what have we been up to...

...A LOT!!! This past week, I finished my last semester of classes for grad school!! Now all I have left next semester is the second half of my internship and supervision seminar which is once a week in the city for a few hours (real easy). Oh yeah...and studying for my comprehensive finals at Erikson, darn!

Poor Lauren contracted pink eye the day after I finished my class so we have been trying to lay low the last few days and get healthy which hasn't been going too well. We missed our small group Christmas party last night and we are praying we are better tomorrow morning since we are becoming new members of our Church here.

Here are some other things that we have been up to...

I made some wool pants for Lauren out of a recycled sweater from Goodwill. She loves wearing them. She was smirking in the this picture because she somehow stole some grapes off the middle of the kitchen table. Little does she know, I don't care if she steals grapes :)

There is just something wrong with this picture: pacifier and t.v. remote! Lauren has really been showing an interest in the potty again. Now we just ask her if she has to go and she will generally run to the toilet. She knows she can push it out but hasn't quite figured out that she can keep it in too.

We bought some tub crayons and she loves bath time now

She got her first shiner right before Thanksgiving after tripping over my slipper and ramming in her face into the corner of our metal bed frame. The scar is still lingering. (I think she is shooting Cousin Ethan in this picture.)

Tea parties with Dad

Celebrating Friend Lina's 2nd Birthday, Ballerina style!

They wanted to take a picture but Lauren wasn't too fond of holding Lina's hand.

We got our 1st snow!

Lauren has been rocking the pigtails!

Like Mother...Like Daughter 2!

Lauren is apparently a fan of babywearing as well. This is her doll, Kiwanna, Kia for short. She goes everywhere with her and should probably have a bath now as well.

Baby Fever...

...I am not going to lie, my baby fever is resurfacing again. It doesn't make any easier that I see pregnant ladies come into work all the time and admire their perfectly sculpted bellies. But...it seems like whenever my baby fever gets a little out of control, God puts me in check and tells me that I am not ready yet. For some reason, the past few times I have had it bad, I have gotten sick. Nothing like having flashbacks to 1st trimester pregnancy. As much as it was manageable when I was pregnant with Lauren, there is no way that I could take care of my little vivacious girl while struggling through 16 weeks of nausea, fatigue, lack of appetite, etc. etc...The other thing that is really holding me back is breastfeeding. A lot of women are able to conceive when they are breastfeeding so that isn't the issue, it is the changes that scare me. Your breastmilk changes when you become pregnant to prepare for the new baby and a lot of women struggle with a low supply as well. I do not want to force Lauren to wean because of my breastmilk changes and really want her to continue to nurse...such a dilemma. I wish it was much easier...

If you have never met my little crazy Lauren...here is just a glimpse of the sticky situations she has gotten herself in lately...

getting stuck under the chaise lounge

I had the laundry out in the living room and she put one of Kyle's shirts on her head and then couldn't get out...

"Wordless" Wednesday

Grandma Cindy 'bought' Lauren this bow over the telephone the other day when I was at the Farmer's Market and saw it. Of course when I mentioned that I saw a monkey bow she told me that I had to grab it.

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday Randomness...

We are scheduled to close on Thursday...hopefully! I am trying not to get too excited just in case it falls through but would really like to get out of our apartment and noisy upstairs neighbors!!

I got my hair cut on Sunday. I think that I look more like my brother now. I am planning on going tons shorter but figured it would be best to go one step at a time...it looks similar to my haircut from two years ago (here). I also shed a little tear thinking about that apartment...I do miss that thing, I wish we could have taken it with us out to the burbs. But I digress....

Not easy taking a self-picture with a massive camera, can you see my hair cut??

This is as far as my arm would reach out...

Oh duh, I have a self-timer...don't mind the messy living room!

Lauren knows how to take her velcro diapers off, it looks like she won't be able to go clothes-less with a velcro diaper on anymore! Thank goodness we have plenty in snaps. She looks pretty mischievous here...

Wordless Wednesday

Look what is on my bum...I will be posting more info and reviews of cloth diapers at my other blog: SuburbanSavingMama so check periodically if you are interested!