Las Vegas: Pics & People Watching

Oh, the pictures I could have shared if only I had a tiny, discreet camera to take pictures of all the interesting people we saw in Vegas. Dad, we found where all the 'odd' people were hiding in Vegas! Since I don't have pictures, I will have to describe a few of the things we saw while out and about in Vegas.

First, a girl fashionable dressed in black boots, black legwarmers, black tights, and, I'm sure you guessed it....a large red Mickey Mouse sweater! I wouldn't wish to be caught dead in a Mickey Mouse sweater, and I won't even be dressing Penelope in many Mickey Mouse things. However, after seeing a few more Mickey Mouse wearable items, I came to the conclusion that it must be a trend amongst those of Asian descent.

Next, we were in Ceasars Forum, a large mall on the Las Vegas Strip, where I saw three older men pushing a baby carriage and tending to a little baby. These men were dressed in some sort of middle-east looking garb, complete with turbans and beards. Maybe some caucasion men I know will take a lesson from this, and tend to the children while their wives get in some retail therapy.

And then, the highlight of Penelope's trip: I was sitting down on a bench taking a break, when I saw her eyes light up and stare intensely in one direction. I looked where she was looking, and there was a young guy standing there. Nothing exciting, but when Penelope still seemed enthralled with him, I took a second look. This time, he opened his mouth and smiled at her, and when he opened his mouth, it was like there was flashing police lights in his mouth. I don't know how else to describe it. He must have had some sort of fake teeth that flashed lights. Sorry, I'm not up to date on my urban-bling, but that's my best guess. Anyhow, Penelope thought that was about the neatest thing she had ever seen.

While trying to find an Ihop in Vegas, Penelope screamed as we drove. As soon as we got out, she was fine of course, just chilling in her carseat.

Wayne and Penelope (sleeping) watching the fountain show at the Bellagio. The fountains danced in sync with Christmas music.

Wayne & P at the Trevi Fountain, in front of Ceasars Forum.

Walking near Excaliber Hotel.

That is about the extent of our exciting Christmas trip. We are now home relaxing for a few days before the New Year.

An apdate on Penelope's sleeping schedule. We have tried to make a few changes, including trying to get her to nap more and having her go to bed earlier, and she has been sleeping a lot better. Plus Wayne has helped a lot since he hasn't had to work. So here's hoping for a New Year as normally functioning human beings!

Vacation

Wayne had some vacation to use up this year, so he has has had the last week off. We didn't really know what to do and tossed around a lot of ideas. We didn't come up with anything too exciting, but had a great time. First we drove to Salt Lake, saw our friends Gary & Marsha, and did some shopping. Then we went to see the cousins.
Rexi & Penelope didn't get enough time together, but here they are snuggling.

Wayne, Logan, Jaxon & Jentri having some fun.

Penelope & Jaxon

Then we drove south. Here is some pretty scenery near Bryce Canyon.

Penelope & Dad at Bryce Canyon visitors center.

Then we drove to Las Vegas to relax in a nice hotel and see some sites. Here Wayne was making Penelope giggle very loudly. It was pretty cute.

Wayne & Penelope taking a break in the car.

The girls heading out to shop.

One day we drove down to see the Hoover Dam.

Intake towers

Memorial at the top.

A plaque that says something about this dam being one of the seven civil engineering wonders of the United States. I overheard a man saying "hmm, I thought the Great Barrier Reef would be one of the seven." OK.......

The pretty bridge that the highway is on.

I like these tree/cactus/bush things that are along the road home. Normally I would have something snarky to say about my husband never stopping for me to take pictures and that all my pictures are blurry, BUT, this time it was I who was saying "don't stop, Penelope is still sleeping!" Update: these are Joshua Trees

You never know when you are going to need a taxidermist. Lucky for us, if we are near Alamo, Nevada, this one is open 24/7.

This stretch of road is called White River Narrows. However, there is no river. There is no stream, creek, or trickle of water. But it is narrow.

8 Years

Wayne & I celebrated 8 years together in December. I was going to put up a nice picture of us from our trip, but only found three pictures that included all of us. (trip post forthcoming) I am apparently not talented at taking a picture of myself with my phone. Here they are:

First picture - I cut off half of my face.

Second pic - Wayne and Penelope looking at me as if to say "Come on, mom!" Wayne finally says that I need to look down, not up...Last pic before giving up - I looked DOWN, adding a nice second smile below my chin. Wayne is still looking at me, and Penelope is trying to get a firm grasp on my hair.

Next time I will bother some bystander to take a picture of us.

The Grinch Survived

I am a self-proclaimed Christmas Grinch. I dislike nearly everything about the Christmas season. Tinsel and trees are not for me. I was once accused of nearly taking out a cheerful Salvation Army bell ringer. But that was during my rebel years. I sent out about 7 Christmas cards this year. Well, not Christmas cards, but rather 'warm wishes' cards, as I can't bring myself to say 'Merry Christmas,' or 'Season's Greetings.'
Normally, the Christmas season drags on and on and on for me. However, this year, it seemed to fly by. Probably something to do with being a busy new mom. I hardly noticed all the Christmas hub-bub, although I am glad it is over!
There is one thing that has become a winter tradition in the Wayshetribe over the years. Dipping chocolate pretzels. I think we have done it nearly every year since we have been married. This year, Penelope joined in on the fun and we had a nice quiet evening dipping pretzels.

Wayne waters the cats

Just a quick picture to demonstrate how Wayne waters his cats:
With a fancy caraffe, Wayne brings out fresh water for his kitties. Even though I have bought him a nice water dish, my glass bowls keep dissapearing. Later I collect several of them from the garage and front step and wash them, only to find they keep dissapearing....

A disgruntled post office user

I have not been a huge fan of the post office lately. Geri & Joanna recently sent a nice box of things for Penelope. I should back up. We recently received a package from Geri & Joanna. It was send eons ago. It was sent before Thanksgiving. When Scott & Geri came for Thanksgiving, they said, "Did you get the box?" No, we hadn't. We had decided the box was lost in transit somewhere along the way, when it finally arrived about a week ago. Here is a cute bathrobe that Joanna got Penelope:

But we did eventually get the box delivered. In another run-in with the post office, I ordered some photo gifts from Shutterfly. They were small, but too big to fit into our mailbox. So I got this card in the mail that says "We tried to deliver your package, but you weren't home." First off, as a stay-at-home mom/wife/eccentric blogger, I was home all day and KNOW you didn't "try" to deliver the package. But, I good-naturedly follow the directions to go online to schedule redelivery. Later that day I get a phone call:

"Hi, this is Larry from the Post Office...we can't redeliver your package"

Me "Why did you say you could on the card?"

Larry "Well, in a perfect world we would, but we are busy and don't have the manpower"

Me "Why don't you leave it in one of the large boxes designated for packages that are next to row off little mailboxes?"

Larry "We would have but they were all full of priority mail"

Me "Why can't you leave it the next day?"

Larry "We are just too busy with all the Cyber Monday shopping"

Me [sigh] "How do I get my package"

Larry "Come to the post office and get it"

OK, the post office is 12 miles away. I guess can manage to come and get it. But it bothers me that the post office was PAID to deliver my mail to me, yet I have to come and get it.

So, when I go to the Post Office, I smile and say hello and hand the card to Mr. DoIHaveToWalkToTheBackRoomToGetYourPackage. Mr. D. does not say anything, but turns to waddle to the back room to get the package. He returns a full 5 minutes later, and without saying anything or making eye contact, hands me the package. I say thanks. Still nothing. Totally expressionless.

Well I am sorry you hate your job/self/life, Mr. DoIHaveToWalkToTheBackRoomToGetYourPackage. But everyone else I deal with can make eye contact, speak at least 1-2 words, and sometimes, quite often actually, smile.

And Larry, everyone else does their job, even when they are busy. They don't make their customers do their work for them.

The Stroller - It's Working!!!

The famous stroller has gotten lots of use this past week. We have had mild weather - sun, no wind, and low 40's for temperature. Penelope & I get bundled up and go for a walk most days. It has been quite refreshing.

Wayne has figured out how to 'walk' Penelope without going anywhere. Our drive in to our house is on a grade, and he can stand outside of the garage, give her a good push up the hill, and she simply rolls back to him.
I have been making great strides to my new and improved post-natal body. Here is a picture of me as I drag myself outside in sweats for the daily walk/run:

By the time I get back to the house, a great transformation has taken place. Wayne caught me on camera as I returned:

Notice the color cordinated running shirt & stroller. The ponytail & smile are perfectly in place. And last-but-not-least, a post-run power yoga, involving the baby in the workout:

Fellow New Parents

Our good friends, Brad & Cori Brooks, introduced their new daughter to the world this past week! Leah Evalynn was born early Wednesday morning: 7 pounds, 10 ounces, 21 inches. Leah and Penelope are about 12 weeks apart. As you can see from the picture, mommy & Leah are both doing great. Though getting little sleep, Cori is glowing and already doing an excellent job at being a mommy and recovering from childbirth. Leah is so tiny and precious, hard to believe Penelope was that small!

We look forward to making memories together as we both delve into the new and exciting world of parenting! Congrats Brad & Cori!

Penelope's sleeping habits

This past week Penelope has had a unique schedule. There are some pros and cons to it. Her day goes something like this:

Starting at 8/9PM
8 PM - Eats and goes to bed. Simple enough, and I thoroughly enjoy the next 5-6 hours of sleep.
2 AM - Wakes up and eats & calmly goes back to sleep. Now the fun begins. I put her down, she tosses and turns until she wakes up. I go through a series of rocking, walking, putting her down, holding her, etc for about an hour until I give up and either Wayne or I spends the next three hours holding her tightly against us in bed while she sleeps.
6 AM - Wide awake!
8 AM - Gets tired and sleeps for 20 minutes
12 PM - Gets tired and sleeps for 24 minutes
4 PM - Gets tired and sleeps for 21 minutes

So by this time she has slept a total of 10 hours and 5 minutes. That is all she will sleep. I have read that infants her age should sleep 10 + hours at night and 4-6 hours during the day. We have tried swaddling, we have tried un-swaddled. We have tried back sleeping and side sleeping, a warm room and a cool room. We have tried cribs, swings & car seats, music and vibrating seats. I am out of ideas.

However, little P. is still a delightful baby. She is happy & smiley. If she is a bit fussy, she goes to sleep for one of her 20 minute cat-naps and then is all smiles again. I would like for her to sleep soundly for the second half of the night, and even possibly take a 1 or 2 (ok, I'm dreaming) hour nap, but I am torn between a) the fact she doesn't need more than 10 hours of sleep and b) thinking of other ways to keep her asleep.

And now....some more pictures!

She's cute even when she's mad...

But Cuter when she's happy!

Coffee!

In my old age, I have developed a taste for coffee. And since Penelope was born, it is one thing that I really look forward to having every day. I may hold out and enjoy it during an afternoon nursing session, or I may have it at 4 a.m. when Penelope decides she is getting up at the same time as Wayne. Either way it is enjoyed.

This past week, I ran out of coffee. It wasn't a huge deal, until about 1:30 in the afternoon. Later, the UPS lady stopped with a box. Addressed to Wayne, I didn't know what it was, so I immediately opened it (what are wives for?). Inside were 50 individual coffee ground cups, that you use in a Keurig coffee maker. A Keurig coffee maker is a fairly newfangled gadget that you use if you want to make one coffee/tea/mocha/cider at a time. It does this in a mere 60 seconds. So, Wayne has one of these coffee makers at work, and I assumed he had boughten some coffee ground cups. However, when I told him about it, he had no idea where they had come from. I was really wanting some coffee, and wondered if I could make coffee out of one of the individual coffee ground cups. I finally gave in and did, it worked fine!

Soooo....the mystery lasted until the next day, when the UPS lady brought us a new Keurig coffee maker! I couldn't help myself but to open it, put it together and brew a cup of coffee.

As I enjoyed my first Keurig cup of coffee, I began to really wonder where these boxes had come from. I started worrying that it was some kind of trial offer that I would end up paying for dearly at a later date. Wayne and I decided we had recently told someone about the coffee maker he uses at work, but who was it? Perhaps it was Wayne's parents when they were here for Thanksgiving.

Long story short....it was his parents, sending us the Keurig coffee maker for an anniversary present! I have been enjoying many cups of coffee, and it is a great gift for new parents, as you can easily get a hot cup of coffee in 60 seconds with only one hand!

Thanks Scott & Geri!

Stroller!

The stroller got put together! It is very large....especially for P. at this age... you can see she looks tiny in it. I love how she is holding onto the straps in this picture as if she is on a roller coaster ride....maybe she is terrified of the thought of mommy pushing her around! Ha!
A closer shot - with a seatbelt like this, you'd think she was going on a roller coaster!

And yesterday, we took the stroller for a test drive. It was cold out, so I had P. in her snowsuit. We just went a short way, but the stroller is very nice and I believe will get lots of use!

Penelope's Conversation with Dad

First of all...Penelope poses for a 2 month portrait:
Sometimes Wayne will be talking to Penelope, when suddenly she zones in on him and has no other care in the world but to talk to her daddy. The conversation goes something like this:
Wayne: Hello Penelope
Penelope: Ooooooo
Wayne: Do you have something to say?
Penelope: Oooooo!

Wayne: Oh, you have a story to tell?
Penelope: Ooooooo!
Wayne: And then what happened?
Penelope: Oooo-Ooooo!
Etc.....


Penelope is strong enough now to sit in her Bumbo seat for about 5 minutes at a time now:

One of Penelope's favorite pasttimes is stretching: