Mallory's Friends

Mallory already has some great friends that we do a weekly playgroup with. George, Greer, James, and Bo. Here are some pictures from this week's meeting, minus poor Bo who was under the weather. We did some group tummy time (They look like worms) and some floor time. Aren't they the sweetest? I love the last picture- the girls are all over Georgie Porgie! What a ladies man!

The Year of 30

I was born in 1980 so the year 2010 means we are all turning 30. This weekend I traveled to Austin for 2 of my friends 30th bdays, Leslie and Kristen. We had a great girly weekend of manicures, movies, and karaoke. It was also Mallory’s first trip to Austin. I only wish we could have stayed longer to see more people. Kristen and Leslie are both dear friends of mine- I've known Kristen since 2nd grade and met Leslie in college, so I was thrilled to get to celebrate their birthdays.

Karaoke was a highlight of the weekend. We did all types of songs but my favorite was my duet with Kelley. We pulled out a song we used to sing when were 14, freshman year of highschool- "Does He love you" by Reba McEntire. I'm pretty sure we haven't sung it since 1994 but we found it is just like riding a bike- it comes right back to you. Our props were limited to what we had in our purse. I played Reba's role, the wife and decided to be a Stay at home Mom. I wore my hooter hider, held my diapees and wipees, and pulled out soem coupons. Kelley played Linda Evans, the hussie mistres and wore a boa and some slinky slip. Come to think of it- where did she find that slip?!? Anyways- it was a blast. And it is my turn to turn 30 next!

Back to normal.....almost

I feel like we crossed a huge hurdle making it to 4 months with Mallory It is like survival mode is finally over and we can have somewhat of a normal life back. I have even started cooking real meals again! This also means that it is time to get all of the baby weight off. I gained 60 pounds with both pregnancies and still have about 10 to lose with Mallory. I had lost it all around 5 months with Peyton so this next month is an important one for me. If only I didn’t love wine so much or if only my children didn’t lead me to the drink! Just kidding- but a fattening glass of wine sure helps around 6 PM. Losing weight for me means lots of oatmeal in the morning and lean cuisines for lunch. Healthy minimal snacking and a normal dinner and nighttime drinks/ fun. I have found that not cutting my dinner or social life while losing weight is the best route for me. I never feel like I am missing out. I am getting pretty tired of oatmeal and lean cuisines though. I hope one month from now I can look back and be at my goal weight- I’ve got 30 days!

Having a more normal life also allows me to reflect on the last couple months. Although I haven’t finished all of my thank you notes yet (Sorry!) I am so thankful for our friends and family here. We received about 20 home made meals from friends and neighbors, wonderful advice and support, hospital visitors, and weeks of live in help from my Mom (Love her!) , and lots of help with Peyton from my inlaws (God Bless them). I had prayers galore from friends, check ins, a meal calendar and refuge (Katie!) Sonic Cherry limeades (sweet Emily!), presents, and love. We are beyond blessed and were lucky to be in Dallas with such good friends and family. I only hope people won’t be sick of us if we decide to do it again because I couldn’t have done it without all of this help. And bless the inventor of the Crock Pot once the meals ended because nap time was the ONLY time I could do any cooking.

I would also like to thank the following baby products. We couldn't have made it without you. The Miracle Blanket, Lindy's Aden and Anais Muslin blanket, The Itz Been Timer, The Hooter Hider, and the bouncy seat. Thank you very much.

I think we can do this again. Marshall- are you with me? :) Or does your face look like Mallory's in this picture?

4 Month Stats

Our little chunk a monka had her 4 month appointment yesterday and is growing perfectly. She as in the 80th percentile of height, 50th of weight, and 40th of head. Looks like she is going to have a hard time finding long enough jeans, just like her Mommy! She is an absolute doll. She is all smiles and all love and is very agreeable, except when she wants to be fed. This baby would have a boob in her mouth 24 hours a day if we let her! (and on a hard day I sometimes do) She doesn’t like bottles or pacifiers, just the real thing. We are going to start getting tough with her this week and make her stay in her bed for longer stretches. I need to get a longer stretch of sleep at night without having a baby attached to me. I haven’t gone loner than 3 or 4 hours since before she was born, and I may be losing my mind. Mallory loves her exersaucer, her spider bouncey chair, being held facing out, Yo Gabba Gabba, and chewing on Sophie the giraffe. She is the perfect baby and we can’t imagine our lives without her! I love the rolls of fat on her legs,.Her open mouth kisses, and the big smiles she gives all of us. She makes it all worthwhile.

Halo to Horns

My Dad summed up Peyton perfectly this week while we were with them in Austin. He said, “I’ve never seen a child go from halo to horns faster than Peyton!”. My thoughts exactly. One minute he is screaming, fighting, driving you crazy, and the next thing he saying the most endearing things- being your best friend. Maybe this is just the “2s”. All I know is he is super smart, loveable, and needs to figure every last detail of everything out and this doesn’t always work with our schedule. Maybe I have a future scientist on my hands? Either way- I’ve got my hands full. I think we are agoing to attempt full on potty training next week. This should be interesting.

Yo Gabba What?

Both of my children love the show Yo Gabba Gabba. I can understand why Peyton loves it- but Mallory absolutely adores it and will sit and smile and laugh at the show like she is a preschooler. I don’t think 3,4 month olds are supposed to be able to see tv? I took this picture of their Yo Gabba Gabba induced comas. Does anyone kow if this show causes long term effects!? It should come with a warning.

Side note: The horsie Peyton is riding was mine when I was a baby.

Peyton's BDF

Meet Reese. Peyton’s Dallas Best Friend.

I am careful to clarify with “Dallas” because I know he also has a loyal bestie back in Raleigh. Reese lives behind us, about four doors down and I met her mom at our neighborhood’s monthly women’s dinner It was July and we were both hugely fat and pregnant with our second babies. After talking (which we both love to do) we realized that our new babies were due weeks apart, our 1st babies were about 8 months apart, we both went to UT, graduated the same year, and had a few mutual friends. Instant Love! We spend so much time together, playdates, talking, and drinking wine, that Peyton and Reese have become fast friends too. Peyton adores Reese and plays with her so well. He has two Geromes (his lovies) and always hands her one of them, shares all his toys, and sometimes even chews food to offer to her. And our little ones (Baby James and Baby Mallory) were born about 3 weeks apart so they are sure to be good friends too. Reese calls Peyton “Pete” and they are the best of friends.

Here is a picture of Peyton and Reese having lunch on our big Dallas “snow day”. I know there aren’t many people that I would share a corndog with! He must really love her.

And here they are dancing to Shimmy Shake which is a Wiggles song. They love to shake it!

Goodbye Malley?

There seems to be a persistent theme running through our household. When Mallory had only been home from the hospital a few days, Peyton looked her straight in the eye (she was in her car seat) and said “Go home.” We laughed and explained that this was her home too. Fast forward a few months. While we were eating dinner at the table a few weeks ago Peyton started singing to us. He usually sings the ABCs or Twinkle Twinkle but tonight he had added to his repertoire, the song went like this “Goodbye Malley. Goodbye Malley. Goodbye Malley. Its time for you to go”. Now, I know I have never sung a song like this so I can only assume they sing a goodbye song at school to help the children transition from room to room. Leave it to Peyton to change the song to be about his little sister!
Now, last week we were in Austin visiting my parents and friends. Peyton said on more than one occasion that he wanted Mommy and Mallory to go home to Dallas. He wanted to stay in Austin. Now Peyton, are we really that bad?!?!?

Go to Work, Go See Ya Ya

Peyton has an interesting concept of the word "work." Whenever his Dad goes to work, or he realizes his Dad isn’t around…he says “Daddy Went to Work, He going to see Ya Ya.” If we tell him that his Bebe is at work (Marshall’s Mom) he replies with “Bebe at work, Bebe seeing Yaya”. Now, Yaya (whose real name is Sassy- but Peyton started calling her Ya Ya and uses both interchangeably) is my in laws' 4 pound Maltipoo.. According to Peyton, all work done in this world revolves around socializing with Sassy the dog. Where does he come up with this stuff? He is going to be very disappointed come the summer of his 16th birthday when we make him get a job and Ya Ya is not there to greet him!

Let's Get this Show on the Road

Here it is! A blog. I've been trying to start one for awhile now but could never get it done. 1) I worried it was too self indulgent (as Simon would say) and 2) I worried I would feel pressure to always be blogging. Well, I am not going to worry about either things anymore because I need a place to record the day to day moments of my children's lives. I feel like the days are just passing us by and the kids just keep growing up so I look forward to having a record of these precious days. I also love the coffee table style books that some of my friends are turning their blogs in to. So if one year from now I have a hardcover book of this blog- then I'll consider this endeavor a success! So here we go- The first of what I hope to be many blog entries.

It is the begining of 2010 and we live in Dallas, Texas. Marshall is 31, I am 29!!! (still in my twenties for now!), Peyton is 2 1/2, and Mallory is 4 months old. Let the fun begin!