The Pickle

Tonight Garyn had his first pickle. I just knew that we were going to get some pretty funny faces from him because, in general, he likes sweet things. We got a pretty funny face after the first inital shock of the pickle, but then he went back for more and almost finished the darn thing!

Here are some pics...note the two big top toofers. The two right next to them are working their way down. The better to eat {pickles} with!

Before the pickle bite.

The first bite.

Do I like this?!

Gimme more!

The other thing that my sweet boy has discovered is the dogs water bowl! This is way sooner than Ellie discovered it, but he is determined to take a dip as often as he can. Here's the proof.

The video is about a minute long, so enjoy if you like.

This is sorta like my bath!

Sqeamish Beware!

Last night at the dinner table Ellie announced that she needs to go potty. For those of you that know us, you know that we've been trying to potty train Ellie FOREVER! She usually doesn't tell us when she needs to go--unless we are out in public. I was glad that she told us, so we hurried to the bathroom.

While she was sitting there, she told me that she needed to poop. I told her that would be great. She sits there a little while, then announces, "Here comes the big daddy one!" I couldn't contain my laughter! She sits there and eventually goes #2, looks between her legs into the toilet, and says, "Oh. It's just a little baby one."

Kids are so much fun because you never know what they are going to say!

Christmas and Baby Dedication Pics

As promised, here are some pictures from Christmas.

Garyn LOVES his new car!

Ellie in her new house!

Garyn's new car

I guess it sounds a little extravagant to buy my children a new car and a new house for Christmas!

On January 11th, Garyn had his baby dedication at church. Wes and I went a little crazy shopping for clothes for the occasion, but he looked so dapper! Garyn was so good during the dedication. When we went to the front of the church, he slept the entire time! It wasn't until we sat back down and the congregation started applauding that Garyn woke up--with a grin on his face. It was a good day.

Handsom Little Man!

Mom and Dad with Garyn

Garyn and Grandma

Gigi and Grumpy

Of course, that Sunday night after Baby Dedication, Ellie and I had the stomach bug! Wes did a good job taking care of us and keeping Garyn away so he didn't get sick. I hope that none of you have been sick!

Crazy Holiday!

Hi Everyone! I hope you all had a great Christmas! Our Christmas had a little bit of everything in it.

From my last post, I did finally get some decorations up, but I am probably most proud of the garland I did for my mantle this year. And believe it or not, I did not purchase one single thing to put in this garland! I had everything and just put it all together! Here are some pics.

The kids were really funny opening presents. They were completely opposite of what I thought they would be. Garyn was totally into all of the bows and paper and sparkle. He would crawl (yes, he is finally crawling...everywhere) around from present to present and tear paper, chew on it, and then move on. Ellie, on the other hand, was completely consumed by the first present she opened and then did not want to open any more! Santa brought her a Rose Petal Cottage for Christmas and once she saw it, she wanted nothing else to do with anything else! She wouldn't let anyone in her cottage, she didn't want the walls open at all, and, when we finally coaxed her into opening her other presents, she would only open her cottage door long enought to be handed a present and go back inside to open it! She looked like a hermit crab! It was hilarious! I just remembered that the Christmas morning pics are still on my camera, so I will have to post those later!

On a sad note, my sweet Papaw (my dad's dad) die on the 31st. He had struggled the past 3 years with emphysema, congestive heart failure, and, later on, renal dysfunction. He fought for as long as he could, but it was time for his body to be whole. He was such a sweet and gentle man, and he could tell a story. Not without laughing the whole time, mind you, but he could tell tales. He loved his family dearly, and we all loved him. He will be greatly missed, but only for a while! Here is a picture of him and my kids at Halloween.

Please continue to pray for my family as we mourn the loss of Papaw and try to adjust to life without him around.

I will post more pictures from Christmas when I get my camera downloaded!

It's beginning to look a little more like Christmas!

Well, the christmas tree is up. Granted, it has no ornaments on it yet, but progress is progress. It has been my tradition for several years to decorate for christmas over Thanksgiving weekend, but a combo of work and travel prevented me from decorating. I am totally in the holiday spirit, but I'm having a hard time getting geared up to decorate and christmas shop. I guess I had better get busy because time is flying and those presents aren't going to buy themselves (or wrap themselves for that matter)!

Ellie will be singing christmas carols at school tomorrow, so I will download my camera and post new pictures soon! I hope that everyone is well--and you have your christmas tree up!

Halloween

I love Halloween and dressing up my kids! I think my husband thinks that it is the equivalent of dressing a dog up in clothes, but I think he got more into this year than last. Garyn was a pirate this year--complete with a mustache and chest hair. Ellie was a Tinkerbell fairy. What was great about her costume was that it came with a smaller version of the costume for her baby doll, so her dolly dressed up too! We didn't do much but go to the grandparents' houses, but that took 3 hours! I think that I was more tired than the kids were when we got home.

ARRRGH!

Ellie the Tinkerbell fairy and Baby Rake

Can you believe that Garyn is already 6 months?! He weighed 17.4 lbs and was 28 inches long at his 6 month visit. Some things that Garyn is doing: rolling everywhere, plows with his head on the floor, tries to grab whatever you are eating, squeals when no one is paying attention to him, sits up, grabs toys and whacks himself in the head with it. He also has two new teeth! They are so cute and he shows them off whenever he can. We think that he might be a lefty like his sister! When he grabs food or plays with toys, he grabs them with his left hand! He hasn't mastered the sleeping at night thing yet. (Any suggestions?) But all in all, he one cute, fuzzy headed, happy baby!

Pretty new toofers!

Can you see my new pearly whites?

Guess what?! My husband and I are going on vacation this weekend...without our children! I am so excited! We are going to Santa Fe to 10,000 waves, so think of us on Saturday--we will be at the spa! Not to rub it in or anything!

I'm still here...I think!

Yes we are still alive and kickin'. Wes and I have been so extremely busy at work the past couple of weeks. By the end of last week, I was beginning to wonder if my kids were going to recognize me!

Garyn is doing really well. He is starting to sleep better. We will be going for his 6 month visit soon. Can you believe that it has already been 6 months?! He started sitting up Sunday. He is really starting to get attached to Ellie, too. The other day, I was at work and Wes was getting ready. He had the kids on our king size bed. Garyn was propped up on my pillows, and he grunted and groaned until he got himself right next to Ellie, and then the two of the snuggled and watched Handy Manny.

Ellie is getting quite attached to Garyn as well. She is such a good big sister. When he is crying in his crib after his naps, she will go in and climb up in his crib with him. She loves to "hold" him and love on him. She is absolutely devastated when he grabs a handful of hair, though, but she never lashes out or retaliates at him.

In other stuff...I am so excited to send out Christmas cards this year because I have already made mine! Now I just have to have my brother's girlfriend take some family pics so that I will have something to put on the cute card that I made. It's pretty funny (or sad) that I am getting so worked up over Christmas cards. I can see that things may be going down hill fast so I will say goodbye for now!