Festive

A random festive assortment for you today:

I think my child has worn red or other "Christmasy" clothes most days this week.  Here is an example.  I mean, she is just so cute!

Here is our attempt at a self-portrait.  She caught on fairly quickly.  I looked crazy, thank goodness for the cropper!  I could kiss her cheeks all day!

Amber's present is perfect for climbing on.

Cute picture, except for the lovely blue recliner!  I think santa may be shopping some after Christmas sales and bringing a new recliner to our house!

Recent Pictures

Ready for the cold weather in her new hat.

Confused about why the exersaucer is in her way.  It is not an effective barrier.

After church on Sunday...with weird hair going on.

She stopped running away from me long enough for me to take a picture.

But only if I promised her she could chew on the camera case :-)

Thursday

I hosted the team Christmas Party last night, and it was so fun!  This group was much more fun than last year!  They ate a lot (thank goodness, because I literally worked for 8 hours preparing all the food and my feet were throbbing,) and got in to the Dirty Santa game.  The toilet paper was the hot gift of the night :-)  I was cracking up!  Comments like "ooh, you steal it from me, then he can steal it from you, then it still ends up at our house!" or " oh, and it's Charmin!"  and " I only got 2 rolls at the house and 1 is on the spinner, so I need that!"  had me rollin'.  [pun intended]

Langley acted a little puny all day, until the guys came in, then she was just eating up all the attention!

trying to open the tabasco sauce

trying to open the lysol wipes

So thankful for a great team!  It was a fun night!  Now I have about 4 loads of dishes to wash...not counting the serving pieces that are handwash -- yuck!

The Joy of Giving

It's Chrismastime and most people are in the "spirit" of shopping, giving gifts, making wishlists, and just being all around jolly.  But, today my soul feels so full - in a good way.  Please know that nothing I'm writing about today is intended to be "look at me," "look how nice I am," "look how good am I."  I don't know if I am any of those things, this is not about me.  I really struggle with being obedient.  Like doing what God wants me or tells me to do.  I try everyday, but I fail.


Anyway, with the holiday season comes many many opportunities to give.  I am not a person of great wealth.  We can pay our bills and that's about it, but the fact that we are in the Lord's will (me not working full time) and are trying to glorify Him, allow us to still have money left over to attain "wants" and most importantly, serve others.  I think having a baby made my desire to give even stronger.   We have adopted an angel off the salvation army angel tree, made a donation toward the Baptist Children's Home angel tree at our church, and filled a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child.  And those dang bell ringers see me coming everytime.  All of these are good things.  Looking at my bank account, I didn't know if it was smart to do these things, but I felt that "tug" to do it.  I am glad I obeyed.


Yesterday morning I had a random thought:  I should go through all Langley's stuff and bag up all the "boy" things.  Before we knew it was a girl, people starting giving us clothes and gifts - it was awesome!  So, yesterday as Langley played I went through 3 tubs of clothes and found 2 walmart sacks of boyish clothes.  I put them in the car thinking I would give them to a student I knew of who was about to have a baby boy. 


This morning, I was thinking about the boy clothes again.  I decided I would give them to this student who is preparing to have a baby boy in some not-so-ideal circumstances.  I just really wanted to make sure that the clothes would be recieved graciously, and that no one would think I was condoning some bad decisions that had been made by this young couple.  I wanted it to be clear that I was thinking of them,  they are loved, and I wanted to help them as so many of my friends and family helped us as we were preparing for Langley.  I specifically prayed this morning that the student wouldnt be embarrassed or that anything negative would accompany these tiny little blue clothes.


And guess what, as I was leaving school today God gave me the PERFECT opportunity to hand over the bag of clothes.  The student was very thankful, no one else was around, it was perfect.  I immediatley remembered my prayer from this morning.  I was obedient, and he blessed me beyond what I deserved.  It felt so good to give.  I got nothing material back.  My gift cost nothing. 




People have been SO gracious to me throughout my life.  God has given me many "good and perfect" gifts.  I pray I always feel led to give beyond what seems logical.


If you've never experienced a "high" from giving the perfect gift or seeing how your small gift can be multiplied; if you've never honestly been able to say I'd rather give than recieve - it's time.  It's time.




{if you've read this far, thank you for making it through my non-edited rambling....Merry Christmas!}

The Semester is Over!

I turned in all my final grades this morning and I'm officially done with the semester!  This week is finals week, but since I teach an Orientation and Study Skills class, I don't give an actual final.  I give the last test the last regular day of class. I just think that their first finals are stressful enough, so they shouldn't have to worry about an Orientation class final. 

As of Saturday, I'm totally done decorating.  All I lacked was the small blue/silver/white "CBC" tree in the guest room and I got that done during Saturday afternoon naptime!

The Mustangs are in a tough stretch of the schedule right now, with a couple of NCAA div. 1 and 2 teams as opponents.  We always hate to lose, but it's easier to handle when they are guarantee ($) games.  I will say that they had a great experience at Northwestern State (in LA.)  We played great, ahead at half-time, and Josh reports they had great officiating :-) 

Also during the weekend, we took Christmas Card photos.  We, meaning it took Josh and I acting like fools to get Langley to cooperate.  I'm pretty pleased with the finished product!  Here are some of the pictures that did not make the card.

Happy Monday!

9 Months Old

My sweet girl weighs 20 lbs 6.5 oz and is 29 inches tall!  She did great at the doctor this morning, however, she just wanted to get down and I wouldn't let her crawl on that floor.  She got her flu shot booster and did not make a sound.  What a good girl!

We talked about food, because to be honest, I have a real phobia of her choking.  Since she still is toothless, I've been very slow to let her try things like mums and puffs.  My phobia has prevented me from giving her anything else to feed herself.  But, it is time.  No grandparents, she can not eat off your plate, have meat, or junkfood.  I'm going to start with tiny pieces of cooked carrot or peas or something.  Josh will have to be here when she's eating that stuff, because I am literally terrified of her choking!  Yes, I know it is crazy.

But, I have already been letting her practice with a sippy cup, which the doctor was pleased with because they recommend she be done with a bottle by 12 months.  She is covered in formula everytime she uses one!

Lanlgey is jabbering more and more. "da, "ba," and "ya," are still her favorite.  I've really been working on "bye-bye, ball, and baby."  Everytime I say those words she smiles so big, like I know what you're talking about, I just can't say it!  She knows who daddy, mommy, and Henry are.  She is obsessed with the remote and our phones, and has paid absolutely no attention to the Christmas trees.  None. 

I had visions of the trees being knocked over, or the ornaments being chewed on, or constantly dragging her away from the gifts.  Nothing.  It's probably because I've done most of the decorating while she's been asleep and we haven't made a big deal trying to show her the lights or touch the ornaments or anything.  Her face is like, "yeah it's cool, whatever." 

She is wearing a size 3 diaper, but I'm going to buy size 4 next time.  Her clothes are mostly all 12 months right now.  The closet is full of 18 months to get her through the winter, but right now most of those are still a little too long.

I introduced zuchini and black beans into her diet.  She's not a fan of the beans, I have to sneak them in! Still eating 4 bottles a day (6 oz during the day and 8 oz before bed,) and have 3 solid meals a day.  Also, still taking 3 naps a day and sleeping through the night.

Enjoy the pictures below.  You can tell we started off strong and quickly lost interest in the 9 month photo shoot!

It's That Crazy Time of the Year

It's safe to say that this time the year is nuts for everyone who works on a college campus.  The grading, the advising, the stupid questions - the non-stop questions.  For the love. 

"You mean we got points just for coming to class?" 
Yes, you got attendance and participation points.  Read the syllabus.

"What time is my advising appointment?"
It's a 12:30 today.  I've memorized the appointment times for all 30 of my advisees. 
[ I don't really respond that way, but sometimes it's all I can do not to be a total smart -ace...especially when they are following me as I'm pushing a stroller and carrying 15 things in my arms.]

"I have a question about my grade.  I came by your office but you weren't there."
I don't have an office.  Again, the best way to contact me is via email.  We can set an appointment to meet in person if neccessary.

"I missed class that day.  When can I turn in my paper?"
You can't.

"So I got a zero?"
Um, Yes.

"I want to take a music class."
Are you wanting to be a music major/minor?
"no, I just like to listen to  music"
Well, music appreciation is already full.
"can I take like a theory class or piano lessons?"
Um.  Why don't you take a gen ed class that you need while you decide on a major?
"I like music."


You get the idea. 

To be fair, I'm sure the students are ready to move on from my class!!!  They get just as tired of the instructors as we do of them!  But the beauty of college is Christmas break; by January  I'll be ready for the hustle and bustle of students again!!

All of that to say, it's already Thursday and I've only blogged once this week.  Langley turned 9 months old yesterday.  I didn't forget :-)  I'm just putting off that post because she has a doctor's appointment tomorrow and I can include all the important stats.

Until then....