Are you happy?

This is the popular question Shelby utters to us several times a day ~ I don't know where she picked this up, but she asks us this a lot. She is also big into saying "Okayyyyy", drawn out a bit, which strikes me a little funny. And when driving in the car she asks "What's that?" to just about every building we pass. I noticed that her teachers have been marking "inquisitive" on her sheet quite a bit, so guess she is in that phase.

We are SO long overdue on an update. What can I say? Life chasing 2-year olds is busy....on top of keeping up the house, managing the church meals ministry, co-teaching a bible study and attending a bible study. I am starting to wonder when I have time to sleep these days! But that is a must, sleep is non-negotiable for me. December was quite busy due to holidays (as everyone is so busy), what is it about that time of year? I guess with the hustle & bustle of all the shoppers, you just feel in a rush with everything! I was crazy busy making Christmas cards (yea, that was a bright idea), making a few gifts and then the holidays themselves. We spent Christmas & New Years in Oklahoma and enjoyed the long visit home. Shelby & Mason had so much fun playing, I think they are really going to be good friends. I've also noticed the past few visits home that Shelby gets pretty attached to Nana. Whenever Nana leaves the room, Shelby is immediately looking for her. And as soon as we got home, she was asking "Where's Nana?" as if she just expected her to be at our house too. All in all a good visit home and then it was back to life in McKinney.

I signed on to co-teach a bible study for our young ladies (ages 13-22) at church. We are teaching a book "Lies Young Women Believe" and it is really good. I WISH I'd had this as a teenager, sure would've helped me make better choices in my young adult life. So, January quickly became filled with preparing to start that study. Last night (2/8) was my first night to teach a lesson ~ I just shared testimony about when Drew was in Iraq. Shared with the girls how God had helped me through that time. It was emotional, in a good way, to relive those memories and how I got through that time, all the while working full time and taking care of Shelby. God is an amazing comforter when we turn to Him and fully rely on His grace, love & support. I'm looking forward to teaching some of the other chapters in the book.

We started back to preschool after the winter break, Shelby was pretty excited to see her teachers. And Abby rejoined us on Jan. 19th ~ this is Leslie's last semester of nursing school and I am keeping Abby 3 days/week, with a few extra days here & there when additional things occur at school. The girls are doing well playing together and sharing toys ~ I think preschool has really helped with that. And cleaning up! We sing the "cleanup song" and Shelby seems to enjoy picking up her toys. One day at lunchtime, she didn't come when I called and I started to get frustrated. When I went to find her in the living room, all exasperated, she was singing the song & picking up her toys. Boy did I feel like an idiot. We've had a rough few weeks of illness, which had us all run down. Kept battling sinus colds and the drastic warm/cold weather changes certainly did not help. It'd be 70 one day, then overnight drop to 30 the next. Seriously, it has been the most bizarre winter I can recall in recent years. Well after 3 relapses, I finally went to the Dr. Shelby & I both had sinus infections, so got on antibiotics and a cough medicine for her and worked on getting better. We were coming out of that after a week and then she came down with a stomach bug. Just could not catch a break! Drew & I thought we'd missed it, but a few days after she was sick Drew came down with a mild case. I fortunately did not catch it. I was very blessed to not get that. But we are all recovered now & hoping to stay well for awhile.

So what Shelby is up to....she is LOVING her trains that she got for Christmas. Uncle Russ spoiled her with lots of Thomas train toys, some cool tracks, etc. I'm really having to get an "Engineer's mind" to set these things up ~ Drew is definitely better at it than me! She also got some play dishes & a tea set, that she just loves. She gets such a kick out of making us some tea or coffee, giving us "cake", etc. I had no idea she'd enjoy that as much as she has. She is conversing very well with us, Drew & I really enjoy the little conversations we have with her. I went to Houston for a girl's weekend and when I called home, she got on the phone and we'd have these little conversations about what they'd been doing. It was so cool! She knows her numbers & alphabet, shapes and colors. We're working on counting to 20, she gets a few of them, but usually just starts back over counting at 1 after she gets to 10. She has become a big Mickey Mouse Clubhouse fan with Daisy being her favorite. She's been asking to wear underwear & pullups lately, and she is showing more signs of being ready for potty training. Diapers have been drier throughout the day, etc. We may try over Spring Break while we're just home for that week. I must be like the laziest Mom about this, but just haven't wanted to rush it. But since she's seeming so interested, figure I'd better take advantage of that and see how we do. Guess you just jump in & give it a try!
Well that's about all for us now ~ enjoy pics below & hope all of you are well!!

My big puffy coat for the cold mornings playing outside @ preschool!

Helping get the Christmas decorations out, she especially liked wearing these beads.

All decorated! She was a big help. :)

Just couldn't resist posting this picture ~ loved that expression!

Shelby w/Santa Clause ~ this is actually a guy at our church, the beard is real and his nickname at church really is "Ho-Ho" because he looks like Santa. Such a nice man & patient w/the kiddos.

Drew putting together Shelby's "Jeep" ~ I learned this Christmas that Drew can't go to Toys R Us by himself next year. I sent him for 2 small trains, he showed up with 5 and THIS. Guess it's true what they say, Toys R Us is really the place "where a kid can be a kid". :)

Thought it cute she was buckling Lamby in too. Safety first!

Definitely enjoyed tearing into presents this year ~ she really enjoyed all that fun!

Mommy & Me on Christmas Day ~ managed to get her to be still! (This took 5 shots to get!)

A preview of teenage years? She is talking to Granny Bomar on Drew's cell and would not give it back! Awhile back we couldn't get her to talk on it, now she won't stop! HA!