Busy...

I have 196 unread blog posts in my google reader.  That is a sure sign that things are a bit busy.  I hate being behind on my blog reading.

But...there are other, more important things, occupying my time.

This stinker has a tooth!!!  Not even six months, and a tooth popped through.  Ada was older than that.  On Sunday afternoon he was chewing on my finger (what can I say?  He loves it), and I felt something sharper than a gum, and, sure enough, there it was.  Maybe that explains some of the fussiness, and his love to chew on anything and everything.

In other John news, though the cardiologist said that his heart was all clear, John continues to get so upset and hold his breath (and it's more than just holding his breath, but it's so hard for me to really describe it), so the pediatrician has now referred us to the neurologist.  I still feel fairly certain that the doctor is going to say that everything is just fine, but it will be a relief to actually know that for sure.  From the get go, none of this seemed heart related, but I can understand how the brain might be involved, so I am a tad bit more nervous about this doctor visit, but relieved to go and get it all checked out.

As for her

Thursday she turns three, though we will celebrate on Friday.  (Thursday is the neurologist appointment in Atlanta).  We ordered her "marker" cake (Crayola), and she has requested lots of balloons.  And the biggest news of all is that Thursday she gives up her pacifier once and for all.  I have no idea how that is going to go.  We have been talking about this for about six months now because I wanted her to have plenty of warning--she LOVES her pacie.  And the plan is for her to leave it on the coffee table on Thursday night, and on Friday morning there will be a gift in place of the pacie.  Friday Mom, Ann, and "the cousins" will arrive, and Friday evening we will do Chick-fil-a, cake at home, and the tricycle and other gifts from family members.  I am hoping that she will get into the fact that she is a "big girl" now and giving up the pacie will feel natural to her.  Ha!!!  I suspect lots of tears.

Anyway...that's us this week.  I am EXHAUSTED, so I am logging off and headed up to an early bed.  John was up lots while in Scottsboro--he doesn't do well away from home--so I need to catch up on much lost sleep. 

Headed Out

I'm loading these two stinkers into the car and heading out of here early tomorrow morning.  Yes, you guessed it, back to Alabama we go.  It is a sort of last minute trip.

You see, for weeks now it's been, we're going, we're not going, we're going, we're not going.  And then a couple of days ago my Friday tutoring student rescheduled to next week, and I got the word that Sarah will be home from New Orleans, and Kate will be in town, and Ann (who, have you heard?, is pregnant with her FOURTH!!!  There is nothing like the excitement of brand new life!!) will of course be there, since she lives there, and the original reason for going was for a baby shower for Esther Bratton's little Charlotte (due to arrive very, very soon)

 so...

We're going.

And that's where we'll be 'til Monday.

Happy weekend, everyone!!!

No TV = Big Giant Mess

I like the idea of turning off the television; it's what it does to my house that I don't like.

Confession--later that day, I put Up in the dvd player, and I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned.  It was long overdue, and I didn't think a little movie watching would do much damage.

As much as Ada needs to turn off the tv, I need to turn off the computer!!  Yesterday, as I was checking blogs, Ada said to me, "mom, do you want to come eat a picnic?"  How could I say no?

Milestones

We spend most of Friday night in here, with no success.

And then, Saturday morning, finally success, and a reward.

John is reaching milestones of his own.  His milestone involves a spoon and a mashed avocado.  He loved it.

In the mean time, Ada is trying my patience at every turn.  Oh my word, the third year is promising to be a challenge.  I want to pull my hair out most of the time.  Our main problem is ATTITUDE.  Any advice?  I say a million times a day to Scott--I don't know what to do...We have timed out and pinched and talked and taken things away and practiced the right way to respond...and still, the attitude remains.  I am serious about the advice.  I would love some right about now.  I love her so much, but we spend most of our days at a stand off, and I don't think this is how it is supposed to go.  Last night right before bed, Scott, Ada, and I spent time tickling and cuddling and laughing, and it was such a treat to end the day with lots of laughter from Ada rather than whining and tears.  How can I make that happen throughout the day?  I do not know.  I am praying lots, though.

The Gospel Truth

Now this, this, is what I want my children (and myself and Scott and all of us) to know and live...

“The secret of gospel change is being convinced that Jesus is the good life and the fountain of all joy. Any alternative we might choose would be the letdown.”

- Tim Chester, You Can Change (Wheaton, Ill.; Crossway, 2010), 15.

(From Of First Importance)

A Few Things

1.  We went to the cardiologist today, and as we suspected, everything is A-okay.  They did an EKG (correct terminology?), an ultrasound on John's heart, and the doctor listened to his heart.  They did find a tiny little hole in his heart, which is apparently very, very common.  The doctor said there is the tiniest little chance that is what is causing the breathing episodes, but he also said that most likely, John just gets very angry, and that is what causes the breathing episodes.  We might be facing some tough toddler years, but we will certainly take that over heart problems!!!  The hole should close on its own, but we go back in six months to make sure.  At that point, if the hole is not closed, we will do further testing, but the cardiologist has been practicing for 30 years, and he said he has never had to do further testing on a baby because the hole didn't close up, so we assume that everything is going to be just fine.

Little John was a trooper.  The ultrasound technician suggested that we grab a bottle or pacie to keep him content during the ultrasound, and I said, bad news, he won't take either.  Instead, I let him suck on my finger.  Gross?  Maybe, but it kept him happy for a while.  Then he started getting very upset and kicking those chunky monkey legs of his and thrashing his arms.  The technician said he is a mover and we are in trouble when he starts walking.  We actually might be happier when he is mobile because maybe he will be happier.  Then we went back to the room, and he was able to nurse until the doctor came in, and if he is nursing, he is a happy little camper.  He had to miss his morning nap for the appointment, so I let him nurse away in order to prevent the fussiness that was threatening to take over.

Anyway, we are glad that we went because now we know that he just has a temper.

2.  This is on its way to our house because someone is turning THREE in just a couple of weeks.

Let me confess that Ada specifically asked for a pink tricycle because, in her words, "pink is my favorite color."  (She says this all the time!!)  But I ordered red.  I wanted something that could be passed down to John, and I think a red tricycle is oh so classic, so I am hoping she will be so excited about the trike that the color won't really matter.  (Mom, I am having much sympathy for the predicament I put you in that Christmas when I asked for the bike, but really Ann needed the new bike.  I officially understand the fact that parents have to make the most rational decision when it comes to those things).  We have decided to keep things simple and not do a friend party this year.  I think we are going to do lunch at Chick-fil-a, give her the tricycle after her nap, and do cake after dinner.  We have looked at the cakes at Publix, and as of today, she picked a crayola cake, which makes sense.  She loves anything having to do with paint, drawing, crayons, etc.  I was a little sad because I could picture such a cute themed birthday party surrounding the crayola cake, but, oh well...not this year.

Of course, all family is welcome, but we assume it will just be the four of us, and I think Ada will love that it is her special day. 

And that is what is happening in our house tonight. 

For Fun

In an effort to avoid cleaning up the kitchen, I have been perusing the J. Crew website. 

I started by looking at the crew cuts clothing.  I am a bit obsessed with J. Crew's children's clothing, and if I had more money in my pocket, Ada's wardrobe would most likely be made up of mostly J. Crew clothing.

Well, while at the website, I saw the weddings tab, and I just couldn't help myself... I clicked on it.

Any other women out there who still like to look at wedding dresses, after the fact? 

Well, I saw this dress and told Scott that I wish we could have another wedding so that I could wear this dress.  He said I was crazy, but it's still fun to dream. 

I even tried to get him to get off the couch and come see it to tell me if he liked it or not.  He didn't budge.

Okay, reality check:  my husband, who I already married while wearing a different wedding dress than the one above, is on the couch folding clothes, our two children are upstairs asleep (thank you, Lord!), and I need to get off my tail and go finish the kitchen.