Fun idea

From my Aunt Meredith's blog

1. As a comment on my blog, leave a memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember! If we're only blogging friends, write about a post that is most memorable.

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll be sure to write one about you... either on your blog, in my comment box, or I will email you back!

3. If you can't say something nice, don't say nothin' at all ☺....thats not true---go ahead and say it---see if it changes anything!

Physical child meets verbal child video

Physical child meets verbal child

The first of what should be many posts about our trip to North Carolina.

Elizabeth finally met Celeste, her one and only cousin on the Blair side. She's six months younger, didn't walk until around 18 months, and talks WAY more than Elizabeth.

I think this little clip from the petting zoo is a pretty cute way to sum up their different personalities!

Murphy came to visit before we could leave

It just figures that the dryer would go out the day before we're supposed to leave. And yes, we need to do laundry so that we can pack. James is trying out an old dryer that was in the garage from right after the fire. It is an old coin op one the facility lent us and then never picked back up after we got another one. Wish us luck!

Sensory Seeking Elizabeth

A friend's blog reminded me that I've been meaning to write about a book that has really helped me understand and help Elizabeth lately. It's called The Out of Sync Child and deals with difficulties some children have because of the way they process the world around them. In some children that takes the form of avoiding physical sensations like getting dirty or feeling off balance. In others, like Elizabeth, it is just the opposite.

The part that really convinced me that this was my child was when it said that the Sensory Seeker doesn't just give a hug, he or she gives a full-body tackle. Yup, that's Elizabeth. It's hard to explain just how enlightening this book is, but the Amazon descriptions and reviews do a good job if you click on the the link. I'm going to read The Out of Sync Child Has Fun next to get ideas on ways to use Elizabeth's strengths to help her in the areas she's struggling (communication and pretend play).

She likes conference

I've blogged before about the fact that Elizabeth loves the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. We love the feature on the General Conference DVDs that make it possible to play just the musical numbers for a session, back to back. That's stopped a number of meltdowns and soothed her in the middle of a couple of croupy nights. James put one of the DVDs on when he went back to work after lunch today. I was nursing Amelia to sleep and needed Elizabeth occupied.
Well, he didn't hit the button to play just the music and she watched for 45 minutes straight! And when she stopped it was to ask me to take off her shoes and change her poopy diaper. What a good little 2 year old! I know lots of adults that have a hard time sitting quietly through 45 minutes of General Conference. (Oh, and for any of you that don't know Elizabeth very well, this is NOT typical behavior for her!)

What kind of night will it be?

Elizabeth didn't go down for a nap, then was so tired that she fell asleep on the floor at 5pm while I was changing her poopy diaper. She and Amelia then slept until 6:30 or so, when Elizabeth woke up screaming and woke up Amelia, who quickly became cheerful, but Elizabeth insisted on going into the bedroom to continue her late nap, waking at 8:30, still pretty grumpy. Now, after a late dinner, she's somewhat cheerfully fighting with Amelia.
James went on a "field trip" for a baseball game against another facility and won't be back until VERY late tomorrow night. Oh, and then he has to work Saturday, and you know what Sundays are like in a Branch Presidency. So that brings us to Monday...the day before we leave for Dallas to catch our flight to Charlotte Wednesday morning. Can you tell I'm just a bit stressed out about it all? So, what time do you think Elizabeth will go to bed tonight?!

Secret Pixies have been assigned

Everyone should have gotten an e-mail from Elfster giving them their assignment yesterday. We got ours and have started brainstorming. Remember, it's mostly about thoughtfulness, not gifts. Maybe $Tree stuff at the most, just like we grew up with. Think homemade, think service, think favorite snacks; anyone else want to throw ideas out there?

Summer White

Okay, so they don't pose and Elizabeth has a lovely green bump on her head from tripping as she ran to the merry-go-round and hitting the edge just right. But here are my summery girls out front (Elizabeth has claimed the neighbors' porch swing as her own) after Church on Sunday.

Little People

Huge nostalgia attack tonight! We were talking about possibly getting the Little People airplane for Amelia for her birthday and one thing led to another and I started looking at vintage Little People stuff on EBay (it has its own category).
Oh, the memories! I didn't realize just how much of that stuff I played with as a kid until I started scrolling through the listings! I'd completely forgotten about this camping stuff, for instance. What are your favorite Little People memories?

Any tips on renting a car?

Ok, so I'm trying to work on our car rental for our sidetrip to Fayetteville to see James' brother. We'll be going out there Thursday (17th) and coming back Saturday morning since the weekend rental rates start Thursday at noon. It just seems like there are SO many options and they tend to be really close to the same, but then you go further and there are so many things to add on or not...and I just get bogged down. And then I start to wonder if we need a car for the whole week...there are going to be a LOT of people there! Has anyone stopped and figured out how we're all getting to Church on Sunday, for example?
This was much easier the first time I rented a car...just went with the one place that would take debit and rent to under 25. Then the only other time was after the guy hit me on the way to Texas; just got what was available at the last minute.
Doesn't seem like it should be that hard, but I keep getting a stupor of thought, so I thought I'd ask if anyone had any tips?

Aaron, do you recognize him?

He served in our branch a while back. He is definitely in the Spirit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq2cA9QzXf0

Secret Pixies

Ok, I hope everyone is ok with doing Secret Pixies at the reunion, because I've volunteered to get it running. I'm using Elfster to draw the names and assign the families. It also has all sorts of cool functions where you can ask your family questions and stuff, but I think we all know each other well enough, lol. You could use it to give hints and stuff, but I also think we know each other well enough that the style of any queries might give it away, so be warned.

Each family should have gotten an email from Elfster at the address I have for the "Jeppson" parent (except I sent it to Mom instead of Dad and Bryce is with them). If you haven't gotten the email or don't know which address I sent it to, let me know. I need everyone to accept the invitation by Tuesday, so bug any family members that you talk to. As soon as everyone has accepted I can do the drawing for names.

Should be fun!

Amelia and the music box

Actually it turned into Amelia and her obsession with the camera and I got some cute close footage of her pretty little face.

Pears

Elizabeth at about 7 months, Amelia at 11 months.

4th of July Breakfast

Elizabeth wasn't exactly respectful during the flag-raising, but she was joyful!



Amelia, being very attentive and very cute.

Watermelon is the best!
Be sure to grab plenty, since it may not all make it to your mouth!

After a family picture, Elizabeth was more than ready to go.
But we had to make one more stop. Amelia zonked in just a few blocks.
The best thing about shopping at the lousy grocery store in Monahans
is the cool shopping cart.

Another way to look at it

Forgive my reminiscing today...here are two pictures of Elizabeth. The first is just before she became a big sister. The second is from close to my due date. Sadly, we don't have too many pictures of her in between. She grew so much in those 10 weeks...going from 12-24 month clothing and size 5-7 shoe. And it was all such a blur.

What a year

I've been looking through pictures in Picasa (which I highly recommend), remembering the past year. Sunday marked one year since I first went into preterm labor. Here are two family pictures, just shy of a year apart. Looking back I can hardly believe how little/young Elizabeth was. She grew so much that summer.

Calling All American Idol Fans!

Ok, a bit of a shameless plug for a friend back in Huntsville, Texas who is an awesome singer. She's in a local version of American Idol. She's trailing behind one other person and has a few people snapping at her heels, so please help out a fellow church member (sorry, couldn't resist the "Mormons Stick Together angle") and pump up her votes. I think you can even vote multiple times if you do it from different computers/ISP addresses. So here's your chance to vote and have it actually make a difference. If you love quality music, it is your DUTY to vote! (Yeah, the duty angle always works. Oops, did I say that out loud?)

Here's her original message:

"Hey guys! Please Help me out!! I am a contestant in Huntsville Superstar, Huntsville's version of American Idol, and I have made it to the next round but now I need your VOTES!!! PLEASE go online and vote for MEGAN BREDLOW #39 at www.huntsvillesuperstar.com !!! Just right there on the front page and then scroll down and VOTE! LOVE YOU ALL! p.s.and it would be great if you could ask people you know to vote as well! First place is $1,000 and the chance to record a CD! THANK YOU for your support and love!! Megan Bredlow~"


In all seriousness, please go and vote. She is incredibly talented and makes a point of sticking to church standards in her classes and performances, even if it means turning down parts in plays and other performances. She could use our support. Thanks.

We'll resume blogging about our cute girls after you vote. (The "or else" tactic, I love it! Oops, this keyboard sure picks up everything, doesn't it?)