Saturday, June 27, 2009

bratty brat brat

I wrote Marybeth a new jingle today:

Some people tell me I'm really cute
When I smile, coo, burp and toot,
But when I refuse to take a nap
I turn into a real big brat.

And of course she's already made the video for it:


Thursday, June 18, 2009

in honor of mary beth's grandpa phil

me, Dad and Kim on first day of preschool

So, this weekend will be quite bittersweet. It will be Bob's first Father's Day, but it will also be the first Father's Day without Dad. So, I decided that tonight I will dedicate this entry to Dad. Sunday will be all about Bob.

What, praytell, would be a good way to honor Dad? Of course by saying everything he probably would say to Mary Beth if he were here:

  • You know, you're pretty cute even if you're a redhead. (He'd say that NUMEROUS times!)
  • Don't worry, we'll get you that hair dye soon.
  • No matter what your mother tells you, she was NOT a quiet baby. Go ahead and scream. Scream at the top of your lungs.
  • Go play in the street.
  • I always had to trick your mother into doing new things. And she always liked them. Just remember that I was always right.
  • Your grandmother Mary and I had the perfect strategy to stay married all our lives. Whoever filed for divorce got the kids. The other one got the cats.
  • Your mother was so loud when she was born that they put her in her own room away from the rest of the babies. Seriously.
  • You can do whatever you want in life. Don't ever let anyone tell your differently, especially a guy.
  • We tried to drown her at birth, but it didn't work. Then your Uncle Rob tried it 8 years later, but I saved her. Stupidly. Your grandmother made me.
  • Grades aren't important. But knowledge is.
  • Where you finish in a class isn't important. I worked really hard to finish last in my class, but I was second to last. Your great uncle beat me.
  • If you're going to do horribly in a college class, drop it and take it again later. (Yeah, he didn't tell me this until AFTER my experience in micro-economics...)
  • No, I wasn't a troublemaker. I was the perfect child. The troublemakers were always the girls. Like those redhead great aunts of yours.
  • No, no, I'm not old enough to be a grandpa. You must be mistaken...
  • You can get through anything you try.
  • Always try your hardest.
  • If you ever need anything, you call me. We won't tell our folks.
  • And if you ever need anything and I'm not around, you call ANY of the Engelmans. They'll move heaven and earth for family.
  • If anyone picks on you, beat them up. Picking on you is our job.

You know, this was kinda fun. I'll think of some more later... Happy Father's Day, Dad! I'll have a drink in your honor. But I draw the line at the cigar...

Saturday, June 13, 2009

rockstar!!!

My daughter, the rockstar, decided to sleep straight from 9 pm to 6 am. Even amidst rolling power outages. After being, well, bitchy earlier in the day. Dead asleep. I think I may buy her a small country...

:-)

Friday, June 12, 2009

3 WHOLE months!!!


Dear Mary Beth,

Happy 3 months, little girl! Once again we come to a milestone, and once again we're thankful that we've all made it this far. In the last two weeks, you have become even cuter than we ever could have imagined. You smile and laugh with us - which definitely is a good thing at 3:45 wake-up calls! You've starting cooing and "talking" to us, which is so damn cute. So far you just sound like you're saying "hi," though both your dad and I swear you answered "yeah" to us the other night. Your dad keeps trying to get you to say "dadda" but I'll be happy with anything.

You're starting to play more on the activity mat, which is a feat in itself since you're now actively laying on your back. We've come a long way since you were screaming in pain in the first few weeks! That poor whale is really getting its butt kicked by you! And you're finally starting to take naps in your nursery as well as sleep at night in the pack and play. Sooner or later we'll move you to sleep the nights in your nursery! It really is a cute room...

You still don't like having anything on you when you sleep, so we wait until your unconscious and put a blanket over you. Without fail you've kicked it off before the time you wake up. And you don't like it when we talk loudly or disagree. It's really cute because you're sort of a mediator! And as we discovered two nights ago, you really don't like HUGE storms that make the house shake and the wind howl.

You were supposed to be baptised next Sunday. All schedules were rearranged and cleared and arrangements were made to go back to San Antonio for the big event. But things changed and it's not happening next week now. It's a shame because your Uncle Andy and Auntie Kim were really looking forward to seeing you again and standing up for you as Godparents. And it would have been on Father's Day, which would have been a great gift to your dad. And his dad, your only living grandfather, has not even met you yet. But hopefully he'll make it to see you eventually, and you'll get to see your only living grandma again, too! We know she misses you dearly - she has us send photos of you to her all the time! We'll get you baptised some day soon, we promise!

We love you dearly, Baby Love!

Love, Mom and Dad

Saturday, June 6, 2009

this toy is broken.


it's marybeth here. daddy put together a new toy for me. mom and him were all excited. something about me being able to "go crazy" and jump around.

um, this toy sucks. i'm no rocket scientist (yet), nor do i even know what a rocket scientist is, but in order to jump, don't my feet have to touch the ground somehow?

looks like i'll just have to cry instead. that makes mommy "go crazy"...

Thursday, June 4, 2009

home yummy home

This past weekend we went to San Antonio for a wedding reception for one of Bob's fraternity brothers. It was the first time we've taken little Mary Beth home--with the exceptions of course when she was just an interloper inside me. And to nobody's surprise she was the bell of the ball, and everyone found her incredibly cute. Couldn't agree more. Auntie Kim and Quasi-Grandma Terri showered her with LOTS o' gifts, and she will officially be the most styling little girl to grace this earth. Can't wait until she can wear most of the gifts!

And no trip to San Antonio would be complete without trips to Rudy's and Longhorn Cafe. I'm really lucky we didn't live in town when I was pregnant or those two places would have been the death of me and the reason for double weight gain. But Mary seems to like them, especially with her Aunt holding her! I think Rudy's should pay me for her ringing endorsement for their barbecue sauce...