Time Away & Cilla and Daddy Play

This past weekend I had a long overdue trip to the Dallas/ Fort Worth Metroplex and my dear hubbie kept Cilla so I could have a little time away with my friends!  

Cilla had a blast with her daddy and I think daddy had a blast with Cilla!  Flint had lots of fun things planned for them so they stayed super busy!

They first full day I was away, Flint took Cilla to the drive-thru safari zoo here in our area!  Sweet girl loves anything to do with animals.

Our little goat whisperer!  Apparently, it was almost 90 degrees here.  She just looks hot!

There is a petting zoo at the safari.

Taking it all in!

You can also drive through the "safari".

Of course, it was a special treat to sit in the front seat.  You drive through at like 5 mph and animals come right up to your car.  Flint said they had to roll their windows up a couple of times because a camel and an ostrich were so close!

That afternoon, Cilla took a FOUR HOUR nap!  I guess the safari was a success!

Flint came up with the idea of dumping out several puzzles at once and letting Cilla work them.  He said she loved doing this and that it bought him about 30 minutes!

Good work, daddy!

They ate at some of their favorite places over the weekend, including Bonefish!  Cilla requested "Bang Bang Shrimp" with her Southern drawl!  That's my girl!

Not, her best picture!

In the mean time I had lots of grown-up girl time!  

I had nice quiet car rides.  I could go where ever I wanted at whatever time I wanted.  I could eat whenever and whatever I wanted.  I could shop in peace.  Eat in peace.  And not have to worry about whether or not I had snot all over my clothes before leaving the house!  It was nice to have a little bitty break from being mommy for the weekend!

I stayed with my bestie, Laura and loved loved loved my time with her!  I didn't get any pics, so I will post more when I get some from her! 

I also got to visit with my friend, Sara, and meet her sweet new baby girl, Abby!

I loved my short time with sweet Sara.  I wish I got to see all my Dallas friends more!

I didn't get any pictures, but I had dinner at Chuy's with one of our very favorite families, The Pardue's.  They have little Harper, who is two days younger than Cilla.  I also loved seeing you, Pappy and SuSu.

As fun as my weekend was, I COULD NOT get home fast enough!  There is no better feeling than my sweet girl running to meet me and wrapping those arms around me so tightly.  

It is so sweet to be home!

It is amazing how a little time away refreshes you!  I loved eating dinner with my family, going on a walk together and bathing Cilla tonight!

Here she is all squeaky clean and watching a little "Mickey" before bed!  Of course, getting a little loving from "Wophie"!  Oh how I missed that laugh!

I am sitting here with the monitor, typing and listening to her talk herself to sleep.  It is music to my ears!

Thanks again, babe, for keeping Cilla so I could have some girl time!  And thanks Laura for letting me crash with you this weekend!  I had a blast!  

She's Got Personality

These were taken about a week ago when it was much colder outside, but I had to share them!  Cilla is starting to turn into such a little girl.  Look at that purse on her shoulder and those shades!!!  Can we say sass?!?!

PLEASE don't judge me because of my dirty windows!

So, all you girl moms...  I need some help.  

Although I think Cilla is super cute, her hair is starting to get out of control and she pretty much refuses any thing being done to it.  She lets me spray it with water and brush it, but that is about the extent of it.  She doesn't like a bow put in.  Sigh.  But, but I am working on this.  She used to wear the cutest hair bows.....and then she turned ONE!  Her hair is long enough I could put it in pigtails but she just says, "NO MOMMA!" and fights me and runs away.  So, I need some tips!  Do you just hold them down or do you have any tricks you use?  Help this momma, please!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

{I got this idea from Jamie at this kind of love}
I'M ABSOLUTELY, WITHOUT A DOUBT LOVING this little sweetie!

I'M LOVING her rosy cheeks.  I'M LOVING her big brown eyes.  I'M LOVING her sweet sweet little hands that are not nearly as itty bitty as they used to be but still so precious.  So chubby.  So soft.  

I'M LOVING watching her grow and learn and explore.  She does something new every day!  She says ten new words and phrases every day!  She keeps us on our toes, but life is so fun with her!

I'M LOVING the spring weather!

I'M LOVING watching her push her stroller around filled to brim!   

I'M LOVING that today is Wednesday and Cilla and I got to go the BSF.  I am so blessed each and every week.  Today's lesson was about what satisfies us.  WOW!  That makes you think!

In Isaiah 54 says "For your Maker is your husband-

   the LORD Almighty is his name"

I have heard this verse many times and I always think that these are beautiful words but today something just jumped out at me.

God gives us a spouse here on Earth because it is one of the most intimate and beautiful unions.  It is a way for us to merely catch a glimpse of our relationship with HIM- our Bridegroom!  Just like an earthly husband- He protects, provides, is a companion, loves, supports.  Only HE does it even better.  He never fails us!  Our lecture today was ended with this question, "Am I satisfied in God?"  If I am not, nothing will ever satisfy me!

So today, I am thanking God for giving me all these little blessings, these little things that I love,  but I am reminded that is all because of HIM!

Nana and Poppa's House

This past weekend Cilla and I headed to my parents' house.

We both love going because we get spoiled rotten.

Cilla has her Poppa right where she wants him.  She says jump.  He says, "How high?"  She says chocolate cake.  He says, "How much?"  She says, "How about we color the walls with permanent markers?"  Poppa helps her finds the markers and then tells everyone, "But Cilla wanted to."  POOR EXCUSE!  You get the drift.  She gets her way with her Poppa!

And Nana, does her share of spoiling, too!  Cilla wanted Chicken and Dumplings for dinner Saturday so Nana got busy in the kitchen!

{Poppa helping Cilla eat her Chicken and Dumplings}

{Swinging in the hammock}

{Eating dinner}

Nana and Poppa,

Thanks for loving on us while daddy was out of town!  We love you guys bunches!

Bouncing

 We overcame the yucky weather this week by heading to Boingo Bounce with our friends Sydney, Stella and Emerson!  This place is great!!!  It is all big "blow-ups" for the kiddos to play on!  

Cilla has been pretty timid around the big slides and bounce houses up until recently!  But this week she let loose and she and Stella had a BIG time playing together!  

Lots and lots of silliness!!!

But they were oh so cute playing together!  We love our time with you!  Let's do it again soon, Yazwinski girls!

Crazy Hair Wednesday

This is the little bed head I have had on my hands the last several days!

We prefer to call it the Farrah Fawcett feathered do, though!

Embarrassed

So, last night I had a very humbling, embarrassing, mortifying, helpless (did I mention humbling and embarrassing) toddler parenting moment?!?!  You get where this is going!

Ironically, I wrote a couple of weeks ago about my MOPS meeting back in September at which Michelle Duggar spoke.  I took in everything she said like a sponge that day.  But, like many other things in life, time passes and things are no longer fresh on our minds.  Six months later and having a strong-willed, somewhat rebellious two year old on my hands, I revisited all of the material that she gave out to all the mommies that day.  It never hurts to refresh the memory.  I have been trying hard to implement some of the principles that Michelle talked about like demanding that your child look you in the eyes when you speak to them.  Like discipling Cilla in private and praising her ten-fold in public.  Like teaching her Godly character qualities such as being kind to people, being obedient, and having self-control.

Well, last night I was put to the test in front of my mommy mentor herself!  That's right....Last night right there in Wal-Mart in front of Michelle and one of her older girls, Jessa I think it was!  

I was reaching for something on a shelf and right about that moment it registered with me who was walking toward me.  {Cue Cilla whining to get out of the cart.}  Thoughts starting running through my head.  She is watching me (Michelle, that is).  I can't cave in and let Cilla have her way.  I MUST make my child obey me.  So what did I say?  "Cilla, mommy needs you to look me in the eyes."  The fussing got louder and I started to feel like I was having an out-of-body experience.  I wanted to run and hide but I couldn't hide, the crying was too loud!  Of course she was doing everything but looking me in the eyes!  I continued, "Cilla, I need you to sit down in this cart (she was standing in the cart by this point.)  Mommy needs you to listen and obey."  I was trying to stay calm but still have a firmness in my voice.  But, the crying turns to screaming as I try to sit her in the front of the cart.  Geez!  At this point I am mortified and the Duggar ladies had passed, so what do I do but let her out of the cart.  Yes, I gave in!!!  There, I admit it!  Right there in Wal-Mart the Lord worked on me.  I learned that it doesn't matter what people I am around  or what anyone thinks- I have to stand by my convictions as a parent.  I have to demand respect and obedience no matter where I am.  Even it means walking out of the store; even if it is not the easy choice to make.  I also have to tell myself that even Michelle has moments like I had, it is just all in how we handle those moments!  I am not perfect and she is not either.   

I finished shopping for my short list of items and found myself walking out of the store with the Duggar ladies.  I wanted to pour out my soul and apologize and make excuses.  Instead, I took it as a lesson learned and walked away a better mom (hopefully!)  I politely spoke and went on my way.  Funny how the Lord works.  Needless to say we are still working on teaching Cilla about self-control.  But, hey, aren't we all in need of a little more?!?!

A Chance to Win!

Some of you probably know by now, some of you are sick of me talking about it and some of you may have no clue what I am talking about when I mention HolyTurf.

Well, the Hubby has a little website called HolyTurf which explores the passion of college football.  If you have read it...THANKS!  Really, he appreciates it and I do too!  If you haven't read it yet, it is a great time to start!  Sure some of the articles are way over our minimal female football knowledge heads, but there is lots of stuff you would love if like college football at all!!!!  So check it out!

HolyTurf is working to improve and wants your feedback.  Go here and click the link to fill out a short survey.  Seriously, it only takes 3 minutes.  After doing so you can enter to win the sideline polo of the team you like to cheer for!  Just follow the directions.  So, girls, this is a great op to get the BF, the hubby or even dad an awesome gift.  Like the kind your fav team's coaches wear and a $70 shirt!  Heck, you could even keep it for yourself!  You have until April 5th to enter!  So HURRY!

Keeping it Real

This is what happens at our house when mommy gets a shower and the two year old is left semi-unsupervised.....
*please disregard the horrible lighting in the picture!

Flint went to church early and I was left to get both of us ready this morning.  While I was in the shower and getting dressed, Cilla got a bottle of lotion and put it all over her face (and jammies and my bed) and threw diapers all over the floor!  For the love!

This, however, pales in comparison to the lip liner artwork on the back of my bathroom door or the toilet paper roll completely unrolled in the bathroom floor or the Rice Krispies all over the kitchen floor (see this post) or even the shattered make-up bottles and fingernail polish bottles!  

So, now you know why I skip showers some days!

Spring Break

Today was, ironically, Cilla's two year wellness visit.  After being a little under the weather this week we headed to the doctor for her two year visit.  She was a champ!  All 31 lbs, 35 inches of her!  It helped that we got all of her shots at 18 months so there were none today!  Hallllllll-elujah! 

Her doctor wanted to make sure that she was saying at least 20 words and it just made me laugh because she never quits talking and repeats everything we say!  So the answer is YES!  He basically confirmed everything her mommy already thought!  That she is smart and beautiful and right on track!!!  I know, gag!  I am her mom, I have to say that stuff!

Her favorite thing to tell us this week is how she jumped out of the car!  We had the biggest "I told you so" moment of her little life thus far!  She insisted on jumping out rather than letting me help her and I preceded to tell her that I was confident that it would not end well.  But, what does my hard-headed two year do when I walk away?  Jump out of the car, of course, and belly splats on the garage floor.  I guess she is proud of her bravery, but I just saw it as foolish!  Lesson learned?  Probably not!

We have been flying a little under the radar this week trying to get back to 100%.

Wednesday, we skipped playgroup so we did not give all the other kiddos the icks and we went with daddy to an afternoon Razorback Tennis match to see some of his former athletes and coaches.  Cilla seizes any opportunity to wear her "pink Hog dress"!  

Thursday, we ventured out a little more.  We went to Toddler Time at the Fayetteville Library and had lunch with some of our besties- Katie, Paigie and Avery!

Cilla absolutely loves these girls.  She would move in with the Allen's if we would let her!

We love being so close to them and getting to spend lots of our days together!

After getting off to a rocky start to spring break week, we had a good week!

Since we are all grown up and really have no ties with any school systems now, I am not sure why we still observe spring break...I guess it is just one of those things you hope you never have to let go of!!!  I hope everyone had a good spring break!

Under the Weather and Overly Sassy

Cilla woke up a little under the weather today, so we are having a lazy jammie day at home!

Look at those pitiful rosy cheeks (pouty face).

She didn't want her picture made and I can't say that I blame her.  Who wants their picture made when they are bumming around and do not feel well?  However, I couldn't resist a few shots of my under-the-weather, sassified girl!

She was "text'n daddy" and working on her "puter"!  There is no time to be sick!

Sending more texts from bed.  Probably texting her friends to come save her!

Yes.  Yes, she was watching Mickey with her shades on.  Miss Cool!  

That's right.  SO, I am going to admit this, mainly because she watches a very limited amount of TV on a daily basis!  We have watched about three episodes of Mickey (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse), Bambi and Veggies (Veggie Tales) all before our afternoon nap.  DON'T JUDGE!  We have also worked about 19 puzzles and read about 27 books!

Hopefully being low key today will pay off and we will be out of self-put quarantine tomorrow!

Just for the record, she really does text her daddy from her momma's phone.

Today's correspondence went a little something like this:

Cilla (on Rebekah's phone):  Ygdghyuoijb

Cilla:  Yggih.  H6

Flint:  Hi Roo!

Cilla:  Thy.  Uj credit.

No joke!

Welcome Spring

Hooray for Spring! 

 We have been loving the warm weather and longer days this week!  

I have a feeling we will be outside all summer!  Cilla loves it!

Her new bike is a hit!

So was this cookie!  Thanks, Kelly;)

Hope you had a good weekend!  Our's was lazy and I loved it!  I needed it!

Sunny Days

Oh how we are loving the springlike weather here in Northwest Arkansas!  

Yesterday Cilla and I had BSF then we had a little lunch date on the patio at Stone Mill.  Oh this weather is wonderful and so was our lunch!

Cilla loved her PB&J.  She would say, in her own little Cilla way, "delicious"!  Of course, I thought it was cute.

After we attempted a nap (I have video to prove her lack thereof) we played outside most of the evening!  Yep, my child is barefoot!  What is mom to do?

Can you just hear the squeals coming from this picture?!?!

Discipline

So, we have the hit phase of life that is ever so widely known as the terrible twos.  So far, I do not think there is anything terrible about it.  Is it hard some days?  YES!  Do we have some power struggles in our house with our strong-willed child?  SURE!  But I love this age!  There, I said it!  It is so so fun to watch an inquisitive little toddler just soak up life like a sponge!  I mean, she takes in EVERYTHING!  She repeats everything.  She can do just about anything...that she wants to do!

Back in September, Michelle Duggar spoke at our first MOPS meeting.  Although I do not fully agree with her on some of their family and parenting philosophies, she had a lot of great insight into parenting...especially discipline.  If anyone would know....she would!  What is the count right now?  19 Kids?!?!  I must say, she is the MOST soft spoken woman and you can tell that it is truly her heart's desire to train her children in the way they should go!  For that, I admire her and can definitely learn from her!

She spoke about instilling Godly character in your children.  Which just happens to be the desire of my heart! 

Michelle gave out this handout that shows the operational definitions of character qualities. I really liked the way each one was defined. Here are a couple of examples:

Contentment-realizing that God has provided everything I need for my present happiness.

Punctuality-Showing high esteem for other people and their time 

Patience-Accepting a difficult situation from God without giving Him a deadline to remove it.

That is just a few...there are 49 of them. I just really think it makes you think of those words in a different way.  Couldn't we all learn a little from some of these?!?!  I know I could work on each one of those qualities in my daily life.

She also said that the three she felt were most important to emphasize with her children were:
1. Attentiveness. She said that she always has her children look her in the eyes before she talks to them to show that they are listening to her.  I try to use this with Cilla and it makes all the difference in the world!  Michelle said that when you have a child's eyes and ears, you can get into their hearts.  I am definitely I believer in this now after putting it into action!
2. Self-Control. She said it doesn't do any good for them to be attentive if they don't follow through with self-control and of course...
3. Obedience. She said obedience needs to be instant, cheerful, thorough, and unconditional. Wouldn't that be awesome!  We are still a work in progress on this one.  But in our house we believe that we should set the bar high and expect great things from Cilla.  

I thought it was was interesting that she referred to "correcting" as "encouraging".  She also pointed out that rather than lifting up our children with praises such as "You are such a little Princess" or "You look so pretty" she challenged us to look deeper and praise them on their character qualities!  Tell them that we love how they were kind to their friends or how wonderfully they respected their teachers.  WOW!  I have lots to work on.  I want to share some more of the qualities sometime.  It is my goal to try to incorporate a couple every couple of weeks in my time at home with Cilla.

As an overall philosophy on life, Michelle said that as a parent, you have to "choose joy" even on the rough days. She is spot on!  It is a choice and we have to make it daily!

Here a few pics of the day with the Duggars.  

The camera crew was there and some of the footage actually was aired.  It was funny to watch as the room was scanned- to see a room full of my friends!

I was a little too embarrassed to get my picture with her so, I borrowed some friends' pictures!  Her oldest girls were also there and played their violins.  It was beautiful music.

My friends, Sara and Jenna with some of the Duggar girls

Sydney and Sara with Michelle Duggar

Rainy Play Day

It has been a cold day outside but warm inside!  Our friends, Lindsey and Adeline came over to play today.  We had a wonderful time playing and visiting....despite having to share toys!

If only this vacuum really worked!

Thanks for coming to play with us today, girls!  We loved our time together!

Thank you Lord for sweet sweet friends!

Now I am gearing up for The Bachelor Finale tonight!  

I have a bad feeling about this, but come'on Brad, pick Em!