Really, Could He Be Any Cuter?!

Mandy Smith: Poop Detective

For those of you with a weak stomach, you might want to skip this post. But if you're feeling brave, read on... Since I have become a mother, I feel as though I have a new title: Poop Detective. Before I had a baby, no one told me I would have to be on the look-out for appropriate colored poop. If it's yellow and seedy everything is going well, if it's green, he's not eating for long enough, if it's watery, he has diarrhea. So, every diaper change, I find myself inspecting my son's poop, making sure his output is consistent with his input. It's easy to drive myself crazy, wondering: "Is this the right shade of yellow? Is it too runny? Not runny enough? How green is green? How much do I need to worry if it is green?" And so on, and so forth. It's an amusing aspect to motherhood, one I didn't anticipate, and yet one I spend a lot of time doing. And as if that wasn't bad enough, I find poop in places I never would have suspected. I mean, really, how did he get it on his foot? Or that far up his back? Wait a minute, what's that on my finger...
Mandy <><

Walking Around

James decided he wanted to practice walking, so we figured what better shoes to learn in than Mommy's flip-flops!!

I'm ready for my close-up...

Aren't they cute?! I think James was getting a little bit tired of the paparazzi by the end though.

Are you ready for some football?

The rivalry has already begun!! But it looks like they'll still be able to be friends...except for those two games a year :)

Almost Done

New Drywall

New Carpet

Now we just have to move the furniture back...

To Bee Or Not To Bee

The professionals came to return our basement to its pre-flood condition this week. I was very excited to have my basement living space back. But God sent me another little reminder to rely on him and not on my basement - He sent me a bee. More than one, actually. After Brandon pulled up the carpet in our guest room, he apparently uncovered a hole to the outside and we ended up hosting a bumblebee party. When I was showing the trim guy around we realized that there were probably at least a dozen bees hanging out in the bedroom. Luckily they weren't aggressive, so we just shut the door while Mom and I worked out a plan. She went to the store and soon after returned to the guest room armed with a fly swatter and a can of bug spray. She killed all of them, and any that came later died from bug spray inhalation. Brandon sealed the passageway they had found and hung a bee killing device outside. The carpet has been laid and the problem taken care of (so those of you who are planning a visit, don't worry). As Mom ran to the store for supplies I couldn't help but think, "I can't believe the very day we're getting the basement fixed we find another problem." But I realized, again, that things like houses aren't what's important and I can't make my basement be where my treasure lies. Such a small insect - such an important lesson.
Mandy <><