Memorial Day

I'm a day late (and I'm always a dollar short, but that has nothing do to with what I'm about to talk about if I could just stop interrupting myself...)with our Memorial Day post. But that's okay-- it's not like we did any major partying!

We only slightly party hartied at a friends house and then at my mom's house. We first visited with friends over at Heidi and Will's house--they're our old (as in former, they're not old in years) neighbors. We first met them when Heidi was so sweet and brought us cookies when we first bought our house and were waiting on furniture. We didn't even live there yet... Oops, I digress! Anyway, we love hanging out with them. 

We share many of the same friends since we attend church together and have been at Heidi's house for a number of events in the last 5 years--New Year's Eve parties, birthdays, lazy post-church Sunday afternoons--umm, I know, you get the picture.

So we played backyard games (my crutches and I watched from a lawn chair, I know you were picturing me on my crutches trying to throw horseshoes, weren't you...?), munched on a brownie (yep, this one is me), had a beer (Daddy, but not the kids or me), and talked a lot about Joplin (mostly me and a couple friends). Not exactly party talk I know, but some friends' parents lived there for many years and their house was completely destroyed--except the one closet in the basement where they took shelter.  

Enter: Goosebumps, right? 

I know! Thank God, they survived.

We had to leave after about an hour and a half to jet over to my mom's house. It was time for some serious Auntie hangout time! And that they did. Well, except for Scrunchie--she likes the old folks. Her old folks to be exact. So Daddy and I entertained her as supper finished cooking. And the entertainment was making faces at her as we tried to take pictures. We had a few guests step on to the set to give kisses and pose with their sister. Cuteness all around!

We enjoyed a nice meal of spaghetti and sauce, mandarin orange salad, garlic bread and cookies for desert. All delicious. I had to excuse myself early to go feed Scrunchie for the bajillionth time that day while the rest of the gang finished eating. And I continued to soothe and feed her the rest of our time there. My lucky daughters ventured outside to play with fireworks (okay, it's only the little popper things) with Auntie and Grandma. And since Scrunchie had me all tied up, I didn't get any pictures. Booooo!

But Daddy and I even guest stared in the picture time.

I almost never get in pictures. And I look terrible here. Since I can't stand on or use my right foot in any way shape or form, my hair and make-up routine has gone by the wayside. I do not desire to spend 30 minutes balanced on my left foot, so its a gel-in-the-hair/sans makeup look for moi! Here it looks greasy, but I was freshly showered!

We ended up not being able to calm the babe down, and it was passing 8pm rapidly--so we headed for home!

Oh, and I forgot to mention...

I sat with Peach and showed her Pioneer Woman's Memorial Day post with pictures of veterans. I explained what they were wearing. Asked her why people in pictures were running/crying/bowing their heads/etc... and she always hit the nail on the head. I think the purpose of the day may have sunk in just a little!

I Hope your holiday was full of backyard games, cookies, chit-chat, love, and not crying babies!

Dancer Bantrer

 Lots of uncertainty...

 Will I like it?

 Will sissy be in my class?

 Will our teacher be nice?

 I don't want to dance in the Nutcracker...

 ...maybe next year though, mom!

 I'm not going to dance on that stage like you did mom!

 I'm too scared!

 I know you'll be there, mama, but I'm still scared to dance in the recital!

 Oh, but I like our costumes!!!

 Can we try on our costumes?

 Can we show our Sissy/friends/Grandma/Daddy/Auntie our costumes?

 Okay, I think maybe I'll dance next year if my sister does it again with me.

 No, Brownie, I don't want to take dance again next year--I'm going to stick with soccer!

 Okay, if you dance again next year Brownie, I'll do it too!

 But I'm still not doing the Nutcracker!

 Okay, but I think I'll go ahead and do Nutcracker next year?

 Momma, what will I be in the Nutcraker next year?

 Oh, well does that person have a pretty costume?

 Yay, I love pretty costumes!

 Okay, Brownie! Maybe I'll do the Nutcracker next year, too!

Oh that'll be fun Sissy. We can do it together!

Mom, will Bug dance with us next year?

Oh that Boushka!

You are moving at light speed these days with all your new developments, so I wanted to take a minute and jot down your fun facts.

A couple weeks ago you walked into the kitchen and started singing the ABC's. WHAT?

YES, you know your ABC's and it was a complete shocker to me since I had little to no hand in teaching you the ABC's. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I don't have much time to sit down and work on these things with you, one on one. So I point things out to you as we go about our day (such as that red car, or that black cow says Moooo!, or that sign says STOP!), I read to you all the time, and I talk to you as if you understand. This is my method of teaching since it fits in with our go-go-go lifestyle. And occasionally while we are go-go-going in the car we'll sing the ABC's. It must have really sunk in because you totally surprised me with what you knew!


Around this same time you started counting. I forget what you were doing at the time, but you weren't counting anything specific--you were just saying the numbers. You counted, in order, all the way from 1 to 12. Again, I had no hand in teaching you this. I'm thinking you've listened to your sisters count and you just picked up on it. Wow! You are just a little sponge.

(Here's a fun, weird little fact about you--- you love to pick your toes. I love it!)

You also know colors. And continuing with the theme, I never really sat down and taught you the colors. You just absorbed this knowledge by paying attention to your sisters--and I like to think that I had a small hand in your learning by pointing out colors when we are going about our daily routine.

You still love to play with K & L. And Charlotte (or Char-et) is also your friend. You are always going around talking about your fends. You are such a big two. Not in size necessarily, but you act so grown up. I hesitate to say mature because you definitely still throw your tantrums and act very much like a 2 yr old. But socially you act a little older. That's one benefit of being the fourth child, I suppose!

One other thing you like via your sisters' influence is a braid. Actually, Miss Traci started the braiding and your sisters love it. So naturally, you love it too. You are proud to show off mommy's (very poor, especially compared to Traci's) work. But I'll learn!

Okay, I'm done bragging on my baby Boushka. But isn't she just so sweet and amazing? Love you, boo-boo!

3 Months old

(BIRTH)

(1 MONTH OLD)

(2 MONTHS OLD)

(3 MONTHS OLD)

Oh my sweet Scrunchie Face!

You are 3 months old now and growing and changing faster than I care to admit. In the past few weeks you've really lost that newborn look and gained the more baby-like look. No matter what your look, you're super adorable!


You recently started putting both hands together and putting them in your mouth. You are constantly sucking on those puppies. You also grab onto your toys with both hands. Such big milestones!

And we can't forget the most important milestone---
YOU SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT!!!!!

Mommy and Daddy would like to thank you very much. You started sleeping through the night about the same time that I had my surgery (around 11 weeks old). You'll usually fall asleep around 9 or 10, and sleep until 6 or 7. Sometimes you fall asleep around 8pm and after waking around 7, you'll eat and fall back asleep for another 2-4 hours. It's magical! And since I've been sitting on the couch healing, it's so awesome that I get to hold you while you nap.


You're still kind of fussy during the day. You used to have fussy-time during the evening and into the night, but you've really started acting that way throughout the day now. You are either asleep, fussy, or perfectly content to sit and watch your sisters play. And every once in a while you are happy to play with those hands or a toy within reach.


You weigh about 13 1/2 pounds, though I'm not sure how long you are. I'm hoping to get that measuring tape out to measure you soon.


You still wear a size 2 diaper. And for the past week I've been asking your daddy to bring up the 3-6 month clothes tub (he's been super busy taking care of all of us, but he'll get it done soon). There is no way you fit into much of your 0-3 clothing. You are my first baby to really follow the clothing size guidelines.


You nurse anytime and all the time. Since I've been off my feet for 2 1/2 weeks now, you've totally taken advantage of the fact that I'm open for feeding business 24/7. In the afternoon and evening you nurse about once every hour-hour and a half. While I enjoy it to a certain extent, I'm worried that when I'm back to my normal life, you'll be incredibly upset that I'm not available to nurse you.... say while driving, for instance. You used to never have a problem taking a bottle from me or anybody for that matter. And now you absolutely WILL NOT take a bottle from me--and most of the time not from anybody else either. Ummm... yeah, I'm kinda worried!


You are a smiley, smiley little girl. Though you have your fussy-gassy times, your personality is just oozing sweetness. You smile so hard that your big cheeks make your eyes squint. I just love the pure, unbridled joy you share. This smile can totally turn my bad mood to good. When you smile, you make me smile. Thank you, Scrunchie!


So far your favorite song/game is patty cake. Whenever I take your little hands and start singing this you give me that awesome grin. I've also made up a song about being pleasantly plump. I sing this to you as I slowly lift you above my head (while I'm sitting). This always gets the smiley spit bubbles flowing. Love those, too!

The day after you turned 3 months old, you got to meet your Auntie. She has been gone since you were gestationally 5 weeks old, and here you are 3 months old. Upon walking into our house she ran right over to you and scooped you up into her arms. I think I may have seen a little tear form in the corner of her eye. She held you throughout the afternoon, which was quite the task since your sisters were demanding her attention. But I have a feeling there will be lots of love time between the two of you this next month!


I love you my sweet gal. I love you from your chunky thighs, to your big blue eyes. Your little toes and your squishy nose. And of course those big kissing cheeks and your monster swimmer's arms. I'm enjoying all your little rolls because I know that all too soon you will thin out and the baby rolls will go away.