Chatty Girl

Betsy is really talking up a storm and when we don't understand what she's saying she gets mad! This morning while I was changing her diaper she said "My name Betsy." When I get her out of bed she always has a lot to say. She says things like "Mommy, Daddy, milk, bear..." and continues to list all of the words that she knows until her diaper change is done. She also told me after she ate breakfast that "Daddy at work."

Yesterday we hung out at home (again). Aunt Penny came in town yesterday and was sweet enough to watch B while I went to the doctor. Everything is the same as it was last week. Last night Gumbo and Bee picked up B and took her to get a snowball at Plum Street. They brought me back my first snowball of the season--nectar--yum!

Happy Birthday, Scarlet!!!! I hope you had a great day!

Here is B with her new favorite breakfast--oatmeal:

Weekend Roundup

The rest of our week has been pretty slow. Betsy is still sick with a cold and I seem to have come down with it too. We have been playing downstairs and watching '101 Dalmations' a lot. On Friday night we made tacos and P and I watched "There Will Be Blood"--very good. Yesterday we mostly hung around the house all day. It rained all day and night. P got a haircut and I got a pedicure. We had Guy's Po-Boys for lunch--yum! B took a 2 hour nap. We all spent lots of quality time in the playroom. This morning Gumbo took B to Bee's house for a visit. P and I went to Sam's and got tons of stuff so we're all set for when Sadie comes. P brought us ice cream from Baskin-Robbins on Friday and Saturday. Today B kept saying "ice keem, ice keem..." I'm hoping B and I feel better soon, because baby sis will be here soon!

Cute things B said this week:

--She calls the plastic bread in her kitchen her "Gumbo bread."

--She grabbed her booty and said "booty hurt" when she fell on a toy

--She said "Mommy, help" when she needed help getting a toy

--She said "Betsy tired" while she was sitting at the table coloring the other day. She had already taken a nap, but she was exhausted. I put her sleeping bag on the sofa and she fell asleep within 10 minutes and slept for an hour and a half.

Under the Weather

Yesterday B and I hung out at home. Attie, Lawson, and Katie came over to visit. Marme took B in the afternoon then Gumbo picked her up and brought her to dinner at Jama's. Poor Betsy woke up in the middle of the night crying and coughing and Peter stayed up with her for over 2 hours. None of us could fall asleep.

This morning we were hoping that B would wake up and feel better, but she woke up coughing. She has been stuffy and coughing and sneezing all day. Krista, Jessica, and the kids were supposed to come over, but we had to cancel. My poor baby has been sort of listless all day. Katie came over to watch B while I went to my appointment with Dr. Morris. Basically I could have the baby today or in 3 weeks. Who knows? We watched 101 Dalmations and Toy Story today. Tonight she ate some spaghetti--thanks for the marinara sauce, Peter A! I hope she's feeling better tomorrow!

Sorry--no pics today!

Weekend (and last week) Roundup

Sorry I've been a bad blogger lately, but after B goes to sleep I'm just too tired to do anything. Here's a quick roundup of last week:

On Tuesday we stayed in since I wanted B to nap early because she had an appointment scheduled with Dr. Warren. Unfortunately it was rescheduled so we just hung out at home. B went to Marme's to visit then Gumbo picked her up for dinner at Jama, Pa, and Taddy's house. Attie and I hosted our second MommyMixer event at ah-ha. It was very successful and we had a great time mingling with the moms.

On Wednesday we met Krista & Jess and their little ones at the Zoo. It was a gorgeous day and the kids had a great time.

On Thursday Peter and I brought B to her rescheduled appointment with Dr. Warren. Betsy is going to have to have a second surgery. We were disappointed, but I just knew something wasn't right. She had a scanogram and her legs are uneven in length. We were given two options for her surgery. We are choosing to have a procedure where a metal plate will be implanted in her leg. The plate will need to be removed in about two years. After the surgery she will be in a plaster cast for a couple of months. Luckily she will be able to walk with the cast on. We are going to schedule the surgery to take place when Sadie is about a month old. I want to make sure Betsy is out of the cast before school starts in September. Betsy did so well after her first surgery so we know she'll do fine. It was just kind of hard to hear that our little girl would have to undergo surgery again. After her appointment we took her to get ice cream at Creole Creamery. We were all exhausted when we got home.

On Friday morning we picked up Attie and Lawson and brought them to Lawson's appointment at Tommy's office. B and I had breakfast across the street at PJ's. In the afternoon we headed to Vacherie for Grandma Agnes' 80th birthday party. Happy Birthday, Grandma!!! B had such a good time with everyone--especially her cousin Charlie.

On Saturday we went to Baton Rouge for Patrick's Baptism. B was a handful at Mass. Luckily, Aunt Maggie entertained her outside for most of the Mass. After the Baptism we went to Bridget & Brian's for a party. B played with Charlie and ate tons of boiled shrimp.

Yesterday I spent the day with Mom and the girls for Mom's belated birthday celebration. We had lunch and did some shopping. I got B some coloring books for the hospital when she comes to visit her baby sister. B is really into coloring books these days. P and B went to Vacherie to celebrate Mary Beth's birthday. Happy Birthday, Mary Beth!!! When they got home Gumbo and Bee picked up B and took her to get a snowball and visit Lawson. Last night my little girl was completely pooped.

This morning we went to Music class then played outside at the Parenting Center. B was not happy when it was time to leave. This afternoon we went to visit Attie and Lawson. We just got home and I'm about to start making dinner.

New tricks:

--Last week B was playing with her Little People and she calls one of them Gumbo and one of them Lawsy and Gumbo gave Lawsy a kiss. She now calls all of the baby Little People "Lawsy." When we went back upstairs the other day she said, "bye, Lawsys."

--Last week B was in her highchair eating a cookie and she looked at her cookie, smiled, then said , "I love you, cookie."

--B pointed to the blanket in the living room and said, "Daddy's blankie" then pointed at my shoes and said, "Mommy's shoes" then pointed at the diaper bag that I always give Gumbo when he takes B and said "Gumbo's purse."

Weekend Roundup

We enjoyed our weekend with Betsy. It will be one of our last weekends as a family of three. We're all getting excited about Sadie coming. Yesterday Betsy was sitting in my lap and pointing at my belly saying "Sadie." Then she looked at me and said "opp, Mommy." (Opp means open). I guess Betsy is ready to meet her sister. B points out Sadie in her ultrasound picture that is on the fridge. She has started to alternate between calling Sadie "Sissy" and "Sadie."

On Thursday afternoon we met playgroup at the Children's Museum. B had so much fun; we hadn't been there in a while. There's a new Goodnight Moon section in the toddler area that B really loved.

On Friday we picked up Attie and Lawson and went to Lakeside--Lawson's first trip to the mall! Lawson was so good, but Betsy was very fussy until she got a sugar cookie. I told her right when she woke up that we were going to the mall and that I would get her a cookie. I thought we could make it to one store before getting her a cookie. After she got her cookie she was in a great mood. In the afternoon Gumbo and Bee came to visit. Bee taught Betsy how to say "voila" and do a little hand movement. She said it all weekend. On Friday night Marme babysat B while Peter and I went to dinner at Tony Angello's--I hadn't been there in seriously about 15 years. It was good and it was nice to go out with Peter; it had been a while since the two of us went on a date.

On Saturday it was overcast and nasty outside. We hung out at home in the playroom for most of the day. I went to V to the Tenth with Marme, Attie, and Katie. It was entertaining and nice to hang out them!

On Sunday morning B and I met Gumbo, Bee, Lizzie, Attie, Lawson, Katie, and Peter at Audubon Golf Club for breakfast. In the afternoon we went to a post-Christening party for Jessica's son, Travis. B played in the mini spacewalk and ate a bunch of yummy macaroni and cheese. We went to Houston's after and I thought B wouldn't be hungry, but she ate tons of food. She went crazy for the spinach dip and tried ketchup for the first time--she loved it. B also ordered ice cream for dessert when the waiter asked us if we wanted dessert. When we got home the whole family watched "Cinderella." I hadn't seen it since I was little. B loved it and calls it "mouse movie" and "princess movie."

This morning Attie and Lawson stopped by then B and I went to Music. She got to play with Georgia and Josie and they played really hard. Attie and Lawson came over again this afternoon and Attie and I worked on getting everything together for our MommyMixer tomorrow night. I watched Lawson for about an hour while Attie went to Kinko's. It was easy--Lawson was an angel and slept on me the whole time while B played quietly on the floor. When Lawson woke up B was very interested in her and kept wanting to touch her and talk to her and talk about her. They are quickly becoming buddies. I can't believe Baby Lawson will be 4 weeks old tomorrow! Attie brought B a muffin from PJ's and as she ate it she said "I love muffin."

New tricks:

--I'll ask B, "who wants _____ (milk, lunch, to read a book, etc.)?" and she'll say, "MeMeMeMeMe!!!" As a test I asked her "who wants to take a nap?" and she said,, "me....." then stopped and made a pouty face.

--B is into pointing out things in the house and who they belong to. She'll say things like "Mommy's shoes, Daddy's hat, Betsy's pants, etc."

--When B "reads books" she says the words she knows. She'll say things like "pink, baby, bear, milk, car" as she turns the pages of the book she's looking at.

Here are a few pics of B from today when she put one of her socks on her hands and of B and Lawson:

I Luff Ooo

This is Betsy's newest phrase--I love you, but it really sounds more like "I Luff Ooo." We called Peter at work yesterday and surprised him with "I love you, Daddy." It's the cutest thing ever--I have to get it on video. Yesterday we hung out at home. We watched "101 Dalmations"--B calls it 'puppy movie.' Attie and Lawson came over in the afternoon and stayed with B while I went to my dr. appointment. It went very well--no further progress so hopefully little Sadie will stay put for a while longer!

This morning B and I picked up Attie and Lawson and went to visit Jama and Pa. The girls wore their matching OE dresses and I finally got some good, close up pictures of them together. The girls were very good and it was great to see Jama and Pa. B is napping. Once she gets up we're going to meet playgroup at the Children's Museum.

Here are some pics from yesterday and today:

Our Week So Far

We went to Longue Vue Gardens again yesterday for Kinder-Garden. B loved writing with the sidewalk chalk more than anything else. We skipped playing in the fountain afterwards because I was sleepy and my allergies were acting up. In the afternoon we went to visit Attie and "Lawsy." We took a ride and B is starting to love her cousin. She whispers "Hi, Lawsy" when they are in the backseat together.

I'm trying to do as many fun things as I can with Betsy this week, because I'm feeling more tired and sluggish these days and I have a feeling we may start hanging out at the house more until baby S comes, and once she comes I know we'll be home for a while. I have been feeling really sentimental and sappy lately. I look at Betsy's newborn pictures every night after she goes to sleep. I can't believe that 18 months went by so quickly.

Last night Katie took B to Jama, Pa, & Taddy's for dinner. When she got home we asked B what she ate for dinner and she said "ice cream." Gumbo told me that she did have ice cream, but she also ate a big dinner of meatballs and spaghetti.

I think B is having nightmares. This morning she woke up at 5:55 (she usually gets up between 7 and 7:30) crying and screaming at the top of her lungs. Normally when she wakes up she talks to her dolls and starts saying "MAMA! DADA!" when she's ready to get out of her bed.

This afternoon I have an appointment with Dr. M and Attie and Lawsy are coming over to play with B.

New tricks:

--when she "reads" a book she says "ABC" and sometimes she'll add a "D"
--when we count with her she knows when to say 2, 6, and 8
--she is starting to string more words together to form sentences
--she used to say that any food that she ate was hot, but now she knows the difference between hot and cold and will tell me which foods are hot and which are cold
--when we read Goodnight Moon she helps me read the book by telling me the names of objects that I point out--I have to get it on video
--she loves the "Wheels on the Bus" song and she often goes "babies--waa, waa (and she rubs her eyes)" then says "mamas--shh, shh (and puts her finger to her lips)
--I don't know if I've ever blogged about her car crew, but they are very important to her. She likes to hold her LSU tiger from Peter A and a little dog she caught at Orpheus. As soon as we get to our destination she drops them on the seat and says "bye, puppy. bye, raaaahhh (that's what she calls her tiger)."
--she's starting to talk about Sadie more and even called Lawson 'Sadie' a couple of times yesterday
--she points to Sadie's crib, carseat, and bouncy seat and says "baby"

Weekend Roundup

We had another working weekend finishing up projects before Sadie comes, but we managed to do some fun things too. On Friday night we met the Saunders family and the Aymami family at the Zephyrs game. Betsy absolutely loved it. She clapped and cheered and danced the whole time. We had to leave by the 3rd inning b/c B was getting sleepy, but we'll definitely have to make it to more games. On Saturday morning we went to WalMart for our last huge grocery trip before Sadie. It was a nightmare--very crowded and crazy. I got my hair cut in the afternoon. On Saturday night Peter grilled--ribs for Betsy and P and veggies for me. Yesterday we worked in the house most of the day then did some boring but necessary errands. Last night we went to a barbeque next door for Remy F's birthday. B really likes hanging out with older kids and they were so sweet with her. And I liked eating lots of Nacho Mama's queso and guacamole--yum!

Our good pal Hal's birthday was Saturday--Happy Birthday, Hal!!!

Here are a few pictures of B--including some of her going to town on a chocolate bunny:

Happy Birthday, Marme!

I hope you have a wonderful birthday, Mom!

Betsy woke up today at 530--for the second day in a row. I don't know what the deal is, but it is not fun. We went to visit Attie and Lawson on Wednesday. Betsy doesn't pay too much attention to Lawson while we're around her, but as soon as we get in the car she says "Lawsy? Lawson?" the whole way home. Yesterday we had the baby's carseat installed and B keeps pointing to the new seat and saying "baby." We went to visit Krista & Lauren (Ryan was sleeping) afterwards and B and Lauren played outside for nearly 2 hours. My girl loves being outside and Lauren has a great swingset and playhouse. In the afternoon we met Playgroup at Daneel Park. B got another big dose of outside. We have B's 18 month checkup this morning and we're picking up Attie and Lawson--Lawson needs to be weighed and we can now snap her seat into our installed base. We'll see how B does with having a real baby in the carseat next to her!

Pics from Today at Longue Vue Gardens

She's Back!

A big thank you to Momma Lady and Grandpa for keeping Betsy last week. She had so much fun visiting with family and playing outside. She came home with three precious pairs of shoes including a pair of pink crocs--she wants to wear them all the time and puts them on right when she wakes up. I was able to rest and visit with Attie and Lawson. I'm feeling so much better this week. I'll be 34 weeks on Friday and my OB said he'd be fine with the baby being born at 34 weeks so I'm no longer a nervous wreck about having this baby too early.

Betsy got home on Thursday night and we hugged and kissed and read books until she went to sleep. On Friday morning we went to visit Attie and Lawson. Betsy likes pointing at Lawson's carseat and swing and saying "baby" and occasionally she'll even point at Lawson herself. In the afternoon Gumbo and Bee came over to visit. On Friday night we ordered August Moon and Peter and I watched "Into the Wild." On Saturday morning we went to Oak Street Cafe for breakfast then to the Mid-City Arts Market. B crashed when we got home and I went to lunch with Katie C. The rest of the day we did projects around the house. I feel like our project list is neverending... On Sunday Gumbo and Bee took B to the Zoo. Sunday night was rough--B was up from 1230 until 4 and was inconsolable. P had to wake up at 430 to drive to Marksville. So P and I were both exhausted yesterday. B and I made it to Music then B was overly tired and wouldn't nap. Attie, Lawson, and Katie came over to visit. B finally took a nap from 3 until almost 5. Gumbo picked B up and took her to dinner at Jama, Pa, and Taddy's house. She came home and crashed and thankfully slept through the night.

Today we went to Longue Vue Gardens for Kinder-Garden. B was able to paint, dig in dirt with a shovel, water flowers, paint, shuck corn, and play with a pretend lawn mower and wagons. She had a ball. We later went to play in the fountain and B really liked splashing in the water and was fascinated with Will's crocs. She tried to put his crocs on over hers.

Happy Birthday, Lizzie!!

Here's a pic of B at the Zoo. I'm going to upload the pics from today later.