Jacaranda!

In May, the streets of Orange County are purple with Jacaranda trees. These trees only bloom for a few weeks, but for that time, you can see Jacaranda trees everywhere! Seriously! The purple of their blooms is gorgeous and very vibrant and you can see them from quite a distance. We have one in our front yard so Emmerly quickly learned what it was and for several weeks, every time she saw one, she would shout "JACARANDA!!" She was so excited to see them everywhere! One day we were riding to a choir festival on the bus with Scott's students, and every few seconds you could hear Emmerly - jacaranda.....jacaranda.....jacaranda!! Most of the students didn't even know what "that purple tree" was and were amazed that Em did and that she could pronounce it! Now most of the blooms are gone, but a few trees have some purple left and every once in a while when we spot one, of course Em shouts "Jacaranda!"

LOL

Just now I was checking the comment Papa and Mormor had made about the previous post - Em's green face and all - and Em came into the room, looked at the computer and saw the pictures and said, "You put that online?! Oh my gosh..."!!! I'm not sure I even knew that she knew what "online" was! Ha ha! Oh, these newfangled kids and their technological ways! Even at three! And yes, I did laugh out loud when Em said it - then she got embarrassed and hid under the table! More LOL.

when you want to laugh...

but you just CANNOT!!! You know those moments when your child says or does something and you really want to laugh, but if you do, it will totally ruin any chance of getting across to your child that what they just did was probably not the best idea? Well, this morning I definitely had one of those moments.....I'm in the kitchen - cleaning, checking my email.....Nola is in the exersaucer next to me....Em is in the mud room painting....and then she comes into the kitchen.....



How do you NOT laugh??!!! I didn't, despite the strong urge.....but then I go and take pictures! How could I not? Her response when asked why she did it was "because I just wanted to be an alligator!" She then proceeded to make snapping alligator movements with her arms in Nola's direction....It's definitely one of those moments to remember! During her subsequent bath we had a long discussion about the toxic qualities of paint and what will happen if she does this again....well, we at least talked about getting face paint next time!

(Side note: Yes, I'm very well aware of the lack of posts over the last two months....I'm totally serious when I say that I am always thinking, "oh, I should put that on the blog"....I can see it in my head - what I'll write, which pictures I'll add....but when it comes to actually sitting at the computer and doing it......there's where I fall short! I just downloaded pictures to our computer from the last two months and therein lies the problem. I need to do that a little more frequently! But then, when the blog is already so far behind, it's like, where do I start? I could just go on from here, but Nola has changed so much in the last few months, and there have definitely been some great pics and funny stories to tell, so within the next few days I will post those things I was going to.....you know, the ones I already formulated in my head....Let's all just pretend that I did it on time!)

Rollin' Nola

the days of putting your baby down and knowing she'll be in the same place when you return are over - pray for us...

Happy Mother's Day to all!!

how to make a mom cry...

Yesterday on the way home from school, Em said, "I really wish I could be a mama." So I said, "Really? Why?" And she answered, "Because....I want to be like you!" Aaawwwww! Tear!

Catch Up, Take Two

Here are those pics I promised you! Sorry I couldn't deliver on that promise on Friday! Enjoy...

Leaving the hospital....the Melvins are now 4!

Isn't Nola so cute?? Check out the little smile!

"Welcome home! Welcome home!" Emmerly yelled over and over at the top of her lungs when we pulled up to the house. She had gone home early with Nana and decorated with balloons and "It's a girl" signs and was so excited to welcome her new sister home. It was adorable!

Auntie Tiff and Uncle Todd meet their newest niece.

Mormor's visit - She promised Papa she wouldn't hold Nola since he couldn't hold her too, but she couldn't resist! How could she?

Em is such a proud big sis.

Emmerly's St. Patrick's Day Parade at school. They go ALL OUT!! Green milk, green PB&J sandwiches, etc. Notice decorated scooter (even Irish flags!) and her green cape (hard to see). She had a blast just riding around in a circle for an hour!

Even Nola was sporting her green, with Auntie Jen.

Aaaaawwwww....too cute!

Nola is one month old! Look at those legs!


Look what the Easter Bunny left in my room!

The whole Melvin-Werre clan on Easter at
Grandma and Grandpa's.

Mom....I cut my hair.
(Notice the long hair on her left shoulder,
and the chop job on the right!)

What a stink face!

Look how long her hair was!!

But of course she is cute no matter what. Here's her new bob!

In Colorado for a visit - "It's snowing!! Can I try to catch it in my mouth?"

The Melvins at the Catie and Dave Engagement Extravaganza Luau! Notice Scott and Dave's Tiki hut in the back and Todd's palm tree!! Nice work men!

Dani held Nola as often as she could! What a great cousin!

Em showing off the visor she made at the party.

The whole fam damily!

At Patti's shower for Grace, due May 31st. We can't wait!

The sign I painted for Grace's room!

Nola, Deb and Jen at Patti's shower - sweltering in the hundred degree weather, yet still managing to look fabulous!

Deb's cousins, Megan, Jessy and Erica, along with Nola and Em of course. Outside the Crab Cooker, Aunt Mo's favorite and a must whenever she's in town!

Nola is two months! And enjoying her new swing.



Em and Mommy took a field trip with school - we took the train to San Juan Capistrano and went to Ruby's for milk shakes and then to the petting zoo. Em even got to eat a bagel and have juice on the train ride down!

Emmerly with her teacher Mrs. Kayl on the field trip, and her friend Emily staring off in the distance!

Catch Up

Hallelujah! Alert the media! The Melvins have posted something else to their blog besides the adorable, yet boring after 8 weeks, video montage that Scott put together at the hospital!! Yes, yes, it's true. For those of you who check our blog daily (Sarah!), today is finally the day that you will not be disappointed! I apologize that it has taken so long, but hopefully you'll cut us a little slack. Not only was I recovering from surgery, but we were learning how to be parents to two, Scott left me and went to New York (and won a national competition and was featured on the Early Show!), we had some visits from Tiff and Todd, Mormor and Auntie Gina, we went to Colorado for a visit and to celebrate the upcoming nuptials of Auntie Catie and Uncle Dave, and Scott wrote and put up a musical in three weeks! So, you see, we've been a little busy! Also, I'm not really used to this whole blog thing. But I promise to attempt to blog once a week. Notice the word attempt. It may be more like every two weeks....but I'll try!! So, I figured I would just put up a bunch of pictures from the last two months to catch you all up on the Melvin happenings, and then we'll go from there. Hang on to your hats and glasses folks, cause there's going to be a lot of pictures!!

Scott's three ladies!

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Our first group hug (Em's favorite) with Nola!

So, try as I might, blogger is not cooperating this morning and I can't add anymore pictures right now!! But I tried! I promise! We're actually on our way to San Diego in just a bit, so I'll try in a little while to add more pics, but if I can't, I promise I will on Sunday when we get back, ok? But, just to give you a few more updates...Nola had her 2 month check-up on Monday and is just fabulous. She is 13 lb 11 oz and 23 1/2 inches. She is absolutely adorable and is cooing and smiling a ton! She loves to just sit and chat with her mommy and daddy and big sis. Speaking of which, Em is the best big sister ever - she is so gentle and loving with Nola and talks right back to her in a really cute baby talk. Em is also learning how to give Nola some lovin' without squeezing the life out of her!! :) Scott got in a car accident on Monday night and is just a little sore still, so please keep him in your prayers. I am just fabulous! Feeling really good as far as the c-section goes and most of the time feeling pretty good about my parenting of two skills. I'm still working on getting out of the house - I'm generally running about 1/2 hour late these days, although I hear that I am actually way ahead of the game since I get 1/2 hour grace period for each kid!! So, in that case, I'm generally a half hour early everywhere!