Surprise Visitor

Our friend Vern from Iowa stopped by today on his way through town. Veda was happy to make his acquaintance;))!!

Facebook - sigh....

I've finally joined the facebook world... Todd has as well. I'm exhausted - I've spent so much time on the website in the last 72 hours that I'm losing my mind. What an awesome way to reconnect with people I haven't seen or heard from in years but I tell you what... it's sensory overload. I get notifications on my blackberry and I find myself checking that every five minutes to see if I have new friends! ha! I plan to go back to work soon so now I'm going to have to figure out how to juggle Facebook AND a baby. I'm not sure which is more work????

This is Veda eating. I call it her John McCain - fists down at her side. Todd is feeding her right now after an annoying day at jury duty. He sat around all day and was the last jurer to be picked at the end of the day and he couldn't talk his way out of it. What's worse is that he didn't even make it on the jury... he's an alternate... so he has to sit there all week in a domestic abuse trial and doesn't even get to participate.

Big Weekend

Veda had a big weekend! She hung out with Auntie Megan and Jen and Steve. She went to the pool, she got all gussied up for dinner Sat night, and then we had Sunday Funday at Bj's watching football. You'll also notice that she lost her prime spot on the couch to Dad... nice try though...

Another Bean Holder

We spent the weekend with Auntie Megan from San Diego!

Roosting spot

Todd and I fight over this corner spot on the couch all the time. Looks like Veda is going to win out from now on.

Blue Steel

Veda's version of Blue Steel...

Book Club

Bean came to book club with me tonight because she loves books. She is very smart;)

Boring Books?

So tonight I came home to Mom reading Veda a book in bed...I would like to say that Veda enjoyed the book, but I think she might have gotten bored and just fell asleep? I think books are boring too...like father like daughter.

Todd

Happy baby!

Credible Source?

What does Suzanne Somers know about BPA? There are a lot of people that I would take baby advice from, but Chrissy Snow from Three's Company and the promoter of the Thigh Master is not one of them...

Todd

More Bean Holders

Our friends Brian and Leah were married tonight in Scottsdale. We brought Veda along. We had intented to drop her with a babysitter provided by the bride but she was so good and there were so many people to hold her that she just ended up hangin with her "rents"! She is wearing a dress that was mine when I was a baby. I wish the pics were clearer so you could see the detail - it really is cute. Even the bride took time out to hold bean - and of course blog fan Cory. Cory's son was the ring bearer and he was the CUTEST! I would post a pic but he's not my kid and that wouldn't be appropriate blog ettiqutte I don't think. But man is he cute!

Today I bought a $10 bottle for Veda. It's BPA free. Now that I'm not working I have the TV on during the day. Big mistake. I've been watching the news and lately there have been a lot of reports on the chemicals we absorb through processed food, soda, and this chemical used in plastic called BPA. I actually found myself watching Suzanne Somers discuess the dangers of the chemicals in our world with Hannity and Colmes (yes I watch FOX - not CNN- deal with it) and I am now fighting the urge to purchase her latest book. Todd thinks I'm nuts - he thinks she is nuts. Anyway - I'm going to cut out soda and try to reduce Veda's exposure to these hazards just in case Suzanne knows what she's talking about.

Road Trip

I knew yesterday was not going to be a good one early on. We were leaving for Scottsdale in the evening and in addition to packing up Veda for her first trip I also had to get the house ready for an open house on Sunday. Seems like every time I would complete a task on my to-do list another item would surface. As I was rushing around to get ready for my Drs appointment that I had inconveniently scheduled for the morning I had a small disaster. I had set out my very very favorite nail polish that I would wear to the wedding on Sat. "My Private Jet" is the name of the shade which is a dark dark purple with sparkles. I think 70% of the reason I love this shade is the name... Anyway... I knocked if off my bathroom counter onto the freshly cleaned ceramic tile floor. It bounced. It shattered. I ruined my pants, the bathroom rug, and most disturbing of all - "My Private Jet" was no more. I actually considered trying to paint my nails one last time from the pool of polish on the floor but then considered that I would have some explaining to do if I left a large purple spot on the floor. So I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. The entire house smells like nail polish remover. All the while Veda was screaming in her crib and because I was racing against the time of the quickly drying substance - she had to soak in her tears for awhile;(

So - that was just one of many unexpected delights yesterday but I'll also share the whooper. I fetched Todd at work on the way out of the city... we were rushing to get on the road at a decent time so we could get to Scottsdale before sun up the next morning! I had gotten Veda out of her car seat to feed her. I handed her to Todd to buckle her back in. He handed me his computer bag in exchange. I sat in on the pavement next to the car while I ran to get Veda's burp cloth. I forgot about the computer bag. Todd didn't notice it. He ran over it. His lap top is toast. I am a bad wife and I will be writing a letter to GMC letting them know that their super fancy reverse detection system needs some work.

We finally made it to AZ and Veda was a princess!

PDQ Pretty Darn Qute

I am in Love. It's amazing how much I'm in love. I can just spend hours staring at sweet Veda. I don't do well with idle time. Even when Todd and I are watching TV I can't stay put - I have to be up cleaning up the room, playing on the computer, or reading something. I've always thought that I have a bit of ADD. Now I find myself just laying on the bed and staring at my little miracle - nothing else seems as important and I'm in a trance. She's probably wondering what my deal is - I can just hear her saying - "geez Mom leave me alone." I can't! Even Todd has to tell me to leave her be when she's trying to sleep - I just want to pick her up and squeeze her. So I'm going to abuse my power while she is helpless to hug and kiss her as much as I can;)

I am totally amazed that she has grown out of many of her newborn clothes as she is only 5 weeks old. Sure - I've heard many of my friends say this happened to their children but I figured that it was because they have big robust boys. Not my little girl? It's such a scam... they get you to spend all this money on these cute adorable things and they can only wear them for a month or two?! Todd has decided that this is the business we should be in. Lucky for us we have received so many beautiful clothes for her that she won't run out! And thanks to Aunt Melissa for all the hand-me-downs.

My mother also saved a load of my baby clothes to pass down which is pretty cool. I should also mention that my Mom went as far as to save the wrapping paper from my baby gifts when I was a baby. I copied the idea for Veda and will use pieces of both when I get around to scrapbooking... some day;) Oh - and she saved my umbilical cord too when I was born. When my brother and I were in grade school we thought it was cool - now I think it's gross. Sorry Mom. She had a little box in her top dresser drawer where she kept locks of our hair, our baby teeth as we lost them, and the umbilical cords. I don't remember any toe or finger nail clippings but it wouldn't have surprised me. I wonder what happened to that box???

Go Big Ten

It's Saturday night and Veda and I are having a hot date in front of the tube. Dad's at the USC/Ohio State game watching OSU get pummelled. It's halftime so let's hope things improve. I am cheering for OSU out of respect for my co-workers back in Columbus but our good friend who gave Todd the ticket (b/c she's laid up in the hospital) is a USC fan so we'll pretend that Todd wants USC to win;) We were watching Gameday early this morning and I have to say that the USC fans made an impressive showing at 8am. I am disappointed in Hawkeye fans (sounds like Michelle Obama saying she's not proud of her country) that every time Gameday hits campus (which isn't often) we can only round up a few faithful. Give it up to the Hawks though for a win over the Cyclones today. Now I have some Ammo when responding to my Father-in-law's anti Iowa jokes.

Anyone want to move to Cali?

It's official - we've listed our home. We aren't leaving Cali quite yet but hope to relocate closer to Todd's work and to unload the huge liability considering the current housing market. Veda will have to pick up after herself to help keep the house clean - we'll see how that goes;))

Our Thursday

All the bean holders have gone home and now Veda and I are trying to get on a schedule. Last night she only woke up once which is super... that much closer to our goal of sleeping though the night here in a few weeks. She hasn't been sleeping during the day at all though. Might have something to do with the jack hammer 20 feet from our front door. They are resurfacing the entire pool area. Three days straight of constant hammering... you can imagine the fun! We re getting in a morning workout, bath, and reading time. We just got this new book on baby sign language. It sounds like its for babies 8 months and older but I'm really excited to see if it works so I'm learning the signs and I'm going to start her early! Big news today - our good friends had their twin boys last night - six weeks early but it sounds like everyone is healthy. Congrats to J & C!! We can't wait to meet Alexander and Jacob!

Hi Cory!

Ha ha ha ha ha

Todd's Mom and I had Veda in her car seat and were trying to get a passport photo again because the first batch didn't work (we are going to Mexico for Thanksgiving and Japan to visit my brother in the spring) and she just started laughing... so cute! Grandpa Laabs left yesterday and Grandma Laabs leaves tomorrow and then no more visitors for a while;( Veda is going to miss all the love! Kathy and Veda are headed back to IC for the weekend of the Wisc/Iowa game though... can't wait to meet everyone. Maybe baby Cornish, Beckman, or Baldwin will arrive so I can go visit them while I'm home!

True Blood

Football Saturdays are here...

Don't worry Hawkeye fans... she's Switzerland.

More Bean holders are visiting!!

The Laabs' are in town! Todd's parents arrived late yesterday afternoon. Diane couldn't wait to get her hands on Veda. She took her from me when she walked in the door and held her until 1 in the morning so I could get some zzzzz... Today we ventured out to the county line and our favorite (well my favorite) little dive, Neptune's Net in the Bu.

Say Cheese!

Kelly and I tried to get a good photo that we could use for a passport for Veda. These are pretty funny. She had a Dr appt yesterday. She weighed in at 8lbs 13 oz and added an inch so she's 21 and 3/4. The Dr. was impressed with her progress.