We're baaaaack from "Cation"

We got back a week and a half ago but it took me a while to recover.

It was a great vacation but I wish I had given myself more time before going back to work. It was an exhausting endeavor. The good news is that Courtney was an angel in the car to and from Palm Springs. Thank goodness for portable DVD players. We only had to stop once each way. Thanks Dora, Wiggles, Barney and Blue's Clues!

Now, once we got there my little angel turned into a monster! She screamed at bedtime, would wake up for 2 hours in the middle of the night, wouldn't listen to me AT ALL. In short, she made me look really bad to my in-laws. By the time Casey and I left for Vegas, three days after we got to his dad's house, I was sooooo ready to leave her. I know that sounds terrible, but my nerves were shot. I gave very careful instructions to my mother-in-law on how much Tylenol and how many teething tablets to give her every night. I gave her tips on how to calm her down. I told her to prepare to wake up at 6 AM every morning. The poor woman was probably totally freaked out. So after she took careful notes, (Thanks Nancy by the way for humoring a nervous mother) we were off!

We had a great time. It didn't take me long to let go. I had convinced myself that she was going to have a blast without me and that we both needed this little break. I had know idea how true that statement was! We called the next morning at 9:30 and my little devil was STILL SLEEPING...since 8PM the previous night. The whole time we were gone, she did that. She slept 12 + hours every night without waking up and without any Tylenol and took 3 hour naps every day. Boy, was she making us look bad. Plus, Casey and I were jealous that she was soo easy. So, after a great time in Vegas, we went back to the desert to get her, eager to spend time with our new and improved daughter. FAT CHANCE!

She went right back to her old ways the first night back. Why is it that she is soo much more well behaved for her grandparents than us? Am I so easily manipulated? Well, yes.

Anyways, it's good to be home and back to the routine. She is sleeping and behaving better now that her molars are actually starting to break through. I'm enjoying her again and I am quite grateful for the break.

We've been enjoying the fall. Below are pics from the Pumpkin patch and of her helping daddy rake the leaves in the yard







She wants to be a pirate for halloween, or at least wanted to. After Casey spent $80 on a pirate costume for her AND him, she changed her mind and wants to be a bunny. How do you explain the concept of "nonrefundable" to a 2-year old? You don't!

Latest Courtneyisms:

1) "Pop, you're making my mad"..when my dad teases her
2) "Gamma, my teeth hurt, I have to brush my molars".
3) "I didn't take a very good nap today...my tired."

She tells on herself constantly. I'm glad she's honest, at least for now!