Pictures

Last weekend we went to a wedding in the Austin area. Bailey got car-sick on the way and I didn't have another dress, so I had to borrow one from a cousin. It actually worked out well, since Collin was already in white!

The Festival of Ladybugs!

Collin has been referring to Bailey's first birthday party as the festival of ladybugs! I think he's probably accurately named it!

Here's a link to the pictures from the party:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=87948&id=677653110&l=0142a37869

I can't believe Bailey is 1 year old already! Time has flown by!

She's got so much personality now, and it's so different from her brother! Here's some interesting things about Bailey for you to know...

• She is a "Mommy's girl" (which is an adjustment for me-Collin was not!)


• She LOVES to eat, so beware if you're eating near her-you'll have to share!


• She likes to push around Collin's cars


• but now she has a purse, so she loves to empty it and fill it up, with anything she can find, and carry it around on her arm


• She's been very good at walking behind a walker, but has refused to take even one step without assistance (and why should she? she's a speed crawler)


• but...yesterday she took her first unassisted step!


• She loves to climb, and she's pretty good at it. She's very careful. She usually can even get herself down from whatever she's climbed on!


• She makes lots of sounds, has said "mama" whenever she wants something, but no official first word yet


• Most of her sounds are LOUD! I'm thinking cheerleader....


• She likes to "sing"


• Her favorite game is peek-a-boo! If there is a sheet, blanket, or anything she can hide her face behind or under, she loves to play!


• We've tried the sign language thing, but she's not into it (Collin loved using sign language), but she's so loud that we respond pretty quickly, and we usually get right what she wants! She definitely has her own way of communicating what she needs.


• I'm sure she's reached all the appropriate developmental milestones, but she's the second child & I just don't have time to keep up with them all! I know she's passing things from one hand to another, picking up small things, doing well with shape sorting blocks, & imitates what we do with various items. (I think that's all the important ones)


• She's so cute & has so much hair, but it's so fine that bows won't stay in (very disappointing).

We finally finished unpacking!

We've been in Austin since the end of August, 2007, and we finally put away the last box yesterday! Thanks to the Memorial Day sale at Ikea, we got some new furniture for the gameroom and started a major reorganization project. We're having a garage sale in June now that we've reorganized and have some things we don't need anymore (or have a place to put).

Finally!

Who wouldn't want to play in that room!

Some pictures & a video

Bailey loves to look outside. This day it was raining and she wanted to climb on the ledge to watch the rain, so her big brother stood behind her to make sure she didn't fall.

Collin liked his dinner...

and so did Bailey!

This is why the table stays outside!

Yeah Summer!


Bailey still won't let go & walk, but she is really fast when she's behind her walker!

Not much else going on here except what you see! We have a really good time! Sometimes I wish I had more to say, but the pictures do a pretty good job of letting you know what's going on with us. Plus, by the time I get these two off to bed, I'm really too tired to say too much.

The Dress

I've had my Grandmother's sewing machine for a while, but haven't used it yet. Yesterday I finally got started on my first project. I made a dress for Bailey. It's my first thing to ever sew by my self. I have made a few things in the past, with my Grandmother's help. I'm quite proud of myself this time! Now, I just hope it fits!

Here it is:

11 Months

Yesterday Bailey turned 11 months old! I can't believe how fast she's growing. I should be able to, since her brother will be 4 this summer (yikes!), but I feel like 11 months just came too fast!

Here's a picture of my almost one year old...

Where have all the babies gone?

I know I'm being totally ridiculous, but I'm a mom. I can't help myself! This last weekend was a little difficult for me. I love my children. They will always be my babies. They just seem to be getting further and further away from actually being babies.

Saturday was a day for growth in my house.

Bailey turned 10 months old. I know, she's not even 1 year old yet. (Like I said, I'm being totally ridiculous.) It just reminded me she's getting closer to that 1st birthday mark. I remember the day she was born, her first day home, her first bottle, her first tooth, her first bath, her first cereal, her first smile, her first laugh, her first attempt at crawling, and so many more firsts! Now she's got 7 or 8 teeth (depending on the amount of swelling in her gums). She's pulling up and cruising around. She can climb the stairs, surprisingly fast for a 10 month old. She says "ma ma" and is using some of the sign language I'm teaching her. She lets go of what she's holding on to and stands alone for a few seconds (before she realizes what she just did). She is not shy about letting us know things she likes or doesn't like. She fits into size 12-18 month clothes. No more newborn sized clothes! She has such a playful personality, but she's so different from her brother. She's amazing! I'm so in love!

Collin also hit a milestone Saturday. His is of a little bit more personal nature. I will say that involved a certain article of clothing that replaces diapers! I'm so proud of him. He overcame some major anxieties to let go of the pull-ups. Collin is now 3 and a half. He lets us know frequently that he is not 3 anymore, but 3 and a half. I can remember all of Collin's firsts as vividly as I remember Bailey's! He's such a big boy now. He's a great helper, and loves to do it, as long as it doesn't interrupt his playing. He can help me cook and bake. He helps take care of his sister. He even tells people it's his job to protect her. He loves any sport that involves a ball. He's pretty good a hitting a baseball, and he can throw pretty well, too. He is always on the go! Seriously. He doesn't stop unless he's sleeping. Seriously. He doesn't need much help entertaining himself. He's super creative. He can write his name. He is learning to recognize letters and numbers (something I thought he'd forget since he left preschool when Bailey was born). He's learning Bible verses and learning about the amazing Gift of Jesus. He trusts God to protect him and help ease his fears. He asks thanks God every night before dinner for helping him to obey. At Easter lunch he prayed "Dear God, thank you for the food, oh, and my tummy hurts, and thank you for helping us, and for being in my heart, and for Jesus to die on the cross." (More later on what I'm learning about my relationship with God from my 3 year old) He is doing so many things for himself now that we used to have to do for him. He is so sweet and amazing! I'm so in love!

I have to be honest, though. Most of the time I'm grateful when he hits these milestones and becomes more independent. It does give me more freedom to take care of more things around the house. I am frequently praying for my kiddos to grow into healthy, happy, well-adjusted people who love the Lord. And, this most recent milestone came after lots and lots and lots of prayer. Who knew that when he finally reached it, I would react this way?

My children are wonderful, beautiful gifts from God, and I have enjoyed watching them grow so much in the short time since their births. I am so thankful for each day I have with them. I can't even remember what my life was like before they came along! I have loved every stage my kids have been in. I think every time they enter a new stage I say, "I just love this stage he's/she's in"! And I really have!

Even with all the reminiscing I'm doing, I would not go back, though. As much as I've loved each stage, I love even more moving on to the next one. Every time Collin and Bailey do something new, it's so exciting! I can't wait to see what they do next!