Hattie, the Story-teller

Hattie loves when I tell her stories. Sometimes I tell her traditional ones, and other times, I just make up silly ones, usually about her or me. Today I asked her to tell me a story. This is what she told me:

Once upon a time there was a Hattie named little girl and princess, and she got in trouble and got in time-out. The End.

Yep, that pretty much sums up what consumes our days here:
princesses, getting in trouble, and time-out

And, as a side note, the former reading teacher in me is so proud of my baby for having an introduction, problem, and conclusion in her story. She even has character development. Now we just have to work on plot and detail a little more......:)

Mary Ellen's Baptism in pictures

I'm tired. I've had a long Monday, but before I hit the hay, I wanted to post a load of pictures from the baptism yesterday. My sweet girl did such a good job, not making a peep during the ceremony, and she looked like such an angel in her dress. Her big sister did pretty well. She, unlike her sister, made quite a few peeps during the ceremony but overall, did great and looked pretty in pink, I might add.
The cake

The angel

The peeper

Our family

With the deacon who officiated

The godparents

The grandparents who attended

All of the kiddos at the ceremony (minus Luke's head and Gracen). They were all surprisingly good and quiet considering their number and ages.

Mother and daughters shot

Two of the aunties

And now our sweet Mary Ellen is born again! (John 3)

Friday, Oh How I Love Thee!

Yes, even stay-at-home mamas love when Fridays roll around. Or maybe it's ESPECIALLY stay-at-home mamas love when Fridays roll around. By Friday I am ready for a break from everything - cleaning and laundry (I do neither on the weekends), cooking - I don't do much of this, though, I manage to do more eating than during the week thanks to my mama who loves to cook for us and my in-laws who like to take us out on Friday night, and kids - Sean is really good about giving me time to myself on Saturday if we don't have much going on.

This Friday is especially fabulous because both girls are asleep right now, and the icing on the cake is that they both put themselves to sleep.

Yes, Miss Mary graduated to a self-soother last night when hubby and I decided that it was time for her to sleep in her own bed. And the most amazing thing about it is that she only fussed for 15-20 minutes when we put her down and then another 15 after her 2 a.m. feeding. That's nothin' compared to her big sister who would cry until I gave up and couldn't take it anymore. The difference: colic. I almost hate to type this in fear that it will change instantly, but Mary Ellen has a MUCH EASIER temperment than baby Hattie. And I hope she stays that way. Gulp.

Hattie is enjoying being back at school. She didn't cry at all when I dropped her off yesterday and was squealing when I picked her up. She even asked me if she could go to school today when she woke up this morning. I think she got in trouble for the first time yesterday because when she got in the car, she said, "Mrs. Johnston was mad today." I said, "Why was she mad?" She responded, "Hattie, better eat your lunch!" Yes. I know. My child has turned into a bit of a pokey eater, so my conclusion is that Hattie was pokin' at lunchtime.

She's started pokin' with everything these days, so mama, and I think Miss Johnston, are trying our best to be patient yet firm with her.

So anyway, I'm glad it's Friday. And this Friday is especially special beyond the simultaneous naps because I get to have brunch with girlfriends tomorrow, my nephew has his one year birthday party on Saturday, and best of all, my little Mary Ellen is being baptized on Sunday. So be ready for pictures on Monday, a day that I don't especially like, but hopefully posting fun pictures from the weekend will make it more bearable.

Have a great weekend!

My first attempt

at capturing M.E.'s smile on camera
was.........

completely.......

and totally.......

unsuccessful.

But I did get this the other day while she was sleeping.......

Now that's sweet dreams for this mama!

6 weeks

My sweet Mary Ellen, I can't believe that you are already over a month old and yet I feel as though you have been here much longer. This past month and a half has been full of joy and pride for your father and me. We have watched you grow and discover the world around you more and more every day. When you are awake, you are so alert. Noise startles you easily, and you do a lot of startling throughout the day since your big sister is in the business of shrieking around the house a lot.

You love it when I talk to you, and you have recently started talking back a little, which completely melts my heart. We have seen your smile about 3 times when you meant to smile and many times while you sleep, and it looks like you have two sets of dimples on your cheeks.

Your eyes look like they might be blue, but that puzzles me a little since your daddy and I both have brown. I think you'll be a blonde.

You love to suck, and the big recent discovery for me was finding a paci that you actually like to suck on, though you still prefer to suck on my little finger.

You are a good sleeper when I can get you to sleep. Sometimes that's a challenge, but when you finally fall asleep, you stay that way for 3 hours or so, and you have started waking just once in the night, usually around 2:30 a.m. for a feeding. You usually go to bed around 8 or 9 and get up around 7 the next morning, but I know as soon as I type this, you will change that routine.

I love your hair. Sometimes I just look at you and chuckle. Your little mohawk and big serious eyes are such a cute combination.

You hate being swaddled and love to sleep on your tummy, and I have to admit that I have fallen into the habit of letting you sleep with me at night, something that I swore I would never do! The plan is to get you into your own bed soon, but I will miss you being next to me, I think.

You love to be held all the time, so the sling has become a lifesaver for me. You love being in the sling, curled up in a little ball against me, as if you were still in the womb. You stay as happy as a clam in that thing.

I look forward to the months and days ahead as you continue to grow and develop, but I want to remember all of these little "newbornisms" about you, my sweet, beautiful daughter because I know they will soon be gone.