Kentucky Derby loving on Belmont Stakes

As I worked through pictures from nearly 2 months ago, I had to wonder "Where was Natalie?" I've got an entire folder of pictures from an afternoon of Ashley cuddling and loving on Keely, but not one single one of my little Preakness. 
Knowing Natty Kat, she was off in her own little land, doing her own little thing, that only her own little mind understands.

Snuggled in at nap time

Ashley being, well, Ashley

Precious

Yes she is flipping off the camera. No I did not teach her how to do it.

Love my Midget

Keely's poor face; this was taken around the time we figured out her milk protein allergy

There are no words

Awesome Ashley

I'm gonna go ahead and say this is Aunt Shawna coming out in Ashley:

(while playing with Natalie in their fort)

Natalie: Tissy, come in our house!

Ashley: I can't right now.

Natalie: Come on, Tissy. I'm waiting.

Ashley: I can't Natalie. I'm trying to find my style (as she flips her hair, straightens her shirt and tries to fix her magic cape (aka a blanket)).

Ohhhh boy.

Showing her respect

Imagine my surprise when Ashley grabbed a flag the other night and recited this (click here) for me. 
Not only am I super proud of her memorization skills, but come on, folks! Have you ever heard a more adorable voice on an almost-5-year-old?! 
No? 
I didn't think so!

Listen up!

Because Keely has a lot to say! Click here to see for yourself.
She also is entertaining us now and again with a good-hearted newborn laugh. Music to our ears! Click here to enjoy the beautiful sound yourself. 

Pizza with a side of epiphany

It happened a while ago. Like just over 4 weeks ago....

What happens when Mama gets a hankering for homemade pizza?

The dough flies!

Even though I knew eating pizza would upset my delicate, lactose sensitive system, I couldn't get the craving for homemade pizza out of my head. So I rolled up my sleeves and got to work making some tasty dinner. And since the recipe makes 2 giant pizzas, what better way to eat forbidden pizza than share it with your in-laws?

In a way it's good I let myself slip up and enjoy a slice of pizza because it was a few days later that Keely REALLY started having what we assumed were colic episodes including her precious little milk-white skin breaking out. And it was then that I finally pieced together everything and realized she's got the milk protein sensitivity and not colic. 

So props to a slice of cheese pizza for being the thing that helped us figure it out, even though it made for nearly 5 exhausting, frustrating and painful weeks as the milk protein worked it's way through Keely's system.

Cozy on up to the counter, WyWy

Mm! Mm! Mm!

Stealing Ashley's olives

Enjoying his slice the right way

About 30 hours later check out what the dairy did to Keely's skin. And it got 10x worse before it ever got better.

 Baby acne? Nope. Dairy sensitivity. 

 Poor little punkin

Wordless Wednesday

Just another September evening

Back in September we enjoyed lots of beautiful Indian Summer Evenings. And what better way to enjoy those toasty evenings than with paper airplanes in the front yard?

Midget showcasing the plane Daddy carefully constructed for her

Taking in the amazing sunset

Keely wondering what all the fuss is about

So excited to take flight

Too adorable for words

It's easy to see we live in God's country

Soaking it in

Breathtaking 

So blessed to get to spend time with my Triple Crown

The weather according to Keely

Wow! That's some wind and rain going on out there!

Another year older

Back in September Shawna rang in year #31.
Talk about O.L.D.

A pumpkin-flavored pumpkin cake - a fitting cake for Shawnaynay

Hey Party Girl what kind of face is that?

Happy to celebrate 

Keely got to meet a bunch of family and friends for the first time

Nana's too interested in the bundle to bother looking at the camera

Mom forcing a not-so-happy Keely Q to take a picture with Poppie

Big Poppie, Little Keely

A pale-white Mommy with her newest, 21 day old bundle

Bloooooooow!

Party Princess

Even Jessica and Paul got to join in the festivities! 
PS So excited to FINALLY meet the infamous Pauly D!

Cutting into the cake

There's a face!

OH YEAH! Aunt Marsha brought her to tears!!!

Cuddling up in the same bassinet Ash and Natty snoozed in a few years prior

Birthday squeezes 

Natty Kat getting in on the dirty dish action...
...I guarantee in 5 years when she's told it's her turn to wash dishes she won't be nearly as enthusiastic! 

New Mommy, er uh I mean Auntie, nap-time

Party dress

Teacher's pet

A look back at Ashley's first day of school....

The sign says it all (you can't see it but she wrote her name under the date)

Hopefully she'll figure out how to wear it the right way?

Super excited 

That's not a forced smile or anything

Schoolgirl charm

Daddy n' me

Proudest parents

Off on her next great adventure