Things to be Thankful for...

I have had plenty of things to blog about in the past week, I just have not had a chance to sit down and do it!! Chloe's first week at the new daycare was last week. It went better than expected. There were only a few tears and she is actually talking while she is there. Those of you who know her well, know that is a miracle. She also mastered the art of holding a crayon correctly last week. Jacque and I have both said several times that Sandy is amazing!!! I am thankful that God made Sandy knowing that she would have a part in helping Chloe be all she can be:)

In preparation for our trip to Michigan, my friend Dawn and I made truffles on Sunday. I have to give most of the credit to Dawn because apparently my hands are too warm to roll the center into a ball. All I did was melt the chocolate. So, I am thankful for my cold handed friend:)

Chloe fought with a cold all weekend and on Monday the cold won. Phil also went to bed Sunday night feeling a little queasy. I remember at some point in the middle of the night him coming to bed and saying he had a fever of 101.3. So, I was home with the sick ones on Monday. They are both feeling better today. I am thankful I work for a company that helps us put our families first.

These are just a couple of examples of what I have to be thankful for. There is so much more that God has blessed each of us with. What are you thankful for this season?

12 of Chloe's favorite things

(not in order of importance)

1. Daddy
2. Mommy
3. Dora
4. Elmo
5. yelling Amen after we pray
6. dunking her face in her bath water
7. putting lotion on her hands
8. her baby
9. talking to baby on the phone
10. bananas
11. Mamaw
12. Papa

A Christian Confederate Soldier's Prayer
(Alleged to have been found on a CSA casualty at the Devil's Den, Gettysburg)

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked for health, that I might do greater things.
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.

I asked for riches, that I might be happy.
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.

I asked for power that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life.
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for but got everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am, among all people, most richly blessed.

Day Care Drama

Many of you know that Phil and I were excited that the day care in our neighborhood had openings and was in the right price range. After turning in the paperwork yesterday, I asked for a final figure on the weekly cost. When I saw the number I was speechless. $40 more than we were first quoted. WOW!! After discussing it with Phil, we decided that just wasn't realistic. Ok... now what do we do. We had already given our 2 week notice. That meant we had 4 days until our last day at her current day care. Do we keep her there, or go with our original feelings that it was time to move her to a more "learning" based center. Thank goodness that Jacque decided to have Isaac and did LOTS of hard work by finding just the place for her little ones. I called Sandy(the lady Jacque decided on), and found out she has an opening. The only issue is that she won't have the room for Chloe during the summer if all of her current kids stay with her until then. So do you gamble and hope someone has to go somewhere else, or do you try again and hope you find someone you trust?? We went to meet Sandy and see her facilities. She has a building that is attached to her house just for the day care. It was perfect. Just what we were looking for. It was even better seeing her in action. I was impressed with the fact that while talking to us she was able to calm a sharing problem without raising her voice. That is HARD to do!!! So, we are taking the gamble. We will have someone lined up for the summer and hope that someone moves on so we don't have to use anyone else. Chloe is going to get the learning she is ready for in the environment I know she will thrive in. When it was time to go she didn't want to leave. I guess that is a good sign:) So a special thanks goes out to Jacque. Thanks for trusting the mommy sense God gave you. Thanks God for providing in a situation that was easy to loose sleep over!!!

We are on day 2 of vomit duty. Chloe woke up yesterday morning at 4 and starting throwing up. She stopped getting sick around 6 and after going to the doctor and finding out that there is a 12 hour stomach flu going around we knew we would have a sleepy baby(due to the 4 shots she needed at her 18 month check up), but thought we were over the worst of it. This morning Chloe woke up around 6 and once again got sick. The worst part is when it gets in her hair. That means you have to undress her, get a bath ready and put her in hoping she will be able to sit up the whole time because she is really weak. I had to do this 2 times today. Not fun. I will spare you the nasty details about the smell and texture. Please pray she gets over this soon. While I love her cuddles when she is sick, I miss my energetic little girl!! Enjoy the new pics I am posting of her:) Also check out the pics from the River City Rat Race.

Chloe's such a girl!!

Last night, Chloe once again showed her girly side. As soon as we got home she found a pair of pajamas my grandma just got her (see above pic). After translating what she wanted, we realized she wanted her new pink pajamas on...NOW!! There were even tears involved because 1. we didn't quite know what she wanted at first and 2. we weren't acting fast enough. I wasn't quite sure I wanted her to have them on because of the fact they hadn't been washed yet. Phil and I are getting good at the whole choose your battles thing. While I know we are "in charge", there are just some things that really won't hurt her if we agree with what she wants. So after Phil told her hewould put them on her, she layed down on the ground without being told to, and giggled because she got to put on her new pink pajamas. Phil said she is a lot like me. I'm not quite sure that is a complement.

We Voted!!

On our busy Tuesday Phil and I got out to vote. Although we weren't able to go together, we both were blessed to not have to wait in long lines!! Now it's time to wait and pray. I am reminded that no matter who becomes our next leader, God is still in control!!

Chloe's 2nd Halloween

Last Halloween Chloe was only 5 months old, so while she looked cute in her little ladybug costume, there wasn't much interest in the night. This year, at 1 1/2 she had a blast. We went trick-or-treating with my sister-in-law Brenda, and my niece Keara and nephew Garrett. Chloe didn't say anything to any of the people handing out candy, but she would say tick-or-tweat on the way up to the door and thank you once they closed the door. She was very fond of the suckers. Any time she got a chance to choose what she wanted she grabbed a sucker. After we were done getting candy we went back to Craig and Brenda's house and enjoyed some awesome chili and cornbread. It was a fun night and I was so proud of my little lion.