Sweet Toddler Baby Girl

  You put your shoes in the dishwasher.

  You brush the cat's teeth with your toothbrush.

  You demand to wear panties, even though they are really just Finding Nemo swim pants.

  If I pour you a glass of milk, you immediately reach for the chocolate syrup.

  You are tall.  Therefore, you let yourself out of doors and pull everything off counter tops.

  Your Daddy would prefer to be called just that, Daddy.  I'll call him Ed, thankyouverymuch.

  I pray that you continue to grow healthy, both physically and mentally.  I pray that your strengths and weaknesses are revealed to us, so that we may know how to nurture you.  I pray that you will develop a true intelligence that is part wisdom, sincerity, creativity, and genuine insight.  I pray that you are kind and strong.  I pray that you will be the baby, girl, young lady, and woman that God desires you to be.

  I am better because of you.  You should be asleep, sweet baby.  I will now leave to tuck you into bed.

  For the 11th time tonight.

    Love,

    Momma

I'm Home

  

  Dearest Blog,

  I'm sorry I ever abandoned you.  You see, life got crazy hectic and a put aside the one thing I never should have.  Shame on me.  Be assured, I will never leave you.  My little family, and love of beautiful photos need to be archived.  I'm home.

  Summer is hot and dry.  Too dry.  Everyday I send up a prayer/plea asking for long, soaking rains.  Droughts will either break you, or make you patient.  We are remaining patient.

  I've trekked quite  the journey so far this summer.  I accompanied Ed to school in San Marcos, Maid-of-Honor dressed shopped in Dallas, caught up with Klenn in San Antonio, swam the Devil's River, admired the Manhattan skyline from New Jersey, celebrated Canada Day in Ottawa with my Dearest Friend, and went to the most amazing 4th of July party at the home of the US Ambassador to Canada.  I've also managed to find myself in a purple sequin dress, complete with Hello Kitty ears headband at a Katy Perry concert.  A far cry from the usual Indie scene I love, but a blast of a diversion, for sure.  (Thank you, Andi & Peter!)

  Summer Thus Far

Front Porch Sittin' at the Devil's River with Daddy.

 Chino loves the river, too.

 Ottawa, you were amazing.

 Boom, Boom, Boom!  Baby You're a Firework!

 Oh Ed, you are so cute with the cat babies.

 My bed head never looks this awesome.  

  Love,

  Shalayne

Smirk

Oh gosh.  Baby, quit it.  You're too much.

10

  Sweet P is 10 months old.  Where do I start?  Coming into her room every morning is like Christmas.  I can't wait to see what is waiting for me when I open the door.  She is usually met with two goofy parents singing, "Goooooooooooood Morrrrrnnniiiiiiiiing!"  I turn on her lamp, she squints her eyes closed and gives us a big grin.

  Sweet P started school at Miss Tammy's this month.  She loves it.  She is the youngest, but not the smallest.  :)  Since she started Miss Tammy's, she chatter's almost nonstop.  Has she said Mama yet?  Yea right.  But she will say my mother's dog's name, River.  (Viverrr)  

  Her vocabulary thus far:

  Viverrr

  Arf Arf  (This is what Viverr says)

  Moooo

  Dada

  Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii  (Only in a high pitch octive)

  vvvrrrrrrrrrrrooooooom

  Now, that last one impressed me.  Since her daddy is a pilot, I have old, decorative airplanes placed around the house.  I have never taught her that a plane makes that noise.  She pulled a wooden biplane off the coffee table, spun the prop and made the vvvrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrooom engine noise.  I think she got that from the boys at Miss Tammy's.  She has been around a plane one time with her daddy, but that was forever ago!

  Oh, P.  You make us love you so much, it hurts.  But it's the best kinda hurt that anyone can ever hope for.  My heart fills so full, it aches.  I love this kind of heartache.  You are smart, curious, demanding, messy, determined, and beautiful.  You are kind to others and so good when someone wants to show you affection.  You make their day when you stretch out your arms for a hug.  Even if it's a traveler passing through Grand Debs store.

  I know it seems like all I tell you is, "No Ma'am", but I'm just trying to show you how to make your way through this world.  It's not easy, but Daddy and I will help you along your way.  We love you.

This was the daughter's reactions when we told her it was the first day of school:

Love me some Sweet P

Husband, I think this is your daughters' subtle way of telling you to lay off the Right Wing literature. 

  I should have known something was up when my husband started asking me questions about times zones, Greenwich Mean Time and Day Light Savings.  I could't properly answer his questions, but I did wonder what in the world he was up to.  Then, I saw him feverishly working away at his desk:

  I can't decided if it imploded or exploded.  What was this all about?  Why the pages upon pages of data?  Highlighted data at that.  Why on Earth does my adorable husband all the sudden have the urge to collect sun rise and set dates from the Astronomical Applications Dept. c/o U.S. Naval Observatory?

  It's simple.  My husband has declared war...on hogs.  It's true.  Wild hogs are running rampant, killing livestock and destroying fences and ranch and range lands.  My husband has made our home a command post for Operation Shock and Yeehaw.  God, I love him.  

So does this little girl

Wow.

  To say you make me proud is an understatement.  You are the man God made for me, and for that, I am eternally grateful.  I know I drive you absolutely crazy, but I am a constant work in progress.  You are so patient with me.  I don't know why on Earth you took me as your wife, but I am so thankful you did.  You are my before, now, and forever and always, Amen.

IWALYAYWABM

Seester

  See the girl in the leather motorcycle vest?  She's my sister.  Today is her birthday.  I thought I'd compile a photo essay of the items I found in her truck Sunday.  The below is totally true.  I wish I could have made this stuff up.

The Seester

The Truck

The Duck

The dirty, giant, obviously worn aTm belt buckle

van Gogh shot glass 

Photo of some sexy people circa 2000

I'm not even kidding

The boots

Before the boots?

Found in the glovebox? MY HUSBANDS' TIE.  What the hell, sister?

The Tunes

Louis Vuitton wallet and some ugly, cheap sunglasses.  (By the way, the van Gogh shot glass and the LV wallet were gifts from me from my travels abroad.  I try to keep it classy...even if it's only a shot glass.  I can only help my sister so much.)

Num Chucks

Spent bullet shot gun shells

  This concludes the photo tour of my sister's truck.  Can you believe they let this lady teach at the local elementary school?

  I love you, Seester.  Happy 26th Birthday.

  *Shalayne