Confused

As you can see in the picture, Nora is confused. She doesn't know if she wants to be like mommy or like daddy. So, she is going to be like us both...carrying her hammer around in her purse.

Miracle!

Each time that Nora and Elyn nap simultaneously, I think I should receive a gold star on a chart attached to the refrigerator.

I'll take that gold star right now, thank you.

Blessing and birthday

Yesterday was a special day for two reasons: it was baby dedication at church and it was my 31st birthday!

The day was great and my sweet family made me feel so loved. I opened presents over breakfast, dedicated to our church family that we would be godly parents for Elyn, ate lunch with some friends, spent the afternoon outside in the beautiful weather, and wrapped up the day with our home Bible study group.

Here are some picture highlights from the day:

Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!

Matthew didn't think this video was very funny...it is!

My little funny face

Elyn make the funniest faces. She makes me laugh all the time with the looks that she gives us. Here are a few of my recent favorites:

She had just woken up from a nap in the next two. Her hair is HILARIOUS!!!!!

Emotional

That has been what I have been feeling the past few days-emotional. I really don't know why either. Is it because I am about to turn 31, which I am NOT sad about; is it because I had a baby 4 months ago and my hormones are still a little crazy (probably the correct answer); is it because it is winter and we only go outside when we have to get in the car? Whatever the reason, I am emotional.

Sadly, my husband has to take the brunt of this. He is a wonderful husband who lets me be "surly" (to quote my good friend, Clair. That was a favorite word of hers.) when I'm sure he would rather kick me outside until my mood improves. He is fantastic!!!! He takes the kids when I throw them at him after a long day and never complains. He gives Nora her bath each and every night, puts her pajamas on, reads to her, brushes her teeth and never once does he say that he is tired. I am truly thankful for him.

I didn't intend for this post to be a shout out to Matthew, but it's turning out that way. I should have more posts dedicated to him. Maybe that is one of my new resolutions. I once saw a blog while blog surfing called "101 reasons why I love my husband". I liked that.

Okay, back to being so emotional. When I worked full-time, I had a great network of friends. I absolutely loved the people that I taught with before Nora was born. I still see and talk to some of them on occasion. They are great! When I quit working to stay at home my network got considerably smaller. I had a hard time adjusting to the quietness of my day and the lack of adult conversation. It honestly took me a few months to find my new normal. Once I did, I enjoyed my new life.

Now, I am back to finding out what my new normal is. I never expected to feel any differently after Elyn was born. I mean, for goodness sakes, I have done this already...I'm experienced (not a pro, just experienced). I am so thankful for Elyn and for her easy going personality. She has made the transition from one to two so easy. I would have 10 kids if they were all as easy as she is. That said, I am having a hard time adjusting to my own new feelings. Suddenly, I feel lost and alone. But, I know I am not. It's crazy and hard to explain, but it's all real.

My sweet, sweet husband is aware of my feelings and is going the extra mile to brighten my day. He is incredible!

What I have discovered is that I miss certain friendships more than ever right now. I have never had a ton of friends. You know those people who has a friend for every letter of the alphabet...I'm not one of them. What I do have though are a few really good friends. And I miss them dearly. So, because I do, I am going to tell y'all about them.

Karie: She is my first good friend. We met when we were 8 years old in cabin 1. We used to write to each other (real letters) and decorate the outside of the envelopes. I'm surprised the mailman knew who to deliver the letters to. We were in the same cabin every summer and went on to work together at camp. We were suitemates at college and in each others weddings. I love Karie's sense of humor and her laid back attitude. She is a great mom and has heart for God.

Julie: I have mentioned Julie before in my blog. Julie and I met in band and were best friends all the way through school. I loved going to her house to spend the night! I don't remember my own phone number from when I was growing up, but I remember hers. She was who I would call when anything exciting happened and who I knew would always be there. She is also a great mom now and has a heart for God.

Hugals: My wonderful friends from college. I love them all so dearly! I actually called one of them this week just to hear a voice of a friend. I talk to Leslie about once a week. Now when we talk, it is usually comparing our babies, who are only 2 days apart. I called Clair Tuesday night just to see what she was up to. Clair and I lived together in Nashville. It was a random pairing at first, but turned out to be a great experience for me. I learned a lot from Clair and love her still. My friend Lynsday just found out she is pregnant with her 3rd baby. She is a great mom and I know she will handle this challenge beautifully. I could dedicate an entire post to my college friends (maybe I should), but just know, they are all in my prayers and I look forward to our yearly get-togethers!

Ashley: Ashley claims to read my blog...we'll see. Ashley is my Tennessee friend. Not so much a love relationship at the beginning. But, we were kind of thrown together and didn't have much of a say in the matter. After a few years of not being crazy about each other, we became really good friends. I don't even remember what the moment was that caused the friendship. Whatever, I'm glad it happened. I haven't see Ashley in about 5 years, but I know if I did, we would pick right up. I still laugh about certain things...she was so funny.

So, those are the people I would like to see right now. I'm just feeling a little nostalgic and friend-needy. I'm sure next week, I will be back to my confident self who doesn't want to share her emotions with the world. But, until that happens, I am happy to let you know that I miss these friends.

My hip bones are connected, apparently, to my shoulder bones

I was standing in front of the mirror this morning, straight from the shower, crying looking at the enormous changes to my body. It's amazing how quickly the human body can become reconfigured.

My hip bones have taken up a new residence since I last talked to them. Apparently they were tired of their old address and decided to move...without discussing it with the landlord (me) first! It appears that hip bones have had a falling out of sorts because they moved further apart from each other. I wonder what could have possibly come between them that made them want to be distant neighbors?

Another crazy thing that happened to my body was that waist got lost somewhere. I looked and looked this morning for waist but couldn't find it anywhere. I hope it is just on a trip and comes back soon. We miss waist and felt waist was a vital part of our team.

Without waist to separate hip bones and everything above them, it looks like hip bones are somehow connected to shoulder bones...hip bones and shoulder bones are more like acquaintances, they get along for a while, but really need their best friend, waist to even things back out.

I heard someone say that missing parts or parts on a trip sometimes hang out at the gym. I figured it was worth a shot to go look for waist there. The person that told me about the lost and found gym said that I can take extra parts there too. Well, hallelujah! I don't know how, but saggy butt somehow joined our team! I do not remember inviting saggy butt to our house, but, being the good landlord that I am, I have let saggy butt hang around until I can find it a new residence. I am hoping that I can drop it off at the gym one day and not have it follow me home. I know we will all be glad to see saggy butt gone...it takes up too much space!

And don't even get me started about the most disgruntled member of the "house"! Chest is completely uncooperative! She (yes, chest has a gender) is constantly leaking. I don't know what her problem is, but I am going to have to call maintenance if this keeps up. And if she could just stay in the area that is designated hers that would be helpful too. But, she must miss waist because that is where she is heading.

So, I am off to the gym tomorrow. I might have to look for waist for a while and I don't know how long it is going to take me to give saggy butt the shake off, but I will prevail! The only reason I haven't been able to look for my missing parts yet is because Nora and Elyn have had colds. I wonder if they have had anything to do with all the craziness that has gone on with my body. Hmmmmmmm....

All about pictures

Okay, thanks for the encouragement from my last post. Although she still thinks everything is yellow, I have decided to let it go. My pediatrician sister-in-law told me that knowing colors is a 4 year old skill...who knew?

And now on to the pictures:

Awwww....

Wheee...higher, daddy

She had been crying for about 30 minutes by the time I took this picture. Do you see the 3 TINY green beans on her tray? Well, she refused to eat them and I refused to give in. It was a battle of the wills. After 45 minutes of crying I knew it was pointless to continue, so she won the battle. But, I will win the war!

Nora's new thing is to have her baby dolls eat with her. They all could stand a good washing from the food that falls on them during meals. Poor babies!

Hot food

Wii...so much fun! If we had one at our house I am sure we would completely forget that we had children. But, I still want one! Nora loves her new highchair for her babies!

This post has definite theme of food :). Enjoy the pictures and eat well.

Let the worrying begin

Okay, technically, I suppose the worrying began the day I found out I was pregnant with Nora. I worried about her delivery, each time she has been sick, when she falls down, etc., etc., etc.

Lately I have had a totally different kind of worry...an academic worry. I know it's silly, she is not even 2 yet, but I'm worried.

Why do we compare our kids to others? I mean, I want her to be an individual, her own person, so why do I feel it is necessary to compare her "smarts" to others in her peer group. When she wasn't walking as quickly as her friends, I worried. When she still had a pacifier during the day and all her friends had gotten rid of theirs, I worried. And now, I worry because some of her friends know something that she doesn't:

She doesn't know her colors.

There, I've admitted her big flaw over the Internet. My little girl does not know her colors!!!!!

I know this is a ridiculous thing to worry about. But, it's my irrational worry, so in my mind, I'm completely justified.

When Matthew or I ask her, "Nora, what color is that?" Her response, 100% of the time, is "yellow". Now, if we happen to be pointing to something that is yellow, it's great, but we are not always pointing to yellow objects. No matter what color it is, her answer is yellow.

I really have worked with her but she just doesn't get it. Am I a failure as a mother? No. I am not! My kid just isn't on the fast track with colors. I have worked with her, Matthew has worked with her, Mickey Mouse and his clubhouse of friends have worked with her. She just hasn't gotten it.

As a teacher, I have seen many "lightbulb" moments. They are memorable because usually I, as the teacher, had done everything to make the kid understand the concept we were working on. When he or she finally got it, it was priceless. I never knew who was more excited, me or the student. I'm hoping for a lightbulb moment before kindergarten with Nora.

Until then, yellow is a favorite color in our house. Even if it really is green (or blue, or red, or purple).

Oh, she does a pretty good job counting to ten.

Back to the grindstone

We have started our busy lives again. Matthew started teaching again last week and started his grad classes again last night-he will go to class Monday and Tuesday nights. I start teaching again tonight. We have a friend that will come to our house and watch Nora and Elyn on Tuesday nights. Hopefully Nora and Elyn won't change her mind about having children one day :).

Matthew is also going to be teaching for Harding this semester. He is teaching a statistics class 5 Saturdays this semester...busy much?

We have all been a little sick around here. No fever, but tons of congestion and snot...nice. Poor little Elyn, she is the worst. She cannot seem to shake this. Thankfully, it has not disrupted her sleeping schedule. She is consistently sleeping 7.5 hours a night-heaven!

I have pictures to post, but have a class to prepare for and a house to clean. Maybe tomorrow I'll get those pics posted.

Mean mom

I want to be this mom in a few years...she is AWESOME! (Thanks Jim for posting this)


'Mean mom' sells son's car after misdeed
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Jane Hambleton has dubbed herself the "meanest mom on the planet." After finding alcohol in her son's car, she decided to sell the car and share her 19-year-old's misdeed with everyone - by placing an ad in the local newspaper.

The ad reads: "OLDS 1999 Intrigue. Totally uncool parents who obviously don't love teenage son, selling his car. Only driven for three weeks before snoopy mom who needs to get a life found booze under front seat. $3,700/offer. Call meanest mom on the planet."

Hambleton has heard from people besides interested buyers since recently placing the ad in The Des Moines Register.

The 48-year-old from Fort Dodge says she has fielded more than 70 telephone calls from emergency room technicians, nurses, school counselors and even a Georgia man who wanted to congratulate her.

"The ad cost a fortune, but you know what? I'm telling people what happened here," Hambleton says. "I'm not just gonna put the car for resale when there's nothing wrong with it, except the driver made a dumb decision.

"It's overwhelming the number of calls I've gotten from people saying 'Thank you, it's nice to see a responsible parent.' So far there are no calls from anyone saying, 'You're really strict. You're real overboard, lady.'"

The only critic is her son, who Hambleton says is "very, very unhappy" with the ad and claims the alcohol was left by a passenger.

Hambleton believes her son but has decided mercy isn't the best policy in this case. She says she set two rules when she bought the car at Thanksgiving: No booze, and always keep it locked.

The car has been sold, but Hambleton says she will continue the ad for another week - just for the feedback.

What if your next one is a girl?

That is the question that I get quite often. Don't worry...we're not even close to thinking about having a third child!!!! Slow down buddy...no stork visiting this house anytime soon!

But, still, the question bugs me.

I have always thought that 3 would be the perfect number of children. I am from a family of 2 kids, Matthew is from a family of 4...let's meet in the middle. I actually think Matthew would prefer 4, but his body is not being cut open every time and I don't know how well I would function staying at home with 4 kids. Not to mention how expensive those kids would be.

Anyway, I'm getting off the subject a bit. Since we have had Elyn people who know that we would like to have another child...one day in the FUTURE...assume that we won't be happy if our last child is a girl. Why wouldn't we be happy? God has blessed us with a child. Here is my answer: if it's a boy, we'll be done, if it's a girl, we'll be done. One person even said to me, "You could just keep trying until you get a boy." Well, we would probably end up with 25 girls.

How accurate is the Chinese conception calendar for you moms out there? It is 100% accurate for me. But, again, I am not going to plan my future around some calendar that claims to be 99% accurate.

Just venting. I love my girls and would be tickled pink (sorry) if God completed our family-in a few years-with another sweet girl. But, I would be equally thrilled to hear, "You're having a boy" too.

So, there, question answered.

Where to start?

I feel like I have so much to catch up on! We have had a super busy past week and a half and the busyness is not over yet. For my own "journaling" I am going to attempt to write about all that has gone on in our lives starting at Christmas Eve.

We spent Christmas Eve and part of Christmas day at our house. It was great! We decorated cookies for Santa Clause, wore new pajamas, stayed up late putting things together and setting up Christmas. The kitchen set that we got for Nora took a little over 3 hours to complete...the one we originally wanted to get came already assembled. Too bad we procrastinated and didn't get it early on...sigh. On a positive note though, she loves the one we got.

We left Christmas day to drive to Texas. Both girls did a fantastic job! We only stopped twice and made it to my grandmothers house in less than 7 hours (a miracle since it took us almost 8 to get home). It was great seeing my family and getting all the kids together.

The rest of our visit to Texas consisted of birthday festivities for my mom, a trip to New Braunfels to see my other side of the family, an evening at Six Flags, and getting to go to the Cotton Bowl (no pictures from that though).

Nora and Matthew decorating cookies for Santa

Such concentration

Yummy!!!!!

Look at all those pieces that came with that kitchen!

Santa came!!!

The first thing she went for was the "baby"...we had to point out the kitchen set to her. Once we showed it to her (it's not like it was invisible or anything) she played with it non-stop!

All of the great-grandkids made stepping stones for my grandmother's backyard. Here are the kids (minus Colton, he was sick) and their stones.

Nora and her cousin, Bailey. She loved going up and hugging and kissing him. We loved getting to see him and his mommy while were in town!

Modeling one of her new presents from my mom

In New Braunfels, Texas with my dad

My family in New Braunfels

My cousin, Shanna, and her little girl, Peyton. Peyton is one month older than Elyn. I wish we lived closer because I know they would be good friends.

At Six Flags. Nora went on her first "roller coaster". This was in Looney Toons land and the ride is similar to the "SuperMan" ride (goes to the top and then drops and then goes back up and drops again). Nora was terrified! She didn't cry but was holding my hand so hard.

Nora's favorite ride, the Merry-Go Round
It was a great trip and we enjoyed our visits. We were happy to get home though. We got home late Wednesday and spent Thursday and half of today taking down all of our Christmas decorations and moving the girls into their own rooms! Nora is officially in her big girl room (sorry future guests, we no longer have a room for you) and Elyn left our room and moved into the nursery! Yea!

We are in Little Rock right now (for only 24 hours) visiting Matthew's family and having our last Christmas. Matthew and I (and Elyn)go to Searcy tomorrow for meetings while Nora will stay here and play with grandparents and aunts and uncles.

Finally, Elyn turned 3 months old on New Years Day. Wow! She is starting to wear 3-6 months clothes and is sleeping most night from 9pm-5:30 or 6am...it's heaven! She has a little cold right now (we have her daddy to thank for that) and sound pitiful. She is such a sweet baby and we are so thankful for her! Here she is at 3 months old: