New pictures!!

I took the kids to get their pictures made last Thursday. I feel terrible because when Colby was 10 mo. old I had gotten his picture taken at least 5 times and Chanley has only had hers made twice! So I figured it was about time. I just wish I didn't have to take out a second mortgage to buy the dang things!! :) Anyway go to www.picturethisportraitgallery.net, click on cliets and enter the password JMORROW. Let me know what you think so maybe it will make my decision a little easier.....and a little cheaper!

10 months old!

I'm a little late on this post, but better late than never right?!! Chanley turned 10months old on July 5th. I know I say this every month but I cannot believe how quickly time is moving. It seems like just yesterday I was the whale in the kiddie pool at Wild River Country with her swimming in the comforts of my tummy. That is one reason I wanted to do this blog....so that I would have somewhat of a journal to keep of all the things that are happening in our family. This month I want to do something a little different and write a letter to Chanley that I can print out for her baby book.

Chanley,

Well princess, where do I begin. It is surreal to believe that you are 10 months old. How fast you are growing and everyday becoming more and more beautiful. I have made it a point to tell you everyday that exact thing. You ARE beautiful and always will be. You are the apple of my eye and your daddy's pride and joy. Your brother can hardly keep his hands off of you and talks to you in the sweetest way I've ever heard. After all.....you are HIS baby! He even teared up the other day when we left you with Nana and Papa while he and I went swimming. He couldn't wait till we were able to pick you back up. I have to say, you love him just as much. Your face lights up and you smile the biggest smile when you see him. He calls you "tun-tun", which I'm not sure you will appreciate when you are older but for now you love it! You are crawling everywhere, pulling up, and "cruising" around the tables and couches. Every once in a while I will catch you standing by yourself but once you realize what you are doing you quickly sit down. You are eating finger foods MUCH better now. I think that you just needed a little more time. You can eat Gerber Crunchers, Wagon Wheels, etc. You love to eat of mine and Daddy's plates too. So far we've let you try french fries, chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, and green beans. You also loved mommy's baked squash the other day. You are still only eating baby food for the most part. I have started giving you whole milk in your sippy cup a couple of times a day and you don't seem to mind it too bad. You will, however, drink it better from a bottle. I think you will be a little harder to break from the bottle than your brother. I still don't give you any juice because it upsets your stomach, but you love Gerber Splashers which is fruit flavored water. I am trying to do better with healthy eating habits! One thing you haven't done yet is say MaMa!! I try so hard everyday but you just won't budge!! We have been going swimming a lot lately, either at Miss Rachaels or at WRC or Magic Springs. You absolutely love the water!! You just don't like your floatie!! You want to be out in the open water with the rest of us. You are much too brave just like your brother. He jumped off the deep end the other day without a life jacket and scared me to death! He thinks he is invincible just like HULK! Your sleeping habits are pretty much the same as last month, but we are going to have to start letting you sleep in your bed pretty soon because you are trying to crawl out of the playpen! I know it will be hard for me but it is best for both of you. I just need to suck it up and realize that I can't keep you with me forever. I am furiously trying to plan your first birthday and am making myself a little crazy over it all. I just want it to be a great party. Only a few more weeks and my baby will be 1 yr old! You are such a joy in our lives and I thank God for you everyday. You and your brother mean the world to me and I just can't imagine a day without you. Thank you for all the joy you bring. We love you Tun-Tun!

Love,

Mommy

Much Needed!

Last Thursday night I went to a presentation for work at Cajun's. We got some new information on our fetal fibronectin kits. ( a test we use to try and determine if a patient will deliver prematurely). There was an open bar with wine and beer, a huge spread of appetizers, and then we got to choose from two entrees. I chose the rib eye, which by the way was quite possibly the best steak I've ever had. Then we had our choice of three deserts and I chose White Chocolate Bread Pudding. It was unbelievable!! My mouth is watering as we speak! Anyway.....the highlight of my night was getting so see my long lost friend Nicole. She came up after the meeting so we could catch up. We didn't get to talk very much though because we went upstairs and it was so loud we could barely hear each other. Jo, Mandy, and Brynn came with us as well and man did we have ourselves a grand ol time! The rep from the company that was providing us the presentation bought all our drinks.....a big whoppin two for me! We all had a great time, even if we were dripping with sweat by the end of the night! It was much needed "me" time even if a little portion of it was work related. Now if I can just do it more often! Thanks girls for a wonderful night!

Dreaming......

So I am up at 11pm, on the computer, getting ideas for Chanley's first birthday party. For those of you who know me well, you know that I am an overacheiver and a tad OCD......okay, okay....I am OCD!!! Anyway....she won't be a year old for two more months but I feel as if time is slipping away a little faster everyday. Colby has never been able to have a birthday party outdoors because his birthday is in December and it is always too cold. Therefore, Jereomy and I have come to the agreement to have her party at the park close to our house. #1) Its free! #2) There is a large playground area, basketball court, huge grassy area, etc. for kiddos to play, #3) its free! #4) I cannot imagine squeezing everyone in our family into my house #5) I just know that Chanley is going to rip into that cake and maybe being outside will be a little easier to control the mess......yes that is my OCD too! :) Well I just wanted to share tonights findings with you. I found a lady on Ebay who is going to make us some custom invitations.....not going to show those to you because it is a surprise!! I also found her sweet little tutu and hat for her first birthday pictures! I am most excited about that! While looking for some ideas for her cake I almost woke my kids up with the gasp when I saw the picture below.......now if this cake becomes a reality for her (me) it will be on a MUCH smaller scale because unlike the pavillion at the park I am sure the cake is not FREE! Anyway just wanted to share with you while I dream! Oh yeah I almost forgot.....it will be a "fairytale" theme!! Let me know what you think! Nighty Night!

Tball is over! :(

Last Sunday we attended Salem Baptist Church, the sponsor of Colby's first t-ball team. The team was recognized and each player was given a trophy. Colby was so thrilled! He walked up in front of everyone with the most amazing smile on his face. I have to say, I was smiling pretty big myself. I am sad that our year has come to an end but so very thankful for all the other players and their families and our wonderful coach. Colby has made leaps and bounds of improvement since we first started and the year was so much fun......and that is what it should always be about! Here are some pictures from their presentation.

Magic Springs

We have found a great place to spend some of our days this summer.....Magic Springs. We went last Saturday and again yesterday and had so much fun. Nana and PaPa got us season passes so we can go as much as we want all summer. Colby loves it and so do Jereomy and I. Chanley went the first time and got a little too worn out so we let her spend some quality time with YaYa this weekend. I was super tired because I had worked all night the night before but I still enjoyed being with the fam! I didn't take any pictures this weekend because I forgot my camera, but here are some when we went on the 21st.

9 months old!

Chanley turned nine months old on June 5th. She is growing and amazing us everyday. Today was her nine month check up. She weighs 18lbs 15oz (I think she has a pound in each cheek) and is 28in long. She has a mild case of eczema but other than that she is absolutely a healthy baby girl. She still hasn't been able to advance past eating Stage 2 baby foods. We are going to give her some more time and if she isn't eating more solid foods by one year at the latest, we will go to Children's for a swallow study. She is crawling everywhere and is most often found in her brother's room. She loves being in there with him and they play so good together. She also likes to play in her room just as long as someone is in there with her. You know when she gets quiet......she's into something she's not supposed to be. Her vocabulary is growing everyday. She now says bye-bye, dada, bubba, baba (bottle), and sometimes hi. She is waving bye-bye and will patty cake or clap when we do. She is so mild tempered and is so flexible with her schedule. For the most part she still wakes up around 6 and takes a bottle then goes back to sleep. She then gets up around 9 and has some cereal with fruit for breakfast. She has a jar of some type of vegetable or dinner and a jar of fruit at lunch. Then both her and Colby take a good afternoon nap around 1 or so. She eats another 2 jars of baby food at dinner and then a 8oz bottle at bedtime, which is usually around 9:30. She still sleeps through the night for the most part but might wake up if she looses her paci. I still swaddle her at first but she manages to break free sometime during the night. She has become such a mama's girl recently and wants to be wherever I am but doesn't necessarily have to be held. She just wants to be able to see me. She loves water including her baths. Dr. ONeill says we will have to start only bathing her when needed to try to clear up her eczema. I don't know how that will work since we have had the same routine since the day she came home from the hospital......bath, bottle, bed!

I still can't believe how quickly these babies grow up. I thank God everyday for trusting me to parent such wonderful children. I take in every second and try not to take a moment for granted. I know that her next milestone is only a blink away. We love you baby girl!