Christmas

Rusty and I had took turns with the stomach flu, and therefore Reese extended his stay with his grandparents. Santa came to grandma and grandpas house this year and then his house in the afternoon. Between Christmas plans being turned upside down and several birthday celebrations the child is very confused I am sure. We still have 1 more Christmas celebration next week, so I am sure Reese will forever think we get gifts every other week for the rest of the year. He has enjoyed his train set non stop. He was so excited over all his gifts.

We also celebrated his third birthday yesterday. I cant believe my baby is already 3. The time has really passed. We were looking at baby pictures last night and were reminded how quickly they grow up. He has been such a blessing to us and I look forward to what the Lord has in store for him.

Caleigh loved her first Christmas. The biggest hits were the wrapping paper, tissue paper and teethers.

The best gift we could ever receive (besides having Reese on Christmas of course) came yesterday. We got an unexpected call from Rusty's brother Bradley. He arrived back in the US from Afghanistan on Christmas Eve. We are thrilled to have him back for good.

Ode to the Swing

I am a bit sad and nostalgic about selling my swing. Reese could have lived in the swing if I would have let him. I remember being worried he wouldn't learn to take naps if he wasn't in it. I can remember at time in GA where he took a 4 hr nap in it and I had all Sunday afternoon to work on scrapbooks for Mothers Day for the grandparents. I even had a page in the scrapbook called "Just a Swinging" with pictures of him in the swing over time. I can still see him as a baby in his swing all swaddled and happy. I have alot of pictures and memories of him in the swing.

Caleigh has never really been into the swing. She sits in it some but it wasn't the life saver that it was with Reese. I decided it was taking up space, she didn't use it that much and was getting a little big for it- so it was time to go. I sold it within 24 hrs and then was sad it was gone- go figure. I did take pictures of her in it right before it went bye bye. It's just another reminder that my little girl is growing up so fast. This is my favorite stage because she is so much fun and not mobile. She is really acting like she wants to crawl so I know it wont be long.

Reese and Caleigh like to laugh and talk to each other. Today he was playing with her on the floor and she pretty much rolled over to kiss him and then lay on him. It was touching and funny.

View from afar

Getting closer- and in for the kiss

So much to blog about- so little time. I still need to write about our weekend and his bday party- for a later date.

Dinner with Santa

Busy times around here. Last week we attended 2 playgroups, a dr visit, gymnastics, a bday party, went to see Christmas lights at the park, and hosted a cookie decorating party. I went to bible study, worked like a manic, worked the food drive and attended a Christmas party for our church group. I hosted 2 showers the week before and took a trip to the big city this weekend to visit family. Its no wonder Reese's bday party invite turned out to be an evite!

Last week we took the kids a local church to have Dinner with Santa. Reese had a blast doing the crafts, getting a balloon sword made and running around the gingerbread house. Reese has screamed for every prior picture with Santa or the Easter bunny. This time was no different until he saw Caleigh sit on Santa's lap- and up he went.

Decorating his ice cream cone Christmas tree

Posing for pictures didnt go so well

Reese is always wanting to touch Caleigh

Crystal came over to visit

6 months

Caleigh is 6 months today. I have always felt like 6 months was a big milestone for a baby. She is rolling all over the place and will be sitting on her own very shortly. I absolutely cant wait for her to sit up on her own to play, but the rolling is going to turn my life upside down. No longer can you leave the room because she may end up under the furniture:) She is so much fun and is a joy to be around. I love to see her light up when she hears my voice enter the room to pick her up at MDO. I would be happy if she stayed in the stage forever because I love it.

Stats:
Length- 27 1/2 in 95%
Weight- 15 lb 8 oz- 50%
How two short people have such tall kids remains a mystery!

She is now eating alot of solids and the dr today gave me the go ahead to start some foods with milk to test if she has an allergy as well. Lets hope she doesn't and that he grows out of his soon.

In other news, it was proved this week that I am not crazy because they did find gallstones. I am waiting on the call to schedule the surgical consult. Its so nice to know after months of waiting and test after test that its nothing major- and something that can be fixed. I had an endoscopy, ct scan and ultrasound in the past 2 weeks to determine this.

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving at the lake this year. Reese had a great time following around Daddy, Grandpa and Uncle Bryan around the lake house and out for boat rides. We had a fire pit at night and one night I suggested we get out the marshmallows. He learned how to roast them the week before on his camp trip. We all debated how the proper way to roast was (I like mine burnt, Rusty likes his toasted). If Reese didn't like the way it turned out, he would fling the stick dangerously close to your face and tell you to have it. It was pretty amusing. I was even able to get some Christmas shopping done in Marble Falls with Marie on our ladies day out.We spent Thursday- Saturday with Rusty's family and then headed over to my Dads on Sat to visit my family. We also took the kids to see the lights at the walk through lights park in Marble Falls.

5 1/2 month Update

I just realized how long it has been since I have blogged. Now that I am back at work and don't have the kids napping all afternoon, my down time has dwindled.

This past weekend Caleigh and I went to Houston for Miles's Houston memorial service. It was a fantastic service to celebrate his life at his home church. Everything was signed and spoken and powerful. You could tell he was really loved by that church. It was so great to see all of his friends that we have seen grow up. Reese and Rusty were supposed to go with me, but Reese was sick all weekend. I would say we are finally all well but now Rusty is feeling sick. Just in time to go fishing at the lake of course!

The weekend before I was sick so Reese stayed with his grandparents. They took him camping and he had the time of his life. The camping trip was planned- the extended stay due to me being sick while Rusty was hunting wasn't. It was a fun girls weekend. You forget how easy it is with 1 kid- who isn't mobile. She was a great sport helping mom and I do our Christmas shopping in Toys R Us. We would hold things up and ask her if she wanted it for Christmas-- I guess that's as good as you get with an infants Christmas list:)

Caleigh has started to roll all over the place. She is never where I leave her anymore. Let the craziness begin!

Playing with Ella when our homegroup was over for dinner
Visting Aunt Heather at the memorial service
Visiting Cousin Aaron at the memorial
Ready for Thanksgiving
Reese and Caleigh play well together
Ready for church. Granny was here so we had to wear shoes.
She was a good sport as we tried on all of her Christmas clothes to decide what she should wear for her pictures. This one was too small so we took a one time picture in it. She didn't care for the fur around the neck

fire station

Caleigh is 5 months today. When I took her to the dr on Sat she was 14 lb and 10 oz. I recently saw a picture of Reese at this age and he was chunky as well. I forget he ever was since he has been so skinny for so long.

Yesterday I took both kids to the local fire station. Reese isn't feeling 100% and as a result he was acting crazy. I even caught him jumping on the bed during our tour. Don't you love how your kids are well behaved until you are around 25 other people- then they act like crazy people. He had a great time and is still talking about the boats they had there.

Caleigh was laughing at the firemen talking to her

Oklahoma recap

I promise one of these days to blog about our Thomas the Train trip. Here is a recap of our week.

Rusty, Caleigh and I arrived in Tulsa around 2 am on Friday night. We were told he was stable and to come up in the am. He died at 7:38 a.m. on Saturday so we weren't able to see him. We were lucky that we were in Tulsa and able to go to the hospital to sit with him and the family for about an hr and a half on Sat am. I t was nice to have the opportunity to say goodbye. I came back on Sunday with Rusty and Caleigh and went back Tuesday to drive my nephews (leaving Rusty and the kids here)

He did a lot in his 17 years and was an amazing kid. He loved the lord and loved life and never let his health get him down. He lived as a young infant in a bubble and stayed a year and a half in the hospital. He was born with SCIDS http://www.immunedisease.com/patients-and-families/about-pi/types-of-pi/severe-combined-immunodeficiency-scid.html. We had to wear masks and gloves at all times when we went to visit him as an infant and toddler. He just moved to OK last year and prior to that he lived in Houston. We saw him all the time in Houston and twice since he moved to Oklahoma last December.

The service Wednesday was fantastic with the deaf church in Houston and in OKC sending their ministers. He will be missed.I believe this is going to the be the most difficult thing I have ever had to go through. He was born without an immune system and we were lucky to have him as long as we did, but there is still a large void. However, we rejoice that he is in heaven and able to hear and with a healthy body.

He was able to make multiple trips to the national ability center. This is a fantastic place where he was able to do alot of outdoor activities. They have some pictures on their web site at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=121017&id=48608818777&l=5fc22dad60

Caleigh did great in the car (only1 meltdown coming and going) and was a happy baby. She was passed around 20 people and still smiling while we were there.

This summer with my family in OK. I had just had Caleigh so I didnt get to make this trip.

He was very patriotic. He made a sign for Rusty and went and saw him when he came in from Afghanistan .

He begged Rusty for dogtags. He wore these up until Friday. Rusty got him a uniform and dog tags and I took them to him in Feb. This was the last time I saw him.Holding Reese at his 16th bday party

He was on the sign for MD Anderson Christmas cards

Message to Live By

I am exhausted after 2 trip to OK since Friday but I wanted to post this shirt. Miles made this shirt this summer. It really shows the kind of kid he was and that he never gave up. He never let it get him down. I will blog more about him in the next few days and post more pictures. I cant express the void we feel without him.

14 years and counting

I am getting really behind on blogging since I have started back at work. I promise to blog about our Thomas the Train weekend soon

This past weekend the children and I went to visit G&G. Rusty was out in the field so this was my first long distance car trip with both children. I survived just fine. I went shopping all day Sat while they watched the kids. I had better luck than I have had on any of my shopping trips for the past 5 months! Aunt Molly and Uncle Brad came by for breakfast so we had a bonus visit with them

Monday marked my 14th anniversary of meeting Rusty. We met on a blind date to midnight yell on Oct 26,1995. We are getting really old. Who would have guessed that 14 years later we would be married, living back where we met and have 2 wonderful children. I remember coming home that night and telling my roommate that I met the guy who is going to be my best friend in college. We were friends for a year first and then started dating at bonfire the following year. He would tell you that I got jealous of the girl he was dating. I would tell you that I just didn't want to date anyone seriously as a freshman. The funny thing is I don't remember the anniversary of bonfire which is really the first time we started going out. I told him that we should have gone on Monday to sit on the porch of my dorm and recreate the original date.

Sad times

While we have loved having Brad home in the states, he did receive the unfortunate news on Friday that 4 of his co-workers were involved in an accident last week. Please continue to keep the soldiers in your prayers. They were 4 of the 12 on the agriculture team that he is over there with.
http://weareaustin.com/content/fulltext/?cid=33211#

Please also pray for my cousin Miles who is in the ICU in Tulsa with pnemonia.

Reese is a monkey

I may regret posting this - so no judgement can be passed if you are going to read. This is funny but not.

This morning I had Caleigh in the car and Reese wanted to open the garage door. This is not uncommon because I often lift him to hit the opener button on the wall. He usually runs right to the car door and waits. This morning we hit the button and while he was getting in the car I was putting her bottle in the car. I hear him crying and look over to see that while my last view of him was standing by the door he was now in the air. He had decided it would be a good idea to grab ahold of the garage door and when it went up- so did he. He was hanging like a monkey in the air. It would have been really really bad if he had let go because he would have hit the concrete or the car, and luckily I heard him right away and got him down. Its not funny because its very serious but to look up and see your kid hanging in the air holding on to the bottom of the garage door is a sight I will never forget.

Caleigh is 4 months

Caleigh had her 4 month check up today. She is not the skinny minny her brother is. She is half his weight already. Reese was a good big brother and well behaved during the visit. Somehow I missed my alarm going off and woke up at 8:11 (not good since I am back at work) and we managed to get out the door and there by 9. I have such good sleepers to have been asleep that late- but it was a bit crazy to get them both fed and dressed in under 30 min.

Her stats are
Length:25 3/4 inch- 90% like her brother
Weight- 14 lb 50% (unlike the 10% Reese is)
Head Circumference- 40.5 cm (50%)

I now have her 3 month pictures. You can view them at http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AcNGjFo2ZNm3q

Uncle Brad, meet your niece

Today Caleigh met her Uncle Brad since he is home for 15 days leave from Afghanistan. Brad was deployed for the birth of both our children and met Reese at 8 months and Caleigh at 4. I told him we weren't having anymore kids so he never needed to deploy again!!!

It was so cute to see Brad and Reese interact. The last time Reese saw him (December) he was barely talking and now he talks non stop. Both kids are sick but were both troopers today. Caleigh felt so bad but was still adorable talking and laughing with everyone. There aren't any girls in Rusty's family, so Brad was in uncharted territory.

Caleighs first day at school

Caleigh had school pictures today and I didnt want her in summer clothes. I do realize its hot out and this was just a temporary outfit.

16 weeks

Tomorrow is a big day around here- and I am not talking about it being the 1st day of the 4th quarter. I start back at work and Caleigh starts daycare. I am not nervous about her starting- I know she is in good hands. I am more concerned that I will forget to pack a vital item. She is only going for 3 hours and they already have her diapers- all you really need at this age. I will miss our special time during the day we have had while Reese has been at MDO. We went grocery shopping today for our last time- she is a good little shopper.

Caleigh is going to start her day off tomorrow with a bang because she has school pictures at 9 am. I am curious to see how long it takes Reese to figure out she is just across the hall from him. I predict he will be very confused when he sees her on the playground. Today we went to gymnastics (she stays home with a sitter) and as we left he asked where she was. Never asked where she was the hour we had been gone!

I logged onto my work email today and had 2450 emails. Guess what I will be doing for the next few days?

Visitors

This weekend our friend Colin and Sarah came for a visit. It was a lot of fun catching up with them. Reese and Caleigh were even excellent when we went out for lunch despite it being naptime. We saw all of the grandparents last week. Rusty's parents came last Tues, Dad stopped by on Friday afternoon and my mom came up on Saturday.

Caleigh is so adorable. I love on her and hug on her all day. I am sad that we are going to loose "our time" since she is starting to daycare this week as I am starting back to work. The first few months crept by (when you don't sleep) but the past 2 have flown. I am trying to take in every moment and file it away since we know we wont have any more children and wont experience this stage ever again. She laughs and talks all the time and is very very happy.

Face paint at gymnastics for the circus themed day

To bad she wore this dress backwards all day- even for her pictures. I have a lot to learn about girl baby clothes!

Caleighs 3 month pictures

I don't have the pictures from the photographer yet but there are 2 blog entries (Sept 15 and Sept 20) with pictures that you can see at http://www.butterflychaserphotography.blogspot.com/

Caleigh and I made a trip to the big city yesterday to see my college roommates baby. I say they are future roommies.

Sweet Moment

The other night we asked Reese if he wanted to lead the prayer at dinner and he started singing. Neither of us could figure out what he was singing because he was being really quiet. I finally decided it must be a song he learned at school. It was so sweet to hear such beautiful words and a sweet spirit come from him. I am always amazed at how he is constantly growing in his knowledge.

After listening to it several times I believe this is what he is saying

God our Father, God our Father,
once again, once again,
we thank you for our blessings, we thank you for our blessings,
Amen, Amen

It doesn't get any better than listening to your two year old pray to the Lord.

Fun in the City

I know this will sound silly but I had a shocker these week when I took Reese to the dr. Good news is he is finally 28 lbs. Bad news is I have gained weight. How this is possible? I eat healthy and I nurse nonstop so its very strange to me that I can gain weight in the past month. I am calling the ob tomorrow because this has really gotten me down. By this point with Reese I was back in my clothes and with her I am gaining weight? But the thing is I cant diet and cant exercise or I will have a starving baby so I may just have to come to terms with it for a while. I was ok with myself for a while but to see no progress and actually to go in the opposite direction is discouraging. Enough about me because I have fantastic kids and alot to be thankful for.

This weekend we didn't let the rain get us down. We started Sat am with our Chick Fil A breakfast ritual (so Reese can play on the playground since neither of us have figured out how to take both kids there solo) and to Gander Mountain so Reese and Rusty can bond. Then we went to the MOPS picnic in the rain. Everyone had a great time. More importantly we were able to enjoy cooler weather on the patio. Caleigh loved watching Reese play in his pool in the rain

Today we took a trip to the big city to see my family. It was Caleighs first time to my home church and my mother was so proud to parade her around. Afterwards we went to my sisters house where all the cousins played together. Reese loves Nathan, Micah and Conner and talks non stop about going to see them so he was really happy. Rusty and I snuck away on a quick shopping date where neither of us found a thing. Its always fun to gather all my coupons and gift cards to take a trip shopping in the city and find nothing! I did take Rusty to my dream house I found down there several months ago - for the bargain price of 600k of course. The selling point to me was an office off the bedroom - that's my dream. So I can have privacy and work without the world having to look at my desk (which is clean but still a workplace). He was a good sport about it. Caleigh did great in the car- she has gotten to be a great traveller. She even managed to take 2 naps with all the chaos at my sisters.

In my sisters pool. For those who know my family, yes there is a neighborhood kid in the picture.

Proud Granny