Two Years ago

Of course here he is today!

He's always laughed, even when he was this tiny!

This is Parker's dedication, back when we were in the old building. This was so special for us, especially Gordy because Ed is like his Dad, we're so blessed to be part of their lives!
Here's the proud Daddy and Parker when he was so tiny (well compared to now!)

Anyway, I was just looking at some old pictures and thinking of how much our lives have changed since 2 years ago! If only I knew things would be this much fun I would've never been so scared! :)

Our last couple of months

Well, I must admit it has been a while since I last blogged. Life just doesn't seem to leave me enough time in a day. We have had wonderful last couple of months it has been family filled and fun. First, Lynn (my mom-in-law) came to see us. She hadn't seen Parker in a year but he didn't let that stop him from conning her into anything and almost everything he wanted. He was thoroughly involved with "Mamaw and Arker B" time...which is what he calls her and himself. It was nice to see her and I must admit I really kinda miss her. She did laundry (I feel like it was almost the entire time she was here!) Cooked, cleaned, entertained the boys (yes both, a trip to Toys R' Us will do that) and ran all of my errands for me. She left on Friday night and then Wednesday my Aunt and Uncle from St. Louis came for a week. It was also nice to see them but I must admit I am enjoying my alone time again. (What TINY little bit I have). Also, Gordon is officially back in town (yes he moved his trailer FULL of stuff back home...along with the laundry bag if that tells you how official it really is).

So things are getting back to normal. I am still trudging through school and loving (almost) every minute of it. This semester is filled with my days of actually spending time with students and I am LOVING every minute of it. On the off chance of sounding a bit like Ed this is my passion, it is what I was meant to do! Also, in the midst of all of this somehow my baby boy has turned 2. It is crazy to think he could be 2, but alas I guess he is! He is also acting 2 (yes fits involved which include but are not limited to kicking, screaming and throwing anything that it is near). He has also added quite a few new words to the vocabulary, as well as some choice phrases. He LOVES to mimic anything you say, so that has been fun. He told Snoopy, our dog yesterday that he was"a stinker" which is what my Aunt has been calling Parker. It was pretty funny actually.

Then this morning I get am sleeping soundly in my bed and I hear a door slam. Of course this really scared me because Gordon was gone and Parker was sleeping, or so I thought! So I jump out of bed and run around the house as fast as I can (with cell phone in hand and 9-1-1 already dialed so as I come upon anything or anyone in the house I can merely push send.) After a thorough investigation of the house nothing seems to be amiss, aside from the dog missing. So I go back to my bedroom and sit on the bed wondering what in the world was going one when I hear laughing on the monitor. So I go to open Parker's bedroom door and it is locked! (MUCH to my surprise!) So I get a penny (yes they're the easy to open ones, SMART thinking on my hubby's part) and open the door. The dog is sitting in the middle of Parker's bedroom while Parker is running cars all over him and making car noises. Parker looks up at me and says what sounds like to me Mornin mama. It was pretty funny, but this whole situation scares me, because this means that not only can Parker can climb out of bed, (which he has done before, so no surprise there) but now he can open his door and lock it as well. I guess the good news is the dog was entertaining him in his own room and he was not wondering around the house doing who knows what. I guess next he'll be serving his own breakfast and turning the cartoons on Saturday mornings. Where does the time all go? So anyway, now that we are all officially caught up on my life I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Nearing the 2 year anniversary of mommyhood

As my experience of motherhood nears its 2 year anniversary there are a few things that I have learned along the way. I would like to share a few of them, of course hopefully these are only a few and I have learned much more than this list. So here goes:

1. Laughing-it is better than crying and water proof mascara isn't really water "proof" more water "resistant"

2. Febreeze and stain removers were invented my a mommy

3. Duck tape does keep a diaper on, masking tape doesn't stick to the slick surface as well

4. "No" at age two can mean yes, maybe, I am hungry or anything else

5. "Fine" can be used by a 2 year old and in the proper context

6. When a favorite snack food is found (such as the new Cheerios Chex Mix) buy it in stock. United, Target and 2 Wal-Mart's might not have it when you run out.

7. And, go easy on that "psycho" mom in Wal-Mart with the crazy hair and the stuff stuck to her kid's hair and face. She might be sick with 2 papers and a test due the next day. She might also never look like that, it might have been that there were no diapers anywhere near the premise that she calls home. So when the mom is yelling at her kid to "just sit down in the cart!" for the 15Th time try to have pity on her and not scorn. It might just be an off day. *Side note* For those of you that have the "perfect" child and not the one that just wants to go home and "play" just wait. Your time will come, if you ever plan on having more kids the next one might be just like my strong willed spirited child, so judge not lest you be judged.*End of side note..now on to

lessons that can be learned from the dog:

1. Staying on the opposite of what mom is vacuuming keeps you from being sucked up because she must change the vacuum setting before she gets to your part (ex. stay on tile if she's vacuuming carpet, visa verse)

2. Taking up maximum room on the floor is best, never give up your floor space to adults or cats

3. Anything can be chewed

4. Any food needs to be at least tried, one good lick should suffice

So, honestly looking back I can say I have learned a lot about myself. I really am blessed with a good kid, even if he does throw tantrums and he is strong willed. I can't imagine having a child that does everything I want him to at every moment, MAN would life be dull. I look back over these last 2 years and so many things have changed! There have also been so many good memories already made. There have been moments of crying, yelling and lots of laughing. I just pray that during these next long months of this new journey most often referred to as "potty training" I can remember how to laugh, lots.

My very bad no good day

If I were to ever write a book of quotes from my Dad, and I could, fill a whole book that is, this would be at the beginning of them all. "My dad used to tell me cheer up kid, things could be worse, so I did, and then they got worse." That is about how my day has felt. It has gone from mediocre to horrible. The title of my day were it written in a book would be called the Very Bad No Good Day. I don't really have time to explain it all, I just wanted to vent. It has been a Monday, and as I was receiving my wonderful Sonic food (just in the middle of the bad day, not even near the end) the guy giving it to me said "It looks like someone has a case of the Mondays". No kidding. He really said that, I didn't even respond. At that moment in time there was nothing polite I could say, and you know what Thumper's mom and my Dad used to say, If you can't say nuthin...and you know the rest. I sincerely hope that everyone elses Monday has gone better, and I also sincerely hope this is not the beginning of a horrible week. It can't get any worse right? I try to never say that, in fact I am not going to say that out loud. I would post some pictures but alas I have no camera, so there are no cute pictures. And Parker is sick so he's not looking too cute right now anyway so I guess it's OK! Love to all, sorry if this is blah, I just wanted to write, and a short story not a novel.

These are the days

Well, just to let everyone know, since my last blog was very gloomy, irrational and a bit angry...Samsung is going to fix my camera, or replace it for us. So good news there! We had a wonderful Christmas (since my last blog did not really reflect the correct holiday mood) haha. We went to Dallas and spent Christmas eve and Christmas day with Gordy's brother and sister-in-law and her family. She has a huge family, with her sister contributing 4 children to the chaos. It was nice, they are all blond so Parker fit right in! There were twins that are almost 3 (of course Parker could have taken them if the need had arose, they're pretty little) and a 10 month old. So he was right in the middle (age wise, of course size wise he was a little closer to the 6 year old). Then the day after Christmas we drove to one of my best friends in the worlds house that lives in Texarkana (Mary for those of you who know her) and we met her new son Brendan who is 2 months old. It was a time full of joy and a lot of running around (mainly because of my child, who of course seems to never sleep!) We are really blessed that we have so many great family members and friends that let us crash parties and hang out with them. Then this last week we just spent it taking down Christmas decorations (sad day!) and hanging out together, it was a much needed rest. Of course since it was New Years Gordy came home Wednesday night and was home for 4 days! Now the sad part is he still has another 2 or 3 weeks left down there, this week is going to be hard, for 2 weeks now we've only had to miss him until Wednesday, and of course this week it's back to the norm. So I guess keep us in your prayers and thoughts, mainly that he gets it done and can come home. On February 1st Parker turns 2 and we're going to have Gordy's mom here (YEAH!) no really I mean it, no sarcasm, she hasn't got to see Parker since this time last year and I know she is dying to see him...oh right and us too of course :) And then my Aunt and Uncle are flying in from St. Louis too. So, I really need Gordy home, plus I start school this coming Wednesday. Love to all, hope 2009 has gotten of to a great start for everyone!!

Could it get any worse?

So last night ended horribly. I went to take a picture of Parker opening some late Christmas presents and as I went to focus the camera the doorbell rang. I sat the camera on the kitchen counter (where my mom was standing) and went to answer the door. When I came back I picked up the camera and turned it on expecting to see my sweet darling child through the screen. Instead of that wonderful picture, I got a screen that looked like someone had thrown a baseball at it. I turned it off and then back on hoping that something was just momentarily wrong with it. Of course I was wrong and my little birthday present that I had saved up to get was broken. No big deal right? I bought it at Wal-Mart less than a month ago and surely they would help me get my memory catcher back to working condition, or at least replace it for one that is the same. WRONG! So this morning we went traipsing off to the store that sells anything you need with high hopes and great expectations. I left the store near tears and full of disappointment. Apparently they ONLY refund or exchange cameras 30 days after you buy them, of course my little jewel had decided to break 1 day too late and I decided to try and get help 2 days too late. After speaking to 5 different managers and having 1 of them tell me that I could exchange it for any camera I wanted as long as it was comparable in style and capabilities to the one I had that was sad and broken I felt much better. I went to the camera department, found the camera that was exactly like mine except for the fact that it was black instead of red and 80.00 more than the one I had purchased (Because I had purchased it while it was on sale). I went back to customer service (And let me tell you they should change the service part to let me just screw you out of any money or whatever you are trying to do, you should just know that all sales are now final) and of course this was only my 4Th time to stand in the long line, I got to the front excited and relieved that everything was indeed going to be OK. The lady rang up the broken and sad camera and rang up the new camera and told me it was going to be 80.00, of course I say, no the manager flagged me down and told me that I could pick one comparable to the one that I have. Then much to my relief the manager walks over just at that time, seemingly to me like she is going to save the day. This is one day I was wrong more times than right in my assumptions. She looks at the 2 cameras (which again I add were the exact same make, just a different model) and then tells me it will be 80.00 dollars. I of course ask her exactly what she said then when she flagged my mom and I down in the middle of the store (this was after of course I was ranting like a lunatic that everyone should buy their electronics at Target, Best Buy or Circuit City and not here), she tells me what she thinks she told me and I tell her that is not what she said. At this point she says "Well then, since you didn't understand me the 1st time let me be clear this time, you can buy this camera or you can take your broken one home". Of course by this time I was seeing red, and it wasn't just because the camera that I held so near and dear was that color. I snatched my camera from her (with my receipt, fat lot of good that piece of paper has done me) and walked off. Of course after telling her that it was fine I was just never going to buy any electronics from Wal-Mart again, what's the point? Now let me add at this juncture that not every Wal-Mart employee is mean and horrible, the 2 ladies that were originally helping me were very nice and kind and you could tell that if there was anything they could have done they would have. The thing that gets me is that Wal-Mart would not even give me my money back because it had been TWO DAYS too late, you see their 90 day return policy does not apply to cameras. I thankfully bought the extended warranty through Samsung and hopefully in the morning will have better news to tell. I am just praying that they help me, because Parker turns 2 in a little more than a month and it would be very sad if I had no camera to document the occasion. Especially if I did not have one because Wal-Mart is not willing to loose 80.00 to do the right thing. (Of course we all know they wouldn't loose a dime in the matter, they would just ship it back to the company) So, the point of this blog is: Buy ALL of your electronics ANYWHERE but Wal-Mart, they will not help you, replace it or exchange it. And if it's 30 days out they will not even refund your money so you could go somewhere decent that cares about their customers happiness. My advice is Best Buy or Target, we've had some problems with products from there and both places were helpful and courteous and it did not take me more than 2 hours to get the run around. Love to all, hope your day was better than mine and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

what could it change? I mean really...

Well, I have already written this story once, but somehow it was deleted off of here, and I hope this one isn't going to be deleted. I will save it on my computer and I will repost this as many times as I have to! Anyway, on the insistence of my friend Heidi (I love you!) I am going to rewrite this. This is a testament to how great God is even when we're not trying to be involved in others lives and even when we're not trying to bless others necessarily. The other day Parker and I were going into a store and it was cold and windy, and all I was thinking was "Where is there a cart" and looking for one that I could hoist my 32 pound son into and my Mary Poppins bag. As we approach the entrance I see and old woman and a little boy probably 3 or 4 sitting on a well worn bench. Thinking nothing of it really I proceed to enter the store (or at least I try). As we near the entrance Parker pulls on my hand so hard we are no longer going towards the entrance but towards the woman and little boy sitting on the bench. As I am trying to get my scattered thoughts around what is happening Parker pulls off his hat and puts his brand new shiny hot wheel into it handing it to the little boy. He is sitting there looking at his grandmother and then to me. All I could think to say was "He has a big head the hat should fit." Now upon a closer examination the little boys hat is see through and the their jackets are clean but well worn. He asks me if he could hug Parker and of course I say "sure". And as he hugs Parker the Grandmother stands up, well worn with time and age and says to me "I have been sitting here praying to God asking how I was to get something even small for my grandson for Christmas this year, my husband has just lost his second job." Her eyes are threatening to spill the tears her eyes are producing and as I stand there with my son that is not even 2 yet, I realized how God takes care of everyone that is His. This woman is a faithful hardworking lover of God and even though they didn't have a lot of earthly possessions you could see the love and concern for others in her eyes. She asks me if she could hug me and of course I say yes, even though I am not a big fan of hugs from people I have not known a long time. I warmly take her hug and am appreciative that she does not see my own eyes rapidly filling up with water as well. All I could think to say as I took Parker's hand once again was "Merry Christmas and God bless you." As we turn I shove my hand into my pocket feeling a couple of dollars (Which is SO weird because I NEVER have any money) I turn back around and I hand her the cash saying "I know this isn't much but maybe you could buy some gloves or something". She says thank you, but more with her eyes than words. As we are heading into the store I see an old beat up van on it's last leg pull up with a cheerful old man driving. He shouts to the woman and little boy "Get in Ma", and his face lights up despite the cold and lack of heat in the van. Parker gives one final wave to the little boy who is now wearing Parker's old hat, and who knew, Parker's big head was the same size as the older boys. God is so amazing, and even when you're busy and bustling through life He seizes every opportunity to help everyone, even if He has to show a little boy not even 2 yet how to bless someone else's life. I can't wait to see how God is going to use my little man's life, it is amazing to me that He already is! After hearing Ed's sermon yesterday at church this story has even more impact on my life now! Love to all, I hope you all have a Merry Christmas! And don't forget, you never know how some "silly" thing you do might be the very thing someone else has been praying for!