Daddy is HOME & Shelby's 15-month checkup

Well, what a busy month we've had! Drew arrived home Nov. 2nd and how excited Shelby & I were to see him. The Customs line was really long, so it took about an hour for him to get through the gates, but when we saw him she RAN to him. It was so sweet. And then of course, she was ready to take off running around the airport some more....it was quite challenging keeping her entertained all that time while we had waited. We are so blessed Drew made it home safely and the Lord returned him to us - truly answered prayers. Shelby has been having a lot of fun with her Daddy, playing & laughing and just being plain silly. She loves it when he tosses her around on the couch, which I try not to watch as I get nervous she will fall. We also had Shelby's 15-month checkup last week and everything went great. She is 26 lb/1 oz and 32 3/8 inches in length. I cannot believe big she is getting! She has also been cutting eye teeth this past month, so she's up to 15 teeth now and we're watching for the next one to surface. She is big time into pushing things around....still loves to push the cart, but has also been finding other things to push such as her tricycle, the blocks bucket, drum and today she tried pushing her music chair! This past week Shelby also got her first skinned knee running down the sidewalk - I wouldn't have even known it if I had not seen the blood on her knee when she turned and faced me; she had not cried or anything, was just ready to keep running. So, she had her first bandaided boo-boo, the first of many I imagine. Here are some recent pictures below of our lil' munchkin and the mischief she gets in to.

Come on little bug, you're supposed to follow me. (cute camo t & skirt from Aunty Meena!!)

GET IN MY BELLY!!!!

Let's go shopping!

I'm sure Mom needs my help unloading this stuff from Target.

Me and Abby, just chillin' in da crib...literally. :)

Here we are, going for a stroll - Mom bought a double stroller so we can get outside for walks. It's really fun!!

Shelby & Daddy, right after he came through the gates.

Come on Abby, let's RACE!

Shelby's practicing riding her tricycle - she can go backwards easier than forwards right now, but she's working on it!

OU/TX and The Shelby 500!!

We went to Oklahoma to watch the OU/TX game with Gma & Gpa C and Uncle Russ. It was LOTS of fun, mostly because we won! Had some great BBQ courtesy of Russ (I am addicted to his pulled pork) and had a good day of football watching. The kiddos were so cute in their OU shirts, but they slept through most of the game. But they were up for the 2nd half and I think they brought some OU magic that the team desperately needed to win! Shelby recently "rediscovered" her walking cart. I had put this toy up for awhile to clear space in the living room, as it feels like it is Romper Room these days! Well, brought it out the other day and you would've thought she had a brand new toy! She pushed this cart from the back living room through the kitchen to the front door and back about 20 times. It was like watching a race car go down the straightaway! So I dubbed it the "Shelby 500". She figured out how to turn the cart around to go the other way and everything. And she likes to load up Citgo bear in the cart and take him for the ride....guess he is her co-captain. :) I hope she'll still be doing this when Drew gets home so he can see it. I also noticed this evening she is now EATING like her Dad. FAST How is this possible?? She was eating her dinner so fast tonight, I just knew she was going to choke! I kept telling her to slow down, "It's not a race!!", as I am always telling Drew when I think he is eating too fast. *Sigh* I just marvel at seeing Shelby discover new things. Like this week she figured out she could put her rings on her arms....she smiled so proudly at me, she really thought that was quite great! She's also working on a couple of new teeth....Last week I noticed her upper eye teeth are beginning to poke through. Haven't had any fussiness or anything so grateful for that, but she has been gnawing on things like there is NO tomorrow. This week we went to one nap/day versus the 2. For the last few weeks it seemed she was going to change and then it became clear I could no longer push off the inevitable. So, this week was a bit rough for me as we adjust to this new routine. Abby is still on 2 naps, so during the day I was not getting much of a break. BUT, such that is life, we'll adjust.

It's the Shelby 500, start your engines, I'm ready to GO-GO-GO!!

I am SO ready for the game....bring it on TX!

Come on Mason, let's go watch the game! Boomer Sooner!

Trying to get a pic of the kids, you can see Mason is not really interested. :)

What's that you say Mom? Be careful on the fireplace???

I think these bracelets look FABULOUS!

Got my bear and my sippy....what more does a gal need?!

Mom finally got me smiling big for Dad...but not looking at the camera! HA!

Shelby's magic trick and WOAH, a big fall....

Shelby has a new little magic trick...well, it's not really but I call it that because it makes me think of a magician pulling a rabbit out of his hat. Last week during a diaper change, she got hold of her shorts and figured out how to put her arm through the leghole. She smiled real big at me and I said "Ta-da!" She was quite proud of herself....so now at diaper changes this is her thing to do and I say "ta-da" and she giggles. That night she tried it with her PJs and since they were long pants, it was a bit more challenging. She got a little frustrated, but then figured it out! I'm constantly amazed seeing her little mind figure such things out. Then on Tuesday Shelb took a pretty big fall.....she slipped and fell on the Pergo floor, face first. She busted her lip and boy there was quite a bit of blood. I thought at first she may have lost a tooth there was so much blood. But we got to the bathroom, got her all cleaned up and calmed down. I got her to suck on a few ice cubes, which seemed to really help. Her nose was a little bruised and she had Angeline Jolie-type lips that night & next day. That evening though she was all smiles and playing just as hard as before, so I knew she must be OK. (Boy kids are resilient) Last week she started saying "Woah"....I've said this when she loses her balance & looks like she may fall and now she is repeating it. So now when she thinks she might fall, or actually does fall, she says "Woahhhhhh". We are also having a bit of a challenge with Shelby climbing into things....especially things that are too small for her to fit in to (i.e. her drum, the Bumbo seat, etc.). So I am often having to "rescue" her by getting her out of whatever jam, or thing, she has managed to climb in to but cannot get out of. Her favorite TV shows are It's a Big, Big World and Teletubbies on PBS. BBW is about these animals living in a rain forest. She hears that song and runs to dance to it in the living room. She sort of watches the show, but goes on to do other things. But she really enjoys the opening & closing songs. Same with Tubbies. We don't watch a lot of TV, but sometimes Momma needs a break (or a chance to EAT!) Her favorite breakfast right now is bagel & cream cheese and banana. Takes after her Momma on that one I guess! (bagels are my favorite!) All in all, life as a SAH Mom is going great, I'm really enjoying it and loving being with her & Abby too. Drew comes home Nov. 2nd, so we are VERY much looking forward to that. 37 days as he said in his email today (don't think he's counting them down do we???!!)

I know there is something in here to get, if I can just get to it.....

Don't I look so innocent...of course I wouldn't spill my cup Mommy. :)

Well, I managed to get in this box, not sure I can get out. MOM!!!!

Got my purse!! It kinda goes with the outfit...already coordinating!

Check out my headband....She had stuck her arm through the green headband (similar to what she does with her shorts). I got quite a kick out of watching her do this.

She has become fascinated with this drawer...opening & closing it. So, I took stuff out and left one thing in for her to play with.

She loves to shake things....water bottles, my socks. Just really gets those arms going!


Sitting like a lady.....she & Abby love this ball popper toy.

Labor Day and other fun!

Well I finished my final week of work August 31st - I think I took multi-tasking to a new level, at least for me anyway....somehow I survived finishing my transition, taking care of Abby & Shelby and the air conditioning at the house going out. Yes, the air quit working and could not have happened at a worse time. Shelby kept saying during & after dinner "Hot, hot". I just thought the oven had heated the kitchen....well then I figured out, the WHOLE house was hot. So, Shelby was RIGHT, it was HOT. We stayed with our neighbors and thankfully Julie's husband had a good air guy that came the next morning. And I signed up for a maintenance program since my Dad, Billy & Phil all asked me "When's the last time you had it serviced?" What?? Who has their air serviced? Why fix what ain't broke, right?! :) Well not anymore....lesson learned, we will have it serviced now.

I am in week 3 of my new job of being SAH Mom and providing childcare for Abby. It is lots of fun, even if a bit tiring, but it's a good tired.....the girls get along great and I think Shelby is really enjoying having a playmate every day! Aunty Andrea (my BFF from Houston) came to visit for Labor Day. Shelby just loved her! She had so much fun playing with her....we went out to eat, shopping (Andrea & I even got to sneak away by ourselves - thanks to Julie!! the break from being "Mom" was good for me) and watched the first OU game at my friend's house. This past weekend we went for a quick trip to OK so the fam could get some "Shelby Time" and I got a haircut. We are looking forward to Daddy coming home in November.

Recently we switched Shelby to whole milk and we are no longer on formula - hooray!! I am SO enjoying only paying $3.69 for a gallon of milk vs. $23.79 for a can of formula! She also weaned off her lunchtime bottle...that was easier than I thought. She didn't even seem to notice. This week we are going to try weaning from the breakfast bottle...we'll see. I may wait on weaning from the nighttime bottle until Dad returns so I have some moral support and don't have to do it by myself! We'll see how this next one goes I guess. She is saying a few more words and she loves to look at our shadows on her wall after her nighttime bottle. It is so cute how she waves at herself and seems fascinated by our shadows on the wall.

Mommie's little angel sleeping...

She may look like Drew, but she sleeps like me - good & late!!

Hmmm, this water is good!!

Shelby took off her bandaids from her shots.

Now THAT is some bedhead hair....thought that was so funny!!

Shelby & Aunty Andrea

Peek-a-boo!!! I was folding laundry & she got hold of my PJs.

Shelby & Abby having some breakfast - YUM!!!

Daddy visits....Shelby turns 1...and it's hot

Boy, what a busy month August turned out to be! We started with Drew's arrival - once Shelby heard his voice, she knew him and wanted to go to him. Very sweet. We had her bday party on the 11th and what a blowout! We had yummy BBQ that Uncle Russ made and cupcakes that I made (I had grandiose ideas for frosting them, which were quickly changed and it was just good 'ol Pillsbury in the can). Some of Shelby's playmates came, Abby, Zachary and Mason, and some of our close friends. Had a great time.

Today, was her one-year checkup. She is still measuring high on the charts, weighing in at 23 lb/14 oz and 31.5 inches long. The shots part of course was NOT fun but she seems to be doing well tonight and not having any fever or feeling bad. Been having some teething issues recently as she is working on some molars and we're up to 12 teeth now. Boy these are a doozy. She ran some temp last week and had a few rough nights sleeping in addition to a little diarrhea that resulted in bad diaper rash again. She pretty much eats everything we put in front of her....recently tried black eyed peas, squash, salmon and lima beans. Her favorite word these days is 'hot' (if I hear her say "that's hot" like Paris Hilton then I will be worried.)...she learned this while Drew was home when we were out running errands one day and commented on how hot it was. Now everytime we walk outside, she says "hot, hot". And she is really good at scolding Maduro..he's been getting into her room and she'll say "git cat" when she hears me scold him. And then the babbling Chinese talk occurs every now & then too...Ahh, kids are funny.

Next Friday I am finished with my career in IT project management. That will be my last day @ GMAC Rescap and then I will begin my next gig....full-time Mom and providing childcare for my friend's daughter, Abby. I'm really excited to be home w/Shelby. I will miss my friends at work, but I really do feel ready for this change.

Below are some pics from the party and her one-year photos - enjoy!!

Hmm....I like this cupcake! Icing is sweet and it's easy to eat!

Yes, cupcake and ice cream, a good thing.



Daddy & I are playing with my new garage toy....makes car sounds!

It was actually kinda cool one day this past week, so I wore my new fall outfit from Gma C. I really like this music chair she & Gpa C got me and this doll....my Mommy had a doll exactly like this one.

Riding my new tricycle from Gma & Gpa Bomar.

July 4th...11-Months...WALKING!!

What an eventful month we've had! Kicked things off with July 4th and a houseful of company! Grandma & Grandpa C, Mason and Uncle Russ came to visit. We had lots of fun playing, cooking out and eating cake & ice cream! Shelby had her first taste of sweets....Uncle Russ shared his DQ Blizzard and boy was she his best friend! She also had some chocolate cake and her first hamburger. She liked it pretty well. We went to OK for Mason's 1-year bday party...what fun that was! Shelby didn't much care for the water adventures, but she had fun playing with Jaylee & Mason and her great Aunts & Uncles. She even got a couple of early bday gifts, so she got a little practice in opening presents. Enjoyed the paper more than the toys of course! Shelby caught a stomach bug last week, fortunately we were still in OK visiting so Granny helped me take care of her. Yes, hit a Mom milestone last week.....I was puked on. Vomiting, fever, and diarrhea that resulted in the most horrible diaper rash. This was an event I hope to not repeat again. Thankfully she is all better now and back to her old self. But her biggest milestone this month is walking. Everyone kept saying "Any day now..." and sure enough she just took off!! She walks everywhere, even picks up & carries her Huggies diaper box (empty of course - but I'm impressed she can manage to pick it up and walk!). I think the cats are a little worried now that she is even more mobile. It's been a lot of fun watching her explore and hit this milestone. Exhausting as well...;-) She's also said a few words....Boo (comes out sounding like bow), Git (she helps scold Maduro when he gets on the counter), Mom (sounds like Mum) and Daddy (pronounced Da-day!). All in all it has been quite a month and we're really looking forward to Drew's visit next week from Iraq. I will also be home full time with Shelby starting in August. I will still be working through the end of August (I was extended on my layoff), but then will be a full time stay at home Mom......and I CANNOT WAIT!

Granny reading Shelby & Mason a book.

Grandpa getting some quality time.

Oh yes, more cake Granny!!

Hmmm, me like cake Grandpa!

Mommy's little helper...well sort of. At least it wasn't folded before she tossed it to the floor.

Check out my suit!

Jaylee, you hit that button to make it beep.

So Uncle Russ, let me tell you about that water....it was cold!

Our best attempt at getting these 3 in a picture....it was easier when they just sat still!

This is a new expression this week....pierces her lips - it's hilarious!