For the Duffield Girls

Some of the best women I know

Friendship is a funny thing. Growing up you were friends with the people around you...well because they were around you. You met as early as preschool through a variety of ways and you grew up together. Those people make you who you are and become your foundation. And then you go to college and make new friends based on common interests - whether that be a class, a sorority, an extra-cirricular activity, heck even boys! :) Then you move on to adult life and become a parent. You find you make friends with people because your kids like each other and want to play together! At least you start friendships for that reason at least. But you will find that you stay friends and become closer because YOU like being around your kid's friends' moms. It is no longer about the kids (I mean it is nice they have fun together and tire each other out, but that is just an extra). Before you know it you are surrounded by some of the greatest women you've ever met. Yes, you talk about your kids but you talk about SO much more! And these women help you become the mother you are, help you figure out what kind of parent you want to be, and help you grow.

Well...today is a sad day because one of our dear friends is moving. While we will still see her, it won't be the same. Trips to Chick Fil A and the mall won't be the same. Thursday playgroups won't be the same. And pretty much all the fun things we do throughout the week will change without the Duffield girls there. Melissa, Joe, Kate, and Elia - we will miss you more than you know and love you all so much! We wish you nothing but the best as you start this new chapter in your life and can't wait to hear how life will change and you will grow as a family (figuratively and literally!). We look forward to visiting your new home and can't wait to see you guys back in Dallas soon! Know you are missed so much!

The Kids

Big Boy Bed

Will moved from his crib to his big boy bed on Saturday night. I was so excited to move him and put his new bedding on and get it all set up. So after nap, Chris took the crib apart and put the conversion kit on the bed (his crib converts into a full-size bed). I walked in when the bed frame was set up and started crying. Had no idea it would effect me so much, but it did. My first baby is just growing up way too fast.

Dee Dee and Papa were over for a visit, so Papa helped Chris move the mattresses from our playroom into Will's room (we bought these a couple years ago assuming they'd be Will eventually). Well they were WAY too tall. They almost touched the top of the headboard. So...we regrouped (and I complained just a little...) and decided for night one we'd just put the mattress on and put the rails up. So that is what we did. And then we told Will to come upstairs and see! He LOVED it! He rolled around on the bed, smiled a lot, and acted silly. What a good response. He also did a great job when bedtime rolled around. He went to bed around 9pm and woke up around 7:30am. We were happy. Sunday we went and bought the appropriate size mattress and box spring for his bed and they were delivered last night. My dad reset up the entire bed (Thanks Papa!) and Will had another great night of sleep in his new bed. He's also had two successful naps, so far. We're still getting decorations for the room and moving things around just a little, but it is coming together. And it is so weird to walk into his room and see a full-size bed instead of a crib.

I'll add more pictures once the room is "complete". Will loves being a BIG boy!

Papa, Will and Daddy checking out the bed

Happy boy!

Really happy, silly boy!

"Practicing" sleeping. Silly guy.

Maddie's 9 Month Stats

We went for Maddie's 9 month appt today. She showed off a little to Dr. Burn's by babbling some words and pulling up for her. She also screamed for Arthur and Nancy when they took blood and gave her the one vaccine she received. Other than that she was all smiles and loved playing with the tounge depresser after they checked her throat out. Her ears looked good (yippee!) and the congestion she has, and always seems to have, is in her nose/throat and not in her chest. We reported to Dr. B that we're moving towards "regular" formula. She has about 1/3 regular similac and 2/3 Alimentum right now. I have been adding another 2 oz of regular each day in hoping to get her completely off the Alimentum. We have the go ahead for finger foods (already did, really) but Maddie has huge texture problems and gags when she has anything with texture. We'll start slowly trying to give her more once we get the formula switch taken care of, which will make her transition to whole milk much easier. I can't believe we are less than 3 months from that!

Here are her stats (my favorite part):

Weight - 18lbs 4 oz (40th percentile)

Length - 28 1/4 inches (75th percentile)

Head - 17 5/8 inches (50th percentile)

And a few pictures from the visit, since I had my camera with me!

Sunday Fun Day with friends

We had so much fun with friends on Sunday! Chris smoked a brisket and two chickens (a day long process) and we had our friends over to eat, hang out and play. I wish I'd taken pictures of the meat he cooked. It was so yummy and I was VERY impressed! Everyone loved the food and the company was great. Here are some pictures of the kids playing after dinner - when it was finally 99 degrees vs. in the 100s!

The chef enjoying himself after dinner

Avery playing in the water and loving it!

Will making a sweet face for mommy

Water hose wars happened often. I love how Will is looking at me like I'm going to do something about it.

Best water bowl ever!

Preston loving the water. I love this picture!

Avery and Will were AMAZED with Em's bubble blowing skills

Thomas the Train became a diving board. Next thing I know they'll be jumping off the house!

Teddy Bear Picnic

We attended a Teddy Bear picnic on Friday. This event is for Launa's Little Library here in Lake Highlands. Each kid brings a bear (my kids took stuffed dogs) and has a picnic and then a Teddy Bear March. There is also a bake sale to help raise money for the library. It was chaotic and a little nuts, but we still had fun seeing friends and eating lunch. I feel like the kids might have been a bit confused as to why we were telling them to walk around and march with their teddy bears (or stuffed dogs). Lots of lost looks in pictures. Cute, nonetheless!

Picnic with friends

Waiting for the march to begin

Maddie took it all in...

and played with Elia some.

"Big" kids marching

Maddie is 9 Months Old

Each month marks a milestone in Maddie's growth, but for some reason 9 months is hitting me hard. I think it is because we're entering that last quarter of her first year of life and before we know it we'll be celebrating her 1st birthday. She is also becoming so active and just seems to be getting older. I also think that with your 2nd child it just goes by even faster. You're chasing after 2 all the time and your days fly by (most of the time, at least!).

Here are a few facts about Maddie at 9 months

• She has two teeth! Her second tooth popped through on July 4th. Teething hasn't really made her fussy, yet. I'll knock on wood for saying that.
• She is getting a head full of curls! Who would have thought both of my kids would have curly hair? It is so cute. It isn't really growing in from the front either, so she has really short hair up front and a party in the back. Baby mullet, I guess! :)
• She isn't crawling, but she's trying to figure it out. She rolls everywhere and doesn't stay in one place for long at all.
• She doesn't like finger foods! We've only tried puffs and teething cookies, but they just make her gag. Really any baby food with texture makes her gag. She'll get there but right now we're on super smooth purees.
• She wears size 3 diapers
• She sits in highchairs when we go out to dinner
• She's now riding in the front of the sit and stand stroller and we're moving her to her big car seat. That infant seat is just too heavy and she is too long for it
• She loves to smile, giggle, laugh, and play
• She sleeps like a ROCK! When we were at the lake for July 4th, she slept through a firework show that was being shot right next door. Didn't make a peep.
• She babbles all the time and likes to say "Ma, ma, ma, ma, ma". Of course I love that! She'll also say "Da, da, da, da, da and Wa, wa, wa, wa wa". I think she's going to be chatty just like her big brother.

We go for our 9 month doctors appointment on July 20th (Dr. B is in Europe on vacation - lucky her!). I'll post updates on her stats after we go, but I'd guess that she weighs over 18 lbs. She has the cutest chubby cheeks and thighs! They both get tickled often!

First and only teething cookie so far. She loved it until a piece broke off went in her mouth. She then gagged until she vomited 1/2 a bottle. Yuck! But on a nicer note, look at those eyes!

Maddie and Daddy checking out the jet skis

I've been trying to get a picture of her 2 teeth for a while and just accidently got this one.

The bunny pictures are getting more difficult! She really just wants to eat her sign.

Here is Will at 9 months, for a comparison.

Moving on up...and back

Maddie took a ride in the front seat of the sit and stand for the first time today, which means Will moved to the back. They were both good and seemed to be happy. Will did try to bend over and lock the wheels several times. I can only imagine how much fun this will be on longer shopping trips!

These were taken with my phone...but you get the point.

I love how Will is peeking over!

She wasn't fussy, I think this is just mid blink. My dad said the face is evidence that she knew who the "driver" of the stroller is...

These make me smile!

My little musician! :)

Happy 4th of July!

We hope you had a great one! We spent the weekend with family at the lake and had a great time! Lots of swimming, playing, eating, relaxing, and watching fireworks. Will loved the fireworks that were a good distance away but was not crazy about the ones that were shot right next door. The neighbor does a show every year that is pretty spectacular but too loud for Will. Maddie slept through it all and never woke up despite the noise. Will has also adjusted to the lake pretty well. He was nervous at first but by the end of the weekend he was practically a fish...in a life jacket. He loved playing in the water with Uncle Paul and his cousins, Karina and Brennan.

Here are a few pictures from the weekend...

I tried to get pictures of the kids together, but as usual that was much harder than it should be! But we did get a few cute ones of them alone. You can tell that Will was the one who was not interested in participating in pictures. He just wanted to go swim some more!

Maddie and Daddy

Will and Karina being silly

Despite not liking the noise, he did manage to fall asleep during the fireworks show.

Will and Brennan

Such a happy little girl!