Has Anyone Seem My 2yr Old and my Sanity?!?!

Phrases for the week: What is wrong with you? No, you can't do that! Get up off the floor and quit screaming! Alright, go to time-out! That's it give me that toy I'm taking it away!
Just to name a few. Seems as though over the past few weeks our sweet and innocent two year old, Ms. Autumn Marie has been abducted and replaced with a little fit-throwing, temper-tantrum yeilding gremlin!! (gremlin in a good way, which most of you don't know that we've been calling her for a long time. She loves to make gremlin noises and be scary). Starting about two months ago we were pretty sure she was starting to get into her terrible-twos. Well it is official and it has definitely began!

One of the first forms of punishment we tried was spanking (nothing but on the diaper...just enough to give her a pop back down-to-earth). Nope, the spanking does not work. Sometimes it does for Daddy but not for Mommy. Daddy gets the pouty lip when he spanks and Mommy only gets a hysterical laugh followed by her fleeing away as fast as she can while covering her hiney. So we've moved on to time-outs. Those seem to work for about 10min but then we're back to square one. So I've now resorted to time-outs combined with taking away favorite toys and her night-night blankie (which is her most sacred and prized possession, pretty sure a piece of her heart is attached with it at all times).

I'm sure this is just a phase...probably a rather trying and long one but none-the-less a phase. Lots of prayer and persistence are taking place. I'm learning new ways to work around it each day and some things are keepers others are just tossed out the window. I do believe the terrible-twos are most certainly for the birds!

While basking in our quandries of tantrums and shouting matches we also have something to celebrate. Her 2nd birthday party was a complete success!! Hard to believe it's already been two years since we were so greatly blessed. I still believe she was (and still is) a miracle. That once little 4lb baby has turned into the most beautiful and loving (yes I did say loving, somehow this gracefully fits in w/the terrible-twos!! Don't think I've ever meet a child more sharing, caring and loving than her) little girl.

She got clothes & I mean a ton of clothes, a barbie power wheels jeep (we've made improvement w/that too...she actually enjoys sitting in it now minus the movement but we'll get there), a swimming pool, sprinkler, bathing suit, coloring supplies, dress-up clothes, toys and so much more. Thank you to all the family and friends that helped celebrate her special day in her 2nd year of life. Even though she was terrified of getting in the jeep once she realized it moved...and she was scared of the fire (candle) that was on her birthday cake. But hey, at least she had fun bouncing around the balloons and playing w/her friends! After all the party was for her & that's what matters most.

Happy 2nd Birthday Autumn!!

They LOVE each other! 

Autumn & Cooper at Autumn's Party

Pouty face because there was fire on her cake...so we took it off.

Opening presents but 99% of the time the balloons were more entertaining!

Seeing her jeep for the 1st time w/Daddy!

Family Easter Celebration & also Autumn's Birthday! 

Great Aunt Lisa, Aubree, Autumn & Cousin Amanda playing piano! 

Hunting Easter Eggs w/our little family of 4! 

And of course she had to have a Dora Easter Egg Basket!

Just a little baby powder for decoration! 

Hebrews 12:11- "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

A Few Bragging Rights If I Say So Myself...

Sometimes you just have to brag a little about something that makes you incredibly happy. I feel like I have so many things to brag about in my life right now that my head gets a bit tipsy! Actually, I usually consider it being truly blessed and sharing the joy of it instead of bragging...but hey.

After being together with Travis for over 10 years and married to him for over 7, I finally feel like I'm fitting into my own skin more than ever....two college degrees and and two kiddos later that is. Seems like it's taken forever though...as weird as that may sound. I've done a lot of thinking & I mean a lot of thinking lately. Not to mention I've done even more praying than I have done thinking, if that's even possible.

I have so many things to be joyful about & brag about, if I may:

* We finally bit the bullet and installed new flooring in the house. It's so gorgeous and I absolutely love it. Funny how something like new flooring can encourage me to reorganize the house and "try" (key word, try) to keep it cleaner and more organized. If that's even possibly with one little tornado that runs around the house un-doing everything I just did, while carrying another little one around on my chest in a harness/pouch. I do say, it's pretty comical to watch Aubree's little arms and legs dangle as she sleeps while I stay busy around the house...how she sleeps through all of it I'll never figure out!

* I have two gorgeous and incredibly healthy daughters. Never would I have dreamed I could love someone (two little someone's) so much and still have love for other people and things. In my eyes they are perfect and the best gift God could ever give me.

* Travis worked his tail-end off to get hired as a firefighter for the city of Fort Worth. He applied July 2011 and just got the acceptance call yesterday for a job offer. I have never prayed with as much endurance about anything in my life and that prayer was answered. (Here goes the little bit of bragging I was referring to...!!) The application/testing pool started out with over 1,800 people. Slowly it dwindled it's way down. He made the cut and is 1 out of 32 people that were offered a job. His boot camp/training starts March 12. Did I mention 1,800 people?!?! That just blows my mind away that he survived the whole thing and made it. WOW!!! I do believe he's one tough/smart cookie!

* Even though $ is very tight right now, and is sure to only get tighter since Travis is switching careers I have been able to contribute in two ways to help the budget be a little more plump. Aubree is a pro at breast feeding so there's no need for formula...which is one less expense. I've never understood why mom's choose not to breastfeed it still baffles me a little (especially a stay at home mom). Also, I switched Autumn to cloth diapers from disposables...which I must say has been one of the biggest blessings! Yes it's more work washing them and prepping them each day and night but I can't tell you how nice it's been not having to buy diapers for over a month now. I LOVE it to pieces. Not to mention how incredibly cute the cloth diapers are!

* I was daydreaming the other day about how long it's been since I've had a "paying" job. I realized the last time I was out in the working world was June 2008. I'm still in shock that it's been that long since I've punched a time clock...just doesn't even seem real somedays! I have been incredibly blessed to stay at home with our girls. Years ago I would have told you that probably was never going to happen and just wasn't in the cards for us. Now that I've experienced it and have been doing it for so long I couldn't imagine doing anything else (at least not for a while longer). Yes one day I hope to be teaching Elementary school and I'm sure I'll love it too. But nothing will ever compare to being at home & raising our beautiful girls. It breaks my heart to think of dropping them off at a daycare or with someone else for more than 8 hours a day. I realize now everything I would have missed & I don't want to give that up for a few extra dollars.

* Lastly I can (oddly enough some of you will undoubtedly think) say I'm thankful I've kept on a fair amount of weight from my last pregnancy. It was so weird having to buy jeans that were about 4 to 5 times bigger than what I was wearing before I got pregnant. I'm aiming to keep that weight on and I'm loving it...at least for now. Now only if I can get my flat and smooth stomach back before bikini season...guess we'll see!

God has blessed our family beyond belief. There are so many things I have to be thankful for and I hope I never loose sight of that...even during the hard times that lay ahead.

Psalm 7:17- "I will give to the Lord the thanks due to His rightness and justice, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High."

One Month and Counting

Where has time gone??? I'm asking myself this more and more every passing day. Aubree Claire is a month old today and I feel like we just brought her home yesterday!
Seems like time has flown faster with Aubree since we brought her home than it did when we brought Autumn home! Some days I feel like I'm flying by the seat of my pants while I'm at home taking care of these two girls. I daydream back to the days before we had any kiddos and seriously wonder why my house wasn't spotless and what I actually did with my free time.

Aubree is changing so much every day and is really beginning to outgrow her newborn baby features which really makes me sad already. When she's awake she's bright-eyed and bushy-tailed 100%. We've dubbed her our little 'grunter & growler'. Pretty sure she's learned that from her sister and all the pups all the months in utero! (lol) It's a joy just to sit here and watch all her facial expressions while she's sleeping...those little eyebrows never stay still and her little mouth makes that perfect little oval shape that you just can't help but giggle over. She is getting a bit more hair & it's dark in color. Her eyes are still a very dark, deep blue and they are perfectly round and beautiful! Everyone is noticing that she has the hands of a piano player and takes after mommy with her toes and fingers. They are very long!!

I feel like I'm always snapping pictures and still never seem to get enough of these little girls & their rapidly growing moments in time. I know that if I don't get all the pics taken I'll soon easily forget the little things we've celebrated and laughed about time and again.

Autumn Marie is the best big sister we could have imagined Aubree would have. She never ceases to amaze us and what a kind and loving heart she has. From helping out with laundry, finding a lost binki (which is 99% of the day), picking up toys, throwing away diapers....and a dozen other things you'll always find Autumn helping Mommy out. She will randomly run up to Aubree (and Mommy & Daddy) and give hugs and kisses. I often wondered how you could possibly love another baby/child as much as you love your first. The moment I laid eyes on Aubree I quickly understood. There isn't a shadow of a doubt that I have so much more love for both of these girls now than the day before. With every passing day that love just seems to grow.

It's almost time to start planning Autumn's second birthday party. Going to keep it small this year and let her pick out the theme. Undoubtedly that has already been decided & it's Dora of course! She's bonkers about Dora so that's no shocker!! She's picked out a Dora cake she likes and I'm sure she's going to have a blast. We're still trying to get her eating patterns down which is just about impossible. Never know from one day to the next if she's going to be picky or if she's going to be the endless pit and eat everything in sight.

We put in new laminate flooring this past week and Autumn is just in love with it and how slippery it can be, unlike our old carpet. Watching her roll around and slide around on the floor is hilarious and comical! We have had the house in a disaster of a mess while we complete the flooring project...so you can imagine what a hayday Autumn has had with this. She thought it was a free-for-all and played hide-and-seek all day and night. It'll probably take us years (at least it feels that way) to get everything back in place and we'll be finding things she's hidden for a long time. Come to think of it, Travis left for work today without his work cell phone because he can't find it...pretty sure the culprit of that loss would be Autumn. 1/2 the time you can ask her if she took something & she'll say "yea!" and take you right to it's new hiding spot/home!! Silly girl keeps us on our toes 24 hrs a day.

While we get back into the grove of our day-to-day activities and do a lot of clean up around the house we thank God for the joys in life he gives us each day. We can't imagine what life would be like today without our girls. Even weird to think that it's hard to remember what life was like before Aubree arrived...when it was just Travis, Autumn and I. All I know is things are crazy hectic the majority of the time, there's not a lot of time to rest, the house is usually on the "well lived-in side" and a nice, hot shower doesn't last more than a few minutes (literally)....but I wouldn't change it for anything in the world. (Except for maybe the shower part, every once in a while, lordy that would be soooo nice!!)

1 John 4:8- "He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love."

Special Delivery!

Been a while since I've made an entry and I've been dying to do so. But once again, time has whithered away and I'm left wondering where it's gone!
Both girls are asleep and I'm sitting in front of a warm glowing fire...so this is the perfect time to blog!

Almost two weeks ago we lovingly welcomed Aubree Claire Schraceo into the world. She weighed a whopping 7lb. 4.1oz and was 18 1/2 inches long! Everyone in the delivery room was in astonishment at how "big" she was. We were all hoping for a mere 6lb. baby and man-oh-man!! Did we get that!

The difference from experiencing labor with Autumn and then with Aubree was like night and day. Not one thing about it was the same...with the exception of the epidural and the labor pains of course. With Autumn I was in labor for almost 19 hours...with Aubree I was in labor only 5 1/2 hours!!  I had an epidural with both kiddos and am ever so thankful that I did. Even though the girls weighed at opposite ends of the scale I really never knew the difference...which is what the doctor told me to expect.

We arrived at the hospital at 7am and they immediately got me all hooked up to the monitors and got the i.v. flowing. I was already having frequent contractions that morning we went in for the induction. By 7:45am they had the pitocin dripping and gave me an extra bag of fluids at "high speed" just in case I wanted to get the epidural faster than I expected. I was dilating at a good speed and they really didn't know how long things would take...but didn't think it would be incredibly long this go 'round. Sure enough by 8am the contractions hit me full force. There was no turning back and they weren't backing off. I was shocked because there was no gradual easing into labor like I did with Autumn...it was just BAMMMMM! This baby is coming and quick!

By 8am the doctor came in and broke my water. I was already dilated a little more than 4 1/2 and he said I was making great progress. By 10am the epidural had finally arrived. I made sure to ask for it early this time instead of waiting until it was too late...I was not going to endure the pain any longer than necessary. A 45 minute wait on the drugs was 40minutes too long for me.

Just as everyone, with the exception of my sister, had went downstairs for lunch right around 12:30pm the doctor came in to check me one last time before he went in to start his scheduled c-section at 1pm. Come to find out he would soon delay his surgery and be delivering our little sweet pea! I was in shock that I had dilated so quickly and she was ready!! FINALLY ready! It was at the moment that I realized it was finally happening & it seemed all a bit unreal. I couldn't believe Autumn was actually going to be a big sister. Seemed like just yesterday we were in the room right across the hall welcoming her into this world. I started pushing with Aubree at about 12:50pm and she was born at 1:27pm. From the first breath she took she was screaming & we knew this girl would have a good set of lungs to her & that she does. She can cry with the best of them! A much stronger cry than that of what her sister had. There was no cord wrapped around her neck & she was a nice color...not purple like Autumn, which was so amazing. It was at that point that I seen her & heard her cry that the water works began. I was able to hold her, love her and caress her before they swept her away to the scale & to be all tidied up.

I saw the huge smile on daddy's face and how much he was already in love with his newest baby girl. That is enough to melt my heart forever! We finally were able to bring Aubree home after a few extra days spent under the phototherapy lights for her high jaundice levels. Autumn and Daddy made many a trek up to the 2nd floor Labor and Delivery. He brought me snacks, dinners, and love from my big girl that I just wanted to hold and kiss sooooo much. This was the first time I had been away from Autumn for that long with out being able to love on her and give her the normal amount of "mommy" time she was used to. She so enjoyed being able to climb up in my hospital bed and sit with me. At night when she went home she gave the biggest hugs I had ever gotten from her along with a sweet kiss.

I look at pictures of Aubree's delivery and of Autumn being in awe of her. I can't believe it's already been almost two weeks. She is changing so much and is already growing a lot. I think I'm a little bit more prepared now in realizing just how fast time was going to go and how much I must cherish and soak in EVERY moment (especially the newborn ones). Who knew you could be so madly in love with someone you've never meet yet would instantly give every ounce of your heart up for and give your life for. There is nothing on earth that could make me more proud than to say I'm the mom of these two beautiful and loving little girls. They make me who I am and I'm indebted to God for that forever.
From here forward we're on a journey and roller coaster with these two kiddos and we're soooooo ecstatic to see where we end up.

Taken the night before I was induced (Jan. 5, 2012)



Right when she was born. I wanted to be the first to hold her!

Her little lungs worked from the get go!

Could not have asked for a better Dr. "Dr. Edwards"

Tanning under the phototherapy lights to get her jaundice levels down.

The expression on Autumn's face says it all. She is in LOVE with her little sister!!

Daddy and his two little girls

It's moments like this that I will never forget & will always cherish.

Sister love...Autumn giving Aubree a hug.

Last but not least...the newest little sweet pea, Aubree Claire.

"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.  Before you were born, I set you apart…" Jeremiah 1:5



Silence can be a Blessing

Silence gives the mind time to breath and rest...and it also allows my mind to realize how many "unfinished projects & chores" still remain around the house. As I sit here and ponder over the past months from April (when Autumn turned 1yr) to today I realize just how much time has flown and I feel like I've accomplished so much yet I've accomplished so little. But then again I know that the majority of things we long for in life and focus our daily lives around really aren't that "important"...they are just things to keep us occupied.

Through many ups and downs this past week, starting with losing Oscar and then continued with many thoughts and prayers for Travis's grandma that's fighting pancreatic cancer & is back in the hospital; I tell you this past week has been one heck of a ride, mainly emotionally. My mind feels drained and my  body is slowly starting to get more energy back. I'm just shocked at how much life can change in a weeks time. Even with all the stress and trials of life it makes me realize how truly blessed I am.

I look to the weeks ahead as we're anticipating Aubree's arrival. I can just about see the light at the end of the tunnel....and at the end of the baby laundry pile. Her room is looking more like a nursery and things are finally getting in order. Autumn is thrilled to death that all these silly & fun baby toys are for her and her baby dolls! Much less does she know that she's soon going to be sharing all these silly toys with a sister. I the back of my mind I can even faintly hear the screams of them stealing each others baby dolls and books (which I can say I don't look forward to but gotta take the good with the bad). Anticipation gets the best of me when I think to the weeks ahead and the new adjustments that we're getting ready to leap into. I can not wait. Even kind of weird to think I'm looking forward to the newborn sleepless nights and lack of sleep.

In the meantime, we dwell and focus on the days ahead and think of the day-to-day joys in our lives that we are ever so thankful for.

The newest laughs that Autumn brings to us are learning the dogs names "OssssCaaaa!!". Removing her DVD's from the player and continue to shove it wayyyy under the t.v. Then she'll change the t.v channel and beg for you to fix it so she can do it all over again. She can now run full speed with her play shoes on, yes those would be the ones with the small heels, and she thinks it's nothing but funny. None of the flashlights in the house have good batteries in them; you're more than likely to find at least 4 or 5 flashlights on (in her bedroom or under the couch) at any given time. There are so many new things she delights us with every day. Those are the moments in life that we live for and are so blessed to have. Just to think we're going to be doubly blessed in less than 6 weeks. 

I end on the note and the highlight of the day. Autumn went and meet Santa today and didn't cry! Wooo hooo! Last year was a whole different story. (Note to mommy & daddy: do NOT carry her in the moments ahead to see Santa or the Easter Bunny, make her walk...makes for a much easier transition) Make sure she can take her baby with her and it's all good. Never a dull moment!!

Philippians 4:6- "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

Tears and Words Can't Describe...

I don't even know where to begin. I do know one thing I will do and that's tell it from the heart. Sweet memories are all that remain of our precious and furry baby Oscar. Nov. 28th he got out of the back yard and wandered down our driveway. I'm guessing he was trying to venture across the road but he didn't make it barely 1/2 way there. Those of you that really know Oscar know that he is one of the slowest moving & calm doggies you'll ever meet. When God created him he created something so unique and special, I just can't put it into words.

 It started a little over a month ago when he found a hole in the gate of the back yard...and decided the grass was always greener on the other side. We finally got it fixed and thought we were set good again & had him contained. Then he found another hole (somewhere, we still don't know where though) and began his journey of escaping once again.

There are many things I blame for what happened to him. I blame the fact that if I would have only been home literally seconds/minutes earlier from grocery shopping I could have caught him. If I would have went grocery shopping earlier in the day none of this would have happened. If Travis gets home from work and I'm not here he'll let the inside doggies outside to potty very briefly and then let them back inside to be feed. Well, he let Molly, Emma Lou & Oscar all outside to potty...they had only been outside just a few minutes 3 or 4 at the most. But somehow he managed to sneek out fast & set his nose to the ground. He doesn't ever escape that fast once being let outside...but this time he did.

The evening, moment & time will forever be etched into my mind. Autumn and I were jamming to the radio on our way home from the store. She was hungry and a tad cranky so I was doing my "mommy dance" and keeping this girl up in spirit & ready to see daddy just shortly. As we were just yards away from our drive-way driving on our busy Farm Road I seen something stretched out on the road just outside of the middle but I couldn't quite make out what it was. My 1st and immediate thought was to look and see if Travis's work truck was home. It was. My next immediate fear was that Oscar had escaped again & this time it was him. It was. It was like time stopped and my heart was gone. Literally taken from my chest and thrown away. I laid on the horn all the way down the driveway. Pulled the emergency break and threw the door open. Frantically stormed inside screaming to Travis "OSCAR IS DEAD!!!" over and over. It was as if those were the only words I could utter at that moment. Nothing else seemed real. It was literally as if time had stopped and I was going to be stuck in that moment forever. I started hitting him on the back & screaming for him to "go get his body, he's in the middle of the road, go get my baby!".

At the time, Travis was on the phone with someone. I didn't know who & really didn't care. Without blinking twice he hung up the phone and dropped it...took off sprinting out the door. Cars were flying by, as they always do, in a hurried rush on our road. Speeding by as if nothing were there. I had followed Travis outside and I literally dropped to my knees on the bricks just below the porch steps...watching as he went to scoop up our baby off the road. With each second that big hole in my heart just kept growing. I literally could not breath. I was crying so hard that no tears were even coming out. Then all the sudden they started gushing out like Niagra Falls....kid you not they have not stopped since that moment. The pain I'm holding in my eyes and heart seems unreal and unbearable at moments. I know someone is probably reading this thinking how in the world can an animal be that important to someone. I tell you, it is, 100%. If you know me well and know anything about me you'd know I am one of the biggest animal lovers. They are literally a part of our family & they are treated that way. They are a living, breathing creature just as you and I are. They have a heart and they feel pain. They are the one constant thing in my life that will never not show me affection or be upset with me. There have been many rough moments in our lives over the past few months. Never once have my doggies denied my the love I need, snuggles and doggie nose rubs to get through those rough times. God has instilled me with certain qualities and one of the biggest ones is a love for animals, especially pets of my own.

As Travis approached the house he lovingly carried and cradled Oscar and took him back to be burried to let him rest. Within minutes he came to me with loving arms to comfort me and calm me down. I could not catch my breath and didn't want to move an inch as I laid on the bricks in tears. This whole time Autumn was patiently waiting in the car. Car running, music up loud and heater running. She had no clue what had happened & just knew she was happy to be home to Daddy.

The rest of the evening and night was filled with so many words, tears and etc. still just trying to wrap our minds around what all had just happened. All I want is one last sweet Oscar kiss on the nose, to pull the hair back from his big brown eyes and to hug him. That will not happen. The only good-byes to be said were at his grave and cross were he's now resting. My tears are still flowing heavy. Eyes so sore I can barely blink. Eyelids & eyes red and bloodshot.

Travis took 1/2 day off work to be with me this morning & do somethings around the house. He made a beautiful engraved wooden cross for Oscar's grave and trenched it into the ground just above where his head now lays...not on his comfy pillow by the back door but just by the old tree in the backyard, right next to where Savannah rests too. I am not ready to talk about it with anyone. I can barely walk around the house without bursting into tears.

Today was dedicated to making copies of pictures of him from over the years. Mailing off a picture of him and a letter to the editor about the careless people on our road. Our neighbors seen Oscar get hit and said the car obviously wasn't paying attention or didn't car...not to mention they just kept on going after they hit him. Maybe the person that took Oscar's life will read that letter...maybe not. I do know one thing. My little Oscar will never come close to being replaced. It's hard to watch Autumn so innocently pointing to his pictures saying "Osss Caaaa" over and over. Then she wanders to the back door points outside and says "No, No, No...". I also know Emma Lou already knows he's gone & misses him. She stood at the front door this morning howling, looking very somber.

Tears or words can not describe what this feels like and the sweet memories we've been left with. RIP Oscar we love you so much. You will be greatly missed. xoxo

Matthew 5:4
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."

Snowball Effect

Wow. That's the one word I think I've used over two dozen times today. Therefore, Autumn has also been wandering around shouting "Wow!!! Wow!!! Wow!!!". You name it and I've most likely done it WRONG today. Kinda one of those days you wish you could have just stayed in bed with the sheets tucked over your head. But nope, there is wayyyy to much to be done and life goes on so...I started my day. However, I still say I started it out on the wrong foot and with my eyes closed. 
Had my OB appt for my wk 32 check-up on Aubree Claire. Wonderful news is that I'm measuring right on target for my due date of January 13th and her heartbeat sounds like music to our ears! At least to me and the doctor's ears anyway. Autumn immediately became extra shy once she heard the heartbeat (head down & eyes closed). She sort of went into 'Oh no!! Where do I look & what do I do??' mode. All she needed was a little attention from the doc & then she flashed him her gorgeous blue peepers and precious little grin & all was well in her world again.  A moment that melted my heart. Another (& final, woooo hooo) sonogram has been scheduled for next week to make sure Aubree is developing on track. Now the OB visits are every two weeks & we're ever so quickly approaching Aubree's special day!
While running errands we found out that it's going to be over $4,600 if we pay in full prior to delivery and $9k if we don't have it paid in full by Aubree's delievery. Which in all reality I'm seeing as a NO. WOW, and....we're moving on. On the other hand, I got a debt collector off our backs (that called last night wanting $500 upfront, due to someone's screw up, not mine) and the issue resolved w/Autumn's hospital bills, wheeeew what a relief. Then it was on to the house for lunch. Meanwhile my nose is dripping, red, hurting and stuffed up. Autumn must have a tissue everytime I have a tissue. Pretty soon there are tissues all over the car & we're swimming in them. She insisted on taking my face moisturizer and deodorant w/us in the car so she can put them on like mommy does. Which are now in pieces all over the car...After unloading the car and getting inside I realize we didn't run 1/2 the errands we're supposed to and I'm still missing some ingredients for Thanksgiving dinner! Oh well I say, we'll just make another trip out later and get that stuff taken care of. That's if I can get into the house since I looked my house keys inside. Thankfully I found a hidden pair and dug them out. WOW!
We finally eat lunch (while Autumn shares the majority of hers with our dog, Emma) and I'm glad to sit and relax. In the meantime, we pull out all the parts & etc to put together the babies swing and bassinett. Autumn is so excited that these news 'toys' are for her & her babies! Lol, 30 min later the swing is 1/2 put together w/Autumn so gently trying to help, but she's really hitting me & beating me with the metal bars. Her happiness turns into crankiness fast & it's officially nap time for her. She's out like a light. Good! Now I can finish the bassinett & swing w/out interruptions and in peace and quiet. Wrong! I have all the parts for the bassinett laid out & am assembling and attaching parts all the while searching & searching for the "detachable" wheels. I'm tearing things apart looking for the stupid wheels, the only thing I'm missing. Get online & look into what it costs for replacements. Don't have the lot # so I call the manufacturer's hotline and sit on hold for a good 10-15min. After speaking with the lady that sounds like she's in Jamaica (both of us can barely understand each other). Just when I think I've made myself clear I realize 'She has absolutely no clue what so ever what I'm looking for' and she puts me on hold, again. I re-explain the whole situation and tell her 'I just need the replacement wheels that attach to the bottom of the base' and she puts me on hold, again. I still don't get a straight forward answer...and she insists on knowing why I didn't keep track of the wheels. She must have insisted 3 or 4 different times I should have kept track of the wheels, yada yada yada. FINALLY, I get my answer. It's going to be over $30 to replace the wheels because "supposedly" they do not detach from the base and I'll have to order the whole base. I tell her I'll get back w/them, thanks for your time. After doing some more searching after I end the phone call I start looking for the lot #. Ah Ha!! What did I find? The wheels!! Who would have thought...they were there the whole time tucked up into the base of the bassinett legs. Funny thing is they're not "detachable" after all. Who would have thought? I could have swore the last time I checked there they were missing. Hmmmmm
Definitely another big WOW moment.
Here the swing sits 1/2 assembled and the bassinett still lays in pieces on the living room floor. Oh well, maybe I'll wait to finish putting them together when Autumn's awake. That way she can keep me entertained & on my toes. But now it's time for a nap. Gonna see if I can't wake up w/my eyes open and start out on the right foot this time. Maybe my snowball has stopped rolling for the day...

Isaiah 41:10 “…do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”