Reagan Has a Twinn

No, that's not a misspelling. Reagan received a My Twinn doll from Grandma and Grandpa for Christmas. While the doll isn't quite as fair in complexion as we thought she would be, she has the same long, curly hair and hazel eyes as Reagan. Each My Twinn doll is custom made with a hand-painted face. You can even request freckles or birth marks, if your child has them.

Reagan's big gift from Santa was a Disney Princess bike. She also received a Baby Alive, but Santa forgot the extra diapers! Reagan had to buy some at Target with her own money, so she got a tiny taste of what it's like to be the mommy.

This New Year's Eve, Reagan would like to wish "that everyone could have all the things that God made us." Happy 2008!

Presley's New Kitchen

Presley received a beautiful pastel kitchen from Santa! She's now ready to whip up lovely meals of plastic fried chicken and green beans (or just about any other type of plastic food you can imagine) , so come on over for dinner sometime. Some of her other favorite gifts include a Hokey Pokey Elmo, a Sit-n-Spin, and some duplo blocks.

The little pumpkin is actually fighting an ear infection now, but you would never know it. She's such a sweet little patient that we rarely even know she's sick until she throws up or runs a fever (both of which she did today).

Happy New Year to all!

A Day at the Opryland Hotel

Here is a photographic essay of our recent visit to the Opryland Hotel. Our mission: to capture the perfect Christmas card photo. As you can see, we didn't exactly accomplish our goal. (You can click on each picture for an enlargement.) In the first picture, you can see that we're not off to a bad start, but the scale is off, and neither girl is wearing a "winning" smile.




Next is an example of Presley's frequent inability to focus on the camera.

Woohoo! She finally smiled! Too bad Reagan didn't.

Presley is so over her bow!
Meltdown in progress.

Two hours and 34 digital photos later, we had nothing to show for our hard work. So we bought the low-quality, high-priced photos provided by Santa's helpers. Then we had to scan them in to our computer, which further diminished the quality. The end result is below. Next year, we start this process in October!

What a Big Girl!

Presley had her 18-month well visit with Dr. Lee this morning. She is growing well, although she's a bit on the thin side. Her weight was just under 23 pounds (in the 30th percentile for kids her age), and her height was 33 inches (around the 85th percentile). She seems to be following the same pattern as her big sister. Presley had to get her finger pricked and two shots, and she didn't even flinch for any of it!

Mommy Time Out

Yesterday the children were conspiring against me. First, Reagan wouldn't go to preschool. She had been sick for several days, but on Monday she felt well enough to go to dance and played dress up for much of the afternoon, so I knew she was pretty much back to normal. On Tuesday morning I repeatedly asked her if she felt well enough to go to school. Although she was rather whiny, she said she wanted to go. So, I did the morning rush thing: Mama showered, dressed, coiffed, and makeup applied? Check. Baby dressed? Check. Big girl dressed? Check. Hair combed? Check. Breakfast served to both? Check. Lunch, snack, and backpack ready? Check.

Yes, we got everyone loaded up, driven across the street to the big church, unloaded, and even signed in. But when the classroom door opened, Reagan wouldn't go in. "I want you, Mama." OK, so she's being clingy. No problem. "Reagan, you already made your choice to come to preschool. All your friends will be here. You'll be fine when you start playing." "But I want you, Mama." "You have a choice: If you're well, you need to stay at preschool. But if you're still sick, we can go to the doctor." "But I want you, Mama."

After ten or fifteen minutes of threats and trying to pry her off me (her teacher ever tried to bribe her with "special" toys), we finally left...and, boy, was I mad! After the lecture I gave her on the way home, she was wailing and was sent to bed until she received further notice. Finally I calmed down and apologized for yelling but delivered her punishment: there would be no kid TV all day, no seeing Santa the following day as planned, and whatever else I decided to tack on as deemed necessary. She took it all pretty well and stayed in bed for a nap.

Shortly after, Presley was rubbing the eyes and asking for her pacifier. So I cuddled her for a few minutes until she fell asleep, then transferred her to her crib. After about ten seconds I heard the wailing. Given my morning, I let her wail for a while. I went in a couple of times to give her back her paci and even turn on music, but she still cried. After about 30 minutes, I gave up and got her up. We all ate lunch and went to Walmart.

On the way home from Walmart, Presley fell asleep. (We live less than a mile from the store!) I carried her to her crib where she, once again, woke up and wailed. I let her cry for a few minutes then she seemed to settle down. But it was short-lived: she only slept about 30 minutes. Ugh!

After a long afternoon of playing referee, I prepared dinner and waited for Scott to get home--5:45 couldn't get here soon enough! He called, stuck in traffic (really that was just the icing on the cake that was my day!), so we went ahead and ate. By six he was home, I was finished eating, and I excused myself.

I took a new novel, a beverage, and myself to my room for an hour. I put on my PJs and read in relative silence. It wasn't long, but it was enough to restore my sanity before the bedtime rush. I love my children, I really do. But sometimes Mom just needs a time out.

Another Bug Comes and Goes

Reagan spent five days on the couch, not eating and running a temp between 100 and 102 degrees or higher. It started when her preschool called me on Wednesday to pick her up. She was saying she was "sad," but they didn't seem to think she was sick. Knowing she is not often sad without a reason, I was suspicious. When I got there, she was holding her nap blanket and crying. Back at home, her temp was over 100, and she basically slept the rest of the afternoon. Thursday, she refused to eat anything (although she drank water and juice, knowing she would have to go to the ER if she got dehydrated) and only got up once to go to the bathroom. On day three, we went to the pediatrician who diagnosed her with a bacterial infection as well as a virus. When we got home, she started vomiting (thank goodness for Zofran!). It wasn't until Sunday after church (Mom went, everyone else stayed home) that she actually started getting up and interacting with the family. She even ate a bit and started to smile.

Yesterday (Monday), she seemed nearly back to normal, although she's still hesitant about eating. She still has a week of antibiotics to take, which is no fun for her or Mom (we had to bribe her with an iPod--Scott's old one that she was going to get anyhow--to get her to take it). And she lost more weight in the process (down to 34 1/2 pounds!), which she certainly couldn't afford. But nonetheless, we're grateful to have our giggly, energetic little girl back!

Nearing the Year and a Half Mark

As Presley is about to turn one and a half, here are a few of her favorite things:

Favorite foods: cucmbers, mac-n-cheese, cookies

Favorite words: NO!, baby, More! (as in, "Give me more!")

Favorite activity: hearing music, dancing, clapping

Favorite huggable toy: plush Elmo

Favorite toys to play with: blocks, learning table, anything of Reagan's

Cookin' Up Christmas

Reagan sang a trio in her Christmas program at church yesterday. The theme was "Cookin' Up Christmas," and her song was "Give a Gift This Christmas." She was quite an emotive vocalist, as you can see by the photo. When the music started, she grabbed her microphone and didn't let go. She OWNED it, baby! We were all quite amused and see a definite future for her as a diva.

Cookin' Up Christmas

Reagan sang a trio in her Christmas program at church yesterday. The theme was "Cookin' Up Christmas," and her song was "Give a Gift This Christmas." She was quite an emotive vocalist, as you can see by the photo. When the music started, she grabbed her microphone and didn't let go. She OWNED it, baby! We were all quite amused and see a definite future for her as a diva.

Trunk or Treat

The girls went to "Trunk or Treat" at church tonight. Reagan, of course, enjoyed dressing up as Cinderella. (It's never a question of WHAT she will be for Halloween--it's only a matter of WHICH princess she will choose.) Presley dressed as Roo from the Winnie the Pooh series. She seemed to enjoy being in costume and really got into the whole trick-or-treat process. Both girls had a fun time!

Halloween

Here's Presley as Roo from the Winnie the Pooh series. Pictured with her is big sis Reagan as Cinderella. Both girls went to "Trunk or Treat" at our church for Halloween.

Halloween

Reagan went to "Trunk or Treat" at church tonight. Here's a couple of pictures in full Cinderella attire, the first with her "boyfriend" Curry (a vampire), and the second with Presley, dressed as Roo from the Winnie the Pooh series.

I Like Mike

It's no secret that I almost always vote Republican. There are numerous reasons for this, which I may go into in another post, but it basically boils down to which candidate shares most of my convictions, particularly on issues of morality and sanctity of life. I believe that many of the freedoms we cling to in America are being attacked in the name of tolerance. But this is a one-way tolerance; there is little tolerance offered to those of us who lean to the right.

I've been a bit disappointed in our candidates for the upcoming election. Rudy is pro-choice. Mit is a Mormon (sorry, but I still believe that's a cult). And though I like our former-senator Fred, he did date Lori Morgan, and that's a little disturbing. But one guy has recently risen to the top for me. I took a close look at his website--the Issues page, in particular--and I can't find one thing that I really disagree with.

If you're a conservative like me, who places faith and family high on your priority list, you might want to check him out.


http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Issues.Home

Screaming and Biting

Presley has picked up on two troublesome toddler behaviors: screaming and biting. So far only Mama, Daddy, and Reagan have been the recipients of a bite. She seems to only do it when she doesn't get her way--which explains why none of the grandparents have been bitten.

The screaming is a little less predictable. Sometimes it's in response to not getting her way. Other times, it seems that she just enjoys hearing how loud and high-pitched she can make her voice. With the mild weather we've been having, we've had our windows open most evenings, and we're a little afraid the neighbors might call 911 on us (seriously, it's that loud!).

Right now our approach to the biting is to loudly say, "No biting!" and immediately put her in time out (she just sits on the couch alone for a few seconds). The good news is that you can usually see it coming before she actually gets a bite in--she opens that little mouth wide! For the screaming, we try to ignore it. I think her goal is to get a response--any attention is good attention, in her opinion.

With the screaming and biting, can tantrums be far behind?

ER: Episode 2

This is a copied post from Reagan's blog about our "fun" weekend and a trip to the ER.

We made another visit to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital ER yesterday. Last year, we ended up there when Reagan had a respiratory infection and got severely dehydrated. This year, it was an intestinal virus. At about 12:30 AM Saturday, Reagan came into our room crying and said, "I throwed up in my bed." We quickly cleaned her up, got her a drink of water, and let her get in our bed. Then, I went to work on the middle-of-the-night laundry. Did I mention that she had eaten tomato-basil soup? Yep, it was disgusting. About 45 minutes later, she threw up again. (This time we were ready with the bucket.) Then again at 2:30. Then 3:30. After that, she seemed to settle down and slept for a few hours, but Mama certainly didn't.

The next morning, we thought the worst was over. She had begun to drink a little bit of water, but within a couple of hours she was throwing up again. They cycle continued for most of the day: she would perk up a little and drink, then within the hour she would throw up.

We had a memorial service to attend that evening, so Scott's parents came over to watch the girls. Reagan hadn't thrown up in a few hours, but she was very sleepy and lethargic. When Scott called to check on her, his mom said she had been asleep in her lap the whole time we were gone. We got worried (flashback to lethargic, dehydrated Reagan and our last trip to the ER) and came home. We arrived, roused her, and made her drink a little Sprite. Scott went back out and bought every variety of Gatorade under the sun. She, again, perked up and even sat up to make a craft for Ms. Sandy (our children's pastor, whose husband's memorial we were attending). But, ultimately, she didn't drink much and she was throwing up in the middle of the night again.

Sunday morning, I called the triage nurse and got a "re-hydration plan." Scott went to church to set up the computer (he was schedule to work in the booth, and I had already traded my nursery duty with another volunteer). We decided we'd wait and see if she could drink without throwing up, and then make a decision about going to the ER or immediate care. She did great for about an hour--every five minutes she had about a tablespoon of water--but then she threw up. I called Scott and he headed home. I left the triage nurse another message, Scott called his parents to come watch Presley, and we debated the virtues of immediate care vs. the ER. Finally, I called the immediate care center and they advised us to go to the ER, since they couldn't do IV fluids in their office.

We got to the ER around 10:00 AM, and Reagan threw up shortly thereafter. Fortunately, it wasn't crowded, and we were evaluated fairly quickly. Reagan even had to use the bathroom--she hadn't in about 16 hours!--so they were able to get a urine sample. It took a bit of waiting (isn't that always the way at hospitals?), but Reagan had an IV with fluids and some anti-vomit meds before too long.

Reagan was such a brave girl--she didn't even flinch when the nurse put the IV in! She did, however, ask for more stickers when the nurse gave her a few. She also got comfortabe enough to say, "Can you bring me a movie?" and a bit later, she said she was hungry and wanted a cookie! We started with apple juice instead, and then she got a packet of Teddy Grahams. After she finished, and after more waiting, we were released at around 1:30 with a prescription for anti-vomit meds and instructions to call our pediatrician on Monday.

We were a little nervous when Reagan was extremely sleepy on the way out, until we read the discharge notes that said the meds would make her drowsy. She slept a lot throughout the afternoon, but she finally woke up and drank a little. She also got to have that cookie she wanted, as well as a few crackers.

We gave her the meds last night so that she would sleep well, but this morning she is med-free and has eaten several crackers and is drinking water. She seems much more like herself (that winning personality that we all love), so we're hopeful she can get back to regular activities in a day or two.

ER: Episode 2

We made another visit to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital ER yesterday. Last year, we ended up there when Reagan had a respiratory infection and got severely dehydrated. This year, it was an intestinal virus. At about 12:30 AM Saturday, Reagan came into our room crying and said, "I throwed up in my bed." We quickly cleaned her up, got her a drink of water, and let her get in our bed. Then, I went to work on the middle-of-the-night laundry. Did I mention that she had eaten tomato-basil soup? Yep, it was disgusting. About 45 minutes later, she threw up again. (This time we were ready with the bucket.) Then again at 2:30. Then 3:30. After that, she seemed to settle down and slept for a few hours, but Mama certainly didn't.

The next morning, we thought the worst was over. She had begun to drink a little bit of water, but within a couple of hours she was throwing up again. They cycle continued for most of the day: she would perk up a little and drink, then within the hour she would throw up.

We had a memorial service to attend that evening, so Scott's parents came over to watch the girls. Reagan hadn't thrown up in a few hours, but she was very sleepy and lethargic. When Scott called to check on her, his mom said she had been asleep in her lap the whole time we were gone. We got worried (flashback to lethargic, dehydrated Reagan and our last trip to the ER) and came home. We arrived, roused her, and made her drink a little Sprite. Scott went back out and bought every variety of Gatorade under the sun. She, again, perked up and even sat up to make a craft for Ms. Sandy (our children's pastor, whose husband's memorial we were attending). But, ultimately, she didn't drink much and she was throwing up in the middle of the night again.

Sunday morning, I called the triage nurse and got a "re-hydration plan." Scott went to church to set up the computer (he was schedule to work in the booth, and I had already traded my nursery duty with another volunteer). We decided we'd wait and see if she could drink without throwing up, and then make a decision about going to the ER or immediate care. She did great for about an hour--every five minutes she had about a tablespoon of water--but then she threw up. I called Scott and he headed home. I left the triage nurse another message, Scott called his parents to come watch Presley, and we debated the virtues of immediate care vs. the ER. Finally, I called the immediate care center and they advised us to go to the ER, since they couldn't do IV fluids in their office.

We got to the ER around 10:00 AM, and Reagan threw up shortly thereafter. Fortunately, it wasn't crowded, and we were evaluated fairly quickly. Reagan even had to use the bathroom--she hadn't in about 16 hours!--so they were able to get a urine sample. It took a bit of waiting (isn't that always the way at hospitals?), but Reagan had an IV with fluids and some anti-vomit meds before too long.

Reagan was such a brave girl--she didn't even flinch when the nurse put the IV in! She did, however, ask for more stickers when the nurse gave her a few. She also got comfortabe enough to say, "Can you bring me a movie?" and a bit later, she said she was hungry and wanted a cookie! We started with apple juice instead, and then she got a packet of Teddy Grahams. After she finished, and after more waiting, we were released at around 1:30 with a prescription for anti-vomit meds and instructions to call our pediatrician on Monday.

We were a little nervous when Reagan was extremely sleepy on the way out, until we read the discharge notes that said the meds would make her drowsy. She slept a lot throughout the afternoon, but she finally woke up and drank a little. She also got to have that cookie she wanted, as well as a few crackers.

We gave her the meds last night so that she would sleep well, but this morning she is med-free and has eaten several crackers and is drinking water. She seems much more like herself (that winning personality that we all love), so we're hopeful she can get back to regular activities in a day or two.

Oh, How We Love Elmo

I don't want to jinx it or anything, but since we bought Elmo (and made a few other changes in her bedtime ritual), Presley has been consistently sleeping through the night. In fact, she's waking up later (around 7:00 or 7:30 most mornings) and taking longer naps! And she's just a happier girl, in general, because she's now well-rested. She does seem to want to go to bed a little later, but she's almost always asleep by 9 or 9:30 at the latest. Needless to say, Mama and Daddy are very happy!

Now if we could only get Reagan to go to bed later and sleep later. (She usually asks to go to bed at around 8 and is awake the next morning by 6:30.)

Night #2 with Elmo

Last night, things went even better. Presley didn't wake until well afte 5:00 AM, and she just cried a little bit and stopped. We didn't even have to go into her room. We finally went in at around 7:00, and she was standing up in her crib and looked happy. Hooray!

Presley's Favorites (And Sleep Talk)

Here's a list of some of Presley's favorites:

Favorite breakfast: a banana and a few Cheerios

Favorite words: uh-uh (for "no"), Melmo (Elmo), Mama, Dah-ee (Daddy)

Favorite toy: Mr. Potato Head

Favorite snack: shredded cheese

Favorite exercise: dancing

Favorite "lovey": her new stuffed Elmo

Now, about Elmo. We've been having the toughest time getting Presley to sleep through the night. She was great as an infant, but now she often wakes several times in the night and expects us to come comfort her. Being a tough mom, I refuse to pick her up, but that has lead to problems of its own. See, I have a hard time letting her cry for hours on end, so I've started sleeping on the floor in her room. It started with simply sitting with her a few minutes; then I took a pillow in; then a blanket. Now, there's a mattress on the floor in her room (I'm not kidding).

Finally, Scott and I decided this had to stop. The first night, we resolved to let her cry. (That was our whole brilliant plan.) But she cried for more than two hours, and it disrupted the entire house. She actually never really stopped crying; we just decided at around 5:30 AM that we'd call it morning. With her determination, we knew we were in for a battle.

This time, we were armed with a plan. First, I replaced her night light with a very weak one, hoping that the darker room would help her sleep better. Next, we ran our dehumidifier all night for "white noise." (This was more for Reagan's sake, to cover the inevitable crying.) But the key element of our plan was Elmo.

For months, I have been trying to get Presley to develop an attachment to a "lovey." Reagan has a cow she has loved and slept with nearly since birth. Cow is a part of our family. Whenever she is sad or lonely or tired, Reagan grabs her cow for comfort. Have I mentioned that Reagan is a great sleeper? We never set a bed time for her: she tells us when she's ready for bed--and it's almost always earlier than we would have asked her to go!

Here's where Elmo comes in. I've noticed that Presley has taken a recent interest in him while watching Sesame Street. This was confirmed on Monday when she tried to take a stuffed Elmo away from a little boy while we were waiting for Reagan at Kinderdance. So...ding! The lightbulb went on--Presley loves Elmo! Let's get a soft, cuddly Elmo for her to sleep with.

But this task was easier said than done. I went to three stores before I found him (most of the Elmos out there are the loud, active kind--not the warm, cuddly kind). I knew he was the one because Presley squealed with delight when she saw him. She carried him through the store and barely let go long enough for the cashier to scan him. Yes, he was overpriced. But he was worth every penny.

Last night, Presley slept until nearly 5 AM (this is quite good). Scott went in first, found her pacifier, laid her on her back, and made his escape. She cried. Ten minutes later I went in with the same routine, although I found Elmo and put him in her arms. She cried. Ten more minutes later, Scott went again. Again, the crying. The next appointed time to go in was fifteen minutes later (our master plan had a schedule!). But a funny thing happened--she had stopped crying by then!

Later this morning (7:30), I opened the door to check on her. She raised her little head, turned around and grabbed her friend and said, "Melmo!"

Ahhh...I'm thinking another night or two of this and we just might get to sleep until 6:30 or 7:00 every morning! At least we can pray that happens.

Reagan's Favorites (for now)

At four years old, Reagan still loves many of the things she has for a while now (princesses, Barbie, the Disney Channel, etc.). But now that she's such a big girl, Reagan's new favorite activity is playing on the internet. Yes, she can already navigate both the Disney and PBS websites without any help! She also enjoys Barbie.com and PollyPocket.com. She often says, "Mama, will you get my dot com up on the computer?" Unbelievable!

Here are a few of Reagan's other favorites, for the record:

Favorite breakfast: toast bread (her words) with a spoon of peanut butter

Favorite alone activity: doing "homework" (preschool worksheets)

Favorite activity with Presley: playing chase and squealing

Favorite TV shows: Super Why and Wordgirl (PBS shows)

Favorite hairstyle: braids

Favortie princess: Jasmine

Favorite friends: Morgan, the new Morgan (yes, she has two in her class), Langley, Moira

Favorite clothes: dresses and skirts (a true girly girl!)

Not Meant for Big Girls

Presley is obsessed with climbing in the doll stroller. She has done this repeatedly, despite the fact that I pile dolls and accessories in it, trying to deter the behavior. And, usually, she gets herself IN the stroller but can't climb OUT of it. I don't think the poor toy can withstand her 21-pound weight overload much longer.

And, even worse, she has even boarded the Ariel underwater carriage a time or two. This one is meant for a Barbie-sized doll!

Premier of Presley's Page

OK, so Presley is 15 months old now--about the age that Reagan was when I first created her blog. So, I thought I had better get going on this one. What is Presley up to now? She loves giving kisses and hugs. Her favorite words are "Mama" and "Uh-Uh" (as in, "no"). She also enjoys pulling the phone off the charger and pushing buttons. But perhaps the cutest thing she does these days is grab a purse (or two or three) from the toy bin, put it (or them) on her arm, and then wave and say "bye-bye." What a big girl!

And Then There Were Two

I guess we knew what we were doing when we bought two more goldfish a couple of weeks ago (so we'd have a "spare" if there was another tragedy). Yesterday morning, as I went to feed the fish, I noticed Jasmine floating behind the filter. :(

Since it was just a couple of hours before preschool, and I didn't want to "upset the apple cart," I opted to wait to tell Reagan, hoping she wouldn't notice. She didn't, and when I finally told her after school, she seemed rather indifferent--quite a change from our near meltdown when Aladdin died. You just never know how a four-year-old is going to react.

What am I doing to these poor fish? I'm following all the instructions, I think. I'm feeding them, keeping the tank clean. I'm having deja vu, remembering how I killed a series of fish when I thought it would reduce stress to have one in my office at work a few years ago. But instead it was extremely stressful, because they kept dying. (Every weekend, I would find my latest fish belly up. I even tried taking the fish home each weekend--which was a huge pain--but I still managed to kill each one off during the week.)

I guess this particular variety of goldfish just have a life span of 30-45 days. At least, that's the answer I'm going with.

Mom Pet Peeves--in Random Order

Don't you just hate...
...how the moment your food arrives in a restaurant, your preschooler announces that she needs to go potty--even though you asked her just moments before if she needed to go.
...when your toddler refuses to nap while the older child is at preschool--until, of course, it's exactly 15 minutes before you need to leave to pick the older child up.
...that your toddler will fall asleep anytime you're in the car--even if you're only two miles away from your destination--and will be grumpy that you woke her up upon arrival.
...when other people (grandparents, Sunday school teachers, etc.) give your kids sugar and then send them home with you.
...tattling (enough said).

But don't you just love...
...when you and your preschooler have your own personal "opera" time, when you both sing everything instead of saying it (are we the only ones who do this?).
...that the toddler can't stop blowing kisses because it's her new favorite skill.
...how sometimes Mama is the only one in the whole world who can make everything all better.

Fishy Situation

For her fourth birthday, Reagan got an aquarium and two fish, Aladdin and Jasmine. They both had grown rather fast, and they seemed to be doing well. They had even survived our two weekends away with automatic feeders, so we felt pretty confident that they were hearty and healthy.

Last Thursday was a particularly rotten day. Presley wouldn't nap, and I was exhausted. Basically, we were all cranky by that afternoon. I had just started cooking dinner when Reagan said, "Mama, look at Aladdin!" You guessed it--he was floating upside down in the tank. After gingerly explaining that he was dead, Reagan began hypothesizing about what had caused his demise. The only thing I could come up with is that I hadn't changed the water in the tank since our last weekend away. (Sometimes the weekend feeders can leave residue in the tank.) Well, upon hearing that, Reagan insisted that I clean the tank immediately so that Jasmine wouldn't die. Never mind that I was in the middle of cooking dinner, which was, ironically, FISH!

By the time Scott arrived home, I was covered in water from the rushed tank cleaning, and dinner was on the table. We had a few quiet chuckles about the fact that we were eating a relative of the departed Aladdin. When I prodded Reagan to eat her fish, she said, "The fish that was dead?" Oh, my.

After dinner, Reagan decided she would like to bury Aladdin (mostly because she wanted to dig). Of course, after he was securely in the ground and a short eulogy was given, she burst into tears and insisted that we dig him up and instead throw him in the trash. (I have no idea why, but we complied, since she was a bit distraught.)

On Friday evening, we again visited the pet store and purchased TWO goldfish (to have a spare), Jafar and Rajah, who cost us a total of 26 cents, including tax. (We went with the smaller fish this time, since the previous two had grown so fast.) For now, the fish seem to be healthy and growing. Of course, the pet store has a 14-day guarantee, so we can get our 26 cents back if they don't make it that long.

The Disney Blog Contest

Ok, so I'm kind of a Disney nut (mostly by association of my daughter), so I'm trying to win a fabulous prize from The Disney Blog. So, regular readers (are there any out there?), please bear with me while I answer the following questions. And if you're planning a trip to visit the Mouse any time soon (or if you just like reading about all things Disney), check out The Disney Blog at http://www.thedisneyblog.com/.


1. Have you ever celebrated your birthday at a Disney theme park? If so, tell us about it.
Well, sort of. Our last visit to Disney was about a week before my birthday in 2005. We took our oldest daughter, Reagan, for the first time and we came home with a little souvenir--we were pregnant with our second child!

2. What is your favorite or most useful tip for guests of Disney's theme parks?
I always encourage people to take their own snacks into the park--especially if you have small children. Another neat thing we did with our two-year-old is print up a label with both my husband's and my cell phone numbers on it. We put the label on Reagan's back, so that if she were to get separated from us, anyone could quickly locate us. (A little paranoid and overprotective? Perhaps.)

3. What is your favorite Disney theme park attraction or show and why?
I'm a sucker for nostalgia, so I still love "It's a Small World." But, among the newer (well, at least in the last 10 years) attractions, we love the "Beauty and the Beast" show. It's like a mini Broadway musical!

I'll update everyone if I do, in fact, win anything!

Sleeping Beauty

Reagan was playing quietly in her room--a little too quietly. When I went to check on her, this is how I found her. I guess playing dress-up can be exhausting.

Reagan's Barbie Birthday

This picture was taken just moments before guests arrived to Reagan's 4th birthday party. The party was in full Barbie theme, from the Barbie doll cake (made by Mama) to the pin-the-earrings-on-Barbie game we played. Even many of the gifts had a Barbie theme. All things considered, the party was a success. However, it was not without its drama.

Just after gifts were opened and hugs were given, as we were preparing to sing "Happy Birthday" and watch Reagan blow out her candles, the birthday girl started projectile vomiting in the kitchen...all over her cute Barbie ensemble that Mama had ordered online especially for the occasion. (And also all over the hardwood floors, not that it matters...much.) Daddy had to whisk Reagan upstairs and change her clothes (and his) while Mama ushered curious kids from the kitchen and helped Uncle Jason who had started cleaning up the mess--and, boy, was it a big one!

Believe it or not, the birthday girl emerged minutes later looking pretty well. We went ahead with the cake cutting (which hurt Mama's feelings a little, since she had spent so much time on the cake!), but Reagan just had a little ice cream. Afterward, everyone played outside in the "bouncy room" and seemed to be none the worse for the day's events.

Reagan did get sick a couple of more times after everyone left, so we now know it wasn't just nerves but rather a stomach bug. She still wasn't eating much on Sunday, but today (Monday) she woke up and asked for pancakes, and she seems to be just fine.

Her *real* birthday is tomorrow, and we have a fun day planned. We'll visit Nashville Shores, and when Daddy gets home we'll go to Chuck E. Cheese's. Finally, we'll go to the pet store where Reagan gets to pick out two fish for her new aquarium.

My Masterpiece

Ok, so it's not a work of art or anything, but this just may be the best cake I've ever done. This one actually hurt a little when I cut into it. It was for Reagan's 4th birthday party on Saturday. The Barbie-themed party was quite eventful (you can read about it on Reagan's blog at http://www.reagangibbs.blogspot.com/). Let's just say that we're praying that no one contracted the stomach bug that we now know Reagan has.

Little Fishy

Reagan has been in swimming lessons for the last two weeks. She is in an introductory class that focuses on getting children over their fears and teaches basic skills like kicking, blowing bubbles, and floating on your back. The class is for kids under four, so Reagan is the oldest kid in the class (missing the four-year-old class by only a week or so); thus, she is the star pupil. Showing absolutely no fear, Reagan completes every task Mr. David asks of her without question.

Last week, the kids were jumping in from the side of the pool one by one. Mr. David held their hands and kept them from going underwater, so they could get used to the idea of jumping in slowly. I didn't see what happened, but I think Reagan must have slipped while getting back out of the water, because she ended up going under. After class, she came rushing back to me and proudly proclaimed, "I was so brave! I went under the water!"

All Is Well, Finally

We've had another one of those months where the girls take turns being sick. For some reason they always seem to come after a well-visit to the doctor. Coincidence? Or, are my children picking up little germies at the office? Guess we'll never know.

It turns out that Presley had an enterovirus, which is basically just a general catagory of viruses that can have any number of symptoms. Hers happened to be a persistent rash after a few days of fever. By the time the rash appears, the patient has already spread it to all her friends and family.

Then, the night after her big performance for Shirley Temple camp (read all about it at http://www.reagangibbs.blogspot.com/), Reagan started breaking out in hives. I gave her Benadryl and sent her to bed. But in the morning, they were even worse. After a call to a triage nurse (because it was the weekend), we were giving her Benadryl every four hours and adopting the "wait and see" approach. In the mean time, she attended a rehearsal for church, an outdoor picnic, her cousin's dance recital, and even sang in church Sunday morning, all with red splotches covering her body. It's now Monday morning, and they are almost gone. There are still a few stubborn spots hanging on, but I would consider her "well"--more or less.

Hopefully we can stay out of the doctor's office for a while, at least until Presley's 15-month well visit!

Curly Top

Reagan just completed a week-long Shirley Temple song & dance camp. The culmination of the week was a performance at Brighton Gardens, an assisted living facility. Nine girls, ages 3 to 5, presented a thirty-minute show of nine choreographed songs, along with some basic tumbling. Each number had its own costumes and props. We were amazed that Ms. Donna, the teacher, could pull together such a show in less than five days!

Reagan is now obsessed with having the perfect Shirley Temple curls, and would wear rollers in her hair every night if Mama would agree. She also breaks into song (usually "Good Ship Lollipop" or "Baby, Take a Bow") on a regular basis. She starts swimming lessons in a few weeks, so she'll likely move on to a new obsession then.

Presley Turns 1!

The baby girl had her first birthday last week! She paraded around like the queen in her castle, but she was surprisingly uninterested in her birthday cake. She did, however, seem to enjoy bossing her sister and cousin around as they cleaned up the wrapping paper and trash as she opened her gifts. As her personality emerges, we are realizing that we certainly won't have to worry about her holding her own against the big girls.

Today, however, she's not feeling well. Two nights ago, she woke us up at around 2 a.m. and stayed awake until after 5. I should have seen it coming, since that seems to be her illness pattern: a sleepless night means a fever the next day. She seemed fine most of yesterday, but last night her temperature was 101.5. Today it's a little lower (just over 100), but she's definitely not her happy, active self. We'll give it a day or so, but we might be making another visit to Dr. Lee's office.

For the record, at her 1-year well visit, Presley weighed 21 lbs. 5.5 oz. (not as big as we thought), and was 30.25 in. tall. She's in the 85th percentile of height and around the 55th in weight.

Talking Like a Grown-Up

Reagan is starting to expand her vocabulary. Every now and then, I catch her trying to use a new word that she either hasn't fully grasped the meaning of or doesn't quite know how to pronounce. The result is pretty humorous, and I wish I could remember a good example to share here!

New phrases are also making their way into Reagan's vocabulary. This week, her favorite is "ya know." For example, she might say, "I'm playing dress-up, ya know," or "I just need to sit down, ya know." And yesterday at lunch, when I offered her some grapes, she said, "I'm not a big fan of grapes." Yep, that one was totally me. I say that a lot.

The final example, I'm ashamed to admit, is also from me. See, I get frustrated when Presley falls asleep in the car when we are only going to be in it for a few minutes. (She falls asleep and then wakes back up as I'm taking her out of the car seat--postponing the nap I was hoping she would take.) A week or so ago, we drove about five minutes away to our library. When we arrived, Reagan said, "Ugh...Presley is asleep. Crap!" Only, she still doesn't say her Rs very well, so it came out like, "cwap!" I had to explain to her that it's not a very nice word and we really shouldn't say it. Of course, she has said it about half a dozen more times since then. (I don't think it helps that I have recounted the story to several people while she was within earshot. It just fuels the fire.)

Still, despite the bumps in the road, it's exciting to hear Reagan experimenting with language. Maybe she'll decide to be a writer someday--or, better yet, a public speaker!

Already the Boys Are Calling!

Reagan got her first phone call from a boy today. Seriously. Her little boyfriend from church and preschool, Curry, called and asked for her. Sadly, she was away at her Nana and Gran's house, but we returned the call this afternoon.

A conversation with 3- and 4-year olds is pretty entertaining. They don't have much to say, so they just sit there and giggle a lot. (Well, at least that's what it sounded like from our end. Maybe boys don't giggle as much as girls.) And then when they say good-bye, you're never quite sure if the other parent is going to get on the line to talk or not. Dena did, and we had a brief exchange of "Aren't they cute?" and "Let's plan a playdate" and the like.

I'm glad that Reagan has a sweet friend like Curry. I'm glad...for now. Ask me again when she's 13.

10 Things I've Learned Since Becoming a Mom...in no particular order

1. There is no such thing as an"extra" napkin.
2. Knock-knock jokes don't have to make sense to be funny.
3. When a 3-year-old says she "hid" something, it doesn't imply that she knows where.
4. After listening to you and your spouse talk for thirty minutes on the ride to Grandma's, your preschooler will remember the one questionable thing either of you said and repeat it--out of context--to Grandma upon arrival.
5. The laundry basket is never empty.
6. The dishwasher is always full.
7. A toddler will eat anything not meant for human consumption, but she will, without fail, spit the pureed peaches back at you.
8. Stuffed animals multiply in the night.
9. A preschooler who cannot remember her own phone number can easily recall all the words to "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off." And she will sing it to her Sunday school teacher.

And, finally...
10. There's nothing better than a toothless grin, a sloppy wet kiss, or a sincere, "I wuv you, Mama!"

The Cutest Place on Earth Last Night...

...had to be the sanctuary of New Hope Community Church in Brentwood, Tennessee--where Reagan's first Kinderdance recital was being held. As you can see, eight tiny dancers took the floor in their pink tutus and sparkling tiaras to prance around and show off the skills they've acquired this year.

Mama was more anxious than Reagan, who performed her routines without missing a beat. (Well, she might have missed a few beats...but it was still great!) Each dancer received a Kinderdance trophy, but the most thrilling moment for Reagan was receiving TWO DOZEN pink and orange roses after her performance! She is truly a girl, through and through.

My Little Doolittle Fans

I took the girls to see Melinda Doolittle on Friday at Belmont University. We had a surprisingly easy time parking and getting into the area where she would perform. But, as is common with televised performances, things didn't get started until about an hour after they were supposed to, and my little angels got hot and cranky. We stayed long enough to see a little of the festivities, and we heard Melinda sing one song, and then had to make our exit. But we're still glad we got to be there and say, "We saw her perform, way back when..."

On an entirely different note, I saw the funniest sign a few days ago. I am a very strong supporter of any anti-smoking legislation. And I simply detest being seating in a non-smoking section at a restaurant where I can still smell smoke throughout my entire meal. (I'm nearly at the point of boycotting restaurants that allow smoking.) Anyhow, the sign was a little crass, but very true and funny: "Isn't having a smoking section in a restaurant a little like having a peeing section in a pool?" My point exactly!

Cubbie Awards

Last night we went to the Awana Awards program at church. Reagan is a Cubbie and received her first year Cubbie Award. I wasn't actually sure she would get anything, since we started in the middle of the year and she didn't finish her book, but I guess they give everyone an award for participating.

The kids were cute and sang a couple of songs, including the Cubbies theme song. Reagan got to hold up a sign during their second song, and she followed directions very well. Presley was VERY excited to see her big sister, and couldn't contain her squeals of delight.

First Tooth

Last night, while sitting in church for Reagan's Cubbie awards program, I reached into Presley's mouth to quiet her (she was squealing with glee at seeing her big sister!). But to my surprise, I was bitten by the tiniest little breakthrough of her first tooth! It is one of her front, middle teeth on the top. I've been checking her every morning, so it must have broken through sometime during the day. If her gums are any indication, that lone tooth will have lots of companions before long.

Baby Girl Is Walking

It's official: we no longer have a baby; we have a toddler. My heart has a moment of mourning at this thought, knowing that Presley is our last child and that some of those precious baby moments are now behind us. But I'm also excited for the changes that her toddling brings. Mostly, I'm glad that she'll no longer be picking up (and eating) every tiny piece of fuzz or hair that might be on the floor. I'm thrilled that I no longer have to vacuum constantly too. (Although, quite frankly, we weren't as good about this as we should have been.) And I'm excited that soon I won't be carrying her everywhere we go!

Presley can now get across the room without holding on to anything and without falling. She still crawls when she's in a hurry--and, wow, is she fast!--but she chooses to pull herself up and try walking much of the time. She's quite proud of her new accomplishments and enjoys the attention it garners.

Now, if I could just teach her to vacuum...

She's Got It All Figured Out

This morning I reminded Reagan that Curry would be coming over before preschool. (Curry is Reagan's "boyfriend" from church; he rides to preschool with us every Wednesday.) Reagan was excited as usual and began talking about Curry's recent birthday. Then, she spelled out her life plan:

"When I get big and Curry gets big, he's going to marry me--because he's my best friend!"

Well, there you have it. Decided.

The Twins Are Here!

My dear friend Jenny just delivered twins--Chance and Grace. The healthy boy and girl were around six pounds each and arrived via C-section. If you know petite Jenny, the thought of her carrying over 12 pounds of baby, along with all the extra weight it requires to sustain them, is ridiculous! But what's more amazing is the miracle that these babies are. After several years of trying the old-fashioned way, then various fertility tests/treatments, and finally two rounds of IVF, these were the "little embryos that could"--and they did! Considered a high-risk pregnancy, the fact that Jenny carried the babies until her 39th week is also astounding. Lots of people were praying for these little ones, and God certainly hears the prayers of his people!

Congratulations, Jenny and Eric! Can't wait to meet your precious miracles!

First Steps

The baby girl took her first steps last night! They were a bit tentative, and for some of them she was actually in the process of falling. But there were a few legitimate, actual steps in there. My prediction is that she'll be taking multiple, balanced steps by her 10-month birthday (April 11).

The Funny Things She Says

I forgot to add to my last post the few funny mispronunciations that Reagan is still holding on to. It will be a sad day when she finally learns how to say these words correctly:

breakfixt (breakfast)
gorilla bar (granola bar)
Weagan, Pwesley (Reagan, Presley; this pretty much applies to any "r" word)

He Always Was One of My Favorites...

Your 80s Heartthrob Is

Kirk Cameron

Who's" Your 80's Heartthrob?

Reagan's Favorite Things: Spring '07

It's been a while since I've done a "favorite" list for Reagan, so here goes:

favorite friends: Curry (her "boyfriend"), Langley, Ashley (her cousin)

favorite food: Pop-tarts

favorite colors: pink and green

favorite game: Ariel Story Studio (computer game)

favorite shows: Little Einsteins, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Dancing with the Stars

favorite stuffed toy: cow (she's had it since she was a baby)

favorite beverage: Sprite (an occasional treat)

favorite activity: Kinderdance

favorite princess: Ariel (for now; ask again next week)

Sisters...Sisters...There Were Never Such Devoted Sisters

Reagan and Presley are getting so cute together! Reagan is such a good big sister and loves to hug on Presley. Presley thinks Reagan is the greatest thing ever and loves to clap and laugh with Reagan. Mama is very relieved that they're starting to play together a bit. Since there's no preschool or Kinderdance this summer, it could be a very long one for Mama if the girls aren't able to entertain each other!

"Just Say 'Yes' " to Baby Einstein

I've decided that Baby Einstein is like crack for babies--or maybe I mean Xanax (I'm not really sure if crack is a sedative or an upper). Either way, it's like a drug. Presley has been cranky all evening, and nothing seemed to settle her. In a desperate moment, I pulled out the old DVDs and chose Baby Mozart. She and Reagan are now both quietly seated, watching intently. Amazing!

I'm actually kind of surprised, considering I never enjoyed history or anything remotely like it...

You Passed the US Citizenship Test

Congratulations - you got 10 out of 10 correct!

Could'>http://www.blogthings.com/couldyoupasstheuscitizenshiptestquiz/">Could You Pass the US Citizenship Test?

What a Difference a Couple of Weeks Make

Wow! Presley just started crawling about two weeks ago, and already we are having to re-think our baby-proofing. So far she has climbed the stairs, taken DVDs and videos out of the cabinet, hit miscellaneous buttons on various electronic equipment, and basically had her hands on everything that is two feet or below to the ground!

We're trying to make sure all the toys with tiny pieces are in Reagan's room, where Presley doesn't go, since she also puts everything in her mouth now. The irony here is that she coughs and gags every time I try to feed her baby food with the least amount of texture in it (those 3s are hard to get used to!), but she'll put anything she finds on the floor right into her mouth.

I'm sure Reagan did pretty much the same things, but it seems to have snuck up on us this time. Fortunately, we never took the outlet covers or cabinet locks off, so we have only a few minor adjustments to make. And even though we will take every measure to baby-proof our house, ultimately, we'd like to house-proof our baby!

Comic Relief at a Funeral

We just returned from Indiana, where we spent nearly a week visiting Reagan's great-grandmother in the hospital and, ultimately, at her funeral. Before we left, I told Reagan we were going because Grandmother was about to go to heaven. Reagan responded, "But I want to hug her first." She had plenty of opportunities, as Grandmother held on for three days after we were told she wouldn't likely make it through one night. Even though Grandmother wasn't able to respond and had an oxygen mask on her face, Reagan wasn't afraid to go right up to Grandmother and pat, kiss, or just talk to her.

Before visitation at the funeral home, I had warned Reagan that we would be having a celebration to say goodbye to Grandmother and that some people would be sad. I also told her that Grandmother's spirit had gone to heaven, but that she would be getting a new body there, so she didn't need her old body. When we arrived and Reagan saw Grandmother all dressed up, looking pretty good, I guess she figured this must be her new body. Reagan asked, "Is this heaven? Are we in heaven?" Um, no. She also proceeded to touch and poke at Grandmother and asked me, "Why she not squishy like me?" Um, I don't know, but I'm not going to touch her and find out. At one point, Reagan was jumping and making a sweeping gesture with her arms, saying, "Celebration party! Celebration party!" I asked, "What are we celebrating?" and she replied, "Grandmother goes to heaven!"

The last story is unrelated to the funeral, but it did happen in the kitchen of the funeral home, so it's worth mentioning. Reagan saw a sign and asked her cousin Melanie what it said. Melanie told her it was a "Thank You for Not Smoking" sign, and Reagan began her anti-smoking rant. (She takes after me in that respect.) She said, "We don't smoke! Only the bad people smoke." She added a few more comments that I couldn't really understand, but I clearly heard this next part. Now, imagine that she is wagging her finger, totally animated, while she gives this speech: "And Jesus comes down and tells the bad people, 'Don't you smoke!'--but they don't listen!" A preacher in the making, perhaps?

All in all, the funeral was a fitting tribute to my grandmother. I don't think she would have minded the levity Reagan added. She might even be laughing in heaven.

Puppet Show

This might actually be considered more of a "What Presley's Doing Now" entry, but it does include Reagan.

A few days ago, Reagan had assembled a makeshift puppet theatre, which consisted of her plastic ballet bar with her plastic ballet mat draped over it (never mind that she has an actual puppet theatre that her cousins Cody & Camille gave her for Christmas!). She was holding a pink bunny puppet and began telling her story.

Suddenly, baby sister Presley erupted in spontaneous applause! She may not have understood what the story was all about, but she did know that when someone puts on a show, you should clap. It was priceless.

Whatever Happened to "Sunday Best"?

I didn't wear pants to church until I was nearly 30. Almost never--except for the few times when my mother conceded that the 12-18" snowdrifts in the gravel parking lot of our rural Indiana church were too high to navigate in heels. Then, and only then, was I allowed to wear courderoys with boots. But my hair was still meticulously styled, accented with a bow or ribbon.

Still, on most Sundays, you'll find me in a dress or skirt with heels--unless, of course, it's my week to sing on the praise team, and I'm trying to fit within a mandated color scheme and still comply with the required skirt length, as stipulated in our dress code. Then, it's just easier to wear pants.

I understand what churches are trying to do--to be a welcoming environment that says, "Hey, you don't have to have fancy clothes to worship with us. Come as you are!" I get it. But it's almost never the "have-nots" who dress down for Sunday services. In fact, experience tells me that the poorer the congregation, the better dressed they are. This can be observed in the churches of third-world countries, as well as the poorer neighborhoods here in the States.

In my own affluent Brentwood church, any given Sunday can bring out gentlemen in suits (usually the older crowd) and teenagers in ripped jeans and concert T-shirts. Honestly, it's not the attire of the teens that gets me. It's the adults who think they're still kids! Ugh.

The truth is, I can't get away from my "Sunday Best" roots. I think little girls should wear darling dresses and bows in their hair. I think young men should wear a belt and dress shoes. Think of it this way: we get dressed up to go out to dinner on our anniversary, or for a special date, or to go to the theatre (stage, not cinema). Why on earth wouldn't we get dressed up for our special date with God each week? It's a matter of reverence.

The African-American church still gets this. And I admire them for it, among other practices. (Most A-A churches also seem to understand that God's working is not limited to the time between breakfast and lunch on Sunday morning. They are guided by the Holy Spirit--not by the dinner bell.)

So, this morning, I'll be sitting in my pew in a skirt and heels--even with the inch of snow that covers the ground here in Tennessee. (By comparison, this equates to the foot of snow from my youth in Indiana.) And my two precious daughters will be in cute dresses with bows in their hair. (Well, ok, Presley won't have a bow in her hair, since she doesn't actually have any hair just yet.) I know that doesn't make me more spiritual or a better worshipper than the guy in ripped jeans. But it's what I need to do to get to a place of worship. It's what my upbringing and spirit tell me is right...for me...and my family.

What We Did Today

We finally got a little snow in Tennessee, so Reagan and Mama went out to play. After a few minutes of running around, kicking the snow, and making snowballs, we came inside for some hot cocoa with marshmallows. Yum!

How I Communicate...

The part about the iPod is correct, especially now that I have my new pink Nano that matches my pink RAZR phone!

You Communicate With Your Ears

You love conversations, both as a listener and a talker. What people say is important to you, and you're often most affected by words, not actions. You love to hear complements from others. And when you're upset, you often talk to yourself. Music is very important to you. It's difficult to find you without your iPod.

How Do You Communicate?

Maybe the Cutest Kid Ever...

Well...at least in the top two. Here's Presley at 7 1/2 months.

First Trip to the Dentist

Reagan had her first visit to the dentist yesterday. We chose a pediatric dentist that was recommended by our pediatrician. I thought since it was her first visit that I would be going back to the exam area with her. But when the hygenist called her name, I asked if I should go and she said it was up to us. I asked Reagan if she needed me, but she chose to go solo. About twenty minutes or so later, the hygenist called me back and said she was all done. Reagan was sitting happily in the chair. She had stickers on her shirt and was holding a balloon puppy and a bag full of products--toothbrush, paste, floss, etc. She also got a T-shirt that says, "No Cavity Club" on it.

I met Dr. Hendricks and she seemed very upbeat and great with kids, as did all the other staff members. She said Reagan's teeth looked great! She did ask if Reagan was a thumb-sucker, as she could detect it in her bite. She wasn't terribly concerned but said it would be a good idea to curb that habit in the next six months. They even sell the yucky nail polish there in the office when we're ready to try it.

It must have been a good experince for Reagan, since she has started brushing her teeth multiples times each day now.

Birthday Countdown

Only about six months left to plan the best birthday parties ever! Better get started.

Two Roads Diverged...

Remember that poem by Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken? "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and sorry I could not travel both and be one traveler, long I stood and looked down one as far as I could to where it bent in the undergrowth..." Okay, so that was from memory, so don't sue me if I don't have all the puctuation correct. The point of the poem is that the traveler takes the road that looks the least worn--the uncommon path--and it makes an amazing difference in his life.

I've been thinking a lot lately about the paths we each take. I recently discovered some bizarre twists that took place in the lives of some of my college acquaintences. These discoveries were the result of some random web searches. Some of these people have become quite successful, but it's a strange, twisted success that I can't really go into. (I went to a conservative Christian college, remember? They are NOT living conservative lives!) Others have achieved only moderate success, and in the process have abandoned who they once were--one of them very literally: he changed his name!

I wonder what old acquaintences would think of me today? Would they think it's kinda cool that I'm a writer and that my words are now in print for all to see? Or would they find it disappointing that someone with a degree in vocal performance who lives in Music City isn't doing anything more with that opportunity than singing with the praise team on Sunday mornings? (Note: I'm not dissing the praise team. Singing for the "audience of One" is more important than any other performance.)

I struggle with my mission...my vision...my life's calling. I love being a mother more than anything, and I see that as my first priority, but I wonder if I'm doing enough with my life. I seem to always take the "safe" road--the one that offers financial security and a dental plan. I have so many interests that sometimes it's hard for me to define my passions. I tend to be a dabbler--do one thing for a while and then move on to the next. (Of course with the two girls, I don't seem to have the time or energy to do much dabbling.)

I've never worried about having a job. I know there are dozens of things I can do, and even do well. But what do I want to do? What was I meant to do? It still eludes me, and I stay on the safe path.

But I haven't given up the search. Someday I'll find the uncommon path that has my name on it. Just wait.

Sweet Big Sister

Reagan is really becoming the sweet big sister we knew she could be. Now that she realizes that Presley is indeed staying and we're not replacing her with the baby chicken Reagan requested, I think the big sister instinct is finally kicking in. Reagan wants to hold Presley and often walks past and pats her baby sister's head. She also enjoys getting in Presley's face and letting baby sister indulge in her favorite pasttime: pulling hair.

Of course, warming up to her baby sister hasn't stopped Reagan from requesting other diversions. So far she wants the aforementioned baby chicken, a real Mackey dog, and a pig just like Wilbur. Explanation on the Mackey dog: We once owned a Sheltie named Mackey that we had to give to another home when he became aggressive when Reagan was a baby. We bought her a stuffed version so that she would always remember him. The pig reference is probably in response to our recent viewing of Charlotte's Web. Not sure where the idea for the baby chicken came from.

Seriously, Enough

So we went back to the pediatrician on Monday with both girls. Presley had been running a fever since late Saturday night, and Reagan started running one Monday morning. It turns out that Presley STILL has an ear infection, so she's on another round of antibiotics.

Reagan seemed fine by the time we got to the doctor, and her fever was gone. He said she probably just had a little virus. On Tuesday morning, she threw up a few times, so I called the doctor (because it was green, and that's on the list for "call the doctor"). They said to keep a watch on her--see if her fever comes back and/or she vomits enough to get dehydrated. By 10 AM, she was already feeling pretty well and asked if she could go to dance class (sadly, it had already started).

We're on our way to preschool after a much-too-long-for-Mama's-taste Christmas break. Reagan's "boyfriend" Curry is with us. We'll be dropping him off on Wednesdays, since his Mom has to leave for work before drop-off time. Reagan, of course, loves playing hostess to her best little friend.