Birth Control

Ok, crazy title, but listen up :) Some days, I have hard, long days. They usually start the night before and consist of being woken up about every 30-45 minutes by a little "cuddle bug" whom I don't have the heart to put in a bed in a dark room all by herself. I know you are probably saying that I have brought this on myself, but I don't care, its how I parent. Anyway, then, when I wake up for the day, I feel as if I never went to sleep at all. I drag through the day, usually listening to lots of whining, lots of crying, and change lots of diapers. It is on days like this that I wonder why birth control was ever created. I mean, seriously, send those teens over here that need a birth control pill. Surely, after one day, they will decide that sex just doesn't have the allure that it did the day before, and they can wait. I wonder why I can't capitalize on the market of birth control. Here's a novel idea, you pay me to come to my house to and watch my kids with the idea of not wanting any of your own.

But then, there are days like today, when I am left wondering why birth control was ever invented, but for the opposite reasons. I got a decent night of sleep- did a fair amount of cuddling with one warm little "heating blanket". I was awakened by a big, sloppy, wet kisses, and a babbling baby voice. As I was cuddling her, Sullivan walks in the door with the biggest smile you have ever seen. He covers me in his own version of love- strong hugs, pecking kisses. He tells me he loves me and that he can't wait to play all day with me (Thursdays are "his" days). Then, Aaron and I play with Sullivan, listen to his hillarious stories, his telling us things that we say - "See what will happen if you hit me again", "I would not do that if I were you", "Little Boys who behave this way go straight to time out". They seem much funnier coming out of the mouth of a four year old than they do out of the mouth of an angry mother or father. Then, we eat, get dressed, and set out to find the perfect Christmas tree skirt. Sullivan finds one he "loves" that I do not have the same affection for. He tells the lady standing in the aisle with us to "watch it for us while we look around so that we can be sure no one else gets it". There were only 8 more hanging on the shelf. Anyway, as she is cracking up, and I am as well, I am hit with an overwhelming wonder as to why I decided not to have any more children. They bring me such joy! They bring such humor and love into my life! I wonder why anyone would ever buy birth control to prevent having one of these wonders.

But then I remember that I can't predict what kind of day I will have tomorrow. I realize that it is a good thing that I stopped with two children- that's the number of hands I have, the number of eyes I have, and the number of ears I have. Surely I can keep track of two and hopefull raise them into their adulthoods without losing my sanity. I can right?

Thanksgiving Is Over

Sullivan reading the directions on how to give the turkey "shots".

Well, we have the tree up. But, before we move on to Christmas, let me tell you that Sullivan is at the best age ever!!! (I know if you know me well, you know that I say that every day, but seriously). He had SOOOO much fun for Thanksgiving. We stayed home because Aaron had to work at the big game Friday. So, we decided to have a small day here. Sullivan and I cooked all day. He honestly had so much fun. He is so animated in everything that he does and says. Everything looked like it would taste great while we were measuring, stirring, and baking, but all that he would try were the rolls. That's right, we had a huge feast- ham, turkey, broccoli cheese rice, dressing, green bean casserole, and home made rolls. He had four rolls! Sophie on the other hand, ate anything we put in front of her. She LOVED the green beans, and her favorite was the broccoli cheese rice. Well, that was her favorite until she tried pumkin pie with whipped cream. Oh how your second child is different. I don't think Sullivan had

sugar until he was 18 months!Sophie's attempt at feeding herself the whipped cream from the pie. Her new favorite gig is pouring the dog water on the floor and "mopping" with it. She SOOO does not agree that this is against the rules.

She is very talkative lately. She babbles at us constantly, and is really saying or trying to say what we say. She said cat this morning, and LOVES yelling at Sullivan. She is getting really fun. We watched ALOT of football this weekend, and now she can put her hands in the air and say something that resembles "touchdown." The cutest thing she has done lately was last night. Aaron and I were laying in bed, and she was climbing all over us. I had just put on some mint chapstick. She came and gave me a big, wet, sloppy, open mouth kiss. She sat up, kind of tasted her lips, realized something wasn't right, then gave her daddy a big, wet sloppy one. She sat up, like "what the heck?" She leaned over and gave me another, then did her daddy again. She finally just decided something was very wierd. It was so cute to watch her little mind process it. Oh how I love these nasty sloppy kissed! My friend Tiff always asks her "Sophie, do we need to get you and mommy a room?" (Sophie gets VERY into her kissing)

Dance Lessons

Check it out! We all took dance lessons for the holidays!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9583166765

God is....

Last night, Sullivan was banished to bed with no movie. It was 9:30, and he wasn't totally tired yet, so he thought of many excuses to get out of bed. After about the tenth time, I went in to sit down and have a talk with him. He told me he was really scared, and that's why he kept getting up. I told him that Sampson (our 70 pound dog) was in there to protect him and that mommy and daddy were in the living room. Nothing will happen. "But, I am still really scared mom." So, I told him that God was always watching and can protect him all of the time if he just asks.

"Ummmm, mom, heaven is very far away, like as far away as nanny's house is, so how can He protect me from there?"

"Well, Sullivan, you can just ask him to come live in your heart, and then he is always with you and can protect you from here." (Ok, this isn't exactly how I wanted to have this talk, but it just kind of happened)

"Mom, everyone knows that God is very big, He makes everything, so He has to be bigger than a house. I don't think He can fit in my stomach."

"Well, Sullivan, its kind of like magic. Its not actually a person, its a spirit, and He comes and lives in your heart if you just ask."

"You said magic wasn't real, it was just pretend. Is a spirit a ghost?"

"Ok Sullivan, let's not talk about this anymore. God is real, and He can protect you. If you get scared, just close your eyes and talk to God, then He will protect you and keep you from being scared."

"Mom, God doesn't talk back, so I can't talk to Him."

"Well, He can always hear you, so just keep talking, and maybe one day you will hear him talk back. I need to go- you need to go to sleep."

"Mom, does God have a key to our house?"

"What are you talking about Sullivan?"

"Does He have a key so He can come in here and protect me and make me safe?"

"He doesn't need a key, He can go anywhere, any time, He is just God, He is amazing."

"Whatever mom, He can't get in without a key, everyone knows that."

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Give Thanks

On this day before Thanksgiving, I am left with an overall feeling of thanks. I have SOOO much to be thankful for. I mean, we live in the richest country in the world, just having a government there to protect us is something we take for granted every day. I am thankful that I have a roof over my head, heat when it is cold and air conditioning when its hot. I am thankful for my shiny car to drive that can hold both of my kids and their ridiculous abundance of gear that it apparently takes me to get them places. I am thankful that Aaron has a strong desire to go places in the world, and has a job that can support us. Just having a job is a big thing to be thankful for!!

I am thankful for a family that supports us. My parents would do anything for us in their power. I am thankful more than anyone will ever know for my friends. I have the greatest group of friends a girl could ever ask for. God definitely knew what he was doing by bringing us to College Station. I mean, who knew I could be great friends with a lactation consultant, a girl from California that thinks crawfish are nasty, a girl that survives having three babies in one year and maitains her humor, or any of the wonderful friends I have made here? Its wonderful! I am thankful of course for my kiddos. They are so wonderful. I could not have painted them better- they are definitely gorgeous. But, more than that, they are so fun. I am thankful that I am getting to relive my childhood every day. Yesterday, Sullivan and I were practicing counting to 100. After the third time, he said "Mom, this takes forever." So, thinking back to my wonder years, I said, "Wanna know a trick? Just say 1,2 skip a few 99, 100." He was so thrilled to know this new trick. He cracked up laughing, and said it over and over and over. It was so fun to feel like I was 5 again! And, of course there is my Sophie. I guess I need to be thankful that the trash she finds everywhere we go that she puts in her mouth hasn't killed her! Looking back over our journey this year with her, I am just so thankful to have her. I can't wait to know her more, her little personality (well, not so little of one), is emerging every day. Her spunky sassiness is more apparent every day.

And most of all, I am thankful for a God who loves me, who trusts me enough to give me all of these things He has that I am thankful for. I am thankful that He loves me. And, I am thankful that I know I get to spend forever with Him.

Seven Years Ago today

Aaron and I enjoyed the best day of my life. I had the best time dressing up in my princess wedding dress, having my hair all froo frooey, makeup aglow. Aaron's face lit up as I walked down the aisle. I will never forget that look! And, I will never forget the sound of his crackly, teary voice as he said his vows. I know he looks all big and bad, but everyone present at our wedding can attest to the fact that he is as sentimental as they get! Man, that day was PERFECT. It was to be an outdoor wedding at the botanical gardens in Baton Rouge. The most beautiful rose gardens you have ever seen. Only one problem, the worst storm you could ever imagine!!! Man did it rain and pour and pour and pour that day! But, we moved inside, and had just as much fun! The dancing, the cake, ahhhh..... memories that can never be taken away. And, now, to think that it has been 7 whole years, I can't believe it! I love you so much Aaron! I thank you so much for what you have given to me, and I can't wait to grow old with you and watch these kiddos grow up together. We have moved across the country twice (there and back twice, so really 4 times !!!!!!!! ), bought two houses, four cars, had five jobs, and best of all- created two gorgeous additions to this world. I can't believe we made such masterpieces, I don't think we could have painted them any better.

We have definitely had our ups and downs, but we manage them all in the end! Thank you friends and family for supporting us over the years and helping us along this path. We have needed lots of help, but we are finally here, self supporting (for the most part mom ;) ), and real, true, grown ups. Has it really been 7 years? Man!!!! I am glad we married so young and have been able to grow up together. You have turned into quite a husband Aaron, but more importantly, QUITE a daddy!

Ahhhhhhh

We are for the most part WELL over here!!! Its so wonderful! (Well everyone would agree to that but Aaron!- the ENT put him on some strong antibiotics and steroids and pain medicine that will hopefully heal him up!). My dad took the picture above of Sullivan trying to be him. He is wearing PawPaw's glasses, and smiling big! He is into having "spiky" hair lately. The spikier the better. He makes us put gel in it and blow dry it so that it "cuts" you if you touch it. Its a big deal for him every morning to ask you to touch his hair and then crack up laughing when you act like it cut you. I am not sure when the trick will get old, but not today :) He is at a very "fun" age. He is learning about the letter K this week, and apparently K likes to kick people which is not kind. But, for some reason, K does not like kites. We haven't figured that one out yet!

And what is Number Two doing lately? Well, lets just say she is a mischeivious little girl. She takes joy into getting Sullivan in trouble. She pulls his hair and laughs, she says "uh oh" as she is pouring out his drinks, and her latest one, she got into his blues clues stamp set. She was EATING it! The child will eat anything. Seriously! She has a huge appetite, and let me tell you, its a lie that a baby's stomach is only as big as their fist. She can fit a whole piece of pizza, two fish sticks, and a bread stick in there! What a little turkey!