Beach Trip (Mom's Camera!)

Ready to go now!

Please Dad! 

Seriously, I will be good in the car. Let's go! 

Jumping on the Hotel Bed...

Needing a break after all that jumping! 

We had gone out to lunch and dinner and both restuarants did not have fruit . All she wanted was fruit and we eventually just stopped at Chick-fil-A. 

And a milkshake! 

After the beach. 

Begging to go back to the beach please!

Her shorts were FILLED with sand! 

Hair Cut!

Before

Before (apparently Curious George is really fun!)

After:  goodbye dead ends and tangles!

After: Curious George is still really fun! 

Pray for Dad

James has been passively looking for a new job. So at night we have been praying with Lydia that Mom and Dad can make a good decision for Dad's job. To be honest, we haven't talked allot to her about a possible new job (she is 2 - really not very important to her!) but we have prayed with her.

When James has been on an interview, Lydia and I would pray for him. Once again, I didn't really think she was paying attention. Infact often times in her 2 year old moods, she would lay on the floor and have a fit but...

James got a new job and he is quite excited. As James was telling Lydia about his new job, it did not really seem like she cared. Dad is still leaving every morning and he will be back to play in the evening. OK DAD! That night when we prayed we thanked God for the new job. Once again, no emotion from the toddler.

Then the next day, all the dots connected in the toddler's head. She told me multiple times "prayed Dad" and then shaking her head and in an excited dramatic dance "YEA God". Time will tell if she actually understands new job (I sincerely doubt that she does!) but she does understand that God did something good for her Dad.

Its Official!

It's official. Lydia is no longer allergic to peanuts! James and I were thinking that there was a chance that she was no longer allergic to peanuts. We were thinking maybe we have just become better at avoiding peanuts, washing our hands, etc... or if maybe she was one of the very few that actually outgrow allergies. 

Getting ready! 

Ofcourse Lydia could not touch her back but she NEEDED to know what was happening. So I took pictures. On your right is the positive and negative histamine. Your top left thankfully not visible is the first peanut skin test. Your bottom left also still not visible is the second peanut skin test. 

Starting the oral food challenge - she was quite excited to send her Dad a message on her phone! 

In the process of the oral food challenge (it was lunch time!). 

24 hours after the oral food challenge (which is misery at lunch/nap time in a doctor's exam room with a newly potty trained little girl) no reaction to the 2.5tbs of peanut butter that she ate! 

Initially James and I were very excited on this new lease on life. We had grand plans of taking her for dessert and to peanut laden restaurants. I have a cookie recipe that I received a year ago, for whatever reason I have kept the recipe thinking to myself "maybe". After the initial excitement we realized that is a very scary thing to do (we have spent the past 14 months avoiding all things peanut and to just start feeding our daughter peanuts - well it is a little nerve racking). So we will face our fears and have a peanut butter sandwich next week with Lydia but for today I think we will just look at the yummy cookie recipe, keep her labeled as "peanut allergy" at church for a couple more weeks, and  push our peanut butter sandwich lunch off until next week. James and I need to be more mentally prepared ;) 

All that aside, peanut allergy or not, we are very fortunate and thankful to have a very healthy and happy little girl.

Probably No

Lydia received an opportunity to go to a music class. I read about the music class and thought "oh, Lydia would LOVE this class". And then I read the time - 11AM. Oh my! That is Lydia's scheduled melt down. Every day. I can set my watch by this melt down (the only way we can avoid the melt down is if we are at home and reading books or doing another very calm activity).

After thinking about it I decided Lydia is getting older and able to make more choices. So I will just ask her what she thinks about doing a music class with her friends right before lunch.

I showed Lydia the class information and talked to her about what the class would be like. Told her which friends might be there. Yes, she would like to take the class. (DUH - I already knew the answer to that question!).

Then I told Lydia that the class is right before lunch and she would need to listen and obey the teacher AND Mom. I asked her if she thought she could listen and obey before lunch. Lydia stopped to think a minute and I could see her really considering this. Then the answer: head shaking no, eyebrows arched, and I was informed "probably no".

With a response like that I think we will wait a couple more months (and continue to work on making good choices with the 11AM hour!) before trying a lunch time activity that doesn't involve food!

Allergist Visit

This week Lydia has her one year check-up with the allergist. Last year she slept through the appointment and this year I seriously doubt I will be that lucky (but maybe!).

She seems excited and does a little prance around the house about going to visit the allergist. She can repeat all the things I have told her about the visit. "Clean my back. Put special medicine on my back. Watch MOVIES!"

Loaded with new apps on the phone for Lydia, favorite bear, busy bags, snack, and a good attitude we are marching off to the allergist in the morning!

All THIS Going On Inside Your Head???

I am very curious if this little girl's brain was as busy as her mouth currently is a year ago. May have relieved us of allot of whining!

While running errands and needing a mental break from the constant chatter I quit responding and just listened to this little girl...

Lydia: One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three.
Good job, Lydia.
One, two, three, FOUR! One, two, three, FOUR! One, two, three, FOUR! One, two, three, FOUR! One, two, three, FOUR!
Fantastic Lydia.
One, two, three, four, FIVE! One, two, three, four, FIVE! One, two, three, four, FIVE! One, two, three, four, FIVE!
Way to go Lydia.

Why do I need to praise her - looks like her self esteem is just fine and she can take over praising herself... Silly girl! We finally arrived at our destination. 

Lydia: Cry say please. Cry say please. Cry say please. Babies cry. Lydia big girl. Cry say please.
Mom: continues to just listen but very puzzled and confused.
Lydia: cry say please. Cry say please. "Drink please mom"
Mom: Sure Lydia. Hand her the drink.
Lydia. Thank you. Good job no cry. Lydia big girl.
Mom: Congrats. That was a good choice. (Silently thinking to myself - oh, you are way too smart and I am remembering this conversation!)

We finally arrive at stop number 2.

Mom: Let's go home.
Lydia: See Dad.
Mom: Yes!
Lydia. Pillow fight Dad. Hug Dad. Hold tight. Love Dad. Pillow fight Dad. Pillow fight. Lydia tick (i.e. tickle!). Pillow fight. Pillow fight. Pillow fight. Love pillow fight.

Thankfully we were close to home because I am not sure that the car could have withstand the giggles and flailing arms much longer ;)