Conversations with my 3 year old...

Tonight at dinner we were listening to some of Daddy's music and Aaron started singing a line to M from Who Will Stop the Rain by CCR.


Daddy:  And I wonder still I wonder who will stop the rain.
M:  (very matter of factly) God will.

Let's just say that Daddy and I both busted up laughing.  Then told her she was very right.  She just kept looking at us like why would you ever even be asking that question.  Love her!

Birthday Pics

Here is a picture recap of G's 1st bday.  We couldn't have asked for nicer weather.  We celebrated with some special friends at the water park and then opened presents as a family later in the day.  It was a nice relaxed way to celebrate!!

The birthday girl!

Pizza Picnic at the park

Cupcakes...it was too windy to get the candle lit...oh well!

We love her so much!

Miss Cutie-Patootie with sleepy eyes

(she had just gotten up from her nap)

This is what she wanted to do with her presents. 

Who needs new toys when you can climb on the boxes?! :)

"Helping" daddy put her stroller together

Thank you to all our family and friends who helped make her day extra special.

We love you all!

Metamorphosis

Is M's new word of the day!!!  This afternoon she just started chanting, "Me-ta-mor-pho-sis," over and over.  At first I couldn't believe what I was hearing, but nope that is exactly what she was saying.  Hahaha!!!

When asked where she learned this..."On the pad (ipad that is)."
I asked if she had heard it on one of her Sesame Street podcasts.  "Yes, Mama!!"
When asked what it means..."I don't know!"  And the chanting began again.  :)

ONE

My Sweet Little G,

It is so hard to believe that a year has gone by since you came into this world.  Unbelievable!

Today as I was rocking you to sleep for your nap I happened to look up at the clock and it was 1:35.  This brought tears to my eyes because I realized that probably 365 days ago around that time I was more than likely looking into your cloudy blue eyes and holding you for the very first time.  I was listening to your small cry and thinking that it was the most beautiful sound in the whole world.  You have no idea how relieved and excited I was to meet you face-to-face.  Since mid-June you had been trying to work your way out and you had one tired Mama.  It was time for the contractions to stop and for life with my TWO girls to begin.  And begin it has....

You have filled our home with laughter more times than I can remember in the last year and I'm sure you will continue to do this.   One of your favorite past times these days is to make all of us crack up.  You are a girl of many, many faces from wrinkling up your nose and sticking out your tongue when you don't like something to your sly, mischievous faces that tell us you are going to be up to no good.  Oh how you look like your daddy and your Grammy when you are getting ready to be funny or tease someone and your eyes start to twinkle.  I can barely keep a straight face to scold you when you have been naughty and you know it.  If I say, "NO!" you just laugh and do it anyway.  You are a little jokester!!!  You remind us all to lighten up and laugh a bit...or a LOT!!

G in the past week you have begun to stand on your own.  A few weeks ago you would do this, but you had no idea that you were standing without support.  Now you are very aware of what you are doing, proud of yourself, and you look to your mama, daddy, or sister for cheers & claps each time you do this. I know that it is not long before you will be taking your first few wobbly steps and gaining just a bit more independence.  You will LOVE being able to chase your big sister.  Does she have any clue what she is in for???  I don't think so!  :)

The park has become a very exciting place for you.  We put shoes on you for the first time about 2 weeks ago so you could explore and you love the slides and swings.  You aren't too sure about the bouncy bridge when your sister is jumping as hard as she can, but if M is being nice and doing little jumps you think that it is highly hilarious.  You would crawl all over if Mama would let you, but since it grosses me out to let you crawl too much at the park, you will just have to wait until you are toddling around to do more exploring.

Besides who needs the park when you are climbing all over the place at home.  Your problem-solving skills are growing in leaps and bounds.  You have figured out how to climb on the stool to brush your teeth like a big girl.  You have figured out how to crawl onto a little chair and then the little table to see out the window and just today Daddy and I watched you push a chair up to Daddy's chair, crawl into the little chair, then up on to Daddy's lap so that you could see Papa on the computer screen.  What determination!!!  This scares Mama a little.  Your sister did not climb to get what she wanted.  Makes me wonder what kind of things you will be getting into.  Everything is my guess!!

At one you (just to name a few):

1. Like to listen to books and enjoy turning the pages for Mama.  Your favorite books as of now are Pajama Time by Sandra Boynton, and Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Bill Martin Jr.  You also enjoy any books with big pictures of animals (i.e. Can You Growl Like a Bear?  by John Butler, I Know a Rhino by Charles Fuge)
2. Enjoy any toys that can be stacked or put into & taken out of containers
3. Are very attached to your dolly that Grammy gave you for Christmas
4. Love faces and jewelry
5. Can say hi, all done (aw don), daddy (DA), mama
6. Have 4 teeth (2 on top, 2 on bottom) and enjoy brushing your own teeth, but hate it when Mama or Daddy have to do it
7. Are just now starting to wear size 12 month clothes
8. Still take 2 naps (usually from 9:30-11:30 & 2:00-4 or 4:30) and sleep from 7:30 at night until 7 or 7:30 in the morning
9. Sing with Mama and have just recently attempted to dance (but just a little because you'd rather sing)
10. LOVE to eat blueberries.  They are your favorite food right now.  If you see me put them in the grocery cart at the store you complain very loudly that you can't have them NOW.   

G, I am blessed beyond measure to call you my daughter, my baby girl, my beautiful gift from God.  I look forward to year 2 and all our new adventures.  

I love you bunches and bunches,

Your Mama

Because she is cute and almost one

And because she can crawl into the Bumbo and sit, but then she can't get out.  

Makes me laugh.

I'm going to be...

AN AUNT AGAIN

I'm so excited and can't wait to meet the little guy! 

His due date is 1/11/11.  

I kind of hope he comes on that day just so he'll have such a fun bday, 

but I bet his Mama (and Daddy) will be ready to meet him before that!

Congrats, Jonathan and Katie!!

Oh how I have missed you

This week we have finally gotten a reprieve from the humidity.  The summer weather that I have been looking forward too and missing has finally shown its beautiful face and I am so very thankful!!!  I love that we have been able to go to the park, the Farms Market, and even for walks without sweating or just feeling nasty sticky.  I also love that I have been able to open my windows at night.  Hallelujah!!!  I also love that I get to spend time outdoors watching my girls explore and just be kids.  So thankful for this weather!!!!  

A Language Explosion

G has always been pretty vocal, but in the last week we have seen a definite change in her talking.

1. She no longer just babbles for the sake of making noise.  She is now "talking" with a purpose.  She will point to something, look at me, and say something.  I have no idea what she is saying, but it is fun to imagine what she must be thinking and M loves to tell me what she thinks G is saying.  
2. We are also starting to hear her say actual words.  To an outsider I'm sure that she sounds like she isn't saying much, but to those of us who listen to her all day we can now understand aw don (all done), hi, DA (daddy), daw (dolly), and MA (mama).  
3. She sings with me each night as I put her to bed.  As soon as I start Jesus Loves Me, she begins to sing in this sweet soft voice.  It is melt-your-heart adorable.  I've also caught her singing at random times when she is playing.  LOVE THIS!!
4.  I now know that she is signing "all done."  She will raise one hand and open and close it.  

It is amazing how they change so much in a day.  I am so blessed to be able to stay home with my girls and watch them grow.  

What Not To Do

Don't play with Poison Ivy or try to pull it off your house
when you don't know that it is actually poison ivy.  

(FYI...the pictures do not show how bad it really is)

NO GOOD!!!  

Don't play with it and double check what type of beautiful "vine" is growing on your house before ripping it down.  Worst itch ever!!  

And seeing as I've had lots of experience with annoying rashes...you should trust me on this one.

And if you happen to choose not to listen to me or run into this horrid little plant and realize that the thought of gnawing off your own arm to get rid of the itch doesn't sound all that bad, then run to the store and buy yourself some of this

http://www.zanfel.com

I just found out about it today from a friend.  It is the only thing that has brought me any serious relief in about 3 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!

Have you ever tried to care for young children while dealing with a persistent itch!  I don't recommend it.  Makes me want to swear.  
A LOT!!  
It is enough to send you to the funny farm!

Here's hoping I don't need oral steroids to kick this.  

UGH!!!

11 Months

Let's not talk about how old my baby will be in less then one month.  :)

She is on the go ALL the time so for now these are the only pics that I've gotten.  

This is what happens...

when you have a daughter!
Such sacrifice.  :)