Challenge

I have never been one to back down from a challenge; usually I embrace them and have often been known to chase a few.  My whole life I have wanted to be a mom, ever since I got my first Cabbage Patch Kid.  I have always imagined that I would have at least three and probably more.  I envisioned a house full of chaos with kids and toys everywhere, and the like.  Let me stop here and say that I love my daughter, love her, love her, love her.  She is amazing and sweet and better than I ever imagined.  I know that God made her and that God gave her to us for a reason, that He thought that we needed her and she needed us.  With that being said, God gave me a challenge.  My almost 13 month old can throw a temper tantrum that could rival most two year olds.   She has the ability and often does cry for hours… please note the “s” at the end of that word.  I haven’t slept in 13 months because I can’t get her to sleep through the night.  I think you get the point.  The whole big family thing is definitely a big question mark now, I don’t know if I can handle any more kids, I can barely handle the one I have.  (The funny thing is that I used to be able to manage a class of 24 first graders… there is something wrong with this picture.)

If...

I were to buy myself some Christmas gifts, here are a few that I might choose.

Some casual boots like these (Frye Jane Boot)

A Mason Pearson Hairbursh (they are said to be the best)

A JCrew Cotton V-neck Sweater (perfect weight for our Florida winters)

A Vera Bradley Umbrella (not necessarily this print, but I do like it)

Great Ideas

A friend asked if I had ever heard of pinterest.com the other day and said I would love it. I have to admit, she was right! I haven't created a site because I fear that I might never be a good mother or wife again and my house would become an even bigger disaster because I would just carry the iPad around pinning all day. However, it is fun to occasionally go on the main page, see what everyone else is pinning, and get some fun ideas. I am planning to make these the minute I get some super glue found here.

The List

Watch Christmas movies- no, which is so sad

Decorate the tree- the top half is decorated, the rest is all over the house

Peppermint Mochas- just one, thanks to the boy

Purchase gifts- so close, yet, so far away

Wrap gifts- all the ones that I have bought

Read the Christmas story- a kid’s version to the baby girl

Bake cookies- not yet, which might be a good thing

Drive around and look at lights- just last night

Decorate the house- yes, very carefully so I don’t end up in tears when the baby girl gets a hold of one of them

Send out cards- check

Put lights on the house- done, but wish I had more

A picture with the baby girl and Santa- not happening

Stuck in a Rut

I love buying Christmas gifts.  There is something about the thrill of finding something that you know that the other person is going to love.  Most years purchasing gifts comes naturally, I come up with ideas, have them bought by Thanksgiving, and by this time they are all neatly wrapped under the Christmas tree.  This year…not so much.  The ideas are there, shopping is frequent, but the findings are slim.  The problem is that I get my heart set on one particular item and once that happens, it’s over.  I can’t move on, I become obsessed with finding the exact gift that I had in mind.  I am driving myself crazy!