We are a family who enjoys livin' on the edge!

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Five Months Today!

Ross continues to grow despite my best efforts to keep him my baby. He is healthy and happy and I can't believe how lucky we are to get to call him our son.
Here are some pictures I snapped for his 5 month birthday and while Idon't know his full measurements, our next appointment is at the end of January, he is as long as his toy chest and has to be close to 20 pounds.
I am making his fod like I did for Merritt when she was little and he loves mealtime! He loves bananas and sweet potatoes with rice cereal. We are introducing pears next.
Ross continues to be happiest in his mommy's arms {and my favorite too!} but we are continuing with tummy time. He will now immediately flip back over to his back whenever we lie him down on his tummy.
He also continues to sleep through the night, usually 7pm to 6am and 2 three-hour naps during the day. I hope this keeps up, mommy loves sleeping babies!
Also it looks like we have a righty despite daddy's best attempts and hopes for a left-handed pitcher!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours...
Merritt and Ross had a wonderful weekend celebrating with family!

Friday, December 16, 2011

Love for Merritt's Teachers

Merritt loves school and we owe that to her teachers. I couldn't wait for Teacher Appreciation Week in May so I decided to count down to the Holiday Break with the 5 Days of Christmas... On the 1st Day of Christmas, Merritt gave her teachers... Something for them to use, She's giving y'all these clipboards, so papers you won't lose. {Merritt picked the colors that she thought her teachers would like.} On the 2nd day of Christmas, Merritt gave her teachers... 2 Turtle Doves, Did you know two turtle doves are extremely hard to find? So here are Turtles and Doves, The chocolate candy kind! On the 3rd day of Christmas, Merritt gave her teachers... Three types of popcorn for a snack, Sorry that's all the food, I could fit in my backpack! On the 4th day of Christmas, Merritt gave her teachers... Stuff 4 the class. Dry-eraser markers come in four, As my teachers, you really help me soar. And my binder clips, I'm sure it could be very tempting, to use them on my lips! On the 5th day of Christmas, Merritt gave her teachers... 5 Golden Rings Only five golden rings? There are really more, Of Sonic onion rings, Yummy to core!

Thursday, December 8, 2011

The List

Breakfast with Santa

Each year, my school hosts Breakfast with Santa. There are crafts for the kids, coffee and donuts, and of course a visit from Santa!
This is our third year to go and we had a wonderful time! Merritt was very excited to see Santa and tell him exactly what was on her Christmas List!
After our picture, we made Reindeer Bell Ornaments, a Jingle Bell necklace, and Reindeer Food. I loved how the event coordinators thought about the parents this year - there was NO glue or paint! There is nothing more brutal than keeping up with your children moving from station to station while holding a wet handprint or waiting for glue to dry.
If you ask Merritt what she liked best about the day... the Christmas Tree lollipop she got from Santa!

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Christmas Fairy

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around the Edge house. I spent mosst of November unpacking and therefore didn't get to decorate for Thanksgiving so I am making up for it now! I am so excited to be able to continue our traditions in our new house. Merritt has her pink feather tree and her advent snowman, but one tradition we will not continue is Elf on the Shelf. Elf caused lots of problems for us last year, so we asked him to pack his stuff and find another family to spy on.
This year we welcomed the Chritmas Fairy... she is lovely. She doesn't mess up your house, she doesn't 'watch' you to see if you do anything wrong and she does not report directly to Santa.
She brings a Christmas book for you to open and read each night.
Merritt has been excited to unwrap her book each night, unlike last year when she was terrified to close her eyes because the elf was watching her.
It was to cute the first night when she opened her book and told Beau that she already had that book. All of the 25 books are books she already had :)
I hope to keep this tradition going as Merritt and Ross get older. I think it is a nice way to countdown to Chritmas, by snuggling up with a good book.

Happy Turkey Day!

We celebrated Thanksgiving with my parents in Houston. The family spent the day outside playing, relaxing, and watching the caterpillars that were enjoying their Thanksgiving leaves. Merritt sang and showed off her moves with her two favorite songs, 'Any turkey can tango' and 'I'm silly and I know it' {sung to the tune of 'I'm sexy and I know it'}. There is video and yes I will use it to blackmail her later in life :)
Merritt waiting for Daddy to find her in her hiding spot...
And refusing to look at me when I have the camera and terrific natural light but still beautiful!
And then it was turkey time! Merritt enjoyed her food while Ross...
looked on, wondering where is mine??
Next year buddy, I have no doubt you will clear your plate.
And Hook'em Horns - what a great way to end a terrific rivalry! Longhorns won the first, the last, and most of them in between.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

4 Months Today!

We are so incredibly lucky to have a happy and healthy boy in our lives. In a year where it seems not a lot has gone right... Ross and his sweet smile make it so much better. And I don't know if I have said the phrase, "It happens for a reason" in all my life than the past 6 months.
Our family is getting used to 4 and our schedule has become set. Ross is sleeping through the night {altough because I just typed that, I am sure I will be making a 3 am visit now}. We took a trip a the peditrician for his 4 month check-up and Ross is in the 75th-90th percentile in weight, height, and headsize. He is rolling from his tummy to his back and is so vain because his favorite thing to do is stare at himself in the mirror.
Merritt has come to the realization that Ross is staying for good and loves on him all the time. She is learning patience and understanding but isn't quite ready for sharing :)
Beau and I think about our days before Merritt and Ross - laying in bed all weekend, eating out for dinner, and hanging with our friends....
While it was fun, I look back and think my life wasn't complete until my babies join our family.
<3 them so much!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

3 Months Today!

My 'not-so-little' little man is 3 months today today! Since my last post, our family has moved into a new house... yes, again. Ross did fantastic with the move and is getting adjusted to unpacking and redirecting. His room was a horrific mustard yellow color, so he had to move back into his pack and play while we painted his room.
Ross continues grow and develop right on 'schedule.' He is very alert and keeps me in his sightline at all times. He is still a momma's boy and I <3 that.
I have gone backto work, which was very difficult, but Ross did very well and loves the lady that is taking care of him. We have started a book, his daily diary of all of his feedings, naps, and accomplishments. I know I am going to love looking back on this book when he's older but right now it helps with my peace of mind.
He's my stud-muffin lounging in his bath - another picture he will be o excited I took when he's 16!

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Paint Chip Pumpkin Garland

I saw this pumpkin garland on Tip Junkie and knew I had to give it a try Lori's shower! What I liked maybe most about it the entire project was FREE and was by-far the decoration I was asked most about at Lori's Baby Shower!
I picked up {stole - altough is it stealing if they are free?} two different colored orange paint samples for the pumpkin and green paint samples for the stem from Lowe's. Merritt was my lookout in case any Lowe's employee creeped up to ask me how they could help.
Being a teacher, I already had brads, a hole puncher, and jute garland {my classroom theme is the corral and I use the jute as a lasso and/or tie up any kid misbehaving in the corral}.
When I told Merritt we were making them for Aunt Lori, she wanted help, so I put her on leaf duty. I found some glittery-sticker leaves in my craft closet to give the pumpkins some pizazz {also I don't own a leaf-shaped hole puncher like the lady on Tip Junkie}.
Her's our paint-chip pumpkin patch! I had fun making these, altough the hole punching was hard on my hand after doing it for a week straight and am already thinking of heading back to Lowe's {a different one, where they don't have my face on a WANTED poster} to get brown paint chips to make turkey garland and then maybe some reindeer garland for Chritmas.
I used them on all the windows and in between the monthly onesies to go with the pumpkin theme :)

Friday, October 7, 2011

Sweet 'Pumpkin' Farm

Today we drove out to Marble Falls to visit Sweet Berry Farm with some friends. On the way out there I was admiring the scenery {and watching out for police because my registration is WAY over due and I already received a warning, so I can't pull the "I didn't know... I can't see through the blue backing" while making my sad face}. Anyways, besides being on high alert, I was thinking about how I am going back to work next Wednesday {insert sad face}. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE teaching; I just want a little bit more time with Ross. I was excited to spend the day with my own babies before I go take care of my school babies. Speaking of the little edge, here he is with big sister with the pumpkins. Don't let that face fool you - he was trilled to be on the ground, propped up on the pumpkins!
We met up with our TOT friends and their mommies {and a grandma too}. Ayden was quit the ladies man with his blondes :) The three friends were on their way over to pick a pumpkin to paint and decided it would be safer to hold hands - much to the delight of the paparazzi {ie. the mommies}.
Here are Ayden, Taylor, and Merritt being pulled in the wagon to go for a hayride and cut flowers. Ayden was so sweet to share his ride with the blondes! I definitely need one of these {putting it on my Christmas list!}.
The hayride was fun and it was nice to sit down after the long walk across the street. The hayride took us through some 'interesting' pumpkin people scenes. The first one being a saloon where 'pumpkin shine' was being served. We were on the the hayride with students from an Austin elementary school and it seemed all of them asked at the same time; "What is a saloon?" Good luck explaining that one, is what all of us were thinking about their teacher. Other favorite pumpkin scenes included the 'Deer Hunter' {deer holding a rifle towards a pumpkin person}, 'Pumpkin Night Time' {for some reason there were skunks apart of this one}, and 'Pumpkin Wedding' {2 pumpkin couples getting hitched - in 1 of the couples, the man was climbing in the tree to get away from his bride}. Well worth the $3.50 for each of us.
To end our pumpkin visit, we cut flowers. The flowers were BEA-U-TI-FUL! I could have spent the whole afternoon watching Merritt cut flowers. Although next time I will take better, sharper scissors to help with the cuttings. Funny story about the flowers, as we were walking up there was a couple with a cup FULL of flowers and we remarked that they might be opening up their own flower shop... they were definitely getting their money's worth!
Can't wait for the spring when we will go back for Strawberry Pickin'!

Hide & Go Seek

One of Merritt's favorite games is Hide & Go Seek! It's the simple things in life for this 3 year old!
When it is her turn, she tells us where she is going to hide {which is good of her because a couple of times I couldn't find her}. When I walked into her room to 'find her' after she told me where she would be, this is what I walked in to...
In case you are having trouble finding her because her hiding spot is too good - she is in the pink box! Love this girl!

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Lori's Little Pumpkin Shower

My best friend, Lori is having a little girl in November {I am hoping for 11.11.11}. A couple of our friends and I threw a 'Little Pumpkin' baby shower for Lori and her daughter-to-be Ava. All of the shower guests were greeted with pink and orange wreath and an 'A' for Ava.
Here we are with the 'mommy-to-be' and the hostesses. Behind us is part of our gift to Lori, monthly stickers and onesies hung up for decoration.
Lori received lots of love and gifts from everyone! I think she probably said 'How cute!' and 'Aawww' about a hundred times while she opened the gifts! Ava is probably going to have to change clothes 4-5 times a day just to wear all the outfits she has already.
One of Lori's favorites was from our friend Whitnie - the Longhorn onesie. Ava doesn't have a choice but to be a Longhorn :)
Lori made the cutest 'thank you' baskets for each of the hostesses! They fit right in with the theme of the day - pumpkin bread and yummy smelling cinnamon pumpkin handsoap. Love you Lori!!