Christmas and stuff

I've had so many blog thoughts running through my head in the last week, but haven't had the exact inspiration to put them all into words. So, I'll just share the thoughts and maybe you'll get the point. For example, while in Tulsa visiting Ryan's family, we made a quick trip to the local Bass Pro store to get a little gift for a gift exchange. While enjoying my redneck surrounding, I noticed that there were lots of men wearing camo... in this store that's completely normal. The part that struck me as interesting and made me laugh out loud while in the store is that more than half of these people (in camo) were all drinking Starbucks! Starbucks carries certain stereotypes with the type of people you find there, as does Bass Pro. But clearly, not the same stereotype, so it just struck me as humorous. Maybe I'm the only one. Christmas was super fun this year, except for Eva's stomach bug that she had that prevented her from eating anything more than crackers the whole time we were with her grandparents. It was really sad, but she's doing better now. In fact, as I'm writing this, she's crying because I told her she couldn't have any cookies. We discovered that she likes ginger snaps while she was sick. One night out of desperation, I kind of jokingly asked her if she would eat a cookie because she hadn't eaten anything all day. That's when she discovered ginger snaps and she's been asking for them ever since. Now back to the fun part of Christmas, she came around the corner on Christmas morning to see a big Elmo doll waiting for her. She said "Elmo!" and ran to him and then gave him nose kisses. It was super sweet! ... I know I had more thoughts, but I"ve been interrupted multiple times and I just don't remember them right now. So check back and I'll add more. I'll also add pictures really soon, too.

Plaster

So, today, I decided to make a Christmas ornament that included pouring plaster into a mold and then putting Eva's hand in to make an impression. I don't know how many of you had tried to put an 18 month old's hand into anything recently, but it's not the easiest task in the world. First of all, I did try a little to soon. But every time I tried to put her hand in, she would fight and pull and the hand print just looked like a blob. Then, she would immediately wipe her hand on her shirt. After several attempts, it did turn out to be a cute little hand print. Now I'll have it captured forever. I thought today about how sad I would be if that ornament ever breaks. It's another example of my actually knowing why my mom always said, "You'll understand better when you're a mom someday." I always hated when she said that, but guess what? Now I do understand better. I guess moms really are right. That is a little painful to say... :)

Sick!

We've all been sick around here. Actually, it's just me and Eva. I think Ryan is the "carrier monkey". I started out with a cold that turned into a sinus infection. I realized that I had never actually had a sinus infection, because I'm pretty sure I would have remembered that kind of pain in my face. Everything hurt... my teeth, my jaw, my ears, my eyes, my cheeks, my head... pretty much everything. I have been miserable. Today is the first day that I"ve felt better. Except this morning I woke up with a stiff neck so I still haven't gotten much accomplished. And Eva started running a fever last weekend and then developed this rash. The doctor told us she had the Roseola virus. Nothing serious... just fever and a rash. So, she started getting better and was doing pretty good for about 3 days but started running fever again last night. Today it got up to 102, but it comes down with Tylenol. And she has this gross sounding cough and a runny nose. It's so sad to watch a sick baby. She keeps saying "Up. Rock." She just wants to rock all day long. It's sweet. Yesterday, we were rocking and she laid across my lap and I started lightly scratching her back. I noticed that she was calming down and relaxing (she had been fussing/whining). I stopped a couple of times for different reason and she would reach around and touch her back and say "please". It was so sweet. Being a parent is so hard sometimes. I have all of these questions running through my mind, "Should I call the doctor? Is it RSV? Is it croup? Am I just being a first-time mom and she just has a cold? Maybe I should call the doctor. Well maybe I'll get on webmd.com and see what it says." This is the never-ending monologue that goes through my head. I just need to calm down. I'll keep you updated...

Imitation

As a parent, I have learned the often humorous and sometimes bitter lesson of being imitated by a little person. This tiny person has no clue about right from wrong, which presents the bitter part. For example, I recently had a moment of road rage while these little ears were listening. I called this particular driver an "idiot" and then heard my precious, innocent child say in such a sweet voice from the back seat..."idiot!" Another instance I was watching LSU football one Saturday afternoon and something didn't go my way, so I said "Oh my gosh!" Here comes this tiny little bit of innocence around the corner saying "oh my dosh". It was funny, but again made me realize that I really have to watch what I say and do. The more humorous side of this story, is that my little girl also likes to pretend to put make-up on and likes to pretend to paint her toe nails. This week, I have been sick and on Thursday I completely lost my voice. Every time I would say something to her I had to whisper and she would whisper back. It was so funny. The point of this story? As my little shadow was imitating me the other day, I got to thinking about the verse in Ephesians (I think) that says "be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children." I started thinking about the impact I could make for His Glory if only I would imitate my Father, the way that Eva imitates me. I am his dearly loved child and I should want to imitate Him, because he is perfect and is the essence of every other good quality that exists. What better way to teach my little imitator about our Father than for me to be His imitator.
I'm attaching some pictures of Eva imitating me cleaning and painting toe nails. Enjoy!

Nose kisses

Recently, Ryan taught Eva how to give "nose kisses". As she was getting ready for bed one night, Ryan asked her for kisses, which she gave. Then Eva said "nose" and leaned in for a nose kiss. This began a nightly routine of real kisses followed by nose kisses. Well several nights ago, Ryan was trying to give Eva her nighttime kisses and she grabbed his head and pushed it toward me and said "mommy's" (as in mommy's turn). She wanted Ryan and me to kiss. It was so sweet. After he kissed me, then she was satisfied. Ryan and I were discussing later about how much security and comfort she must get when she knows that we love each other. It was a sweet little reminder that she is observing everything about our lives, even our affection toward one another. What a great time to begin to show her what true love is. We have also started a nightly routine of doing a group hug. It's so sweet to watch her reach out to the parent who isn't currently holding her because she wants both of us in the hug. What a sweet child.
I finally got some pictures uploaded! Yea! Enjoy...

Happy Birthday?

So, I've been trying to teach Eva how to say Happy Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, I recently also taught her how to say Happy Birthday. In trying to get her to imitate Happy Thanksgiving, I will say, "Eva, say 'happy'" and instead of saying "happy", she says "bir-day". Then I took a different route and just asked her to repeat, "Eva, can you say 'Happy Thanksgiving'?" And she replied, "Happy Bir-day"! I figure that is doing pretty good for a 17 month old, so I'm just going to leave it alone until next year.

On a happy note, Eva has been sleeping later the last few days. Some people get jealous when I say that, but let me explain what "later" means. Instead of waking up at 5:45 AM, she has been waking up around 7:00 AM. To me, 7:00 is now "late". Just 2 years ago, I would have been completely grumpy about waking up at 7 am on a Saturday, but now it's normal and I wouldn't have it any other way. I am so thankful for my little girl. She is such a joy!

Happy "Birthday" everyone!

Granola, Africa, and Babies

Seems like a random title, huh? Let me explain....

This morning, I woke up early, it was cold outside, and I had granola and yogurt for breakfast. This combination always makes me remember the time I spent in Nambia, Africa. We had granola and yogurt nearly every morning and it was so stinking cold there. I always slept in 2 layers of clothes and slept under lots of blankets. So, when I think of Africa, I get warm and fuzzy feelings. But lately, I've been thinking a lot about the not so fuzzy parts. For months now I have had the desire to go to Africa and work in an orphanage. I have so much experience in child development and my heart just aches to think about children around the world that do not have an opportunity to develop appropriately because they are lacking in the simple basic need of human touch. These children sit in cribs for much of the day and learn from a very early age that they are not loved. My own realization of this fact has made me start to question my role in these children's lives. Now I obviously can't help all of them, but I also feel that God has given me a heart for children that goes back as far as I can remember and he has obviously done this for a reason. I can't help but think that my current job experience of working with children who have all sorts of developmental delays and disabilities is preparation for a greater purpose. That obviously scares me to death, because that could mean anything. I want to have a willing heart to whatever he calls our family to do, whether that's a short term mission trip to work in an orphanage, or to adopt a child, or something even greater that I can't yet fathom. God has called us as believers to take care of those that can't take care of themselves (i.e. orphans). I am not doing enough right now and God has really been showing me that, but I can only be more willing and obedient from this moment on.

As for the pictures of Eva... I thought I had one uploading, but after 15 min. of it thinking about adding 1 picture, I stopped it. I'll try again later. Sorry!

Skinned knees and Bloody lips

The last few days have been kind of harsh on my little toddler. On Sunday, she got her first skinned up knee by falling off of her little scooter. And then this morning, she climbed into her rocking chair and lost her balance and fell backward pulling the chair onto her and smacking herself in the face. Poor girl, the skinned knee barely phased her, but that lip... WHEW! She cried big time. The busted lip required a nap afterwards, which she is currently taking.

If I ever learn how to add pictures on here, then you will get to see her first boo-boos. Of course, I took pictures for her scrapbook. I'm such a nerd. And yes, I completely realize that I won't even think about taking pictures of our next childs first boo-boos. I guess that's the privilege of being the firstborn. I hardly have any pictures of myself as a baby. But I guarantee there are at least a thousand for my oldest brother. He is the cherished one I guess. (Don't get mad, mom. I know you love me almost as much. :) )

So, that's the update for today. Now, I'm off to learn how to upload pictures...

Oh and "HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!"

Time change

Curse the person who invented time change. I'm thinking that this person/ group of people either didn't have children or their children were grown. Children don't understand the concept so in the Fall when every one else gets an extra hour of sleep, those with young children just get up an hour earlier. So, my child once went to bed around 7:30- 8:00 and woke up at about 7:00, now she wants to go to sleep between 6:30 and 7:00 and wants to wake up at 6:00. NO FUN! I do think that after a week she is starting to adjust.

Oh, and an update on the bangs... they don't look quite as bad as I originally thought. I will post a picture of them soon. But, it wasn't as alarming once I got a fresh perspective. Ryan didn't freak out, so that's a good sign.

Well...

So, last night my husband said to me, "You should start a blog." Little did he know that I had been thinking about it for weeks and just hadn't done it. So, here I am, after receiving the gentle nudge that I needed. I'm not sure that anyone more than my mom and mother-in-law will ever read this, but it will likely be filled with stories of motherhood and the lessons I'm learning from my precious little girl.

For example... today, I decided to cut my daughter's bangs. After weeks of watching her push them out of her face, because she will NOT under any circumstances leave a bow in her hair, I decided that today is the day. Poor kid. Her mom is always trying to save a buck. So, I put her in her high chair, wet her hair down, and started chopping. Literally, I chopped. OOPS! I think that if we keep it pushed back enough, no one will notice. Lesson learned... don't try to cut your kids' bangs. Eva is my learning tool for the other kids to come.