The Sweetest Prayers

Tonight as we were saying our prayers we were just about to say Amen and Millie speaks up,
"and please remember Millie's teeth and make them feel better, AMEN" It was one of the sweetest moments as a Mommy. I then said to her, "Good Job Mil, did you know that if there is something bothering you, you should tell God" She replies, "I know". So tonight I pray, Please God help her to always remember you are there she only needs to ask, please God help her to remember that she is your beloved child and please God help me to remember that I should always pray like my little girl. Her innocent heart is an inspiration to me everyday.
AMEN

My Little Potty Girl

MILLIE PEED IN THE POTTY!!!!! It was awesome. I had decided not to try and potty train until after her birthday in a couple of months. But Miss Mil had other plans. This morning she came to me and said Mommy I pee, I want to pee in potty. So we went to the bathroom and got out the potty, the first time she peed on the floor around it, I still was very proud. I gave her marshmallows and Wayne and I made a huge deal out of it. Well I thought that would be the last of it. I didn't expect her to come up 2 hrs later and say I have to pee in the potty. We ran to the bathroom, she sat down and said get out momma. I left the bathroom and she came back out a few minutes later and said I did it mommy, I peed in the potty. Sure enough she did! We took pictures and marshmallows were flying. She is napping now. I don't know if she will continue the pattern or if it was just a fluke, but I have decided to let her guide me. Meanwhile I am so proud of my little potty girl!

Soapbox

Please forgive me tonight but something is bothering me and I feel the need to vent. A recent post on facebook and the responses to it got me to thinking. The post was written by a dear friend who adopted a precious child from overseas last year. She was voicing a concern about the difficulties placed on those attempting to adopt. The comments made were also by another dear friend who has been blessed with a wonderful child through natural birth. Her comments were not mean or heartless, and they probably had alot of truth to them, but they were made not from the perspective of a woman who has suffered from infertility. This leads me to my soapbox.
If you are a parent who has been blessed with the ability to have a natural child with a minor amount of difficulty, I am very happy for you. (And by minor I mean if you were able to conceive without medical intervention or without waiting for many years or if you were not broken hearted by a miscarriage or the loss of a stillborn.) I think you should count your blessings and be grateful, but I do not think you should presume to know or understand the feelings of a mother who has not had that luxury.
I was granted by God my precious baby girl through biological birth, but my struggles began many years earlier and those of you who know Wayne and I know that. We trudged through multiple medications and miscarriage. We rode the emotional roller coaster of adoption fairs and discussions. We cried the tears of parents with no child. I guess my point is if you do not know the pain first hand don't try to identify. There is no feeling like it and I do not wish that agony on anyone. I don't mean to seem ungrateful for kind words or sympathy, but I do wish to stop one person from making a callous comment without thinking.
Love and Peace,
Holly

Tired

Today I am tired..... but it just takes one smile from my princess and all of the sudden I feel better. I love my personal ray of sunshine.

Fun Times

I know it is only 10am but I had to tell you about how much fun it has been to be the mommy for the last hour. Mil woke up a little before 9. When I walked in her room she said, "Hi Mommy, I am sticky, I need a bath in the big tub." I cracked up but I ran her a bath and she "laxed" in it for about 30min. I got her out dressed her and put her on the couch with a blanket, she then said, "thank you so so much Mommy, uv u". My heart melted. I asked her if she wanted applesauce or yogurt for breakfast, she said, "I need cookies, I need em". Guess who is eating cookies for breakfast. When I handed her the bowl she said, " woah, that's a big-in". This minuted she is sitting on the couch eating cookies, drinking milk and watching the View. LOL, I love this kid.

Thank You Lord For My Partner

One of the most challenging things about being a parent for me is the job doesn't stop. I mean I am a nurse, and the job tends to follow you everywhere, but when you are home and relaxing it rarely comes up. I am a daughter and a wife, and while that hat is always worn it doesn't require constant maintenance (work yes, but constantly no). But when you are a parent you are always on call (so to speak), it doesn't matter what is coming on TV, if you are hurt, or sick, if you are tired or in the middle of a deep sleep. When your child calls out in the middle of the night or in the middle of your favorite soap, they come first. I think this was the most difficult aspect for me to get used to. And some days I don't think I have. It is those days when I thank the Lord the most for my partner. I really have no idea how single parents do it. Without Wayne I would have lost it a long time ago. Sure sometimes I feel like I do more of the workload than him, and sometimes I feel like all she can say is "MOMMMMMMAAAAAA". But then there are the times like tonight, I was just tired. I had been with Mil nonstop for 3 days, and while I love that more than anything in this world, tonight I was hitting the wall. Millie on the other hand was jumping off the wall...... Just as I was fixing to snap and say something I was going to regret, I heard the deep voice of my husband. He spoke to her with authority, but also with love and patience. Those were things I was out of for the moment. He was able to rationally deal with her and I was able to sit quietly and let him handle it. It was then that I thought "we can do this". Everyday there are examples of our partnership. When he rocks her to sleep so I can clean the house, when he feeds her breakfast so I can pack the diaper bag. When I dress her and he puts her shoes, and jacket on. These are things that are not only important to us, but also lessons we are teaching our daughter. We are teaching her that when you love and respect someone it works. We are teaching her that men can do dishes and laundry and that women can work outside the home. We are showing through example how a marriage can be both made of love and understanding. So tonight I want to take a moment to say thank you God for my partner.

Millie's New Habit

As a parent there are many habits your children develop that you wish they wouldn't. We have had our share of those, but most recently Mil has obtained one I hope she doesn't grow out of. Every night for several days she gets pillows and lines them up on the floor of the TV room. She gets a blanket and then she instructs Wayne and I to lay on either side of her. She curls up in the middle and watches TV. It maybe one of my favorite parent moments so far. She seems so comfortable and she says things like, "I got my momma and dadda, right here". I love her so much!!!!!

10 Things I am Grateful For Today

1. Millie sleeps so well, I usually don't have to wake up til after 8:30
2. My husband always makes me feel like everything is alright
3. American Idol premiered
4. I love fancast
5. Walmart sent me a notification that my photos are on their way
6. Millie took a bath in the "big" tub, she said "I swimming Mommy"
7. Millie pulled her highchair tray in the floor and her food went everywhere, her response "well Heavens to Betsy, I broke it"
8. The snow is almost melted
9. I was able to straighten up the coat closet
10. There is so much sunshine in my house because of my daughter

5 Things

5 Things I am grateful for this morning:
1. Eggo Mini Pancakes
2. My Little girl yelling "Mommy Save Me" when she wants out of her crib
3. Millie's favorite purple spoon
4. Wayne being home
5. Franklin

Snow Angels

Do I like to be cold..... not particularly. Do I really love snow...... not especially. But I did love seeing my daughter play in her first real snow. Last year the only real winter weather we received was massive amounts of ice. It is a little difficult to build a snowman out of ice. So this week has been her real first snow. She is in love with it. She seems to like every aspect. The snowsuit does not bother her and even when her nutty mom put 2 layers of every clothing item on she did not complain. I think her favorite part though would be her Daddy wrapping her in a sheet of plastic and shooting her down the driveway. Yes it sounds dangerous but she had a blast.

Now to back track a little. 2 major things have happened since my last post. First Wayne had his gallbladder removed on December 16th. The surgery went great and he has been a real champ through recovery. I am proud of him for doing it and for being so strong. He has been on FMLA since then and he will go back to the surgeon on Monday to be released to go back to work. I dread it. Millie and I are spoiled to having him home now. We will miss him horribly.

Secondly Christmas came. It was the first year that Millie could appreciate the magic. It brought magic back for everyone. As usual too many gifts were exchanged but it is hard not to buy for that little face. I think her fav gifts maybe her "bike", her dollhouse, her big Brobee doll and her new castle tent. She is one lucky lady.

Until Next Time Stay Safe and Warm,

Holly