Please?!?

Yesterday evening before bedtime, Sadie crawled into our office area (while I was on the phone) and tried to pull a wallflower out of the outlet. I told her no and continued my conversation. This didn't seem to phase her 1-year old determination, so I moved her away from the outlet and told her no again. As soon as I let go, she crawled right back to the wallflower. This time I picked her up to go out of the room and shut the door. As I picked her up, she started repeatedly signing the word "Please". I had to smile at this last effort to get what she wanted. Today I was thinking about how it will be many years before Sadie is able to choose what is best for herself. Even when she is capable of making some of the right choices, she won't always choose to. This is one of the overwhelming responsibilities we have as parents. It's easy to get caught up in worrying about the future... But for today, I can smile at the simple innocence of my little girl saying please to try and get what she wants!

Sadie's First Big Fall

Sadie experienced her first big scrapes of--well, her lifetime, this week! On Tuesday, she fell while she was playing outside at the baby sitters. I was sad that I wasn't there to wipe her tears, but she didn't cry for too long... She scraped up the right side of her face and her right leg. Her fall was due to the fact that she's walking 90% of the time, but she's super wobbly and she's "Little Miss Independant"!

She's definitely an outside girl! When I drop her off in the morning, she's already asking to go outside before I'm out the door. When we get home in the afternoon, she cries because we have to go inside so I can change clothes. Usually while I'm changing, she gets herself to a window and looks outside. She also toddels to the kitchen door and stands reaching for outside until someone agrees to take her! She loves going for wagon rides, blowing bubbles, and walking to the park. At the park we always have to do the swings, slide, and all 4 of the bouncy animals! Luckily the park is only a block from our house. When she gets a little bigger, there is another park with lots of climbing equipment (climbing is another favorite at this point!) We have yet to take any family walks to the ice cream shop this year, but I'm sure this will be a frequent favorite during the upcoming summer!

Even and Odd

I just have to share this conversation I had with one of my Kindergarten students today:

A: "Mrs. Gorsch can I tell you a story about Even and Odd?"
Me: "Sure!"
A:"Even and Odd lived in a garden with lots of fruit trees. They weren't supposed to eat the apples, but a mean snake made Even eat one of the apples. Odd got really mad and Even started having babies!"

Little bit different then the version in my bible... :)

A Few of my Favorite Things...

Marc and I constantly comment, "Our Bug is soooo cute!" It's amazing to me how one little person can make your life feel so complete and bring you so much JOY! We both love how much Sadie makes us laugh and smile... These are a few of my favorite things (at this moment!):

• I love the way Sadie blows bubbles in the bath tub. Marc and I could watch her do this every night... She makes a big ordeal of taking a deep breath and plunging her face into the water. She makes a quick dip and then comes up laughing hysterically. (Of course this makes us laugh and the whole process just continues!)


• I love getting Sadie out of her crib in the morning (or afer her naps). She buries her head on my shoulder and buries her arms underneath her. She just snuggles in and stays there!


• I love the way Sadie growls. Anytime she gets really excited she starts growling. We say "The Dragon came to play!"


• I love taking Sadie for stroller rides and wagon rides. She is completely content when we go walking. She loves to take it all in. Recently, I've been putting her in her stroller barefoot and she puts her feet up on her little cupholder--it's adorable!


• I love watching Sadie crack up because her daddy is doing something funny! Marc has the ability to make Sadie laugh no matter what mood she is in.

These are the little things that I don't want to forget... the things that make every day life so incredible!

Fun with Cousins

What a blessing it is to grow up with cousins... Sadie has been blessed (so far!) with two cousins in IL and two cousins in CO!

Bath time fun...

Enjoying the swimming pool. (This was an indoor pool, but it was freezing!)

Playing Peek-A-Boo

Sadie & Jaren--born 2 months apart

The CO crew... We're looking forward to spending a week togehter this summer! (We miss you guys!)

Bits & Pieces

Just some cute pictures and notes I wanted to share...

Sadie with all of her birthday presents... She has been loving playing with all of her new toys!


Thank God for the beautiful spring weather... this picture was taken at Starved Rock last weekend. Marc and I were able to enjoy some time hiking. The weather was gorgeous--this is a picture of our favorite canyon. (We always enjoying this particular spot, because you're bound to see something funny--people trying to climb the sides, or get things out of the water... sometimes Marc is involved in the funniness! One time we even saw a mom holding up her child to go to the bathroom!)

What a BIG girl!

Sadie is reading her birthday cards!

Grandpa makes me laugh!

Girlie Girl?

I (like most mothers, I'm sure!) have been looking forward to spring and summer weather so I can dress my little girl in cute dresses and skirts! I'm also hoping she'll have enough hair this summer for some little pig tails... Last night I decided we would try on some birthday outfits. After that experience, I decided Sadie might have her own ideas for what she should be wearing this summer! These pictures are so you can experience our little independent, opinionated woman...


Mom, I really don't want to wear this dress...


Mom, I mean it! I really don't like it!

Fine mom, if you don't take it off--I will!

This is NOT any better!


I can take this one off too...

Much better! Thanks Mom!

New "Firsts"

It's really amazing how many "firsts" a baby goes through in their first year of life! I tried to document as many of Sadie's "firsts" as I could... Although she's already accomplished the "Big Firsts"--first smile, first taste of food, first words, first steps (she's not quite walking on her own yet), she's still experiencing "firsts" all of the time!

I've really been enjoying all of these new firsts! I've also been trying to take in all of the "lasts." Sometimes you don't know when something will be a "last", you just look back and realize after the fact that it was. Today was Sadie's last ride in her infant carrier seat AND her first ride in her new car seat! Here are some of the recent "firsts" Sadie has experienced!


First ride in her "big girl" car seat! (Check out that belly!)

First ride in her Radio Flyer wagon (a birthday present from mom & dad)!

Her first taste of "cow's milk". She likes it...

Lemon Blueberry Pancakes

I just wanted to share this recipe! We really enjoy these for breakfast (and sometimes dinner!)

• 1 egg
• 1 c. lemon yogurt (divided)
• 1/2 c. skim milk
• 2 T. oil
• 1 t. lemon juice (I use closer to a Tablespoon)
• 1 c. flour (I use 1/2 white, 1/2 wheat)
• 2 T. sugar (or splenda)
• 1 t. baking powder
• 1/2 t. baking soda
• 1/2 t. salt
• 1 1/4 c. blueberries (divided)

Mix together egg, 1/2 c. yogurt, milk, oil, and lemon juice. Stir in flour, sugar, b. powder, b. soda, and salt. Stir in 1 c. blueberries. Cook pancakes on griddle. Top with remaining yogurt and blueberries!

Back to School...

So this week hasn't been the most fun. After my 10 days off with Sadie it was extremely hard to go back to school. Thankfully, Sadie got right back into the swing of things. I love my little kiddies at school, but it seems like the end is not in sight! I do love this time of year in Kindergarten because so many of my students are really "getting" reading and writing. This year especially, I have a really fun class!

Another aspect that has made this week hard is that I started Sadie on milk. Up until this point, I've gone every school day during my lunch break to feed her. I'm still nursing now, but cutting out her lunch time feeding. I plan to have lunch with her 2 or 3 days a week for the rest of the year, but I'm really missing seeing her daily (although it's made my day at school more productive and less hectic!)

On top of everything, Sadie hasn't been sleeping the best. First--let me say I can't really complain because because Sadie has been an excellent sleeper for the majority of her life. Traveling always throws her off, and starting Easter weekend she began waking up in the night. When we got back home, it was about every other night. I think she is working on some new teeth and she wakes up SCREAMING! During break, I didn't mind it so much b/c I could sleep in and rest during the day, but now that I'm working, it's hard. Don't get me wrong, Marc is a HUGE help during these times, but it's hard on both of us! We're hoping that we're getting past this, because we've now had 2 good nights in a row!