Summer’s almost over, already?!

Saturday Jarrod and Stratton went to Searcy to run some errands and Stratton and Archer got to spend the afternoon playing together at Terry and Margie’s house. Stratton even took his Razr for them to play on, and I heard that they had a blast. Stratton talked and talked about it when they got home. He even let Archer drive! And when Jarrod asked him who was a better driver, Stratton answered that they both were! Very political of him, I think!  Arden and I stayed home worked on my consignment stuff and did laundry. She is so busy these days it’s hard to get anything done while she is awake! I had planned to go visit Erica (my friend that had surgery last week) but that didn’t work out since Arden didn’t take her afternoon nap till 2pm and slept till after 4pm. The boys got home around 7pm, just in time to get ready for bed! Arden was happy to see Stratton, I think she enjoyed having the toys and house to herself, but I can tell she missed him!

Sunday we decided to go to Hickory Ridge for church and lunch since it had been awhile since we visited last. We didn’t make it to bible class, we just couldn’t get it together. Sunday mornings are tough, and sometimes we just can’t get it all done before 9am, and we get up at around 6:30 so it’s not like we are sleeping late! I know that other young couples have the same issues, we talk about it quite a bit at church!  Especially in our Sunday morning class, when all of us with more than one little one come in all frazzled. Getting the whole family up, fed, dressed, diaper bags and backpacks packed, and out the door is hard! It’s amazing how kids-especially the little ones can wear you out before the day even starts! We do our best!

Sunday after church we had lunch and grandma and grandpa’s, we enjoy getting to visit with them and the kids enjoy playing in the playroom! Grandma always has all kinds of fun toys (some of them are toys that I used to play with) and lots of room to run around and play in. We had a good afternoon and then headed back to Jonesboro for our annual Exaltation singing at the Fowler Center.  Afterwards we went to eat with Amy and Dustin before heading home.

We have a busy week ahead! I have to finish my Rhea Lana’s stuff and have it dropped off on Wednesday, Arden is having pictures taken on Thursday, and Friday we get to find out who Stratton’s teacher will be for Pre-K (they are posting it on the doors of the elem school). And on top of all of this I am starting to get an itch in my throat. . .I have a feeling it’s my allergies, I guess I need to start taking my allergy meds again!

I can’t believe this is the last week in July. Where did summer go?! We haven’t been to the lake or even swimming at Mrs. Cindy’s yet!!!!!!!!  And now school is about to start back! Stratton starts Pre-K on the 21st. It’s all just coming up so soon!

Grandpa and Stratton reading a book about tractors.

Pops “helping” Arden ride the scooter

2005-2013

10 months old!

Just realized that I let Arden’s 10 month mark go by with out a post!! She is growing so big! She’s at that stage where she’s in between a baby and toddler and it’s killing me! I just want her to be a sweet, cuddly baby and not a ripping and roaring toddler! She is still wearing 6-12 months/9 months size clothes and in size 3 diapers. She is eating 3 times at school- breakfast (cereal and fruit), lunch (veggie) and a snack in the afternoon (fruit). And then supper at home (a veggie or veggie-meat combo and a fruit) and taking 4-6 6 oz. bottles a day. So it’s no wonder she is growing like a weed! She’s sturdy, I will just say that!

She’s constantly on the move! At ten months Arden is a mobile little thing! She is pulling up on everything and cruising around tables and chairs. She would rather stand and walk than crawl. She is not what I would call actually “crawling” she does this what we call “gorilla crawl” and she’s very fast! I told Jarrod the other night that I think she uses this mode of transportation because she’s usually toting a blanket or toy around and if she was crawling like a normal baby she wouldn’t be able to carry her stuff! I think she’s probably a genius. . . .

This girl is a performer! It might change and this might just be a phase, but we can tell her to do things in public in front of people and (gasp!) she will do it!! Her tricks include; waving and doing the mad face, giving kisses, blowing kisses and the newest one, shaking her head no-no. She like to imitate, which scares me with a big brother like Stratton!

She LOVES the Bubble Guppies. When the intro song comes on she will just get so excited and flap her arms and legs, and if she’s standing she will try to dance! So funny! Last week one night I thought she had fallen asleep while I was holding her on the couch sitting by Stratton watching the Bubble Guppies. It was about 7:30pm and the show was going off. When they played the song at the end she suddenly went from sound asleep to sitting straight up with her arms and legs in the air with excitement! Too Funny. She went back to sleep just a few minutes after it went off!

Other things about Arden at 10 months old:

• She loves “Real” food (I try and be careful about things with milk, since she still might have a sensitivity to it)
• She likes Juice (cut down with water) and tries to steal Stratton’s cups! She got a swig of his full strength Hawaiian punch at church Sunday and for some reason didn’t want her water after that!
• She wants to open every. single. drawer and or cabinet. She has successfully mashed her fingers and hit her head on about 80% of the drawers and doors in our house. Child-proofing is coming soon!
• She HATES hair bows now. I can’t get her to keep them on and it’s driving me crazy!
• She is sleeping so much better! She goes down around 8:00pm and sleeps till 6:00 or 6:30am.
• She has 3 teeth on the bottom and one peeking through on the front top.
• She hates to lay down. Changing a diaper and her clothes are becoming an impossibly stressful screaming hissy fit increasingly difficult!
• She can be a chatterbox. Especially on car rides.
• Anything that Stratton did or didn’t do as a baby, she is sure to do the complete opposite!

Pretty girl with a mohawk, thanks to Gigi!

We remain busy in the Staggs house! Now that Stratton’s birthday is over I’m not quite as stressed but things aren’t any less busy! Last week was a crazy one! At work we had our big summer meeting, where everyone in the company come in for a couple of days for meetings and events, and that kept me busy. Then Jarrod is working a lot of overtime still, and it’s been really hot and miserable! (Hello Summer). And my good friend Erica had surgery and then there were some complications afterwards so I was in and out checking on her! And on top of that I am getting stuff ready for the fall/winter Rhea Lana consignment sale coming up next week which takes so much time! But I did really good in the spring sale, and I have even more stuff this time so I am hopeful that it will be worth the time and energy! I spent all day Saturday entering stuff into their computer system and I think I will have around 200 items once I get completely finished. Now, the hard part comes- prepping and tagging. . . ugh!! I just have to keep my eye on the prize!

I am starting to work on Arden’s birthday party! It’s fun but at the same time sad! I am not ready for her to be a year old! She is having her one year pictures/smash cake session next week! I will probably cry.

Stratton’s 4th Birthday!

The festivities started Thursday night, the night before the big day! We went to Chuck E. Cheese with some friends!

Friday after Stratton’s party at school, which by the way he wanted to take ice cream sandwiches for his class instead of cupcakes, we went home and let him open his presents from us and Arden.

He got a few things from Arden but he was really excited about his gift from mommy and daddy. . .

A RAZR!!

And a neat digger sandbox!

Then on Saturday we had his BIG party with all our friend and family! He said it was the best party ever! (Which makes all the time, money and stress over the party worth it!)

Happy Birthday Stratton!

 

Still can’t believe my baby boy is four years old today. Seriously?! Where has the time gone?? Our “little guy” isn’t really “little” anymore. In fact he tells me on a daily basis that he is in fact a BIG BOY! He’s silly, headstrong, stubborn, sweet and caring all in one. He tests me to my wits end, and then the next second tells me I’m his best friend. He’s 110% boy and loves any and everything to do with dirty, muddy, loud and messy. He is a sweet and protective brother who loves Arden to pieces and is already trying to teach her things and help her with things. He is mostly well behaved (in public) and I think has a personality more like his daddy. He tends to be shy at first but once he warms up. . .watch out!  We are so blessed and couldn’t imagine our life without him!

Coming Soon. . .

I can’t believe Stratton is going to be FOUR!!!

Where did my sweet baby go?!

4th of July Fun

We spent the 4th and 5th in the Ridge. We shot fireworks Thursday night after Gigi grilled steaks and chicken for dinner and it was fun but I forgot how awful the mosquitos are after dark! We had two big shop fans, a fire in the fire pit, citronella candles and lots of Off and that didn't keep them from biting! Arden wasn't much a fan of the fireworks, she was tired and they were loud.

Saturday morning we took Gigi's new tractor for a spin and drove around the farm, then we had lunch and Dillon and Brandye came over (they had been out checking the water) After naps the kids and dog had a blast playing outside in the water. The tempertures actually were pretty comfortable for July, so we spent a lot of time outside.