"rerrie, rerrie, rerrie, rerrie"

Last night we gave the kids a bath a little earlier than usual and were hanging out in our bedroom. I was leafing through a catalog/magazine, Jeff was half looking through the paper and we were all half watching "the Singing Bee" (My kids love anything music). Baylor has a new gown with the Little Mermaid on it that we were telling here looked "So Pretty"...she pointed to herself and said "rerrie?" we of course agreed and said "Yes, Baylor you're pretty too". A couple seconds later I asked her if I was pretty and we got the big yes head nod with a smile. About 5 minutes after that she leans over to Jeff and say "rerrie", than leans over to her brother and says "rerrie", than points to herself and exclaims the same. (I was across the room) She then points over to me and says "Rerrie!". She proceeded to do all this again a little faster and we caught on to the fact that she was calling all of us "Pretty". What a sweet girl we have:)

We also heard our first sentence last night: "My lamby, Brutta, mine" Can you tell what she loves and what she wants to make sure stays hers? Her pink lamb/blanket goes with us everywhere. At least it is easier to keep up with than brother's blankie and puppy--hers is all in one.

For interest sake (and b/c we didn't have a blog back then) Christian's first sentence was: "KayKay, I eat apples"--of course it wasn't that clear, but we knew he was saying that.

Visiting Mim

We went to Alabama/Florida to visit Mim last week. Her and Travis are living near Ft. Rucker where he is stationed for the next 18 months or so. Dad and I hadn't seen their place at all and Mom only saw it when they first moved in. Mim has it fixed up so pretty and she couldn't wait to show it off. I bought her this pumpkin last year at 'Glendale Days' (which is a tradition in our family to attend every year on the third Saturday in October). She was excited to finally have a place to use it--it greets you as you walk up to their front door.
The entry way. She hung all the shelves and put the table together ALL BY HERSELF. She's become quite the little homemaker. Up the stairs on the right are two bedrooms and a bath. Their bedroom is really spacious and she has a walk in closet that she is oh so proud of. The other bedroom is more of an office with a couch that can be a bed. It is also where Travis keeps all his music 'stuff'. In the hallway to the left is the garage and a bathroom that also serves as the laundry room.
Their little kitchen that she makes all her fabulous meals in. I hate to admit that my little sister can out cook me, but she can. She really enjoys it and has the time to do it. I only do it b/c we have to eat and I so don't have the time to REALLY prepare a meal.
Their living room. Through the doors on the right you can go into their little backyard. It's not much, but they have a cute little rose bush and room for Travis' grill. I think he loves the grill almost as much as my sister:)

Destin

This is Christian's reaction to fiirst seeing the beach. He was oh so excited!!! Baylor was in the car with my parents so we don't have a pic of her reaction, but they said she was clapping/smiling away.
Me and the kids

Playing on the beach. Baylor wasn't too sure about the sand at first but (as you can see) she warmed up pretty fast. The kids let me bury them waist deep in the sand and she thought that was so funny.

Destin-2

They both enjoyed the beach and pool A LOT. Christian even liked the ocean on the first day and the beginning of the second, but then we saw a big crab in the water...he wouldn't go back in the rest of the day. He was scared the crab was going to get him!!
Mim watching the kids play in the sand
The pool at Majestic Sun was fun as always. Baylor enjoyed floating along with her swimmies. Christian was so impressed that he could touch the bottom. He kept asking me if he could do that last time and I told him "No, you've grown so much in a year and a half that now you can touch."

Destin-3

We had our own little photo session on the beach. We were missing Daddy otherwise these pics would have been complete and oh so cute. Who am I kidding...they are still of so cute. I love the one of the two kids facing the ocean...I can feel the love between them in that picture. Mim took all of these by the way and she took the absolutely cutest one of Baylor's foot. I don't know why I like it so much, but I do!

Destin-4

Tex and Baylor looking out at the 'wah-wah' (as Baylor calls it). Below you see our little ham all ready to go down to the beach.

KayKay took the kids on a walk to look for beach treasure and we posed around Baylor in her little chair.
Thursday night we had dinner with some friends that now live about an hour away from Destin. Rick (and his wife Suzanne) was my youth minister in High School. Rick was both Jeff and my boss when we were interns (separate years) and then preformed our marriage ceremony back in '99. They are dear friends that we were so excited to see. Once again Jeff was greatly missed and would have made the night complete. (Travis you would make our night complete too:) I don't think you have ever met Rick, but you can't help but love him)
Check out the weird kid with the frisbee over his face. Christian was in rare form that evening and Baylor was just being a pill. She didn't want to sit in her high chair and I spent much of the evening trying to pacify her--It was still fun to see old friends.

We have been to Alabama, Florida and back. Trips are fun but we are glad to be home. I will update with pics and stories soon.

The biggest update would be that Baylor has learned a new word that will be the bane of my existence: "SELF". She says that now when I change her diaper, when she's getting a snack...she wants to do it all by her"SELF"!