Aunt Beka Is TOO Funny!

It's a little dark...I'm still learning how to use my simple technology!

Thank You, Aunt Terry!

--Last weekend was wonderful. My Aunt Terry (along with my Uncle Frank and beautiful cousin, Natalie) came to visit from Long Island. It was such a blessing to have her here and to be able to be loud and have fun with her. I can't imagine that it was much of a vacation for her since she spent the entire time buying and preparing food for us, but we loved every minute of having her here. Gwendolyn Loves her Aunt Terry, too!

It takes 3 us us to get this I love NY shirt on Gwendolyn

You can't tell from this picture...but Gwen thought Natalie was the COOLEST!

--Aunt Terry has always been around for weddings, birthdays, babies. She's a permanent staple in my life and I feel so blessed to have her. She's the kind of Aunt and Friend that I want to be when I grow up! When I was a kid we would drive from Ohio to NY every year and camp out in her den and throw snowballs with our cousins. Let's not forget the trips to the city on the Long Island Railroad with my Dad, the best Manhattan tour guide there is.

--Now, we are across the country from each other...but it doesn't feel like it. We'll be back to NY soon, Aunt Terry! Hopefully this Christmas!

--Also, I totally credit my Aunt for changing Gwendolyn around. It was the week that she got here that Gwendolyn really started going to other people and not flipping out if she stayed up a little too long. Now she's very loud (in a good way) and sticking her tongue out and moving her little, fat body all the time. It's like she's pissed off she can't run, yet. Diaper changes have become a whole new challenge...but I love this stage!

Oh, SNAP!

- My beautiful and brilliant baby sister, Rose, was kind enough to bring it to my attention that ALL, yes, ALL of the things I was thankful for in my previous blog are related to my baby. This has only proven what I had already suspected - that my entire life revolves around A BABY.
- So...to my gorgeous, young, single, childless Rose...I say, "Take this precious time of life and eat it up! Allow yourself to be reminded of what is truly real to you and where your joy comes from. Take this life and let it sing! Kick up your beautiful heels and RED HOT legs and DANCE! Love hard and dream BIG. Check that the source of your conviction is TRUE and be ferocious in it!"
- Most of all...keep emailing, texting and visiting your big sister who is prisoner in her home with a crazy baby and all the crazy baby's things! I am thankful for all your love and attention. I miss you when I don't see you, I pray for you most every day and I am proud of you.
- Some day, you will be in my shoes - older, barely wiser, needing to lose 15 pounds, playing on the floor with the most beautiful piece of attitude you've ever seen- and, even though it will be exactly where you want to be...you will smile to yourself and think, "How the H-E-double hockey sticks did I get here!!!!"

It's Good To Be With Daddy

Tax season is just about in full bloom around here...but Sundays are our family time with Daddy (also known as "Bic" or "Honey"). Gwendolyn gets a big smile on her face when she sees him walk by or hears his voice. Of course, she still prefers Mommy (mommy's pretty cool) but you can tell she feels special when her daddy plays with her.

They do LOOK like the same person, after all.

- We had a wonderful morning of sleeping in (after I got up at 5 and 7 to feed her...I think it's another growth spurt). I even got help from my husband at the 5 o'clock diaper change...her first diaper rash...not a happy baby!

- We had bagels and coffee at Brueggers, stopped by my parents and sat outside enjoying the weather...Gwendolyn screamed until we took her out of her pack-n-play to be with us. My Dad thinks it's because she missed him. Then strolled around the Total Wine and More store and did a fun wine tasting.

- In the evening we played with our little fat one and I actually got pictures of the two of them. Then, Bic and I ate yummy fish and watched The Rock (we totally forgot that the Oscars were even on).

- It was a fun day and I am thankful for it. Thank you, Lord!

Praise the Lord for THINGS

I want to be thankful for ALL that the Lord wills in my life. I want to "rejoice in the Lord, Always," no matter the circumstance. And, I know, with the Holy Spirit as my guide, I will continue to get better at rejoicing in Him, even in the hardest of times.

But, right now I'm having a BALL rejoicing in the bountiful collection of things I have that make life so easy and convenient!

I'm thankful for...

• formula (so my baby can be full and fat)



• the little container with different compartments that hold the formula
  


• the expensive bottles with all the parts that might help a gassy baby
  


• bottle drying racks, bottle coolers and heaters


• all the toys that shake, rattle and swing


• pretty burp cloths


• disposable diapers :)


• microwaves, dishwashers and washing machines!


• toy loans from older cousins (thanks, Hunter!)


• big cars to hold all the STUFF


• little green BUMBO seats that cost way to much and are sooo fun


• the tray that goes on the bumbo seat that costs extra

There is soooooo much more, but I am going to hold that thought...lest I start getting calls about my extravagant life style. Instead, here are some less-than-riveting videos of my little Love.

Gwendolyn loves her baby doll from Grandma and Grandpa Bickerton...but she doesn't feel like talking about it!

Movin' On Up...in the toy world

Praise The Lord!

-I was in Target today - which is strange since I am normally a Walmart-er. Anyway, I was carrying my precious baby girl and quickly looking for the item I went in to get. From a few Isles down I heard unmistakable cry of a newborn. The crying was Incessant and was still kept at a steady pace by the time I had reached the check-out.

-I was so overcome with Joy and Gratitude as I held close my silent 4 1/2 month old! I was so thankful to the Lord that things have gotten so much better! I just kept hugging her as waves of relief continued to roll off my shoulders!

-Yeah! Thank you, Lord!!!

Gwendolyn prefers to be a big girl in her cart!

Our Little Mischievous One

On the Road Again

For FREE:

1 Hairless Dog

He is very adorable (as you can tell from the picture). But, on most days, he will make you just want to scream, out of annoyance.

For RENT:

1 Cry Baby

Again, completely adorable. But, on most days, she will make you just want to scream!

• Keep in mind, this is a temporary exchange. I will be wanting to get her back. I am looking forward to watching her grow into something other than a Crying Baby. You know, like, a Crying Toddler.

I have decided that we WILL be walking. I don't care if Gwendolyn cries every day until she can no longer fit into her stroller - WE WILL WALK. I have also decided that I WILL find, and charge, my I-pod so that I do not have to listen to her. I'll leave that privilege for the rest of my neighborhood.

Still haven't found the collar for this dog. I had to take a really long walk today to avoid and go around where there were people walking, because...

• (A) I don't want my dog to attack the people
• (B) I don't want the people to turn me in for not leashing my dog
• (C) I don't want to have to answer questions from the people about why my dog has no hair.

Oh look - here we are at the end of the walk and the little Gwendolyn has not died from such torture. Perhaps I will keep her after all. I'm starting to love this little pout.

Three Days...Feels more like TEN

- We didn't start our walk until 10:30 today. The marvelous and HOT Tucson sun reminded me of cute little skirts and tank tops...not to mention the bikinis (we'll see). Needless to say...this thought reminded me why I needed to make it to four days.

-Gwendolyn's still not a huge fan of the work0ut regime. But, she's awfully cute, is she not?

Gwendolyn's Cousins

Some pictures from when Gwendolyn's cousins came to visit. Gwen and Lila are 7 weeks apart and about half a pound different! Lila is soooooooooooo adorable and incredibly sweet and smiley!

Nanny and Gwendolyn, Me and Lila

Gwendolyn looking at Aunt Laura - Little Lila sleeping away!

Gwendolyn Loves her Big Cousin, Jacob

Truth be told...besides her Mommy and Daddy, Gwendolyn has little patience for anyone but Nanny...

"Please take me home, Mommy...you know I can't be away from my house for too long

before I start to lose my mind."

- Gwendolyn Bickerton

2 Days In A Row

Okay, we are on a roll. Don't be surprised if I post about walking a lot...I'm trying to force accountability. Does anyone know how to add a calendar with a tally or ticker of some kind, to my blog...so I can post my progress...forcing myself to continue so I won't look like a fool??

-Anyway, my goal is to make my husband want to be late for work in the morning (wink, wink). And, that would be a truly amazing feat...he's pretty prompt.

-Gwendolyn doesn't understand why I make her leave her house and go walking. She's in love with me just the way I am. But, as we all know, my little Gwendolyn's gotta have attitude about EVERYTHING. She just had this smug look on her face the whole time...

Below is an insert from my documented 1st attempt at exercising after Gwendolyn was born...

11.17.08

-I tried to take a power walk today. It took forever to find the dog's leash, get the stroller from the car, open the garage...only to find that the keypad to close it once I have left is not working. So, I get the opener from my car and have to put it back again when I come back. I can’t find my Yankee hat and my sunglasses are too big. I put my cell phone and everything in the very convenient pocket of the stroller, but then realize there are two of these pockets and I can’t find my stuff when I need it (as I'm walking and searching at the same time). I went to look for water bottles in the fridge. There are none. It’s so hot outside; I can’t even stand it. -The baby is dressed in a hot sleeper and, of course, the pickiest dog in the world is panting like death is immanent. He keeps pushing the stroller and pulling it b/c he wants to stop and go to the bathroom. Sure, he doesn’t have to go all day long at home, but then we step one foot outside and he cannot wait even another second. I keep running back in to look for the things I can’t find and had forgotten I would want when I first went into the garage. I have to use the door opener so that I can see the stroller and prevent the baby from getting stolen. I didn’t know where my i-pod was, but found it…then had to look for the headphones. It’s so hot and there is no water…and I am just sure my baby will overheat… -The whole walk lasts a total of 10 minutes. I’m all sweaty and completely out of shape. I realize I will have to take another shower…and it’s difficult enough to take one of those a day.

-I remember that being a really hard experience for me, especially in my state of depression. I guess that might have something to do with the fact that it took me two and a half months to get back out there. Or, my hesitation could just be due to the fact that exercising takes more effort than blogging. Who's to say?!

-Anyway, this morning at 8am, we tried it again.

-This time I couldn't find the dog's collar and didn't even bother looking for the i-pod. And, I gotta say...my walk had very little power associated with it! But, It's a start and I need to get out there every day.

Yeah, Steelers!

Okay, I know we are in Arizona...but Daddy's girls gotta root for his team!

But, we like the Cardinals, too!