Showing posts with label Night Night. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Night Night. Show all posts

1.08.2013

2 Big Milestones...

1. Ada got her ears pierced!!!!

Sitting in the chair at Claire's waiting for the big moment- I'd told her it would hurt/sting/pinch, but she wasn't quite prepared.  We were VERY close to walking out of the store with only one piercing that night!
This is after the fact, we were piddling around the store trying on goodies (hence the silly glasses)- she was trying so hard to be brave and smile pretty for the picture!  I ADORE this photo.  I adore her!


 2. Dax is sleeping in his big boy bed!!!
I need to post a picture, but Grams and PaPa got Dax bunk beds- they are so awesome!!  So last Sunday Dax made the big transition from crib to bed. 

It was a rocky start (lots of getting up, playing, acting silly)- I even found him in Ada's room at 3am one night playing.  When I went to pick him up, he just looked at me and said "hhhiiiii!!!!!" like it was mid-day!
But after just a few days of relentlessly putting him back in bed every time he got out (with zero attention- except to repeat "STAY IN BED, DAX"), he is doing AWESOME!  He just hops in bed, expects a little snuggle, and lays his head down. I love this picture- 

And remember the roller coaster in Dax's room from MiMi & Steve?  (Video is linked below)  Imagine it is pitch black, and totally silent.  I go to check on him (the monitor was on the fritz- but I've since fixed it so I can see his every move), and realize he's not in bed.  At that moment, I hear him dismount his car on the roller coaster and begin his descent down the tracks.  All I could hear is the rumble of the roller coaster and his giggles of pure joy!  I could NOT help but crack up- I managed to keep it together until I sternly put him back in bed, though!

7.07.2011

Purposefully Untitled

This cracked me up- I put Dax in bed awake every night, where he just soothes himself to sleep, and sleeps through the night. (Naptime is a different story- he's not so cooperative. In fact, this hasn't actually happened in about 3 nights since he's laboring on his first tooth. But I digress...) So I put him in bed awake last night, and thought I heard rustling around- and this is what I found when I checked on him-
HAHA! He was semi-army crawling and pushing up to get a better view of his bunk buddy, "Sleep Sheep." I just thought this view of his little blond head poking out of his bed was hilarious! (Yes, he's still in his pack-n-play in our room. I knew we'd struggle with teething, so I put off moving him! Plus, I just can't bring myself to do it. Separation anxiety on my part.)

We are SO BORED cooped up in the house during these dog days of summer- so we decided to defy all odds and actually get outside to go to the park today. We survived the heat, and we survived our first attempt at the double stroller! Dax did great- he's a little fussy here, but mostly because he's exhausted. (He passed out about 2 seconds after I snapped this shot.)
And yes, Ada is wearing a styrofoam crown and clown bowtie. Here's a close-up:


4.23.2011

In the closet...

When I went to check on Ada during her nap today, this is how I found her. Sacked out in her closet! Ha!


4.26.2010

Sick and Tired?

Sick and Tired: An Interpretation by Ada Grace Dowell.

(Please excuse the backyard- it's under construction!! The Dowells are getting us a sprinkler system and new grass!!)

4.18.2010

Garden Growth!

I haven't killed the plants, yet!! In fact, some of them are doing great. I'm pretty impatient, and was getting kind of fed up with waiting for something to happen- so these sprouts and blooms came at a great time! Here are some pictures:
Zucchini-
Unripe Raspberries-
An Onion Bulb (in the back corner!)-
Gargantuan Peas-
Future Blueberry-
Avacado Sprout (planted this from a pit months ago- 'bout time!!)-
My girl in her outfit of the weekend- Elmo pajamas that she only took off for about on hour to let me wash them on Saturday.

3.19.2010

Naptime

I just went and checked on Ada after hearing her quiet down for naptime- and this is what I found:

3.14.2010

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo!

Ada loves to read books about farm animals, and make their sounds. (Well, attempt to make their sounds. Pretty much everything sounds like "mmmm," just different tones and rythms! I know what she means; but that's about it!) So we took Ada to meet up with Rory Klemach (I work with Sara Klemach- she teaches English, and we have lovely C lunch duty together) at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo yesterday! The girls had a ball- Sara didn't go into labor (she's 38 weeks pregnant; but bound and determined to take Rory on one last trip as an only child before baby Reese comes!!)- and we were all dirty and exhausted after the adventure! Here are some pictures of my sweet little cowgirl:


A cow says "mmmmmmmmm"... and is stiiiiiiiinky!

This longhorn was H-U-G-E! We were hoping to scare Ada, to prevent any future discussion of attending UT... (Just kidding... college is college!)

Kind of wanting to get in the coop with the roosters...


Ada and Rory at the chicken coop- which is more interesting: the chickens or the monkey backpack???

Drivin' a tractor!

Honk honk! Look out!

Can I have it!?!?!?

At the petting zoo- the baby goats were her favorite.
Disgusting. Yet adorable.

First roller coaster ride!
Mom and Ada on the carousel! (The wait for a real pony ride was >1hour- so we settled for this one!)
Daddy on the carousel. Weeeee!
Holding on tight!
Enjoying the ride.
POOPED and naked on the drive home!


3.07.2010

Run for the Ring

Traditions Council held a 5K run/walk this year around campus- if you participated, your name was entered into a drawing to win a free Aggie ring!!! So MiMi, Drew, Ada, and I all lined up at the starting line in Drew's name with the hopes of getting him a free ring.... all he won was 4th place (wow!), an Aggie mug (which was given to MiMi), and a gift certificate to a sandwhich shop we've never heard of- but it was one of the most fun days we've had in a long time!!!

I have not run since I found out I was pregnant- if you do the math you'll realize that's over 2 years!! I had intended to walk; but refused (out of pride) to just do a 3K (that's only 1 mile, people!).... so I jogged/walked the whole 5K (pushing a stroller with a sleeping baby, 2 purses, 3 sweatshirts, and 2 bottles of water, ha!). And I feel like I ran a marathon, today!!! But I'm glad I did it, and it gave me a renewed desire to get back in shape. Or at least quit being so darn dormant. It's getting ridiculous.... Here are some pictures! :)

1st stop: Bonfire Memorial. I love this picture.
Before the race! (Got this new jogging stroller for only $80 after a $20 coupon and a salvaged Babies-R-Us gift card from Ada's baby shower that I'd forgotten about!!! Ada LOVES it.)

Ada and MiMi hanging out.

After the 5K- Ada was pretty upset that I had quit jogging and interrupted her nice nap...

No longer upset- now dancing to the music, and clapping for all of the lucky winners!

Mom and Drew by the Aggie Bus.

R.C. Sloakum- "The Winningest Football Coach in Aggie History" gave a speech. He also ran, and kicked my butt.


Then afterward, to reward our physical acitivity, we feasted at Olive Garden! Here is Ada giving us all a lesson in the proper etiquette for eating spaghetti:







LoVe ThIS BabY!!!!!

2.06.2010

Sleeping Hard? Or Hardly Sleeping?

Here's Ada at naptime- she's been "down" for about 30 minutes at this point. It's not the highest quality, or the most entertaining video- but if you can stick with it for a minute or so, the ending is pretty cute/funny!!

1.17.2010

Bedtime Bliss

Ada was the easiest, most entertaining, most amazing, happiest baby on EARTH from day one... (That is changing a bit- but normal, from what I hear. HOORAY for early onset of "The Terrible Twos," and then every following year with an ominous adjective)...EXCEPT for bedtime.

Now, it wasn't a problem as long as she got what she wanted at bedtime (I'll save you the details)... and then again 3 hours later. And again 3 hours later. And.. you get the point. She slept through the night from 3-4 months; then came teething- and then never again. Until recently! One night I was too utterly exhausted to go through the whole "please just fall asleep so I can put you in your crib and sneak out" routine so I let her "cry it out" alone. She was NEVER scared; just pissed off. The next night she just curled up on her blankies and hummed until she fell asleep! Then began sleeping THROUGH THE NIGHT. (My friend Katy swore this would be the case- this is exactly what happened with Mia- but I just couldn't bear to try it right away!)

Then came tubes- and she started waking up twice a night again. So, a few nights ago, Casey and I just turned down the monitor and let her fuss. Same scene, different story- she was only mad, not scared (that's my weakness- the minute I hear her scared cry it would be game over.) And she's back to sleeping through the night again!

Praise the Lord! Here are some pictures of her happy in her bed, and getting comfy in her blankies. Love that Baby!!!


12.24.2009

Christmas #1- Pop and Honey

We're having more Christmases than a family deserves this year!!! First off, we went to Tyler to see Pop, Honey, Kyle, and Kendall. We only stayed one night- because next up was a very long drive to Bartlesville, Oklahoma. (That will be the next post!) Here are some pictures, and a sweet video of Ada at the Caldwell Zoo (where we took her to wear her out before our 7 hour drive up to OK that afternon- the well devised plan worked perfectly!)


Helping Pop open his gift- an Aggie Snuggie!
Opening gifts with Pop and Honey! Ada got lots of cute outfits and a tea set. And a toy box that had already been delivered, assembled, and used before we even left for Tyler!

*Honey (my stepmom) just had her Thyroid completely removed after a huge tumor appeared out of nowhere- keep her recovery in your prayers; she's not feeling really hot!*

Holding hands with Daddy (left) and Pop (right)




This white tiger wanted to eat my baby for an afternoon snack. He stalked her up and down the window. Pretty eerie, actually.


Considering how obsessed with Penguins Ada is; I thought she'd get more of a kick out of the Penguin Exhibit at the zoo. Apparently the ones in our yard (and her arms- that's Gwyn Bird she's holding) are more exciting than the real deal...


Walkin' Around at The Caldwell Zoo




"Stiiiiiiiiiiiiinky!!!"

11.15.2009

The Weeknight Chronicles

Well, not much to report around here for the past week. Friday night we went to Aunt Kendra's house to celebrate Grandma's (Sandra!) 35th birthday. ;) Much to everyone's disappointment, Ada stayed home with MiMi- at this point in our lives, it is virtually impossible to take Ada ANYWHERE that is not bolted up and cushioned like an insane asylum. I honestly believe Ada is the most curious, interested, fast-paced, busiest 13 month old E-V-E-R. (I'm sure every mother of a toddler will say the same thing. It's a fact of life, I suppose!) Anyway, our house is not only a safe-haven for Ada, but for my sanity as well. (I'm already having mini-panic attacks just thinking about the Holidays. Although I consider myself an optimist- I also have a realist side and I am envisioning the headache, exhaustion, and frustration of staying on top of my little toot!)
Then Saturday we ventured to the Katy playoff game against Stratford- it was a blowout, of course. On to the 2nd round! Ada had a blast- she *loved* the mascot (a Tiger with a bow and big eyelashes!), and waved to her the entire time (I have Kelli in class- she waved back the entire time, too- My goal is to find a good opportunity to get a cute picture of the two together at some point). She also clapped along with the cheerleaders (who also spent a chunk of time waving to Ada- when they weren't trying to find people they knew in the crowd), and conducted the band whenever they would play a tune. We had to leave at half-time because Ada was over sitting still for an hour; and the score was 35-7. Katy won; but I don't know the final score. But I do know there was a cutie-patootie in the stands cheering on her future Alma Mater:

Since there are no other exciting things to fill you in on for the week; I thought I'd let you in on our weeknight routine! (Doesn't THAT sound enthralling!?) Last year, every day, we'd come home from school, take our baths/showers, get in our comfies (that's Mobley for comfortable clothes to lounge around the house in), then snuggle, watch a recorded Oprah, and read baby books the rest of the afternoon. That no longer flies with my extremely active Bug.... Here are some pictures of how we roll, now!

Immediately when we get home, Ada has her after school snack while I clean out our lunch boxes and then pack our necessities for the next day. (Can I just say how much I'm enjoying NOT having a pump to clean, re-assemble, and bottles to make anymore? I still can't get over how much time that took!) Ada typically has some sort of cracker (animal, graham, cheddar, you name it!), an easy fruit (bananas and avacados are her faves), and a glass of milk that ends up on her tray, hair, and the floor. Rarely makes it down her throat....

Immediately upon getting our chores done, we hurry up and change into our comfies. That is something that will never change! I also usually have a Route 44 Unsweet Tea with Extra Ice from Sonic Happy Hour. Not usually. Always. (Recognize my shirt, Katy!?)

Then, it's P-L-A-Y-T-I-M-E!!! And of the hundreds of fantastic, high tech, stimulating toys that inhabit the dining room- Ada relentlessly chooses the Tuppeware as her toy of choice. It is the one cabinet we left without baby locks- And Ada takes full advantage of that. Here she is making sure she hasn't missed one item!

I hope I don't accidentally use her as a container one day!

Tupperware can always be worn as hats and helmets. I've also witnessed them transform into a drum, a chair, a vehicle, a ball to throw, and once even a left shoe. Obviously, it is the perfect toy- someone should be making millions off of this.

Then, it is dinner time. We try to eat as a family; but sometimes Daddy doesn't get home until 7:30 if he works out after work, so those nights are girls only! Ada's favorite meals are pasta dishes- the more veggies and sauce the better. She also loves to steal my avacaodos and tomatoes from my salads- I'm so lucky she enjoys such healthy foods! (Don't get me wrong- she also loves chicken nuggets, french fries, pizza, and ice cream. She definitely has her culinary priorities straight!)

Then, it's walk time. We get the mail and stroll around the block. Sometimes Ada loves it and could last for hours; other times we barely make it to the mailbox!
Lastly, its bathtime with Daddy. She loves her Ducks (and will occasionally let you know that a Duck goes "Quack Quack" if you bombard her enough with the noise). The purple hippo is also among her favorite bath toys. She's getting bath crayons for Christmas, and I have a feeling she's going to LOVE them!

I don't have a picture of our last stop- Mom knocking her out with her magic powers in the rocking chair! She'll sometimes wake up in the middle of the night if she's teething, got an ear infection, or just needs some extra loving (sound like a lot? It is). But a good night is one where she sleeps 'til 4 or 5 then gets to snooze for another hour or so in bed with Mom and Dad! :) This post ended up being a novel; so much for not having a lot to write about this weekend!