30/365

Today we went to see Dr. Fakouri for Steven's 9 month check up. Anya came with us, and earlier that morning I told her where we were going. She kept saying, "I don't want to go see Dr. Fakouri, I don't want a shot!" She used to LOVE Dr. Fakouri, until earlier this fall when she got her flu shot. I kept telling her that Dr. Fakouri wasn't going to touch her, but she didn't care!

When we got there and they put us in the exam room, she even hid behind a chair!! Finally Dr. Fakouri came in, and Anya told her "I don't want a shot." She told her no shots for her, that she was just going to look at Steven today, and then she gave Anya some stickers. That made Anya very happy!!

Steven is 25 pounds, 28 3/4 inches, and an 18 3/4 inch head! He is staying good on his little curve. They did a finger stick for a blood test and one vaccine, and he never cried. What a trooper!!

Some of Chris's family came over for dinner. I decided to use my china and crystal. I rarely use it, which is so sad. I have it, I need to use it. Of course, if one of the pieces of stemware breaks, that's $30 right there! Some of the pieces had never been used and had to be washed. That was annoying! But dinner was delicious if I do say so myself, and I made bread pudding for dessert. High in points, but oh so yummy!! Chris even helped me do the dishes after everyone left!

28 and 29/365

Work for me!

Wednesday evening Ms Gail called and said she is worried about how Steven will close the door to their room. She is worried about Anya coming in, swinging the door open and whacking him in the head. Later in the evening I saw him close the door (he crawls to the open door and pushes it shut, then crawling close to the door so that you can't open it without hitting him). I saw exactly what she meant. I also saw him try to gently close the door, but almost get his little fingers caught in the doorway. I guess I will have to figure out a way to keep the door open when he is playing in there! Wednesday night Chris watched the LSU boys basketball game, so here is a picture. It was 8:30 and I had yet to take one, plus he was fussing just the other day I had no pictures of him by himself.

Mom took this picture on Thursday of Steven closing their bedroom door. If you look close, there is a string on the handle to try to him from closing it!

27/365

Today was parent/teacher conference day at Southside Baptist Preschool. Ms. Gail kept the kids so that I could go talk to Miss Harris about how great (?) Anya is. She said she was very intelligent, which of course we say, duh:) They have been doing a skills test the last few weeks. They wanted her so say a few basic body part, names of animals, say her full name, things she has been doing for 6 - 12 months. Of course she is still not potty trained, can't jump and clear the ground with both feet (which I got her to do this evening and she did it!), and can't walk on tip toes. She asked me if Anya wanted to go to the potty with the other kids would I mind. I said, oh, PLEASE put her on the potty if she wants.

I tried feeding Steven some mashed potatoes from dinner, and he gagged. Anya was starting to eat table food by now, but he is not interested. I'll put some food on his tray and he just pushes it around. You would think he would gobble it up!

This is a picture of the kids playing with Anya's toy that she refers to as "Dr. Fakouri," because Dr. Fakouri has one in her waiting room

26/365

Every time I run errands with both kids, I wonder what I was smoking to make me want to do such a crazy thing!! We went to Target this morning, and Anya was in the buggy and I had Steven in my side carrier. They were both very well behaved, but by the time I got to the checkout, my left leg was numb (the hip Steven was on). I then decided that while we were at Whole Foods, I would let Anya walk and Steven ride in the buggy. I like it when I can feel my leg. By the time we got back to the car, I think the numb leg would have been a better choice. She wants to run up and down the aisles, pick up oranges (the ones on the bottom, making the top ones fall on the ground), touch the floor, touch the raw meat packages, pester me to buy her "lipstick" (chap stick or something similar). AUGH!!! If she would have fit in the buggy, she would have been there, but I sure wasn't putting her on top of the meat! Even getting her to push the buggy lasted only for a few minutes because Steven kept reaching over and pulling her hair!!

They started painting the porch this afternoon. It is very exciting!!! All starting to come together. We are going very boring: "battleship gray" floor, sky blue ceiling, white banisters with dark green at the top of the banisters, and the front door and shutters will also be painted green. If you ride around and look at a white Acadian house with green trim, that's the look we are going for. And I didn't know about the ceiling, but apparently dirt daubers won't build nests if the ceiling is sky blue. Ride around and look at how many front porch ceilings are that color. We were shocked!

Chris came home early beings he was at work all weekend. After the kids woke up he decided he wanted to take him to City Park, so off we went. I got some great pictures, and the kids had a blast. Anya likes to play on the "big kid" side (which makes me nervous because it is so high), and Steven was content swinging.

Oh, and today was weigh in day for Weight Watchers. I am 5 pounds lighter than 2 weeks ago!! Just 15 more to go!!
We took tons of pics today between the park and the porch, but I got one of the kids in their car seats, so wanted to do that one. In a few short months, Steven will be facing forward and if I don't get a picture now, I may never do it!

24 and 25/365

I was on call this weekend, so I didn't leave the house except to go to the LSU basketball game Saturday night and Church on Sunday morning. Chris worked all weekend, so Amanda hung out with me Saturday until lunch, and then mom came and stayed with me until Sunday afternoon, just in case I had to go to work someone would be with the kids. Of course, the phone never rang! If I wouldn't have been prepared, I would have been there all weekend. I hate hanging in limbo. I even kept my phone with me in church, ready to jump if it rang. And yes, last time I got called in I was at Church for Easter Mass. I was none to happy!

It was nice hanging out with Amanda and mom, though. And Chris and I did get to go out alone, even if it was only to a basketball game.

I started weaning Steven Sunday. I have enough milk that he won't get formula for a few days, but it is coming. I may still nurse him at bedtime for a little while, but we will see. I am ready to loose this weight, and nursing is NOT helping me. I would love to meet the women who think breastfeeding makes the pounds melt away! It makes me hold on to them!!

I know all nursing moms would agree with me, it is a little hard to quit. Nothing is better than breast milk, you don't have to make or clean bottles, and the time spent together is priceless (unless your 2 year old is in your lap at the same time). However, it will be nice to send the kids away for the weekend!! Or heck, I can leave them with Chris and have my own night!!

I didn't take a picture Saturday, (I am going to put the ticket stub from the game in my Project 365 book) but Sunday I took this one of Steven at the gate to the stairs. He did his army crawl to get there, and for some reason he always ends up there!! I have to remember to keep that door closed so he doesn't go down the stairs to the storage room!

23/365

Work really wore me out the past two days, so we just stayed home and I got a few chores done.

Chris is still at work (it is 9pm on a Friday). They have some audit Monday so he will be working all weekend.

My album and page protectors for my Project 365 came in today. I am so excited!!! Maybe this weekend I can get a start on it!!

I was cutting a cucumber for lunch and Anya ate about half of it!! I am so happy that she likes to eat vegetables. Had to get a picture! That way, in a few years if she decides to boycott veggies, I can show her that she used to love them once upon a time!

21 & 22/365

It is hard to post on the days I am working, and beings I worked Wednesday and Thursday, I'll just merge the two. Wednesday when I got home the kids were already fed and bathed. What I great hubby I have!! Of course, It was 7 before I got home, so usually all that is done by then anyway.

Wednesday and Thursday the guys that had been working on the front porch washed the house for us, and boy did it need it!!

The picture from both days were taken by Mom. Wednesday's is of Steven in the dining room, and I'm sure he got there on his own. He is not crawling in the traditional sense. He does the "army crawl" as we call it. And boy can he move!! He can get from his spot in the living room to my bathroom or other side of the dining room before you realize he has moved. It's very cute to watch. If I can figure out how to post a video, I will have to get one of the "army crawl!"

Thursday's pic is of Steven and Anya playing with her kitchen. Again, he got there on his own. So cute!

20/365

It's Tuesday, so Steven and I ran a few quick errands while Anya was at school, one being Whole Foods. I absolutely love that store!! It is always so clean, the food looks perfect, and everything they sell is either organic or has no preservatives or artificial sweetners. I find it so important to give the kids as many healthy choices as possible. Childhood obesity is such a real and scary thing. It's sad to think of children with high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol because their parents wouldn't make correct food choices for them when they were young. But enough of that soap box!!

Whole Foods also has a gelato bar, YUM! Puts me back at my honeymoon for just a minute! I always want to cook when I leave there. I wish I cooked more (so does Chris). It is so hard cook with an infant around, and I usually only cook 2 big meals a week.

On the way home from Whole Foods, I was listening to the inauguration. Not going to get into a political rant, but it is pretty amazing the history that has taken place today. Of course as I was leaving Whole Foods, I had to laugh at the fact that I may not be able to afford to shop there anymore if Obama raises our taxes like he wants to!!!

The front porch is almost complete!! They poured a sidewalk from the side of the porch to the parking area off Myrtledale. Of couse we had to write our names in the concrete!!

19/365

Steven and I didn't leave the house. Anya went to the zoo with her GiGi and Olivia. Of course, that made for a great morning! However, she came home tired and the rest of the day was downhill. As soon as she got home, she was rude to me and didn't want to go to bed, so she was crying, and Steven was crying because he couldn't fall asleep (I think he was overtired. I waited to late to put him down). She fell asleep pretty quickly, even with him screaming. She woke up in a roar around 4:30 and it was after 5 before she finally calmed down. Then there was another meltdown towards the end of dinner. We were glad when they finally went to bed!
Last night I booked a condo for our trip to Orange Beach in April. We are so excited!! It is the four of us, my sisters, parents, and Ashley's boyfriend Matt. We had planed to stay for 5 nights, but they are running a stay for 7 nights for the cost of 4 special, and Chris said, what the heck! Plus, we ended up getting a 4 bed, 4.5 bath condo, which will be really nice with all of us that are going.

My picture for today is my new pedometer! Now that I'm on Weight Watchers, you can turn in activity points for food (even though it is not recomended), and your steps count as an activity. It also calculates distance and calories burned. Now that's a number I like to see rise!

18/365

After church we headed to Morganza to bring mom and dad something, and so that Chris could help dad hook up some electronics. Of course mom and dad fed us dinner: chicken stew and potato salad. YUMMO! We didn't stay very long after lunch. On our way home we took a detour to Dicks Sporting Goods for a bike helmet for Anya so she could ride in the buddy car with Chris.

After we got home, Chris took Anya out in the buddy car and Steven and I took a walk.

This picture was taken by our friend Tina. They were riding by when we were getting ready to go and offered to take a picture. Of course she and Deron picked on us about the helmets!

Chris hates that I make him wear it, and I am sure he is going to be so embarrassed I put this picture on the web for all the world to see!! As you all know, I am slightly Type A about certain things. Bicycle safety is one of them. We have 2 children to raise and our heads don't need to be splattered on the road, and even in that buddy car I worry about their little heads so they will have to wear one. Plus, we have to set good examples.

Well, they had a blast on their bike ride, and I got a much needed walk in. Needless to say with the busy day, naps were short and the kids were in bed at 7:01!!

17/365

This morning Chris watched the kids so I could go to Target and Whole Foods by myself. Wow!! Two weeks in a row I got to do this!! For some silly reason, I forgot to get milk, and had to go to Albertson's later in the evening. Milk is one of those things I never leave the grocery store without. Anya and I go through about 2 gallons a week. You turn 30 and it all starts going down hill!
Olivia, our neice, had a party today at Leaps and Bounds, a tumbling/gymnastics place in Denham Springs. She seemed to have a great time. Again, I forgot my camera. I told you: 30. I really need to start keeping our point and shoot camera in my purse so I always have it. I got a few crappy pictures with my phone, but hopefully Angela will email me a few. (This one is Anya on the balance beam)

16/365

Went to the mall to play at the playland with Kat and her friend Kasey and their kids. I am terrible because I forgot to bring my camera! Kat and I used to do Strollerfit together, and now her daughter, Ada, is at Mother's Day Out with Anya. Of course a ride on the carosel is a must when you go to the mall. We can't walk through the doors without Anya mentioning the carousel!!

Well, the porch is almost complete! Anya and Chris did some inspecting this afternoon and I caught a few pictures!

15/365

Another day at work for me, mom watched the kids. Dad worked last night and came to the house after work to sleep and then played with the kids.
Steven is now eating lunch. He eats oatmeal and a fruit for breakfast, YoBaby yogurt and a fruit for lunch, and rice and a veggie for dinner. And when I say fruit or veggie,I mean a FULL JAR of the step 2 foods.

When I got home, I saw him on all fours rocking back and forth. Yesterday he couldn't get his butt in the air! He may be crawling by the end of the week. I don't know if I should be excited or not!! Crawling is great, and they should be encouraged to crawl as long as possible because it strengthens their hand-eye coordination. However, they are more mobile and more into things. And because he will be on the floor, he will need a daily bath!

These pictures are of them sleeping. I took them before I went to bed. I always check on them before going to sleep and give them one last kiss, trace a cross on their foreheads and ask God to protect them during the night. They always look so peaceful and I wanted to take a picture so I can always remember how they looked!! They must have been pretty tired because the flashes never even made them flinch!!

14/365

Today is Wednesday, and we didn't leave the house. I must admit, it's nice having these days every now and then. I got dressed, but the kids stayed in their nightclothes all day!!

Construction continues. The banisters are up, so you can really see how it's going to look. Very exciting!!

I actually have 2 pictures today. One is of Anya eating some Reese Pieces. She got a box (like the size at the movies) in her stocking and I give her a few every now and then as a little treat. She LOVES them.

The other one is of Steven and Grandma. I rarely get good pics of the kids with their grandparents (the same way I rarely get ones with me in the picture) which is a real shame. She was reading him one of his bedtime stories. Anya went to the LSU basketball game with Chris. He enjoys the time together, and she gets dippin dots, which she loves!!!

13/365

Today is Tuesday, so Anya went to school. I don't know if I said, but last Tuesday Anya pulled another girl's hair. Well I of course freaked out and thought OMG we are going to be kicked out of Southside, and of course everyone will know and many from Southside go to St Aloysius and so they will know so I can't show my face there so where will Anya go to school and now we have to move!!! I know, silly. Well, Miss Harris said she had a very good day today. I love the ride from school to home. She is very talkative about playing with AJ, Mackenzie and Laurel. Today she talked about Caroline and making a snowflake with blue glitter.

Steven and I ran errands while Anya was in school, and while they were napping my cousin Lauren came to watch them while I went to the dentist.

This is Steven tonight during his bath. Haven't taken a picture of him in about a week. I must praise my husband. He does the baths for both kids 99% of the time. It started when I was pregnant with Steven and couldn't bend over the tub to bathe Anya anymore, and it has continued. Trust me, I am not sitting on the couch eating BonBons, but it is nice that he helps me.

12/365

I worked today, which meant up at 3:50 am. It was a long day and I didn't get home til after 7. I don't know if I have mentioned it yet, but I hate computer charting. One of my future pics will have to be of our rolling laptops. One of the nurses mentioned chunking them out the windows, but I'm sure that would be frowned upon.

I hate days like this. By the time I get home it's time for the kids to go to bed so I hardly get to see them, I don't eat supper until after they are in bed, and then I don't feel like it so I just don't eat or eat something like ice cream!

Well, I started weight watchers today. I was so hungy by lunch, but I was very good. Of course, supper was some pita bread and hummus, because it was in the fridge and I could eat it while feeding Steven. Breastfeeding allows me 35 points per day, which makes me wonder if i'll really lose any weight.

My picture is of my new cricut!!! I have only played with it once, but I think one of my errands tomorrow will be to Michael's to buy at least 2 more cartridges.

11/365

Sunday!! I went to Target, by myself, which I know all moms would agree is a wonderful thing. I worked some more on my scrapbook stuff and set up my Cricut. I think Tuesday I am going to buy some new cartridges. Chris calls it the gift that keeps on taking (meaning money).
Steven only took a 30 minute nap, and it was not for lack of trying on our part. Chris rocked him and I nursed and rocked him. Anya's nap was short also due to the screaming baby, plus the fact that she disobeyed her daddy, and that equals bedtime for the kiddos at 7pm. I still didn't get to bed early, but it was a nice and quiet evening nonetheless!!
My picture is of Steven's baby food. In a few months he will be on real people food, so I wanted to get a picture before the time slipped away. Tonight he started spinach and potato. He ate the whole jar and then I gave him some cereal. Can't say it looked very appetizing, but thankfully I don't have to eat it!!

10/365

A nice lazy Saturday. Chris put together the buddy car for his bike and Anya's new Tripp Trapp chair. She loves her big girl chair! It's not tall enough for the counter, so we are now eating all of our meals at the table. Which is how it should be.

We did Mass this afternoon, take out from Albasha's, and Chris and I even got to watch a movie after the kids went to bed!!!

9/365

I just realized that when I post I am not saying what day it is. I often post a few days later (like this post is about Jan. 9th and I am writing it on the 11th). Not a biggie in January, but come October I may get confused. Especially if I try to print these later.
Well today is my 30th birthday. I know some people get all weird for birthdays and stuff, but not me. I love them. It's a day for you!! We did our normal morning routine. It was the first day I was home with the guys working on the porch (which mean I have to be careful what I wear). Anya didn't like the noise at first but Steven didn't even notice, and he freaks out when I vacuum or use the blender. Anya loves Mr. Raymond, the framer. He had to come in because they tripped the breaker and Anya must have said his name 30 times in 5 minutes. She even said "Mr. Raymond, come watch Thomas with me." Hilarious!!
We went to Meredith's house for a little play date and lunch. Nicole and her kids were also there. There were 5 kids, and Meredith and Nicole both just found out they were expecting. Our mutual friend Cherie is also expecting. In college it was always the 4 of us. I am not joining this party though!!
Chris and I went to dinner at Ruffino's, one of my favorite places in town. (Fish Katie, YUMMO!!) That is my picture, which I took it with my phone. side note: LOVE my iphone, but the camera on it leaves much to be desired!!

8/365

Another day at work for me. It was actually a good day because the computers had crashed adn we were charting on paper!! You have never seen happier nurses!!

Work started on the front porch. I'm saving that picture for when it's done!! On Sunday Chris went and bought a bike, and today he was showing mom and dad when he came home from work. Anya loves to ride with him, even though it makes me EXTREMELY nervous!!

7/365

Today I had to work, so GiGi stayed with the kids. Yesterday we had someone come and look at our front porch to see if we could cover it. Well he quoted us a price, and it is a little more than we were thinking, but we are going to do it. I made Chris take a before picture, complete with 2-year-old. As you can see the bushes are taking over the house. That is something else we want to do: scorch the earth. almost literally. We pretty much plan on pulling up everything, pouring a driveway, and planting pretty things that don't grow 10 feet in 9 months!!

Anyway, the materials are already in the front yard and they are starting work tomorrow!!

6/365

Another day that has gotten away from us!! Anya's first day back to school since the Christmas holidays, which meant Steven and I got to run a few errands: Whole Foods, Gap, and Mignon Faget. I received a few gift certificates to Mignon Faget for my birthday, so I went and bought 2 pair of earrings. Of course one pair was basicly a birthday present to myself!! That's okay. You only turn 30 once. Steven was so good. He just hung out in the stroller and took in everything.

Also, we had someone come out and give us a quote on a front porch addition. Hopefully he will start Thursday. I guess that means the current front porch needs to be a picture in the next day or so!!

My picture for today is of my panini press by Cusinart. I used it tonight to do burgers. It is my favorite kitchen gadget!! It opens and I can use it as a grill or griddle, and the plates come out and can go in the dishwasher. Everyone should have one. (I wonder if they would pay me for advertisement)

day 5

Today was Chris's first day back to work after being off for 2 weeks. It took me an hour and a half to get both kids fed! I nursed Steven around 7:30, then fed Anya (which takes FOREVER). When I went to get Steven out of the exersaucer to put him in the high chair, he had poop everywhere. I had to clean him, change him, change the changing pad cover, and put the exersaucer seat in the washer. Then I could finally feed him. When I finished feeding him it was 8:45 and I had yet to eat breakfast!!! It was noon before we left the house to go to Target, our one errand of the day. Amanda came with me. I rarely do Target by myself with both kids.

After lunch, it was naptime. I tried to lay down, but as soon as I was about to drift off, I could hear Steven fussing. After about 10 minutes I realized he wasn't going back to sleep I got up to get him. At that time mom stopped by for a minute and convinced me to just have him lay in bed with me. She took this picture before she left. Needless to say, I didn't go back to sleep. After about 45 minutes of him grabbing my hair, face, and shirt, I brought him back to bed. By the time he fell asleep, Anya woke up and came in my room saying "get up, mommy!" Oy! By this time it is time to fix supper, eat, baths, and bed!! Oh, and during all this, I kept trying to convince Anya to use the big girl potty. No dice.

Where did my day go?!?!?!?

day 4

Today was a typical lazy Sunday. Noticed Steven now has his bottom two teeth!!

Chris went to Dick's Sporting Goods and bought a bike and buddy car with the gift certificates he got for his birthday and Christmas. I think Anya is more excited about the bike than Chris is!

For dinner, we went to Ms. Gail and Mark's. She always cooks a dinner and gets us a cake for our birthday. Well, beings this is a big year for me, they did a little surprise party. My friend Meredith, hubby Mickey, baby Michael, my sisters, parents, my mom's parents and mom's sister Belinda, and Chris's sister and family were all there in the driveway with birthday signs when we drove up. We had a lot of fun. God has definitely blessed me with a great family!! Of course, a BIG thanks to Ms. Gail for hosting the party. She is always a great hostess, along with being one of the greatest cooks I know. Oh, and my cake was the strawberry cake from Ambrosia! My favorite!!

project 365 day 3

Today we took down all the Christmas decorations. Always sad for me. I love the tree, the lights, all our stockings on the mantle. Amanda and Ashley came to visit and both slept. After the kids went to bed we went upstairs to play RockBand. This has become a tradition when Ashley comes to visit. Chris plays the guitar, Ashley on the drums, and I sing, or at least try. I did some drums last night for a little while, but I actually do better singing. Fun times.

project 365 day 2

I had to work today. Chris was off, so he stayed with the kids. Steven had been sick for a few days (fever, cough, runny nose) so Chris took him to the doctor. He has an ear infection, so he is now on antibiotics. Very sad for me. Anya has never had antibiotics, and I am still breastfeeding so I was hoping it was just a virus like Anya had last week. It's Friday, which means take-out night. Tonight was Zippy's. Yum!!

Project 365

As many of you know, I like to scrapbook. Keyword like. I have not done anything since Steven was born in May. Oh, I read my scrapbook magazine every month, and will sometimes go to Michaels, Hobby Lobby, or Scrapbook and Co, our local scrapbook store and buy something. I even got a Cricut for Christmas. It is just so hard to find the time. And my scrap space is a mess!!

Well, while reading my magazine on New Years Eve, I read an article on Project 365. You take a picture everyday. Not just cutsie pics of the kids. Take a picture of the place you work, your yard, your favorite meal. You make an album (of course, they were selling one, but it was very cute and easy to do. I like easy) and then you have a snapshot of a year in your family's life. Great idea. Well, I went online on New Years Day to order the album, and they were sold out already!! I am hoping that they will come back in stock, but until then, I have decided to use my blog to keep up with my daily pictures and journaling. You may see some strange things, but in 20 years, we will be able to see what 2009 was like for us.

On Jan 1, 2009, my picture is of my laundry room. I did laundry all day!! Chris watched football and we did some other house cleaning.

Christmas Day, all 48 hours of it!!

I must admit, this was the best Christmas Day ever!! We got up and went to Mass and 9 am. Mom, Dad, and Amanda joined us. After Church, Ms. Gail and Mark came to the house. We opened gifts from Santa and had a yummy brunch. Everyone left just in time for the kids to go down for a nap. After naps, we headed off to New Roads for dinner. Mom is one of seven, and all of the kids and most of the grandkids were in for Christmas. It was wild, and very fun!
We had to leave early because Anya was not feeling well.

No biggie, we got up the next day and headed back to New Roads for more (after I brought Anya to the doctor - just a virus). We did our big turkey lunch the day after Christmas. After lunch we did a Chinese Christmas exchange. We had never done it before, but with everyone in (about 20 adults) we decided it would be a lot of fun, and oh boy was it ever!! The gifts that got stolen the most was a bottle of Baley's Irish Cream and a paperweight with a jellyfish in it. I think we have created a new Bondy tradition!

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve we went to Ms. Gail and Mark's for dinner. As usual, we had a lot of fun. Of couse, Anya opens her first gift and wants nothing to do with the others. Steven just enjoyed playing with the paper. I got a Cricut, which I am very excited about!!