Curse Words

*Viewer discretion is advised on this post.*

Reese knows there are words we don't use. We don't say stupid, idiot, oh my God or gosh, shut up etc. Those are all things that we don't think sound good coming from little children. She doesn't use those words because we hear them on TV and such and we've talked about how they are not nice. 

Then there are other words... damn in particular. Now before you start claiming that "she's heard her parents using those word" let's talk about a few things. 1. Yes, I can be caught using a word at the right moment however if she is around I try to spell them out or say them repeatedly in my head instead of out loud. 2. We listen to country music and they are big fans of "mild" curse words. 2. She loves to new version of Annie and the D word is used in that movie. 

Several months ago there was a commercial on TV where a 600lb woman says "I'm not a fat ass. I'm a bad ass." Immediately I hear "Momma what's a bad ass?" GASP. IT'S A WORD WE DON'T USE.

During the summer Jolie was spending the day with us when I heard terrible crying coming from Reese's room. I went to see what was wrong. Reese was doing the hurt kind of cry and said "Damn that hurt." What? What did you say? Jolie's face was of disbelief. "Damn that hurt?" Y'all. I had to hug her to keep her from seeing me silently laughing. (I later learn that Elynn had scratched her across the face.) We had a long talk about that word and how we don't use those words. Honestly it made me think I needed to just tell her all the curse words out there and tell her they aren't to be used because when she hears these new words she likes to try them out.

Then. A couple of weeks ago we were laying in her bed getting ready to go to sleep and she said "Momma that was a damn ugly house on TV tonight." Well. Ok then. Clearly our talk about that word did not stick. I explained that we had talked about that word and if she ever used it again she would be getting a spanking.

At this point I just pray she doesn't come out with one at Christmas dinner. 

The Caboose

I'd be lying if I didn't admit something right here and now. We knew for sure we wanted a 3rd baby. Since Elynn's delivery was so easy, I had agreed from that day on that 3 was a nice number in my mind. I can't say THIS was exactly when we had planned for another one. Actually, a point in time had never been discussed. I had this fairy tale picture in my mind of waiting till the girls were quite a bit older and we could have a little straggler to keep us young.

When it became evident in late September that I was either (a.)pregnant or (b.) 3 pregnancy tests were all defective (which was exactly what I argued to Adam for at least 2 days), I was slightly overwhelmed. And by slightly I mean a few days later Adam told me to get my act together. The voice of reason in my life reminded me that the 2 we already have, love, and adore were NOT on our timeline. No truer word could have ever been spoken to me. It's been well documented that I blacked slap out when I found out about Reese. I wasn't that level of shocked. I was overwhelmed. I haven't met a person yet that said "Yeah 3 is a breeze! Nothing to it!" 

 

I adjusted quickly to the idea once Adam called me out for my juvenile behavior. We waited till I was about 12 weeks before we came out with it. We gave a printed copy of this picture to our parents. Mine didn't get it. Uncle G immediately knew so whether or not Big Daddy and DD got it remains a mystery. 

Since the week I found out I was pregnant Reese had said the blessing every night and ended it with "And please let my momma have a baby." The first night she said that my eyes shot open at a violent speed and asked her to repeat herself. She had no idea. We were very careful not to discuss it around her because she repeats everything. She kept that up for 2 months. We told her the morning we were telling our parents. I told her MeeMaw and PeePaw were stopping by and not to say anything, but to give them the picture. The instant they walked in the door she looked at me and said, "It's hard not to say what you told me not to say." Bless that little precious heart. She can't keep a secret. (Which is exactly why she thinks we are giving her daddy a radio for Christmas. And she had told him that several times.)

I went yesterday for the gender sonogram. Believe it or not, I did not peek and the lady doing it was so great. I turned my head and she immediately knew what it was. I heard her print a few pictures then she told me I could look. I saw arms, legs, hands, feet, everything but the gender. So now this is sitting high up on our tree with pictures in it of what we will be getting. Adam and I will be getting up bright and early Christmas morning to open it. But to help with the suspense, let me assure y'all it's another girl. And let me assure you also that WE LOVE LITTLE GIRLS. WE WERE NOT TRYING FOR A BOY. I get a little hot when people say "oh are y'all trying for a boy?" No. No, we are not. Actually we weren't trying for a baby at all. We are well prepared for another girl. We have everything we need. If on the off chance we do get a boy, we will be thrilled with that as well. I will be happy for Adam because he will have a built in fishing buddy in a few years. Either way we really don't care.

 As an adult, opening up the gender of our baby on Christmas morning is as exciting as it gets, so no we will not be peeking. We aren't even tempted because we want to remember this Christmas by open the envelope that morning. Eeeeeekk!! Stay tuned for a Christmas gender update. 

Zoo Light Safari 2015

If there was ever any doubt exactly how lacking we are in the common sense department, we cleared that right on up Saturday. We got up early for a day of shopping with these before going to the Zoo Lights Safari at the Birmingham Zoo. Y'all it's been YEARS since I've been to the Galleria on a Saturday in December, and now I remember why I avoided it for so long. There are no words to describe it. Thankfully Adam corralled the girls while I would dart quickly in and out of stores to make purchases. It all went very well considering we had 2 kids with us and NO stroller. How after 5 years of parenthood are we still such rookies? 

 After purchasing a bandanna scarf for "Puppy" and requesting to "go in the store with lotion and soap" Reese declared, "well I think that's got everything on my list I needed." Well praise the Lord because marking things off my 5 year old's To Do list was my main concern. (I probably need to remind you about Puppy. He is one of a threesome that travels everywhere with us. They bare the very original names of Puppy, Tiger, and Bunny. The have been around for over 3 years now. The fact that they haven't been lost or left somewhere proves that Jesus is still in the miracle business.)

This little elf was too small to ride the Yuletide Slide and to go ice skating. After Reese was done with those 2 events she heard me say to Adam, "Bless Elynn's little heart she didn't get to play." Reese said in her sweetest voice, "I shouldn't have done all that stuff without her." I explained that sometimes she will get to do things that Elynn doesn't. About 2 minutes later a fight broke out between them and all was back to normal.

They had a snow maker and the girls loved it.

 Ice skating on synthetic ice was Reese's favorite part. She only fell once or twice, but praise be to the Lord her daddy never made contact with the ice. Miracle. I know our insurance company is glad.

 Adam and I realized we aren't what we used to be when we rode the carousal and about got sick.

And for heaven's sake don't let me leave out this minor detail- The fire alarm went off not once, but twice during our overnight stay at Ross Bridge after leaving the zoo. Specifically at 12:00 AM and 4:00 AM. At 12:00 I jumped up, put on what I could find with my eyes half closed and rushed out the door. 20 minutes later we got the all clear from the fire department and we went back in. If you haven't been awaken by a fire alarm in your ear, I'm not sure you know the real definition of panic.      Never would I ever have thought that I would have been standing out front of Ross Bridge Golf Resort in my flannels and Adam's 14 year old football t-shirt. It was a real high point in my pajama wearing life. When the alarm went off at 4 we stayed in the bed. The next morning when I got up from that restful nights sleep I asked Adam what that said about us as parents that we didn't evacuate. He assured me, "Oh, you were sleeping with a trained professional. Every minute or 2 I sniffed the air to be sure I didn't smell smoke." Well if it's not reassuring that my fire fighting husband (who's been aware from the profession for upwards of 8 years) was in control then I can't imagine what would be. 

Gymnastics Award

I'm going to start and go backwards with blog updates cause y'all, life is flying by me at break neck speed. 

Last night I told Allison I was going to run to the restroom before class was over. I barely got my pants unbuttoned and Allison was banging on the door that the girls were about to get little awards. What?!? Didn't even know that was taking place last night, and to think I had almost skipped last night and let her daddy pick her up! 

She was so proud. This is her second year and I had to get a little fiery with her a few weeks ago because I didn't think she was putting forth the effort she needed to. She picked it up a notch or 2 after that. 

Be sure to take note of the purple rabbit socks. She gets real mad if I try to make her go out on the gym floor without socks. Slight germophobe? Probably. 

Reese's 5th Birthday (a month late)

When Reese turned 4, she wanted to take Addie to the movies to see Dolphin Tale 2. From then on, Reese said she wanted a Dolphin Tale birthday party when she turned 5. Do you know how hard it is to find Dolphin Tale decor? Impossible. It was more like under the sea decor. 

Saturday, her last day as a 4 year old, was a rough day. Reese and Elynn both acted TERRIBLE all day long. (Also first thing Saturday morning she came and asked me "is today my birthday?" I love the innocents of her needed us to tell her which day is her birthday.) At bedtime Adam pretended to call the people who were bringing her water slide and told them to cancel. He said he deserved an Emmy for his superb acting. Apparently he was right. Sunday morning I told Reese to go tell daddy that the water slide would be at our house around 8:30. She came to the kitchen where I was and  with the saddest face told me, "No, momma. Daddy cancelled my water slide. They aren't bringing it." Broke my heart. Adam talked to her and told her that he called them back and told them that she was going to do better, and to go ahead and deliver the slide. 

When she got up that morning she said, "I don't feel 5. I still feel like I'm 4." 

She asked for a jewelry box this year, not a toy. I think that's a sign of the times. She's not a baby anymore. She's a little girl, and we couldn't be more proud of her (even when she has days like Saturday when she caused her momma to need a nerve pill). She opened all of her presents from us that morning. She danced to the song that the jewelry box plays. 

And then it arrived. This was her first trip down it. 

This was Elynn's first and only trip down the slide. She's much more aware of things that have the potential to be dangerous than Reese ever has been. 

We've watched Tangled several times lately. Reese loves the lanterns, so Adam wanted me to order some to send off on her birthday. She was SO excited about it. We lit 5 of them. 

 Her daddy told her to make a birthday wish when the last one was gone.

I'm not gonna lie. I loved 4. Four was so much easier and more enjoyable than 3. I feel like it will probably continue down this easier path until somewhere around 13... Maybe I'm wrong. Reese is full of energy. She cannot be worn down, she hasn't needed a nap in 2 years (I have needed a nap every day), and she is never ready to go to bed. She is so flippin' precious I could just pinch her little face. She and Elynn start off in Reese's bed, but end up in ours (usually before midnight). When she was a little baby, sleeping with us was not enough. She wanted our faces to be touching. She's graduated a little bit from that, but she still wants to be in close proximity. She gets very upset when we talk about kindergarten. She loves "Mrs. A-Liz" and wants to be her helper forever. When she grows up, she wants to be "Mrs. A-Liz" and she has even picked out an abandoned building close to our house that she wants her daycare to be in. 

Happy birthday Big Sis!

Tailgating

Nothing made me happier than this trip to Auburn to meet up with our friends. Samantha so graciously invited us to come tailgate, and because God is good and he still performs miracles, almost everyone was able to make it. 

Reese LOVES, and I do mean LOVES, this dress. She was so excited when there was one in my size. I figure this dressing like momma phase will be short lived. 

We had to park somewhere around Montgomery and walk the rest of the way. Adam could have dropped us off at the tailgate spot, but I hated for him to have to walk alone so I declined his offer. It didn't take me but about 10 minutes of uphill walking to regret that decision. The girls had it made in the red wagon shade.  

We took the girls to their first Tiger Walk. It was so fun. Except there was a man next to us that kept hollering at the players, "why don'tcha block somebody this week" and "I wish yall would hit somebody!"

The daddy/daugher club. And each of these girls have little sisters.

It saddens me that we don't get to see all of our people more often, but I am so glad we had a chance to hang out and to get this very rare group photo. 

Bulgaria

Adam's been in Bulgaria for the last 2 weeks. That's right. Bulargia. As in the OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD, 8 hours ahead of us Bulgaria. I had to get my act together and play single momma, and hats off to those of you who do that regularly.

I have to do a little comparison. This was when Reese was about Elynn's age now. Adam went to St. Louis for a 2 week training.

We dropped Adam off in ATL the Saturday before Labor Day. Who goes to an airport with 2 small kids and no stroller? Us. Amateurs. We had to be innovative. We used Adam's luggage until he boarded the plane. After that I found an airport wheel chair and pushed them in it. 

We got gate passes and were able to go through security and stay with him until he boarded the plane.

There were a couple of days that things got kinda rough. They both cried for an extensive amount of time one night because they missed him. 

He spent most of the 2 weeks at the Kronospan location in Bulgaria, but he also went to Romania for a few days. 

Every meal Reese would say the blessing and end it with "and keep our daddy safe on his trip." So sweet. The time difference made it hard for the girls to talk to him, but he stayed up late most nights to be able to face time with them. 

One night Reese started crying because she missed him and she said, "I feel like my daddy is far far away. Like not in Atlanta anymore." Oh baby. You are so right. Daddy ain't in Atlanta anymore. 

But it was a happy happy day when we picked him up. 

Mini Vacay

 First, let me tell you about turning 30. It's very glamorous. It's also very flattering and a big ego booster because your daughter believes with all of her little precious heart that you need a foot sander. But mostly importantly, she thinks she needs to be the one to operate it.

  Y'all. By the time Labor Day rolls around, I am in NEED of a getaway.So this year we got away to the Opelika Marriott. We've been to Ross Bridge, and the building there is gorg, but the pool at Opelika is much better! The girls had a blast. Elynn went down the tunnel slide twice and cried both times.

 She much prefers sitting by the pool being cute.

 I took backup on the trip. Jolie is my A #1 helper. Except....she let Reese get loose one time. The security guy took care of her down by the pool when she arrived alone. Reese thought I had gone to the pool with her. (because y'all know I am bad about abandoning her) When she got to the pool and I wasn't there, she panicked. The security guy saw it all go down, and he stayed with her until we got there.

This one had it just like she likes it. Observing her sister. Nobody bothering her. She's gotten far too good at defending herself. Pinching, slapping, biting. On a regular basis.

They played Shrek out by the pool one night. The girls loved that.

And they slept all the way home.

My motherhood hit an all time low when we got home and all I could force myself to prepare for dinner was bananas and milk.

P.S. Last night when we were at church it started flooding. After I got the girls in the car, Reese declared, "Momma do you know how much I looovveee being at home when it's raining?" I just closed my eyes and took a deep breath. If you only knew how many times I've said that to her daddy. I love to be home when it's wet and messy outside, but Lord have mercy. Hearing myself come straight out of her mouth....shocks me every time. 

But let me tell you what shocks me even more. Elynn scratched Reese across the face (self-defense) a few weeks ago. Reese was hysterically crying. I asked her what was wrong and I was told by my precious little 4 year old princess "Damn that hurt." What????!!!!! So I asked 2 more times just to be sure. Yep. She said it. And what's worse is that she used it correctly. It took us a few weeks, but she had been watching the new Annie while we were in the car. I clearly should preview these movies before she watches them, because I'm pretty sure that's where she got it. Not from her momma. No way. If I use that word it is done silently, in my head, while I try to slow my heart rate with deep breaths and convince myself that whatever just happened isn't worthy of such profanities. ;)

Okaloosa Island 2015

We spend the 4th of July at the beach. Other than Elynn hating the sand until the last day, we had so much fun. Since that's been well over a month ago, I'm just posting the pictures because Lord knows I can't remember the details. I'm lucky to remember where I laid my keys down last.