Scaredy Cat...

I had to help her on the way down but not on the way up.

Callia is a funny little thing - when she becomes scared or doesn't want to do something she cries and shakes. Well this one weekend we went to the park and we tried her on the slide - she cried and shook. We tried her on her own and with Ethan - didn't matter she hated it. A few weeks later we went to another park and I tried her on the slide - not quite as much crying or shaking so I kept sticking her on it and by the end of it she was okay with it. The next day Rich took her and she only cried when he tried to take her off the slide - funny girl. The next weekend we took her to a diff. park and she went on the slide -however, not only did she go down the slide she had decided that she should be able to climb up it and she did. Our little monkey, who can't walk yet, walked herself up the slide at least a dozen times by herself without my help!! She has had some other funny fears the boys never had - grass and pea gravel - she has gotten over both since we're outside so much and around it.

A picture every year!

When Ethan was a baby I read somewhere that you should take a picture of your child every year wearing something of yours - this way you can see how much they are growing each year. So, b/c we had a boy first we decided that he would wear Rich's Liverpool jersey every year. For Callia we decided that she too would wear the Liverpool jersey every year but she would also get to have her picture with my wedding dress and/or veil since I don't have any meaning full shirts. Guess we could have gone with the bra? HA! So here are some of the shots we took with her and my dress - I think some could be really cute with some photoshop touch ups but I'm not in the mood right now to do that - maybe in a future post.

One!

Wow - our baby is one. Well, she was one last week. On one hand it is sad - our baby is growing up, on the other hand I'm looking forward to the big kid stuff with no naps, diapers etc (long way to go yet). We celebrated by having my parents, nana, brother and niece over for dinner and cake. Callia wasn't that impressed with the cake but I thought it was b/c it was late. She loved her toys - the day b/f she had received a toy from a friend and when Christian tried to play with it she scooted over to him and screamed. On Sunday we went to Rich's sister and her and I made dinner for everyone since her daughter turned 10 a couple days after Callia's bday. We tried Callia again with cake and she wasn't that into it - thus we don't have any really good mucky face pictures. At this party she received all clothes - she was most interested in trying to put on her new shoes. Her brothers were so interested in helping her open presents and playing with her new toys - Christian even volunteered to try on her new clothes! Here is what she has done over the past month:

-weighs in at 17lbs 6 ounces 28 1/2 inches long

-pulling herself up

-does a bridge - stands on her legs and is bent over with hands on the floor

-now hates pancakes

-loves her swing outside

-no teeth

-naps one or two times a day

-loves milk, not formula

-says "what's this" - not clear, kind of in a breathy voice (she tooted and said it, then Rich went to put her to bed for her nap and he let one rip and she said it again)

-loves to push cars around, stick the soother into her baby's mouth, read books, draw with the doodle board thingy

-goes from lying to sitting to standing

-throw your food onto the floor when you're all done

-use the sign for more

Callia you have given us an amazing year. You are easy going (except for when you seem to be teething), loving, and gentle yet boisterous when your brothers get you going. The amazing thing is that though we have completed your milestone year we have many more to celebrate with you. You have completed our family. You are so loved by me, your daddy and brothers. I'm excited to see all the new things you're going to do over the next year. I pray that you grow up loving God with all of your heart!

The four stooges at one

ethan

callia

christian

aiden

I think that Callia has a mix of all three boys in her though looking at these pics. I think that they all look completely different.

Product Review

Everyone is doing product reviews so I thought that I would add my two cents. B/f we had Callia we decided that we needed to get a high chair that attaches to a chair instead of the big bulky one we've had for the boys. I did a little looking online and thought that the Safety first one with the removable tray insert would be great. It's dish washer safe, etc. So we asked for it and received it for a gift. Well, let me tell you the removable tray drives me crazy. You can't just wipe it down b/c it is forever getting crumbs under the removable part so I always have to take it a part to rinse it fully down. For the last couple of days I've left the removable part off and just used the tray - much easier. I wish we had gone for the other brand (don't remember what it was) b/c it had a comfier looking seat. So I say, the size is great but skip the removable tray and go for the brand with more comfort. I'll add a pic. when blogger lets me.

Hmmmm

Yesterday the boys and I were walking home from swimming lessons when we there was almost a collision b/w two bikers and a couple of ladies. The ladies had just crossed the road and were on the sidewalk when two young teen boys came whipping by on their bikes - the boys mad no effort to move around the ladies and almost ran them over. I thought "what freaks". Then I heard a bike bell behind me and turned and a biker went by us and then said thank-you. When I turned I saw that it was a teenage boy who had down syndrome. I thought isn't it ironic the boys who are "normal" were rude, dangerous and had no common sense yet the boy who has the disability was polite and most importantly safe on his bike. Just made me think of how we view people b/c they are "normal" or how we view them b/c they have a disability - sometimes "normal" doesn't count for much.

Tired

I am SO tired of cleaning the house for showings. Even when the house seems tidy, it's not good enough for people to come thru for their TWO minute look so I still end up taking an hour or so to "tidy" more and clean more. I'm thinking of quitting!:) We went thru one place that had undies on the floor (not sure if they were clean or not), crumbs, garbage etc. and you know we would have bought it if one, we had our place sold and two if we had actually liked the layout and location. I suppose having a clean and tidy house helps and in reality I could NEVER leave my house dirty or untidy when I knew people were coming thru. But I'm tired of keeping it clean with four kids and having the cleaning taking time away from doing other things. Well, that's my gripe for the day. If this takes much longer maybe our undies will end up on the floor too, even if people are coming thru.