Sallie Rose

I have really been trying to spend a lot of time with Sallie Rose lately. Not just time, but quality time. We had a really rough 2 weeks right before we went to Jacksonville and I decided that she needed not only Mommy's attention, but Mommy's discipline. She has great teachers and caretakers, but no one really disciplines her like me. I am not hard on her, but I am consistent (not that the other's are not) and will not let her get away with the "ugly" talk or the little things that her non Mommy people really don't mind. She gets a little spoiled sometimes too. Between our neighbor who gives her a cookie every time he sees her to her school teachers giving her cake every time there is some sort of little holiday celebration, she gets a little spoiled with treats. I just felt it was time to reel it in a little and tighten the discipline.

I do think she was missing me a little too. I had been a little preoccupied with trying to get both rooms ready and with getting all my property matters as under control as I could. We spent a good 2 weeks together and it was wonderful. She acted like a dream at the beach in Jacksonville and ever since then has been very well behaved.

She also changes so much, that I need to really pay attention to what her behaviors are and what sets her off and what makes her happy. I know that when she gets tired after a few busy days and no naps, she goes in to full on melt down mode and it lasts for a long time. It starts off with a few naughty moments and then it concludes with a complete meltdown that can not be stopped. I really try to avoid running her down and doing too much with her. I have tried to just spend some time at home with me doing chores and her playing in her playroom. I think it helps her stay sane and me too.

This child of mine is so smart. And yes, I am partial, but she really is. She still loves to read and she loves to do anything that is related to art. She spends a lot of time alone in her playroom coloring with crayons or markers. She has recently been more interested in playing with her dolls and her dollhouse too. She will spend a good 30 minutes playing with her babies and talking to them. I wondered if she would every learn to play by herself and she really has. I don't know what it was that started it, but she will spend a lot of time playing in her playroom or her room and occasionally run in and say something to me.

I love the little things that she says, for instance this week every sentence has actually on the end of it. "I would like cheese and crackers, actually". She is growing up way too fast and I am scared that when the baby comes, everything will be such a hectic blur that one day I will wake up and she will be 6 1/2 and my baby will be 3. I don't want to miss a single minute with her and I don't want to lose my baby. I look at her baby pictures and I just want to squeeze it and get that little toddler back. I know we have a lot of great memories coming our way and I know that I will love every stage of her life, but I really feel like she is growing up too fast.

She is ready for her baby sister and we are too. Any day now.

Relaxing day

Hanging out with her pop pop. She ate all his chips.

After beach snack

This tray is what Sallie Rose bought Kevin for his birthday so they could do breakfast in bed. I am sure you can tell who gets the breakfast in bed. It's not Kevin. :)

Next up, nap.

Nice beach day

Just getting ready

Today we are in Jacksonville at the beach. Kevin's parents rented a beach house for 2 weeks and they are letting us hang here by ourselves for a few days for Kevin's birthday.

We tried to do a lot of preparing for baby before we left, but we still have a lot to do. She has clean clothes, diapers, wipes, bottles, and a place to sleep just in case she comes early. We will hopefully move Sallie into her new room in 2 weeks and then do our final preparations. I hope that will give us a week to rest before she arrives. We are resting this week as a family of 3 just in case.

I will have some beach pictures this week for sure, but until then, one of my lil ray ban wearer and one of my future babe.

Date Night

Last night, Kevin and Sallie Rose went on their very first official date together. (Side note: Kevin decided he did not want to call it a date, because he doesn't want Sallie Rose to start thinking about dating. Weird I know)

This date was all Sallie Rose's idea. She told me she wanted to do it and I told Kevin. He took her to Barberitos for a taco, then they went for ice cream and stopped by the grocery store on the way home. They both dressed up and they even took Kevin's truck, which Sallie Rose loves for some reason. We never ride in it, so I guess its a special treat.

They were so adorable. I love these two!

On a side note. I was taking pictures of my last project and caught myself in the mirror. I decided to take a picture and boy I was shocked. My baby belly is huge! Only 7 more weeks, maybe. We'll see about that!

Church laughs

I assumed one day my little darling would say or do something at church during children's church that would make me laugh, but also make me a little red faced. Well, I thought my day had already come and gone when she danced up and down the aisle with her friend, Christopher. That day I was laughing, but I was very red faced. It was funny.

Yesterday at Church, she gave the Church a big laugh. This is how it went:

Our Church is pretty formal and traditional. They have the Children's sermon every Sunday at the front of the Church. I walk Sallie Rose down to the front every Sunday after the dancing debacle. She sits with the kids and I sit on the front row with my eyes all over her. Our Church has about 350 people in attendance each Sunday. Pretty big Church. I honestly never think that she is paying attention to what the preacher is saying, but obviously after yesterday she is.

Preacher: Telling a story about a long road trip she has just come back from with the youth group. She is explaining that every hour the youth were asking how much further the trip was and she would say it is another 6 hours. She does this about 3 times and then says "the youth group kept asking, Are we there yet? I bet none of you kids go on long trips with your parents and ever ask them, Are we there yet?"

Everyone is quiet.

Sallie Rose: "Yes I have" as loud and proud as she could.

The Church erupted in laughter and she got really embarrassed and looked at me wondering if she was in trouble. I laughed of course and just grinned at her. What she said was obviously not that embarrassing, but she said it so loud and with such authority that it was super cute. And honestly, I really couldn't believe she was listening to what the preacher was saying.

My little darling, every day is something new and exciting with her. I wouldn't change her for the World.