Recent Activities

Fishing with Daddy...

 (Check out her rolled down socks.  She either wears them straight up to her knees or rolls them down.  That's her style, and she doesn't want to change it.)

A day at Zilker Park and Zilker's Botanical Gardens...

 (R took this pic...not bad for a 3 yr. old.)

R posing as a butterfuly in the butterfly garden...

Story time at the library...

She's sitting in one of the librarians laps.  She used to be a teacher, and each of me and my sisters had her in 2nd grade.  She's a special lady....

Easter egg hunt at the library...

Took the youth group to LTC...another great year with another great group of kids.

I got back just in time for launch at Gold's.  Last week was a big and TIRING week for this new momma.  I still have a good way to go....

There!  I'm finally caught up with my camera! 

It Really Is That Simple

I overheard Rayleigh singing a song she made up the other day that goes like this:

"I am a girl.
And you are a girl.
That's why we follow Je-ee-sus.

And I love Him.
And you love Him.
And we.  Love.  God."

It really is that simple, isn't it?  We are people.  God is GOD.  And that is enough, all we need.

While I'm on the "what R said" topic, I thought I'd include some other recent things I've overheard...

-At our youth group game night on Friday, some of our teens asked R what she wanted to play, and she told them "Rock, Paper, Pencils."  They also told me that she told them the story of the Three Little Pigs that they thought was funny.  In her story the 1st and 2nd little pigs got eaten by the wolf, but the 3rd little pig ate the wolf in some soup and then his tail wasn't curly anymore.

-Yesterday, we took a family walk down to the park near our house, and while R was playing, we saw her stuffing, and I mean stuffing her pocket full of pebbles.  I made a mental note to check her pockets before we headed home.  She then began tossing one or two at a time out to "something."  A few minutes later, she came running over to me and asked if I wanted to feed the dolphins with her.  So, I did.  We climbed up on the playscape, dangled our feet over the edge (in the water) and fed all the dolphins.

-This afternoon she abruptly woke up from her nap as I was walking through the room and said, "I dreamed of chocolate bunnies."  It was so all-of-a-sudden it kindof startled me.  Funny girl.

-Last, one more song from our lyric queen - she just sang this to Kennedy (who's in the bouncer right next to me) when her pacifier fell out of her mouth and she started wimpering.

"You don't have -
(clap. clap-clap. clap.)
To be-ee fussy.
(clap. clap. clap. clap-clap-clap. pause. clap.)
It will make you sa-aa-ad.
(clap. pause. clap. pause. clap.)"



Getting to Know Kennedy

Some pics of our sweet, sweet girl...

These are the best smiling pictures we have of her.  She smiles ALL the time, but anytime we bring out the camera, she gets serious and studies the flashing contraption.   These pics are from 3 weeks ago (when she was 7 weeks).

A happy, happy baby girl who rarely fusses, seems to always be content, and trusts that we'll take care of her needs - she doesn't usually even fuss when she's hungry.  She just "tells" you with her worried-looking and worried-sounding coos.  I am completely and utterly in love with this little girl.  Too, too precious - that's what she is.

Easter 2012

This year we celebrated Easter at my mom's house.  Kennedy's 1st Easter, and Rayleigh's last Easter egg hunt without a competitor. 

There were several eggs hiding in the flower pots by and in the play house...

 Lacey and Grandmother...

 Whit & Kennedy Belle...

KB chillaxin' on Grandmomma's lap...

Mom has great bluebonnets on the tank dam...it's just covered solid and absolutely beautiful.

Getting ready for our family pic (I don't have a family pic.  Those were all taken with Lacey's camera.)

The Crim's 2012

 Me with my little...she's too precious and cuddly.  I can't get enough of her.

My darling Rayleigh-girl...

K's 1st Bluebonnet pics - 7 wks old.

Time at Home

My time at home is coming to an end.  I'm back at Lifeline full swing now, and I start back at Gold's today.  Kennedy was eligible for the Kids' Club there starting this past week, so I went several times to try to prepare for this next week of launch.  I've been running and doing things at home when I could, but 10 weeks (2 wks prior to K's birth & she's now 8 wks) is a long time to be out of the game.  Plus, I've been coping with two, yes TWO, bouts of mastitis over the past few weeks.  Not fun.  That's also kept me from getting back in the swing as quickly as I would have liked.  I'm on the mend....again, and alas, it's time for other things to begin.

I've SO enjoyed my home time this go around.  Being in town where we COULD make little visits out of the house, instead of being out in the country like we were with Rayleigh made one difference.  But mostly I think I'm just more aware of how quickly it all goes by and I've been enjoying the take-it-easy time more with Kennedy.

Here are some pics from our time at home recently:

Our first jog with the double stroller.  R was not happy, as you can tell.  She chose that side, but after we got Kennedy all settled in her side, R decided THAT was the side she wanted...

 Kennedy's first times in the Bumbo...

Don't you love that face?

This was her actual first time in the seat.

1st time playing on her floor mat...She likes it!

Rayleigh's gotten lots of play time in...

Our little monkey...

Rayleigh picks a flower for me to wear in my hair just about everytime we're outside.  She even tries to give them to neighbors as they're out walking.  (Our neighbors love it.)

Our happy girl...always content.

Stretch & grow.  Stretch & grow.  I told her she better stop that, but she's not listening.



Friday Five

My favorite things about today:

1. Rayleigh's random off-the-wall comment that came out of nowhere:  "Maybe one day when I'm growed up I'll shoot a deer like you, Mom."

2. Listening to Kennedy's first laughs.  She makes a big open-mouth smile and sucks in deeply.

3. Rayleigh's first attempt to spell out what she's wanting to say.  I had just gotten back from a run, and J was getting ready to go on his run when Rayleigh said she wasn't dressed yet to go with him.  I didn't know she was going to go with him, so I asked him, "Is she G-O-I-N-G with Y-O-U?"  He said they hadn't discussed that.  Then, Ray walked up to him and said, "Are you C-R-K?"

4. The "conversations" I had with my precious Kennedy Belle today.  She's beginning to be quite the conversationalist.

5. Being able to eat the 5 pieces of chocolate cake Rayleigh brought me and not worrying about gaining an ounce.  It helps that it's plastic.....

More Visitors for Baby K

Aunt Lisa came to meet her newest great niece...

(Notice R's dress.  She's rarely in real clothes.)

Kennedy melted in Granita's arms, just like the rest of us used to.  She's an expert cuddler.

Aunt Diane's first hold of her great-niece..

Other Pics:

This is an easy stage with Kennedy because there's still a lot of this...

Rayleigh isn't doing as much of the sleep thing as I'd like, but it's mostly my own fault.  Too tired to try to get her to nap.  This was one successful napping day - only this is how I found her.  (Again, notice the dress.  She was NOT wearing that when I left her.)

Most nights before I go to bed, I check on RJ.  I love watching her sleep.  It reminds me of how innocent and sweet her life is.  I don't always remember it when she's awake...  Before I went to bed one night, this is how I found her....laying at the wrong end of the bed and on top of the covers but under her blanket.

R DOES wear regular clothes when we leave the house.  Last week she dressed herself to go to the library (I was in shorts and t-shirt that day).  I thought it was hilarious, and she was so proud of her ensemble.  She got several congratulatory comments from folks at the library who instantly recognized the efforts of a 3 year old.

Last, I'll leave you with a pic of me with both my girls.  They both make me smile so much these days.  Life is so rich, so full.  At times I feel as though my heart my pop.  Thank you, God, for all the blessings in my life.