I had all this time and we are having people over Christmas morning, I decided to just take the entire Christmas week off!! This way I can get my house clean!

*Maybe be are just too broke to go on vacation and that is why I never take any*

Ewwww, what a way to start the morning.

Most mornings Julia likes to undress herself in her crib before I get to her. This includes taking off her diaper. I have been really lucky that she does not poop overnight, but I knew it was only a matter of time.

Sunday morning I hear (on the monitor) Julia wake up about 7:30am. She is quietly playing in her crib, so I try to get a couple more minutes of sleep. A little while later she starts screaming. I go down to get her and see why she is screaming.

She had taken off her pj's and had started on her diaper, only there was poop in it. She somehow managed to get poop on both hands and on her face. Ewwwwwww!!!!! She was so upset over this. So I get her up and start cleaning her up and have Jerrod start running a bath for her. Her and Jerrod play in the tub while I go clean up the mess. BUT by some twist of luck, there was very little poo ANYWHERE!! There was a little on the bars of the crib where she was holding on, but that was it!! I was expecting to have to strip the bedding and wash down the entire crib. I have heard stories of kids "painting" walls and such with poo. Amazingly Elmo and the Blankie BOTH also survived without anything on them.

By 8:30am everyone was all clean and finally eating breakfast for the day.

Piano with Daddy

Jerrod is pretty good at playing the piano. He and Julia were making music together the other night.

Bounce!!

A couple weeks ago when over at my parent's, Julia and 2 of her cousins got on the trampoline. (I am not a big fan of trampolines, but I was standing right there, my sister was sitting on the trampoline with them, and Julia was bouncing around on her butt, not actually jumping. So she was safe.)

Julia thought the trampoline was great fun!!

Bouncing on her butt!


Julia and her cousin, Darren (who is 10 weeks younger) bouncing together.


Having fun with 2 of her cousins. (They don't look like brothers, but they are!)

Brrrrrr....

It has been really cold the last few days. I really need to get a winter coat. Right now I am still wearing a light jacket!! I have had my old winter coat for the last 3 years and it is really starting to look bad. I just I might just have to dig it out until I find a new one.

I found one I like, but it does not have a hood. I am wondering if I can deal without one? It is also a little more expensive than I was planning on. But if it last me 3 years also, I guess I would have gotten my money out of it. One last concern I have with it is that it is a wool blend, I can just imagine it would be a magnet for cat hair!!!

Julia is all set on winter coats. She has a couple and looks so cute in them. I have ordered hats and mittens to match, but I am still waiting for them. So in the mean time, I bought a cheap set of hat and mittens at Meijer's until the matching ones arrive. This is the first year she has worn mittens. Last year at this time she was still in the infant seat with the lambswool cover, so no mitten's needed. She is starting to get used to them, but we still struggle to get her thumb in the thumb hole.

Her chair

Jerrod's parents got a new couch last week, we got their old couch and matching chair since it matches our living room so well and was still in pretty good shape. The chair was the one Debbie always sat in and her and Julia always played in. Now Julia feels that it is HER chair!!

Nobody else is allowed to sit in it, not even the cats! She yells and hollers at anyone (or any cat) that does. So we have to put the feet support up for her and she just sits and plays in it. Just like she did when it was at MiMi's house.

Still scared

Julia is still freaks out over silly things. Debbie bought Julia with pink parka-type winter coat, complete with a fake fur-trimmed hood. We got it out yesterday for Julia to wear since it was so cold out. She FREAKED OUT over it. Complete with screaming and big tears streaming down her cheeks. We finally forced her into it. After a few minutes she was fine with it. I think it was the fur on the hood that freaked her out. (And she looks completely adorable in it!!)

Also last night she was running to her room and spotted on of our cats in the hallway and it scared her. She started screaming and turned around and ran to the complete other side of the house to hide. She has lived with these cats all her life and normally loves them. Airplanes in the sky also really scare her, among the hundreds of other things.

Her development screening at her daycare 2 months ago also said that she was extremely fearful. I was hoping it was just a stage she would grow out of, but it does not look like it. She has been this way pretty much her entire life. Her 2 year check up is coming up in 5-6 weeks. I am going to mention it to her pedi. Maybe there is something, or some program, that can help her. It just does not seem right for her to be this scared.

Future pianist

Jerrod played the piano for YEARS, and I have always wanted to. One year for my birthday Jerrod bought me a piano. It had actually been his great-aunts. I think Julia is like her parents and is going to be a future pianist.




Julia loves playing the piano so much that I am not even allowed to sit on the bench with her anymore. She wants the ENTIRE piano to herself.