The Strong-Willed Child

Our sweet girl may look just like her Daddy....

  ...but her personality is all me. Yikes!

Yes, we have a Strong-Willed Child (SWC) on our hands. She is sassy and dramatic, and if something is not her idea, she is not interested in it. Do not even think about asking her to do something she doesn't want to do, or say something she doesn't want to say (i.e. "I'm sorry" or "Yes, 'mam") without a struggle. We have had some dramatic days recently with this girl. Sometimes I'm at a loss for what to do with her. We want her to be obedient, kind and respectful, and we are doing our best to be consistent with our discipline. Surely that has to pay off soon.

We've tried some different methods on our own, but it's time for some reinforcements. I have this on its way to me as I type:

And my friend Allison (mother of four) loaned me this one:

Dr. Dobson is a renowned parenting expert, and is sure to have some solid advice for us as we attempt to get our toddler under control before she turns into a Strong-Willed Teenager. Rumor has it that my own parents purchased his books years ago when they were raising a SWC of their own. I am aware that I deserve each and every trial we face with our girl.

On the bright side, having a strong will isn't always such a bad thing. I like to think that my strong-willed personality kept me from being a crowd-follower and led to some good decisions in life, and I would hope that Mimi's inherited traits will equip her to be a good decision-maker as well.

But in the meantime, your prayers are appreciated as we try to be tough and consistent with our little drama queen! Luckily for us all, when she isn't throwing a fit or refusing to be obedient, she sure is sweet and cute.



Spring Break

Warning: Ridiculous amount of photos

What a busy and fun spring break we had! Cliff had to spend the week in Kansas at the national basketball tournament again this year, and Amelia and I stayed behind. We thought about going with him, but the 17-hour bus ride just would have been too much for Mimi (and her parents. and the bus driver. and the team.) I had plans for a trip to New Orleans to spend a couple of days and take Mimi to the zoo and the aquarium and was bummed when I found out we wouldn't be able to do that. (Of course, still happy for Cliff, Coach Young and the Lady Wolves, but two spring breaks in a row? Dang!)

Since Cliff had to leave on the Saturday night before spring break and wouldn't return until the following Sunday, he suggested we at least go to the zoo on Saturday before he left. We had such a great time! It was actually Amelia's first real zoo visit, if you don't count the little Hattiesburg zoo, which I do not, since hello, no monkeys, giraffes or elephants.

Here are a few of my favorite pics from our fun day at the Audobon Zoo. We all had a great time.

To avoid sitting around and being sad about missing Daddy the rest of the week, Amelia and I decided to pack as much fun into our spring break as possible. This meant lots of fun and great photos, but one exhausted mama when it was all over. But that's ok. One day I will have an empty house and plenty of time to rest and clean and organize my closets. Right now, I am going to choose fun with Mimi every time.


Just a little swinging after church in her smocked dress. She cried when I made her change out of it later.

Fun day at the Children's Museum with Pailyn





We spent some time in Hattiesburg with Aunt Mare and Uncle Justin, and went to Gattitown for a another carousel ride. I discovered a few months ago that a carousel is probably the only thing in life Amelia loves more than swinging.

Then we went to my parents' for a couple of days, and Amelia enjoyed hanging out with Grammy and Papa and helped Papa add some landscaping around the new playhouse he built for her. Well, it's hers for now, but her new baby cousin will be here in a few months and then she will have to share it! (Can you all just start praying about that whole situation now? Ha!)



Isn't it awesome? If you know my daddy, you know that he doesn't just build any old playhouse. It has fancy windows, ceramic tile and electricity, and will soon have running water and a TV that will be hooked up to their satellite. I wouldn't mind living in the playhouse, ha! I will share more photos of the inside when it's all complete.

There's a swingset on the back that Daddy built for us when we were little. I was pretty fond of swinging myself, and it's so fun to see Mimi enjoying something I played on as a child. Papa has re-painted it bright red and is planning to add some new swings to it soon.







Walking in the woods with Papa is one of her fave things to do at their house.

We finished off our week with a visit to Laurel with Katie to see Mimi's great grandmother, Nana. She had a great time, but sadly, I failed to take any photos. I don't know what I was thinking. Then we attended a fun birthday party on Saturday, which I will be sharing some cute photos of as soon as Katie puts them on facebook for me to steal, ha.

Finally, Sunday morning came and we had to go pick up Daddy! He was glad to get home to his girls and we were glad to have him back. They have been loving on each other and catching up ever since, and I have enjoyed getting to take a bath in peace. We made the most out of our spring break this year, but we're hoping next year Daddy will be able to join us.

Trike-a-Thon

Amelia wanted me to thank everyone who contributed to the St. Jude's Trike-a-Thon at Co-Lin. She had a great time riding her trike with her friends, and her pre-school raised money for St. Jude. I haven't heard a total yet, but the last couple of years they have raised over $3000. Thanks again to everyone who helped make it a success!

St. Jude's Trike-a-Thon

It's time again for what has become a fun tradition in our family. Amelia and her classmates at Co-Lin's pre-school are getting ready to particpate in the annual trike-a-thon to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Last year, Amelia raised over $300 and helped her school to raise over $3300 for the hospital. I hope you will help us raise funds for them again this year.

I can't say enough about St. Jude and what a worthy cause it is. They are the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. They never turn a sick child away if the family is unable to pay. They are also a research hospital, and our money goes to support efforts to find cures for the terrible diseases that affect so many children and their families each year.

I wrote about this last year here and the year before here. This year, we have a special interest in helping because someone we know is currently receiving treatment at St. Jude. Cliff has known Maggie and her family all her life, and she was in his class when he taught at BHS. Please keep Maggie and her family in your prayers.

I am also looking forward to this year's event because Amelia is finally old enough to ride her trike, rather than be pushed in a stroller or wagon like in years past. I know she still isn't old enough to fully understand what we're doing, but she can understand that we are riding our trikes and saving our "monies" to help kids who don't feel good. I love that she is learning from an early age how important it is to think of others above ourselves. We have been so blessed to have a healthy child, and I thank God for that every day.

If you'd like to make a donation, please send it to:
Copiah-Lincoln Community College
Attn:Angela Furr
PO Box 649
Wesson, MS 39191

or send me an email at angela.furr@colin.edu to let me know that you are willing to give, and Amelia and I will personally come by to pick up your donation. No amount is too small! I will also be happy to send you a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you are out of town. Thank you in advance for your continued support of this worthy cause!

State Champs!

Basketball season is a trying time for our family. Cliff's gone almost every night for about 5 months out of the year. He gets in late most nights, usually after Amelia and I are asleep. If he's not traveling to away games, he's out at high school games all over the state and Louisiana looking for players for next year. We try to make it to most of the home games, but being out late is hard on a 2-year-old and her mama. (And her teachers the next day). This year has been particularly hard on Cliff because now Mimi is old enough to really miss him when he's not around. We try to make the most of any off time he has for them to spend together and Mimi spends quite a bit of time running around the gym visiting Daddy whenever she can. (She kind of thinks she owns the place).



MACJC State Champs

 That's why when the season ends with a golden trophy, we all feel a little like we've earned it.

Yay for Daddy and the Lady Wolves!

What's your name?

I am aware that the majority of my Mimi videos are of her in the bathtub. It just happens that it's the one place I can catch her still enough to capture her singing or doing something I want to remember on video. I have lots more fun clips of her with real clothes on, but I just had to share this one of her saying her name, plus mine and Cliff's (as well as other random chatter).


What's your name? from Angela Furr on Vimeo.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I've said it before and I'll say it again- kids make every holiday more fun! Here's a few comparison shots of Mimi from the past two Valentine's Days. I miss that sweet baby!



 2009

2010



 

2011

Blackberry pic of her playing outside yesterday.

Posing with Daddy before church.

Cliff was festive in his pink shirt that I had bought him to wear to the breast cancer awareness night at the ballgame. Perfect for Valentine's!


Happy Heart Day!