a loving dose of "feel better" soup

I lost my voice at the beginning of the week but thinking that it was just the first couple days of a cold, I kept on as I usually do. I did not exercise but that's only because I hosted a children's clothing show for 2 days. I didn't feel great but there was not a lot of time to think about it or put my feet up and rest. But yesterday, Friday, my voice was no better and I knew that I needed to head to the doctor. My sweet Betsy Grace, who is hypersensitive to the mention of the word "doctor" kept giving me looks of concern as a hacked and coughed. I guess it's hard to see your mommy sick! But she put her worry into action and decided that what I needed was a big pot of vegetable soup :)

Stirring with love

Gotta make sure it tastes just right!

Perfect....and so very proud :)

Packed with veggies, just how mommy makes it

Thank you Betsy Grace, even though I couldn't really eat it, it warmed my heart and was just what the doctor ordered! That and a 10 day antibiotic that I got from the real doctor to treat my bronchitis, so much for thinking it was just a cold :( So, for the next couple of days, I am going to be really low key and I have high hopes of feeling better come Monday, thank goodness it's the weekend and Mac is home!

xoxo

The "Cozy Club"

Betsy Grace is all about finding a little nook and making it "cozy". She does so by dragging all of her "Nay Nays" (blankets) and the pillows from a nearby chair or sofa to the floor. She then entertains herself by reading books, singing songs, playing with a toy, etc. All of this "stuff" on the floor can just about drive me crazy but I do love how creative and inventive she is! I spent most of my childhood turning sofa's into cars, tables into forts and trees into homes, so I appreciate the purpose :)

And guess what?!?! She has a new recruit, Sissy is now part of the "Cozy Club" :)

Big Sis is thrilled!

2 happy girls, entertaining themselves = a daddy that can watch football

and a mommy that can get stuff done

"Hey big sis, I kinda like it down here"

Sister hug :)

xoxo

Friday Fake Out

On Friday, my usually spunky, happy and easy going 2 year old was anything but. She was ok in the morning but as the afternoon rolled on, she became irritable, fussy and threw 3 tantrums while her bff Margaret Blount was over to play. SOMETHING WAS UP! By the time Mac got home from work, she was holding her ears and screaming and we were worried. I gave her Motrin and Mac tried to calm her as I got Sutton in bed. Ella and Brun were coming over to stay with Sutton and we were taking BG to pediatric Urgent Care. By the time we got there, she had calmed down and she was so sweet as we waited patiently to see the doctor. Finally they called us back and Betsy Grace started to cry. Having had her ear surgery not too long ago, she knows the drill. So the nurse comes in and the look of terror is all over her face. The nurse is wonderful and sweetly speaks to Betsy Grace and after a couple of minutes of warming up to her, BG starts to pat her chest, looks at her and says "Jesus lives in my heart" Talk about melting right then and there! The nurse was obviously not expecting that statement from a scared and crying little girl but she replied "Oh baby, Jesus lives in my heart too". So in the middle of a not fun night, Mac and I witnessed one of the most precious moments...I never want to forget this, ever!

Fast forward to when the doctor comes in, now BG is being super cute, not really acting sick, charming us all. After examining her eyes, her nose, her throat and her ears, she looks at us and says that she doesn't see anything wrong...WHAT?!?! Taking a cue from the look of disbelief on my face, the sweet doctor then tries to create possibilities of why she might be in pain (ie. she has a different kind of tubes in her ears, there was a teeny amount of sand in her ears...) but all of it was really fluff and the truth of the matter was WE GOT PLAYED...BIG TIME! Here is my sweet child who doesn't even cry when she has terrible ear infections, so you can imagine how scared I was seeing her scream and Mac was too. My maternal instincts had failed and we were stumped. But the good news was that she wasn't sick...guess she just wanted a night out with mommy and daddy by herself :)

And here she is the next morning, up to her usual shenanegans, being silly!

oh, the joys of parenthood!

xoxo

Cookin' Cousins

The beloved pink kitchen has been a way bigger hit than I ever could have imagined! Betsy Grace is obsessed, she not only wants visitors to bee line it to her room to check it out but if you start a conversation with her, she is going to tell you within the first couple of sentences that she has a kitchen. If she is not busy in front of it, she is somewhere else in the house pushing her cart full of food or carrying her grocery bag. If only she could ACTUALLY go to the store for me!

Isabelle came over with her daddy the other day and she and Betsy Grace had a blast cookin' it up! Isabelle also received a kitchen for Christmas, so she jumped right in like a pro...or like her mommy, who is a pro :) BG has gotten really good at using her stool by herself when she needs to reach something. We have many of them around the house but this one is her favorite and was given to her by Brian and Haines for her 1st birthday.

Isabelle unloading the cart and BG putting up the groceries....TEAMWORK :)

Having so much fun!

And of course little sis wanted to be in on the action....or in the same room at least. She is zoned in on a harmonica...attempting to provide some music for the chefs perhaps :)

On another note, Sutton is soooo close to sitting up on her own, for real. She can do it for a little while but then she gets excited or startled and falls back, so the boppy is our safety net :) She could spend hours right in this place with a toy in front and this time around, I truly appreciate a child who is not on the move!

xoxo

Hello Happy Girl

Someone was enjoying her mommy time while big sis was at school today...

I could EAT HER UP!!!

xoxo

What were we worried about?!?!

2 years ago, soon after BG's 6 month checkup, her achondroplasia was discovered. I remember the emotions, the fear of the unknown, the overwhelming love I felt for my baby, how Mac and I clung to each other, our family, our friends and our faith for support. There were more times than not where I lacked confidence in our "new normal" but look where we are now! Mac and I laugh often about how we worried for nothing. Betsy Grace is an amazing little girl who embodies all that we have prayed for and more. I know that we will have our share of challenges with her dwarfism, especially as she gets older but I also know that God equipped her with a wonderful self confidence, a spunky personality and a huge heart that will see her through the rough spots. And then above all, God blessed her with a sister. A best friend for life that will love her, protect her and bring her joy that no one else can. They have only know each other for 6 months, but the love between Betsy Grace and Sutton is deep and it warms my heart beyond belief to watch them together. Having a sister myself, I feel so blessed that my girls have this incredible bond :)

And just in case you haven't seen BG's personality first hand, just take a look at this pic.....yeah....this is another bra (hope you are enjoying getting a peek at my undergarmets!)

2 1/2 going on 13 and she's even got that teenager facial expression and stance :)

xoxo

Sutton's 6 Month Checkup

My baby is 6 months old!!! Although I am sad that time seems to be going by too fast, the 6 month stage of a little one is so much fun, so I am glad we are here :) Each and everyday a little more of Sutton's personality is revealed and it is amazing to watch her grow.
She had a great checkup on Tuesday, actually non-eventful, which I will take anyday! She charmed Dr. Swetenburg, showed off all her tricks and only cried for 5 seconds after her shots! Where did my children get this superhero pain tolerance?!?!

Here are her 6 month stats:

She weighs 16lbs, 14oz (65-70%)

She is 25 3/4 inches long (50%)

Her head is 44cm (80%)
She is turning into an active little girl. Loves the exersaucer, the high chair, rolling around on the floor and pretty much is happy where ever her sister is. She isn't quite sitting up on her own but is very close and we have started food! Each day is getting better but I can't say that she loves eating with a spoon. She is still laid back, incredibly sweet and the best little cuddle bug.

Sutton bear, we can't imagine life without you, our love for you is immeasurable and I am so thankful God blessed us with you!

xoxo

Ready to go to the Y!

She's got on her sports bra and she's ready to go!

This made us die laughing but she was totally serious. She played for over an hour in her kitchen with her bra on...how embarrassed do you think this will make her when she is 13?!?!

xoxo