The Bean vs. the Cupcake!

This past weekend, we celebrated Bean's 1st Birthday! It was a fun time shared by all the family.

I learned 2 things from this party experience. One, don't get between a group of ankle biters and a display of cupcakes. You will lose everytime!!! Two, I have no clue about giving a party. LOL Mainly my problem is that I don't have any idea how much food to buy. I had so much food left over that we will be eating quesadillas and english muffin pizzas until the next birthday. Ughh.

See, I grew up with just me and my mom and dad. Sure we had big old family gatherings at my Granny's but I wasn't in charge of anything. I just ate! So now, my feeble brain can't figure out the food equations. If you invite 30 people, then you should have, what, 6 dozen english muffins for the pizzas??? I couldn't wrap my brain around it. So next year...I will enlist the help of more seasoned party professionals, my in-laws! They have parties and friends and food and all that junk so they should be able to help me figure it out.

But nonetheless, we had a great time! Bean got her very own cupcake, the Colossal Cupcake from Kroger. She dug right into it and loved it UNTIL...she realized she could no longer see her own fingers. She has a "thing" about her hands. Don't try to hold them and don't let them get messy or...YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT IT!!!

Here are some pictures from the Battle of the Cupcake. The Bean went in swinging, took down her competitor and came out the victor!!!

The battle begins!!!





THIS. IS. THE. BEAN!!!"

And now we have...thrush!

Well, had to take the Beaner back to the doctor one more time.  They should just build a drivethrough for us, I think.  First it was an ear infection, then it was a horrible rash, then ear infection again, now we have thrush.  Do you know what thrush is????  I didn't.

Basically, it's a yeast infection of the mouth.   One way you can get it is from taking antibiotics.  It is pretty gross to look in her mouth and see all this white gunk all over her tongue and cheeks.  And she hasn't wanted to eat or drink much.  She's just been pitiful.

So now's she's on another drug and fights me every time I try to give it to her.  I dread it.  She has to be tired of taking medicine and feeling puny.  I hope that she is better by her birthday next week.

Happy 2009!!!

Even though I'm 5 days late, I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year!  With the exception of Bean's birth, not much else was that great about 2008, unless you consider the ability to get up each morning and work and spend time with family and friends great - which I do or try to do but it seems like sometimes we all forget that sentiment.

I figure that as long as I have a job, I'm doing pretty good because there are some many out there that don't and can't support themselves or their families.  I figure as long as I can walk without pain or very heavy breathing, that I will park farther away from storefronts and maybe, just maybe, that will open up a space for someone else that has a hard time getting around.  I figure that as long as I am not going back and forth to doctors each week, I'll try not to complain when I have to go for a cold here and there.

These are all the things I think.  Makes me sound like a saint, right???  Well, just because I think them doesn't mean I always LIVE them.  I complain about having to pay $30 each and every time Bean has to go back to her doctor for a "re-check" on her ear infections or whatever.  I forget that I should be grateful that I have the $30 (even though sometimes I worry about coming up with it) or I should be grateful that it's only an ear infection and I'm not having to find a cardiologist for my daughter like I overheard another mommy having to do the last time we were at the pediatricians.  I grumble about the fact that I am cold and I turn up the heat at home to a setting that I know is not good for the environment, our electric bill or our checkbook.  I forget there are people out there with no home, no heater or no coat to keep them warm.

I hope that in 2009, I will think before I grumble, rant, rave, act a fool, whatever.  I know that I am a very lucky girl and that I have a LOT to be grateful for and I will try to remember it.  Happy 2009!