Ryan flew in from Tokyo this morning. He and Veda have been bonding all day. Well except for the few hours that Ryan tried to cure his jet lag... Veda just walked around the room pointing at the sleeping guy on the couch and laughing. She couldn't even concentrate on her lunch as seen in the photo above. Uncle brought her a stuffed Cat Bus as seen in her movie Totoro.
While in Scottsdale we paid a visit to my college roommate Steph, her husband Chris, 20 month old Lucas, and 12 day old precious baby girl Elle. I didn't even get a picutre of baby Elle but Veda and Lucas really hit it off. Steph asked if Veda could have a cupcake which I agreed to with much hesitation. Only because Veda and cupcakes usually means we need a hose nearby and Steph proceeded to sit them down in the LIVING ROOM! As expected Veda just wanted to mash hers between her fingers and stuff it in her face while Lucas sat patiently nibbling on his treasure and watching Veda like she was insane. Afterwards be picked up each plate and each sippy cup and politely delievered them to his Mom for clean up. What a gentelman.
We are back at home and glad that we have a Sunday to relax before starting the week. Kel and Chris cooked up a top notch Thanksgiving feast. Chris gets an A+ on the juicy turkey but Veda was especially fond of the stuffing balls that Dad rolled for her. She spent the afternoon digging up palm trees in the back yard with Grandpa - another Laabs tradition;) Gary is running out of places to plant trees though so we'll have to come up with more hard labor projects to keep him busy... and yes Veda qualifies as hard labor!
Kel and Chris have a pigeon problem and therefore a pigeon poop problem. The pigeons aren't afraid of the Scare-a-owl and neither is Veda... she just can't understand why he doesn't like her yogurt covered raisins. We got her to say Woo woo - couldn't quite get the Who who.
Aunt Kelly borrowed lots of toys from her co-worker but Veda was most facinated with the calculator she found in the kitchen drawer and also the bars on the stairs. She went from bar to bar sticking her head through each hole... very strange but in the end I think she figured out all the holes were the same.
Dad - Hope you have a great birthday! We will be thinking of you. Thanks for all your love and support and for being Veda's number 1 babysitter:) Kathy, Todd and Bean!
We are on our way to Scottsdale tomorrow afternoon for Thanksgiving fun with Todd's family. I hope they are ready for Veda. She's a pistol these days and requires constant entertainment. I use to take her to the store just because she enjoyed riding in the cart and it gave me a moment of serenity. Not now... she cries and thrases about until you let her run around the store. I eventually give in and just chase her around doing aisle clean up. Here's a peak at our last trip to target...
I love the movie Parenthood. Especially the kid who likes to bang his head against the wall just for fun. On our walk home from the park Veda stopped, sat down and then laid down on the sidewalk. Then after a few moments of contemplation she got up and followed me home.
These socks are all the rage in Tokyo. Toe socks make it easier to wear socks with your sandals;) I picked up a few pairs of holiday toe socks while we were overseas as well so some of you might find them in your stockings. Veda kept playing with her big toe when I put them on her and we all know she loves ducks!
Thank goodness for my nighbors Tom and Kathy. They know Todd is gone all week and I have my hands full so they have been taking Veda on their daily walks and volunteering to watch her during my appointments. V loves the attention and doesn't look happy to see me when I come to retrieve her.
Todd has been out of town since Monday and doesn't return until tomorrow night. Every morning when I bring Veda into our room she looks at me at says "Dada"? Although she was happy to help him with his luggage when he left - we are anxious for him to get home.
Veda weighed in at 26.14 lbs (91%), her height is 33 inches (97%) and her head 48 cm (95%). The Dr. said quote, "she's enormous." Tell me something I don't know... I've already had to pack away some of her 18 month clothing (Target brand runs small anyway) and her 2T clothes fit a little too perfectly. She had two shots today and wasn't exactly an angel for the Dr. but we made it out alive.
It's been a long weekend. It's amazing how much energy it takes being around a sick person. Remembering to wash your hands every time you touch the remote, a door knob, or the refridgerator door. Todd was miserable all weekend but had the worse of it today. He stayed in the bedroom with the door closed. He's off to Philly tomorrow for work... I'm glad his germs will be on the other side of the country but think he is going to be sorry he's going.
After a visit in Scottsdale with Uncle Chris and Aunt Kel who were both deathly ill, Todd appears to have brought home the bug. Complaining of aches and chills and a heavy chest, he scurried off to work because he has a day packed full of meetings. I'm thinking/hoping he'll be home early to jump in bed and work on getting better - good thing we have nothing on the agenda for the weekend. I guess now we find out if the vaccinations worked for V and me.
According to my weekly emails from Babycenter.com the baby is 10 and a half inches now - the size of a big carrot. The surprising bit is that the baby only weighs about 3/4ths of a lb. How is that possbile when I just gained 3 lbs in one day!? Yep - the scale doesn't lie - I don't think - I may have broken it as I was jumping up and down in frustration. I can handle a lb a week but 3 lbs in one day? I didn't even have heartburn yesterday...
I figured if Target can have their Xmas itms stocked then it's time to decorate. I don't remember the last time I decorated. We are always gone most of December... this year is no exception. I put out a few raindeer here and there (by the way did you know Raindeer are for real?!) and a few mini xmas trees that light up - these are a fan favorite. I'm a mom now so I feel like I have to do this kind of stuff for Veda but it makes me feel warm and fuzzy too. Todd isn't really going for the Xmas CDs I've been trying to play in the car though... it might be a little early for that. The photo above is at the Mall - I'm not crazy enough to put up a tree with a 15 month old. We are in for quite an adventure with the trees at the Grandparents houses.
Another successful morning at the garage sales. I found this little doll set for $13!! I thought it would be a little too "old" for V but she can't get enough of it. Mostly she just likes the table because she thinks it's just her size... not really Goldilocks;) The second photo above is after she had stuffed her 15th goldfish in her mouth... really is that necessary?
Yep - it's Wednesday and the half way mark of my pregnancy - 20 weeks. Well actually a little past half way since I'll have the bean by C-section at 39 weeks. I'm packing on the pounds and experiencing never ending hunger. Halloween candy doesn't help. I tried freezing the large bag of snickers I bought to hand out (but never did) thinking that I couldn't eat them as fast if they were frozen... ha! I'm feeling the bean move a bit now, experiencing pain from the ligaments stretching and pulling in my abdomen, and gasping for breath by the time I reach the top of the stairs (which probably has more to do with the 25lb toddler I'm hauling around). Symptoms are definitely presenting earlier this time around - by 39 weeks I'll need a forklift and an oxygen tank.
Veda spiked a little fever yesterday of 100.8. Probably a reaction to her shot the day before. Luckily she is as good as new this morning. Even yesterday a fever couldn't keep her from emptying the pantry - after she cleaned out the fridge and threw all my nicely folded dish towels on the floor - I should know better;)
We were in and out in an hour and a half! Not bad. It was rumored that the clinic accross town had four hour lines so we choose wisely. Veda didn't mind the wait (for the most part) and just flirted with everyone else in line. Unfortunately - V has to go back in another four weeks for her second dose... ughhh - hope the hysteria has simmered and we won't have to wait again.
So I think Veda and I are going to head out today and brave the lines at the Ventura County Health Clinic in Oxnard to get our H1N1 shots. It doesn't sound like our Doctors will get their shipment anytime soon. Anyone see the 60 minutes piece last night? I just don't want to risk either of us getting sick and with the news of more and more people in our area falling ill... it's just worth it. We were joking while handing out candy Saturday night that all the parents are going to have to sterelize their kids' candy in case someone handling it was sick... where will it end? I don't buy into the hysteria (well sort of I guess) but I really just don't want to have to go on Tamiflu and I really just don't want to get the flu... I'm too busy for the flu;)
Yes - Veda actually went trick or treating... Dad pushed her in her stroller which is kind of cheating. Pregnant Mom (who stayed back and handed out candy with Melissa at the house) needed V on her A game to get as much chocolate as possible (mission accomplished). Apparently it's not weird to have a 14 month old getting candy when she can't even ask for it herself - or eat it for that matter. My cousin's five year old son Connor made sure his sister Savannah (pictured above) and Veda were not left out... he would say trick or treat on their behalf. At one home he was overheard saying "Hey Granny... the little ones need some candy too." He meant this in the most affectionate way of course. Todd's favorite was the guy grilling hot dogs for trick or treaters... now that's my kind of treat.
