Deep within the heart

Get ready to open wide for a whole lot of pictures! Amelia instantly opens her mouth wide for a drink, food, or a kiss, as demonstrated below:
George, as nicknamed by Jonas, strolled onto the driveway one morning. Conrad saw him from inside and we all were so excited to have a pet for a day.

Levi on the big toy Ethan made, and Conrad below.

Just enjoying the outdoors. I went and peeked on them and it was so funny to watch them interact.

Conrad picked up on Levi's language, and started copying certain things he'd say. Levi hasn't figured out consonants all the way yet, mostly just vowels. Conrad's name was "On-yeah." It made me smile to find them together at random times just making noises at each other. Here you see them enjoying the chocolate chip cookies they helped make.

Kim was patient and soooooo cool to let Conrad unwrap some butter, add flour and mix it.

One morning Amelia came down with a fever and slept almost the whole day. This picture is from the morning when I left her with her breakfast for a few minutes and found her asleep.

My poor sick baby girl...

My sweet sleeping baby girl...

She didn't sleep ALL the time. A LOT of the time I could find her here:

Or here:Or with a toy in her mouth...Her and Eliza got along mostly great. Of course, babies are babies. There were a few eyes poked, a few binkies stolen (but not for long, Amelia would get it back), and Eliza even shoved Amelia out of the way to get a snack from one of the boys. I didn't see it, but the demonstration Kim put on for me seemed like it was straight out of the boxing ring!We went to the zoo one day...On Memorial Day we went to a bona fide Texas ranch managed by one of Kim's friends. Conrad had been sick so I couldn't let him get in the water. Though he had a blast out of it.He hopped on the Ranger to take a ride...After one tiny loop to turn around and get out of the parking lot Conrad decided enough was enough. He didn't like how loud it was. :)Conrad loves to wrestle, and he met his match with Jonas.You didn't see much of this happen that often... Conrad was observing about 94% of the time. This instant the boys were watching a movie, and Conrad was not interested in it. This was a rarity to have the boys holding still, and Conrad was not used to it. I think he was trying to get some sort of a reaction out of them. :)This picture is more like it. Jonas is such a curious kid asking the funniest questions like, "Conrad, why are you the first one? Conrad, why is Amelia your little sister?" When Josh arrived Jonas asked him, "What kind of clothes do you wear?" But the funniest statement Jonas said was when he saw Conrad in his onesie and he said, "Conrad! You're not supposed to wear garments!" (Jonas is on the right)A glorious warm and rainy Sunday afternoon. Man, what fond memories!!!He loved the rope swing. But even better than the rope swing was the rope swing PLUS a helmet! (He really wants one- wierd. I never ever wanted one as a kid!)Levi and Conrad. So GQ. We miss you guys!

"How old are you, Conrad?"

We have no idea where he got this idea in his head, but he insists that he is 5 years old. His cousins down in Texas had a jolly-good time teasing him for it. They thought he was hilarious. He is absolutely adamant about it, too. At the very end of the video he cracked me up when I asked him how old he'll be on his next birthday. "seventeen."

Update: Found Poem (translation- in a hurry to update blog!)

Home!
Sweet carpet.
No tile.
realize 2 children are
quiet
er.
Sick drive.
Sick kids.
To Texas and from Texas.
Throw-up Fever Diarrhea.
Anxiety.
Thank-you blessed Chelsea.
Blessed.
Thank-you Dallas Fort Worth Airport
for
flying Josh
cheap.
Thank-you blessed Mom.
Blessed.
for
birthday $.
2 Hotel Rooms are better than 1.
Thank-you Joplin route.
Saved us 1 hour
Inspired by bald cancer-ridden Aunt Lisa to be happy.
And grateful.
And HAPPY.
Home.
Josh.
No more studies
until Monday.
Sick kids.
Urgent Care visit
Saturday night.
Hydrate Amelia.
Amoxicillin and Motrin for Conrad.
Ear Infection?
Just red, not infected.
Though very fevered.
Daddy sick.
Body aches, congestion.
Mom laryngitis.
Just fine.

That is a quick update. A skim-over-the-top get the big details post. Not really a found poem, but kind of the same idea. :)

I miss you, Josh!!!

Sorry to everybody but Josh about the picture. Apologies all around about the white poking out.
This is me being lovey-dovey and you all get to witness it. Josh, Kim took this picture of me last night when I got to talk to you on the phone. There is nothing special about the picture except that Kim thought it was cute. hahaha. After being around 3 rowdy boys and 2 whiney kids of my own it was nice to escape to quietness. I love you, and I really really hope you're doing well studying for boards. I wish you could see how cute our kids look sleeping- I get to see it by the light of the night-light. How come we never peek in on our kids when they're sleeping? I think it's my new favorite thing. It's been fun being able to creep around getting ready for bed when they're fast asleep. I am also getting some good ideas for some super-yummy meals. Oh my gosh, I have never had such delicious pizza. Sorry about your digiorno's. Until Thursday... when you fly down!!!!!!!! I love you, have a nice weekend. :)

Where am I?

Right here!

I forgot the camera in my haste to get out the door. Big thanks to Kim for taking some pictures.
p.s. I miss facebook.

They're trying to make me go to rehab, but I said no, no, no!!

Or, here's another post title option that I thought wouldn't be so appropriate for the blog world: "I'm a-dick... I'm addicted to you."
Yes, ladies and gentleman, I have an addiction that I quit as of last night, and am now feeling withdrawals. I'm not shaky. I'm not pacing the floors. I DO have the munchies, but that's all the time anyway. I quit facebook. It was time.
The other night I was driving home from the grocery store listening to the John Tesch radio show and he started talking about this new addiction a lot of young mothers have. Basically to this online community including blogs, facebook, and Second Life. It's a good thing I've never heard of that last one or else I might have to quit that addiction, too. (It's basically what it sounds like, you create a second life for yourself using an avatar.) He said, "If you are a mother and have piles of laundry, dirty dish piled high in the sink, are taking drugs to keep yourself awake so you can talk to old friends online, then get yourself some help." Fortunately, I don't take drugs to keep myself awake. And what mom doesn't have dirty dishes and laundry to do?
Unfortunately, I don't know for sure, but I think I have a gene in my brain that makes me addicted to things easily. I'm not an alcoholic, nor have I ever tasted it. I'm not addicted to pain killers (I limit those to only once a month, ladies...). But when I get to make new friends on facebook, or when I change my status to something I think someone else might comment on, I can't wait to get back onto facebook to see if anyone has said anything. (Same goes, with the blog... "HAS ANYONE COMMENTED!?!?") It's interrupting my life. I just can't afford to waste time on facebook anymore and sacrifice my family's well-being. (BEING A MOTHER INVOLVES A LOT OF BEHIND-the-SCENE action.) If the house is messy I am grumpy, Josh is grumpy, and my kids don't get why mom is barking.
Anyway, right now I am going through withdrawals b/c during the afternoon nap I always check facebook and e-mail and blogs. I can spend an eternity on here. I need to do something less addictive, like take a power nap and then GO TO WORK. (ugh!) Ok, I need to at least post a blog instead of mindlessly wander around facebook. Which is what I'm doing now, and heck, it's like therapy, I feel better!
So, sorry if you just missed being my friend on facebook. I was an awesome friend. I updated my status almost daily! Maybe even more somedays! And I posted the most cutest pictures of my kids and self and husband. :)

Amelia giving kisses, then saying "hi"

What more can I say?!? I just love this little girl! (Sorry, I know I've said it before... but it's true!)

Check out the blog post below for birthday party pictures!

You're invited...

check out the invites Josh pretty much made!!! (sorry, Josh! you know how it's impossible for me to lie!) back to the theme... you're invited, to come open Amelia's presents...and I really mean it! come on and open them!
and even make as much of a mess with the birthday cake as the birthday girl herself did!
No, you're really not invited. Unless you are 2 1/2 and get everything you want and are named Conrad. Ok, on with the regular blog post about Amelia's birthday.
This is the best shot I could catch of Amelia in her birthday attire and with that stinkin cute hair clip. It came out very quickly after this shot.
We had hot dogs for dinner, and Conrad out ate all of us. He ate 3 1/2. No bun for him. He's on the atkins diet. I swear, this boy is going to give me a hernia! He hates pb and jelly. But loves meat. Ok, and not even all the time. I have no idea what to feed him. He throws me through a loop everyday. (notice the bun... I forgot to buy bona fide hot dog buns. Our sandwich bread worked just fine!... well, except for Conrad).

I was going to do a big butterfly cake with a cake pan, but I really wanted cupcakes. So I remembered when I worked in the bakery decorating cakes they used to do a cupcake cake shaped into a butterfly. And I WAS going to do that, too... but then got pressed for time and also nervous about trying it only a couple hours before the party, so I wimped out and decorated each cupcake with a butterfly or flower. (Notice who wants to dive right on into those!)

I'll take that as a "thank-you," Amelia. You are so verry welcome!

Lastly, we see Amelia as she goes through the 5 stages of grief as she enters this getting older kind of lifestyle...

First we have denial and isolation...next is anger...

followed up with bargaining...

next we see her red cheeks as she's been crying through the depression of it...And finally, I think she's come to accept being a 1 year old.

Don't you?

Happy Birthday to our little Millie-bean, 1 year old today!

This is just going to be a small, introductory post. We went to the Dr.'s office for the check-up and she's doing well! She weighs 19 lbs 4 oz, 29.3 inches tall, and her head circumference is still big! lol! Her head is in the 93rd percentile. Her weight is in the 20th percentile and height is 57 percentile. She's averaging out nicely.

Things she is doing lately:
*Opening her mouth WIDE open whenever she sees me eating something, or drinking from a cup. Or when she wants a kiss! She does this often. How can you resist a baby asking for a kiss!?!?
*Eats the same, if not more than what Conrad eats. I can put anything in front of her and she devours it. Even the Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) and black beans we had the other night.
*Plays independently very well, at least when Conrad is around. Often times she'll be playing with Conrad's toys when he's following me around in the kitchen and he'll see her and go play with her, too. I love that! This last weekend when the boys were gone for Fathers and Sons campout she whined more, like she was bored. 2 kids is better than 1. More stressful, but more fun.
*Whenever I say peek-a-boo she holds one hand up to the side of her face. funny.
*Puts any toy she can find by her ear (ok, by the back of her head) and starts jabbering.
*Whenever she sees a dog or cat she starts yelling, "hi....hi....hi....hi!" Or, whenever she sees something she really wants.
*She is not walking yet, but she holds onto things and walks around furniture. She prefers to crawl. I don't mind!
*Puts EVERYTHING in her mouth. The Parents as Teachers lady told me that is a very good thing because the nerves in her mouth are more sensitive so she learns more about the texture of things by doing this.
*She is a very good sleeper. She goes to bed anytime after 7, and doesn't usually wake up until after 8 am. Sing choirs of angels!!! She's kind of transitioning to one nap a day. It just depends on if Conrad wakes her up early in the morning.

We are deep in love with this girl!!! We love her more than words!

World's Worst Laugh (copying from Candi's blog)

does anyone speak French? I am curious what is so funny!

Want to make a gourmet recipe?

Go to my brother's new blog!
www.cookwithtom.com

Check out his cute dimples while you're there. What could be better than a man baking and cooking in the kitchen? (He's taken, though! Sorry girls!)

He's famous now. Love him!

Some of the women I love

Happy Mother's Day to you!

Even Luana! I lurve her.

I know I've missed some people, and even included a few people that aren't mothers (like men in certain pictures! or kids!) But I hope you have a wonderful day!