Back to normal...somewhat

So it's been about 2 weeks of birthday celebrating around here and I'm honestly so happy to have it all over and back to a somewhat normal routine. With all the celebrating, visitors, and change of routine, our Allie-Ann has been a bear! She is definitely coming into her own these days and we have had our share of timeouts. I really need to read more on this stage of parenting because quite frankly I feel as if I'm failing. I want to try to do the best in raising a child that is giving, kind and compassionate towards others but as of today, we might have a little wrestler on our hands. This was our conversation in the car after picking her up from preschool.

Me: "How was your day?"
AA: ..............
Me: "Allie-Ann, how was your day?
AA: ..............
Me: Did you play outside?
AA: Yes, and ________ didn't share today.
Me: Did you remember to share today?
AA: No!
Me: Why not?
AA: ................
AA: I made a friend cry today
Me: YOU MADE A FRIEND CRY?
AA: Yes
Me: What did you do?
AA: I hurt them.
Me: YOu WHAT???
AA: I hurt him playing blocks.
Me: Was it an accident (thinking.....my child could never hurt someone)
AA: What's accident?
Me: Were you being nice or not nice
AA: Not nice...

Oh boy. So I guess I will need to find out about this. I've never personally seen Allie-Ann being rough with anyone, but I do know that she has some sass about her so it could be a possibility. So if anyone has any great books that I could read to help with this discipline thing, I would greatly appreciate the tip...but can you really learn how to be an effective parent from a book anyway?

Allie-Ann playing dress up as Tyrone. A birthday gift that she has come to love the last couple of days.

Granny came for a visit, she flew in from Missouri to spend time with her new grand babies. This lady is quite amazing. She is 93 years old, flies on her own and has a sharp, witty mind. I hope I can be as sharp as she is at her age.

Allie-Ann's 3rd Birthday Celebration

I'm completely exhausted and I believe we have a brand new 3 year old that is too. It was a successful Backyardigans birthday day. Thanks to all that came out to celebrate with us. I can't believe that I have a 3 year old now, it seems like yesterday when she was learning how to walk for the first time to now climbing up trees.

Allie-Ann, at times you can completely wear me out, you just don't know how many days I have prayed that you would take a nap so that I could at least catch my breath. But I know your little brain will not have it. You are so inquisitive that you tell me that naps are not to be taken when it's light outside, only when it's dark. I know that later in life you will soon realize that taking naps during daylight hours is a fantastic thing.

You are so creative and use your imagination in all your play. Your favorite friend is mousie, a little "rat" that was bought as a gag gift to me but you have truly treasured these last couple of months. I fear, my child, that you are just like your momma in that you know what you want and will go to all measures to get what you want...resulting in many timeouts. But hopefully this will make you very determined in your future goals and dreams.


How many times do I hear a day, "mommy, mommy." Sometimes I just think you like to say it to get a reaction out of me...it works. But sweetie, you can call on me at any time because I just know one day you will not need me as much so I'm cherishing every moment. You are still not wanting to use the potty, you tried and was successful for some time but has since regressed back to diapers and you LOVE it. You tell me, "I don't want panties mommy, I like my diapers just fine." You have even cleaned up poop that had rolled out of your diaper to promptly put in the toilet and flush. But, it's okay because I know how smart you are and in a way this proves it to me. I think you will be my child that will get all the answers wrong on your SATs just because you can. All of this makes you who you are and I am very proud to be your mommy. Each morning when I see  your face, with your hair all in your eyes, I pause for a second to tell God how thankful I am for bringing you to us. You are my blessing and I love you more and more.

Checking out her new play set this morning

Wow...I'm up pretty high.

and I think I like it...

Belle was checking out the play set too...

The Backyardigans cake. The funny thing about this whole cake is a friend recommend Lauren to make the cake. So I checked out her work on Facebook. Then we communicated through email and she said she could make the cake. I was so excited and when I picked the cake up on Saturday I found out that I coached Lauren when she ran Cross Country at White Knoll. We both couldn't believe it....needless to say I will have Lauren make all my cakes in the future. She did an awesome job and the cake was delicious. It had a fresh strawberry filling...yum! Oh, and I made pig-in-a-blankets and fruit kabobs for the birthday celebration.

A closer picture of the cake.

Allie-Ann tore into the presents...it's what she wanted to do first.

Ready to make her birthday wish!

Happy 3rd Birthday Allie-Ann

Allie-Ann - create free slideshows

2 month checkup

Belle had her checkup today and here are her stats:

weight: 11 lbs. 1 oz  (51%)
Height: 22 3/4 in.  (61%)
Head: 15 1/4 in (50%)

So she's pretty darn normal if you ask me. I thought she would weigh more but 11 pounds is exactly what Allie-Ann weighed at 2 months. In fact Allie-Ann was much longer at 2 months than Belle. All went well and we won't be back until her 4 month checkup.

Grammy came to add some support...she had to have 3 shots today...ouch!

Belle is 2 months old today. She is such a sweetheart, honestly this little girl is a dream. She is really starting to coo and "talk" and it just melts my heart when she stares at me and says her little cooing sounds as if she is carrying on a conversation. Belle absolutely loves Allie-Ann. Each morning when Allie-Ann comes down to greet her, her little face just lights up, it's just the sweetest thing. Development wise she is holding her head up better each day. She loves to be held facing forward so she can see the world. She really likes tummy time and has started to see her hands and feet. Her little hands are starting to open up and she just loves for you to talk to her. We are taking her to her 2 month checkup this week and I will post her stats. I'm curious to see how much this little butterball weighs and her percentages. Honestly, I could be the Duggar family if I could have all my babies turn out like this one. Ha.

I just think this picture is hilarious...so I made it her 2 month shot.

Allie-Ann and Belle at 2 months. I can't really see a lot of similar features...maybe the eyes?

Birthday at the Beach

We made it back and I must say that it was a very successful trip. I think the key to traveling these days is going late at the girls bedtime. They both slept in the car going down and coming back. I told Kyle that it was like we were having a date night in the car. It was just soooooo nice to have time to talk for 2 hours without the interrupts of baby and toddler. Belle was an angel the whole trip and I think she is going to be a beach bum like her momma. She just layed out in her in stroller and didn't have a care in the world. Allie-Ann however was a daredevil on the beach. We didn't get any shots of her surfing because we were afraid to take our new camera on the beach but I wish I had some shots of her holding on to the boogie board while daddy and kampa ran with her on the skim water, she was flying and loved every second of it. She even took some tumbles but got right back up wanting to do it again. Allie-Ann is going to give me a heart attach I just know it. We also celebrated her bday at the beach which was a lot of fun. She loved her Backyardigans cake topper...thanks Grammy! We are back home to enjoy the rest of this rainy Labor Day and now it's on to getting things ready for bday #2 this weekend.

Belle just relaxing at the beach

This was Allie-Ann before asking if we could go to the beach

This is Allie-Ann after being told she had to wait to go to the beach...oh the joys of toddlerhood.

Grammyma holding butterball Belle!

I love these shots of Belle, but she was very sleepy. I will be posting her 2 month photos soon.

Whoops..

Touching the water for the first time!

Opening birthday presents

What a sweet birthday girl...I can't believe she is 3 already.

She was so tired that night that she just used her fingers to eat the ice cream. This was taken at about 9:00pm after a full busy day at the beach.

Sweet Girls

So we are packing up for another long weekend, we are heading to the beach. I said last time that I was NEVER taking another trip until Belle was older, but here we are again, traveling again. But really, you have to do it and I'm looking forward to some time away from the house. I took these pictures the other day of Allie-Ann and Belle loving on each other...well, Allie-Ann loving on Belle.