Family Pics!

Not sure which is my fave!!!









***I am grateful for
1) family pics
2) big brothers and little sisters
3) big smiles
4) camo
5) 3 day weekends

Rewind: SeaWorld

Just a few pics from when we were at Sea World to celebrate Chase's big 0-5!









***I am grateful for
1) weekends, too bad they go so fast
2) rain
3) 6 weeks of school left and then it's all about summer vacation!
4) fun times with family
5) big boys

For Chase's Big 0-5 this year Duchess took us all to SeaWorld to celebrate and celebrate we did! We had a blast and Chase enjoyed every single minute of it. He had been once before with MeMaw and PawPaw and loved it, but this time something clicked and he has become obsessed with Shamu. He has even decided that he's going to be Shamu's trainer when he grows up, although he's not sure how to get there, so we'll have to take him. But don't worry, he'll come home and visit us and if we wanted we could live there too. Now seriously, how cute is that? Also, he got the movie Free Willy for his birthday because it had Shamu in it and he has watched more times that I can count!

We attempted to walk the RiverWalk some, but the weather on Sunday was not very cooperate and it was pretty cold and wet. We did eat lunch at Hard Rock and Chase even got a birthday sundae and a song!

Thanks for the awesome trip Duchess!

Princess Emery is 24 weeks old (5 1/2 months)!

Sweet Princess Emery,

You are now 24 weeks or 5 1/2 months old! Look at you and your big girl self sitting in the big stroller, baby seats are for... well, babies! ;o) You are really something Emery, we can't get enough of you!

This week brought more firsts and even some seconds. You've had several different kinds of foods now including sweet potatoes (still the fave), applesauce (can't have it, makes you blister is your "unmentionable" area), bananas (growing on you), squash (hate it, gag and puke every time), green beans (no a huge fan, maybe that will grow on you too), and pears (so far, so good). I think next up will be carrots. You would really rather just skip all this baby food stuff and go straight for what we are eating!

You got your 2nd tooth this week, right next to your 1st tooth on the bottom. You are nomming on EVERYTHING and would probably be content chewing on just about anything. I'm telling you, if someone is brave enough to stick their finger in your mouth, heaven help them because those chompers are sharp and you know how to use 'em!

Now for the not pretty part of the week that ends up good! Sunday you woke up running a fever, low grade, but a fever just the same. It went on throughout the day and then late (think 11ish) it shot up to 103.7. Long story short the nurse line said to take you to the ER if it hit 104 and to watch for warning signs. It was a long night, but we made it. You were so miserable though. You wouldn't babble, wouldn't play, wouldn't even laugh at your big brother. It was so sad. I took you to the pediatrician and after a negative flu test, they ran blood work. Dr. Q wanted to say viral but the blood work made her lean towards bacterial. However, you had been on amoxi for over a week for your last ear infection so it should have been fighting it. So then she was worried about possible pneumonia. We went in to run blood work again today to compare and see if chest xrays were needed, but I knew you were OK this morning when you were talking and playing again. Blood work was still off, but it was better and they think it was just a nasty virus after all. We're extending your amoxi a few days to be safe, but I think we are in the clear from here on out! On a side note, this will tell you how much your brother loves you. Yesterday, when you were so sick, your brother was extremely worried about you. He even said a prayer for you. He prayed, "God, please make my baby sister better, heal her, so I can kiss her and hold her again." He said that just for you, and you know what, it worked.

I'm sure there's stuff I missed, but we'll get it next time. For now, it's time to take big brother to karate!

Love you little Princess.

~Mommy

***I am grateful
1) big brothers
2) heartfelt prayers of a child
3) life lessons (even the hard ones)
4) baby babble (you miss it when it's not there)
5) Princess is feeling better

Princess Emery's toof!

You'll have to click on the pics to make them big, but you can see it! Pretty sure the second one is on it's way too!
And for fun!
~ Kahla

***I am grateful for
1) belly laughs
2) silly boys
3) being goofy
4) big hugs
5) family time

Primcess Emery is 23 weeks old!

*Totally just noticed that Emery has sweet potatoes all over her nose in these pics when you click on them... she's not the cleanest eater yet... still adorable!!*

Princess Emery,

Today you are 23 weeks old and time has yet to slow down! We had several firsts this past week, I hope I can remember them all! You got to try squash for the first time and you absolutely HATE it! In fact, you dislike it so much that every time we've tried to give it to you, you have gagged and thrown up. I'm thinking that it's not going to be your favorite!

You also got to go to the zoo for the first time with your big brother. You were a wonderful little girl and you were very intrigued by all there was to see. During your zoo trip you sat in the stroller like a big girl, no more baby carseat for you! This was actually your second time because you had sat in the stroller the day before, but who's counting. ;o)

Another first is your first tooth. I mentioned it the other night so that I would have the actual date on here, but it's worth mentioning again! You keep sucking on your bottom lip and I'm sure it's because that little tooth is making it feel very different! It's poking out a little more each day and we can actually get a decent look at it... when you'll let us!

So many firsts, it feels like every day is something new!

Love you with all my heart my sweet Princess!

~ Mommy

****I am grateful for
1) 23 unbelievable weeks!
2) bows
3) baby drool
4) little, tiny, perfect teeth
5) one more Monday down!

Chase's 5 year pics... such a big, handsome boy!

On Wednesday we finally got Chase's 5 year portraits done. Every year we have taken his pic in overalls with the number, so it's tradition. However, this will be the last year because 5 is as high as they go. *sniff sniff* I need to do a collage of all the years. I just can't believe he is so big. He is now 42 inches and 49 pounds... perfect in every way!













****I am grateful for
1) weekends
2) only 10 weeks of school left, I so hate to see Spring Break go!
3) great pics of my little man
4) those beautiful blue eyes
5) computer time

The Princess says, "she needs a pork chop!"

This evening Princess Emery's first tooth broke through (bottom left). I think she's ready for a pork chop! ;o) I'd get a picture but she does not want you to look at it, mess with it, or even talk about it! Ha! Actually, she's doing pretty good, just a tad cranky and very drooly. She would probably eat your hand though if given the chance!

~ Kahla

****I am grateful for
1) teeth
2) good babies
3) tylen.ol so she doesn't hurt
4) baby drool
5) toys to chew on

Spring Break Fun at The Houston Zoo

Today we trekked on down to Houston to visit the zoo and had a wonderful time! It was Emery's first visit and Chase was all too thrilled to show her around! Here are a few pics of our day.

Off we go... is she trying to kiss him or eat him?

Sea World flashback (so need to post about that trip)

Playing around

Love interactive stuff!

In the Bald Eagle's Nest (somewhere we have a pic of Chase in this nest from when he was little... somewhere!)

Prairie Doggin' it (ha...)

One Cool Chick

How tall is Chase?

Chase loves the tunnel that goes through the fish tank

Do you see Dory, Nemo, and Marlin?

The Red Panda, cute, cute, cute

Oh Spring Break, why must you go so fast?

~ Kahla

***I am grateful for
1) the zoo
2) new experiences
3) good friends to have fun with
4) Spring Break!
5) B-E-A-Utiful weather!

Princess Emery is 22 weeks/5 months old!

Sweet Princess Emery,

You are now 5 months old, almost half a year! It's so hard to imagine that this time next year you will be walking and talking and getting into everything! You are growing so much and getting to be such a big girl. Everyone comments on how long you are, hopefully you aren't going to be taller than your brother because I don't think he would like that very much. Speaking of your brother, he has his big five year check up tomorrow and I'm going to get them to slip you on the scale! To be honest, I think everyone comments on how big you are because no one can actually believe you are 5 months old and they keep thinking you should still be that teeny, tiny baby!

You have gotten quite good at getting to where you want to go by rolling and scooting. One minute you're on your mat where we put you, the next you are half way across the room! You have really started noticing Molly and the cats this past week. You squeal with delight when you see Molly and try to get a handful of fur each time one of the cats is brave enough to come near you. We'll have to work on the whole, "be gentle" thing!

This last week you have really started trying to hold your bottle. You grab it and bring it to your mouth, sometimes you get it, sometimes it hits right on your nose. Either way, it's adorable! You also practice taking it out and putting it right back in your mouth when you are eating. Eating has actually become a challenge because you want to look at everything around you instead of eat! As for baby food you really, really, REALLY love your sweet potatoes and could easily eat a whole thing of it in one sitting. You even try to grab the spoon and bring it to your mouth. Again, A-Dorable! We gave you bananas for the first time on Sunday but you really could have cared less. All you wanted was the sweet potatoes. Maybe bananas will grow on you with time.

I still can't believe how fast time is flying. You are such a happy little girl, it makes my heart flutter when you look at me with that big gummy smile and give me a little squeal. How did I ever live without you?

I love you my Little Princess!
~Mommy

****I am grateful for
1) 5 awesome, wonderful, unbelievable months!
2) Spring Break, can I get an Amen??!?!?
3) the rest of the week is supposed to be great weather
4) getting out and about today, despite the rain
5) access to medicine, I think I'm fighting a cold

Let's Get This Party Started

Saturday we celebrated Chase's BIG 0-5 at Pump.It.Up, everyone had a blast!












****I am grateful for
1) smiles
2) parties
3) friends
4) milestones
5) the big 0-5