Good bath gone wrong

Yep… It happened. The day finally came. Oh boy, get out the bleach.

Mmm Pops

When all else fails to make a sick little girl happy…

there's always a homemade chocolate puddin' pop in the freezer.

Today actually seemed to be a turning point for Little Miss Sicky. She still has a horse voice and coughs up a lung, but at least she seemed to smile today and enjoy her toys again. Although she's now sporting a head bruise and knee scrapes from a random energy burst running along the sidewalk. Ugh- the girl can't seem to catch a break. My poor girl. Thank God she seems to have inherited her daddy's tough skin.

The unexpected

With a sick little girl on my hands this week, I've found very little time to get things done during the day. There is nothing in the world better than cuddling with my little one, I just wish she felt better while doing it. I'm so far behind in house work. I've never let it get this bad. Too many projects being done at one time. Too much laundry that has gone unfolded. I can't lie- its bad. But, when given the choice of cleaning and blogging or holding my coughing baby, I'll choose her hands down. Thus the house is a wreck and the blog is empty. I'll be better soon once my little one's better too.

I do want to share this little unexpected find in my day since I can now laugh about it. I took advantage of a sunny afternoon nap time a few days ago and actually made use of myself. After cleaning the house and getting a couple craft projects finished that I've been staring at for the last two months, I still had time to tackle the broken tree that fell into my back yard from a freak storm back in November a little while ago. 

While cutting it up, I reached down to pick up branches and caught something in the corner of my eye.

Do you see it? 

GROSS!!!

Of all days for my backyard neighbors to be outside.  I might be referred to as the crazy neighbor with *&%$!* tourets now after being surprised by this guy. Oops. I hate snakes. Whether they are plastic or grossly real- they freak. me. out. I'm that girl that will walk on the other side of the room at the aquarium to avoid the snake exhibit that's in 10 inches thick glass. ::shiver:: Thank God that plastic fella didn't have a body attached or I might never venture outside again. I'm not scared of much but this little jerk got me. For a girl who grew up on a farm, I'm pretty weak with the slithers.

He might have kept me out of the backyard the rest of the afternoon, but I've had so much inside to do, I kept busy until my heart could slow down. I'll fill you in on all that later. Lots of projects. Lots of cute stuff making its way into the house. 

Want a quick sneak peak of one in particular? I found this idea and made my own version. 

Or something like that…. I hope. But, who knows?!

16 months strong

Do you realize that my sweet baby Peapod is now 1 and 1/3 years old? Is this possible? Somehow between our long trip over the holidays and resettling at home with our many many new toys via Christmas, this date has really snuck up on me. You wouldn't believe how much this little girl has grown recently. I know its only been a month since her last monthly post, but for some reason it feels like so much longer because she has grown so much so fast. I can't pin point how, but she just has.

Here's my girl:

She's ALL OVER THE PLACE! All the time. Walking. Running. Climbing. You name it- she's probably doing it. With only one child, I can barely keep up sometimes. What in the world am I going to do when I have three more? (See that Giant? That one was for you- for now).

Her mind is constantly curious. When she gets something new, she likes me to show her ONE time how it works then its her turn. Toys, tupperware, books, whatever… she sees it done once, then inspects the mechanics of it over and over again. My observant child.

Her four favorite lovies remain (in this order- and yes she has FOUR): blankie, Puffin (her small white puffed seal she got at the aquarium, Mr. Bear and her Mickey Mouse from Daddy. Of course, there still remains the dreaded paci (pacifier) but I still refuse to acknowledge it as a "lovey."

She "talks" all day long until someone else is around, then suddenly all her words become grunts or pointing gestures. I guess that's still the shyness in her. Her newer words are "Go go!" which always includes a very enthusiastic point forwards, "dis" for this, "hello", "no", "ju ju" for choo choo,  "cheese", "Ne ne" for Nana AND Skipper, and "baby" for baby. Obvi. There are very few people that she will show off her new words for. Mostly me. One day Daddy too I hope. And when she doesn't know the word, it tends to be called "MomMom" or "Baba". For example, "Cheyanne, what is this?" as I point to her toy cow. "MomMom" she responds. No. No Cheyanne. Lordy. We're working on it. She's not great for the ego right now.

We sing our body parts song on a daily basis. She's got most of her parts down. The newest ones are her shoulders, knees, and as of last night her elbows. So working from head down that would be: head, eyebrows, eyes, eyelashes, ears, nose, cheeks, lips, mouth, (no chin yet), shoulders, boobies, elbows, belly, bellybutton, hands, fingers, legs, knees, feet, and toes. She loves the body part game. Doctor maybe? :)

She also loves other identification games. I am amazed how much she recognizes and knows even if she can't say the words yet. We're not clear on colors yet, but she has her animals down pat. People, if you have a toddler, know a toddler, are a toddler, get this book. I know its about colors, but there are other versions of it too for words specifically that would be great too. She got it for Christmas and we pour over multiple times a day. This is the book that really made me realize how much she knows and picks up on just by conversation and observation. It astounds me what she knows. Am I bragging yet?… Hello?… Uhmmm.

Anyways, back to Miss Smarty Pants.

Cheyanne is hysterical. She definitely has a good mix of her Daddy's and my sense of humor. She likes to do subtly funny things and will look out of the corner of her eye to make sure you're watching and think its funny too as she chuckles to herself- her Daddy. But, when you get her laughing, she quickly feeds off of the extra attention and will purposefully do things funny to get more laughs- her MomMom. She LOVES to make people laugh. She is pure joy.

When she wants something, she'll let you know. She will come across the room, stop me from whatever I'm doing, grab my hand and lead me to what she wants. And if I'm not picking up on it fast enough, she'll place my hand/fingers on it to end the guessing game. Then, there's never a question.

She loves being outside. I have to time checking the mail right because if we're out, we're out for a while. So, on rainy or cold days, I have to make sure I go out during nap time. She doesn't care the temp, outside is where she wants to be at all times. And for being such a girly girl, she sure does love to dig in the flower bed dirt. I can't walk by my flower beds without pulling out a weed or two. That's always her cue to stop and dig in whatever dirt pile is around too- ugh.

She is gentle and sweet spirited- most of the time. But, this girl has a temper faster than lightning when she's focused. Not usually around other people, but at home watch out. Being around other kids recently though, her gentleness and lacking desire for confrontation has shown through. She has no desire to bully other kids or even be around kids arguing. She is so mild and observant. When she sees other children arguing or fighting, she immediately backs away and doesn't want any part in it. Still a little too young to understand the concept of sharing, she does get her feelings hurt if another child takes her toy. But she has never shown any desire to confront them or show aggression but usually just watches for a moment afterwards. Not something that she got from her Momma- uh hmm. I may or may not have been known to bite a time or too. I plead the fifth. But, I'm pretty sure that little boy from day care probably still has teeth marks on his arm. *Thank the Lord she's as sweet as she is.*

This is her "How big is Cheyanne? Sooooo big!" pose.

So, that's my girl. My sweet, funny, loving little girl. I am more than blessed. Thanks for 16 months of fun Missy.

That girl

That face.

 Those eyes.

That grin.

Gets me every time.

I just melt.

Husband??

I've lost track of when I've heard from the Giant last. I don't think I realized how spoiled I actually was hearing from him in some way every few days before. Now I know. This is not me complaining, but this is me working it out so I can sleep.

Tonight I miss him. Clearly, I miss him every night, but I just try not to think about it. I shut that thought part off at moments when I'm just not sure I'm in a good place to handle it. I do things to ensure that I don't add the extra worriful thoughts on myself. I don't watch war related news. I instinctively turn the channel or leave the room. I pray LOTS. I send up little prayers pretty much at every hour of my day. I have even sent him good thoughts and vibes, because I figure, what can it hurt? No idea if that stuff works, but shoot, I don't care. It makes me feel better so I imagine I'm sending him some of my rest or laughter or alertness. Whatever comes to me that I think he might need at the time, I think it in his direction. Ha! Instead of thinking how far away he is, I tend to  imagine all of the amazing places he's seeing at that moment of where all he's been. Places that one day he'll pin on map and tell Cheyanne stories about. I think of how beautiful even the desert mountains would look from his viewpoint in the sky- even if right now he wouldn't admit it because he's just plain tired of looking at it. At Christmas I didn't watch any of the troop greetings or welcome home clips. You know what I'm talking about.
I go on with our life like I'm supposed to. Cheyanne never knows the difference of my heart. If I get sad, I only get sad after bedtime. That's my me time.

So, tonight I miss him. Tonight, my minds wandering. I thought if I blogged about it, I could clear my head faster and sleep. I think tonight instead of being sad, I think ill just smile because I know I'm one day closer...
....
Yep. That did it :) Goodnight friends!
Love, an Airman's wife

Half way mark

What could this picture possibly mean?!!

Hmmm…

Finger nails growing and a mostly clear face? (Don't judge the absolutely no makeup look I'm rockin'- it was necessary for effect- and I'm lazy)

It can only mean one thing!

We're at the half-way mark of the Giant's deployment!!


Holla'!!!

Three things DO. NOT. HAPPEN when the Giant is away. One- I don't sleep. Between being a military wife and a mother to a toddler that does not yet appreciate the beauty of sleep, I just don't get much rest. Two- my nails don't grow. I'm pretty sure that its just physically impossible, I think they actually shrink back or immediately just crack the minute we say goodbye. Nerves… (and now I'm wishing I had waited to paint them after the picture so you can see how long they actually are!) and Three- No sooner than his plane's wheels lift off the ground, do I suddenly look more like a pre-teen middle schooler going through major hormone changes than an actual 26 year old woman despite my best efforts.

The light at the end of the tunnel is starting to shine brighter around here y'all!! Join me as I do my happy dance!

Fifteen months

Fifteen months has literally flown by for me with Cheyanne. And it hasn't helped that Christmas has been a little chaotic, so I have not seemed to find time to write her 15 month post until now (almost two now three weeks late- I wrote this last week and somehow never posted it). I guess I should get on that quick before she turns the big 1-6 months. And since we had to leave Mr. Bear at home, we'll just have to improvise.

So, what has Miss Chey Chey been up to this month? Well, I have a list.


Cheyanne:

• we are behind on the 15 month checkup- I'll figure out her stats later but I know she weighs at least 25 big ones
• is solidly wearing 18 month clothing but some things 24 months
• discovered movies- first movie to show interest in was Toy Story 3
• can accurately identify most body parts: Eyes, nose, mouth, ears, hands, toes, boobies (hehe), belly, belly button, and eyebrows
• down to nursing 2-3 times a day- Once or twice in the morning and once before bedtime
• randomly realized that not everyone is terrifying (something clicked at Thanksgiving), but she still likes people to move slow not in her face
• loves to laugh (at everything)- she just started the cutest new cheesy laugh when she knows someone is watching- covers her face and throws her head backwards or forwards while laughing
• very ticklish
• has grown quite the mullet- its a beautiful thang
• hates Santa Claus (when he gets too close that is)
• understands much much more than I ever dreamed she would at this age- way beyond others her age (so I've been told- brag brag) (I contribute this to her always being a serious and "observant" baby since day one
• is a walking machine!!
• discovered Clifford and LOVES him
• cut a whole bunch of new teeth including 3 molars. Somehow she went from 4 teeth to 9 teeth in about a week. I have no idea how long she had been cutting them but suddenly they just appeared out of nowhere- no fussing or usual teething mess to signal their arrival! What a champ.
• flew her best flight yet on our way to Roanoke- not even a whimper or yawn the whole time
• has a possible food allergy to vinegar and/or ranch causing topical breakout on her face
• Ranch anything is her favorite food- ugh- of course
• Misses her Daddy every day (just wanted to throw that in there to remind the Giant that no matter how much fun it looks like we're having- we still miss him every minute of every day)

Christmas Eve and the build up

Without the Giant here and feeling a little down, I cannot tell you how happy I was when my sister pulled into the driveway a few days before Christmas!! What a much needed pick me up. Two years in a row, she's been here to save the Giantless day. 

Now that that's out in the open, lets continue on with the holidays.

Normally, all of our holiday meals are done at either my parents' or my grandparents', but this year we changed it up. With Cheyanne at a fun age to take in the beauty of Christmas, we decided to head to Bedford where we could eat and see some Christmas lights. Christmas Eve Eve (yes I meant to repeat myself) we ate at the Liberty Station which is an old train station depot turned pretty awesome restaurant. 

After a delicious meal, we headed over to the Elks Lodge for a drive-thru lights show. As I predicted, Cheyanne l.o.v.e.d. it. She "ooooh"'ed and "ahhh"'ed right along with us.

Granted, as this is an Elks retirement home and most of the Christmas displays are probably  definitely older than I am, its not anything that would win awards. But, its a tradition here in the mountains and continues to bring in car lines full every night during the holidays. Chey didn't seem to mind one bit that the hand painted cardboard angel looked more like an overweight Julie Andrews than perhaps an arch angel. Its tradition.

Then Christmas Eve came and we spent most of the day at my brother's house helping him move. I took two pictures of Chey during the whole day. Neither are exactly…winners…

Look closely. Yep, this will be a keeper when she's 16. Well played, Daughter.

Well, at least she looked cute in her Christmas outfit ready for the Christmas Eve service. 

Sometimes you just got to laugh

There are some situations that should never be joked on...

But… sometimes a little comedy is just necessary.




I have watched this short clip 5 times now and laughed harder each time. Sick but funny.