Pooley's Punpkin Patch

Last weekend we took Heidi to Pooley's Pumpkin Patch in Bennington (on a suggestion from Anne and Dean) - we had a great time. Heidi loved the leaves and the tire swing. She took awhile to warm up to the animals - but once she did - she was everywhere and good to go. Here are the pictures from the day of fun!

Growing Vocabulary...

Heidi is talking more and more and starting to speak very clearly. Its the typical words like more, dog, milk, juice etc etc - well this weekend we added a new phrase...

"Oh sh*t"

She said it and Chris and I sat there - "Was that what I think she said?"

But don't worry - she repeated it - so we could be sure... Oh sh%t...

She dropped something...oh sh#t...

She pointed to something...oh sh^t...

We hope she is saying something else - she probably is - but for right now - our wonderful daughter clearly says...

"Oh Shit!"

Parents of the year once again...

Heidi Update, Tantrums and Cher

Last weekend Chris and I were in Vegas for a free trip Chris won in a sales contest - wahoo! It was great - we stayed at Caesars Palace in a very swank room - it even had a TV in the mirror and remote controlled curtains - kind of crazy - we ate, drank, gambled and had a blast. We didn't think we were going to get a vacation - so it was nice to get one! We are sooo grateful!

One downer was I donated my phone to the taxi cab fairies - darn it - but thank you for insurance - I already have a new one - just no phone numbers. The highlight of the trip was us renting a fun car and visiting Cass, Lori and Ariana - just 3 months old and a BEAUTIFUL baby! That was a fun lunch and we were so happy to see them!

While there, Chris' company paid for us to go to Cher... yes Cher... She is still kicking it... Overall the show wasn't our cup of tea - let me break it down...

• 40% videos - yep - videos - like Sonny and Cher, movie clips, etc etc - no one on stage - just videos
• 40% Dancers - now they were great dancers - that was entertaining
• 10% costume changes - I didn't quite understand that - but most people around us were amazed at everything she changed into
• 5% singing - It sounded good - there were a few times she didn't go for those high notes - but I can't blame her - how old is she?
• 5% talking - she had an interesting beginning speech - basically explaining how she hates unions and how great she is

Interesting - but hey - at least we saw it - if you like Cher and think she is awesome - it is the perfect show for you... if not - stick to drinking and gambling...

Now for an update on Heidi - she is just growing so fast - into everything! We missed her while we were gone - but she had fun at Grandma and Grandpa Stuedemanns! We got Heidi some toys while we were in Vegas and for some reason we didn't get anything that represented Vegas - oh well - but we got her a cooking set that she played with for a very long time and was concentrating so hard on.

We also got her an Ugly Doll - Big Toe - she LOVES it - she now sleeps with it and hugs it all the time - who knew? I may have a Halloween costume idea...

Heidi officially has some molars - it has explained some of her moods and lack of eating - we are still missing one on the bottom but the top ones are definitely in and one of the bottom ones is poking through. She loves to brush her teeth - well maybe more suck on the toothbrush while I try to wiggle it in her mouth - but at least we're trying! :)

I know it's called terrible twos - but I think we have already moved into the tantrum part - I mean throw yourself on the ground screaming - its crazy. The most recent was in HyVee - I was pushing bedtime anyways - but I needed to grab one more thing - we passed the baby aisle - didn't walk down - just passed it and she saw the yogurt melts - and all of the sudden she started to SCREAM! I mean SCREAM - I'm like - what is wrong - I tried to hold her and she is flinging herself every which way and she is just reaching for something - then I figured out - it was the melts - I tried to walk away but she wouldn't stop and just got louder - I ended up giving in and grabbing a bag - well 3 of them and opening one - and she was happy as can be... I'm like crap. So now I know what she is doing - we may have to be exiting the store in the future... good times!

This morning we got up really early for the race for the cure again -always a good time. The only picture I have is of Heidi bundled up - she was half asleep and just knew it was cold. It was something like 36 degrees - yikes!

The rest of the pictures are of Heidi being Heidi - she is quite a character when she isn't throwing a fit - Here is Heidi playing with Chris' shoe box - she was in and out, in and out - funny!

Heidi playing downstairs - into everything - I don't even know what she has in her mouth in that one picture - some kind of dropper - who knows - whatever entertains her!

She has also discovered our poker chips and puts them in everything - we are screwed when we want to play poker next - but at least they are being used!

You can tell in this picture she is being mischievous - look closely you see all the band aids she pulled out of a box from our suitcases - and CDs in her old clothes bin - for the record - I have lost one of my casual shoes - she was playing with it and I haven't been able to find it for 4 weeks...

But we love our little Heidi - growing so fast and really turning into a character!

Weekend Fun...

We had a great weekend! We had visitors from Texas - Jeremy, Michelle and Ava - it was a great visit and a good time catching up! I was retarded once again and didn't take a lot of pictures of Ava and Heidi interacting with one another, but I did take this picture of them in the bathtub - I swear Heidi didn't move an inch and Ava was flying all over the tub - so funny!

We went to the zoo again and of course the girls loved it. I think one of Heidi's favorite parts is when we allow her to run wild along the path between dairy world and the seals. She decided to take a break from capturing leaves and sit on the curb. Too cute!

I don't want to talk much about this week's husker game, it makes me sad - but Heidi was dressed up country style - overalls - no shirt. The truth is, I didn't have a plain white or red shirt or anything that would look somewhat decent - so naked it was. Maybe if she wore a shirt - we would have won...

I love this one of her mouth jammed full of chex mex! ha!

B is for Busy

SORRY!!! I have been busy... let's recap...shall we... starting backwards...

Husker season is back! Of course Heidi is decked out in Husker gear. Now the first game Heidi was feeling under the weather and didn't feel so hot but I dressed her up anyways. The next day after the game she got two new shinny teeth - which explains a lot.

Here are Kendall and Heidi watching the game.

After Heidi was sick and crabby for awhile - I got sick - had a good fever and just got knocked down. Don't worry - no swine flu here - I went and got tested and it all came back negative - they think it was just some kind of bug. Nice. By the way, they test for swine flu by sticking a swab way - WAY - up your nose. I almost hit the nurse and I'm totally not kidding. They made me wear a mask - I never thought a mask could make you feel so unwanted in a place! Everyone looked at me like I had the black plague!

I have to randomly thrown in this picture. Chris and I cut the boys ourselves to save some money for an upcoming Vegas trip and decided to give Brew a mo hawk... I think its pretty much awesome! ha!

I recovered just in time to head off to Vegas for work - yes it was Vegas and yes Chris and I are returning to Vegas in a week and a half - but it was work - 24 x 7 work, networking, talking, behaving myself. Some highlights, The Moon night club at the Palms - industry parties are great - they go all out trying to impress you and you don't have to pay a dime for your Grey Goose vodka drinks. I'm not going to complain.

Montel Williams was the key note speaker. He is a very captivating man - go figure - how long was his talk show on - something like 17 years??? But it was an interesting speech - it was more pitching us that he is the new face of selling crap on TV. Works for me - I don't care what it is as long as it makes the phone ring. My co worker and I were afraid we weren't going to get close enough to him to take a picture - he ended up doing his speech right next to me - too close to get a good picture - sorry for the blurry-ness - I could smell him... and he had nice bling on too - hehe

While I was in Vegas Chris got to play Mr. mom and he did a fantastic job. He took Heidi to her 15 month appointment - which she comes in at 11% for weight and 39% for height - she has jumped up there! So I asked Chris to give me a full recap of the doctor's appointment since I couldn't be there... this is literally the email I received...

Weight 20.5lbs; 11%, height 30 1/4in.; 39%, head 45 1/2; 36%. 3 shots as well. We miss and love you!

Gotta love guys.

But Chris did manage to continually send me pictures of Heidi while I was gone for the three days. Here is Heidi riding to daycare

Heidi playing with my jewelry - I gave her all my costume jewelry and she LOVES it!

Bath time with Heidi - which daddy has now made up a song to help teach her body parts - its real cute. Ask Chris to sing it for you next time you see him.

And my favorite - eating dinner at Lone Star. Love it!

Now the ABSOLUTELY BIGGEST accomplishment of Chris this week is he officially broke Heidi of the pacifier - gone - these pictures posted will be the last ones with the pacifier. She now doesn't need it for bed time, nap time, crabby time or anything - she is a pacifier-free kiddo. A BIG THANKS to Chris for taking the hard days of breaking her and making it nice and easy for me. :)