Bring it on 2014

While talking the the Bestie last night she mentioned (not for the first time) that she was ready for 2014.  She and I both have gone through some traumatic things in 2013 and we both agree that we are looking forward to saying goodbye to 2013 and hello to 2014.  So I say... BRING IT!  

In the month that has passed since my last entry a lot has happened.  Let's just list these bad boys bullet point style:

• My Dad came home from the hospital on October 11th.  
• Visited a pumpkin patch
• I organized a surprise birthday dinner for Michael's 30th birthday.  
• Made a couple homemade gifts for Daddy from Brianna.  
• I threw a baby shower for my sister-in-law.  
• I went out of town for work as well as finished closing out the fiscal year. 
• Spent many evenings at the park with Brianna while we still had daylight in the evenings. 
• Prayed hard for my cousin's baby boy, Connor, who entered the world a month early (he got to go home from the hospital Wednesday!).  
• Attended several Halloween events and she had trick or treated with Brianna.  (In terrible rain and a wind advisory.)
• Hosted a small party last weekend and then attended one of Brianna's five year old cousin's birthday party at Jumping Jacks.  

Those are just the things I could list off the top of my head.  I think this time of year is equally crazy for most people.  I feel like we have been crazy busy which has left me feeling like I'm failing at everything.  I loved this video that is currently all over Facebook. 

Post by Unstoppable Mother.

I know that all I can do is my best.  And learn how to say no.  I've gotten better at this since having Brianna but there is always room for improvement.  That short video couldn't have come at a better time.  And I've been trying to be more present in each moment of my day.  I'm also trying to feel more confident in my parenting.  I may not be the best mother in the world... but I'm the best mother for Brianna.  

My Dad continues to improve... slowly... but still in the right direction.  As expected, it has been a difficult transition.  It truly is a miracle how far he has come but he does still have quite a bit of work in front of him.  I apologize for being annoyingly vague... but... there are some other things happening as a result of my Dad's illness that I'm having a hard time with.  The older I get the more I struggle with change.  And letting things go.  There is a lot metaphorically and literally that I am having to let go.  And it is adding a level of stress to my life that I've never dealt with until now.  So if you guys don't mind... all of the prayers for my Dad, family, and myself are so very much appreciated.  

Michael's 30th birthday was the day before my Dad was discharged from the hospital.  Brianna and I had made some gifts for him that week, I picked up his Servatii's cake which has become our little family tradition, and told him to meet his mom, Bri and I for dinner when he got off work.  I'm so thankful for the family and friends who came to surprise Michael.  I know he felt loved and really enjoyed the evening.  

Stepping Stone

Photo Collage for Daddy's Office

Also toward the beginning of the month we went to visit a pumpkin patch with Michael's Dad, Karen, and Granny.  It was still super hot outside which felt unnatural but we still had a lot of fun.  Brianna got a princess crown to run around in, there were carriage rides (there was no hay in the trailer that the horses were pulling so I refuse to call it a hayride), a huge bouncy house type area, a train that she was able to ride around the corn maze (ALL BY HERSELF!), and a lot more.  

Afterwards, Brianna was obviously exhausted.  So exhausted that she fell asleep with a book on her face.  Yes. I had to take a picture before removing it to make sure she was still breathing.  Mother of the year.  

 See, she was perfectly fine under there.  

I need to mention her obsession with Disney princess nightgowns.  Particularly this extra frilly, sparkly line from Target.  She now has Ariel and Rapunzel.  And she literally wears one at all times while home.  Now that it is cold she wears long sleeves and pants underneath to keep her warm.  But here she is cuddling with Ariel (you can see the red hair behind her head) and Rapunzel... wearing her Ariel nightgown.  

And before I knew it... the exhaustion of the fun day of choosing pumpkins and fall festivities caught up with her again. 

The face painter decided to paint her arm instead of her face.  Which actually worked out for the best because Brianna could actually see it.  Brianna politely asked for a pumpkin.  But my girly girl insisted that purple be integrated into the masterpiece.  The woman appeased her by adding some purple flowers onto the pumpkin vine.  The only surprising part of that request was that she wanted purple instead of that other female gender dominantly chosen color.  

Here is a picture of another random night this past month of her with her first french braid.  It struggles but I assure you... I deserve some kind of medal for even attempting this task.  Michael came running upstairs thinking she was seriously injured.  Again... proving that I am indeed, Mother of the Year.  Beauty must suffer??? No? Okay, okay. 

Notice the Ariel nightgown again... I was not exaggerating.  Every. Single. Day. 

At least now that we have Rapunzel's gown I can alternate them so they can actually be washed. 

These pictures are pretty much the only halfway decent pictures I have of her in her costume.  As I'm sure most of you know, the weather wasn't the greatest.  Luckily, the night before Halloween Michael and I took her to an event near my office where local business set up tents and pass out treats, carnival-like games, crafts, local mascots, and apparently half of Boone County.  We probably would have just stayed home that night if we had known how insane the crowd and traffic would be.  But she had a blast playing with the other kids in line and the mascots were her favorite part.  I really am glad that we did go.  I also ran into a girl I used to work with years ago.  It was fun to catch up with her and see Brianna and her children playing together.  

I didn't take many (if any) pictures of majority of the shenanigans this past month.  And most of the pictures were taken with my iPhone.  The baby shower for Krystan went really well.  She got some great gifts and I think everyone had a pretty good time.  Since I was hosting the shower along with Peggy, my camera never even came out of its bag.  

The last thing I'll share is a result of that last bullet point up there.  The one about a five-year birthday party.  At Jumping Jacks.  Let me just start by saying that the last time we went there was July for another birthday party.  A few days after the party in July I had a high temperature and a throat that felt like it was closing in.  That Wednesday I found myself sitting in Kroger's Little Clinic waiting area in between meetings with clients so that I could have a strep test performed which immediately came back with a bright and shiny positive.  The nurse practitioner joked that indoor playgrounds are basically one big petri dish.  Lovely.  I hadn't had strep since my tonsils were taken out somewhere around the age of 22.  

This time... I was armed with even more sanitizer and followed very closely behind her the entire time.  She isn't old enough to be embarrassed by me... yet... so at least I wasn't cramping her style.  But I was determined to not bring a single friendly germ home with us.  Not one.  

To be continued... 

(Check back tomorrow)

:)