My Dad’s Birthday

Filed Under Birthdays, Four Months Old- Taylor, Grandparents, Three Years Old, Video | Leave a Comment

We celebrated my dad’s birthday a few weeks ago… Taylor wore his sharks outfit since my dad is a shark junkie. My dad actually used to scuba dive and my mom even joined him a few times. I think their honeymoon was to Grand Cayman. Oh and Shark Week was a big deal at our house growing up.

Great Grandpa got a chance to love on Taylor, too.

Bailey was so excited to give her Grandpa his gift. As we walked in, she said, “Grandpa I hope you like your movie! I didn’t mean to drop it. It was a accident!” She isn’t so smooth with the surprises at this point but I love her excitement.

She got a new set of golf clubs to play with her Grandpa. She knows he loves golf, but she insisted on calling in hockeyball. I was cracking up because my dad got more and more irritated that she wouldn’t call it golf.

Taylor watched with wide eyes. We had to cover his head a few times because of his sister’s wild swinging.

Happy birthday, Daddy! You’re the best father I could ever ask for.

A few videos of Taylor at 4 months

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I am trying to get videos uploaded as I have time. Here are a few of Taylor at four months.

Yes, his eyes are often huge like this!

Another Little Gym Party

Filed Under Parties, Three Years Old, Video | Leave a Comment

Bailey went to a birthday party at The Little Gym for her friend Piper. It was definitely more relaxing to be on the “guest” side of things. I am not a fan of throwing home birthday parties because I don’t like the cleaning/preparation/hostessing side of it. But even at a location, you still have to make the rounds, talk to everyone, take photos, and still try to have fun with your birthday child. So it’s not relaxing either way!

In fact, I got a little crazy about two months before Bailey’s birthday and started talking about having a princess party for her at our house. I am sooo glad I didn’t! Her party was tons of fun and I didn’t have to clean a thing. Remind me that I am never having another birthday party at our house… with the possible exception of Taylor’s first birthday.

Anyway- on to the party pictures. Bailey kept telling Piper what was supposed to happen next. My child has a freaky memory and always remembers the order in which every single thing should happen. Not sure yet if that’s a blessing or a curse. But throughout the party she was like “Piper, now it’s time to do xyz… Now it’s time to go open presents…” etc.

She loves the bars- here’s a quick video-

And they also got to do the air track, which is her absolute favorite thing. And I figure she might as well enjoy it at gymnastics, because I don’t plan on ever owning a trampoline!

When it was time to go in the party room, Bailey said, “Come on Piper! It’s time to open presents… you can open the Barbie and the Barbie car I got for you!” Clearly, she doesn’t understand the whole surprise thing yet!

Taylor Gets Adjusted

Filed Under Chiropractic, Four Months Old- Taylor, Video | Leave a Comment

I am a big fan of chiropractic care for my family. I am still a fan of traditional medicine as well, but I have seen how much adjustments have helped my husband and my children. My friend Jen is a chiro and has adjusted Taylor several times already. He doesn’t seem to mind at all. You can hear people in the background asking about it as she adjusts him.

Vacation Bible School

Filed Under Singing, Three Months Old- Taylor, Three Years Old, VBS, Video | Leave a Comment

Bailey went to Vacation Bible School this summer at another church. It was actually a great experience for her. The theme was something like “Bee a Believer” with bumblebees. Every day they learned new Bible stories and memory verses. They did a craft and ate snack and sang songs and played outside. And of course each day when I asked her what the story was about, she said, “Jesus.” Duhhh. She did learn the phrase “God does BIG THINGS!” and it was so cute to hear her say that. I’m not sure how much of it she really understands yet, though.

The last night of VBS they had a celebration service for all the families to attend. On the way there, she kept telling me she was not going to sing the songs. This video is so “typical Bailey.” She is fake smiling for the camera and talking through clenched teeth. She is also trying to get me to turn around and face forward. That child- the world is her stage. Click on the link to watch the video, it’s funny-
On_the_way_to_VBS_Cele_Jun30_905pm

One of the highlights of the evening was meeting the puppets. The pastor took her backstage and let her see them up close. She had been obsessing about those puppets all week. It was the first thing she talked about every day when I picked her up. And apparently she asked her teacher all.the.time. when it would be time for the puppet show.

The classes took turns going out in the aisle to sing their songs for everyone. Obviously she went back on what she said and totally ended up participating. Bailey did a great job and it was so cute to watch her do all the hand motions she had learned that week. And the really bad singing voice is NOT mine. Mine is bad but I know better than to sing while holding a video camera.

Can’t leave out Taylor. He slept through about half of the celebration service, and it was LOUD. I wish I could sleep like a baby. That phrase makes so much sense. Once he woke up he was fascinated by all the kids running around. He keeps his eye on his sister. I think he knows she’s sneaky.

They also had popsicles and popcorn and stuff afterward. Bailey was twirling and somehow flung her pushpop up and it popped out of the wrapper and basically rained down all over her head. Oh what a sticky mess. I think this picture was taken about a minute before that happened.

Also bear with me as I attempt to add more video clips to this blog. We got a Flip video camera and I love it but lots to learn. I must be stupid because these are supposed to be easy!!

Just Singin’ In the Tub

Filed Under Singing, Talking, Two Years Old, Video | 2 Comments

You’ll have to turn your head to watch this one too. I have never claimed to be great with technology. Someday I’ll figure out how to rotate the video files.

Video- no more crib!

Filed Under Sleep, Twenty-three Months, Video | 1 Comment

Just realized that I hadn’t shared this video of Bailey. It was during the saga of moving her into her big girl bed, about a month ago. Here we had taken apart the crib and she was supposed to be sleeping on just a mattress for the first time. You can see how much energy she has- that is about average for her if that gives you any idea of what I do all day long!

Oh and sorry that it’s sideways. I took it on my regular camera instead of the video camera and I couldn’t figure out how to rotate the file so you’ll just have to turn your head!

Video of Bailey Talking

Filed Under Eighteen Months, Talking, Video | 2 Comments

Finally! Here is a video of Bailey talking and playing around. This was about a week ago, and since then I swear her vocabulary has doubled. I can’t believe how much she is talking now. Such a girl. You’ll have to excuse the messy background. And those hairy legs are Jonathon’s, not mine!

Loves Puzzles

Filed Under Seventeen Months, Video | 2 Comments

Bailey really likes doing those wooden puzzles and she gets a lot of comments about how good she is at putting them together. Must be because her mommy and grammy have a love for jigsaw puzzles Here is a video of her doing a puzzle a month or so ago- just got Jonathon to upload and the quality is crappy because of how he converted it but here it is-

Something the prince never knew

Filed Under Celebrities, Difficult Stuff, Video | 6 Comments

I have been crying this morning. Steven Curtis Chapman lost his daughter in a tragic accident. Here is an excerpt from a Chicago Tribune article:

The 5-year-old daughter of Grammy-winning Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman was struck and killed Wednesday by a sport utility vehicle driven by her brother, authorities said.

The girl, Maria Sue, was hit in the driveway of the family’s home Wednesday afternoon by a Toyota Land Cruiser driven by her teenage brother, said Laura McPherson, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

The brother, whose name and exact age weren’t available, apparently did not see the girl, McPherson said. No charges are expected.

“It looks like a tragic accident,” she said.

For those of you who know us well, you know that this just hits a little too close to home. Jonathon was the one to call and tell me about it this morning.

This is the daughter that Steven Curtis Chapman wrote the song “Cinderella” about.

The words even say, “She spins and she sways to whatever song plays, without a care in the world. And I’m sitting here bearing the weight of the world on my shoulders. It’s been a long day and there’s still work to do. She’s pulling at me saying, ‘Dad, I need you. There’s a ball at the castle, and I’ve been invited. And I need to practice my dancing. So please, Daddy, please…’

So I’ll dance with Cinderella, while she is here in my arms. Because I know something the prince never knew. Oh I’ll dance with Cinderella; I don’t want to miss even one song. Cause all too soon, the clock will strike midnight… and she’ll be gone.’

She says he’s a nice guy, I’d be impressed. She wants to know if I approve of the dress. She says ‘Daddy, the prom’s just one week away, and I need to practice my dancing.’

So I’ll dance with Cinderella, while she is here in my arms. For I know something the prince never knew. So I’ll dance with Cinderella, I don’t want to miss even one song. Cause all too soon, the clock will strike midnight… and she’ll be gone. She will be gone.

She came home today, with a ring on her hand. Just glowing and telling us all they had planned. She says, ‘Dad, the wedding’s still six months away. But I need to practice my dancing. So please, Daddy, please…’

So I’ll dance with Cinderella, while she is here in my arms. For I know something the prince never knew. So I’ll dance with Cinderella; I don’t want to miss even one song. Cause all too soon, the clock will strike midnight… and she’ll be gone.”

Thank God that he understood how quickly time goes by. I know he never dreamed this would happen, but he was very aware that they may not have forever. I hope he cherished every moment with his daughter. I hope he stopped to dance with her whenever she asked. And I hope this is a reminder to all of us to slow down and enjoy each dance. We never know when the clock will strike midnight.

Bailey Doesn’t Like Corn

Filed Under Food, Nine Months, Video | 5 Comments

We took this video yesterday at lunch and I thought it was really funny. For some reason Jonathon is shaking the camera a lot at the beginning. It gets better.

Ready, Set, Bumbo III Preview

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This one looks like it will be great as well. If you haven’t seen the other Ready Set Bumbo videos, check them out on YouTube.

It’s Me!

Filed Under Crafts, Video | 3 Comments

I am officially famous. Ha. I am on my friend Mae’s internet show. Check me out at http://wordtoyourmuthatheshow.blogspot.com

My interview is several minutes into the show, but you should really watch the whole thing, because she is very talented and fun (and funny)! Also, the bloopers at the end are worth sticking around for. Yes, I am actually encouraging people to come watch me make a fool of myself.

Also, another shameless plug for my handmade cards that we discuss on the show:

http://sunshinecards.etsy.com

I plan to add more cards to the site today. Or contact me if you have special requests.

Our first uploaded videos

Filed Under Food, Four Months, Video | 2 Comments

A really long video of Bailey rolling around on the floor and playing with her toes- and also some annoying coughing in the background (thanks, Jonathon!) and also a shorter one of her eating rice cereal.

Just press play to watch the videos. For some reason the second video wasn’t working in YouTube so I had to use the Blogger video upload- which took forever to process for some reason. Hopefully after I do this video thing a few times I will get better at it. We have tons of video and home dvds, but I thought it would be nice to be able to share some of them online.

I also have video of Bailey rolling over, playing with my pen, and her dedication… I will probably try to work on uploading more videos this week.