Her Sister, However

Her sister, however, has very recently decided that it is not so bad to have your picture taken, and will occasionally even smile for the camera. I think this came about as a result of jealousy, but whatever it takes is okay with me. Anyway, she stripped off her clothes and wanted to take Easter Bunny pictures too. I had quite a time convincing her that it was no longer age-appropriate for her to be wearing bunny ears only. Thankfully I finally persuaded her into the pink dress.

Wildlife Experience

Last week the girls and I discovered a place called Wildlife Experience, that is similar to a children's museum, just right down the street from us. They have several scenes with very real looking, movable animals to walk through. The girls were mesmerized. Addison loved everything but the bat-cave. When we peaked in there, she said, "You wanna go out?". They also have two large play areas with lots of games, activities and animal dress-up clothes. They had so much fun, we bought a membership....come see us and we will take you!!!

Update - The Long Version

In case you are wondering what is going on in life here in Colorado, read on...if not, skip this post and move on to shorter posts, with pictures.

First off, we LOVE our house. It is so nice to have a little more room. We also finally finished the basement and got it all set up. It is a great space for us. We have a little family room, a big play-area for the girls and the other side is a workout room for Tommy and I (he has used it, I have not). Addison would love to play down there all day. She especially loves the huge closet under the stairs, that she calls her house. We have already had company several times, and the guest room, downstairs in its own area works great. Finally, the backyard was our biggest concern about this house, because it is on the small side, and it only has a half fence between us and the greenbelt. But, it has turned out great! The girls (and the dog) love to sit on the patio and watch people on the trails. Reagan pounds on the sliding glass door at all the dogs going by. We were worried that Maggie would jump the fence, but so far she has stayed put.

The girls are adjusting really well. They didn't have any trouble with the new house or new rooms. Addison has had a few lonely moments, but she is meeting new people. The Lord definitely blessed us with a good neighborhood, as there are 5 or 6 little girls on the street. We also have super nice neighbors, who know each other well and get together often. Reagan has been sick for the entire time we have been here, although she seems to finally be getting better. We have been to 6 doctors appointments in 3 weeks, are working on our 4th round of antibiotics and have an appointment with an ENT April 1st. I think tubes are in our future.

I also think we have landed in a good church home. We are still visiting two different places, but I have been to 2 different bible studies at one of them, and I think that is where we will land. I was so blessed today, as I was welcomed so warmly to the bible study I attended. The girls have done great in their new classes. I have to say that both churches have had pretty amazing children's programs. I was impressed when I saw them, and then even more impressed today when Addison handed me the cross she made and told me that, "Jesus died on the cross.". She has also run around the house all day shouting, "Jesus is Alive!" Something they are doing in there is definitely working.

Tommy is doing a great job balancing work and daddy and often being the only adult I talk to in a day. His job is going well, and his boss has been super understanding of all we have going on right now. The girls and I are swimming, going to the library and just exploring. Our weekends have been filled with painting and projects on the house.

It is starting to feel a little more like home everyday. I can definitely get really lonely and down, but most days I have great perspective and patience. All in all, we are doing really well.

Trail Dust

Tonight we went out to dinner at Trail Dust Steak House. There only two locations are Dallas and Denver, so it was a familiar place and I knew the girls would love it. They have a two-story slide that is super fast, a band and a small dance floor that the kids can play on.

We had a great time. Addison must have gone down the slide 20 times, sometimes in my lap and sometimes by herself. There were lots of older, rowdy boys in the line and they often ran over her (and me), but she held her own. Reagan also went for a ride in my lap, and she loved it too!

During dinner the band asked if there were any kids who wanted to come up and sing with them. As if I didn't already know, Addison confirmed that she most definitely has my personality. She took off! They gave her the microphone and she told everyone her name and age. She was a little stoic and serious as she talked, but she did it. There were a few other kids up there and she and two other little girls all held hands. They were precious. After the introduction, she sang "Old McDonald Had a Farm" with the band! It was too cute!

It brought me back to the first time I met Tommy's family, at a similar type restaurant, where I ended up on stage leading the "Chicken Dance"! I don't think Tommy quite knew what to think back then....and now he has two of us on his hands!

Coming Home

Here we are coming home from the Trail Dust. You can see by the forward-facing carseat (3 weeks before her 1st birthday) and the lollipop, that we are indeed much more laid back the 2nd time around.

The lollipop was a bit of a crisis. They actually gave Addison her sucker after her gig on stage. She was eating it as we left the restaurant. Then, she had to go to the restroom, so she gave the sucker to her Daddy to hold. Well, he also happened to be holding Reagan and they apparently had some big battle in the parking lot over the sucker. He said Reagan latched on with both hands and WAS NOT letting go. Poor girl, by the time we got out there, he had wrestled it from her hands, but she was SO SAD.

While Tommy loaded the girls I ran back in to beg for an extra lollipop. She was thrilled to have her own, but still a little teary-eyed and red-faced in the pictures.

She Wins

I have long since said that Reagan is going to be my strong-willed child. She is pretty determined and sure of what she wants, even at only 11 months old. In addition, the child is a monkey! She climbs everything. Just the other day, we were playing in Addison's room and Reagan discovered that she can climb into the chairs on Addison's little table and then use the chair to boost herself all the way up to the table. I turned for a few minutes to get something and I here Addison say, "Reagan!!! Mom, get that child down!". I turned back to discover that Reagan was STANDING in the middle of Addison's table!

Well, Reagan continues to be pretty terrible in the sleep department. She wakes generally 3 times a night, every 2-3 hours. She wants to be rocked and or feed each time. Yesterday, after I had taken her to the dr. and found out for sure that her ears were clear, we decided that it was time to let her cry-it-out last night. We have tried this before, and she has proven to have great stamina. Unfortunately something, such as sickness or travel always leads us to give in.

The first time she woke last night, was at 10:30, so since I was still awake, I went ahead and feed her. Then I went to sleep DETERMINED not to get her out of bed for at least 8 hours. No feedings, no rocking!!! At 2:00am she woke and the crying began. I went in a few times to make sure she had her paci and to tell her to go night-night. The crying continued hard and loud for an hour and ten minutes. Somewhere around 3:15am it finally stopped.

I was so relieved, for a moment, then I heard it. What I was certain was the sound of pacis banging on the bedroom door. My heart stopped. I told Tommy she was out and ran down the hall. Sure enough. There she sat, just on the other side of her door, pounding on it to come out. THE CHILD CLIMBED OUT OF HER CRIB, at 11 months old. And, only then did she stop the crying. She appeared no worse for the wear, and needless to say, I rocked and fed her.

Will she ever sleep? Sometimes I wonder, and if I let myself think about it I can get really fearful about where this kind of will-power might take us in the future.

Mimi to the Rescue

My mom flew in Friday morning for a long weekend. She spent the weekend watching the girls, doing laundry, painting, moving furniture, unpacking, helping me decorate and cooking. It was so great to have an extra pair of hands around, and we were able to get so much done! Despite the gloomy look in the picture (she refuses to have her picture taken right now), Addison was so excited to see her Mimi at the airport. We kept her busy and I know she is probably going home tired.

Thanks Mom, you saved my sanity!!!

More Snow Day

Tommy and the girls braved the cold to play in the snow this afternoon. Reagan hated putting all those snow cloths on, but she loved being outside and having sissy throw snowballs at her. Addison worked her way through the snow. It was all the way up to her knees in some places. I think a snowsuit is definitely in order!

Snow Day

So, I have been in denial, the weather has been beautiful since we have been here. Warm and sunny every afternoon. Then, this morning I woke up to a winter wonderland. The weather was predicting 4 to 7 inches of snow today, and I definitely think there is already at least 5 inches in the driveway.

My mom is here, so Tommy and I ventured out to try a church and left the girls at home. Tommy made me have snow driving lessons while the girls were safe at home. It actually wasn't too bad (in Tommy's car not mine....still scared of mine). However, just like I feared I couldn't get in the driveway. Tommy actually had to get out and shovel snow before we could pull in. We learned quickly why a few neighbors had shoveled snow before going out. If you don't, you can't get back in!!! The neighbors across the street, who we met a few times, stuck there heads out and asked if we missed Texas yet?

Addison went out to play while Tommy was shoveling. I think a snow-suit is definitely in order! We almost lost her in the front yard. Who knows what it will look like by the end of the day. It is still coming down like crazy!

Rocks are the new Acorn

Since she learned to walk, Addison spent most sunny afternoons gathering acorns up and down Gaslight Place. We often had full buckets of acorns in the garage. I would find acorns in my car, in my pockets and in my washing machine.

So far, we haven't found any acorns in Colorado, but there are landscaping rocks all throughout the neighborhood. She loves collecting them! I am trying to teach her that she can't take them from people's yards. Thankfully we have a backyard full of them. They love to sit on our new patio, play with the rocks and watch all the people and dogs go by on the greenbelt.

In Case you are Wondering

If your two-year-old happens to drop an entire cup of hot chocolate, from the kitchen counter where she is sitting, and said hot chocolate sprays all over every inch of your shiny new kitchen including the 12 foot ceiling, magic eraser is your solution. Magic Eraser, a very tall ladder, and a lot of elbow grease.

Thanks Uncle Mike

We love our Uncle Mike! He lives in Boulder, and headed to our new house Saturday after he finished up at work. He spent his weekend helping us hook up TV's, hang blinds and paint bedrooms! Thanks to Mikey the girls have rooms that are ready and waiting for the furniture to arrive tomorrow! We have huge hopes that this will get us back into a normal routine!

Addison was Mike's little sidekick this weekend. She followed him all over the house and just hung out with him. He even shared his corn-on-the-cob with her at dinner tonight. Now that is love!

Thanks Again Uncle Mike!

Improvising...

By Saturday night, we decided to buy a few tin baking dishes and try and cook at home. We were tired of eating out. Tommy drug the box from our new TV into the dining room and we have been using it as a table ever since. It actually does double duty, and also keeps us from slamming our heads into the chandelier that hangs down low in the dining room (ouch!!!).

There is nothing like a few days with a loose baby at meal times to make you appreciate a high chair! While the rest of us eat, Reagan crawls all over us, climbs on top of the box, grabs food and drink and just makes a general nuisance of herself. We can't help but laugh at her!

It's Never to Cold to Swim

Who would have thought that one of the first activities we would enjoy in Colorado would be swimming? We swam everyday at the hotel pool, and the girls and I made it to our neighborhood rec center for the first time today. This was my first experience swimming with both of them by myself. Wow, it is a workout. We stayed in the shallow end with only two feet of water, but still, they are both ALL OVER the place, and not necessarily in the same direction. Reagan is loving the water as much as Addison does. Since the hotel didn't have a wading pool, today was her first time to get to splash and crawl around playing on her own. She was WORN OUT. Poor girl fell asleep in the middle of dinner and hasn't made a peep since.

Last Day in Texas

The girls are playing together more and more and it is so sweet to watch. One day last week we took advantage of the Texas springtime in February and played for one last time in the cul-de-sac while the movers were packing up. They took turns pushing each other around on the corn-popper and had the best time! See that giant moving truck in the background?

Well That Explains So Much...

Many of you have heard the drama that surrounded all negotiations concerning our new house. First, though it had been on the market, and empty, for almost 4 months, the seller refused to come down on her price. Next, she refused to fix ANY of the repairs recommended by the inspector. Finally, after the realtors basically took care of everything out of their commission, she refused to let them bring carpet cleaners in until after we had closed...completely difficult all the way around.

Well, Friday morning, we opened the envelope containing the keys to the house and everything was on a key chain..... the keychain had a little saying on it, "I am not opinionated, I am always right"!!!

Ahhh, that explains so much, doesn't it?

Home...???

Well, though it doesn't quite feel that way yet, I guess we are home. We are actually in a hotel in Denver, and closing on the house tomorrow. When we landed Tommy said, "Welcome Home!" I shushed him, and told him I wasn't ready to talk about it yet....so, he bought me a cookie!

Thank you all for your prayer, sweet thoughts and offers to help out over the last several days. Things couldn't have gone more smoothly. We were amazed how quickly the crew of three guys had our house packed and loaded. They made it look easy. Everything went just according to schedule, we had our final walk through with the new buyer and said good-bye to the only home our baby girls have ever known. They have taken everything amazingly well, and, thankfully I guess, by the time we closed the door one final time, Tommy and I were so tired, we were basically void of emotion. Tuesday morning, before the movers came, I nursed Reagan one last time in the chair in what was each of their nursery, and tried to just soak it all in...lots of good memories in that house.

Today was blessedly uneventful! We flew here, ran some errands, ate dinner at the hotel and took the girls swimming in the pool. My whole family is sleeping now and I should be too! Let me leave you with a funny story from the plane.

Our flight ended up being about 30 minutes delayed and then, on top of the delay, they announced on the runway, that they were turning off one engine and that we would be waiting another 20 minutes to take-off. Uh-oh, Addison had already asked to go to the bathroom and we had told her to wait until we were in the air and they turned the seat belt sign off.

Well, obviously, when that was put indefinitely on hold, I couldn't continue to keep her waiting. I paged a flight attendant and asked permission to take Addison to the bathroom. She was sweet and helpful and directed us to the front of the plane. Here is where we encountered a 2nd flight attendant. She was seated in her little jump seat a few feet away from us. We neither bothered her or addressed her, as the other lady was helping us, yet she felt the need to let us know we needed to hurry. I don't remember her exact words, but she told us to be quick about it.

This didn't sit well with me, as I felt like she went out of her way to be rude to us, and we were only up at an inopportune time because the flight was late. I graciously informed her that my child would pee as fast as she could...yes mam', that is exactly what I said! I mean really, does she think we were planning to hang out in her 2X2 bathroom?

Now for the funny part. Addison generally has full commentary that goes along with her restroom visits, and since the flight attendant's seat backed up the the bathroom wall, I know she heard it all, and she probably thought I put her up to it. I couldn't help laughing as Addison said, "Pee-pees all done mom, but I have poo-poo. Poo-poo takes a little while....probably like 20 minutes."

I wish you could here it with her expression. The girl cracks me up, and I was thrilled to know that the impatient flight attendant might be worried we were going to be awhile.

Getting Nostalgic

It is starting to hit me that my baby is right on the cusp of toddlerhood. While the baby days are terribly exhausting and long, there is just something so special and unexplainable about holding a baby in your arms. And, while I know I will still hold her for many, many more years, she won't quite fit the same, and she probably won't stay as long, and she probably won't need me in quite the same ways.

Her development is amazing me, especially over the last few days! The child is mastering new little short words everyday. She absolutley says "uh-oh" and uses it in context. Her daddy taught her "hi" and "bye" yesterday. She can something really close to the words and waves with her hand.

I have also been persuading her to take a step or two. She has to have her eyes up and be moving towards something really enticing, otherwise she will just sit down and crawl. If she keeps going at this pace, I think I will have a full-blown walked next month.

I am enjoying her so much everyday, and I know Addison and Tommy are too! While I am sad to see the baby days go, I am so excited for what is ahead! This toddler may give me a run for my money, but I think I am ready!

Sweet Cousins

Addison is so very in love with her favorite and only cousin Austin! I think there is a small case of hero worship on her part! She has asked me for days when Austin can come to our house, and she had the best time playing with him during our trip to Dallas.

One afternoon, during our trip, the girls fell asleep in the car on the way into town to meet my Mom and Austin for dinner. She knew what our evening plans were, but since my children don't sleep at naptime or much at night when we travel, she fell immediatly asleep for the full 45 minute drive. As we pulled into the parking lot, she opened her eyes and said, "I want Austin". First and only thing she thought of.

He was also the only person she wanted to talk to on the phone during our week at my Dad's. Usually the busy phone chatter, she refused everybody that week. This especially broke her Daddy's heart when he would call in from Colorado. Despite turning everyone else down, she would ask to call Austin. You can imagine what a disaster this is, since Austin has the same disinterest in the phone that I suspect all 8 year old boys do, and Addison is a little difficult to understand of the phone. They usually don't get very far.

See the sweet picture of Reagan and Austin on the bottom....Kissing Cousins!

My Long, Lost Twin.....

Here is the evidence, so you can see a side by side comparison. This is my friend Amy, who I am honored to be constantly mistaken for.

If we are out and about together, we are always asked if we are sisters, last week, someone even asked me if my sister was identical.

I have had someone at church talk to me for a few minutes, only to realize that I wasn't Amy and she didn't know me.

Further evidence, Amy drove past Sherry and Sam in her white car last week, while we were all leaving church, and Sam got upset. He told Sherry, "Miss Kim need to get in her brown car"!

It is such fun, I will miss being in the same town with her.

Little Cowgirl

Addison had a great time at my dad and step-mom's house this week. She loves, loves, loves the horses and everything about the barn in general! For such a girly-girl, she has no problem hanging out in all the dirt and hay.

When we arrived on Sunday, my dad came out to the car to meet her. She didn't even say hello, just "Let's go see the horses". She had him headed to the barn with armloads of carrots within five minutes of our arrival. By the time I got out there, they were already working on saddling up, so she could have her first ride. She rode with Miss Debra at first, and then she was ready to try it on her own. She even gave little sister a ride.

They have several yearling babies that were born last spring. They are just like a bunch of little puppy dogs, and they followed Addison all over the pasture. If we were in the yard, they would come up to the fence, to be near us. They licked her and nuzzled her. She called them the "Rowdy One's".

Finally, it was so sweet, one of the mares had a baby while we were there. Addison got to see the new baby lying on the ground by the mother. She watched him try to stand up for the first time and nurse. Each morning and evening she went to check on him. She would go into his stall and love on him. I think there is still some debate, but initially she named him Franklin.

Aside from an unfortunate encounter with fire-ants and the fact that Addison couldn't bring herself to sleep past 5:45am because "I want to see the horses" and "Sleeping is boring", we had a great trip.

10 Months

My baby girl turned 10 months this week while we were in Dallas. She is growing so fast, especially lately. She has 4 more teeth almost coming in. She is still saying "go" and "roar" and has added "uh-oh" to the mix. Also, today I think she was saying "No" back to me.

She is moving around all over the place and standing on her own. It makes her happy to crawl all over the house exploring and checking everything out. She is such a little monkey...climbing the stairs and Addison's step-stools every chance she gets.

Reagan also clearly asserts her opinions about things. She will arch her back and scream at me when she doesn't like what I am doing. I have been telling her no about it, and it does seem to be helping. I think I may have a strong-willed girl on my hands.

I love her happy disposition and easy-going manner. If she would just sleep at night, I would have it made!

How Did we miss This?

I have often though over the last month, that we will probably be greeted with some surprises when we first get to our new house. After all, we were only in the house twice, for no more than 30 minutes total. And, after all, we saw at least 30 houses in a two day time period, which can leave your mind in a jumble!

Anyway, Tommy went out to the house yesterday while he was in CO, to take some measurements. This is the picture he sent me after he arrived.

I do believe those are seashells glued all around that light fixture. My word, how did we miss that? Maybe it was because it was in a room that is to be Addison's, which is currently home to lots and lots of very blue aquarium wall paper! Oh well, at least this is an easy fix, we will just have to do it before Addison sees it and develops some sort of attachment to it.

Gratitude

Addison's Uncle Steve and Aunt Dannea mailed her a cute little Dora T-shirt for a surpise. She LOVES to get mail and had a great time opening it. She also thought the shirt was great. We asked her if she wanted to call them and say thank-you, which she did. Her is how it went.

"Thank-you for the mail you gave me. It was a Dora T-shirt with no pants!!! That's okay I can were some old pants"!

We cracked up when we heard her thank-you. I guess at this stage we typically buy things in sets, I guess she isn't used to seeing a shirt that doesn't have a specific pair of pants to go with it!