What's in a name?

Some families never use nicknames. What? I know! Weird.

Growing up I think my family used them more that our actual names. That would explain why I answer to "Saucy" and "Leiser". I also love being called Mama.

Josh always makes me feel good too when he calls me georgeous or sexy. :)

I have noticed that we all call Crew other names than his own. I don't think I have EVER called him Joshua Crew - except at the Dr's office. Trying to explain to them that he goes by "Crew" instead of Joshua got old after our 3rd visit.

Crew's nicknames are usually but not limited to Crew Boy and Crewser, and every once in a while we remember how Laney used to call him "Baby Cool" because she couldn't pronounce "Crew". Josh tries to sneak in "J. Crew" but I just think it is too weird, even though that really is him name. I have noticed lately we rarely even call him just Crew!

Poor kid. Once he starts school he is going to be so confused.

Or maybe we are preparing him for a life in the secret service where he will HAVE to have multiple identities? Hmmm? I don't think I like that, too dangerous.

Josh

a.k.a. Joshy, Big Josh (because I have a little bro Josh), Daddy

sexy, handsome, bab-ah

Kadie

a.k.a. beaner, dee dee, sissy (because she is the big sis, NOT because she is a wimp)

twirly, twirly-girl, honey-girl, sugar, little lady

Laney

a.k.a. Lanerz, Laney bug, twirly, twirly-girl, honey-girl, sugar, stinker

Sorry if we give you nicknames. It just means we think of you like family!

Let's hear YOUR nicknames!

Just do it?

I did it.

Not myself...I didn't cut it this time. (Applause please)

My friend Jessica cut my hair, and I told her to cut ALL OF IT off.

Some of you may be confused. And I know that SUPER short hair is something everyone either loves or hates. I tried, really really hard to get it long, but it was just too much and I am so impatient. It ended up in a pony tail every day. I do miss being able to curl it all funky, but I have missed my short short hair more...although this is the shortest I think I have ever had it.

I love it. It will be my new accessory.

Crew...11 MONTHS!!!

The count down has begun, Crew is 11 months old today!

I tried the teddy bear pictures...he is just too wiggly. I will just post them all next month in order from 1-12 to show him growing over the first year of his tiny life.

Although it has only been a month since our last post on everything that we think is amazing about Crew, he has even more tricks up his sleeve.

Crew can now stick his tongue out at anyone he wants. You just say "Where's Crew's tongue?" and he wags it all over like a puppy. He still reminds me of a puppy.

Crew LOVES to drink from big boy cups now!

I only give him about a teaspoon of water/juice or whatever each time he wants a drink though...because he downs it immediately like pictured below. :)

More tricks:

Crew has a MAD memory,

I can't keep any secrets anymore on where things are kept in the house.

Crew is taking steps! He is still wobbly, but can stand for about 10 seconds,

and take a few steps if he gets the guts to move.

He can clap - once...we are aiming for clap-ING this month.

He sort of points at things. It looks like Heil Hitler, but still cute.

Ask him "Where is Crew's head?" and he will put both arms up on his noggin...

waiting for someone to tickle him under his arms. I love this one.

Crew sports hair now, faux-hawk, spiky in front, combed to the side. He is a little man.

One month to go!

Spring has Sprung!

Popcorn is popping, birds are chirping, the sun is shining (for now...)

We are loving!

Happy Spring!

{Kadie is} growing up

All of a sudden, Kadie really cares about clothes and accessories.

She loves to wear anything ROCKSTAR-ish and told me herself that her favorite necklaces are ones with fake pearls now, but real pearls later.

Maybe she is inching toward asking for real pearls? Cutie.

A first for everything

Even firsts for ouchies!

Here is Crew's first real bump on the head. :(

Can't see it? Let me help...

Hop, Skip and a Chirp!

There is no avoiding these insects in our house.

We have two Leopard Gecko's and two Australian Tree Frogs and this is what they eat.

What I would like to avoid? Having them roam around my house!

The Problem: The gecko's eat baby crickets, and they are so small that they can fit through the air holes in the top of the cricket cage. We were finding them all over upstairs! We tried putting the cage in with the crickets, then if one gets out it is just a little snack for Sassy or Lilly. But it was too warm and they all crispified.

I tried taping most of the air holes shut but then the cage gets stinky and they still die.

Unfortunately the gecko's don't like to eat dead crickets. So for now, until the gecko's get bigger and can eat the large crickets, the baby cricket cage is now in the garage, and will most likely just stay there. We might find a few loose here and there...oh well.

Crew boy cricket story:

The large crickets are for the frogs. They can not escape, so we just keep them under the cabinet in the girls bathroom. They chirp every once in a while, but mostly they are no problem at all. Crew has seen me get them out and feed the frogs. What I didn't know is that Crew has a fantastic memory, and when I wasn't paying attention he crawled up to the bathroom, opened the cabinet and let all of the crickets out. I am pretty sure he might have tried to eat one.

There were 10 crickets in the cage. 6 were accounted for immediately. One was behind the bathroom door, one smashed to the floor, and one one showed up later that night.

I found the last rogue cricket yesterday morning. Right as I walked out of my bedroom, there he was hopping along our entry way like he lived here! I thought it was a HUGE spider at first, but came to realize spiders don't jump 12 inches off the ground. I ran into the bathroom and grabbed some toilet paper. I just can't pick them up like Josh does. I grabbed him and headed up the stairs. He escaped two times, so go ahead and picture me squealing and waving toilet paper around trying to catch the little bugger.

Kadie's frog had a nice snack. And now, we keep the bathroom door shut at all times.