Raising Little People

Seasonal Depression Disorder

2011-11-22T13:36:00.000-06:00

We lived in sunny San Diego for 3 years before moving to Kansas. I didn't even know what Seasonal Depression Disorder was and even if I did, I knew it couldn't possibly affect me.

Oh, I was wrong. Last year, I thought I was just dealing with postpartum issues and some post traumatic stress. This year, I thought for sure things would be better. I came across this funny on Pinterest a couple of weeks ago.

It is so true. Since the time changed, it seems like the weather took a drastic change. The sun hasn't come out in 3 days. I am sad, grumpy, and irritable. I have another 4 months of this weather. Must get one of these...

Hopefully, for my family and myself, this will work and I will be my happy self again soon. I hope Santa hears my pleas all the way at the North Pole. I wonder if he suffers from Seasonal Depression Disorder? Surely, not his jolly ol' self.

May the three of you that actually read this blog, have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Reason, Season, or Lifetime

2011-11-16T18:08:00.002-06:00

I believe that everyone has a need for friends. One of my biggest fears in moving to a new place was that friends would be hard to come by. I knew I didn't have much time to devote to friendships but I knew God heard my prayer. I made a friend and what a joy it was!

My little basket was full and soon I was confident I had made a lifetime friend.

Sadly, this friendship was for a REASON, not a lifetime.

Reason, Season, or Lifetime

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you figure out which one it is,
you will know what to do for each person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty;
to provide you with guidance and support;
to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON,
because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it. It is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person,
and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
— Unknown

I haven't figured out what the reason is but I know that the Lord has a plan for me. I know His truth will be revealed. I know that the Lord heard my prayer, I know that He answered my prayer, and I know that I am thankful for the time we were friends.

It is hard to be betrayed and hurt. It is hard to not know what happened. It is hard to say goodbye. I will rejoice in the happy memories and I will forever hold a special place in my heart for my friend. I will give praise to the Lord and have unyielding faith that He knows EXACTLY what I need.

"When one door closes, another opens" - Alexander Graham Bell

I know that a door in my life unexpectedly closed but I have faith that another will open. I can feel Christ's love, even in my sorrow, and I know that I will see the blessing He has given me.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

Well Baby, Vaccines, and a New Porch.

2011-10-13T19:56:00.004-05:00

Jack had his 15 month well baby visit yesterday with Dr. Palacio. He weighed in at 22lbs 4oz and was 31 1/4 inches long. That puts him at the 15th percentile for weight and the 50th for height. He also has a 90th percentile head circumference. The Jones kids have a reputation for having big brains.

The only real concern this visit was that he has zero vocabulary. The doctor wants to wait until he is 18 months old to evaluate further. We have no doubt that he can hear and he understands what we are saying so hopefully he picks up some words soon.

Everyone had vaccines as well. In the past I made the foolish decision to delay or refuse vaccines and now we have to get caught up. This is especially hard for the girls who know what to expect. Everyone shed a few tears and some were more dramatic than others but nothing a trip next door to Sonic couldn't fix. Alexis is now officially caught up and Hannah only has the Hep A and B series to finish up before her 4 year old vaccines. Jack has a long way to go, but we are returning in 1 month for more vaccine fun.

While we were in the city we made a quick trip to Lowes. I have been asking for a front "porch" for quite some time and we finally bought the supplies and in one evening my amazing man finished up our new outdoor space. I bought some flowers today on clearance at Wal-Mart and it really spruced up our once boring front entryway. We will paint the wood the same color as the trim on the house but for now here are the before and after pictures...

We had a great week at school this week. Alexis breezed through all her work as usual and did a fabulous job memorizing a poem. We started a new grammar program and a new spelling program this week and she is doing great and our schedule still runs smoothly. Hannah learned to write the letters "H" and "A" and my hope is that by next week she will be writing her name. She is so excited!

With that, I leave you a picture of Jack whose smile does wonders for the heart.

Let's Catch Up....

2011-10-09T21:30:00.001-05:00

Well, my last blog post here was in 2009. I remember exactly why this blog went dark and I will tell you in one simple word.

Facebook.

For the longest time I told Scott that I thought Facebook was dumb and I would never join. However, I ate crow in early 2009 and have been "social networking" ever since. I have made friends through Facebook and lost friends through Facebook. It became a habit. I NEEDED to know what was going on and I NEEDED to know several times a day. I vowed to quit but it lured me back. The loneliness, the isolation, the needed companionship that I longed for, I found disguised on Facebook. Finally, at the end of September I decided to say goodbye. It was time for a change. I needed to focus more on my family, on the new journey of homeschooling my children, and I needed to do it for me. I needed to know that I could survive without knowing which of my "friends" stopped at Starbucks this morning or which "friend" was disgruntled with his/her spouse, job, or life.

I realized that my life was here. I NEEDED to know the "status" of my children and my husband several times a day, not 135 of my closest friends. I needed to know that life wasn't boring without Facebook. I needed a new perspective. I had Scott change my password on September 30th and I haven't logged on since. I went through an initial withdrawal but now that I am 9 days in, I feel better than ever. My house has never been so clean and my kids are enjoying the more "unplugged" Mommy. My self imposed intervention has worked. I don't know how I will feel come the end of the month when I will allow myself to log back on. Maybe I will and maybe I won't but for today, life is better sans Facebook.

I am going to do my best to keep up with this blog. This will be the way that others can have a glimpse into our everyday lives. Here is a recap of our latest happenings....

Alexis is 5 and the sweetest, most tender hearted kid I have ever met. Just last night we caught a little segment on the Weather Channel about a kitten who had gotten his head trapped in a man hole cover after chasing a mouse. The rescue squad tried several maneuvers to get the kitten free but were unsuccessful. I looked over at Alexis and she was quietly crying. They did eventually get the kitten free and he was alive and well. The sympathy my child felt for the kitten was overwhelming to me and I cried right along with her.

Alexis is an official kindergartener. We are homeschooling and she is doing very well. She can read simple sentences, do basic addition in sums of less than 10, and her handwriting is beautiful. We also do a Bible program daily and she enjoys it. We are studying the stories of the Old Testament. The other day she said to me she would like to go to heaven and visit Jacob because "he sounds like a nice boy". I told her I would appreciate it if she waited a long while before she went to heaven.

She is also loving playing with her sister. She is quite the little boss but Hannah loves it. Actually Hannah cries when Alexis won't play with her. They are best friends and I hope they continue being best friends for life.

Hannah is a character. She is 3 years old and the most hilarious kid on the planet. Everything, and I mean everything, that comes out of her mouth is hilarious. Just the other day the girls were playing with Ron, our cat. He had escaped so Hannah went on to play with the puzzles. Alexis was momentarily distracted but less than a minute later she was wandering around asking where Ron went. Hannah, still playing with puzzles, very matter-of-factly said "he died". It took all I had not to burst into laughter. I did later but at that moment I had to reassure my tender hearted daughter that Ron was indeed not dead but had just escaped to the basement.

Hannah loves to do her "school work". She has an incredible attention span for a 3 year old. I have some fun workbooks for her and she will sit down and do several pages at one time. She asks to do her "new school" everyday and she excitedly exclaims "I love my new school!". She knows all her colors and shapes, she can count to 14, she draws "people", and she is learning her letters and numbers.

Jack is a boy. I really don't know what else to say. He started his life giving me gray hairs and he hasn't stopped. As soon as he figured out he could move, I found out I could never sit down. He is into everything and I mean everything. He climbs on everything, he loves to get the dog food and dog water, he gets a great deal of satisfaction from messing with the girls, and did I mention he climbs? He has fallen more times than I can count, he has cut his head open three times but never needed the ER or stitches, and consistently has a bruise somewhere. He eats all the time and finally sleeps through the night. He is a funny boy and although he is active and ornery, he melts my heart and I couldn't have asked for a better son.

We have a busy week ahead, full of fun and adventure and I will be sure to blog all about it. In the meantime, here are some new pictures.

Rainbow Jammies

2009-02-09T22:21:00.000-06:00

25 Random Things

2009-02-02T21:08:00.000-06:00

Thanks to my Facebook friends...

1. I have received this list from many of my Facebook friends and at first I thought it was really silly. I must have had a change of heart, because here I am writing one.

2. I knew I wanted to be a mother since the time I was a little girl. These little women are my world but it is harder than I anticipated.

3. I am keenly aware of my mortality. I am not afraid of my own death but spend a great deal of my time fearing losing my children or leaving them without a mother.

4. I am married to an engineer. He is a great man and father and I love him with all my heart. He does, however, not have a romantic bone in his body.

5. I went to nursing school to become a labor and delivery nurse. It was awful because nursing school has very little to do with labor and delivery. I survived and I am glad I did.

6. I am 6'0 tall and my husband is 6'7. Our girls don't stand a chance of being average height.

7. Yes, I did play basketball in high school. I hated it and quit my senior year. Why does everyone ask that?

8. I have lived in Maryland, Kansas, Arizona, and California. All in the last 3 years.

9. I can drive a stick shift.

10. I will homeschool my kids. Even if it means I have to move to another country.

11. I am scared of the dark. Really.

12. I hate rollercoasters and I am afraid of heights.

13. My best girlfriend is my mother. I share everything with her and she with me. If I am half the mother to my kids that she was to us, I will feel like I have succeeded. She is my hero.

14. I do not like the beach. I know, I live in San Diego, but I really don't like it. The sand makes a big mess and I don't like the feeling of seaweed in my toes. I don't swim all that well so the current makes me nervous. The whole scene is something I can do without.

15. When I have an alcoholic beverage, I can feel it in my legs.

16. I breastfeed my baby. I think everyone should breastfeed their babies.

17. My feet are always cold.

18. I have a lot of professional goals but I want to be home with my kids, so if I never reach those goals, I am okay with it.

19. Jesus is my Lord and Savior.

20. I have a goal to try one of every kind of cloth diaper that is made. It is quite the undertaking if you are into that type of thing.

21. I love having professional pictures of my kids done. I would do it every month if we were rich. I cherish my pictures and would go to great lengths to save them from a natural disaster.

22. My maiden name is Purkeypile. Enough said.

23. I would love to drive a mini-van. Not many women can say that. One day, my dream will come true.

24. In middle school, my mom actually let me go to school wearing brown Bongo jeans and a flourescent orange sweatshirt.

25. My husband and my children own my heart. I love them so much it hurts and I want to be better everyday because of them.

First Cold

2009-02-02T20:03:00.000-06:00

Hannah has her first little cold. Poor thing is pretty miserable but will give me a smile every now and again that melts my heart. I took her to the pediatrician today and they said all was well and to just ride it out. She is 7.5 months and this is her first sick visit. I think Lexi had been at least a half a dozen times by this age. Funny how much more relaxed you are the second time around. They weighed her with all of her clothes on and she weighed in at 17lb 14oz. Holy cow!

She is almost crawling. Getting on all fours and rocking back and forth. She will do it any day now. I will be sure to update with photos when she figures it out.

My Beauties

2009-01-18T18:31:00.000-06:00

Stinky Bears

2009-01-09T00:01:00.000-06:00

Alexis has the funniest sayings. For a couple of weeks now she has been saying "stinky bears, stinky bears" and we can not figure out what she is saying. Today in the car we were singing songs and she started with the stinky bears. It finally dawned on me that she was trying to sing "Jingle Bells". She was so excited that I figured it out that she insisted that we sing "Jingle Bells" all the way home.

She also loves everything about birthdays. She is constantly talking about birthday parties, birthday cake, and everything birthday. For some time now, every time she puts any object on top of someones head she says in the sweetest little voice, " ____is a birf-day cake". It is mainly Hannah that she exclaims is a birthday cake, mostly because Baby Hannah's head is within her reach. No matter what it is, a book, a cup, a toy, if it is a top someones head, they are automatically a birthday cake. Where did she get that from?

Hannah is going through an ultra-clingy stage. I have to be within sight at all times and most of the time. I must be holding her. If we are in the car and she is not asleep, she is fussy. We figure it is from teething. The funny thing about it is that if she is fussing and someone starts singing the ABCs, she stops crying. No other song, as we have tried many a time. Only the ABCs. Scott and I are so tired of the ABCs, but we sing until out throats hurt. The only explanation I come up with is that when I was pregnant with her, I was teaching Alexis her ABCs and I sang that song constantly. That makes sense, right?

My post must come to an end as it is 10:15 PM and my baby daughter is looking for me. After tomorrow, I will see the world through my own eyes, seeing as they get lasered correctly.

I haven't forgotten...

2009-01-08T15:47:00.000-06:00

That I have a blog. I plan to write quite the post this evening when Scott can hold the girls. Lately, they both want to be in my lap when I am on the computer. That deosn't mesh well with typing. So sorry everyone!

Christmas 2008

2008-12-26T18:11:00.001-06:00

BEFORE the crazy 2 year old got up...

AFTER...

Enjoying her new dollhouse...

The big gift this year, a new kitten from Daddy!

She has yet to be named and amazingly isn't dead yet. Alexis has carried her around by her neck and hind quarters. She has already used up 6 of her 9 lives. Maybe we should call her Lucky.

Hannah in the action...

Opening their stockings...

Alexis loved the apple, orange, and pear that was in her stocking. Go figure!

We had a very Merry Christmas and a great day celebrating our Savior's birth. We baked a cake and sang Happy Birthday to Jesus. Alexis was so excited that the day included birthday cake, her most favorite treat right now.

Santa Photo 2008

2008-12-23T19:37:00.000-06:00

I took the girls to have their annual picture taken with Santa. We stood in line (2 days before Christmas) for over an hour. Here is the lovely photo...

Fits their personalities to a "T". Alexis is scared of everything and Hannah really doesn't care...about anything.

Just for laughs, here is last years photo...

Disneyland

2008-12-13T10:59:00.000-06:00

We finally made it to Disneyland yesterday. It was quite the day. It was a very busy day at the park and pondering on whether or not we would ever return, we decided we would return on a Tuesday from 10AM-12PM. We made a decision to take only one stroller...bad idea. By the time we left, our arms were exhausted and we were a bit cranky with each other.

We have been talking to Alexis about seeing Mickey Mouse for weeks. We finally got there to meet him and she was terrified. She clung to me and refused to look at him. She was more receptive to Minnie Mouse but it took some coaxing to get her to hug her and she refused to turn around so I could take a picture. However, she was not scared of any of the rides. She even rode the Pirates of the Caribbean without a problem. She had a great time with her friend Cole and the adults even got to enjoy a nice beverage during nap time. All in all, we had a successful trip to the Magical World of Disney.

Houston, We Have a Tooth!

2008-12-07T18:07:00.000-06:00

Hannah pulled a fast one on me. Alexis didn't get her first tooth until she was 10 months old and Hannah is cutting her first tooth...at 5 1/2 months! Much to my surprise, I put my finger on her aching gums and discovered the little booger. I doubled and tripled checked but sure enough, it's there. She is having quite a rough time, poor little babe. I wish they didn't have to go through cutting teeth, but at least they won't remember it, right?

Now for the most obnoxious outfit of the year...

Keep scrolling...

Ta-da!

Here is Alexis in the same outfit in what seems like so many moons ago...

They both had to wear it...at least once.

A New Milestone

2008-12-05T22:22:00.000-06:00

Hannah started solid food this week. A couple of weeks ahead of the recommended 6 month mark, but she was ready. The girl loves it! She gets so excited and wants to help you with the spoon. I have given her a taste of bananas, carrots, squash, pears, and applesauce and none of which she has turned down. She eagerly awaits her next taste testing session. She also graduated into a highchair in which her Daddy picked up the camera and captured these shots. A little tear, as I realize she is getting big, and fast.

The most exciting news is that Alexis is fully potty-trained! I have waited a week to make this announcement because I wanted to be sure. She even wears panties to bed without any accidents. I am so proud of her!

She is also growing up before my eyes. Scott has taken a new liking to my camera and when I go to download pictures, I find a few that he has taken. Below are a couple of pictures that I discovered and I can't believe that is my firstborn baby! She looks so grown-up.

This is a crazy life, but I am loving every second.

Christmas Jammies

2008-11-28T22:03:00.001-06:00

We put the Christmas tree up today. I have found that Christmas is so much more exciting now that I have children. I feel like I am six again...counting down the days to the big event. Alexis wanted to help me put the ornaments on but didn't quite get the concept. She was insisting on putting the ornaments inside the tree. Later, I very carefully removed all the ornaments from the depths of the tree. After their baths tonight, I put them in their Christmas jammies and thought I would make it a photo op. Of course, patience is key in times like these and mine is running thin. I was thankful that I was not a real photographer in that moment. Getting two kids to look in the same direction, much less smile, is a feat on it's own. Anyway, here are the results of my photo op.

During this so-called photo-op, Alexis displayed some of her affection toward her sister.

She then displayed the true relationship between siblings.

Gotta love 'em.

Time flies...

2008-11-27T23:54:00.000-06:00

Tonight I put my Hannah in her Papasan chair and realized that it will soon need to be retired. Not only is she almost too big for it but she can also effectively wiggle herself out of it. It is sad...they grow too fast.

Hannah at 6 days old and approximately 5 lbs 10oz

Hannah tonight at 5 months 9 days and approximately 15 lbs

She rolls...

2008-11-26T22:40:00.000-06:00

We have waited for this day for a long time. Hannah can officially roll over the hard way...back to front. You go girl!

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Work in Progress

2008-11-21T19:04:00.000-06:00

Scott and I bought a swing set for Alexis on Craigslist. It has become Scott's project to fix it up over the last month. Some sanding, staining, and elbow grease and we have ourselves a pretty nice set. It needs a roof and a climbing ladder and then we can call the project complete. Complete or not, Alexis in enjoying it. The weather here has been in the high 70's, so it is perfect for playing outdoors. I captured some pictures of her today enjoying her new toy.

I hope I am not jinxing myself, but I am going to venture out and say that Alexis has not had one potty accident in 4 days. I am so proud of her! She has done great and has even graduated to using the big potty, all on her own accord. Last night was the first night without a nighttime diaper and she did great! Tomorrow is the true test. We are traveling to visit Grammy and Papa and here is hope that she does well on her first major outing in panties! I am so not in the mood to clean up any more toddler poo.

Hannah is still getting over the cold that just keeps hanging on. Poor girl is pretty good during the day but at night she gets a pretty bad case of the sniffles. She is powering through it though with just mild crankies along the way. She is learning to sit and will probably crawl soon after. Today I was practicing with her and I would hold her tummy off the ground. She was making distinct crawling motions. Just a little bit more upper body strength and she will have it down. Two kids being mobile is quite overwhelming. Pray for us, we will certainly need it.

Hannah hanging outside with the girls...

Showing off her skills...

Extreme Close-Up

2008-11-18T22:12:00.001-06:00

I love this shot of Alexis that I took tonight. She is so pretty and I think this shot captures her beauty. Scott and I laugh (and cry) when we think of the boys knocking on the door in a few years. Brown eyes and blonde hair...what a combo.

I have been MIA because I have been working so much. I finally decided that there was no way that I could continue working as much as I am, so I am going back to my 6 shifts a month. Ten shifts is insane, or should I say I was going insane working 10 shifts? I feel much better now and I hope that I can continue to provide to my family that little extra that we need.

I can't post without a picture of both my girls. Here is one of Hannah tonight. She is so cute and the most easy-going baby. Oh how I love my girlies...

Butterball

2008-11-09T10:47:00.000-06:00

Here are a few cute pictures taken over the weekend. I can't help it...I have to show off my beauties. Hannah is the resident butterball, weighing in at 14lbs 2oz as of Thursday. She is already outgrowing some of her 6-9 month clothes. Slow down little one...

Toothbrushes

2008-11-05T14:48:00.000-06:00

Last night Scott was out of town on business. With history in the making, I turned on the television to watch the poll returns. Alexis was less than thrilled because we weren't watching cartoons but I wanted her to witness history, even if she won't remember. Of course, she paid no attention but I was pretty excited to see the evening unfold. Soon after Obama was announced as the 44th president of the United States, I started getting Alexis ready for bed. I told her we would be going "ni-night" soon. We always brush her teeth before bed so when she disappeared into my bathroom I just assumed she went to get her toothbrush. She comes out with both mine and Scott's toothbrush. A little unusual, but okay. She is brushing her teeth and soon disappears again. She brings me my toothbrush and tells me that she got it wet for me. This goes on a couple of more times. Then it dawns on me. Where the heck did she get the water from?? I asked her and she didn't answer and went into the bathroom. I listened for the sink because I know she can get up there, but I heard no water running. She came back with wet toothbrushes again and was brushing her teeth. I asked again and she looked at me matter-of-factly and said, "out of the big potty, Mom". I just about died. I followed her in there and sure enough she was dipping the toothbrushes in the toilet. Yuck! Needless to say, we made a trip to the store today for new toothbrushes.

The Goodmama Love

2008-10-28T21:24:00.001-05:00

I have found the Goodmama love, as they say. It's an elite club of cloth diaperer's around the world. You gotta get some, if you are into that type of thing. Scott would kill me if he knew how much they cost but they are so cute and that justifies everything. Suzanne (the owner and creator of Goodmamas) really figured something out. Moms will pay for their babies to have organic bamboo velour against their butts and cute prints to cover them up. Man, I am in love. Pretty sad considering it is something she poops in.

In the meantime, Hannah is completely unimpressed with her snazzy new diaper. She has found a new love for her hands and feet. She can hardly believe that they came in the total package. She is quite in awe of her new discovery.

It's the little things...

Our Family According to Alexis

2008-10-28T21:15:00.000-05:00

Alexis's new favorite past time is coloring. She loves it and will spend hours doing it. The other morning we got out her pad of paper and I asked her to draw a picture of our family. One by one, she "drew" what she thought we looked like. She even included Mimi and Papa since they are here for an extended visit. Below is a picture of her drawing. I can't tell you who is who but I am quite in love with my little artist.

Notice Hannah is trying to get in on the action, crayon in hand and all.

The Stats

2008-10-21T23:24:00.000-05:00

Hannah had her 4 month well baby visit today. She weighed in at 13lbs 6oz and was 25 inches long. Dr. Graham said she is doing fabulous. He asked if I had any questions and I asked if it was normal for her not to hold her head up when she is lying on her tummy. He said yes, it was perfectly normal for her age. He then proceeded to put Hannah on her tummy and lo and behold, there she was, holding her head up tall. I felt completely silly. She must have learned that overnight.

She also got her vaccinations. Poor baby. I think it was harder on me than her. She has had a fussy day but is sleeping soundly now. I may be in for a long night. Scott said today that it would be like us going into the doctors office and them jabbing us with a 2 foot needle. Thanks babe...I already feel bad enough.

She is growing too fast. Slow down little one...

Hannah Banana

2008-10-18T17:55:00.001-05:00

My poor children. I decided that for Halloween this year that Alexis would be a monkey (it suits her personality) and Hannah would be a banana. Pretty darn cute, if you ask me. Plus, I have good blackmail pictures when they go out on their first date...in like, 25 years.

I have a appointment for pictures tomorrow. That should be interesting considering Alexis refuses to put on her monkey costume. Maybe a bribe with her all-time favorite, lollipops. Then again, I may have ruined that one with the several she has had in the last few days for going pee-pee on the potty. They may have lost their luster by now.

On the cuteness factor, Alexis wins major points for the day. I was sitting in her playroom with her this morning with Hannah in my lap. We were playing with her toys and I found the lone princess tiara that she was given for her birthday. She has probably only played with it less than 5 times and really doesn't know about the princesses. We haven't embarked on that Disney journey yet. Anyway, I put the tiara on Hannah and she looks at Hannah and says, "Oh, baby Hannah! You are a princess too!". How sweet is that?? She loves her baby sister so much and I am so glad. My hope is that they will be the best of friends for a lifetime to come.

I embarked on a cloth diaper journey back in March. I switched Alexis completely over and did lots of research while pregnant with Hannah. Hannah came along and I have done all cloth on her since she was about 5 weeks old. Last week, I found a site called Diaper Swappers. I am hooked. Not only does it have all kinds of information, but you can buy, sell, or trade anything cloth diaper related. I have decided to try one of everything. Wish me luck, this should be interesting.

Sun Shade

2008-10-12T11:33:00.001-05:00

I had to work yesterday so Scott took the girls for a visit to Brawley...about 2 hours away. Scott grew up there and most of his family still resides there. On the way down the mountain, our drama-mama Alexis decided she didn't like the sun in her face. Scott looked back there and found this.

She is a smart cookie.

When I came home from work, I got the best welcome from my kids. Lexi is so happy to see me and showers me in hugs and kisses. It melts my heart. My little one wants only one thing...to reconnect to Mommy. I said hi to her and turned my head for just a second. My tiny little baby let out a yelp that would break any one's heart. I quickly scooped her up and reconnected. :)

Lastly, Hannah is in awe of her sister. Lexi tends to stay close by to me so when Hannah is upright, she closely follows Alexis with her eyes and the smiles are huge. I love watching them together. Once Hannah can play more, I am sure the sight of them will melt my heart even further. I am completely in love with these little women.

Cutie Patootie...

2008-10-09T11:01:00.000-05:00

A Chilly Morning

2008-10-06T14:54:00.000-05:00

It was 49 degrees this morning. That is pretty chilly for Southern California. I have been using my heater the last few mornings and although it feels good, it is also bittersweet. Goodbye summer. Of course, you wouldn't know that it is that cool in the morning come 10 AM. The highs this week are in the upper 90s but with lows in the 50s. I guess we are getting a mixture although I wish the weather would just make up it's mind.

This morning we had to be out of the house early so I dressed the girls up in their fall gear and took some pictures. They were overdressed by 10 AM but I enjoyed digging out the fall clothes. This afternoon we are back to shorts and T-shirts. Go figure.

Such a doll...

2008-10-01T19:50:00.001-05:00

Lollipops and Labwork

2008-10-01T19:06:00.000-05:00

Alexis now goes to dance class just for the lollipop. While Miss Tiffany is teaching the class, Alexis "pretends" to participate, waiting until just the right moment when Miss Tiffany's attention is diverted and she heads for the bucket of lollipops. This goes on several times before the commencement of the 30 minute class. She has yet to succeed in outsmarting Miss Tiffany but her determination is endless. In my determination to make my daughter graceful, I will continue to take her until either she hates me for it or the lollipops lose their luster.

Alexis's last lab test came back. NEGATIVE for celiac disease. I am so happy that we are not dealing with something so life altering. However, I am more perplexed at what is causing the tummy trouble. After speaking with a good friend, I Googled "toddler diarrhea" and her symptoms seem to fit. The condition is worse when the child drinks juice ,so for now Alexis is missing her beloved apple juice. We will see if the answer is this simple. I sure hope so.

I took Hannah to get weighed today. I like to know how much she is growing and I have a hard time waiting for her well baby visits. She weighs 12 lbs 4.4oz. She is getting so big and her little rolls are so cute. She is also missing her neck and I hope that one day it turns up.

The most happy news of all is that the girls have a new cousin. Baby Bree was born yesterday at 12:24 PM and weighed in at 8lbs 3oz and measured 20.5 inches long. Congratulations Todd and Rorie!

I survived..

2008-09-28T12:26:00.000-05:00

Well, I survived my first day back to work. I was actually less sad than I thought I would be. Of course, I missed my girls but it was nice to just get away and talk to adults for awhile. By about 2 o'clock I was ready to come home, but of course I didn't have that luxury. They did just fine with Daddy with the exception of a minor incident with nail polish. I now have a lovely pink circle on my couch cushion. I think he realized that she is faster than he thought she was. Hannah was an angel and just hung out most of the day, probably wondering where the heck I wandered off to. She decided that last night she would just nurse most of the night, just to make sure I knew that she realized I had been gone. It's all good.

ABCs...

2008-09-26T10:49:00.000-05:00

Alexis knew the order of her ABCs by her second birthday. We have been working on the song this summer and last night she sang it all the way through perfectly. I was so impressed. She wanted to call her Mimi on the phone and sing the ABCs to her. She got a little shy once on the phone but with some prodding she sang them perfectly. Mimi was stunned and excited. The party on the other end of the line was quite rambunctious. Alexis has been asking to call her again all morning, saying "Mimi ABCs!". I told her Mimi wasn't awake yet. :)

She also has a new aversion to having her picture taken. She emphatically tells me, "No picture, Mommy!". I did catch one of her this morning before she got too mad.

She looks thrilled, doesn't she?

Get Em' Girl!

2008-09-23T22:36:00.002-05:00

Hannah was having some play time today and I gave her a stuffed, pink elephant. First, she tried to latch on and then wrestled with him a bit before she admitted defeat. She looked so adorable "playing" with a toy. She is growing so fast and I can't believe that just a little over 3 months ago, I brought home a five and half pound newborn. It's sad but great, all at the same time.

Everyone has been commenting on how similar the girls look. I agree wholeheartedly, but revel in their subtle differences so that one day they will know that they were each special in their own way. I looked up some more pictures of them at the same age and they look very similar, but not exactly the same, as I thought before.

Here is Alexis at a tad over 3 months...

Hannah today...

Cuties.

Hannah's First Playdate

2008-09-23T22:36:00.001-05:00

Today, while Alexis was napping, Hannah got to have her first play date. Laura, and new baby, Mateo, came over for a visit. We laid the babes on the floor, on a blanket, and they looked at each other and cooed. It was super sweet until someone got mad. Then they both started up. We moms just kept snapping the pictures. Maybe they were mad because they thought we were the paparazzi. Umm...

A Visit from Papa and Mimi...

2008-09-22T20:00:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted in a few days because we had out of town guests. Papa and Mimi traveled out to Ramona to see us and meet their newest granddaughter. The visit went very well and we were sad to see them go this morning. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures just yet. Our photographer came over for a session yesterday but we won't get to see her beautiful work for a couple of weeks.

While my mom was here, we went shopping at Viejas, an outlet mall. I had a coupon for Carter's that I wanted to use. We managed to leave the toddler at home with the men and ventured out. When all was said and done and we went to pay, the cashier was gushing over Hannah. She actually stopped us on the way out and that she sees lots of babies and that Hannah definitely won the cutest baby of the week. I was so proud and left the store, now the one gushing over my daughter. I think Mimi was pretty proud too.

In other news, Alexis said her first curse word. Yep, Daddy taught her "sh*t". I have warned him time and time again that one day she will pick it up on it and sure enough she did. I guess he believes me now and hopefully she will forget it and it will become a distant memory. I must admit, it was hard not to laugh.

Hannah is doing better in her Exersaucer. We tried again over the weekend and she actually sat up in it, with minimal assistance. Of course, her overzealous sister had to be in on the action. Poor kid means well but I think Hannah is a bit terrified of her.

It also seems as though Children's Hospital has lost Alexis's lab work. I am trying to be patient and will update as soon as I know something.

Blankets and Ice Cream...

2008-09-16T20:23:00.000-05:00

Alexis speaks very well for her age and most of what she says in understandable. There are a couple of words that she says that are so cute that you just want to eat her up. Today, she brought Hannah's "be-gut" to her...her blanket. I just melted. It is so cute to hear her say it and so sweet that she wants to help me with her sister.

The other word is one of her most favorite things in the world. "Soh-cream". This child loves her ice cream. There is no two ways about it.

This child owns my heart...completely.

Well, I tried...

2008-09-13T23:19:00.001-05:00

I bought the girls coordinating jammies yesterday at Old Navy. I was so excited to get them washed today so they could wear them tonight. "What a photo opportunity", I thought to myself. Here are the results of that so-called photo op.

Nice, thanks girls.

Trying to figure it out...

2008-09-13T18:23:00.000-05:00

Alexis has been suffering from tummy problems for quite some time now. After a visit to her pediatrician last month for stool samples and basic blood work, we weren't able to find any simple answers. On Thursday of this week, we saw the pediatric allergist. His words, "I think she has celiac disease", were the ones I was hoping not to hear. Celiac disease is an allergy to gluten. Gluten is present in lots of things, mainly wheat products. If she truly does have this, her diet would be strict. We went for blood work yesterday and should have the results back next week. As much as I hope this is not it, I am hoping for an answer. Her tummy is ready for some relief.

Dance Class - Take 2

2008-09-10T20:20:00.000-05:00

Today was a much better day in dance class. There were a total of 3 girls, all dressed in their little ballerina outfits! Too cute! Alexis was a little hesitant to go in at first but with some encouragement, she went. I ended up having to sit in the car for the rest of her class because when she saw me through the window, she wanted to come out of class and sit with me. I could see little glimpses of her through a big window they have that faces the parking lot and she looked like she was having fun. Miss Tiffany said she did really well. Hopefully the future classes will be even more successful and fun!

2008-09-09T22:52:00.000-05:00

Need I say more??

Caterpillars...

2008-09-08T21:10:00.000-05:00

Today was Alexis's first day of "play school" at Ms. Shauna's house. She is going every Monday from 9-12. I am pretty sure she loved it, considering she didn't hesitate to say goodbye this morning, and after I picked her up she told me "play kids". She also brought home her first craft project. A beautiful caterpillar. Ms. Shauna said that she really liked the glue. That's my girl.

Tonight, at dinner, Hannah had what I lovingly refer to as a "poo-plosion". I decided that after cleaning her up that I would bathe her in her baby tub, a first. We set it all up and right as I was preparing to put her in, I noticed a warm liquid flowing down the front of my shirt...pee. Scott bathed her, in which she screamed through most of it. I am not sure if it was because she was cold or the pure terror of her sister attempting to drown her from the sidelines. She survived and I wrapped her up in a warm towel. As I was getting ready to put her down on the changing table, another warm drizzle down the front of my shirt...yep, pee again. Really?

Here are some pictures to document the first bath in the baby tub.

Lastly, and the most sad moment of the day, was when I realized that I really must retire the 0-3 month clothes. Yesterday, in preparation for the switch, I washed all the 3-6 month clothes, thinking it would be another couple of weeks or so before I would need them. Well today, after two 0-3 months outfits were too small, I decided that I would put her in a 3-6 month sleeper, of course, thinking it would be too big. Nope, fits just right and at the rate she is going, it will only fit a few weeks. Sniff, sniff. If that wasn't enough, I looked back at Lexi's pictures and found a picture of her at 7 months wearing a 3-6 month sleeper of the same brand that Hannah is wearing tonight. I think Lexi may have to watch out. Her sister is going to be a bruiser.

Hannah, hanging out in the swing in her 3-6 month sleeper.

Alexis, at 7 months, in a 3-6 month sleeper of the same brand.

A New Baby Gadget

2008-09-05T22:33:00.000-05:00

Our dear friends, Eve and Brett, sent Hannah a decked out, girly-as-it-gets, Exersaucer as a welcoming gift. It was put away for a couple of months and tonight I persuaded Scott to build it. I was excited to put her in it although I knew at the ripe ol' age of 11 weeks, she might not get much out of it. I was right...way too young yet. It is super cute and I am sure she will enjoy it in a month or so. For now I think it will just sit there, look cute, and wait for an eager infant to gain some muscle control. Of course, I had to take pictures.

I love this picture...Hannah looks like she is thinking "Wow, she is sooo awesome!"

I looked back in my thousands of pictures and found this one of Alexis when she was first given her Exersaucer. She loved it! It was one her her favorite things for awhile. She, of course, was much older when she was given hers. She is six months old in this picture.

Big Smiles

2008-09-04T23:09:00.000-05:00

It is so heart-warming when your kids first start to smile. Hannah reached that milestone recently and I finally captured it on camera. Here she is smiling at Daddy...

On a side bar, Hannah is outgrowing her 0-3 month clothes already. This comes as a surprise because Alexis was still in newborn sizes when she was Hannah's age. It just goes to show that each child is different...even if they look exactly the same. :) They grow too fast.

What happens when you skip a nap...

2008-09-03T20:09:00.001-05:00

Alexis has done this a couple of times at dinner when she skips her afternoon nap...

Tired much??

Dance Class

2008-09-03T16:06:00.000-05:00

Well...

The class didn't go as I expected, but I am convinced it will get better. It was the first class after a vacation and the local schools started this week so Alexis was given a private lesson. That would have been great if she were older but when you put a 2 year old out onto a huge dance floor with someone she has never met, you are likely to encounter a few problems.

Alexis was intimidated, to say the least. She followed the directions to the best of her ability but definitely played the shy card. Miss Tiffany was fantastic and tried everything to get her to come out of her shell. She even tried getting the Elmo coloring book out and having Alexis dance for Elmo. In a last ditch effort, she gave her a DumDum, which Alexis devoured, but it did not produce any dance moves.

We are determined to try again and hopefully the next class will have some other monkeys in it so that she won't feel so intimidated. I do think she liked it a little bit, especially since she has mentioned it several times since we left. A glimmer of hope for Mommy who REALLY wants her to dance.

The much anticipated pictures....

Alexis in her pink leotard getting ready for dance class...

Dancing with Miss Tiffany...

Her favorite part of the whole thing...the DumDum...

Twins??

2008-09-02T23:19:00.000-05:00

I just looked up a picture of Alexis when she was 11 weeks old.

Here is Hannah at 11 weeks.

Is it just me or are the similarities remarkable?? Note that Hannah is two pounds heavier than Alexis was at two months and she has a darker complexion. Other than that, if I wasn't their mother, I may not be able to tell their pictures apart. How crazy is that, especially after I have been telling people that I don't think they look that much alike. Whichever one of us they resemble (I have been told they look exactly like me OR exactly like Scott) must have some rockin' DNA.

Back to blogging...

2008-09-02T21:47:00.000-05:00

It has been almost a year since I have visited my blog. I guess life got busy. Not that it still isn't busy, but I think I will make an effort to keep up this time.

Hannah joined our family on June 18th, 2008 by whirlwind. She came by C-section, at 36 weeks, because she was breech and had low fluid. Wow! She made a dramatic entrance but has been a very easy-going baby. She melts my heart.

This past Sunday, I was in the bathroom at our new house. Scott had come in for something and stepped in front of me and then we he backed up, he stepped on my toes. Ouchie! I yelped in pain and stopped myself from using a few choice words because Alexis was right there. She immediately stopped and said "sorry, Mommy", as if she was taking the blame. Her sweetness instantly took the pain away from my aching toes. She continued on for a minute or so asking if I was OK. I assured her I was and then in a sheer moment of pity, she leaned down and lifted my foot and kissed it, exclaiming. "all better." My eyes welled up with tears. She is such a sensitive soul.

I am having anxiety about Alexis's need to pick up and carry her baby sister. In a controlled environment, it is cute and I smile. I know that is sending the wrong message because when I turn my back for just a moment, she seizes the opportunity. She is so sweet about it though, always bringing her straight to me and saying, "Baby Hannah hun-gree". Instant happiness at the sound of her innocent voice. I hope that someone is watching over my baby Hannah; her overzealous sister may drop her.

We went shopping for ballet shoes today. Her first class is tomorrow. She was smitten with the tiny, baby pink, ballet shoes. She even carried the shopping bag over her shoulder and out to the car. Once safely strapped into her car seat, she got them out, insisted on putting them on, and insisted on wearing them into Costco. I agreed, much to her delight. Besides, you only get your first pair of ballet slippers once. She loves them and I can't wait to see how the class unfolds tomorrow.

I hope to make this blog a regular activity so the rest of the world can hear my constant ramblings. I can hear the excitement.

Ambidextrous??

2007-09-23T19:13:00.000-05:00

You have become almost insistent that you feed yourself these days. You are surprisingly good at it. Most of it gets to your mouth. You prefer the double fisted approach where you have a spoon in each hand and you are equally good with both hands. Maybe we have a ambidextrous little girl on our hands. This only adds to the fact that I already think you are a genius. You also love yogurt! You insist on having it for breakfast and at least one other time during the day. You are not happy in the morning until you go to the fridge and pick out your yogurt. You love it and any flavor will do. I think Key Lime Pie was the flavor of the day in this picture.
You also had a well-baby visit on Friday, September 21st. You weighed in at 23lbs 13oz (50th percentile) and you are 32 inches tall (75th percentile). Much to our new doctor's amazement, you also have a head that measures 50cm (above an beyond the 99th percentile) in circumference. He did tell us he was a little concerned with your "proverbial big head" but that he would watch it and see how you do in the coming months. Overall, you are in excellent health and developing beautifully.
You can now say all kinds of words on command and it is so cute! Especially when you say "baby". You do the sign for baby and in a high pitch voice you say "baby" as plain as day. It melts my heart and brings a tear to my eye every time. The list of words include mama, dada, papa, bye-bye, hi, ball, and baby. Her sitter swears she can say pretzel and watermelon but we have yet to hear those come out of her mouth.
Also, I need to edit that you WERE sleeping through the night when I wrote that last post but you have since reverted to your old routine and we are lucky if we get 4-5 hours of uninterrupted sleep. I keep telling Daddy that one day you won't want to be in our bed and on that day we will miss you terribly. You are growing so fast and sometimes I wish I could just make time stand still so you could be my baby forever.

Pooping on the Floor…..

2007-09-08T18:43:00.000-05:00

In less than one week, you have pooped on the floor 3 times. We are assuming this is a sign that you are getting ready to be potty-trained. I think I read that somewhere. On Monday you had diarrhea and squirted on the floor at Leigh’s house while we were their Labor Day guests. I thought it was just because your tummy was upset. I was wrong. Way wrong. Thursday night, after your bath, I went to get your PJs and I left you diaper-free. You pooped in the floor. Yep, two little turds. You turned and picked one up. Dad thought it was awesome. I thought it was disgusting and promptly scrubbed you clean. Today, I took your diaper off when we got home and you pooped on the floor, only I didn't know about it until I went to put your diaper on less than 3 minutes later. To my surprise, I laid you down and you had poop all over your legs. Dad was on all fours cleaning up the mess and needless to say, you had your bath early. I think we will dig out the ol’ potty seat and try to teach you what it is for.

In other news, you pretty much know all your body parts. You have some trouble with “eye” but I assume it is because it sounds similar to the others. I caught you on tape yesterday and you did them all. It is so cute to hear you say “belly button”. It is more like “bee-bees”. So cute and very smart for a 15 month old!

We went on our first visit to Sea World today. You were not appreciative of the 45 minute wait to see the Shamu show. You finally settled down and the killer whales kept your attention for about 15 minutes. You seemed to enjoy our picnic lunch more than anything. You conked out after the shark tunnel and we went home. I am sure there will be many more trips to Sea World.

You also love to give kisses. You will pucker up your cute little lips and say “Mmmmma”. You like to gives lots of kisses in succession. It is the sweetest thing and I love being the recipient of those wet kisses.

For the best news of all, you are finally sleeping through the night. Although many parents celebrate this milestone within the first few months, we are excited to finally get a full night sleep. You are also spending the night in your own room, in your own crib. I do miss your snuggles and for a couple of nights I let you sleep next to me but I soon realized that everyone sleeps better in their own bed.

You are growing up too fast and I can’t believe you were once so tiny and new.

Naughty, but Cute...

2007-08-21T22:06:00.000-05:00

You have really learned some new things these past few days. You can, without a doubt, say the words "ball" and "ice" and you know what they mean.

You love Mimi's ice machine in the refrigerator and run to watch the ice come out. In the afternoon's when Mimi has a glass of ice water, you run to sit with her so you can have ice. You seem to have an obsession with ice in general. If you are given a sip of any one's drink and it has ice in it, you have to put your hands in the ice. I can give you large chunks of ice and you will happily suck on it till it's gone. You also just learned the word "ball" and you are quite the rebounder when we play with your new basketball set. You look so emphatic when you say it, like your brain is really working hard to make that 'b' sound.

You have also learned more body parts. You know where your nose, ear, and belly button are. It is so cute to ask you where your belly button is. You lift your shirt, point to it, and say "Be-bu-ton", in your own cute way. I must ask you a dozen times a day to show me your bellybutton because it tickles me so much to see you do it.

Daddy taught you where the clouds were yesterday. Now when we ask you where the clouds are, you immediately point to the sky. We give you praise every time and now you will look at us and clap. You are so proud of yourself.

You also can be very naughty. Daddy and I were so embarrassed on Sunday evening because you would not behave in Coco's while we were having pie with Grandpa, Mimi, and their friends. We had to leave - a first for us. You also like to get into cabinets and drawers. You will pull out all of the food from the cabinet and your latest favorite is getting into Mimi's make-up. We are trying to teach you and I keep telling myself that there will be some major "tomato staking" when we get settled.

You also love to go outside. Thanks to Daddy, you actually get to go outside. You pick up all the rocks and run to show us, like it is a treasure. You would spend all day out there if we let you.
We are getting ready to embark on our new journey in a few days. We had to return to Arizona for a couple of weeks to wait on Daddy's company to finish some legalities. We are enjoying Grandpa and Mimi but are anxious to get into our own routine again.

Finally - San Diego - here we come!

Running....

2007-08-03T19:06:00.000-05:00

In the last few days you can really get going, You have now figured out how to run and run fast. You run from us and we are trying to nip that in the bud. You think running is the coolest thing and you have the silliest grin on your face as you run across the floor.

Much to my credit, you now know where your nose is. I have been working with you for a couple of weeks but I am sure now that you know. If you say, "Alexis, where is your nose?", you point to your nose, every time, without fail. Most times you stick your finger in your nose. I hope this is not a sign of habits to come.

Today. I was getting ready to go to lunch and I was curling my hair at Mom's vanity. You were being overly whiny (as it seems you are a lot lately) and Mimi tried to distract you by asking you to show her the dog. There was a picture of a dog on an advertisement paper lying on the ground. You looked at her and walked away. You went into the kitchen and found your Touch and Feel book with the dog in it and brought it back to Mimi. She then asked you where the dog was and you opened the book to the dog page. If that wasn't enough, she showed you the picture of the fish and you very clearly said "fish". I was amazed, as was your Mimi.

You seemed to have missed the memo that you aren't supposed to have separation anxiety until 15 months. I can't leave the room without you following me and chanting, "mamamamama", while holding your arms in the air. It is quite a pathetic sight but it is cute enough for me to always pick you up. You seemed to prefer me from birth, literally. The night you were born you would not stay in the bassinet, even when the nurse insisted that you could not sleep with me in my hospital bed. You didn't want Daddy were only satisfied with me and you have continued on that streak everyday for the last 14 months. I really don't mind because I know that one day I won't be your #1 pick to hang out with.

Tomorrow we leave Prescott for California on this new chapter in our lives. Hang on, girl, it's gonna be a wild ride.

Hello?!?!?

2007-07-26T15:57:00.000-05:00

You are so cute.....now when you have a cell phone (or regular phone) in your hand and one of us says "hello", you put the phone up to your ear and attempt a "hello" but it comes out more as a "oho". You have watched me spend hours on the phone since you were born and countless hours hearing my voice on the phone while you were in utero, so it is no surprise that you know what to do at the ripe old age of 14 months. I tease Daddy that it is a matter of months before you will need your own cell phone. Maybe a baby Blue Tooth...

New Words

2007-07-21T21:04:00.000-05:00

You are saying the cutest things! My favorite is "deeshh". Like you are saying "this" but with an accent. Among the ongoing list is "seeshh", "a-dith", "bwupp", and "Suzy" when you see Grammie and Papa's cat. Your vocabulary is blooming and I am sure that one day you will talk our ears off.

You still do what Daddy coined as the "car starter" cry. When you are really mad you get so worked up that your cry sounds exactly like a car starting. It is a flashback from your early days especially since you have lost a lot of the cute things you used to do like sticking out your pouty lip and the unmistakable raccoon eyes. Every now and again you will say "ah-whoo" and it is so adorable and reminds me of your sweet newborn smell and tiny body.

In other news, Daddy was offered a position at General Atomics in San Diego, California. We will be moving there in just a couple of weeks. You are such a little trooper...traveling with us as we find our way in the world. You are already been to more places in your short life than I had been at age 20. Life is changing but I am looking forward to all the new and exciting things we will explore together.

"E.T."

2007-07-17T20:15:00.000-05:00

You have learned to point your finger and have someone come and touch it with their pointed finger, just as the 1980's movie "E.T." It is so cute and everyone laughs when you do it. You used to come across the room when someone would point and put your tiny finger up to theirs but now you point and wave your tiny finger until someone comes up and touches it with their pointed finger. It seems as though it is your connection to the adult world, either that or you love the attention you get when you do it.

We are in California now on the search for employment. It is as if we are nomads, traveling from one place to the next. I feel so guilty that you do not have a place to call home and I am sure you are confused when you wake up and find yourself in a new place almost every day. You are adapting much better than I anticipated and you have more strength in your tiny body than Daddy and I seem to have put together. You are strong, just as I dreamed you would be.

On another note, you continue to fall in love with all of the pets you come across. You love Suzy, Grammie and Papa's cat. She is almost bigger than you and yet you still tackle her, in your own gentle way. She puts up with it for the most part...I think she realizes that you are little. You loved playing with your cousin Shelby and it took a lot of sleeping today to recover from the last few days of playing with her. You follow her like she is your newest hero. You want to do all the things she does and it is so cute to see you try. You are precious and although I am proud to watch you grow, it still saddens me that everyday you grow, you are that much closer to not being a baby anymore.

July 8th, 2007

2007-07-08T19:15:00.001-05:00

I have leaped into the blogging world. I hope to use this as a journal of your toddler years. I spend enough time on the computer that I should do something meaningful besides surfing the glorious world-wide web. I was sad that the infamous 1st year calendar was sealed a few weeks ago. I thought of buying a journal and jotting things down but this just seemed easier...or maybe I am just lazy. Whatever the reason, you will have my thoughts written down as we travel through the toddler years. I hope that in 20 years, you can read this and laugh at your humble beginnings.

Today you are 13 months, 2 weeks, and 1 day old. You have suddenly changed into a "kid". You, of course, are still very much my baby, but you have an attitude that is emerging rather quickly. A much referenced website, babycenter.com is sited as saying,

"Communication with your 13-month-old is getting more sophisticated all the time. She's probably got the hang of "Dada," "Mama," and a few other recognizable words, though she's still quite good at making her desires known without much vocabulary. When she wants down, she'll point down; when she wants your attention, she'll tug your shirt. She's also understanding a good percentage of the simple language you use around her every day, so be sure to talk to her and read to her as much as possible."

I seem to have missed the part about the squealing temper and utter defiance? Who is this child? You have started to insist on having everything your way.....we are working on modifying that. You have a mind of your own, that is for sure. You seem to understand everything we say, and if it is some sort of command then you decide whether or not to listen. There are times that you are told no and you will look around to see if anyone is watching and you sneak to do it again. You can be such a little stinker!

You have just learned how to click with your tongue. I am not sure where you learned to do it but it sure is cute! You love animals. We went to visit some friends today and they had dogs - were you ever excited! You wouldn't take your eyes off of them. I am sure that one day you will have to have a puppy - but I have a lot of convincing to do with Daddy. Your hair is also growing...Grandpa says it didn't grow until you came to Arizona. You have a total of 8 teeth...all of them came with much pain and hardship on your part. I never knew how miserable a baby could be when they are teething!

You continue to nurse throughout the day and night. You are such a wiggle worm when you nurse. It seems as though you wish you could just take them with you...too bad they are attached to my body. You say "mama", "mom", "dada", "this" and "that". You are constantly "talking". It is almost all incomprehensible but you are so cute when you really have something important to say. You have this serious look about you and we just know that whatever you are saying must be earth-shattering! You also love to get into cabinets and close doors. You will close every open door you pass by. You are the entertainment!

I purchased the cutest, but most impractical and silly outfit on Saturday. What little girl doesn't need butterfly wings and a tutu? So cute as you can see for yourself...

You are so precious and I am blessed to be able to witness you growing up.

Love,
Mommy