More from our photo party

Four year check

Poor Reese had the dreaded four year check up today. I've heard over and over how bad they can be. Stories of children being held down by two people etc. I started preparing Reese a week ago for it by telling her what would happen. She seemed unfazed by the idea of getting shots. We get there today and I tell her again what will happen...the nurse will see her first, then the doctor, then the shots. She was FINE during the entire appointment but when our doctor left she got a little scared. I reminded her that it would only hurt for a second. Then I had to hold my sweet baby down and look at her scared little face for shots. (I quietly thanked God that my children aren't sick and getting shots, IVs, and things like this aren't in the norm for us) Then it was over. She didn't shed ONE tear. She was scared but didn't actually cry. Yay!! We celebrated with some strawberry ice cream.

On a different note, Reese is a totally different kid. Its amazing. She wouldn't stop talking the entire time at the doctor. She then stopped and talked to about two nurses telling them that she got her shots but was strong and courageous (Joshua 1:9) LOL! Even our favorite nurse said "I know those girls and they don't usually talk this much." Its so cute to see her personality change over this last year.

I still can't believe I have a four year old. Sigh...


(and on to Saige...the is basicly potty trained. Yay! We have gone to the store, church, park, MOPS all in panties with no accidents. So excited that I am now done buying diapers. Not pull ups but diapers. WOO HOO!!)

Potty Training Tales

We've been trying to potty train Saige a little more. It was so easy with Reese because we didn't go as many places. We stayed home for a week and we did it. Done. But with Saige we have to go to dance, school, mops, church, etc. I feel like something is always coming up and we aren't getting to spend that time doing it. So little by little we're getting there.

At home she wears panties or nothing. Its so much easier because it helps her become more aware of what is happening. The other day she walked up to me completely naked and said "I think I'm going to poop on your floor" I quickly looked for poop on the floor (assuming she already pooped ON the floor) and put her on the potty. I could see (TMI Warning) that she was about to go and stopped herself (Go saige) but then she wouldn't go on the potty. I tried telling her to squeeze the nugget out (LOL) and she now walks around saying I think a nugget is going to come out. So glad I taught her that!


Today we spent the whole day in panties because shes done so great!! We went for a walk and she didn't have any panties on-just her dress. We stopped to chat and Aaron played basketball with the dad. Saige PEED in their yard. Lifted her dress and squatted and peed! OH MY WORD! She was so proud that she went. I was so embarrassed.

Oh the joys of being a mom!

Happy Birthday Sweet Reese

My Reese is FOUR! Oh my, where does the time go?!?! I've loved watching this sweet baby grow into a sweet girl.

Reese has one of the softest hearts of any child. She is so compassionate and sweet to others. She plays well with other kids but also likes being alone.

At four years old you ...
know all your letters
love to play games and read books
love to draw pictures and color
love playing animals and pretending to BE the animals
love being a princess and playing princess's
love being outside
eating sweets
going to school
snuggling in bed with mommy
I can't wait to see what the following year brings us.

Here are a few pictures of Reese from before birth to now...

me pregnant with Reese on the way to the hospital September 19th 2006



Reese as a newborn



Reese at 3 months old


Reese at 6 months old



Reese at 1 year old


Reese at 2 years old



Reese at 3 years old




Reese at 4 years old

Monkey Bizness

Here are some shots from Reese's birthday party day! We had the party at Monkey Bizness and invited all her little friends.

Here's my sweet girl on her birthday party day! I LOVE this cute little skirt we bought her. She looks so grown up! And check Saige out-she was pouting because she didn't want to stand by Reese. Classic! (and Saige asked for a ponytail! These girls are getting SO big!)



It seems the big slide was the hit. There was a constant train of kids going up and down!!




Cake time!! We did her cake at HEB this year and it was very yummy! Saige actually ate her cake and then grabbed Reese's and gobbled it down. She was literally the last one sitting there when everyone had left the room and the people were trying to mop! She was still eating cake! Reese was thrilled that the cake had real princess's on it! (score for HEB)

I don't have a picture but we did the cutest party favors. I got clear cellophane bags and put Reese's pieces and Reese's peanut butter cups in them, tied them off with tulle, and then had cards with a "thanks" and princess Belle stamped on them. I also strung through silly bands for the kids. Reese stamped the cards for me. We had a lot of fun making them together.






We had the grandparents and cousins and a few friends over to open presents. Reese got some great Barbies, princess dolls, lip gloss, purse, shoes, clothes, necklace, game, puzzle, kid camera, fur real pet, ponies, books, and probably some more things I'm not remembering. So many fun toys!!

Meet Sammy

Reese's teachers sent home a bag and inside the bag was a binder, a book called "My class pet Sammy" and then Sammy! Reese was the first to take Sammy home. We were to read the book, take good care of Sammy and then to tell ALL about what we did. The binder had a special sheet in it to tell the parents how important reading is and some of the pre-reading skills kids at this age develop. Reese drew a picture of Sammy that she was very proud of. When her teacher asked if Reese wanted to take him home she told them no because our dogs might eat him! LOL

We took Sammy to the Children's Museum and to eat at Pappas. Lucky Pig!! It was lots of fun!

Dancing

Reese's latest thing is dancing. She likes for us to turn on the music channel and she dances away!

Saige isn't...

TALKING. IN SCHOOL. Say what?

Around 7 months old Saige started saying words. At first I thought it was just me thinking that I heard a "mama" or an "uh oh" and I didn't tell anyone because I didn't want to be "that" mom and I wasn't 100% it was even happening. But she did. By 12 months she was talking in 3-4 word sentences. By 16 months she was talking as well as Reese. Shes always been the life of the party. Loud, oh so loud. There are times I can't hear myself think. I just want to beg for 5 minutes of silence. She has always been a little...well...wild too. Climbs on tables, hits, pushes, pitches (you name it). Just a very strong willed, expressive child.

I just knew putting in her mothers day out would be a trip. I was expecting them to tell me she gave someone a black eye on the first day. Don't get me wrong shes precious and sweet but she doesn't put up with it either. She fights back when needed. If she wants something she gets it. Shes just a more aggressive and very emotional child. I wonder where she gets that from...

So on the first day I hear a wonderful report. She was the only one who didn't cry (go Saige) and she had a great day and was very sweet. Oh course she was :) Shes a sweet child. But I thought...hmm...until someone takes her baby away or something.

But after a few times I asked if Saige was talking yet (because her loud voice is really too cute to hear. She can have a conversation with you and you'll swear shes 5 and not 2) but they said they haven't heard a peep.

HUH?

Nothing?

From SAIGE??

I find it rather funny that my little wild child is so quiet at school. Maybe she'll warm up and start talking soon because if there is one thing I know about Saige is there isn't a shy bone in her body.

She rocks!

Mother of the year...

We went to eat dinner with some good friends on Saturday night. It was the most perfect place for small children. They had horses, goats, donkeys and chickens to feed (behind a fence of course), a LARGE open area for kids to run around and a huge sand box. The weather was even nice enough to enjoy being outside. Thank you Jesus.

There was a mechanical zebra to ride for 50 cents. We were sitting right by it. I bet I would only need to take two steps to get to it. Saige had started climbing up on it and was half way hanging on saying "help me" in her sort of fake "I know what I'm doing" kind of way. This lady rushes to Saige's side as if she was going to fall to her sudden death. It was very comical and abrupt at the same time. I smiled nicely and told the lady that Saige was ok. Aaron chimes in with something smart :)!!

A little later Saige was at the table and our friends said to Saige "did you eat a crayon today" right when that lady walked by us. I'm sure the was thinking "YOU let her eat crayons too?" I bet she was asking for CPS's number right away.

To top the night off Saige was nibbled on by the goat and painted her face with lip gloss.

I sure love that little Saige!

First day of preschool!

Today my sweet babies went to mothers day out and preschool. Last night we had to do some "homework" for their classes. We had to get some pictures of the girls, family, our house etc and glue them on a paper and house that we decorated. It was super fun and very cute. I found a picture of Saige with baby Abby so I printed that out for her. She was SO excited when she saw the picture. When I cut the picture and put glue on it she flipped out. She started shaking her head no and said DON'T! LOL! It was so funny that she didn't understand what we were doing.

This morning when Reese woke up we asked her if she was ready for school and she said YES and was jumping off the walls all morning. Saige snuggled up with her daddy this morning and told me "no thank you" when I asked her the same question. Uh oh!

We got them dressed (matching of course), backpacks ready and off we went. We dropped Reese off first so Saige could see that it wasn't a big deal. Reese's teacher met all the parents at the door and I could tell she didn't want us in the room. Saige then walked down the hall, which is sort of a big deal since she likes to be carried like a baby EVERYWHERE, but when we got to her room things changed. Aaron took her hand and tried to walk her in to her room and she stomped her foot and screamed a LOUD NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO and tried to hide behind me. I picked her up and took her inside and showed her the room. She was a tiny bit teary eyed but went straight to her teacher and was fine.

I came home to a very very quiet house. I would like to say I missed them like crazy but to be honest the break was really nice. I was able to clean without feeling bad about not playing with the girls. I was able to do laundry without it being knocked over. I was able to WATCH tv for a while and I talked on the phone.

I was happy to see my babies at 1:00 though. Their teachers said they had a great day. Reese's teacher said she talked nonstop!!! I was so happy to hear that. She didn't speak one single word for over a month in her class last year. Her teacher said she told lots of stories. That scares me a little LOL!!

Saiges teacher said she was a "rock". She said she didn't cry one bit and that she played with the babies all day. She said Saige changed her diapers, fed her babies, rocked her babies. Thats my sweet Saige! She LOVES a baby!

The girls said they loved their school and want to go back. THey seemed very happy and I am so glad they are going. I really think preschool is wonderful!
Here's to a great school year!

Races

We had so much fun the other day racing down the driveway. Maybe not the safest thing ever but we let the kids do it. Saige's little car was seriously so fast we couldn't get a picture fast enough because we had to catch her at the end of the driveway.