Her Inner Bird...

Tonight, I think Sawyer may have really believed she was a bird. Preston and Dad were throwing her up so high in the air I thought she might take off in flight! As you can see, she was loving every minute of it...she kept saying, "Throw me up in the clouds!" How cute...

Family Update...

Preston and I are up way to late tonight...
After church today, mom took Sawyer to her house for a while so Preston and I could spend a little (much needed) time together. We had lunch at Fazoli's with out Bible Fellowship group, and then we headed home to take an afternoon nap! I guess we must have been more tired than we thought, because we ended up sleeping for three and a half hours! After we woke up, we went to pick up Sawyer and headed to the park to play. The weather was perfect...a reminder that Fall will be here before we know it, and I'm so excited!

Since going to bed isn't happening anytime soon, I thought I would give you guys an update on our little family...

Preston. Preston is still loving his job. He comes home just about everyday, excited to tell me something new he's learned. I'm so proud of him. He works so hard for us...actually, he's the hardest worker I know, and he never complains a bit. Everyday, I'm a little more thankful than the last that he's my husband.
He's also super excited to be coaching Upwards Soccer this year at church! He's coaching six and seven year olds, and I thought the team name they were given was pretty cute...the Rebels. I'll admit, when he first committed to coaching, I was a little bit "on the fence" about the whole thing. It seems like we're always so busy, and I wasn't ready to add in yet another commitment. But you know what? After praying about it, God completely changed my heart! Upward Soccer really is such a wonderful ministry opportunity. While almost every child from our church (and many other churches here in Louisville) will participate, there are also several children from the community who've registered who do not attend church. Those children will have an opportunity (possibly for the first time) to hear the gospel, as Preston will be having a small devotion with the team at each game during half time. Preston will be a fantastic coach, and we cant wait to go to his games!

Erica. I just started my Thursday morning women's bible study at church, and I'm so excited! I'm doing the 'Freedom for Mother's' study with an awesome group of women, and I know I'm going to learn a lot. We also just had the Annual Fall Women's Fashion show this past Saturday at church, and it was a hit! The theme this year was Divine Design: Dressing on a Dime, and over two hundred women attended. I was on the decoration committee, and we had such fun making everything look beautiful!
I got some good news last week. I had my six month appointment with my endocrinologist(for those that don't know I found out last year that have something called hashimoto's thyroidits, basically hypothyroidism), and while my t3 levels are still low, they are getting better...so at least the medicine is working! I had dropped 14 pounds (4 of which were unintentional) since I saw him back in February, and my vitamin D levels were up a bit too. He did bump my synthroid dosage up for the third time, so hopefully this will do the trick!
My days continue being spent as the "keeper of our home," running errands, making appointments, cleaning, keeping on schedule, playing with and teaching Sawyer all sorts of new things, and having loads of fun watching her grow and change every day. I really do have the best job in the universe. I'm also still using my camera just about everyday...I LOVE taking pictures. The more I do it, the more I enjoy it. Last night, I played around with Photo shop for a little while and learned how to do some really neat things, so I cant wait to use them!

Sawyer Paige. Sawyer is becoming such a big girl! I'm proud to say that she has been doing excellent in her new two-year old class at church, and she comes home just about every Sunday with a new, lovely piece of artwork. She hasn't cried once when Ive dropped her off, which is a huge relief for Preston and I...and probably the nursery workers as well! As of late, Sawyer has been responding very well to correction/discipline, she continues to talk our ears off, and she's getting more fun by the day!

The Things They Say...

Tonight, after Sawyer's bath, I took her into the spare bedroom to blow dry her hair. Well, we had a bassinet setting up in there, because that's where baby Cameryn slept when she came over yesterday. I had started to take it down earlier , so while it was still standing, the rails on both sides were folded in and it was very wobbly.
Sawyer stood there, took one look at it, and said, "Momma, that's jacked up."
I honestly about peed my pants I was laughing so hard. There's nothing like hearing your two year old use the term "jacked up." Her Daddy will get a real kick out of that one.

A Bug for Bug...

This morning while I was taking my shower, Preston and Sawyer were busy playing outside. I had just finished washing my hair when Sawyer busts through the door, holding a tiny glass container in her hand. I then hear Preston yell out, "Mommy, she has something to show you!" And there stands Sawyer, proudly holding up the bowl, displaying an enormous (dead) bug. She was so excited about her new "treasure." After I got out of the shower, I decided I just had to take some pictures of her with her new bug-friend.
Sawyer is fast asleep now, but the container with the bug inside are still sitting on our side porch. We couldn't part with him yet. He was way to cool.
There's nothing like exploring the great outdoors with Daddy.

Grassy Girl...

Yesterday, the weather was once again unseasonably cool...and I loved it. I can't even begin to tell you how ready I am for Fall. It's my absolute favorite time of year, and I'm always excited to see it come, and just as sad to see it go.
Preston and I took Sawyer outside yesterday evening to play, and she ended up rolling around in the grass like a little animal...cute for pictures, bad for her sensitive skin. We did have a good time playing though...it seems like she's growing up so fast!

Big Shoes To Fill...

I was in the bathroom getting ready for church Sunday morning, and I hear a really loud clunking sound coming down the hallway. I poked my head out the door, and this is what I saw. Sawyer, wearing her Papaw's shoes and sunglasses. I was laughing hysterically, because...well, look at her. I dropped my mascara and ran as fast as I could to get my camera! I think she already knew she looked funny, because I said, "Sawyer, you look so cute, can Momma take your picture?" and she said, "Yeah!" (not typical) Well, after I took her picture, she ran(as fast as someone could run with those huge shoes on) to look at herself in the camera, and she started lauging pretty hard herself.

Gettin Crafty...

I have always loved doing crafts, but now, its kind of hard to find the time do get into something that's really involved. So, to satisfy my craft-craving, I decided to make Sawyer these little sleep shirts. They took me all of five minutes to make, and the best part...I only have $3.50 in each shirt! I bought the iron-on's from Hobby Lobby, where I had a 40% off coupon, and the tee-shirts were way cheap. They look so cute on her, and they're perfect pajama shirts, or just to lounge around in.
Anyhow, I was very satisfied the result, and depending on how well they wash up, I'll definitely be making her some more.

While Daddy's Away...

Preston was out of town this entire weekend, and Sawyer and I missed him terribly! With his new job, Ive become so used to him being off with us every weekend, and it just felt so strange without him here. I don't think I'll be taking his work-free weekends for granted any time soon! He flew out for Salina (Kansas) after work on Friday (with his Dad and brother) to go see his grandma. Unfortunately, on Friday afternoon, she had an aortic aneurysm and had to be checked into the intensive care unit at the hospital. It seems just about Preston's entire family (and there are a lot of them) came to be with her, which was awesome. I'm glad because Preston got to see his grandma Sylvia, who (PRAISE THE LORD) was doing a little better today, and spend some much needed time with his family, who he doesn't get to see as much as he'd like. He'll be home late tonight...I cant wait to see him!
Mom and Dad were gracious enough to come and spend the entire weekend with Sawyer and I, and we had so much fun! It was like one big slumber party...
Friday night, I went out with my girlfriend Sara while Mom and Dad stayed with Sawyer. They ordered pizza, played hard, and just had a big time, as always! Sara and I went out for dinner at Rafferty's, and then to see the The Time Traveller's Wife at the movies. I had been wanting to see that movie for months, but to be honest, it wasn't quite what I'd expected. It was good, just different. Sara and I had a great time together, and we've already agreed to go see another movie (that we saw in the previews) together next month!
On Saturday morning, we lounged around the house for a bit, and then Mom and I took Sawyer out to lunch, to the consignment store (where I found a few really cute Fall things for Bug) and then to Toys R Us to get Sawyer a new gown. My mom wears gowns to bed, and Sawyer decided that she needed one of her own...bad. It was all she was talking about, so Mom just had to buy her one! We let her pick out the gown of her choice, which ended up being Tinkerbell, and while I'm not a "character" fan as far as her Sawyer's clothes go, it was pretty cute once she put it on. After Toy's R Us, we headed home, and played outside for a little while. Mom broke out the play-dough, which is always a hit as far as Sawyer's concerned, and then we discovered some brand new baby birds in one of our hanging baskets. Sawyer was amazed.
Okay, Funny story...that night, after Sawyer's bath she could not wait to put her new gown on. Well, the gown came with these little slippers, and you should have seen her when she got those things on! She was going absolutely nuts, dancing around. She was calling them her "dancin' shoes." So, basically, Mom, Dad, Sawyer and I ended up having an impromptu dance party in the living room that night. She was WILD! After Sawyer went to bed, we played a few games of Aggravation, which has to be one of the best games around.
Today, we went to church, and then Sawyer and I headed home, where we both took a much needed nap! After we got up, we headed out to the park, and let me just say, I feel so sorry for anyone who had to be inside today! The weather was perfect. We stayed at the park for a couple of hours, and then we went to my parent's house to have some of Mom's homemade chili, which is always delicious. After dinner, Dad was sweet enough to come and cut our grass so Preston wont have to do it after work tomorrow. Once Sawyer and I got home, we played outside for a little bit longer, and before I knew it, it was bath time! After her bath, we watched some Calliou (Sawyer's new favorite thing)while we snacked on some apples and then she was more than ready for bed.
Now...I'm just waiting for my Hunny to get home! We had a fun weekend, and I'm so thankful I had the people I love with me to help the time away from Preston go by fast. Hope you all had a great weekend with the one's you love too!

My Very Own Walking, Talking Air Refreshener...

Yesterday afternoon I decided I had to get some laundry done, my least favorite chore, so Sawyer headed to the basement with me...
She loves going to the basement with me because her "bouncy" is down there, along with several of her other bigger toys, so she always just plays while I'm doing the wash. Yesterday, she found the broom, which she thought it was the greatest thing ever, and she happily swept the floor for a good 15 minutes. While she was sweeping her little heart out, I was finishing up ironing a few of her little dresses. As I stood there, ironing, I suddenly realize that I hadn't heard a peep from her in (what seemed like) a couple of minutes. We all know what kind of damage a two year old can do in just a couple of minutes.
I walked over on the other side of our basement steps, and there she is. She has her shirt pulled up, and she's smearing a pot of vanilla odor eliminating gel ALL OVER HER BELLY. She has it caked on her hands, under all of her fingernails, and her stomach and chest were coated with this slimy, very strong-smelling gel. As soon she she sees me, she says, "Oh, this will make me all better Mommy!" as if it's some sort of healing ointment or lotion.
I calmly took the pot away, which had deep dig marks from her little fingers, and stripped her down for a bath. I was really kind of freaking out because her skin is SUPER sensitive, and I was just sure she was going to break out in some kind of horrible rash. Luckily, it didn't do a thing.
After I had her all cleaned off in the tub, she says, "Mommy, I smelled so good!" I just had to laugh, because, well, she did still smell a little bit like a sugar cookie.