The Word is Out!

We are packing it up and moving back to Arkansas. We are sad to say goodbye to our friends here, but are also excited to be back near our family. US Pizza, here we come!

Things we love about Texas (Besides our sweet friends)

It is almost unfair to not list our friends in this top ten, since they are a big part of how we have survived being away from family, but in the spirit of fairness, this top ten list will also not list family or friends...(but, you know who you are, Hmm Hmm, April and Sharon)

In no particular order...

1. Our Church

2. Hope's School

3. Six Flags

4. Papasitos

5. The Ft. Worth Zoo

6. Shopping, shopping, shopping!

7. The Aquarium

8. Our neighborhood park

9. Joe's Crab Shack

10. Campuzano's

Things we miss about Little Rock (besides our family and friends!)

1. Our church

2. US Pizza

3. Teachers' Pet

4. The Farmer's Market

5. Shogun

6. Does Eat Place

8. The Little Rock Zoo

9. Shake's Fudge Brownie Concretes after a long hard day!

10. Julia and Riley's Games

So, why does my top ten list include so many things to do with food? Because I am pregnant, that's why.

Oh What Fun

We left the church around 3:45 or so today, and I was really thinking of a nice, relaxing evening at home, watch some television, read Hope some books, and go to bed early. Hope has had other ideas since we walked in the door. She has wanted to paint, make cookies, build towers of blocks, dance to music (which involves me dancing too) and at one point she said "I have a good idea. Let's go to the park. The big park. The Hope's Park." To which I replied, "That is a good idea, but let's go tomorrow." She said okay, but then everytime I would get up or move she would say "Are you ready to go to the park." So the guilt gets to me, and I put on my clothes (yep, I was in pjs by 5:00) and we head out to the park. She was skipping and giggling the whole way over there. She is holding my hand and we were walking, and she said "I think we need to go faster, we need to run." So I tell her that I just want to walk so we can see everything. She says "Mommy, you're so sneaky!"
She just had a blast at the park. She was in just the best mood, which made me in a good mood, too. It made me realize just how fast she is growing up, and how lucky I am to have such a happy child. I am so glad that she dragged her lazy Mommy out of the house!

Sick Baby

After 6 weeks of coughing, 2 trips to the doctor, several phone calls to the nurse, countless dosages of cough medicines...we found out today that Hope does indeed have pneumonia. Yuck. To make it worse, Hope has decided (after our last Dr. appointment when she was given really nasty medicine) that doesn't want to, and flat out will not take medicine of any sort. There are two exceptions. 1. Liquid Tylenol. 2. Triaminic Thin Strips that dissolve in her mouth. Everything else is a nightmare. I have to hold her down, open her mouth, squirt it in and blow on her face to get her to swallow. I am guessing maybe 1/4 of whatever I give her actually gets swallowed because the rest she just spits all over me. So...any suggestions on how to get a nearly 3 year old to take medicine she doesn't want to take? I have tried bribing and putting it in her juice and letting her do it her self. I have to get these antibiotics in her!

What's Your Name?

In the car at lunch today, I was trying to keep a sleepy Hope awake by asking her some questions. I said "What's your name?" She said "Daddy says Hopey Louisey Lemon Squeezy!" Sad but true, he does!

It reminded my mom and I both of when I was little and people would ask me my name and I would say "My name is Jill, but my daddy calls me Blossom."

Where did my baby go?

She's long winded!

Where would she get that from? I feel I can answer that without a doubt when I say her daddy! I don't think I will hear any objections! Here is a little conversation that happened as we came home from church/school today...
Mommy: Hope, who did you play with at school today?
Hope: I played with Madox. And I played with Maddie. I didn't play with Harrison. Harrison cried. Her wanted her Daddy. And her wanted her Mommy. I cried too. But I didn't cry berry much. Ms. Marsha patted my head and she said shhh Hope it's time to go to sleep! I did go to sleep today. Just a little bit. Do I get a treat? I like gum treats.


Wow, she didn't even stop for air! I do feel like I should say that Harrison is in fact a boy. We are working on the correct pronouns for boys!

Baby Names?

So, everyone likes to ask if we have baby names picked out. The truth is, no, although baby names is a favorite subject of mine! John and I have very different baby name opinions. For example, I like girl names like Ruby and John likes names like Marie. Neither of us will give into the other, so a compromise involving a name that we are both happy with will be a challenge. As far as boys, we do a little better. We were set on Eli for a boy when we were expecting Hope, but we have both moved passed that now. We both like Harris right now, but we have a long way to go before we have to decide! Then, of course add in Jenn and Mimi's opinions...they really think we should name a boy John Henry! Your opinions are welcome too!

Hope in a wedding dress?

I shamelessly stole this idea from April, who stole it from someone else! The idea is to take a picture of your daughter in your wedding dress every year on your anniversary (Ok, so it's two plus months after mine...oh well!). We had fun, but didn't get any really great pictures...we'll try again next year!