Christmas...

This year we celebrated Christmas Hickman style! We were lucky enough to enjoy a visit from all of the Hickman clan. This was quite a big production as people traveled from Utah, Virginia and Connecticut to visit us here in Baton Rouge. Here are some pictures from the festivities.

All of the cousins decorated Christmas cookies

The cousins re-enacted the nativity. You can tell by the picture how well that went =)

Keeping with the Hickman family tradition, Santa came to visit. Just a little traumatic for Lex!

Katy enjoyed the snow white doll that Santa brought her. Notice how I'm still soothing Lexie in the background.

Lulu loved her cozy coupe!

All Katy asked Santa for was a "dolly castle". I think he pulled through.

I love when my girls will take 2 seconds to smile for a picture with me!

I had to include this picture because Lex is such a momma's girl and the little stinker would not let anyone hold her for very long without crying. Thanks for not giving up Nana!

The other night I finally got out of the house by myself. I was only running a quick errand, but the excitement of being alone, out of the house, without any kids was pulsing in my veins. I turned on the car stereo to rock out. I immediately start singing to whatever came on. About 10 minutes later I realized I was rocking out by myself to my daughter's favorite cd - The Laurie Berkner band. How embarrassing. Enough said.

Fun in California...

We had so much fun in California over Thanksgiving break. It's beautiful here in Baton Rouge - really green and...swampy? J/K it really is beautiful, but California is a whole other kind of beautiful. It was fun being with family and watching my girls play with their cousins.

My cute prego sister Kendra and my other sister Nicole (who made me breakfast every day for the 10 days I was there!)

Katy and Uncle Matt. He was such a good sport with the kids and will be a great daddy in April!

As you can see from the number of pictures, Katy and Jacquie were inseparable.

Katy, Jacquie and Evan at Fairytale Town. Really cool place for younger kids.

Jacquie and Katy enjoying some hot chocolate on a rainy day


My "Sac Town girls". All AMAZING women and great friends.

Lexie turns 1!!!

Our sweet little Lulu turned one during Thanksgiving break! We were in California visiting my family and were able to celebrate with cousins, aunties, uncles, grandma and grandpa. We headed to the Saxton family favorite pizza joint - Round Table. Since we were on vacation I opted to buy a cake for the birthday girl instead of making one. She had fun digging her hands into it, but then didn't really know what to do with the frosting after that! I had to help her take a couple of bites before she realized what the yumminess allover her hands was. It's fun to have two little girls. Jared and I have noticed that they are so different in many ways. While Katy is very bright, peticular, organized, and a little uncoordinated, Lexie is the opposite. Lulu is very sneaky, very quick, and very loud! She is also the biggest momma's girl I have ever seen in my life! While I'm very glad she is growing out of the baby stage and becoming a lot more fun, I can't help myself from snuggling with her - she's just too stinkin cute!

Our little trick or treaters...

We had a wonderful Halloween this year (last year Katy barfed all over someone's trunk or treat set up)! On Friday we went to Katy's Halloween party at her preschool where we decorated cookies and ate snacks. Saturday we had one of Katy's best friends over to trick or treat at our house. We weren't sure if there would be many people handing out candy in our neighborhood because it was just built in the last year and there aren't too many children that live here. However, it ended up being great because there were only about 12 trick or treaters in the whole neighborhood, but most of the houses were handing out candy. Every house we went to ended up filling their baskets with treats! Actually, I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing! I've definitely eaten my fair share of candy since Kaitlyn's too young to realize that all of her chocolate has mysteriously disappeared.

Here's our crazy monster pumpkin that Jared carved

Cutest bumblebee ever!

Sweet little "princess Dorthy"

The three little trick or treaters enjoying their loot!

Yay, our little bumblebee is walking!

Jana and John come to play...

We had so much fun this weekend as Jared's Aunt Jana and Uncle John came to visit. They came on Friday and stayed for the weekend entertaining Katy and Lexie the whole time! They won Katy's heart instantly as they came bearing gifts. We went to the pumpkin patch Friday night, but couldn't stay long because it was so muddy. That night, while I was getting Katy ready for bed I told her it was time to go potty. Katy said, "no, I want him to take me" pointing at her uncle! John turned a little red and told Katy that he would wait for her on the couch. On Saturday we took Jana and John to Bluebonnet Swamp which was really fun especially since the weather was so nice. It's more like a nature reserve than a swamp, although part of it is a little swampy. They have this nice wooden boardwalk for you to walk on and the hike is pretty shaded. The park also has a visitor's center where you can see and pet different animals - mostly snakes and alligators. When Jana and John were driving off on Sunday Katy turns to me and says in a forlorn voice "I loved Aunt Jana" =) We had such a fun relaxing weekend with Jana and John - we hope you guys visit again soon!

This is what happens when anybody besides mommy picks up Lexie!

Notice the instant smile on Lulu's face as she is promptly handed back to mommy!

I love this picture of Katy cuddling with Jana on the couch

I was terrified while Katy pet this alligator. I pretended not to be though because I don't want her to be scared of everything when she grows up like I am.

I was the navigator on the trail and of course I led them down the wrong path! How did I end up with the map when there were two boyscouts with us?!?

First steps...

My baby took 5 steps this weekend! She still prefers to crawl, but will take a few steps now and then. The funny part is that when she's really concentrating her tongue seems to pop out of the corner of her mouth. It's sooo cute!

Zoo Boo...

Have you ever had one of those perfect days when you love your life and everything seems perfect? I had one on Saturday. The weather finally cooled down, my kids were in a good mood, my hubby looked super cute and we had a great day together as a family. We went to the annual Zoo Boo at the Baton Rouge Zoo and it was a lot of fun. Katy dressed up as Dorthy or "princess Dorthy" as she liked to call herself. It was a little chilly (70 degrees was the high) so we didn't dress Lexie in her bumblebee costume. They had trick or treat stations all around the zoo next to the animal exhibits. Katy was in heaven looking at the animals and filling her basket with candy. They also had a hay maze and some other little games. Lastly, we rounded out the day with a picnic.

Notice how Katy is holding up her new smiley face ring

Katy wanted to take a picture in front of every inflatable Halloween decoration!

Lulu didn't have as much fun. She was dying to get out of the stroller, but since she can't walk yet it's a little hard to let her out.

I was so excited to see the baby rhino. Isn't he so stinkin cute?

Another inflatable Halloween decoration. I started faking taking pictures of them by the end of the day!

September in Review...

I haven't blogged very much this month, so here's what's going on in the Hickman house.

-Lexie turned 10 months old! Kaitlyn taught her how to clap a couple of weeks ago and it is so adorable. When she gets really excited she'll start clapping a ton. Lulu is also starting to eat a lot more solids. I've been feeding her a lot of whole milk yogurt to help her put on some weight. She's finally mastered the sippy cup which is great, because I'm trying to wean her before her 1st birthday. I am so done with breastfeeding! The next baby WILL take a bottle.

-Kaitlyn has been in pre-school for 1 month now and loves it. I was really worried that she would have a lot of potty accidents at school, but she hasn't had any! In fact she hasn't had one accident in the last month and half! The feedback her teacher, Mrs. Susie, has given me is that Katy is the best colorer in the class, is one of the most meticulous students, speaks the loudest and clearest, does very well in spanish class, is very accident prone =) and is a very good girl. I couldn't ask for more!

-Katy also started gymnastics class this week. Anyone who knows Katy is probably laughing because she is not very coordinated at all! However, Jared and I thought this class would help her and it already has. Before this week she would not even attempt to do a somersault and would cry when we tried to get her to. Now we can't get her to stop doing them!

-It was also my birthday this month and for the first time I have to admit that I'm feeling a little old. I realize that 27 is not old, but it doesn't feel young to me either. I had a great birthday especially compared to last year (hurrikane ike hit on my birthday last year and we had to evacuate). Jared made all my favorite meals, took me on a date, threw me a little party and bought me a fancy new camera. Since my birthday was on a Sunday, Jared even did my sharing time for me (he made one good looking King Benjamin)! Thanks babe!

Lexie loves to play in the curtains

This is how we found Katy taking her nap the other day. Yes, that hump under the rug is Katy sound asleep!

Blue Bayou...

Jared gets a few perks working for Exxon.

Perk #1 - Cheaper gas.

Perk #2 - Awesome work parties.

This weekend Jared's company rented out an entire waterpark/themepark that was only open to Exxon employees. All our meals, drinks, snacks and desserts were also free. Not to mention Jared won a saw too. The girls had so much fun. We went to an area in the theme park that was just for little kiddos and Lexie even got to ride on some of the rides. The first ride we took Lulu on probably should have had a height requirement because it spun so fast! It looked like such an innocent ride and we were the first of the day to ride it, so I didn't see it in action before we got on. I even asked the guy as I climbed on if it was okay to take her with us. I don't know why I trusted a braindead 16 year old! Lexie looked like she was going to puke the whole time; it even made me sick! Poor kid. Anyway, besides that one ride it was such a fun day. Here are some pictures!

Katy drove us around the track in this old fashioned car

Lulu is always crinkling up her nose and squinting her eyes. It's her new face she likes to do.I am such a wimp that even the ferris wheel scared me!

Two new milestones...

Today was Kaitlyn's first day of preschool and she loved it. When I dropped her off she barely looked up to give me a hug and a kiss. It was great that she did so well, but on the way home I have to admit that I got a little teary eyed. I went home and snuggled with Lexie the rest of the day and told her not to grow up...yet.

That brings me to the second milestone. Today Lexie turned 9 months old. She is so different than Katy in so many ways. One of the biggest differences is that she is a little daredevil. We were playing at the playground at chick-fil-A (my fav fast food restaurant) and while I was talking to my friend, Lexie climbed half way up the slide! I wanted to see if she could make it the rest of the way so I continued to follow her and she made it without my help! Katy can barely do that! Anyway, she finally has 3 teeth and is working on a fourth. She is such a doll and really brightens our lives.I realize this isn't the best picture, but she wouldn't stay still for 2 seconds!

One of Lexie's favorite things to do is crawl around the house and lick the knobs on our cabinets

She loves the bath!Jared built them a fort with the couch pillows - so much fun!