Make believe

Leighton has always joked with us, but her sense of humor has just recently undergone some fine tuning as she has grown up a little. A 3 year old’s sense of humor is extremely cute and funny. One of the games that she made up involves her pretending that Elliot is a random baby that someone just dropped off at our house. She starts by saying, “Momma, who is this precious baby and where did she come from?” I say, "I don't know but she sure is precious." I usually make up a name for her. Last week it was Sally. Then Leighton continues by saying, “Sally, you are such a sweet baby, how did you get here?” Elliot smiles and laughs at her during all this. This is usual Elliot behavior. She is still the best baby ever. She wins over hearts right and left. Chris and I are so grateful for her and Leighton's differing personalities. Elliot has started pulling up on everything. She is only 6 months old and way too young for that so I told her to stop growing so fast. Needless to say, her obedience could use some work. :)

Here are a few Leighton-isms from the last few weeks:

When Chris got on to Leighton the other day she said, "Daddy, you made my feelings go away."

After loudly sneezing/gagging/coughing the other day, I went to her room to make sure she was okay. She said. "I didn't throw up mom. It was just a cough mixed in with a bless you."

These times are so precious and I just want to wrap them up and trap them so I never lose them.

XOXO--
Stacey

We don't throw babies or fits

Leighton amazes me with her words of wisdom.  The title of this blog is one of her most recent observations.  It's hilarious but so true.  She talks constantly and says some of the greatest things.  For instance: "momma, little girls don't drive because they could bump into things,"  or, "momma, if you get under the car, it will squish you flat like a pancake.", or "momma, look at that trash on the road, that is bisgusting, we have to move out of oklahoma" (If that is not straight from the mouth of Chris Tracy I don't know what is.)  The quiet game has become our favorite game to play with her.  She ALWAYS loses, but at least Chris and I get a few miniscule moments of peace from it.

We found out she often volunteers to pray in her Sunday School class. (I am the shy one-this comes from her daddy) She likes to pray at dinner also and these prayers could last until the end of tomorrow if we didn't tell her to "wrap it up." Her little quirks are adorable though. Speaking of quirks-she just came in the room, knocked a giant glass of water all over me and pushed Elliot's walker to make it sing, hence waking Elliot up and making her cry, all in a matter of seconds. My life is so G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S.

Here are some pics from the last couple weeks. The first ones are from the Dinosaurs exhibit. LP was terrified of these life like creatures. lol

These are from this weekend at the drive thru safari in Arkansas:

XOXO-Stacey

Wiggle wiggle wiggle and Praise the Lord!

There is not a more appropriate title, considering today is Easter Sunday.  Leighton comes home from Sunday school and sings the songs that she learned for days after.  Last week, she walked in the room and showed us the song that she learned.  Apparently it has a dance that goes with it.  Shaking her hips back and forth, she says, "Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, and praise the Lord!"  I have yet to speak to her Sunday school teachers, but I am pretty sure that this song was not on the Sunday school singing list.  She has started composing songs all by herself and telling us she learned them at school, Sunday school, etc.  It is truly the most hysterical thing ever.  I can usually tell the ones that she makes up because they are about strange things that do not quite seem to fit together, like trees and cheese or last week it was mommy and hallelujah.  Not to say that you can't wiggle and praise the Lord, we are Methodist, so this does indeed happen, we just don't sing a song with that exact title.  That kid never ceases to make Chris and I laugh.  We have been trying to teach her about being quiet and not interrupting.  Chris and I were talking in the car the other day and she interrupted us saying that we needed to be quiet because her legs were falling asleep.  Wow.  Disciplining this child without laughing is our greatest challenge. 

Today is mine and Chris' anniversary.  Together for 10 years, married for 6.  In honor of that and the Easter holiday, here are some pics:

us then

us now

Don't say hate

A parent doesn't realize how much they say a word until they tell their 3 year old not to say it.  The word hate has to be permanently erased from mine and Chris' vocabulary.  This is extremely difficult.  There are so many times that I "hate" a certain style, or paint color, or sometimes I just hate situations for other people.  However, I can no longer voice these opinions using that word without getting scolded by LP.  "Mommy, we DON'T SAY HATE!"  She is right.  I have become accustomed to using this adjective daily.  As a matter of fact, I just googled hate and the first page that popped up is, "What Hitler did to the Jews in WW2."  Therefore, I stand by my telling her to not use this word, and Chris and I will just have to be creative in using new words to describe our dislike for something.  I am up for this challenge.  In my google search this morning, I also learned that terrific actually means terrifying.  Therefore, a fun time is not terrific, nor is an ice cream cone on a hot day.  Trying to raise two girls with good morals in our society is what is terrific.  I'm up for that challenge too though.  Bring it.

Here are some pics from the VA Easter egg hunt yesterday.  Leighton wouldn't get any where near the Easter bunny.  I can't say that I blame her. 

wardrobe malfunction

WARNING:  This story is not for the faint of heart.  I'll start by saying that Elliot Claire has not pooped regularly since she was born.  She goes 3-4 days in between poops.  Poor little thing is always pushing, but she just can't make it happen.  Chris and I take pictures and text them to each other whenever the joyous event finally happens.  I've never seen anything like it.  Imagine 4 days of built up newborn poo.  It's insane.  We had Elliot baptized this weekend.  Such a precious moment for our little family.  All Elliot's great grandparents were there, which was so special.  Elliot wore the same dress that was made by her great grandma Brostrom, and was worn by 2 of her aunts, 2 of her cousins, and her big sister.  It is such a cool family heirloom.  Sunday morning happened to be day 4 of Elliot's no pooping spree.  I knew it would be happening soon. When I was ready to walk out the door, I decided it was safe to put the dress on Elliot.  Getting her dressed must have stimulated something, because it happened.  Yep, poop was everywhere.  I was so frazzled.  I couldn't believe it.  We were going to be late, and the vintage christening gown was poo stained.  Luckily, Chris texted Pastor Rusty during the sermon and asked him if he could extend the sermon a bit to make time for us to get there.  So grateful for our Pastor and the fact that he lets the congregation text him during worship, and he reads them!  Thanks Rusty.  P.S.  Dreft stain removal spray is made by angels.
 

 XOXO
Stacey

Nunya business

There are so many qualities in a newborn baby that I truly appreciate.  For one, they don't eat your food.  In these last few weeks of being home with just Elliot, I have eaten breakfast and lunch and not had to suffer the risk of my food being taken.  LP loves to steal my food.  She tells me she doesn't want something, until I make it for myself, then she's all over it.  I didn't realize how amazing it feels to be able to eat without the risk of thievery.  Chris and I have both learned how to eat candy without rattling the package and pretty much without moving our mouths at all.  (It's a talent, it takes work)  Recently, before Chris had perfected this talent, Leighton saw him chewing on a mouthful of Runts candy.  She said, "Daddy, what are you eating?"  He said, "Nunya."  She responded, "I wants some Nunyas please."  How the heck could we resist giving them to her then?  Needless to say, Runts are now called Nunyas in our house.  Gosh we love that girl.  Here are some recent pictures.  I created a book of all my blog entries last year, and there were only 2 pictures of myself in all my entries.  Yikes, I have to change that this year.  I am not just the narrator, I DO exist!!!    

my kindred spirit

smiling for Aunt B

XOXO
Stacey