What to do with Dottie?

Oh Dottie, she is going to be a fun one.  

I am in no way implying that Mary Margo is not fun but Dottie is a challenge in a whole new way.  She is our "into everything, put it in my mouth, if I can't reach it will climb for it, LOUD screams when I am hungry" kinda girl.  And after all that she just sits there and grins with the BIGGEST Happiest little face.  It is one of those.  the "I know I am in trouble but if I show you my 4 cute teeth and squint my eyes just right you will forget you were every mad" kinda smile.  

She is a MESS!  

Here is just a small list of what we have found in her mouth..... 

• thumbtacks
• string
• cardboard
• shoes and more shoes
• dust bunnies
• fabric
• sweetgum balls
• flowers
• leaves and more leaves
• coloring books
• phone chargers
• chalk
• crayons
• markers
• paint
• electrical cords
• pappies
• money
• necklaces
• the couch
• remotes
• socks
• dryer sheets
• construction paper

Wow!  The list makes it look like I never clean my house.   But I do!  I promise.  

She is just too fast.  I turn my back and she is gone, I find her and there she is slowly "chewing her cud" (as the old folks might say).  I swoop in with the famous "finger to the tonsils sweep around the inside of her mouth".  I have gotten really good at it.  Mary Margo even knows how to do it.  We try to avoid big sister doing it but on occasion it has been necessary.  

I am not use to the warp speed of baby Dottie.  She is a climber too.  She has climbed on top of the fireplace hearth twice already.  I admit, the second time, I let her because I wanted to know HOW exactly she was doing it.  She is a resourceful little critter.  Climbing slow and steady onto Mary Margo's chair then hiking her chubby little leg ever so gracefully onto the blanket covered brick, other leg up, a quick spin, and down on her bottom.  Criss cross applesauce and she is there.  And just like the orbits gum girl... "KATING" that sweet little "you know you love me smile"  

SHE IS A MESS!

Here are just a few pics of this little devil in disguise.

 

No one was hurt here.  I took this pic because I would let Mary Margo sit in my lap while I was sewing.  She would sit there for as long as I would let her and NEVER try to touch anything.

She gets buckled in EVERYTIME now

She even thought my pants would be a good chew toy

FLOWER

FLOWER IN THE MOUTH

SWEET GUM BALL

SWEETGUM BALL IN MOUTH

Right before she made it up into the dishwasher.  

This is her sizing it up.

 Caught

and the smile!

Summer is in Full Swing

We have hit the pool...several times

Dottie is practicing her steps.  

Not yet ready to let go and conquer the world but trying.

 Standing behind Dusty's desk.  

It's her fun new hiding place

Aunt Mandy got married.  Mary Margo was the flower girls and the wedding singer.  Dottie was just the pretty baby that "ruined" the wedding singer's song.  

At the wedding.

Mary Margo's first comment after the ceremony, "Dottie ruined my song."

Everyone at the wedding said that little sister wanted to sing too.

Hope this doesn't become a trend.

Below she is singing her solo at home with me on piano.  I am a little rusty.  Forgive me, the soloist insisted on the piano.....not guitar. 

 

 We have been to VBS for the first time and learned so much about Jesus and God.

It is pretty obvious, we are not brushing our hair this summer - please ignore this summer look.  Those little whispies drive me crazy.  I promise I brush it and contain it EVERY morning.  

Packed and ready to spend the night with Kadie!  Mary Margo's first sleep over.

Mary Margo has been to cheer camp and gymnastics camp.

Here she is showing off some of her moves dancing at summer swing.  

Dusty is in the background playing the guitar.

Dottie munching on her puffs and everyone else's snacks at summer swing

Dottie Turns ONE!

Where did that year go?  

Our sweet little Dottie turned ONE on Tuesday, May 22nd.  

It is so funny to me how your life just keeps right on going and you look back on the year and think "what did we do before you were a part of our lives?"  I remember being a little sad right before she was born because it would no longer be just the three of us, and now, I can't imagine it any other way but the four of us.

Mary Margo "helping" as usual.

WOW Mom!  This cake is as big as my head.  But it taste DELICIOUS!

Is this how you do it?

Dottie Cakes
Strawberry Cupcakes with pictures of Dottie month by month.
(See slideshow below)

Charlie and Mandy with the birthday girl

Great Grandma Hall with her two youngest grandchildren
Jolie and Dottie

Cousins playing

Now this cake is more my size
Enjoying a cupcake the night of her birthday.

Graduation Day 2012

Last Thursday was Mary Margo's first graduation.  

I can not believe our next step is Kindergarten.  

She has learned so much in the last 3 months at Parkway Preschool.  She knows most of the sight words on the chalkboard pictured above, all of her letters and numbers backwards and forward.   She loves writing in her journal (pictured below) She tells me what she wants to write and I write it on the board and she copies it.  Just today she told me that she could write the date without looking.  Then she said May 23, 2012.  She is very good at sounding out letters to try and form the word.  She is so very smart and can not wait to go to kindergarten and turn 5.

Proud little girl

I am a promise
I am a possibility
I am a promise with a capital "P"
I am a great big bundle of potentiality
And I am learnin' to hear God's voice
And I am tryin' to make the right choice
I am a promise to be anything God wants me to be.

(Looking for Mary Margo, she is directly under the right side of the projector screen.)  

The first time I heard the words to this song Mary Margo busted out singing in the back seat. 

 My heart instantly melted. 

She did it!

Ms. Sissy and Ms. Jackie

Just a small case of the sillies after all the formalities. 

Fun Times with Four under 4

The Good Lord above sent one more little angel to our wonderful friends, The Powell's.  

Better known to you, my readers, as Francie and Foster's new baby sister.

Sweet Precious Addie
Born April 5, 2012

We had the most exciting privilege of keeping Francie and Foster for the evening.  

Here is a little peek into that night and how we celebrated the birth of our new friend.  

We can't wait for Addie to grow up and join in all the fun.

Picking everyone up from school.
 Poor Foster looks scared to death.  I don't know if this picture was taken before or after Mary Margo offered to paint his toe nails glitter pink like hers.  

Playing pretend in Mary Margo's room.  Francie was the sister and Mary Margo was the  mom.  Francie was "shopping" in the closet and Mary Margo was telling her that she could have all the clothes she pulled out.  

Time for a Concert!
Justin Beiber is up first!
Oh it's like BABY BABY BABY OH...

Yes that is Kadie on Harmonica!  It just so happened that she needed Dusty to help her with a computer issue.  She called and asked if she could bring it by.  My response went something like this

"OF COURSE you can bring it over tonight.  As long as you promise to stay and join our party."

Love Kadie's expression!  Pretty much sums up the night!  

Now on mic, Francie singing
 Tonight's gonna be a good night
and that it was.

Francie knew every word to this song.  Which explains Kadie's expression in the photo above.  Below is the video to prove it!

Even rockstars have to rest some time

The little ones enjoying the show.
Foster is practicing his big brother skills.  

StarNails....open for business.
Don't worry, we didn't paint Fosters.

Last activity of the night.  Dying Easter Eggs.

Easter Weekend

School Hunt

Dottie hanging out at the community egg hunt

Get a little face art!

Get a little energy out and replenish that same energy with candy all in the same run

So Many Eggs

How many do you have Francie!

chicks at Wrapsody!  Mary Margo fell in love with these Chickens.  She wanted so desperately to bring them home with her.  She promised me she would keep them safe...in her room.

The Easter Bunny visit

That's my Girl
Straight to the Reese Egg
and didn't let go.

Checking out the eggs the Easter bunny left all over the floor.
They must have falled out of his basket.

My little Bunnies
In matching dresses I made for them out of antique pillowcases.

The girls!

Dottie waiting on bubbles
What's the hold up, you ask?

Oh, just that the nifty bubble maker is twisted into big knots in Mary Margo's hair.

Crisis Averted and Bubbles a go'in

Oh Mom, I think there is one in here?

Last hunt at the Adam's house.  Mary Margo won the prize for finding the most eggs.  I am so very proud of her.  A few short years ago she had no clue what it meant to run fast and get the eggs.