Birthday for My Bear?

Baylor is one March 24Th and I can't believe I am planning my second 1st birthday party. Addison is our little Tinker Belle so we went all fairy for her. I work hard to keep a balance for Baylor on photos and attention on milestones...you sort of loose the gusto on the 2nd, but I try.

Anyhow, I'm thinking Care Bears. Her nickname is "the bear", I thought it would be cute. We shall see.

Sista's

I am publicly documenting these instances of cuteness and civility because my spidey- senses tell me that these moments will become few and far between the closer we get to the teen years.

Dave Ramsey: You Sweet, Sweet Man

My husband and I first were introduced to Dave Ramsey close to 3 months ago and he has already changed our lives in more ways than financially. A non-attender and in serious doubt, I hadn't been to church in a LONG time. My mom knew how tough things have been financially and suggested we attend a three week series at her church with Dave Ramsey. Drawn in my Ramsey and hooked by the rest of the church, we were hooked and haven't missed a day since. We started his Total Money Makeover and we are now in his 13 week Financial Peace University class. It is unreal. Could a financial "guru" actually set off a series of events that have lead to so much peace and clarity? Crazy.

Tonight we had our 2nd FPU class and I just feel so good about our future. We are slowly waking up from a nightmare that has lasted nearly 6 months, but we are slowly rising from the ashes. I feel excellent about the positive changes happening in our lives and I am very blessed for the transformations we (yes we, Ryan has grown even more than me and I am so proud) have been experiencing.

Taking stock of my life the last few months, opening my eyes to toxic people and just finally breathing in the blessed and beautiful things in my life has allowed me to better heal from the pain.

I look forward to the next 11 weeks of class and the next 60 years of my life...it feels good to say these things out loud and if feels amazing to go through a full day with out sobbing fearing yet another bottom falling out.

I would love to shake Mr. Ramsey's hand, send a gracious thank you to my husband, family and real friends and just smile at God.

Through the Ears of a Child...

After long periods of painful and constant ear infections I am now the proud mother of two babies under three with tubes. Baylor Jane just got hers and Addison has reached the one year mark.

Second tube operation in one year got me thinking, what is it like to have your ears so full of fluid and so tender and irritated from infection and then magically they are clear? I have witnessed changes with both girls almost overnight from their surgeries and I just wonder how trippy it is for them.

It is hard to imagine what it is like to be so small and learning so much about life and human function (speech, balance/walking, pain) with such a disadvantage and then the disadvantage disappear.

Either way, I am very grateful that both my girls are doing great and we are so very blessed. Baylor is taking steps and her language skills have stepped it up tremendously in a little under a week. Crazy.