Keeping up with the Otteas

Lots of New Things Going On!

2009-04-09T19:27:00.000-07:00

I know I have been slacking lately on keeping all of our loved ones up to date on our family! I have been so busy lately...I will try not to make too many excuses!

Reese is getting SO big! She is now in her BIG GIRL BED! The whole family went to Sea World and Fiesta Texas a month ago. There were 8 adults and 6 children 6 and under in our group! We sure were tired by the end of that trip. Anyway, while we were there, Reese slept on the pull out couch in our hotel room alone. We told her that if she was good she could get her big girl bed like her friend Megan had. She was very excited and did great! So when we got home Danny converted her crib into her toddler bed. She has never gotten out of it in the middle of the night, (which was my biggest fear) or had any other problems since.

This week has been especially difficult for me because she decided that she does not want me or Danny to take her to bed anymore. We have both made a HUGE effort to always take her to bed together every night since she was a newborn, except if Danny or I were out of town. She announces that she wants to go by herself. She picked up her blanket, gave us hugs and kisses and went off to bed. She closed her door and we watched her in the video monitor just climb into bed and go to sleep. She has been doing this for almost a week. It just breaks my heart to see my baby girl grow up so quickly!

She has also been saying the cutest things lately. The other day, Remme was crying in the car and Reese looks at her and shouts, "You are making my ears fall off!" Also, now when she hears someone say "Hey!" she says, "Hay is for horses!" Too cute! She really has such a cute personality!

Remme is almost 8 months! I can't believe it. It is going by quicker than Reese's first year. She is sitting up really well and this week I caught her on her hands and knees rocking back and forth. I know I should not compare but, Reese didn't start crawling until she was 10 months old. She was very happy with Danny and I bringing her everything! So Remme has really gotten so big in fact she is HUGE! She weighs 20 pounds. She is hugging and starting to give kisses. I will post pictures of them soon!

As for Danny, last month was a record month for him! It was his largest month in sales ever! I am so proud of him. With everything going on in the world today, he is working harder to make sure that his family is cared for.

Today is our 4 year wedding anniversary! We spent the evening hanging out together as a family. Which was phenomenal because I am usually working after he gets home, since I have been playing with the kids all day. We ordered in and read books to Reese and Remme played. Danny and I will go to dinner this weekend together to celebrate by ourselves.

EVERYBODY IS SPECIAL!

2009-02-19T19:52:00.000-08:00

Reese is just the most adorable thing ever! A few days ago, Reese was getting ready to go to her preschool for the day. She ran in her room and told me that she wanted to wear her sunglasses to school, like her friend, Emily. (aka Emawee) I told Reese that Everyone is special and that Emily is special because she gets to wear glasses to make her see better! I explained that her glasses were different than sunglasses... I told her again that everyone is special in some way. I asked her, "Do you know why Daddy is special?" She said with the upmost certainty, "Daddy has one hand!" I then said, "THAT'S RIGHT!" I couldn't believe that popped out of her mouth. We have never sat down and had a talk about it before. So then I said, "Why is Pa-Pa special?" She replied, "Because Pa-Pa has TWO HANDS!" I told her that she was right, but that he is also very special because he get to ride in a special chair and give rides to her and Remme. It went on and on! It was the cutest thing ever! Now she goes around saying that she is special because she has two hands! Kids...gotta love them!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-19T15:56:00.000-08:00

Reese and I always make cupcakes for Daddy on Valentine's Day! This year Reese was in charge of the sprinkles. We had fun making them and she just could not get the concept of letting them cook while we ate dinner. She wanted to eat them right then and there. She also put the muffin papers in the cupcake pan! What a helper! We all spent the evening at home together and had a awesome steak dinner! Danny did a great job on dinner and then we watched a movie! It's been a long time since we got to sit down just the two of us for a tv show, let alone a whole movie!

Remme is 6 MONTHS!

2009-02-15T16:15:00.000-08:00

My baby girl is 6 months old! I just can't believe how big she is getting. I feel like this time is just flooding by and I know I will never get it back. I just wish they could stay young forever! These children are what makes the world turn for me! I think I need another... :)

Remme got this toy for Christmas and LOVES it! This can really buy me some time to play with Reese, take a shower, or cook dinner!!! This has to be the best toy ever!

Big sister Reese loves playing with it too! She loves her baby sister Remme-Roo so much!

Growing Like A Weed

2009-02-08T15:47:00.000-08:00

Remme is almost 6 months! Wow how time flies!!! It is so sad. My babies are getting so big! Danny was holding Remme the other night and I walked by and saw this out of the corner of my eye! I just started laughing so hard. Then I thought, " I am sure glad we are not out in public...people would think we need help buying Remme some clothes that fit!" I just thought it was so funny seeing her little toe poking through a hole like that. Needless to say, she has new pj's now!

Remme and Benjamin

2009-01-19T14:16:00.000-08:00

Remme (5 months) and her boyfriend, Ben(3 months)! Ben is my friend Sherri's son and they come over to play one afternoon. Just keep in mind that Remme is a big girl... Ben is the same size!!!!! Watch out boys, she is already grabbing at shirts!

Also, no Remme did not get hit in the face...she would spit up or drool at night and lay in it, so her cheek kept getting chapped! All better now.

Baby food here we come!

2008-12-27T14:03:00.000-08:00

Hurry UP! I'm Hungry!!!

Remme's first take at baby food! Yummmeeeee! The first food she tried was applesauce and cereal. She has moved on to bigger and better things. She can scarf down a jar or two in no time. And, if you take too long getting it to her mouth....she will let you know! She has patience with food liker her Daddy!

Opening Presents!

2008-12-25T04:48:00.000-08:00

Reese is very excited about her new play room that Santa Claus brought for her. We completely transformed our home office into this playroom with out her even knowing. We had to buy a child safety lock for the door so she couldn't get in during the transformation. She was VERY SURPRISED!

Everything is her playroom came from Santa! Her activity table, her storage bins, the girls chairs with their names on them and last but not least, her castle!!!

Remme was very excited to see all her new toys!

Hmmm.... I don't know about this!

"Santy Kwos" came!

2008-12-25T04:37:00.000-08:00

Reese and Remme's Stockings (Santa went overboard.)
Reese was very excited that Santa came, although on Christmas Eve, she was a little anxious. She is not too sure about that big guy yet and she did not want him coming to her house while she was sleeping. She finally did get some sleep before he arrived!

Cookies for Santa

2008-12-24T04:28:00.000-08:00

Reese, Nana and I SLAVED over making cookies for Santa! Thank goodness, because we got lots of goodies! Reese of course wanted to eat them all and drink the milk. Maybe next year we can make cookies from scratch.... Don't count on it Santa!

Sleepover with the cousins!

2008-12-20T04:21:00.000-08:00

My sister had to go to her company Christmas party, so we had a sleepover. The kids had pizza, took baths, and snuggled on the couch to watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas while enjoying some popcorn! (Wow, there was popcorn everywhere!)

Reese's 1st Performance as a "Professional"

2008-12-18T03:52:00.000-08:00

Reese has been taking dance lessons since August 2008. She is doing really well and loves it! For her Christmas program, she did a tap routine to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer! She just stood there saying, "Mommy, I did a good job!" during the whole performance. Atleast she didn't cry or run off the stage! It was so cute!!!

Just playing around the house....

2008-12-10T03:41:00.000-08:00

Remme is playing well on her tummy! It's getting easier for her to hold up those cheeks!!!! (4 mos)

Reese wants to be in on the action all the time! She loves playing with her little sis!

I was putting the laundry away and when I came back into the living room, I came across this....

She's too funny!

Here Comes Santa Claus....

2008-12-02T03:33:00.000-08:00

Reese helped us decorate the Christmas tree for the first time this year! She LOVED it! She wanted to put every ornament on the tree. Needless to say, there were a lot around the bottom! It took so long that it took us two days to get the ornamants on. Plus, I had to do a little rearranging. :)

Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T03:12:00.000-08:00

We spent the day giving thanks for all our blessings! Our family is truly blessed to add to new additions to the family this year. Kinley, my niece, and of course Remme, the smiliest baby ever!

We ate dinner at my parents and the kids spent the day playing football and running around outside! It was a beautiful day!

Daddy's Girls!

2008-11-23T03:24:00.000-08:00

These girls are truly Daddy's Girls!!! They love him so much! The room lights up when he walks in the door from work! Reese goes running to greet him and Remme is smiling ear to ear when she hears his voice! They have him wrapped around his little finger! (Now when the "Crumbmaster" and the "Spitmaster" come out, they become Mommy's girls!)

Give Thanks!

2008-11-23T03:05:00.000-08:00

Reese had a Thanksgiving Day celebration at Mother's Day Out. She was in charge of "bringing" corn to the dinner table! She was so cute. Here is a picture after the program of her holding Remme!

Busy Weekend!

2008-11-11T09:18:00.001-08:00

Danny left to see his grandparents on Thursday and I was a little nervous being home alone with Reese and Remme for the first time for 3 straight days! Remme loves her Daddy time at night and sometimes she has a hard time going to sleepfor me. I had my plate party this weekend so I was busy cleaning the house and trying to figure out a way to go grocery shopping with 2 young kids in tow! Kim and Paul offered to watch Reese for a little while so she could play with her cousins, Kaden and Kinley, and I could take Remme to the grocery store. So it all worked out in the end. The plate party was a success and I think everyone got some really cute things. I can't wait to see how they all turned out. Danny made it home Saturday evening and the girls were so excited to see him. So was a very tired Mommy! Sunday, Danny gave me the afternoon off to go shopping with my sister and then we had dinner with the whole family for Jennifer, Jacob, Jared and Grandpa's birthday. There is something to be said about a whole family with 6 kids that are 6 and under. I think people want to run and scream when they see us coming. We had a great time though and a BIG fun filled weekend!

That's Exactly Right!!!

2008-11-04T13:51:00.000-08:00

I have been wanting to see how videos work on blogger, so here goes!

I was capturing Reese play with her ABC Zoo. There is a corresponding animal for each letter of the alphabet. She knows almost all their names and has learned how to match them up on the zoo pad. She decided to say some not so lady like things on this video. I guess it can be funny now since she is only two and we were not in public.

The other day she decided that all the animals were tired and needed a nap, so she laid them all down on their side! I thought this was so funny. What an imagination she has!

Now that I have uploaded a video successfully, hopefully I can capture some more "cleaner" ones and share them with you.

THEN AND NOW (HALLOWEEN)

2008-11-02T18:56:00.000-08:00

I am trying to keep up with my THEN AND NOW pictures. So here is the Halloween version!

Reese 1st Halloween as a princess!
Reese 2nd Halloween as a pumpkin!

Reese as Little Bo Peep and Remme as a Sheep!

Happy Halloween!

2008-11-02T14:31:00.000-08:00

Eeeewwww!
Little Bo Peep and the Cutest Sheep
Happy Baby!
Cousin Jared and Reese
Posing with Pa-Pa
Posing with Nana
Going for a ride!
Pa-Pa taking me door to door
Wow! Look at all this candy!!!

We had such a great Halloween and we hope you did too! My Little Bo Peep and my Littlest Sheep looked so cute all dressed up.

We started the weekend off great! Nana came to visit on Thursday night. She got to the housearound 7:30 or so and Reese just did not feel like she had enough time with her before going to bed. She was really worried that she would not still be here when she woke up so she kept asking if Nana was sleeping on the couch. Just to make sure that she was still around, Reese woke up in the middle of the night calling out to Nana. Friday, Daddy came home early and we carved our pumpkin together. Reese does not like getting her hands dirty so she took one look inside that pumpkin and then would not go near it. We decided to get into our costumes and take some pictures and then it was off to a friends house to trick or treat. The first house we went to Reese was scared, but with the power of candy, she started doing great! Towards the end of the night she got tired and wanted to ride with Pa-Pa. He gladly took her door to door for some more candy. When we got home and after bath time, it was time to go through all the candy!
We had a great weekend!

Sshhhhh!

2008-10-30T11:15:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to get Reese to keep her voice down a little when Remme is sleeping. She likes to go up to her and yell right in her face. HI REMME!!! So today, I was on the phone while Remme was asleep in her swing and Reese came up to me with a big SSSHHHHHHH!!! It's so funny because she puts her finger all the way up on her nose. I guess I need to learn to be a little quieter.

Yesterday I brought the Bumbo seat out to take pictures of Remme in her costume and now I am finding Reese all over the house with it. She is playing with her babies in it....

I went into Remme's room to change Remme's diaper and when I turned around this is what I saw....

Then, I was "working" in the office and it was all a little too quiet for my liking, so I went to look for Reese....

She had gotten the seat as close to the bookshelf as she could. She fills my life with so much joy and laughter. Never a dull moment....

Little Bo Peep and her Sheep

2008-10-29T10:14:00.000-07:00

Today is Reese's costume day at preschool, so I decided to get Remme dressed up too for some pictures. They were too cute. I pulled the bumbo seat out for the first time for Remme and Reese just wanted to sit in it. It was hers and she didn't want Remme to have anything to do with it. I didn't think Remme's costume was going to fit, but it actually does. I can't believe how big she is getting already. Reese has a blast carrying around her shepherds crook. I have to keep chasing after her so that she doesn't bonk her sister on the head with it. Danny and I have been trying to tell Reese about trick or treating, so that she will be prepared. So we'll see on Halloween, how it goes....

My Little Bowler

2008-10-26T18:01:00.000-07:00

This weekend was packed full of birthday parties! Happy Birthday to Jacob, Dalton, Sienna, and Sarah! We were only able to hit two of them, but we were still partied out! Reese bowled for the first time at her cousin Jacob's 6th birthday party! It was pretty cool... they have this thing that you set the ball on for the little bitty kids and they push the ball down onto the lane. Reese got her very first STRIKE!!! Then she played ski ball and various sorts of arcade games. In the end she left with enough tickets for a Dora purse. She loved it so much she took her nap with it. I am sure you will be seeing that thing in some pictures because she doesn't want to let it out of her sight. Remme had fun too, looking at all the lights and listening to all the loud noises. Remme and Reese had matching outfits on and they looked so cute. They are going to kill me when they grow up for dressing them alike all the time.

School Picture Day!

2008-10-22T20:20:00.000-07:00

Today was school picture day at Reesie's preschool. We talked about it before she went and decided to get some practice shots. She never smiles in any of her pictures so I "taught" her how to smile. This really made my day. Looking at these pictures, she just looks SO grown up to me. My how time flies!

CHEESE AND CRACKERS!!!!

Family Pumpkin Patch!

2008-10-19T20:09:00.000-07:00

They made up!

No, I want this punkin!

Every year we try to get together for pictures at the pumpkin patch with all the cousins! All the kids had a great time. Reese loved picking out her pumpkin. (I thinked she picked out the tiniest pumpkin they had in the patch!) There are now six grandkids. I wonder if that will be it?

Remme 2 Months!

2008-10-14T19:37:00.000-07:00

Wow, I can't believe she is 2 months already. She has added so much joy to our already blessed life. I can't imagine my life before she was born. She is smiling real big and cooing back at Mommy and Daddy. Reese also is starting to keep her quite entertained!

Poppy John comes to visit!

2008-10-12T19:42:00.000-07:00

Poppy John came to visit and to meet Remme. Reese was a little shy at first and didn't know what to think, but when you bring a girl a present she will come around fairly quickly!

We had a great time! We sat and visited for a while and went to have lunch. Reese had a blast and Danny made his poor dad read the "poop" book to Reese. We all got a big kick out of it though.

You caught me!

2008-10-11T20:04:00.000-07:00

Danny caught Reese in her room! She was looking for her Dora sticker book (that has

over 700 stickers in it...I won't name any names, but THANK YOU to who got that for her birthday!) and had to remove every book off the bookshelf to find it. Needless to say, there are stickers everywhere. On the tile, the tv's, the kitchen table, Daddy, Mommy, Reese...I even found one on Remme's tushy when changing her diaper. Yes, somehow it got underneath her diaper!

What a busy day!

2008-10-09T19:19:00.000-07:00

My happy Remme-Roo
Reesie-Poo and Remme-Roo

We had such a busy day today! We met our weekly playgroup at the pumpkin patch for some picture taking. We got there a little late, so we didn't get to take pictures with everyone. Reese loves pumpkins and loves pointing out all of them to me.

After we went to the pumpkin patch we decided to try out our new jogging stroller. I really like it! Reese can listen to the iPod through a speaker on her side of the stroller. It has been so nice out so we decided to go for a stroll.

Our little Aggie!

2008-10-01T19:17:00.000-07:00

Reese loves playing in Daddy's boots. I just happened to catch her today and she even gave me a Gig Em!

VeggieTales

2008-09-25T19:07:00.000-07:00

We took Reese to see VeggieTales Live. She was a little

scare at first, but then she loved it so much she was crying

when we had to leave. Nana came and joined us.

It was great getting out with Reese and having some alone time. Remme

stayed with Raini and did great!

First Day of Preschool

2008-09-02T14:20:00.000-07:00

Reese started preschool today. It was a sad day for Reese and Mommy. I was so worried about her adjusting because Remme is only 2 1/2 weeks old. So there is a lot of major things going on for her. She cried when Danny and I dropped her off and her teacher said she cried a little on and off the whole time she was there. I am sure she will soon be happy to go so that she can get some attention, away from her sister.

Dance Dance Dance

2008-08-31T14:15:00.000-07:00

Reese has started her ballet and tap class that she takes once a week. She was not so sure about it at first, but loves it now and she really is learning a lot. You should see her little tap shoes!

Labor Day Festivities

2008-08-29T14:57:00.000-07:00

This was Remme's first trip to the lake! Reese had a blast with her cousins on the boat and playing outside. It was a relaxing time and good to get out of the house.

First Haircut

2008-08-27T14:02:00.000-07:00

Reese got her first haircut and I was so surprised that she did so well. She sat in her little fire truck and watched Dora. She is growing up so fast. She is starting Mother's Day Out next week.

Like Father, Like Daughter

2008-08-25T14:09:00.000-07:00

Just thought this was too cute to pass up on. Even their heads are facing the same way. Remme is now almost two weeks old. She is growing and keeping us on our toes at all hours of the night!

Finally She's Here!

2008-08-15T13:40:00.000-07:00

I was induced at 39 weeks. Things went very quickly. We made it to the hospital at 8:30am. They broke my water at 9:30am and started the pitocin and at 1:49pm she was born. 9 pounds 11 ounces and 22 inches long. 4 hours was not bad. Reese only took six hours after my water broke, so if we are going in a pattern and we have a third, I might not make it to the hospital!

Big sister Reese loved meeting her little sister Remme. She loves holding her and trying to burp her. She also loves pushing her in the swing, almost giving Mommy and Daddy a heart attack!

Remme's Room

2008-08-12T13:22:00.000-07:00

I still have a long way to go on Remme's room, but here are some things that we have done so far. I can't wait to get it done, but it just seems that this time around I am not in as big of a hurry.

Her room is so little that all of her furniture would not fit. So, we decided to take the closet doors off and make her closet the changing station. Hope it works out this way!

THEN AND NOW

2008-08-02T18:26:00.000-07:00

From Reese's 1st Birthday to her 2nd Birthday!

Reese's 2nd Birthday

2008-08-01T15:11:00.000-07:00

We had Reese's birthday party at Westwood Gymnastics where she participates in a Mommy and Me class each week. She had so much fun with her friends and family and it was a great turn out. We had her birthday party a month early because I didn't know if I was going to go into labor early or not. Plus, I didn't want to be huge and trying to participate in her gymnastics.

Every year I want to make it a tradition to get Reese a Reese's peanut butter decorated cake for her birthday. We usually do something seperate for her actual birthday with just family and then she has a birthday party. She absolutely loves cake! What kid doesn't???

We had to have a family get together the day after her birthday because I was at the hospital in false labor on her actual birthday. I felt bad for missing out on the day with her and I guess it would be cool if Reese and Remme had the same birthday, but I am glad they have their own special day!

Huge and Pregnant!

2008-07-15T02:57:00.000-07:00

My goodness I was so pregnant! And this was taken a month before I had Remme. I can't believe she was so big. 9lbs. 11 ounces.

My pregnancy started off well and then progressively got worse. I think we made 5 trips to the hospital before Remme was actually born. I had preterm labor from 28 weeks and since I had Reese 3 weeks early, everyone thought I would have Remme early too! Nope, she wouldn't come on her own. I had to be induced at 39 weeks and thank goodness I did. She might have stayed on there forever!!!

Remme's Shower

2008-06-28T15:35:00.000-07:00

We all got together for lunch to celebrate Remme's upcoming arrival. It was great to get out and chat with my family and friends and we got some really great gifts.

My mother-in-law, Me, My mom

We are all expecting!

Thanks Everyone!