Cast me for the Party!

I think I'll just catch up on Christmas, Dana's birthday and Karalee's cast all in one post instead of splitting them out. Christmas was so much fun, I'm sad that this year it won't be just our little family. Karalee had fun chewing the wrapping paper on her gifts more then ripping lol. She got a lot of great new clothes from us as well as Grandma and Grandpa Clark, they also got her a lot of toys, we didn't since we weren't sure what she already had coming from family, we'll go all out toy wise for her birthday. :-) We taped Christmas so we don't have very many pictures to post.

Karalee in one of her Christmas outfits from Grandma & Grandpa Clark


Dana's co-workers took him out for his birthday to Red Robin which was really nice of them, he had a great time and enjoyed the food quite a bit! That weekend our friends Jim & Gregg joined us at Texas Roadhouse where the restaurant sang Happy Birthday to him, this time we didn't even have to ask they just saw the gift and started singing! It was hilarious! He got a really nice pen set from the guys and Karalee and I ventured into game land and got him a few video games, 'course in true fashion of not being a video game person I got him one he already had and one that made him sea sick! LOL Poor guy! Needless to say we took those two back and he picked out a couple others that he likes much better! One is a motorcycle game that he let me try...let's just say the road and I became one and the motorcyle left us behind! LOL We kept joking I looked like a drunk driving it! LOL I gave up after a few times of getting plowed into the ground when trying to turn and gave the controls back to someone who knows how to make it work properly!

Karalee & Mommy at Texas Roadhouse


Dana being silly at Texas Roadhouse


Dana & Karalee having fun


Dana showing what he received


Dana and Jim


Gregg


Karalee had her first big tumble on the 11th of January at 1:30PM, she was playing on our bed and I thought I had her protected well enough so I took about 3 steps away, turned to check her...and was just in time to see her roll and become airborn. Eek, I flew back of course miliseconds too late and scooped her up as she wailed. I held her close and said I'm sorry about a million times, after 10 minutes and she still wasn't calmer I called her doctors office and they advised bringing her in so off we dashed. She cried pretty much the entire 15 minute ride over to the doctors and when I took her out of the carseat she held me in a death grip poor kid was so scared, I felt horrible! At any rate she got checked and they said (to my relief) that they didn't feel any broken bones and were cleared to go home but to come back if she didn't want to put weight on her legs. So Friday night she screamed if we tried to put her down on the floor at all and held on to us for dear life but we were able to calm her and she slept well that night. Saturday she was feeling much better and was fine sitting on the floor and playing with toys, however she was refusing to put any weight on her left leg and when she'd roll to crawl she'd scream and cry in pain so off we went to the doctors again where they checked her and said they still didn't feel any broken bones but because of her reaction it was a 50/50 chance she fractured something or pulled a muscle so they left it up to Dana and I if we wanted to watch it over the weekend or do x-rays right away. We opted to wait just in case it was just a sore/pulled muscle. By Sunday night it wasn't any better so Monday I called and waited for the doctor to call back saying we had the go ahead to get x-rays...and we waited...and we waited...I called and was told they'd call back so we waited some more...finally I decided to heck with it and went down to her doctors office set to pitch a fit. We got there and they had the prescription ready and apologized for not calling, guess someone dropped the ball big time. Since Karalee's mood had been and was still fine, if you didn't know her leg was hurt and just looked at her mood wise you'd never know something was wrong. Dana got her giggling over the weekend and everything! So off we went to Children's Hospital where they x-rayed her and we went home to wait for the results. Turns out poor kid does have a tiny fracture of the femur right above her knee! So Tuesday we took her to get her cast and she was such a champ! No tears at all! She just looked around like "What's up guys?" She has to wear it for 3 weeks and we were given directions on how to care for it. Was hilarious once it hardened because it was as if she suddenly realized something was on her leg and she looked at it like an alien being! Lol She'd look at her left leg, then her right, then back to her left, back to her right...you could see her little mind spinning going, "My right looks normal, why does my left look weird??" Then she just did a mental shrug and went on about her business! She's crawling and trying to stand just like before, it's hilarious watching her crawl around with a huge purple cast on! Lol I hate that she has it but she's so resiliant it hasn't slowed her down one bit!

Waiting for the orthopedic doctors-the paper crinkles and that's fascinating!


Karalee getting prepped for her cast


Karalee getting her cast


What a beautiful smile on a beautiful face!


All done! Check out that purple leg!


At home sitting on Daddy


This weekend I held a Trade Show where friends of mine who all have side businesses just as I do with Premier Designs were able to present their businesses and get the word out. Was a small group but I think it went pretty well, we all made sales so that works out! One of my friends, Kristine, does what's called Upper Case Living which is basically vinyl letters/designs you put on your walls and it's really neat! We're going to do one in Karalee's room and one above our entertainment center to be seen as you walk in the front door. It basically looks like stenciling but is cheaper and easier but just as fabulous looking! We'll take pictures when we're done. Here's her website, it doesn't include all the designs but gives you an idea what you can get, www.uppercaseliving.com, rep would be Kristine Stumm. I got some great eyeshadows from my neighbor Marisa who sells Mary Kay and also does wedding hair, she's also planning to book a show with myself and Kristine so that should be a lot of fun! Marisa's website is www.marykay.com/marisamcallister

In conclusion I thought I'd just share some photo's that make me smile of Karalee!

Karalee enjoying her first cookie


Karalee crawling in the kitchen (pre-cast)


Karalee pulling herself up on her highchair


Karalee sitting under highchair


Progressive Cocktail party-this was taken at our place


Karalee and Miley-she's about 2 months younger then Karalee and so adorable, giggles when she see's herself in the mirror!


Karalee eating her jingle dog from Grandma & Granda Clark


We try to let Karalee have "No diaper" time as often as possible so of course I had to snap a few pictures of naked baby butt!

Tell the Tooth Now!

Karalee's 7 months saw a tooth appear! It's on the bottom left. At 8 months she got her second tooth on the bottom right! Dana has nicknamed her Tooth lol. Of course getting a picture of that tooth is much harder then I'd have thought! Lol I think we have one where you can see it, other then that you just have to know it's there! Hee hee

We participated in a Progressive Cocktail Party weekend after Christmas but before New Years. Basically you go from house to house and spend about 15 minutes in each home where the person has finger foods and a beverage. Was pretty neat, we got to see all the different decorations in each home and we got to chat with neighbors we typically don't see so that was a lot of fun! One of our neighbors has a little girl named Miley who's a couple months younger then Karalee so they had fun playing together. Our friends Jim & Gregg weren't able to participate since Gregg had just had surgery a couple weeks before, he herniated his stomach so they had to go remove those and fix it all up.

Karalee sleeping


Karalee styling in her bear cap


I'm gonna get you Mommy!


Jim & Karalee-she's wearing Jim's reindeer antler hat


Have you eaten..I mean read this edition? It's fascinating!


Karalee standing on office chair


Karalee playing with jingle dog she got for Christmas

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving was a bundle of activity since we had Dana's parents in town and holidays are just hectic anyhow! The turkey was so good, I was really pleased with how that turned out! We took Karen & Norman for pictures with Karalee as part of their Christmas gift (which ashamedly are still sitting in my house, hoping to get them sent this weekend) and they enjoyed that. We weren't impressed with JC Penney's service or photographer but we got some beautiful pictures so that worked out okay. After that they took us for some Christmas shopping for Dana's new camera and some kitchen stuff for me which was very nice of them. Neither Dana nor I took time off so while we were at work and Karalee was at daycare they puttered around town shopping and exploring. All in all it was a nice time, it's always nice to have visitors and it's always nice when you get your house back to just you and your family so it rounds out well. :-)

Grandma Karen and Grandpa Norman had fun re-living what it's like to have a little one around...and the mess they create when eating LOL. Grandma Karen was quite tickled to get the chance to feed Karalee some solids, I forget what she got but I think it was squash, Karen got carried away and forgot her name was Grandma a couple times, tsk tsk :-) Grandpa Norman I think is a bit intimidated by Karalee so we had to dash for the camera anytime he held her. They had a blast shopping for her and playing with her during their visit. Heck who wouldn't!

Grandpa Norman, Grandma Karen and Karalee


Grandma Karen marveling at how big Karalee's gotten (she was about 6 1/2 months old at Thanksgiving)


Dana loves this picture, affectionaly calls her "Carp Face"


Grandma Karen is funny


Grandpa Norman is funny too!


Karen feeding Karalee-trickier then you'd think as Karalee loves to "help", or as my Mom said of me when I'd do the same thing "SELF!!"


Mmmmmm Thanks Mom!!


YUM that was good!!! Where's the rest?!?!?


Me cooking...and taste testing the turkey!


Karen making gravy


The Turkey


Karalee, Me, Norman and Karen at the dinner table


Karalee, Norman, Karen & Dana at dinner table

Trick or Treat

Here are the long awaited Trick or Treat pictures of our little lady bug! She was 6 months old for those keeping track by month. :-) It was a nice but chilly evening so we didn't stay out long. Dana was a Redneck Prom Date (if you look close he has a fishing lure in his hat) and I was a witch.

This is our friend Bob who sat on his porch & scared te crud out of kids, Walter was scary too but we didn't get a picture of him.


Redneck & Lady Bug


Redneck & Lady Bug


This is my favorite from this batch, it was taken inside just before we left to trick or treat.


There's a Lady Bug on my couch!


Witch and Lady Bug


Witch & Lady Bug


Uncle Jim & Lady Bug



Her first Halloween was a blast & I can't wait for this years! I want to dress her as a skunk! They have the most adorable costume for it I want to get!

We're rooooooolling!

Guess who figured out how to roll? Karalee is now the quite mobile little roller! She figured it out on our trip to IL this past weekend! She can also sit really well...tilts a bit if she reaches too far but she's doing better then before! She did so well on the aircrafts I couldn't believe it! Fussed a bit on take off and landing-landings were the worst for her-but once she realized nursing really did help she was fine! Matter of fact she crashed on the landing from Denver to Chicago and stayed asleep from my arms to Dana's (I got to be the pack mule), off the plane, to baggage and would have stayed asleep had I not had to change her diaper! Poor kid was so tired! She rarely fussed though, she just rolled with the flow and was an adsolute champ the whole trip!

Nov 2nd the night we arrived:

She of course won over Grandpa Brian and Grandma Lee as well as the rest of her extended family! The Falls abode had this chicken you pressed the button on and it danced around singing the Chicken Song...Dana had the song stuck in his head for days poor guy! Lol Karalee thought that was just the neatest toy ever however! Lol She also discovered a slinky for the first time ever and thought that was mighty entertaining as well! She met two of her second cousins who last time I saw were shorter then me...now they tower over me! Little stinkers! Miranda and Ariel are both in high school now and both so smart! Ariel is going to try out modeling for a bit apparently, things like the Target ads and such. We all half teased her that she's not to get anorexic on us! She laughed and assured us she'd do nothing of the kind! Miranda is working as a waitress right now but is looking to change jobs soon, I think it was for something more clerical. I know she'd be great at it!

Karalee and Grandpa Brian playing


Aww Karalee giving Grandpa loving


Karalee looking to see what I'm doing while lounging on Grandpa


Karalee and her second cousin Miranda


Great Uncle Brad and Karalee


Karalee and second cousin Ariel


Nov 3rd

We also had the pleasure of meeting up with friends of mine I had met through a pregnancy site. The first group all have babies around the same age as Karalee so it was a blast for her to have someone to play with! Mollie's little boy Teague got the brunt of Karalee's curiousity with whaps to the face! Lol Poor guy! My friend Amber welcomed us all into her beautiful home for the visit and all the babies had great fun playing with all of her little boy Mikey's toys. Mikey was a total champ and let everyone play with them with no fussing! Karalee even found his jumperoo which looks suspiciously like hers so of course she had to try it out! Lol Ashley and her husband Eric brought their little girl Gabrielle and we had so much fun playing together! We all went out to lunch at this really good little Irish pub type place, the waitress had a serious attitude but other then that we all had fun chatting! We were all amazed at how well our kids did! No one threw a fit, no one was a pain they were all just amazing! Karalee is the oldest at 6 months, then it's Mikey at about 5 months, Teague at about 4 months and Gabrielle as the youngest at around 2 1/2 months.

Karalee and Mikey playing


Amber, Mikey, Karalee and Me


Karalee, me & Mikey


From left to right: Amber & Mikey, Ashley and Gabrielle, Mollie-her little man Teague was napping-Me and Karalee


Mollie & Teague-isn't he handsome!


Amber & Mikey, Me & Karalee (you'd never believe she's the oldest tiny as she is!), Mollie & Teague, Ashley and Gabrielle


Dana & Karalee, Eric and Gabrielle-figured we'd better get a picture of the dad's so people actually believe they were there! LOL


We lined all the kids up on the couch and got a few shots before the fell over.

From left to right Gabrielle, Mikey, Karalee & Teague


This is one of my favorites, cracks me up!


That evening Dana, Karalee, Grandpa Brian, Grandma Lee, Great Grandma Falls, Great Grandma Mason, Great Aunt Christie & Great Uncle Mark all met up for dinner at this Italian place called Luigi's House, very good food! Wish I'd thought to take pictures like my friend Staci did of all the food!

Grandpa Brian & Grandma Lee with Karalee at Luigi's


Group shot taken by Dana, from left side to right side: Grandpa Brian, Karalee, Grandma Lee, Great Grandma Falls, Great Uncle Mark, Great Aunt Christie, Me


We couldn't fit everyone in the first shot so here's the continuation: Great Uncle Mark, Great Aunt Christie, Me, Great Grandma Mason


Nov. 4th

We took Karalee to downtown Chicago and while Dana and Grandpa Brian toured the area Karalee and I met up with my other friends. Naturally I had the most stuff...snuggli, stroller, enormous diaper bag etc etc, they wisely had left the kids home so were much less encumberd! Lol They were so great about helping me haul everything though which I greatly appreciated! They also got some Karalee loving as their fix until they got home to their babies! It was so great to meet everyone in person and we had a fabulous time! Sorry some of the pictures are small, not sure what I didn't do right!

Staci & Karalee


Amy & Karalee


Laura & Karalee at Johnny Rockets


Staci, Amy, Laura, Kim, Me and Karalee in front of Buckingham Fountain


Amy, Laura, Kim, Me & Karalee on bridge above Michigan river


That evening after we returned from Chicago Karalee's Great Aunt & other Gret Grandma came down tothe Falls abode to play with Karalee. GG Mason made some delcious bbq as well as having Dana make a KFC run for chicken, & GG Falls whipped up some appetizers & yummy mashed potatoes.

Karalee & the infamous chicken


Karalee & the slinky


Karalee & the slinky again


Great Grandma Mason, Karalee, Dana & the slinky



Nov. 5th

We left the Falls abode at 6 AM and got to the airport around 7:30 because Dana was afraid we'd catch bad traffic otherwise. Unfortunatly our flight wasn't until 11 AM so we had quite a bit of time to kill. We did get a few cute shots of Karalee being amused by us.











Karalee has also been giggling up a storm! We discovered a few nights ago that she LOVES if you bounce up and down in front of her going BOINGY BOINGY BOINGY, she just laughs and laughs and laughs! 'Course we pass out from lack of oxygen doing this and we start laughing with her! It's so much fun though! Dana and I both cracked up at ourselves at all the goofy things we'll do for a laugh from her!

I'll post the Halloween pictures soon as Dana makes them available to me, they hidden on his side of the computer at the moment. :-)