Summertime!

Well the summer is truly flying by....I cannot believe it is almost July! We've got family coming to visit next week for the 4th, so Shelby & I are looking forward to that. Granny is going to stay for the whole week w/Mason, so Shelby will have a playmate all week! Yea! And we heard from Daddy today that he will get to come home for 14 days in August, so we are REALLY excited about that! I'm so happy he'll be here for her birthday. She is jabbering so much these days, but it changes...some weeks it's "ga-ga", then it's "na-na-na" and then she makes one babble that I swear sounds like she is speaking Chinese! It is so hilarious! We tried lasagna tonight...nanny Julie was making some for her dinner and was so sweet to make us one too! Shelby really gobbled it up along with her carrots (gotta have a veggie!!) and some turkey. But I will say the ricotta cheese was a little messy...but who cares, she enjoyed it and I got a kick out of watching her eat it. Anyways, that's all for now...will add some new pics after the 4th!

Thought it was cute how she crossed her legs....such a lady!

I really like these peas Mom!!! YUM!

Not sure about this pasta though.....

Awww....giving the OU bear a hug.

Let's play with this block Mason.

Mom still hasn't unpacked, so I thought I would help her.

Madison's trying to figure out a way to break outta this joint!

I could climb over this pillow, then get through that gate......

Mason body slams the bear!!

Git'R Done Camping, Memorial Day & More!!

I know there are lots of pics & this is a long update, but this is how we're keeping Daddy connected while he's in Iraq...so bear with me! Shelby attended her 1st Git 'R Done camping trip - this is an annual trip by the menfolk in our family every year in May....this year the gals were invited too, so Melissa & I made the trek up to Arbuckle lake with Shelby & Madison in tow. We enjoyed the afternoon, had lunch and visited for a bit. Maybe next year we'll even stay overnight....we'll see. Memorial Day weekend we were quite busy - we had 2 playdates with friends - Charlie, Alycia & Baby Zach came over Sat. and then Sherana, Dave, Toran & Babies Brandon & Terek (twin boys, how fun!) came over Sun. Shelby enjoyed hanging out with these boys, I think Brandon was even flirting a little! Or was it Terek - I had a hard time telling them apart! It was lots of fun to see my friends, visit and meet their precious babies.
Shelby is doing really well eating her "big people" food, feeding herself chicken, turkey, pastrami, mashed veggies and some provolone cheese. At first she stockpiled it in her cheeks like a chipmunk! Turkey seems to be her favorite...especially from Dickey's BBQ - guess she likes that smoked flavor! Maybe Uncle Russ will fix her some in his "egg" (his smoker). She also had her first teething biscuit this past week - that was hilarious - very messy and she really enjoyed it. She has a new tooth pushing its way through - on the bottom. She is also becoming quite adventurous and starting to really exert her independence! She has figured out how to climb onto the fireplace, so I am having to really watch that closely. She has been walking with her walker/wagon toy and today she would "remove" my hand (I was steadying it for her to stand up), ever so politely, and let me know she would be doing it herself, thank you very much. I couldn't believe it - when did she get so independent??? She stands a lot and walks along the furniture, but hasn't been brave enough to walk independently yet. She seems to think about it, then goes to her knees and just crawls. I figure it will happen soon enough and then I will really be in trouble.

Me & Grandpa @ the camp site - check out my camo onesie?

This was from my Aunt Kel's friend, Aunt Kim - it has lace & everything!

So Madison, what is this book about?

HI!!!

Shelb & Aunt Kel

Daddy, you better hurry home before I become a tree hugger! :)

Baby Zach checkin' out my exersaucer - Mommy thought he was SO cute!

Brandon, Shelb & Terek playing - they were playing peek-a-boo in the tunnel - so funny!


This face just cracked me up!
Sometimes she really catches me off guard w/her expressions.

All done!! Boy, I sure enjoyed that - see the mess!





I really like to balance my rings on my thumb and grab my blocks by the edge.


Mommy does this to me all the time - puts these rings on my head!


I'm comin' to git you Maduro!!
(You can see Maduro really doesn't seem to care -
he puts up w/Shelby a lot better than Smokey - who never comes around her.)

9-Months

Yes, I'm behind in updating the blog....so, added lots of pictures to catch up! Shelby is 9-months old now, weighing 21 lbs and is 30 inches. Still loving to crawl EVERYWHERE and has stood up independently a few times, letting go of the furniture every now & then, but no walking yet. Doesn't quite have the balance....but that's ok, Mommy is really not ready to chase her even more; the crawling is plenty for now! Last week she tried some "regular" food....roasted chicken, carrots and peas. She liked it pretty well, although I think she had more fun playing with the food than eating it. :) Tried her on some macaroni pasta, green beans and more shredded chicken (from a can) this week....NOT a fan. She ate some of it, but I sure got a LOT of "icky" faces. We'll keep trying. Shelby is also really loving bathtime now...she has discovered splashing! She loves to clap her hands and has figured out that she can make big splashes when clapping them together in the water! She soaked me pretty good this evening. We went to Oklahoma for Mother's Day - it was really fun. Shelby & Mason had lots of fun playing. Mason took his first independent steps - Very exciting! And who did he walk to?? His Aunt Staci!! Daddy is in Iraq for a work assignment, so it's just been us girls. But we get to visit with him frequently via cell phone and email too. He's doing well and getting adjusted. Working lots of long hours, but keeping busy helps he says. He's also on me to keep up the blog , so I will have to do better. Anyways, hope you enjoy the pics!!

Shelby & Mommy on Mother's Day....cute dress from Granny C

Shelby just conked out after a busy morning of play time....

didn't even move when I took the picture. She was OUT.

Here I come Aunt Staci! Gonna git ya!

Think I'll walk to my Mommy...check out my Hawaiian shirt from Aunt Staci!

Got the duck! Thought this was too cute...like a cat with it's "prize".

And then she got the bear....seeing a pattern here.

Hi Mommy! Take my picture!

Whoa, I let go of the couch!

Here I come...I'n gonna git ya!!

Madison & Mason are playing at my music table, but I'M going over here!