Lollipop Love

"Samuel, if you eat all your peas, I'll let you have a second serving of macaroni and cheese, AND I'll even let you have that lollipop from the library." He responds, "Wow mom, I think I'll keep you. You are the best friend ever."

And who says bribes aren't ok?

And I must make a public confession. I just ate 5, well... maybe 7 or 8, mint oreo cookies in under 10 minutes. It was heavenly! Does it make it any better if I tell you that they are Newman's Own brand? Probably not. But what's a girl to do when she's been without her hubby for 12 days. I gotta get some lovin' somewhere:)

Samuelisms

So I've posted these on facebook recently but they are also worthy of my blog. The kid really cracks me up lately. He says so many hysterical and sweet things. He also says many naughty things that I wonder why God didn't make kids with a mute button. But let's focus on the positive here...

Samuel holds the phone out to his sister and says, "It's Tim, Gabby. It's just our little Timmy. Do you want to talk to him?"

Samuel yelled out the window, "Have a nice day!" to the lady at the drive thru. I said, "Samuel, you're so sweet." His response, "Sweeter than you, I think."

I asked, "Samuel, do you have to go the bathroom AGAIN?" (He just went 15 minutes prior) He said, "No mom, my body is just a little pregnant." Hmm... I guess we still need to iron that one out.

Smarty pants

Samuel: "Mom, can we get a fan in each of our bedrooms?"
Me: "Are you going to pay for them?"
Samuel: "No, you are."
Me: "Where will I get the money?"
Samuel: "At the dollar store."

What a smarty pants!

Samuel's prayer

If only oral hygiene were this easy...

"Dear God,

Thank you for Gabrielle, she is so sweet and please forgive her so she doesn't get any cavities.

Amen."

Breaking bread

Forgot to share this Samuel tidbit with you...

We were having canned soup and toast for dinner one night last week. I know, I know... a culinary delight. Samuel was eating his toast, broke it in half and looked up at me and said, "This is my body, broken for you. Eat it and when I die it will be in my tummy."

I guess the Easter Book we've been reading has really made an impact.

My week in review and some funny stuff too!

I can't believe I've not had a moment to put up a post. I could go on and on with a list of all that's been going on but I'll spare you the boring details.

Instead I'll just give you a few highlights of the week.

My sweet Gabby girl was dedicated to the Lord at our church last Sunday. We actually managed to get there on time. The kids wore their Easter outfits a week early! And oh how I enjoyed shopping for those girly white patent leather sandals.

Gabrielle and Pastor Josh

Daddy saying a few words about his baby girl.

As I stood there during the dedication, I realized just how much dedication is a daily heart issue and not an event. It starts the moment a baby is formed in the womb. We can eat well, rest, exercise, take vitamins, etc. but the rest is up to God. And so it goes from there... day to day, month to month, year to year. You do the best you know how to and the rest is up to God. How thankful I am to have such a faith in a God who knows my (His) child even better than I do and cares for my children even better than I can. I am an anxious type and so this is the place my head and heart can rest. It is so good to rest.

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On a lighter note,

Samuel has been cracking me up lately. And it would only be appropriate if I share the latest. You bet I got my camera out as fast as I could...


"I'm just pumping a little milk, mom."

Yes, that is what he said. Tim and I were instantly rolling on the floor with laughter. And of course I grabbed my camera as fast as I could. That's what a good mom would do right???



Look at the block carefully. You press the yellow ball at the top and the tube in bottom concave part moves in and out causing the wheel on the block to spin. For those of you who are experienced pumpers you would have to agree he's one smart boy. It really does resemble a breast pump.

Poor kid. Scarred for life.

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My dear friend, Val, had her baby this week. Welcome to the world Rebekah Faith!!!

I was honored to visit during labor. Childbirth never ceases to amaze me!!!

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It's Good Friday today and we have been reading the Easter story this week. This morning Samuel and I were having a heart to heart about discipline issues. Things have been really tough in this arena lately. REALLY tough. I might just be bald by the time this kid turns 4.

Anyway... we were chatting and I was wondering what he would say if I asked him what would be a good discipline for disobeying. Sometimes I just like to get into that little head of his. He said, "I don't know mom... please just don't nail me a to a cross."


Don't worry Samuel honey, mommy would NEVER do that. Oh my gosh!!! Is it really OK to read the Easter story to your 3 year old? At least he loves the part when Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene and turns her tears of sorrow to joy!

Dollhouse Boy-style

Our neighbor so generously gave us their daughter's old dollhouse for Gabrielle. Samuel however is having a blast with it.

This is what I overheard the other day...

"Oh, you have to go potty."
(As he puts the little girl doll on the toilet)

"Wow, that's the biggest poopy EVER!"

"Time to flush..whooooshhh"

"Oh-no, the potty is filling up"

"Hey mom, does this dollhouse come with a plunger?"

Lesson from a 3 year old

Yesterday was a bad day.

I had a bad attitude.

After having a minor temper tantrum of my own, I went upstairs to regroup.

Upon returning, Samuel said, "mommy, are you going to be happy like a big girl now?"

Sometimes mommy doesn't want to be a big girl.

Deep thoughts by Samuel

"Dad, are you God?"

"Is God downstairs or is he in my humidifier?"

"Does Jesus live in our car?"

I guess that's what you get when you tell your 3 year old that God is everywhere.

Oblivious

Pretty in pink? Well that's not what the hostess thought about Gabrielle tonight at the Thai food restaurant. She was so sweet but insanely oblivious. It went something like this:

Hostess: "Is your baby a boy or girl?"

Me: " She's a girl." (umm... hello? Is she not wearing a pink jacket AND pink pants?)

Hostess: "I can't tell. But her face looks like a boy."

Me: Silent but smiling politely (OMG! She did not just say that about my sweet girl. She 's digging herself a hole now.)

Gabrielle flashes her a smile.

Hostess: "Oh yes, when she smiles, it looks like a girl." (It? You just called my daughter it? You just dug a little deeper in your hole lady)

Me: "She's a girl alright."

Hostess: "How old is she? Six months?"

Me: "Nine months tomorrow."

Hostess: "Nine months? Oh she's tiny." (Oh poor lady, you must need your vision checked too.)

Me: "Well not really." (Do I really need to explain how she's above the 95th percentile in height and weight? Gosh no, just get me a table.)

Hostess: "My granddaughter seems so much bigger at that age."

Me: "Really?" (Table please! )

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Just before our dinner, Tim and I made our annual visit to our accountant. Gabrielle, not having slept well due to a new tooth, decided to be a totally crank. As soon as we walked in she began screaming as if someone was sawing off one of her limbs. It was quite the over-reactive response to the situation. I kept wondering if she was scared of the two white fluffy doggies or what.

I nursed her. She seemed better.

Until I walked into the office and the screaming began again. She just flat out DID NOT LIKE our accountant and she was making it known. As soon as I would get her calmed down and distracted, he would talk to her and the whole thing would start again. He's a new first-time Grandpa and so he's digging the grand baby thing. I kept blaming it on the teething as to avoid an insult. And sure enough it worked.

He decided to give sweet little Gabrielle an ole Grandpa like kiss on the cheek just as we were leaving and what do you think happened? It started with a small cry that turned into a shrill within 2 seconds flat. I still don't think he put 2 + 2 together. He was just delighted to have her there, crying and all.

Randomness

Gabrielle's ear infection is totally gone and she has remained snot free for over a week now. This is oh so glorious my friends!!! So, so Glorious!!! Unfortunately for the little chap, she is now being held responsible for doing what your average 8 month old should do and that is SLEEP!!! Yes, we have been back to sleep training. She's got her day sleep down pat but we are learning a thing or two about sleeping at night. My sweet baby girl has spent the past 3 nights in her crib (right next to my bed of course). There have been some tears but I am too tired to get all hormonal about it all.

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Who says girl's don't like cars?

Hot wheels are all the rage to this one!

(and don't freak out, all y'all that are worried about her choking - I was right there!)
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During a play date:

Me: "Samuel, please take your hands out of your pants."
Samuel: No response
Me: "Samuel please take your hands out of your pants."
(as if asking politely will somehow convince him to do what I am asking)
Samuel: No response
Me: "Samuel Owen, you need to take your hands out of your pants!!!"
Samuel: (looking at me very seriously) "Mommy! I'm fixing IT!!!!"
Me: Oh...OK, sorry about that. (as I run for the sanitizer)

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Speaking of sanitizer...


When your child mashes bright yellow silly putty into your brand spankin' new slip cover (which happened to be the 5th or 6th one you tried since you just couldn't find the right one); and you just got up from a lousy night of sleep; and your just not fit for human interaction - HAVE NO FEAR, HAND SANITIZER IS HERE!! Yes, that's right my friends. You can turn that frown upside down because hand sanitizer basically melts that silly putty right off your fabric without leaving a stain. Now silly putty can be silly again!

A bedtime conversation

Samuel: Mom, Can God come over my new house?

Me: Well honey, God is already at your new house.

Samuel: He is? (a bit perplexed)

Me: Yes, God is always with you.

Samuel: Is God a man or a woman?

Me: Well, he's not really a man or a woman. But he's kind of like a Daddy. (I explain further)

Samuel: OK. Can Jesus come over my house?

Me: Well, Jesus is already at your house.

Samuel: He is? (a bit perplexed)

Me: If you ask Jesus to live in your heart then he'll be with you all the time.

Samuel: Where's my heart, Mommy?

Me: Right here. (as I point to his chest)

Samuel: Oh no, Jesus can't live there. That would give me a very big tummy ache!

Me: OK then, how about we ask him to just come be with us?

Samuel: OK, I can do that.

Another potty training tale

Warning: This is a real life post!

So, you're sick of the poop talk, huh?

I'm sorry. Well, not really. I've got to talk to someone about it.

The other night I was home alone with the 2 kids. I was putting Gabrielle down for the night. In order to keep my curious Samuel out of trouble, I set him up at the computer. This usually keeps him focused for at least 15 minutes.

Well not that night, because duty called...
I mean doody called.

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Samuel (standing naked in the living room holding his pull up by the tips of his fingers): Mommy, I pooped in my pull-up. oops! I put it in the potty.

Me: You did what? (As I saw the brown spots on his leg and the carpet)

Samuel (smiling so proud): I put my poopy in the potty mommy!

Me: Why yes you did! (as I carried all 35 lbs of him out in front of me stepping over the landmines on my carpet)

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Yes, there was poop on my son, poop on my carpet ( 5 spots to be exact), poop on my toilet. There was poop everywhere! I scrubbed, disinfected, showered the boy and put him to bed.

This morning was a brand new day. I was putting the incident behind me. I made some tea, straightened up and decided to open the blinds to let some glorious sunshine in. And GASP, what did I see on my carpet...

FIVE LARGE BLUE STAINS!!

Apparently Spot Shot carpet cleaner works so well, it pulled the dye right out of the blue rag I was using and deposited it directly on my carpet. Right on the same carpet that I just paid good money to have professionally cleaned.

And to top it off, the woman who is putting a purchase offer on my mobile home was coming over this morning to give me her deposit. (Oh, yeah, I've neglected to tell you we are moving into a townhouse in 8 days - oops!) My exersaucer never looked so good smack in the middle of my living room. She didn't notice a thing.

Bon Jovi to the Rescue

Tension was high.

Talking about finances will do that to ya.

We decide to hug and make up.

In the midst of a long embrace, Tim says: I'm sure you can come up with a good 80's song to sing right now. You know, one that says we are gong to make it through this season.

Me: I sure can... (Then Living on a Prayer by Bon Jovi erupts from my lips along with guitar solo and all.)

Then we really made up...

Hey, who would have thought Bon Jovi would light up the night.


And if you are wondering why I posted this, Courtney told me to do it.

A Potty Training Tale

Warning: This is a Real Life post

Scene 1
Tim and Samuel playing tackle football in our living room.

Tim: Did we have a poop situation go on here? (holding his pointer finger out in the air with a brown blob on the end)

Michelle: What do you mean?

Tim: Well, what's this? (As he gives it a whiff)

Michelle: Yeah, he did a poopy in his pants before but I cleaned it all up. Maybe, he pooped some more and it fell out of the leg of his pants.

Tim: Oh great, we've been rolling around in it. (Pointing to the small brown stain on the carpet)

Scene 2:
Michelle is cleaning Samuel up for a second time.

Michelle: Lay down here buddy, so I can wipe you clean.

Samuel: Do I have poopy in my heiney mom?

Michelle: Yes, don't touch.

Samuel: Oh Okay (As he puts his finger on his rear and then wipes it on his shirt)

Can you say EEEEWWW?!?!

A little lower

Daddy, please push me from the front.

OK, Samuel.

Thanks Daddy.
Daddy, don’t push me so high. Push me a little bit lower.

Alright Samuel, how’s that?

That’s good Daddy. Thank you for obeying me.

He makes me laugh

Yes, that Samuel of mine makes me laugh. What a funny little kid he can be at times. Last night, we were cuddling after a bath and he said "Mommy, let's talk about underwear." Sure I thought and why not make it an object lesson too. So I got out a pair of big boy underwear and he tried them on for the first time. Yes, he liked them very much but still the diaper and jammmies had to go on for bedtime. Well, Samuel was so enamored with his underwear that he decided he'd like to wear them over his pajamas. OK, why not???


It was at this point that a friend of ours, Crockett, came by to fix our furnace. Samuel greeted him, "Hello Mr. Rocket" with his underwear on and all. He then proceeded to help him in whatever way he could. "Here's your screwdriver, Mr. Rocket" or "Here's your flashlight Mr. Rocket, so you can see better." Crockett tolerated Samuel very well and in the end we had a working furnace and a little boy who now wants to wear underwear. We'll see how things go from here.

A Mystery Solved

Little Andy got the courage to ask me his question "What's in there?"

"A baby" I told him and waited for a response.

No response. He just stared at the big bowling ball of a belly protruding from my body.

"Do you want to touch it?" I asked him.

His little hand reached out and patted my belly for a split second and off he went on the playground.

It's amazing how some days a simple answer can satisfy a 3 year old and some days they can't stop asking questions. I guess the slide was much more exciting than my belly.

A little manly humor

I shouted from the back room, "Hey Tim, are you giving Samuel a sponge bath?"

He replies, "Sure am."

Then Samuel chimes in. "Hey Mommy, my tet-sicles are clean!"

Easter Basket Bliss

Mr. Potato Head was a hit!

The slinky too!

The chocolate bunny was a mystery at first - until sampled.
Now all I hear is "Mommy, I LIKE chocolate!"

The best part of the morning for Samuel was reading the Guitar Center circular with Daddy and looking at all the drums. The more cymbals, the better!

The best part of the morning for Mommy was reading the Easter story to my son and having his full attention. I actually got a bit teary eyed as we snuggled on the couch under the blankets. Although he cannot fully understand the impact of the cross of Jesus Christ right now, I know that someday he will. What a wonderful Easter morning!