mother's day

This Mother's Day I have spent a lot of time thinking about the incredible responsibility of being entrusted with these two little perfect souls.

Am I making the right choices with how I discipline our children? Am I helping them build a strong relationship with God? Am I teaching them to be kind and caring and empathetic towards others? Will they always be able to see past people's outward appearances? Will they feel the enourmous pressure to be like and look like everyone else? Will they make wise and spirit-led decisions as they mature? Will they feel passionate about helping those in need? Will they be too consumed with "things?" Will they surround themselves with the right friends? Will they make the right decision even when no one is there to see? Will I be able to keep them safe from harm in today's very scary world?

I am so blessed to have these two sweet girls and I pray that I will be able to make the right decisions as a parent.

My two sweet girls. One funny note--since "mother's day" Lilly has been calling me "mother" constantly. "Mama" and "mommy" have fallen by the wayside and been replaced (unfortunately) with "mother." I'm hoping it's only a phase...

How we spent our mother's day

Playing with Pop in the gravel around the fountain in my parents' backyard. Lilly always uses the binoculars while we're there (turned around backwards) to look for birds in the woods.

Mamie and CJ playing with bubbles. Mamie does NOT ever want any help, which makes for very messy bubble time.

For Mother's Day this year, we decided (Jon's idea, actually) to surprise my mom at church in Huntsville Sunday morning. That meant waking up at 5:30 to get everyone and everything out the door in time to make it to church at 9:00. My mom was so surprised and happy it made it all worthwhile. I could read her mind when we walked into the auditorium. She didn't see us until we were standing right beside her, but she was surrounded by families whose children and grandchildren had all come home for Mother's Day and hers hadn't (she thought). It was a great way to spend the day. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful mother. She is truly my best friend and I can't imagine not being able to call her on the phone to talk at least twice a day. I love you mom!

bye-bye blankie

Lilly's new bedtime friends: Piggy, Hippo, and Bunny

one Belle dress: $19.00
one inflatable giraffe swimming pool: $24.99
one Snow White doll: $9.99
one orange Icee: $1.30
one folding Disney Princess beach chair: $9.99
one Dora the Explorer flashlight $3.99
Leaving the house without a brown, wet, smelly, rotting blanket hanging out of my child's mouth: PRICELESS

It's official! Lilly has now been "off the blanket" completely for about three weeks. I felt like I had to wait to celebrate in case there was a relapse, but she has done great. It amazed all of us. She was SO attached to it and had NEVER slept without it once--naps or nighttime, but she somehow (with the help of bribery) breezed through giving it up like it was no big deal. I am so proud of her and so relieved. I have dreaded having to take it away for months now, but we decided it had to be done when they said something about her teeth developing an overbite when we were at the dentist. She is so proud of herself and has told everyone. She had to tell her teachers, friends, every family member, and even the lady at Target ALL about sleeping without her blanket. She is so proud of herself and so are we!

mother's day gift idea

I've never tried using my blog to sell anything and I don't even know if any of you that read this would be interested in these, but I thought I would put them on here and see what happens. I have made these for several people for gifts and everyone loves them. They are personalized daily Bible verse cards. There are 60 verses (for women), and each one has the person's name in them. They come in a little clear plastic holder and are wrapped in a cellophane bag with ribbon. I thought they might make a great Mother's Day gift (or an end of the year teacher gift). I sell them for $15. If you're interested, you can email me at bamalyla@bellsouth.net.
Thanks!

Happy Birthday Pop!

Last weekend we had a surprise 7oth birthday party for my dad in Huntsville. My sister and Dylan came up from Tampa to help celebrate. It was a lot of fun, and we actually succeeded in surprising him. Jon had the job of keeping my dad occupied on the golf course on Saturday so we could get the cake picked up and go decorate. I think Lilly enjoyed herself more than almost anyone else at the party--she was quite chatty with everyone. Of course, we didn't get one picture of the whole family that night, and I did a terrible job of taking pictures all weekend. The only one we got of the whole family was on Sunday after lunch and is pitiful! Happy birthday dad! You look great and you act so young, I can't believe you are 70!

My dad standing beside his "classic car" cake. He LOVES antique cars.

Some of the table decorations.

My dad and sister

Here are a few pictures from the rest of the weekend...

Dylan playing "pretty pretty princess" with Lilly.

We are a rough-looking bunch in this picture. Oh well, you can't be picky when you ask a stranger to take a picture for you. It was FREEZING outside and so windy it was miserable. I love having bangs when it's windy.

Lilly, Dylan, and Mamie. I love the wisteria in my mom's backyard.

introducing...Hollis Allen Watson

Lilly and Mamie's first little Carman cousin arrived on April 4th at 9:56 am. He weighed 8 lbs 5 oz and is 21 inches long. We are so excited he's finally here! He surprised everyone by coming about 2 weeks early. Kim did great and Hollis is perfect! Lilly can't wait to teach him all sorts of stuff (watch out Kim & Zach!). She got to go back to the hospital last night with me and Jon--she was so excited she could hardly stand it. She asked me all day long if Zach would let her hold him. Of course, I forgot my camera when she got to, but I'm sure there will be many more photo opportunities with their new precious little cousin.

Dr. Fang

Lilly had her first visit to the dentist on Wednesday. She was so excited. She had gone with me in July to watch me get my teeth cleaned and meet Dr. Swang. Well, she talked and talked about "Dr. Fang" after that. In fact, a couple days later at a wedding shower for Kristin and Branson, Lilly loudly introduced herself to a 90-year old woman as "Dr. Fang!" when the woman asked her what her name was. I'm sure the woman thought we were very strange. Anyway, when we went this week for her first cleaning, she loved every minute of it. I was very worried that she wasn't going to cooperate about the "thing that they put around your neck" as she calls it. She will not wear a gown at the doctor's office, a cape to get her haircut...and was seriously stressing out for days before we went over the bib at the dentist's office. But, she wore it just fine. It was truly a 3-year-old miracle. I'm glad she had fun, because we get to go back very soon. She had one little cavity. I hope that visit goes half as well...

Lilly and Dr. Swang

Getting used to the "thing around your neck"

During the cleaning--notice her hand on the hygenist's hand. She kept it there the whole time just in case she neede to push her away, I guess. We both thought it was pretty funny.

parties, princesses, and eatin' ritz

Last Saturday we had quite a day. A birthday party for Lexi who turned one, and then a baby shower for Kim and little almost-here-Hollis! We can't wait for him to get here and are praying every day for him to arrive safely and easily. Lilly is so excited--every day she asks me if Hollis is out of Kim's tummy yet. She can't wait for him to get here. I have no idea where some of my pictures have gone--I took pictures of Kim and also of Jon's grandmother and cousin (who is also pregnant with a baby boy!) with Lilly at the shower, but they're not on my camera now. Who knows? I just had to post a picture of the cake--it was adorable. We survived the day (thanks to a bag of skittles Sassy brought for Lilly) without taking naps until almost 4:30. It was a miracle (and lots of fun).

Wasn't the cake precious?

Mamie and Sassy at the shower--you can tell she is SO sleepy

Lexi with her little polka dot cake--have you ever seen a bigger smile? She loved it when everyone sang "happy birthday"

Later that night, Lilly dressed Mamie up like a princess. They were both pretty proud of themselves.

Caught red-handed!

A common occurence at our house if the pantry door is left open.

Helping herself to her FAVORITE snack. She would prefer to eat just ritz crackers and nothing else if I would let her. She goes to the pantry door almost first thing every morning yelling, "crackoo." In case you are worried, I do not let her eat ritz for breakfast.