I Melt...

I mean, how could you not?!

Zoo Fun!!!

Catastrophic...that's the only word I can use to describe our week last week. She really wasn't feeling all that great and her behavior was a little out of control. By a little, I mean like nothing I had ever seen and I literally prayed over and over to God about how to handle her. It was pretty bad. We tried every kind of discipline technique in the book and it took about a week but things have finally settled down. I think consistency is key, and giving her options on the little things seems to help too. I try really hard to be firm on the big things and let all the little stuff go. I mean, does she really have to wear pants to play in the backyard? It goes against every fiber in my being to let her play in her pajama top, diaper, and boots but its just not a battle worth fighting at this stage! ( well, at least when we're not in public!) 

Guilty...Thanks to Madeline's behavior I questioned every decision I have made since she was born. Surely I am not the only mom who does this??? I tend to blame myself when she acts out, and as I fought tears grocery shopping through HEB on Friday, I decided that Saturday we would spend the day doing only fun things for her. 

Fun...We headed out to Abilene on Saturday around noon. Terry needed a little down time so he stayed home. Poor guy had the worst of it while I was working at night - I knew he needed a break. Stephanie and her kids came with us and we spent the day at the zoo and then took them to Chuck E Cheese. Saturday night we rented Hotel Transylvania ( so cute!) and Madeline got to sleep in my bed. It really was the perfect day. We had so much fun!

Highlight of the day - feeding the giraffes! One of the giraffes is shorter than the other and at a distinct disadvantage. They were so sweet! 

This little kitten came right up to the fence where we were standing. She looked like she needed a hug and then we made eye contact and I decided she probably didn't want a hug...maybe just a snack! She really was beautiful though! 

You won't see many pictures of Chuck E Cheese because all I did was RUN around chasing my child who was on cloud 9 to be there. She didn't even stop to eat. She was so pumped and it was so cute! 

She was mesmerized by Chuck E - creepy as he is. She liked him and kept telling him to get down. She was completely perplexed when the "real" Chuck E came out. It was so funny. It was fun to see her having such a good time! 

BTW - not so sure about the choice of song that Chuck E was singing. 

The Long Goodbye

Since Monday was a holiday, Terry and I decided to put down new flooring in Madeline's room. It's the last room in the house we needed to do , so we finally got it done. It looks SO much better! Carpet is nice unless you have pets and allergies. So we are officially carpet free finally!

I also rearranged her room to the way it was when she was a baby and I like it so much better. I am going to move the glider out at some point but it hurts my heart just thinking about her being too big for it!

 The closet!

See that cute owl chair? She has another one in pink and Terry is supposed to make a table to go with them. I think that will replace the glider eventually. Oh my girl is too big!!!

My next project is to attempt to sort the 1.6 billion toys in her playroom. She got so much stuff for Christmas and her birthday and it's a little overwhelming in the playroom right now. (for both of us) I guess these are good problems to have - we are beyond blessed.

It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of TImes...

Well, after spending about 20 of the past 24 hours asleep (or throwing up), I am back in the land of the living today. Terry and I got the WORST stomach bug ever. I mean I kinda consider myself a puking champ since being pregnant with Madeline (I know you're jealous) but this bug was the worst thing I have ever experienced. I think its the first time I've ever had a headache of migraine proportions and body ache with the stomach issues. Thankfully, mine started Thursday night and Terry took Madeline to daycare for me (after I called him at work crying because I literally couldn't move). But poor Terry got it right as he walked in the door from work. It was a miserable Friday around here. Thank the Lord Madeline hasn't gotten it. 

Anyway, I'm writing this post to get you thinking/praying about a couple of things. I was invited to go to the annual leadership conference for Project Humanity next weekend in San Antonio. It was all I could do not to jump up and down like I was on the Price is Right when he (the CEO) offered and told me its all expenses paid minus getting myself there. I am hoping to become much more involved with PH - I do NOT want to go to Kenya, come home and it just be a great experience. I want to make this part of my life. 

Here is where you come in. The work that PH does in Kenya is three fold. The medical clinic is part of their mission, but they are also working on a school there as well as a project to provide support and counseling for drug addiction there. Addiction is a major problem there and you can imagine how many resources the people there have access to when they're struggling. The thing I love about PH is they are not just taking trips over to Kenya, dropping off supplies, and leaving. They are providing supplies and care but they are also educating these people in hopes that they can begin to sustain themselves. Ok - sorry for the rabbit trail. I need your help - I am going to be getting together a list of school and medical supplies needed over there, and I am asking you to ask everyone you know to please donate. Let's be real - a box of chalk at walmart is 47cents. I am also going to be setting up a website where monetary donations can be made to my trip. I am hoping to raise the funds I need to go and at least $1,000 over that for supplies. I have one school interested in doing a school supply drive - if you can think of any who would be willing to do this as well, PLEASE let me know. No donation is too small. We are also going to try to skype the kids in said school with the kids in Kenya so they can "meet". How awesome is that?!! 

I would also like to collect some jewelry for the girls over there and some sort of ball for each of the boys over there. I was in Claire's the other day and it just struck me how much they may like that. I will find out the logistics of doing that next weekend and keep you posted. I just know we have so many supplies to take so I'm not sure how toys will fit into the equation. 

So please be praying, and if you can help, please let me know!

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
 The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.

Matthew 25:37-40

No Worries Wednesday

That's actually the title a new special at Outback where 2 people eat for so much money. Glad I don't work Wednesdays now! But it's not a bad deal if you're in the mood for Outback on a Wednesday! :) 

Anyway, this week has been busy, busy, busy! Back to school which means waking up at a dreadful hour every morning and going ALL DAY LONG on Mondays and Tuesdays. I decided to work Tuesday nights this semester so I can take off Saturdays. I got so burned out going to school all week and working all weekend every weekend last semester. We almost never had family time and I decided it just wasn't worth it so I'll be working Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday nights if you wanna come see me! 

School is so far so good. I LOVE my clinical instructor and am super excited about my rotation this semester - I also am liking the lecture component, Adult Health. But it's gonna be a heck of a class knowing basically everything that can go wrong and the nursing intervention for each problem. I'm still pretty pumped about it though. I can't say the same for my research class or my health policy class. I'm just not excited about either - but am sure I will learn a lot. I think on some level it's good to do things you hate! ha! 

My actual in class time is only 3 days a week this semester so I'm excited about that too - if I can get through Monday and Tuesday, the rest of the week won't be too bad I hope. I only have class for 2 hours on Thursdays and am off Wednesdays and Fridays. Yea!!!! 

In other news, I think I am gonna start a weekly injury post for Madeline! Check out this week's injury! 

No more monkeys jumping on the bed!!! It looks so much better today - it happened Sunday night. Then Monday at daycare a kid scratched the right side of her face with their hand and she looked like she had been in a street fight. My poor baby! 

In other incredibly boring news,  I got new bedding. I am insane and boldly chose white because I couldn't find one thing that I loved that was in my budget. When you have a toddler and 4 dogs, you don't spend a lot on bedding, even though I try to keep them off of it, you never can tell. Anyway, I kinda pieced together what I wanted and after debating for a month, finally settled on white with different accent pillows. And after a whole week - it's still sparkling white!!! 

One thing I find SO annoying about King size comforters is they're never long enough. I need a bed skirt too but that will take another month I'm sure to find. I think it's cute though and it really brightened up our room. 

And if you're still awake after this exciting post, check out the cutest napper ever! 

Isn't this so sad?! She has gotten in the habit of playing and then getting in her bed and taking her nap. I  actually think its a good thing because she is learning to entertain herself, and she also has to clean up her room when she gets up. Well, last week she started sleeping in her chair and then today I checked on her after she got really quiet and this is what I found! My sweet baby!!!

Naptime

Her new favorite napping spot...

Love that girl! 

Snow Fun!!!

It snowed last week and Madeline, the dogs, and I played outside until we couldn't feel our faces or fingers (paws) anymore! The snow makes our dogs so crazy and it makes me laugh! Madeline cared mostly about eating the snow and I could not get her to smile at me for anything! 

If I had a dollar for every time I heard "Yummy snow!"....

Polly loves the snow the most by far and this picture makes me smile. She was going crazy! 

Phoebe - not as big of a fan of the snow. She stayed on the deck most of the time we were out.

Zoe - strange, strange little dog but we love her anyway. But if you know of anyone who wants a dog...just kidding. Sorta. 

Look at those pretty teeth!!! 

                   

Gizmo peeling out in the snow - cracks me up! 

 You can see one of Madeline's gloves in this picture - she refused to keep them on though and then would cry because her hands were cold.