Finally!

For weeks now, I've been going back and forth about whether or not to break Haylie from her pacifier.  I wanted to for various reasons, mainly I didn't want it inhibiting her speech or messing up her teeth.  I didn't want to for various reasons also, mostly selfish ones, like I was afraid she wouldn't sleep as well at night and take those wonderful 2-3 hour naps in the afternoon.  We, at one time, had 5 pacifiers.  About a month ago we lost two of them--couldn't find them anywhere, so we were down to three.  A couple weeks ago I was going through one of those "wanting to break her from it" moods so I cut the tip of one of them off and gave it to her, in hopes that she would start breaking her habit of sucking on it so much.  Somewhere in between that week and last week we lost one of the two good ones that we had left.  So that left us with the "broken" one and only ONE good one!  It was last Friday night, and we were getting ready to take her to her Mema and Papa's house so we could  have a date night.  She had both pacifiers up until time to walk out the door, and all of a sudden the good one was gone!!  Not anywhere to be found!  So, I searched for it for like 40 minutes because I didn't want to send her over there without it.  What if she didn't sleep at all for them? What if she just cried for hours?  Well....I didn't find it!  So, to Mema and Papa's house she went with only her "broken" pacifier.  She did fine.  She slept well.  She did wake up a little earlier than usual, but still she slept all night long.  The next day when we went to get her they couldn't find the "broken" one---MAN those things are hard to keep up with!  So we decided it was time!  She has been without a pacifier since Saturday, the 13th and she's doing great!  If I had known it would have been so easy I would have done it sooner---I guess.  Maybe not, though, because I'm actually sort of sad about it.  For some reason, it makes me feel even more than other things, that she's not a baby anymore. 

She's been ultra affectionate the past few days, I don't know if it has something to do with the no pacifier or not, but I'm loving it.  I love her kisses and hugs!! 

Rite of passage

I'm finally starting to come to the realization that my baby girl is not a "baby" anymore.  She has, somehow, suddenly turned into a little girl without giving me any warning. It's a bittersweet feeling watching your child change and grow into a little person.



*Yesterday she wore her hair in doggy ears for the first time out in public, and somehow this was like a right of passage or something into little girlhood...People at church told me they didn't even recognize who she was because she looked so much older. 

*She actually sat still at the BCM NOONDAY yesterday IN a big girl chair and ate an ENTIRE Hot Ham & Cheese sandwich!! 

*She tells me when she needs her diaper changed (potty training, here we come!)

*She loves to play with other girls.  Last night she walked around with 3 seven year old girls, holding their hands like she was one of them!

There are probably other things that remind me that she's turning into a little girl rather than a baby, but I have a lot of housework to do right now while she's still napping.  So, instead I'll just post a few pictures to prove my point and get on with cleaning!

Here she is showing off!!

Such a doll!

This is the one, to me, that makes her look so grown up!

She has a newfound obsession with stickers--and they have to be on her cheeks!

And finally, my little gangsta!  What's up?!

Here's my excitement for today:

Here's my Haylie tidbit for today:

I got out of the shower this morning to find her standing in the bathroom with a tube of Icy Hot in her mouth!!! Yes, it was open! Yes, there was Icy Hot gel on her tongue! I immediately grabbed her and started spooning water into her mouth with my hand.  I didn't even have to tell her to spit, because it must taste disgusting!!! She couldn't stop gagging and spitting for a couple minutes.  I wiped her tongue off and gave her a sippy cup with water in it before coming to the computer to look up the number for Poison Control!  I never thought I'd have to call them....  Anyway, the lady said that Haylie will be fine; no need to take her to the emergency room because it probably wasn't enough to hurt her.  She told me to feed her some yogurt and let her drink water and to call back if there were any more problems! 

So, that's my excitement for the day....now back to cleaning house.  By the way, the sun is shining today! Yay! Maybe I can get some more of my "spring" cleaning finished this afternoon before my students show up for piano lessons! 

Feb. 8

Today is a cold, snowy day.  One of those days where you just want to stay inside snuggled under a blanket reading a good book.  One of those days where you want to have a big, warm bowl of stew for dinner.  One of those days where you don't have anything to do other than just be lazy.....That's what I WANT to do, but definitely not what I can do.  It's so hard for me to be motivated to clean hosue and get things done right now.  I'm definitely ready for some warmer, spring-like weather or at least some sunshine!

Today I've cleaned house a little bit.  Last week I was really in a deep cleaning mood.  I got Haylie's room, our bedroom, both bathrooms, and the hall closet completely purged and reorganized.  However, it stopped there.  I keep telling myself that now I need to do the other bedroom, kitchen, laundry room, and living room, but like I said I've lost motivation.  I need sunshine!

I have come to the conclusion that Haylie is absolutely the sweetest, cutest, most fun, little girl in the world--or at least MY world! She is so much more aware of her surrounding and is learning new things daily.  I love it when she just comes up to me for no reason and wraps her arms around me to give me a hug--even when I'm up cleaning or cooking.  Even better is when she comes up to me with her wet, slobbery lips and plants them right on mine, giving me a kiss!  I love it! She'll now sing "The B-I-B-L-E" except when she sings it, it sounds more like: "bleble-bleble-bleble-bleble..." It's the cutest thing ever!  She is terrified of dogs!!  I mean TERRIFIED! Anytime she sees one, hears one, or even if we mention the word "dog" she starts whimpering and buries her head in my chest.  The other night there was a dog on a commercial on t.v. and she was even scared of it!!!  Today she was making this panting sound with her tongue hanging out.  I nonchalantly told her she sounded like a dog!  She immediately furrowed her brow, started whining and ran to hug me.  She also is almost ready to start potty training.  She tells me when she needs her diaper changed or if she's about to go....I just have to decide if I'm ready for potty training!  I absolutely love being her mommy.  I wouldn't trade it for anything!!  There's no better feeling than the love for your child.

Just imagine: if we love our children this much, how much MORE does God love His children?  It's unfathomable.  I can't even imagine or comprehend the magnitude of His love for me and for you.  Our church has been going through sort of a rough time here the past few weeks, but yesterday the service was absolutely amazing.  God's presence was filling the place and we just had a beautiful time of worship.  Thank You, God, for Your love for me!!  I want to leave you with the lyrics of one of my favorite songs: "Who Can Satisfy My Soul" by Dennis Jernigan.  There is no one like God!  Thank You, Lord that we can trust in You no matter what!

Who can satisfy my soul

Who on earth can comfort me
And love me like You do
Who could ever be more faithful and true
I will trust in You
I will trust in You my God

There is a fountain Who is a King
Victorious warrior and Lord of everything
My rock my shleter my very own
Blessed Redeemer Who reigns upon the throne

Who could ever be more faithful and true
I will trust in You
I will trust in You
I will trust in You my God

Who reigns upon the throne
Who reigns upon the throne

Back to the 21st Century!

Last Thursday, January 28th, our electricity went off at 3 p.m.  The forcasted Ice Storm of 2010 was underway, but not so much that we were expecting to lose power so soon.  It flickered a couple times and then was gone.  Luckily, I had some hot chili on the stove simmering for dinner, so we ate our chili happily thinking our electric would come back on in a few minutes....Boy, was I wrong!!!

5 days later.  Yes, I said 5 days later we are back in our warm home with electricity!  Yesterday I was to the breaking point.  frustrated. tired. cranky. ready to go home. I called CVEC to ask about an update and the lady was actually rude to me! She said there were no updates and she couldn't tell me anything about when the electricity would be back (in a very rude way).  I wanted to scream and remind her that this was our fifth day without power, but I calmed myself down and just said thanks anyway.  Luckily, a couple hours later the power kicked back on and we were able to go home....

So what did we do during those 5 days?  The first night, Thursday, we were still thinking the power would come back on at any moment.  We went over to Justin's parents house (although they didn't have power either).  They do have gas heated water and a gas fireplace so we thought everything would be fine.  After staying one night there and calling CVEC the next morning to find out it would be days before they restored our power we decided we better find somewhere warmer because of Haylie.  If it hadn't been for her, we could have made it just fine cuddling under blankets around the fireplace, but you know an 18 month old child won't be still and stay under a blanket, so we had to find some heat! 

We decided to stay at the BCM.  So for the next three nights that's where we were.  Pretty comfortable.  We had electricity, cable tv, internet, a kitchen, etc....pretty much everything except a shower! Yuck!!  On Monday we had to "move out" of the BCM because school was starting back so we were blessed to have friends that offered to let us stay with them until our power came back on.  So, on to the Kemps' it was! We had no idea how long we would be there, but thankfully it turned out to be only one night.  Not because they were bad hosts, they were wonderful! They even made us steaks for dinner! But because we were SO ready to be back in our own home.  We are home bodies.  I love being at home.  I love doing my housework. cooking in my kitchen. I love my home.  So Tuesday morning power came back on.  We had to go buy groceries because, of course, all of ours was spoiled, and then homeward bound we were.

I don't think I would have handled the no electricity/no home for 5 days so badly if it hadn't been for worrying about Haylie.  It was so hard on her.  She was already feeling sick with a cough/runny nose/slight fever and then on top of it all she couldn't sleep because she would wake up not knowing where she was.  One night she woke up crying every single hour!! 

I've always loved home.  Being home with my family.  I think now, though, I will appreciate it even more.  We are blessed to have a house with electricity and heat to live in.  We are so so blessed and take way too many things for granted!