Keep Calm

Surely you have seen these signs before...

For the Stressed:

For the betrothed:

For the Bloggers:

For the Faithful:

And for the Mommas:

This tank was sent to my by my girl Jennifer from Circle of love and the craziness around it.  Our kids are about the same ages, although she's raising boys and I'm raising girls.  I absolutely adore her and whole heartedly envy her craftiness.  Thanks for the tank, Jenn!  I have a feeling I'll wear it until the fabric gives out!

MisCELLaneous Monday - Where am I???

Where have I been?  What day is it?  What's my name?  How did I get here?  Yes, yes, I ask myself these questions often.  Life is a whirlwind.  Lovin' it and surviving it!   

So, it's time to post some CELL phone photos in this MisCELLaneous post as well as a few deets on what I was doing last week, when I wasn't here.  Here we go!

Last Saturday, we decided to convert Chloe's crib in to a toddler bed.  I was hella reluctant about this.  This is my second go-round here...I know better than to be EXCITED about this milestone.  I know that it inevitably means she'll get out of bed whenever she wants to, I know it will mean procrastinating bedtime and bedtime struggles at some point in the future.  But, the child needs to be able to get out of bed to use the potty, so in an effort to complete her potty training we converted her crib.  So far so good.  She has yet to get out of bed by herself in the middle of the night (which by the way, was supposed to be the point of converting her crib).  She is still sleeping well and still asks to go to bed at night.  But, I'm not declaring victory.  I know that this will be short lived.  ::Le Sigh::

I've purchased numerous items on etsy; headbands, knitted hats, tutus, hair band holders, leotards, but this is my biggest etsy purchase.  I purchased a dining room table from Modern Rust on etsy.  This farmhouse style table is made from reclaimed wood (I love you mother earth) and was made to order in 6 weeks and delivered from Virgina to Florida quickly.  Yes, it looks like someone put a picnic table in my living room, but that will change soon.  I am very pleased with the table and with the fact that the pink playhouse is no longer in my dining room.  Now, I just need to finish this naked room.

On Friday, I took the day off of work.  I attended an event at Camdyn's school in the morning, and then met up with Liz for some shopping, lunching, and a pedicure that didn't turn out like I visioned.  It was relaxing and the company was fantastic, but the polish on my big toes has this white ghosting across it.  I'm miffed enough about it to post photos of my "spoon toe" or "potato toe" as the hubs likes to call them on the interwebs.  Really, my big toes are so round...like perfect circles.  It's weird.  I guess I'll have to go back so they can fix it.

These were delivered on Friday and made me forget all about the botched pedicure.  I hear this show is fantastic, and I can not wait to take Camdyn to her first concert.  Of course, I paid way too much money for tickets to this sold out show, but I don't have buyer's remorse over it at all...this something we are looking forward to!

On Friday night, we packed the suitcases and loaded the kids in the car and took them to Orlando for a weekend get-away.  Our hotel room was upgraded...we ended up with 2 beds, 2 baths, and a loft style game room.  This was more space than we needed, but we weren't complaining.  It ended up raining the entire time we were there, so we spent a lot of time at the hotel, and the space really came in handy.  The girls enjoyed playing upstairs and watching movies in their room. 

On Saturday night, we met up with LeeAnn and Rylie and attended the Arabian Nights Dinner Show attraction.  The girls, all 3 of them, were so well behaved.  We ended up having front row seats and an unobstructed view of the action.  The dinner was a smidgen above average, but the show was fantastic.  When I asked Camdyn what her favorite part of the show was she said, "I don't have one.  I loved all of it!" 

Because of the rain, we cut our trip short and came home earlier on Sunday than we had planned.  My house looked like a bomb went off in it, so I set to cleaning.  While I was mopping floors, I caught the hubs doing this...completely on his own accord.  Reason #652 why I love this man. 

**note that the playhouse is not going to be permanently located there and the big brown box contains a new chandelier that needs to be hung
I hope y'all are having a great Monday!! 

Down the Lane {photos}

Sometimes my girls will fall asleep on a short car side, say in the 7 minutes it takes to get from the grocery store to home.  I feel like they deserve at least a 20 minute nap, and so I drive through the country side, aimlessly.  I take roads that I've never taken before.   

That's how I happened upon this canopy covered lane, the trees arched over the street, moss dripping from the branches, and holes of sunlight peeking through like a moth eaten bed sheet.

On Sunday, I asked my oldest girl to come with me to the lane.  "It'll only take a minute and you can wear that pretty new dress that is hanging in your closet."

To my surprise, she agreed, and willingly came with me. 

Together we went Down the Lane.

She hopped out of my truck and asked me where she should stand.  She followed all of my directions.  This isn't the first time she's been in front of my lens, but really it was. 

This is the first time that she played to the camera.

"Momma do we need to worry about cars since we are standing in the street?"

"No, love.  This is a dead end street, there shouldn't be many cars coming our way."

"What if I pick up this pine cone and hold it?  Remember that?  Remember at the park?"  I do remember that...so I let her call the shot.

And then I called this one.

And in less than 15 minutes, we were back in the kitchen.  I didn't need to take photos for an hour...just for a spell.  Just long enough to get a shot, and to test out that vision that was rolling around in my head.

I found inspiration.  I found motivation.  I found that creative "thing" that was missing.  And the best part is...that my little girl helped me find it.

We found it Down the Lane.

Wordless Wednesday - Little Friends

Love is rarer than genius itself. And friendship is rarer than love.

~Charles Peguy

You may remember this adorable shot of handsome that I took back in August.  In that post I mentioned that I wish for these two what their big sisters have...friendship.

After spending a month in pre-school together, that wish is coming true.  They get along...finally. 

Handsome will say "May I have a bite?"  And Chloe will joyfully hand him over a Craisin...and another...and another...until her pack is empty.

And then Chloe wants to ride his scooter.  So, they switch and he rides her pink princess scooter and she rides his red Radio Flyer scooter...and nobody cries.

They are the cutest of friends. 

**Photos compliments of Handsome's Momma, Becky.

A Little Bit Broken

Last week, on our way to the gym, Camdyn and I made a stop at my favorite little cupcake store.  Totally counterproductive, but that's the way it works, I guess.  The cupcake store is located right next to a florist shop.  So, to kill some time, we wander in and look around.  Camdyn spies this little Gund stuffed Eagle.  It's cute and she wants it very badly.  I look at the sticker...$12.99.  I tell her that she'll have to earn it. 

We get in the car and we work out details on how she can earn this toy.  I tell her that if she gets stars on her behavior chart for the next two days then she earns the eagle toy.  Thursday she got a star, and Friday, she ended up with a straight face for disruptive/loud voice in the Library.  No toy for Camdyn.

So, this week brings a fresh start and a new goal...two stars in a row earns the toy.  She accomplishes her goal and yesterday on our way to the gym, we buy Camdyn her prized Eagle. 
(Cam is obsessed with birds right now - thank you Rio - and her school mascot is the Eagles...so she is super happy about this stuffie). She is so proud of herself and can't wait to show her teacher.  She talks about it all night long and sleeps with her eagle (named Flower) tucked in neatly beside her.

This morning, I tell Camdyn that she can bring the eagle in and show her teacher, but then the eagle is coming to the truck with me, toys aren't allowed at school.  She was on board with this idea.

We get to school early, she is playing with her eagle and is totally pumped to show her teacher. When the door opens she strolls in with her toy, and 10 other kids, and some parents. She waits patiently for her teacher's attention. She finally taps her on the hand and says "Look - Eagle." Her teacher says, "cute" and then goes back to the conversation she was having with a 9 year old school patrol. Cam stands there for another 2 minutes, waiting to have more of a conversation with her teacher about her eagle. She finally gives up, and walks over to me, half broken hearted because the teacher didn't give her more attention.

::Sidebar:: I don't blame the teacher, she's busy, she has a million things to do in the morning, she has kids and parents coming through the door, she just didn't have time, and I get that, I really do.

BUT - the look on Cam's face killed me. I can still see her...eyes turned down, but trying to put on a smile as she handed me her Eagle to take home. The look of sheer disappointment blanketed her face. So, I said, "She said the eagle was "cute." She liked it!!" Cam just shrugged her shoulders. Then I left.

On the ride to work I was thinking about how something so important to a child is often just tossed aside by adults because we are too busy with our own lives and agendas to see their simple pleasures.
I wonder how many times I have done that same thing to her, only I was too busy to see that look of disappointment wash over her face.  Five times? A hundred times?  I have no idea.

So, I sit here, a little bit broken.   Feeling every bit as disappointed as my little girl was this morning.  I should have walked into her classroom with her (instead of waiting in the hallway) and said "Cam has something special to show you. She's been waiting all night to show you this." 

I should have made it important, because it was important, to my child.

I can't change what happened this morning, and like a good friend told me , "Luckily they [kids] also forgive and forget pretty easily."  She is right, Cam probably shook off her disappointment like a champ after I left the room.

But, me, I'm going to remember this...and the next time I find myself saying "one second" or "in a few minutes" or "not right now."  I'm going to stop and remember the lesson here. 

Time, is not more valuable than her sense of significance. 

She is worth it.

Her accomplishments, her imagination, her stories, and her interests are worth time. 

Taking the World by Storm on 12" wheels

Last Tuesday night I asked the Hubs to take the training wheels off of Cam's much too small bike.  He grabbed his tools and together they sat down to work on the project, and five minutes later it was complete.

We spent 10 minutes that evening helping Camdyn learn to ride her bike.  We would walk next to her with a hand on her shoulder, ready to pull her back to center when she would lean too far to one side or the other.  It wasn't long before she was too hot and too tired, so we parked the bike for the night.

The next evening, I pulled my truck in to the garage and began my usual routine of unloading my bag, purse, backpacks, lunch boxes, and Chloe.  Camdyn asked if she could ride her bike.  "Sure.  But stay close."  I take everything in to the house and get Chloe set up with Dora and a cup of milk and then head outside to check on Cam.  She is standing in the driveway, her bike laying on the ground beside her and she says, "Well.  I have that all figured out."  What?  "You have what figured out?"  I ask.  She proclaimed, "I can ride my bike now." 

Um...okay.

And off she pedaled on her tiny 12" wheels. I guess that's the pay off for waiting until 5 1/2 to take the training wheels off. I have to hand it to her...the girl has initiative.



We bought her a bigger bike this weekend.

Well done, Cam. Well done!

To Chloe - 2.5

Dear Chloe Belle,

Funny. As I type your moniker I think of your little voice saying "No. My name is Chloe!" You aren't too keen on your nickname anymore, and are often quick to tell us your full name, which sounds like such a mouthful coming from your little lips.

So, here we sit at 2 1/2 and things aren't so black and white anymore. There is this element of predictability that is nice, or convenient or maybe both with babies. In toddlerhood, that fades, and we are now in the phase where we never know what is in store for us.

Sometimes in the morning, you detest wake up time. I can sing the Good Morning song to you and you scream for me to leave the room. You cover your head with a blanket and wish to hold on to the darkness.  Other times, you wake smiling and singing along with me. It's a crap shoot, really.

The same is true at bedtime. Sometimes you stall, and you want to read one more story. You cry and flail and make a huge production when it's time to shut off the light.  Other times, you willingly shut the light off and then crawl in to my lap only to say 5 seconds later, "I go to bed now."  Either way, gone are the days of contented rocking in the chair.  I still try.  Every night I try, but rarely does it result in one or both of us falling to sleep.  It's still my favorite part of the evening though.

Developmentally, you are progressing, growing, and learning just as you should be.  You know all of your colors, you count to 20 in English, and to 12 in Spanish.  You are interested in learning your letters and often recognize, A, B, O, C, and S without hesitation.  You engage in pretend play right along side your Sissy now, who you prefer to call Camdyn instead of Sissy.  You both like to sit at the kitchen table with your stables and toy horses and play at length.  Your horses have conversations just like Cam's do, it really is the sweetest thing.

Your potty training is nearly complete.  You've been in big girl panties during the day since you turned two, but it's taken awhile to get comfortable with the deuce.  You still prefer a pull up for that business, but we are getting away from that now, and your pull up days are numbered.  You really were a breeze to potty train.

Your favorite things still include your blankie, your paci, baby, and your crib.  Oh, how you love your crib.  I speak of getting you a "big girl bed" often, but you aren't having it.  You love your crib.  Honestly, I love your crib too.  I love knowing you are safely confined in it, I love that you get good rest while you are in it, and that you don't have the temptation of toys to interrupt your sleep.  You can have your crib...for another six months.

As much as you have changed over the past six months, some things are still wildly the same.  You are still a screamer.  When you get really frustrated, embarrassed, or really mad, instead of using words, you just scream...scream at the top of your tiny lungs.  A few weeks ago, you were playing at a party and bumped your head on a metal railing.  When I asked you if you were okay, you simply screamed at me.  I tried to comfort you, but to no avail.  You screamed louder.  I began to stifle a laugh because you were really causing a scene, and when I could no longer contain my laughter, you really got mad, and took the scream to a whole new level.  I finally had to have Daddy come over and help you regain your composure while I walked away.  I know why you screamed.  You screamed initially because you were hurt, and then you were embarrassed, and then you were just flat out mad that I was laughing at you.  I'm sure bystanders mistook your scream for a tantrum, but I know the reason.  I know you.

While you've found your gentle hands, and your words in most cases, you still have that big, giant voice.  You have that ability to stand up for yourself and to make your desires known.  You are fiercely independent and headstrong.  You are testing the waters, dabbling in disobedience, it's the natural course, really.  It's what you are supposed to be doing as you figure out right from wrong and consequences.  But, you are also sweet as spun sugar; helpful as the day is long.  You love to snuggle in front of the TV, help me pick up toys and unload the dishwasher.  You are caring and motherly to friends that get hurt. 

You are the calm and the storm.   

And I am happy to weather both.

Love you Forever and Always,
Momma