July 26, 2009

It's a Potty Party!!!!!!!

"Come join the party!"

This week was a very big week!  Gwen has been "potty training" for some time now, really it is us talking about it and her sitting on the potty sometimes,  however, this week we really began training.  I know it is early, but it can be done!  And why not start now?  So, Gwen has been sitting on the potty after she wakes in the morning and from her nap, and 30 minutes after she eats or drinks.  The whole idea right now is to get her to like the potty and to know that going in the potty makes us extremely exciting.  So we blow bubbles, read books, and talk for 5 minutes, usually resulting in nothing, but it was fun.  But....yesterday she actually went!!!!!!!!!!  I actually caught her at a time when she had to go and she went on the potty!!!!!!  So simple, yet so exciting!  I think I scared her a bit by getting so excited, but then she started clapping and was enjoying the moment.  That has been a one time experience so far, but we will keep at it!

"What are they doing?  Can I help?"

Gwen has also been busy watching the men work outside.  We are having the water lines replaced in town (they are the original lines from when the town was first built in 1890 something) and the guys have been digging and making all sorts of noise.  Not that we mind a bit because we now have water pressure!!!!!!!  Since Brad and I bought this house and had the water turned on, we have complained about the lack of water pressure.  It took 15-20 minutes to fill the bath tub 3 inches for Gwen, no two appliances requiring water (the dish washer, washing machine, toilet...etc.) could be used at the same time, nor could I use a Miracle Grow attachment for the hose because there wasn't enough water!  BUT NOW........THERE IS WATER!!!!!!  It was like Christmas the other day!  Brad and I were running around the house testing it and getting all excited!  The dish washer ran during the day (I had resorted to only running it while we slept) without going into error mode, we were able to take showers that felt like showers, and it only took 3 minutes to fill the tub (which had to be refilled soon after Gwen got in because she peed in the water)!  The saying "you don't know what you have until it's gone" was a motto around here when it came to the water.  Now we have it and we are sooooooooooooooo amazed at how great it is!

The list of excitement continues because we can finally tell everyone.....GWEN IS GOING TO HAVE A COUSIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Erin and Don are expecting a little boy or girl in January and we are so thrilled for them!  Gwen has been practicing saying "baby", pushing strollers, and giving hugs and kisses to prepare.  I just have to stop her from shopping!  She already wants to buy the baby so many gifts and it is so hard to say no!!!!!!  We just can't wait to meet him or her!!!!!
Other fun with Daddy!

We have also noticed that Gwen is mimicking everything now!  She will say what you say (the best she can) and do what you do.  So, Brad and I felt this was a good time to inventory all the things she can sign/say:

Signs:  milk, all done, more, food, "find it" (made up sign for a game we play)
Words:  duck, daddy, mama, mommy, all done, hi, bye bye, more, up, wow, uh oh, bubble, tickle, kitty, doggie, no, beep beep, Poppy, and baby
Kindas (words we know what she means, but they aren't quite there yet):  please, cup, tractor, cracker, snack, movie, juice, out, and outside
Animal sounds:  quack quack (duck/bird), moo (cow), woo woo (dog), eow (cat), kisses (fish), who who (owl), baa baa (sheep), and snorting noise (pig)

July 16, 2009

All in an afternoon!

I think this picture explains it all!  If anyone was wondering what it is like to be with Gwen...here is a peak!  She is a mover and a groover whenever awake (sometimes in her sleep too) and is a bundle of pure energy!  Some days I just wish I could bottle it up and have it with my coffee :-)  The following videos all happened between the hour of 5 and 6 pm this evening after I spent all day at work and Gwen had a 10 minute nap.  The background info for the videos is simple...Gwen and I were hanging out in the family room with a laundry basket full of Beanie Babies (I knew that collection from way back when would come in handy at some point in my life), Pooka was playing with her new toy moose (was Gwen's, but sorry Mom Pooka took it), and then Brad came home from work so we went outside.

A college laundry basket...it's all you need
Who said we needed to pay for entertainment?
It's a cute moose...and so is Gwen
The rules of a slide.  The stairs are not just for going up, nor is the slide just for going down.  We all know this, but who would have thought a 1 year old would?

July 11, 2009

4th of July and a road trip!

Gwen's adventures continue with a trip to Indianapolis for a wedding, a trip to Chicago to visit the Caseys, and a baby shower!  

We started our week last week with a massive undertaking.  With Brad at work, Gwen at the sitters, and help from Carolyn and Adam Mix...we took on painting the trim of the house.  When we bought our house last year, it was green with forest green around the windows, cranberry above the windows, white here and there, and light pink as an accent color too.  It sounds horrible, but it looked okay.  Just not us though.  So, the green stayed but everything else went white.  There is only one coat of paint on the trim now, but it looks so much better!!!!!
After a week of painting, it was time for some fun!  Brad actually had Friday off so we headed up to Indianapolis to visit our friends Jenn and Andy.  We went to Conner Prairie that night with them to see the symphony and fireworks.  Very cool show, with cannons and everything, and everyone loved it!  Gwen even signed "more" at the end and was looking for more fireworks!!!!  So cute!
"Jenn, when will the fireworks start?  Oh, and is there more yellow watermelon?  That stuff is amazing!"
Saturday Brad's cousin Terri was married to Jason!  It was a very nice wedding, with lots of fun and rain.  But, that's good luck right?  Sunday Brad headed home, and Gwen and I headed to Chicago.  We tried to keep our visit relaxing, but there is always so much we want to do!
One of my best friends came back for a wedding, and a baby shower was thrown in her honor!  It was great to see Julie and we are so excited to hear about Baby B!
"Grandma Delores check out my dress!  Poof!"
"Auntie Erin, you might need a snack, but I need one too!"
You know you are a Princess when the world stops for you!  Gwen somehow got everyone to watch her Curious Buddies movie together in the living room!  Amazing!

Another funny by Gwen:  She just figured out (randomly in the car too) that if she plugs her nose and talks it sounds funny!  I'll be chasing her with the camera to see if I can capture a video!