A few new tricks

Ramey has discovered a new *game* she likes to play... picking things up and dropping them into containers... including the garbage can.

I discovered Ramey putting anything and everything into the garbage can... empty water bottles, shoes, my shoes!!, her shoes, her toys and Lefty's toys!! She also likes to put them into the container that holds the firewood, over the deck railing into the rocks, on the table, in daddy's hands...







We caught her picking up the leaves and putting them in a pile on the rocking chair:

Ramey has started to walk backward, not always successfully but she is trying...

Another new trick is going down the stairs... since the condo does not have any stairs, she doesn't get much practice on the stairs (the common stairs are too icky to practice on) so we've been having a lot of fun going up and down the stairs at the lake house... she was getting pretty good!

PAUSE BUTTON..... please please... we need a pause button
She is growing up so fast but I just love watching her discover new things and show us new *tricks*

An 8 hour drive in....

Twelve... that's right it took us 12 hours to do an 8 hour drive...

Last Sunday morning we ate breakfast at our house with Grandma Patty, Papa, Aunt Donna, Uncle Bruce, Uncle Brendan and Grandma Betty... After they headed to the airport, Grandma Patty and Papa entertained Ramey while we finished getting ready to leave for the lake. We didn't get on the road as promptly as I hoped but none the less, we were on way!!!

Ramey was asleep before we even got close to the expressway!!! Luckily she slept most of the way to Bloomington... where we made our first pit stop... lunch and some wiggle time for Ramey. My hope was to wear her out a bit so she would sleep most of the way to our next pit stop... St. Louis.

Well, we made it to St. Louis with a few tears shed but overall in good shape!! We had dinner at Grandma Betty's; grabbed her things, repacked the car and headed out!!! Once again on the road a little later than anticipated but on the road for our final leg. It was a late night but Ramey slept the entire way from St. Louis to the lake... 12 hours later we were safely at our destination!!! Lake of the Ozarks!

Although late at night (or because of) we saw a number of creatures of the night... a possum, a fox plus a few deer!!!

Overall the trip was great... cool weather but in the end very relaxing.

Proof of the six point deer we saw next to the Hermes'

Lefty waiting to pounce

Lefty loved the freedom of the lake... we *lost* her a few times as she was in heaven chasing after any sound or anything that moved (including leaves). Yesterday she was close to getting a squirel (Ron says it's the other way around)

Ramey in her tutu and Crocs

Check out Lefty's tongue and ears... LOL

3 deer in the lot across the cove

may have to click photo to see all three

My futures so bright...

I gotta wear shades (if the sun ever came out)

We decided to head for home on Friday so we could break the drive up a little. Ramey slept most of the way back to Grandma Betty's... we had a quick lunch then met a few of Grandma's friends. We then drove on to Bloomington where we met up with Brian and the boys for dinner. After dinner, Carli came over and played with Ramey (and put her to bed!!) so Ron and I could take in a movie... a mini date night... what a nice way to end a nice vacation.

Looking forward to going again next summer... hopefully the weather will cooperate a little better and we can get some boat time in

Happy FIRST Birthday Ramey!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

HAPPY BIRTH-DAY TO RAMEY!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

TOOOO YOUUUUUUU!!!

We took Ramey out for a first birthday breakfast and she had:

(drum rolll please!!!)

Pancakes!!!
(I know big surprise for any of those that have gone to breakfast with her)

She ate them all... didn't leave any to share and very few of the piece ended up on the floor

It was a bit chilly so no birthday boat ride, but we did have a nice day around the house.

For dinner we had steaks with homemade mac-m-cheese... Ramey wasn't a fan of the steak BUT loved the mac-n-cheese (just like her mama!!!)

We tried cake again... pretty much the same response as before... loved the cake but hated the icing

Happy FIRST Birthday Party

Saturday was Ramey's First Birthday Party at the park... the weather was beautiful... not a cloud in the sky. We rented the room in the field house and all the little ones had a great time running around (inside and out) Ramey even showed us a dance or two!!! She loved having "Happy Birthday" sung to her and being the center of attention.

The birthday girl in her tu-tu

The cake... Ramey had her own little cake...
was supposed to be a cupcake but they messed up the order, oh well

well let's just say she LOVES cake but HATES the icing... She got a hand full of icing and wouldn't stop screaming till it was wiped off !! She didn't even like the taste of it. We finally got her to eat just the cake... The funny part was she kept walking up to people like she wanted some cake and many would offer then she would throw it on the ground!

The after party continued at our house were we opened gifts, drank a few beers and ate more food. Thank you for all the wonderful gifts!!! Ramey is already enjoying many of them.
A few more pics of the special day:

Hmm, this cake isn't too bad... I may actually like it!!

Yeah... this stuff is yummy


No first birthday party would be complete without:




A screaming birthday girl
"NOOOOOOOO, I don't like the icing"

Sick Baby Update

Monday night things got worse... She did great all afternoon but as the night went on her temperature kept going up... It's scary to see 103.5 on the thermometer. It did go down with Motrin which was great but she woke up at 4 am again with it back at 103.

Ron stayed home with her this morning and I was with her this afternoon... Her temperature was down into normal range all afternoon!!! She was acting great, talkative and playful... I *almost* canceled the dr appt I made.

So very glad I didn't... her fever was back :-(

I explained everything to the dr and she thought that it was most likely a virus and would need to run its course...

Then she checked her ears... surprise...surprise

Ear infection AND a small rupture!!! (no wonder she was so clingy/cranky/pissy)

She is taking an antibiotic as well as ear drops. Still not sure about a virus. We are going to stay home again tomorrow just to be on the safe side... if she has/had a virus I don't want to continue to spread it

Let's hope she feels better before Saturday for her big birthday bash!!! Then it's off to the Ozarks

Sick Baby (again...)

Sunday morning Ramey woke with a fever. Her whole body was burning up... I took her jammies off, so she was a diaper baby all morning... every time I tried to dress her she would scream her head off, so the diaper it was. She was super lethargic ALL day. She took a nap on my chest in the morning and snuggled with Daddy in the afternoon.

My poor sick baby

The pictures don't do justice to how pathetic she looked

Not exactly sure what the problem was (is)... could be teething (she is getting her forth molar and incisors)... could be her ears (we had a follow up a few weeks ago, no infection but still had some fluid)... could be a virus. Who knows...

The fever does go down with Tylenol/Motrin. I was ready for a rough night but she only got up once (around 4, gave her some meds and she went right back to sleep) I stayed home with her this morning and she slept for 2 hours on my chest... Loved *almost* every minute of it (the drool drippin onto my chest, not so much LOL) I then went to work so Ron spent the afternoon with her and she slept for about an hour for him. (my no napper slept for 3 hours during the day!!) She still feels a little warm but is more active. Will take temp again in the morning and if still elevated will see about going to the Dr.

It still fits

So I'm in the middle of backing up some of Ramey's "baby" clothes, the 6-9 month stuff, and came upon the snowsuit from Uncle Brendan... So OF-COURSE I put it on her to see how it fit:

No non-slip on the feet so walking was a bit of a challenge

Isn't she just too cute?!?!

Clapping and Waving

I have been working (for months) to get Ramey to clap and wave... She sends just a few days at school and she is already doing both... Plus they are also working with the babies on baby sign language... and I swear she is already signing "more"
Over Labor Day weekend, Ramey had her first taste of chocolate chip cookies... at first she didn't know what to think and gasp... threw it on the floor!!! (oh no!!) But I tried again and once she got a taste... their was no turning back!!! It will be interesting to see how she does with her first taste of birthday cake (which I can't believe it's time for and that I have to order this weekend)

Ron was out of town so Uncle Brendan came over and took us to lunch but first Ramey had to show him how to clap:

First day of school...

Last week Ramey and I started school...

I'm back teaching in a toddler classroom. The best part is that Ramey gets to go to school with me everyday!! (and I can get in a few snuggles whenever I want/need them!!) It's been an adjustment (for both of us) and a few extra tears have been shed (for both of us) but each day it gets better and easier.

She seems to enjoy her new friends and her teachers (although she doesn't nap or eat very well for them, yet) BUT they have been successful at getting her to drink some milk!!! (whenever I try she spits it right out) She really likes to hang out in mommy classroom and playing with the big kids. They love it when she visits too!

Today she made her first art piece!!

Ron is helping more... he made dinner a few times last week and took us out for dinner too. He has been getting up with Ramey in the morning while I get ready. Now if only I can get him to clean the bathroom!?!