Thankful Thursday #3

1. hand me downs and those who hand them down. A lot of our home is furnished with hand me downs and we are so thankful for them! Some of them come with memories attached and some are valuable because of our need. Leighton's future bedroom set was also mine and my mom's (now I'm glad she didn't let me draw on it!). We have a great dining room table and some chairs from Rich's dad, a beautiful couch from his relatives, and various dressers, desks and chests from both families. The hand me downs that I'm thinking about today are our washer and dryer. The current ones came from his dad's beach house but we're excited to get a new dryer from my brother & his family! Our dryer must have been damaged in a move (we've moved it 3 times since we got it) because it makes the most horrible noise you've ever heard when it's on! Some day soon we need to borrow a vehicle big enough to transport the new one and we'll be in (quiet) business.
2. sippy cups with straws. Leighton loves to drink out of a straw and it's the best way we can come up with to get her to drink milk. I have to say that I don't blame her for not wanting to drink milk but she's a growing girl and we need to get those bones nice and strong! When bought her first sippy cup with a straw, she was so excited that she took it to bed with her!
3. freedom and those who protect it. Not to sound cliche, but I really am thankful that I was born in America and that we have freedoms that others only dream about. I don't want to get political either but let's fight to keep those freedoms for which others have given their lives.
4. Jesus. I'm so thankful that God sent His only Son to be a sacrifice and wash away our sins. It's amazing how much we are loved!

Breakfast

Here's my big girl at breakfast this morning. I scrambled eggs for her-quite the sacrifice for me. The smell of eggs grosses me out on a good day and when I'm pregnant, it makes me gag. But, I thought she needed a good breakfast today since yesterday was such a crazy one so just call me super mom! :) She also had a waffle and some grapes! Oh happy day!
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These Little Piggies Went to Birmingham

Oh, the saga of the piggies... It's long but hopefully worth your time.
We went to Birmingham yesterday for an appointment at Orthopedics for Kids. My good friend, Elizabeth graciously offered to come with us because Rich was still out of town. At 8 am we loaded in the car and headed down 280 for our 10:45 appointment. I know it only takes about 2 hours to get there but you don't want to be late for a doctor's appointment and I didn't know anything about the hospital. When we got there, it was PACKED! We had to wait for about an hour to get called back and the poor baby Leighton had been awake since 7:15. That's 4 1/2 hours, people, and this girl loves her naps (when I say this girl, I'm referencing Leighton but I love my naps too!) We went back and talked to the nurse, got poked a little and got a few more x-rays ("Auntie" E went with her for the x-rays because I have a bun in the oven). After a little waiting, a little chatting with the doctor, a little Leighton walking (so he could see how she's doing it), and a little x-ray viewing, we went to have her blood drawn. Oh, that's one of the worst things that a mommy has to endure. The poor girl screamed and the lab techs gave her a sticker and 2 packs of crayons. By now, it was almost 2 and all Leighton had eaten since breakfast was a smorgasbord of carbs (Cheerios, graham crackers, animal crackers, etc). E and I hadn't had anything since our chicken minis and fruit cups. We were hungry! Into the car and out of the parking deck (easier said than done), then we were on our way to O'Carrs. Leighton was asleep by the time we pulled out of the deck. Notice both packs of crayons in her precious hands. We had our chicken salad and fruit plates by 2:30 and ate in the car in the hopes that Leighton would sleep on. She didn't, but her power nap seemed to help a lot! We drove through Mtn Brook (my old stomping grounds) and stopped at Smith's Variety before heading back to St. Vincents. After a much shorter wait, we went back to the room and Leighton played with a great big puppy dog until we got our answers. Seems like she had broken her fibula (minor bone in lower leg) and that it's still healing. "Give her Motrin and hold her hand because she's not 100 %," was the prescripiton. Seems easy enough. She got several more stickers and a balloon on her way out. I guess that's a happy ending. Thanks for your prayers and keep them coming!
Wait! That's not the end of the trip! It was 4:55 pm when we pulled out onto 280. Are you kidding me? We decided to head down I-65 instead of sitting in the 280 parking lot. Around Alabaster, we decided to stop for dinner. McDonalds sounded just fine at this point. Short and sweet, right? We got there and the whole parking lot was full! We drove around the lot and finally parked in the Target lot right next door. When we got to the door, we noticed the line was almost to the door, people were sitting outside (it was COLD) and that Santa was there. We said see ya later McD's and went back to the car. I had to change Leighton's dirty diaper in the parking lot before she consented to getting back in her seat and we headed a little further into town and found a Chick-Fil-A. The rest of the trip was uneventful and we got to Leighton's house at 9 pm. Happy to see daddy but totally exhausted, the baby dropped into bed with the mommy not far behind her. Thanks for sticking with this post! I know it was long but maybe we got a laugh or sigh for your time. I know that E and I got lots of those from this little road trip!

Holding Down the Fort

A few nights ago, Rich was out of town and Leighton and I had to spend the night here all alone. I can count on one hand the number of nights that I've been all alone since Rich and I got married and I don't like it one bit! (Of course, I'll never tell you when we're alone. I'm not inviting anyone I don't know over to visit!) Anyway, it seemed like the whole day, God showed me His loving kindness in little ways.
I had a lot to do that day and our schedule just seemed to fall into place easily. When I got my oil changed, the people were so nice and didn't even try to sell me on anything that my car "desperately needed," like a new a/c filter or washer fluid. I treated Leighton and myself to lunch at McAlisters during the oil change and everyone was so nice there too. They usually are but it meant more to me then than it usually does. After Leighton's nap, we ran a few errands, including going to the hospital to pick up her x-rays and that all went smoothly. On the way home, I realized that I was hungry and stopped by Chick-Fil-A. That's when the man in front of me paid for my milkshake. We got good mail and a Little People Nativity Set that afternoon. Later that evening a couple of friends came over for dinner and we had the best time together. I got to talk to another good friend on the phone until it was time for bed.
See what I mean? I deifinitely got a good dose of God's loving kindness while Leighton and I held down the fort!

Thankful for One More Thing

4. the guy in front of me at Chick-Fil-A. I decided to treat myself to a peppermint chocolate chip milkshake and when I got to the window, the man in front of me had already paid for it. Thank you for being nice.
Scroll down to see what else I'm thankful for!

Thankful Thursday (Monday edition)

I decided today that I would do a Thankful post whenever I could, rather than wait for Thursday and find that I just don't have time. Maybe I will this Thursday but why wait? Today I'm thankful for...
1. our friends. Rich and I are blessed with so many of you and we can't really express how much we appreciate you. Thanks for offers to babysit, throwing showers, helping me clean the house after parties, coming over to chat while Leighton's napping, listening to me cry or gripe when I need an ear, rejoicing and celebrating with us over big and little joys, going out to eat with us, bringing us food when Leighton was a newborn (you know I wouldn't have gotten around to eating if it wasn't for you!), asking about the new baby, asking about how I'm feeling, changing your plans when we need you, playing with Leighton when we need a little break, going on road trips with us (whether they're for fun or not), praying for and with us unceasingly, the list could go on forever! Thank you for being our friends. You are a blessing to us! I hope we can be that to you too.
2. our cat. I know that lots of people aren't cat people and to you I say, "meet Belle, the greatest cat around. She could change your mind about cats." She has changed the minds of a few people. They may not become cat people but most people who meet her become Belle people. I'm thankful for her because she makes me laugh. She likes to cuddle up on soft things and wishes she was the baby. She loves it when I wear fleece pj pants and sticks her tongue out at Rich when he tries to get her to switch to his lap (seriously!). She comes to check on me when I'm crying or when I'm sick. I think she must have been a mother before we met her. If not, she should have been. She's very patient with Leighton. We're trying to teach Leighton how to pet nicely but sometimes she gets a little over zealous and pulls some hair. Belle just calmly walks away.
3. naptime. It's over now so I better run but I'm thankful for an hour or so of peace and quiet so that I can get a few things done.

These Little Piggies & an Average Rutabaga

This week, New Baby Scott is the weight of an average rutabaga. Now, I've never had a rutabaga but I know a few (very few) people who have. Check out the picture if you're clueless like most of us. Not super cute like New Baby Scott but you get the idea. Her hair is growing and if we could see it, we could tell the color and texture of it. I can't help wondering what she'll look like. Probably herself with glimpses of mommy and daddy. Beautiful and perfect in her own way.

On to the most exciting news of this Friday the 13th. Leighton got her cast off this morning. We're still not sure what it was and as of right now, she's still favoring it. If you've ever had a cast (I haven't) you're probably thinking, "duh. Of course she's favoring it. It's a little sore." That's what the doctor told us. Sort of. He didn't say duh, but it would have been really funny if he did. We're just going to watch it for a few weeks and go back in December. (December?!?! Is that really almost here?!?) Please keep that sweet baby on your prayer list.

Thankful Thursday

Can you believe it's already November? I can't, but if I could maybe I would have started a Thankful series earlier than this. So, on the second Thursday of November, I want to let you know a few things that I'm thankful for.
1. my family. I'm thankful for all of them but in the interest of brevity, I'll just mention the ones who live with me every day. My husband is one of the kindest and most patient people that I know. He's just the right fit for me for so many reasons. I realize that I'm not the easiest person to live with (who is, right?) but he loves me anyway. My baby girl (soon to be the big sister) is such a precious gift. She makes me laugh constantly and sometimes I just can't believe how much I love her. If you have kids, you know what I mean. She's not perfect, but she is. The new baby is already working her way into our family. This one wants to remind me that she's here. She gives me lots of love nudges and this morning, Rich got one too! Thank you, God for my precious little family. Bigger family, don't feel left out. I love you too!!!
2. packages. I love getting packages in the mail, even if I purchased them. Now, this doesn't happen too often but I got one yesterday from Amazon and I was so excited to rip into it! (If you know me, you know that I don't usually rip into things-just an expression) Here's what was in it... The Jesus Storybook Bible (a Christmas present for Leighton), a Psalms Bible study by Beth Moore, and two of these hampers. When did I get so excited about laundry hampers? I guess I'm growing up. But I'm not the only one who was excited about them...3. orthopedists. Leighton's cast is coming off tomorrow and I am SO thankful for that! You don't even understand (unless you've had a baby in a cast) how ready I am for tomorrow. We do need to take lots of pictures tonight though.
That's the first installment. I hope I remember to do this again next week but if I don't, you're next on the list! :)

Wipe

Here's a cute story for a Monday morning. (You know you need one!) Leighton has had a little bit of a runny nose for a few days now and whenever I notice it actually running, I get a burp cloth and wipe it. I usually say something like, "let mommy wipe your nose." This morning, she was playing and I was doing a little work on the computer in the room with her. Needless to say, I wasn't paying attention to her precious little nose. She picked up my hand and a burp cloth and started saying, "wipe, wipe." I am so thankful for my sweet little girl who makes me laugh and my heart melt!

Vroom, vroom

Since she's a little disadvantaged, she thought she needed some new transportation... Box, baby and a balloon. What more could a little girl want? Oh yeah, a thumb and a mommy or daddy to push!