Pig Scramble

Do you ever have one of those weekends where you think, "wow, that was really a great weekend?"

Well, I had one last weekend.  I was off work, yay! I had finished my homework for school, yay!  So my schedule was pretty much open.

Saturday morning, I woke up quickly straightened up the house (I had already made up my mind that I wasn't cleaning all day Saturday) and got ready for a fun-filled day.  It was a beautiful day.  The sun was shining and the temperature was PERFECT!

I went to a friends house that morning at about 10:30 for a Shrimp and Grits kids clothes party.  I could have spent hundreds of dollars on all their cute clothes, but I didn't.  I just bought Norah Kate two outfits.  I am can not wait for them to come in the mail!  I am obsessed with bubbles for her this year for summer.  I made a mental note the other day not to buy her another bubble, but so far I am not following this rule very good.  I have bought 4 more since I told myself that.  It is kinda sad though because I know this will be the last summer that she can wear little outfits like that.  Probably by next summer she will be wearing toddler clothes and that stuff will be too "baby."

 

Then we went to Adel and ate at Hot Diggity Dogs.  I was craving a good, juicy hamburger and a Coke.  I got Norah Kate a "durger" which is ground hamburger meat on a hotdog bun.  I am not usually a big fan of her eating "fast food," but she got a treat Saturday! It was yummmmyy!

 

We got out lunch to go and went to my mama's for a little while.  We played out in the front yard in the sunshine and gave my brother's dog lots of loving.  NK smelt to high heavens when we were done, but the dog loved it and it wasn't anything a bath wouldn't fix.

 

Norah Kate layed down for nap and when she woke up we took her to the Pig Scramble.  The Pig Scramble takes place before the county livestock show.  It was a blast!  I really doesn't get much more country than this!  I didn't know how she would react to the pigs, but she LOVED them.

 

We took her to the pens where they were keeping them prior to the scramble and she wanted in the pen with them. She would pet them and talk to them.

 

 

 

I was going to "register" her for the pig scramble but she was too little.  She had a fit when they started.  She was climbing up the fence and squealing.  She was loving all the excitement.  Luckily, we knew several of the people that were managing the event and they took her into the pen.  She couldn't catch the pigs but she sure did try.  It was so much fun to watch her get excited about touching them!

 

 

After the pig scramble we went and saw Matt's mama.  We visiting with her for a while and then she watched Norah Kate so that I could go for a run.  I ran for about an hour and over 6 miles with my friend Amanda.

 

It really was a perfect day.  It is not very often that I feel like I get everything accomplished that I had planned for the day!  It was wonderful!

 

Sunday was just as great.  We went to church, then out to eat, and Matt stayed home with us that afternoon. I got to take a nap, and we watched a movie.  We rode around in his truck and checked fields.

 

We don't have to go anywhere special, or do anything spectacular, just good quality family time and watching my little girl grow up means the most to me!



Spring Forward

I think I am still recovering from losing an hour of sleep the other night, but I am thoroughly enjoying these longer days!  It was actually daylight still when I got off work Sunday. I have slept later than normal for the past two mornings, which is frustrating because I really need to be getting up and getting started for the day.  Bedtime for Norah Kate hasn't been going as smoothly.  Even though she is acting sleepy at 8pm (7pm old time), she is fighting sleep something serious.  I have been putting her to bed regardless though at 9pm.  If she gets in the habit of staying up until 10 that would be a tough one to break!

We have also finally had some sunshine and warmer weather.  We have gone outside every day for the last several days.  I am really looking forward to spring and summer days with her because she LOVES being outside, and I do too!

Checkin' on Daddy's greens 

We went to the pediatrician last week to have her ears re-checked from an ear infection a few weeks ago, and her ears were perfect. Now we have a cough. (sigh)  Poor baby seems to get a cold with every tooth she cuts.

I have been on a summer clothes buying frenzy for NK.  I have got to quit before I go broke.  She is so much fun to shop for though!  Gymboree, Smocked Auctions, and Zulily are going to end up getting me in trouble!  I am not a brand snob though, I will buy something from Walmart in a heartbeat if I think it is cute.

I am so excited about her first Easter!  I can't wait to watch her hunt eggs.  I am even more excited that I will be off from work to watch her!

I survived my first week of school.  It was stressful, but I think it is going to be do-able.  I am just going to have to adjust my routine some, manage my time a little better, and priortize things.  I am just praying to survive these next 18 months without a nervous breakdown.

Miss Priss is truly a little diva and it's all my fault.

 

 

I have been painting her toe nails and she loves it. 

 

We read books every day. 

 

She talks on her phone all the time. 

 

She has been making fish faces. 

 

She has learned to "color" (or scribble).  I bought her some jumbo crayons yesterday, but I am going to have be careful with this activity so that I don't have a mess. 

 

She loves grapes, strawberries, sweet potatoes, and yogurt. 

 

She will still eat just about anything though... except corn, which I think is wierd. 

 

She is also a little mama; she takes good care of her baby dolls: feeds them, rocks them, and changes their diapers.

 

She is starting to understand diaper changing. I can tell her to lets change her diaper and she walks to her room and stands at her changing table.  I am thinking potty training is around the corner.

 

She is turning into a monkey and climbing up and on everything.  Scary.

 

Her hair is growing like a weed!

 

She gave me a heart attack the other morning.  She pulled my jewelry armoire on top of her.  All she got was a bruise above her left eye and I had the shakes until mid-afternoon.

 

 

 

I am loving life with that little girl.  Heart attacks and all :)

What Am I Thinking?

Starting March 4 my life as I know it will be changing.  Yep, you are looking at one of the newest students at Walden University.  My books came in the mail last week and we paid for my classes a few days ago. Yikes!  I am a bundle of nerves and this could possibly be the hardest, longest 18 months I have had to endure yet.  I am ready though.... for it to be over. Haha!

Walden University is an accredited online school. I am enrolled in their Family Nurse Practitioner program. I should complete the program in 18 months by going full-time. I took a Pathophysiology class a few summers ago while I was pregnant with Norah Kate and luckily those credits transfer! Yay! That saves me a little time and money. Also, I can arrange for all of my clinicals to take place locally. I plan to keep on working for now... we will play it by ear and see how the next few months go.

I don't know if I am quite ready to be back in student mode, especially with a husband, a toddler, and a full time job.  When I was going to my Bachelor's it was a completely different story... no husband, no baby... just a boyfriend and a 10-12 hour/week part-time job.  I am really nervous about how I am going to balance it all, but I have always been pretty motivated and when I set goals I accomplish them.

 

My Goals for Graduate School:

#1 Don't lose my mind.  I must somehow maintiain my sanity through this.

#2 NOTHING comes before Norah Kate.  She is my number 1 priority and it is essential that I don't let anything take away this precious time with her.  She is already growing to fast.  Even if that means waking up early or staying up late to do schoolwork.

#3 Not go in major debt by taking out tons of student loans.

#4 Finish.  Even when it gets tough, when I want to quit, when I want to throw my laptop and books out the window.  I can't.  We have already invested money, so I have to finish.  It's what is best for our family.

Really though, I am excited.  I am looking forward to what my future will hold.  I have always loved learning and have always loved being a student.  This time I just have a couple other obligations and priorities to go along with it.  People do it everyday though, with jobs, husbands, kids...  If it is anything like that last 18 months, the next 18 months with FLY by.

#bringiton



Rain, Rain Go Away

For the last two weeks I think it has been raining more than the sun shining.  It has been the prettiest on the days I am working of course.  We have spent the majority of our days going stir crazy, staying in our pjs for most of the day and seeing how much we can string and strow the house.

 

On rainy days, I pick up the house just for it to get messy and I sweep the floors just for mud to be tracked back in.  Schools have been cancelled due to the roads being so messed up.



Our pond is over flowing.  I am grateful for this though because we will need all that water for irrigation in the summertime.



Yesterday you could have whitewater rafted down our driveway.  Now there are just big ruts and washouts.

The sun is supposed to come back out this afternoon, praise the Lord.  I am ready to get my run on! (If I can get out of my driveway!)

The Bottomless Pit

My child eats, and eats, and eats, and eats some more.

I pack her lunches for the babysitter and she eats everything I pack, plus she begs for more from the babysitter and the babysitter's little girl.

I feed her lunch, then her and I eat my lunch. Same thing goes for all other meals.

She is like a bottomless pit!

Matt and I were discussing the other day if we feed her too much?  I should have known, because she was the one that was still breastfeeding every 2-3 hours when all the "books" said it should only be 3-4 times a day.



Oh well, I love those little chunky thighs.  She is perfectly healthy.  The majority of the stuff she eats is healthy.  I keep Cutie Clementines, bananas, and apple sauce in the pantry at all times.  She really is not picky at all.  According to the growth charts, she is right on track.  I was always really chunky as a toddler then was always very petite from elementry school and up.

 



Life Lately

I didn't think I would still have to do monthly blogs with updates of Baby Girl as much as before, but I believe I was wrong. She is still changing so fast! Here's what's been going on with her lately:

Dancing machine.  I always knew she liked music, but now she will really get down and groove.  It amazes me that she can really move to the beat. She will bounce up and down and sway her head from side to side.  When she really gets into it she will clap too.  It is funny to watch her playing and then suddenly top when a good song comes on a commercial on the TV.



Talking up a storm.  At first I was a little concerned that her speech wasn't quite on track, mainly because I couldn't get her to say very many words, but boy in the last week she has become a little copy cat.  I can say pig, she says "ig.". I say dog, she says "woof." The other day I was changing her diaper and was saying "stinky," and she started saying "tinky.". I have read where at her age she should be saying some words, understand the meaning of many words, and point at objects.  She points and "Mimms" at everything she wants.  I can also tell her to do pretty well anything and she understands so I think now we are right on track.

A few nights ago she picked up her toys and put them in her basket. She did it without asking and it freaked me out. I guess because she has seen me do it before bedtime since birth... Have I created an OCD clean freak too??

She brushes her own teeth everyday and most definitely doesn't want any help with it.  She can help undress for bath time, brushes her hair, and is attempting to fed herself with a spoon.  She gives the best kisses and will pat your back when she gives hugs. She got some baby dolls for Christmas and will carry those things around and "rock" them and pat them. It beats all I have ever seen.  They truly are like little sponges soaking in everything from birth. The other day she had her baby doll over her shoulder, her purse on her wrist and was pushing her shopping cart. Haha! Little mama.

  

With all this newfound independence has come some diva-esce temper tantrums. She will slap her hands and growl when you are taking something away from her that she wants or are trying to do something she don't want. She started crying today because she couldn't fit her shopping cart into her Pottery Barn chair with her. She also got frustrated the other day because she couldn't hold five different things in her hand at once. She would try to pick up something else and drop another thing and was getting very agitated.   Apparently one is the new two... Oh, Lord help.  Fortunately though, we don't have very many "bad" days.  She is still a sweet girl :)

Lessons Learned

This last year has been FULL of learning experiences.  I mean, that's what motherhood is, right?  A whole bunch of trial and error.  Well, I was thinking back about my thoughts this time last year and kinda had to laugh at myself.  I have learned A LOT and still have A LOT left to learn!!  I am not a perfect mother by any means, but here are some lessons I will never forget:

• Don't feel like you have to invite people over to see the new baby.  You are tired. You need your rest.   There will be PLENTY of time for showing off that sweet bundle in a few weeks :)  When people tell you to "rest now" while you are pregnant.  They mean it.  Those first few weeks of exhaustion are something else!  Also, don't feel like your house has to be clean and perfect for every visitor that does show up.  And, it's okay to still be in your PJs at lunchtime.  I swear, I think I stayed in my pajamas for the first month of Norah Kate's life.
• On a second note, believe it or not you get used to the sleep deprivation.  You can suddenly start to function off of 4 hours of sleep.
• Six hours of consecutive sleep... in your bed... is something great!  And most definitely considered a good night's rest.
• Musical beds is something to get used to.  Mama and Baby fall asleep in the recliner, put the baby to bed, Daddy's on the couch, get Daddy to come to bed with Mama, baby wakes up, Mama and baby go lay on the couch, Daddy wakes up, Mama goes back to bed, Daddy goes to sleep in recliner... Haha!  This happens at least once a week at our house.
• No one, absolutely no one, can prepare you for those post partum hormones... and be prepared... they may last... for months.  I am just now starting to feel normal and my baby is a year old.
• Always carry a change of clothes, for you and the baby.
• Never travel with out snacks.
• Keep toys in every vehicle.  Pack some up and drag them out in a few months.  It will be like having a new toy all over again.
• Let them play in your kitchen cabinets.  Let them drag stuff out.  Let them make racket.  They are learning about their surroundings.
• Rock them to sleep, at least every now and then.
• Snuggle with them when you can.
• Watch them sleep... I swear you can see them grow before your eyes.  Admire their little toes, eary, nose, lips and fingers.
• Don't waste you money on a whole lot of outfits.  They grow too fast.  It's really okay for them to wear the same things twice.
• Grocery shopping does not get any easier the older they get.  Then they just start trying to climb out of the buggy.  I always forget something on my list, but I am proud that I haven't had to leave my shopping cart full of groceries in the store due to a crying fit or a breakdown.  We have had a couple of close calls though.
• A trip to town is no longer the same... I am lucky to make it to one store before we have had enough shopping.
• Let them get messy.  Take a picture of that cookie face.
• Actually, take pictures of everything.  You can't have too many.
• Brag about your kids on Facebook, Twitter, work, church... I would much rather hear someone bragging about their kids then bad mouthing them.
• Find something that is fun for you and baby... bubble baths, jogs, naps, the joey pouch.  Running was my therapy.  It was something both Norah Kate and I enjoyed and I am grateful for that time!
• They can pick up on your stress and tension, so beware of what kind of attitude you are betraying.
• A good day is getting a load of clothes washed, supper cooked, and keeping the house from looking like a hurricane hit it.
• Don't feel guilty for letting someone watch the baby for a Mommy-Daddy date night, or to run errands.
• Parenting books are for the birds.  Each baby is different.  Each parent is different.  Figure out what works best for you and your situation.
• It's okay to cry over them growing up.  You aren't crazy, I promise :)
• They will fall, they will cry, they will get a bump, or a bruise, or a scrape... try not to panic.
• You will find yourself laughing at something they are doing that is bad... at least once.
• Tag Teams with Daddy work great for diaper changes, car seat buckling and medicine giving.  Sometimes just having the moral support or a distraction for baby makes a big difference!
• There is no such thing as a stupid question at the pediatrician's office.  They will not think you are dumb!
• Soak up every minute that you can, every cry, every laugh, every thing because time truly does fly by.
• Enjoy being a mommy! Motherhood is an adventure and an awesome blessing. God picked YOU to raise this child. How amazing is that?
• Every day is a new day. You will have good days and you will have bad days. The good days out weigh the bad though by ten fold!

Twelve months of growing up!

 

As they grow, you will grow as a person.  Let them change you.  Children are sweet blessings.  Never forget that :)