What Goes Up Must Come Down

Emilee has started to get a little more adventurous now that she is walking, and has taken to climbing into any bucket, basket, or bookshelf she can find. Here she is trying to figure out how to climb into her tool table.

So funny to see her try to get that little leg up.

Finally in and sitting pretty!

Now how do I get out?

Head first of course!

Ta Da!

No new adventure is complete without Uniqua.

And just so Wesley doesn't feel left out - how cute is that chubby little face after his bath!

I've solved the problem of Emilee taking over Wes's tummy time blanket by putting two down. Now they each have one. Good grief!

This picture cracks me up for several reasons. Wes was really tired and fighting sleep as he usually does, so he looks totally out of it, and Em heard him crying and left him Pablo to make him feel better.

And on a completely different topic - I made home made pizza last week all by myself. Well, almost by myself, if you don't count the 3 phone calls to Val for additional pizza making guidance. It was delish and I might even make it again. I just might be getting a little bit more interested in this cooking thing...

One Of Those Days...

Yesterday was a little crazy. Wesley screamed and wanted to be held all morning, so that left Emilee free to roam about the house as she pleased. I thought I had securely closed all the doors in the hallway, but I guess I missed Wes's room, because this is what greeted me when I went to go change him.


Tremendous - Happy Monday Morning to me.


Emilee was on a roll, because this is what greeted me when I go back from changing Wesley - again - this boy is like his own sewage factory - ewwww. We were in the middle of having lunch and I left her glass a little to close to her chubby little hands, and when I came back she was having a ball playing in her own personal splash pad. We were trying to get out the door for her ENT checkup yesterday afternoon and it seemed like I was never going to be able to get them both clean, changed, and ready to go on time. Huge shout out of thanks to Val for watching Wes while I took Em to the Dr!

So we get to the ENT and Em proceeds to scream for the next hour - she was tired and didn't like people messing with her ears. Not that I can blame her - I would probably feel the same way. Poor thing still has little bitty ear canals that get a ton of wax stuck in them - not pretty. After holding down a screaming 19 month old for 30 minutes I was beat, but all was forgiven when Em got a sticker on the way out and gave smiles all around.

This morning started out much better. Wesley was in a much better mood, and Em was looking for ways to help with little brother. Here she is giving him little pats to help him go to sleep. Apparently she got a little bored with that and thought...


...hmmmm -I wonder if I can do the same thing with my foot.


Em must have magic feet. Wesley is asleep. Hallelujah!

Here With Your Friends...

...The Backyardigans!

Emilee loves the show The Backyardigans and will run from any corner of the house to the living room when she hears their theme song play. Which has actually been quite handy with Wes, because I am usually stuck on the couch holding him trying not to move and wake him up. When I can't hear where she is and I'm not sure what she is getting into, I use their theme song as my last resort to summon her to me. David surprised her one day and brought her home Pablo, and he has been her best buddy ever since.


They go everywhere together! Please note that Em is only allowed her binky at nap and bedtime. However, she is clever and throws (hides) her binky out of her crib before I get her up. After she is out of bed and I am busy doing something else, she will sneak back in her room and retrieve the hidden binky. Please also take note of her shoes - toddler Vans courtesy of counsin/aunt Jen! Love them!



Here she is with her Pablo once again and her little music pod that plays songs from the Backyardigans. I don't know what we were thinking when we bought that!

Em has Daddy wrapped around her chubby little finger. She convinced him to get her Uniqua while they were out running errands. Lucky girl!


Here she is with her two buddies!



This picture cracks me up for several reasons. The main one being that I had just placed this blanket on the floor for Wes so he could get some tummy time in, and as I turn to get him off the couch, little Em plants her rump right in the middle and is so pleased with herself she can hardly stand it.


She then precedes to flap the sides of the blanket back and forth wanting it to take flight... Needless to say Wes had to wait for his tummy time.

Here he is finally on the floor all by himself.





This is my favorite! He's asleep after downing his bottle and I'm not holding him!!! This is huge as David has been out of town all week and Emilee started throwing up Wednesday morning. It has been quite the juggling act trying to keep these two happy. David gets home tonight and I am so ready for a break. Whew!

Hangin' Out

Nothing real new going on around here. Here's an update on what the dynamic duo is up to.




Wesley got a swing - and he sleeps in it! Thank the stars above! He's a little high maintenance and always wants to be held when sleeping during the day, so this is a great alternative.



He loves to hang out on his activity mat and is even grabbing at the rings and holding on to them.




I had to take a picture real quick - rarely does this kiddo put on a content baby face.


Although he is getting more smiley, which helps out weigh the constant crying.


This is typical Wes. One sock on, one sock off, and the expression of "When is my next bottle being delivered?"



While we were busy with Messy Wessy, Emilee decided to woo her a boyfriend. Here's Austin trying to make his move on my daughter in front of the fridge on the kitchen floor. I told Em to hold out for a play date!



Emilee has also become a dog whisperer (chaser) and loves to harass Loretta when visiting the farm. Emilee is so happy to see Loretta. I just don't think that the feeling is mutual...

I decided it was time for Em to sit at the table when eating to try to learn some manners. She took no elbows on the table to a whole new level when she decided to prop her feet up on it. Apparently 18 month olds are not so great on the whole listening thing.


And of course, this is the look that I got when I tried to explain the situation. Huh?



Big Sister Em has been doing much better with Wesley around. Although it looks like she is trying to beat him, she is actually helping me give him "pats" on his back to help him stop crying. She even tried to give him her prized Pablo from Backyardigans to calm him down. Emilee also helps me burp him after he eats. However, she will "burp" anyone that turns their back to her. She has "burped" people in the hallway at church, the grocery store, and apparently she did it to several kids in nursery. Never a dull moment...


Here is Emilee trying to be a helper again. She was pushing Wes in the rocker, but I had to put a stop to that when she kept on pushing him into the wall and thought it was funny.


And here they are, the dynamic duo has survived another month!

Shhhhhhhh!

The sun, moon, and stars must have aligned because both Em and Wes are asleep! Wooo Hooo!

Tagged

I got tagged by Jessica. Here ya go...


4 Things You May Not Know About Me:

• I was captain of my High School Swim Team
• I can't have the ceiling fans on the super fast setting because I am afraid it will spin out of control and take my head off. I know - totally irrational - but I can't help it.
• My mom died of cancer when I was 15
• I hate cooking. Don't know why, I just do. It is like pulling teeth to get me to make a meal. Poor David is stuck with doing most of the cooking, but he's great at it so it all works out. He cooks and I clean!

4 Places I Go Over and Over:

• Target
• Wal-Mart
• The laundry room
• Half-Price Books

4 People That Email Me:

• Amy
• David
• Elizabeth
• Melissa

4 of My Favorite Foods:

• Hot Chocolate (really any kind of chocolate)
• Chicken Parmesan from Cheesecake Factory
• David's grilled salmon
• Brushetta shrimp from Pappadeaux

4 Places I'd Love to Be:

• Fiji
• Germany
• Barnes & Noble
• Hawaii

4 Movies I Watch Over and Over

• The Princess Bride
• Return To Me
• Ever After
• Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

4 People I'm Tagging:

• Amy G.
• Rene
• Sarah
• Alex

Girl's Night

Okay - I'll admit it - my children are starting to wear on me a little and I need a time out. Girl's Night Out tonight at the La Madeline across from Stonebriar @ 7:00. See you there!

Psych!

Can not wait for this to come back on! This show cracks me up!

Wesley!

How cute is that little face! Wesley is starting to smile, and I just love that he can express something other than the sad pouty face that he and Emilee share. They both do the bottom lip quiver thing and it is so sad. We love to see him smile!!

On a little bit of a side note, this is my new midnight snack. I know I shouldn't, but I can't help myself! Wes is still dealing with some tummy issues (although they are vastly improved after switching to a ridiculously expensive formula) and this is what keeps me going at midnight. This is also why I don't think we'll ever be able to leave Texas - I can't love without my Blue Bell!

Please take note of the chunks of buttery crust that are dispersed throughout this frozen treat. And as I told Renee the other night, I'm not sharing - please go and get your own, you won't regret it!

What A Difference A Year Makes

As many of you probably know, fourth of July 2007 was kinda a mess for us. David has a history of becoming freakishly ill on Thanksgiving, so when we found ourselves in the ER last year with him not being able to breathe, on yet another holiday, I thought this had to be some kind of sick joke. Last year we spent the 4th of July ( and the next 5 days) here - in the lovely ICU.

Which then resulted in this:

Two major surgeries, 3 hospitalizations, 7 months of IV antibiotics, and a full year of oral antibiotics. He took his last antibiotic on July 3, 2008! Yippee!!

Last year when all the hoopla was happening, this is what Emilee was doing.

We didn't make any real plans for the 4th because we were anxious there was going to be a repeat. Dave also has a history of doing a one year relapse, but it looks like he has broken the curse - knock on wood. This 4th of July David is healthy, Emilee is a big sister, and Wesley has joined the family. What a difference a year makes!