Remember When...

Carolyn is on this "remember when" kick. She finds it fascinating that she was once a baby and loves to look at her baby pictures and have me tell her what baby foods she liked, and which clothes and toys Sidney uses that were once hers when she was a baby.

So that is how this conversation came about
Carolyn: Remember when I was a baby and I was in your belly.
Me: Yes
Carolyn: And Remember when Sidney was in your belly.
Me: Yes
Carolyn: And Remember when Rudy was in your belly.

What?? Yes Rudy was our first child but I am pretty sure he was never in my belly! She loves that little dog so much I guess she thinks I am his momma so he should have been in my belly at some point too.

And yes Rudy is wearing a necklace one of the joys of being the dog of a two year old girl I think.

Christmas

I hope everyone had a great Christmas. Once again we were missing the Carolinas but we had a wonderful Christmas in spite of that.


Reading Twas the night before Christmas with the girls on Christmas eve. A family tradition that I have done since I was a little girl.

Carolyn was so ready to go to bed that night. This is her leaving cookies for Santa and making sure that we left some cookies for her up on the counter.

Sidney with her Daddy on Christmas morning.

So Brian ended up waking Carolyn up on Christmas morning at 8 because he was too excited and she was still asleep. This is her first seeing her presents. She was a little grumpy because we woke her up but once she saw that Santa had actually come that quickly changed.

Santa brought Carolyn a Big Wheel but I think it might be awhile before she can ride it outside. They are calling for more snow this week

So excited about the Fancy Nancy Puppy Dog this is what we have been telling Crelf to tell Santa that we wanted.

Such a happy girl!!!

So by far Sidney's favorite present this year has been her drums Santa brought her.

Carolyn's has been her stuffed Dopey. She just layed on it hugging it throughout the day.

What great family memories we made!

SNOW

One thing that I will always remember about Oklahoma is the crazy weather that we have had since we have lived here. Between the tornados to the ice storms and our Christmas Blizzard I think we have seen a little bit of everything. It was so exciting for this Southerner to have, not only a White Christmas, but a White Christmas for Sidney's first Christmas.


We got to make our Christmas cookies while watching it snow outside so fun.

I am borderline Claustrophobic. So by the end of the day our window were starting to look like this and the snow was piling up to where all you could see was snow drifts as high as our windows. I started to get a little freaked out!! I know it is just snow but I just felt a little trapped. Luckily our neighbor's son shoveled a path for us and we were still able to go over to their house for a Christmas Eve gathering. After I was able to get out I felt much better!!

The snow drifts were almost as tall as Carolyn.

My cute little snow babies!!!

Santa

I didn't know how Carolyn was going to react to seeing Santa this year. She had been saying that she wanted to go see Ho Ho but saying it and actually sitting on his lap are two different things. We haven't gotten a picture with Santa since she was Sidney's age. We went yesterday and she ran up gave Santa a huge hug, sat on his lap and then had a long conversation to him. I had to put the picture in a frame once we got home and she has been talking to the picture and was all excited to tell her Daddy when he got home from work that she met Santa. Sidney kindof gave him a once over and then she was as happy as she could be as well.

6 Months

Hard to believe 6 months has already flown by. Here are her latest measurements

Height: 26 1/2 in. 75 percentile

Weight: 15 lbs 1.6 oz 40 percentile

Sidney is always squealing and babbling. She said her first word while we were in Atlanta MaMa which is so exciting to me because Carolyn didn't say MaMa for forever. She isn't scooting yet but she does do the swim when she is on her belly like she would really love to go somewhere. She is eating cereal and has tried squash, sweet potatoes and green beans. She eats pretty well but sometimes I think she could take it or leave it. She is very ticklish especially on her cheek and under her chin. She seems so dainty to me and quick to pout a lip if something upsets her. But she is still such a happy baby most of the time. O and she is finally sleeping through the night which makes this MaMa very happy!!

Cousins

We had a great time visiting family the first part of December. Although I am not ready to get back on a plane anytime soon. It was worth it to get to see these four together.


Austin was so ready for Sidney to start playing with him. I think he taught her how to say MaMa while we were there. He is on a MaMa kick and everything is MaMa and I am sure it doesn't hurt that I have been saying MaMa to her constantly.

Another shot at the Christmas card picture. I don't know if we are even going to send out cards this year. The photographer that I normally use was on her way over to my house this week when Carolyn came down with the stomach bug and got sick all over her Christmas dress. Now she is out of town until after the first of the year and I guess everyone else is a procrastinator as well because when I called picture places most were booked up. O well maybe we will do Happy New Year Cards.

Carolyn and Covey loved playing Superheros while we were there. I think one of my favorite memories from this trip will be them running around wearing the cape and wings.

One of my favorite conversations between the two of them was
Covey: I a boy and you a girl
Carolyn: No I a Sally Carolyn


What a sweet four they are!! Well most of the time...

C.R. Crelf the Elf

Meet C.R. Crelf the Elf or Crelf as we like to call him for short and yes Carolyn named him. Crelf made an appearance after Thanksgiving. If you haven't heard of the Elf on the Shelf book basicly the elf is supposed to be magical and each night he reports back to Santa on what they want and how they are behaving. In the morning he is supposed to appear in a new place. Made me feel a little big brotherish like Santa's watching. But Carolyn has loved finding him each morning and I am so happy that Santa has already bought the toy that she keeps telling Crelf she wants.



This year will be our first Christmas in our home. Brian and I have always talked about getting a huge live tree but this is the first year we have actually done it. Carolyn had alot of fun decorating and loves all the sparkliy as she calls it.

I didn't realize how hard it was going to be to get a decent picture of a 5 month and 2 year old together for our Christmas cards. I thought since Sidney is somewhat sitting up by herself it would be a little easier. Brian and I attempted twice to do this but this was as close as we got. I fly tomorrow (by myself with the girls, fingers crossed no tantrums) to go visit family in Atlanta. So I think I am going to get a professional to see if they can't do any better when we get back. Hopefully they will be this angelic on the flight for me.

Turkey Day

I would be lying if I told you I wasn't a little homesick spending Thanksgiving in Oklahoma. But we have a TON to be thankful for and I couldn't have asked for a better day.

Carolyn enjoyed watching the parade this year and how cute is this. I don't know if her daddy wants her to become a Rockett.

Brian attempted cooking a turkey for the first time. It was sooo good.

So I am proud of Carolyn's outfit one of my first attempts at being crafty. I made the shirt!

Look at my baby sitting up like a big girl. I swear I feel like time is flying by so much faster with her.

After turkey notice Brian in the background.

Baby Food

So I will admit that I really do not like the whole baby food stage. For a little while now Sidney has been staring us down while we eat like when are you going to give me some of that? My pediatrician said that I could start anywhere between 4-6 months so since Sidney is almost 5 1/2 months I figured it was time to stop procrastinating and bring on the cereal.

Sidney wasn't as eager as Carolyn was though when she first tasted cereal. Sidney really just kind of tasted it and then spit most of it back out. Whereas Carolyn ate all of her first cereal down and then wanted more.

In goes the food....

And spit it back out.

5 Months

When Carolyn was 5 months Brian was deployed. He actually left when she was 4 months and came back when she was almost 9 months. So having had him miss this stage with Carolyn makes everything even more special with Sidney.

I catch Brian having Sidney on her belly trying to encourage her to scoot which you know I am in no hurry for her to start doing. I appreciate that I need to enjoy while I can being able to lay her in one spot and know that she will still be in that spot when I come back. Sidney has started rolling from her back to her belly and even enjoys sleeping on her belly. She is always bouncing in her exersaucer or kicking on her playmat so I think when she does figure out how to move I am going to have fun.

She is still just a laid back baby who most of the time it doesn't take much to make her happy. We are so lucky!!

I love this little smile that she does. It is the I have no teeth smirk smile. So cute!

MiMi & Tom Tom

MiMi and Tom Tom came out to visit this past weekend. Carolyn had a great time getting to spend time with her grandparents and Sidney of course charmed them.

Brian and I took full advantage of having grandparents on hand. I got to go shopping for myself by myself. Then we knocked out all of Carolyn and Sidney's Christmas presents. And last night Brian and I got a much needed date night. Forgot how much I enjoy going to adult restaurants with my husband.

Carolyn has always had issues with goodbyes. This is her after Brian's parents left this morning. How pitiful is that face!!

Luckily she had her sister to cheer her up.

Trick or Treat

I just wanted to share some pictures from Trick or Treating last night. Carolyn had a great time but I still don't think she quite got the concept. She completely understands the getting candy portion it is the why we aren't visiting with the people that are giving us candy that she doesn't grasp. At one house she actually made it past the lady giving her candy to their couch and made herself at home.

Getting the first pick from the candy bowl at our house.

I love this picture because it kindof looks like Sidney is trying to wave.

Still working on the don't hit your sister with your magic wand.

Jack O Latern

We carved our pumpkin today. Carolyn wasn't too sure about sticking her hand in the pumpkin at first.

She decided to let Dad do most of the yucky work.

This is her face after she finally stuck her hand in.

The whole time we were carving our pumpkin, the one sided conversation with Carolyn went like this.

We carving a Jack O Latern momma.
My Jack O Latern scary momma.

I wanna hug him momma. I wanna give him a kiss momma.

Oooo Jack O Latern scary momma.