Bit the Bullet.

So...

finally went and spoke with a Dr.
(don't even ask about the lecture he gave me about risking my kidney function by letting this go)

Going for a CT Scan tomorrow.
Mom told me not to be afraid...
it's like a giant doughnut...
only it's eating me, instead of me eating it.

I also get to look forward to some blood work and urine samples (nice.)

Wish me luck...

Flood of Emotions.

I have a lump in my throat the size of pinocchio's whale Monstro right now...

My first born baby went to bed for the first time tonight without a soother...

I know many people are throwing their hands up and shouting hallelujah right now...

but this is a really bittersweet moment for me...

I snuggled with her for awhile...

I pretended to sleep while tears dripped off my nose on to one of her pillows...
(and she kept whispering to Bells (her bunny) to try to be quiet cause mommy was sleeping)

She's such a good girl...

so brave...

braver than me... that's for sure...

I couldn't be prouder.

Mother, I Love You : The Remake

So ever since Mags was a baby, I've been singing that song to her...
only I changed the words just a tad to suit my message.
It's goes a little something like this...

Maggie, I love you.
Maggie, I do.
When I'm not with you,
it makes me "oh so very" blue.
When I am near you,
I long to hear you,
singing sweet whispers that you love me to.
Maggie, I love you,
I love you,
I do!

She refers to it as the Maggie song.

I don't know...
I guess I'm just feeling pretty sappy for the Mags right now.
She's just a big piece of heaven
and she's finally starting to talk more and be so much more inquisitive.

I had to write down our little conversation at bedtime tonight...
it's a very good indication of just how this little family of mine runs...

So after I tell her a "Princess Maggie" story,
one that includes (upon request) an animal of some sort and Princess Auntie Sarah.
She proceeds to ask me if her bedtime song can be "Down by the Bay"...
Um... sure...
and just as I begin, she holds her hand up and stops me...
"Mom, no talkin' about a deuce...
just talkin' about kissin' a moose...
okay?"

That's right...
you read right...

This past weekend we were driving back from Denver after picking Joel up from the airport
and we began singing "Down by the Bay".
As we're thinking up all kinds of funny rhymes,
Joel pipes in (just once) and sings "have you ever seen a goose... takin' a deuce?"
I don't think I even reacted, well... I might have side "nice" "real nice", but that's it.
And Mags and I carried on with our song. Well the next day, while on the phone with her grandparents,
Maggie is asked by Grandma Sharon to sing a song.
I suggest (unwittingly) that she sing "Down by the Bay" since we'd been working on it quite a bit lately
(getting ready for the family reunion camping trip).
She and I begin singing,
and when it got to the "have you ever..." part,
I let her take the lead...
Well... I'm sure you can guess what she belts out...
"HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A GOOSE, TAKIN' A DEUCE?"
Uh... yeah... I'm sure I'm getting a shining star for parenting for that one.

So anyway...

Her attention is in full swing these days...
for the good (when I correct her on inappropriate talk)
and the bad (when listening to her grodie Dad's humor).

I. Love. Her.

Here's a little montage of what Miss Mags has been up to this summer...

Sleep-Over

We've been preparing for Joel to go back to Canada and apply for his Visa for months...
He finally made the trek up there this past weekend.
I deteste being alone in this big house,
and angel Sarah knows this about me.
Soooo...
she invited our little crew over to sleep...
and pretty much saved my sanity
(maybe even my life if someone had planned on breaking in).
Mags had a fantastic time
(in between a few break downs because she missed her Dad)
The kids swam in the hot tub, jumped on the trampoline,
rode bikes in front of the house, and were then treated to story time by miss Sarah herself.

Thanks Team Probst.

And for those of you wondering...
Joel is back with us where he belongs...
and legal...
Wahoo!

8 Months - Ain't No Joke

This little guy isn't messing around when it comes to turning the big "8".
In the past month he has crossed some pretty big milestones off the list.
(and it's causing my heart all kinds of confusion... pride and pain)

Here's the accomplishments...
- cut his first tooth
- crawling everywhere and getting into everything
- will repeat "dada" on command (especially for Mags)
- pulling himself up to a standing position in his crib

Way to enter 8 months with a bang...
I adore you, you wiggly, curious, smiley little rascal.

Independence Day

I count my blessings every day for the Americans in my life...
especially this little man...
It's created a whole new dimension to July 4th for our family and we couldn't be happier.
I'm also truly grateful for the freedoms that this country has provided us.

To prove to this country that I mean it...
I made the most time consuming cake of my life...
(and I've made some cakes, so that's saying somethin')


It wasn't just the outside...
the inside was a lot of work as well... (fold this... sift that... grrr...)
but it was worth it.

Oh Canada.

Oh Canada,
thank-you for being the country you are.
We love you.
We miss you.
and we're so grateful for our most prized Canadian possession...
Sweet sweet Miss Mags...