April: Ahhh, it never slowed down

What.A.Month

April 1-4:  STAAR EOC testing.  Obviously, my personal children were not directly affected with this testing.  However, it made life at work stressful.  Oh, and the fact that I failed to order mandatory tests for 2 students didn't really help my stress level.  In the end, it all worked out.  And yes, I do still have a job.

April 5:  Daddy had a stress test.  We've been so blessed with his health since his diagnosis of diabetes and his triple bypass years ago.  Annual stress tests have become a "non topic" because they've been uneventful.

April 6:  HGSA pictures and first games. Kennedy played well and the Thrillers won.

Kennedy playing second base.

April 7: Buy refrigerator and stove for the new house (to be delivered on Wednesday)

April 8: Telpas testing, appraisal on Henderson house, news that Dad's stress test was abnormal, 7:45 softball game

April 9:  Telpas testing day #2, appraisal on Minden house, tumbling, 6:00 softball game

April 10: Spend two hours on the phone with The Home Depot people trying to locate our new appliances.  They were supposed to be delivered to the Tyler store.  The people at the Tyler store assured us that they were not delivered there.  I called the Longview store (where we actually purchased them) and explained the situation.  The guy assured me that the computer said that the appliances were delivered.  I clearly explained to him that they were NOT at the Tyler store where they were supposed to be delivered.  His brilliant response..."Oh, that's not good".  Exactly.  Not Good, and I'm NOT P-A-T-I-E-N-T either.  Two managers and 18 hours later, the appliances were located.

April 11:  Dad's heart catheterization and stent placement.  Before the procedure, Dad was in an area of the hospital with several curtained areas around a nurse's station.  After the procedure they brought him back to the same "room".  As he was coming out of the anesthesia, he would ask, "Did the doctor come in and talk to us yet?"  We kept telling him that the nurse talked to us, but that the doctor had to leave the hospital and would be back to talk with him.  After about 30 times of asking, he surprised us when he asked"Am I back in the same stall?"  I giggled and assured him he was in the same "stall".  He said, "So when I put those clothes on, they should be mine and fit, right?"  "Yes Daddy, they are yours and should fit, but I don't think you'll be needing them in the next few hours.  You're going to spend the night tonight."  Naturally, his next question was, "Did the doctor come in and talk to us yet?"  Ahh...I love that man.

"Enjoying" his meatloaf

April 12:  Blake Alayne turns three!  We had the traditional doughnut and candle for breakfast. Click here to see her early years and here to see her one year ago.  April 12 was also the last night we spent in our home in Henderson.

 

No, she did not get to eat "free doughnuts" even on her bday.

Pinky finger needs a little help sometimes

April 13:  The big move.  Although we had been moving things for a month, this was "the moving day".  Kennedy ended up staying in town with the former neighbors.  Taylor called to come home.  Naturally, we were full of energy and everything was put away at the end of the day so when Taylor began to puke it was no big deal.  Yeah.  Stomach virus on night #1 in the new house.  She was pretty pathetic when I found her literally snoring in the bathtub after several episodes of being sick.

Thankful she propped her head up before going to sleep

April 14-19:  Appointments out of town, dog groomer, softball games, gymnastics, life in the new house, close on Henderson house

April 19:  Bad weather day for me, but not the girls.  I was able to eat lunch with Taylor for the first time all year.  Secretly made homemade icing for cupcakes for birthday party.  Taylor ate a cupcake and said, "The cupcake is good, but that icing is naaasty!"  Awesome.

April 20:  Blake's birthday party.  Who really plans a party at home exactly one week after moving?  I did, and it was a terrible idea.  However, we had a good time and no one died from looking at the unpacked boxes and stacks of things to put away.  This was truly one of the best birthday parties ever.  Miss Susan and Mr.Jackie brought their team of mules and wagon for the kids and adults to ride.  Blake sat up front and rode and rode and rode.  We had to bribe her away from the "horses" with cupcakes and gifts.  After about 45 minutes, she was back to the wagon rides. 

Mr.Jackie, Blake and Sophi leading the ride

As if bringing mules and a wagon wasn't awesome enough, Mr.Jackie and Mrs.Susan also brought Blake a rabbit for her birthday. As you mothers out there gasp with shock, consider this fact--she actually brought EACH of my girls a rabbit for Blake's birthday!!  For the last 9 years, I thought we were friends.  Seriously, I adore animals and had considered buying ONE myself so I agreed to her gift ahead of time.  After all, remember why we moved to the country?  Each of the 3 rabbits has a distinct personality.  Kennedy named her rabbit Spotty.  He/she is quite fast and not thrilled to be handled.  Blake named her rabbit Honey Bunny, and she is...well, you can see for yourself.

Honey Bunny, the "baby"

 Taylor's rabbit is a lionhead rabbit, and he/she is super cute.  Taylor calls him/her Swirls.  However, I call him/her Benadryl.  Can you guess why?

Sorry, I couldn't get this one to rotate but isn't she cute with hives and swollen eyes?

April 24: First day to come home right after school.  As an attempt to reinstate "normal" I planned to serve grilled burgers and bacon wrapped jalapenos for dinner.  After just a few moments, I smelled smoke and realized that my meal had been transformed into charcoal briquettes.  Since the goal was "normal" I decided quick and easy fish sticks were appropriate.  For the record, I do not serve my family fish sticks often. 

April 22-25: TAKS and STAAR testing.  This time is affected my job and my child.  Kennedy was so excited that she could wear clothes other than uniforms to school.  The weather was beautiful.  She headed for the car with a jacket.  I asked her why she needed a jacket.  Clearly irritated with my questioning, she said, "Because those teachers are so stressed out on testing days that they keep is freezing cold and walk around doing this (fanning her face with her hands) while we are cold."  And, that's another post all together.

April 26: Close on house in Minden (that we've been living in for 2 weeks).

April 27: TAAF State Gymnastics Competition in Denton.

Taylor's Split Jump

April 29: make up softball game
April 30:  G/T field trip to Art Museum in Tyler and softball game


You know that saying "April showers bring May flowers"?  Well, April showers brought us Miracle Whip!  Stay tuned for the details!

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!

Nine years later...

Ok, so clearly I have neglected this blog.  I hesitate to even go back to "Merry Christmas" because if you are anything like me, you were glad to see the red and green get tucked away.  My body goes into mild convulsions just thinking about Christmas and the craziness until at least December 10 each year.  I also didn't want to just skip over it completely because one special young lady had a birthday since my last post.  So, I thought I'd just hit the highlights.

Happy Birthday Kennedy Nicole!  I can't believe that nine years have gone by since this tiny bundle arrived in our lives.  Wait a minute. Wait. A. Minute!  I have enjoyed being "momma" to this little angel.  BUT, I am not living in a perfect world where I can say that I have thoroughly enjoyed every single minute of it.  Looking back, I can honestly say we have had many, many more positive, happy experiences than those of the other variety.  However, we have not been without the pouts, tears, fights, fits, and other various festivities that seem to accompany young children.  Here's a link that truly expresses my feelings about motherhood. 

Back to KND.  She is truly a blessing in our lives.  The last year has been full of changes for Kennedy.  She moved out of the big room and into a tiny closet so that she wouldn't have to share her space.  She changed schools.  At her new school, she has excelled academically as well as made a smooth transition socially.  She has officially moved from little girl to young lady.  Although this year has had its challenges, it has been an amazing year full of growth, change,and maturation.  I look forward to her next year of life.

I may be a little biased, but I think she is beautiful...inside and out.

Sprout to Spud

Taylor Reid Dickerson came into the world on August 27. It was an emotional day. That was also the day Hurricane Katrina reached the coast of Louisiana. Those nights in the hospital I was overjoyed with our little bundle of joy, but also saddened at all the mothers who were having babies in shelters rather than hospitals. In five years, New Orleans has come a long way. Taylor has as well.

Taylor is sassy and smart. She is full of questions, comments, and just noise. The little turkey even talks in her sleep! She loves her sisters and goes out of her way to help them. She also loves to compliment people. She's famous for bringing you something that you don't need or want and saying, "you're welcome for bringing you..." as she hands it to you.

Here's Tater Baby at 4 months old...before she could talk.

Here's Tater Tot on Aunt Nancy's farm at about 15 months old. The beginning of the talking.


Here is some early evidence of the foolishness baked into this little potato. This is naptime when she's a little over 2 years old.


Tater Bug as a golf professional in the making (just before 3rd birthday)

Fried Tater looking serious on her fourth birthday at Nanny and Pa's house.


And now, my little Sweet Tater is all grown up. Here are a few pictures from her birthday weekend.


Selecting her American Girl Doll


Loading up on American Girl

At Bass Pro Shop

Here's the sweetest Tater story of the week. On Friday morning, Chad and I went in to wake her up for school. We said, "Happy Birthday, Tater! You're five years old now!" She rubbed her eyes, stretched, and rolled over to look Chad in the eyeballs (she sleeps on the top bunk). She said, "Daddy, even if I'm five will I still be your sweet baby girl?" Now that will melt a daddy's heart!