Saturday, August 27, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
Birthday post
It's been almost a week since Lauren turned 4 and had her birthday party! I'm late posting this, but better late than never, right?
Nina, Papa, Aunt Jen, Uncle Chris, Kennedy, Brady, Kinley, Kate and James all came to her party to help her celebrate her birthday. Kinley's parents and Kate's parents came too. I was so glad everyone could come! We had her party from 11:00 to 1:00 so that we could have hamburgers and hot dogs before birthday cake.
Speaking of the cake... it was HUGE!
Nina, Papa, Aunt Jen, Uncle Chris, Kennedy, Brady, Kinley, Kate and James all came to her party to help her celebrate her birthday. Kinley's parents and Kate's parents came too. I was so glad everyone could come! We had her party from 11:00 to 1:00 so that we could have hamburgers and hot dogs before birthday cake.
Speaking of the cake... it was HUGE!
My mom brought it up with them so I wouldn't have to run all the way to Little Rock to pick it up. Lauren's request was for a princess cake with dark pink icing. I think it turned out perfect! And who doesn't love cookie cake???
The kids swam for awhile and then we fed everybody lunch. I'm a terrible planner and so everything was just thrown out on the countertops so all had to fend for themselves. But it all tasted good and that's what matters most!
Then it was time for presents and cake!
YUM!
Everyone had pink teeth because of the icing! Ha!
She got some great gifts for her birthday thanks to sweet family and friends! Which reminds me... I need to write Thank You notes!
It was a fun party and I think everyone had a good time! Lauren is already telling me that she'll be FIVE on her next birthday! HA! Whoa, girl, slow down! You just turned FOUR!!!
Lauren, I can't believe it's been 4 years since you were born. Time flies, baby. You are still my sweet, happy, and giggly little baby girl. Never change. You are learning so much these days and are asking lots of questions about our upcoming move to Louisiana. You even spilled the beans to everyone at your school before we could tell them! :) I love your sweet spirit. You wear your heart on your sleeve... much like your Mama. You are kind and such a loving big sister. I hope you and your baby sister will be the best of friends. I hope you will teach her how to be kind and sweet and how to laugh at everything. I love you to the moon and back, baby. To the moon and back.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Ch-Ch-Chaaaanngge!
Thoughts are pouring and streaming out of my head so fast I don’t think I can get them down on paper fast enough. Things are changing around here… rapidly. But that’s usually what happens with change. It comes out of nowhere and in the blink of any eye, things are different.
We are moving. WOW. It feels good to “say” that. Yes, we are moving… again. But this is a final destination move because we are moving home to Louisiana. It feels REALLY good to say that!
Let me explain. We moved away from Louisiana in 2003. From 2003 to 2005 we lived in Texarkana. Then from 2005 to now we have lived in various spots in Central Arkansas (Hensley, Bryant, and finally here in our small town). So, we’ve been gone from home for 8 years and we’ve missed it terribly.
Of course we have made some amazing and forever friends here, but it’s time to go home. It’s time to be in a place where our girls can be within 30 minutes of seeing grandparents, aunts/uncles, and cousins. It’s time.
Shortly after Catherine was born we felt a very strong pull to move home. I tried to fight it at first because in my mind I was thinking… We can’t move now! I just had a baby! But the timing is right.
It’s right for a lot of reasons. There are some crazy instabilities going on with my job. Trey is ready to do something different with his job. Lauren has one more year of preschool before starting Kindergarten and we can get her acclimated to a new environment before that happens. Catherine is so little she will never remember this move.
Everything is falling into place. I have been FRANTICLY trying to get my girls into a daycare in our hometown. It’s dang near impossible with waiting lists. But Lauren is all set in a preschool program at a Baptist church that is not far from my new job and run by one of my best friend’s mother in law. Catherine will join Lauren at that same facility in October and my mom will keep her until then. Thanks be to God.
Our living arrangements will be temporary but perfect. My Grandma moved into an assisted living facility earlier this year and her cute little house is vacant. My parents have offered for us to live there while our house is on the market, rent free. Thanks be to God.
My job. Wow, this is crazy. Originally I interviewed for a position in the Accounting department with this company. I didn’t have the exact qualifications that they were looking for, but apparently they liked me. The Director I interviewed with passed along my name to another manager that was hiring for a position that is remarkably similar to my current job. I interviewed for the job and was extended an offer 2 weeks later for the same salary I make now. Thanks be to God.
Do you see God’s hand in this? I do. We have always been taken care of in all of our moves and this feels no different. I have faith that this move is His Will. I prayed so hard that if we weren’t supposed to move then we would know it. And if it was His Will then He would provide all the ways to do so. We believe God is providing us a way to be closer to our families. Which has been a dream for many years.
I will miss so many people here… but that is another post with a box of Kleenex by the keyboard. I’m not ready to write that one yet.
We are moving. WOW. It feels good to “say” that. Yes, we are moving… again. But this is a final destination move because we are moving home to Louisiana. It feels REALLY good to say that!
Let me explain. We moved away from Louisiana in 2003. From 2003 to 2005 we lived in Texarkana. Then from 2005 to now we have lived in various spots in Central Arkansas (Hensley, Bryant, and finally here in our small town). So, we’ve been gone from home for 8 years and we’ve missed it terribly.
Of course we have made some amazing and forever friends here, but it’s time to go home. It’s time to be in a place where our girls can be within 30 minutes of seeing grandparents, aunts/uncles, and cousins. It’s time.
Shortly after Catherine was born we felt a very strong pull to move home. I tried to fight it at first because in my mind I was thinking… We can’t move now! I just had a baby! But the timing is right.
It’s right for a lot of reasons. There are some crazy instabilities going on with my job. Trey is ready to do something different with his job. Lauren has one more year of preschool before starting Kindergarten and we can get her acclimated to a new environment before that happens. Catherine is so little she will never remember this move.
Everything is falling into place. I have been FRANTICLY trying to get my girls into a daycare in our hometown. It’s dang near impossible with waiting lists. But Lauren is all set in a preschool program at a Baptist church that is not far from my new job and run by one of my best friend’s mother in law. Catherine will join Lauren at that same facility in October and my mom will keep her until then. Thanks be to God.
Our living arrangements will be temporary but perfect. My Grandma moved into an assisted living facility earlier this year and her cute little house is vacant. My parents have offered for us to live there while our house is on the market, rent free. Thanks be to God.
My job. Wow, this is crazy. Originally I interviewed for a position in the Accounting department with this company. I didn’t have the exact qualifications that they were looking for, but apparently they liked me. The Director I interviewed with passed along my name to another manager that was hiring for a position that is remarkably similar to my current job. I interviewed for the job and was extended an offer 2 weeks later for the same salary I make now. Thanks be to God.
Do you see God’s hand in this? I do. We have always been taken care of in all of our moves and this feels no different. I have faith that this move is His Will. I prayed so hard that if we weren’t supposed to move then we would know it. And if it was His Will then He would provide all the ways to do so. We believe God is providing us a way to be closer to our families. Which has been a dream for many years.
I will miss so many people here… but that is another post with a box of Kleenex by the keyboard. I’m not ready to write that one yet.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Baby Food! And trying to sit!
Giving it a go with sweet potatoes last night...
On our first attempt Catherine was semi-cooperative with it.
That changed quickly.
She was too hungry so I gave her a bottle. Then a couple hours later I tried again.
Yummy!
Big sister helping. :)
This one make me giggle so much. It looks like she is gonna eat my face!
All in all, she did alright. Getting about half a container of sweet potatoes down before she started pushing the spoon out with her tongue. I will call that a success!
Also, sister keeps trying to sit up all the time. I think she is tired of leaning back. Although she doesn't lean back unless she is in the car seat, and even then she is trying to sit up. (We are on specific instructions to not apply any pressure to the back of her head due to the flat spot... we go back in September for another evaluation, but we think it is rounding out, so hopefully no helmet!)
She's really working those abs!
On our first attempt Catherine was semi-cooperative with it.
That changed quickly.
She was too hungry so I gave her a bottle. Then a couple hours later I tried again.
Yummy!
Big sister helping. :)
This one make me giggle so much. It looks like she is gonna eat my face!
All in all, she did alright. Getting about half a container of sweet potatoes down before she started pushing the spoon out with her tongue. I will call that a success!
Also, sister keeps trying to sit up all the time. I think she is tired of leaning back. Although she doesn't lean back unless she is in the car seat, and even then she is trying to sit up. (We are on specific instructions to not apply any pressure to the back of her head due to the flat spot... we go back in September for another evaluation, but we think it is rounding out, so hopefully no helmet!)
She's really working those abs!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
In a few days...
Lauren will be 4 years old and Catherine will be 5 months old.. ?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Someone needs to explain to me where the time went because, Wow... it is going by too fast. This time next year Lauren will be a Kindergartener and I will again be wondering how we got to that point so quickly.
Lauren has been still adjusting to having Catherine get (and require) lots of attention. And that is why I think she has been extra clingy to me lately. Sometimes when I drop her off at school she reaches for me and doesn't want me to leave. I'm not gonna lie... sometimes I get quite frustrated by this, but I think she is only acting that way because we have not had as much time with just the two of us like we used to. So, I'm going to work on having just me and Lauren time! I know she needs it and I miss it too.
And I still can't believe my Lauren will be 4 on Sunday. I was in my 20's when she was born and now I'm flying through my 30's! She is just a doll and we love her to pieces. And already I can tell that Catherine is going to look up to her big sister big time. She smiles so big everytime she sees Lauren. I love that!
And Catherine... sweet baby. She really is a great baby! She doesn't fuss very much and she's a great eater. Speaking of which... I told the daycare that they could start trying cereal with her if they wanted and she ate everything they gave her yesterday. Little stinker won't eat any of it for me! Maybe I didn't put enough applesauce in it though... I'm sure that was it. :) I did decide to go ahead and start her on baby food today though. Her first meal will be sweet potatoes! I hope she likes them. They were a favorite of Lauren's. Lauren's first experience with baby food was squash and she got way more on her face and bib than in her mouth. So, we'll have to take some pictures for comparison!
Someone needs to explain to me where the time went because, Wow... it is going by too fast. This time next year Lauren will be a Kindergartener and I will again be wondering how we got to that point so quickly.
Lauren has been still adjusting to having Catherine get (and require) lots of attention. And that is why I think she has been extra clingy to me lately. Sometimes when I drop her off at school she reaches for me and doesn't want me to leave. I'm not gonna lie... sometimes I get quite frustrated by this, but I think she is only acting that way because we have not had as much time with just the two of us like we used to. So, I'm going to work on having just me and Lauren time! I know she needs it and I miss it too.
And I still can't believe my Lauren will be 4 on Sunday. I was in my 20's when she was born and now I'm flying through my 30's! She is just a doll and we love her to pieces. And already I can tell that Catherine is going to look up to her big sister big time. She smiles so big everytime she sees Lauren. I love that!
And Catherine... sweet baby. She really is a great baby! She doesn't fuss very much and she's a great eater. Speaking of which... I told the daycare that they could start trying cereal with her if they wanted and she ate everything they gave her yesterday. Little stinker won't eat any of it for me! Maybe I didn't put enough applesauce in it though... I'm sure that was it. :) I did decide to go ahead and start her on baby food today though. Her first meal will be sweet potatoes! I hope she likes them. They were a favorite of Lauren's. Lauren's first experience with baby food was squash and she got way more on her face and bib than in her mouth. So, we'll have to take some pictures for comparison!
Saturday, August 13, 2011
1st attempt at cereal
Well, I tried Catherine on cereal about a week ago. I made it really thin and mixed it with formula.
She didn't care for it too much! Basically she rolled it around in her mouth and then spit it right back out.
Last Sunday night I tried it again with a tiny bit of applesauce. She reacted just about the same. I think she accidentally swallowed some. But just the one bite went down. And she gagged on it a little.
Oh well! We'll keep trying. I looked back at a comparison with Lauren and I remember that Lauren never did eat cereal. She refused it completely. We also had some trouble getting Lauren to eat baby food too, but she eventually caught on and did great.
So, I'm not worried about Catherine. After all, she's only one week shy of being 5 months old so we've got lots of time!
Uh oh Momma... what are you fixin' to do?
She didn't care for it too much! Basically she rolled it around in her mouth and then spit it right back out.
What is this stuff?
Hmmm... not sure what to think.
Um, yea, I'm not swallowing a bit of this.
Last Sunday night I tried it again with a tiny bit of applesauce. She reacted just about the same. I think she accidentally swallowed some. But just the one bite went down. And she gagged on it a little.
Get it out! Get it out of my mouth!
Oh well! We'll keep trying. I looked back at a comparison with Lauren and I remember that Lauren never did eat cereal. She refused it completely. We also had some trouble getting Lauren to eat baby food too, but she eventually caught on and did great.
You lose Momma. I win!
So, I'm not worried about Catherine. After all, she's only one week shy of being 5 months old so we've got lots of time!
Friday, August 12, 2011
Lovin' from Nina and Papa
This picture was taken two weekends ago at Nina and Papa's house. Lauren was wiped out from my niece's birthday party and fell asleep on Papa's lap. So sweet! Poor Papa's leg was asleep but he wouldn't move her. She loves her Papa.
Coloring with Nina! She loves to go to Nina and Papa's house and never wants to come home when it's time to leave. She loves her Nina!
Catherine gettin' some love from Papa. I have an exact picture of this pose with Lauren (at about 3 months old) and Papa too. Papa is a great baby snuggler.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Braids
This is how Lauren's hair normally looks. Hanging down in her face. Very pretty curls, but they get tangled with all the playing she does.
Now. Anybody that knows me well, knows that I cannot fix hair. Shoot... I can't fix my own hair very good. How in the world am I expected to fix my children's hair? Gracious. So, I was super proud of myself when I decided that I would try and braid Lauren's hair. Simple, pig tail braids. And it worked! I only had to re-do one side twice. Not too bad for the first time trying!
Front view of braids:
I tell her to smile and she does this number... ha!
Back of head (with Molly inspecting my work):
It's not perfect, but I thought I did pretty good for my first try and for being in a hurry! We were trying to get out of the house to go pick up Daddy from the airport on this day! So, we were trying to dress up and look pretty for him. Gotta love this girly girl. :)
Someone needs to teach me how to french braid and I'll be all set. I'm sure it will only take me a year or so to learn... ha!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Help Me
Doesn't that sound fun?
I know that just as soon as she is back in her bed it's time to start fussing again. It's a continuing cycle every night.
So, how do I stay asleep all night? We need to know what we are doing wrong. Currently this is our routine:
5:15 - home from work and daycare
5:30 - get fed a bottle
5:45 - 6:30 - the rest of the people around here are eating while I play in the exersaucer or sit in the Bumbo seat and watch
6:30 - 7:00ish - I let Momma know that I'm ready for my bath
7:30ish - I fall asleep in my Momma's arms
7:45ish - I am asleep in my bed
7:45ish - 9:30 - I don't know what the rest of 'em are doing but I'm snoozin'!
9:30 - Momma wakes me up to take another bottle. This one has rice cereal in it... but she's not foolin' me! Sometimes I drink it all and sometimes I fall asleep before I get it all down.
10:00 - 3:00 - I usually sleep pretty soundly
3:00ish - Helloooooooo! Is it nighttime? I like to wake up the whole house.
Anyway, that's pretty much our routine. Momma has tried giving me some rice cereal from a bowl, but I'm just not having it yet.
But she needs to know how to fix this because I can't tell her and I need to stay asleep at night!
Whew! Now, I'm tired from all that explaining. I think I'll take a nap.
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