Check Out My Chompers!

Sick Days

Leah came down with a pretty bad cold over this past weekend.  It has lingered and caused a nasty cough to develop in her chest.  As a result, she missed Tuesday and Wednesday of school.  We have watched every Disney movie at least twice, read all our books, and she's really bored with being at home for three straight days. I spoke with Leah's preschool teacher today and was informed that half of Leah's classmates were also out with the same illness. 

I hope (if she sleeps well tonight) that she will be able to return to her class tomorrow.  Leah is a social girl and misses her friends.  I know she needs to run and play and expel some energy after being cooped up in the house.  Thankfully, the rest of our family has remained healthy.  Anna has a little, teeny runny nose and has coughed about 10 times, but so far that's all. 

UPDATE (9/29): Woke up this morning and Anna has turned into a snot factory.  Yippee.

Box Tops

Leah's school collects Box Tops for Education from General Mills grocery items.  We would be so grateful if you would clip and save those for us!

Anna's First Scrambled Egg

Loved it....enough said.

8 Months Old!

Anna is now 8 months old!

She is beginning to try some finger foods...Gerber puffs, green beans, stuff that is really soft like small peices of bread.

She has 4 teeth, the two bottom teeth from before and 2 new ones.  According to teeth charts, she should have gotten her two front teeth.  Well, not this kid.  She is getting the top two teeth on either side...looks like she has little fangs.  Great -- just in time for Halloween.  I checked online and apparently only about 60% of kids cut teeth in the "right order."  So I am not concerned.  She will eventually get all her teeth, I reckon.

Anna is a busy lady.  She can crawl really fast and pulls up on everything she can.  Within the last few days, she has started to hesitantly cruise along the ottoman and couch.  She is pretty talkative.  She can wave and say "hey" and "hey baby".  She has said "Ya-Ya", "Papa", "Da-da" and "ba-ba."

I have been trying to wean her, but she pretty much refuses to take a bottle.  Looks like we have our work cut out for us on that.  She is such a joy to have in our family and continues to amaze us each day with her new skills. 

The 1970s Called...They Want Their Owl Back

While Leah is at school, Anna and I like to browse around the local Goodwill store.  Today, I found this cute little guy...straight outta the 1970s.  He was a mere $0.99 so I bought him.  I am a firm believer that a little spray paint can work miracles.  So, a little white spray paint...badda bing, badda boom...

I am still trying "Hoots" around different places in my house, but I think he's 1000% cooler now.  Me thinks we shall keep him.

Mums! It Must be Fall!

Leah is selling Mums for her preschool fall fundraiser.  These Mums will come from Fowler's Nursery in Clayton, NC.  They are 8-inch Mums and you can get one for $5.00 or 3 for $12.00.  The color choices are red, yellow, purple, white, and bronze.  We have to turn the order in by September 22nd and they will be delivered on September 28th.  Give me a call or shoot me an email if you'd be interesting in supporting Leah's preschool by purchasing some Mums!

Oh my!

Here in Rockingham County, September is also referred to as "Snaketember."  We will go months and not see any snakes, then September rolls around and they appear...and some are Copperheads! Many of you may remember the Copperhead Incident of 2009....

That Copperhead was enormous (as far as this species is concerned), measuring 40 inches long.

Well, September is upon us again...and yet another Copperhead as met its demise.

This one was not quite as long, a mere 31 inches.  This snake will heretoforth be referred to as the Copperhead Incident of 2011.  And the moral of this story is..."If you venture to Rockingham County in September, wear your snake boots."