A Time-Out (And Fantastic Moms)!!

Well, Cecilia was put in time-out for the first time last week. And she isn't even 16 months old!! This was at our Mother's Day Out program. I walked up to find her standing in the crib peering over and I asked "oh, did she just wake up from a nap?" "No! She is in time-out!" Of course, I asked "why" - although I made it clear I was supportive of the teachers in their efforts to maintain a productive, calm classroom!! Miss Cecilia was obviously not contributing to that! Ms. Lisa told me Cecilia was following the teachers around, holding onto their legs. Then, when the kids had to sit down and play (teachers sitting with them), she was shoving kids out of the way to get on the teacher's lap! UMMMM, is it coincidence that my Mom had been in town the entire week prior, catering to C's every whine!? Jonathan's Mom also keeps C quite a bit (understatement), and she also finds it difficult to let C cry things out. Thus, I fully blame our Moms for this time-out! HA! But, do you blame them? C is the first grandchild on both sides, and I figure this type of treatment comes with that position. Fortunately, our family has a little brother/sister on the way, so C might begin realizing other babies are just as important as she is. Let's hope.

I meant to blog about my Mom being here... She came for a week and it was AWESOME. Of course, she has stayed with us many times before (especially the year I worked and our Moms rotated keeping C each week). My Mom had been sick recently, so she hadn't visited in some time though. I picked her up and told her I was now "on vacation." Vacation in my own home - which was still just as nice! Since we have the baby monitor in our room, as soon as I'd hear C wake up in the morning, I'd call my Mom's cell phone and tell her "she's up" ----- click! And Big Momma here would go back to bed. My Mom is THE BEST!! I was spoiled. Instead of being really productive like doing laundry, cleaning or cooking, I decided I would read a book. I borrowed it from my friend Maurie (Greg Iles' Turning Angel) and finished it before my Mom left. It was a page turner!
My Mom always gives me wonderful tips on child rearing and ensures me I'm doing a great job. Since the majority of the time I feel like I'm doing a horrible job at being a Mom! I can't wait for her next visit!!!!!!

....and in the meantime, boy do I have help from Jonathan's Mom!! She is a LIFESAVER and allows me to maintain my sanity. She keeps Cecilia ALL THE TIME, and I am so grateful to have her!! I'm looking forward to many visits to the fish camp in Bay St. Louis this summer.

MOMS ARE THE BEST, aren't they!?

Fun Pics!

After church a few weeks ago, we came home to absolutely gorgeous weather and our lawn in full bloom. I grabbed my camera for a little photo session. Cecilia was having so much fun.

Artists at Work!!

Cecilia and I went to visit Maurie and Ella for a Sunday afternoon paint fest!! C had SO much fun!! This was her first full-out painting experience, and she couldn't get enough. Sweet girls had a blast!! Can't wait until we do it again. Maurie and I won't have Mother's Day Out this summer, so I see many more creative days to come...!

Just getting started...

Of course we have to paint with our feet too...

In deep thought about what to paint first... Hmmm....

The artists... Ella, Elleigh & Ceci

The rascal grabbed my iced vanilla latte and wouldn't give it back!!

Ella & Ceci getting clean before our ride home. Maybe Ceci will have as much hair as Ella one day.;)

Who is who?!

I realize these pictures are a bit late (...taken during the Christmas holidays).;) But I had to post the twins. The first picture is Jonathan as a sweet baby (who knew he was ever this sweet!! ha), and his Mom still had the outfit tucked away!! We thought it would be cute to put Cecilia in the outfit for a quick comparison. Poor, Cecilia!! You look just like Daddy (including the 97th percentile head size!!:)).

OH MY...

Well, this week we went to Bay St. Louis to spend some time at Jonathan's parent's fish camp. Beach pics to come!! But before we left, we had a little episode... the mean floor grabbed Cecilia's feet and wham - there she goes flying head first into the bottom, side of the wall. Poor thing is walking so good but still at times looks like a drunken sailor wobbling about. I picked her up and the immediate goose egg and bruising that occurred certainly scared Mommy more than Cecilia. After a call to the pediatrician and exchanging many texts with my sweet (and super helpful) friend whose husband is an ER doc here, I felt confident she was ok. Not to mention, I rushed over to my in-law's home a few miles away. I needed another opinion on the "head injury." Of course, we all agreed she would live but this was a first for Mommy (and baby)!! Later that day, she would fall chin first on the coffee table at the camp (that was covered in a thick blanket, whew!) and eat a packet of Splenda at dinner. Was this "Welcome to Mommyhood" week or something? My goodness!

About an hour after the fall... Can't really tell how big that egg is from this view.

A day later... Poor thing. The swelling had gone way, way down but the bruise and little scab were forming. We are keeping ointment on the wound.;) She looked so sweet in her little one shoulder dress.

Chrissy's Surprise Partay!!

Chrissy turned the big 3-0 on March 1st, and a few of us had a surprise party for her on Friday, March 2nd. The hostesses were SO worried about spilling the beans. And I am SO not good at keeping secrets or surprises. Good thing I wasn't in the office having to see Chrissy every single day. I'm afraid I wouldn't have made it! Luckily, everyone was able to keep tight lips, and her sweet family delivered the package on time. It was PERFECT! And Chrissy was SOOO SURPRISED! Success!!

Cutest baby pic ever. Chrissy hasn't changed a bit!

The yummy food that Natalie had catered in from a place in Jackson. Delicious!!

Hostesses! Amanda, Natalie, Justice & Brittany

This picture doesn't even catch how surprised she was!!

She's like "ummm, seriously... Seriously!"

Made her put on the gear for a pic!

Mrs. Debbie and I!! They did such a great job getting Chrissy there - and keeping it all a surprise!!

The hostesses with the birthday girl!!

Oh, and I have to mention - it was a GREAT turn-out!!!!!!!! Practically everyone we invited came!! Yay, yay, yay!! And the party continued in New Orleans the following day. The hostesses, less me:(, and a few others went to NOLA to finish out the fun birthday weekend!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHRISSY!!

Rocky!!

Papa and Daddy finally put together "Rocky," the horse. We just moved, so he has been in a box for a couple months. Of course, she didn't want to get on him!! We will see this week. I also had a fun photo shoot of Jonathan and C after church today. The weather was gorgeous, and our lawn had just been worked on. Pics coming soon!

Ceci & Papa

Should I get on...???

I'd rather take your glasses off and play with those.