100th Post (with a giveaway at the end)

Here it is- my 100th post. Can you believe it?

I started this blog last December as a way to keep friends and family posted with pictures of Grace. I had no idea that through this blog I would meet so many wonderful people who have become such great friends. I had no idea that anyone would care about reading it much less be loyal followers, lurkers, and faithful commenter's. I had no idea I would inspire others to start blogs too. I had no idea that it would become such an outlet for me to share my experiences being a mom. I had no idea I would be so transfixed by others blogs as well. I had no idea I would appreciate being able to go back and remember little details that I would have otherwise forgot. I had no idea that a simple blog could do all this and more but now I do. So...I am sending a big fat blog hug to all of you out there who have told me how much you enjoy it, those of you who told me how nice it is to watch Grace grow up even if you don't see her very often, and those of you who have opened your arms to include me in the blogosphere.

So, I am doing a random drawing and giving away a $25 gift card to Red Lobster (which can also be used at Olive Garden, Smokey Bones, and Bahama Breeze). All you have to do is leave a comment and tell me:

1.)what your favorite thing is about blogging and

2.)what you would like to see more of in my blog in the future.

I will close the commenting one week from today at 10 pm.

Doublewide

Nicki sent me this from her iPhone today. This is what my mom and dad deal with everyday. I believe this is when Papa took them to see the "honk-honks" (or geese). We thought by buying them this stroller maybe they could leave the house every so often. My mom says she can barely push the thing its so heavy- HA!

More Intros...

I found out from Chass' blog that a couple of more friends from high school started blogs this summer. Chrystal and Meagan. Looks like everyone is joining the blog world! Yea!

The Weekend

Pretty dull weekend around here. Adam left Saturday morning to go Elk hunting in Colorado for a week. I had my lovely EGD procedure on Friday where they put a camera down my throat to look at my stomach. Everything was fine, no ulcer so they are pretty sure it is my gallbladder. I have a HIDA scan on Wednesday to check my gallbladder function. Leslie, Kristin, and I went over to visit with Nicole that night.

Saturday morning we went to Roxy's for breakfast before Adam left. I love this place, it is so nice to have a good breakfast place to go to in Jackson. We then went to Walmart for some last minute hunting supplies and we bought Grace these. Went over to my parents after Adam left to watch the Spartans put a beating on ND with Scott & Nicki. Ally and I did some arts and crafts. I spent the night at my parents because I am a big weenie and don't like to be home alone without Adam.

Went to see The Women with my mom today. I was surprised, it was really good despite bad reviews. Had some chili for dinner, put Grace to bed, and here I am in my house hoping that my big bad Scotties protect me tonight.

So who is coming over this week to hang out? Leslie is in for Wednesday and she is bringing wine. Anyone else? :)

Walking and other Miss G Feats

This video was taken a week ago today and I can't believe how much better she is walking even since then. I apologize for sounding like such a dork- seriously need to stop talking on the videos. She is now choosing to walk more than crawl and is even carrying things around while walking.

Grace is also communicating more than ever. In addition to uh-oh, Dooley, and Dada she is now saying Aiyee (Ally), No!, Down, All done, One-two-three, So big, and Honk honk (geese). She also signing "more", "all done", "want", and "night-night" and we are working on "down" and "up". She pat-pats her belly (as you can see in the video), waves, gives kisses with sound effects and all, rock-rocks her baby, and pushes her shopping cart around. Just this week she figured out how to open the kitchen cupboards. I can't believe how busy she is! And it is only going to get worse. I will never sit down again :)

Good Eatin'

I found these cute plates at Target. They have divided sections to separate Grace's finger food. And boy does this girl love food! She HATED baby food but loves the real stuff. And we give her anything and everything to try. If we are eating it, then she is eating it too. Short order cook I am not!!

This night we had tacos, which we make with ground venison. Adam took some of the ground venison out before the taco seasoning and added lettuce, tomato, and cheese. She ate all of it- even tomatoes! A baby taco salad.

These plates were just too cute not to share. They also come with matching bowls.

Daddy's Overalls

The overall's Grace wore today and in my new blog header picture were Adam's when he was a baby. Actually his older brother Jeremiah even wore them when he was little! They are 34 years old!! Grace looks super cute in them and they are all soft and broken in for her. They even have a little patch on the knee where they have been repaired by Adam's grandma. I am not one to save things but thank god Ann is sentimental because I think its so cool she gets to wear her daddy's overalls.

The Treehouse

After a canceled playdate because of the rain Nicki and I decided we needed to get out of the house or we were going to go nuts. So we went to Chelsea's Treehouse. I called Stephanie too and she and Grant met us there. (these first few pics have some funky color going on b/c my camera was on some weird setting).

They have a great little baby area that Grace and Luke loved and even 3 month old Grant enjoyed!
BTW- what is with all Grace's buddies being bald? HA! Grace really enjoyed the slide and climbing all over everything.

Ally hung out with the "big kids" and of course made lots of new friends.
After missing her afternoon nap and me dragging her to the scrapbook store on the way home Grace was pooped. It's hard work being a toddler!

Twins

We had the once in a lifetime opportunity to see newborn twins in the hospital Friday night. Adam's uncle Eric and his wife Lina welcomed these 5 lb 4 oz bundles of joy into the world on Wednesday night. Adam is 28 and has two newborn first cousins. Crazy!!

Here is Antonia Pauline:
And her brother Vincent Celeste (not sure if I am spelling that right)

Lina told us the hospital puts them in different bassinets but she put them together in one and even when she separates them she will look in the bassinet a moment later and their heads will be together. Awwww....

I can't imagine bringing two babies home from the hospital. What a miracle and a blessing!!

Boredom

We had the first weekend in I can't remember when of doing NOTHING. It was fantastic. We had a few people over yesterday for the game and otherwise did nothing. So what do I do- start a facebook page of course. I also updated my myspace. And did a banner for Nicki. Got Grace packed for the week on Saturday. Booked our cottage for vacation next summer. Went grocery shopping. Made Chili and cornbread for dinner today. I feel so relaxed and ready for the week. Like I actually had a weekend.

My Little Spartan

Cheering for her favorite team. I love this time of year. Football season is the best. My parents used to have 4 season tickets but we gave them up because it just wasn't possible to go to all those games with the babies. That doesn't mean we can't dress them up in Spartan gear and pretend we are there for the first home game. We had a little tailgate at our house with beer, wings, and lots of GREEN! Start them early being fans! Isn't she just the cutest little Spartan? :)

And look at this guy. Who is going to be the most handsome football player playing for the green and white?

And this.... well, this was the best picture I could get of the two of them. They both are moving now so I have no chance in hell getting a good picture.
And then there is Berkley. Berkley and Fergus think our backyard is a doggie resort & spa. Berkley decided he was due for a mud bath in the sand and water table. What a nut!

Introducing...

My best friend from high school, Chassidy, has started a blog. Chass moved to Pennsylvania a while back and she and her husband Jeremy are expecting this March! So needless to say they will be keeping family and friends updated on baby bump progress as well as the happenings in the Rellinger household. Go over here and show Chass some blog love!

Gallbladder

Went to the doctor yesterday and had an abdominal ultrasound. I have a stone or pallop in/on my gallbladder and they referred me to a surgeon I am assuming to have it out. Fun times! I guess I am not surprised since I had a lot of issues with it when I was pregnant. My appointment to see the surgeon is on the 16th of September so we shall see.

Last Day of Summer

Grace is becoming our little toddler. She has been able to walk for about a month and is choosing to do it more and more. she is able to stop after a few steps now and then go again. she is also eating a lot, finally. I know it is hard to believe looking at her but this kid would not eat anything but formula for the longest time. She is really digging real food and whole milk. She ate a quarter of my Jimmy Johns sub on the way out to the lake today.

She had so much fun swimming this evening. It was just G & G Wilson, Ann & Allan, and me and Adam left out there and it was just beautiful. Quiet, nice breeze, and the sound of little miss G belly laughing.

Hope your last day of summer was great too.

Update

I have quite a bit to update on since I have been a big fat blog slacker. Honestly, I just have been in a blog slump. I think of lots of things to post and then I think about the 70 million other things I should be doing and for once I have been resisting the urge to even turn on the computer because once I do it is all over. But, lately I have been feeling like a got a little better handle on things and that my life isn't spinning out of control so I am back. I am learning to say no and that I don't have to be all things to all people. It's a process...

HOUSE: we are still on the market. No interest in the last month. We had two showings right when we got back from vacation and the lady wanted to make an offer but has to sell her house first. Booooo. And our dream house that started this all sold about two weeks ago. Double Boo. I am not looking anymore because it sucks to fall in love with something and have it not work out. We have been throwing out the idea of building in the same subdivision as dream house. We love the location and their are lots available.

BUSINESS IDEA: Lots of you have asked what my business idea was that I was so bummed about not working out. There is a lady in Concord, Joan Boyer's School of Dance and Gymnastics, where I started gymnastics, who just retired. I considered taking over for her and even went to talk to her about it and just decided it wasn't feasible at this time. Maybe someday...

WEEKEND: Friday I went scrapping with the girls at Archievers. I got 7 pages done! A record for me. I need to scan my pages and post them so you all can see what I have been working on at all these crazy crops. We had a lot of fun as usual and I can't wait for next time. I so look forward to these nights.

Saturday we went to a wedding of a old family friend. My brother Scott was in the wedding party. We had a good time hanging out with Scott and Nicki and reminiscing about old times. Henry and Sam are so cute together and so well suited as a couple. I wish them only the best.

Sunday was the big anniversary party for my parents. See post below.

Monday. Went to the lake today and it was a glorious day. It was bittersweet being the last official day of summer but it was perfect. See post above.

HEALTH: Oh and then there is that I almost had to go to the emergency room last night. I woke up at about 11:30 with a stabbing, constant pain in my upper belly. I had probably had it for a half hour or so and it finally was unbearable to lay down anymore. I go downstairs and tell Adam about it and we contemplate going to the ER, waking up my mom in the middle of the night to come sit with Grace, and sitting with Jackson's finest for an entire night. I decide to wait it out and about 2 am it had finally subsided enough to go to sleep. It has been completely fine today. I had problems with my gallbladder when I was pregnant so I am thinking it might be that? But, I took three tums and it started to feel better so maybe it is an ulcer? Who knows, I am making an appointment with my doctor Tuesday.

40th Anniversary

Sunday, August 31st was my mom and dad's 40th Wedding Anniversary. We made a big deal out of their 35th, had a surprise party and everything but we figured with 5 kids under the age of 5 a nice little get together at our house would work best. We couldn't decide what to get my parents and thought about getting professional family pictures done since we have never done this. We ended up rejecting this idea because I think it would end being one of those presents that would cost them money. That, and I think Nicole would lose her mind with this bunch.

Case in point: I thought I would try to get some family pics with my Canon SLR. Professional I am not but good lord my subjects were uncooperative. I thought I would start with the girls, then do the two boys and then try to do a family shot. Here is how the girls went:

1. Ally and Natalie, "We want our dolls in the picture! Here, lift them up..." Grace: "Waaaaaaaah"
2. Ally and Natalie. "No, we will not take pictures without our dolls, or look at you, or listen to anything you and mommy are screaming at us". Grace, "Hmmm, this block tastes pretty good, I think I will just stand here with something in my mouth".

3. Ally and Natalie (after Nicki and I wrestled the dolls away from them), "Why does our stupid Aunt Jane ALWAYS want to take our picture?" Grace: "Yup, still just going to sit here and chew on this here salt shaker and scream if you dare to take it away from me"

4. Would be a half way decent shot if it weren't for Grace and the salt shaker, Ally's Chandler smile, and Natalie looking bored. Ugh....

I give up. Our family in incapable of taking decent family pictures. Someone is always crying, or napping, or eating.... IMPOSSIBLE! :)

A little while later we look out into the back yard and find these two little skinny dippers! HA! Nothing like running around naked in the back yard!

Berkley and Fergus, Sydney and Dooley's Scottie cousins also came over and Berkley thought a dip in the pool sounded like a fabulous idea.

Happy Anniversary mom and dad! Look at all you have created!! :) xoxo