Day Trip and Shoes

We had a wonderful little trip to Lubbock on Saturday. We had a great lunch, enjoyed walking and driving around reminiscing about our college days, and we shopped a little, buying a couple new t-shirts for the upcoming football season... I found the cutest book for Blake! It's called Hello, Masked Rider!, and is obviously about the Masked Rider as he rides around campus and eventually to the football that Tech wins. Here she is looking at it on the way home.
I really wanted to take her picture in front on the Texas Tech Seal on University... but a wedding party was having their pictures taken there, so maybe another day for Blake.

We are always amazed everytime that we go back to Lubbock how much it has changed. We visited a cute little subdivision called Vintage Township that is it's own community, with tons of parks, places to eat, community swimming pool... The homes are so beautiful, of all different colors, with big porches with white columns - just really cool. I tried to include a picture, but go to vintagetownship.com if you want to look around!

These are the delicious fried cheese sticks from Spanky's that I mentioned we would be eating. They are worth the 2 hour drive and are just as good as we remembered!!
Blake was really interested in the food and kept grabbing for the cheese sticks. These days I have to eat with my food out of her reach because she is grabbing for everything! This was her first time sitting in a restaurant highchair. It was way too big for her, but she was tired of sitting in the car seat, and it worked out pretty good anyway. Blake did so great on the trip, only ever fussing to let us know when it was time to eat! She's a good little traveler.

And these are the adorable Nike shoes from the Ellis family! I just had to take a picture of them, especially before her big feet (I can say that because I'm her mom and I love her) outgrow them and because they are too cute. Thanks Kelly and Jonette!

Lubbock Here We Come

Tim and I have been wanting to go back to Lubbock for a little trip for a while now, and we are finally doing it. Today when Tim gets off work, we will be heading to Lubbock for the day. Spanky's is calling our name!! (Spanky's is a hamburger place right across from the stadium with good shaved ice in their drinks and the best cheese sticks in the whole world!) We'll hopefully be buying some new Texas Tech t-shirts, seeing some friends, and having a wonderful day. It will be Blake's first trip to Lubbock (out of my tummy, that is). Tim says we're introducing her to her future college town. Happy Saturday everyone!

This is For You

I have a little boy in my classroom this year that brings me strange gifts. Starting on the 2nd day of school, he gives me at least one thing a day. He always says, "This is for you." Sweet gesture right? Well I guess it's the thought that counts! So far, he's given me an old ruler, a little scrap of paper with his birthday scribbled on it, 3 bandaids, and... the latest- a watermelon seed!

So yes I do have some really sweet kids in my classroom, they may be hard to notice through crazy behavior all around them, but there are some! I need to focus on them more.

First Week

I am sorry that I haven't blogged lately, but school has started this week! I have the hardest class that I've ever had and it's been really stressful because I miss Blake so much. Just ask all the teachers who watched/heard me cry my first day because I missed her! I know, I know, I'm 25 and being a crybaby, but it was a hard day and a big shock to me...

more pictures to be coming soon!

Saturday

I love my weekends even more than I ever did before! Can you see why? Uninterrupted time with the best little girl in the world who is pretty darn cute to look at if I do say so myself! She really is a good baby and alot of fun to be around. Everyday she can do something a little bit better or longer than the day before, I swear it seems like she's just about to take off crawling, literally, she is getting so strong.

Blake loves to sing, making sweet noises along with someone singing or music playing, she can drink from a bottle again (with vigor! according to Grandma, thanks for helping with that transition), she loves to be outside, but shaded!! and she likes to give kisses and touch faces.

She has also been amazed by the giant animals at Pappaw and Grandma's house. The horses, steers and donkey excite her! Today she even sat with Pappaw on his horse at the Horseshoe Arena where he was competing roping. We watched him for a little while, and he caught two steers clean (no penalties). Blake didn't know what to think about all the people and horses there.

Green

Once again, allow me to narrate how I think this went in Blake's head.... (today we started avocado for the first time)

"Mom, what is this?? You expect me to eat this green goop?"

"Okay, now wait a minute, let me try that again.... I'm ready!"

"Mmmmmmm, yum, ssssllllup, mmmmm, nummummmmm"

Needless to say, Blake enjoyed avocado today! The first couple of bites were unsure as she tried to figure the texture out, and it was a little cool from the fridge, (I didn't think about that at the time...) but she kept opening her mouth for more instead of clamping it shut like she does when she doesn't like something. I'm so glad to have found something she likes other than her cereals so far.

Life Lately

Well, I have been back at work since Friday for inservice days. It's hard, but I'm handling it pretty well since I know it's what I have to do. I have no worries about Blake while I'm working because she is in such great hands with my mom (and my dad too). I cry a little when it's time to say goodbye, but only after my dad drives away with her!

On the food front, so far she doesn't like any of the fruits or veggies she's been introduced to. She likes her cereals though! and good news... I think the bottle crisis is over! My mom has been giving her a bottle everyday, and she is drinking a little more of it everyday. I also go over there on my lunch break to nurse her. So far so good, I think she'll be fine with a bottle for lunch next week when I won't have time to leave school(my mom found a type of bottle she seems to like!) I am so so SO thankful that Blake is being taken care of so well! Thanks Mom and Dad! I love you.

On the work front, I just got back from Meet the Teacher night. It never fails, and tonight was no different, some parents just don't think I'm going to be a good teacher. Maybe I interpret things wrongly, but I hate being asked every year "have you taught before?" "how long have you been teaching?" "do you really think you can handle kids?" ... the words in italics being the ones especially ridden with attitude! I always politely answer the questions with a big smile and assure parents that I am strict and have very few discipline problems in my room, and that I can indeed handle their child! And tonight, the best comment was by a kid who thought I couldn't hear him... "Mom, I want to be in her class" "Why, cuz she looks nice?" "Yeah cuz my teacher looks like she'll make me be quiet, and this one probably won't be able to." I just laughed to myself at that one!

I'll try to post pictures soon. Life as you can see is busy!

Sweet Potato

Today Blake ate sweet potatoes for the first time. (my first homemade baby food! can't you see how impressed she is?) Blake's not so sure what to think of them... She hates bananas, so I'll wait awhile and reintroduce them later. She is doing pretty well though with eating solids. She loves rice cereal - she opens her mouth and does a face dive onto the spoon, swallows it fast and has her mouth open and ready, leaning towards me, before I can even get the next spoonful ready! I have to slow things down because I don't want her to gobble it down too quickly. She sometimes grabs my hand or the spoon to help me. Today I cleaned sweet potato off of her by her ears and then later cereal from chin to nose as she likes to rub it all over if she can get her hands on any! MYOB- make your own boogers! ha ha!! But she's gotta learn somehow - practice makes perfect. As for other foods, she likes oatmeal alright, and I think we'll be moving to avocado next. Green boogers, here we come!

5 Months

Happy 5 month birthday to my beautiful baby girl!
What Mom?? Another special day for me!??? Woohoo!

Here are some pictures from today's 5 month old photo shoot.

Today was a busy day! I went and set up my classroom while Blake stayed with Grandma and Pappaw today as a trial (for me mostly) for when I go back to work THIS FRIDAY! How did that sneak up so soon? Wasn't it just yesterday that we came home from the hospital? Now she's a wiggly, giggly, strong, determined, playful, funny little thing with long legs who keeps me and Tim on our toes. This video was taken this morning at my parent's house before I went up to school. She's quite the character! Love it!!

More Grammy and Grandpa

Tim's parents Tina and Ricardo were in town this weekend for Tim's birthday.... (they say for his birthday, but we know it was just something to say to get to see their favorite person, Blake!!) wink wink. But really, it was nice to catch up with them because both their and our lives are very busy. We had a yummy dinner at Wall Street Bar & Grill on Friday night, and of course Oscar's for Saturday morning. The rest of the time we stayed at the house just spending time together. Grandpa got to read some of Blake's favorite books with her,
and Grammy got to feed her cereal!
So far she loves the illustrations in the Eric Carle books, look at those intense eyes... she especially loves to kiss the pictures and try to put the books in her mouth. Solid foods are going well also. So far we are up to 2 meals a day, and she approves of rice and oatmeal cereal. Avocado, sweet potato, and bananas are next (not sure in what order), but I found a book I like called Super Baby Food, that is helping me out alot.

Seesters and Babies

Here are Katie and I with our two adorable babies, Blake and Santiago! These pictures were taken right before they jumped in the car to head back to Spring from their latest trip to Midland. Katie and I call each other "seester" thanks to my friend Stevi and something she would always say about seesters back in junior high... the name stuck! We had to take about 20 pictures because if Santi was smiling and happy then Blake would be looking away, or I would be laughing too hard or something.

Didn't our mom's flowers make a pretty backdrop?

Happy Birthday Daddy

Today is Tim's 27th birthday, so first of all... Happy Birthday to you! We love you. And as a mom I can now fully appreciate what Tina went through that day 27 years ago, so it's a special day for her too! We woke up early to make a special breakfast for Tim: peanut butter and chocolate chip pancakes (I'm still full 4 hours later!). The menu for dinner includes fried chicken, green bean casserole, twice baked potatoes with red velvet cake for dessert! All handmade by me, even the cake from scratch, thanks to Paula Deen! I'll let you know how it turns out.

What a whirlwind this week has been. It's been hard to keep track of days since having Blake, all I know is if it's eating or sleeping time pretty much! But with the happenings of this week, and all the family coming and going, it's been even crazier! It's been wonderful though seeing so many family members even though the reason for the visit is not wonderful. And now we are looking forward to Grammy Tina and Grandpa Ricardo's visit this weekend!

Now for some pictures!
Blake is still not sitting unsupported, but we're getting close! Just this week, she has been able to sit up at this angle , so with continued practice I'm sure she'll be sitting up straight in no time! Check out her toes: Aunt Katie painted them pink!
Blake was able to meet her Great Grandpa Hollis and Great Grandma Dorothy this week! It was so great to see yall!!
Here they are again with both Santiago and Blake who like to touch each others faces and talk to each other! I wish I knew what they were saying to each other... probably scheming all kinds of things for the future!
Blake sure thinks her Uncle Bubba is funny! He made her laugh and giggle alot!
Also in town were my Uncle Scott and cousin Olivia who brought her friend Talia (hope that's spelled right!). They rode horses, played at the Monahans sand dunes, swam at Balmorhea, and thoroughly enjoyed West Texas. The girls were so great playing with Blake and Santiago. They'll be great babysitters, anyone in Austin interested??

In other Blake news, today starts two solid meals a day (so far just rice cereal) but I'm going to the store to stock up on other cereals and other fixings to attempt to make my own baby food. I'm going to try to get ahead of the game and have a reserve in the freezer, I'll be back at work next Friday. :(

Family

There might some people out there who would argue with me, but I feel that I have the best family in the world. I feel so blessed to have so many people in my life who I love and love me in return. I truly love and cherish both the family I was born into and the family I married into. God knows his plan for everyone and if you look around at the people in your life, you can see His plan. He has placed the people in your life there for a reason, so don't take anyone for granted. Especially when I look back in my life, I can trace certain people and decisions to wonderful outcomes. Looking around at the people in my life this weekend, I can see many paths that have come together in a wonderful way. My sweet Grandpa Bob left our world for a much better one yesterday morning. I feel so blessed to have known him and to have been a part of his life. I can't think of a sweeter or easier person to be around. He was so welcoming and had a laugh that made me happy. You can just see how full of life he was. Here he is meeting my Blake Michelle for the first time back in March.

I could list so many things that I love and remember about him. And I wish I could upload this picture, but it's from my wedding album... One of my favorite times with Grandpa Bob was at my wedding. He was wearing a blue suit, and we were dancing together, and we both have huge smiles on our faces because whatever he said to me was so funny and wonderful!
I miss him. Right about now, he's probably teeing off for 18 holes in Heaven.