Potty Training and Pony Tails...

Hailey let me know a while ago that she would NOT be potty training on my schedule, but her own...and it seems that her own time has finally come! It's not perfect yet, but she's really getting good at telling us when she has to "go". Hails spent an afternoon in her very stylish Elmo underpants and stayed dry the whole time. Good going, Hailey!

In other news, she kept a pony tail in her hair for an entire two hours! While I understand that this isn't monumental news for anyone else but me, she has very strongly protested having ANY clips, rubber bands, or barrettes up until recently. Finally her unruly hair can be tamed. :)

Well, that's just a little glimpse into the exciting life that is the Yosts...aren't you jealous?? :)

Bible School Songs...

It's been so fun to have Hailey coming to BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) with me! Here's what she learned today...



In all seriousness, times are tough for Todd and I in our business. I so appreciate that after having had a pretty tough day in the office facing the financial woes that go along with owning your own construction company in this economy, I go to pick up Hailey at my parent's house and this sweet song came flowing out of her mouth. I teared right up and was basically speechless. Thank you, Lord, for teaching my daughter these important lessons and prompting her to remind me...

God is so good...He's so good to me.

Big Girl ROOM!!

Here's the before picture...Todd loves painting...especially the color Hailey and I picked out. :)

And here's the after pic! Sweet purple walls that match her polka dot bedding perfectly.

This girl would NOT stop talking about her big girl room all day long! She even asked to take an extra nap so she could lay in her new bed...

I had no intention of letting her sleep in her new room tonight...her dresser isn't painted and moved in, none of her stuff is in there, but this girl would NOT have it sleeping in her baby bed.

Then I had the brilliant idea of taking a sweet picture of her first night sleeping in her new room. I snuck in...she was fast asleep and snoring as usual...when I pushed the button on the camera, this is the face that I saw!! Oops... :)

Thankfully she fell right back asleep as fast as she woke up and is sawing logs once again. :)

Sock Puppets and Other Fun Things...

I'm also participating in a little game called "Pay it Forward". Basically, I enthusiastically asked to participate when the game was offered by my good pal, Anne. I will receive something handmade (and fabulous, I'm sure...have you seen the cards she makes?!?) and in return I will make something (probably a sock puppet) and send it to the first three people who comment on my blog.

Get commenting and receive your beautiful handmade gift...and then pay it forward to three other people.

FYI: I have no clue how to make anything...I just might use up my whole year allotted to finish this project. :)

Tuck-a-Taco...

Hailey has suddenly discovered how to "mother" her baby dolls. Today she took it to the next level. At about the two-minute mark in this video, she tucks in her baby doll and says prayers with her...she's pretty quiet, so let me add subtitles...

"Nigh-night...take your paci out...dear Jesus, I love you...bless Mommy, and Daddy, and Daddy, and Mommy, and Mommy, and Daddy, and Mommy...who else? And may Hailey wuv a Word (Lord) her God wif all her heart...mind...soul...strength...YAY!"

This sweet girl is SOOO ready to be a big sister...and she'll make a great mommy someday. :)

Sorry about the overwhelming number of posts lately...what can I say...when she's cute, she's cute...and when I catch it on video, it's special. :)

Birthday Girl...

Of course I had the best intentions of posting pictures in chronological order, but blogger isn't cooperating...above is a picture of Hails at the aquarium right around her first birthday...she's changed so much in just a year... :)
And these next pics are of her first birthday party. We had such a blast celebrating with family and friends.

And here she is on the day she was born...what a day that was...
Which brings us to this morning!! We hung streamers in her doorway, got her a little crown to wear, and had a wonderful pancake breakfast. Our morning has also included LOTS of quality time...we've been up since 5:30...I think she knew it was a special day. :)

Here she is...my big 2-year old...

Happy Birthday, sweet Hailey! Mommy and Daddy love you VERY much...that's why we're both a little weepy today. ;)

Goofy Girl...

Here is a video that includes many of the cute things Hailey has been up to as of late...her Bible verses, several new silly faces, and that gigantic personality.

Let me translate for you -

Verse #1 - "How you made me is amazing and wonderful"...YAY!! (Yes, she thinks that the "yay" is as much a part of the verse as the reference. And that's okay with us. :)

Verse #2 - "Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is wonderful"...YAY (I also know that the actual verse says "for this is right", but this word is what she remembers and it works. :)

Can't believe she's 2 TOMORROW!

And yes, in that third picture down she's picking her nose...unavoidable behavior at 2-years of age.

23 Weeks...

Here's an update on my pregnancy so far...

*I still haven't gained much weight. I think I've maybe gained 5 lbs total...which is BIZARRE.
*I am carrying high and straight out. With Hailey, I carried all over. I think this may have to do with boy vs. girl, but who knows...
*With Hailey, I craved sweet...with this one, I eat anything. :)
*I'm still able to sleep on my stomach. You wouldn't think so, because I have really popped, but I still can...comfortably!
*Other than nightly heartburn (that is pretty easily cured by popping a few Gaviscon tablets), I feel pretty good! Unless I try brushing my teeth before I eat breakfast. Then I ralph.
*Although I'm totally wearing maternity pants, I still have several regular tops that still fit and are cute. Hence, the one in this picture.
*I've known the sex of the baby for almost a month now, and I'm finally really getting used to the idea of having a boy...I'm finding that I'm drawn to boy things in stores now...
*Hailey thinks that if she sticks her finger in my belly-button she can tickle Owen.
*I'm SOOO excited to meet my little man! :)

Here's Hailey giving Owen loves...she talks to him all the time. She's gonna be such a great big sister!

And here's the belly pic...remember the scene in the beginning of "Clueless" where "Cher" says that she can't rely on mirrors so she takes polaroids? I'm thinking there's some truth there because I don't feel or look as big as I do in this picture in my own mind. :)

Hailey's final trip to the grocery store...

Yeah, you read that right...I'm never taking Hailey to the grocery store again! :) Here's the "play-by-play" of our fabulous trip this afternoon...

*Arrive at the grocery store, as usual I walk in and grab the least gross looking cart. Hailey has other plans...she's found the "car carts" at Fred Meyer...

*After the most thorough wipe-down I could muster, we're off for our shopping. These "car carts" are not quiet. You know how sometimes you get that cart with the broken wheel that makes loud noises all through the store?? You know, the one that you trade even if it means transferring your purse, half of your produce selection and your child?? Yeah...they sound like that...

*I didn't notice that there was a seat buckle available until after Hailey tried lunging through the "windshield". I then buckled her. She's figured out how to un-buckle. Awesome. She also removed her shoes multiple times...

*The walk through the store wasn't too bad, except for the people staring at me after hearing the "beep-beep" of the steering wheel horn. I ignored their stares...at least she was content.

*We get to the check-out where I begin unloading my cart...the nice lady behind me informed me of the candy and batteries Hailey was putting into the "car".

*Once I got unloaded and put back all the candy...AND pushed the cart up between the conveyor belt and candy shelves, Hailey decided she would like me to hold her instead of being in the car. After the woman behind me puts her motorized wheelchair/cart in reverse, I backed out the cart and got her out.

*She won't stay beside me, wants me to hold her while squirming and refusing to sit on my hip, and when I attempt to put her in the front/normal child seat in the cart she LOCKS HER LEGS making it impossible for me to get her in and starts screaming. Awesome, Hails...

*I finally get through the line and it's my turn to pay...Hailey wants back into the "car", but it's inaccessible...she fusses some more...I can barely hear my total.

*We begin heading for the car...we're almost outta there...Hailey goes limp and won't walk...she wants in the "car".

*We get to my car and I begin to unload the groceries...my usual routine is to put her in the car first and then load the car...this wasn't acceptable for Hailey...she would NOT get out of the "car". Fine...stay in there...

*I'm finished loading the groceries into my car and it's time to go. Hailey still refuses to get out willingly and I have to maneuver her out myself...forcefully...while she was screaming...

*On the way home (a 1.5-2 minute drive, mind you) she proceeded to take off her shoes AND socks in anger and scream...the whole way.

Never again, Hails...never again...

Things I NEVER thought I'd say to my daughter...

"Hailey!! Get Mommy's shoes out of your mouth right now!!!"

Nice, Hails...nice... :)

I drank the kool-aid...

and joined the Grocery Game...I'll let you know how it goes. :)