School Pictures (MDO Fall 2011)

I cannot believe how time has flown. We were just talking about how much Sadie has changed in just a year! This time last year, she was sitting up and probably curious why someone was flashing a camera. This year, she was all smiles holding tight to the little bear for her school photo. James and I both agreed she looks so old in this picture. She won't be two until January, but she looks almost three to us. I guess when she's three she will look sixteen? Ha! In any case, we cannot wait to see how she keeps growing and we are thoroughly enjoying watching her blossom into a gorgeous little girl. How exciting to be parents to such a treasure.

Sadie's "Big Girl" Bed

After a long successful experience co-sleeping in Mommy and Daddy's room, we finally decided it was time for Sadie's big girl bed! Once I was informed by my doctor that I needed to have my gall bladder out soon - as in three weeks soon - we quickly set in action many changes in our household to help make the recovery experience easier on both me and Sadie. One big step was one BIG big girl bed. Full size, mind you! Sadie was immediately interested as Daddy and Granddaddy screwed and hammered all parts in place after breaking down the crib. We purchased a convertible crib with the marketing that it should take your little one "from the crib to college." 

Hard at work!

Sadie helping screw in one of the boards "Sadie's turn!"

After it was assembled, Sadie could hardly wait to get on top. She crawled all over it, giggling with delight at the big bed meant for her. She then helped almost every every stuffed animal she owns with getting up into the bed safely - using the step stool Mommy and Daddy provided for her. "Horsey" was exceptionally talented at the ascent.

Helping "Horsey" get up into the bed the safe way!

We added stuff animals and the bed was complete! Sadie hid among them smiling with all the softness cuddled around her. She then wanted Gammy and Mommy to get up in the bed with her and play her Melissa and Doug Princess Girl wooden dress up game.

Sadie couldn't leave out Granddaddy as they laughed together while she played. Afterwards, she was so happy that we turned on the sing-a-long Veggie Tales movie and she threw her own personal dance party - making everyone get up and dance with her. To have that much joy! If she's this excited for her bed, imagine what Christmas and birthday will be like this year!

Sadie's Veggie Tales Dance Party

Daddy's Boots

James dons brown Ariat cowboy boots, khakis, and a polo shirt almost every day he works. It is the perfect casual outfit for running in between the office and property inspections. Since he often sheds his shoes once he's "home on the range," Sadie occasionally finds them in the living room. On this particular occasion, however, Sadie also found Daddy's socks and successfully figured out how to put them on too! 

SOCKS!

Daddy and I began to laugh as Sadie stared it us in confidence with her new found clothing accessory. Daddy pulled the socks up a little higher and asked Sadie if he wanted him to help her put "her" boots on. She responded, "Yes. Do!" (Yes, I do.) So, James helped her jump into his boots and off she went...into the sunset.

Daddy helping.

Sadie's new kicks

Flower Pickin'

One day while Sadie and I were waiting for James to come home from a long day at work we decided to go on a walk. However, before we could get to the cement, we had to stop to pick some flowers from our front flowerbeds. James did a beautiful job planting the flowers and his watered them as much as he could through this drought - they still look beautiful. Sadie takes advantage by picking mainly the purple flowers. She picks them, smells them, then looks at me as if to say, "Now you, Mommy."

James' work can keep him late sometimes so we try to keep him motivated and happy by sending pictures of Sadie. He always loves seeing little snippets of our girl time. These pictures were appreciated by Daddy and Sadie was obviously thrilled to have her favorite person come home later to play with her. :)

Sadie twirling the flower in her fingers like Granddaddy taught her!

Picking purple flowers - Sadie's favorite!

ORANGE!!!!

A flower for Daddy

Sadie decided to "replant" the flower.

Found a walking stick!

Elmo Eats Hummus

Sadie has always been a good eater. From green beans to green peas. She usually will at least try everything on her plate. And often times she actually likes it! So, I guess it should have come as no surprise when she decided that she also like hummus – just like mommy. What was funny, however, was when she decided to share with Elmo. He seemed to love it too...not that he had much of an option... :)

Painting Paradise

This might look like a toddler's heaven, but it might be the "opposite place" for many mommies out there. As intense as God may have created me, this intensity has been used for his glory through my experience as a mommy to Sadie. Although every paperclip and piece of paper was perfectly organized in my life as a teacher, I have had little difficulty "letting go" in order for Sadie to experience the wonderful and messy joys of childhood.

After all, it these moments, when she is her messiest, that I know I will remember for years to come. We will surely look at these photos and laugh together. I hope she realizes when she looks at these photos that it would have been easy to say "no" to paint. It would surely have been less mess. But Sadie wanted to paint and sometimes being a really great parent is about allowing your child to explore what she truly wants to do. It's about listening to her and realizing that there is nothing else in this world that is as important as to her at that moment. So if you want to paint, Sadie...today we will paint.

Sharing her paint with Mommy

Hairy Beautiful!

How's my hair, Mommy?

Perhaps one reason many parents enjoy Halloween is because it gives them the chance to dress their children up in ways they themselves would never consider. Before anyone reading this blog starts too worry that Sadie is enrolled in next season's "Toddlers and Tiaras," I should explain.

James and I were very excited for this year's Halloween fun. Last year, Sadie was a cow, although she didn't realize she was a cow and if you asked her today wouldn't know she was a cow. However, this year is a little bit different. This year she has very clear likes and dislikes and even enjoys some characters more than other. For example, she adores Elmo, admires Abby the Flying Fairy, and is entertained by any bear available. She also loooooves kitties and dogs. We went in search of the perfect costume. We didn't find it out at Party City, but we did find a fabulous wig. James quickly threw it atop her tiny head and Sadie smiled happily as a random woman walked by complimenting her lovely "hair." We personally love her pigtails, but this look is rather hilarious cute. :)

Why You Can't Turn Your Back on a Toddler . . .

The other day we had the Wizard of Oz on while I was preparing dinner. Sadie loves dancing to all the songs and is usually thoroughly entertained . . . usually. On this day, I was doing something and just remember having a sudden feeling of unexplained nervousness about what Sadie was doing. Call it mother's intuition or an old teacher's habit. Whatever it was caused me to peek over the counter to behold this spectacular image - my daughter standing on top of her toy, dancing to "We're off to see the Wizard . . ."

Hi, Mama!

You can see she has no concerns as she looks at me and then smiles for the camera. "CHEEEESE!"

Visiting Granny at School

Before Granny's school year started, Sadie and I went up to her school to say hello to her friends and take her to lunch. Sadie loved walking around the school and especially liked climbing all the stairs. We said hello to several of Granny's friends and were even invited to eat lunch with some of Granny's teacher friends!

Eating lunch with Granny's teacher friends!

Before heading out for lunch, we played in Granny's classroom. Sadie found this giant bear and was immediately attached. Granny was nice and let her have it to take home. Sadie exclaimed, "beahhh" (bear) and hugged it.

Granny, Sadie, Mommy, and Sadie's newest bear!

Coloring with Granny in her classroom

Checking out the desks

Awwwwww, bear. :)

This last photo is actually how Sadie look when we arrived. We picked Granny up and drove around for at least 45 minutes while Sadie took an unusually early nap. We even planned our visit around Sadie's nap schedule, but you just can never tell!

Passed out as we arrive to Granny's school

Inspecting Granny's classroom decorations

Then Sings My Soul: Sadie's Love for Music

Sadie is extraordinarily musical. Now, I know it is the parent's duty to wax eloquent the immense (and advanced) accomplishments of their children. I think she puts puzzles together unusually fast and with great ease for her age, she has been very coordinated from early on - willing herself to put all her weight on her legs regularly at 3 months. However, no one else is really  interested in these facts. It makes you seem supercilious and can even annoy your friends. However, if you are reading this blog and still reading this post, then you must be immensely interested in our family (or are bored and have found yourself with a couple of minutes to spare!).

Either way, I must boast unashamedly in Sadie's musical inclinations. She loooooves music. We all do, really. Don't we? Human beings are naturally drawn to music because it makes us feel...well, human. It enlivens our soul and restores our spirit. It can be rebellious, worshipful, encouraging, or inspiring. Sadie might not understand the depths of its ability yet, but she knows she loves it. She has been dancing for months on end and has an immense affinity for all types of instruments. Not just banging on a drum  type of interest - more like a kazoo-playing, harmonica-blowing, guitar-strumming, piano-tinkling, microphone-singing, dance-while-you're-playing-your-instrument kind of affinity. Looking at her heritage, it is no wonder why she harbors this love for all things euphonious in her tiny body.

All of my family is musical. My father plays guitar and sings--even moonlighting as somewhat of a music minister for a tee-tiny church very early his his career. My mother sings and plays the piano. Not just plays, but plays anything entirely by ear. James is always impressed by this as we can sit by the piano, shouting out songs as she quickly thinks about it and finds the melody (and all accompanying harmonies/bass lines) in a matter of seconds. My brother plays a whole slew of instruments - guitar, drums, harmonica, wooden flutes, trombone, and sings (All-State bass). I grew up singing, playing hand bells, guitar, and competing on flute. Then there are the great grandparents on my side. Sadie's Great Granny had a beautiful voice (and will tell you this much) and sang on the radio when she was younger, while her Great Great Granddaddy Sharp was in a singing group that was rather successful. This was in the era of singing "shape notes" as he described to me when I was younger. Even into his nineties, he would show up Sunday morning and inform the pastor that he wanted to sing a song that morning and had his music ready. Who could deny a ninety-something year old man who could still carry a tune?!

I have thought long and hard why Sadie's musical ability speaks to me so much. Perhaps it is because she looks so much like her Daddy and I have wanted to see something of me in her. (Giving birth makes you envious for some sort of resemblance.) Of all the parts of me God granted, I love that Sadie has this one - an ardent love for music and (seemingly) natural ability to enjoy it. I cannot wait to see if it will remain a central part of her life. Play on, little girl. Enjoy the sweet gift God has granted through song.

Couldn't help adding the following clip. Her harmonica battle with her dear Great Uncle Steve at Granddaddy's birthday's party.

First Day of School - MDO

Sadie (still sleepy!) brought along her kitty clad in TCU shirt!

School days! August means the start of school for students everywhere and Sadie is no different! This is the second year she has attended University Baptist Church's mother's day out program. She attends on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 - 2:00. This gives me just a couple of days I have schedule to work on my thesis and after I graduate, I can use this time to prepare meals, visit with friends, or clean the house without watching Elmo!

Anyway, her first day is always hard because she would rather stay with Mommy. She brought along her kitty that seemed to help a little. Apparently, she even shared her kitty with a classmate! It was also hard not to see Miss Erin and Miss Sylvia's smiling faces from last year. These sweet teachers have both moved away! One to Alaska! So sad. However, her new teachers are Miss Donna and Miss Michelle. Hopefully, this year will prove just as fun and she will make some new little friends!

In the parking lot, about to go to school!

First Day of School Ice Cream

It has been a long-standing tradition in our family (and probably countless others) to go get ice cream on the first day of school. When I was much younger--maybe around first grade or so--we would go with our dear friends, the Wrens. Lynnai and I went to school together, later were in each other's weddings, and our moms have always shared a special friendship--even after they moved away to beautiful Colorado when I was about 11. Considering all this, we found it fitting to carry on the tradition with little Sadie. Now, I admit, I'm a bit of a "crunchy granola" kind of mom--offering Sadie organic fruit strips (which she loves, by the way) and very little sugar. However, as she closes in on her second birthday (in January), I am learning to relax for the sake of ice cream fun. :)

My mom decided Baskin Robbins was just the spot and Sadie was elated to go somewhere with Granny. I ordered coffee (Jamoca, according to BR) and my mom got her favorite, pistachio almond. If I'd had my druthers, I would have actually ordered coffee and orange sherbet--a strange favorite I created when I was just a child and still love to this day--when I can find it.

Sadie took a few bites of my ice cream. She is still not sure about the whole "licking" tactic, then tried Granny's. Granny's won. Although Sadie has tasted (and liked!) my coffee ice cream, Granny's flavor won out on this particular day. So Granny and Sadie giggled and laughed and I enjoyed carrying on this very important and sugary tradition.