a little about sarah... and rowan... and the new baby

It's been a few weeks now, but this little one has started crawling!  And, she's virtually gone to almost WALKING!  She has no fear and can crawl all the way up the stairs after her brother while my back is turned for no more than a few minutes!  So, we have invested the $12 for a baby gate... my first.

She's such a little sweetie... I am loving her personality!  She just adores her big brother and her DADDY.  He's the only one she can fall asleep on at church... so nice for me... a BREAK!  I just don't think she's comfortable with my big belly in the way with a wildly kicking fetus that never seems to rest!

She loves to play with all of Rowan's toys...

Although, he's not always so happy about that!

Chick Hicks, Lightning McQueen... just a few of her favorite chew toys.  And, to her left... the new baby gate, which she hates.  She will crawl around it like a caged animal whining and crying to get up those stairs!  Hence, the angry face in this picture.

This is her famous flirty head tilt.  I LOVE it.  I can't help but laugh and encourage her when I see her do it!  Today at church, she was doing it to virtually everyone!  It's so cute... it can't be resisted and deserves to be rewarded with lots of kisses.

She has so much personality!  And, is such a good baby... unless she's teething or sick. She has such a calm and curious demeanor.  We just LOVE the sweetness she brings to our little family.  I decided to take some pictures of her at this stage because I've been so tired and so big and bulky that my camera has been collecting dust.  I got feeling guilty that my little Sarah's first year is passing us so quickly without being properly documented!!  So, I've been snapping away!

Now it wouldn't be fair to Rowan if I didn't post a picture of him and his "juice".  Now this is a kid who doesn't like real juice.  He won't drink apple juice, orange juice, or even a juicebox.  But, he will drink with glee "Mommy's Juice"... aka diet coke.

Am I a bad mom?  Or is it bad that everytime we pull up to a fast food drive-in, Rowan shouts from the back, "And, Diet Coke"?  Then he will order from the back of the car, "And corn on the cob, and chicken, and fries, and apples, OK?"  Boy... does that reveal what we eat a LOT of these days?!?

As I'm sure my mother is cringing that this is horribly out of focus... I love that I captured his sweet joy of swinging!  We had a great time at Marie's birthday party this weekend.  Well, Rowan did until I decided it was naptime and I got him off the swing.  Then a wild tantrum ensued that left me carrying him kicking, screaming, arching to the car.  Mark was out of town this weekend for work, so I got a little help from Marie's dad and uncle to get him and Sarah all buckled in.  In the tantrum chaos, I put my keys in the door handle next to Rowan.  Of course, I shut the door and left my crying toddler to work out his issues while I said good-bye to Marie's Mom.  When I went back to the car, guess how Rowan got his revenge?  By getting the keys and locking all the doors!  He was still crying, holding the keys while I'm frantically trying every door... So, I walk back to Marie's family to admit my predicament and ask for help.  While turning my back on Rowan yet again... he drops the keys!  Needless to say, Triple A was called and on "high alert" with 2 kids locked in a car, although it was only 65 degrees out... the best part of this story was seeing a fairly large crowd of adults all trying to talk a 2 year old into "getting the keys" (which had dropped down next to his car seat), and once he got them, to "push the buttons"!  These phrases repeated over and over and over...  It worked, because literally seconds before Triple A showed up with lights flashing - Rowan SAVED the day!  He got the keys, pushed all the buttons, and unlocked the car!  I don't think he's had a prouder or more confused moment to have his car door open and half a dozen adults cheering and clapping for him!  He forgot all about the swings.

Just before the car locking, Sarah enjoyed her first time in the sandbox.  She didn't try and eat it!  I was pretty surprised, since Rowan just loved to eat sand at her age.  Now he loves to throw it, kick it, anything to get it into an unsuspecting bystander's eyes.  Ahh, the life!  Babies and toddlers, babies and toddlers...

Well, in our rapid attempt to add yet another baby... we have secured an induction date at Mission for our newest member of the Dunning crazies.... AND, a name for her - yay!

On April 22nd, 2009... 

SHELBY JANE DUNNING 

will make her big debut.

honestly... we couldn't be more excited and can't wait to meet her!