Learning to Raise a Homemaker!

I have been at home with my daughter since the day she was born. Granted she is only 12months old however I have discovered that she is most certainly a girl! She wants to do everything mommy does. She likes to watch me cook, clean, put groceries away, and blog. We read together, we watch her phonics and reading DVDs, we say prayers, poems and wrestle with daddy.

She loves to look at books and read her bible stories.She is just learning to walk and I have already seen how quickly she learns. She knows that dishes go in the dishwasher and that the cascade goes in the door of the dishwasher. She knows that there is cheese in the bottom drawer of the fridge and she knows that her toys go in a certain bin.

God has been amazing in allowing me the joy and pain of having this little treasure in my life. She came so unexpectedly and quickly that we didn't have time to think.

As Christmas approaches and my little one gets to experience Christmas for the first time through the eyes of a child that is learning more and more every day I am great full to be having the chance to teach my daughter to be a homemaker!

Niki's birthday week....

So this week my little girl turns one! She has already received gifts from her Memaw and Popa Modlin, Tara our dear friend, and her Grammy Graham. Tara sent her a box full of gifts all the way from Reno Nv! She loves her new toys and clothes!

My mother in law arrived today and Amy and I are working hard to get the house ready for the baby's birthday party on Saturday. There are still some birthday decorations to hang and some things to store that are in the way.

But will 4 adults in the house i'm sure we can accomplish plenty!

Just a few more days

Until my baby girl turns ONE!!! I'm so very excited and saddened all at the same time. I am looking forward to having her birthday party. I am also looking forward to this Christmas because she will be able to participate and open gifts and be facinated by everything.

I get to watch my little girl learn all about the season of Christmas, and why we celebrate it. I get to teach her each year about Jesus and how he was born to be our savior and that we honor him with a symbol and holiday. I want to teach her that Christmas is not about gifts but about love and the best gift ever!

My little girl is growing so fast! I have so many things I want to do for her and show her and experience with her. I pray that she is a lovely, truly beautiful spirit that, shines for all to see and that she serves God with every ounce of her being!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today as we ate and visited with my parents I thought about all that I am thankful for.

So here are some of the things that came to mind:

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

• My Savior and Lord Jesus Christ coming to earth and dying for my sins. 
• God being the same, yesterday, today and forever
• My husband
• My daughters
• My family whom I love
• My best friend Amy who is such a huge part of my life. 
• My friends at Biblical Families
• The people I grew up with knowing the Lord and serving Him in their lives
• A grandmother who prays for me each and every day!
• Being able to stay at home with my baby. 

That is just to name a few! There is so much more that I have to be thankful for that It would take all night to list them all! 

Well Yesterday we went to the Mall and had Nikirhe's picture made with Santa for the first time! I wanted to share it with you..... Sooo here it is!! 

Being sick really sucks!

Well I've been sick for what seems like forever! Now Nikirhe is sick, Ernie is getting sick and Amy is sick too! Man we are passing it around. It's not as bad now as it was. No fever thank the Lord and mostly just congestion and cough with lots of restlessness at night for Niki.

You know I never thought I'd have a namesake but as I look at my beautiful little girl and thank God for her each and every day I'm no longer annoyed with Ernie for wanting to give her a combination of my names. I may have explained this last year when she was born but as it gets closer to her birthday I am a bit sentimental!

Nikirhe is a combination of my two middle names Nikita and LaRhe(pronounced La Ray) So there for Nikirhe is pronounced Niki-ray... we get nurses pronouncing it Ni ky re and Nik r he ugh! Just say the last name if you can't pronounce the first name! LOL
That is the only problem I had with him wanting to name her Nikirhe. People would never pronounce it correctly nor spell it correctly. She will ( like her mother) never be able to find things that have her name on them unless she shortens to Niki which I suspect she will! LOL I call her Niki 90% of the time anyway.

I liked Sophia from the movie Mama Mia... and since my little girl's heritage is Hispanic I chose the more Latin spelling Sofia rather than the original Greek spelling. And instead of just naming her Sofi I decided on Sofia so if she so chooses at some point she can use Sofi or Sofia.

I know I'm rambling but I have had this on my mind as of late and guess with her 1st year coming to a close in two weeks I am remember how on this day in 2009 I was preparing for Thanksgiving, content on never having a baby and only being a semi adoptive mother to Holly while raising my dogs and pursuing a career in Insurance sales.

Funny how God works! I am SOOOOOO very thankful for my beautiful daughter Nikirhe Sofia Graham!

Feeling Annoyed!!!

My child won't stop screaming and throwing temper tantrums! I'm so tired of hearing her cry and for no good reason!!! UGH sometimes I want to just scream!!!

I feel like I'm the only one who can't tune her out! Apparently everyone in the house can but me! Hubby is watching Bones, Amy is upstairs reading or something and I'm trying to ignore the tantrum so she will stop!

Having a nice visit despite being sick.....

Tara got here on Wednesday. She and I ended up both being sick with a nasty cold and sore throat! Both Niki and Mirror have the same thing and it's kinda odd. Oh well... we've done a few things but today we decided would be pajama day and we are just hanging at home. Ernie and Niki were watching the Gaither Homecoming Series on TV and Niki clapped viggorously after each song. She seems to take after her Great Grandmother and her daddy! :o)

Tara and Mirror are going home this week and we will be sad to see our friends go but life must return to normal. Hopefully she will get to visit again soon! :o)

~G~

Watching my baby grow

I am really loving watching my little girl explore the world around her! She is going everywhere and getting into everything! :o)
She is trying to say new words, she is recognizing words on her flash cards and dvd's. She is trying hard to walk and perfect her balance.

Tomorrow is the day Tara and Mirroranda get here and we are so excited to have them here! We have been talking and getting to know each other and I'm really looking forward to spending some time with my very dear friend!

I still have allot to get finished today. I have some finishing touches on Nikirhe's room and bathroom and then I need to sweep and mop the floors downstairs.

I've been sick and am hoping this tylenol cold and sinus will continue to work and I'll kick this stuff so I can enjoy my visit with the girls!

I have been pretty sick and have not felt like blogging. I am getting ready for my sweet dear friend to visit and cant wait to see her!

Things Are Moving Along

I'm starting to feel better. I've been having issues with pain and it gets me down from time to time. I've been praying hard for my best friend/sister Barb. She is in very poor health and I'm very worried about her!

My father and mother in law are coming to visit us this week. They will be here tomorrow afternoon and I'm making mexican food. Cheese enchilada's, mexican rice and refried beans and maybe some guacamole.
I"m going to premake my enchiladas but i'm trying to figure out exactly how i want to make them! lol

Well I guess I need to find some new pictures to post here! I've uploaded all kinds on my facebook page but I always forget to upload them to the computer.

Trying to get all settled into the new space. Lovin it so far, but we will see how i feel after having people for dinner the first time! Lol

Moving Day.....

Well moving day actually started yesterday afternoon. My brother and sister in law come over to help us get things moved across town. I was so very glad that they could help because I have felt terrible all day today. I'm very tired and I pray that Niki will sleep all night in her own bed tonight!

She seems pretty exhausted as well so I'm sure after a nice warm bath and being tucked into her bed with her favorite blanket we shouldn't hear a peep out of her! LOL

So far I am loving the new house. We have a bathroom down stairs in the hallway and upstairs between the bedrooms. I like the way the house is put together even though I didn't think I would. hee hee.

Well I could ramble on about allot of things but Niki is getting ready for a bottle and I need to make one for her. She is watching her dvd right now so that's what gave me time to blog! LOL

Later,
 ~G~

We have been busy packing for our move to the other side of town. We have dealt with so much from Holly that we are both fed up. I will post more soon.

A New Year in the Bible

Our pastor has taken the time to make up an entire year worth of sermons and each week has 5 day's of bible study attached  to each weeks sermon. I am very excited to begin this journey! I will be posting each weeks bible reading title and scriptures for each day every Sunday evening.

9/6-9/12-- Let There Be....
Day 1: Genesis 1:1-25
Day 2: Genesis 1:26-31
Day 3: Genesis 2:1-3
Day 4: Genesis 2:4-17
Day 5: Genesis 2:18-25

Join us if you can next Sunday at Calvary Baptist Church, Tulsa, OK. or look for the sermon online at www.calvartulsa.org

Our city lost a part of our history and part of motion picture history as well. The Admiral Twin Drive-in burned to the ground. This theater was featured in the movie The Outsiders.

Watching the Nephews

Yesterday my sister Sarah was admitted to the hospital for complications from pancreatitis. So last night hubby and I went to stay at her house with the boys so that her husband could go to work. We stayed until her mom got there. She was coming from southern Oklahoma. I took her bags up to the hospital this afternoon and let her see Niki for a little bit. Of course my talkative daughter was getting extremely vocal and the nurses could here her at the nurses station, so that was my queue to leave! LOL

So we spent the day at Sarah's with the boys and Niki crawled all over the house! LOL She loved it! she went in every room on the ground floor! It was so cute to hear and see her just going every where!

I'm so excited for my friends to come visit in October! I've got one coming the 8th and one on the 20th! YIPPEE!

Making an Effort for the Future

I have been following a friends blog and through her God spoke to me this week about living a Godly, truthful life. When I say truthful I am not just referencing telling lies but Living according to God's Word!

God has been speaking to me about dressing in a more feminine and modest way for quite sometime. I have been reluctant to because for one thing we have been living on a limited income, and two I wasn't sure I would like it.

Now that I have a daughter to raise from birth I want her to grow up loving her femininity. I want her to be confident in the Lord and be living a Godly righteous path.

I borrowed these from Tara.....

A woman must not wear men's clothing, nor a man wear women's clothing, for the LORD your God detests anyone who does this. (NIV, Deuteronomy 22:5)


Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is just as though her head were shaved. 6 If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head. (1 Corinthians 11:3-6)

and

Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. (1 Corinthians 11:14-15)




I want to teach my children to be humble, well behaved, modest Godly children!  If I don't have any more well then Niki will be well taught! 

Been doing a lot of praying.... And living the Biblical truth is the only option!

Saturday at the Flea Market and Moving Prep!

So this morning I asked hubby if we could take Nikirhe to the flea market. So we not only went to the flea market but we went to the last day of the Just Between friends sale! It was great! I got her several outfits for just 18.00 and then I got a new diaper bag that is mom friendly for 10! I will go to this sale every year!

We are going to be moving on September 17th! :o) I believe I am going to love our new town home! We will be able to host functions for our Life Group and holidays! We are going to have Christmas at home this year so that Nikirhe can have her first Christmas that she can participate in, at home.

I'm looking forward to my friends coming to visit from out of state! I'm so excited! I know we will have fun. May not do a TON of stuff but we will spend quality time together! :o)

House Hunting

Today we spent the morning looking for a new place to live. We are needing to be in a place that will pass our home study for the adoption. We looked at a town house across town and a nice house about a mile from where we live now.

We are going to just pray that God guides us to the right home for us. We are planning allot for this holiday season so we need a home that will accommodate our company through out October, November, and December. As well as passing the Home-study for the adoption!

Please pray with us for guidance to the home that will be best for us size and financially!

Preparing to move

We are hunting for a new place to live. The house here is not in good shape at all and we really need something that is safe for our daughter. Nikirhe is crawling and will be learning to walk soon and we need something that will pass the inspection for the home-study portion of the adoption.

We also need to find a place that will allow us to get a van or small suv so we will have more reliable transportation.

I recently had to end a 26+ year friendship.... I had been being lied to for so long that it was becoming a huge betrayal of love and trust. When someone you have invested so much emotion in lies about some stupid and not so stupid things for long periods of time and refuses to tell the truth you really don't have allot of choice. I forgive her however I cannot allow the friendship to continue because she has shattered my trust and broken my heart.

We are praying that God will guide us to the correct area for expanding our family. He knows our hearts and our needs. I want to hubby to find that one person that he knows will complete our family and be a true sister to me and a second mother to Nikirhe. Trust, honesty, and true salvation are a must.

Well I need to get to bed... I'm still not feeling 100% and Niki and Ernie have both been asleep since about 8.

Weekend After the Family Reunion

So last weekend we attended the 36th Annual Thornton Family Reunion! I LOVE going to this family reunion as I have been going since I was a small child.
This was obviously the first year to take Nikirhe and she seemed to enjoy the attention from all her cousins! :o)

She went swimming, and had a blast! Our family has a huge meal on Saturday and I made my Spinach Alfredo Pasta Bake. We always have great food, like this cheesy potato casserole with bacon on top! YUUUMMM!!

Niki was so tired out on Saturday afternoon that we didn't stay for the annual Bingo game and auction. We went to our cabin and crashed!

After a great family breakfast and worship service we packed up and headed home. Niki was very glad to get home and have almost an entire week without having to be in her carseat! LOL

I have not felt good at all this week and have not accomplished much at all. I've had what I thought was a bladder infection but I now know it is a kidney infection.

Well I'm off to feed my little peapod.!!

Crazy Dayz.....

Things around the Graham household have been somewhat crazy! Nikirhe and I have not been feeling well for about a week and she now seems to be doing fine but I'm still tired and feeling a bit sick at my stomach. 


My friends Nancy and Richard Weber whom I used to provide child care for have been in Children's hospital with their oldest son. Three year old Richard Lee III. He has been diagnosed with cancer and has had to have a kidney removed. He seems to be doing well today Nancy said and I'm not sure as to when they plan to administer the radiation treatments but ask that if you are reading this pleas pray for this family! 


Niki is getting into everything now and quite often gets her little hands smacked for grabbing things she shouldn't. She is crawling everywhere and now pulls up and stands in front of the couches and chairs and tables, and "cruising"along them. 
She wants to sit on the couch next to me like a big girl! She is growing WAY to fast! She babbles at everything, saying dada to everyone and everything! 


God truly has blessed us with her. I could not have asked for a better child! 

My brother is out me the hospital. Im running crazy and trying to prepare for next weekend!

My brother was in an accident and Ive been quite busy this part week. Ill be blogging in detail tonight.

No Sleep and Teething

This beautiful little thing is teething and having trouble sleeping. Neither she or I are getting much sleep. Niki has been crawling around a bit this morning, but mostly she is very clingy. She even wants mommy after daddy has given her what she deems as enough attention.

Adventures in Blogging

I have decided to start a cooking blog! I LOVE to cook and I have a very large and ecclectic collection of recipes that I like to share with others!

I will be posting recipe's, cooking tips that I have learned over the years and links to some of the cooks who have inspired me. I am not ashamed to admit that when I find something that Rachel Ray or Paula Deen cook something I think my family will like that I use it! Heck that's what they are there for!
Foodnetwork it a great resource for the home chef and there are many other blogs and sites that are great. So check out my other blog "From the Kitchen of Mama G"

o lay this little one to rest.

I never thought i would find myself going to a funeral for a two year old. Yet here i an waiting for my grand parents so we can make the two hour drive t

Off to bed long day tomorrow and it will start early! Niki went down pretty easy tonight i can only hope she stays asleep!

Perparing to Take a Day Trip

Today Nikirhe and I have been up since about 6. I did a little laundry, mendend hubby's pants, and tried to keep this poor teething little grump occupied.

I'm looking forward to seeing some of my family tomorrow but very sad that it had to be because my cousin lost her little girl. I'm praying that Niki is good during the funeral. I don't want to cause any undue heartache!

I am thinking about starting a food blog. Something that I can use to share my recipies and give others cooking tips. I am going to have to start blogging on a more regular basis. My stupid internet needs to work better! LOL

Nikirhe is crawling all over the livingroom today. She has been feeling yucky and hurting. I hate not being able to help her more. I got some homeopathic teething drops to help with her pain and they seem to work better than the teething tablets.

Well I better close for now I need to pack the the diaper bag and lay out our clothes for in the morning. We are leaving here very early.

Wow I've really been slacking!

Introducing this beautiful little girl into our life has turned my world upside down in a good way! Nikirhe is 7 months and growing fast! She is so very active and I love it! She is an amazing creation and I marvel at the blessing she truly is.

She is learning to crawl, talk, pull-up, and stand! She is saying Dada she even calls me dada! :o) She really is keeping us entertained and on our toes!

We are so excited to have this beautiful little one in our lives! Praise God!

My cousin Tammy's little girl Aidan died this week due to injuries from a door falling on her. I'm so very sad for her. I cannot imagine the pain she is feeling loosing her daughter. She was only 2 and it is so sad and tragic!

Well I know I've not written in quite awhile so I should give a quick run down..

Our Daschund Shelby had two puppies about 7 weeks ago, Jack our Chihuahua is the father. They had two boys and we are going to give them to a couple of loving families.

We have started looking for a different place to live. Our current house is costing us more money in utilities each month than the rent some months! It's an old and not very well maintained house and the maintence man is slow and not very thorouh.

We are looking forward to attending our family reunions, Mine in August and his in October. We are excited about more of our families getting to meet Nikirhe!

Finding Time for Housework!

I have the worst time finding time to do housework! My husband gets furious with me for not having everything kept neat and I hate that. I love having a clean house but my 11wk old daughter is a full time job! She acts like she has to be held all the time! I put her down but I can't listen to her scream for more than 10 or 15 minutes at a time.

He gets angry because he comes home and cares for her and I try to com to my office to work at my job that will be earning money as soon as I get my writing numbers. I have to learn about what i'm selling or I can't sell it! I try to get things cleaned up but then I have to cook and he doesn't want to help clean up after dinner. I'm TIRED! I don't sleep well at night because of the baby, and after cooking, trying to deal with a cranky baby and whatnot I'm exhausted and he seems to think that him coming home to care for her for 2 hours is going to make my life easier!
:( :( :( I just want to cry!

10 Weeks!

My beautiful little girl is 10 Weeks today! I am so thrilled to be her mommy !

She is starting to babble allot now and hold her head up. She loves to sit up and face forward. She likes to see what life has coming at her. She is liking music and she really likes it when mommy reads to her.

We are going to have her pictures made in two weeks! I'm really excited and I hope that I can find the right outfits to put her in. I don't want her to look like a little bum! LOL

We are going to get several pictures made over the next 9 months! :o)

My little girl is growing!

Nikirhe is almost 2 months old now and I'm so in love with this little girl! She is already starting to teeth a bit! Wednesday we have our 2 month well baby check up. She will also get her first round of shots.

I need to try to start back to work and as soon as I get some things faxed into my company I can start working and start earning money. Ernie will be glad for that so he can have a break. He is stressed about bills and I can understand that. I am trying to get things taken care of so that we don't loose our utilities, phones and house. He is so very stressed and I am exhausted.

Well It is time to put the hubby to bed so I can watch my show later.

~G~

Trying to Figure out...

How to be supportive of an unplanned pregnancy. Our oldest daughter is 3 months pregnant and Due in June. She has a LOT of growing up yet to do and I'm afraid she is going to crack under the pressure of working and having this baby.

Her boyfriend of 6 months is saying they will fiugre things out but she lives with HIS parents and he is in college in Florida! I don't know how to feel right now.. I'm NOT ready or wanting to be a grandparent. Obviously I have no choice at this point. And if she keeps smoking and not taking care of herself she is doing damage to that baby.
.. I just don't know! I need to stop typing and sleep because Nikirhe will be waking up again soon and I'm exhausted!

Week 4

Week 4 is well under way and tomorrow our daughter will be one month old! We are so excited at our first month being here. We have our One month check up on on the 6th and we will get to find out how much she weighs and if she has gotten longer. I can tell she has grown as she is quickly going to be to big for her bassinet.

We are going to start looking for a better house and I can't wait until I can start working so that we can afford to do the things we had planned. I am exhausted because she is not sleeping well and when she does sleep it is either on me or Ernie.

If she sleeps on him he won't come help me with clean up on the house and that makes me even more tired because I know he works but taking care of her and the house is a 24/7 job.