My Preschool Graduate

Back in May, Noah's preschool, Handy, held their End of the Year Fun day for all the kids and had a little graduation ceremony where they received certificates and released a balloon as a class.  Unknowingly, we scheduled to show our house that morning, so my dad came with us to allow Jamie to meet with the prospective buyers. Noah loved having his Poppa with him at school and I know my dad thoroughly enjoyed getting to meet Noah's teachers, aides, and classmates. It was a fun day for everyone with face painting, inflatables, and a fire truck that the kids got to tour!

Noah loved having Poppa at school!

Ms. Perkins, Noah's aide is the BEST.

Collier joined in on the fun too!

We LOVE Ms. Mobley!

I'm just shocked at how quickly the past few years have flown by and that my little boy will be a Kindergartener come August 20th. It feels like just the other day that we began the process of Noah going to day care, then preschool. As a child with special needs, you are entitled to receive free therapy from the state, in addition to any private therapy that the family chooses to do. We do private therapy but we also want to take advantage of any and all therapy that Noah can receive, so as a 9 month old, he began going to the UCP Center. It is a great facility where they offer Physical, Speech and Occupational therapies to Special Needs kids, but they are also a day care for typical and non-typical kids. I fell in love with their program and grew close with all the teachers and therapists there. So once Noah turned 3 and could no longer go there to receive his therapy, I was so upset. Once a child turns 3, therapy is provided by the school system and since we live in Florence, Noah would have to go Handy Preschool to receive his therapy. I'll be honest, I was very hesitant because Handy is located in a sort of dangerous part of town...very close to Mobile Street on the 'west side' of Florence. Everyone from Shoals has heard to avoid Mobile Street at night!  I definitely wasn't comfortable leaving my child on the 'west side' but didn't want to rule it out before even experiencing it.  Since he would be getting therapy from Handy, we had the option to enroll him in their preschool program, that way he would be there all day and receive therapy all throughout the day. His first year there, we decided not to and just took him there 3 days a week for 2 hour therapy sessions. The first day I dropped him off for therapy, I cried, well, more like boo hoo'ed. I was so nervous leaving him there. It turned out to be just fine, and in fact, the therapists and everyone he worked with were great and their program was wonderful, so I grew much more comfortable with him there. However, a few months later Collier was born and I began to realize how hard it was caring for a special needs child AND a newborn all day long. I called around to see what preschool options were available for a child that (at the time) wasn't walking or talking, and surprisingly, only ONE day care, a local church, was willing to take him. After discussing it with Jamie, we realized that Handy preschool would be very beneficial for Noah because it would get him prepared for Kindergarten, he would go to full time daycare AND get therapy all day long. So we decided to enroll him the following year, once he turned 4. Again, I was nervous, but I knew that if we didn't like it, we could always remove him from the full time day care and allow him to just receive his therapy there. It turned out to be the greatest blessing in disguise. Noah has come so far in the past 9 months, his teachers, aide, and therapists were AMAZING, he made so many friends and he ENJOYS being in a school environment. He used to cry every time I would leave him, but by the end of the year, he was excited every morning to be joining his friends. All the kids would run up and hug him when he walked through the door into his classroom. His teacher told me that all of his classmates loved him and would argue over who got to hold his hand and help him walk down the hall. :) He began walking on his own while he was there. He's gained independence and more confidence.  He's much more comfortable playing with other children his age now.  Everyone knew his name and were so friendly; we even quickly became friends with the janitor, Mr. Baugh. Mr. Baugh and Collier developed quite a friendship!  The experience at Handy has been invaluable. It just goes to show that you absolutely can not 'judge a book by it's cover.' Handy may not look like much from the outside but great things happen there! I'm forever grateful to all of the wonderful people that loved and cared for my little boy while he was there and am sad that our time with them has now come to an end, as well. I just hope and pray that the next chapter for Noah as he begins Kindergarten is just as rewarding as this past year has been.

A Few of My Favorite Things

I love exchanging favorite products, beauty tips, new clothing discoveries and great accessories with all of my friends, so I was inspired by a fellow blogger to put these down on 'pen and paper' and share!  Might as well share the love with others, right? And what better time to share this mom's favorite things than right before Mother's Day.  So here goes!

I discovered this little gem of a product about 8 months ago... it's Miracle Skin Transformer by Sarah McNamara.  It a tinted moisturizer, primer, skin enhancer, and has SPF protection all in one little bottle.  It can be worn alone (for light coverage) or under your foundation for extra coverage.  It really does give you the smoothest, even, air-brushed like appearance when worn underneath your foundation.  I actually had someone tell me that my makeup looked like Kim Kardashian's on her wedding day (as in the 72 day wedding to Kris Humphries).  Now, this was at Halloween party where I was wearing more makeup than the norm... and I KNOW that I don't apply makeup comparable to the likes of Kim K's makeup artist but I'll still take that complement any day over a ruddy, uneven appearance.  It improves your skin's texture, reduces the appearance of pores, smooths and minimizes the appearance of fine lines, and reduces hyperpigmentation.  And I can vouch that IT WORKS!  And here's a little secret, a normal bottle is 1.7mL for $48 (which lasts about 3 months) HOWEVER, I just recently discovered that Sephora has smaller, travel bottles at their counter that are 0.85mL for $18.  So you can buy 2 travel bottles, which are the same amount of product for $12 less than buying the regular sized bottle.  Thank you, Sephora sales lady for sharing that little secret with me.  And you can thank me later. 



Next up on my list of must-have's is a Lenny & Eva cuff bracelet.  For someone that changes my jewelry up daily, I can admit that I wear one (sometimes both) of the 2 bracelets that I own daily.  I adore the vintage-y, rocker look of these accessories.  The bracelets are totally customizable with wide leather cuffs, skinny leather cuffs, braided wraps and more;  you can add charms, small and large sentiment plates, as well as other embellishments to your bracelet.  The plates are available in an assortment of different metals with fun and inspirational quotes.  I've lately become a fan of mixed metals and the 'homemade' jewelry look so these have climbed their way to the top of my favorite accessory list!  Locally, they can be found at Market House in Florence or you can find them online at Lenny & Eva.

{My silver braided wrap with a dove charm and brown leather wide cuff

with sentiment and butterfly charm}

I'm the first to admit, I'm no chef when it comes to the kitchen.  In fact, I really dislike cooking.  I have a few entrees that I've got down, you know, my 'go-to' meals but I'm definitely not creative with my culinary dishes.  I just recently discovered Kraft Fresh Take seasoning mixes.  They come in a variety of flavors (umm, Southwest Three Cheese mix, yum!) and can be used to spice up chicken, fish or pork.  We tested out the Chili Lime and Panko mix on Tilapia fillets and it received 4 thumbs up... as in all 4 of us scarved it down!  Especially Collier, my pickiest eater. Success! They can be found in the dairy aisle for $2.09 each (and kraft has a $0.50 coupon online for all of you couponers.)  I'm sure all of you religious PW readers and cooking show devotees can whip up seasonings and mixes like this on your own, but for mommas like me who prefer the easier method, this takes the cake! I really do aspire to become a whiz in the kitchen but for now this will have to do! 

         

My name is Whitney and I'm a Diet Coke Addict.  I can go through a 2L a day.  Seriously.  Lately, I've been trying to cut back on the Diet Coke and drink more water. But plain water just doesn't do it for me. I feel like what I'm drinking, especially when it's with a meal, needs to have a TASTE.  That's why I LOVE AdvoCare's Spark!  With Spark added to my water, I actually ENJOY drinking water.  Especially the Mandarin Orange and Grape flavors.  It's like insta-energy in a bottle.  Long, LOONNNGGG-lasting with no jittery, crazy side effects.  It's packed full of vitamins, especially B-6 and B-12, amino acid supplements and is sugar-free, with MUCH less caffeine than regular sodas, energy drinks, etc.  Coming from a girl that used to down Diet Coke all day long, I have WAY more energy from just one Spark a day than I did when I was on a Diet Coke 'binge'.  Oh and I'm a distributor for AdvoCare so message me if you are interested in trying it!

I don't think you'll be sorry. 

Being the mom to boys, you are pretty limited when choosing their clothing options.  Sure I can get away with cute jon jons and one piece appliqued outfits on Collier for now, but those days are limited.  All too soon he will join his Daddy and brother as a polo shirt and khaki shorts wearing little boy.  Not having a girl to shop for, I've never been to a Matilda Jane trunkshow, the clothing company known for their adorably matching mommy and me clothes.  I've always admired their pieces but didn't know how to acquire one without going to a trunk show (nor did I know all the lingo, with dresses called The Cupcake, Stillwater, not to mention the numerous 'Bird Dresses' and ordering through a TK?!).  I recently figured out how, got in contact with a Trunk Keeper (or TK, told 'ya I'm down with the lingo now) and I am hooked.  BAD.  It's become an addiction!  What's even crazier is there is a group on Facebook for these MJC lovin' women where they buy, sell and trade these coveted pieces.  Women treat these clothes with such TLC that they hold their value even when they've been (very, very gently) worn by someone else.  They are viewed as collector's items to these women. Even the pieces that were released seasons ago, still hold their retail value.  Some of these items sell on eBay for a hundred dollars a pop! It blows my mind!  Some things seem silly to me, such as their plain tanks.... I'm not one to purchase a plain tank for $30 JUST because it has a MJC label on it, however, I have fallen in LOVE with several dresses that I've purchased.   And I have several items that I'm looking for that I can't wait to add to my closet! My all time favorite MJC purchase (quite possibly my favorite dress all together) is my Hammond Bay Teary Bluebird dress.  Is so cute and comfy with a fun combo of navy and white polka dots and colorful floral fabrics.  It has a loose style to it so it's perfect for running errands with a pair of flip flops or can be dressed up for dinner out with friends. As silly as it all sounds, I've definitely gotten caught up in the MJC craze.  If we ever were to add a girl to our family, our checkbook would most definitely take a hit from this newfound love!

I have very thick, although fine hair and it takes FOREVER to blow dry. No lie. Ask my hair stylist; she has been trying for years to get me to wash every few days to save myself from the agony of blow drying my hair every.single.day.  My hair "holds" water thus equaling at least 25 - 30 minutes of actual drying time. Talk about annoying.  I've come to HATE getting ready, especially now that I have kids because I'm crunched for time as it is!  I've bought every different brand and feature on the market but none have made any noticeable differance in my drying time.  I've been known to blow up a blowdryer or two each year but I've never been able to bite the bullet to invest in one of those really good, stylist grade blowdryers. I recently discovered the Conair Infiniti Pro.  This thing is amazing! It's light-weight but powerful and blow dries my hair in half the time it normally takes. It comes with 2 different concentrator attachments that really work their magic in helping me to straighten my naturally curly hair.  I've only had it for a few months so I can't vouch for it's motor life but I'm a HUGE fan of it already. And the best part is that I didn't break the bank to get a great blowdryer.

So there you have it...my spring favorites!  Now I know that you may not all agree with the likes of my list, however, maybe you will feel compelled to try a new product or two out for a test run. As quickly as my tastes change, this list is sure to be full of all new things in the next few months but for now this is it. Now put your thinking caps on and share YOUR favorite things with me!

My Baby is a FIVE YEAR OLD

I feel like I have blinked my eyes and all of a sudden my baby is no longer a baby.  On Monday, Noah turned 5 years old.  Turning 5 is such a big milestone!  He is no longer a baby or toddler or preschooler, but a little boy.  A little boy that will also be starting school in just a few months.  It blows my mind that we are already at this point!  I can't wrap my head around how it feels like this has crept up on me so quickly and here we are at the beginning of his school years. This week, we also had his 2nd transitional meeting with his preschool, as well as some representatives from the special needs department of the school system to discuss his IEP for the upcoming school year.  IEP's are plans that are written out for children with special needs to address where the child is vs. where they should be, as well as their goals for the year and the different activities that they will work with the child on and their physical/occupational/speech therapy schedule.  They can be emotional meetings because it's basically a big reality check for the parents.  It's very hard to see just how far behind your child is developmentally compared to his/her peers and to realize that they haven't met any of their goals for the year.  This meeting was to discuss all the new things that will come in to play once Noah enters Kindergarten and I'll admit, it's kind of scary for me.  I'm sure Noah will love Kindergarten but it breaks my heart knowing how far behind he is and that he's about to enter school where he should be reading and writing and here he is not even talking. I've spent alot of time praying to the Lord about what is the right thing for Noah and I just have to hope that this is the best. Then to top it off, the meeting went terribly because of a particular person that was present at the meeting (whom I had never met before) made some very inappropriate and offensive comments regarding Noah and his needs.  I was hurt, angry and emotionally drained.  Thankfully, some of the others that were in on the meeting were outraged by what this person said and apologized to me for what had happened.  It has really opened my eyes that I (along with Jamie, my parents, etc) am my child's only advocate.  Unfortunately I can't TRUST that just because a person is a part of the school system that they have your child's best interest at heart.  Because that's not always the case.  I have to be proactive to get the best for Noah so that he can thrive and learn.  Fortunately, this was the first time that I've encountered anything like that and up until this point, Noah has been blessed with amazing caretakers, teachers and therapists that have treated him with nothing but love and compassion.  That meeting combined with him actually turning 5 has been a lot to take in for one week! Needless to say, I have welcomed the weekend with open arms. 

But back to Noah's party...We decided this year that we didn't want to go the big birthday party route and decided to just have our immediate family over to grill out.  I don't want my children growing up expecting a huge, pricey, over-the-top party every single year.  Since we had the wedding last weekend, we just decided to have everyone over on his actual birthday, Monday evening, and we grilled burgers and hotdogs, as well as cake and ice cream.  The weather was perfect so the kids had a blast running around playing on the swing set in the backyard and shooting basketball while the adults had just as much fun enjoying each other's company and playing with the kids.  Noah had the biggest smile on his face majority of the night and that's all that matters to me! I just want him to have a good time and I think we achieved our goal!

 

Happy, happy birthday to my FAVORITE 5 year old.  Noah, I love you more than life itself and I can't fathom my life without you in it.  I don't remember what it was like before you arrived.  I'm so proud of the amazing little boy you are... your loving heart, how you always love to cuddle with your favorite people, your love for books and music, how you've become this social little boy that loves to be surrounded by kids, and your perseverance in how hard you have worked to accomplish things that don't come easy for you, such as walking.  I think it's hilarious that while you're at school, you have to stop by each teacher's class room to make sure they say hi to you.  You're the most popular little guy at school and literally EVERYONE knows your name!  I love nothing more to see you face light up with your big smile and to hear your infectious laugh.  You may not speak verbally, but your expressions and smile speak a thousand words.  You have a heart of gold and know nothing but how to love everyone.  You've taught me so much and opened my eyes to view the world in a whole different light.  I love you so much, sweet boy and I am so grateful the Lord entrusted me and Daddy to be your parents.