Lesson Learned...

close call. So yesterday was Micah's scariest moment of his and my life. We went shopping together in the am and had fun and then headed to the pool with Baby Rex and his mom Amy and Grandma Melinda and my mom and Hayden. We had a great time at their really cool pool until...the close call.

I really didn't want to post about this because I thought of the judgement and the shame on me. BUT then I thought about it happening to someone else and I decided to post. There is still a big lump in my throat when I think about it and I want to both laugh, cry and throw up at the same time when I think of what could have happened. So, Hayden and Micah were playing together and Micah was wearing his swimmies as usual. I had allowed him to take them off and jump to me since Sadie Jane was at home with Mick (bad idea). After we practiced swimming we put the swimmies back on him and I went back to visiting with friends. I totally let my guard down because I felt security for Micah with his swimmies on. I actually had turned to face my friend and was every few minutes checking on Micah. Well all of the sudden Hayden says, "Aunt Steph, Look, Micah can swim!!" I turn around to see Micah staring up at me from under the water. I yank him out, sort of confused as to why in the world he is underwater and then I realize he has taken his swimmies off and stepped off the steps. I take him out of the pool to punish him and then realize he was scared enough as punishment AND I am probably the one who needs the spanking. He is crying saying he just wanted to swim like Haydee. I explain everything to him and then put his swimmies back on. We really had a good time hanging out with friends and after the incident Micah didn't get far from my side.

I don't really think about it again til we get home then I nearly drive myself crazy thinking about what if Hayden hadn't yelled at me, what if I weren't standing right beside him, what if, what if?

I have beaten myself up but my focus now is learning my lesson and making sure it doesn't happen again to me or someone else, especially with all the much worse possibilities. Obviously the fact that Micah had on swimmies gave me that sense of security that I got too comfortable with and didn't really think of all the dangers that could arise. I am WAY more aware now and will not just think I am checking on him constantly but will be much more proactive. We also discussed the situation and I think Micah understands that he has to leave them on unless Mick or I take them off. And we are going to work on teaching him some more swimming skills for sure.

Keeping Busy.

Micah chose his very professional tennis outfit.

Ashleigh trying to escape my picture with Micah.

Too cool for tennis school. Paxton Bradley looking precious.

Micah and Pax working it.

Amy, Sadie Jane and I and our hula hoop.

Us with Rachel and Pax.

My sweet baby girl who did awesome at the courts!!

Yesterday we knew that Mick was finally coming home so we made as many plans as we could to make the day go faster. Aunt Amy got a tiny tots tennis class together for the boys so we took the boys there while we did cardio tennis with her mom and some other ladies. Sadie Jane sat in the stroller for most of it and did SOOO good. Amy and I lived at the tennis courts when we were babies so Amy's mom, Val, said it was about time we put a baby in the stroller and play:) As we got older Amy and I had our first lessons together at the Health Club around the age of Pax and Micah so it was only fitting we do the same with the boys. Micah didn't want to be in any pictures but he LOVED the lesson. The two girls that led it did a great job and Micah couldn't stop talking about it. I also actually enjoyed myself...something I never would've done with Micah but unbelievably I am mellowing in my older years. It's amazing what freedom comes with no longer being in your twenties. Hee hee. I didn't say I was mellow just better than I was before.
After tennis we came home and went to the pool again and then had the softball girls over for dinner. Finally Mick arrived home to a housefull of girls and Micah! We were so thankful to see him. So thankful that SayJ awakened twice in the night to see him again, but only wanted me. Boo hiss. One more antibiotic for this girl and then we are headed to the ENT. Pray she can kick this snotty nose and fluid ears.

Those kind of people...

I haven't been able to post very honestly for the last few days because Mick has been out of town and I didn't want to talk about that in the unlikely chance some creepy family stealer was out there looking for a wife and kids to steal. I know, I know, they'd probably send Micah and I back, but it was Sadie Jane I was really worried about. Hee hee. Ok, I digress. Anyways he is coming home late tonight so we are in the homestretch.

I wanted to write a post about types of couples. I think there are two types of couples: those that do everything together and don't like to be apart and then those couples who do a whole lot more with friends and do alot of things on their own. Ok, so maybe it is a spectrum thing and couples lean to one side or the other. I don't think either way is wrong I just think it is funny that most couples have a tendency one way or the other. I always thought I would be on the still doing alot of things separately...then we got married and I found that I was the one who didn't like to be apart. Then after adding kiddos I don't want any of us to be away from each other. Some of this healthy, some of it not, and some of it just neutral, being a preference thing. Just a funny thought. I don't know if I am like this because Mick is gone so much for coaching so much so that I am selfish with the little time he has left or if I would be this way if he were around more, I don't think I would be...

So, when we realized that Mick would be gone for FOUR long days away from us you can guess I wasn't the positive, happy, supporting wife...being that I am that kind of couple. I am glad(ok, maybe not glad) that he got to go and coach the softball allstar team and have a great experience but ontop of missing him and not enjoying time apart I was a bit jealous of his four days of adult interaction and sleeping an entire night. I know, yuck, sin, sin, I know you wouldn't think those things, but I thought I'd be honest. I was then the single mom who also was dealing with SayJ's decision to become an insomniac and of course our Micahbird- who is going through a big I want my Daddy stage. BUT, today is Wednesday and barring anything major we have ...dare I say it...had a good time on our own. Micah has behaved SO well and Sadie Jane slept some. Of course it was mainly fun because we hung out with other friends who helped, helped, helped. My parents and Hayden, Taron and Jaxson, and Aim and Pax all were tremendous helps. I don't know how people do single parenting..but especially without friends. I spent alot of time in prayer for patience and perseverence and also for those mom's who are single or mom's whose husband's travel overnight and especially my friends whose husbands are deployed. My small glimpse is nothing in comparison to those things.

So, which kind of couple are you, just curious??

All in all, we have made it through the week. Not something I really desire to do again but I do have a little (ok, probably too much) pride that I CAN do it. And yet so thankful that I don't have to.

Pool Time!!

Get me out! This water is cold! Says SayJ...

My attempt to try to get three fishies in the picture.

Sadie Jane with Hayden and I.

Lovin' it!

Taron with her entourage. My kids LOVE her... and constantly fight for her attention.

We have gotten to go to the pool a good bit the last few days. My first attempt I took both kiddos with no float for Sadie Jane. Needless to say it was a short trip. The next two times we went with Taron, making it MUCH easier. Today she even blew up the float that SayJ is in and Sadie Jane liked it alot. Yippee. That means our next trip will be even easier. Micah is lovin' it but I can't take his swimmees off because I don't have enough hands. Today I took Hayden too so it was quite the task. Again, thank goodness for Taron and Jaxson. I don't know what we'll do next year when she has another one too. I want to write more but for now I will stop there. I will explain my short and sweet posts soon.

More Slippin than Slidin'

Micah got a new slipnslide today with the rest of his birthday money and he was PUMPED. He loved playing in it and Sadie Jane did too, til the part that sprayed her in the face. She did NOT appreciate that at all. Micah couldn't quite figure out how to slide so Mick would have to hurl him down the lane. It was pretty funny. The one time Micah almost got it figured out he dove about a foot before the slipnslide started so he didn't really want to try again after that. Grassburn hurts apparently.

On another note Sadie Jane is saying her first word and you wont believe it but it is....drumroll please...wait for it... Momma! Oh yeah! This girl is a Momma's girl for sure. She only says it when she is crying and who knows if she really means me but she says it and I love it! She isn't a noisy one or a very verbal girl at all, like me:), so we'll see if this is the start of something or just a fluke. Nonetheless I wanted it documented that Momma finally got a shoutout, because Micah said Dada constantly.

Week of Birthday's - Birthday Week

We've had a fun week of celebrating. Charlee Ray's birthday is the day after mine so she and I celebrated at Longhorn's on Wednesday. Then on Thursday some girlfriends took me out to Gumbeaux's. Unfortunately I forgot my camera on those nights. Boo hiss. Then Friday we had Charlee Ray's party at Jump for Joey's. Lots of fun had all around. Somewhere in there Micah decided we needed another photo shoot in SayJ's bed so that is what you see above. Love those babies and love that they love each other.

The Inevitable 3-0!

Leaving for our DATE! Hadn't had one of those in AWHILE.

So excited!

Me and my other man.

Two more charms for my bracelet from my sweet husband...

and roses from Micah and Mick!

The kiddos all playing together as we are leaving.

I turned 3o today and I'll have to say probably one of the best birthday's for me. Nothing spectacular but as a mom you come to appreciate good days and are thankful when there indeed isn't any sickness, arguments, etc. The kiddos and I had a great day. Sadie Jane slept through the night (thanks to Mick for rocking her back to sleep once!) We all hung out together, went to the mall, stopped by to see my twin two years apart Taron whose birthday was today as well, then relaxed and I got to go on a date with Mick. Thanks to Jenny and Budda for braving it with three kiddos! As soon as my day started I thought of all the ways I did not realize that this is what I would be doing when I was thirty. Even in college I couldn't have imagined that this would be my life. I love every minute of it and am so thankful for what God has blessed me with but I find it humorous nonetheless...so I thought I'd share.

Things I didn't think I would be doing on the day I turned thirty:

~Being SO excited that I got to sleep til 7.
~Debating on if I took a shower the day before and if I would get to take one today.
~Standing in the Belk's bathroom while I waited on my son to "poopy"...then him giving me the play by play on how many pieces it was...then realizing he just blew it up in the one stall that wont flush.
~Getting lots of "presents" from my favorite boy. So what if they happened to be items around our home.
~Having lunch with the love of my life, but not remembering if I even spoke directly to him...other than brief commands and orders "wipes, spoon, watch out:)"
~Loving hearing my sweet boy tell me he loves me and giving me Birthday lovin'.
~Once we had a sitter for dinner realizing the only place I really wanted to go was Walmart...to buy diapers because I had so many coupons.
~Sitting in my nursing chair holding the sweetest baby and crying happy tears because I am overwhelmed at what God has given me. (ok, so that one was more mushy, than humorous.)
Thirty doesn't look so bad after all. Can't believe it is here but excited to see where God takes me and my family. I know when I turn forty I'll be looking back thinking that at thirty I would have never believed where I'd be.
Thanks friends and family for making it so special!