Saturday Morning Scene

I'm linking up with Loves of Life this morning for our Saturday Morning Scene.

I think someone woke up with their cranky cloth diaper on today! Either that or she's just ticked I won't let her chew on her tag. This girl has a pretty extreme obsession with tags. We might have to do a 12-step program sometime in the future. Mike let me sleep in until 10, love that man, then headed off to see a movie with his dad for his dad's birthday. So it's Ellie and I hanging out until they come home for a BBQ around 1:00. Which may turn into a Burgers on the George Foreman-BQ cause it's lookin like a chance of rain!

This is what I had for breakfast

Egg, turkey, and cheese omelet. Yes, I put ketchup on everything my eggs. Don't judge.

This is what I really wanted to eat for breakfast

Chocolate Reese's peanut butter chip cookies. Yes, please.

Ellie got a new jumper yesterday. So this is what her morning looked like

Check out that baby mullet!

 

This picture is from yesterday but this is the only thing that captures her current state.

She just went from 0 to 60 for no apparent reason.

So I'm going to go calm down Miss Emotional 

What are you doing on this wonderful Saturday morning?

Headbands Are Horrible!

So I can't believe I forgot to mention what happened at the "fair" yesterday. Ellie was looking super adorable in a blue and white ruffled romper and a white headband with a Gerber daisy. Like so adorable I wish I took a picture, especially after this little incident so I had proof of how "horrible" I am. While we were walking back through the hospital I had a lot of people comment on how adorable the headband was and how cute Ellie looked (not bragging it's necessary for the story....even though I do this she's the cutest thing haha!). Fast forward to a little bit after we got there.. I'm standing there talking to my sister, we are clearly in conversation: facing each other, mouths moving, words coming out, and Ellie is hanging out in her stroller looking cute. This lady waltz's over and proceeds to tell me I am doing great harm to my child by putting headbands on her. That there is an overwhelming number of studies showing how harmful it is to put adorable headbands on babies. I am going to limit her growth, ruin her brain, scar her for life, I'm a horrible mom for putting them on her blah blah blah. Ok so I'm paraphrasing here because I was so caught off guard I couldn't focus. and I might be exaggerating on the last two. So as both my sister and I stand there mouths wide staring blankly at her all I can seem to say is "well they're not tight and she doesn't wear them all the time." She said "well I just thought you should know" and turned and walked away. I was flabbergasted. Did that really just happen? My sister and I just looked at each other and said "REALLY? Wow!!" Of course when we got back to my house we had hundreds of replies of what we "should have said" because that's what always happens. You come up with witty, smartass comments after the fact! Next time I will be prepared.

So to all of you "horrible", I put super stinkin adorable headbands on my child, mommas watch out. There's a lady going around dressed in a horrible smock dress that will come find you and word vomit her unsolicited opinion all over you!

So here's to you lady!

Sure looks like I'm doing great amounts of harm to this adorable little head



All night long

For the FIRST time in 5 months 3 weeks and 1 day ELLIE SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT!!!! Yet, that didn't keep me from waking up at 2:30, 4:30, and 6:00 and praying to God she was still breathing! (Tell me, when does that worrying/waking up multiple times stop? Will I ever sleep through the night again?!!?) She slept from 7:00pm until 6:30am. Now I wasn't really diggin the 6:30 wake up call but I'll take it! She has been getting so much better for naps/bed time. We put her down awake and she may fuss a little but for the most part she just goes to sleep. I love it! It has removed so much stress from my life!!! Now if we could just tackle the nursing issues!

Tonight I went to a "fair" with my sister at the hospital where she will be delivering her baby. There were all sorts of different vendors there. LC's, chiropractors, photographers, cloth diaper stores/services, Douala's etc. It was cool to see all the different types of stuff out there for moms. I was able to talk to  a LC who gave me some reassurance so I'm really glad that I went. And it was great to be able to spend some time with my sister. We went up to L&D and looked at the rooms in the birthing center, I'm jealous. I wish that I would have had Ellie in a birthing center with a mid-wife, instead of being in a hospital pushed into starting pitocin. Maybe next time!

Well I guess I better get to sleep if this little girl is going to come a-callin at 6:30!  

He Bit Me!

Today was hot. Like ohmygoshIcan'tbreathe hot. It still is hot. Our back living room isn't hooked up to our a/c and that is where we spend most of our time, so that sucks! This morning I decided that as soon as Ellie and I woke up we were going to go for a nice long walk. I figured we would beat the heat. HA! It was 80 when we left the house a little after 8:30. It still boggles my mind that I can actually function that early but I digress...The road was mostly shaded so it really wasn't too bad, and Ellie was content looking around and listening to the birds chirping. On the last little stretch before our house I saw a lady and her huge monstrous Pomeranian dog walking towards us. So I moved to the right side of the road to avoid having to talk to her, I know I know I'm bad. so her and the dog could pass. The closer I got I realized the dog wasn't on a leash. As he came running towards me she said "Oh don't worry he won't do anything." and then he bit me! Really?? So I told her he just bit me and she kept walking! She had picked him up and didn't stop. I had to turn around to shout at her that her dog needed to be on a leash and it was unacceptable for him to go around biting people. I went up their driveway and asked them if the dog was up to date on all it's shots and they said it wasn't even their dog, they were dog-sitting. It was just a little bite but it did break the skin so I called animal control to go down and make sure that the dog was up to date on all its shots. Because I do NOT want rabies and I do NOT want to give Ellie rabies. I had an appointment this morning at 11:00 that I had to reschedule for 2:30 while I was waiting for animal control. So at 2:00 while I was heading to my appointment I get on the highway, which normally has no traffic that early in the day, and come to a dead stop. We creep along and I'm thinking there's got to be a horrible accident up here. Around the bend I see no cops, no accidents, just an abandoned car that had been pulled over on the side of the road. Come on people! So I was late for my appointment. Awesome.

Moral of the story: Next time, I'm drop kicking any dogs that come running up to me off their leash trying to bite me.

On a happier note we ended the day grilling hamburgers on the back deck and I gave Ellie a bath in the new little pool her gramma got her. It was a great way to end an annoying day.

I may be biased, but I think she's so cute :)

Busy Busy

I started this off weekend feeling like I was getting strep-throat. Really? REALLY?!?! This was not the time for me to get sick. I had way too much to do this weekend! Luckily after popping some dayquil and drinking a couple glasses of OJ I started to feel much better.

Saturday we went to the wedding of a friend from high school. I graduated with the bride and Mike graduated with the groom. Needless to say it was like a high school reunion...for both of us! The ceremony was outside at their parents house and was H-O-T. HOT. But it was so cute. Pretty flowers, pretty green bridesmaid dresses, and of course the beautiful bride! My whole family was invited and since my mom doesn't live far from them we went back to her house to sit on the a/c vents cool off until the reception. After feeling adequately refreshed we headed out to the reception. It was a beautiful banquet room and my brother, his wife, Mike, and I ended sitting up at a table with a girl I was pretty good friends with for almost my entire life. We grew up together and played soccer together forrrrreverrrr, but like most people lost touch after we graduated. It was so good to catch up with her and she lives close by so hopefully we keep in contact! We didn't stay too late, because after all, we do have a mini back at home that still wakes us up at night!

Both Friday and Saturday were late nights because I was trying to finish decorations and food for a surprise sprinkle that I was throwing at my house for my sister(-in-law) who is due August 2nd. (My other sister(-in-law) is due October 1st, how awesome is that?!?!) It is my fault that I am a huge procrastinator couldn't get things done earlier in the week, but thankfully Mike was a huge help. I skipped church this morning and started baking cupcakes at 8:00 but still was running around getting things together when people started showing up at 12:15 (30 min earlier than the invitation said I might add!!!). But everything came together and Raychal was surprised! We had a great lunch and had a good time celebrating this new life that will soon be joining our family!

 We're getting used to rice cereal around here, so this is what most of my nights look like :)

Tired

I don't remember where I read this but it really struck a cord with me.

 "Christians don't pray because they are afraid there isn't a God, Non-Christians don't pray because they are afraid there is."

Ain't that the truth?

Lately I've really been thinking about my walk and if I am more of a help or a hindrance.To be honest, I think I have spent more of my life as a hindrance. And that breaks my heart. I think about all the people that I could have reached for Him and and I am so saddened by my selfishness and my desire to "fit in".

"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."

Sometimes I feel like God doesn't hear me. Sometimes I feel like my little cries for help requests get lost somewhere in between. I guess if I am going to be honest with myself I have to admit that I really only go to Him when I am asking Him to do something for me. Wow I am selfish. Prayer has always been my struggle. Remember that song from Sunday School when you were little: "Read your Bible pray every day pray every pray every day. Read your Bible pray every day and you'll Grow Grow Grow..." Reading my Bible while I do not do it often enough has never really been hard for me; now pray every day....that's the hard part. I would rather just pick up my direct line to God and shout ask for His help when I'm struggling.I can only imagine how that makes God feel. It would be really hurtful if when Ellie is bigger she only called on me when she needed help or when I could do something for her. I make God sad, ouch. It is really hard to think of God as my "Father" and to think that he actually loves me and wants a relationship with me. People always say that "If you were the only person on the Earth, God still would have died on the cross for you." For me. Really. He really cares about little old me when there are 6 billion other people on this planet? 

I just don't know how to really, truly, honestly rely on Him. I asked Him to be my Savior a long time ago so it's not that I'm not saved or haven't asked Him to forgive me, I guess I am just really lacking in the "put my trust in Him part". It is so hard. I have had A LOT of people let me down in my life, and I guess I am just afraid that what if I do put all my trust in Him and He doesn't take care of me. My head knows that He will, I can read those words and quote verses to you but I still can't help but wonder what if He doesn't? In all reality I guess I can really say that I'm frustrated with myself. I make messes then ask Him to come along and sweep things up and that's just not how He works. But still, sometimes I can't help but wonder "Can you just throw me a bone here?????" It is truly the desire of my heart to be close to God and have an amazing relationship with Him, and bring others to Him, I just don't know how to believe that He is going to do what He says He will do. It is really hard not to put earthly traits on God.

I am called to "train {Ellie} in the way {s}he should go, and when {s}he is old {s}he will not turn from it." How can I do that when I am struggling myself? It's time to get it together, I am so tired of struggling. 

*****************************************************
Is this one for the people? Is this one for the Lord?
Or do I simply serenade for things I must afford?
You can jumble them together, my conflict still remains
Holiness is calling, in the midst of courting fame
Cause I see the trust in their eyes
Though the sky is falling
They need Your love in their lives
Compromise is calling

Sick Baby

I can't believe it's been a week since I've written anything! Ok maybe I can because I kind of lost my mind had a rough week.

This past weekend was pretty busy. We went away to my brother house for Friday/Saturday and then spent Sunday with Mike's family (where we ended up under Tornado warnings eeek!!!!) We spent Memorial Day at my other brothers house grilling and just hanging out. I am so thankful for both my brothers who served 4 years in the Marine Corps and did a tour in Iraq. We are so blessed to have the freedoms that we often take for granted and really need to remember all the sacrifices that are made for our country.

Tuesday we noticed that Ellie was feeling a little warm so we took her temp and it was 101.4. I about had a heart attack. I know that a fever under 103 isn't really anything to be concerned about (especially without other symptoms) and her only symptoms were taking better naps and being cuddly; not something I am going to complain about!But that didn't stop me from calling the on-call Dr. Who is a big doucher by the way  So we checked her temp again around 2:00 a.m. and it was 101.7 so I took her into the pediatricians office this morning. After poking around looking in her ears and listening to her heart the Doc looked in her mouth and saw a sore and declared that it was hand-foot-mouth disease. Sounds way scarier than it is. She said that the fever would last 3 days to a T and that she might develop a rash/blisters on her hands and feet. So off we went with our Motrin to wait it out. That was around 11:00 this morning and with only one does of Motrin the fever seems to be gone. So is it really H-F-M or is this another hasty diagnosis? I guess we will wait and see, but I'm just glad I have a happy girl rolling around on the floor!

Last night night while we were waiting for the Doc who was taking his sweet time to call us back we tried to keep her awake because we didn't know if we were going to have to jet off to the ER, take her temp again, do a fever dance, or what. Well around 9:30/9:45ish I said forget it, she's going to bed. (Mind you her bedtime is usually 7:00-7:30) Yeah, well, keeping her up: BIG MISTAKE. I tried doing our usual bedtime routine tonight and putting her down about 7:30 and she apparently thinks that now she can stay up like a big kid. she's rolling around and jibber-jabbering like a crazy baby! But the first sign of sleepiness I am scooping her up and whisking her off to bed. Wish me luck!

Does this look like a sick baby to you?!?!