Illnesses, illnesses, and more illnesses

Hey, everyone! I hope our readers are doing much better than we are here. Reyna's had 9 weeks straight of illnesses, and we're hoping this week will be the beginning of a healthy stretch. She's had 4 ear infections, hand-foot-mouth disease, and the stomach flu. And being the loving daughter that she is, she decided to share the stomach flu with me. *blech* I'm still struggling to recover, but she's just about 100% better. She's in school as I type, and I haven't gotten called yet.

Reyna is getting bigger, and growing much too fast for me. Her list of words is growing. She's added:
*bubble
*Oh, cold, cold!
*apple
*is TRYING to say banana, but says nanana
*vroom, vroom - when playing with toy cars
*tries to say Dora (from Dora the Explorer)
*shh (complete with index finger to lips)
*tickle, tickle
*up
*stuck
*cup
*ball (well, she says ba)
*bah! when she's finished with her food
*buh-buh for byebye

I think that's all she's added in the last few weeks. She sure does have a strong will, too. She throws tantrums for the smallest things. I've become the Mominator, and Andy has become the Gentle Giant. So because I'm rather strict (no laughing, please), she prefers her daddy to me. *sigh* I hope our next child is easier.

Andy started his new job. So far, I don't hear any complaints from him. He's had to take a day off and come home early twice, but they've been rather nice about it. And he has his first working weekend this weekend. You'd think I'd be upset about that, but I'm not. It may or may not be an all day thing. No biggie. Hopefully, I'll be just about 100% recovered by then and maybe Reyna and I can go out and do something...If Andy doesn't have the truck.

I got Reyna's classroom assignments for the fall and summer at her daycare. She'll be in the toddler room for the summer, and in the young 2's in the fall. She doesn't turn 2yrs. until after th school year starts, though. At least I know who her teachers will be for a while. I just hope that she transitions well. It's taken her a long time to trust her teachers.

I've been kinda eBay-ing. I bought a couple of king-sized toddler pillows from a friend, which I absolutely adore! Her store is listed at http://stores.ebay.com/Tamaras-Treasure-Chest. Her pillows are absolutely fabulous! Reyna loved the one I bought her. And Tamara is always coming out with new ones, so be sure to check out her store every 2-3 days.

I also bid on and won a vial of lavender oil. I'm hoping to make some scented candles within the next few weeks. I've never made any, so I'm hoping they turn out okay. All I have right now is that one vial of oil. I still have to go out and buy everything else. I've got several booklets on it, though. Just looking through them gave me lots of ideas.

Mother's Day, my wedding anniversary (6 years!!!!!), and my birthday are all coming up one right after the other: May 8, 15, and 23. I've decided that I want one gift for Mother's Day and our anniversary, but I ALWAYS get my own gift on my birthday. I'm a twin, what can I say? It's always been that way in my family. We may not have always had a separate cake, but we've always had separate gifts. Unfortunately, I have no idea what I want for any of those days. *sigh* Andy wants to get me a sewing machine. I don't know how to sew, but I'm interested in learning. And I already have one, anyway. I just need someone to teach me how to use it. It's really old, from like the 50's and it was my moms...I think. What I could really use is a steam vac, but I don't think Andy's really willing to spend that much money. I could also use some new bake ware. I don't know what I want. I know what I could use, but I don't know what I want. Decisions, decisions...I DO know that Andy's making me a cake again this year. My favorite: yellow cake with chocolate frosting. Yum!

Speaking of birthdays...Reyna's 2nd birthday is coming up in a few months, and we've already started making plans for it. It's not going to be a huge fiasco, like her 1st birthday was. We've got some stuff settled, but the theme is eluding me. Once I pick a theme, I can settle on the date and time. I think this year I'll just order the cake instead of making it myself. Or, if I make it again, I'll start making it 2 days in advance - like I did my Becca's cake for her 16th birthday.

Well, I'm off to pick up Her Highness from daycare. Hope this blog finds everyone healthy and in a joyous spirit!

*hugs*