Milestones

Today, my daughter rolled her eyes at me and RJ.

It's way too early for this.

Right?

On the plus side, it was super cute.

Summer List and Zooventure

We're having a really busy summer this year. It's fun! Thought I'd make a list. I love lists.
The stuff we've done is in blue

Swim (we joined our neighborhood pool this year)
Go to the zoo
Have a picnic
Go to a baseball game
Go to the lake
Join the library's summer reading program
Catch fireflies
Plant something and keep it alive
Play video games together
Read lots of books
School- we've only got fun stuff to do this summer
See movies- Toy Story 3, Avatar the Last Airbender (we've watched the cartoon, which is so good!), Karate Kid
Go see the ocean!
Visit a museum



A couple of weekends ago, we took the kids to Memphis. We stayed in a hotel and went to the zoo.

.

Words the Baby can Say

This was inevitable...

bubble
ball
pillow
boo
mama
dada
buba
puppet
puppy
kitty
pee pee
poo poo
booty
booty poo
shoes
that
blankie
baby
my
snack
cup
JJ (what we call pajamas. X couldn't say the P when he was little, he just said JJ's)
whee!

She can also bark like a puppy, make monkey noises, shake her head "no", and make noises when she plays with cars. And, best of all, she gives kisses.

Also, pictures.






The Tiger Cubs won the spirit stick!

Things that have been colored on... so far

my laptop
the refrigerator
the cabinets
a chair
the bed
X's leg
M's face
M's hands
M's clothes
my shirt
the math teacher book
the thing we keep school books on


last but not least, coloring books


I'm thinking budding artist? She's certainly got the temperament for it!

ETA: and in the hour since I posted this, she's colored on yet another shirt, the bathroom door and her walker. yay. All art supplies are now put on the high shelf, and there have been two temper tantrums over the taking away of the crayons. double yay.

Picture Post

We take most of our pics these days with RJ's iphone. Which is great for getting pictures taken, but bad for posting. So enjoy!

M stealing grapes at the grocery store.


Tired Baby



Park Afternoon





Me and Mara in matching roll up pants.


Easter baskets! X was so handsome! (that box is full of jellybeans- it was his favorite!)


M's first Easter basket. She got sand/pool toys and crackers.


Typical.


Pigtails and X's old shorts on M. Very cute.

My Favorite Girl

Wow

This is one of the reasons I home birthed. Interesting comments, too.

My OB said What?

Actually, this whole site is interesting, I've been reading it for a while.

Babies

This is the blog of my friend Kaitlin. Go look.

I have a few things to say...

A. This is my BABY sister. I've decided she is not allowed to be this grown up and beautiful.

B. My baby is cute, cute, cute. And also my husband.

That is all.

Playdate!

A friend came over to play!

Mostly they ate each other's snacks and tried to poke the others eyes.










Matching hair! (Although Rosie's is much thicker!)

Also, it was fantastic to see Amy!

Because I Have Adorable Children

This is how I found them one morning. In a box.


I went out one night (to my Mom group). This is what I found when I got home.



Reading to his sister.


She had eaten lunch, and I asked the Monkey to give her some toys so that she could play for a minute while I was taking care of some baking in the kitchen. Aparently she couldn't wait for me to put her down for her nap!

The biggest news in our house is, of course, all about Mara! She's growing and changing every day!

She waves goodbye and hello. She loves her blankie, and gets excited every time I pick it up, because it means eats and sleeps. She loves, loves, loves her big brother! Last night, she was doing the "roll 'em up" part of pattycake.

And the biggest thing? She's taken two steps! One witnessed by me, one witnessed by Callie.

Xander's biggest news... He had the most fantastic night ever at the Cub Scouts Christmas party!
Not only did he get lots of achievements, but he was chosen to be the magician's assistant, he got his popcorn-selling prize- a multiple tool, AND he got to throw a pie at his den leader. (kids who sold over $250 got to throw a pie.)

And now, for pictures...

Snuggles with Daddy after a nap. With Blankie, of course.


Crazy hair.


Showing off all of his Christmas loot.


Baby's First Christmas! Excited but confused.


Before.


Cub Scout visit to a Firehouse.

Oh My

A sign of things to come?

Yesterday, walking down the hallway at church, Baby in my arms. Her chubby arm flung into the air, little hand waving at everyone she sees.

Social Butterfly, here we come!

Sneak Peak

Every year, at about this time, we make a family portrait. Usually we use it on our Christmas cards. This is part of what I'm working on for this year...

Braging

Baby Monkey fell asleep in her highchair. She woke up before I could get her picture, though. Check out her lunch- avocado, carrots, potato and apple chunks. (all cooked very, very soft. Except for the avocado!) She loves feeding herself! Also, she turned 8 months old last week. 8 Months!!


My children were in a box this morning. I put them there for safekeeping. That way I always know where they are!

(just kidding. They went in willingly. The Boy has a thing about playing in boxes. In fact, "Not a Box" is one of his favorite books, and not just because he can read every word.)

The Boy is prepared. Just in case there is a coloring emergency.

Heavens to Betsy

I have so many pictures to share! I think I'll just work my way backwards. So... That means starting with seeing The Pioneer Woman! She was at the Wal-Marts signing her cookbook! The cookbook that my Mom got me for my birthday!

We were Excited!

Mara was not.

We met up with my cousin, Jill, and my friend, Rachel. It was really fun to stand in line together! First, we met Marlboro Man. He was very nice, and signed our books and took pictures. There was much discussion about which picture we should have him sign, because the end of the book has a picture of his... ahem... heiney. We all had him sign a picture of his face, though. Because we are nothing if not decorous. He said Mara was cute! Also, he called GG (she wasn't able to get off of work) and left her a message on her phone! He said it was a first. I guess not many people ask total strangers to call their sisters. Huh.

Mara was not happy about the wait. Mom walked around with her.

And here she is! Signing our books! And also having a phone conversation with GG.

I restrained myself from blurting out, "Will you be my best friend? I have a cute baby! I'll share her with you!"

Right after this, Mara grabbed the back of her hair. Sorry about that PW! Her hands weren't grubby, I promise!

And that is how I spent 2.5 hours of my Monday night! I heard later that some people waited 4 hours!

Pumpkin Pach