Pumpkin Pickin in 80 degrees!

It just doesn't seem right-near 85 degrees in late October. But tradition is tradition and we had to make the obligatory Pumpkin Patch trip (especially since grandma was in town and we really didn't have a choice). So we threw on her most festive sweater to ensure she had a nice "glow" for the camera and trotted off in search of the perfect pumpkin. Now, not to brag, but I have an "eye" for these things-I can spot a perfectly proportioned, weighted, and colored pumpkin a mile away...its a gift. So while Ryan (who apparently hasn't inherited this gift) was sifting through small, puny, useless pumpkins, I spotted the Mother of all Pumpkins, the Mack Daddy, the Charlie Brown Great Pumpkin! I proclaimed for all the world (we were the only ones there) that I wanted THAT one...and grandma agreed, although I'm not sure why-in retrospect, $20 is an awful lot to pay for a pumpkin that I had no intention of carving, and really had no idea where I was going to put this monster. But alas, I got it, and didn't even notice my poor mom struggle to carry this beast to the car (it was heavier than it looked-like 30lbs or so). Sorry grandma!

Anyway, enough about me and my continued track record for pumpkin pickin-Ryan too did a decent job-picking the cutest little pumpkin that turned out to be less than a dollar and one she could carry herself-maybe SHE is the one with the gift...the gift of common sense!

"I DID IT!"

There has been a rash of "new" things Ryan can do, closing doors, opening doors, using a spoon, changing the channel/volume (to our dismay) but really, isn't that what it means to grow from a baby into a toddler-everything is something new you can do! But unlike every other day previously, she can now TELL me when she has done something! Her newest and by far the CUTEST thing she has said to date is: "I did it!". It all started when she got the puzzle pieces to her new puzzle in all the correct spots. I heard her say softly, "I got it" so I repeated it...I said, "You got it? You did it?" to which she then repeated it louder, "I DID IT!" Yeah, you did girl! This one really melts my heart, because before you could tell she was proud of herself, she would give herself a round of applause, or smile and shrug...but now to hear it out loud that self-admiration....it was too precious for words! Sadly, Jamey missed another "first", but the good news is, she said again the next morning, and NOT because we asked her to say it, but because once again she completed the puzzle and wanted to let him know, "I DID IT!"

Tippy Tumbles down the Stairs!

Holy Crap! So the scariest moment since her birth happened last night...and I dont like to place blame, but IT WAS ALL JAMEYS FAULT. I'm teasing, I think it is a man thing, men just dont think like women...its a fact. Anyway, back to Ryan's traumatic moment. So its bath time and for a while we got Ryan crawling upstairs every time, this way I wont have to carry her. It was working well, until one day, she just stopped and demanded to be picked up. Now, I am very lazy and would cave, and pick her up. Jamey, being infinitely more patient, decides to "work with her". To do this, he would go up a few steps ahead acting as a carrot and she would follow him up. I had no idea this was happening or I would have said something to the effect, "make sure you stay behind her at all times." "lets make sure you hold onto her at all times" ummm..."Let try NOT to let her fall down the stairs head over feet if we can." Poor Jamey got lulled into a sense of comfort because she never stood up before-well this time she did. And as soon as she did, being 18 months and NOT having the core strength to maintain balance, she immediately fell backwards! Now, I didnt see it-I wish I had, I am thinking the visual was way better than the audible version. I was in the bathroom underneath the stairs and to say it sounded like her head cracking on every stair all the way down lasting 10 minutes is an understatement. I ran around to find her at the bottom of the stairs. Jamey grabbed her straight away and she just laid her head on his shoulder, never crying once. Then without waring said, "Bye bye" as if she was heading back upstairs to get her bath. She giggled and waved the whole way up. She was fine....I however was NOT. I burst into tears and couldnt stop shaking. Somehow managed to keep myself calm enough to NOT go into labor, but it took a few hours to truly calm down. So lessons all the way around-
Ryan learned to be more careful on the stairs, Jamey learned to stay behind her when climbing the stairs, and I learned to anticipate instinctively the things that could harm Ryan and anticipate the fact that Jamey doesnt know them instinctively and clue him in-daddys dont have those instincts I guess...

The blind leading the blind leading the blind!

Does anyone in our house know anything???!!!!! The confusion in our house usually consisted of a newborn baby (rightfully, I cant really get mad at her-she couldn't even speak) and my husband Jamey (who CAN speak and is usually the culprit), but I somehow managed to keep the place running and well-organized. But now that I am 8 months pregnant and have clearly lost my mind, there are no answers to be found in our house and we all end up looking around at one another and doing the Ryanbug move (her answer to every question)-shrugging our shoulders, placing out hands in the air as if to say, "I don't know".
Begin scene.....
"Ryan, where is your doggie?" (Shruggs shoulders and puts hands in the air)
"Jamey, where are the keys?" (Shruggs shoulders, puts hands in the air) AND adds, "I don't know".
"Jen, where is the remote?" "Oh wait, here it is, you put it in the toaster!"
These are scary times in the Newsome household!!!

"I Go Poo-Poo"

I was telling this story to my co-worker when she tells me to make sure I write that in her baby book. Then it hits me-have I written anything in her baby book? Then I realize something else-THIS blog her baby book! So here I write about my daughters first 3 word sentence. Now before I do, I looked back and saw that I have made no mention of her "first" word or her first 2-word sentence (I mean seriously, why is it so freaking hard to keep up with a baby book-especially when it is digital for crying out loud?!) So for the sake of mentioning it, her first word (I think-WORST MOM EVER) was "ball" or "dada" and her first 2-word sentence was "All gone" or "I'm done". Now I can move forward without guilt to her first 3-word sentence.
Ryan had been napping on a Sunday afternoon for a long time, like 3 1/2 hours or so, very unusual. I decided that I should go wake her up, but chances were good she was already up, just chilling in her crib. I open the door and was immediately hit in the face with a pungent familiar smell-an immediate diaper change was in my future. I walk over and as predicted she was sitting up with a paci in her mouth. I walk over and ask, "How was your nap bug-a-boo?" To which she spits out her paci, and proclaims, "I GO POO-POO". And my instant response was, "Man, you aint never lie!" She then grabs her paci and places it back in her mouth and stands up ready for momma to change her! Which I promptly did once I picked myself off the floor from laughter!

Jasper Turns 2!!!

Jasper is my bosses (Connie) sisters' (Kathy) son who she had the week I started working for Connie, is turning 2 and having a PARTY. This was Ryan's first invite (and from a boy) to a birthday party and I was very excited for her, but horribly nervous! Jamey was out of town and that meant, shopping on my own, getting her dressed (supposed to be a farm theme, more on her "outfit" later) getting myself dressed (which lets face is no small feet...I mean feat) and getting the present wrapped. We started out very rocky...she didn't go down for her nap until late, which made mommy panic (although, what doesn't these days?) but I came to terms with being a bit late (which I HATE). The getting ready part wasn't as bad as I anticipated, with the exception of her "cowgirl" outfit. Now here is where my insane vanity rears its ugly head. The shirt was cute enough, but she really didn't have shoes the would "go", and I couldn't get her hair "right" and ultimately the brown plaid shirt "washed her out". I really want to say that I am kidding and NOT be THAT girl, but sadly, clearly, I have a problem. The only thing on her body that could even somewhat resemble a "farm girl" was her denim skirt...but oh well, she looked cute as hell! So sad..I know..I'm thinking of getting help...

On the way, the debacle of "just getting there" continued..we had to stop at a dollar general store to pick up a gift bag, on the way there she got her shoes off, and bows out of her hair (the store is 1/2 mile down the road). So now I am 7 1/2 months pregnant, sweating like a pig from the humidity of an awful muggy September day, trying to put shoes back on and bows in sweaty hair. Now I have to carry her in/out of the store, with the shoes coming off twice in the process. Thank God for Elmo, which made the ride out to the farm quiet! Sensing it was going to be a BAD afternoon for Ryan, I came to terms with leaving early, full of apologies, and embarrassment. But once again Ryan came through in a clutch, and the entire time I was sweating from the heat AND nervousness, she was being just as good as she could be. She played with the toys, drank her drink, ate her cake, sat quiet, mingled, and looked as adorable as ever! I really hated that daddy missed this. She got a punching balloon on her way out (which she LOVED-all the way home) and basically made me question why I always anticipate the worst, when she always comes through being the best!

How did she do this?! Magic?!

Or...is that she is very good at what she does?! I HATE, and I don't use that word very often, HATE, but I HATE to have my picture taken. So between that and the fact that I love taking pictures, I am rarely IN any pictures (which is fine by me). But Rachael wanted to add to her portfolio and I wanted some kind of documentation of this pregnancy (and desperately needed a vacation) so I agreed to head to Asheville to be her guinea pig. It was so much fun, usually I am inhibited, timid, shy, and she just brought out the best in me. I trusted every decision she made and she put me completely at ease (it doesn't hurt that she is my best friend and I would trust her with my life). We went to maybe 10 different locations and she had me wrapped in scarves and changing along the side of the highway (laughing all the way)! I began to embrace my hugeness because she seemed to enjoy it so! :) All in all it was an amazing photo shoot and a great get away just before Leah is born! If Rachael and I weren't close before-we certainly are now!! :)