The 23rd Month: February 1-4

Feb 1:  It had finally stopped raining so we went out after naptime and splashed in some puddles with her rain boots on.  Can you tell she was happy to be outside?

Feb 2:  We made a quick trip to see my mom.  Langley enjoyed reading the books when we got there because she was super sleepy.

Feb 3:  Brooke stopped by to say hello!  Notice L's boots and beads.  Funny girl!

Feb 4:  She did so well in the car today.  So glad she got to bring some books back from Nanny's because she could entertain herself while we were in a little traffic jam!

APA

I've already put the name of our 2nd daughter on Facebook, but wanted to have the meaning and story behind it here for me to remember.

Baby #2 will be...

AUBREY PIEARCE AUSTIN

Josh has been set on the name Aubrey for several weeks now.  It was the only name he liked.  I wanted to wait to see what all of our pregnant neighbors were naming their children and practice saying "Aubrey Austin" a million times to make sure I loved it.  Well, it looks like we will have a Jacqueline, Kinsley, Madelynn, and Aubrey all here within the next few months. 

Here's why I love her name:

I put Aubrey on the (short) list of names I liked after looking at Abigail.  I loved the name Abigail after I did a Bible study last year on women of the Bible.  Abigail's story of her character and faith is inspiring.  I hope my girls can have some her traits.  However, I know several Abigail's, Abby's (one is a canine,) and Addie's, so I needed something a little different. 

The actual meaning of the name Aubrey is something like "king of the elves."  I'm sure she will appreciate that!  I knew I couldn't have a Langley Elizabeth, whose name has lots of family history behind it, and then an Aubrey "elfish ruler,"  so a family name for the middle name was a must.  We had picked out the middle name Piearce for our boy name, so we decided to use it for our daughter since it is derived from "Piearcy."  Piearcy is my mother-in-law's maiden name.  It is also special because my mom has a dear friend whose last name was Pierce.  She has been like a second mother to me at times, and loves Langley like her own.  My Aubrey Piearce represents some special people!

We can't wait to meet Aubrey and love her so much already!

Bets are on what Langley will end up calling her.  I'm guessing either "sissy" or "bobby"  because I know she won't say Aubrey  :-)

Wordless Wednesday

26 Week Check-Up, The Joys of an Almost 2 yo, and an Eye

I had a dr.'s appointment today and it was a long one.  I had the glucose test, regular checks of weight (I've gained 12 pounds total,) bp (120/68,) baby's heart rate (160,) and belly measurement.  Plus, I got the ro-gam shot.  Afterward, I went by the hospital to pre-register and got to tour a room in the women's center. 

I got in the car to come home and was overwhelmed with fear.  The hospital is so different than Conway Regional - older and smaller and darker.  But, the staff was nice, and hopefully by the time I'm ready to give birth I won't really care!  I seriously have already started praying for the nurses and doctors who will care for me and the baby.  I was never this scared when I was pregnant with Langley, I guess it's just all the "new" we have experienced in the last year and all the "new" we have yet to encounter.

When I got home Josh was helping the UPS man unload the new glider!  I love it!  It is super comfortable and it makes me so happy!

Langley has  been very quick to anger all day.  She is challenging me on every.single, thing.  She responds to correction and direction with screaming, hitting, and/or pinching and pull at my clothes.  I'm surprised my bp wasn't elevated!  This has not been my daughter's best day.  I am ready for her to talk so she can express emotion with words rather than these outbursts.   Lord, help me.

Sunday Langley appeared to have an eye infection.  Her eye was red, watery, and oozing white stuff from the inside corner - I'm sorry I know that's gross!  I was sure she would wake up with a matted eye and full-blown pink eye.  However, Monday morning the eye was much better.  No more oozing.  She never ran fever or rubbed her eye.  I went ahead and called the doctor's office.  They called in some antibiotic eye drops. 

Since her eye was so much better, I was nervous about using these.  I've only given her 2 doses in the one eye - and I'm supposed to do it 3 times a day in both eyes.  I just still don't know how to proceed with this.    Both of her eyes are totally normal as of now.  Mommy worries and "Mommy Guilt" never ends.

I'm super glad that I have dinner in the crock-pot, because I just want to lay on the couch and watch paula deen for a little while!

Is It March Yet?

There are 2 reasons for the title: 

#1 I realized I never posted about my childs First Birthday Party last March.  I'm not sure how I neglected to do this, but with her 2nd birthday fast approaching, here are pictures from her first birthday party.  We had a family party at our church, I made all the food and did the decorations, and we celebrated the most awesome little girl ever born!


I didn't get many pictures on my camera that day...here are some of Langley and some of her guests.

The food and decorations...

Eating Cake...

And Opening Presents...

Reason #2 for the title:  We are are the part of basketball season where I'm am so over it.  Whether we have 0 losses or 20, about this time of the year I am just over it.  Over being a single parent, over the emotional rollercoaster of wins and losses, over not knowing what to say after a loss, over answering the question "where's daddy" 1,000 times a day. 

Don't get me wrong.  I love my husband, and do like being a college basketball coach's wife, there are just certain times that it is really hard and lonely.  I am ready for March.  Anything can happen in March:  A bad season can be erased by a good run in post season,  dissapointments can be over and the excitement of recruiting takes it's place, I get my husband back win or lose, we can look forward to continuing to build a program at our new school, and the list goes on. 

We are still at only 1 conference win this season.  Most games have been close, some we have blown, some were hard fought.  I didn't have many expectations for our first season here.  It takes time to establish your system, find players that find, and learn your new opponents.  However, I will always hate to lose and be Josh's biggest fan.

With all of that, I've said to myself many times this week, "Is is March, yet?"

Dress Up

It was cold and rainy outside so we spent all day inside.  We did puzzles, colored, watched some TV, conquered a mountain of laundry, took naps, and discovered dress-up.

Langley kept getting into her dresser and randomly coming back with boots and a hat on, so I decided to get the halloween costume out and found a fun tutu.  She had fun!  Her costume stayed on until dinner time.  She makes me laugh!

Chillin'

This is how she watched Sesame Street this morning.  She never even knew I was taking her picture.

Today we went to the library with our neighborhood playgroup.  Instead of trying to clear all the shelves today Langley was much more interested in coloring and bossing everyone around.  Normally (especially in this group) Langley is very passive and doesn't stand up for herself.  Not today.  Today she was the one who wouldn't share and who told everyone "no" constantly.  I was so tired from correcting her, showing her how to share, and trying to make positive statements rather than negative.  (Example:  turning "Langley do NOT ______________! " Into " Langley there are plenty of coloring book and crayons, we are going to share with ____________.")

My daughter has said the word "NO" approximately 257,000 times today.  I think this has to do with being in MOPS yesterday.  There must be a little stinker in her class that influences her attitude. She has used the Word no as a universal word today.  No has meant yes, no, ok, etc.  I'm over it.  My tactic has been to start singing "YES, Jesus loves me!"  when she starts having a "no" meltdown.  It's worked a few times.

Other random updates on Langley-
-  talks constantly with proper inflection and tone, but we have no idea what words she is saying.
-  will watch tv and play independently without getting into anything for an hour - so I can shower!
-  has come a long way with being able to use utensils.
-  hardly eats any vegetables, so I started buying those pouches of baby food and she loves them - little does she know there are veggies in there!
-  has started singing. Current selections are Jesus Loves Me, Deep & Wide, and the Freshbeat Band song.
-  she also says "miska, mooska,"  from Mickey Mouse and calls him Meeka.
-  started saying He-Hee for Henry.
-  calls me "mommy' instead of momma.
-  is still very social and gets over any stranger anxiety pretty quickly.
- understands and follows simple directions.
- can put on most of her shoes buy herself.
- asks about the baby and kisses my belly many times a day.
-  is getting more interested in coloring.