It's the Last Day of January

and I've been kind of a slacker on the blog recently.  I know all these pictures could have been a couple of posts, but I might just be too lazy for that:-)

 I realized one day last week that Langley had been a vegetarian until that very day.  So, with the first (nasty-looking) bite of "homestyle chicken dinner,"  she officially joined this family of meat-eaters.  I guess I'd just never bought any baby food with meat since it looks pretty grosss, and I'm definitely not preparing meat for baby food.  Plus, since she is still toothless, I'm sure she is missing out on all sorts of wonderful foods other kids her age eat. 

 Langley has seen several family members recently.  She spent the day with Nanna and Pawpaw Saturday and Josh and I went on a date!  Then, yesterday, she and I went to Hot Springs to celebrate Lawson and Cole's baptism with that side of the family.  It was a great weekend!

 I finally put up the baby bathtub and she gets to swim around the regular tub.  She seems to like it, I know it's time to get out when all she will do is try to stand up or put her whole hand down the drain.

 She has really started playing.  As in, she and I can roll a ball back and forth.  Babies are amazing to me.  They grow and develop so fast, (despite their parent's cluelessness!)  I still think pregnancy and babies are so miraculous!

 She is really social and I'm thankful for that!  She seems to make friends wherever she goes.

Random Observations/ Info and a Picture

1.  My Nanny rode the slingshot.  You know, the ride where you get shot hundreds of feet into the air?  Yes, yes she did.  We have it on video.  That was in December, now she is planning on ziplining in Mexico this week. 


2.  I have 5 people enrolled in one of my classes.  1 I have never seen, 1 has been once, 1, has been twice, and the 2 girls have been to every class.  We have a very cozy class, 3 people in a room that sits 40. 


3.  I have to be fitted for a bridesmaid's dress this weekend.  I'll probably be in a mood afterwards because of the size they order. 


4.  The first chapter in the text book I use for my class talks about the definition of success.  I teach them that everyone's definition is different, your definition can change, etc.  The same day I had that class, I got home and read Joshua 1:8 during my devotion.  "Do not let this Book of Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.  Then you will be prosperous and SUCCESSFUL."

I guess I need to go back and reteach that section.


5.  I have been on a roll the last few days.  I have done everything on my list(s)!  It helps when a certain 10 month old is being cooperative! 


6.  I took this picture on my phone. 

It is now my screen saver. 


7.  I am so glad that my husband is home for the week!  4 games in 8 days - they are exhausted.  The Mustangs record is now 9-10.


8.  I was told people were have problems commenting on the blog.  I think the word verification wasn't working (I've had that problem trying to comment on other people's blog before.)  If you are able to, leave me a comment just so I know it is working :-)  Or, if it is not working, and you can contact me another way, you can let me know, too!

Um, Hello?!

Once again, OVERNIGHT my child has grown and changed. 

 As I type, she is holding a toy cell phone up to her ear and saying (what sounds like) "hi" and "bye."  This is a new thing.

About 20 minutes ago, I noticed she was taller than she was last week.  How do I know?  Because until today she could stand up underneath our dining table (with a bit of room to spare.)  Now, she hits her head. 

Also a new thing today, after my class I went to pick her up (Sarah watched her this morning because Josh was gone) and as we were leaving we were saying "bye bye" as usual, except this time Langley waves and says "bye!"  Like she's grown. 

We've had a good day!  She has felt good and acted so good.  No diaper change freak-out fits or unusual amounts of snot or grumpiness, just a good day!  I am thankful! 

I've started planning her birthday party.  It is so unreal that she will be a year old.  Just unreal.  I haven't cried about it, but I'm pretty sure I will. 

It is so unreal that she is one of the oldest in her nursery at church.  It can not have been 9+ months since we took her in as a 7 week old for the first time.  She is the big girl.  We kept the nursery yesterday and I really did want to cry about it.  But, I didn't.  I snuggled with the teeny tiny babies and watched my daughter in action.

I love my Langley Elizabeth.

I also love that it is almost bedtime :-)

End of the Week

I think we are all feeling better!  Langley is still not sleeping normally and does have a snotty nose, but is acting better.  I am definitely feeling better...thank you Lord.  When I was pregnant I thought about how it would be when the baby was under the weather, but you never think about how hard it is when MOMMY is sick.  Note to self:  this is physically and emotionally challenging.

The Mustangs are now 8-9 going into tonight's game.  We have had 4 games in an 8 day period, so that's been a little crazy - as only 1 of those have been at home. 

I realized Langley is in a new stage that has been more difficult for me.  I feel pretty indadequate when it comes to teaching her things and entertaining her these days.  Plus, she's been sick and teething and can switch from an angel to a monster in about .02 seconds.  On top of that, school started again and we've not been in any sort of routine.  So, this has not been my favorite week. 

But, as I type, Langley has been napping since 2 pm, and a Real Housewives of Beverly Hills marathon is on.  So, I will consider it a good afternoon!


"Where's Langley?"

"There she is!"

Every. Single. Picture.

5 Things

1.  I started feeling bad Friday and by Saturday afternoon I was in pain.  My ear and neck were hurting so bad I went to Prime Care late Saturday afternoon.  I had a good experience.  Medicine seems to be working.  Josh was in St. Louis, but thankfully mom had come up for the afternoon.  That night ended with Langley's nose and face bleeding from being so wet/chapped/wiped a zillion times. We both felt like crap.  I may or may not have called Josh and told him I was "in living hell" and that he "would never understand. "  And, I wonder why my child is dramatic?  The point is, we were sick.

2.  We took Langley to the doctor today because her snot situation had not really improved and she was messing with her ears.  Surprise, surprise, she has a cold and is teething.  No meds, nothing we can do, just wait it out.  I'm so glad we took her.  Now I can tell the difference between bad behavior and just feeling bad.  She got away with a lot this weekend.  I shutter to think what real teething will be like for her if she doesn't produce a tooth as a result of this misery.

3.  As soon as we walked into the Dr's Office, Langley was wired.  She talked and yelled at the other kids.  She went wild in the exam room.  It was funny, but I was a little embarrassed.

5.  She started saying "uh-oh" this weekend and it is the cutest thing!  Really, it was the only cute thing about the weekend of snot and drool and screaming and not napping. 

She'SNOT feeling well.

Bucketloads of snot.  Wiping and sucking out her nose at least 5 times an hour. She can't breathe, so she can't sleep or eat normally either.  As you can imagine today has been pleasant.

Bless her heart.  She has looked so pitiful all day.  I did love that she let me rock her to sleep this afternoon, which is very rare.  But the nap only lasted 35 minutes.  When she woke up, this was the scene.

Can you see the snot bubble? 

She hasn't had fever so, I'm not planning on taking her to the doctor.  I figure it's either a cold they won't give her meds for or maybe she's teething.  I'm praying she feels better ASAP.  All things considered her behavior was good today except for the late afternoon meltdown.  But I would probably act the same way too if my nose was a faucet, I couldn't eat or sleep, and my mom kept holding me down to suck out my nose.  Oh, the snot.

Basketball Update

The Mustangs are 5-8.  If the season ended right now, I would remember it as the year of setbacks.  Injuries, ineligible players, players who don't have heart.  But, there are many more games and I'm praying for a winning season...more wins than losses. 

I looked back at my posts from last year, so much good basketball news,  and remembered that I should be the same supportive wife in victory and in hardship.  I'm afraid I haven't been.  Josh, I'm sorry.  I'll do better.  I'll be a better listener and put my "realism" asside and replace it with optimism when it's my time to talk. 

I haven't been to a game since before Christmas because we are in a long stretch of road games.  I really wanted to go to Springfield tonight, but I have a sick 10 month old and it's going to be around 10 degrees there tonight.  Baptist Bible is the most racist place I've ever been to and I normally get very fired up when we play there.  I mean, one year the student section just happened to dress like "gangstas" and yell "fried chicken and collard greens" when we shot free throws.  I. Was. Hot.  We won, but I was so mad. 

Good story.  Right.

I did read a great article yesterday about Coaches Donovan, Pelphrey, and Grant.  I was sobbing by the end.  I read it again was equally undone.  You can read it here.

Go Mustangs!

But Even I Can Appreciate a Good Snow Day

She had let go and was standing alone here.

We all bundled up and ventured outside.
She may be the cutest baby ever.

Langley was looking away in all the pictures because she was watching Henry run and play so hard!  He played for so long he had snowballs stuck in his fur!

So, we had a good snow day.  Complete with cinnamon rolls, cheese dip, and Auburn winning the national championship. 

I want to remember that right now Langley claps every time she hears music and says mama every day!

I Prefer Days Like This

I'm not a fan of the snow.  I hate that even the hint of snow sends everyone into a tailspin.  I don't like having to change and cancel plans.  I dislike not knowing if I will be able to function normally tomorrow or not (because of the weather conditions.)  I really hate that everyone else freaking out, eventually makes me freak out a little. I prefer the beach to the snow.

I prefer days like we had last week when it was cool and sunny and we went to the park.

Josh met us there for his lunch.  All Langley wanted to do was play with the rocks and twigs, but it was a fun half an hour or so!

So, Langley's first snow was 1-9-11.  Another memory!

My fur baby...

needs a haircut!

At least her SUGAR is still sweet...

All photos taken Tuesday...before the game.

Pink Pictures and a Pony