Reality Bites

There are no pictures with this post; and trust me--you'll thank me when you hear about our past two weeks or so. It started with a self-imposed deadline...and ended abruptly with the whole family down for the count. It all began with us planning to list the house. Hoping to have it ready by the time we leave for Arizona, every possible moment has been spent getting things together. In the past three weeks we've: met with the inspector for a pre-listing inspection; ordered stainless fridge/micro/range and had each delivered or installed at separate times; painted the hall bath cabinet white; made numerous trips to Home Depot with Laine (she knows her way around now,) ushered in and out five roofing companies, three landscapers, two contractors (for minor crawlspace work,) a window washer, and a handyman--all just for estimates; packed boxes and boxes of STUFF (from our closets) and dumped it all on the poor Buechler's; watched our cabinet get power sanded down in order to fit our enormous new fridge; toured our home with a stager, who gushed over our home and told us there'd be hardly anything to change; moved and removed furniture according to stager's direction; spent hours in the yard spreading moss killer, raking, planting (replacing items that didn't make it through the frost,) touching up paint throughout the house; and cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. On any given day, we've had two or three different people in our house. Laine is starting to get used to seeing strangers on our roof, in our yard, and in our kitchen. Then last weekend, we left Laine at Grandma and Grandpa's while we busted our buns in the yard Saturday. It was so great to get out and work like we used to--I even got a little teared up imagining it might be the last time at this house. Jayson picked Laine up later in the evening, just in time to read her a story and get her to bed. We followed her to bed soon after, exhausted. In the early morning hours, we heard Laine wake. She seemed to doze, then fuss quietly for a very brief time, and then quiet down again. After a while, I decided to go check on her. I went into her room, and as my eyes adjusted, my first instinct was that it looked like Laine had somehow reached into her laundry and pulled it into her crib. Then the smell hit me. I turned on the lights--and there were blueberries EVERYWHERE. It looked like a crime scene. It was our baby's first stomach bug. It spiraled from there: an early morning bath for an unhappy girl, numerous loads of laundry (the sheet was finally THROWN away,) a Sunday night trip to Overlake Urgent Care (we were worried she might be dehydrated,) and a double nap on Monday. By Tuesday morning, Laine seemed much better; enough that we headed to Little Gym. By the time we got there, I knew it was a mistake--for me. I wasn't really sick yet, just feeling tired. By 2pm, I was about ready to collapse. Jayson headed home early to care for Laine, and I went to bed. Then it was his turn: at 10pm, it hit him. We packed up some things for Laine and sent her to Grandma and Grandpa Buechler's early the next morning, where she stayed for two nights while we recovered. I can't remember ever being this sick! It has to have been some type of flu. Once Laine was back home with us, it wasn't long before Grandma, Auntie and Grandpa began to feel funny. This was one period of time that Grandma and Grandpa Good should be glad they were in Arizona! The moment we fell ill, I knew the house wouldn't get on the market in time. In some ways, it's a blessing. I'm so nervous about selling the house quickly and not having anywhere to move into. The pressure we put on ourselves dissappeared, and we could focus on VACATION!

Okay, so I lied. Here are two photos of the new, LARGE fridge. Above is before the cabinet was sanded and the fridge pushed back. Yes, it is huge. Yes, the freezer drawer and fridge doors open all the way. :)

Below is the paper thin gap (see that tiny sliver of light?)between the wall and the fridge! We are so, so lucky it actually fit. Now, if it will come back out is another story. We might have to leave it with a new owner whether we want to or not!

Chatterbox

What a difference a week or two makes! The end of February/beginning of March were marked by Laine getting eight--yes, eight--new teeth! All of a sudden, she had four molars and her four eye teeth. They spent two weeks working their way through and one day I looked in her mouth and saw lots of teeth trying to poke through. Immediately after these new teeth appeared, Laine started jabbering up a storm again. Don't get me wrong--she never really stopped, but she didn't seem to have any new words for about a week while she was working on the new teeth. We have had many, many additions in the past three or so weeks!

The week that it snowed:
Shoe (you)
Boot (boo)
Mitten (mimi)
Rock (raw)
Whee! (As the baby in her "Tubby" book says when he's naked!)

The following week:
Sings Row Row Your Boat (row row)
Does some hand motions when singing Itsy Bitsy Spider (wash the spider out)
More (mow)
Auntie!!! (Annnnn-tee)
Uh-oh (This is such a typical one for babies and she didn't do it until now. Guess she didn't find it necessary!)
Happy (haaa-pee)

Last week:
Car (caa)
Bird (bir)
Ice (exactly as it should sound!)
Roll (ro)
Boat (bow)
Yeah

When taking a walk these days it is such fun for Laine to point out all the birds, cars, and rocks she sees! We haven't come across any boats yet, but it is spring now so I'm sure we'll see some soon!

Everything gets a response now, too. Anything we say gets either a "yeah" or "no" answer. Lucky for us, most things warrant a "yeah," but if she really feels strongly in the negative, you will definitely get a "no!"

Laine is totally a Buechler. She enjoyed her first taste of ketchup last week, and it was a hit. (Mom says YUCK! GROSS! BLECH!)

I asked for a smile, I got this!

Happy Birthday Ty!

We had an amazing time at Ty Heidergott's first birthday party the weekend of the 12th! Kate made a beautiful cake in the shape of the number one and totally lined with m&m's--I still can't believe I forgot to get a photo! We sipped bloody marys and mimosas and munched on yummy brunch food (including what will now forever be known in our family as Kate's Sandwiches: Hawaiian rolls with ham and swiss, and a delicious mustard sauce. Can you tell we can't talk about them enough?!)

Mom and the One Year Old

Kate, Ty, and Kate's mom Karen

Hugs for the Birthday Boy!

Digging in...

cake demolished!

Happy First Birthday Ty! Thanks to your mom, dad, and big brother Ben for a great time!

Two Hunks and a Cutie

A month ago (ugh, am I really a month behind?!) we met up with Jen and Carrie and their two boys at Jen's house. Laine had fun seeing the "babies" (Kyan will be one in April and Ben is seven months) and showing Kyan how to climb stairs. Hopefully he didn't catch on from watching, or his mommy is going to have a new hobby!

My sweet, sweet girl--always one for a hug.

As usual with three kiddos, it was hard to get a shot, but these are good for a laugh! The first one shown is actually the last one taken. I remember well Laine being at Kyan's stage and not sitting still for a minute! He wasn't fussing at all...just not willing to sit for the mommies to take photos!

Hmph! Boys!

Phone Talkin'

Phone Talkin'

Laine's been making a lot of phone callls lately. It was best put together in a short montage--click on the words above to see the video.

Silly Girl

Laine is not centered in this video--I had one hand on her in case she got a little too ambitious with her bouncing. I love the look she gives near the end--should I expect to see something similar in her teenage years when she's exasperated with me?

More "No!"

More snow! Much to our delight, Laine remembered what it was called and woke up one morning to find her "no" covering the neighborhood. We got about five or six inches and it stuck around for a few days with the temperature drop.

Spring or winter?

We had a lot of fun playing in the snow this time. Laine got to experience ALL that snow has to offer. She...

tasted it...

built a snowman (with mom's help...)

tried to walk in it...

and went sledding for the first time!

Neighbor girls Amy (Mimi to Laine) and Hannah.

Laine was hilarious. Her first time down, her expression was pretty much blank. She didn't look excited, she didn't look scared. To tell you the truth, she just looked unimpressed. But as soon as she got to the bottom of the hill (she started only about 1/4 of the way up on her ride with Amy) she signed "more." All the neighbor girls wanted to take her down once, and Laine was happy to oblige. She didn't like being pulled up the hill, however. It was hard for her to sit up straight and she ended up laying down in the sled and wanted me to take her out right away. But going down was FUN!

This was Laine's second trip down. The first time, Mommy wanted her hands free in case Laine came flying off the sled!

Marguerite Lillian (aka Baby Maggie)

We have a new baby friend! Maybe even a best one if similar personalities develop between mothers and daughters... My best friend from high school (Maija) had a lovely baby girl on January 24th. We were very excited to visit and meet baby Maggie! Laine enjoyed pointing to her and saying "baby," rocking her in her chair, and playing Maija and Ernie's piano. She also loved seeing Maggie's fur-sister, Sophie, again. (Sophie is a lovable, large terrier mix.) The last time we saw Maija and Sophie, Laine was excited but wasn't sure when Sophie got closer. This time though, she loved her! Lots of woofing and patting and bringing Sophie her toys.

Rocking Maggie.

We hope to get together one more time before Maija goes back to work in April!

Three Toddlers

We met up with Abbey and Anna, and Christina and Owen and Isaac the week before last. We hadn't seen Abbey and Anna since last March--boy, are the kids ever different! I was not at all surprised that it was my child who kept escaping from the Alderwood play area. She would laugh and giggle as she ran away from me. We had a great time catching up (what little I was able to participate in when not running after L).

Isaac is a fellow thumbsucker--thus a kindered spirit to Laine.

Um, but Isaac...you're using the "wrong" hand!

Anna will settle for her mom's keys.

Owen was quite popular at the play area. He was playing with Christina's iPhone and after a while we looked over to see a crowd of kids surrounding him and watching him play Angry Birds!