Nothing good happens after... 11?

Last night we had an adventure... One I hope to never have again but I am sure we will.

I'll set the scene 11:30pm. Our living room.

I was sitting at the table ordering photos from Shutterfly (I received 25 free prints on Saturday after we left for Key West and had to get them by yesterday).

So I am sitting at the table, on the computer, and Kevin has Ainsley. She keeps crawling around. (poor kid was stuck in either her stroller or car seat all day and finally fell asleep on the way home).

She sees that I am on the computer and scurries over to me. (she loves the computer and hitting the key board). Anyway... Kevin comes over and starts playing with her but all she wants is that lap top. So he picks her up and puts her on her shoulders. Next thing I know there is a crash and I look down and there is glass everywhere. She had grabbed a glass that was on the table. It fell and broke on Kevin's head. I look down and his leg is bleeding... Like bleeding. I swoop up Ainsley who is freaking out and I run to get a towel. (I am sure Kevin's version has me running around asking if his femoral artery was cut and if I needed to call 911. I just say that means I care...)

I try to vacuum up the glass but Ainsley is freaking out. And to be honest I was sort of freaking out because Kevin kept saying he was fine and was bleeding like crazy. I mean this is the same guy who hurt his back and ended up sitting on the arm rest of the couch staring at a wall for a few hours saying he was watching tv. So I'm not always trusting when he says he's fine. I end up finding out his head is cut as well.

We eventually bandage up Kevin and try to put her to bed... I pray we never have that happen again. And I am so thankful everyone is ok.

Kevin wanted to put up bloody photos on Facebook saying "what do you think happened?" I didn't think it was funny. But I did want to share.

How much is that Doggy in the window?

I just had to share this photos of Ainsley in front of the dog store on Duval. She was so close to passing out and then we walked by... This is the first time I have shown her something to look at that she actually became interested in it. She was so excited looking at the 5 puppies play. I think she actually caused more people to stop and look. After a few minutes of letting her "talk" to the puppies I started to lead us away... She had a fit! She was not done talking to them... So we stayed just a minute longer then headed on our way. But starting to think she is an animal lover.

Her personality is really starting to show more now... Especially when she is not happy with something. And me signing "stop" only makes it worse.

Key West Pool Fun

After we settled in to Key West (hitting Publix, checking in, and taking a nap) we hit the pool. Ainsley was the Belle of the pool. Everyone was saying Hi and laughing at her splashing.

For her Birthday I picked up these cute sun glasses for $3 at Janie and Jacks. I couldn't wait 2 weeks to give them to her. They match her swimsuit perfectly!

 

I have also found a new snack for her. I got some squeezable yogurt at Publix and I froze them to make a frozen pop. She loves them!

Country Breakfast Fun!

Daddy is headed back down to Key West today so we are tagging along for the weekend. But on our way down this morning we stopped off at the Cracker Barrel for breakfast. Ainsley did so well... She had an ENTIRE pancake! And she ate it all! She just sat in her chair right up next to the table and ate her breakfast.

But while we were waiting for breakfast to arrive we let Ainsley play with the peg puzzle. Oh that was fun. She just pulled out all of the pegs and tried to put them in her mouth. She was even separating them by colors (I am sure by accident). She would get so mad when we would try to put the pegs back in the triangle. We have one of these at home so I think it might be time to pull it out.



Letters to Ainsley

Dear Ainsley,

The other day I saw a commercial that made think of you... It was about how a Dad used the Internet to write letters to his daughter (from the time she was born till she is old enough to read them).

I try really hard to update our blog every once in a while with things that are going on in our lives, how you are growing up, or other random things. But I never thought to use it as a form to communicate to you now... For the future. There are so many things I want to tell you... Words of wisdom... Or other silly stories... But I know I will forget about them before you are old enough to understand.

So... Here is your first story...

I started teaching camp at the theater last week. But by Thursday of the 2nd week you had enough of me being away from you. Yesterday morning (around 5:30) you woke up screaming a scream that I can only describe as a nightmare scream. I rushed in to console you and as soon as I walked up to your bed you popped up and grabbed onto me. You held on to me as if your life depended on it. I sat down in the chair and you just curled up and fell back asleep. When I went to leave a few hours later you just looked up at me and the little sad face you make washed over your happy face. My heart just broke.

Then last night I could not get you to calm down to go to sleep. As soon as we took you in your room you just grabbed onto me and started crying. I finally took you back out to the living room and you curled up in my arms and fell asleep. I couldn't put you in your room... So you slept with us.

This morning was the same thing... You saw me in bed and smiled your happy morning smile but as soon as I started to leave that smile turned into a frown. Daddy is off today so i know you will love being with him! He even said he would bring you to come visit me while we were at lunch.

I know you don't understand now... But I love you so very much. I don't want you to ever think or feel that I don't! Or (heaven forbid) think that I am leaving you for forever! It's good for us to have time apart. This will help you be more independent and an even stronger little girl... And one day woman!

Tomorrow is Saturday and we have 2 whole days together! I am so excited! I know that by the end of Sunday you will be tired of me. And there are only 6 more weeks of camp and then I am all yours again!

Love you,

Mommy

Ainsley's Book - vol. 3

When Ainsley was a few months old I made her first photobook.  The original thought was to make books and send them to my mom and Kevin's mom.  I was not expecting to fall in love with the idea of making "books" instead of putting photos of Ainsley in just a regular photo album.  As soon as the first book arrived I was in love.  (Sorry Moms... but I promise a book is coming for you guys! A very special book.) 

Anyway.... The days of Scrapbooking are long behind me.  I knew that I just don't have the time anymore to put a scrapbook together and so I am so glad I found an alternative.  I just had visions of all of her photos sitting in a shoebox till she was 20. 

The first book sort of happened by accident and I really like how I was able to combine 2 months of "What's going on with Ainsley" in each volume.  So far I have made 3 books... The slideshow below is the 3rd book.  I know I am a few months behind but this is a lot easier than scrapbooking.  These photos are from November - December 2010.  And thanks to Shutterfly I can share them with you now. 

I hope you enjoy....

Click here to view this photo book larger

Lemon Puckers

Tonight after Kevin picked me up from camp we headed to The Big Cheese for dinner.  While we were waiting for dinner to arrive Ainsley kept reaching for my lemon wedge.  Everytime I went to take a bite she would ask for some (in the form of a squeal)... so after several "squeals" I gave in.  What happened next... well... I am just glad I had the camera in my bag. 

Little Froggy in the Pool

Ainsley sure does love playing in the pool.  Here is a video of her and Kevin swimming.   



Ainsley turns 11 Months Old!

 

It's hard to believe we are almost at the ONE YEAR OLD mark! I know it has been a looooooooong time since I did a monthly update for Ainsley. So this one is well past due!

This past month has been an interesting one for us. Starting in May her personality has really started to develop. Even Dr. Miller said we have the workings of a "Drama Queen" on our hands (wonder where she gets that from?...). If she doesn't like something she will tell you. Either by yelling really loudly, throwing her body back into an arch, dramatically tossing herself on the floor, or waving her hands in front of her face. Let's just say sometimes I feel like we have already entered the "Terrible Two's". And we have noticed ways that she is starting to work the tears over on us... (more Daddy so than Mommy).

She was 17lbs when we went to the Doctors this month. This was not a scheduled appointment. She ended up getting a stomach virus. This was her first cold/ sickness other than congestion that put our little active Froggy out of commission for a few days.

Around Mothers Day her 3rd tooth (all on the bottom) arrived. A few days ago I found 2 NEW teeth starting to pop in (1 on the top... Yay! and a 4th on the bottom)

She is a pro at crawling and chasing the cats. She loves to crawl! She even loves to crawl down the hall to help me take out the trash. She is not walking on her own... But she is like a little couch spider. So I know we are in trouble in the coming months.

She loves toys that make noise and sing songs and she would rather play with cat toys or a roll of toilet paper than play with her toys. But her favorite toys are our iphones, the PS3 controlers, and the tv remotes. I am not proud to say but she even knows how to turn on the tv and Netflix on the PS3.

She loves the intro songs to some of our favorite shows: Psych, Bones, Fraggle Rock, Backyardagains, Fat Albert. In fact when she starts getting cranky in the car I just play those theme songs over and over and over and over again. Other music she likes is Classical music and the Barenaked Ladies Children's station on Pandora. I have tried playing "kid music" for her... but it didn't go over well. And she loves playing Keyboard Cat.

She loves bath time! She has gotten more active in the tub these past few weeks. Sliding on to her belly and playing with her pigs and duck. Kevin and I joke about needing raincoats to give her a bath because of her splashing. Oh.... and bath time is never complete with out some Beach Boys or Pineapple Princess.

This past month we really have started going to the pool on a regular basis. Ainsley loves the pool and splashing around. She is getting used to being in the water and splashing her face... but we have yet to do the "full face under". We have worked on blowing bubbles and showing her how to hold her breath so hopefully soon she will take the plunge.

 

For some reason Ainsley thinks she can fly. She is always trying to jump off the furniture including our bed on to the floor. She is sort of a dare devil drama queen... because when she falls she almost always lets out a cry only to get back up and try it again... I don't get it!

Ainsley loves to Eat! Infact she loves to eat... Everything! No more baby food for her. She wants to eat off of her own plate and if it is something she can feed herself she won't let you feed it to her.

Favorite foods: yogurt, mac and cheese, chicken, carrots, peas, cheese bunny crackers, cheese, puffs, popcorn, and ice cream.

At the begining of the month she hated to be put in her crib. She would much rather lay on Kevin or me any time! At the end of the month we have gotten her to fall asleep on her own. We learned this month that you have to retrain them how to sleep. (Something I was not told about or read in any of my books). She is sleeping about 10 hours a night now. Except for the nights that her teeth bother her. Those nights we are back to being up 2-3 times a night. (I am so ready for those teeth to be done with.)

 

Monday Nights - Family BBQ Pool Night!

I have always thought of the family things we would do when we have kids.  I have always been a fan of Family Game Night where we get pizza a play board games all night.  This reminds me of the Saturdays when I was a little.  My dad and I would stay up really late playing Monopoly (funny how when your a kid 11pm seems soooooooo late.)   Chinese Take-out and Nextflix Night.  I mean who doesn't love Chinese and a movie?  Picnic in the Park... (you have to ask? Hello... Cheese and Wine?! - and not for the kids).  I have even added one to my list (after our holiday celebrations with the Nelson-Montet family)... The Backyard Drive-In.

Now I know it's a little early to pull out the board games.  And Ainsley's Netflix attention span consists of the opening credits of Psych and then she is off to something else.  So we will have to hold off on those two "Nights" for a while.  

But I never dreamed that this past Memorial Day Monday we would start a new family tradition.  We don't get a lot of "Family Days" to start with.  I mean a restaurant manager and an actor/ teacher at a theater don't exactly scream 9-5 jobs.  So I was excited that we had Memorial Day off together. A simple wish to grill some hot dogs and go swimming... At first I thought it was impossible.  That is one of the downfalls of living in a high-rise apartment - No Grilling!  But after not wanting to go without the taste of a grilled hot dog I came up with a pretty good substitute... our George Foreman Grill.  So I grilled up the hot dogs, tossed the potato salad and baked beans in my lovely Whole Foods bag, grabbed a few beers, and voila!  I had a BBQ dinner to go. 

We all changed into our bathing suits and headed down to the 7th Floor.  There we had our dinner as the sun was starting to descend into the west or what I like to say "It's sinking into Kendell".  And then afterwards we went swimming.  

Ainsley loves the pool and I love taking her to go swimming.  Partly because once we get back home I give her a bath and then she is out for the night.    

I was expecting to enjoy ourselves and have a wonderful Memorial Day 7th Floor BBQ.  What I was not expecting... was it to be something that we enjoyed so much that since then we have done it 3 more times (not just on Mondays).  So now we have a new family night that I don't have to wait till Ainsley is old enough to not eat the houses and hotels in Monopoly... or have to pause the movie every 10 minutes to rewind to find out what we missed because the baby is excited talking to the cats.  No... this is something we can do now... and enjoy being a family!