1 nap or 2???

Sleep is important to us and I know and understand that good sleep habits lead to a happier/healthier baby and child (and mommy and daddy :)), so we have tried our hardest to give Allison the tools for good sleep. And for the most part she is and has been a good sleeper. I think we are getting close to Allison only needing 1 nap a day, but I don't think we are there yet. And I don't know what to do, or if we are doing something wrong. She sleeps good at night from about 7:30 to around 7 the next morning. And that is GREAT! Here's the problem. She seems to need a morning nap and takes a good morning nap. She will go down for her nap by 9:30 and lately since I am TRYING to preserve her afternoon nap, I have been getting her up no later than 11. She definitely needs the afternoon nap to make it to bedtime. Today I got her up at 10:45 from her morning nap and didn't lay her down until 2 for her afternoon nap (actually it was 2:15 by the time she was in her crib). It is 3:15 and she is STILL awake!!! She does not cry, she jabbers and plays in there. There are no toys in her crib. She gets only her blankie and her paci for naps. I almost wish she would cry because then she would cry herself to sleep!!! But nope, she is just awake, happy as a lark. I have tried going in and saying NOTHING to her, just putting her paci back in her mouth and giving her her blankie (which she has usually tossed out of the crib) and laying her down again and leaving. Sometimes she poops, which I will change her without saying anything to her (today it was so hard not to laugh, she was being so silly!) and put her back in her crib. Earlier this week, I tried to do only 1 nap and we skipped her morning nap. I decided that if she was done with her am nap, I was going to go to the Y in the morning and work out (they have a child-watch while you exercise). I picked her up at 10:15 and the lady said she was good but that "she is so tired". I felt like a terrible mom! And she was tired, exhausted! I ended up having to put her down for a nap right away when we got home. So, naps have been a bit of a battle (the afternoon one anyway) this week. And I hate that, a couple weeks ago, it was so easy! 2 naps 1 1/2 to 2 hours long, no problem!! I guess she naps good at daycare but 2 things happen usually when she goes to daycare, I have to get her up at 6 and I think she gets more wore out by the other kids. Anyway, I'm sure by next week things will be different! 3:22 now, crying, sleepy, hopefully will be asleep soon!!

1 Year Ago...

With Allison's Birthday being tomorrow, I have been thinking about her actual BIRTH day a lot. I did not have anything ready, I thought for sure I was going to go past my due date (Oct. 15) and have to be induced, like my mom and Jesse's mom. Well, SURPRISE! She had another plan! I woke up for work on Tuesday morning, September 30, 2008 and my water broke. So, I got ready while Jesse panicked (he did great! But I work in OB, so I knew I had some time before we had to get to the hospital). I got my epidural by 12:00 and life was GREAT! I pushed for about 1 hour and her heart rate was dropping with pushing. I ended up with an emergency c-section and she was born at 6:33 p.m. And just like now the Twins were playing for a chance to play in the playoffs (it might have even been against Detroit??). I remember some friends watching the Twins game and celebrating our good friend, Tom's, birthday (Happy Birthday to Tom too!) awaiting our call! Here are a few pics from that day. My face looks all puffy in the after one with all the fluids I had been getting throughout the day. And poor Allison her nose was all smashed in! It is amazing how much they change in the first few days! I will admit, she was not the cutest newborn with that poor smashed in nose and face! (I, however, thought she was BEAUTIFUL! And she gets more beautiful every day!)

The Cake

I figured I better do another blog about the cake since there are so many pics! Allison did great! She thought Grandpa better have some cake too! She likes to share her food, he was a good sport! As you may notice, she does not look at the camera or sit still for family pictures very well! We have those coming up, hopefully they turn out ok!! And notice the bow in her hair in the pics below...that is the first time I have been able to get a bow in her hair! I couldn't believe how long she left it in! Her hair is so fine, she usually pulls it right out, this time it fell out when she was "trying on" clothes!

Birthday Girl!!

We had my baby girls Birthday Party last Saturday. She actually turns 1 tomorrow!! It was a GORGEOUS DAY, an answer to my MANY prayers! And it went great! Allison did great with her 1 nap that day. She was a little ham opening her gifts, with help, or we would have been there all day, she wanted to play with and "try on" everything right away. Then we did her cake. Which was so cute, I am sad to say I did NOT attempt to make on this year. Cash Wise has this great deal for 1st b-day's. You get a free mini cake for them when you order a cake. Plus all that fluffy frosting I figured would be great for her to dig into and smear all over her face! Next year I MIGHT attempt to make one, don't hold me to that though! Anyway, she did great! Cautious at first, then she dug in. She played hard then had a bath and went to bed. We have some video from the day that I will try to post this week (if I don't get it done today). We got our video camera just in time for her birthday and I am so glad we did! Thank you SO much to everyone who helped us get ready and brought food and for all Allison's gifts! She is a very lucky little girl!

Bachelorette Party!

A couple weekends ago we celebrated Jamie's upcoming wedding with her Bachelorette Party! It was a blast! Props to Jennie, the Maid of Honor, for doing a fantastic job planning and putting it on! We have decided though, that we should get together just the girls once a year, wedding or not, to celebrate! So, I'm in for next year! However, I will leave my heels at home (or in the garbage, where they went Sunday morning!). My feet were KILLING me! Not that I ever wore heels much, but as I am getting older, it seems my body is even more intolerant of things! Looking forward to next weekend and the big Wedding!! YEAH!

First Birthday Present!

Allison got her first birthday present already! Grandma and Grandpa B. stopped on their way home from the lake on Sunday to visit and brought Allie her first present. A Dora ride and push toy! Just what she needed as she is learning to walk!! It is so cute, it plays cute little tunes that she dances to and the seat opens and she can put toys inside. She was pushing it around tonight but she was doing it sideways. Actually kind of worked better for her that way because otherwise it gets going too fast for her! We DEFINITELY will need a bigger house after her birthday! Lucky little girl!

YUM!

Allison is getting so big!! She LOVES to eat what we are eating so whenever possible we feed her that. We had hotdish the other day and she LOVED it! She likes to be able to feed herself and likes things that she can chew, excpet meat, but that is getting better.

Busy Girl!

Last Friday I was doing dishes and Jesse was watching Allison but he went downstairs for just a minute...well, she was pretty quiet so I thought I better go investigate. I thought she was in the living room...nope, not there. So I checked her other favorite place, our bedroom, not there either. She was busy in her room taking out the wipes!! She is so funny as soon as she saw me, she just looked up and smiled, like I know I'm not supposed to be doing this, but it's so much fun!! What a stinker!

Allison and Mommy

Just a cute picture from this summer! The blanket around Allison is my baby blanket, which, yes, I admit...I still have! First I was going to get rid of it when I went to college, but that didn't happen, then when I got married...obviously didn't happen, then when I had a baby...SOON, very SOON I am going to get rid of it. It is actually in pretty good shape! Anyway, that is a somewhat embarrassing little tid-bit about me, that most of you probably know!!

Happy Labor Day!

I hope everyone is enjoying this BEAUTIFUL labor day weekend! It is rare to have one this nice! We have had a nice and pretty relaxing labor day. Surprisingly we went into the weekend with NO specific plans! On Friday night we ended up going to the Pat Benetar concert at Jackpot with friends (the tickets were free). It was a pretty good concert! Last night we had friends over for "pudgy pies" as we call them, aka campfire pies. One of my summertime favorites and I usually only get it 1x/year! I think this is the first time though that it hasn't been with my Grandma Berntson and that side of the family! And today we went on a pontoon ride this afternoon/evening after Allie's nap! Her first ride on the pontoon. It was fun, but I am bummed, I forgot my camera! I have not taken a single pic this WHOLE weekend!!

And since it is labor day tomorrow...I am thankful that I have a job. And that Jesse does too! Especially with the way the economy has been the last couple years. I may sometimes wish I didn't HAVE to work, but that isn't going to happen anytime in the next 40 years! But I do like my job, I feel good about what I do, I like the variety and it is constantly challenging me. So, Happy Labor Day to everyone and I hope you have/had a good weekend!

Last Twins Game in the Dome!

Jesse and I went to our last Twins game in the dome!! We went with Brad and Jodi, Tom and Holli and Missy and Andy. I was glad the game was inside!! It was cool and rainy that evening! But then on days like this whole weekend has been, it would be wonderful to be watching the game outside!! It was fun, even though the Twins lost, a first for Jesse, he has never been at a game they lost (or so he says!). They lost to the Texas Rangers 2-0 (NOT a very exciting game!). Had my last Dome Dog! We have been wondering what they are going to be called in the new stadium...Target dogs just doesn't sound as good! Well, looking forward to watching them at Target Field next year! And hoping the new stadium brings better luck (hasn't been the greatest year!).

Renville County Fair

I was so excited to get to take Allison to the County Fair this year! She is old enough to enjoy it a little! She got to go 2x! Her Grandma Nancy took her on Wed. and she got to go on a swing ride and ride a pony (with Grandma's help) and she loved it! We went on Friday and she liked watching all the people and we went through the barns, which she enjoyed except the pig barn. I think we have told most people, but Allison has a fear of pigs, don't know why or where that came from, but she has a toy pig that she used to be deathly afraid of! (I think it is so cute and she does like it now!) But anyway, when we were in the hog barn they were all laying down and she was doing fine until we got to the very last pen, there was one standing up and it looked right at her in her stroller. Thank goodness it was the last one, she got BIG tears in her eyes and let out this cry, the hold your breath it's so bad cry! Anyway, she recovered quickly and enjoyed the sheep, said "Baa" through the whole barn! Here is a pic of Jesse and Allie by the baby animals.

VB Team

I feel pretty lucky to be a part of such a great group of girls. They aren't just my volleyball team, they are my support group, my comedy club, etc, etc. It is my 1 night a week that I get to relax and have fun with the girls! (And thank you to Jesse for realizing that and being willing to take care of Allison that night so I can play!) I am not very athletic and we are not very cut throat style VB players, but we have fun, and they put up with me! I really missed them last winter when I didn't play! At the end of sand this summer we went on a Melvin's Boat Cruise, it was a blast! And extra big thanks to Tina's husband for the pre-cruise Margaritas! Looking forward to winter league already!

Sweet Summer Days

At the beginning of August we grilled out with friends. Finally made our "big Roast" that we bought this winter! It was delicious, but of course I enjoyed just spending the evening with friends! We FINALLY got to play bean bags and Jodi and I beat Brad and Jesse!! YEAH! We got lots of cute pics of Allison and Audrey that night (especially thanks to Holli and her fancy camera!). Here are a few pics.

Congratulations Jamie!

This picture was taken at Jamie's shower in BL about a month ago! (YIKES, I am not doing very good at this!). Anyway, CONGRATULATIONS, Jamie!! Her wedding is 1 month away, Oct. 10! And I am a bridesmaid (I feel very honored!!) along with Jennie and Amanda! It is going to be a fun time! She got tons of great gifts, makes me wish I got another bridal shower (shouldn't you get one every 5 years or so??).