Cake boss

Here's Chloe's Elmo cake. I'm quite proud of myself. Just call me the "cake boss"...okay so maybe not, but I think it looks great. Especially considering the fact that before I was married I wanted nothing to do with the kitchen except to eat in it. I rarely helped my mom cook or bake or decorate and when I did I was just in the way. I showed it to Chloe and she said "Elmo". At least it looks like him. I showed it to her before it was finished and asked her who it was and she didn't say anything.

I learned 2 things:
1) Make the frosting thicker
2) Use lots of food coloring to get a richer red color.

Feel free to leave your admiration in my comment box ;)

Trip to the zoo

We went to the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia on Friday. The zoo itself was fun. Taking 2 little kids was an experience. It would've gone better if Chloe had a nap. I thought she would sleep on the way there (it's about a 90 minute drive). But no, she was wide awake, screaming and everything. Actually, these first few pics are at the end of the trip when she was having a better time. She liked this carousel ride. At first she was freaked out but then she like it and wanted to go again. When it ended she said "nee, nee". That's "again" in Chloe language. I liked the animal she was on, a babboon eating a banana. Funny. The above pic looks like he's looking right at you.

Just another shot of the babboon and the red-faced animal and moi... :)

Here I am right as it started trying to convince Chloe that she'd really have a good time.

This face pretty much sums up our whole day at the zoo. They had animal statues around the whole place and I wanted to get a pic of her on one. It didn't go well. Click on the pic to get a good look at that lower lip.

Here's a gator just like the one that was wandering around our neighbors yard about a month ago.

Here we are on the train ride. She really hated that. She was frozen still on my lap the whole time.

Pretty flamingoes. I've always liked these animals. FYI: They sound just like geese.

Chloe loved the bears. There were a few of them but this one in particular kept running back and forth. It was funny because the one on the other side of the den (or whatever it's called where they are) was fast asleep. So asleep he had sleep twitches! Cute!

I should've gotten a picture of all 4 of us but I didn't even think about it! Sorry!

Since you're already reading about my life, wish me luck. I'm venturing to make an Elmo cake for the little girl's 2nd birthday tomorrow. I've never decorated a cake on my own before. Hopefully it turns out. Don't worry, I'll post pics of it!

Woo Hoo!!!

We went out to run a couple of errands and I decided to take Chloe out in her big girl panties. I am very happy to report that we had NO accidents! I'm sure some day we will, but I am relishing in this right now!

We went to the zoo yesterday. I have pics and stories and I'll write about that later. Let's just say that I'm still recovering...

Potty training update and funny story

Potty Training update:
For the past couple of days Chloe's been dry after her nap. We're very proud of her. Then last night we went out to dinner and then grocery shopping. At the restaurant she peed in the big potty. The pull up was dry when we got home. She held it for our whole trip! Finally, the piece de resistance (sp?) she was totally dry this morning and peed a lot in the potty! She's doing a great job and we're sooo proud of her!

Funny Story:
We went out for Chinese last night. An older couple walked in and their t-shirts read the following:
His- This isn't a beer belly, it's a fuel tank for a sex machine.
Hers- This is what a sexy grandma looks like.

Trevor and I will walk around in shirts like that in about 40 years!

Aunt Denise's visit and cute pics

So cute! Yesterday I laid Scarlett down on the couch on this blanket. Chloe climbed up next to her to lay down too! You can't see it in the pic but she's in her big girl panties. Potty training is coming right along. I'm really proud of Chloe. She has the occasional accident, but for the most part she tells us when she has to go. Now I just need to work up the courage to: a) keep her in undies during her nap- she currently wears a pull up. However, the past 2 days the pull up's been dry the whole 2 hours! and b) keep her in undies when we go out- she also wears a pull up when we go out.

I don't know why Chloe's freaking out. I put them in their sister outfits and their hair was done. Chloe suddenly decided she didn't want her picture taken. I had to snap the photo quickly b/c she was about to throw Scarlett off of herself!

At first glance you'd think this was just a cute picture of the little girl. Look closely at what's in her hands. The little stinker grabbed Scar's pacifier and took off, that's why she looks so happy and proud of herself.

My youngest sister Denise came to visit for a few days last weekend. We had fun. It's always nice to have extra hands around to help and let me take a nap! Thanks Denise! Just before she left she wanted some watermelon. So here she is. Why use a fork when you can use a large carving knife!?

Here's a better shot of the knife.

Denise and Scarlett. She'd probably like me to point out the ring on her left hand. She's getting married in February!

Aunt Dara's and Uncle Ryan's visit and cute pics

Deucey was hungry enough to suck on daddy's nose!!

Sweet, sweet Scarlett Rose...

Chloe giving Deucey a bottle. I love this!!

My sister Dara and her husband Ryan came to visit us over the Labor Day weekend. We had a great time! It was sooo nice to have extra hands and extra help! Thank you both:)

Little Deucey update

I took Scarlett to the doctor's today and she's growing well. She's 20 3/4 inches and weighs 8 lbs 14 ozs. That puts her in the 75th %ile for both height and weight. Her head measurement puts her in the 50th%ile. She's a really good eater so I'm pleased to see that she's put on about a pound and a half since birth. She's starting to make these cute "cooing" sounds. I love it! I guess you could call it cooing. It's a cute sound. She spends a lot of time alert during the day. Chloe didn't do that. When she was awake she was wailing.

Chloe is starting to talk in sentences. I can't always understand each word she says. Her newest and most favorite sentence is "blah, blah, blah, pretty baby". She's usually pretty good with Scarlett, always loving on her and kissing her. She did hit her right in the belly today though! I love having these 2 little girls. I know it will get better and better.

Grandma's present

Here's her new princess shirt.

Grandma Alice sent Chloe a baby doll with a blankie (which Chloe calls "mimi"), cute dress up shoes and a princess shirt that tweets (pictured at the top).

Chloe with her baby and her baby's mimi.

I love this! She was strutting all around the house in her new shoes.

Little Deucey fast asleep.

So cute.

More cute pics

Chloe loves holding her little sister. She walks up to me with her hands out and says "hold her, hold her". It's so cute! I love this pic because they're both in their jammies.

Ha, ha, ha...I've stolen Scarlett's pacifier. Chloe always takes her sissy's pacifier. I don't really know what to do about it. If I make to big of a reaction she likes the attention, if I don't do anything she thinks it's okay. Just for the record, daddy took this pic, not me.

Little Scarlett's sooo tired. Be nice if she'd sleep like this between 11pm and 6am...

I like this pic of Trevor with Chloe and Scarlett.

This pic melts my heart. Chloe wanted to hold her so I got her set up. Then she wanted to hug her, so I adjusted Scarlett. She kept bending down and kissing her. I got all teary. It's so cute watching Chloe cuddle her sister. But then in an instant she can haul off and hit Scarlett right on the head. She's usually good with her though.