A story in pictures

She swears that Lucy did it.  Clever dog.

Kinley Says...

Lately, the things that come out of our girl's mouth, just crack me up!  Everyday, there seems to be something new...and I wish I could write them all down.  But life is happening and I can't always write things down.  But here are a few that are fresh in mind that I wanted to share...

Remember how I mentioned "the man" in my So What! post this week?  Well, if not, let me fill you in.  You see, Kinley is a challenging child.  Especially in public.  So to combat this bad challenging behavior, I have come up with this lie story that there is a man, that sits in the back of every store, that gives spankings to little kids that don't behave.  I know, I'm horrible.  But there was a desperate moment in Aldi one day that had my child running and throwing produce.  I was desperate, okay.  Don't judge.  But telling her about "the man" had her holding the side of the cart for the remainder of the trip.  So there.

So yeah, "the man" is in every store.  She asks about him all the time.  "Is the man here?  Where is the man?  What's the man doing?"

We went to the dance store last week.  Kinley was being horrible!  Running through the store, running through the racks, kicking off her shoes....yeah.  Luckily it was only us and a friend of ours in the store.  Otherwise, I would have walked out in embarrassment.  I told her that the man was in the back.  Near the fitting rooms, there was a door to the store room open.  "The man is back there, do I need to go and get him!?"  She straightened right up!  For the most part.  So this trip ran right through nap time.  She was over due.  On the way home, she was hysterical.  First, she was crying for her boogey shop (shopping cart).  We had passed a grocery store and she saw the carts outside.  She wanted to get in one.  So she's freaking out for the boogey shop. And yes, I recorded it.

THEN, as if that fit wasn't enough....she starts crying for the man.  She is crying hysterically that she "needs her man! I need my man!  I want my man to hold me!"  Ummmmm, yeah.  Fabulous.

Another day, I was getting ready to shower and told her to stay in my bed with Lucy to watch Super Why.  She asked where I was going and I told her to take a shower.  She asked why...of course, she always asks why.  I told her that I was dirty.  She then responds, "have you been playing on a farm?!"  Yes, that's exactly it.

When she sings the song, "there were two in the bed and the little one said, roll over, roll over, so they all rolled over and one fell off....." (stop me).  She sings, "and the little one said, roll ova-bah, roll ova-bah".  Yes, I love it.  And suggest that song to her a million times a day just to hear her sing it.

She is very much in to the whole "who is who and what is what" right now.  Defining genders and roles is really big in her world.  So every day, several times a day, we are clarifying her questions. It goes something like this:
Kinley:  "Daddy, you're a boy?"
Richie:  "Yes, daddy is a boy."
Kinley:  "I'm a boy, too, same."
Richie:  "No, you are a girl.  A little girl."
Kinley:  "And Daddy's a little guul too?"
Richie:  "No, Daddy is a boy and you are a girl."
Kinley:  "Daddy's a boy?"
Richie:  "Yes, Daddy is a boy."
Kinley:  "Oh."
Kinley:  "I a boy too, same."
Richie:  deep sigh.

Hot mess!  A cell phone in each pocket.  She
thinks she's something else.

It's really sad how easily you forget the cute things that they say...just this morning on our way home from story time in the park, she said something that was just so cute.  And I told myself to remember it for later.  Guess what?!  It's gone.  I have no clue what it was.  How often does that happen?  Daily?  Makes me want to bring a notepad and paper everywhere that I go just to keep record of all of those sweet words that come out of her mouth!

Sing Along

I always dreamed of having a little girl that belted out tunes on the radio with me, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel a tinge of jealousy when the video of the little girl singing along with Carrie Underwood went viral.

I was a little upset that I haven't had "that moment" with KG.  Pathetic, I know.  So I tried to rationalize it:  I rarely have the radio on in the car when we're together, cause let's face it, that's prime convo time with her.   And if we're listening to something, it's usually a kid CD, and we do sing together to that.  Or, if she let's me sing with her.  Sometimes she'll shout, "no mommy, no singing, I do it."  Bossy, no?

A few days ago, I was dropping a friend off at the train and I had the country station on quietly while we were waiting.  The song Mr. Know-It-All by Kelly Clarkson came on.  I have this one on my playlist, so it is one that I enjoy and sing along to myself.  All of a sudden, Kage starts singing, "you know me, know me," and I froze and turned around to see her singing along.

It was one of those moments.

So of course, after dropping off my friend, I played the song from my phone to see if what I heard was true and sure enough "you know me, know me, weaving you wonwey wonwey" and I was in heaven!  My baby girl is singing with me!

And then she says, "no mommy, no singing, I do it."

Don't doubt that I have played that song every time we get into the car.

She's Growing Up...

Kinley woke up on Saturday morning, determined to potty train.  Little did I know that her one ounce of determination was enough to rid our home of diapers...forever.  She's not had a diaper on since Saturday morning.  I wasn't ready.

She's still my baby girl.

I feel like each milestone has snuck up on me and every time, I wasn't ready.  She was.

Days still linger when I long for our days of breastfeeding.  And the days where I see that baby, toothless smile peeking behind her paci.  The days she let me rock her to sleep and hold her tight. 

Now, she plays favorites.  If I'm not her "favorite" of the moment, she tells me, "no, mommy--daddy's turn."  Breaks my heart and makes me proud all in the same moment. 

I want her to be independent, I want her to be confident...but I want her to be my baby girl forever.

She had three accidents on Saturday evening.  Only one accident today.  No diapers, no pull-ups.  Big girl panties only.  She's mastered napping and bedtime in panties and woke dry both days.  I never dreamed that buying that box of diapers last week would be my last.  I think that maybe I would have savored that moment, and maybe even cried right there in Target.

I am so proud of this little girl.  She is such a blessing to our lives.  We marvel at her constantly.  She makes it easy.  She makes it worth it.  She makes life a true miracle and testament to God's work.

My baby is a little girl.

Waiting patiently for her ballet class to begin.

We took her to her first movie this weekend, she lasted 30 minutes.
But loved the popcorn (aka corn corn).

She is our Potty Princess.  So proud of her accomplishment this weekend.
I love her style, her princess attitude, her confidence.

The most beautiful girl in the world. 
I am so lucky and proud to be her mommy!

I'd be lying if I said that I didn't want another baby.  But wanting and having are two different things.  We've not prevented for a while now and it's not happened.  Which only tells me that we'll again have to turn to fertility treatments if we hope to expand our family.  But if that day never comes, I know in my heart that I have perfection and the truest form of love right here, right now.  She completes us.  I hope she realizes the depth of our love for her.

Playing catch up!

My brother and Quinnie waiting for his MRI

No surprise that I am playing catch up, no?  Seems to be the story of my life.  First and foremost, I want to thank any and all of you that have been saying prayers for little Quinnie.  He's getting through his days at Mayo and doing a good job.  The doctor's are really sharing their wisdom and providing insight that they have been hoping to receive.  Until they are home and all reports are in, I don't really want to say anything.  There is one more day of appointments and they should be able to come home for a while.  I am seeing several trips in their future. 

He had another MRI today and his mommy said that he did a good job.  They are expecting results from that tomorrow.  I keep praying that there is going to be a miracle and a quick fix.  Wouldn't it be amazing if all things painful had a quick fix?  My prayers will be answered if this little boy can live happy and pain free and free of criticism.

I received an email through work about a movement to remove the "R-word" from derogatory language.  There is a pledge that they are having the high school students sign and they are asking the middle school students and elementary students to join in the pledge signing.  I couldn't be more pleased.  Using the "R word" has always been something that I felt so very strongly about.  It took quite some time to "break" my husband's bad habit of using it all the time.  Hopefully this gets passed along enough that everyone sees and recognizes the importance of this movement.

A month or so ago, my husband and I joined the ezmeals.com menu planning site.  Overall, we've been pretty pleased with it...and if nothing else, it has helped up branch out with trying new things and new recipes.  We don't use all meals all weeks, but more often than not, we use the majority.  It's nice to have it all planned out and there isn't much to have to think about or plan.  You just print and go--grab a few extra easy meals and you're set.  Easy.

On Sunday, we made the most amazing meal.  And it was easy.  So easy.  BBQ chicken quesadillas.  OMG.  I drool over them just thinking about it.  The best part?  It made enough to freeze.  So...when my mouth gets all excited just thinking about it....I run to the freezer, take one out and 45 seconds later, it's mine all mine!  Yes.  It's love.  And I like to share the love.

Here ya go:
2 lbs chicken breast
1 18 oz bottle of BBQ sauce
Flour tortillas
Shredded Mexican style cheese

Cook the chicken breasts in the crock pot with 1/4 c. of water.  (I cooked it from 10 ish till 4 ish on low)
Remove from the crock pot and shred.
Put into a large bowl and add the full bottle of BBQ sauce. 

Put about 1/2 c. of chicken mixture into a flour tortilla.
Top with some shredded cheese.
Fold in half and give it a squeeze to hold it together.
Put into a hot skillet with a little bit of olive oil. 
Cook until slightly browned and the cheese is melted.
Flip over and brown the other side.
Remove from pan and cool.
Cut into triangles. 
Eat and enjoy.
You can even dip them in sour cream.
Swoon.

I made the whole package of tortillas and had so much left over.  So I put them in a single layer on a cutting board and froze them.  Once frozen, I threw them into a baggie.  There they sit in my freezer ready to be grabbed, warmed and enjoyed.  These are a new staple in my home.

Try them.

You're welcome.

Let me update you on our budget coach.  Can I just say that life is amazing since we've gone on this new plan?  Ah-mazing.  Not only are we paying off debt in a quick way, but we are truly living on cash.  We have not used a debit card in about a month.  That is huge.  We used to live on our card.  Now, we live on cash only.  If there is no cash in that envelope, you can't buy it!  Surprisingly, we never run out.  Groceries, we have cash left over at the end of the week.  Gas?  Cash left over.  It's so empowering.  We are doing it!  And it's saving our marriage.  Finances are no longer a friction point and we aren't as testy and on edge as we used to be about money.  It's saving us.

We meet with our coach again Thursday to plan for our March expenses.  We started this journey with seven debtors on our list.  We are going into our March meeting with only four....and we're paying off one more in another week or so.  Yeah....I know.  It's good stuff.  And I'm not bragging.  I'm giving a testimony.  I'm hoping to give hope.  It can be done.  You can too.

This is our new "wallet" that we take everywhere we go.  It's Dave Ramsey's envelope system.  Each envelope has a category written on top and then it has lines where you keep track of what you put in and what you take out.  It's very simple.  And like I said, in our clothing envelope, if there is only $25 left in there and K's shoes are $40....she needs to wait another week or two.  It's very black and white.  Which is what we needed.

And lastly, on my mind tonight, is Spring.  We've had a mild, very mild, winter this year.  Only two (or three) good snow falls.  And for Chicago, that's rare.  I can't help but to start thinking about Spring weather and putting my princess baby in cute Spring outfits.  Can't wait.  My friend, Kacy, has always been my go-to girl for all things cutesy for Kinley.  She made all of the tu-tus that we used for her pictures.  She's crocheted Kinley's new blankie.  She made Kinley's second birthday outfit.  I love her work and love the creative ideas that she comes up with.  Her latest creation in no different.  As soon as I saw it, I knew that we had to have it.  And it's hanging in her closet now, just waiting for Spring to get here.  And you can get one for your little girl too.  She has one left for sale in her Etsy store. 



I know.  It's adorable.  Right? I can't wait to put Kage in it and get her 2 1/2 year pictures in it.  Her next dress inspiration (thanks to Pinterest) is in the making.  And it is just as adorable.  Kacy is an amazing creator! 

I guess that is all that I had to unload off of this brain of mine.  I feel lighter.  A good ten pounds lighter. 

Wouldn't that be nice if blogging helped us lose weight?  How many calories do you think blog writing burns?



 

My Easy Button

Have I told you how blessed I am to have such an amazing little girl to call my own?  Have I told you how blown away I am by her pure awesomeness?  I really, truly, think that life has given me the easy button a few times with this whole parenting thing.  Now, I'm in no way saying that parenting is easy.  No way, Jose.  It's freakin' hard!  But really....I have been let off the hook more than a couple of times with this one.

When she was 7 weeks old, she moved from our room in a bassinet to her crib in her own room.  Smooth transition.  At 9 weeks old, she was sleeping through the night.  She nursed for 15 months and the weaning...EASY.  Then came the pacifier weaning...once I weaned myself, she was easy to get past it. 

This past weekend, we (on a whim, mind you) decided to convert her crib to a toddler bed.  I say "on a whim" because it literally was one of those situations where I was like, "hey, you want to take her crib apart and see if it really does convert like the box said it did?"  And so, we did.  It helped that my parents were in town for the weekend and were able to confirm our plan as not being too crazy.

And I guess I should point out that ever since I got my hair done (ummmm, about two weeks ago) and was casually comparing parenting notes and daycare stories with my stylist (her son is a few months older than Kinley and goes to a Montessori day care) when she mentioned that her son's teacher acted appalled that he was still in a crib at the age of two.  So, I guess I've been feeling totally crazy about it.  Am I babying her too much?  Am I holding her back?  Am I doing the wrong thing?  Isn't that what all of us moms ask ourselves?  God forbid we do the wrong thing!

So we converted her bed.

And she thought it was way cool and instantly called it her big girl bed.  We really played it up to be something special and she bought every minute of it.  In a flash before my eyes, my baby became less of a baby.

Nap came and we dreaded it....oh, we dreaded it.  And well, this bed/crib conversion isn't very sturdy.  Meaning, I can't lay in it with her without feeling like we're both goin' down!  So as badly as I want to curl up with her and snooze, I can't. 

I try and try to get her to lay down and nap.  No dice.

I put up the baby gate, told her to nap, and walked out.

She got up and shut her door. 

Okay, fine.

Two hours later, (I knew she hadn't slept, she wasn't as quiet as she thought) we opened the door (after picking the lock because she had locked it) and found this:

Hurricane Kinley.  She blamed the dog.

We dealt with a no nap Saturday and moved along.  Saturday night came and bedtime was relatively easy!  And each night since then, (why am I blogging this....I am so jinxing myself!) bedtime has been pretty simple.  She doesn't get up.  She doesn't wander.  She doesn't get up to play.  She's yet to end up in our room. 

Strangely easy. 

But then I remind myself that a lot of these big milestones that most parents dread, have been, well, easy.

I just wish I had a real Easy Button for those dreadful daycare drop-offs that we've yet to master without tears.  And those leaving the park episodes where I have to haul her away screaming and swatting at me.  And those moments when you just don't know what is the right decision to make.  Those are the times when I really wish I could push the Easy Button.  I guess those big milestones are actually the small things.

Daddy Bully

We had such a great night!  I got done working today and got to have a nice conversation with one of my students' mothers.  She was such a delight!  I really am starting to feel like a teacher.  And that's a great feeling.

I left school before four o'clock today to try and get back early enough for R and I to both pick up Kage from day care.  It's a special treat for her if we can both make it to pick her up.  She just squeals with delight when she sees mommy and daddy walk into her classroom.  And hearing her "mommy" "daddy" makes our hearts swell with pride. 

City Christmas lights are already on!

It's no secret that I'm a certified psycho mommy.  I jump down any one's throat if I even think that my daughter isn't getting top notch care.  And so, we recently changed her provider.  Again.  I know, I know.  This is like her fourth provider in her short one year of day care life.  But I had my reasons.  Drop-offs were TERRIBLE.  She cried, I cried.  It was just not good.  And then the teachers were not following my directions when I would request her having juice with snacks and milk with lunch.  They gave her milk at lunch and snacks.  Well....she has poop issues.  The girl needs apple juice once a day.  And.  She isn't too keen on milk.  Since giving up the momma milk at 15 months, she's just not taken to cow's milk all that well.  So, she wasn't drinking enough of the milk to satisfy her daily liquid intake.  And, in turn, wasn't having enough wet diapers.

I took the daily sheets to her pediatrician and she agreed.  It wasn't sufficient, nor was it healthy.  So, we got the handy dandy doctor's note stating that she must have juice or water offered all throughout the day.  The whole week following that note being brought in.....she had milk with snack and lunch.

I gave up.

So we did decide to stay with the same school, just switched to a different campus.  I mean, I am thrilled, beyond thrilled with their curriculum and program.  I can't say enough about how much Kinley has learned already.  But the campus just wasn't a good fit. 

Don't get me wrong, it was so nice being able to walk her there and walk to pick her up.  But let's face it, I'm so lazy.  I walked one time.  So now the new campus is about 10 minutes away, but it's on the way to work for both of us.  And.  She loves it.  Like, really, really loves it.

And I love it.  The girl counts to ten and knows most of her ABCs.  She sings the words to "Row, Row, Row Your Boat."  She sings the words to "The Wheels On the Bus" and she identifies colors.  Every day we are learning new things that she has learned through their program.   I am beyond happy with that.  My baby is so smart.  So smart.  And so pretty.  And I love her. 

So back to today....we both went to pick her up and it sure was a blessed treat, for sure.  We took her to eat at McDonald's.  Yes, I am a bad mom.  Whatever.

We went to a fancy McDonald's in a nice, ritzy area.  Does that improve my bad mom status?  The Play land was posh.  I loved it.  She was in heaven.  Played her little heart out. Ate a little. 

You see, we can't do restaurants anymore.  The child doesn't eat (for us....at day care, she eats 2 and 3 helpings of lunch).  So taking her to a restaurant means that she'll just fight us to get down and run.  She no longer does a high chair or booster.  She's big girl chair all the way.  Lord help us. 

So a kid friendly restaurant is all that we are allowed.  Mac and Don's it is.

She ate (some) and we let her play for a bit.  And then we headed to family night at the local play place.  This place rocks.  It has so many climbing things and slides and bounce houses and an art room and a coffee bar and pizza.  And on Friday nights, it's only $5 per child.  Score!  Cheap and fun! 

We had a blast.  The last time that we went, she was so tiny and could barely slide on her own.  Tonight, she was running us ragged.  She was climbing and sliding and running and playing.  Blew us away. 

She climbed to the top of the twisty slide, and she always sits and waits at the top for us to count, 1-2-3.  Well, some rambunctious boys that looked to be about 3 or 4, came up behind her and were just about to give her a push.  I jumped over and yelled, "Don't you push her!" and before I could get that last word out.....Daddy ran right up to the boy and got in his face and growled, "You wait your turn!" 

I about died laughing!  Daddy to the rescue!  The boy just looked at him and his partner in crime behind him just said, "Yeah, wait your turn!"  Talk about throwing your buddy under the bus!  Kage was oblivious to anything happening. 

It kind of makes me smile to see my husband become such a protective daddy.  No one will ever hurt his little girl.  And if they do....watch out!

1 - 2 - 3!

Blurred because we were on the move!

But I guess I feel the same way....that little girl is our whole world. 

I'm Two...

Really?  How in the world is it already time for her to be two?  I mean, her attitude lately is totally "terrible twos" (as much as I hate that phrase).  I swear that I jinxed myself the other day by saying on FB that she was the world's greatest sleeper.  I mean, for the most part, she has always been a good sleeper (here I go again, when will I learn to shut up?!) but the past week has been rough.  She has started this whole wake-up in the middle of the night screaming "mommy" thing.  Ugh.  Daddy can't come or she flips out.  So, I go to see her and all that she wants is to sleep on top of me.  Or, for me to hold her hand through the crib rails.  So yes, that is how I have spent several evenings.

And I refuse to put her in our bed.  REFUSE.  Not even starting that.  So I end up either in the recliner, on the couch or the floor next to her crib.  Been great sleeping in our house, I tell ya!

I broke down and FB'd her pediatrician.  I know, how cool is it that I can FB her doctor AND get answers via FB.  Love that.  I am not sure if this new behavior is all part of the fun and games of being two or if we have just failed miserably at all things parenting and now we're screwed. 

Today is our five year first date-iversary.  Yes, five years ago today he picked me up after spending hours getting to know each other at a Halloween party a few days prior.  We went to Chili's and had burgers and talked until they closed. 

We thought it would be nice to go out tonight for burgers and celebrate.  Too bad we have a defiant little girl that refuses to sit in a high chair or booster in a restaurant.  She wouldn't eat.  Wouldn't sit.  Wouldn't let us eat.  It was rough.

But what did we do?  Took her to PetLand to look at all of the animals.  And then to the toy store.  And then to buy fish.

We totally rewarded her for terrible behavior. Okay, we suck at parenting.

But her fish are totally cute.  And the rocks are pink.  And it lights up pink.  And we named them Dorie and Nemo.  Yeah, so original.

Whatever. 

We finally got her daycare pictures back and they were so cute.  I actually laughed when I first saw them because they look funny but oh so cute.  I mean, she looks so old, but so little.  See what I mean?

She looks so big!

I am in full birthday planning mode now.  Her invites have been selected.  The pictures have been taken.  The location has been reserved.  Just need to figure out all of the fine details.  We are sticking with the barnyard theme, cause let's face it, the girl *loves* her farm animals.  Loves them.

I think that she's going to love her party.  Or I hope that she will.  She may be rotten, but she's our princess.  Our spoiled little princess.  And when you ask her who the prettiest girl in the whole wide world is...she points to herself.

Yep.  We're doomed.

Soul Refilling Weekend

A Long Trip Alone by Dierks Bentley is playing on the radio and we both comment that it’s been a long time since we’ve heard it.  All that I want to do is stop for a bag of Limon potato chips.  But, Kage is in and out of sleep in the backseat and we don’t dare stop in fear that it will wake her.  We’ve been on the road for just about two hours and still have another four ahead of us.  I’m sure those Limon chips will be joining our trip before long.  

We just lost our station and that song that we both hadn’t heard in so long was lost. 

Now, it’s The House That Built Me by Miranda Lambert.  Equally as nice to hear.

This weekend, we abandoned responsibility and drove to southern IL.  My best friend called me and said that I needed to come down for a pumpkin patch trip.  She knew I needed it.  Despite the looming load of work that I have to complete for this week, I have faith in myself that I’ll find a way to get it done.  I needed this break.  We all needed this break.  So that’s just what we did.

It was a secret trip, in a way.  We didn’t tell anyone we were going.  Just loaded the car and went.  Trips like that are nice.  It’s hard to see everyone and do everything that you want to do in just a short weekend…the expectations are too high.  Secret trips are just kind of nice… we were able to stay in our pajamas on our best friend’s couch all day long.  The kids were able to play together.  We ate and talked and rested. 

They live on a farm—kind of.  And you know how much my KG Layne loves the farm.  (It is the theme of her second birthday party.)  She was able to run out their backdoor, across the back yard and into a barn full of moos.  She was in heaven.  She met and fell in love with a “moow” kitty (think the word now but with an m).  Her and her best friend ran hand in hand speaking in conversations that only they could understand.  I’m sure she told him all about her stressful times at day care this week.

We took the kids to the pumpkin patch, the same one we visited one year ago and took KG’s 9 month pictures.  It’s almost impossible to wrap my mind around the fact that she’s now almost 2.  Her and her buddy ran hand in hand through the corn maze.  It was so adorable, we just followed behind them.  Needless to say, we were corn maze drop outs.  We passed the same place twice and decided their lead was going to get us nowhere fast.   The pumpkin patch had a play zone where Kin was able to play in a bin of corn kernels and slide on a big slide!  Sliding is one of her favorite past times…for sure.  She was in heaven.

On Saturday night, the husbands took off for a night of haunted houses.  You can’t drag me into one of those things.  You know that there is always a clown hiding around the corner and this girl doesn’t play when it comes to clowns.  Or any haunted house, for that matter.  I am a chi-cken.  Big time.  It was nice to send them out and get to have a girl’s night in with the babies.  Our third partner in crime came over with her little boy and the three of us stayed in to just hang out.  We’ve been best friends since the babies were about six months old…and now we’re all planning second birthday parties.  Where does the time go?

It was an amazing weekend.  I can’t wait to share all of the pictures with you…we sure did get some good ones.

I have been blessed

Have I told you before how blessed my life truly is?  Have I mentioned how great my marriage is these days?  Have I talked about the most amazing little girl ever created by God? 

I feel so blessed. 

My student teaching is going along flawlessly and while still extremely challenging, I am learning so much and my efforts are not going unnoticed.  Which means the most, really.  I have been complimented by some of the toughest critics and I am humbled by their comments.  My fingers are crossed that this permanent sub position for my cooperating teacher opens up to me in January.

Because it is such a long maternity leave for her, it has to be opened to all interested applicants.  Then they will be doing peer interviews and finally selecting a sub for her classroom from January 3 through the end of the year.  Having been with the students since the first day of the school year, I obviously feel that I am the best candidate!  :)  But time will tell....  and I hope and pray that they pick me!

Today I got to work and opened my net book to get my Smart Board set up for the morning message and lunch counts and surprise!  Only ten minutes remain on the battery.  Really!?  It charged all night!

I was in a panic. 

It was raining (thank God!), so I knew that R would be rained out at work.  So I texted him and begged him to please bring me my charger.  Almost my whole day was on the Smart Board and I would be lost without my net book.  I was freaking out.

He was still working (on office stuff?) but left anyway to go home, get my charger and drive it all the way to my school.  Knight in shining armour.  For sure.

Heather, Bethany, Me and Gina

I am blessed to have some of the best friends a girl could ever dream of.  These girls have been my rock when so many things seemed wrong.  They love my daughter like a niece.  They love me like a sister.  We are so close, even though we live so far apart.  I got to sneak away for a quick trip last weekend and was able to visit with them over appetizers and drinks.  I needed that.  They refilled my soul when it was running low.  I love them.  So, so very much.

And that little girl?  The one that blows me away with her beauty.  The one that amazes me with her intelligence.  The one that has me singing Twinkle Twinkle into the phone on my way home from work every day.  The one that makes me dance and twirl like I am a child again.  The one that melts my heart over and over and over again. 

You know the one...

She's my angel.  Everything that is right in our world.  And if there is one lesson that I can teach her in this life, it is to put herself first when it comes to her education.  I hope that she gets her education when she's young so that she never has to miss these precious times with her babies, just as I feel I am now.

I work a lot of hours with student teaching, and thank God I have a great husband that has done nothing but pick up the slack and not once complain.  He drops her off at day care, picks her up, cooks dinner, grocery shops, cleans, baths her....anything and everything I need.  I couldn't be doing this without him.

See....
Blessed.
Truly, blessed.

Thursday is KG's first day at the new "scoo" and I am thrilled beyond belief.  I can't wait to see how much she learns and how many friends she makes.  She makes me so proud.