First Day of School!!

I'm a little behind on this post but we have had a crazy busy week!  I have a feeling it is just the beginning as our calendar keeps filling up! 

Ashley had her very first day of preschool on Thursday!  When we got there she was a little nervous when we started walking in to school and she asked me to hold her - who am I to refuse that?  I know it won't be much longer and she won't want anything to do with me so I better take advantage.  When we walked in side we immediately found her buddy Will and Ashley was excited to see Will's dad Matt (or as Ashley calls him Mr. Map Will Daddy).  She has a serious crush on him - it's sort of creepy :)

We all waited outside the classroom until Mrs. Jackie opened the door and we dropped the kids off one at a time.  Ashley went in fine but after a few minutes in the classroom she tried to escape!  Heather and I were still standing out in the hallway waiting for the new parent meeting and I see her scurrying out the door.  I panicked and tried to hide behind Heather, which is funny in itself considering Heather is a tiny size 0!  It probably looked like a tree stump trying to hide behind a toothpick :)  Mrs. Jackie corralled her back in and everything was fine.

After the meeting Heather and I decided we should just go to Target and shop to deal with our children's first day of school for the rest of their lives!!!  So Heather, Caroline and I roamed around Target until it was time to go pick up the kids.

When we went and picked up the kids they were so excited and Mrs. Jackie said they had a great day!  They had a few criers in the class but luckily Ashley wasn't one of them.  I'm sure the fact that she goes to daycare helps since she knows the routine.  She told me later in the day that she wanted to go back so it sounds like it was a success!

Preschool Orientation

This morning Ashley had preschool orientation and got to see her new classroom, meet her teachers Mrs. Jackie and Mrs. Cindy and make some new friends.  She was pretty shy at first but it didn't take too long for her to open up and relax.  She was a little upset that her best buddy Will wasn't in her orientation session but we did run in to them in the parking lot and she wanted to go back in with Will and do orientation again!

I am excited for her to start and think it is going to be a lot of fun and really good for her.  I can't believe my baby is growing up so fast!!!  Her first official day is Thursday.

After orientation we had our last Occupational Therapy session with Miss Becky.  Since Ashley is going to be in school we decided to take a break - hopefully for good!  She got to put her hand print on the wall of fame again and this time she chose purple.  I am so proud of her and what she has accomplished in the last two years of therapy :)  We will miss Miss Becky but we are excited for our next journey!

O-H-I-O!!!!!!

This weekend we went to my favorite place on Earth...ATHENS OHIO!!!!  We usually just go to the Homecoming game but we decided to buy the family season pack this year and will go to at least two games.  We took Papaw Dilbert with us for the game and Ashley had fun hanging out with him all by herself!  She absolutely loved the cheerleaders and Rufus (or Rupus to her) the Bobcat.  She had her picture taken with me and Rufus - I thought for sure she would be freaked out by him but seriously, look at that huge smile!!!  After the picture was taken she said "I love the Bobcat!"  Yes Ashley, it is in your blood to love Ohio University!!!

 

 

Loved getting down with the Marching 110 too!  The best band in the land!!! 

 

 

 

Today Ashley and I went to Nisbet Park so she could play some and then we got a Hawaiian Ice to celebrate the end of summer.  Ashley has Orientation tomorrow for preschool and she has her first day of class on Thursday. 

 

 

Tonight was the start of Ladies Bible Study.  We had it at my friend Heather's house.  It was so nice to meet some new people and I am looking forward to the next six weeks of getting to know these women a little better.  It is so much easier doing life with others that know what you are going through!

 

While I was away daddy and Ashley ran a few errands and they went to the store and Ashley got to pick out another toy for filling up her potty chart with stickers.  She picked a Thomas the Train track and train.  Justin said she was pretty excited about it!  She was already in bed by the time I got home tonight so I didn't get to see her in action but Justin took this picture.  He said she was in heaven :)

 







Painting Cabinets and Potty Training

So much for not laboring on Labor Day weekend!  I have been wanting to paint our ugly oak kitchen cabinets for a while now but I kept putting it off thinking it was going to be a major pain.  It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be - seems to be like that with a lot of things I procrastinate on!  I am super excited to get it all put back together and the finished project but we are going to let everything sit for a week so we make sure it is good and dry.  I will post pictures after it is all done.  Our next project is putting in a back splash too.

Other then the cabinet project we did get to have some fun over the weekend and we have made serious progress on the potty training too - THANK GOD!!!  We still have a few accidents but at least we are going on the potty! 

We all went out for dinner on Friday to a restaurant called Smoq and had some really good BBQ.  On Saturday we went down to Findley Market and met up with Uncle Jason and Tanya down there.  We got to hang out with them for a little bit and bought some yummy food we are going to have for dinner tonight!  Sunday we had the Dilbert family picnic and we got to see my Uncle Jeff and Aunt Barb who were in from Minnesota.  Yesterday we finished up with our last coat of paint on the cabinets and cleaned the house.  We just hung out around the house and Papaw Platt came to visit Ashley.  We were planning on going to the bike trail and go for a ride but the rain didn't let up so Ashley and Papaw just played in her playroom.

Overall we had a great weekend and I am happy to have a home improvement project checked off the to-do list!!!

I survived....

Day one of potty training, that is.  It was touch and go there for awhile and at times I wasn't sure who was going to break whom.  We tried heading over to Aunt Kelly's this morning for a few hours thinking that maybe if Ashley saw Kyle peeing in the big boy potty it would encourage her...needless to say it turned in to 2 hours of stress and I was ready to give up!

Ashley did end up taking a 3 hour nap - which I thought for sure she was just trying to play me so she could wear a diaper but I think she was just worn out and so was momma.

After nap she had another mini meltdown when I took the diaper off and tried to get her to sit on the potty and put big girl undies on.  This is what happened:

That would be my sweet child throwing herself to the ground and refusing to get up.  An innocent bystander witnessing the way she was behaving would probably think I was trying to cut off one of her limbs.  Loads of fun people!

After about 6 times of her sitting on the potty and getting up and IMMEDIATELY peeing all over herself I about started crying.  Luckily Justin got home from work about this time and I called my mom for some support.  She told me to put her on the potty and not let her get up until she goes.  At 6:40 it began, Ashley on the potty and mommy sitting on the floor with a pile of books.  We sat there and read the same books over and over until 50 minutes later she FINALLY peed in the potty!!!!  I have never been so happy!  We hurried up and jumped in the car and we all went and got an ice cream cone before she went again in the car seat.

All I have to say is THANK YOU JESUS it is Friday tomorrow and Ashley goes to daycare and they get to deal with it all day! 

Momma needs a stiff drink now :)

Busy Weekend!!

I know - it has been forever since I have been on here.  I figure since Ashley is going to be starting Preschool in a few weeks I better get back in the habit of blogging. 

We have had a lot of fun this weekend and were super busy!  On Thursday we scored free tickets to the Packers/Bengals preseason game from my cousin.  Ashley went to Nana and Papaws and hung out with the boys and Justin and I got to go watch the Packers play!  Had to get a pic of Donald Driver in there - love him!!

On Friday we went to the Red's game and Ashley went along.  We got tickets through Justin's work and that means we got to hang out in the Batters Eye and get free food and drinks!  We had to make a pit stop at the jungle gym so Ashley could play some.  We didn't end up staying for the whole game because she was pretty tired.

On Saturday we headed to Strickers Grove for the TriHealth family picnic.  We had a blast and it was such a fun day.  They had a ton of rides, food, drinks, snow cones, cotton candy and popcorn for everyone - I think Ashley was on sugar overload by the time we left there.  We also found out that Ashley loves roller coasters - definitely DID NOT get that from her momma!  She rode the mini roller coaster like 5 times in a row.  Each time it would come to a stop she would say "Let's ride it again!!!"  This thing was like the Beastie at Kings Island, I rode it twice, the second time I was forced!  I really don't like those things!!

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday night Aunt Kelly had her high school reunion so Nathan and Kyle came over to hang out.  We had a campfire and roasted marshmallows and made s'mores.  Justin found a box of smoke bombs and they were letting them off - I'm sure our neighbors were loving us!

 

This morning we slept in since we had three late nights in a row.  We went for a family jog before it got too hot out - well Peanut was over it after the first mile and he wanted to ride in the stroller with Ashley.

 

 



We are just hanging out and relaxing today before we head over to Aunt Kelly's and have dinner with her and the boys since Uncle Brian is out of town.

Next week is the first week of school for Ashley at Prodigy.  She is starting in a new classroom, Preschool 3.  We only have a few weeks left before she starts preschool at MCC twice a week and then it will only be one day a week I have her all to myself.  She is growing up so fast!!

M.I.A.

It has been awhile since I have posted on here.  It has been a difficult few weeks around here and I just haven't felt like doing much of anything.

Justin and I found out we were pregnant about a month and a half ago.  We were extremely excited since we have been trying for baby #2 for awhile.  Everything was going great, went in for an ultrasound and found out that we were only having one baby (there was a possibility of multiples).  We scheduled another ultrasound for a week later to look for the heart beat.  I had a horrible, disturbing dream the night before the ultrasound and just woke up with an uneasy feeling.

We went to the appointment and the doctor was unable to find the fetus.  I immediately lost it and started sobbing.  He said it wasn't 100% a loss but it didn't look good.  He wanted us to come back in another week for another ultrasound to look again - needless to say WORST WEEK OF MY LIFE!  The one positive thing that came out of that week is the love we were shown by our family and friends.  I am so grateful for all of those people that were there for Justin and I - we are very lucky.

We went back in last week and again the doctor was unable to find the fetus and it was determined that I was going to miscarry the baby.  I wasn't happy to hear the news but was sort of relieved to finally have an answer one way or another - that waiting was torture. 

It has been a rough few weeks - lots of tears.  Thankfully I am feeling better each day and the sadness is slowly fading.  We keep reminding ourselves how lucky we are with one beautiful daughter, that is more then some people get.  We will get through this and come out stronger.

Ashley stayed home from school today because she was running a fever yesterday.  Neither one of us is feeling 100% today so we have just stayed in our pj's all day.  Justin went mountain biking with his friend after work and I am looking forward to him getting home and helping entertain Ashley!  I have a feeling it is going to be a low key night here tonight.

351.1

Is the amount of miles we put on the car over the weekend.  I wish I was being sarcastic but I am not - that is just from Saturday morning to Sunday evening!

The Easter fun began on Thursday when Gannie and Papaw (Justin's mom and stepdad) came in to town and spent the night with us.  We went out to dinner at Red Robin and Ashley insisted on wearing her new purple princess dress and sparkly shoes that Gannie and Papaw just gave her.  Who am I to tell the princess no??

When we got home from dinner we colored Easter eggs with Gannie and Papaw too.  Ashley did really well dipping the eggs in and scooping them out.  Her fingers were blue for only a day or two :)

After going to Dunkin Donuts for breakfast and Ashley scarfing down 5 munchkins (I'm sure she was in a sugar coma for most of the day) and hanging out with Gannie and Papaw the rest of the day we headed over to Nana and Papaw's (Shannon's mom and dad) house to celebrate Aunt Kelly's birthday with dinner and ice cream cake!

Saturday we got up and headed over to Justin's cousin Lisa's house in Indiana for the annual Easter Egg Hunt.  Ashley had a ton of fun playing with her cousins and all of the kids there and hunting for the eggs.  Her Papaw (Justin's dad - we have too many Papaw's I know!) came to help her.

After the Easter Egg Hunt we drove over to GiGi's (Justin's grandma) house, also in Indiana to drop Ashley off with Gannie and Papaw so she could spend the night with them and go to church in the morning.  Justin and I then headed to the Red's game where we went on the field before and after the game to hold a huge TriHealth banner (Justin won a contest at work and that was part of it).

We got up Sunday morning and ushered at church - it was absolutely packed in there!  We then headed over to Indiana again to pick up Ashley and have Easter lunch with Justin's family.  When we walked in the door this is what we find:

Yet another princess gown and matching pink sparkly shoes thanks to Gannie and Papaw!!!  They are just fueling the princess fire!  To say Ashley was a total monster when we got there would be a understatement...  Having barely any sleep and being pumped full of sugar for two days we were in for a long day with her.  While we were there Ashley and one of her second cousin's Ella had their own Easter Egg Hunt.  My personal favorite is her standing there with her hand on her hip looking for more eggs - what a sassy pants!

Somehow we managed to pry her out of her princess attire and get her back in to her Easter dress so we could at least see her wearing it!  Her other cousin Emma showed up with her pink Barbie Jeep and she took Ashley for a ride and even let Ashley drive it herself - look out world!

Thankfully Ashley crashed about one mile down the road from Gigi's house and slept the whole hour and 15 minutes back to Loveland!  She woke up in a much better mood for Easter dinner at my Aunt Marla and Uncle Steve's house with my side of the family.  They had yet another Easter Egg Hunt there!  After everything was all said and done I think Ashley got a total of 6 Easter baskets and about 8 lbs of candy...not really sure why anyone feels it necessary for an almost 3 year old to get that much but she is spoiled!  When we got home we were all exhausted!  Ashley went to bed around 9:30 and slept until 10:30 Monday morning.  

A little health scare

This past week has been very emotional and I am happy to say it has all turned out well.  My mom started to feel bad a few weeks back and went to the doctor and they ran some tests.  They ended up finding a spot on her liver and wanted to run more tests to find out what it is.  After a few scary days of waiting and praying we got the word that all is ok.  Thank the Lord - the pain has ended up just being due to asthma and it is nothing serious.  Hopefully they have figured it out and she is on the mend.

Big things are happening in the Platt household but we will address that at a later time.  It is a very exciting and happy time and I am just soaking it all in. 

I can't believe that Easter is almost here!  My mom gave me my old Easter basket so we can use it for Ashley.  Justin brought it up out of the basement and Ashley has been carrying it around like it is a purse.  I'm kicking myself for not getting a picture of it - maybe I will ask for a new camera for my birthday...

So sweet!

Absolutely love days like today - make the tough days seem not so tough!  Ashley was super cute tonight.  First she heard me telling Justin that my knee was hurting and she insisted on kissing my boo-boo to make it feel better.  I think she asked to kiss my boo-boo at least 10 times.  Just now Justin was taking her up to bed...she ran in and gave me a kiss and said good night.  As she was walking up the stairs she yelled to me "good night princess mommy!".  Love that little girl :)

Big Swide?!

Last night we went over to Nana and Papaw's house for dinner.  On the drive over we go down this hill and the road curves around as you are going down the hill.  As we are driving down the hill Ashley says "weeeee - big swide!" (big slide).  I said "yes, that is a big slide for the car". 

Tonight we went over to my sisters house who lives across the street from my parents and therefore we drive down the big slide to go there too.  We didn't warn Ashley that the "big swide" was coming.  As we start down the hill she is in mid sentence and then a squeal comes out of her and she yells "WEEEEEE!!!!! BIG SWIDE!!!!!" and I turn around and she has her hands in the air like she is riding a roller coaster. 

It is so much fun seeing the world through the eyes of a toddler :)

Cookies!!

We were planning on going to the park this morning and enjoying the nice weather...then the storms rolled in. Ashley and I decided we would do something fun and make some Spring/Easter cookies together! Luckily the batch only made 9 cookies so I won't be tempted to eat them all :)

Ashley was such a big helper. Love her pink camo pajamas!

Ashley "helped" ice and decorate the cookies - I'm pretty sure there is about a pound of icing and sugar sprinkles on each of them.  I wouldn't be surprised if eating one causes a sugar induced coma!

If you can't tell they are bunnies and butterflies.  Ashley was so excited to eat one but I told her we had to wait until daddy got home and we would have one for dessert after dinner.  I think she asked me about 500 times if she could eat a cookie.  Finally, it was time and she got to pick one out and eat it.

It turned out to be a nice afternoon and we were able to enjoy a little outdoor time while cooking dinner on the grill.  Ashley was really excited to get to wear her new dress and princess flip-flops from her Gannie.



She is ready for summer!!

Spring is in the air!

We are absolutely loving this weather!  Glad to see the rain from yesterday is long gone and we were able to get much needed playtime in outside.  We opened the windows today and it feels so good in the house and nice to smell the fresh air. 

Ashley is slightly obsessed with the little girl that lives across the street.  Her name is Emily, Ashley pronounces it Emma-bee.  Anytime we are outside she wants to go look for Emily and if she is out there she wants to chase behind her while she rides her bike or scooter.  Well today Emily (who is 7 or 8) came over to our backyard to play with Ashley in her playhouse/swing set.  Ashley was in heaven!!!  I was inside making dinner while Justin was in the back yard with them and the squeals of laughter and delight coming from Ashley were precious!  Her and Emily were on the seesaw swing together and I don't think I have seen a bigger smile on that child.  It was the sweetest sound to hear :)

After dinner daddy decided to wash the cars and he had a little helper.  She washed and scrubbed the same little spot on the front bumper for at least 15 minutes.  Her shirt was absolutely soaked but she was having a blast.

We brought Ashley's tricycle up from the basement the other day and she has been "trying" to ride it in the house.  We took it outside and she was riding it back and forth in the garage.  She was doing such a good job with keeping the peddles going.  She amazes me how quickly she changes and grows.  Something she couldn't do a few months ago she is able to conquer now.

And now it is time to head upstairs for bathtime - daddy bought Ashley some Princess bubble bath at the store and she is super excited to take a bath!!

Shannon