February 12th

Good Morning!  It's February 12th. 


Rachel wore braids for the first time.
 

 
This little smock from IKEA has been a lifesaver for me.  I wish I had known they existed a year ago.


Most of you know that I hate slime.  I hate slime so much that Rachel gets double bibbed on days where breakfast consists of oatmeal and applesauce.


It allows her the independence to feed herself and me the freedom to know that it's mostly contained.


My breakfast:  a protein shake and a banana.  I read a couple of verses of The Book of Mormon to Rachel when I'm finished with my feast.


Doug attended the LDS Church Worldwide Leadership Training broadcast.  He is so handsome in his shirt and tie.


Joseph spent a good part of the day kicking me in the spine.  The pain was awful.  So I laid on the couch and watched my very own darling source of entertainment.
 


Rachel has a lot of fun playing with her truck and her other toys.


 

She has figured out how to turn on the loud toys all by herself.  Batteries may have to be removed for parental preservation.
 
 

Rachel was thrilled to see her dad come home.  They practiced the ABCs on her keyboard.


Then daddy played one of her favorite games.




We looked at some old home videos.  Rachel LOVES seeing herself on TV.  I love the interaction between her and her TV persona.


During Rachel's nap I spent a few minutes doing a stuffed animal photo shoot for the blog.  Then I took a nap.


Doug took the opportunity to take some stuff to the DI and run to Lowe's.  We were so blessed.  He happened to go on the day that 3 different deals converged.  He bought the vanity, counter top, mirror, and cabinet fixtures for the bathroom for $650 instead of $950.  My hero.  He's trying to get the basement bathroom usable before my family (and the new baby) comes.




 

Rachel woke up pleasant from a long afternoon nap.
 

She helped me put away her books.



Zoe retrieved her toy in hopes that I would play with her.  I was sorry to disappoint.

Doug finished taping and painting the new basement office and bathroom. 


Once dinner was over and Rachel was nestled in bed, Doug and I enjoyed some time alone.  Neither of us could move so we sat together and watched an episode or two of "Eureka" then crawled off to bed.

April 12th

Rachel woke up at 5:30am.  I turned on "Baby Einstein" to keep her quiet until 6:30.  I muted it, but you can still see flashes of light when you are trying to sleep. 

We had a leisurely breakfast of oatmeal and pears. 

From that point on Rachel was on the move.

Meanwhile, Zoe basked in her favorite sunspot.

Rachel didn't take a morning nap.  So, she fell asleep before we were finished with lunch.

I blogged, facebooked and organized pictures while Rachel slept. 

After her nap she watched some "Sesame Street."

Then I corralled her in her playpen so that I could put pictures in frames and hang artwork.

Doug and Kaleb finished up the guest room (Kaleb's room) closet.  Doug painted the ceiling and trim.  I'll be able to decorate once the walls are painted, the outlets finished, and the rug down.  Then Kaleb can move in.  I think he'll be glad to have a space of his own. 

After her bath Rachel and I read books together.  At bedtime she went right to sleep without even stirring.

Doug and I had a few minutes to ourselves.  We watched "Big Bang Theory" and went to bed.