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Another comparison

Emerson & Jax at 3 months

They're both performing The Pirate Eye, as it's known around our house. It's a funny little grin accompanied by a squinting of the right eye that Emerson started doing it around 2 months, and Jax has been displaying recently as well. I can just imagine them in a little eye patch with a parrot on the shoulder. Arrrrgh!

Boomer the Jack

I realized I have never posted about Boomer, the Jack Russell Terrorist who entered our lives in the summer of 2003. As many of you know, I currently have a love/hate relationship with this dog, mostly because there are a lot of days he's more difficult than either of my offspring. For those of you who are familiar with the breed, they're not exactly 'easy' dogs to have around, and that's pretty much due to the fact that their IQs are higher than the average Union graduate. Ohhh!!! I had to throw that one in there for the hubby's sake. Anyway, when I think back to 'the way things were' in the beginning, we treated this dog like the majority of newly married couples do... truly like a baby. I think Boomer was held more than he walked his first year of life. I never thought I would be 'that dog owner' that most people make fun of, but I totally was! You see, I was raised with outside dogs. We played with them when we were outside, but the rest of the time, they did their own thing, roaming around on our 13 acres in the country. Oh, Tippy & Jingo. What sweet dogs they were... a border collie & Australian shepherd. So anyway, the house dog thing was new to me when we got Boomer. He quickly took over and pretty much had every ounce of our attention before Emerson arrived. Now that there are two kids vying for his owners' affection, he's realizing he's not top dog anymore. We've also spent the last two years or so making some changes we needed to make in his behavior, and they've helped quite a bit. He still has his moments of insanity, but I'm afraid that might be the result of actions on our part. Perhaps the following photos from days gone by will provide a glimpse of understanding into why he is like he is... poor boy, he never had a fighting chance. :)

Sweet baby Avery

Oh, I can hardly wait to get my hands on this girl! Only 24 more days until she & momma drive to Oklahoma! Aren't they just the cutest little family? Love you, sis. Can't wait for our kiddos to meet.






In other exciting baby news, my brother Jace and sister-in-law Liz are going to welcome their 3rd baby, Vance Drager, on Wednesday. He'll join big brother Parker and big sister Addison. It's so crazy that three siblings are having 3 children within 12 weeks of each other. Man, we were all gettin' busy!


Grammy came over today and played with Jax & Em while I ran some errands. I can't even tell you how nice it was to get out of the house for a few hours. I had about 6 errands to accomplish in a 3-hour time span, but isn't it amazing how quickly you can do these things without little people in tow?


Emerson has started doing something funny but naughty. One of her favorite phrases right now is "No, Mommy!" and she'll say it both in times of defiance and also just randomly walking around the house even if I'm not in the same room. So now that she knows that this particular phrase is NOT NICE to say, she will literally look me in the eye and mouth the words NO MOMMY without making a sound. The first time she did it, I was like, 'Are you kidding me??? Did that just happen?' I had to turn away so she wouldn't see me laugh. That little toot is a little too big for her britches.


Here's to a great weekend!

Random picture

I was rummaging through old picture files tonight, something I enjoy doing on a somewhat regular basis, and found this gem. We were in Eureka Springs (with my parents, I think) before we were married. What is it about Eureka Springs that makes you want to go get an old-timey picture taken? It's like you can't come home without it, and at the time it seems like such a great idea. I must say the hubby looks pretty freakin' hot holding the machine gun, and I seem to be enjoying his hand on my thigh. Scandalous. And seriously, what is that thing on my hat? It's like a flower burst with pigeon poop hanging from it. And never mind the fact that I'm dangerously close to shooting myself in said thigh. I do have to pay homage to 'the girls' because two babies later those 'girls' ain't lookin' so perky anymore.

His Dad is Rad

We had a great Father's Day weekend. Saturday we hung out with the kiddos all day, and I went to a wedding that night with my friend Lisa (affectionately known as Dida to her two nephews and to her Emerson). It was a lot of fun getting all dressed up and getting out of the house for a while. Sunday morning Jason and I worked in the 2-yr-old room at church, then both sets of grandparents and Jason's brother Travis came over for Father's Day lunch. It was a nice, relaxing afternoon, and we braved the heat for a little while in the backyard with Emerson. To my hubby, if you're reading this post... I hope you enjoyed your second Father's Day. I'm thankful to be married to such an incredible daddy of two. I couldn't ask for a better partner (in crime), someone who loves his babies to the fullest every day. I love you.

Here are some pictures from the weekend.

I have to explain this last one. I was in the kitchen getting dinner ready and heard Emerson going 'Mmmm.' I turned around, and she had taken a bite out of this banana, peel and all. I fished the peel out of her mouth, and she finished the bite, happy as ever.

Great read

If any of you keep up with Pioneer Woman's blog, she just finished her love story, "Black Heels to Tractor Wheels," today. It's fantastic! Here's the link to the entire thing...

http://thepioneerwoman.com/category/black_heelstractor_wheels/the_night_i_met_marlboro_man

Believe me, you'll have a hard time walking away from it. I think I read over half of it in one sitting a few months ago.

I need a vacation!

You'll notice I switched out the picture behind the header of the blog. I was looking through old picture files and came across this one... it's taken from our room at the Bellagio in Vegas on our 5-year anniversary, just two short years ago. We stayed there on our honeymoon as well. The Bellagio has the most incredible dancing fountains that are set to music and 'perform' every 15 minutes or so. When you're walking down the strip and happen to be near them when they start, you seriously can't help but stop and watch. It's quite beautiful, especially when you're watching from your room, wearing a white fluffy robe, eating something scrumptious from room service. Ahhhh... I need to get away. Why is it that I always seem to be pregnant or breastfeeding when I need to get away? Hmmmm.... maybe because I've been pregnant or breastfeeding FOR TWO YEARS AND FIVE MONTHS STRAIGHT. Wow. And if we decide to completely lose our minds and get pregnant again while I'm still breastfeeding Jax? Well, that could turn into being pregnant or breastfeeding FOR FIVE YEARS STRAIGHT. They talk about the 'childbearing years,' and I guess I never really thought about how literal that is. Anywho, back to my beloved Bellagio. Oh, how I miss you! How I miss your dancing fountains, your Prime Steakhouse, your botanical gardens, your spa. Someday, my love! Someday I'll see you again! (Maybe next time I won't be lactating).

Wild Weekend

Our weekend fun started Friday night. The kids and I went to the Leyvas' house for a dinner playdate. Lexi is 6 weeks older than Emerson, and Paisley is 2 weeks older than Jax, so we have a lot in common! It was so much fun being pregnant with Kyna both times. Anyway, our husbands were at a meeting together, so we let our kiddos play and we chowed on some Pei Wei. Yum!

Saturday began with a morning trip to the zoo. Emerson thought the monkeys were pretty fun until one of the mommies let her baby dangle and drop from her arms. Emerson started to cry and didn't want anything to do with the monkeys after that. In the petting zoo area, she immediately went up to a goat, grabbed its neck, laughed a somewhat sinister laugh, then spent the rest of the time fascinated with running around in circles, oblivious to the animals. She also enjoyed the playground.

After two-hour naps for everyone, including Mommy & Daddy (yippee!), we played with sidewalk chalk on the driveway while Daddy mowed the lawn.

Here is Emerson displaying what we affectionately refer to as The Stinkeye. Gotta love it. Notice she's mixing things up a little bit by throwing in a thumb-suck and a hair-twirl. She's multi-talented, that one.

Siblings

Tonight as I was lounging in the living room with the kids, waiting for Daddy to come home for dinner, I decided it would be fun to snap a few pictures of the munchkins and maybe even get them together for a few. Okay, for those of you who know me well, the word 'few' can never be placed in the same sentence with the word 'pictures.' I become the freakin' paparazzi when I get my Sony Cyber-Shot in my hands. But tonight, little did I know I would witness some sibling magic through my little 2" screen. First of all, I had Emerson come over and give Jax some 'Bubba Tisses' as she so affectionately calls them. Notice the look on his face as he hears/sees her coming.

This next picture is like those National Geographic clips of the lion going in for the kill on a poor, helpless gazelle. She's got her death grip on his little onesie, and little man is even trying to look away. All the while I'm reminding her to be GENTLE, Emerson, GENTLE.

Here's the after shot. Notice the approximately 5" drool string connecting the two of them. Nice. She really laid one on him. He looks completely paralyzed, probably from fear.

Next I thought I'd take the fun to a whole 'nother level by letting the serial kisser hold the fear-stricken baby. The minute I placed his chubby self against Emerson, she immediately burst into her normal laughing that borders screaming. It's this almost hysterical laugh that is shockingly funny and catches people off guard if they're not ready. She also apparently decides to put him in a choke hold, something I missed while viewing the festivities through my afore-mentioned 2" screen.

Brother has enough and decides to just punch her in the nose.

Emerson then apologizes for her shenanigans and instead focuses her energy on measuring just how much Jax has grown. And sucking her thumb.

Our little evening ends on a high note... my two precious children decided to do a little snuggling. The almost-two-year-old loving on her 16-lb-6-oz-bulldog-of-a-9-week-old brother is undoubtedly going to be one of my favorite pictures from his baby months. I had this crazy flash-forward, imagining them all grown up, realizing that their love for each other starts right now and I get to witness it. What a precious gift. I love being a Mommy.

Emerson's interpretation of the new family... and pictures of my twin children

This morning I had Emerson on my lap and we were looking at Avery's pictures. I said each person's name for her to repeat:

Uncle Eric = Un-cuh Did-It (technically she's correct on this one)

Aunt Miley = At Miney

Baby Avery = Baby Aywee

Now for a comparison of Emerson (in the giraffe costume) at 7 weeks and Jax at 8 weeks. Same expression & everything! Ha!

She's Here!

My little sister Miley gave birth yesterday to beautiful Avery Lynn, my second niece and the first baby for her & her hubby Eric. I got to talk to her on the phone today, and it turns out she's as hard-headed as me and didn't get an epidural... with pitocin! I'm so stinkin' proud of her. I knew she could do it... she's a state champion in long-distance track as a high-schooler, a tall and beautiful 5'10" slim glass of water, and I must admit I've always been jealous! I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on that sweet little bit of sugar and give her Auntie kisses.

Fabulous find - melamine bowls!

I admit it... I'm a mixing bowl junkie. Right now I literally have 4 sets in my cabinet, and I seriously use all 4 at one point or another. So, what's a girl to do when I find a $10 off online coupon for JCPenney.com??? Buy another set of mixing bowls, of course! They were originally $59.99 and I got them for $19.99. Aren't they so cute?!

If you're in need of some retail therapy, enter "GR8DAD" at checkout (I think the coupon's only good through today, but I might be wrong).

I'm off to feed the ever-growing 2-month-old, put some makeup on (the hubby and I are going out for our 7-yr anniversary tonight... leaving the kids with a babysitter), and hopefully hear from my mom soon. She's in Peoria for the birth of my niece Avery. At 1:00 Mley was dilated to a 6 and feeling good. I'm so stinkin' excited!!!

Fun family weekend

There's nothing quite as fun as seeing family you haven't seen in a long time, especially when you love 'em so much! My brother Jace, his wife Liz, and their kids Parker, Addison, and soon-to-be Vance, drove in from Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. Last time we were all together, Emerson wasn't quite old enough to really enjoy her cousins, but this time she made the most of it! She and Addie are only 7 months apart... I have flash-forwards of lots of fun girl time in their future. The two of them are sure to cause lots of trouble.

The four of us went to Mahogany Steakhouse on Saturday night... YUM... while Grammy & Grandpa watched the munchkins at our house. I miss being a pharma rep for that reason and that reason alone... eating at Mahogany's on a regular basis. :) Sunday morning Jax was dedicated at our church, and it was special having family on stage with us. Emerson decided to become a bucking bronc in my arms for a little bit, but everything else went smoothly.

Yesterday Emerson and I went out to get the mail, and our neighbor Clint across the street was in his driveway. Emerson shouted, "Un-cuh Dace! Un-cuh Dace!" So cute. She misses her Uncle Jace.

Here are some pictures of our fun weekend. We miss you guys something terrible! I'll, of course, post pics of baby Vance Drager when he gets here in July. Speaking of babies, my sister Miley is set to be induced on Friday morning! Avery Lynn will be here before we know it!