I'm a hot emotional mess so in love with Jesus!

No one could have prepared us for how emotional parenting would  be. 

You always want your child to be the best at the table, in the stores, at the restaurant, meeting new people, and welcome friends with open arms. I wish I could say that accomplished that, but thus far we are lost for answers. Our latest thing that we are struggling with is proper discipline, proper timing for discipline, and the big word we dread hearing "NO!". It is her famous word right now. Not sure how to tell her not to say no, when that is what we say when we are trying to protect her or even stand our ground. 

This morning was a picture perfect morning shopping as a family with our Starbucks in hand, goofing off and enjoying our little family the whole shopping trip. When we arrived home at 11:30 I knew it was past lunch time (she did drink a yogurt while shopping, she was not starving), she needed to go potty, and well the shopping trip wore her out. I can't even recall what the argument was over this morning, but she told me no over and over again. Needless to say, I was over hearing such a dirty word out of a sweet girl. So after her potty time it was time out time. Recently I have noticed that our little hallway is a perfect spot... far enough away from the group, but yet close enough to see she is missing out. I heard her scream and yell at me (as an 19 month old can). She was a wreck and beyond tired. As Keith went over to talk to her she immediately calmed down. You know the saying "this hurts me more than it hurts you"? IT IS SO TRUE! As she came over to say sorry to me we just hugged and I cried :). I was explaining to her that the words she was saying made for an ugly heart and God gave her a beautiful heart....I cried more. 

Why did I cry? Cause I am a hot emotional mess right now. 

Lately I have been so emotional sharing the story of Jesus with Londyn and all the great things His love provides for us. So like telling her that God gave her a beautiful heart... I also cried when telling her that the star on the tree represents the Jesus story, that Christmas is to celebrate Jesus, that the Bible has such great stories of the love and hope that is given to us, that because we bought gifts for a little boy he now would have Christmas, when every night I pray that Londyn would find a place in her heart that Jesus could live.  I cry when she asks me for a hug or kiss. My heart is overflowing with love and blessings.

Parenting is emotional! Sharing the love of Christ is beautifully emotional! Being a mommy that wants the best for her girl is incredibly emotional! I love that girl so much, never knew that this love could be so big. As the season is here to celebrate the birth of a babe in a manger, I want Londyn to know every inch of the story and how great Jesus is. I want her to grow to have a heart set and focused on God. I want to never stand in the way of her following Gods will. I want to be the example of a beautiful heart to a girl that is full of emotion and is trying to figure out how to express it. 

Some pictures from our Thanksgiving break:

making our thanksgiving meal

Thanksgiving dinner

"hot" chocolate and raisins

Heading to the park

Taking Thanksgiving naps

Her and Blue are becoming close...

I am so thankful for my sweet girl and my wonderful husband....We are on this journey called family. And I want us to be a loving family where the Love of Jesus is seeping out of our skin because we are so full of it. I want every life she comes in contact with to be a life that is touched by Jesus.

The happenings of October

Wow, was October a busy and crazy month or what?! I'm not sure that there was a weekend that we weren't doing something.

At the beginning of the month we walked for Londyn's friend Ashlyn and our Pastor's family in the Down Syndrome Indiana walk.  It was pure joy to celebrate the life of sweet Ashlyn and all that she has taught us. Couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day to be outside for 4 hours or more.

The following weekend we were able to spend time with my mom and step dad, pure joy and THIS girl needed her momma a little bit:). Londyn had her school pictures, watched Elmo and played outside.

The next weekend we went to Bedford for a car show my in-laws were helping in to raise money for cancer patients. Towards the end Londyn was getting mad at the wind for blowing her cawcown (color) page away. However, she enjoyed the love there! We also carved "pumpins" from uncle Kevin. The best part of this is that she had just learned the sign language for pumpkin.

This past weekend we celebrated Halloween. This was Londyn's second Halloween, but her first to enjoy. We were helping out in our church's treat the street program, providing candy as a group to children and their families. Londyn would get upset when people stopped coming. So I thought it would be great to do a  little Trick or Treating ourselves. She LOVED it!!!! Our first house we told her to say trick or treat. Proudly we heard "tick or teat!" She loved getting the candy and was quick to shove it into her Elmo purse. When we got back to the house she began licking all of the candy that was in the bowl to give away.

Our latest thing in October was to move to BIG girl panties. She loves her "Rora's" (Dora) panties. The first weekend we could put pants on because Rora was too cool. We even thought Rora belonged on our head.

Londyn has been talking up a storm about anything and everything! I love every stage that she goes through in it's own way. But this one I love because we can talk!

Here are some pictures of our October adventures:

                                                             Our Walk For Ashlyn Ruby

sideways but this was our team name!

A little breakfast before our walk

The walk appeared to be a great time for a nap

Sweet Ashlyn Ruby, we LOVE this girl!

                            My Mom's Visit  (enjoyed my time so much I forgot to take pictures)

First time not crying being out in the grass

We played ball!

She picked her "pumpin"!

We also checked out the inside

read books 

and "Cawcowned" at the car show

Three of her favorite things to do: Sit in her panties, play with the broom, and color.

In the Rora portion of our lives.....

Super Rora

It's Melmo time!

Londyn Elmo with her friend Addisyn Elmo at her school party

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Our Rocking Elmo!

Enjoying her Halloween treats

Elmo didn't last long

This is how I found her after nap....

Our October was full of fun craziness!

The community of God serving God's community...

Wow...where do I even start? I'm not sure what to say, but feel like I need to write a post. This past week one of my kk families said goodbye to their 5 day old baby boy (born at 28 weeks because placenta was separating). He was born too early and his lungs were not changing in development. I think this might be so hard on me because almost 2 years ago, I was facing the facts that I too might lose my baby. I remember the pain that I felt hearing those words as I laid flat on the hospital bed in the ER. Knowing that my life too was in danger. Knowing that we had already lost a baby. I couldn't go through it again.

Today I was able to go to the viewing and funeral of baby Maximus, yes that was one of the hardest things to see. To see something so precious laying there lifeless, to see two parents heartbroken as they prepare to place their infant 6 feet under, as I remember fearing being in that exact place almost 2 years ago. It was hard...my heart breaks for this family... It was hard hearing the dad say, "I didn't see this coming, how do you prepare for this". Yeah that hurt, my heart breaks.

What has been so great and amazing about this is to see God work! Seeing God's people reaching out. I had the opportunity to help serve a meal to the family. I can't tell you how many times a family member came up to me and said "this means so much", "thank you", "they needed this". That's what it means to be a community living for Christ. I'm not saying me, I'm saying the church coming together to serve their community, showing that through really crappy times, God is still there.

Yes this day week has been hard. Really hard. But it has also been a time for me to count my blessings to see my little girl running around, healthy. That could have been us, for whatever reason we were spared that pain and for that I am thankful. I don't ever want to forget what He has done for me and my family.
I also don't ever want to forget what it feels like to see a community of God's people serving God's community.

Lord be with that family! Give them strength....

A wonderful week away

This past week called for a well needed vacation away. Keith had decided to help a couple move from Miami, FL to Indiana from Sunday to Wednesday. I took this opportunity to take Londyn to see some family in Bedford.
 On Sunday we had dropped Keith and a friend off at the Indy airport before continuing to Bedford. Sweet Londyn screamed for her daddy until I was able to pull into a gas station for a break and to distract her. Back into the car with our apple juice and children's music we were settled for the remaining trip. Once we made it to Bedford it was a quick hello, change of clothes, and off to church we went. She was a trooper that day with it ending at 10:30p.m.
Monday my MIL, Londyn, and I hit the Once Upon a Child (my favorite store of all times), Kohls, and a couple craft stores. That evening Londyn saw A LOT of people and once again was such a trooper. Around 12am she ended up in bed with me and around 2:30am she had fallen off of the bed to be swept up  and swaddled until she was back to sleep. Starting our Tuesday at 7:30a.m. Londyn hung out with mamaw while I headed with Wal-Mart and to see my step mom in the hosptial (she's doing great and at home now). I didn't think that a hospital room was a place for a 17 month old. We ended our night with dinner and a play date at my sisters. Wednesday morning we slept in until 8:30 and enjoyed every second of it;). Seeing my other sister and say goodbye to everyone we were headed back to Lafayette (of course we had to make one more stop at Once Upon a Child). Londyn was so happy to see her daddy and get her cute little big eyed alligator! She loves that thing and has now added it to something she sleeps with.

Thursday was a great day for cleaning and packing for our trip to Indianapolis. Of course our day didn't start until 8:45am;). Friday we loaded the car and headed to Indy for the rehearsal and dinner. Spending the night in a hotel with her pal Desmond. Saturday was her big day to shine and boy did she! She was such a great flower girl!!! Once again I had to hit the sales at Carter's since it was so close:).

This morning we slept in until 8:30 and rushed around the room packing, getting dressed, loading the car, packing the diaper bag, stopping in the lobby for breakfast, and meeting uncle Kevin at the zoo. She loved the "soo". I think her favorite things were the dolphins, monkeys, penguins, elephants, and lions. We hit the gift shop on our way out and then it was lunch and nap time (unfortunately, she slept through lunch).
We had a great time this weekend but are really looking forward to resting and relaxing tomorrow.  Below are some pictures, check out fb for more.

Enjoying banana's and Apple Jacks on Tuesday

Doing homework

The watermelon was finger licking good

bath time is always a blast

playing with uncle Kevin

falling asleep singing

Helping pack

making a very important phone call

The flower girl at her best....

hiding in the closet...

playing with "momo" Elmo

looking sweet

enjoying her Saturday with daddy

ready for a wedding...

my two love bugs

ready for the "soo" zoo

tickling daddy

One of her favorites!

Publish PostFirst time at the Zoo

As you see this was a trip much needed. Londyn had lots of attention, and I spent some time shopping. We had Londyn out of her routine and she did great. Now we are working to get back to "normal" before school on Tuesday. I do not think that my food choices were appreciated by my scale. But I ate what I wanted while on Vacation trying to make healthier choices.

What's been happening?

20 pounds lighter, woohoo!! Who knew it would mean so much and feel so good!?!?! I started this weight loss journey almost 2 months ago. I have to admit I have struggled a few times to lose weight. However with perseverance I have beaten obesity according to my BMI. Sad to admit that, huh? I know, it makes me realize how much I needed this lifestyle change for the good of my health.

In other news Londyn is on her second week of being in the Big one's classroom. She is loving it! This current month she is learning the color red, circle, A and B, 1 and 2. As well as the sign for please, thank you, sorry, more, eat, and drink. Although she is  fluent in all her signs except for drink.

Here she is on her first day of school!!

 She is currently cutting her 7th tooth, which makes for a fussy time. She currently enjoys putting your finger in her mouth to ease the pain, not a good sign for biting. But is easing my mind with her growth.


I am really looking forward to a few days away. Every year I get stressed out as the planning begins for the new school year and when I finally get a chance to relax, I enjoy it:)

Londyn will be in her first wedding Labor day weekend, we are getting very excited about this! That same weekend we plan on making a trip to the zoo, which she is going to LOVE!!!!!!