Monday, September 26, 2011

A Day in the Life of Callie (September Edition)

Our morning began like all of our mornings - a wonderful wake up call from Miss Callie :) During the week, she hears our alarm clock go off and it wakes her up so early -then she gets in the habit of it :( Unfortunately, she enjoys getting up around 7 AM every morning now...unless we're really lucky - then it's 8 AM!

My bright eyed beauty was ready for some cuddles with her mommy :) We laid on the couch together, watching our Saturday morning cartoons (The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That was on!)
Next up - breakfast! Today's menu consisted of an English Muffin toasted with peanut butter, strawberry yogurt, 1/2 a banana (that was already eaten before I took this picture)! Callie has been doing SUCH a good job of feeding herself! It's so crazy to believe that 6 months ago we were thinking, "Will she ever learn how to do this?!" Now she is a rock star and does a VERY good job of keeping her food on her spoon or fork!

After Callie was dressed for the day, and daddy was up, mommy was dressed - it was time to pack for our weekend to the cities...Callie has always LOVED opening my Paris box that sits next to my dresser. It's full of all my old "fancy" jewelry from when I was competing in the Miss America Organization. She loves pulling out the necklaces and putting them on, then walking over to the mirror and checking herself out! She's crazy :) Now she learned that she can push it by the window, stand on it, and see outside!

Mommy and Callie took a break from packing to have a tickle fest...and I stole a lot of Eskimo kisses from her :) We were having a GREAT time and she was laughing so hard!

Yes, I know our bed is not made and that is not like us at all...Josh literally had just gotten out of bed and we were getting ready to leave :)

We traveled up to my parents house - good news...Callie DID NOT get car sick this time! WHOA WHO! She is a rock star at throwing up between Austin and Owatonna ALMOST every trip to the cities...we have a "puke emergency kit" in our car...and fabreze! We finally arrived and it was past lunch time - so we stopped at Wendy's and got some lunch! I'm so impressed with them - their toy in the happy meal was a BOOK! AWESOME! Wendy's, you have my vote!

After eating, Callie spent some quality time with Grampa! He had hip replacement surgery on September 15th and has been doing AWESOME in recovery! Callie sure likes to play with him, and I'm pretty sure she brightens up his day :)

After saying hi, it was time to go! Josh, Callie & I headed out to McDougahl's Apple Orchard "Apple Junction" in Afton - it's literally less than 10 minutes from my mom and dad's house. I've been going here since I was a kid, and it seems to get better and better every year!

We started picking apples right away! Honey Crisp weren't ripe yet, but McIntosh were ready, and VERY delicious!

Callie enjoyed picking the apples, but I think she was more amazed at all the open space!

Picking apples with daddy too :)

Ah yes, can't pick them without trying them! Callie is a rare toddler - she will eat an entire apple...WHOLE! Peel on and everything :) That makes me so happy, because the most healthiest part of the apple is the peel! Good girl, Callie!

We went on a tractor/wagon ride through the orchard! Callie had fun and, like any toddler, got antsy whenever he stopped to talk about something!

This was my attempt at a family self portrait on the wagon ride :)

Daddy and Callie having a tickle war...I think daddy won :) I love that her little tummy is showing here...I could just EAT her!

This was on top of their look out tower...the owner built this, along with every other structure on his orchard, with his own two hands! Very talented man! To think he used to be a chemistry teacher at my old high school :)

There was a little kids area that I had never been to, but now that Callie is old enough, we ventured over there :) Just think, next year, she will probably be pedaling herself around this little track...with the two of us trailing behind her :)

There were slides, swings, and wooden train climbing structures that Callie played on! Another feature was a corn maze! We ventured into the corn maze!

I think everything about this picture is perfect! The colors, the lighting, the scenery, the subjects :)
There were 5 hidden mailboxes! We had a slip of paper with different questions on it. They were all related to apples! We made it to 2 mailboxes, then decided to answer them on our own :) They were super simple questions about Johnny Appleseed and taking care of apple trees :)

Callie was able to trade in her "quiz" for a prize! Choice of a coloring book or a beaded necklace! Guess what my dress up queen wanted! That's right - beaded necklace! She wore that sucker ALL DAY LONG!

As we were walking out - Callie grabbed her daddy's leg...I LOVE this :)

They also had a "water pump" game! Callie loved watching the blue duckies "guckies" go back and forth as we pumped water! She wanted to pump it herself, but was a bit too small to get a good "pump!"

One more family picture before we left! You didn't think we'd leave without taking a fun family photo in the crazy head holes did you :) Too bad we were looking DIRECTLY into the sun!

That's right ladies and gentlemen! Callie is 32.5 inches tall :) Almost 3 feet tall - that is a great age to height ratio...if she keeps this up, she'll be working towards that basketball scholarship in no time!

When we got back to my parents house, my mom and sister, Colleen played with Callie while Josh and I loaded some wood into our trailer (which by the way - Larry gave to us! THANK YOU!) We have many more loads and more brush to haul away to the compost...

I think this picture says a lot! Auntie Colleen was doing something weird, and she had Callie's blankie around her neck...Callie was looking up at her, and you can see her thoughts..."You are crazy Auntie Colleen!"

Supper time :) My mom made chicken with potatoes! Callie preferred the grapes, a little cheese, some corn and that was pretty much it! She's been such a picky eater lately...

I turned some Disney dancing music on my iphone, and Colleen was showing Callie some dance moves. They were having a blast!

But like all fun days, one must take a bath and get ready for bed! This isn't the greatest picture of us, but it's a bedtime photo! Poor sleepy peanut! At least she slept until 8:30 AM the next day :)

Hope you enjoyed A Day in the Life of Callie in September :)

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Another GREAT day to remember :)

Today is September 3, 2011. The reason I am writing this blog starting with a date is because I don't want to forget this day!

Callie Lynae is almost one and a half years old. She is little Miss Independent and has her mommy's sassy personality! Sometimes I am mad at myself for letting her see this side of me, but I think it will help her to grow into a strong, independent woman...and I do want that for her!

She is currently OBSESSED with her baby dolls and copies her mommy and daddy in taking care of them! She makes sure they are in their car seat or stroller the right way, she feeds her babies milk and juice, she rocks her baby, covers her up with a blanket, reads her books, and even says "Shhhh" whenever baby is sleeping :) She is such a wonderful daughter and we are SO blessed to have her in our lives. I can't believe how intelligent she is - she makes me so proud :)

Callie does have her flaws though. Right now, at the current stage in her life, Callie has a VERY hard time sharing. I know this is common, but I also don't want her to think everything is hers. We have play dates for her and try to get her around kids her age...but it might not be enough.

Josh and I have always talked about having our second child and Callie be three years apart. He was an only child but has Kayla (half sister) who is only 4 years younger. They have a GREAT relationship! My sister that is closest in age to me is 5 years older, and that's too far apart.

After a lot of talking and planning it out - Josh and I decided that we were ready to begin trying for our 2nd child! Again, today is September 3, 2011 :) We couldn't be anymore excited either. We haven't told anyone we're trying, and we don't plan on telling anyone when we're pregnant (right away at least). But I just couldn't wait to share this news!

So I have officially had my last beer until after our second child is born (no fun, creative names until we are actually pregnant!). I am still currently drinking my daily diet coke to keep me awake, but will eventually stop when the test reads positive!

Last stop still on the docket - El Mariachi's to have their YUMMY DELICIOUS quaso dip...before I'm not allowed to eat it!

As I finish writing this exciting blog, I can't help but feel so excited to know that hopefully soon, another human being will be growing inside of me! Our family of three will become four! Callie will have a playmate and God will show me how I am capable of loving another child as much as I love Callie - because that is something I am struggling with!

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

September brings new adventures!

So as I was uploading all of the following pictures, I realized that they are 100% BACKWARDS! The pictures of Callie on her first day of day care should be at the bottom and the Viking picture at the top - this is how a chronological order of pictures is supposed to be...
However, not this time, because I screwed up!

But as I stare at this first picture, I can't help but think that this NEEDS to be at the top! Here's why!

Meet Jessica! She is a dear friend of ours! But we haven't always known her. 2 years ago, her daughter, Alexis, walked into my classroom! Big bright, blue eyes ready and eager to learn! Jessica volunteered her time every Wednesday afternoon to help with our math centers. I got to know Jessica very well and we often talked baby (I was pregnant with Callie at the time). To make a long story short, Josh and I were going to have to "settle" for child care, because everything was already full for the following year...

After Callie was born, Jessica offered to provide childcare services for us and wanted to take on Callie everyday! Everyday I thank God for giving Jessica to us, for bringing her into our lives. She has made one of the hardest things such an easy thing to handle. Dropping Callie off at her house everyday isn't a "sad" time, because I can see the excitement in Callie's face every time she sees Jessica or her beautiful children! Callie loves going to Jessica's house, and we love having her there!

I guess it's easier to part with your child when you feel like she's staying with family everyday!

So here is Callie, on her first day back to "school" this year :) I just couldn't resist her new stylish boots! I seriously want a pair for myself!

I love how Callie just jumped right in and stood between Alexis and Jet like they are her big sister and big brother :) All 3 holding hands :) This is how I will forever remember these three!

So our MN State Fair pictures are also completely backwards -and I'm just too tired to care right now :) So picture you are reading this and looking through these pictures in "reverse!"

Here is Callie at the end of our trip - she made out pretty good if you ask me! The ladybug was given to her by some Carnies who win prizes and give them away to kids! I think they thought Callie was just too cute :) Because lets face it, she is :)

After she woke up from her evening cat nap, she was ecstatic to see Daddy won her a giraffe! Man was she excited about this :) She was bopping her little head around and waving her giraffe all over!

I suppose somewhere in this post I should tell you how we left with $31.00 that we found :) It started that Josh found a $10.00 bill! NORMALLY we would have good character and return it or find its owner...but not at a fair! So we claimed it :) Up $10.00 -GREAT! Then in the Midway, I found $1.00. As we were leaving the Midway to go home, I noticed tickets on the ground, and someone was stepping on them - completely unaware that they were under his foot. So I told Josh to pick them up...he did and as we were casually walking away, he said "Holy Crap, there's a lot of tickets here!" - 30 tickets! That's right! So we sold them to some people in the ticket line for $20.00 !!! Yes, we left with $31.00 in our pocket...

Callie has been pretty picky about eating lately, but like her mommy, you can't turn down state fair food! I told Josh, "I love being a McRae, but I have Shellum blood running through my veins, and I just don't get full at the fair!" Well, it turns out Callie has that same blood running through her veins :) She ate and ate and ate and ate...

Playing with Daddy while walking to get more food :)

Why Yes mommy, I do want to eat your entire ice cream cone! I'll share with you, but I'll scream if you take too big of a lick!

Having to hold it on her own - Miss Independent...wonder where she gets that from :)

We went to the Little Hands Farm and she had a blast. She was very tired and hungry again, so she got pretty upset with us...but she was still a trooper!

She loved the tractors! I'm so happy she enjoyed this :)

My little farmer all set and ready to go :)

Hey chicken, are you eating the entire caramel apple? Aren't you going to share!?!

My memory of this photo will forever be Josh, Callie and I in the "Fun House". Josh was playing with Callie looking through all of the glass windows, and I suggested he let her walk! Not thinking that would be a big deal! It wasn't until we heard a "thud" and realized that she had walked RIGHT into the glass! Haha - she tried to be so tough! She looked up at her daddy with her bottom lip out trying to keep it together! Poor girl!

Grandma Lynn took Callie on the fish ride. It was very bumpy - again, she wanted so badly to like it, but you can tell she was hanging on for dear life!

Daddy took Callie down the big slide :) She LOVED it so much - it was tough to get her off of it!

I went on the extremely bumpy and whip-lashing train with Callie! It was so comfortable too :) I loved having my knees pressed against the hard metal :) Callie on the other hand...LOVED the train ride! She cried when we got off, but if you remember, these are out of order - so the slide was next...she quickly got over the train ride!

We searched and searched for Goldy Gopher and never found him :( So we had to settle with the MN Wild Hockey mascot! Not sure of his name, but Callie got his autograph and a high five!

We were in the horse barn, and if you have been fortunate enough to hear Callie's horse noise it's PRICELESS! She goes "Hahahahaha" Anyway, she was making this noise and one of the owners wanted to show us her horse :) Such a nice woman! Callie used to be afraid of horses (and her rocking horse we have at home), but this helped her get over her fear! We were even able to pull her rocking horse out from the corner in our storage room :)

She LOVED the pig barn! Callie's favorite girl cousin, Claire, recently taught Callie how to make a pig noise! So she was having fun making that noise to the pigs that were awake!

Here she was able to pet a piglet :) So sweet!

And here she is telling us to "SHHHH" because the pigs were sleeping! AH! I LOVE HER!

Of course you need to squat down to talk to the cows :) I love that the cows mouth is open enough to look like he is talking back to her :) I wonder what he is saying!!

Admiring her first ever tattoo :)

Grandma Lynn and Callie had a blast at the fair! Callie also did a great job rocking the Pronto Pup hat :)

Oh look - Callie got a hold of Mommy's pronto pup! Can you tell she LOVED them :)

On the Carousel with Grandma Lynn & Larry! She could have ridden this all day!

Corn on the cob - YES PLEASE! Next year, I'll get you your own...again, this is moms! Why didn't she eat anything of daddy's??? Someone answer that for me please :)

Before the fair - a few days before, Callie helped daddy wash the car! He washed ours and Callie washed her own :) Daddy stayed dry and some how all of the water ended up on Callie :)

Like any Viking Family, we all need our own Viking Cheerleader! She looks so stinking cute! She's also rocking the new hair bows that I made for her! If you're lucky, someday you'll see them in person :) Only if you're lucky!

For now, this is the best update we have...it's a lot of stuff, and it's all backwards! Sorry about that...but I need to keep you wondering what is coming!

I do have a question for you though - if you could read a post about the McRae's - what would you like to read about? Leave a comment below if you have any special requests!!!