'Sup Dude!!!

Yes, this is the latest phrase uttered out of Shelby's mouth, "Sup Dude!" and by far the funniest thing we've heard her say. We've also gotten a "Sup Dog" and a "Sup Turtle". A couple of weekends ago her Dad & Uncle Russ taught her to say "Dude" and "Man" while we were visiting in Tulsa. Most days we can figure out what Shelby is saying pretty well....some words are very clear, some you have to put together, but she's been putting a lot of two & three word sentences together and that helps to figure out what she is talking about. But then there is still the gibberish sometimes that I think "Huh??". All in due time....she still really enjoys us reading books to her and has started to associate a key word with her books and will tell us that word when she brings them to us, which we thought was neat. She likes the Backyardigans, specifically she says the name "Pabo" for Pablo. She also really loves to do bubbles and be outside. And then a round of hide & seek with Dad is always fun. In the past few weeks, she has also taken to lining up her stuffed animals or baby dolls and then covering them with a blanket and she'll say "Sleep". She seems to be putting them to bed. And for a couple of weeks, she was wearing her blanket as a cape. I would use a hair clip to hold it in place and she'd just walk around with her cape on. So funny to see what interests them at this age!

We had a great time in Tulsa a couple of weeks ago, visiting Meena & her baby Zara and of course eating some of Uncle Russ' famous BBQ! Shelby really liked the smoked bologna! We're headed to OK this next weekend for Mother's Day and then she & I will stay a few extra days to give the fam some Shelby time. In a couple of weeks, we're going to take her camping for the 1st time at our family's annual Git 'R Done camping trip. THAT shall be interesting...I'm ok with camping as long as there is a bathroom & shower (in which case Drew & Russ say that's not really camping), but we'll see how this goes with a toddler. Doubt we'll stay the whole weekend, we'll see how the first night goes. :) Here's some recent pics of Shelby & her antics. Enjoy!!

One of Shelby's latest antics, to get inside the entertainment center

and smoosh her face against it. How she figured this out, I have no idea.

I got my hard hat & am ready to work Dad!!

This is one of her "hiding spots" behind the piano. She thinks it is sooo funny to hide there!

Dad & Shelby hiding in the trees!!

Got my cape on, I'm ready to save the day!

18-Month Checkup, trip to OK, more illness & Easter

What is it they say about when it rain, it pours? Certainly the theme at our house lately regarding our illnesses! Took Shelby in for her 18-month checkup this month~she was a wopping 28lb/11oz and 34 inches in length. She got her last vaccination shot according to the schedule she's on and won't need her next ones until she's 4. Hooray! Unfortunately her ears were still infected, so we had to try another antibiotic. She was on the mend from that and then came down with strep throat, which we found out after we arrived in Oklahoma. In addition, Drew & I fought colds at the same time, so needless to say we have all been a bit miserable the past few weeks. Shelby & I did manage to go to Oklahoma to visit the family for Spring Break. Our visit was fun once we finally got her fever broke and it was really nice having the extra help to take care of her since I was still recuperating myself. Grandma and Aunt Kellie were SO sweet to read Shelby books and play with her so I could get a little rest (Grandpa was pretty busy working, it's tax season! Just a few more weeks to get through!). Aunt Kellie also gave me & Shelby haircuts. I was a little sad because it just reminds me how grown up she is getting! But her hair looks so cute, no more mullet! Drew was quite happy about this~he'd been on me for weeks to get her hair cut. We came home for Easter weekend and I enjoyed a spa day on Saturday~it was awesome, the works~massage, facial, mani, pedi. It was actually my b-day present from last year and I just now got around to using it, one week before this b-day! So, Drew was on dad-duty all day while I enjoyed a very stress-free day. Then back to reality. :) It was a bit chilly here for Easter, but we enjoyed the church service and a nice day as a family. We've got some busy weeks ahead in April~we're going to try and attend some of Uncle Russ' barbeque competitions and hopefully see Aunty Meena & Zara in Tulsa. Drew & Russ are headed off to a Jeep/camping trip this weekend, so it will just be us girls! Shelby is going to Abby's house on Sat. while I host a baby shower. I'm sure she'll be excited, she loves going to "Abba's house" as she says. Well, that's about it for March!!

I am sitting so still for this fabulous haircut~I am going to be stylin!

Cousin Jaylee came over to play~isn't she adorable?!

Mason & Jaylee playing with the race car track.

One of the few Easter pictures that turned out.

I don't really want to sit here & be still...think I'll work on getting down...

Ok Momma, get a picture of me in the hat! (I managed to get a couple)

Lots to catch up on!

Well, there is much to catch up on, what a year so far! Unfortunately this winter we have really struggled to stay healthy. In late Jan., Shelby came down with a viral bug called Roseola. She was miserable for about a week, running temperature and then had the rash afterwards. Needless to say we were not getting a lot of sleep because she just could not get comfortable; and Drew had to go to DC for a few days for his Iraq debrief, so it was just me & Shelby. I felt like I had a newborn again the way we were up every few hours. We got over that cold and enjoyed a few healthy weeks, and then came down with croup & an ear infection this past week. Boy what a doozy that has been. This is Shelby's 1st ear infection and I don't wish to repeat this experience anytime soon. She did not sleep at all Tues. night, we were literally up with her all night until 8am Wed., when I think she just finally gave out from exhaustion. She'd have sleep spurts throughout the night of 10-20 minutes, but then wake up crying & in pain. We had no idea it was her ear until we saw the Dr. on Wed. No wonder she was so miserable. Today (Fri.) she is feeling much better and eating some. Her ear seems to be much improved & she is sleeping better too, which means I'VE been sleeping more as well. We are very much looking forward to warmer weather, hoping that will improve things on the health front.
For Valentine's Day, Leslie & I took the girls to the Dallas Aquarium for a little field trip. They really seemed to enjoy it! There were lots of things to see and I thought it was all great except for the snakes. Could certainly do without those (since I am phobic). So, Shelby & I just went past those glass aquariums really fast. Drew & I also traded date nights with Brian & Leslie and actually went out to dinner by ourselves. Boy, was that nice! Actually had some conversation and could eat dinner together, at the same time, instead of one of us feeding/tending to Shelby. It was really nice and we look forward to doing that again.
Let's see, what Shelby is up to these days....well she is finally coming off her strike from foods that she had just stopped eating for awhile. She is doing well with her fork & spoon, especially with things like oatmeal & pudding that stay on the spoon pretty well. Her favorite toys are puzzles, stackable cups, alphabet blocks, and her baby doll. of her latest words are gross, Shelba, Abba, house, baby, turtle, frog, mouse, sleep, sheep, and bird. She has also been saying two-word phrases recently such as bye-bye momma, da-da sleep, Abba's house, baby sleep, and nigh-nigh da-da. It is so fun to hear her picking these things up and in a sense begin to communicate a little more with us. But we still have a lot of pointing and grunting from her when she can't quite tell us what she wants or needs. We're looking ahead to a busy March and hopefully warm weather very soon! Hope everyone is doing well!

Hmm, pudding!! My favorite dessert!

Forget the snack cup, I'm just going for the whole box! Yum!!

At the Dallas Aquarium...ready to see some fish!

Momma & me in front of the waterfall. I was quite fascinated with this.

Our two little maestros at the piano...a favorite thing to do.

Here Da-Da, let me help you work on this Jeep for Mr. Winn.