Slow Down...PLEASE!!

I feel like life is rushing past me way too fast and I just want to slow it down, keep my kids just the way they are right now and enjoy every minute! We have been rushing from activity to activity, project to project...and all of a sudden the summer is almost over and my baby is 6 MONTHS OLD!! When did this happen?

I wanted to get a picture of her adorable chunk, but it ended up being pretty tricky...the flash would startle her and so she tipped over every time! :)

Anyway, Brooklyn had her six month appointment last week and completely shocked us with her stats...

Weight: 19.5 lbs - 95th percentile...okay,
no surprise there :)
Height: 27 in - 90th percentile!!!

She has two shorties for parents, and a brother who finally went from the 2oth percentile in height to the 50th...and she is in the 90th percentile for her height! We are so proud! :)

She is rolling both ways, sitting up pretty well, and can even get around a little just by wiggling and scooting - I have found her is some pretty funny positions in her crib in the morning and she entertained everyone in Sunday School last week by trying to wiggle out the bottom of her car seat (she would have made it too, if dad hadn't stopped her!) She also gives the greatest open-mouthed kisses!

More importantly though...she is the sweetest, happiest baby on the planet! She is so easy-going and always smiling and laughing! She didn't even cry when she got her shots - no kidding, she barely let out a whimper and then was fine! I don't know what I did to deserve such a sweetie, but I am definitely going to keep her!!

LOVING Our Memphis Summer

Our first Memphis summer (We moved here in August) was horrible - 110 degrees with 90 percent humidity...no kidding, we practically didn't leave the house till October! Luckily, this summer has made up for it!! So, here are the top 10 reasons we are LOVING our Memphis summer...

10. Fried Pickles...Weird, right? It's a southern thing and we LOVE them. I got a bug the other night and made them myself!

DELICIOUS!

9. Otter Pops...LOVE these!! I think Cameron and I would both choose to eat nothing else all summer if we could! Oh, and just so you know, if you call them "Otter Pops" in Tennessee, everyone will look at you like you are crazy! :)

8. No Alarm Clocks...With no school or work, we just let the kids wake us up at 8:00 or 8:30! :) I love sleeping in and waking up to "Mom, Dad...I sleep good tonight!"

7. Friends...We have had so many BBQs, little kiddie pool parties, and Killer Bunnies nights! It is always fun spending time with good friends.

6. Watching fireworks over the "Mighty Mississippi"...I didn't really realize until I thought about it afterward, but it really was a unique experience for us Utah kids to spend our 4th of July on the banks of the Mississippi River! It was a great night! And...only 3 people were shot at the park near us, not bad for Memphis! :)

5. Low Humidity...which means a lot of time outside! Well, I guess not low comparatively, but not unbearably high. We have been so surprised at the beautiful weather and have been outside constantly. The biggest hits for Cameron have been our $10 Walmart pool, the four wheeler we got at a garage sale for $15, and running through the sprinklers! Gotta love cheep entertainment!

4. Our Pool...I know I mentioned it in the last one, but this pool deserves a post of its own! We have had so much fun with this stupid thing! Our little daredevil loves to slide down head first and swim around looking for fish. As you can tell, Brooklyn is too much of a girly-girl for the cold water...maybe next year! :)

3. Date Night EVERY Friday...we love our babysitting group! We started one of these with a group of students at the beginning of the summer - Thanks Jamie for the idea!

2. Wonderful Service Opportunities...With kids, school and work it is so easy to get caught in your own little world. With Adam home this summer we have had so many great opportunities to serve! Adam has been visiting with the missionaries and has been a great sport to stay home with the kids many times while I have been able to help friends who have had new babies, go with a friend to take her newborn twins and 15 month old to the doctor, and clean for a family in our ward who have a 3 year old with cancer. Small things...but it has been great to feel like we are helping. And, it has been a good reminder to try to do more all year!

And, the NUMBER 1 reason we are enjoying our Memphis summer...Drum roll please...

1. Being together as a FAMILY...It has been so fun having Adam home to help with the kids and especially to play with them. And really, how can you not be happy when spending time with these two?

FYI - The stuff coming out of Brooklyn's mouth is rice cereal...she is not a fan of solid food, to say the least! But, that is another post.

Hope you are all enjoying the summer as much as we are...wherever you are!!

Rudd Women Get New Looks

Okay, sorry it has taken me so long to post pictures of the "new looks" - I am a little embarrassed to admit that I have had a really hard time adjusting to mine. Anyway, more on that in a minute. Here are the long awaited pictures...

I'll start with the cutest of the Rudd women, Brooklyn, modeling her new pierced ears! Is she cute or what!? I have been surprised by how many people have told me how cruel I am for doing this! She barely cried when I held her head still and was fine as soon as I let her go, I promise! It was so easy and I'm glad I did it when she was a baby - she barely noticed, and isn't old enough to mess with them and cause an infection! Plus, look how cute!

Next, the two of us modeling our matching black toe nail polish. Thanks grandma Rudd for painting us both, they look so cute with our black Sunday dresses!

Okay, and now for me. This picture also counts as a tag from my friend Erica to take a picture of yourself and post it....

Anyway, here is the new hair cut! Kathy did a great job cutting it and I love the hairstyle, I just don't love it on me! I decided to cut it when the heat and humidity hit Memphis. Just too hot and sticky for long hair! So I decided, thanks to Kelly's wonderful example, that as long as I was cutting it...I would donate it to Locks of Love! It is an "a-line" cut, very short in the back where we cut off the ponytail, and to my chin in the front. I'm sure I will get used to it, especially as it grows. And, I am happy to have been able to donate a 12 inch ponytail! Plus, it feels so much nicer to have the hair off my neck!

Well, sorry that was so much less exciting than all the build-up! Oh, and I tag Amanda, Holly, Chelsie. and Jessica (take a picture of yourself and post it).

Not a Rice Cereal Fan

You'd think that a baby who obviously likes to eat as much as this one would love solids too...

Not so much.

:)

Get Ready For Picture Overload

I had such a fun night...I spent hours enjoying two CDs, almost 200 pictures, of my incredible family thanks to the beautiful Melissa Plowman, and played around with my new digiscrap skills thanks to my wonderful sister-in-law Kim! Now I get to share them both with you!

I have to start with loads of praise for Melissa Sue Photography! You absolutely must hire Mel the next time you need a photographer! I'm telling you, if she can get cute pictures of a mom who is still working on the pregnancy weight, a very active two year old, and an unusually grouchy baby girl (of course it was the one day ever it was hard to get her to smile!)...she can handle anything!! Thank you so much Melissa - we are thrilled with the pictures and should have paid you at least double!!

With that said, here are some of my favorites...Yes, I said some, and there are still like 35!! :) There were just so many cute ones of the kids...I loved them all! Anyway, I just had to include a ton because I know the grandmas won't like it if I leave any out! :) Enjoy!

P.S. You might notice Brooklyn's "new look" in these pictures, but I guess mine will remain a secret for a little longer! :) I bet you're just dying to know! Ha Ha!