Babies and Animals

Jenna's at a stage where she is obsessed with "babies" and "amimals" (as she says). She has a ton of baby dolls and stuffed animals, and until about a month ago, couldn't have cared less about them.

Now it's a different story. She has to have at least two of them with her all the time. She brings them to daycare too. She has about 10 different babies and animals in her crib, she hardly has room to lay down! Every morning when I go in to get her up we have to talk about all the animals and she tries to pick up three or four at a time, and then I try to pick her up with all the animals! It's not easy.

There names are always whatever they are...
So, right now the favorites are:
Baby (she has three dolls that are all baby)
Lion
Frog
Puppy
Boo (a ghost)
Hippo

She takes care of her babies too. Even is she is upset or crying about something she will take the time to offer Lion "a bite" or "a drink" before she takes a bite or drink herself.

Most recently, my mom carved her a pumpkin with a face and the moon and stars on it. I finally put the darn thing outside, but until then, it was sitting on the couch with her! She was trying to feed pumpkin, read to him, and put him to "nite nite"! She covers up her babies and animals with a blanket and says "nite nite" then two seconds later she pulls the blanket from them and yells "Get up baby!"

I swear she did not learn that from us! We value her time sleeping!

Star Struck...I think

Jenna met someone famous this last weekend!
She got to meet Dora the Explorer!

Now, as you can see from the picture, with her looking over her glasses at Dora, she wasn't too sure of her. She would not go up there alone. She loved Dora from a distance but was not too sure of her up close. She was probably thinking Dora is much larger in real life than she is on TV! Or maybe she was wondering where Boots and Swiper were. She was happy to see "backpack" and "map" with Dora.

I think the feeling that best describes this look is "Star Struck"...maybe.

Happy 4th Anniversary!

Today is our 4th Anniversary! Here is a picture of the beautiful bouquet of flowers Erik sent to me at work. He is the best husband and I love him so much!

You get what you pay for!

This last weekend we went up to Alpena to visit Erik's family. We love seeing everyone, it is the travel that's really hard with Jenna. We're talking about an almost two year old who can't do any one thing for more than five minutes. She never sits still, ask anyone, they can vouch for me! My daughter does NOT sleep in the car like some kids do either.

So, I always try to come up with ways to make the three hour drive a little easier. Of course, the typical: we take snacks, sippy cups, books, the DVD player with lots of Elmo, Dora and Blue's Clues, and we often get her a McDonald's chicken nugget happy meal for the ride. She loves french fries and eating the whole thing takes her a while.

This time, I decided to try something I read in my Parents magazine. I went to the Dollar Store and bought $12 worth of crap! Then Erik wrapped everything so we had 12presents for her. The time to unwrap each item and then play with it for a few minutes took up some time.

Well, by the time we got home most of the toys were already broken! I guess that's why they are only $1. The wheels had broke off the toy cars, the princess jewelery had a broken necklace, earring and broken bracelet, and we had more wrapping paper in the car then at some holidays!

So, in theory, it was a good idea and took up a little time. In reality, she was still saying "Out, all done" when we were only 30 miles into the trip.

Any one else have any more ideas?

Dear Jenna - 22 months

Dear Jenna,

Tonight at 7:24 pm you were 22 months old! Two months away from being two years! Sometimes I can't believe you are getting so big and independent. You are no longer a baby who depends on your mommy for everything. You can get yourself snacks, can put your shoes on, (even though there is no guarantee they are on the right feet) you can go up and down stairs, and you can even restart the DVD to play the Elmo Movie yet again.



Of course there are still lots of things you need your dad and me for, and that makes us very happy. Your dad often says he wishes you would stay this age and size forever. He wants to bottle up his little peanut because you are so much fun right now. Your innocence of the world and the stresses of live are so refreshing. Your vocabulary is expanding every day and now is usually full sentences instead of just words. Your energy is never ending and your ability to make us laugh all the time and warm our hearts with your smile is something we look forward to every day.





Of course, life is busy and is full of many different roles for me, but NONE are as important or meaningful as being your mommy. I hope you always know how much I love you and how smart, beautiful, and amazing you are. I wish you would be able to remember days like today, when the three of us just played and read and hung out together all day.







I also hope you know how much joy you bring into the lives of our family. How lucky are you to have three Papa's and two Gramma's and NINE great grandparents, who love you so much! In addition to many other family and friends, you are well loved. I wish every child could have a life like you do.




Well, enough of me being sappy! I love you more than words can say!
Happy 22 months!

Love always and forever,
Mama

That's What She Said!

One of Jenna's new tactile hobbies is to put the tops back on things..this can be anything...
lotion
medicine
juice
chap stick
water bottles
food

You get the point! Anytime she sees something with the top off she automatically repeats "Top on, Top on, Top on!" until you let her put the top on.
Well, when Erik first heard her say "Top on"

He said, "What?! Tampon?!"

LOL! It was so funny. I asked him if he really thought his daughter would be saying tampon. Now, every time Jenna says "Top on" I think of this and smile!

Tales from the Robinette Household

Jenna is talking more and more and it's so fun to watch her and hear what she comes up with. Now, it is sometimes hard to decifer and sometimes it is just Erik and I who can figure out what she is saying, but she can get her point across!
Now, Mom of the year here, my daughter can say...

Coffee and Chocolate. Opps!

Some of her favorite phrases/words right now are:

Here ya go
I got you
Sorry [insert name: mama, baby, daddy, papa](she gets to say that one a lot!)
pumpkin
Run...GoGoGo
Shoes on
Elmo movie

Yesterday she picked up my phone and said, "Call Gramna" It is pretty funny to see her using a blackberry!


This weekend I bought the halloween sugar cookies that have the black cats in them and thought it would be so fun for the two of us to put them on the cookie tray and watch them bake for the eight minutes. Well, I decided to try this with her in the middle of a breakdown. She got even more mad and threw herself on the floor when she couldn't eat the cookie dough. I even gave in and tried to give her a bite, the damage was already done though, she was mad. So, my vision of Jenna and I making cookies together was ruined by the reality of a tired 22 month old who didn't get her way!


Last night Erik and I were laying in bed and here is our conversation:

Me: Do you think I should sign Jenna up for dance or gymnastics or something?

Erik: You're kidding right?! She's 22 months!

Me: No, they have classes for kids her age, and she loves to jump and dance.

Erik: She can jump and dance at home!

End of conversation! Good night.

Think Pink!

Earlier this month I went to a fundraiser for Central Michigan Community Hospital's Cancer Center. It was put on by Let's Do The Dishes, a paint your own pottery studio! The event was called "Think Pink! Paint for a cause." It was a private paint party and so much fun! A great night to support breast cancer and be creative, or try to be creative! Thanks to Connie and Michelle for a great night!

Papa's Pumpkin Patch

It was a perfect fall day to take Jenna to Papa's Pumpkin Patch. Who knew you could spend two hours there! Jenna had so much fun; running up and down "Mount Pleasant" hill, riding in the little tractor train, checking out all of the pumpkins, and walking around! It was a great day!

Happy 50th Birthday Mom!

My mom celebrated her 50th birthday on October 2! We celebrated with Erik's special chicken and steak fajita recipe and Grandma's special cake! We couldn't resist making her wear the red hat now that she's old enough to be in the red hat club! Happy birthday Mom! Love you!