Tooth Fairy Time!!

It FINALLY happened!!

Emily has been waiting for weeks for a tooth to fall out...she has had THREE loose teeth.  Tuesday, she was eating a pear and I knew it would happen because she didn't ask me to cut it up.  She has been unable to eat apples and pears whole because all her front teeth are loose!  But this bottom one has been DANGLING for several days.  And she pulled it herself!

As you can tell, it wasn't the FIRST tooth to be lost!

She has a giant hole in her mouth now!  Her top tooth came out about 1 1/2 years ago in a moon bounce at church!  I was a little shocked at the time and nearly cried but managed to hold it together for my little girl who thought she was in trouble for losing her tooth!

This time, I was better prepared!

She pulled it herself - which surprised me - during a time of day when we had friends visiting, I was cooking dinner, the Schwann's man had just come in to take my order...

...and she comes RUNNING and SHOUTING into the kitchen...

"MOM, MOM, MOM,

MY TOOTH CAME OUT!"

AND YES, I ALMOST CRIED.

ALMOST.

The Tooth Fairy brought her a little ring the first time she lost a tooth.  She expects a ring for every tooth now.  She loves jewlery and especially loves rings. 

THIS Tooth Fairy did not have a stash of rings.

And...

went to bed that night completely forgetting about the lost tooth under one little girl's pillow.

Oops.

I got up at 5:40 the next morning to go walking and found her on the couch sleeping.  I tried to be quiet but she popped up and quickly asked, "Mom, can I go and check under my pillow now??"

"Ah...no....it's still nighttime honey, not yet."

I quickly ran back to my bedroom and raided Aaron's wallet.  I found $2.00 and snuck into her room and hid the money under her pillow.  I knew she'd be disappointed/surprised that the Tooth Fairy brought money instead of a ring.  But what could I do??

I left for my walk, meeting my mom down the street.  I told her what happened and she says "I have a ring!"

WHAT?  Are you kidding me? 

As it turned out, my mom had just bought a little package of 5 rings that came with 5 nail polishes for her 4 grand-daughters to put in their Easter baskets.  PERFECT!!!  So, I snagged a ring, rushed home, found Emily still asleep on the couch, put the ring along with the $2.00 under her pillow and sighed.

WHEW!

An hour later, my little girl woke up, ran to her room and came out SO HAPPY!! 

"Mom!!  The Tooth Fairy left me a ring AND two dollars!!"

Wow!  What an awesome Tooth Fairy!





It's a BOY!!

Last week was quite eventful and turned out to be SO busy!

Tuesday March 22nd Aaron and I celebrated 8 years of marriage.  It was a laid back anniversary - no gifts to exchange, no big plans, but we had a very enjoyable date.  Aaron is such good company.  We had a VERY yummy and filling dinner at Red Lobster.  Seafood is our favorite and there are not many choices in Norman or OKC to have great seafood.  After dinner, we walked around the mall a bit - window shopping and dreaming. 

First stop, Zales.  Checked out mother's rings.  These must be some of the ugliest rings ever but yet they are so sentimental.  Our family is nearly complete and I have babies born in the month of January, March, May and soon August.  Finding a ring where 4 birthstones go together without looking hideous is a challenge!!  But I would love to have one.  I told Aaron - this would make a great "last baby present". 

Second stop, Old Navy. Checking out baby clothes...specifically...baby BOY clothes.  Just. In. Case.  We wanted to see if we could imagine the baby being a boy...if we could get excited about a boy...if we could find a "style" for a boy that fits us.  We had such fun.  It really got my hopes up.  Such cute baby boy clothes out - little mini-Aaron type clothes.

Wednesday March 23, we had our ultra sound at OU Physicians and got the news we had been waiting for.  We are having a boy.  After 6 years, 3 daughters, and LOTS of comments from family members and total strangers, we are going from "all girls" to "you finally got your boy".  We are so excited!!  We had prepared ourselves to have a girl, I had a name picked out, and was trying to get mentally prepared to not be disappointed.  I had prayed for a boy for months.  But I also knew that just because God knew my heart, didn't mean I'd get what I wanted.  Once the ultrasound technician told us, tears began streaming down my face.  I looked at Aaron and he was expressionless - shocked.  I asked her if she was sure and she said "Oh yes.  I'm sure."  It just seemed so unreal.

Emily of course, was not surprised. She has been telling us all along that she has a baby brother in there.  She was right last time too.  She knew Catey was a girl.  Smart girl we have!

So now, we begin planning for life with a FOURTH baby!  And since it's a boy, we have a logistics issue.  It will be sharing a room with his oldest sister Emily at some point.  I have the opportunity/challenge of decorating a room for a boy and a girl - incorporating both in one room.  I am definitely getting excited and am ready to SEE this baby!  I cannot imagine what he will look like!!

We have a lot of other things to focus on right now as well but this little guy takes the cake!!  More posts to come on the other things going on...

The Past Eight Years

Our 8 year anniversary is coming up in less than a month.  Seems to have gone by so fast!  Tonight my husband told me that he is more in love with me than when we first got married.  I have to say, I also love him more now than 8 years ago.  But it's funny to think about the beginning of our story...we didn't really know each other!  I feel like I actually married a stranger that I've been getting to know for 8 years now and every year we change just a little.  We grow more stubborn.  We grow more firm.  We stumble a lot not just in our marriage but in our parenting. 

We've had 3 kids together in the past 5 years.  We didn't have as much time together before the babies came so we've had a lot of ups and downs during the past 5 years.  But last year was the best year so far.  Out 7th year we were able to feel some freedom for the first time after having kids.  The youngest baby had quit nursing, we were able to leave the 3 of them over night at my parents, we started going on dates more, we rediscovered each other.  It was the first time since we started having kids that we had been able to do this!  I had been pregnant and/or breastfeeding for 6 years in a row!  So it was a great time for us to get ahead in our relationship

And then we got pregnant again!  But this time it's different....and very familiar!  Going through the morning sickness (although this time was worse) brought back lots of memories!  Aaron has definitely had to learn a lot through 4 prenancies.  And we also know that this is the last pregnancy, last baby.  So it's bittersweet knowing that we are going through this for the last time.  It's exciting too.  Thinking about moving forward with our family - vacations, homeschooling, activities, life with four kids!

Going to Heaven...

Today is a day I will never forget.  Actually, the day itself was not that memorable but what happened at bedtime with our 5 year old daughter was!  This was a moment that I had prayed for.  I wanted to be there when she made this decision and I wanted to walk her through it. 

Let me back up.  We took Em to Joyride this morning - a baptism class for kids and parents at our church.  She has been before nearly a year ago but I knew she was too young and was not ready.  Our children's pastor is so gifted in teaching to young kids and we could tell that it really made an impact on Em.  She didn't want to pray with us during the class but I wasn't surprised.  She has to really mull things over in her mind before she makes decisions.  All day long she asked us questions and talked about baptism and God,etc.  So, tonight, when Aaron was putting her to bed they were talking and she told him she wanted to pray the prayer to ask Jesus into her heart.  Aaron called me in there and we talked to her about it and then Aaron prayed with her.  My daughter is going to heaven!!  Someday!  :-)

Bacon Egg and Cheese Muffin

Some day I will be able to sit down and enjoy a really delicious meal.  In peace.  Without one or two beggars and pleaders sitting at my feet.  Without listening to arguing down the hall.  Maybe out on the back deck I will have someday that over looks our pond we will have.  While the cool breeze is lightly blowing and the birds are chirping.  With a really great cup of hot coffee on a cool spring morning. 

Instead, this morning, I am enjoying a bacon egg and cheese muffin while helping my 2 year old get her panties on and wiping her nose.  While redirecting outfit choices and looking for the other "sparkly shoe".  While coaxing my 3 year old to eat her breakfast which she says is disgusting (a simple pancake).  While trying to make my husband get out of bed so we can get a start on the day.  I am inhaling bites between all this beautiful chaos so I don't pass out or throw up (morning sickness), so I can get a shower in (if my 5 year old left any hot water).

It's tempting to wish it away; want to trade lives with someone having a more relaxing breakfast.  But I am reminding myself to be content with where I am right now.  The lonely mornings (I mean relaxing) will come soon enough.

As soon as I figure out how to post pictures, they will come!!

Welcome 2011

Well, here we go. 

I love to write.  I used to write.  I never write anymore.  Enter: New Year's Resolutions.  

I am starting a blog!

And since my 3 year old is up and out of bed...I will post more tomorrow.

(This is why I never write anymore!!)