Busy... busy

I've been so bad at taking pictures lately so I don't really have a lot to post, but here are a few from the last several weeks:

Regan doing one of her favorite things: getting in the basket of toys and throwing them all out. It's actually pretty cute because she then picks them all up and puts them in the basket, then repeats the process. It keeps her entertained for quite awhile!
Regan wearing the adorable outfit that Grammy bought for her. I've been waiting for a cold day and Monday was it, so she wore her new outfit. She looked very stylish but didn't want to pose for a picture, so this is the best one I got!
Two weeks ago, Sarah, Kylie, Mom, Dad, Regan and I all headed out for a trip to Farmington, NM to see Brandi and her family. We were there the day after Kyle's 1st birthday, so we got to have a little party for him. I thought this was a good picture and it shows that the older we get, the more Brandi and I look alike (and like Mom!). I didn't get a very good picture of me and Sarah because....
... Sarah spent most of the weekend laying around on the couch. Why was she so lazy, you ask? Well, that would be because Kylie is going to be a big sister!! :) Sarah is about 7 weeks behind me and is due April 28th (one day before Mom and Dad's 31st anniversary). Mom thinks Sarah and I are in a contest to give her a heart attack since I'm due 3 days after farmer's taxes are due and Sarah's cutting it pretty close to tax day herself! :)
Here's a cute picture of Kylie and Aubrey playing so nice together....

... and one of Kyle trying to beat Regan up! :) They haven't quite figured out how to play together nicely yet. Most of the time Regan wanted to be with the big girls and Kyle just wanted to crawl around and be with Papa. But, I'm sure it won't be long before they'll be running around like best buddies. Here's the birthday boy not enjoying the hat his mom put on him!
And then very satisfied once he got his hands in the cake! He was a mess but man, he sure was cute!
The last weekend in August, Richard and Nancy came to visit. I must not have taken very many pictures while they were here but I got a good one of Nancy and Regan reading a book.


Life around here has been pretty eventful the last week or so. Since we got back from NM, Regan has had a runny nose and cough and a little fever. We called the doctor and they sent a prescription but it didn't seem to be doing the trick. Then Sunday morning Regan woke up with a 103.6 fever. So she and I stayed home from church and went to the doctor first thing Monday morning. They gave us a prescription for penicillin and sent us on our way. The cause of the fever was a sinus infection that was draining into her ears and throat. Then Tuesday, Regan woke up with a rash on her torso and her face was real splotchy looking.

To make a very long and somewhat confusing story, short, we thought she was allergic to the penicillin, did a few things different for a few days, she got better and now we're thinking the culprit may actually be the gatorade we gave her to offset the messy diapers from her medicine.

Either way, she's feeling better, I think and starting to act more like herself. The best part of all of this is that she was so tired and felt so crummy on Sunday that the entire day was spent in the chair watching week 1 of the NFL. It was great mother/daughter bonding time. She's now well learned of the rules of football and how and why the Cowboys are the greatest franchise in the history of the game.

It's my goal to take pictures more often, so hopefully the next post will be more pictures and less rambling from me, right Bill!? :)

New things every day...

I finally got her hait into pigtails!!! She looked so stinking cute.
Regan loves to read books lately. Her great-aunt Roxie bought her some counting books last week, and now she's almost always got a book in her hand, either reading to herself or wanting us to read to her (mostly so she can turn the pages before we finish the first sentence!).

She woke up with some crazy hair today! I'd had it in a ponytail, but she pulled it out after her nap. She's making her "funny" face. Her and Eric make faces at each other when we're eating supper and now anytime he says her name a certain way, she immediately makes this face. What a ham.

Pretty girl standing in front of the dishwasher to remind Daddy that Momma wants (actually, NEEDS) a new one for Christmas.

Regan was pulling out all the clothes that are too big for her the other day and she came across these Santa slippers. She looked at me and signed "please" so I put them on her and she wore them all morning. I guess she truly is a girl after my own heart... ready for Christmas already!

You think Hollywood is ready for her? :)

Regan is growing so much and learning new things every day. She pretty much talks all the time (wonder where she gets that from?). Her favorite phrases as of late are: uh-oh, Momma, hi and no. I can't wait until I can understand what she's saying because the way she laughs and points and smiles, I know she's got interesting stuff to say!

She's signing a lot lately: more, eat, drink (which looks like eat, but she says "dee", so I think she means drink) and please. Anytime we try thank you, she either plays Indian or blows us kisses.

Nana bought her a baby doll a few weeks ago, and Regan loves to give to baby loving (hugs and pats on her back) and sugars (kisses). I'm hoping this means she'll be a nice big sister. She also likes to run into our arms if we're sitting on the floor and give us big hugs and kisses. Seriously, she's the sweetest thing to ever walk on this planet.

Cute pictures

Here are a few pictures Regan's great-aunt Sherry took a few weekends ago...



Here's Regan handing a flower to GiGi. Isn't this the coolest picture ever!?

Busy bee

It seemed like time to update, but I guess I haven't been taking very many pictures lately because I couldn't seem to find any to update with. :) Oh well, here are the few I found....

Regan playing in her Barbie doll house that a couple from church gave us. Yes, her hair is in a cute little ponytail on top -- I finally can fix my little girl's hair! Woot.
Last week I found a great deal on end tables at Big Lots (you know the routine, go in for Mr. Clean cleaning gloves, come out with two end tables....). I think they look really nice and Regan thinks the drawers are pretty cool.
She also thought the box they came in was awesome. Her and Lucy spent about 3 hours that night playing.
Regan's new favorite thing to do is get into Lucy's bed while Lucy is in there sleeping, and then she makes a nuisance of herself picking on Lucy. It's pretty funny to watch, though, and so far, Lucy has been really good with her.
Eric was mowing the lawn the other day, so I thought Regan should match him. Aren't they so cute!?

Happy 4th of July!

We had a great week in Elkhart with the Livingston side of the family. It took forever to get here and the time flew by, but here are a few (okay, a lot) of the pictures we took while there.
The cousins -- who knew it would be so hard to get 4 kids to all smile and look at the camera at the same time?!
Nana and Papa with their grandkids.
We had a toenail painting party while there. I think this is a cute picture of me and Regan. :)
Here is all of our feet -- I know you don't care, but for my own benefit... starting top center, going clockwise -- Brandi (in stars and stripes), Nana, Kylie, Tara Lynn, me, Regan, Tabitha, Julie and Aubrey. We had a lot of fun painting (and re-painting) our toenails and got lots of comments on them at the swimming pool!
Eric and my dad built the base for a slide into Mom and Dad's new swimming pool. It's the slide from the swing set and the kiddos had a great time -- even Uncle Eric got in on the fun!
A cute picture of Regan and her 2nd cousin, Jordyn. I think their grandpas were calling them Dale Jr. and Jeff Gordon.
Regan wearing her bikini from Aunt Karen. I wish I looked that cute in a bikini with a pot belly! :)
Eric had a good time riding my dad's old Suzuki motorcycle around the block a few (hundred) times!
Regan is watching the pro to learn how it's done.
Somehow I wound up not getting a picture of the Livingston cousin's. Sorry! Anyway, we had a blast while there and I'm reminded more every day how blessed I am to have a family that can be goofy and serious and happy and mad and tired and wound up and yet we still love each other no matter what. And God Bless America, that we live in a country where we are free to worship and praise Him and claim all things through His grace!

Happy Father's Day!

The cutest picture ever of Eric and Regan!

Last year's Father's Day pictureAfter we ate lunch we went over to Grandad and Dolly's. Regan had a great time playing with Grandad and talking things over with Dolly in the garden.
Three generations of Barkers.... I finally figured out how to make Regan smile for pictures. It's not very lady-like, but if I make a burping sound, Regan cracks up laughing. I guess that makes her a Livingston too! :)
While we were over there, Dolly asked Eric to put together her little grill. Regan must've thought Eric was doing it wrong, because she grabbed all the gear and started jabbering away like she was telling him how to do it right. It was the funniest thing to watch!
I put her hair in a ponytail the other day. It looks cute from the back and the side, but in the front it only emphasizes the mullet-like hairdo we've got going on...

Regan's summer

Here is Regan modeling Daddy's sunglasses in the hotel room during our "Tour of Texas"
Again in our hotel room.... she had so much fun talking to the baby in the mirror! It was so funny to watch.
Regan has really taken after her father when it comes to water -- she doesn't like it! The other day she fell off the step trying to go into the office (hence all the red marks on the left side of her body!) and since she was already in a bad mood, I let her take her ball in the bathtub. Bright idea #4 -- she loved it and didn't cry once the whole bath!!
Here she is sitting in the tiger (leopard?) chair that some friends gave us. Lucy immediately claimed it as her bed, but Regan is starting to take over. She finally starting to want to read books -- can you believe my child isn't usually interested in reading!?
She was walking (yes, walking is a new thing, as well as her 7th tooth!) around the living room the other day and got really interested in The Price is Right.
Last night Regan ate grilled chicken, rice and vegetables, and mashed potatos. Or at least, she tried to eat it! :) Most of it did actually end up in her mouth, believe it or not.
Mmm... finger lickin' good!

Happy Birthday Regan!!

We had a Hawaiin luau birthday party/cookout for Regan's 1st Birthday, which is actually tomorrow. :) She loved the birthday cake and we think she was the cutest little hula dancer there is!


Do you like Eric's apron?
Rogaine and her best bud, Hubson.
Aunt Karen, I promise this wasn't open, she was only licking the ice off the top!
Cake time!!