So this is why everything takes so long when you have a kid in tow!

The plan was when Caroline woke up from her nap we would run to Wal-Mart to pick up a couple items. Twenty minutes in the store tops then when we get home we'll help the neighbor fill eggs for our Easter egg hunt, hang the new pictures of C, have a little playtime, take a bath and put baby in bed all before Reagan got home from work. Easy peasy.

Caroline's naps are normally 1 to 1.5 hours; today she took a 2.5 hour nap! She woke up extra hungry from her long nap. Before leaving the house, she needed to eat. Food prep, eat lunch, rinse dishes.....this took about 45 minutes. I spent about 15 minutes making sure her bag contained the essentials and getting everything including baby into the car. Hit the road and notice the low-pressure tire gauge is on. If it were just me I'd keep driving but with Caroline in the car we make a pit-stop at the dealer to air them up. Wet diaper and no changing table at the dealership. Fine, I can improvise. I can change her on either the bathroom floor and the narrow countertop between the wall and soap dispenser. The bathroom floor was disgusting. Quickly change her diaper as she tries to flip around on the counter-top. I find myself praying she doesn't figure out how the soap dispenser works and gets soap all over her hands, face, hair and clothes. That mess would require a bath in the dealer sink! Diaper changed but before leaving the dealership the lady behind the counter needs just a moment to say hi to the baby. Hit the road again, make it to Wal-Mart but C is hungry again. Hop in the backseat to nurse her. Load baby and bag including all the essentials into the cart. Finally make it into the store. Ahhh, baby lost a shoe. I refuse to buy another pair of baby shoes that will last 4 to 6 months before she grows out of them. I must find that shoe! Backtrack through the parking lot looking under each car hoping I find the tiny shoe. The shoe is nowhere in site. Check the car; thank God! The shoe is in the car.

What should have been a quick run to the store turned into a couple hour ordeal. I've always been a fairly flexible person but since having a baby I've learned to never have an agenda. I can plan to get certain things done in a day but I must remember that I might not get those things finished. I've learned that's okay. It does no one in our family any good if Momma is stressed.

Reagan's Staycation

Last week, Reagan took a few days off work. His main goal was to get a few things done around the house. He installed new door hinges and handles on all our doors, cleaned out a flower bed so I could plant Asian Jasmine (so glad I planted them the day before our big snow storm!), and cleaned out a lot of the garage (that was a HUGE undertaking). He didn't get as much done as he would have liked but he also made time for fun and relaxing. Below are pictures of some of the things we did.

We already told you all about St. Patty's Day. Thursday we went stroller skating. Well, I went stroller skating while Reagan took pictures. Friday we tried out a Gymboree class. One of Caroline's good buddies Ryan was in the class too. Saturday Reagan went out with a friend while I made C a tutu and conducted a photo-shoot.

R isn't sure how this picture came out: us in focus and others out. It's a cool effect though.

Sliding at Gymboree

Kisses from Daddy

More Daddy kisses

Crawling through the tunnel of fun!

Best buds Caroline and Ryan

Takin a ride!

Our little engineer figuring out how it works

Love this picture. I adore Caroline's profile; it's kissable!

My silly Mom dressed me up in a tutu and her pearls.

Checking to see if they are real.

This hat is Aunt Kathryn's (Reagan's sister). I think I had a similar one too.

Cutie pie!

St. Patty's Day

My Mom had a knack for making the smallest things special. On St. Patrick's Day she would pull out the green linens to beautifully decorate the table, cook a big feast and we would have a special dinner. This is a tradition I'd like to keep with my little family. Yesterday I decorated the table with our green linens, cooked a big Irish feast and we had a special dinner with Reagan's parents (AKA Nana and Papa). Earlier in the afternoon Caroline and I went to a St. Patrick's Day play-date with our mom's group. Below are a few pictures for the play-date. Happy St. Patty's Day everyone!

Katelynn telling Caroline a story

"Here Caroline, try eating this"

The 2 Carolines in the ball pit

Watching the other babies figuring out what toy she will steal

My Mommy is silly!

Cousins

This week Caroline and I visited my cousin Colleen and her son Luke. Colleen lives on a big beautiful piece of land about 40 minutes from us and has several animals. It was like visiting a petting zoo. The ground was to wet to check out the horses so we stayed inside with the dogs, cats, exotic birds and bunny. Caroline loved all the animals and playing with Luke.

Also this week Amy and Zach (Caroline's cousins) drove through Plano on their way home to Houston. They stopped in and spent a couple hours playing with Caroline. It was great seeing them. Caroline thought her older cousins were pretty cool.

Luke playing with Caroline

Caroline thought the DS was really funny!

Colleen sharing her toys with Caroline

Zach and Amy watching C eat her toys

Zach watching C play

Amy trying on C's bow. C did not want to share.

Attack of the baby!

Oliver and Caroline were begging for puffs.

Zach feeding Caroline her favorite snack puffs

Cousins

9 month check up

Today was Caroline's 9 month check-up (and 9 month b-day). Reagan met us at the office to meet the doctor. Dr. Weiser said Caroline is very healthy and thriving. She thinks she might be walking soon too!! Thank God for safety gates to keep her confined. C got one shot but she was very brave. She stopped crying when I lifted her from the table and even smiled at the nurse. Below are her stats. Note the head size. She had a small Boone head the 1st couple months (20-25%) and is now growing to a big Redmond/Harris size! Reagan and I joked before she was born that her head would be in the 50th percentile....a perfect mix!

Weight: 16 lbs 4 oz (she is in the 10-25% for her age)
Height: 27.5 in (she is in the 50-75% for her age)
Head: 17.4 in (she is in the 75% for her age)

Reagan and I met our wonderful friends, Kisha and Randy James, on a cruise a few years ago. They were in the same safety group as us before the boat left the dock. We kept in contact, meeting for dinner or lunch on the weekends and developed a great friendship. The following year we even took another cruise together! Kisha was at the hospital when Caroline was born; they both came to our house the day we brought her home. It's hard finding couple friends where both the husbands and the wives have interests in common and are friends separately. We consider Randy and Kisha some of our closest friends. Caroline refers to them as Uncle Randy and Aunt Keke.

Last night, Randy's Mom passed away. I've never met her, but I feel like I know her from Randy and Kisha talking about her. She sounded like a wonderful, loving and strong woman. Please keep them and their family in your thoughts and prayers.

Randy making Caroline fly on New Years Eve

Caroline with her Aunt Keke

The day Caroline came home

The four of us in Antigua