Happy Easter

A day early! {go me} Happy Happy Easter to all. We had a ton of fun dying eggs yesterday. P was intrigued by each different color and loved watching her own fingers turn blue. Today we shopped for the perfect white shoes & I finished putting her basket together. We have practiced hunting eggs already & it seems to be a hit. We might be hiding eggs on a weekly basis over here!

Enjoy a day with family!

Workin Mama

All mamas work. I know this. However, {in my opinion} it takes quite a someone to work 8 hours a day and still find a way to enjoy {and manage with grace} home too. I guess I am talking about how NOT to lose your mind and feel like you've 'got this'. Because, really, you do. A quick disclaimer: I do not always follow my own rules, but when I do......I am better-at everything.

1.) Meal Plan

 Write it down on Sunday and try to stick to it. Grocery shop with a serious list and try to stick to it as well you can. This makes evenings so much more predictable, and we eat healthier. We rarely eat out on weekdays so that means I cook about 4-5 times a week. Doesn't seem like that much? Try it with a toddler attached to you leg. When all else fails, order pizza.

2.) Don't be too hard on yourself

 This is hard. Really hard for me. But honestly, do what you can and do the rest tomorrow and know that it will be just fine.

3.) Teamwork with your hubby

I cook dinner, he does the dishes. I put laundry in, we fold together. I clean bathrooms, he cleans the wood floors. I dust the furniture, he makes the bed everyday.  I bathe P, he picks up the living room. I get her backpack ready, he gets her dressed-bow and all. For everything I do around the house, I can think of something Spence does too. He's pretty much wonderful.

4.) Do something for {you}

This probably won't happen very often, but it is so very important. It could be as simple as dinner with your husband, an evening with girlfriends, buying yourself a new pair of sandals or getting a pedicure, or just going to Target alone. Doesn't that sound lovely?  
Alone at Target....could be dangerous. {You won't get out under $100}

6.) Trust in your childcare provider

Whether it be in home care or the preschool in the neighborhood or the Montessori school that has a 2 year wait list-you have to pick the place that is best for your child. The hardest part about going back to work for me is always the fact that I am not involved in every second of her day. {I am kind of selfish with my time with my girl}  It was hard challenging almost unbearable at first. Now, I see her light up when she sees her friends and I see how much she learns everyday and I see how much she absolutely loves and thrives on the structure and routine that is her day. I know when I leave her in the morning that she is going to have a wonderful day full of learning, fun, and love. And just that thought gets me through my 'moments.'

7.) Exercise
I know there isn't time. Make time. As much as I wish I had enough time to join the crossfit crew and workout to the max 4 times a week, truth is I just can't give up any more time with my family. So I resort to run/walks, Jillian Michaels, or bike rides....oh and chasing my toddler. Being fit makes me happy!

8.) Leave work at work
Do I need say more? It is what it is, you can finish it tomorrow. This is a hard rule for a teacher! Before I was married with a baby, I could stay at school until 6pm and still bring a bag home to grade. I have to leave work at work in order to soak up my time with my family.

9.) Always be in a good book

Even if it is just 5 minutes that I can hold my eyes open, I read a bit of my novel every night. It is the best way to tune out the world and get lost in another story. I am loving Nicholas Sparks' Safe Haven right now.

10.) Wine
I can't make a list without it, right? A glass of wine can really make all your worries go away. Just one, every now and then. If wine isn't your thing, let me suggest Blue Bell Southern Blackberry Cobbler Ice Cream.

"Ta-Da"
One happy family.

This family runs on routine and we love it!

18 months old

A year and a half. Six months since her first birthday, six months until she's two. {ideas for b-day party are brewing} Time is flying. I absolutely love, just adore, and completely enjoy watching this little girl grow up, but I just wish I knew how to slow it down a bit. Slow it down enough so that I could remember each and every little tiny thing that she does. It is the small things that melt my heart and make me stop and think about how unbelievably blessed I am to be her mama.

Stats

Weight/Height: 26 pounds 6 ounces 32 inches tall

Eating Habits: So, my daughter loves yummy food just as much as I do. Hey-I will take that any day over a picky, I will only eat a hot dog baby. She has discovered ketchup and her life is forever changed. Funny thing is that neither Spence or myself like ketchup all that much. She is the most precise dipper I have seen in a while, however sometimes I see her double dipping and that I am not a fan of. She gets an A+ for trying....she will try anything you offer her.

Sleeping Habits: Eh, same as usual. She is very aware of our routine and I notice as she gets older, she follows along better and better. We read Goodnight Moon every night {yes, I can recite the book by memory} and she will not go to sleep without hearing it. 

Personality: This girl has a BIG personality for such a tiny person. She is so loving, but can be a little bossy, she's insanely funny and quite sassy, and too smart for her own good. Honestly, she is everything I ever imagined my daughter would be, and more.

New Tricks: P has picked up some sweet dance moves...not sure where, but she claps and does the hand movements for 'If you're happy & you know it,' she loves Wheels on the Bus and ItsyBitsy Spider. She is very curious and has started climbing on everything. I turn my head for one second and that girl is standing on top of her little art table.  She talks like crazy, and has started to put words together. She will say, "I want more" while signing 'more please.' She is obsessed with her shoes, which she calls "ju-jus." She always has to have them on and will insist that you put yours on...she will even help you. Something funny that she does is she refers to herself as "Me." If she wants something she will point to herself and say "Me" as she shrugs her shoulders like she is asking a question.

I could not resist the chance to take some pictures of her while we were in Hot Springs. The scenery there is just perfect! 

And just for fun, a comparison. Six months and eighteen months in the same place just about exactly a year apart. It's crazy to see how much she has changed!

 

Just a thought

A few tips when road tripping with {toddler}

1. Bring a DVD player for the car. I have never been so thankful for Elmo in my life. 

2. Be ready to be flexible with your schedule. Stick to it as much as possible, but don't stress yourself out about it.

3. Bring your medicine box. P came down with pink eye the second day we were gone. My pediatrician called in a script, we drove 30 minutes to pick it up, and it was the same exact prescription that we have at home from last year. Oh and it was $121....gotta love insurance. Point is-be over prepared.

4. Take advantage of nap time. Nap time=Mommy relax time.

5. Bring clothes for all seasons, even if it means over packing. I am prepared for every type of weather, be it a heat stroke or a snow storm. And glad I am because we have seen temps from 35-70 degrees. 

6. Bring as much bedding from home as you can. Sleeping is always a battle for us while on vaca, but if we make it as close to home as we can, it's a little bit easier.

 

We have had a grand time here and really cherishing these moments with P's great grands. She is just too lucky to know them so well.

first emergency

Do I want to talk about it? No. Do I want to relive it? Never. Do I need to share it so that I could possibly prevent it from happening to anyone else? Yes. 

Winston bit Presley. He bit our baby on her face. It happened on Sunday night after dinner. We were both standing right there next to her as she plopped down in the middle of the kitchen floor. It was an accident. I was washing my hands, Spence was putting away leftovers. We think Winston was waiting for something to drop and he felt that P was in his way. It wasn't just a snap. It seemed aggressive. I always knew he was feisty, but never thought he would intentionally harm our baby. A snap-I expected (he's a dog), but never this. We have always been over protective when Winston was anywhere near our baby. So how did this happen? How did I let this happen? One split second, that is all it took.

We rushed her to the ER and she was seen right away by a wonderful doctor. She was sedated {scariest thing ever-but necessary so he could be precise} and received 14 stitches in 4 different places on her face.  We are lucky. It could have been worse. Don't we always say that when something bad happens? She's our baby. She's our perfect baby and she has stitches in her face. The scars will be so small and they will fade. My guilt, will take a little longer.

Our daughter is truly incredible. We have looked at her in awe all week. How can this little person be so happy when she just had her face sewn up? How has she already forgotten about what just happened? How is she so amazing? She is tough, she is so resilient, she is such a wonder. She has made this mess a whole lot easier for us. The situation is one I never wanted to deal with, but she's our baby and we have to keep her safe. Its our most important job in the world.........

It has been a week and we feel so beyond ready to put this behind us and just finish healing up-in more ways than one. P has done so well, her stitches were taken out on Thursday and we are amazed with the progress that her 'boo boos' have made. She has healed immensely well and our baby is going to be just fine, that is all that matters at the end of the day.

Really though, the before and after pictures are pretty impressive. (see below) Maybe I am biased, but I think it looks great. Honestly, it looks like she just fell and scratched her face up pretty good.

You wouldn't believe how many people have said "Oh, that happened to my daughter or my niece or my brother." It happens more than you think with family dogs-dogs that you would never think to do something like this. Just be careful---We were, but it just takes a split second.

Prayers are appreciated for our little one as she continues to heal up and as we move on without our dear sweet Winston in our home.

Changing it up

It is time for some changes around this little blog! I have really just been waiting for the 'perfect' name for our blog to pop in my brain---I have been waiting for a year. It had to be something unique, something that held meaning for our family or our life, something that would make you think. Well, it finally came to me. Here's the little story behind it.....

We had our first {emergency} with our little one last Sunday. I have spent the week at home with Miss P just thinking. I look at her and I think about how precious and delicate and treasured and amazing and blessed our life is. Spence and I know we have been so blessed in many ways. Our life could change in an instant, I know this, but sometimes it takes a scary experience to really make you think about it.  I want this blog to be a reflection on how important it is to 'Handle With Care.' My marriage, my husband, our daughter, my relationships with family and friends, our home, my career.....handle with care.....because they are irreplaceable.

Still working on the story of our first {hopefully last} true emergency. Check back tomorrow.

Tell me what you think of our new look!!! I just couldn't resist this modern navy chevron.

Under Construction

The blog is currently under construction. We are getting a new look.....it might take a day because I have had some technical difficulties. It's going to be better than ever when I'm done!

So, please pardon our dust!