...with Noah and Brooklynn

Lately I have been doing my cousin a favor and occasionally watched her two children. It's been a very interesting a fun couple of weeks for me. (I've totaled about 4 babysitting days now in the past two weeks)

The first day I had them was last Wednesday. I agreed to it before I realized Angel had T-ball practice that night. Once Angel got off the bus I decided to take the kids to the park and then we could all go to practice. I got in the car only to realize I had no gas and no way to pay for it other than a check. This was not that big of a deal. It only meant I'd have to drive about 5-10minutes out of the way to get to the gas station that took checks.

On the way to the gas station I noticed Brooklynn climbing out of her car seat. I must point out that I had to wash this car seat earlier and I apparently didn't put it back together right! We got to the gas station and I had to pull her out, sit her down in the drivers seat and take apart and re-put back together the car seat. Meanwhile Noah has taken off his seat belt and is walking around the inside of my car Yelling to me "Can I get out? Can I help?". Abigail has decided this would be a good time to scream at the top of her lungs, so Angel has her ears covered rocking back and forth in her seat. Did I mention Brooklynn had figured out how to honk the horn?

Once I got the seat fixed and figured out I grabbed all 4 children ages 6, 3, 1, and 1 and we headed towards to entrance of the gas station. While inside they each wanted a drink. I figured since we were going to the park it might be a good idea, so I took these 4 young children all through the store in search of the children's drinks which they had moved since last time so they were hard to find! I also remembered I was out of milk.

We then made our way to the counter. I got their drinks, a gallon of milk, and my gas and explained that I'd be back for the drinks and milk once I'd safely buckled my children. Unfortunately I still had to attach Brooklynn's seat and it just happen to be in the middle in between Noah's car seat and Abigail's. Somehow after 15 minutes of working with everything while the three youngest were running around the inside of my car I manged to get everything in a working order and all children buckled. The cashier was nice enough to bring me the drinks and even help open them all while I pumped! 45 minutes later we headed for the park. We got there just in time to go to T-ball practice!

Luckily I have great patience when it comes to young children because despite the fact that my couch had now been peed on twice I agreed to watch them for two days again this week. Yesterday I took the kids to kidsfest at harborwalk. I had one baby strapped to my side and the other riding in the stroller with the older children holding onto each side. We only stayed there for an hour because there was nothing for the babies to do and all the fun stuff cost too much money at this free event.

Even though we went potty as soon as we got there and again just before we left... It seemed that no sooner than I started the car Noah screams "I have to go to the bathroom!!" "Well, Noah, you really do have to try and hold it."

I raced to Wal-Mart as best as I could without breaking any laws. We go inside head straight for the bathroom. "Do you need help, Noah?" I asked...

"No Ma'am." He says

It's quiet for a minute. Then he says "I pooped." Very calmly

"OK, are you done then?" I asked

"yeah, but I pooped on my underwear and on the floor"

I opened the bathroom stall and sure enough there is poop down his legs, on his shoes, underwear and all over the floor. "Noah?? What happened??" I asked

"I couldn't get my shirt off in time" He said

It slipped my mind that 3 year old boys like to get completely naked before pooping.

Once we got all that cleaned up as best we could, we picked up a few things and headed towards home... and just as soon as I started the car Noah screams "I have to pee!!"

"Noah! You were JUST in the bathroom!!"

"I have to pee real bad!"

"Well hold it and I'll find someplace as soon as I can!"

Grabbing himself with a look of concern Noah said "Yes ma'am"

I managed to find what looked like a closed business building with several trees. I parked in a way to where no one could see. Brooklynn had fallen asleep at this point and Angel was well on her way so I knew I couldn't take everyone out again. I figured this would be easiest. Noah took care of his business and we headed once again towards home.

After about 5 minutes of quiet Abigail started screaming. I'm driving and can't even try to reach a cup or mouth plug (pacifier). I find a parking lot and pull over. Noah screams "I have to pee!!!"

ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?

"Ok, Noah... go behind that dumpster"

"yes ma'am"

I find a mute button (pacifier) just as Noah climbed back in. Abigail quiets up. We cross over the 331 bridge and Noah screams "I have to pee!!!"

Wow... I wanted to make him wait but remember my poor couch I pulled over again and helped him to the edge of the woods. We got back in and soon Noah was fast asleep too. Even though I knew I'd be home in about 10 seconds I cranked up the music and kept driving...

Luckily this whole experience has helped Angel to understand what happens to baby boys...

They turn 3!

So instead of asking when she can get a baby brother she explains that we need to wait until Abigail grows up so that he won't be a bother to them...

In the Making

Due to the many request to see my progress as I go I decided to post my most recent work as I went on facebook. Here are the pictures of it from beginning to end... so here it is in a series of 10 images from beginning to end... the girl on a horse:

What's coming up!

I finally finished Vol. 5 of Teta's Adventures, which appears to be the last of the series. It's been really exciting to see my pictures in print like this. Angel claims that these books were written and illustrated just for her. As long as I live I plan to keep that idea in her head! I love it when she carries her copy of the book around saying "this is one of the books my mommy and her friend made just for me!" I'm really looking forward to getting started on some new books! I've decided that illustrating children's books is probably one of my most favorite things to do!

Right now I'm still working on a custom picture of the girl on the horse. I've got it all completely sketched out. Next I'll add the color. I try to make my custom pictures as realistic as possible without making them look too realistic. Sometimes I purposely leave out details so the picture doesn't look so much like the picture that it doesn't look I actually drew anything. I will be sure and post pictures once I've added color!

For all my girls...

Today was a very interesting day for me. To start with, last night, I had to work concession stand at the ball park so Angel and Abigail hung out at my brothers house. I was out way past their bed time. Abigail is usually in bed by 7pm, but last night she was up until after 10pm. Needless to say this morning she slept in.

She normally wakes up between 7:30-8am every morning, so at 9am I decided to check on her. I walked in and saw her eyes half open. As soon as she noticed me they were wide open and she jumped pointing to her cup I had in my hand saying "oohh oohh" I reached my hand out and said "Are you ready to get up?" On a normal morning Abigail would jump up and reach back for me. This morning, however, she shook her head, snatched her cup and curled up with her blanket, and it was right back off to dreamland for her.

I had made plans for my nieces to spend the night with me. I thought we'd make a trip to Destin and see what we could find to do down there. I knew Abrakadoodle had some things going on at Grand Boulevard between 10am-1pm that I thought might be fun. Once Cory came home I decided Angel and I should go get the girls while I let Abigail continue to sleep. I figured I'd pick her up on our way back through.

At 11:30 I was at Perry's house getting his kids. We chatted for a few minutes and then I headed back home. It was a nice day, so rather than have the air on I let the girls roll down the windows. A few miles passed Perry's house I all of a sudden heard a hissing sound. I thought nothing of it because I figured it was probably one of the floats in the back (We keep floats in the back of the car because you never know when you might go to the beach). Then I heard a loud "thump thump thump thump..." and could smell burnt rubber... I knew exactly what had happened! I immediately pulled over and sure enough.. there was a hole ripped right into my back tire. I called Perry and he came out and helped me put on the donut. By the time I got home it was now 12:30pm.

Abigail was still sleeping. I knew I would need to find a tire and we probably weren't going to make it to Destin, so we had some lunch instead. Abigail finally got up at 1pm and we set off for the DeFuniak Walmart. Once we got the tire taken care of we headed to the park. This park had a water splash area and even though we didn't come prepared to get wet... I of course let them!

Around 5pm we headed home. I had them strip down to almost nothing so my car wouldn't get too wet. We came home, had baths, and made dinner. Then I had them all set out clothes for tomorrow. After we ate and got everything cleaned up we all went to bed. It was now 7:30pm. About that time Cory was getting up to get ready for work. We all fell fast asleep...

Then at 11:30pm something woke me up... I got out of bed and checked on each of the four girls. They were all sleeping soundly. As I walked through the hall the thoughts crossed my mind.. as they often do.. "if something were to happen to Perry I'd be responsible for the well being of his children. Weather I were granted actual custody or not being their aunt and being my brother's sister, if anything were to happen to them I would absolutely be responsible for their well being."

I came back to my room and got in bed. I turned netflix onto my TV and watched a documentary called "Dear Zachary". I do not cry easily... period... I was once a very sensitive person, but through the years I've learned to keep that in and "toughen up". I suppose having 3 brothers can do that to a girl. This movie though... made me cry... hard... in part due to the story, but also in part due to the creators ability to make this story so real to me.

It's now 2:40am and I'm still awake. Partly because I'm still in awe of the movie. Partly thinking about my thoughts before the movie. Knowing how much I really love all those kids. Even my brother's children which I claim a stake in. They are mine.. as in they are MY nieces. Even more than that I really do love them as my children. I know my brother loves them too with all his heart, but knowing everything they've been though and how strong they've had to be I feel a particular need to make sure they are aware that they are very much loved, and are very important to me.

I never felt all that important as a child. I was unaware of how much love my parents had for me until I was an adult. I fear that same feeling for both mine and my brothers children. It's my goal that they know now and forever how much they are loved.

Getting my Work Done

I spend most of my mornings on projects. Having a toddler at home I have to take advantage of all of her sleep time, so my morning starts at 5:30am with a cup of coffee. I get Angel's lunch and breakfast ready and wake her up while we have meaningful conversations about dreams, flowers, and butterflies... or whatever else her 5 year old mind can come up with!

Once Angel is on the bus I have about 1 hour to work on art projects... two if I'm lucky!

Here is one of my most recent. It was a gift for my mother in law.





I used these pictures for the drawing...



Don't worry! I take advantage of her nap time too! She goes down for about an hour before lunch and then another 2 hours after lunch. (Yes! Be jealous that my baby sleeps so long!) The truth is even if she doesn't sleep I still put her in her crib during nap time where she stays fairly quiet. She knows it's quiet time, and I love that about her!

Right now I'm working on the last few pictures for Teta's Adventure's Vol. 5. You can find Vol. 1-3 at amazon.com. I didn't do the art for Vol. 1, but my very talented cousin did!

I'm also working on a custom drawing for someone. Here's what I've got so far... Can you guess what it will be?