The Case of the Non Existent Chicken Pox

Let me just start off by saying "WOW!" You guys are incredible! I wrote a spurt of the moment soapbox post yesterday about life choices and the risk of cancer for World Cancer Day. You guys read it, "liked it," "shared it" and encouraged this mama in the process! I was blown away by the support and I can't thank you enough for that. 

I spent last night attempting to watch the most recent Pretty Little Liars episode (I'm leaning towards Toby, Mike or MAYBE even Aria being A, thoughts? Why is this SO hard to figure out?!). I say attempting because Avery is battling us BIG TIME about going to bed again. This has been a struggle since she was, I dunno... 6 weeks old?! If it's not one thing it's another. She's hungry. She needs water. She needs a book. She's afraid of the dark. Her fish is swimming too loudly (Hattie, her beta, must only be vocal at night) Her doll needs me. She's afraid of monsters. She hears noises outside. She needs to go potty. She needs clean sheets.  She needs to brush her teeth again. Her baby doll needs to brush her teeth. Her baby doll needs a pull up. She needs to make sure we're in bed..... We thought we had heard it all.

...UNTIL....

Avery has now diagnosed herself with chicken pox. Thanks Doc McStuffins.

Don't you see all those chicken pox?! Yeah. Me either.

The last 3 nights she says she's covered in red bumps, they're itchy and she has a case of the chicken pox. She will even scratch herself. Did you know that the cure for chicken pox is that you can't go to sleep?! My 3 year old told me so, so obviously it's true.

We have tried baths, lotions, giving her "medicine" (her nightly vitamin), talking to her about it like she's a tiny adult, looking up pictures of chicken pox and comparing her non-poxy skin and even time out for being dramatic and not listening. 2-3 hours for the last 3 nights have been dedicated to convincing my child that she does not, in fact, have chicken pox. I'm not gonna lie, it's a little bit cute. I know this will pass so I'm laughing about it behind her back but by hour 2.... mama's gonna need you to go to sleep. 

We finally resorted to calling "Dr Smolen's nurse, Susan" AKA my sister, Kelly, in Brooklyn who advised her to put on some lotion and sleep it off. It worked the first night but these darn chicken pox flair back up at 7:30pm the next night. It's that the craziest thing?! Thankfully, nurse Susan works late.

Once Avery falls asleep, she'll sleep until 9:30am which continues the late night cycle so today, I woke her up at 7:30. She's a sleepy, cranky, pill today that I've had to dress extra cute with a big bow to tolerate. I've seriously considering shipping her to anyone's house that will keep her alive for the day but I'm gonna tough it out and try an earlier bed time tonight. I'm pretty sure the mini bundt cakes and cupcakes on today's list of things to make will turn that scowl upside down ;)

I tell you this for a few reasons. 1. Because it is ridiculously cute and hilarious.    2. It is equally annoying and exhausting     3. I want to remember these days and her imagination     4. HELP!!!

Has anyone ever successfully broken a pattern of increasingly imaginative excuses? Do I want to break the pattern of excuses? Do I just secretly enjoy this precious time with her being young and adorable? I vaguely remember Parker having a hard time going to sleep but never with this much dramatic flair. Now, I could tell him at 4pm to go sleep on a bath mat and he would. They're just different kids. Motherhood can be so conflicting!

Am I the only one battling night time excuses? Commiserate with me... or encourage me... or give me your phone number and become a fake night nurse... Nurse Susan isn't as available on the weekends. 

 ......................................................................................................................................

On a totally unrelated note, I'm hosting a Matilda Jane party at my house tomorrow, Friday the 6th at 6pm-the bundt cakes and wine run out. I'd love for you to come! Absolutely no pressure to buy anything! Grab your kids and come over for a night of juice boxes and cupcakes for the kids and wine and bundt cakes for the ladies.  Email me at tlcarr7@yahoo.com for more information. If you can't make the party, you can still order through my trunk keeper. I've linked the new line here. Let me know if you see anything you'd like to order! 

Natural Bloom Photography Shoot

I can't wait to share Parker's birthday party pictures with you but I know that's going to be a lengthier post so until there is time, I wanted to share some fun pictures a local photographer took. 

Remember the lady I met in Old Navy that I overwhelmed with my "shocking enthusiasm" for all things photography? Well, we met up one morning 2 weeks ago and snapped a few springy pictures for the photographer's media pieces. It was the day after daylight savings so we were a little off on the "good light" but still got quite a few keepers. 

It was a tad chillier than we had hoped since winter just doesn't seem to want to let go but Avery was a trooper for the most part. It's amazing what bubbles, balls and whacking your head with a stick while dancing behind the photographer will get you!

I love this Persnickety outfit! Girl clothes are SO fun!

 This is Avery's default face... we see this face MANY times during the day. Sassy little thing!

 I picked Avery up to change her outfit and she latched on like a Koala... could be because it was like 40 degrees. Thankfully, any time Avery has a photoshoot, I always coordinate in case I need to be in any pictures to get her to smile or keep her safe (ie, heights, in a tree etc...)

 I love my sweet girl!

 I finally got the little booger changed but she wouldn't let me put her down! I certainly didn't mind the snuggles :)

 This floral dress is from Cheeky Plum on facebook. They have sales as they have inventory but you better be fast! They sell out in minutes! A similar company I've also been purchasing from lately is SweetHoney. Their outfits sell out in 1 minute or less.... literally! It gets my heart pumping... so really, online shopping with them is basically cardio! Check them out... or don't.... I wouldn't want you decreasing my chances of scoring one of these pretty frocks!

Target of all places is rocking it out this spring with adorable little girl shoes! 

 I hope she always lets me hold her like this. When I'm 60, I hope my 34 year old daughter will let me pick her up and she'll snuggle into my neck. You think I'm kidding...

It wouldn't be a photoshoot with a 2 year old without an outtake or 12....

Sorry I'm not sorry for photo overload. I'll never get tired of blasting this blog with pictures of my treasures from heaven! 

If you're in the Charlotte area and are looking for an affordable family photographer, check out Natural Bloom Photography!

Mermaid Hair

When I was pregnant, I told Daniel that when Avery's head came out to please clip a bow into it. I wasn't kidding. Sadly, Avery was born via c section and Daniel wasn't even in the OR... so 8 hours later, after a brief stint in the Medical Intensive Care Unit ('cause I like to try to die when having babies... fun times) I finally got to see my sweet little red headed beauty. She was naked and bowless and I was pissed. How dare my baby go 8 hours without a bow and a something pink!?! I mean for heaven's sake, I brought 14 bows to the hospital. No lie... 14.

After a quick kiss, I slapped a bow on that wisp of red hair and we began our relationship as mother and daughter. I have to admit; however, that I've longed for her to have long mermaid hair. Like fire engine red, Ariel hair that I could curl and brush with a fork... well not really the fork part but you get it... long, red locks. 2 1/2 years later, Avery's rocking approximately 1-3 inches (depending on what part of her hair we're talking about) of fine, not so mermaid hair. I have to believe that Ariel also had no hair until she was 3 and then she woke up one day with that coif. It makes me feel better. It's coming... eventually... I believe in you pretty hair fairy!

Today, Avery was sitting still eating Lucky Charms... except the off brand... 'cause $4.99 for a box of the real stuff is a crime. Mom of the year, I know. Anyways, she was still and I was brushing her mullet hair and spraying it with my magic Sauve kids leave in conditioner that helps her hair not stand straight up like she put her finger in a light socket when I began to think that MAYBE ... just maybe... I could put it in pig tails. Get excited y'all because......

TADA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Naturally, I proceeded to follow her around the house taking pictures and posting them to instagram because THIS was a moment 2 1/2 years in the making! I know this is vain. Really, I do. But I was SO excited. I have had serious hair envy. Ask Tabitha, who texted me a picture at 3am of her newborn baby with more hair than my 10 month old had. I believe my text back was "screw you!" followed by "and congratulations! She's beautiful!" 

I'm aware that technically only half of her hair is in pig tails because the top is seriously maybe 1 inch and I can barely pry it off her scalp but let's just take a moment to celebrate because OMG she's precious!!! So here are 7 of the 60+ pictures I took of Avery on our walk today in pigtails.... covered in some delicious Red Bowl chicken and broccoli. Obviously, taking pictures BEFORE taking a 2 year old to eat Chinese food makes more sense but when your husband says "wanna go out to eat?" I hear "wanna not have to cook" and I jump in the van before he changes his mind.

The cutest thing you've ever seen, right?! I thought so. 

Now off to buy pigtail bows! HUZZAH!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Avery!

Avery Madison, tomorrow you are 2 years old! Tonight, as usual, you "went to bed with Parker" and then 5 minutes later appeared in my room, ready to be rocked and put to sleep in your own bed. I sang through all 3 stanzas of your "go to" bed time song "All Creatures of Our God and King" (more on that later!) then sang "Come thou Fount," followed by "Doxology" but I just wasn't done snuggling you tonight! Randomly, "Great is Thy Faithfulness" came to mind and you closed your beautiful green/blue eyes and fell asleep. What a perfect song to fall asleep to on the night before we celebrate your 2nd birthday! You and your brother are my miracle babies, the loves of my life and the answers to my most desperate prayers! "Great is Thy faithfulness Lord unto me!" Amen!

The last month has been my favorite month ever with you! You are in the sweetest stage! Within the last 2 days, you've started calling us "mommy and daddy" instead of "mama and dada." We LOVE it! You know how to work your eyes to get what you want. Your facial expressions are classic. At the beach last week, when you wanted a bite of poppi's Klondike, you slowly walked over to his chair and put your chin and cheeks in your hands in the most angelic pose you could muster. It worked! We still giggle about that! Where did you learn it?! I am soaking in every moment with you lately! Please never stop being this sweet!

You talk up a storm and if you don't know the word, you take my hand and take me to what you want. You have a high pitched, girly voice. I need to do better about video taping you! You answer most questions asked of you. You frequently use the words "mommy, daddy, stuck, oh no, it broke, a snack (anything to do with food, really), bye bye, and I pooped." We're so smitten with you!

You are 20lbs and 31 inches tall. You wear a size 3 diaper when you wear one but you're still doing pretty well going on the potty. Clothing you is becoming difficult. You have a size 6-9 month waist, 18 month torso and 12-18 month length pants. Needless to say, you're the queen of dresses or seperates. Dressing you is still my most fun hooby!

You FINALLY sleep through the night. We've found a nice routine that works for us. You take a bath (your favorite time of the day!), watch 1 Curious George episode in my bed and then we read a story with Parker in the guest room. You like the Thomas book that sings "The wheels on the bus" and any Curious George book. We kiss Parker goodnight and then go to your room. We rock in your chair and you fail around until I sing "All Creatures of Our God and King." I have tried every song I know and this is the ONLY song that calms you down. I have NO idea why! I was so hoping you would love "You are My Sunshine" like I did as a child but when I sing it, you point at me and yell "NO!" Apparently, you like hymns before bed and that's just fine by me (although I'll admit sometimes I have to google the lyrics to the lesser known stanzas!). You usually sleep 7:30 or 8 until 6:15ish. Sometimes you'll crawl into my bed in the morning and snuggle me, fading in and out for a bit.... those are my favorite mornings!

You are the most amazing climber I've every seen for your age! I'm not exagerating. You're scary good. You're also an adventurous eater who grazes all day long and is eating me out of house and home. You're a typical sweet/spicy red head who lives by a "no bow, no go" policy. You light up a room and are a blessing to all who know you!

 

Avery Madison, you are my littlest love. I kiss your sweet face all day long! Although I feel like you were only a baby for 9 months, you will always be my precious baby girl! I am so proud of the sweet toddler you've become and can't wait for you to wake me up in the morning with your famous bear hugs! I love you, Avie!

The many faces of Avery Madison

If you're my facebook friend, you probably saw all 60, yes 60, pictures of Avery and my walk today. I cannot keep this girl inside. Today, while Parker was in school, we took a stroll along the walking trails in our neighborhood. She was being such a ham that I grabbed my camera. I'm so glad I did! I got some great smiley shots of her but today I wanted to share "the many faces of Avery." While I CHERISH the beautiful pictures of my smiling, perfectly self-posed, little girl, there is just something about the silly "out takes" that I adore!

This is the face she made when she noticed that other people were on "her" walking trails!

This is "The Avery"... the pursed lips and furrowed brows.

Which turns into this face moments later!

She's easily distracted by birds...

And finds wonder in falling leaves.

She's full of life and endless giggles.

I love our little nature walks together! I am SO smitten with this little girl!