Wisdom

I just read through my last blog post from 2 years ago. 2 years ago!! I've really missed this outlet of blogging and I hope to maintain some record keeping of my sweet babes and wild thoughts.
My babies are my world (as well as run my little world) but thats not whats been rattling around in my head that I'd like to exorcise.

I've been thinking about age a lot lately. Not just the typical thoughts of mine like "I want to be done having kids by....." or "How is it fair to already have grey hair?"

More like the time I've earned.

The wisdom I've gained, or have yet to gain.

I don't think about age the same way most people do. I feel like my age is not something to be proud of, I often feel like lying and adding on a few years when spilling my magic number. Like it could help me gain some credibility.

I feel like my age limits me, shows weakness and inexperience.

I've earned every year, but have so much more to learn that I feel handicapped by this number.
Not that i'm in a hurry, nor do I feel there is a specific goal in mind. Maybe it's more that I feel like i'm becoming or catching up to where I belong. Arriving.

This year (soon even!) i'll be turning 30! I don't feel the trepidation that I had been expecting. None of the standard thoughts.
Sure, I could have a better car, whiter teeth,  higher degree, thinner hips, nicer house...... Where was I going with this?  Oh yes, but where it counts, I'm very wealthy. I'm glad for the brain in my head, the family I've helped to create, and so many other things little and big too numerous to name.

But the point of my rambling, the reason for my coming out of blog coma is this:
With all this "wisdom" I've cultivated, I've come to a realization. I've always had good instincts, and I've always been pretty smart and right about things.
Thats not bragging, I promise. It's not bragging because I didn't know to respect this since growing up I was bombarded with well meaning advice to listen to my elders.
"They've been there, listen to them, don't trust your emotions."
So I didn't, why should I trust myself? I was just a young girl with no experience, life told me.

The more life I've lived and the experience I've gained, I've learned that I really should have respected and trusted my instincts. That I had a unique perspective on life, which was only lessoned by my complete lack of confidence in it's validity.

To sum up; Not only should we respect the wisdom of others that have come before us and have gained unique perspectives in different ways, but also that we should listen, respect and give credibility to the instincts of our less experienced. Whatever your beliefs, all can attest to witnessing remarkable gifts, abilities and insights children are inherently born with. Give them confidence in their ability to discern those instincts, and use them.
Who knows? You may even learn something.

Well... that was weird...

Last year our laptop broke and i stopped blogging for a couple months while we saved to replace it... and then i cant remember why i never started back up....
I love to blog, since this is where i am the best at keeping track of the things we do and the funny things K says.
Its a great outlet for frustration, creativity and my only replacement for scrap-booking and journaling (since we all know i'm not gonna do that).
So yes, that year off was weird for so many reasons.... This last year has been so full of incredibly hard times, crazy happenings and happy moments. I'm a little sad i wasn't better at getting those memories down... oh well maybe i can catch up furiously over the next couple of months
Hold onto your hats! You followers!! Er.. follower (Mom)

I think i'll just briefly start with the story of Bennett's arrival:

Sweet, sweet, happy baby Bennett was NOT planned. In fact, we were actively trying NOT to get pregnant. Which, in contrast to the struggle the first time was a huge shock!
It was on a trip to visit the Driggers in AL, when i noticed i had packed some [feminine products] and not used them. I am nothing if not punctual.
Once i realized this, I quickly purchased tests at the local Huntsville Target and couldn't even wait to leave the store before using one.
The first witness to the impending arrival was Carrie. My shock was evident and with trembling hands decided to wrap up a gift to tell BJ.
It happened to be his birthday and the whole family went out to dinner to celebrate, and in front of everyone he opened my gift.
I was a little terrified that, if i had told him in private, he would've been sad/upset/angry and needed him (even if pretend) to be happy about the news.
Well he put on a good face but we were both terrified about the financial aspect of it, along with having another person sharing our already cramped quarters, and being responsible for yet another human beings welfare! Overwhelmed doesn't begin to describe how we felt.
Guilt for feeling scared.
Thrilled to experience baby times again!
Fear of the un-known $$, how we were going to afford everything with poor insurance, working/daycare etc.
Elation at the feel of every kick!
Sadness at the thought that I was putting more pressure on BJ.
I felt a little bi-polar as i'm sure many pregnant woman can relate to.

This pregnancy was harder, i got sicker and was bone-tired a lot of the time. I referred to new baby as a jerk for making me so sick.

Its amazing how that can all fly away the moment you see that tiny, innocent face.
My water broke at 2 a.m. on my birthday 2 weeks before my due date. He was born at 12:25 a.m. the next morning. We were so close to sharing a birthday! Going into labor could not have been a better birthday present, having been put on bed rest a couple weeks before and it was driving me bonkers!

He came quickly after several hours of crazy yoga poses to get him in the right position.
Thank heaven for epidurals!!
His beautiful perfect face greeted me and he hasn't stopped making me smile since! Seriously the happiest baby I have ever known!!

Tulip Festival

On saturday, while BJ was working, Kenley and I piled into a car with my dad, step-mom, brotha Evan and step-grandma and drove down to the tulip festival at Thanksgiving point.

The weather was perfect and we are all sporting funny little tan lines today.

The waterfalls were gorgeous! They are the largest man-made waterfalls in the US.

 Kenley had to stop and smell the flowers several times after spotting another little girl doing it. She even kept making "Mmmm" noises. She had a great time "riding" with grandpa in his wheelchair.

 It was kind of a big deal, there were food tents, dancers, booths, fountains, ponds with fish and, of course, gorgeous plants and flowers everywhere.

 Blowing kisses at the fake turtle

It was a lot of fun, I highly recommend going!

Easter

I just realized I never posted anything about our Easter Eggstravaganza!! (Too cheesy?)

This was the first year we took Kenley out for an easter egg hunt. I think we had more fun than her, since she was recovering still from her ear infection. But we still managed to make a day of it.

We went to Wheeler Farm, where it's kind of a big deal.

We got to meet the Easter Bunny, go on a wagon ride, and got a bag of candy. It was joyous.

This is us in the "Toddler area" waiting to be herded to our egg huntin' spot.

This place is awesome, for more reasons than I can name :)

We had a limit as to how many eggs we could take, but K was on a roll and wanted to pick up every single egg and open all of them. (they were brilliantly empty, to keep people from going nuts)

Of course my camera wouldn't turn on when we got there, so these crappy camera pics are the only shots I got.

I'll have to post pics of her in her adorable easter dress soon.

Aaaaaahh SWING!!

Last night, when it finally stopped raining and the sun came out, we went to our first baseball game of the season.

I love going to games, the atmosphere is so much fun!

And now that Kenley is getting old enough to participate in things, its even more fun!

She had more fun than I expected. She watched the players throwing the ball with fascination and really got into it when everyone cheered.

Lately, when she asks for something its always "too", so when she asked for a hotdog it was "Hoggog too and juice too peeeess"

She's so funny!!

Please excuse the messy hair, I picked her up and brought her to the game straight from daycare where she always runs herself all disheveled :)

She loved meeting Bumble, kept giving him hugs and kisses, and forgot we were taking pictures.

After spilling her juice all down her front she took the whole bucket of popcorn and giggled the entire time she was eating it, all the while "cheering" and yelling for the team

We had so much fun!

Clueless

I'm just going to say it, and maybe someone else will admit it too.

I have NO IDEA how to be a mom.

No clue.

I don't know what to do from day to day.

But I do my best!

I read baby/child/parenting, forums/magazines/blogs etc...

I ask for advice on things from trusted friends and family. (and receive countless unwanted or unsolicited advice from strangers or just strange people)

And still, I have no idea what i'm doing!

I'm constantly afraid i'm ruining Kenley.

But apparently you cant admit something like that around these parts. Cause all I see here are over-achieving moms juggling 4 kids all under 5, telling me "Can you believe..[so and so].. microwaved her breast milk in plastic bottles??" -Cue gasp

What prompts this rant is really this:

I'm constantly hearing judging remarks about other parents. And i'll admit i've participated when I felt I "knew" something better to do.

But it has to stop!

This week was crazy! After Kenley was showing signs of cold/allergies/latest vaccination sickness. I finally took her to the doctor when she wasn't getting better.

It took me almost a week!

The doctor then told me she had a horrible ear infection and needed to get on antibiotics immediately.

My jaw hit the floor.

I could here those women's voices in my mind

"Did you hear Gina let her daughter be that sick for a week before taking her to the doctor?"

I mean, what kind of mother does that??!!?

I felt like such a terrible mom for not realizing my sweet baby was so sick!

But I had no idea! She seemed mildly uncomfortable, had allergy-like symptoms during the highest pollen count time of the year and only had a fever a week after her vaccination which i'm told is normal.

Yes, I will finally get to my point:

As outsiders we have no idea what the other parent believes is safe, good or right for their children.

If you feel its a safety or health issue, tell them!! I'm sure they'll be grateful, and if they're not- oh well, at least now they were told the proper care and will hopefully follow through.

But otherwise, keep it to yourself!

The other parents believe Harry Potter is evil? Or they give their baby sugary Popsicles on hot days?

That's their choice! You have no idea what happened to lead them to those decisions or whats going on inside the home.

Let it be and keep your mouth shut, otherwise you'll just make it harder to get along.

There, i'm done with my rant now, it's time for Kenley's antibiotic dose anyway....

Drab Snigger Jig

Since the beginning of time (on this blog), i've really struggled with what I should name it.

I tried just our names, which felt incomplete

I tried Driggers Family, which there already is with my sis-in-law Jess's blog.

I thought about using "Driggers... [something]" so you'd know who it was right away, but i wanted the freedom to blog about whatever else i wanted and not limit myself to posts solely about family.

And for a while I settled on our fams initials "BGK" knowing it wouldn't last.

Fast-forward a year and recently I got to work on finding anagrams of BJ, Gina and Driggers combined. I wanted something unique and fun, like I think we are (is that really vain to say??)

My exhaustion-fueled brain came up with something that I feel is brilliant.

Drab Snigger Jig

What does it mean? Good question!

Drab: dull, cheerless, lacking in spirit, brightness etc.

'Cause we all need a little polish

Snigger: a sly or disrespectful laugh, esp when partly stifled

Perfect :)

Jig: a rapid, lively, springy, irregular dance for one or more persons

More perfect!

In other words it means:

A dull, disrespectful giggle in a lively, irregular dance.

Brilliant or ridiculous?

Fact

I'm pretty sure these are all facts.

Facts that, lets be honest everybody, make life better.

(Oh, and here's a pic of the fountain at city creek. cause thats pretty cute right?)

I believe cutting up an apple makes it taste better.

I believe new sheets can help you sleep better.

I believe watching my 2 yr old yell "Weee!" while going down 12 inches on the slide is what everyone needs to see before they die.

I believe in reading the book first. Its just better than the movie.

I believe seeing a newborn's sweet face is the closest i get in this life to seeing through the veil.

I believe in smiling, a lot.

I believe in using a blanket, even if you have to crank up some A/C.

I believe a new outfit instantly makes me lose 5 pounds.

I believe a woman should own her age. It gives her power.

I believe a day in sweats with a good book can be better than any vacation.

I believe in never relying on my memory.

I believe my car runs better when its clean.

I believe in play-doh, bubbles and chalk.

AND in saying "I love you" every single day, in the morning, at the end of every phone call, and at the end of every day.

Happenings

I've been really bad about posting to the blog lately, and I have a LOT to recap.

So here goes with the quick and dirty version of the happenings this year so far.

First of all lets start with the good parts.
My newest nephew was born friday March 23rd!!

Everett Nephi Smithson

Isn't he just precious? I love him already :)

That makes boy #3 for Carrie Smithson, and boy cousin #4 for Kenley.

I recently discovered Instagram, and have been photographing K in all sorts of mundane activities just to jazz the pic up.

Kenley turned 2 on saturday! Can you believe my baby is TWO YEARS OLD???

She got tons of fun stuff; a trike, scooter, dolls, chalk, bubbles and on and on.....

Since yesterday, because of all these new fun toys, she's been demanding to be outside every waking minute

.

Since she was turning2, we decided back in january that we should fit in one more flight before she hit that magic number (meaning we'd have to buy her a seperate plane ticket) And i'm glad we did. I love visiting the in-laws, I really lucked out on this bunch.

While we were there we tried to get a shot of all the grandkids, which didn't turn out so well....

As you can see, Kenley was NOT happy about being told to sit still, and the boys got bored pretty fast.

(Can you see the excitement in everyone's face, also the basket was so we could photoshop baby Everett in after he was born)

Lastlly I just want to mention the C word.

Cancer

It's mean scary word, but in this case I have full faith this bully is also kind of a wimp.

My mom was diagnosed with Folicular Carcinoma, or thyroid cancer.

About a year before they moved to west virginia, my mom noticed a growth under the skin on her neck, and finally got it checked out a couple months ago. After a few inconclusive tests they decided the best course of action was to remove the tumor. At the time of the surgery, they still couldn't tell if it was cancerous or not and sent her on her merry way with a clean bill of health.

Then a week later she got a call with the news that they discovered it, in fact, was cancer.

Rarely fatal. If spread will most likely be in the lungs and bones.

She will go in tomorrow to have the whole thyroid removed and have radioactive iodine run through her body for 3 days to kill off the cancer cells. Then she'll be beat for a long time...

Its such a pain in the butt, she already deals with debilitating arthritis and fatigue. I think her body is kind of a jerk sometimes.

We've had a lot of people reaching out with support and prayers, i'm so thankful for these great people.

Cross your fingers with me while she heals!

Potty Training Boot Camp

Instead of listing all the many, many, many things we got for christmas, or posting about how I lasted until the late party hour of 9 on new years- I think i'll post about the thing that has taken up soooo much more of my time lately.

For the past couple of weeks Kenley has been showing tons of signs that she is ready for potty training; Telling me when she pees or poops, tries to sit on the little potty chair, tries to pull her pants down to pee in potty, watching me very interested when I pee (a little creepy, but i hear it helps?) Etc, Etc...
And somebody at every turn lending me advice (well meaning, albeit unsolicited) about how she's ready and "You know what you should do...." and "The sooner the better..."
So naturally I started feeling like a terrible mom for not potty training her sooner! How could I miss the signs!!
So I read up on the best techniques and asked friends, and decided to set the potty date!
I had the week after christmas off work so the timing was perfect!
I started by introducing the potty, having her sit on it clothed and get excited about it, reading books about the potty and watching movies about the potty.
A few days of this and we were all set with the regimen.

Day one-
We hunkered down in the kitchen so I could leave her bare bottomed to learn to notice when she pees.
This day sucked.
A lot.
I didn't even have time to shower.
But I had high hopes of progress!

Day two-
Still bare bottomed, we ventured hand in hand out of the kitchen to the bathroom.
She seemed to be understanding that Pee-pee doesn't go on the floor, although she couldn't quite hold it, but would just say "Uh ooooh" right before the warm yellow stream made its appearance.
I was able to trick her several times into going pee with the potty chair on the counter in the bathroom, the water running, while she played with the water.
We would scream, dance, clap, brush our teeth (she loves it) every time she pottied.
She's gonna get it!
The trip in the afternoon to see if she would keep her pants dry was a bust, but I still felt pretty good about it.

Day three-
About the same as day 2.
Only she would say "Pee pee!" So we'd rush to the potty she would plop down for 30 seconds, sing a song, then jump up clapping and shouting "Yaaayy!" as the dribble she just began pours all over the floor.
So in my mind, she's getting it right? (even though i'm slowly losing my mind, and have you noticed the word "Potty" has lost all meaning?)

Day four-
Better!
She even tells me when she needs to poop.
I have by this time learned the subtle body language telling me she's ready to potty.

Day five-
Same as day four, but i've realized there's no helping the little dribble preceding each pee.
Our trips come back with dry pants, HOORAY!
Uses the potty happily and tells me about 70% of the time when she needs to.
But I cave and buy pull-ups since she'll be going back to daycare and I don't want poor Tiffany to deal with pee all over her floors.

Day six-
Potty training... what potty training???
She refuses to use the potty or even sit on it clothed!!
She went back to daycare and (I guess) decided the big girl potty is not cool.
I don't blame Tiffany at all, there are just too many fun things to play with.

Since its counterproductive, we're not fighting Kenley on this. It frustrates me so much to have gotten so good, only to lose all momentum!
But we'll give it a bit, not push it, and try again when she starts asking to again.

Sigh... so close
By the way, I will be shampooing all the carpeted areas in our home.

Tis the season

I haven't been very good at updating the blog lately, so let me try to catch up a little bit.
We went to see Santa at the festival of trees. I was a little worried that Kenley wouldn't want anything to do with him so I warmed her up to the idea by showing her Santa on the computer and we practiced telling him that she wanted a Dolly.
She LOVED him!! She was all smiles and even giggled when she saw him.
When Santa asked her what she wanted she said "Dawee puhweez!" and when she was given a candy cane -"Dank-oo".
I was so proud!!
Then she proceeded to destroy said candy cane, as well as her white top. (Thank goodness for Shout)




She's growing up so fast! It's so much fun!
She's reaching her "Terrible twos" and is becoming more independent.
Sassy pants tells me "No!" and "Top!" (Stop) regularly.
She's a really good eater, i'm amazed at the amount of food this dainty girl can put away.
She rambles on and on with stories that must be amazing, i just cant understand her. (I think she's speaking Chinese, yep that must be it)
She's learned to open and start the dishwasher.
She'll throw her toys out of their basket only to sing the clean-up song and put them back. She bobs around singing "Mean-up, mean-up, mean-up".
Elmo is her most favorite thing. She will dance around excitedly when he's on TV and yell "EHMOO! EHMOO!"
I'm amazed when she recognizes that little monster character everywhere. Even in the most abstract displays of him!
She's in a "baby-loving" stage, she wants to hug and kiss all the babies she sees :) Which naturally prompts many a cheek smooch from me, she puts up with it.

I will be posting again soon about all the toys she will be spoiled with this christmas! We actually have to move around some furniture to make room for all of it!
Lucky girl :)

Giving Thanks

I feel like a blog post isn't complete without a picture, so here's Kenley playing in the snow for the first time this year:

She calls it "Nooowuh" in a reverent sort of way.

Isn't she beautiful?!

It's that time of year again when I really need to acknowledge all of my many blessings.

And there are a LOT to mention:

Discovering the cause of my migraines, and fixing it!

Boots

The fact that our cars have lasted as long as they have

Elmo

Discount supplements

Having so much family living so close

Heated seats

Part time work!

Awesome day care

Big hugs and kisses from Kenley

Time for my projects

Learning new and convenient technology

Temples all around

My sweet baby to share everything with

My man-child to make things more fun

Now i'm going to go eat my weight in mashed potatoes and then pass out in a turkey coma.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Pa-weees!

This Halloween, we took Kenley trick-or-treating for the first time. She still didn't quite understand what was going on, so we only took her to about 5 houses.

She insisted on holding onto a piece of candy in one hand, and one of our hands in the other.

We practiced ahead of time saying "Trick or treat" and "Thank you".

She was really good about saying "Pa-weees!" every time.

But once that door would open, she would freeze up, and say "Thank you" when the door was safely closed again.

Kenley thought each time she had to trade her candy for a new piece, so she would put the piece that was in her hand in the dish before picking a new one.

My dad came over to take Kenley around his office and he had white paint all over his bald head and face. Kenley heard her "Buhpa" and got excited, but once she saw him she refused to leave the safety of my legs.

She was totally fearless with all the scary stuff going on and would only look a little confused.

I think we had more fun showing off our cute baby rainbow bear than it was for Kenley.

She was the cutest plush-cheeked baby girl i've ever seen!

Punkin

Today we went to the pumpkin patch.

It was gloooorious!

Kenley thought all the pumpkins were seats.

There was a pit full of corn for kids to play in.

(And adults in touch with their inner child)

Aunt Kari and uncle Jonathan came too

A small zoo-like area was amazing to Kenley! The giant pig was making all sorts of crazy noises.

It was super fun

Love-fest

BJ has been kind enough to bring it to my attention that I am totally, completely and disgustingly in love with my baby girl.

But, how can you not be? I mean, look at this girl!! She's awesome!!

Haunted hay ride with creepy noises? No problem!

Ask me what a chicken says. I dare you. "Bawk bawk bawk!"

Then i'll giggle, cause I know i'm hilarious.

Lolli and Kenley, BFF's

A swing is called "Wwweeeee!!"

Touchdown!!

We're number 1!!

................

I rest my case.

Zzoooo!!

Earlier this week it snowed... snowed!! And I panicked that I wasn't going to be able to go to the zoo this year.

So we packed up the car with coats and blankets, put on our warm hats and went to see the chilly animals.

Uncle Evan had his own stroller to push.

And yes. We played chicken.

Kenley ran all over that place and was amazed with the giraffes.

(See above right face for said amazement)

There was an exhibit of paintings done by the monkeys at the zoo.

Kenley ran her little self into exhaustion! She slept sweetly through all the noise, and transitions from stroller-to-car and carseat-to-crib.

On a side note......

I had thought that having my own baby would lessen some of my baby crazies.

But it has, in fact, gotten much worse.

Having my own sweet baby (especially such a healthy, lovey, giggling, cuteness smuggler) has turned me into mush.

I swoon over squishy babies.

I squeal in a high pitched baby voice over amazing stunts, like.... rolling over.

It's actually very annoying. My friend Shmeg even makes fun of me... which, if you know her, means i'm pretty ridiculous.

Also, Kenley is in the "Baby loving" phase. She sweetly says "Baby!" and wants to touch every baby she sees, everywhere we go.

Which of course I love, (because how cute can she get?!) and makes my baby-craze soooo much worse.......

Please forgive me when i tell you for the tenth time how adorable/sweet/smart your baby is..... I think it's a sickness, really.

Plus, your baby is really cute.

Paragliding

Ever since the first time I saw those colorful parachutes at point of the mountain, i've imagined what it would be like if I ever got up the guts to do it.

And it was so much more fun than I imagined!

Here's BJ taking off.

It's the coolest sensation to just float up off the ground!

I really wanted a picture of me up in the air but I had the camera in my pocket, this was the best I could do.

(My instructor strapped to my back laughed at me when I said that "I shoulda worn cuter shoes")

I'm mildly terrified of heights and was more than a little nervous. I was afraid I would feel like I was constantly falling, but we just floated along at a surprising speed.

It was heavenly.

BJ's instructor was really funny, and did some tricks that woulda made me puke.

I asked him how he liked having a guy straddling him for a half hour.

He said: "I got his number. That's not weird, is it?"

Beyonce the metal chicken

For some reason, for the past week BJ has been irritating me more than he normally would.

I can't really put my finger on why every syllable he utters = nails on a chalk board.

A few things have just gotten under my skin more than they would normally.

Like those socks he tosses half-heartedly and lets lie next to the hamper.

Or yelling at the football/xbox game.

I promise i'm a really nice person and haven't snapped at him or been (very) irrational! And I can't be the only wife who (very rarely) feels like this???

But yesterday morning, after a week of feeling irritated, I had my boxing gloves ready for a fight, I just didn't know what it was about yet.

We were getting ready to head to a birthday party at chuck-E-cheese, and I had pulled out clothes for Kenley.

After her bath, to my delight, BJ dutifully took her to get dressed. I walked into the living room to find them in matching outfits, with the clothes I had set out still resting on the arm of the couch.

They were in matching football jerseys.

I promptly threw a fit and demanded she be changed into the clothes I had sanctioned acceptable for our outing.

To which BJ responded by smugly snapping the final button in place on her top.

So naturally, this propelled me into a rage.

(Because who wouldn't be pissed that a loving husband got their toddler in clean clothes that would probably only stay that way for another hour at best??)

I stomped away to finish getting myself dressed and fumed for a few minutes.

That's when I heard the shower.

It was my chance!

I rushed into the living room and coaxed Kenley to let me re-dress her.

When i was done, I hid the mini jersey.

Yep.... really did hide it like a little kid.

I all but stuck my tongue out at BJ when he saw what she was wearing.

I got the cold-shoulder all the way to chuck-e-cheese, and I sat silently listing reasons why I was right and justified in my behavior.

But I couldn't really come up with a good reason why to get into a fight over it. I suddenly felt really dumb, childish, and ridiculous!

And I actually started laughing! Cracking up that THIS was the biggest problem in my life right now, and I had created it!

BJ looked sideways at me, i'm sure wondering if his wife had completely lost it, and tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

I apologized and explained, and lost all feelings of irritation. (At least til my blood sugar dipped again)

I hope next time I wont be so bull-headedly stubborn and pick my battles a little better.

While thinking about picking my battles, I came across this story that made me pee-laugh cause it sounds like a fight we had a few months back about toilet paper :)

Hey, at least I didn't put a giant metal chicken in your way!