MORE!!!

Today Marshall started signing! We think he's been trying to sign "more" for a while, but today there was no mistaking his first sign!!! We were in a Mexican restaurant this morning and when he signed "more" I started clapping and yelling, "Yay, Marshall!" Everyone in the place though I was crazy, but what can I say, I'm one proud mama!!!

Two Wheels, Baby!

Tonight Paul and Molly decided it was time to learn to ride a bike without training wheels so they tossed the bike in the back of the truck and set off for the park.

I was shocked when Molly came home an hour later and announced that riding on two wheels is "no big deal, except for starting and stopping." I can't wait to see her in action, so glad Paul took the camera with him!

Hippity, Hoppity, Easter's on it's Way...

Molly and I made a list of fun things to do over spring break and today we took care of item #1 when we had the kids' picture taken with the Easter Bunny.

Thank goodness my kids are so cooperative because I am obsessed with having pictures taken with Santa and the Easter Bunny every single year. Who knows, Marshall might still end up being that kid who screams hysterically when placed on Santa's lap, so for now I will enjoy his cuteness.

This picture just makes my heart happy!

*This is the same Easter Bunny from last year's picture. He was at the mall by our house, and today I specifically drove to a different mall 30 minutes away so we could get a BETTER bunny. Oh well. Molly says she loves this pink-whiskered creature, so at least she's happy.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Molly and I started our St. Patrick's celebration over the weekend at the parade on 1960. I can't believe I have NEVER heard of this parade before, even after we moved up to this side of town, we only found out about it after Paul got stuck in traffic last year when the street was shut down!

Molly was super excited because her Auntie was on a float! She thought she was pretty special when she got a feather boa from Auntie when everyone else was just getting beads.

Last night Molly prepared a little bed in case our Leprechaun friends needed a place to sleep. We even found a cute little leprechaun night-light this year!

This morning Molly found a note from the leprechaun thanking her for the cozy bed and letting her know that he buried three different treasures in our yard... so we set off to find the hidden treasures which were each marked with a shamrock. Molly got several golden chocolate coins and some REAL gold dollars.

She was so excited!

My Irish Darlings:

7 Months

Marshall turned 7 months-old last Sunday. I just can't believe how quickly time is screaming by! Since school will be out in a little over 2 months, I have already started planning some of Molly's summer activities. This made me realize that Marshall's first signs, first steps, first birthday and first words are just around the corner!

As for now, the little man is trucking along doing his baby thing, and bringing immeasurable joy to our little family. We can finally see evidence of his first tooth, (bottom right) and, as a result, the baby Tylenol has become a much sought-after item in our home. Molly has a good eye for spotting the missing dropper and will quickly run to fetch it when asked (since she knows it often soothes our crying boy).

Marshall is starting to get up on his hands and knees and rocking back and forth. But, as soon as we get excited, he does a belly-flop and gets going on his army-crawl. Man, that kid can sure get around on his belly - once he sees a toy he wants, he gets so excited and starts breathing hard. Then he makes his way across the floor destroying anything in his path.

Marshall loves for us to stack things for him (cups, rings or blocks) and will scoot over to them and immediately knock 'em over. He thinks that's pretty darn funny. I can totally see the "boy" coming out in him!

On Sundays, Marshall goes to the nursery at church. I am so happy that he does so well with the sweet ladies who watch him. There is always a chorus of "Oh, Mar-Chal!" when he comes in the room. They are so sweet to him.

On Wednesdays, Marshall goes to Bible Study with me, and I am so lucky that Ms. Molly and Molly's teacher from last year, Ms. Holly, are there to take care of him in the nursery. They just adore him, and it makes me grin knowing that Ms. Molly has a hard time keeping her hands off of him!

We're still struggling with Mr. Man's night-time schedule. He's still waking up every 4 hours to eat, but it's gotten a little easier now that he is taking bottles and Daddy can feed him at least once a night for me. Hopefully bottles will become his only source of milk in the next month. Now that his little chomper is coming in, I am in even more of a hurry to get him weaned!

This last weekend I went on a girl's trip to the Texas Hill Country, and Marshall and I had our first two nights apart. Thank goodness MiMi was able to come in to help daddy since he had Molly's soccer game on Saturday and the rodeo/Jonas concert on Sunday.

I sure was happy to see my little guy Sunday night. He was so confused when I got home, he looked at me, smiled, then buried his head in Ms. Robin's shoulder and started to cry. It was so weird! As soon as I took him, he nuzzled into me, and I just melted!

Almost ready to crawl, then belly-splat!Two of my favorite all-boy shots!

I had to include some cute pictures of the kids rough-housing with PaulAction shot of Marshall snatching the glasses right off Daddy's face:

Molly's First Rock Concert

Sunday Paul took Molly to see the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato at the Rodeo.

Before the concert they enjoyed the carnival and had fun learning all about farm animals at the AGventure exhibits.

Molly and Daddy on the Ferris WheelMolly preparing for, then laying a beat-down on the "Strong Man" hammer game
She won herself a "tough" little puppy whom she named Spike. She and Daddy got to check out snakes and crabs...watch chicks hatch...and meet Elsie the Cow

Molly also took Daddy's picture with Elsie - she's getting really good!

Enjoying the rodeo before the concert:

Paul said Molly was "mesmerized" watching the performances

Molly really has gotten the photography bug and took about 20 pictures during the concertA text I received from Paul during the concert,
"Send help... can't breath... estrogen too thick... aarrrggghhh!"Molly and the JoBrosHer first concert T-shirt:

Jonas Brothers exiting the arena... rodeo performers always exit the concert in the bed of a pick-up truck. Yee Haw, Y'all!

No, Paul didn't help Molly make a sign for the concert, they found this one on their way out.
I just wish there was a picture of Paul holding it! After the concert Molly rode one last carnival ride...
(She's in the yellow lane)Heading home with all the stuffed animals that Daddy won for her in addition to Spike.
We now have Lady the Spaniel, Chewy the Pug and Purpley the Frog, all named after pets daddy had as a kid... except Purpley the Frog of course!Molly said that spending the day with Daddy was REALLY, REALLY fun, Demi Lovato was really good and Jonas was AWESOME!