My little monkey

It's finally getting back to normal and I am so very thankful for that. I have started planning Alyssa's birthday part and still can't fathom that it is almost here! Yes, it's still a little over a month away but where did all the time go? She still amazes me daily with all the new things that she discovers.

Her latest thing is crawling the stairs. Yes she is supervised when she does this so everyone can relax. The highest she has gone is the third step and it's very impressive to me how she does this. She has also started to do something that cracked me up. I was in our bedroom bathroom getting ready and I could here her screaming so I had poked me head out the door. She had pulled herself up in the crib and was yelling and looking out her door. From where she was you could see our room. I am thinking that she was yelling or telling me something. Probably to get her out of her crib, but I thought this was hilarious for some reason.

She finally had her Gymboree class today. We had a good time, although someone got a little cranky because they hadn't had their morning nap but more on that later. The instructor sang lots of songs, showed us around all the equipment, we played with scarves and so on. There was only one other little boy there who was turning one next weekend. It was their first time there as well. They were really cute together. During one of the songs Alyssa started clapping her hands and smiling and oohing and ahhing at the instructor it was pretty cute. I think I will eventually sign her up for a session. It will be a great place for her when she is able to walk and can run around in there, especially when it's raining out!!!

Her morning naps are also becoming somewhat non-existent. I'm still laying her down but she doesn't fall asleep but plays in her crib. I think that I am in denial that I might have to give this up eventually

Christmas in Longview

We just got back from having our last Christmas down in Longview and Vancouver. The first night was at my parents house. My mom cooked dinner and it was great as usual. Even though I gave her a bad time about it because it was a meal I didn't really like growing up it was fab-u-lous! Alyssa finally got her little princess car that I had been hearing soooo much about for the last month or so. It's very cute! It has most of the Disney princess's on it and makes lots of wonderful noises. Alyssa can sit on it and enjoys pushing all the buttons and honking the horn but is still a tad short from reaching the floor with both feet. She does get the biggest grin when you push her on it.

The next day we headed down to Vancouver to spend with Cory's brother and his family. The guys went to some golf discount store or something and us woman and Nolan hung out. Well the kids actually napped most of the time and Amanda and I caught up, baked, and had yummy margaritas. That evening the Grandparents and G. Grammy came down and we had dinner, played games and opened up presents. The kids both got more great presents. Aunt Mandy got Alyssa this wonderful picture for her wall from a local artist. It's just the cutest thing. It has a picture with a fairy kissing a huge moon and on the bottom it says "catching some Z's." My description doesn't do it justice but it is so darn cute!

We headed home on New Years and we were very happy to be back and get back to normal. Cory had to work and I ended up going to bed late for me but still in 2008. We both woke up around midnight because of the war zone going on outside and Harley terrified. We said "Happy New Year" and both rolled over and went back to bed. How exciting we are. Well at least Cory has an excuse. Today we are headed over to a friends house which has become a New Years day tradition. They cook up this great southern meal and we grub! I'm really excited to see them and all the other friends that will be there!

Happy New Years to everyone and wish everyone the best!

Christmas Vacation

We have had a great week. Cory was able to take some vacation and actually had Christmas off this year! Some of our plans had gotten cancelled due to the snow and people not willing to take risks so we had to re-group. This will be my only rant about people who live in the Northwest and how incompetent they are when life gives them a little bit of a challenge, SNOW. It amazes me how some peoples lives just shut down. Anyhow, we have been enjoying it a lot!

We have been taking Harley to the dog park by us that he absolutely loves. He has also enjoyed playing in the snow. I have been nervous about taking Harley because he can be a handful at times. I wasn't exactly sure if he would play with the dogs or be more interested in the people like he normally is.

We started some great traditions with Alyssa that Cory and I had growing up. One was of course the Santa picture and than on Christmas Eve Alyssa got her Christmas pajamas and ornament. I had always gotten pajamas on Christmas Eve from my Grandparents and I am going to continue the tradition with Alyssa.

Christmas was wonderful and very busy. We had family up at the house and some good friends of ours. It went off without a hitch! The menu was wonderful and we had a great scrabble tournament going, although some people are CHEATERS!!!!!!

Alyssa got some great gifts from everyone and she has been enjoying them a ton! She still has some teeth coming in and has been drooling like a fool and a tad cranky at times. She is crawling like a mad woman and walking around the tables and couches and pushing her toys. Here is a great video of her walking with one of her toys. I promise she didn't get hurt just a little startled.

Picture of Santa

As promised we received Alyssa's Santa photos the other day. Here it is!

First Snow

Well it had snowed a few days ago and we had an inch or so at the house, but yesterday it had really let loose and we got several more inches. What exactly did that mean? That meant it was time to play in the snow, build snowmen, and try out the new snow clothes!

We took Alyssa out back to see what she thought of the snow. I would say her reaction was "eh." She was a good trooper and stayed out there for a little while watching Harley run around like a mad man and Cory and I attempting to make a snowman. Alyssa reminded me of the little boy on the movie "The Christmas Story." She didn't mind her snow suit and it's actually very warm and kept her dry! I think this will be great for Leavenworth, if we make it there! Now what cracked me up is Harley hates going out there in the cold to go to the bathroom but to play in it he is all about it! He ran around chasing snow balls and tore into our snowman we tried to build. Alyssa thought this was hilarious although she normally does think Harley is pretty funny.

Cory and I are getting somewhat cabin fever so we will probably head to Target or somewhere again today just to get out of the house. We didn't pick up formula or diapers yesterday and I hadn't realized how low we were so now it's a must! Foolish us!!!!

On Sunday we are supposed to be heading to Leavenworth with one of my best girlfriends and her family for a few days. Hopefully we make it. With all the snow down here I'm sure the passes are a million times worse! We will see!

Alyssa is still taking small steps around the tables and furniture and has several more teeth starting to come in. I'm really looking forward to her first Christmas. I think it will be a great one! The other day Alyssa and I met a friend for lunch at Claim Jumper. I found out that they offer a complimentary plate of food for baby's!!! Now I was pretty excited because I have found that if I order something for Alyssa it's somewhat a waste of money. I only say that because she isn't to the point yet where she will eat or even make a dent in it. I do end up taking it home but still. The water brings this plate and on it it had applesauce, cheese, pears, and some turkey! I was quite impressed. She loved it, I loved it! Way to go Claim Jumper's!!! I think they are definitely onto something there! Anyone for lunch!?!?!?!?!

Well for those of you who have been asking and or wondering. All is back to normal in the Simmons household. Harley is back to 100% and although sometimes that can be exhausting I am very thankful. It was a rough week and a half but we have our first baby healthy again! Here are some videos of his love for the snow. Enjoy!!!!!

Santa....a continued tradition!

Today we took Alyssa to see Santa. It was quite the experience. Even though she doesn't understand it yet I think it's important to have these first moments and have them documented in life. It's something that she will be able to look back on and treasure and share with her family.

We decided to take her to the Seattle Nordstrom's downtown because that's where Cory and his brother, Tyson, had theirs taken every year. So the tradition will continue. I also think Cory's mom had her picture done there as well except it was Frederick and Nelson's then.

So we got up early and tried to be there when they opened. We got there around 09:45, they opened at 09:30, and the line was already around the corner and almost to the espresso stand outside. This was not going to ruin our first visit to Santa though. So we stood in line, and stood, and stood, and stood. Finally around 11:30 we were managing to get to the front of the line. It was great though because the employees came out and offered hot cider and cookies to everyone waiting. Once inside they even had pictures and crayons for the little ones to draw on and color. The children, at least around us, were all in such great behavior and dressed so very cute!

Alyssa was such a good sport the whole time. She had forgone her morning nap and hadn't ate since 07:00, except for a little bit of sugar cookie and strawberry puffs she received. We got to the front of the line and that's when she decided it was time to cry! Figures!!!!

She stopped almost immediately but her head was going on my shoulder and her hands were rubbing the eyes. I was getting prepared for a major melt down. We started our jaunt up to see Santa. The photographer told me where to set her on his lap and I did so, still awaiting the flood of tears. No worry though she sat there and posed for the camera like any big girl would. She makes me laugh because she doesn't quite understand that you need to smile before and during the flash of the camera but she does it after! Anyhow we got some great pictures and memories for her. We will receive her packet of pictures sometime next week. We got a few of our own that I can share now but I will put theirs up when I receive them.

Here are Cory and Tyson on one of their trips to Santa as well as Tyson's son, Nolan. I think they all have the same expression on their face!

Any day now....has it arrived?

Well I have been seeing the signs for awhile now and have thought it would happen at any moment. It didn't, but Alyssa is finally starting to do her version of a crawl. She moves her knees and legs forward and then throws her upper body forward and falls onto the floor. She will do this several times until she gets where she wants to go or just frustrated. Hopefully she will figure it out.

Next week will be officially my last week of work. I have been helping out at my old job a few times a week until they could find a replacement since the other one didn't work out. Now that the time has come I'm going back to my SAHM (stay at home mom) duties. I still plan on going into Seattle a lot so G. Grammy can see her little girl and watch her grow. I have several other things that I am looking forward to doing with Alyssa and for myself!

Alyssa took two steps today along the table which I thought was great. She also held on to the couch with one hand and the table with the other and took a step. She really knows how to make her mother proud. We had some friends over for dinner the other night and she had lasagna for the first time and loved it. Kind of funny I don't think there is a food yet that she doesn't like. I'm starting to let her play more with her food and she does a great job of putting the fork and spoon into her mouth by herself. She doesn't always get the food on it but she is trying. She even managed to pick up her plate and toss her pasta and veggies onto the floor. I thank Harley for his clean up help there! It's kind of interesting she is showing favor to her left hand. Do we have another lefty in the family finally?!?!?

Harley and Me

Warning: This may be a little graphic!

This has been a chaotic last few days in our house. Harley was boarded the last week because we went out of town and thought it would be less hectic with him hear on Thanksgiving. We picked him up on Friday and he was his usual tired self. He also got day care while he was there. We noticed a change in him that night when he was getting up to go to the bathroom numerous times. The next day, Saturday, when we were out for a few hours we came home and found a nice surprise for us. Harley had went potty on the floor, and it was diarrhea! Well we thought it was something that we had fed him and it would go away. It continued for the next two days and it was bad. He was soo sore and very lethargic. On Monday morning I called the vet first thing and got him in.

I felt horrible for him. Alyssa and I were sitting in the room while he got hit temperature taken and a stool sample. I could here him barking and it broke my heart I wanted to cry! I held it together and when the vet came back in informed me that he had a 103 temp, dehydrated, very high white cells in his feces, and was very sore, if you know what I mean! They gave him a shot of some liquids and it gave him a big bump on his back that went away later that night and put him on two medications.

We came home and I finished doing all the laundry from Harley "leaking" on it. I gave him his meds wrapped in cheese and he devoured them. I have never had to care for a sick pet before and one that I care so much for. It's like another child, I want to take his pain from him. I wonder if he understands what's going on because he can't talk. We didn't have any doggie diapers so we put some bottoms on that Alyssa had grown out of hoping that would help. Every time he would flagellate he would leak. Now these were only on for about 5 minutes or so because they were falling off. He is slowly on the mend.

Dealing with that I picked up a cold as well. So Harley and I have been sick together. Right now I am reading the book "Marley and Me" and although breads and certain things are different I can relate to the story big time. Besides a child and spouse, there is no greater love than the one you have for your pet!

Happy 32nd Birthday Cory and Tyson

Happy Birthday Guys!

Cory and Tyson at 6 months old! It's probably hard for their parents to believe that 32 years ago their twin boys were born and how quickly life that they knew was changed forever. Oh the stories that the family has on these two and the shenanigans that they got into and continue to do. Everyone is so very proud for both of your accomplishments. We love you guys!

This was Cory on his 1st birthday at his Grammys house.

I'm not sure what Cory is doing in this picture, either waving or blocking the sun, but we have this little outfit that he is wearing and it's hard to believe that this 6'3 man was ever this little! I guess we all have to grow up sometime but at least we can still be kids at heart!