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A List

1. Pilgrim costumes are pretty cotton pickin' awesome.

2. A Santa hat makes turns anyone into an elf...instantly.

3. Fritos ARE the dinner choice of toddlers.

4. If Fritos are not available, fried chicken is the next best thing.

5. The most intelligent physicist, engineer, or philosopher will never be able to comprehend the unfathomable power of a new playground.

Nerdy, Ungirly, and Disturbing

Nerdy:

My child is a starfall.com addict. Yes, it's true...and (putting on Reading Teacher hat) I highly recommend it to anyone with a toddler-age child.

She'd rather practice her letters more than anything...well maybe not more than watch Toy Story.

But, a letter-clickin', readin' girl she is. She's a nerd...already.

And I am perfectly fine with that...maybe it's because I've worked with SO many kids who have reading difficulties that I am absolutely DETERMINED that my KID is going to get EVERY possible exposure to literacy now that I can offer her. I don't want her to face the reading battle.

Ungirly:

She's also not a very girly girl.

Her new favorite games are: throw the ball, toss the ball, hurl the ball, bounce the ball, kick the ball, and bounce the ball.

She loves big trucks, motorcycles, tractors, dirt, and rocks. The girl will stop in the middle of the sidewalk to pick up a rock. She hates stockings, hair bows, and barrettes.

She loves money and counts it out to make sure I have not borrowed any.

Disturbing:

She does not like dolls, or frills, tea parties, dresses, baby bottles, and especially those Barbies...which is evident in the fact that she always puts the Barbie in this upside down couch which is eerily similar to...

a coffin.

I told you it was disturbing.

How to Ride a Tropical Bird

Just in case you ever wanted to know....

This is how it is done.

Notice the shoes must come off...

The hair must fling violently...

And the dismount must be done with grace and style...

Why I Am Smiling These Days?

'Cause this girl has taught me how.

Let's Get Peppy!

Apparently  my child doesn't get the whole "pep rally" notion.

Note the look of concern on her face in EVERY picture.

I don't know about you, but if  6 foot bulldog with big teeth and a permanent grin walked up to me,

I'd be a little concerned myself.

Failure

I am not accustomed to this word. Through out my life, I would set a goal, make a plan, work towards the goal, accomplish the goal, win the prize, get the sticker, make the A, get the award, and succeed. I did not win everything and I was not the best at everything, buh-lieve me...but I worked very hard and it paid off 99% of the time.

Failure was not an option. I hate the word.

I am experiencing failure right now and it is not pleasant. It is stressing me out. I feel pretty bad about it...and I guess all first time moms go through this failure phase. I know the Lord is teaching me something, so I will sit in Failureville and pray that it passes.

I feel like I am a failure as a mother right now.

My kid has lost it. She is bullying. She is screaming her head off. She outright refuses to use the toilet. She throws things. She is acting like she is outside of her mind.

And then there are days when she is the absolute sweetest, most loving, polite, and precious little person you have ever met.

In response, I have disciplined, prayed, disciplined, prayed, bribed, cajoled, persuaded, disciplined, prayed, CRIED, and then prayed.

I have read books. I have read scripture. I have watched documentaries. I have talked to my friends. I have done EVERY tip offered to me. I do not know what else to do.

I  know she is strong-willed. I know she has an amazing destiny and will serve God.

But, I keep thinking, "What am I doing wrong?"