i LOVE this little thing....

I have been in this house for over 103 straight hours... at least I have something this beautiful to look at!



Much Love,
Jenny

I Get By With A Little Help....

.....from my BOPPY!!

I am becoming such a BIG girl- mommy and daddy can't believe how BIG I am getting. As for me, I am super excited to be growing into a big girl!

My newest trick is that when propped up against the BOPPY , I can sit up for a long time and watch tons of cool things going on around me. But once you move the BOPPY away from me, my body turns into a "folded taco" for a few seconds and then I roll onto my side..... I don't have the abs of steel needed to sit up on my own yet... but I'm working on them!

Gotta keep up my good work in the BOPPY and also in the BUMBO- mommy is really proud of how I sit up straight in the BUMBO. I also need to keep doing tummy time. Speaking of tummy time, this morning I lasted a WHOLE 5 minutes without crying. I can hold my head up really high now and use my arms to prop me up. I guess it really isn't that bad.






Love,
Anna

PHOTO blog

One of my goals of the new year is to get better at using my DSLR Nikon D60 camera and photo editing software. I would love to get signed up to take classes, but in the mean time I need a way to play around with the settings on my camera and with my photo editing software so I have some understanding of this machine in my hands!

Anna has been a GREAT subject to photograph, and I will continue to take pictures of her DAILY, but I am branching into taking pictures of things that I see on a daily basis around my house. Using the daily shot from www.dailyshoot.com, I am planning on taking a picture a day and tweaking it using different features on my photo editing software. I will post them on my second blog, http://picturediaryofastayathomemom.blogspot.com/

So far it's been a blast! Thanks for the inspiration Betsy McKnight! :)

Wish me well,
Jenny

HOLY snow!

Ummmm.... did I miss the memo that we live in North Dakota? Brrrrr..... and HOLY snow! The snow is now almost as tall as Anna.... Apparently we are under a wind chill warning for the next 48 hours AND the high tomorrow is supposed to be -2 BEFORE the windchill. I don't think we are in Kansas anymore! Couch, down blanket, hot tea and DVR.... here come Anna and I! I don't remember the last time we saw this much cold weather and snow- looks like cabin fever will be setting in soon....

Much Love and Warmth,
Jenny

Peanut

Yesterday, Peanut had a what the vet is calling a seizure. Since I am still horrified at the thought of him having another one, I am having a hard time dealing with the matter. The vet did say that some dogs only have one and never another one in their lifetime, so fingers crossed that is true for Peanut.

After what lasted around 8 minutes at it's worst (his entire body flapping around like a penguin on it's belly- in my arms and on the floor), the whole seizure episode lasted just over 30 minutes- Peanut was finally a calm version of himself 40 minutes after the fact. Luckily Rob was able to make it home from work to be with us for the last part.

So, what can be done? The vet took some blood work last night and we get the results back either today or tomorrow. We are also in the process of changing him over to a new dog food- $45 for 15 pounds of it- holy cow! The dog food (Orijen- http://www.orijen.ca/orijen/about/) is made up of wild caught and never frozen salmon, whitefish and other fish. It has 40% protein (opposed to his last food which had 20%) The vet said this food has had a positive impact on others dogs that he sees that also have seizures. FINGERS CROSSED that the blood work comes back good (or with something that's easy and inexpensize to fix) and that the food works.

If it doesn't work, the vet mentioned acupuncture, Chinese herbs, MRI and CT scans. As for venturing into those $$$$$ options, we have not yet decided. I have always thought that people who spend obscene amounts of money and do things like acupuncture on their pets are crazy.... UNTIL reality hit that I might actually have to make a decision concerning my baby, Peanut.

I just hope it was a freak out seizure and that Peanut never has to experience that again....

Much Love and Think GOOD Thoughts for Nuts,
Jenny

That's the WALSH in you!

Lately, I have become EXTREMELY social! I coo and babble at all my toys, my play gym, books, stuffed animals and mommy and daddy. Sometimes I talk so much that I interrupt mommy and daddy and don't pause to let them say anything. I am a little girl with A LOT on my mind!

Tonight, I wouldn't stop talking and my daddy looked at me and said, "Kiddo, looks like you inherited that from the Walsh side." My mommy asked, "Inherited what?" And daddy said, "Inherited the fact that she doesn't stop talking!!!!" Mommy thought this was super funny and knows my Grama's brothers and sisters will love to hear that! I can't wait to meet all the Walsh's someday!

Love,
Anna

Clothes

Not only did my cousin Kate lend me LOTS of hats, but she also let me borrow TONS of clothes! Having an older girl cousin who lives in your same city is awesome!!! Some of the clothes I have borrowed from my cousin, she got from our friend in California, Kate Larson. I also LOVE wearing her clothes!!! Thanks Kate!

I also got a lot of clothes as gifts and love every outfit!!! And of course my mommy did an awesome job shopping for my wardrobe at garage sales and at end of season sales at Old Navy, Target, Baby Gap, Costco and Grama's favorite, Kohl's. She already has all my stuff I need for next winter- she's on the ball!!! Daddy says I have a larger wardrobe then he does..... get used to it old man!!! :)

Here is a picture of me in one of Kate Larson's old outfits- it's a VERY warm and comfy one!!



Oh and talking about clothes... I absolutely HATE socks- they ALWAYS fall off of my feet! Aunt Anne bought me these sock holder things that you slip on over your socks (mommy says they work pretty well) but what a hassle- why can't my feet like socks?!?!?!

Love,
Anna