A Party Worth Pictures

My girl turned two and though I'm late, the pictures show what a fun time we had. Our morning party included muffins, donuts, coffee, juice and lots of friends and family.

da family.

my beauty.

best friends always console one another.

playtime.

baby's first elevator ride. and her birthday present from bubba, a cheerleading uniform.

boo.

giddy up.

big helpers with small attention spans.

everyone loves a juice box.

posers.

Dede, the birthay girl and Barney: a wild and crazy trio.

Thank you to all who celebrated with us and thank you to my sweet girl for giving us a reason to party!

Flippin' Over It

Does anyone own one of these?

It is a Flip Video Camera. It is as small as a point and shoot camera and is what Brad has wanted to buy me for my birthday. He decided to postpone the purchase since we spent several hundred dollars on medication for the kiddos the other day, but still plans to buy one for me. He really thinks it would be great for us at this season in life. It is easy to carry, uploads videos by plugging into the computer and would capture everyday moments.

I was just curious if anyone had one or knew anything about it. I had never even seen one until Brad showed it to me.

Not to mention, you can design your own making it really cute and stylish!

Homebound

We have done a lot of: sleeping, movie watching, soup eating, medicine measuring and sterilizing.

Bubba boy is sick, but making a speedy recovery. We have quarantined ourselves to our house for a few days and will be staying here for several more. He has not had a fever in over twenty-four hours, but I still don't want to risk getting around anyone. Not only for the sake of others (which is of utmost concern for me), but to keep extra germs from latching onto us as well.

I am very much looking forward to my evening out tonight with my man for a belated birthday celebration. It will be nice to get out of the house for a few hours. I love my home, but there is only so much a gal can take. Plus every time I try to take a step, I have two little people under my feet. My chances of falling will be much more slim if I am away for a few hours.

Yesterday will be a birthday that I always remember, that I can guarantee. I spent the day in my sweats with no make up on and didn't manage to squeeze a shower in. Hubby did work from home to help with the kids, so that was a nice surprise. It is not the way I would have chosen for him to be here with us, but you take what you can get, right?

Speaking of slim... I am not so much. I am watching my clothing choices diminish by the day. Less than nine weeks before Miss Priss makes her grand entrance into the world. I have ordered bedding. Actually, my mom and mother-in-law bought it for her. If it would only arrive, we would be making great progress.

I must go make myself presentable for the outside world...

Christmas on the mind

For the first time in my life, I have a rather lengthy Christmas list that I am adding to daily. Isn't that terrible? Having a new home with many projects still ahead of us has done this to me. Speaking of... I should show you some pictures of the house. I will try to take a few this weekend. Tomorrow is operation garage clean out. It is so cold today here that it made me realize the urgency to park my car in the garage.

What is on your Christmas list this year?

I am working on finishing my Christmas shopping in the next few weeks. Having a baby due in December is working against my inner-procrastinator and I am trying to be very prepared this year. Trying. The key word.

But then I end up doing things like I did today and I go ahead and give the gifts to the person I purchased them for because I know that they could begin getting use out of it now. That is my problem with buying early. It's hard for me to hold back. I am the worst about that. I need to go ahead and begin wrapping items so that I am not so tempted to give them out early. Sheesh.

Extra! Extra!

I have done a lot of reading over the past month and a half. I enjoy reading, but I go in spurts. I tend to get engrossed in a book and therefore I only want to read during my free time (and my not-so-free time).

Something about pregnancy makes me feel the need to read more. I've done it all three times. I think that I subconsciously know that my reading time will be soon become non-existent and therefore, I cram my reading into my months before the baby arrives.

All four leisure books that I have read are good;

The Time Travelers Wife

and I saw the movie. It was okay, not my favorite.

Rebecca

a classic. Very good.

The Alchemist

an easy read that has a lot of wisdom.

And my personal favorite:

The Glass Castle

Read it! It shifted my outlook.

What are your favorite reads lately?

And my favorite cd of the fall is Needtobreathe, The Outsiders. It's so good. I can listen to the entire cd and I love all of the songs. That is rare for me. Check it out... even if you don't know who they are.

My favorite month is coming!

October is in three days. Did you hear me? THREE days. I still remember kindergarten; it lasted forever. And now, I cannot seem to grasp how quickly the days, weeks, months come and go.

My bubba boy isn't feeling too swell today and so we have had a few extra tears shed. He gets croup this time every year, it is related to the weather, but is still no fun. My gal had a fantastic second birthday party. She keeps telling me "my. birthday. party. fuuuun!" She leaves a little pause in between each word. Cutie.

Our small group began the Crown Financial study last week and so this was our first week of homework. I love reading things related to money and learning better ways to trust the Lord with and handle finances, but I have had such a hard time fitting all of this fun in over the last week. It's just been so busy. Has anyone done the Crown study? What are your thoughts on it?

Other big news, Brad painted the outside of our house this weekend. He spent ALL day Friday scraping and painting the house. It looks much, much better. He also finished our back splash and installed two outlets in a built-in in the living room (with the help of a talented friend). My man has worked hard!

Our weekend in a nut shell... thank you very much!

~Happy Birthday, Kayt~

I feel like it was yesterday that I wrote a post very similar to this for my big boy and now it's my baby girl who is TWO. The term time flies was definitely first said by a mother. And quite possibly the mother of two active, vibrant children.

Twenty-four things that I love about my 24 month old...

24. Your are the little girl that I dreamed about when I was young. God put a picture of you in my heart and you are my promise come to life. When I look at your brown hair and your big blue eyes, I see the reality of God's best.

23. You talk so much and so well. Your words amaze me and make me laugh.

22. You are happy and care free, but you do not let anyone let anyone 'push you around.' You are also strong and determined.

21. Your sweet chubby hands attract my lips like a magnet.

20. You love all things girl. Baby dolls, purses, jewelry, and shoes. You define femininity.

19. You ADORE your Bubba. I love when you take his face between those chubby hands and pull him down to your level and kiss him right on the mouth. And he loves it too!

18. You are all things girl, but you play rough and always have your hair in your face. You aren't afraid to get dirty, keep up with the big kids and 'let your hair down.'

17. That hair. Oh, that hair. The wispy, tangled, ratty mess that we lovingly call your hair.

16. You are daddy's girl. The way you look at your daddy and he looks at you melts my heart and makes me swell with pride. I look forward to seeing the glances you two exchange for many, many years and watching those two sets of eyes meet during all of life's big and small moments.

15. You love to read, but have little patience for the words. You make up silly noises to go with each page.

14. You are curious beyond your age.

13. You think you are ten years old and tell everyone who asks that you are turning six. When we correct you and say you will be two, you reply "no, I'm six." And I almost believe you.

12. You are such a great sleeper.

11. You love hot dogs. I'm not sure how you tolerate them, but it makes me love you more.

10. Each morning when I ask you what you want for breakfast, you answer "coke" and giggle for minutes and then I burry my face in your belly just to hear you laugh some more.

9. When I get dressed, you tell me that I look cute. My self-esteem rises each day. ;)

8. You call yourself a "princess," and princess you are!

7. You have a joyful spirit and pure nature. You adapt with ease and are always eager to partake in an adventure.

6. Anytime I pick you up from a corporate setting (MDO, church, etc.) you say "I had fun!" I think it will be your motto for life.

5. You love to color and draw. And do it quite well, if I must say so myself.

4. You have a major sweet tooth.

3. There is nothing that your blanket, meme, cannot fix.

2. You love to sit next to me and put on make-up. You do just as I do and feel so proud when you look into the mirror and see what you've done.

1. You are confident, radiant, fearless, compassionate, full of smiles, genuine, energetic and loving... everything that I could have asked for in a daughter. You inspire me to be a better woman and a more gracious person. You have stirred my heart to serve the Lord and love him wholeheartedly. You have shown me promises fulfilled and made me trust his tender voice. You are my pure-hearted, girl of power: thus you are, Kayt Emerson.

Happy Birthday, sweet girl. I love you!

Hair Decor

Some things bring a joy that only the mother of a GIRL can understand. Like all 59 new bows for my two girls. Yes, fif-ty-ni-ne. I feel like we own our very own boutique.

Aren't they great?

I bought the ribbon and materials and a friend of mine made them for me. I cannot wait to put matching bows in the hair of my little princesses.

If you live in the area and would like the information for my friend, Ashley Gladman, just let me know. She is so talented, even beyond hair bows.

They are so cute that I am considering wearing them in my hair. If I don't pull it all out, that is.

Before I pull my hair out...

Any suggestions for good parenting books?

Beyond scripture, I mean.

Silly Little Me

Today I thought of something that has had me laughing all day...

When I was young, I was insistent that any man that wanted to marry me must be tested for the HIV virus. It was going to be mandatory to become my husband.  And I was NOT going to budge on this for anyone no matter how handsome or charming he was. 

It isn't a laughing matter, but the fact that I was determined that this was of upmost importance to me makes me laugh.  

I thought about that today and I believe this is the first time it has crossed my mind since I was in elementary school.  

But not to be worried, I had resolved that even if he did test positive I would still marry him because love is bigger than illness.  We just wouldn't have sex. 

Silly little me.