I Did It!

You don't hear me cheering on this video because I was taping and didn't want my country voice blaring over the recording because then I probably wouldn't have posted it. I know she is showing off her whole self here...I hope that isn't against any blogger rules. She just cracks me up every time she goes. I love it! The only thing is, she always wants to dump it in the big potty herself and that has caused some big tee tee messes on the floor. We are trying to break her of that.

Sweet sleepy little ones!

Mckenzee has been giving us hugs and saying "much" lately. That means I love you so much. I heard her hugging her pillow one day and saying it to her pillow and I realized that's what she meant. I think it's so cute to see her showing love to her toys and baby dolls. She has been going on the potty and is super proud of herself and her Mommy and Daddy are proud of her too. I have to get a video of her saying "I did it!" It is so cute and funny. I know I talk a lot about her high maintenance personality, but she has so much sweetness in her too. I just have to love the difficult side of her just as much though, because she is really just like me. I had to pull the car over the other day to help her not hyperventilate over a piece of grass that was stuck to her shoe. Exasperated, I called her Daddy at work and told him that I pray she finds a sweet boy that will love her someday, to which he replied, "You mean the way I love you?" Yes, that's the way. Somedays I don't know how he puts up with me! :) I am so glad he is back from Israel and will help him blog about that soon. He has over 300 pictures.

What Really Matters

Sunday School was good this morning even though my attitude was not. I wasn't even sure if I was going to go to church this morning. I was going to let Chris and Kenzee go because I so desperately need a break, but when I got up this morning I felt rested and I got ready.

The first lesson I learned was, how trivial it is for me to be in such a tizzy over my haircut. It is hair. It will grow back. I've learned to fix it already. One thing my mom said when she was attempting to help my new do was, "It could be worse, you could have had it all cut off." At the time I thought, gee thanks mom that makes me feel way better, let me tell ya, but now I am realizing she is very right. Things ain't so bad over here in the hair department for me.

This morning we discussed using our gifts and talents for the Lord and to further his Kingdom. Later, I will try and go back and site the verses here, but right now I just want to get my thoughts out. Before our Sunday School teacher started talking I was actually feeling discouraged because I thought well, what I am I doing for the Lord. Most of the time I am in my home all day with my 2 year old. Of course, there will always be more that I could be doing and anything that I do cannot amount to what the Lord has done for me, but He desires servanthood from me and it should be my ultimate goal to please Him. Then, Patti said, that for some of us, right now, our work for the Lord is in our homes, raising our children to know God and to serve Him as well. The way that we raise our children will have a lasting impact on our world. I want to do the best job that I can raising my children in the way God would have me do so. I want to be an example of love and humility. I want my marriage to reflect Christ. I want my children to know that above all else we serve a loving Heavenly Father and we aim to please Him in all that we do.

I have a long way to go and so much to learn. I want to have a loving heart for all people and right now I can honestly and embarrassingly say that I do not. I am judgmental and often too wrapped up in myself and my child to notice those around me enough to give them a smile. I want to change that about myself. I am going to start by smiling at smokers. You may be laughing now, but if you know me well you know that I have a big problem with smokers and am rude to them. I'm not saying that I will tolerate smoking around my child, but I am not going to give every smoker that I see a dirty look just because. My husband will tell you that this will be a challenge for me, but I am posting here that I am going to start showing love to smokers. I am also going to try and notice and take advantages of the opportunities God gives me to be a witness for Him or be uplifting to a friend in need.

I am thankful that God gave me an extra push to go to church today because He knew I needed to be there and wanted to teach me.

Bad Haircut

So, upsetting.

I'm not even sure how much I will post about it.

I got my haircut yesterday and it was okay, but not what I wanted and didn't really look any different.

I went back today for him to fix it.

Now I have a mullet.

I am ready to scream.

I already cried.

Why can't people understand how I want my haircut? I take pictures with me. I am very specific. I have regular old hair.

So, if you don't see me for awhile it might be because I am hiding my mullet.

Turds, Two Year Olds, and Daddy's That Should Know Better

*If you don't want to read about turds then don't keep reading.

Last night Mckenzee was sitting on the potty and Chris went to check on her. I thought he was with her the whole time, but I was wrong. I was just listening to them from my comfy spot on the couch. Apparently, when he went in there she was touching the poop that she had done on the floor and he said:

Chris: "Eewww, Kenzee those are turds."

Mckenzee: "Turs"

Chris: "Did you have turds?"

Mckenzee: "Turs"

Chris: "Come on, let's wash your hands."

So, today Mckenzee shut herself in the bathroom for some alone time, and I let her be, and before long she came running out of there yelling, "Momma, turs! Momma turs! Look!"

Way to go Da-ee, teaching her that.

Sure enough there was one tiny turd in her little potty. Go Kenzee!

(Note: I always thought turds was spelled t-e-r-d-s like nerds, but I looked it up before posting and it is actually spelled with a u and it is in the dictionary.)

September Afternoons

Mckenzee and I have spent the last two afternoons on the front porch. I chose the front porch because it is relatively closed in and it is shaded in the afternoon which means I don't have to slather her with sunscreen. I let her use chalk and finger paints to decorate the sidewalk. She had so much fun. When she tired of that I brought out blocks. We stayed out there for two hours yesterday and two hours today. Yesterday, while we were playing we heard the ice cream man so we went in and got some money. The picture of her sitting on the flowerless flowerbed is her counting quarters. I was so ready for that ice cream man that I was willing to traipse on out there with the both of us looking as white trash as ever...me in my pajamas and house shoes with no shower and her covered in paint and well...just look at her green grimy toes below. He never came by our house though, yesterday or today. I was sad. Mckenzee didn't seem to care. I am just loving this weather so much. I am going to get out my Fall decorations this weekend and maybe pay a visit to Hobby Lobby for a few new things.

Our Weekend

We had a really good family weekend. It was filled with fun things, but also some down time, which we have not had in awhile. Chris has been working a lot and we have been missing him.
Friday night, we went to Boswell's Homecoming game. Chris just happened to read in the paper earlier that afternoon that it would be the homecoming game and we decided to go. I fixed Mckenzee's hair with two Boswell blue bows and failed to take her picture at her first game...except on our phone which isn't that great and I'm not sure how to load it. She was so good and liked watching the cheerleaders and the ball. She cheered and watched the game and enjoyed a very large pickle.
Saturday night, Chris and I had a date night. We ate dinner at Chili's in Fossil Creek which is now completely non-smoking! Woo hoo! Go Fort Worth! So we were able to sit right away at a booth in the bar area and not have to wait. Then, we went to see Hancock at Movies 8 for only $2 a ticket. Neither of us liked that movie all that much, but it had several funny parts. I am a HUGE Will Smith fan.
Sunday, we went to church. We tried making it to the early service because last week Mckenzee fell asleep on the way to lunch and I ended up holding her through most of it. We got there at 9. Church started at 8:30, but we were in time for the sermon and hopefully we learned some things to do better next week....like get out of bed when the alarm goes off....and buy Anjolee some new clothes. Sunday afternoon we all took naps and watched football and Sunday night we went out to dinner with my family...my sister's treat!
I like weekends like this one. I love being with my family. :)

Seeking Opinions-Cord Blood Banking

Chris and I are torn on the issue of whether or not to bank this new baby's cord blood privately. We banked Mckenzee's cord blood with Cord Blood Registry. We discussed it with our ob before Kenzee was born and she recommended we do it if we were able to financially. Our pediatrician feels that it is not necessary. I read articles that go both ways. I am just not sure that it is truly worth the money because it is not likely that we will ever need it, BUT I also feel like in the instance that we did I would pay anything to have it back. With Mckenzee, I looked at it as a form of life insurance. I am just not sure what to do. I don't want to get caught up in the cost. If it is the best choice for our family then I want to do it and if it is not then I don't. I was just wondering what some of you may have done and how you feel on the issue? I don't feel strongly either way at this time, but maybe you do, and I want to hear about it.

Boswell High School Class of 1998

We went to Chris and Levi's 10 year high school reunion last weekend.

We Survived 2 Year Old Portraits...barely!

So, we arrived at Babies R Us for the third and final time to have our pictures made. It started out like always....fit throwing, jumping off the stage, Momma, Momma, Momma. I wised up. I told her I loved her and that I would be back and I kissed her bye like I do at church. Then, I left her in the capable hands of the photographers. I went right around the corner and watched an amazing scene unfold. She laughed and played. She squealed and smiled. All along, Mommy was the problem. Here are her shots from today.

When I changed her clothes after the pictures she had broken out in a mild case of hives. I did feel a little bad about that.

Party Time!

We had a small party for Mckenzee this year with her four little friends Mia, Jules, Atlee, Sarah and our families. She had a Nemo theme and a giant waterslide. We ate cake and homemade ice cream and played and played. The girls did an awesome job making their sand craft. I was super impressed with how they did. Kenzee got lots of wonderful presents. Every single one was just perfect for her.

Party time

Kenzee and Aunt Sara. Thank you Aunt Sara for being willing to go on the water slide!

Mia, Mckenzee, and Aunt Sara

Aaron, Sarah and Amanda

Connie and Jules

Mia

Kenzee

Atlee

Sand Art

Serious working face

Cake by Momma and Daddy

Nemo cookies by Connie

Eating cake

Our family

Opening Presents

Playing with her presents

Nana and Uncle Chad

Maimee and Mckenzee

PatPaw and Mckenzee

Ready to go home with our sleepy girl

Who did not go to sleep on the way home. This picture was taken at 11:15 that night.