Where on earth has 2011 gone. Is that what happens when you find true happiness in your life….the days start to literally fly by. One year ago I was still in Savannah having just celebrated my first Christmas officially “out on my own.” I never would have guessed back then that I would be sitting here today…my life having done a complete 180.
We have truly been blessed this Christmas season. My husband and I are thoroughly enjoying married life, my children are happy and healthy, and God has provided for us immensely through this past year. We are still praying for some financial assistance for Ethan and his medical/therapy needs as they continue to mount and the need for additional services becomes evident as we near the crucial time of preparation for Kindergarten.
December completely flew by and before I could blink it was Christmas morning. We enjoyed many good moments in December, especially celebrating Ethan’s 5th birthday at the local bowling alley. The look of pure joy and excitement on his face was the highlight of the day. This was his first experience at bowling but it most definitely will not be his last. We also attended many Christmas events this season and were able to spend some true quality time with our families.
It has been such a joy this season to really just enjoy each other and our new little family. One of my favorite gifts this season was a precious ornament from my dear sister, Kristen, which symbolized our first Christmas together as a family. As we prepare for 2011 to come to an end, I am so excited about what lies ahead for me and my family in the New Year.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Random facts...compliments of Ethan and Ella Grace
Things that my children have taught me recently:
1) Girls actually CAN pee standing up like their Big Brothers do…although sometimes their socks end up wet.
2) If you eat too many grapes in one weekend you will actually poop out the grape skin
3) If you laugh like this…”AH HA HA” really deeply while swinging a baseball bat you are almost always successful.
4) There is nothing quite like waking up next to your 2-year old after they have crawled in your bed at 4am.
5) Children will scream out the names of every animal they see in a book while you try your best to read the story
6) No matter how young they are or old they get, telling a child that broccoli is a tree NEVER works
7) If you tell your daughter to stop bitching, she will proceed to walk around the house for the next five minutes saying “I bitch,” “I bitch…”
8) A stubborn little boy will still poop his pants and then sit sideways in his car seat to avoid having to feel it. ALL THIS because he refuses to poop in the potty. That’s determination right there…
9) No matter if you are going 5 hours or 5 feet, a child always wants to have a movie on in the car
10) When your daughter has a BAD diaper rash, squirting her off with the sink hose works just as well as wet wipes! So glad my creative fiancée` thought of that one!
1) Girls actually CAN pee standing up like their Big Brothers do…although sometimes their socks end up wet.
2) If you eat too many grapes in one weekend you will actually poop out the grape skin
3) If you laugh like this…”AH HA HA” really deeply while swinging a baseball bat you are almost always successful.
4) There is nothing quite like waking up next to your 2-year old after they have crawled in your bed at 4am.
5) Children will scream out the names of every animal they see in a book while you try your best to read the story
6) No matter how young they are or old they get, telling a child that broccoli is a tree NEVER works
7) If you tell your daughter to stop bitching, she will proceed to walk around the house for the next five minutes saying “I bitch,” “I bitch…”
8) A stubborn little boy will still poop his pants and then sit sideways in his car seat to avoid having to feel it. ALL THIS because he refuses to poop in the potty. That’s determination right there…
9) No matter if you are going 5 hours or 5 feet, a child always wants to have a movie on in the car
10) When your daughter has a BAD diaper rash, squirting her off with the sink hose works just as well as wet wipes! So glad my creative fiancée` thought of that one!
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Some things from this week....
Some things I have learned this week:
1) It is hard to watch your first born start his first day of PreK because you know that means that he is no longer your baby.
2) When you put on the PERFECT wedding dress your face lights up brighter than ever before.
3) I can throw together some darn good dinner with all the little “scrap” items lying around in my fridge and pantry.
4) A 4-year old can poop out things that look like bombs and smell like dead animals.
5) If you give children shampoo that comes out in a pump, they will GLADLY wash the walls of your tile shower with it.
6) Shoes are apparently very overrated when you are 2.
7) Jumping down 4-5 stairs at a time makes a child look like Superman….
8) Fly swatters that send electric shock to the fly when you hit it are BY FAR the coolest inventions ever.
9) A man who will shop with you 2-days in a row while you seek to find that perfect outfit is WORTH HIS WEIGHT IN GOLD!
10) A 2-year old is perfectly capable of sleep walking and freaking you out at 1:00am.
11) Hearing your child say “I love you” to your future spouse makes you overjoyed.
12) And lastly…from my sweet 2-year old daughter I have recently learned that Old McDonald has a bicycle, an Ethan, a cow and most importantly Chicken and French Fries!!!!
1) It is hard to watch your first born start his first day of PreK because you know that means that he is no longer your baby.
2) When you put on the PERFECT wedding dress your face lights up brighter than ever before.
3) I can throw together some darn good dinner with all the little “scrap” items lying around in my fridge and pantry.
4) A 4-year old can poop out things that look like bombs and smell like dead animals.
5) If you give children shampoo that comes out in a pump, they will GLADLY wash the walls of your tile shower with it.
6) Shoes are apparently very overrated when you are 2.
7) Jumping down 4-5 stairs at a time makes a child look like Superman….
8) Fly swatters that send electric shock to the fly when you hit it are BY FAR the coolest inventions ever.
9) A man who will shop with you 2-days in a row while you seek to find that perfect outfit is WORTH HIS WEIGHT IN GOLD!
10) A 2-year old is perfectly capable of sleep walking and freaking you out at 1:00am.
11) Hearing your child say “I love you” to your future spouse makes you overjoyed.
12) And lastly…from my sweet 2-year old daughter I have recently learned that Old McDonald has a bicycle, an Ethan, a cow and most importantly Chicken and French Fries!!!!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
The "TWOS" have Hit Us!!!!
I love it when people ask how old my daughter is and I tell them “2” and they smile at me and say…”oh the TERRIFIC Twos….”
Well I decided that those people are crazy. Certifiably Crazy, Need to be Institutionalized Crazy, absolutely lost their marbles CRAZY!!!!!! My daughter is in the TERRIBLE twos and it is hitting me like a ton of bricks. My daughter came out of the womb having the terrible twos, or so I thought, until this past weekend rolled around. Suddenly my child who usually will sleep peacefully is now going through a stage where everything, AND I MEAN EVERYTHING, is a battle. For starters we no longer can allow anyone to do anything for her but Mommy. She wont nap without it being an hour long event just to soothe her to sleep and she wont sleep at night without being rocked and soothed until she is snoring. And don’t you dare leave the room before she is snoring because if you do, WWIII will ensue.
She has full-on tantrums about everything. When she wants something she tantrums, when she doesn’t want to do something she tantrums, when she wants you to do something she tantrums, when she wants you to stop doing something she tantrums, when she wants a toy she tantrums, when she is tired of playing with that toy she tantrums, when she wants juice she tantrums…because then she decides she wants milk…therefore ANOTHER tantrum. She will throw her food, her fork, her spoon, her cup, plastic bottles, her binky, whatever toy is close by, her blankie, and especially her shoes when she is upset with you.
Yesterday she was extremely defiant. She knows (for the most part) what is acceptable and what is not. For instance…peeing in the laundry room floor when she knows where her potty is = NOT ACCEPTABLE. Eating her butt cream/ointment and licking her lips while doing it = NOT ACCEPTABLE. Throwing her water bottle at Mommy in front of everyone at the pool = NOT ACCEPTABLE.
But she is cute…and she loves her Mommy…and when she holds my hand my heart melts completely. So I think she will probably live with me forever, because WHAT MAN would possibly tolerate all of that????
And there is my Ethan….who I think probably sits back, watches with pure delight as ALL the spankings and time outs are utilized on his sister. I think somewhere…in the back of his mind…he is grinning behind those sweet eyes
Well I decided that those people are crazy. Certifiably Crazy, Need to be Institutionalized Crazy, absolutely lost their marbles CRAZY!!!!!! My daughter is in the TERRIBLE twos and it is hitting me like a ton of bricks. My daughter came out of the womb having the terrible twos, or so I thought, until this past weekend rolled around. Suddenly my child who usually will sleep peacefully is now going through a stage where everything, AND I MEAN EVERYTHING, is a battle. For starters we no longer can allow anyone to do anything for her but Mommy. She wont nap without it being an hour long event just to soothe her to sleep and she wont sleep at night without being rocked and soothed until she is snoring. And don’t you dare leave the room before she is snoring because if you do, WWIII will ensue.
She has full-on tantrums about everything. When she wants something she tantrums, when she doesn’t want to do something she tantrums, when she wants you to do something she tantrums, when she wants you to stop doing something she tantrums, when she wants a toy she tantrums, when she is tired of playing with that toy she tantrums, when she wants juice she tantrums…because then she decides she wants milk…therefore ANOTHER tantrum. She will throw her food, her fork, her spoon, her cup, plastic bottles, her binky, whatever toy is close by, her blankie, and especially her shoes when she is upset with you.
Yesterday she was extremely defiant. She knows (for the most part) what is acceptable and what is not. For instance…peeing in the laundry room floor when she knows where her potty is = NOT ACCEPTABLE. Eating her butt cream/ointment and licking her lips while doing it = NOT ACCEPTABLE. Throwing her water bottle at Mommy in front of everyone at the pool = NOT ACCEPTABLE.
But she is cute…and she loves her Mommy…and when she holds my hand my heart melts completely. So I think she will probably live with me forever, because WHAT MAN would possibly tolerate all of that????
And there is my Ethan….who I think probably sits back, watches with pure delight as ALL the spankings and time outs are utilized on his sister. I think somewhere…in the back of his mind…he is grinning behind those sweet eyes
Monday, July 25, 2011
Random Thoughts...
Struggles….life is full of them right? I mean on the outside it may appear that everything in your life is rosy…but deep down there are struggles that exist. I think we all go through the valleys and the mountains in our lives and we must somehow find personal strength to hold on when it gets hard.
I myself have been in this valley lately. I can not really go in to explicit detail the exact reason, but it is there and it is not going away. One thing that fuels this “valley” is guilt. Guilt for working full-time and allowing a daycare to raise my children. Guilt for not being able to be there for every little thing because I am dealing with work related issues. Guilt because my job/financial status has forced me to pull my child from weekly therapy (which he needs) in favor of bi-weekly therapy because its more affordable. Guilt because I have yet to be able to start my son in behavioral counseling because my work schedule and the therapist schedule do not blend. Guilt because the child I have worked so hard to train, finally had his first pee pee and poo poo successes at the hands of a daycare instructor. Guilt because my daughter has come home from school on three occasions with bite marks embedded in her little arms from a peer. Need I go on?
I wrote a quote on my mirror the other day…as a small reminder to “start making a life.” We get so caught up in the “things” of this world that we forget what actually matters. Perhaps this is all hitting me now because as of yesterday my mother reminded me that my precious first-born is starting school (prek) in two short weeks. My mind has wanted to stretch it out longer and longer. I think I was convinced that if I said, “oh school starts in 5 weeks” that I might actually be prolonging the inevitable. Either way, Ethan is nicely decked out with his Lightning McQueen book bag which swallows his little back but is darn precious never-the-less and he enjoys carrying it around although I am quite sure he thinks it is merely a toy and nothing more.
I want to take the time to really, truly, enjoy each moment of their childhood. I hope they enjoy being carefree and frivolous because unfortunately it will pass all too soon.
I need to be better about uploading some funny candid shots that have been captured over the summer of my little rugrats. These are the most precious memories I can have.
And as for those struggles…well there is nothing quite like sitting on my back deck with my thoughts…and doing the best I can to let it go. What you can not control, you can not worry about (shout out to Mimi on that one….)
And as for what I can control….well changes are coming. I just mentally gotta reach that finish line….
I myself have been in this valley lately. I can not really go in to explicit detail the exact reason, but it is there and it is not going away. One thing that fuels this “valley” is guilt. Guilt for working full-time and allowing a daycare to raise my children. Guilt for not being able to be there for every little thing because I am dealing with work related issues. Guilt because my job/financial status has forced me to pull my child from weekly therapy (which he needs) in favor of bi-weekly therapy because its more affordable. Guilt because I have yet to be able to start my son in behavioral counseling because my work schedule and the therapist schedule do not blend. Guilt because the child I have worked so hard to train, finally had his first pee pee and poo poo successes at the hands of a daycare instructor. Guilt because my daughter has come home from school on three occasions with bite marks embedded in her little arms from a peer. Need I go on?
I wrote a quote on my mirror the other day…as a small reminder to “start making a life.” We get so caught up in the “things” of this world that we forget what actually matters. Perhaps this is all hitting me now because as of yesterday my mother reminded me that my precious first-born is starting school (prek) in two short weeks. My mind has wanted to stretch it out longer and longer. I think I was convinced that if I said, “oh school starts in 5 weeks” that I might actually be prolonging the inevitable. Either way, Ethan is nicely decked out with his Lightning McQueen book bag which swallows his little back but is darn precious never-the-less and he enjoys carrying it around although I am quite sure he thinks it is merely a toy and nothing more.
I want to take the time to really, truly, enjoy each moment of their childhood. I hope they enjoy being carefree and frivolous because unfortunately it will pass all too soon.
I need to be better about uploading some funny candid shots that have been captured over the summer of my little rugrats. These are the most precious memories I can have.
And as for those struggles…well there is nothing quite like sitting on my back deck with my thoughts…and doing the best I can to let it go. What you can not control, you can not worry about (shout out to Mimi on that one….)
And as for what I can control….well changes are coming. I just mentally gotta reach that finish line….
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
A big day for Ethan!
I got a call today for Ethan's school saying that they were coming out to his daycare class tomorrow, January 20, 2011, to screen/test him for Pre-K. I ended the call with butterflies...both good and bad.
You see last week I got a letter/report from his teacher saying that her recommendation at this time is that we hold Ethan back a year and have him repeat K-3 and allow him time to catch up with his peers socially...and since he is not potty-trained yet (though Mommy is desperately trying...) she said that might also be a hindrance to his advancement. I thought about this letter A LOT. Prayed about it A LOT. Yes I know Ethan has challenges, yes I know he struggles with language and self-help skills and social interactions, but I also know my child is very bright. Somewhere locked inside that shell there is a very bright little boy. Joey and I have often said "Let's push forward and see where this year takes us..." We have had that same attitude towards Pre-K as well. Ethan has developed leaps and bounds over the past year and I just feel like holding him back and having him be in another class with children younger than him might start a regressive pattern within him. So we push forward...and we pray that he gets accepted in to the program and is allowed time to grow and develop and see where next year (and a Pre-K environment) might take him.
So I ask that all friends and family please say a little prayer. This could be a huge stepping stone for Ethan and it also might quite possibly solidify our being in Savannah for awhile (yet another thing I keep praying on....)
Thanks to everyone who loves this little boy as much as I do.
Brittney
You see last week I got a letter/report from his teacher saying that her recommendation at this time is that we hold Ethan back a year and have him repeat K-3 and allow him time to catch up with his peers socially...and since he is not potty-trained yet (though Mommy is desperately trying...) she said that might also be a hindrance to his advancement. I thought about this letter A LOT. Prayed about it A LOT. Yes I know Ethan has challenges, yes I know he struggles with language and self-help skills and social interactions, but I also know my child is very bright. Somewhere locked inside that shell there is a very bright little boy. Joey and I have often said "Let's push forward and see where this year takes us..." We have had that same attitude towards Pre-K as well. Ethan has developed leaps and bounds over the past year and I just feel like holding him back and having him be in another class with children younger than him might start a regressive pattern within him. So we push forward...and we pray that he gets accepted in to the program and is allowed time to grow and develop and see where next year (and a Pre-K environment) might take him.
So I ask that all friends and family please say a little prayer. This could be a huge stepping stone for Ethan and it also might quite possibly solidify our being in Savannah for awhile (yet another thing I keep praying on....)
Thanks to everyone who loves this little boy as much as I do.
Brittney
Saturday, January 15, 2011
When God speaks....
Sadly to say I have never had an intense prayer life....that is until the past year turned my life upside down and I realized that the only person I can truly count on to listen, to love me when I am at my worst, and to uplift me is my Savior...
So I started praying. And praying. And praying. And although this past year has been a complete roller coaster for me, I have always felt like God's hand was controlling everything that happened to me. That always made me feel safe.
So now my life has reached another peak and I am scared to start the journey down the other side. As always, we have irrational fears of the unknown and of change but my fear this time has gone so much farther than that. For the first time in my life (and since I am a control freak this is a BIG DEAL....) I feel like God is speaking to me...telling me to breathe....to be patient....and to give it to him. So I have turned this "crucial" thing over to him knowing that he will protect me and see me through the other side. I can not explain the amount of peace I now feel. My Father knows the plans he has for me and even when I feel like I know what is best, he just calmly guides me towards the right path. So....I submit to the waiting....to allow God to mold me in to the person that I need to be to receive his blessings. He is not saying "No" but he is saying "the time is not right" and I can be at peace with that.
For those select friends that have held my hand and listened to my ramblings over the past few weeks I say a simple, thank you. Your love and support for me speaks volumes. God has blessed with the best of friends!!!
I pray that God is working a blessing right now in the lives of my dear friends and family. For all the good in life...to him be the glory.
Brittney
So I started praying. And praying. And praying. And although this past year has been a complete roller coaster for me, I have always felt like God's hand was controlling everything that happened to me. That always made me feel safe.
So now my life has reached another peak and I am scared to start the journey down the other side. As always, we have irrational fears of the unknown and of change but my fear this time has gone so much farther than that. For the first time in my life (and since I am a control freak this is a BIG DEAL....) I feel like God is speaking to me...telling me to breathe....to be patient....and to give it to him. So I have turned this "crucial" thing over to him knowing that he will protect me and see me through the other side. I can not explain the amount of peace I now feel. My Father knows the plans he has for me and even when I feel like I know what is best, he just calmly guides me towards the right path. So....I submit to the waiting....to allow God to mold me in to the person that I need to be to receive his blessings. He is not saying "No" but he is saying "the time is not right" and I can be at peace with that.
For those select friends that have held my hand and listened to my ramblings over the past few weeks I say a simple, thank you. Your love and support for me speaks volumes. God has blessed with the best of friends!!!
I pray that God is working a blessing right now in the lives of my dear friends and family. For all the good in life...to him be the glory.
Brittney
Sunday, January 2, 2011
"Come"
Today the kids and I attended church at Richmond Hill First Baptist for the first time. If you follow my blog from time to time then you know the past month has been very challenging for me. I have been seeking God's guidance more than ever before. I have never been very good at allowing God to "lead" me. Instead I always want to "lead" him to have the things in my life that I want to see happen actually come to reality. It is humbling, not to mention trying, for a person with a TYPE A personality to learn to "Let GO and Let God....."
The message this morning was from Matthew 9:9-13...titled "Come" The speaker focused on how many times we as Christians think that we need to have our lives ALL together in order to be "right with God." Meaning we need to have our marriages together, we need to have our finances in order, we need to maintain healthy relationships and friendships, our kids need to be perfectly behaved, and we need to be living this lifestyle where all our ducks are always perfectly in a neat little row. The purpose of this message was to reiterate that NO ONE ever has all these things right in their lives. However, God did not want to be a savior to the PERFECT he wanted to be a savior to those that needed saving. That line really hit me. I NEED SAVING!!!! My marriage crumbled, I am in love with a man that I can not be with at this time, my finances are a total wreck, I dont always do a very good job of maintaining my relationships like I should, my kids struggle with behavior daily, and my ducks have long since wandered off path. I hurt, I struggle, I cry, and I seek out things in desperation at times...all the while God wants nothing more than to hold my hand and be my best friend through all the hurt, all the struggles and all the tears.
So this New Years, if you have heard nothing uplifting on which to start your New Years path then let that be the message you need to hear. "COME" to God with all your struggles, all your craziness in life, and all your imperfections because he wants to be the Savior for those that need saving. Dont wait for your marriage/relationship to be perfect, dont wait til all your finances are in order, dont wait til your kids are perfectly behaved....just come as you are with what you have and what you lack and he will love you through it despite of it all. Powerful words!
I am hopeful for a wonderful 2011. I seek God's guidance and his wisdom for my life. I pray for those that I love....that 2011 may be an incredible year for them as well.
And for that special man that holds my heart....and always will....I pray for "all the wonderful things that life has to offer and for every bit of happiness that a person can have...." and for you sweetheart...remember...."All my love....forever!"
God Bless!
Brittney
The message this morning was from Matthew 9:9-13...titled "Come" The speaker focused on how many times we as Christians think that we need to have our lives ALL together in order to be "right with God." Meaning we need to have our marriages together, we need to have our finances in order, we need to maintain healthy relationships and friendships, our kids need to be perfectly behaved, and we need to be living this lifestyle where all our ducks are always perfectly in a neat little row. The purpose of this message was to reiterate that NO ONE ever has all these things right in their lives. However, God did not want to be a savior to the PERFECT he wanted to be a savior to those that needed saving. That line really hit me. I NEED SAVING!!!! My marriage crumbled, I am in love with a man that I can not be with at this time, my finances are a total wreck, I dont always do a very good job of maintaining my relationships like I should, my kids struggle with behavior daily, and my ducks have long since wandered off path. I hurt, I struggle, I cry, and I seek out things in desperation at times...all the while God wants nothing more than to hold my hand and be my best friend through all the hurt, all the struggles and all the tears.
So this New Years, if you have heard nothing uplifting on which to start your New Years path then let that be the message you need to hear. "COME" to God with all your struggles, all your craziness in life, and all your imperfections because he wants to be the Savior for those that need saving. Dont wait for your marriage/relationship to be perfect, dont wait til all your finances are in order, dont wait til your kids are perfectly behaved....just come as you are with what you have and what you lack and he will love you through it despite of it all. Powerful words!
I am hopeful for a wonderful 2011. I seek God's guidance and his wisdom for my life. I pray for those that I love....that 2011 may be an incredible year for them as well.
And for that special man that holds my heart....and always will....I pray for "all the wonderful things that life has to offer and for every bit of happiness that a person can have...." and for you sweetheart...remember...."All my love....forever!"
God Bless!
Brittney
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