A Picture and Two Videos

Here is my new favorite picture...although a bit blurry.

This video is from last night. Heidi and Gracie were being too cute. I think Jess said that Heidi's mannerisms reminded her of an ape, haha, but it could have also been her dad that said that.



Here is one more that showcases Jael's singing talents and her ability to boss her cousin, Millie (or Mae as Jael calls her), around.

Christmas Lights Adventure

We had our 2nd annual "Going To Walk Around A Neighborhood With Really Cool Christmas Lights." Lots of fun. Bittersweet since I think mom initiated the first annual "Going To Walk Around A Neighborhood With Really Cool Christmas Lights."

The first two pictures are from the first annualGTWAANWRCCL. On the first one I messed with the exposure so that you can see mom's face a little better - she is just filled with joy looking at Jael experience this for the first time. The second picture I think she looks so stinkin' cute. Like one of the kids so excited to be on Santa's sleigh and staring at Millie. It definitely seems like she likes those grandbabies.

I'm pretty sure if you click on the pictures you can see more details.

So last night was really fun. My girls and I, Rob & Jess and girls, and Doug & Tory and girls (minus Hannah) all went. When it came time to ride on Santa's sleigh Jael was too scared to get on. The first picture below is of Jael and the babies sitting the ride out. I tried to get Jael to look at the camera, but she was far too concerned with Santa's sleigh coming back around to possibly look at me. The second picture is of the group who went on the sleigh...well you can't see everyone. And the last is of Jael's Uncle Doug giving her a ride on his shoulders.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

"Get back here, now!"

This is how we started the day this morning, only the words did not come from my lips. Jael declared this to me with a mother's tone as I walked away from my bed with Heidi in my arms. Apparently she wanted me to pick her up and carry her out of the bedroom as well. She also pointed right next to her to emphasize where "here" was. To make a long story short, she eventually ended up in her bed in tears. We did recover with a little love and a showing of Veggie Tales "The Christmas Star."

New Videos

I know I'm a lame blogger, but I'm definitely not worse that my sister and brother-in-law. Here are some videos. The one with Jael being a pirate is from Halloween day. The one with Jael and Millie playing with the balls is from mid-November and the one with Heidi and Grace is from yesterday. Hope you enjoy.

Today I choose to...

...act in love towards my family no matter what!
...put myself under the authority of our President Elect and pray for him as God has told me to do.
...seek justice for those around me any way that I can.
...put my health on the forefront! (after this gift of lunch I rec'd from a much-loved co-worker)
...worship my God as He deserves.
...smile when I think of my mom who is worshiping God with me.

What do you choose to do today? I'd love to hear about it.

Our Family Near Death Experience

Ok...so that's a stretch. Last night we had a really bad storm come through our town. I said to Erik, "It looks all green outside - sign of tornado weather." I have no idea where exactly that theory comes from except to say that I remember knowing that as a kid in Illinois. A minute later we start hearing a siren going off and I turned on the radio which said that there was lots of rotation in Daytona Beach and Holly Hill. So all four of us went and hung out in our hallway and had a little tornado "drill" for a good 10 minutes. Seems kind of silly now, but it was a bit scary.

I Need....

Jael's latest thing is that she "needs" everything. Here are just a few...

"I need to go outside."
"I need a cheese crisp."
"I need to go to church."
"I need to go that way." - This one is said while in the car or stroller.
Today at Jess's house it was, "I need Veggie Tales."

Another cute thing is that yesterday I was walking into the living room and tripped into the tv making a loud noise. Jael was in the other room with her dad and calls out, "Are you ok mommy?" And I said yes. Then she says, "Do you need some help?" Haha! So cute and so sweet. She is getting so verbal and creative - it's so much fun!

Here is a picture just for fun.

Jael's Amazing Jumping Hug

Jael has started this new routine where after I get her dressed on her changing table she gives me a "jumping hug". I'm sure at this point you are wondering...what IS a jumping hug exactly. I'm glad you asked:






If you can't tell from the pictures, this is heaven in a hug. Makes my tummy giggle every time.

Ba Ba Ba

Heidi's first "word"...

Video Fun

This first video was taken by Erik and is actually quite a bit longer than I had thought it was (now I know why it took so long to upload). I just watched like the first minute and thought it was too cute.



This video I took while my niece, Abby, was spending the night last weekend. You can see where she built a tent (I tried to explain that we called those forts back in "my day", but she insisted it was a tent). Plus a little fun with Heidi.

Picture Fun

A face to eat up. You know you wanna.












Jan (Grandma) and the girls...so sweet.












Sharing secrets already...

Coffee

Who knew I would ever be a coffee drinker? I'm not sure exactly what did it, but I have a few ideas listed for your ease of reading:

1. Kids, Kids, Kids
2. Lack so sleep (see #1)
3. New diet - I'm off of pop and need some caffeine
4. With Mike Waers leaving I am the only one at work who doesn't drink coffee (peer pressure)
5. My husband started drinking coffee
6. I'm finally resigned to being an adult and that's what adults do
7. It's yummers with just a little bit of Splenda

Hats of to the Super Nanny

This is a follow-up post to my previous one about Jael and her going to bed. The second and third nights where horrible. She kept getting up and then we would "discipline" her for getting up over and over again. She never seemed too discouraged by this and on this would go for about 2 hours. So frustrating. We got tired of "disciplining" and it obviously wasn't being effective.

We decided to try it the Supernanny way. I've actually tried this approach before and either I did it wrong before or she was just too stubborn to care. Anyways...the Supernanny method is to put them to bed with lots of love. When they come out the first time you tell them it's time for bed and put them back in bed. The second time you just say "bed" and then put them back to bed. Every time after that you just lead them back to bed never speaking to them or making eye contact.

So last night we did it and I couldn't believe her response. She got soooo mad! Our regular "disciplining" methods never got her this upset before - I really think that this method was so much more effective for her personality. I stuck to it and within about 20 minutes she was out. Erik put her down for her nap today and she went right out. Thank you Jo. :-)

Edit: Wanted to add that tonight I put Jael to bed and she didn't come out of her room even once. Also, wanted to add that I don't get enjoyment about how much this upset her the first time we did it. It was just reassuring to know that it was being effective. Usually our other methods bring about laughing and smiles.

She's A Spirited Child

Oh my Jael. Such life. Such spirit. She fully experiences every moment of life and we have to just go along for the ride and help her to not get herself hurt. So last night we put Jael back in her toddler bed (we tried this once before and it worked for a few weeks). I was worried because last time we tried it she would get up a hundred times before falling asleep - it wasn't fun. It was going great - she only got out of her bed ONCE. Well about 45 minutes after she was first put down I decided to check on her again. I figured she was asleep because I hadn't heard her talking for a little while. I open the door to her room to see her in her bed, looking right at me as she was buck naked and playing with her play cell phone. Totally serious look on her face. I ended up closing the door and started laughing and called Erik to come and see his daughter. When we went in there she asked if it was time to get up. What a kid! Nearly 2 hours after she first went to bed she finally fell asleep. Fun times.

It Was Good

So this blog isn't so much about my kids, but about my mom. And really I'm not ready to write about her on here yet. I just found this picture and remember what a fun day it was. This was on Christmas day 2001. It became a tradition to go to the beach on Christmas day - just because we could. I remember mom laughing at me because I kept running after groups of seagulls that had landed on the sand and watch them all fly away.

For now, if you want to know more about my mom you can visit her website at memoriesofnannie.com.

Jael's Comedy Hour

Heidi has found her voice...

...or maybe I'm just hearing for it the first time. This is a video of Heidi just talking away to me and to her sister. I thought it was great and just had to share it. Hope you enjoy.

Shout out to my dad...Happy Father's Day!!!!!!!!!! Wish I was there with you. Love you so much.

Heidi

Here is a most recent video of miss Heidi. She has such a sweet, calm spirit. She loves to hold her feet...so cute. :-)

Jael

Just wanted to share this gorgeous picture of Jael that my sister, Audra, took of her the other day. We had a great Memorial Day weekend. Audra, Jael, and I went to Rock Springs on Saturday and went tubing - we had a blast! Erik's brothers and their families came as well and it was just a really fun day.

Then on Memorial Day we went to Erik's parent's house and Jael got to swim there and then we went to my parent's house and she got to swim in a kiddie pool there. Lots of water fun!

Miss Independent

Short little post...last night I heard two thuds then crying. I realize immediately that Jael has fallen out of her toddler bed. I go in there really quick and by the time I walk in the door she has gotten back in bed, reinserted thumb into mouth, and quickly falls back to sleep. I give a little mommy head rub, walk out, and realize that my little girl did not need mommy to comfort her!! How did this happen? She doesn't need me anymore. Next thing you know I'll be hearing, "Ugh, mom you're so embarrassing." And then college. Then kids - which I'm sure my advice will be sub-par since I haven't had kids in SO LONG.

And this is only the beginning...

TWO!!

So I'm getting scared of 2 - Jael turning 2 that is. She is already very willful and has a short fuse for things not going her way. Last night at my moms condo we spent an hour battling. But, we had a wonderful time before that swimming in the pool, which she LOVES this year. Sweet and sour - that's my girl. She now says "hold you" when she wants me to hold her. So sweet. She also says NO about a 100 times a day - a bit sour. I couldn't imagine a day without her. Love you baby!

Too cute

How cute is she? She is getting such a great personality and I can already see her sweet spirit!! The last two mornings Jael has come into our bed and she lays with Heidi and I for awhile. It is such a special time I get to have with my girls. I am blessed.

I don't remember being that scared!!

First of all, it took a lot for me to even post a picture of me in my present condition. On top of that my facial expression is embarrassing. But man is it funny. Seriously the slide is like ten feet high and the bottom is a soft cushion landing. What was I thinking??? Jael has the right attitude!

By the way, this is at the Relay for Life event that I walked in for my mom. Our church team, that my mom was captain of, raised over $4,000!!

My God is so cool!

So we had a vehicle mishap that cost us all but about $7 in our bank account. I don't get paid until Friday. How are we going to have enough money for groceries and gas 'til then? I was worried this morning, but strangely at peace because I knew that somehow we would get by. We may have to scrape by on peanut butter and jelly and inviting ourselves over to my parents house for dinner...but we would we make it.

Guess what? In the mail today someone had sent us a Wal-Mart gift card! How awesome is that!!?? And we have a Neighborhood Market here and so we can use our gift card to get gas. What perfect timing!! God's timing IS perfect.

Praying for patience...

Here is a picture of Jan with Mille, Heidi, and Trinity from a few days ago. Here's my story for today.
So I'm pretty sure that someone decided to pray for patience for me recently and this is what happened:

I get to my sister's house today in my mom's Chevy Uplander that I am borrowing while they are on a mission trip and find out a little while after I arrive that I have a serious flat. So I manage to get through Bible study without giving it much thought. As soon as the study is over I instantly remember the flat and try to figure out what I am going to do. No one had a thing to blow up the tire, which was completely flat. Then I remembered that Terry has air compressors on his Voltwagons and Daniel is working and maybe he is coming to Ormond. So I call Daniel and ask him if he could swing by with a Voltwagon and he says yes! When he arrives he says that he is going to fill it up and then I have to leave immediately for the tire place so that it doesn't go flat before I get there (by the way, I ran over a nail). Me and the girls had planned to spend the day at Jess's to hang out with Jan and all the kids. I left Jael at home, but guess what? Heidi is hungry. So I get to bring her to the tire place and then breastfeed her in public - in a car shop waiting room! She cried most of the way there, which by the way was at least twice as long as normal because they have closed a road for construction. She cries the whole time I am in line, which is only 4 people long but each customer is averaging 10 minutes to be helped. There was no way she was going to make it until it was our turn so I decided to go ahead and feed her first. I am using a blanket, but am still getting stares as though I am some sort of exhibitionist. And then she won't even latch on - is screaming harder and harder. So, in frustration, I leave lobby of the car place and go and sit in the van to try and feed her. I still have yet to turn in my keys or talk to an employee. I called Erik and he said that maybe I should try just swaddling her to sleep. I was skeptical since she hadn't eaten in more than 3 1/2 hours, which she rarely goes that long and never long except at night. Well it did work. She was still fussy, but calmed down. Jan finally came to rescue me. She held Heidi while I went inside. We went home where I tried to feed her again. But no, she won't eat. Just screams. She was inconsolable. Usually when she is fussy I can just feed her to settle her, but she wouldn't eat. Now its been more than 4 hours since she ate. In all she didn't eat for about 7 hours straight. She cried most of that time with intermittent sleep while being held. She couldn't be put down for longer than a few minutes without waking up and crying.

So...don't ever pray for patience and ask your loved ones to avoid praying for patience for you. You just may be given a lesson.

By the way, after she ate she was great and we had a wonderful evening! Jan made a DELICIOUS raw dinner for all of us. Our friend Sparkle came over for dinner and we had a great time. Erik and Rob filled the kids play area out back with mulch while we played with the kids outside.

I'm exhausted and going to bed!

Cousins

They are the stinkin' cutest! Apparently the two danced around the yard - seeming to both know the exact step the other was going to make. I wasn't there for this, but heard from Jan that she thinks Jael succeeded in pulling her cousin, Millie, about two steps. Besides that they just kept on switching places. Too cute. I remember when they were first born thinking about how the two of them would be friends one day and play together. Up until recently all they ever did together was take things away from each other and in general drive each other crazy. Its so fun to start to see their relationship change. I love it!

Thanks Jan for taking these pictures.

A sign of things to come?

I walk into Jael's bedroom last night after she had fallen asleep and this is what I found. If you can't tell, there is a Dora the Explorer phone on her right shoulder. Apparently she had called her cousin Millie to chat and talked herself to sleep. I forgot to ask Jess if Millie fell asleep the same way...