putting off the inevitable

So as I mentioned previously (like a week ago??? because I've been a bad blogger) we sold our house. It happened early last week. The realtor showed our house for the second time to the same people and they spent an entire hour looking around (meanwhile I assumed they would be done shortly and drove around hour neighborhood for an hour - it was funny when Jimmy showed up and we'd pass each other and wave only to pass each other again on the next street) our lovely home. I was aggravated but hope it was a good sign! Sure enough, we had an offer the next day!

After getting the offer we knew we had to bust our tail to find a new home! We had several in mind but nothing that I was in love with. We found a few homes in a neighborhood we'd never heard of and decided to check it out. It's a small community but two seconds from the big neighborhood that I'd been wanting to live in. I immediately loved the house! I knew from the beginning that it would be great for our family. There were a few "well, there is this" but after more consideration we knew it was the one!!! It's plenty big but not too big, it's new but not brand new, it's a one story but not a crammed one story - it's perfect!!

The closing date is set for March 23rd. Which, if you're counting on your fingers is precisely 24 days from today! Yikes!!! Which brings me to what I am doing now rather than what I am suppose to be doing...packing!

This is not fun. Those of you who think moving sounds like so much fun (I thought this too until an hour ago) have lost your minds. The idea of packing in general is not to bad, but then once you start doing it - well, it's a little harder than it looks. I'm an obsessive organizer. This means my boxes must be organized and labeled. Right now I have 3 open boxes on the floor with a few things in each. This is going to be interesting!

If packing alone wasn't dreadful enough, throw a 2-year old in the mix! At the present moment JD
is unrolling a roll of tape.

This might sound like a no-no, but it's better than what he was doing a few minutes ago - taking all the shredded paper out of my paper shredder!! Ahh...help me please!


I do have something to look forward to (and I'm not referring to the pretty house we are moving into in 24 days) - rodeo!! Jimmy and I will be leaving shortly for some bull ridin', turkey leg eatin', cowboy lookin' heck of a good time! Yee Haw! I love me some George Strait!

Then I'll come back home to this and start all over again tomorrow. Note to self: spend your 5-1/2 hours while JD is in MDO to get stuff done! Enough of this business....

Remember Me?

Although you might think my life must be super boring and that's why there are no recent posts; however, that couldn't be farther from the truth. My days have been spent looking at houses, attending play dates, and looking at more houses. Just a note: we've found one and have not only made on offer but have a contract on our house as well! Post to come...

Here's some thing to enterain you all. It was taken from Jackson Jones's blog who took it from Big Mama's blog...oh the blogging life!!


Music Meme

Favorite Song From Childhood: James Brown's I Feel Good. This was me and my PawPaw's song. I can still remember picking him up from the airport with my mom and busting out with "I feel good, da-na-na-na-na"! Talk about some stares...

Favorite High School Dance Song: The Dance by Garth Brooks

Senior Class Song: I Will Remember You by Sarah McLachan

Favorite Rock & Roll Song: Pour Some Sugar on Me by Def Leppord - I can remember singing this in my living room with my mom while watching VH1

Favorite Disco Song: Play that Funky Music White Boy

Favorite Country Western Song: This is a tough one - right now...Last Dollar by Tim McGraw

Favorite Pop Song: of all time - something by the infamous Brittany Spears - either Slave for You or Boys

Favorite All Time Love Song: Me and You by Kenny Chesney

Favorite Break Up Song: I Walk Alone by Oleander

Favorite Make Out Song: hmmm....Let's Get It On - I don't know!

Song That Always Makes You Cry: If Tomorrow Never Comes by Garth Brooks and Remember When by Alan Jackson

Songs About Your Kid/s: Watching You by Rodney Atkins

Song That Reminds You Of Your Husband: Take Me Out to a Dance Hall & Three Days by Pat Green

Favorite Gospel/Praise Song: You Are Holy and Better is One Day

Favorite Ringtone on Cellphone: I need a new one, right now I have Don't Stop Believin' by Jorney!

You're it...dooo itttt!

GOOD Morning

After yesterday's unhappy post, I knew I needed to start my day better. I've known this for a while actually. I can remember waking up as a pre-teen and a teenager in junior high and high school for quiet time and being so tired and it being so quiet - well, I fell asleep. You see...this girl enjoys her sleep - A LOT! I'm a sleeper so I have to do a lot of praying to even get up in the morning. I have even prayed for a false-smoke alarm to wake me up, of course this would wake the entire house meaning my quiet time would be interrupted 10 times with a toddler asking for everything under the sun.

So anyways...I just wanted to say Good Morning to everyone. I believe my day will be a lot better. God is doing some work in this girl and I so desperately need it. I can't wait to see where He takes me.

I have a fun day planned for myself. JD has MDO and then I'm going to do YOGA - something I have done since pre-JD and I am SOOOO excited!! Then I guess I'll run by our office and make myself useful. Jimmy and I are looking at 6 houses today after we pick JD up from school.

I will try and write later...I feel like I have so much to say, but JD will miss MDO if I continue! Love you all....

...a tough morning...

It's been a while since I've had a blog where I just let it all out.

What a day...and it's only 1:37. I'm not even sure where to begin...but I have to release this all before I start my Bible study. I literally laid JD down for his nap and said, "I NEED to do my Bible study and get before the Lord before I loose my mind." Oh yes...it has been on of those days.

I'm dealing with a few new challenges with JD. I'm not sure if this is part of the toddler years or if he's just being difficult. I'm sure it's the toddler thing but I think I feel more pathetic if I pretend I'm the only mom of a two-year old going through this.

JD won't eat. He refuses to eat just about everything. Some days he eats only one or two things, other days he eats one huge meal and hardly anything else. There are the rare days where he takes one or two bites but several times of day. This would of course be no big deal if he was weighing in with your average 2-year old, but at almost 25 months of age JD is barely pushing 23 pounds. I know babies who weigh this at 8 months!! The doctor is not overly concerned with this, just me. I do have him drinking PediaSure once a day and eating these NutraKid bars for added calories, but he rarely finishes the bar and typically only drinks 3/4 of the PediaSure. He's extremely active so I know that it's not affecting anything other than his weight, but it's still frustrating. I want him to eat and more importantly I want him to want to eat!! Everyone keeps telling me he'll eat when he's hungry...Really?? Because I'm pretty sure he'd go almost a full day without eating anything at all if I didn't sit him down and force him to take a bite. Which is just so much fun as he's crying and covering his eyes with his hands. Ahhh!!! I'm not exaggerating at all when I say he can go until at least noon without telling me he's hungry. He doesn't of course because I make him eat something - usually a few bites of dry cereal. I guess i just don't get it and I'm getting so frustrated trying to to get him to eat! This has been going on for a couple of weeks, and it's just getting worse! Pray for my patience and JD's appetite please.

I'm also so very tired. I'm not sure what it is. I'd love to think I'm pregnant but I don't think that's it. I mean, if I am it would have happened in the last 36 hours (in case you cared to know that much about our love life) and I think this would be pretty quick to be showing the signs. I'd also love to say that it's all the lovemaking that's got me worn out but I don't think that's it. I'm just beat!!! I could literally lay down and close my eyes and instantaneously fall asleep. I'm not usually this way either. If I make myself wash my face, get dressed, and put on clothes (and by this I don't mean sweat pants and a tshirt) I'm good to go until nighttime! But here I am mid-afternoon and I'm so tired. This of course is making me very cranky which in turn makes the above even harder to deal with!

Then there is the whole house dilemma. I want to sell and I want to find a house to buy! Jimmy and I are having a hard time agreeing on anything we look at. He wants a new house. He doesn't want to deal with the problems that can sometimes come with older houses. I like the feel and cleanliness of a new house. I love the big windows and open floor plans. I love the vaulted ceilings and the big tiled floors. I love the updated kitchens with granite counter tops. I love all of that, but I don't like yards with no trees. I want a big oak tree in my backyard and shade in my front yard. I want a street lined with everything from maple trees to magnolia trees. I want to stub my toe on acorns and complain about pine needles!! As much trouble as falling leaves are, I want them!! I want trees!! I might have been raised in Houston, but there's always a part of me that wants to live far from the city. This part obviously doesn't exists during shopping sprees since I favor Nordstroms and Arden B over Piggly Wiggly and Fred's Dollar General, but aside from that I want space. I also want young neighbors. I want JD to grow up with kids on the street like I did. I spent every waking moment outside playing. There were so many kids around us growing up, I always had a companion!! I want JD to walk out into the front yard and have to decide who's door to knock on first (with me standing at the front door watching because who are we kidding...things have changed)! It's just hard coming to an agreement. We have several homes we are looking at tomorrow that are pretty new (built in the last 5 years or so) and seem to have decent size yards with a tree or two. So we'll see... Oh, and they are affordable. We have agreed on one community but the houses are a little more than we want to spend. I mean..this girl does like to eat!

So I'm done unloading...now I'm asking for a few prayers. I'm going to go now! I need some Fruit of the Spirit...love you all!

My Look Alikes....

Lookin' good, lookin' good....



Oh and JD's is even better...all girls???

Favorite JD Phrase of the Week

Me: "Ouch!"
JD: "What happen?"
Me: "I hurt my elbow?"
JD: "Me kiss it?"

I melt....

TGFPD - Thank Goodness for Play Dates

...and TGFS (Thank Goodness for Sunshine) for that matter!

Praise HIM, it's another sunny day in Houston. We have now seen the sun 3 days in a row, which might sound like no big deal to anyone living in San Diego, but we've had some awful weather the last month. I was so excited this morning I almost threw on last year's bathing suit and layed out!!

Today was our second play date with out NW play group. JD and I belong to two different play groups - The NW Play Group and the JV, Bear Creek, and Copperfield Play Group. We love them both so much and it is sooooo nice to visit with other mommies during the day.

Today's date was at Mercer Aboretum. It's a beautiful park, botanical garden, library, and outdoor classroom in Humble. It's a bit of a drive for us, but so worth it. JD had a blast and has turned into quite the monkey!!

I am just so glad to have met these ladies and to have a place to spend our days that JD is not in MDO. I know he loves getting out of the house as well. Anyone looking for a playgroup should checkout meetup.com for some in your area. It's a great website and has a lot to offer!

Also...keep us in your prayers and especially my "control issues". I'm kinda getting frusterated with this whole house-selling business. It's frusterating waiting for a buyer and even more frusterating looking for the perfect house. I'm trying so hard to sit back and let whatever happens happen...but I want to move soon!!! Anyways...just keep us in mind, we are both so ready to start packing!

Better sign off...I have a bible study to do before JD wakes up!

BIG Babies

(AP) He is called "Super Tonio," and at a whopping birth weight of 14.1 pounds, the "little" fellow is causing a sensation in this Mexican resort city. Cancun residents have crowded the nursery ward's window to see Antonio Vasconcelos, who was born early Monday by Caesarean section at Jesus Kumate Rodriguez hospital. On Thursday, doctors reduced his diet from 5 ounces to 3 ounces of milk every three hours. In three days, Tonio gained 7 ounces, weighing in Wednesday night at 14.5 pounds. He measures 22 inches in length. "We haven't found any abnormality in the child. There are some signs of high blood sugar, and a slight blood infection, but that is being controlled so that the child can get on with his normal life in a few more days," Narciso Perez Bravo, the hospital's director, said on Wednesday. In Brazil, a baby born in January 2005 in the city of Salvador weighed 16.8 pounds at birth. According to Guinness World Records, the heaviest baby born to a healthy mother was a boy weighing 22.5 pounds, born in Aversa, Italy, in September 1955. Antonio's mother, Teresa Alejandra Cruz, 23, and father, Luis Vasconcelos, 38, said they were proud of the boy, and noted that Cruz had given birth to a baby girl seven years ago who weighed 11.5 pounds. "It's good, because now with this one, we'll have a pair" of big babies, said Vasconcelos.

Do you know what's even crazier?? A friend of ours weighed 11 lbs 1 oz when he was born and his mama delivered him with no drugs! CRAZY!! She's a better woman than me! I don't have any pics of him as baby, but here he is now...6'9'' and the jolly green giant

St. Jude

This is something I have always wanted to be a part of, so I decided to join the fight against childhood cancer this year. I pray that a cure is found for childhood cancer and I hope I live to see it, or at least JD.

Below is the link for KILT's Big Country telethon going on the next 2 days:
http://www.kilt.com/

Here's the direct link for donating:
https://shop.stjude.org/GiftCatalog/express-donation.do?program=cck&frequency_selected=1&source_code=ORQKILTII07&stationUrl=http://www.kilt.com&stationCall=KILT

Please conside the $30/month donation...you never know when it can happen to someone you love. Oh, and hug those extra special children in your life that are healthy as can be!!! I am blessed to have a healthy boy (at least for now) to wake up to everyday~

GuiDANCE

I'm not sure who this is written by, but I received it in an email from my cousin. I really enjoyed it...

Dancing With God

When I meditated on the word Guidance,
I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word.
I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing.
When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.
The movement doesn't flow with the music,
And everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.
When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead,
Both bodies begin to flow with the music.
One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back
Or by pressing Lightly in one direction or another.
It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully.
The dance takes surrender, willingness,
And attentiveness from one person
And gentle guidance and skill from the other.
My eyes drew back to the word Guidance.
When I saw "G: I thought of God, followed by "u" and "I".
"God, "u" and "I" dance."
God, you, and I dance.
As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust
That I would get guidance about my life.
Once again, I became willing to let God lead.
My prayer for you today is that God's blessings
And mercies be upon you on this day and everyday.
May you abide in God as God
Abides in you.
Dance together with God, trusting God to lead
And to guide you through each season of your life.

What a night...

I will start off by saying I am WIPED OUT so please excuse any gramatical mistakes!!

We made another trip to the ER last night and still haven't fully recooperated!!

Yesterday afternoon (around 1:45) JD and I were at the kitchen table eating lunch. I had finished and was in the laundry room (which is right next to the breakfast area) and JD was in his booster seat (which is strapped to a chair - it's a tall bistro table so he sits like 4-1/2 feet or so off the ground) finishing up. He got his feet wedged between the chair and table and kicked off, sending the chair straight back with him strapped in. Of course, we have very hard tile floor (it's old tile with a million grout lines). I saw the fall but couldn't get to him in time - but managed to trip over the laundry basket and take a spill myself. He started SCREAMING immediatley!! There was no blood or bump, which made me nervous. I called my mom and sis-in-law and asked them what I should do. They are my "go-to-girls"! Afterall my mama's raised three kids, one being a complete accident-waiting-to-happen, so she's seen her share of emergency rooms. Aylie has two little ones so is a little more up-to-date on her info (no offense mama). They both said to keep a good eye on him for a while, but if he seems alert and didn't loose conciousness then he's probably fine. I held him forever and he finally calmed down. He seemed okay besides being a little shook up but was pretty coherent and able to answer simple questions (what color is this, what does a chicken say, where's your eyes, etc.). I kept him awake as long as possible (it was naptime already) and then finally let him fall asleep.

He woke around 4:30 and was fine all afternoon. He played like normal (maybe not quite as wound up) and was fine for several hours. Around 6:30 we got ready for dinner and I sat him at the table but he didn't want to eat. I let him get down and he played a bit more and then layed on the couch. Around 7 I checked on him and was gonna give him his vitamins when I saw how red his eyes were and could tell somthing was wrong. He immediately vommited (a bucket full) everywhere and then did the same a few minutes later. I knew this was a sign of a concussion so I kept watching him. I called my mom, Tim, and Aylie again. From then on he was pretty out of it, not lethargic but very out of it. He kept staring off and just layed on the chair in a daze.
He didn't want to take a bath and wouldn't eat or drink anything.

Jimmy and I decided to take him on in to the ER. We got there around 8:00 or so and got through triage quickly. He threw up 5 more times while we were there. They did a CT, which was a NIGHTMARE - JD SCREAMED the entire time. I don't know how my mom did it with Shannon so many times. My heart was just breaking for him. They had to mummy-wrap him in a sheet and then strap him to the table. He kept crying, "Mama Mama, hold you". After 4 or 5 attempts they let me take him back to the room, only to come get us a few minutes later because the images weren't good enough. This time it was daddy's turn - I couldn't take any more. Once the CT scan came back (30 minutes later) the didn't see any swelling so that was good. However, JD was still throwing everything he drank up and kinda in and out of it still. One minute he'd be taking and the next he'd been a complete daze with his head on my shoulder. They wanted to transfer us to Hermann Children's Hospital in the Medical Center downtown. They were going to do a second CT scan and continue to mointor him there, but in case of an emergency there would be a pediatric neurosurgeon on call (do you have any idea how SCARED I was). They advised us not to drive him and let the ambulance take him so they could continue to monitor him. Only one of us could ride with him, so Jimmy followed behind. They strapped me onto the stretcher and let JD sit in my lap. This of course was JD's favorite part and the whole time he kept saying, "Wow...lights". At one point we were talking to the EMT and driver and I asked JD, "Did you get a bobo on your head today?" He said, "Yes...No, No, No Chair...Be nice!!" It was soo cute, he had us all laughing at this point!

Once we got there is was another mess. Of course we weren't PRIORITY b/c JD wasn't bleeding or anything. For the first 45 minutes he SCREAMED for juice. We got several rude stares from the nursing staff - I was NOT happy. We were sharing a room with a 3 year old girl that had broken her leg. I've never had a broken leg so I never really knew what went on. Apparently her's was pretty bad. We got to watch them drill 2 bolts (with a yellow Dewalt drill) into her knee and then cut them with huge orange steel cutters. It was awful, this poor tiny girl! After an hour wait a doctor finally helped us let JD have so juice - PRAISE THE LORD!! He eventually trew that up as well. They did another CT at 3 a.m. (6 hours after the original) so poor JD was tortured again. After an hour of waiting we got the results. There still was no swelling, which was such a relief. It took so long for them to come and talk to us that I'd already assumed the worst. They sent us home (at 4) and told us we'd need to bring him back if he continued to throw up. I don't think I've ever been so relieved to strap my sweet boy in a car seat!!

JD woke up this morning around 10:45 and was just perfect!! He was my wild child all day today, making up for loss time!! He also had his mommy wrapped around his little fingers all day! He never threw up and ate a little better. I think he told his first fib as well. He was sitting in the kitchen coloring while I messed around in the kitchen. I heard him say, "All done" and knew he got up. A few minutes later I went over to clean up him markers and found a top with no marker attached. I went looking for him and found him in the office coloring the walls!! That little turd told me he was all done so that he could color on the wall!! I wasn't even mad, I was so happy he was up and moving around!!!

So as you can imagine, the last 36 hours have been a nightmare. I was soo scared. It's funny because as much as you want to protect your children from every bump and bruise, it's such a reminder of how much you NEED and LOVE them. I've never doubted this with JD, but it was a friendly, okay...more like a awful, scary reminder to not take a minute for granite!!!

It's been a week...

It's official...JD is a 2 year old. It's been an entire week since his birthday and we are showing our two's like never before!

JD's Interests at the Moment:
- blowing out candles (this might be labeled as an "obsession" as well)
- his loveys (blog coming soon...)
- T-Bee as he pronounces it (his favorite shows are Little Einsteins, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, JoJo's Circus and Handy Manny)
- suckers (he's a sucker for DumDums)
- blowing his nose
- crying at the backdoor because it's STILL raining outside
- new friends

JD's Current Dislikes:
- baths (after two bathtub pooping incidents, he's not very fond of it right now...but there is light at the end of this tunnel; I can already see it thanks to all the new fun bath toys he has)
- diapers (we are STILL fighting over this)
- being told "No"

JD had a very good birthday this year. We had it at the Ruckus Room, where we rented out two rooms full of moon walks and the like for him. He played so hard. My normally shy, stand-offish child was in the middle of it all. His cheeks were so red because him and his CRAZY cousin were going 90 to nothing!! It was a lot of fun and JD had a BLAST!


JD's Mischka Mouse (as he says it) Cake


JD having a BLAST jumping with his cousins


JD sliding - can we say, no fear?


JD and his KK


JD and FuFu


JD Blowing out the candles...only his FAVORITE part of the day!


Yummm...cake!


A VERY sleepy Uncle Kev and JD after the party

We were back at the Ruckus Room today for my neice's birthday! Lexi turned 5, which blows my mind. She is such an amazing little girl and I only hope I have a little one like here one day! Being her favorite Aunt (well, next to Aunt Lynn), I of course had to spoil her rotten. I bought a pink caboodle (yes, they still make them) and filled in with tons of make-up, press-on nails, nail polish, and hair stuff! I had so much fun shopping for her!! Tonight, we are having a big-girl slumber party at her house!! Lexi, Lezlie, FuFu, Aylie and I are all attending!!


Lezlie (JD's best bud) and JD


My other girly to shop for


The Birthday Girl


Nicky - or the TANK as we usually call him

Here are is one more picture of my little guy. What a stud! His shirt says, "Future Heartbreaker" - so true!

Take Control

I just finished my morning bible study, which might I add is done with the music of Little Einsteins filling the background. This morning's study is one that I think I need to read daily. I'm going to reprint the homework just so I can cut out the paragraph I am referring too.

I have a little issue with control. I am with out a doubt, a control freak. This was one of the VERY first things that I thought of after my miscarriage. I could hear God whisper in my ear while rubbing my back just like a father does after a scraped knee, "Child, let me take control. This is out of your control." Which to some is wonderful news. My sister is the complete opposite of me in this aspect. She wants plans made for her. Tell her when to be somewhere, what time, and what to wear and bring and she has no problem coming through. The one barking these orders - Me! I have a special nickname among my husband and friends, especially on occasions when we have evening plans, the Time Nazi. I have a plan and I don't like it to be altered. Haha...my bridesmaids, bless there hearts, received itineraries at the bridal luncheon in regards to the rehearsal dinner and big day. I think I went as far as warning them that I had backups, dare they be late! (Note to self: Tell those 7 beautiful ladies in your wedding that you love them and are so thankful they put up with you!) So you get the point...I like to be in control. This was no different with this last pregnancy. I took ovulation tests to get pregnant so that it would happen quickly if not immediately (which it did - apparently my ovaries are even scared of the Time Nazi). I planned the conception based on the fact I wanted a summer baby. This is of course so that I could throw big pool parties when he/she (I didn't have control over that part) was older. I wanted to be a cute pregnant woman in a bathing suit. I wanted to wear shorts instead of annoying banded maternity jeans!! Because I had so carefully planned these, I started my prenatal vitamins in October just to be ready; I got pregnant in November; I was due July 22. I knew what I was doing! Or so I thought...

I think that was the biggest shock when I found out. I kept thinking, "but I had this planned so well...it was going according to plan." Which is true, it was going according to MY plan. My plan doesn't matter. You know that saying, "If you wanna hear God laugh, devise a plan". That thought ran through my head a gazillion times!

So I'm saying it now, for the record, because I'm now bonded to this through blogger! I don't want to be in control, but more importantly, I don't want to want to be in control. One of the things Beth repeated several times in the week one session is to pray for your desires to change. Don't live trying to push down and ignore those sinful desires, but pray for Him to change them. I want Him to change my desires. I'm being specific, I want Him to change my desire to control every situation, I want to be okay with not controlling the situation and then be okay when the plan changes regardless of who or how or it when it was made. I want to be made flexible.


I also want to be so filled with the Spirit that I don't have the need to make plans for myself or the desire to be in control I want my one and only desire to be that of serving the Lord. So please Father...take control. Make this woman, this wife, this mother yours....

...patience...

How do you teach a child (okay, a 2 year old) patience? This is something I have been struggling with for a few days. I know he's too young to understand it, but is there something I can be doing now to help him? I have looked this up in books and kinda come up empty. I'm trying to set a better example for him (something I have been praying about daily), but can I do anything more?

I try to make him wait for a minutes after asking for something, but then he starts whining. For example, this morning I was doing my bible study when he asked "more please". He was out of juice and asked very nicely for more. I said okay and set the juice down just long enough for me to remove the two Bibles from my lap and the binder holding my study. JD immediately started throwing a fit, not understanding that it takes a second to stand up. I thought ok...if I make him wait to try and teach him to be patient he's just going to whine and cry. Once I finally get the drink he's going to think that by whining and crying he gets his way. So what's a mom to do...

Patience is a gift from God. This I can personally attest to. It is also an inherited trait, just one more reason to set that example. I inhertied my dad's patience, which isn't something to brag about. Luckily, I have a little of my mom thrown in so I'm not a complete lost cause. There's also the big man upstairs on my side, so maybe I'll eventually get this right. As I've mentioned before, I am doing a study about the fruit of the spirit, one of those being patience. I can't wait until we study that part of the spirit by itself. I know God will open my eyes even more. Until then...I will keep praying for not only my patience but for the patience of my little one.

Colossians 1:11-12
being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father...

Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law.

Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Why is it that when I tell someone JD's age I get that look. You know...the one that says "I'm sorry" and "God help you" all in one. It's the same look reserved for daughter's caring for there ill parents or for the man holding an empty leash with a dog running wild through Petco. It's the one I give my Nana when my PawPaw calls for the 7th time while we are at the grocery store. It's the same look you give a woman with a child throwing a tantrum in the mall. Why is it that the smallets mention of a toddler makes everyone nod sympathetically and say, "Oh...terrible toes!" For once I'd like to hear, "And this to shall pass" or "Don't worry, you're doing a great job". Or even better, "You'll miss it when it's gone". Since when did a child exploring his environment or a child testing boudaries become terrible twos? Why not just the "Twos" or the "Terrific Twos" or "even "Trying Twos" would be better that terrible! Maybe this bothers me because I'm a "glass half full" kind of girl. I might have my negative moments but they last only a few days and come around once a month! It's not just the looks and comments made by strangers, it's the books as well. I can't tell you how many books I've read that warn mothers of this stage. Why not encourage them? There are far more exciting things about toddler-hood than awful things! Don't get me wrong...it's hard. Some days I think it's the hardest thing I've ever done, and I thought Chemistry was REALLY hard. But it doesn't lasts...it takes a few "God grant me some patience right now (talk about hypocritical) pleeeaaasseee" and a quick evaluation of the situation and it can be taken care of. For example, my sweet darling of a child has a small obsession with m&m's. By small I mean HUGE and I mean CONSTANT. He usually asks for them when he wakes up (we don't even have any and haven't for several days) and I say 'no". I then distract him with milk. A few hours later he comes calling again...for, you guessed it, m&m's. I tell him "all gone" and distract him with a game. Before dinner, he once again asks for m&m's, and this time we color. My point is...it just takes a little patience and a lot of distraction...wait, I mean A LOT of patience and a little distraction!!! Oh, and some encouragement from others would be nice!

On another note...

We had a wonderful Christmas. JD enjoyed it so much this year and has mastered the art of gift-opening. I am blessed to have a family that I love spending every minute with. My Nana and PawPaw came in town and JD was so happy to see them. He has become quite fond of PawPaw which tickles me to death. The first 18-months of JD's life my PawPaw tried very hard to play with him. He'd constantly try and hold him or play with him, but JD would have none of it. He cried every time my PawPaw (yes, I know I refer to them as MY NANA and MY PAWPAW - it's a habit which I can't seem to break. Shannon and Jimmy give me a hard time!! Afterall, it's there Nana and PawPaw too) picked him up and would run the minute he called his name. He was much more of a Nana's boy. This has all changed!! One morning when my Nana was over, she went to JD's room to get him and as soon as she walked in he took one look at her and asked for PawPaw. She fussed a few minutes but deep down I know she loves it too!!!

Here are a few pictures of our Christmas celebrations...


JD's gifts from Santa


Helping JD with his presents


Hmmm...where do I begin?


JD and his cousin Nicky


The Three Cousins


The 26th at my Mom's house...I know...it's a ridiculous amount of presents!




PawPaw, Me, JD, and Nana


My handsome brothers - Dustin, Matt, and Eric


My BEST Friend


We had a wonderful New Years Eve spent at home with family. We went to my sister-in-law's for New Years Day. My mom, Tim, Matt, and Shan joined us. It's so awesome that we do so much as a WHOLE family!!

Before I close...I wanted to update everyone on JD. He's talking up a storm. I LOVE it. As hard as toddler-hood can be, it is so much fun. So to all my friends with young ones...don't be afraid. It's tough and there will be days when you want to throw your hands up and scream, but the days in between make it all worth it!!! There's a great book available about the toddler years and I'm reading it right now. It's very encouraging rather than scary and it has a ton of info!! It's written for the second and third years...so from age one until they turn 3. It's called The Mother of All Toddler Books by Ann Douglas! Read it!!

Anyways...back to JD. He's really mastering the talking. This morning when I went to his room (at 9:00 might I add) to get him out of bed he said, "I pooped, it stinks!" Does this classify as a 4-word sentence or two 2-word sentences??? It was too cute...and yes, he was right. He did poop and it did stink!!! He also has a new obsession with his KK. It's actually pretty bad. This evening when I out him to bed he cried for 45-minutes (I know....I'm awful, but he's fighting me when it comes to sleeping) before I got him out. When I went in there he was crying for his KK. He continued to cry/scream until my mom got on the phone and talked to him. Matt actually answered the phone so there was about a 2 minute delay before my mom got on, all the while JD was screaming, kicking, and yanking my arm to get the phone. As soon as, and I mean literally the second JD heard KK's voice he quited down. He talked to her for a few minutes...literally talking which we understood little of. He sure loves her. We have to make several calls a day to her just so he can talk to her. It warms my mom's heart, and my too once he settles down!!!

One more picture of JD...

Maybe if I smile big she won't notice the pile of Cheerios on the floor!?

God is good...

God is so good.

As many people already know, my family and I were dealt a hard blow on December 19th. I went to the doctor for my first prenatal visit and learned that we had lost the baby. This came as quite a shock, I guess you never quite expect something like that. I didn't. Everyone has asked how I took it. Well...I tried not to cry at first. I'm not sure why. I mean...that's a situation that calls for tears. I'm a cryer. EVERY episode of Grey's Anatomy doesn't warrant tears, but losing a baby at 9 weeks...tears are okay. I'm still not sure why I tried to not cry. Of course this only lasted a few seconds and then here they came. Jimmy was there, thank God, but I don't know his expression because I couldn't look at his face. Another wierd thing. I didn't want to cry or look at him. Maybe I didn't want to look at him and start crying, or maybe I didn't want to see him sad, or maybe I didn't want pity. I think the latter is probably the biggest reason. Why do we not want to be pitied? I felt like Izzie on Grey's after Denny died and the only words she uttered was, "I'm okay". I felt like I've said that phrase 100 times if not more in the last 2 weeks. Gosh...has it only been two weeks? Of course the difference is, Izzie wasn't okay, but I am. Here I go trying to convince everyone but I really am. It's almost stranger being okay than not. I shouldn't be yet, but I am. I cried a lot the first week, but now...I'm doing pretty darn well. Before I loose everyone...let me explain why.

Monday (the 18th) I emailed a dear friend of mine Amanda Jones (http://jacksonjones.blogspot.com/) asking for a bible study recommendation. I have spent the last few weeks yearning for something more. I grew up in church, but ever since I had the choice to go as opposed to being dragged out of bed, fussed at to hurry up, and then starved for a couple of hours while I tried to stay awake during sermon, I've stayed home. Of course I make an appearance at Easter and Mother's Day, but as far as every Sunday....not so much. Anyways...to say the least I have missed it. JD goes to The Met for MDO and I've attended a few Sunday's there, but not as a regular. So...it had been on my heart to do some damage-control and work on this relationship with Christ. Thanks to Mrs. Amanda's advice I started the Fruit of the Spirit study. It felt good and I believed Beth when she looked in the camera and said, "You are doing this study right now because you need it in your life right now". Of course, I assumed this was because I was tired, and becoming impatient, and needed a pick-me up! Little did I know that within 24 hours life as I knew it would change for my family.

I shared this story not because I have few things to write about right now, but because here I am 2 weeks later completely blown away. I haven't been quite as dedicated as I'd like to be the last few weeks, but this is partially due to family in town and a son who's trying to kick the daily nap habit. JD starts back MDO tomorrow and I can hardly wait to watch my week 2 video. God is more than amazing...he's heart-stirring. I love that word...I used the Thesaurus. Anyways...my heart has been stirred. I may not ever understand why this baby that Jimmy and I were so excited about was taken, but I do understand that it was God taking control. He might have done it for no other reason that to get my undivided attention, and that is as good of a reason as any. He has it....I'm here...I'm ready for whatever work He's about to do in my life. I pray for my undivided attention, for the daily discipline, and for the time-management skills I'll need on a daily basis. I know God will make this happen.

He is SO good.

and this too shall pass...

So I am happy to report that JD's mood has improved. I'm telling you what, last week was ROUGH! Like tackle football with no pads rough!! I even found myself second guessing if I could handle another baby! I know...shame on me. Thursday night JD woke up (again) and I cried!! Jimmy woke up quick and asked me what was wrong...I screamed "I'm a bad mother!! I'm so awful, I can't even go in there and look at JD's face right now. I'm sooo tired the thought of even having to hold him makes me want to scream!!!" Of course, this is after JD didn't (wouldn't-refused) to go to bed until after 11:00 (3 hours past our normal bed time) only to wake up 4 hours later! Luckily, my wonderful husband got up with him and I slept. Well, after I too had to get up and eat myself a hot pocket because after listening to him cry for 10 minutes I was starving! How many more months do I have left???

Friday night was our annual Christmas party. It was a blast as usual. We had about 40 guests and after dinner (ham, turkey, dressing, green beans, purple hull peas, rolls, sweet potatos, etc - all the trmmings) we had a gift exchange!!! There are few things funnier than watching a bunch of guys (there were a few more guys than girls) get all riled up over a few Christmas gifts!!

Saturday night my beautiful, wonderful, most-important-woman in my life, mother took JD for the evening! What a treat!! Jimmy had all these plans to go to dinner and see a movie, but instead we oredered take out and watched a movie at home. It was more than wonderful! Thank you mama...I needed it!!!

So here we are...7 days away from Christmas and I can't wait! I'm just so excited to see JD open his gifts this year!! He's got several I know he'll love!! The best being the golf clubs Jimmy bought him. They are a real set of clubs in a real, looks-like-daddy's bag!! I'm blessed to have a husband who can't wait to share his passion for golf with his son!! He's already made plans to take him out to the range to hit balls. After all, Phil Mickelson began hitting balls on the range when he was 2 years old, or so Jimmy says!! All I can think is...a few hours of sanity for myself!!

My Dislikes...

Yes...I realize this is my 3rd post in one day, but now I'm venting....

I've had a rough few days...I'm tired and grumpy...someone has replaced my sweet boy with a whiner...here I go...

I dislike:

- sippy cups - I realize that every mom who raised kids prior to 1993 is booing me but I'm sorry, sippy cups are NOT suppose to leak. They are suppose to save your carpet and furniture from apple juice! I used to believe this at one time. I even remember having a conversation with another mommy friend (I know...the joys of motherhood conversations) about sippy cups. She was complaining about them leaking and I'm thinking to myself that apparently you aren't buying the right kind because mine never leak. Ha - 2 new couch stains, one ottoman stain, 2 chair stains, and 2 carpet stains later - THEY LEAK!!! If yours don't now, give it a week!!!

- grocery shopping (with JD) - Like I mentioned before, my sweet, take-anywhere, happy-go-lucky, baby boy has disappeared and been replaced with a sweet (sometimes), take to the park ONLY, happy to whiny in 3 seconds toddler!!! I made it through a third of my shopping trip when JD became everything I'd ever read about toddlers in grocery stores. He wanted everything in sight (hotdogs, apples - which he won't swallow, only chews then spits out, cereal, waffles, biscuits) and voiced this to the entire store. I was that mom getting those awful stares!!

- old food in the fridge - I know this is a given, but I could handle old food before being preggo but not now. After emptying an old (by old I mean OLD) container of guacamole I proceeded to puke up my entire subway-like (I made it and it was delicious) sandwich and 20 puff cheetos in the kitchen sink. All the meanwhile Jimmy watching me. When I finished he had the nerve to say, "Next time why don't you just have me do that" NEXT TIME...are you kidding me???

- sales people in parking lots - I am loading enough food to feed a small army into the back of my car, JD is now eating a sticker that the checker gave him, my phone is ringing, and it's starting to sprinkle and this guy comes up to me trying to sell some window decorations. After I've loaded nearly all my groceries he offers to help. I smile and say I can manage the last two, thanks. He contines with his speech. I know it was a fund-raiser of some sorts, but seriously...don't they teach you who to approach and who not to. A mother with groceries and a child eating stickers in the rain is probably not the best choice!

- my water fountain - We have one of those water tanks that you put the five gallon water bottles on. I LOVE the water and drink a lot of it. However, I am not the only one. JD has taken a liking to the water tank as well. He likes it so much that he fills anything that will hold water up. Jimmy asked me earlier today, "Why are there 3 cups of water in the fridge?" I explained that I refuse to throw away the water NOT because it's expensive but because it takes him a week to get the bottle refilled and that JD keeps filling different containers up. In the last 24 hours I have found the following full of water: a LARGE cup, the dogs bowl, a lego, a bath toy, a decorative Christmas box, a flipflop (I'm not sure where he was going with that) and the top to a marker. As funny as this may sound...it's quite messy!!!

Even though he's a mess....how can you not love this face??

Uh-oh...I better hide!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot like Christmas...

Yea...it's my FAVORITE TIME of year!! I literally wait all year to decorate and it begins ASAP. I normally start the evening of Thanksgiving, but this year we were out of town so I got it all done the day we got home!! I love everything about Christmas. I love the smell, the colors, the cheeriness and most of all the REASON. It took us a little longer to get out tree this year because we were gone several weekends in a row, but it's finally up!!! We started a new tradition this year by cutting our Christmas tree down. We've always had live trees but we usually just pick them up at the garden center. This year my mom, Tim, Shan, Matt, Susan, Jimmy, JD and I, and our friends Kate and John went to the Christmas Tree Farm and cut one down. We had such a wonderful time. JD loved the farm animals they had and really enjoyed the tractor ride. As adventurous as it sounds, cutting down your own tree really isn't all that difficult. The people at the farm take you on a tractor hayride to the trees, drop you off, give you the saw, and then pick up the tree once its down. I was a little worried because my dear hubby isn't one for sawing, but I was really impressed. It took all I had not to attack him then and there in front of family!!!

FuFu (Jimmy's mom) and JD

If we aren't going on the ride yet, can I pleeease have some more hot cocoa???

Dada and JD picking out a tree

We finally made it home with one 8-1/2 foot tree and one poinsetta. Jimmy had a busy weekend because we are having our annual Christmas parrty next weekend, so he was busy in the garage while I decorated. Of course this took a trip to Target because I got mad at our lights last year and threw them all away after Christmas. So 3 new strands later, our tree is up and decorated!!

BEFORE JD got a hold of it (see bellow)

JD's tree in his room

This Christmas has already been a little different because JD is almost 2. As fun as it is, it's also a bit harder. Yesterday the following Christmas decorations were broken....
- a glass bowl and all 12 ornaments inside
- 3 glass ornaments taken from the tree and thrown across the kitchen floor
- a minature snowman from the fireplace

I'm not sure if our dustpan has ever been used so many times in one day!!!

Anyways...we are ready for Christmas in this house!!! I love this time of year....