Em is almost 9 months old...

Em is almost 9 months old... Where has the time gone? This is the famous crawling position. It scares me because I'm so afraid she's going to bust her face, but what can you do? She's getting around great to all kinds of cords, cabinets, dog food, etc. She pays no mind to the countless toys lying around. And, oh yes, I've tried the play center, playpen time, etc. She doesn't enjoy it. She's has two teeth on the bottom now, and makes all kinds of cute noises and squeals. She is still very much a mama's girl, and I enjoy it until the constant crying when I leave the room starts getting on my nerves!!! She always sleeps on her side with her little hand by her face. She plays with her ears when she is getting sleepy. She loves to be on the floor and has starting pulling up on her basket of toys, the couch, the bed, the table - anything, really. We've got to move her crib mattress down this weekend! She got a big girl carseat this week, too, and she throws a fit everytime we put her in it. In fact, she throws a fit about a lot of things: taking her out of the bathtub, changing her diaper, when supper is over, taking a washcloth away from her, handing her to someone besides myself... Back to the cute stuff, she claps her little hands together when you say "Yay!" and waves bye-bye (although she typically suffers from about a 10 minutes delayed reaction on this one). She is such a doll and I love her so much. Mother's day was wonderful - I got to sleep in, breakfast made for me, a spa pedicure gift card, some cute plaid flip-flops, and a beautiful pink beaded bracelet with the kids initials and #1 Mom engraved on it. Isn't that sweet?

Emma Claire & the Trike-A-Thon

Here are some pictures of my little neice, Emma (Peyton's little girl). She rode in the St. Jude Trike-A-Thon for our family friend, Garrett, who was diagnosed with leukemia about a year ago. He is doing great, BTW!

Also, FYI, Katie made cheerleading! There were 3 spots but 4 girls, and they let them all do it, which I think is wonderful. Drama has died down, so we will wait for the next big battle. Sorry if I sound bitter when I talk about these things. You know, we went to months and months of premarital counseling along with reading like ten or twelve books plus counseling after we got married - you just can never really prepare yourself for a stepfamily situation. Sometimes it is just really hard and I just have to deal... I just don't always deal well with the stress.

To cheer or not to cheer...

Okay, so this really isn't Katie, but it's just to give you an idea of what I might be dealing with this next year. Katie is and always has been a tomboy. Katie is and always has been a follower. So, when we went to Open House at the middle school on Monday night, I wasn't worried when the cheerleaders paraded up front and the coach said there were more fifth grade spots available. Katie looked and me, wrinkled her nose, and said "yuck"!. Good girl! But, I mean, let's face it. In my day everybody wanted to be a cheerleader. I did. I wasn't ALLOWED to because the mom said the skirts were too shirt. But I still wanted to. But it has been so nice because Katie isn't into all the "girlie" stuff. She's very laid-back and doesn't get into all the "girlie drama." So, imagine my surprise when Gary called and said that Katie and her mom had been calling the fire station all DAY the next day telling him Katie wanted to be a cheerleader. Thanks, Christy! Good one. Let me list the lies we were told:

#1 - It doesn't cost much.

Truth - It costs about $2750, not including if they go to nationals.

#2 - Katie has cheered before.

Truth - This is what Christy called and told the coach. Katie was a mascot for a Bartlett recreation squad when she was two years old!!! I don't think that counts as cheering before.

#3 - The coach said Katie didn't have to try out for the team because she is pretty and gets along with people.

Truth - You do have to try out. Where did this lie come from???

The truth is two of Katie's best friends made the squad during tryouts and now Katie the follower wants to quit soccer and do what they do. It's not that big of a deal for me, but Gary was upset and didn't want her to quit. I'm upset because Katie thinks she's on the team and I know that she isn't. She can't even do a cartwheel!!!

I don't think I'm going to be able to look at her face tonight if she doesn't make it! I don't know if I've blogged about this, but Katie also has a learning disability and cannot read beyond a 3rd grade reading level. So, naturally Gary and I are concerned about how the busy-ness of this will affect her ability to keep up with her schoolwork. But, we also know how cruel middle school can be and this would give her something she could be good at and be successful at.

Just FYI - the other day I asked Christy for half the cost of a reading program specifically designed for children with learning disabilities that I could use with Katie this summer. (Of course if we were paid the more than $10,000 we are owed in back child support I could take it out of that)! And, she is supposed to pay half of expenses. But, I was told she didn't have the money for things like that.

So, the question is - where did she come up with the money for cheerleading? First things first, right?

But - if Katie did become a cheerleader, at least it would give me an excuse to buy Emily this...

My little Em...

My little Emily is 7 months old! (almost 8)

Isn't she a little doll?


7 month milestones:

*She loves to sit up. She doesn't want to be on her tummy, on her back, in a chair or on the floor.

*She got her first tooth!

* She scoots on her bottom and reaches and pulls and pushes herself back up into a sitting position.

* She says "ma-ma" now!

*She only wants mama, too. It is very tiring but i do love that i am her mother. i waited for this for so long!

*She just got a jumperoo from her cousin Emma and hopefully we are onto something that she will actually enjoy doing for more than 20 minutes!

Katie and Noah love her so much! I thought they were going to be so jealous and resentful but they are so very loving and good with her and always anxious to help. I am so thankful for that and really believe that Em has brought us closer together in becoming a "real" family.

Which one?

Choice #1




Choice #2

Has anyone ever used a car seat cover? Let me know which one you like.

I've Been Tagged!

Well, I thought I had performed an amazing disappearing act, but Dallas found me and tagged me. Here are 7 somewhat embarassing facts about myself for all my blog buddies out there:

1. When I shower in the morning, I actually think about if today is a day that Gary is going to be at the fire department. If so, I do not shave my legs. Don't worry - I always shave my pits.

2. I refuse to restock the toilet paper in our master bath. I'm forever left hanging (sorry for the pun!). So, before I sit I always check to see if there is toilet paper. If not, I will go to the other bathroom for as many days as it takes for my hub to break down and get t.p. off the stairway. Now he has started his own rebellion and will sometimes hide the roll! Oh, the joys of marriage!

3. I obsess about having two of everything. Two containers of formula. Two boxes of diapers. Two boxes of go-tarts (Yes, my older two eat many processed foods). I told Gary it is too expensive for all of us to go organic. I will check the kids bathroom for supplies. There has to be one that they're using and one under the sink (i.e. soap, toothpaste, seven different kinds of mouthwash, astringent pads, deodarant, hair detangler, shampoo, etc. You get the general idea!)

4. I gained an embarassingly large amount of weight during my pregnancy. It has really taken away from my happiness from being a new mom and from my marriage. I am working to get it off, but I can understand now why it is so hard and so depressing to be overweight! Please pray for me.

5. I always make supper in the morning before everybody wakes up. That way, when I get home from school, I can spend time with Emily rather than having to rush around and get dinner ready. All I have to do is put it in the oven.

6. I love the "Snapped" shows on the Oxygen network. I always dvr them so I can watch them if I have a night without the older two or sometimes watch after everybody else is in bed. Gary thinks i'm trying to get ideas for doing him in and getting away with it. I'm obsessed with these shows! Maybe it's because some days I feel like I'm going to snap!

7. Gary and I love watching HGTV. We are major House Hunters and My First Place people. We also love Designed to Sell and Hidden Potential. We think we are gathering a lot of knowledge for when we put our house on the market.

I'm supposed to pass this on and tag 7 other people. Here are the rules:
--Link to the person who tagged you.
--Post the rules in your blog entry.
--Share 7 random, or weird, facts about yourself.
--Tag 7 random people at the end of the post, linking to them.
--Leave a comment on their blog so that they know they’ve been tagged.

I tag:
Suz & the Quads
Katie Fant
Traci J.
Sara Miller
Kristen O.
Christy B.
Ashley

Pics to come later!

Random Pics of the Fam

Eating an apple with grandma...


Happy Easter!

I can say "da-da" now... Feb 08

Katie, Noah & Emily before school one a.m....

Daddy & Emily Jan 08...

Daddy tickling Emily Feb 08

Daddy & Em blowing bubbles April 08

I'm going to have to work on my editing skills...