Have I Mentioned...?

I have I mentioned that Anna will start preschool in the spring? It's true. I'm very excited. I hate to admit it, but we're terribly boring people! Haha! I just don't have the energy to run after her and oh how I feel so bad about it, too. I hate knowing that she doesn't have a playmate and it hurts knowing that a built-in playmate (AKA a sibling) won't be coming along for a few years yet. I feel like I'm depriving her of something innately wonderful. Anyhow, I am excited for this adventure. Whenever we see children, she says, "Look, Mama! A boy!" or "Look, Mama! A gril!" (I spelled that wrong on purpose! That's how she sounds, bless her heart!)
And to top those things off, twice a week for half an hour each, Anna spends time with Paul's friend Rachael (while our classes overlap) and Anna just loves her! I know she'll love having teachers and peers. I wish it could come sooner.
We're still praying for a car. Our feet are our only transportation, aside from a car we borrow once a week for groceries. Does it get boring? Sometimes. We take lots of walks! That fends off the boredom... that and classes, which take up quite a bit of time.
I look at Anna Daisy as I sit here and I can't get over how beautiful she is or how perfect and wonderful... and big! She's getting so tall! Which begs the question, do I buy 3T clothes for her this winter and possibly waste money... or do I buy 4T--a size she can wear but may be baggy? I'm taking the middle road. I'm going to buy 4T dresses with warm tights. Dresses can be worn long or short. But I should still get some pants for her... so 3T or 4T? Does anyone know if Old Navy's clothing runs small or large? Just in case... I'm staring down their clearance section.

Photos & Stuff

Oh isn't that a creative title? Props? Ha! It's hard to feel creative when I just feel so awful... right now I am not loving my major... Oh, I haven't felt excited about it for a while and I just don't think I can turn back. But I do have joy thanks to this little girl! Am I not the luckiest woman alive? I get to wake up to that smile every day of the week! I am truly blessed.

School is Hectic

I'm a senior this year... and I'm already discovering that I'm losing my mind. I've broken down into tears twice this week... I'm overwhelmed and I just hope that I can make it to the end of this semester with my sanity in tact.

Anna is old enough for preschool now and we're hoping she can get in next semester. I hate the idea of putting her in 'daycare'. I hope that she can learn and have fun in a preschool setting. I think she'd love it. She's so social and bright. She turns three in November... NOVEMBER. Can you believe it's so close? I can't. My baby girl! A preschooler!!!

Now, I have a four day weekend and I'm going to spend it wisely... get away from this computer, get dressed... go out and play with Anna because she's LITERALLY climbing all over me as we speak and I think it's a sign that I should spend time with her.

TTYL

Prayers for Marie's Family

Please pray for the Schlachter family. Their little girl Marie had Mitochondrial Disease. Thursday they brought their third daughter, Sarah Kate, into the world. On Friday, Marie died in her sleep. Sorry if I'm not wordy. I'm crying right now. Please leave them with an encouraging word... CLICK HERE.

In Her Own Bed... Kinda

I recently cleaned out our bedroom (it was a nightmare!) and brought in Anna's toddler bed. I put it beside our bed and Anna has been sleeping in her bed again... until last night. Then she wanted in our bed again. Oh, well! We are making progress!

School starts Monday for Paul and me. Wish us luck! Man, I'm tired. I've been not feeling well... Talk to you all soon!

Innoculate Your Kids Against Cooties!

Family Photo & Stuff

This photo was taken just a few days ago with our kick-a camera. I love it. :)
School starts on the 31st for Paul and me. Anna, it seems, will have to attend some classes with us. I have some classes with some profs that I'm not too pleased with--don't even get me started--so I have my stomach all in a knot about that. :/
Anna and I have taken to watching the NU soccer team that practices behind our apartment complex. Anna loves the soccer balls. She loves cheering for the young ladies saying, "Doe, Ball! Do!" But did I mention how it's at least 120 degrees on that faux field? Beneath the turf is mulched rubber, which attracts the sun's heat like nobody's business. It's H-O-T! But Anna seems to enjoy it, so I think we'll go for a third day of observing as their 'number one little fan' & mother.
This weekend we are hoping to go to a family reunion. My mom is planning on picking us up, but I really am not sure if she can even find us! She's terrible with directions!
Now... I'm off to comment on some blogs. :)

Potty Training Awesomeness!

New potty training awesomeness: Anna is now going potty BY HER SELF--meaning that she's not asking to go, she's just going into the bathroom and climbing on the stool and sitting on the potty and going, not asking us first... going BY HERSELF. :) :) :) :) Yay Anna!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anna Was Bitten! :(

We went to a playplace yesterday and a little boy bit Anna! I felt so bad. I tried not to overreact and told the mom that kids will be kids, but as soon as she left, I cuddled Anna within an inch of her life. It didn't break the skin thank goodness! It did make blood blisters and a few marks. I think it scared her. She doesn't have a lot of contact with kids--she isn't in daycare etc.--so I think it took her off guard that a kid would actually bite! Daddy play-bites her, so maybe she thought he was playing at first? That's Paul's theory anyway and it may not be too far from the truth.

On top of that we think she may be teething her molars. She so pathetic when it hurts, too. She cries and sticks out her tongue and sticks the edge of the blanket in her mouth... she keeps waking in the middle of the night crying, too. I feel so bad for her. Poor thing! :(

Adventures in Oregon

A picture Anna drew of her daddy. =)

Anna 'pushing' Alayna into the pool (she expected it).

My niece Alayna.

My nephew Case.

Tired...

It's been a long couple of weeks. My mom had surgery on her adrenal gland yesterday... they actually removed it because she had a tumor on it. She'll be in the hospital for maybe another day. I just can't wait to go home and have things be back to normal until school starts.

Meanwhile... there's been a heatwave here in the northwest! It's kind of crazy. It almost never gets above 100, but lately every day has been over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. I can't wait for it to cool down, for us to be home, and be able to relax for the rest of our summer--there isn't much of it! *sigh*

School

I finally talked to a counselor at the school and I've decided to finish out my education degree. I've got only 36 more credits until graduation! That will mean around 3 semesters to go. I will finish with an education major, but when I get my MA (teachers must get an MA anyway) I will get an Educational Psych MA which will allow me to work as a school counselor, something I've thought about off and on since I've had Anna but thought it would take much more schooling. I think this is a great plan and I'm feeling much more confident about all of this. My classes begin in August and I'll be holding down a full load again--for the first time since Anna was an itty bitty infant and just slept all of the time!

I don't know if I mentioned Paul's migraines on here, but he did have an MRI at last and everything is normal. So, that means that he'll have to see a regular doctor to get the rest of the tests... a friend of ours had issues with vitamin deficiencies that caused migraines, etc. So hopefully it's easily remedied. I hate seeing him in pain so much and when he is having a bad day (which happens more often than not) it turns him into a horrendous GRUMP. :-/ So hopefully that goes well!

What Happens When You Leave a 2 Year Old Alone With Fish Food

She was so proud of herself. She kept saying, "I feed Memo!" lol So I couldn't be mad at her.

Migraines

Anna copying Daddy.

She wants out of the car!!!

So I played a game with her. She thought it was hilarious.

Anna laughing.

Tuckered out girl.

Two nights ago we went to the ER. Paul gets terrible migraines and this was the first time he had seen a doctor about them. He's going to get an MRI Monday evening. And it looks like his employer hired him with no intention on keeping him beyond a week. So... it's been a good week. :/ *sigh* But here is a cute pic or two of Anna from this week. (We are borrowing a car right now. Our car is now officially dead.) grrr

The 4th of July in Pictures