18 months

Where did the time go?? Rocco is officially 18 months. Half-way to 2!!!! Break my heart!!!

On Thursday, he had his official well-baby check and his stats are

Head = 90th percentile (in other words, big)

Height = 34 inches 90th percentile (in other words, tall)

Weight = 27 lbs 6 ozs 70th percentile (in other words, just 4 pounds shy of Jillian, JEEZ!)

The doc said he is the model of an active, healthy baby boy!!!

At 18 months, Rocco likes to get into EVERYTHING and TEAR IT DOWN!!!! Very different than my sweet Jilli at 18 months.

He is my champion eater and will eat just about anything I put in front of him. He is not picky. He will eat fruits and veggies and meats.

He sleeps consistently from 7 to 7 in his new room!!! Naps this summer have been a little off because of the move and the new room but he usually naps from an hour to two hours.

With the new house, we have conquered stairs! He will climb them and slide down but he would much rather you carry him.

I have not cut his hair even though I get all kids of comments. But I absolutely ADORE his blond curls and I am not ready to say good-bye yet!!! I am ready to accept whatever comments come our way!!!

He is very sensitive!!! If you tell him no about anything, this is what he does.....

That's right. He throws himself on the ground and cries. It doesn't matter how gentle you say the "no" he doesn't like hearing it!!!

Rocco understands everything you say and will do most of what you ask him. He will point to all of his body parts correctly. He will point to lots of animals in books correctly. BUT he will not say a word. With Jillian, it was the opposite. We couldn't shut her up! She was saying all the body parts and saying all of the animals and the animals sounds.

He can say Mama (but this means either me, Grammie or Poppy),

Dada (which means only Daddy - go figure)

bapple (for apple)

On occasion, he has said - up, clock, more, gog (dog), and cac (cat) and this cracks me up but he can say caffle (which means cold Eggo waffle which he and Jillian love - GROSS!!!)

Doc said not to worry. With the combo of boy and 2nd child and Jillian's motor mouth, Rocco's speech will eventually catch up!!!

He really is a joy and a happy kid!! This is his serious face!

Ok, Mama, I'll give you a smile!

Please stop taking pictures and take me to play in Poppy's truck!!! This is his all-time favorite activity!!!

He is such an adorable little rascal!!

Time Stands Still

Kiddie Park is a long-standing park in downtown San Antonio. Everybody who has lived here since time began has been to Kiddie Park.

This is us in November 1981. My Mom has very specific memories of taking us here because she said a lady attacked her. Summer was two months old and the lady fussed at my Mom telling her she should not have such a little baby at the park.

While my Mom was upset over the crazy lady, I was having a ball riding the boats....

and the cars.....

and the spaceships.

And now 29 years later, my kids are still enjoying Kiddie Park. It is honestly very scary how everything looks EXACTLY the same. But it is the perfect park for kids aged 1-5!!!!

Jillian and her friend Maddie on the boats.

Rocco and Gavin on the boats.
Practicing for the Kentucky Derby!!! (Notice how Jillian is holding the reigns!! Lots of control issues for that one!!)

Riding the carousel.

All 4 on the Ferris Wheel. Rocco lasted one rotation and then had to be let out but the other three enjoyed the heights!

Can you see the meltdown??

I could not believe how fast the spaceships went! I could not believe the kids were not scared! Well, Rocco was but the older kids loved it!!

They had lots of fun riding the cars. Can you believe Gavin is sitting in the same one that I am riding 29 years ago



Finally, they rode the school bus. They rode it 10 times! It literally is on a track that goes around in a circle! But they loved it!

We're Almost In!!!

We have been working so hard for the past three weeks. Well, Frank, the painter has been working so hard and it is all paying off.

Remember the wretched green fireplace and the tacky green ivy on the wall....


Gone!!!! And replaced by beautiful classy shades of gray-blue.




Remember the tacky bright blue kitchen with the horrible flag border and florescent lighting???


Gone!! Replaced with gorgeous bright white walls and beautiful fixtures done by Bryan. (Sorry this photo is dark but trust me when I say this is an awesome cheery bright kitchen now!!)



Remember the electric purple master bedroom?? With tacky white fan? How could you forget the electric purple??



Gone!! Replaced by cream walls (painted by Mom and I) and a pretty wood fan (installed by Bryan over a 4 hr period). Hey, but it is done right!!!



Remember the tacky disgusting carpet in the master bath?? Who does that???

Gone!!! Replaced by beautiful tile!!!

We also had the nasty vinyl replaced in the kids' bathroom with beautiful tile!!

The nursery is now a soft shade of green (again done by Mom and I).

Jillian's room is now a pretty shade of yellow. She really wanted pink walls but she got vetoed. There are plenty of years ahead for her to convince me to give her pink walls.

Finally, Bryan replaced almost every fixture in the house. This is the great chandelier that is now over our staircase.

So as you can see, we have been very, very busy!!! But the house now looks fantastic!!!! Moving day is set for Monday!!!!! We are very excited to be in our new place!!!!!

Happy 4th!!

We had an ordinary day filled with all things American.

Red, white and blue....

First a family outing to church....

with lots of funny faces for the camera.

with one sweet face from the almost 3 1/2 year old.

Then some swimming and some yummy watermelon.

Rocco LOVED the watermelon..... He started out calm and then....

Then he got CRAZY with the watermelon!!!!

Seriously, I mean CRAZY!!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Swimming A LOT!!!!!

This summer is not different than any other. My family loves anything with water. We love the pool, we love the beach......however, there is one major thing that is different. This year I am responsible for two little children not drowning. Very Important!!!!!

Most of the time Bryan is not with me when we are swimming at my parents' pool. This makes the whole not drowning thing all the more difficult. BUT with these "Swim Ways" bathing suits, I really cannot go wrong. Wearing the suit has given Jillian so much confidence!!! She is literally jumping, sliding, getting her face wet on her own with no fear.

They make my kids look like Michelin men but they sure are useful!!!

Here J is sliding.

Even Rocco has become very comfortable with the pool. At first I tried to leave him inside and take Jillian by herself, but he will NOT allow that to happen anymore and will race us outside to see who can jump in first (and yes he has jumped in on several occasions and thankfully the green monkey suit works and brings him straight to the top ((with mommy there in two seconds to pull him up as well))

And seriously, look at his little rump-i-kis. Isn't it the cutest?? With those chubby little legs?? I just want to squeeze 'em.

Breaking News::::::: As of yesterday, Jillian has asked to lose the pink monkey suit and swim on her own. AND SHE DID IT!!!!!!! She is swimming all over the place. She can swim from one side of the pool and then back!!! She is amazing everybody!!! It looks like she may follow Daddy's footsteps and be on the swim team????? This is her reaching the side of the pool!!!!!

Finally, this is our first pic of our family at our new house!!!!! It was the end of a looooong day and the kids were not cooperating. We are doing some major work this week. We are updating the fixtures, pulling weeds, and the painters come on Friday. Hopefully, we can move in late next week or the next week???

Get Ready to Set Sail....

In the words of Fancy Nancy, we have been tres tres busy this week. We have been busying doing this.....

That's right! It is our week for Vacation Bible School.

I have been taking Rocco, Jillian, Roy and Gavin everyday to VBS. The kids' cousin, Katie, meets them there too so there are 5 P-members rocking the joint!! Did you know my car could hold three full-size car seats??? Here is the proof!!

Here are da boys!!!

Couldn't the sweetness just give you a cavity????

All of the kids have been LOVING it!!!! Well, except for Rocco. His teachers came and got me the first day of class and said "Ashley, you have got to come and see this!

His teacher told me that he was throwing a fit over a toy and literally fell asleep in the middle of the fit on the floor. They sweetly put a blanket on him so he would be comfortable. Can you say drama?? Where could he get that from???

Our church has gone to soooo much trouble this year! It has been awesome. From our pretend ship in the sanctuary to the arts and crafts and music, everything is above and beyond.

Then everyday after VBS, the kids take a nap and go swimming. They swim and swim and swim.

Katie and Roy

My Dad had a genius idea to move the kids' fort over next to the pool for some slide action. Jillian, Gavin and Rocco cannot get enough of it. They do it again and again, etc.

That's it!! Oh yea, besides closing on the old house tomorrow, closing on new house on Thursday, packing, cleaning, living out of our suitcases, our stuff is stored everywhere......nothing else really going on!!!