Happy Thanksgiving (Weekend)!

This post is a thinly-veiled attempt to say "Happy Thanksgiving" to everyone, while really just showing off how cute Madalyn's outfit was on Thanksgiving Day ;)! Yes, those boots do come in your size; we purchased them at Journeyz Kids and then I saw them at the regular Journeyz store in women's sizes! They were a little more than my normal shoe budget for Maddy (which is about $9.99 at Target :), but the dress was a hand-me-down, so it all works out, right?

I sincerely hope your Thanksgiving was warm and contented. While these are hard times (ecspecially for Michigan. Ahem.), there is so much to be thankful for: our health, family, clean drinking water, a warm bed...I could go on and on. Oh, and for a husband who drove all the way to Olive Garden just to get his pregnant wife the stuffed mushrooms she was craving, even when she told him repeatedly not to. He's sneaky. And he's mine ;).

Cloth Diaper Discount

I just received an e-mail today from Blueberry Diapers with a link to a short survey. Once the survey is completed, the e-mail promises a discount code will be sent to me for 10-20% off any of the products on the Blueberry website (including Blueberry and Swaddlebees).

The survey was a breeze and told me afterwards that I would receive my code in 2 days. Just thought I'd pass along the info (here is the link to the survey) in case any of you beautiful cloth-diaper-ers out there are looking to add to your stash!

Sorry I've been an absentee blogger lately...we had a death in the family and life got put on hold for a little while. And now with the Holiday this week, I can't promise any new posts, but we'll see :).

Enjoy diaper shopping!

Because Listening to Country Music Makes Me Sappy...

10 Things I Am Thankful For, In No Particular Order

Number 2: My daughter. She is my shadow.

Today I decided to straighten my hair for no particular reason, other than being out of gel/mousse. I tried scrunching it yesterday with my straightening gel, and that really confused my poor tresses, leaving it in a frizzy, half-curly, half-straight mess. I couldn't deal with another day like that, so I decided to take the time to straighten. No small feat with a two year old. However, Madders entertained herself by smearing my makeup all over her cheeks in war-paint fashion. When I showed her her work in the mirror, she seemed quite satisfied with the results. And later, when I stealthily tried to wipe her face, she squealed, "Mommy, NO! Don't wash off my MAKEUP!!" I can hardly imagine how her teenage years are going to be.

Anyways, I was straightening my hair. Madalyn eventually tired of the makeup, and wandered to the living room to play with toys. By the time I finished, the little Miss was a stinky make-up artist, so I laid her back to change her diaper. Really seeing me for the first time since I finished getting ready, she said,

"Mama! You are a princess!" and then proceeded to reverently touch my hair as if she were a remote jungle child seeing blonde hair for the first time. It got me thinking that maybe I should straighten more often.

And that I love my daughter. After her bath, she wanted me to blow dry her hair, and make it look straight and smooth. Which is perfect, because it plays beautifully into my master plan to be able to blow dry and curl it for Christmas portraits. Yeah, I know that's a big dream. Especially since half-way to dry, she declared, "O-kay, Mama. That's good. I look like a princess. Can I go watch a movie?" When I told her she still had wet strands she said, "Oh no, Mommy. They aren't wet, they're just warm." Right.

But before we went to watch a movie, I clipped her fingernails and toenails. I know, very uneventful. Very everyday. Yet she was sitting on my lap, warm, dry, and quiet, and it was just one of those moments. There are days I go a bit stir-crazy. I fight to see what's ahead, where we are going. I plead with God to lead us, to give us a chance to do right by Him in our one chance we have to walk through life. I look forward.

So country music makes me sappy. Right now I am watching the CMA awards. I am writing, and had paused in the middle of that last paragraph, not sure where I was headed. Then I knew. Because Trace Atkins just started singing this song. In summary, I am thankful for my daughter. Where she is right now. Where we are right now. And that God is here...right now.

"You're Gonna Miss This"

By Trace Adkins

She was staring out the window of their SUV

Complaining, saying "I can't wait to turn 18"

She said "I'll make my own money, and I'll make my own rules"

Mamma put the car in park out there in front of the school

Then she kissed her head and said "I was just like you"

You're gonna miss this

You're gonna want this back

You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast

These are some good times

So take a good look around

You may not know it now

But you're gonna miss this

Before she knows it, she's a brand new bride

In a one-bedroom apartment, and her daddy stops by

He tells her "It's a nice place"

She says "It'll do for now"

Starts talking about babies and buying a house

Daddy shakes his head and says "Baby, just slow down"

Cause you're gonna miss this

You're gonna want this back

You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast

These are some good times

So take a good look around

You may not know it now

But you're gonna miss this

Five years later there's a plumber workin' on the water heater

Dog's barkin', phone's ringin' One kid's cryin', one kid's screamin'

And she keeps apologizin'

He says "They don't bother me. I've got 2 babies of my own. One's 36, one's 23.

Huh, it's hard to believe, but...

You're gonna miss this

You're gonna want this back

You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast

These are some good times

So take a good look around

You may not know it now

But you're gonna miss this"

HILARIOUS!!!!

If you don't already read MckMama's blog, then I dare you to read this post, and then not become a faithful reader. I'm pretty sure it would be impossible to not get sucked into the hilarity and sweetness. Oh, and her conversations with her three year old are spot on with the ones I have all day around here with my M. Maybe that's why I love it so much.

HILARIOUS. And, yes, that is a double-dog dare.

Don't make me put a cherry on top.

Ways I Am Blessed...Part 1...

10 Ways I Am One Blessed Girl, In No Particular Order
Number One: I have world-class best friends.

This is probably one of my favorite pictures of all time. I found it again today, and it brought such warmth to my heart. We have soaked each other's shoulders in tears. We have wiped away pure joy from our own eyes at each other's weddings (one of us barely got through a reading during a ceremony :). They watched my daughter come into the world. She calls them "aunties". We have cried when one of us was leaving to go out of the country for a couple weeks (ie: Andrea leaving on her honeymoon...or these photos...)

We have been inexplicably proud of each other's accomplishments. We've had our moments. But I think we've balanced each other out. We've grown up. I still need them.

Here's to you two. I love you forever.

Not A Not Me Monday Post :)

Well, it seems that MckMama is taking a break from her normal "Not Me Monday" posting, seeing as she just had a baby a few days ago. So I'll follow suit and take a break as well. You know, because, umm, I'm too excited to start working on a sewing project. Excited enough to ignore the inch of crumbs under Madalyn's chair and the dust bunnies the size of...well...actual bunnies.

Sure, I'd be happy to advise you anytime on how I do such a great job of priority-setting. No charge.

Soooo...I don't know how to upload a YouTube video to my blog. I know that makes me terribly behind-the-times. I tried by clicking on the video upload thingy and pasting the link in the box, but my computer just rolled it's eyes at me. Apparently there's more to it than that. But I truly love this ad, so you should make the extra effort to click the link! :) I know it's all advertising, but I fell for it hook, line, and sinker. I know what I'll be doing after I vote. How about you?

Fancy Nancy...

Here is some eye-candy of our little Fancy Nancy on Halloween! "Fancy Nancy" is a fairly new children's book series centered around a little girl in love with all things fancy. The mom I nanny for got Madalyn the dress-up outfit, the book, Fancy Nancy's dog, Frenchy (seen in some of these photos), and a few other things for her birthday, and we've been in love with Fancy Nancy ever since! Enjoy! These pictures are spectacular! (That's the fancy word for "great"!)