Busy Weekend No. 1

Left: Me, enjoying the Michael Bolton Concert during Maysville's annual Rosemary Clooney Festival

On the weekend of Sept. 26-27, the annual Rosemary Clooney Festival in downtown Maysville was in full swing.

On Friday, I attended the free concert given downtown with my friend Sarah and after the show, I went to a concert given by an old high school friend. It was her last show for her band, Curse the Girl. My friend and her husband moved to Minn. in the weeks following the performance.

On Sat., I threw a baby shower for Sarah Winter in downtown Maysville. The Carlson family (my husband's employers, not my husband's family) were kind enough to let us use the Courtyard, a lovely venue that they own for the event.

After the shower, I went to my parents' home to change and then back downtown to attend the big Michael Bolton concert with Carlson Software employees and their significant others. I believe I was the only "significant other" without a date. (John had weekend plans.) Even though I missed the hubby, I had a sensational time!

It was a great show - completed with a marriage proposal from a soldier to his Kentucky girlfriend. Although the boyfriend was away, he had Michael Bolton sing "When a Man Loves A Woman" to her. It was the highlight of the evening!

However, the food left something to be desired. The presentation was nice, but the warmth and flavor were missing. Oh well!

Michael Bolton - Big Hair = Nice Looking Middle-Aged Man. He's always been a great singer.

He sang some oldies, which was a great choice and a few of his old faves. Who could not love "How Can We Be Lovers (If We Can't Be Friends?)"

Here are some pictures of the famous crooner:




Here are some more pictures of the cool peeps that surrounded me at my table and at the table next door:

What we've been up to....

In mid-August, I visited with some friends in Louisville. From Louisville, I traveled with my friend Amy Vetter to see our pregnant friend Julie (she should have that baby just about any day now!) We also saw Julie's hubby and our other friend, Missy.

John's parents came to visit Labor Day Weekend. John's dad helped us finish up some wiring in the basement. (FYI: We are working on finishing our basement.) During their visit, we learned John's cousin, Eliot, had died. We followed John's parents back to MN to be with family and attend the funeral. Eliot leaves behind a lot of friends and family and two precious little boys.

I ALMOST got to attend the Republican National Convention. When I learned I would be in MN, I let my former editor know. Apparently, she got in touch with Mitch McConnell's office and tried to get me in, but it was too short notice. RATS! Instead, I watched the action on CSPAN.

We've recently been to several birthday parties and baby showers and we'll certainly be busy in upcoming months as we have family vacations planned, a wedding to attend and parties to throw!

Enjoy our photos from the previous month!

Our visit with Julie, Junior and Missy:


Rebecca's antics:

Breakfast with Daddy

On the weekends and whenever Rebecca wakes before John leaves for work, she climbs into his lap to join him for breakfast. It's quite cute. She eats her own breakfast, but loves joining Daddy as well.

Tagged

4 Things

4 things I was doing 10 years ago:

1) I was a senior at Mason County High School in Maysville, KY.
2) I was busy with all sorts of extra-curricular activities, but especially with the newspaper.
3) I was chasing around John Carlson, this guy I liked.
4) I was cruisin' in Leonard the Lumina.

4 things on my To-Do list for today:

1) Draino the master bath tub. (My hair = clogged drain)
2) Put away laundry
3) Oversee the HVAC guys' installation of a new basement return air duct and an exhaust fan for our future downstairs bath.
4) RSVP to Ben and Johanna's rehearsal dinner
(Check, check, check, check! Yay! --- but there's more on the list!)

4 random things I love about my husband:

1) I love to watch him play with Rebecca or teach her things, it melts my heart!
2) I love when he touches my hair. For some reason, it feels so sweet and tender.
3) I love when he gets excited about projects or ideas. (He has many!)
4) I have always loved his sense of humor.

4 jobs that I have had:

1) Reporter for "The Ledger Independent."
2) Store merchandising and marketing for Joseph-Beth Booksellers
3) Account executive for Trans Western Publishing
4) Insignia Department Head and buyer for Gray's College Bookstore

4 movies I've watched more than once:

1) The Cutting Edge
2) Jerry Maguire
3) Love Actually
4) Indiana Jones flicks

4 places I have lived:

1) Maysville, KY
2) Louisville, KY (in a dorm)
3) Louisville, KY (in an apartment)
4) Lexington, KY

4 places I have been:

1) Minnesota
2) Tijuana, Mexico
3) California
4) Wyoming/Montana/Idaho border (Yellowstone & snowmobiling)


4 places I want to visit:

1) Australia
2) The U.K.
3) Ireland
4) Italy

4 TV shows I watch:
(if I randomly catch an episode)
1) Project Runway
2) Little People, Big World
3) Scrubs
4) John and Kate plus 8
I also like any re-runs of Everybody Loves Raymond and Quantum Leap - MY FAVES!

4 things you may not know about me:

1) I was raised on a farm
2) I joke that I'm a little OCD. Everything has a proper place and order. I have my own little methods...
3) I hate to spend money. I am quite frugal.
4) Two of my baby teeth were fused together. When I lost the tooth (teeth,) only one permanent tooth came in. So, I have one less permanent tooth than most adults. It's a fairly rare occurrence, but a good one in my case - it created more space in my mouth, allowing for straighter teeth!

4 People I Tag:
1.) Jessica H.
2.) Becky W.
3.) BJ
4.) Aunt Tami
(The only other bloggers on my list - other than the one who initially tagged me.) :-)

Fifteen Months

(The following pics are from left to right and top to bottom : Rebecca with a "bracelet," Rebecca waving on a lawn mower, Rebecca crawling in her step stool and making the "oh my" face, half-naked Rebecca and Rebecca watching the wheels on the mower.

Rebecca turned fifteen months old today. She is no longer a baby, but an active, curious toddler - and it has all happened so fast!

Rebecca's vocabulary grows daily. She tries to say just about any word you ask and she understands a great deal.

She's even started gesturing and asking questions, like when she raises her hands, palms up, shrugs and asks, "go?" for "where did it go?"

We're trying to teach her to count to five, but she only likes to say "two." We count her stick-on ducks on the side of the tub, I say "one," she says, "two," I say "three" and "four." (There are four ducks.)

She's a little monkey. She loves to climb! She does pull-ups on furniture (and gets in trouble,) climbs on furniture (sometimes gets in trouble - depends on what piece) and climbs steps and ladders (got in trouble yesterday for that!)

Yes, yesterday, Rebecca decided to scale a ladder to a fort in a playgroup kid's back yard. I had turned my back for a moment and she was probably four feet off the ground. It scared me to death. I would have no problem with her climbing if I were there with her - but geez....she doesn't know danger.

Our little tyke also enjoys being outside. She loves pointing to "pane," (planes) "tees," (trees) "grass" and "birds." She loves riding anything motorized and enjoys pointing out and picking flowers. She even says "pretty."

She's a girl - I catch her singing (making a tune out of mumbo-jumbo sounds) along with music. She also loves to dance, loves to carry a purse and still enjoys jewelry, pretty patterns and makeup (she watches me and mimics my motions.)

She has recently been trying to jump. She squats down and then comes up to her tip-toes. It's so cute. She also walks on her tip-toes, on occaision, to entertain herself. She says, "up."

Rebecca is full of personality, as you can imagine. She makes the greatest faces, like her "oh my" face. (She'll show it to you if you ask...) She opens her mouth wide, her eyes get big and sometimes she'll pat her cheeks with her hands.

She knows a great number of body parts and helps with dressing and undressing. She especially loves shoes. If you tell her you are putting them on, she'll sit down in front of you, like a pro, and will hold out each foot to be shod.

What else??? She folds her hands for dinner prayer now, asks for "hand" if she wants you to hold her hand. She still makes animal noises and LOVES books. We read books before each nap, before bedtime and sometimes just during the day. She'll even go through them herself. I'll see her pointing at the pages and saying words. She also still enjoys "Signing Time" and is using even more signs with her speech. Her signs are also becoming more accurate.

Also, I'm trying some potty training measures. I think it's still a little early for her body to handle it completely, but why not start? She has yet to sit on the pot and do her business, but she has now peed three times on the floor. She took off her diaper once and peed in the living room - not fun. She has peed twice on the bathroom floor while her diaper was off and we were talking about going potty. (I tried to make her stay on the pot - I promise.) Anyway, I figure it's a start. I purchased training pants, so maybe I'll try that soon. If anyone has any suggestions, let me know!!!!!

Oh! It's all so amazing....

Pocket Bike

John purchased a pocket bike. His dad said, "it will be like a gorilla riding a tricycle." His dad was right - but John will tell you it sure is a lot of fun!

Blankie, Hoppy and Paci

Rebecca has developed some attachments recently. They aren't extreme, she just likes to have them around, especially for naps and "night-night."
She sleeps with "Hoppy," a soft, pink bunny rabbit that is nearly her height. She named the rabbit herself. After teaching her that a rabbit hops, Rebecca began affectionately calling her bunny, "Hoppy." She often uses "Hoppy" as a pillow or a snuggle buddy. I credit "Hoppy" for peaceful nights of sleep.
I now only give Rebecca a pacifier at sleepy times. On occaision, I'll slip one in during a road trip or a stroller ride if she's exceptionally fussy. She now asks for it if she's getting tired. "Paci," she says in a yearning voice. The request is usually preceded or followed by a verbal petition for "Hoppy."
She doesn't ask for a "blankie" for sleep, but she does like them - to cuddle with or to hide under. When she plays peek-a-boo now, she says "I see ya." It sounds like one word, but it's recognizable and uber-cute.