Conversations with a 2 year old

Grandma and Grandpa (C's mom and dad) were in town the other day and Grandma sat down to have a chat with Paisley. It went something like this:
Paisley: (Miss) P likes to eat!
Grandma: Really? Grandma likes to eat too. You must get that from me.
(pause)
Grandma: What is your favorite thing to eat, Paisley?
(pause)
Paisley: (after much thought...) Hot dogs!
[note: this is most interesting to me as I listen because I was SURE she would say Popsicles - considering they ARE her favorite thing to eat these days and that's all she ever asks for. I certainly would never have guessed hot dogs because she's probably had 3 in her entire life and I can't remember the last time she had one.]
Grandma: I like hot dogs too. And hamburgers. Do you like hamburgers?
Paisley: yes
[another interesting answer considering she doesn't like hamburgers at all and I can never get her to eat one...]
Grandma: Grandma really likes hamburgers. Especially with cheese on top. Do you put cheese on yours?
Paisley: yes
[well, at least we're getting close on this one - she does love cheese!]
Grandma: What about cheesecake? Grandma's favorite is cheesecake. Have you ever eaten cheesecake? (Grandma looks at me) Probably not.
Paisley looks perplexed. She's probably thinking "what is cheesecake?"

Anyway, you get the idea... it was such a cute conversation between them. I wish I could have recorded it! And Grandma is right, Paisley hasn't ever tasted cheesecake before. I have a feeling Grandma will be giving her some the next chance she has. That may even become a "thing" between them... cheesecake with Grandma! Who knows... maybe she'll have hot dogs, hamburgers with cheese AND cheesecake with Grandma. That's what Grandma's are for, after all... right?

The Father of Cool

My list of the 5 things I am most grateful for today:

1) Air Conditioning - ours went out yesterday on our top floor and it was quite toasty trying to sleep last night. Even opening the windows didn't help - it may have actually made it worse. As I whined and fussed about it, Curtis pointed out that they didn't have air conditioning back in the civil war and they survived the heat. Well "fiddlely dee"... I choose to focus on Willis Haviland Carrier - the "Father of Cool" - who invented air conditioning back in 1902. There will be many hot, southern summer nights in my future where I'll be quick to thank God for ol' Willis, I'm sure!
2) Kimber's New House. My friend, Kimber, is building her new house across the cul-de-sac from ours. As I walked outside this morning, I was reminded (as I often am) of the progress of their constuction. I have happy thoughts of our kids playing together as we sip lemonade together on her back porch (okay, so maybe we're sipping chardonnay but their both light yellow and you get the point!). What a blessing it will be to have such good friends living so close!
3) Sleeping babies. There is something so precious about watching a sleeping baby. The peace just exudes from their faces. As I watched Colby earlier today, I thought how comfortable he looked. Wrapped in a warm blanket, surrounded by cushy bumper pads, the fan humming above as it provides a gentle breeze, and some light tunes playing in the background. It sure is "rough" being (almost) 4 months old!
4) College football season - enough said.
5) Juice. Paisley was sitting on my lap earlier as I was starting this entry. I asked her what she's thankful for and she said "juice". As she said this, one major thought comes to mind: she doesn't drink juice so why would this be the one thing that she is most thankful for? I guess we can all learn from her young innocence. Sometimes giving thanks can be for things we don't even have any personal experience with... we can just be grateful for their mere existance in this world without having to partake... and that's perfectly fine with God too.

"P Loves Books!"

I woke up this morning to my 2 year old daughter loudly exclaming with delight "P loves books!" Now you may be wondering who "P" is... it is quite simply the way she refers to herself half of the time, which I'm assuming stems from our choice of "Miss P" as one of her nicknames. Anyway, I smile upon hearing this - her latest proclamation - and find it even more adorable the level of excitement with which she shares it. I mean there could be worse things for her to be so passionate about, right? She could be passionate about poop (and other bodily functions), candy, screaming, dressing herself, Teletubbies, and/or the word "NO" as many toddlers often are. Lucky for me, she thinks books are as great as any prize you might find at the bottom of the Cracker Jacks box. I guess she comes by it naturally. I love books and her daddy loves books (although his love of books is mostly limited to those about Dirk Pitt, James Bond or Jason Bourne). Not to mention her Nana, Pop, Grandma, Grandpa and Great-Granddaddy are all big readers as well. It's just in her genes! I only regret that quiet time with my books is hard to come by these days. Oh sure, I read... every day in fact! Just not my choice of Harry Potter, Patricia Cornwall or Oprah book club novels. No, my book selections consist mostly of Eloise, The Clumsy Crab, Fancy Nancy and Thomas The Train. It's amazing the things you can learn from a talking train. Seriously!
The other day I was reading to Paisley before bedtime. I told her it was the last book for the night and as I approached the end, she quickly picked up another book for me to read. I asked her what the magic word was and she replied "Thank you, Mama, thank you." Please... thank you... they are interchangable sometimes for a 2 year old, I suppose.
One thing I know for sure: "P loves books" ALMOST as much as "Mama loves Miss P!"

Grateful Thoughts!

Oprah says that everyone should keep a gratitude journal (yes, you'll find that I love Oprah and quote her quite often). I've been trying to keep a journal like this since Paisley was born 2 years ago. It's important to do this so we can appreciate our lives and remind ourselves what we have been given. Each day I try to write down at least 5 things I am grateful for at that moment. Here are my thoughts for this morning.

1) My mom. She's here in town to visit this weekend and it's such a wonderful thing to see her with her grandkids. It gives my heart a smile to see them interact with her and how much love there is between them. I am grateful for her health and that we are blessed to have her love in our lives.
2) My back porch. It is one of my favorite places in my house... especially now that it is cooling off a bit in the mornings. It's like my little oasis and I can completely relax and enjoy the sounds of the crickets in the yard, ducks in the lake and the trains passing by in the distance. It's just so peaceful out there!
3) Exercise. I can't say that I have found it to be easy to exercise with 2 children, but I am doing my best and I feel so great after a good workout in the morning. It really refreshes me and helps me start my day off right!
4) Cuddles with Colby. My two children are very different in some respects. Paisley doesn't care to cuddle very much. She's a busy little 2 year old with lots to accomplish in her world and sitting around cuddling only slows her down. (I think she gets her fast pace from her daddy.) Anyway, Colby is a cuddlebug. He loves to cuddle and will do it all day long. I don't know if he'll outgrow this but for now, I am grateful for his willingness to cuddle with me.
5) Peaches. One of my favorite fruits is a peach. Especially a good GA or SC peach. I know that they will not be in season much longer so I am enjoying as many as I can right now (I eat about 6-8 a day). At least they are a healthy snack, right?
6) Chocolate Chip Pancakes. My husband is so good to me! He loves to make me breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings. One of his specialties is chocolate chip pancakes. Yum!! My favorite. As I am writing this, he is busy making me some. I can't wait to eat them! Thank you God for wonderful husbands and chocolate chip pancakes!

Another popsicle, please!

Paisley and Colby have both had a big week. Paisley swam across the pool by herself today (yes, she's only 2!). It is both exciting and insane to see. She really is an amazing swimmer! Curtis has been taking her to the pool every day this summer - it's been their special time together! Daddy/daughter time. I can see how valuable it's been for both of them. As for Colby, he rolled over (both ways) this week. He is growing and changing so much these days. I can't believe he's almost 4 months old. It goes by too quick!

Funny story... Paisley was eating a red popsicle the other day outside. She finished it and asked for an orange one next. I decided to let her have one more and said to Curtis, "Hey Curtis! Can you get Paisley an orange popsicle from the freezer when you go inside?" He did. A little later, he was headed in again and I asked "Hey Curtis, could you grab me a drink too?" When he returned, Paisley looked up at him and very casually said "Hey Curtis! 'Nother popsicle please!" It was TOO funny! After we were done having a good laugh, Curtis cleared his throat, looked at her and said "That's Daddy to you!"

My first Blog!

Finally! I officially have my own blog. I have to thank my friend, Leigh Ann Swords, who inspired me to join the blog world - she has been blogging for quite some time now and I just love reading her thoughts and seeing the world from her perspective. Curtis and I have decided to create a family website and as I was laying out what I wanted to include on it, I decided I would try a blog. We'll see how much time I can carve out to keep this up. As for today, I am quite excited about the prospect. I love the idea of journaling my thoughts. I feel like it will center me somehow and help me appreciate my life more. A little reflection is a great thing!