The Attitude

That attitude...I mean seriously, Lord help us with this child! Ha! I can't say too much because, after all, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. But good gracious, she's only 4 and it's already begun! I can remember several hundred times when I shouted "fine" at my parents (because I had to have the last word, of course!) then stomped up the stairs and slammed my door. Today history repeated itself in my front yard! MG was arguing and just determined to get her way. I was just as determined and a stop to it so she shouted "fine" and stomped off. If only we'd had a set of stairs it would have been perfect! Ha! Not really. I'm actually very grateful there are no steps for her to pound her feet up!

I also got the "you're so stupid, you have no idea what you're talking about" eye roll today! Yes, that happened, too! Yay me, what a fabulous day in the world of parenting a sassy diva! The look on her face was actually ... dare I say it ... embarrassment! Could she already be embarrassed of her mother?! Surely not! I'm serious, we need some prayers over here!

Lucky for us, the attitude only comes out for special occasions and the rest of the time I get my sweet little girl who thinks I'm the greatest ever (really, she told me so!). The one who loves to bless people's hearts and kiss their forehead. The tender soul who always comes back 2 minutes later to say "I'm sorry for being mean, Momma".

I can take the attitude and smart mouth as long as that tender, compassionate soul always outshines the sass!

From the Mouths of Babes...

"If you're gonna lay in my bed, you gotta quit snoring!"

"Daddy toots in my room, he snores in yours and he's too loud in here...and he's bossy!"

Time Flies

It's been 2 months since my last post. In the big picture, that doesn't seem like long, but when you're watching your little girl grow and change daily, a lot can happen! I hardly even recognize my child anymore - in a good way! I'm just in awe of the changes and the progress that we're seeing every.single.day! She still struggles, we still struggle, but it's so much easier and smoother than it used to be. She's taking a summer break from OT. Her last session was last week. her regular therapist had to be out so she was working with another very sweet lady who she sees in there every week. It didn't go over well with her (change is NOT easy for her!), but she didn't scream and cry and hide under chairs like she would have 6 months ago! She got very quiet, begged to go home, held onto my leg and kept following me out, then cried for less than 2 minutes when I finally just shut the door and walked out. Not ideal, but still 110 times easier than what it used to be.

Last week we went to a Jamberry Nails party at Kristi's house. That night I was in absolute amazement over my child! She spoke to people, she played in the back room with another little girl - without me being in there with her! She even begged me to let her go with Kristi's husband to walk the dog around the block. Who is this girl?! Ha!

Let's see...what else can I brag on? She's been to bible school the past 2 mornings and had a fabulous time. Mom is in her room which helps a lot, but she said Monday she was so social and playing with everyone. Today she had a meltdown when I dropped her off and clung to mom for the first little bit, but once she adjusted had a great time.

Just hearing her talk is crazy to me. She doesn't talk like a little girl, it's like having a conversation with a 13 year old! It's entertaining, but at the same time I hate it!! I want her to slow down on growing up, not speed it up and skip steps! The other day she told me to "suit yourself"! She also told me that when I die I can go live with God in Heaven OR Jamey can kiss me and wake me up! There's just no telling what's going to come out of her mouth! I love it!

Little Water Bug

2 years ago MG loved the water! She was fearless and swam all by herself - even in the lake!

Last year she loved it, as long as her feet could touch and we were holding on to her. She refused to swim by herself and you can forget putting her face in the water.

I had no idea what to expect from this summer. She shocked us, though! The other night in the bathtub she decided to put her entire head under water, holding her nose. She kept doing that every single night in the tub - even begged to take baths each night just so she could! This week in the pool she had a blast going under water and "swimming" on her own. Then all of a sudden she decided to go under without holding her nose. It was crazy! It's like she just all of a sudden had the urge to be fearless again. Then she started kicking her feet, opening her eyes under water and just took off! She finally shares my love for the water! Yay! And just in time for vacation!

Pics coming soon...they're on Jamey's phone!

Status Updates

I'm always posting quick status updates of funny things MG has said. I don't want to forget them, but I don't always have time to log in to this and blog about it. Since we're iced in for the 2nd day in a row (and out again tomorrow) I thought I'd take time to go back through FB and copy/paste the best Molly-isms!

This is someone else's post about MG - it confirms her obsession with Frozen (which we have watched 8 times since Sunday night!) Sheila Conkling posted to‎Beth Lossing Thornton about an hour ago someone posted a Jimmy Fallon video of a group singing "Let It Go". When I clicked on it and they started singing I said to Bryan, this is supposed to be funny but I don't know what they're singing. Heath came running over and said they're singing, "Let It Go". I told him he was right and asked him how he knew. He said, "it's Molly Graces' favorite song." lol

Today Me: Are you going to be mean today? MG: What day is today?

MG wants to go play in the "snow"...she promises she'll wear her panties so she won't be cold!!

Molly Grace just prayed that nobody would talk to her at church tomorrow!

Easter

Happy Easter! Easter is my absolute favorite holiday. It's just such a happy, powerful day. I mean, Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for ME! What's not to celebrate?!

We had a great day celebrating. We talk about the real reason for Easter and we know what's important, but we still have some Easter Bunny fun, too! Last night at bedtime, MG informed me that her teacher told her that the Easter Bunny hides eggs...Dang! So I went to get some eggs, dug up some spare change and hid them for her to wake up to. When she woke up and came in our bedroom she said "the Bunny did hide eggs...see, I told you!" Ha!

We had a great morning at church. I always love the songs on Easter. The best part of the service was that Molly Grace started asking questions. She was actually hearing what the pastor was saying and asking questions. YES! And of course she looked so stinkin' cute!

After church we headed over to mom and dad's. We had a yummy lunch, the kids opened their baskets from Granny and Pap, we hunted eggs, then just sat outside and visited - perfect day!!

We've spent the last week reading the Easter story and talking about the real meaning. I want Molly Grace to know and understand the reason behind each holiday. It's so important to me that she knows what Jesus did for us. We've been talking about our sins and Jesus dying on the cross for HER. She's really been into it. I've been asking her everyday "what is the most important part of Easter?" and she always yells back "JESUS is ALIVE!!!!".

Time for a Check-up

All I can think about is the Doc McStuffin's theme song when I type that! Anyway, MG had her 4 year old check up today (still can't really believe it's time for that)! It went about like I expected. She refused to go through the door - so I had to carry her back. She wouldn't get up on the scale - so I had to put her up there and let go really quick...twice! She was not all about finding out how tall she is - I had to push her against the wall and hold her while the poor, sweet nurse did her best to get a measurement. And that was all before we even got into the room! They tried to do an eye test - just telling what the pictures are. She flat out refused. Turned her head and wouldn't even look at the chart or the nurse, much less speak. The nurse tried to do a hearing test. She showed MG the instrument. All it was was a little earphone - I even told her it was just like her headphones. She stuck her fingers in her ears so hard that her face and hands turned red. The nurse and I were both trying to pull her hand away and couldn't. I'm not making this up!

It looked hopeful for a minute or 2 while the nurse took her blood pressure and listened to her heart. MG sat up there like a big girl. She helped hold the blood pressure thingy for the nurse and let her hear her heart. I had hope... Then the doctor (actually APN - who we love) came in and all hope was lost! The good news - her strawberry is so flat and light now that Ms. Amy couldn't believe it! She said hers is a "textbook" case and will probably take care of itself. Her tubes are both still in - Hallelujah! Tubes have never lasted this long! Over a year now. Wow! Her height and weight are good - 80% for weight and 99% for height. She's going to be our little basketball player!

I had a long chat with the APN about behaviors and she suggested immediate time out for fits/meltdowns. She also suggested a positive behavior chart for the things we want her to improve on - answering questions, talking to others, not being carried, etc. It was hard to hear, sort of, but I know she's right. Because of her SPD, we tend to not push her to talk or do things that might cause a meltdown because, let's be honest, who wants a meltdown if it can be helped! But it's time. I hate it, but it's time! SPD cannot be a crutch and it can't be an excuse. Bleh! Amy was happy to hear that she's in OT and being seen by a behavior therapist. She is very confident that we'll see a big change in her once she starts Pre-K full time. I hope so. But man-alive does it terrify me to send her somewhere!!

As for the rest of the check-up, MG sat on my lap and flat out refused to answer any questions Amy asked her or even look up, really. I had to vouch for the fact that she knows her shapes, colors, abcs and can right her name! Geez! And then came the shots. Oh my goodness was it horrible! First was the flu mist - I thought that one would go smoother than it did. I was wrong! I had to hold her head and hands. Then came the shots. I've heard her scream loudly before, but today she broke out a whole new set of lungs!

We survived, though, and that's all that matters!