A little more christmas

On Christmas Eve we went to great grandma alice and great grandpa al's house. Ashley even has her own drawer there filled with fun plastic stuff to play with.
Ashley was sporting her baby gap dress that aunt shelli got her for her birthday and when i saw these tights in the baby gap window i had to get them to go with the dress and the head band just completed the outfit!

How Norman Rockwell of us is it to be sitting around the living room playing the piano and singing Christmas Carols? And I am sure you all know we are nothing if we are not Norman Rockwell'ish :)

Christmas Time

Oh where to start. Since Ashley's birthday party we have moved and celebrated Christmas. Busy busy busy. I do not recommend moving 5 days before Christmas, but it was so wonderful to celebrate Christmas in our new house. This Christmas was by far the best Christmas that I have ever had. Ashley had a blast and we got to spend so much wonderful time with our families. Being in Pittsburgh this year allowed us to celebrate and relax and not have to worry about getting back home. I also got the joy of hosting Christmas day at our house, I think this is a new tradition that we will continue year after year. Ashley got to see her Grammy, Aunt Nina, Grandma Kathy, Aunt Laura, Grandma Alice, Grandpa Al, Gram Jami, Popop, Uncle Jim, Uncle Matt and Sandy and Philip. It was wonderful! Here are just a few quick pictures, I have so many and some of the move I will have to post them over the next few days.

Baking some cookies on Christmas eve after we got home.


Her new kitchen

Post Party Wrap Up

Ashley had a great 2nd birthday party. It was a small affair in our little apartment, but we had a great time. It is amazing what a difference a year can make. Last year she had just started to walk and was so shy, not this year, she had a blast and even ended the party with thank yous, hugs and kisses for everyone! Here are some pictures from the Abby Cadabby party!

Birthday Eve

I can not believe that tomorrow Ashley will be 2 years old. I can not believe that 2 years have passed since around this time of night I was pacing the floors and climbing the stairs and trying to do anything possible to make the pain of labor better! But 2 years have passed and now instead of a little baby we have a big girl on our hands. She is talking in sentences that make pretty good sense and she wants to do everything herself and loves to "help you" do whatever it is that we are trying to do. Ashley's having a small birthday party this coming weekend so I am sure that I will have a lot of cute pictures from that.

Our little girl has been through alot since her last birthday, she is on her 4th daycare (and thank goodness this one is fabulous!) and she was uprooted from her home in Arlington and moved 4 1/2 hours away to the good old steel city. And of course we are out of our apartment in less than 3 weeks so she has another big change coming up. But she has been such a trooper about all of the changes. I am so proud of her. (Even though I caught her picking her nose and eating it today and I think there is a good chance that she drank out of the dog's water dish!)

On a not so happy note, the entire Janovich gang has been sick all weekend long. It started with Shawn, then on to Ashley and then yes, lucky me. I am hoping that we all feel better tomorrow, but especially Ashley b/c who wants to be sick on your birthday!

Stylish

Well, not to much going on here. Since we now live in the frozen tundra that is Pittsburgh we have already had snow. So, time to break out the boats! Ashley thinks that she looks better in them than I do. I don't know what is up with her hair in this picture. It looks crazy even for her. And for anyone who was wondering, Ashley hardly ever has pants on in the house. It is just easier that way now that we are using the potty.

Reading With Friends

Ashley loves her Abby Cadabby outfit so she has been wearing it around the house alot. She loves to sit in her rocking chair and we catch her reading to Abby and Teddy alot. Of course the next minute she might be sitting on Abby and Teddy, but for the most part she gives them alot of love!

Trick Or Treat

Last night was the big night. Ashley's first time trick or treating. Last year she just hung out in the parking lot with her main man Alex. But this year she was ready to go. The weather was so beautiful. It was the perfect night. And, you would think living in an apartment building would make it easy but it didn't. Most of the people in our complex did not participate in Trick Or Treat, I couldn't believe it.
Presenting, straight from the Street... Miss Abby Cadabby!!

Child Labor Laws

Ashley loves to help clean. She will wipe off about anything that you ask and she likes to run her pretend vacuum while I vacuum. So last weekend she had to help me clean the sliding glass door. Just wait till she is old enough to do her own laundry!

And here is another picture of Ashley trying on her grammy's sweater. She is into putting on our clothes and then tripping all the way down the hall.

Pumpkin Painting

We decided that carving a pumpkin with Ashley this year would not be the best idea. So, we decided to paint the pumpkin. Ashley had a blast, I mean what is more fun than sitting around in nothing but your pull ups and painting your pumpkin.

Gotta use those feet too!

And paint on Mommy a little...

Fall Jacket

I love this fall jacket that we got for Ashley at Old Navy. It is so cute. Shawn calls her inspector.

She is also wearing her new hand me down shoes. Thank you Anna for sharing your shoes with Ashley. She loves them and wants to wear them all of the time!

We went to a wedding yesterday and decided that it would be Ashley's first and last wedding for awhile. She did pretty good but by the end of the night she was done with sitting still and being good!

Where To Start

Oh my goodness where to start. So long since my last blog. I feel like I have had alot and nothing to blog about. Work has been crazy, we close on the house on Friday and Ashley is a crazy woman.

First off the house, we close on Friday but we can not move in until January 1. So, I am hoping for a warm beginning to winter.

Here is a sneak peak of the house.

Next onto Ashley. Potty training is in full swing. She is going on the potty alot now so I am hoping by her 2nd birthday we will be out of diapers, or at least just in them at night.

Here is a picture of Ashley wearing one of Shawn's ties. She loves his ties, I can't imagine why but apparently when you are 22 months old it is a big deal!

Long Time No Blog

Well, long time no blog. I just have not been in a blogging mood. I don't know why. Things here in Pittsburgh are great and I have to say that I was nervous about this move, but I am truly enjoying life in Pittsburgh. Robinson is a great area to live in and I love my new company, I work with some great people. I also love that you don't have to pay sales tax on clothes in PA!!

Ashley started her new daycare right after labor day. There was a wait list when we moved up here so we had to wait for her to start. I love it!!! It is a great place, somewhere she can stay through pre-school and very close to our new house, you could basically walk.

The other good news is that we put a contract on a house. Our home inspection is Friday so if all goes well we will close in mid-October but they need to rent back to us till January 1. So, it will be a very Happy New Year's day to me! After alot of going back and forth on whether to build or buy we looked at this house and I fell in love immediately.

Other than that not much going on here. Ashley is now talking in sentences. My favorite that we hear all the time is: "Izzy, er are you?" (this is generally when izzy cant take anymore "playing" and hides from her!)

Game Day

Ashley got all geared up for the home opener. Of course her daddy had 2nd thoughts about why we didnt head down to the game now that we are less than 1 1/2 hours away. But, the Janovich family decided to stay home and watch the game here. I got Ashley her jersey when I was in Morgantown for my spa weekend with my girlfriends in July. Ashley is just not a cheerleader outfit kinda girl, she is more likely to be a linebacker than a cheerleader! Unless the want to put her on the top of all the pyramids b/c she is so tiny!

Ashley has a Slaton jersey b/c it was 50% off at the book exchange. Sorry Pat White, but a $35 jersey for a 1 1/2 year old just isn't going to happen!

Hurricane Ashley

Ashley can destroy a room in .5 flat. Especially since we are in an apartment there is not alot of room. I swear I can turn my back for 2 seconds and she either has the toy bucket dumped or my personal favorite, yesterday I looked back and she was standing on the kitchen table! She is a monkey!

Here she is wearing Shawn's hat and carrying his blackberry around. Oh, and of course her brush. All the necessities.

This weekend Ashley and I (along with Izzy & Savannah) are off to Grammy's house in good old WV. The 4 of us in the car for 1 1/2 hours... wish me luck!

Puppy Love

The new thing around here is to make sure that Izzy gets lots of kisses. And also to point to and name all of Izzy's body parts. Izzy is a trooper, she lets Ashley get away with anything.

Now Savannah on the other hand knows that she is just to old for this crap and usually high tails it out of harms way!

Also notice the fact that the living room looks like a cyclone hit it! Ashley has been a messy little person lately. That is the only bad

thing about an apartment, your kitchen, living room, dining room, they are all 1 room. But, I have to say I am in no hurry to leave our cozy little apartment. Apartment life agrees with me. No yard work (not that we would know what that is considering we have never had a yard), minimal housework, when something breaks you just call the rental office and they fix it, and most importantly, I super nice pool for the summer!

Look No Hands

Ashley has become quite the dare devil lately. She will climb on anything and everything. She is a crazy woman.

Shawn is back from all of his training and I just got back from my friend Andrea's shower in DC. So we are all going to be together now for awhile. This entire summer has been flipped upside down between the move and all of the traveling. Now I think things can get back to normal and Shawn and I can start looking for a house!

Long Time No Blog

Well it has been nearly a month since i have put a new picture on here. There was a missing camera cord, there has been all kinds of traveling and stuff going on.

But here is a picture of Miss Ashley helping her Daddy pack for his business trip to Rochester.

Potty Mania

We got Ashley a potty and she loves to sit on it. Now going to the bathroom on it is another story and she hasn't even thought about that. Tonight, after her bath she decided that maybe the bathroom wasn't the right place for the potty. She was trying to carry it out into the living room. After I grabbed a quick picture it was time to break the news to her that the potty stays in the bathroom!

One Hot Mama

Ashley just loves to walk around in my shoes. Sometimes she goes for flats, but she mainly likes something that gives her a bit more height. Once in a while she even tries on Daddy's shoes. This week and next Ashley and I are here (oh and Izzy and Savannah too) by ourselves b/c Shawn is in Rochester for training. Aunt Nina has been nice enough to come and stay a few nights with us, just to make sure we don't get to lonely!

Little Ladies

Long time no blog. Shawn was in DC all last week and he took our laptop with him. I didn't know what to do without the Internet all last week! Last weekend Emily and Anna came to hang out with Ashley and I while the boys were in DC golfing. Well we had quite a good time, well that is after Ashley decided that she could share. The first couple hours were a little tough. Ashley was not very excited about sharing. But after some outdoor play they were best buds. They both carried their matching Abby Cadabby's around all weekend, but the cutest might have been both of them in their matching car seats and big hats in the back of my accord!

Happy Father's Day

What a difference a year makes. Last year Ashley was still so little at Father's day and this year she is running circles around our house and talking up a storm! I think Shawn had a pretty nice father's day. We had a picnic lunch, he watched golf all day and then we went to an Italian restaurant he has been wanting to try. (but it wasn't very good!)

Things still haven't really settled down yet here. We have been looking at houses, Shawn has been traveling to DC and I have been swamped at my new job as I prepare to take over my first project. But, after this week (and Shawn being gone all week) the trips to DC should be done, Shawn starts his new job next Monday. The house hunt/project will go on for awhile I assume, but for now I am loving apartment life. It is wonderful. No baby gates, no home repairs or projects and a fantastic pool to enjoy!

Everybody Needs An Izzy

When it is time to go get Ashley up in the mornings or after her nap Izzy is generally the first person in the room. Now, why oh why Izzy would want Ashley to be awake is beyond me. You would think that Izzy would enjoy the time when Ashley is asleep so that there is no one chasing her around the apartment. But no, she must secretly love it. So, I say everybody needs an Izzy, part Schnauzer, part Sheltie, a whole lot o'crazy! So seriously, everybody needs an Izzy and if anyone would like this one... you know how to reach us.... ; )


And in case anyone was wondering, Izzy was placed in the crib. She can jump high but not that high and that is a yawn, Izzy's don't know how to growl!

Crazy Woman

Ashley is just a crazy woman these days! Here she is with her baby, she loves her baby and is constantly say "my baby" if anyone else touches her.

Ashley starts her new daycare here in the burg on Monday, little do they know what they are in store for!

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream For

ICE CREAM!! Well, everyone knows that Shawn and I are those mean parents who don't let their child have any sweets or fried foods or anything else like that. But, on Memorial Day we decided to stop and get ice cream. So when we got home I put a little bit of my vanilla ice cream from my cone into her little bowl. She seemed to like it... But, these are not the most flattering pictures, this was after we had been to the pool but before the bath!