Give Us HAM!

This has been quite the last several days. Without going into all the details let's just say that my two snapped in half teeth, may one rest in peace, have been causing trouble (and by trouble, I mean I was ready to chop my head off for surely that could only feel better!) After more dental specialists, an attempted root canal with complications, a newly scheduled one, and the death of the nerve causing the majority of the issues... I am finally getting some relief.

With that said, I could really use some more relief- this time of the comic variety. So, let me show you what has kept me insanely sane. You might know her already, that toddler of ours, Hope Yell-ye-on-a Martins. She's at it again.

Monday and just in time for Daddy's birthday surprise she decorated, not only his banner, but herself. I am still scratching my head as to how the rogue, permanent Sharpie made its way into her pencil box among all the Colorsafe markers and washable crayons. But I knew when I heard the words, "Show Mommy!" it was either time to applaud or take a deep breath. I didn't know it would mean a bath, a real scrub dinger of a one, in the middle of the day:
Or today, while on the phone with a sweet neighbor offering to bring us dinner, that she would suddenly decide she has a potential career in fashion. Come on. Didn't you do the off the shoulder thing back in the 80's yourself? Here's Hope helping the trend make a comeback:

Throughout the year Joe and I try to collect little funny sayings or things she does. Last year we compiled a list of these which we called "Hopeisms" to share just before her first birthday. We've tried to do the same thing this year, but because there have been so many lately we thought we'd give you a sneak peek by giving away some now.

Just the other day Hope and one of her babies were trying to "jump with the boys and girls at church" (A song we sing throughout the week, composed by Joe himself, to get her excited about staying the whole time in the church nursery without Mommy or Daddy. Hope also spins, eats cookies, colors, laughs, plays, prays, etc.-- all with the boys and girls at church. Too bad it's more fun to sing about that at home than to actually do it there. But we'll sing on.) Anyway, she jumped one time too hard and Baby came crashing down on her toe. Dramatically she came running over to me holding up Baby and her foot and shouting, "Call Dr. Chambers! Oh, call Dr. Chambers!" This would be our pediatrician. And our budding actress.

While playing around the family room one morning Hope decided she wanted to come cuddle up with Maddie and I on the couch to read a book. There wasn't much room so she started to fling things in the floor. Without me reminding her not to throw and especially not to throw her books, she suddenly came to the Toddler Bible she adores. Very gingerly she picked it up and said, "Uh-scuse (Excuse) me Jesus" and put it on the table.

How about one more for good measure? Hmm, let's see... oh yes, when Joe got home on his birthday night Hope was in her chair "helping" me make dinner. She responded with her typical excited shout of "Daddy's home! I told you!" (Don't ask me why she says, "I told you" as if I don't believe her, but it really cracks me up). Then Joe asked her what she had done that day. She took a moment to think about it and then replied, "Went to pumpkin patch. Mmmhmm." (Again, don't ask me why she has started saying "Mmmhmm" after telling us things. I'm beginning to wonder if I unknowingly do these things myself?) Surprised, especially since my mouth had been in so much pain, Joe looked at me questionably as I shook my head no. But he carried on. "Well, Hopey, what did you do at the pumpkin patch?" "Picked Maddie pumpkin. Mmmhmm." "So, you went to the pumpkin patch AND got Maddie a pumpkin." "Yeah!" (Big grin). So either we have a child with some real creative play or a story telling fibber. I choose to believe she's creative. Don't you?

Crazy thing is that in days, quickly approaching days, to come we'll not just have "Hopeisms." We'll be throwing some "HAMisms" in there too. Oh you know, Hope AND Maddie times.
Mmmhmm. I told you.