Sunday, October 26, 2008

It Was Worth $18

Dawson and I do not normally go out to the movies. If I want to see a movie on a large screen TV, I can always go over to my parents' house and watch it on their large screen TV. Forking over $18 for two tickets is a little hard to swallow, but since we don't normally go out to the movies, I was fine with paying that amount of money and going to see the movie Fireproof. It was the best $18 that we spent!

I really enjoyed the movie and I highly recommend that you go to see the movie is you have not yet! You could even pay a little less than we did if you are able to catch a matinee! This is definitely a movie that deals with real life issues and has an awesome answer to help work through those issues...and it is not just a book. I think that I might purchase the book and go through the "Love Dare" with my husband. We are not estranged, but marriage is work, and if there is a tool out there to help bring us even closer to each other and God, why not try it out!

I will definitely buy the movie when it come out on DVD, and I am looking forward to the next movie that this church puts out!

Friday, October 24, 2008

Learning the Scriptures

Recently, I have been teaching Brady a Bible verse. It has been a lot of fun, and I look forward to teaching him some more! I wrote more about this over at the Created and Called blog - you can read more about it here.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

A Little Update

Things have been busy around here. I have not really had the time to blog, but there has been a lot going on - especially in Smiles' life (and in turn, mine!).

In the past three weeks, this is what has happened in Smiles' life (and no, it is not his birthday, like the bib states - it was just a clean bib that I grabbed!):

1. Crawling has begun - he is really good at it now, and loves going all around the house - today, he was attempting to get up the stairs!!! Sometimes, he goes a little too fast and does a "face plant" into the carpet - poor little guy! I always have him in my sight, in fact, I like to crawl around with him sometimes and chase him. He giggles a lot! I like to say, "Mommy's gonna get you!" and then I start to tickle him and he laughs and laughs! I love his laugh!

2. With crawling came pushing himself back into a sitting position. He looks so cute doing this - if you have not gathered, I think that most everything that he (and Brady) does is so cute.

3. His TWO bottom teeth have come through - within one week of each other! I think that the top teeth are going to come through any day too. I think that the teething has been bothering him a little bit - right before the teeth cane through, he would wake up around 2 or 3am crying. This is not normal for him. He sleeps around 12ish hours straight at night. So, I continue to pray that he would not have any pain or discomfort during this teething process.

4. Two days ago, he pulled himself up into the standing position - that was probably the third time that he has done that - but each time was spaced out quite a bit. Well, yesterday, he decided to become the expert on pulling himself up to the standing position - so that he can play with his leap frog table and the train table easier (before then, he would get himself up on his knees and play at each table). So, now he is enjoying keeping me on my toes and he is beginning to understand what "no" means.

My little Smiles has definitely been keeping me busy - it is so good though! I could tell that he has been wanting this freedom for a while, so it is fun to watch him explore our house in a new way.

Besides all of these wonderful things that he has been experiencing, he has also been a little constipated lately - to the point of crying and nothing coming out. That broke my heart! I really do not know what caused it, but mixing apple juice into his cereal and feeding him that three times a day helped to relieve him (and his mommy's heart strings too!).

Besides the happenings of Smiles, I have been trying to keep the computer off for a good portion of the day. When it is on, I am sort of drawn to it - to check on some blogs, check email, etc. - and that can tend to waste time that I could use to do other things like cooking, hanging with the kids, etc. So, that has probably been a major reason as to why I have not written a lot lately!

Other things going on with me:

1. I am so glad that I do not have a sinus infection any longer

2. I would like to go and see the movie Fireproof at the movie theater this weekend! Dawson and I wanted to go the weekend that it opened, but that is the weekend that I started to get sick...so, our date has been on hold for a little while now. It will be nice to get out of the house with my man! (I am not looking forward to paying the price for the ticket though - prices are so expensive!)

3. I have really been in the mood to cook and bake a lot - some of this has only gone as far as in my head though. Some of the dishes that I have been thinking about will eventually become reality...I just have to make the time to do it! :)

It is getting late and I need to go to bed! I will try to write more soon!

Thursday, October 16, 2008

What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?

A few days ago I was telling Brady how he and Smiles were an answer to my prayers and my heart's desire. I always knew that I wanted to be a Mommy when I grew up - and I am so blessed that I am a Mom and have two wonderful sons! This led into the following exchange between Brady (2 and 1/2 years) and me:

Me: "So, what do you want to be when you grow up Brady?"

Brady: (having a little smile on his face) "I want to be with you, Mommy."

So sweet - that made my heart melt!

I Love You Too, Babe

I enjoy receiving flowers - not weekly, but from time to time. As some of you know, red roses are my favorite flowers to receive! I used to think that it was "bad" to enjoy receiving flowers - just because others don't care for it, but you know what I have realized? We are all different and we all get our "love tank" filled in different ways. So, it is okay if you enjoy flowers, or chocolates, or a night out with the kids, and it is also okay if you don't!

Anyway, I was not given flowers the other day - but I was given a little note, that just made my day! It was just as good, if not better than roses!

On Tuesday, it was a foggy morning and we had our MIA meeting that day. I got the kids into the car, and after I buckled my seat belt, I looked up at the windshield, and there was a special note written on the condensation, just for me!

It simply said:

I LOVE YOU!
XOXOXO XOXO

(there were hearts drawn on it too!)

It made my day!

I love you too, Dawson! :)

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Did You Know These Things About Me?

I have been tagged by Jenne, to list 7 random things about myself, so here it goes!

The rules:
1. Post the rules on your blog.
2. Write 7 random things about yourself.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post.
4. Pass on the tag.

My Seven Random Things:

1. I enjoy opening wine bottles. I learned how to easily take the cork out, with an opener that looks like a pocket knife, when I was a waitress, and I think that it is fun. I don't get to do it often - but I opened a bottle the other day to cook with, and it was fun! :)

2. Did you know that I was a waitress at a nice Italian restaurant (down in Port Jefferson - on Long Island)? It was during the summer after my freshman year of college - I did not enjoy it, although I made very good money!

3. I have been told that I tie my shoelaces "backwards". I always thought that it was "normal", but I think that what I learned to do was the mirror image of right-handed people. So do I tie my shoes the way that a left-handed person would??? I am not sure.

4. I like to sleep with a sheet and comforter on - pulled all the way up to my chin! This is all year round - spring, summer, fall and winter!

5. I COMPLETELY trust my husband when it comes to directions. He has a good sense of direction - I prefer following a map or written directions.

6. I have a hard time pulling the car (or minivan) straight into the driveway - I am usually cockeyed.

7. I am good at choosing the correct size container to fit leftovers in - it is usually the
"perfect" size container.

Random things are not always easy for me to come up with, but it was fun to do, and Dawson helped me think of a few. We are actually coming up with more that seven now, so I will add a few more:

8. I go to CVS at least once a week, do a few transactions, and usually get about $60+ worth of merchandise for around $1.00 (give or take), after ECBs and coupons.

9. Saving money, and getting quality products is fun, challenging and has become a little bit of a hobby for me - as far as groceries, cleaning products (some) and toiletries go.


Ok, so if you are reading this, consider yourself tagged! :)

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

A Listening Ear

Today, we went to the library like we do every Wednesday (except when I was sick - I am feeling better now, thanks for asking and thanks to the antibiotics!). Everything was the same as usual - return the books and DVDs, find more books and DVDs to take out, check the books out...and then Brady gets a stamp on each hand (you know - a rubber stamp that gets inked up and then pressed onto your skin). He LOVES getting the stamps on his hands - he thinks that it is the greatest thing, and he does not like to wash his hands for the next day or so...however, he needs to, so we scrub lightly on the top of his hands.

Today, after he got the stamps on his hands, he said, "Look, Mommy, funny faces!" and he was laughing. I immediately got a check in my spirit, and THOUGHT to myself, "Oh, no...it IS October...what type of Halloween stamp is it!" Well, Brady told me right away, "A pumpkin (a jack-o-lantern) and a Smiley face (just the face part of the jack-o-lantern). I just said, "oh, yes, a smiley face." We said goodbye to the librarian and left.

I thought to myself (prayed to God), what do I do? We do not celebrate Halloween, and I do not want Brady to think that these Halloween things are okay, but what should I do or say to him that is age appropriate. We have not talked with him about Halloween yet, and I was not really sure what to share with him yet about the truth of Halloween and why we do not celebrate it. Simple answer - it does not glorify or honor God.

Since I was not sure what I wanted to share with him yet, I decided that I would continue to seek God with what I should share with Brady. I didn't want to put any scary thoughts in his head but I also want him to know the truth. I knew that the stamps would wash off in a day or two, so I decided that I would not go "nuts" and insist to scrub them off...but, I was not happy about the stamps.

When we got home, it was nap time. I got Smiles down for a nap first, and then Brady and I went into his room, read 4 of the new books that we brought home from the library, and I tucked him into bed. At that moment, Brady looked at his hands and then looked at me and the following exchange took place:

B: Mommy, these are scary. I don't want them on my hands anymore

Me: Do you want Mommy to wash them off of your hands?

B: Yesh (his way of saying "yes")

Me: Are you sure that you want Mommy to wash them off (I just had to be sure)

B: Yesh, Mommy. I don't want to be scared, they scare me.

So, I grabbed a wipe and scrubbed a little at his hands (I really did not want him to get out of bed), but that was not doing the whole job. So, I got a washcloth and used soap and water to get the stamps off of his hands.

Since he expressed to me that he did not want to be scared, I prayed with him - that scary feelings would leave in Jesus' name, and that the peace of God would rest upon him. He was at peace and he had a great nap! I also encouraged him/thanked him for being sensitive to the Holy Spirit and listening to Him...because it was the Holy Spirit that nudged him to say what he did to me. I have to say that I was blown away by all that took place - God is so good.

I was so thankful to the Lord for hearing my prayers and answering them, and I am so thankful that my son has an ear to hear and listen to God's voice - and then to act on it. God is good. He knows our hearts, hears our prayers and knows how precious and special our kids are to us...because they are special to Him too!

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Watch out World!

It is official! As of last Tuesday, Smiles began to crawl!

He has been rocking back and forth on his hands and knees for at least a few weeks...and then he decided to take off! On Tuesday, he would take about 2 crawls (each hand and each knee would advance) and then he would fall down and take a rest...and sometimes cry!

I had no idea how long it would take him to get the hang of it and start to get in to everything. It only took a few days! He crawls "slow", but he gets where he want to go - and it is so cute to watch. He looks like one of those little baby dolls that crawls slowly.

That is now all though! He has also learned how to go from his hands and knees and push back into a sitting position! SO CUTE!!! So, guess how I have found Smiles after a nap??? Sometimes on his hands and knees and sometimes sitting up - facing a corner, or in the middle of the crib, and the cutest position happened today. He was sitting up with his legs hanging through the slats of the crib! I so wish that I had my camera! Thankfully his legs are not chubby, so they easily slid back through. He just looked so cute...but, I have to wonder - how in the world did he get into that position?

He is also pulling himself onto his knees so that he can grab anything that might be on the couch, or just to climb into Mommy's lap! :)

So, I think that it will be time to break out the baby gates again! I have been really enjoying the freedom of no gates, however I will have to make the stairs "off limits" for now!

It is so much fun to watch my little guys grow and develop - and it is so amazing to think that my little Smiles turns 9 months old on Wednesday! My two boys are such precious gifts from the Lord, and I love them to pieces!

Not Up To Par

It has been 10 days, and I am still not feeling well. My whole family has been fighting off some type of sickness. Brady is doing fine - a few boogies here and there, but they are clear, so it is all good. Dawson seems to be doing fine also. Smiles just started getting major boogies a couple of days ago, so he is still fighting something - they are not clear yet! Poor little guy! I am feeling well usually in the morning, but by the afternoon, I start to feel lousy again.

This is the worst that my sinuses have even felt in my whole entire life! I have been taking a lot of sudafed and Tylenol, but I think that I am going to have to make a doctor appointment tomorrow. I am wondering if I have a sinus infection - it is something that I just have not been able to "shake". I just hope that they don't tell me to keep blowing my nose and take more sudafed because, I am already doing that!!! AND, I really don't want to pay someone to tell me what I am already doing - that is the reason that I waited this long to make an appointment! I actually called the doctor's office on Friday and they said to wait about 10 days - and take sudafed.

So, hopefully, I will get better quickly so that I feel like doing the things that I have been putting aside...which includes a date with Dawson! I was so excited to go on a date with him a week ago, but I got sick! So, we just went to bed early. That date will still happen - as soon as I get better!! I can't wait! :)

Friday, October 3, 2008

Happy Birthday To My Sister!

Today (well, probably yesterday, by the time that most of you read this!) is my sister's birthday! So, if you haven't had a chance to do so - head on over to her blog and wish her a happy birthday!

If you know my sister, even just a little bit, then you know that she is a very special person. She has been there for me for my entire life - and I am so thankful that she is my best friend.

She is the one friend that has been constant throughout my life. Other friends have come into my life and have exited my life for one reason or another, but I know that she will always be there for me...she always has been. She never thought of me as "less then" when I was walking the fence with my relationship with the Lord - she loved me and prayed for me, and I have to say that I am so thankful that she did! She also "accepted" me when I was not at the same stage of life as she was - whether I was still single while she was already married, or I was married without children, she never made me feel "less than" or that I just "did not understand what it was like"...she liked me for me - and she still does!

We always have fun together - whether we laughed through our first step aerobics class together, shopped together, discussed the latest deals that we got, or just talked. TCC - I look forward to hanging out again soon! I am working on getting over this sinus infection, and getting my family healthy too! It's no fun not getting together with you, sis!

I love you, sis, and hope that you had a wonderful birthday!

Love, Promises