Let me explain...

Rooney and Doodle...

This morning on the way to church I found a sticker of Rooney Doodle from the Dooblebops that one of the girls picked out of the 'Great Job!' sticker box at the doctor's office. This is not where the girls' nicknames come from. We don't even watch the Doodlebops. Lila is 'Rooney' because Charlie gave her that name and it stuck. Emily is 'Doodle' because she skoodle doots all over the house, having not yet learned to walk, somehow skoodle doot became 'Doodle.' So, there you have it.. Rooney and Doodle! Silly, I know, but at thirty-one I am still 'Mank' by everyone on Dad's side of the family. I guess we have a thing for nicknames!

I have no idea how my Papa came up with 'Mank' and No, you absolutely, positively CANNOT call me that!

Rooney and Doodle...

I grabbed the camera and just observed the girls for about ten minutes. Here's the result...

Wrestling (thanks Daddy)...


Hiding...

Silly Faces...



Playing...

And Standing...

Excuse the absence of clothes. We are in the final stages of potty training and frankly my washing machine and I feel the less clothes the better. Emily joins in just for fun and easier diaper changes! Don't worry, this 'rule' applies to two and under! I love you Rooney and Doodle! You are so fun to be around!

15 Months!

Emily got an "At minus cast" on her 15 month report card! She is our champ now in the 10th% for weight,(Lila has NEVER been out of the 5th%) 50th% for height, and >100% for head circumference! Wow has she grown! Looking at her now you would never know she was a 3 and 1/2 lb. preemie! Her development is right on track for a 12 month old, which is where she is expected to be at this point. Slowly but surely we will close the gap and be on track with her age group. Great Job Doodle!

The only disheartening news at this appointment was to hear we will have to continue with therapy for another year... I was hoping our pediatrician and developmental pedi would allow us to exit the program, but no such luck. The broken leg put us in a cast for six weeks which definitely slowed down the walking process. I'm sure she'll take those first steps as soon as we get the purple boot off! Speaking of the cast, after her pediatrician appt. we rode down in the elevator with her orthopedic surgeon. He smiled at us as soon as the doors opened and said Hello to Em by name and assured me we will get the cast off for good in two weeks! Two weeks and we'll be back to sitting in the bath tub,enjoying the park and splash pad, getting to really enjoy our messy spaghetti, not wear socks again until November... the list could go on forever! We are all hoping the next two weeks fly by!!

And here are a few pictures of Lila from today. She dressed herself in a jammie shirt, panties, and froggie boots. The boots are on the wrong feet of course but she doesn't seem to care! She's jumping like a froggie in te water puddle...

Happy Birthday Daddy!

What do you get someone extra special on their 35th birthday? Thirty-five presents of course! Wayne and the girls had fun opening all of them.




I think Daddy's favorites would be the coffee cup and picture Lila made him for work, and of course Pinkie, the pretty pink stuffed horse. Another lesson learned... never take your child to the store and tell them they can get Daddy anything they think he would like for his birthday... Daddy just might get a pretty pink pony!

My southern boy decided he wanted Banana Pudding in leui of a birthday cake.



Emily loved it...

Notice the TWO spoons?

I mean REALLY LOVED it...


Happy Birthday Daddy! You're the best and WE LOVE YOU!!!

Happy Fourth!

Thanks to Uncle David and Uncle Lee we had a 3rd of July fireworks show in the front yard... Yes, Lila is in her jammies... I didn't know we were doing fireworks and had already given the girls their baths. Emily was already asleep and missed out on all the pre-4th firework fun!





And then there was the 4th...
Of course Lila loved it. Emily wasn't so sure. A little apprehensive at first, her little heart raced and she just peeked at the sparkles in the sky. Then she got comfortable, until the show went a little too long for her and the noise started to bother her. She was considerate of those around her though and didn't cry. I thought she was the perfect!






The fireworks were beautiful! Apparently a gift from a man that was paralyzed during his military career. He pays for the big show each year to honor and remember the service he gave to his country. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera on the right setting so my pictures didn't do the show justice! Next time I'll remember the night setting... duh! :)


Here's a picture of the fam...

And Lila and her Aunt Gigi...

USS Alabama

Up next is the USS Alabama, The Mighty Mo, built in the 1940's which served in World War II in the Pacific!
We walked all over that ship, down in the engine room, the mess hall, kitchen, sleeping barracks (which are randomly all over the whole ship), sick bay complete with an operating room, an x-ray station, and quarantine chamber (wouldn't want to be in there!), combat operation headquarters, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, there was just so much to take in! A naval ship has it all... including a bank and movies shown every Friday evening. WOW! It was a huge, up and down maze in tight quarters and skinny hallways. I can't imagine the men having to get anywhere fast during war time battles. I'd be screaming, "Where's my map? How do I FIND my post?" It was simply amazing and such a privilege to see and experience! Here's ALL the pictures... remember Wayne is a history lover so we have hundreds of any history exhibit we visit!





Here is Daddy and Lila resting in one of the sleeping quarters... you better like you're bunk mates, there's not much personal space in there!

And Mommy and Emily in the brig?

Lila taking a turn at the gun..




If you are cooking for thousands of men you need a monster mixer in your kitchen..

And here is the serving line..





Emily tuckered out...


And Hannah and Lila left their mark on the Mighty Mo, at least until the next rain...


We also had the great honor and privilege of meeting a decorated POW veteran who survived the Bataan Death March. We remembered him from the Ken Burns documentary mini series that Wayne and I watched a few months back. He was a pleasure and has sacrificed a lot to serve his country bravely and honorably. We were proud to meet him.

And as if the USS Alabama wasn't enough to tour there was the airplane hanger...




And let's not forget the submarine...






If you are ever in the Mobile area stop and check out these giants in Battleship Park. It was amazing! The two hour tour took us around four hours... did I mention Wayne LOVES history?!?!?