Marlee Josephine

Late night insomnia has struck again. 

Or maybe it is just the extreme pregnancy uncomfortableness that I have been feeling the last couple of days. Baby Nicholas has proven to be quite the trouble maker. 

Either way, making a strawberry poptart, playing Farm Heros Saga, and doing some online shopping is not exactly the cure I was hoping for so blogging it is!

A Marlee Jo update is definitely needed since it has been a little while since I posted all her accomplishments. She truly does amaze me everyday. I have been getting a little sentimental and going through some old videos of her and it really is hard to remember her being so small! At her 15 month appointment, she weighed 22lbs 4oz and is 31 inches tall. My perfect little peanut.

As you can see, her hair is long enough to fit into pigtails and I think it is the most adorable thing I have ever seen. She usually takes it out but for this brief moment, she allowed a couple pictures to be taken. 

Her favorite foods are yogurt and oatmeal. Of course, they are also the messiest of the foods. It is usually a shirtless affair which is followed quickly by a bath. She is getting better though and has become quite determined to get more in her mouth than on her belly. Sometimes I just let her do her own thing...

Since I never got around to doing a Trick or Treat post, Marlee was a kitty cat and I made her costume out of some tulle and a black boa. Super easy and it turned out just as I had hoped. Her ears were a little big and would not stay up but she was still adorable. She absolutely loved Trick or Treating. Ok so really she just loved being able to run around the neighborhood. 

At her 15 month appointment, the doctor expected her to know about 3-5 words. Well Marlee might not have the best pronunciation but she knows around 10-15 right now so when do I start calling her a baby genius! Just kidding. I know all parents think their kid is a genius. 

I will say that she knows the color blue (boo), where her nose is, and that a cow goes moo. 

Boom.

Marlee prefers to talk in grunts and hand gestures but when really forced to, she will use her words. She knows apple, thank you (tank ooo), mom, dad, bubby, sock, milk, snack, no (no, no, no), up, down, ball, all done, blue, book, and I am sure various other words that I cannot think of at this time. I am seriously so amazed that this little babe started from nothing! She is learning so fast and I feel like I cannot keep up sometimes. 

Literally, I cannot keep up sometimes. This girl is a little tornado of energy. While I am a large whale of a human being. The fact that I am not sleeping right now is beyond me. 

Bubby (Isaac) is still Marlee's favorite person. It is a guaranteed smile when he walks in the door. I hope they stay close forever. Siblings are so important. 

Other random Marlee facts;

She loves to read books...

and color.

She hates Band-Aids. Last time I ever do that...

And has a strange foot and tongue obsession. She thinks they are the funniest things in the world. She will literally smell peoples feet just so she can laugh about it. Wonder where she learned that from..?

That is about it. Marlee at 16 months in a nutshell. 

My princess. 

Now hopefully I can get some sleep. Church is going to come really early tomorrow.

Daddy

Daddy, 

I have been thinking about you a lot the past couple days. Then again I did eat a lot of pancakes and Snickers the past couple of days which always make me think of you. You made the best pancakes and I still can't even come close to your recipe. Of course they were smothered in Log Cabin Lite - the best syrup ever! And I know how much those Snickers commercials made you laugh. I miss that laugh. 

The Browns are kicking some ass - which I know you already know but I am pretty excited and wanted to share that with you. Is there a Dawg Pound in the sky?

The last time we talked, you were worried about the Ebola Scare of 2014. Well the United States is Ebola free so no need to worry about me in the hospital. I will continue to be safe though - not to worry. 

I know that Marlee won't remember her Grandpa but I promise to remind her how much you loved her and how pretty you thought she was. It has only been a couple weeks but she is growing so much! I have been reviewing her ABC's with her but still can only say O. L-M-N-OOOOO! Makes me laugh every time. And she goes to those magnets at Moms house about every time we are over there. I have yet to watch that video but it will forever be cherished. Especially when after I stopped taping, she came and sat on your lap. You said it made you so happy. It made me happy too. 

Anna asked when she is going to start feeling 'better'. I don't know how to answer that question. I have been doing a lot of praying though and that seems to help. I ask that you send the sisters some peace. Mom too. They all miss you a lot and I think could use a little faith that you are in a better place. 

I read two quotes that I continue to read when I am feeling down and wanted to share them with you. 

Death is nothing at all. I have only slipped away into the next room. 

I am I, and you are you. Whatever we were to each other, that we 

still are. Call me by my old familiar name, speak to me in the easy 

way which you always used. Put no difference in your tone, wear 

no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed

at the little jokes we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray 

for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was, 

let it be spoken without effect, without the trace of a shadow on it. 

Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was; there 

is unbroken continuity. Why should I be out of mind because I am 

out of sight? I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very 

near, just round the corner. 

All is well. 

- Henry Scott Holland

1847-1918

Canon of St. Paul's Cathedral

Don't think of them as gone away

His journey's just begun, 

life holds so many facets

This Earth is only one

Just think of him as resting

From the sorrows and the tears

In a place of warmth and comfort 

Where there are no days and years 

Think of how he must be wishing 

That we could know today 

How nothing but our sadness 

Can really pass away 

And think of him as living 

In the hearts of those he touched 

For nothing loved is ever lost

And he was loved so much.

- Ellen Brenneman

I miss you Daddy and love you lots. 

Till we meet again.