Park It

So, today we went to the park with Grammie, Becky, James, and Tea. We had a picnic, and the kids had a great time scavenging Sunchips from all adults present. Josie practiced standing up by herself and stuffing her face full of food at the same time. Sadie, James, and Tea ran around like crazy people with sticks... poking trash cans, hunting bees, feeding ducks, and going "clippety-clop" over the bridge.

My favorite part was when we moved over to the playground. Josie had a good old time swinging in the baby swing, and Sadie decided to climb the little round stairs up to the slide platform. These stairs are kind of scary looking - not very sturdy. She didn't know I was behind her, but as she climbed up, very slowly, I heard her talking to herself... "PULL! myself up." (Next step) "PULL! myself up." (Next step) "PULL! myself up." When she got to the top, she stopped, surveyed her situation, and muttered, "Hmm. This is very scary for me."

This is the elusive "Fairy Dogmother."

And this is the new and improved "Corn Queen Josephine."

The Big One

Well, today was the big day. I am - gasp - now Thirty. The big 3-0. Funny, I don't feel any older....

It was relatively painless. Actually, it was somewhat enjoyable! Jesse let me sleep in, I got $ for a de-stressing massage from my mama, beautiful flowers from Melanie, $ from my Daddy so I can afford to come home!, a great card from Melissa along with an offer of babysitting :), a Lowe's gift card, hot fudge cake, great jeans, a fabulos-o red silk diaper bag, a card organizer, and (YAY!) a gift certificate to a real, live, SPA for whatever I want! I have been browsing my Menu of Services for the past two hours. Finally, I can get a haircut somewhere other than Great Clips. LOL

Today, Jesse and I went to work on the house after church while the grandparents took the kids home with them (another birthday present). When I walked in, lo and behold, what did I see before me but my VERY OWN CHAISE LOUNGE! The very one I have always wanted! Jesse totally surprised me with it. I can't remember the last time I was that suprised... it was great.

All in all, a good time was had by all (but mainly by ME).

Sweet Dreams

Today, I decided to stop being such a stickler for naptime and bedtime. They are growing up so fast, and I just want to hold on to them the way they are right now. I've decided to cherish it... for the moment, anyway. So, instead of putting Josie down for her nap this afternoon, I rocked and snuggled her for an hour. She put her blanket on her head, snuggled down into my chest, and kept popping back up to look at me and grin every five minutes. She also whispered, "Da, da, duh, duh, duh," and "Ma-mah!" Not much sleeping was done, but it certainly was some great quality time. Especially when she reached up, gently touched my cheek, looked into my eyes, and then stuck her finger right up my nose. :)

In keeping with my new persona, I let Sadie stay up until 9, and she snuggled with me in MY bed and we read books and talked. She also said her prayers with me... she's so funny - after she thanked God for Papaw and Mamaw, she thanked Him again for Rudy the dog, and also for "Little Rudy." I can only hope that she's always as sweet as she is right now. She just comes out with these SWEET things, like, "I'm so glad you're here, Mommy," or "I love you so much!" or "I'm so happy to see you!" We also sang Josie's bedtime song. Sadie (totally surprising me) added her own little echo to the song... I sang a line, then she repeated it after me, for the whole song. It was so cute, but I guess you had to be there. I'm glad I was.

"Who is Coming to the Zoo?"

Josie kissed me last night, for the first time!!! She's been blowing kisses for a while, but last night while I was rocking her, she leaned in, put her little lips right on mine, and said, "M-wah!" It was the best! Coincidentally, last night was also the first night she's ever gone to bed without her "bedtime bottle." Sigh. My little baby is growing up.

Speaking of babies growing up, Sadie has been quoting every book she has ever read. Yesterday, she said, "Spin new webs! said Spider... I will line the crib with eider," which is a line from "Who is Coming to Our House?" a book about Jesus being born in the manger. Jesse laughed and said, "Guess when I learned that word (eider)? About 2 hours ago when I read that book to her!" It's funny that she already knows it.

Today, we went to the zoo with Aunt Becky, Aunt Cindy, Uncle Darryl, James, and Teagan. Favorites were the seals, the elephants, the camels, and of course, the monkeys. It was lots of fun... the kids had a great time, up until naptime. Then, it was not so much fun! For me, anyway :)

It's only 9:30 and I'm going to bed. As you can see, the march continues onward toward the big 3-0.

Heads Up

Today, I told the girls they could get as dirty as they wanted. They headed to the sandbox. Josie dove in headfirst, and sat down inside it. Sadie dumped sand on her head. Again. They had a good old time, and then we went in to have a bath. As we were getting undressed for baths, Sadie's shirt got stuck on top of her head, so it looked like she had a little shepherd's robe/headwrap on. She said, "Hey! I look like Jesus!" Speaking of hats, we went to supper at a little fast food place that gives out those old fashioned paper sailor hats to kids. I put one on Josie's head, and I'm telling you... she looked like a poster child for a 1930's ad campaign. The child is so stinkin' cute. She got 2 molars... did I already write that? I'm losing it, you know. I really can't remember what I write and what I THINK half the time. It's getting scary! Especially since I found my first gray hair this week.... Aack!

Heehee

One of my new favorite jokes...

Her wedding day was fast approaching. Nothing could dampen her excitement -- not even her parents' nasty divorce. Her mother had found the PERFECT dress to wear and would be the best dressed mother-of-the-bride ever!

A week later, she was horrified to learn that her father's new young wife had bought the exact same dress! She asked the new wife to exchange it, but she refused. "Absolutely not. I look like a million bucks in this dress, and I'm wearing it," she replied.

The bride-to-be told her mother who graciously said, "Never mind sweetheart, I'll get another dress. After all, it's your special day."

A few days later, they went shopping and did find another gorgeous dress. When they stopped for lunch, she asked her mother, "Aren't you going to return the other dress? You really don't have another occasion where you could wear it."

Her mother just smiled and replied, "Of course I do, dear. I'm wearing it to the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding. "

Turkey in the Sand

Josie has started wagging her head back and forth, just to be cute. It's not exactly nodding, not exactly shaking. I guess it's kind of a miniature "Stevie Wonder" move. Whatever it is, she knows it's funny, so she's doing it all the time now.

Today when I told Sadie it was time for lunch, she yelled, "But I already just ate!" When I insisted that it was lunchtime, she finally gave in and said, "Okay, Mommy. Well, I guess I can eat just a little bit of food." Then her grandpa asked if she wanted to go to Walmart with him and she said no. A little while later, when we were playing outside, he came out to leave. She said, "Bye, Grandpa!" Then, as he pulled out the driveway, she put her hands on her hips and said, "But I want to go to Walmart with Grandpa! Come back, Grandpa! Come back!" So, I called him and told him... and of course, he came back to get her.

While I was putting her shoes on, she said, "I love Grandpa. I love Papaw and Mamaw and Rudy (their dog) too. But they're at their house." It makes me sad and happy at the same time, just to know that she thinks about them.

When I strapped her into her carseat, we found out that she had ulterior motives... she informed us that she expected an Icee while she was at Walmart.

Now, I must go and undo the damage that Sadie wreaked on Josie in the sandbox. She poured a whole bucket on Josie's head while I wasn't looking! Josie thought it was funny... but I didn't!

Just thinkin'

This morning when we were getting ready for church, Sadie looked at me and said, "You're so pretty, Mommy!" This brought tears to my eyes and also made me think. The responsibility thing again. It's an unbelievable responsibility I have... to live up to anything remotely resembling what these girls deserve as a role model. I'm trying hard, but today after church, Sadie said, "Oh, crap." Sheesh. I wonder who she got that from. It could be worse, I guess, but still. That's not something you want your 2 year old spouting off.

Josie is currently upstairs attempting to take a nap. Well, actually, she is yelling something that sounds like high-pitched barking. And bouncing up and down in her crib. And throwing stuffed animals (I can hear all this through the monitor). I just put her down for a 2nd nap because they've both been fighting a cold, and there is some measure of crankiness in the house (as opposed to the normal Large measure that I myself bring). I was rocking her a little while ago, and she decided that her new favorite thing to do is grab the lace curtains and look at me through them. She smushes her little face right up against them, leans in close to my face, and then laughs her head off. She is so stinking cute that it's scary.

I miss home. It's been 2 months now since I've been there, and I'm beginning to learn that that's my limit. I miss my daddy. I miss my mama and my grandma. And my cousins. And my friends. Apparently, I can't stay away longer than a couple of months or I start metamorphosizing into a "Northerner." Eeek! I must (this is one of my Daddy's favorite sayings) "make like horse hockey and hit the trail!"

The house is coming along. Still working on it whenever we have a spare minute. I got new cabinet hardware... brushed nickel. This house has so many cabinets... I had to buy 56 drawer pulls - do you believe that?! There are 5 deer that live IN our backyard next to the "pond." Three babies, and 2 mamas. We also have raccoons. I have a feeling the raccoons are not going to be quite as nice to have around as the deer!

Well, my birthday is looming before me. Only 14 more days to go. I have not yet begun to panic, but the only thing I can think of that I want are "tummy tuck" jeans and a makeover. I must be panicking subconsciously.

Thingama-crab

My own little hermit crabs....
Sadie has made up her very first word. I think it means "thingamajig" or "whatchamacallit." Her word is... "Podie-Odie." As in, "Where's my podie-odie?" "I can't find my podie-odie." "Mommy, what did you do with my podie-odie?" "Hey! Look at that podie-odie!" It's pretty amusing, I must say.

Another amusing thing that's going on is Josie's new word(s). I tickle her all the time because her little belly laugh is the cutest thing in the world. So now she mimics me and says, "Tick-a-tick-a-tick-a-tick-a!" She also learned to blow her nose, which is pretty impressive for a one year old, I think.

Yesterday, their Grandma brought them each a hermit crab home from the beach. After a trip to the pet store, the crabs now live in virtual crab-luxury. They have a 4 star crab-condo. They have been christened "Sherrie" and "George." Sadie took George out today and held him in her hand, but when George peeked out to say hello, Sadie screamed and flung him up in the air. No wonder they're hermits.

Short and Sweet

Sadie: "Come on, people now, smile on your brudder, everybo-ey get togever, try and love one anudder right now. Right now!"

I taught Sadie this song Saturday, and she's got an amazing vocal range for a two year old... I wonder where she gets that from... heehee

Josie stood up on her own for the very first time yesterday! We were playing in the baby pool, and I looked away for a second. When I glanced back, there was Josie, wobbling upright on her chunky little legs and looking all proud of herself!

Just so you know, I am NOT giving up blogging... my time allotment is just very limited at the moment. We closed on the house, and now we're working working working on trying to get it repaired, cleaned, and in move-in condition. I promise I'll be back in full force in a month or so. I should have a lot to report by then :)

The Tale of the Three Trees

This is my new favorite story... every single time I read it, I dissolve into tears at the end. I bought it for Sadie and Josie, but now I'm thinking it's really for me. You should've seen me crying in the bookstore! This is a traditional folktale, retold by Angela Hunt. Read it and weep.

Once upon a mountaintop, three trees dreamed of what they wanted to be when they grew up.

"I want to hold treasure," the first tree said. "I will be the most beautiful treasure chest in the whole world!"

"I want to be a strong sailing ship," the second tree said. "I will be the strongest ship in the world."

"I don't want to leave this mountaintop at all," the third tree said. "I want to grow so tall that when people look at me they will raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world!"

One day, three woodcutters climbed the mountain. With a swoop of the first man's axe, the first tree fell. With a swish of the second man's axe, the second tree fell. With a slash of the third man's axe, the third tree fell.

The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought him to a carpenter's shop, but the busy carpenter was not thinking about treasure chests. Instead, his work-worn hands fashioned the tree into a feed box for animals.

The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took him to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ships were built that day. Instead, the once-strong tree was made into a simple fishing boat.

The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. "What happened?" the once tall tree wondered. "All I ever wanted to do was point to God."

Many, many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feed box. And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

One evening a tired traveller and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. When a storm arose, the second tree shuddered. But when the traveller stretched out his hand, and said, "Peace," the storm stopped. And suddenly, the second tree knew he was carrying the King of heaven and earth.

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the woodpile. She shivered when she was dragged through an angry crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hands to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel.

But on Sunday morning when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew God's love had changed everything. It had made the first tree beautiful. It had made the second tree strong. And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God.

That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.