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.