27 December 2008

Alive and Well

We are. I promise. Just busy. And tired. And (some of us are) sick.

I'll be back as soon as I can muster up enough energy and creativity to write a paragraph or two of sentences consisting of more than 2 words. I may even add pictures :)

Merry (belated) Christmas!

Happy New Year, in case I'm not back before then!

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16 December 2008

no warm front

But I didn't have to walk Addi to school. If I would've watched the news last night, like any responsible parent, I would have known school was called off for today! Instead I decided to drive Addi to school this morning - if you knew how close we lived to her school, you would understand how ridiculous it is to drive her. I even had to wake Libby up. We piled in the van and drove the .001 miles to school only to find other irresponsible parents U-turning in the parking lot. I said a quick prayer that school was just delayed, therefore, allowing Libby's preschool to open today and U-turned myself. I had some major Christmas plans. Things that did not involve little eyes and big interruptions. Of course, school is closed today and that means Libby will not be going to preschool either. The girls both cried when I told them. What little nerds we are raising :) So, now they are doing their best to destroy the few areas of the house that looked decent an hour ago and I'm scrambling to re-plan my week since I have a half day instead of a day and a half to sew a puppet theater for Santa Claus. That guy is so unreasonable sometimes :)

Happy Snow Sleet Day, if you're fortunate enough to be experiencing one!

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15 December 2008

tidbits

  1. We're having a "Texas Snowstorm" (otherwise known as SLEET). I was just about to walk out of the house to run some errands when I heard it on the patio. I would rather eat pork and beans straight out of a can than drive in sleet, so the grocery store will have to wait. Good news though! Now I have time to bore you with my random list :)
  2. All these Christmas decorations made me long to decorate more, so I let the girls pull out their pink tree and go to town. We put it on a table, but Little Sticky Fingers can still reach the bottom quarter of the tree. I wonder if I should move it to the floor just so he doesn't pull the tree down on his head?
  3. Many people have asked me if having a son has been any different so far. Except for the obvious, my answer has always been no. But, today while we decorated the pink tree, Levi crawled as fast as he could to the balls. Then he found a bat to chew on and then he bee-lined for the cars. Granted it was a Dora bat and Barbie cars, but he doesn't know any of that yet. I was amazed watching him crawl past other more girlie toys to explore the "boy" toys.
  4. Addi has been pestering me the entire time I've been typing (and now she's reading this sentence...but can't figure out "pestering"). She wants to type a semicolon and keeps asking if she can do it now! I finally said, "Stop touching it! You can't type anything!" She replied, "Well, My Word!" Sometimes (many times) she is too big for her britches :)
  5. I'm really hoping a warm front will hit before I have to bundle everyone up and walk Addi to school in the morning. It's not impossible...we do live in Texas!

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11 December 2008

searching for the perfect pose

These are the pictures that didn't make the cut for our Christmas card photo. For obvious reasons.












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10 December 2008

completely irrelevant because I waited so long

I figured since we're halfway between Thanksgiving and Christmas, about 2 weeks after Turkey Day and 2 weeks before Christmas, I'd talk a little about our Thanksgiving. It's just for memories sake, but we did have a wonderful holiday, so it's worth remembering.


Starting the Saturday before Thanksgiving, we were able to celebrate the 5th birthday of my college roommate's little boy. I still get tickled we are able to do things like that since moving to Texas! It was a super hero party. My girls were less than enthused about the theme, but they had fun anyway.

We left the party and headed to Rainforest Cafe to meet Holly. That was a first for me! I'd never thought I'd really meet someone I met online :) But, she was just as real in real life as she is on her blog. She has a precious family that includes 4 fun kids and her Chris. (I just love that she always calls him "My Chris" on her blog.) Thanks for the meeting, Smith family!


The girls didn't have school the week of Thanksgiving. We stayed busy on Monday, ate lunch with my parents and grandparents on Tuesday and celebrated Bryan's birthday on Wednesday. Thursday morning we got up and dressed the kids in their Aggie overalls (While we didn't really believe the Aggies would end up victorious, you won't catch us allowing our kids to be 2 Percenters (That's just Aggie lingo basically meaning Fair Weathered Fan (Appropriate as it would be for an Aggie joke, I must tell you I didn't learn to use paranthesis inside paranthesis inside parenthesis while earning my degree with an emphasis in English at A&M!))). We ate with my mom's side of the family at Black-Eyed Pea for lunch. The best part was seeing everyone. Levi got to meet some family for the first time and bonded with his great uncle.
After lunch, we hung out at my parents' house.
My kids were spoiled by grandparents and even got to spend a little time with my grandparents, Meme and Papa, aka Mean and Rotten.
My grandfather would have been perfect in the movie Grumpy, Old Men, except it's all an act. He likes to aggravate people and likes being aggravated even more. Addison is too sweet for this sort of game. She just smiles and doesn't usually retaliate. Libby is the perfect candidate. And, so Mean and Rotten and Libby Lu banter back and forth. He tells her she is mean and rotten, Meme always has to interject, "No she's not! She's sweet and precious!", and Libby claims that Papa is the original Mean and Rotten! This mean and rotten/sweet and precious talk has been going on since their first grandchild (me) was a little one. Libby has taken it to a new level, though, with actually nicknaming Papa "Mean and Rotten". On the way to her Christmas program yesterday, I told her Poppa wouldn't be able to make it because he had to go out of town for work. She asked, "Poppa or Mean and Rotten?" I clarified and she said, "Good! Don't let Mean and Rotten come to my preschool. My teachers will be scared of him and my friends will be scared of him and I will have to say, 'Don't be scared. It's just Mean and Rotten!'" The funny thing is, she always talks about him and tries to think of ways to aggravate him the next time she'll see him.
This is where the pictures end because I left my camera at my mom's house on Thanksgiving. I'm hoping I can get my hands on some pictures that were taken Friday. We drove to Tyler to spend the day with Bryan's mom's family. All of Meme's (Bryan's grandmother) daughters and their kids were there. Levi got to meet more people and tons of pictures were taken. We even got to meet Makenzie for the first time!
On Saturday, we were able to celebrate Gracie's 1st Birthday! Again, I was tickled that we could be there. The girls had a blast playing with Cade on the pool table. And Addi was in awe of the diamonds that lined the walkway to the house. They really were Christmas lights, but why ruin the magicical images a 6 year old has :)
It was a wonderful week and a great beginning to the holiday season for us. We are truly blessed to live so near many friends and family.

04 December 2008

Hide and Seek

Levi is 9 months old today. I'm listening to him blow raspberries in his baby monitor right now. His well-child appointment was in the middle of his morning nap, so he's a little "off" today. I was so sure he'd have moved up the weight chart; he's starting to look chubby to me. Even when his weight of 16 pounds was announced it sounded heavy to me. I mean, not heavy-weight heavy. Maybe heavy for a light-weight division. However, he's still on the same, old, 1st percentile curve. His height's in the 8th percentile, but that's shorter than before. As always, his head is his shining glory. It came in on the 44th percentile curve! (I've read before the most attractive people have big heads :) And I would have to agree since my 3 all have good sized noggins!) He got the booster to his flu shot and had a finger prick to check for anemia. Not a tear was shed! Developmentally he's doing well and his doctor has predicted a tooth by Christmas.

(sidenote: I'm having a battle of wills with my 3 year old at the moment. I think I'm losing. Back to Levi...)

This morning I was packing Libby's lunch in the kitchen. Libby was playing with the nativity and Levi was crawling around the floor of the dining room (where the Christmas tree is supposed to be out of sight and out of mind). It took me all of 3 minutes, but I couldn't find Levi anywhere when I finished with her lunch. Libby couldn't find him either. That might be because all she did was follow me around copying me word for word. "Levi. Levi! Levi?! Come here, Baby!"

Have you ever tried playing Hide and Seek with a 9 month old? It's a challenge.

Finally, I looked behind the Christmas tree. There I saw his 2 little feet sticking out from under the branches. By the time I grabbed a camera, Libby was back there with him.


It really was against my better judgement to put the tree up this year. Do you think the older 2 would be scarred if I took it down 21 days early?!

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02 December 2008

brave new world

Levi is pulling up on everything. He's also an official crawler and can even crawl up the stairs. Let the fun begin!

He blows strawberries when he's sleepy.

But, he wasn't too sleepy to smile.

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26 November 2008

this day

On this day, 33 years ago, my sweet mother-in-law was filled with regret and pain and then, I'm assuming, joy. Pain from the labor preceding the birth of her first child, my wonderful husband. Regret from the previous day spent nesting. The joy came from holding her precious baby boy at last.

She wrote to me a few days before Levi was born with a request for me to "take it easy" until his birth and a story of the day before Bryan's birth. Unlike her experience, I knew when Levi would be born since I was to be induced. Like her experience, I started those agonizing hours of labor exhausted* and would end up overjoyed with my new precious son in my arms.

I'm so thankful for this day and the one 33 years ago. And, I'm thankful for the love and patience my mother-in-law and father-in-law put into raising their son.

Happy Birthday, B!

Here's to another 33, at least :)

Par-tay at our house tonight! Get your dancin' shoes on!!

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*I've just tried to link the post of Levi's birth story and can't find it. Could I have never written it? I'll have to get to work on that - what else is this blog for than to record memories?!

21 November 2008

8 months for Levi


My little man turned 8 months old on the 4th. If you'll recall, that was a busy day and not just because of the election. A couple days later, I started to post about his little 8 month self, but ran out of time and only got the pictures up with a promise to finish later. But, life happened and then our computer crashed again! So, I'm blocking out some time to let y'all know a few things about what makes Levi a wonderful, fabulous, amazing cutie pie. (And to help me remember.)

How about a top 8 list?

number 8 - He loves to babble...babababamamaba...
number 7 - He is pulling up on things and can almost climb onto the first stair.
number 6 - He's grown to love food. I haven't found anything he doesn't care to eat.
number 5 - He can get anywhere with precise Army crawling.
number 4 - He's happy on the floor if I'm sitting there with him or he can get to a shoe.
number 3 - He knows his family and lights up when he sees one of us.
number 2 - He still has no teeth, so still no nursing mishaps :)
number 1 - He melts my heart when he lays his head on my shoulder after a middle-of-the-night feeding.

It is a blessing to stay home and raise these kiddies of mine. Levi does his fair share of reminding me that on a daily basis.
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19 November 2008

It's like a vacation every single day

Bryan's been out of town a lot the past week. It's a little unusual for us. He's usually gone a couple days every month, but he's been gone 6 of the last 7 days. Yesterday, I was feeling a little like I'm sure single moms (and dads) across the world often feel. Addi read my demeanor and told me I needed a vacation. I asked her what I could do on my vacation and she answered, "Whatever you want. You would just have to play with me and Libby, feed the baby, cook supper and wash our clothes."

I don't know why I ever feel stress when I'm LIVING my dream vacation!

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15 November 2008

bewildered

Reagan has a mind of her own and it shows up in most everything she does. It is a great quality and can serve her well, but it is also challenging for me to deal with at times. She does things at her pace, doesn't liked to be quizzed, and hears all. When I thought she was ready to learn her colors, she started counting to 10. I almost worried myself sick for a month trying teach her what was red, or pink, or green. When I asked her what color her cup was, she'd stare at me as if I were from another planet or she'd tell me, "I don't know!!" or both. Then she'd count all the peas she had yet eaten. I was perplexed. I knew she had the intelligence to learn her colors. For pete's sake, she learned to count to 10 on her own! Eventually, I calmed down and decided she would tell me what color her cup was when she felt like it. She did.

Potty training was another big issue. I really wanted her potty trained before we had another baby for which to buy diapers. That plan worked the first time around; why not this time? I think we started to potty train her at least 3 times before I figured out (yet again) she would do it when she was ready. I did tell her that I wouldn't allow her to go to preschool in diapers. Long story short, she essentially potty trained in one week early in the summer. Really. One week was all it took to go from full-time diaper wearer to no-time diaper wearer. Oh, there was the occasional accident, but it was fairly rare and we weren't having to remind her all the time.

I had finally figured that girl out! It was like we were expert parents or something.

But, (you had to know there'd be a BUT) she doesn't like to go potty. It takes up so much time and she worries someone will touch whatever she's playing with or eating while she's in the bathroom.

Plus, I make her wash her hands.

And dry them.

And, she doesn't like to be told what to do. She will look you straight in the face while dancing all around to tell you she doesn't need to potty when, clearly, she does. You should hear the wailing after we force her to go to the bathroom.

The last few days Bryan's been fishing. The kids have been great, but Libby has been waiting much too long to go potty resulting in, well, I think you can figure it out. Not a soaking where a floor cleanup is necessary, but if she goes 10 times a day, 9 of those times we'll have to change her panties. (This really is not new, but is getting progressively worse and I'm noticing it more when I'm the only parent.) I told her last night, after she'd had a bath and then waited too long before bed and then needed another bath, if she did it again today, I was going to put her in a diaper. I really don't like this method of parenting. In fact, I got mad at Bryan when he got frustrated with her early on in potty training and did the same thing. I don't want to make my kids feel badly. I just don't know what else to do. Honestly, I thought at the mention of a diaper, she'd straighten up. She gave me a look like she could care less, so I went on about how embarassed she be at Sunday School in a diaper. That seemed to hit a nerve. I was pretty sure we'd have no more problems with waiting too long to go to the bathroom.

Of course, this morning she waited too long and when I discovered her panties (because she refuses to put wet panties back on, not that I blame her), I had to stick to my guns. I grabbed one of Levi's diapers and stretched and pulled until I barely fastened them around her waist. She almost started to cry. I had her! This was a fantastic idea! Finally a lesson that would sink in and stick with her!

Immediately she walked over to Addi, pulled up her nightgown (yes, it is 2 pm and we are all in our pajamas - it's a cold and lazy day here!), stuck out her rear and died laughing. The girl almost fell over she laughed so hard singing, "I'm wearing a diaper! I'm wearing a diaper!"

Seriously?

I'm at my wit's end here. Suggestions, anyone?? Do I make her put the wet panties back on if we're at home because I know she hates that? How gross is that?! You know I must be desparate to even think it. Surely someone can up a better idea.

Any suggestions will be appreciated and not judged :)

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*In case you weren't sure, that's her down there. I knew exactly which child of mine that was and assumed the rest of you would also. But then, Bryan mentioned the picture of Addison on the blog...

12 November 2008

ww (sort of)

I still get lost in those eyes.

She knows it and fully uses it to her advantage!



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1 word meme

I got tagged for this meme from my friend Becky. This could be challenging, but I'll do my best.



1. Where is your cell phone? hmmmm...??

2. Your significant other? amazing :)

3. Your hair? frustrating

4. Your mother? loving

5. Your father? patient

6. Your favorite thing? chocolate

7. Your dream last night? forgetable

8. Your favorite drink? Dr. Pepper

9. Your dream/goal? sanity

10. The room you're in? office

11. Your fear? drowning

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? better

13. Where were you last night? home

14. What you're not? fast

15. Muffins/donuts? donuts

16. One of your wish list items? speed

17. Where you grew up? Texas

18. The last thing you did? dishes

19. What are you wearing? t-shirt

20. Your TV? quiet

21. Your pet? Zoe

22. Your computer? Dell

23. Your life? envious

24. Your mood? sleepy

25. Missing someone? yes

26. Favorite pastime? reading

27. Something you're not wearing? makeup

28. Favorite Store? Central Market

29. Your summer? HOT

30. Your favorite color? purple

31. When is the last time you laughed? lunchtime

32. Last time you cried? today

33. Who will/would re-post this? ?question?

34. Four places I go over and over? kindergarten, preschool, grocery, library

35. Four people who e-mail me? Bryan, Mom, Dad, and Facebook :)

36. Four of my favorite foods? macaroni, fries, pie, cookies

37. Four places I would like to be right now? bed, vacation, beach, relaxing

38. Four people I tag? whoever wants to do it

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06 November 2008

Little Man

*Actual words to come in the next day or two :)









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04 November 2008

6 Wonderful Years

Addison Grace turned 6 today. Words cannot express the way I feel about my oldest daughter. I love her in a way I never knew existed before November 4, 2002. She changed me forever. I feel privileged to be her mother. As weepy as I may get that my baby is 6, I must admit to feeling some excitement in watching her grow. It's hard to remember what she was like at 4 or 2 or 6 months. She is an incredible child only to impress me more with each passing year, I am sure.



today...









4 years...




2 years...


about 6 months...

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02 November 2008

She'll actually mean it when she says, "No new taxes!"

I overheard some kids at a birthday party this afternoon. They were discussing who "they" were voting for. On the drive home, I asked Addi who she'd vote for if she were old enough. Her answer was John McCain. I asked her why and she said, "Because Barack Obama takes all your money and gives it to other people."

Maybe I'm not the only one paying attention to the talk radio in the car :)



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30 October 2008








Now, the only thing next Tuesday will be about for me is my baby turning 6! Whether "my man" wins or not, I'll be a little sad come Wednesday morning.


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29 October 2008

On Your Mark, Get Set...

This morning was the Boosterthon Fun Run at Addison's school. Bryan and I figured she'd run about 10 laps, but she completed 26! Because we knew she'd only do about 10, we felt confident pledging to pay $1 per lap for her. Oooops! Now we'll be shelling out over twice what we'd planned! I must say, I got a little worried at breakfast today when she told me that she and one of her classmates were the only two in her p.e. class not to have to walk when they practiced for the run.

It was a fun fundraiser and I'm hoping the school meets their goal of $20,000 so there will be no more fundraisers this year. If our $26 helps meet that goal, I'm all for it :)

And, just so you don't think I'm bragging, let me tell you there were kids who met the "lap cap" of 35 in kindergarten. They were the ones wearing their Brooks running shoes and Saucony running shorts. (Seriously, I didn't even know you could buy running shorts in 5T!)

One more confession: I thought long and hard about buying her some running shoes. I even found a 25% off coupon at FootLocker Kids. I'll blame that on the former runner in me. That's also what I'll blame my eye rolling on after the announcer told the kids, "Repeat after me; It's okay to walk." Uhhm, no. It's called a Fun Run! And, on the fact that I was proud of her for not taking a water break. Water's for wimps! Oh, I'm kidding. I'm kidding.

This is how Libby felt about cheering for Sister early on a chilly morning.

Getting loosened up for the run
Making sure her pants stay put - that's what you have to do when you have a little tush :)

Cracking your knuckles always gets the jitters out
Don't let the relaxed form fool you. She was lapping those people!

Here she is lapping someone else!

Libby was so thrilled when someone finally "high-fived" her!

The cool-down lap and a smile.

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