Gus

My poor dog... Gus was our baby before we had a baby. He taught us how to be parents - how to be responsible. From Gus, we learned that you can't just take off for the weekend - you have to call Kim and TJ and "make arrangments." We learned how to potty train (hmmm...than why wasn't I successful this time around??), we figured out how to make him obedient (okay, okay, just checking to see if you were still with me!) and we even practiced our swaddling techniques on him.

Life through Gus's eyes is pretty boring right now. Eat, sleep, sleep some more, ring the bell, ring the bell, ring it again, "Damnit, these people are deaf!", beg for table scraps, avoid that short one, sleep, sleep, sleep.

So, I decided from now on, I would try to spice up Gus's life. How? Maybe a game of fetch or tug-of-war. Maybe a walk around the block. After all, did you see what he puts up with!

Odds 'n Ends

1. Potty Training Update: didn't work. Suggestions welcome.

2. If anyone is out there reading this, please, please, please leave a comment. Just click on the red link on the bottom of every post- the one that says 0 Comments. I am trying to prove Rich wrong (he thinks no one reads this) (and it's okay if no one does, I'm not hurt...much...after all, this is a self-indulgent journal all about my family - I know you have busy lives.)

3. I miss Rich.

4. That is why I am officially addicted to Face book this week.

Friends

Celebrating the big 3-0 with some college friends in my favorite city, NYC

I have great friends. I mean REALLY great friends. From my college friends to my "work" friends to the wives of Rich's friends (who are now my friends) to family members who have become friends - they are all so important to me.

My friends remind me of who I am. They help me shed all of the things I think I SHOULD be. They take me back to the crazy girl that used to dance the night away. They make me laugh until my smile hurts and I say to myself, "I hope this never ends." They push me to be a better version of myself. A better wife, mother, teacher, woman.

"Good night"

Rich is in Canada for his biannual fishing trip with my dad, brother Dustin, and our soon-to-be brother in-law Dan. You should have seen his face as he was packing up the truck. I haven't seen him that excited since.....The last Canada trip. Rich has been gone for weeks at a time for work, but this is different. I can't talk to him. There is no cell reception where he is. Whenever he travels for work, we always call each other to say "good morning" and "good night." Annessa and I get into our routine and actually, the weeks that he is gone go by pretty fast. But last night, I had a hard time falling asleep. I think it was because I didn't get to say "good night" to my best friend.

Why is it that when Rich is here every day, I take him for granted? Why is it that as he was leaving, I found the need to start a fight with him? Actually, I can answer that: It's much easier to say goodbye to someone when you are slightly annoyed with him or her.

Anyway, I will be saying lots of prayers this week that Rich has a great time with the guys and that they do some "male bonding." That they get home safely and have lots of stories to tell (which, if you know my husband, this is a given). I will also be praising God for a marriage I love.

House Arrest

Come on mom - it's so much easier to go in my diaper! Plus I'm missing Dora!

After much prompting from my mom and husband, I decided to start the whole potty training thing. Man - it's hard! I have a brand new appreciation for my mom, that's for sure! I started by getting information from the web (like any good, modern mom would do...) After checking out the "Dr. Phil" method, the "Potty-train-in-a-day" method and various other gimmicky methods, I finally got smart and consulted my neighbor.

Gretchen: You have to let her run around naked for a few days.

Me: (brow crinkling) Seriously?

Gretchen: Yep - she'll feel the pee trickle down her leg and she won't like it.

Me: (deep breath) So this is the "Naked/$100" method?

Gretchen: $100 method?

Me: Yeah, that's what my Stanley Steamer bill will be when this is all over.


So far I think I am the only one who is trained. Every 20 minutes, we trot to the potty. Sometimes she goes, sometimes she doesn't. I am waiting for the day when SHE initiates the potty trot. I promised myself that I would give it one good week - no going out, no parks, no pools, no shopping. Just potty training. Thus, the title for this entry: House Arrest. Oops, better go - there's the timer (has it been 20 minutes already??).

Suntanning, Meltdowns, "Happy Daddy" and More...

Happy Birthday Rich! Or, as Annessa says, "Happy Daddy!"

Seriously???

# 1 Goof-ball

"Daddy, this ice cream is yummy!"

So we went on our first official "Steif Family Vacation." Let's just say it was interesting. We took Ness to Door County (note to self: not the most "toddler-friendly" place in the world). Rich really wanted to try out our mountain bikes at Peninsula State Park. So, we packed up the truck with all our gear (and a lot of fruit snacks to keep Annessa happy) and away we went.

We had two "major mental meltdowns" as Rich likes to call them - one because I wouldn't give Annessa her 30 millionth cup of "apple-juuuuu mama Iwaaaannn apppple-juuuu" (that's I want apple juice, in case you don't speak toddler). Luckily they both happened in the hotel room. Needless to say we felt like we were walking on thin ice the rest of the trip.

"Autumn, is she gonna do this in, you know, public?"

"Umm...maybe..."

After biking, we went to the beach. Here is a snippet of conversation I had with my soon-to-be-two-year-old:

Her: (looking at high school girls laying out) Mama (pointing) nii-nii (translation: sleeping)

Me: No, honey, they are laying out (like she would even get that, but whatever...)

Her: Nii-nii mama (going over to one of their blankets and laying down - full of sand I might add)

Me: Rich - look! (grabbing the camera)

Her: Mama, hugh-shhhhh, hugh-shhhh (translation: snoring sounds)

Man, this kid cracks me up!

Our Little Firecracker!

Sitting on Mummie and Papa dock holding one of the flags we gave to our wedding guests to wave outside the church (we were married on Flag Day)

Dancing to the band's music - she was their biggest fan!

We celebrated the 4th at my parents' house. All of the neighbors on the channel came for a band and a pig roast. We danced and danced- it felt like old times. I was sore the next day (I guess that's what 30 does to a girl!). I think Annessa had the most fun of anyone. The minute the band started warming up, she was out there "shaking her tail feather" (watch out Jenni - you're wedding is next!) She does this funny hop step and shakes her arm (just like mama in college....). She is our little firecracker, that's for sure. I think the only other person who had as much fun as Ness was Papa (tractor, tractor, tractor, plant the crops....) Let's just say that impromptu singing to a polka is not his forte!

Ready...Set...GO!!!

Lately I've been thinking about how fast Annessa is growing (she will be TWO at the end of August) and what a crazy personality she has. To be specific, one of the books I read (Secrets of the Baby Whisperer for Toddlers) describes her personality as "spirited."

"Our most active toddler, she's very physical, often willful, and my be prone to temper tantrums (What? My child? Temper tantrums?) She is very social and curious...She is the consummate adventurer; she will have a go at anything and is very determined. She can be a leader and become very accomplished in whatever interests her." - Secrets of the Baby Whisperer for Toddlers

Ummm...Yeah...That pretty much describes our Nessa. God gave her such a personality, that's for sure!