Capital P*I*L*L

I think Gracie and Oaklee must have some "spunky" genes they inherited from Mom or something! Today I asked Oaklee if she wanted to go to bed, and she literally stopped what she was doing (eating cheerios in her car seat) looked up at me with those big blue eyes, pursed her lips together and clearly said "No". She said it almost like she knew exactly what I was asking her. So out of curiosity I asked her again "Oaklee do you want to go ni night?" again she looks up at me and says "No." I'm like ok you don't know what I am asking you to do, and you definitely don't know what NO means yet!!! Then she fell asleep in her car seat covered in cheerios, and apparently she only ate a few, judging by how many were left over in the car and her car seat. She also had them stuck to her cottage cheese bum and legs, in her hair, and a few stuck in her rolls. When we got home from various errands, I took her out to put her down for a nap. Ever so gently, like an unknown art form, I un-buckled her straps, delicately picked her up careful not to wake her, and my goal was just to make it to her crib.. Please oh please! I tiptoed all the way, and she stayed asleep, until, of course, I laid her down in her bed and then POOF perfect timing, her eyes open up and she smiles at me. I James Bond style roll out of her room, trying not to be seen, but it was too late. She stood up and said, "Ma ma?" My own personal cryptonite. How can you resist that? So after my delicate mission had failed, I get her out of prison and we go upstairs to play. I gave her a cup of lucky charms to occupy her interest making note to only put a very few marshmallows in the mix because I know how much of a sugar high she would get and the little ideas that would formulate in her head of what to do with the marshmallows, like squish them ect. I was oblivious to her dumping out all her lucky charms and squishing them in the carpet, occasionally eating a few. I look up from the computer to this little mischievous grin on her face and she has marshmallows stuck to her lips, and smeared all over her face is left over bright green, red, and yellow marshmallow goo. There are lucky charms everywhere on the floor, crunched and smooshed into the carpet like glue. No wonder she was being so quiet! I wonder what her little brain was thinking when she was doing all this? Today she has been nothing short of a PILL! I'm sure we are just in the beginnings of the naughty pre-toddler stage of curiosity and "I wonder what will happen when I do this?" mind set... GREAT..
*Not to self: Toddlers and Lucky Charms don't mix.

Just a little story of a day in the life of Oaklee...
*I would have pictures but my ghetto computer is not cooperating, so just picture a little devil with pig tails... JUST KIDDING..

Craziness*
So it's been about a month since I have blogged, I have no excuses except for I feel like summer has been crazy! There has been a baby learning how to crawl, watch out, Josh's Graduation party, Grandpa Bart's 40th b-day party, 4th of July, Gracie's b-day party, one year anniversary, and all the day to day in between craziness! Here is a look into what we've been doing this past month..

Pool Party*
Amie and I have been itching to get a pool for the girls, and today couldn't have been a better day to be outside, so we made a quick trip to Walmart for sun screen and this blow up pool and we headed out into grandma's backyard. The weather was perfect and we all had a great time being in the much needed sunshine!This is all Oaklee wanted to do... eat the sides..

and this is all Gracie wanted to do... roll her eyes at me when I tried to get a pic

and they both are in their own little worlds and stages which means getting pictures of them TOGETHER, was like pulling teeth! oh well at least we tried!

Who's bigger?... haha Oaklee takes the cake, and would probably eat it too!*

Finally a light at the end of the tunnel.. *

For the last 2 weeks, Oaklee just hasn't been acting the same. She would bug her ears, throw up, have a constant running nose, and other attributes of the "common cold." These symptoms went on for a couple of days, with no fever. It is when the fever came along that I got worried. After going to the doctor, Oaklee's diagnosis was an ear infection and possible sinus infection, and a prescription for Augmentin. I thought that in a few days we would be back to normal... (whatever normal means) So I gave Oaklee the Augmentin... If she was not throwing it up, it was coming out the other end and I mean bad. Along with the nasty symptoms of a cold, she now had what was like the flu. I called the nurses concerned about her bleeding, painful diaper rash, and each time they would tell me to just finish the prescription and get her acidopholus for her diarrhea. After about the 4th day of constant morning and night diarrhea, I called back the nurses. It seemed as though Oaklee was getting worse, and not better! They gave us a new prescription and told me that obviously Augmentin is too harsh for Oaklee stomach... At least we learned that in all this!! After the old antibiotic cleared her system, and the new one kicked in, I started to see improvements! Thanks to Amie and Josh's Nebulizer, we made it through lots of long nights. Also thanks to Grandma for letting Oaklee sleep over while her mom and dad got much needed sleep, and thanks to Amie and her witch doctor methods, (garlic oil??) I think Oaklee is finally feeling better! YES!

Colt giving Oak her Nebulizer Treatment ....

and playing with her to make her forget she's sick

and having some much needed relaxation time on the bean bag together.. (nice farmers tan...sexy)

and most importantly, making her smile... Thanks colt for all your help, your such a great dad!
P.S. Just a reminder to give me your e-mail address's so when I go private, we can still keep in touch!

*A Little More Safe

So I was watching the news the other night, and this story came on about a creepy man that followed a three year old little girl around in Wal Mart, and it made me realize even more that this world is a scary place, (even at wally world) so it is about time my blog became a little more secure, I don't want just anybody looking at our family, or some creepy Wal Mart man... so if you want to continue viewing our blog, give out your e-mail address or e-mail me, I will be going private in a week, so please e-mail me asap so we can continue to keep in touch! Thanks!*
p.s. I'm very computer illiterate, so I hope this will work! ha let me know...

If only money grew on trees...

Colton and I have an inside joke about having a money tree in our backyard, and today is his 19th b-day so I thought it would be perfect to have one for a day! Happy b-day Colt, we love you!

Reflection*
Looking back at my past year, and being Mothers day and all, I can't help but be floored at the amazing changes that have happened in my life. Tears fill my gaze as I think back to when sweet Oaklee was born, and all the lessons she has taught me in her short 7 months of life. Being a young Mom at first was like being in a chopping , wave thrashing ocean. It knocked me down a few times, completely thrashing me with all it's fury; I lost view, I slipped under breathless and exhausted, but what pulled me through was that little glimmer of light, much like a light house to a weary fisherman. That little light in Oaklee's eyes, and that beautiful smile radiated through the pounding waves and somehow brought me to shore, to safety. I watch her grasps her toys, as simple as a spoon, and her eyes fill with wonder and amazement. I watch her learn new things and how she gets joy out of the simple things in life and she constantly amazes me with what she brings out in me. It is humbling to think of where I was, scared and anxiety ridden, to where I am now, excited for each new day and full of love. I cant help but reflect back to some 14 months ago in the fetal position on my bed consumed in self guilt and so ashamed; tears dampened my pillow and face, a sisters embrace and mothers kiss told me everything would be ok. And it is.
I am so grateful that such a sweet spirit was entrusted to me. She is one of my favorite things to kiss goodnight and wake up to in the morning. You know, life can be crazy sometimes, if for sure still is for me and some times I still get knocked down, but it's in those moments when you find yourself, and your potential, and essentially what you were put here for. I never regret a single day of the life I lead now, and I couldn't and wouldn't trade it for anything. I love and embrace being a Mom, and Happy Mothers day to all you hard working, love filled Moms, you have an amazing job, and each day is beautiful--