Good Sport

Some days he’s one of her dolls…

 

and some days he’s her sticker book.

 

Good luck Nathan!

Breastfeeding 101

The other day we told Hannah to feed her babies. This is what she did:

That’s how we roll…

Journaling and One Thousand Gifts

I’ve always loved the idea of keeping a journal, but I’ve never been successful at doing so. I have stacks of unfinished journals in my nightstand. I love the idea of preserving thoughts, emotions and prayers in a little bound book all penned with my hand. I think about my children reading the prayers of their mother years from now and it stirs something in me. So I start. I get excited. Then, over time…the excitement fades. The entries grow farther and farther apart. Then, I stop. That’s been the extent of my journaling. I hate it, but it’s true.

Then enters Ann Voskamp and One Thousand Gifts. I’m sure most of you have heard of her or read this book. If you haven’t….stop what your doing (yes, stop reading)….click on this link….and buy the book. Or rent it from the library or call me and I will lend you my copy….seriously…it’s that good.

It’s given me a new understanding of what it means to give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thess 5:18). How to give thanks in the hum-drum of everyday life. How to look at a world so messed up and hurting and give thanks to the God who holds us all in His hand.

So, like Ann and countless others, I’ve started journaling my blessings. Looking for God’s goodness everyday. The goal? Count 1000 blessings. Write them down and remember the moments. I’m not sure how long it will take me. Maybe six months. Maybe a year or longer. I started counting in a journal back in June, but I also want to record them here. I’ll catch you up…

1. saying goodbye to good friends

2. a packed house

3. sprinklers in the hot summer

4. pancakes for breakfast

5. quiet when the babies are in bed

6. date nights with Scott

7. swinging on the back porch

8. eating popsicles with Hannah

9. vacation in the mountains

10. view of the mountains

11. walks with Scott in the cool air

12. kissing in the cold rain

13. watching hummingbirds on the porch

14. middle of the night feedings with Nathan

15. learning a new hobby

16. Nathan’s toothless smile

17. Hannah’s curls

18. potty training

19. ten tiny fingers

20. ten tiny toes…

Milestones

This summer we tackled two milestones with Hannah: (1) potty training and (2) transitioning into a big girl bed.

Potty Training

(This is the only appropriate picture I had. Can you tell what’s on her mind?)

The potty training was actually her idea. It couldn’t have been any easier. She just decided one day that she wanted to go in the big girl potty. I had a little potty chair sitting out for a while just so she could get used to it, and we talked about it a lot around the house. Then one day, she just started taking off her diaper and going to the potty. Then we got her some princess panties and said bye-bye to diapers (except for naps and bedtime). It was that simple. No three or five day method. Just going in the potty.

I know. If you’re a mom, you hate me. Please don’t. I’m sure I’ll get my fair share when Nathan’s turn comes around.

Don’t get me wrong. We’ve had our fair share of accidents and now she’s developed a fear of pooping in the potty, but overall she’s done a great job!

Big Girl Bed

Next, we decided it was time to get Little Brother out of the pack-n-play and in the crib. That meant Big Sister had to give up the crib and start sleeping in her big bed. It was so sad the day we decided to move the crib. She cried the whole time Scott was wheeling it down the hall. It was very traumatic (I think we did everything the books say not to do). But this twin bed had been in her room for several months now, and like the potty, we had been talking about how it was going to be her bed soon, so we didn’t do everything wrong I guess.

This didn’t go as smoothly as the potty training. There…I already got my pay back. Happy now?

She pitched some HUGE fits when it came to naptime and bedtime. She also simultaneously started getting scared of her room and it was literally a nightmare trying to get her to sleep. We would leave the room and she would get up and take her diaper off and pee on the floor (oh yes…she did). She would take down all her bows and throw them around the room, then stand there and just scream…I mean…scream. She would bang on the door and roll around on the ground. I know what your thinking. “No, not sweet little Hannah.” Yes, I’m talking about my precious daughter. The same one who was singing hymns with me not too long ago. This same little princess…

Well, we figured out she is motivated by two things: stickers and sweets (or as we refer to them…sweet treats). So I  made a chart for her to put stickers on when she didn’t pitch fits and went to bed. After a certain amount of stickers, she would get a sweet treat (I would show it to you, but she ripped off all the stickers a few days ago).

We also invested in The Goodnight Light….and I have to say….this really helped. She knows when Mr. Moon comes on, it’s time to go to bed and Mr. Sun lets her know it’s time to wake up.

After about a week or so, she settled down and now we really don’t have any problems. As we speak she is sitting in her bed “reading” to her babies. She does this for about thirty minutes before quietly falling to sleep…mission accomplished!

Oh, except the pooping problem. She gets up and stands in the corner of her room and poops in her diaper during naptime. I’ll let you know when we work through that one….

Nathan’s First Meal

Oh wow! This looks fun!

 

Uh…what do you want me to do mom?

 

Disgusting!

 

More please!!

Saying good-bye…

Back in June, our family said good-bye to sweet friends. They packed up and headed north for cooler temperatures…who can blame them!?! In my opinion, we met them way too late in the game. We really just started getting to know them over the last year or so. I wish we could have had a few more years. But…the Lord gives and the Lord takes away. I’m thankful for the time we had.

You see…they were a lot like us. She and I loved sewing, crafts, and taking walks with the babies. Her husband and Scott both enjoyed biking, running, camping and such. They had two children the same ages as Hannah and Nathan, we went to the same church, should I go on?

Hannah absolutely adored their son. You remember their camping trip? She always asked if he was going to be at church and he was the first one she listed off as being her friend. I was so worried she was going to be scarred for life because her “best friend” was moving away. I worried she would ask where he was and I would have to console her when I told her he was gone. I braced myself for a long conversation about “Owen moving to Minnesota” and how we wouldn’t see him for a long time (if ever). I mean, I guess I thought she was ten. I way overestimated my two year old. After he left, she said very matter-of-factly, “Owee moved to Sota.” Sorry Owen…no tears. Obviously, she doesn’t know how far “Sota” really is.

We had the opportunity to have them stay with us a few days while they were in between houses. We had a great time just visiting and enjoying them being in our home.

 

Thanks for being such great friends…we’ll miss you down here in Texas, but we’re excited to see what the Lord has in store for your family up north. Enjoy the weather!!

Heat Wave

Just because it needs to be documented....our family (and millions of other Texans) are in the midst of a heat wave of epic proportions.  This summer has been the hottest since the infamous summer of 1980.  We are at 30+ days of 100°+ heat with no sign of slowing down (August just started!?!).  This makes for long days for Jennifer and the kids as they can't really go outside because it is too hot.  It is also just generally uncomfortable to do anything or go anywhere.  I must say we are blessed to have an air conditioned house we can cool off in, and I have a desk job that keeps me out of harm's way for the most part.  That being said, here is the forecast for the next few days: