Completely UN-related ramblings...

Today was one of those days that you just LOVE.  It started out with my girl waking up at NINE THIRTY (yes!), some cuddle time/breakfast/Mickey Mouse, then cleaning my car, lunch with daddy, my hair appt (TWO whole uninterupted mommy hours), more cuddle time/reading with Mia, lunch on the go from Chik-fil-a, a trip to Lifeway Christian bookstore and finally a trip to Whole Foods for Mia's groceries!  Whew!  Sounds like a LOT, but I loved it. After we got home from our errands, it was time for Mia's nighttime beauty ritual :)  After that I prayed with my girl and rocked her to sleep (my favorite part)!  Now I am doing some cleaning and laundry before bed.  Totally productive and fun day :)

Y'all?  Seriously, my child is getting so good with her manners.  I'm not trying to brag, but I am so proud of her.  About 75% of the time she will say "pwease" and "taint you" without being commanded.  The other day we were walking through the mall and I sneezed.  She innocently looked up at me and said "besh you momma!"  ::insert melted heart::  I am trying my hardest to mold this child into a healthy, God loving, civilized human being and eventually a wonderful contributor to society.  This whole mommy hood gig?  Hardest job EVER!  But totally worth every minute!  Now all of this goes without saying that she definitely has her terrible toddler moments, but that's just par for the course. HA!

Something interesting that has developed recently is her terrible fear of heights.  I have NO idea why because Dave and I are not scared of heights at all.  Maybe she gets it from her Poppy :)  I can literally put her up on the bathroom sink to brush her teeth and she clings to me with her arms and legs like a little tick! HAHA I guess it's just a natural fear for some?!

Every night we have this sweet little ritual that I hope doesn't plan on leaving any time soon.  Before bed each night, Mia grabs her blankie and says "Momma, rock you" for me to go to her room and rock her in the glider.  We go in there, sit down and she immediately says "momma, Jesus?" as she is wanting me to pray with her.  She puts her little hands together and squints her eyes and bows her head.  When we are finished she says "Amen! Momma, Jesus?"  This is her Que that she now wants me to sing "Jesus Loves Me."  We sing the song (she sings "bible so") and then she nestles her little head in my chest and we rock.  Sometimes she will fall asleep, other times she will look up at me and say "momma, nigh night" when she is ready to be put in bed.  I savor these moments.  I know not long from now she won't want to be rocked, so I am absorbing every ounce of sweetness I can get!  You like how she always addresses me before saying anything, don't ya?!  HAHA!

My lady is really impressing me with how well she is doing in "school."  The teachers always say how good she is and she takes her nap every day.  She goes right in every morning without hesitation.  At the end of every day she gets a "report card."  Hers always (so far) says "Great Day!"  I think she is really liking interacting with all of the kids.  After all, she does go to MDO, Sunday school AND Awana!!

Last but not least I just wanted to record some of the books I've read, am currently reading and going to read.

*Heaven is Real by Todd Burpo.  This was about a little boys encounter with heaven.  After reading it, you are ready to go to heaven :)

*I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist by Norman Geisler and Frank Turek.  This book is wonderful.  It is basically going through all of the science, reasoning and evidence of why God IS real.  

*Jesus Calling devotional by Sarah Young.  Daily devotional that happens to know EXACTLY what you are going through that day :)

*The Parent Adventure by Rodney and Selma Wilson.  I haven't started this one yet but it is basically teaching parents how to prepare their children for a meaningful lifetime with God.

*Don't Make Me Count to Three! by Ginger Plowman.  I literally JUST started this book, but it's another parenting book. (Hey, I need ALL the help I can get! HA)  Helps moms move beyond frustrations of not knowing how to handle issues of disobedience and into a confident, well-balanced approach to raising their children.

*Seeking Him. Experiencing the Joy of Personal Revival by Nancy DeMoss and Tim Grissom.  This is actually a book/study guide for a new women's bible study starting this Thursday at church.  I'm pumped!

*So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore.  Actually, I have the devotional journal, but their are readings and scripture quoted throughout.

Coming from someone who doesn't care for reading, this is a big list!  However, I find the more that I read about Jesus, get more involved in church, the more addicted I become.  I long for more and literally can't get enough! 

Today?  Was fabulous!

Playdates and birthday :)

We have had yet another eventful week!  Mia went to "school" Monday and Wednesday and she absolutely LOVES it!  I could not be anymore thrilled.  On Thursday we went to play at a local indoor kids gym, had lunch and then ran some errands and with Tiffini and Jase.  We just love to hang out with them!

Mia and Jase ♥

Friday I worked and Saturday Dave, Mia and I headed to Lexington for Dave's Fantasy Football Draft.  Mia and I got our bellies full and then abandoned ship to go shopping at this really awesome upscale consignment shop in Lexington :)  We got lots of good deals and cute clothes for this fall/winter!

Saturday night Mia went to play with her Nana and Papaw so Dave and I could have a little "date" time for my birthday.  We ended up just coming back home, having sushi takeout and lounging on the couch watching Soul Surfer together.  Perfect date night!  Oh, and that movie was awesome if you haven't seen it yet.

This morning we went to church and bible study, followed by more fair time with Jacob, Tiffini and Jase!  

Jacob and Jase, Dave and Mia

Mia and I, Tiffini and Jase

Riding the bumper boats!  How adorable is he??

My girl wasn't feeling the boats this time!  HA!

Our friends at dinner.  Love them :)

My little fam!

After dinner we came home to my parents and brother waiting for me with freshly homemade cupcakes (thanks mom!)!!  I just love my family and friends!  I had a great birthday :)

Fair time!

It's STATE FAIR time people!!!  I absolutely LOVE going to the fair!  The food, exhibits, people watching. oh so much fun!  Each year Mia is getting even more fun to take.  Although I didn't let her have any of the "fair food," (I packed her a healthy little lunchbox!), she did thoroughly enjoy the rides.  My girl?  Is gonna be a thrill seeker.  Her ride options were limited because she wasn't quite tall enough for a lot of rides, however she did get to ride a mini roller coaster with her daddy and drive a "bumper boat!"

Big slide with daddy!

First EVER roller coaster :)

My girl driving her bumper boat!

Putting her name on the community coloring wall

Mia also had her first day of MDO yesterday.  Daddy had to take her and pick her up because I had to work (BOO!), but her teacher said she was very good and was the first to go down for a nap.  What can I say, she loves her sleep.  She fits perfectly in this family! HA!  I think MDO is going to be a true blessing all the way around.

Last night after work I met up with some of our bible study friends and went to the Tenth Avenue North free concert at the fair.  We had a really great time and I very much enjoyed spending time with awesome people!  Can't wait for our movie date (Courageous)!!

MDO open house, froyo and shopping!

Mia had her Mother's Day Out open house today.  We went to meet her teachers and see her class room.  At first she was a little shy, but about 3 minutes later she was playing and having a good time.  Such a good time that we couldn't get her to leave!

Welcome sign with her name!

I am going to love all the structure they give these kids.  I love schedules and routines!!  I am SO green :)

SCHEDULE!!

Sitting in her class

After open house we went and ate some delicious frozen yogurt with my friend Joelle.  Joelle is one of the sweetest girls I know.  I just love to hang out with her :)

YUMMY!

Joelle and I.  I absolutely adore her!

My girlie digging in the froyo!

Once our bellies were satisfied, Mia and I did a little consignment shopping and went and visited Meme and Poppy.  I found some of the cutest little dresses for this winter and next summer.  If y'all can't tell, I'm a huge lover of anything monogrammed or smocked and I found a smocked Halloween dress.  It is ca-uuute!

Next we headed to Tarjay to pick up Mia's....wait for it...."school" supplies!  It wasn't much, but it still excited me!  We have her little monogrammed lunch box and backpack ready to go.

Mia and her Poppy ♥

A couple of Mia's favorite past times with her Poppy are picking tomatoes in the garden and playing in "poppy's truck!"  She loves to just get in the truck and play with the radio and windows and act like she's steering.  She is in love with her Pop!

Mia and her best Meme :))

Meme and Poppy think this girl could do no wrong.  They absolutely adore her and THAT?  Makes my heart melt :)

Seriously?  I want to squeeze her.  Just sayin.

Could I be any more blessed?  I think not.

Hope everyone has a great rest of the week.  I will be working...

More Zoo fun!

We are everyday frequent flyers at the zoo!  Mia absolutely loves all of the animals and it's good mommy social time as well!

Mia and her Uncle B

My girl and I

♥♥

After browsing Pinterest for hours a few moments, I found this really cool idea for serving toddler meals.  It is perfectly portioned and colorful and fun!  

It worked because she ate almost every bite!

Today we had yet another zoo day!  It was an absolutely beautiful day to go.  

Mia and Jase checking out the gorillas!

Of course both kiddos had to play at the playground.  No zoo trip is complete without the playground!  

Jase is such a cutie!  Can you believe he is only 14  months?!  I told Mia she needs to keep her eye on him!  He's gonna be a keeper ;)

Jase and his pretty mommy Tiffani!

My lovey!

It was such a great day!  Now to start my work week....

Brain leakage...

 I've got to empty my brain.  I have so many things running through it, I can't even think straight!  We have been absolutely LIVING up this summer.  We've had lots of zoo days, hang-out-and-eat-Popsicles-by-the-pool days, splash park days, picking-fresh-fruit-at-the-local-farm days and much more!  This has been such a fun summer, I can't believe its almost over :(

Now that summer IS almost over, it's time for a change.  Starting next week, Mia will start in a Mother's Day Out program twice a week.  It's very bittersweet for me.  I am so happy for her to get to play and socialize with lots of little kiddos her age, yet I'm so sad because she is getting so big.  I feel like I just had my little squishy baby, and now she is a walking, talking, attitude-giving, very active little toddler!  I am confident she will LOVE MDO because she absolutely adores going to Sunday school each week.  She just walks right in like she owns the place and has a great time.

Dave and I have recently started a new adult bible study class after church on Sundays.  We absolutely LOVE it.  We learn so much and have made so many sweet christian friends!  I also get together with the girls every other week for girly-time fellowship.  It's so awesome!  I'm so blessed God put them in my life.

Speaking of our wonderful Father, He also brought another wonderful group to Dave and I.  MERCY (The Marriage Education and Resource Center) is a Christian based organization that's purpose is to help couples have healthy and successful marriages.  MERCY offers free marriage seminars and education to couples to help them grow in their marital relationship.  Dave and I didn't have horrible issues, but we feel that these seminars are "preventative medicine" for our marriage.  We want to do everything in our power for our marriage, not only for us, but for our children, so that they can see what a God focused marriage should look like.  With that being said, we are FAR from perfect, we have our arguments, but the point is, we are TRYING our best, everyday, to make our marriage what God has called it to be.  So far, so good :)

Lastly, my brain has been going super sonic speed thinking about Homeschooling Mia.  This is something my heart really feels is the best for my child.  I still have lots of research and praying to do, but I do feel strongly about this option.  However, I do not, by any means, think anything is wrong with sending my child to school, I just would like to explore the options of teaching her myself.  There are multiple pros and cons of each situation, so I will evaluate and make the best decision for my child.  Thankfully, I still have lots of time!

Oh, and here are some of my new favorite websites...

These are all about family, learning/teaching:
www.2teachingmommies.com
www.imom.com
www.tipjunkie.com

These are regarding healthy kid meal ideas:
www.nourishingmeals.com
www.realsimple.com

There!  I feel so much better emptying that all out!  Now I have more room to think.  HA :)