Thoughts of a two year old!

So last week I bought Becca some Elmo underware. When we are home, we're putting her in real undies, and when we go out or go to bed she is still wearing the pull ups. This is a big step for us!

So this morning Becca wakes up and asks me (excuse the Becca spelling/talking)....
"Momma...who Daddy doh?" I proceeded to tell her that Daddy went to work. So then she says, " Yeah..Daddy wort wit Emmo undies on? "

Ha...she thought Tim was going to work with elmo undies on! Cracked me up! Just the mental image of Tim with Elmo undies was enough to bring tears to my eyes. After seeing me with tears in my eyes and laughing so hard..she says..." Silly Daddy!"

Oh. This child makes my world spin!

No title today

Last week I started talking with Cody's girlfriend. I'm loving that! Its only been through text and email so far, but I'm anxious to get together with her. She'll be helping plan the party that we are having for Cody when he comes home. I know that she means the world to Cody, and that he is crazy for this girl. We have a feeling that she will be around for a long time. We all want whats best for Cody, and knowing whats important to him is part of that. He's told us over and over that Steph is good for him. We believe that may be true, and can't wait to get to know her more!

Becca spent the day with my Mom and Dad on Saturday so that Tim and I could complete the deck! It looks great. We're still needing to build the steps, but I think that can be completed another weekend! I'm quite proud of the job we did, and that we completed it in just 2 weekends. Yay us! But how pathetic is it to be sooo soar? I'm so out of shape!

Today, Becca was without nap, so we spent the afternoon running errands while Tim spent some time with his friends. I'm on the hunt for some large clearanced out...or inexpensive pots for the deck/patio. But I think my timing is off. Either they aren't clearanced out at the super stores (lowes, homedepot) or they've been put away already to make room for school supplies (Target and Walmart).

Tim and I are doing pretty well on our "better choices" eating. Neither of us feel deprived yet. Thats my goal, is to make better choices MOST of the times, so that when I have the craving for something not so good...I don't feel as bad about it. I can never deprive myself of the sweets. But I can limit them and balance it all out with healthier eating the rest of the time. And with this, we've found some new recipes! So far everything is a keeper!

Hereeeeee fishy fishy!

Daddy got out the Dora fishing pole he bought Becca this spring, and took her our on her very first fishing experience! She had a blast...and caught 2 little bluegill all by herself! Yay Becca! We are so proud of you!
It was a short trip. All of about 30 minutes fishing! But we quit before she got bored, so that she'll be anxious to go again!

Becca can count!

Tim and I did a happy dance tonight! We are sooo proud of our Becca!

For the longest time, her counting consisted of 2.4.9.13.
Then last week it progressed and she would say 1.2.3.8.9.10.
Today finally, for the first time, without help...it was 1-10 perfectly! And she did it 3 times tonight! So it wasn't just a fluke!

Yay Becca! You are becoming such a big girl! Where has the time gone?

yahoo!

Yay! I lost 5!

New habits. New deck.

I can't believe its been a week since I posted last! This week has not been too incredibly busy until this weekend anyway! The last week I think was mostly being lazy and trying to get into the groove of changing our eating habits.
Tim made his way to 6 months being SMOKE-FREE last weekend! We are soo proud of him. He will even tell you that it seems like such a distant memory, that he can't even imagine lighting up anymore! Can you believe it? I never though I would see the day. I hoped and prayed for it, but never thought I would see it!
So, making it over the hurdle...he's decided to join me (again....) in the effort to better our eating habits. I need to stop being lazy and falling off the wagon. Maybe with him working with me on this, we'll be able to do it together. But he's a stickler!

We started tearing apart and resurfacing the deck this weekend. UGH! Hot and humid...it was horrible! But we've got it 1/2 done. *Thank you Wendy for keeping Becca for us so we could accomplish this task without constant questions and breaks to find out where she was and what she was getting into!* Next weekend (hopefully) we will complete the 2nd half and move on to building the steps to the back door. Praying for less humid weather.

Saturday night we went to a department BBQ for my work. It was nice to get away and do something different. Too bad the weather switched up on us. I think everyone was scared away by the approaching storms and headed home. In fact...we got caught in it on the way home.

I've never been so scared! I honest to God...believed that we were about to be sucked up in a tornado and flipped in the car. We had to pull over on
HWY 63 across from the Dogtrack, because we couldn't see 2 ft infront of us because the rain was so hard. We pulled over, and sat on the side of the road for about 5 minutes. Those 5 mintues will forever be etched in my mind. The rain was absolutely, no question about it...going horizontal. The wind was so crazy, that the trees in the ditch on my right were bent over. We couldn't see anything infront of us because the rain and wind was so hard. The car shook and moved and felt like it was being lifted on the drivers side. I had the hold of my door bar and Tim's wrist. Becca was frozen in her car seat. All I could think of was " when the car flips and lands upside down in this ditch beside me...how am I going to be able to get to the back and unbuckle Becca when she is upside-down? ". I was terrified. Then hail started, and it was coming in horizontal also. I think Tim was afraid that it would break the windows on the drivers side and attempted to put the car in reverse to get under the HWY 20 overpass...but we just couldn't see behind us to know if there was another car pulled over behind our car. At that point, Tim just floored it and made it back onto the roadway and down the road. By the time we made it to the Ridgeway/63 intersection, the rain had subsided just a bit, but enough for us to see infront of the car.
I didn't let go of the door handle, until we got into the garage!
It was then, under the coaching of Tim, that Becca said.... " No-No Thunder " and shook her finger at the sky!

All I have to say to that is, Amen!

Fun and Family all weekend long!

This was a full weekend for us!
Friday night after an evening of swimming for Tim and Becca, I went to a going away party for my friend Chubby. He worked with me at Grainger, and we became pretty good friends. He and his little family are moving back "home" to Kentucky. He will be greatly missed. Because I decided against having a drink, and it was incredibly warm inside the bar, i decided to make it an early night and was home at 9.

Saturday, we spent time at home playing and tim made a great London Broil and grilled veggies on the new grill! It was awesome! I went to church and the we all met at Wendy's for a bonfire and s'mores! mmmmmmm. Xavier spent the weekend with Wendy this week, since he's with his Dad this July. It was great to see him, and Becca loved playing with him again. Those too are comical when they get together.

Sunday, we slept in a bit and went to a family dinner at my Aunt Lynda and Uncle Duane's house. My mom's cousin Scott and his wife Melissa were in town from Los Angeles. It was good to see them again. The last time I saw them, I was in Junior High. Always good times when the family gets together, but Scott had some great stories! It was a fun time to hear my mom and her siblings reminense about when they were kids, and the funny stories that went along with it. A lot of laughs were had.

I will never get sick of spending time with family!

Back to Reality

Well, after a wonderful week off with Becca, and Tim enjoying a fishing vacation last week, we're back to reality! *sigh*
Becca was sad to go back to school Tuesday morning. She cried(this is not the first time) when she asked if we were going to Gaga's house. She loves going to play there on Mondays and Fridays!

Well, I told you I would share her photos when we had them scanned in. Sorry its taken longer than expected. Our scanner is on the outs at home, but Tim managed to scan them at work! Here is our favorite! This is the one that the studio wants to use in house for advertising! Go Becca!



Tim is supposed to send me the close up shot this afternoon too. I'll edit the post and add it once I recieve it too!

Thursday already?

This week off has just flown by! We've been just busy enough without being too busy to enjoy our time at home this week!

Monday and Tuesday, Becca spent her days at Grandma's house and at Daycare, so that I could get closets cleaned out and errands run. I was glad I took that time! I think she needed the time away from me to play with the kids, and I needed time to get my work done so I didn't feel guilty having fun the rest of the week with her having a messy house to return to!

Wednesday we took a trip to the Coral Ridge Mall in Iowa City and met Grandma Kathy there for lunch, shopping and of course, ice cream before we came home! It was a great day! Grandma Kathy spoiled Becca with some new outfits and lots and lots of attention. in fact...I'm not sure who gave who more attention. They were both pretty smitten with each other. Becca and I stopped at a Scrapbooking store in Coralville (Memories on 5th) before we headed home. She was absolutely done with shopping by that point, but was patient enough to let me grab a couple of things I probably didn't need, but felt I couldn't leave without!

Today we got Becca's 2 yr old pictures taken! They are adorable. As soon as I get my scanner working, I'll try to post them. Otherwise, some of you will be receiving your own anyway! I'm very proud of her today. She never has taken the best professional pictures....but I've chalked that up to her age and the lack of enthusiasm in the past photographers that we went to. We went to Portrait Innovations today. They are new in waterloo...but I'm liking them already! Very inexpensive, but very good!

One of the pics is in her red/white/blue dress on a white background. They handed her a little flag, and she stood up on her own, and held it way above her head, then looked up at it. PERFECTION! When he showed it to me, I knew right away we had to have it! Harvey (the little dude that shot the pics) called over the other photographers later, then they asked me if they could use it for advertising, or to put it up in the store! They even had some of the customer's coming over and looking at it on the big screen because they heard the fuss the photographers were making over it! Can't wait to share them!

Sturgis Falls

I decided on two posts...just so that it didn't seem so long winded! Sturgis Falls was great as always. Short of us getting leaving early Saturday afternoon, and missing the Marine Band because of rain, the rest of the weekend was beautiful.

Mom was in the parade on her Class of 68 float for their reunion. So Grandpa Bob, Wendy, Xavier, Becca and I watched from the curb! Sunday was filled with a lot of fair food and music. Here are a couple of pictures from our weekend. (note the watermelon barrettes I made to match her new outfit!)


Aunt Wendy and Becca clapping for the Armed Forces in the parade


Momma and Becca


Everyone thinks that Becca is such a sweetheart. Which she is...but she's rough too! She is always wanting to wrestle...today it was Xavier's turn. Becca knows how to lay the smack down!


I don't know what kind of move she's making, but by this action shot, and the expression caught on Xavier's face...WWF might be knocking on my door soon, asking for Rowdy Rebecca!

Gone Fishing...and its our vacation too!

Tim left for his yearly week long fishing trip with Aaron on Saturday morning. Tim has been itchin' to get up north to go fishing. He had been spoiled up until family priorities got the best of us and decided that one trip is enough each year.

That also means, however, that I haven't been on a vacation since we were pregnant with Becca. I do miss getting away, but the thought of leaving Becca for a whole week just overwhelms me and makes me feel sick instantly. I would be miserable without her for 7 days! And at 2, she's just too young to go along for that long...at least to such a remote resort that is not so (young) family friendly. This is a man's man resort for sure. Tim went with homework instructions...to go looking for another resort on the first rainy day they have and aren't fishing! We'll see what kind of ideas he comes back with.

But, as I have done the last couple of years, decided to take this week off also and make this my vacation. Each year there is another project to do while he is away. This year, it is cleaning closets and getting ready to store things for Cody and move in what he needs this fall. I have plenty to keep me busy, at least for the next two days. Becca will still go to Grandma Deb's on Monday and daycare on Tuesday, so that I can get the work done. The rest of the week however, is fun time for the two of us! We're looking forward to a shopping date with Grandma Kathy in Coralville on Wednesday. Perhaps we'll find a new outfit, because Becca will be getting her pictures taken on Thursday! And of course with Friday being July 4th...I'm sure there will be a picnic and fireworks to attend! More later I'm sure!!

Splish Spalsh!

Ok, So maybe she's too nervous yet to let loose and have too much fun, but Becca got a new pool this weekend. Daddy thought it necessary to have a pool big enough for Becca to really be able to get used to the depth and do more than just sit in it. He wants to teach her to swim, or at least to not be afraid of a bigger body of water. (I'm sure he's thinking further in the future to fishing...) We bought a 10ft x 30" deep pool.

Yesterday, she was all game at first to get right in with Tim. She wanted to be put down right away and "walk", like he was. He did it slowly and she was fine with it. She could stand and the water was about chest height. That was fun for about 4 minutes when she slipped and went completely under. That scared her and it took an hour and much coaching to get her back in with Daddy. She held tight, and as long as he didn't let go, she was ok. Between being scared, and when she finally got back in, she found a stash of winter weather gear in the garage, and decided she wanted to wear her old stocking hat....it made a great picture!


So this morning, Tim had a (daddy needs to spoil Becca) idea, to help her forget the drama of yesterday's pool experience...and bought her a new Dora life jacket, Dora beach towel, pool balls and a Nemo kick board. This has been an unexpectedly expensive weekend.

Flood Fashion

Thought we all needed a little comic relief from the stress and worry of the floods! Here's a shout out to Michelle for providing the picture! I don't care what everyone else says about you! I love ya!

The difference a year makes

2007


2008
Just had to share two pics tonight. I think we've started a tradition. At least at this house...Last year and this year, we have taken a picture of Becca and I together infront of my Blue Indigo Baptista bush. This bush is from a transplant that my mom had at their house, and that she got from a transplant from her mom. Because I never knew my Grandma Smith, this bush means a lot to me.

Well, I wanted to share both pictures. I'm sure I've shared last years with many of you before, but I've added the picture we took about 2 weeks ago as well! Its amazing to see how much Becca has changed in just a year. And obviously, still can't get Becca to smile pretty and look at the camera!

Recap of non flood related news!

Whew! I think the worst is over for Waterloo/Cedar Falls as far as the flooding is concerned. There is still a lot of clean up and exhausting work to come for everybody affected. In fact, the water is still above the previous record height set in 93'! But at least its starting to go down. Our thoughts and prayers for everyone in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Des Moines who are now fighting the floods. Its amazing to think of how the waters have divided cities and routes to get around. Waterloo only had 1 of the 6 bridges open. Cedar falls had all 3 major bridges downtown closed, as well as the stretch from Green hill to 1st street on hwy 218, and hwy 58 from Lonetree rd south to Greenhill rd. I heard yesterday that to get from Cedar Rapids to Iowa City, it would take a 4 hour round trip on back roads and backtracking. That drive is usually less than 20 minutes. Crazy.

Well, Besides the floods disrupting our schedules this week...

I ended up getting an emergency root canal on Monday AND Tuesday. Last weekend I fought toothache that just continued to get worse. Dentist was able to get me in right away on Monday morning to give me some relief, but didn't have enough time to give me the complete root canal, so I went back on Tuesday to finish! That was not the most pleasant experience I've had. And for some reason novacain just doesn't work on me like most others. I ended up with 4 shots of novacain, and some topical anesthetic up inside my canal as they worked. The Dentist was even amazed...and then understood my fear of the Dentist, because my previous dentist thought I was an over-reactive and dramatic girl...rather than believing my pain level. Tuesday was more of the same, 3 shots of novacain got me through.

Wednesday was just a very unfocused day, with all the continuous coverage of the flooding. 29 of my coworkers were in some way affected. The worst...2 of them had water up to the roof line. The rest either were evacuated because of location, or had standing water in their basements. But it is amazing to see how Grainger pulls together to help its employees. They have brought in cleanup supplies from rubber gloves, to garbage bags to disenfectant, mops, buckets, rubber boots, waders, shovels, rakes, first aid kits and temporary housing for those displaced! Its good to know that your employer stands behind you and will help you get back on your feet.

Thursday was nerve racking for me. The morning was fine, but then systems went down at work, and because of that, we all left for an hour. On the way back to the office, I stopped at the bank, and someone backed into me. Great. Another accident to report into my insurance. Last year at this time, I was rear-ended. Grrrrr...At least non of them have been my fault. But the whole inconvenience of the situation, having body work done (my front bumper has a 4 " crack across the top of it). And having to deal with the other ladies insurance. Just annoying. I am thankful however, that it wasn't a deal where anyone was hurt, not huge problems. Just annoying ones. ahhh!

We had plans to go see Cody this weekend for his birthday and celebrate fathers day with him, but because of the flooding in waterloo and the threat to Deeres, as well as our house (because they purposly flooded liberty park now 4 blocks from our house) we were affraid to leave. We called Cody and were able to explain to him what was going on, and he was very understanding. We will try to make it down in another couple of weeks.

Well, I pray this next week is closer to normal. Or as close as we can get to normal.

We Built this City.....

I've had that dang song stuck in my head all last night and this morning, from watching tv reports of sandbaggers saving our city! Soo many thanks go out to all those that were able to put forth effort to protect our downtowns!

I do have more pics! Imagine that! These were actually forwarded to me from a friend here at work. This is the John Deere SPO (Service Parts) building on Westfield ave. This is about 3 blocks from where Tim's office is. Water is now closer to his office, but these pics were taken yesterday morning, after the water came up there. Rumor has it that water is inside the foundry and the SPO buildings.











You would think that I would have more info, since Tim is the Assistant Security Project Manager...but being he didn't even make it home until 320 this morning, I haven't even talked to him about the affect its had on the plants. I'm getting all my info from other coworkers who's families work there. Its like a game of Telephone!

Also, check out these photos. This is from the courier.

How about some Happy Posts?

Figured I needed to post something happy and cute. What better..than pics of Becca!


Becca trying out her first fishing pole from Daddy...and her first time in the boat ( in the driveway of course)


Becca's first try at corn on the cobb. So cute! And she loved it!


My friends call her a porcelin doll in this picture


Becca posed herself for this one. And the flower just happened to get in the shot. I'm so glad it did.

Flood Update

Ok, wow...I'm sure if your not in the area, you may have seen Cedar Falls on the national news this morning. Here is what I know from the latest KWWL Breaking News update about 15 minutes ago :

The Boathouse in Cedar Falls is completely underwater. I have a picture of the Boathouse taken today at at 7am. This was forwarded to me from a friend. KWWL is reporting that it may have been washed away? Not completely sure on that one. Ron Steele even sounded unsure about that one. But geesh! ***Since last post. Confirmed by kwwl that the boathouse is still there, but nearly covered. Just the ridge of the roof line is visable.***



The Ice House museum has water over the top of the door. Most definitely there will be water inside too.

Downtown Cedar Falls businesses and residents are being evacuated and will tow any remaining vehicles starting at 3pm between 1st and 6th streets.

Cedar Falls officials are expecting the water to flow over the top of the levy by a couple of inches.

Downtown Waterloo businesses and residents are being evacuated. There is only one bridge out of the downtown area. The rest have been closed because water is touching the bottoms of the bridges.

Reports that the levy at the Cattle Congress grounds broke, and the river has flooded the cattle congress grounds and is making it way down Westfield Ave.

All John Deere plants on Westfield Ave have been evacuated.

Ridgeway Ave between HWY 63 and Cedar Heights dr is closed. Black Hawk creek is now flowing over the road (2nd time this happened this year).

Washburn residents are being evacuated.

North Cedar has been evacuated.

With all the evacuations, traffic is at a standstill on Hwy 20 and Hwy 218.

Here is a picture of the Hwy 218 and 58 interchange just before George Wyth.


***Since last post. Cedar Falls is now in the process of a mandatory evacuation from the river on the east to Franklin Street, and from the river (1st street) to 9th street. My Dad works at the Western Home in Maintenance, and they are moving all the elderly in the Martin Building to another facility, because the water is up to the building now. Lets hope that those employees don't have to leave on a boat if they take much longer to move those residents. Or move the residents on boats for that matter!***

Ok, so that is the most important news. Not to mention or to lessen the severity of all the individual homes that are experiencing water in their basements because sewers are backing up. Thoughts and prayers go out to everyone.

The floods follow

The Cedar Valley can't get a break! First Tornados, now floods. Many that were left without homes in the New Hartford and Dunkerton areas are now getting flooded as well. They can't catch a break. Record rainfall from Mason City / Charles City area has flooded us down stream, and we've had our own high rainfall in the last week as well. Our ground is so saturated, there is just now where for it to go. I've posted a couple of the shots that I took tonight after work in Downtown Cedar Falls.


Standing at the Main street bridge looking toward 1st street bridge that goes to hwy 218 / Waterloo. Parkade would be to my left.


This is a close up of the trusses on the bottom of the Main street bridge. Litterally 4-5 more foot and it would hit the bottom of the bridge.


Standing on top of the levy behind where the BroomFactory once stood, looking towards the franklin street bridge going to Island Park. The Ice House has sandbags about 6 high around the back side of it. The grassy are behind it is completely covered.


Looking at the 1st street bridge again going towards Waterloo. Water is touching the bottom of the bridge in places, and 3-5 ft at others.


Standing behind the Broom Factory property, looking at the Main Street Bridge. Notice the man standing on the bridge to the far right. Gives you a perspective of the 5' clearance before the water hits the bottom side of the bridge.


The Railroad Bridge behind the Broom Factory property again. You can see here that the water IS touching the bottom of the tracks. They placed several coal filled boxcars on the tracks from one end of the bridge to the other, to help give the bridge weight, in hopes to keep it in place. Stay tuned to see if their efforts work!

Ring around the rosies........

Becca has learned a new song! She's learned the Mother Goose...Ring Around the Rosies song. Although...her version (pronunciation is not her deal) includes,
"Asses, Asses..DOWN!"

It really is quiet cute to hear her say the wrong words. Course, she doesn't sing the whole song...but only the "ashes, ashes" part..of which she says incorrectly. Figures. Then she will say, " Daddy...more asses ", so he will start singing again.
We got it on video last night. If we can figure out the new video camera and how to upload to the blog, I will post it as well.

Just another instance of the embarrasment of toddlers mispronouncing a word! We're getting quite a list lately!