Dear Baby Waider,

It seems like either feast or famine with my blog posts here. Truth is this weekend was a blast and I could have posted many stories about it. It actually makes me really anxious for Christmas break. Today I haven't felt good. Sore throat, stuffy nose, etc. Dad will tell you, as will grandma that I am not a fun sick person. Pretty needy and whiny. So today I feel like I've been grouchy mama. Anyway I was cruising Facebook while you were napping (thanks for the 3 hour nap by the way) and, Liz Zach posted that she was baking and listening to Christmas music while it was snowing outside. It was then immediately decided that once you got up from your nap we would bake!I almo immediately knew what we'd be baking. See, Dad bought some bananas...Here would be a great place to teach you that your dad loves a good deal. The man lives for bargains, which is why he loves Black Friday. Anyway, yesterday I sent him to the store for bananas. Our favorite store Don's apparently has an "over-ripe" policy in which you can buy a bag full of over-ripe bananas for $0.99. You get as much as you can fit into the bag for just $0.99. Not being able to turn down close to spoiled food he loaded up on bananas. Hating the thought of a fruit fly infestation I decided we would make banana bread.

It was a hit! You seemed to like baking.

You did seem to want to drink the oil.

Your favorite thing to do was stir, but you did not want mama's help at all.

Here you are happy to be stirring alone.


I loved baking with you today. The gently falling snow. The festive Christmas music. Memories of baking with my own mom and grandmas. The excitement of pouring in the ingredients and making something delicious. I was feeling pretty nostalgic especially since we were baking on your great grandma Halter's table. It made me wonder how many kids have baked on this table and how many loaves of bread have been prepared on it. All in all a nice, full circle moment. Now, after an entire awesome weekend you have diarrhea, a fever and seems as though you may throw up. Nonetheless this afternoon was fun.

Mama loves you

She Likes it!!!!

I'm sure you all have been dying to know if Ellie took to the twenty five year old cheetah. The answer is yes! She really liked it. Maybe this one is even a little more her size. Although the nine year old me still wishes just a little that we could get the awesome giant cheetah. Maybe next year.

Hugs and kisses for cheetah.

Chip Off the Ole Block

Dear Baby Waider,

I hear all the time how much you look like your dad. As a matter of fact I rarely hear that you look like me at all. But tonight we had an incident when I said, "THAT'S TOTALLY MY KID!!!" We were at a toy store. We were looking at dolls and other "girly stuff." All of the sudden as I'm holding you I hear you say "Uh,uh" and point. That means that you want something. So I turn and look at what you are pointing at. There it was. A giant, stuffed, cheetah. This is cool for many reasons.

1.When I was little I would have totally gone for the giant cheetah over a doll, barbie, or any other toy in the toy store.

2. I had a collection of stuffed cheetahs when I was little.

This is one cheetah that survived one of Grandma Halter's ruthless stuffed animal purgings. I'm hoping that you might like to play with it! It'll sure make me feeling a little better for storing it for the past 25 years...

3. In front of some random man you said "kee, kee." Which means kitty, kitty in your language. You also said "Boo." Which is the name of your BFF/cat at home. The man was very impressed with your language skills and even he was convinced you needed this giant cat.

4. Your dad cannot say no to you. It is very difficult for him. We've already purchase many, many things for you. So, when we walked into the store, you found the cheetah, and you did this:

I really wasn't sure at that point how we were ever going to escape from the toy store without that $69.99 cheetah. BUT, then you found an entire rack of pens and you completely forgot about the cheetah. :) Pens, I love pens now as much as I loved cheetahs then. How much do I love that I have a mini-me to share these obsessions with? More that you will ever know.

Love,

Mama

P.S. Tonight we were down town for the city Christmas tree lighting and we had a really great time. You, mom, and dad went down to see the tree lit and we met up with everyone else to watch the parade. You loved the Christmas tree lighting and you also loved the entire parade. Mom got a little bored, but you had a great time! Thankfully I brought the camera and was able to capture some great shot. Perhaps the greatest shot, the family shot, was actually taken by a stranger!:)

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Nope. Blessed Does Not Cover It.

Dear Baby Waider,

First of all Happy Thanksgiving! This is a special Thanks giving for you because it is the first Thanksgiving where you got to chow down! Let's just say you were a BIG FAN. We tried to give you a "pre-Thanksgiving" turkey last night...but...that didn't turn out so well! See, I had BIG plans to make a Thanksgiving dinner to have with Grandpa Marker and Mary. However, I was going to make it ahead of time. That way we could still go out and about on Thanksgiving and not have to slave away in the kitchen all day. I'm not bragging, but I am a fairly good cook. Your dad and I make turkeys even in the summer for sandwich meat so I wasn't very worried about throwing this little dinner together. Unfortunately, your Grandpa Marker wasn't able to make it due to the weather, but because it was thawed and WE LOVE TURKEY I decided to throw that bird in anyway.

I opened the turkey and read the directions on the outside. For some reason I had it in my mind that I was going to cook this bird for 3.5 hours based on the size of the turkey lurkey. I threw it in the oven. I only had a small pan to put the bird in so it almost instantly started dripping from the pan into the oven. That created smoke all over the house. I had a hard time seeing your dad in the dining room through the smoke. I adjusted the bird with the hopes of eliminating the oil drip. When I looked the top of the bird was awfully done. Also, somehow I had lost the little pop out thermometer. I threw some more butter on it and shut the over. The smoke continued to get worse, and I was kind of over the cooking turkey so I took it out. I was relieved that the smoke was gone and left the bird in the kitchen.

A little while later I decided to go back in and check on the bird. It looked weird...I wanted your dad to carve it so I helped him get it on a plate. I noticed that the liquid coming out was not clear...Coming from a long line of under cooked meat panickers so I immediately was certain that the bird was not cooked and that it was mostly likely going to make us all extremely ill if we were to consume any part of the bird.

As I panic about under-cooked food your dad always tries to reason with me.

So he says, "Hey! Where is that little thermometer that is supposed to pop out when it is done?"

And I say, "I don't know! I think it fell out when I was washing the darn thing."

I was about that time that we both noticed that red juice was FLOWING out of the bird and that the thermometer was on the bottom of the bird...OR I HAD COOKED THE TURKEY UPSIDE DOWNE!!! So we turned the bird around and cooked it for another 3.5 hours roughly. I wasn't about to throw this bird away. I put about 3 sticks of butter on it and this time it didn't smoke. Thankfully. Your dad was dying to eat some turkey, but through some miracle I kept him away from the bird.

Before I even started the cooking of the turkey I got some turkey cooking advice from Mrs. Shetler, my friend and colleague at school. She told me to put the bird in a bag and throw it in the roaster. The truth is the roaster is downstairs and I was too lazy to go and get it. Also, when I was at the store I forgot to get a bag for the turkey and wasn't sure which aisle to find it in...Long story short I should have put some more thought into my turkey cooking. In the midst of this disaster I texted Mrs. Shetler and she walked me through it...I actually just remembered that in the middle of texting her she called me at the exact moment you got a nose bleed and I had to call the surgery center to make sure you were okay. (That will be for another blog.) You were fine and eventually so was the bird...although it was a little dry if you can imagine that. In short I am thankful that we didn't have any guests for that debacle.

In all seriousness I have been spending time on Facebook reading all of the things that people are thankful for. Truth is that we have sooo much to be so thankful for. Listing it all seems almost foolish because inevitably we will forget something that we should obviously be thankful for. However, I would like to share some of the things that I am thankful for, both grand scheme of things, and small. I always want you to remember that just by being born to us you will have more in your lifetime than roughly 75% of the world. You are blessed, and that doesn't really even begin to describe it.

For starters...

I am grateful to live in a country where as a woman I have NEARLY the same rights as a man. I can vote, work, participate in any activities I feel appropriate, and I can voice my opinion. Often.

I am also grateful that as a country despite media distractions we were able to elect a decent man into the White House. I think that the country is really headed in the right direction, particularly with the number of women elected into the Senate.

I am thankful that your mom and dad have decent paying jobs and a comfortable house to live in. So often I complain about cleaning and cooking, but we have a home to clean and food to make. I have nothing to complain about. We have more than we will ever need.

I am also thankful for my wonderful family. We are healthy, we are happy, we have fun, we have it all.

I am grateful for good childcare. I am so thankful that grandma Halter watches you. I know you are safe, happy, and spending time with someone who KNOWS you are as special as I know you are. Grandma makes it so much easier for me to be a working mom. I get to have a job I love and you get to go to a place that you love. It is the best of both worlds.

I am perhaps the most grateful for you and your dad. Your dad is an AWESOME dad. He spoils us both and we are extremely lucky to have him. As much as I like to champion myself as independent woman he really makes it so we have it all. We are always his first thought. You are very lucky he's your daddy. He will give you the world. Of that I have no doubt. Where do I begin with you? You have made us into our own family which is pretty darn amazing. We are getting to make our own memories and have so much fun. Each and everyday we are astonished by you, your curiosity, wonder, and discoveries. Recently you took up coloring. Even though it may seem basic you are entertained by it for hours. Thanks, Auntie Katie for that one! It is so much fun to watch you master a new skill. This is one small thing that you do to amaze us. What can we say? We are pretty easily entertained. You have made us blessed beyond our wildest imaginations and for that I am grateful.

Today's lesson: Be grateful.

Mama loves you!

aA

Election Day Eve

Dear Baby Waider,

I've wanted to post a blog about the election for awhile now. See elections are a big deal to me. Presidential elections only happen every 4 years. Which means that the next presidential election you will be 5! Prior to having a baby I was a political junkie. My favorite thing to do was read everything election on all of my favorite iPad apps. I knew EVERY detail of the election, the candidates, and daily event happenings. I lived, ate, slept,and breathed the 2008 election. It was a fantastic time. Tonight as I reflect upon 2008 I realize that during that time we were completely FULL of hope and hopeful for change. Barack Obama had innovative ideas and ideas to really bring change for our country. We were coming off of the perhaps the most incompetent president in US history, George W. Bush. Here we had an intelligent, young, vibrant, and charismatic candidate who really made us all feel like he was someone we could count on. Your dad and I were completely captivated by him. Four years later I still love Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Michelle Obama, and Jill Biden. People claim he hasn't done enough. I say that he hasn't had the chance. With a do nothing congress he really hasn't been able to accomplish everything that he wanted. Although he did accomplish quite a bit.

This is mom, Mia, and dad right after Barack Obama won the presidency in 2008. Great night. Wow, 4 years really has aged us.

2008 pumpkins/Obama tribute!

This is a text I received after the 2008 win. I was signed up to receive texts from Barack Obama. Loved it! :)


Tomorrow we get the chance to vote again. I, of course, will be voting for Barack Obama and I fully intend to bring you with me. See, so much rides on this election. Mostly, I think I'm mostly concerned about women's rights. Now that I have a daughter I have some serious concerns that your future rights could be in jeopardy. Women have come so far and have so many rights. Unfortunately I feel as though if Mitt Romney were to win we would have a long, hard fight just to keep the rights we have. Not to even mention rights associated with our bodies. Now that i have a little girl I feel that so much more rides on this election.

I have been criticized often for being so political. However, I am so political because it has such an impact on all of us. Mostly, on my job as a teacher. I have always been involved in politics. I started young. My Grandpa Halter was a very big part of sparking my political interests. I used to sit at his house and read US News and World Report and Newsweekand ask him questions about what was going on. I remember we would talk for hours. I learned so much from him and I was really excited. Then enter my Catholic school education...I would hear one thing at home about Democrats. Some of that including that they are a party that supports education more, they care about taking care of people with less than them. Then, I would go to school and hear that I was a baby killer and that the candidate I supported was evil. As a kid it was so confusing. I knew my grandpa Halter didn't kill babies because he had 9 kids of his own. I also knew that my parents weren't baby killers. After all my mom had a daycare. My point is that this time was confusing. Mostly because adults found it their duty to antagonize me about what essentially was my family's belief system. I don't regret having a political family, and I don't regret having people fight with me about it. I think it actually made me strong. Now that I'm an adult myself I can't imagine being mean to a kid about their political beliefs so it really makes me question some of the teachers I had. I have no doubt that you and your Grandpa and Grandma Halter will have some amazing political discussions.

I have no doubt that you will be political and opinionated. You are already quite opinionated and i can just tell you already are a little liberal. You just need to be aware that being a democrat in South Dakota will never be easy. We are a special group of seriously tough individuals. I think being the minority has made us even stronger. Unfortunately our votes don't really count from South Dakota, but I'll save a blog about the electoral college for later!

So tomorrow, we are going to vote together. Sharing a right that women two hundred years ago did not share. We are going to celebrate that we are Americans and partake in this amazing burden and responsibility that determines who our leaders will be. Here's to your very first presidential election. And here's hoping to a Barack Obama win!!!

Love,

Mama

South Dakota Knows How to Party

Dear Baby Waider,

We achieved our over the top birthday extravaganza party for your first birthday. I have to admit that the bar was set pretty high with this birthday. Your dad and I worked pretty hard to make it awesome. As stated in a previous blog the theme was "Over the Rainbow." Your dad hung hundreds of rainbow streamers and also made a balloon swag. You had a rainbow cake and lots of fun. As Grandma Halter called it...organized chaos. Although to an innocent bystander it would not seem the least bit organized. Kids everywhere. A slide indoors, and a dance party. We had a pretty good time. You also received wonderful gifts. It was fantastic.


Fortunately during the day of your party while we got ready you were able to hang with Grandpa Halter. Mom, dad, and grandma Halter worked like mad to finish everything up. He played with all of your toys with you and also took you for a little walk. Thankfully grandma helped mom wrap up everything in the kitchen and dad wrapped everything up outside. We were pretty much ready to go just as our guests arrived. You got to eat your cake, which you loved, and I think everyone had a good time. I know that you did. Until you got too tired you had a huge grin on your face and were dancing your little dance all around. It was worth all of the time and
effort that we put into it.



THE REAL BIRTHDAY

Mom often THINKS that your birthday is on October 8th. Maybe it is because that is her and dad's wedding anniversary, or maybe it is because that is the day that she actually went into labor. Whatever the reason I can't remember your birthday for the life of me. Anyway. You were pretty under the weather that next morning and dad decided to stay home with you. Mostly, we think you were exhausted and enjoyed the day at home resting. We had a grandparent birthday party that night. We had pizza and salad. You actually had an avocado, some rice, and, carrots, I think! We had a great time. Grandma and Grandpa Halter were there and so was Grandpa Marker. That's when mom and dad gave you your kitchen! You loved it and cried and cried when we didn't let you play with it anymore and made you go to bed. Your favorite part of the kitchen was the fork that you used to walk around with in your mouth. You have since lost the right to have the fork.

The Day After That

You might be thinking, you are writing this blog on October 28th? That's exactly 20 days after the party. Yes, you are right because the day after your birthday, the day that one year ago we brought you home from the hospital mama wrecked her car with YOU in it. On the way home that day I was actually remembering how exciting it was to bring you home from the hospital. I was nervously riding in the back seat of the car with you and dad was carefully driving the old Subaru. We got stopped by the train and there was a car full of hooligans. Your dad and I laughed and decided that you would NEVER be hanging out with that crowd. Then we got home and I remembered how we introduced you to Mia. Which, by the way, the two of you have quite a good thing going. You now feed her and in return she lets you hang out with her. She even, dare I say, likes you! For that matter since I'm on a commercial break from my story, Boo the cat really likes you too. It's taken them a year, but the pets seem to even enjoy you at times. Soup is still hoping that you catch the plane back to wherever you came from, but she thinks the same about me. Sorry, back to the story.

I was thinking back to that magical day that you came home with us and I was really on cloud nine. Then, as I was driving there was some fool on the side of the road. He was jumping and waving and acting all crazy. I couldn't figure out what he was doing. Well, I spent far too much time looking at him because when I stopped looking I was hitting a car that was stopped in the driving lane in front of me. I hit her pretty hard. I don't know why they were trying to turn from the driving lane, but I should have been paying attention. I called 911 right away and became hysterical. I was so worried that I had hurt you. Luckily your dad is up on car seat safety and still had you rear facing. You didn't even cry and were just fine. Mom was not okay. I was super sad that I totaled our car! It was such a great car and really had a lot of life left in it. Your dad had recently rebuilt the engine, and it was in top notch shape. Anyway, to add insult to injury I got a ticket for careless driving and found out that I hit someone who lives right by us.

The process of having insurance look at the car dragged out for a long time. Seemed like a week. Finally they told us that the car was totaled. We got a check and needed to find mom a new ride. Side note. Your dad shops for cars when we don't need cars. He shops for cars for other people. If he hears that someone somewhere might want a car at sometime he's looking for them. He's sort of a madman about cars. Also, when he gets a car it becomes a member of the family. So, it is almost like he interviews cars rather than test drives cars. I love cars too. In fact before we had you dad and I used to just go out and test drive cars for fun. This wasn't so much fun. We felt like we really needed to get a car and we didn't feel like we had that much time. We managed to find a car here in town, but it wasn't the right fit. Actually, it almost was our car. We offered 19,000 for the car and had they counter offered 19,500 we would have bought the car. Luckily for us they didn't accept our offer and we ended up with a much, much better car. We got a car 10 years newer than our old 2002 Subaru. It had 26 miles on it when dad bought it, heated seats, a moon roof, and bluetooth, which means we can easily jam out to music on mamas phone.

The only catch is that this most perfect car was not anywhere near us. It was all the way in Colorado Springs. So, dad had to drive through a ground blizzard in Wyoming,in a Chevy Cruz rental car, all the way south of Denver to get our new family member. We are really lucky that he's adventurous because he found us the PERFECT CAR!

It still seems sad to me that I killed our old Forester. The one that just a year earlier had safely delivered me to the hospital, despite your dad's efforts to try to stop me from making it. The car that took your dad and I on countless adventures and trips. The car that safely brought you to our home...I'll admit it, I'm still sad. One time when I called the body shop I actually had one of the guys there give me a life lesson. I was asking him to please not total my car out. He then said, "Ma'am I know you are sad about your car, but it did its job. It kept you safe in an accident. You and your daughter are both fine. In one year is it really going to matter what kind of car you have? But, in one year if your legs didn't work or you were seriously injured what would you think about that?" I had to agree with the guy. I thanked him for the attitude adjustment.

Tonight as I wrap up my blog I am feeling pretty blessed. October was a roller coaster month. Ups and downs. Being happy that my baby is one and that we made it to that milestone. Being sad that you don't lay and cuddle with me for hours on end. Being terrified that you were injured in the car accident. Totaling my old car. Getting a new car. Watching you perfect the skill of walking. Playing for hours on end. All in all things do have a way of working themselves out. It's hard to believe, but here come the holidays!

Mama loves you!

Love,

MAMA

PS While captioning all of these pictures could prove to drive me crazy I do want to point out the little chair. It created so much drama! Your friend Brandon gave it to you. Finn loved it, fought his mom for it. That's the picture of Finn crying and auntie laughing. Also, Harry was standing in it the wrong way and Grandpa and Wayne were doing something with it too. You still love the chair, but have a way of getting into quite a bit of trouble with it. I frequently hide the chair, as does dad. We are working with you to quietly read in the chair rather than stand up in it. Updates to come...