Here come Peter Cottontail!

Mattie had her first taste of Easter today. She went to her first Easter Egg Hunt, although she was too young to partake in the festivities. It didn't stop her from sitting on the big guys lap. As you can tell by the pictures, she was fascinated by his hands, and didn't care to look him in the eye. Her little pal Parker and her Aunt Nellie joined us. We also got to hang out with Nikole and Ryan. Little Ryan was more interested in his juice though. What cuties. I think we all had fun. I truly was planning on screaming from Mattie, but she didn't. She was all decked out in one of her Easter outfits, cute as could be, but you couldn't tell since those big paws of the bunny covered her up.

First thing that Mattie has fed herself!

And guess what it was? You got it, ICE CREAM! It was quite the site to see. She gripped that cone with a death lock, because no one was taking it away from her. She was great at putting it to her mouth, like an old pro. Of course she made the biggest mess, but it was worth it. She couldn't decided if she wanted to use her hands or her feet. Or maybe was it the feet that were helping her with the death grip?

Look what's popping up!

Mattie is getting her first tooth. We finally can see it, and she knows something is up. She keeps rubbing her tongue on it and making the funniest faces. And of course, whenever we try to take a picture of it, she hides it. :) So enjoy the funny faces, hopefully we will be quick enough soon to show you what all the fuss was about.

Another First

Mattie has had a pretty eventful week. She had her first ice cream cone. She loved it. She screamed like a mad woman when we took it away. We were lucky enough to get some silly photo's of this monumental first. :)

Putting some Spring into our step

Last night we had a nice walk with the family (Scott, Mattie, Mom, Dad, the dogs and I). It was nice to finally be able to walk without a jacket, not fight to catch my breath, and to enjoy Spring. My parents live on a dirt, dead-end road so its nice to beable to walk and chit-chat, not having to worry about cars running us down.

Before the winter hit, I planted a lot of tulips at the townhouse in Rochester, so it makes me sad that we aren't there this time of the year. I wish I could see if they have bloomed yet.

Enjoy Spring everyone, and pray that it is here to last!

It's been a long time.....

Sorry for the lack of updates. It seems that the day comes and goes so quickly, and by the end of the night...I just want my pillow. Now that Mattie has gotten so tall and lengthy, she doesn't like to sleep in the crib because she sleeps with her arms fully extended, and that leaves her hitting the sides of the crib. So who does she sleep with, ME! I hate when people let their kids sleep with them, so I am my own worst nightmare. We have tried so many times to get her to stay in the crib, but it doesn't work.

Mattie's doing great with her arms. PT and OT are really helping and there no longer seems to be any delay. The meeting with the Orthopedic Specialist went great. He saw no problem with her, said he didn't even know why she was there, and said he will do a follow up with her on her first birthday. Phewwwww! She is getting so big, and her smile gets bigger, along with her blue eyes, day by day.

We went to Rochester for her first St. Patty's Day parade. A bunch of the locals here came down, and we had fun. Mattie didn't know what to think about all the bagpippers, but loved all the attention she got with the "Irish Princess" TuTu onesie that Grammy Sheila bought her. She was decked out in green from her head to her toes.

Mattie got to meet Avery Grace for the first time. Avery, Mattie, Lisa, Jenn and I got together for a bagel and to enjoy some company. I haven't seen the girls since Allison's wedding, so we had a lot to catch up on. Avery is so cute. She cries at the sound of Mattie cries, and vice versa. It was so cute.

We also got a chance to go visit Marcey and Charley (and the rest of the Fox's), Mattie loves their new addition, Beaner. It was nice to see them all again, I miss them so much. Especially little Char Char. She had superglued her eyes shut the day before (nice job watching her Chuck!) and I had to laugh when she told me what she had done. What a little Goofball.

Sheila made a huge dinner of Corned Beef and Cabbage, and of course, Mattie got to try some on her 1st St. Patty's Day. She seemed to enjoy it.

This past weekend Mattie, Parker, Nellie and I went to the Expo. For those who aren't from the North Country, the Expo is like the Home and Garden Show at the Dome Arena, but a lot cheesier, and not half as cool. But the kids liked all of the noise, and all of the crazies that it brings out. Saturday night all of the family, minus Aunt "Itchy", went to dinner and then back to the Expo. Zayne won Mattie a bunch of cool stuff, and also won himself a new fishing pole. So guess who will be waiting for the fish to start biting so he can get out there and put that pole to the test.

I am still looking for a job. I know that I should just do the whole daycare thing, but we need a house to do that. In order to get the house, we have to have the money, and in order to have money, I need a job. Yuck. I wish I were Amish sometimes.

Getting kicked while she's down!

My poor little Mattie. Her week isn't starting out the greatest. First, she had her OT appointment, which really was good. The therapist said she didn't see a delay, and saw that she was advanced in a couple spots. She said it may be from all the one on one time we have been giving her with her exercises from PT. So that was good. Then we had to go to the doctors (which can I tell you, this lady is a Saint) because Mattie has been in a lot of pain lately. Not to get too graphic, but when she goes to have a BM, she ends up in tears and screaming in pain. Almost like someone has dropped her on the floor, and I am not exaggerating when I say that either. She will cry so hard she is out of breath. We tried to adjust her diet, to give her juice that would soften her bowls and still nothing worked. She also has this really bad rash all of a sudden, which looked like a bad diaper rash but really raw, almost like little blisters. So we went and saw Rita, and she talked with us for like 15 minutes, going over her diet, and what her symptoms were, and our concerns. The moment she took off her diaper, she knew what the problem was with the rash. That was a yeast infection rash, which she could only think of it coming from the antibiotic she was on for her ear like a month ago (you are right Lisa, they are such a pain, I am going to try to get into some homeopathic remedies). And as far as her in such pain having a BM...the poor little bugger... she has a tear in her rectum. She showed it to us, and I got that instant "I am a bad mom" feeling. She said that I wouldn't have ever saw it unless we really were using magnifiers on her, and that she is under a lot of pain whenever she has to go, or has to sit in poo. OMG... my poor little Mattie. So she gave us instructions, and heaven help us that Mattie loves prunes because we are under instructions to soften up her bowels. No wonder why she is so cranky. And to make matters worse, her gums are swollen, and Rita thinks we will have a tooth by the end of the week. We were beginning to think that Mattie didn't have teeth under those drooling gums. So Mattie has had a painful day, but hopefully with a lot of TLC, and a couple of days, she will be as good as new. Talk about being kicked while you are down!

The long awaited update

So much has gone on lately, too little time to share. I thought that once I moved up here to the North Country where things are a lot slower, that I would have more time to blog. It's just the opposite. I have something going on most of the time. That something going on is my demanding daughter. She has taken on quite the little "Me, NOW!!!" personality. Its funny....but then again...NOT! She is talking up a storm, well, babbling. She says dadadadada, gagagaga, bababa, you know, all of those funny noises. She loves her Johnny Jump-Up, and screeches whenever she goes in it. She loves to listen to rap music when she is in it, she likes the beat. My mom said I was the same way, I loved music when I was in it.
Mattie started her first week of PT. The PT is Dana, she is a sweetheart, from Rochester (ironic), and is very good with Mattie. She will come every Wednesday. She did some different exercises with Miss Mattie, things that I have to work with everyday. Mattie doesn't seem to mind that, so that makes it all the easier.
I have a meeting with Social Security for Mattie. Early Intervention told me to set it up, because when she goes on April 5ht to see Dr. Katy, he might diagnose her with a disability, and if that is the case, she is going to need a lot of expensive equipment, or help to get her on track. Or even to help with all of the specialists bills, because they will add up quickly.
I am still looking for a job. I am glad that I don't have one right now, because Mattie really needs my attention, and we have appointments all of the time. But I really need to get one soon so we can start saving for a house. The basement is getting smaller and smaller.
Mattie and I had a playdate at my classmate Nikole's house. Her son Ryan is 2, and she babysits to other children. Mattie was quite timid, but that is just because she is spoiled. ha ha ha It was nice to visit with Nikole and for her to open her doors to let us visit.
Tonight I went to dinner with Nikole and another classmate Pam. We then had our class reunion meeting. That was quite fun, and I am glad that Nikole asked me to go. Its nice to catch up with others, and to start reconnecting. I need to get more friends. Don't get me wrong, Nellie is great, but we don't see each other much because of our busy lives. And I don't want to have only 1 person show up at my funeral when I kick the bucket (not anytime soon I hope). Gosh, that is one of my biggest fears, not having anyone come to my funeral.
Ok, its too late to worry about things as dark as that. I think I am going crazy.... ha ha ha. Nope, just overtired. Oh...did I forget to mention, Mattie loves to get up at 6:45 in the morning now. Yes, no sleeping in for me. She would do it for Scott when he stayed home with her, but nope, not for me. Little stinker! Gotta love her though.