$117,867

So, according to salary.com I'm worth $117,867 a year. That's right. If we were to hire someone to cook, clean and take care of our two little girls, we'd have to pay her quite a bit. I don't contribute financially to our family's income nowadays. I was reminded of that last night as Ben and I were going over our financial information before taking it to our CPA. I don't get paid in dollars; I get paid in snuggles and winks. I get to be here when you sing silly songs about holes in your underwear. I get to be the one who takes care of you when your fever's running at 103.6. I don't have to go off to work and worry all day long. I can sneak into your room to check on you any time I want. So keep your 117,867 dollars, salary.com. I'll keep my girls with me right here at home. Even if my house would be cleaner for 117 grand.

Alabama

We're outside on the deck soaking up some rare February warmth (You were sick all last night and this morning with the stomach flu.) when we hear a motorcycle drive through our neighborhood. You say, "I wonder where that came from." I say nothing. Then you say, "Probably Alabama." Yea, probably.....

Happy Birthday, Big Girl!

Three years have gone so quickly, or should I say three years and nine months, for that is how long you have been with me. I still remember feeling you wiggle and move within my womb. I remember your kicks, faint at first and then quite uncomfortable come January 2008. The day you were born there was snow on the ground because we had just had a winter storm (the time at which Karen went into labor with Nora). On the day Daddy drove us home he was extra careful. I don't ever remember him driving so slowly. I think he even used his blinker! ;)

Today was your first birthday party with your friends. Nora and Cailyn (Karen & Drue, Carie & Cooper and Amy too) arrived around 10 AM in high style. Nora dressed as Cinderella and Cailyn wore a lovely golden Aurora gown. You were decked out in a lovely yellow Belle dress--your favorite right now. At your party we painted each girl's fingernails. Carie attempted to give each of you a princess hairstyle. You screamed and had a fit and took yours out. Nora let Carie do half of her head! Oh, what fun.. Next you all made your own individual pizzas for lunch. While they baked you decorated crowns. After lunch, it was time for presents. Each girl had several goodies. Then we ate cake! It was a HUGE castle that Mommy worked on for several days. It wouldn't have won any cake decorating awards, but you loved it, and that's what I was going for!

More important than the dresses, presents or cakes is the fact that you have friends, Paige. You have friends that will be friends for life if you all stay in the Lord's care. I'm glad there are so many girls at Riverside Road for you to be friends with. That's something I didn't have growing up. I had a few people at church that were friends, but we didn't live close to them or get together very often. You are blessed with Nora, Cailyn, Drue and Reese, all of whom are very close to you in age and distance. You are also blessed with Logan, Lakyn, Lexi, Carley and Kenzie. I'm sure these girls will be closer friends as you all grow older.

HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY, BABY!
I can't believe how time has flown.
Before we know it you will have grown
into a loving, generous, kind young woman
who will probably not remember the hours and days your mother has given
to cleaning up spills and baking birthday cakes
to doing dishes and asking you to use napkins.
But because you will be kind and gentle and loving
your mother will know that it was worth every last tear.

Really?

So, I had quite the lengthy post started entitled "So, It's Been a Loooong Time." And then, our power went out. I was just thinking how cathartic writing is and wondering why I rarely do it (after all, I was an English major, English teacher and librarian), then ZAP! Our power goes out while I was pouring out my heart on this electronic screen. Makes me wonder why I don't just write in ink in Paige's baby book. Now I'm going to attempt to find a draft to see what can be salvaged!

So, it's been a looong time

Ha! I found (some of) it:

Well, I last blogged on Paige's page when I was pregnant with Reese. Let's just say that was a rough nine months. And then it took a while to get adjusted to having two little girls in the house. Now, FINALLY, my girls are taking simultaneous naps. We shall see how long this phase lasts. I am going to attempt to blog again to keep this thing current for Paige's sake. I like to think of it as her digital baby book. Yes, she does have a traditional baby book, but we're living in the information age, right? Shouldn't every girl have an e-baby book? (Okay, Reese, I will do one for you!)

The past three years I have been blessed to have a wonderful, spunky, challenging, creative, and kind girl. (Oh, and she's beautiful on the outside too!) We've been to the beach, been to the fair, been to a rodeo, but the most special trip we took this year was to Skaggs Regional Medical Center when I delivered a baby sister for you, Paige. We had some rough moments after Reese came home. I especially remember one day in particular. It was a few days after Mother's Day in May. You and Daddy had planted impatients (oh, the irony of the name in this story) in the flower bed as a gift for me on Mother's Day, and to distract you from the little fit you were having, I took you outside. You proceeded to flail upon the sidewalk, and as soon as I turned my back, you started ripping the impatients from their beds of earth. You knew EXACTLY what you were doing even though you were only 2 yrs and 3 months old. No sister of yours was going to take all of my attention. You WOULD have some too. That day you had already been "corrected" about three times before your little fit on the sidewalk, so I had no idea what to do. Swats were apparently not going to work for you on this particular day. I sent you to your room for a time-out. After 5 minutes I crept upstairs and you were asleep. Ahhhh! Sleep! A mother's best friend. I don't remember much more about that day, but so far, since that one, you have accepted your sister. Now each night at bedtime, you and Reese and Daddy and I all stand together and pray. You often thank God for Reesie-Baby in your prayers and kiss her on the forehead or cheek before we lay her in the crib. You are a kind and loving sister and I pray almost every night that the two of you will stay best friends during your lifetimes.

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