Miller's Mastered the Stacker

You're supposed to put the pieces back on? Oh. Well. In that case, she hasn't got a clue. But she can remove the pieces (all 25 of them), spread them around, chew on everything, and smile real cute. Does that count for anything?

Mom, You Look Beautiful in . . . that?

This was a super sweet complement from my little boy early one morning at the start of this week. I was dressed for the day in a sort of tunic shirt and jeans and we were going up stairs to get him dressed. He was half way through the complement when he realized he was not sure how to finish it as he wasn't exactly sure what it was that I was wearing. Refinement is such a tedious process, but he is becoming quite the gentleman.

Why was I dressed for the day "early" at the "start" of the week (I usually don't get out of my pajamas until Wednesday afternoon)? I'm glad you asked. It makes a perfect segway into why the bombardment of posts to follow for today. I've been spending (and will be spending for a few more weeks) my mornings doing a little volunteer work at JPS. It's been a lot of fun, but mostly it's taught me that I DO do something every day from 9-12 in the morning (even if I am wearing fuzzy slippers). Otherwise, I wouldn't be up at 1:00am every night finishing up laundry, painting, or just making lists so I won't forget the gillion things that seem to pop into my head at that hour. One thing that has fallen off that list is updating the blog and I already had a "stack" of things to put on even before my part time leave of absence began. Forgive me for the amount of posts, but hopefully it will tide you over until the next barrage when I'm done at the schools. Enjoy and don't go reading them all in one night . . . pace yourself!

Talk About a Milestone

For those of you who know our family, you know that this is a photo I never thought I'd see. Jack, laying on HIS bed, his head in WILSON'S lap, and without a trace of Wilson's blood anywhere. (if you're not familiar with their relationship, Jack was a HUGE fan of Wilson right up until he became mobile. He spent the next year and a half under our bed hiding and has since then become a little more confrontational, growling whenever Wilson enters a room he's currently occupying or when Wilson dares to get in close to him. He's recently lightened up a little and will play chase and fetch with Wilson, but will growl his head off at Wilson if he gets too close to the food bowl that WILSON just filled for him. He's a little nuts, and we're aware of that. Which is why we've just sort of given up on the whole situation improving.) Our new stance is that Wilson is old enough to know to leave the dog alone when he growls, Jack never seeks Wilson out to attack him (he merely responds to an impending threat), and Wilson now just antagonizes him for sport, so if he get a little nip, so be it. (I know, it's a cold world over here). So, the other day when Wilson asked if he could get on Jack's bed with him, I said he was more than welcome to try, but that Jack would probably not like it and he'd need to get up if Jack started growling. To my surprise he didn't growl when Wilson sat down. Then Wilson patted his lap for Jack to lay down. Here's the funny part- Jack growls like he is going to tear Wilson to pieces all while nudging Wilson hand onto the top of his head for a pat and then resting his head on his lap! As if to say, "I REALLY don't want to be your friend, but if a head rubbing is a possibility, FINE! Can we play fetch when we're done here?"

Baby steps . . .

Well, We Didn't Want To Do It . . .

But we had to say goodbye to our friend Whitney, her little brother Patrick, her new (less than a week old) baby brother Tyler, and her mamma as they move out West to be with their Daddy, who has been training all Spring and Summer for the Border Patrol. Wilson is most definitely not excited about her leaving. He asked if we could still play with them. I explained, that no, we really wouldn't be able to play anymore like we have been, but we could send letters and pictures to her in the mail. In a tearful voice he replied, "That's not a very good idea." (everything these days is a "great idea".) It was hard to meet Tyler and say goodbye to him all in one visit, but he's a doll. On paper he's the same size that Miller was when she was born, but I really can't believe that she was ever that small! He has got an unbelievable head of black hair and is as handsome as can be!

We're praying for y'all as you start your new life and readjust/adjust to being all in one house again and having a new little one. We're currently praying they can get out of the city, as all flights through Houston have been cancelled due to Ike and they really needed to be at their final destination no later than tomorrow. Friend, you knew the last leg couldn't be easy! You are about the bravest woman I've ever met to take on giving birth and an all day flight with a 3 year old, almost 2 year old, and newborn all in one week. Christie, you have been through more "plan B's and bumps in the road" than I can imagine coming up with over a lifetime in the last 9 months and have handled each beautifully. You might not think that you have, but trust us all YOU HAVE. The fact that you can still walk upright and muster up a smile is a testimate to that. Thank you for allowing us all to help you when and where we could and get to enjoy your beautiful children. You've taught us that what we can only see as chaos is actually the Lord's mighty, sovereign hand doing His beautiful and perfect work.


Here are a couple of pictures from our last play date:

PS- send me your new address. I don't care what Wilson says, I think sending mail is "a GREAT idea!"

Happy 8 Months, Miller!

It's been a big month for baby Miller. She learned to suck on her toes and met her Aunt Lauren for the first time- what milestones! Watch the 8 month video to see what other acheivements she's had! Happy 8 months, Baby Girl!

Matthew & Miller vs the Giant Hand

Watch out, I hear there's a giant hand that can come out of nowhere and pick your nose. It's a good thing we're weilding JELLY teething rings.
See, I told you.

Yeah, that was pretty scary.

No, I changed my mind. That was really, REALLY scary!

Our teething rings were useless against it!

Somebody come get me!

Me, too!!

Scrapbook- Road Trip

Miller got to go on her first girls road trip over Labor Day Weekend. We loaded up and went to McCarty Pottery Marigold, MS. She did great in the car and pretty well while we were there in spite of the heat. Mr. McCarty came down and chatted with her and decided that she was so cute she needed something for her room. He disappeared for a little while and came back with a small bag for her. As soon as he looked at her the second time, she burst into tears screaming!! What a "fickle pickle" as we say at our house. Thank you, Mr. McCarty for the beautiful little blue bird. Sorry we didn't get to tell you in person. Mim came to the rescue and took Miller to the pool to cool her feet off and she perked right up (as you can see in the Labor Day pictures, Mim's a firm believer in pool therapy for grumpy babies!)

Labor Day Weekend

We had such a great Labor Day weekend. All of Phil's out of town siblings were able to come in town as was Uncle John (my brother). We really enjoyed getting to see everyone and catching up over some good food, some toys everywhere with four grand kids in one house, and some Wii. Here are a few pics from the weekend.

"So you're this 'Aunt Lauren' I've been hearing about. Cool."
Playing trucks is much more fun with a cousin
Paw and his boys


A well trained son

Scrapbook-Bathing Beauty

Highchair Discoveries

Aparently sitting in a highchair is the most ergonomic position for sucking on one's own toes. This is now what she does almost instantly when she's put in her chair. I also think she associates eating with sucking on toes because she now starts rolly pollying up to get them anytime a spoon is being put in her mouth even when she's in the stroller!

You Just Don't Hear This Kind of Stuff Unless You Have Kids

So how was your day at school?

Find.

Did you go to music today?

No, we didn't. Umm just a second. Miller, let me get your booger. Hhhh. My fingers are too big for her holes.


I almost had another wreck on the way home from preschool today laughing so hard. (for those of you who don't know, the kids and I were in a little fender bender over the weekend. We're all okay- and so is the 15 year old that drove right off the interstate and in front of us!)

Baby Priss's New Tricks

Here are a few of her latest discoveries. Since she came home I have kept a stash of "supplies" in a basket under the swing downstairs. She now knows that that basket is under there and all but hangs onto the tray of her swing with her big tow to lean out and dig around in it. She drags all kinds of stuff into the swing with her! I wish I could figure out a better angle to take the picture so you could see how far out of the swing she gets and how she waits for it to swing away from the basket so she can see what she's aiming for- what a hoot!






The points of her first tooth are finally showing their pearly little heads, so today we brought home some Wagon Wheels from the grocery store. Let's hear it for solid food, portable snacks!! Next to holding their cup on their own, this is one of the most liberating things from baby hood for me. She can entertain herself with some food for a few minutes. Now we can take her to a restaraunt and not have her melt down out of bordom because there's nothing for her to do while we eat. (Wilson had about 6 teeth by now, so I didn't realize how nice it was to be able to hand him a cracker and continue my dinner conversation!) Looks like she really likes them. I wasn't sure she would because she usually makes a terrible face when we put any "real" food in her mouth. She ate these up!! Yea!

I think I've posted pictures before of how Miller bounces in her Johnny Jump Up with her head hanging out the back, but it's much funnier in action. There's a little bit of it on the video below. She's a bit of a diva and as soon as she sees a camera she stops what she's doing and focuses on it. (Note how she doesn't see me at first and then when she does she stops, spins back, and gives a big ole grin- what a ham!) The video's a little long because I was trying to not look at her for a little bit to see if she'd start up again. Alas, she did not- she knew the camera would be coming back to document yet another mundane part of her life for her fans.

A note about the title of the post:

Before Miller was born, Wilson called her Shu-Shu. Quickly after her arrival he switched to "Baby Priss"- neither of us has EVER called her that, it's a Wilson original!!

First Day of 3 Yr Old Preschool

Last Friday was Wilson's first day of 3 year old Preschool. He got camera shy that morning and in my only clear picture of him he looks quite pitiful and like he's being tearfully drug off to a lion's den. Rest assured, he is "so exciting" about his new room, teacher, and friends. He has gotten in the car absolutely bouncing off the walls both days with a mouth full about what all went on that day. New for him this year are going 3 days a week, music class, Show and Tell on Friday (Rocko, the stuffed dog that also went to big brother class, went for the first one) and that we are carpooling with a buddy that doesn't live too far from here. It's always nice to have a friend to walk down the hall with in the morning & wait with in carpool line in the afternoon!

He was doing his best to get back in the house during the photo session. The only way I got the one blurry picture of him smiling (which was actually the mood of the morning) was to have the camera on him and say something funny (I'm sure it involved an animal wearing some kind of underwear) and wait for him to turn around laughing. GOTCHA!!

Scrapbook- What a Great Afternoon

A few weeks ago, our day started heading south after Miller's afternoon nap. We had nothing to do but sit and whine at each other, so I decided we'd run away from home and enjoy an exceptionally not sweltering August afternoon. We went to the new outdoor mall and played in the splash fountain, rolled trucks in the fountain and on all the planter walls, enjoyed a couple of smoothies, and just enjoyed each other. It's not too far from Dad's office, so he met us after work and we played trains at the book store in some dry clothes. Thank you, Lord for giving me a clear head and direction to change the way we were headed- what a great afternoon (if you're a CS Lewis fan, it was sort of a stop making mud pies and go for a day at the sea moment ;))! The kiddos were so cute together. I had so many great pics it's taken me awhile to pick the best ones and get them posted- enjoy!

The Sleeping Yogi

Today

Here's how you keep your little sister from knocking down the Lego tower you've built:





And here's what happens when you try to eat supper without resting up first:

Ummm . . . yes

You do have a hot pink popsicle tattoo on your leg. Your brother did it. It's actually been there a couple of days, you've just been wearing pants and haven't noticed it. I'm sorry you can't get it into your mouth, I knew you'd want to, so that's why it's on your leg. But you keep talking to it, because that's pretty cute. I'll let you get him back with some lipstick or something one day!

File: This Too Shall Pass

We have a cold. We've had a cold for going on three weeks now. We = everyone in the house except Phil. Phil had fore site and got poison ivy instead. He got to get a decadron shot before the cold came and was therefore spared. Wilson was sick first (and is still hacking a little), then I got it, and now Miller. Which means neither of us is sleeping. She already wasn't sleeping in her bead (she's still hanging out on the pallet on the floor), but that won't even work these days. She now has to sleep upright. I use the term "sleep" loosely. She does it in spurts through out the night and is in her swing with Baby Einstein Lullaby on repeat in the DVD player in the play room. Last night she gave up on the swing at about 3 and we went back upstairs and gave the bouncy seat a try (I couldn't believe the buckle would still fit around her). It worked nicely until about 6 when her diaper leaked and soaked everything. But that's okay because her brother's night time pull up was simultaneously leaking downstairs in my bed, on my side. Since we were up . . . we took the car to get the oil changed. Miller fell asleep on the way home, so I took her upstairs to take a nap while I did something that required the use of less than 5 brain cells. While I was checking Facebook, I hear her crying, not 20 minutes after putting her down. I start heading up and meet Wilson coming down the stairs. "Don't worry mom. I just woke her up." I love that his first thought was that I was concerned about her safety and well being- he should have been concerned with his safety and well being. Making that kind of announcement to your mom who's had no sleep in a couple of days while standing at THE TOP OF THE STAIRS is not the brightest move. It's been a good day.

Happy 7 Months, Baby Girl!

As Promised . . .

Pictures:

Wilson, playing in Cool Whip- 8 months

Miller, playing in Cool Whip- 6 months

Story:

I may have forgotten to mention that I was pulled over a few months ago. I can't imagine why I elected to leave this sparkling detail of my life out :). I was coming home from Wal-Mart at about 6:00 one evening with both of the kiddos. Miller was screaming her head off because we were way late for supper. So we're "puttering" along a back road/short cut home when I see the heart stopping, stomach churning, blue lights. Maybe it's not for me, maybe it's not for me . . . It's for me. As I'm pulling over I realize I don't have my seat belt on. Why in the world do I not have my seat belt on!? I don't change parking spots at the grocery store with out putting my seat belt on. "Click it or ticket, Mississippi" is playing in my ears. So, I stealthily slide my belt on and hope Officer Friendly doesn't notice. He walks up to my window to hear Miller howling in the back seat. "Ma'am, any reason other than your baby screaming that you're going so fast?" "Nope, that about does for me." "How old is she?" "3 months." "Well, I have a grandboy just that age." ("thank you, God!") "Can I see your insurance?" "Oh you mean this expired card in my wallet? The new one is at home in the pile of mail I haven't sifted through since the 3 month old came home." He looks at it. "Oh, that's fine- this'll do." ("thank you, God!") He ran my license (with my old address on it) and came back to the car. Well, you slow down a little and get that baby home. He never said a word about the seat belt. (again, "thank you, God!") So, as we're heading home and I'm mulling over the fact that I've just dodged charges for not wearing a seat belt, driving 15 miles over the speed limit, expired proof of insurance, and a falsified drivers license (I'm pretty sure that all adds up to life in prison, so I'm uttering prayers of thanksgiving) I'm also thinking this will be the topic of conversation for Wilson for days, if not, months on end. He's gonna tell everybody about how he got to see the flashing blue lights and how a policeman shined his flashlight on his baby sister and told his mamma she was driving too fast. We get home and I tell Phil I've just given Wilson material for an eon's worth of chatter- beware. To my surprise, Wilson didn't say a word about it for hours and even then it was kind of like an "oh, by the way . . ." kind of a comment. And he really hasn't brought it up much since.

Until earlier this week. We were on our way to Wal-Mart. Going down the same road. We were stopped at a red light. "Hey mom, remember when we went to Wal-Mart that time and the policeman pulled you over?" "Yes, I remember (that time 3 months ago)." "Well, don't forget, we're just on a slow road- it's not the interstate. Okay?"

"Okay, thank you, son."