I am so disappointed in myself in how bad I have been at blogging lately! I feel like my girls are growing up every minute and I want to record every second of it. I love going back and looking at the blog and seeing how the girls have changed - or looking at the books Ryan has given me and cherishing every moment and memory we have made! I think that's the difficult part, though - I want to make a goal to be better and make time to record things - but time is so precious and sometimes it's just hard to find time to sit at my computer and record things - especially since Ali has recently given up her nap! I don't want to miss a thing! Plus, I have recently started boot camp and have to be up at 5 a.m. (this is HUGE for me) and I am so tired when the girls go to better - I'm lucky if I get to hang out with Ryan and don't head straight to bed when they do!
One of the biggest changes we have had in our lives is a little thing call the Papi fairy. (aka pacifier fairy) This confession is one that is hard for me to admit publicly since my baby is now 3+ years old and we have been trying to get rid of the pacifier since she turned one, but I have been too weak. :) We all have our vices, and sweet Ali has slept with that "papi" since she was born and was so dependent to sleep with it - and I have also come to find out that I was a little dependent on it too - it was so nice to watch my sweet girl doze off almost immediately when she had it and I read her stories....well, no longer! A few weeks ago (February 3), we took Ali to the dentist and, like I wrote earlier, the appointment went great. The only thing the dentist said was that Ali did not close her mouth completely - probably something that had been caused by the pacifier. I told him and the hygienist to make sure to say something to her about it - Ali is a good girl with a sweet, pleasing heart and selfishly, I thought this would help my pacifier endeavors. And, sure enough, it did! We got in the car and Ali told me she thought the papi fairy was coming that night. (We have been talking about how the papi fairy was coming FOREVER!) She was in the car looking up to the sky saying "Papi Fairy, oh, Papi Fairy! Please come get my papi tonight!" I was thinking I would hold off until the weekend (again, sooo weak!!) but the night rolled around and Ali said it again and I said, "you mean this weekend" and she said, "No, tonight!" She took me into her room and we grabbed some tissue paper out of her spare closet and wrapped it up and left it out. It almost made me cry - I knew there was no turning back and something that this little girl has loved for 3+ years and been SO dependent on was being taken away from her - but she was so strong and has been ever since. I can not express how proud I am of her. She doesn't even say the word anymore! The first time I heard her mention it was yesterday when we were at Babies R Us buying a gift - she said "Look Mommy, pacifiers for Rhodes!". Now...to start working on Rhodesy and hers!
I get here to type updates and wish I could remember all of the funny/cute things the girls do that make me smile. The other night, I was putting Ali to bed and we were saying at the prayers. At the end, she told me she wanted to add something and she got very serious and she had her prayer hands out and her eyes closed and I could see her thinking....she added "God! Thank you for Daddy's games! And thank you for Daddy's Beatles!" (all very serious) It's funny to me b/c I guess she was referring the Beatles Rock Band on the Wii that Ryan has - but, does not play that often - but lately she has been wanting him to play so he can watch and she loves it! She is at a stage where she is asking lots of questions and has lots of cute/sweet things to say and makes us laugh with her comments - but gets embarrassed if we repeat what she did later! She loves to talk about getting married and lately she shyly tells us how she is going to marry her boyfriend, Bennett! :)
Rhodesy is growing up before my eyes. She idolizes her sister and picks up/copies everything she does. She loves to play with her and is such a trooper to not cry in the times Ali pushes her around. :) She has 8 teeth and has her molars starting to come in in the back right now. She LOVES to go outside (Come on Spring!!!!) and is constantly at the back door reaching to get out or taking me to go get her coat out of her room and then taking me to the door to show me she is ready to go out. I am pretty sure she would wear her coat 24/7 if she could. Especially if it means she gets to go outside! One of my favorite things she is doing right now is reaching out for my hand whenever she wants something/wants to go somewhere. She will just stick that little hand up and grab mine (sweetest feeling) and take me into the kitchen if she wants milk or a snack, or sometimes take me in her room if she wants a nap (or pappy!) or constantly to the back door. Her sister has taught her how to throw a great fit if she does not get her way and does not get to go outside....she's got it down! :) She also loves to give hugs and kisses - especially to Ali and Baxter. I wish I could get every single sweet hug that Ali and Rhodes give on camera - melts my heart every time!
Love these girls so! They keep my life busy, crazy, and full of laughs!
An attempt at a group shot - although we are missing Pres! Caroline was so sweet to smile at the camera when I said "Smile!" - I'm hoping one day my girls will do the same! :)
Digging for fossils...
And panning for minerals...
One glove down...
Ali wiping down her car...
Taking the wagon for a spin...
Teamwork
Baxter loved the snow - Ali says it is because it is the same color as he is!
Snow angels!
Papa stopped by on his way home from work and brought the girls some Marietta Power hats to wear. :)
Which went perfectly on our snowman!
(Notice little Miss Mischievous in the background)
Ali was so proud of the snow man she made with her Daddy!
Group shot!
Our snowy yard!
Warming up inside and playing together! These two are having SOO much fun together these days - two peas in a pod and it is so fun to watch! :) I am going to make it a goal to be better about taking pictures and recording this special bond forming between these two - it is too sweet!
Ryan and I were happy the snow came and looked beautiful and was lots of fun to play in (we got 3 inches!) - but, also, that the roads cleared and didn't ruin any of our Valentine's plans. I was hosting a shower for my friend Kelly (Corn) on Saturday and nervous it was going to be cancelled, but when she made the trip in from Nashville on Saturday morning, we realized the show could still go on! :) Then, Ryan surprised me with a night out at Anthony's for dinner (where we went after we got engaged 5 years ago on our Valentine's celebration) and then he took me to see the movie, Valentine's Day. The biggest treat of all was that we both slept in until 10 a.m. on Sunday (We played hooky from church)!! Thank you Grandmommy and Granddaddy for keeping our littlest Valentines!
