PINK EYE + CROUP IN 2-YEAR-OLD=AWFUL!

THIS PAST WEEK HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING TO SAY THE LEAST. IT ALL STARTED LAST SUNDAY WHEN I FOUND A LUMP IN HALLE'S NECK (KNOWING SHE HAD 2 COLDS LAST MONTH...)I FREAKED OUT. I TOOK HER IN ON MONDAY TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND I WAS JUST A SWOLLEN LYMPH NODE BUT IT WAS A BIT SCARY, THIS IS WHEN THEY PUT A SHOT IN IT WITH SOME ANTIBIOTIC TO KILL SOME OF THE INFECTION IN IT AND ALSO TO RELIEVE SOME OF THE SWELLING-SCARY AND HALLE WAS IN A BIT OF PAIN, SHE WAS A TROOPER. THAT NIGHT, WE WATCHED A LITTLE BOY FROM THE WARD-OVERNIGHT. HE WAS A GREAT KID AND ALTHOUGH HE IS ONLY 3-THEIR IS SO MUCH HE COULD DO WHICH WAS NICE. THEN OUR WEEK WENT ON. WEDNESDAY AFTER HALLE'S NAP, SHE WOKE UP TO A RED EYE WITH GREEN OOZING OUT OF THE CORNER, I JUST KNEW IT HAD TO PINK EYE. ONCE AGAIN, I CALLED THE DR. THEY SAID THAT IS WHAT IT SOUNDED LIKE AND THEY WOULD CALL IN SOME EYE DROPS FOR HER. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY THOUGHT I WOULD GET THOSE INTO THE EYE OF A 2-YEAR OLD 4 TIMES A DAY-MISERABLE! BUT WE DID IT. THEN SHE ALSO HAD A BIT OF A RUNNY NOSE AND A LITTLE COUGH. THURSDAY, IS WHEN IT HIT. WE PUT HER TO BED AND ALL WAS FINE AND THEN SHE WOKE UP AT 4AM. SHE WAS WHEEZING AND RASPY SO BAD SHE SOUNDED LIKE DARTH VADER...IT SCARED ME TO DEATH! JARED WOKE UP AND HELPED ME PUT HER IN THE TUB. ALTHOUGH SHE SOUNDED AWFUL-SHE WAS STILL HERSELF. WANTED TO PLAY, WATCH CARTOONS, YOU NAME IT. SO WE LET HER DO THIS FOR ABOUT 1.5 HOURS AND THEN DECIDED TO LAY HER DOWN AGAIN, THINKING SHE JUST HAD A BAD CHEST COLD. I STARTED THE HUMIDIFIER, GAVE HER SOME MOTRIN AND WE ALL SACKED OUT FOR ABOUT 2 MORE HOURS. THAT MORNING NO RELIEF! I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DR AND WAS TO GET HER READY AND TAKE HER IN. WE DID JUST THAT. WHEN WE GOT THERE, WE FOUND OUT HALLE HAD CROUP. IT IS THE SCARIEST THING I HAVE EVER HEARD AND THE BARKING SEAL COUGH-LET ME TELL YOU IS JUST THAT. THERE IS NO MISTAKEN IT. THEY GAVE HER A STEROID ORALLY FOR THE VOICEBOX AND WINDPIPE SWELLING TO HELP TAKE IT DOWN FASTER THAN NORMAL. ALSO, THEY GAVE HER A BREATHING TREATMENT-IT BLEW STEAM IN HER FACE FOR ABOUT 30-45 MIN. SHE THREW A FIT THE ENTIRE TIME. WE HAVE TAUGHT HER STEAM IS HOT AND SHE WON'T GO NEAR IT AND NOW I WAS EXPECTED TO HOLD IT IN HER FACE, NOT! NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE GOT THROUGH IT AND SHE CRIED SO HARD AND LONG SHE PUT HERSELF TO SLEEP. THE LAST COUPLE DAYS AND NIGHTS COULD BE HARD SO GET PREPARED THE DR SAID. HALLE HAS BEEN A TROOPER AND DONE VERY WELL. ALSO, THE EYE THING-NOT PINK EYE, JUST PART OF THE VIRUS SHE HAS. SO THANK GOODNESS NO MORE TRAUMATIZING EYE DROPS FOR HER. SHE IS GETTING BETTER SLOWLY AND STILL SOUNDS BAD BUT DAY BY DAY WE SEE IMPROVEMENT. SHE HAS BEEN COUPED UP IN THE HOUSE SINCE FRIDAY WITH HER MAMA AND IS BORED OUT OF HER MIND SO WE HOPE IT GOES AWAY SOON AND WE CAN GET SOME NORMALCY AROUND OUR PLACE. HOWEVER, ON FRIDAY NIGHT WHILE HOME WITH HER, I WATCHED THE CHARITY EVENT FOR HAITI ON TV. THAT IS DEVASTATING! I LOOK AT SOME OF THE KIDS DYING OF BROKEN LEGS OR SIMPLE THINGS BECAUSE THEIR IS NOONE THERE TO HELP FIX THEM. WHAT A SHAME! IT MAKES ME COUNT MY BLESSING WITH OUR DAUGHTER. LET ALONE, IN HAITI, THEY CAN'T FIND FOOD OR WATER, BUT THE MEDICAL CARE IS OUTRAGEOUSLY SAD. I AM SO THANKFUL FOR DR'S, ESPECIALLY THIS WEEK, AND THE FACT WE ARE A BLOCK AWAY FROM OURS AND THEY COULD GET HALLE IN AND TREAT HER SO FAST. REALLY PUTS THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE AND MAKES ME COUNT MY BLESSINGS: NOT JUST FOR FOOD, WATER, SHELTER, HEALTH, EVERYDAY THINGS I TAKE FOR GRANTED, BUT AMAZING DR'S WHO DO ALL THEY CAN TO HELP US WHEN IN NEED. WE LOVE THEM!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

THIS NEW YEARS, WE WENT UP TO THE BERNT'S CABIN IN LAVA WITH MY FAMILY. WE HAD A GREAT TIME UP THERE AS USUAL, AND THANKS TO THE BERNT'S FOR LETTING US BORROW IT. WE WENT UP ON WEDNESDAY EVENING JUST IN TIME FOR DINNER AND CHRIS AND JARED TO GET OUR TRUCK UNSTUCK, WHICH DIDN'T HAPPEN TIL THE NEXT MORNING BUT WE HAD A FUN NIGHT. WE THEN WENT TO SLEEP AND WOKE UP AND DID SLEDDING, EATING, SNOWMACHINING AND HALLE GOT TO RIDE THE KITTY KAT BEFORE ANYONE ELSE GOT THERE. HALLE THEN WENT BACK FOR A NAP, WHILE THE MEN BURNED SOME WINTER SLASH PILES AND MY MOM AND I PLAYED ON THE SNOWMACHINES AND KEPT TAKING TURNS CHECKING ON HALLE. THAT EVENING EVERYONE STARTED TO SHOW UP. BY THE TIME WE ATE DINNER, GOT EVERYONE UNPACKED AND RELAXED. WE PUT ALL THE KIDS TO BED AND GOT TO PLAY A FUN GAME WITH ALL THE ADULTS, IT WAS A BLAST. THEN WE DID WHITE ELEPHANT GIFTS WHICH AS ALWAYS, WAS A TON OF FUN! TRYING TO STAY AWAKE TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR, THAT'S SAD THAT WE ARE SO OLD IT IS HARD TO STAY UP UNTIL MIDNIGHT....BUT WE DID IT! AT 12:01 WE KISSED EACH OTHER GOOD NIGHT, WITH OUR EYES HALF SHUT! THE NEXT DAY, IT SNOWED A TON AND WE PLAYED IN THE SNOW ALL DAY, BETWEEN THAT AND WATCHING FOOTBALL AND EATING, WHATS A BETTER WAY TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR. WE HAD DINNER AND DID GIFTS FOR EACH OTHER THIS DAY. THEN SANTA SHOWED UP TO SURPRISE THE KIDS-THEY LOVED IT. THE NEXT DAY WE GOT UP AND CLEANED AND WENT HOME. THANKS AGAIN BERNTS FOR THE FACILITY! ALSO, THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR WORK AND GETTING ALL OF US THERE. WE LOVED IT AND HAD A BLAST WITH EVERYONE! (PS KEEP GOING, THERE IS ANOTHER POST.)

PAPA CHRIS HELPING HALLE TO GET STARTED. THANKS PAPA FOR ALL THE TIME AND MONEY (AND EFFORT) YOU PUT INTO THIS LITTLE THING. THE KIDDOS LOVED IT TONS-WHAT A HIT!

HERE IS HALLE DRIVING THE KITTY CAT, ALL BY HERSELF-SHE LOVES IT!

HALLE AND NANA HANGING OUT IN THE SNOW WITH JARED~

MOM AND CHRIS CHILLING AT THE CABIN....

THIS POST WOULDN'T BE NEARLY AS COOL WITHOUT THIS PICTURE OF MICHAEL. WHEN PLAYING THE GAME THIS IS WHAT HE CHOSE TO GO THROUGH. ARE COURTESY OF MCKAY-NICE GUYS! MICHAEL WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND WE ENJOYED SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH YOU BEFORE YOU LEAVE SOON ON YOUR MISSION! WE LOVE YOU!

MERRY LATE CHRISTMAS!

I HAVE TOTALLY TRIED TO HOLD OFF ON THIS POST UNTIL JARED WENT OUT OF TOWN FOR BUSINESS AND HALLE LAID DOWN FOR A LONG NAP DUE TO THE LENGTH IT WILL BE. I AM SORRY ABOUT HOW LONG IT WILL BE IN ADVANCE, WE HAVE DONE ALOT OF FUN THINGS LATELY AND I AM JUST NOW GETTING TIME TO CATCH UP ON ALL OF THEM. WE GOT TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS FOR IT SEEMS ABOUT A MONTH THIS YEAR, BETWEEN WORK PARTIES, FRIEND PARTIES, CHURCH ACTIVITIES, AND FAMILY THINGS, IT TOOK UP PRETTY MUCH ALL OF DECEMBER, BUT IT WAS A WONDERFUL TIME. ALWAYS GOOD FUN TO SEE FAMILY AND SHARE GREAT MEMORIES AND HAPPY TIMES TOGETHER. THE MONDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS, WE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE SLED TEAM (JAREDS BUDDIES AND FAMILIES) OVER FOR A PARTY AT OUR HOUSE. IT WAS A BLAST!! WE HAD BREAKFAST FOR DINNER MADE BY THE MEN-YUMMY AND WORE PAJAMAS. THE WE TALKED FOREVER CATCHING UP ON THINGS, SINCE MOST OF THEM COME TO POKY ONLY ABOUT 1 OR 2 TIMES A YEAR, AND THEN FINISHED WITH A WHITE ELEPHANT EXCHANGE. HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS OF OUR FESTIVITIES (SOME CONTAIN ADULT CONTENT-BEWARE!)

MOST OF THE SLED TEAM, MISSING MIKEY, HAGLER AND BECKSTEAD. THE BOYS WHO STARTED IT ALL.

SOME OF THE SLED TEAM WIVES GETTING CAUGHT UP AND EVERYTHING.


OH MAN! THIS WAS JARED'S WHITE ELEPHANT HE GOT FROM THE MARSHALL'S AND BOY, ISN'T THIS AWFUL. IT WAS HYSTERICAL. WHAT A CUTE ELF! HAHA! (AND THE FACE, SAYS IT ALL!)

TREVOR AND CARTER!
ALL THE KIDS IN ATTENDANCE.

L TO R: HALLE, ADDIE, CARTER, AND AMIYAH

THAT WEDNESDAY WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO MY DAD AND KAREN'S HOUSE IN LAVA. THEY MADE US A WONDERFUL DINNER OF HAM AND FIX-INS AND WE GOT TO SIT AND TALK FOR A BIT WITH MY GRANDPA AND GRANDMA MENDENHALL, THEY ARE ALWAYS GONE TO ARIZONA FOR THE WINTER BUT DUE TO THE POOR HEALTH OF ONE OF BETH'S SONS, THEY STAYED HOME THIS WINTER. IT WAS A PLEASURE TO BE AROUND THEM FOR CHRISTMAS. WE GOT TO TALK ALOT ABOUT CHRISTMAS WHEN THEY WERE KIDS AND GOT TO REMINISCE-SO FUN. THEN WE FINISHED WITH A GIFT EXCHANGE AND KILLER PEPPERMINT PIE, WE HAD SO MUCH FUN AND IT WAS A GREAT NIGHT.

GOOD FAMILY PHOTO, HOWEVER, HALLE IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF GRPA MENDENHALL.


HALLE IN HER NEW LIFE VEST FROM PAPA AND GRMA MENDENHALL

GRPA BOB WITH HIS DIET COKE AND GREEN (YELLOW)BANANAS. GOOD JOKE WITH HIM, HE NEVER THINKS HE'LL LIVE TO EAT GREEN BANANAS. SO WE GOT HIM SOME MORE RIPE ONES....
HALLE RIDING THIS TEENY TINY HORSE THAT IS GRMA KAREN'S DECOR. IT WAS HILARIOUS AND HALLE LOVED IT!

THE FOLLOWING EVENING WAS CHRISTMAS EVE AND WE SPENT IT WITH MY MOM AND STEP DAD. IT WAS A BLAST. WE HAD A MARVELOUS PRIME RIB DINNER AND GREAT COMPANY AS USUAL. THE KIDS WENT OUT AND RODE THE NEW KITTY KAT SNOWMACHINE FROM PAPA CHRIS-THEY LOVED IT AND HAD A TON OF FUN, HOWEVER, THE PARENTS HAD JUST AS MUCH FUN WATCHING. WE PLAYED AND DID GIFTS AND AFTER THAT, WE ALL WENT HOME TO GET READY FOR THE BIG DAY. WHICH ENDED WITH JARED, HALLE, AND I GOING TO LOOK AT CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ON SANTA CLAUSE LANE AND GETTING SET FOR SANTA TO COME. WE HAD ALOT OF FUN.

PAPA CHRIS HELPING TREVOR AND HALLE ON THE "KITTY KAT"

KIDDOS ON THE KAT AND LOVING IT!

HALLE ON HER NEW SIT AND SPIN FROM UNCLE TROY, AUNT NIKI, AND TREVOR!~

WHEN WE WOKE UP ON CHRISTMAS, SANTA HAD CAME. WE HAD A WONDERFUL MORNING, NANA AND PAPA, GRUMPY AND NAISY, AND EVEN AUNTIE BOO AND UNCLE JOHN CAME AND SHARED THE MORNING WITH US. IT WAS FULL OF FUN TOYS, CHRISTMAS CASSEROLE, AND LOUNGING AROUND. THE REST OF THE DAY WE SPENT HANGING OUT, TAKING DOWN CHRISTMAS DECOR, AND TAKING A NAP. THAT EVENING WE WENT TO AUNTIE BOOS AND UNCLE JOHNS FOR AN AMAZING PRIME RIB DINNER. THE WHOLE AURA OF THE EVENING WAS RELAXED AND BEAUTIFUL. WAY TO GO RASMUSSEN'S-QUITE THE HOSTESS AND HOST. THANKS FOR SO MUCH FUN! (SORRY NO PICS, OUR BATTERIES WERE DEAD!)

SO, YES OUR CHRISTMAS WAS BUSY BUT WE HAD A BLAST. WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR ALL OF OUR WONDERFUL BLESSINGS, ESPECIALLY EACH OTHER AND THE LOVE WE HAVE FOR ONE AND OTHER. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

SICK AND NO FUN!

HALLE HAS HAD A BAD COLD FOR THE PAST 6 DAYS AND WE HAVE BEEN STUCK IN THE HOUSE-HOWEVER, WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF TIME TO PLAY. SHE EVEN SLEPT WITH ME FOR 4 NIGHTS WHILE JARED SLEPT IN THE BED DOWNSTAIRS. THE WHOLE TIME SHE WAS SICK-SHE ACTED JUST FINE. EVEN THE NIGHT BEFORE. SHE WOKE UP THURSDAY A BIT HOARSE AND I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS JUST FROM DRY AIR. WE WENT OUT AND GOT A HUMIDIFIER AND THEN IT HIT-RUNNY NOSE, COUGH, RUNNY EYES, YOU NAME IT-ALL EXCEPT A FEVER! SHE WAS A TROOPER. WE HAVE HAD SO MUCH JUICE AND CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP I HOPE NOT TO SEE EITHER FOR QUITE SOME TIME. SHE IS GETTING BETTER AND SLOWLY SOUNDING BETTER, BUT WHAT A BUG! NOT FUN! WE HAVE WATCHED FROSTY THE SNOWMAND AND PLAYED WITH MY XMAS WINDOW STICKERS UNTIL I CAN'T WASH OFF ANOTHER FINGERPRINT OFF MY WINDOW. ALSO, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE AMOUNT OF BATHS SHE HAD. SHE IS GETTING BETTER AND WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THAT! WHAT A LONG WEEK WE HAD THOUGH!

HAPPY LATE THANKSGIVING!

THIS THANKSGIVING WAS ALOT OF FUN! ANYWAYS, WE SPENT THIS YEAR, AT MY PARENTS AND JARED'S PARENTS AND THEN JUST HANGING OUT. ON THANKSGIVING WE SPENT THE AFTERNOON AT JAREDS EATING THANKSGIVING DINNER OF TURKEY AND ALL THE FURNISHING-SO GOOD. THEN WE WENT TO MY PARENTS HOUSE AND ATE SOME THERE. WE PLAYED GAMES, THE WII, TALKED, ENJOYED EACH OTHERS COMPANY, SAW ALL OUR FAMILIES, PLAYED GAMES-YOU NAME IT. OVER ALL, WE HAD A WONDERFUL DAY AND FEEL SO BLESSED. WE ARE THANKFUL FOR OUR FAMILY AND ALL OUR FRIENDS AND THE BLESSING WE RECEIVE ON A DAILY BASIS! AS ALWAYS, WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND ATE TO MUCH. THE WEEKEND ENDED WITH ANNA, NIKI, AND I SHOPPING EARLY MORNIGN SALES THE DAY AFTER-WHICH WAS A RIOT! THEN WE TOOK THE KIDDOS TO THEIR DADDIES AND NIKI AND I WENT AND WATCHED, THE NEW MOON-CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THAT SHOW OR EDWARD! LATER THAT NIGHT WE WENT TO THE LIGHT PARADE HERE IN POCATELLO AND HAD A GOOD TIME. THE FOLLOWING DAY OF COURSE WE WENT TO SODA AND CUT DOWN OUR OWN XMAS TREES! WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS EVERY YEAR-SO FUN! WE FOUND SOME GOOD TREES AND HAD A LOT OF FUN DOING IT! BUSY WEEKEND~

KIM AND JOHN GETTING READY FOR THANKSGIVING LUNCH~

TREG AND HIS WIFE, TIFFANY~ JUST CHILLING

KEN GETTING READY TO CARVE THE BIRD....

JARED AND I GETTING READY TO EAT!

THE BIRD-WHAT A GREAT PIC, HUH? JARED MADE THE BIRD AND IT WAS DELICIOUS!

TIFFANY, KIM, AND I IN OUR NEW APRONS FROM RENAE! WE EVEN GAVE OURSELVES NAMES, HOWEVER, I CAN'T THINK OF THEM NOW

TREVOR AND HALLE AT THE LIGHT PARADE....

NANNA, HALLE, AND I HANGING OUT!

JARED AND HALLE ON OUR HIKE UP THE MTN TO GET OUR TREE!

HALLE IS BORROWING THIS HORSE FROM GRMA NAISY AND ABSOLUTELY LOVES IT-SHE RIDES IT CONSTANTLY AND EVEN NOSE DIVES WHEN SHE GETS GOING FAST ENOUGH! (JUST LOVED THE PIC!)

MY BABY IS NOW 2 YEARS OLD!

MY TIME HAS FLOWN-WE HAD ALOT OF FUN OVER THIS PAST WEEKEND FOR HALLE'S BIRTHDAY. WE DID FAMILY STUFF ON SATURDAY AND A PARTY ON HER BIRTHDAY WHICH HAPPENED TO BE A SUNDAY. ON SATURDAY, JARED AND I TOOK HALLE TO A KNOCK-OFF BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP HERE IN OUR MALL. HALLE GOT TO MAKE HER OWN STUFFED ANIMAL AND STUFF IT AND ALL-SHE SEEMED TO LOVE IT. FROM THERE, WE WENT TO BAJIO FOR LUNCH WITH AUNT NIKI, UNCLE TROY, AND CUZZY TREVOR SINCE TROY HAD TO WORK ON SUNDAY. HALLE HAD ALOT OF FUN, THEN WENT HOME AND TOOK QUITE A NAP. THAT EVENING WE WENT AND VISITED GRANDMA AND GRUMPY SINCE GRANDMA HAS BEEN SICK HALLE HAS MISSED SEEING HER FOR ABOUT A WEEK. ON SUNDAY SHE WORE A NEW DRESS FROM GRMA NAISY AND WENT TO CHURCH, CAME HOME TOOK A 3 HOUR NAP, AND THEN FAMILY AND FRIENDS CAME FOR CAKE AND ICE CREAM ALONG WITH A FEW OTHER SNACKS. THE THEME OF HER PARTY WAS HAPPY FEET AND IT WAS FUN. THOSE WHO CAME WERE: NANA AND PAPA TORGESEN, GRUMPY AND GRMA NAISY BERNT, AUNT NIKI AND TREVOR, UNCLE JOHN AND AUNT BOO, AND CLOSE FAMILY FRIENDS, THE DUDLEY'S. WE OPENED GIFTS, ATE, WATCHED A VIDEO OF HALLE OVER THE PAST YEAR, AND JUST HUNG-OUT. IT WAS PRETTY RELAXED AND EVERYONE SEEMED TO HAVE A GOOD TIME. THAT NIGHT I HAD A BREAKDOWN AND CRIED FOR A BIT SINCE MY BABY IS GROWING UP SO FAST AND LEARNING SO MANY NEW THINGS DAILY. THE NEXT EVENING PAPA AND GRANDMA MENDENHALL CAME IN TO DROP OFF A GIFT AND STAYED FOR DINNER WITH US AND AUNT NIKI AND TREVOR. IT WAS A FUN NIGHT TO BE TOGETHER. ALL IN ALL HALLE'S BIRTHDAY WAS ALOT OF FUN AND TURNED OUT GREAT! HAPPY BIRTHDAY HALLE-WE LOVE YOU FOREVER AND EVER! PS..THANKS FOR ALL THE GIFTS-SHE MADE OUT WELL! THEY'LL KEEP HER BUSY FOR AT LEAST A WEEK!

HALLE IN HER NEW DRESS-GETTING READY FOR CHURCH!

LATELY HALLE ENJOYS SITTING IN THE FREEZING COLD FRIDGE-ADORABLE!

HERE IS SOME OF THE DECOR~

THANKS NANA FOR THE AWESOME CAKE. I HELPED MY MOM (OKAY NOT MUCH) SHE DID THIS ADORABLE CAKE-WITHOUT A PAN OR ANYTHING! THANKS NANA IT WAS PERFECT AND SO YUMMY TOO!

TREVOR AND HALLE JUST HANGING OUT!

FAMILY PHOTO SHOT~

HALLE SITTING IN HER NEW DOLL BASSINET-IT WAS HILARIOUS! GO FISHER PRICE THAT THING DIDN'T EVEN BEND!

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED AFTER EVERYONE LEFT AND HALLE COULD ACTUALLY CALM DOWN AND SEE EVERYTHING SHE GOT~IF IT WENT ON AS CLOTHING, IT WAS ON AND IF SHE COULD PLAY WITH IT~SHE WAS PLAYING! IT WAS SO CUTE AND SHE WAS SUCH A GOOD GIRL!

THIS IS THE NIGHT PAPA AND GRMA MENDENHALL CAME OVER-WE HAD A GREAT TIME WITH THEM!

TOUGH WEEK AHEAD!

SO, IT IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH WEEK FOR ME. MY BABY IS TURNING 2 NEXT SUNDAY AND I AM ALREADY SAD ABOUT IT. HAPPY IN SOME WAYS BUT SAD IN A BUNCH OF WAYS ALSO. I AM SO PROUD OF HER AND EVERYTHING SHE HAS ACCOMPLISHED AND IS ACCOMPLISHING DAILY. HOWEVER, SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY INDEPENDENT AND THE OLDER SHE GETS THE WORSE IT GETS AND IT MAKES ME SAD TO REALIZE SHE DOESN'T NEED MOMMY IN AS MANY WAYS AS SHE USE TOO.

TOP TEN THINGS I LOVE THE MOST:

1. SHE CAN TALK PRETTY GOOD. (AT LEAST, I UNDERSTAND HER.)

2. SHE CAN USE THE POTTY IF WE DON'T WAIT TO LONG.

3. SHE IS VERY PLAYFUL AND FUN-LOVING.

4. SHE LIKES TO DO WHAT MOMMY AND DADDY DO.

5. SHE LOVES WATCHING POOH WITH DADDY.

6. SHE HAS FRIENDS AND LOVES TO PLAY WITH THEM.

7. SHE LIKES TO PLAY WITH MOMMY.

8. SHE LIKES TO SING WITH MOMMY.

9. SHE LIKES TO BE IN HER "PRINCESS" PANTIES.

10. SHE IS MY BEST FRIEND!

TOP TEN THINGS I DON'T LOVE.

1. SHE IS TURNING TWO AND TRIES TO PUSH LIMITS ONCE IN AWHILE.

2. SHE LIKES TO THROW THINGS.

3. SHE DOESN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND CONSEQUENCES YET, SO PUNISHING ISN'T WORKING TO WELL YET.

4. SHE LIKES TODO THINGS HERSELF.
5. NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES, SHE LIKES TO PUT HER "PANTIES" ON BY HERSELF.

6. SHE DOESN'T LOVE TO CUDDLE OR ROCK ANYMORE.

7. SHE THROWS TANTRUMS.

8. HER NAPS ARE GROWING SHORTER AND SHORTER.

9. SHE LIKES TO FLUSH WASHCLOTHS DOWN THE TOILET.

10. SHE LOVES NURSERY AND BEING WITHOUT MOMMY.

SO, ALL IN ALL-HALLE IS A DELIGHTFUL FUN LITTLE GIRL. SHE IS OUR PRIDE AND JOY. I AM THANKFUL FOR THE MOST PART, I GET TO STAY HOME WITH HER AND PLAY WITH HER AND TEACH HER THINGS. HOWEVER, IT IS FUN TO SEE HER EXPLORE THE WORLD AND THE THINGS AROUND HER. ALSO, IT IS SAD THAT SHE IS PERFECTLY HAPPY WITHOUT MOM EVEN AROUND, WHERE WHEN SHE WAS YOUNGER SHE HAD TO SEE OR HEAR MOM AT ALL TIMES. IT IS FUN TO SEE THE LIFE SHE IS STARTING TO LIVE AND SEE THE CHOICES SHE IS STARTING TO MAKE. SHE DOES HAVE SOME TERRIBLE TWO SIDE EFFECTS BUT SHE IS GETTING BETTER. SAD TO SAY, SHE KNOWS WHAT TIME OUT MEANS. SHE IS FUN, OUTGOING, AND FRIENDLY TO EVERYONE. SHE LIKES TO LAUGH, SING, DANCE, READ, HOP, KICK LEAVES AND SOCCER BALLS, GO ON WALKS, SLIDE AT THE PARK, PICNICS, RUNNING ERRANDS AND JUST PLAYING. I AM SAD TO KNOW 2 YEARS ARE OVER BUT EXCITED FOR THE MANY MORE TO COME.

I LOVE YOU HALLE KAY!

YOUR MOM