Just another day...

It didn't turn out so well but she was sticking her head up into the penguin exhibit




They were watching the sharks






Nothing overly exciting has been going on in our house. We told Melanie we were taking her to the zoo last Monday and then we woke up to rain. She was so sad. So instead we went to the Aquarium. It only costs 100x more than the zoo but it was really neat and none of us had seen it yet. Melanie is finished being mean to Natalie. I think she just needed to check some boundaries there for a couple of days. She starts school next week. We went for registration yesterday and I think she will do very well.

Summer Fun and Sibling Rivalry

G-E-O-R-G-I-A a little preseason warm up


Clint's parents played dressup with Natalie


Natalie showing us how good she can sit


Natalie's tripod sit


Her magic wand




Melanie on "Snickers"


No more infant carrier!



Girls at the festival


Natalie playing

Last weekend I had to go to college so Chris and Clint had man's day They spent the all day Saturday taking the girls to neighborhood festival to ride horses, get Melanie's face painted, see a clown, cook out and go swimming. Then TJ had a proposal party/bday party for Becca and I was going to be late so they packed up the girls and took them to that party to. So, yes, TJ did propose to Becca and of course she said yes...my permanent 3rd wheel is taken for :) College went great. I really like the people and the professors. The work is time consuming but seems "do-able."

The latest drama involves...you guessed it...the drama queen herself...Melanie. This week she bit Natalie 2x! Once mid hug she bit her stomach and then mid kiss she bit her cheek. They both occurred at Clint's parents house. THe first time I tried to not come down too hard on her b/c Clint's parents had already reprimanded her. The second time Clint and I both gave her quite the lecture. SHe has had a star chart at our house as an incentive for good behavior and now she has one at the grandparent's house too. Since everyone got her in trouble she has seemed to straighten up...let's hope it is not temporary!

We are going to a party for one of her gymnastics friends today and hopefully the zoo on Monday I will complete another post to let you know of the fun.

We've Created a Porker :)

Well I've been back to work and though I work "part time" right now it is not seeming much like it. Last week I worked full time and this week I am working 4 days so...pretty much like a full time job. Guess what...Natalie got her first tooth about 1 week ago and I think is working on #2. I picked her up from my parents last Friday and they went on and on about how she didn't have a great day, wouldn't eat....I just couldn't believe my angel was bad. But, come to find out her top right tooth came in. Random tooth, yes, but her excuse none the less. Melanie never fussed b/c of teeth, but then again she was always fussing just b/c of life so who know whether her teeth ever hurt or not. Natalie took some Tylenol for about a day and is back to her normal slobbery self. She eats all the time!!! She eat about 2 jars of stage 1 food and 2 helpings of rice cereal with 5 nursing sessions/bottles per day. HOLY COW the girl eats. She looks super chunky too! We've also started to give the girls a bath together in the big tub. I've moved Natalie into the big tub before I moved Melanie but it is just easier. Natalie can't sit by herself so I but a small amount of water to cover the bottom and Natalie just stays in the tub on her belly and plays with Melanie. As for Melanie's development she can drink out of an open cup- no more sippy cups for her. I was thinking that in my class I don't let my 3 year olds with special needs use sippy cups so I guess it is time to transition Melanie out. She is doing great but is sad that she can't take her cups in the den anymore. She asked me, "mom, when I am big can I drink wine in the den like you?" Sure Melanie, drink all the white wine in the den when you're a grown up that you want :). Her other obsession right now is the alphabet. She can tell you an item that starts with each letter of the alphabet and if you tell her a word she is pretty good at telling you what letter it starts with. She also likes to identify written letters and tell you rhyming words. All of these prereading skills just started to kick in and we are running with them. I will post a video of her new skills when I get around to filming them. My quick brag for the moment...I have found time to read 1 1/2 of my grad school books- it is amazing how you find time that you didn't know existed when you have to (a little reading while you pump goes a long way!). We had a baby shower for Chris and Aileen at our house Saturday night and they girls stayed with grandparents. It was my first night without Natalie but Clint's parents said she did great...I was missing her a bit but I'm happy she did so well. The pics are from my mom when she had Melanie spending the night.

Can You Believe Summer is Over?

Liking some rice cereal More shots of day 1 bananas Natalie day 1- bananas...she loves them! We've moved on to green beans- she hates them, and sweet potatoes and pears which she also likes Natalie enjoyed her nap on Melanie's mattress One view of our den/bedroom for a week Shelby missing her normal bed Daddy and the girls cuddling in the den with no air Mommy and the girls cuddling in the den with no air I'm obsessed with my nursing coverup- I wish I had one with Melanie! Jessica, Michelle, and Clint Melanie and Logan playing Pretty blue eyes! Mommy and Natalie My dad and his oldest brother My parents and my uncle and his wife Jessica and Natalie Mamaw and her girls Pops and Melanie Mamaw and Natalie Me, my cousin Jessica, and the girls My cousin's oldest son, Logan Everyone working :) Melanie and Cole working on the fence My cousin's youngest son, Cole

I haven't posted in a while b/c I have been without my camera and wanted to wait on pics. Well, we survived not having air for 6 days!!!! It was not too fun sleeping in the den but I did enjoy staying up late and talking to Melanie...that part I kind of missed. I can say we learned more about her than we already knew...for example did you know she wants 4 kids and Natalie wants 2- but Natalie is going to have a boy and girl and Pops gets to hold the boy :) Natalie slept through the night during the heat...she hasn't slept through the night before or air got fixed or since our air has been fixed but it was nice bonus for our week of no air.

We also went to Chattanooga for my grandfather's funeral. We ended up going a day early and spending some time with my extended family. It was nice and a great time for them to all see Natalie. The funeral was really touching and so many people came out. My favorite thing his preacher said is that we might all wonder why he had to suffer the last 3 weeks when he practically died the first night before we all got there and he said that he could picture my grandfather talking to God and God saying, "Johnny, you either die tonight without seeing your family one more time or you can see everyone but you might have to suffer some at the end." and my grandfather picking to see us. I think that line stuck with me more than anything. He had a military burial which I had never seen before and it was amazing. They presented the flag to my uncle and had a 21 gun salute. All in all a very touching trip.

We played with my friend, Elizabeth's, daughter, Sarah a couple of days as we traded off child care. She turned 1 in June. It's hard to realize this little girl who can do so much is closer in age to Natalie than Melanie...it just shows that it is not too long before Natalie is doing so much. But, it also shows that 2 little little kids is not too easy! None of the kids did anything wrong or bad but 3 kids under the age of 2 1/2 is a bit difficult at times! I was sure glad when Clint got home from work b/c I realized I hadn't even made it to the bathroom. Elizabeth said she got through the afternoon on her day with the girls and realized she hadn't eaten and was starving :)

I also started graduate school this past weekend. Elizabeth is going to do the program with me. I am getting my Specialist's degree in Administration. We had to drive up to Ducktown, TN which is just past Blue Ridge. We got a bit lost and caught in a military funeral in Cumming but we made it and completely figured out our way on the way back. Our book list has 13 books...hmmm, when I am going to read them all I'm not too sure but I guess I have until December to get it all done!

This week I have been getting prepared to head back to Partee. I need to primp (get my hair cut and colored and get my toes done) but I have no idea when I will have time for those luxuries so maybe I will look a little patootie on the first day back but oh well. I am for sure going to get some new clothes b/c my work clothes are from either right before or right after Melanie so some of them are way out of style. I took the girls up to work in my room with the lady I coteach with and her 1 1/2 year old and 3 year old. So, needless to say we got as much done with 4 kids there as we could but they were making bigger messes than we were cleaning!s