Sharing Some Laughs

When watching the video below - pls keep your attention on the cute little baby and not the baby talk and off key singing that induces her to laugh...

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

To Aunty Ashley

Dear Aunty Ashley -

I am so glad that you got to come visit me last week. It was great to be the center of attention all the time! My momma was right about how much fun you are. Thanks for the onesies and matching shirt you got for me and momma. I can't wait to come visit you one day in Hawaii and play on the beach! Thanks Aunty Ashley for spending your vacation with me!

Love,

Carli Lynn

P.S. I kept the spitting up and blow out diapers to a minimum just for you!

Ashley -

My first memory of you was on the intramural fields at ACU and we did a "visit" for club. I was immediately impressed with your strong desire to know God. We struck up an immediate friendship and you challenged me in my faith more than I think you will ever know. I can't believe that was 6 years ago! Where does the time go?

I can say without a doubt that I can credit you with one introducing me to one of the most amazing men ever. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have "investigated" that Gamma Sig in two of my business classes. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have gone on that date with him...I wouldn't have dated him for two years and I wouldn't have married him. You introduced me to one great guy - and if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have ever known it!

Honestly, when you decided to go to Hawaii it was all I could do not to tell you I was pregnant and convince you to stay and come to Tyler. But I knew that was selfish and you needed to go and be with your family. I cried the day you called me, screaming b/c you were so excited about Carli Lynn coming. I cried when my Mom told me you called her the day Carli was born and was in tears b/c you couldn't be here with me. I've cried a few random times when there are just those "Ashley" moments that you weren't here to share. But you know what? I've smiled and laughed a lot too. I beamed with pride when you made that decision to go to Hawaii, to branch out and do something that was not easy for you to do. I smiled the day you sent Carli's letters to me - and they were so awesome! I showed them off so proudly and made sure everyone knew, Ashley made these for Carli! I smile every time I see the Hawaiian Warriors on TV and remember that long, but awesome trip to Louisiana to see them play. I smile when I remember asking you for permission to go out that first date with Keith. And I smile b/c I know you are one of those forever friends. No matter the distance, no matter the time that passes - I know without a doubt you'd be there to read that random "I DON'T KNOW HOW I CAN DO THIS ANY MORE" email - or those random, I went to Sonic today and got a Route 44 just for you text message! Ha!

Anyway - Ashley - this Tuesday tribute is for you b/c you are such an awesome friend as I am sure so many of your other friends and family can attest to. I pray that you continue to search and study and figure out what God has in store for you. Remember - the questions never end... Thanks for being an amazing person and thanks for spending your vacation to come paint an office building, to entertain a 4 month old, to make us cookies and clean my kitchen. Thanks for it all.

Aloha!

Let me tell you about it...

Well hello! It's me, Carli Lynn...I only have a few minutes, so let me give you a run down of what I've been up to these last few days:

First - my Naggy and Pappy came to visit me and we had tons of fun!

Pappy and I got a long just great! I even let him feed me a bottle. He helped my Daddy build the coolest book shelf for me.

Naggy and I had lots of discussions about caterpillars and my puppy dogs. We even sang songs together. She took lots of pictures of me, but somehow we didn't get a picture together...kind of like me and Momma...lots of pictures of me, but none of us!

I was sad that Naggy and Pappy had to go, but I didn't have much time to think about it b/c Aunty Ashley came to see me!

Momma had told me all about Aunty Ashley, and how she was living in Hawaii but sent me all sorts of neat things. She made my letters for my room, and my sign about Daddy. She even made the coolest journal for my Momma to write to me in. I knew I would love Aunty Ashley even before she got here!

Momma and I took Aunty Ashley shopping for all her family and friends back home. We had a great time!

Tomorrow's another big day! We are headed to take Aunty Ashley back to the airport in Dallas, then off to my buddy, Ryan's birthday party. Grammy and Pa will be here early so we can all ride together! So I better hit the sack - hope everyone has a great weekend!

Tuesday Tribute

Blog Alert...this is Keith posting...

Resa has started this Tuesday Tribute thing, which is a really cool thing to do I think. It's nice to stop and think about those that mean the most to you. She wanted to write a tribute to my parents, and thought it would be best if I wrote it. While I think that is an admiral deed and something I could do, I figured I would tribute the person that I think deserves it the most.

The past 4 1/2 months have taught me a lot. Guys always tell you that having a kid is the most amazing thing ever...and I agree...but there are times that are extremely difficult. It challenges your patience and humbles you like nothing I've experienced. I've had the opportunity to spend several nights alone with Carli, and while I treasure those times, they are hard. They usually result in a call to Resa to see what to do, and she always helps. I'm not sure how she does it sometimes. She spends all day alone with this baby, and still holds it together to cook dinner for me at night and do my laundry and everything else to run this house...not to mention working.

So my tribute is to my wife. She is amazing, and I'm truly proud of her. She is totally self-less and the best mom/wife I've ever met. On top of all that, she's my best friend and I'm honestly not sure I could operate without her.

Love ya babe!

Keith

The Key to Valentine's Day...

DOORS!!

Yep - Keith fixed his ladies up with new doors and they both turned out pretty stinkin' good! A big thanks to Pappy and Naggy for their help this wkd, we couldn't have done this all without your help!

Carli's new closet door:

So, I was looking through the Pottery Barn for Kids Magazine this last week and saw this:

It costs a whooping $119! So that wouldn't do, b/c there is no way I could have convinced myself or Keith to spend that much and I didn't have anywhere to hang it. But I liked the idea of hanging it to save floor space for other things...so here is what our sweet Pappy and Daddy built:

We have some touch ups to do and a doorknob to add - but we got two of our new book racks on our new closet door for appx $100 (we had to buy a solid wood closet door to hang it on). I think it turned out perfect! Carli likes it too!

And my new door? It's a storm door! A HUGE BIG thanks to Pappy on helping with this one b/c there is no way Keith and I could have put this up without WWIII occurring! ha! J/K But having Pappy here helped a whole lot. We all love our new storm door and it sure lets a lot of light in our house too!

It was a wonderful Valentine's wkd. You may wandering about what Naggy did all weekend, but really, should you ask? She enjoyed her sweet Grandbaby and that allowed me to do the painting and bossing around with the other projects! :)

Happy Valentines Day!

Blink & They Will Grow!

October 2008

November 2008

February 2009

They're coming!!

Dear Naggy and Pappy -

Word through out the crib is that you are coming to see me tomorrow - I'm very excited. It is important that as my grandparents we set some guidelines out for your visit. Make sure to keep this secret from my Momma and Daddy - for some reason, they want me to stay on some kind of schedule, whatever that is. So between me and you - this is our plan:

Friday: I'm going to help Momma pick you up at the airport and I won't cry when she puts me in the car seat this time. (This is a misleading tactic as she will think I have come to terms with that awful contraption, but I really haven't.) Anyway, I won't cry b/c I must save all my energy for playing! So we will get you from the airport and meet my Daddy for lunch. It will be fun! Then we will go to my house and PLAY, PLAY and PLAY. Yep! We might even go see my Grammy and Pa. That would be awesome, four grandparents all focused on me! I'm not sure what Momma and Daddy will do, but I will stay busy entertaining all my grandparents, after all it is my job! And as hard and tiring playing and entertaining is, we must keep one thing in mind...NO NAPS! As my Naggy and Pappy - it is important that you make sure that happens! That will be our day. Play, play, entertain and NO NAPS!!

Saturday: For some reason, my Momma and Daddy want me to sleep until 7:30 every morning. I think that we should all get up when I am ready. This morning I was ready to go at 5:00! But Momma put me back to bed. So Saturday morning, if I wake up at 5 or 6 or 4:30 - let's stay up! The earlier I wake up, the more time we have to accomplish our goal: PLAY, PLAY, ENTERTAIN and NO NAPS!! Maybe Pappy can help my Daddy with a book case or something, but I'm not too concerned with Momma and Daddy - after all my job is to entertain you! That is why you are coming, right?

Sunday: We go to church on Sunday. I like to play a game with Momma and Daddy and see what kind of funny faces or things they do to try to keep me quiet while the man in the front talks a lot. It should be fun to see what you do too! :)

Monday: Let's not think about that day, Momma says you will have to go home...let's focus on our game plan for the wkd. PLAY, PLAY, ENTERTAIN and NO NAPS!!!

Remember - we must not let Momma and Daddy know about our plan!! Deal?

I can't wait to see you tomorrow Naggy and Pappy!!

Love - Carli Lynn

My Best Friend

So - if you haven't seen my new link on the side of the blog - check it out. I thought this was a cool concept and though I may not be able to remember to do this every Tuesday, I am going to try. I think it is a simple, yet amazing idea, to consciously take some time out of my day or blog and let someone out there know how much I, or rather, we, appreciate them. Who better than to start off with one of the most amazing women I have every known. I'm not biased at all.


To my best friend, my inspiration, my hero...my Mom:



I have tried in so many ways to let you know how much you are appreciated. I have so much to be thankful for and so much of that comes from you. I hope that you never doubt how much you are loved and appreciated and how much you mean to me.

I've started this post and erased it over ten times trying to put into words what you mean to me and why. Words just don't cut it.

You are my best friend. There is a Taylor Swift song out called "The Best Day" and it reminds me of you. I remember in 3rd grade, it was simply awful. I came to your room every day crying and at a loss. You were there - you hugged me and you know I don't remember the specifics about exactly why that year was so awful - but what I have a clear distinct memory of is you. You were there. I like that Taylor Swift song b/c really some of my best days were with you! We spent so many hours on the road back and forth from Houston for softball. I don't know how you did it with two boys and a husband and working full time too. One word - Amazing! You always made sure someone was at a game - and the only one I remember someone not being there for - I remember it, not because you weren't there but b/c you felt so bad about not being there. You wrote me a note, you made sure that I knew that you wanted to be there. High School wasn't the best, but it wasn't the worst either. I am so grateful to have had a Mom who I could talk to, whom I trusted and who I knew trusted me. Even today, I know even now that without a doubt you are my best friend and what a blessing that is!

You are my inspiration. Goodness - where to start! You are such a wonderful, Godly woman - your every being is an example for those around you! You are so unselfish. You worry so much about others and their needs far above your own. You give up your wkds to help your kids move, to paint an office, or to watch three dogs while your kids are off gallivanting around! You offer to help when really someone should be offering to help you! Grandma and Pawpaw - need I say more? What a blessing you are to them! You support your husband unconditionally. I am so blessed to have an example like you. You are a good wife to Daddy. You cook, you clean, you launder and you gallivant around with him! :) You are a good sibling and friend. You are a wonderful mother and wife. You are an amazing Grammy. You are my inspiration.

Mom - I really don't think I have said justice to you. I haven't even touched on the edge of a long, long list of the wonderful person that you are. But, you are. You are my hero and I am thankful for you and for all that you have done for me.

Today - I dedicate my first "It's not all about you" post to someone who sits behind the scenes and doesn't get the recognition she deserves nearly enough. While not eloquent, and maybe rambling at times, I dedicate this to my hero - my Mom.

I love you Mom!!

Views and Perspectives from a 4 Month Old

My momma has done a great job telling everyone about me and I am appreciative, but sometimes I do not think she sees things the way I do. So I have taken it upon myself to tell the Carli Lynn story, from a baby's perspective (with the typing assistance of my Momma, I can't very well type and chew on my hands at the same time).

Thursday night:
8:30 pm - Bath time: I love bath time, really I do. My Daddy thinks that I accidentally kick my legs to splash him with water, but it is no accident. I know exactly at what angle and velocity I need to throw my leg into the water to achieve maximum splash! I did figure out that tinkling in the water does not achieve hardly any splashing - made a note of that.

8:45 pm - Bed Time: Bed time is great. I hold Momma's hand, she talks to me. I get kisses and I smell good. I'm ready for bed time. I like my own space, it is nice. My big caterpillar friend sleeps with me and keeps me company.

Friday:
2:00 am - I can't breathe! Holy smokes! I can't breathe - there is stuff coming out my nose and when I try to wipe it away it gets on my eyes! Save me! Scream, scream - I must scream!!! Ah - here comes Momma - what is this? What is she doing? It's gonna get me! Ahhhh! Scream!!! Oh - it's just my snot sucker, that's kind of funny! ha ha! But wait, I am hungry. Where did Momma go? Momma? SCREAM!!! Oh - there she is, oh that's nice. I get a dry diaper. Always a plus. Wait, Momma, come back! SCREAM!!! Ah - there she is again. She looks tired. Maybe she needs to use my snot sucker - that would make her smile! Oh good, time to eat....

**I must have gone back to sleep b/c I don't remember anything until...

7:30 am - DADDY!! Woohoo!! I'm rescued, dry diaper, dry diaper...yeah! Feed me - yummy breakfast!

8:00 am - What is this? Why do they keep putting me on the floor? These things hanging above my head, this is really annoying. I keep pushing them away and they come flying back at me...what in the world?!

8:30 am - Hey! There's Momma! What happened? Now I'm on my tummy - no this won't work. I do not like this - SCREAM!!! Oh - hey! How did that happen, now I there are those stupid things above my head again...

9:00 am - Can someone say diaper change?! Oh good, Momma read my mind. How about some clothes? Let me pick...flowers, I want to wear flowers...NO!! Not stripes, Momma what are you thinking?! Take it off!!! Okay, well - BLAH. Took care of that! Can't very well make me where stripes when I spit up on it. Oh good, I like that onesie better...flowers are good.

9:10 am - Mr. Caterpillar!! Long time no see!!

9:50 am - Whose singing to me? What? Wait? I fell asleep? Why am I getting in the car seat? What's going on? I smell something fishy...and it's not my diaper - yet.

10:20 am - Hey I've been here before. There's a nice lady - oh a screaming baby. This might not be good. I might not like this...oh wait, food. Okay, I'm good.

10:45 am - Woohoo!! No clothes! This is great. Check my diaper, I dare you! Ha ha! Surprise Mrs. Nurse!!

10:50 am - Hello Dr. Sorry - no surprises for you, I gave them all to the nurse.

10:55 am - Daddy! Hey I missed you! What's going on? Look Daddy - no pants! Isn't life great?!

10:56 am - Whoa - Mrs. Nurse! What'cha got there. Hey, you seem nice. Ouch, wait, what...OUCH! AHHHH!! SCREAM!! Ouch!!! DADDY!!!!

11:00 am - Okay, if you don't put my pants on I'll hush - mean Mrs. Nurse.

11:15 am - I might need some more food - that nurse really made me mad.

12:00 pm - Car seat, today the car seat's not so bad...so sleepy....

1:20 pm - Are we there yet? Where are we? Momma?! SCREAM!!! Oh - hey! There are you are! Can I eat?

1:45 pm - JUMP! Woohoo! Funny kid on TV - JuMP! Oh no, stuff in my nose - in my eye - on my hand - YUCK does not taste good. SCREAM!!! Ahhh - I love my snot sucker.

1:47 pm - Momma's on the phone - oh here she comes. Woohoo!! Where we going? Oh no, not this thing again. How many times do I have to lay here and bat these things out of my face. Oh - I wander what the IRS did to Momma. She looks mad. Hmmm...better not scream. I can handle things myself.

2:45 pm - Okay Mr. IRS - I have been laying here forever. Can I have my Momma back? Please? I have some issues she needs to address....

3:00 pm - FINALLY - Hi Momma...what'cha smiling at? Oh - that's kind of a not happy smile. Hey look Momma - I pooped!! Can't you see? I pooped! Hey, why are you carrying me like that - give me a hug! I pooped!!

3:01 pm - I get to take a bath? Now? Really? Where is Daddy? Who will I splash water on?

3:03 pm - Woohoo! Bath Time!! Look at all the bubbles!! Why are you scrubbing so hard, Momma? Hey, don't forget between my toes - I'm talented!!

3:10 pm - Ahh, love my towel - lotion's not so bad either.

3:12 pm - What? You said you needed to do laundry anyway - I just thought I would help!

3:15 pm - Mr Caterpillar! I've missed you!!

(Insert Momma's comment: It's been an interesting day!)

4 month check up:

13 lbs 10 oz (50-75%)
25 inches long (96th %)

Woohoo - Pictures

Okay - so enough about chickens, back to the true reason for this blog - CARLI LYNN!! :) Here is our latest on Carli:

• She loves to play with her tongue. She flicks it in and out, in and out, alternating between that and sucking on her bottom lip. She really started doing this this past wkd.
• Rolling over - she refuses to do it any more whether the camera is on or not! She is done with that, it is old news to her! She will still lay on her tummy, but instead of rolling over when she gets tired of it she simply screams at me!
• Napping - we can do this now! :) Four naps a day, usually two that are about an hour and fifteen minutes and two that are about 45 minutes.
• Cereal - we tried earlier this month and she was not interested. So we will wait a little while, probably until the middle of the month or if she starts acting ravenous again in the middle of the night.
• Carseat - we hate it. She did such a good job this wkd having to be in it more than she was use to while we went to help Cousin Logan move into his new house, and now she just gets mad at us when we put her in it.
• Our lungs, nice and healthy, no worries there. We can scream loud and long if we don't think things are going the way that they should! :)

Now on to what you really want to see - pictures!!

Look, I do exist! :) Momma with her precious baby girl!

Something she takes after her Grammy on: Sleeping crooked and kicking the covers off. Rumor has it that her Momma does this as well, but I think that is just a rumor!
Like our hat?! It is one of our favorites, a gift from Aunt Chelle.

What does a baby do to keep entertained in a hotel? FLYING BABY of coarse!

Logan showing Carli how his tractor works - it was so cute.

Logan wanting Grammy to put Carli back down! He wasn't through showing her his tractor! He did this multiple times, motioning to the carpet for Grammy to put Carli back!

I've Been Tagged

So Ashley tagged me to do this last week - sorry I am slow, but I'm a good sport -

1. Go to the 4th album in the place you store your pictures on your computer
2. Select the 4th picture in that album (no exceptions)
3. Post it in this post with an explanation and link it back to your tagger
4. Tag 4 people to do the same thing

Ha ha! You said no exceptions...so as gross as it is, here you go! Yes, this is a glimpse into my past - a picture of dead chickens at the chicken farm. This is actually a picture Keith took while we were dating to show all his friends and family just what a chicken farm was...and dead chickens are a part of the chicken farm! :) Do you wander now why chicken isn't on the top of my favorite meats list?!

I tag Jessica, Becky, Mindy and Rachael!

3 Month Pictures

We had Carli's 3 Month pictures taken while we were in Amarillo for Christmas - check them out by clicking on the link to the right. There are so many of them! It is hard to choose our favorites!