Random

This is going to be a long post, but I thought I'd post a non-pictoral update about what's been going on lately.

• Bella will be two in less than a month! We just can't believe that she is already 2. When I was pregnant and after she was born, everyone would say "enjoy her while she's little, they grow up so fast" and I'd smile and say "oh I know"! But they really do grow up so fast. She is so full of personality and really keeps everyone around her laughing and smiling! She has quit calling me Momma and has started calling me Mommieeee. I'm not sure why - but that's fine with me. We are working on the potty training and some days she is interested and other days she is not. We are also working on her manners - she is very good about saying (or signing) please and thank you - sometimes you have to ask her "what do you say" and then she's says it. I have also been working with her to say "ma'am" mainly when she says "no". She still has to be prompted for that one, but that's ok. She loves to help around the house - taking out the trash, doing laundry, cooking, telling Brooklyn "no no" when she is getting into something she shouldn't, and even telling Georgia to "sit and stay". She is talking more and more and signing less and less. When she really wants something she will still sign pretty emphatically. The signs she uses most are "more", "please", "thank you" and occassionally "eat". She repeats everything you say, or at least tries. She continues to love to read, which is great! Brannon and I also love to read, so she sees us reading our books all the time and I think that encourages her. She can count to 10 when assisted and she will repeat the entire alphabet with you. Right now she really enjoys playing with her "babies" as she has taken to mothering them a lot lately. All in all - she is doing great and we have so much fun with her!

• Brooklyn turned 8 months old this past Monday! Again time really does fly by! She is getting more and more mobile by the second. She is officially crawling! Sometimes she crawls "normally" and other times she still uses her one foot to push herself off. She definitely can get where she wants to go! She has recently ventured out of the living room into the kitchen. Up until this point she has only been in the kitchen while in her high chair, so this is a whole new world for her! She loves plastic things - so I am having to be extra vigilant that she doesn't get hold of any plastic bags - because everything goes into her mouth. She also loves newspapers and magazines - mostly because they make a great noise when she crinkles them in her hand - this entertains her for hours! She is definitely a momma's girl! Momma was her first word (that's my story and I'm sticking to it). She also says "dada" and we swear that she says hey and waves. She will also hold her hand up and say hi. Now whether she actually knows what she is doing is up for debate, but it is entertaining none the less! She is eating solid foods but prefers the fruits. We've tried to sneak in some vegetables by mixing them with the fruits and she locks her lips shut! Her diet consists of breastmilk, apples, bananas, and pears at this point! We tried her on some blueberries and mango and she broke out. I also gave her strawberries (I know I shouldn't have so early on, but I forgot, plus Bella never had any trouble with any food, so I didn't even think about) and she broke out in a full body rash! So..no blueberries, mango or strawberries just yet. She continues to get bigger and bigger, catching up quite rapidly with Bella. Last time they were weighed, there was only about a 6 pound difference between them! She is the happiest baby I have ever seen and it is so fun to watch and play with her!

• As I mentioned in an earlier post, Brannon has now passed all 4 parts of his National Chiropractic Boards and is waiting to take the State of Alabama Boards in August. Once he passes the State Boards, he will be an official Licensed Chiropractor!! He is going to open a practice in Bay Minnette. He has the building secured for his office and they should be starting the build out within the next couple of weeks. Once that is finished, we will move in his equipment and hopefully he'll be open for business in early September! We are very anxious for him to get started!!!