But I need room to spread ouuuuuuttttt.....

Tonight Brett took me to see the ballet! Yay! So today was spent cleaning and getting ready for this evening. I needed to run into town, so after lunch we put Hazel down for her nap, and I ran into Larne really quickly for a few items!

I just got back when Brett ran upstairs to check on Hazel...she sounded as if she was waking up just before I got home...and promptly came back down, grabbed the camera and told me, "You need to come up here." So I followed him.

Let me preface telling you what we found by telling you that H usually sleeps with 2 pillows, her blankie, a quilt, her doggy--Dougal, and her Bunny. Often times we find her underneath one of the pillows, or crammed in a corner surrounded by all her snugglies. She's a cuddler...has been forever.

But when we walked in her room this afternoon, this is what we found....

She had thrown everything in her crib out, save her blankie (the yellow that her head is resting on). And she's hugging a corner of her quilt through the bars. PLUS her left foot is slipped through the bars.

Now, it wasn't hot in her room. She hadn't been throwing a temper tantrum. Apparently, she was in the mood for a little extra room in her crib, and her snugglies were making her feel a bit...crowded....

Into Another Weekend

I get to go to the ballet tonight!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!

There's nothing new to report, but I just thought I would remind all my "fans" :) about our family blog The Davis' Irish Style that reports on all our family outtings...this is simply about Hazel and my day to day but the other lets you know all about what we see in this gorgeous country! As it's winter and there isn't much open because of the rubbish weather, it's not too exciting, but I try to update it as much as possible!

The newest thing on this blog, however, is Hazel's list of new words! I'll break it up into 2 parts...our clear words and our trying but not quite there words. I'll update the list as we add more words to our vocabulary!

That's all for today...I gotta get running to the store so I can get ready for THE BALLET!!!!

Potty Training Day 2

So we had a terrific run. She did great yesterday afternoon post nap, so we thought we'd give it one more day to give her a fair shot at PTing.

This morning she got up and was willing to sit on the potty for quite a while (we were hoping the odds would find her peeing at some point) but I went to fill up her juice cup and she stood up walked over to me and peed on the tile in the kitchen. She immediately burst into her heartbroken tears. Just sobbing. I know there's going to be accidents, and I don't believe in yelling at her for an accident...she doesn't undertand...but we talked about it. REcognizing what happened, that mommy wasn't angry but we should try to do that in the Potty...do we wanna sit on the potty? She just sobbed harder.

It was then that I decided we were done potty training for now. It was stressing my poor little Hazel out, and it shouldn't stress her out. It should stress Mommy out, but not my little girl. I can't imagine how stressful things are for her anyway...imagine growing all the time, which makes you hungry all the time, and not being able to communicate exactly what you want without pointing or simple basic signs or crying. I can't imagine wanting to do things Mommy can do, but not being able to. Always being too short or too small. I want learning to be fun for her, not a punishment. So we'll put off PTing for a couple of months, she's showing signs, and the dr said I should give it a try, and we did, but maybe in a couple months she'll be showing more signs and a little more ready. I don't see this run as a waste at all, I'm hoping that when she IS ready, this experience will just have familiarized her with the potty and terminology and maybe next time she'll be ready!

Potty Training Day 1

Plus a few tries this weekend and yesterday. Nothing consistent, just trying to get her familiar with the Potty.

We bought her just the basic bowl like potty, and she doesn't seem to mind sitting on it if I'm sitting next to her on the floor giving her mini chocolate chips or blowing bubbles. Yesterday we tested out our training pants. we sat on the potty for a few minutes, and then put the panties on. and promptly peed in the panties. Sigh.

Then our first attempt into the potty this morning went the same way. Sat on the potty for several minutes, and then peed in the panties. So I think we're going to wear the panties for a little longer, even if they're wet, so she is able to distinguish between the wet and dry panties. This is only the first morning of day one, so I foresee a long road ahead. I've already decided that if she doesn't get the hang of it by the end of the week then we'll put the potty and panties away and try again next month.

9am--wet our 2nd pair of panties. We have 9. And they have to line dry after they're washed. I put her first pair on 1/2 hour ago. At this rate, we'll be through the panties by lunch. I'm hoping I'll catch it next time before she pees in her panties.

Another weekend come and gone...

This weekend was a busy one!

Saturday we stayed home and rearranged the living room as the couches needed swapped again to provide more sitting room and I needed to get a hold on the huge pile that is my knitting crap. It's taking over. So Brett and I cleaned and rearranged and then Matt and Jenn came over that evening for packet chicken and creamed corn casserole. We had a great time! We played Monopoly (the one that uses credit cards and not cash) and just generally hung out.

Sunday we got up and headed into Belfast (Holywood, actually) to the Ulster Folk Museum. I was dreading it to be honest, I just wanted to be lazy, but Brett really wanted to go, so we went. It was so cool. It's very similar to Conner Prairie in Fishers, IN (for those of you who've been). And it's ENORMOUS. There's a rural area that goes on for ever (it says it's 60 acres), that has little working farms and cottages to explore, but we stayed in the main town, which was really cool. The cool thing was that all the buildings in the town were authentic structures that had been moved from elsewhere and refurbished as much as possible. You were able to see the different homes in the town, all kinds of shops, there were 3 churches, a school, a coal yard, a bank, a printer's, the town market and courthouse, stables, a pub, and the list goes on. It could have easily occupied half a day IF you didn't have kids with you, and IF you didn't hang around and read all the details about each stop. We only made it through about 1/2 of the town but plan to go back now that we know where it is!

The Dressmaker's Shop

The DispensaryThe Hardware ShopLabourer's House*notice the hotwater bottle on the bed (it's the round ceramic bottle)Inside the Presbyterian Meeting HouseThe Carpenter's WorkshopKelly's Coal YardThe 300 year old roofing beams in the roof of the print shop (the attic is the 'Reading room')
The back part of the town...Right to left....The Court/Market, The Printers/Reading Room, RIC Barracks/The old Rectory, The Pound Forge (side corner)

The Church of Ireland

The Courtroom

It was really cool to walk around, Hazel walked around most of it and was worn out by the end of the first 1/2 and VERY cranky, so we decided to come back when the weather warms up so we can see more of what it has to offer!

Mommy needs a nap part 2

But atleast this time it's not b/c I'm grouchy. It's more because I stayed up too late last night and Hazel woke up too early. She must have been sleeping lightly b/c I think Brett's alarm woke her up. YAWN. Now the trick will be keeping her up until atleast 1pm or it'll throw our whole day off.

Come to think of it, if we go lay down now, she's acting sleepy, and she naps now for about 2 hours, we won't be too out of shape. She just won't nap this afternoon. I'll try here in a minute.

Hazel got her bangs trimmed last night. It was about time, too. They were thick and in her eyes, and driving me crazy. Dear Lord, I've become a mom. "Get your hair out of your eyes."
And I cut the rattail out of the back of her curls. That really broke my heart. Occasionally it curls up and looks even with the rest of her curls. But most of the time it just hangs there looking rattailish. So it got cut. And I stared longingly at the little curls in my hand. I know now that I won't be cutting her hair for a long time. That little tail was about 3/4 inch of hair and only 3 little curls. You'd never know they were gone...and it still broke my heart.

We're venturing into the wide world of Potty Training...duhn duhn duuuuuuuuuuuuuuh. I'm still hunting for a potty. I don't know what I have in mind, but I'm sure I'll find one on Friday or this weekend. Michelle and I went to Tesco on Monday to buy one so Hazel and I could have tackled it this week, but Tesco didn't have any and Argos has been closed every day by the time Brett gets home from work. We talked about ordering one online, but I just feel like I want to see it and touch it before I commit to one. I know, I know, it's just a potty, but this is a big deal, folks! We have the potty movie, the feel n learn diapers, and the Kandoo wipes, all we need now is training pants and a potty. This will have to be our project next week. This week we've just been talking about it and going to the potty with mommy and watching the movie. We'll see! Here's to hopeing!

Well, we're off to take a nap....chat later!

It's a new year!

and I'm behind. But what else is new?

Christmas was out of control crazy. We landed in Chicago an hour and a half late on Monday the 22nd. And the lateness was because of immigration on the Dublin end of things. Sigh. Hazel was not happy that we weren't going anywhere and she was forced to sit in my lap. What do you do. But we were seated in the bassinette row next to nicest little family. Hazel was completely fascinated by their 3 month old son. She wanted to touch him and reacted whenever he cried. She is going to be the coolest big sister. (One day...don't get excited)

We landed in the absolutely FRIDGED city of Chicago safely, and Grandpa Harger and Mom (aka Granny) were there to greet us. I was not prepared to have Hazel in the single digit weather. She had her fluffy down coat and hat and gloves, but the poor little thing needed a scarf over her face. We did our best to keep her out of the wind, but even standing in shelter the cold was biting. But we got settled in the car quickly and on our way. It was a very long drive through Chicago traffic (although it was after 6 when we left) and crummy weather roads. But we got to Mom and Dad's a little after 11. It was awesome to have Dad/Matt/Adam/Lindsay all there to greet us.

Our (slightly less than) 2 weeks went as follows:

Tuesday- Errands with Aunt Lindsay. Saw Santa. Screamed bloody murder/ hack saw slasher movie terror at Santa. She didn't when we went to Glenarm. Best we can figure, the Kokomo Santa was scary. He DID have a freaky beard. Snow/Ice Storm started while we were out. Took ages to get home.

Wednesday- Christmas at the Harger's. Very relaxing and fun. We had Candle Light Service at Mom and Dad's church that night. Got Hazel all gussied up in her Christmas dress. She was entertained for all of 3 minutes, so we took turns playing in the hallway with her.

Thursday- Christmas at the Davis's. Got to Brett's parents around 9:30 that morning had a great morning and day with his family.

Friday- Ice storm in Mishawaka. Roads were closed, it was crazy. Beth (Brett's stepmom) and I went to a toy store in Mishawaka that evening when things started to thaw a bit. Just so you know, I have a weakness for learning toys for Hazel. She-needs-all-of-them. ALL OF THEM. And I tried to buy them all. For the record, the kid NEEDS no more toys. Unless you ask me. or her dad. Or her grandparents.

Saturday- Christmas at Brett's Aunt and Uncle's. The whole Davis clan. It's so fun. We have lots of food, we play ping pong, we played on Colin and Ryan's Wii. It was a great day.

Sunday- Hung out at Brett's parents', went shopping and to dinner, then headed back to my mom and dad's.

Monday- Got up with plans to see friends, but plans got changed. It ended up being a good thing, though, as Hazel's dr's appointment got changed that morning from the next day to later that afternoon. We rushed around trying to get ready for the dr's. Shots in Lafayette...fun. Family time later that night.

Tuesday- got up early. Stressed about whether to go to Lafayette for errands. Had a nervous breakdown on mom and dad's lazyboy. Tired. Been in the car EVERY DAY since last monday. Mom decides I need to stay home and take it easy. Get ready later on for Brett and my date. Mmmmm...Melting Pot. It was yummy. And the weather was weirdly warm. Like, upper 50s. Weird.

Wednesday- Brett and I got to go on another date :) :) :) :) We went to Carmel in the morning, ran a couple of errands, we ate at Kona Grill (Brett got an enormous plate of sushi) and then ran a few more errand before heading home for New Year's Eve! Theresa, Eric, and the girls came over and my family fled to various NYE parties. We made FAR too much food. Brett and I ordered Papa Murphey's pizza while we were out and by the time I got a couple pieces in my belly, I was stuffed. The Crowells stayed until a little after 9. We said fairwell, put Hazel to bed, and sat and stared blankly at the TV. It was nice. We rang in the New Year with Dick Clark (he's so sad...good for him doing the ball drop in his condition, but it broke my heart to watch him struggle to talk) and each other.

Thursday- spent the whole day packing, and re-packing and relaxing. We let Hazel run her little legs off before the day of traveling. We decided before our trip to take it easy this day just so we're not lunatics on Friday.

Friday- flew out of Indy, The new airport is really nice. HUGE. But nice. We got chosen by the computer for random searching through security. Fun. And barely made our flight to Chicago. But we got to Chicago just fine. Had all kinds of disasters that I would prefer not to relive, in Chicago, and then got on the world's longest flight EVER to Dublin. Again, not really something I wanna think about...it makes me angry.

It was a good trip home, but quick and extremely busy.

Here's a few pictures from the trip!