They Call it "Nesting"

I've been nesting.

This little box we call home is undergoing some minor improvements. My favorite include the curtains I finally finished for the girls room (below). Most of my projects include rearranging storage and  laundering Marie's old clothes to get ready for the baby. I thought I lost her blessing dress to yellow streaking from storage, but Oxy Clean saved the day. On the same note, I thought I would have to spank a certain two-year-old  for coloring all over the computer screen, but the Japanese version of Magic Eraser saved her my wrath. I give both products my shining endorsement.

One of the most exciting nesting tasks was to get some paintings framed. Yes, I know, only "fancy people" frame things. We are officially fancy. The picture above was inherited from my Grandma Lucille who past away this time of year. I hope one of my daughters loves this painting enough for me to give to them far, far down the road.

The picture below is my mother's rendition of the Golden Gate Bridge. So far we have scammed her into painting a place from each major place we have lived. I can't wait to see what she will paint for Japan.

Marie has also been working hard.

On Monday we took her in for her weight checkup. She weighs a solid 22 lbs 14 oz. I'm telling people 23lbs (hey, if she's my daughter she has to start lying about her weight sometime). The Doctor, however, was more concerned about her height. He thinks she is completely fine... but just to double check he wanted to do multiple blood tests and analyze her urine.

The first time she got poked her veins flipped and they didn't get anything. It was horrible. However, I said I would come back one more time and if they didn't get anything the second time I would call it all off. I think she's perfectly healthy. But the next morning I pumped her full of Qoo:

our family's favorite Japanese apple juice. I had her drink a kiddie sized can and gave her a donut before we went in. (I have no idea if the donut was really a good idea, but it seemed logical at the time). 

One poke, and they got the blood they needed. It was still sad. Especially when she asked for her "Daddy" most of the time. So sad. But after they were finished she wiped her tears and even gave the guy a high five. She got a sucker and we were off. What a super brave girl. 

The next task: collect urine from a two-year-old. All I can say is that it took 2 days of attempts, and finally after getting her to pee-pee in her potty... she dropped some ice cream in it. Wow. That was a huge downer. So I kept her sitting on her potty, let her watch 2 hours of "Diego" and sat by her as I handed her water every 2 minutes. Finally, got it and sent it to the lab. Results will be in soon and I can prove not only is she perfect on the outside, she's perfect on the inside.

 

Here she is enjoying a crepe. She really eats alot these days.

 

Keep up the good work Marie!

Lastly, it finally snowed here without melting the next day. But when it snows... oh, man- it snows.

Here is some poor schmuck clearing the sidewalk before the mandatory "get your sidewalks clear for the school kids at 8 am." The rules of living on base are endless.

That is all from the land of the Rising Sun & Falling Snow.