Good Times

Rare photos of my children getting along. There's something about water, BabySongs and snuggling with mama.



Look mom, I stopped biting my nails!!!

Rub A Dub

This little girl loves to play in the bath so much ... who needs water?



P.S. Vote for Calvin!

My tinyman

Calvin is such a boy. He likes to climb, wrestle, pinch and bite. Not at all the indepedent baby Ami was, he really enjoys the company of others (especially his dad and cousins) and doesn't like to be alone at all. It's easy to make him laugh and he loves to play simple games. He learns a lot from watching his sister (both good and bad). He cries like a baby Wookie might when he's upset and can say dada and all done.




Here is Calvin's Daily News Photo Contest entry. From this shot you can see he doesn't have much competition. You can vote online and I'll paste the link to that when it's available on their website. http://tdn.com/app/baby_annual/

At the park

We are so fortunate to have a really nice park at the end of our street. And also to have Kendall, my neighbor's daughter, to help me out when I'm there.




Amidala has really learned to stand still and smile since I started blogging. Two weeks ago, all her pictures were always so blurry.



Calvin is very aggressive on the play structures. He wants to be like all the other big kids.

No brothers allowed

Ami is quickly running out of Calvin-free zones.




So she frequently puts her toys on the table to keep them out of his grasp.




After we finished remodeling the back bedroom (formerly known as the red room), we moved Calvin back there to make naps and night time easier on everyone. His former room became Ami's private playroom. She gets to play in the beans (thanks for the fab idea, Heidi), most of her paper page books are in there along with her floor puzzles. All things Calvin's not allowed to play with yet.

My child is brilliant

I absolutely adore my daughter Amidala. One of the reasons I started this blog was to gush about her. She lights up my life and her little accomplishments always amaze me. She was a little slow to start talking but recently a light must've come on in her head because she's now speaking in full sentences, repeating everything we (or the Aristocats) say and is very into labeling things. She will ask "whuzzat?" over and over again until she's growling at me and I'll answer. Yesterday I told her what a sink was and she happily pointed out every sink in the house. Today she was carrying around her pink bunny snuggly and saying something I thought was the word sink constantly while pointing at her lovey. I kept correcting her and saying, "no, that's your snuggly, not a sink." But she persisted. Finally I asked her if she meant pink and she said yes. Not entirely convinced, I asked her what else is pink and she pointed to her pink pants, pink polka dots on her shirt, pink toes on her socks and even her pink My Little Pony. Now she wants to know the colors of everything so I tell her and she gets it right away. She also taught herself to snap and knows three of her shapes. I love to listen to her sing, watch her dance and hear her say her name (Ahmidahla Dabis). She loves to help set the table with her dad and picks up any choking hazards and brings them to my attention. Best of all, Ami is very affectionate.




And of course, there is her love of books. I started reading to her at just a few weeks of age. Honestly, I did so because I didn't know what I was supposed to do with a baby and I'd heard they liked the sound of their parent's voice so reading aloud it was. My sister in law Anna gave Ami her first board book Mommy Always Loves You. It was her favorite book for a long time and I credit all that reading at such a young age to her great ability to play independently.



Anyone have any tips on potty training and encouraging friendly sibling relationships?

Pass the tissues, please

We have been so sick! When husband came home from work Monday evening saying he didn't feel well, I had no idea the monster virus that had been unleased. I haven't had any really bad colds or flu since the kids have been born but this one made up for all that. We are just barely leaving Snot City now but the hacking cough is lingering in us all. We had to cancel plans, turn down invites and Valentine's Day was very low key.


What's worse then being really sick? Having to also take care of your whiny, cranky kids. Ugh! We had to make a cold medicine run to WalMart on Saturday so we got the kids a new toy each to keep them occupied so we could take turns trying to nap. Calvin loves to make noise so this music roller was perfect for him.




Ami loves to take baths so she got Bath Beauty Ariel doll. She was really thrilled with it, despite her facial expression. She is still learning to hold still and smile for the camera. This was the best picture I could get.

This one's for you, Tabby

My sister and fellow mother of two wanted some pictures of my dad and Norma's anniversary party.


Amidala found this lovely woman with her therapy dog in the first 5 minutes and they were inseparable for the next 30. It gave Lynn and I a chance to mingle.


As soon as her canine fascination was over, Ami immediately went and planted herself on Norma's lap for dinner. Nobody makes her smile quite like her Grammy Norma.



My handsome husband and our tinyman. Davis clan: Click on this photo and look how much this shirt brings out your brother's/son's eyes.



My stepsister, Deanaca, did a wonderful job planning and hosting the party. I'm trying to remember to take more pictures but my hands are usually full.

Big bright ball in the sky

It has been dry for days and very sunny today so the kids got to play in the backyard for the first time this year. For Calvin, his first time ever.


She loves to sit on her tricycle but still hasn't figured out to push the pedals with her feet. I'll bet Calvin learns to ride it before she does. Stay tuned for their progress.



Shortly after Calvin was born, this popper became an outside toy. He grasped the concept immediately


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We are so fortunate be in a house with such a big, child-friendly backyard. I look forward to the spring.

School Daze

Lynn is taking a night class at the local community college twice a week. Sometimes he's gone for 12 hours and the kids and I really miss him. Calvin gets especially cranky when he doesn't get to spend much time with his dad. Thank goodness for Baby Songs! Now he's sick but Ami is doling out plenty of "Get Well Soon" kisses.

Daily News Cutest Baby Contest

Thank you to all my friends and family for helping me decide which photo to enter in our local newspaper. I chose the crawling picture and Christine cropped it just right for me. The pictures are published Sunday the 21st so if you're local, vote for your favorite baby (Ahem, Calvin).

Superbowl Party

Superbowl gathering at my house with those other Davis' and their lovely boys. Ahhh, the flat screen.

The one on your left is my husband.

Tanner and Logan doing their best to entertain themselvs with our toddler toys. Christine validated my choice of orange for the walls and then taught me to blog.

I had to promise Ami chocolate to get her to sit and smile. Preston said he didn't need any because he has his own chocolate in his armpit. Birthmark, inside Davis family joke.

The party was very impromptu and a good time was had by all. My kids loved playing with their cousins. Tanner named my blog, Spencer shares my love of all things Star Wars, Logan is just so darned cute and Preston offered me some chocolate. Jason and Lynn hardley had to get up from the couch and I think Christine got a chance to relax as well. Those other Davis' rock! Thanks for inviting yourselves over and giving me my blogging wings. Best. Superbowl. Ever.