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| Could she be any cuter? |
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| Sweet Sisters |
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| The Fam |
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Randomness
I click on my blog daily to read my fav. blogs from my blog list and then the thought comes to mind that I need to blog and then my next thought is...about what! Don't get me wrong...there is lots going on around here I assure you, but not so much that is blog worthy.
Ella is busy and growing and continues to fill our home with lots of laughter each day. She is really into playing pretend these days and I love to watch her. In fact, as I type this she is in her rose petal cottage with Minnie mouse in the highchair fixing her an orange. Although she is a girl on the go, she loves days like today when we have no real plans other than being lazy and playing around the house. My favorite saying of hers at the present is, "Why sure mommy, I'd love too!" She has done really well learning her ABC's and knows most of her letters and letter sounds. I highly recommend Tad's letter factory and leapfrog fridge phonics. She is spunky and sweet and I love her so much!
Eliza is growing....we had a pound and a half growth last month. WOW! She loves table food and seriously eats more than her big sister at most meals. She is pulling up and standing alone some now. When I go to put her down she wants to stand rather than sit. She is the sweetest little thing and we think she is trying to say Ella which sounds a lot like lalala. She cried for the first time when I left her in the nursery last week and when when start walking towards her class her little grip gets tighter and tighter around my arm. I cannot believe she is almost one. She is such a sweet little blessing!
Speaking of first birthdays...my sister, joy, was picking on me this morning for all my birthday planning. I really do love planning their birthdays, and I want to make sure I try to do the same for Eliza that i did for Ella's (not that they will remember). I think Eliza is going to have an owl party and Ella is going to have a carnival party this year. This will be Ella's first year to invite a few friends to her party. When I asked her what friends she wanted to come she only said , "Mrs. Sherry" who is her teacher at church. Their birthdays are two weeks apart so it will be a busy, but fun birthday season.
Life is still in limbo for us. We feel called to make some changes, yet unsure of our direction. We are knocking on some doors and seeking God's direction. We are downsizing and simplifying our house and lives, which is always a good thing. I am loving this two week break that Kev has before his busy fall begins.
Well, Eliza is done napping it's lunchtime for Ella. happy Wednesday!
Ella is busy and growing and continues to fill our home with lots of laughter each day. She is really into playing pretend these days and I love to watch her. In fact, as I type this she is in her rose petal cottage with Minnie mouse in the highchair fixing her an orange. Although she is a girl on the go, she loves days like today when we have no real plans other than being lazy and playing around the house. My favorite saying of hers at the present is, "Why sure mommy, I'd love too!" She has done really well learning her ABC's and knows most of her letters and letter sounds. I highly recommend Tad's letter factory and leapfrog fridge phonics. She is spunky and sweet and I love her so much!
Eliza is growing....we had a pound and a half growth last month. WOW! She loves table food and seriously eats more than her big sister at most meals. She is pulling up and standing alone some now. When I go to put her down she wants to stand rather than sit. She is the sweetest little thing and we think she is trying to say Ella which sounds a lot like lalala. She cried for the first time when I left her in the nursery last week and when when start walking towards her class her little grip gets tighter and tighter around my arm. I cannot believe she is almost one. She is such a sweet little blessing!
Speaking of first birthdays...my sister, joy, was picking on me this morning for all my birthday planning. I really do love planning their birthdays, and I want to make sure I try to do the same for Eliza that i did for Ella's (not that they will remember). I think Eliza is going to have an owl party and Ella is going to have a carnival party this year. This will be Ella's first year to invite a few friends to her party. When I asked her what friends she wanted to come she only said , "Mrs. Sherry" who is her teacher at church. Their birthdays are two weeks apart so it will be a busy, but fun birthday season.
Life is still in limbo for us. We feel called to make some changes, yet unsure of our direction. We are knocking on some doors and seeking God's direction. We are downsizing and simplifying our house and lives, which is always a good thing. I am loving this two week break that Kev has before his busy fall begins.
Well, Eliza is done napping it's lunchtime for Ella. happy Wednesday!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
He's still got it...
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| It's not quite as much fun when your body is half the length of the slide! |
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Ella loved playing on the slip-n-slide. She is still not totally sure how to get down it like daddy does! |
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| Eliza chillin in her pool! |
Friday, July 23, 2010
Fear and Faith
This week I have been faltering drastically between fear and faith. Last week we took a trip several hours north for the hubs to attend a weekend seminary class. He has been doing extension classes for almost 4 years now. His summer course required a two day class on campus. The girls and I tagged along for the weekend and we stayed in the "commuter housing" for a cheap 39$ a night. This was my third visit to the campus.
I went with my parents at the end of my senior year of college to "check it out." I didn't have a clue what I really wanted to do as a career and I thought their women's ministry degree looked interesting. I came home and decided to focus on teaching since I was almost done with my degree. Interestingly, it was the very day that we returned home from that visit that Kev's Aunt Pam called wanting to set us up on a blind date. I think we met for the first time two days later.
Kev and I visited the campus almost three years ago as he was beginning to go back to school. We were in the area and visiting some friends of ours. I was about 7 weeks pregnant with Ella and was a nervous wreck. I was petrified at the thought of moving away. I felt as though I needed my doctor (as she had been through our loss of Samuel and knew our history). I felt scared about leaving my family. We were just coming out of such a season of grief and loss that I wasn't ready to move. Honestly, I couldn't imagine moving so far from the cemetery where Samuel is buried. The thought of leaving...was more than I could handle and after lots of prayer we felt peace with staying and Kevin continuing to take courses on-line.
Over the past two years I have stumbled onto several blogs of women who's husbands have attended the same seminary. It has been neat to look into their lives from a distance and wonder if the Lord is calling us there too. Many of these families have since graduated and moved on, yet I am thankful that the Lord used their blogs to open my eyes more to this for our lives.
For a while now I have felt that perhaps now is the right time for us to make a move and for Kev to get this degree DONE! He will have a small portion of classes that he will have to take there. I feel the Lord changing my focus and giving me some new desires. For example, the desire to downsize and live a simpler life. The desire to step out once again on faith and live life solely dependent on Jesus to make our path. The desire to establish some new friends and see a new area. I actually think I felt more leading in this area than Kev did prior to visiting.
So we visited and I could feel some fear building in my heart. What will I do on the days when Kev is working and goes straight to class until like 10 at night? How will I deal with being in a new city with him so busy? Will I be so homesick? Will we really live in an 800 square foot apartment? What will we do with all our stuff? Where will we go to church? Will I find friends? Will Kev find a job? Will I have money to still buy groceries? And the fear continued.
So here I am faltering between stepping out of the boat or sinking with fear. I am praying that the Lord will guide our path as He always has, and lead us to what He has for us. I do know that if you never get out of the boat...you never see His provision in your own life. I have seen many times before that Faith honors God and God honors faith. I have experienced that His plans for me are so much better and well suited for me than I would choose on my own. I have also learned that the narrow path, the way of faith is sometimes hard and requires great sacrifice. Oh Lord, help me.
I went with my parents at the end of my senior year of college to "check it out." I didn't have a clue what I really wanted to do as a career and I thought their women's ministry degree looked interesting. I came home and decided to focus on teaching since I was almost done with my degree. Interestingly, it was the very day that we returned home from that visit that Kev's Aunt Pam called wanting to set us up on a blind date. I think we met for the first time two days later.
Kev and I visited the campus almost three years ago as he was beginning to go back to school. We were in the area and visiting some friends of ours. I was about 7 weeks pregnant with Ella and was a nervous wreck. I was petrified at the thought of moving away. I felt as though I needed my doctor (as she had been through our loss of Samuel and knew our history). I felt scared about leaving my family. We were just coming out of such a season of grief and loss that I wasn't ready to move. Honestly, I couldn't imagine moving so far from the cemetery where Samuel is buried. The thought of leaving...was more than I could handle and after lots of prayer we felt peace with staying and Kevin continuing to take courses on-line.
Over the past two years I have stumbled onto several blogs of women who's husbands have attended the same seminary. It has been neat to look into their lives from a distance and wonder if the Lord is calling us there too. Many of these families have since graduated and moved on, yet I am thankful that the Lord used their blogs to open my eyes more to this for our lives.
For a while now I have felt that perhaps now is the right time for us to make a move and for Kev to get this degree DONE! He will have a small portion of classes that he will have to take there. I feel the Lord changing my focus and giving me some new desires. For example, the desire to downsize and live a simpler life. The desire to step out once again on faith and live life solely dependent on Jesus to make our path. The desire to establish some new friends and see a new area. I actually think I felt more leading in this area than Kev did prior to visiting.
So we visited and I could feel some fear building in my heart. What will I do on the days when Kev is working and goes straight to class until like 10 at night? How will I deal with being in a new city with him so busy? Will I be so homesick? Will we really live in an 800 square foot apartment? What will we do with all our stuff? Where will we go to church? Will I find friends? Will Kev find a job? Will I have money to still buy groceries? And the fear continued.
So here I am faltering between stepping out of the boat or sinking with fear. I am praying that the Lord will guide our path as He always has, and lead us to what He has for us. I do know that if you never get out of the boat...you never see His provision in your own life. I have seen many times before that Faith honors God and God honors faith. I have experienced that His plans for me are so much better and well suited for me than I would choose on my own. I have also learned that the narrow path, the way of faith is sometimes hard and requires great sacrifice. Oh Lord, help me.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Long days, Short Years
I read an article in a local Parent Magazine and it was entitled, Long days, Short Years. As soon as I read the title, I completely related. Somedays, I feel as though I am breezing through this stage of motherhood, cherishing the snuggles, the messes, the fun conversations with Ella, and the joy that my girls bring to me. Other days are LONG and it is all I can do to make it until I hear the beep of their daddy's remote alarm locking his car and we see him walk in the door. Somedays I feel overwhelmed with discipline, tantrums and selfishness, that it leaves me questioning my methods and job as a mom. Some days are LONG.
When I look at my Ella who has completely lost her baby look except when she cries and I can still see that little round face that and pouty lower lip that I fell so deeply in love with almost three years ago...I cannot believe she is growing into such a little girl. When I realize that Eliza is not too far from walking, eating real food, and is changing into a busy and moving toddler..... I wonder how in the world has time past so fast. It makes me want nothing more than to slow us down and bottle up every little second with my little girls.
I want to cherish them each day...even on the LONG days when I feel like a rotten mom. Even on the days when we've done nothing but play in the playroom, make more messes than anyone can count, and practice the art of sharing for the one billionth time. I want to love them as you love them Lord and teach them to love you supremely. Lord, Help me value these SHORT years on the LONG days!
When I look at my Ella who has completely lost her baby look except when she cries and I can still see that little round face that and pouty lower lip that I fell so deeply in love with almost three years ago...I cannot believe she is growing into such a little girl. When I realize that Eliza is not too far from walking, eating real food, and is changing into a busy and moving toddler..... I wonder how in the world has time past so fast. It makes me want nothing more than to slow us down and bottle up every little second with my little girls.
I want to cherish them each day...even on the LONG days when I feel like a rotten mom. Even on the days when we've done nothing but play in the playroom, make more messes than anyone can count, and practice the art of sharing for the one billionth time. I want to love them as you love them Lord and teach them to love you supremely. Lord, Help me value these SHORT years on the LONG days!
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Different girls same Get-up!
The first picture is ella at 9 months and the second is Eliza at 9 months. Friday, July 9, 2010
Eliza's late update (8 and 9 months)
I am terribly late on updating my blog on Eliza's growth and stats. I love being able to look back and see what she was doing at different stages as she grows. I am so late posing this time...seeing that she is almost 10 months! I cannot believe her first year is almost over. I have already begun thinking about her first birthday, knowing that it will be here before I know it.
At nine months:
She gets upset when sissy takes toys from her or when mommy has put her somewhere to sit and walks by without getting her. She goes to sleep well, but is often very fussy if she gets woken up early by....sissy!
At nine months:
Eliza weighs about 16 pounds and is 28 inches long. I have vowed to stop worrying about why she is a little on the smaller side in weight, and just accept that God made her that way. She is rather petite and dainty and such a sweetie. I am still nursing her twice a day and she is taking formula for three feedings. I hope to wean her by her first birthday. This has helped us so much because she was not wanting to nurse much at all during the day. She was distracted by every peep her big sister made...and her sister makes lots of those. I felt like I was spending all day trying to get her to nurse...which is not fun and restricing to what we could do. Her drinking some formula has helped so much because I can monitor exactly how much she has taken in and I'm not constantly having to nurse and stop and nurse and stop. Things are just different when you have more than one child and I am learning to monitor and adjust! This was a great adjustment for us.
Eliza is now on the move. She is pulling up and starting to cruise from one item/furniture to another. She loves crawling after her sister. She follows Ella all over the house. Eliza is becoming more and more of a daddy's girl and wanted him over mommy for the first time the other day. I could tell this made his day! She has got the cutest little wave and can blow a kiss. She loves to clap and patty cake and loves her little pink blankie square like crazy. She loves to nuzzle her face right in it and love it like she's missed it all day. She generally crawls while carrying it in one hand. She can hold her own cup now and she likes to drink it in the swing. A few weeks ago, she began refusing to eat more than a bite or two of anything on a spoon. I was leary to start her on table food since she had no teeth, but she has done great. She is a little eating machine. Last night she sat and ate continually for about 35 minutes. So far she has tried: peas and carrots, black beans, baked beans, avocado, rice, pasta, chicken, bread, tortilla, banana, apples, pears, and peaches (cooked and softened). She pretty much has eaten anything we have given her so far...and don't worry Mimi, I mush it all really good!
She gets upset when sissy takes toys from her or when mommy has put her somewhere to sit and walks by without getting her. She goes to sleep well, but is often very fussy if she gets woken up early by....sissy!Eliza, I love you so much. I love when I pick you up and you pat my back. I love when you say mama. I love to watch you eat and make a huge mess, because I know you are getting your little tummy nice and full. I love to watch you chase your sister around the house. I love to see you get excited when daddy walks in the door. I love to watch you reach your hand out of the car seat to hold onto sissy's hand. I love to hear your little squeals and laughs. I love seeing how happy your blankie makes you. I love you and I think you are such a wonderful little girl. I am so thankful that the Lord preserved your little life throughout some challenging times in your pregnancy and I am so thankful that He has a wonderful plan for you. Love, mommy
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