Flat Tire in the Parking Lot

We became mini-vanners last year, and have had very few problems with our 2006 go-to vehicle. We did replace some parts earlier this week on it, and then after our date walking around IKEA today, some of the pedestrians in the parking lot waved us down to say one of our tires had flattened.

Heavenly Father blessed us in many ways today. Firstly, my amazing husband was with me in the van I often drive with the kids. Secondly, the snow which fell earlier and later in the day had taken a break. Thirdly, the kids were on a trip with Grandma and Grandpa. Fourthly, we had the vehicle manual to explain how to access the spare tire. Fifthly, we did actually have a spare tire and a jack. Sixthly, it happened in the parking lot after we'd finished our errands, rather than on the freeway or during a drive we plan to take on Sunday. Seventhly, we had an extra black jacket and some sneakers for kneeling. I'm very blessed.

Embarrassingly, the first time I had a flat tire, I didn't even stop. I tried to give a friend a ride home, only to feel something wobbly as I drove. I turned around to go back to our friend's house, when my tire popped off of my silvery blue 1986 Chevy Cavalier .We walked the rest of the way to the friend's house, and I called for a ride. I didn't even think to replace the tire, which as a teenager who owned the car, I should have thought to do. During the winter we're not supposed to park on the road, in case the roads need to be cleared by a plow, so in the middle of the night, the police called my parents' house to ask why my car was on the side of the road, and that it needed to be moved. Around 1:00 A.M. my dad and I drove there to put on the spare and take it to a shop. Apparently, driving on a flat and turning isn't the best idea, and I had ruined the rim already. It all worked out in the end, but I do feel bad for inconveniencing my dad when I should have tried to do it myself in the first place. Thanks for your help, Dad. I still remember many of the inconvenient ways you've helped throughout my troublesome life (although I'm sure I don't remember the majority of the times you've helped me in abundance). I love you, Dad.

Thanks, Zak, for helping me again so I didn't ruin our van. You are knowledgable beyond measure.

Toss Her Cares and Curls Away

My delightful Miss V has lots of hair, was born with plenty from the start. At first she'd let us put in little bows and headbands, but as her thick hair grew, so did the cries when we tried to comb her hair. She pulled out the bows, headbands, and flowers. We went to church with bedhead some weeks. I wanted to let her hair grow until she cut it herself or we could donate it somewhere, and recently it reached the minimum length for donation. It was in everyone's best interest to cut it. We've trimmed her bangs, but the time came, as Thoroughly-Modern-Millie read, to "toss your cares and curls away."

I decided to have one more day of blonde ringlets before her first haircut.

Now of Miss V's haircut masterpiece by Aunt Niki

For the most part, the cut helped her hair naturally curl under, and the combing and screams only last for a couple minutes instead of ten or more. We love it!

Miss V's First Dental Visit

Miss V, Mommy, and Daddy have been brushing V's teeth for a while, but we finally decided the time had come for her to visit the dentist. I found a pediatric dentist who takes our insurance, and he and his staff turned out to be very friendly and helpful. V wore a smiley face lead vest for the x-ray, and the dental assistant explained the process as she proceeded. Miss V is a thumb-sucker, but she knew not to put her hand near her mouth. The hygienist told her to put her hands on her tummy or by her side, but every once in a while she'd get nervous and raise her arms as if to do jazz hands. I held her hand a couple times to comfort. She got to watch Tom & Jerry on the flat screen mounted on the ceiling. The whole time she listened to the staff, and opened her mouth nice and wide or whispered, "Aahh." In the end she chose a bouncy ball as her prize.

The dentist voiced that Miss V has a beautiful smile and set of teeth. They're a little tight, so we get to start flossing in the front now, but they are in great condition. The dentist recommended we not worry about the thumb-sucking, and just use some positive reinforcement when we see her not sucking her thumb for a fair length of time. 

While they cleaned and examined her teeth, I couldn't help but have one of those moments of realization. She is not a baby anymore. She lay on the chair, answering questions and doing as the dentist requested. She is growing up, and is farther along in some ways than I realized. Oh boy, I'm going to have older kids some day, then teenagers, and someday not that far in the future my little babies will be adult children. Whoa.

First Christmas Dress

I love watching my adorable baby girl, especially this Christmas season. I can't believe it's been a year since we found out about her. After we told Mom, she ran out and bought some Christmas clothes in the post-holiday sale, before we knew whether V was a boy or girl.