My agoraphobic introvert

I have a little girl who has always been shy.  Even as an infant, she clung unto mommy anytime anyone else was around.  It took a long time, but ever so slowly she started coming out of her shell.  It helped that her big sister is such an extrovert, she started following her around bit by bit.  Anytime we went somewhere, it'd take her forever to warm up and get comfortable.  But now like at church, she is completely fine, she's used to it.  At 3, she's FINALLY comfortable in each family's house, and will even talk to and hug her uncles and papa (this is a very recent development).  But in other areas she's gotten much worse.  And it breaks my heart.  She cannot handle new places at all.  She shuts down and freaks out and has to be held by one of us.  If you combine a new place plus crowded, oooh boy, poor baby girl in in a nightmare.  Now that I am busy with the baby, I can't always hold her, so she just holds onto my legs.  I feel bad for her, my heart breaks.  I want to hold her but sometimes it's not possible.  I contantly comfort her and tell her it's ok.  I hold her hand.  I'm not exactly sure what goes on through her mind, but I hate that she's scared.  It breaks my heart.

Today we went out to eat at a new restaurant.  We were with family. The restaurant was full and super loud (she doesn't like loud either).  She begged me to hold her, but the baby was crying.  The biggest problem was that daddy had run to the car, but as soon as he got back, he held her.  She sat with him almost the entire time.  He finally found ways to slowly calm her down and get her to be more comfortable.  In a way he does that a lot better than me.  He colored with her, talked to her, made her laugh and eventually got her a fun game on his iphone to distract her.  By the end of the night she was actually walking around and laughing.

I just wish she didn't have to go through that every time we went somewhere.  I hate it for her and I don't even know if I'm handling it right.  I don't want to force her to come out of her "shyness".  It's more than that.  I just pray we're doing the right thing by trying to make her as comfortable as possible until she's ready to warm up to new environments.  At least that's what my mommy senses are telling me to do...

My prince and I

I'm so super thankful for this man of mine!  He is truly the best and I don't know what I did to deserve him.  He works hard to provide for our family and take care of us.  I love this man!!!!!!!
So thankful to end another year with him and begin another one :)

Merry Christmas!!!

Crazy to look at this picture and see 3 little children :)  We are blessed and I'm so thankful for God's blessings!  This season has been a busy one for us, but I have been reminding myself to enjoy the craziness and make memories with my sweet family!!! 

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!!!!