Please join me in praying for Lucy.

I have never requested prayer on here and I know not many people read my blog, but if only one person reads it and prays for Lucy that is one more than before.
Lucy was diagnosed last week with medulloblastoma, a type of brain cancer. She had surgery to remove the tumors last Friday morning. They were able to remove some of the tumors. In the next couple of weeks, she will have to start aggressive chemotherapy and radiation treatment. She has a long road ahead of her and needs prayers.
I went to school with Lucy’s aunt. We were good friends in high school and because I live in a small town, I see Lucy and her family at several events. Even though I don’t KNOW Lucy, I feel like I do. I think when you live in a small town, eventually you feel like you know everyone! Since last week, I have been on my hands and knees praying for her and her family. I have prayed for Lucy but I have also thought about her mother a lot. I cannot imagine what it is like watching your child suffer in pain. I think of my girls as MINE but I have been reminded lately that they are the Lord’s children. I know the Lord has a special plan for Lucy. Please join me in praying for this sweet little girl and her family. I know they would appreciate it so much.
You can follow Lucy’s story through her button on this blog. Thank you!

Kate

Well, Lydia has decided that she wants to change her name to Kate. She doesn’t like Lydia anymore. She thinks Kate is a better name. She informed me this morning that she will not answer to Lydia any longer, just Kate. She even said she will start working on teaching Layton the word “Kate” this afternoon. I told her that it might confuse Layton. She responded that it probably wouldn’t since she would have the same face!!! This all started because we have been discussing names and why women change their names when they marry. I guess she missed the part where I said that women change their LAST names. I wonder if she will remember any of the conversation this afternoon!!

17 months old.

My baby turned 17 months old yesterday. Below is some things I would like to remember!

*She is starting to come out of her shell. She isn’t as shy as she has always been.
*She has started to dance. Poor girl has gotten her mother’s rhythum, which is none! She just sways back and forth. It is cute though and the instant she hears music, she starts.
*She weighs 24 pds., still wear size 3 diapers and is wearing 18 mth clothes.
*She is starting to talk much better. She is at least trying to imitate our sounds now. Some of her favorite words right now are “no” (but it sounds more like naw), “hot” and “bite”. I promise as soon as I wake her in the mornings she starts saying “bite” and doesn’t stop until I give her a bite of something. Lydia gets so excited when Layton says something new. The other day she called me at work to tell me Layton said “house”.
*She has started to bite! When you make her mad, biting seems to be her first defense.
*She still only has 4 teeth but she eats anything and everything. She can’t have anything with tomatoes in it though.
*She has started to play more by herself, which is a good thing for mama!
* She is a huge helper. She wants to help me do everything. She is always on my heels so when I tell her that we have to go put clothes in the dryer, she beats me to the laundry room. She knows exactly what I am talking about.
*She is just a silly girl. She is constantly jabbering and laughing. She will do anything to make you look at her!

She is just a joy to be around and I am so thankful to be her mama!

My sweet Lydia turned 6.

My Lydia turned 6 on the 3rd of January. I am so proud of her. She is such a beautiful little girl, inside and out! She has the kindest heart. She is full of life and makes me laugh constantly. She amazes every day by just being HER. I tell her everyday how much I love her and how thankful I am to be her mama. And she responds by saying, “I know, I know mama” (with a rolling of the eyes).

Lydia and Layton with their Mawmaw and Nannie.



This year we had a birthday party for her and her friends at a new place in town called Playland Party Zone. It has all kinds of moon bounces for the kids to jump or slide on. The kids just ran around from one to the other for 2 hours. I think they all had a blast. Lydia repeated several times that it was the best birthday ever.

Welcome to Toddlerville!

Layton recently turned 16 mths old. She is a very noisy little girl. She is constantly walking around looking for things to get into. When she finds a new treasure her little eyebrows raise and she will squeal with excitement. It is fun watching her experience things but tiring at the same time!
She has recently started throwing tantrums and stomping her feet when she doesn't get exactly what she wants.
She loves to write. She will put her paper in the floor and lie on her belly, just like Lydia! I am looking forward to the day when I find her artwork on my walls!
Below is a picture I took of her a couple of weeks ago. She came up to me with red all over her mouth. I immediately thought she had blood all over her mouth. My heart sank thinking I should have been watching her better. When I picked her up, she gave me the marker she had been eating! When I told her no-no, the tears started rolling! I think she has begun to realize the world of manipulation too!


She jabbers all the time. We don't understand 98% of what she says but we understand "No" and "Bye-Bye". She also has recently started saying the sounds that a cat and dog say! She understands everything she says and will carry on a conversation with us, we just can't understand!
She loves being a helper. Her favorite thing is to put clothes in the dryer. She laughs everytime she throws something in there!
She has recently started cheesing for the camera! Up until the last week or so she has ran from the camera or she just won't smile but now she will look directly at it and make the face below!


She has also started to love her babies. She likes to wrap them in blankets and rock them. It is so sweet to see a little girl with her babydoll.

Christmas 2010

I love this time of year, all the Christmas lights, singing, eating, gathering together of family and friends. It makes for a fun time. This past month has flown by for me. However, it has been a very fun and exciting Christmas season for our family. We started the month by going to Nashville to see the SNOW and ICE exhibit at the Opryland Hotel. It was very nice to get away from home for a few days. Both girls and Dave loved swimming in the indoor pool at the hotel. Lydia thinks it is so neat to stay in a hotel. Layton slept both nights, all night, such a big girl! The exhibits were lots of fun and VERY cold. The ICE exhibit was 6 degrees! I, myself, enjoyed walking through the Opryland Hotel. It flooded back in May so it had to be renovated. It just opened back up in November. When we left Nashville it was snowing, that was the first snow we have seen this year, exciting!

Lydia had lots of fun things at school this month. Santa came for a visit, she was able to shop for some family members at a “gift” shop at her school and her class had a Christmas party on the last day of school. In regards to the shopping at school experience, I gave her $15 and she bought me a “grandma” necklace, Dave and Mawmaw a bouncy ball and Layton a Spongebob stuff animal. I found it all hilarious especially the necklace for me. She said she bought the necklace for me because it was the prettiest thing she saw and she knew I would like it! I will treasure it forever!

Lydia sang a solo in the Christmas program at church. I have to say she did a fabulous job! She was so excited that she was able to sing in a real microphone but a little disappointed that she couldn’t hold it and walk around while singing!


We have been to several family gatherings and ate lots of great food. Funny story about Layton, at one of our extended family events, Layton was being very shy. She didn’t want anything to do with anyone but me. When it was time for lunch someone came in the room where several people were and yelled “Let’s eat”, Layton wiggled out of my arms and immediately started walking with that person. She might be shy but she isn’t dumb!

And of course the presents! Both girls received lots of presents and new clothes. Dave and I bought ourselves a new camera and Santa dropped off new critters! We have had a blessed Christmas season and I am truly thankful for the special babe that was born so many years ago.

Now time for a NEW YEAR! I hope it is a fun as the last!

The Campbell Family


The Primo Family


The Smith Family


Christmas morning! Dave and Lydia reading Santa's letter.


I love the sleepy eyes!


Layton was super excited!






Lydia with her treats she made with her Easy Bake oven!

Thanksgiving and Santa!

During this time every year, I try and stop in all the chaos and remind myself how blessed I am. I try to look around at what all I have been given. Recently I have been so thankful for my job as a mother. Not everyone gets this job and not everyone is good at this job. I feel honored to be a mother and thank God everyday for allowing me to be a mother. There are so many times I get caught up in the chaos and routine of everyday activities that I try to remind myself to STOP and spend QUALITY time with my girls. Just the other night I was sitting in the living room, looking down at the rug. You couldn’t even see it because of all the toys on it. As I sat there thinking of how I needed to pick it all up, I stopped and remembered that one day the toys, baby dolls, balls and whatever else won’t be there. My girls mess will be somewhere else and I am sure I will want these days back. Although I am very tired most nights, I am truly grateful for my little messes! I am very grateful for my two healthy, beautiful girls. And of course our family would not be complete without my wonderful husband. He takes such good care of our family. I am so thankful for my family of 4.

We had a great Thanksgiving holiday. We went to Dave’s family for lunch and mine for dinner. All the food was wonderful. After lunch Lydia and I snuck out and seen the movie Tangled. It was a great movie and Lydia enjoyed every minute. As it was going off, she asked could we watch it again! The girls spent the night with Nannie and Langraddy Thursday night in order for Dave and I to go shopping Friday. We didn’t start real early but we were able to get most of our shopping done. Dave and I had a great time just the two of us. On the way home we stopped and watched a movie, a perfect end to OUR day! Saturday morning we took the girls to see Santa. Lydia jumped right up in his lap and started telling him all she wanted. She is not shy one bit and has always enjoyed the Santa experience. Layton was VERY hesitant. She wasn’t really sure if she wanted to sit in his lap. She did sit there long enough for a picture and that was it. I was proud that she didn’t cry!! We enjoyed a nice lunch with Aunt Chris and her girls and then headed home. On the way home we stopped and bought our Christmas tree. The rest of the afternoon and night was spent decorating the tree. I have been very pleased that Layton has not tried to climb the tree…YET! She does bring us an ornament about every 5 minutes. I am sure once it has been up for several days she will leave it alone. I am getting excited about Christmas. Lydia wants EVERYTHING and Layton doesn’t have a clue what’s going on!!

Layton looking at Santa!



WHO are you?







Layton was "talking" to some Fuzzy Chinese chickens.



Sweet girls!





So thankful for my family!



Such beautiful girls!!



Layton was talking back to me in this picture. You can see one of her many bruises on her head.