Anna Beth has done and said that funniest things lately. On Monday, Brian and I took turns staying home with her because she was sick. I had the afternoon shift and was trying to get some work done from home when Anna Beth thought it would be a great idea to play the Brian's drums right behind me. I listened, appreciated and tolerated for about 20 minutes and decided that I had had enough. Just as I was about to say something, "I heard her say, "1...2...3...4... go!" Away she went banging with all her heart on her Daddy's drums. Last night she was counting off for him while he played! LOL That same day, she walked up to me and said, "Momma, I have the make-ups" This means hick-ups! She later came by again and informed me that she was ready to see her emails. (I have created a special email just for her that is monitored by me so that the family can send her stuff) Anna Beth cracks me up talking about listening to Mommy's I-pod and wearing her pretty croc's. She sounds so old at times!
Yesterday evening, Anna Beth was outside playing with her friends in the front yard and I peaked my head out to check on her only to discover her standing in the middle of the road at dusk! She has been warned on many occasions that she is never allowed in the road but she thinks that her friends can do it, why not her?! How so you explain to a 3 year old that they are not as old as they think that they are? I can usually trust her for brief spurts outside with the older girls because they keep an eye on her but this time they were keeping an eye on her as they rode around her in the street with their bikes! AHHHHHH! Trust is gone and Anna Beth is going to just have to put up with Mommy hanging around while she plays for a while longer.
There are days that I miss my baby but for the most part, I am grateful that my little girl is exactly where she is at. It has been so much fun to watch her personality develop and the discoveries that she has found. The time goes so fast. The other night I was kissing her on the neck and between her giggles she was telling me to stop. I told her, "No, Mommy has to do it alot because very soon you will not let mommy do it at all!" This is why I blog, to hold on to those special moments that someday will be hard to remember. Those little things that I laugh and cry over now will be hazy and forgotten. This is a way to preserve a bit of my girl for her to read about one day. I want her to know that her Mommy loved her, agonized over her and delighted in her.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Rasing a drama queen...
I am sure that all of you out there that do not have a little girl are wondering what it is like to raise a little girl. Just in case you are considering taking on this huge task let me walk you through our morning at the Wood household with Anna Beth!
Last night, we blew up the queen sized blow-up bed and the 3 of us piled on to watch a movie. After the movie was over we decided to "camp" out in the living room for the night so we all got settled and dozed off. This morning dawned bright and beautiful around 9:30 am and Anna Beth was sweet enough to wake us with kisses and giggles. She then informed us that she was stinky. After a quick discussion about using the potty vs. the pull-up I told her to get a pull-up and the wet wipes so daddy could change her. Then a 10 minute conversation continued about the fact that she had to be the one to get the stuff and that Daddy was going to change her. I thought all was well but then Daddy moved her to an easier place to change her and she dissolved into a screaming crying drama mess because she did not want to be changed on that side of the couch but the other side. After time-out on the steps and then time-out in the room and alot of tears Daddy and Anna Beth emerged ready to face the day. During this, I was making french toast, sausage and chocolate milk for breakfast. I was ready when they arrived downstairs including the powered sugar sprinkled on top. Anna Beth took one look at the plates and sat in the floor crying again because she wanted to use one of her plates instead of Mommy's plates. In order to just have some peace, I changed her plate but that was not enough. Daddy was supposed to have a pink plate as well. This caused more tears... then she did not want milk but koolaid. She was cold and needed a blanket... she wanted syrup on one French toast but not the other and then she put them together to eat them like a sandwich! She wanted 2 pieces of eggs not 1. She wanted to feed the fish and how could Daddy feed them without her?! All of these involved tears and crying and took about a total of 40 minutes to get through breakfast. I was just grateful that breakfast was over.
After breakfast Anna Beth had to clean up the chalk that she had drawn on the wall during one of her time-out sessions the night before. A time-out session that was required because Anna Beth stood there and peed on the floor while talking to me after I had just asked her if she needed to go potty! After she colored on the wall she had to sit there another 2 minutes!
Seriously, before you consider having a little girl you will need to understand that with her sweet face, giggles and kisses comes a side full of drama, tears and ear busting screams. I am not saying that I regret having her but I am pondering ever doing it again! LOL
It is so much work to raise her in the fear and admonition of the Lord. Oh... it would be easier to give her what she wants and let her go on her merry way but I know that is not what God has called us to do as parents. I am praying that all of this hard work and many prayers will be rewarded with a wonderful woman that lives a life in full surrender to the Lord. Anna Beth has such a wonderful heart and takes such good care of those around her and I know that one day all of these mornings of frustration will bear incredible fruit!
Last night, we blew up the queen sized blow-up bed and the 3 of us piled on to watch a movie. After the movie was over we decided to "camp" out in the living room for the night so we all got settled and dozed off. This morning dawned bright and beautiful around 9:30 am and Anna Beth was sweet enough to wake us with kisses and giggles. She then informed us that she was stinky. After a quick discussion about using the potty vs. the pull-up I told her to get a pull-up and the wet wipes so daddy could change her. Then a 10 minute conversation continued about the fact that she had to be the one to get the stuff and that Daddy was going to change her. I thought all was well but then Daddy moved her to an easier place to change her and she dissolved into a screaming crying drama mess because she did not want to be changed on that side of the couch but the other side. After time-out on the steps and then time-out in the room and alot of tears Daddy and Anna Beth emerged ready to face the day. During this, I was making french toast, sausage and chocolate milk for breakfast. I was ready when they arrived downstairs including the powered sugar sprinkled on top. Anna Beth took one look at the plates and sat in the floor crying again because she wanted to use one of her plates instead of Mommy's plates. In order to just have some peace, I changed her plate but that was not enough. Daddy was supposed to have a pink plate as well. This caused more tears... then she did not want milk but koolaid. She was cold and needed a blanket... she wanted syrup on one French toast but not the other and then she put them together to eat them like a sandwich! She wanted 2 pieces of eggs not 1. She wanted to feed the fish and how could Daddy feed them without her?! All of these involved tears and crying and took about a total of 40 minutes to get through breakfast. I was just grateful that breakfast was over.
After breakfast Anna Beth had to clean up the chalk that she had drawn on the wall during one of her time-out sessions the night before. A time-out session that was required because Anna Beth stood there and peed on the floor while talking to me after I had just asked her if she needed to go potty! After she colored on the wall she had to sit there another 2 minutes!
Seriously, before you consider having a little girl you will need to understand that with her sweet face, giggles and kisses comes a side full of drama, tears and ear busting screams. I am not saying that I regret having her but I am pondering ever doing it again! LOL
It is so much work to raise her in the fear and admonition of the Lord. Oh... it would be easier to give her what she wants and let her go on her merry way but I know that is not what God has called us to do as parents. I am praying that all of this hard work and many prayers will be rewarded with a wonderful woman that lives a life in full surrender to the Lord. Anna Beth has such a wonderful heart and takes such good care of those around her and I know that one day all of these mornings of frustration will bear incredible fruit!
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Mommy... I put a bow on it!
Anna Beth slept in this morning so after she woke up we made our usually phone call to check in with Daddy, we then headed downstairs for breakfast. After eating our bowls of cereal. starting a load of laundry and getting the kitchen in working order again, I headed back upstairs to separate the laundry. Anna Beth was contentedly watching Sesame Street so I thought I was in good shape to get a few things done.
Upon arriving back downstairs, I discovered that Anna Beth had "re-arranged" the 3 loads of laundry that I had folded the night before. She had taken every towel, blanket, and piece of clothing and laid them flat one on top of another. I looked at her with a grin on my face and asked what she was doing. She informed me that she had put a bow on top and indeed she did. There was a small hat atop the giant pile of clean laundry! LOL After a phone call to Daddy that involved lots of laughter I began to "unwrap" the laundry. At the middle of the pile I found my "gift." It was her wet wipes box. After a game of chase and tickles through the house I began to re-fold all the laundry! LOL While my house is in a state of continuous mess due to episodes like this, my heart is full with the knowledge that God has given me a child that will delight me all my days!
We finished the morning off with cheesy eggs and apples for lunch! I am excited to see what amazing and funny thing that she will come up with next. I am hoping that she will take a nap so that I can get the house cleaned for our trip and some more laundry done. We will see if the cooperation will continue but I know that God's gift to me will continue to leave me laughing, crying, frustrated and fulfilled as a mother. My life is full of blessings and today I have had to stop and take the time to thank God for them.
I was recently told, by a very old friend, that those hard days will get better as she gets older and while I am grateful that that is true, I also do not want to loose these moments waiting for the easier days to come. They go so quickly and even though there will be days that I sit in a parking lot and cry out of humiliation for the behavior that my child just exhibited, the days are also full of those sweet and sensitive moments. Those moments that Anna Beth asks me to read her a book about Jesus, I can listen to her pray, I can hear her giggle in delight and I can hear about something new that she has learned or discovered. They are ever fleeting. My baby is growing up and she reminds me that she is a big girl everyday!
Thank you my gracious Father for the child that you have given to Brian and I. Thank you for her strong sense of who she is and her willingness to defend that. Thank you for the guidance and the people that you have sent along side of us to encourage us as we raise this precious child. Thank you for such a strong and supportive husband that adores both of us. You have given me one of the greatest gifts that a woman could ever ask for, my family!
Upon arriving back downstairs, I discovered that Anna Beth had "re-arranged" the 3 loads of laundry that I had folded the night before. She had taken every towel, blanket, and piece of clothing and laid them flat one on top of another. I looked at her with a grin on my face and asked what she was doing. She informed me that she had put a bow on top and indeed she did. There was a small hat atop the giant pile of clean laundry! LOL After a phone call to Daddy that involved lots of laughter I began to "unwrap" the laundry. At the middle of the pile I found my "gift." It was her wet wipes box. After a game of chase and tickles through the house I began to re-fold all the laundry! LOL While my house is in a state of continuous mess due to episodes like this, my heart is full with the knowledge that God has given me a child that will delight me all my days!
We finished the morning off with cheesy eggs and apples for lunch! I am excited to see what amazing and funny thing that she will come up with next. I am hoping that she will take a nap so that I can get the house cleaned for our trip and some more laundry done. We will see if the cooperation will continue but I know that God's gift to me will continue to leave me laughing, crying, frustrated and fulfilled as a mother. My life is full of blessings and today I have had to stop and take the time to thank God for them.
I was recently told, by a very old friend, that those hard days will get better as she gets older and while I am grateful that that is true, I also do not want to loose these moments waiting for the easier days to come. They go so quickly and even though there will be days that I sit in a parking lot and cry out of humiliation for the behavior that my child just exhibited, the days are also full of those sweet and sensitive moments. Those moments that Anna Beth asks me to read her a book about Jesus, I can listen to her pray, I can hear her giggle in delight and I can hear about something new that she has learned or discovered. They are ever fleeting. My baby is growing up and she reminds me that she is a big girl everyday!
Thank you my gracious Father for the child that you have given to Brian and I. Thank you for her strong sense of who she is and her willingness to defend that. Thank you for the guidance and the people that you have sent along side of us to encourage us as we raise this precious child. Thank you for such a strong and supportive husband that adores both of us. You have given me one of the greatest gifts that a woman could ever ask for, my family!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Finally... a good day!
I awoke this morning with high hopes that the day would be positive with Anna Beth and so far that is true. It was a slow and lazy start but has continued with having the 3 girls from next door over to eat frozen pizza and watermelon. They then all moved to the back-yard to climb in the big blow-up pool to swim. They are taking turns between laying out, the sprinkler and the pool. LOL I am actually having some time to myself to get caught on work and have a peaceful moment as the oldest is keeping an eye on Anna Beth for me. What a blessing!
Last night we went to an Electronic store to deal with a customer service issue which pushed me over the edge! The manager was rude and condescending to both Brian and I. He actually said that he did not have to fix the mistake that the company as a whole made and he was doing us a favor. I have never had such bad customer service in all my days and I went so far as to contact the headquarters this morning via email and let them know that I was willing to take this to the Better Business Bureau if they did not respond! I understand people make mistakes but there is never a reason for rudeness. Needless to say, we are never returning to that store!
After that we headed to Toys R' Us. Anna Beth had received a $25 gift card from Brandon and Emily for her Flower Girl Services. This was the first time that we had ever taken her to a toy store so she was completely overwhelmed. Anna Beth ran from one aisle to the next squealing like crazy! lol I have not seen her that excited in several days. We finally decided on a Lite Bright, Hello Kitty flip flops and a Hello Kitty pink purse. She had to have a little help from Daddy to pay for all of her purchases but she had no idea that he did as he stood on the other side of the counter to pay the difference. It was a great stress reliever after what had happened earlier.
I have spent most of my afternoon getting fraudulent charges taken off some our bills and about to head into the world of work. Overall a great day and I am looking forward to what the rest of the evening holds!
Last night we went to an Electronic store to deal with a customer service issue which pushed me over the edge! The manager was rude and condescending to both Brian and I. He actually said that he did not have to fix the mistake that the company as a whole made and he was doing us a favor. I have never had such bad customer service in all my days and I went so far as to contact the headquarters this morning via email and let them know that I was willing to take this to the Better Business Bureau if they did not respond! I understand people make mistakes but there is never a reason for rudeness. Needless to say, we are never returning to that store!
After that we headed to Toys R' Us. Anna Beth had received a $25 gift card from Brandon and Emily for her Flower Girl Services. This was the first time that we had ever taken her to a toy store so she was completely overwhelmed. Anna Beth ran from one aisle to the next squealing like crazy! lol I have not seen her that excited in several days. We finally decided on a Lite Bright, Hello Kitty flip flops and a Hello Kitty pink purse. She had to have a little help from Daddy to pay for all of her purchases but she had no idea that he did as he stood on the other side of the counter to pay the difference. It was a great stress reliever after what had happened earlier.
I have spent most of my afternoon getting fraudulent charges taken off some our bills and about to head into the world of work. Overall a great day and I am looking forward to what the rest of the evening holds!
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