Botanical Gardens

I headed toward Fort Worth yesterday with intentions of going to the zoo (since I have the zoo pass and it's free for us). But instead we went to the botanical gardens. We had never been, oh my goodness it's just beautiful. It was kinda steamy outside but we didn't get rained on! I wish I would've had a better camera than my phone, we'll definately have to go back soon (well maybe when it's a little cooler!) If you travel to Fort Worth, make sure you check them out (http://www.fwbg.org/). Most of it is free, only a few places charge a few bucks to get in, and it's HUGE. We didn't get to see everything, but we'll go back.

Afterward we had lunch with Nick at a little Mexican place called Caro's where their motto is "The only restaurant in town that doesn't use a steam table, microwave, or can opener." Sooo good, and it's home of the Puffy Tostado! (www.caros.biz) It's family owned (you can tell by the owner who's playing with his grandson while you're eating :)

Anyway, here's the only shot from the gardens...

Hair-Net Ladies

July 27th, 2009
Lindsay Blake
While I truly hoped to be more consistant in my writing to you atleast I’m giving a shot on catching up now. You are 20 months old and the light of my life. I am excited every morning to walk into your room and see that grin spread wide on your face. Sometimes you fuss when you wake up, but most days you just yell out “Moooooommmmmmmyyyy” in the sweetest voice. When you get out of bed you love to look at the pictures on the wall (of me, you and Daddy when you were itty bitty.) After that you like to pick out a bow, right now your favorite are the “boo bow” aka. Blue bow.

Your most favorite of ALL food is “Eddo” (yogurt). How you came to call it eddo I have no idea, but instead of correcting you, Daddy and I have come to call it eddo, too. Even in casual conversation “Has Blake had eddo today?” It’s a big treat for you.

One of my favorite times of the day is when you get up from a nap. We curl up in my bed and watch part of Sesame Street under the covers. I love you at this age because you really like to snuggle (just like me.)

We’ve started putting you on the potty every day. You're such a big girl. You like to get a few books , your favorite right now are the zoo book, you know almost all the animals!! And you love your little bible. Nana taught you the B-I-B-L-E song so you pat the bible and sing along. Speaking of singing!! You love to sing “It’sy Bitsy Spider” , “God made the round, round Sun”, and “Twinkle, Twinkle” it makes me laugh so hard when you sing along, you get this very serious look on your face, I laugh just thinking about it.

If I’d let you, you would terrorize Bubba with your hugs and kisses all day. Poor guy. He loves you, he really does, just maybe not quite as much (or hard)as you love him .

We go to swim lessons with your buddy Lane. You guys have so much fun singing songs and going under the water. Your favorite part is the slide. I’m hoping you’ll be an early swimmer.

People say you look like me. I love that. In the grocery store recently a woman out of the blue said “She looks just like you…” How special to have a little girl to raise and watch go from a little baby into a rambuncious toddler. Atleast once a day Daddy or I look at the other and say “THAT’s our little girl, can you believe we got so lucky.”

I always knew I wanted to be a Mommy, but what God knew and I didn’t was that I wanted to be YOUR Mommy. I have so much fun spending my days with you. I never regret one single day we have together, actually I cherish them.

We pray God’s blessing over you every night. That you may know Christ first and lean on him all the days of your life. That you would have a gentle and humble spirit to serve Him. That He would protect you physically, spiritually, and emotionally. We start every prayer with “Lord, bless this baby.” I can only imagine what God has in store for you. Remember you have had the prayers of your parents from the day we knew you were coming in this world and they’ll never stop. We are your biggest fans. We promise to do our best for you.
Love forever,
Mommy

30% OFF

I have an email I can send out for 30% off at all Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic Stores good online and in store July 30th - August 2nd.  I'm all about a good discount!  I don't want to post it here for the world to see but if you want me to send it to you (I have permission to give it to up to 25 people) email me your email address to :   sarahlindsaybarker@yahoo.com with subject line:  30% OFF.

You can bet I'm going to be stocking up!

Look what we're trying!

***Update:  We've had three successful potty trips!****

I'm not pressuring her at all, I just want her to know what the potty is and get comfortable with it. She didn't mind at all sitting on the potty and reading a few books. No tinkling success yet.

Singing Debut..

...well maybe not.
I'm usually not the one singing with her because it makes me laugh too hard and she gets distracted.

Three Silly Monkey's.....

Blake got to play with buddies Claire and Luke yesterday...

"Cheeeeeeeeseee"

Luke could only handle so much Blake lovin'!

Slip N Slide

Please try to ignore the pasty white girl in the black bathing suit and focus on the little cutie going down the slide....

Brothers

I borrowed this picture from Nick's Aunt Rennie.
It's Nick with his little brother Baus in 1993. I think these two are just as close now as they were way back then. Baus is grown up with a daughter of his own, but I remember the days of riding around in Nick's camaro with Baus' head leaned up from the back seat between us so he could be in the conversation. I remember when Nick moved to Texas and just Baus and I would drive the 6 hours to come visit him on the weekends (he missed Nick just as much as I did). I remember him loving Mariah Carey (hehehe) and Beanie Babies. I'm often envious of their bond. They have a friendship that is a once in a lifetime find.

Patience ~ My prayer for today...

Patience

Author - Unknown

Give me patience when little hands,
Tug at me with small demands,
Give me gentle words and smiling eyes
And keep my lips from sharp replies,
So in years to come when my house is still
Beautiful memories it's rooms may fill.

Lindsay Blake 19 Months

My sweet angel at 19 Months.

Bubbles

Holiday Weekend

I had the best 4th of July I can remember in a while. My Mom, Stepdad, neice and nephew came for a nice 4 day visit. It was too hot to do a whole lot, but we swam and watched fireworks and had a cookout.

Blake loves having big kids around. She thinks they are so cool and wants to do everything they do.




Her newest "sentence" is "Come on Bubba!!" She will pat her lap and tell Bubba (our dog) to come to her. So precious.

She'll also say "There go Mommy" when she's handing me something.

She learned the color blue, but for now thinks everything is the color blue, so we're going to keep practicing.

She loves swimming, she's float around with just her little arm floaties all by herself! She knows our neighbor has the pool so every time we go outside she tries to go to their hourse yelling "Wawa, Wawa, Wawa."

Being a Mommy to a toddler is definately not easy, her emotions can be like a wild Yo-Yo at times, but that little sweet smile and hug make up for it a million times over. In fact, she's calling "Mooooommmmmyyyy" from her crib so I gotta run!

Here are plenty of pictures from our weekend...
These first two are from my phone, sorry for the graininess (is that a word?).