Sunday, May 31, 2009

Miles often comes up to me and says....

"Hold my bay-ee ella."

Friday, May 29, 2009

You may have several questions about this photo.

Q: Who is that guy?
A: Josh.
Q: Why is he wearing a headband?
A: He just finished some tennis.
Q: What is he doing with Miles?
A: Well, clearly they are reading a book. Because Britton invited Josh over. They work together. And Josh brought me a Snickers, so I'm good with it.
Q: What is Miles wearing?
A: Lightning McQueen swim trunks and swim top.
Q: Why?
A: Because Papa & Grandma brought the new swim gear over last night and have you ever tried to explain to a 2 year old that he can't wear his new swim gear because.....it's for swimming?
Q: What shoes does Miles wear with that outfit?
A: The Thomas the Train rain boots, of course.

My question for you now is, how many hours should a baby sleep in any given 24 hour period?

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Isn't the weather nice? I'm headed outside to do something. Don't know what yet....

But before I go, I just wanted to shout out to Travis. He's a way cool guy who sent this chair for Miles.

Many episodes of Thomas have already been watched in this chair...

"cheese, momma!"

Now, Travis has many qualities that make him a cool guy, but one of my favorite things about him is that he works at Disney World.

He's pretty tight with Captain Jack Sparrow.

Folks, for legal reasons I have to tip toe here. But I can say that the above photo IS NOT Johnny Depp. You catching my drift?

Pretty remarkable, huh?

I used to l-o-v-e Johnny Depp. I wonder who the heart throb will be when Ella is old enough to care? I remember staying up really late to watch 21 Jump Street back in my day.

Oh wait, I don't want her to grow up. Never mind. This is good for now...

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

I needed to get out of the house REAL BAD today. So about 4pm, I got my bills ready to mail and some banking stuff together, put clothes on everyone (instead of the pj's we'd been wearing all day), put Ella in her car seat, grabbed Miles by the hand, walked outside and discovered that my Jeep's battery was as dead as a door nail.

I burst into tears.

Silly me. I'm over it now.

So after we jumped the car this evening, we took it for a little spin to make sure it charged completely.

It's about 15 minutes from our house to Seminole (where Britton and I grew up). Rachel (my sister) lives there and was working at the movie theater tonight.

This is important because I've had this strange craving for movie theater popcorn for a few weeks now. I called and she met us in the parking lot....

with more than just a bit of movie theater popcorn.

So for dinner tonight, we had 2 buckets of popcorn (light on the butter), 1 XL dill pickle, 1 bag of cotton candy, 1 XL Dr. Pepper and 1 box of Hot Tamales.

(Guilty-hand-reaching-into-the-cotton-candy-face.)

Miles ate some additional healthy food when we got home, because I didn't want to stunt his growth or anything with the stellar offering of aforementioned food groups.



And now, for your daily dose of "awwwwww".......

"awwwwwww"

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Man, do I get in trouble when I don't post. I won't name names. You people know who you are.


Miles has to put his cars "to bed" these days before he'll take a nap or go down for the night. It's no big deal unless we can't find Doc or Mater or one of his 32 Lightning McQueens.

And they must sleep in front of his crib on the Cars blanket that he got from Aunt Rach.

Ella, however, makes no demands.

Getting her to sleep right now is cake.

Speaking of cake, my mom made The Pioneer Woman's Chocolate Sheet Cake when she was here last Friday. We are now mourning the loss of that sheet cake. It has been devoured. Britton and Miles say "more choc cake peeaassse momma".

Sunday, May 24, 2009

My goal this weekend - well, one of my goals - is to get Ella's birth announcements created and to the printer next week. With Miles, I had an announcement designed and ready to insert photos before he was even born.

As you know, this round has been somewhat more hectic. It is still not done.




So, a birth announcement requires a few perfect photos, and we had a quick shoot this morning.

Mostly, it did not go well...

She screamed.

She frowned.

Miles tried on her socks.

So we just forgot it and watched Tom & Jerry.

Guess, we'll try again later.

Friday, May 22, 2009

I love a relaxing, quiet Friday night with my peeps.

Perfect.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

An "eyes open" moment...

Mostly, she just does this all day....

And Miles does this....

"B(l)ack traaaain, momma."

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Just sharing what I get to look at all day...

...Look at and hear...

i have no complaints.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

"Groovin' Snoozin' . . . on a Sunday afternoon,
Really couldn't get away too soon.
I can't imagine anything that's better,
The world is ours whenever we're together.
There ain't a place I'd like to be instead..."

(For you young 'ens, it's a song. A song from 1967 by The Young Rascals.)

Friday, May 15, 2009

Miles has been slightly obsessed with the "red mote" today. It's the remote that makes one of his Geo Trax trains go "round & round". But I haven't seen the train all day, just the remote.

I was turned around picking up books off the floor. I sensed Miles near Ella, who was snoozing on the couch. I glanced to catch him ever-so-gently placing the "red mote" like so...

Balanced perfectly on her forehead.

Holy cow, I laughed my stinkin' head off.

Since I had the camera out, and he knew that I was laughing at him, he quickly became quite full of himself and ran around saying "cheese".

Even "Tom" was saying "cheese" for the camera.

Yes, I'm afraid the only thing quiet around here today is this one...

She is, however, on the night shift and will have her turn.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

" I ve-you, baybee ella."

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

First off, I must say WELCOME HOME! to.....

(drum roll please)

Elizabeth Lenore Buss
- Ella -
8 lbs. 8 oz.
May 11, 2009

"How did we arrive at that name", you ask?

"It wasn't even on the list!", you say?

About a week and a half ago, my dear husband sweetly woke up from a dream and told me that he dreamed about using part of his Grandma Buss' name somehow because "she represents everything I love about family". So back to the drawing board we went.

Elizabeth, as you know, was our choice for a middle name. It stems from grandparents on both sides of our family and is a classic name choice. Shortening Elizabeth was something we wanted to do if it became her first name, and Ella happened to be the name of my Grandpa Savoy's mother. Lenore was Grandma Buss' middle name.

We weren't 100% sure until we saw her, but the choice is perfect for our little Ella. It's a name full of a heritage of love. And...

We. Love. It.

********

I love to make things.

But I have a history of screwing homemade things up.

I've left the sugar out of sugar cookies.

I can't tell you how many cakes I've put in the oven only to find 2 eggs left sitting on the counter when I turned around.

I've biffed on sewing projects, scrapbook pages and attempts at arts and crafts.

The quilt I've been working on for Ella is not square nor do the squares line up.

But.....

I'm thinking, I make stinkin' perfect kids.

Oh, yeah I do.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Guys. I'm feeling bad.

B. A. D.

And not the Michael Jackson kind of bad. The I-have-officially-given-my-dogs-the-shaft kind of bad.

You see, CJ and Deuce used to rule the roost.

CJ at Gracie's birthday party in 2002.


Riding shotgun in the Jeep.

Britton and I were young little whipper-snappers and we didn't mind a bit. They were our "kids".

But in April of 2007, the doggies moved outside to live. There were many reasons, all of which revolved around this guy....

Miles - April 2007

Before Miles...

After Miles...

They've been staying with my mom and Gracie through the move. But today, Britton went to pick them up and bring them home to their new little yard. It's a fenced area 20 yards from the house. It's nice and shady, has a brand new dog house complete with their comfy bed....

They hate it. They've been barking all evening. They're saying "Hey! Mom! Please let us come inside with you!!...what have we done to deserve this hell!?"

I'm not sure I can live with myself. And I hope they're still there in the morning.

In Pauls Valley, we had concrete under every inch of fence. They weren't going anywhere. But tonight, CJ's already dug a bit under this new fencing.

I'm praying they'll settle in. 'Cause they're in this together.

And as much as I love those dogs and wish things could be like they used to be, I'm just gonna have to focus on the 2 things that put this all into perspective for me.

1. The dirty kid who needs a bath and pj's.
2. The kid who'll begin her journey into the world tomorrow evening! (1 week later than she was supposed to I might add! - sheesh!)

Sunday, May 10th Update - I finally felt completely at home last night because I could hear CJ barking...

Thursday, May 7, 2009

The boys were boys this evening around the farmhouse.

They played in the yard, which desperately needs to be mowed. But it's just too darn wet.

Look at that determined little walk... Good thing he's got those "traaaaiiinn" boots. It was muddy.

Oh, 'xcuse me... Couldn't resist.

Britton found a baseball in the tall grass/weeds.

So he and Miles threw it all over the place.

In an effort to impress me, Britton said "think I can hit that skinny tree over there?".

Dadgum if he didn't do it. First try too.

I was impressed.

When it got dark we came in and hung some things on the walls in Miles' room. Da-yee's hammer hung on his overalls. So Miles got his hammer and tried to do the same thing.

Too cute.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

THE MOVE

It's hard to blog without the internet.

But I'm back bay-bee (thank you AT&T). Well, at least until the real baby comes. Then we'll just have to roll with the punches.

We closed on our house after weeks of house hunting, 35 days of waiting on the bank and 3 hours at the title agency last Thursday.

This is us in the parking lot of the title agency with no more money, but a yellow farmhouse.

My pals Heather & Suzy came Thursday night and painted the kiddos rooms. Thank goodness.

Had the carpets cleaned Friday morning. Moved a few things in Friday night.

More moving on Saturday morning. Rain and all. Lots of rain.

Can you believe I didn't take one single photo of moving in?

Finished getting our stuff in on Sunday and spent our first night.

I must say, we could not have moved in had it not been for the cleaning army who swooped in and helped get this house to a level of clean suitable to a pregnant woman. A pregnant woman who wasn't very capable of doing the bending, stooping, climbing and deep cleaning that was needed. I'm so thankful. You all know who you are.

***

THE PREGNANCY

When I was pregnant with Miles, my madre called on a Saturday night. I was well past my due date and she said "I'm coming to church tomorrow and going to spend the night". So she did and she made this awesome breakfast casserole for Monday morning. We ate it. And I went into labor. We've forever dubbed that casserole "the inducer".

So when she was here Sunday she made it again and I cooked it Monday morning. I ate a ton of it.

No silly, I didn't eat that much. Britton and Miles had some too.

But the inducer has failed me.

Dangit.

Due Date: May 3rd

Today: May 6th

Somebody shoot me.



This was minutes after Miles was born, April 16, 2007.

I'm not sure which one of us looks more exhausted.

Please God, tonight. :)