Merry Christmas

I can't believe Christmas is in less than a week. Thankfully, Reagan and I have already finished our shopping. Now we just need to wrap the presents. Not much has been going on around here. Melita got hand, foot, and mouth disease. And another ear infection which makes the total come to 3 since September. That's not very good. We also took her to get allergy tested since Reagan is allergic to everything and we found out she is highly allergic to dogs. Go figure. Her vocabulary has exploded in recent weeks and she can point at and name most things. She has also started to say phrases and her favorite one right now is 'Where'd it go?' while shrugging her shoulders. She also likes to draw. So far she has done a good job of staying on the paper and not on the furniture. However, she likes to draw on her hands and arms a lot too. All in all we are having a lot of fun around learning about and exploring the world.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Melita's Got Talent

Nature vs. Nurture

Sure, I like me some shoes. In fact they are the one purchase that I will actually splurge on justifying to myself that shoes can make or break an outfit. Think Carrie Bradshaw. Anyway, I've mentioned before on here that Melita is also showing a liking to shoes. Sometimes 'shoes' is the first word out of her mouth in the morning. And I will admit that we have used putting on her shoes as a means of bribing her to do something else. However, her love for shoes has grown exponentially in the last couple of weeks. Before when she would go into my closet she would rummage around i.e. underwear and bras on her head and random shoes being thrown around. But lately she's been going into my closet and heading straight for a pair of red wedges. She puts them on the correct feet and then prances around the house like a true super model. Where did she learn this? Obviously I don't prance around the house in my shoes so it really does beg the question if little girls are born with the concept of what is girlie and what isn't. The is little for the parents to do but sit back and watch the show. It's definitely something to think about...

Moo & Renard

Halloween 2009

Despite me thinking that Melita was too young to dress up and go trick-or-treating and actually get something from it, I caved into peer pressure and bought her a costume and met up with the family so Melita could go trick-or-treating with her cousins. Buying the costume was challenging because I knew that A) Melita wouldn't wear anything on her head/face, B) it had to be warm, and C) Reagan wanted it to be scary. I don't know about you, but I have not very often seen scary costumes made for 18 month olds. Most costumes for that age group are cute animal creatures which comprise of some sort of hood/hat and mask/paint to go with it. Believe it or not, I actually hit the jackpot at Walmart. Behold, Melita the Skeleton!

I will point out that my predictions about Halloween were correct and Melita didn't understand it at all. She was scared and confused most of the night, refused to walk, and cried until we took her costume off. Her costume that was basically just a nylon jumpsuit with which she was wearing leggings and a t-shirt. Oh well. There is always next year!

Reagan and I actually got a Halloween present and were given a free night of babysitting. So after trick-or-treating with Melita for about an hour, we snuck away and met up with some old friends and headed to Wurstfest to eat, drink, and be merry!

Reagan left Wednesday afternoon to go hikling in Big Bend for 5 days. So I have been the single responsible adult since Wednesday afternoon. I am T-I-R-E-D. Needless to say, I am definitely due a night out when he gets back. 17 month olds are demanding!

What Happens When Mom's Away

Road to Recovery

Melita had her first bout with illness this past week. It started with the 24 hour bug and projectile vomiting and finished off with an ear infection. It was just so heart breaking seeing someone so little feel so terrible. Of course, Reagan and I also got sick so things were out of sorts with the Chunns for a while. The pediatrician also told us that because Melita went so long without getting sick at all, this one would probably hang around a little longer. Welcome to the world of public childcare!

I'd also like to report that no matter how crappy Moo felt this past week, she still had to rock her shoes a la Carrie Bradshaw!

Future Solid Gold Dancer

Melita loves music. Melita loves to dance. If there is any sort of tune playing, she is shaking her groove thing. Not only is it cute to watch, but it is also inspiring. Reagan and I often find ourselves dancing right along with her. We have been trying to get a video of her dancing but as of yet have been unsuccessful. I promise that as soon as it is caught it will be posted here. The kid has talent!

This past week, Melita had her first of many school portraits done. She wore a dress that the Buchanans (thanks!) gave her for her birthday and she loved it! Seriously. Normally when we get home from school, I take off her clothes and she has diaper time until her bath. Normally she loves diaper time. But not on Thursday. When I started taking her dress off she threw a tantrum until I put it back on her. I think I might have birthed a girly-girl. At any rate, after picture day, I also have a new respect for people who photgraph children for a living. Try as I might, the only 'good' photo I got of Melita before school is sadly mediocre at best. Thank goodness her proofs came back yesterday looking much more successful. Yay for professional photographers!

Let's Slow It Down!

Time flies when you are having fun! August was definitely a month of change around here:

*After 13 1/2 months of being cared for at home by her grandmothers, Melita started 'school' on August 24. Reagan and I cheered and cried all at the same time. Yay for privacy! Boo to babies growing up!

*With the starting of school, we also had to ween Melita off of her naptime bottle. Which was not as hard as I thought it would be.

*Melita also had to endure me FINALLY putting her hair in a rubberband rather than just a clip. This also was not as hard as I thought it would be. In fact, Reagan enjoys the same hairstyle to!

*The new playground opened up at the park and Melita finally got to go down the big girl slide.

*She also successfully pooped and peed in the big girl toilet (with a little help from her daddy). She even told her poop "bye bye!"

*She is sleeping like a champ. Yay for school wearing her out! But is getting up at 6:30AM including weekends. Boo!

And finally, yesterday she had her 15 month wellness check up:
24lb. 7oz.
18in. head
33in tall

We also got told the night time bottle needed to go too. Admittedly I was scared believing that with it would go the peaceful bedtime and sleep. However, this morning I am glad to report that she drank her sippy of milk before bed like she was born to do it and went to bed fairly easily. The best part though? She slept through the night without a peep!

Go Melita Go!

All About Shoes

As I was making Melita breakfast this morning, she comes into the kitchen, takes off her diaper, and hands me her shoes to put on her. I guess this means we can be certain that she likes wearing shoes and the 'getting used to' period is over. I did oblige her by putting on her shoes
but only after I put her diaper back on her. I don't think it would have been good parenting to let her run around naked with only shoes on. I may be trash, but I don't live in a trailer!

So, suffice it to say the shoe shopping adventure was a success. I got her two pairs, a girly pair and a tough pair, at Kohl's for $4.99 each! The pair that she wanted to wear today and incidentally the ones she has been wearing for the last couple of days were hand me downs. They are super cute but Melita is starting to grow out of them. We might as well get some used out of them, right?

After the fashion shoe, Melita nestled onto the couch to watch Sunday morning cartoons with Elephant (her bestie of the moment) and eat snacks. So far my Sunday has been brilliant.

Melita's Weekend

As Melita gets older we're finding it fun to figure out new things to show her and do with her. Last Sunday in particular was jam packed full of fun. First thing Sunday morning, we packed up Bungy and Melita and headed down to the park to the spring fed wading pool. It was perfect timing as it was already steaming hot and because it was so early we had the place to ourselves for a few minutes. If you haven't already figured it out, Melita is nuts about the water. She had a blast and let out millions of squeals and giggles to prove it.

October 2008

June 2009

Later that day, I needed some help keeping Melita out of the kitchen so I could make homemade chicken enchiladas. Something about toddlers underfoot trying to reach the countertops and hot oil makes me nervous. Anyway, it was Reagan's job to keep her occupied. It was proving tougher than expected because lately she just wants to be up in my business. Well, Reagan is not only a genius but he is an expert fort builder! Melita had so much fun she forgot all about me. Success!



The perfect ending for the perfect day came as we were finishing up Melita's bath. She likes to sit in the bottom of the shower while the water drains and try to catch the water going down the drain. It's not unusual for her to be in a squatting position while she does this. However, after this, I think we will be a little more suspect when we see her squatting when she's naked.

Singing in the Rain Sideways

4th of July 2009

As I mentioned last year, we can see the city's fireworks display from our front porch. It's amazing and convenient. This year Melita even stay awake to watch them.

RWL 2009

2 weekends ago, I met up with two of my girlfriends in Dallas for the weekend. I have known them since living in Germany and it had been over a year since we had gotten together for some fun. I had a great (but short!) time - even when Chase Fraud decided to block access to my debit card until I called them but they left a message on Reagan's phone and he was camping hundreds of miles away so I couldn't call them until I got home on Sunday - even after all that, I still had fun! I miss you Joann and Wendy and can't wait to do it again. Next time with cash only!

Father's Day 2009

When I asked Reagan what he wanted to do for Fathers Day, he replied, "Hang out in the pool with my girls." And so we did.

Catching Up

There are lots of preparations underway in the Chunn House. Next Friday I am off to Dallas for a much earned girls weekend with the Red Wine Lesbians. Next Sunday, Reagan and Melita will pick me up from the airport and we are heading to Austin to meet up with The Buchanan girls and the Gould girls. We are all super excited. Melita especially. She even practiced stowing herself away in my new luggage.
I then practiced folding myself up into a little ball in order to play in the ball pit with her. She thought this was hilarious.

In other developmental news, Melita actually used her fork properly during dinner tonight. Amazing. Less messy dinners are just over the horizon! She is also turning into quite the monkey and she loves swimming and playing in the sand. Summertime rolls.

With all her birthday excitement, I didn't share her stats from her 12 month checkup:
Height: 30 in.
Weight: 22.3 lbs.
Head: 18 in.

I am little scared because she is almost as tall as me now! She is definitely sizing up to Bungy although he still mows her over when he's excited. Which makes her cry. But then she gets her revenge when he is trying to take a nap by pulling on his tail or using him as a jungle gym. All while giggling and singing. I tell you the kid is nuts.

Birthday Wrap-Up

We survived the birthday party. Two weeks of planning and 24 hours of setting up were over in a few hours. Everything was a success and Melita came away with some awesome presents.

One gift we gave Melita was a trailer to pull her so we can ride our bikes around town.

We also gave her Playhut's Mega Playland. She loves the tunnels and the ball pit.

Nanny and Papa Bob gave her a sandbox.

She spent a lot of the day in the pool.

Her sidekick, Connor, helped her blow out her candle.

She was super tired the next day.

Happy Birthday Melita Moo!

I am absolutely speechless. I can not believe I have a 1 year old. I can't believe we made it without any major crises. At any rate, it has been a wild, but fun ride and I can't wait to see what this year brings. One major thing coming is Melita starts 'school' in August. Yowzers!

Because Melita's birthday is on a Tuesday, we are having the big party this Saturday. Today will not go uncelebrated though. Due to poor scheduling by her pediatrician, her 12 month check up is today. Not fun. BUT I am taking the rest of the day off after her appointment and I hope to get sweet treats from the bakery and eat them while riding the train in the park. And then once Reagan gets home, we are taking her out to dinner, big-girl style!

Stay tuned for a picture update later. The presents have been trickeling in since last weekend!

We love you Moo Moo!

In and Out

New tricks abound here in the NB. This kid is a genius. Today she learned how to used the doggie door at my parent's house. I guess she really wanted to know what was going on outside. I wish I had a picture of that!

Walk Like a Toddler

It's official. As of this weekend, Melita now walks more than she crawls. It's crazy cute. Right now she likes to carry stuff around the house or walk in circles. Either way she is on the move and unstoppable. People said I would hate it once she got moving but I actually like it. I think she is more fun and her personality is really shining through.

Back Off Ladies, He's Mine

sWEIN FEST 2009

Damn, the swine flu. Not only did the schools shut down in New Braunfels, but they also canceled my most favorite fest Wein and Saengerfest. We do have two confirmed cases here, but seriously? Set up some sanitize stations and drink and be merry. At any rate, we took matters into our own hands and threw together sWEIN FEST. We drank, we were merry, and we ate alot of swine. Also, it was Melita's first overnight at the grandparents. Everything was a complete success!