Shadows.

Presley has discovered her own shadow! With the sunnier days we have had we are finally getting a little afternoon sun peeking through the windows. And at the right time the sun is at just the right height for P to play with her shadow.

Presley had a series of poses ranging from waving to jumping and hands on her hips. The sun didn't last long but we sure had fun watching her interact with her shadow. Cross your fingers the sun keeps coming out--maybe spring is on its way!

My Picasso.

This is from Presley's "Blue" period. It a portrait of someone she misses but gets to see very soon . . . .

Aunt Krista, this is you! If you look closely you can see a round-ish head with two eyes and a nose. Presley has been very into coloring lately and loves to draw (mostly scribble) on every sheet of paper in a notepad before she is done. Her favorites include drawing a volleyball, Roxy, and tracing her hand (though she usually needs help with this).

Finishing touches.

Presley's new BIG GIRL room is just about done. After packing up my sister's stuff we purchased the mattress for P's bed--now we are just waiting for the back ordered sheets. Presley has had sooooo much fun playing in her new room and especially in the new bed. She still can't quite get into it on her own but getting out is no problem. She could sit in it for hours with her dolls and stuffed animals--she covers them up, pretends to take a nap or watch a movie, and relaxes.

I am still in need of art for the walls and I am looking for a mirror, peg boards, a frame or two for pictures, and a nightlight and small lamp. I am going to miss having her in the crib but I think she will make the transition without too much trouble (my fingers are crossed). The thing above her dresser is a flower chandelier (basically a mobile), it is green ribbon with little white flowers and beads.

Lately Presley has been waking up in the morning singing songs--this morning it was "Twinkle, twinkle little star . . . what you are?" over and over again. Chris and I just sat in our bed listening to her over the monitor, smiling.

Moving???

Well, we are not moving but my sister did! Krista and Matt 'conveniently' left all their stuff here for us to pack and ship out to NC. I am not complaining because my job consisted of keeping every fed (Gandolfo's sandwiches) and making sure Presley was not in the way (maybe some moral support for all those who did the heavy lifting).

Krista and Matt we lucky that everything fit into one truck and that it only took one day to load it all up. They were both VERY thankful and called each of us multiple times to express how grateful they were. Next time I am planing my move the same way . . . . though chances are we will never move.

By the way, look for Matt on TV on Friday nights! He is a Lead Engineer for the TRG Truck Team (truck 71) in the Nascar Truck Series. Go Matt! (from little P)

Valentine's Day.

With my travels to Boise to see the new baby, we did not get to do our usual Valentine's Day activities--the highlight being a nice, romantic dinner at Burger Supreme. So before I left Chris was treated to heart-shaped sugar cookies and Prelsey recieved a new headband with several flower bows.

The head band is great but it makes her look soooo old--I guess I cannot stop the fact that she will grow up and though it happens a little each day those little bits really seem to be adding up lately. Here are some of her favorite things right now:

• Running, chasing dad (riding on his back too)


• Asking us "Where's Peanut?" as she hides behind the couch


• Telling me to "Go away mommy." or "By myself."


• Stating her first and last name (as well as mom and dad's full names)


• Playing the "chemist" with bowls and water on the kitchen floor

I forgot to mention this trip to Boise was the first time Presley has been left alone overnight with dad--and it worked out fine! I was nervous and I am pretty sure Chris was too. In March P and I are headed to North Carolina to visit Krista and we can't wait for the trip!

New arrival!

Well, it happened after a long day of Becka being induced, but I am now an aunt! And Presley has her very first cousin! Baby Lincoln Eric was born at 5:00 pm on Monday, February 11th. He weighed 6 pounds 5 ounces and was 19 inches long.

I was lucky enough to go to Boise for a quick visit (Thursday through Saturday) to meet the new baby. I am happy to say I got to hold him (probably more than my share) and I also was sent by Krista to take Lincoln's "hospital" photo (she used to do it professionally but couldn't make the long trip).

This was my first attempt at a professional shoot with all manual settings and my new equipment. We took about 130 photos and you can view some of them here with more to come once I can get them off to Krista for color correction.

Congratulations Becka and Eric!

Aquarium.

It is no secret that I love aquariums. It is too bad that we really don't have any good ones here--like the Monterey Bay Aquarium or the Baltimore Aquarium (and I have heard that I need to visist the new Atlanta Aquarium too). But what SLC does have will have to do until I get a chance to take Presely to a real aquarium.




Today we got to look at a few fish, a gigantic lobster, some sharks, sting rays, jelly fish, and a display on local aquatic life. Don't you love P's fake smile--she does this now when I ask her to smile for a photo.



Presley really enjoyed looking for each of the different animals in the different fish tanks (above she just spotted the seahorses). She even came home and told her dad about the "scary sharks", something the other kids we were with labled the sharks. We had a good time but I can't wait to visit a real aquarium soon!

Leaks.

Our roof is leaking! And so are the roofs of most of the neighbors. We simply have too much snow and not enough places for all the water to run off before it gets dammed up and leaks through the roof into our laundry room and garage.




We don't have it quite as bad as some of our neighbors and hopefully there is no permanent damage (we will have a lot of work to do come warmer weather). Chris and the developer's guys have spent the last 3 days up on the roof (inbetween snow storms) clearing the 4 to 5 feet of snow and the 10 inches of ice from several parts of our roof.




Hopefully the new heat tape will help keep the ice from forming and leaks from getting into the house--what a mess! And yes, it is still snowing with another 2 feet expected over the next couple of days. When will summer get here?

New room.

Presley is getting a new room. We are trying to talk about it and play in it as we explain that her crib and the nursery will be used by the new baby. Presley only kind-of gets it.






Today when the bed and rug arrived (we are still waiting on a dresser, nightstand, drapes, and decorations) Presley understood it a little bit more! I think she will really start to get it once we get the mattress and everything else put together. I know it won't really sink in until she actually makes the move--but we are still a few months out and she is still my little baby.

Roxy update . . .

It has been just about 6 months since Roxy's diagnosis with a liver disease. After many hours of research, new food, and supplements we have gone back into the doctor for a retest of Roxy's blood work. The ALT levels are back down to normal! We couldn't be happier and Roxy really couldn't be doing better.




I really do believe that Roxy has an allergy to wheat and glutens so we are going to keep her on her new diet of raw, dehydrated, organic food. Here's to a long, happy, fun life for a dog!