Best Christmas Ever!

Dear Amelia -

That Christmas was one for the record books and its not even done yet! Christmas Eve we went to Great Uncle Johnny's house to get together with the Stephens'. We played the dice game....well everyone else played the dice game because I was the only person who didn't roll ANY doubles. Sad.

Christmas morning, I woke you up and said "Santa came to our house last night" you said "No, Santa Work"...but he really did come!

Your favorite gift was the blowdryer...

You got lots of clothes, a new winter jacket and a broom from Santa. Mr Stephens, Lydia and the boys sent you some CASH MONEY which I think we will put to dancing class or gymnastics or something.

Round 3 of Christmas was Glamma and Cookies. You opened your presents (You Baby Can read DVD and lots of puzzles and books!) and then took a nap.
The Grades' all showed up around 1 and we had a great day.

Sunday morning, we went home so you could nap...then we headed down to Cannon Falls where Kiki had rented an adorable cabin.
We had so much fun hanging with everyone!

Tonight, Papa Jim is coming over to celebrate Christmas and then we are DONE! Phew!

Love,

Mom

Talkin up a storm

Dear Amelia -

You have been talking like crazy lately. Here are some of your favorite things to say:

• Baby
• Dank To (Thank you)
• Here you go (all strung together like one word)
• Wotty (Potty)
• 'Gians (Backyardigans...your favorite show)

You also love to sing the ABC's. Sometimes you don't get very far..."ABCD ABCD ABCD WITH ME!"

Every morning, you come with me in the bathroom and get ready. Sometimes you put on make up, sometimes you brush your teeth, sometimes you brush your hair...

Today and tomorrow, we are going to hang out at home since you don't have daycare and I have the day off.

Christmas Eve we head to your Great Uncle Johnny's for the evening with the Stephens'

Santa comes while you are sleeping so we will wake up and open presents from the big guy.

At 10am, we are going to Glamma and Cookie's to open gifts with them and Awesome Uncle Aldo.

At 1230pm, the rest of the Grade come for a day/night full of fun!

We will miss Billy, Pam and Jaxy very much and it will be very weird without them!

On the 26th, Grandma Kiki rented a cabin in Cannon Falls so we will spend Sunday night there. Mommy has to work Monday so I will wake up early and head to work. You and Daddy will spend the day there and meet me at home when I get home from work.

Fun weekend! We will be sure to have tons of pictures on Monday or Tuesday's blog!

Love,

Mom

Santa and 2 year appt

Dear Amelia -

On Monday, we spent the day together. We got your hair cut, did some shopping and went to see Santa. You were so well behaved. You told Santa what you wanted for Christmas. You were such a good girl this year that I'm sure you will get everything you asked for.

Last Thursday, you had your 2 year appointment. We were over a month late, better late than never!

Here are the stats from your 18 month appt:

Weight: 26 pounds 3 ounces - 70%

Length: 33.75 - 75%

Head: 19.5" - 98% :)

Your 2 year appt:

Weight: 27 pounds 3 ounces - 55%

Length: 35" 75%

Head: 19.5" - 97%

Once again, you pasted your autism screening with flying colors!

We don't need to go back to the doc until you are THREE!

This weekend, we are going to wrap presents and do a little shopping. Tonight, we are going over to Sarah and Justins for a Hanukah party and tomorrow we are celebrating Christmas with the Dirks!

Love,

Mom

2010 Blizzard!

Dear Amelia -

We had a weekend of fun plans but Mother Nature had another idea. A huge snow storm, 5th biggest in Minneapolis history.

Saturday morning, Daddy was called off work (woo hoo!) We had the PD Holiday party at noon on Saturday. If Daddy hadn't been home, we wouldn't have gone. The roads were awful, not to mention not being able to get out of the driveway. The visibility was the worst part of driving. We made it safe and sound.

Santa made it to the party too. He even brought you "Scout" the leapfrog Dog.

After the party, we took you home to take a nap. Saturday night, we were suppose to go see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat but it was all the way in St Paul so we decided to not make the trek out there...it ended up

being canceled anyway. So we just hung out at Glamma and Cookies for the night.

On Saturday night, we found out the Vikings game that we had tickets to was moved to Monday night. Until this happened...

Sunday morning we woke up to news that the Metrodome roof caved in.

(Top picture is how it normally looks, bottom picture is caved in)

Inside

After we hung out for a bit, we decided to go home. We scored a snow blower from Glamma and Cookie so Daddy was excited to go home to tackle the snow.

Here is a picture of the front of our house.

Today, Daddy has to work as it is their busiest week of the year so you and I are home together today.

Love,

Mom

Tree Shopping!

Dear Amelia -

Last week we went to our favorite little Christmas tree parking lot in Knollwood to find another perfect tree for a reasonable price. It was cold but you were a very good girl and a great helper.

After we picked out our tree, we went home and you helped put the decorations up. All of the ornaments might have been all in the same spot but you were having a fun time!

Love,

Mom

Like Totally 80's

Dear Amelia -

This is my first blog as a THIRTY year old. I woke up that morning feeling old. Like, really old.

I wasn't as excited for my birthday as I was for my BIRTHDAY PARTY. I talked about it non stop for the last month, not to mention last 5 years. We had a great time!

Daddy and Alex went as "Miami Vice"

I went as an eighties rocker chick. Kia did my hair and I spoiled myself and got my make up done at Mac.
Almost everyone dressed up, which was a requirement and it was totally rad to see everyone.

Next up: 40th 90's party!

Love,

Mom

Courtney Anne Dirks

Dear Amelia Alixandra Dirks:

Today is your Mommy’s 30^th birthday…which I cannot believe. Seriously…where did the time go?

Your Mommy seemed to be pretty content in my tummy so it took a couple of trips to the hospital before she decided to grace us with her presence. Since she was two-weeks overdue so the first trip to the hospital was to be induced (or as your great Aunt Katie told Great-Grandpa Grade…I was going to the hospital to be seduced…funny) and it did not work but the second trip was the charm. After almost 30 hours of labor she made her entrance…and life was never the same.

She was born on 12/2/1980 at 9:51 pm at Eitel Hospital in Minneapolis. It was a very small hospital near Loring Park (that closed in 1985) and she was the only baby born that day so we got lots of attention. The nurse said as soon as she was born that she looked just like the Gerber Baby…and she did. She had big brown eyes and a little bit of brown hair (she has beautiful hair now…but was 3 years old before she had “real” hair) and perfect little rosebud lips.

The doctor that delivered her was this crazy Russian guy by the name of Dr. Yankelvich. She weighed 7 pounds 11.5 ounces and was 20 ¾ inches long. I do not recall the exact circumference of her noggin…but when she was born Dr. Yankelvich asked, in a very thick Russian accent, “if big head-skis run in our family”. The answer was YES.

We named her Courtney Anne Stephens. I loved the name Courtney from the time I was in high school and knew if I ever had a baby girl that was what I was going to name her. Her middle name is after your Great Aunt Anner. If she had been a boy we would have named “him” Sam. In those days we did not know what our babies were going to be until the moment the doctor told us.

From that day forward my life changed…in the best way possible. Being a Mommy is the most amazing and rewarding experience ever. Your Mommy made it easy…she was so good natured and easy-going…well until high school anyway. She was loved by so many people…her Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and lots of family friends.

So here I am, barely over 30 myself, watching my baby be a Mommy. I could not be any more proud of her and being a Mommy is very natural for her. You know this already because she is your Mommy.

Your Mommy is a great wife, daughter, sister, niece and granddaughter too. Your Daddy is a wonderful Daddy and is just perfect for your Mommy. They are great friends and wonderful parents. Papa Jim and Grandma Kiki did a wonderful job raising him and he is an important part of our family along with Billy, Pam, Jaxi, Alex, Tore and of course Cookie. Your Mommy and Uncle Billy have a very special relationship and bond that I hope some day you will have with a sibling. (Hint intended…)

I was lucky enough to be in the delivery room when you were born and fell in love with you the moment you were born. You light up my life and I love you with all my heart. I cannot even imagine life without you. I have been blessed in so many ways…and in the words of Flossy…I am one lucky old broad.

Love Always,

Glamma (aka Amma)

Birthdays

Dear Amelia -

Another successful Holiday weekend. We had a nice time with the Colehours on Thanksgiving. On Saturday, it was Awesome Uncle Aldo's birthday so while you stayed home with She-she, we went to Dave and Busters to play some games.

Sunday, the Vikings actually won which made everyone happy!

Yesterday was Mr Stephens' 55th birthday. He told us not to call him but we did anyway.

Speaking of birthdays, my 30th birthday is tomorrow. Yikes, thats old. The big 80's party is on Saturday!

Love,

Mom