10th Aniversary Plans

I have been growing my hair out since the day I found out I was pregnant over a year ago. The decision to grow it out was because I never know what to do with my hair and I heard that while you are pregnant your hair grows faster because of hormones. I then decided that after my hair gets long enough I will cut it for charity. Today I was searching for different charities besides Locks of Love. I found this one:


Wigs For Kids

They seem to be a great nonprofit organization that donates the hair to a child that could not otherwise get a wig. Fact: it takes 20-30 hair donations to create one single wig.

My decision to donate my hair is official. The date I will cut it is the 10th anniversary of my brain tumor. That is if my hair is long enough. As of today my hair is 10.5 inches. The requirement is 12 inches. So, on 10 anniversary of being tumor free I plan on chopping off my hair. If anyone would like to donate money for me to send along with my hair that would be greatly appreciated, just contact me or go onto the Wigs for Kids website.

Check out my story Carrie Totushek Photography Blog

Angels are Perfect

Jon said, "What's wrong Addie?"
Sarah Titcombe's reply, "Nothings wrong. She's an angel, and angels are perfect."

Conversation from Jake and Kara's wedding.

1st Pizza order

Jon and I are ordering a pizza delivery. This is the 1st time in our 5 yr marriage that we have done this. I think this is my 1st time period. Wow.

my baby is going to crawl

I am going to crawl

yes mommy, I am next to crawl...

My baby is going to crawl any minute now. She is already slithering all over the floor and will probably have the crawling thing down by the end of the week. I am so excited but a bit worried. We will have to keep that floor spic-n-span! I can't believe she is almost 6 months old already. Gosh this is going by pretty fast. She will be graduating from high school the next thing I know.

my friend jenny

I talked to my friend Jenny this evening. How fantastic!

Posting

I really need to post more often. I think of things that I would like to post so I can remember them and then I get lazy or distracted and don't do it. So yeah...

Jon just went back to school for his sixth semester at NDSU's grad school. I will be so happy when he is done there and he can get a job that actually pays what he deserves. Speaking of jobs. I have an interview today. I'm not sure I even want the job but we will see. It is as a dietary aide. Yes, I have done that before and I liked it. But that was while I was still in high school and didn't have any further education where I could make more money. I have decided that as soon as I can I will order new post cards to advertise my business and place them at bridal shops and baby stores if possible. I can write that off in my taxes next year so that would be great!

Addie, I am trying very hard to get her to take longer naps. I have read the Elizabeth Pantley's "No Cry Sleep Solutions." I'm not sure what I think and I feel like it is going to take forever to get Addie to sleep longer. Last night she was up almost every hour and I cant deal with that. Though I think it might have been because she is teething. I wish those teeth would just pop out of her gum's already. I can see a little bit of the white and they are just sitting there causing my baby pain. She has slept a whole hour today so far, she is still sleeping in the other room! Hooray! She will probably wake up now that I said that though.

I need to take her 6 month photos in a few weeks here. I would say maybe outside in the snow but alas there is just a light dusting of snow on the ground so something else will have to happen.

Oh Dear

My poor baby girl has the sniffles. Yesterday I worked and she wouldn't eat for Jon at all. He had to bring her into my work and have me feed her. Quite a difference from after she got her tongue cut and could nurse for the first time. She is quite the fighter and has much kick to her.

Oh, I bought a sewing machine last weekend. My pre-Christmas present to myself (one of my wedding clients bought the rights to their images). I haven't had a huge amount of time to sew but I have gotten a chance to make booties for Adelaide and a pillow case. The pillow case was my practice run/reminding myself how to sew since it has been several years since I have sewed. I will try and get some pics of the projects up on my blog here sometime.

1st true giggle

Adelaide's first true laugh was at Scooter popping bubbles. It was super funny. I cant wait for more giggles and laughs.

Grandpa

Dear Grandpa Werner Herman Aarons,

Today is the day that we lye your body down to rest. A body is of this world. We mourn your passing but we celebrate your life and the new life you have with Jesus. Your spirit has gone to rest for eternity with God.
You will forever hold a very special spot in my heart. I will never forget what a good man of God you were, serving your family and the community around you.

Love you with all my heart, your first granddaughter,

Carrie (Anderson) Totushek





Werner H Aarons, 87, of rural Sleepy Eye, MN died on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at Gil-Mor Manor Nursing Home in Morgan, MN. Visitation will be at Sturm Funeral Home - Sleepy Eye, MN on Friday from 4 to 8 PM and at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church on Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 AM. Service will be held at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, Evan, MN on Saturday, September 24, 2011 at 10:30 AM. The Clergy will be Rev. Rebecca Krogstad Interment Brookville-Dannebod Cemetery, rural Cobden, MN. Military rites by the Sleepy Eye Honor Guard. Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in Sleepy Eye, MN.

Werner H. Aarons was born on May 5, 1924 in Albert Lea, MN the son of Simon & Agnes (Bjerre) Aarons. He grew up and attended school in Albert Lea. He moved with his family to the Morgan area and in 1943 entered the US Navy where he served until he was honorably discharged in 1946. Werner worked for Clements Lumber for a short time. He began farming in the area and married Arlene Jensen on October 1, 1955 at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Evan. They moved to Fairfax in 1960 and later to the Bird Island area in 1964. After farming for 50 years the couple moved back to rural Sleepy Eye in August of 1990. Werner was a member of Swedlanda Lutheran Church and St. Matthew's Lutheran Church. He enjoyed farming, fishing, singing, men's choir and especially spending time with his family. He was involved in the Morgan Lion's Club, Farm Bureau Board, Palmyra Town Board, Church Council, Sunday School Teacher and the Gideons.

Survivors include his wife, Arlene of Sleepy Eye, children, Calvin (Mary) of Bird Island, Kurt (Karen) of Nicollet, Charlie (Donna) of Maple Grove, Verna (Keith) Anderson of Maple Grove, Colette (Steve) Huiras of Springfield & Colleen (Russell) Danielson of Fairfax, 20 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, sisters, Sigred Hansen of Farmington & Mary Dunn of Sacramento, CA, brothers, Richard (Novella) Aarons of Paynesville & Gerald (Anne) Aarons of xx,OR. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Paula Wildung, brother Charles and an infant brother Derold.

Glory, Glory, Hallelujah

Grandpa Werner Herman Aarons passed away this morning around 4am. This is the song that came to me. He was a wonderful man and I am so happy that I am blessed to have known him. Grandpa got to meed Adelaide a few weeks ago. She wont remember but I will and it makes me happy.

'Glory Glory Hallelujah
(African-American Traditional)


Verse 1:
Glory, glory, hallelujah,
since I laid my burden down.

Glory, glory, hallelujah,
since I laid my burden down.

Verse 2:
Friends don't treat me like they used to
since I laid my burden down.

Friends don't treat me like they used to
since I laid my burden down.

Verse 3:
I feel better, so much better
since I laid my burden down.

I feel better, so much better
since I laid my burden down.

Verse 4:
Feel like shouting, "hallelujah",
since I laid my burden down.

Feel like shouting, "hallelujah",
since I laid my burden down.

Verse 5:
I am climbing Jacob's ladder
since I laid my burden down.

I am climbing Jacob's ladder
since I laid my burden down.

Verse 6:
Every round goes higher and higher
since I laid my burden down.

Every round goes higher and higher
since I laid my burden down.

Not Too Much (plus 1m pics)

Not too much, or is it too much that is happening and I just can't keep up. It is the second I do believe. Things are lacking around the apartment, some things just can't get done in a timely fashion. Though I do try but there are other things in life that are now more important like Addie, feeding her and keeping her happy and loved. Also, sleep is magnificent, especially naps!

Addie is smiling now. She loves when Jon kisses her all over her face and when we talk to her in a higher silly voice and smile super big ourselves. She has been kinda fussy to Jon while I am away at work. He wants me to cut back on hours but I am not sure that is possible for me to keep the position I am in at the job. Also, we need to be able to pay bills though I would love to be home with Addie all the time as long as I had a group like MOPS or some way to get out of the apartment and be around other people. Speaking of MOPS, I am hoping on joining the group through our church. It will be nice to meet other women with babies and just to meet people and make some friends here in Fargo. I like Jon's friends and all but it would be nice to make some of my own friends.

Great Grandparents

Andersons


Aarons

Tongue

Today we got a call from the ear, nose, and throat doctor. We had been on a waiting list for Addie and they had a cancelation today. I happily accepted the appointment without caring what time it was at. Jon had to skip his first day of T.A.ing to go to the appointment. If we hadn't have gone in today we would have to wait until September 7th. That would mean she would be 6 weeks already and that was just too long for me to wait, especially if I was still pumping breast milk for her to drink. I also dont want her to have speech problems later on in life.

I dont even know why I have been so stuck on breastfeeding. I guess I just really wanted to be natural and it has more nutrients that are just perfect for her and her tummy. Breastfeeding is also cheaper and I had thought it would be easier, I wouldn't have to make bottles, clean them, get up in the middle of the night. All I would have to do was bring her to me and hold her little body in my arms. I thought the hardest part would be teach her initially. Well, that's that, I hope she can re-learn how to latch on and we can flourish in breastfeeding.

We went in at 2:15pm and the nurse totally had baby fever, she was all up saying how much she loves seeing babies. The doctor came in and said that yes, Addie had a more attached tongue, "tongue tied" and that he would cut it so there was more separation and allowed more movement of the tongue. He put a banana flavored number under her tongue, which she really didn't like, as I held her in the big chair and Jon held her hands from flailing. The doctor then went on to take a little scissors and do two snips on that tissue under her tongue. It was hard to watch since she is my baby but he said it didn't really hurt.

Afterwards I tried to get her to breastfeed at the office but she didn't want that. She sort of latched when she ate at home later and hopefully will get better. Addie will need to get the suction going again, the bottle lets her slack on that. I hope that she can get it all figured out and we can go to breastfeeding. Then I wont have to pump so much and it will be the way I wanted it to be. If it doesn't seem to work then I will probably finish off the month giving her pumped breast milk and then go to formula. I would rather enjoy watching her and playing with her then pumping all the time.

And That's How it Goes

Faith is trusting in the character of God when you have reasons not to.
- Cory Timboom -

I just wanted to say that my husband is so wonderful! He has been such an equal part with taking care of Adelaide, keeping up on the dishes and so on.

She's Mine

I have a new model, the cats just didn't cut it.



Pappy and Adelaide taking a nap when he and the rest of the family were in town last weekend.



Four generation pic with Great G-ma Arlene Sherman, G-ma Faith, Jon, Me, & Adelaide



Adelaide and Me after her bath.



She's my little model. I don't think I could get enough pics of her.