12 To 18 Months Old
August 11, 2001
well, desiree's 1st birthday party is now over. it was pretty good. we had don's mom, grandma & grandpa, aunt and uncle (and kids), and his cousin from back in KC come for the party. We had a big party sub, that is all gone. and two cakes. desi loved hers. boy did she make a mess. but the way we look at it you are only 1 once. she got a ton of outfits and some tub toys. she also got some music toys and one of those activity walkers. she is loving the activity walker. hasn't figured out yet that she can walk with it but enjoying playing with the toys attached to it. I can't believe that a year ago this bundle of joy came into my arms. she sure has accomplished so much within the last year. It will be so fun to see how she develops in the years to come. Muah! I love you baby! I want to thank all of you that wished her a happy day. she sure did have one. we love you all and are glad you could share this with us.
August 15, 2001
I have a healthy baby girl weighing in at 20 lbs. 12 ozs. and 30 1/4 in long. the doc says she looks great. she got 4 ouchie shots and one ouchie blood drawing to check for anemia. she is not a happy camper right now. the doc says that by 15 months old (3 months from now) he expects her to be walking on her own, walking up stairs on her own, talking more than she is, being able to follow commands (ie pick up your cup, come here, get your dollie, etc.), to be able to distinguish certain body parts like eyes, nose, ears, master drinking from a sippy cup, and on and on he went about things she should be doing by fifteen months. now don is worried that she is underdeveloped for her age because she hasn't already done some of these things (like the walking and more talking). I don't think she is underdeveloped, i just think she is a very relaxed baby. if she is underdeveloped should i be blaming myself because i'm not pushing her enough. i don't know. i won't worry about it unless she isn't progressing any in the next few months. Andy also went to the dr's as well. He is now weighing in at 66 lbs. and 4 ft 3 in. long. i had him go because it seemed he was getting pink eye. it's been red and crusty for over two days now. but the doc says it just allergies. gave him more claritin, a nose spray, and some eye drops for the red in his eyes. says that should clear up soon by taking these meds. unexpectidly andy also got a shot. he got the chicken pox vaccine. even though he had already gotten it at age 3. because it wasn't on his vaccine card the doc said that he would have to do it again. andy was great. normally he will throw a fit until the time it is done. he whined a little about it but didn't cry or anything when it was done. And, a little note off the dr. visits. Zack left yesterday. we are all pretty sad. don't want him to leave. even if we are going to see him for a weekend in oct and have him for winter and spring vacations it is still not enough. this is definitly the rough part of having moved down here. but that is where his mom is and that is where his school is. so i guess it is for the best for him. oh well i miss him and just had to share it.
August 21, 2001
she finally got tooth number 5 in today, woohoo. it is the bottom right next to the middle one. and the one on the other side is feeling pretty much up there too, so i would expect that one to come any day now. hopefully she won't be so damg crabby anymore.
August 30, 2001
now they are popping left and right, des just broke through on tooth number six. the left side bottom tooth, so opposite the one from last week, woohoo
Sept 5, 2001
Desiree still isn't walking yet. She comes so close but just won't take the steps needed to get there. Yesterday she started standing up on her own, without any support. But she is still refusing to walk. I am leaving in a couple weeks for a convention. Watch her start going for it then. That will be my luck, lol. She gets more vocal in her baby gibberish. She gets into telling her stories so much I swear she is going to burst. Don is trying to teach her "TOUCHDOWN". Like the football players do when they throw their arms in the air and scream "TOUCHDOWN". It's pretty funny. Usually she just throws her arms in the air, every once in a while she will try to say "touchdown". She is also saying Uh-Oh quite a bit. And she knows when to say it. For example when we are going out somewhere and she drops her bottle she just starts saying "Uh-Oh" to let us know that she dropped it. Too adorable. I have been sick the last few days and i think she knows it. She is being so clingy to me. In a way it is so sweet, on the other hand I just want to be left alone. Oh the joys of motherhood. That's okay, I wouldn't change it.
Sept. 9, 2001
Man we had about the worst night in over a year with Desiree. She isn't running a fever or anything but she is so congested that she was up every half hour. She even threw up at one point in the night. We tried to let her sleep with us but when she would do that she would sleep for two minutes and then move then two minutes then move. you get the picture. Don and I are so tired today. I don't know what is up with her, but I hope it doesn't last too long. Arg, okay I think she is down for another half hour so I am going to try to fall asleep for a half hour myself. Hopefully she'll sleep a little longer. I am exhausted, as well as Don. She definately has a little cold. We are going to see if we can get her a little medicine to help her out a little. And get the humidifier set up to see if that helps too.
Sept. 10, 2001
okay so this is how things are going. desiree is still a little conjested. we did hook up the humidifier and put some vicks by it to get it in the air. also we gave her some baby decongestant. i was going to get some baby nose drops but they were all out. anyways, she seems to be doing a *little* bit better. not much though. but she did sleep though the night, so we are happy about that. hopefully if we continue what we are doing she will get over it quickly.
Sept. 11, 2001
Today, September 11, 2001, is one of the worst days in the history of the United States. I am having the displeasure of having to be in this world at this time to experience this. Today we had a horrible attack from terrorists. I was in bed when this happened. When I woke up I found my mother had called very early this morning. She was very frantic and very worried saying that there were bombs today. I immediately turned on the TV to find the tragedy that had happened today. At about 8:45 EST a plane that was hijacked flew right into the World Trade Center Building 1 in New York City, NY. About 20 minutes later another plane flew into the World Trade Center Building 2. Fifteen minutes later, another hijacked plane flew right into the pentagon in Washington DC. About two hours after the first plane hit the WTC Building 2 collapsed right into itself. A half an hour after that WTC Building 1 also collapsed. This is such a tragedy. How could any terrorist do this kind of act? What do my children have to look forward to as they get older? The schools have been good with keeping the children calm. Just on the planes alone they can count 280+ casualties. They haven�t even begun to give us numbers on the amount of innocent people that died throughout all of these hits. There are so many friends and family members that are being affected by this. And I am so hurt to think of all those babies that have lost their mommy�s and daddy�s in this horrid act. I can�t help but cry. I thank you God that you have blessed me with my family and that we are all safe. I also thank you God that we have a place to eat tonight and sleep tonight. I have checked with all of my friends and family today to make sure we are all okay. Everyone has been accounted for and is home safe with their families. I am afraid that this could be the beginning of a war and I pray to you God that you watch over all of us. They are asking for blood donations and I wish that I could. Unfortunately I am sick right now and would have my blood contaminated. So I am unable to donate. For that I am sorry. I just wish this didn�t happen and I wish that everyone were safe with his or her families. I will end this now with so much sadness in my heart and in my soul. And send love and hugs to everyone in this great nation.
Sept. 14, 2001
desiree took 6 steps to me today. woohooo. she is finally getting there. she has been doing so much to mget ready. stand by herself without support, get to the standing position on her own, everything. but she finally took the steps.
Sept. 25, 2001
Well, amist everything that has happened to our nation in the past few weeks and the fact that I have been greatly affected by this; many good things have been happening. Desiree is getting better at her walking. She still isn't a full fledged walker yet. But she is so despirately trying. She squats and stands than starts taking a few steps from there. Still really wobbly but much better. I went away this past weekend for a convention. At that same time my MIL came to help Don with the kids and came to visit. They went to Mt. Lemmon. I am guessing they had a good time. She brought some great little trinkets and outfits for us all. Andy has started Cub Scouts and Desiree has been coming to those meetings. She really has been a very good girl. I'm so happy for her. She isn't talking much more lately. Just normal baby babble. It amazes me how much some other babies the same age as Desi can say so clearly a bunch of different words. All Desiree cares about it the "Uh Oh." Which is still real cute in itself. She drops her bottle it's "uh oh." And other things she does she associates it with that. But she doesn't even say "Mama" or "Dada" that much anymore. I don't know if I should be worried or just let her go at her own pace. She is starting to figure out where things go now. For example today I took my feet out of my shoes and she grabbed my foot and tried to put it back in the shoe. If I am holding her or playing with her she will move my hands to where she wants them to go. It really is adorable. Well, I suppose I will end this little novel. Till next time, take care.
Sept 30, 2001
I have been feeling in Desiree's mouth now for a couple weeks. I know she has teeth that are coming in. They are right there. Yesterday I felt and a new one finally popped through. It is the top right one next to the very front tooth. Now if only we can get her molars and other side in also. Then maybe she won't be so snotty and grumpy. Not that she is all that grumpy but she sure can get in her moods.
Oct 2, 2001
oh gosh it is 2:56 in the morning. great start to my day. desiree has had a fever now for over 24 hrs. i'm calling the doc in the morning. ahhhhhhh, by the time i make sure she is okay i'm going to be too worn out to want to go anywhere for dinner. Happy Birthday to me, lol! Last thing on my mind at this time in the morning. UPDATE: okay well i called the doctor and they got me in. desiree is completely healthy, except for the fever. it had broken early this morning, but by the time we were at the office it started going back up. poor baby. he said just to keep her hydrated and give her the motrin and stuff to keep it down. if she starts getting dryer diapers with the fevers within the next couple days than we should call back. let's hope this is just a teething thing and nothing serious. oh and they weighed her, she is now 21 lbs. 14 1/2 oz. up a pound from her one year visit.
Oct. 21, 2001
Well this has been one eventful weekend having Zack. Thursday I picked him and my MIL up at the airport. Met Don for lunch and came home and had Zack change as he came in with sweats and a long sleeved shirt. He was pretty hot and sweatin like a pig, lol. Anyways, Friday we drove up to Phoenix and went to the zoo up there. It was really great. I got to see my wolves. And the cheetahs we got to see in a hunting mode, they were chasing after a rabbit or something. It was pretty cool, but they didn't catch it. Yesterday was pretty nice. We spent most of the day at home spending time as a family. Later in the evening we visited Don's grandparents. Grandma is really sick so we brought some meals for them and visited for a little bit. Seemed to cheer them up for a little bit. Today Zack, Don, and MIL all went up to Phoenix to see the Cheifs play. So they are having a blast there. Andy and I went to the store to get costumes for us. Andy is a Wortortle Pokemon. He is so excited about his 5 party plans. Desiree is going to be a little ladybug. Andy chose that. It was a toss between the ladybug and a hershey kiss. I also got a costume. It's a witch. I was afraid it wasn't going to fit, but I tried it on and it does. Actually I don't really look all that fat in it either, so I'm satisfied with it. Well, I should go. Gotta play with Desi a little more.
Oct. 22, 2001
today desiree broke tooth number 8. it is one of her molars. the top left side. and she has two more trying to get through. no wonder why she is constantly fussing today. also don was holding her and started humming to her to keep her calm. she started singing right along with daddy. it was soooo cute. she is just constantly growing. i am loving this stage.
Oct. 27, 2001
Well now that the Halloween weekend has started so far we are having fun with it. Friday I had parent conferences and found Andy is doing really well in class and excelling in Math. So got him a toy to show him how proud I am. Later we went to this place called Treat Town. We went as a Cub Scout pack and volunteered in the booths for two hours. Although we had hardly anyone come through we still had fun and made the best of it. After we were done we went in the maze and got treats for us. It was pretty nice. Today we woke up and went to a pumpkin patch. I was so cool. I don't think I have ever been to a patch (that I can remember anyways) where we got to pick our own pumpkins right off the vines. Andy and I got three pumpkins. One for him, one for Desiree and a huge one for the whole family. It is great. Now I need to find a good recipie for good pumpkin seeds. I made some last year and they were gross, but I won't give up. I want to try again. Tomorrow is also a busy day. Andy and Don are going to work on Andy's boat for his Rain Gutter Regatta race for Cub Scouts. After that we are going to a church for a safe trick or treating party. So that will be fun I know. Monday, we have our pack meeting for the Cub Scouts. Andy is so happy he and the other Tiger Cubs have all earned their belt totems. Which is a little plastic badge they wear on their belts and holds beads for their accomplishments. Andy is really excited to be earning that. And after the last two things we did today and yesterday he is excited for next months when he earns patches for those. Tuesday is the only day we don't have anything planned. Yet anyways. Wednesday, Halloween, another church T&T party. I don't know the neighborhoods very well and I don't like the people in our complex much. So what ever I can do to provide fun for Andy and Desiree. Thursday, I have training for Cub Scout leadership since I am the Tiger Cub coach. Friday, Andy has a school festival for us to go to. He is getting excited about that since they are making a big deal about it at school. So I think it would only be fair to make some appearance to it. And then Saturday we have the Rain Gutter Regatta race. We will get to see how well Don and Andy made the boats and how well it stays a float. Andy gets another badge for that, so he is excited about all that. Anyways, I just wanted to run down my plans for the week. Man am I going to be occupied for the next week or more. =-)
Nov. 8, 2001
Oh my gosh, she is driving me mad with her constant crabbing. Although I felt in her mouth and she broke through two more molars. Both the top and bottom right side. Man I'm ready for the other one to come through and hopefully she will stop this constant fussing. Love her but she is driving me mad.
Nov, 18, 2001
Desiree has broken her fourth molar. Two days ago is when I felt it. Now the bottom left molar. So only one more tooth before she finishs all her one year old teeth. Than come the second years. We got some money for Desiree from Don's Dad and Stepmom for birthday and Christmas. So we went to the store today. I got her 3 new wintery outfits, a pair of new shoes and another baby doll. She sure does love the baby dolls. She just hugs them and cuddles them so much you would think they are real. She has now learned the word "baby", so she is now saying it all the time with her baby dolls. Don's dad came down here for the weekend to visit and Desiree just got such a kick out of him. It's pretty cool knowing that she hasn't seen him all that much that she still knows who he is and loved being with him. Desiree has learned new body parts too. She now knows where her eyes, nose, mouth and belly button are. She also has learned where the holes to her nose are. So of course we are always grabing her finger out of her nose. Especially when she eats. Soon I'm going to find a spagetti noodle or something else up there, LOL! Next Monday is her 15 month appt. She is going to get more shots. I'm glad she is in a good mood right now cause she isn't going to be then. I'll post all her stats once I get them. I'm sure she has grown some. She seems to be getting taller. Let me think is there anything else I should update here today? Can't think of anything at the moment. Will be back next Monday then to update you on the doctor visit.
Nov 24, 2001
We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. Espcially since it was the first one where I didn't have my family so close to me. We went to Don's Aunt Kathy's house this year. Had dinner with their family and with Grandma & Grandpa Hill. It was great. We brought Desiree's high chair with us and the whole time we were eating dinner she kept looking in all the surrounding mirrors and pointing asking "Whos dat?" First time she has ever said that phrase. I sure got a kick out of that. Of course now that's all she keeps asking. She didn't take a nap that entire day, and I should say she did really good at staying in good spirits the whole day for not having one. Of course I think that is because she loves Don's cousin, Ginny. She comes to babysit Desiree and Andy on occasion and Desiree just loves her to pieces. I was really thankful for spending this Thanksgiving with such wonderful family members, and thankful for them making me feel so comfortable being there knowing that they knew I missed my family. I love them all. I sure did marry into the perfect family.
Nov. 26, 2001
Well I took Desiree to the dr. today. First I have to say again. I cannot stand my kids doctor. We need to search for a new one. There was one point we were playing and started barking at one another and the doctor came up in Desi's face and started barking back at her in the loudest high pitched voice. She started crying, he was so loud. She is right on target. I lied and told him that she could climb stairs. I don't have any stairs for her to climb. She can climb up stuff so that is why I told him yeah. He was preaching on the safety issues this visit. Especially with the holidays coming. I swear it was as if he didn't think I had a clue and knew to keep my child away from plugs and other stuff. Whatever. I go back to see him in 3 months. Although if we have new insurance and everything, we may be seeing a new doctor than. Anyways, she got two shots today. I forget which ones. Got them written down somewhere. They also gave her a TB test. I never had that done before so I didn't know what to expect from that. I have to keep an eye on a part of her arm and if she gets any swelling after Wednesday I need to call them back. She weighes 22 lbs. 14 oz. and she is now 30-1/2 inches long. Which actually isn't much since her last update. But she is in the 50 percentile for her group.
Dec. 17, 2001
As you all know I have had a very rough time here lately. Always seems lately things are going bad. If it wasn't for bad luck Don and I would have no luck at all. Well as the saying goes "Count your many blessings, Count them one by one." This has one incredible weekend that has made me realize how great of friends I have. I went to a Christmas party yesterday for my scrapbooking group I am in here. It was so nice. We did our Secret Pal swap, we did a relax-a-gift swap. Had lots of food and talked for a while. All of a sudden Stacy (one of the girls) just started staring hard at me. I was nervous and started asking why she was looking at me. She said that since they all know the last few weeks have been real rough for us they all had a surprize for me. She brought me to a back room and Oh My Gosh. There were presents and food baskets covering an entire couch and surrounding the floor around it. I was so speachless that all I could do was cry. I have never in my life been so surprized. This whole Christmas sure has been a different kind of Christmas. All these bad things happen and yet God keeps sending me messages that it will be okay. I have that yesterday, Helen (a girl on another board) sends me a calling card so as I can call family or whomever I choose, Don's family has sent us over $250 to spend for Christmas. When we were so afraid that we wouldn't have a Christmas this year, friends and family are sure pulling together to make it so very special for us. Today when I got my mail I had Christmas cards and a little gift for me and I just about started crying again. It just feels great to know that it isn't all about the money, it is about sharing with friends and family and knowing that I have so much support in my life. I love all of you. Thank you for being in my life and being the support I so desperately need.
Dec 21, 2001
We are getting excited for our Christmas holdiays. We are getting so much support from family and friends everyday. We are going to have the greatest Christmas. I am feeling so loving. Zack and Don's mom are coming down here tonight. Don is picking them up soon. We are so excited we are going to have all of us here. On Christmas day we are probably going to Don's aunt's house also. Andy, Desiree and I are going to Kansas City on the 26th. I will be able to see my family whom I haven't seen in over 7 months. I am so excited for this whole vacation. Tomorrow I am making a gingerbread house with the kids. It will be fun to see their imaginations work on something so good.
Jan. 1, 2002
Happy New Year's!!! Well just a quick update here. I am here in Kansas City, and man it is cold here. Of course I am getting hassle from my family telling me to move back but I am not planning on it. We like Tucson, and I am ready to go back. Christmas was wonderful. The kids got so spoiled by my desert scrappers (the scrapbooking group that gave me all those gifts I told you about) and stuff from grandparents and us. Made out like bandits. Desiree and Andy were really good on the flights up here. I hope they do that well on the way back. I have been so busy since we got here. At my mom's house everyday so far. I got to see Laci (a friend from another board I am on here), that really was fun. I really did feel like I was meeting an old friend I haven't seen in ages. We just seemed so comfortable with each other. And Carson is so adorable. I got to see his "quack, quack." He is so cute to be around. And Desiree seemed to be infatuated with him. On the way to see her I got pulled over for doing 92 in a 70 MPH zone. Oops. But I didn't get one on the way back, lol. I woke up today and now seem to be getting sick. I sound like a frog is in my throat. I am so upset about it too, I was supposed to take the kids to a friends house today and go out later tonight with the girls. Can't do it now. We are going to do something this Friday. My mom is getting surgery done that day. I am going to be worried about her all day. She is getting a breast reduction and tummy tuck. Hopefully it will help some of the medical problems she has been having. Andy is having a hard time here. He has always been prone to nose bleeds. When we moved to AZ I can say his nose has only bled once or twice. Since we have been here it has been over 5 times his nose has bled so far. He is ready to go back home so that his nose will stop bleeding. Poor thing. Other than that he is doing good all but the bickering with Brad (my nephew). Desiree has been an angel. I thought she wouldn't be since she is not used to being around all these people. But she has just warmed up and gets all bashful and absolutely adorable. We got Zack on Sunday night. So now I am here with all three kids at my sister's tiny apartment. It's okay though, we are making the best of it. Only time I am really stressing is when they decide to start fighting with Brad. But like I said we are having fun. It really is great to see everyone again. Just wish Don was here with me so we can enjoy it together. Well I suppose I will go for now. I can't wait to get back home.
January 12, 2002
Boy Desiree has been changing and growing by leaps and bounds these past couple weeks. Yesterday she turned 17 months old. She is so active in her languages. Most of it is still jibberish, but she is getting clearer with her words. Her big thing is "good girl" and "nuh-uh". On the 7th she started climbing on couches, she had been doing chairs for a little while now but couldn't master the couch till then. I was playing on the computer and she was watching T.V. and when I went to look at her sure enough she goes climbing on the couch. She also likes to spin in circles so that she gets that dizzy feeling. That is her new game with Daddy. Don and I have decided to wean her off the bottle. So far it has been good except for naptime and bedtime. I don't think I am ready to wean off that yet. She is learning too that now when I put my shoes on that it most likely means that I am going outside. She runs to the door before I even have any chance and tries to go out with me. If I don't take her she throws a fit. She has become a real drama queen lately. Man I am not kidding when I say that either. The look on her face as if you just killed her best friend. We are getting to a point where we are having to ignore it too or she just milks it for what it is worth. She also has gotten to a point where she can tell you when she is hungry or thirsty by going to the fridge or pantry and just pointing and crabbing to let you know. She does that or just brings whatever cup she can find to have it filled for her. It is pretty cute. Well, on a different note from Desiree I just have to say. Today is Andy's birthday. And I know I shouldn't but I have been depressed about it all day. I can't believe he is seven years old now. I am far too young to have a seven year old. On the other hand I couldn't have asked for anything better. I am truely blessed to have God put him in my life. Even if I was 17 when I had him. Happy Birthday my dear son!!!
Jan. 29, 2002
Desiree is doing good too. She is getting to be a brat though when she doesn't get her way and is becoming a little night owl too. Maybe her lack of sleep is what is making her a little brat, lol. Last night she didn't get to bed till midnight and the night before it was 2:30 when she finally went down. I just want her to go back to her routine of going to bed at 8. Oh well, if she wasn't so darn cute I smack her. LOL!
