Like Father, Like Daughter

So the other day, I go to pick up the girls from daycare and low and behold, Drea is sitting in time out. I asked the teacher why she was sitting in time out and she replied she wasn't listening to what I asked her to do. I told her I would talk to her about it and of course I did. Anyway, Stacey took the girls to school the next day and found out the teacher asked her to clean up her mess and she said no. Not just once, but twice. She flat out refused. Well, the next day I go to pick the girls up again, I get Charlotte first and then walk in to pick up Drea. I greet her with a "Hey, Knucklehead" in which another boy in her class proceeds to start calling other kids, knucklehead. The teacher corrects him and tells him that isn't nice to call our friends. Then, she tells me I have to take Drea's sheet, blanket, and pillow home. I reply with a "Do I have to." She informs me "That I have to." I realize on the way home from daycare that I probably shouldn't call Drea, knucklehead, so I tell her Daddy shouldn't call you knucklehead that isn't nice. She replies, "That's okay Dad...I still love you." I told her thanks, but I still shouldn't call you knucklehead....this time she replies, "That's okay I still think your funny." I tell Stacey all of this and her response, "And you wonder why Drea tells the teacher no." I guess I don't anymore.

My favorites

This is just a random list of some of my favorites (currently):

• I love yous.
  when I quietly tell Drea "I love you" and she whispers "I love you" back in the sweetest voice ever.
  
  
• Andy's creations.
  when Andy makes some concoction on the stove where he just throws a bunch of stuff - and it's awesomely delicious!
  
  
• SILENCE.
  possibly my favorite sound ever: SILENCE. Like when you put your baby down for a nap in her crib and she just quietly falls asleep. SILENCE. Even better, your oldest child is sleeping at the same time! OH, SWEET SILENCE!
  
  
• My girls.

• Food!
  rigatoni & meatballs, Yann dogs, pepperoni rolls, hot wings, chili, hot sausage, hot peppers (Note to food: I can't wait to enjoy each and every one of you again after Charlotte is weaned! Oh, sweet bliss!)
  
  
• Food I can eat now!
  cheese pizza, frittas (thank goodness for the Italian Heritage festival - if anyone knows who makes frittas on a regular basis, please let me know!), roasted chicken (Andy's speciality), ice cream, Rita's water ice, french fries, pancakes...can anyone tell why I need to lose weight
  
  
• Mountaineer football.
  here are some pictures at the ECU game -
  both of my girls love the games.
  although the 2nd picture shows what Charlotte does for half of the game.
  

• Family days.
  like zoo trips.
  

• Zoo babies.
  Drea's favorite: the baby elephant (how cute is that!)

• Drea's photography.
  this is a neat shot.

• Cousins.
  someone to always have fun with.

• Firsts.
  first big girl bath with big sister.
  first ride on a carousel.
  
  
  

Just to catch you up

I have been meaning to blog about this for a couple weeks now...

Charlotte has hit some milestones. A lot of things have happened during her fifth month of life. A few weeks ago, she started sitting up on her own. She still has some falls but she even tries to pick herself back up if she after she falls.

She also had her first tooth come in a few weeks ago. I feel like once these couple things happen everything just flies by. You really only get quite a few months in the beginning of their life when they are completely dependent on you and don't do a whole lot of anything. But once they sit up, then next thing you know she will be crawling any day and then walking tomorrow. And the next thing you know she will have an entire mouth full of teeth.

So I have really been absorbing this thought lately and trying to take in every moment possible before they fly by. Like when she hugs me (she is a very good cuddler) I just sit and think about how one day I won't be able to remember what it's like to have a baby put both arms around your neck and squeeze you. (Sorry, I know that sounds depressing.) So I'm trying to appreciate every one of those little moments that make babies so very special. On a side note: I think that's why being a grandparent is probably so awesome because you get to experience those feelings again.

Charlotte also started eating cereal about a month ago and has progressed to veggies and fruit baby food, too. So everytime I nurse her I think about the special time we get to spend together while breastfeeding. I was her sole source of nutrition. Before I become merely her cook, I want to soak in every minute we spending nursing and providing her nutrition.

Lots of fun going on this month at our house...below are some pictures:

Charlotte sitting and playing with the Drea's big girl letters on the fridge. Well, I guess now they are Drea and Charlotte's letters.

Drea always "makes" Isak play dress up with her when he's over our house. He's a cowboy with fancy sandals and some make shift bandana that is really one of Drea's tank tops. They were so hilarious!

Jersey giving Drea hugs! This was pretty funny, too!

Charlotte having a little fun with Jersey! She loves her - I just always try to make sure she doesn't pull her fur too hard. Charlotte will stop doing everything when Jersey comes around.




Andy's baby sister was visiting a couple weeks ago. She graduated from ICE (Imigration & Customs Enforcement) training. She was in Georgia for 30 weeks training to be on the ICE Team. And before going back to California, she came to visit us and meet Charlotte with her boyfriend, Leo and Andy's Mom, Judy.

We had a nice visit! This is a picture of the girls, Aunt Laura and Leo.

Can't wait to see you guys again in January at Karen's wedding!

The ABC's of Andy

I usually never do these types of things, but since I'm a school teacher, I thought I would do this one.

A - Age: 35

B - Bed size: queen

C - Chore you hate: folding and putting away clothes

D - Dinnertime: 6:30 (if we're lucky)

E - Essential start-your-day item: COFFEE

F - Favorite color: Blue

G - Gold or Silver: neither, but if I have to pick silver

H - Height: 5'9"...almost

I - Instruments you play(ed): air guitar and drums

J - Job title: 4th grade teacher

K - Kids: 2 - Alexandrea Carmella and Charlotte Eve

L - Living arrangements: own Stacey's grandparents old home

M - Mom's name: Judith

N - Nickname: Drew (Stacey calls me this) Ferris (friends from home call me this)

O - Overnight hospital stay: Never for me, but everytime Stac has been in the hospital

P - Pet Peeve: Bad drivers

Q - Quote from a movie: "And GI Joe got stuck under the water"

R - Right or left handed: right

S - Siblings: Karen and Laura

T - Time you wake up: 6:30, 6:45, or 7 depending on how many times I hit snooze

U - Underwear: yes, boxers

V - Vegetable you dislike: peas, lima beans

W - Ways you run late: Stacey or something unexpected happening

X - X rays: dental

Y - Yummy food you make: roasted chicken

Z - Zoo favorite: lions

ABC'S OF ME

(Thanks Megan - this is always a chance to stop and learn a little more about myself) :)
A - Age: 30
B - Bed size: queen
C - Chore you hate: sweeping dog hair off my couch (I know sounds gross doesn't it.)
D - Dinnertime: 6:30 (if we're lucky)
E - Essential start-your-day item: contacts - I feel like I can't function without my contacts in
F - Favorite color: red
G - Gold or Silver: silver
H - Height: 5'7"
I - Instruments you play(ed): I played the congas at church a couple times...had no idea what I was doing and I'm not really sure if this counts.
J - Job title: graphic designer and momma (well, my actual title is marketing assistant)
K - Kids: 2
L - Living arrangements: own my grandparents old home
M - Mom's name: Nancy
N - Nickname: Alexis (my mom and Andy sometimes call me by my middle name)
O - Overnight hospital stay: 6 times (1/06 - Drea's birth, 1/06 - kidney stones, 3/06 - kidney stones, 3/06 - Drea RSV, 3/09 - Charlotte's birth, oh yeah, and when I was born)
P - Pet Peeve: rude people
Q - Quote from a movie: "fat guy in a little coat" (It doesn't sound right if you don't sing it.)
R - Right or left handed: right
S - Siblings: Chad, Jeremy, Tony, Kareen
T - Time you wake up: 5:30 on work days, 7 on days off
U - Underwear: depends on what I'm wearing
V - Vegetable you dislike: brussel sprouts
W - Ways you run late: usually always my fault but getting Drea out the door is proving to get harder every day
X - X rays: dental, kidney stones
Y - Yummy food you make: mashed potatoes (usually)
Z - Zoo favorite: zebras and penguins

RIP Slickers

It saddens me to tell you our goldfish Slickers has moved on to the big fish bowl in the sky or shall I say the big fish bowl in the bathroom. We decided we aren't going to replace Slickers because she can't be replaced. (Grandparents we are serious, NO REPLACEMENT FISH) Drea won her at the Three Rivers Festival in May and Slickers lasted longer then I ever thought she would. She was a good fish and we enjoyed her. I think I may have done something to lead her to her death. I cleaned her bowl today and I think it may have been something I did in the cleaning that put her over the edge. Please don't tell the cops it was unintentional. We will miss you Slickers.