A Surprise Pulled Off!

Saturday Night was my good friend Kelly Wilbraham's surprise 30th birthday party. It was at a very cool resturant downtown Chicago(Carnival) with great food and of course fun people!! We had a very good time and the best part was Kelly was surprised- we all know how you love surprises Kelly!!(Once again quality pictures by my camera.. It is so delayed I had to snap the picture before she entered the room and I missed the prime shot!!)

Here's to Lauren

Here's to Lauren...

Tonight we took some time to be very proud of our little miracle. Lauren was featured in a photo exhibit at Easter Seals of Du Page. She was one of Thirty kids chosen to be photographed and displayed in the building. This years theme was transitions and they thought Lauren was a perfect candidate since she has become a big sister. The photographer came to our house a week after Chloe was home.. This was quite an experience.. Thank goodness for my Mom!! Some of my family was able to come to the event which made it extra special. Easter Seals is where Lauren gets evaluated every 6 months to make sure she is on target for her age. So far she looks wonderful (we just had her 18 month corrected eval). She was going to physical therapy once a week to strengthen her stomach muscles and right shoulder but she is doing so well that she only goes once every three weeks since it is not affecting her in any way. She loves going to PT and playing with all the toys (In fact tonight she had a minor fit that she couldn't go play in "her" play room.) It is amazing to think that almost two years ago she was born only 2lbs 6oz and we had no idea what her future would hold. God has been amazing and truly blessed us!!

Mina Comes to Visit

Today we had a fun day visiting with my girlfriend Abby and her daughter Mina. They live in Montana so it is so nice to be able to spend some time together. It is really great seeing all the girls interact... each visit there seems to be less of an age gap. It is funny how life changes.. In the past when Abby was in town we would go out for lunch and talk for hours and now it is meeting up at a house in the midst of toys and talking about diapers and having babies!! The funny thing is, it is just as fun (Well, O.k... I'm sure we would both enjoy a quiet lunch!)

Oh, The Places She Will Go..

Starting a few weeks ago Chloe really became mobile(via rolling around- not crawling!). The other day I left her in the family room and I came back a few minuets later to find her like this. She pretty much can get whatever she wants now but she is often getting hurt because of it. It is crazy how time is flying.. she had her 6 m check-up today and everything looks great. She is about 16 1/2 lbs and 27 inches long. Just to clarify.. she is not completely sitting up yet so don't let that picture fool you. She can sit up for a few seconds, but then falls over so we have to be fast with the camera. Now we just have to work on her sleeping-in skills..

Off to Work I Go..

Many of you know I decided to venture back out into the work field. We decided that until our money tree allows for us to do some of the fun extras in life, I would get a very part time job. We thought that waitressing would be perfect.. Short shifts at night while the girls are sleeping, I can have some adult interaction, you can make a lot of money, and you only have to work one or two nights a week. Little did I know that it would be harder to find a waitressing job than a teaching job! No one wanted someone who only works one or two nights a week and the interview process has been quite comical. Anyways, I was hired by a restaurant Zed 451 which is an international steakhouse where the chefs bring the food to the table. Last night was my first day of training and I found out that I have to memorize the mission statement, take four tests, and serve the general manager before I can serve on the floor. Not only that, lets just say Steve and Chloe were not the best of friends last night and she refused to take a bottle from him. Steve is really looking forward to this!! Maybe this was not the best idea after all???

Another First

Yesterday I bought a few books on potty training at a garage sale for when we attempt potty training with Lauren. I know this will be a long ways off, but they were cute books so I figured I would put them away for awhile (until next summer at least). Lauren found them this morning so I started reading them to her. She went to the toilet after reading the books so I thought..well why not? I took her diaper off and put her on the toilet, never thinking that she would go. She liked just sitting there and right when I was ready to put her diaper on and get her dressed..I heard a trickle!! She looked at me with a big smile and of course I started praising her like crazy. I even gave her a brownie.. I know, bad mom..a brownie at 9:30 AM. I know that was most likely just a freak thing, but maybe potty training is coming sooner than we thought!