April wind....I mean showers...

It is soooo crazy windy!!!! What happened to the nice calm showers to bring May flowers?

Well, a lot has been going on since I last blogged. Makenna has the flu, then pneumonia, the Brady and I a stomach bug or food poisoning. I've been planning for Makenna's birthday which is right around the corner. April 23, that is in 2 Saturdays!! I just about got everything completed except the cupcake liners and toppers. This will be a cupcake themed party!! We are doing it low key this year. Keeping it fun and simple and home-made.

Also, we are expecting another baby!!!!! The due date is Oct 18. I should find out end of May what we are having. I will be 12 weeks tomorrow, Tuesday. I am so excited to be out of the first trimester. I keep having horrible dreams about miscarrying and it scares me to death. I am a very open book, but some stuff I keep very private and don't consider it blog material. I will go ahead and share since this is a happy time and I feel I am a little more recovered that I had 3 miscarriages last year. One in April right before Makk's first birthday, Sept 25, and Dec 10. It was very heartbreaking and I wish no one would ever have to suffer through losing a child, no matter what stage you are at. It was a really difficult year for me last year dealing with those, plus moving, job changing, etc. But I am praising Jesus that I am pregnant again and just hoping everything will be perfect and smooth and easy like it was with Makenna. I don't think I could handle losing another child.

Speaking of the job change, my position as a library aide was cut due to a shortfall in the budget. I really really need a full time job with benefits, preferably teaching. That is a big prayer request. Financially, I have to have a job, and as quick as possible. I applied to be a summer teacher in June, but haven't heard back from that yet. I'm hoping that will work out.

There are just so many things to say and so many pics to show, that I will have to do it in multiple blogs.

A couple more things I ask your prayers on besides the health of this child and a job are directions for Brady's (and my) ministry opportunities, and my friend Jessica who is hosting an Autism Run for the first time. This has never been done in Wichita Falls, and Jessica and another lady are taking on this wonderful task. It will be the last weekend in April, the 30th, at Wichita Lake Park off Fairway. There is a run or walk you can do. They also need sponsors and volunteers to hand stuff out or hold signs. April is Autism month, so I hope that everyone can get involved, even if it's just offering prayers! More to come!!

Happy Valentine's Day

Here are some Valentine's pictures of out little Lovebug....who has been throwing the biggest fits./ Today, she pulled out a clump of hair while she was in time-out. But she definitely has many sweet moments. I did make her shirt! I lucked into the leggings at Kohl's! The tutu was made by my friend's mom when she was 6 mo old! It happened to still work. Tomorrow is her party at school, so I had to wash this outfit tonight (which she only wore a couple of hours today anyways) so that she can wear it for her party, minus the tutu. The tutu might be a little much for school. I'm excited I get to go to her little party! The jewelry was a V-Day gift from GiGi and Pops. She wouldn't take it off and had to wear each piece all day!!

New Year's Eve 2010

For some reason, my blog is being weird and only showing URLs, so i can't comment on these pics. But here are our friends celebrating New Years! The 3 girls are Deborah, Dana, and me. I look so short compared to these fabulous ladies! Then There is Makk and I, and Brady and I. We had a lot of fun! Landon and his wife Dana came to hang out. Deborah, Kevin, and their son Brock spent the night, along with Matt who I am hoping to hook up with a wonderful Christian lady. Makk and Brock loooved playing in her ball pit together. After that, Kevin and De had to go buy Brock his own! Thanks for coming down guys!

Christmas #7

I uploaded some pics today and saw that I need to blog about our last Christmas we had. My family from Arkansas came down Jan 1 to celebrate!

Here is Makenna and my brother James. She was very content to sit with him!
Makk with my sister Kristen. James and Kristen are 16 year old twins!
James, Makk, Your's Truly, and Kristen. Unfortunately I'm not looking at the camera.
Siblings and my Dad.

Makk with her Nana and Popsie!

Makk got 4 of these dolls, each a different color. And each came with little shoes. Makk kept putting them on her toes. It was so funny!

We had a wonderful round of Christmases and it was so good to see my family that I rarely get to see!

Show Us Your Singles! Matt Kennedy!

There is this really cool blog called Kelly's Korner which you can find at http://www.kellyskornerblog.com/. Each year she is having a Single Blog where people can post people they know. There are 3 success stories from last year where 2 couples are already engaged and maybe another couple on the way!! So, this is for my friend Matt, who is close to my in-law family. He is also Honorary Uncle to my daughter, which I shortened to Hunkle Matt! Here is a bio that I wrote up about him!

Matt Kennedy is a 28 year old who is currently head coach of women's track at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. He is homegrown in Texas and is therefore a natural gentleman and a respectful man. His hometown is in Wichita Falls, Texas. He enjoys coaching, refereeing basketball, hunting, and hanging out with friends. One of his favorite restaurants is Texas Roadhouse. He also loves to spend time in Oklahoma City where he has many friends and favorite hang-out/dining spots. He was previously a coach at Oklahoma Baptist University.

He enjoys going to concerts to listen to Texas Country. He is also a very good 2-stepper! He is lots of fun to be around and always brings a smile to your face. If you ever have spent any time hanging out with him, you have probably been spotlighting out in Dundee! He loves anything to do with the outdoors.

As I said, he is a very nice guy and needs a sweet girl who won't take advantage of him. He's just waiting to meet Miss Perfect, and don't be surprised if he spoils you! My married friends and I so badly want him to meet the right girl and fall in love, so with his permission, we have posted this for him. If you are interested, please email me at vanessacollier06@gmail.com. My sister-in-law also blogged about Matt. You can also read her blog at http://amandafouts.blogspot.com/2011/01/show-us-your-singles-coach-k-aka-matt.html. Thanks!!

Tantrums

I don't have pics to post this time b/c I still need to dump pics from my big camera and need to find the cord. Makenna has entered into the dark side...the terrible two's that is! Yeah it is a little early by 4 months, but she has figured out how to work the system to see what she can get away with.

One little example comes from yesterday while I was cooking dinner or something. Brady and Makk were in the play room playing with her kitchen. Brady was showing her how to put the plastic hotdog wiener inside the plastic bun. She began to put it in her mouth, but too far in where she was about to choke. Brady pulled it out and told her not in the mouth. This went on a few times until she said "Ear." So Brady gave it back to her and she put it in her ear! When she saw it worked, she would slyly put it back in her mouth until Brady took it away again. Then she repeated "ear." She again she put it in her ear! It was so funny to us that she would try that just to get the toy back. At 20 months old, she should not be logically thinking out ploys to get her way like that!

As I said, we have entered the dark side. She is throwing tantrums like I have never seen! Sometimes it's over trivial things. So we have enacted "time-out." We've only used it a few times, but she doesn't like it. Basically, she sits in her room facing the wall for a minute or so while one of us sits behind her. Then we try to logically explain her bad choices=bad consequences and we need her to make good choices and be a good girl. I know your thinking a 20 month old doesn't understand that. But this is the same girl that realized she wasn't allowed to have her hotdog unless she put it in a different body part, so came up with ear. She actuallyunderstands a lot! It's kind of scary. I hope we get through this stage very quickly!!!

Happy 2011!!

A new year is hear, do I hear a cheer? Hoping that 2011 is an amazing year for all my friends and family far and near. I can't continue this rhyme because I'm running out of time!

Below is another pic of Makk's trampoline. She doesn't like us to zip it. She starts screaming "no!" when we do.
Here's my little ragamuffin!
On Monday, we went to North Richland Hills to visit our friends the Dodsons. This is their handsome son Brock who is 10 months. Yes, we let them take a bath together. Don't judge! They had a blast! They kind of ignore each other for the most part.
Below Makk is pointing to Brock saying "Brock."
They both must be staring at the same thing which seems to be intriguing!
We started potty training this week and it has been very successful! We are on day 4 and she has peed and pooped many times! Hope it stays consistent and easy and we don't have to drag this out. Hope everyone has a wonderific new year!!!!!!