Being the best ME that I can be...

Amelia and I are on the mend. Did I mention that she shared strep with her Mama too? I kiss her face all day long, so really it's my own fault. I started meds immediately after waking up with a throat that was on fire. I seriously don't know how Amelia went a week without medicine...her throat had to be killing her. Poor baby.



Speaking of my baby. I love her. Oh how I love her. Several times over the weekend, I would just look over at her and my heart felt so incredibly full. I feel incredibly blessed to be her mother. She's at an age where we have to correct her a lot. Lots of "no-no", "please don't touch that", "do you want a spankin'?" I've really felt God tug on my heart while correcting Amelia. He has told me to be patient with her. To speak softly to her. To speak to her as I would want to be spoken to. I think it would have broken my heart if my mother had ever yelled at me. I don't remember even one time when she raised her voice. I loved her, respected her, and even had a healthy fear of her discipline. And now I love her, respect her, and admire her greatly for her patience as a mother to 6 children. I know I will make mistakes as a mother, but I really want to show God's love to Amelia. That's my true heart. I want her to see a difference in her Mama and want what I have. I spend more hours in the day with Amelia than Alex. I mean, if she ends up being screwed up - it's probably going to be my fault.

Kidding.

Sort of.

Alex provides for our family by leaving each morning and working outside of the home. I provide for our family by staying home and taking care of Alex's and Amelia's needs. Alex reminds me often that my job is of equal importance. Sometimes as a SAHM, you can feel like you're not "contributing" as much to the family. I don't bring home a paycheck. Though I'd much rather be paid in kisses than dollars any day.



I've struggled with taking care of myself now that I'm a Mom. I looked in the rear view mirror on the way to church yesterday and the huge dark circles under my eyes about made me cry. I've put off my yearly, my 6-month dentist appointment, my weekly chiropractor appointments, working out, getting my hair cut, getting a pedicure/manicure, getting my eyebrows waxed. I could go on and on. I've put myself as lowest priority on my many lists. Alex and I decided over the weekend that I can't continue this way. We've been living on a budget since the beginning of the year. I love it by the way! I never thought I would say that - but it's true. I love being on a budget and Alex being over the finances. It was an area that I needed to submit to my husband many years ago and finally did it. We've decided that we're adding in a babysitting line to the budget. God provided someone to take care of Amelia almost instantly after we talked about it. Two days a week/for a few hours, I get to run my errands, go to the doctor, grocery shop...all while knowing Amelia is being well taken care of in our home. I'm not big on ME TIME, but I am big on taking care of myself. I want to be the best ME that I can be for my family. I think everyone will benefit from this new-added budget line.

So how about you? Are you taking care of yourself?

"Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit." -3 John 1:2

Love to all,

A painting for Amelia's room...

I decided to take Amelia to her pediatrician's office today. She has been getting worse vs. better since going to the after hours clinic on Saturday. I asked the after hours clinic to run a strep test. I felt like that's what Amelia had because she had it once before and her symptoms were the same. The nurse struggled to get the swab to the back of Amelia's throat but said she got what she needed.

The test came back negative.

They told us she had an upper respiratory infection. My Mom had been here for a few days over Valentine's Day and was sweet enough to babysit Amelia. Amelia started feeling yucky on Valentine's night. Mom started feeling yucky after she got back home and finally went to the doctor yesterday. Guess what?

She has strep.

I knew immediately that Amelia had given it to her. My Mom has never had strep in her life. So I decided to be THAT MOM and take her to the doctor and ask for another strep test.

It came back positive.

My poor baby has been dealing with this sore throat/fever/runny nose/congestion/upset stomach/etc for a week now. I feel so bad for her. She refused all food this morning. I'm sure it just hurt too much to swallow. I'm just wondering where in the world do you catch strep?? Amelia goes to church nursery and no one there had it. She and I go out very little...we're home most of the time. She has been sick so much and I feel like I should be doing something to prevent it. I just don't know what to do. I wash my hands like a crazy person...it's one of my only OCD qualities. Should I be rubbing her down with hand sanitizer on an hourly basis? Kidding. I'm just ready for her to be well for longer than a month. Are your kiddos sick this much during the winter??

On a happy note - LOOK what I received a picture of today. I am so excited to hang this in Amelia's room. I've been following Kim's blog since before we started fertility treatments. I'm adding this picture of me and Kim in Atlanta because I think she's so darn cute. Look at me hunching over, trying to look normal up against her tiny-self.



I've always been a huge fan of her work and knew that when I had a baby - I needed a piece of her artwork. She stopped taking orders quite a while back because she had so many to fill. I've been watching the countdown (like a stalker) to see when she would get to me! When it came time to decide what I wanted - I totally left it up to Kim. Since I've stalked her website for years and haven't seen one thing that I haven't loved - I trusted her completely. She did not let me down! I sent her pictures to give her the feel of Amelia's room and also swatches of the bedding material. I've always wanted Amelia's room to be colorful and fun and this painting will go perfectly over the crib. I still have one wall in Amelia's room that has nothing on it. I know what I'm going to do - I just haven't done it yet. Like every other room in my home - it's a work in progress. Never really complete. So if you want to see a few pictures of what IS finished in Amelia's room and see the AWESOME painting that will go above the crib - go HERE!! And then place your own order with Kim!!

Oh, and nevermind the squished up bedding in Amelia's crib. It used to be all nice and neat and you could actually see the pretty bedskirt and then she grew and started standing on it and sleeping on it like a pillow. I'm hoping no one will even notice the bedding once I get the painting up there!

Love to all,

All About Amelia - 16 months old!

Amelia, you're 16 months old!!

Your Granny, Aunt Joy, and I sang Happy 16 months to you this morning.

In harmony.

You appreciated it. I could tell.




You weigh a little under 25 lbs. You've been sick and your appetite hasn't been that great...it has caused you to lose some weight.



You're 32 inches long.

You wear a size 4 diaper.

You're wearing 18 month clothing and size 5 shoe.



You go to bed at 8pm and wake between 9:00-9:30 every morning.

You had peanut butter for the first time. You refused to eat it on a sandwich so I just gave you pieces of wheat bread and let you eat the peanut butter with a spoon.



You loved it! :)



You're very particular when you're finished eating. As soon as your finished you want us to remove everything from your tray. If we don't get there fast enough - it might very well end up on the floor. You're new way of letting us know that you're finished is by picking up your plate and handing it to us while saying, "No...No...No...No..."

Your favorite word is No.



You have 10 teeth right now. A new one seems to be popping through every week!

You didn't like the snow - you would cry every time you were put down to stand.



As long as Daddy was holding you - you were fine.



You can say so many things. Too many to list. I'm amazed every time you repeat something I say. It has been a great reminder that little ears are always listening.

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29



You have moments when you challenge what we tell you - but you're very sensitive to our correction. You have a tender heart and you're such a sweet girl.



Your Granny informed me that you're no longer a baby - you're a toddler. I'm fighting this one.



I think we tell you that we love you about 1,000 times a day.

I'm sorry it's not more.



We love you to pieces, Amelia.

You're our sunshine.



Love,
Daddy & Mommy

Back to blogging...

I took a little unexpected blogging break. I find that when something happens in my life...something serious...it's hard for me to just keep blogging away about what I made for dinner or even what cute things Amelia is doing. I usually need time to process and get over the initial shock of it - but mainly I have to commit to give it to God and not worry and then I'm able to blog again. It only took me 2 weeks to get there. :) I would ask you to pray for my sister Joy. She's dealing with a serious medical issue. We're believing all will be okay and are praying for complete healing in her body. Until we learn more - that's really all I want to say about it on the blog.

So what have we been up to lately?

Well we celebrated Valentine's Day! Amelia and I headed to lunch at MarketPlace with her Granny and Aunt Joy. A girl's day was exactly what we all needed. After lunch we headed to TJ Maxx and Target...two of my favorites places! My Mom cracks me up in these pictures. I told her to open her eyes wider and this is what she gives me. She makes me laugh! :)



She was in the middle of telling a story here and I don't think Joy realized that she was mimicking the faces my Mom was making. HAHA! So funny!



Here's me and my sweet little Valentine.



We had arranged for a babysitter Valentine's evening but since my Mom was here - she offered to watch Amelia while Alex and I went to dinner. He made reservations at Arthur's Steakhouse. This was our first time to go there. My former boss used to tell me how wonderful it was - so I've wanted to try it for awhile. Well he was right - it was SO GOOD! We both had the Australian Waygu Filet. I have no idea what Waygu means but it was the best steak I've ever eaten. We chose the three cheese au gratin (Alex's favorite) and the creamed corn w/tarragon (my favorite) as our sides. I finished my meal with a heart-shaped chocolate creme brulee...my favorite dessert! I would've taken pics of my yummy food but honestly - it was such a nice time alone with my husband - I really didn't care about taking pictures once we got there. He bought me these bracelets and the blouse that I'm wearing in the picture below for Valentine's Day. He made it a very special evening for me. I think I smiled the entire night! He is my forever Valentine.





My brother Chris and niece Kandace came over one evening to see my Mom while she was in town. They were here around Amelia's bedtime, so Amelia had a bath buddy that night. Can you tell she was just as pleased as punch? She kept looking over at Kandace in the bath, waving and saying, "Hiiii!!" So cute.



We went with Joy to one of her doc appointments yesterday. I've been getting a babysitter for Amelia when I go to these but this one was early in the morning, so I decided to take her with me. She sat in her stroller for 2 hours - not complaining one time. She read magazines, played with toys, played with her Aunt Joy's iphone, waved at the other patients...just the perfect baby for her Mama. I was so proud of her!



She started feeling puny last night...running fever, runny nose, cough. I take her to have her tubes looked at today. She was messing with one of her ears last night. I just pray all is well and she has no ear infection. This is the first time in a month for her to be sick. One month ago tomorrow - she got her tubes. Hopefully it's just a cold and nothing else.



I'm happy that it's the weekend. I'm tired and need the rest. Alex has been traveling, so I know he needs it as well. And of course our baby girl needs it more than either of us. I hope she feels better by tomorrow so we can enjoy the beautiful weather.

Have a great weekend, y'all!

Love to all,

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love to all,

Coke for breakfast & brownies for dinner...

I've started asking Amelia what she wants for breakfast each morning. A lot of times she'll say "toe" (toast) or "wa" (waffle). I'm just trying to teach her to tell me what she wants and this is one of the ways we're working on that. I asked her yesterday morning what she wanted for breakfast and she went straight to the pantry. And pulled out the coke. She did not get coke for breakfast but it sure was funny.



She has also learned how to use the remote. She will point it at the TV and turn it off and on or turn the volume up and down. Yesterday I was in the kitchen and heard the channel change. I went into the living to find The Wiggles on the TV and Amelia sitting on the couch with the remote in her hand. Grinning from ear to ear.



I decided to try banana as a snack again yesterday. She won't eat it if I cut it up, so I decided to just peel back the banana and hand it to her. She took a few bites but still isn't crazy about it. If you couldn't tell by her face.



I made frito chili pie for dinner last night. I needed something that I could make up and leave for Alex because I had LG last night. Time with my girlfriends...it's always a good time. I didn't get home until almost midnight and then didn't get to sleep until 2am. I knew that Starbucks so late wasn't a good idea!



Alex emailed me this pic before he put Amelia to bed. He had just given her a bath. Oh the sweetness. One of the things I told him when heading out the door at 6pm was that Amelia had eaten an early dinner but might want a little something more before bedtime. I gave him some ideas of what to give her and said, "just no snacks." He told me this morning that he fed Amelia brownies before bedtime because she wouldn't take anything that I suggested. I laughed so hard! She will always look forward to Mama being gone with Daddy feeding her stuff like that! No wonder she has a grin on her face in this pic.



Amelia and I have to run some errands today. I'm not looking forward to it. People are going to be crazy at the store because they're predicting almost 8" of snow tomorrow night. I just need to get some meat and sides for dinner for the rest of the week. We're running low. We have bread and milk so I won't have to arm wrestle anyone for the last loaf. ;)

I hope you're having a blessed week!

Love to all,

Negative Nelly...

This post is just sharing what God is working on in me. I wrote a post awhile back called Gossip Girl and this one is called Negative Nelly. Maybe this will be a series and the next will be called Debbie Downer. (LOL - kidding.)

Beth Moore posted a challenge today that I chose to accept - not just for today but for life.

"Today's challenge to anyone who's game. Go all day till falling asleep tonight w/out complaining or criticizing a single time. God, fill us! If we have a legitimate complaint, let's make it to God alone. Some are valid & need voicing."

I've been thinking about it constantly, since first reading it this morning. Every time I've thought a negative thought or want to voice something that bothered me - I've taken it to God instead of to a friend/email/FB, etc. I think this has become the norm among people. Not just women - but men alike. We have so many outlets to "voice" our feelings/opinions and just seem to put everything out there. A lot of times it just adds fuel to an already emotional fire because we have friends that will step up and back our feelings - in turn validating our behavior.

In the study that I'm doing, she spoke on women having a meek & quiet spirit. In the Bible it says that a meek and quiet spirit is of great price in the sight of God (I Peter 3:4). I've thought/prayed about this a lot, asking God what it was He had for me in this lesson. I felt like He told me to be a better listener. Not to voice my opinion on anything and everything. Just be quiet and listen.

A recurring theme in my conversations with Him lately.

I find that a friend who will listen and not necessarily validate my every thought and feeling is invaluable. Someone that will pray for me instead of joining me. Someone that will speak scripture (LIFE) into me. Ya know...sometimes it's not okay to feel that way or to say that. It's just not. Sometimes (and by sometimes I mean most all of the time) we just need to take our feelings and our nasty thoughts to God. He knows them anyway - so it won't surprise Him. He's the only one that can change our hearts and in turn our feelings/actions.

"The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord: but the words of the pure are pleasant words." Proverbs 15:26

There's a wonderful post HERE about "the fact that God made us the way we are...and that He loves us unconditionally - but that does NOT give us the right to stay the way we are. Jesus died and rose again to give us the power to change...into His image, to reflect Him to those around us." -Belinda Weaver

I don't want to be a Negative Nelly. I don't want to have a critical or complaining spirit. I want to encourage those around me with appreciation, understanding, and kind words.

"Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." Proverbs 16:24

I want to change. I want to reflect Him. I don't want to finish this 15 week study and be the same person. I'm going to think before I speak. I'm going to take my "stuff" to God instead of friends, family, and facebook.



I want Amelia to grow up to be a woman with a meek and quiet spirit. I want to instill a love for God's Word in her heart. I want to teach her about repentance and forgiveness. I want to teach her about God's grace. My desire is for her to be someone who speaks life to her friends and others. I want her to be a praying/supportive wife not a nagging/manipulative wife. I want her to be a kind person. I want her to be content when the world encourages otherwise. I don't want her to seek compliments and praise from others to build her self esteem. I want her to find her everything in Him. God placed me as her mother to LIVE that example to her. What a great responsibility...but with His help and a desire for HIS heart - it IS possible.

"...so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory." I Thessalonians 2:12

Love to all,

Our Weekend...

We woke up Saturday and just hung out in bed for a while. Amelia laid in between us - talking up a storm - giving out kisses freely. I cherish these moments.



Once Amelia was tired of hanging out on the bed - we got up and I started baking. I had some bananas that were very brown and instead of tossing them (like I usually do) I decided to bake banana bread. Joy gave me the recipe and it was delicious. I doubled the recipe so I would have one to give my neighbor, a couple to share with church members, and one for us to eat!



Once lunch rolled around - I made Alex & Amelia some grilled cheese sandwiches and we watched Father of the Bride. I have Father of the Bride 1 & 2 on DVR so we watch them often. Amelia finally figured out how to use her popper this weekend. She had been carrying it around the house instead of pushing it. :)



We went to a birthday party for our niece Mika after church on Sunday. She is the sweetest little baby! She's one year old but so petite - you would never guess it! My S-I-L did her birthday in a Valentine theme...everything was SO CUTE.



It was after 4pm when we finally got home. We had been gone all day and Amelia was so tired. She woke up at 7am this morning. She has been waking up crying the past few nights/days. Not like her at all. When we go in to get her, she has tears streaming down her face and a lot of times her eyes are closed. We wonder if she's not having bad dreams?? :(

Of course today was Super Bowl Sunday. I wasn't really interested in the game, but I have to say I loved the VW Darth Vader commercial...so cute! The halftime show made me laugh. It was quite entertaining. Alex kept saying, "who are these guys...where are they from?" He has no clue who the Black Eyed Peas are, which honestly makes me laugh and love him even more. (LOL) He could care less about secular music. Amelia watched the Super Bowl with Daddy while I made dinner.



I decided to make sour cream & onion chicken strips for Sunday dinner - since they're so quick & easy. Dip your tenderloins in butter - dip in crushed potato chips - bake at 350* for 30 minutes. How easy is that??



I took this picture of Amelia when we pulled into the garage today. Girl was plum worn out.



I hope you had a relaxing weekend!

Love to all,

Fun Friday...

We had the best day! Even though it was snowing/sleeting - Alex doesn't mind driving in that stuff so we decided to get out of the house.

I had Amelia all bundled up and then Alex said he wanted the truck to warm up a little more - so I decided to take some pics of her. She was watching her Daddy through the window.



She eventually got tired of being in the house and kept going to the door to go out - so I decided to take her out to see the snow.



I love her hands in these little mittens.



She was watching her Daddy put her car seat in the truck.



Dancing in the snow. I am so in love with this little girl.



Our first stop was Mimi's. We were starving. And I needed a mocha latte.



I had the Huevos Con Tortilla. You build your own breakfast tacos. Mmmmm.



Me & my girl.



Getting ready to head back out in the snow!



While Alex got a haircut - Amelia and I went to Target. We needed a fireplace screen and they were all on sale! I found one for less than $30. Now I won't be nervous that Amelia will hurt herself every time we build a fire.



Our girl was tired. Every time we would get back in the truck - she would go to sleep.



Once we got home - we changed into our pjs, Alex built a fire, and we've been completely lazy. We had leftover pizza for dinner - which I loved because I didn't have to cook! :)

It was a fun day as a family of three. I'm so happy Alex took the day off!



Did you have a snow day too??

Love to all,