Monday, September 29, 2008
A Major Milestone at the Shepherd House
Friday, September 26, 2008
A Busy Week
This is Julia's high chair after her lunch. Another increased expense that no one warned me about because of our baby girl...more tips to the waiter who is left to clean up this mess!
Julia's babysitter days are going much better from what I am hearing. She still cries every time we walk inside Melinda's house and screams at the top of her lungs when I walk away. The good news is that Melinda told John that the crying time is getting shorter and shorter....like only 5 minutes versus the entire three hours that she is there! I check in with another Mom who drops her little boy off after I drop Julia off. She told me that one day she walked in and was so confused because it was quiet in the house. She asked Melinda was what going on and Melinda proudly pointed at Julia who was playing quietly and not screaming. This sweet other Momma tells me that she always picks up Julia and loves on her when she is dropping her son off. Another joy of life in a small town. It has been four weeks now and I am looking forward to the day when I can walk away without hearing my baby screaming. It truly shakes me to the core and I have heard Mom's talk about this for a long time, but I had no idea how hard it would really be.
I had to post this picture because it captures an all too familiar pose. Julia is always reaching out trying to get things. She is quite assertive these days. This is really a nice way of saying that she will let you know very quickly if she is unhappy. Her favorite way to communicate this is a very loud, shrill painful scream. Her second favorite way to communicate her dissatisfaction is to arch her back or straighten in while we are trying to put her in her car seat or highchair. John and I have decided that the best way to deal with this is to to nothing...or not react at all when she screams. Just like her Momma.... a girl who know what she wants and is not afraid to say it.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Our weekend
Julia is still a finger sucker. She sucks the first two fingers on her left hand when she gets sleepy or when she is trying to comfort herself (like after she bumps her head). She loves to touch any fabric when she is doing it. Last night, I put her in the laundry basket with the clean laundry and she picked up a pair of John's socks and held them to her face and started sucking her fingers. She also crawled up to John while we were in the kitchen and held his jean leg in her hand by her face so she could suck her fingers! So cute, and as you can tell, she has no preference to what type of fabric she is holding.
This pillow is one of many sewing projects that I finished this weekend for the decorator girls that I am working with. This pillow is quite the masterpiece and I would love to have it sitting in my bedroom. What a beauty.
Friday, September 19, 2008
10 Good Years
This year, my husband showed me what kind of a man he really is.....tender with an enormous heart and more love inside there than I could have ever imagined. This year has been by far the best. Thank you John for showing me what it feels like to be happily married and most of all, for giving me the best gift of all, my sweet Julia.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Julia Eats Catfood
Julia and I hanging out on the deck. I know....these pants are too much and she looked entirely too grown up in this outfit. My mother's comment was, "That's a really cute top," which translates to mean, "Those pants are hideous!"
Monday, September 15, 2008
Happy Birthday Sol!
Julia napped in her stroller while we were at the festival.
That little giraffe that is beside her is her new best friend.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Civic Duty Calls and Other Ways We Spent 9-11-2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
My Meatatariun
Other things to note:
- Today was Julia's 3rd day at Ms. Melinda's. She is not loving it. This morning, when she realized where she was and figured out that I was about to leave her, she cried so hard. It was awful. I went to work shaking from head to toe and couldn't concentrate. I am hoping that things will get better and that she won't be so miserable. John picks her up and Melinda reports that she cries a while and plays a while. She thinks that she is scared of the noise and commotion that the other kids make. He usually brings her to the parking lot of the hospital so that I can hold her and see for myself that she is still in one piece.
- Julia has learned a new trick that she has been practicing all day. She puts her hand to her mouth and moves it back and forth to make the Indian sound. We are certain that this is just another sign of her brilliance!
- Today, Julia and I went walking on our old neighborhood 3 mile route. Kristen met us along the way. The weather was perfect for walking today and I needed a break from the treadmill. I have been doing okay on it, but was ready for some fresh air. I have to make constant goals to keep my interest up on the treadmill. For example, I am trying to get two miles in a shorter time every day. So far, my quickest time was 27 minutes. Don't laugh you runners!
- My parents returned from their Washington DC bank vacation and they had a great time. Riding a chartered bus with 46 others to Washington DC does not sound like my kind of vacation, but they made new friends and had fun. Julia and I visited when they got home. It was a happy reunion.....Julia was happy to see them.
- I am going to do some custom sewing for two decorators in town. They gave me my first "job" today and I am a little nervous about being able to pull it off to their standards. One fabric that they are using to make some pillows cost $106 per yard.....I was really better off not knowing that!
- Our landscaping project is slow going.....which is a nice way of saying that nothing has happened. I haven't even started the process yet (other than getting bids) and so far, only one person has kept their word and come when they said they would. The construction business must be booming in Wynne because obviously none of these guys need to work. I am having flashbacks of building this house (my worst nightmare) and I am hoping that this project starts to look up soon.
Too much information, I know. Pictures next time.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
It Won't Be the Last One That Gets Eaten.....
Saturday, September 6, 2008
A New Friend
Saturday morning, I had to work at the Colt Pioneer Days festival in Colt. It was like being back in time about 50 years and we were entertained all morning by some local gospel singers. Liza checked blood pressures, while I handed out literature on heart health while I enjoyed my Frito pie lunch (I think this was a little bit of a conflict of interest). Saturday afternoon, I taught a family CPR. They hope to adopt a child soon and needed the certification to be eligible for a possible state adoption. I think everybody should know CPR and I was happy to spend a couple of hours this afternoon helping them out.
Julia has a new favorite game. It involves two plastic cubes. She crawls with one in each hand and then throws one out in front of her and goes to get it. When she gets it, she throws the other one in front of her and goes to get it. What a brilliant game....who would have thought it could bring so many hours of entertainment!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Julia's First Morning at Ms. Melinda's
Julia, bright and early, heading out the door with Mommy.
Julia has spent a lot of time with her Grandparents the past few days. They are leaving today to go on a bank sponsored trip to Washington, DC. I think they needed to load up on all of the Julia that they could get since it will have to last them for several days while they are gone. I hope they have a good time and Julia will miss them!
Monday, September 1, 2008
Welcome Home to Cross County...
We picked John up at the game and Julia and I had an awesome view of the firework show from where we were parked to wait on him. We headed home while Julia slept peacefully in the backseat. When we crossed the Cross County line, the first thought in my mind was, "It's good to be home." There is just something comforting about being back in my hometown after a day of driving around in more unfamiliar territory. The second thought on my mind was, "Oh, there's blue lights behind me. I think I will pull over so that he can get to that guy in front of me who was speeding." Unfortunately, it was me he pulled behind. It was a guy I remembered from high school, so I figured I was okay. Said he clocked me at 65 in a 55. I am pretty certain that it was the guy in front of me that he clocked at 65, since I had my cruise control set on 62. Nevertheless, 62 is speeding so I didn't argue. He reappeared at my window after a brief and friendly chat......not with the warning that I had hoped for, but a breaking a city ordinance ticket. Not a speeding ticket, but an inattentive driving ticket. He explained that this would not go on my record and it would not affect my insurance, but that I just needed to call the Parkin City Hall to determine what I needed to pay them for breaking this "city ordinance."
Whatever.....welcome home to Cross County.
Tracy and Joan with Julia and I at Tracy's house in Memphis
Julia doing a little salsa dance and having a percussion lesson in the basement with Daddy.
Julia's big girl dinner...whole wheat pasta, sliced turkey, some cheese, mushed green peas are to the side, and some apple juice. I had to be really fast with the camera because she eats the cheese first and eats in really fast!
We spent Labor Day at home and at my parent's house. They had Julia and I over for hamburgers and hot dogs. Julia ate her first dill pickle. She also ate a piece of lettuce. Well, never mind. She never really ate it....she just kept it in her mouth for about 15 minutes???!!