Child Genius

5.20.09

I mean, I'm not trying to rub it in or anything. I'm just saying my child is a genius. She is just shy of her 3rd birthday and she can already write her name. Deal with it.



Come on, people. That OBVIOUSLY says Chloe (upside down because she wouldn't move in order to let us take the picture from the correct view). Quit hatin'.

The Princess and her Big Girl Bed

5.18.09

Well, it was a very low key, but enjoyable 29th (for the third time) birthday for me. Thanks for all of the birthday wishes! Here are some recent pics:


Chloe's new big girl bed. She is so proud of it and sleeps through the night. Don't worry, she does have rails so she won't fall out. (Editorial note: I will OBVIOUSLY move the "Chloe" letters higher. Thanks, Lori, for calling me out. Have we met? Do you know me at all?)


Isn't she the sweetest princess with the sweetest dimples in all the land???

Who knew???

5.12.09

It's another girl!!!! Who knew? This pregnancy has been so completely different than my last pregnancy that I truly thought it was a boy! Well, that and the fact that the pesky Intelligender test said it was a boy. But I was wrong, yet again. It's a girl! Chris and I are so excited for Chloe to have a little sister. I always wanted a sister, so I'm thrilled for Chloe!

Speaking of that little punkin' . . . we told her it was a girl. We were all excited to tell her. Folks, it was a non-event. She said, "Oh." And smiled. That was the extent of her much-anticipated response. Oh well. But I did ask her what she thought the baby's name was. Immediately, she replied, "Maya Ho." Apparently, she feels the name just rolls off the tongue. Somehow, I don't LOVE the name.

We haven't hammered out a name yet, but we will keep you all posted! We would post a picture of the sonogram, but not one turned out well. She wouldn't quit moving the entire time. The technician said this baby would be my "fiesty one." Really??? I thought Chloe Jane was my fiesty one? I thought the second baby was supposed to be the "easy one." Great, now we are terrified. Wish us luck!

Love, Amanda, Chris and the girls

The Bun in the Oven

5.11.09

Well, we've decided to join the blogging world. Mostly at my mother's insistence, to be honest.

"I don't understand why Lori and Kim have such cute blogs posting pictures of their sweet kids and you can't start one??? Why not? What do you *DO* with all your spare time?"

Thanks, Deb. (And thanks Lori and Kim.) Because really, my mother is right. I have *LOADS* of spare time. From 8:30 - 9:30 p.m. nightly. And that's plenty. Really.

So, here I go; blogging my family business for all the world to see. Okay, maybe not the WORLD, but I know I'll have at least 2 followers (thanks, Mom and Dad!). I promise to endeavor to be witty about it . . . I really will. But is it truly possible? Can I accomplish what has heretofore only been that of myth and legend? Can I combine wit . . . and babies? Mayhaps. We shall see. Only time will tell.

Let's get the first item of business on the record, shall we, folks??? So, earlier this year, Chris and I sent out the following picture to our family:



Do you get it???? Really? 'Cause none of our family did. It's a "bun in the oven." We thought it would be a cute way to introduce the newest member of the family, but alas, it was not to be. Honestly, Chris' wonderful sister Beth got it. Thanks, Beth. And of all people -- in a bizarre twist of fate -- MY BROTHER understood it?!!??

But I deserved it. Why, you might ask? Because I was trying to be cute. And, folks, let's face it. I'm anything but "cute." One would never characterize Demanda as "cute," would one? Me thinks not. So it is totally and completely my fault that I received the following comments from my family subsequent to the dissemination of the aforementioned picture:

"Why am I staring at a dirty oven?" (Thanks, Kristy. You are a top notch cousin. And a Howard after Merle, Deb, and Sherry's own obsessive-compulsive hearts.)

"Did Chloe bake a hamburger bun in the oven?" (Yeah, Dad. That's exactly what happened. You are so sweet to think that I would bake my own hamburger buns from scratch. Bless you.)

"Did you try to cook hamburgers in the oven?" (Yes, Mother. That's exactly what happened. I know that you think I'm a horrible cook, but even I know not to cook hamburgers in the oven. . . . or do I????)

But I digress. You get the point. So, henceforth, consider the lesson learned. I hereby promise to forgo any and all cutesy-ness whatsoever. I will stick strictly to the facts, ma'am.

I am 18 weeks pregnant (that's 5 months to the layman) and feeling good. Chris and I are truly excited and feeling very blessed. Chloe Jane sticks a stuffed animal or baby doll down her shirt every chance she gets! Tune in tomorrow to learn the sex of the new bun in the oven!!!