New Computer... New Year...

I got a new lap top for Christmas ~ thanks Brad! It is super fast, and I love it! I plan on using the computer more so hopefully that will mean I am able to blog more and keep in touch with everyone more.

Here is a recap of Christmas Eve....

We arrived to my parents the morning of Christmas Eve. Emily Grace was so excited to be going to Mimi's. We always decorate cookies on Christmas Eve. I thought it would be best if we decorated all of the cookies while Em took her nap and then just let her decorated a couple for herself. Good plan... as she liked to sneak the sprinkles into her mouth and lick her fingers.

Em's superb decorating skills!

Here is Em ready for Christmas Eve service. She loves her black boots. I figure as long as she is dressed and ready to go and she was happy those boots were fine!

Em and me before church.

Our Family

My whole family (minus Jen's husband, Tony, who had to work late)

It's been awhile...

Sorry, I know I havent blogged in a while! I will get better! Things have been busy with Thanksgiving, Em's birthday, and now Christmas. It has all been a blast!

Yesterday, Em gave us all a scare. Her cousin was carrying her on her shoulders down the stairs and Em took a tumble! I was at the doctor's office already and the nurse came in and told me I needed to get over to the pediatrician's office because Brad was there. I was thinking, "why would Brad go to the pediatrician he's not a kid!" The nurse then told me that he was there because of Em. I got to the doctor to find Em pretty much nonresponsive and throwing up. They ran a CT scan of her head, and that came back normal ~ thank God! She seemed to be doing better through out the day, but when I got home from work she just wanted to be held and kept saying her head hurt. Poor thing!

I posted some pics from the last couple of months in the posts below... 3 new posts below.

Lighting of the Tree at Ritz...

Our Family

"Gigi" and Em enjoying the snacks

Some Pictures from Thanksgiving...

Em and cousin Laura

My sister, Kristin, and me

Em with "Gigi" (that is what she calls Aunt Kristin)

Fall Festival at Mimi's Church

Em excited to be at Mimi's new church for a fall festival.

Em loved the cupcakes...

and the bounce house and slide...

and hanging out with her friend Eliana...

and seeing Uncle Tony and Aunt Jen!

Sam's Birthday Party

Emily Grace's friend from church Samantha had her birthday party at "That Pizza Place." Everyone got to make their own pizza. As you can see EG is eating her sauce and cheese before it was cooked, so when it was time to put it in the oven she did not have many toppings left and her pizza exploded in the oven. The cupcake with the thick icing was her favorite part of the party. Needless to say she did not take a nap after all of that icing!! I still tried to put her down but all I heard was alot of running around upstairs.

Finger Paint

WOW! Who invented finger paint? I pretty much let her do her thing and then took her straight upstairs for a bath. Her bath water even turned blue. Thanks cousin Kara for the finger paint!

Happy Halloween

Trick or Treat! We started the morning off by carving our 2 pumpkins. EG did one and I did one. I always get excited to carve pumpkins, but then when I am actually carving one I'm like why was I so excited?!? Of course, EG wanted to know if we could eat the seeds, so I said sure and we cooked up a few. She wore her ladybug costume all day. I could not even get her to take it off for her nap. Then at 5pm we met up with a few other neighbors to go trick-er- treating. We went to a few houses, but EG was more into sitting down and eating the candy instead of running to the next house for more. About 20 minutes into it EG wet her panties. So, we went home to change her and then headed to the Golf House for drinks and dancing.

Alpha Delta Pi Weekend

Yeah! Its girls weekend! I stayed home from work on Friday I was not feeling well, but I still was all about going to M'ville for girls weekend. Kristin, Kori and I stayed together at the Holiday Inn Express. We had fun getting ready and going downtown for dinner at the Brick. Then we headed to the Velvet Elvis for the band party. It was outside and it started to sprinkle and the band was so loud that you could not talk to anyone, but it was good to see everyone again. The next morning we had brunch at the Adeepi house and then headed home.

Subway Story

Okay, so after the field trip my boss texted me a couple of things she needed on a job site and she said when you come here can you please bring me a sandwich. So, EG and I went to Subway to pick up the sandwich. Let me remind you that it is lunch hour and it is crowded with people waiting in line to order. Meanwhile, EG is going up to each table and reading them out of her new coloring book that she just got from the pumpkin patch. Saying things to the people sitting down trying to eat their lunch, "cows drink juice", "cows eat milk". I keep reminding her that she needs to wait in line with Mommy. Anyways they finally made the sandwich and I get to the register to pay and EG tells me that she needs to go potty. So I asked the cashier to please put the sandwich to the side and I will be right back after I take EG to the bathroom. She does go potty and I flush the toilet. Then she screams bloody murder because she did not get to flush the toilet herself. She is very independent these days!!! I am trying to calm her down - not working still screaming. This old lady comes to the bathroom and opens the door and says, "can i help you?"
I said "no", she is just at that age"! I was not sure what to tell her because I am sure she thought I was in there strangling her or something!?! I take EG out of subway still screaming and get half way to the car and realized oh no I forgot the sandwich. So I have to get EG settled down and go back in there. I go back in and ask for the sandwich. The workers told me that someone else must of picked it up. So, now they have to make me another sandwich. Needless to say I got it to my boss and said "hope you enjoy!"

1st Field Trip

Emily Grace and I went on her first field trip to the pumpkin patch. We loaded up at the Mustard Seed. They rented a large van for all of the children and the parents followed behind. Everyone was so excited. The first thing we did was feed a cow from a large bottle. EG got to hold the bottle and feed a 5 week old calf. Then we went on a hayride. The hayride stopped at a small petting zoo. Then all of the kids jumped into a corn box. That was a lot of fun for all of them. But, no throwing the corn at each other. From there we went to a corn maze. Then all of the kids got on to BIG bails of hay and crawled to the other side. I thought that was a great idea. Then we went to eat our picnic lunch. It was cool in the morning, so getting to sit on picnic benches in the sun it felt great. Before we left they let each kid pick out a small pumpkin. They even sent each kid home with a gift bag.

Monday Mornings

What used to take me 12 minutes to get EG out the door is now taking 32 minutes. She wants to wear this, no she wants to wear this, she wants mouthwash, she wants a bow-the list goes on. She wants to do EVERYTHING herself-"No I do it". Even if it is as simple as shutting her clothes drawer. So, now Brad who is not home in the mornings when I get her ready suggested that we pick our clothes out the night before and then that is what we are wearing. period.

On Mondays I drop her off at Brad's Mom's house (a.k.a Maw Maw). She watches her for the day. Brad's birthday is Wednesday and he told me that he wanted pumpkin cake for this birthday. The kind his mom makes. So I got the recipe from her this morning. Then I got to thinking oh no they are going to compare it to her's. YIKES! I can't cook as well as her or my mom. We are having her over for dinner and pumpkin cake on Wednesday. Stay tuned to how the cake turns out.

A Typical Sunday

We go to the early church service at 9am. EG loves her Sunday School teacher, which also was her swim coach this summer. Then we come home and play a little before lunch. Brad always cooks us Sunday lunch-frozen pizza that is. Then we lay down for a nap. Usually I do not, but this Sunday I was so tired I had to. Then after our nap we go to the dog park and playground in Cuscowilla (our neighborhood). Even bunny wanted to go! It's fun for everyone. Brad and EG have a dog named Sampson. Not mommy-I am not big on dogs or pets. Never have been, never will be. Brad also made us a pot of chili. I make EG go naked when eating spaghetti or chili-too messy for a 3 year old. Then we head out to bible study. EG plays with the kids while the parents go to bible study. EG loves to go.

Today, we only had one accident. I've been telling her I am going to beat you to the potty. She says "No I don't have to go". I tell her "Prove it to me". Then she says-"I prove it to you" and usually ends up going.

Saturday

I started the morning off going to help at our MOPS group garage sale. Everyone donated items and the profits will go to our MOPS group. It was fun to see what everyone was buying and being around other Moms. I said I would help from 9-11. I pulled out of the church to leave at 11 my cell phone rings.
Its Brad-"Where are you?"
Me-"Pulling Out"
Brad-"Well hurry home"
Me-"Okay, but I can only drive so fast".
Brad-"Well she has been crying/whining for 30 minutes"
Me-"Welcome to my world"

After lunch I put Emily Grace down for her nap. I think she was up in her room playing for about an hour. She finally feel asleep. Some how she sleep in the rocking chair. She woke up crying because she had another accident in the rocking chair. After that we went to a clients house down the street from us. EG rode her bike there and back (with mommy helping a little).
At least she is trying. Then we came home to decorate pumpkins. EG loves to paint. She likes crafts like her mommy. When I was making dinner, she was holding onto my legs and she stood there and had another accident right there on the kitchen floor. I was literally pouring pee out of her shoes. I couldn't believe it. So I did another load of laundry.

Finally got the Sucker/Family Dinner

I took Emily Grace into the Mustard Seed, so I could work from home today. When I picked her up, they said she had a wonderful day and that she stayed dry all day! FINALLY! As soon as we got to the car, she said I want my sucker. I finally was able to let her have it. We went home to get ready to go out to eat for Ray's and Brad's birthdays. Everyone was able to come. Filets is my favorite restaurant at the lake. Emily Grace loves to see her cousins. At the restaurant she had 2 accidents. Yes, that right 2. Her cousin Kara was holding her and said "She just got me wet". So we had to go out to the car to change. The second accident, Brad just had said come on we are going home. At least we were getting ready to leave anyways.

Wet Pants-Day 2

I picked up Emily Grace from the Mustard Seed today. I drop off in morning and Brad picks up in the afternoon (except for Thursdays, that's one of three of Brad's golf days). She comes running up to the door at the Mustard Seed to me and says I get a sucker. I said "I don't think so you have on a pull-up where are your panties. Come to find out she had 2 accidents after that they just put her in a pull up. With another note-Emily Grace is having several accidents. Please bring in more changeable cloths. So NO sucker today. Try again tomorrow.

Wet Pants

Got a note sent home from her teacher at the Mustard Seed that read:
Emily Grace is going to the bathroom just standing around playing. She is not using the potty when she is told to do so. Therefore she is having a lot of accidents and when she is asked why she did not use the potty she replies "cause I DON'T want to". Any suggestions anyone?
That is my stubborn child! How frustrating for Mommy and Daddy. We have tried the jelly bean thing and the sticker thing. So Brad told her that if she stayed dry all day tomorrow she would get a sucker. Even showed her the sucker she would get. She seemed excited. She told me that she was sorry and that she was going to stay dry.

First Trip to the Dentist

Tuesday Oct. 7
First trip to the dentist for Emily Grace. It was really just my appointment, but they thought it would be good for me to bring her in, so she gets used to the surroundings and the staff. I was not sure how well this would go over. When we pulled into the dentist parking lot she said, "Mommy do they have toothpaste here?" They offered her a little chair to sit in and color while I was in the big chair. She did not want to do that. She had to be right next to her mommy. She held onto my hand and leg the whole time. It was really cute and sweet of her. She ended up doing really well while we where there. Everyone was amazed at how well she behaved. Of course, as soon as we got to the car, She would not get in her car seat, wanted gum, was whiney.

Coming Home

Sunday, October 5, 2008
Went to church and Emily Grace got to see her favorite friend at MiMi's church-Elianna. They are so cute and sweet around each other. Kristin and I went to see the new church that they will be worshiping in. Mimi and Emily Grace stayed to clean-up the coffee (really to just have more Elianna time and to play in the gym) after church. Went back to Mimi's had lunch. Emily Grace went down for her nap. Kristin and I headed out for more shopping-YEAH! We found great deals and we both saved $303.00. Came back just in time for when Emily Grace was waking up from her nap. Loaded the car and headed home. The DVD/TV stopped working 1/2 way home, so it was up to me to entertain her for the rest of the car ride home. Got home, Brad had the golf cart out waiting on Emily Grace to take their dog (not mine) to the dog park. I was glad that I had time to unload the car. Afterall who wants their husband to see all of the packages from shopping you are bring home, all they need to know about is the great savings! Soon after I was home Brad asked me whats for dinner? My response-right here in the cooler from my mom-leftovers. Yeah I don't have to cook.

Girls Weekend

Friday... We came to Mimi's for the weekend because Brad went to Myrtle Beach for a guy's golf weekend. On our way in, the neighbors were having a garage sale and I picked up these princess outfits for Emily Grace. She has really enjoyed dressing up in Snow White, Cinderella, and Belle.

Saturday... I got to go shopping while Mom and Kristin watched Emily Grace. This was a treat for me as there are not many stores by my house. After Emily Grace woke up from her nap, we went to a Pumpkin Patch farm. We went on a hay ride, looked at some farm animals and looked at all the pumpkins.

After dinner, Emily Grace, Kristin and I went over to the neighbors to jump on their trampoline. Emily Grace loved it (so did Kristin and I ~ it had been a while since we had been on a trampoline!). Such fun! Needless to say, after jumping Em went straight to the bath as she had black all over her!