Happy 1/2 Birthday!

This is Rhett at 6 months!  These monthly pictures may look like an easy way to document Rhett's growth, but here's a few of the behind-the-scenes shots:

Yes, every time I take Rhett's picture, I must take Allie's, too.  Six month sticker and all! 

I don't have a picture of Allie's current hobby... wearing socks.  She will put on 18 pairs if we let her. If she wasn't such a light sleeper, I'd have snapped her in bed the other night ASLEEP with a sippy cup in one hand, Barbie in the other, wearing Snoopy pajamas with Christmas socks.  It was quite a scene. 

My Addie started Pre-K this year.  The first picture below is from her orientation day and the other is on her official first day of school.

 I always worry that Addie will struggle in school not because she's not learning or doesn't know the answers, but because she refuses to let people know that she's learning or knows the answers.  I've worked for years to get her to say her birthday when asked.  I got a note from school asking for help this week getting the kids to know their birthdays.  After I saw the note, I asked Addie when her birthday was, and got the usual answer to everything these days, "I can't remember."  So I told her no tv until she knew her birthday, to which she said, "NOVEMBER 27!!!"  Good luck, Ms. Karen. :)

Allie Noel

This was Allie on August 10, 2010:

She had just finished her first appointment with a pediatric oncologist who examined her all over, took urine, blood, x-rays of her skull and lungs, and did a complete bone scan.  The month that followed included many repeat tests, a CT scan, and an ultrasound.  Doctors were hoping that all of these tests would confirm our "best case scenario", which was a diagnosis of LCH.  They were hoping against a diagnosis of neuroblastoma.  What they concluded was the ACTUAL best case scenario:  OUR ALLIE IS FINE!  This is Allie on August 10, 2011:

She is at Stormi's, in the process of stripping ALL of her clothes off, which is one of her favorite things to do at 18 months old!  In honor of my Allie, who defies the norm (both medically and in general), here are some pictures of things she's been up to this past year.  Enjoy!

He's growing up so fast!

Gotcha!

Here's the real 5-month photo:

He's rolling... he's eating rice cereal, oatmeal, and all his veggies... and he's trying to crawl!  So despite the lack of facial hair, he really is growing up so fast!

There's no Allie story/pictures this post, because I'm hoping to do a post completely dedicated to my precious middle child later this week...

As for Addie, a couple weeks ago she and I were eating lunch at Steve's Rib with my parents and I was talking to my mom about types of beer.  When I mentioned the Mexican beer, Modelo, my mom jokingly asked, "Like Nelson Modelo?"  Without skipping a beat, Addie said, "Grammy, it's Nelson MANDELA."  WHAT?!?!?!  Then she asked, "What town is he from again?"  Thinking this was some kind of crazy coincidence, I asked Addie if Nelson Mandela was young or old.  She proceeded to tell me that he was 93 years old.  Correct again!  (Which I only knew after googling it.)  Apparently Nelson Mandela had just celebrated his birthday the week before and they had talked about it at school.  Shout out to My Small Wonders!  Next topic, I asked Addie what she had done in swim lessons THAT MORNING, to which she replied, "Um, I can't remember."  :)



4 months

Rhett - 4 months old!

 Allie - started gymnastics this month!  It has only made her MORE daring!  This morning I thought that I could run to her room to grab her an outfit while she was preoccupied with looking at herself in the mirror.  She would take the pacifier out of her mouth, attempt to shove it in the mouth of her reflection, put it back in her actual mouth...  I was gone 30 seconds, but when I got back to my room, I saw 2 arms and 2 legs hanging over the sides of Rhett's bassinet, while she happily watched the mobile going round and round to "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star".  I have no idea how she climbed into it, I am thankful it did not tip over or collapse, and luckily Rhett was in the bathroom with Ryan.  But, IT WAS HILARIOUS!  If she does it again (of course she will), I promise to get a picture.  Until I do, this should make you smile:

Addie - is spending 2 weeks in TEXAS with my parents!  The day she left I told her how much I was going to miss her and she said, "Mom, you have pictures of me on your phone."  She is having a grand time.  ***  For Father's Day, Ryan chose to eat at San Marco's (Mexican food).  Addie's quesadilla came with rice and refried beans as sides.  She scooped up a spoonful of beans and asked, "Mom, why did you order me mud?"  ***  This past weekend, we went to Grand Lake with some friends.  We were outside Saturday night and I asked Addie if she thought the twinkling lights in the trees were fireflies or fairies.  She thought a moment, then said, "Well, since I don't see any pixie dust, they must be fireflies!"

That's all for now.  Have a happy and safe 4th!

Growing

These are Rhett's monthly photos so far.  Can you believe he'll be 4 months old next week?

And here's my other baby pretending to be a baby.  I almost fell for it until she turned on the music and buckled herself in...

Last week, Addie went to see Kung Fu Panda 2 with her Papa and cousin James.  I was watching her play in her room while we were waiting for time to go, and I stuck out my bottom lip, pouting that my first baby was getting to be such a big girl.  When she asked me what was wrong, I asked her to stop growing up.  She walked over to me, sweetly held my face in her hands, and said so sincerely...
"Mom, I just want to grow big enough to ride a ferris wheel."  I have no idea where she comes up with this stuff!  :)