DOUBLE DOUBLE STROLLER

That's what Emma calls it anyway... a double double stroller.

I finally got one! I think I've been talking about wanting one since before Drew was born but was too cheap to buy a brand new one. I've been watching CraigsList for a while and it finally paid off. I found this one for $40!! I met the lady today to get it.

It's in perfect shape. I'm not even sure I found one scuff or scratch on it.

The back seat comes off so that Emma can stand and ride. It also has a little seat if she decides to sit while she's standing.

The real test comes when we go shopping... wish me luck!

6 MONTHS

Drew turns 6 months old today!
Half a year!
Wow, times flies.

She goes to the doctor next Tuesday so I can't post her 6 month stats yet.
But here's what she's been up to...
She is starting to "talk". She says "da da da da da", I am fully aware that she's not actually saying Daddy but it's the sound she's making and it is just so sweet. She is starting to laugh and she squeals when something excites her. She loves to take a bath. I lay a hand towel in the bath tub and fill it with a little water. She would lay there forever and just kick those feet and laugh. It is just precious! She tried her first foods, avacados and peas, this past month. She adores Emma. Emma can look at her and say something and Drew just squeals with excitement. She's eating about 6 ounces every 3 hours or so. She is taking about two 2 hour naps a day and goes to bed about 8pm and sleeps until around 6am or so. She's a great sleeper! But only when she's at home... if we're gone you can bet she's awake. If momma is around, that is who she wants and she will let you know.
Wow, how times flies!

A PIGGY PEDI

CASTLE PARK, PEAS AND LIGHTNING BUGS

We had great weather today. The highs were in the low 80's so the girls and I took off to Castle Park this afternoon.

Drew tried her 2nd food tonight... peas!
I don't think she liked them. She only had a few bites. She had just had a bottle so she may not have been hungry enough. We're going to try them again tomorrow.

We spent the rest of the night outside playing.
Andrew and Emma captured lightning bugs.

FATHERS DAY

Andrew's Father's Day weekend was busy.

He got up early Saturday morning and met his dad in central Illinois. Then they drove up to Chicago to watch the Cubs play the Yankees.

He spent the night with his parents then drove home Sunday to be with the girls.

My dad's birthday fell on Father's Day this year so we all met and ate lunch at Giant City Lodge.

When we got home the girls gave Andrew his card and gift.

I dont know if you can see it or not but the girls are spelling out

I Love You in the 3 pictures.

Emma (and now Drew) always make Andrew something that he can show off in his office for Father's Day.

I asked Andrew what he wanted for Father's Day this year and he said all he wanted was something to set out in his office... So sweet.

I have to show the back of Drew's dress.

It's hard to see in the picture above but it's a white sleeveless onesie with a tutu.

On the front it says "Fairy Princess"

and this is the back.

So cute.

CONVERSATIONS WITH EMMA

"Mom, I'm going to be good all day tomorrow and I'm not going to cry... But if my eyes get wet I have to cry but I'll just wipe them on my shirt."

***

While discussing my birthday Emma says to me, "I'm going to help you blow out your candles. Or if you want I can just blow them out". Pauses for a few moments then says "So which do you choose?"

***

Emma: "Momma, why do I keep getting a wedgie tonight?"

Me: "Are your panties on backwards?"

Emma pauses a moment then smiles real big at me... I think we know why!

***

The new car has blue tooth. So when you want to make a call you just push a button on the steering wheel and say "Call (enter name) " and it will call that person. Sometimes the blue tooth doesn't understand the name you are trying to call so then you have to say "Dial (enter phone #) ".

I picked Emma and Drew up from Ms Tonya's yesterday and Emma had her pretend cell phone. She says "Mom, I'm going to call MeMaw". Then she says very loudly and very slowly "CALL CHERYL"... she waits a moment then says loudly and slowly "DIAL 2 2 0 9 3 5 7 7".

***

"Mom, do you have a tattoo or is that paint on your butt?"

Unfortunately it's not paint.

RELAY FOR LIFE 2011

Andrew's bank participated in this year's Relay For Life.
It worked out great for us because Emma's dance class performed there as well.

Ava and Emma continued dancing well into the evening!

Drew walked the track with MawMaw and PawPaw.

The girls waited all night to get their faces painted.

We had a really good time and hung out till around 11:00.

This little girly was ready for bed!

STEP ASIDE SUPERNANNY!

This jar is my and Andrew's new parenting trick.
So far it's working great.
Here's how it works...
When Emma gets caught being good she gets to put a ball into her jar.
When she gets in trouble a ball comes out.
When the balls reach the green ribbon at the top of the jar she gets to go to ToysRUs and pick out a new scooter.

So far she has a total of 4 balls.
She's earned 7 but has had 3 taken away.

Hopefully it wont be too long before she can get her new scooter!!

FIRST FOOD- AVOCADOS!!

So I decided that I'm going to make most of Drew's baby food.
I am really excited about it!
I have a few friends who make their own baby food and love it.
It'll be nice to get advice from them, I've had a couple share their favorite websites with me.
I'm mainly doing it for the health benefits but it's about half the price too.

(I've always felt a little guilty for breastfeeding Emma and not Drew. I gave Emma store bought baby food so this is my way of making not breastfeeding up to Drew. lol)

One of the first foods recommended for babies is avocados.
So tonight Drew got to taste her first real food!!

AVOCADOS!

First, I cut the avocado into wedges.

Put the pieces with some water into the Magic Bullet...

and pureed.

Looks delicious, huh?

This was my first attempt at baby food and I am pretty impressed.
It was super easy.

But the real test came when Drew tried it...

SHE LOVED IT!!

Avocados were definately a success. She ate the whole bowl.
She probably would have ate more but I was afraid she might get a belly ache.

SURPRISE!

My family and friends threw me a surprise birthday party today.
I am more surprised that they were able to pull off a surprise.
I'm so nosey that I usually ruin any kind of secret.
We had beautiful weather today. The kids played on the waterslide.

Then we all ate lunch.

Amelia and Drew had a little girl chat.
I love this picture! I can already tell that Drew is going to look up to Amelia so much.

After lunch, the kids played on the waterslide some more.

And they played on the swingset.

And they played cornhole.

Then my dad made the kids snowcones!

Waterslide and snowcone birthday party... you'd think I was turning 3, not 30!

MawMaw let Drew chew on the snowcone straw.

I am truly beyond blessed with friends and family!

Such a fun day!
But too much fun for some little baby...