PERPETUATING THE REDHEAD RACE

back by popular demand...

2012-02-15T07:00:00.002-06:00

Seriously, who would have thought that my belly would have been the topic of so much discussion. I guess it's my own fault for taking so many pictures last time. So below is me at 20 weeks with the twinkies, AND 20 weeks with Mary Beth. A little different...

twinkies, 20 weeks

Mary Beth, 20 weeks

Also back by popular demand is the appearance of the doornob. Different house, different doornob, but we'll see how close I can get to it... :-)

congratulations, they're ...

2012-02-14T13:58:00.000-06:00

We headed back to San Antonio this past weekend to let everyone know what the gender(s) of the twins was. Bob and I already knew because, well, there is NO way I was going to find out along with everyone else. But we didn't tell Mary Beth until the party because we knew she wouldn't be able to keep it a secret. So we told her and then let her tell the rest of the party.

Mary Beth wanted a boy and a girl.

Bob wanted anything other than two girls.

I wanted anything other than two boys.

Check out Mary Beth's reaction. (please excuse my annoying voice) Special thanks to Auntie Kim for the video work.

Touchdown!!!

2012-01-07T21:38:00.001-06:00

She couldn't stay awake for the game but somehow she just knew...

ANNOUNCEMENT

2011-12-18T08:03:00.000-06:00

No paparazzi, please!!!

2011-09-23T17:13:00.000-05:00

i play soccer!

2011-09-15T08:34:00.000-05:00

MOMMY WINS! DADDY LOSES!!!!

auntie kim's housewarming

2011-09-08T16:39:00.000-05:00

Kim wanted us Mary Beth at her housewarming party this weekend, so we made the trek down for a long weekend. Oh, and Bob went to UTSA's inaugural football game too. Look what he missed while he was hootin' and hollerin' for the Roadrunners:

Deceiving photo since it took me over an hour to get her to nap...

BEFORE the boys jumped into the pool and it turned into a mudbath

CUPCAKE!!!

Playing with Grandpa's slot machine. I don't think anyone won money. It may be Dad's last trick...

We stopped by the fantasy football draft on Sunday and then headed to Austin to stay with Trev, Rebecca, the girls and Cannon. Um, we were there for less than an hour when this happened on their street and we FLED.

That's the Steiner Ranch fire in Austin. I think 17 houses on their street were lost completely. It was absolute mayhem. We packed everything up, Bob quickly helped Trev load up some bikes and we were outie. Very scary and I'm happy to report that the Trevelise home is still standing and just has some smoke damage. It could have been far worse. I was trying not to freak Mary Beth out, and apparently I did a good job because here she is at Rebecca's aunt's house where we fled:

Completely obvlious to the fact that Trev is 3 feet from her telling his family/friends that he probably just lost his home. Ah the life of a child.

What a weekend.

stayin' alive

2011-09-08T16:14:00.000-05:00

What can I say... girl's got mad dancin' skills...

auntie kim!

2011-08-26T14:57:00.001-05:00

We went to San Antonio this past weekend to get a sneak peek of Auntie Kim's new house. Oh, and for a wedding too. I think Mary Beth had a great time at both -- I'll post video of her on the dance floor later. Needless to say, I believe she was the hit of the wedding.

But she also got some quality time with her Auntie Kim and then with a swing set. And you all know how she LOVES a swingset!

Enjoy!

with apologies to my spurs peeps...

2011-07-07T16:47:00.000-05:00

...she knows which one is more important in our home!

goofiness

2011-06-30T09:10:00.000-05:00

We went to San Antonio this weekend and Mary Beth loved on her Auntie Kim. This pretty much sums up the goofiness involved.

good lord i'm a horrible blogger

2011-05-24T14:48:00.000-05:00

I guess with the more Mary Beth grows up, the less time I have to blog about her! So let's catch up... back in February we got rid of the front edge of the crib and converted to a toddler bed. My nights have never been the same, as whenever she wakes up in the middle of the night, she proceeds to cry and run to our room. And now she wants to be rocked ALL the time. ??? Hopefully this will end soon because Mama needs her sleep!

And she's getting cuter than ever. Enjoy some pictures to catch up!!

Daddy time!!

Rockstar...

My favorite auntie and me...

What?

Throw baby in the water time...

At the zoo with a bunch of animals!

Next I'll post some photos from her two birthday celebrations. That's right. Two celebrations for two years!

happy redhead day!!!

2011-03-17T22:18:00.000-05:00

Apparently it's also called St. Patrick's Day. But here at the Francisco household, it's Mary Beth day! Special thanks to Nana for the shamrock shirt - it was a big hit!

at the park with uncle rob!

2011-03-13T23:47:00.000-05:00

I think the only thing that could have made the park more fun for Mary Beth was going to it with Uncle Rob. She had a blast!

dancin queen

2011-03-10T23:31:00.000-06:00

Seriously, the girl's got mad skills. You MUST watch this video of her dancing to the end of her video before bed...

sleeping beauty

2011-03-01T23:25:00.000-06:00

Yes, I'm horrible and haven't posted in a long, long time. So I've just downloaded a TON of photos from my phone and will try to post them for everyone. First up, a collection of our lovely little one in her quietest time: sleep. I LOVE taking pictures of her sleeping. Especially when she's snuggling up to her "Tugga."

mary beth's park

2011-02-02T23:16:00.000-06:00

Well, she thinks it belongs to her, at least. Last Saturday we spent over an hour there. So Sunday Bob and I took her back. It was starting to get cold, so we didn't stay as long - but she couldn't get enough of the slides and swing! Little did we know she'd be park-less for a while. It's 14 degrees here right now! Gees! Anyway, enjoy these gems!

from texas to arizona...

2011-01-17T21:01:00.000-06:00

I'd love to have a theme for this post -- but really it's just that I'm cleaning up my camera. And Bob is in Arizona and asked me to send him "lots of photos of my baby girl." Awwww. And poor Bob is under the weather so he could use some smiles! Enjoy!

Mary Beth got some new, sparkly kicks. We matched last week,
though hers are obviously way cooler.

Grandma would be proud that she pulls Tigger down
and sleeps with him!!

She's got mad dancing skills. Especially to Elmo videos.

And Momma can make pigtails!

Again, Grandma would be so proud!

leaf stomping

2011-01-12T21:28:00.000-06:00

A great thing about the house: tons of trees.

A bad thing about the house during the Fall: tons and tons and tons and tons of leaves.

This video is obviously from a month or two ago - when it wasn't 25 degrees outside. But who can resist a munchkin in a trashcan jumping on leaves? That's what I thought. Enjoy.

swinger

2011-01-12T21:21:00.000-06:00

Mary Beth LOVES the park. Loves the swing and loves the slide. And she's quite nimble on the swing. In the video below, she proved how much she digs her shoes, and how she belongs in the circus. Yes Rob, I said it.

seriously?

2011-01-06T21:43:00.000-06:00

Could she be any cuter???

photo-taking fiend

2011-01-03T23:21:00.000-06:00

I've been wanting a new camera - a GOOD camera - for a while now. And my digital camera decided that it randomly only wants to shoot in video sometimes. Cue a fantastic present for the holidays and I've got a mack-daddy new camera. Still learning how to use it, but in the meantime I took some test photos with the world's best subject. The pictures don't seem to look as crisp on the blog here, but on the computer they're just striking! Of course any picture of little Mary Beth is the best!

for kim, rob and my texas peeps...

2010-12-30T00:03:00.000-06:00

I taught her something during the baseball playoffs, but it fits with her shirt as well...

catching up...

2010-12-29T23:58:00.003-06:00

I know, I know... still catching up. And getting ready to head south down I-35 for a belated Christmas with Kim and possibly a New Year's layover in Austin. So to end the year, I thought I'd post some recent pictures and a video from the playground. She LOVES that place! Enjoy!!

FINALLY smiling after freaking out with Santa

I like to watch tv before I go to bed

Mommy said her boots were knee-high. They're actually hip-high.

Weeeeeee

I'm Queen of the slide!

mary beth's new bike

2010-12-26T00:03:00.000-06:00

I think Bob's been counting down the days until he could buy Mary Beth a bike since he found out we were pregnant with her. And it was so cute - he did the research on getting her a bike with training wheels or a glider/slider/whatever-it's-called where it doesn't have pedals at all but teaches her to balance and push off with her feet. So we all went to the store together this week and tried them out. Cue the video this morning when Bob brought her into the living room to see the bike and helmet:

I'm thinking every parent has had this happen. :-) But she really does like it. Bob and I had to take turns with her today pushing her through the house since it was cold and wet outside:

She's a cutie. We'll keep her.

Sidenote - the bike had some competition this morning when she walked in the room. Last night she and I were coloring in her Peanuts Holiday Coloring Book (what - you don't have one?). She loved it so much that she went to bed with it. Literally.

christmas!!

2010-12-25T23:35:00.000-06:00

First of all, WOW - I HAVEN'T POSTED SINCE DECEMBER 1ST!!! I guess that's what happens when your baby becomes a toddler, doesn't sit still for more than three seconds and runs the entire household. That and she gets really frustrated when I'm typing on my computer and don't let her bang on all the keys. I know. I'm such a horrible mother.

So. I have a lot of pictures and videos to post. I'll work backwards for the next couple of days and bring everyone up to speed. But since it is Christmas, I'll post those first today! Bob and I think this is the last Christmas where we'll really get to relax. She likes new things, but doesn't understand the concept of Santa and gift-giving yet. In fact, she's scared of Santa. That's a great picture I still need to scan in actually...

Anyway, I was quite happy to find a Strawberry Shortcake doll for Mary Beth. Oh the memories of my own childhood. And you know I love giving her redheaded dolls as well. Here's the video from her dancing around with it and deciding that it was better than the musical Woodstock doll that was in her stocking (sorry Kim and Geimps!). And it also stars her new pink chair that she's in love with.

New pajamas (that she made us put the pants on right away, of course) and new Mickey slippers... poodles and froggies and mice, oh my!!

Next up: bike photos and videos!! Stay tuned!

like mommy and daddy, like daughter?

2010-12-01T21:46:00.000-06:00

When I was little, I couldn't go to sleep until my room was completely clean. And the house has to be clean BEFORE we leave for vacation because it will drive me insane knowing we're coming home to a dirty house.

It drives Bob crazy when rooms or hallways that have two light switches are in different positions - like one flipped up and the other flipped down.

So it really didn't come as a surprise tonight when we saw, well, our own little future OCD'er. She has a box of 26 books - one for each letter of the alphabet. At first we thought it was just a coincidence that the books were all put away in order. Not alphabetical or anything - because then I'd be screaming WE'RE RICH - OUR 20 MONTH OLD IS A GENIUS!! No, they were all facing the same direction. Color binding on the left. Letter with animal facing out.

Once again, karma hits. This is going to be interesting.

Don't believe us? Watch for yourselves...

putting mary beth to work...

2010-11-11T22:57:00.000-06:00

... well, sort of.

Last weekend we attacked the front yard and all of the kazillion leaves. And when I say "we," I really mean Bob. And Mary Beth. As you can see from the video below, she wanted to help! And then the pictures were too dang cute to pass up. Daddy's rake was too big so we found her mini-me rake. Special thanks to Grandma-ish Rosemarie for the green and pink outfit. It took a while, but she finally fit in it. Of course I had to add a pink barn coat. (I have a toddler clothing shopping problem...) Enjoy!

tale of two costumes

2010-11-03T23:18:00.000-05:00

So all the munchkins came up to the office on Friday afternoon for trick-or-treating. So much fun. So much work. Mary Beth is a handful, especially with decorations and candy all over the place. Oh but she wasn't even eating the candy - that will make it FAR worse later, right?! No, she just liked taking the candy out of the bowls and putting it in her pink Disney Princess pumpkin. In fact, she even would trade candy with some people. You know, just to be fair. You give me some M&Ms and I'll give you this Baby Ruth in return. So cute!

But then on Sunday for the neighborhood Halloween get-together, she took on her other persona: Devil Child. Complete with the pink bow barrett and checkered vans.

But I guess the two costume thing really shouldn't come as a surprise to you. Last year she was a lady bug and then a tiger. I see a trend...

video from horseback ride!

2010-11-03T22:59:00.000-05:00

Videos finally uploaded! Enjoy!

go horsey, go!!

2010-10-28T23:00:00.000-05:00

This past weekend was Alumni Weekend back at Trinity, so we loaded up the Pilot and headed Southbound 35. The alumni soccer team LOVED the aspiring soccer player, even if she picked up the ball more than kicked it. (And they all told her not to be a goalie -- sorry Kim!) She even was asked to join in on the team photo. When I get it, I'll post it here. I can't wait to see it!

The other big event of the weekend was Mary Beth's first horsey ride! And we're talking real horse - not the wooden rocker or merry-go-round, though she's getting to be a pro at both of those. Her Uncle Andy took her out to ride his horse. To no surprise, she loved it as well. I kow there are a couple of people in Kansas waiting for these photos so I'll stop rambling and let you enjoy...

I have video too, but the computer isn't cooperating and it's late. So I'll post this weekend. Until then, enjoy Mary Beth and her post-ride celebration.

what we've been up to lately...

2010-10-18T23:33:00.000-05:00

Two weekends ago (what can I say, Mary Beth keeps us busy), we went to Grapevine Mills for a few things. Three hours later... That place can suck you in. Especially when you pass this and Mary Beth jumps up and down and MUST go on a ride with her Daddy!!

Tuesday we got Kim's Save the Date magnet in the mail and there was a note about it being an "Adults Only Affair." Though Auntie Kim has assured Mary Beth that she's invited to the wedding and beginning of the reception, she didn't take it well. And goodness - I've seen that look before in all our childhood photos. I'd love to say it's on Kim's face, but well, she's definitely my daughter.

Late Wednesday night I went to go check on the sleeping beauty. I'm not sure how she sleeps like this:

Thursday night Bob went to ride in Austin so Mary Beth and I had our Girls' Night dinner at Kinkaids. They LOVE her there. And what's not to love?

Saturday morning the munchkin and I went to Bed Bath & Beyond. She went postal until I placed her on this bed that she fell in love with. I'm not sure if it's because of the bright colors or the softness, but if she actually had a bed I would have had to buy all of it for her. It was painful (for everyone in the store too) when I had to take her off of it.

And then Sunday afternoon we took a family trip to the grocery store. She was NOT having the whole "ride in the cart" thing, so she took over driving duties. No groceries were harmed in the filming of this video.

Have a great week!

my shiny new(ish) shoes!

2010-10-18T23:07:00.000-05:00

I don't remember when, but a while back Kim was here and bought Mary Beth shiny, glittery, pink shoes from Target. They were too big and we had to wait for MB to fit in size 5.

But I should have known.

Disney size 5 shoes are not the same as Circo size 5 shoes, and once we finally sat down one morning to put them on THEY WERE TOO SMALL!!! And I'm not kidding when I tell you that she threw a FIT when she couldn't walk in them and we had to change shoes. I mean, threw herself down on the floor and cried to the heavens WHY MUST YOU TEASE ME SO?!?! I can hear my Dad laughing.

So this weekend I took them back and got size 6. I'm her hero now. See photo and video below when she put them on for the first time! She was so happy she had to come sit in my lap. She's a cute goober.

video from grapefest

2010-10-18T22:58:00.000-05:00

Yeah, yeah, I'm a busy Mom. Just sat down and downloaded photos and videos from my iPhone to post. Sorry! So first post here in a video from Grapefest once Mary Beth was done with the spinning horsies. She was sitting in my lap yesterday looking at photos and videos on the phone and waved back to her daddy's voice from this video. Stinkin' cute. Enjoy:

big weekend for the little lady!

2010-09-20T00:45:00.000-05:00

It was GrapeFest here in Grapevine this weekend. And once I saw "Petting Zoo" on the list of activities, Bob jumped up and got ready to go! We couldn't wait to see how she would love it, since we know she loves animals. Little lady is fearless! So off we went! You be the judge on how she liked it:

She said she's ready to visit Uncle Rob and the goats. And then before we left, she had another treat - now she says she's ready to visit Uncle Andy, too!!

Of course there is video as well, but it's late and it's not cooperating with me. So you'll get it, and a message for Nana, later this week!

first haircut!!!

2010-09-05T20:42:00.000-05:00

So, her hair is soooo cute when we pull it up or back. But the days when she lets us do that are few and far between. And it was getting just unruly. So we had to get it cut. But we didn't get too much chopped. Just enough to make her not look like Justin Bieber. And she handled it like a pro!

this is what we do in texas when it's hot

2010-08-21T22:07:00.000-05:00

Bob was watering the lawn.
Mary Beth thought YAY, WATER!!!!
What happened next, well, is just hilarous. Enjoy the pictures and videos. You MUST watch the videos!

The facial expression at :56 is priceless.

And don't worry, nobody got hurt. But it was close.

opening/closing doors...

2010-08-16T14:21:00.002-05:00

Yeah. We're so screwed.

in daddy's footsteps...literally

2010-08-16T14:16:00.000-05:00

um... close?

2010-08-04T14:59:00.001-05:00

This is what happens when Mary Beth tries to put her sunglasses on by herself. I'll give her an E for Effort.

yee haw

2010-07-29T21:39:00.000-05:00

That's right. She's a native Texan.

she's not picking favorites or anything...

2010-07-12T23:50:00.000-05:00

Now I understand why people blog less as their children get older. It's impossible to get time to sit down and do it! I just downloaded a TON of photos from my camera (making room for the camping trip later this week!) and have some cute ones.

Mary Beth is taking swim lessons every week. She LOVES the water and smiles non-stop. Except when she's leaning over and trying to drink the water. This will come to no surprise to Rob and Kim. Like mother like daughter.

And apparently last week when I was at a going away party, Mary Beth entertained Bob by running through the living room giggling. She's hours of entertainment, people.

Last, on Sunday morning when Bob and I went in her room to get her up, Mary Beth proceeded to point and grab her "Tugga." That's Tigger, for those of you who don't speak Mary Beth-ese. Only thing is, she's got THREE Tuggas. One was my mom's, that I gave her back in the 80s, eventually went to me, and then I gave MB; a baby Tugga that I just couldn't resist when she was a few months old; and then Bob's mom sent a third one. Because you can never have enough Tuggas. Anyway, she wanted ALL of them. At once. And tried to carry all of them. I may be biased, but this picture and video are adorable.

playing catch-up

2010-06-22T23:31:00.000-05:00

Auntie Kim shows MB the picture of her as her computer background. "That's me!"

So, we've been sooooooooo busy here lately that I just haven't had time to post. I know, I know. Bad Mommy. So we'll play a little catch-up over the next week or so.

Auntie Kim flew in to hang out with us for the weekend (2 weekends ago now), see Mary Beth running around (literally) and look at wedding dresses. For Kim that is - Mary Beth isn't allowed to go on a date until she's 30.

Auntie Kim played hairdresser for MB.

Oh crud. She likes my cell phone.

I also said that I'd post videos from every month/birthday. On the 12th, Auntie Kim, Rhonda and I were trying to get MB to dance. So she did. To Barry Manilow. Kim danced/sang, too. Posted below. Oh I can hear Mom clapping from heaven...

nana time

2010-06-06T21:03:00.000-05:00

Nana came to visit and Mary Beth loved every minute of it. After hearing how cute it was when MB kept climbing into other toddler's camping chairs last weekend in Galveston, she bought her a hot pink one to enjoy on the patio. And we've been meaning to get her a pool to splash around in. Nana to the rescue. So yesterday and today (after a too-hot trip to the playground), all 4 of us hung out on the patio in the Texas heat, getting cooled down by MB's splashes. She really is adorable, don't you think?

day at the park

2010-05-26T00:08:00.002-05:00

A few weekends ago we went to the park to play. Mary Beth LOVES the swing and the slide. Looks like we'll have to get a playset in the backyard pretty soon! So we took some pictures and a few videos - a special one for Nana even! Enjoy!

devil child

2010-05-25T23:23:00.000-05:00

Yes, Rob. We redheads do have horns. But Mary Beth wears them well, don't you think?

happy 14 months!

2010-05-12T22:44:00.001-05:00

Well, it's a good thing I decided to post videos on her monthly birthdays this year instead of photos. Because I can't get her to sit still! Seriously. I couldn't decide between two cute videos so you get both. One shows why Mary Beth is a momma's girl instead of daddy's (and why Bob gets called "Mean Daddy"), and the other shows our exercise from last night. She was all out of breath and everything. So cute...

go mb go!

2010-04-29T20:44:00.000-05:00

It's been crazy busy here. Both Bob and I have been swamped at work. Mary Beth has been running around (literally) and waving/saying "bye bye". Oh, and the Spurs have been in the playoffs. Mary Beth is a HUGE fan. She's snagged herself a silver Ginobil jersey and even tonight she stole my Tony jersey for a while. Never seen a cuter thief.

She's mastered the dance and clap to "Ya'll ready for this," the song that would start the Spurs player introductions. Enjoy some pictures and video from tonight and last game...

BIG day for mary beth

2010-04-13T22:37:00.000-05:00

So, she's been a little cranky lately. But who would blame her -- she had 3, count 'em, 3 teeth coming in at the same time. Poor little bugger. And she's been drooling like it's going out of style. I have to keep bringing 2 or 3 outfits to daycare for her to wear throughout the day. Yukky. Or as she has been saying lately, "UH OH."

This afternoon when I went to go pick her up, they said she's been really "clingy" and getting mad whenever anyone put her down. She snuggled up to me in my arms and we started playing around. Know how she likes to be dipped upside down? Guess what you can see when she's upside down? TWO TEETH THAT BROKE THROUGH TODAY!! No wonder she was clingy. One on the top and one joining the first tooth on the bottom. The other top tooth is RIGHT there. We celebrated by dancing around and I asked for a high five.

Ya'll, she gave me a high five.

I don't think Bob really believed me when I told him. But we showed him. Enjoy this video of her having a fantastic time in the bath tonight... and high fivin'. My baby girl is a rock star.

Next trick to teach: beer retrieving.

13 months

2010-04-12T20:48:00.000-05:00

I think we've decided that our signs are done. Quite frankly, I can't get her to sit still anymore long enough to take a picture of her holding onto anything.

So instead you get this video of her ruling the house. It is her world after all - we just live in it.

happy birthday, grandma!!

2010-04-10T09:37:00.001-05:00

I just had a conversation in my head of what is going on in Heaven today:

Dad: Happy Birthday, Mary!

Mom: Thanks, Phil. The roses are beautiful.

Dad: Well, I thought you could use something pretty to keep your mind off the fact that you’re getting old. You’re 65 now – so you’re eligible for Social Security, senior citizen discounts, etc.

Mom: Three things for you, old man. First of all, I think getting money sent to me up here in Heaven just really isn’t going to happen. And next, you will always be older than me. Heck, I’m immortally aged 48 anyway since that’s how old I was in 1993. But you were much older than me when you died. So pipe down.

Dad: I thought you said there were 3 things.

Mom: Yes, you forgot my birthday one year. So technically I’m only 64…

Dad: Good Lord, you’re never going to let that one go, are you?

Mom: Nope. It was a pretty big miss there.

Dad: Can’t argue with that. Well OK then. Happy 64th-ish birthday. What would you like to do today?

Mom: Let’s go peek in on that beautiful granddaughter of ours.

Dad: Beautiful granddaughter? We just have that redheaded one. We can look in on her instead.

(CRUNCH!!!!!)

(That’s Mom smacking Dad across the head)

Sounds about right. Happy Birthday, Mom!

yum yum yum

2010-04-07T21:59:00.000-05:00

The only thing Mary Beth may like as much as walking right now is eating. Boy does she like to eat! Her favorites? Avocado. Ham. Black beans. Banana yogurt. Peaches. And graham crackers. As you can see from the photo above, we had spaghetti tonight. Apparently she has some of her grandma's Italian blood in her and has now added that to her list of favorites.

She's a HUGE fan of the kids meal at Chipotle - cheese quesadilla and black beans. As you can see from the two videos below, she enjoyed her dinner both nights. And I promise, she ate the avocado right after we stopped taping. Yes, she ate avocado and spaghetti at the same time. What, you don't?

Easter and walking like crazy...

2010-04-06T21:30:00.000-05:00

Mary Beth sat still for about three minutes on Sunday -- just long enough for us to put on the Easter dress that Kim bought for her birthday. Even during Mass, she simply did not want to sit still. Both Bob and I took her to the back of the church so she could walk laps. Literally. And while she was delicately walking in her cute, plaid dress, she was smiling and waiving at everyone. She met more people at church in one morning than Bob and I have. But then again, she is a lot cute than us.

We came back home and tried to take some photos, but she was plum tuckered out from her new excercise regimen. So we just got a few.

It's close to impossible to get Mary Beth on video walking right now because she's so darn quick that she's already out of the room by the time you get the camera. But here's a quick attempt on a short video for you:

three nights of freak-sleepin'

2010-03-27T21:37:00.001-05:00

She's cute, but she sleeps in the weirdest positions. Just look at the last three nights!

Thursday night

Friday night

Saturday night

This last one is my favorite. She's even wearing her new Big Girl pjs that Auntie Kim gave her. She loves sleeping along the bumpers, but just a bit too big now.

**OOPS! THE PJ'S WERE PICKED OUT BY UNCY MATT!!! THANKS UNCY MATT!!!**

dear uncle rob,

2010-03-21T20:44:00.000-05:00

dear uncle rob,

when i woke up this morning, mommy moved my new chair in front of the window so i could see the snow. there wasn't as much as last time, and i didn't get to make any snow angels. but it was still pretty to look at. mommy said that where you live it snows more. sounds cold. i think i'll just stay here in my chair and look out at it.

come visit soon.

love, mary beth

she's walking!!!!

2010-03-17T21:12:00.002-05:00

See, there's just something magical about St. Patrick's Day. Especially if you're a 100%, pure bred redhead like Mary Beth. So we dressed up in our green, and then practiced walking after our days at work and daycare. Of course she took 4 or 5 steps when we weren't taping. So we tried again. And again. We even gave up for a bit and just tickled and giggled. Then after her bath (hence the wardrobe change - there's still green on her!), she was a little cranky because she wanted her bottle but she still walked to mama. Atta girl. Geimps would be proud.

There are a few videos and pics here - the walk and a few cute outtakes.

who's one year old?

2010-03-14T23:11:00.000-05:00

Mary Beth had quite a birthday weekend. She started her birthday with a visit to Dr. Z for her one-year Well Check. She checked well. :-) All good on the height and weight front, and everyone agreed that Princess Mary Beth, who visited the office with her crown, is the cutest redhead ever. Saturday Auntie Kim flew into town and was greeted by MB and an awesome sign. A bunch of people came over to the house for an informal gathering/party where MB giggled, laughed and had cupcake icing for the first time. Sunday we went to the park to swing, and then played soccer in the back yard. That's right, MB is ready for her Rowdiettes jersey and soccer cleats. There's a TON of photos, so have fun!!

a night of firsts...

2010-03-09T22:04:00.000-06:00

...first cup of juice...

...first taste of black beans...

...first cheese quesadilla...

Chipotle rocks. Mary Beth agrees.

seriously...

2010-02-21T16:56:00.000-06:00

...do you think anyone could say no to her if she was selling cookies? I think not.

11 months!!

2010-02-14T14:00:00.000-06:00

(As most new parents will understand, we've been swamped these last few days with the snow and haven't posted this. She turned 11 months on the 12th, so we're just 2 days late!)

Dear Mary Beth,

How is it possible that you're 11 months old?? A year ago today my friends/coworkers at Regent threw us a shower and we received some great presents for you. You even still use some of them today - like your blankets, bottles and steamer. The next day we were packing up our home in Florida and moving to Texas. Well, the packers were packing. I was working and your dad was supervising. We then spent the night at the Westin Diplomat and your dad kissed me Happy Valentine's Day at 430 in the morning and took off for the drive to Texas. You and I spent our first Valentine's Day together - me feeling quite fat and lonely, and you enjoying the chocolate and raspberry sorbet dessert I had.

In this past month, you've really started trucking along on the walking front. You LOVE your little car/walker that my boss Andy gave you. And you walk along the tables, couch, mirror -- anything you can as long as you can hold on to something. Speaking of the mirror, boy do you love the mirror! We learned that a long time ago, but we bought a huge mirror for the entry way and it's not even worth trying to clean your fingerprints off.

You old daycare is closing down at the end of the month, so we were forced to find you a new one. Actually, we were looking for a new one anyway because we felt you needed something more as you got closer to "toddler status." You've been at the new one for just a week, and you're doing well. You're not a fan of when we leave you in the morning, but they say you're making friends, practicing your walking and even trying new foods. You're fearless.

You also enjoyed your first snowstorm. It snowed in early December but it didn't really stick to the ground. And then we had already gone to San Antonio when the Christmas Eve snowstorm hit. But this was a HUGE storm. Record-setting for the amount of snow in 24 hours here in the DFW area. So we made your first baby snow angels, and you had your first taste of snow. Literally. You loved it. But don't get used to it...

Last, you're getting cuter every day, which I'm not sure how that is possible. But it is. You love to smile, laugh, and now you're talking, saying "Ah-tah" to us. We have to repeat it back and forth a few times or you get mad at us. Very cute.

We love you, Baby Love

Love,

Mom and Dad

winter wonderland

2010-02-11T11:16:00.000-06:00

Well, we missed the Christmas Eve snowstorm here in Dallas since we had already gone to San Antonio. So today when we woke up to a few inches of snow (and more coming), we had to take advantage of it. I'll post the pictures of her making her first baby snow angel later, but here is a video of her doing what she does best -- putting anything and everything in her mouth. She said snow is quite tasty...

best ten bucks ever spent at target...

2010-02-07T10:02:00.000-06:00

...and trust me, I've spent a lot of money at Target. But this dancing frog was irresistable, and Mary Beth LOVES to dance. So three videos for you... two frog dances, and one where Caddyshack Gopher made an appearance. He was feeling left out. Mary Beth can groove...

monkey

2010-02-02T23:42:00.002-06:00

her best dustin hoffman imitation...

2010-01-25T22:33:00.000-06:00

...and that would be from Midnight Cowboy, not Tootsie or Meet the Fockers. Little Mary Beth said "I'M WALKING HERE! I'M WALKING HERE!" Well, with the help if her walker/car, but still damn cute! Two videos because it was twice the fun!

what's up?

2010-01-19T23:08:00.000-06:00

No reason for the post, except to show the cutest little redhead EVER! :-)

all the mothers cry...

2010-01-18T23:48:00.000-06:00

Dear Mary Beth,

I don't think it's just the mothers. I think anyone with a heart has felt the tears starting to swell this past week. A horrific, unimaginable earthquake shattered the already poverty-stricken Haiti. When we lived in Florida, we knew a lot of people either originally from Haiti or that had family members there. People who went through their own horrors to get to the United States so they could work and send money back to their family so they could eat, drink and have shelter. But that shelter has failed when the earth opened up last Tuesday.

I'm a news junkie and can't stop watching the news or reading it on the computer. But I've also spent a lot of time walking away from it lately because it truly is heartbreaking. In a country that already was the poorest in the western hemisphere, and had an outrageous number of orphans, the photos of torn families are unspeakable.

So if you actually can remember your tenth month and wonder why you suddenly were showered with even more hugs and kisses, it's because of this tragedy. I just don't want to let you go. I'm even typing this while watching you sleep on the monitor. And in the morning I'll race to your room to watch you smile and stand up in your crib.

I've never been one to hide my emotions, and a tragedy of this magnitude would always affect me. But now that I'm a mom I think it's different. To see other moms crying in pain because their children are gone, or babies in orphanages or hospitals while their parents didn't make it... it's just unbearable. So don't roll your eyes at me when I sneak in your room later tonight to give you your 498th kiss of the day. Just keep sleeping soundly and dream of a time when all is right in the world again.

Love, Mom

purple people eaters

2010-01-17T21:51:00.000-06:00

It was a dangerous day here in Texas. There was this adorably cute, redheaded 10 month old girl who was continuing her late Grandpa's love and desire for the Vikings to win a SuperBowl. So she was dressed in all purple (sorry Rob, no helmet) and she cheered whenever Brett scored a touchdown. Well, she missed the first few since she was napping, but still... And then once the nap was over and the score was quite favorable for Grandpa's team, much to the dismay of her father, this adorable little munchkin did the most blasphemous thing.

SHE WENT OUT IN PUBLIC IN THE DALLAS METROPLEX WITH HER PURPLE ON!!!

The nerve. But seeing as how it was to Target, whose headquarters is in Minnesota, her mom thought it was safe.

And she'll be wearing purple again next weekend. :-)

happy 10 months!

2010-01-12T19:36:00.003-06:00

Dear Mary Beth,

Ten months? Really? Wow.

So lately you have taken up "speed crawling" and can make it across the room in 3.4 seconds. Or something close to that. And you also like to pull yourself up. On tables, chairs, pant legs, etc. You name it, you'll climb it. And you like to push buttons on the computer too, making interesting emails go out early sometimes!

You're teething like crazy, too. The doc said "any day now," but that was a month ago. Oh well. Eventually you'll get one! Until then you'll just keep drooling on and biting down on everything imaginable.

So happy 10 months! We love you!

Love, Mom and Dad

giggle monster

2010-01-10T21:51:00.000-06:00

Mary Beth and I had most of the day alone together. And you know what happens when girls get together... someone always gets tickled!!!

happy 2010

2010-01-01T00:36:00.000-06:00

Dear Mary Beth,

You're SO unconscious right now, enjoying your little baby girl dreams of milk bottles, shiny mirrors and visiting grandparents. You entertained us earlier tonight as "Princess Mary Beth," jumping up and down and laughing with your crown on. I'll make you a better one next time.

It's officially a new year, and I promise to make it unforgettable. Well, you probably won't remember it seeing as how you're an infant, but hopefully you'll have a blast. You'll learn to walk, eat new foods, say mama and dada (and actually mean it as a name for us) and so much more. The world is out there for you to explore, and your dad and I will love showing it to you.

For your first video of the year, here's you enjoying the Care Bear book that Nana gave you for Christmas. I've never seen you attack one of your toys like this before, and it was too good to pass up. So thanks, Nana!

Love, Mom

first christmas!!!

2009-12-31T00:32:00.002-06:00

So, I think Kim and I started planning to spend Mary Beth's first Christmas together, oh, about a year ago! We knew it would be a tough time with memories of trying to celebrate Christmas last year right after Dad passed. And seeing Mary Beth just brings out the smiles in anyone, so you can't go wrong there. Kim bought her a plethora of gifts, and couldn't wait to open presents with her on Christmas day.

We headed down to San Antonio on Wednesday, which apparently was the right move since most of the Dallas/Ft. Worth area was snowed and iced over on Christmas Eve. Bad that we didn't get to see the snow, but good that we got out of there before it got nasty. Over the next 5 days, Bob and I put a lot of miles on Loop 1604 going back and forth between family gatherings -- seems everyone wants to see the little tike on her first big holiday! She spent most of Christmas Eve with Bob, Jeff and Andy, Christmas day with us and Kim/Matt at Mike and Carol's (Matt's dad and stepmom), and even the day after with Terri for a while (Matt's mom - AKA "quasi-grandma).

I joked that I was only going to give her boxes, wrapping paper and bows for Christmas. Turns out that those things really were some of her favorite items to play with. But she also loved her toys, clothes and books from everyone. What she didn't like was the boo boo she got on her nose when she took a dive off the leather ottoman. With me RIGHT THERE. I caught her as she caught her nose on the rug, cutting it. So poor baby looked like Rudolph on Christmas. Hey, 9 months old and this was the first visible injury -- I call that a winner.

well this can't be good...

2009-12-21T09:31:00.000-06:00

Mary Beth is starting to figure out how to pull herself up on things. That won't lead to any trouble, right?

calling all you angels...

2009-12-17T00:03:00.000-06:00

Dear Mary Beth,

I know he visits you. So does she, but I know even tonight your Grandpa came and visited you and made me come into your room. I felt him there, trying in his not-so-sly way to remind me that there is so much more happiness in my life going on to feel sad that he is gone.

What games does he play with you in the mornings when we hear you "talking" in the early hours? Don't fall for the one where he says he's got your nose. It's just his thumb. And quit listening to him when he tells you to burp up on me. That's just not nice. I know he thinks it's funny though. I'm thinking he also loves watching you dart across the room in your turbo crawling speed. Have loads of fun playing with him. He could always make us laugh, entertain us and just plain have fun with us. And he always had a soft spot for really cute girls, so you're in luck there! I think he'd even look past the fact that you have red hair...

I miss him tremendously. This last year has been such a strange year filled with terrible sadness and great happiness. Maybe that's why it happened when it did -- to help me keep things in perspective. Still sucks though. Wait, don't say "sucks." Bad Mom. Eh, if that's the worst word you learn in our house, I'll be happy.

So I'm not sure what Grandpa looks like when he visits you, but I thought you may want to see some of my favorite pictures of him. Ask him about some of his plaid suits. Classic Filmore.

Love,

A Very Sad Mom

from the desk of mary beth

2009-12-12T22:08:00.000-06:00

normally mommy writes me a letter each month saying all the fun things i've done. but you've all seen my fun things already - smiling, swinging and crawling. LOTS of crawling.

so tonight i hijacked the computer to write a letter to them.

mommy, keep the milk coming. and food. i like when you give me little bites of your chicken and fig newtons. and i like when you roll around on the floor with me making me giggle.

daddy, COME HOME ALREADY!!! it's been fun hanging out with mom all week, but i want my daddy!! i like when you hold me up over your head so i can be tall. and let me splash you when you're giving me a bath. plus, mommy looks like she could use a nap and you'll have to play with me during that.

everyone else reading this, i really like this crawling thing. i didn't know it was going to be this fun!! there's a whole world of things to get into now!

it's bed time now. off to my crib where i get to roll around and pull the monitor down in the morning. what? it has a pretty green light on it, and i LOVE flashing or shining lights. and then when i do that, mommy or daddy come into the room and laugh when they see me smiling. life is good.

love,
mary beth

santa claus is coming..

2009-12-12T10:30:00.001-06:00

The neighborhood that we moved into has a TON of kids. None of them really live by us, but just a half mile down the street today they had a Christmas gathering. Donuts, hot cocoa, an old-fashioned fire truck and SANTA!!!! Well I couldn't let that opportunity pass by, especially on her 9 month birthday! So we bundled up (about 45 and drizzling) and headed down for her introduction to jolly ol' St. Nick.

She did SO good, and didn't cry. But when we took out the 9 month sign, she got a little fussy. Still, I'm impressed with my little munchkin.

crawlin' fool

2009-12-08T10:11:00.000-06:00

No real reason for the post except to give more photos and let everyone know that Mary Beth is a crawling fool now. Shoes and remotes are not safe on the ground anymore. Nor is leaving her on our bed left to her own devices. And poor Orbit...

and we have crawling!!

2009-11-28T09:52:00.001-06:00

She's been rocking on all 4s and doing the army crawl, but this morning Mary Beth decided she was done with that and that she wanted to crawl for real. I finally got it on video -- it's not an easy task since Mary Beth stops and poses for smiles whenever she sees/hears the camera! I'm on the phone with Kim, so you get to listen along...

We're so screwed...

follow the bouncing ball

2009-11-23T21:44:00.000-06:00

Mary Beth has discovered a love for the stuffed soccer ball that Kim gave us last Christmas. It's absolutely hilarious! We were playing with it tonight and she just kept giggling and giggling and giggling. And she's such a ham in the video below. Whenever she hears or sees the camera, she smiles and poses. Priceless.

i think the meds are working...

2009-11-17T22:28:00.000-06:00

So Mary Beth was diagnosed with a "raging ear infection" in her right ear Monday morning. After a lot of Tylenol, Motrin and bubble-gum tasting penicillin (I'll take the pharmacist's word on that), I think it's all working. We put her down at 8:30ish tonight after she finally started eating again. And then she woke up. A completely different person. She decided to show us both that she was feeling better. Proof shown below...

happy 8 months!

2009-11-12T22:30:00.000-06:00

Dear Mary Beth,

Eight months ago tonight, your dad and I tried to fall asleep in the hospital room -- physically exhausted and emotionally elated. We didn't really get to sleep much, between nurses checking on me and you being brought in for feedings.Your dad had diaper duty, as it was near impossible for me to get out of bed yet because of the c-section. And I was learning how to live on few hours of sleep and give you lots of yummy milk to eat.

You're still loving the yummy milk, but a lot has changed since then. We're all sleeping a lot more, thank goodness. You're sleeping through the night, but every once in a while wake for a feeding. In the morning we let you "talk" for a while in your crib, as you move around and practice your army crawl and scooting backwards. And when we go to get you, you greet us with the biggest, best smile we've ever seen. It's simply priceless.

You are starting to get up on all 4s, but haven't mastered the crawl yet. Which is good because we know that once you start, you're going to be off to conquer the world. I can just hear your Grandpa Phil laughing and saying "Oh you're so screwed!" But at least there's only going to be one crawling around. I still don't know how they did it with your Auntie Kim and me going off in different directions!

Tomorrow will be your first Friday the 13th. I'm sure as you grow up you will learn how much your parents LOVE this day. In fact, your Dad was born on one. And you almost were too! And in addition to a Friday the 13th, tomorrow is also our 5th wedding anniversary. Little did we know back then what joy you would bring to us.

We love you, Baby Love!
Love, Mom and Dad

mb's big adventures

2009-11-09T23:33:00.000-06:00

This was QUITE a busy week for little Mary Beth. First, she got to spend the week at home with Nana as her private little nanny. No stooping down to be with the little people in daycare. Oh no, she got to have her grandma cater to her every need. Not the she was spoiled or anything. I think she's already put in her requests for next time Nana comes down to visit!

Then on Friday we headed south on 35 to San Antonio for Trinity's Alumni Weekend and her baptism. We had to introduce her to the soccer team, and she watched as her mama attempted to play soccer for the first time in years. I didn't do too badly either. Just can't feel my legs anymore.

Then on Sunday she was FINALLY baptized! She told me she was ready to start cussin' and causing trouble, so it was just in time. We headed to St. Mark's, and the baptism was presided over by Father Kevin Ryan -- who back in 1993 buried the original Mary Elizabeth. Quite appropriate, we thought! This time he remembered all of our names (hi Rob!). She was a little fussy throughout the ceremony, so our beautiful pictures include the pacifier. Hey, whatever works. We were joined by all our immediate family members, as well as Bill, Kelly and the girls (who showered MB with kisses) and Vanessa and Joe. It was wonderful to see everyone! And little Mary Beth looked so adorable in her long, white dress with eyelets. It reminded Kim and me of our dresses Mom made us for our First Communion. Though we didn't have a bonnet...

(Special thanks to Vanessa who took a TON of photos for us during the baptism!! You're awesome, Vanessa!!)

trouble with a capital T

2009-11-01T21:48:00.000-06:00

Mary Beth and I had the weekend to ourselves at the house. Makes it difficult to get things unpacked and arranged how I want it. But Mary Beth did help me by laughing and giggling in her room while I was putting stuff away. Then Orbit came and joined us... and let's just say I saw a glimpse of what will happen soon. And oh boy. As you can see from the video below, we're in trouble:

weeeeeeeee!

2009-10-18T23:06:00.011-05:00

After driving past a park at least two times a day, we finally took little Mary Beth to experience the swing. I was a bit nervous about it, because she's not exactly the biggest baby and I knew she wouldn't fit. So on a BEAUTIFUL day, we grabbed a spare blanket to stuff behind her, and headed out.

And what can I say... she LOVED it! She was having a particularly fussy weekend (too many "binding" new solid foods = unhappy baby) and this was definitely a highlight. Hadn't seen her smile this much in a long time.
Looks like we're definitely going to have to get a swing for the backyard at the new house...

hee hee i stole the computer!

2009-10-16T23:13:00.000-05:00

dear all,
it's me mary beth. hijacked the computer. again. auntie kim swooshed into town and showered me with hugs and kisses. and i wore the snoopy and woodstock presents she gave me and i finally grew into. they took a bunch of pictures of me. uncy matt makes me laugh in them. here they are.
-mb

hmmmm...

2009-10-13T21:18:00.000-05:00

Just in case any of you receive strange e-mails in the middle of the night...

happy 7 months!

2009-10-12T19:48:00.000-05:00

Dear Mary Beth,

Seven months? Really?! Wow. Time flies. Soon you'll be asking Dad for the car keys. OK, maybe not "soon," but eventually. Right now you've taken to the wonderful world of sitting up on your own. And you LOVE it. In the evenings we put you on your new blanket (thanks Anne and Alex!) and you sit and play with your toys. And you roll over, smile and giggle. This has really happened in the last few weeks, and you love practicing it.

You've discovered your high-pitched scream -- oh goodie for us. It came when you discovered Orbit, and for some reason you feel the need to show off this new-found talent at all hours. But you do it with a smile, so it's hard to get upset. With that smile, you could probably get away with armed robbery.

You still do tummy time, going back and forth between "flying" and your yoga pose. And we can tell that you want to start using your knees and legs. All that can mean is crawling. And then we're SCREWED.

Even better, you like to attack our faces with hugs and kisses. There are some pictures below of your latest attack on your dad. Priceless.

We love you, Baby Love!

Love,

Mom and Dad

the world's most patient cat

2009-10-07T08:22:00.000-05:00

So, it's been a crazy last few weeks here at the Francisco home... we've all been sick, had doctor's appointments, a trip to Minnesota and more. I have many photos to post, but first just had to post this one from our trip up north for a surprise party. They were all surprised by how damn cute she is becoming!

And now...Auntie Kim complained that the last Mary Beth vs. Orbit video was too short. Well, the world's most patient cat came back to taunt Mary Beth. And we can't stop laughing...

happy baby!

2009-09-21T23:16:00.000-05:00

In the last week or so, Mary Beth has REALLY begun to smile and giggle a lot. She's also squealing, like she does in that video with Orbit. That is slightly annoying. But the smiles aren't. And she loves when I do "pushups" in the air with her -- making her come back down for a kiss! Since she's 15 pounds now, I can only do about 10 at a time. For those of you wondering how a busy mom can keep in shape, there's your answer! There's a video--we'll post it later.

Grandma Lil came to stay for a bit, and here's some photos with her. Mary Beth LOVES her Grandma!

poor little kitty

2009-09-18T23:34:00.000-05:00

Mary Beth is practicing sitting up on her own.

And Orbit decided to come get some love from us. Little did he know what he was in for...

wooooooah big sweetie!

2009-09-16T12:48:00.000-05:00

Mary Beth had her 6 month appointment today. You know what that means! SHOTS! Boo, hiss. She had 2 vaccines and a flu shot - which both her mommy and daddy need to have. And you all know how much I just love getting shots. Anyway, she did her normal, expected, blood-curdling scream as the shots were happening. But then when we picked her up, she stopped crying and screaming completely. She must have gotten that one from Bob...

So here's her stats, for those of you keeping score at home: 15 pounds (46th percentile), 26 inches tall (77th percentile) and 16.5 inches head circumference (47th percentile). I'm still absolutely amazed every day when I see her and realize how much she has grown from that 5.9 pound munchkin. When I was nursing her last night/this morning (hey, it was 2 am!), I couldn't help but compare to how LITTLE she was in my arms back then! This growing up thing is going to kill me...

i don't think she gets this whole eating thing...

2009-09-14T21:41:00.002-05:00

Day Two of sweet potatoes. I don't think she likes them very much. I think they may be too thick for her, even when we add water or breast milk. But I think we need to teach her to cover her mouth when she sneezes...

half a year?!?!

2009-09-12T21:39:00.008-05:00

Dear Mary Beth,

Six months?! Really? You're a whole half of a year old today. Six months ago today I terrorized some poor nurse who had the unfortunate job of giving me an i.v. and holding me in place when they gave me a spinal. Poor girl didn't know what she was getting herself into... Then before we knew it, Dr. Jeff was holding you and introducing you to the world. And our lives haven't been the same since.

You REALLY like to roll over now. In fact, I have to be careful with you when we're getting you ready for a bath. You tend to roll over off the bathmat and towards the toilet... Although you love the swing at daycare, you tend not to be a big fan of the one here at home. Not sure what that's all about, but you will tolerate it if you're watching Baby Einstein -- which I call Baby Crack. You're developing into more and more of a character each day. You love when I pretend to bite your tummy, and giggle and smile whenever your Dad lifts you up and down.

Drives to see Auntie Kim in San Antonio are not as much fun since you won't sleep for the entire drive anymore, but the new portable DVD player for Baby Einstein makes it a little better. And even after crying during the drive, you still gave Auntie Kim and Uncle Matt a big hug. In fact, you rolled across the couch to snuggle up next to Matt to watch football! We drove down there to make an appearance at the draft for your Grandpa Phil's Fantasy Football League. Your grandpa would have absolutely LOVED to see you there wearing your TOUCHDOWN onesie. And when you grabbed and hugged Carol -- well, I know your grandpa told you to do that. It made her smile on a day when we all needed that!

I kept promising you that I'd finally get you baptised, and I hope I don't jinx this but we now have it planned (again!) for the weekend of November 7-8. YEA!!! It's also Alumni Weekend, so we'll be going down to Trinity Saturday morning to meet the soccer team. Your mommy is supposed to play in the game. We'll see if that happens. If it does, you may have to help Daddy massage out my sore muscles...

Thank you for being such a cutie! We love you, Baby Love!

Love,
Mom and Dad

yummy.

2009-08-24T21:10:00.006-05:00

hi all. it's mary beth. but mom's typing this for me seeing as how my fingers are too small. oh, and i can't read or write.

but i am getting bigger and get to have other food. rice cereal. but it's still made with mommy's milk, so i like it! and since i seem to "squirm" (whatever that is) in my pink chair, mommy and daddy took me to babies r us to get my high chair! it's pretty and matches my car seat and my pack n play. i am a bit small in it though...

here's my first night of having rice cereal in my new BIG GIRL chair!

love, mary beth

storms

2009-08-21T08:29:00.004-05:00

One of these days, Mary Beth is going to come running into our room, jump under the covers and wimper during the HUGE thunderstorms that make the entire house shake.

But since she's only 5 months, Orbit the Wondercat (and scaredycat) is doing it for her!

Instead, Mary Beth did this. For 11 1/2 hours. Seriously.

slacker mom

2009-08-17T22:41:00.017-05:00

Funny how that title keeps showing up... Anyway, I've been told that I'm slacking and not posting enough photos. SO... here are some photos of the nursery, now that I got around to hanging the shelves for the animals, and other items. Also, the CUTEST photo of Mary Beth at daycare during her "Wear Your PJs to School" day, shown above. Seriously, she couldn't be any more adorable.

Shelves for all the animals. Note the Tigger doll I gave Mom in the 80s, the space shuttle and Woodstock from Kim, Bear and Longhorn from Rob, angel from Geimps, and coyotes.

Dresser/changing table with her angels watching over her (Grandma Mary and Grandpa Phil).

Framed "scrapbook" from my cousin Anne and the hotpink board displaying Mary Beth's "Crazy Sock Award" from daycare. Couldn't be prouder.

happy 5 months!!

2009-08-12T21:10:00.004-05:00

Dear Mary Beth,

Today you turn 5 months old. It's unfathomable to me that you were born 5 months ago! It seems like just yesterday that we drove really, really carefully from the hospital back home. And dressed you in a St. Patrick's Day outfit and saw your skinny arms and legs. Now your Dad says you look like a relative of the Michelin Man!

You've started sleeping for HOURS in your crib now. Thank goodness. Occasionally you'll still wake up throughout the night, but for the most part you'll sleep anywhere from 5 to 10 hours straight! Sometimes we even need to wake you up in the morning so we can take you to daycare. You're the belle of the ball at daycare--they love you. True, you can be fussy sometimes, but you're just needy and want to be held. But they all like your cute outfits. And you won the Crazy Sock contest for the entire center!

We had a few options for your sign this month. One was "...and I like to wear pj's with feet." You've really taken a liking to them (finally!) and when we went to the outlet mall last weekend, your Dad picked out more for you to wear when you grow! You'll be the best dressed 6 month old! But you really do love bath time. You splash around and get us all wet and squeal in happiness. It's so cute!!

You're sleeping right now... keep it up!

We love you, Baby Love!

Love, Mom and Dad

only my child

2009-07-26T09:06:00.002-05:00

Go ahead, Rob. Let the comments begin...

i'm a big kid now...

2009-07-22T21:26:00.005-05:00

After a very busy weekend schedule of riding quietly to San Antonio, having dinner at a steakhouse, shopping with her Auntie Kim, and meeting her mom's cousin Kelly, Mary Beth then proceeded to cry and scream for an entire hour and a half of the return drive home. Yes. Hour and a half. It was more, but we stopped 2 times, making the 4 1/2 hour drive really 6 hours. But the last 2 hours included her screaming for 90 minutes STRAIGHT. It was enough to drive her parently LOONEY. Once again I'll use the same four words: she's lucky she's cute.

Anyway, when we were staying at Kim's place, Mary Beth actually fell asleep on her own. I about fell over when I saw that. It never happens. In fact, she was on the bed, chillin on the towel after a diaper change. So I literally wrapped myself around her and slept with her on the bed. There was NO way I was going to move her.

That got me and Bob thinking... so last night we put her down for a late nap in her crib. She hardly ever naps in there. She was out for 1 1/2 hours. Fed her again and put her back in the crib. She actually went to sleep on her own, IN HER OWN ROOM! :-) It really is an awesome room, but she's just used to sleeping in ours, 3 feet from her mommy. Hooked up the monitor and went to bed ourselves in a quiet room. It was eerie, actually. She woke up hungry at 2:30, so I fed her again and put her back in the crib. She fidgeted for a while, but quite honestly I wasn't about to stay up with her again. Monitors are fantastic things -- worth every sweet penny we spent on it. I woke up at 5 and she was asleep. Ahhh. She liked it so much, we literally had to wake her up at 8:30!

So what do we do to celebrate this milestone in Mary Beth's life? Well, we take her to get shots, of course. :-( Poor little girl. Didn't even see it coming. Oh well. Won't be the last time. So here are her four month stats, for those of you keeping track:

weight: 13 pounds, 50th percentile

height: 25.3 inches, 92nd percentile -- I KNOW! HOW'D THAT HAPPEN???

head: 15.8 inches, 35th percentile

Not too shabby for the girl who at one week old was in the 10th percentile for weight and 72nd for height. She was given the green light to try rice cereal at night, and later some stage one food. Food? Sniff! My baby's growing up!

happy 4 months!

2009-07-13T22:45:00.008-05:00

Dear Mary Beth,

We're a day late in posting this, but yesterday we celebrated your 4 month birthday. Wow. Can't believe it has already been 4 months! Looking back, it feels like just yesterday... and it feels like a lifetime. We look at photos of you when we first brought you home and just can't believe how tiny you were! You're now 12.5 pounds, and growing every day! Next week you'll have your 4 months shots -- so I'm apologizing in advance for that.

You're having fun at daycare - though we were nervous about leaving you there. You tend to get, um, vocal when you are tired or hungry. But you're making friends there. Another baby, 7-month old Elizabeth and you seem to get along like best friends. They even put you two in the excer-saucers facing each other because you "talk" to each other. So cute.

You're talking more than ever. It's adorable because you look like you're concentrating SO much to tell us something. And we have no idea what you're saying, except that you're cute when you do it. It's probably what you're thinking when you hear us. Somehow like the teacher on the Peanuts comics. Oh, you don't know what/who that is. Don't worry, with Auntie Kim in your life, you'll know ALL about Peanuts.

Speaking of, hopefully we'll be heading down to San Antonio this weekend so you can visit Auntie Kim. She's going through Mary Beth withdrawals. Besides, we need to celebrate your Auntie and Mommy's birthday,

And once again I have to post that one day in your lifetime we'll get you baptized. We thought we had it all finalized (AGAIN) but didn't take vacation schedules into account. Don't worry -- there's a lake about a mile from the house. We may just take you out there and do it ourselves. But don't let Uncle Rob take you anywhere near a lake. Don't worry, I'm sure he'll tell you that story one day.

So, as the photo shows above, you're 4 months old today and you like to smile. Whenever the camera is on, it takes a little more coaxing to have you smile. And you certainly don't know how to hold a sign. But you'll get there.

We love you, Baby Love!

Love, Mom and Dad

marybeth the movie star

2009-07-08T22:50:00.006-05:00

Well, not a real movie. But close enough.

Tomorrow is the beginning of the Annual Engelman Camping Trip/Family Reunion up in Minnesota. But seeing as how we were just there in May for Papa's funeral and that I just started a new job 2 weeks ago, well, we're not going. I'm highly disappointed, as I made it the last 2 years and it's quite fun! Next year, I promise!

Anyway, for all the peeps up there, especially my aunts and uncles, I put together a video/slideshow of the munchkin and sent it to them to watch at the campground. Yes, it's that kind of campground with running water, toilets and showers. Gross showers, but showers none the less. And an outlet for the hairdryer. Majorly important!!

But I can't just keep the show to those who are up in Minnesota for the reunion. So I've posted it here for all. It's about 6 minutes, but worth every second. She's is so damn cute, if I do say so myself.