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A Discussion On Genes (and not the comfy, denim kind)

I have been MIA from the blogging world.  I didn't realize how far behind I was until I looked this morning.  I owe Layla a few posts, and I want to do a European Vacation update.  I will probably just make those all into one big lump.  However, I did want to share information about what's been going on in my life since the summer started.  I haven't said much about anything because there was a lot of information I didn't have, and unknowns about testing, etc. At the beginning of June I had my happy lady doctor appointment. Once again my doc was suggesting genetic testing for breast and ovarian cancers. We had been having this talk for a couple of years, but I wasn't really old enough to really be concerned. (They have all of these equations for family history, age, etc to decide these things.)   Anyway, this time we decided to go ahead and do it PROVIDED I get the coverage from insurance.  I am all for being prepared, but the $4000 bill wasn't in our

15 months!

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I can't believe it's already time for another month birthday.  I think I write that every time, but it goes by so fast!  We went to the doctor yesterday, and she is on the same track she has been.  32 inches tall (90%) and not quite 23 lbs (50%). She grew one inch in two months.  I knew something was up when all of a sudden her shoes stopped fitting, and capri pants turned into shorts too quickly.  She also had to get three shots.  It should have only been two, but since we are leaving the country again, she had to get another MMR.  That's the third one of those.  Apparently, the one before she was 12 months 'didn't count.'  We had a sad night last night.  She ate pizza, and sat on the couch and cried.  It was so sad. She is still just the best little person.  She says uh oh and wow.  She knows what a cow, a dog, and a cat says.  We went to a farm this last weekend, and she got to feed and pet cows and horses.  She became fast friends with a giant German Shep

14 months and 1 day

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I am a day behind.  We had a busy weekend, and currently the Tiny Tornado is fussing in her crib rather than taking a nap.  So I've got that going for me...which is nice. She WALKS everywhere and all the time.  She doesn't want to be carried or hold anyone's hand.  If you ask if she wants help, she decidedly shakes her head no and marches on.  It's pretty freaking precious. She thinks she is hilarious.  She loves to tackle and roughhouse while hanging out in our bed.  She loves mulch and mud.  She loves her Baby and gives her hugs and kisses and rocks her. She is the best little tiny person.  She spent 5 days with Papa by herself while I went to NYC with my mom. They had a BLAST. Here are a few photos from the last month.  Happy Belated 14 month birthday, Zwerg! Frozen yogurt face Loving Papa Driving! Happy lady! Love it Hanging at the mall Princess! My Zwerg

13 months

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13 months seems weird.  At some point I want to stop saying 'months' and just say 'one year and whatever'. This month has flown by again!  She is almost walking!  She has a baby stroller she loves to push, and it's the cutest thing ever.  I am sure in a few weeks we will have our first steps. D has been gone this last week.  It's our first time alone in awhile.  We are doing ok, but it's a different hard this time.  Now that she is mobile and all over the place, I feel like we are constantly on the go.  But it's also more fun as she explores and discovers.  However, she has discovered that she has the choice to do the OPPOSITE of what I would like her to do.  We have had some of our first real battles of the wills, and it was harder than I thought it would be.  It was also earlier than I thought it would be.  I was hoping not to deal with this till she was like, you know, thirteen. Anyway, it's a been another great month!  Zwerg, you are the m

A Forgotten Blog...

***In the midst of all the insanity written about below, I apparently forgot about this post.  And I am sad because I was really passionate about it at the time, and I still am.  Since then, Layla has done MUCH traveling, and will continue to do so.  She got her feet wet early, and I love hauling all of her stuff around so we can keep going places. (Well, not really LOVE, but you know.) Anyway, I originally wrote this in August when Layla was about four months old.  That seems like such a long time ago, and I guess it really was.  This year she will get some more miles under her belt...Germany, Greece, and Baltimore if we can make it happen.  She sees my family all the time, and knows and loves them.  But it's imperative to me and D that she continue to see, meet, and understand her family and heritage that are still in Europe.  I honestly can not WAIT to take her to Greece.  The family there is HILARIOUS and they will love her to pieces.  Her first view of a large body of water

Happy 1st Birthday, Layla!

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***WARNING*** Long, sappy Mom post ahead. It might be rambly, too. Daniel and I always knew we wanted kids.  There was always a debate about how many, but we figured we would start with at least one, and see how we all did.  When we decided it was time, I was nervous. I had no reason to think we would have any problems, but as many moms and women who want to be moms know, the anxiety that can come with pregnancy and all that surrounds it is ridiculous.  We were so so lucky.  Pregnant in the first month.  A perfectly normal pregnancy with the typical symptoms and such.  And a great birth experience.  I am so unbelievably grateful for how it all went.  It's weird to think how worried I was about everything.  God, I am sure, was just laughing and laughing while He handled everything. One year ago today, I was in the midst of labor.  Long, painful, unmedicated, induced labor. I, of course, chose unmedicated.  But that's where I was.  A long night, a long morning, a long af

11 months!

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Holy cow!  11 months!  One year is right around the corner.  I missed her 11 month birthday.  We were in Denver, and she was spending the weekend with Papa Dos and Oma Katsy.  This was our first weekend away, and her first time to spend a few days with someone besides us.  She did GREAT.  No problems, great sleeping, lots of fun with the family.  It was so nice to not worry about her.  In fact, when I got home yesterday, my dad left and I was getting her up from her nap. She looked confused, and kept looking around the house for Papa Dos.  It was kind of funny.  She got pretty excited after she figured out it was really me, and when Papa got home from work.  It makes me feel good that she does well without us. We have another wedding to go this summer, and she will be just fine then, also. Milestones!  She pulls up on EVERYTHING now.  We have not been doing a great job at baby proofing.  That is going to have to change.  She really understands what we are saying now.  We can ask her