Bit-O-Ouch! {Marin’s Shots}

I hate taking Marin for her immunizations. I dread it. Today was shots day.

I try to be strong and brave. I try not to project my fears to Marin, but I’m not sure it’s working.
Today she cried when they weighed her, cried when they measured her height, cried when the doctor looked in her ears, eyes, mouth and at her tummy. But she SCREAMED when they drew her blood.

The doctor recommended we have her blood tested to be sure that her iron levels were good and that she didn’t have too much lead in her system. I said okay with hesitation. It was awful. She screamed and cried. I had to hold her down, while trying to comfort her. In the moment I was searching for ways to take her mind off of what was going on, but each time I came up with something I hesitated because I didn’t want to taint our “happy thing.” Should I have sung her our favorite song? Should I have recited the ABCs? Should I have told her the story about five silly monkeys? Maybe next time I’ll have a story about Brave Baby Marin ready to recite.

When everything was said and done she was given a pony sticker and candy. They seemed to instantly bring her relief. As we left the Doctor’s office I let myself cry. With Steven at my side and tears running down my face, I carried Marin to the car. Seems Marin recovered from the incident beautifully. In the car, sucker in hand, she turned to me and asked “Okay, Mommy? You Okay?” Her tiny hand patting my shoulder as my tears ran freely. “Yes, baby Marin, Mommy is okay. I love you.”

After all of the emotions, she was ready for a nap. Yes, that's the candy in her hand. I couldn't bring myself to take it from her.

The Annie-Bubba Duo + Two

I've been trying to get with this family for pictures for over a month! Weather can be so frusterating! Well, we finally found the perfect day for pictures. Here are some of my favorites! Prepair to smile alot. These kids have the most addorable grins!!!

Thank you guys for being so adventurous. The kiddos were especially cooperative. Watching them yesterday proved to me you can go just about anywhere in flip flops!

Remodeling with a Toddler

Let me begin by saying that God knew what he was doing when he gave us Marin. He knew we needed an easy going baby that was content to play alone and wasn’t too curious. When Marin was a baby the remodeling was put on hold for a while, well, besides the essential things like hanging a light in the breakfast room the week she came home, oh, and wiring switches in our bedroom so we’d have light to see if her diaper was poopy or not (blushing). Obviously our home wasn’t baby proof and honestly still isn’t. That’s why we are lucky God gave us Marin.

She has a healthy curiosity, but doesn’t go too far with it. She turns most anything into a toy and can entertain herself with a paintbrush and bowl for a good 30 minutes (impressive for a 22 month old). And this morning, she was content to just be with me while I painted closet shelving. No, dvd player, no sippy cup, no toys, just tools, paint, and mommy.

I’m not sure what the “terrible twos” will bring, but these pictures of her climbing into the shelves might be just a hint of what’s to come. Isn’t she cute?

"Go Night, Night?"

Not too happy about getting down.

Lavender Lemonade

I hosted book club at my house last night. We were discussing "The Unlikely Lavender Queen - A Memoir of Unexpected Blossoming" by Jeannie Ralston. Lavender Lemonade was the obvious drink of choice. Here the recipie I conconcted thanks to input from Martha Stewart and Laurie Lea.

Ingredients

3 cups granulated sugar
3 cups water
¼ cup dried lavender
3 cups fresh lemon juice (from 16 to 20 lemons)
2 cups Perrier Water
Ice, for serving
Lemon slices and fresh lavender sprigs for garnish

Directions
Bring sugar and water to a boil in a saucepan, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Stir in lavender. Remove from heat, and let stand until cool.

Once cool, place the lavender, sugar water in an airtight container and refrigerate overnight.

Before serving, strain lavender from the sugar water, stir in lemon juice and add Perrier water.

Serve over ice, and garnish with lemon slices and fresh lavender sprigs.

Lemonade can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Serves 12

Happy first day of May! Summer is on its way.

A New Breed of Termite?

The weirdest thing happened this morning….

While eating breakfast, I heard a REALLY loud cracking sound. I quickly ran outside thinking a tree must have fallen. When I went outside to investigate the noise, I found a splintered utility pole. No car, nobody around, just a cracked utility pole. I went back inside and called the city to report the problem.

I went back out about half and hour later and got a kick out of the number of guys standing around trying to survey the situation. I’ve gotta hand it to the city electric crew, they jumped right on the problem and had power back in less than an hour.

When I called my co-worker Tammy to tell her I was without power (aw shucks, a forced break from work) she jokingly said it must have been, a new breed of creosote loving, termites chewing on the pole.

That got me to thinking. Maybe a UFO ran into the pole and flew away. OR someone was hanging a yard sale sign and drove a nail in just the right spot! (I wouldn't have stuck around either.) Hummmm.......

What do you think? What's your theory? The more outlandish, the better!

My New Purse

Have you ever heard of MeMaw’s Closet? I hadn’t either until September 2008 when Hurricane Ike hit. Being without power for days is BORING! I was dying for a creative outlet, something to take my mind off of everything. Darci’s Grandma saved the day! She was a literal beacon of light. (Her whole house can be run from a generator if necessary. Cool eh?) The evening I was invited over to sew I was there in a heartbeat and introduced to this glorious resource: MeMaw’s Closet. She has everything you could possibly need for ANY sewing project. I left that evening, with a bag full of fabric and my creativity satiated. The fabric in my newest project (this pretty purse) is courtesy of her collection. Thank you MeMaw for inviting me over and for the fabric!




Wanna make your own? I found this free pattern on Singers website. Isn't this such a fun clutch? It’s just the right size, unique, and easy to make!

It’s an Aggie Thing

My sister Katherine and her friend Kayla received their Senior Rings from Texas A&M University this week. Here are a few shots I took of them yesterday afternoon. Aren’t they cute? And SOOOOO excited.

As you can see, we had a BLAST taking pictures. I'm suprised all the pictures aren't blury I laughed so much. Kayla and Katherine, you two are beautiful. Congratulations! You worked hard for those rings. Flash 'em proudly.