More Mim.

I realized I never posted these!

The first (and only, so far) time she got into my makeup:

Well, she knows where mascara is supposed to go (kind of). 

These were before Mike got his neck surgered (I know it's not a word) on, note the lack of neck brace.

She does this whenever he's playing a game and she's around.  She sets up her own pillow, finds a controller, and climbs up next to him.  Sometimes she covers them both up with a blanket, too. 

Other stuff:  We spent $1000 all in one go today on a picket fence for the front.  I never want to spend money again (but the thing is, it's going to cost at least a few hundred more, for posts, brackets, cement, and all the little things that I can't believe aren't included, like post caps). 

We went to dinner last night for my birthday- the nice Thanksgiving Point restaurant, Harvest.  It was pretty great.  It was tough to decide on an entree- there are a bunch of things I want to go back and try.  I got prime rib and Mike got halibut (don't worry, it was a very manly portion).

A house of ladies

That's what we'll have, because come August, we're having another little girl!  Our ultrasound was yesterday and she was not shy.  Front runner names so far are Evelyn and Eleanor, but we're not set on either.  Mike is even less set than I, but he hasn't contributed any competing names, either. 

Wonky tree

This tree is just so awesome right now, it deserves its own post.  Dad J and Matt came over last week and took it down for us, but we needed rope to guide these last branches down (they hang over the house).  The only rope I had was from the dollar store and it broke (surprise!). 
Anyway, I kind of love the tree like this.  Not enough to not finish taking it out, but still. 
Lots of other yard stuff has happened and more is yet to come, but I'll wait until I have some better pictures to write about it.  We're going to have a lawn this year!!

Somebody is 2!

Some things Mim loves at 2:

• Saying "Whassat?" "Where is it?" "Whosit?" and "Uh-oh."
• Almost any food, but especially treats.  The only time she get picky is when I try and feed her the same thing more than 2 days in a row.  She recently tried and loved massaman curry with rice.
• Being outside.  Riding her trike, swinging, and playing in the dirt are her favorite things to do.
• Doing dishes.  I can't do dishes without her pushing up and chair and "helping."
• "Helping."  She loves to push the cart at the store, but doesn't like to stop when I do.  She's also a great sweeper, duster, and window cleaner.  She's only so-so at picking up her own toys, though.
• Danger.  Danger the cat.  She loves to pick her up, pet her, and she squeals with happiness when Danger licks her.  
• Sesame Street is hands down her favorite show.  Dora the Explorer and Wonder Pets are up there as well.  
• The ABC song, Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam, and The Wheels on the Bus are probably her favorite songs.  
• Peeing in the potty.  I only have her do it before bath time, so she doesn't pee in the tub, but she's a fan.  Once I'm done with school we'll start potty training for real.
• Playing chasing and hiding games.  
• Squealing/screeching all the time.  She is a loud toddler.
• Doing things herself.  She likes to get her own snacks, climb up into her high chair and do the buckles by herself, get out her own coloring supplies, open doors all by herself, use the computer without my interference, brush her own teeth, and all sorts of other little things.  Every time she does something new without my help I can't believe how big she's gotten.

Things she hates:

• Getting her hair brushed, unless there is sufficient distraction.  Even then, she only tolerates it.
• Hearing the word "no."  It makes her cry. 
• Parting with animals.  Danger, the dog on the way home from church, the horses we take walks to when we're at my parents', any animal ever.  We're taking her to the zoo for her birthday once Mike is up and around again, because we really thought it through...
• Soda.  I found it out first when she was insisting on having some of my ginger ale, and now we know she hates it all.  I'm ok with that, not being a huge fan myself.

 Mike and I got Mim a trike for her birthday.  It was in the living room and she got to see it first thing when she woke up:

She definitely liked it.  She figured out pedaling pretty quick, but she's still getting the hang of steering. 
Later that day, we took it outside:

After playing around  on that a bit, she wanted to swing on her swing, then we had lunch, then I tried to get her to nap (no success) and then we went to the park and played in our dirt.  All in all, it was a great day to be a toddler.  Dinner was next and then we had the grandparents over for some presents...

{Thanks for the recorder...}

{When Ari heard that it was Mim's birthday, she went right to her closet and got out her old ballet shoes and put them in a bag for Grandma to take over.  Sweet, huh?  Mim loves them.  She also loves her dress up skirt from Grandma.}

{The doll stroller was another big hit- I'm pretty sure she's imitating me in this picture.}

...and cake and ice cream.  Great Grandma Harper made the cake and Mim loves the little dolly that came on top.  Oftentimes she sets it in the stroller with her big baby, like a doll for her doll.

{She got one of the candles without any help at all; the other was mostly me.}

Happy birthday to my littlest big girl! 

Neck Surgery

 Mike had two of his neck vertebrae fused last Tuesday.  He herniated a neck disc last year, at the end of November (a cheerleader fell on his head, no joke) but we opted out of the surgery then because we wanted to see what a conservative treatment would get us first.  Turns out, the answer was not too much.  He started to have some numbness in his hands and feet when he would move his neck, which wasn't great, so we decided to go back to the hospital.  Here's what they do for the surgery.  He has a donor (cadaver) bone graft and a titanium plate holding things together until the graft takes.  The surgery went well, no complications, and the doctor was finished a full 40 minutes before the estimate they gave me.  He was only in the hospital overnight and has been home for the past week and probably a good hunk of this week, too.  Thanks so much to everyone who has been helping us out with prayers, meals, and getting our yard finished.  We love you all!

Here is a super awesome pre-op picture.  

And both of us:

Shortly after this picture, Mike headed out to the OR and I went to the waiting room where I made friends with a nice older fellow whose wife was getting a knee replacement.

And a little more than 24 hours later, ready to go home.

The incision.  Looking at this gives me the heebiejeebie spine tinglies. 

 

He gets his stitches out this week!  

In my health news, this week is also when we get to find out Babytron's gender.