Something Good - Cuteness

I am linking up with LeeAnn today over at The Life of Rylie and Bryce too.  If you feel like sharing something good, and spreading some good cheer, head on over there and link up!

For the purposes of this post Good = Cute, so let's just go with it, mkay?

My something cute for the week happened early Monday morning.  If Chloe is going to wake up at night she always seems to do it between 3 and 4 am, and usually it's exactly at 3:45 am that I first hear her begin to stir.  Lately, though, she hasn't been calling my name, or crying...she's been singing. 

Last night at 3something in the morning (I did not reach for my glasses so I have no idea what time the clock actually read) Chloe started her "usual" on the monitor.  I listen for a moment and roll over.  She continues, over and over, and over again.  About 10 mintues later, Hubs turns towards me and mumbles "What exactly is she saying?"  Me: "You can't understand that?  She's singing, "No More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed." Him:  "She is even cute in the middle of the night."

She sure is!  I have no idea when she stopped singing, but at some point she did and she fell back asleep.  That child makes me smile even when I sleep.

Oh...and we have Pig Tails y'all!  Real Pig Tails!  It only took her 2 years and 3 months to grow them, but we did it.  She still doesn't really like to wear them, but when she does, it's hella cute! 

Happy Wednesday!

Something Good - Gymnastics

Camdyn has participated in gymnastics a handful of times.  We tried it at the local YMCA when she was three, and then we took a break, we tried it again about six months later, and then we took a break.  We tried when she was  4 1/2 at a local (and expensive) kid's gym and then we took a break.  Each and every time Camdyn would get bored after 2 or 3 lessons. 

The child has a natural ability and the circuit style classes were a breeze for her.  She would get impatient waiting for her turn.  She would jump off the beam and bypass kids who were struggling with balance.  The classes didn't move quickly enough and didn't offer enough variety to keep her intrigued.  Of course, this resulted in her not doing what she was supposed to be doing.  Suddenly she'd morph in to a T-Rex in the middle of class and she'd be stomping around with her short arms, and two fingered claws out and Rrrraaarrr'ing at everyone.  It was a struggle for me to watch and definitely a struggle for the teacher.

After begging to do gymnastics again, I thought we should let her try and so I signed her up (again) for a class at the YMCA.  Much to my surprise, this class, filled with older pre-schoolers, clips along at a pace that keeps Cam interested.  The circuits are harder, and once one skill is achieved a new one is presented.  They don't wait for the whole class to get it, they teach more to each child....ahhhh.

Last night I had the pleasure of watching my nearly 5 1/2 year old beam on the beam as she accomplished a forward roll (with help of course).  I smiled from ear to ear when she waved at me for my attention and approval and when she would shout "Watch this Momma!" from across the gym.

In the car on our drive home she said, "I am so proud of myself."  "As well you should be, you did a fantastic job!"  I don't know if she'll want to continue with gymnastics for the longer term or not, but for now, I'm celebrating the fact that she loves it, and that she looks forward to her classes, and that she is proud of herself.  There are few gifts greater in life than self-esteem and self-confidence.

Feel free to link up your Something Good for the week with LeeAnn.

Something Good - Sleepovers!

Last Friday night, Camdyn had a friend sleepover for the 2nd time.  They swam, they played, and at eleven o'clock I had to convince them to unwind and settle down for bedtime.  We pulled out the bed that was hiding in the couch, and made them a cozy and fun place to sleep.  We brought the nightlight down from Camdyn's bedroom and we tucked them in.  When I left them for the night they were huddled around the night light singing the Tangled theme song, like the light was a lantern.  (CUTE).

They woke with the sun and immediately started playing while Tastefully Simple Cinnamon Muffin Melts baked in my oven. 

As she grows and her baby years tumble further down memory lane; with every tooth lost (we are currently at 4) and every vivid and accurate memory she shares with me; I become even more keenly aware - raising children is a dynamic and evolving experience; with every milestone I am sad to see pass, there is a new one emerging from around the bend. 

It simply gets better all the time.

You can link up your Something Good with LeeAnn over at the Life of Rylie...and Bryce Too.

Something Good - They're Back

Ah, Tuesday, the sweet spot in the week where I get to focus on something good.  This past weekend we spent time with Auntie Liz and Abby who were in town visiting home for the weekend.  We spent a part of everyday day together from Wednesday through Saturday. 

We ate out at our favorite cafe, we indulged in late night (okay, it was only 8 o'clock) ice cream together. 

We had a swim date, that also involved pizza, and Popsicles. 

Here Abby & Chloe show off their Puddle Jumpers. Chloe really liked Abby's turtle Puddle Jumper

 and after Abby took it off, Chloe asked to wear it.

They enjoyed the heat and the water, sleeping in their own beds, the sweet tea, and just being home.

We enjoyed their company, the conversation, the opportunity to switch baby dolls and share (which the girls did a pretty good job with), and having friends over.

Note:  This photo was wrecked, and it still kind of is.  Before I edited it, the top half of the photo was completely blown out due to the bright sunlight.  I found a button in LR that said Filter and I ended up filtering the top half of the photo and dropping the exposure and brightness.  This made the water turn black, but hey, you can see faces now.  One day I'll figure this out...baby steps.  Tips anyone?

It was so nice to have them home for the weekend.  To have some adult time together on Saturday night, without kids and to enjoy a ballgame, a concert, and a great meal with new and old friends. 

And, I think the Littles enjoyed it too.  They are too little to communicate that they miss each other, but Chloe has been asking for Abby and her baby doll every day since Friday. 

Our friendship has bloomed... and theirs is blossoming.

Link up your Something Good with LeeAnn at the Life of Rylie...and Bryce Too!

Something Good - Target Brand Diapers

About a month ago I wrote about Chloe using the potty for the first time.  She did it unprompted and unassisted and pretty much took us by surprise.  I decided I would follow her lead.  In the past month she showed minimal interest in going potty on the potty...until Thursday.  On Thursday, she wore undies to school all day and had one accident.  On Friday, she had no accidents, on Monday she stayed dry all day and during nap time.  Say What?  Yeah, I know.  I can hardly believe it myself.  So, at 2 years and 6 weeks of age, Chloe is about 50% potty trained.  She still needs to get the No. 2 down (I fear she is holding it).  And I don't expect that staying dry all night long will happen anytime soon.

I credit two things with Chloe's keen interest and quick adaptation to the potty:

1)  Her Sister - nothing like a pint sized role model to set the example
2)  Target Brand Diapers

At the suggestion of fellow blogger T. Bird. I decided I would try Target Brand Diapers.  I used Swaddlers until Chloe was about 6 months old and then I thought, hey, why not switch and see what happens.  So, I purchased one tiny pack of Target diapers and a case of Huggies Overnights.  I worried that Chloe would get a rash at night if she was sleeping in a less than a PREMIUM diaper.  It worked.  Chloe never got a rash during the day, and I was saving oodles of money - 148 diapers for $19.99...you have to be kidding me!  As Chloe got older I got more adventurous and she started sleeping in them too.  No leaks, no rashes to speak of (well, that were the diapers fault anyway - if you have explosive poo it's going to leak out Pampers or not).  Granted they feel funny to the touch when they are full, but Chloe didn't seem to mind. 

I believe now that she is 2, she is starting to mind.  She doesn't like the sensation against her skin and she doesn't want a diaper.  She wants her teeny tiny Hello Kitty undies, and she wants to potty on the potty.  SA-WEEEEEE-TTTT!  I'm going to get to stop buying diapers sooner than I expected.  These Target diapers are saving me money all over the place!

If you haven't tried them you should :)

So, that's my something good!

Sumpin Good - It's Been A Year

My Something Good this week, is something my Big.  It's been over a year since I penned this post about my Father's struggles with addiction.  I wrote that letter to him last April in a state of helplessness as I fought my own emotional battle between anger and sympathy.  Shortly after I wrote that letter he landed in the hospital again and battled through a detox that nearly killed him.  I visited him for what I thought might be the last time.  He vowed not to drink again.

And, then in October we took our family to the "Norf" to visit fall, the apple orchards, and grandparents.  I was ecstatic about all that had changed in him.  He was once again the Daddy I knew. 

The Lord has helped him fight his battle with addiction.  His faith, his desire to be healthy, and his love for his family has persevered. 

And, this week, we celebrate one year of sobriety.  That is definitely something good.

Now, we want to hear about something good in your life.  Visit LeeAnn and link up.

Something Good - My two

Today I'm linking up with LeeAnn and participating in her new meme.  The point is to highlight something good in your day, week, life, in order to get the positive energy flowing and just to make the world a little bit brighter.  So often we read stories of tragedies, the evening news capitalizes on our fears, and when you add it all up, the amount of negative and disturbing information that we process on a daily basis is cause for all of us to become afflicted with anxiety disorders and panic attacks. 

My MIL (God rest her soul) used to always say, "Carol!  Stop putting that negating Sh!t out there.  Positive thoughts bring positive results."  I think she was right.  So, here we go...Imma about to tell you somethings that are good!

This morning, I was witness to the cutest thing ever:

The clock reads 7:30 am, it's time to load up the truck to leave for school.  As I'm pouring my cup of coffee for the road I hastily shout to the girls that it is time to brush teeth because we need to leave.  They both scamper off to the bathroom.  I follow to "load" their toothbrushes (it's a lot less messy when momma does it) and then ask them to brush.  Chloe quickly follows this with a "no."  I shake my head.  "Can Momma please help you brush?"  "no."  I leave the bathroom.  I'm trying to figure out if I really want to fight this battle this morning.  I stir the creamer in my coffee, and as I walk back down the hallway to the bathroom I hear a 5 year old voice say, "Chloe show me your cheese face. No, Chloe.  Like this.  Do this."  I walk in and find Camdyn diligently brushing Chloe's teeth.  She hit every angle, she brushed every tooth and Chloe stood there patiently while Sissy brushed her teeth.

Make My Heart Sing.

In other news that makes me happy.  I'm really looking forward to our trip to Busch Gardens with LeeAnn and her family this Saturday.  It's been on my calender for months and I'm excited that we are finally connecting again.  And, this Momma is having a Girl's Night Out on Saturday night too with the O Squad.  The two girls that I've known the longest here, the girls that have been there through thick and thin.  The girls that have their place in this post about how important every friendship is.  I'm sure a night will be had.

So, that's the sunshine in my life right now.  I hope you take a minute to Thank God for all of your blessings and embrace Something that is Good. 

Thanks, LeeAnn for this link up....I already feel like my day is off to a better start :)