All the credit goes to Doug. Somehow, he just knew she was ready. I wasn't there yet - I didn't think that it was a good idea yet. I have a new baby that refuses to sleep - I wasn't ready for a mobile 2-yr old that can let herself out of bed. Besides....she is so tiny she still fit in the crib just fine! :) But Doug told me he thought she was ready for a big girl bed. He was right.
So - the 2nd week of September, Danika got a "big girl" bed - and Nana was here a week later and put the icing on the cake when she bought Danika a Tinkerbell bed set for her new toddler bed. Danika LOVES it.
The really funny part is that once we put her in it, she won't get out...at all.... no matter what. She just calls for us over the monitor as if she is stuck in the crib still. Doug has tried to reason with her that she can get out and come downstairs on her own in the moring - but she is having none of it. It has been two months...she won't even get out if she drops a blanket or stuffed animal...she just cries for us. It cracks me up. But, it is also kind of nice - if you put her to bed, she stays!
These pictures are from the first night with the new sheets and comforter - we even got her the matching pajamas. She was so cute...she couldn't wait to sleep in it.
Just a random note for those of you who write blogs...found this great website that lets you download your blog to a PDF. When I did it a few months ago (May 09) it wsa just $2.50 for that PDF...now it is $7.95. But, they added more formatting options, which is cool. And, if you are like me and this is kind of the "family journal" for your household, it is a GREAT way to keep this blog for the future.
Back in September, while I was still on maternity leave, we took the weekend of Labor Day to make a trip home to see my parents and sister and enjoy some family time while we could. John got to take his first trip to Ohio, and we all went to the Fulton County Fair together. :) What fun! I used to go to this fair when I was a kid, and we just had a great time walking around and looking at animals with the kids. Danika was in heaven...John just rode around and slept in the baby snugli the whole time. To top off this exciting night, Papa treated for the kids to get pony rides and then some seriously delicious milkshakes. It was GREAT. :)
It may be hard to tell, but that is John in the snugli - he was momentarily removed from riding around with me so that I could help Danika on her pony ride. Nana never complains when she gets to hold him. :)
Me and my dad. :) Danika's pony ride - she screamed "Giddy-up" most of the time she was on that poor thing! :) Good ole fashioned Ohio fun. Gotta love it.
So, normally my house doesn't actually smell bad. We occasionally have the weird odor emanating from the trash can or your random dead mouse stuck in the door jam, but that is the exception not the rule. :) (the dead mouse story is for another entry.)
However, about a month ago, we had a period of days where every single room in our house and our minivan stunk to high heaven. I felt dirty all the time because I couldn't escape the terrible odors anywhere I went.
It really is our kids fault. And our cat. And the grocery store...but I'm getting ahead of myself.
It started when we left for Labor Day weekend to go to Ohio, and unknown to Doug or I, Danika had dropped a full sippy cup of milk down next to her car seat on the floor of the van. We took the truck to Ohio, so all weekend, for 4 days, it seeped sour milk onto the rug, and the sun baked the whole concoction as the van sat in the driveway in Erie. When we got home there was actual mold growing on the rug and the whole van smelled like a science experiment. So we took the rug out of the van and hosed it off and left it on the porch to dry. Then the cat barfed a half-eaten rodent on the rug. That did NOT improve the smell. Then it rained for days and the rug couldn't dry out, so it started to REALLY stink.
Then the smells IN the house began - John had a fierce spit-up episode that drenched our living room rug. The living room's new scent decor - Ode de Milk-barf. Then Danika threw a fit so badly that she made herself throw up - on her bed and bedroom carpet - an entire cup of half-digested chocolate milk...more sour milk smells. Yay. Then the cat barfed on Doug & I's bedroom carpet - and the kitchen carpet - and the rug outside AGAIN. Half-digested rodent smells. Aaaahhhh...what a lovely bouquet. And to top it off, while I was driving around in the van without the rug in (because it was still outside stinking & drying out), I bought some frozen seafood mix and it started to thaw and leaked on the actual carpeting in the back of the van - and I didn't find it until it started stinking the next day...LIKE ROTTING FISH.
It was an ugly 2 weeks at the Bierer home. A LOT of sour milk, barf, and bad, bad smells emanating from every room in our house EXCEPT the bathroom (ironic, don't you think?).
We were finally rescued by our good friends the Zajac-Woodie's and thier trusty "Little Green Machine." Diane let me borrow her tried and true appliance, and you will be happy to know that our house is now pretty much odor-free...until the next episode, I am sure. But I am very grateful that all the old smells have been eliminated, and hopefully next time it won't manage to happen to every room and vehicle at the same time!
There is just something about a baby - they are so cuddly and snuggly and warm....and just plain fun to hold. Especially a happy one like John. :) They just sleep....and sleep....and sleep. (except at night. Then not so much.) The funny part is that they often make the person doing the holding fall asleep as well....they are like a little sleeping drug. And I have pictures to prove it. :)
And here's the biggest druggie of them all....
Nana loves her babies. :) She just can't get enough....definitely an addict. :)
If any of you need a fix, feel free to stop by. I'll let you hold John for a small fee.
So, in case you didn't know, October is Pastor Appreciation Month.
Doug and I are so grateful for the awesome leadership that we have at McLane. The pastors there are just the absolute best. We cannot fully state how grateful we are for all they do. Each one of them is incredibly talented, very loving and giving, and so very very real. I personally am so encouraged by the heights of their creativity, leadership and vision, and yet the depths of their transparent authenticity and imperfections...it is a wonderful balance that constantly keeps me in awe of what they accomplish, and yet reminds me that they are human...which always puts me in awe of them again. I am amazed at what a difficult job they have and how hard it must be at times. I do not envy the magnetic position that they are often in - I know that they attract both admiration and criticism. When you stand out like that, you make a really good target. :( Our hope is that the encouragement drowns out the criticism more often than not. Having been in the "pastor" role for several years, we know that is often not the case.
Anyway....As we were discussing this with our small group, the group got this fun idea that we should get shirts printed that told our pastoral staff how much we love them. We had these shirts made, and then we all sat in the front row wearing them for this past Sunday's service. It really was a riot. I do believe we made the worship directer crack up on stage...and the funniest part is that Bill never saw us until the service was over. :)
T-shirt front: WE (heart) BILL ANDY DARYL ...and Brian, too!
back: Pastor Appreciation Month October 2009 McLane Church
What a great small group we have - this was just so much fun to do together. And I hope that it served the purpose of encouraging our pastors...they truly deserve to know how much they have challenged and encouraged each one of us. If any of you read this blog - we love you!
After such a fun start to our day, we all headed back to the ZW house for a Fall Fun Day of pumpkin carving, hiking around the woods, and sitting around a fire. It was a great day with great friends. :) I love you people.
John got to ride in a backpack on Doug's back for the hike...once I got him bundled up, he fell right to sleep and stayed that way until we got back. That was about the same time he pooped himself and went right thru all his clothes. Ah, well...it was cute while it lasted. :)
Sorry the Bierer Buzz quit buzzing - we have been a little preoccupied. New baby and all...mommy was feeling a little overwhelmed. We will see if we can get caught up.
I'll try to post a few things that happened over the last three months since John's arrival on the scene, but we will see.
John is 3 months old this week. He is doing great - a wonderful little chunky monkey. :) 15lbs already - he is going to catch Danika before we know it.
Danika is still my petite little tinkerbell. Only weighs in at 24 or 25lbs. Bright red hair, size 18 mos clothes...she is a shrimp. We MAY have just graduated into 24mos clothes in the last week or so - waiting to see if the new pants I bought stay up or fall off her non-existent booty.
Doug is busy with all sorts of carpentry work.
I'm back to work full-time and honestly feeling very overwhelmed at times, but we are doing well.
I'll try to get caught up, but no major promises. I can only do so much! :)
