The Little Red Wagon

Lauren's Nina and Poppa got her a Red Wagon for her birthday. She LOVES to go for rides inside and outside! And she loves to put things in her wagon. She will sit in there for the longest time looking at books and playing.

She always says, "Mama, I need ride." It's so cute.

Thank you Nina and Poppa! It was a great present!

A Daily Conversation

Mama: "Good Morning, Lauren! How are you this morning, baby? Did you sleep good?"

Lauren: Rubs eyes, shakes head 'Yes.'

Mama: "Okay, do you need to tee-tee in the potty?"

Lauren: Shakes head 'Yes.'

We walk into the bathroom. I put her down on and before her feet hit the floor...

Lauren: "No, Mama! I DO IT, I DO IT!"

Mama: "Okay, you can do it all by yourself. Let me know if you need my help, okay?"

Lauren: "Mama, I do it!"

She pulls down her PJ bottoms. She pulls one velcro side of the diaper off... starts having trouble getting the other one unlatched. She is watching me the entire time making sure I am not helping her, then says (so sweetly)...

Lauren: "Please, Mama..."

Mama: "Okay, baby, I'll help you. You are doing such a good job!"

She sits down on her Elmo potty seat and does her business.

Lauren: "I TEE-TEED IN DA POTTY!!! YEAH!!!!!!!"

Mama: "Good job baby! You did so good! Now, let's go get dressed, okay?"

Lauren: "No, Mama! I DO IT!"......

Repeat throughout the day.

And now she is TWO

Sweet girl, you are TWO years old! I'm late posting this because we've been so busy, but you turned two on Friday, August 21st. I am in awe of you every day. We are so blessed to have you for our daughter. You are loved SO MUCH!!!

You had a good birthday. It wasn't great for you because you had to have your 2 year checkup on your birthday and then that night you coughed so hard you threw up your birthday cake, but other than that... it was a great day! :)

Your Aunt Jen and cousin Kennedy came all the way from Louisiana to see you for your birthday! We went to the WonderPlace and played with Kennedy and Robin and Kate. We all had a great time playing! I think you loved the water play a lot!!!

When we got home you opened your birthday presents. I think your favorite present was the baby doll and stroller from your Aunt Jen. You love your baby! You want me to help you dress her, put in her paci, and then you stroll her all over the house. It's so fun to watch you! And you now want to sleep with your baby. You are the sweetest girl.

You are learning so much all the time! You LOVE music and love to sing. I love it when you use your fist for a microphone when you are singing in the car. And I love that I taught you how to do that! Your favorite songs to sing are the ABC's and The Wheels on the Bus.

You are very sweet and very loving. You love to give hugs and kisses. Tonight you asked me for a kiss, and then after I kissed you, you said, "Thank you Mama." I melted right there on the spot. You are dripping with sweetness and I adore you. We love you so much, sweet girl!

Surely not!!!

Do we have a HOG fan in the house???

Happy Birthday Jen!!!

Happy Birthday Jen!!!

I am blessed for you to be my sister AND my friend. I love you!

Brady and Kennedy are lucky to have such a wonderful and caring Mom. You do it all! Wife, Mom, and Marathon Runner! Such an amazing thing...
I hope you have a glorious birthday! I love you more than you know. Thank you for being such a great sister and friend.

If we lived closer you'd have woken to a Cush's cupcake on your doorstep. Virtual birthday cupcake will have to do... :)

I got an email from a FAMOUS blogger!

It's the little things folks... and it pays to comment on blogs. Especially if you ask questions!

I got an email back from Big Mama after I posted a question on her blog. I feel so important. :)

I asked her where they got the cute long sleeve swim gear... and she emailed me and told me where they got them and the brand.

You're thinking I'm crazy. But I'm not! I told you... I get excited about the little things, but this is a Big thing! A Big Mama thang, if you will.

Anyway, I thought I'd share my fun news.

Happy Friday ya'll!

What I'm listening to right now...

Cube neighbor on the phone: "Can you hear me now?"

silence.

Cube neighbor: "Can you hear me better now?... Huh?"

Cube neighbor: "Can you hear me now? I'm on this headset that's supposed to be working but I guess it's not."

pause.

Cube neighbor: "Can you hear me now? Huh?"


I have a BRILLIANT idea. How about getting OFF the headset and picking up the telephone reciever!!! Craziness.

THIS is why I love watching The Office.

Happy Birthday Tim!

Today is my baby brother's 21st birthday. That makes me feel very old since I was EIGHT when he was born. What a little fire cracker he was! I wish I could post this picture of him that I have in my head of him as a toddler. He had bleach blonde hair and the cutest little smile. He would carry around a tackle box wearing just a t-shirt and diaper. And I think he slept in his cowboy boots. They were grey Justin boots. (I'm sorry Tim, but you were the cutest little baby, I hope I'm not embarrassing you too much!!!)

It's crazy what you remember from childhood.

He used to taunt me on purpose. Grate on my last nerve just to make me mad. Little booger.

But I love that little booger. He's like 5 inches taller than me now, so "little" is a relative term.

Tim, I love you more than you know. I love that we had a great phone conversation today. I love that you opened up to me and talked about your future.

And I forgive you for calling me old. :)

You have grown from a little boy in my memory to a GREAT and handsome young person... fully on your way to adulthood. Great things are in store for you! God has His hand on you and is watching over you daily.

Verses to remember:
"Call to me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know." Jeremiah 33:33

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a FUTURE and a HOPE. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11

I love you baby brother! Have a wonderful birthday!

Work is crazy, life is crazy, I think I'm crazy

Trey would probably agree... but only the part about me being crazy. No really, I dare you to ask him. He will tell you the honest truth.

1. Work has been so busy. That's it. I'm sure no one really cares about what I do for the power company (unless your power goes out, and then, truthfully I can't help you. I know nothing about electricity. I bill bulk power, but still you don't care, remember?) The summer months are just busy because every runs their air conditioners ALL DAY LONG. It can cause some bulk power issues. Nuf said. Moving on.

2. I'm having another lasik eye evaluation. I'm not hopeful. I was at first, but now I'm not. I'm doomed to a life of blurriness sans glasses. And I just can't deal with wearing contacts at work, staring at a computer screen for 8 hours a day. My eyes rebel, revolt, and I swear I think I've heard them whisper that they might go on strike. I cannot have that... so I'm wearing my glasses until the cataracts get bad enough to be corrected. Yes, I'm 29 years old with cataracts that my opthamologist draws pictures of each time I visit the eye doctor. Sometimes I feel like I'm 95 or something. BUT ANYWAY - I have not yet heard back from the lasik doctor on whether or not she can fix me... hoping to hear something next week.

3. This little one refuses to be still for the camera anymore. Little stinker. And she's turning two this month... I'm not ready for that. Last night I starting looking at some baby pictures of her and I just about started to cry. Where is my baby??? She's a big girl now who likes to tee-tee in the potty and then sing about it when she's done. AND she's pooped in the potty once already! Oh yes, we have a long way to go before she's in panties (I swear I'm going to cry), but at least we are getting there. I've decided to start putting her in Pull-ups after this last box of diapers runs out. I just hope they stay up on her hiney... she's got a tiny hiney. This morning her outfit to go to school in was a 12 to 18 month top and shorts. Yes ma'am, I do not lie. Craziness!

4. I have got to lose some weight or people are going to start asking me when the baby is due. I can't keep holding in this muffin top any longer. Remember when I posted about doing the Shred? HA!!! HA!! HA! Ha... Ha... Ha... Humpf. Well I quit doing it. BUT the DVD player broke so I have that excuse. Plus, I hate to exercise and I love to eat. This is not a good combination. Are there any miracle cures out there? Doubtful.... I just have to learn to say NO to sweets and YES to healtier options.

When pigs fly people... when pigs fly.