The House of Doo

The House of Doo

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Weekly catch-up. :)

Well, again it has been a week since my last post!  It has been a busy week with Thanksgiving and all, so I'll try to sum it up quickly.

Our Thanksgiving day was spent in Rome with my mom's side of the family. I love those crazy people dearly and I look forward to Thanksgiving every year because of them.  I don't get to see them often, even though they only live an hour and a half or so away.  That's sad.  My fault, I must say.  We laughed a lot and the food was amazing, as usual.  I took a cheat day on my 24 Day Challenge, but didn't over-do it.  I am proud of myself.  I even held myself to ONE Oreo truffle.  If you have ever had one of those, you know how hard that is.  It was so worth it.  I was so happy to see them and to share my sweet boy with them.  He was sweet and funny, like always, but he had a lapse in cuteness right in the middle of dinner.  If you know him well, you know he pukes a lot.  I have no idea why, but at least twice a week, he throws up while he's eating.  He gets choked and gags VERY easily and it always ends in catching his puke in my hands.  It is NOT CUTE.  I forgot to ask his doctor about it at the two-year check-up, but honestly, I think he's just easily gagged.  Ha.  Apparently, I was a pukey child too, due to my allergies and excessive mucous.  Yummy, right?  :)  Not the traits I was hoping Colt would inherit.  Other than that little hiccup, Thanksgiving was great. :) 
Colt and his cousin, Zach.

I worked on Black Friday, but got off around 1:30.  I went to Academy, Dick's, and Target and it wasn't nearly the nightmare I imagined.  Granted, I didn't find any great deals, but I wasn't really in search of anything in particular so it was okay.  That night, Ryan and his best friend, Jody, went to my grandfather's property in Alabama to spend the night and get up early to deer hunt.  Colt and I had the house to ourselves.  We got wild and watched Mickey's Once Upon A Christmas.  ;)  Cute movie with a good message.  It's old school Mickey, not Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  The good Mickey.I loved our snuggle time and he slept all night for me, like a champ.
Our snuggle time.  We love each other.

Saturday, Lauren came to hang out since our husbands were together and we took Colt for his first haircut.  I had heard good things about a place called Pigtails & Crewcuts, so we decided to check it out.  We opened the door and Cars is playing on the tvs by the chairs.  Colt's absolute favorite movie.  A sign?  ;)  Anyway, they let him pick which chair he liked.  He chose the firetruck with a bell he could ring.  They put the cape on and he immediately pulled it off.  That was not happening.  So, he went without and after that, all was well.  He tried to see what the stylist was doing a couple of times, but otherwise, he was very content to watch Cars and ring the firetruck's bell.  They took pictures for us, emailed them to me while we were there, printed off a couple, saved Colt's hair, and printed off a "First Haircut" certificate for him.  It was an amazing experience, especially since I was prepared for eye doctor-like meltdowns. ;)  His hair isn't too short, but cut off his curls (tear!), and trimmed up around his ears and forehead.  He looks so handsome. 



His precious curls are gone!!

We even got a trip to Hobby Lobby out of him afterwards!  Lauren and I shouldn't go to Hobby Lobby together. It gets expensive.  We got to watch the Dawgs beat the snot out of Georgia Tech and that afternoon, Ryan, Colt, and I decorated the Christmas tree.  Colt was not impressed.  He watched the Mickey movie again to occupy him while we decorated.  I've got to admit, our tree looks good this year.  It's usually a little Charlie Brown-ish, but I am happy with it this time!  Maybe the Christmas spirit is helping me put more effort into our tree. ;)


Sunday was church day, then lunch at Cracker Barrel, then naps, church again, then visited with my Pawpaw.  :) 

Yesterday, Colt and I got up and went to the mall and did a little shopping.  He was really good and patient, so I took him to the little play area inside the mall and let him burn off some energy.  We had Subway in the food court, then went to Barnes and Noble.  I love the smell of that store.  If there was a bookstore scented candle, I think I'd buy it.  ;)  He took a good nap when we got home, so I guess I did my job of wearing him out.  Last night we went downtown to Sugar's Ribs and listened to a friend play an acoustic show.  Colt loved it!  It wasn't loud, just Chris and his guitar.  Colt fussed for his guitar some, so Chris let him pluck the strings a few times.  That made me a little nervous.  Even after that, we were home and Colt was in the bed by 8:45.  What a day!  It was a great day.  :)
Playing at the mall.


Tomorrow, we have speech therapy.  I am curious to see what she'll do with Colt then.

Colt is doing great with his signs.  He has mastered the ones we learned last week, and he's even begun to string them together.  "Please more bites!"  I bought a book at B&N called the Baby Signing Bible.  I want to learn more!  He learned those so quickly, I think we need to challenge him a bit more.  At Sugar's last night, Colt would point at Chris's guitar and immediately do the sign for "please."  It was so cute.  :)  He's doing great! 

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

More!

I posted about this on Facebook, but I'll share it here too.  I am sure most of my readers are on my Facebook though. 

Yesterday, we had our first actual speech therapy session.  I was wrong before, we do get an hour with our therapist.  She comes to our home every Wednesday, except this week because of the holiday.  Her name is Jamie and I really like her.  Colt seems to like her too, so I am thankful for that.  She started teaching us some signs to use with Colt, so he will at least have some form of communication until he can verbalize.  We are working on "more," "please," "all done," and "bite."  He has mastered "more" and almost "please."  The other two not quite yet, but we'll get there.  I am just thrilled to have a way to communicate, even just a tiny bit! I am attaching a little 10 second video of him signing "more" last night, while asking for more pudding.  ;)  Sorry for the crappy quality, it was a cell phone video in the dark living room. :) 

More!!

Yay, Colt!  :) 

Our speech therapist said she honestly thinks Colt is "too smart for his own good."  She says she thinks he has figured out how to get anything he wants without speaking, so therefore he hasn't learned.  Pretty much what we suspected.  ;)  We'll see what happens!  I feel like he is so close! 

Attitude Changer.

Okay.  Well, today I am really struggling with my new birthday year and my good attitude.  That didn't take long.  I got really let down this weekend and it's hit me harder than it probably should have.  I am trying not to have that "I should have known better" attitude, but that's what I think every time I think about what happened.  Sigh.  This morning, I got some pretty discouraging news about some potential health insurance and I'm not going to lie, if we get that, I am not sure how we are going to make it.  SO.  Instead of sinking down into my disappointment, I am going to make a list of some things I am thankful for today, because honestly, I know things can always be much, MUCH worse.  With pictures (you know I am obsessed), here goes:

Obviously, I am thankful for this beautiful child.  I am obsessed with taking his picture, because I know he will only be this age for so long.  I want to remember as much as possible.  Every single detail.  I am thankful he is so happy.  I am thankful he loves music as much as I do!  I am thankful he likes to dance, clothed or naked.  I am thankful he is healthy.  I am thankful he is so very smart and charming.  I am just plain thankful for this boy.  He warms my heart on the coldest days.

I am thankful for God's beautiful creations, especially mountains.  I am wholeheartedly a mountain girl, particularly in the fall and winter.

I am thankful for sleep!  Also for a child who likes to sleep too.  ;)

I am again thankful for this boy, but also thankful he wakes up in such a wonderful mood.  Even with bedhead.  ;)

I am thankful for good music.  Any kind, just happened to have a picture of the Mumford album.

I am thankful for time spent in my grandparents' house.  It is not the same since my Nana passed away, but it will always be home to me.  Colt loved the piano.  Do you see the "ghost" by my elbow? 

I am thankful for flowers!  Especially for flowers given by friends.  :)

I am thankful for baby feet.  Beautiful, chubby, perfect baby feet.

I'm thankful for our furbabies.  I am thankful for the joy, snuggles, and fun they bring.

I am thankful for checkers, fireplaces, and rocking chairs at Cracker Barrel.  ;)


I am thankful for this hard-working man. I am thankful for the father that he is to our son. I am also thankful for UGA football and an aunt who doesn't mind sharing her tickets with us. ;)

I am thankful for fall leaves!  They're my favorite!

I am thankful for these two amazing friends.  I am thankful they put up with me and all the crap that comes with me.  I am thankful that they listen way more than they should.  I am thankful for their hugs, endless invites to dinner, and funny texts when I need them.  I am thankful we made it through so many years of school and living together in college.  Whew.  Having friends that have been around for over 20 years is pretty impressive for a 29 year old, don't you think?  I am a lucky, lucky girl.

I am thankful for this man.  I am thankful for a dad who stuck around as a single parent, when it was probably easier to leave.  I am thankful for the Christian example he is for me and my family.  I am thankful for his never-ending patience with me.  I am thankful for his (and Judy's!) generosity, for helping us provide the surgeries needed for our son, without leaving us thousands of dollars in debt.  I am thankful for their willingness to help, always.  I am thankful that my dad taught me what kind of man to marry and for setting my standards high from the start.  I have the best dad in the world, no doubt.

I am thankful to call this beautiful city "home."  Chattanooga is such a fun, family-friendly, artsy, creative, thriving city.  We are so blessed! 
 
 
Alright.  I feel better.  There are sooooo many more things that I am thankful for, but if I were to list them all, this post would be a mile long.  You'd definitely not read the entire thing.  I hope you did.  Feel free to share things you are thankful for too.  I'd love to hear them.  

Thursday, November 15, 2012

The big 2-9.

Well, it's my birthday.  I am 29 today.  One last year in my twenties.  This past week or so, I have had a bit of a revelation.  I want this year to be a big one.  A different one.  I am hoping for big changes, even if it is only in the way I look at things and at my life.  I am notorious for talking a big game, then slacking off so I am hopeful that this blog will help to hold me accountable.  Please, hold me accountable.  My few faithful readers, I will need your help and encouragement. 

I want this year to be about others.  I want to quit looking in and focus on looking out.  I want to serve others.  I want to be a friend.  I want to be a doer.  I want to change the world even just a tiny bit, for the better.  I want to take care of me, so that I can better take care of others.  I want to watch what I eat and exercise, so I can chase my very active two year old all over the neighborhood and not just cheer him on from a chair on the sidelines.  I want to move forward with this human trafficking stuff that is weighing so heavily on my heart.  I want to have a positive attitude and lose the bad one I have had for so many years.  I have been praying daily that God will help me to have a better attitude and think before I react.  I've never been good at that.  ;) 

I want to volunteer at the community kitchen.  I want to simplify my home and get rid of unnecessary STUFF that so many others could benefit from, instead of it just cluttering up our space.  I will put down my phone less and hug my baby boy more.  I want him to see me as a good example and not one that only cares about myself.  Something has got to change.  I'm hoping this is the year. 

So.  Here we go.  Wish me luck!

Snuggling my wiggly boy.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Time for a change...

It is time for my weekly Tuesday update. The week was fairly boring, but the weekend was markedly better.  I have been in need of some new glasses for a while now and I finally asked Dad and Judy for a new pair for my birthday.  I got them Friday afternoon and I love them.  I found out that I have an astigmatism, so they put that into my prescription and I can see so much better!!  Thanks, Dad and Judy!  Friday evening, Ryan, Colt, and I went to eat at Mojo Burrito (my absolute favorite!!) with our friends Jody and Lauren.  After we ate, Lauren and I went to a "party" of sorts at my friend Kristin's house.  She threw it to benefit Women at Risk, International.  There were tons of handmade jewelry, handbags, scarves, blown glass ornaments, books, bookmarks, friendship bracelets, etc.  The stuff was beautiful, but their stories were life-changing.  The goods were handmade by women who had been rescued from sex slavery.  The money made goes to this organization to help rescue women and keep up their "safe houses."  There was a DVD full of information and heartbreaking pictures and statistics.  Kristin had stories and cards with pictures of children on them that are forever burned into my mind.  Did you know that human trafficking happens in America??  It does.  As a matter of fact, 300 children, CHILDREN, are sold in Atlanta in ONE MONTH.  Did you know that??  I sure didn't.  I have been living in a bubble for far too long.  Kristin said something that changed my outlook on this.  Now that I know all of this, I am responsible to  DO SOMETHING.  Anything.  Lauren and I signed up to throw a party to help raise money and I certainly can't wait to do that.  I still feel like I need to do more.  Those could be our children.  That could be Colt.  Because of the "homosexual movement" little boys are wanted too.  These children are most often kidnapped, so don't think it couldn't be your child.  Wouldn't you want to do something, ANYTHING, that could possibly prevent that???  I haven't slept well since learning all of this, and I could go on and on, but I won't.  Just know this won't be the last you hear about this from me.  It is time for a life change.  I need more purpose. 

Saturday, Ryan, Colt, and I went to Walmart to get stuff for our Operation Christmas Child boxes.  We had two boxes, a boy and a girl aged 10-14.  We had a blast!  We spent more than we should have probably, but every Sunday at church they've been showing a video of those precious children opening their boxes and I boohoo every week.  We were in Walmart for over an hour and a half and Colt was so well-behaved.  We struggle sometimes at home, but in public he is a great kid.  Knock on wood.  ;)  We ended up buying too much stuff for our boxes because we couldn't get them closed!  Guess Colt will have a couple of stocking stuffers.  ;)  I look forward to doing that every year and involving Colt more and more each time.  That afternoon, I cleaned out a closet, cleaned out my car, washed it, and Armorall-ed it!  Ryan even got the garage cleaned out.  I am working on simplifying our life (and getting rid of all the crap!), slowly but surely.  That evening, our friends Kristin and Darren came over to watch the Georgia game.  It wasn't much of a game, but I'm okay with that. :)  It was such a good day.

Sunday, we had church and then a chili supper to benefit the youth group.  That evening, we got to get back into our Sunday night dinners with my parents at Cracker Barrel.  I love that place. :)

Yesterday, it was rainy and cold.  I was so very thankful to have the day off with my sweet boy.  I got a lot of laundry and house cleaning done, but we also managed to get in 3 movies (Toy Story, Cars, and Finding Nemo) and lots of snuggling.  I love those days.  We had absolutely nothing to do outside of the house and it was refreshing. 

Tomorrow is our first speech therapy session and it is only about 30 minutes long.  I am curious to see how much they think they can get done with a VERY active two year old, but they are the experts.  They obviously know something I don't. 

Update on Colt's eyes:  I have been meaning to post this for days!  Over the past week or so, we have really noticed how wonderful Colt's eyes look!  I swear they get better every day!  Granted, they are not perfect and I think he will have surgery again in a couple of years, but for now, they are beautiful.  BEAUTIFUL.  I am thrilled.  See??

Also, we think we have a lefty on our hands. ;)

Advocare/diet update:  Today is Day 9 and I am down 4 lbs.  I am happy with that.  I am even more happy with the way I feel.  I have more energy and I feel "cleaner" if that makes any sense.  I struggle with craving things like mexican food and the hardest part is not drinking sweet tea or coffee, but I do appreciate the way I feel eating more vegetables, lean protein, and fruits.  I'll let you know how the rest of it goes! 
New glasses.  Ridiculous face.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Still no good at blog titles...

It's Election Day!  I hope you all fulfill your civic duty and go vote today.  I don't just love either presidential candidate, but I prayed on my way to work this morning that the right man would get the job.  It's all in God's hands anyway.  I really hate politics, so that's all I will say about that.

The Doolittles had a good weekend.  Friday, I got an unexpected off day, so I got to spend the day with my sweet boy.  I made my Nana's cinnamon toast for breakfast and Colt ate 3 of our 5 pieces and "mmmmm"-ed all the way through it.  I know that made Nana smile up in Heaven.  That was always my favorite breakfast at her house.  We came by the ice company to pick up our paychecks and see Dad, then headed out to Target.  I returned the 4 packages of Oreos leftover from the Mickey cupcakes and got enough back to buy Colt a few cute shirts and broke even.  ;)  Woot.  We then had a lunch date at Shogun.  That is his favorite place!  He loves the vegetables and rice and doesn't cry when they make the fire in front of you.  He ate like a champ and picked the zucchini out of my plate!  That's my favorite too, good thing he's cute.  He made friends with all of the people at our table.  As usual, they were all impressed that a toddler would eat the salad with ginger dressing and all of his veggies.  I am thankful he is such a good eater.  That makes me proud.  :) 

Sweet face :)

Saturday, we took him to his Mimi's house and Ryan and I made a day trip to Pigeon Forge to hang out with some friends. Kristin and I went to a spa and I got a manicure and she got a pedicure, then went shopping.  We went to the Apple Barn and the outlets for a little bit.  I made my first ever venture inside a Harry & David's.  I am in love, needless to say.  An endless supply of dips, soup mixes, salsa (yes!!), and snacks.  WITH SAMPLES.  Shut up.  I bought a really tasty pepper and onion relish that I can't wait to use!  We left the boys (Ryan and Darren) to grocery shop, cook, and watch football at the cabin.  We had steaks, baked potatoes, and salad for dinner and watched Georgia kick some Ole Miss tail, then headed home to get our boy.  I hate leaving him on my off days, but since I got an unexpected one on Friday, it was okay.  We had a great time with Darren and Kristin and I can't wait to hang out again.
Beautiful mountains!
 

Sunday, we went to church, the church I grew up in and left for a while.  That will always be home to me, but I have struggled to find my place there as I have gotten older.  There really was nothing for people in the college age/twenties along the line of Sunday School or anything else.  We left before we got married and before Colt, going somewhere else for about 2 1/2 years, then decided that wasn't the right place for us either.  Since we left our other church, we have been lazy about looking for churches and just kind of "settled" going back to our original church.  There's a lot of "church" in there, huh?  Anywho...  The preacher left and we have a new "interim preacher"  until they find a permanent.  He is AMAZING.  He is young (-ish!), hilarious, and doesn't sugarcoat.  I love him!  It has been a long time since I looked forward to going to church and that makes me sad.  There are more and more young people there every week, so that's great.  I am hopeful that the permanent guy is as good. 

Yesterday, I started the Advocare 24 Day Challenge.  It is kind of a weight-loss jump start to changing your habits.  I'll update on here as we go along, rather than Facebook.  The first 10 days are a cleanse phase and for 6 of those days, you have to drink a fiber type drink.  Poor Ryan.  Hahahahhaha.  Seriously though, that stuff is NASTY.  It isn't the taste, it's the texture and I really hate that.  Oh well, 2 out of 6 down.  I can do this.  I can do this.  I can do this.  There is an energy-type drink but it doesn't have caffeine and it is awesome!  It is the good energy, not the shaky, jittery kind.  Yesterday, I drank mine before lunch and while Colt napped, I planted 28 pansies!  I usually nap too.  ;)  My brother-in-law has lost 34 lbs on the Advocare stuff, but not in the 24 days.  Boy, that would be unhealthy.  Anyway...here's hoping I can lose some weight! 

Thursday, November 1, 2012

My future Bulldawg.

Most of you have probably seen all of this on Facebook, but I'll post anyway so I have it to look back on in the future.  Yesterday, we saw Colt's pediatrician, Dr. Smith, for his two year check-up.  He weighed in at a whopping 38 lbs and measured 39 inches tall.  He has always been big, usually off the growth chart, though I think once he ranked in the 99th percentile in size.  This time, he was well over an inch off the growth chart.  For those of you who haven't seen the chart, the whole chart is only about 3 inches total, so being an entire inch OFF the chart is a big deal.  Dr. Smith said your average 3 year old measures around 38 inches tall, and Colt has surpassed that by an entire inch, being only 3 days into 2 years old.  Amazing.  Dr. Smith said that it was honestly "a bit abnormal" and he would be concerned if Colt were not proportional.  Thank goodness he is!  ;)  We definitely have a lineman on our hands.  As long as he's a Bulldawg, I am cool with it.  Ha! 

We also had the Terrible Twos discipline/parenting pep talk.  I love our pediatrician.  He is blunt and honest.  He did warn me that Threes are worse, but I am trying not to focus on that.  Colt has already shown a side of himself that I didn't know existed.  It really started a few days before his birthday and I wondered if the Terrible Twos were real, but I can already tell you they are for sure. He fusses over things that have never phased him before.  He refuses to let me change his diaper by squeezing his knees together.  Have you ever tried to change a diaper on a kid with his knees pinched together?  Whew.  It's exhausting.  I have never had to pray that God help me handle Colt without getting angry or frustrated until the past week.  There will be two more years of this??  YIKES!  Dr. Smith talked to me about "Time-out" and how Colt is at the age where he begins to understand it.  I guess we'll begin practicing that.  Sigh.  He also talked me through the "No Means No" business.  He said "If you say 'no' then later give in, you will never, EVER win again."  Who knew parenting was going to be so hard??  ;)

Throughout our speech evaluations, speech delay and developmental delays, we have been asked a million questions about Colt and I can always tell what they are getting at...they're trying to figure out if he is autistic or not.  The speech therapist/teacher/nurse all told me they didn't think he was, but to hear our pediatrician say it yesterday made my day.  He said Colt is entirely too social, has great eye contact and is too inquisitive to be autistic.  Honestly, I used to worry that maybe he was because he went through a phase where he was terribly sound sensitive.  Now that his eyes are much better, his sound sensitivity is almost gone.  That explained that.  After that got better, I really didn't think he had a problem, but I was hoping I wasn't just in denial.  We have a neighbor whose grandson is severely autistic, but they are in denial and won't acknowledge it, therefore he is not getting the help and treatment he needs and I didn't want to be that way.  My heart hurts for that boy. 

Well, we are less than two months from Christmas.  Those of you who know me, know I am a terrible Grinch.  I HATE Christmas.  I hate Christmas music, I hate buying gifts simply because I worry so much about whether or not it is the right gift or not, I hate having to try to figure out how to get to everyone's house to see everyone when I just want to spend the day in my pjs in the comfort of my own home.  I hated it as a kid too.  Maybe coming from divorced parents, having to figure out how to go see all 4 of my families in the span of a day or two?  BUT.....This year, I can ALMOST feel a little bit of Christmas spirit.  ALMOST.  Gasp!!!  ;)  Maybe it's Colt.  Maybe it's the fact that I know we need to start our own traditions as a family and not worry about seeing everyone.  I don't know, but I am excited to try to enjoy the season with Colt and Ryan (who loves Christmas!) and celebrate what it really means to us.  Either way, maybe this year will be better.  Here's hoping.  I think I will pull out Colt's copy of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" to try to enhance the Almost-Christmas spirit. ;)

My Little Mini-Me.  This is a Jessica face, hands down.
 
In the past 6 weeks, we have had 10 doctor's appointments.  We don't have another one until November 30.  29 days!  Woohoo!  I am looking forward to our days off together with no appointments.  We are free to do what we please for the whole month.  Yay! :)