What Do I Choose?

Sweet Pea was playing ball w/ her Dad when the ball went over by one of her favorite toys....a part of an easter egg. Suddenly she was caught in a dilemma of what to do. I was curious to see what she would choose. Watch as she makes her choice.



I was blown away by her response. Not sure what to do she went to her Daddy for help. She knew she needed guidance and she relied in her Daddy for that. How many times to I need to go to my heavenly father for help, guidance, advice, and I don't? I rely on my own "wisdom" and "knowledge" to make a decision. I don't crawl back to my fathers protection. This is just one of the many lessons I am learning daily from my daughter.

Our First Uh-Oh

Yesterday we had our first of many "uh oh"'s.  My wonderful husband had given me the day off to read/nap ect.  There was one hitch with this.  He had done two things: stayed up all night to make me breakfast in the morning, hurt his knee at work the night before.  So he was pretty out of it.  However, I was not going to pass up the offer for time alone. 

So I was upstairs enjoying my time alone when I noticed things get pretty quiet.  I kept thinking "how much can she get into, her Daddy is right there."  A few minutes later I hear Tony say: "uh-oh.  Daddy is in trouble."  Before I even came down stairs I knew what my darling little girl had gotten herself into: my mother's day dove chocolate that I had left sitting on the couch.  Sure enough I came down to find Tony pulling gold tin foil flakes out of her mouth and this......

Covered in chocolate.

This used to be a square.

With out the wrapper.

Needless to say I kind of enjoyed it.  It was nice that the first "uh-oh" was on Daddy and not Mommy.  This same thing could of easily of happened to me....although I think I would of caught her a little quicker.  I also think I would of chosen something else for her to get into seeing as how we are trying to avoid things like chocolate (she's under one and she has an uncle who is severely allergic to milk and milk products).  However, I'm glad it wasn't something dangerous like a chemical.  I have been around kids and moms enough to know that this is just going to happen, there is no avoiding it.  The best thing to do is tell them that they shouldn't do it and snap pictures for future blackmail.  It made for a rather enjoyable Mother's Day.  Here are a few more pictures of the day.....

Me and my beautiful girl.  We were enjoying the outside while Tony cooked up some delicious steaks.  Lake that night he also grilled some garlic and butter shrimp....amazing.

She gets SO excited about the slide.  I hadn't even let her slide down yet.

Daddy's turn.

Happy 9 Months

Happy 9 months to the most wonderful, stubborn, opinioated, funny little girl I know!  Wow, is my baby girl becoming so BIG!  Here is a recap of the last nine months:

In the last...................

9 months (newborn): She has (weight, height)...........statics to come after Tuesday

6 months (3 months old): She has turned smiles into laughter

     Gone on her first plane ride

     Gotten 2 teeth

3 months (6 months old): Starts to say "da, da"

     Gotten 4 more teeth,

     Learns to go from tummy to sitting

     Plays games
     Finds a security blanket
     Understands to counting to 3 means something fun is going to happen
1 month (8 months):  She begins to crawl,
     Gets 2 more teeth
     Decides she is going to eat on her own
     Walks with help

     Begins to pull to a stand

     Laughs at things mommy and daddy do that are funny
     Says "uh-oh"
2 weeks: She pulls to a stand and begins to let go w/ one hand
     Begins to say "all done" and make signing motion
     Laughs at things she does herself that are funny

1 week:  She crawls to the door to greet her Daddy

     Begins to climb stairs, pillows, Daddy's legs, her little couch

     Begins to successfully take a sippy cup
     Waves to people and says "hi"
1 Day: She waves back to someone after they wave first

What a difference a week, a month, 9 months makes, huh?  Over the next three months we want to work on: saying Ma-Ma (how does a child say "all done" but not "ma-ma"?), clapping, high fives, standing independently, signing or saying "more" and "please", leaving hair bows in.

Her favorites:

*Feeding herself

*Kids

*Outside

*Dogs

*Easter Eggs (current favorite toy)

*Daddy coming home

*Standing and walking

*Any crazy game Daddy plays

*Daddy's shoes

*Her pink and brown blanket from Aunt Brittney

*Watching Mommy do things (especially cooking)

*Swinging

*Music and dancing

Least Favorites:

*Being inside

*Having something taken away

*The zoo

*Having to sit still

*The bath tub running 

*Mommy leaving

Yummy Food

Such a Big Girl

We were able to get REALLY close to the sea lion at the zoo.  This was the first of many "freak outs" during the day.

Looking at one of the only animals she liked that day....the tiger.  (The other was the leapord, go figure)

Messy after blueberries.

Little Monkey

Mid Fit (the throwing her head back gives it away)

Easter 2010

Beautiful Blue Eyed Girl

The End of an Era

This past week has been quit amazing.  Tony found out on Wednesday that he would be the new Staff Accountant at Central Illinois Trucks (CIT) here in Normal.  That has been increadible news.  The doors this opens for our family are endless. 

1. Tony gets to work an 8 to 5 job (with an hour lunch).  He no longer has to work two jobs, doubles (7 to 
    3 at Corn Belt and 6 to 12 at Qik N Ez), extreme weather, after pulling an all nighter for school, etc.
2. It will allow him to get his masters (which he needs to take the CPA).
3. He can sit for the CPA (Certified Public Accountant....needs to move up in his career).
4. He is going to miss any milestones of his daughter (working doubles all summer would of done that).
5. We can pursue buying a house in the next year.
6. We now have enough income to be qualified to adopt internationally.
7. More oppertunities to serve in ministry.

There are so many more then that but those are a few.  Needless to say, my man has worked so HARD over the last few years.  I feel like a era is coming to end. 

Part of that "era" will end tomorrow.  I will no longer be a roofers wife.  That's right....after first being a roofers girlfriend, then fiance, then wife for the last four years it will all be ending.  Corn Belt roofing and Mike have been one of the most amazing blessings in the last four years.  Mike has always given Tony time off when he needed (for Addilece and I being sick, to spend time with family, for school, etc), he has taken the time to truely invest in Tony's life, he has gotten to know me, he has encouraged and blessed us in more ways then I probably even realize. 

Mike holding Addilece in the hospital.  It was neat to watch this rough, tough guy melt over this tiny baby.  Tony constantly labels Mike as a crazy roofer, but he sure has a soft heart.

Early morning roofing.  John and Tyler are Tony's other "bosses". 

I wish Tony and I could express to these three guys what they have ment to us but I don't believe that will ever be possible.  So I guess we will just keep praying to God abundently blesses this company and the hands that run it. 

P.S. If you ever need a roof done Mike is a GREAT Christian guy.  He will not be your cheapest bid but he will do an excellent job on your roof. *wink, wink*

"Me Do It" is Worth It

Lately I have started to see those words over and over again with my beautiful wonderful child.  Yes, I meant to say see.  She can't speak them but her actions are ringing loud and clear.  She has wanted to be "Little Miss Independent" all the way.

Sweet Pea began crawling about three weeks back.  This past week she began pulling up and that is when the trouble began.  Suddenly our world turned upside down.  Meals times were a nightmare, nap times caused me to pull my hair out, and boy was I frustrated Mommy the few times I saw 5:30 on the clock. 

There have been times throughout the last few weeks that all I wanted to do was pull my hair out.  However, then I capture moments like this and it makes it all worth it.

And my favorite:

I'm quickly reminded that even in the "me do it" moments it is well worth it.  I look into those blue eyes and I grasp the depth of the responsibility that God has given to Tony and myself.  He has entrusted us with one stubborn, opinionated, independent, beautiful, smart, "talkative", FUN little girl.  I pray everyday that he will make me the best mommy I can be.  My heart's desire is to have this beautiful blued girl grow up to be a strong woman of God.