all things bright and beautiful

Just so you know, Eden is not asking us who is talking in the book because she doesn't know. Nope, she's quizzing us. And, yes, she still calls Mama II by the name she chose, Nona II, even though we never remember to say it.

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practice

Wonder which one she'll like better? Guess this means we really should get the child a real soccer ball.

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dance party

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You have to take care of that.

Last night, I'm sitting on the couch and hear some commotion coming from E's room while Graham and Eden are reading books. Then Graham walks into the den, not even stopping while he is talking, and says to me in a completely serious voice.

"You have to take care of that." [pointing out of the room in E's direction]
"Why?"
"I have to wash my hair. She peed on my head."

Then he headed into the other bathroom.

It took me a good minute to stop laughing enough to go check on Eden in her bathroom. I mean I couldn't be laughing if she's supposed to be in a little bit of trouble. You see, what happened was ...

Graham and E were reading books, and when they read books in bed, Eden climbs all over Graham so he can't see the pages. It's their fun game. Evidently, she was sitting on the pillow right above his head when she realized that she needed to go to the bathroom. Instead of running, she just said, "I hafta pee. I peed on your ... No, I not pee on your head. ... ... Oh, I peed on your head."

Man was he frustrated, but my goodness it was hilarious. Since it was E's second "accident" of the day where she just didn't stop what she was doing to go to the bathroom, we had to have a little talk. From now on, if she does not stop what she is doing and then decides to just go in her pants, whatever she is doing will be taken away. We know it's just the first-week-of-school-and-everything-is-different that is getting her off her game. Hopefully, we won't have any more she-peed-on-my-head incidents anytime soon!

- ashley

I have something to tell you.

Every morning, Eden comes into our room when she wakes up and crawls into the bed with us. Some mornings if it's a bit earlier than normal, she'll fall back asleep in between us. Most mornings, she comes in around 7 and then cuddles and plays for a bit before saying she is ready for dinner [don't know why she keeps saying dinner instead of breakfast, but oh well].

This morning, as soon as she got in the bed with us, she leaned on top of me and whispered in my ear really loudly, "I have something to tell you." When I asked what it was, she whispered, "I love you!" and giggled.

What a way to start the day!

- ashley

War Eagle!!

Congratulations to the National Champion Auburn Tigers!

                                                             WAAAAAAR EAGLE, HEY!

Eden was so happy she had to take her Aubie to school today. Everyone she saw ... Aubie played them the Auburn fight song - I hope I have sufficiently brain-washed her by the time she realizes there is another football team close by :)

post-it note tales

Also forgot that we had this little video already uploaded. Back in November, Eden was crazy about a post-it note pad and would constantly "read" us stories out of it. Here's one session ...

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celebrating Christmas

Forgot to post this video of our Christmas celebration at home. Enjoy!

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around the house

We have finally cleared our house of Christmas decorations ... well, almost  - there is still the wall full of Christmas cards {which if Ashley has anything to do with it will be like this until we start to receive cards next Christmas}

And you may notice that we finally have a rug in the dining room. Thanks to Ashley's mom and dad for the new addition and for making the room finally look "finished" as Ashley says.

Also around the house are Eden's first "representational drawings" {now appropriately framed}...

which you may notice are hanging above her toy shelves that we just moved into her room. When we realized we'd need a spot for the Christmas tree in our den, we decided to make the big move and finally take down the crib/toddler bed in E's room. So, after a little rearranging, we ended up with a big girl look for our big girl's room.

 And if you have received some artwork lately, this is where she creates her masterpieces ...

Perhaps the most recent and exciting edition is our new television. If you have visited us you know that we were still living in 1998 with the 19" TV I got for Christmas that year. When we started noticing that the scrolling index on Sportscenter was cut off we began thinking it was time to upgrade ... although most of the channels are still not digital {one step at a time} the networks and PBS look great ...

your belly will crack

On Thursday (12/30) Ashley had a doctor's appointment. Eden said she wanted to go, so we figured it was time to formally tell her that she will soon be a big sister. Here are all the things E said to us over the next 48 hours ...

1. While sitting on the bed talking about her day with Ashley, she began to explain how the baby would come out ... "Your belly will crack, and the baby will come out. Then the doctor will put on a band-aid, and it will get better."

2. "We will put the baby in the sink with a squishy thing, and I will help. [to give the baby a bath]"

3."Will the doctor come here [to the house]?" "No, we will go to the hospital baby." "Oh, at the hospital you will have a carrier [a hospital bed with wheels]. When curious george went to the hospital, he had a carrier. and the baby will have a little carrier. and I will help."

4. She has reversed roles on us a few times ..."When you were a baby, i was a momma, and I helped you."

5. To Ashley ... "You don't take a shower! Babies don't like showers." [She was honestly upset]

6. "Do you still have the baby? Ok, you can carry me like this [on Ashley's hip] but not in front b/c that is the baby part."

7. While Ashley was about to eat something that Eden did not find appetizing ... "You don't eat that! Babies don't eat that." [Again, honestly upset.] Ashley had to explain digesting food and how her stomach turns the food into baby food. Eden seemed to understand ... "Oh. Okay."

And perhaps the cutest of them all ...

8. On at least two occassions, Eden has kissed Ashley's belly and started patting and saying "shh-shh-shhh, shh-shhh-shhhh." We think she'll be a great big sister.

we named him butter

On Tuesday morning while in Jackson, Eden, Christy, and Ashley headed to Target. Eden's last paci began to crack over a month ago, and had gotten so bad that her new trick was to put her finger inside the paci through the crack (like Little Jack Horner). Our diagnosis? Definitely "broken." Between Christmas and Monday she had even begun to acknowledge that she was too big for the paci.

We started talking to her about a month ago about how other parents said big girls and boys who have outgrown their pacis could get a new toy. For a while, she varied between wanting a dinosaur and a puppy dog that made noises (in the mix was a "big girl paci"). We had planned to go to Target on Monday, but the weather was nasty, so the girls headed to Target on Tuesday to check things out since E said she wanted to.

On the way Ashley and Eden talked about not having the paci anymore, and Eden asked if she could still have Georgia. Ashley said of course, and Eden said that would be ok.

Initially, Ashley skipped the Barbie Doll aisle and looked down every other toy aisle in Target. On the way out, they saw a puppy dog and went to look. Wouldn't you know it they had a talking puppy dog with a big vet kit including a shot, medicine, and stethescope? Eden was hooked. We now live with the fact that Eden has a Barbie product complete with pink fur and pictures of crowns.

On the way to the front, Ashley kept asking if Eden was ok trading her paci for the puppy. She said yes more than once. When they arrived at the check out, Christy had made arrangments with the cashier to have Eden hand over the last paci [in a ziploc bag] ... she did it with no problems! She was so proud and another lady in line said her daughter did the same thing with her granddaughter and had no problems.

After that, it was time to celebrate ... well almost - first to customer service to cut all the tags off (whose daugther is this?). Now it was off to meet Granddaddy at Chick-fil-A to celebrate.

Throughout the day, Ashley, Christy, and Chip offered dozens of names ... dude, bo-bo, bee-bee, princess, maggie, etc. .... later in the afternoon, the one that stuck was Butter. That night at bedtime, Eden asked with a smile on her face, "Can I have my paci?" and then said we could go to Target to borrow it. Other than that, night one was easy other than watching her little mouth try to suck on something as she fell asleep.

Day 2 there were a few crying episodes when she was already upset and wanted her paci, but overall it has been a very smooth transition. After we told her about the new baby on Thursday, she even offered later to get the new baby a paci ... although she was quick to tell Ashley that we didn't have to go to Target to get it, we could just go to the baby store.

She's already planning to take Butter to school to show what a big girl she is now. Can I say how proud we are? Oh, and don't worry, Ashley got the paci back from the cashier. She said she just had to keep the very last one. Don't tell Eden!

Christmas Day and holidays at the 147

On Christmas morning we had breakfast, packed up the car, and headed to Jackson. Eden opened her last present, the movie Cars, which we put in the DVD player on our way out of the driveway. She got about 45 minutes or so into the movie and said, "I want a older bideo." Worth a try. We're sure she'll grow into it.

We made good time and pulled into the 147 in time for lunch with Britton and Courtney pulling into the driveway right behind us after they drove in from Memphis. About an hour later, Whitney and Boston got there so we opened presents. Eden helped again ...

.

...and we had quite time for about 15-20 minutes. She wanted to snuggled with her Daddy and her new Wocket from the Great Aunt Kathy.

After presents, Janet and Tom came over and we had dinner ... and cookies ...

 

We spent Sunday going to church (Eden's first time in the big service - she did quite well) then back at the 147 eating leftovers and enjoying each others' presence (and presents).

Britton was especially instrumental in tea party time ...

We watched a movie on Chip's new LED TV (and spent an hour or so trying to figure out how to get the settings right). I left on Monday after lunch, and Ashley and Eden stayed until Thursday. Chip and Christy drove them to meet me in McComb at the Piccadilly. We ate lunch, put the bags in our car, and gave hugs.

Eden enjoyed her time at the 147, but after a week away from home she was glad to get back to "Baton Rooouge." I had to sit in the back seat (usually Ashley's domain) because Eden was missing her Daddy. We read books for about an hour of the hour-and-a-half drive; the other 30 minutes was spent sharing a bag of cashews ... which would likely get her vote for favorite food. Wonder where she gets that?

where have I seen this before?

Pay close attention to the smile ...

 

Happy Anniversary, Ashley!

Since you're really not into bronze statues, I got you a virtual bronze statue ... hope you like it! 143!

New Year's Resolutions

1. Eat more.
2. Gain weight.
3. Sleep a lot.
4. Carry around a 30 pound, wiggly, giggly weight every day.
5. Do the laundry.
6. Pay the bills - keep the budget.
7. Love on my family.

- ashley

Christmas in Mobile

The first stop in our Christmas trip was Mobile where E was surprised with a playhouse (there was even mail in the mailbox!)

And what better than a relaxing head massage after a long day working on the new house!?!

 

One of the reasons we go to Mobile first is beause my parents' church has a kid-focused service on Christmas Eve. The first year we went with E she went crazy for the puppets (Cloth Disciples) and the music. She was a bit more subdued this year but enjoyed it very much.

 

The subdued Eden turned crazed as soon as the director was calling for volunteers to act out the Christmas story. I looked at her and asked, "You want to go up there?" Before the question was finished coming out of my mouth, she was out of my lap, down the row, through three sets of arms, down the aisle by herself with Ashley trying to keep up, and dressed like a sheep.

The girl to Eden's left was very helpful getting Eden into place and making sure nobody stepped on her.

On the way out, we decided to get a few tree pics...

... most of them looked like this -

 

After the service it was time to open presents ... Eden was a big help, handing out presents to everyone (and helping people open them)

After presents it was dinner time where Eden sang "Happy Birthday" to Jesus (and since it was such a hit she proceeded to sing "Happy Birthday" to everyone at the table, one person at a time ... and some people got two turns). We got stuffed, laughed, gave E a bath, and watched a little football. A good Christmas Eve indeed.

wow ... 3 years at a glance

Eden and Graham at the Christmas Eve service, three years in a row

christmas came early

The Monday before we left town for our Christmas tour we played like it was Christmas at our house. On Sunday night we went to Target to finish buying stocking stuffers and a few gifts for others. Then, after bedtime, Ashley finished making Eden's baby carrier (see below), and we wrapped presents (yes, I actually did wrap 1 or 2). We put them out on a table and went to bed.

On Monday morning, we woke up to stockings in our beds ... a neat trick Ashley's parents always did that gave us an extra 20 minutes in bed.

Eden got an ornament, a microphone, some underwear and undershirts, Hello Kitty bandaids, chapstick, and mandarin oranges.

We then walked into the den ... Eden screamed in excitement and ran to her presents. When she reached the table, she asked excitedly, "Are these my presents?!" The ripping of paper followed shortly.

The baby carrier and a new backpack for school were hits ...

After breakfast we watched a Veggie Tales video about St. Nicholas - she made it about 3/4 of the way through the 45 minute story about why we "do" Santa Claus.

Then, we lounged around the house all day - quite a nice family time.