Bows to Dogs

Last year the "itty bitty" was only 6 months old at Christmas, so Mommy decorated her tree in her bedroom with some of her hair bows and it was so girly and so cute.

As you all know, lots has changed since last year and we have a very strong willed and extremely independent child on our hands. I decided I would let Emma decorate her tree in something she really wanted and would enjoy this year.

This is her new position when I ask her to let me take her picture. She stops, squats down, puts her hands on her hips and shouts "CHEESE". This just cracks us up.

Guess what she picked out? A dog~dog themed tree. Before night-night time, we decided we would sit in her room and let her decorate her little tree. It is still an unfinished product, however I had to share a picture with you...yes, this is most of the ornaments cluttered on one little branch. She insisted that they all go in the same spot. The HOTY and I just kept laughing as we watched her decorate it and she was so proud of all her hard work.

We will have to share the finished tree with you when we get it all completed, for now... I can not help but wonder how perfect the world must be through the eyes of a 17 month old.

SAD

Nope ~ we are not sad around here by any means, however we are dealing with Separation Anxiety Disorder around the Frazier household. It has been crazy around here for about a week now with the "Itty Bitty" and me...needless to say, she is attached to me at all times except when she is sleeping. I am convinced and told the HOTY yesterday that if she could crawl back into my tummy and Gavin would so kindly let her move in, she would have been back in there last week.

I don't know what it is ~ part of me wonders if she knows we are getting close to bringing her baby brother into the world or if it is just a phase. Emma has always been very close to her Daddy and he is 100% a hands on Daddy and does as much as I do, probably more to be real honest with you. However, she does not want much to do with him these days either. I think his feelings are really hurt too.

Needless to say, my days have been spent doing nothing but giving her all of my attention and love. I am either exhausted by the time she goes to bed or running around here doing the things I would normally do while she is playing with Daddy or playing independently.

Please don't think I am complaining, I have enjoyed the time I have had off and can say that I have devoted every bit of it to my favorite little girl in the entire world and I have loved every second of it!

...Her Royal Throne

We ventured out today and got the witty "Itty Bitty" a potty. There had been talks of this for a couple weeks now, but I really thought we would wait till Gavin was born before we even introduced the potty. Emma has been telling us for a couple weeks now when her diaper is dirty, so we thought we would give it a shot & not worry about it if she was not ready. When we got home from shopping it was nap time, so Emma went to sleep for a couple hours while the HOTY unveiled the pretty little potty. He came out of the bathroom with the empty box and said, "the Princess now has her throne".

So tonight at bath time, I decided to introduce Emma to the potty. I sat down in the floor in front of it and she came over and very attentively listened as I explained, this was her potty and from now on when she had to go potty she needed to tell Mommy and we would let her go in there instead of using her diaper. We were getting ready to take a bath, so I took all her clothes off and invited her to have a seat. Being the outgoing child that she is, she got right on it and sat down and just kept saying, "potty, potty, potty". Within 2 minutes she had used her potty and she was yelling for Daddy to come and see. She was so proud of herself. Her Daddy came running in and gave her a sticker, of course we told her good job and how proud we were of her.

It did not stop there, we had to call everyone in the family to celebrate and share the great news.

I wish you could have all seen exactly how PROUD she was of herself. I just kept hugging her, telling her she was a big girl and I was so PROUD to be her Mommy.

Yes, we even had to give the potty a hug too. We will have to make sure she knows she can not do this when we are out in public, YUCK!

As we were getting Emma ready for night night time and changing her into her sleep diaper, I took her in the bathroom to let her try again. Keep in mind this was only about 1 1/2 hours after she had gone previously. I took her pajama bottoms and diaper off and she attempted to get on again, only backwards this time. We got her turned around the right way and Daddy and I sat there and talked to her for less than 2 minutes and she went again. Needless to say, we had lots to celebrate today.

Yes, our 17 month old was introduced to her potty for the 1st time today and utilized it twice. We are so proud of her and what a big girl she has become. Her Daddy kept telling her, "you are going to be able to teach your Baby Brother how to do all kinds of things". You continue to amaze us daily, baby girl!

Only 3 Days Left & New Pet

Look who arrived at our house yesterday with his neck stuck out looking for a new home. The newest edition to our family and to Gavin's nursery. Our plan is to stick this beautiful guy at the foot of Gavin's crib to watch in on him through out the night. The HOTY actually searched, found him and offered him a place to live. The "itty bitty" called him a horse when we took him out of the box and only had to be told one time he was a giraffe and now she walks around calling him by name.

Oh, I can not wait for Little Gavin to get here and join our family.

Random fact...I order quite a few of Emma's clothes from a place called Eden's Bouquet. This is one of my most recent purchases, except ours has a Magnolia vine on it. Needless to say, anything from Eden's is fabulous and I am in love with every piece of clothing we have purchased from there. I am not normally a name dropper, but I found out today that the man that was doing all the screen printing for Eden's is the PREGNANT man. The one we have been seeing on TV that is pregnant again with baby #2. Is that crazy or what? The owner shared this information with me today and posted it on her blog...I have since looked at her blog and the information is gone, perhaps she thought it was too controversial to have on her blog. Needless to say, she will be finding a new person to do all her screen printing from now on.

Last, but certainly not least...if you have not signed up for my giveaway that will end Saturday morning, it is not too late. Just click on the link below, read the post if you are interested, leave your name and you will be signed up to win one of the heirloom ornaments. They are beautiful.

http://fraziermommy.blogspot.com/2008/11/giveaway-oh-christmas-tree.html

This week is going by so fast and next week is Thanksgiving...I am so excited to be off and spend extra time with my sweet little family. Next Thanksgiving, we will be the Frazier Four ~ I can't wait!

I am a HORRIBLE Mommy!

So tonight was a first for me. As many of you know I am 23 weeks pregnant and I have NEVER thrown up during either of my pregnancies ~ thank you Jesus!

Well, I was in our office in the front of our home earlier and I hear the HOTY yell, "Laura, help". I immediately knew something was wrong, so I ran down the hall to find him holding the "Itty Bitty" and she had thrown up all over his face, down his shirt, on his mouth and all over the floor. Let me just tell you, I can do anything...but I can NOT do throw up. Of course I had to get Emma out of his arms, so I grabbed her reassuring her it was okay as she was continuing to puke. I got her to the kitchen sink and sat her on the side, where her clothes were covered in BARF! She nearly fell over into the sink because I was just so confused about what to do. Guess what happens next? I start puking in the sink and she is still throwing up. Honestly, I did not know what to do. I tried to start rinsing her off, but I could not stop myself from being sick. I was praying to the Lord the entire time out loud to please just help me and silently asking him for strength. I do not know how the HOTY held it together, but he did.

I decided to pick Emma up and take off running to our master bath. When we get there, she continued to throw up on the floor and I am throwing up in the bathroom sink. Oh Lord, please just help us, is all I kept saying. The HOTY comes in and I hear him laughing, but then he is quickly disgusted when he realizes I have thrown up all over the floor and in the sink. I got Emma stripped down and she proceeds to stand there and pee-pee all over the floor. I finally got myself all stripped down and in the tub where Emma continues to get sick. Oh my, why can't I just get control of myself is what I am thinking. So then, Emma and I take turns puking in the bucket that we normally rinse her hair out with.

Needless to say, it was CRAZY in our house tonight and I don't know why. We have no clue why she got so sick, except that she had been coughing. I honestly think I am about to get sick again, just typing about it. The poor HOTY had to clean all of this up.

When he finally got things settled he came in the bathroom where Emma and I were playing in the tub and I said, "oh babe, I just can't deal with that". He replied, "yes, I know". I then told him that is why God gave us you ~ poor thing. I felt so bad, but I did not know what to do and that has NEVER happened to us before. There was one point when I said, "call your Mom and get her to come help us". My poor husband just said, "for what" and did I mention my MIL lives 30 minutes away?

All of this to tell you I feel horrible, like a really bad Mommy. I have never felt like this, but I really just wished I had it in me to clean it all up and comfort my daughter at the same time without getting sick or upset about it. Please pray for me and I am serious, I really need to be able to deal with this type of thing. What would I have done if the HOTY had not been here? I felt so sorry for Emma, she was so afraid and I know it made it worse when I started doing it too. Please Please Please pray for me. I never want to not be able to 100% completly take care of and comfort my children when they are sick. I feel so bad!

Has this ever happened to any of you? Do any of you have any advice for me or know of something I can do to get over this? Please help, I am open for any and all suggestions.

1.5 years - 1 month = My Baby

It is hard to believe that our "Itty Bitty" turned 17 months old yesterday. She is getting so big, so fast, but she is oh so much fun. You know the routine, every month on her birthday we take her picture so we can remember exactly what she looked like at that time.

She was not wanting to smile when I asked her if I could take her picture.

I kept telling her to go stand over there against the wall, well she did just that...it was so funny, I really just intended for her to stand in the general area.

We finally ended up going outside, thinking she would cooperate a little more. Instead she took off running down the sidewalk and after the dog-dog.

At the end she decided to strike a pose, but would never look at me. It was hilarious...she would squat down, put her hands on her knees and say, "cheese".

It should be interesting next Saturday when we attempt to do her Christmas pictures and our family picture. Any ideas on how to get a 17 month old to sit still and look at the camera, lets not forget smile too? Perhaps I should suggest to my photographer that she dress up like a dog-dog, that would do the trick.

Fun Filled Saturday

Finally sitting down and wanted to share my Saturday with you guys... It started at 6:00 this morning when I left the house to head to school to complete our Senior Fundraiser. Long story short my Seniors sold cases of Coke, yes 24-20oz sodas for $20.00 a case. That is .83 a soda that would normally cost about $1.50 in a convenient store. Our goal was to sale 2500 cases of Cokes to earn money to go towards the Senior Prom that cost about $50,000 to produce and I am 100% responsible for that gig for the 2nd year. Can we just say...lots of work! Let me just tell you how many Cokes my sweet babies sold.

3258 Cases Sold

Which just happens to be a total of:

• 5 ~ 18 wheelers full of Coke Product


• 68 Pallets


• 78,192 bottles


• 1,563,480 ounces of soda


• $65,160 worth of product sold

And yes, every case of Cokes was picked up by the students that sold them between the hours of 8-12 today with the exception of 24 cases. I have a huge smile on my face because it is over, we profited about $20,000 and my kids far exceeded my expectations in every area when it came to this fundraiser. Way to go Class of 2009, you guys are awesome and I am so PROUD to be your Assistant Principal.

After that was all said and done, I met up with the HOTY and "Itty Bitty" for about 45 minutes to see them before I went to get my haircut. They were out running errands and picking up Baby Gavin's bedding that is already completed and oh so cute. I will have to share that with you when we get the Nursery all painted. When I left getting my haircut, I called and my sweet family was still in the area, so we decided to meet up for some Frozen Yogurt.

My friend Tedra had been telling us about this place called Swirll that we needed to check out, so today was our first day to make a visit and it was awesome. They had everything you could imagine and it was a do-it-yourself kind of place.

When you go in, you get a cup and choose the kind of yogurt you would like and there are 10 flavors to choose from ~ all Non Fat.

Then you make your way to the dangerous zone that has all kinds of toppings for your yogurt. Doesn't it look like big fun?

Then there is all the fruit and nuts you can imagine, if you choose to lean more towards the healthier things. Then you weigh your yogurt, pay your bill and eat up. What is your opinion...do you think the littlest Frazier liked it?

I think she loved it! She took mine and her Daddy's away at one point and would not give it back.

It was a busy Saturday, but a very productive one for me. All in all, it was a great day and life is good. I know and have read of so many great things happening to and for people lately and that makes my heart smile.

Giveaway ~ Oh Christmas Tree...

Oh Christmas Tree, how lovely are your branches? I can guarantee you one thing, they will be more lovely if you are the winner of this awesome giveaway. Debbie from the Picture Globe company is graciously allowing me to do a giveaway for her one of a kind, handcrafted custom glass ornaments. Click on the link below and you can see all the different ideas and messages that can be placed on these stunning ornaments. They would make the perfect Christmas gift for a loved one or heirlooms for you to have of your own children.

The Picture Globe Company

Below you can see our "itty bitty" on the ornament we ordered last year. The back of it reads, Emma's First Christmas 2007. We have also ordered these as gifts for others and everyone loves them. It just happens to be our favorite ornament on our tree. We are having one of our wedding picture done this year and of course plan to have one made of Baby Gavin as soon as he arrives.

So, this is how it will work...just leave a comment on my blog and I will use a program to select a winner on Saturday, November 22nd. Feel free to pass this on to your friends, family and other bloggers. Please do not feel as if you have to have an account to win. You are welcome to post anonymously and just leave your name and how I can get in touch with you if you are the lucky winner. This is my first giveaway and I am so excited about it.

Thank you so much Debbie for allowing me to do this giveaway. I know people will love your treasures as much as we do.

This Time Last Year

Today on my ride home from work as I looked in the rear view mirror at my sweet baby, I began to reminisce about what life was like this time last year.

The "Itty Bitty" was 5 months old, weighed 15 lbs. 8 oz. and was 25 inches long. She was rolling over, scooting on her belly, sitting up for a few seconds and laughing out loud. Those days seem like so long ago...sometimes it makes me really sad that the time has passed so quickly. However, we count our blessings daily that she is so happy, healthy and thriving just as she should. Everyday just seems to get sweeter and sweeter!

As I drove down the road looking in that same mirror, I thought to myself...oh, in less than 4 months there will be 2 of my sweet babies back there. I must admit out of all the thoughts I had today, that was the sweetest one of all.

I can not wait to be the Frazier 4...go into a restaurant and say 2 adults & 2 highchairs...put two babies in car seats...bathe 2 babies...buy size 6 and Newborn diapers...pray for 2 babies before they fall asleep at night...have 2 babies on our Christmas card...have a daughter and a son...share my love with both of them...read to them...lay in bed with both of them...hear them both call me Mommy...swing both of them...stay awake with both of them...feed both of them...protect both of them...believe in both of them and most of all LOVE both of them unconditionally, like every CHILD deserves to be loved.

Our God is an awesome God and for that we will forever be thankful!

Uh.....My Bubba

I am convinced at this point that the "witty itty bitty" knows exactly what is going on in the Frazier household. We always talk about the baby and that she will be getting a baby brother soon. She does things to let us know she understands, like put alot of soap on my belly in the bath and say, "baby bath" or point to my belly while talking or loving on the baby.

Saturday morning, which is my favorite day of the week because once Emma wakes up we all lay in bed and talk and play for about an hour. It is some of my favorite family time. No, she does not sleep with us...but we bring her in there as soon as she wakes up.

This Saturday morning we were all in the bed talking and playing and she put her hands on my belly and said, "my Bubba". The HOTY and I just looked at each other and laughed. She has continued to call my belly Bubba since then. Uh, we never really wanted her to call her Brother Bubba ~ maybe she will switch to Gavin soon.



I think we are all starting to feel a little better around here and the coughs are slowly going away. We managed to get some things accomplished this weekend. I snapped these pictures of our sweet baby girl before we headed out of the house to go shopping on Saturday. She is getting so BIG! If you look real close you can see one of her little bottles for her baby in her mouth. She loves to pretend she is feeding the baby and often times she likes to suck on it herself.


Lots going on around here and the Holiday Season is upon us already. We will be going fast and furious from this point on, till about January. We did manage to get Emma's Christmas dress and shoes bought this weekend, so that can be marked off the list.

Great news... we found out today that our cousins Melissa and Sean who are expecting twins are having a BOY and a GIRL and did I mention...We are so excited. They got pregnant through IVF, so they have been doubly blessed. These little guys are super healthy and measuring exactly where they should be. We are due around the same time, so if all goes as planned our babies will be days apart.

Hope to get back in the swing of things this week since everyone is feeling a little better around here.

Pondering this years...

Christmas cards. Our appointment is booked with our AMAZING PHOTOGRAPHER to shoot family photos, Emma's 17 month old pictures and of course our Christmas pictures. I don't know how we will top last years Christmas card, but I am sure the Paparazzi (our nickname for our photographer) can find a away.

Here is our Christmas card from last year...it was a 5 x 7 folded on linen paper. The pearls Emma has on in this picture are the ones I wore on my wedding day!

(Front)

This was the inside of the card and Yes, that is me in the Santa suit holding my sweet babies hands.

(Inside of Card)

The back of our Christmas cards & I just love her little lips in this picture.

(Back)

I am very excited about our photo shoot and I look forward to seeing all of our photos and creating the perfect Christmas Card to send to our family and friends this Holiday Season.

Guess who...

Accompanied their Mommy to vote this afternoon? The "itty bitty" and Baby Gavin. Yep, both of my children participated in their first Presidential election today. I could not have been more proud to walk in there today with all the candidates on paper that I had carefully selected and highlighted with my two children with me. Life is good and the countdown is on!

No pictures to share & we did not even get a sticker that said, I VOTED! What is up with that?

We are still not feeling well around here, so I am off to bed. Oh one quick story, Emma had to go to the Dr. yesterday and she has a double ear infection. However, my witty child kept telling the pediatrician "all done, all done" every time she would look at her throat, ears or listen to her heartbeat. It was so funny. When the Dr. went to leave, through her tears she managed to tell her "Thank You".

It does not stop there...when we got home her Daddy asked where she went today and she said, "Dr. Daddy". This kid impresses me more and more everyday!

Halloween

We are all a little under the weather at our house, but I wanted to share a few pictures from Halloween for you to enjoy. We joined my BFF and her family at the school carnival in their neighborhood. Emma used up all her tickets people watching (ha ha). This kid stares as bad as her Mommy does...I love to just sit and watch people and I could do it all day if it weren't for the nudge the HOTY gives me when he catches me doing it ~ which is often.

Emma with her Ra-Ra (my BFF) as we were headed into the carnival.

Emma with Addy, this is Ra-Ra's middle child and Emma's favorite. I know we are not suppose to have a favorite, but this child is "one of a kind" and so sweet to Emma.

After the carnival we headed back home to knock on a few of our neighbors doors and then we were in the house for the night. It was fun to watch Emma walk up to the doors for a little treat. I think she knew exactly what was going on...especially when they put something in her basket. She wanted to sit down right then and eat it.

These are the 2 little boys across the street waiting to go Trick or Treating themselves.

Here she is... the cutest little dog I have ever seen. I am so glad that I allowed Emma to be something she really wanted to be for Halloween. I just wonder what it will be next year?

I hope that all of you have a great week. Please remember to go and vote if you did not participate in early Voting. I will be standing in line on Tuesday. The HOTY has already voted, but I never found time to sneak away and get that done. In the meantime, I will continue to pray over the election and hope that my candidate is chosen.