Happy Memorial Day

Freedom truly isn't free!

We had a great day and just spent time at home.  Andy tackled the chore of cleaning out his office.  He has worked on it most of the day and I would estimate it is about 50% done.  Although he would probably tell you more like 80%.  At least he did admit it was a two phase or more process.  Sure wish I would have taken a "before picture" His progress has genuinely been hindered by the fact that our garbage can is completely full and overflowing.  Somehow we missed pick up on Friday and ours will not be picked up on Tuesday as normal due to the holiday.  (I really think they should pick up the garbage of those with infants and extra time a week as a baby gift or something!) 

So, I think I posted earlier that Andy was filling up our pool.  Unfortunately, it ended up having about a million holes in it and we decided we would be dealing with it all summer even if he could get it to actually hold water.  Loren is already begging for a new one.  We shall see.

We are getting ready to head over to my parents' house.  My Dad has requested Andy bring his chainsaw to help him cut down a few branches.  Andy is so sweet to help - I think he may secretly like running the saw though.  (I think I would like to try it sometime too?!)

Vist to NAS Pensacola - Museum

We wanted another fun activity to do while Grandma was still here but it has been sooo hot outside.  We decided to go to the Naval Air Museum which I will admit I have not been to since I was about 12 years old.  It was so nice (and free too)!  Neat airplanes were everywhere and there were many that you could climb in the cockpit and take a photo.  There was also a playground area for the children.  There is an IMAX theater there too.  My Mom treated us to see "Born to be Wild."  It was so cute and kept Loren's attention the entire time.  Here are a few photos from the day - I apologize as I did not write down the names/types of aircraft.

 Cute pose, however, ANDY if you are reading this, what do you think about a better phone camera?! ;)

 Loren said she was scared of this one and refused to stand by it. 

 Grandma, Loren and Mom (Nancy)

 She said she was driving the airplane.  Loren became less and less shy about climbing up in the planes.

When she got into this one she said, "Coming in for a landing."

Here is a photo of Arden since she did not make it into any of the others.  She was a good girl and slept through the whole IMAX film.

Today is Saturday and Andy is busy (thank you Daddy!) putting up our pool.  Yes, we have an above ground (not the nice kind) pool but we love it.  Loren has asked when we will get to swim about 20 times already.  We may go to "Date Night" at Santinos Pizza when he is done.  Date night with us and two kids that is!

 PS - Andy, I love the new photo program thing you gave me!  Thanks!

Play date!

My friend Amy and I have the cutest babies in the world!  It's true - don't try and argue with me!  Amy and I had the same due date and her son, Mason, was born just days after Arden.  We have been making an effort to get together weekly and chat and let the babies "play."  I have had a blast getting to know her better.  We enjoy putting the two babies together and taking pictures.  This is mostly to document their growth but I must say it is quite hysterical to us (you probably would have to be there to understand?!) to watch who might blow bubbles with their mouth or tip over, or coo at us.  We just laugh and laugh.  Thanks for your friendship Amy!

So, on this one, Mason must have said (in secret baby language of course) "Please, feel free to lean on me."

In this one, he must have said, "Gum my arm if you want to."

Catch Up!

Well it seems I have let myself get behind with my blog entries.  We have been very busy.  Since Grandma has been in town, we have been cooking or going out to dinner each night.  On Wednesday night, we made "Panama Chicken."  (I need to get much better at taking pictures of everything.  I enjoy looking at everyone's pictures on their blogs)  Panama chicken has a tomato paste base but so much other delicious stuff including green onions, parsley, cilantro and a little sugar.  Yummo!

On Thursday, we went to the "Butterfly House" in Navarre.  It was so neat!  Lots of beautiful butterflies as well as very well kept plants where the butterflies make their homes.  I guess once a week or so during the warm weather, they allow the public to "release" butterflies into the house.  Children are given preference and Loren got to release three butterflies including a "Buckeye," a
"Julia," and a "Monarch."

On Thursday we at at David's Catfish House.  Friday evening, Loren was invited to a cool birthday party at our local private airport - super fun.  Happy Birthday Gavin B.! On Saturday, tickets for Loren's dance recital went on sale at 8:30 am.  I had been told that the parents wait in line so they may purchase the best seats.  Well, apparently Andy and I did not comprehend this.  I asked him to please be in line by 7:30 and he was.  This is what he saw upon arrival - you may have to look closely:

Um, the line was wrapped around the building.  People said they had been in since 4am.  Apparently dance recital tickets are worthy of Black Friday efforts!  Andy's sister, Meagan, works at the salon right next door to the dance studio.  She had given him special permission to park in front of the salon in the reserved spaces.  Andy said people were flipping out when he parked there and he was assured that he would be towed.  (He wasn't! - Thanks Guys and Dolls!)  So, he finally secured the tickets and was home by about 10:30 or 11.

After that, Mom and Grandma came over and we all went to the mall.  Arden had a pooplosion but the day was saved after she was cleaned up.  Late lunch/early dinner at Olive Garden followed and home after that.  Sunday included professional dance photos and Loren's sweet Aunt Meagan did her her hair for the photos.  Thanks Meagan!  Here is a snapshot:

Fun times!  That catches me up through the weekend. ;)

Stuff

Today is an exciting day.  My grandmother is coming this evening from Panama!  She is 87 now I believe.  She is in great shape and Mom had to convince her to order wheelchair services for the airports - ha!  I know my girls will enjoy seeing their great grandma "Grammie" and I am very much looking forward to it also.  I hope that we get lots of time to just hang out and maybe cook some too.  Grandma is an excellent cook.

It is unseasonably cool here again today.  Arden and I enjoyed another morning walk and then she even let me tend to some of the icky weeds in my front yard.  Here is the pic I got:

I am waiting on my Mom to come and watch Arden so I can take Loren to her ballet class.  It is one of the last ones before the recital.  Have I mentioned that my 4 year old daughter is expected to wear lots of makeup including foundation, eyeliner, mascara, and lip liner with red lipstick?!  Eek....the purpose is so the children don't look "washed out" under the lights but...I must say I have some concerns about making my four year old look well... like a street walker!  Good thing Loren's sweet Aunt Meagan is a beautician and will be handling hair and make up for me!  I know she will be able to strike a balance.  Thanks Meagan!

Oh yea, and did I mention that Arden slept from 9:15 - 5:50 last night?!

To aid my memory...

Arden is growing so fast.  It truly makes me happy and sad at the same time.  Tonight as I was feeding her for the last time today, I noticed how thick and long her little eyelashes have gotten.  They are beautiful.  Arden loves bath time and I usually bathe her in the morning although this will surely change when I have to go back to work. 

The weather has been beautiful and Arden and I went for a long walk around the neighborhood this morning.  She seemed to enjoy it and didn't cry or fuss until we were about four houses away from ours.  Loren keeps asking if we can go on a "family walk" but every time we take her she complains of her feet hurting. (It does not matter what shoes she has on.)

We took the girls to a baseball game in Mobile Saturday evening.  First we stopped at Old Time Pottery and Babies R Us.  To me, these were much more fun than the game.  Babies R Us even had a great "Mother's Room" I was able to use.  The girls did great. Arden slept in the Baby Bjourn and Loren did not complain even once about being cold.  In a poor parenting move, I left her sweater at home.  Sadly, I am now realizing I didn't take any pictures. I will work on this as I realize posts will always be more interesting with pictures. 

(Honey, if you are reading this, I need a better phone camera...please...it will help with the quality of my blogging!!)

A picture is worth a thousand words...

 The sisters on St. Patty's Day

 First time in swing

 Daddy and his girls

Loren's first time at regular (non-pediatric) dentist.

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 First smile I was able to get on camera

Clean baby. (With super cute expression)

So, this was to be my opening part before the pics but now it is stuck down here - oh well.  Need another lesson!

The hubs gave me a lesson last night about how to put photos on my blog.  Here are the results of my first solo attempt:

Mother's Day

I had a fabulous Mother's Day!  On Saturday, Andy had remote start put on my truck.  This will certainly be convenient when trying to load two girls on these hot summer days we have here in Florida.  When we got home, there was a box on the front porch which I didn't think much of (Andy gets computer packages all the time.)  Andy brought it in and opened it up and it was a dozen roses!  (Again, I will insert picture here when I figure out how.)  On Sunday, we went to church and dedicated Arden.  Then Mom and I went to see "Water for Elephants" as part of our Mother's Day festivities.

The only down part of the whole weekend was poor Loren.  After the nosebleed on Friday while waiting to pick Andy up from the airport, (see previous post) she had another nosebleed during the night on Saturday.  When I saw her, Andy had already been working to gently remove the dried blood but she looked so sad with it all caked around her nose.  After cleaning her up and starting her sheets washing, Loren began a bout of "the big D."  (This meant a trip to the CVS with wet hair for me.)  We took her to baby dedication at church with us and she felt OK during that.  Just when we thought she was recovered from her little "bug," she vomited all over the kitchen floor.  My poor baby!  It is 2 in the morning now and I just peeked in at her and she is sleeping soundly with  no visible blood (or vomit). Praise God!  I pray that she will be over her illness when she wakes in the morning.

Honey, I'm home.

Andy came home from his business trip yesterday - yay!  He couldn't have gotten to us a minute too soon.  First we rushed around trying to get to the airport to pick him up on time (before knowing his flight was running behind).  As we are sitting in the car waiting, Arden got pretty fussy and seemed to be demanding food.  I fed her a small bottle ( I give her formula occasionally when nursing is too inconvenient) which calmed her down mildly.  As she was finishing up the bottle, Loren sneezed and the next thing I know her nose is bleeding pretty hard.  I let go of the bottle to tend to Loren and the baby nearly choked!  So, I am holding pressure against Loren's nose and trying to hold the bottle for Arden.  It became a little easier when Arden finished the bottle.  However, she promptly had a BIG stinky poo!  Anyway, we were very happy to see our Daddy!

Earlier on Friday, Mom and I took Arden to the mall and did some shopping.  It went pretty well.  Found some clothes for Andy and new everyday flatware for our house which we have been needing.  They even have a nice nursing lounge area in one of the department stores.  This should be noted as Arden's first trip to the mall - ha....probably won't happen to often, I rarely frequent there anymore.
 

First Giggle!

Today was a great day!  Mom took Loren to Mrs. Cheryl's and then came back and helped with Arden for a bit so I could get some things done. (Honey, our grass is actually turning green again!)  She did the same thing this afternoon.  Shortly after Mom left, I had Arden on the changing table - which she typically loves.  She was smiling at me and cooing some which is standard procedure (for the most part) these days.  I started touching her little nose, cheeks, and forehead with my index finger and she was smiling extra big.  Suddenly, a little laugh came out, and then a few more of the cutest little giggles you ever heard!  I had a phone close so I called Andy (who is still out of town!) and he got to hear it too!  He promised  that he heard the laugh too.  Yay!  Looking forward to hearing a million more giggles from my two girls. ;)

Yeah, the above was definitely the highlight of today.  In other news:

• Yesterday, I went to hook up the sprinkler in the front yard and there was a lost (real) Easter egg hiding under it.  Ewww....luckily it did not smell but if it were to get broken - watch out! 
• Andy is coming home tomorrow!

Arden's two month check up

So...apparently I am not too creative with the titles for these entries.  Will have to work on that.  Arden's well baby checkup went fairly well.  She got a good report from the doctor.  She weighs 11 pounds and five ounces.  She is 22 3/4 inches long.  I checked in Loren's scrapbook and at two months she was 11 pounds and three ounces but 23 1/2 inches long.  Dr. Page did comment on how Arden's feet looked smaller and may be an indication that she will not be AS tall as Loren. (she is not short by any means!)

Arden fell asleep in the car on after the doctor and I thought I might try and shop for a Mother's Day/Baby Dedication dress at Beall's.  Approximately three minutes after entering the store, she began full screaming and crying which no amount of nursing in the dressing room seemed to ease.  We went home and it occurred to me that she was likely fussy from the shots.  A does of Tylenol later and she is back to her happy (usually) self.  Additionally - it should be noted that this baby has GAS and toots like a grown man!  I think some of today's crankiness was due to that as well.

Both my girls are asleep and I am headed that way.  It is really windy out and I am a bit nervous.  Lord, please watch over us and protect us.  We trust in you.  Night, night.

Sunday/Monday

We all went to Sunday School as a family - and were there on time!  I let one of the sweet ladies in the nursery keep Arden.  It was a little scary being apart but sooo much easier than it was for me to leave Loren.  Arden did well and was smiling at everyone who talked to her when I came to pick her up.  The rest of Sunday was filled with relaxing and Andy preparing for his trip.


Monday morning we dashed around like crazy getting Loren to her daycare provider and Andy to the airport.  When I arrived home, my friend came over with her new baby.  We talked and hung out most of the day.  It is so nice to talk with other ladies who are experiencing the same things you are.  I always end up with lots of tips on infant care too!

I still really want to learn to post pictures on here.  Perhaps someone who subscribes to my blog feed can show me. :)