And We L-O-V-E Her...

Wow!  Two years! 

Blake Alayne made her appearance around noon on April 12.  She was welcomed by two super-excited big sisters.  Her gender was a surprise.  In typical Kennedy and Taylor fashion, one wanted a brother and one a sister. 

Blake Alayne 5lb. 7oz.

It's funny now that we can't even imagine life without her...or with a brother instead.  She has been a living doll for the older sisters.

My first pedi

Although she has been treated like a doll, she has also been exposed to many of Kennedy and Taylor's favorite activities.  She has been decked out in camouflage from head to toe, enjoyed the 4-wheelers, and "hunted" since she was six months old.

My first deer call shirt and my first Hershey bar

  You know that saying about the third (or fourth or fifth) child being treated differently than the first children?  Well, I have never been overly protective.  However, I can say that poor BADkid has had it rough.  I had a brilliant idea for an awesomely cute picture of her in the tire swing at the deer lease.  Well, about 30 seconds later her head slipped between the two sides of the tire and was stuck.  Yes, she screamed.  Yes, I was a little embarrassed, but I also took a picture before I got her out! 


Just swinging at the deer lease



When she's not being hauled around and "taken care of" by an older sister, she sleeps well.  She was a pacifier baby.  Bedtime required a pacifier and "the blanket".  Somewhere around this time we figured out that the blanket was more about the soft tag, but the tag does have to be attached to HER blanket...no substitutes, please!



Sleeping at about 9 months

 Although Blake was born with hair, it didn't last long.  When she was about a month old, it all fell out.  She was not as bald as the pictures make it look, but the fuzz was thin!  I cried when it all fell out.  She is the first "bald" Dickerson girl that we've had.



My First Easter



She is all of the amazing things that moms always say about their children.  I could write for days about how sweet and cuddly she can be--on her own terms.  I could also write for days about how persistent and hard headed she is about so many things.  She is a believer in the toddler's rules.

Author: Unknown

TODDLER’S RULES
1.1- If I want it, it's mine
2- If it's in my hand, it's mine
3- If I can take it away from
you, it's mine
4- If I had it a little while ago, it's mine
5- If it's mine, it must never appear
to be yours in any way
6- If we are building something together,
all the pieces are mine
7- If it just looks like mine, it's mine
8- If I think it's mine, it's mine
9- If I give it to you and change
my mind later, it's mine
10- Once it's mine it will never belong
to anyone else, no matter what

When you get into your sisters' room and stuff, they hold you down and "play" with you!  This is what I found in Kennedy's room one morning before school.



Look Mom!  She likes it!

  Remember that toddler's rules thing?  She is a believer, and we have all lost our cool with her over OUR things!



MY phone and MY boots!



I may still have a pacifier, but I can read and write

We are going to put all these lights where?

I know that the more children you have, the less attention each of them get.  Obviously we are taking a risk with THREE kids.  But I think we can all agree that this child has been "mothered" enough.  Seriously, look at those "mommy skills" with the eye contact and everything.

Don't cry baby, it's MY stroller!

As the mother of two very vocal children, I was a little concerned about Blake's speech.  The pediatrician wasn't concerned because he knows Kennedy and Taylor so well.  He laughed and said that Blake probably had no real need to speak because she could point, grunt, and get results.  He was right!  Finally, around 21 months old, she started to show more interest in talking.  It hasn't stopped!

Super sick baby still singing "your face will surely show it"

Kennedy and Taylor were attached to their pacifiers.  Blake, however, was even more attached (I'm pretty sure she was born with it).  I was s.t.r.e.s.s.e.d. out about the pacifier.  First, I knew that it was going to be miserable to get her to live without it.  Secondly, I knew she was my last baby and I didn't want her to grow up.  But, I was also concerned about her speech development. I'm "that mom" who was insistent that by two, we would be without the pacifier.  As ridiculous as it sounds, even the grandparents were asking what I was going to do because I was "the one" who had taken it away from the other two girls. 

In February (at 22 months old) Blake got sick.  She was very sick.  Although she was diagnosed with the flu at the Emergency Clinic, I'm sure it was really the lovely hand, foot, mouth disease.  She had a crazy high fever and an obviously sore throat.  She eventually developed and awesome rash that you can see around her mouth in the picture above.  She was miserable, and I was exhausted and ready to leave home.  She would not take the pacifier because her throat (mouth?) hurt.  Although it was the longest week of my life, in the end it was wonderful because the pacifier problem had resolved itself.  She asked a few times as she felt better, and we told her, "It was nasty and we put it in the trash".  She smiled and said, "Nasty.  In trash."   

Blake is into everything.  She is a climber like no other Dickerson.  I suspect that might have contributed to the broken foot at 19 months old.  I was going to insert a picture of her with the red cast, but I realized you can see them here.

Blake has recently began pulling the Barbie bucket around and using it for either A) a box to sit in or B) a stool to reach the things we've tried to put out of her reach!  Taylor is still short enough that we have stools around.  (Well, maybe I need them sometimes too!).  But, Blake is so bad about climbing that we've had to keep them picked up.  So, if you come to my house, you are likely to see a stool on the bar in the kitchen, the counter in the girls bathroom, and on the filing cabinet in the closet.  Just last week I found her using my new camera in the bag as a stool to reach the box of goldfish on the counter.

"CHEEEEESE!"

 Blake Alayne is precious, and we love her.  She is exhausting, and we love her.  She is funny, and we love her.  BADkid is "cheese", and we love her.  She is getting more hair, and we love her.



Baby Sit!


Blake Alayne Dickerson is T-W-O, and we L-O-V-E her!

The End...of the trip!

Yes, it is really April 23, and I am still trying to finish up the blog from a trip the last week of January.  I know.  It's pathetic.  But, this is my life...and I apparently thrive on the "if I could just get caught up" feeling.  It is my "normal".

After the morning at Statue of Liberty, we had to hurry.  The girls and I had a date on "Cherry Tree Lane" with Mary Poppins!  But, our lack of navigation expertise and my stress level landed us here!

 Amanda and I were a little nervous, but Taylor and Sophie thought it was awesome!

The musical was phenomenal.  I know that I am not an expert critic, but I love Mary Poppins.  If you've seen it (or anything else professionally performed), you know how ridiculously expensive it can be.  This was my THIRD time to see Mary Poppins.  Yes, I think it was even better than Lion King. 

After Mary Poppins, we finally made our way to one of the most anticipated stops of the entire trip--FAO!  Two years ago, Kennedy and Sadie were able to dress a Barbie on the computer. Then the Barbie came out on a runway and was announced in typical NY Fashion Week style with their names as the designers.  Taylor and Sophie have looked forward to this moment for two.stinkin.years.  We went up the escalator and immediately to the Barbie section of the store where we found...wait for it...the Barbie style show thing was G.O.N.E.  Yep, two broken-hearted little girls. 

However, the BIG Piano was still in action.  And, Kennedy and Sadie didn't get to see a live performance like Taylor and Sophie did.  Yes, it made me and Amanda feel better to point this out.  However, the little girls were not as impressed.  They wanted Barbie! 

The days were cool, but not miserable.  However, the early mornings and late evenings were C.O.L.D.  Taylor and I figured out pretty quickly that cuteness doesn't matter as much as warmth!

The final stop of the evening was The Top of the Rock.  This place is one of my favorite places in NY to visit.  It is amazing during the day and absolutely breathtaking at night. 



Empire State Building from Top of the Rock



At the very Top of the Rock is a "light room".  I'm not sure what exactly the room is other than fun.  For most people they come in and leave within five minutes.  However, Taylor and Sophie were in awe.  We stayed in this room for about 45 minutes and tried to make our colors "mix".  You can tell by Taylor's face that she was bored beyond belief with this concept.

Sophie trying to find her color in background and Taylor making hers light up



Finally after a long, busy day, it was the final ride "home".  I have no idea what was really going on in this picture.  However, the expressions on their faces are priceless!




End of Day Two

Since I clearly have a time management problem, I thought I would go ahead and close out the final post of the trip on one long blog.  So, just pretend it has been another month and a half (about June 5) and I am finally getting to this last day!

Day Three of NYC

Upon arriving in NYC, I was disappointed to hear that  in order to see the Memorial Fountains you have to have a pass and that they are "sold out" months in advance.  You don't really have to purchase them, but everything I knew about them suggested that I would not be able to get even a glimpse of the fountains.  But, while I couldn't sleep after such a busy day, I pulled out my handy-dandy phone and looked online.  I was able to get four passes for early the next morning.  I was SUPER EXCITED!  Sophie and Taylor didn't have a clue, but they smiled for a picture.

We were blessed by such a heartwarming experience while standing near one of the fountains.  A lady came up to the fountain and looked over the many names.  She suddenly flagged down the other two people in her group and shouted, "Here it is!"  The three of them gathered around and rubbed the engraved name, hugged, and cried.  I was touched and wished Taylor could understand the significance.  For just a brief moment I thought maybe she had an inkling of what the names meant.

We continued strolling around the fountains, talking about September 11, 2001, and reading names.  Taylor found someone with a last name "Taylor". She pointed to the name and asked me to take her picture.  I obliged.  As I removed the camera she said, "Mom, that's cool.  I got my name on here and I didn't even have to die!"  As preciously innocent as her comment was, I was terrified that family members there to mourn would not appreciate her innocence that I found somewhat humorous.  So,we moved right along. 

After such an emotionally charged visit to the Memorial Fountains, we headed back to The Rockefeller Center.  The girls were anxious to ice skate.  Amanda and I were not so anxious to ice skate.  But, we decided to suck it up and enjoy the opportunity.  I must say that it was truly one of the best times I've ever had in NYC.  Ice skating in Rockefeller Center.  I think it should've been on my bucket list--if I had one.  I was the last one off the ice saying, "one more time".  The little girls didn't even whine or cry when they got cold.  Fortunately, no one was soaking wet from falling either.

From the ice.  We were WAY UP THERE yesterday!

  

Action shot!  This was her only fall and I got it.

How many best friends will have this memory?  I love them both.



Look!  We do tricks!



Ellen's Stardust Diner is another "must do" for NYC.  This is a diner where the waitstaff sings and dances on the tables, etc.  Many of their former waiters are now on Broadway.  One of the waiters there was a finalist on American Idol (they said).  Sophie and Taylor lit up like Christmas Trees when this guy came over to sing to them.

And a final good-bye to NYC.  Here are the "little girls" who aren't so little, posing on a fountain.  I have no idea where this fountain is other than in NYC.  I do have a similar picture of the "big girls" on this same fountain.  Amanda and I thought it would be so neat to have an identical picture of the little girls.  The older girls sat facing each other with their toes touching.  We explained this as "sit down and put your feet together".  In typical Taylor and Sophie fashion, they interpreted the same directions completely differently than their sisters!  This is what we got!





Somewhere during the day, we had to stop and have a real NY hotdog from a street vendor.  Yesterday (April 22, 2012) Sophie Watson was still talking about the mustard on these hotdogs!  She LOVED the mustard.  I know I need a picture of her with her hotdog, but although I took a super awesome camera on the trip and took AMAZING pictures with it, it is must faster to email the ones from my phone to use on the blog.  Seriously, I am already almost 4 months late getting this done because I really wanted to use the "good" pictures and keep putting it off.

Day Four...the day we say Goodbye

The final morning was spent in Hoboken, New Jersey at Carlos' Bake Shop.  Taylor wasn't so impressed with the famous bakery, although she has seen the show.

But she did get excited about the vegetables at the store next door!

On the flight to NJ, they wanted their Moms.  On the flight home, the travelers were feeling much more independent!  They sat together, alone in their own row.

Home...

It was a fabulous trip with very few moments of whiny, irritating six year olds.  I know she won't remember all of the details, but I hope she will remember some of the highlights and know that the world is a big place with amazing places to learn, experience, and love.