So Many Things...

Well, being busy is the only excuse I have for not posting in so long, but a lot has happened since the last post. So, here is my best attempt to remember all the stand-out moments! October and November were fun months, and December is shaping up to be the same. So, we'll start where we left off.

Pumpkin Patch

In addition to our fun night of trick-or-treating, we also enjoyed the Fall Festival Pumpkin Patch put on by our church. There were of course plenty of pumpkins, arts and crafts, and a playground. But your favorite part was the pony ride! I thought you would be a little scared of sitting on the pony, but boy was I wrong. The only part you didn't like, was when it was time to get down! We got some great pics of you enjoying our fun afternoon!

Every parent says it, but...

It really does happen all too fast. You are growing up right before our eyes. It is an absolute amazing thing to watch. You'll try to say just about anything we throw your way. You're already starting to speak in complete sentences, you love saying your ABC's (especially the LMNOP part) and you always try to count things. You'll point at a group of things and say 2, 4, 6, 7 (that's seems to be your favorite sequence of numbers). But if daddy or I are counting with you, you will follow us all the way to 10 and the celebrate with "yeahs!" and clapping. You love watching Disney Junior. You're favorite shows are Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Doc McStuffins and Gaspard and Lisa. You've recently started to sing along with the songs on the show. It is awesomely entertaining! You are a true joy.

Another Visit

We are so lucky to have the best Gigi and Pepaw in the whole wide world! They came for another visit the week of Thanksgiving and once again, we had a great time. Of course, they didn't come empty handed! They brought new dishes for your kitchen, a chef's outfit, a princess hat, and all sorts of fun things! We went to Nana's house for Thanksgiving dinner and we all had a great time. Your Uncle Ryan is in town and you got ot see him for the first time in almost a year! It took a little bit, but before long you warmed right up to him. Here are a few pics from a day with family!

                                                                         Cousin Josh

                                                                Great Aunt Mona

Zoo Lights

There's a new Christmas tradition in Houston...Zoo Lights. They string lights all throughout the Zoo, put up special displays, play Christmas music, serve hot chocolate and cotton candy. It was a crowded event, but we had a great time, and we brought Nana and Uncle Ryan along to enjoy in the fun!

                                     Uncle Ryan giving you your first taste of Cotton Candy!

                                                     You and Nana watching the carousel

                                                            Hanging with Uncle Ryan

Night Night...

I said it before, you are growing up fast, and one sign of that is your new "big girl bed." we are starting to get your little sisters room ready for her arrival and that means you got your very own "big girl bed" complete with new butterfly bedding and new Winnie the Pooh stuffed animals. Well, new to you, these actually used to be Mommy's and I love that you now love them! The Winne the Pooh mural on the wall was a very nice gift from my boss, Dale Lockett and his family. He has a daughter, Alex,  who just turned 10 and she wanted a more "grown-up room." They had this painting done years ago for her nursery. She signed the back with a message to you, and one day, when it's time to pass it along to someone else, you can do the same! I think you have such a cute room, and I think that you now agree. You have adjusted so well to your new bed. You've been sleeping great and that makes everyone happy!

I'm a new big sister

Now, you may not fully grasp the concept of being a big sister, or the fact that we'll have a new baby in our family soon, but I do think you are starting to catch on! Her name is Bailey Reese and not only do you like to say her name at home, but your teachers tell me you say it all the time at school, too! Two of your favorite books to read at night are "I'm a New Big Sister" and "Big Sisters are the Best." In fact, we read them so often that you can now finish each sentence. You always giggle when you help mommy read and it's pretty cute! One of my most recent favorite moments happened just last night. We were both lying in your bed, reading books and getting ready to go night night. Out of the blue, you leaned over and kissed my side. I said, "ah, thank you, can mommy get another kiss?" You looked at me and said "Bailey kiss" then leaned over again and kissed me right on my belly. I wish I would've had a camera to capture that moment, but it is one that will stay in my memory bank forever. So sweet and so special. I just know you are going to be a great big sister!

Trick or Treat!

Bzzzz...

You were quite a site on Halloween...the cutest little bumble bee i'd ever seen:) The Friday before Halloween, you had a party at school, where you got to go to each classroom to trick or treat, then have a pizza party in your classroom! All of the kids at school were dressed so cute, but you were the only one in your class who still had her costume on at the end of the day! Then on Halloween, daddy and I took you around the neighborhood to trick or treat! You loved walking around outside and going door to door, but i think your favorite part was handing out candy to all the other trick or treaters once we got home. Here are a few of my favorite pics from the occasion!

                          HERE YOU ARE ON HALLOWEEN MORNING BEFORE SCHOOL

                                      OUT THE DOOR AND READY TO TRICK OR TREAT

                                                               AND WE'RE OFF...

                               FIRST STOP...CHRISTIAN'S HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET

 

                       A BIG BLOW UP SPIDER! YOU LOVED SAYING HI AND BYE!

                            YOU WEREN'T SO SURE ABOUT THIS GUY..NEITHER WAS I!
                                                   THIS WAS ALL DADDY'S IDEA!

Big and Busy Visit

We had an awesome and memorble time in October when your Gigi and Pepaw made a visit. Here are the highlights:

                                     HERE YOU ARE THE DAY BEFORE THEY ARRIVED!
Name Changes:
We'll start this off with a little explanation. Gma and Papaw have been just that, "Gma and Papaw" since your cousin Ben was born (he's 7 now). You were good with Papaw, you've called him that since you starting talking, but Gma was a different story. You said it once or twice, but you just for what ever reason didn't want to make a habit of saying it. As you might imagine, Gma was NOT okay with you just not saying her name, so she suggested Gigi, and once you said it, you were good to go, So "Gigi" it was. But, sometime during this visit, you decided that "Papaw" should be changed to "Pepaw". The rest is history...

                                                  WATCHING SOME TV WITH GIGI

The Big Reveal:
We were so happy that Gigi and Pepaw would be visiting during our 16 week check up for mommy and the new baby. 16 weeks is the big one, when we find out the gender. So, me, you, daddy, gigi and pepaw all headed to the medical center for the appointment. You and your dad and I went in first and were told the big news, then you and daddy went out in the hall to bring gigi and pepaw in so they could see for themselves. They got to see your BABY SISTER on the ultra sound! Your dad was the most surprised, not only is he completely outnumbered, but i think he's already nervous about having to deal with the boys that come along when raising two beautiful daughters:)

                            THE 16WK ULTRA SOUND PICS OF YOUR BABY SISTER!
The Museum:
We made a trip back to the Childrens Museum. This time it was less crowded, so you got to explore the "city" part of the museum. Your favorite was the grocery store, where you proceeded to fill then empty your bowl with every fake strawberry you could get your hands on! Then we had fun on the toddler floor where you spent plenty of time exploring.

                                                          THE STRAWBERRIES!

 

                                               PLAYING IN THE TODDLER AREA

Your Very Own Kitchen:
Everytime we visit gigi and pepaws house, or ben and sydney's house, you love playing with their kitchen sets. They're just your size and you love "mixing up" things in all the bowls with all the different utencils. Now, thanks to gigi and pepaw you have one in your room! You could spend hours in front of that thing. You'll grab anyone who's around and tell them to "sit down" in front of your kitchen to play. It is quite entertaining!

Treasure Chest:
By now, you are familiar with your treasure chest at gigi and pepaws. You know exatly where it is and love to see what's inside. Well, this time, they brought the treasure chest to you, well, sort of. Gigi sent down a big box the week before their visit ( i had to promise not to open it before they arrived). There were all sorts of goodies inside! toys, utencils for your kitchen, and your bumblee bee costume for halloween (more to come on that in the next post!)

                                    THIS TUTU WAS IN YOUR "TREASURE CHEST"
The Best Part:
We always have fun with gigi and pepaw and for me to sit back and watch you bond with two of the most important people in my life is really something else. I thoroughly enjoy watching you fall in love with them. It sends happiness through my bones!

"I lub boo"

Okay, this post will be short, but oh so sweet! You now say I love you, or "I lub boo," (which I happen to think is even better) quite often now. If daddy or I say I love you, you say it right back. But one of my favorite moments, so far, as a mother happened just the other night as i was putting you to bed. I had finished reading you your books and was rocking you, but you weren't really feeling it, you just weren't ready to go to sleep yet. So, I just sat with you in the dark, and tried to lure you sleepyland. That's when you all the sudden lifted up your head, looked me right in the eyes and said, "I lub boo!" You said it about five times in a row. You could say it a million times in a row and I would love the sound just the same. It is just so sweet, and I lub boo too!
And just for the record...this pic was taken about twenty minutes after our sweet little moment. So yes, you won that round, out of the dark room and into the kitchen we went...

Long Awaited Visit

In September, we finally made a long-awaited visit to Dallas. You finally got to meet mommy's best friend, Jaime! Jaime and i have been best friends since our junior year in high school. We met because we were both on the Norman High pom squad and we instantly hit if off! We both went to OSU, we were roomies in the dorm, and we both pledged Chi Omega. We have watched each other grow into women, wives and mommy's!
As I mentioned, we were friends instantly, and you hit it off with Jaime, too! From the moment she picked us up at the airport, you reached out to her and were happy to be in her arms all weekend! I've only seen you behave this way with your grandmothers, so i was surprised, but very happy! I guess we both can spot a good friend when we see 'em!
It was a quick trip, but you loved playing with her little boy, Kolt. You spent a lot of time coloring at his little table and taking full advantage of all his fun toys, including a battery operated 4-wheeler! You loved that thing! If only you were a little better at steering, you would've zoomed all around their house (unfortunately, walls and other toys got in your way often!)
Here are a few pics from the weekend. You will notice that Jaime is about to become a mommy, again! This time to a little girl. We can't wait to meet her!

 learning to operate the infamous 4-wheeler

 not sure what you were saying here, but it was obviously very serious

 hanging out with aunt jaime!

here you are trying to give Kolt a hug, he wasn't very interested!