Thanksgiving

This was technically Corinne's second Thanksgiving but since she was born on Thanksgiving Day last year this was the first one we got to share as a family. We found out Tuesday that Corinne had some kind of virus and we only knew this because she developed what looked like a rash so we took her to the doctor. She had been fussy since about Wednesday of the week before but we just thought it was because of all the runny around we had done but apparently not. She also has her top two teeth coming in so that has not made things any easier. Daddy stayed home with her on Tuesday because that was my last day before break and my aide was out on that day. That is one of the down falls of being a teacher especially in a classroom with Special needs children. I just could not leave my class with two subs. So Daddy saved the day and took her to the doctor and they got to spend the day together since Corinne was really on the mend by then.

On Wednesday Corinne and I spent the morning shopping for all the things we need for Thanksgiving and for the weekend trip to Wheeling. Daddy got home at 1:30 and played with Corinne while Mommy cooked. It was a nice day at home with Corinne and a much needed one. She had a ball playing with these bunny ears and she finally figured out how to get them on her self...

So proud of herself!

On Thanksgiving we headed to Lancaster to my parents and to see most of my family. Corinne was pretty fussy most of the day but of course would not take naps at my parents until she was completely exhausted by 5 o'clock or so. She ate a little Thanksgiving dinner but not much. She was walking a ton though when she was not fussing. It was nice to spend some time with my family but I felt bad that Corinne did not have more fun.

On Friday morning we headed to Wheeeling for a marathon of visits to different events there. We headed to Gigi and Pappy Jeff's first (Jeremy's mom and her husband) to visit and enjoy some more holiday food. Corinne sleep all the way from Columbus to Wheeling so she was in a very good mood when we good there. We watched a video of Pappy Jeff's trip to Colorado Elk hunting. It was a neat video of all the landscape out there. Jeff and GiGi sent us home with a whole package of Elk meet. Corinne also decided this weekend that she would much rather walk then crawl and walked all weekend unless she was really unsure of the surface! We also she had a lot of fun playing at GiGi's and Corinne just loved a Rudolph doll that she had. We also got to see Aunt Pam again. Pam and Corinne have really bonded and Corinne just thinks Pam is so funny. Gigi loves to buy Corinne clothes and had already bought her a pair of cute dark brown boots for her birthday but managed to find an even cuter pair and gave them to Corinne.

Corinne laughing and loving with Rudolph

Corinne, GiGi and Rudolph


Corinne and her new boots!

Friday afternoon we went to Pappy and Grandma Miller's (Jeremy's Dad and step mom) house where we would stay until today. We just played at there house and got to spend time with Grandma and Pappy. We had a scare when Pappy and Jeremy went to get a pizza and then called us to tell us that they had watched a truck flip over in front of them and had missed it by only seconds. Everyone was okay but I think we were all a little shook up. When we got to West Virigina they had about two inches of snow already and there was just some snow on a sharp turn and the truck lost control. Pappy and Jeremy made it home safely two hours later and again everyone was okay.

Saturday we spent the day playing and getting ready for Thanksgiving with all of Jeremy's siblings. The food was good and we had a great time visiting with everyone. Corinne had a great time playing with her cousins and we even got a unique vistor. While it is not unusal to see deer at Jeremy's parent's it is unusual to see them on your front porch following a man. The people that live next door to Jeremy's parents in Jeremy's Grandparents old farm house have a pet deer. They found the baby deer in the spring trapped in a guard rail after it's mother had been hit by a car. They nursed the deer back to health but knew they could not let it go because it would never survive. So they keep it as a pet. The kids and I (minus Corinne because she was napping) went out and petted the deer. The funniest thing about the whole situation is that even though the guy has a pet deer he still hunts! Saturday everyone was gone by six because they had other places to go so we just enjoyed the time with Grandma and Pappy. After Corinne went to bed Jeremy and I took the rare opportunity and took a drive to see the lights at Oglebay and spend some time alone. It was nice and next time we need to stay out longer.

The pet deer, Daisy and my niece and nephews

Today we met Jeremy's mom for breakfast and then packed up and headed to my parents to pick up Zeus. My parents are headed to Vegas tomorrow because my Dad has a conference there and my Mom is going along. We stayed for a little while but then Corinne had had enough. It was a nice weekend even though we did a lot it was very relaxing!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CORINNE

It has been a crazy week around her and I can not believe that Thanksgiving is here already. Last week on Thursday I just tried to get through the day at school so that I could get home to get ready for Corinne's party. Jeremy and I were both off on Friday and we sent the day getting ready for the party. Thank goodness I have a very helpful husband who is really good about cleaning so he took on those duties so that I could focus on cooking and shopping for the party. I spent most of the day making Corinne's castle cake and her fruit cake. As if that was not enough I decided that I needed to then fix a cheesecake as well. I really am turning into my mother. The cake was a process and I finally finished it around 1 in the morning. I learned some lessons and it started to fall a little under the weight but overall I think it was not a bad first effort. This is what it looked like....

Jeremy's friend, Brian, came to stay with us Friday night after we went to a concert and Corinne decided that she need to join the party from 11:30-1:00 and then got back up at her usual 6:30. I swear that child sleeps less each day.

Corinne was feature on 10tv on, a local TV station for her birthday on Saturday morning......

Corinne only took about a half an hour nap on Saturday morning, because she knew people were here. Jeremy's parents got here by 9:30 to help entertain Corinne and help set up. We were getting ready right up to the minute the party started but we got it all done. It was a very nice day but Corinne was so tired. She almost feel asleep in her cake. Corinne got so many presents I don't know what is left to get her for Christmas but we are truely blessed to have some many friends and family that love her so much!

Corinne walking on her big day!

Very excited that everyone was singing Happy Birthday to her

Almost

It is almost party time and I can not believe that Corinne is going to be one. Today at work it dawned on me that this time last year it was my last day of work before I had Corinne. It is amazing how fast time goes. We have continued to stay very busy this week trying to get ready for the party and all our guests on Saturday. Corinne has been such a trooper. She had us a little worried on Monday night though because we were afraid she might be getting sick but instead we think she might finally be getting some more teeth. She is primary walking now and is getting braver by the day on the surfaces and things that she will walk over and around. It is is fun to watch her face when she makes it to where she wanted to go. If you get a chance tune into Channel 10 here in Columbus on Saturday to see Corinne be a star on her birthday! They should be wishing her a happy birthday during the 6 a.m news!

Good Days

We spent the day today shopping for Corinne's birthday party. First we went to lunch with our friends Tiffany, Todd and Jack. It was a good time and the food was so yummy. It is the first time we have been out to eat in quit some time. Then we ran a million errands to getting ready for next Saturday. It is hard to imagine that Corinne is going to be one. It seems like a week ago that I was sitting on this very couch waiting to go into labor with Corinne. I am happy to see the little person that she is becoming but at the same a little sad that she is getting far less dependent on us. Let's hope I can hold it together for Corinne's sake. It was so nice to spend most of the weekend with Corinne and Jeremy.

Week in review

The last week has been absolutely crazy. Last Saturday we went to our friend Rileigh's first birthday party and it was really fun. Corinne has not seen here since they were about three months old so it was fun to see them interact. Corinne thought the pinata was so funny!

Corinne cracking up at hitting the Pinata

Party Friends

Then on Sunday we hosted a play date at our house. It was nice to get the girls together to play and watch how they have grown. Carissa and Hannah are grow as quickly as Corinne and it is neat to think that they could be friends for a long time because they will be going to the same elementary school, middle school and high school as long as none of us move. We had a good time talking and watching the kids play.

Hannah, Carissa and Corinne

During the week we were busy and are still trying to fall into a routine. The new babysitter is working out great and in fact I had a hard time getting Corinne to leave Linda's house this week because she is having so much fun. We had to run errands all week and still have lots of things to do. She is getting braver every day and is walking on her own much more consistently. Corinne has been a real trooper and I am hoping that after Thanksgiving and Christmas that life will slow down a little bit so I can focus on her and not the day to day things that have to be done. I finally finished Corinne's invitation and I hope to post a copy of it soon. I am so excited for her princess party.

Corinne doing her favorite thing, destroying the pantry

On Friday it was nice to get out of work a little early because I worked through lunch. We ran to the Carter's store to find Corinne her party dress. We found one, along with some other outfits and Christmas presents but I am not positive that it is the dress for the party.

Saturday was going to be a busy day and it still was but in a different way. My sister Carrie called at 8:00 and needed someone to watch Dominic while she helped a friend move so I meet Carrie and Hallie and brought Dominic back to our house. The weather was so yucky we decided to just let the kids play and I am so glad we did. Corinne and Dominic played and played and laughed most of the day at each other. I also was so glad when Corinne fell asleep on my shoulder and we got to cuddle for about an hour on the couch. This is something we use to do all the time when she was tiny but have not done in quit some time. It was a blessing. We will have a lot to get done tomorrow as we finish party preparation but it was worth it!

Playing catch up

This week has been a busy one and we have all been very tired this week. Jeremy and I have been going to bed very early so have been trying to play catch up in the morning. It has been nice though because this is the most rested I have felt in a long time. Corinne is getting use to her new sitter and seems to like it. It has been a little different for her because the kids are a little older (2 1/2 to 3 1/2) so she is being challenged to keep up which I like. Today I had a hard time getting her to leave because she saw the other kids playing outside and did not want to leave. She even got to drive in one of those little red cars this week. It has been so nice out we just enjoyed this last little bit of warm weather before the weather gets bad.
We had Corinne's last swim class tonight and had a great time. Believe it or not Corinne went off the diving board today. At first we were not going to do it but after I watched some other kids I decided to try it with her much to Daddy's discomfort. Corinne and I walked out to the end of the board and then Miss Jill the swim instructor was in the water to catch her. I lowered her in and then let go. It was a little scary but Corinne did fine. Then we practiced sitting on the slide and then going in the water. This was a very good class and I am so glad we did it. Corinne has always loved the water but is now paddling, kicking and going under the water with ease.
This weekend we will be busy with birthday parties and playgroup. It will be nice to have playgroup at our house because we have not had one in a while. It is sad sometimes because we miss out on things like playgroup since I am working. We will also be trying to finish some planning for Corinne's birthday. It is hard to believe in two weeks Corinne will be one!

Change is good

Corinne started at her new babysitter today and things went really well. She was very happy when I picked her up and seemed to love her new friends. I got to check on her first thing this morning when Linda walked her daughter to school and I got the thumbs up from the her that everything was okay. She feel right into a routine and did very well. It makes me feel a little about working when I see that she is happy and fine! On a side note when we were getting ready this morning Corinne tried to take a couple of steps our master bathroom and unfortunately met the wall. She has a pretty big bruise on her forehead but seemed to be fine. I guess I might as well get use to it, I am sure there are many more to come!

Fun days with Grandma and Pappy

Jeremy's parents came to visit last night and Corinne was very excited to see them. Today we went to Linda's, Corinne's new babysitter so Corinne could meet her and so we could drop some things off. Then we were off to the apple orchard for the third time but Grandma and Pappy's first time. This was the last weekend that you could pick apples and it was a perfect day for it. Here are some pictures from the day...

Corinne, Pappy eating apples and Daddy being silly for the picture

He is not a proud Pappy or anything

Corinne, Grandma and Pappy

After the apple orchard we went to a nice lunch with Grandma and Pappy. It was a fast day and then Grandma and Pappy had to leave. Corinne and I took a nice walk with Zeus to enjoy the beautiful weather, even though it is getting dark at 6 o'clock now. Corinne had not taken a nap so she was just exhausted but would not go to sleep. Then we spent the rest evening getting ready for the week. Corinne finally feel asleep in Daddy's arms after going from playing hard and then asleep in less then one minute. Say a prayer for us that everything goes okay tomorrow when we start with the new sitter.

Halloween and More

It has been a very busy and eventful week at our house. This week we made the decision to change babysitters after a last straw incident that happened and we it was clear what we had to do. Our new sitter, Linda, lives in a house that backs up to my school so Corinne will be very close. Linda also babysits a little boy in my class so on nice days I will get to see Corinne after my morning class. I am happy for the change as I have had some reservations about our babysitter since last Spring. I am thankful to her for watching her but it is just time for a change. I was a little sad though because part of me was hoping that when we had to tell the other babysitter we were leaving it would be to be staying home with her but hopefully that will happen soon. So Corinne will start her new adventure on Monday.

Then last night was Halloween. Corinne was very cute and was waving and saying hi to everyone. She only lasted about 30 minutes and then she was done. We came in and eat and played while Daddy stayed outside to pass out the candy. Here are some pictures from the night....

Such a cute Kitty!