Anna Maria

Happy Birthday Deb!

We Love You! 

Happy Happy Birthday!

Congratulations Adam and Christy!

Addilynn Rae Wiarda

Born August 6, 2010

Your world will never be the same. You both are so very lucky. There is nothing on this earth greater than a daughter. We can't wait to meet her. We love you with all our hearts.

So Beautiful

Treats

Her favorite thing to do!

Puzzle

Puzzle time with dad.

Trike

After much research and debating I finally choose a trike for Ali. I ordered it online and anxiously waited its arrival. The day finally came! Its here!The box said minimal adult assembly required. I could handle that! Over an hour later with my blood boiling and the entire tool box strewn across the floor I had something that resembled a trike but the foot rest would not come down, the seat was wobbly, and the handle bar would steer on its own. I also created a dents in the seat and scratches on the frame. Rob came to my rescue and fixed the rest but I have to say nothing about the assembly was 'minimal'. Though I think it was worth it. She loves it! Rob pushed her to the park and they played then pushed her home. On the way he sang her ABC's and you will never guess what Ali was saying when she got home! She was singing A-B-C-D then saying yay and clapping. What is so fantastic about this trike is parents can operate it you push and steer the child as they ride, then the handle can come of and it is a real kids tricycle! I love it, well I love it now that its together.

Decoding Aliya Talk

Mama- (Unfortunately it does not mean 'mama') it refers to anything she wants. She points and says 'mama mama mama' the louder and faster she says it the more she wants the item. It goes from a simple ' please, mom, may I have that' to ' GIVE ME THAT RIGHT NOW' depending on her level of enthusiasm when saying 'mama'.
Whoo, Whoo- She says this whenever she sees a dog, referring to the barking noise they make. She also uses it to refer to any animal, such as cats, rabbits, lizards, wasps and ants. Basically an animal on the planet.
Bob- Dad
Go!- 'Maddi, come get your treat I just dropped on the floor for you'
Na na - No
Nyum Nyum- Food
Bapa- Any adult male
Rar- (Like a monster, she chases you and tries to tickle you)
Muah- (kissing sound as she gives you a kiss or a flying kiss)
Dhey- Give me what you have in your hand, (It is a katchi word and she is using it properly)
Hi- Hi
Baby- Baby
No- No
Yay- Yay, while she joyfully claps her hands
And sometimes, once in a blue moon she'll say dada to her dad.
Her nonsense sounds:
Tico
Grber
Neee
Uhunh

Thursday's

For most its just another day. For me it marks a day of independence. Aliya is swept away by her grandmother and not to return until the next morning. It is bittersweet watching her pull out of the driveway as I make funny gestures and wave goodbye with my whole body. I miss her the moment I hear the snap of the buckle on her carseat, but it leaves me a whole afternoon and evening to do whatever I'd like. Clean? Laundry? Shop? Sleep? Study? Read? Watch TV? I don't know!? I jump with anticipation as I make my choice for the day (which usually consists of some combo from the list above). Rob and I have the entire evening to ourselves. We drill and hammer past 7 pm with out worrying we will be flooded with angry cries from a waken baby. We even went to Walmart at 8 pm! Who knew you could leave the house after 6:30? I had forgotten what it was like to go out after dark. And when Friday morning arrives and I receive the much anticipated phone call giving me a 15 minute head up to their arrival, I can't stop smiling knowing my baby is headed home. Thanks Mom for my Thursdays and thanks equally for my Ali on Fridays!

Oops

I put Aliya on the potty today and she started to scream and cry. I think I scared her with my zealous enthusiasm last time. Looks like potty training is on hold for a while.

YAY!!

I have bought 2 potties and placed them in our bathrooms. Aliya was getting used to them, one she used to keep a statue of Cadillac Williams in and the other one she liked to tote around the bathroom, I assume because it is red and light weight, but who knows why. At bath time when she is naked already I make a point to sit her on it and use the restroom myself at the same time hoping she will catch on to the idea. Today she did! She pottied on her potty! I swell up with pride thinking about it. My chest gets heavy and my eyes become moist. Ali is such a marvel. I started to scream and make a really big deal since I had no candy or stickers or bubbles (all stuff recommended in potty training books) but I think I scared her more than I excited her. It may have been a fluke but I am still so proud of Ali.

Unexpected visitor

Sunday evening Maddi informed us of our visitor who decided to take a refreshing dip in the pool after tearing a hole in our screen but before releasing all his bowls in our freshly cleaned blue pool. He wasn't our best houseguest to say the least. Rob rescued him from the pool and his inevitable demise. He reminded me of a Sim getting fitness points when you remove their ladder.

Sunday

What a luxury to play in the yard and then hop into the pool. The place is coming together and it is really starting to feel like home.

Busch Gardens splash area

Wrong

Orkin man was wrong. They were mice, not sure why thats better, but it is. We caught 2. Kinda cute. Have traps all over the house but haven't heard from or seen another. Could they be gone? I sleep better believing so.

Orkin man arrived... they're not mice. They're rats.
I'm checking into a hotel.

oh me, oh my

We have mice.
Enough said.



Remind me again why I wanted to live in a house?

Rob graduates his Intership!

Hooray for indoor plumbling!

Enjoying the simple things in life..like a sink that works and a pool that blue!
What more can a girl ask for?

So much happening!

I feel as if I am in the spin cycle of the washing machine. Is it July 9 already? I promised myself I wouldn't get behind on the blog and lo and behold I'm behind, but not just on the blog, on everything. My 'to-do' list keeps me up at night and I am living life one check mark on it after another.
Just a re-cap of the past month
Came back from Alaska, which was amazing btw and moved.
We had to gather belongings from Deland, Orlando and move from St. Pete. How the h*** to we have so much stuff? Seriously.
Finally moved into our lovely new home with no counter tops or sinks any where. And still need minor construction. Which means mess and dust and upheaval.
Rob graduated from St. Pete General and started at the VA.
Aliya went from 7 teeth to 12 and is cutting 4 more.
Diaper rashs, colds, scrapped knees.
I was electrocuted today and my arm still tingles from trying to make our green pool blue
Have not had more than 1 day at the house with out at least 1 workman.
Dirty dishes in tub.
Have eaten nothing but fast food for over a week.
Lost the camera cords in the move thus no pics with post.
Tomorrow is mine and Robs 6th wedding anniversary! Our plans- wait for cable guy and put safety latches on cabinets.
Welcome to my world.

Alaska, here we come!

Another check mark on my list of things to do during my short visit to earth. 8 hours on a plane with a one year old was not on this list but I suppose its inevitable and worth it for this amazing experience looming on the horizon. There is so much to celebrate; Aliyas first birthday just passed, maas birthday on the 6th, fui and fuas 19th wedding anniversary on the 8th, maa and bapas wedding anniversary on the 13th, Georgies 16th birthday coming soon after our return, and the king of all celebrations bapas 75th birthday on the 8th! For these auspicious occasions, especially bapas 75th birthday, maa and bapa have treated the whole family to a Alaskan cruise. We leave tomorrow and shall return on the 16th. Wish us safe travels. Updates when I return!

Weaning Woes

You bring your mouth to my body asking to be nursed while piercing your eyes into mine. How can I not give you something that is rightfully yours? God provided this blessing just for you and here I am not allowing you to indulge in your gift. And while you loose your gift I have been given one. Freedom. You no longer need me. Though we haven't left you for more than a few hours at a time you could potentially survive without me long term. I have this overwhelming sense of relief and sadness. Sadness because nursing you has been pure bliss. We were connected in such an intimate way. Over the last month we have slowly pruned nursing from our lives one leaf at a time and with the final cut I step back and see the beauty of the masterpiece we have created. A bond that has grown. A bond between mother and daughter. A bond that can not be weakened weather or not you are still nursing. So even though my life is no longer sustaining yours; my life is yours. I am so proud of us both, we made it a whole year and now you toddle around with your sippy cup of cow milk. I love you my baby calf.