It's been so very long.

Agh!!! It's been so long I feel like I'll be playing catch up forever. My computer died a at the start of April, so it's going to be awhile before I can upload pictures and everything. So here's the highlights of whats to come.

• First off Emily Grace turned one!!! She's my baby no more and is now a toddler!!!! Pics of first b-day and b-day party to come soon
• Our adventure moving across country to Idaho!!
• Emily's first time with the lambs!!!

Hopefully all this will be up soon

Long time no blog...

I know I haven't posted in awhile now. Lots and lots has been happening in our family, so I'll do a little post now and a marathon post when I have more time.
First and most importain, Doug has a job!! He starts terminal leave on the 22nd of April. On the 27th he starts working for his new job. :D Don't ask me to explain it, I still don't understand it all, but it has to do with hospital equipment ( which means great health insurance! ) So we're in the process of packing, getting rid of things we don't really feel like moving. Btw the job is located in Riverton, WY. Doug will be do some training for the job for most of the summer in a couple different locations across the country. While he's doing that Emily Grace and I will be moving to Geneva, ID. We're going to live with Doug's parents. His side of the family hasn't gotten to see Emily much ( if at all ) so we're excited for Emily to spend lots of time with them.
On a much sadder note Doug's Grandma Teuscher passed away this past month. She was asn amazing women, who loved everyone, never spoke ill of anyone and made you feel loved as soon as you walked in the door. Our only regret is that Emily didn't meet her before she passed. We're going to miss her so much. When I first when out to meet Doug's family I was nervous as most people could imagine. As soon I walked into her home she made me feel like I was one of her granddaughters. We will truly miss her and can't wait to see her again.

These boots were made for walking..

  SHE'S WALKING!!!! EMILY GRACE IS WALKING!!! 

Forgive the caps, but my baby is walking!!!!! I was outside picking a neighbor's kid off the bus and Doug was inside with Emily and the other neighbor kid, who's two. Emily was standing up and Doug held out a little stuffed fish just out of reach and instead of crawling over she took TWO STEPS to get the fish!!!!!! We tried seeing if she'd walk for me too. She took one step and then face planted. Poor baby... But my girl is walking!!!! 

Snow!

Emily Grace saw her first snow! Sadly she was sick during it when a high temp so we went out just long enough for her to see it and to take some pics. Notice in the first pic she's standing by herself!! I caught it on film after her doing it for almost a month now.  And in the second pic is her all bundled up before going outside. Including her first pair of tennis shoes.  Not little cloth baby shoes but real honest shoes. Which she takes off any chance she gets. 

Mustard love

 Emily Grace loves mustard! We found this out when I put some mustard on a sandwich and put it back in the fridge. You know how on most mustard bottles when you use it a little always stay on the top? Well Emily ( who was trying to get eggs from the fridge ) grabbed the mustard bottle when I put it back and stuck it in her mouth. She made an " Oooo!!!" face and then started sucking on it as hard as she could.  She won't drink from a baby bottle but she will from a mustard bottle. Strange kid, she must be mine.

Brushing teeth

   Emily Grace is the proud owner of two teeth!!! They aren't up high enough yet that you could see them in a picture unless I held her down and opened her mouth with her screaming...so pics of her new teeth will have to wait.  

   She loves watching Doug and I brush our teeth. She just giggles thinking it's funny. So this past week she got her own toothbrush to use. I thought maybe she'd just chew on it and then I'd have to go back and brush her teeth for her. I handed her her toothbrush and she started brushing her teeth just like she's seen us do it! She rubbed it on her teeth and moved it in out of her her mouth. I don't know good of a job she actually did but she's trying! Not quite 11 months and already brushing her teeth.  

Bubble head

  Emily Grace has been teething ( again ) this past week and they came through! She has her two front bottoms. You can just barely see the tops of them.  But trust me you can feel them. Anyway she was insanely cranky the night before they came in.  So we pulled out the handy footbath added warm water and bubble bath and made lots of bubbles. They kept Emily happy for about 30 minutes and then she thankfully went to sleep. But we did get some cute pictures of the bubble hat Doug made her. 

Swinging

  Last week the weather was actually pretty decent so Emily Grace and I spent a couple days in a row at the park.  We tried out the swing and she loved it! Made her very relaxed and was just looking around.  She's big enough to have her arms out but for some reason she decided to keep them inside the swing. 

"Helpful" Advice

   As soon as word gets out your having a baby everyone gives you advice. And most of the advice you hear is very helpful.  I'll admit I've given advice too.  And of course like everyone else I think my advice to be useful. But something I do try to do is if someone is planning on doing one thing with their child I don't try to push my views on them. 

   Emily Grace is 10 months old now and still not sleeping through the night.  I am tired. I have been getting up 2-6 times a night for a long time now. The last time she slept through the night was back in Oct I think? So yeah I'm tired . 

  Back to the advice. A friend's children sleep through the night. Including her almost 2 year old and 8 month old. I found out how a couple weeks ago. Her children put themselves to sleep.  She puts them in their cribs, the 8 month old with a bottle, gives them a kiss and then leaves the room and shuts the door.  

  This is how she does naps and bedtime. I've seen it done at my own house with them and when we've been other places.  It's now been suggested , by a couple people, to me that I try this method. While I think it's great that her kids are sleeping through the night and are very independent, this isn't the right method for me. 

  I just can't do it! I've her children crying themselves to sleep. Just last week when she was over she picked up the 8 month old to feed him , instead of propping his bottle up like normal , and when he started to fall asleep she said " Aw, your getting spoiled today. Mommy's holding the bottle for you and your getting to fall asleep in her lap"

  Yes, I am tired. Yes on most nights by 4am Emily Grace is in bed with us because I am just so tired. But she's my baby. I won't get to hold her forever. One day she's going to be all grown up and I won't be able to hold her anymore.  Now if someone does have some advice on helping her stay asleep after I've put her to bed that'd be great. 

A little soapbox

    I am pro-life.  I feel that if your ready to do the deed, your ready to accept the effects.  I also know not everyone agrees with that view.  I also feel that it should be up to every state, ever city to decide on it's abortion laws. I do not believe it's the federal government's right to make that choice for the entire country.  If Virginia votes in "pro-choice" laws then fine. At least the people of Virginia made that choice for themselves.  So all I am asking is that, wether you agree with my pro-life views or not, please help make this a state government choice, not a federal one.  Patrick Henry said " Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?"  The more power the federal government holds, the more tied our hands become.  

       http://www.FightFOCA.com 

Helloo?

  Emily Grace did the cutest thing yesterday. She had gotten hold of the house phone and was playing with it.  She'd put it up to my ear , I'd say "Helloo?" in a very silly baby voice, she giggle, take it back and do it all over again. Well  she stopped doing it and I went back to my email. So when she put it back up to my ear a minute or so later this happen. 

   Me- Helllooo? ( in silly baby voice)

   Strange Woman- Hello? Hello?

   Me shocked - Hello?

   Strange Woman- Hello? Who is this?

   Me- I'm sorry. I'm not sure who this is. My daughter was playing with the phone

   Strange Women- This is the reactor training department

   Me- I'm sorry, I guess she was trying to get hold of her daddy, he works there

   Strange Woman- Is this Tobey's wife?

   Me- No Doug Teuscher's

   Strange Woman laughing- Teuscher's off giving a test. Do you want me to tell him to call his daughter

   Me laughing- Yeah, let him know. 

So about an hour later Doug called the house, laughed with me about Emily calling and how smart she is (she had to have pushed the caller id button, scroll down to about the 8th call and then push talk) and he did talk with Emily.  

10 Minute Shower

     Emily Grace has a cold that's left her kinda cranky so I didn't have a chance for a shower today.  So once Doug was home and dinner was done I went to go take my shower while Doug played with Emily.  I left for our bedroom at 7:30pm. Quick shower and was out at 7:42pm.  As I was drying off I noticed how quiet it was. When I opened the bedroom door it was dark in the living room except for the candle. That's when I saw this. 

How sweet is that? Emily Grace still needs p.j's but I think I'll let them sleep for a bit and indulge in a guilty pleasure.  Painting my toenails and watching Gossip Girl.  
   

     

Drinking from the water dish

   Last week Emily Grace went into the bathroom where Krizy's water dish is. She'll go in there and splash around sometimes, but this time she decided to take a drink. Instead of just licking the water she put her whole face in. I bust out laughing so hard I was in tears, she did it 4-5 times before I got my laughter under control and pulled her away. But before I dried her off I got a picture of course. 

  I love that little face!

Green Dress

 Emily Grace is my little doll and when she was littler I dressed her up in frilly clothes all the time. Then she got mobile. So she's been sporting lots of oneies and little baby jeans. My mom and I went over to target and I found the cutest little green knit jersey dress on sale for $6.  So cute and great for playing in.  Now that spring is on it's way cute little everyday dresses are showing up in stores again.  Oh and my mom gave me a great tip for later. When potty training a little girl have her wear dresses. This way when she runs for the bathroom she just has to lift up the dress and down the panties, instead of trying to undo pants too. 

Aunt Flo is back

  Warning. Some parts of this post are a little gross and contain info about recovering from having a baby you may not want to know. 

  Here's a fun little plus on breastfeeding. No period. Or at least a delay of one. I had my last one on July 9, 2007.  Two days after my wedding.  It has been a great run of a year and a half of not worrying about having pads, tampons etc... but now it's back. I'm not sharing this to be gross but to share the strange little bits of knowledge that comes with having a baby.  First of all delay of a period, how great is that? Second little tidbit. When your in the hospital after having the baby they will give you a little squirt bottle to use to help clean down there when you in the bathroom. You will learn to love the bottle. Fill with slightly colder then lukewarm water and clean often. It will help a lot with the healing process. Do not leave this bottle at the hospital. Do not leave it. Do forget it. Your going to need it for a least a week after you get home.  

  Now I use to keep the flushable wipes in my bathroom for when Aunty Flo came to visit, because her vists leave me feeling gross and I can't shower every time I go to the bathroom. Here's comes the bottle. Keep using the bottle.  No buying flushable wipes which makes me feel like an old lady and for people worried about being "green" I'm sure using a water bottle is much better then wipes. Feel so much cleaner then when using wipes.  I love my bottle.  And I highly recommend keeping and using yours. Incase you hadn't picked up on it. 

  Reading over this I'm noticing what a random post this is. Sorry!

 Oh and btw take a huge stack of the disposable pads they will put on your hospital bed for you. They make great changing pads for the diaper bag. If your baby pees or poos on 'em just toss 'em. No cleaning off a changing pad and toting it with you. 

Asleep in the sadle

   Our camera's batteries died while we were up in Gordonsville before Christmas so we relied on Alica's camera for a good part of our trip.  She just posted them all on facebook and I quickly stole some of my favorites.  While we were up in Gordonsville we went on a wagon ride ( I'll post later ) and then we took Emily on a pony ride. About halfway through the wagon ride Emily fell asleep. No biggie we'll wake her up when we get there. We couldn't. We started bouncing, saying " Good morning Emily!" not working. Check to make sure she's breathing. Yep still breathing.  ( You wouldn't believe how often we check her breathing when she's asleep ) Emily Grace was out cold. She slept through us putting the helmet on her. And slept through the pony.  We ended up just sitting her on the pony and taking pictures.  So Emily when you ask for a pony later, we're going to say no 'cause you slept through your first pony ride. 

Fun with hair

 Emily Grace's hair is so much fun to play with. I love brushing it and putting it in little pigtails and braiding it when she's asleep on my lap.  The most fun is right after a bath when it's wet because I can brush it into crazy hairstyles.  Tonight's wasn't so crazy but I brushed it into big curls.  And as more proof she is my daughter as soon as it's dry the curls fall out. But it also flips ups at the end, so a bit of Doug's curls are in there too. Any here is her big curls from tonight!

Christmas!! Just a bit late....

   So blogger uploaded all the pictures backwards so I'm going to go through our Christmas backwards.  Here's Emily Grace in her wagon with all her loot.  Krizy looks like she about to be run over. 
 I got Doug binoculars for Christmas. He was so excited till he realized looking out our apartment window with them might make him seem a bit like a peeking-tom. So he's waiting till we go up to my parents again where the neighbors are a bit farther apart. Btw, binoculars might seem like kinda a random gift, but he's been wanting a set to use when hunting for awhile now. Emily Grace and I went over to Bass Pro Shop and got a lesson in them. I thought it was a pretty simple gift, until I found out how much goes into choosing a pair.  

Emily opening her bead thinga ma jig. I still don't know what those are called but Emily loves it. 
My traditional Barbie doll. Doug has gotten me a Barbie every Christmas we've been together. He ended up geting me two the first year because in my excitement I opened the first one and he wanted me to have one still in the box. 
Santa brought Emily a big wagon. She loves it when her Daddy pulls her around outside in it instead of being in the stroller.  Daddy also loads it up with stuffed animals and gives them and Emily Grace rides around the apartment.
Our stocking from the left : Alica, Emily Grace, Doug and mine. I made all of them.  I lined mine and Doug's when I made them last year so they turned out kinda stiff and boot like. Alica's is very floppy that I made this year.  And Emily's is my favorite. Made from a glittery pink cotton ( so much easier then the velvet stretch I made the others from ) with ribbon and lace at the top. And it didn't come out shaped like a boot. That might also be because my mom was over and cut out the fabric for me, but I sewed it together and put on all the lace and ribbon. I also made the rag doll you can see in it. 
And our Christmas tree with all the presents under it.  Oh and Krizy's bum.  Merry late Christmas everyone!!!!

Daddy Daughter Moments

     I was so sick Weds night. Emily Grace had it on Tuesday and I got it Weds.  Emily starts out in her crib at night ( even if she ends up with us by the end of it ) but I was too tired to fight her when she didn't want to go to sleep, so I just laid Emily Grace between us and I went to sleep.  I got up later to go be sick in the bathroom and when I'm coming back to bed feeling gross I see that Emily is cuddled up to Doug's side asleep.  As gross and sick as I felt I loved seeing Doug with Emily.  Even better, I only woke up once to feed Emily that night. Every time she woke up Doug cuddled her back to sleep.  Daddy's don't get enough credit.  Being a mommy is tough, harder then any other job, but people can see what your doing. Daddy's work in the background, keeping Mommy's going and doing those things only they can do. 

Cookies

   

   

  

Emily Grace loves cookies! She helped me make jam thumbprint cookies. She was perfect for the job since she has the cutest little thumb. She did good for about 3 cookies before trying to squish the dough.  She wore the smallest apron I have and it was still too big, but she looked so cute. 

  We've also found out Emily loves ginger cookies. She can't get enough gingerbread men or ginger snaps.