Oh My Gosh!

Look who wanted to sit on the potty yesterday!!! I could not believe it!!! I have always heard that girls are way faster to potty train than boys, but whoa! I didn't think she would be this quick.
She is real good at telling me when she HAS 'tee-tee' and 'poo-poo,' but not really when she has to GO. So yesterday she follows me in the bathroom and as I'm getting ready to leave, she backs up to the toilet like she wants to sit on it. My first reaction was to laugh, because 1. it looked pretty funny and 2. is she really wanting to sit on the potty? So I ask her, "Do you need to go 'tee-tee?'" Her reply, "mmm huh." I ask again to make sure, "Do you want to sit on the potty?" Her reply, "mmm huh."
"Okay, let's try it!"
She looked soo cute (had to grab the camera of course)! She didn't actually 'tee-tee,' but she did sit there for about three minutes. And did NOT want to get down. She threw a fit when I took her off of there. Too funny! I'm not getting my hopes up just yet, but I know she will beat Zach by at least a year or more. And then we will be diaper free!!!!!! :)
P.S.- Sophie, please don't be mad at momma for posting these pics of you! :)

Mannequins

We were walking by and Zach says, "Momma, what are they looking at?" I couldn't resist. I had to take a picture and blog about it! LOL!! It was a good question though! :)

Crashed Out

And, she sleeps.....

Zachary's Latest Milestone

On the day of my birthday, my parents were getting ready to leave for Matagorda when Zach exclaims that he wants to go too! We were all pretty hesitant in allowing him to go- 1. because he is never really without momma, 2. my parents were planning on staying for two nights, and 3. we just thought he would either get scared or bored. After a long talk and explaining that he would be gone for two nights, it was finally decided that he would go.
I have to admit, I did get a little tear in my eye when they pulled away from the house.
Each time I talked to him on the phone, he sounded very excited to be with Grandma & Papa and like he was having a good time. They took him down to the draw bridge, saw the beach, found some seashells, experienced the water a little, and caught a fish! And he had some fun indoors too. He pretended that the upstairs of the house was HEB. He had to lock it, open it, etc. Too funny! How old is he again?? :)
Back at home, it was really quiet without him around. Sophie really missed her big brother. I think she even got a little bored from time to time.
They arrived back home on Tuesday morning. Sophie and I ran out to meet him in the driveway and Zach says, "I don't want to see you yet!" What???? So I go back in and wait patiently...or not so patiently. :) He finally comes running in with seashells in hand, and says, "Look what I found for you!" Awwww, he wanted to surprise me! :)
Later at lunch, when he found out that Grandma & Papa were returning home to the lake, he wanted to go with them again! Goodness...I have a little traveler on my hands! So, watch out Mom & Dad. Looks like you might have a visitor soon!!
I don't know if it was the time away from him or what, but he seems so much 'older' now. He speaks clearer, asks more questions, expresses himself and his feelings better. Crazy! Time is just going by too fast!

Dane & Sophie Sittin' in a Tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!

After dinner last night, we gathered outside (as always) to chit chat some more before saying 'bye.' We found the perfect spot to take some more pictures of the babies- because it has been months since we had taken any of them side by side.
Believe me when I say...it IS true love. The pictures speak for themselves! Too too cute! Dane & Sophie

Gazing into each other's eyes

Sneakin' some sugar

Come here handsome!

Priceless!! :)

Happy Birthday To Me!

#32!! Yep, that's right... I am now 32! I guess the good thing is that I don't feel 32- young at heart! :) I had a great birthday weekend. On Saturday, my parents came into town and spent the night (lucky me). So Gabe and I actually got a dinner out alone. We went to Carabba's, which was an experience! We sat next to a table with two older couples that obviously had too much to drink and they quickly became our new bestfriends. It was hilarious! After dinner we met our good friends, Todd & Leigh Ann, for some drinks. It was good to get out and have some much needed 'alone time' and visit with our friends. Thanks Mom & Dad!
On Sunday (my actual birthday), I spent the day being lazy. I even got a good nap in! We met one of our favorite families, The Wittschen's, for dinner at On the Border (mmm, Mexican. Imagine that). Jayne surprised me with delicious chocolate chip cookies that her and the Nestle Tollhouse store slaved over all afternoon. Haha!
I got some really sweet cards (funny ones too), emails, texts, phone calls and of course some awesome presents. I felt really special all day! Thank you everyone!
Me with my sweet baby girl & my roses!

Gabe & I before our night out!

Modern Day Aunt Jemima

17 Months!

Sophie turned 17 months on the 6th (I know...late again)! Haha. This post is dedicated to her teeth. She has 12 teeth!!!!! I couldn't believe it when I counted them. She has four front teeth on the top, two molars on the top, four teeth on the bottom, and she's getting her two molars on the bottom too!! Good thing, because she loves to eat!
One more month to a year and a half!

Where's your teeth? Ahhhhh....

Fourth of July

We had an awesome Fourth of July weekend at the lake! We did a lot of swimming, tubing, boat riding, wave running, etc.
We all started the day off early and were already outside by 10am. Zach & Sophie started with the slip n slide. That alone kept Sophie busy for a long while. That and the water hose! Ha! They didn't care too much for swimming in the lake just yet, but the rest of us did.
For lunch, we feasted on hamburgers and hot dogs...the good 'ol American way! :) And later we had some watermelon- courtesy of my sister, Sandra. It was dee-lish!
For dinner we had BBQ (of course).
At nightfall, everyone came over to my parents' house for the fireworks. My parents always go all out and buy loads of fireworks for the kids. Zach stayed out for maybe thirty minutes and he had had enough. Sophie watched for a little while but then wanted to roam around.
We were all worn out by 10 from the long day outside and in the sun, but it was well worth it!
Please enjoy the slideshow of pictures...it only took my two days to upload the pictures! It was soooo slow! :)

July?

Seriously, July? Already? Half of this year is gone! I can't believe it.

But this does mark a very special month. For me at least. It's my birthday month!! Yea!! We started the "Birthday Month" celebration in college. What does this mean? It means that you can wish me a Happy Birthday Month. I will welcome cards, candy, flowers, presents, emails, calls, goodies, hugs, and warm wishes!! :) Lol!

Happy Fourth of July!!

A Star Is Born!

This is just a video of Zach singing a little Taylor Swift. Notice the microphone in hand. Usually Sophie likes to join in, but she was amazed by the string on my shorts for some reason. Lol! It cracks me up that he actually knows most of the words to this song, "Teardrops On My Guitar." He asked me one day, "Mom, who dropped the guitar?" :)

Wait till I get him singing "Picture to Burn." That's another one of his favorites!

What's Up Ace?

Sometimes Sophie's hair is so crazy and sticking out on the sides. I guess it's going through an awkward stage, or at least that's what I'm hoping! She looks so funny. One day my niece, Danni commented that she looked like Ace Ventura. So now her new nickname is "Ace!" Allll righty then! :)

Visit With Baby Gage

Ashleigh and Baby Gage came to Houston for another visit this past week. We got a chance to have lunch, hang out, and take some pictures. He just turned 6 months...he is soo big!!

Sophie obviously missed some of the baby toys...she had to join in!

Okay, notice Sophie's hair...we had just taken her pigtails out...crazy (see next blog)!

Gabe getting some ideas....

Great Papa with Baby Gage

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day!

As Zach says, "All black chones (that's underwear in Spanish)!" He picked those out, so he was very proud. Mommy was very proud of the Polos she found on sale! :)
And we took Daddy to eat at one of his favorites...Rudy's! Yum...one of mine too! :)

Happy Father's Day, Honey. I love you with all of my heart. xo

Pig Tails

Pig tails, pig tails, pig tails!!!!! I finally put Sophie's hair in pig tails! And it is soo cute!!!!!! Believe it or not, she left them alone. They stayed up all through dinner until it was time to get ready for bed. I love it! She's truly a girly girl. She likes to put on lotion (just like mommy) and she even pretends to put make-up on! I will have to try to sneak a video of this...it is too funny!

Kisses for Daddy! :)

Tuesdays & Fridays

It always amazes me what comes out of Zachary's mouth. And it's funny what he notices. He is a very observant little boy (for an almost 4 year old). I thought I would blog about this because I thought it was so funny and I don't want to forget these priceless moments. :)

We were at a store earlier today and I had taken the smaller stroller because I just wanted to run in real quick and not have to bother with the huge, double stroller. And I thought Zach would appreciate to walk for a change. We were about to leave when he jumps on the back of the stroller and holds on, and wants me to push him. Which I probably could have if he didn't weigh 37 pounds! So I tell him to please get off. His reply? "Why? The trash man does this."

I think I laughed for about two minutes! And I remembered that when he hears the trash truck coming (every Tuesday and Friday morning), he will run to a front window to watch it. Funny little guy!

Where There's Food, She WILL Find It!

I think the title of this post probably explains the pictures. If you don't want your food anymore, just leave it on the table...Sophie will eat it! Or even if you do want it, she'll eat it. Don't leave it behind because when you come back, it's gone! This is what Zach quickly discovered when he left his pop-tart on the table to watch some cartoons. He wasn't too happy with baby sister when he came back for it later. She is like our little, human garbage disposal. She will eat anything!

The Green Monster

The Green Monster came to visit! And no, I'm not talking about the big, green wall at the Red Sox ballpark. Ha! The kids were playing outside the other day, when Zach decides to get the sidewalk chalk out. Good thing it was bath night! Sophie was covered in green chalk!!!! From head to toe...literally!