Fall pics

Our almost one-year-old. I can hardly believe we will be celebrating his birthday this weekend. 

We are saying good-bye to some new friends from the lower Michigan area. I wish them all the best as they head back to their previous home!

What a bunch of ND cuties, huh?

We painted the nursery!

Well, Mark did. And it's not a real room, just our closet (we live in a one bedroom apartment). It was a yucky yellow-green color with water spots, and I happened to get a nicer green paint for free at Ace.

It looks like we're having a girl, but we don't actually know. These are the girl accessories, and I have different things if it's a boy (except the crib- he'll have to sleep in a pink one).

A month and a half or so and we'll hopefully have our little one here. It's coming so fast!

I love this!

I first felt the baby move at 16 weeks in Palmer, AK (how neat is that?), and in the last two weeks, there were just a few kicks. Now, at 18 weeks, I feel it a lot! Yesterday, we were eating pizza and the baby kicked four times, and we decided it loves pizza, just like its father. And this morning, it must have been sleeping, until I awakened it when I called my dad, and it started rolling around like crazy. What a neat feeling. :)

I'm going to tell you the way I told Mark

We're having a baby!

I just saw the doctor for my 12 week appointment, and my due date is September 28. Thus far, I have been lucky in that I have not thrown up, and the nausea was minimal (only lasted a few weeks).

*After I had a positive pregnancy test in January, I ordered this Red Wings sweatshirt as a surprise way to tell Mark.

Sledding on Water Tower hill

We took advantage of the snow we finally got, and went sledding! Plus, I got new Baffin boots I wanted to try out.

It was just as much fun as I remember it being. And the walk back up just as tiring.


We're getting more snow today, as I'm sure a lot of you out there are. It's pretty, but I don't want it to stick around more than a few days. This town doesn't plow very well- they haven't been out yet at all.

In other news, we have a brand-new fellow North Dakotan. Henrik was born yesterday morning to Tony and Alanna. I stopped by the hospital to see him, and he sure is a cutie.

He is the spitting image of his father and two older sisters.

So sweet!

A weekend with the fam

Viv said a couple times last weekend, "my whole family is here!!" And while that wasn't quite true, I did get to see my mom and dad, Kurt, Jocelyn and Mike and their kids. It was wonderful to just chill with them.

Vivian is quite the ham. She had us laughing many times.

"Don't take a picture of me, Dista!"

Kurt, being Kurt.

The crowd (minus me) at Kurt's wrestling meet.

It was Mark's first meet, and I think he enjoyed it, even if there were less throws than he was hoping for.

Haas-ie boy.

It was his 2nd wrestling match, but apparently he doesn't like wrestling at all. No! I can't say that, he's a S**m*n boy! He was cranky all weekend, but apparently due to a double ear infection.

Dista and Viv.

It was so cute how she kept wanting to sit by me, or on my lap. I think she just likes having an audience to witness her cuteness. :) When Kurt was wrestling, she heard Nana yell "Up and out, Kurt", and she yelled "Open up, Kurt!"

I have missed watching wrestling. At the college level, they dimmed the lights, just like high school. Unfortunately, it makes for poor pictures.

Kurt lost his match (he was moved up a weight class), but the team won, to make their record 13-0.

After the match, we said goodbye to my parents, and brought Jocelyn and the rugrats to our house to wait for Mike to pick them up on his way from his job to their home.

The first thing Viv said when she came in the door and was halfway down the steps was "Such a pretty rug you have, Dista!" :D

We had to think quickly to come up with things for Viv to do. She really loved my Blokus and Mastermind games- all those little pieces are so much fun to play with! And to clean up!

Here she is with Uncle Mark; enjoying her hot cocoa and watching something on the computer.

Big GRIN!

I thoroughly enjoyed my family time, as I know it is hard to come by while we are out here. I only wish I could see the others more often too, and that MI wasn't so far away!

Haas (and other babies)

Here he is. Whatta cutie pie. He looks like a little papoose, all swaddled up. His eyes are blue, not brown (yet) like his older sisters.

Shoot, for some reason, this picture didn't rotate. He's got lots of dark hair, and so far possesses a laid back disposition his mother is hoping he keeps. On his first night home, he slept for 7 hours straight!

Another baby we're enjoying. Anni (ah-nee), we call her. Just look at all those curls!

Two boy cousins. Their coloring could not be more different!

The two newest boys in the Bev and Dale grandchildren book, Haas and Cutler (5 months).

Lots of babies to love on!

Granchild #10 has arrived

Haas Michael, son of Jocelyn and Mike made his appearance late last night. He weighed in at a whopping 9 pounds and 15 ounces!

His "future girlfriend" Brooklyn Kate was born 6 hours or so later, daughter to Katie and Brian. I stopped by the hospital to see both of them today, and they sure are adorable!

My name was Deeta

but now it's turning into Deesta. I love how kids pronounce things!

Vivy-girl turns 2

She spent the day out at Nana and Papa's while her mother was at an appointment. What an entertainer! She loves people and will follow them around all day. :)


We love her!

AZ on the Rocks and #9

I want to talk about #9 first because it's pretty exciting. B & C had their second child (my parents ninth grandchild) this afternoon, and named him Cutler Brett. He was 8 lbs 9 oz, and 19 inches. I don't know any other details, but I'm pumped to have another nephew!!

An and I went indoor rock climbing (with half-off coupons from REI!) on Sunday morning. It's like the climbing wall at Dick's Sporting Goods or REI on steroids.

An, hooking herself up to the rope. While she climbed, I stood on the ground and belayed for her, then she did the same for me. The person who belays is pretty important, as they're the one who prevents the climber from falling.


The room was full of ropes and different paths to the top, each marked with a different color tape. It was a challenge to stay on one color, without using any handholds of a different color.

It was a lot of fun, and we climbed until our fingers could no longer grip. We both want to go back and try more courses. They also had a bouldering wall, which is essentially the same thing as climbing, but without a harness and rope. The wall was a lot shorter, and there were pads on the floor in case you fell or wanted to jump down.

Afterward we ate brunch. I snapped this picture of An playing with a syrup drip.

It was another good Sunday. Definitely made up for my earlier bad day :)

Our Christmas Entertainment

I arrived in COLD and snowy Minnesota on Wednesday morning. Joce and I spent the day shopping at the Galleria, enjoying its festive atmosphere and catching up with each other.

The following day, Chrissy brought Sierra over to Nana and Papa's and we decorated sugar cookies while enjoying the little girls. Viv has a tendency to steal whatever Sierra has, be it food or Nana's lap.


Christmas Eve: another day full of family and fun. It was a might smaller than usual. Only those in our family who are MN residents and me were home. Vivian and Sierra, being the only grandchildren around, received lots of attention!! More than their fair share... :)


Sierra got a soccer ball from caring godfather David.


Our First Laptops. Viv and Nana both got one! Very exciting.


Viv showed Nana a thing or two, seeing as how she's already a pro at using hers.


Christmas Day was even more quiet. It was just the 'rents, and the four of us who are unmarried. We had the most elbow space at the dinner table that we ever have on a holiday. Following lunch, we all napped, then played a new game (Mom won), and went to church.

It feels amazing to be home. So normal. I'm soaking in every moment. :)

some new Vivian pictures

She is adorable. You don't have to agree, but take a look at these pictures anyway.... :)

They were taken by Emily Hammar.
She's such a big girl now. She doesn't talk much yet, but gets her point across using facial expressions and gestures.

Here she is with her mother, my beautiful sister.

Joce wore this dress when she was little, and Kurt had a matching outfit, I believe.

Now do you agree with me? ;)

My SJ Weekend

Since I have July trips planned, I've been staying home in June, so no MI for me.

I volunteered to babysit for Viv and Sierra so their parents could have a romantic evening downtown. I've gotta get lots of niece time in before I move!

For the half hour or so that both babes were awake, I had to keep an eagle eye on them. Actually, mostly on Vivian. She resented Sierra poaching on her territory, and her toys.

Here's Sierra enjoying Viv's puzzle.
Wait a second. What's Sierra doing with MY toy?
Sierra is staring at those giant Viv legs... getting nervous...

You know what. No. I'm coming on in here.

"Vivian! No!"

I don't know what you're talking about.

Yeah. I showed her who's boss. This is my home slice. Pfff babies.

Actually, once more for good measure. MY puzzle.
I was laughing so hard, and she just kept doing it. Finally I pulled her away, and we ventured out for a walk. It's a lot of work to take a stroller down and get it open while holding a 7 month old and keeping a eye out for a 14 month old.

They seemed to enjoy the outdoors though. Viv carried this football halfway around the block, and was pleased to be the big girl in front, while Sierra just quietly took in her surroundings.

We got home, and Viv immediately went to work on the ground. She eats more non-food items than any baby I've known.

Here's the pick up and look...

Next, it goes in the mouth for a taste.

YUCK!

I put Sierra to bed, then gave Vivvers a bath. She's looking all angelic here, but of course after the picture, she's up, down, reaching for things, chewing on brushes, splashing... What a maniac. A cute one though :)

After Viv was relatively clean, I put her down too, then enjoyed the peace and quiet. You know, I'm still enjoying the peace and quiet. Babies are a lot of work. :D

It's coming!

These are the words I've heard a million times today from the mouth of three year old J. So much for having him sit on the toilet every half hour, because it comes in much shorter intervals. I'm not a potty training expert, and I don't really feel like becoming one. Unfortunately, it's my morning to be with him. So that means I change and wash twenty pairs of underwear (because apparently he can't hold in the least little dribble). Bleh!

Happy 1st Birthday to this little munchkin!

Viv,
I thought you were going to be a boy. I knew it. I was used to the name your parents had picked for a boy, and I had gotten the cutest little red and black plaid outfit for you to wear. So when Claire called to tell me you were born, I was shocked. Excited, though. I immediately made plans to go to the hospital and visit you and your parents. What a peanut you were: tons of hair and the biggest brown eyes. Like the typical S baby, you resembled a bulldog and Grandpa S. It has been so much fun to watch you grow and change from that tiny bundle into the energetic toddler you are now. May you always stay smiley and resilient, not to mention tenacious :) Happy Birthday Vivian Kay!