Valentine's Preparation...

Here are some pictures of our Valentine's Preparation...I think they are all from the same day (Wednesday 2/11 - which happens to be Janelle's Birthday!). Also included are some random shots from that day. Enjoy!

Hailey Grace - she was sporting some lovely hair that morning!

That afternoon while I was watching our nephew - Dominic decided to crawl under the table like his big cousin - he got stuck on one of the chairs. Yes I am an aunt that will take the picture first, and then set him free!

Kaelin decorating her first cookie for the night!

What? isn't taking a bite off of the corner decorating it???

Might as well eat the rest now!

Hailey wasn't sure what she thought of frosting!

But Dominic likes it!!

The finished cookies.

The puppy heart cookies I made for the kids.

Happy Valentine's Day - Love, Hailey (This picture was actually on 2/14)

Health

Hello all. For those of you that don't know I had an MRI on Friday morning of my head and neck. FYI - all is clear. Everything looked normal. An update for all of you that don't know the details...

I have been having pain - hips, knees, hands, neck, migraines and arm numbness for the past 5-8 years - getting worse in the last 6 months or so. I have seen a doctor and had several blood tests run. The only thing that came back was an elevated level for rheumatoid arthritis. I am seeing a Rheumatologist in April to confirm whether or not I actually have rheumatoid arthritis.

In the meantime I am on a prescription to help with the pain and was attending physical therapy until Friday. Unfortunately I won't be out of the house much in the next few weeks (which means no therapy)...because I broke my right foot on Saturday morning - yep on Valentine's Day!

Story is - I was rushing to take laundry downstairs, tried to avoid one of Bandit's bones, and instead missed a step ---falling down to the landing. Ta Da = a broken foot and several hours in the ER. Luckily today we say the orthopedic dr. and he has allowed me to have a walking boot so that I can continue my day to day activities of taking care of the girls...unfortunately it still means no driving. For some reason Justin doesn't want me driving the girls with my left foot unless absolutely necessary! :)

So - that is what is going on. Please keep me in your prayers!

Love,
Jodi

Hailey Grace is 6 months old!

A little late - shocking, I know! Hailey turned 6 months on January 30th! Here are some pictures. Her six month check up is next Wednesday- the 18th - I will post her stats then! However, I can tell you she is a good eater! She loves her food. She is now wearing 6-9 and 9 month clothes, and size 3 shoes.

She loves to sit up and play and really wants to crawl! She can scoot backwords, spin in a circle and roll over repeatedly...but she gets so mad when she cannot crawl forward. She is getting up on her knees and rocking, so we think it won't be long!

She loves her big sister, Dominic-her cousin, and the dog! She really likes to take tubbies with Kaelin in the big tub. As soon as she sees it she starts to squeal! She is beginning to show us that she will be a talker too! She also is beginning to teeth - chewing and drooling on EVERYTHING!

Random

The past few weeks have been crazy! Kaelin is finally over her illness, meanwhile Hailey managed to get double ear infections! Thankfully, they both seem to be bouncing back quickly!

In other news - for their ages, our girls have large feet! I know, it is so suprising! :) Kaelin is now in a size 9, and will probably be in a 9&1/2 by summer, and Hailey is in a size 3! Crazy! Kaelin is now down to her snow boots and a pair of tennis shoes (I had been shoving her feet in size 8 and 8&1/2 shoes for the past few months!).

Anyhow - here are some pictures from the past few weeks- Enjoy!
Hailey's favorite toy - her toes!

So cute!

Ready for the game!

Kaelin ran away naked before her bath - and this is how I found her - in her laundry basket!

Yep - that is my lipstick on her face - she found it.

Hailey and Kaelin - so cool in their 'heart glasses' from Grandma Donna and Papa Bob.

Children's Museum

Hi all! This post is about a week late - sorry! Kaelin has been sick - really sick - with a fever reaching 104.2! So my days have been busy! I think she is starting to feel a bit better now, and her fever has come down to the 99 range!

Anyhow - Last week -on the 30th - we took the girls (along with Eric and Sarah) to the Children's Museum! It was also Hailey's 5 month birthday! Kaelin had a blast! I think her favorite parts were the artwork area and the water level on the third floor - however if you attend, TAKE A CHANGE OF CLOTHES! She was soaked even though we used the provided raincoat! Here are some pictures from our day there. Enjoy!

Coming down the slide from the dizzy room.

Mr. Roboto

The Water level

Making Paper with Mommy

Learning

K's Hands

Hailey - 5 months

Hailey in Mr. Roger's tree at the Museum

Artist Kaelin

No, I can't tell you what it is.

Holidays 2008

Justin and I had so much fun this year for Christmas. Kaelin, who is now almost 2 & 1/2, really enjoyed the lights, presents, tree and overall season. We made several trips to see Santa and have our picture taken. We also rode the holiday train at the mall twice! it was fun to see her enjoy the tree and decorating. She loved to ride in the car and look at lights - usually screaming - Look, more lights, mommy!! It was also nice to spend the first Christmas since 2004 with Justin's family! Another bright spot was that Justin got to be home from December 20-January 4th! Kaelin loved that Daddy did not have to go to work!

I missed my family a lot, but tried to remember we will see them in June! I really wish they could have seen Kaelin at this fun age - and see/meet Hailey as she is becoming more active at almost 5 months!

Both Justin and I are grateful to have our family together again, our house in Chicago sold, and that our beautiful girls are healthy. We are so blessed! We pray your holiday season was as wonderful as ours was! Happy New Year's! We know ours will be - as well have many plans to visit with friends in the next week!

Christmas Day 2008

Christmas Day this year was wonderful! We spent the mroning at home. Both girls slept until 9am - this is a miracle in our house as Kaelin is almost always awake by 7! We then opened gifts, ate breakfast and spent the rest of the morning getting ready for the day!

That afternoon we drove to Grove City to eat dinner with about 40 members of Justin's family on the Magee side. We do a name draw between the children on that side of the family. Kaelin got a pair of adorable cow poop boots, some Dr. Suess books and a cute stuffed lamb. Hailey got a rolling horse toy and some outfits. They also received gifts from their great grandparents - a pillow for K, and an ornament for Hailey.

Here are some pictures of the day:
Our tree

Santa's snack

Kaelin - trying everything on at once from Grandma Donna and Papa Bob.

Kaelin already wearing her pretty from Aunt Brenda and Uncle Dude.

Justin helping Hailey with her stocking.

Kaelin loving her new book.

Hailey unwrapping her gifts.

Paper - fun - who needs toys?!

Look at Kaelin's face - it reads, (sarcasm) great, books! Really - she did like them!

K - in her pretty dress with her lamb.

K getting her new boots.

That morning Kaelin and Hailey got the rest of their gifts from us as well as other family members on Jodi's side. Some of the things they received were: A farm kick toy for H's crib, a ballerina outfit for K and her doll Daisy, pretty jewelry for both girls, K's first tv computer, chatter phone, a new mobile for Hailey, purses, aprons, carseat toys for H, keyboard, books, pj's and several more outfits. Again our girls were very blessed! Thanks again to all!