Seems Like Just Yesterday

This morning I walked in to find that Dallas has figured out how to stand up in her crib. She was so proud of herself and beaming ear to ear. I could already see her planning on how she was now going to get out of the crib and down on the floor where her toys are. It seems like just the other day Kyle was putting the crib together for her and I would swear that literally just yesterday he had lowered it to its next "level". I will never forget the night the nursery was officially done. I stood in there crying and Kyle walked in wanting to know if I was unhappy. I wasn't. I was crying because I was overcome with emotion that soon we would bringing home a little person to sleep and play in this room.  That and the song "All American Girl" by Carrie Underwood was playing (gets me every time). I am, in general, an extremely happy person but very few times have I actually been moved to "tears of joy". They are the most amazing feeling and ones I hope to continue experiencing throughout my entire life. 

Look at me mom!  This is awesome!

This is what tears of joy look like. When my mom found out I was pregnant with Dallas...

Sometimes You Have to Get Creative

With a 7 month old who is constantly on the go and quickly learning new things like going from laying down to sitting up to standing up on her own, or semi-crawling you have start changing the way you used to do things. As soon as you have a routine down she goes and changes it by hitting new milestones, which we are so thankful and excited for but it also makes us have to get creative on what to do next. 

Before when we were getting ready in the morning we could sit Dallas in her My Little Lamb chair and she would entertain herself. These days if you sit her in the chair two seconds later this is what she will look like...

So this morning I was letting Kyle sleep in while I showered but knew I had to come up with something else to keep Dallas confined yet entertained. I quickly saw the baby bathtub and decided to try it out.  Worked like a champ!

Do You Know What Day It Is?

It's Van Damme Friday!!!!!!!


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This is for you Ruth.

I stumbled across this website http://pinterest.com/ which is amazing!!!  I have only been on it for a few days but I can see myself using it all of the time going forward. Kyle and I are constantly saving pictures of ideas for the home and other projects to our home computer but this is a much simpler way to see our ideas laid out. What a great idea to have an online personalized idea board.  Can't get enough.

People who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one. ~Leo J. Burke

Sleeping in is something I used to love to do. I'd wake up late on Saturday's, grab a huge coffee and hang out in my PJ's until I was ready to go out into the world (or maybe catch another 30 minutes of z's before lunch). I could never comprehend how people were awake and functioning after only a few hours of sleep. Whether it was a function of a newborn child, work, going out or just a freakish internal clock - I didn't get it. Now that I have Dallas I average 4-5 hours a night...when I used to absolutely NEED 8-14 hours. These days I never sleep past 7am, even on the weekends -- babies don't understand lazy Sunday's. My mornings now start with a good hair pull or slap in the face from Dallas and occassionally a soft pat (usually she saves those for daddy). Who knew that having your hair pulled to wake you up could be such an enjoyable alarm clock?

I just got finished putting Dallas to sleep for the night. As she was drifting off she started to smile. I wonder what she was dreaming? My guess: either daddy blowing fart sounds on her tummy or cooter finally letter her rip his hair out of his tail.

App Obsessions

After 4 days at home with Dallas it's back to the office for me. It's a good thing too because I was starting to get pretty comfortable staying at home!

Right now I am obsessed with finding great apps for the Iphone and Ipad.  Mainly photography apps because I can't get enough pictures of Dallas but always looking for organization apps as well.  Not being a naturally organized person and a working mom is pretty tricky! So anything I can find to help put a little organization to the chaos is always welcomed.  I'd love to hear any good app suggestions (email or comment below)...

So far the best photo apps I have found are Hipstamatic and Lightbox.  Hipstamatic automatically edits the photos to whatever type of "film" you are using where Lightbox takes a normal picture and gives you tons of options for quick editing afterwards.

Hipstamatic...

Lightbox...

I haven't tried to have any of these pictures printed so I can't attest for the actual printed photo quality but they make for fun and easy ways to get different types of pictures without the editing process.

Other apps I love are: Blogger+ (for blogging from Ipad), Flipboard (for quick access to news, pictures, blogs, magazines etc.), Bump (for picture sharing between devices) and i'll admit it... Angry Birds Rio (it's a sick obsession and I blame you Christian for introducing it to me)

Daddy's Hands

We spent the morning celebrating fathers day with my dad but poor Dallas was and is still very sick so instead of getting to hang out afterwards we went home. Kyle got back into town mid afternoon just in time to take a family nap :) Dallas and I did manage to throw together a few surprises for dad which he loved and got one picture of her in her Father's Day dress with daddy.

A few weeks back I snapped a couple of pictures of Kyle and Dallas. He wanted me to make sure and not get his hands in the photos because they were covered in paint and calloused from working on the house. I explained to him that was exactly the reason I was getting his hands in the pictures - they show how hard he works for our little girl. Right now they are battered and bruised because he is has been building a home for her. In the future I imagine them looking the same way from building tree houses, dirt under the nails from mud pies and whatever else the two of them come up with.  Her daddy's hands were the first she held, have caught her when she has fallen, have held her when she was sad, have squeezed her when she was happy. They are a symbol of strength, love and good times had and good times to come!

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

I planned on updating the blog more during my days off but time slipped away from me. I've been lost in baby land and enjoying every second.

Thursday Kyle had to leave for a last minute business trip to Austin and then a wedding in Fredricksburg. Cooter has slept by the front door every night waiting for him to walk through -- poor guy doesn't feel safe unless we're all under the same roof. Needless to say we are all anxious for him to return home tomorrow!! Dallas and I have been doing our best to keep ourselves busy until he gets back.

We've been swimming (she literally shrieked with excitement when she saw the pool), shopping, lunching with the girls and having an overall great time -- that is until Friday night when Dallas got a fever. We went to the doctor this morning and he said no ear infection and probably just a bug. The only time she has really been herself today was during bath time. Did I mention this girl loves water? Right now she's sleeping, snuggled up to me feeling like a hot potato. I just got finished watching the Tooth Fairy with the Rock (are you judging me right now? Haha) and am going through my mental checklist of all the things I need to do before Kyle gets home. Hopefully Dallas sleeps through the night and wakes up 100%.

Sorry for the lack of "flow" and pictures with this post. I'm running on 3 hours sleep :). Kyle took off with the home laptop charger which means I couldn't upload good quality pics but I managed to snap a few on my iphone and bump (great app) them over to my ipad. hope you enjoy.

Date night with Uncle Ry

After lunch with Colin & Eloise

Slumber party at granna's

I love bath time!!!

Night night, sleep tight