Monday, March 29, 2010

Lucy and Jack Update







Lucy and Jack's birthdays are right around the corner. I can't believe they are going to be two and three years old, that's crazy!! Here's an update on both,

Lucy: She has mad communication skills and uses big words like interesting or ridiculous like she's 30, which I am pretty sure she thinks she is. She's still very independant, which helps me out most of the time. But she has FOB (fear of boredom) syndrom like her father. So most of the day she follows me around asking me to read her books, or let her watch TV, or get her a craft to do. She has trouble playing on her own, but she's been doing better and lately has been pretending to be Penny from the Rescuers. It's such a kid thing to do, so cute! She loves to play outside. It seems to be the only place she's safe from boredom. She is really sweet sometimes and likes to take care of her baby brothers. She's the only 2 1/2 year old I know that can change a diaper all on her own (except for her aunt Hede when she was that age). Whenever anyone in the house is sick she will stop what she's doing every few minutes to check on them. Sometimes she will say the most random things that will make me laugh so hard. She's crazy and loves to be surrounded by people. She's also very clever and persuasive. Now that I read that back to myself I realize that this is a description of her father if he was almost 3 year old, I think the only thing she didn't get from him is that she's a girly girl. I love you little girl!
Jack: He's a little behind on his verbalization, but here's the words he can say mama, daddy, sis, bubba, mine, ball, bye, stuck, duck, no, I did it, poppi, boompa, dog, Dane, monkmonk (monkey), wee, ouch. He's said a lot of other words but those are the ones he says regularly. He also has a few words that belong just to him that he uses at his own discrection nano, locka, bucka, buck and I am sure there's more I can't remember. Still he's very good at communicating without words. Most of the time he makes sure I know what he's wanting through gestures and nodding his head yes or no. He's my snuggler and most of the time is very sweet and considerate of others. And he can be very sensitive. But he likes to wrestle and play rough, he can't wait for his bubba to get big enough to rough house.He's very determined so he has very good motor skills because he simply won't give up. He's also very stubborn and can throw a fit that you would not believe! I haven't started potty training him yet (I've been a little busy can you believe it) but he has been telling me when he goes to the bathroom so I think he's about ready. Even though he doesn't speak very good he understands everything you say and for the most part takes direction pretty good. He is very good at entertaining himself, which is a huge blessing for me. He can find something to play with anywhere, outside, inside, in the kitchen, in the bathroom it doesn't really matter. He is very creative.Sometimes he gets really goofy and just lets loose of all his inhibitions. I love it when that happens. He's kinda like being a policeman most of the time it's not that much work but every so often a situation arises that your not sure you can handle. I love you Jackie! ( I said before he was born I would never call him that now that's all I call him)


















Thursday, March 25, 2010

play this game with me.

Two truths and a lie:

I love Taylor Swift
I've only kissed one man.
I used to swim competitively.

Pick out my lie then post your own truths and lie on you blog!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

"vanity of vanities all is vanity"

So I've been running the last 2 weeks. And I am pretty proud. I don't usually get back into the swing of things this soon after having a baby. The thing that's bugging me is I haven't lost any of the baby weight other than the 20 lbs that came off initially. I know you must think that after losing 20 lbs I must not have that much left to loose, but I gained 46 lbs so I still have 26 more lbs to loose. I feel like it wasn't this hard the other 2 times, but I do have a very bad memory. I know he's only 2 months but I still weigh exactly what I did two weeks ago before I started running. It would help if I had one pair of normal (not maternity) pants that fit. Despite the fact that I currently have 5 different sizes in my closet I own almost no clothes that fit my current body. Now then, maybe by verbalizing my frustration I can move on so thanks for listening.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

new pics

Just a few pics from recent days:

All my babies together:

Me and my babies, I love them!

Saturday, March 20, 2010

"For those whom He foreknew he also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn amoung many brethern.." Romans 8:29. Let me first say I am not here to debate what this means. We can all agree that there is a group of people who Christ "predestined to become conformed to the image of His son", and I just want to thank Him for His predestination at work in my life. I'll start with our move back home from memphis to Clinton. When we first found out I was pregnant with our daughter Lucy it became very apparent we wouldn't be financially able to stay where we were, because I felt very strongly I should be at home with my child. Furthermore I just couldn't see raising my baby in the city ranking #2 in the nation for crime. So we decided to move back home. At the time I was just following my gut and I thought this move was about money and crime, but now I see the my gut feeling was really the Holy Spirit leading our family where He wanted us. This was not a time in my life that I was really seeking the Lord, but He lovingly gave me the answer I wasn' t even looking for. Once we were here we tried a few different churches and had pretty well decided we wanted to make the long drive to Conway each week to attend the more hip churches there, but God just wouldn't give us peace about it. And we felt led to return to the church we had both grown up at, even though it wasn't our first choice. Soon we found ourselves surrounded by a new group of friends and felt we were in true fellowship with other brothers and sisters. At one point the Holy Spirit broke my heart over my own hypocrisy and challenged me to be honest with myself. At that point I really began to grow and seek Him. And more recently there has been a bit of an unpleasant situation with our church, but the Lord had gone before it and placed people in our lives to help us continue to grow through it. I guess what I am trying to say is that looking back on the last few years I see just how many situations and people God has placed around me to set me up for success in Him. Now that's predestination in action. All glory goes to Him!!

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Things are looking up.

Today I am feeling really positive. I feel a lot more accomplished than I did last week. As you can tell by the last blog I was pretty frazzled last week, but we had a great weekend and I feel like I actually got to rest. My inlaws were here and so that helped. My mother in law just wanted to hold Calvin alot so I got to spend some extra time snuggling with Jack which felt really good, since I feel like he's gotten the least amount of attention lately. He isn't really a needy guy, although he does love to snuggle, and I have missed that. Then on Saturday after they left I just was in one of those cleaning moods and cleaned the whole house which made for a much more pleasant sunday afternoon. I got to focus totally on getting a nap and didn't worry with trying to squeeze in time to clean. Most of the time on Sunday afternoons I feel like a highschooler or college student who has put off writing that big paper until the last minute and won't be turning in their best work on monday morning. So on Monday morning the house was still pretty clean which makes it a billion times easier to keep it clean throughout the week. I was so caught up I even let Bryan's granny take a break from doing the laundry and did it myself. Then on Monday evening me and Bryan met friends at the park and went running. I've been running on my tredmill but it was really nice to run outside. To top it off last night Calvin slept for 8 hours, that's the longest he's ever gone. There's nothing that can put a mom in a better mood faster than a baby sleeping through the night! Although I don't have any dillusions that he's there yet, it was just a ray of hope that shone ever so brightly on my day today! So things are looking up! Thank you Lord You heard my prayer and answered it!

Friday, March 12, 2010

I've been pretty stressed and irritable lately. I feel like I've taken that out on my oldest two kids. On the one hand I feel I need to play with them more, but it already seems like I can't keep up with bills and housework etc. And then there's the things I want to do which I think every mom needs a little of. I am still trying to find a balance in the way I spend my time. It's funny I've become so accustomed to being busy that even though I can't wait to have a minute to myself the moment I do have a free minute I never know what to do with it. I really need more patient and wisdom in the area of parenting. I want my kids to be secure in my love for them but I also want them to know that I'm busy and they aren't the only people on the planet. This is the prayer that's on my heart today. All you mom's join me:

God Jesus (Lucy's name for Him), I know I haven't been very patient with my kids lately and have felt very entitled to get some time to myself. Forgive me Lord, love me so I can love them, show me mercy and I will show them mercy, Be gracious to me and I will be gracious to them. I can not raise these wonderful blessings without You. I need Your wisdom and patience. Show me how to not to just give a peice of myself to them, but to in everything I do, do it wholeheartedly as unto You! Thank You so much for my babies!!

Monday, March 8, 2010

The Paint gods must be angry!

For the past week I've been taking every free minute I have to paint Calvin's room. I did one wall blue and the rest beige.I am really wanting to get him into his own room while he still doesn't know the difference. It took forever since I don't have a lot of free time. But I finally finished it on Thursday of last week. So that felt really good until catastrophe hit. On Friday I was feeding Calvin in our play room, and the kids had done really well that day entertaining themselves and playing together. So I thought they were playing in their room, while I was nursing Calvin. After I finished I went back to check on them. As I walked down the hall I could see that the baby gate blocking them from getting into Calvin's room was shoved halfway up the doorway. OH NO!!!! I pretty well knew what I would find. Lucy had the blue roller painting on the beige walls and Jack had the beige roller painting on the blue wall. I stood there and I was furious, so why was I laughing!! Lucy looked at me and grinned thinking if she looked cute enough I wouldn't spank her, it didn't work. I also spanked Jack and he got it good because I forgot he wasn't wearing his diaper, poor guy. Anyway they also painted on his dresser, closet door, and bedroom door! Luckily the brand new carpet was spared. So this afternoon while they nap (if they nap) I will be painting Calvin's room once again.

Friday, March 5, 2010

A few things to add to the list:
  • Hollis' smile and fashion sense ( that is largely accredited to his mom)
  • setting goals and acheiving them
  • making lists, weird I know I get it from my dad we both like to make lists and it doesn't really matter what the list is of.
  • playing outside with the kids
  • thursday night lineup on NBC

Thanks again!

Thursday, March 4, 2010

simple things

Here my list of simple pleasures:
  • Calvin's stinky feet and the way he smiles when he knows its time to nurse
  • When Lucy wipes Calvin's nose or takes care of me when I am sick
  • Snuggling with Jack while he sucks his thumb and twirls his hair
  • Bryan's quest for knowledge and truth
  • Playing board games with family
  • Sleeping next to Bryan every night, seriously I can't sleep without him there
  • My house being clean
  • Watching a movie by myself, so I can make as many comments as I want
  • A good episode of Scrubs, which is pretty much every episode
  • Any holiday
  • Any vacation
  • A good haircut
  • Walks with my family when the weather is good
  • Swimming and water slides
  • When Lucy and Jack stumble upon a way to entertain themselves
  • When Lucy and Jack "help" with housework
  • When Bryan paints my toenails, even if it does look less than professional
  • Eating out somewhere nice, aka not somewhere in Clinton
  • A long exhausting trip to LR that makes me glad to be back home

Thanks for listening!

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Home Boy

My first two cildren were born at a hospital like most American babies. Both experiances left me less than satisfied.So when I found out about baby #3 the first thing I did was find a good midwife so I could start planning a home birth. People are always interested to find out why I chose a home birth and what it was like. So here goes. At the hospital I always felt bullied "Let us induce you," "Let us drug you," "Don't get out of bed." It just seems to me no matter how hard a woman trys to have the birth experience she wants the hospital always has another plan. Don't get me wrong I think obgyns are great for woman who have legitimate need for intervention, but an average healthy woman can have a baby the all natural way. After having two kids the all american way I already felt this way but when my sister Heather had a totally unneccesary c-section I had seen enough and surrendered fully to the idea of a home birth.Plus home birth only cost us $2600 and I got to recover in the privacy and comfort of my own home. So on thursday Feb. 4th I started having little contractions in the middle of the day. Around 6 or 7 the contractions started getting stronger and by 8 they were very strong and one right after the other. My midwife and her assistant just waited around my house for me to ask for them which was perfect for me. My sweet husband was by my side the whole time encouraging me and remaining calm despite the fact that I was yelling and screaming "I can't do it". It was very much like those scenes in movies where the mother is sweating and hysterical. I know that doesn't sound very promising to mother's planning an all natural birth, but I wouldn't change a thing and I will definately do it again, the Lord willing. After it was all over I was so happy to be at home, with my precious son Calvin. When I finally felt ready to shower my husband, not a nurse, helped me shower and get dressed, and for the next couple of days he did his best to take care of everthing so I didn't have to. I will always look back on those few crazy days after his birth and remember what an amazing, patient, and caring husband I have. These days Calvin is doing wonderful and is healthy as can be. And I am thankful, I finally got a birth experience, that was not what I expected, but definately something I have no regrets about!

I want to dedicate this entry to my sister, Heather, I hope that next time around you get to have a safe all natural delivery, I believe in you. and to Amanda Geidl I hope you soon join me in being one of the only woman in Van Buren County to have a home birth.

My village

This is my first blog so bear with me. What is on my mind right now is how emensly blessed I am to have such an amazing family. I am pretty sure it was Hillary Clinton that said it takes a village to raise a child and while I am not a fan of Hills she was right about that. So I would like to introduce you to my village that supports me in the raising of my three children, Lucy, Jack and Calvin (Lujacal):
First my wonderful husband and father to my children, Bryan. He has been my best friend since highschool and we've been married for almost 5 years. He supports me in whatever desicion I make regarding the kids. He is convicted to work hard and always make sure I can be at home with our babies. I can not imagine being married to a man who didn't feel that way. He is goofy and playful, with them. He is so much better at teaching them new things than I am. He is the only person in the world who cares as much about the kids success as I do. I love him emensly!
Second my parents. I'll start with my mom, she is amazing. She is available whenever I need her. She never gives unasked for advice. And their is noone in the world that is more into my kids. She'll play whatever game they want and make a fool out of herself everytime. I can only hope when my children are grown that my relationship with them is as easy as mine is with my mama. Then there's my dad, the most honest, integritable guy I know. He always challenges me and Bryan to think for ourselves, after all noone else will be held responsible for the decisions we make.
Thirdly my inlaws. In recent years my relationship with them was somewhat strained, but since the birth of my third child, Calvin, I've come to realize how great they are. I see other couples whose families never come to them, but my inlaws, who don't live near, almost always come to us, and that means a lot to me. Furthermore noone is more giving to my kids than them. It's always "What do the kids need?". My kids will never go without so long as they're around.
Fourth my grandparents, the back up babysitters. On the few occasions my mom is not around they are always available to help. When my oldest, Lucy was sick a few weeks ago my grandparents came over to help. My sweet Papa sat next to my little Lucy all day, he didn't bug her or ask a billion questions he just kept her company. Meanwhile my Nanny entertained Jack and took care of all those little things only woman know need done. I even got a nap that day.
Fifth my sister Heather and brother inlaws, Dane and Tylor. My sweet sister so understands my daughter Lucy, they find it easy to get along. And she so much like my mom always finds special little things to do with them. And my kids are also blessed with two of the best uncles ever.
The last person I want to mention is Bryan's grandmother, who to all of us is just known as Granny. Right after Calvin was born she volunteered to come over every monday, free of charge, and do my laundry. And as every mother knows laundry is the worst of all the housework and is never ending, Mondays used to suck. Now Mondays have become my weekend. I can just spend all day playing with my kids while Granny takes care of all my laundry. And the kids love having her there and listening to her tell stories. I am very found of that woman.

So that's my village and I am so very thankful for each and everyone of them, I hope you all are as blessed as me.