Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! These were the pictures that we had made at Penney's for Alex's 5 month birthday!
So much sibling love!We had a great Valentine's weekend, although not at all typical. Since Friday was the day closest to Valentine's at school, we had our party Friday afternoon. Then Friday evening, Randy beat me home, so he fixed some lasagna for us. Can you believe he actually cooked 3 times this week????

Saturday morning we got to sleep in, yea! Then Randy & his friend Dion went to the gun show while I stayed home with the kids and got a little house cleaning done. I know it sounds strange, but I really do feel better when I have gotten the house picked up a little. For lunch we all met up with a friend of mine from high school & college, Erik, and his wife Jeannette and his mom, Liz. We had a great time catching up and enjoying Spring Creek Bar-Be-que, yum! Then Saturday evening it was time to catch up with some more friends. We headed over to Phillip & Tiff's to play with Austin & Hailey. The moment we get to the house Riley takes off and he and Austin have a ball all night. They were still going strong at 10:30, when we left last night. They play so well together. No fighting and Austin teaches Riley manners! I love it! While the kids were playing we spent time catching up with Phillip & Tiffany, and Amy & Dion. I so enjoy spending time with them. I just wish that they didn't live in Mansfield and South Arlington.

Sunday morning we again slept in. This time we were bad, though, and skipped church. We got up and did a little more house cleaning and just general hanging out. Then the kids and I headed over to a 1st birthday party for the daughter of the girl that teaches next door to me. First parties are always so cute as you looked back over how much they have changed. Riley again had a ball playing with all the kids. They had a huge game of football going on in the front yard. I tried to take pictures, but of course, my battery was dead on the camera! After the party was over, we head home to watch the first Nascar race of the season, Daytona! It was a pretty good race, even though it ended early with the rain. Neither mine, Kasey Kahne, or Randy's, Carl Edwards, drivers won, but it was still good. Then tonight we took the kids over to my mom & dad's for our Sunday night reprieve. This lets me get one night of sleep uninterrupted. Somehow I always have plans of coming home and getting the house all completely cleaned up. But so far that hasn't happened. Usually I just fall asleep and watch uninterrupted TV. But overall it was a great weekend with lots of time with friends and each other. Just no sappy candelight dinners, who wants to wait 2 hours for a table anyway!

We've got soccer fever!

It all started with Riley getting a soccer set for Christmas...

Then we decided that we should sign him up for league soccer at the YMCA. He was so excited the whole way to sign up. Unfortuately he was terribly disappointed that he did not get to play that day. The coaches' meeting is Feb. 19 and then we will get a call sometime that next week to let us know about practices. Then the first game is March 7. He can't wait! While Randy was working late tonight, I decided to show Riley what real soccer looked like. Matthew (Tracey, our babysitter's son,) had an indoor soccer game. I figured what a great way to introduce him to the game without having to freeze ourselves outside. He was so excited to go. On the way there, he asked me who was going to win. I told him that I didn't know until after the game was played. Then he told me that Matthew was going to win because he is the best! Well he was right, Matthew's team did win!! OK it was a total blowout! But Riley got so excited when Matthew scored a goal. He was jumping up and down. I have to admit that I can't wait to watch my son play sports. Now I don't have super expectations for this first season. I know that there will be a lot of just running around and getting confused, but I can't wait to see my son in a uniform! I'm so glad I had a boy first!!

Beginning of the End

With much sadness, I have come to the conclusion that I am going to start the weaning process. In approximately 2-3 weeks, my little girl will be drinking nothing but formula. It is a sadness because I am not quite ready to let go of this process. I know that drinking breast milk is supposed to be so much better for her and will hopefully be passing on as many antibodies as I can make. But the milk just simply isn't there anymore. I really shouldn't be sad. I can list SEVERAL selfish reasons to stop. More time, I can drink as much caffeine as I want, and did I mention more time! But I will also lose my excuse for watching General Hospital every day. I have been recording it, so that I have something to do while I am attached to the pump. One more bad thing, now I will have to watch what I eat. I won't be burning a zillion calories a day any more! So let's focus on the good- more time and bring on the drinks!

Tummy Time!

Having fun playing on my mat!

5 months old

Alexandra turned 5 months old today. We went and had pictures made with 'Bubba' at JC Penneys. As usual I was disappointed. Not in the photographer, but that my children wouldn't give those amazing smiles that show their dimples. I just have too high of expectations. Either way I still ordered $70 worth of pictures. I will post them when they come in 10 days from now! That is why I am spoiled with Kiddie Kandids and Picture People. I like instant gratification.

Back to Alex...According to my scales, she weighs 13.6 pounds and has fat rolls all over her adorable little legs. She can roll to her stomach, but not back over yet. She is eating CONSTANTLY right now. My milk can not keep up with her...I feel full formula coming on. She is still waking up at night and keeping me sleep deprived. I would let her cry it out, but honestly she acts like she is starving as she sucks down a full bottle in the middle of the night.

We have started cereal, although not very successfully. She is doing lots of tongue thrusting with the food, so very little is actually going into her stomach. Most of it is all over her. She doesn't seem to much care for the taste either. Any suggestions????

This week she moved into 3-6 months clothes! Yea, all new clothes! But it is still sad to pack away some of my favorite from her 0-3 months stage. My baby is getting so big!

Riley's language!

I finally caught Riley in action with his airplane.


Last weekend, we went to my best friend son's 2nd birthday. Riley was so cute and as always had no trouble making friends. While we were there we exchanged the kid's Christmas presents. Riley got a Handy Manny tool set. He was so excited. One of the pieces was a part that makes into a drill. To Riley this looks like a screw. On Sunday morning we are getting dressed and Riley comes up behind me. He put the "screw" part to my back and says "Screw you!" Not having the heart to tell him that it was really bad words,
I just laughed.

Red Shoes to a funeral

Mamaw's funeral was really nice. Many of the people wore red shoes as a special tribute to her. It was absolutely wonderful. That even seemed to be the underlying message in Mike McKee, our minister's, message. The red shoes seemed to describe Mamaw's vibrant personality and strong faith. I know she must have been smiling to see it.

The kids were really good considering all the strangers, to them, and having to sit still for so long. Although in children fashion, Alex finally got hungry during the service and quickly sucked down the bottle. She then started screaming until we could get another one made. Again our minister was wonderful, he told me not to worry about the baby, to just stay in the service. Then Riley needed to go to the bathroom. But everything worked out fine.