Exciting Tuesday!

Chloe rode the train all by herself. This was her first time and by the end of the ride she decided that she really liked it!

BFF"s :)

We met up with Hannah too! They made the princess necklace craft together.

Saying a big cheese with Jasmin.

Meeting Jasmin and showing her the Cinderella doll. I think everyone kept calling Chloe Cinderella but Chloe thought they were talking about her doll, you know how she corrects you if you call her the wrong name/nick name:)

Helping herself onto her lap:)

Talking it up with Snow White!

Saying cheese.

Meeting Belle and showing her the Cinderella doll.

Helped herself onto her lap for a picture:)

And they have the same head band:)

Tonight we went to Family Fun Night at Valley West Mall and it was Princess Theme! Chloe was so excited and got all dressed up for the event:) Here she is meeting Cinderella, she is pointing out that they have the same dress on.

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Today we had our friends, Stephanie, Hannah and Ava over for a play date. Hannah and Chloe had a blast playing dress up, monsters, and painting. Stephanie and I had a nice time hanging out and chatting. And baby Ava was such a good little girl.

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Monday Chloe had a great time at gymnastics. They had a huge inflatable slide and after going down with me once then Ms Kelly once, Chloe was ready to do it on her own. Which she continued to do until it was time to go onto the next activity!

Weekend Fun!

This is the motorcycle cage, there were 3 motorcycles driving in circles all at the same time! Chloe called it Cinderella's pumpkin:)

The elephants were very cool but I think Chloe's favorite part was the princess that rode in on the horse:)

The elephants doing their tricks!

Putting on her chap stick to kill some time, maybe an hour or so;)

Entertaining herself until the show starts again:)

At intermission Chloe tried out the bounce house but it was a little much for her so we watched the elephant rides instead.

Too cute!

Say cheeeese!

This afternoon we had a blast at the Shrine Circus! It was Chloe's first time at the circus and I think she had a wonderful time. Chloe picked out Go Diego for her souvenir:)

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Friday we had a fun day. First we started out going to the mall playground, doing a little shopping and having lunch out. Then we went to Andrea's house to see Rich;) He showed us his new office and we even stuck around for some playing with Rambo and Zella and visiting with Uncle Rich. Then we went to supper at Uncle Tyler and Aunt Rebecca's. We had a great time cooking, eating, drinking, playing, dancing and listening to music. I think Chloe was most excited about playing with Caz again:) It's so great to be able to see family so easily like this!

Back at it.

The other night Chloe and I had an entertaining conversation. It went like this as I'm walking down the stairs after my shower.
"Mommy you take a shower and wash your hair?"
"Yes I did"
" It was dirty, now it's clean. Don't lick it." (this comes from past experiences)
"That's right, it's clean but it doesn't taste very good."
"You wash your hair and make it orange."
"Um yeah....." :)

Chloe playing her guitar:)

Daddy and Chloe playing with the her new fave magnetic puzzle.

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We resumed our busy schedule this week. Monday we had fun jumping around at gymnastics class. Chloe missed her teacher, Miss Kelly, and even got Miss kelly to hold her during some of the class:)

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Tuesday we had a fun play date with our new friends, Stephanie, Hannah who is 2 1/2 and her baby sister Ava who turns one next week. Chloe and Hannah went running through the house and up the stairs screaming like the sweet little girls they are up to Hannah's room and came down with some stuffed animals. It was so cute! Then Tuesday evening Chloe got to be dropped off to go to a play date at Marissa and Kelsey's house! So Jason and I enjoyed a quiet supper out with each other and some relaxation at home during our crazy rain and thunder storm. The play date went well especially considering there were 3 red heads all playing together;)

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Wednesday we saw Hannah at the library and she joined us for story time. The girls raised a little havock but it was cute. At one point in the middle of the story time group Hannah lifted up her shirt and Chloe smacked her in the belly, they both giggled and so did the moms:)

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Today we had a great time being back in music class. Chloe was happy to see her friend, Selma, again and wanted to dance with her during class. But after she got settled back into the class routine she had fun and participated again.

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Chloe got used to playing outside last week and keeps asking to go outside. So we've been spending about and hour outside during the afternoons. Of course we have to wear our coats, hats and gloves but it's worth it to keep getting the fresh air.

Spring Break 2011!

Brigett and Chloe's photo-op:) We also enjoyed our time with grandpa and great gramma but neglected to get any pics this time around.

Audrey, Chloe and gramma had a blast doing make-up and playing with gramma's (one and only) Barbie from her childhood! Thanks to all of you for taking care of Chloe so I could enjoy a fun night out with my sister. Not only did I need it but I really appreciated it too!

Daddy and Dave had a good night jamming out to music and entertaining Chloe:)

Here I am getting a very warm welcome home from Chloe when I got back that night:)Brigett and I on our way out Saturday night to go to Kings Point to see a comedian. We both had a great time and laughed a lot, what a fun girls night out! I could get used to this:)

Friday we headed out to SL to visit Gramma and Grandpa Smith. Saturday we went to Brigett and Tyler's for supper were Chloe made a new BFF, Callie! I asked Callie if she was interested in moving to Ankeny;) Chloe loves playing with her cousin Tyler and it only got better that his friend was there as well.

We had a very nice rest of the week. We had a play date at our friend's house, Julia Josephine and Lillian. Chloe and Josephine have gymnastics classes together. It was great to get together and have the girls play and the moms chat:) The end of the week we did more yard work, grilled out and played outside. Thank goodness spring is on it's way!

Spring Break

It's Spring Break and all of our activities are cancelled this week. Which is actually kinda nice so we can ease back into our routine. Yesterday we met a group of friends at the play place at the mall, Chloe always loves playing with her friends and the mall play ground is one of her favorites as well. Today we did hours of yard work in the back yard, picking up sticks and raking. It felt good to be outside getting the fresh air and also to be productive. Chloe had a blast in the leaves, using sidewalk chalk, driving her car and digging in the dirt, I think the dirt was her fave by far :)

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Thank you so much to our families and friends for all the support you have given us over the past week. It truly has made a huge difference as we go through this process. Your phone calls, messages, meals, flowers, trips to see us, taking care of and playing with Chloe has made our lives a lot more manageable. I don't think I can thank you all enough, your love and support means the world to us.

Letting it out.

It is with immense sadness and with hopes of healing and of feeling some grief be lifted off of my heavy heart that I am writing this blog today.
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I was already so much in love with you. I had already started to picture what you would look like, and wonder if you'd be a boy or girl, if you'd be anything like Chloe or shock us with a completely different personality. I was so excited to get the nursery ready for you, something I never got to do with Chloe. We had already started to change out the computer room and move your things in. We were talking about you and to you as part of our family. I was wondering how you would change our family dynamic. How Chloe would react to you. She was just as excited about your arrival as we were. You brought so much joy to our lives and hope of having the family we have been wanting and trying to plan for. It's just so amazing that you're not with me anymore, it hurts more than anything has ever hurt before in my life. So sudden, so dream shattering. And I wonder if my tears will ever stop. If I'm not distracted you are the only thing I can think about and it breaks my heart each time. I will pray for you as well because you never got to meet your beautiful sister or wonderful daddy. But I feel like I truly met you the day I found out that I was pregnant and for that I am very thankful.
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The day we found out that you would no longer be with us, I was crying in my mom's arms and Chloe looked at me and said "Mama, you sad?" and I said "Yes Chloe, I am sad" to which she replied, "Oh, I'm sorry, you'll be ok". And she is right, I'll be ok.

Weekend Fun

Chloe the little artist:)

This evening Chloe had a blast making some art work that eventually led to a sleeve of tattoos!

Friday afternoon Uncle Rich treated Chloe and I out to lunch at our favorite place, Noodle Zoo. We enjoyed going out to eat and having the company! We took it easy for the weekend, not much to talk about until Sunday afternoon when the new Mr. and Mrs. came over for lunch! We had a great time hearing all the stories, asking a bazillion questions and seeing the amazing pictures of their trip. We are so excited to have Rebecca become part of the family (officially)! Above is Chloe enjoying the cake we made for the celebration.

Wednesday Fun

Say Cheese. We had a fun, low key day together.

In the zone playing with frogger and Belle.

Chloe wanted to pose with frogger this afternoon for a picture:)
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Today we went to story time at the library and Chloe had a great time and was very well behaved! Afterwards Chloe was looking forward to getting the mini van washed. She likes it when they spray it down but then her eyes get huge while we are going through the

wash and then she relaxes and likes it again when they are wiping it down. It's quite an experience for her but she continues to look forward to going to the car wash:)

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Chloe's latest comedy antics are when anyone calls her a nickname she corrects them. For example when Gramma S. called her Angel, Chloe quickly said, "I'm not Angel, I'm Chloe" with a very serious tone to her voice. And again yesterday when Rich called her Pokey, she said, "I'm not Pokey, I'm Chloe" Gotta love it:)

Backyard Adventures!

This morning we headed out to Backyard Adventures. It's an indoor play area, they have a bunch of those really nice, wooden swing sets, a basketball court and lunch room for the kids to enjoy. We met up with Chloe's friends Kelsey and Marissa, they all have such a fun time playing together. And a new friend, Josephine, that Chloe has gymnastics with. The girls had a blast playing together this morning. Chloe played there for close to 2 1/2 hours and she probably could have stayed longer if I would have let her. Then when we got home we had a fun afternoon visit with Uncle Rich. It's always a treat to have people come over during the week, during the day:)

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We would like to send out a big congratulations to Uncle Tyler and (officially now:) Aunt Rebecca who got married yesterday in Hawaii!!! We are so happy for you and can't wait to celebrate with you:)