Moments

Lately I have been thinking a lot about what I want in life. What does anyone want in life?

I know I want to be happy- regardless of what people think of me.

I want to stop putting so much stock into what people think of me. I am who I am- if you don't like me or what I stand for then who cares? You probably don't know me well enough or have taken the time to get to know me any way!

I want to be an awesome role model for my daughter. Someone who she will always look up to.

I want to take control of my life.

I want to go to church every Sunday- not just show up once or twice a month.

I want to remember every moment I have with her. Her life is almost like a tape recorder in my mind playing over and over again. I remember those first few moments I had with her completely alone at 4:30am in the hospital. I had a c-section late the night before and they took her to the nursery before I was able to hold her. Doug had to leave after that and I tried my best to stay awake past the 4 hour mark they required to watch her. I passed out about 3 am but I clearly remember snapping back to life around 4:15am and immediately calling down to the nursery to have my baby brought to me. I remember it seemed to take FOREVER for them to bring her to me and I even called back a second time asking where my daughter was! They wheeled her incubator in and left. At first I just stared at her. She looked as though she were in awe- her eyes were wide open. Of course I snapped a few pics with my camera phone- every time I look at that picture of her it reminds me. I couldn't move much just having had surgery 4 hours earlier but I maneuvered my way around and picked her up to hold her. It was dark in the room and she was quiet. I was quiet. It was just she and I. I held her to my chest and laid there with her until our visitors started arriving shortly after. To me those moments are like pieces of heaven here on earth.

If Georgia is my only child I am at peace with the fact that I have truly taken advantage of being her mother. I have loved (well, come on the nights last month when she was up til 12:30pm multiple nights in a row I didn't really love...) let's say "treasured". I have truly treasured every moment. I know at the end of this journey we call life I'm never going to look back and be irritated she gave me trouble going to bed a night occasionally. Even now while it's still fresh I am glad I had the chance to rock her to sleep, comfort her and kiss her goodnight.

Maybe that is a gift God has given me as a mother- no matter how hard it is in the moment, how crazy, stressed out and tired I am I still try to realize she won't be little for long. Every day I have with her is a day I will never get back.

Tonight Georgia was singing in the bathroom. I ran and grabbed the video camera and caught some great action of her belting out some tunes. It's hilarious- I can't find my camera cord but I am going to look for it tomorrow and hopefully get it uploaded! Let's just say she may be watching a few too many Disney movies.... =)

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These little moments...

Spring has Sprung!

I cannot believe it is practically the middle of April all ready!!! This year has truly flown by. We have been so busy the past couple of months it seems like March did not even make an appearance this year!

For our BIG news that many of you all ready know....we bought a house! Yes! FINALLY!!!!!! We are so excited and will be moving at the end of this (April) month. I cannot wait. I have been busy picking out furniture and dreaming of design ideas in my sleep. I am dying to get in there and decorate!

We are sad we are leaving the "inner loop" of Houston, but really feel like it's the best move for Georgia. The schools are great and there is an awesome community pool that really rivals Moody Garden's palm beach. You can bet we will be out there practically every day this summer.

I can't remember the last I updated but I know it has been awhile so here goes:

The end of February Doug and I went to a close friend's (Erica and Vadim) wedding in Cleveland. It was gorgeous and snowing everywhere! Georgia stayed here in Houston with family and had a great time.

We went to the rodeo several times this year. Georgia was really into it for the first time. She loved the petting zoo and even rode the live pony-go-round all by herself. I could not believe she did it! The entire time I was waiting for her to start screaming and crying for me to come and get her off the horse, but she stayed on for the whole ride. May have helped that her big cousin Michael was there riding the pony in front of her!

Also in March I turned the big 2-5 and we celebrated my birthday many times! =) Georgia is now a pro at singing "Happy Birthday" although I can't say I didn't practice with her and her play birthday cake... Doug had a little dinner party for me at my favorite restaurant- RDG and we celebrated with some of our best friends. (You have to try the champagne and strawberry drink- I can't ever remember the name but it's AMAZING) He also followed the list of bday gifting like a pro! ;)

She is really growing up- I look at her sometimes and can't believe she is only 2 years old. I know she is turning 3 soon, but I try so hard to not say "she's almost 3" when people ask me. I want her to stay little forever! She can really carry on a conversation with you and understand things when you explain them to her. She is also becoming very self-sufficient. She loves to do things by herself from buckling her car seat to getting dressed.

Oh yes, getting dressed....the clothes battle has officially begun. Pretty much every morning I pull out her outfit to wear and she says "I no like it". For now at least Mom's way trumps 2 year old's way....most of the time.I normally try to have 2 outfits and try to let her pick which one she wants- but even then "I no like it" to both options. I have become very creative in my child dressing abilities.

She loves to play with her cousins Noah and Eli. I am so glad my sister and I have kids the same age. It's a lot of fun when we all get together.

Lately Georgia has picked up quite the southern drawl. We started noticing it a couple of weeks ago and are kinda baffled as to where it came from. Yes, we know we live in Texas, but when we travel most people have always told me I don't have an accent. I really don't think any of my family does either, but my darling 2 year old sounds like she showed up straight from the hills of Tennessee (Or Georgia...). I will have to try to record her talking and put it up here. It's pretty comical!

Georgia is also in love with Princesses and Castles. Every time we see a church or drive through Downtown Houston she cries out "LOOK! A CASTLE MOMMY!!!" Every book that she opens up to read starts out like this, "Once upon a time there was a BIG, BIG castle, the end!" She's a girl after my own heart.

She loves the Fancy Nancy books. She will pick one up and say "Let's read my favorite book". If you haven't read these books it's about a little girl named Nancy who is obsessed with being fancy and using things around her house to obtain this goal. Nancy's favorite thing is fuchsia glitter. When I picked up Georgia from MDO today she had her art project from last week which was an egg the kids had glued glitter on- Georgia chose fuchsia. I was so proud.
-P.S. according to Georgia it isn't glitter, but "sprinkles".

Easter was this last weekend and we celebrated with almost all parts of our family! We spent time with Doug's Dad and sisters, my mom, my grandmother and my dad. What a busy but fun weekend. I will try to post pictures up here later today or tonight!

Layla Grace

If you didn't hear about this little girl I encourage you to take the time to visit her parent's website and read about her story.

www.laylagrace.org

If you don't have time to go by their blog (or can't get on as they have had so much traffic lately ) Layla was a beautiful 2 1/2 year old girl who passed away this morning (3/9/10) She was diagnosed with neuroblastoma- her parents have a lot of info about it on their site but basically it is a type of cancer that causes tumors to grow in your body. She went through different types of treatment and a couple of weeks ago found out they weren't working. They took their little girl home to pass away. It just breaks my heart.

I can't read about her without crying. It makes my body ache to think about this family loosing their precious daughter. I can't imagine the strength these parents must have to make it through this. I don't think I could ever have the courage or grace to go through something so unfathomable. Their faith in God throughout all of this is such a wonderful testament to so many people.

I'm glad Layla is out of pain- she touched a lot of people during her short time here.

Through the night!

Just a quick post this morning to let you know Georgia slept through the night last night with NO accidents!!! I am SO proud of her. It is really only the 2nd time we have put her to bed without a diaper. I woke her up at 11pm to go potty, Doug woke her up at 4am to potty and that was it!

Stay tuned for pics from a cloth diaper bon-fire!

A New Year!

Well here we are in 2010. January has flown by!!! I cannot believe it is almost February. We have been busy yet not so busy this past month. Busy doing things around the house, but not so much getting out activities. Partly due to the fact that Georgia, Doug and I were all sick for the first part of January. I started out with it Christmas Eve and never truly got over it until 3 weeks later! During that time Georgia & Doug both came down with with the same thing. Not fun!!

I would also like to announce I would say Georgia is potty trained!!!!! YAY!!!! She has known what to do for a long time and I think it was mainly me not just "going for it" She has been in pull ups for awhile and would ask to go potty while we were out and about, but wouldn't do it so much at home. Recently she has found a new love in Snow White. It was a gift from Memaw for Christmas and is pretty much on repeat around here from 7am-8pm. Moving on...I found a package of princess panties at the store...BINGO!!! The pack of 6 had 1 pair of Snow White panties in it. She woke up on Monday and I told her I had a present for her. She LOVED them wore them all day long and was so excited. The rest is history- except for the fact I ripped open her Valentine's Day gift early- Sleeping Beauty. (You can only take so much of Snow White....) We watched it together and double bonus- we can now rotate movies and she will wear 3 out of the 6 panties now instead of just 1!

I hate to keep going on about this, but it really is so exciting for me! So far we have gone to the store twice on normal length trips and NO accidents! Also tonight she did not want to wear a diaper to bed so we put a waterproof sheet on her bed and told her she could come out to go potty if she needed to. Also I am going to go in at midnight to wake her up to go potty and cross my fingers!

To catch up from where we left off....

We had a FABULOUS Christmas!! Georgia's favorite gifts were her tool sets from Gucci & Grandaddy. Santa came Christmas Eve to set up her gifts for her to come running into the next morning, while Mom set up the gifts she all ready received on the other side of the room. Christmas Morning I wake up to the "Handy Manny" theme song being played from the living room! I shot straight up in bed and said, "Doug! She's awake!!!!" The little sneak went straight to the living room to play with her gifts- smart girl though, she stayed away from Santa's side of the room!

Emily and Brock came to visit last weekend and we had a GREAT visit with them. Georgia LOVES Brock and had so much fun with him here. We also went out to see our friend Tamara and 3 week old baby Jack. He is sooo tiny and soooo adorable! We can't wait to see Jack again, and of course Brock!

Some funny things Georgia has said lately:
"I want to paint my face too Mama!" as she tries to take one of my make-up brushes.

"Sleeping Cutie" instead of Sleeping Beauty.

Georgia, Noah & Eli are planning a Valentine's Day party so I am sure I will update again shortly after that!