Giggles

Get a load of these giggles ... how can you look at that and not smile? That's why I get up in the morning and the last thing I see even after I close my eyes at night.
She gets those giggles when she feeds the family dog. Just as she did this morning. Today it was day-old-popcorn. Traci (the family dog) didn't mind and neither did Audrey as she threw handfuls on the floor in the living room while I finished getting ready for work. (You do what you have to do to get 5 more minutes in front of the bathroom mirror in the mornings, right?)
It's the time of year to "give thanks" for our blessings. She is my #1 blessing and I am forever thankful for her. That she's mine, she's healthy, she's smart, she's strong, she's absolutely perfect! Thank you. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

In Memory of My Friend

I want to dedicate today's post to the memory of my friend. I have been spending my free time the past year and a half with either my sister or my friend, Heidi Vaughn. And I just don't accept that she is gone from my life so suddenly. If anyone has a direct link to God's wisdom, please enlighten me. I know all the usual answers "everything happens for a reason" or "it was her time". But I will not accept that in this case. I know in my heart that she had a better purpose to serve on this earth, in her home with her son than up in heaven. I also know that I will miss her "good morning" IMs and I'll terribly miss our days spent scrapbooking together. And our lunches at McAlister's ... she loved their Chicken Tortilla soup. And our traditions we started this year: the Creating Keepsakes Convention in Nashville in the spring, the QVC 24 hour Silver Day on March 1st, and our Christmas photos of our children together in the mall. We were supposed to go to Archiver's this weekend and scrap/shop/sleep late all weekend. And we wanted to take our kids to Disney World together someday. All I can do now is remember the smiles and laughs that we shared. I miss you already my friend! I hope you have peace.

2 years already?

My baby's not a baby anymore. Isn't the 2nd birthday the universal transition from infancy to toddlerhood? I wasn't ready for it. But it happened anyway. We are managing so far. But we have our moments. Like yesterday, for example, when my "toddler" insisted on walking out to the car when I picked her up at the sitters. But she wanted to walk in the opposite direction of our car. So after offering her a choice of a) walk towards the car or b) momma carries you to the car, she chose c) throw a screaming/kicking fit all the way to the car! If there was an option "d" I didn't see it at that moment. I am open to suggestions!