About Time!!!

Yes, it has been almost a year since I have written. Nothing much has happened. LOL! Just kidding. A LOT has been going on and quite frankly I have just had more important things to do. So, here is what has happened.

Ashlyn is now 2.5 yrs old. At her last checkup on Feb. 4, 2013, when was 34.8" tall (75%) and 27lbs (50%). Her nickname is "Goat." Because she will eat anything and climbs fearlessly on everything. She is suffering a mild sprained ankle thanks to a dive off the slide on the swing set! And she is just now breaking her last set of molars before her 6yr molars come in.

This summer she has gone through a marked growth spurt. Not only her body but her cognitive/behavior skills as well. She was always a very laid back kid but now she adamantly fights for her place in the pecking order of the household. She can and will do everything her big sister does. She is still very clingy and extremely jealous anytime I show affection to Taylor. "That's MY MOMMA!" she'll say. I quickly correct her but she doesn't listen. And she will not hesitate to correct anyone who calls her "baby." She remarks, "I"m NOT a baby anymoora." LOL!

One thing that is very interesting to me is that loud noises scare her. In fact, she just scares easily, period. If she is next to me and I call out for something, it will scare her and she cries. What makes this quirk so annoying is that we live in the flight path of the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point where the famed HARRIER trains. To this day, it is the loudest aircraft EVER. Oh, and the train tracks are right behind the house, too! LOL! Ah, the joys of city life.

And Taylor, sweet 'ole Taylor. She just went for her 4yr checkup 2 months ago and she was 43.1" tall (101%) and 50lbs (101%). Yes, my kid is off the charts! Her peditrician said she was the size of a 7yr old which makes sense because I am buying her size 7's & 8's for the fall school year. She's in PRE-K! LOL! She is getting her 6yr molars in now and complains a little about it but not much.

As most of you know, she has just about killed us. Not only is she smart has a whip, she has behavior issues that make me want to slit my own throat! I have taken her for behavior counciling 3 times and each time her doctor says SOOOoooo non-chalanty, "Oh, ha ha ha, she's just a strong-willed child! She'll be fiiiiine!" HA! Goes to show you what he knows. The whole time I'm sitting there bitting my lips thinking, "She ain't gonna be fine! I'M GONNA KILL HER! Or she's gonna kill me, or something. Either way, there is no way on earth we are both making it out alive!" But as God promises, He does work all things to the good of those who love him. I just found out today that she as been accepted to a "hands-on" Pre-K program where she can go for free because it is funded through a grant from the state AND she'll get to ride the bus just for Pre-K kids only. This facility is amazing. It is geared towards children who need help with social and behavioral issues but the also accept "typical" children to balance out the class. There are 12 kids to 1 teacher and they will teach her how to manage her "hard to deal with" temperamental traits such as: low adaptability, intensity, distractibility, and low sensory thresholds. She is a frustratingly picky eater. She craves sweets and the TV like she's never gonna have them again, ever. She is not potty trained and she turned 4 two months ago. (Ashlyn is already trained.) Right now these aren't "diagnosable" type traits but they make for a difficult child. My favorite book, "The Difficult Child" calls these types of children "Mother Killers" and they certainly are. What makes it all so much worse is that I have no support system (family close by). Well, we do have very good friends at church that will watch the girls on occasion but its not the same as that family support system that I consider so valuable to your sanity as a mother.

Both of the girls are so beautiful and stepping back from the monotony of my day-to-day trials, I am so blessed to be the mother of these two amazing and inspiring children. The play so well together which was one of my major concerns. They are also both in swim lessons for two weeks this summer and Taylor will be swimming by the end of the week and Ashlyn (aka. Bitty) will go under but hates it. Since she is so clingy we are doing a mommy-n-me class but Taylor is almost swimming on her own. It was so crazy. Last Thursday she was crying with so much anxiety because she did not want to go under. But about 5 minutes before we left to for our lessons she just completely changed her mind. She said, "If I wanna be a life guard like Daddy I have to swim underwater so I am going to do it!" Well, alright Sister, you do it! And, just like that, she did. That was the 5th proudest day of my life. My marriage, my girls, my salvation, and Taylor swimming!~ I cried the whole lesson!!!! It was great!

Brodie and are hanging in there. We are so tired all the time, but who isn't these days? This is our last year here in North Carolina, which I am very sad about. I love it here. We have a great church family and you cannot beat the weather. There is a very tiny chance we could stay here for 3 more years after next summer but I highly doubt it. Brodie is in the process of trying to decide if he wants to stay on the Warrant Officer ladder or move over to the Lieutenant ladder which goes up a lot higher than the one he's on now. I know he'll choose Lt. but for now I am just being the good wife and saying "Yes Dear and I understand honey" every time he talks about "all" the reasons he should stay where he is. He's so predictable! (wink).

Well hopefully this gets me back on track to updating my family blog for those very few of you who actually read this stuff. Also, since Taylor is starting school full time in the fall I will have a lot more time to actually sit down and do this since Ashlyn still takes naps.

See you soon! R

Punkin' Patch

We had so much fun today at Mike's Farm. We decided to go get our own pumpkins for the very first time. Our "punkin' gettin'" has been spotty over the years so we decided to do it right this year. We took a one hour drive out to the country, which felt to Brodie like we were half way to Mississippi! I was really afraid we were going to drive up to some old man's house and cut us a punkin'. No Way! This Mike fella did it up RIGHT! There was all kinds of great stuff to do and look at. There was also a LOT of people there. Whew!

Today the farm just so happen to be hosting my Dad's favorite event of all time I do believe - An Antique Tractor Show! So Dad, this post is for you! You can oogle over the pic's on the dropshots page. They did have the most boring race I had ever seen in my life, though. A barrel-pushin' race with a tractor. The guys had to push a barrel down the field without going out of bounds and the one who had the best time won. It was not that exciting so as soon as the rain stopped we hopped on the hay ride which took us back to the pumpkin patch.

This was the very first hay ride for the girls and Taylor LOVED it. Ashlyn didn't really care. Daddy and I loved watching the girls expressions. It was priceless. We went from this big open yard where everyone one was gathered down the shady path overgrown with lots of good smelling trees and vines. At one point there were trees all around us and our path got very dark. Taylor described it as "Spoooooky! He He He!"

We pulled up to the muddy field and everyone jumped out and began to scour the field for the very best pumpkin. Ashlyn just wanted to find a good patch of dirt and play in that. She succeeded! Taylor and Brodie barreled off into the muddy field tripping over vines and pumpkins all the way. Dad found a good big one and I spotted the one I wanted from the sidelines (watching Ashlyn draw in the dirt with her little finger). All of a sudden Taylor got a huge smile on her face and said, "There it is!" She had found it. Her perfect pumpkin. It was just a little bit bigger than her hand and she was so proud. Daddy showed her how to carry it so she wouldn't drop it and then she came running towards me as fast as the vines would let her. It was so sweet.

We got back to the farm and piddled around a little while longer. We stopped into what was set up to be an old homestead from 100+ years ago. Brodie told the girls, "Here girls, lets go look at where your Momma grew up!" I even had to laugh at that. As I snapped picture after picture of things that seemed absolutely ridiculous to my husband (who is from California) he said to me smiling, "You are loving this aren't you!" "Well, shoot yeah!" I said!

A little while later daddy announced that it was time to go. Taylor and I almost cried real tears! Ashlyn and dad were tired and hungry so they had been ready for a while. We packed up our pumpkin's, all our gear, and loaded up to go back home. What a great day!!!

I can't wait until we go get our Christmas Tree!!!

http://www.mikesfarm.com

First Day of Preschool & Update

Taylor's first day of preschool was a great success...considering. Considering what? Well, the night before. She woke up at 3 a.m. wanting to watch TV and drink some chocolate milk! I tried for an hour and a half to get that girl back to sleep and finally around 4:30 she passed out. Ugh...

During devotion time at school she just laid down on the rug and didn't participate because she was SO TIRED! But, she loved her school and her teacher. She is going to a Christian school and one of her friends from our church is going to school with her. I am so happy about this! School is also giving me more time with Ashlyn. I feel so terrible because when Taylor was Ashlyn's age she could do different puzzles and other "academic" type things. I just haven't had the time to spend with Ash. But now we are going to start working on a few things. Also, if Ashlyn takes a nap I HAVE MOMMY TIME! Which is why I am doing this right now. YAY!!!

Taylor is growing into such a big girl. She is such a good girl too. She plays well with Ashlyn and loves her little sister very much. Bath times are the exception. Tay loves to take up the entire tub leaving little room for sissy. But, that is a small thing.

Ashlyn had her 18 month checkup a few weeks ago. She was 25 pounds!!! Lemme tell ya, she's a solid 25 pounds too. She is yapping up a storm now and is saying quite a few words. She said her first sentence to her daddy the other day. "This is my cup!" LOL!!! She's pretty territorial but she has to be I guess.

Taylor's 3 year checkup went great. She passed all her eyesight and hearing test with flying colors and got NO shots. But, next year will be horrible. She gets her kindergarten vaccines. Dr.'s say it's the worst. Ugh! He told me to make sure Brodie comes with me. Wonderful...

Well, we are all doing great! Summer is coming to an end and I can't believe I'm saying this because I love the heat...but good riddance! All it has done is rain, rain, rain! Maybe we'll get some snow this year!

18 months & potty training

So for a few weeks now I've been letting Ashlyn run around without a diaper because she is showing interest in the potty. Two days after her 18 month birthday she used her lil potty for the first time.

When I got her out of her crib she had a poopy diaper. I left a diaper off of her because she kept saying "pee pee". She drags her potty to the middle of the floor and sits on it so I start singing the ABC song to keep her on it. She jumps up and down a few times and then gets up and runs. She turns around and points to her chair, "uh oh. Pee pee". I looked in there and she pooped! WHAT! She did it! Yay, Ashlyn!!!

17 months in 4 days

Ashlyn is alllllmost a year and a half. So hard to believe. She is starting to change so much. Just this week she has started really babbling, trying out different combinations of consonants and vowels. It's so funny. She is also getting her upper molars. Her teeth have made her so miserable her entire life so to know that we are on the down hill side of cutting teeth is so reassuring.

She is really fighting her sleep now. She doesn't think it's fair that sister gets to stay up and she has to go to sleep. So, it's like wrangling an alligator every night at bedtime. But she'll eventually get so upset that she just gives up. Poor thing.

Also, she is the most clingy baby I have ever heard of. Which makes it hard on me during the course of the day with managing Taylor and my own chores. She rides my hip most all of the day. It's either that or put her down and let her scream. Then I have two screaming babies. So, my back is now pretty much ruined. (Oh Lord, thank you for blessing me with my children...but couldn't you have provided a live in Nanny too?)  :)

Taylor is also hitting her 3's head on with a punching glove! She whines ALL THE TIME! Brodie and I take turns exclaiming our warnings of running away and not coming back until she's 30! She wants chocolate milk. 

NO! Not in THAT sippy cup. (Uh, what was I thinking!) 

She wants HOT milk. 

"No, I wanna do it." So I pick her up and she punches in the time on the microwave. After the beep I get out her milk. 

The screams begin again, "NO I WANTED TO GET IT OUT!" 

"Taylor, you'll spill it."

"No I won't."

"Okay, Fine. But be careful."

"Ugh! Taylor! You spilled it!" "Get the rag."

She takes her hot chocolate milk and runs off while I am on the floor wiping up milk.

Repeat this about 500 times a day and that is what our lives are like right now. However, the thing to remember is that it is hard for her too! 

But everyone once in a while she will say the most sweetest thing and it just melts our hearts, then we look at each other and wonder where our kid went! LOL! 

Taylor is so tall and beautiful. Ashlyn is getting so pretty as well despite the fact that she looks JUST LIKE HER DADDY! (just kidding honey!) 

Oh, and Taylor officially tried to kill Ashlyn last week. She had a cloth belt wrapped around her neck twice and was pulling up on it when Dad walked in. Ash was a strange shade of blue and purple. Dad set sister free and even now she has little purple bruises under her neck. Poor baby!

Pray for us...we need it! 

p.s. Just noticed her bottom canines coming in too! Ugh...

Taylor's 3rd Birthday

I know every parent says this every year their child has a birthday, but I can't believe she is 3 already. We invited her friends, rented the most obnoxious bounce house this neighborhood has ever seen, and pimped everything out in Dora The Explorer. IT WAS A SUCCESS!

She had so much fun (and food) that she threw up in the bounce house! YES! In the words of one of our friends, it's not a party till someone pukes in the bounce house! She must have bounced in that thing for 3 or 4 solid hours. Ashlyn didn't know what to think of it but she had a blast too! Sandi and Charlie are huge fans of house parties as there is not one Dorito crumb left in the back yard.

Taylor got so many wonderful gifts and we are very thankful for those who gave them. I have no idea how we are going to top this next year!!! Any ideas???

So, I guess it's been a while!

I haven't written in so long that I almost forgot my password! Really, so sorry about that.

What has prevented me from updating the pictures and blog is sickness. The girls have been trading viruses since Easter. All four of Ashlyn's molars have also decided to come in at once. She is such a momma's girl and will not tolerate me putting her down, much less being on the computer and not letting her play on it too. To let you know how badly I feel about not posting more often, it is 10:20pm right now and I'm exhausted but I wanted to get this done.

TAYLOR RENEE

Ah, my Taylor. Her birthday is next weekend (June 2nd). She'll be 3 years old. Tay is a good girl but is so strong willed. I will ask her to pick up her toys and she'll look at me and say one of two things: 1.) But I don't WANT TO! -or- 2.) That's not my job, that's your job! "WHAT???" I asked her laughingly. I have to fix this NOW! So, I gently grasped her tiny, innocent little hand and led her around the house. 

• Do you see those dishes? That's my job. 
• Do you see supper on the stove? That's my job.
• Do you see the trash in the trash can? That's Daddy's job. 
• Do you see that vacuum? That's my job. 
• Do you see those toys? That's YOUR job. 

She looked at me as if she had just discovered her place of importance in the family. "My job?" she asked. "Yes Taylor. We all have a job. We are a team. Momma, Daddy, you and Ashlyn. We are all a team and we have to help one another."

I wish I could say that intrigue lasted but that was not to be the case. We are now only left with, "But I don't want to!" So, needless to say, getting Taylor to do anything she doesn't want to do is a struggle. I usually bargain with Dora (her favorite cartoon this month) or anything sweet; popsicles, ice cream, cookies, etc. That usually begrudgingly gets the work done.

She has officially completed her first year of pre-school. It has been so good for her. She is so smart and needs to be challenged. She gets bored so easily and school is a constructive way for her learn, make new friends, and burn some energy. Because she was only 2 (pre-school normally starts at 3) her teachers cut her some slack, realizing that she wasn't able to hold her attention as long as the other kids, and they would let her play a little more than the others. But this next year much more will be expected. Yes, of a 3 year old. She wants to be an astronaut (or should I say a rocketship). She is fascinated with rocketships, planes, helicopters, etc., and since we live in the the flight path of the Marine Air Station she is in heaven.

She and Ashlyn are really starting to develop a relationship now. Taylor is a good big sister but we are really have to work on being a kind, loving, sharing sister. I told her if she wants to have a good sister, she has to be a good sister. The sweetest thing in the world is when we are riding in the car and I hear them laughing at one another, I look back to see them holding hands. Uh, my heart!

ASHLYN KRISTIN

Ashlyn's walking is the funniest thing I have ever seen. She is so wobbly. She trips on the carpet! Poor thing, I feel so bad for her because she falls all the time. Sometimes she'll just give up and lay there on her back for a minute. It is hilarious. But what is really terrible is what I mentioned before. All four of her molars are coming in right now. She is so miserable. All I can do is give her ibuprofen and pray for her. Taylor barely had any teething problems at all but Ash has been teething since she was 2 months old and it really hurts her. 

She is finally starting to say a few words. Her first word was Dada at 14 months. After that was Uh-Oh. She says that all the time! Then came Thank You, bye bye, bad bad, (still no Momma), sister, Sandi (yes, she said the dog's name before mine) DaDa Bad Bad, and just this week it came. Momma. She says Mi Mi and MaMaMaMaMa, but never Momma. She has said it twice this week and she is a few days shy of 16 months. I had to wait 16 MONTHS for her to say momma! But let me tell you, what a precious sound it is. Both girls have such sweet voices. 

Her attitude is also funny, but will not be for long. That girl has a temper! Whew, she's a screamer. You take her toy and she will get so mad and scream to the top of her lungs! Like I said, funny...now. But what is the funniest thing is when she steals something from Taylor. She'll wait until Tay isn't looking and run over and swipe the toy. As soon has she hears Taylor scream out in protest, Ashlyn will kick it in overdrive and ruuuuuunnnn just as fast as her little wobbly feet can carry her, right into the safety of her momma's arms. LOL! I try so hard not to laugh and then try to be as fair as I can to both girls. Remember, when I take this toy away from Ash she is going to scream too! I guess I need to start investing in a hearing aid now. I hear they're expensive! 

TOMAS RAPHEL KABALO

Tomas is our new African baby. Yes, we have adopted a little 5 year old boy from Tanzania. Well, before you freak out, we have not really adopted him. We send his village money every month through a program call World Missions. Tomas has 8 brothers and 2 sisters. I am going to write him my first letter this weekend and I am really looking forward to watching the seeds of God's love grow a half a world away. God has blessed us so abundantly and it is time we start giving back and this is just one of the many exciting ways that we have begun to pay it forward. 

p.s. If anyone is wondering, we still have 2 more summers left before we are scheduled to transfer. We have no clue where that will be.

Cute Things Taylor Said

Since I have like 2 seconds to write something, I thought I'd share a few cute things Taylor has said.

The Moon - We were getting out of the truck one night and I said, "Oh Taylor, look! THE MOON!" She was in awe. So in her complete 2 year old innocence she starts jumping up grabbing for the moon. She finally realizes it is too far away and she says to me so pitifully, "Mommy, I can't reach it." Oh, my heart!

The Scary Panda - So, who knew Panda's could be scary. I mean come on, it's a panda! Well, Taylor thinks there is a scary panda in her room. So now I have to "lay wit' me a 'lil bit" until she goes to sleep.

Potty Training -  When she sits on the potty and can't go she says, "There's no more tee-tee left."

Ashlyn - NO! NO! ASHLYN. YOU IN BAD TROUBLE!

5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

This has been a very busy few weeks. First was Ashlyn's bday, then Ryans bday, Valentine's day, and finally our 5 year anniversary. Well, God had a plan for our family while life has been happening. Ryan and I have chosen to COMPLETELY give our lives to Christ and we were baptized today, on our 5th anniversary weekend. We also became members of our church. We have a new happiness in our life and a deeper love for one another than ever before.

Sorry It's Been So Long

Hi Everyone, 

I am sorry it's been so long since an update. I have not been feeling well lately and when I do have enough energy to do something I try to pick up the house. 

Taylor is loving school and potty training is slow but steady. Ashlyn has 8 teeth. She has four on top and four on bottom. She is transitioning out of her baby stage an into more of a toddler stage. This transition has not been easy for her. She fights her sleep and cries a lot but she's just frustrated. We do what we can but growing pains are a must for us all. 

Ashlyn will be a year old on Jan. 30th. It has gone SO FAST.  She isn't walking yet but tries very hard. She says DaDa, BaBa, and PaPa very well. Still no MaMa yet. 

I am loading a few new pics on dropshots. Enjoy. 

Scary Monsters & Teeth

Scary Monsters - Two nights ago Taylor came out of her room around 10:30 fussing about a scary monster under her bed. I told her she needed to get daddy because that is what dad's are really good at. Well, that wasn't good enough. After dad swept the room, she still wanted mommy. So, I peeled myself out of bed and tried to "reason" with her. There were no more scary monsters in her room, daddy scared them away. Well, she informed me that I was wrong. THERE WAS a scary monster in her room. Okay fine. So, I told her about mommies secret scary monster weapon...MONSTER JUICE! Spray a little monster juice under the bed, in the closet, around the window and BAM! No more monsters. (Secret scary monster juice is really Glade Spray!) Monsters don't like that sweet smell if you didn't know. I wound up having to lay with her till she fell asleep. 


The next day at nap time she was convinced that the scary monster was still under her bed. I told her that was just ridiculous because scary monsters don't come out at nap time...DUH!!! LOL! She said he was now in the wall. I convinced her that was impossible by talking to her like she had lost her mind. It worked! No worries at nap time. 


Then bedtime was here again. Now the scary monster was gone and she wanted him back. "Where's my scary monster mom. I want him to lay right here by me." Really, Taylor. I told her she was outta luck because daddy ran him off and mommy sprayed monster juice she she wasn't gonna be seeing monsters for a long time. The next day we were playing with her baby dolls and she grabbed her purple puppy dog named Violet and said, "Oh, there's my scary monster. Hi monster! Come lay with me." Seriously, Violet was your scary monster...a purple puppy named VIOLET! Oh Geez Tay. LOL! How little minds work. Anyway, no more scary monster talk since. Thank goodness.


Teeth - As for Ms. Ashlyn. She's had her two bottom teeth since she was 4months old. A few weeks ago the bottom right one came thru. As Brodie was putting Ashlyn in the car on Thursday to go to the airport to fly to Chicago, he said to me, "Ashlyn's two front teeth are in!" I said, "What!" After all, I'm the mom. I get the privilege of seeing these things first. Well, not this time. Since he's crazy anyway, I went around to verify his absurd statement. Son-of-a-gun, he's right! YAY ASHLYN!!!! So, 3 teeth coming in at once. 5 total. 


My little girls are growing up so fast. Maybe we should try for one more. Hmmm....maybe. ;P

Impressive

So, Taylor is 2.5. She's been in preschool for a little over about 2 months. In the last 48 hours she has SHOCKED ME with what she has learned.

Last night we were getting our books to read at bedtime. She walked to her bed with a stack of 5 books. She placed each one on the bed one at a time. With each book she put down she counted, 1, 2, 3, etc. I have never seen her count an item. She can count to 12 by herself but counting items is new. Then, book number 5 fell to the floor just as she counted it. She said, "Oops, almost!" Now I was really impressed. "Almost" isn't tangible, it's a concept. I said, "almost?" She said, "Yes, almost." It is so amazing to me that her little mind has already figured out the concept of almost, not quite, but almost. Crazy to wrap my mind around.

THEN...tonight in the bathtub I was talking to Brodie on speaker phone while I bathed the girls. I was talking to him and trying to keep Ashlyn from drowning herself and I caught, "America, one nation..." What? Wait. I didn't just hear the Pledge of Allegiance....did I? So, I stayed quiet for a few moments and sure enough. My baby girl recited the ENTIRE Pledge of Allegiance. I immediately texted her teacher. She says they say it everyday. I was shocked. And now I can't wait till tomorrow!

Ashlyn started crawling last week. She is all over the house now. I left her playing in the living room while I switched my laundry. When I came back in the room she was gone. (it's okay, don't worry) I walked down the hall and she was crawling into our bedroom to play with a basket of toys in there! LOL! This evening Ashlyn and Taylor were playing "Crawling Peek-a-Boo". Taylor would crawl down the hall and turn the corner. Ashlyn would crawl to the corner and peek her head around. When Taylor would see her she'd scream and crawl really fast past Ashlyn and into the living room. When Taylor passed Ashlyn on her way to the living room, Ashlyn would turn and follow her sister. They were laughing so hard. I think they are gonna make great playmates. I was so worried about this. I think it's gonna be okay! Having two girls is so great! I'm loving being a stay-at-home mom!

9 Months & Halloween

Hi Everyone,

Ashlyn was 9 months old on the 30th. She is SO BIG. We go today for our 9mo checkup. I'll update later with her stat's. She was 27" long and 19.6lbs. She was sick last week so she probably lost a pound or two.

We had such a good Halloween. This was really Taylor's first "real" trick-or-treat. The first Halloween she was only 4mo old. Last year she was quarantined with a 103 degree fever. This year...she was a butterfly. Well, it was a Tinkerbell costume but she called herself a butterfly. We smashed Ashlyn down the pumpkin outfit that Taylor wore her first Halloween. I mean we stuffed that child down in that sack. Poor girl was hot and couldn't straighten out her legs but she was CUTE! Ashlyn finally passed out about 8pm (and was up at 5am, no idea why!). Taylor ran around on a sugar high till 10pm. When I was putting Ash down Brodie said that Taylor was running around the house and then just flopping down on her belly. She did this several time. To "try" to unwind her, I took her on a long walk last night with the dogs. Everyone loved it. Oh, and this was her first time to play with glo-sticks. She kept wanting me to take them apart. She loved those too. Taylor had lots of fun and got too much candy. All in all, it was a smashing success!

Ashlyn is trying so hard to crawl and pull herself up. She actually pushes her self up off of the floor in a yoga Mountain Pose. Her bootie is all the way up in the air and her hands and feet are flat on the floor. She's crazy strong. She flops all over the floor and is pretty mobile that way but she just hasn't crawled yet. She also isn't making any real words but is very vocal. She is getting so big and I can really tell that she is developing her own sense of will and independence. It's scary. I don't want my little baby to grow up and it is going by way too fast. But I tell you, God has truly blessed our family. We are so happy.

Taylor is growing by leaps and bounds, especially behaviorally. I cannot tell you what an improvement I have seen since she started school. She is such a nicer person. We still have our days because she's 2, but I am just so impressed and relieved that she is growing into the little person I had prayed for. I look at her now with such love and completeness instead of anxiety and impatience. (This is due to a lot of work on both our parts.) She asks for hugs and kisses all the time. Well, she ask's for them from me. We are going through a, "Daddy, GET" phase. She doesn't even want Brodie in the same room with her. I talked to my neighbor about it who has 2 girls a little older than Taylor and she said it's normal. Her oldest went through that too. I can't wait till she grows out of it. It can be pretty hurtful to her dad. But really, that is our only struggle right now. Well, that and she's 2! LOL!

We are VERY EXCITED to be gearing up to take a trip to Chicago. It will be Ashlyn's first plane ride and Taylor's 3rd. Can you imagine, 2 yrs old and already 3 plane trips.

Oh no, she's awake...gotta go!

love you.

Dropshots pics & Other Stories

Hi,

I FINALLY found an SD card that I had lost. It had some pic's on it and I just added them to dropshots but you'll never know unless you go back to these dates and check.

Look at September 19th, 20th, and 22nd. Please keep in mind I am neither photographer nor model...nor hair dresser! LOL!

How did I find such a tiny thing in a house of chaos and clutter you ask? Well, I asked myself the same thing. "It's gone, " I resigned. But just when all hope was lost, Taylor never ceases to amaze me.

I was putting Ashlyn down for bed and Brodie wasn't home. I left Taylor in the living room watching a kids show that she can NEVER peel herself away from, not even for a sucker! So, as usual, I assumed she'd be fine. She always is. As I put Ashlyn in her bed and covered her up, I heard a loud CRASH!!! "What was that?" I wondered, praying it didn't wake Ashlyn up and Taylor was bleeding.

When I get into the living room I see one of my $200 lamps lying on the floor and Taylor is starring at it saying, "Mommy, Mommy. I broke it!" First of all, good for her for telling the truth. Secondly, there was glass everywhere from the bulb that had shattered. And as I leaned down to pick up the lamp, guess what I saw. Yep, that little, tiny, white SD card! Yeah, Taylor! She found it!

Now, of course she got scolded for touching the lamp that she has been told a bazillion times never to touch. But, I told her she was a good girl for telling mommy the truth, not that she understands "truth" yet.

Now, onto the other stories topic. Taylor, yes beautiful, precious, Taylor, has been so unbelievably hard to deal with lately. She is openly defying me, just trying to push her boundaries. I scold her, swat her, give her time out...nothing is working. She just isn't minding, she's blatantly doing what she knows is wrong. I know this because as soon as I reach for the wooden spoons she starts doing right again. So, I know it's not a communication thing. She's just testing me.

Well, last night momma got fed up with being tested.

Now, I warn you, the next part is hard to read for those of you who sympathize with her and not me!

Taylor and Ashlyn were in the bath together. The entire time I kept having to tell her to be careful, watch out for sister, don't splash sister, give Ashlyn room, etc. She was just acting up and doing this to get attention. Yes, it's for attention, I know this. Anyway, I got Ashlyn out and put her to bed while Taylor stayed in the tub playing. After I put Ashlyn down, which only takes about 10 minutes max, I went back in the bathroom with Taylor. I tried playing games with her, talking to her, getting her to talk to me. She was only interested in doing what SHE wanted to do, and that was flipping like an alligator in the tub, splashing as much water on the floor as possible. I had told her and told her...AND TOLD HER to stop splashing water on the floor. I didn't care if she spun, just don't do it so hard. All I needed is one more mess to clean up. Well, stopping splashing just wasn't on her list of things she wanted to do so she kept on. And then, it happened. She splashed so hard that water flew out of the tub on right on my head, soaking my entire pajama set. OH MY GOD! HAVE MERCY ON THIS CHILD CAUSE IT IS ABOUT TO GET BAD IN HERE!

I jerked that naked baby up out of that water and gave her a hard lick with every word, "I. TOLD. YOU. NOT. TO. SPLASH. WATER. ON. THIS. FLOOR!" She commenced to crying like her life was over. I was so angry that I walked out of the room and went into Ashlyn's room to calm down. I stayed in there for a few minutes and listened to her sob the entire time. Her cry went from, "Ouch, she just hit me...and it hurts!" to..."my feelings are really, really hurt. why did she do that?" So, I felt bad for her. I don't ever want to hurt her feelings. I went back in there and gave her a big huge and kissed her. I explained that she had not been minding mommy and I couldn't take it anymore. When I tell her to do something she had better mind me or she would get a spanking just that bad. Now, I wouldn't really do that but lemme tell ya. It must have put the fear of God in her because she has been the BEST KID today! I mean I couldn't ask for a more well behaved child. She even opened all my doors for me today! LOL!

So, I guess every once in a while you still have to remind them whose boss, in what ever way works for your child.

And yes, we are both okay now.

Happy 8moths Ashlyn

Wow, so much has happened since I last wrote.

Ashlyn is 8 months today. She still only has 2 bottom teeth but the other two beside them are working taking there own sweet time, in the mean time, killing her. She is so sensitive (aka. such a wussy!). If something barely touches her or scrapes her she busts out in tears and her cry is SO pitiful it's funny! She is also trying to reach for things to the point that she wants to crawl. She plays this game where she'll pick things up and sorta throw 'em, then she lean way, way over on her hands so that her thigh is off the floor and she has all her weight on the other thigh and she just rocks. I try to put her up on all fours but she just falls face first. She is sitting up super great now. She is very vocal and has started using her consonants, Mama, Baba, Papa, Dada although she hasnt' actually said her first word yet.. I am able to put her in the bath with her sissy and the LOVE it. Taylor is so absolutely great with her. I was so worried about that. Oh, she weighs 20 pounds.

Her teeth have KILLED her for since her first teeth have started coming in at 4mo. I pray every night that her teeth will come through. I think that this is the reason for her perpetual diaper rash. Thank God it isn't a bad rash. She is just a little pink with tiny little bumps, not like a normal read, painful looking rash. I have taken her to the Dr. twice and he said we just have to live with it. Okay, doc! Here is your $46. But, other than that she's great!

Taylor is doing great! She started Preschool this month and it has been so transformative for her. She is still "Taylor" but now you can see the little things coming out in her that I know she has learned from preschool. She is going potty like a big girl a little more often now. She always goes for her teacher and for me at night (as a means to get out of bed) but something is better than nothing! She is nicer on occasion, she is minding a little better, and she's learning academic things. She can actually draw a great circle which we are working on turning that into an "a". She brushes her own teeth morning and night, with a little extra brushing from mom. She loves bubble baths. She loves her babies and they MUST go everywhere. Can you just see me with Ashyn on my hip, my cloth shopping bags, my huge coupon binder, holding all of Tay's babies and their blankets - except the one she's holding...and it's raining...hard! Great times!!! She is so independent. She loves helping me with her sister. If she hears Ash up at 6:30 a.m. she's getting up too and there is no going back to bed cause "sissy's up". She loves church.

6mo Checkup

Today was Ashlyn's 6mo checkup. She was 17lbs and 27" long. Taylor still had 2lbs and 2" on her at this time and everyone thinks Ashlyn is plumpy! She is trying to sit up a little but still needs lots of help. She has more teeth coming in and they are giving her fits but I found some cool Popsicles called Slow Melts that are tiny and really do melt slower. She loves 'em.

We have had a whirlwind 2 weeks. First Granny Mary came then 3 days later Nanny and Papaw got here. We have all had so much fun and are so blessed that we could have family visit us. It gets pretty lonely out here all by ourselves.

Ashlyn's teeth are hurting her so badly. I am searching all over the internet for natural solutions b/c I hate giving her so much tylenol/ibuprofen. She's doing such a great job eating her solids now. She doesn't really have a favorite, she likes it all. Hopefully she won't turn into such a picky eater like Tay. Taylor is doing a good job potty training. We still have a ways to go before we can leave home but for 2yrs old I think she's doing good.

Also, we sold the boat this weekend. We just didn't use it anymore and it was a lot of upkeep. We are sad to see it go but happy not to have one more responsibility to take care of.

later gaters...

Tee-Tee On The Potty!

I AM SO PROUD OF TAYLOR!

We have been very casually working on potty training for a month and a half now. When I ask her if she wants to go potty she say, "No ma'am." Well, okay. Most mornings she'll use the potty but after breakfast she (and I) just don't really press it. I'll just put a diaper on her but still ask her if she wants to use the potty which always results in a NO.

This morning she must have already gone in her diaper before she got out of bed so she didn't go on the potty first thing. So, like always, she runs around bare-bottom till after breakfast. BUT TODAY WAS DIFFERENT!

She was playing with her baby dolls this morning in the living room, dressing them and making them go night-night. ;)~ Then, just standing there, she started tee-teeing saying, "Oh No!" So, I grabbed her and plopped her down on her potty seat that I keep in the living room. She finished on the potty and I praised her up and down! Afterwards she returned to her baby dolls (because that is her new obsession). A few minutes later she looked up at me sharply and said, "Oh No! Poo-poo!" I said, "Go to the potty." She immediately dropped everything and ran to her potty and...SUCCESS! She tee-tee'd on the potty and not on the floor. THIS IS A FIRST! Normally she'll use the potty only when she is already sitting on it and if she's not on it she'll have an accident. This time she felt like she had to tee-tee, understood the feeling, and knew to use the potty! I AM SO PROUD OF HER!!! WHAT A BIG STEP FOR MY LITTLE GIRL! GO TAYLOR!!!!

2nd Tooth

Ashlyn's second tooth broke the gums yesterday! It is her bottom right one. She got her 1st one a few weeks ago. See previous post.

She is doing so good. I've had to give her a lot of Tylenol but that has seemed to ease her pain enough for her to play. She must be going through a growth spurt now because all she is doing is sleeping and eating. Her next checkup is at 6mo. and is scheduled for August. She's such a "hip baby." She hates for me to put her down so my AWESOME neighbor has let me borrow her slings. They are such a big help. I told Brodie that I feel like the right side of my body is falling off! My shoulder hurts, my feet are killing me every day, and I have a heel spur! Argh!!! Calgon Take Me Away...

Granny will be here in 5 days! YYYYAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!

5.5 months

Hi Everyone,

It's been a while since I wrote but I have a few minutes this morning before Hurricane Taylor wakes up, so I am making the best of it.

When I got up the morning, I fed Ashlyn lying in bed because I was so exhausted after last night. It was just so hard to pull myself outta bed today. But, I started thinking of my medium roast, 100% pure Kona Coffee so up I got. I sat Ashlyn in her Bumbo seat cleaned out my coffee pot from yesterday. I put the new filter in and reached for the baby formla...opened the lid...grabbed the scooper - WHAT ARE YOU DOING RIANN! LOL! No, I didn't have Kona flavored Similac this morning but I almost did. That is the funniest thing I have done in a while and felt it deserved sharing.

During the night Taylor decided she wanted a cookie - yes, a cookie (Oreo), at 1:30 this morning. I put that girl back in bed 5 times. Then she comes BACK IN to tell me she's poopy. Nope, no poops. Spank, spank, spank - Now STAY IN BED!!! "But I want some water." OMG, REALLY! Okay, I'll get you some water. Thankfully that did it...for a while. At 3:30 she was back up again. I have no idea what was going on with that girl. This isn't usual behavior for her. So, I'm sure she'd sleep till 8am if I let her but we have found that if we put her to bed at 9pm, get her up no later than 7:30, she just may take a 2hr nap. Putting her to bed at 9pm is hard for me because Brodie and I are basically spending no time together now. She has Mommy-itis and won't even let him hug me or rub my feet! Now, we're not letting her run our lives or anything but sometimes we just have to pick our battles. And let me tell you, her little vocabulary is AMAZING! I can understand about 90% of what she says. Some of the most common are, "Go bye-bye mom?" She hates staying at home. She says, "No Dada, get offa me!" when he's trying to give her a hug. We are nipping that in the bud now. She doesn't really want a lot to do with Brodie right now. I guess it's a girl phase. She'll play with him but it has to be on her terms. She can say, "Go shopping?", "Sandi, CharChar outside.", "More Chicken Please.", "Go Play Momma." and lots more fun things. She is certainly very entertaining. Right now we are just really focusing on her behavior and manners and it is paying off. The door greeter at Walmart yesterday day said to me as I was walking out of the store, "You have such well mannered children. They are the best ones that have come through here." YES - IT'S PAYING OFF!!! THANK YOU LORD! It seems like some days all I do is correct her and I know its hard for her...but it's working!

Baby Ashlyn is just the cutest thing since Taylor! LOL! You can tell from our dropshots where she's at developmentally. She's almost 6 months so it's growth spurt time. Naps are all over the board but at least nights are still awesome. Now she's taking 4-5 40minute naps a day which means I never get to rest when Taylor is napping. This is VERY hard on me since I don't have much energy. Ashlyn has one tooth and the other is just under the skin and will hopefully be here soon. This means we are now bottle feeding now. She is also getting some solids. She is just so cute. Her Granny Mary with be here next week with my Dad and step-mom visiting close behind. Every time I look at Ashlyn I just wonder how they are going to bring themselves to leave. It breaks my heart to put her down at night because I miss her so much! LOL! She's a good baby. Thank you God again!

Well, it's 7:20am and it's time for the monster to awake, whether she wants to or not. LOL! Take care.

Happy Birthday Taylor

Yesterday was Taylor's 2nd Birthday! She had a great day and only got 2 spankings!!! When daddy got home we had cake and ice cream (which she wouldn't stop screaming for!) Then she opened her present which was her very first tricycle! It also had a beautiful pink, shiny balloon tied to it. (She goes bonkers for balloons.) We had so much fun playing with her on her tricycle and she had a blast with that and her balloon.

We have a big party planned for Saturday and all of her friends are invited. We are going to have cake and ice cream again for her at the Park. Thankfully the weather is supposed to be moderately hot, 86degrees and partly cloudy! Whew...can't believe it's that hot already!

I also can't believe that my little baby is 2 years old! She is so smart and so pretty and I am so proud of her. She is a handful most days but I wouldn't trade it for the world. I love you Taylor.

p.s. Momma's birthday is June 8th! But I guess after one has kids (especially so close to their birthdays) the parents don't really have birthdays anymore! LOL!