Potty Time

I can vividly recall barging in on my mom in the bathroom all the time as a child. I guess it's just something kids do, and upon having a child, I accepted the fact that I would never again get to use the bathroom in peace. Little did I know exactly what was in store....

Last night I was using the bathroom before leaving for a staff meeting. I hadn't seen Ivy much all day, so I didn't protest when she followed me into the bathroom. She proceeded to get a single sheet of toilet paper off of the roll. "How cute," I thought, "she knows what the toilet paper is for." She then started to try to put the toilet paper in the toilet, with me still on it. At least, that's what I thought she was trying to do. She repeatedly shoved her little hand between my legs and I repeatedly coached her to put the paper in the potty. After six or seven times, I finally realized what she was actually trying to do was WIPE for me! I suppose she figures we do it for her, she might as well return the favor. Thanks, but no thanks, kid. I do think this is just one more sign that it's time to get a potty chair for her, though. I can't even fathom that she is old enough to start potty training, but the signs are there.

New Knowledge

It seems like every day Ivy starts doing something new. A few days ago, I was reading her the Care Bears book she got from Grandpa and Grandma Bergkessel (is that what you guys want her to call you, Jan?) for Christmas. On the back of the book, it says "This book belongs to Ivy Lynn Ritchie." Of course, she wants us to read that page to her, too. Whenever we start reading, she starts pointing to herself. She knows that -she- is Ivy Lynn Ritchie and that the book is -hers-. I wonder when she will learn to say "mine." Then the fun will start.

Sixteen Months

Dear Ivy,

Mommy's late again. I kept thinking about what to write and how I always write the same things.... that you are beautiful, intelligent and funny. Well, those really aren't horrible things to be, so I guess I shouldn't complain that I have to keep writing them!

You are growing up so much! Mommy got the Signing Time! videos out of the library so we could start trying to do sign language with you and you picked it up so quick!!! You can sign more, please, banana, cracker, bird, full and cheese. You also have your own sign for all done. Lately, though, you are starting to talk. I mean, you still jibber jabber -all- the time, but there are words thrown in there, too. Actually, to prove what a little overachiever you are, you are skipping to phrases pretty quickly. You say hello (which comes out as "hewwo" and is the most adorable thing in the world), puppy (or "duppy"), kitty, here ya go, uh-oh, thank you, go-go-go, mommy, daddy. You call Trina Na-na. It is so fascinating to watch your little mouth try to make words. It seems like every day you come up with something new. I have so many stories I should be writing on here for you....

You are walking EVERYWHERE now. You even kick it into turbo sometimes. You really need to start practicing for Brandi's wedding. I can't believe you are going to be a flower girl already! I'm not too sure you will actually make it to the alter, but I know you will look like a princess while attempting it. I can't believe how worried I was about the walking and talking thing. I just have to keep remembering that you are your own person already and you will do things on your own schedule.

I love you I love you I love you. Sometimes I get tears in my eyes just watching you.... I love watching you grow up, but miss the little baby you used to be. Every night I wonder what new and wonderful thing you will learn tomorrow...

Love,
Mama

Mommy Ivy

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Originally uploaded by ivysmomma.

Ivy got a baby doll for her birthday from our September Mommy gift exchange. To be honest, it scared her a little at first.... she didn't like how the eyes open and close. Now she loves it and has even started actually playing with it instead of just dragging it around. She feeds it, hugs it, and even pats it on the back.

Jammin'

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Originally uploaded by ivysmomma.

Erin and Kyle got MP3 players for Christmas this year. This is a picture of Erin letting Ivy listen to hers. Ivy loved it.

Christmas Eve

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Originally uploaded by ivysmomma.

This was after opening all of the presents on Christmas Eve. Ivy was Miss Crankypants that night and really didn't want much to do with opening the gifts.

Christmas Portraits

Here are Ivy's Christmas portraits we had done last week.

We have a walker

Yes, the time has finally come.... my toddler is actually toddling. Last week Ivy started walking.... of course she started when I wasn't around and didn't find the amazing achievement important enough to share with me when I returned home. For two days she wouldn't walk when I was watching. But now she is walking everywhere.... of course, she still gets down and crawls when she feels the need to get somewhere quickly. I guess all my worrying and complaining paid off.... I'm just happy that she that she walked before kindergarten.

Fifteen Months

Ivy Lynn,
You turned fifteen months a week ago. I was going to change the date on this entry, so I don't look like a slacker, but face it, I am. You might as well get used to it now.

You are turning into such a big girl. You crawl to your highchair when you are hungry. You get your binkie and your blankie to let me and Daddy know it is time for night-night. There are so many things that you want to do all by yourself, like use a fork.

Although you don't have many words yet, you are starting to sign. We watched the "Signing Times" videos just a couple of times and you have started signing "more". It's your own version, of course, but Daddy and I know what you are saying. You also have your own sign for "all gone." You can point out your belly, your nose, your teeth and your toes. You help me and Daddy get you dressed. Really, you love to help us with whatever we are doing.

In all the ways you are growing up and changing, there are some things that have stayed the same. You still don't have much hair. You still refuse to walk. And you are still my baby girl. I have faith that someday you will grow hair and that you won't crawl to your first day of school, but please, Ivy, stay my baby girl forever.

Love,
Mama

Bubbles

Ivy's newest trick is blowing spit bubbles. She started doing this last weekend while we were in Erie. She was making this "mwah" sound, which I thought was just a cute new noise. I realized, though, that every time she does it, she blows a spit bubble. Very classy, I know. It's even classier when I do it, too.

I know I haven't posted pictures recently, so here's a couple somewhat recent ones to tide you over. This one is Ivy in her first cloth diaper.... the one that immediately caused a rash.

This one, I hope you can tell, is from Halloween. I dressed up in my old Ren Faire costume and Ivy was a dragon. I only got TWO pictures that night (I'm failing as a mother, do you remember all the pictures I got last Halloween??), so I'm hoping other people got cute ones, too.

Fourteen Months

Ivy Lynn,
It's been a long time since Mommy has written on here. We've had a busy month! Daddy broke his foot and had to come home early and have surgery. He's fine, even though he acted like a big baby for awhile. You really enjoyed your week with Grandma. I think she enjoyed it more, though. You are so lucky to have a Grandma that loves you as much as she does. I can tell just by looking at her all the happiness you have brought into her life. Tomorrow we are leaving to go to Erie and visit your great-grandparents. See, I told you it's been busy.

You celebrated your second Halloween a few days ago. You helped pass out the candy. It amazed me how carefully you picked up just one piece of candy and dropped it in the trick-or-treaters bags. Some of the bigger kids with scary costumes scared you, though.

I just can't believe how fast you are growing up. The other day, I couldn't find you. I know that sounds horrible, but all the gates were up and the door to the stairs was closed, but you weren't where you normally are, in the living room playing. I looked in all the corners, and then started searching. You were in your room.... you had found your blocks and were making a tower. All by yourself. With no help. I didn't even know you could do that. It made me so happy that you are so smart and independent.... and so sad that you are growing up already and need me a little less every day.

You still aren't walking. I really think you could, you just don't want to. I know I've said that before, but that's really what I think. You've been standing by yourself more and more. You have finally realized that you can just turn around to get from the chair to the couch and that you don't have to sit down.... but you still haven't taken a step. I think as soon as you do, you won't stop.

You are very expressive. Even though you don't have many words yet, you find a way to get your point across. When you are in your highchair waiting for me to get your food, you yell (and I mean YELL) "MAAA" repeatedly, with the volume all the way up. I really think you are yelling at me. I keep trying to tell you I don't respond to anything but mommy or mama. None of this "Mom" stuff already. You have to call me Mommy until you are at least 4. I also think that you say "go" and "tickle." The tickle thing started as more of a "dicka-dicka-dicka" whenever Daddy would say "getcha getcha getcha." It sounds like "tickle" now, though. The cutest is when Daddy is sitting on the glider and you take his slipper off and grab his toes and say "tickle tickle tickle." A close runner up is when you tickle your own feet.

Oh, one more big thing this month. Mommy decided to start using cloth diapers for you. They are super cute, but you got a rash right away. We went back to disposables to give your bum a chance to heal, but Mommy did some research and we are going to give it another go next week.

Thank you for making every day an adventure..... and a gift.

Love,
Mama

Missing Ivy

This past weekend, I went to visit Nathan in Oklahoma City, where he is for work. Mom watched Ivy for me, but I can't go pick her up until Thursday. I didn't realize how much I would miss that little booger. I mean, I knew I would miss her, but I REALLY MISS her.

Mom told me two adorable stories today. First, Ivy has mastered clapping on cue during "If You're Happy and You Know It." She has a frog that plays that song. Mom and Ivy were driving in the car and Ivy's frog started singing the song. Ivy clapped -the frog's- hands together at the right place in the song. How flipping adorable!

Second, as I have said, Ivy is working on learning her body parts. She much prefers pointing to other people's parts instead, though. So Mom was asking her "Where's my eyes?" "Where's my nose?" and other parts. (Oh, I forgot to mention Mom had her glasses off and sitting on the table.) So she asked Ivy "Where's my eyes?" and Ivy pointed to her glasses on the table! Genius baby, I tell ya.

I miss my genius baby.

Project time

Since Nathan is gone, I got it in my head that I need to do a project. I decided to turn the basement into a playroom for Ivy. So far I have the walls painted green. Tomorrow I plan to tape it and make a border with blue and orange. It should be very fun and bright. I hope Ivy loves it as much as I do. Here's a sneak peak at the colors.... I will take pictures as soon as I am done, which will hopefully be tomorrow!

Thirteen Months

Ivy Lynn,
Today you turned thirteen months old. It was an uneventful day, spent mostly at Trina's for you, and running around for Mommy. Then you got to go to a staff meeting with Mommy, where you poured toys all over the floor and screamed whenever I said "no." But when you knew people were watching, you performed. You laughed when the teachers laughed and pretended to drink out of a big girl cup. You are too darn cute.

You continue to amaze me every day. I know Trina is teaching you things while I am at work, and it makes me sad that it's not me teaching you everything. You are getting better at pointing to body parts. Whenever I ask you where your nose is, you point to your cheek. Then when I ask again, you point to -my- nose. And usually pick it for me. You are soooo close to walking. You stand up by yourself a lot more than you ever have. I love it when you do it all by yourself, but don't realize what you are doing. That's when you stand the longest.

You are starting to throw tantrums already. I try to look at this positively, and tell myself that you are growing up to be a strong woman.

I love helping you learn things. I love hearing your laugh. I love seeing your two-toothed smile. I love waking you up in the morning and I love rocking you before bed. I love the way you toss and turn in your sleep. I love every little thing that there is to love about you.

Love,
Mama

Follow Up

Ivy had her post surgery visit with the ENT today. All is good. He said her ears looked beautiful and let me look through the otoscope. I said they looked gross, but he's the professional. We have to go back every six months to make sure they are still in place and are working well. He told me he put in t-tubes, which stay in place longer than the other type of tube that is typically used. Actually, they sometimes have to be removed, but if that happens it is an in office procedure. I am ecstatic that this surgery has helped to make Ivy a healthier child.

We also went to Marianne's for dinner tonight. She invited us, as well as her sister and her two kids over for dinner. Her sister's husband has class Wednesday nights, so we were all "single moms" for the night. Cooper, Laura's son, will be one on Thanksgiving. He is already walking and looks like the cutest old man you have ever seen. I loved watching him and Ivy interacting. It was a very enjoyable evening.

smartypants

I've been trying to work with Ivy to teach her different body parts. I think she's mastering "head" because every time she touches her head or her hair, I say "that's your head." Well, yesterday I kept asking her where her nose was. She was sitting on my lap and I said, "Ivy, where's your nose?" She smiled, and touched my nose. Then she took one tiny finger and put it in my left nostril. Her other hand shot up and a finger went in my right nostril. Yep, I think she knows where a nose is.

almost there

Last night, Ivy -almost- walked.

For her birthday, Jon and Jodi got her a Corn Popper. She absolutely loves it. She will sit on the floor and move it back and forth to watch the balls pop. Nathan will stand her up and help her walk with it. Well, last night he let her go and she took three or four steps. Granted, she had the corn popper, but I just don't see how that could offer her much support. I think it may be any day now.... of course, I also thought she was teething when she was four months old, and she didn't get that first tooth until almost 11 months.

Goodbye, Snaggletooth

I can no longer abuse Ivy by calling her Snaggletooth. Her second little tooth FINALLY broke through at the end of last week. At this rate, she should have all of her teeth by the time she is three.

Party girl

Ivy had three parties for her birthday. They all went really well and I really enjoyed being aboe to spend time with people that I don't see often enough. Ivy caught onto the whole cake thing by the third party.... at my dad's she basically mashed the cake, eating very little. At my mom's she ate actually quite a bit. And at the party in Toledo this past weekend, she ate off all the frosting and rubbed the actual cake on the walls. That's my girl.

Here's a few picture's from the parties:

Ivy got a new car for her birthday, lucky girl! Here she is pushing Peyton around, with Bobby's help.












I absolutely love this picture of my mom with Ivy. They both just look so happy!



















Here she is opening her present from Trina at our Toledo party.















I love this picture too. I can't belive I actually snapped the camera in time to catch it. This is Ivy kissing my Grandma.

One Year

Dear Ivy,
Your birthday has come and gone. Your neglectful mama has neglected to update your blog for nearly a month.... but that doesn't mean I love you any less.

On the three hundred and sixty fifth day of your life, I spent the day in a secret, emotional fog. Each minute I relieved what had happened a year ago. I remembered arriving at the hospital, getting my IV, waiting until after Guiding Light was over to get my epidural. It is absolutely amazing where a year can take you.

This year has taken you from a wiggling, sighing, drooling blob to a crawling, standing, stubborn toddler. Toddler. Not a baby. You definately have a mind of your own and you know how to use it. You explore every little thing you see.... you are so inquisitive and in turn, so intelligent. You are still a crawling machine. I have faith that you could walk if you wanted to, you just don't want to yet. You have the strength and coordination, but you lack the confidence. I hope this is the last time you lack confidence. You can do anything you want to do, Ivy.

This year has brought me to a whole new place, too. I don't shop for myself anymore.... I just want -you- to have everything. I don't sleep in anymore. In short, I've grown up. I truely realize that life isn't all about me.... now I think it is all about you. I think that being your mama has made me a better person. I never knew it was possible to love another human being as much as I love you.

Happy birthday, baby.

Love,
Mama