Penelope Linn

The week before Bubbus was born I went into false labor. I hadn't ever experienced false labor before so here I was thinking it was the real deal although it was a little different than what labor with the other two girls felt like.
Around three or four in the morning I wanted to rest and see if I could sleep, and as I dozed off so did the contractions. Poo. Alyssa had already had her sweet baby on the 13th so I was ready ready ready for my baby to get here.
Fast forward to the next Thursday, the 20th, I went in that morning for my weekly check up with my OB.  I opted out, again, to be checked for how far dilated I was.  I knew I wouldn't be more than 1cm along and it causes so much risk to be check and there's no point in being check, so I preferred not to be.  My nurse was a little shocked the week before that I opted out and a little more this time.  I guess a lot of pregnant moms want to "get the show on the road" so to speak but I was content where I was and didn't want any "help" to progress.  Getting "help", I would learn, is what sent me into extreme contractions that were unmanageable with the first two.
So, when I went in, I opted out to be checked, but said that I felt like it would be happening within the day or two.  You just feel it when you know you'll be going into labor soon, even without feeling any contractions. My OB was pleased that I opted to be checked and supported my decision. Praise God for such a good doctor!
That evening I started having contractions again. I was afraid they were going to be false labor again so I tried to relax and encourage them to keep coming. I was unsure if they would turn into false labor again but we told my mom to come up anyway, just in case. I labored all evening and my mom got there around 8 or 9 at night, but come night time I decided to try to get some rest.  I slept through the night, waking every now and again to breathe through a contraction.
Come morning, I was still having contractions but they weren't consistent though not sporadic either. I was in early labor with painless although strong contractions. By the afternoon I had already taken 2 or 3 baths, was stopping to breathe through the contractions, and swaying, squatting to try to keep the contractions going. I was still afraid that they were going to stop again!
I hadn't really told anyone that I was in labor because I was afraid I wasn't, so when my friend Lisa P stopped by to drop something off I was trying to fake my way through having contractions but she guessed.  Ha! She squealed, "Are you in labor??" And then hurried off so I could labor in peace.
My mom, the girls, and Bryan were all just kind of doing their own things. This labor was so completely different from my first two that it was like going through labor for the first time again! No one really knew what to expect so we were all thrown off for a bit.  But praise Jesus that this one was different.  It was so much easier to work through.
Another bath or two later it was getting to be evening.  We sent the girls home with Emily P to stay the night so if I had this baby soon, we wouldn't have to worry about the girls. Things were starting to get serious as I would have to concentrate as I worked through each contraction but I was still smiling in between contractions so we weren't headed anywhere yet.
My mantra was: I can do anything for 1 minute.
Around 7:00, I was having much more of a hard time finding a good and comfortable position.  Mom was watching a show about tiny houses and I was trying to watch also to take my mind off the contractions while rolling on the exercise ball. I was starting to feel done with it all.  This time I wasn't smiling in between contractions. It was time.
Sitting in the car heading to the hospital was not fun! I had a couple contractions on our short 5 minute trip there and they hurt. Boy, did they hurt!! But they also tapered off a little bit and I was afraid they were going to stop again.
When we got there they had us go into a room so they could check me out to see how and where labor was.  It was close and it did not feel good to be laying on my back.  Thankfully she let me roll to my side whenever she wasn't checking me.
My fear was that I was only going to be 3 centimeters dilated like I was with the first two when we got to the hospital.  I was a 6. Oh my goodness, praise the Lord, I was a SIX!!
Woohoo, this baby was coming soon!!
They got me into a delivery room, and even though the contractions were incredibly strong, they were manageable.
I can do anything for one minute.
They got the water-proof baby monitors on me.  They got the portable IV hook-up in my hand. I remember looking around in between contractions and seeing nurses setting things up for delivery. They had never started setting up this soon for delivery with the first two...
I asked to soak in the bath. I couldn't tell you how long I was in there for but I had contractions while soaking.
Then I felt pushy.
I had never felt this before.
We told one of the nurses and they had us come out to the bed so they could check me.
The doctor check me.
I was at a 7.
She asked them to call her back when I was fully dilated.
I needed to push.
They called the doctor back.
I was pushing.
I was screaming.
I had lost control of the contractions.
The nurse (God bless this nurse. She was just who I prayed for.  I wanted a doula but couldn't find one. I knew I needed and wanted the support so I prayed for nurses who could be like a doula. That's exactly who God provided) got me to get back on top of them. She talked me through it all.  Got me to breathe. Got me to focus.
I had gone from a 7 to a 10 in merely minutes.
I needed to push.
It was time to push.
I pushed with all I had. I kept pushing. I couldn't not push. My body was going to get this baby out wether I was ready or not. I kept praying Dear God, be my strength but all I could get out verbally was dear God dear God dear God. I'm sure it sounded like I was cursing!
I remember waiting for the "ring of fire." I knew that once I felt that then the baby's head was almost born. Then it came. It was fast. I felt the ring of fire, then the baby's head being born. Relief. One more push and the baby was out. This time I was saying praise God praise God praise God over and over.  My sweet nurse said, "That's right, girl! You praise God!"
Then I remembered, "Don't tell me what it is! I want to look and find out myself!" The nurses grinned and were cheering that Bubbus was here.  They laid this sweet teeny baby on my stomach. I wanted to pull the baby up to my chest and as I went to do so, the doctor told me not to as the cord was a short one. My stomach was the furthest it would reach! (I had prayed for a shorter cord as I was afraid of the cord wrapping around the baby's neck. I'm such a worrywart!)
As one of the nurses was wiping Bubbus off, she said something about a "he" and I exclaimed, "It's a HE??" But she was quick to correct herself apologizing and saying that she didn't know. So I looked at Bryan, "Ready?" "Yup!" I moved this teeny baby so they were slightly angled so I could move the top leg up and look.
It's a girl!! 
I couldn't help but laugh. We had completely thought we were having a boy!!
Bryan snapped some photos to make the announcement that our baby was here.  The doctor cut the cord, delivered the placenta, and stitched me up.
This was the same doctor that had helped to deliver Violet but her demeanor was completely different. I had labored naturally, unmedicated, and quickly whereas with Violet, I was having a hard time, had an epidural, and took forever to deliver her.
Bryan, still chuckling to himself, said to me with a smirk, "So what were those girls names you liked?"
23 hours of early labor, 4.5 hours of active labor, and 5 minutes of transition and pushing, Penelope Linn was born at 9:46 pm on November 21st, 2014.

Miss A turns 6

My sweet sweet girl,
My, how you've grown.  You've been anxious to turn six for the last four months.  Anxiously awaiting the new age like it was a huge milestone.
It kind of is.
It means you're another year older.  Another year bigger.  Another year smarter.  Another year becoming more and more like you.
It also means I've been a mother, your mother, for a whole 6 years now.  Whew!  I guess I can say I have some experience under my belt.  At least six years of it.
This past year you are showing us just how strong willed you are.  You are a tough cookie.  Mostly just tough on us parents.  But I know this strong-willingness can be such a strength if we are able to help you grow into it in the correct ways.  I hope it all means that you will be a defender of the weak and hurting, strong in what you believe, knowing for certainty just how good our God is and are not afraid to show Him to those around you.
You are also incredibly kind.  You have such a big and kind heart.  You are so good to love on those around you.  You're helpful to your kindergarten teacher at school, you are concerned and want to check in on our elderly neighbor, you share your toys with your sister even though you don't really want to just because you don't want to see her sad.  Your kindness makes my heart swell with pride.  I love, love, love that in you.  Please don't let anyone change that in you.  You are mega awesome because of that.
You're an awesome big sister, and with another sibling on the way, I know the next one will look to you as well.  Sometimes you can be a stinker, but I know that's because of your age and the fact that your little sis doesn't always want to leave you or your things alone.  I don't blame you, really, but we still need to work more on sharing and playing together nicely more often than not.
I love watching you and trying to figure you out as you grow.  You've really started asking the tough questions.  Some of which we have to take pretty slowly so as not to tell you too much too quickly, but I love that you're asking.  I enjoy seeing your want to grow and learn.  And I appreciate your questions. Even the hard to answer ones.
You did start kindergarten this year.  You were so ready for it but at the same time had to adjust to it.
You went from going to school three days a week for half days to all day every day five times a week. The first three weeks were really hard on you.  But I think you've finally got it down.
Anyway kiddo, I love you.  I think you are amazing.  You're crazy, and smart, and sassy, and kind, and tough, but so lovable.  I'm glad you are our sweet six year old.  I'm excited to watch you continue to grow and learn this next year.  I'm excited to watch you become a big sister again and to watch you teach your little sis how to be a good big sister.  I'm excited because I have you in our life to keep us on our toes, always guessing, but always filling our hearts with all the love you have to give.
Keep on being awesome, keep on being you.
Love you much,
Momma.

Sweet baby V turns 2

My sweet baby girl,
You are two!!  Yahoo!  You are already so much fun that I'm excited to see how your personality show itself in the next year.
Within the last couple of months you decided that you like words and have decided to use them.  Before it was basically a bunch of gibberish.  Granted, it was your own little language with odd phrases you'd use again and again, so we knew they meant something!  We just didn't know what.  You're not always crystal clear on what you're saying but it sure is easier to understand you and what you want to get across!
Within the last week or two you have started saying "bless you," "I [for]give you," and counting to ten "one, two, free, foy, figh, sic, semmen, eigh, nine, ten, oonchie!!"  We have no idea what "oonchie" means but you sure do like that word.  Oh!, and "hine"!  That means "come on!" and you've been saying it for some time now but it's just too cute to not add.  Especially when you say "Hine!  Quick!!"
You still don't have much hair but it's starting to finally come in.  You even have a little section of bangs and a sweet baby mullet.  Only a little one though so we don't feel the need to cut it :)
You love to have screaming matches with Sissy and sometimes you're just shrill enough on your own.  It's piercing really.
You love, love babies.  And you seem as though you're nearly out of being one yourself.  It's like you've just blossomed into a little girl over night, leaving your toddlerness behind the day before.  You'll carry stuffies or babies around and talk to them to make sure they're all right.  You'll love them, ask them a question, and then give them a big rocking hug while wearing a huge smile on your face.
You're just full of love.  You're also full of feistiness.  Let's just say you are full of personality.  You'll say something to us with this quizzical expression on your face, you're hands up in a shrugging position, and head cocked.  It is by far thee cutest thing ever.  And sometimes you'll just keep talking in a gibberish fashion because you know you have our attention and you love it!
You love the claymation cartoons that will sometimes drive me nuts.  There are days that I miss Yo Gabba Gabba just because the claymation can be so ridiculous.  You also love "Feesh" which is Finding Nemo.  I'll take that over Pingu (which you're watching right at this moment).
Anyway, sweet baby, I love you.  You are amazingly sweet, funny, precious, bright, feisty, lovable, my "snuggle bunny," wild, caring, joy of a girlie.

Love you much,
Momma

I completely missed my eldest's birthday letter post...

Dearest A,
Life got way too hectic around your birthday and then decided to stay that way.  You are now 5 years (2 months and 23 days) old.  You are beautiful.  You have such a kind heart.  You're my sweet and sour kind of girlie.  When your sweet, you are oh so ever kind, loving, gentle, thoughtful, gracious, giving, and good.  And when you are sour, well, let's just say that there are time outs.  You have mine and daddy's temperaments equally, although you do lean more so toward being more like daddy.  This is also why you both butt heads so much.
You're quick and do your best to learn.  You enjoy school but are starting to find it a little boring, which I can fully understand since you are learning the exact same curriculum as last year.  However, you weren't quite ready to move along since you started too early to begin with.  My dear, you are definitely a first born since we're completely experimenting with you!  We love you so much though, and are really trying to be good parents who love you with our whole hearts, discipline you when necessary, forgive you when you're in the wrong and apologize when we are.
You are feisty and certainly take after me when teasing (tickling, playing, or the like).  Sometimes we don't always know when to stop!  But we're both learning and we both drive daddy nuts in the process.
Daddy and I are both learning (as we always have been and always will be) to be careful about what we say and how we act.  Not just around you and your sister but in life as well.  We want to teach you well but you seem to be picking up on our bad habits more so than the good!  I'm sure that's not entirely true as you are more naughty with us than around others.  But we're trying to stop you from picking up more on the bad than the good.  It's really only our impatience that you seem to pick up on well but what we really want you to learn from us to be loving and gracious, kind and gentle, strong and confident, proud and yet humble.  To love others and to always see the good in them.  To give people the benefit of the doubt (like daddy) but to always make them earn your trust (like me).
I'm excited to watch you continue to grow and learn.  I don't ever want to squelch your strong personality but to show you how to use it for good.  You're already pretty awesome at being five so keep at it.  And I'll try to be more on time next year for you birthday letter.
I love you much,
Momma

Here's the low down, the scoop.

So.
We're not moving.
Yes, you read that right.
Le'me 'splain.  No.  There's too much.  Le'me sum up.
(name that movie!)
Anyway, here's what happened the last couple of months:

Our house was not selling.  We maybe had a total of 8 people interested in our house in the 11 months our house has been on the market.  No bids.  No offers.  Nothin.
So, I started praying.  It all seemed just too weird to me that nothing was happening with our house.  I started wondering if maybe we weren't suppose to move.  I asked God that if we weren't suppose to move that He would protect us by not letting our house sell.  We really couldn't afford to move, the launch for the church plant had come and gone, the pieces just weren't falling into place for us to go anywhere.
I prayed that if we weren't suppose to move that He would not only protect our house from selling but that He would also put it on my husband's heart to stay here since he was the one who felt the call to move in the first place.
Then, in the last two weeks I decided to spruce up the house to make it homier for showings.  I bought new throw pillows for the couches and bought plants for the front porch.  I worked really hard one day on the porch, planting plants, moving furniture around, and decorating the outside to make it purdy.
So as we're all sitting outside on our newly decorated porch as a family I said to Bryan, "You know what's gonna happen?  We're gonna make this house all nice and homey and just the way we want it and then someone is gonna come along and wanna buy it."  And he said. "Yeah, I want to talk to you about that..."
At first I thought, "Oh no, he doesn't want to move any more."  But then relief washed over me and a huge weight was lifted off of my shoulders.  And it's not that I don't want to be out that way but it just didn't feel like the timing was right.
After the girls went to bed, we talked that night over everything and decided that we felt God was telling us not to move but to stay here and do the things here that we were wanting to do there.  We've already started an outreach group for events to reach out to the community surrounding our church.  We've met more of our neighbors and we're hoping to connect with them.  We've even met some other fellow Christians outside of our church that we're hoping to connect with them as a small group or even just to fellowship.  And something I've really been praying for has been another little girl for A to play with within our own block, and lo and behold, we met another little girl just her age that same day we decided not to move.
God is answering our prayers just in a different way than we imagined.  It's so cool how He works.
And when I told our (Christian) realtor that we wanted to pull our house off the market and why, she agreed that it's the best decision financially and that we should definitely do it if that's what we feel God's telling us to do.  She also said that this last year has been weird because she had been watching all the houses around us sell for the same price but it was like we were in our own little bubble!  So there it is.  God has been protecting us this entire time from moving and we didn't understand it all until now.

So, we're here to stay.  At least for now.  :)

Interview With A Four Year Old

I saw this interview on pinterest and I thought I'd give it a whirl.  Here are the answers she gave me:

1. What is something mom always says to you?  Love you
2. What makes mom happy?  When you get your hugs
3. What makes mom sad?  When I don't listen
4. How does your mom make you laugh?  When I tickle you
5. What was your mom like a child?  You gave your mom hugs cause she likes hugs
6. How old is your mom?  Four? No, six.  I don't know.
7. How tall is your mom?  40,000
8. What is her favorite thing to do?  Clean (I must do that often)
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?  Help clean the dishes (I guess that confirms it!)
10. If mom becomes famous, what will it be for?  For being grumpy (she says with a smirk and a giggle)
11. What is your mom really good at?  Numbers
12. What is mom not very good at?  Putting plastic on the windows because that's what daddy's do.
13. What does your mom do for her job?  Clean (hm...)
14. What's your mom's favorite food?  Grapes and pizza no, and salad.
15. What makes your mom proud of you? When I help you.

It's back on the market

Our house is officially back out there.
After chatting with our new realtor (same company) we are going to do a FSBO and hope for the best.  I'm a little nervous with all that it entails so if you'll be praying with us, that'd be grand.  Our realtor will still be helping us as much as she can so we won't be completely alone but we will be the ones to show our house and field calls and whatever else along those lines.  We're also dropping the price.. by a lot.

Alright God.. you've got this...

Busy Weekend

Last Thursday morning we headed off to Minnesota to visit with Bryan's brother and sister in law and their two kiddos.  We had been anticipating this trip since November so when I woke up Thursday morning not feeling too great I was bummed.  However, they told us to come on up if there was no fever, so we did!  Thankfully my sis-in-law-in-law is hippieish so she had some all natural remedies for me to try.  Some berry syrup and echinachea tea.
Thursday night the boys had a hockey game to go to so Alyssa and I were left at home to watch the four kiddos.  It was nice to sit and talk although we practically had to wait until the kids all went to bed.
Friday I felt like I got hit by a truck but I kept on with the syrup and tea.  Bryan had a lunch with a co-worker so we just hung around the house until about three then we headed to the Mall of America.
We went to the aquarium and then Buffalo Wild Wings.  Those two things plus all the walking to get there, trying to ride the Dora the Explorer Ferris Wheel but finding it was WAY too expensive, and buying the girls' swimsuits took us nearly 6 hours.  It was crazy that we hardly did anything!!
Saturday I was starting to feel way better so the manly men went out shooting at a range while us women stayed home with the kids (don't worry, they paid us back). After they got home, Alyssa and I went shopping with only her baby.  We went to the smaller mall (which was still way huge) and went in to Charlotte Russe.  Super cute store!!  We had so much fun trying things on, shoes, clothes, jewelry, it was great. We even found some super awesome deals so that made the trip even better.  We ended up spending 3 hours in just this one store but it was totally worth it.
We headed back and took the family swimming at the pool they have in their apartment.  It was great!  The kids had a blast and completely wore themselves out so we got them to bed pretty quickly once we got back to the house.  Then us adults ordered some Chinese food and watch Gran Torino.  Such a great movie!
Sunday I was feeling loads better (Thank you berry syrup!).  We went to church then to a pancake house for supper.  It was seriously some of the best breakfast food ever.  They even had gluten free foods so I was able to have the GF cinnamon french toast.  Yum.
All weekend Alyssa and I had talked about how we missed our nose piercings and that we should get them redone.  We didn't really have the opportunity until that afternoon and we thought that if we didn't do it right then, we weren't going to be able to.
So we found a shop and headed that way.  Sans kids!!  The place was called Aloha Monkey so we were super skeptical but we thought we'd try it out.  It was super clean, bright and everyone looked professional- even with all their tattoos!  The guy who helped us was really nice and did his best to calm our nerves.
I think once you get it done once you know it will hurt so it makes you even more anxious to get it done a second time!
Alyssa went first and did great.  Then it was my turn and I was still so nervous but I knew I really wanted it back so I was going to go through with it.  So glad this guy was super nice!!
He and I were joking about making sure it was done through the previous hole (which was very obviously still there) and when it was over he said "I made sure it was perfect cause otherwise you said you would've f***ed me up!" I laughed and said "yes but not in those words" and he replied "pretty close!" haha :)
Anyway, we had a lot of fun and are hoping to do it again in a few months.  But I think this time we'll need to save some money for all the shopping Alyssa and I like to do!

Sleep Less in Iowa

So, I don't normally do Lent, not being Catholic and all.  Well, that and I never really understood why people would give up things just because it was for lent.  Like, no internet or no sweets.  If you're not doing it to grow closer to God then what's the point?
(I know some people do give up those two things, among others, to grow closer to God, I'm just speaking of those that only give up things just to give them up for 40 days and for no other reason. Also, I'm speaking of no one in particular.)
But this year I've found something to give up, so I'm going to give it my best.

I've been following along with our church's Bible in a Year and it's going alright.  I really have to work

at finding the time, which, to me, is awful.  It's awful that I have to find the time to be in God's Word.  

So for 40 days I will be giving up an hour of sleep in the morning to be in God's Word.  

If you know me, you know I love my sleep.  I cherish it, mostly because I really need it.  Having hypothyroid I get really tired if I don't get plenty of sleep and I need about 10 hours every night.  And with no nap in the afternoon, my sleep at night becomes very precious.  And waking up in the middle of the night to nurse the Little, my extra morning sleep is even more precious.  So you can see what it is that I'm really giving up here.  You other momma's can relate!!
I guess this'll mean that I need to give up my evenings and go to bed earlier.  That's not easy since the hubs is a night owl (and really, so am I) and that's our time together.  But we'll get it figured out.  And then maybe we can have a new routine that really works after the 40 days is over.
I'm really going to give this my best shot.
Wish my God speed, or well wishes, or pray for me, or all the above!  Cause I'm gonna need it.

Do you have anything you're giving up for Lent?

How am I doing?

I have a rare moment to blog!  Yay!
I've been wanting to update how I'm doing with my New Years Goals.  I gotta say, I'm doing pretty great!

1. I have only had any kind of bread once and that was on some chinese food.  I felt terrible after eating it! Ugh.  So I haven't had it since.  And without any grains, I'm feeling really good.

2. I've also been doing pretty good without any sweets.  I haven't had anything since last year.  That is great for me.  Cause I love me some sweets.  Right now I'm craving brownies and chocolate covered cherries but I will prevail and not have a thing!  It's just what works for me.
So, by giving up grains and sweets alone, I have already lost 10 pounds and dropped a pant size!  Huzzah!  It's encouraging.

3. Now I'm going to start incorporating more exercise into my routine and hopefully my body will continue to show wonderful progress.

4. I'm still going strong with my Bible in a Year.  I will get a few days behind here and there but I'll catch back up.  I like the one we're doing.  It doesn't have you just read straight on through but different books with each other and it gives you a really cool perspective.

5. I am daily improving myself on being a better wife and momma.  It's definitely a challenge some days but I love my family and because of that I want to keep working hard at being better more.

A relatively normal post.

It seems like the flu and colds are going around.. and around and around.  I think our household was sick twice through.  It seemed to start with me as well as end it with me and it all began back in October.  I think.  Anyway, it was long.  And the second time through was a doozy.  I haven't had a knock-me-down-n-out kinda cold for a few years so I guess I had it coming, but geesh.

Aside from all the sickness, Christmas was good and fun.  It was interesting trying to figure it all out with V's birthday on Christmas Eve but we got it.  Sorta.  I'll have it better figured out next year.  I hope, anyway.
We started out with my side of the family.   We were missing a few family members as well as non-family members.  We usually have a few non-relations join us for festivities.  And it's a joyous good time!  But not this year and that's okay too.  We watched movies, played games, hung out, ate too much junk food.. Ugh.
After a few fun filled days there we came home for a day and then went on to Bryan's side of the family.  We spend a good three days there with everyone which was also too much fun.  However, I think it's where we got the second dose of sickness.  (It's okay Vera, Aunt Seppy still loves you!!)
It was still a lot of fun and good times, puzzle doing, hanging out, chit chatting over tea, too much good food.  Mmm.  My mil's mashed potatoes.. so very good.
New Year was uneventful.  The girls went to bed as normal and Bryan and I tried catching up on Once Upon A Time.  It was lame.  And then I remembered four years ago we hung out with all of our friends for NYE.  It was a blast.  Sometime we'll do it again.  Maybe V won't be such a light sleeper by the time she's two.  Anyway- Yay 2013!  Bring it on!
However, we did have a great NY day ringing it in with our friends the Pitts.  Yummo food!  And I was good and stuck to my goals. (Which are going great, thank you for asking :)
And on Wednesday night we had our long lost friends the Lloyd's over!  We haven't seen them in the 6 months since they moved to Texas.  It was great to see them.
Anyway, Christmas is down and put away and my house is feeling normal again.  I've gotten back on my routine and the house is getting cleaner and cleaner.
So, now it's time to start preparing for next Christmas.  Isn't that the way it goes?

27/30 Things: Body parts

{To know what I'm talking about, and to see previous 30 Things posts, start here}

27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?

Uh.. I've got nothing.  Ha!  Okay, how about my belly.  Why?  Because I don't like the way it looks.  It used to be flat and smooth, and teeny teeny tiny.  BUT!  Although it's (way) less than flat and so not very smooth at all, it has housed two beautiful little girls.  It's held them as they grew and formed, as they were being created into something truly precious.  And, although I don't care for the way it looks now, it holds precious memories of miracles, growths, and births.  And I hope the stories aren't finished yet.  Because I wouldn't trade my babes for a flat tummy.  
(Although you momma's that can do both, GO YOU!!)

26/30 Things: Popular notions

{To know what I'm talking about, and to see previous 30 Things posts, start here}

26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?

Hm.. I'd have to say being a Christian.  I think a lot of people take on the title of Christian very casually.  You can't just claim to follow Christ, you have to actually live it too.  Now don't get me wrong, I am not perfect and in so many ways.  I fail daily.  DAILY.  But every day I wake up and try to live my day for God.  I don't always get it right but I do try.  
I feel like people who claim Christianity but don't live it make life a lot harder on those of us who really do try.  Christ calls us to love.  Everyone.  Unconditionally.  To show grace and mercy.  To treat others the way Christ would.  In love.  To care for others.  Not judge others.  To lift each other up.  Not pick and choose who we're going to love that day but to love every person we come into contact with. 
Truth: I do fail to do this.  A lot.  But every time I mess I up, I try to make up for it.  
I've been forgiven.  I've been shown grace.  Mercy.  Love.  Every day.  And because of that I work at returning grace, mercy, and love right back out into the world.  And when I mess up, because I always do, I'm forgiven again and again I try to go back out there to love on others.  
Christ calls us to love.  And to love we must do.
One of my favorite quotes is by dcTalk:

The single greatest cause of atheism in the world today is Christians.  Who acknowledge Him with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle.  That is what an unbelieving world, simply finds unbelievable.

So let us love others.  Let us show Christ through our actions and our words.

25/30 Things: Historic Person

{To know what I'm talking about, and to see previous 30 Things posts, start here}

(I promise I haven't forgotten about this.  I know it has taken me MONTHS to get this done.  I just never had easy access to a computer before but now I do!  So let's get this thing finished, whadya say??)

25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?

For some reason I always go to Paul from the Bible (Saul turned Paul).  I would love to know his story personally, the things he went through to share the Gospel, the hard times he endured and how he overcame them, how he got through to people.  But then I think, why wouldn't I just go straight to Jesus.  Of COURSE I want to meet Jesus!  But I figure, Paul is human, he struggled and failed but he still made a go of things.

The other person I'd want to meet is Mother Teresa.  Her life she lived simply and only for God.  To love others as he loves us!  Her life revolved around others and how she could shine Jesus through her every day actions.  She loved to love, she lived to serve, and she made great effort to show Christ to every one she met.  
I want to be like that.

As far as what I'd eat.. I'd eat whatever they were eating!  

Happy New Year

It's 2013 Folks!!  Wowza.  I can hardly believe we don't have flying cars yet!  I remember the end of 1999 and thinking how scary the 21st century was going to be because flying cars and all the spacey stuff would soon follow the turn of the century.  But here we are.  Flying carless.
Anywho.
This year I'm going to try to better myself.

1. Give up sweets.
Hi, my name is September and I'm a chocoholic.  I've done it before, gave up anything sweets related that I was addicted to.  6 months.  I can do it again.  And I'm going to by the grace of God because, my goodness, I just can't seem to get ahold of myself.  I wish I were one of those people that could just have a taste once a day and then be done.  But no, I have to have a taste, eat the rest, and then lick the dish.  I also turn to chocolate when I'm stressed instead of turning to prayer.  So, things have got to change.

2. Go grain free.
I'm sure I've mentioned before that I have hypo-thyroid.  Well, I've done some research and have found that gluten can greatly increase the difficulty of thyroid function when it's already not working very well.  So, although I'm not going to go completely gluten free, I am going to go grain free and as gluten free as possible.  It always works when I go on the Maker's Diet, which now it all makes sense because of the lack of grains.  But this time I'm going to just stay away from grains and eat a ton more veggies and fruits.  Nothing to hard or difficult.  I've gotta make these resolutions easy so I still with them!

3. Exercise more.
It's not that hard, just get up and get moving for a half an hour or so to get the blood pumping.

4. Read through the Bible in a year.
The Pastor of our church has a plan all set up and all we have to do is follow it. I've already done mine for today.  Not too bad.  Although I may have either wake up before the girls do (which is no easy task for me) or read it before I go to bed.  One way or another, it'll get done.

5.  Better wife, better momma.
I just want to keep improving and be the best to which my family deserves.

All in all, easy resolutions.  Nothing too hard, nothing too fancy.

To my ONE year old

My dear sweet, sweet Violet,
Today you are one.  A marvelous one, and my how the year has flown.  I want to say it's gone by faster with you than it had with your sister.  It doesn't help that you turned one at the busiest time of the year.  But it's been a great year. A fun year at that.
To start off, you officially have 8 teeth!  Yes, another one just in time for your 1st birthday.  Four on top and now four on the bottom.
You haven't started crawling yet, but your interest in it has begun.  You do love to pull yourself up to a standing position though, and that seems good enough for you at the moment.
One of your favorite activities is to push things around the house.  Anything really but your favorite is a wicker basket from the bathroom.  You'll get up on your knees with your hands on the basket and do a half crawl/push thing.  You love it!  That is, until you get the object you're pushing stuck against a wall.
You don't say much, just a lot of yaya's, da's, ma's, zaza's, and ssssss's sounds like a snake.
You love cheese and to push pureed foods out through your front teeth.
We're still nursing like champs.  You love every minute (and so do I).  So much in fact, that it's hard for me to get you to let go even after you've fallen asleep.
You're not a great stay-asleep-er.  Nap time only lasts about an hour and you'll still wake up every two to four hours at night.  Sometime (but rarely) six if I'm lucky.  But that's a blue moon kind of deal.
You've just recently learned how to get up to sit up from a laying position.  It was nice that way.  I could change your diaper without much of a fight.  But now you are a squirmy wormy and will take off as soon as I lie you down.  You think it's HILARIOUS to take off naked.  You'll even turn around a strike this funny pose as if you want me to chase you.  And I do.  You're too funny to not chase down.
Your first birthday wasn't a huge extravaganza.  I wasn't sure how it was going to go with Christmas and all.  Plus we weren't at our house for that day. But next year I'm sure I'll have a better plan and we'll have a little more of a party for you.  However, do know that you did have three parties and lots of gifs, hugs, loves, and kisses.  You didn't go unspoiled.
And just a couple of weeks before you turned one, you gained a new cousin.  And once you met him you LOVED him.  Kisses galore. You also got mad when we took him from you so Amelia could have a turn.  Good thing we'll be spending a few more days with him in a week!
That's another thing, you love giving kisses.  And it's the sweetest!
We're also working on sign language so until you can tell us what you want/need, you can just sign it to us.  We're first working on "please".  That one is take a bit, however, after just a few times of showing you "all done" you've got it! So now I'm starting to think you don't want to do "please" just because.
Sometimes you'll still get mistaken for a boy since you still have hardly any hair.  Even when I dress you in pink and purple!  People are so funny sometimes.
You have a great laugh and will laugh at the funniest times.
You love to rock baby dolls and sing them songs.
You also love to sing at worship time while daddy is up on stage leading it, or in the car while we listen to music.  You've loved the Christmas songs.
You're beautiful, and charming, funny, sweet, loving.  Oh, how you love to give hugs!!  Especially to your aunt Emily.
I just love you, sweet Violet.  I am forever changed since you've come into our lives.  And I'm so ever grateful to God for blessing my life with precious you.

Love, love, love you,
Momma

24/30 Things: Childhood and Family

{To know what I'm talking about, and to see previous 30 Things posts, start here}


24. Describe the family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.

Well, when I was a kid, our family was kinda small.  And when I say "family" I mean, my mom, my sisters, my mom's parents, my mom's sister and husband, and my mom's brother.  We'd all get together for every event, do everything together. My grandparents were younger so things were much easier for them to get around and such.   We were small and compact so activities were simpler, like going to the amusement park, the rodeo, birthdays, holidays.  
Now, two of us three girls are married.  And the two of us have 3 kids between us.  My aunt and her hubby have two kids. My other uncle passed away.  My mom is remarried and he has three boys.  My grandparents are a bit older and a little slower moving but still up and at 'em.
That's a lot of people.  When we were a small family, we'd invite people to holidays and events.  That was easy. We still do invite people to our holidays and events, just not as many people.  
We still play games, we still go places, we still get together for everything.  We're just bigger.  And I love it.  I love my family.

23/30 Things: My 5 Hobbies

{To know what I'm talking about, and to see previous 30 Things posts, start here}


23.  List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.


Art
It helps me to create what I'm feeling. 
Feel a sense of accomplishment. 
Bring beauty on canvas into my home.

Photography
I love capturing moments.  
To create something beautiful from a glimpse in time.
To have these precious memories to look back on when the moments has passed.

Baking
It's delicious.
And fun.
And delicious.

Crafting
I can make adorableness in the form of a card or scrapbook.
They make great gifts.

Organizing
I love the cleanliness it brings.
I know I can find things when I need them.  
And easily.

11 Months and My Oldest

Nothing like running late in real life and on this blog.

Miss V turned 11 months on the 24 of November!  She's getting so big and will be ONE in only 21 days.  Wow.  I will have a 4 year old and a 1 year old.  Why do my babies get so big so fast?

So here's my update on my littlest one:

• Her words consist of "zazazaza", "vavava", and "yaya" (which I do believe is dada).
• She will go to the bottom of our staircase and yell up "yaya" to her daddy knowing he's up there working.
• She likes to whisper and scream right along with you.  It's her way of talking with you.
• She's feisty and a temper tantrum thrower.  Yay. (ha)
• She's getting faster and faster at crawling.
• She's attempted a stair.  She can do it at the church where there is only two stairs that lead to the stage but hasn't yet attempted it at home.  Where there are lots.  Lots of steep stairs.
• She's gotten yet another tooth.  She now has a total of 7!
• She likes to walk if someone is holding her hands.  She's not terribly interested in it, especially when A "helps" her.  But if Bryan or I'm helping her she'll do it for a bit and then get bored because she knows she can go faster if she crawls.  She does like it when she does it though!
• She celebrated her first Thanksgiving last month.  On the same day she turned 11 months!  She enjoyed a bit of the food.  I'm kinda slow going on getting her more and more on solids but the last months she has been enjoying it a bit more.  
• She loves to be snuggled.  She's been giving tons of hugs.  
• She's so smiley.
• And when she gets excited she'll throw her hands in her lap, curl her back, straighten her legs and toes, and give us a huge grin.  It's flippin ADORABLE!!
• She's so charming.  People will actually stop in the store just to talk to her, make her laugh or talk to them, or just to see her smile.  I know this happened with A and I'm sure this happens to other babies, it just always makes me grin to see them want to talk to V.  And sweet A will tell them that her name is Violet and she is her baby sister and that her own name is Amelia. It's so sweet. 
• Her eyes are getting darker all them time.  She no longer has blue eyes but a hazel of some sort.  
• She does this adorable face (that she's done forever but still does) where she makes an "ooooh" sound and makes it look like she sucking on a straw while her eyes get really big.
• She pulls herself up onto things into a standing position.  
• We're working on getting her to sign "please".  I was late on teaching this to her too but we're working on it. 
• She's getting better at sleeping at night.  I have a noise machine that I turn on to drown out all the other "surprising" noises.  It seems to help.  
• She's also still down to one nap a day.  That'll last anywhere from 1 hour to two but it's usually the former.
• She's always busy and loves to play, but if Sesame Street or Veggie Tales are on, she'll play in front of that and watch in awe.  
• She loves to dance and bounce and toss her arms around to music.  She loves music.

As for my oldest one:

• She is enjoying school.  Loves it!
• We're doing 24 days of Christmas.  It's kind of like an advent calendar but with activities to do every day.  We have a lot of random acts of kindness and buying/giving away/making gifts for others, and then fun events to attend. Plus things like camping out with daddy, movie night, and ice cream with a friend.  She even remembered this from last year.  I was surprised that she did! (If you follow me on facebook you'll see pictures of the activities we have every day.)
• She's learning to write her name.  At the beginning of the year it was just scribbles but now I can make out the A the M and the I.  Super impressive.  
• She had a Thanksgiving program for her school and it was adorable.  She definitely likes to be in the limelight.  
• She's become quite the storyteller, she'll read us books and make up stories to go along with it.  
• She's also become a very good artist.  She can draw houses and people and they actually resemble them so that you know what they are.  

Anyway, there's my update.  Hopefully I can actually write a blog post that doesn't involve once a month updates.  Ha!

10 months (although late)

I completely missed an update for Miss V turning 10 months!!

She is amazing!  She's crawling like a fiend! She's getting faster and faster everyday.  A lot of practicing.  Getting into the dog's water bowl in the kitchen, playing with the toilet with the bathroom, pulling clothes out of the laundry baskets in the bedrooms, oh yes, lots of practice!

She growls, and babbles, "talking" like crazy!

She also gives kisses now.  They're opened mouthed and slobbery but it's still sweet.

She's in a biting faze.. that is not so sweet.

She sits on her her knees now which is adorable.  And she's trying to figure out standing but that's coming along a little slower.  I'm okay with that, don't want to rush growing up to quickly.

She's still very serious towards strangers but is a little more generous with a smile.

Her laugh is so contagious.  She's ticklish and will burst with laughter!

Her toes are so animated that they are only still when she sleeps.  They're usually curled with her big toe stretched out and up.  It's weird, and yet charming, and it's exactly the same thing that Bryan will do.

She's still bald but now with a little tuft of hair on the top.  It isn't much but it's so very cute.

Oh, and she has a lovey.  It's a crocheted giraffe that we've affectionately named Maggie after the lady who made it.  She adores this thing.  She'll snuggle it by it's neck, hugging it whenever we hand it to her.  She loves this thing.  I'm so glad I found it and bought it for her.