Tough things for a 2-yr old

Gosh, I've been meaning to post for three weeks now, but we've been SO busy! We've had some big things happen lately. Things that have been difficult to explain to my ever-inquisitive 2 1/2 yr old. About 4 weeks ago, one of our golden retrievers, Cowboy, died. Dustin had taken him and Cassie out for a run, while he road his bicycle. Cowboy was slowing down towards the end and finally stopped and laid down about 1/4 mile from our house. So, Dustin road the rest of the way home and came back to get him in the car. Basically, we think he had a heart attack. Our neighbor (the superintendent) came and helped Dustin try to revive him, but he was gone. So they dug a hole in the neighbors backyard and buried him next to their kitty cat that had recently died. It was very sad for Dustin and I. He was only 3 1/2. I knew that Taylor would eventually ask, and I was really dreading that conversation!! The next day, when we were outside, she noticed he was gone and asked about him. Dustin told her that he got sick and had to go to heaven. She basically said okay and kept playing. Whew, that was easy! But it wasn't the end of it! That night, when I was putting her to bed, she started crying and said she wanted to go get Cowboy and bring him home. I explained to her that his heart was sick and medicine wouldn't help him, so he had to go be with God in heaven and that's far away. She said, "Well, tomorrow, when we get dressed, we can get in the car and drive to get him." I told her we couldn't drive to heaven, but that now that he's happy there! She asked how he knew to get there. (are you kidding me...these are big questions for a 2 1/2 yr old). I told her the angels showed him the way. She smiled and said they were probably singing to him. My heart melted!! She still asks about him some, but seems content to know that he is happy. We will sure miss sweet Cowboy!!

Our other big news is...we are moving! Dustin took a job about 75 miles south of Lubbock in Ackerly. The school is called Sands. It's the same size school he's in now. We are very excited!! We are moving in three weeks. And I am going to be induced in 6 weeks. It's going to be crazy, but I know it will all work out! Taylor has been asking questions about this, too, as I have started packing boxes. She's not really thrilled about the idea. It's going to be a busy 2 months for her, with a new house and a new baby brother. I am just hoping she adjusts fairly well!

My official induction date is July 6. I am getting really ready!! I feel quite large these days and am having trouble chasing Taylor around. But other than feeling as big as a house, I feel good! :-)

I will leave you with some pictures of Cowboy. I don't have any recent ones...I know I do somewhere, I just can't find them.

Tu-Tu Cute

Our friend Cami gave Taylor this adorable outfit for her birthday. We've worn the shirt and hat quite a bit and Taylor LOVES to play dress up in the tu-tu. I've been waiting for a good day to take her picture in it b/c I wanted her to be bare foot. So when I saw how great the weather was going to be on Tuesday, we went to my dad's backyard and played around. Here are a few of my favorites. Thanks Cami, we LOVE this sassy outfit!!!

Lot's of Easter!!!

We really celebrated Easter this year!!! And by that, I mean SIX Easter egg hunts/parties!! I was pretty much worn out when it was all said and done! It is wonderful to have all of our family here so that we can celebrate SO MUCH!! And, Taylor was able to have a few Easter egg hunts with her cousin, Britten this year before they went back home to N.C. By Easter Sunday, Taylor had the whole "hunting eggs" thing down!! We had a hunt at Gammy and Pa-paw's (mom and David's house), then at Pop Pop's (dad's), then I hid eggs for Taylor and Ashtyn (the little girl I watch 2 times a week), then at the Slaton park with Trax and Ramzi, then at church, and finally at Grandma and Grandpa's (Dustin's parents) on Easter Sunday. These pictures are totally out of order, and since there are SO MANY I will not be rearranging them.

Taylor with Mikaela and Riley on Easter Sunday

hunting at Grandma and Grandpa's
Before church

Checking out her loot from the Easter bunny. I LOVE the tired eyes and "bus hair." Also, please take note of the tank top that is on...I have a funny story to tell at the end of this post.

Hunting at the Slaton park...this is the view I had each time she bent over...LOVE IT!!

It was VERY cold and Trax had decided he'd had ENOUGH!

Taylor, her cousin Thatcher, and Trax waiting to hunt

Trax, Ramzi and Taylor
Ashtyn and Taylor

They wore their matching shirts that day
Coloring eggs at Gammy's

I had to post this picture of Kendall b/c her eyes are SO blue and pretty!!
5 out of 6 of Gammy and Pa-paw's grandkids (they will have 3 more by July). And can I just say that Taylor loves her newest cousins Cooper, Kendall and Clayton and Abriella!!

I took a few pics before we left for Gammy and Pa-paw's that day

This is my new favorite picture of Taylor...except that she looks TOO grown-up!


Speaking of grown-up, my baby turned 2 1/2 on Thursday!! Boy, I can't believe it! She is quite the hilarious one these days! As promised in the Easter morning pics, I have a few funny stories to share.

The tank top she has on in those pics was a gift from her Great Aunt Susie. A while back when our family was together, Susie learned of my daughters fascination with bra's. Taylor thinks she needs one SO BAD! So, sweet Susie bought Taylor these tank tops and called them her "bra's". Taylor just loves them! The other day, she told me...

"See mommy, I have a brawl just like you. I have boobies like you too, but mine aren't big." Dear Lord, please don't let her inherit my curse. HA!! Also, when she first got the "brawls" (as she calls them), we quickly realized that we needed to talk to her about when it is appropriate to talk about them. We learned this after she showed a woman in the buffet line at Ci-Ci's pizza and after she told a few ladies at church. That is why I am not teaching my child the "correct terms" for private parts!!!!

Another cute story...We were at Target on Thursday picking stuff out for Baby Ryan. Taylor couldn't understand why I wouldn't pick out anything pink. I explained to her that boys don't have pink stuff, but their stuff is blue. She looked at me wide-eyed and said, "So, Baby Ryan's going to be a real boy?? Like Daddy's a real boy?!" I think they light bulb clicked.

She is constantly saying sweet things like this! I don't remember a lot of things, but like to share her sweetness and silliness when I can!

Taylor's 1st Hair Cut

Taylor got her very first hair cut yesterday! She was surprisingly good and still!! Her hair is so thin and she was getting some really long stringy pieces, so it was time for a cut! She actually cut quite a bit off. I wanted a little bob and thought it would make her hair look thicker. It sure did and turned out SUPER cute! After her hair cut, we went to Taco Villa with Lindsay and Britten, where we ran into my cousin Kristin. Then, I had to go to Walmart and I bought Taylor a surprise for sitting so still! She picked out some nail polish and lip gloss. I also got her some new clips for the new 'do!

This picture was right before she made the first cut. The lady needed her to look down, so I squatted down below her. I love it b/c she looks so uncertain!

ALL DONE!

Austin Trip and fun Taylor-stuff

Last weekend, Dustin and I were able to go to Austin for the Girls State Basketball Tournament. We had a fun-filled few days!! We left on Wednesday afternoon, watched 18 basketball games in 3 days, then came home on Sunday. We got to see lots of great basketball, eat WELL (without a 2-yr old reaching on my plate every 5 seconds), see the capitol, and do LOTS of walking! We mostly ate at the 2 restaurants within walking distance of the Super Drum, but did leave Friday between the last 2 sessions to go to Pappadeaux. I LOVE that place!! We walked to the capitol to pass time during a break on Saturday and had fun sitting outside and enjoying the awesome weather! But by far, the most exciting thing we saw was a 6'8" girl from Houston that could dunk it. Rather, I should say SLAM it with AUTHORITY!! I've never seen anything like it! The entire Super Drum of probably 8,000 people went CRAZY! She has signed to play for Baylor next year, so if you keep up with Big 12 Women's b-ball, you will be seeing more of her. Her name is Brittney Griner. I know there was some You Tube footage on her, and I believe ESPN even did a story on her. Oddly enough, her team lost in the finals. They just didn't have anyone but her and the opposing team had a couple of 6-footers that double teamed her. She had 44 points the first night and 19 the second night and goodness knows how many blocks and rebounds!!

Here are a few pictures I got of the 6'8" girl dunking. They're not great...just taken with a point and shoot camera, but you get the idea...

I had to take a picture of this van Dustin and I saw while walking after lunch one day...hilarious! Please notice that the window is up!

Now, onto some Taylor updates. I know this will surprise most of you (ha-ha), but my daughter has become quite the little ham! :-) She loves to pose for pictures and make funny faces. She loves her jewelry and dress up clothes and anything princess!! I think this next picture of her proves my point exactly!

It's funny, though because although she is MAJOR prissy, she also likes to play rough, get dirty and be ornery. She's such a crazy little girl!

All throughout basketball season, Taylor loved singing the National Anthem at the basketball games. We also have a CD of the Cactus Cuties (whom she loves) singing it that we have to listen to all the time. No matter what we are doing, if she decides to sing it, you have to stand up and put your hand over her heart. She's really starting to pick up on a lot of the words. Here she is one day dressed up and singing it for me.

The best part of her singing the National Anthem is how she confuses some of the words. Here is parts of the song as I hear Taylor sing it...

Jose can you see

By the dollars eve light

What so proudly we hailed

At the twilight's last gleaming

Whose bright stars and bright stars (she insists on singing it this way)

Then she skips to the end...

Ore the land of the THREE

And the home of the BRAIDS!!!

I love it! She totally cracks me up! The girl LOVES to sing and knows so many songs. She's actually starting to carry a bit of a tune and some of her songs are understandable.

Also, her Aunt Lindsay and cousin Britten are in town for a few weeks. Taylor sure loves her cousin. They get along MOST of the time and it's fun for them to play with each other. I took them to Legacy Play Village the other day. They both had to wear their sunglasses...too cute!


They could see each other in the sunglasses...too funny!

What sweet girls!!

Taylor is SO EXCITED...

...Because she is going to have a BABY BROTHER!!!! We found out Wednesday that we will be having a BOY!!! I am seriously so shocked and thrilled!! We have picked out the name Ryan Samuel. Everything looked great on the sonogram. We even got some awesome footage of him moving on DVD. Ryan's brain, spinal cord, and heart checked out wonderfully. He estimated Ryan to be about 12 oz (which is in the 74th percentile). Check out the belly pics of me below and you can see he's growing and so am I!!!

On Tuesday, I got a bit crazy and decided to cut my hair. I've been growing it FOREVER to have it cut off for Locks of Love. You have to cut at least 10 inches. The hair will be used for a wig (or wigs) for cancer patients. Check out how much I cut off!!! It's actually a little more than 11 inches when held straight!