The weekend in review...

What a great weekend! Friday night was date night. The neighbors babysat and Todd and I went to the Watermark in Ventura - very swanky. We then met up with my cousin and his wife for drinks at the bar upstairs. BJ's friend was in the band. LeaAnn Rimes was in the house and we were told she is a regular and sometimes takes the mic - but no such luck for us.

Saturday I did pick ups for the Wine festival silent auction. Todd and Veda rode along. Sat night our new friends Jason and Laura came by for a visit. We met them at the pool last weekend. Laura is from England and Jason from Canada. I could listen to them talk all day long - love the accents! We had so much fun.

We got up early today and went grocery shopping and I got my weekend latte. If you haven't had a McDonalds latte - do it - they are great! I also went horseback riding with Laura who is a very experienced rider. Me not so much. I did get my horse into a gallop but I think I looked like a spastic freak riding one of those electric bulls at the bar. By the end of the ride I had a hand of it and Laura even invited me to go with her again - I must have passed the test!

This afternoon we will shop for a dress for the event next weekend. I have book club tonight. We hold the meeting at a local coffee shop that usually has live entertainment. Tonight is open mic night and some of the girls like to hear themselves sing so I'm pretty sure we won't talk about books!

Baby

I bought Veda her first doll this weekend. She is fascinated with it. Loves to poke it's eyes out. We give "Baby" hugs and kisses and Veda tries to copy but it looks more like she's trying to bite her head off.

Deal or No Deal - Deal!

I love Saturday mornings. Lattes. garage sales, and the farmers market (in that order). I LOVE a great deal and I love the hunt. Last week we picked up this gem for $20 in excellent condition. It retails for $200 online. I've been giving Veda rides around the house.

Red Carpet Here We Come

We are going to the Young Hollywood Awards the weekend after next. Sebastian is the main sponsor. What do I wear?! This is the one thing that's keeping me from being ultra excited about a night of star gazing. We get to go to the after party too so it's not like we go, sit down, get up and go. We mingle. I need a party dress. Nothing too fancy. This is the Young Hollywood Awards so the dresses are usually short and tendy (oh and tight - ughhh). Ms. Mayhem http://www.dailymayhem.com/ usually has an eye out for this type of thing....???? Any advice?

Cotton Headed Ninny Muggins

So I think I've finally got Veda watching TV. Yes, I WANT her to watch TV. I need a part-time babysitter and until my real one starts I will promote her discovery of HD and widescreen. The only problem is that she isn't into her Einstein videos - she must be too smart - she looks bored! The only movie we have that seems to keep her interest is ELF. She claps when they are reciting the code of the elves. I get it - I do it - I could watch it a million times. So Will Farrell will babysit - for now.

Veda's First B.L.T.

As a follow up to Veda's Quarter "Pea" with Cheese, today she had her first B.L.T. She thinks they are delicious.

Uh oh!

I'm sure this will be Veda's next new word. I find I'm using it more and more often. This is where I found the little monkey this morning. She actually got down herself - without incident. Yesterday we weren't so lucky. I witnessed the fall but didn't see what she hit her head on. She was laughing moments after it happened but it looks even worse in person.

Too Green? Too Blue? Too Blah?

I'm experimenting with a new look. I'm sure I'll get voted down and have to change it and I might change my own mind so be patient as I try to overcome my indecision.

Hi!

It's official, by my judgement anyway. Veda's first word is Hi. She started waving last week and has a consistant and familiar sound that always accompanies the wave. It sounds like "Hi" I just wasn't giving her the credit. When leaving the living room to head for the kitchen she will crawl a few feet - turn around and wave - crawl a bit more - turn around and wave. She has also mastered the clap but only when someone starts a round of patty cake.

Memorial Day weekend 2009 with Kel and Chris

Happy Birthday Uncle Chris - Thanks for the sugar!

Quarter Pea and Cheese

Tonight, Chris & Todd got to feed Veda...They invented a new sandwich, straight from LA...it's the Quarter "Pea" and Cheese (two "whole grain" Cheerios, a Pea, and a very small slice of cheddar cheese)...Here's a pic of Chris feeding one to Veda....she had a couple and agrees that they are DELICIOUS!!! Watch out McDonald's.

Growing like weeds

I think about blogging everyday - I promise I do. I just get sidetracked. Must be the munchkin! Here's something I meant to blog about while I was in Iowa. Get this - in Iowa - you don't have to BUY asparagas. It grows in the ditch! Seriously. Mushrooms too. I know all of Todd's family will think I'm crazy for writing about this - but it's a big deal - I love asparagas and it's expensive!

A Laabs Tradition

I've never seen anyone eat as much popcorn as the Laabs clan. Tonight I was initiated. Gary is out of town so I borrowed his bowl. Big mistake - big big mistake. Ughhh stomach pump please

Pooped

Veda after a day at the salon. It would have been fun to snap a photo of Mom having Diane do her hair color while Mom wrestled Veda with a bottle. We had our hands full.

Pictures from the Lake

We are STILL here! Todd is back home in LA and Veda and I are just hangin' out with Grandma Didie. We shopped all day yesterday and then went to the neighbors for dinner and fun by the firepit. Veda went for her first golf cart ride and met her new friend Dylan. He had just eaten a brownie and had frosting all over his face. Veda crawled up to him - swiped some of the leftover frosting off his face and stuck her finger in her mouth. At least she didn't try to lick it off although Dylan did give her a kiss on the lips - good thing Todd wasn't around. I'm sure she'll be tooling around in Grandma and Grandpa Laabs' golf cart before she's tall enough to see over the sterring wheel - that's how they do it at the lake;)

Another Day Another Trick

Join the Club!

Yes we are in Iowa - again. Spent the weekend with Todd's parents and now I'm headed out to Ohio for meetings. Veda will stay with my parents. She has been a PILL all weekend. I just knew something wasn't right. Well we made a Dr. apt here in IC today and yep - it's an ear infection. Her first. She's on antibiotics so hope to get it all cleared up before our flight back to Cali next week. She hasn't been all screams and tears. Here's a pic of her taking a moment to call Aunt Darlene (yes she actually called her and put it on speaker phone too - pretty funny). Also another pic of her having way too much fun at the Dr's office.

Clear Lake!

Travelling is much more fun when Dad is along. The airline wanted to upgrade Todd to first class but I wouldn't let them. We needed the double team on the 3.5 hour flight. Veda did well and was a crowd favorite as usual. She had fun exploring Grandpa and Grandma Laabs' house.

Leaving the scene of the crime

I wish I wish I wish I could afford a full-time nanny. Wouldn't it be great to just have Veda at home all day and not be responsible for baby duty! My neighbor who is also Veda's babysitter has been watching her all week and it's so nice to know she's close by if I just want to peek in and say hello.

Recovery

Back from the hospital and laying in bed. I've got Todd "running stairs" and miss veda just has him running in circles. I can tell he's exhasuted but unfortunately I'm just not going to be much help. They put a stent in between my Kidney and Bladder and I wish I could say I can't feel it but yes - yes I can. Ouch. I get it removed on Thursday.

Todd has been enjoying his daddy duty and doing a fine job at it I might add. He had her all dressed up in a little denim dress when they came to get me today;) very cute.

Here's a pic of V from the archives. I'm not usually very anal about germs but I knew she would be sucking on the handles of the cart so I spent ten minutes scrubbing this thing down with disinfectant before I let her ride in it. Who knew how much fun it would be. I might have to swipe one from the parking lot to keep at home!

Hats make me laugh;)

So my surgery was moved to Monday for those of you wondering. I'll report back afterwards. Veda got this super cute hat today from Jill. She "whipped" it together last weekend while visiting Iowa from Idaho. Amazing. Really I wish I was so talented! I took a class once and ended up with a very lopsided scarf. It would have been a lot cheaper to buy one.

Stuck!

Veda crawled under this chair which happens to be pushed under the table. I was in the kitchen and heard her whining because she couldn't get out. I couldn't figure out how to get her out either! Or course I had to stop and take a picture;) It's hard to tell by the picture but she was wedged in there pretty good and I couldn't pull the chair out without hitting her. I had to flatten her like a pancake and slide her out on her tummy. She got caught behind the toilet the other day too and didn't know how to back out.

Happy Anniversary!

Today is our two year. We have a lot to be grateful for! We spent the night in the ER last night. Damn kidney stones! Todd was a trooper on Daddy duty with a sick baby and a wife that couldn't even walk because of the pain;) This is what love and marriage is all about right?! As he was helping me tie my hospital gown I turned around and wished him a happy Anniversary - ha ha! I hope we get time to celebrate our special day before the week is out. I'm scheduled for surgery on Thursday to clean out my kidneys and if I'm feeling a-o-k Jennifer has agreed to watch Veda so we can have a special dinner together;) Hooray!

This stinks!

Bean has a cold. You know those kids you see with a stream of snot from their nose to their mouth? With dry snot smeared across their cheeks? Weezing and coughing and sneezing? This is my princess. It came out in full bloom yesterday. It was so bad by the time she went to sleep that we had to put her to sleep sitting up in her car seat next to the vaporizer. Mom slept on the floor.

We just put her to bed in her car seat again. I have the bed made up in her room and will sleep with her tonight. She just can't figure out that if she can't breathe through her nose - plugging up her mouth with her thumb will cause problems. We flew home today. I was worried about her ears and her cold but she managed.

My Blackbery busted on Sat so I know longer have my link to the world. I'm surprised how little it bothers me - right now. A new one is on the way but I suspect I may have lost my 300 some phone numbers as I can't find the back-up. Awesome. I need digits!

Tons of Fun in the IC

Carpooling

Each time I take the 405 I dutifully stay in the regular lane even though I have Veda in the car and could possibly use the HOV lane. I've never been sure if she counts as a "person" and whether or not I'd end up with a $300 ticket. I finally checked - and yes - she counts! Hooray.

Blah

That's how I feel. We spent all day at LAX on Saturday waiting on a delayed flight that ended up cancelled. We drove the long hour home and did it all over again on Sunday. We barely barely made our connection in Denver as our flight was delayed again and I was drenched in sweat and about ready to lose my mind. Sweet Veda wouldn't sit still on the flights and insisted on pulling the arm hair and trying to grasp the glasses off of the innocent airline customer seated next to us. As if sitting in the middle was not bad enough, he had to endure two hours of harassment. On the second flight I had to change a poopy diaper in the aisle and I didn't think twice about it. I even made the guy sitting next to us hold her while I made a bottle. I didn't ask - I just sat her down and she crawled up on his lap. I didn't stop her - I needed a moment to get organized whether he liked it or not. For the record - I think he did even though he looked very nervous;)

I got up early and drove to Chicago today for a meeting. Tomorrow we will drive to Ames for a meeting at Iowa State. Veda gets to come along as we are meeting up with Grandma Laabs and she will play with the Bean while I'm off working. Here's a pic of Veda. Exhauseted from playing with Nana and Bull all day she fell asleep in the splits!

Bean Stalkers

When we started posting to the blog we added an analytics tool so we could track our visits. I can tell you that between March 16 and April 15 we had 256 unique visitors and more than 1800 visits. That's 256 people who now know that I'm not funny, that I don't know how to spell, and that Veda is so sweet you could eat her;)

The top 5 states are Iowa, California, Arizona, Missouri (Mrs. Fisher?:), and Ohio. Not much of a surprise.

Thanks for following;) Veda loves all the attention! Next week we will be travelling to Iowa. I have work in Iowa and Illinois and will do my best to post updates while I'm on the road. Todd will be kickin' it in the Natti with his good friend Jody at P&G Brand Manager College.

Veda's four food groups

Mom's shoe

My shoe

Dad's shoe

Anything Paper

I was dumb enough to give Veda the church program on Sunday to distract her.. Half way home we realized she had injested half of it. Whoops.

My First Easter

We had a great Easter Sunday. Best of all was the 2 hour nap that Mom and Veda took in the middle of the afternoon! We went to sunrise service at 6:30a on the beach! Waves crashing in the background - sun rising over the Santa Monica Mountains - really doesn't get any better than this. It was a perfect reminder of the wonder of God's creation.

It was early enough that we were able to get into one of our favorite breakfast places without worrying about long lines. Veda happily chewed on a straw and kept herself occupied while we ate;) When we got home we had an Easter Egg hunt in her crib! I tried to get her to figure out if she opened the eggs she would find a treat inside. Apparently we aren't quite that smart yet. We then went for our first swim in the pool! We loved it so we know what we'll be doing all summer!

Later in the afternoon we went to the park. Dad challenged Mom to a game of HORSE at the basketball court while Veda cheered me on. Didn't go so well but if you factor in my handicap I think I did alright. Then Steaks for dinner. A perfect day!

Funny "chubs" Face

I think this speaks for itself...

Happy Bunny vs. Angry Bunny vs. Real Life Bunny

It was all Bunnies, all day today...Veda was dressed with her bunny ears while we went for a walk...while on the walk home, we spotted a real life "albino" bunny (red eyes and all). Either the Easter Bunny was a day early or some unlucky kid lost their rabbit today??