Smile With the Risin' Sun...

Whelp! Because I Have No Where Else To Post This...

A minute and a half squib of me singing, posted to demonstrate for a friend that The PooPoo Song is not the only jam in my repertoire :) No laughing and please never mind the video itself. AND I fudged up the first high note. Sheeesh...

Simply Beautiful

One Family Tradition

From the Payne side of the family...

Quite possibly thee most irritating song ever. Ever.
Especially when sung at 6am by an overly caffeinated parent.
To get you out of bed for school.
When it's 7 degrees outside.
But I digress...

This sweetheart makes it bearable.

Hello All

(New Year's Eve with A Three Year Old)

I know that some of you have been waiting ages for updates and, for that, I apologize. I haven't had the desire or the time to do it. I still post photographs on my Facebook page, but there is a situation that has been keeping me away from Blogspot. It has been difficult for me to muster the energy to do this, as I promised him he would not see my children again. But, at the same time, I know the rest of you want me to continue my posts here. This very entry has been sitting for almost two weeks ~ today is February 13th ~ in my edit box, as I (even now) am unsure whether I want to post it.

So, what's new? Lots! Maddie has been growing like a bean stalk and will be the first to let you know that she is three, she is a big kid now. She is ever the joker, ever the sweetheart, and ever the sass machine. Who knew someone so small could be so full of spunk?? She is as strong willed as her mama and she isn't afraid to let you know. Like today, I caught her sneaking her third cup of yogurt and, when I told her no, she grit her teeth, shouted, "Hiiii~YAAAA!" and karate chopped my arm. Do I laugh or stick her in time out? Sometimes I am not sure of the appropriate response, as my first inclination is to laugh. She is just so dang funny! Last week, I was eating cooked spinach with mushrooms and she peeked into my bowl and said, "I don't like mushrooms, I fink I'm allergic. But I'll sure take some of dat sea weed, mommy!" Hilarity, in it's purest, most raw form. She really is a sweetheart, though. She has been a changed little lady since I took her on our mommy-Maddie trip. She is loving me again, and I cherish it. She gives kisses again, hugs, cuddles...she even shares her chocolate with me. If you know her, you know that she is a chocoholic. And, of course, she is as brilliant as ever. She enjoys drawing, painting, sculpting with play-Doh. She is crazy about all things frog related still. She is getting really good at puzzles and can do more complex ones in minutes. Like 15 piece picture puzzles. Watching her is amazing. I can't believe how much of a big girl she has become. And she is a wonderful big sister; she is madly in love with her brother. Well, unless he has happened to take one of her toys...

Calum is simply a doll. He is charming, relaxed, curious, and strong. He has started to give kisses to mommy and sissy, which I adore! He has six teeth (four up top, two in the bottom) and he's acting like there are more imminent; tugging his ear and such. He loves to climb, love to stand, and has started cruising the furniture. He sometimes gets brave and lets go, only to fall ~ which makes him frustrated. Sometimes, I will hold my hand out for him to get some leverage and he'll reach out to hold it, but then changes his mind and looks at me as if to say, "I can do it all by myself." He loves for me to cuddle him and loves for me to sing him to sleep. Both of my babies love for me to sing to them and they each have their own song. He is just a happy little guy and sweet as can be. He watches sissy like a hawk and seems to think she is the funniest thing there is. Whatever she is doing, he wants to do it too. What ever she is playing with, he wants to check it out. I love the two of them together. I hope they are always this good to each other.

Anyway, there is a quick update for you folks. I will try to be better about posting, but I hope you understand my trepidation. If there is one thing that I am, it is strong and I will get over all that is happening. But some days are harder than others. I suspect those will become fewer and fewer. I can only do as much as my heart allows for now, so please be patient with me.

Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town!

(Click photo for a bigger view)

Yes, I realize I haven't updated in a month. It is coming, folks, I promise.

Halloween and Other Goodies

Not a creature is stirring...except for mommy, who remembered that I haven't updated this here blog in a few weeks. I suppose I should be utilizing nap time (yes, they are actually napping at the same time! Will wonders never cease) to do laundry or something, you know, productive...but this is much more fun.

Halloween Witchy-Poo!

Maddie picked out my birthday gift on her own, which got me all teary-eyed when I opened it. My favorite? The tattoo bracelet. I thought it was neat that she chose it for me. And her favorite was the stickers, which she helped herself to :o)

Ready to go!

Enjoying her first piece of hard earned candy. Sorry, these few shots aren't in order.

Cutest li'l witchy I ever did see!

Asking if she could have a candy.

I can't remember which house it was, but she was on a mission to get candy. So, she said her "Twick-er-Tweet", the lady opened the door, and Maddie walked right in, looking for goodies.

This is the first house she went to. So excited!

Then she was HOOKED!

Brave little munchkin. She was scared, but she wanted that candy! And she kept asking to come back to this house.


Loot!

Later that week, we went to get Santa hats.

And this hat doubles as a Cowgirl hat! She made her very own pony with a bucket and step stool, towel for a saddle, and mommy's socks made wonderful cowgirl boots.

"Take a picture of meeeeee!" That's her favorite thing to say. And she'll even look at the camera on occasion.

Little Man Plumber?

Early morning, cuddling Calum back to sleep.

Swingin'! It's finally starting to cool off a bit here, so we get to go to the park again.

I know these are small and hard to see (and one is turned sideways...), but they're cute!

So, other things going on around this zoo...

Calum finally has teeth, not just bulging white gums that look like teeth (and tricked mommy). He drools enough to fill a swimming pool and constantly chews his fist. His favorite activity is bouncing, especially if it's on that tender hollow spot on mom's abdomen just below the ribs. Good times there, buddy. He has his 6-month check up next week, but I'm gonna guess he's close to 20lbs now. He's still calm and relaxed, unless grampa is watching him. Time is going by so much faster than it did with Maddie...it sure doesn't feel like six months have gone by. And, no, I don't have baby fever.

Maddie is her rascally old self! She is totally enamored with her baby brother and has started saying, "Who's a good boy??" as if talking to a dog. It is the funniest thing ever! She also karate chopped him square in the head, asks almost daily if he can play Hide and Go Seek yet, and can't get enough of playing with him. She isn't big on sharing her things with him, but I expected that. She is also very ready for Christmas! She helped me decorate the tree and has a list a mile long. We've been watching Nickelodeon lately and every toy commercial is something she wants. My favorite is when she says, "I want THAT, mommy. What is it?" She is so smart and so funny and so incredibly strong willed. Every day she does something that amazes me.