Mom was right...

...when she used to say "this is going to hurt me a lot more than it hurts you". Of course being little I SOOO did not believe her. Now, as a mother myself, I know how true that statement is. Tonight we had some friends over to eat and they stayed passed Dotty's bedtime (they have little girls around Dot's age and she was having a blast playing with them). After everyone left Dotty had such a meltdown and we could not get her to calm down, stop crying, take her bottle and go to sleep. Tony finally said we should just lay her down in her crib and let her cry herself to sleep. I have only done that once before and that was when we were having a bad storm and I was worried about Tony (who was having a district golf tournament right in the middle of where a tornado was headed) and I was trying to check the weather, talk to him, and I just had to put Dotty in her crib and let her cry herself to sleep. That time it was a must and I was so worried about Tony I was not hurting as bad listening to Dot cry. But tonight was awful. I had to go take a shower so I could not hear her cry. Tony stayed in the living room and when I got out I asked how long she cried...he guessed about 5 minutes but I don't know how he could stand it. It was breaking my heart. Even after I went in to check on her asleep (and she was not even doing that whimpering kind of sleep that babies do after they have cried really hard) I still wanted to pick her up and hold her and rock her and kiss her sweet cheeks. I just hate to see her cry REAL tears...especially when I can't really help her.

I don't know what I will do the first time I really have to discipline her. Her "terrible twos" and "teen" years are going to be tough on all of us I have a feeling. My heart still feels like it is hurting and she has been asleep for over 30 minutes now. I just might cry myself to sleep too.

This "Mom Thing" can be hard on a girl.

Good Times, Good Times...

In a recent comment from a friend she mentioned some "Good Times, Good Times" so here are some random thoughts that remind me of Good Times...

Cheese Bun
Fish Sticks (and the other that I will not post on my blog)
Cruella D'ville
Synchronized Swimming (Olympics 2012 here we come)
My 4 Dance Moves (Done twice)
Charlie's Answering Machine
Hunan's Christmas Party
My Black Boots (and Tammy's pair she got for free)
The 4 gifts I got that were the same (yet different)
Driving with the roof down in below freezing temps
Granitas!!! I want one now!
Designing Women reruns
Christmas Dinner around the world (on paper plates)
Floating the River
Any time Dotty laughs so hard she toots...and then looks at me like I did it.

For those of you who know what I am talking about I hope these thoughts brought back great memories for you. For those of you who don't just know I have had some funny times in life most of them involving Tammy and Tracey/Betsy. That should tell you a lot right there if you know those people in my life.

I hope you all have good family and friends to make you laugh, laugh at you, and to laugh with you....TGIF!

Words for thought...

From the Couch...

I just got finished reading a book that I will probably have to read again b/c some of it was over my head but some of it made sense. It is called "The Four Agreements" (at least I think that is the title...I lent it to Mom so I don't have it handy).

Anyway the book is basically about 4 ideas...here you go...

#1 A person should be impeccable with their word. The book talked about how what people say can change not only their world but even other people's worlds. Take Hitler for example. He caused a World War by the things he said and by how his words caused people to act. Crazy how one man could have such an impact. While I may never have as powerful words as someone like Hitler (and I sure as heck don't want to cause a war...not even in my own family much less the world) the book made me aware that my words can impact people I love, friends, coworkers, even strangers...and of course Dotty. I want to be a good mom and that means saying good things or as the old saying goes...if I can't say something nice I should not say anything at all.

#2 Don't take things personally. I am having a hard time with this one. It seems all of life is so personal but I do get what the book is trying to say. Most of the time when people say harmful things to me it really isn't about me at all. It usually has much more to do with them. I know when I am mad and say hurtful things I usually do it to someone who has nothing to do with what I am upset about that person just happens to be at the wrong place at the right time. The book also talks about that as an individual we should be secure in ourselves and not need the things that other people say to make us feel one way or the other. We should like ourselves enough to not be hurt when people say mean things to us and also not to be too overjoyed when people compliment us. The truth is how we feel about ourselves matters more than what someone else says.

#3 Do not make assumptions. I do that a lot. I assume people are mad at me or feel certain ways (good or bad) or think like me or not like me...whatever. I make a lot of assumptions. The book says to not make assumptions but to get clarification by asking questions...a lot of questions. I am trying to do better in this area. Mainly b/c I seem to always assume the worst and then that makes me worry about things that don't even exist and that causes a terrible cycle.

#4 Do your best. The book says that your best is not perfection...it is not even the same from day to day. You just have to try your best...your best at doing #1, 2, and 3...your best at being you...and that is all we can do. If we do our best then we can be happy. If we fail we can try again. That is something to look forward to. We will fail. We always do. But we can always try again.

My wish to all of you is that you fail one less time than you try.

The Tooth Fairy Came...

Your Daily Dose of Dotty...

I have been meaning to post that Dotty FINALLY got a tooth!!! She got it a week ago and it still is just barely visible but REALLY sharp! I have been so worried about feeding her stuff b/c she has no teeth and thus she is such a bottle baby but now I am hoping that she will get a mouth full of those little pearly whites and start eating food.

Although I have a feeling I am going to pay for my raising. I was such a picky eater (I have really grown since Tony came into my life) and Dotty is going to be just like me. So far all she likes is bananas, bread, and Dr. Pepper. I know, I know...bad mother. Trust me I know.

My pediatrician told me at her 1 year checkup (in which at that point she had no teeth) that I had to start feeding her more and start cutting out bottles. I in turn asked him when he would like to sign up to go on Dotty duty for the weaning process. I tried to cut out her noon bottle today and after 1 hour of screaming and crying I caved and gave her 4 ounces in order to get her to sleep.

Any advice would be great!

Making Comments...

To all of you who have been making comments on my blog I really appreciate all you have said, the offers you have made, and the advice you have given. However, for those of you who do not have a blog your comment comes to me as "anonymous" so I don't always know who is making the comment. If you don't have a blog will you sign your comments. I can figure some out but not all of them. If you want to be anonymous then that is fine too but I would love to reply to some of you on the nice things you have said.


Thanks!

New Pics!!!

Enjoy!

About a year ago...

Tony and I drove home (very carefully) with our new baby girl...Dotty Marie Nichols. On September 8th, 2007 at 5:55pm to be exact, she had come into our lives and filled our hearts with a love we did not know we could have for someone we just met.

I have learned a lot in one year. Here it is...

...I still have a whole LOT to learn!!!

What a year. Maybe some day I will be able to take time to reflect on it. Right now I am chasing a one year old around who loves toilet paper, taking things out of the fridge, and throwing things into the bath tub.

Being a mom is the best job...ever!

What a difference a day makes...

It is so funny how one day life can seem so full of problems and the next all your questions are answered...and the answer is one that you like.

I have been looking for a place to take Dotty 2 days a week so Mom and I could be at the Pecan Shed together...because believe it or not we do both still work there...sometimes. I kept having the problem that most places did not want to take a 1 year old only 2 days a week and if they would take her they were going to put her in with the infants b/c she still takes a bottle.

Dotty is a walking, talking, at times screaming little ball of energy. I don't think a 2month old would appreciate her fish face or her quacking noises nearly as much as other 1 year olds. So I was torn. What to do, what to do.

I had called several people I knew watched children but all were full with kids. I was so worried and just about to cry when I got up the nerve to call one more person.

This woman had been the one who I had said since before Dotty was born that if she ever decided to start watching children I would make sure Dotty went to her. She is a retired elementary teacher and she is the sweetest, nicest, most loving person you will ever meet. She is very active and she even plays piano (or organ...not sure) at her church. Her name is Kathy Westmoreland and she was what I was so wanting for Dotty but just felt like I could not get my hopes up that high.

I called her today and she said....drum roll please...are you holding your breath like I was...YES!!!

My child will be with one of the best ladies I know. I am sure she will learn so much and be well taken care of. I know there are numerous people out there that would have done a great job...trust me I called them but this arrangement seemed to be what both Kathy and I had been praying for.

Dotty starts going to her on the 15th and will go 2 days a week. Wish us luck...or rather wish Kathy luck. I know she has been around a lot of kids but Dotty has quite the mind of her own and is not too shy to tell you about it...loudly. Lets all hope Kathy has earplugs or at least a really good sense of humor and a whole LOT of patience.