Oak Day

(written Thursday, October 25)

Caroline,

We're in Texas! We arrived yesterday just in time to unload in Martins Mill, pick up Grandpa and head to Dallas for a couple of photoshoots.  This weekend is our last round of Christmas Card Minishoots in Dallas -- whoohooo!!  Grandma came from Waco (where she's been staying with Oak, since his birth) to meet us at the park.  We were so excited to see Grandma and Grandpa.  The last time we saw them is when we left Waco after Oak was born.  We didn't have the best departure, as you were so sick and I was so sad.  It was so good to see everyone on a happier day! I know they were excited to see their happy girl, again!  The Brawners joined us at the park after Blake's flag football game -- it was so good to see them.  They took turns passing you around and loving all over you.  I sure wish we got to see them more.  It seems like Aubrey should be your age, and I should be Aubrey's age.  Please don't grow up as fast as the Brawner's have...I want you little forever.  :) BUT...by the looks of things, that's not happening! You are one busy, busy girl! You are everywhere and in to everything. I love it! :) You've just about got this crawling thing down.  Half of the time you are in a full out "bear crawl" with your bottom high in the air.  Then the other half of the time you are on your hands and knees.  I love watching you work hard at your latest challenge.  You get the hugest smile on your face...I think you're quite proud of your success! I am, too :)

Today we left bright and early to visit Oak-man and Laura in Waco!  We picked up Mama on the way.  I am so bummed that I didn't take any pictures of you, Mama and Oak. :( She is just absolutely crazy about you! She entertained you the entire way to Waco.  She rattled every toy we have in that back seat. Pretty cute.  Mama has always been so special time, it's pretty amazing to see you with her.  We are so blessed to have her!

We spent much of our day taking pictures of Oak.  He's absolutely perfect.  We had so much fun loving on him.  I'm pretty sure if we'd just let you go...you would have given him some big-time loving!  You're pretty good at pinching and grabbing these days, so we couldn't give you free reign.  Your day is coming...he'll be big enough to hold is own in no time. :)

We took lots of pictures at Oak's house, then headed to Cameron Park for a few more.  It was windy and chilly...so we didn't stay too long...you two were about pictured-out. I can't imagine why!!???! :)

 (I couldn't resist this picture...you and Oak are so happy - ha! Look at those faces!)

We kissed Laura and Oak goodbye -- which would have been terribly sad -- but we get to see them tomorrow in Martins Mill! hooray!

We ended a pretty great day with some of my very  favorite treats....cream cheese kolaches from the Czech Stop in West, Starbucks and then Dollar Tacos with Grandpa. Amazing day. And again, you were an angel.  I love that I get to spend these days with you.  What did I do without you?

(we got tickled at you crawling under the coffee table and looking in the basket)

Tomorrow we head to Dallas for a whole bunch of shoots. Then...the best news is we get to pick up your Dad from the airport.  I can't wait :)

Saturday starts with a shoot in Canton, then a few in Kaufman, then OU football and lots of Caroline and Oak love!

I love being here...and it's pretty perfect having you and your Dad here, too.  Hooray for a fun-filled weekend with family.

(here you are now!)

Oh, I do love you my Caroline!

XOXO,
Mom

p.s. -- we are loving fall so much! i hope to do some picture posts about our last week, etc....i just need to get caught up on picture organization!! :)

SISTERS

caroline,

and again, we are so behind! we have had a big, big week with so many firsts! your first cousin was born...and we love him so much! you had your first cold...which was dreadful! you had your first double ear infection...which we found out at your first "sick" doctor's visit....yuck! ....and you are crawling in short spurts and moving all over the house!

as much as i'd love to get to all these in detail...we are both exhausted!

for now, i just want to remember this precious day i shared with you and bertie-girl! you have been happy as can be...i am so glad you are feeling better!

we spent the day at home with a quick outing to the grocery store.  i love these days i have with you! we played with all of your toys, you took several great naps, we baked cookies, played outside with bertie and changed lots and lots of diapers, thanks to the amoxicillin you are taking for your ear infection! :) dad brought home calzone and cookies for dinner! 

you are so much fun right now! i could just eat you up :)

i love you, sarah caroline! i can't wait for another fun day tomorrow...we have a great day planned!

sleep well, sweet girl!

mom

Happy Birthday Grammy!

We hope today is wonderful. :) We are thankful for you and excited for all this year will bring!

W E   L O V E  Y O U!

a stop at the mill

(written thursday, october 15, 2010)

caroline,

we are in martins mill!  we stopped here on our way to waco. we have sure been missing grandma and grandpa.

you are asleep on your grandma's chest right now...you both seem perfectly happy!

today was so great.  you have become quite the seasoned traveler and couldn't be more perfect on the road! you slept until we were about an hour away...then "sang" and played with toys until we got to the house.  you continually amaze me. what a trooper you are :)

the drive was absolutely beautiful. the leaves are starting to change and i enjoyed it so.  i was tempted to stop several times to take your picture in the brilliant color, but figured waking you would only make for a long and rough ride for the both of us.  mama always says, "you never wake a sleeping baby." i usually try to follow that rule, unless of course there is just something you can't miss! :)

grandma greeted us with a new fall wardrobe and a fun new toy! you are set and will be absolutely adorable. we are having so much fun dressing you. :)

we played on the back deck on a quilt until grandpa got home.  they loved seeing all your new tricks...you were super bouncy and loved the cool weather.  something about being with grandpa makes you want to "bouncy, bouncy, bouncy." i love to watch you light up.

mama, nonnie, nicole, jake and sam spent the evening with us.  you enjoyed lots of love! jake read you a book that he has been practicing in kindergarten and sam sang you a very expressive pirate song.  you sat, wide-eyed and took in all the action.  we love any time we get to see mama, nonnie and nicole.  they love you so much.

grandma has been itching to feed you.  you had some banana this afternoon and tonight you had cereal, with a bit of avocado.  you weren't in to the avocado at all...i think you were in a sweet kind of mood tonight.  you get that honestly.  grandma called you a "baby bird"...you were loving the cereal!

i didn't do a very good job at taking pictures, and the few i have are pretty sad....but they're better than nothing.

we can't wait to head to waco tomorrow! maybe if aunt laura hauls you around a bit we can put her into labor. ha. we are thrilled to meet oak...it's pretty exciting to know we will definitely have him here within the next five or so days!

i love you sweet liney.  i can't wait to spend these next days with you! if only your dad were here, i could say this is looking like a perfect weekend.

sleep well, sweet baby girl. tomorrow is going to be a good one.

love,
mom

...and she pulled up!

lou!

i can't believe you...you pulled up in the bath tonight. do you think you'll walk before you crawl?

you've been doing some frog-legged bouncing while holding on to the corner of your little inflatable tub. but, tonight you just straightened those legs out of nowhere.  dad, bertie and i were all there to celebrate!! so. much. fun.

i wish i had the camera with me...by the time your dad got it to me you were too tired to do it much more.  i got some wobbly attempts on video, but nothing like the first time.

i'm so happy i was there to share it with you. :)

i am so proud of you. you are strong and determined!

i love you so much and can't wait to see all you accomplish!

you're fast asleep now, in your sweet polka-dot footed pajamas -- exhausted from a fun day.

yea caroline!! :)

i love you!
mom

caroline,

what a fun day! i truly fall more in love every second i spend with you... :)

have i told you how beautiful you are? well, you are.

we spent our morning playing in the sunroom and working on some invitation designs.  i love to watch you play with your toys.  i keep a basket of current favorites in the sunroom. sometimes i'll pull out one or two to play. you really like the colorful "lamaze" toys. they have lots of different textures and patterns...squeakies, mirrors, ropes and the like.  you could play with them forever! you also love stuffed animals.  yes, i'm a little picky about which ones you play with most...i'm partial to the "blabla" and "under the nile" babies...you love them too which makes me a happy girl!  you love the bright colors.  thanks to your grandma, you have a nice selection!  you also have fun looking at yourself in the mirror.  i keep a little travel size make-up mirror in your toy basket. the look on your face when you see yourself is priceless.  i think you think you're pretty cute.  i agree. i'd say your very favorite is your crocodile creek ball...you just love it.  you don't play with it all the time, but you're always happy to play with it! i know we'll have lots of fun "playing ball" together...can't wait to teach you my skills.  actually, that's where your dad steps in.  :)

lately, we've been playing with your wooden alphabet blocks. we practice clapping them together.  you're not sure about the noise it makes...but you are sure that you like the way they taste.  everything is going right to your mouth! i think we're working on some top teeth! oh, boy...you've been sucking on your frozen toys quite a bit the last few days. i hope they make you feel better! you don't seem to be too uncomfortable, but you have been a bit cranky lately.

i joked with grandma last night that i might start reading james dobson's "strong willed child." i'm not sure he's written it for parent's of five and half month olds. ha.  overall, you are so sweet and happy.  but, when you aren't getting your way, you don't hold back in letting me know.  wonder who you get that from? it's not like you have expressive parents!! :) ha.  i'm thinking this new found attitude is a symptom of teething.

back to our morning...you survived your first earthquake! we were playing the sunroom and our house literally shook! lamps on the table wobbled and my cereal bowl went back and forth. crazy! i grabbed you and called your dad. he said he felt it downtown, too! we found out there was a 5.1 earthquake about 9 miles east of norman.  we felt it all the way here! i'm glad we don't live in california. it sort of freaked me out.

while i got ready this morning, you and bertie played in the rug in your bedroom.  you were so precious together! you literally laughed outloud while she did her famous spin-moves for you.  i love watching you two play! you've really started to notice her lately. you smile so big and open your mouth wide, waiting to be covered in bertie-girl kisses.  pretty cute.  bertie was such a special part of our life before you were born, i'm so happy you love her as much as we do.

we picked up your dad for lunch today.  we went to queenie's at utica square, then to starbucks.  eating out is getting a bit more interesting! queenie's is super crowded inside and you literally eat inches away from others.  you are grabbing everything and all over the place. we let you suck on a pickle, since your toys weren't enough to keep your attention. you couldn't get enough! we think you may like sour foods....you were pretty into a lime you licked last week.  sour is fun...i can make sour treats. :)

after we dropped your dad off at work, we browsed through the lolli garden at utica square then headed to the oil cloth shop to grab a wipeable placemat and bib....i think this may make our restaurant visits easier! we'll see.  at least they're cute.

now you're napping in my arms and i'm loving every second of it.  i love that you cuddle when you sleep.  these are such precious moments.  i hope no matter how big you are, that you always want to cuddle with me!

this evening we're going to play with your dad.  i think there is leaf-raking planned...which means you and i will leaf-crunch and have quilt time in the front yard. yes! we have new books to read and balls to roll.

we'll finish the day with taco soup and cornbread. avocado and rice cereal for you. it's gonna be good.

i love spending days with you, sarah caroline. you're my favorite.



tomorrow...we head to texas. i can hardly wait!

i love you, liney-lou!!

mom

bite the bullet

caroline,

yes, this is weird. you are five and a half months old and i have yet to record anything on your blog. i had big dreams of journaling your every day. then life happened.

i got so wrapped up in loving you and learning you, that this commitment got away from me.  i thought of it so many times, but had already missed so many days that it was overwhelming to begin. i may have missed your first months, but i don't want to regret missing the days from here on. sooo....we may be getting a late start...but let's do this. :)

i'm not quite sure what this will look like.  i guess some days i will write everyday.  maybe i'll log on throughout the day with precious little blurps about what you're doing...  sometimes once a week...let's hope at least that much! i'm pretty sure it will be chocked full of errors...we all know that i write how i think...a little big of everything, everywhere!  regardless, i hope you'll cherish these memories of our little family.

i'll probably post some flashbacks of your first months...here and there. :) but, we'll get caught up at some point! maybe.

you are so wanted and so loved.  i hope you always know that!  your daddy and i have grown so much over these last months as we have fallen more in love with eachother, with our Lord and with you! we are in awe that you are a little bit of both of us...we joke that we hope you got our "good bits!" :)

right now you are fast asleep in your swing at the foot of our bed.  i love that swing and so do you! you take your best naps while swinging. we've spent our day catching up on some photo editing, laundry, paying bills, going to the bank and starbucks, then home to play and nap! we'll probably run to mardel and the post office this afternoon.  we're trying to stay on top of everything, as we are anxiously awaiting the call that your first cousin, oak, is on his way! laura was due yesterday and we all can't wait to meet this precious little man who will be your first best-buddy.  i know you guys will love each other so much.  you will teach him so much, and take good care of him -- i know he will protect and love you through the years.  i can hardly wait to you watch you grow up together.  come on oak! :)

i am in awe of you and all you are doing! you are so strong and so joyful. i could sit and watch you all day long...sometimes i do. i love that i can.  the last few days you have spending lots of time on all fours.  it's so fun.  you rock back and forth and look up at me and smile - almost like you're making sure i'm watching.  i love that smile! you have two bottom teeth...and you don't let me go long without reminding me of them while eating! that's ok...you've been such an incredible eater from day one...i'm not complaining if this is our first "eating issue." i always said i wouldn't start solids until you were six months...but you were so ready!  after you cut your first teeth, i decided to try some food! you were SO ready... you love it!  we are eating banana, avocado and rice cereal right now.  your favorite is rice cereal with banana....i kind of like it, too.  i am so happy you are a good eater...i have lots of yummy foods to share with you.  i wonder what your favorite will be?  if you're anything like me or your daddy, you'll like it all!  you roll all over the place and scoot on your tummy.  it's amazing how fast you move. you can get where you want to go...usually taking the side-swipe salamander-type approach.  it's pretty cute.  you are really keeping me on my toes, the days of you laying on the quilt in the sunroom and playing with your toys are long gone.  i leave the room, and you leave the quilt. i'm pretty sure you are days away from crawling!! oh, dear...our lives are really about to change! i can't wait...i love to watch you grow and explore...but i just wish it didn't happen so fast. i just can't believe you will be a half a year old in a few weeks. crazy.

you are a true joy in my life.  i am crazy about you in every way!

i love you, sarah caroline! what did we do without you? :)

mom

....here are some pictures we took today. we played with bertie-girl on the front porch before running a few errands. you L O V E being outside.  you love crunching leaves! i am so happy you enjoy the outdoors...i know we will do lots of fun things outside!