Enjoyment

I enjoy this girl.

She is at an age that I love, becoming her own little feisty person.

When our first child, Princess Girly Girl, was this age I had a two month old colicky and sick baby, Princess Goofy. Sadly I don't remember this time with her that well. I think I was dealing in strictly survival mode, not live and enjoy it mode.

Then when Princess Goofy reached this age, I was dealing with an older sister in the throws of terrible two's and ohhh what a throw it was. It was around this time in Princess Goofy's life that we discovered our oldest daughter cannot have red food dye or you would think her head was going to fall off. It was a difficult time.

Even though I love my oldest two just the same, I was barely making it when they were in their beginning toddler stages. Not only that but Damion and I were still learning how to be married and how to be parents. Things did not flow all that smoothly on a day to day basis.

But now.. with seven years and two other kids under our belts we work like a machine. Most days. We still have the machine like our dishwasher days.. which is sputtering and barely making it another day. But now there are more good days than bad. I have a husband that helps more than he ever has with the kids and especially with the baby years. Actually Princess Newbie's favorite person is her Dadda. That's also her favorite word which she calls everything, even the dogs sometimes. I call Dadda a dog sometimes too but that's on the not so well oiled machine days. Just kidding sweetie.

I am glad that we have a few years between the oldest two and this girl. It's not what we had planned or hoped for and there was a question if it was even possible for awhile. But it all goes to prove that God knows what He's doing and He knows the right timing.

Now I have the time to sit and enjoy her, to walk with her holding her hand without running after another toddler.  I have the time to swing her outside on the swing set while the other two are swinging themselves. (yes, princess Goofy is really close to mastering this feat!) Now I cherish the time with the oldest two giggling in the backseat and Princess Newbie shrieking with joy in the middle seats.

It's a great time of our lives and I'm loving it all. most days.

Happy Birthday Turkey Burger

I knew writing this post would be hard. I partially dreaded it the entire day.

Today is Princess Newbie's first birthday. She's not so new anymore.

She is the only one that we planned. She is the one that we hoped for, prayed for, begged for, believed for.

She is the last, the baby, the only one that I still have to wipe their butt.

She is the one that we watch in wonder of what she's going to do or accomplish.

She is the one that will bite you and then love you at the same time.

She's fiesty alright. extremely fiesty. but ohh so cuddly.

She has a temper slightly larger than Texas. I love it. If she learns how to use it correctly, she is going to be a powerhouse in this world.

She is the baby doll in a house full of little momma's.

She is the one that taught me how to live without sleep.. still... I guess she's training me for when they are all three teenagers.

She is joy.

She loves anything soft that she can hold, frosting, and drinking from a straw. In fact, she's a straw snob, don't give her a sippy cup.. she's too good for it.

She is a dog and water loving girl who is learning how to get back at her sister's.

She is the original turkey burger, monkey girl, elleroo whoo... that really needs to go to bed.

p.s. that wasn't so hard... I didn't cry at all! promise.

11 Months and counting..

Princess Newbie is a water loving baby.. like I've never seen before.

When you took her out, she would crawl right back in.

She is adorable.

Her newest passion is Baby Dolls.

and she thrives on her new found independence.

Did I mention that she's walking like a pro?

Did I also mention that she's 11 months old today.

Please stop growing. Please, please, please. My heart can't take it.

P.S. I know the blog layout looks wonky but hang with me while I finish it.

I Heart Faces - Babies

It's hard to believe that she will be one later this summer. I remember the day I took this picture in our front yard. I was a mess. A showerless grungy leaky mess of new motherhood. The UPS guy walked up behind me while I was trying to take this and scared me half to death. Then I turned around and I think I scared him half to death with my appearance. I'm so glad I have this picture though to remember the head full of hair, beautiful rosy lips and little tiny baby rolls. She was so peaceful and still has a peaceful spirit today.

8 Months

It's been 8 months since this little bundle of joy came into our lives. I can't believe it has gone by that quickly.

Princess Newbie is NOT sleeping through the night, she prefers infant sleep schedules. However, that's the only thing I would change about this Princess.

She is inquisitive, loveable, loves to giggle, and a dog lover.

Her newest accomplishments are:
3 teeth with one more on the way
clapping her hands all the time
opening and closing kitchen cabinet doors
climbing the stairs
pulling up and walking holding onto things

She's eight months today and I would be suprised if she's not walking by the time she's nine months. With two sisters to chase and follow, walking is a priority to her.

Don't worry about those two sisters... they are taking to her well. And on the days that she gets on their nerves, they just pick her up and put her in the backyard (seriously).  So if you come over, call first so I can go get her out of the yard.

(markers and crayons)

Isn't she adorable?

Birfday wishes

Have I ever told you about my wonderful neighbor? She brings me cookies and eggs when I need them. I owe her practically everything inside of the grocery store because I have borrowed it all. She watches our dogs when we have to go out of town and even watched them when we evacuated for Hurrican Ike. For those of you that don't realize what that means, just imagine her wading across our street several times during the heavy storms to let the dogs in and out of our house. Now that's a good neighbor.

Have I ever told you about my Mother-in-law? I was truly blessed when God picked His Royal Highness for me because I inherited my Mother-in-law. She is the one that drives over 5 hours to babysit our kids!  The princesses receive care packages from her on a weekly basis and she occasionally requests an emergency picture of her grandkids to help her make it through the day. Ok, she requests this on a daily basis.  Last week she sent me a message requesting a picture of Princess Newbie ASAP.  Well, Princess Newbie had just woken up from a nap and was not a happy camper so I sent her a picture of Princess Newbie crying. The phone rang within seconds of me pressing send so that she could find out why her grandbaby was crying. I love it! The love she shows to our entire family is outstanding and I've learned a lot about service to others from her

.

Have I told you that both of them were born on this weekend about 25 years ago?

Happy Birthday to you! You are both womderful women!

Here's my gifts to you: a beautiful cake

and a picture of a gorgeous baby... just the picture.. no you can't have the baby

Meeting the Pioneer Woman

His Royal Highness claims that I stalk the Pioneer Woman. I claim that she is my best friend, although she may not know this.

This past saturday Ree was here in Houston signing copies of her cookbook. My dad was supposed to be in town so I had already accepted the fact that our day of best friend activities such as pedicures, tea, sushi, etc... would have to wait until another time. Then a little thing called the Great Houston Snow of 09' happened and my dad canceled his trip. To say that my head started spinning was an understatement. You may not realize this but I am a shy, fly on the wall type person. I am not outgoing in situations where I am not extremely familiar with people. I think I asked His Royal Highness at least 50 times if I should go to the book signing. The first time he said yes, the other 49 times he just ignored me.

So saturday morning I packed up Princess Newbie and we headed to the book signing. I honestly did not take Princess Newbie just so that the PW could drool over her but it did not help that on that particular day almost every single outfit she owned was in the wash. There were no clean socks, no matching hair bows to be found. She had scratched her face several times the night before and her hair had this oily/punk rocker look going on. I still think that she hung the moon but other babies that were there could have been on the cover of Vanity Fair they were so chic.

I got there at 11:50 and grabbed a seat to wait until 1:00 when the PW would do a short question/ answer session. She finally appeared a few minutes after 1:00.

I think a few women in the crowd might have fainted at this point.

Alright, she is not possesed.... this is what happens when I play with photoshop late at night and I'm tired. My red eye removal ran amuck.

That's better.

There's a few things that make me admire the Pioneer Woman

1. She is positive

2. She laughs a lot and occasionally at herself

3. She loves her family

4. she has killer cooking and photography skills. (am I too old to say killer?)

The question and answer session just proved all these thoughts to be true.  I now know what underwear Marlboro man wears. Yes, I do. Do you?

After she was done speaking, the waiting began. I met a lot of great people. Some of them proved the fact to me that I am actually not a stalker, they are stalkers. His Royal Highness has now changed his tune to, "You just look up to her." Exactamondo dude.  I did meet some people that are just great people and we exchanged information to get together again in the future.

Princess Newbie was so good, never crying. In fact, she decided to do a little reading.

No more baby books for me, it's hardcore from here on out!

I love it!!

Finally after about six hours of waiting and a short trip home to pick up HRH and the other two princesses, we were almost there!

I'll let you in on a little secret...... The night before I had practiced (in my head of course) about 5 different possible converstations. All of them were funny and witty. They could have won a Nobel Peace Prize, which seems to be extremely easy to come by these days.

Then....

It happened. I met her. And do you know what I said? It went something like this.... "uh...duh... Are you tired?"  AGH! That's some hard hitting journalism right there. Tom Brokaw, eat your heart out! That was not the speeches that I had rehearsed and faked laughed at.

I'm a goober. There's no other explanation for it.

So here it is.. the official picture:

Why do my bangs always break apart into little bunches like that?

Princess Newbie looks like she's crying out for help.

Ree, your white teeth are making me look like a chain smoker.

Help me Rhonda, help help me Rhonda.

Overall, it was great. It was worth the time waiting, it was worth the verbal vomit from my blank mind and it was worth my 12 pack a day habit (just kidding).

Come back soon Pioneer Woman, I'll have the sushi and Starbucks waiting.

Two Months and counting....

It's official. Princess Newbie is two months old today. She is quickly getting the hang of this quackeriffic family and is so happy that we're not those new type of parents that put their baby naked in an easter basket for pictures.

Too Cute For Tuesday

Princess Newbie freshly bathed, chillin' with her paci. Does it get any cuter?