Jack Is NINE Months Old!

Jack today you are nine months old! Where has the time gone? You continue to be the happiest baby ever! I see your sweet little personality coming out more everyday. You are a joy to be around Daddy, Barrett and I love you to pieces!!

Here is what's going on at Nine Months!

- You are crawling everywhere!!(p.s. I forgot to update you at 8 months, bad mommy; but you started crawling at 8 months)

- You weigh about 18.5 pds.

- Still wear size 3 diapers.

- You have been sleeping from 7:30pm to about 7am for a whole month!! Woo Hoo!!

- You laugh all the time!!

- Babbling that sounds like MaMa, or maybe that's just what I want to hear.

- You pull up and cruise. You love to walk holding onto my fingers.

- Your eyes are turning green now.

- Still no hair, a little more on top, but not much.

- Your favorite foods are peas and apples.

- You are taking the bottle good now, trying to hold it.

- Your favorite thing to do is chase Lola around with the walker.

- Take two, two hour naps a day.

- People still mistake you for a girl, but that's okay your just so pretty, I mean Handsome!!

- You have your first two bruises on your head from trying to walk, I'm sure the first of many!!


I am so proud to be your Mommy. I look forward to every day with you and your brother! I can't believe you are 9 months old!! I love you so much!!

Lola Belle

I wanted to do a little post about our beloved French Bull dog Lola. She is the only female in this house with me and I love her dearly. Two weeks ago at the beach Lola was her normal self; running, jumping, etc. On Sat. the 4th of July she slowed down a bit and we thought she was just tired. On Sunday she was just slow and didn't walk around much. My mom thought she was hot and we put her inside the beach house she didn't move off the couch all day. She wouldn't eat anything, not even shrimp! Ryan was headed back to Lindale to work and I had him take Lola with him. He said when he got home she laid on her bed until the next morning and didn't move. Monday morning she couldn't stand up on her own.

Ryan took her to our local vet in Lindale Dr. B. He ran every test he could for two days and he found nothing. On her x-rays it looked like there might have been some fluid around her spine. He recommended she see a neurologist in Dallas. So after alot of work Dr. B got her an appt. in Dallas. Ryan took her and they began their work to see what was wrong. They explained she needed and MRI. Let me just say those are expensive not to mention if they found anything that would be more money to fix whatever was wrong. Ryan and I thought we had to do it, our only other option was to put her to sleep. So Lola had the MRI and they found a herniated disk. The Dr.'s said they don't know how she was bearing the pain, she had never even made a whimper. It was one of the worst cases they had seen. Lola had spinal surgery and is now making a recovery.



Lola is now classified as an investment!! LOL! We are so happy she is okay and doing well. It looks like she will be back to herself in no time!! That is good thing because she has two little boys that love her and can't wait to chase her around!

Summertime at the Beach!

Welcome back to reality for Queen Bee and the Boys! We have been at the beach for two weeks!! It was wonderful, the boys had a ball. My posts, and everything else I left behind for a July vacation.

The whole family was there, and The Reeds joined us with their kids Cole and Carley. Christie, the kids and I just decided to stay for the first half of July. We had a great 4th. Barrett loves fireworks, but let me just say he hasn't always! It was Jack's first 4th and seeing as how he was down before the festivities started I don't know how much he enjoyed it. It is truly amazing how babies can sleep through fireworks that sound like they are right outside your window and last all night!!



The beach has so many activities to offer we were super busy! We popped a few fireworks and lit a gazillion sparklers. I also found a "uncle Sam" pinata and filled it for the kids, just what they need to add to fireworks, a sugar rush!!





We had a huge bonfire on the beach when we set off the big fireworks. So big in fact the Port Bolivar fire department pulled up and came to check out our fire. It was all under control, I guess someone saw how large it was and called them. The kids were scared we would get in trouble, but all was well.





After all the family and friends left our friend Leeanne came to stay with Christie the kids and I. Leeanne was such a help with Barrett. It is so funny because Barrett has always had a crush on Leeanne, trying to sit by her and hold her hand. He got to have her around the whole week. We made a few trips to Galveston during the week. We went to Moody Gardens to the aquarium it was very fun.



At Moody Gardens they have a Palm Beach water play area, so we trekked our way over to it. It wasn't really what we expected so we left and headed to Schlitterban. Oh yes, not one but two attractions in one day.

Schlitterban was so much fun, huge, but fun. We made out way across an endless sea of tubes and sun screened up kids to find a quiet little umbrella next to the kiddie pool and swim up bar. Oh yes, I said BAR!! Thank goodness because the Mommies and Leeanne of course needed a cocktail! We joked and said well now we can make it though the day!! LOL!











Schlitterban is a complete money pit they have extremely too many things to spend money on. For example who could leave without a funnel cake, a trip the the icee bar where there are 10 flavors you can mix, and last but no least an airbrush tattoo. Barrett decided he wanted a shark. At least we fit in a little better after that.



At the end of our trip my parents and the husbands came back, along with my girlfriends Patti, Karen, and cousin Julie. We had a full house but it was so great catching up with all my girls!! I can't believe I didn't get a girls picture guess we were to busy talking to take any pics.

And what beach trip is complete without the baby getting covered in sand. Jack has been to the beach a few times, but now that he is completely mobile and into everything the couldn't resist the sand.





Yes, unfortunately Jack decided to eat some sand. My Mom said "It will be fine, you did the same thing at his age." Yes Mom, but I'm quite sure the sand is a little worse now.


I love summer, and I love the beach!! I can't wait to go back. I'm sure before summer is over we will head back for a few more trips.

Splash Parks, Manual Labor and A Special Treat!!

So this is going to be a big wrap up post for a few days. I have been so tired at night after the kids go down, and since that is blogging time, I haven't posted lately. On Friday, Leeanne H., Christie, Mims, Barrett, Jack and I all headed to Splash Kingdom in Canton. I had never been there and I didn't know what to expect. I wasn't sure if it would be a "wannabe water park", but much to my surprise it was wonderful! Barrett loved it! It was sooo hot and I was Melllting! Oh the things you do for your kids. And poor Leeanne, she was so sweet to come with us; she helped me out a ton!!








As you can tell the little ones really didn't care where we were as long as they could rest. Pardon my child in only a swim diaper. He really had a cute swim suit on but I had just changed him. Bad Mommy. Note to self: I thought I was doing a good deed by renting a Cabana so the babies would have shade. I told the clerk I wanted a cabana by the kiddie area so I could watch Barrett. She told me that is where they were, all was well. Until.... What..... The Cabana's were behind everything at the back of the park. I was really upset I could have saved my sixty bucks and just parked under the umbrellas for alot cheaper. Now I know.

In other happenings my child loves to work outside. Literally I have never seen another child like him. He wakes up and comes out of his room fully dressed, ready to work. I thought I would note this so that when he is an unruly teenager and I can't even get him to mow the yard, I will have proof. There was a time when I couldn't keep him inside. He cries if it's raining and I won't let him go out. His only complaint is recently, "Mom I am sweating bullets!" Don't worry that doesn't stop him. He are a few shots of my Working Man!





Kelly from Kelly's Korner Blog recently posted about some wonderful Cinnamon Rolls she had from the Pioneer Woman. Kelly had a link to the recipe so I thought I would make them. Well let me start off by saying homemade cinnamon rolls are an undertaking. But they were well worth the effort. It may have taken a day and a half, but I'm sure the neighborhood was grateful. The recipe makes a ton so I took a few pans to the neighbors. You can check out the recipe at the Pioneer Woman Cooks blog.



Warning: If you choose to make these Cinnamon Rolls be ready to give them away, because if you don't.... I won't be held responsible for the extra pounds! They are heaven, Melt in your mouth. I should send this recipe in to Paula Deen with all the butter these have. Enjoy!!

Me to a Tee!!

I had to post these pics of Barrett in his "Me to a Tee Shirt"!! How cute is this? I got the shirt from em tanner. (www.emtannerdesigns.com) She has such cute stuff. So you can pick the hair style, eye color, everything. I just love it. I also gave one as a gift, and it turned out so cute also. Love, Love, Love her website!

Father's Day Weekend!

Okay, I have been a bad blogger. I know I have been away for awhile. We spent Father's Day Weekend at the beach. It was so much fun! This was Ryan's first fathers day as a Daddy of two.


Happy Father's Day Daddy!!!

What beach trip is complete without the Stingaree? I mean it's practically a Crystal Beach icon. Well and who am I kidding it's about the only restaurant left. This was Jack's first time there. Barrett was very impressed with all of the improvements post Ike. "This is alot more nice." Well okay B-doodle if you think so. He found it fascinating that there were actually crabs in the crab tanks. My Mom gave Jack the famous toast at dinner and said "he can't bite this off." Well he did, and after a big scare and me digging the small piece out of his throat all was well. That is until Jack pulled my Stingarita right into my lap! Oh the joys of dinner out with kids.






Here is the family, well some of the family. Ryan and Cragg (brother in law) had not arrived yet. Some one has to stay home and work so we can take long weekends and eat out. Barrett would not cooperate. And there was nobody around to take it for us, always the case!!



On Friday the girls and one little man headed to Galveston for dinner. We tried out a new restaurant called Olympia on Pier 21. It is Greek and seafood. We enjoyed it, very cute place!




The beach was great. Barrett and his Dad go shell hunting every morning. He loves it. But lately he has passed on the shells and started hunting fishing lures. He has found a ton, I guess this means we will now have to fish. Oh well I already hunt, what is a little fishing going to hurt. Sigh......

Rodeo, Teething and Timeouts

The big boys spent most of their time at the rodeo this weekend, we sponsored another rodeo and they had to "supervise". Ryan tried to talk Jackaroo and I into coming, but Jack didn't care to much for the attire.



Barrett, however loves to go anywhere his Daddy goes. He really doesn't care for the rodeo either, but never misses a chance to go with his dad and eat cotton candy. Ryan made the mistake of telling Barrett that he was going to go, that morning. So all day Friday Barrett insisted on wearing his boots, jeans and belt until that evening. If I heard "when is Daddy coming home?" one more time, I was going to scream. I love the fact that Ryan loves to get him all excited about things and then leaves and goes to work. Leaving me with the joy of telling him, " Remember Barrett it's not until tonight!" I had to include a pic of my little cowboy, all dressed up!



In other news Jackaroo has two teeth on the bottom. I am hoping that is the cause for my seven almost eight month old still not sleeping through the night!! :( I thought this picture was so cute you can see both of the little teeth coming through!



Lastly, today Barrett unfortunately had to be sent to time out....again. So he was throwing excuses at me like "I can't go I need to potty, and No I'm tired!" I was not having any excuses today so, off to the laundry room he went for said time out. I usually turn the timer on for four minutes, but I was in the middle of nursing and told him I would call him when time was up. So about ten I mean five minutes go by and I yell that he can come out and I hear nothing. So I put the baby down and went to go check on him. I found the door still closed and when I opened it up.......









...... this is what I found! Oh yeah, just call me Super Mom. The poor child was tired, it wasn't an excuse. And in case your wondering if I left him there to sleep? I most certainly did not!!