10 on Tuesday - Thursday Edition

No pic, sorry!
 1. It is almost February...the month of 465 birthdays. Kevin is turning 30, enough said.
2. Rory doesn't like Broccoli, I think that it is the texture
3. We are going through the stage where Rory pushes us to see just how far she can push it before we push back. We are winning....most of the time.
4. The other night I told Rory to be still so that I could wipe her hiney and she said in an extrememly perky voice "Hi Niney!" It was pretty funny.
5. Is it Friday yet?
6. I am reading the book "The Help" It is pretty good...I definately recommend it.
7. We have NOTHING planned for this weekend...YAY!
8. I made braised short ribs, mashed potatoes and baked beans for dinner on Monday and they were GOOOD!
9. I made Chicken Divan for dinner last night and brought left overs for lunch today. One of my favorites.
10. Have I mentioned that I am ready for Friday yet? I have? Well I would like to repeat for dramatic effect...Is it Friday yet?

As Requested by the Grandparents

It's been a while.

It has been a while, I just thought that I would do a quick post and throw in a quick picture.

ADDED: A short cute story to go with this picture.  Yesterday morning Rory woke up at 4:30am and so in an effort to squeeze a bit more sleep in for all 3 of us, Kevin went and got her and put her in the bed between us.  She drifted back to sleep for about a half an hour and then she was awake.  She started going through her vocabulary, as is usual when she first wakes up.  We were all still laying in the bed, in the dark, and Kev and I were just listening to her jabber on and occassionally interjecting answers or comments to appropriate verbalizations.  All of a sudden we hear this:

R: (Patting my arm) "Mommy"

2 second pause

R: (Patting Kevin's arm) "Daddy"

2 second silence

R: (Patting herself on the tummy) "Baby"

It was absolutetly the cutest thing and it was all that Kevin and I could do not to squish her!  Well, that is it...Ciao!

10 on Tuesday

I haven't done a Ten on Tuesday in a while, so I thought that I would give it a go.

1. Rory is 13 months old today...enough said
2. We (Rory and I) will be in Decatur this weekend and would love to see anyone that is available.
3. Kevin and I both turn 30 this year...Kevin in LESS THAN A MONTH!
4. It is cold...I know, you are thinking..."Duh, it is January Lauren" but really, we haven't had a cold snap this prolonged in...well, I can't remember.
5. I am having trouble coming up with 10.
6. I am all caught up on laundry.  That is an accomplishment considering, including uniforms, we go through at least 7-9 clothing changes between the 3 of us in 1 day, on a good day.
7. Rory is on whole milk and we have switched her to Horizon Organic with DHA.  She likes it better than regular whole milk.  We tried giving her just regular whole milk and she won't drink it.
8. Rory is going to be in a wedding in June.  My cousin Emily is getting married.
9. Speaking of weddings, we have 5 to go to this year, including 2 way out of town.  1 in Houston in April, 1 in either DC or New Orleans in the fall.  We are taking the baby sitter with us to Houston for sure.
10. Sarah and Victoria will be 15 in just over a month.  I think I am going to be sick.

Language Explosion

Rory has a baby book, I have done well with filling it out with major milestones, but I can't seem to remember to grab it to make a list of her words so far.  So, as another form of our family's record...I am going to put it here, while I am thinking about it.

1. Mama
2. Daddy
3. Neh-Nee (Nellie)
4. Bee (Ruby)
5. Ball
6. Mo (More)
7. Up
8. Down
9. Baf (Bath)
10. Umm-Umm (as in No)
11. Gog (dog)
12. Guck (duck)
13. Gook (Book)
14. Baby
15. Fweet (Sweet)
16. Shoe
17. Bishes (britches)
18. Boop (poop)
19. Tee Tee
20. Bad Gog (Bad Dog)
21. Bite
22. Shees (Cheese)
23. Ba-dul (Bottle)
24. Shoosh (juice)
25. Cat
26. Mow (Meow)
27. Gack Gack (Quack Quack)
28. EIEIO
29. Bock (Brock, our nephew)
30. Dit Down (Sit down or get down depending on the context)
31. Eat
32. Milp (Milk)
33. Beah (Bear)
34. Nanna (Savannah-the baby sitter)
35. Hey Dere (hey there)
36. Gi Upah (Get up)
37. Nie Nite (Night Night)
38. Ahh Dun (All Done)
39. Mowse (Mickey Mouse)
40. Dah Gog (Hot Dog - not the food, a dance on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse)
41. Tree
42. Ho Ho (Santa)
43. Dat (that)
44. One, Que, Fee, Fo, Pibe, Sih, Seh, Aye, Ni, Ken (1-10 she can same them all but sometimes she misses one or two or says them out of order - she likes to forget 4 and 8)
45. Fuff (Puff)
46. Pacie
47. Ruff Ruff
48. Aww (usually followed by 'Fweet')
49. Shuu Wee
50. Gee (Tim)
51. Nanny (Lovie - we are working on making this sound like Lovie...Rory keeps insisting it is Nanny though...sorry Mom!)
52. Tidee (Kitty)
53. Bye Bye
54. Wow
55. Uhh Ohh
56. Oh No
57. Mummo (Yummo)
58. Lish-us (Delicious)
59. Tank You (Thank You)
60. Ree (Rory)
61. Mope (Remote)
62. Bess You (Bless You, she says it after she sneezes)
    

I think that is all...Hope you  guys had a good week!  More pics coming soon!

Better late than never?

Ok, so better late than never right?  So here is the Christmas post.  This first picture is of all the Grandkids and Great Grandkids on my Mom's side, with my Grandmother.  Notice how all the kids are behaving except for mine...clearly she is accustomed to being the center of attention.  Gee...I can't imagine why!

 

(Back Row: Eric, Michelle, Nikki, Rob, Kevin, Owen, Mallory, Patrick and Ava.  Seated: Me, Rory, Mama Sue, Victoria and Sarah Grace.  On the floor, Ashton and Hunter)

 Look what Santa brought!

"Mommy, that Doll is cute, but I really only care about my pacies"

"I take that back, pacies and peach puffs"

 

Kevin was the camera man on Christams morning and he apparently kept putting his hand in the way of the flash but is that not the cutest little bottom you have ever seen?

 

My Mom and Tim got her a little bath robe with a bunny on it.  Not that she will leave it on.  I get her out of the tub and put her it on her and as soon as I open the bathroom door, she flings it off and goes running naked through the house giggling...great!

 

 

Rory, her ducks, sock monkey, rabbit all riding in the wagon.  There was also a book (Gossie and Gertie...thanks Colleen!) in the compartment on the back.  This kid loves books, seriously, we probably read the same 3-4 30 times a day...I am not kidding, she can't get enough!

 

 

At first, Rory wasn't sure what to think of the whole thing, but she caught on pretty quickly.  She also was pretty excited to ride in the wagon, we rode around the house a few times, and then we bundled her up in my old snow suit and took a short stroll down the street.  It was a hit!  She was probably most excited about the peach puffs in her stocking.  She carried them around saying "Mo Fuff" (more puff) for a while.

I got a Flip HD from Kevin and a new crockpot.  Kevin got a new coat and a watch and my Mom and Tim got us  4 place settings of "Chirp" china.  We had a GREAT Christmas.

OK, I promise, more posts coming.

The Puppy Dog in the Window

"Rory fought the Law Stacking Blocks and the Law Blocks Won"

This should be great for all our Christams pictures this year.  Needless to say, we have put the stacking blocks up for a while.

***Sorry for the picture quality...it is a cell phone picture.

Twas the Night Before Christmas...Mom Style

I found this and thought that it was pretty funny.  Enjoy!


'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the abode
Only 1 creature was stirring & she was cleaning the commode.

The children were finally sleeping, all snug in their beds,
while visions of X-Box & Barbie flipped through their heads.
Yes, and dad was snoring in front of the TV,
with a half constructed bicycle propped on his knee.

So only the mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter,
which made her sigh, "Now what is the matter?"
With toilet bowl brush still clutched in her hand,
She descended the stairs, and saw the old man.

He was covered with ashes & soot, which fell with a shrug,
"Oh great," muttered the mom, "Now I have to clean the rug."
"Ho Ho Ho!" cried Santa, I'm glad you're awake."
"your gift was especially difficult to make."

"Thanks, Santa, but all I want is time alone."
"Exactly!" he chuckled, "So, I've made you a clone
A clone?" she muttered, "What good is that?"
"Run along, Santa, I've no time for chit chat."

Then out walked the clone -
The mother's twin,
Same hair, same eyes,
same stubborn chin.

"She'll cook, she'll dust, she'll mop every mess.
You'll relax, take it easy, watch TV and rest.
"Fantastic!" the mom cheered. "My dream has come true!"
"I'll shop, I'll read, I'll sleep a night through!"

From the room above, the youngest did fret.
"Mommy?! Come quickly,
I'm scared and I'm wet."
The clone replied, "I'm coming, sweetheart."

"Hey," the mom smiled,
"She sure knows her part."
The clone changed the child and hummed her a tune,
as she bundled the small one in a blanket cocoon.

"You're the best Mommy ever. I really love you."
The clone smiled and sighed, "And I love you too.
"The mom frowned and said,
"Sorry, Santa, no deal.That's my child's LOVE she is going to steal."

Smiling wisely, Santa said:
"To me it is clear,
Only one loving mother is needed here."
The mom kissed her child and tucked her in bed.

"Thank You, Santa, for clearing my head.
Sometimes I forget,
it won't be very long,
before they'll be too old for my cradle and song."

The clock on the mantle began to chime.
Santa whispered to the clone, "It works every time."
With the clone by his side, Santa said:
"Goodnight.Merry Christmas, dear Mom,
you'll be all right."

THE PARTY!

I know, it took me long enough to get these pictures posted right?  Well, better late than never! 

We started out the morning when Rory got up with her first present.  She really couldn't have cared less about the contents, but she thought that the wrapping paper was pretty fun.  Ruby hung around because she thought that there might be food involved. 

Kevin and I got Rory one of those cute little chairs from Pottery Barn.  At first, Rory didn't know what to do with it, she just kind of stood there and stared at it.  Once we turned on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and sat her in it, she thought it was pretty great!  She has since decided that it is really much better for standing in.  What can I say, she is persistant.

 

I knew from the get-go that I wanted to do a "Some-Bunny" party.  I also knew from the get-go that I wanted cupcakes with green "grass" icing and rabbit picks in the tops.  I couldn't find what I wanted for pics so, 1 online picture of a bunny for a pattern, 3 different scrapbook papers, card stock and a bag of sucker sticks later and...Voila' bunny pics for the bunny party.

 

 

Naturally, Rory had her own cake. Kitty made her cake and it turned out REALLY cute. 

 

I debated back and forth over what she would wear to the party...smocked, not smocked, dress, pants, tutu, no tutu...it was a big decision.  Ultimately, we went for comfort over fashion.  I had picked her up a bunny T-shirt from White Flowers and I already had her tutu and the bunny boots from White Flowers were a gift at her shower, so we threw together this little ensemble and called it a success.

 

"Mom, can I just have my cake now?"  Once everyone got there, Rory got a bit overwhealmed.  After all, we had 32 people there!

 

When Davis and Brock got there, Rory got so excited to see "Bock."  She hugged on him and kept hanging on to his sweater and repeating his name over and over.  Brock and Davis are SO good with her.  Brock is hilarious, he is always telling her to be careful becuse she is "too tiny to play with this toy" or that she is "so small, I have to take care of her."  They are good boys and I am so glad that they love her so much...the feeling is mutual!

 

We really are blessed with such great friends and families!  Everyone that came, packed and bundled up their families and drove in the nasty weather to be at Rory's party.  You guys have no idea how great it made me feel to see all of our great family and friends that love us (and Rory) so much that you guys would make the special effort to be there when it mattered!  Thank you so much!

Candi, Wes and Aubrey.  Aubrey was not impressed with the party festivities...she sure is cute though!

 

Hey Kate! 

 

Colleen and Candi, thank you SO much for travelling 2 hours in the rain, sleet and freezing cold with little ones to come to Rory's party!  I know that it is not easy to get out of the house on a beautiful, sunny, warm day with little ones, let alone the nasty day that it was the day of the party!  It really means so much to me that you guys would make the special effort to come and share Rory's birthday!  You guys really are the greatest. 

 

And now....THE CAKE!  At first, I don't think that Rory realized that it was for eating.  She was all about digging in and making a huge mess, but she eventually figured it out!

 

 

It was EVERYWHERE!  When she started putting it down her pants, I knew that cake time was over.  We made a quick trip to the bathtub and we were good to go again.

 

This is actually later that night, after everyone had gone home.  My Mom and Tim got her a tricycle and at first, she was a bit afraid of it, but by the end of the night (and after watching all the kiddos ride it at the party) she was beginning to get interested in it.  She really likes the little headlight on the front.  She still won't let us sit her on it, but at least she will go near it now.  She straddles the back wheel and bounces up and down like she wants to ride it.  I know that once she figures it out, she will be all over it though, probably by the Spring.

 

Well, that is it for the party...are you guys still with me?