Even bigger is even better

How fun, Thanks Letti!

Lila, Anabelle, and I. In a way. A few weeks before Lila made her official, dramatic debut.

Bigger is better

...just working on trying to make my photos larger. I know, I know, such crucial tasks- meanwhile my showers scream for Clorox and an intense scrubdown. This is Lila enveloped in the sweet steals I have scored at recent yard sales. A solid wood child's rocking chair for $2 (which I am re-doing), and at least 15 yards of tulle, also for $2 (which has of course been turned into tutu's). That foolish foolish man had no idea what he was doing. I'll bet his wife busted him when she found out what he gave it to me for.

Tidbits and snippetts and the Urology verdict

Lila's urology appointment this week turned out to be less informative than I wanted. Basically I was told that the tests they did do not allow them to determine the grade or severity of her case. So she was put on a different kind of antibiotic to be taken daily (supposedly not so hard on the immune system) until she is 5. If she ever gets a fever, she has to go to the doctor to get her urine checked to make sure an infection is not the cause of the fever. If it is, we talk surgery. We will see that specialist every 6 months. He turned out to be a nice enough guy, drew me a great picture of Lila's innerds and everything. It didn't make the fridge though. Apparently only 1% of people have this defect/condition. That's our Lila, beating the odds.

Here are some of my favorite moments of the week, made possible by my oldest daughter who, as it turns out, is funny.

-I am trying to lay out and it becomes overcast. I say, "Awwww, man. Where did my sunshine go?" Anabelle says, "MOM!! I'm right here!"

-The girlies are playing in their room. Anabelle comes to get me saying, "Mom, do you wanna see Lila's weirdo hair? IT WILL CRACK YOU UP"!! When I get to their room I see that Anabelle has emptied an entire bottle of baby lotion on her head. I didn't exactly crack up. Something like that. But a little different.

-I haven't seen Lila in a while and I can hear her crying somewhere. I ask Anabelle what Lila is doing and she says, "I dunno. SHE'S FREAKING OUT!!"

-Anabelle walks in my room and asks me, "Mom, is Jesus gonna die?" I do my best to simplify the atonement and the resurrection. I can see her little mind trying to wrap itself around such heavy stuff. She thinks about it for a minute then says," Um, we should probably have a family home levening about that in a lil while."

-"Mom, see my baby bear? He had tight sleep".

-We are laying in bed together one night snuggling for a minute. It is silent. And then,

"Could Jesus go to sleep?"
"UM......I guess he might.....maybe He watches you sleep"
"Did the wickeds kill Him?"
"Yes"
"But it's not good for us to say about killing"
"No, it's usually not. But it's good for us to remember that that happened to Jesus so that we can remember that He did that for us so that we always feel grateful."
"Okay. They should have just let Him go be with Nephi".

-I announce to her that she gets to spend the night at Annie's house on Friday...

GASP. VERY EXCITED FACE. "Can we go right now?!!"

"No, you can go on Friday"

"But I wanna go right now"

"We can't, Annie doesn't feel very good. She's having trouble with her kidneys"

"She doesn't have kidneys. She has adult knees"

- And just an hour or two ago...Lila is being a bit crazy. She's in her chair at the table where they are both supposed to be eating dinner. Lila is throwing food and rocking her chair and yelling. She throws milk.

I say, "Lila, no ma'am. No throwing milk".
Anabelle says, "No ma'am Lila. That's not okay to throw milk".
Lila continues the freak out. I get her something else to eat. She throws it. Anabelle gets it for her. And her milk. She throws the milk. Anabelle gets it again. Lila throws it again. Anabelle shakes her head and says in an exasperated voice, "Ugh. I just don't know what you want sweet baby". Anabelle and I make eye contact and share a smile. She says to me, "We are bosses together".

We celebrated our 5th anniversary yesterday so the girls had a sleepover at Annie's house, and we enjoyed a staycation. It was fabulous. Truly. Fabulous. I can't say we did anything extravagant or particularly exciting, but it is a new experience to do the same old things without kids. We even got up and ran the Birmingham Heartwalk in honor of our sweet little friend Emma Kate. Yeah that's right, we ran the heartwalk. We live a little on the edge. Especially when our kids aren't around. I also rarely discharge my static electricity before pumping gas and I've been known to cut the tags off pillows and mattresses.

It was so fun to run it together. While running we saw someone wearing something that should not have been. Unfortunately, that's all I can say at this time. I started laughing. And laughing. But I was running. And the laughing and running turned into hysterical wheezing. Which made Braden laugh. Which through me into greater hysteria. I soon lost control. A moment Braden will not soon forget nor allow me to.

Plus we heard a really rockin band. And Braden got a cinnamon roll from Edgar's. And I got to have my salad from The Olive Garden. And we partied with the Keislers. All very good things to be treasured.

Celebrity Mail

Today we're writing a letter to Dolly Parton. To say Thanks. I can't take any more of her awesomeness without sending her some toddler-crayoned-glue and glitter-love. Not only does she have really big.....well, anyway- she has a really big heart. As if it wasn't enough that she was in Steel Magnolias, she has a program called Imagination Library that we are a part of. They send each child enrolled (under the age of 5) a new book every month. So twice a month, we have super exciting trips to the mailbox. The other twentysomething days turn out to be quite a let down, and in truth, a bit depressing. And the books she sends are great books. Braden and I are just as excited as Anabelle because by the end of the month we have likely read the last one 78 times and have had it memorized for weeks, so we're just as anxious for new material. Last week she got the book, "The Gruffalo", which I already knew and loved. After reading this to her for the bajillionth time that night, I started calling her Gruffabelle. Whilst picking her nose, and in the nasaly voice that results from it, she says, "No. I am a Pickalo". So you can see that Dolly's efforts to bring literacy into our home are rewarding us in mighty ways.



I found her like this one morning after she had apparently done some late night reading.

Sharing the FREE love (in food form)

For a total thrill:
1) go here
2) Choose any of the food on Schwann's website under $10.00 and they will deliver it to your door FREE on the day you choose.
3) Do a funky celebration jig in your kitchen. After you close your blinds of course.

All the scrubbing/folding/sorting/washing I have to do just became a little more enjoyable because although today I may smell like lysol and never get out of my jammies, On August 27th 2 pounds of manicotti stuffed pasta shells will arrive on my doorstep. And that feels good.

Mother Nurture

Amidst my many projects one night, I found myself in need of some batting. It was late and I just needed a small amount, hardly enough to justify buying a bag of it. So I got the thought that I would go into Anabelle's room while she was sleeping a find a stuffed animal that she wouldn't miss and.... well... you know....cut it's head off. But upon inspection of her animal kingdom (probably around 40 members or so) I couldn't find one that she doesn't play with regularly. Play with meaning, slept with, pushed in the stroller, burped, nursed, dressed up, toted, rocked, and danced with. There never was a more loved on group of animals. I knew she loved them but I was amazed when looking at them one by one to realize that she loves them ALL. She took a certain duck with her to the store last week and lost it there. Oh, the distress. She told me that she needed to call her Dad. So I dialed his number. And upon answering, this is what he heard: SOBBING. MORE SOBBING. SHOULDER SHAKING SOBBING. And then- "Daddy?! I .....took duck to the store....and SOMEONE STOLD HIM!!!"

It is not unusual for us to be crawling in our bed at night and in the process of snuggling in, find a family of puppies has already been tucked in. Or go to sit on a seat and find that under the cushion and the lining, way down in the springs, lies a sleeping pride of lions. We can't help but go to bed smiling when this happens.

I heard her singing a few weeks ago in her room (as she always is). I peeked in her room to see her dancing her bear about the room in a very romantic and tender way. And this is what she sang, "Oh bear, you're so gentle. And loving. And sweet. I'm gonna marry you in the temple. The temple of God".

The same bear bumped it's head on the counter a few days after she serenaded him. She immediately took him to the rocking chair and very seriously rocked him and sang the lullabye song. How dearly she cares for those around her.

And about her words to the bear- it has become apparent to me that marriage is somehow something she is thinking of. When playing the other day with her friend Clark at the park (yes we love to invite Clark to the park, and sit under a lark, and watch dogs bark, until it gets dark)they were playing under a gazeebo. I overheard her telling him that the gazeebo was the temple and that their baby was crying. Indeed her belly was full with rocks. Poor Clark stood there staring at her with wide eyes and a face that seemed to say, "Dude back off, I just came to kick a ball and throw some sticks". Everytime she sees him she tells him that when she grows up she's going to marry him and then her name will be Anabelle Viola Connor. I'm okay with that if that's what they want to do. I do hope Clark quits punching in her in the face before they make it official though. Not sure how all this marriage stuff became so much a part of her two year old life. Here's the bottom line though- Glad she knows it's important, glad she understands that location is everything, BUT, if anyone has an upcoming college graduation they could invite us to, we'd like to show her that as well.

Put it on the tab

Tim and I have a running tab with each other. It's been running for the last 15 years or so. It's only a one way tab really. It works like this: Tim buys me great stuff or does something fabulous for me, and then I never pay him back for it. But all involved parties understand that this is how our tab operates. So I guess you could say that these pictures have been put on the tab. One day I might pay up. Give back. Reciprocate. But if I don't Tim, know that you are dearly loved and appreciated by me.









I first fell in love with that smile on her Daddy and now I get to see it even when he's not around

Love love love this sweet girl

I know I shouldn't love this picture so much but I do. It really makes me laugh every time I look at it. Anabelle wears such a look of absolute satisfaction; Lila's is absolute desperation and frustration. This picture sums up the sibling relationship so perfectly.

the haps

I have recently been nagged for not blogging. I've been doin stuff. July was an eventful month. We had visits from Uncle Cody and Uncle Tim, we went to Alabama Adventure a lot, we sold our car, Braden got a class date for OTS, and we worked on a lot of home improvement projects. Actually, I guess the last one is debatable. If you ask me, I've been working on home improvement projects. If you ask Braden he might say I've been spending time and money and asking him to nail this or build that so that our house can be even more colorful (=tacky) and full of even more crap that we have to move and store. Take for instance the day I called him from the store asking if he cared what fabric I use to reupholster the kitchen chairs. These were his exact words, "NO. Do whatever you want". But upon seeing the lovely said purchased fabric, his eyes rolled all over his eye sockets and I will not quote his exact words at that moment. Mostly because I do not remember them. But I do vividly recall the cold feeling in my heart. Then a few days later I decided that Lila must be removed from our room. She's a sleep ruiner, plain and simple. So I embark on the journey of converting the guest room into her room. Again, a thoughtfully placed call to the husband:

"Braden, I'm kicking Lila out. She's moving to the guest room. I'm at Wal-Mart looking at paint. Do you care if I paint her room?"

"Why? We're moving"

"In a year"

"So it's unacceptable for our infant to sleep in a room with white walls for a year?"

"YES! EXACTLY!LoveyouhaveagooddayatworktalktoyoulaterBye!"

"What color?"

"I'll surprise you!"

Bet he has never been surprised with "glittery sequins" before. I bet he hopes he never will again either. Fat chance of that though because it's a magnificent color that I happen to have extra of. It's an energetic purple and all the girls in the house feel happy. I totally feel like the hero saving my daughter from the boredom of such a lame room for an entire year of her life. Also I've been doing lots of smaller stuff like re-doing fabulous garage sale items. Bottom line- I'm having a ball. Braden is counting down days until training. Which is easier thanks to a paper chain that arrived in the mail handmade by nieces and nephews with love.

We'll just say for the purposes of protecting ourselves from creepy online stalkers (since I really am currently in the process of privitizing our blog in the next day- this date is what I was waiting on) that he goes to Officer Training at Maxwell Air Force Base, which is only about an hour and a half away sometime next year. So he will go there for 13 weeks, I will chill with the girls here (and likely cry my face off- but will probably spend lots of time in the glittery sequin room for a burst of joy)then we will go to Panama City for about a year, then on to one of the 5 places that Air Battle Managers go (Germany, Japan, Alaska, Oklahoma City, and Georgia...and those are in order of ranked preference). He was certainly disheartened at the continued wait time as he his SO anxious to get on with it. But at least he gets all the free sodas he can handle at his current job. So every thing's golden with us. Except for yesterday he got a shard of metal lodged in his eyeball at work and today he had to go get it ground out along with the rust from the metal. I felt so sad for him I ate two bowls of ice cream. Now we both feel better.

We sold Braden's dear Maxi. It was a lot more dear when his old dirt bag employer paid the payment. The sale was so dramatic for Anabelle. Her crying may have made us a couple more benjamin's though. She still asks about it most days and tells people first thing when we see them that "someone stold our Maxima car". I tell her every time, "No, Anabelle, we SOLD our Maxima car". You can take a girl out of Colton but you can't take the Colton out of the blood unfortunately. So I'm rolling in a Graco double stroller these days. I'm doing my part for the earth, our bank account, my saddlebags, and the girls are well hydrated, tanned, and can totally distinguish between a lizard and a salamander.

A few more days until Lila's Urology appointment. Meanwhile she covers every square foot of our house, fuzzy boa and toilet paper trailing, (her two favorite sources of entertainment) looking for crumbs and scraps to chew on. Thus her nickname "the bottomfeeder".

Back to my projects before Braden gets home. With his eye in such delicate condition I have to save him from all that rolling around his eyes want to do when I announce my next project (and then give him instructions on how he is to help).



God gave us a rainbow of colors. I feel that those colors should be celebrated. Worn. Splashed on walls. Used on nails. Tried on hair. Etc; Is that so wrong?

Besties

Stephanie, my friend who took this picture, told them to give each other a "super hug". Thus the captured moment above. After she took it Anabelle yelled, "SUPER KISS!!" and laid one on Clark.

Some recent photos of A-belle and one of her besties. She refers to everyone as, "My friend _______________" so clearly it would not be reasonable to have a picture of all of her friends. Especially when most of them work at Publix or walk at the same park as us. And a vast majority of them are over 40. The other day we were driving and Anabelle asked me if she could go over to her friend Geneille's house and play. Geneille is in her 70's. And yesterday she introduced herself to a woman walking and told her she wished she would come over and eat lunch at our house. When she made that invite she obviously didn't realize that we were having pretzels and chick peas for lunch.

She can be found standing in our living room with her face in the blinds watching teenage thugs walk by using profanity and beg to go out and play with them. Don't worry, I usually say no. The phrase, "she never met a stranger" could not be any more fitting. And it gets worse if a person happens to have a dog with them. Sometimes we look around and find that she has wandered off and see that she has approached someone saying, "do you mind if I pet your puppy? what's his name? HOW CUTE IS HE!! Oh! He's a cutie little theen!!"

It's been convenient that she has NEVER once cried or protested when we've left her with anyone for any amount of time. That does bite us on the flip side when it's time to leave somewhere. We dread having to get her. This week when I went to get her from Nursery was the first time she has ever ran to me and yelled my name, happy to see me. An indescribable feeling of joy filled my soul. I hope when I'm old she thinks of me as one of her besties too. Especially considering the fact that her standards are so low. I also hope she elevates those standards at some point. And may she ease up on the kissing a bit. Sheesh. She got that from her Dad.