The Cowgirl

So, this weekend was the rodeo here in Neshoba County.  So we went last night.  I froze to death.  But as obsessed as Bailey has become with her hat, boots, belt, and horses, we could not wait to take her.  She had fun running around and dancing to the music before it started and she also had tons of fun with her fan club:  Mammaw, Pappaw, Mamie, Big Mammaw, Sid, and me.  When it started, Bailey was sitting in Nene's lap and she looked at me and said, "I not like it Mama" while she was shaking her head no.  (When we got home, I told her to get on her horse and ride.  She just looked at it and said, "I not like it Mama.")  I don't think she knew what to think at first of those horses and cows and men acting silly.  But she so enjoyed herself.  I tried to get some good pictures before we left the house but she was not having it.  In fact, she ran around the house saying "no pictures mama, no, no, no pictures mama" and slamming doors in my face.  Haha!  So, I just had to catch her when I could at the rodeo.  She shed the hat soon after we got there and the vest too.  I think because they keep falling off or down while she was trying to dance. 

Checking things out when we first got there, probably trying to figure out just what in the world that smell was!

I do not know why this picture is blurry and would not let me fix the red eye!  But I still thought it was cute!

Can that smile get any bigger?

Doin a little dance!

I think this is the cutest picture  EVER!!! Just hangin out!

Sweet Angel!

Well looky here!  I have pockets.  She LOVES pockets!!

This was when the horses first came in the arena in the very beginning.  This was right before she told me she didn't like it and was clinging tight to Nene!

Nene was still holding her in this picture, but I zoomed it in because she's ringing those hands.  That's how we know she's unsure of something or the situation.

Still watching!

Once again, I do not know why this picture turned out blurry, but I thought it was cute!

And towards the very end, she climbed up in Mamie's lap and just about went to sleep.  But, alas, she found her 2nd wind and was up and on the go again before we know it.

We didn't get home until about 11 and she didn't fall asleep until about midnight.  I didn't fall asleep until after 1, so we slept in this morning and then Sid had some work to do for some things set for tomorrow.  When he got home, we went out to Nene's to see his grandmother who is still in town.  We skipped nap since we slept so late and it's 20 til 8. I can't believe Bailey is still awake.  I guess I need to get her in the bed.  I hate it that I didn't get pictures of Bailey with anyone else but who you see pictured, but I like I said, I had to just catch her when I could.  I have more pictures to post of her one night last week in a different attire.  And I went to Mason basketball game yesterday morning and took pictures. I have TONS of those, but I'm not going to post them all, just a few.  Maybe one day before next weekend, I'll find some time.

Have a good week ya'll!!

The One In Which I Pay For My Raisin'

Yesterday we were getting ready for church.  As a side note here, I have no idea how families with lots of little ones actually get to church with open hearts and minds.  I am always a nervous wreck most Sunday's trying to get there and I have some really good help.  It's just knowing you have to be somewhere by a certain time and that everyone has to look their best.  To heck with how we feel I guess.  So anyway, I got a shower and Sid threw Bailey in the tub.  When I got out and got dressed, Bailey was already ready to go except for being dressed.  (SEE, good help!)  I went to put on my make-up and dry my hair while Sid went to get a shower and get dressed.  She usually plays in the bathroom while I get ready, and nothing was different about this morning.  She had the hairspray bottle and started banging it on the bath tub.  I looked at her and said, "Stop doing that.  It's loud and you are going to tear something up."  So what did MY child do?  She went over to the bathroom door and started banging the hairspray bottle on the bathroom door.  Again, I turned around, looked straight at her and said, "If you hit that bottle on the door one more time I WILL spank you."  She held it out and looked at me as if to say:  You know I'm about to do this mom!  I reminded her one more time, " I will spank you if that bottle touches the door."  She got a little closer.  I said, " I will spank you, Bailey."  And what did she do???  Yes, she did!!!!  She reached out with that hairspray bottle and ever so lightly tapped the bathroom door.  So what did I have to do???  Exactly what I threatened 3 or 4 times prior to this, which was to spank her.  She really didn't cry all that much because we all know it hurt me way more than it could have ever hurt her.  So, when she was quite, I heard the music play for the TV in the den.  A guy was singing and he sung something like, "I'll be payin' for my rasin' if he's anything half like me."  I stood think to myself, yes God I get it.  I get it that I was not nor have not been the perfect daughter.  That I have caused/do cause anxiety and madness, anger.  But I also know that I bring a lot of love and joy and life to this place.  Just like my Bailey.  She is her Mama's daughter and she gets it honest.  Knowing how this could all end up, I tend to be a little more harder on her than I probably should be. 

Side note:  As I'm typing this in the bedroom, Bailey and Sid are in the den.  We have a big heater of some kind in there that rolls and sits on the floor.  It's a big box and Bailey loves to sit on it and play.  We don't let her do this if it's hot, but the even if we did, the outside doesn't get hot, it just blows hot air out.  Anyway, she is in there just beating on that thing while Sid is trying to talk on the phone.  I think this brought about spanking number 3 since bath time.  It's going to be a long 25 years. 

So anyway, we have always taken Bailey with us to big church and not left her in the nursery for several different reasons.  1. We already leave her at the same place 5 days a week for daycare and I don't like to leave her a 6th morning at what she considers to be school.  2.  I just feel that small children should learn to sit for an hour and listen in church.  Sure, alot of this goes over their heads, but I feel the sooner we start the rules in church, the sooner she will learn them.  And she does know them, but she apparently has forgotten that things are not always her way.  I can handle her in church but I don't want the other people to be bothered by her.  3.  For so long, we were usually here a week, gone a week.  Sid works every other weekend, so it was just never a good time to start her off in the nursery. 4. Church falls right during her nap time, she we usually can get her to go to sleep and then there's nothing to worry about.  5. I'm an anal mother and worried about her being hungry in there, or whatever.  Stupid I know, but I can't help it.  ((((Side note:  My mom says Bailey and I have too much of an attachment to each other, that Bailey is too much of a Mama's Baby.  I don't really think that's such a bad thing, except when I go to leave her in the nursery and I do fine, but she doesn't.)))  So we've just always taken her with us.  And she has done really good.  But I can see it coming and I told Sid we just needed to bite the bullet and send her in there.  We took her this past Sunday and she did great.  She never even turned around to tell her bye. 

So, when we got up to the santuary and got seated, all the little ladies we sit around (we've always sat at the back in case we needed to take her out) wanted to know where Bailey was.  They say they love to see what she is wearing is each Sunday and how big she is getting.  We've sat at the same place for almost 2 years now.  Now, keeping in the mind the morning we'd had the whole "testing me with the hairspray bottle thing", they lady behind me tapped me on the shoulder on asked where Bailey was and I told her the nursery.  She said, awe, I just love watching her on Sunday mornings.  You have done a great job with her.  You have taught her well.  I said, yeah, well, she turned 2 and her will has emerged so it's time to have some nursery time.  The lady commented again how well behaved Bailey had always been and how she made it in big church way longer than any other child she'd every seen. 

This made my morning, becasue I do try.  I do want Bailey to be a well behaved child.  And I do want people to look at me and say that I am a good mom.  To me and Sid and say that we are good parents.  And don't think that just because I have to spank her she does not have me or Sid wrapped around her little finger.  She has this new thing where she wants her ears, feet, and booty rubbed while she's falling asleep.  Most people just want their back scratched.  Not my child, she wants odd things scratched.  It's rather funny.  But that's also why my mom says that Bailey and I are too dependent on each other.  Bailey will spend the night with Nene, but when we are at my Mom's she will not sleep with my mom anymore.  She HAS to have me in the bed with her.  I think the only reason she spends the night with Nene is because I'm not there.  But who knows! 

At school, Bailey's class has stopped walking on the rope to go places.  I don't really know how they get from place to place and I really don't agree with one teacher trying to get 10 2 year old's somewhere without some organization.  But Bailey has become obsessed with walking either with her hands on her hips or with her hands in her pocket.  Sunday, before church I wanted to get her picture.  I've had to round up things that match the pink boots becasue she isn't parting with them.  Well, she just had to stand with her hands on her hips. 

I mean, really, can it get any cuter than this???

And that look!!!

I might be payin for my raising, and she might have me wrapped around her little finger, but could you resist this sweet thing either????

She has gotten so smart.  She told me this morning after we got up, while she was yawning, that "I still tired mama."  I told her she should have stayed in the bed this morning.  She can count to 10 and sing her ABC's.  Her other two favorite things to sing right now are "He's got the Whole World In His Hands" excpet we have to sing it like this:  "He's got Mason in his hands."  And then she'll pick someone else, usually Kylie.  "He's got Kylie in his hands."  Then she picks someone else, usually Ben. 
"He's got Ben in his hands."  And then she'll pick Brady.  "He's got Brady in his hands."  We move on down the list:  Mimi, Poppy T, Maggie, Bo, Macy, Mamie, Mammaw, Pappaw, Nana, Pop, Erin, Andrew. Sometimes she picks other people we don't know, probably from school.  And she loves to sing Frosty the Snowman.  She loves to push her babies around in her stroller and talk to them. 

Now that I've probaby bored everyone to death about Bailey, I guess I'll sign off for the night.  She is currently in the process of driving both Sid and me nuts.  You'd think that the couple of thousands of dollars that were spent on her for Christmas and Birthday would be enough to keep her busy.  WRONG!  She wants things she cannot have and gets to things that she shouldn't. 

Have a great week ya'll!!!

The Big Ice Storm of 2011

Or maybe I should say the Big Ice Storm of 2011 THAT WASN'T.  We got maybe a half inch of ice in places.  Other places, and when I say places, I mean like the drive way, the street in front of our house, the yard, not from like town to town, got nothing.  It was an ugly day, where white covered most of the ground, but black, wet, earth peeked through.  I didn't even take a picture.  We were out of school and that was probably a good thing.  I don't think I wanted to brave the drive on icey back roads for 30 miles and second because daycare announced they were closed at like noon yesterday.  So when they called school for me, I was glad.  Bailey and I just stayed in and Sid went to work.  I'm working on posting some stuff to ebay, Sid is watching the Auburn game, and Bailey is doing her nightly Disney Channel on my cell phone watch before she falls asleep.  As she is rooting herself a place over here beside me, I'm reminded that her darn toe nails are in dire need of cutting.  Mimi????   Pappaw?????  Those are about the only 2 she will do it, so that's why they are so bad.

We sure do hope you weathered the 2011 winter storm in a warm way!  Back to work tomorrow.  And for all you Bama peeps, keep your fingers crossed b/c we should arrive Friday night for a weekend visit! Well, that is if our sweet angel flake Aunt Maggie is over the flu.  I'm sorry to report that she hasn't been in the best of shapes lately.  We love you Aunt Maggie!  We still have Christmas presents to deliver to some good little Elf's.

Can One Survive A Bloggy Break????

Well, yes! I do believe so...as long as you, my faithful readers are still here and check in on us.  I do have lots to say and soooo very much has gone on.  But one of my New Year's Resolutions was to bring the blog back up to date and give at least 2 updates a week.  There is so much going on with us from day to day and Bailey does something new and funny at least once a day now, so I don't want to forget those things. 

But!!!  Where to start????  I guess the best place to start is NOW, today, and then back it up a little and bring it back full circle. 

So, TODAY...today is Sunday, the 2nd Sunday in January.  And we have some ice and snow coming down.  It's just now noon and the reports from last week said that the cold weather was not due to come in until tonight sometime.  But yesterday those reports changed and here we are, with ice and a few flurries coming down.  See....

I'm going to keep taking pictures as the day goes on, but right now we just have some slushy cold stuff on the road and curbs.

Yesterday, Mason had an Upward basketball game at the curch pretty early, so Nene and Jerry came by to get Bailey to take her home with them to spend the day.  She ended up staying until about 9 last night, because Sid and I went to eat supper (it was so nice to sit down and eat without worrying about a mess being made or fussing gonig on or etc.) and then on to WalMart to get stuff in case we are snowed/iced in for a few days.  When we got there to get her, Cotton, Amy, and Colin were visting.   So we stayed later then we thought we would and Sid had to work again today.  This was my princess before she left me yesterday morning.

Which brings me to the next thing.  See those boots?  They, along with Buzz Lightyear, have become her latest obession.  Bailey got these from Mimi and Poppy T for Christmas, along with this entire get-up....

Too funny!  You can't see her boots here and this was the day after Christmas.  We got some snow flurries that day that did not stick and Bailey and I were standing on the front porch watching it after her bath that morning.  And what to our wondering eyes did appear, but a black Ranger Rover that, to my eye, brought a tear.  I heard Bailey say, "A car. Ohhhhhh, it's Poppy T."  Sure enough, I looked up and there they were, pulling in the drive.  So on the 26th of December, we got a surprise visit.  They spent the night, we went out to the casino to eat at a burger joint and they left the next morning.  We did get to go to Alabama this year for Christmas, so it was soooo nice of them to come over for the day and night and spend some time us and bring us our presents.  Needless to say, it was another Santa visit for Bailey.  So, these pink books have become a part of her daily wardrobe, pj's or not!  She did get a horse/Western type shrit to go with her jeans, belt and belt buckle, hat and boots, but she just got dressed with the Tshirt she already had on.  That first picture up there also shows one of the 3 horses she got.  I forgot to mention that horses are also a new obsession. 

Although Bailey wanted nothing to do with Santa up close and personal, she did come to like to talk about him and LOVED to talk about his hat.  The morning of the 26th, she got on the phone with Sid while he was at work and asked him for a Santa's hat.  So, he went to WalMart and they had them on sale.  She still to this day likes to wear her Santa hat.

If you compare Bailey's stringy hair in these pictures to the ones at the start of the post, you will notice she had a hair trim.  This was the first time her hair ever met up with a pair of scissors.  I was dreading taking her in to have it cut because I didn't not want the style or the over all length cut, just those gross 2 year old ends cut off.  So, I decided to trim it myself.  I think I did a pretty good job and in fact, it appears that in these pictures, I cut it way more than I really did.  I didn't touch the front or the top layer, only the very end of the bottom layer.  It was only about 1/2 ince.  Now, since that time, she spent the night with her grandmother and went to bed with gum in her mouth.  In grandmother's defense, it had a been a few hours since she had given Bailey any gum and was SHOCKED to find he still had it the next morning.  A hugh chunk, probably well over an inch or better had to be cut out to cut the gum out of erh fair.  You can see the gap, but only when you know to look for it.  It's just hair, it'll grow back. 

I guess the last big thing that has happened since I last blogged

Is that I got a new SUV - a Totyota 4-Runner.  I was very excited and it's very nice. I want waste your time as how e got it.  We were pulled in, but in the end, we came out the winners.  This one is a year newer than my Envoy, has the same amount of miles, heated leather seats, power everything, buttons on the steering wheel, DVD and CD player.  Sunroof!  It's really nice and I love it and Sid's happy because my payments went down.  Don't ask how!

So, that's all I intended to really say and just decided to put it all together in one post.  We'll consider this my bloggy break catch-up and hopefully it's just be a day or two before you hear back from me.  I sincerly hope that everyone's 2011 has gotten of to a good, heatlhly start!!

Off, to catch a snow day nap with my little snuggle bunny. How cute are these snow day pj's that santa briught?  Maybe when we get up there will be way more snow to show you!!!!  Stay warm, ya'll!