She........

starts tap/ballet class next week. I have waited for this since I found out I was having a girl :)! We went and bought the ballet slippers, tights, leotards, and tap shoes the other day, and she wants to wear it all constantly. I don't know who is more excited, Hattie or me!

Have y'all seen this show on TLC? So so awful in my humble opinion. Okay, I am NOT one of those moms! But when I signed Hattie up for the class and was told about an ending dance recital that includes a stage and a glittery costume, I think my heart skipped a beat :)! YAY YAY YAY! I am so happy to have a girly girl who loves this kind of stuff just as much as her mama.

It's HOT! And Other Randomness

My word, it's hot outside! So hot that I find getting in and out of the car with the girls almost not worth it, so we've been at home a lot this week. But we've had some visitors to keep us entertained. And we've rediscovered blowing bubbles in the bathtub which is always a fun past-time in this house for the girls.

Monday Hattie had her 3 year check-up, and I am relieved to report that there were no shots! Her stats: weight - 32 lbs (50th percentile) and height - 38 inches tall (75th percentile). After the check-up, Hattie and I went on a Hattie/Mommy date for lunch while Mary Ellen had some Mimi time. I enjoyed the one on one time I got with my firstborn.

A month or so ago, I finally got around to doing window treatments for our french doors in the playroom.

Aren't window treatments so expensive! Not these! I've seen ideas online about using drop cloths, so that's what I did - bought a $15 drop cloth from Home Depot, cut it in half to make two panels, and voila! And the curtain rod? Have you noticed that Hobby Lobby now carries curtain rods, or is that old news? $16 for the one above, and it's a looong one! That price beat even Target by about $10. Works for me!

Did I mention it is HOT?

Two books on my nightstand right now are:

and

I recommend both, especially the second one! This book has really shown me how to strive for contentment in my life no matter my circumstances. It is an awesome, awesome book! And if you are Catholic or interested in NFP, you should read the first one. It's filled with great scripture and awesome quotes by the author that really support openness to life. I just want to jot down everything she says in the book.

Did I mention it is HOT?

Oh my word; I am so ready for fall.

{On the Brink}

She's on the brink of turning ONE. In just a few days she'll turn 11 months, and soon after that, we step into toddlerdom with our second born. I can't believe she's been in my arms for almost a year!

At almost 11 months, Mary Ellen has undergone a transformation in her mouth. Just two weeks ago she housed only her two bottom teeth. She now has teeth #7 and 8 about to break through the gums. We've had a couple of fussiness issues, but overall, she has handled the teething like a champ, or maybe it's Mama that's handled it like a champ ;). Patience with a dash of baby tylenol is my perfected recipe for teething, I think!

Mary Ellen is also undergoing a learning explosion. Just this week she learned to go from crawling to sitting. She's been going from sitting to crawling for a couple of weeks, and I'm glad she can now achieve the other side of that. She also learned to say, "Uh-oh!" Her sweet little voice is just the cutest thing! A new favorite game she likes to play is she drops something from the highchair, like her sippy-cup, and proclaims, "UH-OH!." Press repeat on that game about 20 times, and you get an idea of what mealtime looks like in our house!

I don't think I've ever mentioned her sleep habits on here, but she is even our little "wild child" when she sleeps. She never falls right to sleep at nap-time or bedtime. She prefers to have conversations with herself in the dark, and sometimes they are long-winded. Usually and eventually she'll fall asleep, but almost without fail when I go to get her after her nap or in the morning, she's contorted herself in the corner of the crib with her legs stuck in the bars somehow and usually has a big ol' smelly something in her britches. I'm not sure how to break the stinky habit at sleepy time, but she's been doing this since about 4 months old. I just cake her up with diaper cream before bedtime. This is all probably too much information, but I want to remember it, so when she comes complaining to me someday that her own beautiful bundle poops at naptime every day (and all mothers know how annoying that can be!), I'll let her know that the apple didn't fall far from the tree ;)!


Mary Ellen is our little toot-toot! And she just fits into our family so well. She's a lively breath of fresh air added to our household that I never knew was missing until she arrived. Now we just wouldn't be complete without her. And if I could only stop time and savor this stage a little bit longer, I think I would, but since I can't, I have a first birthday to plan!

Wordless Wednesday {We're Having a Ball!}

My Girls

They are a goofy pair.

Today we went and met Sean for lunch, and when Hattie sat down, she put her hand out to Sean to shake hands and said, "Nice to meet you." And then "How are you doing today?" She is taking three very seriously it seems. :)

Mary Ellen continues to be our little chub-a-wub, happy girl. She smiles and laughs easily and is so "cooey" and vocal, which is really fun, except when you're in church. She is a pro at crawling and is now working on pulling up, and she's close to achieving that, I think.

I am enjoying these days.

Party Pictures

Hattie had loads of fun at her birthday party. I posted them on facebook, so a lot of these are repetitive, but I have to put them on the ol' blog, too!

We got our flag out for the 4th, showing our American pride!


Red, White, and Blue!

LOTS of Red, White, and Blue!



The grub! All low fat ;).


The rainbow cake


Minutes before cutting into the rainbow cake



Awestruck and speechless are good ways to describe Hattie's reaction to all of her presents.



Polly Pockets!!!!!



We got Hattie a kitchen set, and she got lots of accessories to go with it, like a working toaster and blender. A pizza with velcro toppings - brilliant! - and Cinderella tea set stuff.



And of course there were girly princess things, too!

She got so many things. Too much! But hopefully all of her new toys will keep her occupied in the cool house while we try to beat the heat of summer!


And now she's 3 and starts preschool in a month and feels less and less like a baby. She constantly reminds me that "she's a big girl and can do big girl things." *sigh*

And I have about a month to recover and get ready for a little someone's 1st birthday. Why are my babies growing too fast!?!?!

Hattie Birthday!

My older sister always teases Hattie and tells her, "Hattie birthday!" when she sees her for her birthday :).

I can't believe the little baby that came into this world and rocked my world is THREE today. My how time does fly!

At three, my sweet Hattie Ruth is my little social butterfly, and you never would have guessed she'd be so social looking back at shy, baby Hattie. She has changed so much!

She loves rainbows, butterflies, and all things princess and girly.

She says the funniest things. For instance, a few weeks ago Sean and I were getting ready to go on a date, and Hattie asked, "Daddy, do you get a trophy on a date?" hehe! Dates are far and few between, so when we get one, it is like winning a prize, that's for sure!

One of her most favorite games to play right now is for us to read her a book she knows well. We mess up the words on purpose, and then she likes to correct us by saying the right words. Maybe she'll be a teacher? Bossy is definitely in her blood :)! And she loves "teaching" her baby sister.

Her sense of humor has developed into a child's, no longer a baby's. She likes to say words like booger and poo poo and then giggles.

Talking back is fairly new for her, and I pray it'll be short-lived, but looking back on my own childhood years, I have my doubts and fear that I need to pray for perseverance as well!

Hattie is such an affectionate three year old. She tells us daily that she loves us and enjoys giving hugs and kisses and will come up to me out of the blue and ask me to cuddle her while she sucks her thumb. That's when I am reassured that there are still traces of my once baby lingering in her. And I hold on tight.

We have a big day planned with party, presents, and all the works - fireworks, that is!

Happy 4th of July to all!

And "Hattie" Birthday to the apple of my eye!