Class of 2027?

                                                                                 How old does that make you feel????

Father's Day 2012

Thank you Michelle for reminding me to post this...  For Father's Day, I actually took something from Pinterest and FOLLOWED THROUGH ON IT!  Amazing. 

3 is such a great age for a gift like this because the know just enough to be hilarious.  I mean, she was right on the money with Lee loving to watch basketball...  But, I would venture to say she was a little off when she said he loves going to the park and drinking water.

Summer Break - 2012

As we near the middle of my summer break, I wanted to update what Taryn and I have been up to...   

Thankfully, quite a bit of this...  SLEEP.  Taryn hasn't exactly been a champion sleeper, but she still sleeps a good 11-12 hours a day.  I sleep a good 8.  That's nice.  There was one day where I think I logged 13!  That has to be a record since, like, my early 20's! 

 We had a garage sale a few weeks ago.  While I did a good 95% of the work, Lee decided to confiscate most the profits and buy this rifle.  So, this weekend we took my mom out to learn how to shoot.  Taryn and I spent most our time watching from the safety of the car. 

 FIND WATER.  Sprinklers, pools, baby pools, wherever!  In this picture, Taryn is actually standing in the Wabash River which is at record levels of LOW this summer.  We could really use some rain in these parts.

One day while my mom and I were talking, we coined the term "Toddler Tiring Business".  That definitely feels like my job description for the summer.  Naps are elusive these days.  You have to really wear her out.  Your timing has to be impeccable.  And then you just need a little bit of luck thrown in for good measure.  On this day, she was SO. WORN. OUT.  But, refused to nap.  She finally was laying on the floor by my feet throwing a fit and just fell asleep right there.  She slept on the carpet for a good hour.  Toddlers.  Why do they hate sleep so much?  It is glorious!!

Naked knights?  Yeah, I have no idea. 

Gymnastics classes have started back up for the summer.  Most classes have gone really well except for last week when she decided to have a case of the cling-to-mommys.  She is in class with two children of a couple that went to high school with Lee & I.  It is nice to be able to sit there and chat while the kids get their workout. 

If you know your Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episodes, you should remember the  episode where they build a birdhouse for Baby Redbird.  Well, on this day I was cleaning off the bookshelves in Baby Cole's room and Taryn decided she wanted to build a birdhouse.  If you look closely, there are two stuffed animal birds in there. 

Annoy the cats.  Always a fun pasttime. 

And finally, my own brand of homeschooling.  I want to get Taryn ready for preschool starting in September, so we have been working on stuff at home.  Usually, if we have a free day, I'll spend about 45 minutes with her doing stuff.  She is great with numbers, but her letters aren't quite as mastered.  We also work on cutting paper, matching, patterns, puzzles, etc.  My goal is to have her writing her name before preschool.  We'll see...  I have gotten a lot of great stuff from this website:  Confessions of a Homeschooler.  

So, I guess this is a good summary of our first 6 weeks of summer.  On the agenda for the 2nd half is a lot more of the same...  Plus robot art camp with Grandma, a baseball game with the Klemme family and a lot more work around the house!! 

Baby Cole Says HI!

I know it takes me a long time to make it official in the ol' blog world and most of my readers know already, but October 20th, 2012 is our due date and we're going to be having a BOY!  He will be named Cole Leroy Klemme.  The Leroy is after Lee's grandpa. Lee is actually named after his grandpa Leroy and his other grandpa Leo.  Whenever baby names are discussed, the name Leroy is always first on Lee's list. 

Catching up...  How has this pregnancy been going? 
Pretty well, really.  I was pretty sick from weeks 9 to 12, but never actually tossed my cookies.  I think I was more sick this time than with Taryn, but it is hard to compare.  When I was pregnant with Taryn, I was working from home and more importantly I didn't have a 3 year old to keep me on my toes.  Just about as soon as the sickness ended, the headaches started.  They aren't horrible headaches, but they are frequent.  Fortunately they go away with a little bit of caffeine.  Those have dwindled since the end of school though (hmm, imagine that) and I have been feeling great. 

How is Taryn handling it? 
Taryn is incredibly excited.  She refers to it as HER baby and often tells us what the baby is doing in my belly.  Sometimes he's just hanging out, sometimes he is playing, a few times he has been laughing at her.  She has quite the imagination.  At first she was sure that the baby was a boy, but one day she realized she wanted a sister and suddenly it was always a girl.  She has accepted the news that it is in fact a baby brother now and has been watching more Max & Ruby in order to prepare. 

Is Lee excited to have a son? 
Um, yes.  He says he has always wanted one of each and if we had a boy first he would be wanting a girl right now.  But, more importantly, I'm pretty sure he has dreams of coaching Little League in his head.  Not that girls can't do sports...  But, at the moment, Taryn insists she is going to be a cheerleader and I don't think Lee is interested in coaching that! 

Will we be having more kids? 
NO.  After Taryn, I always said that if the next one was a boy, we would be done.  If it was a girl, we'd probably be done.  So, unless Lee grows a uterus, we're done. 

While Cole is due to make his appearance around October 20th, there is a chance that I will be having a c-section closer to October 1st.  We will get another ultrasound at the end of July to see if the c-section will be necessary.  Honestly, I don't care either way as long as I have a healthy baby.  And considering my first bundle of joy was almost 9 lbs, having the baby 3 weeks early may not be the worst thing ever.  We will see, but I am prepared for either! 

This pregnancy is going by much faster than the first.  It is hard to believe that we are just about 4 months from the big day!  I can't wait for my family to be complete!!

She's THREE (Already?)

To say Taryn has been looking forward to this birthday would be a definite understatement.  For months she has talked about it.  She has made me promise not to let anyone else blow out her candles or open her gifts.  I guess this is what toddler nightmares are made of. 

As the birthday got near, she started to kind of be in denial that it was really that close.  We would tell her "Just a few days..." and she would reply "No, it far away."  But, ready or not, her birthday arrived this weekend. 

Of course, about an hour before her party, Taryn finally decided to give in and take a nap.  And then slept too long.  This is her 3rd birthday and the 3rd time she has done this exact thing!!  I guess she just wants to keep her guests waiting and make an entrance. 

Taryn had requested a princess theme, then settled in on Cinderella.  We got a castle shaped cake for the kids and then got the most mouth watering raspberry cupcakes (with Cinderella heads) for the adults.  Our cake lady is retiring in a year, so I am eating as much of her cake as humanly possible in the next year! 

 

The weather was hot hot hot, so we got out the sprinkler for the kiddos.  It doubled as great entertainment for the adults as well! 

When the party was over, Taryn wanted to play with every toy and try on every outfit.  She kept holding up 3 fingers and saying "I this many now?"  We would say YES.  Then she would say "Already????"  I think that she thought a ton of things were instantly going to change when she turned 3. 

On Sunday, Taryn's actual birthday, we went to brunch with my parents and Lee. 

And just like that, I now have a three year old...  It is amazing.  I can't believe how the time has flown.  Taryn is so funny and sweet, I just can't believe I am so lucky to be her mom!  Happy 3rd birthday sweet girl!

Overdue Post

Wow, you know it has been a long time since you blogged when the Blogger format has totally changed!!  So, here is a catch-up post...  If anyone still checks here.  What has been going on in the Klemme household? 

 Cousins are HILARIOUS!

 We visited Chicago for an awesome Beauty & the Beast celebration of Sam & Fubar's birthdays!! 

 Mani/Pedi day thanks to Daddy. 

 Decorating Easter eggs!!!

 Celebrating Easter!!!

 The saddest looking child to ever swing on a swingset.  Although, she calls it a Fwingset. 

 Daddy/Daughter naptime. 

 Happy 1st Birthday Rue!!!  Here, let me help you with your cake... 

So, that is the quick photo review of what has been missed around our parts. 

This weekend is Taryn's 3rd birthday and we have been working our rear ends off getting the house ready.  In typical US fashion, we don't just vacuum and hang streamers, we rebuild a screened-in porch, install a swingset, cut down a tree, 1/2 remodel a bathroom, and clean & hang streamers! 

My school year ends next Wednesday, so expect to see a few more posts around these parts!  I know...  You're thrilled!

A Day in the Life of Taryn

Where walking around an empty lot...
Picking weeds...

Turns into a Broadway musical.

I swear, this girl thinks she lives in the Sound of Music...

Hopefully she does not inherit my family's singing skills.

Taryn the Super Catholic!

We are Catholic. Taryn and I go to church most Sundays. She has a few books of Bible stories and will sometimes pray before she goes to bed. These prayers usually start off with her praying for my mom's dog Akilla and ends with Taryn praying for random things that she sees in the room. I definitely wouldn't consider Lee or I a parent that is forcing religion on our toddler by any means...

Yet, Taryn is IN LOVE with everything religious. She loves going to church. She genuflects when she walks in the church pew. She dips her finger in the holy water and attempts the sign of the cross. She attempts to say the Lord's Prayer (and gets about 1/4 of the words right!) and has been asking for a crucifix necklace for her 3rd birthday. She loves to shake everyone's hand, but thinks that "Peace be with you," is "Pleased to meet you." (You gotta admit, that does make more sense.) It is baffling, but adorable to watch her develop this interest of her own.

* (This one was posted on Facebook.)
On the way to Superbowl Village...
Taryn: Where are we going?
Lee: Somewhere fun!
Taryn: Church?

* Upon entering the completely quiet Oxford church for Ash Wednesday services. Taryn points up at the crucifix hanging above the altar. "Look mommy! It's Jesus!"

* After leaving the Oxford church...
Lauren: Did you like that church Taryn?
Taryn: Yes, that church special. That church special like my dress.

* I was eating a piece of peanut butter bread the other day. I ate all 4 corners first. Taryn gasped and pointed at it. "Look mommy, it's like Jesus." (It was in the shape of a cross.)

* The other day Taryn was unhappily going to bed. Lee was home momentarily from work, but she knew that he would be leaving.
Taryn: Mommy, I cry when daddy leaves. I gonna cry. Mommy, let's pray. Let's pray, then I not cry when daddy leaves.

Father Daughter Dance

Please, just freeze time right now while THIS is the only father-daughter dance going on!

Chuck-E-Cheese Please!

A few weeks ago we went to ChuckECheese for my cousin Maya's birthday party. Somehow I managed to not get any pics of the birthday girl. My bad... She just turned 12, so she spent most the time doing some different type of activities than Taryn!

"I like him, just don't let him get any closer. Also, I am ready to dive for my mommy."

Two of the things that Taryn liked the best... This "ride" that was like a 3D mini-movie where the chairs rattled and moved. And the driving game. She wanted to do everything herself, so Lee and I had to be stealth about the fact that we had to push the gas pedal... She was pretty much the worst driver ever, bouncing off each side of the racetrack. However, during one of her races she managed to accidentally drive into a shortcut that allowed her to win the race!

At the end of the day, we had 100 tickets and Taryn was dying for a mini-gumball machine that was 300 tickets. Fortunately, Taryn has a Grandma who doesn't know the word NO. Grandma paid cash for a gumball machine.