I'd Like to Make Today Worth Remembering!

5. Your horoscope today and whether you think it's accurate.

Your career or life path--the way you make your living or get through life is perhaps quite unique. There are opportunities now, to reach beyond your current situation and to expand your horizons. Your approach to any problem is always original and you could invent things or discover new places or develop new ways of doing things. Communications, computers and the whole electronic revolution are a perfect career choices for you. Close personal relationships are likely to undergo some testing. Now is good for cementing your ties to others. Make sure these relationships are rock-solid--because if they are not, they are apt to crack under stress. Fairness with and responsibility to the other people in your life is emphasized today.

Hmm...I never really understand horoscopes. They all seem pretty general and odd. I don't think the way I make my living is unique...I work at a preschool and teach piano, pretty normal things. I sort of want to expand my horizons...become a full-time piano teacher (will have to get more students) or a preschool teacher...or work somewhere where I can take Lydia with me. Lots of options. I don't think computers and the electronic revolution is a good career path for me - I'm not that great with them. I hope my close personal relationships won't be tested. I'm pretty sure I have a rock-solid relationship with the people I love...not too worried about losing them.

All in all...the horoscope is too general to be completely wrong. I don't really like horoscopes and don't depend on them at all.

Someone Actually Invented One

4. A list of things you're good and bad at.

Some things I'm good at:

• Playing the piano
• Reading (and reading out loud)
• Singing songs to Lydia
• Taking care of children
• Writing essays
• Writing long e-mails

Some things  I'm bad at:

• My handwriting is sloppy
• Fixing Lydia's hair
• Fixing my hair
• Putting on make up
• Keeping up with my walking (exercise)
• Finishing the laundry in one day

I'm sure there's a lot more...but I can't think of any right now.

We had a great weekend! Saturday, we headed out the door around 9:00 to go to Wal-Mart. Brian wanted to buy a plain orange shirt so he could draw a "pi" sign on it and be "pumpkin pie" for Halloween. But, they didn't have any plain orange shirts. Then we went to the music store so I could get my kiddos so new music. I really wanted super easy beginner classical music, but there wasn't any at my kiddos' level. I also wanted a Christmas book, but, once again, not at my kiddos' level. I did by one of my students a Recital book to go along with her Lesson book - just so she has some extra songs to practice.

Then we stopped off at McDonald's - the first time we went out to eat this month! That's how awesome we are. Our goal was to not go out at all...but we wanted to eat something quick before going to SEA WORLD! It was the perfect day to go - it was only about 70 degrees outside with a breeze, so we weren't even almost hot (or cold). Lydia had a blast going on the kiddie rides and then playing in the big play area at Bay of Play (Brian had fun, too). Then we looked at the penguins, alligators, sea lions and seals. Then we went through The Count's Unhaunted Castle (Lydia was scared) and then watched the Sea Lion show. We had such a great time! It's so much nicer going to Sea World when it's cool. I only enjoyed the water park area when it was hot. But, Sea World is so much more than a water park! Brian and I want to go on our own before the end of the year so we can ride some rides. Leah and I plan on going in November together with the girls.

Watching the sea lion show. She laughed when the crowd laughed - so funny!

She loves the merry-go-round!

The big slide with Daddy!

Before she was scared of the Unhaunted Castle.

My baby and me!

Saturday night we had a Halloween Party at my parent's house for our Sunday School class, the Better Half. A lot of people showed up and I met a few young moms. I dressed as a Cowgirl (I had everything in my closet) - my boots killed me by the end of the night! Lydia was a princess, of course, but she wouldn't keep her tiara on. Brian was a "tropical depression" - he wore a Hawaiian shirt and carried a bottle of Zoloft (actually tic tacs that he ate every once in awhile). It was a great party! We stayed after everyone had left (and Lydia was asleep upstairs) and ate pizza!
Lydia slept in until 6:30 this morning and then went back to sleep at 7:30 and slept until 8:30. I used her as an excuse to stay in bed, instead of getting up at 8:00 like I should have. We had to get ready for church super fast! But we made it before class started. We went to Sam's Club after church with mom and Thomas - Lydia loves the hot dogs and pretzels. Then, Lydia napped at home and then she went to Petsmart and Wal-Mart with Daddy while I cleaned the house. I detail cleaned the kitchen, cleaned two bathrooms, and vacuumed the whole house while they were gone. When they got home, we watched both cars (Lydia loves exploring the front yard and got to "drive" Daddy's car back into the garage).
I had dinner ready (manicotti) a little after 6:00 and Lydia actually ate it! Then I gave Lydia a bath and Brian cleaned the kitchen. Lydia and I wanted to watch Extreme Home Makeover at 7:00, but Once Upon a Time was on instead. Thomas came over to hang out until mom could pick him up and Lydia played around until 7:20, when football started. Lydia was put in bed and then I hand wrote 17 invitations for our neighborhood gathering next Saturday! That took awhile! It was a great, fun, productive and relaxing weekend!

17 Month Update

I know I am a day late, but here's Lydia's 17 month update!

Stats:

- I actually don't know how much she weighs - I haven't weighed her in awhile. I'm guessing just barely 20 pounds. And I haven't measured her...so I really have no idea.

- She can fit in 18 month t-shirts, but still barely manages to fit in 12 month pants. I bought her a bunch of 12-18 month jeans at the Rummage Sale in April, but they are all a bit too big...some are even too long.

- She wears either a size 3 or 4 shoe, it depends on the brand. My mom just bought her squeaky shoes and she LOVES them! She always enjoyed stomping her feet around on the floor, so she really loves it now with her squeaky shoes.

- She's still in size 3 diapers. I'm hoping we won't go up another size - that I'll have her potty trained before then. She could probably wear size 4, but I know I'll think they're too big. She doesn't leak out and they work for her, so we'll stick with them.

Routine:

- Lately she hasn't been sleeping her usual 10.5-11.5 hours at night. Up until recently, I would put her to bed between 7:00 and 7:30 and she would sleep until 6:30 or 7:00 in the morning. Now, she likes to wake up at 5:30! And not go back to sleep! The past two nights I put her to bed around 9:00 and she slept in until 6:30. This morning, she woke up at 6:30 then went back to sleep at 7:30 and slept until 8:30. Who knows what is going on.

- She takes a nap around 12:00 until about 2:00. That is the ideal nap for her. If she sleeps two hours, she won't need another nap that day. If she goes to sleep earlier or only sleeps an hour, I will put her down around 3:30 and she'll sleep until 4:30.

- She eats breakfast around 7:00 (she loves pancakes and toaster strudels), snacks around 9:00, eats lunch at 11:00, snacks when she gets up from nap around 2:00, then again at 4:00 and dinner is at 6:00.

Accomplishments:

- Lydia has started saying "car". She loves to say "Dada" when talking to Brian or calling for him. She still calls her pacifier "ma ma" or "me me". She loves to wave to people and say "hi". The other day it sounded like she said "hi Leah" to Leah (sounded like "hi ee-ah")!

- Lydia enjoys sitting on the potty and can wipe herself with toilet paper. We think she even tinkled in the potty a few days ago. She tells you when she has poop and makes it obvious that she is pooping (which is a good sign) and she usually wakes up pretty dry from naps. I'm thinking we'll start seriously potty training in December when we have off.

- Lydia loves to spin in circles and then she falls down and laughs! She's good at putting the puzzle pieces in the correct spot (if not actually fitted in the spot). She's really good at the shape sorter toy. She likes having a diaper on her baby doll. She likes to fill her purse up with a lot of things and then carry it around and say "bye bye".

- Lydia loves to draw with markers - especially on herself. She likes to use stickers when doing art, as well. She has been really good at painting for long periods and is open to all kinds of mediums (cotton balls, paint brushes, paint pens, etc.).

- Lydia still loves Yo Gabba Gabba! She will stand and watch them during one of their songs. When the kids come on and say "My name is         , I like to dance!" Lydia looks at me so that I will say "My name is Lydia, I like to dance" and she'll start dancing. When I dance or skip or do whatever Yo Gabba Gabba is doing, Lydia copies me.

- Lydia likes to "help" us cook and clean the kitchen. She likes to sit in her high chair near the counter and go through the silverware drawer or look at my cooking magazines. She likes to open the dish washer now (now we have to keep it locked) and empty out the dishes - she'll even put the tupperware away.

We are determined to get rid of her pacifier at 18 months. We tried weaning it away starting at 12 months - that worked for awhile, but now she thinks she needs it all the time. She is down to 2 pacifiers (we haven't bought any since she was tiny), so if she looses them before 18 months, that's it. We're planning on just throwing them away at 18 months. We know it will be a difficult few days and nights, but it will be worth it. She'll no longer be dependent on the pacifier and she may start talking more.

Lydia has been such a joy to watch grow these past 17 months! I can't wait to see what she learns this month!

There is Just One Place That Can Light My Face

3. Write about your family.

I love my family. I love that most of us live close together. And now that I live near everyone, I can't imagine living far away. I love being able to see my parents and siblings whenever I want. And, I love that Lydia gets to see all her extended family often. Brian and I didn't have the opportunity while growing up...we know Lydia is blessed.

My parents are Rick and Jan. My dad was in the Marine Corps for a very long time. He retired back in 2005 and moved to Texas. He now works as a contractor, usually helping out/teaching the African military. My parents met at Texas A&M and married right before my dad graduated from college. I have lived in (in order) Virginia, Okinawa (Japan), Hawaii, North Carolina, New York, and then Virginia again. I moved to Texas in order to go to college in 2004.

I have 5 siblings. Jay is the oldest. He lives in New York and is an aspiring artist (painter, writer, musician). Then Marc, who is married to Rekeisha and they have Abram (and they live down the road from us). Then there's Leah, my twin, who is married to Jessie and they have Adah (and they live across the street from us). Then there's me.... And then Nellie, who is almost 21 and works with animals and is currently in college. And then the baby, Thomas, who is 13 and in 8th grade.

My grandfather, or Grandy, also lives nearby. He was also in the military, so my mom has always moved around. 

Brian's parents live in Austin. He has an older sister, Tamara, who teaches in Ecuador, and a younger sister, Sara, who is going to UT. His dad is an engineer and his mom is a teacher.

Dunlap Family Photo 2011

Pfeiffer Family Photo 2010.

Here, Where a Woman's Heart Should Be

2. Where you would like to be in 10 years.

Let's see...in 10 years I will be 35 and Lydia will be almost 11! Hopefully by then, Brian and I would have added at least 2 more kiddos to the family. I would still love to be living in our current home, and I would love to be a stay-at-home mom. If possible, I would love to have enough piano students so that teaching piano can be my contribution to the family finances, and not have to work outside of the home. I would love to have taken a few music courses in college (perhaps get a major in music), so that I will feel more confident and knowledgeable when teaching.

God willing, Brian will still be a middle school math teacher, hopefully somewhere near home. We will have another family car -  maybe Brian could have his truck and I would take the Escape. Our dining room table would definitely have matching chairs (and bench), and we'd perhaps have a new colored cover on our IKEA couch and chair, and a nicer looking entertainment center. My laptop would no longer be my mom's hand me down, but a brand new one with all the buttons!

I have forgotten to blog about our past trip to the San Antonio Zoo with my parents, Leah and Adah. We went a few weeks ago, but it was perfect weather and we had a blast!

We arrived at the Zoo at about 10:00. Lydia was so excited, she couldn't stay in the stroller. Instead, she loved pushing the stroller with Leah's help. Lydia, of course, was more interested in birds, people, and other people's wagons than the actual animals. One big cat actually came up to the glass and scared Lydia off! We left the Zoo around noon to have lunch in the park, and then Lydia napped when we returned to the Zoo. Mom, Leah and I got to go to the bird exhibit and we were able to feed the birds. After viewing all the exhibits, we went on the train ride. And then we left and had Sonic as a snack. Lydia was exhausted, but I know she had a great time!

We hope to go to Sea World this month for Hall-o-Scream. This weekend we are heading to Austin to visit Brian's family.

Lydia and Best Buddy.

Pushing the stroller.

Lydia the Butterfly.

Don't Believe I Caught Your Name, Friend

This is me...with Lydia.

1. Introduce Yourself

My name is Rachel and I am 25 years old. I am married to Brian, and we have a 16-month daughter named Lydia. We bought our first house last November and we are really loving living in it! I work as a teacher's assistant at a preschool and I teach piano lessons to 8 students. I live across the street from my twin sister and her family, and down the road from my brother and his family. I love being around my family and enjoy every minute with my daughter.

I enjoy writing this blog mainly because it's a great thing to go back to and look at Lydia's growth and development, since most of my blogs are about her. I also enjoy reading other people's blogs. My favorite thing to do when I am on my own is to play the piano. My favorite thing to do with my husband is watch movies while he gives me a foot rub, haha. My favorite thing to do with Lydia is go on adventures with her and watch her explore!

I used to want to be a teacher (preferably preschool or Kindergarten), but now I just want to be a stay-at-home mom. Even though it's getting easier leaving Lydia with others 3 times a week, I love our days together. I wouldn't mind being a full-time piano teacher (out of my home), either - that way I can choose my own hours and still spend most of the day with Lydia.

This is me around 5 when we lived in Hawaii.

And Your Li'berry Full of Books!

I came across a Blog 30 Day Challenge and have decided to do it. Not saying that I won't blog about other things (like our upcoming trip to Austin, Lydia's 17 month update and Halloween), but I will try to get through the challenge. Instead of 30 DAYS, I'm going to change it to 30 BLOGS...because I know I can't commit to blogging every day.

Here's the List:

1. Introduce yourself

2. Where you would like to be in 10 years

3. Write about your family

4. A list of things you're good and bad at

5. Your horoscope for today and whether you think it's accurate

6. Write 30 interesting facts about yourself

7. Your favorite 10 people right now and why

8. Write about something you believe in, anything at all

9. A list of things on your walls

10. Places you want to visit, and why

11. The best advice you've ever heard, or ever been given

12. Bullet point your whole day

13. Write about your earliest childhood memory

14. What gives you everyday inspiration?

15. Things that make you really sad

16. Things that make you really angry

17. Your highs and lows of this past year

18. Write about what's most often on your mind

19. A passage from a book that has touched you

20. 5 things you're looking forward to

21. Your favorite subject to study

22. How have you changed in the past 2 years?

23. Something you would like to change about yourself

24. Something you would change about the world

25. Things you do on a rainy day

26. Is it easy for you to trust others?

27. What are features you get complimented on a lot?

28. Something that you miss

29. What you think your reason for being here is

30. What is the difference between living and existing?

Anyway...we went to a pumpkin patch on Saturday that wasn't all it claimed to be. Leah researched a few nearby pumpkin patches that offered more than just pumpkins. This one, at a small Lutheran church 30 minutes away, claimed it had a maze, hay rides, costume contests, and, of course, pumpkins. The only thing it had was pumpkins. But, they were displayed really nicely. It took us longer to get there than how long we stayed. Lydia had a great time looking at all the pumpkins, though. We picked out three small pumpkins - a "daddy", "mommy", and "baby". Not exactly sure what I am going to do with them yet... I do want to get a big pumpkin to carve, since I think Lydia may enjoy that activity.

It was such a beautiful day outside, that Lydia and I spent most of the afternoon outside in our backyard. Lydia loves her swing and can be in there the whole time! She always wants me to sing the Wiggle's song, "Swinging on a Swing"...over and over! I need a new swing song.

We went to the church service Saturday evening, and then to Sunday School on Sunday. I really like the Saturday service and we have been missing attending the services. We enjoy our Young Marrieds Sunday School class, but can't stay for the next service, since that's just too long (and past naptime) for Lydia. We attempted to go to the 8:00 service, but we can't manage to get ready in time. So, we'll try going to the Saturday service, and if not, then watch the service online. Once Lydia's a bit older, then we can stay for two services in a row.

Lydia's Halloween Costume.

My favorite picture from the Pumpkin Patch.

As Clear as a Buttonhook in the Well Water!

I have been having so much fun teaching piano lessons for the past few weeks. It's always very interesting how many different ways children learn. For example, I have been teaching four of my students how to read notes on the staff. Two of them love the phrases you use to remember the order of the lines and spaces (Every Good Boy Does Fine and FACE and Good Boys Deserve Fudge Always and All Cars Eat Gas), while the other two don't need those sayings. Some of the kiddos understand up the piano (and the staff) and down the piano right away, others need some reminders. It's fun figuring out the best ways to teach piano to each one of my students.

One of my best tools so far is the marker board. Brian gave me two small marker boards that they use in his math class (he had extras). I drew the staff on each one with their bass clef and treble clef signs (one for each). Then, the kiddos get to draw in the notes themselves. Plus, there's a cute little eraser that goes along with the boards, which is fun to erase with. All of my students who have used the board love it. I let them choose the color of marker they want, let them erase and draw. It's such a great tool for learning your notes! The only down side is that when you draw on a marker board with permanent marker, and then you use a dry-erase marker over the permanent, it erases the permanent marker! I have yet to find a solution for this. I just have to keep redrawing the lines.

Here's a breakdown of each student and what they are learning and how I am teaching them. (I won't use their names, just first letters.)

• A1: He is about 6 or 7 years old and comes on Tuesdays at 3:30. He recently broke his left arm while playing on the trampoline, so we've just been working on our right hand right now. He took lessons previously with a group, but couldn't remember hardly anything that he had learned. The one great thing that he remembers is the location and name of each note on the piano! He is my best beginning student with remembering where each note is located. Since he's young, his attention span is not very long (shorter than his allotted 30 minutes). We spend a lot of time talking about random things, playing around on the piano, and looking at the turtles. But, I have learned that even though he's not sitting quietly and looking at me, he still knows and remembers what I am saying. He did great with learning the treble clef notes yesterday! Also, as a reward for sitting and playing the songs, he gets to feed the turtles after each lesson.
• A2: This is A1's older brother, who is about 8 or 9 (maybe older - he's small). He is very intelligent and a quick learner. He already took lessons previously, but not in a group, and is doing great! He doesn't like to challenge himself too much, so I am sticking with simpler music so that I can boost his confidence. I will be trying to work with him on playing the dynamics - everything for him is loud! We tried crescendo and diminuendo yesterday....and it didn't go too well. He still has a hard time remembering his bass clef notes - but who doesn't?
• C: She comes Tuesdays after 5:00 and is about 11 years old. She is a beginner who took lessons a long time ago and wants to take them again. She remembered nothing from her previous lessons, but is a quick learner. I need to remember to go slowly with her; even though it seems like she understands everything, she likes to move slow. We just learned our treble and bass clef lines and spaces yesterday and she did great. She has a little difficulty remembering up and down the piano, but we'll get there. She definitely impressed me yesterday with her quick learning!
• T: She comes on Wednesdays at 3:00 and is about 13 years old. I love teaching her! She is determined to be a good pianist and I am excited. She understands emotions and dynamics, which is a plus. We are going through her lesson book and playing "Dawn" from PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, which is awesome. She's doing a great job, although she forgets to bring out the melody in the right hand. She seems to really enjoy playing the piano and practicing at home, which is great. I can't wait to see how far she can go!
• S: He is T's little brother, who is about 7. He is very quiet and can be quite stubborn at times. One time he refused to play anything on the piano, unless he had already learned it and was good at it. It took some convincing to get him to learn songs with me. He is the first one who used the marker boards - it's a great way to get him excited about the piano and to refresh his knowledge of the notes. He is an awesome pianist and has even composed some of his own music. It will be exciting when he gets really good!
• M: She is about 8 years old and very quiet and intelligent. She is a beginner and has no experience when the piano previously. She did great learning the bass clef lines and spaces last week, so hopefully she remembers them this week. She has some difficulty remembering the names of the notes and their locations. I keep stressing that it is so important to learn!
• E: She is about 7 or 8 years old and a chatter box! We end up talking and joking about all kinds of things. She has a hard time sitting still, so I have to keep her busy the whole 30 minutes. We just learned the bass clef lines and spaces and she did great. She definitely understands up and down the piano, although she is still a little hesitant on the note names and locations.
• L: She is my older student, a mom and co-worker (she subs at the preschool). I really enjoy teaching her, since I'm basically just helping her with her counting, fingering, and making sure she remembers all the notes. I introduced her to Lorie Line, which is awesome! I can't wait to get all my students playing Lorie Line!

Wednesdays are pretty tough since I get home from work around 1:45, then teach from 3:00 to 5:30. But, it is so much fun! I do miss having Lydia around on Wednesdays, but I know she's having fun with Grandpa and Grandma.