Me & Granny

Granny came in on Wednesday to visit with us.  Mommy had the day off so we hung out and went to lunch.  It was a short visit, but a really fun one!

Tommy was able to meet us for lunch and then Jimmie and Erin and I went to visit Nanette.  Jimmie hadn't seen their house so she got the grand tour. 

Of course, Erin was her normal charming self!  She loves her some Granny.  Granny loves the fact that we had her all dressed in pink with a big bow in her hair.  Granny never had anyone she can spoil with bows and pink!  Super exciting!

We discovered that we love sweet potatoes.  I started that today and she scarfed them down.  Her next favorite is apples.  She still shudders and gags when I give her green beans.  I'll keep trying them, but I'm not too optimistic that they'll stick.  There really isn't much selection in the way of green vegetables.  The 1st foods are really pretty boring.  Erin is getting the hang of eating off a spoon.  When it's something she likes, she'll open her mouth really big.  She's still trying to figure out what to do with her tongue, but we're making progress.

Last weekend we went to a small local Chinese place.  The hostess/waitress/busboy asked me how old Erin was.  I told her she was 6 months and the lady clicked her tongue and said, "Oh, she's a healthy one!"  I think that is a euphemism for your kid is a little pork chop!!

I love me some Granny!

Know Thy Self, Know Thy Spouse

Not trying to get all philosophical on you, but you just have to know yourself sometimes.  The same goes for your spouse.  You have to know his/her limitations as well!

I bought Erin this cute little baby shower sprayer to use in the bathtub.  "Sassy Happy Hippo Bath Shower Spray" was on Amazon.  The little hippo's cheeks turn from pink to white when the water is too hot and the little sprayer would make it easier to get Erin rinsed off.  She loves her bath and thought she would really like it.  I ordered it 3 weeks ago. 

It finally came in today and while I was feeding Erin her dinner I asked Tommy to put it together and get it ready.  She immediately gets a bath after dinner.  Know Thy Self and Know Thy Spouse!  He got it put together with some elbow grease and started assembling it in the tub.  He turned on the water and it shot all over the place.  He then called me in to help.  He would get mad if it were for me, but since it was for Erin he had all the patience of Job.  We took it off and attempted several variations on installing it and nothing worked.  You would turn the water on and it shot everywhere but from the Hippo.  All the while, Erin was laying on the bed wailing.  We were both soaking wet and water covered the bathroom floor.

Tommy didn't come right out and curse the day I was born, but I know he wanted to.  Know Thy Self, Know Thy Spouse...  He calmly told me it was piece of crap and would never work.  I was rocking Erin to sleep in the living room when he got on my computer and the kitchen table.  He found the Amazon receipt and clicked on it. 

He spent the next 10 minutes reading aloud bad review after bad review on the "Sassy Happy Hippo Bath Shower Spray" to me.  Know thy self...  I just let it go in one ear and out the other.  I know me.  I don't read those stupid reviews.  Most of the time someone expects a sow's ear to be a silk purse and take to the net to gripe.  I don't have time for that.  I NEVER review products and just think that similar minded people don't do it either and it's just the freaks that take that kind of time.  (Sorry if you're one of those freaks, but Know Thy Self and embrace it regardless of what I think!)  Know Thy Spouse...he is one of those freaks!  He doesn't buy ANYTHING without studying and reviewing and pondering and thinking.

Any way, there were like over 50 bad reviews on this stupid thing.  Tommy then started telling me that I need to send it back.  Know Thy Self, Know Thy Spouse.  I am officially the World's Worst Returner.  I will procrastinate and never end up returning things.  They will ride around in the back of my truck for months.  Tommy knows this.  

This stupid Hippo was $10.00.  It will go back in the box and ride around in my truck for months.  He'll continue to ask me if I've returned it.  I'll continue to get ticked that he's following up on me so it won't get done.  I'll eventually tire of it in the back of my truck with the 7 other things I need to return and I'll end up making a drive by to the Goodwill Station close to the house.  The Hippo will then become someone else's problem. 

The moral of this story is that we have to know each other.  I know I shouldn't have ordered it without looking at the reviews and Tommy knows I'm never going to send that thing back.  I guess all I can say is... been nice "knowing" you!

P.S.  Stay away from the Sassy Happy Hippo Bath Shower Spray

Plagiarism - What's Your's is Mine!

I stole this video from Aunt Stephanie.  When we were over there the other day Jake was being silly and making Erin laugh.  Steph grabbed her Flip and caught it on tape.  She posted it to her blog and I promptly stole it.  Don't try to figure out what he's saying, it was there own language.  It's just funny to watch! 

Keep in mind that I was playing this video again just now for my mom and daddy and Roxie went crazy and started barking.  She was listening to Bailey on the video and thought the boogie man was coming to get us.  Never dull around here!

Taking Back The House

We're taking back our house!  Since Erin is a big girl now and sleeps upstairs in her crib, we packed up some of the items we've outgrown.  Sniff, sniff!

It's bittersweet.  I think that the older she gets, the more personality she develops and the more fun she is... but...I know I need to enjoy this time now while she's little because it goes by so fast.

The swing, bouncy chair and infant tub were put up in the attic this afternoon.  The bassinet was packed up and taken to Roy and Nanette's.  (Baby Reese is going to use it as well, and then we're going to pass it on to Aunt Mimi's baby.)  While that was all done, we briefly had our old bedroom back!  Emphasis on briefly...

I assembled the pack-n-play and it's now standing in the corner where the bassinet used to be.  My mom can't climb the stairs so, while they keep Erin during the week she'll be napping there.  (In theory she's suppose to nap there.  Most of the time I'll come downstairs on a break and bust the 3 of them napping in the recliners while the Military Channel or HGTV is blaring.)

I think Roxie is acting out these days.  She's always had the habit of going thru the wastebaskets in the bathroom and pulling out used kleenex.  She then shreds them on the floor.  You can always tell she's done it right when you come home.  Good Roxie greets you at the door jumping and yapping and generally very happy to see you.  Bad "I Tore Up A Kleenex" Roxie greets you at the door doing a bear crawl and slumping down like we beat her on a regular basis. 

The habit was originally confined to our bathroom so we got to where we would just shut the bathroom doors.  Now, we've discovered that she goes on an adventure when we leave.  She hits every wastebasket in the house the minute we walk out the door.  It's crazy.  She knows she going to be in trouble, she tells on herself, and yet, continues to do it!  I have no idea how to break her of this habit.  I hate it, but if it's the worst thing she does I really have nothing to complain about!

Erin has discovered Roxie.  She's be in her exersaucer and Roxie will walk by.  Erin looks like a baby owl.  That head will whip around and she's turn herself completely around trying to follow Roxie's every move.  It's so cute.  Roxie on the other hand could care less about Erin.  I say that, but then she'll tear up a Kleenex, so I guess she cares on some level.  I'm pretty sure Tommy is not going to allow me to schedule Rox for a couple of sessions with a pet psychiatrist, so I'm going to say she'll have to work out those issues on her own.  In the meantime, please don't blow your nose at our house!

Cupcake2 and a Big Night

This is Erin's friend Cupcake2. Granny and Grandpa gave her to Erin when she was born.  They have given each of the grandkids a heifer calf.  The money from the sale of her future calves will go into her very own savings account so she can use it on something fun like a car!  

I can't wait for her to be Jake's age.  When we go to Centerville Jake can point out his calf and tell you that's his friend Eve.  It's funny.  A pasture full of cows and he can pick his out of a crowd!

You can see Willy the bull in the background of this picture.  (Cupcake2's Daddy.)  He's huge but a sweety.  He'll come to me when I call him when we go for a visit and loves for me to pet him.  (I'm sure Grandpa doesn't appreciate this when Willy headbutts him in the butt for attention!) 



Tonight is the big night! 

We've set up the video monitor in Erin's big girl room upstairs and we're moving her up there tonight.  We've been putting it off, but she's getting too big for the bassinet in our room.  We were going to do it over Christmas, then Gram had her stroke and life was too chaotic.  Now, we're all set. 

I'm pretty sure Mommy and Daddy may be camping out of the floor.  This is a big step!  Upstairs all by herself!  Yikes!

Roxie said no way is she sleeping up there with her.  She's not giving up her comfy bed for anyone, especially the attention stealing brat that never goes home! 

Happy 6 Month Birthday!

Erin turns 6 months old today!  Wow, I really can't believe it.  Tommy and I were talking the other day and we can't even remember life before Erin!  She is just so much fun and adds so much to our already great life.  We are so blessed and we thank God every day.

With that said, I do remember what my house looked like before Erin...it was all neat and tidy and clutter free.  I don't remember that much pink in my day to day living either!

Here's some shots of our house on a "normal" day these days:

This is one corner of our bedroom.  What used to be my dresser.  What you can't see is the swing and changing station! 

My jacuzzi tub is now infant equiped. 

Tell me again why we paid to have the gas logs installed in the fireplace? 

Our second garage.  We leave it here because Pawpaw takes Erin for a walk everyday to get the mail. 

The entry hall/study.  It's now referred to as the "toy room". 

I love my life!

Great Reports!

Grandma had her appointment today with her PCP.  She is going from 2 shots of insulin down to one big shot.  They are suppose to keep on keeping on.  She wants to see her again after Mom sees the ophthalmologist and neurologist.

As for Erin Grace, she had her appointment today as well.  Here are the stats:

weight:  19 lbs (95%)
height:   27 1/4 inches (95%)
head:     17 inches (75%)

We have graduated to 3 solid foods a day and cut back on the milk.  The doctor was impressed to see how well she sits up and how much she interacts.  She said her neck and the torticolis is doing much better and said we could speak to the therapist about discontinuing it.  We went to Target when we left and stocked up on lots of fruits and veggies!  Yum!

While she was there, Erin got 3 booster shots and the liquid booster for whatever.  She also got her flu shot.  All in all, not a good day.  She was great up until then.  She took the first shot and I saw the lip come out and the face crumble up.  It was so sad.

We had a therapy appointment after the doctor.  Erin had calmed down by then and had a quick nap so all was well.  The therapist agreed with the doctor.  Erin has made great progress with her therapy.  She's been cut back to once a month, but we have to continue to work with her daily.  She said babies have a tendency to revert back if you don't work with them for at least 3 months.  So, we'll continue to get physical here!

We've just had a meltdown when we got home and gotten our first dose of Tylenol.  Hopefully, we'll get this out of our system now!

Roxie is a little unnerved now that Erin outweighs her!  Roxie weighs in at 15 lbs and Erin could take her now.  Erin is actually starting to notice Roxie for the first time.  She'll sit up and stare at her.  It's cute.  Roxie is just counting the days until finger foods are on the menu!

A Full Report Tomorrow

Grandma and Erin both have doctor's appointments tomorrow.  Erin gets her 6 month shots and Gram is going to her PCP to have them check her diabetes.  After her doctor's appointment, Erin has therapy too.  So much for Mommy's fun day off!

Good luck to both of them and I should have a full report tomorrow.

Cousins...

Who needs siblings when you have such great cousins??  Even if they are both boys!!

We spent the day at Mark and Stephanie's.  We didn't mean to stay all day, but we did.  Mark had invited us over for lunch and we just ended up sticking around all day.  It was strange because it didn't seem like we were really there for all that long, but we got there at 1:00 and didn't come home until 8:00! 

I would say they were probably glad to see us go, but the way Jake was bouncing off the walls when we left they might not even know we're gone yet!  It really was a great impromptu day. 

Excuse me, but your Mize is showing... 

 Three little stinkers!

 Erin is tired of chewing on her own hands, she is eyeing Luke's.

 What are you looking at?

 Luke is wondering how that bow is staying on top of that bald head.

 Luke very sweetly shared his jumper with Erin.  Thanks Cuz, BFFs!!

Of course, it would have been asking too much to have just one picture where all 3 of them were looking at me and actually looking interested!  Oh well, they're still too cute anyway!  It's funny though, in the pictures Erin looks so much fairer then the boys but in real life she's much darker complected. 

Thanks Aunt Steph and Uncle Mark for the great day!

Please Take a Seat

Weebles wobble and they do fall down!  We've mastered sitting up on our own this week!

Erin has been trying to do it for a while now, but it looks like she figured it out.  She needs help getting into the sitting position, but when you let go of her she can sit on her own for a while.  Something just out of eye range will get her attention and she'll lose her balance and roll right over. 

She will sit there and reach for toys or play with her feet.  It's just too cute.

I took a photography class to get better acquainted with my new camera, but I wasn't able to use any of my new knowledge with these pics of Erin.  She was rolling and flopping too much.  More to come as I perfect my shooting skills!  So, ignore the photography work here and concentrate more on the subject.

Sitting up all by myself!

 Falling over all by myself!

 

 Let's try this again...

As you can see, Erin is a drooling monster now.  The front of her clothes stay soaking wet.  Tommy was playing with her the other day and she kept reaching out with her slobbery hands and grabbing his nose.  He was the first one to comment that he can't believe that didn't totally gross him out, but it didn't bother him at all.  I was thinking it before he said it, but didn't want to say it out loud.  He is soooo particular and OCD.  I still can't believe the things that baby girl can get him to do!!  (Which is all really strange when you think about the fact that he'll field dress a deer or pick up snakes or bugs with his bare hands but don't even think about going near him with some slobber or a booger!)



Sandy Report

We had an appointment with the Cardiologist today.  It was a follow up to her echocardiogram last week.  They are looking to see if they can pinpoint where the stroke originated.

She got good results but they're still inconclusive.  He said she has minor plaque build up in her Aorta, but the muscle itself looks good.  He wants to do a stress test on her in May.  He's waiting to give her time to recover from some of the stroke side effects.

All in all, a good report.

Now for me...

I've had the worst stomach virus I've ever had.  It woke me up Sunday night with fever, chills and vomiting.  Needless to say, it was a rough night.  My fever broke yesterday but I'm still trying to recover.  Wow.  I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy!  I think the worst part of it was that I quarantined myself from Mom and Erin.  It's the first time I've gone this long without holding or kissing on Erin.  It was so hard!!!  She was in the other room and I slept pretty much non-stop, but I missed her so much!

High Cotton

Some of you may have seen these pictures on Facebook.  Tommy bought Erin some Aggie clothes a while back.  We've worn a couple of them but had to break them out tonight in honor of the Cotton Bowl. 

The game didn't end so well for Daddy's Ags but Erin sure looked cute cheering them on.



Mommy's New Camera

Mommy got her new camera yesterday.  I charged the battery and played with it without taking any pictures.  I had to wait for Erin to wake up for her last feeding.  My Daddy insisted that the first pictures taken with my Christmas present be of Erin.

Here's what we got:

Daddy Makes Me Laugh

Tonight, Pawpaw gave Erin her bath.  While she was getting ready for her dip in the tub, her Daddy was on the bed with them.  Erin has started giggling really loudly now when tempted.  Her Daddy has been blowing on her belly to make her laugh.  I had to get the camera for this.

If this video doesn't make you smile, nothing will!