Quirks

I decided to participate in Heather's blog challenge. For this week she has challenged her readers to make a list of their quirks. I think I decided to do this one, because it is actually challenging for me. I actually have to think about what makes me quirky. I have to do this on my own, because there is no one to ask. I could ask DH, but his responses would be biased to his opinion. OK, so here it goes--deep breath:

1. I read all sorts of blogs and never comment.
2. I don't make my bed, because chances are I will sleep in it again.
3. I talk to my dogs like they are humans. Sometimes DH and I have respond for the dogs.
4. I waste a lot of time on the internet.
5. I wear my clothes several times before washing (this does not include undergarments).
6. I am obsessed with cleaning my ears. I had a bad blockage in junior high, and ever since I am determined to keep minimal wax in there.
7. I barely write in my own blog, but expect others to update theirs regularly.

I think 6 is enough for now.

Exciting Milestones

Meadow took her first two steps while playing with her daddy and Grandpa Saturday, while Grandma and I were shopping. I completely missed it. Then on Sunday she took another two steps toward daddy again in going from our couch to him.

Tonight she said, "Mama". DH didn't believe that she said it, so he said, "Mama". She repeated, "Mama". I was so excited--I almost cried.

Meadow has...

tooth #2! It must have come in either last night or today. It wasn't there at dinner last night. It is the left lower tooth.

She is also standing on her own for short periods of time. Once she made it for almost 30 seconds. I had to hold my breath to wait for her to do something. The something was she fell on her butt.

Out of the mouths of babes

Meadow has become quite comical. I can't believe the things she is doing. I have two funny stories I want to share.

Meadow has started the "d" and "b" sound in her babbles. Anyway, last week she crawled to the baby gate while I was getting ready for work. She then pulled herself up, and started "talking". When I looked at her she was holding on to the gate with one hand and swinging the other like people who talk with thier hands. I thought it was so cute.

Friday night I had a friend over for dinner and game night. We put Meadow in her exersaucer to keep her out of trouble. To keep her from fussing DH gave her some Gerber puffs. He said to her, "Tell me when, " as he poured them onto her tray. When she had quite a bit, DH said, "when?", and Meadow shook her head "no." It was so funny.

Then, DH said, "What do you mean no?"

Meadow shook her head again, as to say, "No means no...I want more!"

The big announcement again

I was trying to keep this secret until our family knew, but I am pregnant again. I am due the last week in August. So Meadow and baby #2 will be 14 months apart. I am really excited that they will be close in age. I feel so distant from my brother b/c he is almost 10 years younger than me. DH and his brother are 5 years apart and even as BIL has entered adulthood they still seem to be a different maturity levels. DH of course is insisting it is a boy. I am trying to plan incase it is a girl and he isn't budging.

Guess what Meadow has!?!?!

This morning I looked in her mouth, and her bottom left tooth finally broke through! She has been struggling with teething for such a long time. She had the worst symptoms for a month. I felt so bad for my little peanut, but I was overjoyed when I saw the little bit of tooth poking up from her gum.

Public Service Announcement

The lady who found our dogs said that she appreciated how well we had our dogs IDed. I want to stress to any pet owner how inexpensive and easy it is to make and ID tag for your dog. Most Wal*Marts have the machine near the check outs that makes them and it is under $5 for tags. They do have more expensive designs. Usually you can put up to 4 lines of information. Our dogs only have their name and each of our cell phone numbers on their ID tags.

Even if you have a cat it is important to make sure he/she has identification. When I was talking to my aunt about the ordeal, she said her cat got loose. She lives in an apartment complex. The cat was found across the street from the apartment complex.

Our dogs are also microchipped. Some of you may think it is unnatural. I think it is crucial if you have pets who go outside. There is an ID tag they get with the microchip. The ID tag has the 1-800 number for the recovery agency (our dogs have different agencies for their microchip) and an ID number. A lot of Humane Societies and Animal Shelters have scanners and will scan animals as they arrive. Some vet clinics even have policies where they scan all new patients. Each microchip cost under $30, and it is inserted between the shoulder blades. It is about the size of a grain of rice. Some agencies require a yearly fee, while others it is just a one time fee.

Dazie has the Companion Animal Recovery (CAR) microchip from AKC. Miischka has the HomeAgain microchip. The reason it is different is because of the vet that they got it at. It just depends on what the vet carries. If you want anymore information, let me know. Both are easy to update with information if you move.

Also make sure they have their current rabies tag. That has the dispensing vet's information on. Vets have records of which dog has which tag number. That has assisted a friend of mine when her dog was lost. They called the vet office and the vet office contacted her with the finder's information.

They are home safe and sound

Just wanted to let you know the search is over. The dogs were found 5 miles from home. They were attracted to a house with dogs and horses. They are pretty pooped out and are sleeping in their normal sleeping places. Miischka does have cracked paws from the elements. She has a missing nail on her back right paw. Dazie is fine.

Thank you so much for your thoughts and well wishes!

24 1/2 hours later and stll no sign....

I feel like some one ripped out my heart. At 4 am, I checked atound the house again...The treat pile was still untouched. I hate the look on Meadow's face. It does look like she lost her best friend. Her and Miischka were, I mean ARE, good buddies. It is very difficult to remain positive at this point in time. Last nighy I convinced myself that if Dazie got snagged, she would chew her leash off...afterall she did it with her Gentle Leader halter. I am hoping they are still together. I am praying like I have never prayed before. We are good puppy parents, help lead our girls back to us.

REWARD!!!!

REWARD!!!!

My dogs ran away this morning. I called the sheriffs department and they said the girls were spotted South of town on the busy highway. Dazie has a blue collar on with a purple leash (and the collar did report that the dogs had a leash on), and Miischka just has on a purple collar. If you want to see my adorable dogs I have pics of them here. Dazie is the brown and white on, Miischka is the black and white one with her head in the water bowl.

At this point in time they have been missing 14 1/2 hours. My DH is out again looking for them. I have called vet clinics, the Humane Society, and Sheriff's department (several times).

I believe I have posted pics of the girls before. I will try to post some more if I can get them downloaded.

Why does this stuff happen to me?

Last week FIL called and offered to babysit Meadow. Well, my car was leaking oil, so we couldn't get her to FIL's (2 hours away). This week end MIL offered to babysit Meadow so DH and I could celeberate a late Valentines Day. Guess what!?!?! both dogs ran away this morning. DH is out looking for them. To top it off, my great aunt passed away last week. Meadow also had a fever Thursday and Friday. It just doesn't seem like we have had good luck lately.

You tell a child no to let them know they are doing something they shouldn't. With Meadow you catch her about to get into trouble and tell her "no" she starts crying. You would think it is the end of the world. Is this the start of a drama queen?

The other thing I wanted to document is that she always sucks her index and middle finger on her left hand. Sometimes she tries to cram more fingers in her mouth. I keep wanting to document this, but it is a part of everyday life.

This picture means the world to me

Here is my papa and Meadow at Christmas:

I was walking by and he grabbed her from me. He even had a pile of gifts to open on his lap.

Come out come out where ever you are!

So, of the blogs I read, three have been updated today (and one several times). I was going to post comments on some to ask what is going on....then I thought that is so hyprocritcal of my...because I couldn't remember my last post.

Meadow has had diarrhea for 2 days now. Today, she has had a problem with eating. Yesterday DH had issues trying to get her to eat. Today, she is hungry with a vengence. She wouldn't take any pedialyte for DH yesterday, but sucked it down for me today. Meadow did so good with it today, that I had to run to Wal*Mart to get more. The problem I have today with her is that she has only had 1 good nap. Normally she takes 2 good naps. The three mini naps she took today got disruppted by dogs. Only one of mine caused the problem (twice today), but the neighbor dog was howling all day while her owners where gone.

I can't wait to move.

Now that you have what I have been up to today, I want to see your update! Let me know how you all are doing!

Picture Update

For some reason...I cannot download the pictures off my camera. My computer crashed and I have to re download all my programs. My photo software happens to be in the storage unit. No ETA on when I can retrieve that...

Do I look like my mommy?

My first Christmas (approx 9 1/2 months old)

Meadow's first Christmas (approx 5 1/2 mos old)
Yes we are wearing the same dress!

Mamma's Girl

For the past quite awhile Meadow has preferred me. It has now gotten to the point to she has to be able to see me at all times. If I leave the room she will cry or whine until I come back. I did figure one thing though. She tends to crawl towards me when she needs something, but she knows I will solve her issue rather quickly. DH tends to get discouraged when he can't figure what is wrong with her in a couple of tries.

Although, yesterday at swimming lessons she wouldn't let Chris get out of her sight. Next week he is getting in the pool with us. He wants to participate in the free time, but not the organized activity.

Here are some things she has accomplished so far:
Sitting alone unsupported...this includes getting into a sit position from laying down.
Army Crawl
Getting up on hands and knees--rocking back and forth
Knows that the buttons on certain toys will make them function.
Holding own bottle
Drinking out of a tippy cup
Giving Kisses
Laughing
Giggling
and tonight....we lowered her crib matterress. She seems to be sleeping well in it.

Conflicted-Advice please

So, I have this friend at work who you either love her or hate her. When I first met her I didn't like her, but now that I have gotten to know her better I enjoy hanging out with her. She isn't from anywhere near the area we live now. Her fiance who she has been with for several years is back in the town where she went to college. She doesn't have a positive outlook currently, because of being away from the love of her life for an unknow period of time. So far they have been away from eachother for approximately 4 months.

Also, at work she isn't being used to her full potential. It is almost like her supervisors don't want to fully train her. They give her the same task to do day after day all day long. Then one of her supervisors went on maternity leave and didn't have her well prepared to handle the workload.

So, we get together at a local yarn shoppe for a yarn crafts (knitting or crocheting). Anyway, there was a request made by somebody for me to tell my friend to not talk so much at the get together. This person was mature enough to tell some one and have that some one tell my DH to tell me. Actually, the last time we went she didn't complain or say anything real negative. The only conversation she really lead was about the project she was working on. She was making a scarf for a friend and she wasn't sure how long to make it.

When DH told me this he said the person making the request described my friend by a physical feature and "the one that complains about work." If anything I was complaining about another coworker. I was really annoyed with another coworker, because she wastes a lot of my time. She needs a lot of hand holding.

My internal conflict is that I don't know if I should say something to the friend or not. I told DH that I thought it was real immature to think I would be the messenger. I did mention something today, because DH said he talked to a lady who worked at the yarn shoppe on Friday. The lady was telling him about the things we talked about and that it annoyed her. I thought it was directed toward me, because I led the conversation among my friends. What really upset me about this lady is she kept participating in the conversation. And we only talked about the issues at work for a few minutes. Then we talked about dogs, satellite radio, and stocks. Actually we spent most of the night talking about dogs.

Splash

Today, Meadow started swimming lessons. She had such a good time. We started the class with walking in a circle singing action songs to help get the babies acclamated to the water. Then we worked on ways to hold the baby so they get accustom to kicking. During free time, Meadow chased a rubber duck. During the second session of free time we swam laps toward DH and then toward the other end of the shallow area. Meadow was laughing a lot of the time. We can't wait until next week! We even talked about going swimming as a family this week.

Happy 6 mos Meadow

To my baby, Meadow with all the love in my heart. I love holding you in my arms, looking at your smile, watching you grow and learn, and spending every minute I can with you. Thank you for a wonderful six months of my life. I hope to leave the love in your heart that you left in mine.