Happy Me

A few things that make me happy today....

• We got to spend an entire week of evenings with daddy! No school, no church meetings, just us.
• Only 5.5 more hours until our favorite time of day begins... when Nate pulls in the driveway.
• For the 2nd week in a row, Nate will be here to run family night instead of Tayv & I doing it ourselves.
• Tahn's chubby little flinstone feet that won't fit into any shoes.
• The image of Tayv waving goodbye with a look of love on his face as I dropped him off at school.
• Aree's tiny feet, tiny painted toenails, and beautiful big smile.
• The possiblity of a lightning storm.
• Cute little fingerprints on my newly washed windows and fridge.
• The sound of giggling then fighting then giggling brothers at 6 am.

Find some of your own happys today!

These cute kids of mine...

I'll just put this out there.... pictures of the kids this year were a joke! The night before, Tahn got about

half the amount of sleep he usually does and WAS NOT going to sit for more than 3 seconds at a time,

Tayv tried but once we got Aree situated in his lap and turned around to put Tahn in place he just

had to move, and Little Miss was hungry. So basically,

 I didn't get a real smile from any of them. But they are cute little stinkers. :)

Miss AJ

What can I say about this beautiful little girl? She has brought such joy to our entire family when I didn't think there was more to be had. Her brothers LOVE her, her daddy is COMPLETELY smitten, and her mommy is having the time of her life dressing up this little angel. And to add to it, she's now coo-ing and grinning from ear to ear at anybody that walks by. We just can't get enough of her.

Pictures soon!

Our little book worm

Tayv has ALWAYS loved books. And especially now that he's reading and spelling. It's too much for me to handle... he can't be old enough to read yet.  Please, time, won't you slow down?

Tahn the man

This little dude is such a cute stinker. He is so happy and loving but can get so angry too. He's such a little smartie-looking at things for just a minute then figuring them out...like untying knots. Double knots. Anyway...
Tayv saw Tahn's baby book the other day and was looking through it. Guess what he said... "Mom, isn't there anything in here?" Yep, that's the kind of mom I am. So until I write something in it, here is a list of most of his words at almost 20 months.

• AJ
• apple
• Arahlee
• bampa (grandma)
• bampa (grandpa)
• banana
• bath tub
• bear
• blanket
• blinds
• book-book
• brr
• bruber (brother)
• Bye
• car
• cear-cel (cereal)
• cheeks
• cheese
• chicken
• chow-chow (chocolate)
• co-co (cookie)
• color
• cook-cook
• da-da
• danger
• diaper
• dinosaur
• doggy
• door
• dressed
• drink
• ears
• eat
• eyce (eyes)
• fishies
• gone
• head
• hi
• hor-hor (horse)
• hot
• jacket
• juice
• like that
• lion sound
• lotion
• love you
• ma-ma
• marmellow
• mine
• monkey
• moo moo (smoothie)
• mooom
• more
• mu-mu (muffin)
• nigh-nigh
• no-no
• nose
• oatmeal
• on
• ouch
• out
• peanut bubber
• pibow (pillow)
• pie
• pineapple
• play
• please
• prettydone
• rare-uh (shara)
• sal-sal (salad)
• scee-scees (scissors)
• shoes
• sisty (sister)
• socks
• sor-sor (sorry)
• Stacia
• stinky
• strawberry
• string cheese
• Tayvin
• teeth
• thank you
• trash
• trash can
• wall
• water
• whoa
• window
• wow
• yah

Remember this?  I certainly do-it was the best mother's day I've ever had. I thought it a good idea to revisit the idea.

Our Sweet Little Miss

Arahlee Jayde

joined our family

February 28th, 2011

at 7:03pm

7 lbs 8.5 oz
19 1/2 in

She has been such a sweet little addition to our family and of course, the boys just can't get enough of her or give her enough kisses. (Especially her smitten daddy.)
We are so grateful she made it here healthy and safe!

Overheard:Manners

I promise a baby post is coming soon but in the meantime.... we're at a point that the "Overheards" aren't just coming from Tayv anymore... here are a few from Tahn.
-He had a diaper rash for a few days and after I changed his diaper he kept saying for about 5 minutes in the most sincere, loving voice he could find... "Thank you, thank you. Just thank you, thank you."
-While in bed last night, trying to get to sleep... "Please. Thank you. More please. Thank you, thank you." Love that boy and his manners!
-Today when I went into his room to get him.... "Mom! Hi! Well, Hello."
(I realize these only sound cute to his mommy, but it's my blog. :))

And one from Tayv....
-"Mom, I'm having a hard time getting to sleep. Is it ok if I just talk to myself for a little while?" :)

I hate when people that I blogstalk have babies and don't post pictures for over a month.

I feel something should probably be documented about this pregnancy. And being that I still have not taken a single belly picture, this will have to do. Oh, and since I got in trouble for not letting either of my sisters know what is going on, here's the latest....

Around 32 weeks I was diagnosed with preeclampsia. It is considered a mild case but regardless, my dr won't let me go past 38 weeks. Of course, I already felt like it was coming way too soon so I was not thrilled with the idea of her coming early. In the meantime, I go have NSTs twice a week, an ultrasound once a week, bloodwork and other tests done once a week, and a dr's appt once a week. Super, huh?  There have been a few little scares here and there but when Little Miss was measured via ultrasound at 34 weeks she was around 4 lbs 5 oz and healthy. I was given steroid shots to help her lungs develop in case I don't make it to 38 weeks.  Since I have had a c-section previously, my dr won't start me but he did say he would strip my membranes twice that week  and then break my water to see if my body would do anything. If not, I will have to have a c-section. Nate will be out of town training a new hire that week so hopefully she'll wait until he gets back! Until this pregnancy I loved being pregnant. I don't know if it's the fact that it's a different gender, the lack of recovery time in between pregnancies, or that I'm getting older but this one has just been difficult. I hate to say it, but I'll be glad when it's over. 
I cannot wait to meet this little miss, hold her in my arms, and paint her fingernails. :) Tayv is so excited to have a little sister and Tahn repeatedly pats my belly while saying baby. It makes my heart happy.
Mostly, I'm just grateful right now to know that things will work out the way they're supposed to when they are supposed to. We've been so blessed with healthy, happy children and are at peace with how this baby is developing and all that has happened.

It's Christmas Night...

It's Christmas Night

By: Max Lucado

It’s Christmas night. The house is quiet. Even the crackle is gone from the fireplace. Warm coals issue a lighthouse glow in the darkened den. Stockings hang empty on the mantle. The tree stands naked in the corner. Christmas cards, tinsel, and memories remind Christmas night of Christmas day.

It’s Christmas night. What a day it has been! Spiced tea. Santa Claus. Cranberry sauce. “Thank you, so much.” “You shouldn’t have!” “Grandma is on the phone.” Knee-deep wrapping paper. “It just fits.” Flashing cameras. It’s Christmas night. The girls are in bed. Jenna dreams of her talking Big Bird and clutches her new purse. Andrea sleeps in her new Santa pajamas. It’s Christmas night. The tree that only yesterday grew from soil made of gifts, again grows from the Christmas tree stand. Presents are now possessions. Wrapping paper is bagged and in the dumpsite. The dishes are washed and leftover turkey awaits next week’s sandwiches.

It’s Christmas night. The last of the carolers appeared on the ten o’clock news. The last of the apple pie was eaten by my brother-in-law. And the last of the Christmas albums have been stored away having dutifully performed their annual rendition of chestnuts, white Christmases, and red-nosed reindeer.

It’s Christmas night.

The midnight hour has chimed and I should be asleep, but I’m awake. I’m kept awake by one stunning thought. The world was different this week. It was temporarily transformed. The magical dust of Christmas glittered on the cheeks of humanity ever so briefly, reminding us of what is worth having and what we were intended to be. We forgot our compulsion with winning, wooing, and warring. We put away our ladders and ledgers, we hung up our stop watches and weapons. We stepped off our racetracks and roller coasters and looked outward toward the star of Bethlehem.

It’s the season to be jolly because, more than at any other time, we think of him. More than in any other season, his name is on our lips. And the result? For a few precious hours our heavenly yearnings intermesh and we become a chorus. A ragtag chorus of longshoremen, Boston lawyers, illegal immigrants, housewives, and a thousand other peculiar persons who are banking that Bethlehem’s mystery is in reality, a reality. “Come and behold him” we sing, stirring even the sleepiest of shepherds and pointing them toward the Christ-child.

For a few precious hours, he is beheld. Christ the Lord. Those who pass the year without seeing him, suddenly see him. People who have been accustomed to using his name in vain, pause to use it in praise. Eyes, now free of the blinders of self, marvel at his majesty. All of a sudden he’s everywhere. In the grin of the policeman as he drives his paddy wagon full of presents to the orphanage.

In the twinkle in the eyes of the Taiwanese waiter as he tells of his upcoming Christmas trip to see his children. In the emotion of the father who is too thankful to finish the dinner table prayer. He’s in the tears of the mother as she welcomes home her son from overseas. He’s in the heart of the man who spent Christmas morning on skid row giving away cold baloney sandwiches and warm wishes. And he’s in the solemn silence of the crowd of shopping mall shoppers as the elementary school chorus sings “Away in a Manger.” Emmanuel. He is with us. God came near.

It’s Christmas night. In a few hours the cleanup will begin — lights will come down, trees will be thrown out. Size 36 will be exchanged for size 40, eggnog will be on sale for half-price. Soon life will be normal again. December’s generosity will become January’s payments and the magic will begin to fade. But for the moment, the magic is still in the air. Maybe that’s why I’m still awake. I want to savor the spirit just a bit more. I want to pray that those who beheld him today will look for him next August. And I can’t help but linger on one fanciful thought: if he can do so much with such timid prayers lamely offered in December, how much more could he do if we thought of him every day?

Merry Christmas! May joy, love, laughter, and most importantly, the love of our Savior be with you now and always!

Overheard: Christmas Shirts

In my closet...
Tayv: "Wow Mom, that's a really nice Christmas shirt you have. That one with the snowman."
Me: "Thanks pal."
Tayv: "Do you know what would be even more revrenter though?"
Me: (snickering) "What?"
Tayv: "A Christmas shirt with Jesus on it."

He's been telling me almost on a daily basis that "Jesus is THE MOST important thing about Christmas!"  All this time I thought he was trying to convince himself. Apparently not. :)

Overheard: Camping with a girl...

I walked into Tayv's room where he and Tahn were playing this morning and asked what was going on. The conversation that ensued...
Tayv: "Oh, I'm just telling myself a story about a dream I had about camping with a girl."
Mom: "Oh?"
Tayv: "Yah, and guess what? It was so deep that not everybody could swim out of the swimming pool. So I carried her out."
Mom: "Wow. That was sweet of you. You were camping with a girl?"
Tayv: "Yah. But I really should just camp with boys huh?"
Mom: "Um, probably. Unless your mom is there."
Tayv: "Oh, well Tahn and Daddy were there swimming with us too."
Mom: "That's good!"

It continued from there but this is the part I really want to remember. :)

Our Christmas Card....

I'm only sending out a few Christmas cards this year so you probably won't get one. But in case you were wondering what it says....

"Our Christmas Letter/gift to you..."

"I've gained weight, Nate's going gray, & our kids are average. Merry Christmas!"

I realize not everybody gets my sense of humor. So if you don't think it's funny, that's ok. Because I'm amused with it and it's a Christmas letter Nate can live with. :)

Wishing you the happiest of Christmases and a new year full of laughter and joy!

Overheard: Jesus

Out of the blue this morning...

Tayvin: "Mom, I'm glad that Jesus died for us but I'm really sad I didn't get to see him. Ya know? While he was preaching."