Dear Diary,

I thought I would write my first blog tonight, as DH has been abducted by the hospital and I'm alone (aside from sleeping baby) and bored. I've never been good at keeping journals though, so who knows how long this will last.

My MIL really wants to take my 15 month old trick or treating on Halloween, so I'm going to attempt to make her a costume. She is a red head, so I'm going with Little Orphan Annie. I am not particularly crafty, but I really long to be. My mom is a wonderful seamstress so I may pass the project on to her if I get too overwhelmed. Will post pic when it gets done.

Here are some pics of Daisy from the other day.


I am astounded by how moody she can be...one day she is the sweetest thing, giving me kisses and love the whole day...the next day she is having major meltdowns and clinging like a vine to my legs all day. We have officially entered the toddler years. It's been such a long week.

So it seems I'm a pretty boring blogger. I guess I just want everyone to get a chance to get to know me a little better. I have felt so much lonelier this year. I think I need to get out more. Today I took Daisy to the duck pond/park. She called all the ducks "gog- gogs" which is her word for dog. Too cute! They have a little program at the library for babies/toddlers that we went to after the park, so I think we will start doing that.

I should go to bed so I have energy for tomorrow. Hopefully DH gets a little sleep tonight at the hospital.

Re: Dear Diary,

We went to see my folks this past weekend and had a blast! I wish we lived in the same town, but two hours away is certainly nothing to complain about. One of my best friends had a private wedding ceremony Thursday at her dad's house and then a fun reception Friday night, which is why I came in town. DH was post call Thursday, so I drove us all down. My mom made me a nice birthday supper (gumbo, mmmmm!) and Friday we took Daisy to the zoo and the pumpkin patch at my parent's church. She had such a great time! She examined every pumpkin on the lot. And she was amazed by all the animals.

DH had to round Sat. morning, so he went on back Friday night and my mom took me and baby home Sat. I had a great time at the reception. I haven't done my hair and put on real makeup in awhile, so it was fun to get dolled up. My best friend went with me, so it was a fun girl's night out. They had a fabulous 80's cover band play.

So, I really did help cut out the Annie costume fabric, but since we had no pattern, I had to let my mom take over. She did what she calls "down and dirty sewing" to get it done over the weekend. I love it. Here is little miss priss modeling her costume and holding her "Sandy."





It's been a rainy week, but peaceful. I got some paint at Michaels so Daisy and I can decorate her pumpkin. I know she can't do much yet, but I'm so excited to have a kid to do fun crafts with. It has brought some of the magic back to holidays like Halloween and Christmas.

DH is on an Ob/Gyn rotation next month and has been told it is pretty rough hours. Not looking forward to that, but trying to accept it. We miss him so much when he is away. He is really good about spending time with us when he is off. I can be such a nag sometimes, but I'm trying to be better about cutting him a break and let him go play his banjo instead of doing dishes.

That's all I have time to write for now- Daisy is up from her (too short!) nap.

Re: Dear Diary,

trying to get the other pics from this weekend to work...

Re: Dear Diary,

Just got off the phone with my mama. My grandma went into the hospital last night. She is 93 and having some bowel problems. They are doing a CAT scan right now. Hopefully we will know something in the morning. We are worried about how draining all this will be on her. She has had very few health issues and you wouldn't think she was 93 by looking at her. But Mom said this has left her pretty weak. I know it is hard on my mom too.

One of DH's fellow med students (and my dear friend) was on her break this week and came to town to visit. We had a blast with her..even though DD hadn't seen her since graduation, she warmed up quickly. We all took a trip to the pumpkin patch. DD got another "pum pum" and now everytime we go for a walk around the neighborhood, she insists on bringing it.

Another toothie coming in. She is always such an emotional mess when she gets one coming through. I have let her watch way more tv than usual today, but I needed a few minutes without her on my legs! As hard as days like these are, I am so thankful I get to be the one to hold her when she feels bad. She really is such a sweetheart and we have such a good time together.

DH and I are working on a Christmas album for my dad. We are trying to be inventive (cheap!) for Christmas gifts this year. It is fun picking out the songs and it has given us motivation to practice. It's nice to do it together too. I wish my brothers could come in town to play on a few songs, but I don't know if we can coordinate that by Dec. DH is going to play banjo, mandolin, and guitar, and I will play my violin, sing, and play guitar on some as well. DH is begging to play his cajun accordion on one, but I'm not so sure about that one! I'm not confident about the quality of our musical skills, but we do have lots of heart!

Oh something cute...I taught her to put her babies to bed...she puts them in a chair, throws a blanket on them and shakes her finger at them and says "nigh'! nigh'!" I think for Christmas I'm going to give her my little wooden doll bed that my Papa made me when I was a girl.

That's it for tonight.





With her dollies looking pitiful (teething!)


At the pumpkin patch

Re: Dear Diary,

Ahhhhh....baby is in bed for the night, thank goodness. This whole time change deal made today a very long day! We did have an extra hour to get it together for church, so that was good. I realized that I can't skip every time DH has to work on a Sunday, because I would basically never go. I miss going as a family though and sitting next to him during worship.

He just started his OB rotation and is alternating weeks on days and nights.We did find out that he has Thanksgiving and the day after off. I was completely surprised and grateful as I know this may never happen again- who knows what Christmas holds. On his day off last week we took Daisy to the duck pond. We had such a good time (see pics below).

I really want to go help my mama out. She is exhausted taking care of my grandma who is still in the hospital. Her bowels were really blocked up so they gave her stuff to help with that and now she can't stop going and is very dehydrated. I know they are doing what they can, but she is so weak, discouraged, and humiliated. After 93 years of life, I know she is ready to be with God and see my grandpa again. We are going to see my folks this next weekend, so hopefully I'll be of some help (although I'll have DD with me).

And now, I am off to clean out the fridge (blehhh!)

Re: Dear Diary,

Blehhhh residency

DH is working nights this week and I depise it so much. He gets home when we are getting up, goes to sleep, wakes up cranky, then leaves. He was complaining about how I haven't really cooked this week (kinda hard, buddy, when you eat breakfast/lunch at 3 pm), so I passive agressively ate the rest of his cereal for supper.

DD had a cold last week and has been congested and running fever and crying in her sleep this week. Took her to the doc today (where she had a few meltdowns while we waited two hours past our appointment time.) She has her first ear infection. Hopefully the meds will help her feel better soon. I need a week without a sick baby.

There are the complaints.

Good things.....

-My grandma got out of the hospital and is recovering at home (although my mom is very tired and still taking care of her almost around the clock).

-Our 5 year old water frog is still alive. (okay, so I'm having trouble thinking of things)

-I'm grateful for an amazing family. I praise God for my sweet, precious, sleeping child and for my wonderful overworked husband. I think this year is bringing out the best and worst in us and we just have to keep pushing the best forward. We'll make it through.

Re: Dear Diary,

Well, it has been a few months since I last wrote on here. We have been out of town a good bit between Thanksgiving and Christmas. DH just got off an ER rotation and is starting PICU this month which he says will be good hours. Let's hope! He is studying for Step 3 which he takes next month.

We had a really nice Christmas. A few family squabbles- both on my side of the family and DH's, but I don't really want to relive them in blog-form. We went to my parents house for a week before Christmas. My brother and his family met us there for the weekend. I got to hug on my sweet nephew and little baby niece. I was glad to get back home though. I feel a bit Christmas-ed out and I'm glad it is 2008 now. Daisy is tired out from all the excitement. She got a few new things from Santa. I gave her my doll bed that my grandpa had made for me when I was little. She likes to mercilessly throw her babies and the bedding out and sit her little behind in it. And she is obsessed with the Dan Zanes in concert video my mom got her.

My current goals for the new year include the following:

-Use the jogging stroller I got for Christmas (Daisy was thrusting her body out of it yesterday when we tried to go for a walk....not too wild about it, but hopefully that will change...I guess her whining will only make me run faster)

-Consolidate her naps...she is having trouble going down for both of them...I think it is time to merge.

-Really start trying to wean her. I feel like I'm ready...I wish I felt like she was. She loves food and drinks whole milk in her sippy fine. When she is tired though she wants to nurse so desperately. I feel like we are pretty close to the end...I'm trying to just use distraction and give her alot of hugs. It is hard teaching her to be more independent and that I can comfort her in other ways. Funny how something that was so hard to start is so hard to stop. She is 18 months now and before I will consider getting pregnant again, I really want my body back. I hope that doesn't sound selfish. It really has been such a sweet and special time. I'll probably be on the parenting forum asking for weaning tips in a few weeks

That's pretty much it. Here are some of my favorite pics from Christmas. I'll try to start posting more again on the forums.

Re: Dear Diary,

Around my abode.......

I made Daisy a nap mat cover....my first sewing project all on my own! (So it's technically a pillowcase which is one of the easiest things to sew- who cares! I made it!) Will post a pic when I take one.

The reason I made her a cover for her mat is because I'm going to try and get her to start napping on it. She's still home with me, but I'm trying to get her to be more flexible about where she sleeps so she will do better napping at her grandmas.

We had a tough week...DH took Step 3 and DD was cutting some teeth that were making her so terribly grouchy. Sometimes I feel as though I'm running out of cheer to give out. But then my little sunshine girl comes back to me and all is well again. I can handle her toddler tantrums, but when she is so cranky and hurting all day- uggh.

DH was actually on vacation this week (although he spent the first few days studying and testing). But we did have a few days at the end of this week to relax together and work on some house projects. He is working night shifts next week, so this sweet time will come to an end.

cooking in her new kitchen:


my sweet Daisy


We have started potty training.....

Re: Dear Diary,





"There was never a child so lovely but his mother was glad to get him to sleep." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson