26 November 2008

this day

On this day, 33 years ago, my sweet mother-in-law was filled with regret and pain and then, I'm assuming, joy. Pain from the labor preceding the birth of her first child, my wonderful husband. Regret from the previous day spent nesting. The joy came from holding her precious baby boy at last.

She wrote to me a few days before Levi was born with a request for me to "take it easy" until his birth and a story of the day before Bryan's birth. Unlike her experience, I knew when Levi would be born since I was to be induced. Like her experience, I started those agonizing hours of labor exhausted* and would end up overjoyed with my new precious son in my arms.

I'm so thankful for this day and the one 33 years ago. And, I'm thankful for the love and patience my mother-in-law and father-in-law put into raising their son.

Happy Birthday, B!

Here's to another 33, at least :)

Par-tay at our house tonight! Get your dancin' shoes on!!

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*I've just tried to link the post of Levi's birth story and can't find it. Could I have never written it? I'll have to get to work on that - what else is this blog for than to record memories?!

21 November 2008

8 months for Levi


My little man turned 8 months old on the 4th. If you'll recall, that was a busy day and not just because of the election. A couple days later, I started to post about his little 8 month self, but ran out of time and only got the pictures up with a promise to finish later. But, life happened and then our computer crashed again! So, I'm blocking out some time to let y'all know a few things about what makes Levi a wonderful, fabulous, amazing cutie pie. (And to help me remember.)

How about a top 8 list?

number 8 - He loves to babble...babababamamaba...
number 7 - He is pulling up on things and can almost climb onto the first stair.
number 6 - He's grown to love food. I haven't found anything he doesn't care to eat.
number 5 - He can get anywhere with precise Army crawling.
number 4 - He's happy on the floor if I'm sitting there with him or he can get to a shoe.
number 3 - He knows his family and lights up when he sees one of us.
number 2 - He still has no teeth, so still no nursing mishaps :)
number 1 - He melts my heart when he lays his head on my shoulder after a middle-of-the-night feeding.

It is a blessing to stay home and raise these kiddies of mine. Levi does his fair share of reminding me that on a daily basis.
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19 November 2008

It's like a vacation every single day

Bryan's been out of town a lot the past week. It's a little unusual for us. He's usually gone a couple days every month, but he's been gone 6 of the last 7 days. Yesterday, I was feeling a little like I'm sure single moms (and dads) across the world often feel. Addi read my demeanor and told me I needed a vacation. I asked her what I could do on my vacation and she answered, "Whatever you want. You would just have to play with me and Libby, feed the baby, cook supper and wash our clothes."

I don't know why I ever feel stress when I'm LIVING my dream vacation!

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15 November 2008

bewildered

Reagan has a mind of her own and it shows up in most everything she does. It is a great quality and can serve her well, but it is also challenging for me to deal with at times. She does things at her pace, doesn't liked to be quizzed, and hears all. When I thought she was ready to learn her colors, she started counting to 10. I almost worried myself sick for a month trying teach her what was red, or pink, or green. When I asked her what color her cup was, she'd stare at me as if I were from another planet or she'd tell me, "I don't know!!" or both. Then she'd count all the peas she had yet eaten. I was perplexed. I knew she had the intelligence to learn her colors. For pete's sake, she learned to count to 10 on her own! Eventually, I calmed down and decided she would tell me what color her cup was when she felt like it. She did.

Potty training was another big issue. I really wanted her potty trained before we had another baby for which to buy diapers. That plan worked the first time around; why not this time? I think we started to potty train her at least 3 times before I figured out (yet again) she would do it when she was ready. I did tell her that I wouldn't allow her to go to preschool in diapers. Long story short, she essentially potty trained in one week early in the summer. Really. One week was all it took to go from full-time diaper wearer to no-time diaper wearer. Oh, there was the occasional accident, but it was fairly rare and we weren't having to remind her all the time.

I had finally figured that girl out! It was like we were expert parents or something.

But, (you had to know there'd be a BUT) she doesn't like to go potty. It takes up so much time and she worries someone will touch whatever she's playing with or eating while she's in the bathroom.

Plus, I make her wash her hands.

And dry them.

And, she doesn't like to be told what to do. She will look you straight in the face while dancing all around to tell you she doesn't need to potty when, clearly, she does. You should hear the wailing after we force her to go to the bathroom.

The last few days Bryan's been fishing. The kids have been great, but Libby has been waiting much too long to go potty resulting in, well, I think you can figure it out. Not a soaking where a floor cleanup is necessary, but if she goes 10 times a day, 9 of those times we'll have to change her panties. (This really is not new, but is getting progressively worse and I'm noticing it more when I'm the only parent.) I told her last night, after she'd had a bath and then waited too long before bed and then needed another bath, if she did it again today, I was going to put her in a diaper. I really don't like this method of parenting. In fact, I got mad at Bryan when he got frustrated with her early on in potty training and did the same thing. I don't want to make my kids feel badly. I just don't know what else to do. Honestly, I thought at the mention of a diaper, she'd straighten up. She gave me a look like she could care less, so I went on about how embarassed she be at Sunday School in a diaper. That seemed to hit a nerve. I was pretty sure we'd have no more problems with waiting too long to go to the bathroom.

Of course, this morning she waited too long and when I discovered her panties (because she refuses to put wet panties back on, not that I blame her), I had to stick to my guns. I grabbed one of Levi's diapers and stretched and pulled until I barely fastened them around her waist. She almost started to cry. I had her! This was a fantastic idea! Finally a lesson that would sink in and stick with her!

Immediately she walked over to Addi, pulled up her nightgown (yes, it is 2 pm and we are all in our pajamas - it's a cold and lazy day here!), stuck out her rear and died laughing. The girl almost fell over she laughed so hard singing, "I'm wearing a diaper! I'm wearing a diaper!"

Seriously?

I'm at my wit's end here. Suggestions, anyone?? Do I make her put the wet panties back on if we're at home because I know she hates that? How gross is that?! You know I must be desparate to even think it. Surely someone can up a better idea.

Any suggestions will be appreciated and not judged :)

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*In case you weren't sure, that's her down there. I knew exactly which child of mine that was and assumed the rest of you would also. But then, Bryan mentioned the picture of Addison on the blog...

12 November 2008

ww (sort of)

I still get lost in those eyes.

She knows it and fully uses it to her advantage!



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1 word meme

I got tagged for this meme from my friend Becky. This could be challenging, but I'll do my best.



1. Where is your cell phone? hmmmm...??

2. Your significant other? amazing :)

3. Your hair? frustrating

4. Your mother? loving

5. Your father? patient

6. Your favorite thing? chocolate

7. Your dream last night? forgetable

8. Your favorite drink? Dr. Pepper

9. Your dream/goal? sanity

10. The room you're in? office

11. Your fear? drowning

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? better

13. Where were you last night? home

14. What you're not? fast

15. Muffins/donuts? donuts

16. One of your wish list items? speed

17. Where you grew up? Texas

18. The last thing you did? dishes

19. What are you wearing? t-shirt

20. Your TV? quiet

21. Your pet? Zoe

22. Your computer? Dell

23. Your life? envious

24. Your mood? sleepy

25. Missing someone? yes

26. Favorite pastime? reading

27. Something you're not wearing? makeup

28. Favorite Store? Central Market

29. Your summer? HOT

30. Your favorite color? purple

31. When is the last time you laughed? lunchtime

32. Last time you cried? today

33. Who will/would re-post this? ?question?

34. Four places I go over and over? kindergarten, preschool, grocery, library

35. Four people who e-mail me? Bryan, Mom, Dad, and Facebook :)

36. Four of my favorite foods? macaroni, fries, pie, cookies

37. Four places I would like to be right now? bed, vacation, beach, relaxing

38. Four people I tag? whoever wants to do it

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06 November 2008

Little Man

*Actual words to come in the next day or two :)









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04 November 2008

6 Wonderful Years

Addison Grace turned 6 today. Words cannot express the way I feel about my oldest daughter. I love her in a way I never knew existed before November 4, 2002. She changed me forever. I feel privileged to be her mother. As weepy as I may get that my baby is 6, I must admit to feeling some excitement in watching her grow. It's hard to remember what she was like at 4 or 2 or 6 months. She is an incredible child only to impress me more with each passing year, I am sure.



today...









4 years...




2 years...


about 6 months...

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02 November 2008

She'll actually mean it when she says, "No new taxes!"

I overheard some kids at a birthday party this afternoon. They were discussing who "they" were voting for. On the drive home, I asked Addi who she'd vote for if she were old enough. Her answer was John McCain. I asked her why and she said, "Because Barack Obama takes all your money and gives it to other people."

Maybe I'm not the only one paying attention to the talk radio in the car :)



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