Do Princesses.........?

One of our favorite books is Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots?  You can read a little more about it here.  We feel that this book describes Addilece in her own little way.  She has got such a deep, deep girly side.  You see that when you see her get a bow in her hair or when her Daddy tells her how cute she looks.  But she has this rough and tumble side that is so not Princessy.....but it is what makes her, her.  We wouldn't change it for the world.....

So............

Do Princesses......

.........play with sticks???

Well, this princess does.

Just Hard

Some days are just plain hard, tough, tiring.  There are times that I say "God, I just don't want to do today."  On those days I would rather curl up in bed and read and sleep.  They aren't days where I want to deal w/ my little mess maker (her messes seem to be quit a bit bigger on those days) or be patient with my hubby.  They are days were I really don't want to reread the book for the dozenth time or reload the dishwasher.  They are the days where cooking seems overwhelming and playing outside even more overwhelming.  But those things HAVE to be done. 

I am learning to cry out God on the just plain hard days.  I'm learning to be completely honest w/ him and tell him that I don't want to do today.  I think he's a big enough God to handle my honest....he knows my heart anyway.  However, then I know I have to tell him "God, I have to do today, I know that....so help me do it through you."  Before this crazy stage in my life of having a toddler and facing other obstacles I don't think I ever did that.  I let the grumpiness and fatigue take over and I didn't care.  I let it control me. 

It is rather humbling to admit to God that I can't do what I should be doing as a wife and a mommy.  Its humbling to have to rely completely and totally on him.  But I need that, we all need that.  Humbleness draws us closer to him.  It makes me walking with my hand tightly clutching his.  It makes me rely on him to guide me on the next step. 

I'm sure most people think that the everyday shouldn't be hard, but for me some days just are.  I can't change that or fix it.  I can however, change how I go through those days.  Don't get me wrong, I still struggle even with turning things over to God.  My patience is still rather thin and those dishes don't look anymore appealing.  But I can see how God turns my spirit to calm.  He gives me a little burst of energy to read that book one more time without going over the edge.  He does it, not me.  All of me wants to go curl up and sleep till the next day comes and maybe, just maybe that shelf is clean and Little Miss doesn't want to make quit so many messes.  I can feel God though.  I can feel him in me and through me making me take a deep breath and keep going.  He makes me remember who and why I do what I do.

Its not been an easy process but its a necessary one.  I must keep going and I must do it with diligence. 

...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:1-2

Top 10 Favorite Bed Time Stories on Our Shelf

NUMBER 9:

Just Me and _________ Books by Mercer Mayer

We got a collection of these for Christmas (thanks Nana and Papa) and love them.  I think they are much more humorous as an adult then they ever where as a kid.  You are constantly thinking "I would kill my child".  It is not a book you can read without enjoying the pictures also.  We did get Just Me and the Bully from the library and were not huge fans.

NUMBER 10:

Gallop a Scanimation Picture Book by Rufus Butler Seder

What can I say other then......THE PICTURES MOVE!  How cool is that?  Addilece received this book from my friend Ruthie for her birthday, who is a teacher.  Before present opening time she pulled me aside and showed me the book.  I was like: THEY MOVE.  I have never seen that in a book before (besides pull taps).  She said the teacher in her couldn't pass it up.  When we opened presents Tony got excited about it, but nobody else understood why.  It was fun to see their reaction as the book went around.  I just discover it has two sister books.  I think I found my new favorite gift.

Two is Better Then One

Sweet Pea was swaddled up until she was about six months old.  At the time I thought she would never, not be swaddled.  However, finally we were able to "break" her of it.  Within a month Tony and I realized that she was going to form a blanket attachment.  So we were very purposeful with the blanket we had her sleep with.  Her "blanket" was one given to her by her Aunt Brittney.  It is soft and cuddly, thick and sturdy; which is why we chose it. 

While in the Dells for a weekend getaway in May we forgot Sweet Pea's blanket.  At this time she wasn't so attached to it that it was the end of the world.  However, in a resort there aren't many baby blankets.  We went to the store and picked up a nice, but not as nice blanket.  It was similar in softness and size to our pink and brown friend, but that was it.  It became our back up blanket b/c it was the only thing close to what she had. 

With in the last two months we have noticed the attachment to her blanket getting stronger, but it was still mainly used for sleeping.  That all changed this past week while she was sick with a nasty cold.  Because of needing to be washed we had both blankets around the house for Sweet Pea to get (one is normally laying over the back of the rocking chair).  While sick she would switch from one to the other.  However, one day she found out that she could have both blankets at once for double the cuddle.  And that's when she decided two are much better then one.



The back up on the left and Aunt Brittney's blanket under her head.  She has a death grip on both.



So now with in two weeks we have formed a super strong attachment to both blankets.  The poor little thing will host a blanket over each shoulder and drag it around the house.  She will leave mommy and daddy to go find one if it is missing.  Also, we are now sleeping with both.  Oh goodness, I love life with my crazy toddler.  I hope they both magically stay clean now.

Hauling our blankets around the house.  Maybe we should come up w/ names for each to distinguish them.

New Addition

I'm an one excited Aunt and this is why.....

Isn't she just beautiful.  She is Julianna Grace, the newest addition to our family.  She has two increadible parents: my sister, Brittney, and brother-in-law, Jason.  She also has one amazing big brother: Josiah.  I won't get to meet this cutie for two or three more weeks but I'm already head over heals for her.