Here We Come 2011

I am very excited about the new year to come. I have lots of goals this year (like always).


1. Yell less, ask for help more...


2. be true to what I need


3. play with Millie and not worry about responsibilities


4. Eat at our dinning room table at least once a week


5. get healthier


6. try to look at both sides of the story


7. buy Millie less toys.... (good luck)


8. do crafts with Millie at least 3 times a week


9. put Millie is big girl panties (she is ready... am I?)


10. listen to Millie more and talk "at her" less


Happy New Year!!!

My Child's Voice

There are somethings in life that always amaze me no matter how often I am exposed to it. The feel of a warm bath. The strength in my husband's hug. The comfort in prayer. The small features of my tiny dog. And most of all, the precious feeling in my heart everytime my child speaks. Her sweet voice causes my emotions to surge. At anytime tears could stream, I feel stronger, more protective. I feel my whole self center around her. She is my world....

A Nice Day Despite All Odds

Last night my sweet girl got very sick. She spent most of the night up and down. It had the makings of a bad day, but fortunatly for me it wasn't. Wayne was off from work so he was able to run to the store and help with Millie. We made Christmas candy, layed around and watch Polar Express. All in all it was a nice ChristmasY day.

Almost That Time...

I am almost as excited about Christmas this year as Millie! She brings all the magic back...

Hubby's Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday to my sweet precious hubby!! I love you and I am grateful everyday that you were born!

Post # 150!!

Well you will be glad to know that Wayne fixed his lights!

Also we have had a very festive weekend....

Cookie making

Parade

Seeing Santa

Tangled (movie)

Festival of Trees....Fa La La La La La

Update On Clark Griswold....

So Clark's lights went out...... we shall see how he handles this.

Enjoying The Season

In previous years the holidays have been very stressful for me. It was all about me being behind. Gifts, Cards, Decorations, Scheduling Family Trips.... AHHHH! I expressed my distress about the approaching holidays last month to my husband. So together we made a goal. Finish all the "prep work" before December 1st so we could enjoy the holidays together and I could be less stressed. He went Christmas shopping with me, he helped me pick the cards, he put up decorations all weekend and we got the calendar out to schedule our family trips. He even switched his schedule with a coworker so he could be off on Christmas day. So now we are one and a half days away from December 1.
Gifts ~ bought and most wrapped
Cards~ printed and handing them out
Decorations~ put up and empty boxes ready to go back to storage
Family Trips~ scheduled
We are now ready to sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labor. It just makes me realize how amazing my hubby is.
Merry Christmas!!!

I Married Clark Griswold

Today was a very nice day. We didn't set alarms, we didn't have goals. Wayne put up Christmas lights on the front of the house and Millie and I put up garland and bows. Wayne putting up the lights was as funny as ever (this is why I call him Clark Griswold).
Millie took a long nap and I may have had a few zzz's on the couch myself. When she woke up we made our way to Bowling Green to eat at Cracker Barrell and buy light bulbs. (Yes we needed a ton of bulbs). When we came home we enjoyed the fruits of Wayne's labor... the lights twinkling... magical. So yay for us, we are done decorating and we haven't even hit December 1st yet! I think that is a first for us.
Merry Christmas!!

Our Trees

Welcome Christmas

A Few Pics From Christmas Past........

Thanksgiving Continued

~ My Personal Comedian


~ Enough money to pay the bills


~ A supportive Hubby


~ DVR (the only way for parents to watch real TV)


~ Electric washer and dryer


~ Dishwashers


~ Deli Turkey


~ Christmas Music


~ Fall weather (even if we don't have much of it)


~ The Office


~ Modern Family


~ My bestie


~ My stupid old cell phone ( I keep trying to get new 0nes but always go back to it)





to be continued....

My Thanksgiving List

On this beautiful November day I am grateful for so many things....



~ My daughters laugh



~ My husbands hugs



~ My job



~ The warmth of my little dog



~ Wonderful parents * both sets*



~ The smell of cinnamon



~ Peace of Mind



My list will continue this week....

Tomorrow will be a good day, I just know it!!!!

Warning: Venting About To Occur

I am tired. Our little family has had a rough week. It all started last Wednesday night. Poor Millie fell into our TV cabinet and had to go to the ER for stitches (4). When we got home that night we all slept on the floor on a mattress (think emergency Cardwell campout). Then the following day she had to be taken to the eye doctor to rule out any eye trauma that could lead to vision issues. She had to have her little eyes dilated. Thanks to the good Lord there was no major damage. Friday was a mild day. I went back to work and she and Wayne stayed home to catch up on some rest. When I got home that night Wayne said a sore spot in his mouth that he had been watching was really starting to bother him. We filed it away in the watch and see section. (Wayne is not fond of going to the dentist, because he has had so many teeth issues, so we wait until he can't stand it) Saturday my little brother and little sister in law took Millie to a birthday party for their other nephew (on my sister in laws side). Wayne and I stayed home and tried to recover from the long couple of days. When Millie returned home she had obviously had a wonderful time but she complained of being really tired and was warm to me. We wrote it off as not having a regular nap. She went bed around 9 and began to cry around 11:30. I knew the moment I heard her that something just wasn't right. I flipped the light on in her room to find her soaked in vomit. She was beside herself and was broken out with hives on her legs. After calming her and attempting to clean her up (not an easy task when you can't get stitches on her head wet), she finally dosed off on my chest around 1. I crawled in the bed with her only to be woken up around 3 sick myself. From then on it was constant with she and I. Poor Wayne really had to be tired of us but he was wonderful. I don't' know what I would have done without him. Millie was so needy and he stepped in and took over. I was able to rest. On Monday we were still very weak and not feeling like eating but it was the day to get Millie's stitches out so we rode to BG to have them removed. On the way I asked Mil which doc she wanted to remove them, she said, " I want Mommy and Daddy to take them out", and that is what we did. On this day Wayne had to reveal that he probably has an abscess tooth that has caused significant swelling. He has an appointment in the morning to have it examined. Up until a few hours ago Millie and myself still suffered from a fever and "not feeling well". This evening we both perked up.


I will have to say the one bright spot in all of this was how proud I was of my daughter. She handled all of this with very little drama and with the courage of a little lion. She was polite and still hasn't had a potty accident. I put a pullup on her during the stitches expecting and accident. Instead immediately after she said Mommy I have to go pee real bad. I am proud that when the eye doctor walked in she shook his hand and put her chin in the spot he requested. She answered all the correct shapes during the exam and looked directly at the light. She held perfectly still during the removal of her stitches and proclaimed afterwards, "it tickled but I didn't laugh". She is tough as nails, smart as a whip and she does it all while looking like a little angle. I am so proud to be her mother and that was made even more clear this week.

Millie's New Haircut

Cardwell Family Campout

So my wonderful husband started a tradition not too long ago. When we are both off work the next day and the schedule looks light we have a Cardwell Family Campout. Our first was last month, we slept in the living room. Tonight (our second) we are sleeping in our movie room. We have started the evening with Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Let us just say that a room with mattresses on the floor is quite interesting.... Millie is wild, but oh so excited!! Wish us luck!

Happy Halloween 2010

I just wanted to post a few pics from our Halloween this year! We had a blast as usual....

Family Trip To Jackson's Orchard

We are very lucky to have such an amazing family!

Sweet Baby Jackson

On 10-11-10 at 12:23am the world was graced with a precious new arrival. He made his entrance quite early. Jackson Blanton couldn't wait to see his Mommy. He is 33 wks. Although he is still in the NICU he is off the vent and breathing with just a cpap. He is a fighter and he is blessed with a wonderful mother. Please remember my amazing friend Erin and her sweet baby Jackson in your prayers tonight. She is truly a person I am better for knowing.

A Village

I am sure everyone has heard that it takes a village to raise a child. I never knew how true that was until we had Millie. I am so lucky to have such amazing grandparents for her. Both my parents and Wayne's parents have jumped right into the childcare scene with us. They are all very involved in her life. She expects them all to be at everything she considers special. Wayne and I really appreciate the fact that we can "leave" her with any of them and have no concerns. She has a blast every time, and the only real fit she throws is when she has to go home. For example this morning I am home lazying around while she is at Dinosaur world with Mammy and Pappy. Alot of parents never get the opportunity to have the morning off. I am glad I have that luxury. It really does take a village.

Our Wonderful Fall Day

We had such a lovely day. It started a little too early, but most lovely days do. We had to leave the house around 8 to drop Wayne's truck at the shop, so Millie and I followed him in the car. We got to the repair shop around 8:45 and they said they would call us in a little while to let us know what the problem was with the truck. We decided to go get breakfast a Cracker Barrel while we waited, then we picked up Beauty and the Beast at Toys R Us ( I had it reserved and with coupons only paid 4.07 OOP for the DVD Blue Ray combo pack). Then they called to tell us the repair was minor and would be ready in a couple of hours YAY!!!! So we hit the park and dollar tree. It was such a beautiful day, and I really enjoyed sitting on the bench at the park watching Millie and Wayne play. It filled my heart. Then when we got home Millie took a much needed nap. When she woke up we decorated the house for Halloween. Millie loooooved it! Then I picked up a pizza and we watched Beauty and The Beast and carved a couple of Styrofoam pumpkins. Such a fun day, I love my family!

My Beautiful Girl!

Today we went on a girls shopping trip with my mom. Before we left I wanted to snap a couple of pics of Millie. Well she ate it up, posing with her hands on her little hips, and moving her hips. She is a true model in training.

Welcome To The Spooooky Season.......

Water+ Sunlight= Growth (well sometimes???)

Yesterday Millie and I were able to go spend some time with Aunt Mandy and Jacob. They recently had their bathroom remodeled and it is beautiful. This was the first time to see the completed project.


Anyway for the funny story. Yesterday was quite chilly in the evening, but we were letting the kids play in the yard while we talked on the porch. The kids went around the corner to the side yard (we could still hear them). About 10 min later Millie comes around the corner soaking wet, immediately we jump up and run, me to Millie and Mandy to Jacob. I took Millie to the car and started stripping off her sopping clothes and Mandy went to find Jacob completely dry and holding the water hose. After some questioning the story came out. All evening we had been saying Millie can't do that yet Jacob she is smaller than you, so they decided that if he watered her she would grow. So sweet!!!!! Anyway I tried to explain to Millie that it doesn't work that way, but she insisted it did and that she had grown alot. I didn't have the heart to tell her different. Next time you see her tell her she is much bigger and watch her smile :)

Welcome Fall

Well this week is finally starting to feel like Fall! I am so excited! I love everything about this season. The leaves, the apples, Jackson's Orchard, Halloween, craft festivals! Yay!!!!

2 Parties + No Nap + 2 Cakes = One Tired Little Lady

Today Millie had the opportunity to attend 2 birthday parties for 2 special little guys.

Luke turned 2 and Tristan turned 4. Millie got the benefit of 2 bouncy houses and 2 cakes.

But she wasn't able to take her usual 1-3 siesta..... She did very well until we got in the car at 3:15. Then she fussed til we got home about how she "WAS NOT TIRED AND WOULD NOT GO TO SLEEP AND DID NOT NEED A NAP". I said ok you can watch Toy Story on the couch. Well before the opening was over, she was snoring... She looked so peaceful snoozing, then about 1hour and a few minutes later she woke up. Let's just say Millie isn't in a pleasant mood.... Oh well I guess she has a cake hangover.

Happy Saturday!

Hanging On By My Fingernails

We are always busy. We run here and there constantly. Everything is important and cannot be put off. Then Millie gets sick, luckily just a bad virus, and the world has to stop. Cancel dentist and doctors appts. Cancel birthday parties and benefits. Things get simplified. The real important stuff makes itself known and the rest kind of just falls away. I hate the feeling of helplessness when she is sick, but I love that she sits still to be cuddled. I hate that she feels so bad she has to be still, but I love that she has long random conversations with me about things we forget to talk about. I hate that her little voice is weak, but I love that she has to be still enough to listen, really listen. Those are the times when she really hears me say, "I love you". Those are the times when she really feels how much I adore her. My little girl is the whole world to me. She is the reason I stumble out of the bed and the reason I crawl in it. I am clinging to her baby features with my fingernails but recently I am all to aware she doesn't have many left. This morning, I was doing some odd chore, and Millie came walking through holding my cell phone just talking away. I said, "who are you talking to?", she said, "mammy". Sure enough she was, Mammy had called and Millie had answered it. Mammy said she answered it with a very clear, "hello". Social skills are not in short supply with Millie. Her vocabulary is probably just as broad as mine, if not more so. She says things like, "that is very interesting", "I need m&ms to help build my energy", and " I think I have injured my foot". Everyday is a new adventure with this sweet little lady, I may need a helmet.

Another Laugh From The Millie Files

I think this picture is so funny. He expression cracks me up. I showed this picture to Millie and I asked her why did you look so funny? Her reply, "I think I had to go poop". HAHAHAHA

Happy Wednesday!

Our Sweet Sweet Baby