LOOK MOMMY- SHE'S ROLLING!!!

"Mommy! Come quick, Lilly is rolling over!" The famous words every mom wants to hear with the first born, but the dreaded words you don't want to hear with the second child. Every mother knows that not long after the rolling over comes crawling, pulling up, and eventually walking (which leads to NO MORE SITTING DOWN & A LOT OF CHASING YOUR CHILD). But when Ava shouted those cute little words I ran into the living room and cheered for Lilly just like I did when Ava rolled over for the first time. Once all the excitement was over and Lilly did a really cute smile, it quickly faded into a frown and she realized she hadn't the slightest idea how to role back over. Lilly could hold her tiny head up for a few minutes before it hit the carpet and she began to whine. We all circled around her like a group of puppies and showed her how to roll back over. It was a "BIG MILESTONE" for Lillybug. Now if we could just figure out how to sleep through the night.

"Look, everybody I'm on my

side!!"

"Yes! I made it all the way over!

What now?"

"All this rolling has puckered me

out."

Rupunzel Gets Her Hair Cut

If any of you know my Ava, you happen to know she has a habit of cutting her own hair. Well today Ava got a hair cut by a professional, rather than herself. Let me back up and explain why we have our "New Short Stack Cut." I remember when I was growing up often asking my mom why she didn't let my hair grow long and put pretty matching bows in my hair when I was in preschool and grade school. She often would reply with two answers "Your hair just wouldn't grow right" or "You wouldn't let me put those pretty bows in your hair." Now being a mother of two daughters and one with a mind of her own, I know exactly what those comments mean. Basically mom was saying "Unless I slapped you over the head with the brush - you were determined not to wear those bows in your hair and your hair is way to thin to hold those bows." I happen to know somewhere out there in the wild blue yonder there lives that compliant little girl who wakes up every morning and screams "Mommy put bows in my hair and please brush my glorious locks of hair." Unfortunately at my house my Sweet Ava screams "Mommy don't touch my uneven locks of hair and please don't put any sort of clip,bow, or anything pretty in my hair. I love to go around looking like rats live in my hair." This brings me to my adventure into the salon today. We walk into the salon and she looks at Ava and says "Ava have you been cutting your hair again?" and with that said we decided to give her the "stack" cut. Leaving the salon I thought it was the cutest cut in the world. When we get home Chris takes one look and says "Where is all her hair?" I forgot to mention he was in love with Crystal Gail in his past life. Well I guess it is hair and it will eventually grow and of course there still is hope for Lilly to be my child that wakes up each morning and screams "Mommy brush my long locks of hair.But

then again I won't hold my breath.

Sisterly Love

When Chris and I decided to have our second child we couldn't wait to find out what we would be having. Of course for Chris, I think deep down inside he wanted that little boy. So how shocked we were to find out his little "swimmers" had once again created another little girl. As we rode home we talked about how great this would be for Ava. We already knew some things about girls, we wouldn't need to buy too many clothes, and for goodness sakes that "pink" nursery would not need to be repainted. One thing we never talked about was the amount of love Ava would have for Lilly or the way Lilly would light up when Ava walks into the room. I know there are going to be days when they are about to pull each others hair out, but for just this moment it seems "Sisterly Love" couldn't get any sweeter!! Here are some of my favorite photos.


"Ava had waited forever for this day!"

Lilly was 6 days old when Ava made her
a "Crown" for her head. Two princesses live
here now!!

Ava and Lilly posing in the yard!

Lilly's first 4th of July! She was wearing an outfit
that Ava wore as a baby.

Ava happen to be running by when all
of the sudden she realized "Lilly needed a kiss
from sissy".

A Day at the State Fair

Well my "sweet husband" decide to get up Sunday morning and plan a family day full of fun at the NC State Fair (along with every other Tom, Dick, and Harry). We decided to leave the house around 10:00 am to beat the crowd. But with two kids that didn't happen. After packing the car with two stroller, a diaperbag, two blankets, bottles, a cooler, camera, bear and baby, two kids, jackets for everyone I think we left the garage somewhere around 11:00 with Ava asking every two minutes what time we were going to be there. After arriving we rode around to find out parking was $10.oo and we had to walk a good 1/2 mile to get to the gate. With Chris pushing Ava and myself pushing Lilly, I could tell already this was not going to be fun. We get into the gates, where we see five million people. I am trying to keep up with Chris, my coffee is spilling every where and my stroller is getting caught on the hose pipes. All the sudden Ava is screaming she has to go to the bathroom, Lilly needs to be fed, Chris wants cheesefries, and I want to go home. Four hours later we had spent $100, we all were stuffed, cranky, and ready to go home. I told Chris I am glad the State Fair only comes once a year. But Ava told me "She wished she could go every day."


Ava patiently waiting for a ride.

Lilly all bundled up for the 52 degree weather.

Chris & Ava enjoying one of the free NC State Fair sites.

Ava & Mommy having fun! The only one who had a blast at the fair!!

Saturday Morning Fun

Just about every Saturday morning Ava enjoys spending time with her very best friend in the whole wide world "Clint Ferrell." Ava and Clint are exactly one month apart in age and since they were about 9 months old they have been the best of friends. They actually call each other "boyfriend and girlfriend", which can be extremly scarey at 41/2 years of age. These two together are a "Real Mess". Camiel and I have spent many hours cleaning walls, sewing tents back together, cleaning carpets, and trying to figure out which of the two did what or which of the two would be telling the truth. Their favorite thing to do at Clint's house is to play good guy/bad guy and run from Baby Claire. I assume she is the bad guy. They have also been known to play some other things like "Mommy and Daddy", Grocery Store, and the famous "Towing Things Around the Yard". At our house it is always fun to watch them play. Clint can turn a babie wand into a sword, a pair of highheels into boots, and a baby carriage into a protective device in a split second. Camiel and I have to admit we have dressed Clint up a time or two in Tinkerbell outfits which he protested they itched and he disliked. His favorite outfit is the fireman's hat with the Snowwhite Slip wrapped around his shoulders for a jacket. When Ava and Clint aren't into mischief such as making mudpies and taking all the silverware out of the kitchen or wasting all the bottled water from the fridge, we will find sweet Claire who will have warned us that she has just "pooped" on the floor or Lilly who has spit up in the swing. But I must admit that a Saturday wouldn't be a Saturday without all that fun and a great friend and a cup of coffee to share it with. So here is to Saturday Morning Fun!!! We're coming to your house next week!!

Where Has The Last 5 Months Gone!!

Just the other day a stranger stopped me and sweetly looked down at Lilly and asked "How old is your sweet baby?" I smiled like every Mom does and said "14 weeks". That night I was lying in the bed thinking about the response I had given the lady at the store and ran to the calender. I discovered Lilly had long surpassed 14 weeks and she was about to turn 20 weeks old. I shouted to Chris "LILLY IS ABOUT TO BE 5 MONTHS OLD AND I STILL THINK SHE IS 3 MONTHS OLD" The saddest of all is, I documented everything with Ava and NOTHING with sweet Lilly. With Ava if someone had asked "How old is your baby?" I would have told them her age down to the minutes. I could tell you when Ava slept through the night, the first smile, when she rolled over, her first tooth, her first fall, and the list could go on and on. It seems like with Lilly she is doing things way to fast or I am way too slow to document them in her baby book. I CAN tell you one thing about Lilly..... she has to be a GIFT FROM ABOVE because she is by far the sweetest, most laid back baby. Take a look at where the last 5 months have gone!!!

"This is what I call the good life"

"Cupcakes, coke, jumphouses, and lots of candy"

Lillybug having fun with Stormy!!!

Ava and Mattie having fun with STORMY!!

The Garner Fireman's Day Parade

Every year since Ava was a baby, we have attended the famous "Garner Fireman's Day." A fun filled day with music, kids activities, food, and a parade. The parade is so short that if you blink your eyes you might miss it. I must say this years parade was by far the longest and LOUDEST parade yet. Maybe because I am getting older and I decided to take Lilly along. The sirens were piercing to my ears but Lilly acted like she could care less. She does sleep with Ava playing music and singing as loud as she possibly can in her little ears. I think Ava loves this parade better than any other parade because, they throw out tons of candy and they have lots of "Princesses" (beauty queens). To make a long story short we had a great time with family and friends.

The Whirlwind of Wood's

Sometimes I feel like our life is one big "Whirlwind" and at any moment the Captain (that would be me) is about to lose control of the small boat (can't afford a cruise ship on a teachers salary) we are all traveling on. It is funny to sit back on Friday night and think about how much you have accomplished in one entire week and to think you may have only spoke 5 words to your spouse throughout the week. Between Chris's crazy works schedule and my chaotic new job we lead a fast pace life where we are raising two great girls. Here is a simple glimpse into the WOOD'S WHIRLWIND

We start each night by tucking the girls in there separate beds. That is after Ava has usually asked for 3-5 snacks, 5 stories, 5 kisses, 2 bathroom breaks, 2 kisses for Lilly, and to tell Mommy or Daddy another secret. She finally drifts into a sleep (Chris & I usually do a "Ava is asleep dance to our bedroom). We climb into our bed with barely enough energy to pull the covers up, hoping to get a few winks before Lilly needs to be fed (she has yet slept through the night). Chris tries to get at least 4 hours of sleep before he has to get up at 2:00am for work. Usually between 2-4 am, Lilly needs a feeding and sometimes Ava arrives for a crawl in the bed time with Mommy, because "I am cold". I drift back to sleep to hear the alarm clock blast Kinney Chesney and see that it is 5:00am. Time for the day to start. I drink a pot of coffee by 6:30am. Get the girls ready (remember Chris is at work). Ava has never been a morning person and likes to be lazy in the morning and since she has turned 4 we go through a "clothes war" every morning. Lilly "thank goodness" wears what I put on her. Next I get bottles ready, show-n-tell, lunch, breakfast, and hopefully we are all out the door before 7:45. I usually have meetings around 8:00 am these day. Did I mention I have had 1 WHOLE pot of COFFEE and I feel AWAKE. I drop the girls off at daycare and head to school. A day full of excitement and learning at my new job. Leave school to get the girls (Chris is good about helping), home to cook dinner, bath time for everyone, and bedtime rituals. If I am still standing by bedtime I look over at Chris and say....WHAT WERE WE THINKING?

"LillyBug"

No Hair
Blue-eyed Girl
Layed Back
Friendly
Happy
Smiles ALL the time
Little Sister
Mommy's "Special" Love
Daddy's Girl
Loves to wake up at 2:00 am
Gassy
Likes Baths
Dislikes being cold
Loves "Glowworm"
Enjoys sitting outside
Loves her big sister
Favorite baby food- Sweet Potatoes

Ava "Peanut"

Toehead
Blue-eyed Girl
Shy
Sensitive
Helpful
Funny
Sassy
Smart
Leader
Playful
A Great Big Sister
Mommy's First Love
Daddy's Peanut
Loves to Clean
Dislikes Tennis Shoes
Loves Flip Flops
Enjoys Playing School
Also known as Melissa

My How Ava Has Grown

It only seems like yesterday my little Ava was born. Sometimes I think how quickly the last 4 1/2 years have flown, and where has the time gone. Was it such a short time ago I was changing her diaper and feeding her a bottle. I remember when she was learning to walk and barely saying words. I thought Ava would never learn to talk or sleep in a big girl bed for the entire night by herself. The thought of taking her "binkie" away, or potty training seemed like such a big task. Just the other night I went in to her room before I went to bed and I looked over her and I couldn't believe how much she looked like a little girl and no longer a baby or a toddler. Often I find myself watching her playing and learning and I think to myself, there will never be another time period more precious than right now. A part of me is so excited and I think how much we have to look foward to. But a big part of me is sad because my "first" is growing way to fast.....