Wise Words from my 4 year old

We have a little purple pouch under our Christmas Tree. Inside is a little baby Jesus figurine, lying in a manger. It is supposed to be the first present opened on Christmas morning so that we can emphasize the fact that Jesus is our most important gift.

This morning, as Tyler was admiring his wrapped gifts under the tree, he picked up the little pouch and opened it. I reminded him that he was supposed to wait until Christmas to open any of the presents under the tree.

Tyler smiled and said, "Mommy, Jesus is our special gift for EVERYDAY, so it's ok if I open it today."

He's absolutely right. What could I say to that?

potty play

Allie has a Little People doll house. One of her favorite features of the doll house has been the little potty that flushes. We usually have the mommy and daddy use the potty and then wash their hands. Allie decided, this week, that SHE could use the little potty in the doll house. She sits down on it, waits, and then gets up and flushes.

I thought it was great that she was making the connection, so I decided to see what she would do if I brought out the little potty seat that was just her size (rather than doll-sized). She loves sitting on her potty seat. It is difficult to get her off of it now. Yesterday, before her bath, I asked her if she would like to go potty before taking her bath. She sat down on her seat, pottied, and was ready for her bath all within 30 seconds. She actually pottied in it! This caught me off guard. I didn't know my 19-month-old would actually start using the potty already! What do I do now? I didn't even have M&M's handy to give her for a reward. Tyler and I clapped and cheered, but she was more interested in taking her bath with bubbles. Now I just have to get her to tell me WHEN she needs to potty and I will be all set! I'm thinking this is going to be pretty easy the 2nd time around.

18 month doctor visit

We had to try out a new doctor for this well visit, since we moved away from our old one. I was happy with this new place except for the fact that they don't stock the preservative free flu shot. It was difficult for me to put those icky chemicals in Allie's little body, but I did it. Next time we will be driving back to our old office for that shot.

At 18 months old Allie weighs 20 lbs. 10.3 oz. (5th percentile)

and is 31.5 inches tall (41 percentile).

She is growing right along her curve and it looked like she is coming up to another growth spurt! Hopefully her jeans and pants will all fit through the winter.

prayer for strong teeth

A few months back, Allie was running in the house, when she fell down on the tile and broke one of her front teeth. I was (and still am) so sad that she had damaged her pretty tooth. The dentist said that the nerves were not damaged and she would be fine, but still I was sad that her smile would never look the same.

On Friday, Allie was climbing back and forth over our dog's back. Again, she hit the tile with her mouth, breaking not one, but two more of her front teeth. She now has three chipped, broken teeth, each going at a different angle. Again the dentist said she would be fine and that I wouldn't even notice them in a few years.

I think that I will always notice them. I hope Allie doesn't.

Now, after three broken front teeth I am wondering if Allie's teeth are softer then normal. It seems unusual that they would break so easily. Is she just that much more clumsy? As a mommy, I have prayed for a lot of things for my baby girl. I have prayed for a strong heart, a strong brain for making good decisions and solving problems, and strong muscles that function as they are intended to. I have prayed for strong hair, strong character, strong patience, strong faith, strong values, and strong convictions. But I never thought to pray for strong teeth.

God, please bless my baby girl with teeth that will hold up to the adventurous personality you gave to her. Please protect them from hard falls and hard food. I pray that her crooked smile will never be a distraction from the joy that flows out from deep inside her beautiful little body. God, help her never to be afraid to smile. I thank you for her life and everything that she means to me. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

This time she smiled

I took Allie to the pumpkin patch again this morning to meet up with some friends.

This time she was not awaken from a nap to go see the pumpkins.

This time we remembered to bring Baby along.

This time she smiled.

She even found an acorn.

looks familiar

Allie got to decorate her little pumpkin from the pumpkin patch with face stickers.

And then I had a total flashback...

Allie 2011

Tyler 2008

Allie - 18 months

Tyler - 17 months

two little pumpkins

Feeling Crafty

These little orange buckets looked so boring, sitting on the table today.

I took a couple of paint pens to them and now they are so much cuter!

I resisted the urge to put bows on Tyler's bucket too. I don't think Daddy would approve.

Even the back looks cute!