Family Photo Shoot

Each year we venture out to our local arboretum

to get our family photos made. This year it was COLD

but we were all troopers and got some great shots.

Our dear friend Sandy, who takes beautiful photos,

was nice enough to brave the chilly weather with us.

Take a look at my precious little family.

And, oh, how Emma has grown

into such a sweet little (big) girl!

Some silly out-takes (more real life!):

And THE family photo we chose for 2010:

Pumpkins and Panic Attacks (and a Winner!)

First things first.

The winner of the This Paper Ship

giveaway, chosen by Random.org, is Kimmie!

Look for an email from me soon. Congrats!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •d

This evening we did one of our annual

fall traditions - visited the local pumpkin

patch and let Emma pick out just the right

pumpkin for our "pawch" ("porch" in Emma-ese).

Isn't my little pumpkin the cutest?

I couldn't resist sharing some of

these pictures. I love fall and pumpkins

and get so excited when I see Emma love it too!

Also, I've gotta share.

I'm in a bit of a panic right now.

I just got done doing something I swore I

would NEVER do. I cut my kid's hair.

I know. I know. How could I?

I survived the infamous bowl haircuts

performed by my mom in the 80's.

You'd think I would have learned.

But, you see, we were desperate.

Emma has taken up hair twirling and

started getting lots of knots - a few of which

I had to cut out after some horrific tug-of-wars.

So tonight we HAD to even things out and

get back to a length we could manage while

trying to un-teach the bad habit. My husband

swears she looks fine, but I'm secretly

freaking out that my little girl looks like

a soft featured little boy. Oh me.

Deep breaths, Teresa.

Where I've Been (and Where I'll Be)

Remember this post

about all the things I was putting off?

Well, during my lag of blogging

these last few days,

I've been playing catch up.

Plus helping put on a big event

at church and get ready for

this little sweetie's birthday

coming up this weekend.

So that's where I've been.

But where will I be?

Next week, I'm excited to tell you

that I'll be over here as part of

Heather's Handmade & Vintage Market.

She'll be hosting some awesome bloggers

and crafters showcasing some ideas

to help you kick off your holiday shopping.

Be sure to stop by and see what I'll be

sharing on Wednesday.

Then the following week, I'll be here

as part of Holly's Homemade Halloween.

She'll be hosting lots and lots of spooky

crafts, tips, ideas, giveaways and more.

You won't want to miss the boo-teaful

creep-ation I'll be sharing.

(cheesy play on words, I know.)

And once again here come some

excuses for why I may not make it

to once-a-day posting this week:

Consignment Sale at Church.

Family coming into town.

2 Year Old's Birthday Party.

Shop orders.

Holiday Bazaar fast approaching.

Don't feel sorry for me.

It's just MY fall craziness.

What's yours?

I'd love some comments to

keep me going this week.

Hope to post again soon.

MUAH!

PS - Just noticed this is my

200th post. Holy blogger, Batman!

Discovering God: A Toddler's Story

We've been saying bed time prayers with Emma

for some time now. I wanted to share a sweet story

with you about our prayer time this week.

Usually it's just she and I because Eric works

most nights, but he's been home some lately.

The other night, as we got ready to pray, he said

"Remember, God listens when we talk to him."

As he said this, he pointed toward the ceiling

indicating God was up in heaven.

Well, clearly, Emma doesn't get the concept of

heaven. Instead, she apparently took this to mean

that God was actually up on the ceiling.

Coincidentally, Eric's shadow was cast above

Emma in the corner of her room.

With her hands folded sweetly as Eric and I

recited "Now I lay me down to sleep..."

I peeked at her and noticed her looking

over her shoulder at Eric's shadow.

We said "Amen." She said "Aaaaaaaameeeen."

Then without missing a beat, she looks back

to Eric's shadow, waves, and whispers,

"Nigh nigh, Gawd."

Be still my heart.

"Truly I say to you, unless you turn and

become like children, you will never enter

the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles

himself like this child is the greatest in

the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 18:3-4

Mini Me?

My grandpa sent me this photo of my sister and I

(we're twins, if you can't guess) at almost exactly

the same age as my little munchkin is today.

Emma came out looking just like my husband.

No one could deny it. Not even me!

But as Emma has grown people have told me

how much she's starting to look like me.

I've had a hard time seeing it, but this photo

changes everything. I see so much of Emma

in me (I think I'm the one on the left...

it's hard for even me to tell sometimes).

What do you think?

You can see several pictures of Emma

in yesterday's post.

Hope everyone had a GOOD day!

Our Weekend in Pictures

Since I'm finding myself experiencing blog-block

ever since we've been back from the relaxation

of the mountains and good friends, I thought I'd

just leave you with some pictures to take a gander at.

We had a fantastic time doing lots of easy-going,

no schedule, let's-have-fun stuff. It was great.

Emma in her watch tower.

Kids keeping cool with ice pops...

...and sprinklers.

Our best friends, Jennifer and Tim.

Emma hanging on, but still smiling...sort of.

One of my favorites of Emma watching parade from a distance.

My two favorites in the whole world!

Sweet and Thoughtful (& Poison Control)

Emma's new favorite way to pass her

time while Mommy and Daddy get ready

is to look out the windows and look for birds.

This morning, she looked so sweet and thoughtful.

••• Edited to Add •••

Right after posting this post, I received a call from

the lady who keeps Emma during the day to tell me

that she had to call Poison Control because Emma

found and ate the contents of one of those silicone

pouches you find inside new shoes and purses.

You'll be happy to know it's harmless. Only my kid.

It's a busy week for me over here.

Today is the hubs 30th birthday!

And my sister and I leave for a family

wedding on Friday...so hang in there with me

if posts are a bit sporadic this week.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Don't forget to submit your idea for

Christmas in July coming up July 19-23!

Click here for details. You have until June 22

to send in your submissions. Thanks!

I'm in love.

I don't think I was prepared for how

in love I would be with this creature.

Love her, sure, but I'm infatuated,

mesmerized. I delight in her quirks.

I can't get enough of her smooches.

I even somehow manage to adore her

strong will to test boundaries.

I want to share with you part of our

bedtime ritual that recently turned

me into pure, 100% mommy mush.

After dressing for bed and reading a story

it's become our habit to turn off the light,

and snuggle in the rocker. I say our prayer.

I sing "You are my sunshine."

And at some point during the song, she

looks at me with her doe eyes through the

darkness, with the silliest grin on her face,

kisses me on the mouth mid lyric,

then kisses one cheek, then the other,

all the while holding my face gently in her

tiny, pudgy little hands. The kisses come

like showers over me. Sometimes I can't

finish singing through giggles.

Other times I stop because the tears of

joy choke me up for a moment.

I will forever and ever cherish this

memory of our evening smooches.

How her daytime "No, Mommy!" is forgotten

and cast aside for true love. Mommy and me love.

It's times like these that I am thankful to

have this doll baby to myself at night.

To pray with. To sing to.

To snuggle and smooch with.

Oh to be in love.

Diagnosis: A Strong Willed Child

So, we blog what we know, right?

Well, here's what I know for sure...

I have had what is arguably the most challenging

few days being a mom since Emma was born.

I have the sweetest, most loving child

who gives sweet kisses and hugs,

laughs when you sing Itsy Bitsy Spider,

and gets excited to throw things away

in the garbage can. What's not to love?

She is also the strongest willed child

I have ever encountered. ever.

Over the weekend she pushed all my buttons

as if it was her intention to break me.

She was in time out no less than 6 times on Sunday...

clearly deciding the punishment was worth

whatever crime tempted her.

She throws a fit every time I say "no"

suggest we do something else, or,

heaven forbid, I don't understand her.

I'm sure the world is frustrating and

confusing for an 18-month old. But I'm

so overwhelmed and feel beaten down.

Until I can make my way through

James Dobson's "The Strong Willed Child"

I would VERY MUCH appreciate any

advice, stories, suggestions from any of

you who have found yourself in similar situations.

For now...deep breaths!

Race to the Valentine Finish Line!

I had planned to do cute Valentine's Day treat bags for my daughter's day care friends. All week last night was going to be the night Emma and I shopped for the goodies and put them all together. But some unexpected last-minute plans for a family birthday found us at Hooter's until almost 8pm. (Yes, Hooters....another day, another post, another story!).

So, while in the shower this morning it all of a sudden hit me that I had not done anything for these Valentine's Day treats. PANIC! AGH!

To my trusty craft station I ran!

I ended up sticking some of these:

up the side of a flat pink card with

"Happy Valentine's Day, (kid's name)! Love, Emma"

with a dark pink Sharpie at the top.

Then I cut two slits on the side of the card

with a razor blade

(in my haste I could not locate my craft knife!)

and inserted one of these:

Luckily, Emma's in-home daycare only has 4 kids.

Whew! That's what 10 minutes and on-hand craft

supplies can do for ya! Hallelujah!

(Sorry, no photos. No time for camera!)

Snow Days & Chocolate Pudding

Here's a look out our front door after receiving about 7 inches of snow.

To give you a reference, there are three stair steps down to a walkway under all that white stuff! Definitely enough to consider ourselves "snowed in" for the weekend. And, we had a blast!

If Emma could talk a little more coherently, I would bet she'd tell you that finger painting with chocolate pudding was her favorite part.

And I have to say, it was pretty fun for mom, too. Even if it did finish with a mid-day bubble bath. You really should try this - she just LOVED it!

More to come from our snowy adventures later this week. Hope you all had a warm and snuggy weekend!

Hey Moms, Help!

**WARNING: First-Time Mom Post Ahead**

So our pediatrician finally decided Emma is ready for ear tubes. She barely got over this current ear infection with two full doses of two different antibiotics. And it was her 7th infection in 15 months. I'm not terribly freaked out because I know it's so common.

Still, I'd welcome any advice or insight any moms out there would be willing to give. What was your experience like when your babies had to have tubes? What did you wish, if anything, someone had told you? Is it really worth worrying over?

Thanks for helping out!

Merry Christmas (and More)

So my intensions to be fully prepared for Christmas

about two weeks ago failed miserably.

These last several days I've been scrambling

about as much as I ever have to get done with

all of the wrapping, cooking, and what-have-you.

So, this post is going to make up for not having

posted for nearly a week (for shame!), and

cover several things. To streamline a bit,

I'm going to use lots of pictures.  But first...

MERRY CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS

TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES!

I wish you a Christmas filled with

many wonderful memories and love!

So, the snow storm did indeed bring us

up to about 6 inches of snow!  That's the

most we've had in a long time!  It was so

pretty, but conditions were not too dangerous

so it was easy to enjoy it all!  Here are

some pictures from around our house.

A neighbor made an awesome snow man!

Emma seeing snow for first time.

Finally, she decides she likes it.  Silly girl.

~~~~~~~~~~~

And here are some gifts I've been meaning

to post about. Unfortunately, after some

weird mishap, my bookmarks disappeared

on my computer and I can't locate which

blog I saw these on recently.  I'll do some

searching and hopefully give credit where

credit is due soon.  So cute and easy.

These just used trimmed scrapbook paper

and buttons hot glued to some clothes pins

with a magnet attached to the back.

Sort of shabby chic, in a crafty way, huh?

~~~~~~~~~~~

A little while ago, we went to our local

Christmas parade and I wanted to share some

great pictures of the festivities!

That's Emma waving at this guy coming:

Very Americana, don't you think?

~~~~~~~~~~~

And, finally, here's proof that my daughter

harbors multiple personalities. Luckily,

both are at least cute in their own way.

"Krazy Kid" Emma:

"Not Impressed at All" Emma:

~~~~~~~~~~~

Hope you've liked the longest post in Good Day

history.  Thanks for bearing with me and

letting me play catch up.  I'm on vacation next

week, so might not be posting too much.

I will, however, be posting soon about the

always popular New Years Resolutions.

What's yours for 2010?

See you soon!  Enjoy the holiday!  

A Mama's Lament

Today I looked at my baby girl

sitting in a high chair at a local restaurant,

waving at everyone who walked by,

giving a good effort at feeding herself with a fork,

nodding "yes" when I asked if she was ready for bed,

and refusing any help as we walked up the stairs...

and realized something...

My baby is a toddler.

When did this happen?

Oh dear.

*sniff sniff*