Just another reason...

...why I love being a Mommy:)

My Girl

If you have never had the joy of raising a daughter you are really missing out...on drama, sassy mouths, and big hearts. My girl makes me want to pull my hair out. She is so hard headed strong- willed that it literally brings me to tears of frustration at times. And I pray every single day that God will use her strong-willed spirit in a mighty way.

This morning we got up, got ready for Sunday School and church, and headed out as usual. But instead of preaching, today we had a speaker who told of an orphanage in Kenya. I watched as my girl paid close attention, and after the service she asked if she could look at the pictures of the kids. We went to the table that was set up with pictures of kids in need of sponsors. She sifted through them and finally picked up the picture of a 5-year-old girl named Tracy. She told me she wanted to pray for her and help her, so we asked about sponsoring Tracy...who is the same age as my girl. All afternoon Emma has asked more questions about the needs of Tracy. I went into her room this evening to check on her and she was at her dresser with her head bowed, eyes closed, and praying the sweetest prayer for Tracy...who she says is going to be her new best friend when they meet. 

My girl may have a big attitude. My girl may have a loose tongue. My girl may have a hard head. My girl may make me wonder what I'm doing wrong. But my girl has a servant's heart. And I wouldn't trade that for any of those things listed before. I know my girl is going to do big things. Would you pray with me? For my girl and for Tracy...

www.mescalskids.org

THESE are the best years of my life...

I'm sure I've thought that before and probably will think it again, but I have waited for the day when my babies and all of our friends' babies would grow up, play together, and be allies be great friends. I can see that those days aren't too far off...

 

We had just found out we were pregnant with Luke when Hudson was born. I remember thinking how much fun it would be if we had a boy since they would be so close in age. April and I say all the time that we are going to pay for their daddies' raisings with these two guys, but I am so glad we are raising second generation BFFs. One day this week when we pulled into the driveway Luke told me that he had to go put out hay with Hudson. Today at the cow sale I saw this most precious sight...

 

No reason to blog...

I really have no reason to blog tonight other than the Photobucket app on my iPhone makes it so easy to upload pics! (Have I ever mentioned how the iPhone has completely and totally changed my life? No, really...;) Anyway...here are two pics that I took this afternoon. The first one I love for two reasons: (1) my backseat looks complete with that carseat in the middle;); and (2) I know my baby girl is going to make some baby a wonderful mommy one day, and that gives me hope that maybe, just maybe, I am doing something right. The second picture breaks my heart because my sweet boy knows a life too well with breathing treatments, but it also makes me smile because he has the instinct to take care of "bear" just like I take care of him. 

 

Bunnies, Bears & Babies

Can y'all believe this is my second post in "real time" in one week?! You've gotta know that something must be suffering, though, so don't stop by my house unless you are prepared to see a mess;)!

Yesterday Justin and I had dentist appointments, so he arranged for his mom to pick the kids up and spend the night. We had a date AND I was in bed by 9PM!! Sorry, ladies, he's taken;).

Today we got up and headed to Douglasville to visit with my dad. Since we never got together at Christmas he wanted to do something for the kids. They have never "built a bear" so today was their day...and they had so much fun!!

 

 

 {stuffing the bear bunny}

 

{warming the heart}

 

{putting the heart inside}

{brother's turn}

 

 

 

 

{air bath}

 

 

{the dressing room}

{the finished products}

 

 

 Tonight we finally got to meet baby Cooper!

 

 

  We think he makes a pretty cute edition to the McCollum clan:).

V-Day 2013

On this day nine years ago I reluctantly agreed to go on yet another date with a boy I'd been out with numerous times before and thought it just wouldn't work. Nine years, a wedding, two (and a half...working on three;) college degrees, two pregnancies, a girl, a boy, and many ups and downs later I'm so glad God saw fit for that to be my "last first date"! Happy Valentine's Day to the man who knows I'd take fresh cut flowers over roses any day of the year:). 

 We try to practice "love" at our house on a daily basis, but I

 always like to surprise my loves with a few fun things on V-Day. 

 

 

 

{There's nothing quite like pictures at 6AM;)}  

Of course the kids and I all had parties, so we I
(thanks to Pinterest) came up with these little jewels...

 

 

 

Luke couldn't care less if I come to his parties (yet anyway;), but Emma kept asking if I was coming to hers. I texted Mrs. Lolli to ask her if parents were coming, and she said a few were but they were only doing something small. Since it's hard for me to get away in the mornings I told E that the party was for kids, to which she promptly replied, "Mrs. Lolli said moms can come if they want to." Anway, I felt terrible but I just couldn't get away. Thankfully MawMaw was able and willing to go to the party...and even take some pics!! I told Emma I wouldn't miss her next party...and I'm sure she won't let me forget;). 

 

{Love these three girls who have been

 together since before they can remember:)}

 

 Kinlee & Emma

 

And E with one of three boys who asked her to

 be their Valentine (the other two live with us;).

Mommy in the Making

Laid Back

That describes our weekend...

On Thursday Dr. Ray said that Luke should take it easy and continue his breathing treatments throughout the weekend. And who are we to argue with doctor's orders?!

On Thursday I dug out the much needed but barely worn glasses

  because I'd been having a tingling headache for several days (can't

  imagine why...sleepless nights, maybe?;). When I got home from 

 work Luke said "Mommy, jue got gasses? Ish me had gasses."

 

After school Friday the four of us loaded up and headed to our 

 land, which is currently a cow pasture but also the location of our

  future residence...hopefully;). We have to make it through school 

 first, but light can be seen at the end of the tunnel now. And can I 

 just take a second to mention that the hubby is taking 13 hours plus

  working a full time job (and then there's the kids and me;), and he

 made a 103 on his first Spanish test!? Yep, I married a smart one;).

 

Friday night we had a sleepover:)

 

 Saturday was spent mostly in pajamas, aside from a quick trip to 

 check on cows for the guy below and a peaceful shower for me:).

 

 

And today we finally got to meet Kate...who is definitely going 

on my list of future prospective daughters-in-law. Her Big Sis is 

 already on that list in case Luke is interested in older women, ha!

 

 Here's hoping that this week is much less eventful than the last:)!

Here we go again...

Saturday started off like this...

 

But I didn't think it was much more than his regular 

issues, so we continued on with our birthday party plans.

Sadly enough we didn't get out of the driveway before we

had a fender bender with Russ's truck...and when I say fender

 bender I mean that the van crushed like aluminum foil while

 Russ's truck didn't budge. And to add to my distress all the way

to Oxford Luke reminded me "Mommy, ewe hit Unc Uss's tuck..."

 

We finally made it to the skating rink and I decided

to finally give in to Luke's begging and let him skate. 

 

 

 

 

I fully expected to end our day at the

 ER, but he actually did really well!

 

Saturday night didn't prove restful. I spent the night in the recliner

 holding Luke up so he could breathe, so he spent Sunday at home.

 

{A completely unrelated side note: My mother, the hoarder, 

 recently came across this pair of blue jeans that were mine.}

 

On Sunday night Luke slept like a rock, so we went on with

our regular routines on Monday. At 6PM Monday night Luke

 was running a low-grade temperature and looked like this...

 

On Tuesday morning we reluctantly headed to Dr. Ray's office (I'm 

 one of those who swears we always come home with something 

 worse than what we went in with). After listening to his chest and 

 looking at his ears he said my little guy was much sicker than he 

 looked. The diagnosis: double ear infection and pneumonia:/

 

  2 x-rays, 1 finger prick, 1 breathing treatment, and a shot later...

 I stayed home again yesterday, but got very little done with this

 clingy guy. We did manage to get an oil change while we were out 

 picking E up from school, and this little gem made him smile:).

I had to go back to work today because the number of beach houses

  I own is about equivalent to the number of sick days I have left:/. 

Justin had to pull "Daddy Duty" and take Luke back to the doctor 

 for his recheck. The pneumonia is breaking up, but we are still on 

 breathing treatments every 4 hours around the clock. His ears 

didn't look great, but the antibiotic should work that out.

Thankfully tomorrow is Friday, and we will definitely be

staying in and laying low this weekend. Because, y'all, I'm

pushing 30, and this getting up every 4 hours is killing me.

Maybe we should call it quits in the baby department;).