Santa

Sorry the pictures are sideways. I'll try to fix them later. :)

Pictures

Here are some pictures for everyone. Before I post them, I would just like to say that we have a high today of 74 degrees. I heard that Daniel was complaining of a wind chill of -35. I just wanted to gloat. :) The pictures I added are of her at the zoo, riding a horse, wearing a bowl of mac and cheese as a hat, halloween, and cuddling with daddy and one of her sitting on her couch, reading.

New Updates

I just figured out that I can change the blog from my school computer. I will bring in some updated pictures to post next week. In the meantime, Here are some updates about the family...
Sam- Now works at Lowes as a flooring manager. He is enjoying himself and the hours allow him to spend more time with the family. He misses being around everyone. We have talked about moving west in a few years or so.
Me- Teaching high school is a blast. I love my students and teaching here is more fun than what it used to be. I don't feel as burned out. I've had some trouble with migranes but we are getting that under control.
And now for the one everyone really wants to know about......
Elizabeth - 8 teeth, 32 1/2 inches tall, 24 lbs. Growing and goofy. When I get her up in the morning, she tries to lay back down and pull the covers over her head. It is too cute. I'll ask her if she is playing possum and she will grin and shake her head no. Her vocabulary has increased. She will ask for her paci, tell you no, say thank you, boo, and bye. She tries to say some other words but we are still figuring it out. she sings and loves the Muppets. She will dance and watch them. She likes to play and will blow you a rasberry in an attempt to get you to chase her. She likes to wear jewery and still loves the stuffed animals. Robin sent her an outfit and a dress for Christmas. We opened the shoes first. She grabbed them and then got mad when I tied to put them back in the box. I gave her one and she tried to put them on. We had to let her try them on and walk in them. The dress she got is perfect. I was so excited when I saw that Robin had sent a dress. I will have to post pictures of her in it. The outfit she sent fits nicely. She is wearing it today. It is so cute! Elizabeth's hair is getting long. She is beginning to look more like me. I showed Sam an ornament on my mom's Christmas tree with a picture of me. He thought it was Elizabeth. heheeehee Well, it's time to go...I will write more Monday. :)

Pictures

Okay. Elizabeth starts daycare this week and I go back to school. Apparently the pictures I tried to add last time did not add so I will try again. Got some cute ones of her in the ocean. We might be going to the beach this weekend. Not sure yet.

Last weeks of summer

It hard to believe summer is almost over. I have two more weeks of staying home with Elizabeth. I o back on the 13th and kids return on the 20th. Elizabeth will start her new daycare on the 11th. I'm hoping she does okay there. She has gotten a little spoiled having me to herself all day. It will be an adjustment. We went to Charleston last weekend for a day trip. It was a lot of fun. She saw all the fish at the aquarium. It was cool. She loves the fish so it was neat to watch her. We also took her to the beach which she LOVED. She laughed and clapped her hands when the waves came. She even dug in the sand. :)

Lots of Updates....

Okay...Since her Birthday, Elizabeth is now walking ( on her feet). She is getting better at it. She is such a silly girl. She likes to play the copycat game. She can tell people to Shhh. Finger and all. It is too cute! Grandma and Grandpa Matthews were here last week with us. She took to them right away. I about cried after they left when she went down the hallway looking for them. Sam swears that she keeps calling Grandpa. He says there is a difference in how she says Dada. And there is. She is sitting beside me right now waving at the computer. She looks more and more like Sam every day. While the Grandparents were here, they bought her this fish lamp. This morning when I got up to get her, she was standing in her crib. She saw me, pointed to the lamp, and said Fishes. Another new thing she has learned is how to make the mad face. She crinkles up that nose and forehead and glares. When you copy her, she starts laughing. He top two teeth are coming in. There are huge lumps where they are about to break through. Night before last, I had to get up with her because of them. She started screaming. Gave her some teething tablets and rocked her in the glider till they kicked in. Well, I need to go load some pictures and get her cleaned up. Oh! One more new thing. She can drink sweet tea from a straw! She keeps trying to steal mine.

1st Birthday..

Okay, so her birthday isn't until Tuesday...We had a party for her tonight. She had cake and lots of fun. I have included some updated pictures of her. She also has a new teddy bear from build-a-bear. Her Aunt Sherry got it for her and she picked it out. As you'll see from the pictures, she loves it!

Growing every day!

Well, Elizabeth is now 10 months old. Her vocabulary consists of Mama, Dada, Hey, and No. Much to my dismay, Dada is still the most common word. :( Oh well. She loves her Dada. She has been trying to say Daddy. The Hey is really cute. She waves her arm and says Hey! I might have found day care for her next year. There is a lady who keeps kids (in home) right down the street. My neighbor who also kept kids quickly moved out a few weeks ago. No warning or anything. Apparently their house is a rent to own and they had not paid the rent in a couple of months. Most of the day cares I called had a 1 year waiting list for openings. I'm going to see the lady next weekend and talk to her. We have caught Elizabeth standing a few times without holding on to anything. She doesn't seem to want to walk though. Even is you hold her hands, she will sit. I guess its easier for her to crawl. She has had a growth spurt. She is wearing size 12 month clothes and 4 shoes (and diapers). Robin sent us some pink moccasins. They are soooooo cute. She likes them and has worn them to day care a few times. Its hard to believe she is so big! it doesn't seem like so long ago that she was born! in 1 1/2 months she will be a year old! Oh! I almost forgot. She has two teeth, both bottom. They came in at the same time. I think she's getting some top ones too. she had a fever of 100.2 yesterday and was really unhappy all day. You could tell she didn't feel good. She is all smiles today though! The fevers have been off and on all week. But only twice above 100. My little brother (3 year old) has the flu. ..again. He had type 1 and now has type 2. He gave it to my mom and now she is laid out. I can't go over there for a week just to make sure Elizabeth and I don't get it. Well, I guess that's about it. I'm gonna post a few pictures now... Picture 1...a cute, serious Elizabeth Picture 2 - her first trip to the zoo!. Picture 3 -Elizabeth's kisses...open mouth....and slobery....is that a word?? A silly Elizabeth eating her rubber duck. Picture 4 - Elizabeth holding hands with Rebecca. Rebecca is my friend Crystal's baby. She was born at 25 weeks and weighed 1 lb 3 oz. She is two now and the spokes baby for this years, March of Dimes. Her and Elizabeth are the same height but Elizabeth weighs more. Picture 5 - Picture 6 -Eric (God father) and Elizabeth playing the keyboard. and last but not least...Picture 7 - Daddy put her pants on her head

WARNING: Tear-Jerker Ahead!!!

Well, this is it...Elizabeth's first easter. She went to church with mom and dad this morning. Church was packed and she went to the nursery in the beginning. I went and got her for

Communion. She was very antsy when we got back and fell asleep on the way home. I am currently cooking a ham (without burning!) Be right back....I'm back..had to baste the ham....Smells good! We just went outside and took some pictures....Easter pictures of Elizabeth. We got some REALLY cute ones of me and her (which we don't have a lot of b/c I'm usually taking them!) The sun was a little off so the lighting is dark. I'm gonna see what I can do to fix them. Ignore the long grass. Have to mow the lawn this weekend. I'm including a lot of pictures today. There is one of her in a cute outfit on her pink horse. And one of her eating her feet while Sam laughes. Also one of Sam stuck in her Learning Home. He rang the doorbell and when Elizabeth opened the door, he crawled through. Then he couldn't get out! HAahaha! Finally, there is one of my latest creation...a Bunny Cake. This one impressed Sam and came out beautiful! Soo......Happy Easter to all! We hope to see you soon! Oh! Keep an eye out for Elizabeth's two bottom teeth in the pictures..you can just barely see them!

Tooth or Teeth

Whoo hoo! Elizabeth has TWO teeth coming in. I need to update her baby book. They broke through last Tuesday. The last two nights have been a little rough in the beginning. I think because of that. Elizabeth is also getting more clingy here lately. Last week I also went to Tot Trade (consignment sale where I get her clothes). I sold my bedding and bouncer seat and some clothes. I bought some clothes (cute ones too!) and a few toys for Elizabeth. I got her one of those 60 dollar Learning Homes for only 12. She also has a new PINK rocking horse. She is so cute on it! She is just figuring out how to rock on it. I'll post some pictures and all later on....Got to go get ready for school.

The Pictures

My Cake

Hello! Not too much going on here. Sam and I are doing good. Elizabeth is wonderful. Yesterday she was standing up and let go of the coffee table. She managed to stay up for a few seconds before she fell. Sam was excited. :) Unfortunantly, I was washing dishes and missed it. I also heard Elizabeth say a definant MaMa. I got pretty excited about that one. ;) We are also getting a dining room table. It belonged to my Great Grandmother who passed away last May. Also, yesterday I baked a cake. Not burned it, baked it. You would think I have a bad track record or something! I mean come'n I only burne one...or two...or maybe three.....My mom asked if she needed to call the fire department so they would have prior notice. Shana told me not to burn it. Sam asked me to bake two "just in case." I was determine to back a bunny cake but had some trouble with the ears. I'm gonna go get a bunny shaped cake (or cupcake) pan before easter so I can try again. Instead, I decorated my cake with Peeps. I made a Peep cake. I've included a picture of the sugar-filled delight so that everyone may drool over it. I know it isn't perfect, but hey, at least I didn't burn it! I'm also including pictures of Elizabeth at the park and of her snuggled into Daddy's cheast, sleeping. She's soooo cute!

Tub Time...

It's hard to believe but Elizabeth is 9 mos old today. She had her check up and is doing good. She is 19 lbs 13 oz, 27 1/2 inches long. Everything looks great. :) She is happy and cheerful. She definantly has her daddy's smile. She still hasn't said mama but says dada all the time. She also squeals. It's cute. She went out to eat with us Saturday and behaved wonderfully! On the weekend after Valentines we went out to eat with her and people stopped by the table to tell us how well behaved she was. She likes sitting up to the table with us. We have also been taking family walks at the local ball field. Just got back from one. I took her by myself yesterday. I'm trying to lose weight (lost 5 lbs already). She enjoys the walks and will just sit there and watch everyone. She also loves bath time. I'm including some pictures of her in her bubble bath and standing at the TV. She was pointing to the kitty cat on baby einstein. Too cute!! Sorry the picture is sideways...didn't have time to fix it....

UPDATE- Wednesday - It is official..I will be teaching High school next year at White Knoll High. I will be a BEST Program teacher which is a program for students who are in a work-based occupational diploma program. :) Yea!!!! I'm excited!!

Long Time No Type...

Hello all! Sorry it has been so long. I just got Pictures to Robin and a DVD's of Elizabeth. Things have been busy and Sam has been hogging the computer. The only reason I get to be on now is that Sam is on his way back from Charleston. Elizabeth just went down for the night. She is doing great! We took a walk today to the front of the neighborhood, which she loved. When we got back she ate some Hearty Vegetable stew and Dutch apple dessert. Then is was bath time. She has been getting bubble baths in the big tub now. She loves it. She chases her toys around the tub and spashes (a lot) . After that, it was bedtime. She has been doing a great job here lately with the bedtimes. She is also starting to get into things when she is awake. She has already had a few bumps and bruises. she can pull herself up to standing and is starting to try to walk around things. I caught her earlier trying to walk around the walker *she was not in it). She likes to try and pull Daddy's DVD's off the shelf and explore the fireplace. Some of her toys sit near them and she is really quick about making a grab for things she isn't suppose to have. Luckily we usually aren't far behind her so we're able to catch her quick. (and wash her hands) She is going to be a hand full. She is very sneaky. Like her Daddy!

Well, on to the rest of the family...Sam is a little sick but on antibiotics. I made him go to the doctor yesterday. I'm doing good. I will be changing schools next year to get closer to home and I have an interview Friday at White Knoll High School. It'll be my first in 5 years so I'm a little nervous. Most schools aren't even interviewing yet. Budgets and projections for next years' enrollments don't come in until mid march so most districts don't know what openings they have yet. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'll find something at a middle school closer to home. I'm excited and scared to death but I know that this change of schools will be for the better. Well, not much else to write now.....I'll post a few pictures....

Teething...Still

Elizabeth is teething and I think she had a breakthrough at some point today. There is a little white speck that you can see and barely feel sticking out. She is also fussy and keeps chewing her fingers and even trying to chew mine. I got my car back this morning which has been in the shop and my mom picked Elizabeth up from daycare because I had a class. Elizabeth ended up going to the doctor's with my mom and Ashleigh and Chase. Ashleigh has ringworm. Chase does too and was already on some meds for it. They gave them stronger meds that cost my mom $200. If these don't work, they have to have IV antibiotics for 7 days. Both of them have a bald spot because of this. The spot is small but it is a little noticeable. Even on Ashliegh's curly head. They are getting it from the cat that has been hanging around in the back yard and they have been playing with. Animal control made my mom release it when she caught it in a carrier earlier today. They were suppose to get it but refused because it wasn't in one of their carriers. The guy wouldn't let my mom move it to the other carrier either. Sooooo...now they have the animal control one so that they can try to catch it...again. Apparently while they all waited in the doctor's office, my mom taught Elizabeth a new trick.....see the pictures below...she hasn't stopped doing it yet....You'll have to tell me if you see a pattern....