Well we are in Kansas City for the Holidays and having a wonderful time. Colin has been looking forward to this for months, seeing as how my dad told him 2 months ago that we were coming to see him. Dad also told him that they would play in the snow, so twice a week for the last two months, Colin has called him and asked "Granddad, do you have any snow?" Fortunately, there is snow. And they have been sledding. The favorite method is for dad to go down on his stomach with Colin riding on his back "like a motorcycle." Having a daredevil little sister has been good for him.
Ansley is 16 months old now and loves football. Everyone keeps asking me how she knows what it even is since we don't watch television, and the only thing I can figure is that she has learned it from her brother, who runs around the house with a football, tackling her all day long. She's a pretty tough little girl. She will go down the tube slide at Chic-fil-A on her stomach, and if she sees her brother do something, then you can bet she's going to try it. Unless it's eating vegetables or meat, or anything nutritious, really, other than fruit. She even tries to go potty already because she sees him do it, except when you're a girl and you watch your older brother stand at the toilet, that translates into trying to get something out of your belly button.
They definitely keep me busy and laughing. We just went to see my grandmother in Arkansas for a couple of days, and Colin got to sleep with Russ and I. You would have thought that kid had died and gone to heaven to have that kind of one on one attention. He is getting so big and grown up, I just can't believe some of the stuff that he says. I forget a lot of the time that he just turned 3.
I don't have any new pics on this computer to upload, so by the time I update again we may have our new family member with us. Number 3 is due in June! Hopefully I'll get something up before then, because I cannot begin to imagine how much more busy my life is going to get!
WOW! Congrats on #3. We just had our 4th in October- Keila Rayne. Her big sisters are more than helpful so I'm sure that you'll have a couple of great little mother's helpers there. Do you know what you're having?
Heard the good news from your sis! So excited for you guys! You are braver than me! I love to hear the stories about your little ones. We have a tough little girl too and I know its only because of Luke. I wish we could have seen you. Have a safe trip home!
When you haven't updated your blog in oh, 4 months, where do you even start? We have been busy. I took the kids to Florida for a cousin's wedding at the end of April, and took a week long road trip in the process. Then another cousin was married at the end of May, not so long a road trip - just back to Atlanta. Then we went to the beach as a family as soon as school was out, and have since been doing home improvement projects (outside this summer) and trying to keep up with the kiddos.
Ansley started walking on our trip to Florida. Both of my kids started walking when I was out of town without Russ.... I almost feel guilty about that. So with a good 2 months of that under her belt she's on to more monumental tasks, like climbing into the dishwasher and anything else that is at the right level. She still likes to eat everything she gets her hands on outside, yet the only vegetable she will touch is green beans. If only they would consider magnolia leaves a vegetable, then we'd be getting somewhere! HRH is too big to eat off of a spoon (unless you have ice cream) so dinner has become an adventure. And she throws tantrums. It started with a little stomping of the feet, and I must admit, I had a hard time believing that she knew what she was doing at first, but let me assure you, she does. It has progressed to throwing her body on the floor. She's 10 months old, and we're already having to crack down. I've also started weaning her, because she likes to take it to go. There came a day, when she was nursing whilst standing in my lap, that I looked at her tiny behind in my face and thought, "I really should not be allowing this to happen." She hasn't been real happy about the whole weaning thing. It is so true what they say about redheads.
Colin continues to turn into a little man, and I am constantly questioning whether I demand too much of him. He loves his sister, even though he does play a little rough with her at times. And he has started being so polite all of the sudden. Not that he was rude before, but he is talking like such a grown up. I was trying to get Ansley asleep for a nap a few days ago, and earlier that morning I had vacuumed (a rarity). The vacuum was still out and Colin was going to read some books while I put her to sleep. He came up to me and asked, "Can I go in this room? Are you finished vacuuming?" And he has started asking permission for all types of things. "I want to go outside" has magically morphed into "Can I go outside?" It's so sweet. He loves all things boy, skateboards and motorcycles ranking way up at the top. Doesn't like being dirty so much though. Tonight after dinner he said, "I need to wipe my hands, I'm filthy!!"
Anyway, bathtime and (hopefully) bedtime are calling. Maybe I'll post again by the end of the year!
New pics:
She's actually saying "hi" on the phone. It's the only word besides "uh" (she forgets the -oh) that she says consistently. And that's Daddy and kids on our beach trip.
I'm going to try to put a link HERE to our home improvement pics if anyone is interested.
You've done so much work to your house and it has really paid off! It is so fresh and clean looking. You've done a really good job. I love your bedroom, the light is great. Well, maybe not at night with a full moon!
I really like the tree with the impatiens and hostas.
Thanks! Yes, two different ultra sounds by two different people said "girl." Daniel will have 3 daughters. I think he's a little nervous about that ha! I'm already planning our girls weekends to go shopping.
I really want to see pics of your house. I love renovations. I'm addicted to HGTV and you're living it ;)
I loved the pictures! And I love your street! It looks so peaceful! The stories about the kids are great! Good luck with your little redhead. Your mom was just telling me last night that you are finding out about the strong willed child. :) I was going to tell you to update more often but your mom told me you don't have internet at home. I guess I didn't realize that. Your family is precious and I know you are doing a great job as a mom!
Wow! I just went back and looked at the original pictures of the house! AMAZING! I do not have the ability to see what a house can be. I'm just not good at it. I never would have imagined such a wonderful change in that house. You guys have done great!
Well, my parents have been in town all week, so since my dad brought his laptop we can use our next door neighbor's wireless connection for me to get online. So far I have caught up on my e-mail, sent out new pictures of the kids (which by the way I tried to put on here, but it just didn't work out), and bought a new diaper bag off of e-bay. So I'm getting my fix in other words.
We've been having so much fun. We went to the zoo, and Old MacDonald's Fish Camp (where you can get your food fried or extra fried and feed hushpuppies to the goats). The kids had a lot of fun. Ansley is crawling and pulling up on everything. She tries to let go and take off, but since she can't walk yet this usually results in a faceplant. She's not giving up though, she is a
very determined little girl who wants to play with her big brother. He is having a time protecting/hoarding his toys from his ambitious little sister. When she's not trying to chew on his toys, though, he loves her and likes to give her things to play with. He is a little jealous of his Granny's attention, but we're working through it.
The weather has been perfect and we have got to work out in the yard some, too. So things are good. I finally got the picture thing to work!
Well, it's been crazy. Ansley, though precious, has been very, very fussy. She's starting to come out of it, finally, but she still doesn't travel well. It's amazing how different two children can be. Colin loves his sister - he helps me change her diapers, give her a bath, and he always wants to hold her. If she cries, he makes sure I hear it. She is growing so fast, I can't believe it's been over 3 months! It's going by so much faster this time! She is SO close to rolling over right now, and you can tell that she just really wants to be a part of what everyone else is doing, and she loves watching her big brother. He is potty trained! YAY!! I am so glad for it, but it sort of makes me sad that my boy is growing up. He is talking SO well. He doesn't talk in the third person anymore, and uses complete sentences most of the time. When he's going potty, he doesn't like to be watched, and so he tells me, "Mom, look outside at the birds and the trees and the fence." He sings all the time. He knows all of his books of the Bible (although getting him to perform never works), and he sings those songs along with Jesus Loves the Little Children, the Itsy Bitsy Spider and the ABC's. He actually picks up songs really fast. We have the one voice kids CD and he knows all of those songs and has his favorites. I'll be driving around and he just sings his little heart out in the back seat. Here is a picture of the two of them. He is actually "holding" her in this picture.
Well we are off today to spend a second Thanksgiving with my side of the family and will be eating our first Turducken. I'm a little nervous about it. For those of you who don't know what that it, it's a Chicken, inside a Duck, inside a Turkey. Wish us luck.
Sarah he is so smart! Luke does some of the same things but he's a year older! What a smart boy! I can't believe he knows the books of the Bible! And congrats on the potty training! Hope your Thanksgiving was good. I know everyone in KC missed you.
What little sweeties. We've been on the road for Thanksgiving and thankfully our youngest is finally traveling well. It used to be miserable. Sounds like you guys are all doing well... I'd like to see some house pics :)
It's a girl! Ansley came into the world on 8/14. After a very quick labor, the nurses delivered her in the doorway of the LDR room and the doctor showed up about an hour later! We are all well and I'll post more later!
