Overwhelmed.

I've got lots of fun stuff to blog about, but I just can't. We found out on Sunday night, around midnight, that Brad's cousin (3rd cousin actually, but he was more like a nephew if that makes sense) died. Will was 9 years old. I think I'm still in shock mode. It's one of those things (like many) that I won't understand until we all get to heaven. So, I'm taking a little intermission from blogging until next week. The funeral is on Thursday in Merkel. Please pray for our family during this time. It's so sad.

3 months old

I think it's always fun to look back and see how much babies change. I know Morgan is only 3 months old (yesterday), but to us, she has changed quite a bit. She's put on some cute rolls, lost a lot of hair (in not so attractive places on her head), found her hands and loves them, found her voice and loves to watch her sister Mallory.

Morgan really is a sweet baby. She is so happy when she wakes up. She'll be crying and as soon as she sees Mallory and me looking at her, she gets the biggest grin on her face. She is tolerating tummy time a little better. It's funny to me that we video taped Mallory during tummy time. I guess it's pretty exciting the first time around. Unfortunately, Morgan hasn't had nearly as much tummy time as Mallory did. But, I try to remember (and keep her sister away when we do it), and she likes to look at herself in the mirror. She still needs to work on her sleep. She thinks a nap only lasts 45 minutes, and that she should wake up as soon as her pacifier falls out. I can't seem to take a picture without her "deer in the headlights" look. To make up for the shamrock picture, here are some cute ones of Miss Morgan.

3 days old:

One month old:

Two months old:

Three months old:

Her reaction to the Bumbo seat. I would say she's not a fan!

She is a fan of her bouncy chair though (good thing, since she gets some quality time in it everyday!). We were watching Mallory play outside the other day.

It's going by so much faster than it did with Mallory at this age. I keep trying to remind myself to soak it all in because, with my mommy brain lately, I won't be able to remember any of it!

Kiss us, we're Irish!

I bought these in the Target dollar section a couple of weeks ago. I had high hopes of getting a cute picture of both of the girls with them on. What was I thinking?? It must have been the lack of sleep that fogged my brain. This is the best I could do:

This morning before breakfast. If she looks sleepy it's because she sure did wake up at 6:45 this morning! She was yelling "Shooey!" from her crib, so I knew there was no chance of her going back to sleep.

Morgan might get a new nickname for this picture. Morgan the martian??? She'll be mad at me in a few years I'm sure!

Mallory talking on her phone leaving our playgroup Easter party.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The Easter pageant

Yesterday was a beautiful day! We met Brad (and my little mommy group) up at the UMHB campus to have lunch and watch the annual Easter pageant. This was our first year to attend. Let's just say that it won't be our last! Mallory is still a little young to fully grasp the whole story, but I think it will be a neat tradition to start as a family. She enjoyed seeing the real donkeys (she thought they were horses) and the singing. But during the most important part, she got a little distracted, and was more interested in playing with my wallet instead of seeing Jesus rise again:)

This is a picture during the crucifixion scene. I'm still amazed that these are college students!

I think the timing of the pageant is good too. Usually, most stuff like this is the weekend of Easter. Since it was the week before, it really lets you get in the right frame of mind. I will admit, I've been a little preoccupied with finding the perfect matching dresses, Easter baskets and goodies for the baskets. In the end, none of that really matters. I want to remember the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for our sins. Not just on Easter weekend, but everyday.

We all survived!

Brad survived his first "Dad's weekend" with both girls ALL BY HIMSELF!!!! Go Brad! And, I survived my weekend free of kids! I left for Fredericksburg on Friday at noon and got home Sunday at 2:00. It was a great getaway without much sleep (funny how that happens when you plan on "relaxing" at a retreat with girlfriends!), a whole lot of girl talk, yummy tortillas at Mamasita's and some great sessions from the speakers at the retreat. My pump became my new best friend, we had a lot of bonding over the weekend:)

Friday was a little challenging for Brad (Mallory is getting more teeth and she was constipated! And the longest Morgan slept was from midnight to 2:30), but they actually left the house twice on Saturday and the house was clean when I got home. Brad is such a sweet husband for doing this. He easily could've had help this weekend, but he wanted to do it by himself. I told him over and over yesterday "thank you!!!!".

I missed my girls by Sunday and was ready to see them. Morgan smiled at me almost immediately (she has such a sweet personality), but it took a while for Mallory to give me a hug. She was acting pretty shy until I told her I had something for her. She ran over to see what book I had for her. Turkey. And, it didn't hurt my feelings this morning when she asked for Daddy when I went into her room. I'm so thankful she had fun with Brad this weekend and loves him!!

This was last night after before bed:

Peer pressure

I've officially recruited my sister-in-law into the blog world. Stop by and leave her a comment!!

Random thoughts from my weekend

~There should be a "family room" in every mall across America. I'm not talking just for diaper changes. A place with chairs and enough room to feed your baby (nursing or bottle), change their diaper and possibly let their older sister run around to burn off some energy.

~The post office should have a drive through just for buying stamps (like Walgreens for prescriptions). I really dread "running in" to the post office to get stamps. It's hard enough with one kiddo. It turns into a 45 minute errand by the time you get everyone in the car, to the post office, out of the car, stand in line, pay for the stamps, get back in the car and get home.

~Morgan has slept for 12 hours straight 3 nights in a row...but not last night.

~Sunday was the first day I dressed the girls alike. They wore the same dress to church (thanks Sharon!). I would have a cute picture of it, but Mallory completely flipped out about 30 seconds into the photo shoot. She would have nothing to do with the pictures. Funny, she is the one that asked to hold Morgan...

~It is really convenient when I can get both girls to take a nap at the same time. It is not so convenient when one of them wakes up right when I try to fall asleep for a nap:)



~We met a friend and her little boy at Chickfila Friday. While Mallory was playing (she went down the big slide ALL by herself...head first, but by herself!), another mommy came in with her kiddos. She had a little girl that looked about Mallory's age. I asked how old she was...18 months....her name....Mallory....how old her baby in the carrier was...3 weeks....his name...Benjamin. Weird for 3 reasons: #1 you don't hear many girls named Mallory, #2 Ben was our boy name if Morgan had been a boy and #3 their baby was a "surprise" too and is exactly 18 months apart from their Mallory...just like Morgan!

~Seriously. The weather should make up it's mind. Today is a day I would rather be here:

(That is a picture from our 5th anniversary trip to Playa del Carmen (that I never blogged about...oops!). I know it's not a beach picture. It's actually one of the jungle paths through the resort we stayed at. Just imagine really pretty white beaches, blue water and lazy days...because they were all there!!).

~Seriously. Every time Kara and I plan on going to see each other, one of our children is sick. Every time! How is that possible?? Mallory was up from midnight to 2am throwing up 5 different times. Luckily (crossing my fingers it stays this way), she hasn't had the poopies or thrown up since. Please, please stomach bug, stay away from our house! I want to see my best friend and I want to go on the women's retreat this weekend (start praying for Brad now...he's keeping both girls BY HIMSELF for the weekend while I'm in Fredericksburg!!)