Squeals of Delight

Family Movie Night: "Cinderella" (for the first time)

No Way!

Found my cell after 6 months and only a couple of days of acknowledging so in writing. No way! Amelia spotted it. It had fallen between my headboard and my mattress -- a place I've looked 1,000 times. I promise. Hope is a good thing.

What I'm Reading Now: Month No. 1

I RESOLVE TO READ ONE BOOK A MONTH.
USUALLY MY READING IS LIMITED TO QUICK READS (MAGAZINES). HECK, I'VE BEEN READING THE TWILIGHT SERIES FOR TWO YEARS. I'M ON PAGE 50 OF BOOK 1. SURELY, I CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS. SO A GOAL. PLEASURE READING FOR ME. AN ESCAPE FOR ME.

SO I HAVE THIS RESOLUTION, AND WHAT DO I CHOOSE FOR "PLEASURE" READING? WHY, THE TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER BY DAVE RAMSEY, OF COURSE. NO, NO, NO. IT REALLY IS GREAT. THE FIRST CHAPTER DESCRIBED US TO A "T." AND HIS ADVICE IS BASED ON EXPERIENCE, SOUND FINANCIAL PRINCIPLES, AND GET THIS -- THE BIBLE. I'M HALFWAY THROUGH, AND I CAN'T PUT IT DOWN!

HERE ARE SOME OF HIS MANTRAS:
* "IF YOU WILL LIVE LIKE NO ONE ELSE, LATER YOU CAN LIVE LIKE NO ONE ELSE."
* "IT IS HUMAN NATURE TO WANT IT AND WANT IT NOW; IT IS ALSO A SIGN OF IMMATURITY."
* "DON'T EVEN CONSIDER KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES. THEY'RE BROKE! AND THEY CAN'T DO MATH!"

I'LL ADMIT, I'M IN A DENIAL ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS, INCLUDING MY FINANCIAL FITNESS. SO READING SOME OF THIS WAS HARD. BUT COMFORTING AT THE SAME TIME.
SO THIS WHOLE BOOK OF THE MONTH THING HAS LED TO ANOTHER GOAL FOR 2010: FINANCIAL FREEDOM GOD'S WAY!

FUNNY HOW HE REVEALS HIMSELF SOMETIMES. AND WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT BUT NEED IT THE MOST.

These are a few of my favorite things ...

Well, two anyway.
Sorry. No Pics. Again. 2 USBs Lost. Gone. 2009 was The Year of the Lost. Because I also lost my cell with many "first" pics of my children. Like the first time Abe sat in a grocery cart. Can't dwell on it, or I will cry. But barring it was flushed down the toilet, tossed in the trash, or thrown out with Goodwill, it will turn up one day. Ahh, hope.

Anyway, on to two of my favorite things: No. 1: School Aids, spectacular teachers' supply store on Youree. I could spend hours in there. The workbooks, the puzzles, the books! Almost makes me want to home school. Coupons can often be found in Red River Moms magazine. Grab them; you'll need them.

And favorite thing No. 2: Old Farmer's Almanac General Store in the Boardwalk. They sell the old-fashioned lemon drops my dad used to sell in his pharmacy years ago. They have cute paper doll books, knick-knacks, cooking utensils (an awesome cast-iron griddle). This fall/winter I eyed their Halloween and Christmas garlands. A little pricey when I can make them myself. But so beautiful to look at. I could go on and on about how charming this mercantile is. Probably a little more fancy than the Olsens' or the Godseys', but still full of nostalgia nonetheless. Oh, and I googled them and found some online coupons, and I'm sure the Boardwalk coupon book has some kind of offer from them.

P.S. Even if I had USB cords to download my pics, you wouldn't see any pics from the inside of this store as they ban photos. So, I guess they want you to see it for yourself to believe it???? P.S.S. This store is not stroller-friendly. There is no room to maneuver. But if you insist, like I did during Christmas, there's a nice worker there with an amazing foreign accent (wink, wink) who will be more than happy to clear a path for you.
There you have it -- two of my favorite things.

Footed Pajama Day!

Luckily, Mimi thought ahead and outfitted the kiddos with new sets of zip-up footed pajamas. Just in time for the record-breaking weather we're having here. Some kind of Arctic something or other. Foreign words. No matter. All we know is it's cold. Colder than we're used to.
Really makes us rethink the cute, quaint, older home built off the ground thing.
Anyway, we're pretty excited around here. No school!!!! A real snow day, minus the snow. But that doesn't mean we can't cozy up. Today will include playing board games, listening to our new science CD by They Might be Giants (no joke!), eating chicken and dumplings (Thank you, Sweet P's mommy, for the fb status update and thus the craving!), craft projects and maybe a little pleasure reading for me or even EXERCISE.
Believe it or not, I'm aching for a run. I need it. Fattening up for the winter is for bears or something. But you would think I was prepping for hibernation. The bike might have to do. Anyway, it's footed pajama day! And pretty much anything goes AS LONG AS YOU KEEP THOSE TOOTSIES TOASTY!

What a Beaut!

Isn't she cute? Sad thing is, she's still in the box. My Christmas present. Can't wait to learn how to turn her on.

Funny

The lone set of toys after the kids picked up before bed. Funny to see that in the middle of the floor all alone. Wonder what Millie Bug and Brother were playing. Tickles me to imagine. Psychiatrist? Haha. Nah.

Secrets to Successful or not so Successful Parenting: What You Need to Get By

I've mentioned before my little brother and my sister-in-law are new parents. My cousin also had his first child, Caroline Victoria, in December. And my sister is due with a baby boy in February. Babies, babies everywhere. I'm trying my best not to catch the fever, so to avoid it at all costs, I try to share what I know, not experience it. I was excited to venture to help my sister register for her baby needs just this past weekend. Sometimes I look at my preschooler and toddler and marvel at how they got this far. What helped me survive in those early weeks and months? The following is a newborn survival kit of sorts Daddy and I couldn't live without at the time. 1. Pampers Swaddlers 2. Cloth Diapers -- Seems silly, but it pained me to use my monogrammed burp cloths, especially when administering meds. 3. Mylicon -- I had gassy babies. I had myself to blame. Shame on me, spicy-food-eating-nursing mother that I was. 4. Sassy Disposable Changing Pads -- These can be hard to find. Toys R Us was usually a sure bet. These are great for that early tar poo and any time anything leaked out of the diaper. I could lay these over the changing pad and prevent a mess or cover those nasty ones in public restrooms when desparate. 5. Diaper Duck Trash Bag Dispenser by Munchkin -- These are ideal while on the go. They now have simpler, less conspicuous versions, but the ducky is a great way to occupy wiggly children while diaper-changing. If you have to change in the car or there's no garbage, they hold those stinky remnants until a can presents itself. They're also great for holding vomited or pooped on clothes until you can get home to put them in the wash. 6. Gerber Nursing Pads -- These are thinner and are less visible through the shirt than most nursing pads I tried. They hold a lot considering they're so thin. 7. Boppy -- Great for nursing. Great for post-pregnancy tummy support. Great for tummy time. Great for playtime. Great. Surviving with Two: 1. Bumbo -- I didn't even think about using one when I had Millie Bug. Just didn't see any need in it, but I found it invaluable with a second child. When I had Millie, she was still in the highchair. This helped the baby build up his muscles. I could feed him in it, travel with it. Brother never really cared for tummy time, so I would sit him in it place his toys around him for play. It was also good so he could "play" with his sister and cousins. He would see them up and having a great time, and it helped him feel a part of things. 2. Baby Trend Sit and Stand LX Stroller -- Millie still needs to be secured while traveling, especially when shopping. This allows the baby to be seated and gives her the option to sit or stand. It's fairly light and oh so convenient.
New items are always coming out. It's kinda hard to keep up with it all. And it's certainly overwhelming for a new mom.
What could you mommies not live without?

Hair Pretties

Trying to get creative with the "'dos"


Having a daughter with long, curly hair is a brave and selfish thing to do as a mother. It's a fulfillment of many a dream I had while carrying my Millie Bug. You know the ones in which you imagine what your child will look like. And the daughter in my dream was barefoot, in a muslin white bishop, with dark brown, curly hair streaming halfway down her body, a large white bow and chocolate almond-shaped eyes to melt her Daddy's heart.
What was omitted from the dreams were the tangles, the cries, the difficulty of finding strong enough headbands that don't cause headaches, and the time it takes to wash, comb and dry those locks. I'm not near as adept at ponytails, parts and braids as my mom was with me. But I try.
I've recently attempted my hand at some hair pretties. Somehow I put together a silk hydrangea headpiece for a recent photo shoot -- flower hanging by a thread (figuratively) to a ribbon headband. I made Millie two sunflower clippies for her coronation as Sun Flower, Indian princess, for her Thanksgiving feast at school.



"Feast" your eyes one these!

And just before the Christmas holidays, I conquered my first hair bow. It wasn't pretty ... the process, not the bow. I mean it took me two hours, and just when I was about to cry and throw away the ribbon in frustration, it happened ... the bow. Don't know how. Don't know why. It just came to be. And I was proud. I hot-glued the clip to it and singed the ends and everything.
Hot Dog!


And ooh-la-la!

Snow Day

Well, kind of. A Louisiana snow day. And boy did it make returning to school after the holiday season pretty difficult. I tried to convince Millie Bug to stay home and snuggle with me, but that school-lovin' priss cried because she wanted to go to school ... even as I was checking the news on television and Internet, sure I had missed the announcement that schools were closed for the day.
Alas, they were not. So I shuffled my snow bunny off to pre-K and met Daddy at the doc where we were told Brother has the ... FLU!!! Bless his heart!!! He's been so lethargic and clingy but today, while the "blizzard" raged outdoors, he lifted his feeble little voice to join Barney for some lovin' and huggin' in his closing theme song before returning right back to his fever-induced sleep.
I made a yummy, hearty, warm white bean chili and a fruit salad and fresh tea to soothe our appetites as we hunkered down for the cold weather. Now, I'm up because after being up all night last night with a feverish baby, I could no longer stay awake and took a 9 p.m. nap. Not smart normally, but seeing as I'll be up throughout the night again with Brother, it was probably a good idea to recharge before the graveyard shift.
Winter has set in.
And although the snow was exciting for us Southerners, I prefered to think about the snow from early December. Bundle up! Baby, it's cold outside!

All boy. Enjoying is first play in the snow.


Yep. That's a real snowflake!


Warming up with some hot cocoa with marshmellows.

Fell fast asleep ... with a chocolate mustache ... before a second romp.

Hold on, Wait a Minute

In all the hustle and bustle at our family Christmas in West Monroe, I misplaced my camera USB. If you could see my parents' office and all the plugged-in devices, you would so understand. We're def. WIRED!!! I have so many memorable moments to share with you!
Daddy and I are finally getting into a groove with our Christmas Day travels, and they are so much more enjoyable for all of us, I think.
This year has been so tough on us financially, and I think that has definitely allowed us to focus on the simple beauties of our everyday lives. God has certainly en"rich"ed our lives in ways unimaginable to us before.
He loves us so much more than we deserve and has always provided. Always.
Blessings for a prosperous new year!