Friday, March 12, 2010

Abby's Adventure


Abby went on an adventure on Saturday with Nana and Heidi.

As with any great adventure, a backpack was necessary. My mom and sister decided they would take Abby to the annual Cat in the Hat event at McAlister Square in Greenville. For those of you unfamiliar with local, children's events, let me explain. The organization Ready 4 Reading hosts the event once a year to promote readiness for reading - thus their name. Their mission is to prepare children to read. Take a look at the statistics on their website - simply astounding.

The Cat in the Hat is an event where children can come and get 2 slightly used books and one new book and participate in fun activities that promote readiness to read.

With Jake, I didn't think it would be feasible for me to go, so I told my mom to go ahead and take Abby.

And the adventure was born.

Because we are really into Dora the Explorer right now at my house, Abby had to pack a backpack (which I found out later her Aunt Heidi hauled all over the place). All great adventurers have backpacks. And M&Ms. Did I mention that she had to have M&Ms before she would go? She is my daughter - books and chocolate - who could ask for more than that?

When they got there, Abby immediately picked out a Dora book - see what I mean, completely obsessed.

She put an alphabet puzzle together, dug in paper grass for prizes and brought home a board book and another book called The Kissing Hand.

After they finished at The Cat in the Hat, Nana and Heidi took Abby for Chick-fil-A. By the time she got home, she was completely spent. It was some outing for sure.

I wanted to share this organization and event with my friends in Bloggerville because it is important that we parents read to our children and expose them to books.

What book was your favorite as a child?

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

UGH! With a capital U-G!


This is how I feel about Jake's apnea/heart monitor. When they sent us home with a monitor, I was relieved because it meant I didn't have to worry about Jake stopping breathing in the night. If he did this thing would scream, wake us up and we could deal with it.

As the months have worn on, I've become so frustrated and tired of this machine that I really wish I could throw it through the window.

For example, last night it went off no less than three times - not because Jake wasn't breathing, simply because his leads weren't attached well. At one point the machine was alarming and Jake was just staring at me with a look that said, "What's wrong with that thing. Make it shut up."

I've finally resorted to putting surgical tape over the leads to be sure that they don't move during the night.

I'm calling his doctors tomorrow to see how much longer we'll be tethered to the nuisance. I'm telling you; I'm seriously over it!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

This is a life lesson post



On Sunday, Abby got a sucker from her Sunday school teacher. Normally that's not a big deal, and we all know that Abby LOVES sugar in the form of a Dum-Dum. This wasn't just any Dum-Dum either; this was a bubblegum flavored Dum-Dum. It was pink and everything. As you can see, the temptation was just too much from the start.

On the way out to the car, Abby began to beg for the sucker. Being the good parents we are, we knew we were on our way to dinner at my parents' house, so she really didn't need the sucker right then because macaroni and cheese would be out of the question if she was hyped up on sugar.

That being said, we told her she could have the sucker as soon as dinner was over. She could hold the sucker on the way to Nana and Papa's but she couldn't eat it. Mistake.

Jason and I were engrossed in coversation in the front seat when I heard what sounded like little teeth on pink sucker. I turned around to find Abby with her eyes closed, lips wrapped around the Dum-Dum and a contented grin on her face.

I immediately yelled, "ABBY LOOPER! We said no sucker until after lunch!"

Jason took the sucker away and much crying ensued.

The picture you see above was after lunch when Abby got to finish her sucker on the way home.

I learned something on Sunday. Sometimes we think we know best; we sneak the things that we're not supposed to have, thinking that God is either too busy to notice or that he doesn't really care anyway. The reality is that he is neither. He's not too busy and he does care.

I sometimes enjoy sin the way Abby was enjoying that sucker, eyes closed, grin on my face.

It was convicting to realize how much like a little child I am in my spiritual walk.

Proverbs 9:17 talks about the call of Folly and Folly says, "Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!"

The reality is that though it is sweet for the moment, the consequences cause much crying and heart-break.

Something to think about.

Monday, March 8, 2010

A Real-Life Baby Doll

At least that's how Abby perceives her baby brother.

I was in the kitchen the other day and Abby was very quiet - something that is never good. When I came in the living room I found this:

In case you can't tell, that's a little cup from Abby's tea set that is upside down on Jake's head, and he's got a plastic bracelet around his leg. And Abby looks so proud of her work.

Doesn't he look pretty?

I think I'll save this picture for his senior yearbook. He'll love me for that.

Let's face it. He doesn't stand a chance in this house.

Survival



Those folks on Survivor have nothing on me. Give any one of them two kids - one who doesn't sleep through the night and another who does - and we'll chat about Outwit, Outlast and Outplay.

The picture above is my version of Outwit and Outlast. I'll post another of Outplay later. On this particular morning, Abby woke up around 4 a.m. and Jake of course was up for his usual feeding. I put Jake in bed with me and Jason put Abby in our bed too. After Jason got up and got ready for work, we three were left in bed.

I think after my kids are older, I may apply to appear on the show. I'll propose that instead of an island, they trap folks in a house all day with a toddler and a newborn.

Don't you think that would be a fabulous show?

We'll have the finale at Chuck E. Cheese with the characters and arcade games. It'll be an instant hit - at least among the housewives.