Okay, so I guess I'll just call this post "February" because I know I've been absent this month. We will sum it up in one big update. Well, we closed on the house on January 25th. We immediately jumped in and got started on completely redoing all of the floors, to include new hardwoods in the entire house, new carpet in the bedrooms, fresh paint on every single surface to include the cupboards, and brand new appliances. Kevin has been working with his buddy (also Kevin) to install the floors and paint, and he has learned a ton about home improvement in the process. We are both learning that home projects always take longer than projected. But our new furniture was delivered today and we stocked our fridge and thus we are well on our way to actually enjoying our new place. Rynnie has had no trouble adjusting and loves the vastly increased square footage! While Kev was sweating over construction projects and single handedly improving Lowe's stock worth, Rynnie and I escaped the dust and paint fumes (not healthy for a toddler and our unborn son) and went to California to hang with my family. We even brought our friends Jenn and Oskar for a little sun, swimming and adventure. I can't say it was relaxing, as Jenn and I both learned that traveling sans husband is not easy with a toddler. We had a fun week, so much in fact, that Ryn and I returned the next week for a repeat performance (while Kevin continued to slave away). Needless to say, though we had a fabulous time in Palm Desert, we couldn't wait to get back to the man in our lives and our new home! We hope you all visit soon!
Pic 1: Jenn took so many wonderful pics, including this blue eyed beauty.
Pic 2: Had to put on my new shades to greet Nana at the airport!
Pic 3: Kevin and I were so surprised the other day when Camryn grabbed an apple and just started going for it. She really does eat it, even if her bites are tiny.
Pic 4: Off to the pool!
Pic 5: Bubble bath with my man Oskar.
Pic 6: Bathing beauty.
Pic 7: Did I mention that her hair has gone through a recent growth spurt?
Pic 8: Another new talent: coloring! Needs some redirecting to the actual paper, but she gets it.
Pic 9: We paid a fun visit to the zoo. I brought my double stroller to test it out. I lost count of the number of people asking Jenn and I if they were twins. I'm sure you can guess what they thought about us two ladies together...
Pic 10: My ad campaign for birth control.
Pic 11: The zoo had a sandbox that kept Rynnie super busy.
Pic 12: She's off!
Pic 13: Nothing can keep this girl away from the water hazards.
Pic 14: Swimming with mommy. This kid is so fearless, she repeatedly tried to jump into the deep end. I think I had about 27 heart attacks.
Pic 15: She jumps in all by herself!
Pic 16: Long hair = new hair styles!
Pic 17: Another new hair style (after the pig tails were removed).
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.
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.
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.
