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.

Phone Call

Aiden had his first official boy/girl phone conversation yesterday! Crystal called and Shelby found out I was on the phone and wanted to talk. When Aiden heard me talking to Shelby, his little face lit up and he asked to talk to her. I let him have the phone and they talked back and forth for what seemed like forever. Typically he talks to people on the phone, but after a few questions from whoever he is talking to, he will say, "Here, my moma wants to talk to you." With Shelby, I had to ask for the phone back and only got it away when our service cut out. I fear trouble on my hands! If he likes to talk on the phone as much as mama, we are really in trouble, especially if he is talking to girls this early in the game! (It was really cute though).

Trouble

It seems Aiden is constantly getting in trouble at church, especially, lately. Yesterday morning, I know he doesn't feel well, but he pitched a fit when we had to leave church b/c he didn't want to go home. That was after I had to get on to him for playing in the nursery and he got mad and pouted. (We had lunch after church and there were several other kids around all playing together while we cleaned up). Then, last night, we got ready to go, and once again, I go looking for Aiden and he is somewhere he is not suppose to be. I get him and the others he is with, tell them they have to have an adult with them to play in the nursery, and the other two leave, Aiden pitches a fit! After putting him in timeout so that I can get my things together, he finally settles down and agrees to go on home. While sitting at the supper table, I began to tell daddy how he was acting and talk to Aiden about his temper (again). I am going into great detail about how just b/c we don't get our way doesn't mean we can just pitch a fit and kick and scream and especially at church....I go on and on. He is just sitting there eating his food and looks up with the sweetest expression and says very calmly..."Yeah, Mom, I am sorry about that." As if to say, "no big deal."

Last night, as we were putting them to bed, Aiden decided he needed a drink of milk. He came in the room where I was (Rick was with Allee) and said, "Mom, go get me some milk." Shocked at the attitude, I explained to him that he needed to rephrase that. He then, obviously frustrated and aggravated with me, kind of punched at the chair and repeated himself. I told him that we were not going to act that way. If we are aggravated or frustrated at something or someone, we do not get an attitude. There is a proper way to handle that. He said, "Well, how do I do that?" I told him that instead of punching at a chair or getting attitude, he should just count to 10 or pray to God to help him not be aggravated anymore. He looked staight at me as serious as can be and said, "Well, my dad don't do that." I thought I would die. We just let it go with the statement that we are not perfect and we all need to pray about our attitudes. Oh, how much you can learn from a 3 year old!

Old Fashioned Sunday

Our church still celebrates "Old Fashioned Sunday." Here is a pic of my two old fashioned kids. They were neither one in picture mode so this is the best one I got. Allee would not keep her bonnet on. Before church Aiden went to get his cowboy hat and Allee got one too and put it on. He said, "No Allee, you can't be a cowgirl this morning. You have to be a ....Moma, what is Allee gonna be?" I told him she was just going to wear a bonnet. You should have heard him tell her all about her bonnet.

This weekend has been full of sick babies. Aiden started with fever on Wed. night in the middle of the night of course. By Thur he had a horrible cough. Since his fever was only 100.5, we opted to stay away from the MD and I just got him some cough med called in. He did not continue with fever, but the cough has persisted.

Saturday night, Allee woke us up at 12:00 burning up with fever and talking out of her head. She staying awake for about an hour with nothing satisfying her. Her fever broke and she seemed to be okay yesterday morning. I took her on to church b/c she had no symptoms other than everytime someone looked at her wrong she would cry! By mid morning she had 99 again. Last night se woke me up again at 12:30, this time with 103.8 fever. Fever scares me when it gets over 102. I couldn't go back to sleep until the fever broke around 3:30. Aiden made his way into our room around 1:30 and said, "Hey daddy, is Allee in here?" So dad ended up in Aiden's bed and I kept Allee with me so I could watch her. Needless to say, not much sleep. This time, I opted to take them both in this morning. Oddly enough, Allee showed nothing, but Aiden came home with an antibiotic for his cough since the doctor heard him coughing in the office. He is so cute. Everytime he coughs he will say, "Mom, you need to call Dr. Rob cause I still got that bad cough and I'm sick." He is a mess. Pray we will keep the fever away tonight. We all need some rest!

Funnies from the kids

Just a quick update on some sayings from the kids...

Allee is beginning to really come out of her shell and I don't know that it is a good thing. The other day I came home from work and she and Aiden were suppose to be playing outside with Daddy. Aiden had went in for milk and stayed on the couch watching cartoons instead of returning outside to play with Allee. When she and I went in, I parked on the couch to rest but she wanted to go outside with Aiden. She layed over on the stool in front of him, blocking his view from the TV and began to yell..."Ai-den...Ai-den, we'ts go outside....(over and over). He has a really bad habit of completely ignoring you... She finally got irritated and pointed her little finger at him and said, "You hear me Ai-den? We'ts go outside!" It was too cute. Of course he still ignored her!

She has also gotten into the habit of saying "TIMEOUT" when kids are being mean to her. I guess she hears me threaten Aiden so much, she just thinks that if you are being ugly, she should be able to put you in timeout. She is learning a lot from her brother and not all good things. He is a really good big brother though! I just wish he could potty train her!

Aiden is just getting sweeter as he grows up. Allee has started wanting me to hold her and lay down with her at night. The other night, she was really crying when I said I was about to leave and even got up and followed me. When I put her back in bed and she was still crying, I kissed her and Aiden and told them I loved them and would see them in the morning. Aiden usually crys or whines a little too. But, instead, he wrapped his arms around Allee's neck and said, "It's okay Allee, it's okay. Goodnight Mom, I love you. Shhh, Allee, it's gonna be okay." Almost teary eyed, I left the room and sat on the couch for a few seconds to wait on Allee to come find me...but she quit crying and I didn't see the two of them again until the next morning. It was so sweet. He is really growing up!

Additional Grinch and Cindy Lou Who Pics

This was after playing for a while!
Look at those blue eyes! MiMi tried for fake eyelashes, but we didn't suceed. We did get lipstick, mascara and blush and she really thought she was something. She asked for her pacy on the way out the door and I said, "no, you might mess up your lipstick." She puckered her lips up and didn't ask for it again! Maybe I have found a tactic that might work!

Trunk OR Treat

Last night at church, we had our annual Trunk or Treat! During church time, we (myself and Crystal) teach the younger children at the FLC. Last night, while the adults were having service, we let the kids enjoy Fall Festival type games. You should have seen the little ones trying to bounce on balloons to pop them. My hand was hurting from popping them for the kids (without them knowing it). It was a lot of fun.

When I asked Aiden weeks ago what it wanted to be, he said..."I want to be the Grinch and Allee can be Cindy Lou Who!" Okay....do you know that NO ONE makes a Grinch costume. I looked in B'ham, Tusc and the internet. I found ONE adult costume for way more than what I wanted to pay. BUT, not to disappoint my baby, I called NaNa to the rescue. Surely we could find green fuzzy material...once again...nope! She found a green fleece blanket in Wal-Mart for $7.00 and went to work. Then, we had the task of his head. I called for a local lady that does parties who said she would be glad to paint his face and she would be at Carrolls Creek Fall Fest at 6:00, to bring him then. Well... our church starts at 6:45, but that was the plan...until my brilliant sister suggested at around lunch time, maybe Sue Robertson, the art teacher at NMS would do it. SUE to the rescue. We made arrangements and it worked out great. NMS is only 5 min from my house and she wouldn't even take any money to do it. At this point, I still had no costume for Cindy Lou Who!!!! I had to go to Wal-Mart for things for the night (last minute of course) and meet with a lady from church about the Christmas play after that. I rushed home only to find that I had LOCKED MYSELF OUT of the house. SO, I guess that was a good thing, because it gave me 30 minutes to dig through the building and find Cindy Lou Who a dress to wear. I think it worked out nicely. Then, Aiden starts saying he has to poopy! Oh, well, gotta hold it. At this point I am just "letting" them play in the yard until we can do something else. Thank goodness I opted not to buy groceries while in Wal-Mart for 1 1/2 hours (with Allee screaming for a "suckter" the whole time). LaDonna gets there and we work on the play in the yard while the kids play and I wait on Rick. After that, I make caramel apples, set up the games at the gym, take Aiden for painting, eat supper, get the kids ready, and head out for fun. Here is the result....

Aiden had to put a ponytail holder in so she could paint his face.

He sat so still. He kept looking in the mirror! When we got in the car he said, "Mom, that was so much fun to get my face painted!"



Cindy Lou Who loved the rollers. THANKS MIMI!Aiden had taken his hands off by this point. They were too cute. Wish I had a better picture of them.

During bath time, I was asking myself if it was all worth it...Yes...to see the look on Aiden's face with his finished product and knowing that he would not take his costume off...definately! Green paint in bath tub and all.

Cowgirl

On Sunday after church, Allee was sooooo sleepy. I told Rick just to put her a t-shirt on with her tights so see could eat and take a short nap. She escaped to Aiden's room, found one of his cowboy hats and the horse and began to ride. This was just too cute not to share.