Cutie Indeed

A rare moment of peace for Emma in these past few days. There's a good reason we can't remember what teething felt like... I hope Emma can forget soon! Even when she's hurting so bad, she can still give you the sweetest smile that stops you in your tracks. All I can do is love on her-- and give her Tylenol, and rub her gums for her, and try to talk Daddy into inventing some safe numbing oral agent for infants that lasts longer than the 5 seconds Baby Orajel does!

Betty Crocker

We're having some family over for dinner tonight, and Chloe decided that we must have brownies! Who am I to argue with that?!? She's a lot like her mama, in that, the batter is better than the cooked brownie, and it's not any good unless you get it all over yourself!-- and the counter, the floor, the wall, etc...!!


[if the chocolate looks like it's beginning to harden in the bowl, it's because she licked the bowl for the entire 35 minutes it took for the brownies to cook! She's not a waster :-)]

Squash.... Check!

When we went to Emma's 4 month check-up last week her pediatrician gave us the go ahead to start baby food. Seeing as how she's wearing some 9month clothes and all-- he figured she might be hungry! She's had rice cereal in her bedtime bottle for weeks, so we knew she wasn't allergic to that. So her first food was SQUASH. I, personally, am not a fan of squash, but her Dad is. She is totally taking after her Dad on this one. Even though she was crazy tired, she went to town on some squash! I couldn't shovel it in fast enough for her. At one point I was holding the spoon in front of her and talking to Micky as he took pictures, and she dove at the spoon. Thank goodness it was one of those soft-tipped ones. I guess I shouldn't dangle food in front of her face-- she was just saying "FEED ME MOM!" Well, she's had squash for 5 nights now so we can check that one off the list. Next up-- CARROTS! Yummy!


We were afraid she would fall asleep mid-bite! But once she realized this was going to her tummy-- she somehow caught a second wind :-)





She's got it figured out now!
E: "What's so hard about this spoon? Give me some steak people!"






No, my thumbs aren't broken. That's just the way they bend!








E: "That's it?!? Wait a minute, I think there's some more on my hands. I'll clean myself up!"

They do listen

Last night Micky and I took Chloe with us to our softball game (we're playing for our church's co-ed team). On the way home, Micky and I were discussing my apparent lack of speed--shock, shock! And I made the comment that my knees were just dead and gone and I didn't think they'd be coming back, so I should just get used to not being so fast anymore (not that I was ever really a speed demon mind you!). Well, here's what Chloe had to say on the "dead and gone" subject from the backseat:

C: "Jesus died, but he can come back... 'cause he's God's son. And Jesus and God will save the day!"

I think she's got a pretty good understanding of things for a 3 year-old (for any age for that matter). Just goes to show, if you take them and show them, they can learn, and she makes it all sound so simple. I guess it really is.

"...never know dear, how much I wuv you..."

Last night, Chloe's school had their end of the year program. All the kiddos (ages 1-5) wore bathing suits or other beach wear for their "Fun in the Sun, Praising the Son" program. All of the songs were very cute. It's usually pretty funny watching what all the kids will do on stage. Some of the best entertainment comes from the ones who aren't actually singing or dancing-- they're discovering their belly buttons or playing with the girls hair who's standing in front of them-- things like that. Chloe is typically the child who will sing along and do some of the motions, but she usually prefers to just watch the kid standing next to her and let them do all the work! Well, not this time. She was singing and dancing her heart out-- and then she took my heart (along with the heart of every member of our family who was there to see her) and made it sing! When her class finished singing their 2 songs, the teacher held a microphone for Chloe and she sang "You Are My Sunshine"-- and she did an amazing job! There wasn't a dry eye on our two pews when she got done. Her teacher was very smart and didn't tell me about this beforehand, and they only had Chloe practice it once the day before. They knew if we made too big a deal about it she would never do it. Luckily, Chloe could sing this song backwards in her sleep we sing it so much around here, and it was AWESOME! I particularly enjoyed how proud of herself she was when it was over. It was great to see her, who is usually so shy and timid in a crowd, have that much confidence in herself. It made me so proud! This just so happens to be the song my mom always sang to me and is my #1 choice of songs to sing to the girls. It's always had a special place in our hearts, and now it's even more special!

Bet he's won a lot of 10 foot tall stuffed animals

Let me start by saying that gambling is not something our families take lightly-- we're very serious if we place a wager on something- only it's never for money. Strictly bragging rights. Today we took Emma for her 4 month check-up (I know, I can't believe 4 months already) and we had asked all of our family members to try and guess her weight. Everyone did a pretty good job, except Aunt Wendy who said 20 pounds--she was definitely the furthest off! So, we're at the office and Micky was waiting in the room with Chloe while I took Emma in the hall to be weighed. I actually cringed when I saw the weight-- not because it was too high or anything, it's actually a perfect size-- but because it was exactly what Micky had guessed, 17 pounds 4 ounces. I told the nurse I'd be hearing about this until her next check-up--two whole months. I mean really, who guesses the ounces right?!? INSANITY! You know, fair week is always very slow at the office (who goes to the dentist when you can take out a loan and go to the fair?) so I'm thinking Micky should try to be that guy who guesses your weight. I'm sure he could at least make enough to fill up one of the cars with gas!
Emma's appointment went great! She's still in the 90th percentile for height and 97th for weight-- exactly where she was at her 2 month check-up. She is 25.5" long, and she took her 4 shots like a champ. Although I'm here to tell you that her lip quiver before she cries could break even the most hardened criminals heart. She's just too sweet, and I sure hope the next 2 months don't go as fast as these have. She'll be driving before we know it!
Here she is in what was one of my favorite outfits for Chloe. It's size 3-6 months, so when I put it on her the other day I figured I should take some pics because I don't think she's fitting in it again :-)



I could make a meal outta those cheeks!

Call me Paranoid, but...

I think they're already plotting against me! On more than one occasion I've noticed Emma and Chloe with their heads leaned toward one another (as if they were deep in conversation) and when I walk up, they quickly look away like nothing was going on-- Chloe will start flipping through a book and Emma usually starts singing her vowel song, "aaaaeeeeiioooouuuu." I'm thinking, although Emma's only 4 months old and just mastered the art of turning over, she and Chloe have been secretly communicating for weeks! I believe they discuss middle of the night wake-up times, as well as hunger pain times-- where they will, at the same time, start whining for something to drink (Chloe- chocolate milk, Emma- Enfamil Gentleease). Maybe I'm reading too much into this--who knows?!? But I recently captured a few pics of one of their discussions. You be the judge.. but I know they were plotting something
:-)

[click on pic to see larger image]


Emma is clearly whispering some top-secret plans










See how slick Chloe is? She wants me to think she's giving Emma a kiss. But in reality she's telling her about phase 2 of the plan.








Now they're just being cocky-- and smiling in the knowledge that I have no idea what they're about to do.






Now in this one, I think Emma is just being a good sister and friend and taking care of some personal grooming for Chloe. I'll have to teach her that we let people take care of that sort of thing themselves.







Chloe's trying to be cool-- smiling like, "there's nothing to see here, just some sisterly love"
Emma's not so smooth-- that face is definitely saying, "ahh man, we are SOOOOO busted"

Happy Mother's Day!

[click on pics if you'd like to see larger, remember to hit the back button-not the X or it will close the blog :-)]



This beautiful jewelry box was "handmade" by Chloe. I went with her to school Wednesday for Muffins for Mom, and this was the great surprise she had for me. On the inside is a cute picture of Chloe along with "A Mother's Beatitudes"-- here's how it reads:

Blessed is the mother who understands her child,
for she shall inherit a kingdom of memories.

Blessed is the mother who knows how to comfort,
for she shall possess a child's devotion.

Blessed is the mother who guides by the path of righteousness,
for she shall be proud of her offspring.

Blessed is the mother who is never shocked,
for she shall receive confidences.

Blessed is the mother who teaches respect,
for she shall be respected.

Blessed is the mother who emphasizes the good and minimizes the bad,
for in like manner shall the child make evaluations.

Blessed is the mother who treats her child as she would be treated,
for her home will be filled with happiness.

Blessed is the mother who answers simply the startling questions,
for she shall always be trusted.

Blessed is the mother who has character strong enough to withstand the thoughtless remarks and resentments of the growing child,
for again, in due time, she shall be honored.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Pewu again!

Our conversation on the ride home from school yesterday:

C: "Ask me if Kaitlyn was there today?"

me: "Was Kaitlyn at school today?"

C: "No"

me: "Was she sick?"

C: "No, she's in Pewu."

:-)

I had no comment for that, just laughter that brought me to tears. Hope Kaitlyn feels better!
*If you're confused, read the Peru entry :-)

Quattuordecim

Today is the 14th anniversary of mine and Micky's first date! I can remember it like it was yesterday-- down to the outfit I wore and everything. Micky planned the date, and all he would tell me was what type of shoes to wear. He picked me up in his black and gray GMC Jimmy and gave me the tape of the single "I Swear" by John Michael Montgomery. (A few weeks before while we were at our Junior prom-- with other dates!-- this song had played and we had looked across the room and it was like a tv moment, we just knew!) Then he took me for a picnic consisting of Hardee's fried chicken, rolls, and sweet tea at Harbison Park. At the time, it was a lovely park inhabited mainly of mama ducks and their ducklings waddling about-- now it's inhabited mainly by thugs and their crime :-( After dinner, we went to the Melting Pot for dessert and then to Finlay Park where we sat on the swings and talked awhile (we really liked parks!). I had to be home kinda early, 10:30, because we were both taking the SAT the next morning. It was a great date!
Most of our friends and family know this is our first date anniversary-- due to the fact that every year I go on about it ad nauseam! But few of them know that our first date was supposed to have been April 29th. It was postponed a week due to Micky getting GROUNDED! First, you need to know that our Latin teacher in high school was a great woman but not too much on the teaching side of things... we spent 3 years in Latin and watched more Spartacus type films and colored more pictures of gladiators and coliseums than you can imagine. This didn't bother us at all-- at test time the class (which consisted of about 12 of some of my closest friends) would get to "share" a test. Which Micky would take and we would all get A's! So, while we took Latin to prepare us for our careers in medicine and law, it mainly taught us how to completely circumvent all authority and get a good grade while doing so. The fact that I was able to pass the Latin exam upon entering college and exempt my foreign language classes still amazes me to this day! Anyway~ our Latin class was taking a field trip to Charleston, and Micky and a few of the guys decided that instead of riding the bus they would drive themselves. And instead of doing the field trip agenda, they would visit the beach, walk around town, and have lunch at T-Bonz. (I still have the t-shirt he brought me from T-Bonz!) Well, I don't think he got grounded because he drove, our Latin teacher was well aware of their plans even though his parents weren't, but he was grounded for the idiotic thing he did to get caught! That's his story to share--not mine so I'll leave it at that. I am still so thankful that I didn't go with them--not that they did anything crazy or something like that-- but because his mom still remembers who was riding with him and to this day will ask about them with a certain tone in her voice :-) I get the feeling our relationship (mine and Micky's mom) would be much different had I been in that car too!
So while I always remember this as being the date of our first date, it also makes me think about the silly things we did in high school that we sometimes got caught at! (Notice the word sometimes!) A lot has changed in fourteen years, Micky has long since gotten rid of the black Appalachian State hat he wore EVERYDAY for 2 years (oh, I loved how he looked in that hat!) I finally convinced myself to get rid of the outfit I wore on that first date(paisleys just aren't coming back in style-- not sure if they ever were but I loved that outfit!), and we're now the parents thinking about the days to come when our girls will try crazy things in high school and we'll have to ground them. But somethings never change-- every time I hear "I Swear" not only do I think of our glances at Junior prom, I think of our first date, Micky's wedding ring I had it engraved on, our first dance at our wedding, and all of the great things that have followed since that first date!
You guys let me know if you see any black App State hats for sale!

Oh no she dittn! (snap, snap)

Just got back from what I like to call, "Day of Fun with Chloe and Nina"-- Emma got to go too. Nina came over this morning and instead of staying here all day and playing with the same old same old, I took the girls to the Funzone and for a picnic. Most days just one of those trips would be enough, but I've been talking up the Funzone to Chloe for a week or so now, and dang Little Bear had to go and have a picnic on his show yesterday ~ so, picnic it was!
For those of you who don't know, the Funzone is probably one of the coolest places EVER! They have HUGE jump castles, slides, bouncy obstacle courses, and all types of neat bouncy things INSIDE, with AIR CONDITIONING! (that last part is key, seeing how in a couple of weeks it will probably be 110 degrees outside!) Of course the girls had a blast, and Emma was like a bobbing head doll watching them bounce all around. If someone else had been there to watch Emma, you can bet your bottom I would've bounced right along with them-- it looked so fun! They also have a toddler room, that's set-up with dress up clothes, a playhouse, and other fun toys-- which the girls went in when they needed a break from all that bouncing. Well, they were both wearing princess dresses and playing in the playhouse while I sat on a bench feeding Emma. Next thing I know, they're walking past me holding hands and had taken off their dresses headed back to the bounce room. I called them over to see what was up and here's what I heard:

me: "You guys don't want to play in here anymore?"
Chloe: "We were having a tea party and now it's ruined."
me: "Ruined?"
Nina: "Yeah, ruined-- that girl broke the cup."
Chloe: "Yep she sure did, and she wasn't even invited!"
Nina: "Right, so we're leaving now."

So, the girl they were talking about appeared to be about 18 months old, and had no idea she had just crashed the social event tea party of the year! I tried to explain that to them, and I swear to you, they looked at each other and simultaneously said, "KIDS!" -- like I can't believe we used to be that little too! All I can say is the preschool world better watch out for these two divas!

*just so you know, before we left, they both played with the little girl and walked around holding her hand very motherly like-- very sweet :-)