Time Flies

I can't believe that in a little over 2 months, Buggy is going to be two!  I don't know when it happened, but she turned into a little girl right under my nose.  She's running all over the place now and gets into everything.  She's basically my spirited little wild donkey, and I love her to pieces.  I'm still amazed at what a sweet little girl she is and I find myself just grabbing her and squeezing her tight, hoping it will keep her staying little and chubby and drooly and well, my baby, for just a little bit longer.  She's such a loving little girl and has realized that she can get pretty much anything she wants if she just gives us a hug and kiss (even if her kisses are always with a half open mouth, tongue hanging out, and extra slobbery!)  We've been amazed at her counting skills for quite some time, and her Daddy's math gene becomes more apparent each day!  She can easily, and quickly, count to fifteen now, and does it multiple times a day.  She recognizes the numbers 1 - 9 and can point them out and say them to us.  And she recognizes the letters in her name and can spell her name all by herself!  She know the colors yellow, red, pink and blue, and all the basic shapes.  She's a wiz at any puzzle you put in front of her, and we all know her favorite activity is coloring!  Basically, she's not a baby anymore, but instead is transforming into a very smart little lady.  She's even losing her chubby little baby gut!

There's still no place she'd rather be than outside, running around and getting dirty!

Her new favorite hang out spot is inside our new coffee table!

Ahhh, the trampoline.  She loves this thing.  (And I hate it!!  Santa had the hardest time putting it together, it's huge! and without fail, someone flies off of it and gets inured on every single playdate we host!)  But Buggy has so much fun bouncing and showing off, that I'm slowly developing a spot for the tramp in my heart.  (Thanks Aunt Kelly and Uncle Dan!) 

It's amazing how quickly time flies.  I always thought that was something old people said..."Cherish every minute, it'll be gone before you know it!"...but now I know that it's something Mommies say.  This has been the fastest and most wondrous year of my life, and there's no doubt in my mind that next year will be even better.  And I know one thing for sure, this loving little girl is going to be one great big sister. 

I love you Hailey Grace.

Kids in a Candy Shop

We've been as happy as a couple of kids in a candy shop these days!

It's been hard trying to top the excitement from this weekend. I still turn into a giddy little school girl when I get to thinking about the fact that I'm going to have another little girl this summer! But this week sure has started off on an awesome note! We turned in our acceptance letter to St. Stephen's Preschool, and when Hailey went with me, she was in hog heaven! If I had a nickle for all the "oohh, wow's" and "look! pretty's!" that came out of her drooly little mouth when I took her on a mini tour there, I'd be a rich woman! It was reassuring because the last time I took her into a preschool she immediately burst into tears and yelled, "all done!" over and over again until we were safely back inside Pearl!

We're also very pround of DaTa for getting such a good yearly review at work yesterday.  I've been forbidden to brag about him, but Buggy and I very proud of him and all of his hard work he puts in for our family.

Along with all of the good news, we've also had some pretty great play dates too!  Yesterday was another beautiful day, and we got to spend it outside at the park with Caroline and her Mommy Lauren.

And this morning, we met Robert and his Mommy, Lauren, at the Childrens' Museum.  Save the date!!  Buggy's 2nd Birthday Extravaganza is planned for Saturday, May 7th, at the Children's Museum in Short Pump!  Since she's still a little weary of the train ride there, I thought we'd give it another shot today, and bring Robert along for support.  Initially, she grabbed onto me for dear life, and said, "all done, all done!" but on about the third time around the track, she looked down at Robert and saw that he was having a good time, and started to relax a little bit.

After the thrilling train ride, we headed to the sandbox, the arts and crafts center for some coloring (of course) and finished up the morning getting nice a wet splashing around in the water tables. 

We worked up quite an appetite, so we decided to go out for a pizza lunch.  Hailey was flirting with Robert the whole time, playing Peek-a-boo with him.

Miss Lauren has a super fancy phone with "Dora the Explorer" episodes on it!!  I'm thinking that might come in handy!

I can't think of a better way to top of this morning of fun than with a trip to the candy shop!  We loaded up on sweets and headed home for a candy-induced coma nap!

Talk about a pregnant woman's dream!  I've been downing sweetarts and gummy candy like it's nobody's business throughout this pregnancy.  So this was my kinda place!

(Yes!  Those are candy cigarettes!  I couldn't believe that they still made them!) 

It's been an amazing couple of days, and I can't help but thank God for all of our many blessings! 

They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - you and your household."  ACTS 16:31

It's a Girl!

We are over the moon excited about giving Hailey a little sister this summer!  That's right!  We're having another girl!!  Bug loves to pat my tummy and say "baby" and then she'll lift up my shirt and kiss my belly!  It's very cute, except for when she tries to do it in the middle of the super market, or in music class...

Buggy can't wait to have a permanent playmate, a fellow fashionista and someone to get into lots of trouble with!  I can't lie.  I really wanted to have another girl!  Every time Buggy grew out of a smocked bishop or bubble, I would pray that I'd get to put it on another sweet baby girl sometime soon!  I didn't sleep a wink last night just daydreaming of what she's going to be like and how much fun her and Hailey are going to be together. 

Not only did we learn the gender of our new little nugget of love, but we also made a decision on preschools for Buggy.  She's going to be going to St. Stephen's Episcopal church.  I am in love with that preschool!!  It's also the same church were we go to music class, which means Buggy already lights up when we enter the parking lot, or even drive by! 

We brought our celebration over to Gigi and Babu's house today to so Daddy could do our taxes and Mommy could put her swollen feet up while the Grandparent's chased around the "spirited one".

You can imagine how thrilling it was for little Bug to be able to get up close and personal to a big truck today!  (Why it was parked in my parents neighborhood is beyond me, but it was quite exciting!)

Of course a trip to Babu's house involves a yummy chocolate treat.  Today's feature candy was a handful of M&M's.  Bug was feeling generous and decided to share with Peaches.  I guess she didnt' get the memo that chocolate can kill dogs!

Handsome Daddy working hard on our taxes!

It may look like she's getting attacked, but she loves wrestling with the puppies!  She'll provoke them and get them to chase her all over the house, screaming and laughing at the top of her lungs,  and then she'll fall down so they'll lick her!

Someone wasn't happy that she had to wait on her chicken and fries today for lunch!

But Babu sure knows how to cheer her up!

Her new favorite "food group" is ketchup.  I'm considering putting it on vegetables tomorrow to see if she might actually consume one!

We got Bug a new step stool so she can look out the window at the school children and wait for Daddy to come home from work.  She will stand there all day if I'd let her!  Who could blame her!  The weather has been in the mid 70's and gorgeous!  It's been a little slice of heaven outside and we've been taking full advantage of it!

I'm not a big fan of the fact that Hailey has learned how to "hide" now!  She's enough of a handful already.  But now she'll run off and hide in a closet or behind furniture, which tends to give me a mini heart attack at times!  Here she is hiding behind the bed.

And "hiding" in her basket of stuffed animals.

Apparently, it's not as easy to get out of the basket, as it is to get in!

Worn out from all her "spirited" adventures and dreaming of her baby sister...