Glad tidings of...

Comfort -







and JOY -





With love, peace, and blessings,

Lots of Happenings!

The past couple of weeks have been fabulous, and I'm really looking forward to the events to come in the next two.

Right now, I really should be doing laundry instead of blogging, though, so I'll leave you with a couple of pictures.

On December 19th, we officially joined our church and became Methodists, and welcomed Madeline into the family of believers. God's grace is such an incredible thing. It really is difficult for me to fully wrap my brain around it. But, we are covered by it and saved by it and we have vowed to raise Madeline to know how wonderful and powerful it is. Thanks be to God!



[caption id="attachment_865" align="aligncenter" width="243" caption="Let the Christmas spirit abound!!"][/caption]

As you can imagine, there will be much more to tell as the Christmas season progresses. I helped Santa shop for Madeline and I think she's going to be quite happy with her rewards for being on the "nice" list. (Every single gift is pink and girly. Shh! Don't tell Dan!)

Tune in for Christmas pictures!!

Things to Consider, Part 2

Yeah, I know. I said I would post last night and I didn't. We live in a litigious society - sue me.

Let me just say, upfront, that I know everyone has their own way of thinking when it comes to faith practices, zeal, holiday observances, etc. Just because I have some pet peeves does not mean that I judge myself to be more "right" in these matters than anyone else.

I do love the Christmas season. I love the reason we celebrate it and my feelings on the miracle of Jesus Christ are too many to confine to one blog post.

I do not, however, believe that I have to wear a sweater proclaiming MERRY CHRISTMAS and earrings that depict manger scenes while cheerily shouting, "Jesus is the reason for the season!" at each passerby for the entire season of Advent. That would not make me more Christian, would it?

Does it mean that I am anti-Christmas, or even anti-Christian, if I recognize the significance and validity of Hannukah? Nope. I still love and serve my Savior.

So, then why do we expect retail stores to dress their employees like shepherds and wise men and proclaim the Good News from behind the cash register? Why would we assume that saying "Happy Holidays" means that an establishment is anti-Jesus and needs to be boycotted? Um, self-righteous, much?

The other point of the article is that if you're making Christmas about your experience in a retail store, you're missing the point. It's not about that. Christmas has absolutely nothing to do with what you buy in a store. It's not about what the cashier in the store says to you as you finish making your purchases and walk out the door. It's not about how much you spend or how many gifts you give to which person. If you think it is, YOU'RE MISSING THE POINT!

It's about peace and the child who came to bring peace. It's about love and the child who was born to teach us to love. It's about hope and the child who was born to bring us hope. It's about forgiveness and the child who was born to teach us the ultimate lesson in forgiveness.

It's about the baby who was born in the dirty, mucky barn and grew to be a carpenter, just like his earthly father. He was never wealthy and it never mattered to him how many brightly wrapped trinkets people gave him. That's not love.

He is love.

I borrowed this link from a friend's Facebook page because I knew she wouldn't mind.

http://www.popehat.com/2010/11/19/jesus-may-be-the-reason-for-the-season-however-jesus-is-not-the-reason-you-are-shopping-at-dicks/

Things to Consider, Part 1

There are a couple of links I'd like to share, which have thought-provoking messages for us to consider this time of year. I believe they encourage us to be grateful for what God has provided and to put more stock into the real reason we celebrate Christmas. It's not "Giftmas" or "Travelmas" or "Spendmoneymas" or even "Make-Sure-Everyone-Observes-YOUR-Traditionsmas." It is CHRISTmas.

It really shouldn't be about putting pressure on ourselves. It shouldn't be stressful.

That's not what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

Here's the first one. I'll post the other one later today.

Pastor Kip's e-Letter

Asbury United Methodist Church One Asbury Way Birmingham, Alabama 35242   Website:  www.asburyonline.org   All of Pastor Kip's e-Letters: www.asburyonline.org/eletter   December 15, 2010  One of my favorite pieces of literature to read during this season of the year is Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." It seems to always hold a fresh and special magic for me each holiday season.  There is one portion of the story that has always fascinated me. The Ghost of Christmas Past has just paid a very disturbing visit to Ebenezer Scrooge. Clearly the old penny pinching miser is shaken by the eerie episode. But when he awakens from his sleep, he simply dismisses it by famously saying: "Bah, humbug! It wasn't real. Just a bit of last night's undigested beef."  Scrooge seems incapable of taking the message to heart.  It is a question that always haunts me at Christmastime. Would I have heard the choirs of angels singing or simply the sounds of barnyard animals scrounging for food? Would I have spotted the star in the sky, and would I have had the courage to follow? Would I have comprehended the message of Emmanuel, "God with us", or would the cosmic implications of that evening been totally lost on me?  Would I have been like the Magi and had the honesty to stop and ask for directions to the manger?  I know what you are probably thinking - If I had been there at Bethlehem that night I would have understood what was taking place.  I would have understood.  Would you really?    There is one way of knowing: Ask yourself what you are really seeing this Christmas Season. When you went out to do your shopping did you see only masses of people in the stores pushing and shoving for the latest deal, or did you notice the worried expressions on some of their faces...people needing to hear a word of hope?  Do you see the burdens hordes that are facing this Christmas without employment and unsure how they are going to make ends meet. You need to also ask yourself what you are hearing this Christmas.  Did you hear only the redundant sounds of music and carols, or did you hear the heavy sighs of the lonely and the bereaved who may be dreading Christmas because it only accentuates their loneliness?  Can you hear those who seem to be skipping Christmas because it is just too painful to celebrate?  And in the midst of the honking horns and people arguing over parking places at The Summit, did you hear the holy sounds of laughter that will come from downtown because someone furnished toys for impoverished children?  You see, so often what we see and what we hear centers on ourselves instead of others.  If we can but take our eyes off our own desires this Christmas, we just might have understood the meaning of what happened in Bethlehem so long ago.  In the end perhaps one of our carols says it best: "No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin. Where meek souls shall receive him still, the dear Christ child enters in."   May it be so in your life this Christmas! Pastor Kip

I Have Something to Say.

Last Christmas was, technically, Madeline's first. But, she was three weeks old and slept through it; I was tired, Dan was tired, and we were so focused on adjusting to having a baby in the house that we didn't even get a tree. Don't get me wrong - it was a wonderful Christmas! Who wouldn't love a Christmas morning with a tiny bundle of sweetness to cuddle?

But, this is Madeline's first Christmas for watching Christmas cartoons, listening to Christmas carols, opening presents and playing with them, and being mesmerized by the pretty lights and Santa. I've almost gotten her to say Ho! Ho! Ho!

I'm very excited for this time of year. The weather is colder. There are lights, trees, and ribbons everywhere. Christmas carols are being played and sung at church. The Carpenters are singing "Merry Christmas, Darling" on the radio. Oh, and did I mention that I love giving gifts and seeing how much people enjoy them?

SO, to all you Grinches and Scrooges out there who look at the negative things about the season (the debt, the mess, the traffic)...





...Yeah, I'm talking to YOU!

Keep your Grinchyness and Scroogeisms to yourself, or take them somewhere else. Just because you are choosing to have a nasty Christmas attitude doesn't mean the rest of us are going to let you ruin it for us. Sweet Pea and I are going to HoHoHo and Falalalala from now until December 25th. You're going to hear it, you're going to listen, you're going to smile, and you're going to LIKE IT!

Oh, and one more thing.

Santa Claus is watching you.

Madeline is ONE!!

Happy Birthday to our beautiful girl!

Sweet Pea is a whole year old!! Can you believe it? We celebrated the day with family and close friends. And, the only kids there are still waiting to be welcomed to the outside world (and, of course, those who are still kids at heart!)



[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Gotta love a birthday girl with a cake-stained face!"]!

Madeline's First Thanksgiving!

What a great day of giving thanks!

We began the day with Madeline seeing her first glimpse of the Snoopy balloon making its way through Times Square on the Macy's Thanksgiving parade this morning. (BTW, why do people call it the "Macy's Day Parade?" It's not Macy's Day.)

After Chick Pea's nap, we were off to Tuscaloosa for lunch with my dad at Cracker Barrel. Yes, that's right. We had Thanksgiving dinner in a restaurant. It really doesn't matter where you eat, does it? As long as you give thanks to the One who provided the food?

A visit with my mom and Jamie, a short drive home, and some Charlie Brown Thanksgiving rounded out the evening quite nicely.

We missed our South Carolina family today. :( But, we're hoping to get to spend some time with them at Madeline's first birthday extravaganza next weekend! Oh, all the festivities! Over the next couple of months, we have M's birthday, Christmas, New Year's, our anniversary, and my birthday. Holy cow! I guess we'd better fasten our seatbelts, huh?

Once again, I didn't take nearly as many pictures as I should have, but here are a couple to document Little Chick's first Thanksgiving.

Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

[caption id="attachment_833" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Sweet Potatoes! Dressing! Pumpkin Pie! YUM!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_834" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="She's not walking yet, but she does like to stand by the stairs and peek around at Daddy. :)"][/caption]

Thankfulness, Part 3

1. I'm thankful for fall. I'm thankful for the absolute  joy that shoots through my being every time I see the flames of autumn leaves sparking through the trees and around my feet when the wind blows. I'm thankful for the coolness in the air and the first time each year that I can see my breath in front of my face. I'm thankful for the scents and flavors of fall foods that spice up my palate. I'm thankful for boots and sweaters and scarves and having to pull back my hair so the wind doesn't blow it into my face. I honestly don't think I could live without it. I would be so depressed if I didn't get my autumn fix every year. This is the time of year when God really got creative. He starts the entire world over again, renewing and replenishing, preparing us for new life in the spring, and He does it in such a colorful, beautiful way.

2. I'm thankful for Norman Rockwell. I'm thankful that he took the time to remind us of those "Four Freedoms" that we assume we deserve and take for granted that everyone else has. There's freedom of speech, freedom to worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. Do you have any idea how HUGE all of those are?? There are countries in which people are imprisoned, tortured, and executed for saying any negative word about their country's leaders. We openly mock ours on national TV, and no one bats an eye. The same consequences are doled out in other countries for performing the unthinkable crime of worshiping God. We take for granted that we can just sit in a pew for an hour every week (or just neglect it altogether) and be satisfied with our relationship with our incredible Provider.  Ever feel the feeling of real hunger? I don't mean the vanity-inspired hunger of having to be a certain size. I mean real, honest-to-goodness, having no idea where, or if, you're getting your next meal: hunger. No. I haven't. I have freedom from want. I can sleep at night in a safe home with a deadbolt, with very little fear of someone taking my freedom away from me on a whim.

Thank you, God.

Thankfulness, Part 2

1. This may seem silly, but I'm thankful for warm water. Specifically, I'm thankful that we have clean, running, warm water. If you saw my facebook status, you know that the funk has made its way through our house this week. There's just something about a clean tub full of warm water and some floral scented bubbles that makes everything go away. It was the only place I was comfortable.

2. I'm thankful for reliable transportation that gets me where I need to go safely. Have you ever had a car that you had to sweet talk and offer it money just to get it to start in the morning? Oh, I loved my little blue Toyota that got me  (most of the way) through the college years. But, she was wrecked more than once and the key had to be turned at least twice just to get the thing to start. I'm so thankful that I don't have to worry with that now, especially with the precious cargo I now haul.

3. I'm thankful for Jell-O. Seriously. I'm not being flippant. What other food makes you feel so much better when your insides are fighting against you? It's just good. Its humble beginnings are a little disgusting to think about, but now it's flavored with fruity goodness. Plus, it jiggles. OK, I'm finished praising Jell-O now. I do think I'll have another cup, though...

Thankfulness, Part 1

I know that a lot of people have been counting down this month by giving thanks for something every day. I'm a little behind everyone else, but better late than never, right? :)

I truly am grateful for so much. I have more than I deserve and I have no one but God to thank for that. Here are my top three for today:

1. I am emphatically thankful for my husband. I know I've said this a million times, but you're just going to have to endure it a million one. There has never been a more wonderful husband to any woman. I can't imagine anything any woman could say about her husband that would convince me otherwise. He is honest, affectionate, and supportive. I have a little secret to confess - I'm no picnic to live with. But, even with my moodiness, insecurities, and my dreams about a war between the Muppets and the Monsters on Sesame Street, he stands by me. He works tirelessly to make sure that Madeline and I have everything we need and when I get so tired or stressed that I can't do it anymore, he jumps in and makes sure everything falls into place. I know that he is the man God sent to me, without a doubt.

2. I am thankful for that beautiful, amazing little girl we call Madeline. We also call her Sweet Pea, Babyhead, Chick Pea, Little Chicken, and sometimes, Stinky Booty. Yes, she's cute and cuddly and cracks me up when she laughs so hard her face turns red. But, it's so much deeper than that. I never knew I could love this much. It's amazing to me that someone so little, who has been in this world for such a short time, could have grown and learned so much. Last year at this time, she was still trying to claw her way out through my rib cage. Then, she was so small and helpless. Now, she feeds herself cheese and crackers and tells me, "Nu" when I tell her to bring Mommy the ball. She knows who I am and who Dan is, and calls us by our respective titles. She sees babies and pictures of babies and exclaims, "Day-Deeeee!" (Baby, in case you needed that translation.) It's not just the words she says. She inspires me to be the best mother I can be. Just fine is not good enough for her. I want her to have the best. I adore her. I thank Almighty God for creating her and letting us raise her for Him.

3. I'm thankful to have a roof over my head. You know, God didn't have to choose for me to be born in America with two parents who love me and worked to ensure that I had a home. It's a luxury that more people than we realize cannot afford, all over the globe. Every day of my life, I take it for granted. I whine that my bedroom furniture isn't as nice as my neighbor's, when there are millions who don't have a bedroom to put furniture in. I complain about how few nice clothes there are in my closet, when I should be thanking God that I even have a closet. I did nothing to earn what I have. It's only by the grace of God that I'm not sleeping on the dirty ground in a dangerous place, rather than a warm bed in a nice house.

Thank you, LORD, for all that you provide. Forgive me for assuming that I deserve it. Please send your comfort to those who have less, and especially those who have nothing. Help me to remember them in my prayers and in my giving. Amen.

Madeline Has a New Friend!!

Congrats to Daniel and Angela on the safe and healthy arrival of Hannah Marie! We know the two of you will be awesome parents and Hannah is blessed to have you.

"Children are a heritage from the LORD..." Psalm 127:3

The Dress

I'm sure you've all seen this picture:



It's the dress Madeline has worn all football season. That is, all football season except twice.

The first Saturday she didn't wear it, Alabama played South Carolina (and lost). The following couple of Saturdays, she wore the dress and Tide fans everywhere were satisfied with the wins they expected.

She didn't wear the dress last Saturday. Need I say more? (Sorry, Bama fans. My bad.)

I think the dress might be a little short for her now, and I also think it's a little too chilly to wear the dress. So, to be on the safe side and to satisfy superstition, Madeline is wearing a Big Al onesie under her cute purple polka dots today.

We'll see if that helps.

Why I Will Never Be Teacher of the Year

I love teaching. I love it. I truly enjoy the satisfaction I get when I watch the lightbulb appear over an adolescent head when they finally get the difference between irony and sarcasm. It thrills me when they start to love a work of literature that  I love.

But, there's something else I love more.

Here's a hint:



Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying that I'm ready to give up on teaching (even though we spend more time doing paperwork and sitting in data meetings than teaching now). It's just that I've started looking at things a little differently.

I have friends who have held the distinguished title of "Teacher of the Year," and it's a great honor. I'm proud of them. But, it's an honor I will probably never have. When I look at my desk, covered in forms that I still need to fill out, papers that need to be graded, and the phone numbers of parents who need to be called, I know it would be easy to take it all home and do it. It would make sense and earn me some kudos to stay at school until 6pm every day, just to get my head above water - just like all the other teachers do. (It's true. Your kid's teacher doesn't saunter in at 8 am and go home to take a nap at 3 pm. They usually get there some time before 7 and leave around 5 or 6. Surprise!)

And, there are teachers who have spouses and kids, and still put in those hours. They're the ones who arrive at 6:30 am, stay until dark, volunteer for every menial task, take care of fundraising, lead SGA, and write the morning announcements. They put so much effort and pride into their work, and they do it all for the students and they are AWESOME!! It really takes a lot of dedication to do all of that for kids who aren't even yours.

But, what about the kids who are yours? How many times have I seen kids sitting around their parent's classrooms, coloring (or making mischief out of sheer boredom), and wondered if they would rather be home, doing their homework at the kitchen table while having a snack with Mom or Dad?

I have a theory that if I don't put my marriage before my career, it will turn out like:



And, if I don't put my child before other people's children, Madeline will become one of those kids we teachers talk about at the lunch table. (Surprised again? Yep. We're not perfect. If your kid sleeps in class, doesn't work, has a smart mouth, or skips class often, we talk about him/her. Regularly.) I want more for her than that.

I want her to have a good work ethic, impeccable manners, and a strong moral compass. How is she going to get that if her mom is too busy to teach her those values?

OK, so I won't be teacher of the year. I think I can stand the disappointment.

11 Months Old!

Shame on me! This post is two days late! Sorry, folks. Won't happen again.

Happy Halloween!

Madeline's first Halloween was quite a success! She had a wonderful time, beginning with Friday's discovery of a freshly carved pumpkin...



Followed by our neighborhood Halloween party on Saturday...

[caption id="attachment_797" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="We like the balloons!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_798" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Not so much with the jumpy-jumpy, though."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_799" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Madeline and Cooper, sittin' in a tree.."][/caption]

Then, today we participated in Trunk or Treat at church. Madeline had a fabulous time and happened to run into one of her school friends. :)



[caption id="attachment_801" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="I've been here all day, people. Time to go."][/caption]

Happy Halloween!!

Just a Couple of Pictures

Beware!

I am, admittedly, a germaphobe. I disinfect my kitchen every night. I carry anti-bacterial wipes in my purse, and use them frequently in public places. Public bathrooms creep me out, and dirty bathrooms in houses give me hives. If I touch things that I think might be dirty or have some sort of flesh-eating bacteria (which, in my head, comes from being unwashed) I have a tingling, filthy feeling in whatever part of my body touched that grossness until I scrub it with disinfecting soap.

I know it's irrational, but that's the way it is.

Considering this completely insane fear I have of all things unsanitary, I am writing this post to own up to the hypocrisy of my disdain for people who grow fears from everything they see on TV or read in the grocery store aisle.

I found this funny article in Reader's Digest, which highlights the ridiculousness of believing all the media hype that revolves around the next big thing that's going to kill you and your entire family. You know, things like onion dip and staplers.

I had to share.

http://www.rd.com/living-healthy/warning-everything-can-kill-you/article186489.html

Wherefore Art Thou Caillou?

A little bald kid by any other name would be as whiny!

Another name for this post could be, "More of Heather's Random Thoughts."

Far be it from me to tell someone else what they should name their own children. I'm all for naming your kids names that are important to you, or making sure that your child is not going to be one of six Heathers in the fifth grade. (Although it does kind of bug me when I look at a name spelled "Yvinsten" and learn that it's pronounced "Stevenson.") This post is not about that. Dan and I find the art and science of names pretty interesting.

There are several things that brought on this little rant, one of which is the fact that Uncle Mike and Aunt Sara have announced the name of Madeline's cousin-to-be. And, let me just say that I LOVE IT!! But, it got me thinking about names that we've encountered, names we would consider for our next child, etc.

For instance, did you know that I teach Steven Tyler? Yep. I have also had the privilege of teaching Garth Brooks and RayCharles. Personally, I think this shows a lack of imagination on the part of the parents...or, maybe they're just superfans. Who knows? The sad part is that when I commented that it's awesome that Steven Tyler's name is Steven Tyler, HE DIDN'T GET IT!

I've also been thinking about how names cycle through generations. When I was a kid, all the moms had names like Cindy (my mom), Mary (Dan's mom, and Monica's mom), Linda, Kathy, Pam, Judy, Nancy. You see where I'm going with this. Dad names haven't changed quite so dramatically. Dan, Phil, Ken, John, James. Classic names. So, when I call moms for my students, I expect to be calling someone with a mom name. Sometimes, I do get the occasional Barbara or Susan. But, it's a little disconcerting to look at a 17-year-old's parental contact information and see "Chad and Kelli," or "Jason and Brandie." These are names that were most common among people my age, and it freaks me out that people my age could have teenaged offspring. (Yes, I realize that means I believe myself to have a non-mom name. I'm OK with that.)

Speaking of name trends, when exactly did it become so popular to give traditionally boys' names to girls? I'm not necessarily talking about surnames as first names - that's been going on in movies for decades and some of them are adorable. I'm talking about when Dan and I are sitting in church and see the name "Robert William ----" on the list of confirmands and a little girl wearing a pink dress comes forward. (Hyperbole, people!)  Maybe not that extreme, but names are definitely becoming more androgynous.

OK, two final points and I'll shut up.

Caillou, dear, you're on a show for very young American kids. You're screwing up their phonics instruction. Tell your mama.

There is a teacher in a not-to-be-named-just-about-an-hour-west-of-here-town, whose first name is Barometer. We also once had a server named Seminar. I jest not.  Perhaps sometimes, people can take it just a little too far.

Some Pictures from Our Weekend in South Carolina

10 Months Old!

Words, Mischief, and Random Catalog Deliveries

Miss Madeline is continuing to amaze us by adding new words to her ever-expanding vocabulary. I don't count them as real words unless I know she understands what they mean. Sometimes, it sounds like she has said something, but there's no way she could possibly have a frame of reference for it (like when Dan swears she said "cookie" at 3 months old. I believe him. I have no doubt that she uttered the phonemes that make up the word.  She still has never seen a cookie).

I'm almost sure she knows "duck" since she says it while sitting in a duck-shaped tub while holding a rubber duck, but I'm not absolutely sure since she sometimes calls her bear a duck, as well. She says "mama," "dada," nunu" (no no), and her latest declaration is, "Uh-Oh!" She says it whenever she drops something, or when anyone else drops something, including strangers in the store. She also says something that sounds like "book," but I'm not going to add that one to the list until I know that's what she's saying.

I love it when she tries to imitate us by babbling back at us in the same tone in which we just spoke to her. :)

And speaking of words, here's a little story to entertain those of you who are parents, and inform those of you who will be.

Madeline and I went shopping for a few fall goodies to decorate the house. No sooner had I turned my head to look at a price tag, did a certain little Sweet Pea pull off a fistful of plastic berries from a wreath and cram them into her eager little mouth. She looked quite put-out as I was raking them off her tongue, and then looked me in the eye and said, "UH-OH!!" Uh-oh, indeed.

Later, after we came home, I put the little imp down on the floor to play with her stacking rings and various other toys spread around the floor. Figuring that she was safe and entertained, I took the opportunity to slip away to the potty for a minute. In 60 seconds it took me to use the bathroom, wash my hands, and dry them, this happened...



I didn't even know she could open the cabinet the movies were in!

Apparently, you have to watch these little critters constantly to keep them from hurting themselves or eating your dvd collection.

Switching the subject to something completely unrelated, does anyone else get toy and baby care catalogs they never requested?

Some of them are ridiculous, like the ones designed with the paranoid parent in mind. I'm all for baby-proofing, but good grief! And, some of the others either amuse me or make me roll my eyes. For instance, who in their right mind would pay $400 for what is essentially a Big Wheel with a picture of Thomas the Tank Engine on the front?? That's just craziness!

But, my biggest complaint about these toy catalogs is that it seems to be out of vogue to encourage kids to use their imaginations. So many of the toys are designed to do all the playing for the child, so all the child has to do is sit there and watch. How does the child learn to be creative and, well...learn?

So, that's our story for now. Do you realize that in two days, Madeline will be 10 months old?! I don't even want to talk about how old she'll be in two months.

Weekends

OK, I'm a little behind on blogging. Here it is, almost the weekend, and I haven't even told you about the fabulous weekend we had last week!

We spent last weekend with all our besties. Remember the other Daniel? No, not my cousin's baby. I'm talking about Dan's best man from our wedding. He and his wife are expecting a daughter in November, and her baby shower was Saturday. Coincidentally, it was just two houses down from the house where I used to babysit the 18-month-old vegetarian. Weird, huh?

Angela looks fabulous and we can't wait to help them welcome their baby girl!

After the baby shower, Madeline and I spent the afternoon with Jakki (the Chuck Norris of moms), Sheryl (English teacher extraordinaire and Mominator), and Andrew (the cutie patootie). Madeline was able to reconnect with her friend, Andrew, and I neeeeeeeeded that time with my girls!

[caption id="attachment_734" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Madeline and Andrew"][/caption]

Sunday was fall food night with Kenina. Mmmmm! Chilli with Fritos and apple pie. Not to mention some awesome time with a fabulous lady. I can't even tell you how much she loves Miss Madeline.

Next time on the Head Family, we'll talk about all the fun sounds (words) that Sweet Pea has added to her vocabulary. Uh-oh!!

The Girl Has Already Chosen Sides.

This morning was mommy-needs-a-haircut morning. So, whilst I went to the salon, Madeline took care of her daddy.

According to Dan, Madeline got her pudgy little hands on the remote when he got up to go the the kitchen. He was watching football (imagine that) and when they started taking about Auburn, Sweet Pea turned off the TV.

I'm telling you, she's a brilliant child.

I only have one request of her. Madeline? Sweet Pea? Babyhead? Please grow some hair. We went to the mall this afternoon, showing our school spirit (Bama, not Clay-Chalkville). Not one person, save the nice photographer lady at JC Penney, realized that our little princess was a girl. Despite the fact that her Bama ensemble was a DRESS, people still said things like, "Look at him! He's Bama bound!"

Sigh. Someday.

Happy News!!

Madeline would like to announce that she will soon have a new playmate. Uncle Mike and Aunt Sara are giving her a baby boy cousin to play with in February!

We are so excited, and waiting patiently, for our new nephew to arrive.

Congratulations, Michael & Sara!!! We love all 3 of you!

9 Month Check-up

Let me just say that I love our pediatrician. He is everything a baby/new mommy could ever ask for in a doctor. He is patient, great with babies, and willing to answer every question with kindess and clarity.  So, that's my shout-out to Dr. Glasgow. (Haaay!)

Our sweet Madeline is perfect in every way, as always.  (As if we needed confirmation of that?) She is also, as always, off the charts in height.

It turns out that our nine-month-old beauty is the size of the average seventeen-month-old. It looks like we have ourselves a tall, leggy blond. She now has another tooth coming in, and has learned to get from point A to point B by scooting across the floor on her cute little booty.

Can't wait to see what's in store for us next!!

Happy Baby!

We spent our Labor Day doing what one does on a day such as this: not laboring. We played with Babyhead, went out for BBQ, shopped a little, played with Babyhead some more, and for our trash TV viewing pleasure, there was a Two and a Half Men marathon on FX.

Have I mentioned to you, faithful reader, that Madeline has never met a stranger? Have I told you that she is almost always smiling, that she's a happy girl who wants to introduce herself to every passer-by, or that she has a great laugh?

We visited one of our favorite BBQ restaurants for lunch today. The cheerful server who took care of us the last time we were there (a few weeks ago) saw our Sweet Pea and declared, "Hey! Happy Baby's back!"

[caption id="attachment_720" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Poor quality picture taken with my phone. :)"][/caption]

You have no idea how thrilled I am that we can walk into a place of business and have the people who work there recognize my child as "Happy Baby."

Such a sweet girl. Don't you just want to squeeze her little cheeks?

"A cheerful look brings joy to the heart..." Proverbs 15:30

Happy Labor Day, people! We hope you enjoyed your rest and time with your family!

9 Months Old!

So, I kept trying to take a good, "Hey, everyone! I'm nine months old!" picture, but someone had other ideas...



I mean, I'm glad she was having fun playing with her buttons...



...but I really wanted a good picture. Maybe a wardrobe change will do the trick?



Nope.



Finally!

:)

Gas Station Confessions

When I picked up Madeline from daycare this afternoon, I noticed that my car was low on go-go juice. So, we made the short trek to the gas station across the street and I promptly started to fill up. As I was pumping the gas, I engaged in my usual gas-pumping activity, which is making silly faces and chatting with The Divine Miss M through the back window, and cracking up every time she giggles.

At the pump next to me, there was a man who was, I'm guessing, just a few years younger than my own father, fueling up his large work truck filled with tools and dirt and the like. He called over to me, "Ma'am? Do you always talk to your car window like that?"

I smiled and responded with some goofy retort about the car getting better mileage if I baby talk to it. He laughed and said he understood because he had three kids of his own. I ad libbed something, smiled, and assumed that was the end of the conversation.

After I replaced the nozzle and started to get back into my car, I told the man to have a nice day. He said, "Have a good one! And, Ma'am? You keep talking to that car window like that, because there are too many parents who don't."

What a sad truism. How often do we get in such a hurry that we can't slow down for just a second to coo and giggle at our little people? How many kids might greatly benefit if their parents would make dorky faces at them at the gas station, instead of giving the impression that the kid is just another chore, just like pumping gas?

Dorks Anonymous Confession: Hi, my name is Heather, and I don't care if people stare at me when I'm playing peek-a-boo with my baby in public.

One Little Pearly White

I don't know if you can see it in the picture that is to follow, but we have a TOOTH! Woohoo! One, cute little pearly white with which to bite people's fingers and chew fun snacks. It's just a little something extra to light up that beautiful smile.

[caption id="attachment_707" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Can you see it? "][/caption]

Just a Picture or Two

[caption id="attachment_700" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Rolling herself into a Madeline burrito."][/caption]

Our Social Butterfly

The more Madeline's personality develops, the more I realize what an awesome little girl she is.  She is such a sweetie. She smiles at almost everyone she meets, whether she's with us or not. Miss Tina (at Odyssey) told me about her fist cart ride around the school, how she got to meet everyone and entertained them with her smiling and giggling. She really loves people.

She made new friends today at lunch when she loudly announced to everyone in Firehouse Subs, "DADADAAAAAAAAAAAAADADAAAAAAAAAAAAWAAAADAAAAAAA!!!!!!" They all agreed.

Stranger anxiety? Pffft. That lasted all of two weeks. Not to worry, though. She won't go to just anyone. She just likes to smile and giggle when people talk to her, and to make loud proclamations at restaurants and the library. (Use your inside voice, Madeline.)

Smart, friendly, and beautiful. What a great combination for a great kid!

Happy Birthday, Dan!!

I'd like to take just a moment to wish a very happy birthday to the world's most loving husband and devoted father. We love you to the moon and back. :)

It was a pretty low-key day of shopping for Dan's birthday present (he finally decided what he wanted this morning), bbq for lunch, a sick baby, and a blazing cake after dinner.

Yes, you read that correctly. Babyhead has her very first cold, but I think she has handled it much better than Mommy has. No fever, just snot. LOTS of snot. And, thanks to the snottiness, I look like a snail slimed its way across the front of my shirt. Sorry for the visual, but I like to invite you into our world sometimes.

Being the world's best daddy, Dan has spent his birthday soothing and rocking the sick little Sweet Pea. She's a very blessed little girl.

[caption id="attachment_691" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="How does a daddy spend his birthday? Reading "Pat the Bunny" to his little girl, of course!"][/caption]



[caption id="attachment_693" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Thirty-one candles... make a lovely liiiight..."][/caption]

What's Going On

I haven't posted much lately, out of fear of boring my faithful readers to tears. But, if anyone is truly interested, here's what's up at Head Manor.

Madeline's little routine has been completely thrown off by the changes that have taken place these past two weeks, but she seems very happy at Odyssey. Miss Katy and Miss Tina are great with her. She's getting the opportunity to play with other kids and she gets a lot of personal attention. Miss Tina said today that, "every time you make eye contact with her, her face lights up." She has certainly been smiling sweetly when I've picked her up in the afternoons.  If Madeline is happy and feels safe there, we have no complaints whatsoever!

Dan has a birthday swiftly approaching. Woohoo! Now, if he would just tell me what he wants. Men are so hard to buy for. He's still the world's greatest Daddy and has been getting up every morning with Babyhead while I get ready for work. He drives her to school in the morning and plays with her when he gets home in the evening. What more could a Babyhead ask for?

Hm. One fragment and two sentences ended with prepositions. Good job, English teacher.

Speaking of teaching, I think this is going to be a good year. This school is very different from the prison school at which I used to work. It's a little musty and the carpets are stained, but it seems that teachers will be expected to TEACH in their classrooms here. We won't just be hosting a book of the month club. It will be a new experience for me, and I'm looking forward to the challenge.

Hopefully, I will be able to thrill you with first tooth pictures and crawling stories soon. Until then, know that all is well with us.

:)

8 Months Old!

Where in the world is this year going???

Busy, Busy, Busy!!

Ok, I've been a little lax in my blogging lately. My apologies.

We have been very busy over the past week. We had a nice visit from GrandMary, Aunt Meredith, and Grandma Mac, who graciously cared for our little Sweet Pea as my two-day work week turned into a four-day work week. Madeline was instantly drawn to her Aunt Meredith. I think those two are going to have an awesome aunt/niece relationship! I wish I had taken some pictures. :(

What I thought was going to be two days of new teacher orientation became orientation and a meeting, and then orientation sandwiched by unexpected meetings. Did I mention that they changed the date of open house so next week is turned upside down, too? All the new information and paperwork can be overwhelming, but once we get into a routine, all will be well.

We also had orientation at Madeline's new school, which went very well. We let her play in her new room while we talked to the director. When we went back to pick her up, the teacher was sitting on the floor with the babies, reading a book, holding Madeline on her lap. Good, good, good!

Throw in some back-to-school clothes shopping, an oil change, and a trip to The Wal-Marks, and that's how busy our week has been. :)

I promise to post pictures over the next week, especially since Babyhead will be EIGHT MONTHS OLD in a few days!!! Can you believe it??

We're still waiting for teeth, still waiting for her to crawl. Her preferred mode of transportation is still to roll across the floor, but she is beginning to scoot forward as if she wants to crawl.

Oh, and I think she said, "duck." She said it after I said her name, so there is a chance she might have said something else (or that she made a noise that wasn't a word at all), but since she was sitting in an inflatable duck playing with a rubber duck, I'm going to assume she said, "duck."

Just me?

I'm all for making kids as safe as they can be, but am I the only one who thinks this one is just a little over the top?

[caption id="attachment_674" align="aligncenter" width="250" caption="The SafeFeeder"][/caption]

In case you aren't familiar with this little gem, it's a bag in which you put your child's food so that s/he can suck the food through the bag. This, presumably, ensures that there is no possibility of choking since the food is liquified in the process, therefore eliminating the need to chew.

Wow. It's a wonder any of us survived.

Fun times!

With the summer (at least as far as the school year is concerned) drawing to a close, it was time for a little escape. Poor Dan has been stuck in Las Vegas all week, working. Doesn't your heart just bleed for him?

With Dan away, Madeline and I decided it was a good time to go visit some friends in good ol' Dacula, GA. We had a really nice time and can't wait to see them again!

[caption id="attachment_667" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Madeline with a couple of Leatherberrys."][/caption]