Pumpkin Carving...yuck!

We carved our pumpkin today...I know it is a little late but better late than never! Anyway, I thought this was going to be a super fun activity with Paige, but it turns out that she was just really grossed out by the whole thing. She wasn't liking those 'guts' at all! Once we opened up the pumpkin she wouldn't even come close. I was surprised because I thought she would love the slimy feeling...guess I was wrong! It looked so gross to her that she never even touched it once.

She still thinks pumpkins are to sit on...cute!Taking off the lid...she said, "uh, uh, uh""I am not coming over there, Mom!""This is as close as I am going to get!""Is all of that slimy stuff gone?!"The finished product...not too shabby for a 15 year hiatus!

15 month Dr. visit

Paige went to the doctor today and she is doing great, except for her weight. Dr. Herrbold was a little concerned because her weight gain has slowed down even more, so now she is not even on the growth curve. She weighs 17 lbs and 15oz, which is only a 12oz gain in the last three months...NOT GOOD! However, she is growing in height and head circumference at the same pace as before and staying right at the 25th percentile for both. Her height is 29 3/4 in. and her head circum. is 17 3/4 in. So, we have to go back to the doctor in a month to see how her weight is. Hopefully, she will have gained a bit more...well, a lot more! If she doesn't we may have to get some blood work done to make sure everything is okay.

As far as the rest of the doctor visit...Paige was afraid of the stethoscope for some reason and freaked out every time Dr. Herrbold tried to listen to her heart. She would cry really, really hard and was almost inconsolable. I couldn't believe how upset she was. It was weird because she has never minded the stethoscope before. Maybe she remembers what her last visit was like (getting her blood drawn) and didn't want any foreign objects coming near her. So, you can probably imagine she wasn't too happy when it was time for her shots, either! I hope she does okay when we go back in November. Wish me/us luck!

Done nursing...on to the straw!

Today is the first day that I did not nurse Paige in the morning. She didn't even miss it... it's a little sad for me, but I am happy too! Plus, Paige finally drank from a straw today! She was really excited about this and proud of herself, too! Done with one thing and now onto the other!

Weaning (Continued)

So, last night was the first time we put Paige to bed without nursing and she really did great. It seemed as though she didn't even realize that we omitted it from her nightly routine...there was no crying at all!! I can't believe that it went so seamlessly...I guess she really was ready to let the nighttime nursing go...she was just waiting on me. :o) Now I have to find the strength to give up her last feeding in the morning...I don't know when I will be ready to do that. I have to mentally prepare myself...motherhood is so hard and emotional, but man do I love it!!

Weaning...

When Paige turned 13 months old I decided that it was probably time to start weaning her from nursing. At that time, she was still nursing five times a day (I know that was a lot, but I have always been obsessed with making sure she gets enough to eat...I guess having a kiddo in the third percentile for weight will do that to you!) Anyway, I started taking away one daytime feeding each week and she didn't even seem to miss them.

After doing this, I definitely believe that weaning is a lot harder for the mom than the baby/toddler (ha!). I know this is the first of many things that I will have to "give up" as my little girl gets older. Of course, this is very minor compared to what she will want (or will have) to do without me as she grows...like go to kindergarten, or go on a date, or go to college!!

Wow, isn't it funny that parents strive to teach kids how to be independent and yet it is really hard to let them be independent when they are ready. For example, it took months for Paige to learn to drink out of a sippy cup (so she wouldn't be dependent upon me for her milk), and now it is heartbreaking to know that soon she will never nurse again. Don't get me wrong...I like not having to nurse her five times a day...but my baby has grown so fast! I am sure this is how a lot of mothers feel...it's so bitter sweet!!

Anyway, for about the last week or so, Paige has only been nursing in the morning and at night. So, on Wednesday I decided it was time to take away her nighttime feeding. This was definitely the hardest one for me, so I wanted to nurse her one last time (at night) and "take it away" on Thursday. I am pathetically pitiful, because I relished every moment watching her while she nursed last night. I cried a little and smiled when she reached down to grab my hand that was laying next to her. (She sometimes holds my hand when she is nursing, so I was glad she did it for her last time.) I am really going to miss the quiet time that we have together each night, but I believe that this is a good time to let go of the nighttime nursing...we will still have morning snuggles!

Raspberries and More

We had a fun night at our house tonight...just random stuff, but we had a good time. Paige's grandma and grandpa came over, so Paige was in an exceptionally good mood because of that. She loves spending time with them and showing off all that she can do.

I was blowing raspberries on Paige's cheek and she laughed harder than usual, so her grandma took some pics. This is one of my favorites.

Paige decided that she wanted the camera from me, so she started to throw a little fit...isn't that a pitiful face!Two seconds later, we took these photos...aren't toddler's emotions up and down!I think it is so funny when Paige sticks her tongue out like this in pictures! Hanging out on Daddy's lap!Saying "hi" to the camera with Grandma!

Down the Stairs!!

Paige showed me that she knows how to come down the stairs now. She was actually going up and when she got halfway to the top, she decided to come back down instead. I am so excited that she finally stayed on her belly (instead of trying to turn around and walk down facing forward)!! I gave her a big round of applause, and she was super happy with herself!! Yay, Paige!!

Another Tooth

Paige got another tooth today. It is the bottom right lateral incisor. She has seven teeth now. There are four on top and three on bottom.

Our Trip to Virginia

Paige and I went to visit three of my college friends in Virginia over the weekend. I hadn't seen Pam, Amber and Jessica at the same time in over three years. So, I was super excited. It was Paige's first time to fly, so I was a little anxious about that...but she did really great!

We flew out of St. Louis early Thursday morning. We spent the night in a hotel on Wednesday, so we wouldn't have to get up early and drive there. This was the second time Paige has been in a hotel, but she was too little to notice the first time. She had a good time exploring the hotel room! She especially liked the air conditioner. Paige was a little champ at the airport...luckily she really took a liking to her umbrella stroller (sitting in it). She never really liked to sit in it before today. She just liked to push it!! She is hanging out and eating a snack in this pic, while we waited for our flight.

It was Jess's birthday on Friday, so we went out to dinner. The mean friends that we are, we had them sing her a song! If you look in the lower left corner, you will see that this quite frightened Paige. As soon as they finished singing, Paige broke out in tears!

A group pic of us...unfortunately, Paige looked away (Nash is in the stroller sleeping).

Friday and Saturday night we had fun playing games and partaking in some cocktails! We stayed up way later than I am used to...but that is good for ya now and then! LOL!

Pam and Amber playing the game (I can't remember the name!) We had a real blast playing that game the second night, but the first night we all did horrible...we were lucky to score a point!Amber is holding Nash who is six weeks old. Paige thought she was in Heaven to have a baby around all weekend. She kept signing "baby" and she also kept wanting to get into his bouncy seat. Amber was sweet enough to let her sit in it a couple of times and Paige just sprawled out and enjoyed the vibration. It was quite hilarious! Paige also helped out by giving Amber Nash's paci whenever she found it laying around...even if Nash didn't need it! Luckily, she didn't find a fondness for the paci during our trip...but, then again, she never liked one before!

First Haircut

Well, the time has come! Paige's hair was a little scraggly on the ends, so I decided she needed a little trim. Paige's grandma came over to help. It was a little tricky getting Paige to sit still long enough to cut the ends and even more tricky because she had gotten some butter in her hair at breakfast...so it was a bit slippery! Getting a pic wasn't easy either...fun memories!

Ready for School?

So, it turns out that Paige likes any kind of bag! She just loves anything that she can carry on her body...she thought she was pretty clever to tackle this backpack! What a big girl!

"Are you sure I'm not old enough for school, Mommy?"

Working at the Computer

Paige doesn't even need a chair!!!

More Bags

Paige really loves her 'bags.' I think I might be in trouble when she gets older...hopefully she doesn't have designer taste!

"What, Mommy?...this is my bag!"

"How much do you think I can get in here?"

Duck, Duck, Goose!

Paige had another class at the Runge Nature Center in Jeff City. It was all about ducks this time. She got to hear duck calls, fly with duck feathers, feel what it's like to get duck feathers wet, pick up food like a duck, and she got a duck (a rubber one) out of the pond.

After all those fun activities, she got to sit with the other kids and listen to a book about ducks. It was a lot of fun. Next month we get to learn about butterflies!

Paige is trying out the duck feathers while "flying"!

Flapping her wings!

Trying to catch one of those ducks before they fly away...tee-hee-hee!
She got one!

Read-Aloud time! Here we are with our new friends, Heather and Kacey. Kacey is in music class with Paige, too!

Cleanup!!

Paige has a real fondness for brooms. Here she is with the real broom and her play broom. (I bet you can't guess what Neil and I are doing all the time...it is tough keeping the floor clean with a toddler...well, when you don't have a dog to help!) Hopefully, Paige will still love brooms when she is able to use one effectively!!

Future AOII

My friend Jessica got Paige a cute AOII shirt as a baby shower gift. The size is 12 months, so she is just now able to wear it. It says An AOII Loves Me and has a panda on it. She looked so cute that I had to take a picture. She really hammed it up for the camera, too...she doesn't usually pose like that for me!

I think it is so cute when she crosses her ankles like that!

New Signs

Paige has started using three new signs. She has finally started to use the sign for drink and eat, which is wonderful because I have been doing those for her since she was about 7 months (plus they are about the two most important ones). The third new sign is cracker. It is so funny to see her do it because she taps the top of her elbow when it is actually supposed to be the bottom...whatever works for her!

She is always so proud of herself when she communicates with a sign and I understand what she wants! She gets a really big smile on her face and sometimes even claps...priceless!

Stoller Time!!

Paige's grandma got her a little stroller to push around...which is great because she has been loving her umbrella stroller lately. She pushes it around in the basement while I do laundry. So, she was pretty excited to get a stroller that is her size...look at how much fun she is having.

So, after she pushed around the stroller a bit, we got her a doll to put in it...well, it was kind of a doll. All we had at Grandma's house was a stuffed Ernie. She kept pushing the stroller down the hill and it was a real hoot, so we got it on video! Sometimes she would get going pretty fast and even fell over once...good thing Ernie was strapped in!

Watching Daddy's Game

Neil had a softball tournament today, so Paige and I went with Grandpa and Aunt Jill to watch him play. It was pretty hot, but Paige seemed to have a good time. She really enjoyed people watching and playing on the swings, but I don't think she had any idea what Daddy was doing or where he even was!

Gotta Wear Shades

We have been trying to get Paige to wear her sunglasses all summer, but she just won't do it!! However, we did get her to keep them on her head for a little while today. She looks like she is ready for the pool in this pic because she is carrying her bag too! Maybe someday soon we will get a picture with her actually wearing her glasses (over her eyes)...she will only keep them on for about a second, and we can't get a picture that fast! Ha!

Swimming

Neil and I took Paige to a pool party at the Linn pool yesterday. It was a little breezy last night, so Paige wasn't too keen on the idea. She thought playing with her pool bag and toys was a lot more fun. I tried to get a pic of her carrying the bag...she has started doing that all the time...I guess that she is trying to be like me with my purse. It is pretty cute.

When I got my camera, she stopped carrying the bag and started dragging it!

Look at that cute Lil' Swimmer sticking out of her swimsuit!
Inspecting her fish net.

Do I Ride or Surf, Mommy?

Paige got this Little Einsteins car for her birthday from her grandma and grandpa. She really loves to ride it, but she loves the little storage compartment under the seat the most. She likes to put numerous toys in there and she hid our TV remote in their once. :o) However, she recently decided that it is best used for standing up in...I am not too happy about that! Our little girl seems to have no fear...where is that trait from?

Big Shoes to Fill

Paige has always loved shoes! In the past, she would pick them up and carry them around with her...and she would try to eat flip-flops on occasion! Now, she likes to try to get her feet in the shoes and walk around (if they're not too heavy). Today she decided to try on her grandma's... she was pretty proud of her accomplishment! Isn't it hilarious the way she is squatting?!

Peachy Paige

Paige loves peaches. Usually I cut them up in pieces for her to eat, but I figured that I would let her experience eating from an entire peach today. She seems to eat more when I give her things that are whole because she loves to use her teeth to bite. Needless to say, she really enjoyed the peach...and luckily I was able to get some of it on video! Please excuse my amateur videography skills...not sure if that is even a word! Ha!

Riding in the Wagon with Macy

Paige has a wagon at her grandma's house that she loves to be pulled in. She got to ride around with her cousin Macy today. They went for a ride to see the cows and enjoyed some grapes along the way. What fun!!

Smiling for the camera with Ginger alongside!

New Words

Paige can now say ball and book! Woohoo!