Wow, I can't believe how long it's been since I posted. We've been so incredibly busy over the past month! First of all, Jackson's ear healed just fine and though I vowed revenge and compensation, I never did anything to track down the owner of the other dog other than call the Houston PD, who totally blew me off. Apparently they have better things to do than help me track down the owners of a viscious ear-eating dog. Such is life and to them....karma man....karma.
Since my last post I have put approximately 6,000 miles on my Tahoe and have many tales of our traveling adventures. The first trip took me and the girls up to Arlington where we met up with my parents who took Ryleigh back to West Texas with them. She spent two nights with Grandma Terri and Papa Steve. The second night they went to "Nemo on Ice", aka, the Ice Capades. Ryleigh absolutely loved it and still tells us about it when we read her Nemo book or play with her Nemo hat or drink out of her Nemo cup or eat out of her Nemo bowl. My parents, they don't spoil our children at all. I met back up with my mom in Fredericksberg to pick up Ryleigh and got to spend of night with my recently preggers friend Karen. After I drooled over Karen and Jeremy Wallace's wonderful garden filled with strawberries, pumpkins and tomotoes, I headed back home with both of the girls.
One might think of me as slightly crazy for making two such trips with two such small children, but the girls did really well. And, this trip was only the beginning of many, many hours on the road in the weeks ahead.
More on that later...got lots of laundry going and a baby to feed. Who, by the way is well into eating solids. So far, we've had sweet pototoes, bananas, yogurt, cereal and peaches. Nothing really sticks out as her favorite, but she's willing to try anything so far.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Bad Day at the Park
Today was a BEAUTIFUL day in good ol' Sugar Land. We decided to not waste a second of it and headed up to the dog park to let Jackson and Rocky stretch their old legs. All was well until we began to head out of the park to go home. I saw the dog in the parking lot jumping and barking and pulling at his leash. The I saw him growling and barking at another dog as his owner started to pull him through the park gate. Then I saw my dogs head over to check out all the commotion. Then I saw the new dog jump on my dog and next thing we knew the new dog had Jackson's head in his mouth. The dog was a pit bull or a boxer and when his owner finally got him to let go, he had taken Jackson's ear half off. After attempting to get the attacking dog's owner's information unsuccessfully, we watched them drive off, but not before I got their license plate number. We took Jackson to an emergency vet clinic and $507 later, his ear was reattached to his head. I'm going to do all that I can to track down the other dog's owner, but I'm not very optimistic that we'll see a dime. Such is life and all I can really do is hope that they learned a lesson because the attack could have very well have been on a child.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Memories For Sale
Today I participated in the neighborhood garage sale. One of my items was the bath tub that I have used to bathe both of my baby girls. Avery outgrew it last week, so I went ahead and stuck it in there.
It sold for $3 and I had to fight back the tears as it walked away.
It sold for $3 and I had to fight back the tears as it walked away.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Five Months
Dear Avery,
Today, you are five months old. When your sister Ryleigh was born, I immediately wrote her a letter to let her know exactly the way her birth made me feel. I continued to write her letters once a month for several months after her birth with the intention having proof that I love her very, very much when she someday becomes a teenager and totally hates my guts because I’m totally lame and totally don’t understand…totally. This is the first letter that I have been able to write to you, despite my purest intentions each passing month, because, well….damn, two kids are a lot of work.
So, allow me to bear my soul for a moment. When I was pregnant with you, I wondered almost every day how it was ever going to be possible for me to love you, to totally dig you and cherish you as much as I do Ryleigh. I mean, everyone told me that I would love you just as much as I do Ryleigh, but I just couldn’t see how. I imagined that perhaps half of the love that I have for Ryleigh would break off and somehow attach itself to you. When I was engaged to your father, I read this book about relationships and marriage. It spoke about how we all have “love banks” designated to each person in our lives. As each person does a good thing for us, we make deposits into their bank and when they fail us, we make a withdrawal. When you were born, Ryleigh’s love bank did not split down the middle and attach half of itself to you. A whole new bank was created in your name and in it was placed a fortune the immediately began generating interest at an astronomical rate. My heart doubled in size and as I held you and your sister close to me the night of your birth. I just could not believe how much I had been blessed with such an incredible family; my supportive husband and beautiful girls.
Life with you in it has been amazingly rewarding and fulfilling. You are such an easy baby. At first, you only wanted to sleep in my arms or on my chest. You were a natural nurser from the very beginning and close to mamma is where you wanted to stay. Around 2 ½ months you magically began sleeping in your own bed and you are now up to 10+ hours a night of straight through the night sleeping. I know from your sister that this may not stay this way, but it sure is nice while it’s here.
While the two of you are bound to have your ups, downs and in betweens, your sister is very connected to you right now. She loves to make you laugh and loves to let you pull her hair. She insists on giving you hugs and kisses each morning, each night and as much as possible in between. She helps me change your diapers and give you a bath. She’s very anxious to begin to feed you, while I’m perfectly happy not having to grind up your food yet. Ryleigh lets everyone know that she is YOUR big sister and has shown very little jealously towards you. She’s an excellent big sister and the two of you are so lucky to have each other.
It’s late and I’m off to bed. I can’t wait to see you in the morning. To see you smile at me when I go to pick you up. Your smile could melt the ice caps. It just makes the whole world seem like a better place. Tomorrow we’re off to get you and your sister’s pictures made together. I hope that someday you can look at those pictures, read this letter and maybe understand just a fraction of the total happiness that I am feeling right now.
Love, mama
Today, you are five months old. When your sister Ryleigh was born, I immediately wrote her a letter to let her know exactly the way her birth made me feel. I continued to write her letters once a month for several months after her birth with the intention having proof that I love her very, very much when she someday becomes a teenager and totally hates my guts because I’m totally lame and totally don’t understand…totally. This is the first letter that I have been able to write to you, despite my purest intentions each passing month, because, well….damn, two kids are a lot of work.
So, allow me to bear my soul for a moment. When I was pregnant with you, I wondered almost every day how it was ever going to be possible for me to love you, to totally dig you and cherish you as much as I do Ryleigh. I mean, everyone told me that I would love you just as much as I do Ryleigh, but I just couldn’t see how. I imagined that perhaps half of the love that I have for Ryleigh would break off and somehow attach itself to you. When I was engaged to your father, I read this book about relationships and marriage. It spoke about how we all have “love banks” designated to each person in our lives. As each person does a good thing for us, we make deposits into their bank and when they fail us, we make a withdrawal. When you were born, Ryleigh’s love bank did not split down the middle and attach half of itself to you. A whole new bank was created in your name and in it was placed a fortune the immediately began generating interest at an astronomical rate. My heart doubled in size and as I held you and your sister close to me the night of your birth. I just could not believe how much I had been blessed with such an incredible family; my supportive husband and beautiful girls.
Life with you in it has been amazingly rewarding and fulfilling. You are such an easy baby. At first, you only wanted to sleep in my arms or on my chest. You were a natural nurser from the very beginning and close to mamma is where you wanted to stay. Around 2 ½ months you magically began sleeping in your own bed and you are now up to 10+ hours a night of straight through the night sleeping. I know from your sister that this may not stay this way, but it sure is nice while it’s here.
While the two of you are bound to have your ups, downs and in betweens, your sister is very connected to you right now. She loves to make you laugh and loves to let you pull her hair. She insists on giving you hugs and kisses each morning, each night and as much as possible in between. She helps me change your diapers and give you a bath. She’s very anxious to begin to feed you, while I’m perfectly happy not having to grind up your food yet. Ryleigh lets everyone know that she is YOUR big sister and has shown very little jealously towards you. She’s an excellent big sister and the two of you are so lucky to have each other.
It’s late and I’m off to bed. I can’t wait to see you in the morning. To see you smile at me when I go to pick you up. Your smile could melt the ice caps. It just makes the whole world seem like a better place. Tomorrow we’re off to get you and your sister’s pictures made together. I hope that someday you can look at those pictures, read this letter and maybe understand just a fraction of the total happiness that I am feeling right now.
Love, mama
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Grossology
I was changing one of Avery's many daily diapers today. As soon as I got the diaper off, she commenced peeing on the table. My philosophy when a girl does this is to let her finish. So, I'm standing there, letting her pee on the table and herself. Then, just as the faucet began to close, she let out one of her not-so-dainty toots. The force was so great that it actually caused the pee to squirt up in the air and yes, on my face.
I have been peed on by a handful of baby boys. The most memorable was compliments of my now 8th grader cousin Haesten. I was giving him a bath when I felt warm "water" landing all over my body. I looked down and he was holding his wee-wee just letting me have it, smiling like a, well, a little boy. However, never have I been peed on in such a way that defies gravity by a baby girl.
Avery's got mad skills....yo.
I have been peed on by a handful of baby boys. The most memorable was compliments of my now 8th grader cousin Haesten. I was giving him a bath when I felt warm "water" landing all over my body. I looked down and he was holding his wee-wee just letting me have it, smiling like a, well, a little boy. However, never have I been peed on in such a way that defies gravity by a baby girl.
Avery's got mad skills....yo.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Five
On Saturday Jeramy and I celebrated our Five Year Anniversary. I think that we celebrated in the best way possible. After making breakfast for the family, we set out for the Children's Museum. Ryleigh and Avery both had a blast. Ryleigh got to do face painting and everything else while Avery got to sit in the toddler area and stare at the bubble maker. We've totally gotta get one of those for the house. After the museum we grabbed a bite at Rice Village and then headed back home. That evening we cooked out on the grill and just enjoyed the family time.
During dinner we realized the following stats: 5 years, 4 homes, 2 kids, 5 jobs (between the both of us), 2 cars and tons of living, loving and laughing. I would like to think that things are calming down, but I know us much better than that. The next five years might just be crazier than the first five.
During dinner we realized the following stats: 5 years, 4 homes, 2 kids, 5 jobs (between the both of us), 2 cars and tons of living, loving and laughing. I would like to think that things are calming down, but I know us much better than that. The next five years might just be crazier than the first five.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Learnin'
Tonight I was doing some work on the computer, which is upstairs, while Ryleigh was watching cartoons, downstairs. Suddenly, I heard a loud pop, followed by a slight crash. I ran over to the railing to see what happened. Ryleigh assured me that she was fine. She went on to demonstrate exactly what had caused all the noise. Apparently, for some reason, she hooked the end of her newly acquired jump robe around the knobs of our armoire in the living room. I can only figure that she then, for some reasone, leaned upon the jump rope until the rope broke away from then handle, thus saving my armoire knob from an untimely demise.
This incident took me back to a moment in time when I thought it was a great idea to tie a rope to the handle on the cover of the fish aquarium. The other end was tied to something else and a quilt was thrown over the newly stretched rope, creating a wall for my fort in the living room. This was brilliant and worked great, until the weight of the quilt, or someone pulling on it, I really can't remember, caused the cover to be tugged off the aquarium. The cover was made of glass and crashed into the fireplace, breaking in half. I don't remember my parents screaming and yelling at me, but I do remember wondering why I just couldn't see that one coming. It was a real growing experience.
Once this story flashed through my extremely tired brain, I just couldn't get too angry with Ryleigh. I explained to her that was not a great idea and when she asked why I told her that she could break mommy's armoire. To that she replied, and the jump rope? My immediate though was to tell her that the armoire cost much, much more than the jump rope. Infinitely more, in fact, because the jump rope was free and free times infinity still does not equal what took me a year to pay for the armoire. As these words began to roll out of my mouth, I stopped myself before the word cost. I was struck by the fact that her idea of value on these two items had nothing to do with money, but with a simple affection for a toy that was given to her at the children's museum last weekend. I just smiled, knodded and agreed with her. Yes, and the jump rope, let's get that fixed so that you can keep playing with it.
This incident took me back to a moment in time when I thought it was a great idea to tie a rope to the handle on the cover of the fish aquarium. The other end was tied to something else and a quilt was thrown over the newly stretched rope, creating a wall for my fort in the living room. This was brilliant and worked great, until the weight of the quilt, or someone pulling on it, I really can't remember, caused the cover to be tugged off the aquarium. The cover was made of glass and crashed into the fireplace, breaking in half. I don't remember my parents screaming and yelling at me, but I do remember wondering why I just couldn't see that one coming. It was a real growing experience.
Once this story flashed through my extremely tired brain, I just couldn't get too angry with Ryleigh. I explained to her that was not a great idea and when she asked why I told her that she could break mommy's armoire. To that she replied, and the jump rope? My immediate though was to tell her that the armoire cost much, much more than the jump rope. Infinitely more, in fact, because the jump rope was free and free times infinity still does not equal what took me a year to pay for the armoire. As these words began to roll out of my mouth, I stopped myself before the word cost. I was struck by the fact that her idea of value on these two items had nothing to do with money, but with a simple affection for a toy that was given to her at the children's museum last weekend. I just smiled, knodded and agreed with her. Yes, and the jump rope, let's get that fixed so that you can keep playing with it.
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