Family Living: Abbott Style

Before I became a parent myself--I had a whole list of things I would never do.  Naturally, I have slowly done each of those things on that list. One of which was creating an entire room dedicated to toys.  The dreaded "toy room".  I am not exactly sure why that was on the list.  But it has happened.  I gave up my beautifully decorated guest room for a room full of toys.  Now, this toy room is temporary--as eventually, God willing, we will need that room for another child or two.  I am at peace with this decision and I think it will be great for Haley to have an entire room to go play in and not have to be told "no-no" about something.  An area totally for her.   I have to mentally prepare myself for the idea  that the room will never be organized and she will constantly be dragging stuff out and having it scattered about.  I am limiting myself to picking up the toy room only once a day at the end of ...

Haley has a full blown toddler mullet. The back just keeps growing and growing; the sides....nothing. Mullet, mullet, mullet. I am at odds with myself about what to do here.  My current line of thinking is to just let it grow and eventually it will even out.  But it looks bad. My only other option would be to cut it....and what...give her a bowl cut?? Full disclosure.  When I found out Haley was indeed a she--one of my first thoughts was---crap I'm going to have to do her hair.  I am not even good at doing my own hair.  Let alone a toddler who can't sit still. I have envy for the mom's whose daughters rock perfectly wonderful pig-tails.  Or the mom's who daughters always have the cutest bows and headbands.  Not my daughter.  She has a mullet.  Mom of the freaking year.  This is something I am going to have to work on, because I can't have my poor girl walk around life with some ratty mullet . Isn't it nice.  A 19-month...

Wow!  We are well into December now aren't we? After cleaning house all morning and folding laundry, I now have just a few moments to enjoy some downtime. There is no feeling like having a completely clean house and all laundry clean and put away. The puppy is snoozing and my child is playing independently   Because she does that now.   This is a pretty awesome age.  Sure she throws epic size fits, and usually in public.  She is all toddler.  But with that some some independence that I have learned to embrace.  But what never stops amazing me is her mind.  Sure, I expected and understood that I would someday have a person as a daughter and not just a baby.  But emotionally, it was just something I never could comprehend until it happens. You know, when I tell people I have a high energy child.  I don't think people take me seriously.  They chalk it up to a first time mom who may or may not be overwhelmed. ...