Success

I actually accomplished a 2011 resolution I set last January:

I

DONATED

BLOOD

4

TIMES!

And potentially saved the lives of 12 people.

It was totally free and it feels awesome.

Come join me sometime in 2012.

merry CHRISTmas!!

I am the Mom who buys books instead of toys.

I found this book the other day when out CHRISTmas shopping.

We love it!

 

"God Gave Us Christmas" by Lisa Tawn Bergren

 

Some excerpts:

"Did God give us Santa?" Little Cub asked. "Santa Clause reminds us about many good things like generosity and care. But it is God and Jesus that we celebrate most come Christmas. We always want to thank GOD for giving us ...Christmas," replied Mama Bear.
 

"Christmas is a lot about surprises."
"Mm-hmm, like presents!"
"Yes! Jesus is the best present of all. And God would've given us that present, even if it was only for you."
"Only for me?"
"Only for you, Little Cub. God gave YOU Christmas."

 "Jesus is a present for everyone, grumpy or happy, mean or kind. God gave us ALL Christmas."

 

It's an amazing book, highly recommended by the Raker's :)

 

Merry CHRISTmas, every one!



2 next month

Lately it has become easier to respond to this question, "How old is he?", with "He will be 2 in January". Almost 2 just rolls off the tongue better than 23 months. It is a milestone really; from here on out Doodle will be "2" and eventually "2 and a half" rather than a quantity of months. It is another reminder that he is growing up. Way. Too. Fast.

To commemorate, this is Doodle's 23 months list:

1. You often refer to yourself as "Dayden" and sometimes "I".
2. Christmas is next week. You love ALL the decorations, especially "Tip-i-tees" (Christmas tress).
3. Santa is fun to talk about and look at from afar. You were not a fan of your encounter with the jolly ole' elf.
4. Overnight stays at grandparents' are becoming a monthly occurence. You love "PaPaw and Nana's" and "Mimi and Poppy"'s houses.
5. We are thinking about letting Papaw give you a puppy.
6. Thomas and Friends and Mickey Mouse are each watched almost daily.
7. You have started lining objects up in a single-file line. These objects become a "choo-choo".
8. You are obsessed with trains. And tractors.



9. Pretend play is beginning. You will lay your toys on their sides and say "night-night". Then you start snoring.
10. You torment Milo endlessly in any way you can and have also started to chase Jake around the house.
11. Jake scratched you on your face for only the second time ever. See above.
12. You suffer from nurse-maid elbow. Dr. Collins had to pop a ligament in your elbow back into place because it slides over a bone and becomes stuck. You did not use your arm for 2 whole days within a 5 day time frame.
13. You love for the fire in our fireplace to be lit. You say, "Daddy. Fire. Do it. Please."
14. You are a little parrot, repeating nearly everything you hear.
15. When Daddy comes home from work you become SO excited. You two scream and yell and laugh and run and tickle and hide and push trucks all over the house together.
16. Dancing to Christmas music has become a favorite activity. You ask for the music and proceed to dance: stomping, clapping, jumping.
17. You like for Daddy to make himself into a bridge so you can crawl under him. He also does this for you using the couch cushions.
18. Ready? Set. Go! You are beginning to like to race!
19. When trying to convince us you should watch Mickey or Thomas and you are not happy with no as a response, you proceed to ask to watch, "News?" Nice try.
20. You like to play hide-and-seek. You say, " Where are num?" and "There it is" using a higher pitched voice.
21. You can count to 2 and know the colors blue, green, and red consistently and orange, brown, and yellow inconsistently.
22. Kaleb, Kameron, and Roby are three of your favorite people. You love your cousins.
23. You are snuggly. You like to give kisses and hugs and say "Wuv You, _____". Please do not ever stop being that way.

Thank you Doodle for being the absolute best thing that has ever happened to us. You are such a blessing to us and we continue to thank God for you each and every day.

"Every good and perfect gift comes from above..."
James 1:17

Thoughts at 30!

Today, I am 30. There I said  it(actually I wrote it, it may feel a little differently when I say it). I am chosing to embrace this fact instead of mourn my 20's. I mean, let's face it. My 20's were great but I also did a lot of stupid things in my early 20's. Things I am not so proud of and are better left unsaid. In my 20's: I graduated college, I became engaged and married, we bought our first home, got our first 2 pets, watched miracles before my very eyes, and had our first baby-a bouncing (literally) baby boy! Who could mourn that?!? Sure, Kameron told me I was "not young and hip anymore" yesterday because today I am turning 30, but what's he know anyway?!? He's (almost) 10! And actuallly, I'm not sure I was ever hip anyway; not a priority in this girl's life.

I've heard that starting at 30, the decades following just get better and better. I think that may be true. So, today I am chosing to embrace my 30's, declaring they will be my best decade yet, and I'm going to start it off right by sending my bouncing baby boy to spend the night with my parents and spend the day in the pool tomorrow-baby free for a while!! Sounds like a great refreshing way to start a new decade!
Happy weekend to you all and tell your father's and baby-daddies Happy Father's Day!!!