Friday...minus the 5.

I feel like this blog has become a "Five on Friday" only thing. But, hey, at least I'm updating! So, today I'm not going to do my normal thing because I don't have time to even think about 5 things.

This week has been a good one...but so busy. Busy is good sometimes, I suppose. Aaron and I are excited about getting out tonight and celebrating with some very special people...and just taking in the night.

I find it fitting to put this picture up today. Many have already seen it but today, August 26th, would be my Papaw's 100th birthday. I remember holding his hand many times as his over 6 ft body towered over me. He was so gentle...so loving...always willing to sit and read me a book. This is a picture of Ainsley holding my own daddy's hand. Leighton and Ainsley adore their Pop Pop...as do I! It is such a blessing to watch my children love my own father as I do.

Five on Friday

1. It's been a week. I would have to say the hardest week of my entire year is the week I make my schedule. I have to schedule 60+ children from 5 different schedules making sure not to take them from specific times throughout their day. Inevitably, lots of changes have to be made. My feelings get hurt that my job isn't valued as highly as others. I have put my pride aside, I have a schedule I will follow, and I pray that I can do my job to the best of my ability to remediate any speech and language delays of the children in my therapy room. And this little face coming to and from school with me each day will be a big help! :)



2. Leighton has been waiting since the day Ainsley was born to sleep in the same room. This week, we allowed Leighton to sleep in the big girl bed in Ainsley's room since Ainsley is still in her crib. They did great...until 5am when we heard them talking to each other. I giggled just listening to them. When they got up, the first thing Ainsley said was, "I cry Mommy. Sissy say night time." And, Leighton confirmed that was exactly what she told her sister at 5 in the morning! Here they are having a little cuddle time before it was actually bedtime.



3. I keep reminding myself this is why I work...only 65 days until we are back at the happiest place on Earth!



4. Ainsley wants to do everything Leighton does. It truly is precious. And, although she isn't in gymnastics (yet), she wears her leo every time we go. Can't you tell how proud she is?! :)



5. The girls play together better and better each day. Here they are playing "house." I'm not sure how they thought this was comfortable for one second! But, they were happy, so that's what counts!!

And so it begins...

Leighton's school days are here. It was exciting but also nerve wracking all in one, for me. For Leighton, it was pure excitement. She woke up without a fuss, talked non-stop the entire time she got dressed, and couldn't stop smiling as we drove to school. She was a natural. Me, not so much. Tears kept welling up in my eyes. And she just giggled that I was crying over her going to kindergarten. "Momma, don't cry. This is exciting," she said to me.

Once she was in her room, supplies put away, and sitting at her table, with kisses galore (yep, I was *that* mom), I walked away with an array of feelings. Feelings of happiness that my daughter was going to make new friends, feelings of sadness that my "baby" has entered her school years and she isn't my "baby" so much anymore, feelings of accomplishment that my first born has made it to this milestone. What a day!

She came almost skipping down the hall to meet me this afternoon. She was beaming. "It was SO much fun," she exclaimed! My heart was full knowing she loved her first day of school. It's one I will certainly never forget.













And this is how our ride home ended...yep, utterly exhausted!

Five on Friday

1. I swear I was just posting about having the entire summer to cherish with my girls. And yet today, I am posting that my summer is officially over. Sadness!





2. Leighton finished swim lessons this week and rocked the pool again this summer! I am so impressed with her swimming. We have been blessed with an amazing swim instructor the past two summers. Thank you Miss Chelsea for loving my sweet Leighton. Here's a little video of Leighton doing the back stroke for the first time.



3. Ainsley prays for us every night. It is something she loves to do and she has begun thinking of what to say all on her own. Here she is: Dear Jesus, Thank you for chicken (on her plate), um, thank you dinner, thank you mommy, sissy, daddy. Amen.



4. Leighton has been working hard on her balk walk over...she finally did it at home!



5. Leighton's tummy is back to hurting. I'm praying it's just a bunch of bad luck. Both my family and Aaron's family has a history of colon issues. I see a ped.'s visit in our near future so I will know how to handle this!

Worry

This is a post for me...so if you don't want to read about my woes...you can just stop reading now. You've been warned!

My life is consumed with worry. Finances, children, work, schedules, health, etc., etc. It is probably my worst character trait. I hate it because inevitably I worry about things not in my control, things that will work themselves out, things that I don't need to waste my time on. I know it's a lack of faith. A lack of trusting. But I still worry.

I can read something as simple as someone's status on Facebook and can be wrought with anxiety in a matter of seconds. At 31, I know when my stomach is in knots, that something has triggered my anxiety. And I can usually rethink my last few minutes or hours to determine what has me feeling so anxious.

Unfortunately, it's not that easy for a five year old. She can't even put into words how badly her tummy hurts. Not to mention to express why it might hurt. At five years old, my little Leighton is already a worrier. It literally breaks my heart to think about her living life worrying so much. Right now, something is causing her nervous system to be out of whack, which in turn just makes me a nervous wreck!

And what do I do?? Contribute to the stress by asking Leighton every few minutes how her stomach is. Are you feeling okay? Do you need to go to the bathroom? Do you need a snack? How is your belly now? No wonder she worries!!!

So, today I am not going to think on the "what if's" and worry more. I am not going to ask her every few minutes how she is feeling. I am not going to obsess over what might be causing her so much anxiety. I am going to live today to the fullest. I am going to love on Leighton. I am going to provide her with as much attention as she needs. I am going to give her the confidence she requires. I am going to wrap my arms around her and provide her the stability she yearns.

And I am going to trust, and pray, that everything will work out, that nothing is physically wrong with Leighton, and that she will forget why she was even nervous in the first place.

Five on Friday

1. Leighton lost her first tooth this week! :) The dentist had to pull it but nonetheless, the tooth fairy will be here tonight!



2. Ainsley has gone all week without an accident! Woohoo!!!



3. I got to visit with one of my oldest friends this week. Steve and his family lived around the corner from us growing up. I took him to school every day his freshman year of high school. I adore his family! Ainsley affectionately referred to him as "daddy daddy." Hilarious!!! Here's hoping he might end up in Memphis someday so we can see more of him, his sweet wife, and precious baby!



4. These two sweet girls were quiet while I was cleaning up dinner one night and this is what I found!



5. Love this shot!

A beautiful smile

To me, a beautiful smile includes beautiful teeth. Call me vain, if you wish, but I love pretty teeth. From the time Leighton's teeth began erupting as a baby, she has had "issues." She very clearly has a set of fused teeth on the bottom and to the casual observer, it looks as though she has a missing tooth on the opposite side. However, as it turns out, one of her teeth is larger and the dentist thinks it is actually fused as well and that is why it looks like she has a missing tooth. It's been interesting to learn that fused teeth actually comes from my mom's side of the family. One of my cousins has a daughter with several fused teeth. Fused or not fused, she has a perfect little smile. I'm actually going to miss those "special teeth" (as they have come to be known) when she loses them.

I hated losing teeth. I hated the anticipation of how the tooth was going to come out, I hated pulling them, I hated the feeling of my gums after a tooth had just been pulled (ick...it makes my stomach turn just thinking about it), I hated just about all of it.

Alas, the time has come for Leighton to lose her first tooth. Three weeks ago Leighton stated she had "something" in her tooth as we were shoe shopping. I knelt down to see and was shocked to see a permanent tooth coming in behind her baby tooth. I have to admit I wasn't so quiet exclaiming it was a tooth! We had people standing in line to check-out looking in Leighton's mouth to see her new tooth! Leighton was ecstatic! She has been waiting (not so patiently) to lose her first tooth.

Three weeks later, Leighton's tooth was not getting any looser and the dentist said it was time for her to pull it. I was a nervous wreck! Seriously...I didn't sleep well the night before with the anticipation of what was about to happen. Leighton was a champ! She had (still has) no idea they used a needle to put numbing medicine in her mouth, but I'd prefer to leave it that way. She did realize something was about to happen and shed a few tears but she was SO brave and calmed down very quickly.

As a parent, you always hear when your child starts losing teeth, it changes the way they look. So, along with my disgust for losing my own teeth, I've dreaded the day when Leighton started losing her teeth and her looks started changing from a baby to a girl. The day has come and I think her smile, gap and all, is just gorgeous! Different, yes. Making me realize she is growing up too fast, yes. But, perfect...because she's my baby and her smile will always be beautiful to me!