Miss Piggy

9 lbs. 10 oz.

Yes you read that right. My little girl is growing like a weed (not the smoking type). She has gained almost 2 lbs in one month.

Her doctor's appointment went great. The doctor said she was normal. Wish I could say that about the rest of my family :).

My son was feeling left out and wanted his picture on here too. So here he is with all his teeth.

Boys and Their Bathroom Problems

This picture is very nice compared to what I just caught Ashton doing. I went to check on Ashton because he was outside playing with the neighbor. You guessed it! I saw all of his precious jewels. Pants and underwear were at his ankles peeing in front of the neighbor's apartment on the concrete. I wanted to get on to him so bad but I could do nothing but laugh. Yes, I think potty humor is hilarious. I grew up around 4 brothers. Needless to say, I told him not to do it again. I think it went in one ear and out the other.

Someone help

THE CAR RIDE

Setting: in the car home from church (approximately 1 mile)

Kaylee: Waaa! Waaa! Waaa!

Ashton: Can I please have her paci?

Kaylee: Waaa! Waaa! Waaa!

Ashton: Give her a bottle. She needs something.

Kaylee: Waaa! Waaa! Waaa!

Ashton: I can't take this.

Kaylee: Waaa! Waaa! Waaa!

Pictures From a Toddler's Perspective

Pictures taken by Ashton

Kaylee--1 Month Old

Where has the time gone? In two weeks, I return to work because my little girl will be six weeks old. It is a scary thought. Why does time pass by so fast when you are having a great time? I have enjoyed the time with her all to myself without worrying about the kaos in my life. That will soon change.

Milestones or moments in her life so far that are important to me:

• beginning to open her hands (ready to explore the world)
• only sleep if she is on my arm (sometimes gets annoying)
• eats all the time
• hiccups are constant because she drinks her milk so fast
• sleeps through the night (only gets up about once for a bottle)
• isn't annoyed by brother who is constantly in her face
• stares so proudly at you
• beginning to smile when you talk to her (I don't think it is gas)

Children are so precious. They are truly a gift from God.

Failing at Raising Kids

What kind of kids am I raising? Have I completely failed?

A Gangsta'

A Country Redneck

A Lunatic

Preschool at the Arnold's

Preschool has begun at the Arnold household. Ashton has a Leapster game that requires you to know letters and shapes to play it. I get so frustrated because the game is for 3 year olds but most 3 year olds don't know their letters. He knows his shapes but not letters. So I am taking this opportunity to teach him his letters. He is so excited to learn the letter A because it is in his name. I figure we could do a week on the letter A. Check out his first piece of school work. I was shocked. The little 5 minute lesson went rather easy and then we played letter match games.

Who Does Kaylee Look Like?

Everyone wants to know who Kaylee looks like. Well, I will set the story straight. I finally found my old picturs.

NO CLUB FOOT

Today was our appointment at Children's. Great news! The doctor says he does not think it is club foot. He believes that she was so squished in my belly that it was bent that way for awhile. He told us to stretch her foot every time we change her diaper. We go back in a month just for a check up to make sure that it is not anything more serious.

Kids Say the Darnest Things

The other day, I thought I heard it all. Ashton was trying to take off his jacket with his slice of cheese in hand. The next thing we hear is "Mommy I lost my cheese in my jacket." Ashton was serious and very concern because he lost his cheese.

I thought I heard it all after Ashton's statement. That was until today. I went to the school to take a library book to my class for the sub. I have been up there several times because I want the kids to see me periodically. I just don't want them to think that I forgot about them and don't care. I walked into the room. One boy, who knew I was pregnant and even gave me a gift, said, "Mrs. Arnold, you have lost a lot of weight." I guess it just dawned on him that I don't have the big fat belly anymore. Needless to say, this little boy made my day.

Update on the Arnold Household

Kaylee went for her week check up today. Everything is great. She has gained 7 ounces since birth. She is now at 8 lbs. and 5 oz. Everything looked great. We are getting a referrel in the process for Children's Hospital to look at her foot. So when everything that gets set up we will know more about it.

Ashton has adjusted well. He now is the big helper. He finally said that we could keep her. So things are getting back to normal in that category. No more Ashton fighting for attention unless other people come over. I am so glad.

Kaylee is Here!!!

Kaylee has arrived. We went to the hospital around 3:30 a.m. on April 1st. She was born at 12:55 p.m. She was 7lbs and 14 ozs and 22 1/2 inches long. We have been discharged from the hospital. We all arrived home last night around 9 pm. Kaylee had a great night. She got up about every 3 hours for feeding but it wasn't bad.

PRAYER REQUEST: Kaylee does have a club foot. After our 1 week check up we may be making several trips to Little Rock to correct her foot problem.

Kaylee is Very Close

Kaylee is almost here. No changes with the doctor's visit. Nothing is happening. The doctor however said that if nothing breaks through this weekend. I will go in on Monday and they will begin to help the process. So there is an end. So next week, no more sick of being pregnant. It will all be worth it.

Spring Break Woes

Spring Break is here. What am I doing? NOTHING! I have been sick just about all week. Just ready for a baby to pop out.

Have you ever been in a state where everything irritates you? The noise of the air conditioner is a bother. Your son touching you. I know it has to be hormones, but you feel so bad and depressed because all you are doing is yelling and sleeping. You feel as if you are not spending enough time with your own child.

You are hot, your husband is cold. I am running the air conditioner on like 60 because I am having temperature problems while he sits at the computer covered in a quilt.

This has to be over soon. When will the cruel joke be over and a miracle be placed in my arms?

Depressing Doctor's Visit

All the signs are there but nothing is happening down there. How depressing can this be?

Another doctor's visit down only to find out nothing has changed. No thinning out or even dialating. It just makes you want to go home and cry.

I have never been in so much pain and stress. All I can do is lay around in my bed. That is the most comfortable place in the whole world. Yet I have a house to clean, papers to write for my master's, and a classroom of 16 kids waiting on me every morning.

At least Monday begins my Spring Break! Hopefully something good will happen. If not it is back to work for me. Sorry for the depressing post, but it helps to get it out. Sometimes you just wish you husband could understand what you are feeling and they would be more caring.

No Kaylee...but I am a Licensed Teacher Now

It's official. I passed Praxis III. 55 out of 57.

I AM NOW A FULLY CERTIFIED TEACHER!!!!

Kaylee Where Are You?

37 weeks Sunday! 3 more weeks and hopefully not a day later. Where are you? I am now to the point where I stay in bed all day. If I could afford to I would take off from work, but I am already going to be 6 weeks without getting a paycheck. So this cat represents me. Except for the fact, I can't sleep on my back, stomach, or sides. I go to the doctor on Thursday, so I may have an update for you then. I am going every week. I have had one shower and got lots of great things and have one more on Friday. Thank God for showers. I have lots of diapers now. Those will come in handy. Thanks to everyone.

Here is a picture of the dress that Tanya made for Kaylee. Doesn't Kaylee look just like Daddy? Sorry about the Grinch. Ashton doesn't have any dolls to dress up.

Completely Miserable

I am finally at the stage of being completely miserable. I never had this problem with Ashton. In fact, I don't even know what a contraction feels like. I think I am having Braxton Hicks though.

Kaylee has dropped. I am on my feet constantly so my back is in so much pain. Today we gave standardized test. I was on my feet for 1.5 hours. It doesn't sound like much, but it felt like ten hours. All I can do or want to do is stay in bed. That isn't even comfortable either. I just wish she would come and the misery would be over.

On brighter note, Michael has been great. I think he finally realizes that I just can't move or it hurts. He has cooked supper several nights in a row and even cleaned up after himself. Thank goodness. Well, enough grouchiness for now. I must go back to ready my book because watching TV hurts.

My Son, The King

OK! I know I am bragging. My son once again is the king. He won his last pageant, America's Fabulous Faces. He can go to state, but we are not. We are going to leave it alone. It costs like $400 to enter him in state and that does not include food and hotel stay. So it is a bit expensive, just for a chance for a $5 trophy, crown, and sash.

This is Ashton after the crowning ceremony.

These of course are the PROUD parents of King Ashton Arnold!!

6 weeks Left

Well, I have six weeks left. I am so ready. I feel like she has dropped some, but it is probably my imagination. Everything hurts now, so yes I am completely miserable. But the end is in sight. I have an appointment this week then I am going every two weeks.

Update on Mr. Fishy: We have a new one. Well, sort of. If you remember the original Mr. Fishy (beta) was killed by my wonderful husband. Yesterday, we went to get another beta. Wal-Mart in Pine Bluff did not have very pretty ones. Then we went to the Pet Cellar in Star City. They were ugly to. Not much color to them. We ended up with a Black Moor. I tried to get Ashton to pick out a pretty bright orange gold fish. Instead this is what he wanted. It is the ugliest thing I have every seen. It is black with big black eyes. How depressing? Anyways, the fish looked really small at the pet shop. We got home and put him in the one gallon tank. He barely fits. So today we went and purchased a 10 gallon tank. On the bright side, now I can buy some colorful fish to make up for the ugly black fish that Ashton and Michael just adore.

Regarding my last post on the tight clothes. It was a WOMAN that told me my clothes were too tight. I think that is what hurt the most. The males never said anything.