Family Pics

Whitney took some pictures of us on Christmas eve. Thanks, Whit!

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Stella and her new car
She really got into opening presents!

Agghhhhh!!!! Presents!

I guess she gets it from PawPaw Johnny

Reading a book with Mimi

She loved her new instruments from the Turners

PawPaw being silly riding Taylor's new bike

Christmas feast

Can you tell they were both tired? Stella and Papa

Grandma, Granny, Stella, Taylor and Tori

Brace yourselves. I have a lot to write about today. We have been so busy since the last post and I have neglected to update, so here goes. We made a whirlwind trip to Texas to visit our families for Christmas. Stella was a champ in the car. We ended up making a two day trip out of it both ways, so it wasn't so bad. She was only evil for about an hour total on each travel day. I don't blame her. Being strapped in that car seat must be miserable after hours of driving. She ate her weight in cheerios, fruit snacks, apples, and candy. I don't think she ate a proper meal all week because we had been trying to keep her happy with road snacks. Anyway, we had a great time seeing the Newmans, the Turners, the Fullers, the Thompsons, the Donalsons, and the Brunettes. All in 4 days! We were very happy to get back home in time for the weekend and have our own Christmas morning here.

Stella's lessons for mom and dad:

• I found a permanant marker on the coffee table and said "Thank goodness she didn't find this." From the other room, Josh said "Find what?" "A permanany mar....oh my gosh! Stella!!!" You guessed it-all over the couch cushion. It must have happened hours before because when I brought her in to show it to her and scold her for writing on the furniture, she just smiled as if to say "Didn't I do a great job decorating?" Lesson#1-Works of art can happen anywhere-no matter what the canvas may be.
  
• When Josh and I argue or have a heated discussion or are even joking around play fighting, Stella starts singing. This may not be funny-she may end up in therapy for it, but I thought it was interesting. We were going Christmas shopping one day and had a little disagreement. We were sitting in silence for a few minutes when Stella said "Hey Mama." "Yes, Stella?" "Sing Frosty the Snowman." Reluctantly, I started singing and couldn't help but smile. Josh said "Have you noticed she does that when we argue?" Lesson #2-Get over it and move on. It's not worth ruining the whole day. Lesson #3-Singing always ways makes everything better. Why do you think musicals are so popular?
  
• She has started become very bossy. She says "I need milk right here" and points to the table where she wants you to place the cup. "Mama, put my shoes on right here." Or she has even started calling us by our first name if we don't respond quickly enough to Mama or Daddy. So it might be "Josh, read a book right here in this chair." She repeats every imperative sentence twice. ie: "Read a book, Josh. Read a book." or "Listen to the song, mama. Listen to the song." Lesson #4-Don't give a 2 year old your first name. And your bossy-ness just might show it's ugly head in your children.
  
• She has become so lovable it is irresistable. She wants to give hugs and kisses and snuggle with you on the couch. Lesson #5-Have patience-Sweetness comes in time. It also comes in spurts, so take advantage when the mood strikes.
  
• She just recently gave up her pacifier. She was an unwilling participant, but it has been 6 days and we are still hanging in there. I tried all of the tricks everyone told me about. I asked her if she wanted to throw it away and she looked at me like I was an alien and said "No, mama." I asked her if she wanted to give it to a baby that needed it and again she said "No, mama. My paci." I told her that she was a big girl and she agreed. I said that big girls don't use pacis. I asked her if she was a big girl and she said "No, mama." The Brunette's (my brother's family) got her a book called No More Pacifiers and throughout the whole book it repeats "Who needs a pacifier? No, not me!" At the end, it says "Who needs a pacifier? Hooray, not you!" She would say "Yeah!" And I would say "Do you need a pacifier?" And she would excitedly yell "Yes!" Lesson #6-Pacifiers are like crack and should not be used past 6 months of age. It has been a horrible week of withdrawals.


• She has started introducing herself, me and her baby sister in my belly to strangers in public. Her conversations are getting more detailed. She also says "Oh...my...goodness." Wonder where she heard that? Lesson #7-She is listening to everything we say and can repeat word for word whatever we happen to discuss with or around her. Editing may be necessary in some cases.
  
• This isn't a Stella lesson, but a Josh lesson. Don't let Josh use your playlist account because he might load Supertramp's "Breakfast in America" on your little girl's blog playlist by accident. I apologize to anyone who checked the blog in the past few days and heard it. It wasn't me.

Christmas Activities

We love cheerios!Stella is "helping" mommy decorate the tree. Josh made me feel quilty about not putting one up, brought the boxes from the basement, and promptly abandoned me to go play his new Tiger Woods wii game. Stella decided I needed help, so she offered her services.

Putting the star on the tree

Stella's new table and chairs

She was starting to dislike the high chair, so Grandma Polly and Paw Paw Johnny bought her a table and chairs to eat her meals in the kitchen. The only trick is to keep her sitting throughout the meal. Haven't figured that one out yet...

Stella's school Christmas party-she was pointing out everyone to me and telling me their names and about their shirts (she's a fashion maven)

Stella's friend, Asia

Saying the prayer before eating-the blonde in the back right corner is her best friend, Tatum. Tatum's birthday is in October and her little sister will be born in April-just like Stella's!

Stella is such a bundle of energy. We are enjoying watching her grow and hearing all of the funny things that come out of her mouth. I wish I could write everything down as she is saying it, but there isn't anough time in the day. I need a court reporter to follow her around and record all of her funny little actions. I can't wait to see what her little sister will be like. She'll have to have a lot of personality to keep up with Stella!

Tagged-7 Things you never knew about me

I was reading my friend, Jennifer's blog and realized that she had tagged me to do this, so here it goes...
7 things you never knew about me...
1. I am afraid of the dark. I hope Stella doesn't pick up on this or take after me. It is paralyzing. When Josh is out of town, I have to sleep with the bathroom light on.
2. I just started eating something so sickeningly sweet(and probably will hate the minute this baby is born)-nutella and peanut butter on toast
3. I often catch myself humming songs from Baby Signing Time-and Stella hasn't even listened to it in months
4. I long for the days when Stella (and her baby sister) will sleep until noon on a Saturday...and when we can go out and leave them at home alone. When is that age, by the way?
5. In another life, I would love to be a chef...if I were a better cook. Or maybe I just love Top Chef.
6. I love doing laundry. It's the only house cleaning chore that I like to do.
7. I wanted to have twins when I was pregnant with Stella so I wouldn't have to get pregnant again....Nikki B. (Ellie's mom) consider yourself tagged!

Our Attempt at a Christmas Photo

Not only is the photo off center, but she wasn't having it...and Josh looks dazed
A little better, but still off center and our heads are cut off

Not having it

Still not good

Eating grapes-Josh had just thrown the ziploc down after he snatched it from her hands

I am learning that doing anything with a two year old is impossible. Whoever said "You're the boss" was a moron. You cannot make a two year old take a good picture. You cannot make a two year old eat what you have prepared. You cannot make a two year old do anything a two year old isn't in the mood to do. As I type, she is running around the house squealing with joy. Less than 15 minutes ago, she was crying and having a meltdown. Who is this person? Who took over my sweet Stella's body? P.S. Does anyone want to fly out and take some pictures of us? The tripod isn't working. ;-)

IT'S A GIRL!

Stella's going to have a sister! The assistant director of my school said we will have to think long and hard to come up with a name that has as much pizzazz as Stella. No ordinary name for this kid. I have to admit that I wanted to have a son for Josh, but I am thrilled that Stella will have a sister. I don't have a sister and always wanted one.
My mind is already flooded with thoughts of sibling rivalry...."Why does she always get new clothes?!!??" "Why can't I have curly/straight/long/short hair like hers?" "She can't wear my clothes because they don't fit her!" "I liked (insert boy's name here) first!"
On the flip side, there will be slumber parties, staying up late talking about how unfair their parents are, doing each other's make up and hair, dating, weddings, etc. They will surely confide in me about everything and always seek my advice, right?

Thanksgiving in Texas

Trystan, Briley & Jackson
Weston
Stella

Dylan, Mallory & Haley

Stella and Paw Paw Johnny

Kristie, Katelyn and Bradley

Jacob and Jeremie

Amy & Stella

Grandma Polly, Amy, Stella & Granny Beulah

Briley, Jackson, Wendie & Trystan

The bonfire (or "candle" as Stella the city girl called it)

Stella and Paw Paw (we are getting rid of the pacifier on Christmas break, I promise)

Singing turkeys take on a whole new meaning when a toddler is around

She loved this thing!

Dancing to the turkey tunes

Swingin' with Grandma Polly

We had such a great time in Buna for Thanksgiving. It was wonderful to see everyone and I do miss home and family time. Stella had a ball! She played with all of her cousins, saw horses, cows, chickens, rode on the annual hayride (she was napping last year), and spent some quality time with Grandma Polly (Gee-maw), Paw Paw Johnny, and Granny Beulah. She also picked up some bad habits that always come with cousins and family time-burping just so she can say "Excuse me", slapping herself in the face and laughing, whining because she has an "ouchie" and wanting you to kiss it, and being genuinely spoiled rotten! The only bad parts of the trip were the airport adventures. Wednesday, we were expecting long lines and a crowded airport, so we arrived 3 1/2 hours early for our flight. Check in and security took 45 minutes. Needless to say, we spent a lot of time eating, going to the bathroom, washing our hands, walking (and running) up and down the corridors....

Sunday, we arrived at the airport at 12:15 for our 2:50 flight. We were through check in and security at 12:26. No big deal. We played and did the usual killing time in the airport tricks until they delayed our flight until 4:10....then 4:45....I realized that there are a lot of things that I dislike about people. Things that I might normally find endearing if I didn't have a cranky two year old in tow.

1. The person sitting next to me talking on their cell phone to every person under the sun. Normally, I might enjoy eavesdropping on his conversations.

2. The spoiled college girls from U of Georgia complaining that: there were no tortillas in their bag from the restaurant, wondering if the car service would get word about the flight being late, their friend deciding to take Adderall to take the test to get into law school and she would get really skinny (totally unfair), and various other mundane annoying things (on an average day, I would think it was funny)

3. When your baby is trying to nap and everyone has their cell phone ringers on the loudest, most obnoxious ring tones (I usually crack a smile when I hear someone's ring tone is "It's Gettin Hot in Here" or "Ridin' Dirty")

4. Cutting in line in the bathroom when it's obvious I am waiting for the handicapped stall so I can fit a car seat, back pack, and child in the stall with me (o.k.-that's always annoying)

5. This came later, but it was still bothersome...why do people stand directly in front of you at baggage claim when there are spots available all over the place?!??!

Then we boarded the plane finally! I thought we were taking a while to taxi around when the dreaded intercom message came...."I regret to inform you that Atlanta's airport has been shut down. We are to wait for thirty minutes for an update and from my experience if we are given the go in thirty minutes, it will probably be another 15 on top of that before we are cleared for take-off. I apologize for the inconvenience. " I couldn't help it. The tears started to roll. I had to turn toward Stella so the poor guy next to me wouldn't see me. Then, Stella kept saying "What's wrong, Mama?" Don't get all misty eyed over her cuteness just yet. She was a holy terror on the flight. She went from crying (the holding her breath followed by the blood curdling scream cry), kicking the seat in front of her, giggling and banging her head on the seat, wanting out of her seat, yelling at the top of her lungs, singing at the top of her lungs...it was craziness. Then, the pilot came on and said we were about to be in Atlanta. When the first bump came, I thought we were landing already. It was so jarring, I called out ( I am sure the guy next to me is thinking I am certifiable by this point). Then the plane jolted up again and there were three or four more big bumps. The plane was all over the place. It was the worst turbulence I have ever experienced. I prayed harder and made more promises to God than I can ever hope to keep but I will try my best. What made it worse was the commentary we were getting from the guy and girl sitting behind us(who had taken full advantage of two hours and getting to know each other-I even got to hear the "do you have a boyfriend?/Maybe we should exchange numbers/are you on facebook?" conversation). Anyway, we landed without a scratch and made it home safely. I have never been so happy to see Josh-and so was Stella!

Maybe next Thanksgiving, we will stay here.

P.S. We find out the sex of the baby on Friday. I have just started feeling movement here and there. Josh felt the the baby kick last night. Very exciting-we are half way there!