The Linders Adventures

The Toe

2012-01-30T15:25:00.001-06:00

For those of you who missed it, we had quite the scare the week before Thanksgiving. It started Friday afternoon when Bug started complaining that his toe was hurting. It did look a little red, so I decided to have the doctor look at it. She took an x-ray and looked closely for a bug bite, but didn't find anything and sent us home with instructions to use Benadryl and a prescription for antibiotics just in case. Fast forward six hours and things were looking much worse. The redness of his toe was moving up his foot and he just wasn't acting himself. We decided to take him to urgent care, where they took one look at him and immediately sent us to Cook Children's in Fort Worth

Finally asleep after 1am - started on IV antibiotics and waiting to be sent to a room. The doctor on call told us that we could either be checked in or wait to see how the oral antibiotics would work at home because his symptoms weren't too serious. 20 minutes after we decided to stay, he began running a temp of 102 and throwing up.

Enjoying the first of many popsicles. Notice the puffy red face - he had a reaction to one of the antibiotics and was taken off of it. Thankful that he wasn't allergic to the antibiotic that took care of the type of infection he had!

Perking up a little after the first rough night - playing with a game from sweet friends that came to wish him well.

On the second day, his IV infiltrated and had to be removed. Poor guy was too sick to care during the insertion of the first one, but was not happy the second time around! Thankfully, Daddy was there to hold him and the second one stayed put.

Feeling a little better the second evening. This day was rough because he spent most of it with one hand wrapped for the IV and the other hand wrapped in hot cloths to take the swelling down.

Resting the third morning after the doctor's visit. His toe looked pretty terrible by now, so the doctor decided to "lance" it and drain the fluid. They sent it off to be tested, confirmed his infection (staph), and watched his toe just a little longer before releasing us to go home.

Starting to feel a little antsy after three days in the same bed!

Finally unhooked and ready to go home!

Crashed in the car on the way home. Cook has a Build-A-Bear in the hospital, so we were able to take Bug to make a polar bear as a special treat for being such a trooper. The nurses were very impressed with his behavior. I must admit that I was a little surprised myself! He asked to leave a lot (Go out there? Go church? Go library? Go Wal-Mart? Go grocery store?) but he didn't ever really get out of control - we watched Toy Story 3 nine times, Tangled twice, Cars twice, and a little PBS and Disney Channel. I don't know what I would have done with him if he hadn't been interested in the television! I have to mention that the hospital staff was nothing short of impressive. The nurses were excellent, and there was a steady stream of volunteers bringing books, toys, and a special prayer bear for Bug, as well as offering to sit so I could get some food or to ask if I needed any travel toilitries or magazines. I'm so thankful to live close to such an excellent hospital, and couldn't have asked for better care.

Happy to be home!!! We didn't celebrate Thanksgiving as we originally planned, but we were beyond thankful to be at home as a family. Spending a few days in the hospital brings a realization that some people stay there a lot longer than we had to for a lot more serious situations. We are so blessed to have healthy kids. Thank you, God, for watching over our little one during such a scary time and for bringing him home whole, healthy and happy!

The Toe Pictures

2012-01-30T15:25:00.000-06:00

WARNING - if you have a weak stomach, you should stop and skip this post. Some people asked what Bug's toe looked like, so I thought I would share. It's also almost unbelievable. I don't know that I would have believed my son's toe actually looked that bad unless I saw it myself. I didn't originally intend to create a photo diary of the progression of the infection - sounds crazy. I started with one picture so that I could defend my decision to take him to the doctor on Friday afternoon :) We later took another picture to compare the two. When we arrived at the hospital, the doctor said that the pictures were helpful and suggested that we continue to take them so that different doctors or nurses on call could understand the progression. So, here you have it - Bug's staph infection in pictures.

Friday, 12:45pm - not normal, but not emergency. If he hadn't complained about it, I don't know that I would have noticed it.

Friday, 2:00pm - at the doctor's office - a little more red and swollen

Friday, 10pm - Urgent Care - so swollen that the skin is starting to look shiny. his toenail was also really yellow at this point and the redness was well onto his foot

Saturday 1:00am - hospital - that's a BIG toe!

Saturday 1:00pm - swelling seems to have slowed, but around the toenail looks pretty bad

Saturday 7:00pm - swelling is better, but toe still getting worse

Sunday 8:00am - yes, that's his actual toe

Sunday 8:30am - immediately after being lanced

Monday 8:00pm - slowly but surely...

Tuesday 2:30pm - As soon as they let him get down and walk around, he fell and knocked all of the skin and his toenail off. It looks terrible, but I was glad to have all of that gross skin gone! I was really worried about secondary infection with all of that new pink skin, but he was fine.

Wednesday 1:30 pm

Thursday 9:00am

Friday 8:00pm - still looks gross, but most of the swelling is gone

The doctor told us that his toenail might or might not grow back because the infection could have gotten into the nailbed, but I am very happy to report that a teeny, tiny toenail is currently growing.

Congratulations, you have now satisfied your gross quota for the year :)

Trick or Treat

2012-01-28T16:38:00.000-06:00

As Halloween approached this year, Tink remembered last year and was really excited to wear her costume and Trick-or-Treat. Jackson was sick the week before I wasn't going to take him out, but R convinced me that he needed to visit just one or two houses. The weather was great, so I agreed. I'm glad I did - he loved every minute, and we met some of our sweet neighbors! Because Toy Story 3 has been such a favorite for the kids this year, their costumes were a no-brainer. We looked forward to taking pictures with their cousins in their coordinating costumes, but it was Christmas before we got them. It was definitely worth the effort and the wait - how cute are they? ;)

Fall Fun

2012-01-03T22:37:00.000-06:00

Fall tree (Q-tip) painting

Going on a leaf hunt and looking in a book for types of leaves

Homemade pumpkin donuts!

"pumpkin" lunch

marble painting

Oh, this wasn't face painting????

Memory Lane

2012-01-03T22:24:00.001-06:00

As a teacher, I took several field trips to a local apple orchard. The owners invited school groups to come and learn about Johnny Appleseed, gardening, and bees. I have fond memories of those trips and always hoped to take my children. I was sad to find that the orchard much smaller due to the owner's declining health, but he and his wife were as sweet as ever, and just as I hoped, were still making fresh pies and cakes! We had a great time exploring the orchard and gardens and picking our own apples. Tink and I came home excited to make apple butter, muffins, and our very first "from scratch" apple pie.

Pumpkin, Pumpkin

2012-01-03T22:11:00.000-06:00

Our State Fair

2011-12-26T21:57:00.000-06:00

The Texas State Fair is during the month of October, and it's always one of my birthday requests. We couldn't make it during the weekend, so one of my friends and her boys offered to join us for a day of fun! Armed with two double strollers, we piled into the car and made the trek to Dallas. Tink hasn't been to the fair since she was seven months old and this was Bug's first trip, so I was excited to show them all that the fair had to offer. Bug decided that cowboy boots were in order, and Tink decided to follow suit. Somehow, a trip to the fair always includes lots of food, and this year was no exception! We enjoyed lemonade, corn dogs, apple strudel and tater twisters. We saw great animals, some that we'd never seen up close, and we had fun walking around. Somehow, don't ask me why, we failed to see and take pictures with Big Tex. Guess there's always next year :) We had a wonderful day, and I hope that the kids grow up with my love for the Texas State Fair.

Dressed and ready to go!

I bought one of these lemonades to share, and ended up buying another - it was the best I've had!

Loving some taters!

Where did my baby go?

2011-10-29T23:28:00.000-05:00

When did my baby turn into a toddler? I know, I know, his birthday was in January and he's well on his way to turning two, but I feel like every time I turn around, he's taller, and saying more, and doing things on his own ... It's fun and all, but sometimes I don't know how excited I am for him to go from being my baby to my little boy

Bug LOVES to be "side". Any time we pass by the door, he asks if we can go. Even if it's just for a minute, he loves to get a bit of fresh air. He's also becoming quite independent at the park. He loves to climb all the way to the top of the "fide" and squeels to be pushed higher on the "fing". He's even started to notice playgrounds from the car as we pass by ...

Not at all surprising in this family, but we have another music lover on our hands. He was repeating himself and bobbing his head the other day when I realized that he was "singing" the clean up song! He has started to request certain songs (Jesus Loves Me and Twinkle Twinkle are current favorites), and just today, asked to listen to "church" in the car (both kids are huge fans of Northwood's worship CD - so much more enjoyable for Mom than their #2 favorite, Veggie Tales). This was taken at a friend's house as he climbed up to play a little tune. Cute, right? Sure, until I left the room. When the music stopped and I decided to investigate, he was ON TOP of the piano!

This boy LOVES shoes - his own, or any of ours. He often brings me a pair of shoes and asks to put them on (yes, those are princess shoes, it comes with the territory). His favorites are his cowboy boots and a pair of Cars crocs. He is also a big fan of the backpack in the first pic :)

This stroller is a big hit in a tiled living room - just imagine the speed :) He is starting to notice Sesame Street and Elmo, but is a big fan of Cookie Monster!

A big favorite at our house is "Toy Tory". We've seen it no less than a hundred times, and he loves Buzz, Woody, Bullseye, and Jessie. He said "a-bee-ya" for about a week before we realized he was saying "And Beyond!"

Can you tell I take a lot of pictures? When he plays with these blocks, he holds one up to his face and says, "cheese!"

Bug, you surprise me every day with the things you do and say. Our family just wouldn't be the same without you. You challenge me and scare me and make me laugh (sometimes all at the same time!) I love you, sweet boy, and I'm so proud and happy you're mine!

Big Girl

2011-10-29T22:55:00.001-05:00

My sweet friend, Chantal Reed took some beautiful pictures of our girl a few weeks ago.

My only complaint is that she looks too old :)

One of the greatest things about being a parent is watching your child's personality develop and having conversations about what's important to them. It is such a joy to watch Tink and see her grow in responsibility, care for others, and see her imagination at work. She is already a book lover, a great big sister, and does her best to obey with a happy heart. She loves to play by herself as well as with her brother and friends, and has quite the imagination! We couldn't be more proud of her, and can't wait to see what the coming days and weeks bring as she continues to grow. Here are just a few things I managed to capture about Tink

She loves to help me in the kitchen - cooking, putting away dishes, and washing veggies are a few favorites

This girl LOVES to learn! We have "school time" every afternoon, and she is quick to remind me if I get sidetracked. We are working on letters and sounds, calendar skills, writing, cutting, and other things that I find online. I love that she's having as much fun with it as I am. She often asks if her brother can join us, which I'm sure he'll do soon.

In September, Tink started attending a dance class with one of her friends. They have 15 minutes of ballet, 15 minutes of tap, and 15 mintues of tumbling. She LOVES every minute, and can't wait to show us what she learned when we get home.

Tink can literally sit for almost an hour with books. Sometimes when I go to get her out of bed, she tells me that she needs a few more minutes to finish a story. Disney Story Collections are her current favorite, I think because they last so long. She goes between looking at the pictures quietly, retelling the story using the pictures, and making up completely new stories about the characters (which can be quite interesting if you ever have the chance to lend an ear). She also has a new interest in following along to stories on CD.

This is a picture of the first day she got dressed completely by herself. She is growing more and more independent every day, and is very proud of it! (I'll have to share a picture soon of the pajamas she picked out last night - they were a hoot!)

Another thing Tink is COMPLETELY into - pirates! We started watching Jake and the Neverland Pirates, and she was "hooked". She loves to dress up and play, and even taught her brother to say, "Argh, Mateys!" (which sounds more like "Arrrr, Mameys!" when he says it)

Tink sometimes wakes up before I finish my quiet time, and I let her join me while I finish. She asked for her own journal and pencil, and has started to sit awhile "writing" each morning, even when I finish before she's up. I sometimes ask her to dictate a bit so that I can record what she's writing about. Lately, it's been dolpins and whales ...

Tink, you bring absolute joy to my heart, and I am having the best time watching you learn and grow! I love you more than coffee,

Mama

Getting settled

2011-10-29T22:22:00.000-05:00

Just a few pictures of the fun we had getting settled into our new routine

The perfect bookshelves for my little book worms

picnic lunch in the back yard

watching movies on a (thankfully) rainy day

Reading in Mommy and Daddy's closet (a favorite place to play)

Watching construction workers at the end of our street

(On our way home from the park only a few blocks away!)

Game day

Wating for Daddy's arrival at the end of the day

Boxes ...

2011-10-29T22:10:00.000-05:00

are good for much more than packing and shipping, you know! With just a little imagination, a plain old box becomes:

a pirate ship

a hiding place built for two

an airplane

a cave for you and your best buddies

Welcome!

2011-10-29T22:02:00.000-05:00

8 months trying to sell and 3 months of searching were finally worth it when we found our home! Getting things in order was, of course, an adventure, but when all was said and done, things worked out just as they should have. The kids got to stay with Nana and Papa for a week so that I could get things settled, which was such a gift! I worked like crazy to take advantage of the uninterrupted time unpacking, and couldn't wait for them to join us. They were so excited to get here, see their new rooms, greet all of their things that had been in storage, and immediately began taking advantage of the room to play and run. We held a garage sale to get rid of some unwanted things and were able to buy some things to make the space feel more our own. After several weeks, it finally started feeling like home.

We are pleased to introduce you to our new home! This is just a small peek inside, we hope you'll come visit to see the rest :)

kitchen

dining room

living room

Please come visit soon!

So Long, Farewell, Alvederzane, Goodbye ...

2011-10-29T21:16:00.000-05:00

In some ways, it seemed like a long summer in the apartment, waiting. Not knowing when we would find a house was a challenge. Looking back, it was a good experience for us, made even sweeter by the anticipation of the perfect new home. We learned a lot about waiting, about what was important to us, and were so gently reminded that apartment life was not as fun as when we were in college :)

Helping pack her books

Goodbye, horses

Goodbye, apartment

And it begins ...

Summer fun

2011-08-15T16:43:00.000-05:00

Spending the summer in an apartment during a record heat wave would test anyone's patience. While it's been a challenge and we've had our moments (like our bongo-drum-playing neighbor and middle-of-the night parties in the breezeway), the kids have been troopers. They know how to have fun wherever they are. I really enjoyed watching them play and giggle and become friends in this tiny space we called home for the summer.

When Mommy's away ...

2011-08-15T16:31:00.000-05:00

Ryan had the kids a few weeks ago, and sent this picture to my camera ...

Guess it's time to stock up on wipes.

These Boots

2011-08-15T16:29:00.000-05:00

I went through our winter clothes stash during nap time the other day and left things in a pile in the corner. As I was changing Bug's diaper (and wet clothes), he noticed these boots and insisted that I put them on him. He was so excited about them that I had to snap a few pics before I finished getting him dressed (yeah, yeah, he'll hate these later). He's been wearing them whenever I let him, despite the crazy hot temps. I must admit, I think they're pretty cute, even with shorts :)

Kiddie Park

2011-08-15T16:19:00.001-05:00

When you're from my hometown and have young kids, a trip home during the summer always includes a visit to Kiddie Park - a kid-sized amusement park with miniature rides, snow cones, and cotton candy. We have great memories of summer nights there, and watching our kids ride the same rides is sort of a rite of passage. We took the girls last summer, but they were hesitant, and only rode a few rides. Not so this summer - they ran from place to place, asking, "can we ride this one?" Fun was had by all, and plans were made to return before the summer's end.

American Girl

2011-08-15T16:04:00.000-05:00

One of Tink's sweet friends and her Mommy invited us to join them for a tea party at The American Girl Cafe in Dallas - we were quick to accept and were so glad we did! The girls got to choose a doll to sit with them at the table, they each got their own teapot of pink lemonade "tea" and a special tray of treats, and we enjoyed some fun girl time! It was a great experience, and we hope to do it again soon.

Swim Lessons

2011-08-15T15:58:00.000-05:00

Tink took swim lessons last year with her Daddy. She had a good time, but was still pretty timid in the water. I knew this year might be a challenge, so I looked for something a little smaller than the next step at the same place. I signed her up for lessons with Lori Black - a certified instructor who holds lessons in her pool with six kids of the same age, and I was hopeful. I was definitely right about it being a challenge, and the first few days were spent in tears. As a Mom, I was torn between pulling her out and waiting until she was older, and making her push through it. After talking to R, the latter won, and we continued lessons. We spent lots of time talking about it and reassuring her that she could do it - I even spent an afternoon with her in our swimsuits in the bathtub! By the end of the second week, she was (hesitantly) putting her face in the water, and swimming with assistance. She even chose to jump off the side of the pool at the end of the last lesson! I was so proud of her for doing what she was asked and pushing through, even though she was scared. She was very proud as well, and still asks me to tell people that she "didn't cry under water". We ended lessons with a trip to Sonic for a much deserved slush (which were such a hit that they became an occasional afternoon treat).

Cousin Puppies

2011-08-15T15:44:00.000-05:00

Just before it was time to say goodbye to my sister's family, I thought of the perfect "cousin" activity for the girls. I left the boys with K for the afternoon and we headed to Grapevine Mills. The girls each chose an animal (the same, of course), said "I love you!" into a special recorder, and made Cousin Puppies to squeeze when they were missing each other. If you know the girls at all, you know that they weren't complete without princess shirts :) It was a really special, bittersweet afternoon, and I hope the girls will remember it for a long time.

Summer was made for mud pies

2011-08-15T15:40:00.000-05:00

Some of my fondest childhood memories are making mud pies at my Granny's house - she let us use any kitchen utensils we wanted (even the good ones), the leaves from their mimosa tree were just right for sprinkles, and their fireplace cleanout door made the perfect oven. When I spotted a mimosa tree at Ryan's parents' lake house, I knew just what to do :)

A Day on The Farm

2011-08-15T15:33:00.001-05:00

When we were invited to Nash Farm early in the summer, I wasn't sure if the kids would be interested. I'm always up for something new, so we gave it a try. Little did I know, it would be one of the highlights of their summer! They LOVED pretending to garden, watering flowers, playing with toy tractors, and visiting the animals. Tink talked about it for days, and still asks when we can go back. And, of course, all Bug talked about was the horses ...

Little Getaway

2011-08-15T15:25:00.000-05:00

For Mother's Day, Ryan surprised me with a weekend in San Francisco! After seven months of having the house on the market and planning and packing to spend the summer in an apartment, it was a much needed getaway! We had a wonderful time seeing sights, eating great food, sleeping in, and having uninterrupted conversations :) We toured Alcatraz, shopped and ate on the pier, and ended our weekend with a Napa Valley wine tour. It was a great time away, and I came home ready to start our crazy summer.

A Fond Farewell

2011-07-09T13:57:00.000-05:00

In May, we said goodbye to our first house, where we lived for seven years. I know that's not long considering that most people spend decades in the same house, but this being our first, it was really bittersweet. We became a family in that house - in ways, it feels like we just got settled, and in others, it feels like we were there for much longer than 7 years.

We were so excited to watch the process from slab foundation to house - we drove from Irving several times a week to check the progress.

This is where both of our children came home from the hospital and celebrated their first birthdays!

The best part of moving - watching the storage units be delivered

It's really odd to see all of your things packed into boxes - does anyone move without being shocked at the amount of "stuff" they have???

One last picture

Goodbye, Summersville house - you were the perfect first home, and we will never forget the wonderful memories made here!

Family Fun

2011-07-09T13:29:00.000-05:00

We spent Mother's Day weekend in San Antonio with my family. Vacationing with four kids under four takes a bit more prep and planning, but it was worth the effort, and everyone had a great time. We spent the mornings exploring, afternoons napping at the hotel, and evenings back out for dinner. We even took turns staying with the kids so that we could spend some time at the Riverwalk after bed time - just one of the perks of traveling with family :)

Checking out the Children's Museum - LOTS to do for little ones!

This was the highlight of the girls' visit - a mini HEB, complete with working registers

Splashing at Sea World

Outside the Alamo

Happy Mother's Day!

Headed home - they were out before we even hit the highway

And it begins

2011-07-09T10:10:00.000-05:00

When you have a brother, life sometimes looks like this ...No, I don't have one, but if you've met my sweet cousin, Adam, you know that I got to experience a little of what brothers are like :)

Stoy Story

2011-07-09T10:05:00.000-05:00

Just after Tink's birthday, R took her to see Toy Story on Ice (aka Story Story). Because Toy Story was her first full-length movie and she's seen it a dozen times, she LOVED watching it be played out live. Of course, Jessie had to come along! They had a great evening, and she's asked several times if they can go again (which I'm sure her Daddy will be happy to oblige.)

Cousins

2011-06-21T22:40:00.000-05:00

My very talented friend, Chantal, was brave enough to take on a photo session of my and my sister's kids together. It was no small task, but she did an excellent job. Here are just a few of the best shots.

This post is a little bittersweet for me because my sister and her family are moving to Oklahoma on Saturday. We've been extremely blessed to live so close to one another most of our adult lives, and anyone that knows us knows that K and I are closer than the average sisters. They came to Texas shortly after we did, and bought a house about five miles from us. We got jobs in the same school district and attended the same church. We were pregnant together TWICE, and have firstborn girls and secondborn boys only months apart from one another. I got to keep my niece and nephew while my sister worked part time, so we have a very special and close bond. They are moving closer to both sets of grandparents and it's a wonderful opportunity for them, but it's really sad to see them go. Our lives won't be quite the same without them. I hope that R is ready for some serious miles on our car, because I see quite a few trips to Oklahoma in the future!

Revive Carnival

2011-06-21T22:10:00.000-05:00

Northwood Church has an amazing ministry called Revive, which provides a free "parent's night out" to families of children with special needs. It reaches out to many families that would otherwise never have a break from their many responsibilities. Northwood holds a carnival every year, which is a great opportunity for us to support this ministry. Of course, Tink was happy to oblige by using the tickets we purchased to ride rides with her friends :) Click on the link above to learn more about Northwood or the Revive ministry.

Birthday Girl

2011-06-21T21:30:00.000-05:00

For Tink's third birthday (sorry, did I say THIRD? What in the world?!?!?) anyway, she chose her favorite character, Dora, as the theme. We had a great time planning and getting ready for this one - a full Dora reenactment! She LOVED every minute and was really excited to have her friends and family celebrate with her. It was a great weekend that she's still talking about - just a few weeks ago, she told Miss Becky all about it :)

Getting ready is half the fun! Stuffing her "Backpack" favor bags

Oh no! Swiper swiped the pinata! (I had to move things along before she started crying)

Who do we ask for help when we don't know which way to go? The map!

We went across Turtle Pond ...

past Lollipop Forest ...

through Rainbow Cave ...

and that's where we found Tink's pinata! We did it!
Three is the perfect age for "pretending", and most of Tink's friends had as much fun as she did. It was totally worth the late night effort :)

Happy birthday to you!

Sweet friends patiently watching her open presents

Her big present - a talking Dora house

Pancakes in the shape of I and 3

The celebration wasn't complete without a trip to her favorite place with some of her favorite friends

Tink, I am so proud of everything you've learned in the past year and I am having a blast watching you grow into your sweet, cautious, inquisitive, talkative personality! I love you and I'm proud that you're mine!

First Prayer

2011-05-31T22:38:00.005-05:00

Yes, I've been MIA for quite some time... There's a lot to catch up on, and I promise to deliver in the weeks to come. But for now, I couldn't let today pass without recording a special milestone: Tink said her own prayer tonight, and it was sweet music to this Mama's ears. For the past few months, we've been leading her in a simple prayer of thanksgiving at the end of the day. "Today we went to the zoo and played outside. What do you want to thank God for?" Tonight I listed the days' activities and our prayer began as usual, but when I prompted her to continue with, "In Jesus' name", she stopped me because she had more to say. And so, she continued:
"Dear God, thank you for M's house, thank you for going to Miss Sara's to get the 'partment keys, and for her saying hi to me, thank you for her new car, and for keeping Daddy safe. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Daddy Daughter Dance

2011-04-04T20:53:00.015-05:00

A few weeks ago, R took Tink to her very first Daddy Daughter dance! We started the afternoon with pink fingernails and some curls. Tink was completely into it - she kept talking about her "Cinderella dress" and "glass slippers". When Ryan knocked on the door and gave her a flower to wear on her wrist, I thought she was going to burst. I couldn't wait for them to come home and tell me all about it - she didn't stay awake long enough, but woke up the next morning to let me know that it was "really loud" and there were lots of "big girls". Apparently, not much dancing occured. She was a little overwhelmed, and her Daddy held her most of the night. She did enjoy the cookies though ... maybe next year :)

Can you tell me how to get ...

2011-03-07T23:12:00.007-06:00

We had SUCH a fun girls night out Thursday! We took Tink and her cousin to see some of their favorite Sesame Street characters on stage. Tink went last year and was excited, but it took M awhile to warm up to the lights and sounds. On the way there, she kept saying, 'I don't want to say "hi" to Elmo. I'll just wave at him.' :) Half way through the show, she decided she needed to go sit on the steps with Zoe (on stage)! They both had a blast singing and dancing, and we had just as much fun watching them. Tink's favorite part was the fruit song and M's was the toothbrush song. They squealed and giggled all the way home - music to the ears of two Mamas who acted the just the same after nights like this when we were the little girls in the back seat.

Let it Snow

2011-03-07T22:56:00.011-06:00

Just after Bug's birthday, we had a huge snowfall! It caused a little stress when travel came to a halt (R was away and my Mom needed to go home), but everyone returned safe and sound and we enjoyed a few days at home together. This was Bug's first time in the snow and Tink's first snowman, so I was really excited that R was here with us! Bug was a fan until a little got inside his mitten, and then decided his afternoon might be better spent taking a nap (who could blame him?) Tink did better than I expected, and wasn't ready to come inside even though she was freezing! She's game for just about anything her Daddy is doing, so I should've known being in the cold wouldn't be any different. She LOVED the snowman, and kept shaking it's hand, telling it "nice to meet ya", and giving it hugs. R even turned it around so she could see it from the kitchen, and she enjoyed talking to it for the rest of the day from the kitchen window. Unfortunately, this is Texas, and she woke the next morning shocked to see that "his face fell off"!

A Fond Farewell

2011-03-07T21:52:00.010-06:00

Dear Wubbanub,

From the moment Bug met you, he was in love. You were the perfect companion - part pacifier, part puppy. Just the right size to grasp, snuggle, and tuck inside a blanket or strap to keep from getting lost.

For quite awhile, the two of you were inseparable. You were there for Bug through

photo sessions

the first night in his crib

family outings

long car rides

on the go naps

late afternoons

and family gatherings.

I don't know what we would've done without out! But you see, Wubbanub, Bug's teeth started coming in. When I peeked inside at those perfect new teeth and saw the beginning of a "pacifier mouth", I knew you had to go. You were much loved and appreciated during your time, but your time has come to an end. It's a bittersweet farewell and we will always have fond memories of you, but the time has come to say goodbye. Don't worry, Wubbanub, you have a special place reserved in Bug's keepsake box. I know we'll smile when we see you and think of Bug's first months and the time you spent close by.

Happy Birthday To You

2011-03-07T21:21:00.012-06:00

My how time flies ...
Wasn't I just on the airplane to Switzerland, fighting the familiar pangs of morning sickness?

Didn't I just call friends and family to tell them I was in early labor and ask them to pray?

Didn't I just hold you, a few minutes old, marveling at God's perfect timing?
Didn't I just bring you home from the hospital, nervous and overwhelmed to begin life as a Mom of two?

From day one, sweet boy, you have brought joy into our lives! Your easygoing personality is just what we needed to balance the girls in this family! Your smile and clear blue eyes charm everyone you meet, and you love to flirt and wave "bye bye". Though you're not our first, each of your firsts has brought fun and excitement. You weigh 21 pounds and are 29 inches tall. You have eight teeth, two of which are molars! You LOVE to eat and are enjoying some new foods this month, including strawberries and blueberries, graham crackers, broccoli, and cheese. You also tried your first cheeseburger - one of Mommy's favorites. We're working on introducing whole milk, and you love it! We'll be finished nursing soon, and though it makes me really sad for that chapter of your life to be over, I'm very proud that we made it to your first birthday! You learned to blow kisses, giving Nana the very first one. You also got another haircut, totaling six in your first year - I think that's a record! You're starting to pull up on your knees to check things out at another level. No more putting things on the couch to get them out of your reach! You LOVE your sister, and watch everything she does, learning and trying to keep up. She's very sweet to you, and you're lucky to have such a great big sister. Every time you see your Daddy, you have a huge smile! You have fun playing and wrestling together, and you love it when he tickles you! But when the going gets tough, you're still a Mama's boy (I secretly hope it will stay that way for just a little while longer). You love music, being outside, playing with balls and cars, and watching Dora (thanks to your sister). You had a very special birthday party with a Blues Clues theme. Lots of friends and family came to help you celebrate and we had a great day! Each day that I get to spend with you is precious, and I am blessed beyond measure to watch you grow and learn (even though things are moving a bit faster than I'd like). I love you and am proud that you're mine!

Love,
Mama

Eleven months

2011-03-07T20:47:00.007-06:00

What a fun month Bug's eleventh turned out to be! Being born in January makes your first Christmas just about perfect. Bug had a lot of fun with all of the sights and sounds of the season, and is now an expert present opener (birthday presents, here we come!) This month brought several new experiences - decorating the tree, going to see Christmas lights, and meeting even more family members. Bug added quite a few new foods to his diet this month, and all were met with enthusiasm! I'll be sad when the "picky toddler" phase sets in - this boy will happily eat anything! New foods this month included scrambled eggs, oatmeal, cauliflower, carrots and grapes. He also "upgraded" to the big tub, which means bath time with Tink (for a little while, anyway). He is a water baby, and LOVES to splash and play during bath time! He's really starting to explore (ie get into things), and is starting to communitate! Along with starting to sign, he's saying "ah duh!" (all done), "mo" (more) and "Wo-Wah", which after some investigation, we learned means "Dora" (Tink's favorite character). R and I are trying not to let our feelings be TOO hurt that he's saying Dora before Mama and Dada :) He's still rocking the army crawl, but getting faster every day. He pushes up on all fours and rocks back and forth to "dance" when he hears music, but when it's time to move, he's on his belly. His sweet and happy personality are growing each day, and I couldn't be prouder to be his Mama!

Christmas, Part Two

2011-02-26T22:21:00.011-06:00

I decided to try to catch up after R so gently reminded me that I haven't blogged "since Halloween" (which I have, but I got the point). Christmas with our families is always crazy, fun, and precious - this year more precious, unbeknownst to me, because it was the last time we saw my Granny. I have a lot to say about her, which I will do in time, but for now I am infinitely greatful for the memories of her holding Bug Christmas morning, smiling with pride as she took a picture with her great grands, and giving her the album that my cousin asked me to make as a special gift from us.

Christmas at home

2011-02-06T22:45:00.009-06:00

These are the Christmases I know I'll look back on with a smile when I'm old ...

cookies for Santa

real princess lip gloss

who needs presents?

an impromptu tea party

this is fun, Mom!

Snow White

new earrings

Christmas breakfast - Pioneer Woman cinnamon rolls

Tot School - Holiday Edition

2011-02-01T14:53:00.010-06:00

I had so much fun planning Christmas activities for Tink and M! Nothing compares to the excitement of Christmas in a child's eyes. We sorted ornaments, read lots of books, re-told the Christmas story with Tink's Nativity, and (the girls' favorite) learned new Christmas songs. I wish I had more pics to share, but these are the ones I rememberd to take.

Trying on Mommy's shoes

Candy Land

cotton ball Santa

Christmas party with A

Gingerbread men

Winter clothes dress-up

Toe socks and finger gloves :)

Princess dress-up!

Thankful

2011-01-07T21:49:00.007-06:00

We spent the first half of Thanksgiving week with my family and then met R in OKC to spend the weekend with his. We truly enjoyed the less-than-usual slow pace of our week, and had time to reflect on the amazing blessings in our lives. Our God is good, and we can't help but show our gratitude in the way we love those around us.

Austin

2011-01-07T21:05:00.009-06:00

When we heard that Tink's favorite band was coming to Austin, we had to be there! We decided to make a weekend of it and had a great time. We visited the Children's Muesum, hit the outlet malls with "Uncle Gail", and had dinner with my cousins - it was a great weekend away! My favorite part of the weekend (parents of littles will truly appreciate), we had a one-bedroom suite reserved, but R managed to score a two-bedroom suite, which meant that Bug didn't have to sleep in our room! By the time R had the suitcases brought upstairs, I had the furniture re-arranged, and everyone enjoyed a great weekend of un-interrupted sleep :)

What's a trip to Austin without a stop in West?

Forming a family band at the Children's Museum

Making tamales

Pretending is one of Tink's favorites - she LOVED the museum!

Waiting to see Laurie

A great show! (as you can see, Bug especially enjoyed it)

A Train Ride

2011-01-02T14:41:00.008-06:00

The weekend after Halloween, R and Tink took the train to Oklahoma City so that she could spend the weekend with my parents while we helped his parents with some remodeling. We didn't tell her until the morning of, and she was beside herself excited. Leaving for the Fort Worth station, we discovered a parking lot on 35 due to a wreck - there was no way to make it, so we headed for Gainesville. It wasn't exactly the plan, but life with two kids under 3 rarely is. The look on her face as she boarded the train was completely worth the drive.

At the station

Waiting by the track

Watching the train arrive

Bye Mommy!

Oklahoma bound

Family Photo Session

2011-01-02T14:28:00.011-06:00

We had our yearly photo session in October, and I must admit, I was completely dreading it. Choosing outfits just about sends me over the edge, and once again, I was still making decisions late the night before. Tink isn't always the most agreeable for pics (especially with people who aren't familiar), so I was sure that getting both kids to cooperate was going to be tough. Oddly enough, we had the first session of the morning, and things went fantastically smooth. R and I kept glancing at each other and asking under our breath, "Is it really going this well? Can you believe they're actually going along with this?" Melissa was outstanding, once again, and we couldn't be happier with our photos. I'm not even ashamed to admit that I cried the first time I saw them :) Here are just a few of my favorites:

Baby Dedication

2011-01-02T14:13:00.004-06:00

Baby Dedication is a very special day at our church, and on October 31, we dedicated Bug! Several of our friends' children were dedicated, as well as my nephew!
Bob explained that we're not dedicating our child as much as we're dedicating ourselves - to raise him in a Christian home and to lead him to Christ through the example that we set in our own lives. We signed The Hannah Promise, which tells the story of Hannah and promises that we will:
Pray for our children every day
Bring our children into God's presence by teaching them to pray and taking them into God's house
Live in such a way as to provide the proper emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual nurture for our own children as well as other children who are in need
We also chose a verse for Bug, which is Philippians 1:9-11
"And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."
We are truly blessed to be parents and to have Bug in our lives. It's more than we could have asked for or imagined!

Happy Halloween

2011-01-02T13:47:00.013-06:00

We had such a fun Halloween! We got to do lots of fun things with friends (three parties, two trips to the pumpkin patch, and one trip to Chuck E. Cheese's). Tink was really excited about her costume and Trick-or-Treating, and her Daddy was almost as excited to take her :)

baking pumpkin for Bug

painting pumpkins

Wearing costumes at Chuck E. Cheese's

Girls' pumpkin play date

playing at a family party

Pooh Corner Cousins

Trick or Treat!!!

Her favortie "treat" - a glow stick

Waiting to hand out candy

Nine and Ten

2011-01-02T12:49:00.015-06:00

Month nine was a lot of fun! The weather was great and R had some extra days off work, so we spent a lot of time outside. We went to the pumpkin patch twice, the zoo, and took lots of walks. Bug wore his Tigger costume to Chuck E Cheese's and rode his first ride! He really started moving around "army style" and is interested in wheels. We tried a sippy cup this month, but he's still working on getting the hang of it. His list of foods continues to grow, and now includes Cheerios, zucchini and yellow squash. He's eating more finger foods than puree, which is much easier for Mommy! He is nearing 20 lbs, so Dr. Z told us to start looking for a bigger car seat. I was able to find a convertible, and I think he really enjoys looking around. It's funny to see him sitting up in the car like his sister. This boy still has such a happy and easy going personality - he charms anyone he meets!

spinning wheels (this is one of his favorite things to do, and has gotten him into trouble a few times!)

Yeah, Mom, those toys you put out are great, but look at this wipes box!!!!

Chillin' at the zoo

First ride at Chuck E.

Nine months (Why yes, my Mom DID make my shirt) :)

Bug's tenth month brought a LOT of firsts! It started off with Halloween and baby dedication at church, continued with his first mini vacation to Austin, and ended with Thanksgiving. We were still struggling with the sippy cup when he managed to get ahold of Tink's cup and drink the entire thing - of course. After a trip to the store for straw cups, he's doing much better with drinking from a cup. Bug also tried quite a few new foods this month! Both pancakes and waffles were a big hit (of course), as well as yogurt, beans, and mashed potatoes (you can't have Thanksgiving without those!) He got another haircut, courtesy of Nana (now totaling three) - this boy has my Grandad's thick hair! He also spent the weekend as an "only child", got lots of attention from Grandma and PaPa, and had his first guitar lesson. He's still rocking the army crawl, which suits him just fine. He's also going through a "Mommy's boy" phase - he's happy with just about anybody as long as he can't see or hear me. If he can, none other will do! I must admit that I like it just a little, but what Mom doesn't? :)

See Mom, I need a straw!

Captain Destructo

first guitar lesson

Austin Children's Museum

Ten Months

Pumpkin Patch

2010-10-28T21:08:00.012-05:00

In My Heart

2010-10-28T10:09:00.003-05:00

Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished. - 1 Chronicles 28:20

So you are also complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every rule and authority. - Colossians 2:10

It's no mistake that these two verses appeared one after another in my Bible study this week. The first verse spoke to me about "doing the work" - something I'm embarrassed to admit that I've never noticed in this verse I've heard so many times. It's important to be strong and have courage, but this morning I was pointed to doing the work that has been laid before me. Sometimes those things require courage like putting our house on the market, but other times it's putting down what I'm doing when Tink asks me to read with her, keeping my house in order, or (a big one for me) holding my tongue when something comes to mind that I know isn't encouraging. I know that God lays before me big tasks, but they sometimes seem unimportant according to the world's standards. I loved this reminder about doing the work, because sometimes, it's about doing the things I know I'm supposed do.

Appropriately, the second verse was a reminder that I can never be "complete" on my own. I often have unrealistic expectations of myself, and am easily discouraged when things don't go as planned and the laundry piles up, the house is a wreck, or my kids are "angels" in the grocery store. I was encouraged by the instruction to "do the work", but needed to be reined in a little bit with the reminder that I'm not on my own here. Only through Christ can I be complete - lacking in nothing. God's view of perfection isn't the same as mine (thank goodness!) This explains it better than I ever could:
"Our efforts to model the Proverbs 31 woman should be focused on the love that was behind her actions, not the actions themselves. This woman is simply one whose outward actions were a result of a heart being transformed into Christ-likeness. She was exemplary because God's intervention had influenced her life, not because her human efforts were perfect." (Tracie Miles)

Praying that my actions are a reflection of the work that Christ is doing in my heart . . .

Happy Birthday!

2010-10-27T09:15:00.002-05:00

Monster Triathlon

2010-10-25T15:51:00.012-05:00

About three months ago, R came home and announced that he was going to train for a triathlon - I wasn't really sure where it came from, but was excited for him to work toward a goal. Fast forward to Saturday, and we were all up EARLY for the Monster Triathlon in our hometown. People travel quite a long distance to enter triathlons, so we're really lucky to have several so close to home! None of us were sure what to expect, but it was a great day! We got to watch him swim, leave and return on his bike, and run across the finish line! R was a little nervous about completing all three events, but he finished ten minutes earlier than his goal - I was so excited and proud for him! We had a lot of fun cheering and people watching, and look forward to the next event in March :)

waiting to swim

indoor swim (he's second to the top)

headed from the swim to bike

coming in from the bike

waiting at the finish line

an official triathlete

Ryan's friend, Andy, who got him interested in training

proud daughter

all the fun he could handle

Sewing Part 2 - for the boys :)

2010-10-25T14:39:00.008-05:00

My second round of projects were "boy" themed - the first was stressful because I didn't have a pattern and it took me a few tries to get it right. The second two were new to me, but they turned out really well and I'm really proud of them! I'm already starting to look around for Thanksgiving and Christmas ideas :) I linked to the tutorials that I used in case you want to try one of them yourself.

Tag Football (I was scared to sew the threads, so my Dad helped me out) :)

Frankenstein shirt - I didn't like any of the "boy" Halloween shirts I saw in stores, so I decided to make my own! I cut and ironed on the fabric and appliqued with my sweing machine. Of course, Bug's favorite thing is chewing on the buttons.

I made these for Ryan's triathlon (he wore a spiderman jersey). I used a bleach pen to make the web and a freezer paper stencil for the spider and words. I was pleasantly surprised with the way they turned out and plan to use both of these techniques again!

Tea Party

2010-10-14T23:06:00.007-05:00

Tink was invited to her very first tea party today! The girls got to play dress up, have a mini "makeover", take lots of pictures, and, of course, eat cookies and drink tea! It was such a fun playdate and I have a feeling the first of many more tea parties to come :)

The clothes

The makeover

Admiring her new look

Having a spot of tea

Seven & Eight

2010-10-14T22:23:00.012-05:00

Maybe I should blame my lack of blogging on Bug's new ability to "explore" :) He's a champion roller, and is currently perfecting the army crawl. He also finally figured out how to lay down from a sitting position by himself, which is a lot harder than it seems, and was really making him mad! We're having fun watch this guy make his way to the things that interest him. Right now, those include little bits that the vaccum doesn't pick up (I know, gross), Tink's books and toys, and anything else besides the toys I scatter around for him to play with :) His first two teeth are in and constantly chomping on something, but so far, no others are in sight. When he does play with toys, he seems to prefer balls and things with wheels (such a boy). He's also started to pay attention to Blues Clues as Tink watches (do all second children watch television a LOT earlier than their older siblings?) No doctor's appointments this time, but I stood on the scale with him a few weeks ago and it said 18.5. He's grown out of his 3-6 month clothes, so he's definitely growing! He's constantly making noise, usually grunting, which gets both of us some funny looks when we're out. He's eating two meals a day in addition to nursing (which I'm very proud of b/c I didn't make it this long with Tink). His menu now includes Puffs (an instant favorite), applesauce, pears, peaches, peas, and green beans. His PaPa tried to feed him barbeque and corn on the cob last weekend, but I rescued him just in time! We spent lots of time with family the last few months, and he loved every minute. Bug got to meet some of his cousins at a family reunion and attended his first garage sale! He also spent his first night away from us (with Grandma and PaPa while we slept just a few miles away). I wasn't quite expecting it, which might have been the best approach because I didn't have time to worry. He's a great traveler, and is happy for friends and family members to hold him (unless it's nap or meal time). This boy steals my heart every day!

making an escape

discovering his toes

future guitar hero

Seven months

sitting champ

a family tradition - the taggie blanket!

eight months

Oh, how times flies . . .

2010-10-14T21:31:00.007-05:00

in the fall! I can't believe it's been an entire month since my last post and I'm TWO months behind on Bug's updates. I have a long list of wonderful excuses that I will spare you, but here are some of the things we've been up to:

We spent a weekend with my family attending a reunion - it was great to see everyone and R enjoyed an afternoon of college football with my Dad :)

Lots of cousin fun! The girls are loving TotSchool, playing outside, and keeping me on my toes! The boys are both really laid back (SUCH a blessing), but are starting to be active - I can't wait for them to play together!

Tink and Bug are learning to play together. The sound of their giggles is priceless!

We've been enjoying the fall weather and spending lots of time at the park! R is training for a triathalon, so we play while he runs or bikes, and then have a picnic!

We spent several weekends helping R's family prepare for a sale at his Grandma's house. Tink got to spend the day at her new apartment during the sale, and they had quite the time! We also brought home a few treasures that she was happy to put to good use!

We're spending the weekend as a family and lots of fun pictures are to come - here's a teaser: it involves pumpkins and corn dogs :)

In My Heart

2010-09-15T06:50:00.005-05:00

One of the reasons I blog is so that my kids can look back at the story of our lives. I blog about our experiences as a family and how our kids are growing, but I realized that I have not recorded the thing I want most for them to know about - my relationship with the Lord. I hope that they will see and learn by my actions, but I want them to know that I learned and struggled and grew. I also want them (and us) to look back and have tangible evidence of God's hand in our lives through all of the ups and downs.

There's a lot going on right now - trying to sell our house, hoping to buy another one, trying to sell Ryan's car, changes and sickness within our families, and just the day to day struggles of raising two little ones! I know that God is in control. I know that he will work all things for my good. Yet, my biggest struggle is with worry. I worry that things will not turn out as planned. I worry about the unknown future. I worry about our families and our kids. In my quiet time this morning, I read Hebrews 3, which talks about the Isrealites and the way that their hearts hardened even though God brought them out of Egypt and provided for them for so many years. Verse 14 says, "We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first." We are blessed in so many ways and God has brought us through so many circumstances before. I need to not just believe that He is in control, but have CONFIDENCE in what He has in store for us! My prayer today is that when I look back on this phase in our life, I can say, "We didn't know what was going to happen, but we knew that God was in control, so we didn't worry." I can't wait to see what God is going to bring, because I know that in the end, it will be good and we will be able to give Him the glory!

"Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth."
Deuteronomy 11:18-21

Boomer Sooner

2010-09-07T20:14:00.002-05:00

It's that time again!

Tot School

2010-09-07T19:59:00.015-05:00

We're having a great time "doing school" while the boys are taking their morning nap! The girls are learning through structured play and doing really well. We're working on fine motor skills, colors and shapes, as well as charcter traits such as sharing, taking turns, kindness and self-control. T-Kids (the Wednesday night kids program at our church) begins this week, so I hope to start incorporating the stories and verses from their curriculum into our routine. It's still a work in progress, but it's a great part of our day and all three of us learning a lot :)

taking turns with a magnetic puzzle

sorting bears

color dominoes

feeding babies

measuring

using the cookie press

lacing

sound puzzles

putting coins in a bank

matching clips and cups

playing outside

sewing

2010-08-22T15:27:00.005-05:00

So, I got a sewing machine a few weeks ago and have been dying to start my first project! My parents, aunt, and both grandmothers sew, so it's in my blood. I have great memories of having things made for me, and want that for my kids. I told my friend that I wanted to get started and she invited me over for a "nap time" sewing session (genius idea, by the way). We made ruffle shirts that turned out a lot better than I expected! The fabric of my shirt is a little heavier than I would like, but it's definitely wearable. I can't decide if it's "me", so I haven't worn it - maybe it will look better under a jacket. I now have a list of about a million projects that I want to try (did you know that the internet is CRAWLING with craft blogs?) This weekend, I used one of Tink's flannel receiving blankets to make a few doll diapers. She's very into playing "babies" right now, so they're a huge hit. This is a perfect way "repurpose" some of her baby things that I can't bear to part with. I also have something for Bug in the works, so I'll be sure to share it soon :)

Six Months

2010-08-22T14:50:00.012-05:00

Wow, I'm behind on this one . . . Bug is well into his sixth month, and is having a great summer. This month at his check up, he weighed 16.5 lbs and was 26.5 inches long. We tried avocado instead of cereal, and he loved it! He also tried sweet potato and banana, and I managed to sneak some cereal in :) He started holding his bottle by himself, which is really bittersweet. How can he already be independent? This month brought a lot of other firsts: a trip to Lake Texoma for the 4th of July, a "big boy" haircut, and swimming! He is really starting to prop himself up to look around, and is rolling everywhere. He talks CONSTANTLY, and we laugh a lot at his babbling. He is such a charmer and is still quite a Mommy's boy (I just hate that!). He's working on two teeth, which isn't fun, but most of the time is happy to go with the flow! He LOVES his big sister, and can melt just about anybody with his sweet gummy smile.

Riding the train at Kiddie Park

No thanks, I got this one

First swim

This stuff is WAY better than that paste Mom was trying to feed me!

Pre haircut

I'm not so sure about this!

Mr. Handsome

Trying to keep up with his sister
Did anyone else notice how many pictures this shirt appears in? He's wearing it today, too :)

Those darn teeth . . .

Swimming Lessons

2010-08-22T14:44:00.008-05:00

Tink had her first swimming lessons this summer! She went to the Keller Pointe with her Daddy, cousin, and uncle. They had a blast and both left a little more comfortable in the water. For several weeks, she asked to go back and see her swim teacher :)

Five months

2010-07-02T17:02:00.014-05:00

Bug was five months old on Saturday! (I'm trying a new nickname . . . as in Love Bug, Snuggle Bug, Stink Bug). We're having a great summer and getting to do lots of fun things together. Thanks to Tink, he has quite the busy schedule! He has his first photo session with his sister and cousins, had his first "boys only" play date with his cousin, started sitting in the stroller, and spent his first night without Mommy. He's still not quite adjusted to sleeping without being swaddled, but we're working on it. We tried cereal a few weeks ago and he was NOT a fan - this boy is just fine with nursing, thank you very much :) He weighs 16 lbs, so we're not too worried that he's going hungry. He smiles constantly and will charm anyone who looks his way. He loves to talk and coo, especially if you join in on the "conversation". He's also started to blow rasperries, which Tink thinks is hilarious. Here are just a few pics from the month.

First walk in the stroller

Jumperoo!!!

Loving the attention

First playdate with T

Two and five months

Father's Day

2010-07-02T16:58:00.004-05:00

In years past, we made plans to spend time with extended family for Father's Day. R has been traveling so much lately that we decided to spend the weekend at home as a family, and it was a much needed break. Tink and Bug wore special Dad shirts, and R got several things to help in his triathalon training. I really admire him for being motivated to work toward this goal, and can't wait to cheer him on when the day arrives! I am immeasurably blessed to have someone who is loving, hardworking, and fun as a husband and the father of my children. I knew he would be a great Dad, but it sends me straight to tears to watch him with our kids and see how much they love each other. I can't wait to see their relationship with him grow as they get older! I also never imagined that I could love him more than I did on our wedding day, and I truly do. Happy Fathers Day, babe, love you!

Cousin Pictures

2010-07-02T16:21:00.016-05:00

A Day in the Life

2010-06-07T15:56:00.007-05:00

Just thought I would share some things Tinkerbell has been up to lately . . .

Taking Baby Boy for walks in the backyard

Keeping the fridge stocked with iced tea

Entertaining her brother

Working on her photography skills

(please excuse the nudity - we're working on it)

Four Months

2010-06-07T15:26:00.007-05:00

J will be 4 1/2 months old on Friday! He is changing constantly, and we're really starting to see his sweet personality. He weighs 14.5 lbs and is 24.5 inches long - this guy is not following in his sister's small footsteps! He's already wearing 3-6 month clothes, and who knows when we'll move on to the next size. He rolled over a few weeks ago, which is exciting, but means no more swaddling. Sleep has been a little rough the last few weeks, but we're slowly getting back to normal. He loves the exersaucer and tummy time and watching his sister play peek-a-boo, sing, and read books to him.

Memorial Day

2010-06-07T15:14:00.014-05:00

We enjoyed Memorial Day weekend with Ryan's family. Ryan got to "play farmer" and help his dad, and we spent lots of time enjoying the breeze under the trees. Tink got to blow bubbles, play soccer and swim with her cousins - her new favorite things :)

Mother's Day

2010-05-09T21:17:00.001-05:00

Bluebonnets

2010-05-08T17:05:00.008-05:00

Three Months

2010-05-08T16:39:00.012-05:00

Last Monday, J turned three months old! It seems like time goes by faster with the second child -maybe because I'm always running around! We had a fun month - J got to meet some new friends, went to Daddy's office, the zoo and Chuck E. Cheese's, and spend an ENTIRE day with Daddy while Mommy worked on his baby album. He's really starting to flirt and coo, and loves to sit up and look around. He and his sister are starting to giggle at each other, which I'm sure someday will drive me crazy, but for now is music to my ears. I'm not sure exactly what he weighs, but I'm guessing around 12 pounds. He got a new paci called a Wubbanub - it's a Soothie attached to a small stuffed animal, and he LOVES it! It can be tucked inside a swaddled blanket or carseat strap, and he can hold on to it by himself, which is a huge bonus for Mommy :) His favorite place to hang out right now is the play mat, and he's been working really hard to catch the toys that dangle from the bar above him. When he gets one, he holds onto it for dear life! His other favorite thing is smiling and cooing at the baby he sees when he looks into a mirror - super cute! Here are a few pics from this month

Got it!

my star-bellied sneetch

first trip to the zoo

I left him like this . . .

and found him like this!

Sneaking a nap

I love my Wubbanub!

Easter - better late than never, right? :)

2010-04-12T11:43:00.021-05:00

Easter this year started pretty early - we were in Oklahoma City before Tink's birthday and Grandma decided that we should have an egg hunt so that she wouldn't miss it. It was a little windy, but that didn't seem to phase anyone! Because the little ones can't have most of the candy that was in the eggs, theirs were filled with money (why didn't anyone have this idea when I was little?) Tink scored almost $10!

We made a trip to my parents' house Easter weekend and had a wonderful time. The drive is quite a beating (especially on a 3 hour feeding schedule), but it was completely worth it. J got to meet my Granny and Grandad and Tink had TWO more egg hunts and dyed eggs for the first time. We got home to find a surprise from the Easter Bunny - as you can see, my children are completely mistreated when it comes to holidays :)

The egg hunt lineup

Found one!

A little help from Daddy

Tink's Oklahoma buddy (Tink's Daddy and C's Mommy grew up together!)

J and his Great Grandad

Great Granny

Hunting eggs at Granny's

Who needs eggs when Grandad has suckers in his pocket?

Can't go home without a trip to Murphy's!

Easter baskets from Nana and Papa

Dying eggs (pardon my death grip)

Deciding what color to use next

One more hunt at Nana's

Easter outfits

Why is it IMPOSSIBLE to get them both to look at you?

Baskets from the Easter Bunny!

Two Months

2010-04-10T22:09:00.013-05:00

J's two month birthday was the day before Tink's birthday and it's been just a little crazy around here. I haven't forgotten about him and promise to keep up with his monthly updates, so here goes:

We went to the doctor last week and he weighed a little over 11 lbs! He's really smiling and starting to track people and objects. He also found his hands and feet, and is trying to bat at things in front of him. He's doing really well holding his head up and can lift his shoulders when he's on his tummy. He's rolling over on his side, so I'm waiting for him to go all the way over any day now - we'll see . . . He's sleeping 7-8 hours at night, which means he'll move to his own room very soon! He LOVES his sister, and smiles at her constantly. I know they'll be giggling in no time :) This month he had his first bottle, first ride in the Baby Bjorn, tried out quite a few new toys, and took two trips to Oklahoma. Here are a few pics from the month:

first bottle

one hand out and one sock off . . .

I could do this all day

smiling at Mommy

rocking with Papa

hanging out with Daddy

two month pics

trying to get his toes

Two Years Old

2010-04-08T12:38:00.012-05:00

I still can't believe that Tink is two! As her personality blooms and she continues to grow, I have a hard time imaging my life without her. I wanted to make sure to record a few things about this stage in her life - it seems like she's changing so quickly, and i know these memories will fade, even though they're so vivid right now I can't imagine forgetting :)

Se loves books, some of which she can "read" on her own. One of her favorites, The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear, was one of my favorites when I was little - I love hearing her little voice recite the story.

She's also started singing, which of course, her Daddy and I love. Her "versions" are interesting, and usually involve repeating a few lines over and over, but she's not too bad for a two year old (she knows just about as many words to the songs as her Daddy does!) Some of her favorites are Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, Pat-a-Cake, The Itsy Bitsy Spider, and Old MacDonald, which she calls "Moo, Moo Here".

She is great to try new foods and isn't a picky eater, but has definite favorites. Some of those include yogurt, cheese, berries, cereal, pancakes, pasta, pizza, chicken, and rice. Her favorite places to eat are Chuck E. Cheese's (shocker), McDonald's, and, believe it or not, Pei Wei.

She loves all things Sesame Street, especially Elmo and Abby, and has recently discovered princesses (lucky for me, we just decided to decorate her "big girl" room in a princess theme).

She loves to watch TV and movies (I know, fantastic parenting). Her usual favorites are Sesame Street and Jack's Big Music Show, but she recently started showing interest in Disney movies. She was not happy about Cruella DeVille, which I had quite the time explaining.

She has a crazy fear of bugs that usually involves, screaming, running, and hiding while she waits for Daddy to "dit it" - should be lots of fun fun this summer.

She got a doll at the hospital when J was born that she named "Baby Boy" (the same thing she calls her brother if you ask what his name is). She loves taking care of Baby Boy, and spends hours taking him for rides in the stroller, giving him a bath, changing his diaper, and feeding him yogurt. Baby Boy never wears clothes. I have tried, and I have failed. For this very reason, you will never see Baby Boy outside of our house. Naked babies do not get to go. Period.

She loves to help me cook, and often pushes a chair up to the counter and asks to make pizza dough (apparently her favorite thing to cook).

She is very intent on everything being in it's place. This is good if you want her to pick up toys, bad if you're in a hurry to leave or ready for her to go to bed.

She has quite the vocabulary, and frequently entertains us with her "Tink-isms". More than once, I had to turn away and contain myself before correcting her. Here are just a few favorites:
"seagull" - cereal
"yo dirt" - yogurt
"drapes" - grapes
"samich" - sandwich
"nana potty" - manicotti/lasagna
"DDD" - movie/DVD
"her dat" - I heard that/Did you hear that?
"tooz me" - excuse me
"no wan it" - I don't want it/I don't want to
"Oh! Dare are!" - Oh! There you are/There it is
"Oh, my doodness" - Oh my goodness!
"oop-ee" - oopsy

Here are a few recent pictures life with Tink :)

Catching up on her reading (in my closet)

Helping Mommy cook

Movin' on up from the high chair to a booster chair

Playing with Abby

first pink toenails (for Easter)

birthday picture

two years old???

"Two" Birthday

2010-04-05T18:20:00.013-05:00

Saying that Tink was excited about her birthday is an understatement. She started talking about it after her friend's party in January, and still hasn't stopped. We spent the day together on Friday and had her party on Saturday. We went all out with an Abby Cadabby theme, and tons of friends and family joined us to celebrate! She loved every minute (except the pinata), and is still talking about her "two" party.

birthday morning surprise

pancakes at Snooty Pig

helping make her cake

ready to party

Mommy blowing out the candles because they're "hot, don't touch!"

her favorite part of the day

pinata (lots of fun until it broke open!)

Ooooh!

Happy birthday, Tink!

Sesame Street Live

2010-04-05T15:03:00.014-05:00

For Tink's birthday, her Daddy and I took her to see Sesame Street Live. I was really excited about her first show and couldn't wait to see what she would think of it. She wasn't sure at first, but was dancing and clapping after just a few minutes. Every time a character left the stage, she would ask, "Where Ernie go?" She also wanted to get up from her stage to "go see them" like at Chuck E. Cheese's :) One of R's close friends from high school was there with her little girl, and they got to sit with us for the second half of the show. The girls had a great time together! We had a wonderful evening, and hope that this is only the beginning of her experience with live performances!

Look, Daddy!

doing the hula

a Mexican fiesta

Elmo's World!

Abby Cadabby

closing her eyes to "imagine"

Mardi Gras

family photo with Elmo

The Pioneer Woman

2010-03-23T10:14:00.002-05:00

Who knew that Ree was from Bartlesville? So fun! Check out her latest post for a knock-off recipe from one of our favorite places
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/03/murphys-hot-hamburger/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+pwcooks+%28The+Pioneer+Woman+Cooks%21%29

I found another one that I just had to add :)
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/12/the-eggberts-sunriser/

One Month Old

2010-03-01T14:13:00.018-06:00

My little man is already one month old! We've had quite the first month - lots of friends and family came to visit, we had a big snow, and both kids battled RSV. J had several firsts this month - his first party (a Sip and See hosted by some very sweet friends), first tub bath, first trip to church, and first Valentine's Day. Things got a little crazy with R out of town and me at home with two sick kids, but thanks to lots of prayer and some good friends, we survived.

We didn't have a one month visit to the doctor, but at three weeks, he weighed in at 8lbs 15oz - just under nine pounds! This kid is definitely an eater :) He's doing better on a daytime schedule and is sleeping between night time feedings, which I am quite thankful for. He's also starting to make eye contact and smile, which is a lot of fun!

Here are the pics from his first month:

Aunt K and Cousin M

Loving his first bath

Chillin' with Nana

Sip and See

Aunt L and cousins

Four Generations

Using those neck muscles

Watching the Olymics with Daddy

Valentine's Day

2010-02-27T22:26:00.008-06:00

Valentine's Day began with the most delicious breakfast I've ever tasted - seriously, you have to try the Pioneer Woman's French Breakfast Puffs. Do not click on this recipe expecting something healthly - it was, after all, the day dedicated to love, and in our house, there's nothing we love more than bread dipped in butter and rolled in cinnamon and sugar!
We made our first trip to church, which I would later regret (more on that later), and then spent the day together as a family. R was the perfect Valentine and made (picked up from Central Market) a wonderful lunch! He even thought of dessert, which we enjoyed during nap time :) Valentine's Day looks just a little different when you've got two kids under the age of two!

The loveliest breakfast I've ever tasted

I love Elmo!

I don't think she quite understands the concept of a cookie cutter . . .

Our romantic lunch :)

My Valentine

Snow Day

2010-02-12T13:30:00.010-06:00

Almost all of North Texas is enjoying a snow day today - we got almost a foot of snow, which is an all-time record. Areas around us reported 12-14 inches! The bad weather turned out to be a huge blessing for me - Tinkerbell has been sick since Wednesday, and is still feeling pretty terrible. Add to the fact that she's feeling a little resentful of the attention her brother is getting ,and she is not my biggest fan right now. We had a few rough days this week, and I counted the minutes until R came home. Thanks to the snow, R got to stay home today AND his Saturday meeting in San Antonio was cancelled! I was not looking forward to playing single mom to a newborn and a sick 22-month-old, so saying I was relieved is quite the understatement. R went outside this morning to shovel the driveway, so Tink and I decided to join him for just a few minutes to get some fresh air and a picture or two. She also got to have her very first mug of hot chocolate and bowl of snow ice cream - two "must-haves" for every snow day!

Two Weeks Old

2010-02-12T13:05:00.005-06:00

We had our two week appointment yesterday - yes, in the middle of the craziest snow storm North Texas has ever seen, I made my first outing with both kids. On a normal day, I would have rescheduled, but Tink started running a fever on Wednesday, and I wanted to make sure that nothing scary or horribly contagious was about to invade our household. It was just as challenging as you might imagine, but I survived :)

J gained almost another pound beyond his birthweight (8lbs 5oz), has grown an inch (21in) and looks great! He is an excellent eater, and has started looking at us while we talk to him. He's working on holding his head up just a little, and is a huge snuggler! We're working on getting him on a daytime schedule so that he'll do a little better through the night. Right now, he's a big sleepyhead during the day, and at night, is ready to party!

Dr. Z was also super sweet to look at Tink while we were there and make sure that she was ear infection and strep throat free. While I was relieved, I'm still a little stressed with the thought of trying to keep them separate and washing my hands constantly - I guess I'm jumping headfirst into the role of being a Mom of two. My Mom reminded me that this is how I'll feel when either of them is sick for the next eighteen years :)

I hoped to take some pictures of the kids together on Wednesday, but Tink was not at all in the mood, so I got just a few of my boy that I thought I would share - isn't he a cutie?

Big Sister

2010-02-06T15:32:00.011-06:00

Just a few of our first "Big Sister, Little Brother" pictures

Just a few pics to compare - think they look alike?

Welcome Home

2010-02-06T15:17:00.009-06:00

Last Thursday, we were both released from the hospital and allowed to go home! I was a little nervous to be on our own (especially because I would now be juggling two), but SO thankful to have a full-term baby that was released the same day I was! We were able to pick up Tink on our way home so that she could show her brother our house. She was very excited and couldn't wait to read him books and show him her toys! The first few days were a little blurry, but J is a great baby and we're starting to feel a little more settled into the "new" normal.

ready to go home

buckled in for the first time

Welcome home, brother!

reading books together

napping with Mommy

first bath

first time in the swing

Happy Birthday!

2010-02-06T14:52:00.009-06:00

So, I'm a bit late in posting pictures and J's birth story, but I've been just a bit busy! I figured better late than never, so here goes:
I went to the doctor on the 19th (39 weeks) with no more progress than the week before. My doctor offered to induce me the following weekend, but we waited for Tink to come on her own, and that's what I felt the best doing. They all looked at me like I was crazy, and sent me away with a 40 week appointment and plans to induce on Feb 2 (41 weeks) if nothing happened by then. Tink and I had a great week together, doing puzzles, reading, and cooking. We even took her Daddy to the zoo for the first time! I felt strange most of the weekend, but didn't think much of it considering my previous experiences. The following Monday, R and I stayed up late watching TV and had only been asleep for about an hour when I woke up thinking I had wet the bed. About ten minutes later, I decided that what I felt was not "wetting the bed". I woke R and called my sister, and we were off to the hospital around midnight. As we arrived and I got hooked up to the monitors, I had a hard time believing that this was the real thing. The nurse was able to confirm that my water had broken, and we started the wait. Three hours later, I hadn't progressed (big surprise), so the doctor decided to put me on pitocin. I requested my epidural because pitocin scares me, and it's a good thing I did! I received both pitocin and the epidural around 4:30am, and by 5:15, I was fully dialated and ready to deliver! We waited for about 20 minutes for my doctor to arrive, and our sweet boy was born at 5:52. He weighed 7lbs 7oz and was 20in long. What a beautiful sight to see after going into labor at 32 weeks and being on bedrest for over a month - God is so good! We spent the next two days in the hospital snuggling with our little guy, getting used to having a newborn again, and looking forward to bringing him home and beginning our life as a family of four.

Welcome to the world

All clean

Bundled up

Sneaking in a nap

And three became four

Giving kisses

Preggo Pics

2010-01-18T19:46:00.013-06:00

I wanted to take a few preggo pictures so that J could see what I looked like when he was in my belly! This afternoon, R took a few of me by myself and with Tink, and I thought I would share (mostly for my Mom). Tink wasn't being cooperative (what 21 month old is?), so we didn't get many of the poses that I was hoping for, but I love what we got because they're more her personality than anything I could have posed. Enjoy - hopefully, I won't look like this for long!

Celebrating with family

2010-01-12T14:47:00.014-06:00

We were a little worried that the Christmas Blizzard would keep our families away, but they managed to make it here safely! We celebrated Christmas weekend with R's family, and had a great time. Tink LOVES her cousins, and was very excited to have them around to play with! R made another great dinner, complete with turkey for dessert. Our cooking directions were incorrect and the turkey took a little longer than expected, but was definitely worth the wait. :) We were really thankful to have our families here to celebrate with us, and our Christmas wouldn't have been complete without them.

cousins

Abby sweater from Grandma

A ball set to help Tink get ready for her brother!

Learning how to use the Sit and Spin

Cute new clothes from Aunt L (check out the shoes!)

We spent New Year's weekend with my family. The girls are starting to get excited about opening presents, and the boys-to-be got a few presents of their own. Can you believe that my sister and I are both having boys??? :)

Happy New Year!

baby blankets made by my uncle

matching Christmas PJs

An Elmo phone that says Tink's name!

Baby Abby Cadabby

Trying out baby cradles made by Papa (do you notice a theme here?)

Christmas

2010-01-12T14:17:00.009-06:00

We had an unusual Christmas this year, but a wonderful one to say the least. We originally planned to be at home instead of in Oklahoma, but didn't imagine that I would be on bed rest and we would have such crazy weather! We hoped to attend Christmas Eve service, but after sliding around the block and almost hitting a parked car, R decided that our evening would be better spent at home! We celebrated Christmas Eve watching the snow, setting out cookies for Santa, and reading the Christmas story. On Christmas morning, R did an amazing job following through with all of my special plans! We were able to spend the entire day in our PJs and let Tink open and play with each of her gifts before moving on to the next. We also had amazing food - baked french toast for brunch and the perfect Christmas dinner - baked ham with pineapple glaze, scalloped potatoes (from scratch!), and an arugula, pear, and pecan salad. So much for making me think that he can't cook! :) While travel and spending time with extended family are always an important part of Christmas for us, this year was made special by the time that we got to spend together as a family of three.

cookies for Santa

eating a cookie of her own and getting ready for the Christmas story

talking about Jesus' birthday (yes, baby Jesus is on top of the stable)

trying out her new baby stroller

getting settled in her tent with some good books (my kind of afternoon, I must say!)

Say cheese!

More Christmas Fun

2009-12-30T14:45:00.022-06:00

Being out of commission leading up to Christmas presented quite the challenge to all the things I had planned, but R took over and did a fantastic job making sure that Tink's second Christmas was full of fun memories.

The Wednesday after Thanksgiving, we had our first snow! We were really excited to take the girls outside to take pictures. They humored us, but weren't as thrilled as we hoped :)

The night before the fun began, our church hosted a Christmas petting zoo called Journey to the Manger. Tink got to pet and brush farm animals and say hello to Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, shepherds, and an angel! She was a lot less timid than her first petting zoo experience, and cried when it was time to go home!

Christmas cookies are one of R's favorite traditions, and he was even more excited this year now that I have so many decorating supplies :) Tink had a blast "helping", and I even pitched in just a little when it was time to decorate. It was a HUGE mess, but they were pretty cute!

Getting all dressed up for Christmas Sunday has always been so much fun for me! I had Tink's dress before Thanksgiving, but it was a little tricky getting the rest of it. Thanks to a little outing to the consignment store, she was all set :)

A Little More Than We Bargained For

2009-12-30T13:28:00.002-06:00

If you've been staying in touch or keeping up on Facebook, this is old news to you by now (feel free to skip it). But, just in case you missed it, and for the sake of having it recorded somewhere, here's the story:
The week after Thanksgiving was pretty normal - we made plans for parties and shopping was well under way. I was really excited about all of the things I had planned for Tink - cookies, mailing her letter to Santa, Angel Tree, and shopping for our friends and family. Unfortunately, Baby J had something completely different in mind!
I woke up at about 1am on the morning of the 7th having contractions. I was sure it was a false alarm, and tried walking it off and getting some water. At about 2:30, I decided I should wake R up and call the doctor. By 3:30, my sister was here to stay with Tink, and we were headed to the hospital. K asked if she should take Tink home with her when she woke up, and I assured her that we would be back by then (yeah right).
By the time I was checked in at the hospital and hooked up to a monitor, my contractions were 8 minutes apart. They started with a steriod shot for J's lungs, and found that I had dialated to a 1. Things slowed down a bit after a shot of Terbutaline, but they started up about 3 hours later. Then, the real fun began. They hooked me to an IV and started Magnesium, which slowed my contractions, but made me feel like I was just waking up from fainting. I also had to have my vitals checked every hour and my blood drawn every six hours, which makes rest pretty difficult! After a pretty uneventful day, we decided that R should go home and get some rest and let Tink sleep in her own bed as I settled in to an antepartum room.
I did well throughout the night, and the doctor decided to try an oral medication - things remained calm, and a sonogram showed that my labor hadn't progressed! We were all excited, and the doctor talked about sending me home on Thursday.
Unfortunately, I woke up contracting about about 1am the next morning. They tried Terbutaline again, but for some reason, this round sent me straight for a close encounter with the porcelain god - if you know me at all, you know that this is my LEAST favorite thing! Getting sick bought me another round of Magnesium, this time without any food. Luckily, all of the excitement didn't phase J in the least. His heart rate was steady, he continued to move and kick as if nothing out of the ordinary was going on, and I still had no labor progression.
Because things continued to look good through all of the excitement, they decided that I would probably rest better at home. On Thursday morning, the doctor took me off of the IV and checked me over one more time before releasing me to go home. I never imagined that I would leave the hospital so quickly (and still pregnant)!
The next month brought a LOT of time on the couch, movies and magazines, and help from wonderful family and friends. I was bummed to be missing out on all of the Christmas fun, but SO thankful for the extra weeks for J to grow and that Tink is too little to remember this entire ordeal. I am officially 36 weeks today, the doctor expects J to be in great health whenever he decides to come, and I'm slowly re-entering the world. Don't expect anything too exciting, though - contrary to what you would expect from spending four weeks on the couch, I'm exhausted! We know we couldn't have made it without all of your prayers and help, and we are truly greatful - we promise to keep everyone updated, especially when J decides to make his grand appearance!

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas!

2009-12-30T11:44:00.010-06:00

We have a family tradition of putting up the tree before we leave for Thanksgiving. It's really fun to come home to the house all decorated! This year brought a new level of excitement because Tink was all about helping with the ornaments. We also met some friends for the tree lighting in Southlake Town Square, which just might become another tradition!

Getting out the ornaments

Choosing just the right spot

Let's put this one here

The final touch

Lighted Southlake fountain

Oh, Christmas tree!

It wouldn't be Christmas without a cookie!

Playing Catch-up - Thanksgiving

2009-12-30T10:37:00.012-06:00

So, in case you've been out of touch lately, I've been a little preoccupied to post to the blog (more about that later). For now, here are the posts that you would have seen if all had been "normal":

We had a wonderful week-long Thanksgiving with our families! Because travel isn't an option for Christmas this year, Ryan took a few extra days and we headed to Oklahoma. We spent the first half of the week with my family, and the second half with Ryan's. Tink is starting to warm up a little more quickly than before with our families -especially her cousins! She couldn't wait to get in on all of the action. It was a great week away, and we came home feeling overwhelmed with thankfulness for our family and friends, Ryan's job, my time at home, and our growing family.

I found these shirts online, and Papa took care of the rest :)

Chowing down with Daddy

Giggly girls :)

My Mom's family

Linders cousins

Drum lessons with Pa Pa

Football with the boys

Playing a new game

Always ready to dress up!

Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater

2009-11-11T08:16:00.003-06:00

Remember these?

I decided to roast and puree the pie pumpkins this year, and I'm so excited with the way they turned out! I've been trying lots of pumpkin recipes, and thought I would share a few:

Pumpkin Pancakes Martha Stewart

Pecan-Topped Pumpkin Bread Cooking Light

Pumpkin Cookies The Good Apple

I also hope to try these soon:

Pumpkin Butter Parade

Frosted Pumpkin Cake Cooking Light

Yeah, I'm a little out of control. Think this is a pregnancy craving? :)

Halloween Fun

2009-11-02T19:31:00.018-06:00

We had a great Halloween! We started the day at a birthday party for my cousin's kids, complete with a petting zoo! Tink wasn't so excited about the "petting" part, but she loved making noises at the animals and playing with her cousins. The plan was to go home and wait for trick-or-treaters, but as soon as R saw all of the kids on our street, he talked me into taking Tink to a few houses. It didn't take her long to catch on, and she had a blast! We made it home in time to answer the door for awhile, and she had a great time handing out candy and seeing all of the costumes (after I looked through the peep hole to make sure the grim reaper wasn't standing there, of course) :) Enjoy the pics!

My Aunt D showing Tink a baby pig

little chick

You do it, Mommy

petting a bunny with a little help

I'm not going to touch it, if that's what you're waiting for . . .

Now, this is more my speed!

Such cute animal cupcakes!

Digging in :)

Tink and her cousin - such cuties!

Cousin picture!

Ready to trick-or-treat

Getting started

Trick or Treat!

The favorite of the night - a sucker!

Are there more in here?

Trick or Treat booty

Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-31T21:44:00.010-05:00

We barely squeezed in a trip to the pumpkin patch this year! We met Ryan yesterday after work at Hall Pumpkin Farm. The ground was really muddy, but Tink loved it and we got some fun pictures. I left with wet feet and ruined shoes, but Ryan bought me kettle corn, so I think I'll get over it :)

family picture

Tink's favorite part of the pumpkin patch
(I see a play house in this girl's future)

cowgirl tink

corn maze

cheese!

Seriously, can I get down?

Dad, I want this one!

mini hay maze

(Daddy's worst nightmare)

How many pictures are you going to take?

If I look really cute, can we be finished?

30, Flirty, and Thriving

2009-10-31T21:13:00.014-05:00

What a fantastic birthday weekend! My parents came in to town and we took the girls to the zoo, carved pumpkins, and my Mom and I snuck in some shopping during nap time. Ryan came home just in time to surprise me with dinner at Twisted Root with family and friends - thanks to everyone who helped us celebrate! I also got seasons 1-5 of the Gilmore Girls, my all-time favorite show. It was a great weekend, and I was reminded how truly blessed I am. You could have never convinced me 10 years ago that at the age of 30 I would be happily married to an amazing husband, staying at home with a beautiful daughter and a son on the way, raising my family alongside my sister, living life with a fantastic group of friends and involved at a great church. Turning 30 was even better than I expected, and I can't wait to see what the coming years bring!

Ready for the zoo

We love our Papa!

Nana bought the girls an Elmo because that's the

logical souveneir to bring home from the zoo . . .

Giraffes

Elephants

What's in there?

pumpkins

Surprise!

More friends

Big sister practice

Cute cakes from my sis

Family

Family Fun

2009-10-31T20:56:00.015-05:00

I got some great pictures from my Mom today of our visit to Oklahoma over Labor Day weekend. We always have a great time and leave feeling spoiled!

Sonic Happy Hour

Favorite toy at Nana's

"Ride the Horsey"

The beginnings of a dress-up box

Nana made us bracelets!

Very cool name puzzle benches hand-made by Papa

Swinging with Grandad

Checking out the bird bath

A sucker from Grandad's pocket

Sharing scrapbooks with my Granny

Granny and the girls

More cloth and a fantastic giveaway

2009-10-20T12:09:00.005-05:00

So, I'm still trying to find the perfect fit for us with cloth diapers. I finally have enough in my stash to last most of the day, but haven't found one particular brand that I can't live without. There are so many choices out there, and if I had a million dollars, I would order one of each of them to find just the right one! Of course, I don't have a million dollars, which is why I am so excited about this fun giveaway! One of my friends has also been exploring cloth and told me about GroBaby. They're a cloth diaper that come with biodegradable, disposable soaker pads. I'm not a big fan of rinsing out poop in the toilet, so this is my kind of cloth diapering. You get to thow away the mess and keep the cute outer shell - it's like the best of both worlds! I'm super excited to try this diaper, and am even more excited that they're giving away a great intro package for FREE! If you want to know more about GroBaby diapers, click on this link.
http://www.thenaturalbabyco.com/gro-baby-biodegradable-soaker-pads-p-745.html