Santa 2013

So yeah....I am not sure when we will start to enjoy sitting in Santa's lap. It didn't happen this year. While she talks about him all the time and was totally fine waiting in line telling me she was going to ask for "presents" once it was her turn the claws came out and I had to pry her off me.

2013

2012

23 months

This past Friday the 13th you turned 23 months. One more month. I can't even believe it!

"Jingle Bells, jingle bells" (babies right out of the bath are the best!)

Clothes:

  *   24mo./2T

  *   diaper: still size 5 

  *   shoe: 6.5W - you grew a half size

Sleeping: Same thing. Nap from 1ish-3ish. Go to bed 7:30-7:45pm and wake up around 7:30am. 

Eating: Still a good eater. Today you sat down and ate a whole bowl of broccoli. You go girl! 

So, Aunt Nenna babysat you this night.....

New Tricks: Still wearing your big girl panties. I think I am going to start the for real potty training the week after Christmas. We will see how that goes. Oh, you are a big hummer recently. You will be in the back seat and all the sudden start humming a little tune. Cutest thing.

Words: Your sentences keep getting clearer and clearer and more frequent. You do this thing that melts my heart every time I hear it. You will be minding your own business or mid conversation and randomly you will just say "hey mommy (or whoever you are talking to)" and look straight in my eyes. I don't know why but I just love it. No matter what is going on it is guaranteed to put a smile on my face and you say it at least once a day. The one thing we are working on is consistently saying please and thank you. This month you finally started saying Mimzie (my mom) instead of Memi.

We got to ride camels at our church's live nativity and you LOVED it. 

Teeth: Your teeth are still good and no new ones yet (you have your back molars that need to come in). You have lightened up a little bit with the teeth brushing. You will let me do it now without being held down although when Daddy holds you it makes it easier.

Likes:  You like Mickey Mouse now. You will watch it for all of 3 minutes and then you move on. While tv isn't really your thing the ipad is your addiction. I don't love this but there are some good educational apps and with always having to have our house "show ready" it is a nice distraction in the morning so you don't pull out all your toys while I am rushing around. Of course you still love your baby doll (Baby Bailey) and I found out you have a baby doll that you don't put down at school either. Anything with real animals or something that looks like a real animal is a big winner. Maybe you will be a zookeeper or something like that one day since you are so obsessed. 

Met our friends at the nativity

Dislikes: You don't like it when I tell you you can't have a jellybean for breakfast - everyday. It is a problem. Luckily you think your vitamin is some sort of candy so I give you that instead. 

We babysat your cousin "baby emem" (William) and you wanted to hold him.

Oh goose. Realizing you will soon be a two year old is hard for me to wrap my head around. I feel like you were just teeny tiny, well, you weren't ever teeny tiny but you were little enough for me. ;) Molly, you have a contagious giggle. I love it. You are always smiling for the most part. You were going to sing Jingle Bells in your Christmas concert but we didn't make it because you were sick but you love to "jingle" bells when you can and sing jingle bells, jingle bells over and over again. You got to ride a camel at our church's live nativity and you LOVED it. You talked about it constantly for a week. You are fearless and very into animals. You are my sunshine little girl. I always tell you "I love you to the moon and back" before I put your in your bed and the other day when I was about to say it you said it to me. "Mommy, love you to moon and back". I am already emotional that you are turning two and that only sealed it. I cried right there. That is a moment I will treasure forever. I love you little bean.

Life Catch-up

I know I have still not posted pics from Hawaii. It is a 3 part post and I am still working on gathering pics but I promise to post before the end of the year. For this post I am just going to play a little catchup on a couple things. One, we bought a new house. Two, we put our current home on the market today so spread the news. Three, we have about 3 months of remodel on the new house before we can move in so depending on how things work we could be homeless for a little while. Here is the link - someone come buy it :) http://search.har.com/engine/2822-Westerland-Dr-Houston-TX-77063_HAR35680418.htm Now, let's catch up on pictures in no particular order....

Oh man! I get my very own four wheeler ("four lala").

Driving can be so exhausting

Reading with Great Grandma is the best

"Look mom, we're sharing!" This was a task to say the least.....oh toddlers

Tickle, tickle

Where's Molly????

Big hugs

I love this pic because it depics her. Moving, laughing, baby toting little girl.

"Wait, what?!? It's time for nap!"

"CHEESE"

I mean seriously. I look at this picture and see a 10 year old. Stop growing!!!!! 

And, we'll end it with this one. She found my veil and loved wearing it. I am NOT ready for this day!

22 months. The countdown begins.

I wrote this on the 13th, so pretend like it is please. 

Today means there are only 2 more months until I have a 2 year old. Molly Grace, where did the time go. Sometimes when you look at me I feel like my little baby is looking up at me needing me and then other times I see you working so independently and you look like a 15 year old. It is crazy, just crazy.

All dressed up for your 22nd birthday.

 Clothes:

  *   You are for the most part graduated out of 18 mo. clothing and are mainly wearing 24 mo. and 2T.

  *   diaper: still size 5 

  *   shoe: 6w 

Sleeping: Same thing. Nap from 1ish-3ish. Go to bed 7:30-7:45pm and wake up around 7:30am. I will add that when you came back from Hawaii you were going to bed at 7:30ish and waking up at 9am! Say what?!? It was glorious. And you took your normal nap. You did that for 4 days. It was a nice recharge because that means that I slept until 9am as well. :)

Eating: Still a good eater. Your fav foods are jellybeans, fruit snacks and lollipops - not in that order. We introduced lollipops on the trip and well, you were hooked with your first lick. I guess that is what I get knowing who your daddy is and the fact that your Pop's nickname is "candy man". I will say in the non candy category you are liking broccoli, mac&cheese, carrots, oranges, edemame, grilled cheese and crackers.

Celebrating with a trip to the bounce house.

New Tricks: I guess the biggest thing here is that you are pretty much potty training yourself. Since we have been back you are obsessed with wearing your big girl panties and going potty on  your big girl potty. You have done it at least 3 times a day. I know I need to jump on your bandwagon and start the training and I will, eventually. :)

Words: This month you have really been using full sentences vs. just 2 to 3 words when you are talking. Pretty much everyday daddy and I looked at you in shock that you knew how to string that sentence together. It is seriously amazing how much you learn everyday. I picked you up the school the other day and you came up to me and said "Mommy, nice to meet you." Umm ok, nice to meet you to Molly. Also, when you are trying to figure something out you are always saying, "let's see" which means I must say that a lot. In new news, you have started to add in 4, 5 and 6 when counting to 10. Way to go M!

Teeth: Your teeth are still good and no new ones yet (you have your back molars that need to come in). You are not a fan of brushing your teeth. Daddy has to hold you in his arms and I somehow have to finagle the toothbrush in your sealed shut mouth.

Just hanging out with mom.

Likes: Anything that has to do with your baby and pushing a stroller. You will push your stroller around and around the house all day long. You also love puzzles. I need to get you some more of these. You LOVE books and now you are trying to use those against us at night. You have always been the easiest baby to put to bed. While you are still pretty easy this past week you have wanted to read books before prayers and you don't want to stop. We say no more and then you give us those puppy dog eyes and we cave in and read one more. I know we need to stop that because, well, we are falling into your traps but we can't seem to resist those eyes and books. Bounce houses and slides. Love them. A lot. Oh, and, anything that has to do with animals you love. Giraffes and elephants in particular. I must mention that you love Harli and Rocki especially chasing them around the house. They are not huge fans.

Dislikes: Well, you don't like when something doesn't happen exactly when you want it to happen.....sound like a diva.....Molly???? Nooooo. Not Molly. ;) Brushing your teeth definitely falls into this category. When we have to take your stroller away we might as well have cut off your arm. You even NEED to sleep with your stroller which you can't do so we "park" it outside your crib so you can watch it as you sleep just to make sure someone doesn't come randomly take it. Heaven forbid!

In my warm tiger jammies.

My little chicken nugget, Molly Grace. You are truly my little buddy. I love hanging out with you. It is so fun to have conversations with you because they are not just one sided anymore. You are constantly cracking everyone up with things you are saying or doing. You are a really happy girl and always smiling. There are some big changes coming up in our future like selling the only house you have known so far in your little life and buying our new house.

Junk

I am still sifting through all the pics and writing the forever long post for Hawaii but I had to post this because I died laughing tonight in a conversation with M. After dinner these days Molly gets all crazy and literally runs around the house doing random things. It is quite entertaining to watch. During most of this run time she is naked because it is after bath and she avoids putting on her pjs. Plus she loves to be naked. During nap time we have learned that we can't just put her in the crib wearing just a diaper because she will take it off and jump around. Naked. So she pretty much always needs to have pants on. Anyway, I digress. In the middle of her naked run tonight she started putting on some of her big girl panties and was having a hard time getting them over her bottom. Here is the convo.

M: "mommy help you"
Me: "You can do it Molly. You are a big girl."
M: "Mommy it's stuck"
Me: "Molly, it looks like you have to much junk in your trunk"
M: craning her neck to try and see the "junk". "mommy, take junk out"

I died. It was hilarious. If you don't find it funny maybe it was a had to be there conversation. Regardless, it was funny.

Fall Festival and "The Stink Eye"

We are back! Back from our glorious 2 week vacation to Hawaii to watch my little sister get married. I have a million photos to sift through so that post will come later. This one will be all about M's school fall festival which was the day before we left. They do this every year and it is so cute! They serve dinner, have all kinds of games and activities for the kids and have a great silent auction for the parents. A lot of the kids come dressed up but we didn't do Halloween costumes this year because we were at my sisters rehearsal dinner on Halloween night so we knew there wasn't going to be any trick or treating. So, she wore her cute pumpkin dress instead.

This girl LOVES a bounce house! L.O.V.E.S.

Sliding requires the right amount of concentration.

"Cheese! Hey, mom, I am riding an elephant!"

Riding the fire truck with daddy.

I will leave you with this video that we took tonight. Singing is the only time she speaks in "toddler". She has also developed this "stink eye" that she so kindly gives me throughout the day.

21 months

Man, I am late again. I mean I was writing the date down today and realized you had your 21st birthday and I didn't even sing happy birthday to you. Sorry girl, but I suppose we sing that song randomly so i guess it really doesn't matter. 

 Clothes:

  *   You are still in 18-24 month clothes but slowly you are getting out of 18 mo. You can wear some 2T.

  *   diaper: size 5 

  *   shoe: 6w 

Sleeping: Same thing. Nap from 1ish-3ish. Go to bed 7:30-7:45pm and wake up around 7:30am.

Eating: You are quite a good eater now. It is nice. Thank you.

New Tricks: Hmmm you do something new everyday multiple times a day. I know, that doesn't give you much.

Words: Girl, your sentences are off the charts. You are saying 3-5 word sentences all day long. You are starting to get your colors now which is good. Not everything is pink anymore. You love to say "what's dis" even if you know what it means. You know and say all the animals you see from doggies to zebras to hippopotamuses. 

Teeth: We saw the dentist this past month and she said your teeth look great! You have 4 more molars left to come in but those don't generally come in until you are around 3.

Likes: Popsicles are definitely still the fav but frozen peas, oh man, they almost beat popsicles, almost. And, you love pickles, like, a lot. You are a baby toting little girl. Always want to play with baby. You have to brush her teeth every night. She has to sit with us at the dinner table, pushed in the stroller and sit in the chair. I have tried to have you name her but you are sticking with baby. You love saying the "lessing" (blessing) before meals. Everyone has to hold hands and we say it at least 3 times. If we forget, you always remember. You like to hold little things. Is that weird? Maybe, but you are always holding something small that fits in your little hand. Oh and last but not least you LOVE your daddy. You have turned a 360 into a little daddy's girl. As soon as you wake up, when i pick you up from school and throughout the day you are always asking about daddy and when daddy comes home your little life is complete. Oh and you love to be naked.

Dislikes: Yeah, you are still not a big fan of sharing. I have a feeling we will be working on this one for a while. You don't love to change your diaper unless you feel like you need to. You are NOT patient although I think that is kind of natural for a toddler. You do not like when you can't have something right away. The number of fit throwing is increasing and some of them are full on fall on the floor and flail but it is hard to believe you when you look up and realize we are not paying attention to you and you just turn it off and move on to something else. I mean.....why even waste your energy girlfriend. Seriously.

Molly Grace, my sweet little girl. You have so much personality. You are not a timid little one at all. You will walk straight up to a stranger and yell "hiiiii" with a little wave. You love to just sit and read books. I hope that continues. You have made my life so much better. I always heard parents say that but never really got it. While sometimes I might think to myself that I need a toddler break but then you run over to me and just give me a big hug out of nowhere. I mean.....it gets me every time. Or randomly the other day I was dropping you off at school and before I could say my goodbyes you looked at me and said "i wove you mommy, bye bye". It brought tears to my eyes right there. 

Molly Quirks

So, M is pretty particular about some things. She needs them just right. Here are those things.

• When reading a book it must be right side up. I mean the kid doesn't know how to read but she sure thinks she does. If it is not right side up she keeps saying "turn around, turn around".
• She needs to have milk as soon as she wakes up in the morning and for the past month I have to bring it with me when I come in and get her and then leave it on her crib so she can get it herself.
• She has learned how to growl. I have no idea where she got this from but she thinks it is HYSTERICAL.

• Wind. She loves it. Since is has been so beautiful this week every time we are in the car I roll down the windows, open the sunroof and M gets quiet, stretches her arms out, closes her eyes and  takes in the wind. 
• When we are done driving and park the car in the garage she loves to come up and sit in my lap and pretend she is driving and of course press all the buttons. Keeps her busy for a good 15-20 minutes or until I get too hot.
• Gum. So, I have a little canister of that hard, chicklet type, eclipse gum and Molly likes it because it makes a lot of noise when shaken and of course it is soooo fun to open and close the top over and over again. I always tell her that it is "daddy's gum", "just for daddy" so she pulls the gum out and just waives it around, picks it up, puts it down, counts them, sneaks in a little taste and then says "daddy's only". Kinda cracks me up but at least she is following directions for now.

• Her favorite treat, yes treat, is frozen peas. I know you are thinking the same thing as her.....yummmmm! Loves them, can't get enough of them. I like it.
• We have turtles in the creek next to our house and we feed them most days as soon as Danny gets home from work. Well, we take bread and M is very particular on how much she feeds them which means she ends up eating most of the bread and is not happy if she has to share.
• On a random gross note, I had my hand on the door to let the dogs out in the backyard this morning and thank goodness I looked through the windows because there was a dead possum in the grass. I called Danny basically telling him that I needed him to take care of it, he laughed because somehow it was funny, and told me that he couldn't he was already at work. Was it crazy of me to kind of expect him to still do something about it. I am not really sure what I expected him to do, but it had to be something because I for sure was NOT going to do anything about it. After he reiterates that there is nothing he can do and that I had to go get a shovel and "take care of it". It took me about 20 minutes. It was disgusting. It fell off the shovel multiple times. I almost upchucked my coffee but somehow had to keep a smile on my face because I couldn't let M know I was terrified. Yes, terrified, they are called possums for a reason. I kept thinking it was going to jump up and give me rabies. I still get totally grossed out every time I think about it. I am so not a country girl. Yuck!

And in other random news we found a house and are in the buying process. Woohoo.

Life lately.

Oh goodness how I have fallen behind on blogging. Life has been crazy and I don't see it slowing down anytime soon. I can say that we have been having some fun being busy though. We took our annual girls (M, my sister, my mom and myself) weekend over Labor Day and decided to visit my grandparents in Fort Worth. It was Molly's second time to go up there. We had a blast making the rounds and just hanging out.

"Hey Granddad"

"Hey Granny"

"Let's do this! I am ready for my car ride."

We celebrated birthdays galore! My dad, my brother, my mom and my father in law. All of them were a good time :)

"Happy dodo Papa."

"Cheeeeeeese"

Just so everyone is aware. I don't make up this sass. This is her new face.

Her favorite thing to do right now.
Blow out the candles (even if it is in a half eaten biscuit)

My mother in law went all our for my father in law's bday. It was the big 6-0 so we had quite a nice, theme party at the ranch.

Celebrating the "candy man"

The 3 sons wrote "60 reasons we love our dad"
and here they are laughing about them.

Of course we had to spend time rocking the baby.

Some of the ladies

Spent a lot of time swinging and laughing.

"Ok dad, here is what we are gonna do."

"BAM! Touchdown!"

The fam