Lucy does Chicago!

A few months ago, Jamie came up to me and initiated a conversation. Here's how it went.

• J: Hey babe? What do you think about me doing Running of the Bulls in Spain with Kirby and my dad? 
• A: Hey babe? What do you think about me tattooing my face from ear to ear? 

That was basically how I thought about him going to run with wild, man-killing bulls. Being the rational person that I am, I made Jamie look up the stats on how many injuries and deaths happen each year during Running of the Bulls, and they were surprisingly low. After making him sign his name in blood promising to not be an idiot, I said he could go, and I'm glad he did!

Jamie, Kirby and their dad made forever memories and I'm so thrilled they got to have this experience of a lifetime! Spain looked beautiful from the pictures, and the three of them were in the official filming of Running of the Bulls the day the ran! Kirby even touched one! So thankful the father of our child returned home in one piece and not impaled. 

While Jamie and the boys were in Spain, Lucy and I went to Illinois to spend the week with my mother in law. 

It was a long trip there, but we made it and Lucy ran into her Kiki's arms once we arrived at the airport. 

We had a ball at Chief and Kiki's house. We really just did a lot of relaxing, playing, eating, and hanging out with this goober. 

Kim was kind enough to send me off to get a pedicure and massage too! Glory glory hallelujah! 

Lucy did her own Riding of the Bulls: 

And Running of the Stick Horses:

At first, she was horrified of the horse, then she couldn't get enough of it! 

Being an equestrian is hard work, I tell ya! 

Let me tell you that that sweet blanket was Jamie's childhood blanket. I love that she got to snuggle it all week. 

After a few days in Decatur at Jamie's parent's house, we made the drive to Chicago, about 3.5 hours away. 

Our first stop was the Lincoln Park Zoo. 

There were approximately 6 animals there. But really, the animals were all icing, and there were signs on every exhibit saying something along the lines of--"Due to the weather conditions, the animals may be hard to see." Buncha pansy animals if you ask me! Come to Lafayette, LA and I'll show you severe weather conditions!

Don't let this next picture fool you....

We weren't looking at any animals, I'm sure. They were no where to be found. 

Thankfully, the zoo was free and the view was fabulous! 

This was another sign that was on almost every animal exhibit: 

"Animals off exhibit today."

Yeah, no shoot, Sherlock! Where were those animals! And just look at Lucy's face! She's shocked that we're at a zoo with no animals!

After a while, we were all hungry and decided to hunt for a place to get dinner.  I forget the name of the place, but it had fabulous burgers and a delicious and beautiful salad bar. So that's what we did. We even had a fun window view to people watch.

This chick discovered a love for dill pickles too!

After dinner, we did what any normal woman would do...we got ice cream!

And while sitting in the back seat, I taught Lucy how to stick a spoon on her nose.

Because that's what a good mom does.

After being in the car for approximately 6 hours total that day, this girl was beyond ready to get in the hotel room and run around! And boy did she run around!

She ran from one end of the hotel to the other over and over and over again!

Wild woman!

And she was loving rolling around in the big king size bed!

Oh James...can we please get a king size bed in our next house?

Kim and I went to bed at like 8:00 that night. It had been a big day and we had an even bigger day ahead of us! Full of pizza and shopping and Aunt Camie was coming in town too! 

Our first stop that day was to get pizza at Gino's. 

Lucy (and her mom) was so pumped!

While we were waiting for our table, a little girl and her mama came in with American Girl Doll bags. That was going to be our next stop so Lucy thought she needed to check out this doll thing before we went to the store. 

This girl was so sweet and showed Lucy her doll.

And now that I look at the doll, that's the same one Lucy got!

Kim and Camie:

Love you guys!

Me and Lucy Goosey: 

After pizza, we made our way to the American Girl store. Oh my goodness. This place was like 3 stories high with a cafe and a hair salon and a candy shop and more! It was like an American Girl city!

The second we walked in, Lucy ran straight to the shelves filled with stuffed animals. She has a love for those soft lovies. We walked around for quite a bit looking at the classic dolls, the bitty babies, and the dolls that you can get to look like you. We ended up going with the classic doll, Julie, who was born in the 70's. She a chic hippy doll.

But even though we were in giant store full of fun, all Lucy wanted to do was watch "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" on YouTube. My mom introduced that song to Lucy a few months ago, and Kim found a video that sings it in many different genres. Lucy is obsessed to put it mildly. So they sat on the floor and watched the video while Camie and I shopped.

And we left with some fabulous American Girl loot: 

Next stop: Disney Store! 

This girl is so my child running straight for the stuffed animals.

Fun fact: I used to have ALL of my stuffed animals lined up on my bed by size and height and refused to sleep in bed, because that was where they slept.  And the last stuffed animal I bought for myself was when I was 21 and in New York with my family. I bought it at the Museum of Natural History. I just can't help my love for fluffy stuffed animals. 

Lucy, you come by it honestly. 

We spent a solid hour or more at the Disney Store.

We colored:

Played with bouncy balls:

Tried on some sunglasses:

And made it outa there with just one bouncy ball. She had already gotten a doll and a hedgehog lovey, so a ball was all Princess got at the Disney Store. Poor thing.

We had been out shopping for several hours and we made our way back to the hotel. 

Lucy didn't get apparently didn't get enough while we were out shopping, so she broke into Aunt Camie's purse to see what she could find: 

Little thief. 

And she and Kiki spent some chill time watching that darn itsy bitsy spider....

More on the trip later, but so far, this trip was fantastic! Chicago is such a fun city and I loved being there with my favorite little girl and my mother and sister-in-law. Love you guys! 

Just a Mama...

I was recently at a party with a bunch of accomplished, young, beautiful, and wealthy women. Some of them mamas. Most of them married. All of them working. It was a really fun day and I truly enjoyed getting to know these ladies. They were lovely! These girls carried beautiful, designer purses, and I had my big ol' Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bag in tow. If that's not a picture, I don't know what is.

But part of getting to know new people is that you introduce yourself and talk about yourself, and you learn about the others as well. They wore job titles like financial analysts, private wealth advisors, bankers, and so on. When it came to my turn to say what I do for a living, this was my response:

"I'm just a mama." 

When I would respond, it was as if I physically shrugged my shoulders and was embarrassed. I almost wanted to skip my turn and go to the next girl, because for whatever reason, being "just a mama" wasn't good enough in my eyes.

Almost instantly, the devil began filling my mind with lies.

     You're not good enough. 
     Moms don't do anything. 
     How do you contribute to your family? 
     Your house isn't as nice as everyone else's. 
     Shouldn't you be working?
     Lucy doesn't need you.
     You should be doing more with your life. 
     Do more. 

Lies. Lies. Lies.

For the past few days, I've been fighting those lies. Thankfully, I'm well aware that those thoughts are strictly from the devil himself and that I have no business giving him any power. But he has this evil and personal way to really dig deep into one's insecurities. And that's exactly what's been happening with me. I've battled a myriad of insecurities my whole life and he knew precisely how to get me this time.

I had to remind myself that when I was a teacher and working retail, as much as I liked both jobs, I was not fulfilled. I vividly remember Jamie coming home from work one day shortly after Lucy was born. I was holding her and I looked up at him and said, "This is what I'm supposed to be doing. I finally feel like I'm fulfilling my calling in life. Being a mama is what I'm actually good at. I love my job."

That last sentence I definitely remember saying.

I. love. my. job. 

And I do!

You know what I do on a a day to day basis as "just a mama"?

I get to be the first one every day to go in and greet my baby girl. I get to come up with different breakfasts, lunches and dinners to make sure she is getting a healthy and balanced meal each day. I get to read to her a plethora of books throughout the day. Some of them over and over again. Brown bear brown bear what do you see?... I get to take her to the park and teach her how to go down a slide. I get to teach her about Jesus and have daily Bible studies (albeit quick and simple). I get to take her to the grocery store and show her how food and cooking and meals work. I get to play outside with her. I get to go to the library with her and take her to story time. I get to take her to swimming lessons. I get to watch her learn and grow and play and interact and observe. I get to hold her when she falls down and cries. I get to teach her songs and have dance parties. I get to set up forts under our kitchen table on rainy days. I get to teach her how to be nice to Leia. I get to teach her how to be nice to mommy. I get to take her to the zoo (all the time) and practice her animal sounds. I get to watch her do many "firsts". I get to teach her songs and even some sign language. I get to rock her to sleep and read her books at night time. I get to give her a bath and put her to bed at night.

Gosh, there are so many things that I am leaving out, but those are the things that "just a mama" gets to do. There has been a time in my life when I experienced great loss, and all I wanted to be was a mama. Just a mama.

And now I am. I hope I get to be a mama to a litter of baby Schoenthaler's because this has been the best job I've ever had. The greatest joy I've ever known.

I hope that whenever I'm in a room full of beautiful, successful, accomplished women again, that I can proudly say, "I'm a mama!" No just about it.

Thank you, Lucy, for giving me the most precious job in the world. Thank you, Jamie, for letting me stay home and have the best job in the world. Thank you, Jesus, for trusting me with the most important job in the world. To take care of one of Your own.

I love being a mama.

"Train up a child in the way he should go. Even when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6.

A Week in Tulsa with Papa Steve and Nana Lana

Right after our weekend in Arkansas with meme and papa, Lucy and I headed to Tulsa for Camp Nana Lana and Papa Steve. They were ready for a dose of Lucy girl. Oh yeah. And their daughter Abby. 

On that note, I've totally learned to become second class to my child. It's fine. She's much cuter and talks back a lot less than me. No offense taken here. 

While at my parents' house, we did lots of beauty shop...

And I'd say she loved it. 

She even rocked a few of Nana Lana's rollers! 

She discovered my parents' ice machine as well.

Don't you dare think that "it's just ice" because it most certainly isn't. They had an ice machine put in that makes "Sonic ice". If you don't know what Sonic ice is...well...everyone knows what Sonic ice is and now Lucy is in her 4th week of Ice Addicts Anonymous. She couldn't stop herself!

Leia did a fair share of cuteness at Nana and Papa's too.

Lucy did lots of reading by lamplight. 

Looking quite intelligent if I do say so myself.

Playing with her water baby from Aunt Camie and Uncle Spencer:

Fun fact: My parents got me a black water baby when I was a little girl for my birthday. I loved her and I love that my parents raised me to be colorblind. Thank you for that, mama and dooda! 

Oh heavens...more ice play...

On a positive note, she learned how to say "ice" on this trip!

I blew up a giant pool...by mouth...

No greater love, Lucy girl. No greater love.

We went to the zoo:

This kid has now been to the Lafayette Zoo approximately 4,000 times, the Gentry, AR zoo, Lincoln Park Zoo, Decatur, IL Zoo, Tulsa Zoo several times, and I'm sure I'm missing a few. She's gonna know her animals by the time she gets to big girl school! Noises and all. 

Who doesn't love a good petting zoo?

I'm totally not that kind of mom who's afraid of germs....oops :)

And would you believe that my child was more excited about the giraffe on the pop machine than any other REAL animal there?

I mean, she was legit excited about it...

We also dined at Cheesecake Factory--one of my favorites! 

We played some more outside.

My parents have a beautiful and large backyard with a fantastic patio. It's especially lovely when the weather is cooperating. 

Leia always likes a little outdoors time as well.

On a rainy day, my mom, Lucy and I headed to the Jenks Aquarium.

Turtles are my favorite!

NOT a fan of the alligator statue pose! 

Leia? Can you really be comfortable? 

And on Friday, my sister arrived in Tulsa for a couple of her baby showers! 

Baby Bun--my future niece--is due to greet the world in September, and we can hardly wait!

It was so fun celebrating baby Lobb and she is already so very loved by friends and family! 

I used my experience at Tenzie to wrap Angela's pretty gifts! 

Bubsy, don't you DARE touch that bow!!! 

I didn't realize that my baby shower babe and I matched until it was all over.

Uncle Cary came to visit and have dinner with his girls:

Sunday morning, we all rallied for church, and I ran into my precious pledge sister and one of my sweetest college friends, Emily at church! 

I had no idea they lived in Tulsa, much less went to my church but I was THRILLED to run into her! Love you, Miss Emily!!! 

And before we sent Angela (and Bun) back to Houston, we dined at Spaghetti  Warehouse after church.

Lucy's new favorite game is to play with Nana Lana's glasses. So that's what they did for a good long while after lunch on Sunday. 

Sunday night, my mom, Molly and Megan (two of my very bests) went to Wicked at the Tulsa PAC, and my dad was in charge of this classy lady:

The girls ready for WICKED!!!

Oh, and earlier in the week, I went to Braum's with my Big, Kendall. Braum's is my FAVORITE and I always always always get a dip cone with Twist frozen yogurt. Best ever!

And also throughout the week, we had to use the rocking sheep to block off the ice, because my addict of a baby couldn't keep herself away from the ice machine. I mean, just look at her!

Bubsy helped guard the ice too.

She is nothing if not determined.

Earlier in the week, we also took Lucy girl to Philbrook for some pictures with my dad. Unfortunately, she was not in the picture-taking mood. Out of about 200 pictures, there were about 5 or 6 that are "keepers". I got these cute pictures on my professional iPhone:

Hiking up the steps in her pretty white dress, chasing Philbrook's new cat:

Nice cheesing, little girl:

Outfit change:

Quick distraction with Nana's iPhone:

"Now how do I work this thing?"...

"Selfie!!!" 

Someone needs to let my child know that we are not a selfie-taking family...

We were there for less than half an hour before Lucy was DUN. Over it. Get me outa here!

This next picture says it all...

BYE!

I always love spending time with my parents and it is such a treat to share Lucy with them as well :) They were and are amazing parents and are now exceptional grandparents. Lucy has no idea how blessed she is. 

Thank you for an outstanding week, Mama and Dooda! Love you both more than you know!