A Pantry in Chaos

I started to fret as I was cleaning out our pantry this evening.  The fretting wasn't over the obvious (the fact that I am cleaning out my pantry on a Friday night), but instead it was about the lack of anything decent in our pantry.  As I tossed things into the garbage, I realized that the pantry is just like my closet upstairs:  cluttered with items that I don't wear, don't use, don't even like anymore so that it doesn't feel empty.  It doesn't feel organized but at least it doesn't feel empty. 

I still have the first suit that I purchased for a job fair my senior year at Mizzou. 

Up until 15 minutes ago, I still had some hot cocoa mix that was best if used by May 15 2008.  2008!

My fretting subsided as I looked up above the top shelf and saw a plaque hanging from the wall. 

And then I realized that it's OK if I'm not a perfect cook.  Or even a cook, at all, for that matter. 

I don't have to be perfect at everything....

The Second Game

Connor's soccer game was much more exciting this past weekend.  The jerseys helped a lot.  They were a little too big, but that actually makes it better.

He's my big little boy. 

Big Adventures

Three quotes come to mind as I post this.

"You can take the boy out of the city but you can't take the city out of the boy."

"The more things change, the more things stay the same."

"You don't stop playing because you grow old, but you grow old because you stop playing."

I'm not sure exactly how they relate to each other.  My only thought is that I could combine them to say, "no matter how old you are, riding on a Big Wheel is always awesome.  Especially when there is a really big hill."

Happy 8 Months

April 19th, 2012

Dear Blake,

This month has been an incredibly busy one for you.  BAM and Krissi are the usual suspects when it comes to loving on you during the week while we're at work.  In early April, your Nana & Papa came into town to take care of you and Connor for a few days while we went on vacation.  So, I know that I'm correct when I say that you are not hurting in the being-loved and being-spoiled department. 

You still smile all of the time. You love to giggle and laugh. You are starting to push up onto your knees in an attempt to learn to crawl.  You still don't have any teeth.

If I may make a request, there is one thing that I think we need to encourage you to PLEASE STOP. When you are really hungry or really tired, you just yell. No tears, no crying. Just yelling. Unfortunately I think that your dad and I are doing the precisely WRONG thing and are teaching you that the louder you yell, the more quickly we respond. 

One area in which I have seen some much needed (and much appreciated!) improvement is in the bathtub. Over the course of 3 or more weeks, you managed to poop in the bathtub every. single. night. It got to the point that it no longer phased Connor when I told him that bathtime was over and that we needed to get him out of the tub, pronto.  He would either ask if you pooped again or if he could see the poop.  I took your Nana's suggestion and took you out of the baby bathtub seat and instead put your little cheeks square on the bottom of the tub so that you had to sit up.  You must've been too relaxed when you were in the baby seat and by forcing some of your muscles to engage and hold you up, we have managed to keep your poop in check.  That is one phase that I'm glad to leave behind us. 

I cannot believe that we've had you for eight months.  You are a beautiful baby girl and make me smile a million times every day.  I love you, Sweet Cheeks McGee!

Thank you for being you.

Love,

Mama

First Soccer Adventure

Today had all the makings of a big event:  Dennis, me, Blake, BAM, Papa Martin, AK, and two Nikon cameras.  Connor's first official soccer practice and first official game were scheduled for today.  I say 'scheduled' because we were there but Connor didn't really participate that much.  I managed to snap a few pictures during the 3 minutes that he played soccer today.  The rest of his time was spent on the playground, running around, or holding on his Mommy and Daddy. 

I may sound like I'm complaining, but I'm not.  I'm not ready for my little boy to grow up.  I'm not ready for him to be big.  I like him hugging on my leg and I'm perfectly fine with him not wanting to practice but instead wanting to play on the playground.  He's perfect just as he is; is there a way to capture this moment, press pause, and just stay here, in this moment, for a little while? 

An eggstra special day

Happy Easter.  Wait, back up.  Let's start this over. 

Here's to wishing you and your family a very Hoppy Easter.  We are sending eggstra special thoughts your way. 

And yes, I wait all year to say those things.  They are part of who I am.  And I've been saying those awesome Easter terms for many years.  And, I'm sorry Dennis, but I plan to keep on keepin' on. 

The Easter egg hunt at Chastain Park was a lot of fun.  Blake didn't like being in her stroller because she wasn't able to see what was going on so I ended up pushing her stroller and carrying her most of the time.  Connor enjoyed playing on the playground and looking back, we probably should've practiced more with him on how to pick up the Easter eggs.  He knew how to do it but something about all of the other kids running and grabbing scared him.  After grabbing the first egg, he looked up and didn't see me immediately so he got upset.  He ran to me (a few people back, as I was carrying a 20 pound little girl) and I ended up carrying both of the kids for a few minutes.  Dennis was taking the photos from the opposite end of the egg hunt and quickly grabbed Connor so I wasn't carrying two of my favorite people at the same time. 

Even though you can't tell from these photos, the kids (Connor, Kahn, and Finley) had a fabulous time.  These photos look like Dennis said to them, "OK, everyone....now get ready...and DON'T SMILE.  Don't even look at the camera.  Ok, perfect." 

And, if you are hungry, don't look at the next few photos.  We had a little too much fun with Twinkies, Oreos, ICING, pretzels, and Peeps.  Connor assembled these goodies and we delivered them to some of his neighbor friends this afternoon. 

Just a quick tease...

Yes, it was incredibly hard leaving Mexico this morning.  The piece of paradise we called home for the better part of this week will always have a special place in our hearts.  But walking in our house tonight to see Connor, Blake, Echo, my parents, and Kelly was a completely different kind of wonderful.  Plus, Nana and Connor made sugar cookies and there was extra icing...