Thursday 13: Thirteen Random facts

1) Two weeks from today, our adoption finalizes!!!

2) Guess who this cutie is????

3) It's Charlie--- who FINALLY has enough hair to pigtails!

4) Speaking of hair.....I am getting a haircut today! I am SO excited.

5) Shelby tried and loved blueberries this week-- she ate 10 with NO hives. She loves feeding herself.

6) Shelby says "mmmmmm" whenever she is hungry. Yesterday I was skyping with my brother and he was eating. She wanted his food and got very persistent with the "MMMMMMM" until I got her some Cheerios. Then she just ate and chatted away. SO funny!

7) My neighbors moved. I am really sad about this and can't imagine what the summer is going to feel like without little boys having me make cookies for them. They are only about 8 miles away but still it's not the same. I know they are loving their bigger house though! We are cramped with one kid so I can't even image all of the storage issues with three.

8) I started the seeds for our garden and they are sprouting up nicely. This year I am planning to grow types of tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, and okra in the main garden bed. In my containers I am going to do strawberries and blueberries. In the herb bed just oregano, rosemary, dill and lettuce.

9) My Petunias made it through the winter and are already in bloom. I was SO shocked.

10) I have a friend coming to work on my front bed sometime next week. He is planting Hosta and maybe hydrangeas. I totally had to outsource this. I have been sick of that tree ring situation for YEARS!

11) We just finished up season three of Dexter.

12) I just ordered this for Shelby's playroom! I found a great deal on www.Zulily.com.

13) I have finally been able to file our taxes. Mr. D. and I have been "working on the taxes" for- EVER!! Finally this week all of the magical pieces came together and they are mailed off. Too bad that fabulous adoption credit has to wait one more year!

a few smiles from yesterday

in only 19 days....

....we will be finalizing our adoption!!! Shelby will finally legally and officially be ours and share our name!!!!

Shelby's dress arrived today. It is simply PRECIOUS and I can't wait for everyone to see it. We have our court appearance at 9:30 and a small luncheon after. Shelby and I made some precious invitations to send to our family in honor of the special day. This event is going to be somewhat low key because we do not want it to be anything like her first birthday extravaganza just a few months later. We definitely want it to be special but we are saving the cake, party decorations and themes for August. April 14th will be the date we celebrate each year as our "family-versary". More to come on the special day later.

blog make over

I decided today to do a quick little blog make over... a little Spring cleaning if you will. I removed some of the non-bloggers from my blog roll. For a number of reasons, I have decided to disable comments. Also, I made a super cute new header. I hope you all enjoy the new format.

Spring Break 2011- the grown up edition

So, not that I think anyone reads the blog anymore to see what I am up to, because after all this blog has really turned into all about Shelby, but just in case here is what I did over my spring break.

* Added composting and worked up the garden beds to be ready for the spring planting

* cleaned out the patio planters

* worked on planning Shelby's adoption finalization luncheon... more on that later.

* worked in the never ending project of the guest room/play room to be

* watched 8 episodes of season three of Dexter.

* used two gift cards leftover from Christmas....

* From Phil and Becky I downloaded three new books to my Kindle.

* From Linda and Tom I bought new bath mats and towels for the master bath.

* I cleaned out from under my bathroom sink which is a job in itself.

* I lost my sunglasses!! ARRRGGGGG!

* took a half a million pictures of Shelby

* finished working on our taxes

* got the car washed

* played many many games of Words With Friends

* had a fabulous time taking care of Shelby and hanging out just being a family.

Spring Break 2011- in no particular order

I have been on Spring Break this week. It has gone by way too fast and I am not sure we could have packed one more thing into it. I can honestly say it was the best Spring Break that I have ever had. We spent a little of our time visiting and a lot of our time staying at home. It was the perfect mix.

I have many things crossed off of my to-do list and spent a blissful week playing stay-at-home Mom.

This photo recap is not in chronological order because I didn't want you to have to wait any longer to read an update.

The trio looking at books.

My sweet little Char-latte!

Shelby showing off her standing moves to Kim.

Maggie-- trying to coax Shelby under the table after she got in trouble for going under there...

Of course Maggie didn't know she wasn't supposed to be under there so that made it even more funny!

CUTIE!

Hello Diva!

Rylee and Shelby

Shelby and Nonnie

I love this sweet little face!

Shelby loves Rylee SO SO SO much!

Sweet pic!

These are my cookie girls. They were loving their vanilla wafers!

When Mr. D. was cleaning out our closet, he found my (unused) yoga mat. We put it down for Shelby to play on in the living room. Here she is practicing her yoga!

Shelby got to try a few new things this week. Here she is loving a goldfish cracker.

She also tried YoBaby yogurt with sweet potatoes and apples with no reaction! Another new food this week was shredded cheese. Oh and strawberry yogurt melts too!

We had an Air Conditioner repair company come over on Thursday for the free routine maintenance as part of a service agreement that we had signed up for years ago. Anyway, they said we need a part... blah blah blah and that it was OK to run the AC as it is. We didn't need it that day but the next afternoon we turned it on and later that night I found this....

The technician failed to connect the hose that takes the water outside so it drained all in our attic. ARRGGGG!!!

OK- I wish this picture was better. Shelby was skyping with Henry and Aunt Moo. The dining room windows couples with a dirty laptop screen have not helped in the image. But look at sweet Henry blowing her a kiss.... and Shelby appearing to be doing the same, but in all actuality she was stuffing her face with cheese and goldfish. Precious!

We should attempt a photo do over under better conditions!

You'll have to forgive the lack of a diaper cover in the next two pics. Her Daddy dressed her and I don't complain about what she is wearing when he does. Anyway, between our couches I keep pillows and blankets. It's Shelby's newest favorite hiding place.

Here is a funny picture I snapped while vacuuming. Isn't it funny that it looks like she was reading the paper.

Shelby's latest favorite toys are balls and her nesting cups.

Charlie gave her a fabulous toy in her hand-me-down toy box. I am sorry I don't have pictures of it, but will post some soon- maybe even a video.

Shelby is also enjoying looking at books more and more. She always seems to flip this book to the page with the cupcakes... or maybe the strawberries I am not sure which.

Shelby visiting with "the Grandfather" - my Mother's Father.

Shelby stole Charlie's sippy cup- the kind with the straw.

Charlie showing off some super sweet dance moves.

Charlie teaching Shelby how to use her laptop.... Shelby too busy checking our Charlie's PJ's.

Shelby and I worked on a top secret project that took what seemed like years to get it all together. I envisioned this weeks ago and it took a village to bring it to fruition. I wish I could share more, but I can't right now. But when you find out your face may look like this--- total shock!

Sorry this is blurry I snapped it on the camera phone. I was cleaning my bathroom and Mr. D. was cleaning out his closet and he put his closet mirror out for the little miss. Too cute.

Shelby skyping over breakfast with her cousins Donovan and Kaleigh.

Shelby spent time with all of her cousins this week!!

This is Shelby all decked out and ready to go to lunch and shopping with her Daddy.

Shopping.... before she lost one of her shoes. As Kate would say- temporary treasures. I would like to note that Mr. D. scoured the whole Bed Bath and Beyond trying to locate it with no luck. What a great Dad!

Shelby took her first "in the buggy" ride this week. She was fascinated. I however was not prepared for all of the people who thought this gave them permission to talk to and touch her. Personal space people!

Oh- and this could quite possible be the cutest part of the whole situation!

While Shelby played with Nonnie, I was able to delete a few items off of my computer-- 2,206 to be exact.

Here she is being super silly in the car seat. She was having a bottle in the car while her Daddy was getting a haircut. Please note that the bottle cover matches her outfit.

Shelby - a self feeding portrait.

I thought this was SO funny. Shelby literally crawled out of her pants.

peaches and cream

So, we were advised by our pediatrician to reintroduce the fruits in a more diluted way than just straight up fruit. One Saturday I mixed three baby spoonfuls of baby food peaches with oatmeal, yogurt and a pinch of cinnamon. No reaction! For dinner I upped the peaches to 5 baby food spoonfuls. No reaction! I am not sure why the straight from the jar or fresh fruit causes the reaction, but I am thrilled that this way seems to be working so far!

the first hairbow

When I got home Thursday, Hanny the Nanny had a bow in the sweet girl's hair. Her hair has been growing like crazy for the last two weeks. I think she looks precious.

pictures of Shelbs

White before Easter...because this cute outfit will no longer fit her at Easter time.