Wordless Wednesday.

1st Birthday!! Polka-Dot Theme.

Happy 1st Birthday Pumpkin!!

What you're doing now?

You say "Woof Woof" and (you are fascinated with yourself and the fact that you can say this, so...you say it over and over whenever you see a dog (real or stuffed) whenever you see any kind of animal (yes, squirrels are "woof woof's too) and whenever someone says it to you).  Basically, all the time, in the car, in the house, while taking a walk, in the grocery store, everywhere, anytime.  And, you can spot a dog a mile away!

You love soft things (blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, towels, etc. and you will lay your head down on them and lay there for a moment).

You love to give hugs and kisses.

You love to love on your stuffed animals.

You utilize anything to help you maneuver around the house from toys to chairs to strollers to pieces of furniture.

You are the fastest crawler ever!!  You could win a fastest crawler championship.

You love climbing stairs, and you are super fast.

You say lots of words; you even have your own language, and have little conversations (that you think people understand).

You always have a smile on your face, a big cheesy smile, and you have one dimple on the left side.

You laugh out loud when you are tickled or thrown in the air or you find something funny, like when someone (mommy or mimi) is acting silly with you.

You LOVE food, and you are a champion eater.  You love big people food like meat, potatoes (especially potatoes) and you LOVE spaghetti.  You love to suck it up from the bottom of the noodle to the top, and you make a glorious mess!

You are not really found of sweets or other carbs/bread besides potatoes.

You love setting things specific places and putting things back in their place.

You LOVE your little Tykes Slide and Car that your Nana bought you for your 1st Birthday and your polka- dot Pottery Barn Chair from your Mommy and Daddy.  They are by far your favorite gifts this year!

There's so much more that's you...But enough for now.
You are our little pumpkin, and we love you.  Happy 1st Birthday baby doll~!

Happy Birthday Todd-ee!!

It is my brother's birthday today, and since I can't be with you...

"Happy Birthday to you..
Happy Bithday to you...
Happy Birthday dear Todd-ee...
Happy Birthday to you."

Happy Birthday New Daddy!!
Hope you are enjoying fatherhood again.
Have a great one!!
Wish I could be there with you!!

"Baby It WAS Cold Outside..."

"Hey Mom, Where Did Winter Go??!!"

"You mean no more days of you taking me out half naked into the cold snow to get photos?!"

"My little toes don't have to be cold anymore?"

"No more bribing me with sippy cups to keep me occupied while you take pictures of me in the snow in the WAY too cold temperatures for an 11 month old (and you STILL didn't get the shots you wanted because your mommy guilt kicked in and you felt bad for putting me out in the cold and had to bring me in before my little tootsies froze)?!"

"But first you bribed me again with Animal Crackers?!"

"And Toys?!"

"You mean, that's the last of Winter and these little piggies can crawl and walk through soft grass and dirt now?!"

"So Long, Winter!!"

Top 2 Tuesday!!

Top Two Tuesday is hosted by Taylor at Undomestic Mama. 
You can see Taylor's Top Two Picks for the week and many other Mama's: Here.

Top 2 Things You CAN'T Live Without!!

1. Obviously, The Pumpkin and the Hubs and Family come first, along with the necessities of life (especially soap and hot water, ha!)...But, after saying that, I ran into this problem the other day.  I was with my family, had food, a roof over my head, and everything you could ask for, but I was without the 2 Things I needed the most, and I felt completely and utterly helpless...

My Cell Phone

and

2.  My Debit Card.

Also, I have missed a couple Top Two's recently, but I discovered that I missed "Celebrity Style" Week, and I have to comment here (better late than Never!!)  I LOVE bothe these ladies Iconic Classic Styles.

1. Audrey Hepburn

and

2. Jennifer Anniston

In other news...my baby niece is coming today.  My sister-in-law's C-Section is scheduled for 2 pm.  Ha!!  I joked with my Sis-in-Law that it's as if she's ordering my niece out of a catalog (Babies on a schedule!)  Unfortunately, I don't think I am going to be able to make it up there to Chicago to see the new little pumperkin till Sunday (The pumpkin's 1st Birthday Party is Saturday).  It's going to be very hard for me bc I was there before my other Niece was born, and got to hold her in the hospital right after she was born.  But, it will probably be better to have a visit at home than in the hospital. 

It's going to be very hard for me to wait to see this little Princess, but I am SO excited!!  I also can't wait to see my brother, sister-in-law and 5 year old niece!  Hold on new baby girl, Auntie is coming...New Baby, Yeah!!

Weaning.

Found Here.

When I got pregnant with the pumpkin, my mother's friend at work loaned me her daughters Medella Pump.  It was a lifesaver so we wouldn't have to shell out the big bucks to purchase one of our own.  It has literally been "my breast friend" and we are never apart.  I have heard people say that their breast pump is like their "second child," and that adage rang so true with me. You literally, if you work, carry that thing around everywhere, everyday with you, and if you show up to work without out or without a part you are lost without it, and I can't tell you how many times I had to run home bc I forgot my pump or a piece. 

Well, two weeks ago, my mother called me and said, "Vickie needs her pump back."   So, with a heavy heart, I got the bag all cleaned up and greatfully returned my best friend to its owner, who had just had twins.  My mother had forgotten to tell me that she was expecting soon.  So, now, with the pumpkin nearly one, and no pump, and my hubby nagging me to switch her to milk, I was left with a decision.

I sometimes wonder if we are given signs or if we SEE the signs we want to see.  Here, I was suddenly put in a situation where I would have to stop pumping and wean the pumpkin or make arrangements to purchase a new pump (which financially wasn't perfect timing) and continue to breast feed the pumpkin.  I believe in signs, but I was bound and determined not to be forced into a decision.  I swore that I would breast feed our pumpkin till she was one, and I was not stopping until she was one, be it only a couple weeks away from her first birthday or not.  And, so I made arrangements to purchase a gently used pump from someone that works for my company (more economical than renting one for a month which would cost nearly as much), and stretched some pennies...

I had been using my manual pump at work and for overflow, which really does not compare to an automatic.  I am only allotted so much time at work in which to pump so I can only pump so much, which with a maual I am only pumping HALF as much, which dwindles my milk supply. Then, when I finally had the new pump in my hands, after purchasing new tubing, I discovered that it was not pumping properly. My breasts became engorged and I got a blocked duct (in nearly both breasts) but most severely on my right side. 

So, I was back to my manual, and made arrangements to return the pump back to the owner.  Then, I came down with the flu, and here I am trying to feed my daughter, when I haven't eaten anything but Ginger Ale in two days, and can't even get up to change her diaper or feed her from a highchair (Ha!)

So, bc it will be difficult to keep up with the pumpkin with a manual at work, and with the pumpkin's 1st birthday a week from today, the countdown for weaning has begun. Nik started loosing interest in her bottle at daycare a couple months ago, and she nurses sporadically when I'm home with her, in these wierd acrobatic positions (that cause my mother and my husband to look at the both of us like the two of us are crazy!!);0  My daughter is the size of a 2 year old, and my hubby says, it's that time.  Our pediatrician said that after 1, breast milk offers no nutritional value for the pumpkin, it just serves to soothe the mother.

But, as I watch my milk supply dwindle, it aches me to have to say goodbye to this step in our relationship and this stage of motherhood.  And, makes me nostalgic for earlier days.

Look.

Found Here.

Happy St. Patties Day! Wordless Wednesday.