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Baylor slept in til 8:20am!!!! That was marvelous. Christian and I started off our day snuggling in my bed b/c that is what we do every morning. Ever since he was a baby we have started off our day in my bed...things are a little different b/c instead of me getting him a bottle he gets his own milk out of the mini-fridge in our closet...but we still snuggle every morning. This morning was longer than usual b/c little sister stayed in bed and we had the cutest conversation.

We have an iris picture on our bedroom wall and hetalks about it sometimes. I asked if he remembered that the iris is mommy's favorite flower? and he said it was his too. I started asking him some of his favorite things. I would respond with some of my favorites too, but his were the cute ones.

Christian's favorite things:

Flower: the iris
Song: the Thomas theme (he really hummed it)
Thing to eat: Peanut Butter & Jelly--no surprise there
Present: getting to go to KayKay's (I told him a few days ago that it was such "a gift" that we would be able to go to Tex and KayKay's any day we wanted since there house is finally finished)
Toy: Thomas stuff
Friend: Paisley
To go eat: the place he eats pancakes & plays checkers(Cracker Barrell)
To Shop: the circle store (Target--can u tell where he goes weekly?!?!)
To do at the park: slide (I personally like the swings & so does Baylor)
Place to go: to ride Thomas--we've gone to Day out with Thomas the past two years and I'm sure we'll go again (are you picking up a trend here?)
To drink: Yogurt (the sippable kind that is)
To do with Daddy: play Thomas & go to the dump and get hashbrowns (He and Jeff take our recycling every two weeks or so (Christian calls it the dump) and then they go to McD's--good father son time and Baylor and I hang out until they bring us breakfast:)
Book: I know you're surprised by this one...Thomas!!
Person to kiss: Mommy :)
Movie: Thomas (and CARS--he was on a Thomas kick this morning)
To do with Mommy: snuggle in bed (He's started his day that way for three years now--I hope he likes it)

That was our fun conversation and the beginning to my much better day:)

Frustrations

The past couple of days have been frustrating ones. Baylor is sick AGAIN with yet one more ear infection...that's three in a matter of a month or so. Now we'll have to watch closer to see if all the fluid disappears in between the infections or does some stick around. That makes her more fussy and irritable--that part seems to be catching. Christian and I have both been more irritable too. Monday morning everything I did was wrong...he didn't like what I made for breakfast or what I picked out for him to wear. I was trying to get us all up & going to go to the Y and they just weren't cooperating. Now going to the Y is not at the top of my list of fun things to do. I won't call it a resolution, but I'm trying to go at least twice a week (sometimes three if my hubby decides to go on a Sat.) until June when I have to look good in a strapless dress for my sisters wedding. Anyway...I didn't do a lot of getting stuff together the night before b/c I wasn't sure how Baylor would be--she seemed ok (not great, but ok) so off we went. I did the dreaded workout (saw a few friends there too) and was on my way to the shower when I saw my girl bawling in the nursery...that meant no shower--futher irritation--an early lunch was had by all and straight to bed FOR ALL. I just wanted to start the day over. After about two hours Christian wakes me up by screaming from inside his room "Mommy, Mommy come here". I stumble out of bed and rush to his aide..."my sock fell off Mommy" More frustration!! I told him he did not scream like that unless he was hurt, Baylor was hurt or something just reallly bad was happening. I made him stay in his room for another 30min and tried to block out his occassional calls to get out. After some snuggling in bed (I just wasn't ready to get up when he screamed about his sock) I let him out and turned on PBS (our only cartoons since we only have basic cable) and got in the shower. Baylor had blissfully slept through all of this and seemed in good spirits by the time she did wake up. We all loaded up in the car to go to Kroger and all seemed well until I had a half full grocery cart and realized my wallet was in the car--more frustration!!! Leave the cart, haul the kids out to the car and get the wallet (A bright side was Christian did alert me to the fact he needed to Potty--that's still a struggle--and we made it safe and dry) When we got home Baylor made it up the stairs (ALL THE WAY UP) twice in the 8 min it took me to put away the groceries--she is fast. So all of us got back in the car and went to Babies-R-Us to buy another gate for the stairs (We've had trouble finding one that works). Christian whined the whole time and this led to more frustration...after dinner it was all early to bed and Mommy was able to watch 24...I thought that was the end to day 1.

Baylor was up and down during the night and my poor husband came to the resuce b/c I had taken 2 Tylenol PM's to help my back that I had over worked at the Y that morning. I tried to help around 5:15 when most of the drug induced sleepiness had worn off...I only made it worse and we were all up by 6. I called my good friend MaryAnn and asked her to take Christian to school (My wonderful hubby took him to her house) and off Baylor and I went to the doctor. That's when we were told we had the third ear infection and given ANOTHER round of icky antibiotics (good for infection, but bad for Baylor's tastebuds). We had to leave there pantless b/c Baylor had a major out the diaper all over her pants blow-out and I didn't have any extra pants!! After the Dr. we had to come back home and pick up dinner (that I had prepared the night before) for our friends the Shipps and made our way out to their house. Baylor fell asleep and I thought she'd sleep a long time, but woke up just as we got to the Shipps. Poor things had to listen to her cry and got me some motrin to make her feel better...I was suppossed to help them not the other way around. Baylor seemed to be better and I really wanted to treat myself to some time at Opry Mills (the Shipps live almost next door to it). She really did great and we had some girly shopping time. Time got away from me and I had to ask MaryAnn to pick Christian up from school (I could have made it just kinda late). We decided to meet in the Target parking lot, b/c she had promised Caitlyn something special since she had gotten all her stickers. Little did I know that would begin to turn my day around for the worse...Christian threw a FIT to go in the "circle store" with his friends. Baylor was asleep in the car so SWEET MaryAnn hauls four kids (her two, Christian and Carter) into the store. She imerged ten minutes later looking no worse for ware, but I felt bad. Christian than threw another fit b/c I was taking him away from his friends!! I had to pick him up kicking and screaming. I told him he had to calm down before getting in the car so he wouldn't wake up his sister...it didn't work. I had to listen to both of them cry off and on the whole way home. We tried to calm down and they both seemed to be playing well in the toy room so I decided to try and tackle installing the gate I had bought the night before. BAD MISTAKE to try something you think should be simple when you're on the verge of frustration. I couldn't get it to work and the kids started to fall apart again. After the 2 1/2 hours of off and on screaming (some by me) I couldn't take it anymore! I put both of them in their rooms and went to the front porch so I wouldn't have to listen to the cries. I called Jeff and he came home (have I mentioned I have the best husband EVER?!?!) He cooked dinner and helped me put them to bed. He and I had some much needed "no kids around so we can talk and snuggle" time together. Both kids slept well and today is a brand new day.

I love my kids and I wouldn't trade this time with them for anyting. If you have read this far bless you for being willing to listen to my frustrations. Christian and I had a great time this morning before Baylor woke up. I'll try to post our conversation later.

Burials and Blessings

Otter Creek lost a legend this week. Ruth Rucker and her husband, John, have been part of the back bone at Otter Creek since it began. She is also responsible for the wonderful Pre-School/Kindergarten that has blessed so many young children. My son is benefiting now along with several other good friends...several of those parents attended Otter Creek and saw fit to send their own children these many years later. Sweet Ruth passed away on Tuesday morning. She had been ill for some time and her family knew it was coming, but it is still sad. John has spent most of his life with this woman...he is in his 90's and they had been married for 70+ years if I'm remembering correctly...I can't imagine what it would be like to lose someone after so long. As I mentioned they both helped start Otter Creek and have been there through so many changes. John always has something to say at those monumental times and I love to hear his wisdom. I wish I knew something to say to him now...I sent a card, but feel the words were not enough. His family is special to so many people. One of his sons "Mr. Ed" (as I call him) is an Elder at Otter Creek now and does so much for so many. He has been special to me ever since he went on a trip to South Dakota with a group of Lipscomb education majors. My sleeping materials turned out to be less than adequate. We were on an Indian reservation in the middle of no where...Mr. Ed drove an hour or so to the nearest town to find me a sleeping bag. I still have it and it got me through those cold nights and then some since:) It's funny what you can remember about a person, huh? His mother always had a sweet smile and I know that many people will mourn her in the coming days/weeks. I know without a doubt she is in heaven right now rejoicing with the angels...thankfull to have no more suffering and excited to meet the Lord she spent her whole life serving.

On to the blessings...some of our dear friends (the Shipps) had there second baby girl last night!!! She was basically on time and very healthy. Eight and a half pounds!! Her momma is no big girl so we were surprised that that much baby could fit:) Baby and mommy were doing fine (as of this morning) and should come home before the end of the weekend. Big sister Lila loved meeting her "new baby" as she called her. I got to hug on each of them last night and rejoice with them in the blessings that a new baby brings! Congrats, friends!!

On a side note...our kids are each a year or so apart. Christian was born in June 2003 and Lila came around in July 2004. Baylor was January 2006 and this sweet girl was exactly 1 year and ten days later:) Poor Sherrisse was ready to pop at each of my children's first birthday parties, but at least this time I didn't have her out in the heat:)

Where have all the pictures gone?

If you were lucky enough to look the first couple of days the pics from Baylor's party were here...now they are gone!!! I don't know why they won't show up anymore. sorry you only have little red x's to look at.

Not much going on around here. Baylor did have her one year check up last week--she weighed in at 24lbs 3ozs and is 29.5in long!! She has started eating ALL table food and is doing pretty well with it. Last night was our first night to go to bed w/o a bottle and it wasn't too bad. She cried a little and just went to sleep & stayed all night long. We'll see if this becomes a trend. Christian is happy to be back at school with his friends...now I'm off to the laundry room:) Don't you wish you were here?

The bookcase

The first pic is the bookcase--one of our friends (Andy Patton) made it for us and he did a fabulous job. The next two pics are at home in her brand new car!!! She thinks she is so big in it and likes to push the horn:) She has made it move a couple times--even if it was by accident. The last pic shows off her cool birthday outfit we borrowed from our friend Paisley...the pants have the cool pink fur on the bottom too. Doesn't she look big all turned around in her seat?

The one smile

This is one of the few smiles we got all day!! She loves her pal Ashlyn. Below you see Mim handing out the cake...some of the older kids were worried they had to share Baylor's little cake. They were happy to find out we had more.

Baylor wasn't that excited about the cake. She ended up in tears again and we had to wipe her down quickly...on the plus side she wasn't that messy. Big brother loved to "help" open the presents. You can't tell, but this present is a Little People Castle--I've never seen it before, but it is VERY cool. It is set-up in her room on her new dollhouse bookshelf Mommy and Daddy got for her. Christian is dying to play with it and I'm asked on a daily basis if we can get it down. I'm laying down the law on this one for your sake Baylor. Until you get a little bigger and will enjoy it, the castle is staying right where it is. Brother needs to fiqure out that some things are YOURS and I want you to enjoy it first.

More from the party

The big kids all played in the gym. We had everybody bring a ride-on toy to share and they had a blast. They all crowded around Baylor and her cake--if you look at her expression youcan tell she's not pleased. The pic below is my favorite. She is such a snuggler and wanted nothing else than to do this all day...with Mim, Daddy, Mommy...whoever would take her away from the crowd.