Notes to Self

I have a very well written friend who brilliantly rehashes her Adventures in Motherhood.
She's funny.
She's sweet.
And, man oh man, she LOVES her beautiful boys!

I read her blog and wonder, "Gee...I sure wish I could write like that."
Or...
"Gee....I sure wish I could have things to report on in a creative way."

Therefore, it's come down to good ol' plagarizing.

Every now and then my friend will list a bunch of "lessons" she's learned along her journey of being a fabulous mom. Sometimes the lessons are sweet and sappy. But sometimes the lessons are freaking hilarious.
I'm talkin' slap-your-knee/milk-coming-out-of-your-nose hilarious.
She ties one into the previous ones and it turns into a list of "no way could that really happen to one person."
BRILLIANT!

Therefore, I'm copying her method and format.
Please forgive me. By no means am I going to attempt her humor because.....well, I'm just not that funny.

Notes to self:
1. For baby #2, introduce milk at one year of age in a sippy cup. No bottles. Don't even teach the word "bottle."

2. If baby #2 becomes addicted to the bottle (much like baby #1), rip the band-aid over a weekend. No bottles. None. No matter what Daddy says.

3. When dealing with the above issues, don't worry about constipation or dehydration. Ms. Jenny will fix those little things on Monday at day care.

4. If we decide to ever move bedrooms again for the kids and the safety gate at the top of the stairs has to be taken down, I should keep an eye on the toddlers just in case one decides to go down with her blankie, stop, turn around to take a look and trip and tumble down the rest of the way.

5. After #4 happens, it might be a good idea to keep an extra eye out if that same toddler approaches the stairs from the other end and wants to take a "big girl" step up. You wouldn't want her to not make the step and fall face first into the only spot missing carpet (thank you, Bear) and bust her lip open. This is key, especially if you want to keep it from happening within 30 minutes of #4.

6. Also when transitioning bedrooms, maybe don't decide to make the first night in a new room on a Sunday when you have to go to work on Monday.

7. If it smells like poo, it probably is poo. Even if it doesn't necessarily look like poo. When the decision is made to take off a questionably smelly diaper while the toddler is standing up, don't be surprised to find poo and don't get too upset when the said toddler makes that the time to come straddle your panted leg to snuggle.

8. Perhaps I should re-evaluate myself as a mother if all of the above take place within 72 hours.

Hi, Lily!

Call me crazy, but I think she's trying to say her name!
I do have to admit that I'm a bit disappointed....
I was hoping to hear "Will Wee."




Here are some other fun pics.....

More fun times with 75% of my favorite girls!

(You know who you are, other 25%!)

Future's lookin' so bright....

Learning how to hang with dad early.

Seriously? This is what I come home to?

Yes, that's a beer.

And, no, she couldn't be smiling any bigger.

FOR THE LOVE!!!!

How do I get this thing to

stop

double

spacing????

HELP!!!!

Places to go, people to see

What do you do when the weather is nice?

I honestly forgot.

OH! You go OUTSIDE!

You PLAY PLAY PLAY!!!!!

We've had a fun month between going to Colton's 2nd birthday party, having a playdate with handsome little Bryson or just tooling around Marietta Square with sweet baby Owen. This little girl cries when she has to go inside. She LOVES being in the great outdoors running around and exploring.

Can't wait for summer!

Playing kitchen with Riley


"I beat to my own drum, ma."

Just a swingin'

Things Lily is doing these days....

Loves Teddy Grahams (or whatever it is you happen to be eating)

Can point to her head, nose and tummy

Speaks Spanish to me so I can't understand her when she wants to get down from her high chair. I ask, she replies with "Baaahh.....baaahh." Now one could interpret that as asking for her bah-bah (bottle of milk) but not me. She is very obviously saying "ba-ha-de." I might not be able to spell it but my genius baby can absolutely say it.

Pointing

Asking for things by saying please via sign language (or whining)

And she's still fun and adorable and kissable and everything in between!

What About Me?

You know that song that goes...."What about me? It isn't fair. I've had enough now I want my share. Can't you see?" Yadda yadda yadda.
That's kind of what I'm living right now.
Although I lack photo proof, Lily and John are INSEPARABLE right now.

Everything John says is hilarious.
Everything John does is perfect.
Everything John looks at is something she HAS TO have.
Everything Lily wants, she gets....from John.

Yes, it's sweet. But what am I? Chopped liver?

He comes home and the dog can hardly keep his bladder in check and Lily goes absolutely bonkers.
I come to the babysitter to pick her up and she runs the other way and hides.
WTH?

So, in order to gain some points, I've taken the sweet little girl to some playdates.

First there was Tanner...

...which made her sleepy.

Then there was Charlie...

...who let Lily poke him a bit.

Baby in a box

Then I left Lily with our sweet babysitter, AJ, while I went to a friend's baby shower. It was great to have some grown up time on the weekend and catch up with some friends.

I even got a little something out of it from my good buddy Erin.....

Some cute maternity clothes!

Wait just a second.
Back the bus up.

Some WHAT?!?!

Yup, I said it.

Maternity clothes.

Lily had another big birthday present that we haven't reported on until now.

She's going to be a big sister this summer!

"But don't you have a 13 month old?"

Yes, yes I do.

"Was this planned?"

Yes, we wanted another one.

No, we had no clue it really only takes one time to make it happen.

This is how we told my mom....by asking her to open Lily's last little gift from us:

And here's the little peanut today:

Growing strong with a hefty heartbeat.

It's not 100% confirmed yet, but it looks like it could be another girl!!!

As for anything being about me.....
Well, I'm accepting the fact that's not going to happen for quite some time now.

Happy Birthday, Bug!!!

1 whole year.
52 weeks
365 days.
Some sort of number of hours.
Our life has never been better than it's been since Lily arrived. She's greatest thing since sliced bread, in my opinion! Let's recap Lily's Winter One-derland Party:

Nana, Papa, Wendy, Betsy and Morgan came into town for the festivities.
Auntie Sarah flew in, as well. Then we had our fun neighbor kids over along with Bryson, Nelson and Bradley and their parents.

I honestly couldn't have decorated better. Mother Nature decided to bring in some snow a few days early but it had been (and continued to be) so flipping cold out, that it stuck on the sidewalk and roof. As for the inside, Father Freeze threw up a bunch of snowflakes that hung around the house.

Lily woke up that morning and I swear she knew it was her birthday! She had been fighting off a cold the week prior but she was ready and rearing to go that morning. It was HER day!!!

Enjoy the pics:

It's MY birthday!!!

It's MY party dress!!!

It's MY mommy and daddy!!!

It's MY new book!!!

It's MY first cake!!!

What did Daddy do to MY hair?!?!

It's MY Morgan (but she can't have my cake)

12 month stats:

Weight: 20 lbs 2.4 oz (approx 50th percentile)

Height: 30 inches (75th percentile)

Head: we won't mention it but it's in the 95th percentile (Thanks, John)

Words/Commands:

"duck"

"Bear Bear"

"ba ba" (bottle)

"HI" (to everyone and everything and reflections and pictures and .....)

Identifies her tummy (and yours)

When she sees a picture of a dog, she'll sometimes make a noise like "woof woof."

Walking all over the place and hardly crawling anymore

Identifies her blankie

"dada" (all the time)

"mama" (when she wants something)

All in all....she's PERFECT!

She's wearing an outfit that I wore when I was around the same age!

I think she likes it!

Maybe not

Christmas 2009!

WOW!!! Christmas has come and gone already. In fact, it's already a new year.
We're busy planning Lily's first birthday party, getting the house in shape and getting ourselves in some sort of shape.
Here are some pics from the holidays. Lily didn't really seem to quite "get it" this year, but she will definitely enjoy next year that much more!

Not to forget the other baby....

Christmas morning!

The poor baby in the background didn't get squat.

He kept thinking Lily's toys belonged to him.

It's totally true.....she was more interested in the boxes.

Here are some "just for fun" photos....

What a difference a year makes:

Does it get any sweeter?

Report Card

A-, for a well decorated tree but with limited height

A+ for our wonderful addition to the fireplace this year

A, for planning a lunchdate with handsome Tanner.

Lily was pleased getting to stare at him from across the table.

Isn't he soooo cute?!?!

B-, for taking a dumb picture just for grins

D+, for washing my fuzzy sweater with John's not so fuzzy sweater
which has since become fuzzy
(I was distracted by this cutie pie!)

And to round it off......

F for cooking.

I was quite ambitious the other day and wanted to make baked potato soup. I had all the right ingredients, had all the right tools and even had the timing down.

I mixed things.

I added things.

I even cubed things.

I was feeling really good about myself when the scent started filling up the kitchen.

This was going to be GREAT STUFF!

I served John.
He wouldn't even give it to the dog to try.

He asked, "Did you cook the potatoes?"
I replied, "They've been in the pan on the stove for a while and they seemed squishy to me."

He stated, "Did you follow the directions? I guarantee it says to cook the potatoes before mixing."

I search and search for it on my recipe hoping to prove him wrong.

There was nothing in the instructional portion of the recipe so I checked up at the ingredients.....

6 red potatoes, peeled, cooked and cooled

Yup. I had the potatoes and they were peeled better than other potatoes ever were.

Nothing was cooked.

Nobody ate.

In the hopes to redeem myself tonight since John was coming home early, I told him I wanted to make it up to him by making dinner. He was rightfully a bit frightened by this suggestion but, like the good husband that he is, he asked, "Do you need anything?"

"Well.....I forgot to defrost the chicken."

No wonder he has lost all confidence in me.

She's on the Move, People!

11 months

2 days

and

19 hours old.....

Lily Grace took her first steps!

I tried to grab the camera to catch her in the act, but it was just so much fun laughing and crying and enjoying her "running" to my outstretched arms that I wanted to live in the moment.

However, I did capture steps 2-4 before I truly believed that she was actually walking.



Here's what I got:

Thankful Little Turkey

(From Lily)

I'm thankful for......

...meeting my cousins Nicholas and Nathan and my Aunt Jenise and Uncle Kurt:

...Mommy making it back in one piece after her first ride on a motorcycle:

...the fun toys Nana had for me to play with at her house:

...Daddy driving us to Houston and letting us stay longer even when he had to go home:

...football, because it keeps Daddy entertained:

...my Aunt Wendy,

...because she makes me smile:

...for cousin Morgan teaching me new tricks:

...for Morgan taking me down a slide without falling off:

...my Texas turkeys:

...my first Thanksgiving dinner:

...getting to go on my first Girls' Christmas Shopping Day with lunch at the Cheesecake Factory:

...Nana footing the bill for the lunch:

...getting to see my first Christmas tree at the Galleria:

...Mommy putting me in Morgan's lap:

...for child protective services because I almost called them to get me away from this....this.....this....big, red thing:

I'm starting to not be so thankful right about now:

...being able to provide the afternoon entertainment for Mommy, Nana, Aunt Wendy and Aunt Betsy:

...leaving that man behind:

...getting to see Brady and his mom Rebecca:

...having such a good friend:

...those big, beautiful blue eyes:

...Morgan and her jewlery:

...Morgan:

...my mom being so cool:

...Uncle JR taking such good care of Mommy on his Harley, on the highway, heading to a biker bar.