I am thankful for ...

My precious family. Lola, Jeff and Amelia. They are my world. They are as important to me as the air I breathe.

Our buddy Adyson. She is two weeks younger than Amelia and is her first true friend. We are crazy about this gal.

Cousins Payton and Kelsey. Amelia adores these girls. They are growing by leaps and bounds. It seems like yesterday that they were babies. Now they are living examples for Amelia of what it means to be a proper young lady. Cousin Zoey was unavailable for this photo session, but, let it be known, we love her bunches too.

That silly Grandmaw!! Even when recovering from surgery she knows how to get a laugh out of us. We love her terribly and are so, so grateful for her.

Goofy, crazy cousin Parker. He's a rough and tumble boy who has a sweet tender heart. He's also really good at causing Amelia to erupt into fits of giggles.

Dear sweet Jillian. Long before we met her Amelia was fascinated with China. Having Jillian as one of our dearest friends not only made China real for Amelia, but also allowed her to gain what we hope is a life-long friend.

Sweet Ms. Jennifer. Not only is she a terrific hairstylist, but she is also a true-blue friend. I can call on her for almost anything. She's always willing to lend a hand, an ear or her heart.

It's hard to imagine life before Ms. Sunny, who's holding 1-month old Lola. She welcomed us into her, Jillian and Jason's life with open arms. I have never had "girlfriends," but now that I've found precious Sunny I know what I've been missing. She loves us unconditionally, is deeply loyal and can be called on with a minute's notice and will do her best to accommodate any request.

Amelia has made friends with only two boys at her preschool. "Mufaniel" is one. He's a good kid who always seems thrilled to see my little girl. I love that she is willing to welcome friends of both sexes into her life and am grateful Nathaniel has turned out to be a good friend.

Preschool buddies Emily Ann, left, and Mary Margaret. These gals have taught Amelia so much about how to navigate the sometimes choppy waters of friendship. Additionally, Mary Margaret's momma, Ms. Lindsey, has become one of my most favorite people. I love her honesty and openness.

Love, love, love. Seeing my girls together is a living, breathing example of true honest love. I am so proud I am able to raise them in a free country, provide for their needs and show them two loving, honest parents who plan to be together forever.

Too, too sweet

I knew it was bound to happen, but I'd convinced myself I was out of the woods. I was wrong.

Just over a week ago I learned I am pre-diabetic. I had gestational diabetes during both of my pregnancies. During Amelia's gestation my condition was well controlled by watching my diet and keeping a strict check on my blood sugar. However, while I was pregnant with Lola my diabetes came on hard and fast and was not well controlled. It was as if nothing I did to try and keep it in check made a difference. I told my doctor one time that I believed I could have eaten nothing but cardboard and would have still had high blood sugar.

After Lola's delivery my blood sugar numbers dropped back to normal rather quickly. I wish I could say I continued to try to eat well, but in the months after she was born I ate anything and everything while trying to deal with her horrible reflux. I ate to for comfort more than necessity, which is why I quickly put on about 15 pounds.

Gaining the weight bothered me, but when I finally started trying to eat healthily as a means of dealing with it I noticed some strange symptoms that bothered me even more. I was fatigued terribly. Like there were times when I was driving that I felt as though I could have pulled the car to the side of the road and taken a nap. The slightest bit of exertion left me so lethargic, and I was going to bed before my kids trying to sleep as much as possible. Also I was constantly hungry and was craving sugar.

I knew this wasn't normal, and my doctor agreed. He sent me for a barrage of tests most of which, thankfully, came back normal. My fasting blood sugar and cholesterol levels were both high though.

It wasn't as if I wasn't expecting these results. I mean I knew it was a serious possibility, and I know I am fat. My OB-GYN's nurse warned me repeatedly that I was just asking to get full-blown Type II diabetes, but I turned a deaf ear to her pronouncements I guess expecting denial to protect me.

But these test results combined with the fact I now have to take a maintenance drug to keep my blood sugar in check served as a disturbing wake-up call. Additionally, I am always aware that my daddy died at age 43 of hereditary heart disease. That's just 8 years older than I am now.

However, my giant wake-up call came from Amelia who one day while watching me get dressed told me I should eat less food because I am fat and she worries about me being fat. My heart aches every time I recall this moment.

Now I am eating smaller portions, taking in more fruits and vegetables and less carbohydrates and processed foods and trying really hard to eat most of my calories early in the day rather than late at night, which was the norm for me in the past.

When I head to the kitchen nowadays I try to think about what Amelia said and try to ask myself whether I am hungry or just looking for comfort. It's all hard, and some days I do better than others, but I know it will get easier and hopefully eventually become habit. My greatest wish is that I can conquer this demon so that my girls can see me as a good example and so I can live to be that example to them.

Love is...

Having two happy and healthy children whose little smiles can melt my heart and make me forget all my troubles.

Having a good man who is not only a stupendous husband and daddy but also my honest-to-goodness very best friend.

Can you spare a Bumbo?

I am putting out the call to my friends, followers, admirers, etal that I am looking to borrow a Bumbo for baby Lola.

I didn't have one of these for Amelia as she preferred to spend her time rolling from one end of the living room to the other. Although Lola also enjoys traversing the floor like a little beer barrel she really enjoys sitting up, which is good considering both her pediatrician and gastroenterologist recommends it as a means of easing her reflux symptoms.

Being a thrifty momma I was taken aback at the $40 price tag for this nifty little sitting assistant. I checked eBay, my go-to bargain-hunting website, to see if I could find one for less than retail but discovered these in-demand items aren't going for much less on there.

In the spirit of frugality I am now seeking to borrow one. I know many mommas and am hoping of these ladies might have a Bumbo they'd be willing to part with for a few months. I hate to drop $40 on a item that Lola might not even like or, if she does like it, one that I would only use for a few months.

Can anyone out there in bloggerland help? Or do you know someone else who might be of assistance? Let's talk. Maybe I have something you need to borrow. I'd be willing to work something out if that be the case.

Wrapping up the week

Whew! What a week it's been. We were on the road every day last week.

Monday was visitation day at dance class, Tuesday I took Lola to the doctor and then we all celebrated fall at the home of Richard and LeeAnne McElrath who graciously invited everyone from Amelia's preschool out for a fun-filled day (many thanks to them); Wednesday was a trip to the doctor for Amelia; Thursday was a trip to Wal-Mart (ugh!) and Friday was sugar day! No seriously on Friday Amelia got to enjoy a Halloween party at school and then had a ball trick-or-treating that night.

Enjoy the photo collage of the week's events. I don't yet have photos from the fall fun day, but intend to get copies from Ms. Sunny, who, by the way, deserves many thanks for chauffeuring Amelia to the McElrath's.

Our little dancing queen, Amelia, far left, and her fellow dancer and one of her best friends, Jillian, second from left, strutting their stuff in dance class last Monday.

Lola watching her sister perform in dance class. She laughed so many times during the performance. She really enjoyed seeing the little girls show us their moves.

Lola celebrated Halloween in a precious three-piece outfit from Belk. Although her bib is covering it, her shirt had an adorable witch on it. Her booties, which would not stay on her feet, also had the witch on them. I'd planned to recycle Amelia's first costume, a Tom Arma cow, for Lola, but she's too tiny to wear it. It's so big on her she absolutely swam in it.

Our little princess. Amelia is so girly, which is why her choice of costume was perfect for her. She absolutely loved what I put together for her, except she would have preferred that her dress had gone all the way to the floor. I think she looks precious regardless.

Amelia and one of her dearest friends, Mary Margaret. These girls hit it off earlier this summer at a meet-and-greet playdate for their preschool and have been buddies ever since. Mary Margaret celebrated her fifth birthday Saturday with a skating party. We had a blast and loved getting to be part of her special day.