no no no no no no no!!!

How many times a day can I say "no"? How many different ways can I say "no"? How many times a day can I say "no" in all the many different ways you can say "no"???

?????????

It's a lot, I'm coming to find out.

No, you cannot play with cotton balls. No, you cannot jump on the couch. No, you aren't allowed to drink four Kool-Aid juice packs back-to-back. No, you need to stop letting the dog lick you in mouth. No, you can't climb up there. No, we're not watching Nick Jr. anymore. No, you can't eat that. No, don't play with that. No, don't stick that in there. No, stop crying. No, I said "no". NO! NO! NO!

I mean, seriously - I'm not a negative person. I'm a happy, upbeat, optimistic kind of gal. But when I spend half my day saying "no" over and over again, I feel beat down. I feel like I'm nagging. Like, maybe I should just let her find out the hard way some things for herself.

Okay, you can play with those scissors but when you cut your hair or finger off, don't come crying to me. (Note: I'd never do that, but you catch my drift)

I'm trying to find alternatives to the word "no" but it's hard. There's nothing really as direct and commanding as those two little letters.

(Note: Just as I was typing this, Sidney was jumping on the couch and hurt her leg. I've only told her to stop doing that about 20,340 times this morning)

I want the words "no" to mean something, to have some real power behind them. But I feel like they're losing their importance to her. I need to find a new word, a new phrase to stop her in her tracks and let her know I mean business. How do you stop your kids from doing things they shouldn't be doing?

Do you ever feel like you're a "no" person when you want to be a "yes" person?

birthday wish list

No, not for Sidney! For yours truly...

I know my birthday is after hers, but I still felt like putting together a little birthday wish-list of pretty things I wouldn't mind getting this September 28th!

Diana F+ CMYK camera kit

happy birthday nail polish

double pocket Julie bag

Penguin Couple Mary Jane Shoes

Striped Knit Cardigan

Porch Parties: Cocktail Recipe Book

my man's best friend

I took that photo Tuesday evening.

Wednesday evening he was gone. Dozer - my husband's dog. The dog he had for nearly seventeen years. His best friend.

When Justin talks about him, it's equal parts love and equal parts aggravation. Apparently, Dozer was a pain in the ass in their younger years. I only knew him in his olden days. He had almost completely quit chasing cars by the time I came around seven years ago. He was an old man, body weakened but spirit intact.

It's hard - I don't know what to say to Justin other than "I'm sorry". Sometimes he wants to talk about him, and other times he doesn't want to think about him. I know how he feels, even though I don't want to. It's surreal how attached we humans can become to our pets, our dogs - there's a reason they're called "man's best friend".

Dozer was an incredible dog, and he'll be missed. Everyone in this family loved him. Everyone of us will miss him. He can't be replaced. Not that we'd ever try to. Not that we'd ever want to.

play, have fun, rinse and repeat

Sometimes she's a good kid and lets me photograph her while playing outside. And sometimes the photos I get are good enough to make me cry and smile all at the same time.

She's getting so big, that kid of mine. That silly, beautiful, vivacious, active, almost 3-year-old of mine.

face of my facebook (now with fixed link!)

I've had my same Facebook account for four years (technically, this December will be four years). And today I got a little sentimental going back and looking at the 120+ profile images I've had over these past four years.
And since I'm feeling sentimental (and I don't have extra time/effort to post anything of real meat or merit), I'm going to share these past four years on Facebook profile pictures with YOU!


2006

Justin looks hairy; I look scary

2007

What you can't see is the big belly underneath!

There's the baby belly!!!

Sidney's first Christmas (on facebook)

2008

The dream job I always wanted in school (movie-rental store? wtf!) and then only kept for about three months, ha!

Kissin' cousins?! more like inappropriately touching cousins (I joke, I joke) Dobby & I are just very comfortable with each other..wait, that still sounds perverted! dammit! YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, RIGHT?

In this town, you gotta be willing to kiss a little ass (jackass, that is)

Our first Halloween spent together - and that lemon lollipop is all SidMo ate all day and/or night!

2009

This makes me miss my long hair...sort of.

The most beautiful sleeping babe...ever

Y'all know what that is!

2010

Turkey leg = GREATEST FOOD EVER

Back in the snow that never went away - all winter long!

Summer '10 - it's been blissful thus far...

So yeah, I'm one of these people that could never delete my Facebook. There are too many memories, too many pictures (that I don't have saved to backup yet) and to even think of getting rid of them makes me very sad.

And because I love you (and trust most of you) here's the link to my Facebook page. If I know you as a faithful blog friend, I'll add you. If not, sorry Charlie.