Pride VS Development

Are you truthful with the doctor about your child? Don't get me wrong; I am. But, do you ever struggle with answers to your doctor's questions? I have issues with my pride and Lucy's development.

Every doctor's visit we get a check list for Lucy.

• Does she know her name?
• Does she say mommy/daddy, or some variation?
• Does she assist you with dressing her?
• Does she try to climb?

These are just a few of the questions I can remember from her last two visits (12 & 15 month).

Sometimes they are difficult to answer. The bragger mom in me wants to say, "Yes! My child is super smart and can do anything!" The paranoid mom in me wants to answer the question correctly. I hate that the only options are: Yes and No.

Where is my 'Maybe'?

Does Lucy assist me while dressing her? Well, kind of. Sometimes she puts her arm out. Sometimes when I say shoe, she'll raise her foot to me. On other occasions, I may as well be dressing a watermelon; she just lays there like a slug. Then again, on some occasions, I might as well be dressing a....well...a squirmy, unruly toddler, trying to crawl away mid pants change!

Alright, so I would check 'Yes'. I just always feel the need to follow up with an essay answer.

When the doctor goes over the questions and answers with us, I feel like my parenting skills are being tested.

"How many words does Lucy know?"

"Oh, lots.....um....."

I start counting on my fingers, while quietly whispering, "...momma, dada, Chico, thank you, please, puppy, baby.." and so on.

Finally I just blurt out, "... like ten."

Immediately, I think, "Does 'thank you' count as two words then? Lucy also says, 'Here you go.' Does that count as three? Or, since I counted the 'you' in 'thank you' already, is it just two?" - Ugh!

I just want to say, "Lucy is really smart and she amazes me with everything she knows! We try to work with her as much as possible and sometimes she says or does things I didn't even realize she knew!"

I have to remind myself that the doctor isn't questioning Lucy's intelligence and she isn't grilling me on my parenting. She is asking, so she can recognize developmental problems.

Cori - she is asking you, so she can recognize developmental problems!

At the 15 month appointment, we were asked how many body parts Lucy knows. Dang it! We haven't even been working with her on it. We didn't really even realize that she was old enough learn them. When I think about it....well, duh! Therefore, we've been working on them a lot. She already knows foot, nose, belly button, eyes, and mouth.

She's going to ace that 18 month appointment. haha.

Oh wait, this isn't about questioning her intelligence or my parenting skills...I obviously need to refer back to the underlined text above.

Do you see the issue? Am I the only one?

Doing Our Nails

Lucy has always tried to help me paint my nails.

Oh, alright, she tries to eat the emery boards. In that specific picture she even looks like she is sniffing it, haha, which is ever grosser.

She loves watching me; but, she absolutely hates me doing her nails. Her finger nails always get long enough that the cinnamon from her Maple Syrup & Cinnamon Crunchies gets underneath. Then they look dirty and it looks like we never bathe her. Finally we break down, hold her down, and cut them......It's a vicious cycle.

However, the other day, I had to postpone my pedicure. I still wanted to wear sandals though; so, I decided to re-paint my toe nails pink.

Lucy seemed very interested in what I was doing. I thought to myself, "Cori, this is your chance! It's now or never!"

I put her in my lap, peeked over her shoulder, and started painting her toes. She was mesmerized. Then, I got to toe nine and she started to wiggle. I rushed to get that last little, pinkie toe done. Whew!

Then they needed to dry before she ruined the carpet! I went to our standing fan and held her toes in front of it. Of course she wanted to touch the fan; but, I was able to distract her with my phone. Three minutes later, they were dry! :)

Aren't those just the cutest, chubbiest toes you've ever seen? Alright, so I'm biased! :)

I never thought that she would sit still long enough at just 15 months old. I was pleasantly surprised! I highly recommend pedicures with your little girl, no matter what age! 

Now, if I could just get her to go to the nail boutique with me for the whole pedicure! :) I will just have to wait...

Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! :)

I Wear Lipstick Now

Are there ever times in your life, where you just take a moment to just step back for a second? To just halt your mind and look at where you are, what you are doing, and what got you here?

I do that a lot.

The other day, I was listening to music on my iPhone and had my entire library on shuffle. It ranges from Dolly Parton, to The Beatles, Motley Crue, JaRule, New Kids on the Block, Bruno Mars, and even to Alanis Morissette (to name just a few) - pretty much a ridiculous mix. Needless to say, I wasn't shocked when "I Need You Tonight" by Backstreet Boys came on. I was, however, pleasantly surprised. It had been a while since I've heard and listened to the song. It immediately took me back to a time when life was "simple".

I had just finished 7th grade and the summer had just begun.



First, let's all take a moment to appreciate that rockin' skort, with matching butterfly top. Then, I'm going to take a moment and be sad that I was once that blonde and am not any more. :( And, finally, I will close with some thoughts about how large my head/facial features seem in regard to my body. haha. Not my best moment...

Anyway, on with the story -

It was early in the morning and I was somehow already awake and around at 7:30. (It was probably because I had stayed up half the night before!) My parents had already left for work and my sister wasn't home. So, I did what any thirteen year old girl would do. I stuck a CD in the player and cranked it. At that particular time, I chose the Millennium CD by Backstreet Boys, (before they had the cool acronym, BSB). I think it was track number 5...

"Oooopen uuuup....your heart to me...mmmm....."

I remember folding clothes, cleaning up my room, belting out lyrics alongside Nick Carter. I of course was obsessed with a boy too.  Want to know who? This punk...

This was taken while we were in high school. Yes - I was blinking.

I know you probably don't believe it; but, I was crushing on Heath back when I was 13. We even "dated" or whatever that means at that age, for like three months.

What can I say? I guess we just couldn't keep away from each other and after love and marriage, God blessed us with this bundle of beautiful, sweet, awesomeness -

Anyway, I remember thinking how boring and lame my life was. I didn't have enough 'cool' clothes and I didn't live near any of my friends. I had to help with laundry and dishes. I had it rough...

Not!   <----- Was that reminiscent of the late 1990's enough for you? haha.

I didn't worry about my weight and think about every single piece of food I put in my mouth. I didn't stress about the house not being clean or unorganized. I wasn't thinking about how important it was to spend time with the family. Money wasn't even something I considered. I took sleeping-in for granted, as I did with all of my free time. I was too busy making a "Girls I Don't Like" list on my closet wall to worry about that stuff.

Isn't it crazy? Those days are long, long gone. I have "big people" problems now. Heck, I'm an adult, a wife, a mother.....I wear lipstick now. No more Bon-Bon lip gloss for this gal...

Changes happen too fast. If you blink, you'll miss them.

Serious Side-Note: I barely made it through writing this post because of the news coverage of the tornadoes. I have such a heavy heart. I complain about the stupidest things and there are people out there who are really hurting, aching, and unsure of how to go on. My heart sinks when I think about the Hamil family from Piedmont, OK. I am so very, very blessed. I just want to hug my family and never let go. Please, God bless those affected by these storms...