Shhhhh........don't tell Daddy!

But we made his gift for Father's Day today and it is reeeeaaaaallly cool. He's gonna love it. We went to Mind Over Splatter today (one of those paint-your-own-pottery places) with our Mommy group and all the babies made hand or foot print tiles for their Daddies for Father's Day. It was SUCH a great idea (Thanks Kaisha!) and something I probably never would have thought of but will definitely do again! They had so many neat ideas in there and I can't wait to go back and make more stuff, a great idea for gifts and special occasions! Tula didn't really like having the paint on her hands, the feet she was okay with but her hands she likes kept clean (Bless her lil heart!). She was not impressed to have that paint on them and couldn't be done fast enough. Otherwise, she loved the change of scenery and watching all her baby-friends do their thing. We go back next week to pick up the finished product and I can't wait to see how it turned out, I have a feeling John will really love it! More pics of today's playdate in the gallery if you want to check them out!

Grandma went home today.......

...and, as you can see, we are praying she comes back soon! And brings Sadie. Tula absolutely fell in love with Sadie this trip. She loved watching her play and bark at Grandpa, give kisses to Grandma, and she thought she was the big girl when it was time to take Sadie for a walk and she got to hold the leash. Grandma and Grandpa rigged something up where they could slide the leash through the steering wheel to Tula's red car when they went for walks and it wouldn't slip out if she did let go. But you would never know it, Tula WOULD NOT let go of that leash for the life of her. She was so proud to be walking the dog. She also learned to call Sadie and loved saying her name. She would rotate between that and her "Aunt" word for most of Gma and Gpa's stay. Tula loves having visitors and especially her Grandparents, and of course I love the relief and all the extra help...and the company, of course! Most of all, I love watching my little girl brighten up someone else's day as much as she does mine. Miss you Mom and Dad! Thanks for the wonderful visit!

Love,

John, Christa, and Tula Belle

I'm cool with my new cup.....

Rootbeer Float Anyone?

A Fun Night!

My Mom is in town and watched Tula for us last night while we went for dinner. NOt only did we both stare nonstop at the baby at our table at Benihana (the local hibatchi restaurant) , then we would talk about how much fun Tula would have been having and how we can't wait to bring her. The other Mom was telling us how it's pretty much free entertainment for the kids while they ate....sounds good to me! But we had a great time on our first date night in what feels like forever, I seriously think we may have done that 3 or 4 times since she was born...yikes! The best part of the night was coming home to her though, she was so excited to see us and because John leaves for work for awhile we let her stay up way past bedtime to play. We had lots of laughs and normally its just the three of us so it was nice to have Grandma around recording us all playing together, usually John or I have to take a break from "the cuteness" to record the other with her. She thought this was so fun fun and it was a good 20 minutes of belly laughs for all. Enjoy!

Eating Pancakes.....and sneezing!

Miss Musical!

So we went to a Mommy and Me Music Class today with our friends from Mommy Group and I am pretty sure Tula has never had so much fun! She really loved it. We sat in a circle and sang songs, one came on with a bunch of men's voice's singing the "horsey song" (da da dum da da dum da da dum dee dum.....) and all the babies sat on their Mama's knees and we bounced them. Tula thought it was hilarious, I don't know if she enjoyed watching all her friends flop around or being bounced herself more. The teacher had a box of little egg shakers and those were of course fun to eat and bang together, she LOVED the maraca (hers got broken at a playdate long ago and I am convinced after today she has been missing it ever since) and the best part was when the teacher brought out a big box of kitchen stuff, pots and pans and lids and spoons and utensils to bang them with. It was pretty much a baby jackpot and it was cute to see them crawl in there and pick their toys out. That is a big new thing with Tula, I find it so cute to see her make her own little "choices". Instead of giving her a mango stick, I put the bowl in front of her and say, "Which one do you want?" And for some reason, although they all look the same to me, she inspects the bowl a little and then seems to make a little decision, based on what, I have no idea. It is really adorable. So is her picking out toys from her toy box and kitchen gadgets from the teachers pile, it all is a constant reminder to me that she is growing and developing every day, at a WAY faster rate than I would or could have ever imagined.

On the growing an developing note....we have a top tooth! And it came so easy I would have never ever known it was about to make an appearance except for the fact I could see the white trying to press through the last few days. Finally, two days ago I felt it cut through, and today I can already see a thin little white line when she smiles. Not even close to being "picture visible", but my mommyvision could spot that thing from a mile away! The second one is trying to come through and RIGHT there, it is not being near as kind to my baby girl and she had a bit of a sucky evening and bedtime she was not her usual self. I think this one is actually causing her lots of pain, poor thing. So I am hoping and praying we wake up tomorrow with the second one through and his teething business behind us again for a little while.

Anyways, it was a fun day. Music class was definitely a highlight, and although I can't see it being a part of our regular schedule for awhile, it was a treat to see my kid having so much fun. Daddy was home all day from work and Grandpa and Grandma came over for the afternoon and dinner. Grandpa left for Detroit for a few days so we have Grandma staying with us. Yay to a sleep in day for Mommy! Well needed after this new great idea Tula has had that 6 am is the "cool" time to wake up in the morning. Sheesh......

10 Months Old!

So in the midst of all the craziness of the past two weeks for us Tula Belle turned a whopping ten months old! I know, crazy right? And we have just been so busy around here that I haven't even had that much time to think about it, let alone write a blog update. When I posted her nine month update, she was just beginning to pull herself up on things. Now, almost 6 weeks later, she pulls up on everything and is definitely "cruising", moving from one piece of furniture to another, around the outside of her excersaucers and jumperoos, or even walking behind push toys that she has. The walking behind her push toy actually started when we were in Canada, I had bought her a little push car for there and as soon as we set her down behind it she took off like a natural. She loved that were were all geting so excited about it and kept lokng up at John and I for our reactions. She knows how, and loves to make us smile.

Another new trick Tula learned in Canada was to say the word "Aunt". It started one day when I was standing at the top of the stairs yelling down for Tiffany. I would yell "Tiff" and then a pause, waiting for a response, and Tula would yell "Aunt". It really just came from out of the blue. We went back and forth for a while, I would yell Tiff and she would tell Aunt, when I got got louder so would she. And when Tiff or Jenelle were around she seemed to get that they were "Aunt" and she would continually say it to them. Oh yeah, and still no sign of the Mama word. In fact, when I say Mama, she looks at me and says "Aunt". We have been home for almost a week and she is still babbling that word in most of her sentences, we will see when I head back to Canada tomorrow and she sees her Aunts if she still remembers to call them that.

Another big thing that happened this month for Tula is she finally gained weighed! At her weigh in this week she weighed 16 pounds, 13 ounces, almost a pound and a half more than her nine month weigh in. She sat at the 15 and a half pound mark for the last three months and I think everyone was starting to get a little worried, myself included. But I guess all is well and there probably is a good reason most people only see the Docs for a weigh in every three months. I am glad I track her weight for my own journals and memories, but it's hard when it's being watched that closely and nothing is changing. I am glad everything is fine and convinced it was all the Canadian foods that fattened her up. whatever it was, it worked and that's what is important. She is still on the small side, but at least she is back on the charts. I think she is in the 3rd percentile for her weight and age. Um...yay for being on the charts!

What else is new this month? Not really any more words, Dada and Aunt and a bunch more jibberish. Her speech seems to have hanged a bit in that she seems more "into" her stories. She will scream sometimes, or use her hands a little to talk. Even when she babbles to herself sometimes you can almost hear her differetn emotions or feelings in her tone. No new teeth, and frankly, I don't even think she is teething at all. I see no indications of any more popping through, I will keep you all posted if anything changes but I am thinking those top ones could still be a ways off.

Tula is still eating similarly to last month, she loves apples with cereal for breakfast, yogurt for lunch and sweet potatoes for dinner. We tried giving her Macaroni and Cheese for the first time this month and she wasn't having it. I have tried giving her saltine crackers as well and she doesn't like them. She seems to actually not like salty things, even cheese she is steering away from when it's on her tray, she will pick out the cucumbers or cheerios or whatever I put it with and leave just the cheese on the tray. I guess she isn't a salt fiend like me, which is probably a good thing for her actually. She loves sweet though. Oh yeah, and bread. Loves any kind of bread. And loves to go for breakfast with Mommy and Daddy and have a pancake. She will eat a whole one if I let her! I usually bring her her own breakfast and feed her while I wait for our food to come and just let her pick at things while we eat, but she cannot get enough of pancakes, and I think I have found the secret to being able to take her out for a three course meal. She would eat them for hours! And she hasn't even learned of or tasted syrup yet. I can only imagine how hooked she will be after that. That's a little ways off yet though. For now, she seems to like fairly bland foods, too sweet or any salt and she loses interest completely. She is still nursing about 4 times throughout the day and once through the night. Taking a trip to Canada messed us up in the sleep department so she is waking a little more than she was before we left, soemtimes two or three times, but we have been home 6 nights and already she is starting to get back into the swing of things so I am hoping after this trip home for Grandma's funeral that it will only take a few days for her to bounce back into the old routine. Oh yeah, speaking of the old routine, apparantly the other thing Tula decided in Canada was that she like to wake up at around 6ish and get a head start on the day. And she is doing that at home to. Yuck. We are really hoping to get things back to the way they were next week after we get settled at home, the 6 o'clock business is NOT for me!

Well I am off to bed, Tula and I fly out tomorrow at 10:15 and I need to be well rested for our long day of travel. It will be a quick trip to Canada for Grandma's funeral on Thursday, I will be heading home on Sunday afternoon (I think).

Here is one of my favorite pics so far of Tula as a ten month old. We were twins for the day with our white tanks, black leggings and shades. She really is my little buddy!

Playing With Daddy

Mother's Day Giggles!

Is this not one of the most contagious laughs you have ever heard?

Happy Mother's Day!

Well today was my first Mother's Day as a Mom, and it was bittersweet, to say the least. This morning, on Mother's Day, my Grandma Klettke passed away after a very short and difficult battle with cancer. She was diagnosed about three weeks ago and told at that time she had 6 weeks to 6 months to live. They were, and still are unsure of the primary source of cancer, and we may never know. Their timeframe was generous, and only a few short weeks later she passed, in the comfort of her own home, as she had requested and wished for. As untimely and painful as it was to hear of her sickness and then death, I am thankful beyond measure for the last few weeks that everyone had to spend with Grandma, and the short time that I got to have with her two weeks ago when I travelled to Canada to pay a visit after I had heard the "news". I know it is a million times easier for me to be grateful for the last few weeks than for other members of my family who were there 24/7, caring for Grandma and doing the jobs that no one else wanted to do. I could not believe the dedication, patience and absolutely unconditional love my Mother showed her Mother during her last days. It made me realize that it is not only the Mother who loves unconditionally, a daughter does as well. That there comes a time when the tables turn, maybe when you least expect it, and you will realize that your daughter has become everything you ever dreamed her to be and more. That she can be your hero too. I believe that the first time she takes the spoon and feeds you, or the cold cloth to wipe you down, or the gentle songs hummed to ease your worries, that you will be filled with as much love and delight as the days many, many, years before when you lived to do those very same deeds for her. I often think about how much I just enjoy Tula right now, how I really do cherish all these little tiny details of our day, and I wonder when the inevitable will happen and I will begin to take some of these things for granted. For anyone in a Mother/Daughter relationship, you know there are a few years there in the middle that we certainly don't delight in everything the other does. But I imagine, at the end of a Mother's life, that there is no greater joy than being nurtured by those precious people in your life that you created. That there is no greater sense of pride than being able to lay there and bask in the love of the legacy and generations you have started and are about to leave behind. And I would bet that as sad and different as the circumstances may be, being spoonfed by your own baby all those years later brings you as much joy as it did to do the same for her. Mom, you did an exceptional job the last few weeks and I am so proud of you and amazed by your strength. I know there were many, many others who were there helped a lot, but today is Mother's Day and I want to single you out because you are my Mom and you deserve it. I am so, so proud to be your child. Grandpa, Larry, James, and everyone else, you guys all did fantastic and I am proud that you are my family, my blood. I wish I could have been there more to share in these times with you, but I love that because we are family I didn't have to physically be there for you all to know that my heart was.

I am lucky to have made the trip when I did two weeks ago to share some special time with Grandma in the hospital when she was first diagnosed, before she went home and when she was still well enough to talk. I love that she knew, somehow, exactly the things I needed to hear from her to calm my heavy heart. And I will never forget the words of love that she poured over me, my husband, and my family, and how very proud and lucky I felt to have the life I did. And even more proud that my Grandmother got to see some of it. There was so much more I wanted her to be a part of and I guess just expected that she would be, but I am grateful for the time we did have and glad that she got to see as much as she did. She really did a beautiful job of saying everything she wanted and needed to say to me and John, and it was those moments that make me think the last three weeks were beautiful, in their own way. I believe Grandma got to have her time with everyone that was really important in her life and say the things that she needed to say, and I saw firsthand the blessings of knowing that your death is near. I never understood how anything good can come of that, but there is something so special about the countenance of a dying person that I truly believe now, more than ever, that these last few weeks were, above all else, a gift from God. What a way to end your life, with the joy of being able to share your love with those dearest to you, and to give them each a little nugget of knowledge or encouragement or praise that they can hold in their heart and treasure forever. Thank You, Grandma, for that. For making the best of it and making it count. You said you would remember forever and your forever wasn't long enough. I will remember for you, forever. I love you and miss you so much already.

Mom, Happy Mother's Day. There isn't a card this year to tell you how I feel. There are no words. I love you so much. I am so proud of you. You truly have a servant's heart and the ability to work hard under extreme pressure and chaos. And you can just keep on keepin' on when everyone else would have had to much. Sometimes when I see you in situations like this, I wonder if there is a load too big for you to bear. You seem to be capable of so much more than I think I could ever do or be, and you do it wearing your heart on your sleeve, which makes you all the more brave. You set the bar for being a daughter so high and I hope some day to make you half as proud and content as I know you have made your own Mom. Watching you, even though from afar, has been an inspiration.

Tula, thank you for filling every little hole in this day that may have had an ounce of darkness with the brightest light possible. Your love, your precious laugh and your joy help me find the strength in my weakest hours, and although it was sad for me in some ways, we had a special day together and I Thank You for that. You laughed all day, I swear your little brain knew what Mommy needed, and the first tear that fell from my eye was long after you drifted to sleep and there wasn't a constant joy crawling around my feet and pulling at my pant leg. No, I am not even claiming that every day is near as good as today was with you, but today was great and I needed that after an awful morning and some sad news. I love you Tula. More than words.

To all the other Mommies out there, Happy Mother's Day to you! I hope your day was full of giggles and love and flowers and cards and phone calls and whatever else made you feel like you were someones hero, because you are.

Climbing the stairs!!!

She has been doing this for awhile now but I hadn't taken any video yet and I wanted to share it with you guys. She is too cute and likes to crawl up the stairs for bedtime. It's too cute......