I am a Rangers fan...

Fact #1: I grew up in Arlington - home of the Texas Rangers. Fact #2: I remember going to games at the old stadium. Fact #3: I collected baseball cards as a little girl. My mom just cleaned out my closet and brought them to me. I kept them all in a Rangers notebook. The notebook is also filled with Rangers autographs. Fact #4: I used to celebrate my birthday by staying at the hotel by the ballpark and then going to the games...a Carlson and Smith family tradition. Such great memories! Fact #5: The highlight of my 5th grade year was being on a plane with "Pudge" Rodriguez and Julio Franco as we all traveled out to San Diego. The All-Star was in San Diego that year and the players were traveling to play in the game. Fact #6: I was #7 in softball because Pudge was #7. I was also a catcher - just like Pudge. Fact #7: Brooks was named after a baseball player. Okay, that doesn't really justify me being a Rangers fan - but it is a reminder that I'm a baseball fan in general. Fact #8: I delayed the birth of my daughter to watch the last out of the ALCS in 2010. That's right - after being in the hospital for 5 days, the doctor came in and told me that my blood pressure was too high and that they were going to have to do an emergency c-section to take the baby (remember my preeclampsia and the only cure is birth?). I told her she would have to wait. There was only one more out in Game 6 versus the Yankees. I wanted to see to Rangers win their first franchise pennant. So, the doctor sat on the edge of my bed as we watched the last out together, and then Delaney was born about an hour later. I've got to find some World Series tickets!

All giggles

Delaney loves to dance. She's constantly going over to Elmo to listen to his songs and dance along. This afternoon the kids were dancing and singing together and Brooks was being totally silly. Delaney just LOVED it and was laughing out of control. I grabbed my camera to capture all the giggles. Nobody can make Delaney laugh like Brooks.

Big like Brother

Birdie got Laney her own chair so she can be big like her brother. It's meant to be a birthday present but there was no way I could wait 2 more weeks to open that big Pottery Barn box. She loves crawling all over Brooks' chair and sitting in it to watch cartoons in the morning, so it's no surprise that she loves her new chair.

It's even a good spot to snuggle with blankie before bed.

Just for Fun

I never get tired of taking pictures of my kids!

Boys Day Out

Well, while Brooks has been "sick" with hand, foot, and mouth disease (which he caught from his sister), he's been staying home with his Daddy. Brooks only felt sick when he broke out with his fever before the bumps appeared. And he did have one rough night of sleep because the bumps on his feet were bothering him. But, he's pretty much been totally fine this week. With this virus, the bumps have to be peeling before you're considered not to be contagious anymore, so Brooks wasn't able to go to school at all. Luckily Chad has a flexible schedule and he can do most of his work from home. Brooks spent most of the week watching movies, playing with blocks, drawing, and playing with play dough. On Thursday, Chad took him out to Lake Georgetown to fish and swim around. Chad said that Brooks had the best time! He fished, threw rocks for Kansas, climbed some boulders, and even went swimming in the lake. Man - I wish I could have a "sick day" like that!

11 Months Old

1 month. I only have 1 more month before my baby girl turns ONE! This cannot be happening. How can it be that my little 4 pound baby girl is now 19 pounds and 1 month away from her first birthday? Besides getting bigger, nothing changed much from the previous month. I keep trying to teach her how to clap, say some words, or use some sign language, but she's not really interested in any of those things. She's definitely interested in her brother and she enjoys following him all around the house. She's also attempting to stand by herself (I guess that's something new). Every once in a while she'll let go of whatever she's holding onto. I think she's topped out at 5 seconds with no support. She still loves "walking" behind her push toy or while holding onto Daddy's fingers, but she doesn't seem any closer to actually walking. She did learn how to do this cute thing in the bath where she dunks her face in and then pops up and starts cracking up. That keeps her entertained until she swallows water and starts crying. Her other favorite thing to do is drop things on the ground when she's sitting at the table. She'll do it on purpose and then look at me...look back down and the object (usually her sippy cup) and say, "Uh!" Little stinker thinks it's funny, but after the fourth time or so I decide that it's not funny and I don't pick it up anymore. That usually makes her kind of mad. She still shows her girly/dainty side on a regular basis by throwing her bottom lip out when someone dares to tell her "no" or when dinner isn't served fast enough. She may be girl/dainty but when it comes to eating she keeps up with the big boys and throws down everything we put in front of her. The girl sure can eat! She's such an absolute sweetheart and I just can't get enough of her and her cuddles. The only bummer thing about this month has been Laney's health. She's been sick with a cold for a few weeks now. I finally took her in and they said it was a sinus infection and put her on the pink stuff. After a week she was still sick and grumpy and broke out with a fever so we took her back in. The doctor said things looked good, but her one ear was showing the beginning stages of an ear infection. She changed the medicine from pink to white. The next day Laney had a few bumps on her legs...then around her mouth...then on her hands and feet. So currently the poor little girl is suffering from Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease. Luckily it seems to be a mild case. The roughest part is trying to keep her somewhat contained and reminding Brooks every 5 seconds not to touch her. You can see some of the bumps around her mouth in the pictures below. Hopefully she'll be better next week and all this sickness will be behind her so she'll be ready to celebrate next month. Let the countdown begin!

Just a peek

Here's Laney is her precious new (bought at the resale shop) outfit posing for her birthday invitations. We took 81 pictures and here are just a couple. The "best of the best" I saved for the invitation itself. This is just a peek...