Getting Ready

Here are a few pics from our morning routine.

Mc got a step stool about a month ago to help her brush her teeth. Now, she stands on it the whole time I'm getting ready and tries to copy me.

These are pictures of her brushing her teeth, wearing the headband I use to wash my face, "putting on makeup" (she really just eats the brush), and brushing her hair.

She's so funny, and very adamant about what she wants to do. I think it is so cute she tries to copy me. Plus, I can keep my eye on her while I'm getting ready.

Meet Cousin Cole

Tonight, Mc and I took dinner to Daren's cousin Anita and her husband Travis. They had a baby 2 weeks ago and he is so cute! He looks like such a little man.

Below are pics of Colton "Cole" Clark Simpson. As you can see from the pics, Mc was much more interested in their dogs than she was in the baby!

Free DNA Lifeprint

Just to let everyone know, Andrew's Cadillac in Maryland Farms will be sponsoring a free DNA Lifeprint Day on Sept. 8th from 10-3. They are paying for any children that come in to receive a 10 digit, FBI biometric fingerprint profile. It also includes a full color digital photo, child safety journal and at home DNA kit. They don't keep any records or anything. It is just a public service they are offering so that we, as parents, can have this information on file. I think this is a great public service!

We plan to attend, hope all of you will too!

Amazing

Isn't it amazing how much we love our children? How protective we naturally feel towards them... almost to the point of overkill?

When Mc goes away to spend the night and visit with her grandparents, these feelings always become even more strong in me, and I can't wait for her to get home. (She spent the night with Gimmy and Pawpaw this weekend, hence the random blog.)

Just looking at the sweet innocence that is written all over her face can often bring me to tears. The way she gets so excited about things that I would never even notice; I love it. She makes me want to be a better person. She makes me want to be the person she thinks I am. I love to go in and see her sleeping every night; talk about sweet innocence! Sometimes I feel like the mother in "I Love You Forever".

I'm so glad God has given me such a precious gift; he has entrusted one of His children to my care. I don't deserve it, nor did I or could I ever earn it. But, because He loves me so much, he gave me a gift. A gift like no other. A gift that I cherish more than all of the gold and jewels in the world. A gift that reminds me everyday of how much He loves me.

Sorry the thoughts in this are so random, they've been in my head this morning and I wanted to get them down, but I'm not the best writer in the world. Thanks for taking the time to read this though!

World Traveler

Have any of you tried to get a passport for your little ones yet? We're in the process of getting Mc's, because you have to have one now, no matter how old you are, to travel anywhere outside of the states. I know it is a good rule, but it is a pain in the butt. You have to take them to get their pic made. They have to look directly at the camera, etc, etc, and it took about 10 minutes to get an acceptable picture. Then you have to fill out all the forms and BOTH parents have to go to the post office together to sign that they both allow said child to have a passport. On top of all this, the government is so far behind in processing right now that we have to pay $100.00 extra dollars to expedite the processing so we can have it by DECEMBER! So ridiculous.

Oh well, thanks for listening to my little rant. On another note, I've posted a new video. I couldn't figure out how to turn it, so you'll have to watch it sideways, but it's worth the watch!

I Scream You Scream we all Scream for Ice Cream!

Mc's first Ice Cream Cone.

Not my best idea. She just wanted to beat it with her opposite hand, smearing it everywhere. It was lovely to clean up. Of course she thought she could do it all by herself anyway, so I couldn't get it away from her either. I finally just had to take it away from her and toss it.

That didn't go over very well either!

How Redneck are We?

Well, maybe I'll exclude myself from that, but how redneck are they? I just had to post these! Daren was taking care of Mc so I could get stuff ready for company Saturday night. This is what they decided to do. I thought it was hilarious!

PS- They are doing this in the FRONT yard!

Chuck E. Cheese

Today we went to Chuck E Cheese. It was McHaney's first visit to the childhood wonderland. We went with Danielle and Ava. Ava is an old pro so she showed Mc the ropes.

They played for hours and crashed after we left. They danced, rode the carousel, went down the slide, ate pizza and hot dogs, etc., etc. As you can imagine, by the end of the trip they were running up and down the aisles screaming at each other (in laughter) from between the chairs. Luckily, it wasn't very busy.

In fact, I might say that going to Chuck E's at 10:30am is prime time. Not a lot of kids, it has just been cleaned the night before, the salad bar was clean, the pizza was fresh... needless to say we enjoyed ourselves. Here are some great pics from the day:

A few of the rides

Best Friends
Dancin' the day away with Chuck

Bubble Bath

Last night we put some bubbles in McHaney's bath and turned the jets on. It bubbled up really big and, of course, she loved it. I think, at first, she didn't know what to think about it. But, then she just started dipping her toys in the bubbles, pulling them out, and dipping again. She was so busy! Anyway, here are a couple of my favorite pics from last night...

Bubble for Sadie

Here's my latest Sewing project. It's a bubble for my niece Sadie

My Favorite PJs

Another consignment sale find... too cute!

Sign Language

Since Mc was about 6 or 7 months old, we've been trying to teach her a few signs so that we can communicate with her before she can verbally tell us what she needs. Maybe we weren't diligent enough, maybe she was always distracted; whatever the reason, she just wouldn't pick it up.

Finally, about 2 weeks ago, she did it! She was eating, wanted more, and she signaled "more" to me. I was floored. A breakthrough!! She hasn't quit doing it since. Every meal she's pointing and signaling for what she wants. It makes dinner time so much easier. No fussing! (well, not as much anyway.) I will admit that her sign for more looks a little more like the interpretive movement for nails in the cross, but still, she's communicating and that's all that matters.

She is also, occasionally signaling "eat" to me. But, instead of tapping her mouth, she goes into the kitchen and taps her ears. Hilarious, but I still know what she's saying!

You can also check out a video of it to the left.

Baby

Mc's latest word is baby. She says it all the time. Saturday night her baby cousin Sadie came over and she realized there was a real "baby" in her midst. She held her hand and rubbed it on her face and yelled baby at her forever. It was so cute!

Since they left, she's been pointing at Dennis and Anna's picture saying "baby, baby." I guess she still remembers they are the ones with the real live baby doll!!!

Can You Tell Me How to Get... How to Get to Sesame Street?

Supposedly, today is the 37th season premiere of Sesame Street. I can't remember the last time I was this excited about the premier of a TV show. Pretty sad huh? I'm just excited because there are only about 15 episodes a season. Mc watches it everyday. So, I've seen each episode about 8 times.

I know repetition is good for kids, but gees louise, It gets old for mommies pretty quickly!!!

If you don't watch with your little ones, check it out 9am on PBS!

Little Fashion Model

We had playgroup today and Ava was wearing the little outfit I made for everyone a few months ago.

You may remember there was an "incident" with Ethan's shorts the day I gave them out? McHaney's shorts also ended up ripping. I think it was because I used a polyester and cotton blend gingham and it just didn't hold up.

Anyway, I was so glad to see her's were still in one piece!

A Day in the Life

I just had to share these hilarious pictures with all of you. Now that McHaney actually has hair, this is what she wakes up from her nap looking like. In the morning, she looks fairly normal. But nap time, for some reason, does a number on her hair!

Heart Follow-up

Yesterday Mc had to go back to Vanderbilt for a follow up with her cardiologist. Everything was the same as on our last visit. We expected them to schedule her surgery at this visit, but she isn't big enough yet. We initially thought that in March 2008 she would have the surgery. But, they scheduled another appointment for May, and they will schedule the surgery at that point for sometime in the summer of 08.

Thus far, I have been very impressed with Vanderbilt Children's. They are fast, efficient, and seem to understand what children need very well. All of the staff is so friendly, and as many children as there are running around, they get you in and out in what I consider to be a timely manner.

McHaney did really well. She was very patient and played really well while we waited. The coolest thing was down in diagnostics where we had to wait for X-rays. There is a large garden outside of the waiting room and she loves to be outside, so I went out there with her for a little bit. There is a pond with tons of fish which she loved, flowers, paths, statues, etc.

Her favorite thing however, was a wishing fountain. I had to pick her up to get a good look and she didn't want to leave it. While I was holding her up there, I noticed it was donated in honor of Katie Parker's aunt Mary Farris and her son Alex. Both of them died in heart related incidents and I thought it was awesome that their family and friends had donated something to entertain children suffering with the same problems.

Here are some pics from the day:

After the appt. we got a treat... playing in the sprinkler at Mimi & Grandaddy's!

Being a Daddy and working; What a multi-tasker!
Checking our vitals
Making friends
Nurse Jessica makes Mc feel better

PJ's

Inspired by Hannah Kate, I'm really in to making PJ's right now. They do a really cute PJ pant with one leg in one fabric, the other leg in another. I've made a few pairs for Mc. Here is a pic of two pair I did for a lady at Daren's work who has twin girls.

They're Back!

Ahh, consignment season is upon us again! I love consignment sales! Here is a recent find from the Lipscomb WeeWares sale; a little Widgeon fleece coat.

All of them build up to, in my opinion, the mother of them all.... the Forest Hills Sale in September!

Latest Project

Here is my first attempt at a bubble. I made it Friday. My friend Katie and I got together to sew. Her daughter was at a friend's house and Mc was at her Grammy's. I honestly can't remember the last time I had a whole day to spend with a friend... probably college, but, that's another blog.

Anyway, we got to sew all day and i was able to make this little bubble. It is yellow and white gingham trimmed with pink ric rac and it has a vintage chenille flower on the right chest. I thought it turned out pretty cute (don't look at the crotch though, I haven't had time to put snaps on, so it is just sewn together!) Mc wore it to dinner Friday night at it fit perfect!

McHaney Meets the Governor

Carrie invited us to a function the Governor was having down at Plaza Art. He was announcing that the tax holiday this weekend would include art supplies. They were going to have all kinds of different art projects set up. I thought there were going to be a lot of kids and that there would be several stations (you know I'm always looking for free stuff to entertain her.) But, there were only about 10 kids and two tables. So, the Governor came around and personally spoke to all of the kids. It was kind of cool. She was of course too busy rolling clay to give him the time of day, but at least we got a picture of it!