COWS!!

My boys dressed up as cows for a costumed birthday party this past Saturday. This was the result:

Happiness in spots

Can a baby get any cuter?

Noah the cow

It was a fun party and Noah loved being in costume. This Halloween will be the first in which Stephan and I will actually take the kids trick or treating. I am definitely excited about that. More picture to come of that for sure!
  Be blessed today, readers!

Fall!

Thank You, Lord! I really appreciate this weather.

You know what I do not appreciate? When you leave a rather pressing and urgent message at your pediatrician's office in regards to your baby's health and then call them again several hours later because nobody ever called you back, only to have them say, "let me verify and call you right back", only to have them not call you again.

You know what I do appreciate? Friends like Kevin Skinner, Rachel Thomas, and Emily Evan, who patiently answer my early morning calls in regards to the same health issue and care enough about me and my baby to listen and offer helpful answers and advice. Thank you, friends, you are blessings in a mother's life and I hope you know it.

I do not type this to bash the medical system or my pediatrician, because I really do love my kids' doctor and trust and appreciate his opinion. I just wish there was a touch bit more communication there. I mean seriously, what mother wouldn't want immediate and accurate medical attention for a sweet, sad little face like this:

this morning

This evening

 These pictures don't do this rash justice. It's bad and it's everywhere. My poor, precious baby.

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord lift His countenance upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you and give you peace.

Fall?

Where are you, fall? It's late October and I'm wearing shorts and a t-shirt. I was expecting a little bit more from you, fall. Yes, I realize you have a special excuse for your lack of true autumn chill, being that this is Texas and all, but seriously, shape up! I want sweaters and boots! I want fires and apple cider! I want to be able to sleep in my footie pj's and not sweat like a sinner in church.

best Christmas present last year

 But, as always, I have no true reason to whine and grumble. This weather is still lovely and God has allowed me to live in it. And better yet, He loves me! I'll never understand why, but the God of the universe loves a speck like me! If that doesn't cause one to burst forth in joyous praise, I don't know what will.

 ^"and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light." Colossians 1:12

The Rose parade

As a lifelong Tylerite, I have seen many a Rose festival take place. I've been to the queen's tea, I've been to the coronation ceremonies, and as a child, I was even able to go "back stage" to see the beautiful gowns and props and costumes since my mother has done hair for many a participant of this whole, shiny, super expensive, elegant shebang. (She has done the hair of at least three rose queens. Yeah. Impressive.) But I have never been to see the rose parade. This year, I decided to change all that. Since Stephan would be working, I figured there was no better time than now to shake up my Saturday routine with something that might make a two-year-old's day.
  Friends, it was fun. It was a little long for my and my toddler's tastes, and the weather warmed up quite a bit while we were there, making our adorable cold weather outfits unnecessary and uncomfortable, but Noah was enthralled the whole way through. Here are a few pictures I took:

This was our set up. It was pretty nice and a great viewing spot.

I saw these crazy cats there. They were kind and loving and loaned a forgetful mom their blanket so that we weren't sitting on the cold, hard concrete the whole time. I love family.

In my opinion, this was the only band/dance team combo that was any good. All the others were middle schools.

Delegate from our sister city in Japan. Neat!

This was Noah and Wyatt's position for the grand majority of the parade. Enthralled!

These clowns got waaaaay to close for my comfort.

I LOVE THE GOWNS! WHY NOT MEEE???

Witten was fought over by adoring cousins the whole time. He didn't mind one bit.

I used to dream of wearing one of those get-ups and being a part of the rose festival. *sigh*

It's a fuzzy picture, but the two in the front are actual twins that they cleverly dressed as Siamese cats. My mom and sister did their hair.

The girl in the gold in the middle's costume was super cool. She had, like, twelve "arms" that fanned out from her back when she raised her arms.

Some more beautiful costumery

   I didn't get a picture of this year's queen because I was packing up to go as she floated by and I didn't care to dig my camera back out. Per usual, it was a stunning gown with a fantastic train that was about 15 feet long.  Just to give you an idea of how the queen's dress looked, here's a picture of a previous queen's gown:

(P.S., I advise all who are interested in the Rose Festival to check out their museum. It's stocked with a plethora of these stunning gowns and has the history of this event on display. I wanna go back!)

All in all, it was a good morning. Thank you, God, for good mornings.

time for a change

Sometimes, a woman just needs a little something to spice up her life. Maybe that's why women like to go shopping. Every once in a while, I feel a real need to make a change in some way. That is why God gave me a hairstylist mom.
          Witness, if you will, the change:

I do enjoy long hair, but I was tired of it

This ought to keep me entertained for a while

 

my name's Colette, and I approve this message

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I'm glad I got Disease, because I know that it's behind me and I'll never have to deal with is again.    

Way too fast

Witten had a rough night last night. He coughed so hard for so long that he made himself throw up. He continued to throw up three or four more times before his poor body allowed him some peace at 1:00 a.m., at which point he passed out cold on my chest. It was a scary experience for me and Stephan. We had never experienced vomiting like that before. Noah has tossed cookies twice in his life thus far, and those two incidents were spread very far apart. But the good news is that God carried us through, Witten is doing fine, and I am exhausted. Well, that last one is less good news and more hard truth.
   Regardless of  how the night went last night, when I finally heaved myself out of my warm, soft, sweet bed and prayed for God's grace as I prepared to face the day, I went into Witten's room to wake him up only to find him standing in his crib. He was waiting for me with a big smile and a cool new trick. I have watched Witten pull himself up on other objects maybe twice before, but this was the first case if him pulling himself to his feet in his crib. I was proud a punch.
   I do believe Witten is all better, if not a little hoarse from his rough night last night. Big brother Noah is digging to China in the sandbox as I type. Mommy's cleaning the house today, but finding it hard to summon the energy to do a thorough, hard-core cleaning job. (The lazy side of me that is too tired to try is attempting to convince my responsible side that deep-cleaning can wait. We're about to witness the closing arguments and then the jury may be out for a while on this one.)
   Friends, however your day started this morning, take the time to look around you and realize how blessed you are. Drown out that evil little voice inside that urges you to focus on the things that you don't have, or could have more of, or the things that could be better with praise to a God who gave you a new day to live.


Philippians 4:11-12
"Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need"

 
 Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Two big reasons why I praise God