Time to catch up!

Time sure does fly!  Let's see if I can remember everything that has happened the past month!

Melonee went to the rodeo with Nana.  She loved it.  She sat in Nana's lap and watched the whole show in amazement.  Mel is going to be an animal lover.  Melonee is picking up new words...sunshine, Ryan, Thula, Mathew, juice, Dot, yuck, mango and Pooh.  She is also loving the warm weather. When we go outside, it is hard to get Mel to come back inside. Lovey and Papa got the girls a swing set and they love it.

Dottie is sitting up better every day. We are spoon feeding her now. Thanks to Lovey we finally have conquered the spoon feedings! Dottie is very alert an active. Memorial day weekend Aunt Barbara came in from Missouri and brought Casey and Sarah over to Lovey's. Dottie sat in Aunt Barb's lap and bounced and smiled the whole time. That afternoon we took the girls up to Uncle John's. They have lots of animals....Melonee loved it. She would point to the ducks and say duck....she wanted to pet the dogs but had to wait till uncle John held him down so she could pet him.

Dottie is also acting like she may crawl. Flipping over is not a problem. She is starting to get her knees up and push forward...more of a scoot. When she is napping in her crib we lay the pacifier next to her and when she wakes up she will grab it and put it in her mouth. Her sleeping habits have changed a little. We lay her down in her crib at about eight-thirty or so and she has been waking up at about twelve...I the get her and she sleeps with me the rest of the night. Bad habit I know but I have to get some sleep.

Mel is sleeping better these days. She is going to have allergies. She has had a runny nose
on and off for a couple of months. We spent one weekend at Nana's and Pop's...we were outside a lot. Ryan and Pop's were cleaning up the land that we are going to buy to build on. Nana had bought the girls a kitchen set to play with so I put it together and Aunt Renae took care of Dottie and Mel ran around with Nana.

Memorial Day weekend we spent at Lovey's. She got the girls a swimming pool. Mel wouldn't get init but she enjoyed playing in the water standing beside the pool. Also, between Mel, Papa, and Alice they ate a whole container of chocolate covered raisins. The whole weekend we were with Lovey, Papa, Kayla, Alice, Ryan...and all the local extended family. I always enjoy those weekends. Mel really loves being with the family.

Pictures March/April 2011

                                                           Dottie getting ready for Easter!!!

      Lovey, Melonee, and Dottie enjoying each other in their Easter outfit that Kayla and Lovey made the girls.

                                                         Melonee picking up Lovey's eggs.

                     Nana helping Melonee hunt Easter eggs in Brentwood.  It was a very cold day!!!

                     Another Easter outfit that Aunt Kayla made the girls!!!  Dottie is such a happy baby.

                                Melonee is ready for church!!!  She really loves purses and going places.

                                                 Dottie in her church clothes.  Pretty in purple.

                          Melonee wiping Dottie's mouth.  Melonee tries to help take care of Dottie.

                       Lovey got our old rocking horse down and refinished it and put a new mane on it.

                                     Ryan's birthday!  We were at Nana's house opening his gifts.

  Easter morning!!!!  Dottie getting her basket.  Her first Easter!!!  Lovey and Aunt Kayla monogrammed their baskets.

 

Melonee got up late!  She had been sick.  (Dottie had already gone back to sleep!)  Melonee is eating a chocolate bunny.

 

Melonee on Easter morning at the churches Easter egg hunt.

 Attempt to get a picture with Melonee and Dottie on Easter.

 Four generations.  Jennifer, Melonee, Dottie Florida, Papa Payne, and Grannie Payne.

 Melonee in Lovey's flowers.

 Dottie being cute!

 Family picture at Lovey's

 Papa, Lovey, and Dottie swinging.

 Melonee enjoying a fresh picked strawberry!!

  Dottie getting a taste of a strawberry.

Tired little Melonee

  We had a full and eventful week and weekend.  I had to work on April 29th, so Anita kept the girls for me.  Melonee was still feeling run down.  Anita could not get her to eat very much.  The girl has been sick for a month.  However, they had a wonderful time with Nana.  Renae was helping Nana when I arrived.  We waited on Ryan to get off and we all went to eat supper at the Olive Garden.  Melonee still would not eat.  Nana and I took the girls home.  Ryan, Renae, and Matthew went to see Tata in the hospital.  Tot had breast cancer and had it removed. 

   Saturday, we drove to Decherd to help Lovey with yard work.  Well, Ryan helped.  I have had sinus issues...so Dottie and I took a nap.  Melonee helped Lovey while Papa directed Ryan on what needed to be done.  Lovey found a swing set for the girls so we went a picked it up.  Ryan and Papa hauled it to the house.

   Sunday...church day.  We finally made it all the way through Sunday school and services!!!!  What a great accomplishment.  After church, we came home and ate lunch and got the girls a nap.  Then we went to see Aunt Kayla, Papa and Lovey.  Ryan and I went on to Franklin for a couple of hours.  When Ryan and I got back Melonee was wearing a dress.  Kayla had monogrammed a dress for her while we were gone.  Dottie had just gone to sleep.  We ate supper at Aunt Kayla's and then we went home.

   Monday....I was worn completely out.  My house was a disaster zone and my sinuses were completely messed up.  Lovey decided to come and get the girls so I could get some sleep.  Well, Melonee had not had her nap yet and it was lunch time...so I made her lunch before she took a nap.  Not such a good idea.  I have never seen such.  She fell asleep while she was eating.  Too funny.  I had a video clip, however I cannot get it to download!

Easter

  Easter morning is here!!  The baskets are ready.  Dottie and Ryan are the first to arise.  I got up and went to the living room and the baskets were gone.  Ryan had put them on the front porch.  I guess the Easter bunny doesn't come inside?  Anyway, we got pictures of Dottie with her basket.  As Dottie fell back to sleep, Melonee got up.  Melonee found her basket and immediately wanted a chocolate marshmallows bunny.  We got pictures of her with her basket.  Then the race to church.  We dressed both girls up with all the accessories.  Proud parents.  Off to the Easter egg hunt at church.  Dottie was tired so Ryan stayed in the gym with her.  I took Melonee outside for the hunt.  She passed 10 eggs before she picked one up.  Melonee was just so happy to be outside with all the other children.  She ran around and looked everywhere.  We ended up with five eggs in her basket, but she enjoyed every minute.  As we walked back inside, Melonee was grinning from ear to ear.  I see Ryan in the back with Dottie.  Dottie is looking hungry and Melonee is looking sleepy.  Therefore, I can see we are not going to be able to stay for church.  Ryan and I look at each other and head to the car.  Ryan volunteered to ride in the back with the girls as I drive to Lovey and Papa's for Easter dinner. 

   Lovey has got a wonderful dinner going.  Everything looks perfect.  We try to slip the girls in without waking them up...so much for that.  Melonee wakes up and starts running around.  She sees her other Easter basket from Lovey and Papa.  Oh Wow!  Another basket from Aunt Kayla and Aunt Alice.  However, we try to take the girls pictures while they are still in their Easter dresses.  Well, that is a mission impossible due to the short nap.  All we can do is our best with what we have to work with.  I think we got some pretty good shots. 

   All the family started piling in one by one.  Ryan got Dottie to sleep.  I made Melonee a plate to eat.  Are we going to actually get to sit down and eat with everyone?  YES!  The table was full of people and food.  What a wonderful meal with dessert too!  Dottie woke up as we were finishing dessert.  Now it was time to open baskets.  First Melonee and Dottie....(Mom still gets Kayla, Alice and myself a basket along with Ryan and Ryan.)  More pictures....

    We walked over to Aunt Alices house....it is coming right along.  Melonee enjoyed throwing coke bottles out of the windows.  It will be nice to have Alice so close especially when the girls and I come home during the week.

   We had a wonderful visit with the family.  Fun, fun, fun.

Last couple weeks of April

  On April 20, 2011, Dottie rolled over on her own for the first time!  This was very exciting!  Dottie is getting bigger every day.  She is such a happy baby....laughing and giggling more.  She is just so sweet!!

  Melonee is getting into everything these days, but sweet as ever.  Ryan and I have found that giving Melonee and Dottie a bath is quicker and easierr if I get in with them and hand them off  to Ryan to dry off.  Well, last week the  three of us hopped in the bath.  I started with Melonee and she was having so much fun that we left her in while we gave Dottie a bath.  We finished Dottie's bath.  As Ryan left with Dottie, the bubbles in the tub started dissolving...Melonee looks at me with a mischievous smile.  I then start to get Mel out and I see something floating....low and behold Melonee had pooped in the tub.  The chaos begins!!!  I start yelling for Ryan...sling Mel out of the tub and the poo disintegrated all over the place.  I started sanitizing and had to redo Mel's bath.  We now know not to let Mel get too relaxed while taking a bath.  Of coarse, she didn't know any better.

  Melonee has been sick for about a month now.  On Friday the 22nd, Melonee developed a fever.  So I didn't take her to story time.  Very disappointing.  We missed the egg hunt.  (Oh!  On April 16th, Nana and I took Mel to an egg hunt in Brentwood.  It was cold and damp, but Melonee had a great time.)  Also, on Friday, we dropped the girls off at Nana and Pops so we could go celebrate Ryan's birthday.  The girls are always excited to see the grandparents.  Ryan and I went to watch the Source Code and had dinner at PF Changs with a small stop at Toys R Us.  Back to Nana's we go...Mel's temp had come back...Dottie was relaxing  with Pops.  By the time we made it back, the medicine had kicked in and Mel was ready to go.  Matthew and Renae were playing with her.  She was back on the move.  Somehow Mel got half of a plastic egg behind her back and slid down the couch...she had a scratch all the way down her back.  That went great with the scratches on her face from a fall going to look at Alice's house earlier that week.  Needless to say this made for a long night.  After Melonee calmed down, we got the cake and gifts out.  Ryan enjoyed his birthday celebration.  Time to head home and straight to bed! 
  Saturday, Melonee still had a fever and felt bad.  The girls and I stayed inside all day.  I wanted Melonee to be ready for Easter.  Dottie is still so little that there aren't any issues other than eating, sleeping, laughing, rolling, and using the bathroom.  I really enjoy my girls!!!

Melonee's first ear infection

Melonee has been sick for two weeks. I have been hoping that she would kick this snotty nose junk. However, she has continued to get worse...also Ryan let me know that it was time to do something. (He let her sleep on his chest so she could be elevated.)

Monday morning I roll out of bed and try to get half way ready before the Calvary awakens. By the time I get my face put on I hear mama. I then knew it was time to get the girls ready. Ryan got breakfast for Melonee and I got Dottie ready. Ryan headed out to work and reminded me to take Melonee to the doctor.  I called and got Melonee an appointment for 8:45!  That meant that I had to get moving.  I am throwing my clothes on and getting a diaper bag ready.  Dottie was ready to take a nap so I got her in the car seat.  Then I got Melonee in the car seat.  Now how am I going to get both of them into the doctor's office?  The jeep...so I sling the jeep into the car....it then pops back and hits me in the face.  I am now ready to go.  I arrive at the doctors office and park at the end of the parking lot where I can get both kids out without hitting someones car.  It then starts to sprinkle....the storms are coming.  I am running to the office with Melonee on my hip and Dottie in the stroller. We make it in and go straight to the check in desk. Melonee immediately sees the toys...I immediately see germs all over the place. So I hang on tight to Melonee as she arches her back and starts to fight me in order to get down. Luckily the nurse was waiting to take us back for the exam. Melonee does well all the way to the scale and then.it happens. The nurse comes at her with the thermometer and she starts screaming. Then the nurse gets stern with me and tells me to hold her chin. I understand that she is doing her job but a child can sense foreign objects coming at them that could be unconfrontable.  Dr. Rosser then comes in to check her out. He puts his stethoscope in his ears then on Mels chest...the screams start again. Side note...my mom asks if he heard anything in here chest...I said how could he tell with his ears ringing off his head. Anyway, next to the ears. He pulled out a gob of ear wax...how embarrassing. He looks at me and says she has a little ear infection. The exam is over and Mel waves and says bye bye. Oh! Dottie stayed in the stroller the whole time without a peep. Now we are off to get Mels prescription. We get in the car to go and Dottie starts screaming. The never ending scream. By the time we get home, the storms are getting closer. My parents decide they are going to come up and see the girls. Crazy! They truly love adventure. Lovey comes busting thru the door and Melonee gets so excited. Then Lovey plays with Dottie till she goes to sleep. Papa tries to entertain Mel. After Dottie fell asleep, Lovey asked Mel if she wanted to watch Winnie the Pooh. Well of coarse she did! Did I mention a storm was coming with possible tornadoes! So we turn on Pooh bear and I go in our bed room and watch the weather. My parents are so calm when storms hit. I truly wish I could be that calm, but I get a little crazy. The storms finally past. Melonee finally went to sleep and Dottie was waking up as Lovey and Papa were leaving. I am so glad they came!!

Better late than never

It has been awhile since I last blogged.  There are many reasons for that.  Papa had heart surgery....I worked a full seven days....and Dottie has not slept through the night for the past month.  Now that we have the excuses on the table, I will start with what else has been going on with the girls.

Melonee has started saying more words.  She said Kayla's name on March 19th.  I can remember that because we were trying to leave Vanderbilt and we had to stop by Kayla's office.  Needless to say, Kayla was very excited.  Melonee's personality gets stronger every day.  She was mad at me the week that I worked.  Partly because she was sick and wanted her Mom and Dad.  However, I had wonderful help that week.  A big thank you to Ryan, Alice, and Anita for picking up my slack.  Ryan really stepped up and gave his all and I appreciate his ability to make the house a home while I worked.  (Ryan also worked 3 of the days that I worked.)  I really do not see how people function with kids and both parents working.

Dottie is starting to sit up in the bumbo with more control on her head movement.  She is also pushing herself up when she is on her stomach.  Her voice is getting sweeter every day.  When I lay her on her back to kick she will squeal and laugh.  She is really precious right now.

 Little sister/Big sister outfits that Lovey and Aunt Kayla made.  Can you tell they love them.  Sisterly love.

Bath time at Lovey's

Tea time with Melonee

Melonee loves playing outside!

Melonee has learned to feed her baby like I feed Dottie.

 I was washing dishes one night and I looked down, there was Melonee exfoliating with the salt.  She had poured out all the salt in the shaker and sit in the middle to rub her hands in all the salt.  She thought she was something.

Melonee outside at Lovey and Papa's

Dottie in an outfit that Lovey, Great Aunt Kay, and Aunt Kayla made.

 Can we say stinker.

This is how Lovey likes to dress Melonee.

Melonee and Dottie in Dottie's room.

Dottie's three month picture.

Dottie sitting in her bumbo.  Melonee is thinking of her next move.