Bucket O'...

...toys.
...cheeks.

What was I thinking?

On Monday I had my usual Lauren day, and also watched Tate ang Loggie while Grammie (Aunt Sue) went to a funeral. Really it should have been my funeral! KIDDING, it was actually a lot of fun and a great birth control!
The gals were great, but boy were they busy. Everyone had a snack at ALL times because it kept their attention for about 5 minutes. And please don't forget about poor Rudy staring through the window, he got lots of snacks too.
Group picture. I don't know how real photographers do it. But Tate was a superstar...as always. Here she is doing her best to keep the "little ones" on the couch. Good job Tater.
"Excuse me Hads, I gotta get outta here ASAP and try and get up those un-gated steps again. This place is baby heaven, I can get into all the danger spots!"

Yoga baby.

We make Hads do tricks before we'll feed her...just like Rudy.

Vroom, vroom.

Feeling like a big girl.
"Here Hads, let me fill you up with some Cheerios for your commute."
YEE-HAW.
"Sure cousin Lauren, you can take it for a ride. But can I get back on when you're done?" "Um, most likely not. Plus, you don't have a purse, and every driver needs a purse...where else are you going to carry your ID?"

All in a day.

Ms. Kok is one funny kid. Here she is with her hands in her pockets, she thought she was pretty cool and had them there most of the day.
Here she is watching Shrek with a binky, hat, and her purse at arms reach. She's close enough to the TV to definitely induce a seizure...but she made it through the day scot-free!
Hads and her had a fun little game where Hadley would throw her food off the highchair and Lauren would eat it. Hadley is no stranger to this game with Rudy around.
Lauren walked around with this Nike bag on her shoulder for at least 20 minutes. She would go between the dining room, living room, and family room, racing like a mad woman. She'd fall at least once a loop, but this did not deter her!

Party Hearty.

This is Joc's SIL Sundi and she is pregnant with TRIPLET GIRLS! So here she is practicing at her baby shower.
The hostess with the mostess.
Here's daddy-to-be, Ryan, role-playing at the Brown/Harrison Xmas party. I think you could easily fit two more in your lap Ry!
Love those chubby little leggies in tights.
Thanks for a fun, fabulous night Browns/Harrisons/Whitsells! We always have a blast with you guys.

Lady in Red.

Chubs McGee
Don't get excited folks, this is a total set-up. She's going to to fall any second...
Love me a Hadley profile.
"Hey Hopester, thanks for the jeans! I am quite a fashion-plate if I do say so myself."
Love when she smiles like this. Of course the giant flash glare on her face makes it hard to see. Joc, I'd give one of Hadley's chins for the Canon D!

Lauren's got a secret.

"Hey guys want to hear something wild?"
"I'm going to be a BIG sister." Unfortunately this sweet little thing has no idea how upside down her world is going to become...just look at Rudy.
Baby Kok arrives June 13th...and Val is a gal that delivers on her due date (lucky you, lucky you). I figured I could announce this now since Val is talking about it in the blog and all. We are so excited for the three of you! Baby's going to be here before we know it and we can't wait!

So maybe I fibbed a little.

A few blogs ago I acted shocked that Rudy was on the couch. Now I'm getting it.

By the hair of my chinny, chin, chin.

Hads, are you kidding me? Suck it in sister.

Can't a gal get a playmate?

"Hey Lauren, want to stop watching the Wiggles for one minute and play with this super cool drum?"
"Sure Hads, I'll play with you. Gimme that thing."
"Now where's the off switch so I can get back to my show?"
"Um, are we done?"

It's in the genes.

"Please watch people while I attempt to eat this banana, just like my Zaide."



Good gummity gum Hads! It looks a lot cuter when you do it.

What is it Hads?

...and I just get worse.

Does this kid look sick to you?

So, it's taken me months to get over the fact that I was starving my child. But looking at the chubster now, I'm thinking she had no ill affects from it. However, now I have something new to feel really guilty about...here goes:

Hadley has been sick with a cold for almost two weeks now, but seems to have been getting a little better, still lingering cough and crud, but a pretty happy baby, nontheless. I noticed a few days ago that she'd been a little warm with rosy red cheeks after her naps...but didn't get too excited, and blamed it on the humidifier. Then we were at Logan's big birthday bash Sunday night and Hads was abnormally fussy, but I just blamed it on Dad not giving her enough naps (since I was at work all day). So here's the kicker, we go out to dinner that night with my family and my Dad says "Hadley feels really hot." I ignore him because she's sitting in the highchair eating and smiling. So he says again "Meg, I'm serious, she feels really, really hot. Like she's on fire" And I snottily say, "Well Dad if she has a fever there's nothing we can do about it now" and go back to my dinner.
Next day, I wake up Hadley bright and early to go get Lauren so the two gals can play the day away. Hadley takes a 3 hour morning nap, and just isn't herself...but do I do anything...NO! Later that night, after she's been particularly fussy, I feel her little forehead and decide this kid is burning up. And what does the rectal temp say: 103.2!!! I go into a little bit of a panic mode...then get my wits about me, give her some tylenol, get her out for some fresh air and call the pediatrician...who says "you really should bring her in, maybe even go to the ER." I decided against the ER since there were no seizures:) and, plus, if I saw this smiley, cooing kid in Children's ER, I'd be annoyed and talk about her parents in the breakroom. So luckily, she was alive this morning and Ryan took her to the doctor. Diagnosis: First ear infection. Nothing a little Amoxicillin and TLC won't cure. Way to be tough Hads, with this mom, you're going to need to be!

Guess who's one...and tons of fun!

Loggie Lou is ONE years old today...all 13lbs of her.
Hard at work baking cupcakes for her big day. Loggity, we think you're great and holding your own to big sister Tate...and those are big shoes to fill. Keep being your adorable, perfect, maniac, happy, fun loving self. And never lose that infectious giggle. You're too much! We love your guts sweet pea.