Happy Halloween!

It's been a busy day, but most importantly we spent the last few hours over at our friends Amy and Dawsons' house.  We thought about taking the kids out trick or treating but ended up having much more fun sitting on the porch visiting and checking out all the costumes.

Lily and Dawson even tried to put candy it the trick-or-treaters' bags.  Though costumes with masks scared Lily quite a bit. :(  They did quite well.

Hope your Halloween was spook-tacular!

We're Home

Safe and sound.


I still have to upload the pics from the camera to the computer, but they're coming! :)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Even More DC

We went on a staff tour of the Capitol Building today, coordinated by our host through the House Majority Leader's office. Talk about lucky timing, Steny Hoyer just happened to be walking through the offices as we were checking in and stopped to say hi.

The tour was great. And then we walked across the street and saw the reading room of the Library of Congress. So beautiful.

Let's Write

Lily loves to draw and write. The other day Mom noticed Lil taking her time before getting to business, trying to get her pencil just right.

Chech this out:






She already holds a writting implement propperly!

Where does she get this stuff?!


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Rain and Shopping

It's raining today!

So we elected to sleep late and make today a shopping day. After all, I had never been to Bloomingdales. ;) I was in the market for a pair of brown shoes but ended up with a new hat instead... life is so rough.

More DC

We walked the Mall and saw the Capitol Building and the Whitehouse today. (from the outside) Lily was a trooper and did most of the walking herself!

Looking forward to sharing pictures.

Washington DC

Mom's never been to Washington DC before. One might say it's on her "bucket list." And since she's over here on the east coast we though we should make a trip up. Our friends, the Cooks, are kind enough to put us up for the week and so we have arrived in our nation's capitol today.

Please forgive me for the sparce posts this week. I'll share lots of pictures when we get back next week!

Your Attention Please

I would like to announce that Baby White #2 is a boy!

We had our ultrasound appointment last night (yeah I said night, silly military facilities) and at first we were having some trouble seeing baby's gender because the umbilical cord was running right between his legs.  But after a few measurements and some moving around we got a pretty decent shot.

Thank you, Mr Ultrasound Tech, for the helpful circle. ;)

Mom called it right for the second time in a row!  Lily has no clue, but will point to my stomach if you ask her where our baby is.  And Jacob sounded pretty pleased when I got to talk to him on the phone breifly this morning.

So now we have one of each... and I have to do some shopping for boy clothes!

Once Upon A Time...

... when we were out shopping we tried a snow suit on Lily, because she is so darn cute!

It's not as if she'll ever need a snow suit for anything.  It doesn't snow that much here at Ft Bragg and we will Christmas in California.  But it was fun to just play dress up for a moment. :)

Gramma's Here!

It didn't take long for Lily to warm up to Gramma.  Especially when she realized Gramma would take her for walks...

... or take her to play outside on the slides and swings!

It was a very full and busy day, with two parks, a trip to JoAnn's and the commissary, Dawson and Amy over for dinner and a walk afterwards.  Lily was trying so hard to keep going but was sooooo ready for bed tonight! 

Night Off

Mom got here safe and sound this evening. :)

I'm taking the night off to hang out with her.

She Impresses Me

She impresses me.  14 blocks!  And it didn't fall until she tried to get the 15th block up there. :) Though it sure looks precarious.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love that girl?  She cracks me up, delights me, and exhausts me in equal measures.  Her latest favorite game is to put her hat on and say "Bye" until I pay attention to her.  I say g'bye and she says "See you." and walks down the hall, to return a few seconds later saying "Hi!"

A Little Purging

I attacked my closet today. I managed to fill a nice big box with clothes that somehow never seem to make it out the door. You know, the ones I'm talking about. That shirt that just isn't quite long enough but you hang it back up anyway because its so cute. Or the yummy sweater that just doesn't go with any of your pants/skirts but the fabric is so nice. Oh and of course the "skinny clothes" that you are just waiting to get back into....

I think we must all have some of those!

I think it was a bit easier to do today since I know I won't be fitting into any of it this season or next! And I was careful to make sure the pieces I do normally wear (and love) got set aside for next year. But anything I didn't wear last year... went right into the box!

Now, to drop the box off at Goodwill. I'm sure it will ride around in my car for ages before I actually get around to it! One step at a time. :)

Eh

Not much exciting today.

Went to church and the commissary, so at least I accomplished something.

Lily's been testing boundaries. She refused to eat the veggie-burgers I made for dinner. After enough whining I gave in and fed her peanut butter crackers. I fail.

Just found out we won't have Jackson tomorrow... guess I better make a run out to do errands while I just have one kid.

Oh, and my mom is coming on Wednesday! I can hardly wait!

What Did You Just Say?

I was trying to maintain my sanity a couple of days ago, doing chores and trying to giving Lily enough attention to keep her happy, (no easy feat) so I started counting out loud to ten.  About the third time through I had to stop and listen.  Lily was actually saying something back…

My kid can count even numbers to ten… how funny is that?!

I swear, I have no clue how she learned them.  I did not teach them to her deliberately. 

But, as you can tell from the first half of that clip, we’re working on getting the odds in there too now.

(Did she say thank you at the end, when I told her she did a good job?)

Halloween Party

We had our 1-508th Halloween Party this evening. Each company had an activity for the kids. Alpha Company was in charge of pictures. Which is totally fine... except that the wind was just strong enough to blow my lighting, backdrop and supports over, and over, and over. Eventually I gave in and took it all down. :(

We moved the hay bales and pumpkins in front of some trees.

I tried not to get too many cars in the backgrounds....

Lily even got a crack at the "under five" pinata. Though she only picked up three pieces of candy, she came home with plenty. Lily's friend Kade (center, with the black wig and shades) made sure her candy bucket was full. So Sweet!

And how's this for flattering? Tinkerbell wanted her picture with Snow White.

That costume was a whole lot looser last year!

Somersault

Lily did a somersault today!

She likes to do the yoga pose called downward-facing-dog a lot. Lately its been on her head and feet instead of hands and feet. And today she went over the top.

I'm sure she didn't mean to, but she loved it and tried to do it over and over again. Getting sloppier and sloppier each time. :)

Not sure she'll remember how tomorrow, but it sure was fun for the moment!

Naked Kid

Lil has been working her way down to one nap a day. (oddly enough it is at about 10 o'clock when she just got up at seven!) But today I think she played through naptime. She was tired and cranky at four this afternoon so I tried to put her down again. She was pretty quiet for about 20 minutes... I went to peek in at her and found a naked baby in the crib. Again.

Anytime I put her down and she doesn't want to nap she goes straight for the clothes. We even had company this evening, and every other time I'd look over at her she'd be trying to take her shirt off.

Anyone else have this kind of kid? Any ideas on how to keep her clothes on?

Why Do I Bother?

Why do I refrain from talking on my cell phone when driving on post? Why do I bother to follow the ridiculously slow speed limits on post?

Not many other people seem to bother.

What's the point of those rules if no one pays any attention to them!?

Sometimes I hate driving.

What a Difference a Year Makes!

Those chubby cheeks are just about gone now. Very little chub left on my girl!

Oh I'm so glad her hair has grown so quickly!

Throckmorton Park

We had to get out of the house today, we were driving each other crazy. And, no, church and the commissary doesn't count as going out apparently.

So we went to Throckmorton Park for about two hours.

Lily has no fear of the slide. Doesn't matter if I'm watching or not. Seems like its always the first thing she goes for.

She doesn't need me but to drive her there... then she's good:

Bye Lily, have fun!

Afraid

No... make that terrified.

Of all the things to be afraid of, Lily is terrified of public restrooms.

Yesterday we were in Macy's and I took Lil to the restroom to change her diaper. There was no one else there, as it was the middle of the afternoon on a weekday. She whimpered on the changing table the whole time... that is, when she wasn't saying "Ow, ow, ow" which I've learned is code for "I'm distressed."

We went to Target earlier today and I had to make a pit stop. As soon as we walked in sight of the restroom door she started whimpering in my arms. There were lots of people. The moment we got into a stall she started to cry. The stall next to us flushed and she started screaming. And she didn't stop until we got back out of the restroom. Poor baby.

I'm such a stud, I took care of business without ever putting the kid down. Not that she'd have let me if I tried....

But I couldn't help but wonder what the other people in the bathroom must have thought.

The "M" Word

Thank you Kelly, for reminding me to tell you about our first incident with the "m" word.

Dawson and Amy were over one night this week for dinner. D and L play so nicely, but at one point Lil started shrieking something that sounded like, "mine, mine, mine!" (think of the gulls in Finding Nemo, only way high pitch) Amy and I were baffled. Neither of us uses that word with the kids, we always say "that belongs to so-and-so" or "that isn't yours." And we've never heard her use it before. But it sure sounded like she knew what she was saying.

The next morning, Lily and I were watching Sesame Street (an episode we have seen a few times) when what do I hear, but our beloved Big Bird spouting, "mine." Along with a myriad of other characters who are suffering from a case of Mine-itis. And then it dawned on me.

Sesame Street taught my daughter the word "MINE!"

There is a lesson in the end... the cure for Mine-itis is to have a grouch share with you. But Lily doesn't get or understand that yet. She just saw people saying the word "mine" and snatching things away from someone else.

I'm only slightly miffed. We won't be watching that episode for a while.

Temper, Temper

I have these darling little ice cream cups I got in a tiny shop in Germany. You know, the kind of thing that I’ll never be able to replace?

They are the perfect size for Lily to hold in her hand. I’ve never hesitated to let Lily use them for her Cheerios or snacks. She’s even really good with our everyday stoneware.

However, today when I told Lil she couldn’t have any more fish crackers (she’s been eating all. day. long.) she threw one of my darling little cups in my general direction.

It hit the floor… and made me sad.

Guess we’ll be using plastic bowls for a while.

Bouncy?

What happens when I bring out the baby toys for Jackson to play with? Lily demands to use them too….

She doesn’t hardly fit, and certainly can’t bounce!

The distress on her face is not because she's stuck or uncomfortable but because I told her it was time to get out, it was Jack’s turn.

Let's Compare

I do believe I am roughly half way through my pregnancy. Just for fun let's look at Sara at 20 weeks pregnant with Lily and compare it to now:

today (left) vs 20 weeks prengant with Lily (right)

Interesting... dare I say I think was bigger last time?

I definitely have a better bra this time around! ;)

Thank You

...for reading my blog.

Yes, you.

I get about twenty hits a day, and while I realize three of those are Mom, that means there are still about seventeen of you out there reading.

Thank you to my dear friends and family. I like being able to keep in touch with you this way and I love reading your blogs too!

And thank you to my friends' readers who link through from their pages. See, I know all about you, since my mom reads all my friends' blogs too. :)

Thank you, particularly those people in places that make me wonder who you are... Rugby, Warwickshire and Tauberbischofsheim, Baden-Wurttemberg and Winter Park, Florida and Shippensburg, Pennsylvania... for example.

And special thanks, of course, to my reader in Afghanistan.

I can't believe you all "listen" to me ramble! ;) I'll be here at least another 87 consecutive days.

(Please, consider this your invitation to be a commenter.) :)

Mmm, Beans

This girl loves her beans and cheese! (She does a lot of shirtless eating... I just find it easier to clean up.)

That is real bean enthusiasm there... eyelashes and all!

Aunt Awesome, a chariot is such a romantic idea, I love it! Now I know how you got your name! Do you have a cape pattern? ;)

I think I have decided I will get the sit and stand stroller, or one like it at any rate, but not right away. I have a little time. :) And I just spent a bunch of money today on plane tickets home for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I feel like I need to give the plastic a little break.

Silly Girl

She's recently discovered how to pull the front of her shirt over her head. Sometimes she gets stuck... kind of like this: And her mean mommy makes her wait while I get the camera, take her picture and then help her get unstuck!

Torn

I'm of two minds.

On the one hand, I try not to buy every child product out there on the market... just because they tell you that you need it. We never bought a highchair, we never needed a bedside-cosleeper or a bassinet. Lily doesn't have a plastic fisher-price house or climbing structure in the backyard. We try to make do with a little bit less, putting her crib or the pack-n-play in our room for the first few months, using the infant seat or booster seat at the table during feeding time, playing on the park structures or pretending with sheets and chairs.

But sometimes its really nice to have that new-fangled and highly touted thingamajig. The bumbo is fun, and we loved our jungle bouncer. Sometimes those things just make life easier. Lil could be upright to play while I made dinner, before she could sit by herself or get around on her own.

Well, I've found a new stroller that I think I want but I'm not sure which category it falls into... the frivolous or the handy. And I'm hoping you'll weigh in on the decision.

You see, I am considering buying a sit and stand stroller.

While Amy and I were out shopping with the kids and only one stroller we discovered it'd have been nice to speed things up a bit if one of them didn't have to walk. And stop. And check things out. And turn the wrong way. You get the picture. And then I started thinking about going out with my two and trying to keep Lil on track. (I checked into it and the sit and stand I am looking at fits our infant seat.)

So I am torn. Is it just another thing, and is it wasteful when I could just use our current stroller for new baby and chase after the Lilster? Or would it be super convenient and totally useful?

Lily Takes My Picture

Sorry, this one is mostly for Daddy and the Grammas.  That and I had to show you her silly little pig tails. :)