Spotlight on: Crazy Mama Creations

Let's just pretend for a moment that Tamara isn't my best friend, shall we?

While perusing one of my favorite online shops, Etsy, I stumbled upon this great new shop, Crazy Mama Creations. Crazy Mama, aka Tamara, stays at home with her two children and in an effort to keep it that way, as well as spread the joy she has received from up above, Tamara began making these awesome necklaces that showcase words of inspiration derived directly from scripture.

From Tamara's profile: I desire to bring people one step closer to their Maker in incredibly unconventional ways!

This piece grabbed me from first sight:



Being a beach lover, the blues call to me and the stamped image Refresh is well, refreshing.

The handpainted flowers are also darling.



So cute paired with a white tee or tank and jeans or shorts.

So go check out Crazy Mama Creations and show her some love.

Also, if you leave a comment on Tamara's blog post introducing her new store, you'll be entered to win one of her fabulous necklaces.

37 Weeks

and feeling a bit jittery today. I've felt over the whole pregnancy thing for a while now, but now that I'm actually close to really being done, I've had a bit of nervous anxiety today. As weird as it sounds, it still hasn't set in that I'm having a baby. It just sounds really strange to me. You would think with the crib being set up and the clothes washed, not to mention my ever expanding belly, that I would get it by now. But no. I seem to still be in denial. The whole starting all over thing is throwing me for a loop too.

A baby. What to do with a baby? Tamara can attest that my emails over the last few weeks have centered around a feeling of overwhelmingness (Yes, I made that up). I keep telling myself it will be fine once she gets here and I know it will be. I'm just not used to feeling so strange and out of control. Taking a somewhat unemotional person and throwing her in to the washing machine of hormones is not a pleasant sight nor feeling.

A good night's sleep wouldn't hurt either. Just need to get through the next week and a half of work.

The Boys Room

My good friend, Tamara, reminded me that I hadn't posted the photos of the boys' room yet. I still need to put something up on the walls, but who knows when I'll get to that. So, without further adieu.

Here's Shey's room before.




And here's the giant bunk bed that takes up almost all the room. Oh well. There's a ton of storage and the boys aren't in there much anyway. The boys really liked this one because there are real step rather than a ladder. Plus, the steps are drawers.

I want to put shelves up sometime to give them space for knick knacks and stuff. Also, they have a couple of posters they want to put on the wall. Maybe the week between when I stop working and my due date, I'll get to that.






The baby's room is scheduled to be painted tomorrow and then I can finally get to the room that started this whole crazy house remodel. Nothing like pushing the time limit.

How much longer?

I am seriously at the point where I feel like I've been pregnant F.O.R.E.V.E.R. I really don't remember what's it's like not to be pregnant, uncomfortable and in pain. Oh and don't forget exhausted.

Waddle, waddle, waddle.

I am just a bundle of joy to be around (ha! Pun intended)

And we still don't have a name set. I just can't pick one that I really like and it's driving me batty. The boys were so easy. I don't know why this is giving me such fits.

After this week, only five more weeks of work. Thank the Good Lord.

Wake me when it's time to go to the hospital.

Dreamin' of Baby

It's no secret that being pregnant can bring out the crazy in your dreams and last night was no exception.

I dreamed baby girl was head down, but had reached her arms out and was basically giving me a hug from hip to hip. I could feel her hands gripping my sides and when I looked down, my skin was so thin, I could actually see her little fingers. I'm not sure who I was talking to, but I pointed it out to them. Then my skin peeled a little (not gross, just like a sunburn) and I could touch her hand. In my dream, I thought, "Huh, that's pretty neat." ha ha

She likes my right hip and I feel her there quite often throughout the day. I think she's diagonal a lot because I'll also feel a foot or something in my left rib. I don't remember feeling the boys in my hip, so it's a little weird.

Time is starting to move quicker now. It seemed like it took forever to make it from 25 to 30 weeks and now we're already at 32. My shower's in a couple weeks and then they'll be the mad dash to paint the room and get the laundry done and put away.

It's funny, as much as I DO NOT like being pregnant, it's still a little bittersweet that this is the last time I will be. I will miss feeling her move around and knowing she's as safe as I can keep her. I'm trying to enjoy it, but holy cow, I'm uncomfortable and really ready for the weeks to move on by. Everyone keeps telling me I'm not even that big and all I can say is Thank God, quite literally. I would not be a pleasant person to be around if I'd ballooned.

31 Weeks

Only 9 (or hopefully 7) weeks to go. (And no, there's no indication I'll go early, just wishful thinking on my part.)






For Chelle: Ask and you shall receive. . .

Precious Moments

As many of you know, on Friday, the 4th, Larry and I took the boys to view their little sister in 3D. Oh, Peyton, as to be expected, was less than thrilled with the prospect as he wanted to go to a friend's house instead. I, though, was bound a determined to make it a family event. Peyton was too little when I had Shey's 3D ultrasound done and I think Larry was at work, so I was all alone at the viewing. Knowing this is our last child, and the boys being the age they are, I wanted everyone to be there. I had an image in my mind, a sweet family affair, pictures on a screen that would help make this more real for them and even for me.

We arrived at the 3D site right on time and as we were the only ones there, were taken right back. I had drank a coke on the way over to insure Baby Girl would be awake and moving. The room was large and the company had a projector screen on the wall so everyone could see.

Needless to say, though, the event wasn't wrapped in a haze of perfectness like in my daydreams.

Shey was definitely more interested in jumping around in front of the screen casting shadows than actually watching the event. Larry was on the couch across the room from me, so although I'm sure he enjoyed the show, I didn't feel very close to him. Baby girl had her arm in front of her face for the first few minutes and then she face planted into her placenta for the next 10. (That still kinda grosses me out, natural as it may be. EWWWWWW) The tech pushed and prodded and tried to tilt baby's head in order to caption some good shots. And we did get those awww shots, the experience just didn't quite match. ;)

With all that going on, it was Peyton who made the experience so precious to me. The boy who I believe someday may be the death of me, was the sweetest one that night.

He laid down beside me on the bed and we watched his little sister move and smile with our fingers entwined. And while, I'll never forget seeing that baby girl on the screen, I'll always treasure the memory of my oldest child's warm body next to mine.

House Remodel Phase 1

Our house has zero storage. Apparently, this is a common problem in Florida. We don't have basements, no real need for coat closets and attics are sweltering places and in our house, really hard to reach. With all this, our first major project was adding more cabinet space. Our front room, dubbed the playroom, was just a big wasted room for the most part. The kids rarely went in there, the couch stunk (literally) and the TV was on the fritz.




We found a company online that made custom cabinetry and they gave us a good price, so we filled the whole back wall with full height cabinets. We gave the couch and entertainment unit to Faith Farm and ditched the TV. We were given a gift card to Best Buy for the holidays, so we were able to get a new flat screen and we know this great handyman who does stuff like this for really reasonable. Also, we picked up a couple of recliners at El Dorado and the table was from Target. Now, we all want to hang out in here with the comfy chairs and new TV.






Now, we have plenty of storage for the kids' toys, which enabled us to put them in a room together, as well as all our books and DVDs have a home rather than the gym closet. My scrapbooking stuff and Larry's whole huge collection of baseball cards and paraphernalia also have a place to go.

Next up, the boys' new room . . .

Thinking

A couple of days ago, I finished up The Potluck Club, Book 1 by Linda Shepherd. It was entertaining enough. Not a great novel by any means, but it held my attention and passed the time.

There was one theme though that struck a chord with me and it's been weighing on my mind. It seems right now in my life, more than any other time I can remember, I'm caught up in the cycle of birth and death. Obviously, birth is on my mind with the arrival of this baby girl getting closer and closer. But it's not just me. A couple of girlfriends and I were conversing and we've discovered that just over 10% of our graduating class is pregnant right now. (Well, we were, one friend had her baby earlier this week.) And at least two of us have had babies over the past 6 months. That's a lot of births.

On top of that, everywhere I look, there are pregnant women. At least two co-workers are pregnant, a co-worker's wife and my friend, Amanda is also expecting. Babies are coming in every which direction. A baby boom of the modern age.

Juxtaposed to all the births though is death. I am getting to the age, and my friends along with me, where people we love are reaching their time to move into the next life. My Mammaw hasn't been doing so well these last few months, moving in and out of being in the now. My dearest friend, Tamara, is living through this as well with her grandparents. A dear, Godly family that I grew up with is in the midst of losing their father and husband from brain cancer. And as I posted a few days ago, a former classmate, Sara is now beginning her battle with Stage 4 colon cancer.

Birth and Death. We rejoice at the births, but being the humans we are, we find it hard to celebrate the deaths. We are selfish beings and it's hard to lose those we love.

Back to The Potluck Club. One of the characters is diagnosed with cancer in the novel and she and another character discuss healing. The character with cancer is a pastor's wife and she discusses the five types of healing. Four of the types most of us could come up with.

The first type is our body's natural healing process. Anti-bodies and such that fight off those bad germs that float around.

The second type is miraculous. God touching the afflicted with his hand and without explanation of modern science or medicine, the person is healed.

The third type is the medical profession. The doctors and nurses who spend years studying and then countless hours working to heal the sick.

The fourth type is a healing of the spirit. When you accept your ailment, grow and learn.

The fifth though, is hard to accept for most people, but in actuality may be God's greatest gift.

Death.

For those that are so ill they can no longer function. When quality of life is gone. When your body is so tired, you just want to rest. God then steps in and gives us death. The ultimate healing. One that results in a new body and life that's not burdened with the troubles of this world.

It's so, so hard for those of us left behind to not be saddened by the loss of a loved one. But looking at death from this perspective may just give an ounce of peace and comfort. Lately, I've talked to quite a few of my friends and we'll all say, "Getting old sucks." But maybe it doesn't so much. It's a lot to take in, but in an effort of continuing my walk with God, maybe I should start looking at getting old as a blessing, rather than a curse.

28 Weeks and the Tri-mesters

The tri-mesters in layman's terms:

First:

Holy crap, I'm what?
Oh, I don't feel so good.
Bed, sweet, sweet bed.
Good grief, I'm bloated.

Second:

This pregnancy thing is pretty cool.
oooohhhh, just felt the baby kick.
Clean, clean, clean, clean.
We're having a baby! Wheeeeeee!!!

Third:

I'm so fat!
Can't. Roll. Over.
Ow, that was my rib.

But mostly, I am so ready to meet this little girl.

The Match

It was set to be a match-up of Epic proportions. The number one and number two seed pitted together on a blustery Saturday morning. Both teams were undefeated; however, they had only wins and we had one draw. After coming off an easy victory of 10-0 last week, our kids were a little lackadaisical, appearing almost sluggish on the field. We were missing one of our best forwards and the kids were going to have to work hard to pick up the slack.

The first half was tense. The ball hovered around our goal for almost the entire time, causing our defenders to work extra hard. Our goal keeper was on point though and saved us again and again. The score remained 0-0 almost until halftime till unfortunately two goals got through and we found ourselves down 2-0.

Our players are tough though and that was the motivation we needed. A fire was lit under their butts and we were out for blood. Despite many a call against our team and not very many against theirs, we finally managed to score a goal. Our spirits began to raise and the boys began gunning for more.

Our coach noticed that in an effort to protect their win, the black team had all but two players defending their goal. This would prove to be their downfall. During the second half, the ball stayed near their goal and our forwards made strike after strike. Unfortunately, they didn't go in, but we were now in the zone.

We were finally able to score a goal and tie up the game. While I breathed a sigh of relief, our coach was adamant he wanted "More! More!" and the team began working to grant him his wish.

With less than five minutes left, one of our defenders made an amazing stop and booted the ball to the other end of the field. Our midfielders quickly picked it up and began passing it up to get within striking range. With a mighty kick, the ball went in the goal!

The roar from the crowd would rival that heard round Toomer's Corner not too long ago. A parent frantically asked the ref, "How much time?" and three minutes was the reply. For a long 180 seconds, our defenders worked to protect our goal. Finally, the sweet sound of the whistle blast ended the game. We WON!

The parents were beside themselves, the kids were grinning from ear to ear and the coach was bursting with pride.

Our boys had held it together, even though they were short a couple of players, and had fallen down by two goals. They dug deep and came up with a win. A win that was well deserved and hard fought.

It appears now though that we will have a rather large target on our backs and I think we are just fine with that.

Second Verse

I successfully memorized my first verse of the 24 Bible verses in 12 months challenge:

For the Lord your God is with you. He is Mighty to Save. He will take delight in You. He will quiet you with his love. He will rejoyce over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

This verse is a bit easier to remember, but still a great reminder nonetheless and one I'm sure I will need to refer to more and more over the coming months and years as we add another little one to the family and the boys quickly approach their teenage years (or so it seems)

34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

For Tamara:

Light up the Sky by The Afters

When I’m feeling all alone and so far to go
The signs are nowhere on this road guiding me home
When the night is closing in
It’s falling on my skin
Oh God will You come close

Light, light, light up the sky
Light up the sky to show me You are with me
I, I, I can’t deny
Oh I can’t deny that You are right here with me
You’ve opened my eyes so I can see You all around me
Light, light, light up the sky
Light up the sky to show me You are with me

When stars are hiding in the clouds
I don’t feel them shining
When I can’t see beyond my doubt
The silver lining
When I’ve almost reached the end
Like a flood You’re rushing in
Love is rushing in

Light, light, light up the sky
Light up the sky to show me You are with me
I, I, I can’t deny
Oh I can’t deny that You are right here with me
You’ve opened my eyes so I can see You all around me
Light, light, light up the sky
Light up the sky to show me You are with me

So I run straight to Your arms
You’re the bright and morning Sun
To show Your love, there’s nothing You won’t do

Light, light, light up the sky
You light up the sky to show me You are with me
I, I, I can’t deny
Oh I can’t deny that You are right here with me
You’ve opened my eyes so I can see You all around me
Light, light, light up the sky
Light up the sky to show me You are with me

Heavy Heart

About a month ago, my friend, Carrie, posted an entry about a former achool mate of ours, Sara, who had just lost her baby due to stillbirth. Obviously, I was touched and I think even more so because she has two young boys already and the precious one she lost was a girl. I just couldn't even imagine.

We then learned that through other testing, they had found a spot on her liver and she was scheduled for a CT scan. This morning, I learned through another school mate that the spot was malignant and there are also abnormalities on her colon. Now Sara is set for a colonoscopy and scheduled to get those results next Thursday, which is also her birthday. She was a grade below us, so I'm guessing she is turning 33.

33

Even though I may say I feel old, 33 is still really so young. Especially to have cancer. It's awful for anyone to be diagnosed, but it just particularly painful to see a young mother experiencing the horribleness of the disease.

My heart just hurts for Sara, her husband, those two little boys and her family.

I didn't know her well at all in high school, but she always had this true demeanor about her. One of genuine niceness and tender heartedness. She was quiet and kind and I seriously doubt partakes in the offenses of this world that one would think of when linked to cancer. She will definitely be on my heart and in my prayers.

She's a Maniac

To say that I've now lost all good sense is an understatement. But, I'm pregnant and my hormones are whacked out, so let's just roll with it. Mmmmkay?

Wheeeeeeee!!!!!!

So, we needed (wanted) a small little itty bitty table to put at our front entry. The area isn't huge and we thought it would be nice to have just a little something there with maybe a picture or mirror on the wall above. We've looked a couple of places, but most long tables are wider than 12" and we really didn't want to go more than that. No sense in harming our guests as they walk in the door.

The need (want) was there. I've always liked building things. Home Depot is right up the house and they sell lumber. What else was I to do? So I built (attempted to build) a table. I looked at a cool website, Knocked off Wood, written by a SAHM, who builds things for cheap that look like expensive pieces you would find in Pottery Barn, Ballard Designs, etc. She has tools and a square and a level and more than half a brain. Most importantly, her furniture looks good and she makes it look easy.

I can do this, I thought!

Shey and I headed to Home Depot. I selected my 1x4s and 1x3s and 1x2s all based off an idea in my head and scribbles on Post it notes.

Did you know Home Depot will cut your lumber for you? The nice guy working told me that they are only supposed to give you two cuts for free and then charge you $.50 for the remaining cuts, but he took one look into my beautiful (crazy) brown eyes and made all 50 bazillion of my cuts for free.

$40 worth of wood, $8.00 for the screws and $12 worth of sandpaper later, we headed home. And yes, by this time, I realized I probably could have found a little table for this much without all the hassle, but I was a woman on a mission. I was going to build a table, dang it.

Bless my husband. When I got home and he saw the pieces of lumber, he just smiled and helped his delusional wife into the house with it.



Well, about an hour into my project, I realized I had no idea what I was doing. There's actually a reason that a square is needed and plans are helpful. My measurements were off and it really didn't look anything in person like it did in my head. I told Larry as much and he said, well, too bad we can't all live in your head. We laughed and then he posted that incriminating photo of me in all my crazy glory on Facebook.

I left my project there for a bit. Not sure if it was salvageable or not. I really hated to waste all that wood, but I was at a loss. About an hour later, I decided to do what I could to at least make it look like a table, which meant giving it a top and the ability to stand alone.

Funny, the boys thought it was cool and told me so. They thought I had done a splendid job on my table.






At this point, I was a little tired and disappointed, but inspiration struck again. What if we cut off the bottom, as the structure (or sculpture as Larry called it)was a little tall and then I covered it with fabric? Then no one would see the odd angles and mismatched legs and I wouldn't have to sand the thing. Bonus!

This was the plan until my friend Shannon and her husband came over for dinner. She looked the table over and deemed it "Not bad." Shannon is pretty honest and I knew she wouldn't lead me astray. She offered some decorating ideas and told me to go for it.

Recharged, I went to Home Depot again, bought some stain and began once again. A few days later, Shannon headed with me to Home Goods and we picked up the necessary accessories to transform my entrance into a Foy-yay. I still need something for the wall behind the area, I'm thinking a piece of wall art, but overall, I'm happy with the results and I built it myself!





-

Eternal

by Sanctus Real

I know this life I lead will pass away
Along with every other earthly thing
So I will set my heart on a higher plain
Where my treasure lies with You

And in this marriage of our hearts
There is no death do us part
For You are eternal
And I am eternally Yours

And I could never lose Your love to sickness
Oh I could never lose You to divorce
And there's no concept of abandonment
For I am safe within Your arms

And in this marriage of our hearts
There is no death do us part
For You are eternal
And I am eternally Yours
Oh I am eternally Yours
I am eternally Yours
Find More lyrics at www.sweetslyrics.com

(No abandonment)
(Safe within Your arms)

I never had enough until I found You
I never knew love until I met You
I never had enough until I found You
And now I have everything

And in this marriage of our hearts
There is no death do us part
For You are eternal
And I am eternally Yours
And I am eternally Yours
Oh I am eternally Yours

I could never lose You
No I will never lose You
I could never lose You

And this life will pass away
But You will never change
Oh this life will pass away
Oh but You will never change



Mighty to Save is one of my favorite songs, especially to sing in church, so when I saw the verse as I was flipping through the comments on The Siesta Scripture Memory Verse Day 1, I knew that was to be my first verse as well.

“The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 NIV

25 Weeks

Excuse the baggy pants. I didn't feel like wearing my maternity pants, so these are Larry's jeans that are too big for him.




I think we can safely say that I look pregnant now. I think I can thank all the ice cream and German Chocolate Cake I ate at mom's house over the holidays. I can't believe I only have 3 to 3 1/2 months left. CRAZY!

Blogger Love

I just happened to stumble across a new blog to read as I was perusing the comments on The Pioneer Woman's photography post about black and white photos and I'm so glad I did. I normally don't look at the comments, but Ree was asking for B/W editing advice and I'm always keen on reading about photography, even if I don't get to actually take photos as much as I would like to.

One commenter mentioned The Coffee Shop Blog and her creamychocolate B/W action for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. I followed the link expecting to find a site that offered actions for a price. I was so happy to find that all the actions The Coffee Shop offers are FREE! Yes, FREE! Plus, she has a ton of tutorials and other good stuff for making your photography better.

I use The Pioneer Woman's action Boost on almost all my photos, and I'm excited to download some of The Coffee Shops' to try out too.

Check her out!

Whew

Today, I feel every day of being six months pregnant. Yesterday, Larry, his brother and I worked in the house from the time we got up (10 am woohoo for late sleep in) till 9:00 last night starting the first phase of Making Room for Baby. The furniture was removed from both the boys rooms, some set aside, some set outside and at least 5 trash bags were filled. I'm not sure if my boys are hoarders in the making, or just lazy. I think it's a bit of both.

Well, Shey is lazy. His room was pretty easy. I sat in there while he came in and out and just threw things away when he wasn't looking. Even when he did pay attention, he was pretty agreeable to dumping things not needed. His room was mostly cleared and we were able to paint it last night. It now awaits the bunk bed we ordered last week before we can really go any further.

Oh, Peyton. He does love to hold on to some stuff. Papers, namely. Some cool picture that a friend made. A cut out animal that looks to be on its last leg. Thankfully, he let us chunk the collection of dried lizards he had accumulated. His room still has piles of stuff to go through, but I just ran out of steam. Larry wants Peyton to go through it again, but I think I'm going to see if I can sneak in there and just do it myself. So much more will get done. I mean, seriously, if it's been at the bottom of a toy box for months, do you really need it? I honestly don't know how we are going to fit all of it into one room. They will definitely have to be more conscious of actually throwing things away rather than just cramming junk under a dresser.

I took photos, but I'm waiting for rooms to near completion, so I can post a room transformation all at once. This should hopefuly start happening in the next couple of weeks. I hope so, my aching hips can't take much more.

***Edited to clarify: Wow, you guys are concerned about the dried lizards. ha We have geckos everywhere down here and sometimes the baby ones will get in the house and if I don't find them or usher them out, a lot of times they will die and then shrivel up. Okay, that is gross, but not really as gross as it writes. So, that's the story behind the lizards.

A Reminder

One day I will edit the photos of Peyton hating the camera on Christmas morning and post them, but for now I saw this on Clover Lane and had to share. As we gear up to totally remodel the house to accomodate baby girl, I sometimes find myself wondering, why are we doing this again?! Here's a nice reminder:

From an Erma Bombeck Column:


A young mother writes: "I know you've written before about the empty-nest syndrome -- that lonely period after the children are grown and gone. Right now, I'm up to my eyeballs in laundry and muddy boots. The baby is teething; the boys are fighting. My husband just called and said to eat without him, and I fell off my diet. Lay it on me again, will you?"

OK.

One of these days, you'll shout, "Why don't you kids grow up and act your age!"
And they will.


Or, "You guys get outside and find yourselves something to do ... and don't slam the door!"
And they won't.


You'll straighten up the boys' bedroom neat and tidy -- bumper stickers discarded, bedspread tucked and smooth, toys displayed on the shelves. Hangers in the closet. Animals caged. And you'll say out loud, "Now I want it to stay this way."
And it will.


You'll prepare a perfect dinner with a salad that hasn't been picked to death and a cake with no finger traces in the icing, and you'll say, "Now, there's a meal for company."
And you'll eat it alone.


You'll say: "I want complete privacy on the phone. No dancing around. No demolition crews. Silence! Do you hear?" And you'll have it.


No more plastic tablecloths stained with spaghetti.
No more bedspreads to protect the sofa from damp bottoms.
No more gates to stumble over at the top of the basement steps.
No more clothespins under the sofa.
No more playpens to arrange a room around.


No more anxious nights under a vaporizer tent.
No more sand on the sheets or Popeye movies in the bathrooms.
No more iron-on patches, wet, knotted shoestrings, tight boots, or rubber bands for ponytails.


Imagine. A lipstick with a point on it. No baby sitter for New Year's Eve. Washing only once a week. Seeing a steak that isn't ground. Having your teeth cleaned without a baby on your lap.


No PTA meetings.
No car pools.
No blaring radios.
No one washing her hair at 11 o'clock at night.
Having your own roll of Scotch tape.


Think about it. No more Christmas presents out of toothpicks and library paste.
No more sloppy oatmeal kisses.
No more tooth fairy.
No giggles in the dark.
No knees to heal, no responsibility.


Only a voice crying, "Why don't you grow up?"


and the silence echoing, "I did."

To Believe or Not to Believe

Christmas falling on Saturday is really messing me up this year. We are traveling to Alabama this Sunday and then plan on heading back the following Sunday. I was thinking how difficult it would be to make the kids wait the whole week to open their gifts, just to pack up that afternoon to leave the next day. Mom and I talked about it and we agreed that we would just celebrate Christmas on Thursday. And I said these exact words, "It's not like the kids will know the exact date anyway."

Silly me. I keep forgetting Peyton is in third grade and not quite as clueless as his five year old brother. Who, now that I think about it, probably knows Christmas falls on Saturday too as I'm sure they are discussing it in class. But still, I didn't think about it, because, hey! presents! three days early!

So this morning on the way to school, Peyton was asking if we could stay in Alabama a few extra days basically for the reason above. I laughed and said, "well, I thought we could have Christmas on Thursday. I didn't realize you would know the date." He just looked at me like I was the clueless one and said, "Mom, I'm not dumb." Point taken.

We talked some more and then he says the following, "So, can we open your gifts on Thursday and then Santa will bring his gifts on Saturday?" This, coming from the boy who has told me that Santa's not real and even taunted his brother with this knowledge as well. I looked at him to see if he was joking or covering up for Shey, but he was serious. I really wasn't sure how to handle it. Did I use that time to finally squelch the belief in Santa, or so I now play along and strengthen this new belief?

I hem and hawed a bit and said that maybe Santa would make a special trip for us on Wednesday night. Now, though, I'm thinking we'll just hold one gift back and Santa can come on Saturday as he's supposed to.

If I haven't said it enough, Peyton is such a unique child. I know they all are, but he just takes it to a whole new level. I mean, seriously, he can't decide what he wants to do or believe, it's no wonder he's so frustrated all the time. Sometimes he seems so grown up and he has since he was a baby, but then other times, the little boy in him comes out and I'm not sure how to handle it. I guess I need to treasure it especially as he's getting older and that little one will show up less and less often. Oh, that boy.

*Edited to add: I just glanced at the Christmas card I chose and hello, there's my answer. You'll see soon, as they went in the mail today. :)

And by the way, I have 10 cards left over, so if I have any lurkers out there who want to exchange cards, let me know and I'll send one out.