Bruiser's First Haircut

I had to do it! I love a bob and can't stand the straggles, so, against many people's wishes, I cut off the curls to go for the neater look. The curls are still there and add much body though. She did very well and didn't seem to notice what I was doing. I need to find a pic of Nucky's first haircut... that was more challenging.

My Big Girl

During her "room time" lately, she's wanted to play car. She'll go all over the house and collect our small chairs and make a car to drive her babies around.


In the front yard baby pool. The girls have really enjoyed a "little" dip in the water and it sure saves on a pool membership! Honestly I am so grateful we didn't join the pool this year b/c we haven't been in town much AND b/c Bruiser is a crazy girl at the pool. She literally stepped into the side of the big pool last time we were there. It was silent (I was standing right beside her) and turned to find her a foot below the surface of the water. She dropped like a rock to the bottom. Gave her a good scare, but I'd bet she will try it again. I'm going to get her a bumper sticker that say "Ain't Skeered" for her scooter.



Reading to little sis. It's rare to catch moments like this around our house!

Nucky is growing up so quickly and I think that I hardly notice it or am saddened by it. That makes me sad. Everyone says they grow up fast, and I think as a mother of little ones, you're so ready for them to move on to the next phase. I look back at some pics of her when she was little and hardly remember. I want to cherish her more than I do. I love moments when I can just look at her playing happily and being kind to her sister. I love hearing the funny things she has to say. Last night when I tucked her in, she asked me to go check on Sarah (a doll who she puts to bed in the basement most nights before she goes to bed -- mind you, she puts the doll to sleep in a bouncy seat on a different level of the house in a far corner... why? who knows). She said I needed to go tie Sarah's shoe and buckle her in her seat. Then she told me when I go in there that "she might be a little bit sad, so just be gentle and tickle her a little bit." I'll have to remember that advice when this next little person comes around.

Catching up/Bruiser

This should be the title for every post. I think I'll just look at this first year of my blog as a trial run. Ok, no more comments about my lack of good bloggership.

Things to catch up on:

Bruiser will be called such b/c she cannot stay scratch or bruise free. She seems to run into trouble however she can, but a primary way is in our driveway. The girls have great fun riding "scooters" (nothing like scooters) down our sloped drive. When Bruiser first started doing it, I could see the danger. My mom insisted on a helmet, but we never got one... hmm, might've been a good investment. Here are some pics of Bruiser. She got a black eye at my parents' house falling into the corner of the TV cabinet.

Fun at Botanical Gardens

My belly at 26 weeks!

Went to one of our favorite spots for a picnic and some play with Bibi and Gogo. This was back at the end of April (yep, I'm a terrible blogger) so who knew the fountains would be on? Lover couldn't believe I let the girls play in their undies/diaper just b/c of my need to keep up appearances... but "everybody else was doing it!" Bruiser only wanted to drink the water in the fountain! Nucky is still shy and cautious around water.

Where have we been?

Here, there and everywhere. I'm going to start with the beach trip to the gulf with the Colorado girls (Bess and Marce -- missed the other 2!). I had so much fun getting to catch up with some of my closest girlfriends. I sure wish I lived closer to them. Also got to hang out with Edgar and Kelli and Noelle since we stayed at the McKees house. It was hard to lug all the stuff around being pregnant with 2 needy girls, but so worth it! Nucky had a great time in the sand and especially in the pool. TSG, who will now be known as Bruiser (I'll describe later in another post), did not care about the beach and only wanted to dig thru my beach bag looking for snacks.

Easter Bunny

Oops... forgot to include the "gravy" from Easter... the arrival of the Easter Bunny. A few funny things to note:

--Lover and I went out on Sat night before Easter and had a sitter. When we returned, the sitter said she had to remove Nucky's Easter basket from her room b/c she was crying saying, "I don't want the Easter Bunny to come in my room." She is terribly afraid of large dressed-up characters whether or not they bring toys and candy.

-- Since receiving loot on Easter, if I mention something we need like new Crocs, Nucky says, the Easter Bunny needs to get me some. Fortunately for me, I have the great heritage of hand-me-downs, so Nucky doesn't realize that you can actually go to a store and purchase things you need like shoes and clothes... they just arrive in your room from the basement mysteriously.

Reminder for next year: they hate Peeps. Nucky hated them last year... but aren't they a must?

Easter

This delayed entry among others is a real testament to my "operating system." Let me rephrase that: I am such a procrastinator and don't like that about myself. It becomes drudgery to do things like blog ... which I want to love. Regardless, we had a delightful Easter Sunday. Thank you Lord for beautiful weather, thank you for wonderful community and for sending your Son to live a human life and endure a painful death so that we can have hope and new life! Our family worshipped together then came home and shared a great feast with the Fields, Yoders and Hueys. I love great food and fellowship. It always reminds me of teaching I heard and a book I read about "resurrection meals" -- how celebrating meals with friends is a way of experiencing the resurrection. Life in community. Because I grew up in a tightknit community, I never realized what a joy and benefit it was. Now I live in a sprawling metropolis and have finally developed a community, after 7 or so years. That's not easy to re-create.