Simple Days of Fall

what fun shaving cream is! Enjoying some sensory stimulation! Melanie beginnig to clean the table off Melanie realizing her feet are wet Mealanie doing a splash in the water dance. Today I spent most of the day home with the girls. We played in shaving cream, with toys, enjoyed our meals and then went piddling at a consignment store. All in all a great, relaxing girl day. Enjoy the pics and movies!
This was her happy dance after she realized I was letting her splash in the water.

She loves re-enacting stories. The Three Little Pigs is her latest.

Sweet Natalie with a bit of "Reed!"

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Family name history - Family tree diagram

Lions and Tigers and Bears Oh My!

Me and Clint at the wedding


Me and my mom


My mom and dad at the wedding


AFter the bird exhibit


Last year Melanie fell after this picture- this year no drama!


Melanie at the zoo


Daddy and Melanie at the circus


Mommy and Melanie at the circus


Melanie so thrilled to be dressing up at the circus!

We went to the zoo Saturday morning. It was educator appreciate day so I was free and Clint was 1/2 price so as a family it was $9. Yet again, I think there is a reason why 2 year olds are free. Yes, Melanie enjoyed herself, however, she was not nearly as in to the zoo as I expected her to be. Her favorite was the zebra. Clint, Natalie and I loved the gorillas. The gorillas were really active and Natalie thought it was neat to watch them move around. By the way, Natalie can wave (using her whole arm). It is so cute! Last night Clint and I had a much needed date night. My childhood friend, Trey, got married. It was so nice to see all of the old neighborhood gang together.

Sleep...when?

Well, Natalie slept through the night for a week. Then it was over...we'll keep trying. We worked Friday, went to the circus Friday night, I had college yesterday, then a GA party at our house last night and church this morning, then to the Gilbreath's for Rodney's bday party and I was exhausted. Melanie and I came home and guess what we did...took a 2 hour nap together. I don't know the last time I took a 2 hour nap but it was WONDERFUL. I think it was the highlight of my weekend. (However, I had to go to the grocery store after dinner to get everything done b/c I was suppose to go when we got home from the Gilbreath's but it was SO WORTH IT!!!) The circus was neat but I think we will hold off for a few more years. Melanie completely lost interst and really only liked the animal acts, not the people acts. She has no understanding that if you fall off a tightrope you would get really hurt. But it was really fun to spend an evening just the three of us. All of the cute new pics are from my mom. She took them while she had Natalie and Melanie was at school.

Melanie reading

Well, I was not too good at pointing to the words and filming and I ran out of time for the video on my card but you get the idea. I will put book #2 up later "Ride on a _____________"

Not to brag, but...

Okay...maybe to brag :) We've have been pushing letters/letter sounds pretty hard with a few of my students in my class. I began to think...gee...if I can teach a student with special needs the basics of reading surely I can teach Melanie. So, I bought some beginning reader books (mostly focusing on sight words) and she has picked it up like a pro. I need to post a video...I'll get right on it...some day. Anyway, her first book is "I see a __________" and whatever the picture is, is what you fill in the blank. So, cute and so fun. Now, she reads me a book at night and I read her a book. Also, no more pullups at bedtime. So far so good. We'll see how long the success lasts. I finished her last pack and refuse to buy more so it was a little tough love, throwing her to the sharks. She has lived up to the expectations. She continues to loves school and provide me with a super detailed report. I LOVE IT! We went to the Teck's to watch the GA game and Melanie stayed upstairs with the other kids (ages 4-7) all night without us. She only came down to eat. It is so nice to just send her to play and not worry about her putting things in her mouth, choking, not sharing etc.

Natalie is as cute and sweet as ever. She Loves LOVES LOVES to eat. She is nursing 4-5 times per day and still eating stage 2 foods. And guess what...a little tough love for her too and she sleeps through the night. I had a feeling she was just in a routine of waking up around 2:00 am to eat and I didn't really feel like she was starving otherwise. So, I didn't get up to her crying for a few nights in a row and she cried a VERY long time but after the 2-3 nights of crying she sleeps through the night. WAHOO! I think the hardest baby stages are now all behind us. All fun from here!

We are taking Melanie to the circus at the Gwinnett Arena Friday night. Aileen is watching Natalie. We are excited for a little just Melanie time. She deserves it. Enjoy the pics!

Recent Pics

Natalie's first game day


Yes, Melanie is goofy but GOOOOO DAWGS!


Natalie's pigtail :)


I had gone in for a few minutes and then I spied them playing so well together


The famous closed eye pose of Melanie


Kind of silly face but still cute


Natalie playing


Sisterly love.


Leslie's ultimate weight loss story :) Melanie is in my pants with me. They are pants I bought about 4 weeks after I had Natalie.

Great First Day

Melanie had a wonderful first day of school and came home telling us about it in great detail. She said who arrived on time and who was late, what songs they sang (Hazel and Jesus Loves Me), where the teachers keep supplies (cabinet), that one of her friends cried b/c she wanted to walk around with her juice rather than stay at the table, that she used the potty 1x and her friend used it 2x, that she played house with one friend, and that a friend from last year who didn't make good choices was making better choices this year. She said that their color is blue and the shape is a circle like a pancake. She said her friend told her she should wear flip flops instead of tennis shoes so she could be like her. HOW CUTE!!! What a fun and busy day for a 2 year old. I love hearing about her day. Enjoy the pics from her first day and labor day.