Family Pictures Cont...

Family Pictures Cont...

Kate & Launa -- 2011

Launa Virtue -- 4 Years

Kate Estelle -- 2 Years

Jen's camera is a little more high quality so I can only fit one picture per spot on here, so we'll just do this in a few blog entries...

The Name Game

I am officially in nesting mode. I am rearranging, reorganizing, repainting and stressed that I still haven't decided on a name and don't feel close to deciding on a name. Here's a list of a few we (when I say we, I mean that I have exhausted Mark on the subject and he no longer cares -- so it's mainly just me) like and are considering? What do you think? I realize that not everyone is going to like every name and ultimately, my belly is the one rapidly growing so I will have to decide, but it's fun to hear ideas!! Generally, I lean toward names that are not on the top 40 list but still aren't too crazy.

1. Marley (it's a combo of Mark & Ashley, and I actually think it's kind-of cute with Mollotte)
2. Vienna (I love how sophisticated it sounds, maybe just a little stuffy, but I do love the nickname Vivi.)
3. Hollie (I've liked every Holly I've ever known -- suitable for a Winter baby)
4. Amelia (Millie for short)
5. Lydia (I've always loved this, but for some reason, I like my kids to have different initials)
6. Lyla (Loved it since I saw Autumn Rush. Mark sings "Hey There Delilah" every time I mention it -- also, it's another "L" name
7. Nora (Could be Eleanor for a longer name)
8. Meg
9. Olive
10.Paige

There are plenty of others but since we both come from rather large families, most are taken. Alright, I'm anxiously awaiting more suggestions...

Family Pictures 2011

Have I mentioned how fantastic it is to have a relative be a photographer?? Thank you, Jen!!! The girls individual pictures to come...

Eight Years and Counting...

The past 8 years of marraige have been times of major changes -- having two (almost three) little girls, moving 8 times, graduating college, switching jobs, moving, and basically just living through some of life's greatest joys and greatest frustrations.

For our anniversary, Mark took me to Las Vegas to see Garth Brooks. It was FANTASTIC!! It brought back memories of when we were college students and had so much time to just be with one another. He is and always has been the romantic in our relationship.

A few things I love aobut Mark...

He is just FUN!!! He has a great, contagious laugh and really is just so funny. If you could only hear the types of things he says to me when no one is around, you would know where Launa comes from! :)

Mark is absolutely loyal and would do anything for the people he loves (just don't get on his bad list). He sincerely cares about people and takes an interest in them.

He is extremely protective of me and has always made me feel safe. If he feels like anyone has ever mistreated me or hurt my feelings in any way -- WATCH OUT!! I do not like confrontation, so while his methods are a little more up front than I would choose, I am grateful he is willing to fight the small battles in life that just have to be fought. He can't stand for me to be unhappy. If I'm mad, he will never leave the situation alone until he feels that it has been resolved-- a gift and a curse. :)

Mark is an AM person (also a gift and a curse). His internal alarm clock goes off at about 5:30 AM every morning. On the up side, he works and works and works and is pretty good at just getting things done. On the down side, I like no chit-chatting or loud noises in the morning. Occasionally, this causes some conflict.

He adores our little girls and they absolutely adore him. For some reason, Mom just never is as fun as Dad. He is willing to play "chase" around the house, and give pony rides, and is just really sweet with them. When I get them all dressed and their hair all fixed, they go find him and twirl around so that he can tell them how beautiful they look. He secretly likes that they are animals.

He is a "Man's man" with all that comes with it.

After being married to Mark for eight years, I have learned so much about him and myself. I said I didn't want to be bored, and our lives are never boring!!! Here's to many, many more years driving each other nuts and laughing about it! :)

When Your Child Thinks They are the Parent...

I was taking a bath a couple days ago when Launa tested the water and informed me "Mom, that water is too hot!! Your doctor told you that you could not take hot baths!!" I am no longer taking her to Dr. appointments with me. She listens to EVERYTHING they say and then hounds me about it. Last time, she laughed her little head off and made fun of me for peeing in a cup.

Last week, we were at a busy intersection and I said under my breath "Shoot! I should have gone"! Launa from the back seat within seconds said "You said a swear word mom (only she actually let me know which swear word it was -- I will edit it for the blog)! I said, I did not, I said shoot! She said, "Nope, you said it. I heard it and I'm telling Dad."

I have started making her work and do chores around the house. One day, she felt overworked. She told me, "I have cleaned the bathrooms, scrubbed the floors, dusted, put toys away, and all you've done is watch tv and lay around!" For the record, I was supervising the cleaning, doing the major cleaning and folding laundry but she doesn't see it that way. Pray for God to bless me with more patience...

Kate is Two!!

Katie Bug turned two years old on September 2nd! What a fast two years!! It seems like it went so much faster with my second than it did with my first. We just did her well-child check (which never happens, every time I go in she has something wrong with her and needs medicine, blood tests, yada, yada, yada...). She was 36" tall and 29 pounds. I have to do a blood test today to find out why she likes the taste of dirt. Today she got mud on her pants, wiped it with her hands, and then was licking it off her fingers like it was frosting!! Gross!! She just finished a huge growth spurt. Jen will be doing her two year pictures in the near future so I am looking forward to poisting those.

At two, Kate can say pretty much anything she wants. She tells Launa, "Nauna, you crazy!" and tells me exactly which shows she wants (currently it's Care Bears -- over and over and over again), which outfits she wants, what she wants to eat, etc. Her favorite saying is "No! I don't wike it!" She cannot make herself sit still unless she is exhausted or sick. I am constantly telling her while we eat, sit down! She regularly falls off the chairs and stools because she can't sit still and can weasel out of a high chair or a shopping cart in nothing flat. Yesterday, Mark and I were unloading some stuff out of his truck and I could hear her crying in the kitchen. When I went in, she was standing on the countertop and had unloaded the cupboard and spices and thrown all the knives on the floor. There was actually one sticking up, with the blade in the hardwoods!! Ahhhh!! I need childproof locks for the UPPER cabinets too!!

She loves to read books, but is impatient about turning the pages. She is also very sweet and loving. She gives me kisses and lovies and wants to call her Daddy on the phone and talk to him about 25 times a day. When I ask her "where's daddy" she tells me, "I don't know. Working, " or "changing wata".

Her favorite song is the "Daddy Song" from nursery or "Sweet Caroline". Her favorite food is probably cinnamon rolls or anything with frosting. She is a morning person and it amazes me how she can go to bed so late, cry half hte night, and wake me up all perky, mauling me and telling me "Hi, Mommy!"

She really is my little pride and joy -- so busy and quirky, but so fun and sweet! Happy Birthday, Kate!