Bernie, June 2012

Marlee and I went to Bernie to visit since we figured we probably won't get a chance to go back until Christmas.  I might, and I repeat might, brave a trip with a newborn, but most likely will not.  

Marlee did really good the first few hours of the trip.  She spent most of her time snoozing and looking out the window.  When she hit her max, I put in one of her videos and she was so excited about watching a show in the car.

Once at Memaw Doris' house, Marlee hit the ground running, seeing what all she could get into.

And then woke up from her nap with the stomach bug. :(

After a day of the stomach bug, Marlee woke up ready to play with her cousins.  She composed some music with Amelie,

 played blocks with James,

and played on Aunt Lana's school's playground by herself.  Her cousins were there, but everyone did their own thing. ;)

 This girl isn't afraid to get dirty, that's for sure.

Aunt Lana showed Marlee how to ride like a cowboy and this has since become one of her favorite past times.

 Marlee loved playing games on Papaw's machine with Aunt Lana

 and watching Elmo with Uncle Darrin

 She even let Memaw Doris read her a book from afar.

It was so good to visit our family and catch up.  See you all Christmas!

I'm Alive, I Promise

For the two of you that read my blog, I promise I haven't forgotten about it.  Our computer is broken. :(  We shut off the main breaker to the house to install a chandelier in the baby room and failed to turn off our computer first.  I thought it was fixed, but I am unable to open any of my pictures or videos.  I will update you on the last month once it is up and working!

The Lake with Friends

We went out on the boat last weekend with some of our friends.  Marlee and Peyton had a good time playing in the baby pool on the boat.

And Marlee got in the water for the first time with her Dada.  She loved being in the water, but had to stay in this position at all times.

 I love that my babies are going to be able to grow up on the lake.

Outside

Like I have said many times before, Marlee Mae loves nothing more than being outside ("side" as she calls it).  We can put an end to almost every temper tantrum by saying "Do you want to go outside?" and she beelines for the door.  Here are some pictures/videos of our recent outings.

Out with the Old

I accidentally left my razor on the edge of my bathtub and before I could say "No", Marlee had already picked it up and cut her thumb (pretty bad I might add...I might have freaked out and called 911...and an ambulance might have come to our house).  And unfortunately, it cut her left thumb, which is the thumb that she sucks. :(  The first day after the accident, her whole hand became useless.

I felt so sorry for her because she wanted to suck her thumb so bad to soothe the pain.  Nap time and bedtime were a challenge that day without her thumb.  But, by the next day, it was like she never sucked her thumb before.  She was over it and Momma and Dada were sad.  We never thought we would love our child being a thumb sucker, but we have grown to love it and we weren't quite ready for her to give it up yet.  But, she is a big girl.  And big girls don't need to suck their thumbs.  Fortunately for Marlee, she has an additional security tactic besides her thumb: her monkey.  For quite some time, she has been rubbing the corner of her monkey between her toes, on the palm of her hand, on her cheek, and in her ear.  But now she is taking it to a whole new level.  Instead of her falling asleep with her thumb in her mouth, she likes to fall asleep with her monkey between her toes.  Can you see it below? Silly girl.

Shadow

Marlee discovered her shadow a couple weeks ago.  At first, it scared her and she could only look at her shadow while holding onto Mama or Dada.  She became obsessed with it and constantly wanted to go outside to see it, but then would get nervous and just hang out in the shade.  Once she got used to it, she started looking for it every where.  She would study it and then say "Where did it go?" once she lost it.  She is still fascinated with her shadow, but she is getting used to it now. ;)

Anniversaries and Babies

We celebrated Ma & Pa's 50th anniversary a few weeks ago.  Here is Marlee Mae at the party.  Once she discovered the candy bar, she came back to visit it about every five minutes. ;)

 She was on a sugar high for awhile, but eventually passed out on her Dada.  

We also got to meet sweet baby Hayes while we were in Fort Smith.  He is so little, precious, and perfect!