Big girl carseat

Boo hoo hoo! My little girl is growing up WAY too fast.

Today, we installed her "big girl" carseat -- a Cosco Alpha Omega --which was highly recommended by many friends. Of course, I am nutty enough, that I picked a pattern/fabric that matches my Acura MDX's interior. (A little OCD? Nah, just particular!)

I can't wait to see what E thinks of the forward facing seat. She's never had problems riding in this car, but this will be a whole new experience - for everyone!

TGIF!

It's been a good, busy week....I've been working on a couple of freelance projects that are interesting...my sweet baby has revolutionized our home with her mobility (I am still astonished that she is such a big girl and almost one!)...I had lunch with a former co-worker today whom I always love meeting with...a dear family friend (whom we also affectionately refer to as "E"...would that be "little E" for the baby and "big E" for the friend? Maybe not...)...anyway, she shared the news that she is pregnant with their second child and due in October...very exciting! The weather has been beautiful...Our E has resumed sleeping through the night.....we have some fun plans this weekend....just a good, busy week!

Katy, bar the door...

E has been an absolute maniac today -- crawling/scooting everywhere and then pulling to standing or up to her knees everywhere she stops...on her toy car, at the piano, at the magazine rack, at the topiary tree in the hallway (NO, don't touch that!...), at her toy basket, at the entertainment center (NO, don't touch the television!...) She's been dabbling with movement for months, mostly choosing to roll everywhere she wanted and needed to go. Today, everything apparently clicked, and she's off and moving - FAST! I put her down for her usual morning nap....I went in four times to check her and she was standing or sitting up in her crib playing each time. Apparently, she had too many things to do to sleep! She's finally resting now.

Speaking of maniacs, I have been on a cleaning rip today....polishing furniture, cleaning out mystery junk from drawers. I even cleaned off the top of the fridge (ew!) I was really tired because hubby kept me up a lot last night with his snoring and coughing (allergies?) Mom asked me why I didn't take a nap, I told her I was too hyper. .... and I wonder where E gets it? HA! :-)

The weather is gorgeous, if not a bit cool. I aired out the house this morning - it's been in the 60s all day. The cat has been running from window to window -- and the baby was too, when she was up....well, scooting from window to window, anyhow....

Better go take advantage of some "downtime" before E's nap ends....then we're off to the races again!

Aw, Mom....do I hafta sit up straight?

I'm actually surprised E sat still long enough for me to take this. She is in constant motion these days (unless she's reading a book...which she does love to do....like Mommy, like daughter!) This morning she scooted/crawled from the living room into our bedroom to find me (I was cleaning a toilet - wahoo!)...She was so proud of herself!

Girls of all ages appreciate a good shoe sale...

It was a rough night around here last night. Yesterday, we had fun shopping at the Allen Outlet Mall with my mom. E was such a trooper...she did great in the stroller, ate all of her lunch (so much in fact, that she ate all of the food and snacks I brought with me, and finished almost all of both sippy cups!) We had a great time, found some great bargains and enjoyed the beautiful weather. But last night, my poor girl had a hard time going to bed....she had a sad tummy for some reason. Then she woke again at 2 a.m., and I was up with her for several hours trying to get her resettled. She and I missed church this morning -- which I hate. It was our first time to miss since she's been BORN! But she was just too tired, and I wasn't feeling so hot either.

Nevertheless, my sweet girl found the most recent Rack Room Shoes ad interesting. She's already got an eye for a bargain!

Please donate...

Some dear friends of ours are working to raise money for the March of Dimes by participating in an upcoming walk-a-thon. Please support team "Just Tough" by visiting this website.

Jonathan Manning was born on November 4, 2004, 14 weeks premature. His parents were given only a 60% chance of survival and a very high probability of a major complication, possibly with lifelong consequences. At birth he weighed 1 pound, 12 ounces, and spent 3 months in the NICU fighting to come home. Today, he is a strong, active 2 year old. Without the grace of God, the care of the doctors and nurses in the nursery, and today's amazing technology - some of which was developed through research funded by March of Dimes - this micropreemie would not have made it home. Team Just Tough will be walking in Waco on April 28. If you cannot come walk for Jonathan, would you please consider a financial gift? There are thousands of babies and families who need your help in their fight for life!

Date night...

Hubby took me out to dinner. We tried the burgers and cheese fries at Snuffer's...highly recommended! We also picked out E's birthday cake from the Kroger bakery, wandered around Whole Foods and had a coffee at Starbucks. On Friday nights, the Whole Foods near our home has live music, so it was a great night to sit out on the Starbucks patio and enjoy the tunes! A great date night! (Thanks to my parents for watching E for a few hours!)

Amazing trees...

Last night hubby was outside pushing E in her little red swing, which is hanging from the lace bark elm tree in our backyard. We have two amazing backyard trees...the lace bark elm and a huge giant oak - they form this total canopy over our backyard, providing awesome shade in the summer. I looked up into the branches and was amazed and the HUGE-ness of these trees! I just love them! One of the joys of living in an older home....

Finding joy in the little things...

How is it that new dishtowels can make me so happy?

My sweet friend Amy gave me these beautiful dishtowels as part of my birthday present, and they just make me happy! Could be the cheerful colors, or the fact that they are still fresh and clean and not worn from much use....yet. They'll get there, though!

Something else that makes me happy? The sun is finally shining againt today. Looks like it's going to be beautiful out there!

Birthday pancakes...mmmm

I made chocolate chip pancakes for my birthday dinner....quite tasty.

E seemed REALLY interested in dinner. We gave her some pancake pieces and what do you know? The child liked 'em! Of course! (Her pieces did NOT have chocolate chips...)

Happy Birthday to me...

It doesn't quite feel like my birthday this year, but I suppose that's what happens as you get older....and when you have children! My sweet husband made one of my favorite kinds of coffee this morning (FogLifter...no explanation needed)...AND my dear girlfriend Amy is dropping by soon with a Starbucks - so I will be well caffeinated! She and I have always joked that Starbucks should deliver....hm...there could be something to that!

(Also, happy birthday to my friend Stacey. How cool is it to have a friend that has the same birthday as you do?)

Baby babblings....

Kkkkkkkkkk!
Kiiii....y?
Kiiii...y at?
Kiii...y tat?


E is very close to saying "kitty cat"....or something that sounds like it! :-)

Miss V is not appreciative of the effort! :-)

Power Naps

Thank God for power naps....I took one today ... it was much needed after a very busy weekend full of out-of-town guests, several sinus headaches, and a "head collision" with E that left me with a lump on the bridge of my nose. E has been up so much at night, I just couldn't go on without some additional rest.

Of course, after I got up from my nap, Miss V climbed up in the bed to sleep in the warm covers!

It's 4:30 a.m.....do you know where your children are?

My beloved daughter was screaming her head off at 4:30 this morning....and never did go back to sleep. It was all we could do to keep her functioning during church this morning (thank heaven for sippy cups and Cheerios!....and Gramma sitting right next to us!) E had two mega naps today and is finally in bed. And now it's time for Mommy to go to bed too! Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...................

Happy Feet....

and happy hands!

Hubby took the day off on Friday to take care of E so I could go to Red Door to redeem a gift certificate he gave me for Christmas ... I got a manicure and pedicure....ah, bliss! I was also able to do a little bit of window shopping and run a few errands. What a treat! And what a sweet husband!

I am thankful for....

Yesterday was a rough day around here, and we were all very tired at bedtime last night.

When I woke up this morning, I thanked God for several small blessings:

-My daughter slept through the night without making a sound

-I also slept through the night, without waking wondering about my daughter, or hearing the newspaper man throwing the paper against the front door or worrying about a million random things

-The sun woke me up this morning instead of an alarm, a crying baby, or a moment of panic. It was a great way to wake up!

-Immediately after waking, I smelled coffee brewing - I love coffee makers with timers!

Every girl needs a favorite pair of blue jeans...

E wore her first pair of blue jeans today
-- and looked totally cute in them.
We had a playdate with Ethan this afternoon...
what fun to play and share toys with a new friend!

Easter Cutie Pie

E was all dressed up and ready to go to church on Easter morning. It's a good thing we had a matching sweater to go with her Easter dress, because it was in the 40's when we left for church! On Saturday we had snow flurries! Gotta love Texas!


E loved her first Easter basket! Our little reader went straight for the books! And Gramma dyed Easter eggs for E's first Easter lunch. Apparently, the green one was especially exciting!

Easter Sunday: He Is Risen! He Is Risen, Indeed!

I know that my Redeemer lives;
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives, who once was dead;
He lives, my ever living Head.

He lives, all glory to His Name!
He lives, my Jesus, still the same.
Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives,
I know that my Redeemer lives!

photograph courtesy Philip Greenspun

Easter Saturday

"Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all."

Isaiah 53:4-6

Good Friday

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

On this Good Friday, we pause to reflect on all that God has done for us. While today we focus on Jesus' death because of our sin, we look forward to an Easter festival on Sunday....celebrating His glorious resurrection!

How much is that doggie....in the grocery store?

We had a funny experience at the grocery store this afternoon. E and I were wheeling through the aisles picking up items we needed for Easter dinner and the week ahead, when E started yelling "Eeeeeeeeeeeee! Eeeeeeeeeee!" (baby universal sound for delight...) I couldn't figure out what had her going until I spotted a seeing eye dog down the aisle from us. Apparently he was being trained on how to help a vision impaired person with grocery shopping. We kept running into the dog and his trainer for several aisles....with lots of loud "Eeeeeeeeeeee!" every time....I finally changed our route, so everyone would have a much quieter shopping experience! Too cute!

Easter, Easter Almost Here!

I caught my little bookworm "reading" her new Easter book (it's a neat one about Palm Sunday) this morning in the living room and had to snap a picture! Such a cutie!

I'd love to tell you that we're having spring time weather, but....

Two days ago, when I took these pics of the plants blooming in our yard, it was 85 degrees outside! Today, it's 45! Gotta love Texas!

Deck the halls...

I arranged this little Easter-themed display on our fireplace mantle several weeks ago, and it's still making me smile. Something about my sweet baby's face amid the chocolate brown, tan and light pink....I had a "Pottery Barn" moment! (Now, if only the rest of my house looked so good...)

Gettin' Ready for Easter

In a busy week that's full of "normal life" stuff, as well as the extra church services that go along with Holy Week and Easter, I took a moment to put together E's first Easter basket!

The books are for her....the chocolate cross is for me! I couldn't resist getting it for her basket - it's such a neat alternative to a chocolate bunny....but I'll be enjoying the chocolate this year! :-)

Can you hear me now?

My mom and I talk on the phone....a lot. So much, in fact, that E has figured out that Gramma is the one on the other end of the line when Mommy is on the phone...hence, when she sees my cell phone or the home phone, she often says "Ga?", which is what she calls my Mom. Welllllll, this morning E was playing with her toy purse - complete with wallet, keys, lipstick and of course -- cell phone. She opened the phone and was looking at it saying.....Ga? Ga? Ga?

My mom is so proud!