Seeing Red

Yes, I am upset. I just got done writing a 17 month post for Marlee that took me days to finish. I went to post and wa-la, something horrible happened and it's all messed up...ugh.
Stay tuned. Time to start over.
And before you suggest I write it in a word document and save it, I do. However, my computer restarted the other night and I can't recover it.
I think it's high time for a new computer....doubtful.

And btw-it's SNOWING. I live in the desert and it's SNOWING. Stay tuned for some pictures of Marlee experiencing snow for the first time.

Tidbits

Just a few things I feel are noteworthy that I want to document...

Last Monday as Marlee and I were running errands, I decided to go through one of those drive through car washes. After I paid and started through the wash, I realized Marlee had never been through one of these before and I wasn't quite sure how she was going to handle it. Well, she LOVED it! I turned around to watch her and she was throwing her head back and forth and laughing through the entire wash as she looked through the side windows.

Disclaimer: poop mentioned.
Marlee is usually a nap time pooper. When I go in after a nap or in the morning, she has pooped. Upon the unpleasant whiff I get entering her room, I always say did you poop? The other day I walk in her room and get the whiff. My daughter jumps up, holds her arms out for me, and says poop, poop. She completely understands what I am saying and is relating the word to the act (or object). Wow.

Tantrums are in full swing here at the Ross house. When M doesn't get her way, whether it be us not picking her up and holding her while standing (this is a new one), or we take something away from her, she sits on the ground, slowly lies back and starts to scream and holler. It is so amusing because she is so careful as she puts her head back on the ground.

And for your viewing pleasure....

Because what's a post without an adorable picture? Isn't she getting so so big???

Shout Out

A huge thanks to my big (little) Sissie, Kristy, for surprising me with my new page. Isn't it so cute?


Photo taken at my baby shower (May 2007). I was 8 months pregnant with Marlee and Kristy was about 4 months pregnant with Carter Bug.

Thanks again, Sissie!

Another First

With Marlee not feeling well, it has been meltdown mania at the Ross household. Sleep, what is that? Sleep has pretty much gone out the window. Last night was another rough night. After taking an hour to get Marlee to sleep, she woke up screaming at 1:00am. So, of course, I go in and rock and soothe my baby. It is now 2:00am when I return to bed. At 2:30am, I hear more screaming. Dave goes in to get her back to sleep. After about 15 minutes Dave comes back to bed...with Marlee. He put her in our bed, she snuggled into her Daddy, and feel asleep until 7:00am.
This is a first. Marlee has never, and I mean never, slept in our bed. Even when she was a tiny little baby, she slept in the pack-n-play next to the bed. This was just something Dave and I both agreed on as we did not want to form habits and Dave was so worried about suffocating her. Then once she got mobile, forget about relaxing enough to go to sleep if she's not confined to her crib.
Although I didn't sleep well, I loved having Marlee snuggled in our bed.

Sickies has brought out a whole other side of Marlee...a lovin', huggin', snugglin' side, which I am enjoying immensely!

11/29 - First time Marlee slept in Daddy and Mama's bed.
Oh, and Kristy, she is a thrasher...reminds me of someone!

On a similar yet different note, my 16 month old daughter is a jump away from crawling out of her crib. She kicks her leg over the top of the crib, straddles the rail, and laughs like she is so cute. Which, of course, she is! Lord help me.

The upside of sickies

Marlee is still not feeling well. This morning after her bottle she went and got a blanket, brought it to me, and lifted her arms for me to pick her up. She then laid in my arms and watched cartoons for a good 20 minutes. This never happens...
There is an upside of sickies.

Enough of the Crap!

Two weeks ago, the week of Nov 3rd, Marlee got her first bout of sickies, a cold. Yes, she didn't get sick until 16 months...pretty amazing, right? I believe she must have her Dada's rockin' immune system.

Fast forward to last week. My beloved dog, Cooper, got sick. Let's just say I dealt with a lot a crap, pun intended, and it was not pretty...not pretty at all. A trip to the vet informed us that he has colitis. Who knew dogs can get colitis. A week of meds and he's fine.


Cooper...aka Mr. Dog

On Friday (11/21) my daughter started with the diarrhea (yep, I said it) and kept it coming all weekend. I took her to the doctor yesterday as I was worried about dehydration. After checking M out, the doctor tells me it's probably a virus that just needs to ride its course.

Then, I tell her about Cooper and you can guess where this is going.

Colitis can be caused by some type of a virus or bacteria, which I knew. However, did you know dogs can get certain types of viruses or bacteria (can't remember what she said exactly) that can be passed onto humans that come into contact with the....feces (yep, I said it).

So guess what I get to do? Take Marlee's stool sample to the lab tomorrow to be tested.

On a side note, after asking me a few questions, Marlee's doc didn't seem too concerned as there are usually symptoms that Marlee's not showing. Don't worry, I won't share the symptoms. I don't want to completely gross you out!

We shall wait and see...I'll keep you posted.

Precious Moments

Two important notes before I move on:
Marlee is a Daddy's girl. If Daddy is around, forget about Mama.
Marlee is not an affectionate, snugly baby. The only time she stops is to go to sleep.



Last night Dave had a pour at midnight so he went to bed at 5:30pm.
With Daddy sleeping, Mama and Marlee played quietly together in the family room. She would go get a book, bring it to me, sit in my lap (which she never does), and let me read to her. This went on for a good hour. Then out of nowhere, M walks over to me as I was sitting on the floor, leans down, and puts her face about and inch from my face. I thought here we go, she's going to try to bite me as we have had a problem with biting lately. I was wrong. I leaned into her and put my lips on her lips. My baby was giving me kisses! She did this three times and each time she would hold still and kiss me for 5 seconds.

Last night is one of many moments that I never want to forget. A moment when I realize every bad day is worth it for these quick, precious moments of complete contentment. A moment when I realize I have the best job in the world. A moment when I know I was meant to be a Mom.
First kisses November 17...with Mama.
Daddy has yet to get one..nenernenernener.

**Photo courtesy of my talented sissie, Lesley. You can also view her photography website here.

Quote of the Day

I have been faithfully working out for about for about 6 weeks now. I know, I know, go me!! Dave has been nothing but understanding, helpful, and supportive as I head off to the gym 3 days a week. Yesterday, as I bent over to pick something up this is what my darling husband says to me:

Husband: Babe, your butt has gotten smaller.
Me: I have a big butt?
Husband: Not anymore.

Yes, this was a compliment. He meant well.
I have been accused of a lot of things, but never a big butt.

BOO-tiful Butterfly

Just for the record, Marlee loved her costume. Yes, I know the picture isn't great, but it's the best of the bunch!
For Halloween this year we took Marlee to the Haunted Harvest at Springs Preserve. We had a pretty good time. There was a live band in the courtyard that Marlee loved. It was so cute to watch her bob her head and rock out. When we would leave the courtyard area, she would cry to go back. I told Dave he now has his dead head that he can go to rock concerts with.

I'm an Esme

My sisters, Mom and I all read the Twilight Series and are going to see the movie in a few weeks. In honor of that...


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