Destin, Florida

A friend was getting married in Florida and I was SO happy to get to do the pictures!! Rusty and I took Caitlin and we got to have a little vacation too.


Caitlin playing her Nintendo DS on the way down.


This was our view from our condo. Could anything be better than an ocean facing balcony?


We got there around 4 and Caitlin could NOT wait to see the beach. So we went for a little walk just to play in the sand. Then she put her feet in. She just kept inching her way and by the time we left, she was soaking wet in her clothes. But she had fun!!


Marisa came with us to help out with Caitlin while we did wedding stuff. Caitlin LOVED having her there!!



Rusty playing in the sand.

Marisa buried Caitlin in the sand and made her a mermaid.

Some family pictures were LONG overdue. The last picture of us was when Caitlin was 2.

Baby Room is Almost Done

As soon as we found out we were having a girl, I started looking for bedding. I just knew we were having a boy and already had the room all planned out, so I had to start over. I finally found this ABC Toile bedding from Pottery Barn. How can you not love Pottery Barn? So with almost everything completed in the room, I decided to take some pictures this morning.



We got "new to us" furniture. I found this set on Craigslist for $300. I thought it was a steal and I just love it. We got the crib, changing table and armoire.


Under the bed are 3 dark wicker storage baskets from Target.


Inside the armoire are books and movies, a small TV and VCR/DVD player.


I got the storage baskets from Target. On the closet's top shelf, I have the matching square boxes - 2 pink and 2 brown.


I got this bassinet from Penney's for the first few months. That way we can just roll the baby to where ever we are.

I LOVE the gloder rocker I found at Walmart. It is a PERFECT size for me and is so comfortable. I know it will come in handy in the middle of the night.

Some little details from Target.

So the only other things I'm thinking about adding are the baby's name (once we decide). I am going to put the name above the crib. Then I might add some pinboards over the changing table like I have in Caitlin's room. But for now, the room is done enough for me to not be obsessing over it anymore. I love to go in there and sit and rock and just relax. I am looking forward to December!

Kindergarten Update

Some mornings Caitlin wakes up and is ready to go and others are like this morning. I have an alarm clock in her room set for 6:30. By 6:40, she wasn't up so I went up there. The music was playing and she had her blanket over her head. I kept moving her and telling her it was time to get up. She said, "But my brain is telling me it is still time to sleep." Funny girl!

Anyway, she struggled with the first week of school. The teacher gives them a daily grade of how well they listened and behaved. They start on green each day and throughout the day may be moved down to yellow, then brown and then black, if they are really bad. Last Monday, she was Green. Tuesday she was Yellow. Wednesday she was Brown. Thursday and Friday she was on black. We were so frustrated by the end of the week. We consistently took away all the things she loved. By Thursday, she had lost her blankie, TV and movies, her stuffed animals, Nintendo DS, etc. We didn't let her go play with anyone and any time she asked to do something fun, we told her not until she was better at school. We talked with her teacher and she said that Caitlin just had a really hard time focusing and also not talking. Neither one surprises me. She is a motor mouth and at home when we have her go do something, she sets off with good intentions, but usually gets sidetracked. So we've really been drilling her on listening and doing first. Whatever we say to do, do it immediately, before anything else.

This week, we were crossing our fingers. Monday, I got a call from Caitlin around 2:30 and she told me she had stayed on Green all day. I was so relieved and told her how proud of her I was. She said, "Mom, I really tried my best." So Monday, we definitely gave her some positive reinforcement. Rusty took her to Sonic for a slushie, one of her new favorite treats. She got to play her DS, watch a show, go to the YMCA to play with her friend Alli, slept with her blankie and got her stuffed animals back.

Yesterday, I get another phone call around 2:30. She had done it again. Green all day! I think now that she knows what is expected from her, she is more likely to do it. We told her if she could get green all week, we would take her to Chuck E Cheese. So that's what she's working towards. We'll see. Hopefully, Saturday, I will be eating pizza and playing games with a big mouse. :)

First Day of Kindergarten

Today, was Caitlin's first day of Kindergarten. She only goes for 2.5 hours today and tomorrow and she starts full-time on Friday. Rusty walked her in and she sat at a table where the teacher had some toys to play with and she never looked back. I think she will love it!!

Nesting

While we were in Memphis for the concert, Emily and I visited the Pottery Barn Outlet. I was looking for the baby bedding I wanted, but instead found these cute towels. I then impulsively decided to redo the downstairs bathroom. I just love how it turned out!!

Decorative towels & Bathmat- Pottery Barn
Solid towels - TJ Maxx
Shower Curtain - Target

Counting Crows

Rusty's favorite band is the Counting Crows. He knows all their songs and just about listens exclusively to their music. So anytime they come in town or close to us, we go to the concert. We found out they were coming to Nashville on a weeknight but were in Memphis on a weekend so we decided to take a little trip. The concert was SO good. They had a format that I had never heard of. Instead of having the opening act play for an hour and then the main act for an hour, the concert started out with both bands on the stage at the same time. They took turns each singing each other's songs, sometimes only singing their song, singing together on a cover song, etc. It was basically a two hour jam session. It was so cool!!

Both bands jamming.

Both bands singing Simon & Garfunkel's Cecilia.

Kansas trip

We had such a fun trip to Kansas. Denise's daughter and grandson, Avan live there and he and Caitlin are only one day apart. They absolutely clicked and had a blast playing together. Caitlin just loved him!


Denise took me and the kids to see Pinnochio at a children's theatre. They had a blast!



I had the camera out and we played around for some silly pictures.

Avan doing the robot-


Caitlin doing the robot-


Rusty showing his muscles-


Avan showing his muscles-


Caitlin and I together.


And then Caitlin took this one of me. She loves to use the little point and shoot and get pictures of anything!

It's a girl!

Here's the ultrasound pictures of our little girl, still no name picked out.

And this one is just plain scary. Our little alien!!

Baby Alli

After a very long day, Heather and Ben finally made me an aunt again. They got to the hopital at 3am to be induced. I left work around noon so I wouldn't miss anything. HA We waited and waited for Alli to make her appearance but she was being very stubborn. Finally, around 5:45pm it was time to push. A couple hours later, Alli finally joined us. Here she is - totally worth the wait!!

July 14th 7:37pm
6 pounds 14 ounces





She has the longest feet and toes. They are so cute!!

Nana with her fourth grandbaby.

Baby Update

Had another checkup today and heard the heartbeat. It's still going strong. My weight is the same - overall I am down 5 pounds from when I got pregnant. My ultrasound is scheduled for July 30 at 9 am. Everyone think boy! :)

Uncle Ben

One of Caitlin's favorite people is Uncle Ben and I think you can see why. Ben loves Caitlin and spoils her rotten. He is always up for whatever game she wants to play - even dress-up. What a good sport!!

Gymnastics Progress

Caitlin is still loving her gymnastics class. The other day we were at class and I look up from my book and this is what she was doing. I had no idea she had come so far. She can start from the ground and pull herself all the way up to a perfect back bend!!