Wimberley Moments

* Immediately when we got there, she hopped out of the car and said, "I want to come here lots and lots and lots." * She found a tablet and started writing about "vacation bible school". She likes to write in her vacation journal on vacations now - Nana started that in disney world. * She asked "where's the 'turn up', when I asked Chris to help me find the turn off." * Joelle asked why Nana and Poppie didn't live in Wimberley. (She's still trying to understand that they own that house and that it isn't an hotel.) We told her that it's because they loved her too much to be that far away. She said, "everyone loves me." (matter of factly) * Chris and I loved the assortment of bread products in the freezer: 1. Pillsbury buttermilk biscuits 2. Southern style oven baked biscuits 3. oven baked buttter tastin' biscuits 4. oven baked butterflake dinner rolls. Nana said the last one was bought by Poppie on accident and, admittedly, we brought #3 with us (not knowing there were already so many there) because, well, it's a tradition to have biscuits there. Even Joelle knows that. * We have a new tradition.... we bought the game Cootie at brookshire brothers. Joelle likes to roll the die all the way up the driveway - that's part of the game now. You should see the dice - VERY scratched up. :) * I think we picked every single pricess lea flower (that's a mommie term, no idea what they really are called.) The next morning, when picking commenced again, Chris said in desperation, "did all these grow over night??" * We made it all the way to the falls with Joelle this trip (first time!) and she loved throwing pebbles into the roaring current.

Apple Pie Eating Contest

Our neighborhood pool is having an apple pie eating contest for the 4th. They have one contest exclusively for the kids. I jokingly said to Chris, "hey, we can enter Joelle!" We both started laughing simultaneously. Joelle had just gone to a tea party where they served cherry cordials. Not knowing that a cherry was in the middle, she popped it in her mouth. Her face quickly turned sour and she spit it out. Later that day, she accused me of hiding a cherry in the banana bread. Clearly, hiding a cherry in chocolate is not on Joelle's list of nice things to do. So, you can see why Chris and I think it's hilarious for her to be in an apple pie contest. She'd take one bite and spit it out! She'd be the world's worst apple pie eatin' princess. Should we do it just for the laugh!?

JOELLE!

I had to share a funny story that Chris told me... He got the credit card bill and was reviewing the charges. One charge for $195 stuck out and the payee said, "Walt Disney....". Immediately, he thought, "JOELLLLLLEEEE!" What did she do? I thought it was hysterical that he already foresees the day when she'll make some big charge without us knowing - tricky little kids. (It was my charge, btw - for Lion King tickets).

Just some thoughts.

I'm learning some things from being pregnant a second time. First, when someone tells you that every pregnancy is different. They're wrong. So far, mine have been the same. I'm banking on that now because with Joelle my all-the-time sickness went away a few weeks before the second trimester. I hope that's the case! Little girl has been so patient with a very sick mommie. At this point, I no longer believe anyone that says "each kid is different" either. I'm thinking we'll have a very collicky, poor sleeping baby. That will grow into a very delightful toddler, like Joelle. Second, you worry so much more with the second baby. I guess we were blissfully unaware of just how many awful things can happen to this baby growing inside of you the first go round. On the flip side, I think we truly appreciate what a miracle a healthy baby is. A lot of people answer, "just a healthy baby," when asked if they want a girl or a boy. I say that... and really mean it this time. My mom confirmed that, although my worry has somewhat been shaped by a recent tragedy with my friend's baby, we just know more with the second one. She worried constantly about me, but the thought never crossed her mind that something would be wrong with Joey. Third, Joelle has no idea what's going to be happening in her little life. There's not much we can do to prepare her. I have complete faith that she will be an incredible big sister, but it's going to really shock her. She's excited by the idea, but doesn't really understand. She doesn't like change... I know this about her, so it should be interesting. She noticed that I had on a "sleeping" shirt to go work out the other day and pointed it out. I said, "mommie is already growing and I don't like wearing tighter work out shirts." She said, "Mommie, I don't want you to get bigger!" Oh boy. If that bothers her.... see what I mean?

Per Joey's Request...

I asked Joelle tonight why she wanted a baby sister instead of a baby brother. She said, "I'm just trying to guess." I couldn't believe it! I asked again in a different way, "So, you don't care if you have a brother or a sister." She said, "nope." Crazy smart. Nana had told her two of the names we like for girls and one of them Joelle doesn't care for: Jordan. I asked her why she didn't like it tonight and she said, "It can be a boy or a girl name and it's more for boys." I'm thinking Nana told her that. How in the world would she know that? She doesn't even know a Jordan! Nana, I'm on to you! ;) By the way, Calliope is her favorite...

Stuff to play at the beach...

Joelle was flipping through an oriental trading company mag today and pointed out some toys for the beach. A limbo thing, flamingo wind flyers, etc. She said, "Let's get a lot of stuff to play on the beach so we don't have to go in the water." Ok, maybe she's not exactly the fish I thought she'd turn out to be.

It's a Boy! .... or a Girl!

Seriously, we don't know much more after having our first ultrasound (there is NO way Dr. Levine could tell girl or boy at this point), but we do know that it's just one baby!!!! She said, "this is good news, I think." Chris and I both agreed with a quick, "yes, definitely." When I broke the news to Joelle that she would either have one brother or one sister, she said, "I want a sister." Does this just mean we'll definitely have a boy? Poor thing... she can't get her way on any of it.

Day in the Life of Joelle

Joelle: Daddy, my watch says it's time to go. Daddy: Does your watch also say it's time to get dressed? Joelle: (pause) No, it doesn't say that. Joelle: Mommie, will the juice go all the way down to my toes? Mommie: Yes, it will Joelle: Why? Mommie: Because the juice has to nourish your whole body. That comment made me think of myself when I was little. I used to not understand how aspirin knew where you had a hurt. Joelle pictured herself being filled up with juice, not understanding, of course, the digestive tract.

White Cadillac

I look out the window, perched in my usual blue chair where I work. I notice a white cadillac kind of drive over the curb getting into a neighbor's driveway. She gets out, walks to the house. The whole time I'm thinking, huh, she seems a little older to be visiting that neigbhor. After standing at the door a long time, she gets back in her car and goes to the driveway of the next house over. I think she went to the wrong house! hehe. I've actually done that myself, but it's funny to imagine someone having watched me do it! :) Apparently, Nottingham West has had a crime surge (they are separated by Kirkwood from our neighborhood, luckily). If every neighbor could witness as much as we do sitting in our dueling blue chairs at night, I bet a lot of crime could be averted! Then again, we saw our blow up Christmas Tree get slashed, but didn't exactly deter that from happening. We still comb the neighborhood streets for that black jeep... beware.

Goldfish?

On the way to school today, Joelle informs me that she wants a pet. She says she wants a kitty cat. Darn, all these books touting happy kids and their friendly pets. Although, Chris and I prefer Olivia where Edwin the cat fits our picture of a cat. It goes something like this, "Olivia moves the cat, brushes her teeth and moves the cat...." However, most books picture sweet little puffs to cuddle up with. I say, "well, Nana and Poppie have cats - those can be your pets." She says, "nah, they aren't friendly." I laugh and say they are like most cats. I say, "maybe a goldfish." She gets all excited until she remembers puppy dogs. If only Joelle understood what a track record we have with pets. We have owned not one or two, but three pets that just didn't work out. For all those folks who say, "first comes a pet, then a baby carriage..." Whatever, I can handle babies. I think they're worth it - pets, well, they aren't. I know all you pet lovers out there are aghast. Before you cast me off as an individual, I will say that I actually do LOVE pets. In fact, I don't know what is wrong with me. I adored my dog, birds AND fish growing up and certainly like playing wither other people's pets... I think a goldfish sounds nice. I wonder how long we'll get away with it?