Happy Birthday Stephanie

I know I am a little out of order with the posts, but hey at least I am posting. Stephanie turned 6 years old on January 4th. I cannot believe that she is already 6. I can remember like it was yesterday holding her in my arms for the first time. It has been 6 wonderful years and I am so proud of the young lady that she is becoming. Her heart is open and softening to the calling of the Lord and we pray that soon she will receive Christ as her Lord and Savior. We celebrated her birthday with a party at Monkey Joes. Because there was no school on Monday we actually had her party on that day. She invited a couple of friends from school and a couple from church. All the girls had a blast and we were so proud of Stephanie because she made sure to include everyone and they all played really well together even though they didn't all know each other.

Easy Bake or Not

Stephanie got an Easy Bake Oven for her birthday this year. We had been given one by a friend recently, but it was missing some of the necessary utensils. Stephanie has been bugging me ever since to get the trays so she could use it. After looking at the expense to replace the trays vs buy a new one, I opted to just buy her a new one for her birthday. I remember having one when I was little and I really liked it. Now I must tell you that Stephanie is not know for her fondness of sticking with me in the kitchen. She generally will get started with me and then decide that she is done(way earlier than the task is finished). This is very much unlike Katie who willingly sticks the entire process out! So, I got the Easy Bake Oven set up and we were ready to bake. She chose the yellow cake with the chocolate frosting after no little pressure from mommy that the sugar cookies were too adventurous for our first time. I tried really hard to not just do it all myself and to actually let her do most of it. I am thinking at this time that maybe this will encourage and spark her desire to be in the kitchen more! Well, as our adventure proceeds she begins to get a little frustrated. There was so little batter that it was a little difficult to get out of the bowl and into the pan. She of course decided that she would rather relinquish the duties to me, yet again. This time though I made her stick it out. The finished product in my opinion was not worth the trouble, a little too thin, and not so appealing looking. However, when asked today what she thought of her Easy Bake Oven, she stated that it was awesome. So, I guess that we will attempt this cooking experience again and maybe next time our cake will come out a little fluffier. Maybe we will even attempt the sugar cookies, sprinkles and all!

My first project as a kindergartener

If you are a mom and you have school age children then you will so understand this. Stephanie brought home her first 'project' just prior to Thanksgiving. Inside her folder I found this shape(supposed to be a turkey, but I had to be told that to figure it out) made out of poster board and a detailed letter from the kindergarten department explaining what she was supposed to do with it. The letter went something like this...'As a fun project we would like each child to decorate their turkey as either a pilgrim or an indian.....' So, hence began MY first kindergarten project as a 32 year old mom. Stephanie chose to decorate her turkey as pilgrim and while this required lots of my so called 'help', I must say that she did a rather good job. I of course had to find patterns for pilgrim clothes and then 'draw' them out. Now, if you know anything of my drawing skills then you know that this pilgrim was by no means dressed by the finest designer. Artist I am not!!!! Anyway, I then proceeded to cut them out and trace them on felt and then it was time for Stephanie to work her magic. She then cut the out herself and glued them to the 'turkey'. I believe that between the two of us we did a pretty good job given my lovely skills. I will say though that this was definitely a project that looked the work of a kindergarten rather than that of the professional. That's what it was supposed to be right? Never mind the fact that the mom did actually contribute a lot of help to the whole endeavor. As I said, I am no artist. Looks like I will have many opportunities though in the years to come to polish those certain skills that obviously missed during my own schooling years. Why you say? Well, I officially believe that I being said parent have entered into kindergarten again!

A tough adjustment

This has been a rough 3 months for us here. As everyone knows, Stephanie started kindergarten in August. What an adjustment that has been! We have had ups and downs since August, but recently I, and Chris, took a good look at the past 3 months and realized that we have really had a whole lot of downs and not so many ups at all. Ever since school started we have noticed a significant trend in rebellion for Stephanie, whining, crying etc. At one point I finally admitted that the hardest part of the day was the moment she arrive home from school. The question of what would set her off today was very prevalent in my ind and I never quite knew what to expect. She cried or whined about the littlest things, out right refused to do other things and was just rebellious. Getting dressed in the mornings was always a battle as was the evenings. I was missing my sweet Stephanie and experiencing a side of her that I really wasn't prepared for. All that said, I assumed that all of this was just the beginnings of a new stage, or just kindergarten in general. Now let me say also that Chris was out of town a good bit over the course of a month. This certainly didn't help with the attitude. That is not to say that I can't control my child, but there is definitely something to be said about a child who knows when they can press the limits! Well, as discouraged as I was, I refused to give up and just say that this was the way it was going to be. We recently decided after much prayer that it was time for Chris and I to step down from choir for a while. It was just getting too hard to be gone the extra night every week. I work on Wednesdays and it was just grueling on me to have to leave work, eat on the way to church and then wait until after church to see the girls only to merely bring them home and put them to bed. So we stepped down. Well, still after trying to slim down our activities and be home more I was still seeing the same response from Stephanie. So, I gave it some thought and talked it over with Chris and we decided to try and implement something else. We both agreed that while Stephanie denied being tired(I mean really, what 5 year old says they are tired?), that a lot of her attitude and rebellion had to be directly linked to exhaustion. We both agreed that as hard as this would be to do, we had to make a conscious effort to give it a try. So, we have now backed up bedtime to 7:30. This really means that most nights she is in bed by 8 with the occasional 830. But this is way better than 830-900 every night. Guess what? Yes, it has been successful. We have seen less temper tantrums, crying, whining, and much less rebellion. Now yes, daddy is no longer gone on trips which helps, but we both believe that a large part of the problem was just exhaustion. So, I say all this to say that we now have seen a return of our sweet, compliant Stephanie( for the most part!) and we are both so thankful. Now our challenge is to keep it up and make a habit before we throw a baby into the mix in just two short months!!!

Stephanie's First Day of Kindergarten

The day that I never thought would come finally arrived. I sent my oldest daughter to kindergarten on Monday. I cannot believe that time has flown by so quickly. I remember all the times people told me to savor every moment because they grow up so fast. I always thought to myself that I just couldn't wait to get to the point that they weren't under my feet all the time. Well I now understand all those words of wisdom. Stephanie was very excited about her first day of kindergarten. We woke her up and had her fed and dressed without any issues. We had decided that we would take her to school the first day and then let her ride the bus from then on. So, the four of us piled into the car and headed off. We got there and all was well. As we were hugging and kissing her goodbye, she started to cry(I am pretty sure that this was instigated by another little girl in the class who was already crying). Anyway, I took one look at my precious baby crying and I couldn't stop the tears. I decided that it was best at that point for me to kiss her and make my exit so as to to create anymore of a scene. So, I left her tender hearted, sensitive daddy to settle her in....For those of you who know Chris, you know that he is very tender and has a very special bond with Stephanie. He remained composed despite the tears that proceeded down his cheeks. We finally made our exit and all was well until we got in the car. It was at that point that I let the tears come. All Katie could say all morning was mommy don' cry anymore. I am happy that my little girl is growing up. It is just that all of a sudden I realized that she was no longer going to be under my watchful eye all the time. There was going to be someone else influencing her and others around her. I was no longer going to be able to steer her away from activities or conversations that I may deem inappropriate. I could no longer control what she said to others, the tone she used or whether or not she was being polite. So the lingering question was, 'Have I taught her what she needs to know up until this point?' Will she represent Christ? I know that she has not accepted Christ into her life yet, but would she remember to be a light for Jesus in the way that she knows how at this point? All of these questions ran thru my head and the only thing that I could do was to turn her over to GOd. I have always prayed for her safety and her salvation, but now I find myself lifting her up to Him many times a day. I think that yet again God is teaching me that I must do His will and teach my children His word and He will direct not only my path, but theirs as well. So, we are going on day #4 tomorrow and I believe that we will survive this difficult journey just as we have every other journey up until this point, but we must stay on our knees.

Stephanie's Preschool Program

Yesterday was Stephanie's preschool program. I don't like to call it a 'graduation' because that just sounds like something so 'old'. Anyway, the plan was that I was to drop the girls off at school at 9:30 and Chris was going to arrive from work to the school at 9:30 to watch the program. Since I had recently gone on the field trip with her, I was going to leave and go into work and just Chris was going to stay. No big deal. So I thought! So, we get there and I drop Katie off in her classroom after she screams and pitches a fit that she doesn't want the happy meal they are ordering her because she wants what I packed in her lunch box. (I might need to say that oops I forgot about the happy meals and packed her lunch). So, I left the lunch box just in case all while knowing that she would eat the happy meal when everyone else had one too. Anyway, back to the story....So we see Chris and I kiss Stephanie goodbye and proceed to leave the building as I watch all the moms and dads take their seats in the auditorium for the program. I get to my car and realize that there is absolutely no way that I can go to work at this point. I am beside myself that 1) my daughter is 'graduating' from preschool and 2) I have decided that it is no big deal for me to miss her 'graduation' program. Now mind you, there has been no guilt trip from Stephanie. She is perfectly happy to have daddy with her. Mommy on the other hand is not okay. So, I do the awful employee thing and call the boss and explain the situation and ask if it would be alright if I come in late. I go back inside and try to dry my eyes and I see my beautiful daughter exiting for the bathroom. She sees me and I pick her up and apologize, to which she doesn't understand...I explain that mommy should have never chosen work over her and I am sorry. She just says, "mommy, that's okay". So, I nearly made the worst mistake of motherhood yet(not the last I'm sure), but fortunately my instinct took over in time and I was able to be there for the first of many 'bigs' in my daughter's life. I say all this to say that I know that regardless of how great the program is or isn't, it is still a big deal to be there for every milestone in your child's life. I would have regretted and been so miserable if I had not stayed the extra 30minutes to see her program. I am so sad to see her done with this phase of life and I am so not looking forward to seeing her off to kindergarten next year. But I know that this too is part of growing up...for her and mostly for me!

Stephanie's Farm Field Trip

Yesterday was Stephanie's class trip to the farm. Every year the 4 years venture to a near by farm of a lady that goes to the church where their preschool is. She showed them all the animals she had and took them thru her vegetable and flower garden. At the end of the trip she took them thru her 'fairy' garden. She told the story of how the fairies only came out at night and they came out to sprinkle flower dust on the flowers to make them grow. In the garden there were lots of 'fairy' homes and one special door. This little wooden door was at the bottom of a tree and she told them that when they were done with their work at night they would go in thru the door and up into the tree where they lived. So each child passed by and took a look at the 'fairy door'. As we passed by Stephanie looked down there and she looked up at me and she said, 'mom, there's just and old tree behind that door'. I proceeded to ignore her thinking I would just talk to her about it at home. She said it a few other times until I finally whispered to her that it was make believe and then she just quietted up. I just thought about how much she is like me sometimes. It is rather scary! Stephanie and her best buddies at school There's no telling what they were saying that she was trying to convice them wasn't true! I have to admit that I really didn't know peacocks could fly. These peacocks were huge and they flew and perched themselves way up in the trees. The weren't exactly quiet either when they were doing it.

Stephanie's check-up

Today I took Stephanie to the doctor for her 5 year old check-up. She is growing up so very fast and is becoming quite a fine young lady. No shots today, just a hemoglobin stick, but you still would have thought she had had a shot. She didn't even cry until after the fact and then she just let on. She is such a drama queen. Here are her stats: 40 lbs 42 in I don't exactly remember her percentiles, but she is right around 50% on both. Dr. B. says she is doing great and very well proportioned. Sorry no pictures, but the computer has had to go to the hospital so we are surviving on the one upstairs(thanks Aunt V. for getting this one up and running for us--we never thought we'd actually have to depend on it!).

Happy Birthday Stephanie

Today is my sweet Stephanie's 5th birthday. I can hardly believe that she is 5 and will be starting kindergarten in August. We had her birthday party yesterday at the Family Y and she had a blast. It was a gymnastics party and they got to do several things in the gymnastics room. She was too cute and way to big to be my little girl. She is growing up to be a beautiful girl. She has a very tender heart and is very polite and kind. Her manerisms are changing every day(some which we like and others we don't like so much). She is excited to be 5 and can't wait to start kindergarten(I on the other hand can wait). Happy Birthday Baby. Check out those legs! A few of the party animals. My dad and stepmom came and were able to bring my step brothers two girls(these are Stephanie and Katie's only cousins) Stephanie on the balancing beam. Stephanie with two of her most favorite people.

Publish Post

Off the wall

Okay, Stephanie was sick a couple of weeks ago with her annual 'ring in the fall/winter' illness. In case you don't know this usually means we bump up the steroid inhaler again and go into 'winter mode'. Well, we never seem to bump the inhaler up until we realize that the nose has stopped running, but the cough just won't go away. So, once we realize this we increase her steroid and everything usually gets back to normal. Well, I took off to mom's for a short visit to see Disney on Ice on Thursday night. I realize while in the car that Stephanie just will not stop coughing. Seems like it was getting worse to me. I then remember that I have left the house without the nebulizer or the her albuterol (rescue) inhaler...I'm ju.st not in the habit of carrying them anymore since she doesn't generally need them. So, I get a little panicked that perhaps she might need a little albuterol to help that cough and I have NONE. So, I track down our pediatrician while in the coliseum(to see Disney on Ice) and have her call the medicine in to the local pharmacy(thankfully I had the spacer with me or else I would have been out of about $60 or so). So, we start the albuterol on Thursday night and continue to give it to her three time a day thru the weekend. Now we are at Sunday afternoon where my story really begins... While at the lunch table on Sunday, Stephanie has one foot in her chair and the other on the window sill. She will not stay still. I can't get ther to focus while I am going over her AWANA verses and she is just wild, to put it mildly. At this point I realize that all of this is from the albuterol(which I know this happens and I always forget since we rarely have to use it). The child was running thru the house, screaming, jumping all around, climbing on the window sill....come on this is so not Stephanie. Katie maybe, but not Stephanie! To top it all off when I finally figure it out I remember that the girls didn't go to sleep until 11pm on Saturday night!!!! Somehow it all makes since at this point to me. Her cough is gone and so Chris decided that we would stop it last night. I figured that she would be good today at school and then I arrive only to find out that she was defiant and was calling names today. She called a kid a poo poo diaper because she wanted to play with someone else(In case you are wondering this came from Dennis the Mennace which I will not allow her to watch again--I didn't realize that boy was so ugly!) I'm just glad that I opened the conversation up with her teacher(who is a good friend by the way) by asking if she was wild today...I just hope that this is all medicine related!!!!

My baby is growing up

Chris called today and wanted to talk to Stephanie. I called her downstairs and this is what happened during their conversation. I am having a really hard time dealing with this grown-up child. I have been told since day 1 of motherhood how quickly they grow up. I guess I just didn't think that it would happen to me. My oldest has become quite a grown up girl and I am sad.

Little Annette

Children sometimes have a way of making us aware of exactly what we say and do. For a lack of a better statement, they say and do exactly as we say and do. I often find myself listening to a 'tape recorder' and hearing verbatim what I know that I have said myself. The latest is this..."Katie, I can't hear you. You are mumbling" or "You have to speak up" This was the conversation that went on in the car tonight on the way home from church. It is so funny to listen to her say it back(although I do have to get on to her for trying to be the parent), but it definitely isn't funny when I am having to say it myself.

Gymnastics

Stephanie started gymnastics yesterday. She is taking a 7 week course at the Y. I wanted her to try and see if she liked it and then let her choose between gymnastics and ballet. I'll put her in some place close to us once we know what she will take. She did really well yesterday and enjoyed it. Her teacher wanted to know if she had ever taken before and said that she could probably move up to the next class. I'll keep her where she is for now since we are just trying it and this class is the best time for us. I was very proud of her though. I'll post pictures later of her doing her 'forward flips' and showing Katie how to do it. Katie was very upset when she realized that she couldn't stay at gymnastics too. She had already taken her shoes off like the rest of the kids and was ready to stay. I felt so bad. She cried for 5+ minutes. It is so tough being the little one.

Pre-K

Stephanie's first day of Pre-K was today. She woke up on her own at 8:30 this morning. I could tell that she was excited. She was extremely cooperative getting dressed this morning and didn't even finish her cereal, which rarely happens! When we got to school today, while I was signing her in, she went straight into her class. I had to ask her to tell me goodbye! Have I said lately that I really think she is growing up too fast!!

When I asked her what she had learned she told me that she had learned about the circle and that it goes around and around and never stops. It is so nice to be at the place where you ask them something about their day and they actually remember it! She must have had a good time because when we got home she was anxious to color one of her pages and do a few other "school" related activities. She even said while sitting at the table that she loves school. Chris and I both did too, so let's just hope this attitude keeps up!

Devotion Time

Last night during our devotion time, we we learning about the famine during the time of Joseph. When we got to the part where Joseph's brothers come to Egypt to find food, Chris asked Stephanie what she would do if she opened the refrigerator and there was no food? She said , "Well, I guess if I had a car and could drive, I would go to Walmart." Chris then asked her what she'd do if there was no food at Walmart. She said, "Well, I guess I'd go to Krogers." I guess you can tell where we shop! We of course used this as a teaching lesson that that was what the brothers were basically doing...looking everywhere for food. This just gave Chris and I a good laugh. It was just so funny listening to her tell what she would do. She is growing up way to fast!