The Difference a Year Makes

Isn't this amazing how much she has changed? I just can't get over it how much she has grown.

She has lost that "baby" look. :(


And I say a year has done wonders for my hair!!!

OCD?

Pebbles had a tick on her a while back and my sweet and calm SIL Stacy came over and pulled it off of her. It freaked her out and I am a bit squeamish of the blood suckers myself. Well, some time has passed since then and now she has noticed a mole close to where the tick was on her hip. She started crying in the bathtub one night while we were at a funeral and my Mom watched her. She said she discovered that mole and kept saying "wash it off" pretty hysterically. And now if she gets food, dirt or a speck of anything on her little hands she wants to wash it off immediately.
Have any of you experienced anything like this? I wonder if she has OCD (like her germaphob mama) or if she just thinks of that tick and also doesn't like to be dirty?

D-DAY!

Sorry for my absence here the past few days. I have been dieting, playing outside, my SIL Stacy's nephew lost his battle with leukemia (talk more on this later) and Pebbles is in perpetual motion these days! So it's been a busy week.


Pebbles dedication to the Lord was this morning and I was very pleased with ceremony as well as her behavior. She looked so pretty in her little dress and she actually had a good hair day! We all went on the stage with our children and introduced ourselves, answers some important questions about making the promise to teach our child God's love and salvation. We also received a gift and had a family portrait taken. We could not get Pebbles to look at the camera at all. She was mad by this point and wanted to play in the nursery! So, as soon as I get the photo I'll share it with all of you. Hope you all had a Happy Mother's Day and I'll be back to commenting real soon.

Pebbles

Pebbles has been saying some of the cutest things lately:
Her: What are you looking at?
Me: What are you looking at baby?
Her: Looking at Daddy. (she searches for something to look for)
Lookin' at the bird.
Lookin' at Mama.
And she'll say:
Hi Oscar (our dog) Here boy.
Bird fly? Hi birdie hiiii!
I see flag, tree, moon...you name it! And then she'll mock me and say:
I see it too baby!
When the TV messes up she'll mock me and say:
I'll fix it hooooney!




SO much fun and such a cute stage of her life right now being 2 years old.
Best time of our lives right now. :)
We are blessed.

Dedication Photo

Thanks for your votes!
I have narrowed it down to 4. 2 old and 2 are new ones. Let me know what you think.


My top pick so far. A little snot and slobber but not too bad.


Almost looks like she's praying to God. So sweet.


And as you saw before, these 2:

Busy Mommy

Hey You!

Filling in for my Mom today. Sorry she hasn't been able to comment as much as she'd like lately. You see I've been sick with a cold and today...


I vomited for the first time ever. I mean sure I've spit up a little but this was different. And boy was I scared. I think Mommy was scared too.


Don't worry about me, I'll be back to my old self in no time! Then Mommy will have more time for all of you.

Right now, it's ALL about ME!
...and I like it that way.

Party continued:

Pebbles had a great time at her party on Sat. Seven guests were unable to attend due to work and church activities (I totally understand) but, one very important guest made it, thanks to her grandpa. It's Pebbles' 4th cousin ('cause we're the old parents) Zoe. They had a good time playing together.


Her cousin Emily got her this really COOL for her age story bible.



Pebbles received a lot of wonderful gifts. We got her several things but one of her favorites is a flipping dog called Fido.


My mom & grandma got her these little alphabet books that are just perfect for learning from Baby Einstein and a phonics magnet for the fridge that's great as well.

She played SO hard her hair bows kept falling out! I finally gave up, as you can see!
Thank you all for your comments. You are truly a great group of women.

Pebbles is now sick with a cold & fever. I'm very thankful she wasn't sick the
day of her party.

Oh, I almost forgot! I got a surprise gift that I've been wanting for a long time...any guesses?? I'll post it on WW this Weds.

PARTY!

I'm SO tired! Please think of this like a picture book and enjoy!







I'll tell you all more about it later. ZZZZZZZZ...so, so tired.

Sneak Party Peek

I know this is what you have been waiting to see!
Pebbles cake.



I made 2 more (different) for her guests.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

We Made a Wish and You Came True
And We Thank God For the Gift of You.

First Easter; just a week old.

A friend bought this dress and although it was too big for her we took a pic of her wearing it.

First Christmas; 9 months old

Second Christmas; 21 months old and NOT liking Santa so much!

First Birthday


Easter last year.

Photo Shoot!







Words cannot express how much Motherhood has changed my life. And
being able to stay at home with her is a true blessing. I never knew what this kind of love felt like before, she has made our lives complete.

Our party will be on Sat. and I can't wait to share pictures with all of you.

Read this websites advice on hitting:
Of all the new skills your toddler will reveal in her second year, hitting may be the most worrisome on the list.
Rest assured, she doesn't mean any harm. Kids don't hit to hurt until they're in their twos, and even then, that's not always their intention, says Janet Price, an early childhood development specialist at the Education Development Center in Newton, MA. That doesn't mean, of course, that you should encourage the behavior. First, calmly tell your toddler, "No hitting," and move away from her. Then try to figure out what she needs. Has she been playing with her siblings all afternoon? She might be over-stimulated and need a nap. Has she been up in her high chair for a while? She may want to come down. Hard as it may be not to, don't scold her. "If you get upset, you'll only confuse her because she isn't trying to be bad," Price says.
If your child strikes another child hard enough to make him cry, don't expect her to feel bad -- most toddlers don't have the capacity for empathy. But you can gently explain, "You made Sammy sad. Can you give him a hug?" One day, she'll truly understand the effect her hitting has -- and by then, she'll have learned other, healthier ways to vent.
*************************************************************************************
Now I don't know about you, but I believe you have to scold (in one way or another) your child for hitting.

Pebbles has been kicking me the last couple of days and as much as I HATE to, I've had to "correct" her. NOTHING else has worked. This has been the hardest thing I've had to deal with so far. I did not want to be a Mother who disciplines that "way" but I feel I can't have her hitting/kicking me or other children.
I've been crying about it but I keep telling myself:
Proverbs 13:24
He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.

Only Child

I've been feeling a little sad for Pebbles the past few weeks. She's really been wanting to play with other kids. She has thrown a fit the last 2 days crying and saying "dance,play & kids" meaning she wants to go to the church nursery. It breaks my heart to know she desperately wants a playmate her own age. Fred and I being older parents really don't know any friends with children her age or those we kind of know are very busy and work. I wish I knew another SAHM like me in the neighborhood (listen I sound like Mr. Rogers!) that was home with a toddler during the daytime. Can some of you come over...LOL!
And as far as having a sibling for her, we just don't feel it's God's plan for us. Life feels complete with just having Pebbles...seems right.


I try to play with her as much as I can, but chores have to be done. I do most of them while she's taking her nap.
She loves her playroom.



This is my view of her everyday while I'm in the kitchen cleaning or cooking. As you can tell by all the toys she does play fairly well by herself.


However, I can tell she wants to run and play with someone other than Mom.

Any words of wisdom for me?

MY LITTLE GENIUS

A couple of months ago I took Pebbles to the Dr. for her vaccinations. She was late on them and the Dr's office told me it was my responsibility to know when she gets them. I don't even know what half of them are, and definitely don't know the dates. Needless to say, the Dr. apologized.
Pebbles' pediatrician has been very booked up so she saw his new associate. I liked her a lot. She took a lot of time with Pebbles and made her feel comfortable. As she was examining her Pebbles was talking up a storm. So she (the Dr.) turned to me and said, "she's very bright you know" I told her that I tend to think so. She looked at my Mom and giggled and said, "she has nothing to compare it to does she"? She continued to tell me that most kids her age cannot talk that well and/or form sentences. She said' "I can understand every word she says". Now keep in mind the Pebbles was LATE for her shots. Finally she looked me right in the eye and said "I'm telling you she is very advanced for her age". I must admit I was starting to get excited. Then she said, "Very advanced for 15 months old"! I said, "UH, she's 20 months old...just late on her shots"!!! She tried to save face and tell me she is still doing amazing for her age, but all I could do at this point was laugh inside.

Seriously though she is doing incredibly well. She pronounces a word right 95% of the time on her first try and says a lot of sentences. I am extremely proud of her.