Kinda Like Twins

It's so strange who kids look like. I get comments so drastically different about ours that it is kinda funny. "They look just like their Dad!" (well - actually they don't - but the blond hair does throw you that way). "Wow - where do they get their blond hair" (aka - they look much like you (mommy) but with blond hair and since I'm a complete stranger saying this - I don't realize that their Daddy had VERY blond hair when he was little). All of these comments are humorous to me and I'm sure I do it to others as well.

ANYWAY...this all leads in to something that sorta baffles me.

This is me (Shana) at 15 mos old This is Alayna at 10 mos old. I remember thinking - wow - her hair is following the same hair pattern that I had. Crazy!

BUT THEN I look at these pictures This is Molly. She is Grant and Alayna's 3rd cousin (her Mommy and Brian are cousins). Molly is almost exactly 2 years older than Alayna. I remember looking at the picture above with Molly and Grant right after it was taken and thinking - "wow - they sorta look a like".But now I have Alayna and she looks SOOO much like Molly at all her different stages. In the picture above Molly was about 17 mos old. Below is Alayna at 17 mos old.

This is Molly at 2.5 yrs. Below is Alayna at 18.5 mos - however her hair has grown a bit longer than in previous pics.

Quiz time - in the picture below...The little girl on the left back part of the wagon - Molly or Alayna?

MOLLY!

Here are the two little ladies posing with me this past July. Molly is 3.5 and Alayna is 18 mos. Maybe not twins BUT I still think they look a lot alike.

Now for the twist that continues to 'get' me. Jen (Molly's Mom) and I were due with Molly and Briana within days of each other. After we lost Briana, I remember being so happy when Molly was a girl because I thought it would be one way I would always sorta know what Briana would be doing at that age - what a little girl her age would like to do, about how big she would be, what she would "look" like, etc. I guess I never really realized how much in fact they really could look a like until now. I know it's just a possibility. I mean - she could also have my dark hair and Brian's curls and look totally different. I wish I could have a glimpse once a year or so at what she would look like. For now I don't know...but sometimes...I just imagine.

3rd Half Marathon

Sept 19 I ran my 3rd half marathon - Fox Cities Community. It was great! I ran for a personal record of 1hr 43 min and 55 sec. The run felt good, but I definitely pushed myself.

Half my fan base :) THANKS for coming guys!

In action

The unofficial results

Official results in the paper said:

Overall place: 291 out of 2862

Division place: 19 out of 340

Gender place: 75 out of 1835

Time: 1:43.55

Pace: 7:56

The weather was great and again - a big thanks to those out cheering me on. It REALLY means a lot - I couldn't do it without you! Especially Brian...thanks honey :) The cheers on race day are awesome, but there's a lot that goes into getting to race day - and I couldn't do that without you.

JDRF Walk for a Cure

Last weekend we attended JDRF's Walk for a Cure at the Milwaukee Co Zoo. We did the walk with Brian's college roommate Greg and his family. Their little boy - Ethan (who is 6) - has Type 1 Diabetes. Doesn't sound like a lot of fun to deal with this day after day so hopefully a cure will be found soon! Because of MANY generous donations - we were able to raise over $3300 this year. THANKS to ALL! Brian's pink pants, green shirt and wig were pretty classy!

First thing when we got out of the car. Brian didn't even have Grant out of his carseat yet and a little girl in the parking lot was commenting "....look at those pink pants and green shirt"

Ethan & Grant - buddies. Ethan is a very sweet kid - he's great!

Lunch time!!!

Ethan...the boy this is all for!!!! :)

Quite a team! :)

Thanks for having us on your team Ethan! How do you think Brian can top this next year???

60 Years

60 Years of Marriage for Grandpa and Grandma. WOW!

Vacuum

I'm not quite sure how I feel about the vacuum these days. I don't mind it....like I used to...but I still go a little nutty when I see it. Usually I can't stop talking about it if it is in sight (so it lives in the basement). BUT - I do like to help now...lucky Mommy :)

Bolleyball

Aunt Sheila taught me how to play bolleyball (aka - volleyball) last week one night. So when I found out she was going to play beach volleyball - I had to go watch. Bolleyball was fun and all, but Alayna and I also had a lot of fun just playin' in the sand :)

"Wow - that net is pretty high. You really have to get the ball OVER it?"

"MOON! Do you guys see it?"

Fun for all!

Aunt Sheila's SKILLS!

19 Months

Sept 15 I turned 19 mos old. CRAZY! I'm a lot of fun these days if I do say so myself. I'm spunky as ever though - so that's a little challenging for my parents at times :) (HEHE) I talk a TON. I will repeat just about anything you ask and identify a lot as well. Mommy can't count the number of words anymore. I even do phrases..."thank you mommy", etc. I will tell you when I am "all done" eating. Whether I have eaten everything on my plate or 3 bites - I mean what I say. Sometimes Mommy will ask me to take a couple more bites of something, but I shake my head and start handing her things off my tray - first my plate, then silverware, then cup. Now I try my best to wait until Mommy cleans me up before I take my bib off...sometimes it is still hard though, but for the most part I no longer rip it off and throw it on the floor.



What am I up to?
- Size 3 diapers
- Clothes sizes - growing out of 12-18s, but 18-24s are a bit big yet. It's sorta nice the seasons are changing though so I can just switch over all my wardrobe to the next size
- Not getting any new teeth right now
- Taking about a 3 - 3.5 hr afternoon nap. Morning nap is gone, unless we happen to be in the car in the mid morning - I usually nod off then.
- Bedtime is between 730 and 8
- I LOVE socks and shoes (especially my crocs b/c I can get them on myself sometimes and lately my white "church" shoes and some brown ones that are much too small)
- I still LOVE to carry around multiple bags, purses, buckets, etc
- I sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star all the time
- I can pretty much sing the whole ABC's...you may not be able to understand all the letters, but you recognize the whole tune
- The other day mommy said 1, 2 and I counted 3 - 10 and only skipped 9 :)
- Love bath time and playing outside (especially sand)
- Favorite toys - building blocks, anything I can carry around (cars, foam bath fish, etc), play dough (I'm better about not eating it now)

Overall I'm a pretty happy girl...Love to you all!

Hide & Seek

Do you think they will find me?

(Grant playing Hide & Seek with Daddy and Alayna.

90 Years

Great Grandma turned 90 years old on Sept 11. There was a party in her honor. She's a great lady to know and has an amazing outlook on life. So glad she is our Great Grandma. Hope you had a wonderful day Grandma!

Photo Shoot - Mommy Style

So - when we were camping (Labor Day weekend) - we found this really cool tree at the park. We fit in it just perfect. Too bad we didn't have a better photographer there to capture some great shots. Oh well - we had fun :)

Alayna's 18 Mo Pics

Things started a little slow - but turned out great :)