Wordless Friday

Quick Update

We are still around.  I have a lot of posts floating around in my head, but this one will likely be short.  I have taken a little break from the ole' blog for a few reasons.  First of all, I just needed a break and since it is within my power to impose such "breakness" I decided to do so.  Secondly, I spend most of my time at home, reminding Rory to go potty.  Haha! 

Here is a quick 5 for you to give you a quick update on what has been happening in our house lately. 

1.  We did 3 day potty training over July 4th weekend.  I didn't buy the book, but read a lot online about how to do it and read what other Moms had said about it.  I wound up using a hybrid of a bunch of different methods and also just going with what I felt would work best for Rory. It was rough, but it worked.  Rory still has accidents, but luckily, she is pretty good with it.  I bought a bunch of prizes for her to get to pick from, this was one of them...

I swore I would not buy this licensed, character crap...but it got her excited to go potty, so I did it...once.  She gets really mad if I tell her that it is a night gown and suggest that she wear it to bed.  Like REALLY mad!  To her, it is a dress...only a dress...no sleeping involved. I will do a detailed post on Potty Training, and how I did it, soon. (sorry for the fuzzyness, excited toddler+camera phone = blurry pics)

2.  Rory is crazy talkative...like comes out with stuff at the craziest times.  The other night, we were in Decatur for a Memorial Svc and my cousin Caroline's baby shower, and Mom and I were trying to get her to go to sleep.  She is laying in the bed, just chatting away and all the sudden, she sits up and says "Mommy, I am medium done with this sleeping."  Mom and I about lost it. 

3.  Kevin and I had been looking at bike trailers for a while, but wow...they are expensive.  We were at Target about 3 weeks ago (one of our tester trips after Potty Training where we knew where the bathroom was and if she had an accident, not that big of a deal) and found a Schwinn trailer on clearance for a steal.  It converts to a jogging stroller too.  It is awesome and Rory LOVES it...it is quite a work out!

Of course, Gymbo and Baby Meredith and the juice sippy had to go too.  Look at her little beat up toddler legs, bless her heart.

 4.  We are gearing up for our trip to the beach in September.  Rory asks every day if we are going to the beach today.  Sweet girl...she has no concept of tomorrow, let alone September.

5.  I have started looking at stuff and trying to get ideas for stuff for Rory's 3rd Birthday Party in December.  I have it narrowed down to 2-3 themes to choose from.  I know that my years of getting pick a cutsie theme are numbered and before long, she will be in full on 'licensed character theme' parties.  So I am enjoying it while I can.

For Dad

I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good
 

It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made from what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend...

Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?

But because I knew you

I have been changed for good.

This is the best recording I could find of it.  Ignore the video...just go with the words.  I think that it is so appropriate that it is from Wicked...

Dad,

I can't believe that it has been 4 years. This has been the strangest journey.  One I didn't think that I had it in me to make when we began 4 years ago.  Every moment, of every day, I love you so much. 

All my love,

Fritz.

Conversations with Rory

Here are few from lately.

On our way home from church 2 Sundays ago
L: Rory, did you have a good time at church?
R: Yes, I did
L: What did you learn in Sunday School?
R: God made pizza
L: He did?  What else?
R: AND CHEESEBURGERS!!!!
---
Same day, at the table, during lunch.
R: Daddy, what is God doing?
K: I don't know, what is God doing Rory?
R: He is outside mowing the grass.
K: (to me) I think that we need to take her to church more she thinks that God is the Pizza man who mows our yard.
---
In discssing her new big girl bed
L: Rory, I love your new big girl bed, are you going to sleep in it tonight?
R: No I am not.  I am too little, I am just a little tiny baby.
L: You are a big girl, in your own big girl bed.  It is going to be so fun!
R: No Mommy, I want the stripes back on my bed. (that would be the slats...aka the other side of the crib).
---
Yesterday at nap time.
L: Rory it is time to take a nap.
R: No, it is not, I am not taking a nap.
L: Yes, you are, let's go get in your bed.
R: (while getting in her bed) I am not tired Mommy, I am just really grumpy.
L: Well, taking a nap will solve that too.
---
L: Rory, lets clean up a little bit, take all your books and put them back on the bookshelf in your room please.
R: (looking at me like I am crazy) Seriously, Mommy that is a lot of books.
---
Yesterday while sitting on the couch watching Sleeping Beauty.
R: Mommy, that is Sleeping Beauty
L: Yes, Rory, it is.
R: Sleeping Beauty is very pretty, like me.
L: Yes, she is very pretty, just like you.  Do you know Sleeping Beauty's name?
R: Yes...I do
L: Well, what is it?
R: A-Rory, see just like me, we are the same
---
Overheard while I was in the kitchen loading the dishwasher.
R: Nellie, come here
(few seconds later, more loudly)
R: Nellie, come here...just be still...this won't hurt a bit.
(I knew this might not be good...I inch to the edge of the kitchen to look around the corner - Nellie is sitting looking at Rory and Rory has the handle to her broom in her hand)
Rory bops Nellie on the head
R: Abra Dabra-you are Nellie the frog.
(perplexed look)
R: Nellie you are a funny looking frog...lets try Ruby...
---
Last weeks lesson at church was on Noah.  She came home with the little worksheet that they had done on Noah...complete with illustrations showing Noah with a full white beard and robes.
L: Rory, who is this on your worksheet from church?
R: That is Ga-Noah-e-o, he rode in a boat
(Clearly, she is confusing the pronunciation of Noah with Gnomeo from Gnomeo and Juliet)
L: That is Noah, God told him to build an ark.  Do you remember who else was on the ark with Noah?
R: ....(thinking)....Mommy and Daddy aminals and his wife Juliet.
L: Rory, I don't think his wife's name was Juliet, wrong story.

Some pics

(I haven't edited any of these, it is too late for me to trudge through them now, so you are getting them Sooc, flaws and all-be warned!) As I mentioned in my post earlier today, Little Miss climbed out of her crib  instead of taking her nap.  Truthfully, we are lucky that she has slept in a crib and not climbed out and she is 2.5.  Sooo...today, when I got home, I converted her crib to a toddler bed.  After a quick trip to Target to get a pool noodle to keep her from rolling out, we are 2 hours into her first night in her big girl bed.

Hopefully, all will go well.  She was pretty excited to be in her big girl bed.

I got the bin of my old dance costumes out the other weekend,  They were a BIG hit.  Now if we can just get her potty trained, we can enroll her and she can get her OWN costumes.

We played in the pool the weekend between the 2 weeks of sickness.  So cute!

That is all for tonight.  Goodnight everyone!

Breaking News

News Flash...Guess who climbed out of the crib during her nap today?  Yep...little Miss Sassy Britches!  This should get interesting!

10 on Tuesday

We are still alive, it has been a wild few weeks, but hopefully everything is getting back to normal and I can begin blogging more again.

1. Rory had a fever virus for a week.  SHe was pitiful and it concluded with a wicked awesome rash...not fun, but short lived thank goodness.
2. The week AFTER the fever virus.  We wound up in the ER because Rory had a UTI.  If you haven't ever had to hold your 2 year old down for them to put a catheter in, you aren't missing anything....trust me.
3. I had a great birthday!  I am officially 31...crazy!  I got a new washer and dryer... You know you are old when a washer and dryer is an appropriate bday present! 
4. Rory is full on in the 2 year old attitute at the moment.
5. I asked R what she learned at church on Sunday and she said "God made pizza." 
6. We have been doing some minor home improvement projects around the Humphrey house, more to come this weekend. 
7. Tinkerbell brought Rory a pouch of pixie dust in exhange for her pacies...PLEASE let this one stick! So far, so good.
8. I need a vacation!  We are SLAMMED at work!
9. Having trouble getting 10.
10. I haven't taken any pics in a week or two.  That is the longest that R has gone with no pics being taken!  Poor kid...right?

Thoughts

I have heard a lot of reporting this week of people who think that the Rapture is going to occur tomorrow, 5/21/2011.  This coupled with the things that Pres Ob@ma has said about Israel, have really made me begin to think.  This may cost me some readers, but that is OK, this is what has been laid on my heart to share, and I am going to do it.

We live in a fallen world.  No doubts about that.  The wages of war and corruption surround us.  I am the first to admit that I don't keep and obey what God has instructed us in the Bible nearly as well as I should.  I do however, know that we have a loving and gracious God.  No matter our ways, no matter our sins, we are forgiven through the blood of Jesus Christ.  What an amazing gift we have been given.  Even in times when I feel that all hope is lost, as long as the sun rises and sets, as long as the seas have depth and the winds have breath, all is not lost.  As it says in Phil 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me", there is always a way. 

Sometimes, it is very difficult for me to listen to the news or the radio or sometimes even being out in public.  There is so much heart ache and grief and people desperately looking for answers to their problems.  I admit, sometimes I find myself looking too.  The real answer is not to be found in money, or time or any other modern day solution, the answer is the same as it always has been.  Christ.  One man, 100% human, 100% God, 100% the answer. 

I admit that I am not nearly as forthcoming in sharing my faith as I should be. But today that changes.  I don't know if the end of days is tomorrow or far past my lifetime.  I do, however, know that I want to see all of you there.  God is good people, he will help you, protect you and keep you, but you have to be willing to ask him into your heart, and you have to be willing to allow him to change you.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. ² My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ⁴ You know the way to the place where I am going.”
 ⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
 ⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you really know me, you will know^[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14: 1-7)

God is good, all the time.  If you haven't asked him to be your Saviour, you should.

Conversations with Rory

(Sorry for the quality...it is a cell phone pic!)

Rory was sorting coins into a change purse.

L: Rory, what are you putting in the coin purse?

R: Pennies and Pickles

L: Do you mean Pennies and Nickles?

R: That is what I said Mommy, 'Pennies and Pickles

*

Tonight while snuggling on the couch preparing for bed

R: Dohn stan, Dohn stan, Dohn stan so cwowse to me

(I didn't know that she knew any 80s Police songs-this is all Kevin's influence, I am 100% sure)

*

Rory was sitting in the floor of our bedroom with a crayon and piece of paper.

L: Rory, what are you doing?

R: Nofin...just finkin of some new ideas

*

To Nellie (our yellow lab) when Nellie came up and licked Rory's cheek

R: Nellie, your mouth smells very cue-lar (peculiar)

*

At bedtime Friday night.

R: Mommy, you want to put me in my bed?

L:  Sure, are you ready to go get in your bed?

R: I am ready

L: Ok, lets go

-put her in the bed, covered her up and turned her music on.  It was a different CD than usually plays at night

R: Mommy, somefin is not right wif that music...Rory's music says 'Bum, Bum..laaaaaaaa...dee"

-I put her usual CD back in

R: Fanks Mommy, that is much better, now I can cwose my eyes and have supa sweet dreams

L: Ok, night night, sweet dreams Rory I will see you in the morning

R: Mommy I can't tell you good night because I am supa sleeping, cwose the door pwease

*

Rory walks into the living room, naked...

L: Rory, where are your clothes and diaper

R: They were dirty, you need to wash the wan-dree

L: I think that we need to put some clothes back on Rory

R: Mommy..(turns around with her back to me) dis is my boodie and it is naked

*

Also, she names all horses "Lauren (Wahr-ren)" and all bunny rabbits are named "Kevin"  Don't ask me, I have no idea why.

I love this baby more than I could ever have imagined.  My sweet baby.