Aiden's Comprehension

Okay, I know he is only three, BUT....
We are having a problem with Aiden that I am sure everyone goes through, but it is driving us crazy. He cannot take NO for an answer! I know...he's a kid...but it gets him in trouble. We are trying to teach him when we say No, No means No and not to continue asking. This has been going on for a while and isn't really getting better. FI - Last night, we had gotten home late and were trying to rush into bed. We always read books. He picked out one of the big, long books and we both told him NO, let's read a different, shorter book (because it was passed bed time...Mommy and daddy know best, right) So Rick told him, "If you ask for the big book one more time you are getting a spanking..understand?" "Yes, Ma'am..." (with a whine) THEN..."But I REALLY want to read the big book." Here comes the spanking. Lots of crying and pitching a fit, explanation of spanking, explanation of DO NOT ASK AGAIN....settle down for the reading of short book.... THEN..."BUT I REALLY REALLY WANT to read the big book...." Second spanking...more crying...more screaming...more explaning, more talking. Finally, at the end of the short book and lots of hugs, kisses, explanation of disobeying, Aiden says, "Daddy, I am really sorry for asking for the big book. I really am sorry." BREAK MY HEART!

So, he knows better, but he had rather get a spanking and continue to TRY to get his way than stop asking. Any suggestions or is this a phase?

I'm not a TRIP!

Aiden never ceases to surprise me. We had been visiting at the hospital all day on Monday and had the kids with us most of the afternoon. When we went to leave, Aiden wanted his Dad. We were riding separate. I told him we would see him in just a minute. He said, "Well, maybe he'll get strength and comfort." I said, "WHAT?" He said, "My dad can get strength and comfort." When I asked him where we get s & c from he said, "God." ( I guess he hears us pray for it.) I told him he was such a little darling. He said, "Mom, I am not a little darling, I am a big boy." To which I replied, "Boy, you are such a trip." (This one gets me...) He said, "Mom, I am not a trip. A trip is when you go somewhere, like when you go to the shooting house to hunt or something. That is a trip. Hey, my dad really needs to teach me how to cock his gun!" I had to end the conversation after that b/c I was laughing to hard and you know how he is about people laughing at him! In the same trip, a song came on the radio, Toby Mac, which is Chrisitan rap and Aiden and Rick LOVE it, and I started acting silly, singing and dancing to it. Aiden said, "no, no Mom. You can't dance to that song." Me.."Why not Aiden?" Him..."B/c, that is a boy song and only me and my dad can dance to it. You have to dance to a girl song."

This morning, Allee found a play cell phone in her car seat, so she decided to call up her bff, Shelby. This is a quick video of her talking to SLT. She is so sweet. She has been singing up a storm lately. I wish I could capture it on video, but you all know how that goes. When I get the camera out, she sees it and is too busy wanting to see herself in it to perform for me. She and Aiden are always fighting over who gets to sing first or next. The other day he was playing his drums and they were both singing.

Allee told me once again this morning when I put some cute brown pants on her..."They not fit Mommy. Take them off."

HOLIDAY UPDATE

Our holiday was busy but wonderful!!!! The kids were excellent this year, so I actually got to enjoy the fellowship with all the family. Fortunately, there are lots of other children at both locations we visit for the holidays and my kids had a blast playing. Friday, I went to my 11th annual shopping spree, leaving my house at 3:30 a.m and returning at 7:00 p.m. with my girlfriends. It was awesome. Thanks to Rick for babysitting. Saturday was my FIRST complete day off since Football season started and boy did I enjoy it. I put Rick to work on the outside lights and MiMi came and helped put the tree up. Then, we settled in for the awful football game. It was a wonderful week and weekend. Hope you all enjoyed as much as I did.

From Aiden...and Allee

Couple of quick things:

1)Putting Aiden and Allee to bed night before and as I was leaving and Allee was whining, he rolled over and said, "It's okay Allee. God will protect you and I will protect you." I know he has said similar before, but it keeps getting sweeter.
2)He has a girlfriend. Her name is Mattie. He always talks about her. Today when R picked him up, he ran into the lady that picks Mattie up. Apparently she thinks he is her boyfriend too. The lady said Mattie asks for her cell phone everyday so she can call Aiden and talks about him all the time. Here I was thinking he was just having a friendly little thing, but now I am thinking I may need to call the parents....this may be too serious. LOL!!!
3)Allee was in the nursery last night where we have a monitor to hear the preaching. The nursery worker said that when she turned the monitor on, Allee started looking for her daddy only to find his voice coming from a box. Then, she said at the end of the service when Rick was asking the congregation a question, Allee answered him...through the monitor.
4)Aiden stayed with a church friend the other day and her home health care nurse came out. Apparently Allee got stuck under the table and the nurse helped get her out. When he was telling me the story and said she had gotten stuck, I asked how did she get out. He said, "Dear helped get her." I said "DEAR?" He said, "Yeah. That was that girls name. That's what Ms. Joanna called her."
5)Ms. Joanna keeps Aiden's class on Sunday nights. When he went to potty, she asked if he washed his hands. He said, "No, Ms.Joanna. I didn't tee-tee on them so I don't have to wash them."

Sassy Girl

For those of you with girls, or boys too, I guess...When did your child start telling you what they like and don't like to wear? Aiden never has and still doesn't share his opinion about clothes, shoes, hair, anything! Yesterday, I was changing Allee after church and pulled out a rather old jumper, just for her to take a nap in. She starting crying and said, "I not wear it." I just laughed and put it on her anyway. WELL, she pitched one more fit, to the point of pulling at the neck of the outfit and turning red all over trying to get it off while she was screaming, "I not like it, mommy." So, end result...she got her way and I changed her clothes, letting her pick out her pants and then almost never got a shirt on her. She has told me she didn't like things before, but it has gotten worse. Well, I just talked to Rick and he shared a similar story. He was dressing her this morning and pulled out some pants and she said, "Dem not fit me, daddy." She refused to wear what he picked out too. Okay guys, she just turned 19 months old. What am I going to do?

Baby BUMP Update

For those of you who don't get to see me often and every phone call we have want to know if I am "getting fat", I thought I would post another preg pic. This is 31 weeks. I feel kinda guilty because with Aiden, I think a literally took a picture every single week and wrote on the back of it and they are all in an album. With Allee I probably took 1/2 as many. This is only the 3rd belly picture I have taken of this one and it isn't even really a true "belly" picture. I just haven't had the time! Wow! What does that say for life after delivery. BTW - I hate my hair right now, but it totally has a hormonal mind of its own.
The weekend was pretty good. It seems I spent most of it at work. Rick and I travelled with Fayette Co to Thomasville to play football...we lost and it was a cold, long trip. I had to work injury clinic early on Sat morning and Allee is still not feeling the best and it is affecting her sleep...so needless to say, I am a little tired this morning. Sunday was nice. We had great services and a good Christmas play practice after church accompanied by refreshments. My cousin brought back some baby things I had loaned him and his wife from Anniston yesterday. Because I didn't have time to deal with it, I just crammed it all in the storage building. I realized as I was lying in bed fretting over the events of the week, that I need my MOMMY to come stay a while and help me get things in order. No matter how hard I try, I just get more behind. I am 32 weeks now with the holiday approaching, so things are not going to get any easier around the house. I still haven't gotten one single thing ready for the baby! (including a name! lol.) But, on the up side of all that...God is good...all the time and I can rejoice in that! I am blessed to be stressed! Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Weedend review

Things are much better at the Taylor house. Both kids are doing better, although Allee still is having some really bad coughing spells. We are treating with the liquid Albuterol, which seems to stop it instantly. We had a good doctor visit on Thursday. Both the baby and I are growing on target. Speaking of baby....I SERIOUSLY NEED HELP NAMING THIS ONE. Those of you who know me well know how big of a perfectionist AND how indecisive I am! I am nine weeks out and seriously do not have one name that just says...."Wow, that is the cutest name in the world and I can't wait to name my baby that.." you know what I mean? Both Aiden and Allee have the same initials...AET...after my father-in-law. Both have biblical middle names. I don't have to stick to that, but I don't want anything too trendy either AND it has to go with both their first names. (See what I mean about my own personality...as I read what I just wrote, I sound so ridiculous). Any suggestions would be GREATLY APPRECIATED! I have a few suggestions from friends, but I still haven't made a final decision.

Me, Crystal, Kayla, Shelby and Allee went to the Tupelo flea market this Saturday. We had a blast. The girls were sooooo good. It is so funny b/c half way through the morning, I made the comment on how good Allee was being and that I just couldn't believe it....she is so not a shopper. Then I made the comment that I had prayed she would be good. Isn't that just like us and our faith....Pray for something, receive it from the Lord, then be shocked that you received it! What Faith! God has been so good to me and will continue to be...if I can just recognize and praise His goodness how much better I would be!

State Meeting

This week has been our annual Free Will Baptist Association State Meeting. Rick and I usually are travelling for this event that is held Wed - Fri, but this year it is being hosted at the Northport Church, so we were able to stay home. I kinda miss travelling to be honest! (We took the kids last night and it was exhausting...they usually stay home when we travel.) Anyway, Rick was honored this year to be asked to preach one of the messages. The meeting is compiled of mostly preachers across the state, around 200 people or so. The main purpose is business, but we have three worship services each day. We were shocked and delighted when he was asked last year to speak this year. He was a little nervous, of course, but he did an excellent job. God really showed up and used him in a mighty way! The meeting is still going on today, although I skipped out to keep Allee, but it has been both tiring and a blessing! Rick and I, being in the ministry, love having the opportunity to fellowship with other ministers and get "spiritually fed" ourselves. We don't always get that when we are the ones doing the ministering. On another note, God has truly been good to us. Rick does a brief devotion at the school on Tuesdays, and this week he had someone accept Jesus as their Saviour. What a blessing! Allee and Aiden are both filling a little better, both still on antibiotic, but we are getting there. Please remember us in your prayers.