All "Snowed" Up

Summer's beloved "Doodle" (see www.snoedel.com) was in need of some TLC. She has begged me all week to please "snow Doodle up" ("sew"), and I finally got it done last night. Sadly, I used brown thread to match.

One happy girl:



One repaired Doodle:



Here's a picture of an as-yet unloved Snoedel for comparison:


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Doodle Love

Doodle is still with us, though she looks rough for the journey! Click on the "Doodle" label at the right of my blog to see what she originally looked like.

:-)

Good Morning!

Don't you wish you could sleep this soundly?

Check out Summer's "built-in eyeshadow". (She has a vein above her right eye that really stands out! She's had it since birth and everyone always wants to know if it's a bruise. She'll probably hate it when she's older, but we think it's cute.)

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D.P.

Okay. I'm going to do it. I'm going to get rid of Summer's passie. Next week. I am. (I've really gotten soft in my old age.)

We have a code word around here. It's "P.D.P" which stands for "passie, doodle, and peep-eye". They are Summer Rose's best friends, as you can see from the video below.

Peep-Eye is the stinky silk blanket. "Doodle" is actually a "Snoedel" doll that all my kids had as babies. Sis and Summer have truly LOVED their doodles. Here's one of my favorite pics of Sis with her Doodle when she was 2 years old. She and Doodle were helping me make biscuits. (I'm not going to say anything about the current whereabouts of Madelyn's own Doodle, since she is a faithful reader of my blog.)
Just for a little perspective, here is a photo of an as-yet unloved Snoedel:

I know some people are against passies, and of course some babies just won't have them, but being a preacher's wife and spending a lot of time occupying babies in church, I'm glad that all of mine loved a passie. However, with the boys I was very disciplined about taking the passie away at 1 year. The plan: no passie except during nap or night time for 1 month, then no passie at all. But the girls have been a little different.

Madelyn was such a miserable baby, having a severe milk allergy and reflux, and all that made her happy in this world was her brother KK and her passie and Doodle. I just didn't have the heart to take her happiness away so soon, so she kept hers until around age 2.

Now, I was already putting my usual plan into action just after Summer's 1st birthday when she fell and knocked her 2 front teeth into her gums. The dentist actually urged me to insist that she take a passie as much as possible to discourage her from putting any biting pressure on her teeth as they come back down. (Babies don't bite passies, they suck them.).

So, here we are 3 weeks away from her 2nd birthday, and I've put it off long enough!! This girl seriously is in love with that thing, and I know it's going to take nerves of steel on my part. The Doodle and Peep-eye can stay as long as she wants, but passie has to go!

I'm going to begin next Monday morning. So, by this time next week, as we head out the door, I'll shout, "Someone grab D.P.!" instead of the usual "P.D.P."

Why am I blogging this? Maybe to hold myself accountable. I guess I kind of feel like Pharaoh:



"SO LET IT BE BLOGGED, SO LET IT BE DONE."
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Relaxing with Friends

Curly Headed Rebel vs. Persistent Mama

Last week, the Curly Headed Rebel got a "big-girl" bed.

This is what happens when you walk out the door after putting Curly Headed Rebel to bed:

The second time:

The third time: (and I could go on and on.......)


This is what finally happens after the Persistent Mama stands outside the Curly Headed Rebel's door for 2 hours:

And this is what the Curly Headed Rebel's hair looks like after a night of adventure:

And this is proof that the Curly Headed Rebel can still outsmart Persistent Mama (who thought she slept all night) after all:

Morning Routine

She's got her passie, Doodle, cup, peep-eye, and her Cookie. Why the tears? Now all she needs is for Mama to put the camera down and snuggle with her while she drinks her milk. I just treasure morning times with my little ones. So sweet!

Sleeping Princess

Sweet Baby Girl

Rosebud with her best friends, Doodle and Ginger

Seth's First Dove Shoot

Since before Jason and I were even married, he and all the men in our family have gone Dove Hunting together on the first Saturday in September. It is a family tradition that, even through two September babies, Jason has never missed. It has become sort of a "rite of passage" as all our young boys grow up, and this year Seth got to go for the first time. Just look at that proud grin!

Can you believe anyone could be that happy at 5:00 in the morning?

(Dad doesn't look quite as lively!)

Here they are after a long, fun day:

The kids are growing up so fast! Look at how tall KK is! Below are a couple of older pictures from previous years. There is KK's first hunt in 2002, and then another in 2003, with Sis giving him a "good luck" kiss.

(Melanie, take a look at Sis's Doodle!)

Everyday News

We sure have been busy around here. So many new things. We have our new baby, new chore charts, new school schedules, a new church building.....and we also have some new good news: my baby sister Keri is expecting her first baby! Now that makes my sister Jada, my good friend Melanie, my sweet LMO helper C.L., and now my baby sister ALL expecting babies!! There is so much to look forward to these next few months.

Here's what we've been up to lately:

Bub loves anything "shwockett". "Mama, what's that good smell I smell with my nose?"

So big already!

An angel and her Doodle

Seth rarely sits down without asking to hold his new sister. Thankfully, she is patient with all my helpers, and I'm so thankful the "new" hasn't worn off with them yet. He says, "Hey, pretty girl! Don't you cry, Bubba's got you!"

Sis loves to help with bathtime for the little princess. (No, Sis doesn't have an everlasting gobstopper in her jaw; she got stung twice by wasps on her chin!)

Moving day for the church. It was a blessing and honor to meet in Jason's grandmother's (who passed away in May 2006) house until the Lord sent us a building. We rejoice that the Lord is moving and answering prayer, but it was sad to leave this special place.


Bro. Jamie instructing Caleb on how to hide behind a song book when you're embarrassed

It's so wonderful to be surrounded by such sweet and willing helpers when you have small children

KK, watching Rosebud while Mom works and cleans the new church

Seth with his 2 best friends

Our new pulpit, built special order (maybe Jason won't break it)

Coffee with friends

Meet......

Summer Rose

Summer Rose Stringer

Born June 23, 2008

8:14 a.m.

6 lbs., 13 oz.

19 3/4 in. long