Bedtime Prayer

Taylor's bedtime Prayer: "Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for this day. Please help my mommy be a better mommy and if you want you can say to her 'Stephanie, listen to me' in Jesus name. Amen."

What a profound prayer he had over me tonight. He realizes that I'm not perfect (Praise God)and that there is room for me to improve that God can only do. He also realizes that I need to stop and listen to God's voice more often. His words will definitely stick with me and I pray that I do listen to God's voice and not my own. And right now I thank God for Taylor. His faith encourages me every day.

Conversation

Here's the conversation between Booboo and I:

He has the biggest cushion from the couch on the floor and keeps putting it on Kenly. She's not happy about this and I ask him to stop.

Me: Booboo, stop putting the cushion on your sister. You are going to hurt her.
(he does it again)
Me: Ok, now you can't play with the cushions anymore. (I put it back on the couch)
Booboo: NOOOOOO!!! Mommy, You're ugalie.
Me: Now you are going to time out. Go to time out. (I set the timer)
Booboo: Uhkay, mommy. You're fritty.

He's a smooth talker already!

Stay at Home vs. Working

I have been on both sides of this debate. When Taylor was 7 weeks old and I thought I HAD to go back to work it was the most heart wrenching feeling I've ever had. I left my tiny, precious, new baby with a complete stranger. I had met Julia, watched her with other kids and heard wonderful things from other people about her but as far as I was concerned there was noone in the world that would love and care for my baby the way I did. Did I choose to go back anyway? Yes. Did I cry every day I kissed him goodbye and drove away? Yes. Did it get easier like everyone said it would? No. When I got pregnant the second time I knew that the same feelings would come up again only I would be kissing two babies goodbye (yes, even though Taylor was 3, he was still and is still my baby). The further along in my pregnancy I got the harder it was for me to face the fact that the day of separation was coming. I knew I couldn't do it again. We somehow, some way had to figure out how we would make it on one income because there was no way I could leave another baby. We gave up cable, skipped on the gym membership, bought minimal groceries, clipped coupons and we have now survived two and a half years with one full time income. I have been able to get a waitressing job a couple nights a week and Tyron can stay at home with the kids those nights. The time we're getting with our kids is way more valuable than any earthly possession.

Never a Dull Moment

Yesterday morning during Bible study that I'm hosting at my house (6 women from church) Kenly was asleep during the first part and Booboo was in my room watching a movie. Everything was going great. The discussion was great, the company was great and the coffee, of course, was great. Kenly woke up about the time we started the DVD so she made her way around the room saying "HHIIIII" to everyone. It was the day after her 1st birthday so everyone was giving her birthday hugs and kisses. She settled into someone's lap when Booboo came in the living room and said "Mommy, my nose". I immediately knew what he meant. I said "Did you stick a raisin in your nose?!" Sure enough, there it was! WAY up there. I took him to the bathroom trying not to interrupt the DVD. I could see it up there but wanted to be sure and couldn't find a flash light. I was calm on the outside and screaming on the inside. I go back in the living room with him and tell everyone what he had done so we stop the video and everyone prays over him. We thought a bulb syringe might suction it out but the suction wasn't strong enough. Oh boy! There was no way I could stick tweezers up there. I called the nurse at his doctor's office and they tell me to take him to the ER! Not what I wanted to hear. I did decide though that I would take him to Urgent Care. So here i am, changing diapers, stocking the diaper bag, changing their clothes when all of a sudden HE SNEEZES! That raisin shot out of his nose onto the carpet like a rocket! Sherley, the saint that stayed with us, yelled "IT CAME OUT!". Cheryl, who had gone for a potty break, ran out of the bathroom praising the Lord!!! Oh man, it was hilarious! The kids were clapping, we were clapping and high fiving! One thing is for sure...when you have kids there is NEVER a dull moment.

Gold medals, tubes and a birthday

Taylor was awarded the honorary Gold Medal Reader in his class last week. Each teacher at school picks one student a month that they feel has shown "outstanding reading accomplishments". He's as proud as a peacock! My other little monster boy has had several ear infections the past year so his doctor recommended tubes. Our day started way before the sun even came up and we headed to New Bern. We got there at 6:00 and the doctor finally showed up at 8:15!!! I can only explain it like this...ever tried wrestling an alligator? Sitting there in a cold triage room for 2 hours is no fun with a 2 year old. They gave him a sedative to prepare him for surgery which I have to admit was pretty funny. He was very loopy and droopy eyed. He would say "you sayin suffin to me?" with heavy eye lids and a slur. They finally took him back and the surgery itself didn't take long. When they brought him to me he was scared and got combative with me. Weird behavior for Booboo. He settled down and dozed off on my chest. He woke back up and I asked him if he wanted a donut and was enough to persuade him to get dressed so we could get out of there. He's now been asleep for about 2 and a half hours.

Our next event is Kenly's birthday. She was due a year ago today but decided to stay cozy an extra 2 days. I can't believe she's already going to be a year old. What an awesomely chaotic year it has been. My babies aren't babies anymore. As long as I'm living my babies they'll be. (I stole that line from a book)