If It's Not One Thing...

Much to our excitement a few months ago we realized that we did not owe much more on my student loan and by July/August it would be paid off. Awesome! Then we realized Noelle would be starting preschool in September and that bill would take the place of the student loan payment. Stink! We'll actually be paying $18 more per month. Double Stink!

It's impossible to get ahead!

Then I got a letter in the mail from UHEEA pretty much stating, "As our thanks for never having a late payment, we're forgiving the rest of your loan. See ya!"

So we do get a few months free, Aaron told me not get any ideas. :)

Big Girl Chair

With Noelle I couldn't wait for her to grow so could we play with all our gadgets and toys. This poor baby is getting the shaft, I don't realize she is old enough, I guess! This morning I finally got smart and realized that when I'm in the kitchen she can sit in the chair and be right next to me. I suppose I can get the exersaucer and bath seat out for her, too. She can mostly sit up unassisted so, duh! She's happy most anywhere there are other people so when I have to get things done and put her in the swing it only lasts until she realizes no one's directly in front of her. Here's to hoping this will make things easier. All the racket in the background are my two other kids playing Wii Fit.

She also loves her little gym and gets so excited grabbing and kicking that she gets herself turned around and trapped in the side. Then she gets all bent and starts screaming for help. It's adorable.

Hot Diggity Dog!

I used to pride myself on the fact that Noelle had such a sophisticated palate. She would not touch a hot dog with a 10-foot pole. That's changed since Berry Smoothie's have become a Saturday ritual, she now loves Hot Dogs, too. Darn that Costco Food Court.

MMMMMM...I've waited all week for this!

All Done!

Sister

Noelle: "Mama! I loooove sister! She's my sweetie."

Allergies???

I thought seasonal allergies do not show up until after the first year, especially is breastfed babies but it's exactly what Madeleine seems to have. This is the forth time it's happened. She starts sneezing, her eyes drain and her nose runs. It's really bad the first day and then tapers off only to start again a week or two later. Plus, she spits up more because of all mucus in her tummy. My poor girl is miserable! If the drooling is not enough....every orifice on the girls face is producing liquid.

I love that every time she is in the swing she puts her left foot up on the bar. Always.

Ooops...sorry Madeleine

I love it when I download the pictures off the camera and I find little surprises from Noelle.

Later! Pictures from our weekend in San Diego. The Zoo was SO FUN!

5 Months

Sorry for sounding like a broken record but, 5 MONTHS!?!?

They say time flies when you're having fun, guess I'm having a blast. Little Miss Madeleine Gracie-Girl is growing so fast, is so giggly, grabs any and everything she can and is turning into a blabber mouth. I remember Noelle having a lot of drool when she was teething but that was nothing compared to this poor girl, it even runs down my arms when I'm holding her.


Last Saturday we were at Auntie's house going through old pictures, we found an old family video and turned it on. There were some funny, funny things and we both were cracking up, then we realized Madeleine was, too. Oh, how I wished we'd could have gotten it on video! We both stopped looked at each other and this baby was in stitches....head thrown back, wide open mouth laughing. I guess she was just picking up on the vibe. When she realized we'd stopped she broke into tears, I guess she was sad the fun was over.

Pool Time

Since the heat wave is pretty much over, we decided to hit the pool today. Smart, huh? It was only about 72 degrees and kind of windy but the water was fabulous! I'm so glad I did not bag it at the last minute.

We got to the pool and realized I'd forgotten my camera...I was so upset! But, my phone saved the day. Madeleine had the best time in the pool, she's definitely a water baby.

Madeleine's first experience in a bathing suit was great...my first experience back in a bathing suit was absolutely horrible to put it mildly. I'm working hard but the weight isn't budging. I know one morning I'm going to jump out of bed, my clothes will fit and all those miles and missed chocolate will be well worth it. Right?!

Trash Truck

Noelle loves to hate the trash truck. She can spot one of them from a mile away and has always excitedly pointed them out from the time she was a little baby. She used to call them a 'truck trash.' Monday is trash day and by far the most exciting day of the week around here. We hear him first thing in the morning and the antics continue through most of the day. Looking at him through the window is incredibly exciting but being outside when he is actually at our house is nothing short of a panic attack. Three different trucks come by: one for trash, one for recycling and one for yard waste. It's load of fun.

We have several conversations a day about what he does and doesn't pick up, here is the one we had at 6:15 yesterday morning when my sweet slumber was interrupted:

Noelle: "Mommy, it's the trash truck!"

Mommy: "Yep."

Noelle: "Mommy, the trash truck is not going to pick me up, right?"

Mommy: "No, the trash truck is not going to pick you up."

Noelle: "Mommy, the trash truck is not going to pick Madeleine up, right?"

Mommy: "No, the trash truck is not going to pick Madeleine up."

Noelle: "Mommy, the trash truck is not going to pick up my green, right?" (green = favorite blanket)

Mommy: "No, the trash truck is not going to pick up your green."

Noelle: "Mommy, the trash truck is not going to pick my stroller up, right?"

Mommy: "No, the trash truck is not going to pick your stroller up."

Noelle: "Mommy, the trash truck only gets the trash cans, right?

Mommy: "Yes, the trash truck only gets the trash cans."

It will be a sad, sad day for me when the trash truck comes and we no longer have these conversations.

Little Sunshine

Aaron is such a silly guy, he loves to make up all kinds of funny words and names for people. A name did not come that easily for Madeleine, but we finally have one. Whew! I was starting to get worried.

Aaron calls her his 'Little Sunshine.' It's totally fitting. The minute he walks in the door and does not see her he asks for his Sunshine. Noelle actually calls her 'Unshine,' when we try to correct her she says, "Not Sunshine, she's Unshine." She also likes to call her, 'Boo-Boo.' She grabs Madeleine's little fist and kisses it while saying, "I love my Boo-Boo!"

While I was at Target doing some Easter basket shopping I found this little outfit and knew it was made for her. I could not wait to get home and show it to Aaron, he loved it so much he almost cried.

Poor little thing is teething like crazy, her fingers seem to be permanently stuck in her mouth. And if anything is within a close proximity of her mouth she desperately starts licking for it and trying to cram it in her mouth. Nothing is safe around here!

She also loves her new play toys, her feet! I'm just waiting for her to figure out that those fit in her mouth, too.

It so sweet to see how tender Noelle is with her, when she starts crying and I can't get to her right away, Noelle will lay down with her and say, "Oh, my sweet girl, it's OK. Don't cry sweetheart" It's reassuring to know she's picking up good habits, too.