Happy Birthday Journey-Bear!

This week, January 31st, was Journey's first birthday. Yes, I know I am late, but for the record, I set up a slide show and small blog on my myspace page dedicated to Journey 6 days before her birthday :)

I can hardly believe a year has already gone by since she was born. What a great year it has been! I love her so much. We have such a strong bond that I really hope lasts. I dreamed and prayed for a little girl many years before I had her, and I feel so blessed.

At her 12 month check-up she was 21.4 lbs. (55%) and 28 1/4" (50%). Not the giant that her brother was! Unfortunately, the doctor is concerned about her development (not walking, crawling, or scooting around) and her head shape/size. We will be getting a CAT scan because she is concerned that there is extra fluid on her brain. This definitely has me scared, but I am doing my best to trust God with her. The good news is that she is on track in her fine motor skills (pincher grasp, etc) and in her verbal skills. Speaking of that, here is what she is saying at 12 months:

Hi Dada! (usually waves and loves to say that when Mark walks in the room)

"mo" more (when she wants more food or drink)

"dah dah" dolly

Mama

She also likes to wave and say "hi" to people in passing and is clapping. It is so cute! She has a smile that lights up the room and likes to mimic us when we laugh. She has become very fast in her jeep walker (finally)! That seems to be her first step of freedom way from me.

Journey seems like she is always teething and seems to have a low pain tolerance. Fussy, fussy! She has 4 teeth on the bottom and 3 on top (working on the 4th and a lower molar). Ugg!

It's all worth it, though. I love waking up every morning to her smiling face, and Mark loves the way she wakes him up by either waving or patting his shoulder and saying "hi dada!".

We love you Journey. You are as beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside.

Little Manipulator

Aspen has been obsessed with Venom action figures(spiderman charictar) since we got one for his cousin Adam for Christmas. The other day we were in Target and of course, had to walk the toy isles looking/drooling at all the toys. He knew that we would not be getting any toys, but knows that his birthday is coming up. Here is our conversation as we were walking away...

Aspen - "Mom, you know why I tell you you're pretty? It's because you have to get me that toy for my birthday."

Me - "Oh really?" smile

Aspen - "If you want me to keep telling you you're pretty, you have to give me that toy. That's why I tell you you're pretty every day. So if you want me to keep saying that, I want venom and those two cars. That's why I say that. Okay Mom? You want me to keep telling you that you're pretty, don't you?"

He was so serious and sincere. It was so cute, and I think I'm in trouble!

Intentional Connections

Something I have been thinking a lot about is creating intentional connections with Aspen and Journey on a daily basis. I love being a stay at home mom, but I'll be honest, I'd rather be doing things like errands, cleaning and making food than sitting and just playing with my kids. It sounds so awful, but it is hard for me to slow down and play. I get bored and feel like a babysitter. Aspen has been asking us lately, "why don't you want to play with me?" Wow, does that ever make me feel guilty!
So I have been working at making it a priority to sit and play, read books or slow down and just talk to Aspen every day. To look into his eyes and tell him how much I love him and how special he is to our family, and to hold him and give him hugs. I want to make intentional connections with him especially right now because Journey is still a baby and automatically gets a lot of my attention. They are so different already, but I want to make sure I treat and show them love in the same way.

What They Are Saying....

Aspen, Aspen, Aspen. I just wish I could remember all the funny things he says on a daily basis. Today is my birthday and Aspen and Mark sang "happy birthday" to me in bed and then did the birthday dance for me. Why oh why did I not have a video camera on me right then?!! It was priceless. He told Mark this morning that "mommy is mine wife, not your wife".
He has an imaginary friend right now, his brother "John". He told me he is 6 years old. It's quite funny to watch him "play" with John.
One great thing is that he is not talking potty talk quite as much. For a while it was the subject of every conversation, or or every conversation eventually ended there. Mark doesn't help me out with that too much and generally joins in....

Journey is only saying a few things, but is really starting to try to communicate....
"dah-dah" for dolly - she has a very specific way that she talks to her dolls
"Hi" - she says hi to people all the time and has started to wave in the last week. So cute!

"The Man" Update

Amazingly, The Man is still the one toy that Aspen carries everywhere. He got quite a few new action figures for Christmas - spiderman, batman and superman, but The Man is still number one. Even Journey likes to play with him. Of course that is only because that is the one toy that is normally off limits to her.

A funny thing Aspen said today.....

He woke up sick this morning. When I asked him how he was feeling he said, "I feel like I have yucky food in my head". Poor guy!

Killed them today.....

I killed them today at Rite Aid......original price: $48.01...........paid: $12.61. I saved 72%!!!
I love this grocery game thing!

And, totally unrelated, Journey went down for both her naps today without me having to nurse her first. This is only exciting for me I know, but I have been dreading trying to change her "routine" for a month and a half now. And I kind of have to since she will be one at the end of the month. (sob, sob)

The Grocery Game!

I am hooked! I just discovered the grocerygame.com and am so into it. I have saved so much money in the two weeks since I signed up. The first time I shopped at Safeway my bill was $96, but I paid $31.66. Today I went to Walgreens. My total bill was $48......guess what I paid....$16.01!!! Yes, that is a 66% savings :) I am totally excited about all my savings.
I have always been a thrifty grocery shopper. I used to shop at Winco and Trader Joes. I would never have shopped at Safewaybefore. Let me just say, I will not miss Winco! :)