Eleanor the Theologian

I had another profound conversation with Eleanor today. I thought it was really cute. Last week, out of the blue, she asked “if Jesus is in our hearts, who is in Jesus’ heart?” I thought that was such a profound question! Collin told her that God was in Jesus’ heart. She was satisfied with that answer and didn’t bring it up again until today. We were driving home from Walmart and she just again randomly started this conversation:

Eleanor: Who is in God’s heart?

Me: Um…I’m not sure.

Eleanor: I think Jesus. Is Jesus in my heart?

Me: Well, someday when you’re a little older and can understand who Jesus is and what he has done for you, I hope you will ask him to come into your heart.

Eleanor: Yes! Maybe we should start building a door.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will eat with him, and he with me. “ Revelation 3:20

Tagged by Jenny

So I'm supposed to list 7 random things about myself that few people know because I was tagged by my friend Jenny. So here goes!

1. I love the smell of stinky baby feet. You may think that baby feet can't smell that bad...you would be wrong. Henry's cute little New Balance shoes smell worse than his Daddy's after a day of running around in them with no socks. For some reason I love to grab those hot, sweaty, stinky feet, put my nose right on them and take a big wiff. I know, I'm weird. I really do love it.

2. I am obsessed with scrapbook paper. I don't actually use it for scrapbooking, but I just love to look at it. Something about finding such unique, pretty designs on paper and then just staring at it...it makes me happy. It makes me so happy that I have tons of scrapbook paper framed on my walls. Someday I will take some pictures of it, because it actually looks really pretty.

3. I hate collar bones. Collin can send me into a panicked convulsion just by talking about grabbing my collar bone. For some reason it just seems so fragile...and gross. I'm cringing right now. I also hate adam's apples. I'm glad I don't have one.

4. My last semester of college I interned with the FBI. I would tell you about it, but I would have to kill you.

5. I have this weird habit of "typing" everything (and I mean everything) that I hear with my fingers as I'm listening...and sometimes even as I'm just thinking. I catch myself doing it all the time...I don't actually put my hands out like on an imaginary keyboard or anything. But I do use the right fingers for the right letters...and even space. I'm so embarrassed right now.

6. I can burp really loud. I've learned to have better manners since marrying Collin. It grosses him out.

7. I love to draw. I got pretty good at it and even gave several of my drawings away as gifts. I haven't done it in years, but want to pick it back up. I would really love to take an art class.

I'm tagging Shannon, Mindy, Laci, Ashley, Erin, and Kirby!

Imitation is the sincerest form of...are they mocking us??

I don't know whether to be flattered or frightened by the fact that students actually dressed up as us for Halloween.

Sorority girl and Frat boy. The official uniform...Ugg boots, Nike shorts, plain white v-neck t-shirt, NorthFace jacket, pearl earrings...you'll see a few hundred exact replicas on any given day walking around campus. I kind of think it's cute.
Eleanor and Ginger at Greek Treat

It was a fun day, complete with wild dancing and candy induced stomach aches. Happy Halloween!!

Flying High

Please don't call CPS.

A Big Question

Today I decided to ask Eleanor (purely hypothetical) what she thought about us having more children. I was really just curious, because she does have an opinion about just about anything I ask her. The conversation went like this:

Me: Eleanor, do you think Mommy and Daddy should have any more babies?

Eleanor: Yes! We should go to the hospital right now and look at the babies in the window!

Me: Well, not like that. I mean, do you want to have another baby in the family...like instead of it being just you, Henry, me, and Daddy...it would be you, Henry, me, Daddy, and another baby....all of the time.

Eleanor: I think we should have another baby in the family. I like babies.

Me: Well, it wouldn't always be a baby. It would grow up, just like Henry and you.

Eleanor: I want one of those that just always stays a baby.

Me: They don't make those.

Eleanor: I don't want another baby.

Me: Why?

Eleanor: It might grow big.

For Grampa.

Jumping off the fireplace

"But, I just don't want to go to bed!!!"

Welcome to the Dark Side

After all of the sweet innocent stories that I tell about Eleanor, I feel like it's time for a different kind of story. This one did not make me smile or ponder spiritual things. Only now, a day later, am I somewhat amused by how ridiculously awful she was yesterday. Eleanor is a passionate girl. She loves passionately and rebels furiously. She is the definition of a strong willed child. She's a feisty one! You'll get the idea....

Eleanor: Mommy, can I have macaroni and cheese for lunch?

Me: I'm sorry, I don't have time to make that today. Would you like peanut butter and jelly?

Eleanor: (After a massive rolling around on the floor screaming tantrum) No...you WILL make me macaroni and cheese.

Me: Excuse me? I think you need to go to your room.

Eleanor: (Loudly, and looking straight into my eyes) NO, MAMA! I will NOT go to my room. And you will NOT spank me!!!!!

I drug her into her room and closed the door so that I could calm down before going in to talk to her. She screamed like a possessed child for the next 15 minutes while I called Collin and told him he was going to have to spank her because I was too mad. After a while I realized the ridiculousness of the situation and managed to get a hold of myself and go in to talk to her. She then proceeded to try to THROW TOYS at me!!!!!! (Where did my sweet girl go?) I left again, pulled myself together,then came back, gave her a good spanking and sent her to bed without any lunch at all. (I told her she could have a sandwich when she woke up from her nap). She was not happy about it, but took a good nap and woke up a much nicer girl.

I am afraid for the teenage years. Seriously.

Weekend in Pictures

Eleanor and Reid (She loved loved loved holding her baby cousin)Beautiful Aunt Renae

Uncle Ryan and Reid cheering on the Cowboys

It was a WET weekend!

Henry & Eleanor got to play outside in the rain today. I took tons of cute pictures of Eleanor but she is only wearing panties and rain boots so unfortunately they are not blog appropriate! Henry got into the sand!

Possibly my favorite picture of Henry :)

Blue Man

Henry has always been a breath holder. His serious cries consist of one long exhale and then breathless silence. His face turns blue, I shake him and yell at him to breath....then he finally takes a breath. Well as of two days ago, he has taken it to a new level. Now he holds his breath until he passes out. He's done it 3 times in the last 2 days. Don't worry, the doctor has assured me that it is not dangerous and is actually somewhat common. It sure looks scary though...why do I have such dramatic children????

Here's an article about breath holding if you are still concerned

http://www.drgreene.com/21_557.html

Out of the Mouths of Babes...

Eleanor is always saying profound things, and I really believe that God uses that little girl to teach me huge lessons! Lately, Eleanor has been praying for me. It started one day when I was in a really bad mood...and let's just say I wasn't on my best behavior. Eleanor, sitting behind me in her carseat said:
"Mommy, you need to settle down! You need to stop being mean to me and Henry and Daddy. And I am going to pray for you." She then proceeded to pray the most sincere, simple, heartfelt prayer for me: "Dear God, Mommy is so so so sorry for acting so mean. Please help her to be nice and stop acting like that. In Jesus' name, Amen."
Of course it immediately melted my heart, and I was much nicer. She has since done that two other times when she just sensed that I was not in a great mood. I've been thinking about how that really is the best thing she could ever do for me. And it's so simple...yet how often do I try so hard to fix someone else's problems instead of simply praying for them. And how little do I ask other people to pray for me, even though that is literally the best and most effective thing someone could do for me. I love that prayer is her natural response to a problem. I want it to be my natural response too.