"Let there be sleep!"

Sleeping in mommy's bed for the last time!

December 20, 2008


I must have some sleep! I must have some sleep in my own bed without any children in it. We trained Abby from the time she was born to sleep in her crib. Good girl. I must admit it was a little easier because we brought her crib into our room (and I was alot younger then!) Fast forward 9 years to a house with stairs and two old people as parents. We decided to let her sleep in our room in a bassinet....NOPE! She wouldn't have it....OK...we'll use a co-sleeper right beside me....NOPE! Wouldn't do. Little prissy wanted to sleep right between us propped up on her boppy (so many no-no's but what a person will do for a little shut eye can be scary). We were in a queen size bed (which let's face it...is a full size bed with a different label and higher price tag.) We decided to get a king size bed to accomodate us all comfortably, which was in 3 short years our THIRD bed!!!! We went from a king, to a queen, back to a king in a very short time for crazy reasons...live and learn. Because of her acid reflux, thrush, stomach issues, etc.. I was very hesitant to put her upstairs, alone, in her own room. Not to mention I was way too tired and lazy to be climbing stairs all night long. Well, this week the time had come to finally move her out! Would you believe the night we were to start she had the slightest temperature and looked at me with these puppy dog eyes as if to say..."you wouldn't put a baby in her crib for the first time

while she's sick would you?" Round one ...to Alivia. On the second night I was determined that we would start. I sent Abby downstairs to sleep in my room and I was ready for an all nighter. Surprisingly, she did really well. I never went in after I initially laid her down because she only woke up twice and put herself back to sleep both times and with NO Pacifier. Wow! Would it really be this easy? The next day I began to get sick so I knew that night would not be fun. Apparently little prissy thought because I had low energy she could change my mind about this whole sleep training thing. Totally different night. It took her much longer to go to sleep and then she woke up at 2:30 and cried/screamed off and on until 4:30! When we went in to get her, her feet were sticking out of the crib rails! Oh mercy, she had turned herself around and was so uncomfortable. Her bed didn't have bumper pads because I never bought them because every single retailer WARNS you of the hazards of bedding in a crib. Well they didn't tell me that without them she would stick her arms and feet out and scream! Hello? Can you say "DHR?"


Anyway, I called my sweet neighbor, borrowed her old "boy" bumper pads and put them on the crib. I WILL NOT GIVE IN...I WILL PREVAIL...We are off to start round 3...can you say"Silent night....all is calm?" That's my prayer this Christmas week. And we are off to buy some "girly" bumper pads tomorrow. Merry Christmas....

Tis the season!

November 24...(but it feels like Christmas!)

We are ready for the season around here! Abby and Alivia both have their trees in their rooms. Abby's is the same from last year, but we had to buy Miss Alivia a tree and ornaments since this is her 1st Christmas. She LOVES looking at the lights and her tree looks so cute in her room.

I am loving all the baby Christmas outfits...especially the santa hat! We are singing Christmas carols, watching Christmas movies, decorating, and having a ball. A baby is a wonderful gift-and it is so nice to be reminded in our crazy/busy world. It was this time last year that we found out we were expecting. It's hard to believe a year has gone by. What a blessing she is- God gave us the desire of our heart- a beautiful, healthy, INDEPENDENT-TEMPERMENTAL, precious baby! We are so looking forward to our first Christmas with her and thanking the Lord for his many blessings!

Remembering "TB"

November 21, 2008

Alivia is asleep for her morning nap (on her tummy and on my bed)...I know 2 major "no-no's"-

but if she's happy, I'm happy! Speaking of her happiness and how she is totally in control of everything around here right now, Scott made a troubling - but insightful comment the other day. Years ago we had a toy poodle named TB (not for the disease, but short for his official registered name of Prince Terry B Red- yes it was during the reign of Terry Bowden at Auburn-but that's another story for another day). He was the cutest, tiniest thing you've ever seen...and spoiled rotten. He actually thought he was a human. We decided we would take him to dog obedience classes for dog training. That would straighten him out. So picture this little, tiny dog in the same room with giant pit bulls, dobermans, german shepherds, etc. He would absolutely do NOTHING he was commanded. In fact, he just barked and "yipped" at the other dogs as if to say "this place is for dogs like you-not me". So after many weekly trips to classes and too much money spent....we had a dog who had attended obedience classes- but had not changed one bit. I think we might have been the only people with a dog to ever fail the class. We eventually had to give him away. After Abby was born he would NOT share his space with her. The day she was in her johnny-jump-up seat and he peed on her foot was the day he had to go. (Scott still says he should be lucky we let him live!) Anyway...Scott was looking at Alivia as she was having one of her temper tantrums and he was reminded of TB. He asked me if I thought this was the same kind of situation....something so little being in complete control of everyone else? We had a little laugh...and then got a little scared...Oh dear- we do hope she learns to use the potty! :)

Growing up

October 2, 2008

My little Alivia is 9 weeks old. Where did the time go? Her tummy issues are so much better. We stopped all of her medicine after I questioned if it was really helping or if she just needed to "grow" out of it. She improved quickly and gets better everyday. She is cooing, laughing, holding her head up like a 4 month old (per the doctor's comments!) and starting to sleep at least 5 hours at a time at night..HALLELUJAH! She loves to be held (by her mama) and talked to. She is holding on to her pink lovey and starting to suck on her own fist all the time. She does like a pacifier too. She has already outgrown the newborn 0-3 month outfits. I sadly packed them away for someone else and made room in the closet for bigger sizes. I love that she is healthy and growing...but my heart cries "stay little a little longer!"

I looked at my 9 year old last night and wondered when she got so big. She's changing fast...and I don't like it. I miss my little 3 year old that held my hand on long walks as we talked about God making the sky, flowers, clouds, etc. Now she is more into her friends than me, and it hurts. We already have some of that "girl drama" and I'm NOT ready for it. Lord, teach me to number my days because they are passing by....quickly

From the mouths of babes (or 9 year olds)

October....
Yesterday Abby asked me if I heard about what happened to the "fixing man". (That would be the "maintenance man" at school/church...yes I grinned but inside was LOL!) She informed me his house burned down-and wondered if he was able to "fix" everything at church/school why he couldn't "fix" his house. She thinks very highly of Daniel!

Days of our Lives

September 21, 2008
Days of our Lives used to be my favorite soap in college. Silly uh? I haven't seen it since then- although I'm sure nothing has changed...when I see commercials Marlena, Bo, Hope, etc. are all still around and dealing with the same ole stuff. Seriously? 20 years later and they haven't figured anything out? Oh well.... I digress... these days our life is revolving around the baby, Scott's job, school, family, etc. There is way too much "stuff" going on for paragraphs- so here goes "The Days of our Lives" in list form:

* right now it is almost 11:00 pm- Scott's in Orlando (had to stay overnight and didn't plan too)-the girls are in the bed with me- Alivia is snoring (too cute- she's never snored before!)

*Did I mention we were in a king-size bed? When we bought the house we had a king size bed, sold it ,(Scott said a queen size would fit the room better). There is a HUGE difference between a queen/ and a king. After 2 years and a new baby, the queen is in the basement and a new king is in the bedroom. Full circle...but AH, sweet sleep!

*Scott didn't take his phone charger (because he planned on being home at 5:45) and his phone is dead. He called me from someone else's phone briefly and told me he would call me on "skype"
OK- I just learned what skype is and it was so cool- but I couldn't figure out how to turn the volume up , so Scott was basically doing charades and writing notes until I found the "unmute" button. Abby is much more proficient than me. She tried to skype him earlier and he wasn't there. She left him a message with little pictures. How did she learn to do that? Even Scott was impressed!

*My brother in law shot part of his thumb off on Saturday night. (I know- I just kind of jumped right into that with no warning!) Scott bought a new cross bow (dangerous!) and they were trying it out when the accident happened. Called 9-1-1, went to Brookwood , got his thumb "fixed", came home really late, packed the bow up to return to the store!!!!!

*This morning after I dropped Abby off at school, I decided to vacuum out the car while Alivia was sleeping. (She loves the sound of a vacuum cleaner, hair dryer, etc.) The doors were opened to the car and the lights were on. When I was finished vacuuming, I tried to crank the car to roll the windows up. The car wouldn't crank! Battery was DEAD- Scott was out of town-
dilemna??? I needed to run errands, pick Abby up from school, etc. I needed my car! My father-in-law came by, pushed the car out of the garage, jump started the battery, and I drove to Wal-mart to buy a new one!

*My microwave (which is only 2 years old) stopped working last week. Had to pay for a service trip charge, labor, but the parts were free. (Yea, right). A car battery and microwave in less than a week. NOT what I want to spend money on.

*I cleaned out my side of the closet today! (Scott's side is later this week). It only took from 1:45 until 9:00. I used to could complete this project in an hour or 2. Not with a newborn and Abby's homework. It was a stop-go-stop-go activity all day, but it is finally done. I LOVE it when my closet is completely clean and organized. I got rid of all my "teacher" shoes. Nothing but flip-flops for me!

* I can't accomplish anything lately (except holding my sweet Alivia) and I feel like things are piling up all around me. Every inch of my house needs something- either cleaning out, vacuuming, dusting, moving, etc. I just can't get to it, which is why I feel so good about my closet. I actually accomplished a BIG task. In the words of London Tipton...Yay me! I need to clean my attic, my basement, my pantry, my car (the outside), our yard (our landscaping looks terrible)-
the list goes on and on, but it won't happen anytime soon. I've got to let it go and not worry about it. I'm trying to learn a life lesson here, but it's hard when you are a 'control freak'.

*Abby is doing so well in school! She has made 3 100's in a row in spelling, a 100 on her first math test, A+ in Bible, History, etc. I am sooo proud! This girl worked hard last year, but 3rd grade was a struggle. This year is turning out to be so much better and I am soooooo glad!!!!

*Alivia will be 2 months old on Thursday. How can that be? I had my 6 weeks check up last week and I was really sad that the whole experience (from pregnancy test to delivery) was over. It went by so quickly! She is really improving. I stopped giving her medicine (I couldn't really tell a difference) and she is much better in my opinion. She is sleeping between 4-5 hours at a time (at night). She is starting to coo and smile- and it's so much fun. Her cheeks are really filling out! I sing a good morning song (that I made up) to her each day and she smiles every time!
We love her and can't imagine not having her in our family. She "completes" us!

This is just a sample of what's been going on. Life is busy- but we are so blessed. I praise the Lord for His grace and mercy on our family.

And now....I am going to sleep...no wait...Alivia is waking up...oh well...

i will survive!

sept. 5, 2008
i'm holding alivia in my arms, so there will be no capitalization and very little punctuation...
we are in total survival mode...poor livi has severe acid reflux. we knew very early (day 2 in the hospital) she was going to have some digestive issues, but i never knew how bad it would get. for the past 2 days she has gotten progressively worse... severe stomach pains, gas, burping, screaming/crying out in pain- it is terrible! nothing we do seems to help...she usually cries for an hour or 2 and then finally gets a little relief- she's still not resting well at night (poor thing) and so i have called the pediatrician 3 times in 2 days (am i a hypochondriac?) she is now on 2 prescriptions for her stomach pains and i pray they will work! having an unhappy newborn can be VERY stressful...
so scott informs me he has to go to orlando for 8 days in early october (8 days people)..i was not happy- apparently he sensed my "frustration" because he offered for the girls and me to spend the first weekend with him. now the dilema (why can't i spell "duh-lim-uh" it just doesn't look right-sleep deprivation???) anyway....do i travel to orlando with a 2 month old to spend some family time together ? (Disney!!!) how stressful would that be? would it be worth it? (i mean, isn't a bad day at disney better than a good day at home?) should i leave the baby with my mom? :{ should i just stay home? oh decisions, decisions. i need some input especially if you have experience traveling with a baby. let me know your thoughts please. of course, if she is still struggling with her 'stomach issues', traveling will be OUT of the questions. Please pray for her (and me!)...i am so thankful to the Lord for the strength and endurance He gives us on a daily basis. not to mention His endless supply of Grace! "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"...