And it's A.....

....Another week here and gone! After trying to upload pictures about 6 different times at home last night, finally at 11pm mom called it quits. So, we are quickly doing it this morning, becaus I know some of you are anxious to read what I've been up to!

This weekend we went to a wedding reception for one of dad's extended cousins. I ate like a champ and of course, dance like a pro:) The only time I got crabby was when mom and dad had to pull me off the dance floor to go home and go to bed WAY past my bedtime!

Hangin' out with Auntie Lori

Anxiously waiting my turn to dance.... 

Its's so much fun! Clappin' to the music:) 

No mom, I don't want to dance with you....I can boogie all by myself! 

Chloe...sure, I'll wiggle with you a little bit, then back to doing my own thing! 

On Sunday we went to Great Grandma and Grandpa Spielman's house in Hudson for a get together with the Spielman clan...we celebrated great grandma's 85th birthday and honored grandpa as a veteran-some family went to St. Paul for a reunion for Grandpa, but I was overdue for a nap, so we headed home after the fun festivities!

I had fun playing with my 2nd cousin Reed, although neither of us wanted to sit still with my papa long enough to get a picture!

On the way home, we stopped in Menomonie to visit great grandma Marion, who is still healing from her major bone break in the ankle- She's doing well, but of course it gets kinda lonely by yourself all the time, so we visited and that put a smile on her face:) (ps...sorry great grandma I ate all your cheesy popcorn! It was so yummy though, and it kept me happy:) 

And although I know you love checking in with me each week to see how I'm doing...I know why you are really checking the blog today and it's not about me, but about that baby in mom's belly...

So what do you think...boy or girl?!?!?!

I'm (kinda) happy to announce that I'm having a baby.....

SISTER!!!!

(Don't I look so excited?!?! I kind of am, just not a fan of posing for pictures!) 

Here's a good one of the proud daddy! He loves his girls and is great with us, so I guess it's going to be another daddy's girl! He's already dreading the shopping and teenage years, but let's not rush it:)

Baby Update...20 Weeks

We are half way there! Can you believe it?!?! If the 2nd half of this pregnancy goes anywhere near as fast as the 1st, I've got lots to get ready in not a lot of time! Baby continues to grow and I feel her (fun to say that!:) every day now. The ultrasound showed that she is very healthy (1lb. 9oz already!), and me too, but there was a little concern about my placenta and cervix too close together, so I have to go back for another ultrasound next week, just to double check on how it's doing...the dr. said that it wouldn't cause harm to either of us, it just means that I would have to have a sceduled C-Section, to ensure no complications with the delivery. We'll pray that everything is fine and that a c-section is NOT in our future, but if it is, at least we are both healthy:)

The dreaded belly shot...I figured now that I'm half way I better get one of these taken! It's kind of dark and hard to see, but you get the idea...the belly is growing! 

Have a great week everyone!

Love,

Daren and his Dummer girls:)

A glimpse...

Hello All!

This weekend, mom (and I) got a little glimpse at what it would/will be like with more than 1 child! We babysat my friends Anna (4) and Allie (19months...just like me!) from daycare. They came over Friday night after daycare and stayed until Sunday afternoon while their parents went camping. We had a beautiful weekend to go to the park, play sidewalk chalk, go for a walk and be outside...however mom learned in a hurry how challenging it is to go anywhere when you are outnumbered! I can be quite a handful all by myself on most outings, but add another kiddo like me that doesn't want to be put down and she's got her hands full...We even ventured to the store to get a few groceries and artsy stuff to do and she got 'the looks' from people, probably thinking "This lady can barely handle the 3 kids she's got in her cart, and she's having another baby?!?!" :)

In her defense, dad was working all weekend so it was like she was single parenting...so as far as the 'glimpse' goes, the verdict is still out for sure, but chances are we can probably handle this new baby just fine:) As long as I step it up and become a good helper!

Really though, it was a great weekend and we played well together, minus the few times I DID NOT want to share my toys! Anna was a big helper holding my hand and walking with me when mom just couldn't possibly carry Allie, me, and the baby in her belly! I had lots of fun, and hopefully I even learned how to play nice and share! Those girls are really good at it and hopefully it rubbed off on me:) Of course, no pictures of the 3 of us kiddos...anytime mom tried to snap a picture her phone was the handiest thing and they all turned out blurry, so they aren't even worth uploading-sorry!

Today we had a picnic to celebrate my Granny's birthday (no, I'm not allowed to tell you how old she is:) It was a beautiful day at Carson park and the best part of all was that ALL my cousin's on mom's side of the family were there! That rarely ever happens...the last time was probably Easter! I had lots of fun with them...although boys will be boys and I just don't understand how to play with them sometimes:) The next closest cousin to me in age is Collin, and he's 5. He's a great pal and helper with me!

Me & the birthday gal:)

I had fun throwing around the leaves...

On the Teeter-Totter with Collin 

The whole crew...all 6 of Granny's grandchildren (5 boys and ME!) 

The six grand kiddos again...from oldest to youngest

L to R: Dylan (14), Christian (9), Tyson (8), Cameron (7), Collin (5), Danika (1) 

and of course, boys will be boys...we had to get a silly one (obviously I'm not too sure what's going on, or what exactly I'm supposed to do for this picture?!?!) 

Me and Collin, just hangin' out:) 

Dad has officially started working nights while they are harvesting at work, so he goes in around 3 in the afternoon and doesn't get home until 3 or so in the morning:( So the only time I'll get to see him is for a quick good morning kiss and hug before mom and I are out the door for the day...we pray for good weather and no machinery breaking down, so that it gets done within the next few weeks and I can get my daddy back!

Baby update: 18 Weeks!

Hard to believe that mom is already almost half way done with her pregnancy! She's been feeling much better, just very tired, thanks to me:) She went to the dr. last week and is measuring right where she should be and she also got to hear babys heartbeat again, which is always reassuring. We get to find out if it's a girl or a boy in just a week and a half! Look for some kind of update about that on the blog in a few weeks:)

Well, it's bedtime (for me AND mom after the exhausting weekend...(seriously, a note from mom here...anyone reading this that has 2+ children who are less than 3 years apart, I have a whole new appreciation for you!) Have great week and enjoy the last few days of this Indian Summer before it's back to reality for October which means colder weather, which really means I have to wear socks, which I hate!

Talk to you next week:)
Love, Danika



Off to the Orchard!

Hello All! I have about 3 minutes to do this blog before I have to walk out the door for the morning, so I don't have too many details for you, but lots of pictures (which is really why you're here anyway, right?!?!:) Yesterday we went to the apple orchard and it was a beautiful day! We had a wagon ride and got to pick our own...daddy picked most of the apples and I ate them, while mom took pictures. It was a team effort!

Since the last time we posted a blog, we also celebreate my Grandma Dummer's birthday!

Here I am with cousin Chloe blowing out her candles:)

We also had a HUGE oak tree taken down from our backyard because it was dead...It left a few big holes in the yard, so we had to fill them in with black dirt. I was dad's helper stomping the dirt down. 

The only thing that makes me happy these days when I wake up from a nap is a snack...and what better than a whole bag of chips:) 

On Saturday, we went to my extended cousin Allison's wedding reception. I LOVED the party! I was hanging out with my cousins Chloe, Madeline, and Connor, and when the music started, boy did I have fun shakin' it on the dance floor!

This video (hopefully it works!) is just a glimpse of me, Madeline, and Connor dancing...SO hilarious!

LOVE YOU!

Danika (Daren & Jamie, and baby too!)

Busy Bee...

(Note from Mom:

So as I was getting ready to post tonight, I realized that I never officially hit 'post' and what I wrote last weekend never posted! Ugg! So anyway, sorry for the delay, but that means tonight is a mixture of the last few weeks and double the amount of pictures!)

I have been one busy girl the last few weeks! Lots of exciting new things to see and do...

I've started to explore the big girl potty! I haven't actually went to the bathroom in it yet, but between diaper changes I sit on it like a big girl, just in case I might have to go...right now I'm just getting exposed to it...obviously, mom and dad know I'm still pretty little so they're not pushing it, but we're hoping for some progress before the new baby comes!

Playing playdough on a cold rainy day...I like to mix and mash it, and cut it too

Hangin' out with dad in my bedroom, watching the naughty squirrels outside collecting acorns!

We went to our friend Kyle and Christine's house for supper over the weekend, and I got to play with their daughter Emma. They have some BIG buffalo, so we went for a golf cart ride to find them and I got to feed them some cobs of corn! 

Mom and dad went to the Minnesota State Fair and I stayed at Granny's house one of the 1st day's of the fair. They watched as parents struggled to push strollers around with crying kiddos, and they were thankful they didn't bring me. BUT then...they got a crazy idea that they didn't want me to miss out on all the fun, so they went a 2nd time last weekend and took me along too!!!

I LOVED the fair...I only had a few minor meltdowns when I wanted to get out of my stroller, otherwise I was a great kiddo. I ate french fries, a hot dog, cookies, and sweet corn....mmmmm! I got to see LOTS of animals, like horses, cows, pigs, and sheep. Even though I see them all the time, I think my favorite animal barn was seeing the cows.

Lovin' my french fries:)

Petting a baby lamb...

"Oink, Oink!"

 (Do I have to wear the ears mom and dad?!?!)

Here mom, you wear them:)

Delicious hot dog!

My 1st Sweet Martha's Cookie...

Loved it!

We had so much fun at the fair, I even got to skip my nap time...so by the time we were ready to go home, I was exhausted! Even me, Ms. NEVER cuddle, cuddled with my daddy while we waited for our bus:)

And as soon as we got to our car, I was out for the long haul home! 

I already told you about 1 big change of trying to use the big girl potty...another big adventure mom and dad dove into this week was getting rid of my pacifier. You see it in the picture above on my ride home from the fair, but that was the last time I had it at nap time, and Tuesday night was the last time I had it at bedtime. The 1st night I only screamed bloody murder for 15 minutes, then the 2nd night it was 25 minutes!!!! Luckily, every night since then I've only cried it out for about 5-10 minutes and I'm not reaching for where I think it might be!

Daddy had a hard time letting go of it, because it's one of the last things that makes me still his baby, but I'm a big girl now, especially since I have a little brother or sister coming along...if he or she uses a paci, mom and dad don't want me to feel like the baby 'stole' them from me, so it's better to do it now, long before baby comes:)

Speaking of baby.... Mom is 14 weeks pregnant now. She went to see 1 of the midwives on Friday (Finally!) and is happy to report that baby Dummer is healthy and growing, and had a good, strong heartbeat!

I'll leave you with my favorite picture of the week...it's my tribute to the end of Summer!

Enjoying my final piece of sweet corn:) and LOVIN' every bite of it! 

Happy September...have a great week:)

Love,

Danika

SCREAMING!!!!

Yes, I've discovered my screaming voice these last few weeks! 

I scream when I'm happy and when I'm sad. I just love to scream (mom and dad, they don't love it so much! Especially when we are in public places:)

"But I want the Packers to win the game!"

Mom had her 10 year class reunion last weekend so Granny came to my house to babysit. We snuck in a quick picture before they left:) 

It was also my mom's birthday on Monday, August 22nd, so we celebrated with one of her favorite desserts...Red velvet cake! YUMMY! 

I've actually been quite a dessert fanatic lately, as it seems we've had lots of it around! Dad was kind enough to share his pie with me, but I ended up eating most if it, and saving him just a few bites:) 

Motivated to do it by myself with my own fork! 

Grandma and Papa transplanted a tree to a new spot at the farm, so we took the opportunity to take a few pictures by it...Hopefully it grows healthy and who knows, maybe you'll see another picture of me by it in 16 more years when we've both grown a lot!  

We are short on pictures for the last two weeks because we've been awfully busy and just haven't taken the time to pull out the camera. I've been going to daycare a little bit here and there so mom can work in her classroom. Today I started going full time again because mom is officially back to school for a long time! (At least until this baby I keep hearing about comes in March!)

The last few weeks I've cried at drop off because I wasn't so sure about going back to daycare, but today it was the opposite...I wouldn't let mom pick me up and I cried when she hauled me out to the car! (A good, and a sad thing for mom!)

New newest favorite is climbing on anything and everything I can! I can get on the couch, the bed, and the high top chairs all by myself, and I think I'm super hilarious when I do it! Not so funny to mom and dad, and probably not me either if I fall...but I haven't learned that lesson yet. I am a full on monkey latley! I've been doing lots of puzzles and I still love to read books...I also am blabbering a lot more these days, and many more words are becoming understandable. Today I put two words together and said "Up Daddy". It was super cute:)

Although it makes my mommy feel kinda left out, she does think it's the cutest thing in the world what a big daddy's girl I am! We are so great together and have so much fun!

I love to read daddy books...he tells me what to find and I usually can point to it, or I'll point to something, and then he tells me what it is:) 

Update on the baby in mom's belly:

Mom is 12 weeks pregnant, and finally starting to not be so nauseous...although she's still extremely exhausted and tired all the time (That could just be from chasing me around huh?!?! Or getting her classroom ready!) Hopefully those 25 kindergarteners don't wear her out too much. She told daddy that she'd be going to bed the same time as me probably the whole month of September until things settle down into routines at school:)

Baby is 3 inches long and about 4/5 of an ounce. He/She gets their fingernails and toenails this week too! Although they say it's way too early, mom swears she's felt a few little flutters in her belly...the way she's growing so fast this time, who knows, maybe she's further along than we think:) (Let's hope not...I want my precious 1on 2 time with just me and mom and dad.)The next Dr. appointment isn't until September 9th so we have to wait until then to hear baby's heartbeat and know for sure that everything is OK.

We hope that everyone is doing great!

Love, Danika and Family