Bugs Can Scream

Last night we went to the grocery store...not so much for groceries but a little venture to see if I could even get to church today (we were asked to sing again...and after having to cancel due to sickness earlier this month, I didn't want to repeat it). Turns out that I was unable to push the pedals without being in pain, so Eric had to drive.
So, after getting the few groceries we needed, we got back in the car. As I leaned back against the seat, I heard this strange "Eaaaawch!" noise and felt some kind of object behind me. I leaned forward and tried to look behind me. I was greeted by a rather large face of something...I wasn't sure what it was. Eric came and looked and then had to go find something to knock it off of me. As Eric hit it a second time, the thing made the same screeching noise. I was so grossed out from what I had felt of this bug on my back. Eric informed me that it was a rather large (like 3 inches long) horned beetle of some kind. Sadly, we didn't get a picture, but I did get the heebegeebies for the rest of the night.

I Like Big Butts

Ah, that classic '90's song! You know, when I was younger, I didn't pay that close of attention to the lyrics and it would always make me laugh that this guy liked "big butts in a can". Rachel will remember some other infamous misunderstood lyrics of other songs...hehehe.
But, seriously, I am finally finding a reason to be grateful for my growing bum. I've always wondered why when women are prego, they have to suffer the injustice of "fluffy" body parts. What does having a larger bum have to do with growing a baby? Well, it's for protection!!
Last night, trying to be supermom, I ended up injuring myself instead of saving my child...supermom's outfit needs to be barefoot...socks on hardwood floors are dangerous! Thanks to a fluffier bum, I didn't break anything. Now I get to enjoy a day of Emily dying for me to "come on, Mommy" in whatever activity and I can't really do it. Here's one for being accident prone!

Ghetto Proofer

LDS women are supposed to be resourceful, right? Well, that's going to be my claim on this one.
Emily and I made (delicious!) cinnamon rolls yesterday. The problem was, it wasn't quite warm enough in the house to get the dough to rise. So, I put a heating pad on top of the dough to help it become warm enough to get the yeast to do its job.
Just so you know, it really does work! We have yummy, fluffy cinnamon rolls to enjoy. And, yes, of course I made cream cheese frosting to make them extra tasty!!

The Joke's On Me

Emily loves this game of "Frog Hunt" and we played shorter games of it the remainder of the day yesterday. However, when Eric got home last night I was telling him about the imaginary game we play inside. He thought that perhaps some of the frogs HAD gotten inside and I think he was going to be proud of me for catching them and getting them out of the house. Little did I know that when I came around the corner in the hallway there would actually be a REAL frog (tree frog) in the house! Maybe Emily really WAS trying to get me to catch the frogs that were in the house.

Frog Hunt

What do you need for a frog hunt? A mini maglight flashlight and an empty blocks' bag.
We've been getting quite a bit of rain thanks to Fay hanging out south of us longer than expected. Due to that rain, we've also see a lot more frogs (toads? I don't really know the difference in classifications). As Emily loves frogs (and her Mema bought her a few to reinforce that idea), I decided to take her outside during one of our periods of no rainfall for a "frog hunt". I had no idea she'd have such fun with the concept. We walked all around the house jumping at anything that moved. I actually found two frogs during our hunt, but Emily only saw the one that was kinda trapped on the porch next to the grill.
Oh, and I assume you think that's where the story ends. How wrong you are! Apparently our home has been inundated with frogs as we've continued our frog hunt inside for over an hour now (I had to beg a break as all the running and jumping around the house was starting to make me feel overheated and ill). It's so cute!! Of course, Emily's imagination is NOT lacking and sometimes the frogs jump away before bagging them or, gasp!, they actually bite her!! I'm just grateful this isn't a real plague and only an imaginary one.

Interpreting TSL

Toddlers have trouble pronouncing words and parents are often left to interpret their own child's TSL (Toddler as a Second Language). I'd say that Emily does fairly well but sometimes we get quite a chuckle out of what it sounds like she says. One of our favorites it "I luh loo" which means "I love you." She also says quite often "Me outside" which means "I want to go outside" ("me" = "I want") and "Me budda" ("budda" means peanut butter). A recent addition is "Poc" which means "popsicle." And, of course, you've read about her "Mawdy" and "Dummy". Today, was a classic, though!
Emily turned around in church and saw Caleb sitting there with his book. Caleb saw Emily looking at him book and said, "Mine!" Emily replied, "Ohmeegeekewe?" (say it really fast) which we interpreted "You want me to kick you?" We had our little laugh and then realized she was probably saying, "You want me to get you?" and trying to initiate tag or tickle war.

Being a Brave Mommy

No one ever told me that mommies need to be brave concerning potty training. Emily has been doing really well without having accidents. I have finally realized that I am the one who needs to change now and actually trust her to let me know she needs to go when we are out and about or over night. So, last night, after her bath, she refused to put on a diaper and was adamant about the "big girl pants". I think Eric and I both went to bed dreading another mid-night waking (she hasn't been sleeping through the night lately) to bathe a girl and change a complete bed. We were delighted to wake up this morning (even sleeping in quite a bit!) to a dry bed and a daughter telling us she needed to go potty.

Blog List

I hope no one minds that I posted their blog site. It makes it a TON easier for me to scroll through and catch up on everyone's lives this way. I've seen it on tons of your blogs and finally got caught up. Now I'm wondering why it took me this long to add that feature. What a HELP!!!

Touch Ups

 

I finally got a chance to do some touch ups on the wedding I shot a few weeks ago. This turned out to be one of my favorites. I love back shots. There's something romantic and mysterious about the near anonomity of it.

Good Sabbath

Yesterday we had some really great talks in sacrament meeting. These stake visitors both spoke on (well, what I took away from it) rolling with the punches. I can't remember the speakers' names, but the first gave an example of his old front door. It was solid wood and from the WWI/WWII era. He spoke about wanting to refinish the door but decided just to re-varnish it without putting putty in the dents and gouges. He talked about how it is the rough spots of our lives that builds character and that although we shouldn't pursue inflicting pain on ourselves, that when it is inevitable, to not hide away from those struggles, but to wear those bumps and bruises knowing that they truly do make us stronger. I felt these words and this image was easy for me to relate to at this point and am grateful for inspiration for complete strangers to be able to come and speak words of comfort to me.

Purposeful Prayer

Shame on us, I know, but we haven't been the best at remembering to pray for missionary experiences. In the past few months, we have made a better effort at changing this behavior. Most nights we remember to pray that we will be able to be examples to those around us and that we might be blessed to share the gospel with others. We've been in our new home for just over a year now and we haven't met anyone in the neighborhood. Amazingly (but obviously when you consider the source), as soon as we began having the missionaries in our home more frequently and also remembering our own duty to share the gospel and be the "finders", the Lord has put people in our path that we can fellowship. We have to consider these individuals as being divinely guided to us as we have never had this opportunity in our married life until this point. We have now met people in our neighborhood as well as we've had people contact us who have been less active members (via VT letters and such). Including a wonderful young sister I met today, these people are ready to have the gospel more fully in their lives. I know it is nothing that we have changed in our behaviors/actions except that we are having more purposeful prayers and the Lord is answering them.

Stupid Interviewers

Okay, okay, so I am an Olympics junkie. There have been a few nights that Eric and I have found ourselves up really late...past midnight, which is basically pulling an all-nighter for us (we typically go to bed shortly after Emily does at 9:30pm). Although we've enjoyed watching the games, I've become very annoyed at interviewers in regards to the games. They say the stupidest things and ask the most asinine questions. I mean, really, why would you ask Mark Spitz (sp?) if he will be upset if Michael Phelps surpasses his record? I mean, even IF Spitz was so cocky and would be upset, would he REALLY admit it? But, isn't that also part of being a champion...knowing how to deal graciously with your competitors and the public? Then, another interviewer was talking to Kobe Bryant and asked (using a stupid voice and look, I might add) if "saying your country is the best is 'cool'". Uh, dumb, dumb question.
Anyway, just annoyed at these people. I'm sure they could ask better questions and real questions rather than the stupid stuff (fluff, perhaps) they come up with to fill the spot.

Emily Does the Laundry

I have wondered why some parents refuse to give their children chores and help them to learn the necessary life skills they will need upon leaving home. Emily has always been helpful with the laundry. It's the first "chore" she has helped me with. I'd dump the clothes on the dryer door, as it folds downward and makes a platform, and she would push them in and then shut the door. I thought it was a pretty good start to learning this chore.
She surprised me today, though! I put a load of clothes in the washer and added the detergent. I stepped away to go check the bathroom to make sure I wasn't missing any items that needed to go in and in that moment, Emily reached up, pushed the power button, turned the knob (randomly selecting a setting) and then pushed the start button as if she does this everyday. I couldn't believe it! This new washer has all the buttons within reach of my little toddler and she has already learned the sequence to get the washer going. I even checked a second time to verify that it wasn't a fluke. Now...if I could just get her to select the correct setting, she could do the laundry from start to dryer! (She's not exactly what I call "helpful" with the folding yet.) =)

Emily, My Entertainer

Awhile ago I was complaining that Emily didn't want to play with me. That was a blessing while I was sick during the first trimester. Now she just wants me to "come on, Mommy." She'll pull me out of the chair or wherever I may be at the time and take me to go play. She's hilarious. One of her favorite things at the moment is to build block towers. I started this one, but she kept putting on the blocks until it towered over her. I was amazed that it actually kept standing, and you can see on her face how proud she is of herself.

She also has become very curious to other items in the house and is trying to figure out how they relate to her...not necessarily what they do, but what they CAN do. While I was talking to Rachel on the phone, she pulled Hannah's choke collar out of the drawer and kept chanting "I stuck! I stuck!" She could get the collar on, but didn't know how to take it off.

Summer Rain

Having spent my teenage years in Washington state, I was really bugged by the constant rain. Now, after living in Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and a drought-depressed Georgia, I live for the rain! Yesterday it taunted me all day but it finally came in last night and has continued this morning. Maybe it is all those years in Washington that makes it feel so homey, memories of being w/my fam. I feel all snug and safe in my home while it is wet and rainy outside. I am SOOOO looking forward to this autumn!!

Mulan, Never Would've Guessed

You Are Mulan!

Strong and spirited. You're no one's girly girl; actually you are very determined person with a strong sense of self. Never let go of that! The only thing that equals your sense of self is your family, but the traditions of society can always be bent to protect something or someone you love.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

Update on Attack

Hannah is doing well, we're still trying to understand and are waiting on the outcome from the police department.
Our neighbor is/was new to the unit and had just been given possession of this K-9 (who is also new to the unit, straight from Germany). He was on strict orders to have the K-9 on lead at ALL times, so there will probably be some serious issues for him to deal with as he signed off and has legal documents proving his liability. And, the K-9 was immediately removed from his home and will not be allowed in this area ever again.
The vet came out and checked Hannah out. She's on antibiotics twice daily but really we are amazed that she isn't really hurt with all the ferocity of the attack. She's been kind of clingy, especially to Eric. He's her biggest fan at the moment, I think. She whined when he left for work Saturday but she seems to be doing better now.
Em saw the fight begin, but was locked in her room for the duration. She did see some of the blood in the house while we waited for the police that night, but we don't think she really knows what happened or that anything big happened. I'm just glad we didn't lose Hannah because Emily would never forgive us and my life for the next while would be constant drama w/o her having her playmate. Yes, I'm counting my blessings.
Eric and I are just concerned about the neighbor and why the attack started. We were counseled to call Internal Affairs if we feel they are not addressing the issue appropriately (for instance, if our neighbor is given another K-9, we'll have something to say about that).
So, now we're waiting on police procedure and update. This is the first time something like this has happened, so we get to be the title holders for yet another extremely bizarre occurrence...go figure! =)

K-9 Attack

Last night ranks as one of our scariest events since we've been married, and this is only a summary of what happened. Anyone wanting the full report, email me and I'll send it to you.
When we got home from our Family Day celebrating Em's b-day, we let Hannah out, as always, to use the bathroom. Eric asked me to come and watch them while he unloaded the car. When I walked outside, Hannah had already left the property and was at the next door neighbor's back porch. I called her and she started coming back. However, when she entered the ring of light our back porch was giving off, I noticed that another larger dog was in hot pursuit. About 10 feet from our back porch (and, therefore, 10 feet from where Emily was standing), this strange dog attacked Hannah and pinned her to the ground. I scooped Emily up and ran inside.
The fight continued and Eric came through the house. Both of us were yelling at the dogs and trying to coax Hannah to escape and find safety in our home. We put Emily in her room, as we didn't need her to get involved, while we tried to take care of this situation. Eric shot the BB gun at the dog while the other owner shouted for us not to do anything and that "His supervisor" told him that if the dog got in a fight, to stay out of it and just let it play out. It was also at this point that he informed us that this was a police K-9. Well, Hannah was not in a fight. She was being attacked and basically submitted to the onslaught.
All the sudden, Hannah was free and running towards the house. She came in, but we weren't able to shut the door before the offending dog following in after her. The fight continued in the house, mainly in our kitchen.
Blood was everywhere and we couldn't get the dog off of Hannah. The owner was not going to interfere and every time we did something to break it up, he'd tell us not to get involved again. Eric and I were both in closer proximity to the dogs than this guy was. Fearing that this K-9 was going to not only kill Hannah, but do it in our kitchen, I screamed for Eric to go get the shovel. He went into the garage and came back with a crowbar. Good choice. In the confined space of the kitchen, a shovel wouldn't have been nearly effective unless Eric was able to knock the other dog out with the first blow.
Eric was definitely guided in his protection of his home and family as he used the crowbar not as a weapon, but as a tool. He hooked the end around the dog's neck and lifted her. Hannah escaped only to have the dog get unhooked and attack her again before we could get her into the garage. Eric crowbarred the dog again and Hannah escaped into the garage, me shutting the door and latching it behind her. At this point, the dog was able to get loose again and started to hunt through the house (dripping blood all over the house...hardwood floors, carpet, walls and doors) searching for her prey again.
Eric shouted for me to get out of the way, at which point I clambered onto the kitchen counter/bar. At this point, the dog leaves the house...and the owner/handler (as we only discovered after he returned that he was a police officer and part of the K-9 unit and that this was his partner) never gave a command nor took hold of her in any way.
Hannah is okay. The Macon City vet is coming this afternoon to treat her. They already brought out antibiotics and collected our (3 page) police report. The K-9 supervisor and the Lieutenant of the Macon Police came out last night to take our initial statement and photos of the damage. Hannah was really good with them and only barked as a protector but didn't lash out at them. Pictures do not establish the real terror of all the blood and the event, but at least you can see a little why we spent over 2 hours cleaning up the blood last night before finally getting to bed around 1 am.

One of My Favorite People

Em and I randomly go and visit one of the older sisters in our ward, Sister Shirley Furse. I adore this lady and look up to her. Emily, apparently, also feels this affection for her and has dubbed her "Gramma." The last time we went over, she started calling her by this name, and it has stuck. When we got to her door, Emily started trying to knock on it and was calling "Gramma! Gramma!" We intended to have a short visit and to return a book I had borrowed from her (she's my personal librarian, too). But, she was gracious enough to invite us to stay for lunch...and we plagued her for 3 1/2 hours!! Emily feels so at home over there...I'm sure Bro. Furse will soon have his own name from Emily, too.
I've often commented about members of the Church "getting it" and those who "don't". She is definitely one who "gets it" and that is the initial bond between us. We have lots of other similarities, too. I love the fact that we can talk about church and the gospel together and she will also play and tease with Emily. I mean, come on! She had hip replacement surgery a year ago and she'll still hide around the corner from Emily and "boo!" at her. It's fun to watch. I'd like to be that kind of grandma some day. She is just amazing and this is my little tribute to her because I want to be like her.

First Braids

I've been wanting to put Em's hair in braids but didn't think she'd sit still long enough for me to do it. She proved me wrong yesterday. It was so cute!! I forget her hair is really that long, too. She had a French braid first but that fell out after her nap. But, she sat still again for me to get ready to go to Caleb's and that's when I did these two side braids. And, of course, I couldn't get a shot with her looking at me...whatever was on TV was much more important.

Toddler Fixations

Emily loves to wear sunglasses. She's had a pair before, but we lost them. This has left her begging for our sunglasses. In an effort to appease her w/o letting her break our more expensive ones, we purchased a new pair for her. These are the most annoying things in my life now!!
We went on a bike ride and spent half the time stopping to "fix it" because she would mess with the glasses and for some reason can't figure out how hers work (she doesn't have this issue with ours, but that's because they are bigger than her face).
Then,last night she had total meltdown over the glasses. She HAD to wear them to bed, but of course, they kept falling off her face. I'm not sure how many times we had to retry sending her to bed, glasses on her face (she'd wail like we beat her if we put them anywhere but on her face). Well, she ended up getting hurt because she walked into her bedroom with no lights on and sunglasses on her face. BONK! Yep, that'll hurt when you run face-first into the side of your bed!
She does this with a couple other items and I just want to hide them until she gets past this phase.