"Maid" to Love

Today was house cleaning day...and we sooo needed it. I didn't forget about my Thankful Thursday, I just didn't have time to blog. I learned something so neat in bible study yesterday that I will treasure for a life time....well, as long as I am cleaning my own house! A woman in bible study said that she has been doing this for years and actually some of yall might have already heard this before....but anyway it was new to me, but what a difference it made in my house cleaning day. She said since cleaning is such a chore and most of us dread doing it, we might as well make the best out of it by giving glory to God. She said, the whole time you are cleaning, as you go around to each room, and to each thing, thank God for that "thing" and send up thanks and praises to him for blessing you and your family for that thing. Like today, I thanked Him for each thing I was cleaning and spoke why I was so thankful. Today I was thankful for my fridge... I said "Thank you for this fridge even though it is not new and big...it keeps my food cold for my family so that we can have plenty, good and fresh food to eat whenever we get hungry, days and even weeks from now." Today I was thankful for my carpet...I said "Thank you for this carpet even though I wish to have a house filled with hard wood floors....this carpet is so soft on my baby's delicate feet and it is warm to walk on bare foot when it is cold outside." Today I was thankful for Avery's training potty...I said "Thank you for this little potty even though it gets nasty and I have to empty it frequently...it gives my little toddler security while she is learning to do big girl things....I'm thankful that I am washing it instead of changing diapers." And today I was thankful for the trash can....I said "Thank you for this garbage can even though it stinks....I'm so grateful that I can just simply throw away my trash and garbage and get rid of it and never have to deal with it again."Being thankful for the trash can reminded me of some of the promises that God has made to us! As far as the east is from the west. Cleaning house this way, made it where it wasn't just work but it turned into worship and also serving for my family. I wanted to share with all you, others that don't have a maid yet! Maybe some day I will be thankful for a maid....but I will still go around and be glad and thankful for everything that I am blessed with.

While vacuuming (which is the very last thing I do) the vacuum started smoking and smelling really really bad. I truly believe the enemy will try even harder when there is worship and praise music going on through out your house. (By the way, Avery just loves it when I put praise music on...she sings and dances).....hey! that's another thing the enemy didn't like today! Anyway, what Satan didn't realize that even though the cleaning stopped....the praising sure didn't....AND that I have candles for the smell...AND I have a handy dandy husband who will get home later and fix the vacuum!

Our Little Christmas Tree

I didn't wake up with the Christmas spirit but shortly got into it. We did however wake up in our pajamas which lasted all day. Avery and I started to put up the Christmas tree around noon today in our PJs. I always forget just how long it actually takes to put that little thing up...especially with a two year old. Avery helped so much....................

Not too long after we were making some progress, Avery decided she was bored with spreading out the limbs for Mommy.......

HA! I finally got the tree up, undecorated....it's our little family's little tree...it's only 6 ft, skinny and bare but it will do. It has added so much already and it will light up our little apartment. We are really going to enjoy our first San Antonio Christmas! I even got out Avery's tiny tree for her room, but she was so busy with all the other Christmas things...like wearing the big socks (stockings)! Let the holidays continue. Season's greetings everyone....the season IS here.

Monthly Vegetable

Grandparents, you would be proud. Check out this spinach salad Avery was shoving down last night! I just had to take some pics because it might be a while until we ever see something as rare as this again. For over a year now, the ONLY veggies that Avery eats is an occasional green bean and maybe uncooked carrots (of course dipped in Ranch). It depends on what mood she is in. I was just amazed at how much she enjoyed her "leafs" and the fact that she just couldn't get enough or get them in her mouth fast enough. (I just feel sorry for the teachers at MDO that takes her to the potty today!)

Before I forget...I've been meaning to mention something about the Bachelor.....for those of you who watched....WHAT was Brad thinking? It still bothers me a week later. I think he must have been told and paid not to pick someone! AND....on Days, can you believe John Black is really and truly dead and gone?

Ok, had to get that out of the way. I'm very proud of my news boots that my Dad bought me (maybe as an early b-day present) when we went shopping together. Remember, it was freezing and I needed some shoes bad! Ladies, get to Wal-mart now....these are the cutest crochet boots for winter and they were only $14. I saw them and remembered that Oprah had them as one of her favorite things...except they weren't from Wal-mart! The brand name is UGG and they are like $130. And so comfortable.

Avery has been so excited to give her MDO friend, Wyatt, his b-day present. We weren't able to go to his party since it was Saturday and we were in Tyler. She has been talking about giving him his present at school and then "getting a little bit of Wyatt's birthday". I think she means the cake.

I think anyone would love a birthday card as beautiful and artistic as this one!

SAHM - After T-Day

It's Monday...back to the real world. But I still love being a SAHM. Avery found some more uses for her latest favorite toy..... you know, remember the "knee pads"? She calls these her new flip-flops. Even thoug they are stuck to her feet I think she thinks that she has to "hold" them on with her toes. She didn't call the next anything but was wrapping them around her hands like gloves. WOW...so interesting. HA!

We had a great time during Thanksgiving. We left SA in 85 degree weather...I was literally sweating because Avery and I took a walk before our 5 hour trip. We we arrived in Tyler, actually 6 1/2 hours later....it was FREEZING. We had fun staying up playing games and in the morning Pa Pa made an awesome Thanksgiving breakfast. Later at Grandaddy and Granny's house 30 minutes before Thanksgiving dinner the fun came to an end because Grandaddy had to go to the hospital because of some chest pains and high blood pressure. We all wanted to be safe than sorry. Grandaddy (David's Mom's Dad) is still in the hospital and may be there a while...I will update with some more news tomorrow.

The next day, we went over to Dave's (my brother's house) for yet another Thanksgiving. It was so much fun....of course holding baby Rhett all day! Ryan and Avery wore their selves out! Oh, I almost forgot.....(now I sound like Mickey on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse....those with little ones know what I'm talking about). Anyway, before we went over to Dave's, Dad and I woke up early to do a little shopping. I've never shopped on the Friday after Thanksgiving and I will never do it again! It was ridiculous! The only good thing was that I ran into Cherie at 7:00 in the morning unexpectedly. What a nice surprise to see my friend. I was looking for some shoes, because the warmest pair I had were some flip-flops!

Now that we are back, it sure does feel good to be home....it always feels that way...both here and there. It's kinda funny. Today I got to see another friend that I hadn't seen in forever! It was another wonderful thing. Lauren was still in town here in SA and we met for lunch with both of our girls. Side note - You know when your kid acts like a little toot the first time that you friend sees and meets them and you worry that that is what your friend is going to think they are like ALL the time...... Well, that is what happened. Avery was unbelievable....being such a little toot! Ahhh...sorry Lauren that our lunch was not eaten in peace, but it was so great to see you and hug your neck....and see sweet McKinley too. What a precious girl. Lauren assured me that she believes Avery is a precious girl too!!!

We love you Lauren and McKinley!!

T-Day

Let's start eating! Thank God for family, food and fun. We are in Tyler and I am personally ready for hashbrown cassarole, games and the Cowboys. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I'm so thankful for all of you!

Smarter Than the Average Tot

Anyone that knows Avery well enough knows that she is an exceptional child....not quite a genius (I don't think) but for sure a very quick learner and has an amazing memory. Yesterday while she was making a worm with her play dough, she started counting....backwards. She started at 10 and ended at 1 perfectly. Why? I don't know but she is amazing to me....daily. Maybe I should start a weekly post about all of the surprising things that she does. I forget half of them....

This time tomorrow we will be starting our Thanksgiving celebration! We are so excited. First stop is Grammy & Pa Pa 's house.

SEE YOU TOMORROW G & P!

(Yes, Avery marked on her shirt with a red marker)

I cleaned the entire apt today....I hate coming home to a dirty house. Avery helped....she was with me all day today even though we got dressed and packed to go to MDO. It was closed....I wonder why I wasn't notified. Good thing I don't drive half across SA to get there....it's literally two minutes away. Anyway, so Avery was all dressed and no where to go. I had already planned on running to couples places so I drug her with me. First stop...Municipal Court...to show proof of my registration. I've been stopped for it twice now!! WELL...it was due in JULY! Anyway, $10 took care of that.

Avery and I were tired today....we were up from 12:30 to 4:00 last night. I ended up on the floor beside my bed with her....so uncomfortable....she was wide awake.....I wasn't......it was hard....but sometimes I have those nights too when you just can't sleep for nothing. (SIGH)

Well, I don't know what happened to Thugs N Harmony. Maybe they broke up.

Avery just came in here and started pushing buttons on the keyboard...she said "Am I messing up your pooter?" (computer) We are waiting for him to get home...the last two days at the academy, they have been training for Swift Water Rescue. Today they met at the Comal in New Braunfels. I'm anxious to see how it went. Better him than me...that's all I have to say!

Last night, Avery was playing beauty shop with Daddy, putting clips in what is left of his hair - I don't know how she did it..... of course Daddy just loooved it and loved me taking pics too!

SAHM - Change of Attitude

Yes, I'm fully aware that that is MY bed that Avery is in. Tell me, who could refuse an angel like that snuggled up in bed with them? I recently watched a program with Beth Moore giving a great lesson. She was talking about circumstances in our lives and how to deal with them. What I got from that, I know I will never forget and I will always remember no matter how big or small the circumstance. She said "After we have asked God to change our circumstance and situation and it doesn't look like it is going to change for a while....we must then change our attitude". I'm glad God erases bad feelings toward others when we ask Him to and even works the negative things out for good. Well, He promised to do that with everything. This weekend I decided I needed to change my attitude toward some circumstances. For example...as you know.....I was tired of being mad and frustrated with sweet little Avery. For some reason she is scared and I need to do nothing more than to open my arms to her and comfort her. That's what we want our heavenly Father to do with us in the middle of the dark and scary night. It's amazing how much weight I feel like has been lifted now that I have decided to change my attitude instead of praying for this situation to change.

We are excited about this week...our trip back home for Thanksgiving. I've been talking about seeing family as much as possible with Avery and she is getting very excited too. I'm thinking she is getting it and understanding we don't live close anymore. David is back from the deer lease and managed to get his first doe of the season....sorry no pics of that. Oh, I DO need to get pics of something else soon. For the past two evenings there has been three or four "gangsters" parked right outside our apartment. I call them the Thugs N' Harmony because they just stand around this one car listening and singing with their rap music (which is very vulgar by the way) for hours. And while they sing and rap to each other, they bounce. I'll be very scared for them to see me get a pic...but we'll see. They really don't bother me, because the music is not loud enough for us to hear it inside, but it is kinda awkward and annoying when we actually go outside to our car or go strolling...they go right along with their cussing and bouncing. I wonder....do they really, I mean really not have anything better to do??

Hey don't forget to set you DVR's for Oprah's Favorite Things 2007 tomorrow!!

Turn Down the Monitor

I can't believe it has come to this.....it's 3:00 in the middle of the day...I have lost my mind and I have just turned down the monitor for the first time. Have we really come to the end of naps? Surely not. Yes, Avery has transitioned her screaming and fit throwing into her naps as well. How can this be? I mean night time is one thing....but NAPS? Naps are sacred! I love my daughter but I NEED her nap time as much as she needs it. Can anyone relate to that? I refuse to give up nap time....I have chosen to turn down the monitor. It's awful. She is standing at her door screaming for me right now.

I know for a good week, all I have posted on my blog has been about Avery's sleeping situation but that is seriously my life right now. Everything during the day comes back to how we feel...and I feel...tired. David is gone again for the weekend to the deer lease. And it's OK, but given the situation I can't help but feel at little bitter. Again, this is my blog....I'm entitled to feelings and expressing them. I just feel at little crazy right now...not even because of the sleepiness but because I feel like I am raising a completely different little girl. Who snatched Avery? And where is my little girl who used to LOVE to snuggle in her own bed with her lovie, lambies and Baby Tad....and would read her books till she feel asleep?

Well, I want and NEED to write about something else. In other news....on Wednesday, David and I totally missed out on going to the So You Think You Can Dance tour here in SA. We even had tickets to go and had been planning it for like 2 months. I thought it was this coming Monday instead of Wednesday and had actually been planning on that day. Without a baby sitter, what can you do? I heard it was so neat. I was so looking forward to seeing Neil, Danny, Lacie and Sabra....oh and of course Hok. Oh well, maybe next year.....

She has done it...she has used super toddler strength and managed to open her heavy door that drags on the carpet.......

Ok, I can't be THAT crazy if I actually take pics of her during all this. Or is that part of my craziness? This is Avery pretending to be asleep on my bedroom floor right beside the computer where I am. Poor thing. Who? Me or her? My crazy self has convicted me to do one thing....pick this little thing up and put her in MY BED.....

TT - Bad Night Good Day

How does some one's personality and mood change drastically from 10:00 at night to 6:00 in the morning? I love the smiles and laughter that morning bring from this sweet girl, still even after another bad night. We aren't crying it out anymore...just staying in Avery's room till she goes to sleep. Last night...an hour and a half. But sometimes I think SHE has lost her mind when she is crying and screaming while I am sitting in the room right next to her....I felt like screaming too! Amidst all this, I forgot to put a pull-up on Avery, so she woke up at 6:00 and accidentally tee-teed in her bed. Mommy's fault. But we did have a great Thursday. Avery celebrated Thanksgiving with her Bible class and got to have lunch and made all kinds of crafts. She is napping so hard right now. Well, can't believe in ONE week it is already Thanksgiving. Let's give thanks, a week before!

Thankful Thursday list...I'm thankful for:

• My cappuccino each morning
• The cool front that just arrived
• Your prayers about Avery's sleep
• Baby Tad
• Bible Land teachers at church (we had an appreciation luncheon for them today)
• The wall knocked down outside our apartment....now we can see and don't feel confined!
• Being with family in less than a week

This Too Shall Pass

The morning is here...thank goodness to the newness and freshness that morning always brings! We survived... and of course in the morning problems don't seem as bad as they do at night. Why is that? Avery finally went to sleep (and slept all night) after a two hour ordeal. We were all three exhausted. We didn't let her cry it out all the way...30 minutes was all I could bear. Avery was making herself sick, shaking and sweating and being hysterical. David and I thought we were going to lose our mind. She finally fell asleep as her Daddy stoked her hair and rubbed her back....every minute or so she would open her eyes just to see if we were still there. She is so precious, but that was a rough night for all of us. We'll see how tonight goes. Avery and I are going to the park because I promised her we would go if she slept in her big girl bed all night. Oh and NOW she wants to play with her Baby Tad!!

Cry It Out

At this very moment, while I write this....we are letting Avery "cry it out". We haven't done this since she was 7 months old. PLEASE pray that all went well. It is almost unbearable sitting here listening to her screams on the monitor. David's solution - turn down the monitor. So you might be wondering why it has come to these extremes....well we do too. For 5 nights Avery has been crying and sometimes screaming when she is put to bed. She also does it when she wakes up in the night, which is at least 3 or 4 times each night. She says that she is scared and wants to sleep in our bed. This is the thing....I am one of "those" moms. I have not and will not let my child sleep in our bed. I can't sleep...with all that tossing and moving around...and now grinding of the teeth. Yes, Avery grinds her teeth at night, it's really strange but the doctor said that she would grow out of it. Anyway, I did sleep with her last night (I just wanted sleep SOOO bad I would do anything). The anything was sleeping with Avery in her toddler bed! I ended up being so cramped and miserable, but I just wanted her to get good sleep cause she had "school" the next day. After I did take her to MDO, I even went on a BABY TAD mission. (Thanks Kelli and Lexie for letting us have your Baby Tad a long time ago....it was Avery's favorite toy, but it stopped working a couple days before our move to SA). So, I thought if I could just find another one, she would do better at night. Well, she is still screaming for her daddy right now....guess Baby Tad lost it's soothing touch. By the way, Baby Tad has been discontinued and is now different, but during my search mission I found ONE at Ross for $20. Avery WAS thrilled. The silence is still not here yet. But I know this couldn't possibly last all night...could it?

SAHM Monday - Funny Girl

David made it home from the deer lease at about 3:00 today...no trophies this trip. Avery has been talking about him all weekend and was excited to wake up from her nap and see Daddy. Avery and I had a great girl's weekend. It seemed short. Now here we are back in Monday again. Just the typical things happening today ... cleaning up the house, a little stroll, a couple loads of laundry, and a quick trip to HEB. Last Monday I said that I wanted to dedicate my Monday blogs to being a stay at home mom. There's a couple things during each day that I wonder if I would ever experience if I wasn't here with Avery. Like walking into the bathroom to see this.....

Of course this is a reenactment because during the real incident, Avery was actually going potty. But it looked just like this ... her lamb propped up and everything. Guess she was showing Moses (the name of the lamb) how it's done!!

And yes, Avery named her lamb Moses without our help! HA! She has another lamb named Lamus and another one which was named last night, Lango. Another surprising sight on this Monday, was this running down the hall....

Ok, sorry to any guys reading this, but those two white things are pantie liners....... She must have gotten into my stash under the cabinet. Now why would a two year old do that!! :) Avery said, "Now I am ready to go roller skating." (Knee pads)! Later on, I found that they were quite used today.... actually on her knees, stuck to the mirror, stuck on her forehead, stuck on her lambies and had been drawn on with a pink marker. Yea, Monday!

Raise the Roof

It's a girl's weekend. David is off to the deer lease today and will be back Monday. We have already started the weekend off with a bang this morning with Super Target and the new park on Heubner! (well, it's new to us) Oh, just wanted to clarify one of the things I'm thankful for...."Freedom of Choice". Don't want anyone to think I'm getting too liberal here! HA! Who ME? Just think about it...we are so lucky to have that freedom....and I'm just talking about everday simple things....really simple things. Like freedom to choose where we want to live, what to eat, what to do with our day, what to wear, what church we go to, or what we watch on TV. It's such a great freedom...the freedom to choose!

Speaking of church, Avery is so proud of her art that she makes in bible class. She is mostly proud cause her Mommy and Daddy are proud and make a big deal about it. She loves it! And I really, really believe that this is going to make a HUGE impact on her life...possibly for the rest of her life....that she is starting early. She is learning so much in her little bible classes and she loves to talk and sing about it. As a matter of fact she is in 3 classes a week...I know that is alot but what else am I supposed to do with her? Sunday morning she goes, Wednesday night and Thursday morning she goes to her long one, because Mommy's is long. Listening to her sing her songs is so sweet to my hears. It's funny cause some of the things that this two year old talks about I can't even remember....like Daniel's three friends being protected and not burned in the fiery furnace. I forgot about that one.....

This is the lion's ears and mane ... guess she was still learning about Daniel (Daniel and the lion's den)....

And of course...Jonah and the whale.

Don't get me wrong, I've taught her most of the bible songs that she knows, but her hearing them over and over is really healthy for her. There is this one somg that David and I had actually never heard of. It's so cute when she sings it. She puts her hands in the air and goes up , up, up with them (just like "raise the roof"). And sings "My God is a great big God...." I asked her to sing it for me this morning but she didn't want to AT ALL. Then, after I had put her down for a nap, I hear...."My God is a great big God...you can come take a picture now!"

Thankful Thursday

I've got to come up with some unique titles for my thankful Thursdays....this is not one! Well, I am very thankful this week ...here's my list.....

• Mercies made new every morning
• Medicine that works
• When there is nothing else...there is always PB&J!
• Helpful people...even when they don't have to be
• 7 hours of sleep plus a bonus 30 minute nap!
• Freedom of choice
• Brunch at bible study

Early Start

Avery woke up at 4:30 this morning ....that means I did too. She usually wakes about 6:30, but this morning she insisted on laying on the couch and watching cartoons. I even tried laying on the floor in her room so that we wouldn't disturb David. (No, that is not really a pic of me....it was too early to take any pics...but I know it does look like me).

But on top of our sleepiness, Avery and I both have colds, so we were in there coughing and hacking...... I don't know how he does it. How do guys just sleep thru a crying baby and all the other noise to go along with it? Come on, the monitor is right there...you've got to hear what's going on. I mean, it's either you hear it but ignore it and go back to sleep or you really and truly don't hear it! How? But just think.....if there was a buck grunting or a turkey gobbling out our door.... THAT would be heard and dealt with. But EVERY TIME, if asked about it, my husband says "Yes, I was awake the whole time....I wasn't getting any sleep". WELL? Can anyone relate to this? It's crazy what men can just choose to "block out". (Now, that really doesn't look like David!)

Ok, Ok, I am relieved that I didn't have to go do P.T. at 7:00 with the Navy Seals. I guess all that exercising makes someone sleep exceptionally well, with disturbances and all..........

Stay At Home Moms

I love, more than anything, staying home with this little girl. I am so very thankful for this. I am so blessed and fortunate! I think all of us SAHM feel this way. Avery and I are having a great day together...doing nothing. Yes, sometimes I feel bored stuck in the house and sometimes I do feel like I need a "break" from a two year old, but for the most part my heart is full of joy EVERY time I see her face in the morning. I know she is mine and I am hers. I wanted to start a new thing on Mondays to dedicate my blog to being a Stay at Home Mom. Kinda like some of us bloggers are doing on Thursdays.... "thankful Thursdays". I thought it would be good to do it on Mondays because that is when everyone else goes back to their workplace. And again I am so lucky to not have to miss one single thing........

Silly things.........

...like when I was making up the bed and Avery was "hiding" from me. And she still loves to play peekaboo!

Creative things....

....like playing with playdough ....for almost an hour!

Check out the face. She was so intense, she has got the tongue hanging out!

And innocent things.....

....like carefully buckling up her babydoll in her own stroller and then, those sweet tip toes....

I encourage all the SAHM bloggers and part-time SAHM bloggers to dedicate Mondays to the reason why we do what we do - and love it!