She was as proud as I was!

Raya is changing so quickly that I can hardly keep up. This morning I came into the living room and found her looking out the window. Apparently she can pull herself up onto things...who knew. I got the camara and took a picture really quickly and then once she saw me she was so proud...

She got her first tooth on Sunday!!! and thankfully started taking a bottle on Thursday. She has been quite picky when it comes to nursing vs a bottle but we have finally found a bottle that she will take and have now begun the weening process. About a week and a half ago she started sitting by herself (for more than a minute) without falling over and is quite enjoying this new freedom. If I can't seem to find her, I have learned that she is most likely in the bathroom pulling on the toilet paper roll and proceeding to shove it in her mouth. She is a little turkey and is offened being referred to as "Little Miss Trouble" around here. This morning at Mom and Tots she was found eating sand a few times and wasn't happy when she was moved away. I promise I feed her...ALOT.

Hallie is full of words and wisdom these days... She is quite proud to recite her 1st memory verse that Daddy taught her. It's John 3:16 and she can say the whole thing. It's so cute! She wanted her picture taken this morning with Raya so here it is...

it's great to be loved

I often wonder when the day will come when I will have some personal space. I enjoy the moments like the picture, it's the times when I can't go to the washroom alone or leave a room without being followed that makes me crave some time alone, oh and I don't dare take a bath unless I want some company (and not from Chris, although I'm sure he wouldn't complain if he was invited!). A few weeks ago, Chris took both the girls somewhere and it was the weirdest feeling being ALONE in the house. I think that since Hallie was born I could count on one hand how many times I've been alone in my house. Sure, there are times when they are sleeping and I am left alone and have some quiet time but I had forgotten what it felt like to actually be ALONE. There is actually a feeling that comes with being alone. As I write this I am glad that I am seldom alone and fearfully dread the day when I am alone more permanently. As much as I long for space sometimes, I am really grateful to be so wanted and loved by my family.

It's the small things!

Hallie received a birthday card in the mail from Chris's Auntie Wilma today. She loves getting mail. This was special mail because when she opened it, there was money inside. Her eyes were so big. I wish I would have had the camara to capture the moment when she saw it. I had plenty of opportunity to take pictures afterwards as she sat in "awe" for quite some time. She had been anticipating this card since last week when Auntie Wilma told her she would mail her something. Special thanks to Auntie Wilma for taking the time to do something simple to make Hallie's day.

I took some great video of Raya playing "peek-a-boo" today. I will have to take some pictures of her over the next few days to post. She moves so quickly it's hard to get the camara to take a picture fast enough.

OOOPPS, I did it again!

I have learned many times to NEVER SAY NEVER, especially about parenting. Well, today it rang true once more as I did something I promised myself I would never do. It all stemmed after a few days of Hallie insisting on have conversations such as this one:

Mom: It's time for lunch, sit at the table
Hallie: Why?
Mom: Because it's 12oclock and lunch is ready
Hallie: Why Mom?
Mom: Because we are going to get hungry soon.
Hallie: Why?
Mom: Because we need to eat for energy
Hallie: Why?
Mom: So that we can do fun things
Hallie: Why Mom?
Mom: Hallie, you need to sit at the table so we can have lunch
Hallie: Why
Mom: Because that is where we eat
Hallie: Why Mom?
Mom: Because it doesn't make as much mess and it shows good manners
Hallie: Why
Mom: "BECAUSE I SAID SO"

And there is the quote that I swore I'd never say to my children but after a few days of a million WHYS I just caved! I can't take it anymore!

The really crappy part is that Chris and I were just commenting the other day that she hadn't ever gone through the "why phase" that some of her friends are in right now. Apparently she heard us talking and now has figured out a great way to drive us crazy.

Bless her heart though, she smiles the cutest little smile every time she says it :)

It's going to get better

This page looks really boring and so I am going to have to spend some time "spicing it up" this weekend (in all my free time!). My sister stole the best template and there really isn't very many to choose from so I'm going to have to get my handy dandy husband (who thinks he knows a little bit about these machines) to help me.

Anyway, yesterday, as Hallie was getting close to being sold on ebay or locked in her room or recieving some other sort of creative discipline, she came over to me and said:
"Look me in the eyes Mama" so I did. Then as she stared in my eyes she said
"You're precious to me". I nearly cried.

Later in the day when she was once again pushing my buttons and following me around driving me nuts she said "I have something to tell you"

I said "What's that".

And she said "Guess what Mom?" with this silly grin on her face.

"What Hallie?" with frustration

"I think you're beautiful Mom!"

How sweet is she!

Her dad tells her everyday that she is precious and beautiful. Now we know she is listening!

We've joined the Bandwagon

Okay, I'm caving in and have obtained a blog site. First it was my brother, then some friends and now my computer illiterate sister has one....there is no excuse for me!!

I have to admit I am semi-anti these things as I can't stand how much our society relies on computers and I don't want this to become my only form of communication between friends and family. However, that being said, I can appreciate the convenience of how easy it is to allow people who are important to us to have an occasional glimpse into our lives through a blog site. So.....HERE IT IS.

This will mainly be for blogging about our sweet little girls (or not so sweet if we take a look back at yesterday....which could be a 3 page blog in itself :) ) that are changing by the day and growing faster than we ever thought possible.

Enjoy!