My Little Super Singer

Today when I picked Savannah up from school, she was wearing a special award. . . it's the super singer award! I'm so proud of my little singer!! I asked her what she sang in music today (her FAVORITE part of WEE school) and of course she said "I don't know". I have a feeling that if she got the super singer award she just might know what she sang in music today!

Preston's Lovey

Preston has fallen in love with this blue blanket that my Aunt Dosie gave him. It's silky on one side and that great soft bumpy material on the other side. After being frustrated with the way he doesn't soothe himself back to sleep when he wakes up, my friend Kristin recommended giving him something to hold onto. I'd like to say that it's done the trick, it hasn't, but he really loves holding onto this thing! I usually find him just like in the picture, with the entire blanket over his face. Notice he's actually napping in the photo too!!! Woo hoo!

Mommy Guilt

This week I've felt an overwhelming feeling of guilt, just pure guilt for not being a better mommy. I guess it all started when Dave and I were talking and he asked me what Savannah and I had done together on Wednesday . . . and after thinking about it I realized that we hadn't done anything!! We had been home the entire day and not once did I sit down to read her a book, play dress up, do a puzzle, or even watch TV with her. WOW!! Now I'm pretty sure I wasn't playing on the computer all day or eating bon bons in front of the TV, but what in the world did I do?? I felt sooo bad for not making her a priority!

Then on Friday at WEE school pick up I realized that Savannah was supposed to bring show and tell on Fridays ! WHAT?? This is week 3 of WEE school and not once has my baby had something for show and tell Friday. My heart just ached as I realized that she had to sit in a circle with friends who all had their show and tell stuff and she didn't have anything! :( I do have to say that this made me a little angry . . . why didn't her teachers put it on the calendar? why didn't they remind me or mention it after THREE weeks?? I know it's not their fault, but come on, give a sleep deprived mom a clue!

I'm just thankful for a husband who can give and give and give to these kiddos. Dave is so good at making up for where I am lacking and this is definitely one of those areas. Thank you Lord for a loving, patient, and giving husband who is willing to pour time into our family!

An Enormous Mess

My house is a disaster! Since I don't have a clue where to begin I thought I'd just update the blog for a third time today. Check out my mess.

Here is the living room. Over 100 consignment items that didn't sell scattered everywhere. Also notice the groceries that Savannah unloaded in the LIVING room for me. However, there is a sleeping baby in the swing!!!!

Here is the kitchen counter with 3 days of mail that needs attention, my vista print stuff, and coupons that need to be filed! There is also a pile of recycle/trash.

Lastly, the ballet shoes from this morning, WEE school art, today's paper, and groceries from yesterday that never got unloaded.

WOW! This is surely not the norm for me. I have my work cut out for me this week for sure.

Tis The Season

For football! Here are my two boys watching the Clemson game all decked out in their tiger paw shirts.

Vista Print Deals

Not wanting to miss out on a good deal, I jumped on the bandwagon and placed my order with Vista Print last weekend. To my surprise all of my goodies arrived today!!! Here's what I got for a whopping $12 (shipping costs).

First up: my personal favorite, the personalized to do list! Dave commented that he wished my list was this short, but maybe this can be my daily list.

Next is Savannah's personal stationery:



I copied my friend Donna's ideas with the last two . . . magnets for Savannah's WEE school friends and gift cards to use inside gifts.

I also ordered a pen with my name on it and 140 Christmas address labels!! I have a new list of Vista Print things I want to order . . . if only I could find time! :)

HE DID IT!!!!

As I type this a modified version of the Dora theme song is running though my head, "He did it, he did it, he did it, hooray!" Preston finally slept through the night last night! Praise the Lord! I was shocked when I woke up at 5:30 this morning and realized that I was fully rested . . . maybe it was a one time thing, a way of God preparing me for an exciting day of Harris Teeter triples and consignment sales, but even if it's just a fluke, I'm sooo thankful!

It was a big night for Preston as he also rolled over for the first time. It's hilarious to watch because he strains so hard to do it and then as soon as he rolls he starts screaming! AHHHH!! Preston HATES being on his stomach, which would make one wonder why the heck he continually flips himself over. I guess he just loves showing off his new trick. So right as we finally got him to sleep well in the pack n play we're back to the swing to keep him still. Fun times, fun times!

Staycation 2009

We weren't quite brave enough to take a trip with a newborn and toddler this summer so we decided to save a little money and a lot of sanity and stay here in Charlotte. Our staycation started on Friday and lasted though Tuesday with having daddy home. Although Dave didn't get much rest, it was super nice for me to have an extra set of hands here! We did venture out Monday to the zoo in Columbia . . . and let me tell you, Mondays are definitely the days to go! The zoo was practically empty and we had a blast. It was so nice not being shoved around and being able to let Savannah walk freely around with us. Here are a few pictures from our trip.

Savannah and daddy watching the gorillas being fed. We found it very interesting that they only eat vegetables and fruit. We also learned that they have a type of hierarchy where the "in charge" gorilla is always fed first. It's amazing what you can learn when you aren't rushed around!

Savannah insisted, and I mean insisted, on having a picture taken with daddy on ALL of the metal animals!

Yet another picture on an animal statue!

This is by far my favorite picture. Notice that there isn't another person anywhere close. Savannah loved feeding the giraffe!

Not the greatest picture, but just wanted to remember that Preston and mommy were there too! You can see the stinky elephants in the background.

Check out Savannah's face! Clearly, it was time to go home!

So today we're attempting to get back to some type of routine . . . although Harris Teeter is having triples again this week and the big consignment sales are this weekend so I'm not sure exactly how routine life will be! :)

Our Ballerina

Today was Savannah's first official ballet class!! To say that she was excited was probably quite an underestimation because she was almost bouncing off the walls before we left this morning. She woke up talking about her ballet class and is still talking about it now even as we're back home.

Here she is in the studio, ready to start class. After dropping her off we headed down the hall to watch her on the TV screen. It was so cute to see the little girls (and one boy) all dancing around. While I was busy watching Savannah on the TV, Dave kept our little man busy.

Past, Present, and Future

PAST

This past weekend was yet another example of just how in control God is!! Long story short, we put our car on Craig's list last Sunday afternoon and by Friday it was sold. Although we didn't get exactly what we wanted, it was a done deal, cash in hand by Saturday morning. Our "new" van arrived Monday afternoon so not once did we have to juggle 3 cars or go without enough cars! Woo hoo! So, on Saturday we said good bye to my car. ;( I didn't think it would be such a sad experience, but I really loved that car. After all, it did bring both of my babies home from the hospital for the first time.

Then, I headed off to Burlington, alone, to say goodbye to mom's house. It was a haven for me and my brother for so many years and for lots of our friends as well. I have lots of special memories there that will never go away, but I finally decided it was only healthy for me to go one last time and say good bye.

PRESENT

I am loving life. Okay, well loving my babies and learning to tolerate the mess is a better way to put it. Is Preston cute or what?! He is doing SO much better on his new formula . . . still not sleeping through the night (or even close) but a lot less fussy! Nothing warms my heart more than seeing him laugh and smile, which he does frequently.

It's also Dave's birthday today!!! Happy Birthday baby! I am so thankful for a husband that has stuck by my side through the craziness of life. I couldn't have made it through these past few months without him. Although I won't disclose his age, let's just say he's now closer to 40 than 30. We're planning to have a "nice" birthday dinner at the ever-so-kid-friendly Red Robin and then will open some presents later tonight.

FUTURE

Hallelujah, school started for Savannah today!! Our future is looking much brighter and better for everyone now that school is back in session. No more downtown for this little girl, she in the "upstairs school" now! Savannah had a great day with her new teachers and friends.

A Snake in the Air

I have to say that I think we were due to have a great day today. After several days of a non-stop screaming, non-napping infant I finally have had a day to enjoy!! Thank you Lord! Maybe it's because there was NOTHING on the calendar, maybe it's because the weather is so beautiful, maybe it's because Preston is just too exhausted to cry anymore, or just maybe it's because I know Dave will be here in less than 3 hours to help me, but whatever the cause today has been almost perfect! Although I haven't stopped working I feel renewed and ready to tackle the afternoon.

I have to share a quick story from this morning. We were out on a walk (yes, no running today, Dave said I need to let my legs rest at least twice a week) and I was trying to get Preston to keep the pacifier in his mouth when the following conversation took place with Savannah:

S - Mommy there's a snake.
Me - WHERE??
S - Over there, in the air
Me - What? WHERE??
S - I TOLD YOU (very sassy like), over there, in the air
Me (now a little panicked) - Savannah, I don't see a snake, where is it? In the tree?
S (now pointing up) - Noooo! Up there mommy, a snake in the air
Me - you mean the smoke from the plane?
S - yes, I told you, a snake in the air

I'm not sure whether she just thought it looked like a snake or if she thought that smoke was called snake, either way, I laughed the rest of the way home!