Monday

Eating yogurt before doctor's appointment

Monday we had a revisit to Dr. Franz to check Allie's ears, nose and throat.  Two weeks ago at her 9-month "well visit" Dr. Franz noticed both ears had fluid, her nose was green and throat was red.  Allie got a Rocephin shot and a 10-day prescription of Augmentin and we were to come back two weeks later.

I am happy to report after our appointment Monday that we are FINALLY WELL and her weight is perfect for her age - 18 lbs. 10 oz.! Allie had to get a Hep B shot and we do not go back for another well visit until 12 months. Let's PRAY we don't have to go sooner due to sickness again.

The older Allie gets the more wild and crazy she is.  Trying to contain her in a 8x8 basically jail cell for 45-minutes is often a challenge.  Rather than fight the battle trying to hold her the entire time or catch her every time she got brave enough to try and fall off the examination table, I posted her up on the ground (yuck I know, but pick your battles!) and let her play with toys, pull up on the chairs, crawl around, etc.  We had a much more enjoyable doctor visit than usual doing it this way!

I searched and searched for a Leap Frog Learn 'n Groove table in Baton Rouge and could not find one anywhere.  A couple days ago I ordered one from Amazon and it was delivered as we were leaving for Marshall Friday.  Sunday night after Allie went to bed I put it together.  I swear, Allie is nosey, nosey, nosey and notices everything.  Monday when she woke up, she stared the table down like she just knew it was new.  After I picked her up from school she tried it out and LOVED it.  The noises, music and toys make her squeal...love it!

Video for Ben while in Vegas

More Just Dance

Just Dance!

TONS of Weekend Fun!

This weekend Ben headed to Vegas for a bachelor party and Allie, the canines and I packed up and headed to Marshall.  It was SO nice not having an agenda. 

Friday night we had dinner at Meme and Pepaw's and Allie had an absolute ball.  Molly and Kasey (her new idols) were there and decided to play "Just Dance" on the Wii.  Allie loves music - hence her love for Fresh Beat Band and Jacks Big Music Show - so this was totally up her alley.  Perhaps we have another dancer on our hands?  These videos are fairly long but depict just how much fun she had with the girls.

On top of the fun, my Uncle Brad's (my mom's sister's husband) mom - who just lost her husband two weeks ago - came along for the evening.  Mrs. Howlett is one of the sweetest people you will meet...I hope our loudness didn't give her nightmares!

The videos are posted seperately. 

So as if "Just Dance" wasn't enough, Meme brought out a doctor's set that Uncle Brad and Allie played with and of course she was in love.  You can't tell she's the first great-grandchild can you?

Uncle Brad loves him some Allie Parker

Now keep in mind - my child is IN bed by 7:15 at the latest every night.  Friday night, we didn't even leave Meme and Pepaw's for our 3 mile journey until 8:30.  Before leaving, Pepaw gave Allie a red plastic Solo cup...this is a picture of her as we pulled up at dad's. 

Saturday, Papa B played golf so Allie and I got ready, ran a couple errands then headed to Meme and Pepaw's for the afternoon.  I honestly cannot explain just how much my grandparents mean to me.  We have always been close, don't get me wrong, but since mom's death and the birth of Allie, they do not miss a thing in our lives.  They are such amazing people and I am so lucky that they are in great health and as involved with Allie as they are.

Around lunch I ran and got Subway sandwiches for us and left Allie with Meme and Pepaw.  Of course, more toys came out.  I swear, Meme pulls toys from her butt...there is something new each time we come in.  Elmo came out and unfortunately he needed a little "surgery" (aka - new batteries) but notice my little impatient princess...she was trying to hurry the process!  After lunch, before I could even say "no" Pepaw gave Allie a butter cookie...of course she enjoyed every bite!...and Memaw straw-fed her tea until her glass was gone...my poor kid probably looks at me like "why have you been denying me these things, mom?"

As always, Meme pulled out a million new toys for Allie to play with.  Tickle Me Elmo was Allie's favorite.

After Meme and Pepaw's Al and I met 3 of daddy's closest friends at the golf course so they could see her.

After the golf course, we (dad, Allie and I) loaded up the car (which is a HUGE process) and took off for Herby K's in Shreveport, but stopped by mom's grave first to replace the winter flowers with spring ones.  Allie slept the entire time so it gave dad and I some time to dust off the head stone, fix the flowers, etc.  I just know mom loves all the pink!

Allie was a "Herby K's virgin"...until yesterday!  We went early and sat on the back porch.  Once we made it, I gave my little bull in a China shop a piece of bread to entertain her.  Dad framed a picture of Al and Mike the Tiger and gave it to Mrs. Janet so Allie Parker is now a celebrity...her picture is on the wall at Herby K's!

After Herby K's, Meme and Pepaw and Aunt Jamie and Kasey came by to see us.  

Sunday, Al and I went to church with Papa B then met the fam at Gucci's for lunch.  Shortly after, we packed up the car and headed to G Rob and Pammy's so they could get a little Allie Parker time.  G Rob got a new 55" TV for Christmas so watching Wow Wow Wubzy! was a real hit for Allie.

Allie was awesome on the ride home UNTIL we hit 190 in Opelousas.  I stopped to feed her in the front seat of the Tahoe and we played for 10 minutes or so.  Here's her mug shot.  :)

Going home the last time was really hard.  Seeing dad's house the way mom left it May 12, 2010 was always tough.  BUT this trip was comforting.  My dad is sad - hell we all are - but he is such an amazing person and has done an awesome job at realizing the situation he is in.  As I've mentioned on my blog before - thank you to all my friends who ask about daddy.  For some of you he is like your second dad.  He is doing great and I think the "mug shot" above helps him every day.  This weekend was so much fun because we had a lot of one-on-one time with Papa B and the rest of our family.  At the end of the day, family is what makes life go round.

Love,
Carmen

Eating time being a ham

While at the restaurant for Jeremi's memorial, I gave Allie a couple small pieces of bread to try and she loved it. At dinner last night, I took her clothes off and let her eat naked and eat all the bread she wanted. Please check out how disgusting she is! Ah, gotta love kids.

Also, please disregard my beyond awful singing in this video. It's amazing what you do to keep your kids attention while eating.

In honor of Jeremi

Jeremi was a CHA-RAC-TER.  My mother absolutely adored him and it brings a smile to my face knowing they are in heaven together.  It's so strange how things happen.  I found some pictures on my computer from our engagement party (in April 2006) and Jeremi and Jessie's wedding (in October 2006).  I miss this boy and get so sad to think about all he has missed. 

Jeremi came to our engagement party - which was held in Marshall - from Baton Rouge with a big group of friends.  At the time, Ben and I lived in Norman, OK so we could not wait to see all our college friends.  During the day on that Saturday, we took our friends out on the barge to see Caddo Lake (and of course we celebrated with a couple frosty beverage!).  Like I said above, Jeremi was a character.  My parents hired a guy to come play the guitar (mini band type thing) and Jeremi was slighly disappointed that no one was dancing so what did he do?  He grabbed me up and pulled me to the dance floor.  And of course, people immediately got up and started dancing.  The last picture is of my cousin Jake who acts way older than he really is.  He decided to eat with the older kids and of course Jeremi loved every minute.  Jeremi tied a bandana on Jake's head and let him play with his cell phone to entertain him.  Need I say more about how nice of a guy he was?

Jeremi and Jessie at their wedding - October 27, 2006.  I ran across this picture and had to post to show how handsome he was.

Three things Jeremi loved most - Jessie, anything LSU and hanging out with friends.  Notice his grooms cake.  Love it.

Another busy Sunday

Friday marked the 4th anniversary of the loss of one of our best friends - Jeremi.  His car was struck head-on by a teenager on March 16, 2007 and he passed away in the early morning hours of March 18.  It is one of the saddest stories as he had just married his best friend and soulmate, Jessie, in October 2006. 

The Gary family is incredible.  Jeremi was the youngest of 7 children - 3 older sisters and 3 older brothers - and they are such a close knit family.  Jeremi's parents - Mr. Jesse and Mrs. Dalta - invited us to 8 am mass, a vigil at the cemetery and brunch with their family and close friends...of course we attended.  We love seeing the family and in a way it brings us closer to Jeremi.  It was a fairly sad but honorable morning.  All the emotions of the week he passed away came back and seeing his strong family and amazing wife was extremely emotional but again, it was an honor to be invited to remember Jeremi for the awesome person he was.

It was a LONG day for Allie Parker.  She was such a trooper at mass and the cemetery...at the restaurant my little bull in a China shop came out!  All in all, she was really good.  We sat next to Kasey and her daughter Marielle (her husband in one of Jeremi's brothers) and the Nikolaus clan - John, Kristy, Taylor, William and Charlie so they were able to see Miss Personality in action for close to two hours.

When we got home, Allie snoozed - and so did mom! - and Ben went to baseball. After she woke up, she was in the BEST mood so I grabbed my camera to catch some pictures of her.

Just like everything - there is a story to Allie's outfit.  A specialty children's store in Marshall called A Tisket A Tasket had this outfit the last time mom and I ever shopped in there together (May 1 - I'll never forget the day).  Mom adored the blue and white seersucker and the frog was just adorable.  She wanted to buy it for her, but it was like $75 and she decided she would stalk it for when it went on sale.  When I was in Marshall in July, I had to get it for Allie as a tribute to mom.  She wore it all day for Jeremi's festivities...check out how adorable she is.  If only my little bright blue-eyed baby doll knew the meaning of that outfit...

St. Paddy's Day Parade (2-days late!)

Every year Baton Rouge has a St. Patrick's Day parade the Saturday after and somehow, Ben and I always have something going on.  This year marked our 9th year in Baton Rouge (between 2000 and 2011) and we have never made the parade.  We made it a point to attend this year. 

Ben and Dana hosted a gathering at their house for a couple friends.  They live a couple blocks from the parade route, had a bounce house for the kiddos, breakfast goodies, jambalaya after the parade and all around fun the entire day. 

We had NO idea how much fun we would have at the parade.  It was close to 2 hours long and had bands, dancers, floats, beads, etc.  The kids LOVED it.

Our friends Micah and Raychel have a daughter - Julie - who is almost 2 months older than Allie and Evan...she is a doll.  Before the parade, Julie and Allie took a stab at getting in the bounce house and teetering around - they are adorable!

We strapped the kids in their strollers, cracked a cold beverage and took off for the 10-minute walk to the parade route.  Someone was quite excited to see what was in store for the afternoon.  :)

"Super mom" Dana.  Only she could man two kids - boys at that - who are at completely different ages with completely different interests.  She's one of the best people I know.

I am always the picture taker (love photography!) so I never have any pictures of me and sweet Al.  You can tell she was REAL enthused on having her picture taken here.

Ben, Allie, Julie and Micah - awesome and supportive daddy's giving mom's a break!  Julie and Allie were "fast" friends and had tons of fun.

The Roy's - Raychel, Julie & Micah

Look how sleepy those eyes are but she kept on trucking!

And she's out!

Raychel is originally from Colorado and we cracked up after seeing this...an Abita Strawberry beer bottle, juice box and sippy cup on the beverage holder of Dana's double-stroller.  I love how family oriented Baton Rouge is and the way they always incorporate a party with everything!

Winona & Piper - how beautiful is this little girl?  They better get ready for little boys beating down the door...soon!

Jude and his stick