Dalton told me this morning that Jessie Anne definitely had rocks inside her. That's the only way that she could make smells that bad.

Aunt Paige caught this performance for us. Maggie Anne is modeling one of her new Disney Princess  costumes. The opening number is the ABC's followed by a stirring rendition of The Itsy Bitsy Spider.

I'm pretty proud of this because I know Dalton's response was not a suggestion from his teacher. This was his school project where he was asked to draw the very, very best Christmas present that he could think of. He told me that the very, very best Christmas present of all was Jesus.

Boyd and Maggie Anne were admiring Christmas lights last night on their way home and he was asking her what different things were. They came to some reindeer which she identified and Boyd asked her where the reindeer lived.

Her response . . . "The TV!!!"
 

Dalton to Boyd: Why does God calls girl underwear panties?

Boyd: I think people made up that word.

Dalton: Oh . . . OK.

Maggie Anne asks for "rabbit milk" when she wants chocolate milk. We thought we were confused about what she was saying until we saw the Nesquik bunny on the outside of the chocolate milk mix. :-)

We woke up to a dusting of snow this morning. Dalton was so excited to show it to Maggie Anne who didn't remember snow from last year. They were very cute playing together for the few minutes before heading to school.

She was actually cracking up at her "smelly brother" who loves nothing more than to make her laugh.

Boyd and I had to intervene this morning when the big kids were attempting to share Dalton's new toothbrush. Dalton was quick to remind us that it was the right thing to do to share "because it's in God's word! If it's in there, that means you're suppose to do it!" I'm going to remind him that he said this the next time he won't share his candy with his sister.

I think I just got the highest compliment an almost-6-year-old boy can give. He came up to me in the kitchen, hugged me and said, "I love you mom and I don't think you are ever stupid!"

This morning, Maggie Anne was asking Boyd for an airplane donut. We were confused, but then Boyd realized that she had heard us say plain donut. She took it quite literally. :-)

Dalton was having me watch him play the Wii yesterday morning while I was feeding the baby. He instructed me to clap for him when he won the race. I told him I couldn't really clap, but I was proud of him. He informed me that he see that I couldn't clap so I could give him a "Woohoo!" instead.

Check out this hair after Jessie Anne's first bath.

Growing Girl

Our girl is up to 7 pounds, 2 ounces. 

Looks like she feels the same way I do about having her picture taken.

She knows if you've been bad or good!

It's Official!

My MBA is complete! Woohoo!!! Just turned in my last paper. My happy dance could be the next viral YouTube sensation, but I've decided to spare the world of that. :-)

Little Confused

Poor Maggie Anne has had to make a lot of adjustments with the new baby. She's been a real trooper through it all. We didn't know exactly how she would react to everything, especially how much time I would spend nursing the baby. She's done great, but I guess she hadn't paid that much attention. The other night she saw Jessie Anne latch on and she gave a gasp and said, "Oh no! She's eating you!" With some explanation, she understood, but the next morning when she saw us she said, "Oh no! Not again!"

Tonight, she corrected me when I told her that the baby was eating. She said, "No, baby is drinking!" She's got it all figured out now.

Had our one week checkup today and Jessie Anne has gained an ounce back since leaving the hospital. Still a tiny little thing at 6 lbs, 4 oz. 

Dalton just told Boyd that he would eat anything with bacon. "I LOOOOOVE bacon!!!"

Jessie Anne has arrived!

6 lbs, 11 oz

19 1/2 inches

This morning Dalton came out of his wakeup bathroom visit, gave a big sigh and said, "Ahhh, that was delightful!"

Dalton was crawling all over Boyd while we were trying to catch a few minutes of one of our recorded shows. Boyd said, "Don't you think I should get to watch a show with your mom?" Dalton responded, "No, that's not how it works."

How true!

New Word from School

Well, Dalton has brought home his first new "dirty" word from school - crap nuggets. We have asked him repeatedly to stop. Walking into church tonight, he used it again and I told him that he would lose video games if he said it again. His very sincere response was, "Well, if I forget and say crap nuggets, you just have to remind me not to say it again." As he walked on ahead of us towards the building, he could be heard saying, "OK. Don't say crap nuggets. Don't say crap nuggets. Don't say crap nuggets." We had to keep our distance so he didn't hear us giggle.

Something tells me that this isn't the worst thing he's ever gonna learn from his friends at school.

What is the mutation that occurs in our genes when a sibling is born? That has to be the only explanation for why perfectly angelic children turn into little demons if it will cause their own flesh and blood any amount of anxiety or pain. Doesn't matter if they are the younger or older child. Seems like their motto is "If it will make him/her cry, let's do it!"

I guess the bigger question is, why do they actually think it is logical to come to a parent to resolve when they have tormented each other to extreme.

Maggie Anne discovered the camera on my phone where she could see herself on the screen.

I thought this shot was cute.

Good Boy

Boyd got a good story from Dalton's after-school director yesterday. Evidently a police officer had come to visit and teach the kids about strangers. Dalton was chosen for an example and the officer came to the door and told Dalton he had a load of pizzas he needed to deliver to him. When asked what he should do, Dalton promptly slammed the door in the officer's face. His teacher said it was hilarious and the grown-ups couldn't hold it together.

I didn't ask why the door got opened in the first place because I wasn't there for the exercise, but it did cross my mind.

Dalton came to sit with me at the table this morning when he woke up. I asked him how he was feeling today and he said fine except that he was allergic to all the lights that were on. He'd feel much better if I would turn some of them off.

Dalton snuggled up next to me the other night and was especially quiet. After a few minutes of quality snuggling, he looked up at me and asked, "What are they going to put in your throat so they can get Jessie Anne out?" The conversation that followed gave me an entirely new appreciation for C-sections. Funny thing is, he was mortified that I said it was better to get a shot in my back than to feel the cut on my belly.

Dalton had grabbed some blackberries out of the fridge for a snack just now. He sat down by me at the table and said, "Ah, this is the life." He borrowed this from his current favorite movie Rio, but it's still funny when he uses what he hears on his own. It's also why we have to be careful what he hears.

Why he's an awesome kid

Dalton likes to ride to school with his car window down. When we turned onto the main road this morning, he told me that it smelled like coffee outside. I asked him which house he thought was making coffee. He responded, "None! God's making coffee this morning!" This went into more discussion about "Does God sleep, eat, go to the bathroom, etc." I just love the way his mind works! It's what challenges us most as his parents, but also what delights us daily.

Maggie Anne was chilling out at the tailgate before the game.

Poor Maggie Anne did not nap last game day and had quite a few meltdowns during the game. Dalton jumped in and tried to comfort her during a particular nasty one.

She then decided that she would take a rest while still standing up. 

A new "take" on picture day

Dalton was telling me before church tonight that tomorrow was picture day. He said we had to find some pictures to take to school with him. I was trying to explain what it meant and he assured me that he was suppose to "take" pictures tomorrow. It is an odd expression now that I think about it. :-)

Dalton on Aging

We were riding to the football game on Saturday and Dalton suddenly said, "When you get really old, you might die a little." This seemed a little random. Then he told us, "There's one teacher at my school who is super, Super old." We had a chuckle in the front seat and agree that this person is probably 30.

Box Tops for Education

This is mostly for our family, but we'll take them from anyone. Dalton's school is collecting the General Mills Box Tops for Education. The school receives $0.10 for each box top and we are collecting them for Dalton's class. If anyone is willing to save for us, we'll pick up when we visit. Thanks!

All that is needed is this little logo from somewhere around the top of the box. I throw ours in a sandwich bag for easier collection.

Dalton took a pretty big fall at school yesterday leaving him with some scrapes and bruises on his face. He milked it for all the pampering we could dish out last night. This morning while he was getting dressed, he told me (unprompted) that he wasn't going to fight with that rock anymore because it would win every time.

Football season has finally arrived!

Fun at Peabody Park

The weather cut us a break and we took the opportunity to get outside. It was a wonderful day!

If there is water to play in, Maggie Anne will find it!

Our church offers a Monday night service that we have gone to for years, but with Dalton starting school, we have been trying to go on Sunday. Well, I had to be at work this past Sunday morning and I gave Boyd the option of getting the kids dressed and meeting me or waiting until Monday. Boyd told me later that Dalton informed him after I had left that they (he and Maggie Anne) wanted to wait until Monday night to go. He told Boyd, "You can go if you want to. I'll stay here and keep an eye on Maggie Anne."

Made cauliflower for dinner tonight and Maggie Anne saw it in the bowl and said it was snow. Wishful thinking!

Dalton is learning a lot of basic information these first nine weeks of kindergarten. He knows his whole name and we were asking him about our names. I asked him what my name was and he said "Jenn." I asked him my last name and he said "ifer."

Today was the first day that I didn't a look back and wave when Dalton ran into school. I thought I would at least have those for a little while longer. :-)

Dalton decided he didn't need to be walked into school today. I did my first carpool lane (a truly horrific experience) and he got out and marched right on into school. He's growing so fast!

I couldn't get a smile this morning. Guess it was the nerves. He did great going into school. Things were far crazier than I ever remember. The mass of parents made him more nervous than school. When he found his class, he marched right in, put his bag in his chair and sat down on the alphabet carpet. He's very excited! And we are very proud!

We took advantage of the break (if you call 90 degrees a break) in the weather and visited the zoo this morning.

As you see below, the penguins were very interested in Maggie Anne. The would take turns "talking" to her. 

I was telling Maggie Anne when we were getting to school this morning that this was the last morning that Dalton would be coming to school with her. Dalton spoke up and said, "Maggie Anne, I have to go to big school now. I'm so sorry I have to leave you and can't come to school with you anymore, but I have to go to big kid school."

Last night we went to Crestwood's Open House (Dalton's elementary) and met his teacher and toured the school. Maggie Anne made every single step with her brother. I think they are going to miss each other more than either one realizes.

Last night Dalton asked me why he had so many toots that day. I told him it was because he was full of hot air. He quickly responded that I better get him some cold air quick.

Poor Maggie Anne has been struggling all week with an ear infection with a cough. Well, sometimes the coughing causes her to throw up. That's never funny, but she has picked up on her brother's reference to her "barfing," but when she says it, it sounds like "I popped." It's just pitiful, but she still has a way of making it cute.

Dalton and I were driving home tonight and the light turned red at the fire house to let the fire engine leave with sirens blaring. While Dalton was somewhat impressed with the loud siren (loudest I have actually heard) and lights, he was most impressed that the light there actually would turn red. He announced that it has been 10 years since that light turned red and he couldn't believe it.

He was very, very sweet a minute later when he asked me if I thought everyone was OK.

This is Dalton's new favorite book. It's a cute story, but the best part is that every single time anyone says the title, Maggie Anne gives a huge "AHHHHH!!!!" Very Cute!

She Did It!

As with any toddler, we've made many, many unproductive trips to the potty for practice. Well, this morning was the morning! We got a Maggie Anne tinkle in the potty!!! Woohoo!!!

Dalton told me this morning that he was no longer going to yawn from his mouth. He is going to use his ears.

Birthday Girl!

For the record, I called this. Dalton went into total meltdown mode when we told him that he was having another baby sister. He quickly calmed himself and informed us that we were wrong. It would be a brother.  Lucky he's got a little longer to adjust to the idea.

Kids had a great time at the indoor Wonder Place here in Little Rock.

Dalton gets really into his video games. He'll get so worked up that he gets grouchy at everyone around him. That's when he has to take a break. He never takes this very well and during his meltdown just now, he yelled at Boyd, "You're breaking my heart!" I told him that he should hold that card for much more serious offenses.

Dalton just asked Boyd what 1 million plus 1 million equals. Boyd told him that it was 2 million. Dalton asked, "Do you know everything?"

So Dalton has decided that every Monday night when we leave church, it is a race to see who can make it home first. Tonight we were driving behind Boyd and it was REALLY frustrating Dalton. He began quite the rowdy rant at me just to tell me what a horrible driver I am (all this for NOT speeding). After a "Dalton!" from me, he responded, "I'm sorry! But you have to admit that you are a little lame." Something tells me that's not the last time he's going to say that to me.

My son is a conman

Dalton is 150% sure that he should be allowed to sleep in my bed because today is the longest day of the year (which he has been counting down to for 2 weeks).

Dalton told us last night that he's allergic to the summer. I know the feeling.

Saturday night, my dad took us out to eat at Golden Corral. We had a great dinner and Boyd was having some pie with ice cream on top. Maggie Anne was getting a little antsy, so Boyd asked her if she wanted a bite of ice cream. She said yes and leaned in for a bite. Boyd asked her what we say (prompting for please). She kept leaning and said in her sweet voice, "Now!" We were rolling.

Fudgesicle Anyone?

Fun times at Riverfest

Dalton rides the trolley across the river.

We are at "The Big River Party," and all Dalton wants to do is play on our cell phones. He got to while we waited for a favorite band Trout Fishing in America.

Mini-Boyd

A kid's show just came on that Boyd and I are not particularly crazy about (nothing wrong with it - just annoying). I was saying, "Oh, no! Not . . ." but Dalton cut me off and said "Too late! I've already seen it. Now I get to watch it."

So Dalton just sneezed in the kitchen. He doesn't hold back on his sneezes when he is at home and no one is right around him. It was a gross one. I gave him a tissue and then asked him if he had gotten boogers on my floor (not in the collection of questions I ever pictured myself asking another person). He said no, but took a step into the kitchen and very casually said, "Oh, yeah, I did" after which he proceeded to wipe the floor and the bottom of his foot without further comment.

I'm amazed at his lack of gross-out attitude, but should be used to it by now.

This weekend Dalton was messing with some of my things while I was getting ready in the morning. I asked him to put them down because if they got messed up, I would be really sad.

He thought about it for a minute and asked, "Just sad? Not mad?" Guess he was trying to figure out if it was worth it.

Dalton got up when he heard us get up to watch the bin Laden news last night. He was asking questions about what was going on. Boyd told him that the guy in the picture was the biggest bad guy in the world and that America had finally gotten him.

He looked up at me and asked, "Is he the one who has been causing all the tornados?"

So, Dalton and I were on our way to register at his new school for this Fall. He was telling me that it was going to be all new teachers and all new friends and that he was going to be shy. I told him that after a while he will get used to them and they would be like the friends and teachers he has now.

He said, "They'll be old . . . like you." He's lucky he can outrun me. :-)

Dalton was helping out before dinner last night and was going to get some plates. He couldn't find them and asked if they were in the "Wash-disher."

Dalton has been having some difficulties lately being ready to go in the morning (takes after his mom). Well, today I broke down and said that today was the day that I would leave him if he was not ready (not at home all day, just for his dad to take to school). He looked me straight in the eye and said if I left him that he was going to tell God. Gotta admire going straight to the Big Guy.

Boyd caught the kids snacking on some Ritz crackers on the way home tonight. He asked Dalton how many they had eaten. His response, "I don't know. Maybe 50 or 1,000."

The kids have gotten a little too accustomed to taking storm precautions in our center hallway. 

Joy of the Water Hose

Post bath, Maggie Anne has chosen to be dressed in a hot pink tutu which is under her yellow and green night gown. The outfit is complete with a blue bow in her hair and her new sandals. She is quite a sight!

Boyd was telling Dalton something and included one of our bad words "butt." Dalton said, "See, that is a fun word to say."

Last night Boyd told Dalton that I had had a rough day. Dalton took my hand and said, "Tell me about your day." He is such a sweetie!

I was just a little annoyed at Dalton for eating hidden Skittles before lunch when he asked, "Don't you remember that I am always hungry?" I guess I forgot.

Trip in a Nutshell