Rearranging

Thats right, the Heine house is going through some rearranging and redecorating.  We didn't really plan ahead and take a before picture, but it was essentially exactly opposite of this.  The tv cabinet was in the corner where the chair is in this picture and the couch was on the long wall on the left with the loveseat making an L.  Anyways, we have been wanting to rearrange this living room for a while, because we thought this layout would open up a lot of space (and we were right!).  It has taken us a lot longer than we would have liked, but thats what happens when we are short one income...it took a little more planning and saving, but it was worth it!  The bookshelves next to the tv stand are new and we also ordered a new couch, but it will not be delivered for 6 weeks or so!  So, here is the unfinished product, what we have as of right now.  There are still many changes that we will make, including moving the bench by the fireplace.  That is our protector/distractor to keep Reegan from playing by and with the fireplace.  Were working on it...

One of our goals was to open up a space so that Reegan could have a play area.  There is a lot more space than we expected.  She loves it!  Reegan has also been doing a pretty good job of putting her toys and books back on the bookshelf when we ask, that task is going to take a long time to master :)

Still a work in progress, but I think it looks really nice. 

One project done, one hundred thousand more to go! :)

School Update!!!

After a loooong 10 plus months, I am almost finished!  I started my last term today and tomorrow is my first day of capstone (I'll explain that in a minute).  I am so excited to be nearing the end, but terrified at the same time.  It has been over 2 years since I have had a real, grown up, full-time job and now it is time for me to start looking again and finally contribute to the household budget again...Jason will be so excited!  6 weeks from now I will be focusing on passing boards and finding a job, BUT there will be no more papers, studying research articles and studying for tests (minus boards...) this means that I can focus on better things, like my house, friends, and most important my family that has been a tad neglected when I leave for an afternoon of studying.  Poor Jason has taken on more than his fair share of household, dog and daughter responsibilities lately. 

After weeks of anxiously waiting for capstone placement, last Tuesday night the email was sent!  I got my first choice which is....Labor and Delivery at Overland Park Regional!!!  I was/am so excited for this experience.  I spent a couple of days in this unit a couple of months ago and loved it!  I saw a couple different births and look forward to more!  I am assigned a nurse on this unit and work the same shifts that she works.  By the end of the 6 weeks, the goal is that I care for her entire patient load as well as feel comfortable with protocols, calling doctors, making decisions, etc.  I am excited, but nervous for this new opportunity (and for my first 12 hour shift, thats a long time!). 

Prayers please!  With this change is schedule comes changes in the daily routine here.  I know days when I "work" I am going to leave before Reegan wakes up and possibly return home after she goes to bed, I know this is going to be hard on me and I am not sure how she will react to it.  Jason is also going to be on his own multiple nights to fix his dinner as well as dinner, bath, and bedtime for Reegs.  I know he'll do great, but it's different than what we are used to!  I promise to keep everyone posted, maybe I'll have some fun stories to share...

Baby's First Haircut

We hit another milestone last weekend.  Reegan's first haircut.  She has needed this cut for a while now, her hair was finally long enough to put it in a ponytail (well, the top anyway).  It's so fine, so I wasn't sure how it would turn out.  

From the moment we arrived, Reegan had fun.  She was running around and throwing balls!  I can see where this entry way could be troublesome when she is older and "needs" everything!

Reegan did great!  We were really nervous, because she does not like people messing with her and really does not like strangers.  Putting the cape on was a little traumatic, but she quieted down once I bribed her with cherrios...yep, we are those people!  

The decision about what she wanted to do with her hair was a puzzling one...

One of the highlights of the trip for me was they showed me an easy way to put her hair up, but keep the ponytail from sticking straight into the air.  She is also not supposed to be able to take it out, however, after this weekend I know that she can :) 

We are so proud of her!  She is getting so big and this new haircut makes her look so much older, at least that is what we keep getting told.  Slow down baby!

Father's Day!

Reegan doesn't know what Daddy Day is, so I tried to make it special for her as well as Jason.  While these 2 slept in this morning, I went out to do a couple of errands and came back with a special breakfast, donuts!  It is a very rare occasion for us to eat donuts, but Jason loves them, so I caved...Reegan now also loves them!

Yes, we stripped her down in order to save some messy from the laundry.  Reegan also loves to "cheers" with drinks, forks, etc.

I think in this picture they are telling me this is the best morning ever!!!  How cute are they both!   FYI, Bella always lays as close to Reegan while she eats as we let her...notice the roundness of her belly :)

After breakfast and a shower, we headed to church.  Then it was a quick nap before we headed to my parents house for a celebration.  One of the many favorite activities for the day was playing the piano.  Reegan also makes this face which I LOVE.  We call it her cheesy grin and she does it ALL the time!  How cute is she???  Look at that crinkled nose!!!  I know, I biased.

More fun playing...

I feel very fortunate to have some amazing men in my life and I am glad that Reegan gets to experience them as well!

This sums it all up!

Baby Buds

Today we had a day of Reegan and friends.  It started off with a playdate at the great mall with Cade.  The kids ran around, ate snacks and looked at books. 

I think Cade is trying to compliment Reegan on her pretty flower shirt...

This evening we went to see our friends, the Schneiders and their new baby boy.  Collin Matthew was born Wednesday and is just precious!  Reegan was very interested in him.  She kept wanting to touch his arm and did not like it when he cried.  She cried along with him and wanted to make sure he was OK.

She was also very interested in the stairs.  Our babygate at home keeps her from playing on the stairs, so she likes to take advantage of stairs when she can.  Our guess is she went up and down this particular set of stairs somewhere between 15-20 times.  :)

Isn't this precious?  She loved looking at him!

We had such a fun day!  We've got a busy weekend ahead as well, so hopefully we'll have lots of good pics to share too!

16 Months Old!

It is unbelievable to think that yet another month has gone by!  Our little girl is getting bigger and bigger both in physical size, and in personality/attitude every day!  She is certainly becoming quite a sassy little toddler.  Reegan has learned to say "no" and LOVES to use the word as much as possible.  :(  We will ask her to bring us something or to sit down while she's on the couch (a new favorite stunt...) or to give hugs, and she just says "no, no, no, no, no..."  She'll go on and on too!  The good news coming out of her new-found independence is that Reegan can do a lot of things herself now.  If she's not in a "no" kind of mood, we can ask her all kinds of things and is willing to help out.  :)  Having a toddler really is a joy and provides us with plenty of laughs for sure.  Reegan cracks us up every single day and is so much fun to play with!!!

Since Reegan has found a love for slides, and since the weather this weekend was PERFECT - we decided it would be a fun 16-month birthday "gift" to let her run around at a nearby playground for as long as she wanted.  She had a blast!

She is serious about this slide.  She has this thing all figured out - climbs the stairs, walks over, sits down...

...and down she goes.  :)

This playground set had a ship theme and Reegan really enjoyed looking through the "portholes."

We thought we would also try out the swings.  Reegan has been on them before, but looked absolutely terrified the whole time.  :(  But today was a new day, so we figured we would try again...

It took a bit of coaxing by dad, but we got a few smiles out of her and I don't think she completely hated it.  Success!

We had a lot of fun at the playground.  In addition to saying no to EVERYTHING she has also become the picky eater.  If we offer her something that she doesn't want, she pushes the fork away or picks it up from her tray and moves it far away from her...oh independence is a joy :)

Play time

Jason had the day off and was taking care of our little one, so I decided to leave class a tad early...I usually don't skip class, but I think about it often, so today I left at lunch :)  Our origional plan was to go to Deanna Rose Farmstead, but of course, today was the hottest day of the year so far.  Instead, we headed to the mall for their indoor play area and carousal.  We have gone to this play area before, but its been awhile.  This time she was old enough to really enjoy herself and was one busy girl!  (notice the hair, it is finally long enough to put into a ponytail :) First up was the slide. 

 Next was the car tunnel.  So exciting!

 Probably her favorite activity was sitting in the car and "driving."  She couldn't get enough!

This was Reegan's first time on a carousel.  She did not have the reaction we were expecting.  It was very scary at first and she didn't want to sit on the horse.

She even tried to climb off...

 After a couple of laps, she decided it wasn't so bad...

 I think I may venture to say that by the end, she may have enjoyed herself...a little

It is days like this that I wish school was over and I could spend more time with the little one!  She is growing up SO fast, I can hardly believe it.  Where is my teeny, tiny baby? 

Hospital Hill 5K

Saturday morning, bright and early, we left for Crown Center to run Hospital Hill.  It was an early morning, you can tell by our sleepy eyes at 6:00am.  It was also hot, 6am and it was already 80 degrees!  

There are no strollers allowed on the course, so while my Dad, Jason, Jeff, and I ran the 5K, my mom and Reegan enjoyed the outdoors.  Reegan watched the fountains, but was not ready to get in like a bunch of the other kids out there.  I think next year she'll probably be ready!

After the race...

Reegan loves holding both of our hands while we walk from place to place and I think it may be because she likes to be swung in the air.  Look at her face :)

We survived!  It was a tough, hilly course, but I am sure we'll be out again next year.