Cake,"Candy", and Charcoal...

While I was helping my sister frost the birthday cake, Amelia was scrounging through drawers. She found some prescription pills and decided they were candy. In the two minutes it took Cory to call her, she stuck one in her mouth and clutched a second one in her hand. She came to his call immediately and showed him what she had discovered. A call to poison control told us to head to the ER. Once there, she was hooked up to an IV and fluids were pushed. To be safe that none of the medication had been ingested, she had to drink charcoal. YIKES! 45 minutes of pinning her down. A doctor holding her nose. A nurse putting syringes-full of charcoal down her throat. Spurting. Gagging. Screaming. And one sobbing mommy! She ended up with as much on her as went down her throat, but the doc was satisfied that she had enough. The poor baby proceeded to conk out for a few hours. They took us by ambulance to an ER across town that had more facilities for pediatrics. We stayed there a few hours and were discharged. No side effects. Except for this mommy who will never forget the whole experience!

Madeline Elizabeth...

My niece. She is her own special miracle. She has grown into a new personality since I saw her in May. She smiles more. Loves to bop. Walks all over the place. She is much more serious than either of my girls ever were. We went to Chuck E Cheese on her birthday. I don't know if the adults or kids had more fun spending the tokens. She opened some of her presents. She loved all the sounds and music, but didn't like the mouse himself when he appeared. The rest of the weekend, we watched her interact with our girls. She loves to look at Calla's picture when we're not around, but would much rather hang around Amelia. They are 7 months apart. Amelia would show her affection by giving Madeline "tackle hugs." By the end of our trip, she didn't cry about them anymore. Such a fun thing to watch little ones grow up.
We love you, Madeline!

Travels...

We had a long weekend trip to see my mom this past weekend. My niece celebrated her first birthday, so we decided to take the trek. The car ride is supposed to be 7 hours. Somehow, we manage to cram it into 9. The girls did remarkably well. Amelia is not one to like being in her carseat, so we assumed she'd be a bear the whole time. Nope. She slept a lot and kept herself fairly occupied with the basket of toys we had brought along. Calla even took a liking to her Leappad again, so her chatter was even at a minimum. Traveling to see family is always worth the trip.

The County Fair...

Always the same. Year after year. But we love it! Cory has gone to the fair his whole life. We have been going together since we were dating. Now we take our kids. Calla has been to the fair for all five of the summers she has been alive. We've taken a picture of her in a tractor tire every year. It has been fun to watch her slowly stop fitting all the way inside. Amelia's picture was a challenge this year. She loved climbing in and out of the tire, but wouldn't pause long enough for a picture. The wonders of the fair are so awesome through their eyes. They LOVED the animals. A very overly kind lady scooped up Amelia and took Calla's hand and lead them into the calf stall for "better" pictures! They did turn out better. The cows were Amelia's favorite. The same lady popped up in the pig barn and shuffled the girls right into her pig stall! Oh yippee! We had a thorough hand washing after that encounter. She was impressed with the girls "not being freaked out at any animals." She obviously didn't catch my look of fear when the gate to the swine opened! Last year we went all five days on and off. We decided one full day of excitement was enough for this year. There are a few "have to's". The animals. The tents. A 4-H mint shake for Cory. The ferris wheel for Calla. Granpa Cratchet. We added in a variety show and some kiddie rides and we were all spent. Now we just have to wait for next year and do it all over again!

Check out my Slide Show!

Girlfriends...

I had my two closest girlfriends and their kids come over for lunch today. It was so nice to just sit and chat. The kids were fairly well occupied. Minimal spats. Lunch went smoothly, too. I love that God has always blessed me with wonderful friends. Anywhere I have lived, I can point to a few dear friends that, to this day, hold a part of my heart. Friends are a special comodity. They are there to lift you up and keep you grounded at the same time. The Lord always knows just which type of friend I need at the season of life I am in. Sometimes, that friend even changes their season, too, and remains a dear friend through the years. I am truly thankful for all my great friends. Bosom friends. Kindred Spirits. (As Anne so aptyly named them.)

Amelia Bedelia strikes again...

Who knew when we named her Amelia, how much she would take after the zany character in those beloved children's books? She is always in mischief, especially messy mischief.

She loves anything creamy.

Lotion. Shampoo. Diaper cream. Yogurt. Soap. Lip gloss.

Or anything with lots of small pieces.

Popping corn kernels. Cornmeal. Penny jars. Hair clip baskets. Wallets.

But her very favorite thing is emptying the wipes out of the container and strategically placing them around the room. All the while, using one hand to continually wipe her face and arm. Lately, she has taken a liking to getting dressed. She loves to put on multiple shirts, even though she can't get the armholes quite figured out yet. Socks are also a favorite.

Any size. Dirty or clean.

Well. Monday night we heard her crying out in her crib. When I came into focus, I noticed she had gotten her nightgown AND diaper completely off and was mad cause she couldn't get them back on. We took the opportunity to snap a picture, but she was so mad until her clothes were back on. Calla, Cory, and I, on the other hand, laughed heartily.