Bring it on!

So much going on in the Schjei household!  Unless you've been living under a rock (or in a grass hut in Zambia) you have probably already heard the exciting news that baby #2 is sure enough a little boy.  We are so excited.  Petunia is clueless.  We are already imagining all the trouble she is going to force her little brother to get in; "Sure!  Mom said it was totally fine if we: take all the feathers out of the pillows/move the mattress outside so we can jump from the roof/start a worm collection in my closet/fingerpaint on the bathroom wall.".  Also last week we FINALLY got the keys to our new house.  Now the fun part begins.  We are currently elbows deep in paint, ripped-up carpet and wallpaper stripping.  Official move-in date is February 12th.  I took a ton of "before" photos and I'll post them alongside the "after" photos in two weeks when the work is all complete.

Pic 1: Last week's belly shot.  Halfway there!

Pic 2: New trick gives Daddy a heart attack.  Climbing.  Usually followed by dancing.  Not sure what part gives Daddy more of a heart attack: the climbing and potential skull fracture or the tabletop dancing?

Pic 3: This kid is a performer!  Here she is with her beloved kitty karaoke machine.  She LOVES singing into the actual working microphone.

Pic 4: Singing.

Pic 5: Where's Camryn?

Pic 6: Testing out the sweet new double stroller with my boy Oz.

Pic 7: The renovation fun begins!

Pic 8: Grandpa Jerry joining in the fun!

My Daddy just cracks me up!

A bunch of cell phone pictures.

Not the best photo quality here, just moments I've captured over the past few days. 

Pic 1: We were invited to dinner at our friends' house in Salem on Monday night.  They have five year old twins and needless to say, an endless supply of fun toys.  It was absolutely fascinating to watch Rynnie play at the kitchen.  She was seriously "washing" dishes, pushing buttons on the microwave, and "mixing" food in bowls.  Someone has been paying attention to Mommy!

Pic 2: Love this light saber. 

Pic 3: Hey guys, check me out.

Pic 4: After three weeks of a mysterious face rash that spread to her whole body on Monday night, we decided to visit Dr. Smart on Tuesday afternoon.  Poor Rynnie just can't win.  Now she has Fifth Disease.  It's no longer contagious, and viral, so there is nothing we can do to treat it except wait a few more weeks for it to clear.  Luckily it hasn't affected her mood at all.  In fact, I don't think she even knows she looks like this.  Poor baby.

Pics 5 and 6: Rearranging the furniture while waiting for Dr. Smart.

Pic 7: Mom made couscous for dinner after we came home from the doctor's office.  This is how you eat couscous without a spoon.  Like a chicken.

Pic 8: As you can see, goofy girl is not affected by her diagnosis.  New game: climbing up the side of her chair and flipping off the front.  Over and over and over.

Just hanging out.

Impromptu play date with Oskar this afternoon followed by a serious dance session before bed tonight.  I just had to share.

Video: It's obvious that she gets her moves from her mama.

Sneaky sneaky.

Ryn...is it you that stole the blue M&Ms???

Christmas take two, a monkey cake, and a trip to the ED.

What an unexpected adventure last weekend was!  What was supposed to be a relaxing Christmas celebration in Aberdeen at Grandma and Grandpa Schjei's house turned into three days of sad, sickly Camryn.  The uncontrollable fever started literally the second we got in town.  Then came the awful cough which sounded like an old man clearning his throat.  Finally, on New Year's Eve, momma couldn't stand it anymore and it was off to the Grays Harbor Community Hospital ED (no Urgent Cares exist in Aberdeen, who would have thought?!?).  After a visit from a nice Doctor and a chest x-ray, it was determined that Rynnie had both Croup and Pneumonia.  Poor girl was the saddest I've ever seen her.  Gone was the independent child we know.  Mom was the only remedy.  Luckily she is feeling much better now and getting back to enjoying all her new birthday, Hanukkah and Christmas toys!

Pic 1: Baxter knew just where to position himself all weekend.

Pic 2: I loved looking at the tree with my Grandpa.

Pic 3: Christmas dinner.

Pic 4: Enjoying the candles with Uncle Mike.

Pic 5: Exploring my options.

Pic 6: Yep, I think they are all mine!

Pic 7: Love my Grandma.

Pic 8: It's especially fun to stand ON the presents.

Pic 9: So much fun, even when you are not feeling well.

Pic 10: The Little People Farm I've been wanting!!!

Pic 11: Wowsers this is great!  Can't wait to show my friends.

Pic 12: OMG my first set!  Nana will be so excited to show me how!

Pic 13: Throwing in the towel.  Time to go to the ED.

Pic 14: Mommy and I showing off our hospital bracelets.

Pic 15: The next day I felt a little better so Daddy tested out his new "Daddle" that Aunt Kacy and Uncle Mike gave him!  It's really fun.

Pic 16: Here is my monkey cake that Grandma and Aunt Kacy made me for my birthday.

Pic 17: It was delicious!  Chocolate is the best medicine.