Us Against Them

     It's no secret that I have a fair case of road rage.  One of the biggest contributors is when people neglect their blinkers.  I have a very low tolerance for this kind of behavior!  I was driving with Baylee and a brilliant driver didn't use his blinker.  I said, "Blinkers, people, blinkers!"  I guess Baylee was concerned because she asked what happened.  I told her that some people just don't know how to drive, that's all.  Then she asked again, "What happen, mom?"  She asks this all the time.  Like all the time!  I often don't know what she's referring to so my usual response is and was, "I don't know, what happened, Bays?"  B: "Peoples can't drive."  Apparently I'm instilling road rage into my child at a very young age.  Oops.

     We just had tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner.  I made three sandwiches.  One for me, one and a half for Dustin, and half for Baylee.  I hadn't divied it out that way though.  I just left one sandwich on each plate, all cut in half.  I tried to take half of Baylee's and put it on Dustin's plate but she didn't want me too.  I decided to wait until she was done and we'd take her leftovers.  Well she eats with the sandwich in her hand most the time so she can dip it in her soup.  After she ate some of it she said, all done, take it.  I told her she could put it on her plate in front of her, so she did.  She ate her soup and didn't touch the sandwiches for awhile so I reached across the table, slid her plate towards me, picked up the mutilated sandwich and assessed the damage.  Baylee gasped and said, "Don't bite it." (She still won't let me eat either of her sandwiches, even though she...

     It's been a little bit difficult with Dustin gone today.  I'm so grateful I have him, but today's been rough.  How pathetic am I that I can't even make it through one day with just my kids and no husband?  Let me just tell you, new found respect for single mothers and especially military wives!  I would not be able to do it.  Anyway, I finally had a little break down at bed time.  We read scriptures and I said the prayers.  I started crying during the prayer, asking for some help.  When I said amen, Baylee looked very concerned and did not say amen.  So I tried to smile and say amen again.  She saw right through me.  "You sad you had to say prayers?"  (She doesn't like to say prayers much anymore).  "No, I just miss daddy, that's why I'm sad."  B: "Oh, I sorry.  Maybe he give you hugs, make you feel better." 

     It's not uncommon for Baylee to come in while I'm going to the bathroom.  (As I'm sure every mother knows.)  She did this today and said, "Oh, you do good job!"  Then pointing at me with an almost sternly serious face said, "Maybe get a sucker."

     Dustin called me today to let me know they made it to Vegas.  Baylee of course wanted to talk to him too.  So we were sitting outside on the front porch with the phone on speaker, talking to daddy.  It was a quick call, Dustin said, "Love you, Rach."  and we hung up.  I said to Bays, should we go get some bubbles now?  She stood up, headed for the door and said, "Yeah, let's go get some bubbles, Rach."

     We went out for date night tonight and as I was eating I looked over at Baylee and she was giving me the stink eye!  I started laughing and so did she.  Then she started up a little game of laughing and then quickly pulling a serious face.  We did this back and forth a lot, then she started moving her mouth from side to side and laughing.  She's such a goof!

     Dustin is leaving for Vegas in the morning to go to his cousin's wedding.  We're both afraid that this is going to be very difficult for Baylee.  I don't think he's ever spent a night away from us yet, and Baylee is SUCH a daddy's girl.  I'm quite nervous.  We explained to her today that dad is going on a trip and he'll be away for a few days, hoping it will help ease everything tomorrow.  When Dustin asked her if she understood that dad was leaving she took his face in her hands and said, "Sorry, I miss you so much."  Then she went on to tell us everything we just explained to her.  Dad go on trip.  Come home Sunday and see Baylee!  She really loves her dad.

     Baylee ran some errands with Dustin today and amongst those errands she insisted that they go see the temple.  So Dustin took them by the Provo Temple to show her.  When they got up there she sort of whispered "Oh my goodness."  Like it was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen.  I love her!  (That's the first time either of us know of her using that phrase.)

     Shortly after we moved into our new place Dustin and I were working in the back of the house, or just relaxing, either way Baylee had occupied herself with something away from us.  She was out of our hair for a few short moments!  I decided I should go check on her and see what she was up to.  I started sneaking around the house, because I want to see where she is and what she's doing without her seeing me, then she can carry on.  So I tiptoe from our room to the room across from us and as I do this I hear from down the hall, "Mmm, nummy!"  I thought, oh crap!  What on earth did she get into?  What did I leave out?!  I come down the hall to find this  Then she started dancing and saying "nummy!" Look familiar?

     Sometimes we call Baylee an assortment of different nicknames, such as "Baylee face" or "stinky bum" etc.  Each time we do she says, "Noo, just Baylee."  I love it.  Well I've already started calling Tate a number of things, mostly Bubba.  Baylee heard me call him that and said, "Noo, just Tate."  Haha so cute!  Then one day I called her dear and she said, "No, not dear.  Dad dear."  I guess she hears me call Dustin "dear" a lot.  And just tonight at dinner dustin asked if she was a clever one and she said, "No, I cutest."

     I just asked Baylee, "Are you ready to change your bum or what?"  She ran away and said, "What."  Not a question.

     This is baby Gavin.  My friend's baby that is just maybe two weeks older than Tate.  This is the picture I sent to Jenna the day before Tate was born saying, "meet Gavin."  They had just left for the river that morning and Jen and I were both convinced that Tate would be born while they were gone so I thought this would be a suitable prank.  Also there was no lying on my part, that is, indeed, Gavin.  He's just not my baby!  Apparently it was a pretty good prank.  Everyone seemed to have bought it for at least a few minutes because dad had called his dad to tell him.  Oops, my bad. :)      But, here is a picture of me the day before Tate was born, still very much pregnant!  And still a little happy even because this was right before my doctor's appointment that day, so before the terrible news that I was definitely not having the baby that day and that I had not progressed AT ALL since the we...

     I know everyone says it, but I really do have the best husband in the whole world!  And the best dad for my kids!  Here's just a few pictures to prove it. He does her hair and her nails!  And now that Tate's here, he gets up every morning for Baylee, feeds her, changes her, and comes to get Tate when he's done eating.  Then he closes the door and lets me sleep until Tate needs to eat again.  Oy, how I love this man!

     Baylee likes to have things her way.  What kid doesn't?  I often tell her we can do something for one minute and then we're all done.  Well recently she's come back with, "maybe five (holds up her five fingers to alleviate any possible confusion on my part) mimets." (minutes)  We laughed so hard the first time she did this that we had to agree.      She's also under the impression that "later" is a distinct set time.  She wants an "orange vimin" and I'll tell her maybe later a lot.  Often because she's already had her one for the day.  Now when she asks me for things, sometimes I say we'll see.  "Okay.  Maybe at later."      She's full of sass and defiance.  She's constantly testing her limits.  I just hope this ends before teenage years begin.  :)      Tate is soo sweet!  I just love him!  (Baylee too, of course!)  He is so...