Today is the day that I miss my grandparents the most.  Christmas Eve we all used to get together and eat Oyster soup and Chili.Don't ask how that got started. I remember sitting in my grandparents house and thinking "GOSH it's HOT in here"  They used to keep their house about 80 degrees , the whole house smelled of wood smoke, us included.  It is a glorious smell that always reminds me of them to this day. 
For the past couple years when I host Christmas  at our house I cook Chili on Christmas Eve and my parents come over and stay all night. I'm not a fan of Oysters so I won't cook Oyster soup but I do keep the Chili tradition alive.  Now that we have Willow I hope to keep old traditions and start new one.
I miss you Grandma and Grandpa Hofmann and Grandma and Grandpa Steward

Merry Christmas EVE every one

A lot has changed in a year

Hard to believe that 2 years ago I was freaking out about the positive test I had just taken.  Wow, how things have changed.  We love you Willow Grace.  You may try our patience sometimes but , darn are you cute. It's hard to be mad at such a cute little girl.

This is the time of year when I start getting sentimental. I think about all the fun things I used to do around this time of year and how much family played such an important factor in them all.  It makes me wish I had learned more from my grandparents and learned more ABOUT them.  I hope that Willow will have the same relationship with her family and will be sentimental about it when she gets my age. A day doeesn't go by that I don't think about my grandparents (especially this time of year a lot of things remind me of them)
Onto Willow updates which I have been terrible at updating in this blog.   She isn't sleeping well EVER, we all are hoping it is a phase that will pass.  She's a champ at eating with utensils (when she eats) but you better feed her fast cause she isn't much on sitting still too long.  She still is waiting for those 4 canines to come in.  We are enjoying the nice weather so we can get out and play .  Running up and down the hill (in her wagon or on foot) is a big hit as is swinging.  She's just so darn busy.  Soon all of her jibberish will turn into words and she'll never be quiet again :)   I really wish my grandparents and Jim's dad could see her. 

Looking thru pics again. I'm seeing a pattern.

a year ago today

and Today...
Looks like Hello Kitty is our thing!!

Pumpkin patch time!!  This was Willow's first trip to the pumpkin patch.  Tractor ride,  Cletus the donkey and pumpkin pickin...sounds like fall to me.  

I was looking thru pictures the other day and came upon one that made me smile. 

I've tried to re-create it here for you......

In 3 hours we will officially have a 15 month old, doesn't seem possible.  Today was Willow Pants 15 month dr. appt.  Her percentiles are movin up. She grew a 1/2 inch in the 2 weeks since she was sick.  Dr. said she couldn't even tell she was early.  Seemed happy about her developmental milestones too.  She was asking what sort of things she was able to do and when we told her she was kicking a ball dr. said that's not even something she asks about until she's 3 years old.  We still need to work on getting rid of the silly bottles and get more veggies in her.  Her 2 bottom one year molars are in and she's working on the top 2.  She's been doing a pretty good job sleeping thru the night til she got sick and started getting those pesky molars. Overall we think she's doing great and LOADS of fun

Willow had her first "sick" visit to the doc this week.  I thought something was up when she woke in the middle of the night and felt warm.  Sure enough....fever.   Long story short, no strep, no UTI.  Most likely those stinkin HUGE molars coming in and/or a virus.  I have to admit since Jim was out of town I was freaking out a bit and actually asked my mom to come over.  I'd like to put on that "warrior face" most of the time that I can do anything that comes at me....but guess not so much in this case.  Oh well. Hopefully this fever will break and those molars will get outta there.

So many things to write about.  Everyday Willow does something new.  Not quite talking yet but she sure does babble alot.  She has said "bye bye" a few times and of course "momma" and "dada" and we think "Circe".  Waving bye or Hi is a fav of hers. She's not too shy around strangers but it does take her a little time to warm up.  We have started Baby Time on Tuesdays again and Kindermusik on Thurs.   She loves loves loves being outside so we spend most days outside as much as possible.  Loves riding in her wagon and in fact will pull it out of the garage.  Eating apples is a fun thing for her too, we give her a whole apple and she munches away.  We are having trouble getting her to eat veggies, which is weird because when she first started foods she would eat anything. I'm sure it's a phase she'll grow out of.  We've never purchased  more milk in all our lives either, it's crazy.  She still needs a night bottle which sucks so she gets up at least once during the night.

Willow had her 1 year doc appt today.  We forgot to get her pic this morning and she's been sleeping since we came back from her appt.  So we'll have to do it later.  She was at 45% for weight(19# 6.6oz)  25% on head circum. (17.32'") 35% length (28.75").  Doc said she's doing good.  Not anemic and happy that she is self feeding and using a sippy.  Our next challenge is getting rid of the bottles and using whole milk. Doc said she should be using 2-4 words and knowing what they mean, I think we may be behind on that but we are trying.  Overall I think she's doing good.

Happy First Birthday Willow pants ( AKA Nugget)  I can't believe it's been a whole year!! (officially at 5:34pm) 
From this.....

To this.........

Today was the big party day at our house.  We had cake and ice cream and some finger foods, nothing super fancy.  There were way more people that showed up then we ever expected. Thank you to all of you who did. Willow did great. She was the star of the show and had a blast wandering around and playing with the other kids that showed up . She was exhausted after the party was over but as I type this she is up and at it again.  After her little nap we were eating supper and she actually waved at us, gotta write that down in her calendar. She didn't really smoosh up her cake, I had to help her get into it but she did get it on her hands and ate a little of it.  We had big surprises for the grandmas. We had first professional pics taken and then had them and a lot of Willow's other pics put on a digital frame for them.  My mom was in tears (not surprising if you know my mom )

today is party day!!!  
from this

to this

There will be a bigger post later after the festivities. Stay tuned

52 weeks !!!!! In just a couple days I will have a ONE year old! That does not seem possible.  We are working on getting things together for her party .  We spent July 4th very very low key, it was over 100 degrees ( one of many many days that it reached that hot).  So we stayed in and kept cool.

49 weeks today!  That means just a a couple more weeks til the BIG ONE!!! Holy moly where has time gone.   Plans are already in motion for her big party. So exciting.   And just the other day she took a couple steps on her own.  Wonder if she'll be walking before her first birhday?????  She seems to understand a lot of what we say to her and has started saying "mama" and "dada" and understanding what she's saying.  For being a month early we really think she's doing good. But we just might be bias . 

willow is just one month away from the big 1 !!!!  I can't believe that a year ago I was still preparing for her birth when she had other ideas.  What a great addition she has become.

We got a cheapy blow up pool so we can get our tan on together.

Once year ago today I was celebrating with my closest friends at my baby shower.

Today I'm celebrating having the cutest little girl ever!

47 weeks and Willow pants has hit the 19lb. mark.   Not walking yet but she can stand on her own.  She loves feeding herself so we are feeding her what we eat pretty much (unless it's crap food).  Everywhere we go she turns heads.  She draws them in with her eyes, then she flashes a smile and BAM ! She's such a good little one when we go out someplace, doesn't fuss and loves to watch everything that is going on.  Library time starts again next week so we are going to be doing that again.  Going to get her a little pool so we can work on our tans :)  Trying to work on getting rid of the bottles, that's something i want to get rid of by the time she's one.  Getting things together for her party, it's gonna be fun fun fun.  Hoping to get some pics taken of us all soon

43 weeks and counting. I CANNOT believe that Willow pants is almost a year old.  This coming Tuesday she will be 10 MONTHS!!! Where has the time gone? I was thinking today have I taken enough pictures, will she have enough pics of her childhood so far to know how much she was loved and how much she got to do?  Have I done enough to make her smart, will she walk early? Will she talk early? Is there more I can/could have done?  So many questions and doubts!! ANYWAY!!!  She is sooooooooooooo close to standing on her own. She wants to soo bad I can see it . Then OH MY she'll never slow down and will get into soooo much trouble .  And you know what? It's ok.  Everyone tells us how beautiful she is, how good she is, what pretty eyes she has, what pretty hair she has and what a beautiful complexion she has.  We're of course bias but to have so many people tell us , then I guess it's the truth.

42 weeks. I realize I have been very bad about keeping this up to date. Sorry :(   Willow is such a little cutie.  She is now able to stand and walk with her walker toys and is doing a great job.  Every day her personality comes out a little more.  She is a really good girl.  Mom and Dad came over this weekend to watch her and they took her out to eat with them.  They said she was such a good girl and had lots of fans where they ate. We've been going to Baby Time at the library on a regular basis.  Some days she gets into it, other days not so much.  Same goes for swimming. But at least we are exposing her to different things.  I can't believe she'll be 10 months in a couple weeks, before too long it will be her FIRST birthday!!!!!

I realized I have been really bad about updating the blog. It seems as though everything I need to say or show ends up first on Facebook, so I forget about this blog.  Anywho...... Willow pants turned 9 months old on Easter.  Made out like a bandit (thanks to the grandparents).  We were bad parents and didn't get her anything.  She's getting another upper tooth ( that will make 4 total) and is such a champ when it comes to teething.    We went to the doc this week and she wasn't quite 18 lbs. But she has jumped in percentiles.  40something in head and height but only 30something in weight. It's ok, she's gonna be small but mighty.  I think the doc was impressed with her.  Being able to stand up etc the doc thinks she will walk early.  Doc was impressed that she was already using a sippy cup and doing really good at sleeping at night.  The past 2 nights she has went to bed at 10 and hasn't gotten up til 8 the next morning. Which is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

a year ago.  From this

to this

37 weeks.  Willow is learning so much. Everyday she figures something out. Crawling like crazy, pulling up and now clapping.  She finally broke the 17lb mark.  Started swimming on Saturdays.  Still only 2 bottom teeth but I'm sure it won't be long before more are breaking through.  She is always smiling and when we are out with her she captures the attention of everyone that sees her.  She truely is a very easy baby, we are very very lucky!!

36 week has brought lots of fun stuff.  Willow is getting soooo good at crawling, she did pull herself up once but not again since. I don't think she'll be crawling long before she'll be up and RUNNING.  We've signed up for swim classes which start next week. I'm so excited. Jim and I both will be be going along since it's on Sat.  it'll be a fun family activity. We went to baby time again at the library I think I'll keep taking her every now and then so she can be around other kids.  She really loves jingles and songs, she stops whatever she's doing to listen to commercials. Maybe she'll be in advertising..hahah.

Excuse this random post.  So I stopped by where I used to work today to visit.  It made me realize that I had some good times there, learned a lot and actually did sorta kinda like what I did.  It also made me happier that I knew that I didn't have to go someplace to WORK anymore.  I feel like my head is clearer, my thoughts are deeper and even though some days I do feel guilty that I'm not bringing home the bacon anymore I know that is is right .  Who knows what will happen down the road but right now I am glad I have Willow pants. Who knew something so small could bring such BIG changes (for the better).  I almost feel like I've gotten "softer" and for those of you who really really know me know that that is BIG!!! Not that I wasn't compassionate or passionate  before but I was compassionate and passionate about different things before.  That's all the rambling for now, thanks for listening.

8 months today.  Willow was a busy girl today.  First we went swimming at the Y. She was just chillin', floatin' on her back, went underwater.  Swimming was so rough that she fell asleep while floating on her back and slept for over 30 min. (yes floating IN the water), guess it brought back memories of that warm bath she was in for 8 months.    Then we came home and I put her down and off she went....CRAWLING.  It started out after Circe's dog toy then she just started motoring where ever she felt like.  Yesterday...no crawling, today crawling like she's done it all her life.  So fun!!!  Now WATCH out!! I'll never get anything done around here!!!