tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71313008283140382662024-03-14T06:01:30.648-04:00My Many Letters To My ChildrenKrystinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05377984000637679430noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131300828314038266.post-92142467074451206482016-02-10T17:51:00.000-05:002016-02-10T17:51:02.517-05:00Great way to start the Lenten season...<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
My daughter continues to amaze me. Please bear with me as this may get a little wordy as I am crying happy tears...</div>
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As a child, I grew up with a handicapped sister. I wasn't always the best to my sister, as many sisters can attest to. But it was my reality and that's how I was raised. Love not hate. I helped out at her birthday parties, playing with the kids that probably didn't get a lot of kids playing with them. I know there were times I really didn't want to, but I did it<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"> for them and for her. So many times I remember my sister telling me she just wanted to be "normal." But what is normal anyway?! This was the reality we were dealt and we had our moments, both good and bad, but I remember lots of good fun times (lots of inside jokes here right Valerie?). :)</span></div>
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Today, I am so very proud of our Little Miss E. Today she played with a little boy while out with her Nanny. It didn't matter what he looked like, only that he was a little boy and they both played and had a good time. When it was time to go, he blew her kisses and the grandmother of the boy thanked Miss E and Nanny. You see, the boy has down syndrome and many don't want to play with him. They look and ask questions. Not our Little Miss E. She just wanted to play. She never questioned how he looked. He and her just had fun playing as only two children can.</div>
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I am so proud to call her my child. She never questioned, just played. We could all use a bit of childlike mentality. Don't question, just play. I am also so proud and thankful of my sister. I cannot think of a better way to start Lent. <3<i class="_4-k1 img sp_fM-mz8spZ1b sx_62a652" style="background-image: url("/rsrc.php/v2/yx/r/pimRBh7B6ER.png"); background-position: 0px -204px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"><u style="left: -999999px; position: absolute;">heart emoticon</u></i></div>
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Krystinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05377984000637679430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131300828314038266.post-78257695900590395142016-01-05T14:24:00.001-05:002016-01-05T15:02:48.437-05:00We're less than two weeks away...<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started off this post thinking about writing all the
things that are you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> It's been a while since I've written and I think about you all.the.time and how I haven't written nearly as often as I should. </span>And as I started
writing, this post turned into little stories as to who you are right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may not always flow perfectly but thinking
about you and what you’ve accomplished so far in your short life makes me smile
and so proud to be your mama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here you go
baby girl (smile):</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cannot believe
how quickly time flies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In less than two
weeks, you will be <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FIVE</b> and I just cannot
believe it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In some ways I can totally
see where the last five years have gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve gotten to watch you grow and learn and discover just who you
are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yet, it doesn’t seem like you
could have been with us nearly that long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Are you sure you are not turning 2?! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Although the five going on fifteen attitude
surely reminds me – wink.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Five years ago today I was waiting for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My original due date was five years ago
yesterday, January 4, 2011.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then it got
switched to the third, but you had other things planned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Waiting waiting waiting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You taught us early on you would come when
you were ready, and you haven’t changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You do things in your own time (with us sometimes adding in some
prodding – smile).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You are such a wonderful little person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You love to play dress-up, most excitedly
changing into different ball gowns, while twirling and curtsying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And let’s not forget the accessories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What princess would be complete without a
tiara?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when we are at A’s house, it
is adorable as you have M and/or A announce who is coming down the stairs, and
then you come down the stairs, dressed as a princess in full regalia, smiling
and so excited to be the bell of the ball. (The last time we were over there
you announced you were getting married and were wearing one of the Disney
Princess wedding gowns, beautiful as ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I so look forward to that day but I can wait twenty years or so for it
and I hope we do not have drama. Why is it you like to play and pretend there
is drama?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> You were pretending you had called off the wedding but staying in the wedding dress. </span>We could all use a little less
drama in our lives. – smile)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When you aren’t playing dress up, we can find you coloring
or writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You coloring skills have
improved beyond what I thought they could in a year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You draw things, like people and they have to
have all the hands, feet, eyes, eyebrows, etc, something you were just starting
to learn about a year ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You draw
animals, flowers, everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You love
to color and make things look so magical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And your writing, WOW just wow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You practice and practice and are writing so beautifully, constantly
writing us letters.</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pretend play has become such a big thing in your life and I
love it! The number one thing you like to pretend is being a baker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You get so excited to make us many different
types of cupcakes and have told us many times you are going to be a baker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I so look forward to your creations!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your love of baking and cooking has led you
to watch cooking shows (favorite being Cupcake Wars) and the things people put
in food can be, well, we will be kind and say “creative,” but what it has
taught you is that you can try and make things out of ANYTHING and that I
absolutely love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The world is your
oyster baby!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lastly, and this one I find so important, you have a wonderful
love for reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You read and read and
read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have so many books we no longer
have room on our shelves for all the books you have collected over the
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you just got your first
chapter book gifted to you by your Godparents this past Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sitting there, watching you read it aloud to
us brings such happiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You read, and
something I didn’t think would come until later, you actually comprehend what
you are reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it comes to a word
you don’t know, you ask us what the word is and if you do not understand what
it means, you ask.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your thirst for
knowledge is awe-inspiring. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Again, five.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Five.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can it be that you are
going to be FIVE?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each passing moment
brings both happy and sad memories, but even the sad ones are mostly laden with
happy sad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Case in point, a happy sad
memory from this past Christmas, Christmas 2015 (happy because you are you and sad because you are growing up way too fast).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This past Christmas might have been the most
fun yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t get me wrong, every
Christmas with you is fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the
first time I think you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really</i> got
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had watched “Santa Claus is
coming to town” many times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You played
and sang songs and pretend you helped out the reindeer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You were really into it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> E</span>very day you looked forward to putting another ornament on the advent tree (although you didn't like to wait and many times we'd have to remove ornaments in teaching you about the Advent season). Then, one of my favorite moments this year happened
on Christmas Eve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was LATE, and you
were still up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had just opened the
present with the book and pajamas inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We quickly changed you into your new pajamas, read the new Christmas book (Mortimer's Christmas Manger), and you told us you were excited and
ready for Santa, he was coming to your house TONIGHT.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then you left the
room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We figured you had gone up to get
ready for bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You came back in the room with your chair,
placed it in front of the fireplace, sat down and told us you were waiting for
Santa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You wanted to talk to Santa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was coming and you would be there
waiting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dada quickly snapped a picture
on his phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You stuck your head in the
fireplace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t help but
smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So incredibly precious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We eventually got you upstairs by telling you
that Santa would not be able to deliver presents to our house if you were not
asleep by midnight, it was already after 11.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You raced upstairs and were asleep within 15 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, such a big happy smile on my face
now just thinking about your excitement. </span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You have so much life in you and I am truly honored to get
to watch you grow and become your own little person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I look forward to writing you more letters
and showing you how wonderful it is to be your mama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A mama who is soon to have a five year
old, still can hardly imagine it's been five years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love you to the moon and back baby girl.</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><em>Mama</em></span></div>
Krystinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05377984000637679430noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131300828314038266.post-208824912268478042015-10-12T12:29:00.003-04:002015-10-12T12:29:54.444-04:00God is with us<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the last several weeks I have felt called to start writing
letters to you again, something I’ve affectionately called “lettering.” I’m not sure why it is so difficult to do but
I actually think it has nothing to do with the actual letter writing itself. In fact, I start several in my head every week! I’m slightly ashamed to say it, it’s a bit of
laziness that I haven’t done it more. It’s
about actually sitting down, taking the time to “Just Do It” as Nike would
say. I know I will continue to fail in
my attempts to write you more letters, to write to you about what you are doing,
who you are and who your family is. But
here’s the kicker, I’ll still try. I may
not write to you as often as I think about it, and I know there are some things
I’ve forgotten to tell you, but I’ll keep trying. I’ll keep writing, even if it’s not as often
as I’d actually like. But I DO want you
to know about your childhood, about our family traditions, and the thoughts I
have being your mommy, some directly pertaining to you and yet others about
things we go through as parents. So, for
the first time in a long while, here goes…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the struggles we have faced over the last four years,
my faith in God has been low. It’s not
that I didn’t believe He was there. I
have always believed in Him, even in my years in High School and College when I
tried to tell myself He wasn’t there, deep down inside, He has always been
calling me and letting me know He was waiting.
And during the past four years, I truly do believe He was doing that
again. Waiting. Waiting on ME, little old me. God has so much more patience than I could
ever comprehend. He has continued to
wait for me to finally start coming around again. I’ve spent the last four years fighting Him,
much like a teenager fights with parents, even when they know deep down their
parents are right. I would yell at Him,
blame Him, and truthfully, curse Him from the top of my voice. And I know there is a good chance I’ll go
through periods like this again. I hope
and pray I don’t and really starting to wonder just how deep my stubbornness
goes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently I started to think about God again, felt His nudging perhaps. “Where are you? I need you.
Why aren’t you here?” are just a couple of things I started thinking,
never mind that I’d been the one who had stop talking and praying to Him. Then one day, I’d just had it. It seemed like EVERYTHING was up in the
air. No answers to anything going
on. I was at my wits end. I remember sitting down, crying, just
exhausted and knowing I could handle no more.
As I sat crying, I felt a tugging.
I’m not really sure how but I stopped to FINALLY listen (see previous
statement above as to how deeply entrenched I am into my own stubbornness). I looked up (I always think of God as being
above ALL) and prayed, truly prayed. “God,
I just can’t do this anymore. I am
lost. I don’t know the answers to
anything. Please, just please close the
doors that need to be closed, and open the ones that are meant to be. Let your will be done.” I repeated those last two lines over and over
in my head. And the very next day, less
than 24 hours later, my prayers were answered.
One door closed and the another door opened. LESS THAN 2 HOURS APART AND LESS THAN 24
HOURS AFTER PRAYING! Just truly let that
sink in a bit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That evening, I sat bewildered, amazed, and loved. I asked, He answered. Is it all the answers I had been looking
for? No.
But He gave me this. I’m still
nervous about the open door. But He is
with me. I have tears about the open
door. But He is with me. We will make this work, somehow, someway
because He is with US.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May God continue to bless us my sweet Miss E. Love,</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Mama</i></span></div>
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Krystinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05377984000637679430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131300828314038266.post-91651601300962512502015-01-31T11:49:00.001-05:002015-01-31T11:53:03.200-05:00You're FOUR!!!Holy Moly! How is it that you are FOUR?! I know parents across the world will agree with me when I say, "Can time just slow down?! Please?!!!" I look forward to watching you grow up but does it have to be so fast?! I realized the other day just how quickly time goes (well, really I've been realizing it since you were born...but I digress). I realized what you call me and more times than not these days, you are calling me "Mom." On occasion you still call me Mommy or Mama, but it's become "Mom" most of the time and it really hit me that you're moving from babyhood, to toddlerhood, to now, childhood. You're growing up much faster than I ever could have imagined.<br />
<br />
In an attempt to get a snapshot of you to "stop time," I found a website that posted a Birthday Questionnaire and thought, "How perfect!" (Here is a link to the <a href="http://www.lansdownelife.com/2012/06/kids-birthday-interview-questionnaire.html" target="_blank">questionnaire</a> I used.) So for your fourth birthday, here are a few items that make you YOU! (smile - names and personal mentions have been removed)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hGzdq6nPUlIc1Jgq5dDNLozhuIOc3Jx-LeH3YYy-i-Wi62T0DsJyxQfic6Nwdh-b4SNd5egq6kMtd96MPVB37vrIaHmqpPLhV_slg8fPCVvQjcaV82vIo6qUuzVXEKPtmvlafmmx1tUA/s1600/Birthday+Questionnaire+-+Evie+Age+4+(cropped).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hGzdq6nPUlIc1Jgq5dDNLozhuIOc3Jx-LeH3YYy-i-Wi62T0DsJyxQfic6Nwdh-b4SNd5egq6kMtd96MPVB37vrIaHmqpPLhV_slg8fPCVvQjcaV82vIo6qUuzVXEKPtmvlafmmx1tUA/s1600/Birthday+Questionnaire+-+Evie+Age+4+(cropped).jpg" height="400" width="373" /></a></div>
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<br />
It was cute doing this with you and I hope to continue doing it with you each year. You are such a silly girl and at first, you were giving us silly answers. Once we played and you figured out how to answer the questions, we had a lot of fun telling stories for each answer. For instance, you do LOVE the songs from Frozen but you LOVE hearing "Shake It Off" come on the radio and dance as much as possible in your car seat. It's so adorable!!! (You say, "Mom! That's my favorite song!") You love to hear stories about yourself, and made up ones too! Just recently you've been asking about me being pregnant with you and your birth story. You also love it (and ask for it often) when we make up stories, most of the time with a princess of the same name as the lead character. Your imagination is really developing and it's so wonderful to hear your beautifully artistic imaginary side!<br />
<br />
But I think my favorite answer is where you want to go on vacation. "L---s house." One, it tells me you don't quite get what the question means and that's ok. Two, and maybe more importantly, it shows us how the simplest of things make you happy, and really, isn't that part of what life should be about? You are content with what you have, what we do, and are truly happy about the littlest of things. (smile)<br />
<br />
Here are some highs (and lows) of who you are, a snapshot of what it's like being you at 3/4:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>You LOVE to play dress-up</li>
<li>You LOVE to sing and dance (asking us to turn on the Ree-deee-ooo with long drawn out vowels)</li>
<li>You are a lover of all things Chocolate - you and Princess Anna do the line in the movie perfectly</li>
<li>You LOVE to color and are getting really good at drawing things to the point I don't have to guess what it is, I know!</li>
<li>You LOVE to read books and have started trying to read them yourself! You read (memorize) Brave - A Mother's Love every day! What a great way to start learning!</li>
<li>You LOVE school</li>
<li>You LOVE adventures - any little thing is an adventure to you and I love it (although we did stop calling them adventures for a while since each time we called it that something not so fun happened but they were still adventures and we found ways to laugh and have fun)</li>
<li>You LOVE all things princess (as seen above, you'd love to be one!)</li>
<li>You LOVE food - there really aren't many foods you don't like and you love to try what everyone is eating but we're still working on you telling us when you are hungry (sometimes you get a little ornery when your energy sources have been depleted he he)</li>
<li>You LOVE to play in your kitchen and make me different meals throughout the day</li>
<li>You LOVE to assist me in the kitchen, grabbing your step-stool and helping me cook</li>
<li>You are VERY expressive, in speech and actions. Not gonna lie when I say I love hearing all your thoughts. You are constantly saying, "That's my favorite (fill in the blank)!" or "You're the best Mom in the whole world!" or "I love you soooo much!" Warms my heart.</li>
<li>With all that excitement, there are lows that can get pretty low and we talk constantly about our feelings to try and work out those lows. You tend to cross your arms and put a very deep scowl on your face. It's still a work in progress. (wink - Daddy even called it being "a card carrying member of exaggerators anonymous for four year olds" he he)</li>
</ul>
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Honey, I love you with all my heart. We have our good days and our not so good days but we are working on it together, constantly improving our relationship and our relationship with others. I so much look forward to helping you grow into a strong, confident woman. I found this picture the other day and it speaks volumes as to what we mothers must remind ourselves when raising our children and I'm trying desperately to "own my role as mother:"</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Image source: <a href="http://thebettermom.com/">thebettermom.com</a>)</span></div>
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I hope and pray you can see just how important you are to me, your mother. I love you always and "Happy birthday my dear four year old!"</div>
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Love,</div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><i>Mom</i></span></div>
Krystinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05377984000637679430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131300828314038266.post-76816573241314808542015-01-08T13:15:00.000-05:002015-01-08T13:23:20.213-05:00A letter to the future me...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I sit here typing, I am listening to the sounds of "Beauty and the Beast" coming from the karaoke machine and you building with your Duplos, sounds that have come to tell me you're happy. I love to just listen. Listen. It tells me so much about you and so much about life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the holidays, we spent a lot of time just being a little family of three. Spent time with family and friends alike, got some of the long outstanding chores done, and overall just had a very relaxing time. During that time, I did quite a bit of reflecting. I listened to my heart and my head and really just tried to figure out what I'm doing. One of those ponderings brought me to thoughts of when I am a Grandmother someday (hopefully). Here are some ramblings of what I might want to say to my future self, a list of do's and don'ts if you will. Ah hem...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Play. Play a LOT with the grandkids. Get on the floor, who cares if your knees are gone, your belly comes out to them, and you cannot get up. There will be help to get off the floor. And lots of laughter to see the spectacle of you trying to get up. (smile) Play lots of games, board games, card games, hide and seek, anything that the kids enjoy. Take them to the zoo, to the park, go with them to parties, meet their friends. The laughter and joy the kids have is the greatest thing to hear and see. (smile)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Listen. Listen to the laughter, the tears, the crazy zany sayings said with such exuberance you cannot stop but laugh and smile yourself. (Unless you're Scrooge - wink) Talk with them to figure out all the little nuances of their brains, help them to understand in a childlike way, get on to their level. Smile, laugh, cry along with them. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Be there. You may not always like some of the parenting styles, no two children are ever really raised the same, even within families. But be there. Be present. If you're working, take time off to spend with family. Spend time with just the kids, just you and the kids. Work will always be there, kids will grow up. Be with them at every stage.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Hugs and kisses. Give LOTS of hugs and kisses. And when they don't want them, be the silliest person you can imagine, they'll come around. Don't take it personally when there are times (and there will be times) when they don't want to come to you. As stated before, get on there level, and just be silly old Grandma.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Create memories and stories from those memories. Laugh about them, tell them often, include them in on the stories. They may not get it now, but someday, they will. I still laugh when I think about the times my Grandmother would pick me up from school for either a basketball practice, or choir, or any such after school activity, and we'd chat in the car ride, talking about the day, funny stories, anything. I really could tell her anything. Be THAT person. (Maybe one day I'll tell you about getting pulled over by a cop, with my Grandmother as the passenger. Yup, that really happened. She never told a soul. (smile))</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-_hCGVQLSILhuJzTyPjbebzuAxnS2HDlPAZ9fQJMj5quiSfJOgugoB0d2e6Q1n-nQJk0lKSDCFhoPjgg9mBWkhv0bTxOpDVAdUc_B9uTNOv4EBqZuU9RsMFjA3dI9s9wXS3jlGdazYWM/s1600/grandma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-_hCGVQLSILhuJzTyPjbebzuAxnS2HDlPAZ9fQJMj5quiSfJOgugoB0d2e6Q1n-nQJk0lKSDCFhoPjgg9mBWkhv0bTxOpDVAdUc_B9uTNOv4EBqZuU9RsMFjA3dI9s9wXS3jlGdazYWM/s1600/grandma.jpg" height="320" width="310" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So many things can be said, and I'm sure I'll want to add more as I get older. Hopefully I'll even remember to write them down. (wink, wink) With all that is said above, just remember to be present. Family comes first. Someday I hope I get a chance to tell just how much you truly mean to me. How much you have changed my life, my thoughts, all for the best. I hope to be able to spend time with you as you hold your little ones, being there, being THAT Grandma.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love you baby,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Mom</i></span>Krystinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05377984000637679430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131300828314038266.post-90629664951682255332014-10-28T18:29:00.004-04:002014-10-29T08:21:30.378-04:00Something that has been bothering me lately....<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There has been so much I have wanted to write to you of late. Things just always get in the way it seems. But there is one thing that continues to plague me, I don't want you to lose your innocence. People have told me that I shouldn't worry, and yeah, I get that. I know as you grow, you will slowly lose some of that innocence, it's part of growing up. Whether it be a bully, or something you hear while shopping, or something you see in a commercial on TV, it will slowly start to "change" you. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I want you to know that I am trying so desperately for you to keep on to that innocence for as long as humanly possible. To do this, I want you to know just how loved you truly are. By me, your Daddy, and most importantly God. We love you and He LOVES you. You are made in His image. It's hard for me to write this. It's something that I have heard over and over of late it seems and I cannot help but think, "How do I teach this to you when I am struggling with this?" All moms have their struggles, and their weaknesses. And so many times, those "imperfections" are placed on our children. Let's admit it. We all do things our parents did that we don't like. We aren't proud (ok, some I think are hilarious and definitely want to pass down), but we all do it. It's hard to hope and pray and think about how do I prevent you from getting some of my most "undesirable traits" and not lose that precious innocence. And the only way I can think of, is to try to teach you about God's love, even when I don't always believe it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lS_jgp0urXM-6mc9zaIjnRbL1lKyxqXx6InqIia66YylwjIKStXKnJLy9zI9lRo9LKuM5daGf7QLqo6QaGoB3kGDSrvjGeo6s4Df8ZjTPHYPpaVeclNWFbMycpgcYidXQZAzu06jw4Tl/s1600/God-doesnt-make-junk-640x404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lS_jgp0urXM-6mc9zaIjnRbL1lKyxqXx6InqIia66YylwjIKStXKnJLy9zI9lRo9LKuM5daGf7QLqo6QaGoB3kGDSrvjGeo6s4Df8ZjTPHYPpaVeclNWFbMycpgcYidXQZAzu06jw4Tl/s1600/God-doesnt-make-junk-640x404.jpg" height="201" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.decortoadore.net/2012/10/day-28.html" target="_blank">Decor To Adore</a>)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I read a blog today (<a href="http://www.thebettermom.com/2014/08/26/teach-children-world-teaches/" target="_blank">Teach Your Children Who They Are, Before The World Teaches Them Who They Should Be</a>) that's been sitting in my inbox for several months, and it spoke to me. She uses bath time as a time to reflect on all the great qualities her children posses. And she TELLS them. It's funny I read this today as I've been trying to tell you of late similar things. Yesterday, you came into my room long before I was ready to get up. We said good morning to each other and you gave me a HUGE hug. I then asked you if you'd like to get in bed with me and cuddle. You were so excited! I have no idea how long we laid in bed, but I know how much I loved holding you, wrapping my arms around you and you asking me to wrap them tighter, asking me if you could put your head to my chest and just lay there. I told you so many wonderful things about you and rubbed your back up, down and back up again over and over. I didn't want it to end. Towards the end, I remember telling you that I hope and pray someday you feel this love I have for you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remember to tell your children all their wonderful qualities. Remember that despite all the feelings you may have inside, you have a father, a mother, and most importantly a God who loves you more than you could ever imagine. Tell your children this often. Keep their innocence. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To quote the blog (and to show just a couple of examples of what to say):</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"You are beautiful."</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"God created you for a special purpose."</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"God has wonderful plans for you."</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I love your caring heart."</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"You have a beautiful smile."</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"God brought you to me ... and I'm thankful."</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We love you with all our hearts baby girl,</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><i>Mommy</i></span><br />
<br />Krystinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05377984000637679430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131300828314038266.post-12574776194451859972014-04-07T15:21:00.000-04:002014-04-07T15:56:27.140-04:00A year ago today...A year ago today, my life changed. I know it changed the moment you came into our world but that moment you had your first seizure, it scared me. I feared losing you and I will never live my life the same because I know in a heartbeat that it could change. Since then, you've had one more seizure and gone through all the testing to confirm what's going on in that little head of yours. All of the tests have come back inconclusive which is good and frustrating at the same time. But great news is that you have not had another seizure since July 2013 and we're hoping and praying that this trend continues! We love you baby girl!<br />
<br />
Here is the letter I wrote to you the day after the seizure. We love you!!!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeRmwyQ4t0-2yBv1ZqWkrS-hbxLSbKWH0yW-qDPVkoSPEWrncJ_OXmcfYu44nmIsu4wUXVSQfCnUb4vlk0pf8e-JW2caeQuvKQz1pePFnOUCiF9WOVqmYWS-vuquxrKQR8EKWt7ia0b6x/s1600/febrile+seizure+2013-04-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeRmwyQ4t0-2yBv1ZqWkrS-hbxLSbKWH0yW-qDPVkoSPEWrncJ_OXmcfYu44nmIsu4wUXVSQfCnUb4vlk0pf8e-JW2caeQuvKQz1pePFnOUCiF9WOVqmYWS-vuquxrKQR8EKWt7ia0b6x/s1600/febrile+seizure+2013-04-07.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>To my baby,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>This past weekend was
one of the scariest experiences of my life, and it also made me realize, life
is much shorter and can change in less than a blink of an eye.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Sunday morning (April
7, 2013), I woke up tired. I was so tired of everything that was going on
and had gone on so far this year. So many illnesses and overall
issues. It was starting to really wear
on me. You woke up, and it was clear, you had a cold. You didn’t
seem to have a fever, but your nose was running and your voice was sounding
very stuffed up. You had started showing
signs of a cold on Saturday so we were ready to keep you home for the day. We talked about what we were going to
accomplish for the day. Daddy had bought
a ton of ready to make cabinets for the garage and we were going to start
organizing the garage so that Daddy could start parking his car in there
too. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The morning started
out normal. Daddy got ready to go to
Mass while you and I played and cleaned (well, Mommy did the cleaning). We all sat down for breakfast and it was the
first time that I can remember you didn’t eat half of your breakfast or
milk. In fact, you pushed them aside and
told us you were all done. First time
you have done that. I just thought you
were learning how hungry you were. So we
played and played and played. You got a
large pink with orange polka dot ball from the Easter Bunny the week prior and
you just love to bounce that ball back and forth, and up and down the
stairs. The giggling we get from doing
this is absolutely priceless. We read
some books and then at 11am, you asked to watch a movie. Your absolute favorite is “Rio” (you
affectionately call it “The Birdies”) and you wanted to watch it but, truth be
told, mommy was getting a little tired of that movie so I convinced you to
watch Tangled (didn’t take much convincing).
There was more to clean but thank goodness, this morning, I decided to
sit and watch it with you.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I was watching
you. Not watching the movie, just
sitting there watching you. I don’t
remember what I was thinking but just knowing how much I love you. You were sitting on the floor (I was sitting
in the rocking chair) watching it when daddy got home from Mass, about 20 minutes
later (thank God he came home when he did).
He went up to change his clothes.
He wasn’t up there 5 minutes when all of our plans for the day
completely changed.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>I remember looking at you and wondering what you were
doing. You were slowly, ever so slowly,
leaning over onto your left side as if you were going to lie down and watch the
movie. Truly that’s what I thought you
were doing. Then, it happened. You started to shake. For less than a millisecond I thought, “What
is she doing?” And just as quickly, I
realized, she’s having a seizure! I ran
over to you, picked you up and instantly started trying to do what I could to
get your attention. Your body was limp,
your eyes open but glazed over and looking down to the right. I bounced you, clapped my hands, snapped my
fingers, did everything I could to try and get to you to focus on me. “Evie!
Evie, look at Mommy! Look at
Mommy Evie!” Over and over and over
again.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Daddy came running down the stairs.
He knew from the tone of my voice that this wasn’t me yelling at you for
being in trouble. I was scared. So scared.
Not sure what to do. He started
to bounce you on his knee facing me as we were still trying to get you to
focus, to come to. You started to close
your eyes. You didn’t want to open
them. With each bounce your eyes would
open only for a second. We felt your
head and you were burning up. We called
911.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>By this point, I was crying. The
911 operator couldn’t understand me. I
had to calm down a bit and thank goodness for her patience to help me. She asked for our address and almost
instantly after giving her the address, I heard the sirens. She kept me on the phone and I could hear her
talking to the EMS telling them there was an unresponsive 2 year old who may
have had a seizure. I ran to the front
door as I heard the sirens very close and sure enough, a cop had blocked our
street in front of our house and was running up the grass to our front door.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>He came in and we ran to you.
Before I knew it, our Great Room was filled with several cops, firemen,
and EMS responders. They kept asking me
what happened. They kept asking you to
look at mommy, lightly pinching your skin on your arm to try and wake you. Daddy was still bouncing you on his knee as
you still wanted to have your eyes closed.
Then, you made one single cry.
You were back! Not fully but that
was the best sound! You continued to try
and close your eyes. The EMS responder
took your temperature. It only read out
100.3 which didn’t make sense as your face was HOT. Your hands and feet were turning purple and
were so cool to the touch. They asked me
if I had any Children’s Motrin or Tylenol in the house. I ran up the stairs, suddenly realizing I was
still in my PJ’s, grabbed them both, and went back downstairs. We gave you some Motrin in the syringe we had
and you clasped your lips around it. It was such a wonderful site for me to
see. You were able to swallow all but
about a quarter of it. Again, a
wonderful you were on your way back moment!
I went and filled your sippy with water and we tried to get you to drink
some water. You were coming to more and
more but you still weren’t completely yourself.
The responders tried to get an oxygen level on your feet but couldn’t so
put it on your finger and found your oxygen level to be very low. The officers suggested we take the EMS to the
ER at <span style="background: black; mso-highlight: black;">T___ ________</span>. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>At that moment, I realized again how “undressed” I was and with Daddy
holding you, ran upstairs, went to the bathroom, got dressed and threw my hair
up in a pony as quickly as I possibly could.
I grabbed you a pair of summer PJ’s, some undies, diapers, and your
blanket. Looking back, I actually
chuckle a bit when Daddy asked me if I wanted you in undies or a diaper. We put you in a diaper (even the responders
said, diaper). There was no way I was
making you potty train today.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Daddy put a diaper on you, and we wrapped you up in your blanket and
headed out to the Ambulance. We got in
there, I sat on the stretcher with you on my lap. You were fighting so hard to sleep when we
all wanted you to stay awake. The EMS
responder told me what they would have to do if you had another seizure on the
way to the hospital. I don’t remember
everything he said, just hoped and prayed we wouldn’t have to have that
(thinking back, he said something about potentially shocking you and it would
have to be through the rectum). He then
placed a blood pressure cuff around your arm, and it squeezed and you let out a
little cry. The fireman who had been helping
us in the house came over to the ambulance and told me everything was going to
be okay. He then told you to get better
and to come see him at the fire station.
He said bye and I looked at you and said “say bye bye” and you turned to
him and said “bye bye.” I think it
melted us all. Your little voice, so
little and so sweet, still not feeling 100%, but you were coming around!<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Once in the ambulance, we got strapped in and took off. I remember sitting on the stretcher seeing our
neighbor’s house in the background (he used another driveway to turn around) as
though it was almost a surreal moment. I
sat there looking at Daddy’s car as he started following us to the ER. I never had really thought about it until
then, but it must be so frightening for people to get transported to the
hospital in that fashion. I realize I
was as secure as could be but that ride was so incredibly bumpy, nothing like
appreciating your own car as well appreciating that you weren’t in potential dire
consequences. As we pulled out onto <span style="background-color: black;">__</span> and then through the
light at <span style="background-color: black;">______</span>, I
hoped and prayed Daddy would be able to stay behind us and not have too much of
an issue. Funny enough (now that the ordeal
is over), Daddy got stuck at that very first light as it turned red while we
went through.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>The ambulance person told us that we would get there in about 5 minutes
and called it in. You were fighting so
hard, trying to stay awake, but the events of the morning wiped you out. You would open your eyes with each bump but eventually,
you succumbed and passed out. The
ambulance person told me that it happens a lot when someone has a seizure. Your body has worked so hard that it is now
exhausted and results in the person “sleeping it off.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>As we headed to the hospital, it was again, surreal, to see all the
cars at the side of the road on <span style="background-color: black;">____</span>, knowing they were pulled over because of the ambulance we
were in. The ambulance person told me
that for the most part, they keep the sirens off as they can disrupt and scare
the passengers. But once we hit that
traffic, he told me they were turning them on to get through that segment. It didn’t bother me one bit, it actually
wasn’t very noisy at all, much nosier in the car when one passes you. I was sitting there, holding you as you
slept, watching you and also watching the cars wondering what they thought of
the person that might be in there (I do this quite often when I see an
ambulance). The sirens went off again as
we turned onto <span style="background-color: black;">_________</span> to get through the busy intersection. We
were almost there.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Once at the hospital, they asked me if I wanted a wheel chair. At first I declined but they both insisted as
it was a long walk and I was still holding onto you. We entered the ER, which was a ghost town as
it had been moved and renovated, hence them saying it would be a long walk. They had recently changed the layout of the
ER and the “new” ER was a bit of a walk away. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Once we got to the ER, they put us in a room right away. The nurses came in the room and immediately
started filling out the patient forms and checking on you. Once they were finished, and the doctor took
a look at you and ordered many tests, and then we sat there, waiting and watching
you. At this point, you had started to
look like your normal self. Color came
back to you and you wanted to play. We
waited for each test, and each test result.
All came back normal. They
checked everything they could. They
looked in your eyes, ears, nose, checked your oxygen levels and your temperature. We had been there for hours and poor Daddy
hadn’t had anything to eat, he was starving, so the nurse told him that he
could go, it would be a while before any further tests or results came in. The nurse then came in to get some blood for
the next test. You cried and I could not
blame you. I felt so helpless, all I
could do was hold you and try to comfort you.
<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>But then she said she wanted to get a urine sample. I give props to all the people who helped us
along the way. This was the only thing
that annoyed and bothered me. She told
me after the fact she could have put a collection diaper on as she was getting
blood because, and no one can blame you, you peed during that process. I’m sure you were scared and it hurt. But the next one hurt more. She ended up putting a catheter in and you
screamed, a blood curdling scream. I
tried so hard not to cry with you. I
held you tight as you were fighting so hard at this point. It hurt and you were uncomfortable. The nurse made a joke about your legs being
so tight and closed that she hoped her teenage daughter would be the same. So inappropriate but I just gave her a quick
smile and continued comforting you.
Daddy came in just as she finished and we all hugged each other, while
you cried. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>We sat there for a few more hours waiting for results. You actually got very comfortable sitting on
Daddy and watched cartoons. It was the
cutest thing to see. Finally the doctor
came in and said they could find nothing.
She was diagnosing it as a Febrile Seizure and explained what that
meant. She comforted us and told us that
as scary as it sounded, some children seem to get them and all those children
outgrow it by the age of 5. I asked her,
could it happen again? She said
yes. Because Evie had had a seizure, she
could be prone to them when she gets a fever.
<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>I am so thankful to have you baby girl.
This was the scariest moment of my life and one I hope not to
repeat. I love you so much.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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Love,<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><i>Mommy</i></span><o:p></o:p></div>
Krystinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05377984000637679430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131300828314038266.post-84850899533616406652014-02-18T10:15:00.002-05:002014-02-18T10:15:20.500-05:00We LOVE Frozen but it "caused" our first meltdown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGs7fmDWHVqcv7iqDRXJtG1q6r7VWEalFsG_diuPUAaLsjwSALkpF1Lbvq5JBbke7F6uRRrUt__BcJ5053SNi-MPYgOOdZHrfvOGterXHxSgIMZrT8Nfsqd0G4DmZ1cYaWtYBrG_rPW3Vs/s1600/Frozen_castposter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGs7fmDWHVqcv7iqDRXJtG1q6r7VWEalFsG_diuPUAaLsjwSALkpF1Lbvq5JBbke7F6uRRrUt__BcJ5053SNi-MPYgOOdZHrfvOGterXHxSgIMZrT8Nfsqd0G4DmZ1cYaWtYBrG_rPW3Vs/s1600/Frozen_castposter.jpg" height="320" width="310" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Photo courtesy of DisneyWiki)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For those that have not see the movie Frozen, know that I do really like the movie. I really don't like when a movie is hyped up as being sooooo good but truth is, I saw the movie, thought it was good, but am now jonesin until it is released. I WANT TO SEE IT AGAIN! (smile)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As for you, Miss E, you also REALLY LOVE the movie! You ask to watch the videos of the songs on YouTube every day, most of the time multiple times per day. Normally, I do oblige. But lately, you've been having some acts of, well, defiance and disobedience. It happens. We all go through our stages of learning who we are. You are three. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But last night, it REALLY happened. You were good all day. The deal was, as long as you were good and had no potty accidents, we would watch the videos before bed. And we did! I loved having you lean up against me, smiling and laughing at the movie (and also covering my mouth telling not to sing - smile). But then IT happened. It was time to head upstairs. You flipped out. You see, lately you haven't been napping which I knew would eventually happen as you got older. I think you've napped once in the last week. So you were extremely tired. But when we told you it was time to head upstairs, you had your first all out kicking legs and scream/crying tantrum. You wanted more Frozen. You didn't want to go to bed. It lasted all the way through potty, teeth brushing, and putting PJ's on. It didn't stop until you were in bed (which was the quickest amount of time we've ever gotten you down). YOU WERE EXHAUSTED. We're not mad that it happened, we just wanted to show you how much we love you. By the time Daddy was done reading, praying, and singing, you were laughing again. But I can now say, you've had your first tantrum meltdown. (smile)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some links to a couple of your favorite songs:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiclbOpHbzB4hSe7K5HVKYDJImo6Bh6voe6__jf7355KUK2TD_iDUt0RuJ358JQWhhjc8suhIHm0K0jFmXtYAQ_rpgNrvPsdUAeJsfS4m3IDCiAIsoPivu5XG-8p25FiNyw0PuYZpjTRS3u/s1600/frozenYoungAE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiclbOpHbzB4hSe7K5HVKYDJImo6Bh6voe6__jf7355KUK2TD_iDUt0RuJ358JQWhhjc8suhIHm0K0jFmXtYAQ_rpgNrvPsdUAeJsfS4m3IDCiAIsoPivu5XG-8p25FiNyw0PuYZpjTRS3u/s1600/frozenYoungAE.jpg" height="141" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQaN59JcRPo&feature=c4-overview&list=UU_4RsWywMaNKzdtjJL1qa4Q">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQaN59JcRPo&feature=c4-overview&list=UU_4RsWywMaNKzdtjJL1qa4Q</a></span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qnxnQDacP9UtUD7lbV1apj7bL8dM_NzQMzAN9lecUFaX-IFhdKakhDENwBXY7vACPd_vwL3pVquA3CN6nrgOGwaFZiGt0cEs8vfdTEfL-D890udppMhTxLbUyDj_usVHTIJ7C_h3Z0BM/s1600/frozen-06-300x156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qnxnQDacP9UtUD7lbV1apj7bL8dM_NzQMzAN9lecUFaX-IFhdKakhDENwBXY7vACPd_vwL3pVquA3CN6nrgOGwaFZiGt0cEs8vfdTEfL-D890udppMhTxLbUyDj_usVHTIJ7C_h3Z0BM/s1600/frozen-06-300x156.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtEk4KMyz9c&list=TLmhFZL_skpfuDQFzru7oOt_mb-YyNzjuI" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtEk4KMyz9c&list=TLmhFZL_skpfuDQFzru7oOt_mb-YyNzjuI</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEiNoK-V7mMMwzyKSSn45OMjxjp3uPV2VTaaVARVjLljemEHs5EPlM4qohiAgNpTbWKXDOOCwvwGcBrGKWZLYFqhzeQMMNpBqQOcLi4cmLA7Ym9VmV9cApcx6WPad4g4j8nSZk8qbS4ccp/s1600/Frozen-17-600x419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEiNoK-V7mMMwzyKSSn45OMjxjp3uPV2VTaaVARVjLljemEHs5EPlM4qohiAgNpTbWKXDOOCwvwGcBrGKWZLYFqhzeQMMNpBqQOcLi4cmLA7Ym9VmV9cApcx6WPad4g4j8nSZk8qbS4ccp/s1600/Frozen-17-600x419.jpg" height="223" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moSFlvxnbgk">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moSFlvxnbgk</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUu7lzMOA2x9-r5UKBSiCSBD5fkJRow7le92SSK5NCQjkEgDSwj4HIk5aqljkk8Yut4wrI-qTO7AVdDIKk0xbr4VMuD2BsRKmw-aTmZaALHE_tCR3wQyId5P6yWwOBxEHXj7GuN7gaZgID/s1600/frozen+fixer+upper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUu7lzMOA2x9-r5UKBSiCSBD5fkJRow7le92SSK5NCQjkEgDSwj4HIk5aqljkk8Yut4wrI-qTO7AVdDIKk0xbr4VMuD2BsRKmw-aTmZaALHE_tCR3wQyId5P6yWwOBxEHXj7GuN7gaZgID/s1600/frozen+fixer+upper.jpg" height="142" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttc3-F0UufE&list=TLHjcZelNyCh6_eBdiuXjJ-AdohD0wmQro">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttc3-F0UufE&list=TLHjcZelNyCh6_eBdiuXjJ-AdohD0wmQro</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love you baby girl!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mom</span>Krystinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05377984000637679430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131300828314038266.post-55277564605281928522014-02-10T11:00:00.001-05:002014-02-10T11:00:50.472-05:00New found creative gene? And a birthday wake-up surprise...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ha! I'm not a "newly" creative person, nor would I really consider myself creative, but with changes that we've made for a better 2014, I've rediscovered, or maybe a better word for it would be, I've implemented creativity back into my life. I'm crocheting again and what's more, I'm trying to do things for you that show you a glimpse into how much Mommy and Daddy love you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To start, I went to the wonderful, cannot be disregarded, <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/kashkut09/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>. As I've said before, I LOVE this site! All the ideas organized in one place the way you want, basically, it's an online pin board. You choose the folder titles, as few or as many as wish. (I have not been compensated by Pinterest, I just REALLY LOVE this site!) And not to be outdone, never underestimate the ideas friends post online. They can be really fun!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Case in point, for your birthday, I wanted to start a new tradition. I wanted to start a birthday wake-up surprise, something different every year, but possibly always including balloons (we'll see how this progresses through the years). So this year, I found this on Pinterest:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yQVWsljnmaviQzgjVCpZnIFI_Z1dChmBroufGj6gVFmmwUcWRElzE8dgGHRxGbVIYuvdyYhmjA2CVreK1M6JuPYhbVAOoDL3PcyjkH0VgeEgCDvPKHC4b7iTiaLFqG7rGuiiqMZBbmbV/s1600/Birthday-Balloons-.1-768x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yQVWsljnmaviQzgjVCpZnIFI_Z1dChmBroufGj6gVFmmwUcWRElzE8dgGHRxGbVIYuvdyYhmjA2CVreK1M6JuPYhbVAOoDL3PcyjkH0VgeEgCDvPKHC4b7iTiaLFqG7rGuiiqMZBbmbV/s1600/Birthday-Balloons-.1-768x1024.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Photo courtesy of <a href="http://organizeyourstuffnow.com/">organizeyourstuffnow.com</a>.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And here's our implementation, and your wonderfully surprised face!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(He he, I think you liked it. - wink)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-buqxIQpQvvfI0X6UkH_fcMlcRzVFs5LawO7e1K65mksgzh7D7y4jFgCmTlJZyvExzjIEMlQiAnQHeF_N50pjpUX0-79gCt00aermAfW2YDj6DT_VdEI52TAiIpffjG2u6pMTESo7Ibtq/s1600/IMG_1438_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-buqxIQpQvvfI0X6UkH_fcMlcRzVFs5LawO7e1K65mksgzh7D7y4jFgCmTlJZyvExzjIEMlQiAnQHeF_N50pjpUX0-79gCt00aermAfW2YDj6DT_VdEI52TAiIpffjG2u6pMTESo7Ibtq/s1600/IMG_1438_1.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second thing I wanted to do was to create your birthday cake. I'm not the best cake decorator but I found this on Pinterest and thought it was perfect as you LOVE M&M's:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOe7pn2dHrIS8QlErDc9fhD0uw6V8wPla3lCW9I3hq7VtYI1AkP86jkp9BEnuQv-se4F6RexeEb15tgP-oWmbAjALqrcCXdEV70wbeBROU6cmz7OwRfwfwa-DHhNchIq5tnXV5Xod0yxHO/s1600/3rd+birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOe7pn2dHrIS8QlErDc9fhD0uw6V8wPla3lCW9I3hq7VtYI1AkP86jkp9BEnuQv-se4F6RexeEb15tgP-oWmbAjALqrcCXdEV70wbeBROU6cmz7OwRfwfwa-DHhNchIq5tnXV5Xod0yxHO/s1600/3rd+birthday.jpg" height="320" width="268" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.artsyfartsymama.com/">www.artsyfartsymama.com</a>.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Knowing that there was no way I was going to be able to make this and do your request of a chocolate cake and cupcakes with blue frosting (you were quite insistent I might add - smile), I came up with this and am pretty proud of it:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdI8juDve-qmo3Lt7gaCESsizkC9DXgyA33OVaUvs9JwPj8cz0lFUvoJhJ91lq4WbHaffAmaUwdrs1E7_G_fnYUmquFGRhwRkwcAoBiULfIy1auqpQYsrzJJO7vynk0wRltrOZWF7-kBe/s1600/FB+birthday_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdI8juDve-qmo3Lt7gaCESsizkC9DXgyA33OVaUvs9JwPj8cz0lFUvoJhJ91lq4WbHaffAmaUwdrs1E7_G_fnYUmquFGRhwRkwcAoBiULfIy1auqpQYsrzJJO7vynk0wRltrOZWF7-kBe/s1600/FB+birthday_1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yup. There you have chocolate cake and cupcakes, blue frosting and your favorite candy, M&M's. I used a new recipe called <a href="http://www.kevinandamanda.com/recipes/dessert/the-best-chocolate-cake.html" target="_blank">The Best Chocolate Cake</a> from a friend, and will be honest, I will ALWAYS make this cake if I have a request for Chocolate Cake. It was FABULOUS!!! I used half the batter to make the cake (basically is just one layer of the cake) and then used the rest for the cupcakes. Worked out perfectly!!! I also used the recipe for the frosting, with some minor adjustments (I always half the vanilla extract and add the other half with almond extract - never use imitation, the real is SO much better), added blue food coloring and VOILA! MAGNIFIQUE!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was so much fun celebrating your birthday! You had fun, helped me make the cake, and you are starting to really remember the moments and tell us stories about what happened! You are growing into such a great person and I love watching you learn with each moment!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Again, happy birthday to my little Miss E!!!</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mom</span></i>Krystinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05377984000637679430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131300828314038266.post-76801413977089990112014-01-27T15:14:00.001-05:002014-01-27T15:14:04.452-05:0036 reasons why you're the coolest kid we know!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the past 10 days I have been trying to think of a way to tell you how much we love you. I could write letters over and over to you about all the cool things you do! This age is so much fun! I know I say that every time you enter a new phase, but in all seriousness, each age has it's wonderful perks! So I sat down with Daddy and we decided to make a list of 36 reasons why you are a really cool three year old (and believe me, the list could have been a lot longer! - smile):</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everything you say and do is filled with excitement! You over exaggerate what you are feeling at the time and think everything is, in your words, "Super Cool!" Love it!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"M" is a place for food. - You LOVE McDonald's and have called it "M" once you realized the Golden Arches made the shape of an "M." (Coincidentally, we only went to Little Caesar's once to pick up pizza but you know that it's a pizza place!)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Continuing to talk about food, you LOVE M&M's. I think you'd be perfectly happy to only eat them, well, only have chocolate of any kind. You LOVE chocolate! But what is even cuter? You add an extra "M" when you ask if you can have an M&M. "Can I get an M&M&M?" (smile)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You've started saying a phrase that, let's be honest, we laughed so hard the first time you said it so now you say it all the time. "What's the hub-bub, Bub?" Love it!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You say "cool" as if it is a two syllable word, "cool-wl." (smile - and confession time, I think I say it the same way too - smile)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You received a CD/karaoke player on your birthday from Grammy and you love to play music on it daily. But, it's taken you a while to call it a karaoke machine. You heard "washing machine" and it was so cute when you'd ask us if you could play with your "washing machine." (smile - Coincidentally, you've done that in the past as well. The microwave you used to call the microphone.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the way home from church, we pass by Buscemi's and you wave hi to the "hot dog" (it's actually a sub - smile) sign. You've since learned that it is the place more often than not that we will buy pizza and now you ask for pizza every time you see the sign!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once we are in the subdivision, you get very excited and say, "Oh Mister Beeee-aaaaar!" In the fall, a neighbor two houses down puts out a University of Michigan blow up bear and you just LOVE that bear! Sadly, they didn't do so well this past Fall so he ended up hibernating a little earlier than usual. You asked where he was and Daddy told you he must be in the pumpkin patch. Then it was the Christmas tree lot. Now you make up stories as to where he might be! LOVE IT!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Speaking of Christmas, you LOVED Christmas decorations! You were sad to see them go and have asked almost every day since when do we get to put Christmas decorations back up. (smile)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You are becoming very independent! You want to do everything "by myself." Sometimes you have success, other times not, but I do try and leave plenty of time for you to try it "by myself."</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Can I too?" has also become a huge phrase in this house. You want to do everything that Mommy and Daddy are doing!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the same subject, you LOVE to help cook and/or bake! You like to see how the batter looks when we add the items, but the funniest, and maybe the cutest part, is you SMELL the batter at each step. Sometimes you even smell the ingredients before they are put in the batter (which resulted in a funny incident once with cocoa powder when you accidentally blew instead of sniffed - cocoa all over your face)!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You have recently discovered sock lint in between your toes. You say, "There's bugs in my toes!" and proceed to get the lint out, by yourself. (smile)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your running is by far the cutest running I think I have ever seen. You LOVE to run and when you do, you run with your whole body. And usually that means you are also on your tip toes! I hope to get it on film someday soon! It is wonderful to watch you run!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Speaking of running, you have created games that involve running! You LOVE to play chase and run around the circle on the inside of the house! Sometimes, we don't even have to actually chase you! You ask us to count the laps with you! You even ask us to keep counting so you can do more laps!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another running game you do is you come up to Daddy and say, "Who's that over there?!" Daddy then says that to you and points, you look in the direction he's pointing, and he takes off, with you laughing and giggling chasing him all over the house!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many times while playing, we end up having a monster chasing us! One time, you said that and we hid under the covers, away from the monster. Now, each time a monster is chasing us ("Oh no! It's a monster!"), you have to run and hide under a blanket on the couch.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Speaking of hiding, you aren't so good at it. (giggle) You like to hide but then when we are looking for you, you giggle constantly and end up coming out of your hiding place! Cutest thing!!!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You love to hide but they tend to be in the same places. (smile) Most of the time, your hiding places are your closet in your bedroom or the pantry in the kitchen. (smile - I'm sure they will change as you get older.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another game you've "invented" is whenever Daddy is laying on the floor, you want to "flip daddy over like a pancake" or squish and walk on his back. It's so cute!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You're imaginative play is really kicking into high gear and I cannot help but smile and be happy/sad at the same time. You are now spending a lot of your time playing by yourself in your playroom. It is so fun to listen to you play! (Just stay this little okay? - wink)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You also LOVE to play pretend! When it's the three of us playing, you like to pretend you are Roo, I am Kanga, and Daddy is Tigger! And let's face it, Daddy does a great impersonation of Tigger! "The wonderful things about Tigger's, is Tigger's are wonderful things! Their tops are made of rubber, their bottoms are made of springs. They're bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy, fun fun fun fun fun. The wonderful thing about Tigger's, is I'm the only one!"</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most of your stuffed animals or toys that did not have names when given to you, still don't have names. (smile) Puppy is still "puppy" while kitty is "kitty" most of the time but, sometimes you call him "Mr. Cat." But the cutest one is the baby doll you got on your second birthday. It was dressed all in pink but you insisted that HIS name was Johnathan Xander, named after two boys you had in class with you at the time. (smile) Crushes start early don't they?! (wink)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And while on the subject of dolls, for some reason, your dolls are ALWAYS naked. The first thing you do with them is take their clothes off! Ha! (Funny thing is, Daddy and I found a box of my old dolls in the basement this past weekend. You guessed it. They were naked too! - smile)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You love to play "The Opposite Game." Most times, if I start shaking my head yes, you shake your head no and then when I shake my head no, you shake your head yes. Giggling ensues and we laugh and laugh. (smile)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your sillies are at an all time high! One of the games you like to play is the "Does this say this?" and you say "NOOOOO!" For instance, "Does a dog say moo?" "NOOOOO!" said with a huge smile and laughter. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You have also become quite the negotiator. Ten more minutes, 5 more pages, 3 more times, and so on and so forth. (smile)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You have been doing great on the potty for quite some time now! You have your accidents every now and then but overall, you are doing wonderfully!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Potty is a word that might be said over 50 times each day, no kidding. But one of the funny ways we got you to be very successful in potty training, is one time we offered to read you a book to get you on the potty. Well, that made you VERY happy and now, every time you go to the potty, you MUST have a book. We now say, "Let's go get a book and go on the potty!" (smile) You also like to pick out which book is to be read on the potty. You pick it out, and then hold it high in the air on the way to the potty, just like the gospel is raised high in the air at Mass! LOVE!!!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This past November, we removed the front railing of your crib to help you transition into a big girl bed. You have been doing great! We have no "safety" on the crib (you're only a few inches off the floor) and you have only fallen out once! You love your new freedom!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With this new freedom, most days we no longer get you out of bed, you get yourself up! You get up, come to our door, slowly open it, and say "Good morning!" always with puppy and kitty in tow. Shh, sometimes we even let you in our bed. (smile)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sillies are at an all time high at bedtime. You laugh and giggle and do everything to make the bedtime routine as long as possible. Currently, the routine consists of bath, potty, pj's, diaper, comb hair, brush teeth, read story, say prayers, sing a song, hug and kiss, then hail Mary. Phew. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During this routine, you sometimes run off and laugh! One of the things you love to do is run your fingers down the spokes of the railing in the Galley. It's "music" to your ears and you love to "make music." (smile)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the special things about bedtime is that is time for just Daddy and you. Sometime during your routine, you stop and ask to say goodnight to me. I come up the stairs, stop at the top step and hug you. You go limp, I lay you on the floor and you look up at me, moving my hair out of your face, and smiling ask, "How did you grow so big?" LOVE this!!!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This past October, we lost our kitty, Reese. I had had him for over 15 years and it broke me to say it was time for him to go. He really wasn't a healthy kitty. That day, we spent a lot of time petting and saying our goodbyes to him. You saw me cry a lot that day and came with us to the doctor. I didn't let you in the room during but we told you that he was staying with the doctor. You still ask about "Reesie." "I miss Reesie. He's at the doctor. We should go and pick him up." I love your love of animals.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lastly, and truly I could say so much more about you and your personality right now, but I'll end on this note. Lots of people give you compliments which truly warms my heart. But I have to stop myself from laughing when I hear your response to them. Instead of saying, "Thank you!" you look matter of factly up at them and say, "Yes." or "I know." Cracks me up every time! I have to force myself to tell you to say "Thank you" which you do, but that first reaction out of your mouth is so priceless!</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are so many many reason we LOVE you baby girl! I could go on and on and on. But now that I've mentioned some items that make you you, here are just a few of the things you love:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">books (first love and honestly, I hope you always love your books!)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">princesses</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">movies - Rio, Despicable Me, Tangled and many other Disney movies</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">episodes - Daniel Tiger, Super Why, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Cat in the Hat</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">playing dress up (already wearing Rapunzel's "high heals" at three!)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">puppy and kitty (they go every where with you)</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I look forward to seeing where your life is headed! Happy birthday to my now THREE year old!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love,</span></div>
<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Mom</i></span>Krystinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05377984000637679430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131300828314038266.post-25564269020166867822014-01-13T14:08:00.001-05:002014-01-13T14:30:30.152-05:00Monday Munchies!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With our new found "Year of Change" in full swing, we experimented this weekend with some new foods and some oldies but goodies!!! All without having to go to the grocery store! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Photo courtesy of CookingClassy.com)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Saturday you and I worked together to bake Banana Cake. Now, it may sound crazy to make a cake so close to your birthday which is not for your birthday, but here's the story as to why. (smile) We had two leftover bananas that were over ripe and ready for making Banana Nut Bread. But on Friday, I found <a href="http://www.cookingclassy.com/2013/05/banana-cake-with-whipped-cream-cheese-frosting/" target="_blank">this</a> recipe for Banana Cake with Fluffy Cream Cheese Frosting on CookingClassy.com. Daddy took one look at this recipe and really wanted it. We put it up to a vote. It was a tie! You voted for Banana Nut Bread (you LOVE mama's Banana Nut Bread) and he voted for the cake. So we compromised that the next time we had over ripe bananas we'd make the bread and this time we'd make cake. Saturday morning we woke up and made this cake. It was so much fun having you help me and you definitely wanted to help! The only "substitution" we did is the recipe called for four ripe bananas or about 1 1/2 cups. We only used two and personally, I think if we had used four, it would have been too much banana. (smile) You licked the paddle while the cake baked and once baked, we allowed it to cool. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The batter was delicious so I knew I was in trouble. (wink) </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After dinner I frosted the cake with the frosting recipe listed and we had some cake. It is wonderful! I'm not sure I've had Banana Cake before but we'll definitely be making it again! In Daddy's words, it's the banana's version of carrot cake PERFECTION! Truly yummy!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Photo courtesy of Pillsbury.com)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For dinner that evening (before the luscious Banana Cake), we made <a href="http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/mojo-black-bean-chicken-pizza/98953e80-dcdb-4c78-8e53-ac2f86d8124a" target="_blank">this</a>, Mojo Black Bean-Chicken Pizza. We've made it before so we knew it would be a big hit. This time I did a little tweaking and what we thought was a perfect mediterranean type pizza became even more perfect! Neither I nor Daddy thought that was possible but it indeed was! For the marinade, we used parsley instead of cilantro (I'm just not a fan of cilantro) and added two cloves (very large cloves I might add) of garlic. For the chicken, we thawed a chicken breast, cut it into bite sized pieces, and pan cooked it in Zesty Italian Dressing (no oil, just dressing). It was AWESOME! And what's neat, it's only 290 calories per slice!!! Yipee! A fairly "healthy" way of still eating pizza! YUM!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Photo courtesy of TastyAndTellBlog.com)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I felt like I was on a cooking roll! I hadn't cooked/baked so much in a LONG time. So when I woke up early Sunday morning, I was ready to cook some more. Since it was officially your birthday week and you were not yet awake, I decided to surprise you with a Sunday breakfast. I knew I had wanted to make chocolate chip pancakes but had no idea what recipe to use. So I went searching and found <a href="http://www.tasteandtellblog.com/whole-wheat-oatmeal-chocolate-chip-pancakes/" target="_blank">this</a> Whole Wheat Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Pancake recipe. It was fantastic! I made it exactly as printed, no substitutions, well almost. (wink) I did not have mini chocolate chips, next time, I'll make it with mini chocolate chips. Daddy said these pancakes tasted just like Cholocate Cake. They were a hit and I will definitely be making them again. The only thing I "might" change is the actual flour I used. The whole wheat flour we have does have a bit of an after taste so I'm thinking of looking for a different brand. But all in all, a HUGE hit and a new family recipe!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I cannot wait to see what other things we decide to make this year! Continuing on in our year of change!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Mom</i></span></div>
Krystinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05377984000637679430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131300828314038266.post-63477888102395058772014-01-10T13:58:00.003-05:002014-01-10T13:58:51.279-05:002014: A Year of Changes<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before I begin writing my thoughts on this, I must first apologize to you Miss E for not keeping up with all the happenings and everything you've done over the last several months. I have lots of pictures but I have failed in my intentions to write you multiple letters. However, with each failure there is success, and I will continue to strive to write to you as often as I can. (smile)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I try not to be the Debbie Downer type, but admittedly, last year was one of the hardest years of my life. There were illnesses, surgeries, deaths, fertility problems, the list goes on and on. Knowing we were about to start a new year, we wanted to make it a fresh new beginning. And thus our "Year of Changes" was born.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Photo courtesy of damndelicious.net)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First change to make in this year is to improve our overall health. We have changed how we are eating. No more eating out (well, trying to limit that to only once a month), taking our vitamins daily, and try to use every morsel of food by either more preparation or more canning, etc. For instance, in December we made a turkey and a ham and received a second ham bone. We now have a TON of stock! First time in my life making it and I was shocked at how easy it was! I made <a href="http://damndelicious.net/2013/12/25/leftover-hambone-soup/" target="_blank">Leftover Hambone Soup</a>, then froze three 2/3 full quart sized Mason jars of hambone stock and we have four quarts of <a href="http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2013/11/27/how-to-make-turkey-stock-recipe/" target="_blank">Turkey Stock</a>! (Now, for those of you reading this, go, run over to Brown Eyed Baker's blog! Her recipes have never let me down!) I'm excited to see what foods we will come up and prepare!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Photo courtesy of lifehacker.com)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Second change we're making is to become a "Green" (or at least greener) family. Some may say I'm just a little too much of a tree hugger as it is, well, you may see an increase this year. (smile) This year, we plan to use up our household cleaners and also try to use more environmentally safe products. I see me, baking soda and white distilled vinegar becoming great pals. (smile) Already today, I descaled my Keurig using <a href="http://afewshortcuts.com/2013/01/when-your-keurig-doest-make-a-full-cup-how-to-clean-your-keurig/" target="_blank">this</a> technique and then cleaned my shower head using <a href="http://lifehacker.com/5906391/tie-a-bag-of-vinegar-around-your-shower-head-for-easy-no+effort-cleaning" target="_blank">this</a> technique. IT WORKED!!! And I had to do practically nothing, no scrubbing what so ever. AWESOME!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Third change is a huge challenge, but one that must be met with vigor and success, and we WILL be successful. Since this will be my first full year as a stay at home mom, we will be pinching as many pennies as we can. Some call it being more fiscally responsible or frugal, others, call me cheap. (smile - you know who you are and I hold no ill will) This doesn't mean we won't do things, and have fun. Our attempt is to be much more frugal about it and knowing what everything costs. Step one, I'm signing us up for Mint.com. (gulp)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Baby L on his first day in this world)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are more changes, challenges and fun times ahead in 2014. I will be getting to be a nanny again to my newest nephew, Baby L! I look forward to watching how Miss E gets to play big sister to her cousin. We are also planning a few camping trips for the summer and even trying to think of what we should do for our FIVE year anniversary in October (cannot believe it has been five years already - any suggestions as to what to do?). The possibilities are limitless and I cannot wait to make this year our own.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Doing all of these changes will help us to be better parents, be a better family, and to have an overall better view on life. So many times people are weighed down by the things they see on Facebook, or the items pinned on Pinterest, and believe they just aren't doing enough and their child/ren will suffer. I am not the first to say this, but you are doing what you can and that makes you a great mom. I am not a Pinterest crafty mom. But I do what I can. And I have to have confidence in that, something that has been lacking over the past year or so. I read <a href="http://findingjoy.net/why-being-mom-is-enough/" target="_blank">this</a> blog this morning and it talks of being a good enough mom. I could not agree more and I will strive each and every breath to remember that I am enough.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love you so much sweetheart,</span><br />
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Mom</i></span>Krystinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05377984000637679430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131300828314038266.post-71103813079982640462013-09-23T14:15:00.003-04:002013-09-23T14:15:55.425-04:00Our New Adventure,<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">With all the events that have transpired this year, the hardest and easiest decision made was that changes were needed. We needed to break the cycle of this year. So with that in mind, the first change we made was for me to become a stay at home mommy with you! To say that I am nervous and excited is an understatement but what's good is I am more excited than nervous. (smile) I have begun to look for different things we can do together while I am home. Some are fun play activities such as play groups and MOPS, while others are learning tools with lots of of free homeschooling preschool items available online! I tease Daddy we just need to buy stock in paper and printer ink. (smile)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am so excited to watch you grow and learn and hope and pray that our time together will be a time we look back on and appreciate. I love you so much my baby girl!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(PS...Yes I keep changing how I spell my name and what I use - smile. For now, you keep calling me Momma and I just like the way this looks! Stay tuned!)</span>Krystinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05377984000637679430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131300828314038266.post-3512297068224558872013-08-22T12:49:00.002-04:002013-08-22T12:49:59.721-04:00Struggling with Secondary Infertility<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This post is a long time in the making. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Do I make a "blog post" about
it? Do I continue to keep it bottled inside? Do I share this, our most
precious struggle, the struggle that has brought me to and from and to
God again? </span>I have been trying to think about how to write this and have written and rewritten this so many times. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For those who have not experienced this, it's the most significant part of our life. And, it has been for 2 years. Yes, you read that right, we've been struggling with this for 2 years. It may seem silly to some that this would impact our lives in every aspect, but the fact remains, it does. When Miss E was born, we were so overwhelmed with the love that we suddenly had for her, we knew that we wanted her to have siblings. We've had that on our hearts and minds since she was born (okay, maybe not the first six weeks but pretty close). This is our calling. We never thought we would be going through this as it only took us 6 months to conceive her and that was with one month being a miscarriage!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Fast forward to now, and we don't have any siblings for her. Not one. That is why it's called secondary infertility. When you already have a child or children but then have a problem or problems that cause infertility, it's called secondary infertility. But it's not due to a lack of trying though. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This desire has consumed our lives. Yes, consumed. Are we happy for others who are having kids all the while we are struggling for more? Yes. However, we still hurt. We ache. We want it so much. Not just for ourselves, but for Miss E. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Fact remains, infertility sucks. Period. It's as blunt as that. It doesn't matter when it happens, whether you're still trying for your first baby or trying to get a second, third, fourth, or sixth baby. It just plain sucks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Fertility issues can be from either the mother or the father. The mother may have endometriosis, a blocked fallopian tube, eggs that have matured beyond her age, not produce the hormones to allow a baby to implant, or she may have an inhospitable uterus. The list goes on and on. The father may not have the proper motility for the sperm to go where they need to be, or the sperm may not be shaped properly, or he may not have any sperm at all! The point is, it doesn't matter which category or multiple categories you fall into, it hurts to know that you're trying everything you can in order to have the most precious of all gifts, a beautiful baby.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is a huge emotional, painful journey. I found a website that best described it in my opinion, "<i>The pain is similar to the grief over losing a loved one, but it is unique because it is a recurring grief</i>." Here is the <a href="http://resolve.org/" target="_blank">website</a> that I have been frequenting that has helped tremendously through this struggle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I write this post to give an insight to all we have been going through and are currently going through on top of what has already been posted. Please know I do not mean to hurt anyone in writing this. I am unsure as to where this journey will end but am asking for your prayers during this time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">God bless,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Krystin</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">PS...<a href="http://www.resolve.org/support-and-services/for-family--friends/infertility-etiquette.html" target="_blank">Here</a> is a good insight on infertility etiquette. Please feel free to pass this on to others who may be struggling in a similar way. Many thanks.</span>Krystinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05377984000637679430noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131300828314038266.post-48813004870596108332013-08-20T10:26:00.002-04:002013-08-20T10:26:34.436-04:00Disney DVD Giveaway!<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oh my goodness! I saw this and knew I just had to submit my entries for this. Miss E would love to get a package like this! It's a Disney DVD Giveaway! Take a look and enter for your chance to win!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9DMjKFxmfbHD-vJSHf0YlYaYhg8RTlIAvBkdWsIdAA5tCoj0JR3K4c5AZLDprkNp3-hUpHgPwQf0lqxJW-DE68-I5R0PuVy4BAvakCcZPpFOMRwGq-wamKKJs2bf83RVG20Az44_5c83/s1600/Disney+Movie+Pack+Giveaway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9DMjKFxmfbHD-vJSHf0YlYaYhg8RTlIAvBkdWsIdAA5tCoj0JR3K4c5AZLDprkNp3-hUpHgPwQf0lqxJW-DE68-I5R0PuVy4BAvakCcZPpFOMRwGq-wamKKJs2bf83RVG20Az44_5c83/s1600/Disney+Movie+Pack+Giveaway.jpg" height="320" width="309" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1 winner will receive a Disney Movie Pack Bundle worth over $260! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Titles included are:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Return To Neverland</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oliver and Company</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Sword in the Stone</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Robin Hood</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Muppets Movie</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Super Buddies</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Go here for your chance to enter! <a href="http://thelinkfairy.com/disney-blu-ray-movie-pack-giveaway/">http://thelinkfairy.com/disney-blu-ray-movie-pack-giveaway/</a></span>Krystinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05377984000637679430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131300828314038266.post-28687917547670678682013-08-16T10:05:00.004-04:002013-08-16T10:05:54.633-04:00Disney Princess Magazine!<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am so excited!!! LivingSocial is having a deal today on 5 different magazines for kids! So I just ordered you the Disney Princess magazine for a year! I cannot wait to see your expression when you see that you got mail and it's one of your loves, Disney! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Check it out for your kiddos! </span><br />
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<a href="https://www.livingsocial.com/deals/796822-1-year-subscription-to-a-disney-magazine?rpi=129323640&rui=33568074&ref=share-fb-post&rfui=1421285198">https://www.livingsocial.com/deals/796822-1-year-subscription-to-a-disney-magazine?rpi=129323640&rui=33568074&ref=share-fb-post&rfui=1421285198</a>Krystinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05377984000637679430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131300828314038266.post-31651643918205561032013-08-14T11:09:00.000-04:002013-08-14T11:09:07.087-04:00Wednesday sillies!<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After all the heaviness of this past week's activities, we thought it was time for us all to have some fun this weekend. And what better way to have fun than to go to Nanny and Pappa's house to celebrate Daddy's birthday!!! Here is a photo montage of our funfilled weekend:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">First off, here is my first attempt at putting your hair in pig tails! You love it! You play with them constantly (yes, resulting in me putting them back in over and over again, but hey, it's helping me learn how to do them more quickly! - smile)! Tell me you don't smile when you see this picture?! How could you not?! (smile)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The first part of celebrating a birthday is to make Daddy a cake! Here you are making the cake and smelling it! Ha ha! (smile) You love to smell all the food we prepare before cooking it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And here's the final product! I found a <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/83809243038760566/" target="_blank">tutorial</a> on Pinterest on how to do this to the batter and it worked (even worked with making some minor changes)! I will definitely be trying this again! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And who has a birthday celebration without games! Here you are playing Chutes and Ladders with Daddy for the first time! Okay, truth is you didn't actually get through the entire game but you ask to play it almost every day! I think we have a little gamer on our hands. (smile)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Could not resist this! You're going in to take your turn! You're getting so big so fast! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next stop, Nanny and Pappa's. And since you are my little tomato, we had to make a stop and pick some of Nanny and Pappa's tomatoes from their garden:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here is a nice red one Nanny! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Look, I got it off the branch!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yum! Down the hatch! (smile - plus I cannot help but laugh at the leaf in front of your eye - snicker) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And what's a sunny Summer day without some pool fun! SPLASH!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> You absolutely LOVE the water! Look at that smile!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And lastly, time to celebrate Daddy's birthday with a birthday cake decorated by none other than YOU!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sneaking a lick of frosting:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75axmKHYtSFEwXHpPRmYleerLL_sYzlxQsOJ0_9BBuhy06LvxNoUtgsCbiSxyp8EbtRL1t3W7wUqqE6Y9t-uYFoumqGK_Favwg6FBrPeZKnFlM00YQl0EYY9QL-7JiUWzNViOvgfHygf4/s1600/IMG_5179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75axmKHYtSFEwXHpPRmYleerLL_sYzlxQsOJ0_9BBuhy06LvxNoUtgsCbiSxyp8EbtRL1t3W7wUqqE6Y9t-uYFoumqGK_Favwg6FBrPeZKnFlM00YQl0EYY9QL-7JiUWzNViOvgfHygf4/s1600/IMG_5179.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Decorating like a pro! Cannot wait to see your Christmas Cookie decorations this year! My little artist. (smile) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Who could resist licking the whisk?! Not this little girl. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Daddy getting in on some of the frosting action. Love that you both have your tongues sticking out! (smile) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5qSy4SrbcTzkcgeT7Xu5noMuCdrKc_2dxhsHoBEhFluEsxjz6KJ_uCBWoLvJ2EyV2PyAM3U-n6dgHjjQm4lfkDoSCVZw4vgqzTxYbEMDmVni68Yc_8MdcGoDI1PulfftwWPRmMWPyIob/s1600/IMG_5270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5qSy4SrbcTzkcgeT7Xu5noMuCdrKc_2dxhsHoBEhFluEsxjz6KJ_uCBWoLvJ2EyV2PyAM3U-n6dgHjjQm4lfkDoSCVZw4vgqzTxYbEMDmVni68Yc_8MdcGoDI1PulfftwWPRmMWPyIob/s1600/IMG_5270.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A fun day had by all! Love this cheesy grin!!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Happy birthday Daddy!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: orange;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mommy</span></i></span></span></div>
Krystinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05377984000637679430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131300828314038266.post-8021858176320268062013-08-12T12:47:00.001-04:002013-08-12T12:47:52.680-04:00EEG Appointment<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thursday was one of those days in a mom's life where she won't forget a single detail. A time when her baby is at the doctor's office and being prepped for some testing (or surgery in other people's cases). It's hard to decide where to start your story of that day so I've decided to start the night before (and it is long). Here is the story of your EEG Appointment:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In order to do the testing, we were told you have to have around 4-5 hours of sleep the night before. That was it. We were both a little concerned as to how well you would handle that but knowing you, I was pretty sure it wouldn't be too difficult to keep you up. We got home from School around 5 pm and you immediately wanted to watch "The Birdies," a.k.a. <i>Rio</i>. I figured, why not? It would post pone you having dinner until later on in the evening. So <i>Rio</i> it was. Dada and I had a pretty good notion as to what movies and in what order you'd want to watch them. And man, we know you kiddo because we were dead on! (smile)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We ordered some pizza and played and laughed and gave you a nice long bath. You LOVE your bath time. Lately, you've been in your baths an hour and you still don't want to stop to actually go to bed. (smile) You were playing in your bath when we got a phone call. Nanny and Pappa were on their way over to see you, play with you, and help keep you up. SCORE! So we quickly washed up and while we were finishing, they showed up! I got you out of your bath and headed to the landing on the stairway with you bundled up in your elephant towel. You were so excited to see them! "It's Nanny! It's Pappa!" But then you did something hilariously unexpected. You tried to "roar" like an elephant! How I wish I could get that on camera. You were after all in your elephant towel so you were an elephant! You shook your head down, raised your nose quickly and made this higher pitched noise through clenched lips. SO CUTE!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We got you all dried off and you went down to play with Nanny and Pappa in your playroom. You showed them your new book (which I will describe in another post - it's so much fun!), played ball, showed them your color pegs and pages, and then read book upon book upon book. Once it got to be about 10 pm, Nanny and Pappa decided it was time to head home. All of us adults were getting tired and yawning but not you! You were ready to keep playing! In an attempt to help move you along, I asked you if you wanted to watch another movie. You yelled "YES!" in such an excited voice as if to say, "Really?! I get to watch another movie?!" (smile) Yes, you get to watch another movie kiddo. You immediately choose "The Girls" (<i>Despicable Me</i> - smile) and ran to sit down on the couch, almost forgetting to say goodbye to Nanny and Pappa. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Oh so tired:</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mama rubbing your leg as you hold my hand: </span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1y0maYp9WdiOZ-mr_M8m66UrnC4rV9PeWbq-_t8kM35IY7GQTyDFsPDXzwP7d2KT4FbbU5BSlZZoI6dF5YdwS1txHUGULc_rxa2IS-Z4INl19h9zzvFJBTTDyNzsGkWKYdeM6-qzR7tfb/s1600/Oh+so+tired+08-07-2013+holding+hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1y0maYp9WdiOZ-mr_M8m66UrnC4rV9PeWbq-_t8kM35IY7GQTyDFsPDXzwP7d2KT4FbbU5BSlZZoI6dF5YdwS1txHUGULc_rxa2IS-Z4INl19h9zzvFJBTTDyNzsGkWKYdeM6-qzR7tfb/s1600/Oh+so+tired+08-07-2013+holding+hands.jpg" height="210" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We watched the movie through to the ending credits (you like to dance during credits and I LOVE that) and it was just after 11:30pm. We needed to keep you up two more hours. So, another movie it was. This time, we watched <i>Tangled</i>. Well, you and Dada watched it. Mama tried to go to sleep for a few hours. Someone had to drive all of us to the appointment bright and early the next day. (I fight myself to think about how much TV watching we let you do that day - Mama guilt can be so strong - but it was a special occasion hopefully not to be repeated.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Once <i>Tangled</i> was over, it was finally a good time to put you to bed. Your poor exhausted self did not want to go to bed. You were spent but you did not want to stop watching movies. So at 1:30 am, I awoke to you crying. I gave you a hug and kiss, Dada put you to bed and you were sound asleep almost instantly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Part of the issue with keeping you up and having you get so overtired is that you do NOT sleep well. So at 3:30 am you awoke in tears. We went to your room and helped you get back to sleep. But then at 5:30 am, the same thing happened and you were up for the day. You were crying and crying and crying, almost inconsolable. I hated seeing you that way. So, we finally got you calmed down enough to ask you if you wanted to go downstairs and have breakfast. Through tears you said, "I want some breakfast." So we went downstairs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You ate about half of your breakfast when you just didn't want it anymore. You asked to go watch another movie. Knowing we both had to get ready in the next 45 minutes, we put in another movie. (Please don't judge.) This time, you wanted to watch <i>Cars</i>. But you were still so tired you could not concentrate on the movie. You wanted to be held, you'd cry. I felt so horrible for you. When we turned off the movie, you went back to your breakfast and wanted to eat more. Mistake for leaving it out on my part. So you cried and cried when we picked you up and put you in the car. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I drove us out there while Dada sat in the backseat with you. Within 5 minutes of leaving the house, you wanted to go to sleep. And who could blame you. It's why we had Dada in the back seat. You cried out almost every time he did anything to keep you awake. You gave us yells of NO!, NO THANK YOU!, I DON'T WANT TO! But we kept persisting, Dada kept singing, and 50 minutes later, we arrived at the clinic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Once we got outside of the car, you got a second wind. You were excited to be walking outside. There was a slight breeze and you giggled and exclaimed, "It's windy Mama!" (smile) We went inside the clinic and got all signed in. In the waiting room, you started playing "ball." You have a little orange striped beanie baby kitty that we appropriately named Stripey. You kept throwing him away from us, then going to get him and throwing it back to us. You were laughing and giving all the people and the receptionists a show. (smile)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We then got called back and followed the nurse down many hallways to our room. She kept exclaiming how much you looked like her niece and all the nurses on the way stopped to say hello to you. My guess is they don't usually see many patients this young. And I was so proud. Like a big girl, you kept following the nurse and saying hello to all the other nurses. My little social butterfly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We got back into the room where you immediately wanted to play "ball" again. But (smile) Dada was told it was time to calm her down by the nurse. All in good fun but we needed you calm for the test. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There was a nice leather recliner in the room that I sat on and we put you on top of me. The nurse gave you a basket of stickers to go through while she marked your head with a little red pencil. She then put all 22 leads on all the marks and wrapped your head in gauze all the way around to hold it all in. Once that was complete, we "laid" down (as best you can in a recliner), turn down the lights, started some soothing music, and started the test. <i>(We did not take pictures of this. We weren't sure of it's appropriateness so we opted to not.)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">They had wanted you to fall asleep on me (hence the lack of sleep) but that was not to be in the cards. You were calm and relaxed but as time went on, you wanted to twirl your hair which was all wrapped up. You see, when you go to sleep, you tend to have your right thumb in your mouth and your left hand twirling your hair. So I tried to give you my hair to twirl. It just wasn't working. Then Dada said your prayers with you. Still didn't work. At that point, we asked if we could put you on your belly. So we all turned you over carefully so as not to move any of the leads.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You tossed and turned and tried to get relaxed enough to sleep but it just wasn't going to happen. Then they put the strobe light in front of you. YOU HATED IT. And I cannot blame you. You didn't want to look at that light. So you turned your head. They basically made me hold your head completely still for that part. I felt so bad. At that point the test was done, and in my opinion, you did great for all 45 minutes! Who could expect a two year old to understand why she had to stay still and not twirl her hair?! You did fantastic!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Once the test was over, the nurse cleaned off all the oil in your hair from the leads and your hair went every which way. You looked like someone had gelled your hair for halloween to be like Beetlejuice. (smile) We then were lead down the hallway where another nurse let you have a couple of stickers. We were told it would take about two weeks to get the results. So we started on our way home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This whole experience is so very scary but I take comfort in that you seem to be thriving despite all of it. I would gladly take your spot so you didn't have to go through this. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I love you,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: orange;">Mama</span></span></span>Krystinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05377984000637679430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131300828314038266.post-16738207874261099082013-08-06T10:00:00.002-04:002013-08-06T13:26:13.858-04:00Your Big Girl Bedroom....<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">is coming right along! We have a little more painting to do but your comforter and pillow came in the mail (been eying a certain set and it finally went on sale!) and now I cannot wait until we have the room completed! At first I thought we would do a cow themed bedroom for you but have since changed my mind when I found that sale. We will do a farm theme for the play room with maybe some really cool fatheads. But your bedroom (<i>pause for effect</i> - wink) will be done in a butterfly motif! I am so excited! I had wicker butterflies in my room growing up and then they went into your Aunt V's room. They have been painted so many colors and I cannot wait to paint them for your room!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here are a few ideas I found on Pinterest that I am looking into incorporating in your new room:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://heartlandpaper.typepad.com/heartland_paper/2009/08/handmade-chandeliers-on-studio-5.html" target="_blank">Butterfly Chandelier</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHnHzRs3ONMj6yE5Pzl8MRlskkMvRkkyKFjXEUxy-Wn6auTGLirPp_Z2wL_m_5glAJyO299c1jHCswhGNiTLX4GM8NX3BfijLRbnB7b6YlNFjwY9Drzr-E2qHAntj4WdLeoj0QX4FeujN/s1600/butterfly+chandelier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHnHzRs3ONMj6yE5Pzl8MRlskkMvRkkyKFjXEUxy-Wn6auTGLirPp_Z2wL_m_5glAJyO299c1jHCswhGNiTLX4GM8NX3BfijLRbnB7b6YlNFjwY9Drzr-E2qHAntj4WdLeoj0QX4FeujN/s1600/butterfly+chandelier.jpg" height="320" width="170" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I would like to do something like this. Not sure I'd make this exactly but thinking I could incorporate them on to your curtain rods. How cool would that be?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://folksy.com/items/3035114-Personalised-butterfly-bedroom-door-plaque-" target="_blank">Butterfly Door Plaque</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUDzbyQebCWgAqT6JPShR4kUh012DbM9J7y1OYYvVPEUdUd4E3XBtFuc9-ab8XN4bTBt7_ClvQHsgGNmppYu-mrteE-ddEQzJe5deWIwsPdA-h2YqsPCT2JHe147YJqafHW3U4vIIc8WlW/s1600/butterfly+door+plaque.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUDzbyQebCWgAqT6JPShR4kUh012DbM9J7y1OYYvVPEUdUd4E3XBtFuc9-ab8XN4bTBt7_ClvQHsgGNmppYu-mrteE-ddEQzJe5deWIwsPdA-h2YqsPCT2JHe147YJqafHW3U4vIIc8WlW/s1600/butterfly+door+plaque.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I would love to make something like this for you. And, since I am the matchy matchy type, I really like that it has butterflies!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://acreativemomma.blogspot.com/2011/01/speical-reading-places-for-kids.html" target="_blank">Bean Bag</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsyDBGeexPFT-Dh8KISN8VC4y95OXUYFC9Hohx_SdQfEf9XS-Blnd0LLi0AGP5Tv6Q270L4QrJqAHK5s77Zwl0IdagbnVcQfgqJul8IUy6l_UdtOrP5AtBXFb-URkZtKX7kuMfsyCe_Ow/s1600/bean+bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsyDBGeexPFT-Dh8KISN8VC4y95OXUYFC9Hohx_SdQfEf9XS-Blnd0LLi0AGP5Tv6Q270L4QrJqAHK5s77Zwl0IdagbnVcQfgqJul8IUy6l_UdtOrP5AtBXFb-URkZtKX7kuMfsyCe_Ow/s1600/bean+bag.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How neat would it be for you to have a bean bag in your room that I made?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.howdoesshe.com/inspire-your-kids-to-read-5-steps-to-the-perfect-book-nook/" target="_blank">Reading corner</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYerUy9B4wqcGebZ9s7eM2VvWvVam1cpFGEO4PPY8lXikt9JzCRAp98XPJi2TEMdenZRtLehqZ_oRWm_3jglgHumM7xKotc-wh1hB6SEOf0AL8q7oiI96PkkXK8LsWQIO2bB9O7DLPku6p/s1600/reading+nook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYerUy9B4wqcGebZ9s7eM2VvWvVam1cpFGEO4PPY8lXikt9JzCRAp98XPJi2TEMdenZRtLehqZ_oRWm_3jglgHumM7xKotc-wh1hB6SEOf0AL8q7oiI96PkkXK8LsWQIO2bB9O7DLPku6p/s1600/reading+nook.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then I could do something like this for you!!! Not sure you'd ever come downstairs!!! (wink)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.craftaholicsanonymous.net/how-to-make-a-rag-rug-by-everyday-art" target="_blank">Rag Rug</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iEiHM7nxx8OUeb9V1z11jEcPp2WIzkxrxJylH7oY0JFVvREUFh-9J1VnhswAIfCAj0O8kyA-hRyvVtyMkWCPiGtEyymjaofBEJl0bEOxcqZDwcTnsb7_BOuDFn3wscbr2A80vBIKXy01/s1600/rag+rug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iEiHM7nxx8OUeb9V1z11jEcPp2WIzkxrxJylH7oY0JFVvREUFh-9J1VnhswAIfCAj0O8kyA-hRyvVtyMkWCPiGtEyymjaofBEJl0bEOxcqZDwcTnsb7_BOuDFn3wscbr2A80vBIKXy01/s1600/rag+rug.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I just think this is really neat. (smile)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/transaction/62167352" target="_blank">Custom Blanket</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHVZZbZ9RvQfzI8a5KOLptnNhs-5hch1dc6_BzTJ70s2ej51xGtsv2Vun0KE5OA1EdrtRDvZaYmAcdzkv-opDbU38zuqj_P4zusvkdDMWLAeCFs_sWaGN4N-KBDz6qdB1FHQZNbqaLPdb/s1600/personalized+quilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHVZZbZ9RvQfzI8a5KOLptnNhs-5hch1dc6_BzTJ70s2ej51xGtsv2Vun0KE5OA1EdrtRDvZaYmAcdzkv-opDbU38zuqj_P4zusvkdDMWLAeCFs_sWaGN4N-KBDz6qdB1FHQZNbqaLPdb/s1600/personalized+quilt.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I would love to have a personalized blanket for you. Not sure I could do it on my own. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But this would be so nice. (smile)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And last but not least, this <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/119504914/hand-painted-sign-i-am-his?utm_campaign=Share&utm_medium=PageTools&utm_source=Pinterest" target="_blank">hand painted sign</a>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyu6QGED2mqmwfJ8BVRFkjfNyFfEXd-qv09cnOcnYiN8XKGtsKlQkWMjVTSyTv7zAVV8xqPldV7nphPZyQlPl6FayIxvUZNoj53sOVvHYldS2qj-kjZvN1Nc-hEgQpOP3Ei2pLeRVHRPSk/s1600/I+AM+KING.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyu6QGED2mqmwfJ8BVRFkjfNyFfEXd-qv09cnOcnYiN8XKGtsKlQkWMjVTSyTv7zAVV8xqPldV7nphPZyQlPl6FayIxvUZNoj53sOVvHYldS2qj-kjZvN1Nc-hEgQpOP3Ei2pLeRVHRPSk/s1600/I+AM+KING.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Maybe I can make all or some of these items. Maybe some will end up in your room while others will not. I'm not quite sure how to incorporate it all in the same room. (smile) All I do know is that I'm having so much fun looking through things to help decorate your room. And you keep telling us, "Mama, I want to sleep in the purple bed." Me too kiddo! And I cannot wait to see the finished product! (smile)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: orange;">Mama</span></i></span></b></span>Krystinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05377984000637679430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131300828314038266.post-51348472126555649732013-08-05T15:40:00.002-04:002013-08-05T15:53:10.779-04:00To having the mind of a child<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wow! You impress me every day with how much you are learning and understanding. You're only 2.5 years old! I am so impressed with the learning processes of a toddler's brain!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You and Dada created a new game this weekend! Well, two over the last week! You stand at the frame of the Great Room's door and Dada pretends to look around and whistle near the fireplace, as though no one else is there. You take off as fast as you can and "shock" Dada with giggles and hugs. It is adorable. The other game is in the same place but slightly different. Dada takes the pillow and slowly circles it around himself and you chase it, giggling all the while until Dada stops it and you flop down on it. Again, so adorable!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On Saturday I was so
excited! I put your hair in pig tails for the first time! You are so
adorable! (have I mentioned that yet - wink) I cannot wait to have your hair like that more often (which
it is not ironic that today while you ate breakfast, I put pigtails in
your hair again). We then started cleaning the Dining Room. You
pointed out what a bunch of our items were in our hands. After a while, you stopped and played in your play room. You are trying more and more to play the games we make for you and you tried desperately to set up the matching game. Your frustration got the best of you and you whined and cried out. So I went over to help you set it up. I'm learning that the whining is truly you getting frustrated in that you cannot say what you know in your mind but cannot articulate. So we are working on it, stopping you and trying to calm you, and asking you to please "Use Your Words." It's slowly working but also like being a 2 year old, sometimes, you just don't want to and subsequently, put yourself on the step. (smile)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Later that day, Mama had to go to church to assist in a wedding ceremony. You had come with me the night before for the rehearsal since Dada couldn't get home in time. You played on the seats and read your books, and had so many people comment on what a beautiful little girl you are. (smile) So when I had to leave, you looked at me. You - "Mama, you're going to help people get married today?" Me - "Yes sweetie." You - "Ok! I'm going to get married someday too!" I loved to hear those words! (smile)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I then met you at church for service and found out, you did not take a nap for Dada. Uh oh. But, you were really good for being as tired as you were. You're learning so much about faith, love and religion and it makes me smile thinking about it. I hope this love continues throughout your lifetime. While at church, we saw JT&H with their son T and we decided to all go out to dinner! How much fun unplanned ideas can be! We all went over to Camp Ticonderoga and had such a wonderful dinner! You and T colored, talked, and more than once, you came close to hurting yourself getting out of your chair. That's another aspect of toddlers that is so cool. No fear until you actually get hurt. There was literally no step to get out of the chair but you were putting one there. (smile) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I love you so much sweetie! More to come tomorrow of what you're learning!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mommy</span></span></i></span>Krystinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05377984000637679430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131300828314038266.post-73528075428278402982013-08-02T13:31:00.000-04:002013-08-02T13:38:05.185-04:00Time for Blueberries!!!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In an effort to give you memories and experiences, this morning I took you blueberry picking at </span><a href="http://www.zvents.com/imlay_city_mi/venues/show/104517-e-b-blueberries" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">E. B. Blueberries</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> in Imlay City for your very first time! (And mine too!) It was such a blast! Here's a sneak peak:</span><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Look at the size of those bushes! </span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At least 7 feet tall and higher!</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Don't they look scrumptious!</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgq1MIz7loBGPZQkMr3xXRhzACIJpz9pJQmNEb4Zt_Q9SkeE2HOutbUmsD9ByHwQv4p-NjoblAsVkFHC_iKWMWwI6DkNGdPZLtpP2NvuRYnAe_0nMGyLe7olj9uVoKek4d-IrqIsbwf-_R/s1600/IMG_4954_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgq1MIz7loBGPZQkMr3xXRhzACIJpz9pJQmNEb4Zt_Q9SkeE2HOutbUmsD9ByHwQv4p-NjoblAsVkFHC_iKWMWwI6DkNGdPZLtpP2NvuRYnAe_0nMGyLe7olj9uVoKek4d-IrqIsbwf-_R/s1600/IMG_4954_2.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was an adventure right from the beginning. You see, we've been potty training you lately and you've been doing great! Even telling us when you have to go. So before we left, I took you to the potty. Then I asked if you wanted a diaper for the ride. You said no. GULP. So off we went for the 40+ minute ride with no diaper! And you did great!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the ride up there, I wasn't quite sure how it would go. Dark clouds were looming towards the West and we even had a couple of sprinkles on our windshield. But we kept going. We weren't going to let that stop us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We got just north of Armada and we had our first hiccup. Our only hiccup actually and it didn't turn out too bad! The freeway/road we were taking North was closed and the detour was VERY easy. We followed it and got stopped a few times for construction crews, but after that, it was smooth sailing. Some of the roads were back roads and it was neat to see how high the corn had gotten and you could even start to see some ears of corn on the stalks! I couldn't help but think how much Michigan really is "country" with all the farms we have. And at the same time, how neat is that you can go and experience farms but we don't have to take care of one each day. (smile)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We turned into the little parking lot and believe it or not, the sun was shining! We were far enough North we didn't have to worry about rain at all! We got out of the car and saw the storefront. It was just a little shack of a building. We headed in, and met a really nice old man who gave us a bucket for the blueberries and told us where the best picking was. You weren't shy at all. I am so proud of you. You told him we were there for blueberry picking and you were so excited!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We headed back toward the area he mentioned and you were thrilled!!! You saw all the blueberries and instantly started eating! I think by the time we were done, you ate a pint all by yourself. You just kept eating them! Good thing they are so healthy. (smile)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We moved through the bushes and rows and found some really great blueberries. After a while, you started playing with sticks, hide and go seek, and (my favorite one of all) you would go into the bushes and pretend you were in a jungle. HILARIOUS! You had a great time and when it came time to leave, you did not want to go. (smile)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All in all, we had almost 5 pounds of blueberries! Here are some pictures of your adventure with blueberry picking!</span><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love these precious little hands! </span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>You've got a blueberry in your sites!</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Success! Down the hatch it goes!</em></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And who couldn't love that smile. Love you sweet girl!</span></em></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><em>Mommy</em></strong></span></div>
Krystinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05377984000637679430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131300828314038266.post-16308947441515244052013-07-31T13:41:00.000-04:002013-07-31T13:43:22.662-04:00Pictures through the years<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was going to title this as another Wordless Wednesday but I just cannot give enough credit to <a href="http://www.ignitedphotography.com/" target="_blank">ignited Photography</a> out of Howel, MI. Kevin and Heather are dear friends of mine and they have taken shots of Miss E since before she was born. Here is a sneak peak of her 2.5 year photos! I cannot wait for the blog teasers and will link those as soon as they are complete! Once again, many many wonderful thanks to Kevin and Heather Autry!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here you are my cute, lively 2.5 year old!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQDbRQlf_S_s8dEYbwzPNSvsgkVfYLvdGH8X17OVgg7OL0PahStGYmffRnPGDN5V-SFNv49fDToOjbbMEhQ14Nnxk6u1RaWYNA6BfikJ8zMdg56ReA-284VT4L-4VUDX1XygBg96Dr379/s1600/480502_691843314174873_1591629894_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQDbRQlf_S_s8dEYbwzPNSvsgkVfYLvdGH8X17OVgg7OL0PahStGYmffRnPGDN5V-SFNv49fDToOjbbMEhQ14Nnxk6u1RaWYNA6BfikJ8zMdg56ReA-284VT4L-4VUDX1XygBg96Dr379/s1600/480502_691843314174873_1591629894_n.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And here are some shots taken of you over the last 2.5 years from ignited Photography. I love you so much kiddo!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here you are as a newborn:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 months:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 6 months:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9 months:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 year:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRmDm9AOUjCC_97g_V4ljxEgNK7qofnv-UauFDdi_xYhxr2Ojj8Cc9MnRQ_sjFhIzemKJPlNyaEqvyan251vX_4mTMnEi9-Pm0dlAcDx0IL3QMyp_KbVwOQFJpE6I48MRINRCZmZe_0wh4/s1600/ignited+Photography_008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRmDm9AOUjCC_97g_V4ljxEgNK7qofnv-UauFDdi_xYhxr2Ojj8Cc9MnRQ_sjFhIzemKJPlNyaEqvyan251vX_4mTMnEi9-Pm0dlAcDx0IL3QMyp_KbVwOQFJpE6I48MRINRCZmZe_0wh4/s1600/ignited+Photography_008.jpg" height="320" width="215" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">18 months:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 years:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love you to the moon and back!</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Mommy</i></span></div>
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Krystinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05377984000637679430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131300828314038266.post-25153342154087103922013-07-30T10:01:00.000-04:002013-07-30T10:08:29.010-04:00Throwback Tuesday?<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, this morning I woke up in a bad mood. Not sure why that happens sometimes but I'm guessing it partly has to do with the fact that I woke up several times in the last hour or two of sleep because of sprinklers turning on and not feeling very rested. Yes, you read that right. When we sleep with the windows open, I am a light enough sleeper that the sprinklers turning on from other people's yards wake me up. (sigh)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I got the day started by folding a load of laundry, getting you ready for school and getting myself ready, all in under an hour. I was pretty impressed with myself. I could feel my mood starting to lift.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">While I was driving on my way to work, I was flipping through the channels on the radio (because let's face it, who wants to listen to commercials very often), when I stopped. Our song came on the radio, your daddy's and my song. It was the song your Daddy used to propose. I had caught it from the very beginning and proceeded to sing with it. <i>I'm Yours</i> by Jason Mraz (you can listen to it <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl88QEll-Xc" target="_blank">here</a>). It was a song played a lot in 2008 and 2009, some even say it was overplayed. But to me and your Daddy, it means the world. Here is the story of how he proposed to me (please keep in mind, I was not a very good writer/story teller back then): (smile)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnnQ_5uoZa6wTUME2mespcW0oLYaCqy7mxsNhRYq1tqLsApavBqGi1jvj4oKVW__rSHagn7X3A1ojN3m-v0Vl-DUqSCKIzlSBSd-qwVNh65NyZ6-Rg4sHvFvdM4ldlmsKPZhbK9s8i2iHG/s1600/fireplace+wedding+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnnQ_5uoZa6wTUME2mespcW0oLYaCqy7mxsNhRYq1tqLsApavBqGi1jvj4oKVW__rSHagn7X3A1ojN3m-v0Vl-DUqSCKIzlSBSd-qwVNh65NyZ6-Rg4sHvFvdM4ldlmsKPZhbK9s8i2iHG/s1600/fireplace+wedding+pic.jpg" height="207" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <i>Picture courtesy of <a href="http://www.kellydobsonphotography.com/" target="_blank">Kelly Dobson Photography</a></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Typed on March 23, 2009 (proposed on March 22, 2009):</i></span><br />
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</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Okay, so my boss is really cool and understands that I am in
no way getting any work done today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
seems that I just can’t stop grinning and he told me that he is so very happy
that we have some good news to share!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I also seem to be having some problems typing because I keep
typing in the next word before I am even done with the word I had originally
intended on writing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Backspace is my
friend!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here is the long wonderful novel:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Saturday we went and looked at mattresses because I have
been having back problems recently and we are attributing one factor of that to
be the mattress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So yesterday after
J’s class at church, I had thought we could go to Art Van and purchase the
mattress and on the way hit up Bed, Bath and Beyond for holdbacks for my curtains
that I put up in my bedroom on Saturday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He said how about we hit up the Bed, Bath and Beyond near his apartment instead
and then we could see if we wanted to go to Art Van.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was a little annoyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had been spending a lot of time doing
other things (great things now that I know about them) and not spending as much
time with me.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So we went to Bed, Bath
and Beyond and bought the holdbacks and just mossied around the store looking
at things we liked or did not like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
even bought me a chocolate bunny (Harry Potter says chocolate always make you
feel better).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Once we were in the car he apologized that he
had been so busy lately and said he had a surprise for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was going to make me dinner!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So cool!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We went back to his place and he led me to the dining room
table where he had a bouquet of bright orange (I love orange!) gerbera daisies
on the table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then showed me that he
had purchased a bottle of wine, Reunite’s Lambrosco, and he wanted me to relax
and get comfy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So he made dinner, yummy
lasagna, while I watched and talked with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We then sat on the sofa and watched some of a movie while it was
cooking. <i>(Looking back, the movie was <a href="http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/theholiday/" target="_blank">The Holiday</a>, not a very good movie but we love it and bought it because it reminds us of this day.)</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As it came time for dinner, he poured us both another glass
of wine and we ate his fabulous meal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
then said he had one more surprise for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Bursts were going off all over me because I thought it would be so cool
for him to ask me now!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I totally
played it up and said, “Really!?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
thought the flowers were the surprise.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>LOL!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said, “No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have one more surprise for you that is just
a little bit bigger.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He went into his bedroom and came out with his guitar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then set up our chairs so that they were
facing each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He started singing
and playing the Jason Mraz song, “I’m Yours.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was tear stricken instantly!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew
it was coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then held back tears
as he sang and played the song.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As he
got to the end of the song, he said “This is where the song stops on the radio,
but I thought it needed one more line.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So, singing and playing as if the song is still going, he started
singing about our time together, from the moment we met, all the ups and downs,
and to where we are now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then put the
guitar down, still singing went over to the guitar case, pulled out the ring, and
asked me to marry him!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am getting goose
bumps and teary eyed just as I type this!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I instantly gave him a kiss and said “Yes!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is so awesome!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love him so much!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ring is beautiful and I am going to try
and take some pictures of it tonight to post on my facebook page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just can’t wait to spend an eternity with
him!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So now that you have read my novel, what do you think?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Romantic?!</span></div>
Krystinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05377984000637679430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131300828314038266.post-1596428946532429492013-07-29T13:24:00.000-04:002013-07-30T08:26:28.470-04:00Tid bits from our weekend...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">There are so many things in life that I cannot wait to show
you and experience with you.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">I know it
will all come in due time but to think of all the wonderful things that you will
do in your lifetime, well, it gives me chills to know that you were entrusted
into our care.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Here are some jottings of
your personality and activities over the last few days:</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We took you to eat your first ice cream cone on Thursday and
it was so neat!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our church was putting
on a fundraiser for orphan children in Kenya at Oberweis and it was so cool to
see all the people from Church or from word of mouth come out to support the
cause!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you, well you choose a
chocolate ice cream cone and LOVED IT!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You started off by just licking it but once you got it to be the size of
your mouth, you put the whole thing in!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(smile)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you ate every single bite!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Daddy helped you a little bit to keep the
mess to a minimum (it was melting fast since we were sitting outside).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take a look at your happy little face!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Pretty sure you like ice cream cones:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFDc_yT3eQhAQ8m_haTwbiT8UrGcrmFQnm0SvMIfoEL6CSZfulnmscgsf_LWDlT8Dta2flpzQVo562gFKTYEGZjjb5Jj5B-HvNff-3u_GMKIzE5s5BUjlqNBEX0NoHwl3cn_IKeokZhSS/s1600/double+ice+cream+trouble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFDc_yT3eQhAQ8m_haTwbiT8UrGcrmFQnm0SvMIfoEL6CSZfulnmscgsf_LWDlT8Dta2flpzQVo562gFKTYEGZjjb5Jj5B-HvNff-3u_GMKIzE5s5BUjlqNBEX0NoHwl3cn_IKeokZhSS/s1600/double+ice+cream+trouble.jpg" height="236" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Look at that contented chocolate face! </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhavtFvkbpRFZj59P2K_T1EckjLwlOebJK_DDC9tJYxOb7ywmJyBTauIdcy2s5d99l7piWsesssJRm_zs_iH7OKTZjGh4lYxBFTI1buSzH0W_h8qfsJJAVuBL2_hJDnrvv6eWf2KVWDXhlJ/s1600/IMG_4829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhavtFvkbpRFZj59P2K_T1EckjLwlOebJK_DDC9tJYxOb7ywmJyBTauIdcy2s5d99l7piWsesssJRm_zs_iH7OKTZjGh4lYxBFTI1buSzH0W_h8qfsJJAVuBL2_hJDnrvv6eWf2KVWDXhlJ/s1600/IMG_4829.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On Saturday, you tested your boundaries, which your
two-itude seems to be doing more of lately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(smile)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You had decided it was
funny to call me by my first name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We however,
did not find that as amusing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You had
done that back on Christmas Eve 2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You had heard me being called Aunt Krystin all day while at Nanny and
Pappa’s house and insisted on calling me that the rest of the evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We learned then you definitely know our
names.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it is not alright to call
us by those names.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saturday you kept
saying, “Krystin, I love you!” and it was adorable to hear you tell me you love
me but not so adorable to call me by my first name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which lead to lots of sitting on the
step.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And lots of conversations on being
nice and being mean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first you choose
to be mean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked you if you wanted to
be nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You plainly said, “No.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So more time on the step.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It finally got to the point we had to
threaten you with not seeing Nanny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
were heading to a birthday party that afternoon and Nanny would be there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we weren’t going to go if you continued
to be mean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You started to choose to be
nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(smile)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We headed to the party and you were great!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You played a ton with Mason and to watch the
two of you in the bounce house together was so incredibly sweet!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The love you have for your cousins amazes
me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I grew up without any cousins and
the ones that I have are all my parents’ cousins that are out of state. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So to watch you with him was so much fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You screamed, laughed, played, you plainly
had a blast in that bounce house!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
were sad when Mason didn’t want to be in the house anymore so you even tried to
pull him back in!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(smile)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On the way home though, you pushed your boundaries,
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You insisted on calling me
Krystin again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I took your balloon
and I played with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you little
stinker, it took you all the way home before you got that we meant
business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You finally asked me to turn
around and said, “I love you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can I call
you mama and not mommy?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes you can
sweetie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(smile)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'll leave you with one last thing. Yesterday, while getting ready for church, you ran into our closet and shut the door. A moment later you turned on the light and several moments after that, you came out and we were both impressed and laughing. You walked out of the closet wearing my boots! With heels! And you looked right up to me and said, "Look Mama! I'm Jessie!" So adorable! You thought you were like Jessie from Toy Story 2 because of the boots! Hilarious!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Jessie's boots! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVGnsDX6nbYJMimYAKRFO7AI794O6L2I0AGQWNdTzHx0CmInrTEukgoYd9MVfJe0-oJmhNMQfkOjota0MsU5Jpd14D48KJ8Up4Wvd1UEg9q6uFfoujkWMZYGYBdyEXAtR2OJvEvjRcPiK/s1600/IMG_4872-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And upside down silly Jessie!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I love that your imagination is really starting to take
shape and you recognize things, like the boots that Jessie wears in Toy Story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re a good kid even with all your
two-itude and twama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(smile)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I love you so much.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: orange;">
</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mommy</span></span></i></span></div>
Krystinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05377984000637679430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131300828314038266.post-56116647411612728072013-07-26T13:47:00.002-04:002013-07-26T14:50:00.955-04:00It's one of those days...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today is one of those days where I just don't want to get out of my pajamas. There are some issues going on in life that have gotten me down, so much so I've been up since 3am. I just wish someone would come over, and let me cry. Let me cry and let them understand my tears.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In an attempt to perk myself up, I went on Pinterest (which I am completely addicted to as evidenced by the sheer number of pins I have pinned) and looked for some inspiration. Here are some of the pins I found and I hope you find your inspiration in them as well:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>This one could not have more truth in it.</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>I have been trying and trying to thwart the attitude.</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>The change needs to come from within.</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>I will change, for my child's sake.</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7IBtoFCkA2UG75y3jvn_GtKYVCmqi_OlKKpFBcQPi_ICyfeS2c2-vatLugbdOhHKEvj69udVRiZO1CcsbFxKMIAfwawqikluktdwPanoWkuoLuNQO-1ye7bVhs80gjU2SpWQxoVIPwmW/s1600/Jim+Henson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7IBtoFCkA2UG75y3jvn_GtKYVCmqi_OlKKpFBcQPi_ICyfeS2c2-vatLugbdOhHKEvj69udVRiZO1CcsbFxKMIAfwawqikluktdwPanoWkuoLuNQO-1ye7bVhs80gjU2SpWQxoVIPwmW/s1600/Jim+Henson.jpg" width="284" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>This one is especially true for me today:</b></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrKZXT0ecnSW7YxmjAw3FQy7RYpKGpdCGu4sfmc3gVyC2-gCWAC8sg7ETzUjfW2RFEslGlbzF9lrQYR2xRdPXJGnrC6HSemN45HJfEeb3WFScQ5sBjBSIJRXK-81I50vIBaeVmzxX7NNS/s1600/donts+for+when+your+not+yourself.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrKZXT0ecnSW7YxmjAw3FQy7RYpKGpdCGu4sfmc3gVyC2-gCWAC8sg7ETzUjfW2RFEslGlbzF9lrQYR2xRdPXJGnrC6HSemN45HJfEeb3WFScQ5sBjBSIJRXK-81I50vIBaeVmzxX7NNS/s1600/donts+for+when+your+not+yourself.jpg" width="238" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Yes, yes yes:</b></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWB6_Onebhx-3ANIZFmnlDrJNwqU0H11BuTyp1sQpr9KU6aX-1jq1XEz8o0Ayq_LekuRwkXf9488U_veEd7BvXAPxPPEgFR0GuNJbhWXkqaDtxFVW5U7UGwaf9i7Pnqeiu1pz72YmibzA/s1600/Dear+God.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWB6_Onebhx-3ANIZFmnlDrJNwqU0H11BuTyp1sQpr9KU6aX-1jq1XEz8o0Ayq_LekuRwkXf9488U_veEd7BvXAPxPPEgFR0GuNJbhWXkqaDtxFVW5U7UGwaf9i7Pnqeiu1pz72YmibzA/s1600/Dear+God.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>I need to read this everyday. Most women need to read this:</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxSsEEKJja88FnJ4NHfUZUl3AWbvROPKyaS7EbCUUEDIYk_id-dJEELv1lneaMCWSH587xMQxP4CDE35RpOR0InqwGOi63tzFwKIBRqYn4Qg9mHiDoG9DebPHwap24NQP24Lb9rdHvLI7_/s1600/You+are+perfect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxSsEEKJja88FnJ4NHfUZUl3AWbvROPKyaS7EbCUUEDIYk_id-dJEELv1lneaMCWSH587xMQxP4CDE35RpOR0InqwGOi63tzFwKIBRqYn4Qg9mHiDoG9DebPHwap24NQP24Lb9rdHvLI7_/s1600/You+are+perfect.jpg" width="251" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>I am trying. Really I am. I may not show it, but I am trying:</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2nxP2bemCkZ4GgSEl7uVv5PDSBly-UOa8sPbYGd4vucAEtgQznH-qd3xZP1pCvl7Kctcz350wUb1XBoYGfm5awHznjblYYa_sadOARhPMz-gnmMDQI86nSClS7-Jt3Jev0UUfplz-QFJ/s1600/be+thankful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2nxP2bemCkZ4GgSEl7uVv5PDSBly-UOa8sPbYGd4vucAEtgQznH-qd3xZP1pCvl7Kctcz350wUb1XBoYGfm5awHznjblYYa_sadOARhPMz-gnmMDQI86nSClS7-Jt3Jev0UUfplz-QFJ/s1600/be+thankful.jpg" width="280" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Know that we all have bad days. And you can have bad days. Let yourself time to grieve and feel. It is human.</span><br />
<br />Krystinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05377984000637679430noreply@blogger.com0