Lack of Organization = Stressed out Momma

As I was getting ready for work this morning, it dawned on me that I am literally half way through this pregnancy...already! And it also dawned on me that I have totally slacked on taking pictures and writing down "important" dates/stats/appts. in a pregnancy calendar (which I have yet to even purchase!). I have not been as organized this second time around...and you know that's stressing me out!

But to help me remember what I will need to "back-date" in her calendar...here are a few highlights of this pregnancy:

• pregnancy test result: Nov. 22nd
• 1st doctor's appt: Jan. 10th
• 2nd doctor's appt: Feb. 14th...gained a total of 8 pounds since the very beginning
• we're having a GIRL (sonogram on Feb. 25th)
• felt her move at 16 weeks...the movements are much more faint and less frequent than what I remember the first time around
• started wearing maternity pants at 19 weeks
• morning sickness subsided at 15 weeks
• heartburn is still occurring (but no longer daily)
• ended my first pregnancy with "pregnancy carpal tunnel" and can already tell that my hands and fingers are becoming tingly and swollen :(

Yes! I already feel much more organized. :) And...I vow to purchase my pregnancy calendar tonight. Maybe that "promise" will help me remember. Speaking of things to remember...I must remember to pick up my prenatal vitamin refill tonight. Or better yet...I must remember to call in my refill....like...NOW (before I forget)!

Bye!

Discipline.

Ugh! Discipline. We've got to, right?!

Although Rylie looks like the most preciously sweet and innocent little girl...take if from her mommy...she is! She's just as perfect as they come. She listens to every thing we say. She never shouts "no!" And she never pushes our buttons...ever!

Ha! Who am I kidding?! Just at one single glance, you can tell that our beautiful daughter is as ornery as they come. RUBY!!!! Have you been praying for a pay back? :) Because, according to my mom, I was an angel. :)

But, unforunately, Rylie's ornery behavior has caused me to feel a bit convicted (shouldn't that be the other way around?). Maybe convicted isn't the right word. But allow me to explain.

When Rylie acts out, rebels, throws a fit, shouts no!, or does anything that warrants some form of discipline, we don't just turn our back and pretend she isn't acting that way. We believe in firmly voicing our disapproval. We believe in time-out. We believe in spankings (I think). But it's the spankings that causes me to feel convicted. It leaves me questioning our method of discipline and wondering if it was just a lack of patience on our part. Is that even a method that we want to continue to use?! And if so, why does it affect me the way it does?! I understand that most parents don't enjoy spanking their children. But this has been on my mind a lot lately so I felt the urge to blog about it. And if anyone has any advice they would like to share...feel free. We're kind of new at this...given that Rylie is our first child to reach the "terrible-two's." And we've never claimed to be "parenting-pros."

Anyway...

I highly doubt that we become non-spanking parents (that sounds weird, lol!). But honestly, I have found that Rylie reacts better to her "discipline" if I get down to her level, speak in a very firm but quiet voice, explain what she is doing wrong and ask her to act differently. Most of the time, I have to remove her from the atmosphere that we are in so that it's just the two of us...she focuses better this way! HOWEVER, she is becoming even more stubborn than she was before. And sometimes, she reacts by arching her back while simultaneously screaming and crying and flinging her arms up in an attempt to squirm out of my hands and go back to the very thing that she isn't supposed to be doing in the first place. Whew! Now what?! We first threaten spankings. And if that doesn't help...we follow through (because I have learned from Super Nanny that follow-through is the most important part of discipline- I LOVE her!). But even though our spankings are controlled, I still can't rid the idea that a spanking might not be an effective way to discipline (for us, anyway). It bothers me. But I also want to raise our children to listen. Respect. And to behave in a nice and civilized way. Ahhhhh!!!! In most cases, I believe in avoidance. Please don't confuse this with avoiding the discipline that should follow a bad behavior. What I mean is that if a parent knows that a child doesn't behave well in certain atmospheres or during certain times throughout the day...avoid that situation. Some parents may feel that this method doesn't teach them anything and it certainly doesn't teach them how to act properly in those situations. But really...how fair is it to place your child in a situation that you already predict will cause reason for discipline? However, I will contradict myself here and say that there are times that a parent has no choice but to take their child(ren) to a place that they predict may cause misbehavior. And then, the parent is left feeling anxious and nervous during the entire time they are there because they don't exactly know how their child(ren) will react. Then what?! :)

Wow! This parenting stuff is hard. But then again...I am an over-thinker.

Mommy's Intuition

By the off chance that you have been stocking my blog and are just aching to know...

we are having another little...

GIRL!

If we lived closer...I would totally make cute little cupcakes, "stuff" them with pink filling, and hand-deliver them to our parents. But unfortunately, they had to find out through a boring text message or phone call. Boo! :(

Cravings.

• hot fudge sundae from Braum's (no almonds, light on the fudge, extra cherry)
• cereal...lucky charms, captain crunch berries, apple jacks, fruity pebbles (the more sugar the better)
• McAlister's Deli's ham melt (hold the tomato, mustard, and mayo please); side of mac-n-cheese
• bologna sandwich (weird, I know!)
• cucumbers, sunflower seeds and ranch dressing
• pizza
• El Dee Grande nacho supreme (too bad this requires a 4 hour drive to my hometown)

and probably my most craved item...

• stuffed jalapenos

Blue or Pink?

Tomorrow's the day.

Come 7:30am...we should know if Rylie will have a little sister or a little brother. :)

~Mr. Hollywood~

If I was given only one word to describe my husband...that word would be loyal.

I chose that word because not only does it describe the type of husband and father he is, but it also describes the type of employee he is. And I am such a proud wife when it comes to my husband and his career! Take it from me...he is the type of person that every boss loves to hate. They love him because he makes them look good. But they hate him because they know that they will eventually be working for him. :) And it's his loyalty that has earned him that reputation.

He is one of the most dedicated and committed persons I know. When he signs up for something, you know that things will get done. And not only will they get done as soon as possible. But they will get done the right way. It must be true when they say you "marry your father"...because that sounds just like my daddy!

Brian is not only loyal to his company...but he's good at what he does for a living. His management instincts are just that...they're instinctive. You either have it. Or you don't. And he has it!

Although his employees like to give him a hard time...they know that he can make things happen! They trust him completely and know that if it's going to happen, it's going to happen to Brian. :) Which is why nobody was surprised when my husband was selected to be a part of the new commercial airing for their company! Yes, yes...that's right. I'm married to a star! :) They are flying him out and he will spend some time being treated like a VIP while taping the commercial. I just hope he doesn't expect the same when he returns home (I kid, I kid).

But in all seriousness. I am so very proud of him! Now, if Rylie and I can just manage to squeeze ourselves into his suitcase during the flight, we can make a family-vaca out of this!

{Lifted Feet}

With much more emotion than I expected, we closed on the sell of our first home on January 31st. But because we are still living in the house...it just doesn't feel real to me (yet, anyway). And although I'm extremely excited about the possibilities of our new home...I'm currently caught up in a mixture of feelings. I know and trust that God has a plan for our family and I ask for His help and seek His direction every single day. But for the past month, Brian and I have been dragging our feet. And if you know us at all...you already know that isn't like us. We typically have a plan before taking the very first step. If I'm being real here (which I always am)...we can't even go through weekends without creating a "game plan". No joke. :)

Needless to say, I was a bit confused as to why we were dragging our feet so much. Things just weren't moving forward. We couldn't agree on location. Or size. Or floor plan. Or builder. He wanted this. I wanted that. But as I continued to pray for direction and for peace and comfort if His will was discovered, things suddenly took a "right" turn last weekend and it appears as though we might be moving forward. We found a lot that we both like that was "for sale by owner". It's an acre and a half located in a quiet and charming little addition. And mommy and daddy earned bonus points when Rylie discovered (very quickly, I might add) the playground and splash pad right across the street!

The lot was a bit more than what we were planning on spending...but good news followed and the seller accepted our first offer (which put it smack-dab in the middle of our budget). We signed a contract with "our" builder and he went to work negotiating all terms, on our behalf. It's still not finalized...but at least our feet have been lifted. And if all goes well, our builders should break ground at the first of March. Yes...if you've already counted the months...you know that (more than likely) we will have a newborn during this next move. Which will be interesting, to say the least.

Prayers welcome!