Playing Catch Up!

The week completely flew by! RJ adjusted well to daycare. The first day she was a little fragile, but on the second day she blew me a kiss goodbye and that was that. After dropping her off the first day, I went to the gym and took a BODY BUSTER class. As I could hear RJ's imaginary crying in my mind, I was hoping that she'd do the same for her child someday.

The day in the middle was great for both of us. We played well together and wanted to be next to each other. No more of this trying to do something on the computer or elsewhere without her/around her.

Wednesday my parents came in town and we bought plants and ate on the patio.

Thursday morning, day 2 for school, I had a flatter than flat tire. So we were delayed in getting there, but it all worked out great. It just wasn't the ideal day I had planned out for myself: Who really plans to spend the day at the "Car Repair Shop"? (like in that enterprise commericial. don and I always laugh at that commercial.)

Friday, I bought a new lens and we had two friends over to play. We went out to eat at a crawfish boil with our friends last night. Fun times if you like noisy restaurants and chasing your 18mos old from table to table.

It was a busy week, but I think I'm really going to get in the hang of having some time off from mommy duty.

Best Friends

I think a really good friend brings out the best in you and reminds you how to be You. In a world full of day-to-day self-consciousness it's nice to forget that for a while and just BE who you were most meant to be.

Por ejemplo, when you are in a room full of other moms (acquaintances) and babies, I feel like I'm always on my best behavior trying to say the right things, do the right thing and most of all avoid offending anyone. I'd like to fast forward to the part when we're all best friends and not so worried about the details. I most like the relationships when you have so much in common that you don't have to "try" to be anything else but a human being who is trying her very best in life. In that realm, you don't worry so much if your child steals a toy from another child or knocks her down in the process because overarching you know there is love and forgiveness there.

Click on the picture to see more from Sally's visit. Even though we were "working" the entire time (as opposed to playing with strictly girl-time of shopping and laughing), the time together was amazing as always. It's nice to be reminded of who I really am and what I can do when I have that kind of confidence and encouragement all the time. Everyone needs a Sally Cat in their back pocket. I hope you have one, too.

Here You Go, Mommy: A Scoop of Guilt to Add to Delicious Freedom

Why, Oh, Why did this article from the NY Times on the effects of daycare on preschoolers have to come out on the eve of RJ's Big Adventure in two-days/week Preschool.

Click here to read more . . .

Doll Face

Isn't she just the cutest?! I know I'm not the most objective opinion in the world, but seriously? She's just precious.

Did you notice this picture was taken inside my Passat? I'm sure you didn't. This is a unretouched photo - straight out of the million dollar camera and lens. I just have to have these things. I just have to have it!

new pix are up

and more coming soon... stay tuned.

Three Cheers

. . . for Sally Cat and her big bird landing safely in "Texas forever." (Although I'd love for all the Gulde's to get back to 'texas forever' that was mainly a reference to the Roedner's favorite TV show: Friday Night Lights.



. . . for big solid poos from the Peanut for the last 15 hours... I think we're in the clear of the big bad rota-virus. The timing couldn't be better!

. . . for long days and nights with your best friend on the planet talking shop and all things great and beautiful.

Three it's a magic number

Yes, it is. It's a magic number.
Three.

Three days until Sally Cat walks on Texas soil. Three days to do all the things that my mind has been racing to do. Top of the list: business goals, shoot with new rented L lenses, paint, paint, paint. She doesn't know it yet, but I think we could kill three birds with one painting stone. ;-)

So three days until it's the three of us and four when donr gets home from work.

Godmother and child

I am honored to be sweet Sloan Elise's godmother. Today the sweet baby was baptised in Georgetown and I made it there just in time.

Don and Rosa Jane had to stay back at the ranch while Rosa Jane continues to recover from rota-virus. Oh, how I want her to be better right now. Well, I at least want her to sleep through the night. Friday night was rough for me. Last night was rough for Don.

I feel the Zs coming on now. Catch you later. Enjoy the pics.

similar features of Aunt Page and Baby Rosa Jane

Oh My Stars!

Robyn used to say that all the time during our days at Baylor. Tonight as I was stargazing from my back porch, I was completely blown away.

The Peanut has been very sick with "Rotavirus." She runs a fever and pukes and has the world's stinkiest diapers. Even when there is very little poo, you could smell it from miles and miles away. Still, she's very much the same cheerful peanut at heart, just cuddlier and tired-er. The doctor says it could last anywhere from two to fourteen days. (And of course wouldn't you know that I've arranged for her to be in daycare next Tuesday. Please Lord, let her be better by then! )

We went to the drugstore today to get a remedy and while we were out, she fell asleep in the stroller. I didn't want to wake her to put her in the car seat to drive the 3 miles home, so I just wandered the makeup aisle and then the card aisle. I was particularly looking for something that would meet my needs for my godchild's baptism this weekend. I didn't find anything, but I did find a sympathy card that said, "what if the stars weren't really stars and instead lights from the people that have passed on, there to remind us that they are still with us." Of course, the card was a little more eloquent.

So I'm gazing at the stars tonight thinking of Banky and of that endearing song "Somewhere Out There Beneath the Starry Sky. Someone's thinking of me and loving me tonight" sung by a little mouse.

I recently got in touch with Banky's highschool friend, Mika Beth. Banky had always said I shoulda called her long ago. She does amazing photography in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Anyway, I sent her a link to my pictures and she wrote back saying how Rosa Jane resembles Heather -- my Banky. I remembered my dream many months ago of Heather and how excited she was to hold Rosa Jane. How she felt especially close to me.

Banky will always be in my heart. I am more because of her and would have been much much less without her. I hope the lessons I learned from being Banky's friend will be passed onto Rosa Jane and she too will live unabashedly.

The stars are truly amazing tonight. I hope you'll be out there looking at them, too.

Has it really been two years already?

I can't believe it's already 2007. Who remembers when we thought the world was going to end at the stroke of midnight 1999/2000.
(My boss at the time had a stash of flour and other essential items in the software warehouse - just in case)

I can't believe we're already in the middle of March 2007.

I can't believe how much the time change has screwed up my RJ's nap/sleep schedule.

I can't believe how much I desire a break from mommyhood for a day or two for just a few hours once a week.

I can't believe how hard it is for me to plan ahead when it comes to her(in terms of getting a sitter. We've never had one, except for my mother or my brother).

I can't believe I've been blogging for two years. Now would be a good time to figure out the whole backup thing. I sure would hate to lose all these "good times."

What can't you believe?

Spring Break in East Texas

We're back from visiting the piney woods of east Texas. We spent the nights with my sister and family on Lake Palestine and it was great to be away, although we missed the donr very much.

On Monday we went over the hills and through the woods to visit Mama Jane. We would have loved to have spent more time with her, but the ride home was already 4.5 hours so back to the cabin with Caren we went. We went to Heather and Benny's gravesite (Mama Jane's daughter and husband). The markers are beautifully engraved with "...the promise of together for eternity in heaven." Oh, how I miss my Banky. I know she'd love the peanut to pieces, but it's God's promise that keeps us going.

Click on the picture to see more.

Kids -- what will they think of next?

Rosa Jane and Kate were playing together this morning and we really had the best time. Hank would thrive working in a daycare. He is a true entertainer. From the moment Kate walked in the door, the girls were laughing over Hank's chasing the ball and bringing it back for them to do it over and over again. Then Rosa Jane got sidetracked as she always does by the baby pictures flashing on my computer's sleepmode slide show so they wandered into my office.

Rosa Jane takes after her parents and heads straight for the computer's mouse and starts computin'. Kate heads for the kleenex box. I think to myself, " sure Kleenex serve a purpose but in the grand scheme of things, it's a cheap toy and who cares if Kate empties the whole box." To my grand surprise, she didn't. She went directly over to runny-nose Rosa Jane and wipes it for her.

And that's when Kate turned around to me... and I snapped this proud picture of her. I love this girl so much.

Vimeo.com

be sure to check out the new videos on www.vimeo.com search user obkb2000. you won't be sorry... unless your name is Rosa Jane and you fall on some girl who doesn't appreciate it. Then you might have your feelings smashed. Watch the video and pity the poor baby.

When Trouble Knocks

Monique and I were talking yesterday about how spunky our girls are and how we can only imagine the trouble they will get into as they grow older together.

Some of the ideas we came up with? Addison saying she could catch a deer (with all her cat-catching experience behind her) and Rosa Jane saying she could saddle it (just 'cause she can). Together we'll find them riding a deer in no time... that or they'll both end up in the crick just across the street from Addison.

Whatever happens, I'm glad to know we're in this adventure all together

Enough with the Videos, Already!

I know you didn't just say that. So here's another video of September birthday pals being sweet to each other.






22nd, 23rd, 24th Altogether Now on Vimeo

The Little Signs of Love

Each night before we all go to bed, we put away the toys that a knee-high someone has scattered about the place. I'll find a doll lovingly placed in the outside swing, or a stuffed monkey sitting patiently in the stroller waiting for a ride. Call me sentimental, but these little signs of love melt my heart.

Two weeks ago we were shopping in a clothing store with Zdogg. She says, "Look at your little tag-checker!" I watch Rosa Jane as she touches each shirt and then flips the tag over and over. I don't have to wonder too long about where she learned that.

This morning, Rosa Jane reaches over to my messy hair and swipes it back behind my ear. As she does so, there's this sweet smile on her face.

Rosa Jane picks up on behaviors learned by watching and by being taught on purpose but to her there's no difference. I have to remind myself of this fact all the time -- even when I'm frustrated as all get out that she's breaking the rules and feeding the dog excessive amounts. And that's my biggest frustration right now because it makes our dog rude, untrained and grabbing food from countertops. Who wants to live with a dog like that, anyway? I know one thing for sure: donr doesn't.

At Sam's 5th Birthday Party

Guaranteed to brighten your day... and make you say, "I want more!"





RosaJane giggles at Sam's Party on Vimeo

The Wild and Crazy World of Child Entertainment Collided with Haircut

Yesterday I took RosaJane to Cool Cuts for Kids. Once in the door they proceeded to overwhelm with her all kinds of new forms of entertainment -- The Wiggles blaring from the small TV at the haircutting station, small toys shoved in her hands, and at last her first lollipop. And then the nice lady wanted her to look down when all the excitement was everywhere but down there...

Check out the video to experience it all for yourself and follow the link to vimeo to see the blowdrying followup.




Be there for RJ's First Haircut on Vimeo