More of the Park

Here are some more of the great pictures Kristen got of Milo yesterday at the park.

**Photos courtesy BoysNBerries Photography**

An Unspoken Competition

Kristen has been kind enough to use my kids for photography practice numerous times. Milo went through a really serious phase where the kid didn't crack many smiles. Even when this phase had passed he still wouldn't crack a smile for Kristen & her camera. They had this unspoken competition... he refused to give her a smile & she seemed to take his refusal as a challenge. Today the competition ended... we had playgroup at a neighborhood sprayground/park & Kristen had her camera with her. I'm thrilled to say that Kristen won & got some smiles out of Milo... which resulted in some great pictures for me!!

(I love this funny smile, because it's a classic Milo face & I'm glad to have it captured.)**Photos courtesy BoysNBerries Photography**

The Fourth of July

We had a great 4th of July...
it was filled with great fun, great friends, & great food!
Some of those friends won't be here next year... and I'll have to take my own pictures,
rather than count on Kristen my personal photographer!

The Edmond Parade...
The evening was spent at the Smith's were the kids played in the water...

We had a yummy BBQ...

And the big kids Rocked Out on the Wii...We later headed outside for some fireworks before heading over the the school for the big show...Three grown men with fireworks & lighters... every mom & wife's fear!

We had great weather this year... despite the fact that there was an intense rain storm that blew in during our BBQ it finished up & cleared out in time for fireworks!

**Pictures courtesy of BoysNBerries Photography**

In Love...

I think it's safe to say that Milo is in love with balloons... yes, strange but true. It started last year when we filled our living room with balloons to celebrate Jeff finishing law school. The love grew & strengthened with each birthday or occasion where balloons were present. This kid was a little late on the talking scene, but among his first 5 words one was balloon or "Ba Loo"... which is quite impressive at his young age (he started that word at about 14 or 15 months.)

If you want to please this kid, see him light up, or distract just distract him, balloons are your best & possibly only option. We've had a few balloon stories from this week that I want to remember...

Earlier this week we had 2 kids very ready to for bed at the same time... which poses a problem with them sharing a room. (If we put them down at the same time, all we get is crying from both.) So we put Milo down in our room with the plan to move him to his crib when we went to bed. Later when I went to move him he stirred as I approached & while deep in slumber said "Ba-Loon", it was all I could do to keep my laugh silent long enough to finish the move. I guess I know what he dreams about!

The other day we sat at the computer while I went to google images & pulled out all kind of balloon pictures.... his reaction was priceless!!

A couple of weeks ago we went to see the movie, UP, & you can imagine his attention was better than usual once those balloons made their appearance!

Is This a Joke?

See this girl? She came in bright & early this morning informing me that her tummy hurts. I half believe her & half think she is trying her hand at a new attempt to wake up early. (Oh the stories I could tell of this girl & the events that happen before 6:00 AM.) She leaves my bedside to use the restroom, & after a few minutes I decide to go check on her. She is curled up on the bathroom floor moaning & asks if she can take a hot bath. After 10 or 15 minutes I decide that since Jeff is awake in the other room he can continue Hannah's care while I head back to bed. Of course sleep isn't much of an option at this point, I lay there having flashbacks from our lovely summer of 2007.

Sure you may be thinking I'm paranoid (that is usually what Jeff thinks), but I have spent the last 2 years trying to tell myself that just because Hannah throws up doesn't mean it will last for 6 weeks. It took me a long time to not go to her side when I heard a dry cough (that is the sound before the vomit begins.) I can tell you that my paranoia is under control... but this morning I feel it creeping back into my mind. I'm sure only because it's summer, & we purchased season passes to the water park, (what was I thinking?) Perhaps those things combined with me being near the end of my pregnancy just seems all to familiar. I decide to get over it & get some sleep, just as I have drifted off I heard it... The Cough!! I'm too far away to do any good. I just listen to Jeff as he fumbles around & hope that since she has just go out of the bath that he thinks to hold her towel out or grab her & rush her to the kitchen sink. I chuckle to myself as I pull myself out of bed knowing that neither of these things happened. I come out to find Hannah standing in a small puddle. She is returned to the bath & while I feel as though my options are to laugh or cry... I opt out for now. Jeff & I both take to a little web surfing combined with small chit chat about cryptosporidium (I even comment that I remember how to spell it) & this year's reported cases.(My paranoia has rubbed off!) I'm not saying I think it's crypto (though there was a report of some cases here in OKC a couple weeks ago on the evening news) but it sure gets me freaked.

I honestly feel like I have done my civil/motherly duties & have cleaned up WAY MORE than my fair share of vomit & diarrhea. Perhaps there will be a special award ceremony in Heaven, and I'll win?? I can't help but wonder if this is a sick joke of someone with a slightly twisted sense of humor... I'm pretty sure laughing won't be the option I choose.

I'm So Glad When Daddy Comes Home... Glad as I can be!!

*I've been wanting to post about this for weeks, with it being Father's Day and all I thought I'd finally pull the floating words/thoughts out of my head & type it out.*

I love when Jeff gets home from work, perhaps my clapping & shouting are for different reasons than the kiddos... but gladness is gladness, no matter the reason. Even though it means my burdens will be lightened for the evening, it is a delight to hear the garage go up. When I hear it I look at the kids, because I love watching their faces light up. There is usually some shouting & smiles, combined with "DADDY!" I love seeing how thrilled they are at his arrival. Some days there is even running & hiding.

This daily event brings back so many memories of my childhood. We loved hearing the garage open each evening marking the arrival home of my step-dad, Boyd. We would run & hide as fast as we could, so we would be tucked into what we thought was a great hiding spot (even if it was the same one we often used) waiting for Boyd to come find us. I remember fighting so hard to stifle my giggles as not to be found too quickly. And when we were found we would laugh, squeal, & giggle.

I loved this daily ritual as a child, & now as an adult I look back on it with much fondness. Watching my kids show the same thrill to see their dad makes me so happy. I love seeing my kids love for their dad. I love that I get to spend my days with them, missing nothing, forming great bonds. Jeff spends the evening playing with them creating a special bond with them as well. Now looking back, despite the fact that Boyd & I definitely butted heads when I was a stubborn, mouthy, teenager I see how much he really did love me. I see how those earlier years of my childhood were so vital in creating the wonderful bond/friendship that Boyd & I now share. I am so grateful for an amazing step-dad that could be an example of what I wanted in a husband.

So perhaps even though my excitement for Jeff's arrival is selfish at times, I am now able to look at his arrival, & the chaos that tends to follow, as a wonderful & yet important building block of my children's lives. I can clap my hands & shout for joy, for a few reasons!

Morning with Baby

This morning the kiddos & went to visit our friend Mary & her sweet little newborn. Before I go on & gush about the baby I have to gush a bit about Mary! She is doing & looking GREAT for having a baby just over a week ago... she even ended up in a c-section & is doing remarkable. So she is either a super healer, has a high pain threshold, or a combo of both. If you were to go off of her I would think a c-section looks easier than all the stitches elsewhere. (Points I will ponder this afternoon.) She is a nice calm, relaxed first time mom... which is something I am so impressed by!

Now onto her sweet little bundle... he is adorable & calm himself! I could just sit & hold him while inhaling his intoxicating scent for hours. I think Hannah could do the same! First thing she did after we walked in was ask to wash her hands so she could hold him. She was amazed at his tiny size, it was so cute to watch her hold him. Even Milo was very curious, & popped up on the couch to take his turn. It was a bit of a relief to see his interest in the baby, and the way he seemed to know to be soft. We enjoyed our morning with Miss Mary & her sweet baby boy, & I have to say it got me very excited for our baby to arrive... just 5 weeks (or less.. haha) from today!!

**Mary took pictures of the kids holding him, so I'll have to add them when I can get them.**

Blackberries

This morning we went to the blackberry farm to pick some yummy blackberries. I really debated on going or not, because Hannah is still a little down, but getting out could do her some good. I knew we wouldn't be there more than an hour... if that. We got some berries, but we will have to go back again & go earlier... it opens at 7:30, we didn't get there until 9:30-ish. It was hot & humid! Milo got to the point he just wanted to be held... and I refused. We did have fun & the berries are yummy!!

**Thanks for the pictures Kristen!**

P.S. While driving home Hannah informed me that she didn't have very much fun, but when I got this picture from Kristen, it proved otherwise. Hannah is like her mom, when she is tired she is a bit of a grump. And she was tired before leaving the house...

Day 2 without Tonsils

Hannah doesn't like the pain medicine they gave her, so she refuses to take it. We did get her to take a dose before bed, & I tried when she was up at 2:30 but no luck. By this morning she was ready & in some pain. She is like me when in pain... very short fused & snappy! This morning has been spent watching movies in mom & dad's bed.

My Little Patient

There was a little confusion with Hannah's surgery date... the paperwork I was given said Monday the 15th, but yesterday I received a call telling me what time she needed to be there this morning. Luckily this worked out for us!

We checked in at the surgery center at 7:15 AM & everything went great. She said she was scared, but she was so very brave when the nurse took her from me in pre-op to head to the operating room. I was thrilled that they put her to sleep before placing her IV... that wouldn't have been fun.

The surgeon said she did great & they would get us when she woke up. When we went back she was a little weepy & I told her it was okay to cry... and she did just that! She was in some pain, and just wanted to go home. She did tell me she didn't want her tonsils out, & was a little shocked when I told her it was over. By the time the pain medicine kicked in & we were home she seems to be doing great!