South Padre

Me and my children last weekend with a ridiculous amount of flotation devices:

Emmylou is 3 years and two months

Dear Emmylou,

Another month has passed us by and you continue to become such a little person with your own thoughts and reasoning and logic. This past month you've really started putting things together and making connections across situations and experiences.

You're working on understanding the concept of time and although you had been telling us things happened "yestertime," I've noticed that lately you're able to pin it down to "yesterday." You love to tell me things happened "last week" or "on Friday" even if they happened only a few hours ago. You are always asking me things like, "do you remember when we were just at the beach?" You seem to be trying so hard to make sense of everything and get it (somewhat) in order.

Your favorite things to do right now are dress up (of course), chew gum, dance and sing and play Grammie's piano. Over the past few days you've become re-interested in your baby doll, who you've named "Muchas Gracias." You've also started retelling your favorite stories, most of them recast with a new heroine named "Emmylou."

You continue to be a great big sister to Miller. You're really helping me more and you want to make sure he has everything he needs. It's been so nice that I can ask you to go and see what Miller wants when he's starting to fuss and not worry that you're going to smother him to death. You really do care about him and I don't think I'll ever forget watching you watching him get his last round of shots at the doctor's office. You were gasping with your hands over your mouth as he got his shots and cried and then you took his hand and told him over and over that it would stop hurting soon and that everything would be okay.

You have such a sweet heart, Emmylou, and even when things are crazy I am grateful for every single day and moment I have with you. You are so worth all the exhaustion, frustration and headaches associated with having a three year old-- I wouldn't trade our time together for anything.

Seriously... couldn't love you more,
Mommy

With a bucket of "dirt" and worms you made as a special treat for Daddy yesterday:

And it begins...

While I was doing the breakfast dishes, I heard something fall over in the living room. I turned around to see that our wooden end table had been knocked down, with Emmylou nearby and Miller a good six feet away. When I asked Emmylou what happened, she said, "Miller kicked it over."

Confirmed: Too much computer time

One of Emmylou's favorite new things to do is to stand in the middle of our living room and say, "Mommy, use your mouse to help me move from side to side. Press the spacebar to make me jump."

So then I move an imaginary mouse so she can walk around the furniture and I press my imaginary spacebar to make her jump over Miller's toys. Just FYI, my imaginary mouse and spacebar come with sound effects.

Cinco de Tomorrow

That's what Emmylou keeps calling "Cinco de Mayo," but she's actually right because her class isn't celebrating the holiday until tomorrow. Since she did go to school on the 5th, I got her to wear this Mexican dress/top when she went. Of course since it wasn't her idea to wear it, some negotiations ensued and, yes, she ended up getting to wear the boots to school. Sorry, Miss Patti!

Eeyore, revisited

Alex sent these photos to me from our day together at Phil's and Eeyore's party and since they're so much better than mine, pretend you didn't see the others. :-)

Oh, and here's Miller having a bit of a diaper issue. Of course I couldn't find a clean diaper in my bag (despite it weighing at least 30 pounds) so he had to suffer while we cracked up. Poor Miller!

Thanks, Alex, these are great!

Coming soon to a museum near you!

Thursday night was the Art Show at Emmylou's school!

I'm not sure what these are, but for 3 year olds beads + popsicle sticks + glue = big fun.
And with Tripp and Miss Patti...

Miller is [gasp!] 8 months old!

Dear Miller,

Happy 8 month birthday! So I missed last month's update because things were a little, uh, hectic. Right at 7 months you got your first tooth and then a week later you got your second. A two-for-one special! Here's what else you've been busy doing...

Tonight you had your first "meat" dinner: macaroni and cheese with beef. You seemed to like it which is a real plus because up until now you haven't been crazy about anything that's not sweet. Yes to applesauce, bananas, peaches and sweet potatoes. No to peas, green beans, squash and carrots. We'll keep trying those.

I'll be generous and say you're an okay sleeper. Some nights you're great and others pretty bad, for no rhyme or reason. Last night you slept 12 hours straight so I'm preparing for at least 3 middle of the night sessions with you tonight. You're a light sleeper so I don't get to check on you as much as I'd like once you fall asleep, but I have noticed that you like to sleep on your tummy now as opposed to your side like you did all last month. Seeing you cuddled up like that was almost too much!

You are happy and smiley most of the time and absolutely can't wait to get moving. Apparently the thing I resemble most to you these days is a jungle gym because you can't be near me for more than 2 seconds without trying to pull up onto your feet and start climbing. When you get up you immediately smile with your newfound strength and independence. (I'm sure you've caught me beaming with pride as well.)

I confess that I'm feeling a bit guilty because I quit breastfeeding you last week. I really tried to keep at it but once you got those teeth you went straight into piranha mode and I just couldn't take it! But you seem to like formula as much as or even more than what I was giving you, so I'm thinking you're going to do just fine.

I took you to the doctor on Thursday for your checkup and here's what your stats were:
Weight: 18 lbs., 3 oz. (25th-50th percentile)
Height: 27" (50th percentile)
Head circumference: 75th percentile.

You are growing and babbling and laughing more and more every day! Daddy and I love seeing your funny and sweet personality developing. You're still enamored with Emmylou and light up any time she goes near you. Lately the two of you have started playing together on the floor and it is too cute! I wonder how long that'll last...

I think I tell you "I love you" a thousand times a day, whispering in your ear when I hold you close and feel your soft head on my cheek. It is pure sweetness and joy and I feel so lucky to have you in my life. I can't wait to see what this next month brings, I know we have big changes in store for us soon.

I love you so much, my little guy!
Love,
Mommy

Almost...

It amazes me that Emmylou can get on my computer (on noggin.com) and play for what seems like hours without any help at all. Yesterday I showed her how to enter her name for one game and here's what she was able to do without any help today:

So close! What a smarty pants. Here's another example of how she thinks outside of the box (by getting inside the box):

And when she isn't busy being (almost) completely brilliant, she enjoys jumping on the furniture with her brother.

Happy Birthday, Eeyore!

Alex has been in town from Vegas for the past few days and we've had a great time hanging out with her. Yesterday we went to Eeyore's Birthday Party! This was the 46th annual party and I really can't believe I've never been before. Actually, I take that back. I think Emily and I tried going one year in college and turned around after being scared off by all the um, interesting people we encountered. I guess now I've just been in Austin long enough to embrace these folks.

Turns out the festival caters to two very specific demographics: fairy-costume-wearing-hallucinogenic drug-lovers and kids! Perfect!

First things first: Alex treated Emmylou to some face painting and even got beautified herself:

After a little while, Emmylou's new friend Rhea came too! She asked for a beautiful mermaid on her face. 

Just a sampling of Eeyore's "colorful" friends:

And here's what Miller thought of the party:

In other Alex-related news, I've been meaning to post a link to her new blog, Recession Recipes. Alex and Carlo are fabulous cooks and they've been making some awesome looking dishes that I'm dying to try. What a bonus that they are super-affordable! If you haven't seen it yet, CLICK HERE!

New tricks

Guess who's getting his crib lowered tomorrow?

So proud of himself! (He actually sleeps in the Pack and Play in the office so don't worry that he'll be falling out tonight.)

Oh, and guess who suddenly wants her picture taken as soon as Miller's getting his taken? Notice how she skillfully blocks almost every bit of him.

And this last photo is for Bethany because she commented about Miller's hair in the last post. I seriously wish you all could rub his head. In the last few days it has really puffed up and is so irresistibly velvety soft. 

I invite you all to participate in a virtual head-rubbing:

Ah, now don't you feel better?

Miller-Bobby

Since Gary's in Alabama for Talladega this weekend, I thought I'd post a pic of his son driving his own little (NAS)car.

Gary texted yesterday to say he was heading to the winner's circle to give the winner a computer. I had my camera all set up to capture it but it ended up not being televised. :-( Maybe we'll get a shot I can post later.

And more big news for Miller: I think he's close to crawling and he's really starting to pull up! He loves to be on his feet. 

Big guy!

Explanation

So, you probably know by now that when there hasn't been a post in a while that means things are probably, um... not going so great. Let me try to sum up the past few weeks.  

First, Miller spent an entire week really fussy and not sleeping through the night because he was getting his first tooth. And as soon as that tooth came in, he spent the following week getting his second tooth. Good times.

Within minutes that Miller got over the second tooth, Emmylou surprised me with a 101 degree fever out of nowhere and continued to run between 102 to 105 for FIVE days straight, culminating in (yet another) trip to the emergency room- taken by Gary- which I only heard about as I was driving home through torrential downpours to and from Conroe for my grandmother's funeral. The hospital sent Emmylou home saying it was just a virus (which is what the doctor had said when I took her in on Wednesday) and that she'd just have to weather it out. They took a chest x-ray "just because she was there" but didn't see anything on it.

The following day the ER called to say they had changed their minds and that Emmylou did, in fact, have pneumonia, could you please put her on antibiotics strong enough for a horse? So she finally started to get well again as Gary and I tag-teamed caring for her and Miller over a family reunion weekend filled with all kinds of activities. 

Now Miller's sick.

Luckily, he seems to be getting better already and hasn't had a fever higher than 100 degrees. 

And, with all my complaining, we really have had some fun times lately. Emmylou loved Easter and the family reunion was a blast. I'm also thinking my sanity might improve soon because I just quit my job on Friday- I had picked up a couple of home health patients over the past six weeks. 

I promise to post some more photos soon, but for now I'll leave you with some Easter pics... Thanks to Mimi for the cute personalized jammies and to PawPaw and Nana for the fancy-shmancy duds!

The Skipper

Here's Miller out on the boat at Grammie's lakehouse, where we spent the last few days. I have lots more photos to post but they'll have to come later when I get a little more free time...

Our little patient

Another souvenir Emmylou brought back from the beach last week was a nasty infection in a cyst she's had on her wrist since she was born. According to the doctor these things just happen and aren't caused by anything in particular, but it did mean she needed surgery to remove the infection. After a trip to the pediatrician followed by two trips to the surgeon between Monday and Thursday, the princess was in surprisingly good spirits at the surgery center on Friday when it was time for her procedure.

The surgery was no big deal and only took about 20 minutes, but as you can imagine, Gary and I were a little anxious about her being put under for it.  But we needn't worry because she did great and was back to her normal self about an hour afterwards. In fact, she even went bowling later that evening (pics to follow)!