her very own "Missas Tee"

This post is for Granny Gail, who had the forethought to send this little tree to Victoria. It is absolutely perfect for a toddler. The tree is made of four concentric cones that velcro together. The little plush ornaments have velcro too, so V can decorate and redecorate all she wants.

Over the long Thanksgiving weekend, we had time to pull out the big Christmas tree (more pics to come on that later). We had mentioned it earlier in the day, before supper, so it wasn't the first thing on our minds when, after supper, V looked at us and said, "Mrs. T."

Matt and I looked at each other quizzically and asked her "what?" a couple times. Every time, she just repeated herself "Mrs. T." (she was amazingly patient with Mommy and Daddy, really.)

We tried to think of who Mrs. T. would be ... when it finally hit me that she was trying to tell us it was time to go decorate the Christmas tree!

After putting up the big tree, we gave her the tree from Granny Gail, and she happily went to work.

 

My favorite story, the one that brought tears to my eyes, didn't happen until the following night. We had gone downstairs after supper to enjoy the lights of the Christmas tree and watch a movie. 

Victoria, while standing in the exact spot as the above picture, pointed to the big tree and said, "Mama's Missas Tee." I thought this funny, especially considering that all of us had helped put up and decorate the big tree. 

So I asked, "really? That's Mama's? Where's Toria's?"

She pointed to her small one from Granny Gail and said, "Toria's Missas Tee."

So, still amused, I asked, "ok, where's Daddy's Christmas Tree?"

Poor little girl got the saddest, droopiest frown on her face and looked almost panic-stricken and near tears as she realized that, in her mind at least, Daddy did not have a Christmas tree.

After about four seconds of thinking, she grabbed her tree and ripped it in half, bringing the top two cones -- with ornaments -- to Daddy, and keeping the bottom two cones for herself.

Leaving Mommy feeling a little guilty since I supposedly had one big tree all to myself.

My heart swelled three sizes and I'm sure Matt's did too. We are so blessed to have such a giving, caring, empathetic little girl, who obviously loves Daddy VERY much to share her Missas Tee with him!

nature + family = thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year was a day of weather opposites. The morning was beautiful. Sunny, temps in the 40s (maybe even close to 50). The whole family went for a walk. First: down to the river to check out the new residents.

Unlike most of our neighbors, this family really made their mark with the engineering skills. A dam just downstream:

And beautiful lodge on the opposite river bank, just upstream.

Beavers are so cool! We could see the trees they cut down for the dam, and it is mind boggling to imagine such little critters dragging the huge trees. They have stashed piles of willows for winter food. No wonder they are associated with industriousness. I'm hoping to capture some beaver pics on our trail cam.

We walked to another corner of the property, under the maples.

And found this interesting sight:

A huge hole that almost looks to be from a large woodpecker ... but that close to the ground?

Here's the other side:

Anyone out there that can confirm what this is?

To convince V to leave the river, I had promised her a four wheeler ride.

I am always happy after a ride on the wheeler. I think part of it is all the happy memories of riding at the hunting shack -- but also because you can watch the countryside, get a little speed, and enjoy the fresh air. V is just like Mommy this way (and probably Daddy too).

No one wanted to go inside. It was just so beautiful, so pleasant in the sun. Victoria hauled one of her chairs out from the barn (no small distance and no small feat for an almost-two-year-old).

She sat by the deck while Mommy and Daddy did a few outside chores.

Pretty soon, it was time to head to the kitchen and start cooking!

I made the green bean casserole and Texas pecan sweet potatoes. Then, we wrapped up the warm casseroles and headed to my parents' for dinner. The dogs came too, and were treated to rawhides while we enjoyed a turkey dinner.

As we ate, the weather got colder and colder. It started to rain, then sleet, then snow.

V couldn't wait to finish dinner and go with "Bapa" to the living room for "Mickey Mouse and Boo Boo bear" -- two puzzles she LOVES.

You can even see out the window that snow has started collecting on the ground. By supper time -- when we were all ready to dish up a second round of turkey and stuffing -- Piper and Molly were outside wrestling in the snow.

After a very long day (and Jenn and Grandma braving the crowds at Wal Mart to get a couple gifts), we all headed home on snowy and icy roads, happy to be inside as winter began.

Nature + family ... a perfect way to spend Thanksgiving.

'twas the night before Thanksgiving

... and we went to my brother's house for some time with him and Megan before they headed to Megan's family's for Thanksgiving.

We had a feast of appetizers, topped by brownies that met the toddler seal of approval.

After dinner, while relaxing in the living room, my mom gave a little gift to Victoria.

Oh, Hannah, and Piper, did you two feel left out?

Inside was a homemade apron, perfect for our upcoming cookie baking day!

Victoria loved the "no-man" on it and the pockets.

Then, back at home, there was just enough time for a little iPad playing before bed ...

Happy Thanksgiving Eve, and to all a good night!

The Home Front

The last couple weeks have just flown by. We've been busy with work, daycare, and trying to keep the home fires burning (and all the girls happy) while Daddy has been out of town on the weekends, at the hunting shack. 

One of the weekends, the pups had their friend Bella stay with us. Being deer season, we didn't spend any time out in the woods, but they all seemed to like each other's company. In the morning, the canine activity included watching some grouse out our living room window:

One day I had a couple other women over for a full day of scrapbooking, something I rarely get to do ... I had forgotten how much fun it was to talk while scrapbooking. V and I baked, volunteered at church, and attended a birthday party ("birthday cake!" was what she was excited about).

V spent some of her time learning about Christmas, largely through a couple of her books. She is especially interested in reindeer and snowmen. At my cousin's house, where they had a large inflatable sleigh, she didn't care at all about Santa Claus, but rushed up to the reindeer (my little nature-lovin', animal-lovin' girl).

And one afternoon at home she buried herself in blocks, focusing intently on making the below creature with two eyes:

When she emerged to proudly show me, she said right away, "no-man, mama!" My little girl had built herself a multi-colored snowman. She proudly pointed out the "no-man eyes."

She was having so much fun that nap time and bedtime caused quite a stir -- she really did.not.want.to.sleep. One night while being particularly uncooperative about getting ready for bed, I plopped her in her crib ... normally she will cry in there for a few minutes before she decides that yes, she really does want her PJs/toothpaste/books. This particular night, however, she figured out how to loop one leg over the top bar of her crib. She got this far before feeling stuck and screaming for mommy to come rescue her:

It must have scared her, because she hasn't shown a repeat performance yet. Still, the crib days are rather numbered.

Second Trimester

At the end of my first trimester, I was feeling energized and very un-sick, and said that this pregnancy was very different from my first. Now I laugh, because nearly every day I think, "this is so much like my first pregnancy!"

The sickness returned. Mornings usually involve me with a bucket. Even Victoria recognizes it, and will walk into the bathroom saying, "Mama sick" (poor girl). I know what to expect though, and am happy that after one bout of sickness I can usually eat just fine the rest of the day.

The sciatic/back pain has appeared, just like with V. This time around, I have been working regularly with a PT to help alleviate the pain. I haven't found myself crying while trying to walk through the grocery store, so that's a positive sign that our ounce of prevention is working.

With Victoria, I had weird heart palpitations, enough of a problem where they put me on a heart monitor for a while. I've had no sign of those this time, but have another weird symptom: visual disturbances that look somewhat like sparkling or flashing lights. Sometimes this is accompanied by headaches. After seeing my doctor and an ophthalmologist, the theory is a type of migraine possibly caused by circulatory changes created by pregnancy. When they said "circulatory," it reminded me of the heart stuff with V. Maybe both weird things are related to changes in blood flow, and are just manifesting themselves differently? Who knows. Our bodies are so weird!

And of course, there are things like skin changes and tiredness and pelvic pain from stretching tendons.

I know that all these things are temporary. And I know, from having V, that they are all worthwhile.

I had my 28 week appointment today. Everything is really healthy -- blood pressure, baby's heartbeat, and everything else they measure. Amazingly, although I've gotten bigger (see the below pics), I've only gained six pounds during the pregnancy. Every time I hear the heart beat, it's like magic, and I fall in love with this baby. The baby is super active. I feel it move, kick, hiccup, all the time. I'm so thankful for a second healthy baby, and am getting so excited to meet this little one, and complete our family. I can't wait for Victoria to see her little brother or sister. She talks all the time about the baby in Mommy's tummy.

We scheduled another ultrasound for November 20 -- to complete the scan since baby wouldn't show everything the first time around. That will be our last chance to find out if it is a boy or girl.

Without further ado, here are the maternity photos from the second trimester:

4 months

5 months

6 months

11 weeks to go!

Deer Tales

This year Matt decided to use some vacation days and spend long weekends with the guys in my family at our hunting shack ... my dad, uncle Roger, and bro. There are many traditions surrounding deer season (such as a night-before-opening appetizer night at our shack, and a feast opening night at a neighboring shack)  and even though I've never been a part of it, I'm happy Matt gets to share in those.

Matt was using the "porky stand" north of our shack, and I was thrilled and surprised when he sent me a brief text Saturday afternoon:

"Buck down."

I was really hoping it was his deer, because his first deer (shot two years ago) was a doe, and he wanted to get a buck.

He finally clarified that he had shot a 4-point buck. He had seen one deer (maybe the same deer) earlier that morning, not been able to get a shot, but that afternoon had his chance. I was proud that it was a good, clean shot, and the deer didn't suffer too long.

Here he is with his buck, and the hunting rifle his dad gave him this year:

My brother was working opening day, and went up late Sunday afternoon. Adam hasn't shot a deer in years, and we have all wanted him to shoot one -- I was worried he might not have much hunting time, depending on when the guys would decide to come out and work on butchering Matt's deer.

Adam went out to the "doghouse stand" early Monday morning. Around noon I texted Matt, expecting him to be on his way home to let our dogs out and get an afternoon of work in ... and was surprised when Matt texted:

"nope am helping get Adam's deer out."

Yay, Adam got a deer!!! Adam called me right after that and told me he had gotten a 9- (almost 10-) point buck. I thought he was kidding. Especially when he added that spread-wise, it is the biggest deer ever shot in the hunting shack (racks from previous owners were left behind so they had something to measure it with).

He was so happy. And I couldn't have been happier that two of my favorite guys were successful.

I wonder how old Adam's deer was, and how many deer in our woods were fathered by him. Definitely lived a long life.

I am always so thankful that our family gets to eat healthy, local meat. The guys and my mom are spending today butchering, grinding, and canning venison. I'm hoping V and I can join them for a family dinner tonight.

There's still a couple weeks left of the season, and I'm sure now my dad and Roger will be looking for their deer, too!

Playing in the dirt

Back in October we took a morning trip to the hunting shack. It was a beautiful day, and V got her first "hunt" in ... which entailed she and I walking behind Daddy and Hannah. No birds were spotted, and after a short while she got tired and wanted to be carried, so it didn't last long ... but on the way back we found lots of sticks and leaves to play with. I was so proud of her because I didn't need to pull out the i-p-a-d (yes, we have to spell it all the time now) all day long. She was pretty good at entertaining herself, including playing in the large dirt pile at the end of the driveway as everyone loaded up to head home.

Crazy Team Spam

Our bowling team is the "fun committee" for our league this year. Last Sunday there was a costume contest, and all 8 of us in our brown shirts dressed as Santa's reindeer.

We even marched through the bowling alley singing "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer." Karen had a pretty good gallup going on too!

Wordless Wednesday (on Thursday): cookie baking