My big, brave girl

Anagrace is growing up so fast! She's had several "big girl" experiences the past few weeks. A few weeks ago she went to the dentist for the first time. She was so brave. She climbed right into the purple dentist chair and opened wide. She had her teeth checked and cleaned without more than a whimper. I was so proud. She was too!

Then, a few days ago she went to the "big girl salon". Actually, it is the salon I go to for my haircuts. She has had her hair cut at one the children's salons that have the cool chairs shaped like cars and rockets facing the TV showing cartoons. She really enjoyed that. I have been worried that the next haircut she gets will get rid of her beautiful curls! So, I wanted to take her to my salon to have her hair cut by a stylist who has been trained how to cut curly hair. Again, she climbed right up into the big chair ready for action. She sat still "like a statue". I think it helped her to be brave knowing that her best friend Jordyn was going to get her hair cut,too. But, she did ask if next time we could go back to the place where she could watch TV while they cut her hair!

Anagrace recently got a flu shot, too. I did not get a photo of that experience, she was brave but not as composed as she was at the dentist's office and salon. She cried for 30 minutes (Anderson had 3 shots that day and cried for about 2 minutes! Tough boy!)

It amazes me how fast she's growing...and it's fun to share all of the new experiences with her!

Thankful

Today, Anagrace and I did a few art projects. We did the classic turkey made by painting her hand. And we also used peel and stick letters to write "thankful". Then I asked Anagrace to tell me three things she is thankful for and draw it. Here is the result:

She is thankful for her house, brother and 2 cats. Once again, I did not make the list! A few days ago, she and Justin were talking about how much they loved eachother by stretching out their arms and arguing who loves who more. Cute, right? Well, then Justin says "Who else do you love?".
She answers, "Brother".
"And who else?"
"Bebe and Grammie."
I'm sitting right beside her. Justin nods his head in my direction as a cue for her to add me to the list. Still, she names a few other people in our extended family.
"What about Mommy?" Justin asks.
I jokingly say, "I know she loves me....but I'm at the bottom of the list"
"Yeah, she's at the bottom of the list" Anagrace agreed.

Nevertheless, even if she or Justin or Anderson do not give me any appreciation or recognition (that I so deserve [LOL]) I am thankful to have them in my life!

By the way, isn't that artwork adorable?! I just love Anderson's alien fingers and toes and those incredibly strange looking cats!

Bittersweet

Anderson has taken three formula bottles since Wednesday. Justin and I went out for a few hours when he 2-3 months old and he took bottles then, but they contained breast milk. I tried formula bottles to no avail at 5 months. The past few weeks he has been battling sickness and an ear infection, so he has not had any interest in eating baby food. His interest has been solely in breastfeeding. In one word...OUCH! I was eager to try the bottle again. And so, here is the bittersweet transition. I don't think I am ready to entirely wean him, but I am ready for a break and some freedom.

Last month, my mom kept him while Justin and I attended our class reunion. But, before his bedtime he needed to nurse. My mom brought him to the restaurant, so I could feed him in the bathroom! The restaurant is a sports-bar type place. I was waiting for the reenactment of the scene in Sweet Home Alabama...a classmate would approach me and exclaim "You have a baby...in a bar!". I felt the need to explain to everyone that he would not take a bottle and needed to eat.

So, part of me is happy because he is taking a bottle...but part of me is very sad.

Hot Tea

I'm am all about some hot tea lately! It all started when my good friend Dawn and I went out to eat for her birthday. Well, it was 2 months past her birthday, but it was a great time just the same! We went to Kabutos and I had hot tea there...and I've had it pretty much everyday since. It is just a simple pleasure that I enjoy, because I can't afford the sophisticated pleasures...haha! There's just something about the warm cup of tea on a chilly day (and my house stays somewhat chilly due to my cheap frugal husband monitoring the thermostat) that makes me happy. I've been trying to enjoy my daily hot tea during the kids' naptime so that I can read in my Bible and pray at the same time or catch up on my blog reading. It's good for my soul. Not chicken soup for the soul, but hot tea for the soul. I hope that you can find, or that you already have, a simple pleasure that you are enjoying daily!

Mommy Woes Part 2

Well, the wait-it-out period lasted about 24 hours. Anderson began to run a fever yesterday around lunch time. I didn't need to call for anyone's opinion this time...I made an appointment with the doctor right away. He has another ear infection. So, now I'm trying not to beat myself up for not taking him sooner. Oh, the self-imposed guilt I put myself through. I agonize over what to do and then condemn myself for making the wrong choice. You know I would say that's a universal mommy thing, but often I think it is more of a character flaw with me. Aside from second guessing my decisions regarding my children, I second guess almost all my decisions. My purchases, for example. I am the "Returns Queen"; at any given time I have 2 or more bags on my bedroom floor ready to be returned to stores. I have a bad case of buyer's remorse that extends a little further...I think I have decision remorse!

Mommy Woes

I talked to three people on the phone today trying to decide if I should take Anderson to the doctor....again. Three people...I am so indecisive and a little co-dependant. I guess I felt in my gut that I should probably "wait it out", but I hate to see my baby boy not feeling well. For about a week now he has had a stuffy nose and seemed generally "blah", not his happy-go-lucky self. I took him to the doctor shortly after the symptoms started, afraid that he may have developed an ear infection. Ears looked great, teeth on their way. So I chalked up the runny nose and blahness to the pearly white beasts. But days later he's not worse, but not better. As a mommy, I just want to fix it and make him all better. The third person I talked to (the nurse at the Dr's office) told me that since he is sleeping fine and is not running a fever that I could wait a few more days. I knew that, so why did I need someone else to tell me. Actually, my mom said to take him, Justin said to do whatever I thought was best (typical), and the nurse told me to wait. I made my decision after I heard the answer I thought I should hear! But, why? I am not sure why I second guess myself...constantly. I am afraid of making the wrong decision about everything. Everything. About silly stuff. But especially about things involving my children. I realized later, that during all that "do I or don't I" I never consulted the One who could have eased my anxiousness and given me peace with my decision.
But, I'm praying now that Anderson will be better soon. Will you, too?

Halloween Fun

The kids really enjoyed Halloween. Well, Anagrace did. Anderson seems to be okay with most everything....he's such a "go with the flow" type of baby. Anagrace dressed up as Sleeping Beauty and Anderson was a firefighter. We went to Carowinds on the Saturday before Halloween for some "Nick-or-treating". Anagrace loved getting candy and hugs from the Nickelodeon characters.

Then on Halloween night we went trick-or-treating in a nearby neighborhood with some friends and family. Here are all the trick-or-treaters in their costumes.