Fashionista

Sydney (A.K.A. Chris Jr.) She looks JUST like her daddy here...wow.

I have never claimed to be one who stays on the cutting edge of fashion. I wear what is comfortable.

I wear what fits my body type well. I wear what makes me feel good.

I do not rush out to buy the latest styles or most popular shoes. If the shoe is uncomfortable and makes red lines and bruises on my feet, in the trash it goes. If the outfit makes me itch, rubs me the wrong way, or gives the illusion that my backside could be measured in cubic feet or acres,

 it will not be found in my closet.

Life is too short to suffer for the sake of fashion!

As for Sydney...she is the most well-dressed of us all.

The outfit pictured above, a precious Ralph Lauren polo dress in Maui pink with the adorable ruffle hem is quite possibly the cutest dress I have ever laid eyes on. Her Aunt Dee bought this for her, along with another fantastic outfit to be shared later when she gets a little bigger. Thanks Aunt Dee!

This dress makes me squeal with glee and giggle with delight.

She looks absolutely adorable in it.

And I could not resist the pig tails...or dog ears...or double ponytails...or whatever you may want to call them. Do you know how many baby dolls have suffered inhumane ordeals as I have practiced this technique? MANY...and now, I have a baby doll of my own to dress up and torture with crazy hairstyles.

I remember as a small child how my mom would put my hair in pig tails. She would use the small edge of the comb to carefully divide my hair into 2 equal halves. It would tickle like crazy and that is something I don't think I'll ever forget.

Sydney looking just like her mama.

My little fashionista. You go girl! Here's to many more years of rockin' some serious style!

First Things First

There is something amazing about starting each day with a few quiet moments. A time to read your Bible, pray, and meditate on the goodness of God.

It is absolutely incredible how different your day turns out if you just spend some time with your Savior, your Creator, your Lord... each morning.

Isn't the one who formed your soul worth a few minutes of your precious time? I think so.

I hear people say, "Oh, I say my prayers at night before I go to bed. That covers it." To them I'd like to say, "Yep, and your dead dog tired and can't think straight and probably fall asleep while attempting to "pray."

Give God the best part of your day! Give him the morning time before anybody else gets up...when the house is quiet and still and you can focus on all the good things God has given you and how wonderful He is. Yes, it is tough for me to get up before the baby does...but, if my Savior can walk in excruciating pain down the Via Dolorosa with blood streaming down his face, what is keeping me from setting an alarm clock? I have no excuse.

Today, I'd like to share with you a portion of a song I wrote 11 years ago. It is called "Half Way."

I was here this morning, where were you?
Don't I deserve a piece of your precious time?
I can't force you to rearrange your priorities.
I cannot make you commune with Me.

Forgiven you, I've saved you, You're redeemed.
Is it not good enough?
How can our relationship grow if we seldom talk?
You say the words, but can you walk the walk?

Can't you even meet me half-way?
I've done my part, I've poured out my heart.
I've reached down with mercy, I've rescued your soul.
But you've got to meet Me half-way.

What Lies Beneath

As I emptied the laundry basket this morning to kick off "Friday Wash Day" at the Chambers' household, I was in for a little surprise. I had no idea what was waiting for me beneath the layers of t-shirts, socks, and underwear.

The treasures I encountered were...

 This lovely Willow Tree Angel figurine that mysteriously came up missing a few days ago..

 

tubes of hiney cream

 A digital thermometer that I thought was long gone...

My husband's favorite mini flashlight

 and my most elegant piece of junk jewelry.

And I can't for the life of me figure out how they got there.

Panic, Stress, & Petroleum Jelly

This picture gives me the creeps.

It makes me close my eyes and take a breath.

The visage of an ordinary shopping cart is forever tainted in my thoughts and dreams.

*shudder*

I will never again look at a shopping cart in the same way after yesterday.

What? You don't see it?

Look again. 

There. Do you see it now?

Do you see the evil lurking?

Do you see the maniacal madness just waiting to unleash itself on an unsuspecting child?

Do you think I've officially lost my marbles?

If you do, then you are right.

My marbles are rolling around somewhere in the Jo Ann's Fabric store in Beaumont, Texas.

Yep, my marbles are there along with minuscule shards of my nerves and shell-shocked fabric cutter people wearing cute little green aprons.

...deep breath...

Went to Beaumont yesterday to shop with my mom and her buddy.

Sydney went along.

It rained cats, dogs, and squirrels.

Literal monsoon.

Sydney was not cheerful to be in the rain.

Went to Jo Ann's fabrics so my mom and her buddy could fulfill their unquenchable desire for fat quarters, quilting needles, and McCall's patterns.

And all of those things are good things. God Bless Grandmas that sew. My love to you.

Sydney found herself browsing the aisles with Gigi.

She was in heaven.

Until we got to the checkout line and discovered that her chubby little leg

which was supposed to be here...

(child pictured not Sydney)

WAS ACTUALLY HERE!! 

Yes, her calf was wedged into that 1 1/2 inch space between two polished steel bars.

How in the world she got her leg in that spot is still a mystery.

Let me sum it up to say that is was

mayhem, hysteria, and pandemonium...

weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth...

panic, stress, and petroleum jelly...

store managers, fabric cutters, and terrified clerks...

uh..did I mention weeping and WAILING?

Several minutes (which seemed like eternity) and a greased up leg later,

my child was free.

Thanks to the quick thinking of the Jo Ann's crew and my sharp eye for finding the gap in the bars where my Houdini wedged her foot...Sydney experienced deliverance first hand.

And I experienced my first heart attack as a parent.

Which explains to you why I neglected to post yesterday.

I just wasn't ready.

But, after a good night sleep, I am ready to share my mama trauma with the world.

It is my service to you as a mama.

For the love of all that is good and holy...

Make your kid wear shoes to the store...

Even if their feet will never hit the ground...

It makes leg wedging much more difficult.

Mirror, Mirror Off the Wall

In order to make space for all of my new Sydney portraits, a mirror had to come down. Don't worry, it is being relocated to another room in the house, but for now, is on the floor where Sydney can get a full-length view of herself.

She says, "hi" to herself.
She says, "buy bye" to herself.
She kisses herself.
She reaches behind the mirror so she can touch the little girl in the mirror.
She dances for herself.
She makes faces for herself.
She smiles at herself.

Well, I guess we have a healthy self-image. Now, if I can just keep her from weighing herself on the bathroom scale.

Letter Writing

I think I shall write a letter.

A letter to Merriam & Webster...

I shall propose that they add a picture to accompany a particular phrase found in the dictionary.

You know...a picture to go along with the sentences that are used to fully illustrate the multiple meanings words.
Main Entry: cheesy

Pronunciation: \ˈchē-zē\

Function: adjective

Inflected Form(s): chees·i·er; chees·i·est

Date: 14th century

1 a : resembling or suggesting cheese especially in consistency or odor b : containing cheese

2 : shabby 3: cheap 4: insincere, silly

— chees·i·ness: noun

Yes, I think either of these gorgeous snapshots will help fully illustrate the depths of the  meaning of the word, "Cheesy."

And since I'm on the subject of cheesiness and letter writing, I think I shall write an additional letter to the Gerber baby food company and suggest they make the Little Crunchies snacks in huge, economy-sized cans that I can purchase at Sam's on a monthly basis for an astronmical price. Between Chris and Sydney, we go through 3-4 cans a week. I can't keep him out of them and she inhales them like the air she breathes.

Ahhh...the power of the pen!

She Don't Do Windows

I was visiting with a good friend the other day about how Sydney has recently developed an interest in "sweeping" with the big broom and "vacuuming" with the Dustbuster. I also mentioned that I was looking for a mini broom and dust pan so she could begin practicing these skills. After all, it is never too early to develop good cleaning habits, don'tcha know?

Well a few days later, Sydney received a surprise package on our doorstep.

Well, lookee here...lookee here! Just what I need!

Inside, she found an entire cleaning set: mop, broom, dust pan, mop bucket, small sweeper brush, and a full can of "cleaning spray."

The child was in heaven and has been busily "cleaning" my house ever since. She believes that the one handed broom approach is best and that you can accomplish so much more if you mop and sweep at the same TIME! We won't discuss the knick knacks that have met their demise as a result of her vigorous broom swinging method.

A woman's work is never done.

This mop is pretty handy for the walls, mom.

What shall I knock over clean next?

Now, if I could just attach these somehow...talk about cleaning efficiency...

Special thanks to Sydney's very sweet Aunt who sent her such great cleaning supplies!