Parrot

We recently got a Parrot. It is male and 2 years of age. He is very colorful and energetic. Our parrot is also extremely quick to learn and literally repeats the last word(s) of everything you say. You have to be cautious with your words, music and TV around our parrot. Our parrot also helps us realize the words we use the most:
I don't know
yeah
I got it
yeah
okay
everywhere
yeah
it's coming
okay
what's that?
yeah
this way
okay
yeah
okay
yeah
okay
and yeah, yeah, yeah.
We are attempting to replace the yeah with "yes"
If you would are worried about being mimicking then beware of our parrot, his name is Renn.
P.S. Our parrot also loves the word ausaurs (dinosaurs)

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Brought to you by the letter R!

Renn turned 2! We are calling it the TERRIFIC TWO'S. Because he is terrific! Energetic, playful, talkative, independent, loving, caring, creative, organized and just plain wonderful. He brings us plenty of joy and teaches us new ways to be the best parents we can be. I became a bit obsessive over his birthday party despite a new baby in our lives. I wanted him to know how special he is to us and I wanted him to have a fun day all about him. I am thankful all the hard work paid off. He had a blast at his Sesame Street themed party!

We made our own version of the Sesame Street sign for the front yard welcome. We filled the back yard with bubbles, balls, sidewalk chalk, crawling tunnel, crayons and a canvas. I replaced the dining room drapes with paper chain "drapes" in primary colors. We also turned an empty

room in our house into a mini theater with red curtains and a large TV showing Elmo. I actually wasn't expecting this room to be used as much as it was.

The lunch table had white paper bags that kids could decorate and then pack their own lunch of chicken nuggets, applesauce, raisins, carrots and their choice of chocolate milk or juice.  The desert table featured cupcakes with toppers I made to match the invitations. We also had chocolate chip cookies made by Grandma. We figured if Cookie Monster showed up we should have his favorite food. There was also Blue Bell ice cream served. When you come from Texas that is a MUST!

These are just a few pictures that capture the day more can be found in The Gallery section. We are so thankful for all the help we had and our event photographer Ginger Morby.


 

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Getting Adventurous

3 weeks ago I would have told you that Renn was never going eat anything more than chicken nuggets and applesauce probably for his whole life.  Being a picky eater myself I really had no issue with him being picky and was happy to make him his own meal each night.  But, a few weeks ago we learned he eats  - eats things besides nuggets and applesauce. I had made Eric and myself a Mexican fiesta for dinner and Renn his usual affair. As we ate Renn clearly asked for beans. I thought, “yeah, right – he doesn’t really want beans” But sure enough he did. FIVE large spoonfuls later he was content and very uninterested in his nuggets. Now he is consistently eating what we eat with the addition of applesauce. Somethings are tough to give up – or maybe it is just me not willing to let him give it up.

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It's Official!

On February 16th at 10:02 a.m. Renn Jackson Bailey became a big brother. His sister is Miss Avery Elizabeth Bailey. Due to swine flu children are not permitted into hospitals which meant Renn was unable to meet his sissy untill we came home from the hospital on the 19th. And thankfully the reaction is LOVE! Renn loves his sissy, The "B" or vry vry. He is very concerned for her at all times, wants to peak on her in the crib, "ug" (hug) her, touch her hair, ears, nose and mouth. We are having to work with him a bit on being gentle and he tends to want on the lap of the person holding her but all in all it is best reaction to a new sibling I could have hoped for. We are praying constantly that they are a loving and caring brother and sister pair forever.

It is also official that we have begun using "time-outs" with Mr. Renn. I will never know if it is simply the age (22 months) or a sister coming along that caused a few new behaviors (throwing toys, choosing not to mind, some face whacking). I am having to find a "mom" voice that he actually responds to. I always thought I had one but right now it is only evoking laughter from him. He sits well in time-out and I wish he wasn't so cute when I get him. He sits there all smiles and when I approach he looks up and says "all done" in his sweet little voice. Not sure it is all computing but it makes me feels like I am taking the right step???? Eric is having to work really hard at finding the "dad" voice in him. Right now he simply has to turn his face to hide the laughter. And then I have to work really hard at not joining him. Last night we had a huge FAIL! Renn plopped both feet on the kitchen table after he was done eating. Eric tried telling him "no" and then just busted out laughing, I couldn't help but laugh and soon Renn joined us. We were all giggling.

The whole thing is truly helping me examine what is a "no!" in life. Want to make sure the little guy hears the word yes! in life more than he hears no! Parenting is always teaching me something.

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Explosion

We are in the midst of a word explosion right now. I won’t even do the list justice, but I wanted to try and capture the words Renn is saying. I am just amazed - everyday it seems to be something new!

Family: Mama, Dada, Enn (Renn), Papa, Addison
School friends: Sue, Occo (Rocco), Nendall (Kendall), Michael
Animals: Dawg, Orsey(Horse), Moo, Eow (Meow), Owl, Iggy (Pig), Goat, Fox, ChIcken, Bird, Uck, Frog, Roar, Phent (Elephant), Ba (Sheep), Bear, Butterfly, Ish (Fish)
Foods: Milk, Wawa, Juice, Cereal, Chicken, Banana, Apple, Egg, Pickle, Cake, Cookie
Shapes and Colors: Circle, Star, Yellow, Green
Body Part: Eyes, Nose, Ead(Head), Mouth, Ears
Things in motion: Motocyle, Us (Bus), Car, Oat(Boat), Tuck (Truck), Choo Choo (Train)
Numbers: He can repeat 1-10 in English and Spanish
Misc: Up, This way, That way, Thank you, Welcome, Bye, Night-Night, Out, Elmo, Medicine, Book, Bonk, Misus (Music), Pease (Please), On, Off, Open, Close, Ickky (Mickey), Ubbles (Bubbles), Ottball (Football), Shoe, Ants(Pants), Socks, Ucket (Bucket), Trash, Mess, Elp(Help), Ug (Hug), No, Bath, Side(Outside), Bag, Clothes, Ooon (Moon), Tickle, Nice, Ouse (House), Barn

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Precious Moments

If you read this blog then you have probably figured out my bad habit. I avoid updating the blog because I am attempting to avoid dealing with the feelings at hand. Well, here we are… it is time to stop avoiding and start dealing. We are six weeks from baby girl Bailey’s arrival (saying our prayers and crossing our fingers for the full 6 weeks) and we are of course thrilled, nervous, anxious, excited and many more adjectives but at the same time I have been working so hard to hold tight to all the precious precious moments between the tree frog and me. To watch him grow over the last few months has been incredible. Discovering his independence, learning word after word after word, learning to count in English and Spanish, his continued love of the outdoors, music and dancing (the boy has moves). But, the moments I am cherishing the most right now are his new found love of snuggling and cuddling. He now gives kisses on his own (open mouth), he asks for “ugs” (hugs) and simply enjoys snuggling in my arms as we watch Sesame Street or Word World. These moments are indescribable! All I know is that I never want them to stop, that I want him to need his “mama” forever and that I already bawl like a baby when I think of him being a teenager.

I am certain all these emotions are heightened due to the fact that no matter what I do right now change is on the way with another babies arrival imminent. The truth is I am so worried! Will Renn still feel how much I love him, will I have enough attention to provide him and will there still be cuddle opportunities? EVERYONE tells me it works out! And at this point all I can do is trust - trust that there is enough love in my heart to go around, enough attention to be shared and enough energy to make each day happen. I am all thankful for all the examples of mothering multiples I have in my life – it allows me to have a sense of faith in the adventure that lies ahead.

Goodness, a year and half ago I never would have imagined all that would have been brought into my life by bringing the little tree frog into world and I am certain God has plenty more in store for us for as family. I will continue to hold tight to the precious memories being created in these days for our family of three and I look forward to the memories that are to come once we are four.

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Grieving

It is 2:30 a.m. on moving day and I am up. Up and frustrated that there is much more to do, but I can't be packing while the boys are sleeping. While I am thrilled to be moving into a one story house with a much better floor plan for two kidos I am also grieving leaving this house. There are so many memories here and while my head knows they will still exist the thought of leaving this house makes me tear up.

I will always remember that Eric got the keys to this house the day before our first date and I was impressed that he even kept the date. Eric and I watching Narnia on the floor because he had no furniture, picking out paint colors, being on my best detailed behavior as I helped paint; my way of impressing him. Seeing the sky of the backyard filled with hot air balloons and knowing I was "home", coming home from our wedding to a broken heater in January (even though it is Phoenix it still gets cold), how we watch movies and how we each have "our" spot on the couch, Eric cooking dinner for me on our first married Valentines, Eric's bird watching obsession and then there was the grandpa scorpion. Telling Eric I was prego, bringing Renn "home", the rattlesnake found in the backyard when Renn was just a few weeks old, the neighborhood walks, the beautiful sunrises, Renn crawling, pulling up, walking, the way he loves the stairs and how he always shuts the baby gates. Playing hide and go seek in the closet, creating Renn's playroom out of the office, Renn's first birthday party, bike rides, watching Renn learn to open doors and how he always want to visit people in the bathroom. Telling Eric I was prego again! and the realization this sweet sweet house just wasn't going to cut it.

It has been a great first house for us and I will miss it and the incredible dessert view. It provided shelter, comfort, peace, many a great meals and a beautiful place for us to grow as a family. Thank you house - we pray you are blessing to others.

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