IL and Lassie

So today is our last day in IL. This week has gone by too fast, as every vacation does. We've been pretty busy and had a lot of fun. When we first got here Haylee wasn't so sure about Nana & Papa but the next morning she was all smiles and had warmed up to them. We've gone to Grant's Farm in St. Louis (which is sorta like a mini zoo and owned by Busch who also owns Busch Gardens by us) and the St. Louis Zoo (which is a HUGE zoo and so nice). We went to both of those places with my Grandma and Aunt Terri. Terri works at the St. Louis Zoo so we met up with her a few times throughout the day. I loved the Sea Lion show at the zoo the most, it was funny. We've gotten Bobby's ice cream and chicken little's twice already! YUMMY! We are so spoiled here. We've gone shopping and Aunt T bought the girls a lot of clothes that are so cute (even if Aunt T doesn't think so!) and Nana bought me and Kimberly some clothes. Last night we went to my Grandma's to hang out and for dinner. We picked up my cousin Megan on the way there and our Aunt Terri came later. We had to leave close to 7:30 because the girls were definitely ready for bed! Today we have packing to do and then this afternoon we are going to go to Splash City (a water park). We're going to leave Haylee home with Nana & Papa and just bring Kylie. Aunt T and our cousin Ashleigh are going to meet us up there too. Our cousin Daniel works there so we're going to get there about the time he has to work. Then tomorrow we are on our way home. Already! Can't say that I am looking forward to that 2 day drive with the girls again LOL.

So on another note, yesterday morning I received a very sad phone call from my Mom. Her dog Lassie had died. He was also my dog in a way too. They're not sure why he died, my Mom just found him in the garage. It could of been old age, or just anything. When they got him I was a Junior in high school and he was our first dog out in Suffolk. He was such a good dog, such a mild temper and so friendly. I remember the first day my Mom brought him home he had gotten scared of the noise from the garage closing and ran away. Now if anyone knows where my parents used to live they know there are a lot of places a small puppy could get lost in their 5 acres of land. My Mom and I were of course freaking out as it was pitch black out there in the country with no lights. So we got some flash lights and started searching. That didn't work so my Mom got into her car and started driving around with her head lights on looking for him. She finally found him behind a shed scared out of his poor little mind. Such an eventful first night for him, and to the day he died he hated the noise of the garage door! We would have to warn him that we were closing it. Now Lassie was an outside dog (along with the other 2 collies my parents eventually got), but I always wanted him to come inside when he was little. He wasn't a small puppy by any means but I'd let him come sleep in my bed. I remember him sleeping with me and he would act a fool and crush me and my friend Angie because he was playing in the bed and was so big. Haha. Man, I will forever miss that dog. I can't believe he's gone. Lassie, of all dogs. It's so sad, as I write this it is so hard for me not to cry. He was such a good dog. I don't think anyone could ever ask for a better dog. I have so many great memories of him and I will hold them all close to my heart. I know this time is hard for my Mom and Dad, my Mom especially. I just pray that she is ok and doesn't blame herself. It's so hard loosing a pet, it's like loosing a family member. Hopefully he's in a better place now running around with no pain from his arthritis and is chasing all the cars around =)

RIP Bubba 2000-2009

Laughing.

Here's a short video of Haylee laughing. She was doing it so much more and louder before I started recording her, of course! It's still cute though =)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blAOt-OjDC0

6 months old.

So Haylee turned 6 months old yesterday! I can't believe it. She's growing up way too fast. And I know people have always told me that happens and I also witnessed it with Kylie but you don't truly understand until you have one of your own. It's so sad but yet happy. I love watching her grow and learn new things. She's getting such a personality and makes funny faces. She lets you know when she's mad and she's always smiling. I swear she's the happiest baby ever. I really hope she stays that way!

So we had her 6 month well baby doctor's appointment yesterday. Here are her stats:

Height: 26.5 inches - 75 percentile

Weight: 16 lbs. 5.5 oz. - 50 percentile

Head: 43 cm. - 75 percentile

She's slowed down on her weight and height. She used to be higher in the percentiles for those. And her head has gotten bigger, it used to be in the 50% LOL. When I was 6 months old I weighed 16 lbs. 8 oz. and was 25 1/2 inches long so she's going to be taller than me. I was short and fat LOL. The doctor said she looks great. She has 4 teeth now. Her 2 upper middles and 2 lower middles. She has eaten oatmeal, carrots, peas, squash and green beans. And she has eaten them all very well. I think as long as it suffices her hunger she'll eat it LOL. I'm not nursing anymore as of about a week ago and still trying to "dry up" so the doctor told me to take some Sudafed and that should work. She said to start feeding her breakfast, lunch and dinner meals now with a snack in between each meal (a snack being a bottle). She got 2 shots and one oral vaccine. At her next 9 month appointment she'll only get one shot thankfully. But to show how happy of a baby she is, she SCREAMED her head off after her shots and then when we went out to schedule her next appointment the receptionist was talking to her and she put on a big ol' grin for her. She's so sweet =)

Yesterday my mom, Kimberly, me and the girls all went to lunch at Red Robin for my birthday lunch. Here are a few pictures of lunch and Haylee at 6 months old.

Holding her bottle

poor kid, Daddy tortures her

I'm not sure what they were doing...

to my poor baby while I was in the bathroom!

yummy ice cream! she'll never forget to do this now!

my precious girl at 6 months old!

Tomorrow is my actual birthday and I'll be 25! I can't believe it. I definitely don't feel that "old". I have a hair appointment to get my hair cut at 12 then we're going to dinner at Federico's with the whole family. It's the best Italian restaurant I think. It's the place Dave and I went on for our first date =) After dinner my Mom and Dad are taking Kylie and Haylee for the night and us adults are going out and meeting some friends for some drinks at the Towne Center. I'm so excited! It's supposed to rain tomorrow so I'm really hoping that doesn't happen! That's all for now, we have a very busy weekend with my birthday and then Kylie's birthday. It'll be exhausting that's for sure.

Oh, one last thing, I noticed that it's ONLY 10 MORE DAYS til we leave for IL!! We can't wait!

Mothers Day.

I had a GREAT first Mother's Day! We all went to Busch Gardens (my parents, sister, her husband, my niece, Dave and Haylee). The girls were both very good through out the day. Of course they had their moments and by the end of the day with Kylie not getting a nap she was really tired and cranky. But, to remedy that, we let her play in the water area at the new Sesame St. which she absolutely loved. The Sesame Street area at Busch Gardens is definitely worth it for the kids. We got to ride the new rollar coaster, the Griffon, in the first row. It has a straight drop down and right before it drops it holds you over the edge for a few seconds. It was a lot of fun! We had to force Kimberly on there but she ended up liking it too. Haylee had peas for the first time there, she didn't really like them much but she still ate a good amount of them. We had an interesting ride home, Kimberly, Jacob & Kylie rode with us and so we had to stop at Bass Pro shop for Jacob to get something and needless to say it wasn't the most traditional way to stop there. Then we went to Sonic and waited there forever to get some dinner. After that we all headed home and put the girls to bed. They were exhausted but had a great time! Here are a lot of pictures!

on our way to Busch Gardens!

funny face she makes now

we're here!

Daddy's excited about the Cookie Monster

pretty smile

cousins <3

just hanging out

playing in the water

eating some yucky peas for the first time

"please don't make me swallow them!"

Daddy got her a Cookie Monster

on the way home...

she pulled the visor down from the top and thought she was so funny!

Friday & Saturday

It's been a busy two days. Friday I went over to Kimberly's house and we took the girls to the beach. Kimberly wanted to take a few pictures of Kylie by the water. Kylie LOVED it. She's a beach girl that's for sure. I think Haylee liked it too. She was playing in the sand and putting her toes in it. She wasn't bothered by it at all. Here are a few pictures of Haylee's first time at the beach!

hanging out with mommy

maybe tasting some salty sand??

Playing in the sand

First time at the beach!

After the beach we went back to Kimberly's because it was almost time for Marty to get picked up. Haylee and me went home. Then Dave, Haylee and me all went to Olive Garden for dinner and then the mall to walk around. Haylee sure is becoming more active and at the stage she doesn't want to just sit in her carseat at restuarants or shopping! booo! I know how Kylie was and I have a feeling Haylee is going to be just like her, VERY active! Yikes haha!

Today was off to a slow start. Dave got up with Haylee so I could sleep in a little =) It was very nice!! I haven't slept past 7am in a long time. He then brought me pancakes in bed! ahhh sooo sweet! I guess since we are going to be busy tomorrow morning getting on the road to Busch Gardens (and running around like crazy making sure we have everything) he made my Mother's Day breakfast today. Oh, he also gave me my gift and card from Haylee. She got me a Willow Tree figurine. I love Willow Tree! It was another one to add to my collection, it was the mother, father and baby one =) Love it! Dave's cousin and wife also sent me a Mother's Day card. It was so sweet and so unexpected! Made me feel very special. They just had the prettiest baby girl twins, Savanah & Sierra, 2 months ago so it is also her first Mother's Day =)

Anywho, back to today's events. Around 2 Kimberly, my mom, Kylie, Haylee & me went to Moe's. We were taking our mom out for her Mother's Day lunch since we'll be at Busch Gardens all day tomorrow. Jacob then met us there so he could pick up Kylie so we could go shopping (Kylie hates shopping, nothing like her mama yet I suppose!). We went to Party City, Target and then Kohls. We then went our seperate ways. I came home and fed Haylee (which she was scarfing down some carrots!) and then put her to bed around 7. She was out quick, exhausted from all the shopping. Now I'm getting ready to finish packing for Busch Gardens. I keep putting it off because I am so overwhelmed! haha. I have so much to pack. It's the first time we've gone anywhere since I've stopped nursing Haylee and since she's started eating baby food. So I have a lot to pack and no clue where to start.

Well, I guess I better get off here so I can do something! We will be gone all day tomorrow (weather permitting) so it'll be a few days again before I write. Wish us luck at Busch Gardens with an almost 2 year old and an almost 6 month old!

Dream.

I had a weird dream last night. Dave, me and Haylee all lived in IL near Chicago. The Scaggs came to visit us because Charissa had just graduated from school. We had a big house with a big yard and a really annoying dog. The dog was just like our friends dog, Sasha. Tammy was asking us if we were going to keep her, haha. Then Charissa was asking me how to get to Chicago because she was going to get a job there and I was asking her where she was going to live and she said somewhere around there and that her parents were going to move in that area so she could still live with them! haha! So random.

No plans for today. I'm really hoping this rain will go away. I'm praying it won't rain on Sunday!! Busch Gardens is no fun in the rain! Maybe Haylee and me will go to Kimberly's again and hang out. That's about all we do now-a-days =)

I really need to learn how to "write". I'm really bad at thinking of the correct words to come up with to make sense. So please bear with me as I start my journey of blogging. Maybe I should take up an English composition class or something. It has been about 7 years since I've been in an English class!

So to update you on Haylee. She now has four teeth, yes, FOUR! I can hardly believe it, she's not even 6 months old yet! I always think about how I barely got to enjoy that toothless grin! It's ok though, she's so stinkin' cute no matter how many teeth she has or doesn't have. We just started feeding her real baby food last night, other than oatmeal. We started her off on carrots and she loves them! She eats way more carrots than she did oatmeal. It's great! After carrots we will try peas.

her 1st experience eating carrots...



That's about all the exciting news for Haylee. She has learned how to roll over from her back to her stomach now. She does it in her bed too and gets SO mad because she can't figure out how to get back over. Here she is after she rolled over and her arm is stuck. I heard her grunting and moaning so I went to see what was up and I guess she was stuck haha. She will always smile for the camera though!



Dave is teaching DT's (defensive tactics) to the recruits at work this week so he is all bruised up and exhausted by the end of the day. Luckily this is his last week doing that and he'll go back to Gangs on Saturday.

I've signed up for Algebra to take this summer. Finally after taking months off from being pregnant I'm getting my butt back in there! I plan to take Micro Biology next semester and then hopefully move forward to applying for the RN program. I really need to get school over with so I can get a good job! Lately I've been really interested in photography and wishing I could get a nice camera and maybe become good at it and make some money doing it. That would be so nice! I've also been trying to finish planning the wedding. It's SO much work and it's not even a full, traditional wedding! I think I've found my photographer and DJ. Those were the big things so once I have contracts with them I will be able to relax a little! Thank goodness.

Well that's all for now, time to go watch Grey's!

Hello!

So I've decided to make a blog to keep track of our every day lives for family and friends to follow. I know I am very bad at updating people with our current events so it is my hope to accomplish that with this website. Please enjoy!