Return in June

Emma and I leave Friday for our trip to Disney World. We return on the 4th, dog-tired. Full reports by next weekend! Wish I could take the laptop - but that would leave Chucky internetless.

Long Weekend

Happy Memorial Day! Click here to see more pictures of our fun day filled with swimming, fighting over toys in the baby pool, golf-cart-riding, wagon pulling, sliding, and eating (included homemade ice cream AND smores)!

Things people say

Funny things I heard today:

Emma: It's not a bug that spins webs, mommy! (When I went after a bug with my spider-web-clearing stick)
Chucky: Quick! Get me another hot glue stick!
Chucky: Lots of things that shouldn't be repeated, as he is on day 4 of the diarrhea bug.

Sweet things I heard today:

Libby: Mmmmm! (when she leaned in to kiss me on the cheek)
Libby: Nigh-nigh (that means night-night)
Emma: I love you super, mommy.
Emma: You are really smart, aren't you mommy? (after I told her no, that is not a helicopter, it's the washing machine)

Cool Chicks

Taco night

Emma: Come on taco, get yourself together!

13 Months

Libby, you are 13 months old today! Yes, you are still drinking from the bottle. I have tried to take it away, but you just won't drink milk from the sippy cup. Water and juice are acceptable, but milk must be in the bottle. Awww, what a cute baby - just give her the bottle! You have just started to cruise around the furniture, and I am hoping you wait to take your first steps when I return from Disney World with Emma, but before the cruise to Bermuda with daddy. The smooshy face is gone, and has been replaced by hugs and kisses! We call the hugs looooove and you even hug your baby doll. You will be crawling along on the floor and stop and rest your cheek on the floor. We all say, "awwww" and then you say "awwww" and grin and then you crawl some more. You have been trying to say a lot more words, too. When we go into the bathroom for bathtime, you say "ba!" You say mama, dada, maaa (for Emma), hey, uh-oh, bye (while waving, even if you hear daddy saying bye from another room and can't see him), ck-ck for cat, daw for dog, baw for ball, moh for more. If I say bounce, bounce - you bounce! If I say rock, rock - you rock back and forth! If I say, go get the ball - you usually go get the ball! And you are so proud of yourself! I'm very proud of you, too.

You have such a great personality already. You are sweet and loving and feisty at the same time. You let us know when you want something, and you let Emma know when you've had enough of her pulling on you. You are easily entertained and often sit back and watch Emma, but recently have started showing that it's hard to be the little sister when you just want to do big girl things and get your hands on all those big girl teeny tiny toy parts.

You can eat just as much or more than your big sister. For lunch today you ate an entire grilled cheese sandwich (including the crust), three strawberries, part of a fruit bar, an asparagus spear and a cup of water. Your favorites are pizza, anything with marinara sauce, broccoli (your ultimate favorite), bananas, cheese, turkey and ham. You can put away some food, girl!

Your red hair is growing every day and you have crazy curls in the back. It's hard to put into words why, but I hope you never change it. It's a gift, and I know you probably won't see it that way one day. When you were born, we were surprised by it. It still surprises me. It makes me feel special that you look like your family. It's like I know something that no one else knows, it's a secret between me, Ghee, and Chucky. Wherever the red hair has come from, we are proud of it! We made it, we passed it on to you! And it looks beautiful on you, especially with your chubby red cheeks, fair skin and dark blue eyes. It also looks good with that beautiful smile of yours, and best when accompanied by your wonderful laugh.

Chas and Libby

Chas isn't used to Libby's way of touching and grabbing and basically crawling on him, but once he figured out she wasn't going to hurt him, they had a good time! Emma was at a sleepover with her other cousin, Maggie, so she missed all the fun at our house. Chas was fascinated with the way Chucky cooked the crabs and was full of questions. Libby was happy watching all the people show up, but was rubbing her eyes by 7:05, so she went to bed early and slept through the party.


Here's another one so you can see her curls!

Heart Bathing Suit

A little above 70 degrees and she breaks out the bathing suit! The water from the hose was very cold, but the fun had by Emma was incredible. I brought my camera outside and she started twirling while shouting, "Take my picture like this! Now like this! Did you get it?"

Side note: her hair grows so fast, there has to be some Guinness World Record she has broken.

FYI, I'm 31 and a half

Today, I:

• paid $55 to fill my minivan up with gas
• found a pair of sunglasses for $9.99
• bought another stroller
• picked up my repaired laptop
• went in the mall, returned something, and walked out without buying anything
• bought beer at wal-mart, where the 20 year old cashier asked me if I was under 40
• had dinner with my loud, rambunctious family, and enjoyed it even though Emma cried twice, peed on a rug, and Libby ate all the eggs
• rocked my 1 year old to sleep,rocked her some more, and closed my eyes and tried to freeze this moment into memory - a large, pudgy, curly red-headed, warm, fresh-from-the-bath sweet baby in pink shorty duck pajamas asleep in my arms

Advice Cookie

It's not a fortune, but this is what was inside my fortune cookie today: "Avert misunderstanding by calm, poise and balance."

OK now, if you know me, I mean really know me, you are probably laughing out loud at the thought of me trying to act so civilized in the middle of a misunderstanding. Hahahahahah!
I'm working on it. I'm working on not a misunderstanding, but on a meaninful conversation with someone, and I will take this advice. Thank you, Great Fortune restaurant.

Haircut

Before & After

This is my new get-ready-quickly, low maintenance hair cut. Most of the time I am happy I did it, sometimes my stomach turns over because I catch myself in the mirror and can't believe I cut all my hair off. Emma tells me repeatedly that she doesn't like it. Libby didn't recognize me when I picked her up at school. It used to take me 45 minutes to get ready, start to finish. Today it took me 15 minutes. Much more my style.

Climbing up to see Emma

Hoo boy! Libby is a busy girl. That means mommy and daddy are TIRED.

What did you do last week?

I wasn't home, and Chucky actually grabbed the camera when he saw Libby looking for Shelby. Poor dog. She is the recipient of much love from both girls, and most of the time just wants to be left alone! She is helping Libby to learn the meaning of "gentle"!



This is my latest attempt to keep children from underfoot while cooking.


We've had a busy week. Emma fell and hit her head on the trunk and got a big bruise and a little goose egg. It really scared me, and after 45 minutes of ice, I let her go to bed. Then I called the doctor, who assured me she is just fine. I spent several hours packing up things at my great aunt Emma's house for an auction. It was neat to spend some time in her house again, but the whole time I wondered what she would think of the path her belongings were going on. The auction is this weekend and I hoping to avoid it!

Emma and I also got haircuts. Hers is adorable. She got layers in it and it's much curlier and with a little gel it looks much better. Mine is a "do". It has be "done" everyday and is a total pain. I am going back to get something easier. No pictures. It's bad.

Saturday Chucky went to the race in Richmond and the girls and I went to a big yard sale and a farmer's market. I didn't spend any money! I did score a free rolling carry on suitcase, though. I got something for free!!! It was good to have something to occupy us for half the day and keep us busy. It's hard to be home with them these days. Libby is into everything! And if we go outside to play she has to be in the stroller or the swing because she can't walk yet. She get bored easily. I mean, of course, unless it's something fun like a roll of toilet paper.

I picked up the suitcase at the yard sale because Emma and I are going to Disney World! In three weeks! We are going with my family, and Chucky and Libby will stay home. I am bummed about leaving half my family home, and then leaving my kids again 3 weeks later to go on a cruise. But this is an opportunity I can't pass up, I know Emma will have a great time. She is very excited about her first ride on an "arrow-plane" (airplane) and got out Libby's toy airplane and has been loading baggage and people and preparing for take off.