Dada Dough Boy

Lauren pushing Bunny Night-Night 
around the grocery store recently. 
She had so much fun!

Here's a funny story I've been meaning to tell... 

So about a month ago Lauren and I went grocery shopping. I had a coupon for Pillsbury products and they were also on sale so I purchased some "Grands jrs." to make ham biscuits. I usually buy generic, so this was different.

Once we were home and unloading the groceries Lauren picked up the tube and said "Dada" and I was confused as to what she was saying, so I inquired further. Well she was pointing at the Pillsbury Dough Boy and saying Dada. I thought this was hilarious (my husband being a slender man doesn't really resemble the dough boy, but Lauren felt differently) and laughed it up. I later tell Matt and he of course says I'm making it up and dismisses the comment (really who wants to be called the dough boy?).

Well fast forward to last weekend and Lauren was opening presents. She opened some of her Christmas presents from extended family that my mom had brought. My mom and step-dad asked if the kids could open Christmas gifts from my step-dad's sisters and parents. One of the gifts she opened was a big package of play food. There in the package was two small boxes of Pillsbury garlic bread. As Lauren looks over the package, checking out her goods she sees the boxes, points, and says "Dada!" Everyone was interested in what she was saying and I burst into laughter as I see she's once again pointing to the Pillsbury Dough Boy. Matt's face goes red and everyone else starts laughing. 

She now proudly calls these two boxes "Dada Dough Boy" and plays with them regularly. Matt has inquired, many times might I add, as to why she calls him Dada but he's still patiently waiting for an answer. I find it mighty funny and know this story will live on.

I tend to be the butt of jokes around here, so it's mighty nice to be on the other end of the joke this time. 

She just cracks me up. Amen for the laughter of a two year old to help us smile, even when we're tired, hungry, crabby, or grumpy. 

                                                      

"He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy." Job 9:21

Silliness and Such

I finally started decorating the house today. So it's now "Beginning to feel a lot like Christmas..." around here. We still don't have our tree after a very disappointing trip to the tree nursery since they had no trees our size. I guess they didn't get their full shipment in, it's coming this weekend, and the only trees left were too big or too small. She was so sweet because I told her she could pick one out. As Matt was chatting with the owner about why they didn't have a tree for us, Lauren was walking around finding plants and saying "This one mommy." I had to tell her that wasn't a Christmas tree so she had to put it back. It was mighty pitiful as we pulled away with Lauren upset and confused as to why we didn't have a Christmas tree in our car. She was verbalizing how I felt on the inside. But her and daddy will be heading back this weekend, while I'm off on a retreat with the high school youth from our church. Yes, I'm a smidge upset that I won't be getting it with them- but I'm getting over it, I think.

Today we also had an exciting time visiting Matt at work. His work was giving free flu shots, so I told Matt to sign us up. After library time (another new adventure, since we're transitioning to the "toddler" time now that Lauren is two...sniffle, sniffle) we headed to his work. After parking I was getting Lauren out of the car and she says "Pot, Pot" and like usual she almost immediately says "No Pot, No Pot." I'm not sure why she does this. She knows she has to go, but it's like she doesn't like that going to the bathroom interrupts her life. I can't blame a girl, I go a billion times a day and hate how it interrupts my life too! Thank goodness I still have a leg up on the intelligence level, so I told her "Dada has a special pot at work and he'll let you go in it" and her whole outlook was turned around. Then she couldn't wait to see the special pot. 

After our adventures to the bathroom we headed to get flu shots. Lauren had her shot at her check up on Monday so now we're all ready to be a flu free house for when the baby comes! We did the same thing when Lauren was born, all got the flu shot and even highly encouraged long term visitors to get theirs. But then last year, I think only Lauren got it. Hopefully Matt's employer will offer this each year so we don't slack off again.

Lunch with Matt was next on our agenda. Lauren had a great time stealing M&M's off Matt's plate, since I had packed him trail mix. We all enjoyed being together for some extra family time. Seeing daddy during the day just seems to make the day go faster. 

It also gave Matt and I a chance to talk about the insurance issues we've been having with his new insurance company (it sucks!). Because I'm now considered high risk due to my previous three miscarriages I see a fetal specialist for my last two ultrasounds. Well my doctor told me to go to see "Dr. C" and so I did. Well he is located in a hospital and the insurance says that we needed to go to a free standing place- so stupid. I called when we received the $700+ dollar bill trying to sort it all out. Plus, I was extra upset since we had already been there for the second ultrasound by the time the first bill came in. Interestingly enough, we never got a bill for the second visit, so when the hospital billed us again for the first visit- I think we didn't pay it right away hoping it would all work out- Matt decided to try his hand at figuring it all out. This time I guess he informed them that we were instructed by the doctor to go there and they said if they get a letter from my doctor stating this information they would pay the bill in full. I'm pretty sure that I told them that when I called but whatever. So before sitting down here I called my doctor and left a message asking them to write a letter to the insurance. I just find it so ridicules. Matt also had to figure out why it is we received a bill for blood work I had done, well that mix up was that they billed the insurance in my name, not Matt's (he's the policy holder) so that was an easy fix. I guess I find this even more ridicules since I thought I had crappy insurance working for the schools and I never had any bills come to me when I was pregnant with Lauren. I remember a lot of co-pays until I reached my deductible, but no $700 madness. 

Anyway, it seems to be all working out so I'm thankful for that. Oh, silly story from yesterday. Well it might also be labeled gross and perhaps unnerving too. Lauren and I did a much needed trip to the grocery store yesterday. We have a set route through the store and logically the frozen section is last. About half way through the frozen section, both going stir crazy and getting slap happy, we were playing with my pen. She was trying to steal the cap off and me sometimes letting her do it and other times pulling the pen away at the nick of time, just to hear her laugh with delight (I love my funny girl, she has such a great belly laugh). When all of a sudden she throws up! It was only a little bit, but we were both caught off guard. It was hanging from her mouth and she was trying to suck it back in with little success. So I did what any mom would do I wiped it away with my hands. Then we both looked at my hands and I thought "what in the world am I going to do with this now?!?" I don't carry a diaper bag anymore, just a change of clothes bag, which I leave in the car. I had no wipes, no napkins, nothing. So I start looking around the store and realize I'm right next to the pharmacy. So I head there, mind you I've got throw up on my hands so steering a cart full of food with a child in there too was not easy. But the nice lady at the desk gave me a few napkins and some paper towel (she must have seen the panic in my face, since she didn't even ask why) and I wiped Lauren's face and my hands and then spied hand-sanitizer at the second pharmacy counter. I asked Lauren how she felt and she was fine. We stopped playing the pen game (we didn't need more belly laughs bring up more yumminess) and got our milk, frozen pizza, and yogurt and got out of there. I don't know if was the way she was slouched and laughing, but I felt awful for her. By the way, she thinks the word "slouching" is hilarious, she has such a wonderful sense of humor.

Another wonderful day in our house. Off to play with my girl who decided not to nap today (darn you quick car naps, you ruin everything!). She still laid in bed for an hour but now her time is up and so is mine. 

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" James 1:2-4

All Sorts of Crazy!

So much as happened in such a short time with Lauren's birthday and us visiting my sister's house for the Thanksgiving holiday. So here is an update post (with pictures to make it more fun) with all the excitement we've had here...

Here's the birthday girl waking up on her birthday. Here's to being two!!!

We started the day with "Bunny Pancakes" - her favorite, most requested meal. She helped me mix up the batter, an activity she just can't seem to get enough of. After breakfast, while Matt and I cleaned up, Lauren ventured over to her pile of gifts in the living room and brought one into us displaying the sweetest eyes that said "Can I finally open this?" So we opened the two gifts from mommy and daddy. She loved her stroller! She strolled her "night-nights" all around the house, all day long. Score for me on picking out a great gift!! After Matt left for work we played and enjoyed the morning. We had leftover Bunny Pancakes for lunch and then we made cupcakes together. Have I mentioned that this girl loves to cook/bake. I had planned to make the cupcakes ahead of time so that once we were at my sisters we'd have birthday treats to celebrate with there (I just froze them and they were easy to transport). After that it was nap time. So during nap, I made her cookie cake. She loves M&M's so I thought that would be a wonderful cake, plus again left overs are really easy to transport, since we headed out the next day.  

Here is the finished product. Oh was it yummy! Her eyes lite up a like a Christmas tree when see came down from nap and saw it. 

Even Bunny Night-Night participated in the celebration and had her own piece of cookie cake.

After dinner and cake we Skyped with Grandma B as she opened more gifts. She is quiet the lucky lady and got some really nice gifts. Although we never left the house, and no one came to us, I think it was a mighty special day. It blows my mind that two years have passed since this sweet girl made us into a family. What a blessing she is each and every day of our lives!

The next day was Thanksgiving and we headed out early in the morning to visit my sister, her husband, my nephew, and my mom and step-dad. The trip didn't seem to take too long, even though I wanted oh so badly to sleep and just couldn't get comfortable enough. I thought for sure Lauren would nap, especially since she didn't fall asleep until 10:15 the night before (side note: she was put to bed at her normal 8:15, but that yummy sugar filled cookie cake must have kept her going for another two hours) and then waking up at 4:30 am that morning! Lauren has never done that before- since I was enjoying a early morning myself (waking at 3:30 and not being able to fall back to sleep) we snuggled together in bed while we waited for the day to begin. We both only took a half hour nap on the 8 hour drive. It seemed to go fast and Matt's silliness made it most enjoyable! Have I mentioned lately how much I love my husband, well I do. Have I also taken time to mention how perfectly God paired the two of us together, well he did!

                               

Once we were there Lauren got to enjoy round two of birthday celebrations. This time it was a share occasion, since Grandma P's birthday is two days later we had a combination party. She opened more wonderful gifts. Shauna and I frosted the cupcakes and decorated them to look like Nemo fish. They were extra yummy, but oh bless my heart, they were a diabetic's nightmare! 

Here's cousin Finn enjoying the play plates and flatware. If you want to be creeped out, look at the television behind him- yes the boys were enjoying Terminator that evening. We laughed because if you pair the TV screen and his facial expression it's quite a picture! Feel free to make up your own caption and share! 

We celebrated Thanksgiving on "Black Friday." Papa P helped occupy the kids as we readied the food. 

Before we knew it, Saturday had arrived. This morning we were visited by Grandma Sue and Grandpa Mike  (with a surprise appearance by Aunt Laura- my aunt). They came to round out day four of opening gifts and celebrating Lauren turning two! Although it was a short visit, it was great to see them and hug them too!

After a short visit with them we were headed home. It was nice to have Sunday as a day to relax and recoup. Lauren finally got to enjoy some of her gifts. Here she's playing with Play Dough. 

But by the end of the weekend we were all just ready to lay down and enjoy some snuggle time. We had a lot of fun and have a plethora of memories to look back on. We sure felt blessed and thankful this holiday season!

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations."

Psalm 100:1-5

"O Christmas Tree"

“I hear those sleigh bells ringing and a ging-ging-gingling! Come on it’s lovely weather for a slight ride together with me…” I can’t wait to get our Christmas tree and decorate the house. I think I’m worse this year than last year. In fact I was hoping to head to get the tree this past weekend so that way when we get home from being out of town I can just get down to decorating! Have I mentioned that I have already started listen to Christmas music regularly. Two stations around us have had it playing it all day since the beginning of November, and I’m always listening to it on Pandora when we’re home, background noise is good. Love me the holiday season!! Too bad my desires didn’t pan out quite the way I’d hoped.

When we were growing up Matt and I always had real Christmas trees in our house. Well when we moved away we’d head home for the holidays, and we’d be there for a week or so. The thing with real trees is that you can’t leave it without water or you’ll catch your house on fire. So we settled for a small artificial tree that I would put up each year (side note: this year I think I’m going to put it out upstairs for Lauren, I know she’ll love it). Well after Lauren was born, Matt and I made the decision that we’d be staying home for Christmas (we’re willing to drive to see family on any other holiday). If family wants to join in on our celebrations they were more than welcome to head our direction. I feel like Christmas is for the children (well first and foremost it’s about Jesus and all that God brought us through the birth of his son but I hope you understand what I’m trying to say here).  Lauren and all the other children God may bless us with, should always be able to open their gifts at their house, from under their tree, in their pajama, and then have fun playing with all their new stuff as they wait for a yummy breakfast to grace the our kitchen table. They should never have to wonder how Santa knew to drop off their gifts at _______’s house.  If we lived closer to family I would be more than willing to head to their house on Christmas Eve or on Christmas evening, but none of our family is close enough for a short visit like that. So now that we’re here for this holiday, we have started the tradition of getting a real tree- yippy. This makes me more excited than ever. It’s on the list of best days of the year, right behind heading to the pumpkin patch.

So our first year at home with Lauren we headed to a tree farm where Matt cut down the tree himself. I thought this was so fun and it is something I had always wanted to do. Well, who knew that doing this was so costly!! The trees we wanted were way out of our price range- like $50+. This girl is too frugal to spend that much money on a tree that is just going to be tossed out. They did have some in our price range and we ended up settling on one of those. But they weren’t good Christmas trees. They had floppy limbs and long sparse needles. Plus, the tree didn’t smile like a pine tree at all. I was disappointed but happy all at the same time.

So last year when we geared up for Christmas I was trying to find a better place with better trees, in our price range. My Google searches lead us to a wonderful little nursery about a half hour away.  These trees were already cut, so a little less exciting but they were beautiful and they were super smelly (a very important part for me!) and they were also the perfect price.  The problem was this year I couldn’t for the life of me remember what the name of the place was or how to get there. I remember it visually, what the place looked like and I remember the route number, I thought. Matt was the same way, he couldn’t remember either. Well we wanted to head back to that place so we had to Google it all over again looking for this place. It took me a good half hour to find it but when I did, and called them, they didn’t have any in stock yet- so I guess my need to decorate and jump into the Christmas season a smidge early will have to wait. Maybe I should focus on getting through two birthdays and a turkey day first!

Pie & Pants

Got the call from the doctors office today that I passed my three hour blood sugar test and all is well now! Amen to answered prayers and being able to enjoy some pumpkin pie this Thanksgiving.

Now onto the funny story. I need to give you some background first though. At story time today I almost forgot to tell Ms. Erin Lauren's exciting news. We haven't been to library time in a few weeks due to voting (the library was a voting center) and my doctor appointment last week so the news was almost lost. As I was getting ready to leave I remembered it and Lauren and I went over to her to tell her that...Lauren has started "reading"!!!!!!!!!!!!! The first book Ms. Erin ever read with Lauren was "Fright Train" by Donald Crews (she was 10 months old then). Lauren has checked it out of the library a number of times to bring home and we've read it a billion times at home. Well she checked it out again at the beginning of the month. 

As normal, in the car after library time Lauren looks/reads through all of her new books. This particular week I heard her saying the words to the book. I know the book by heart of course so I knew she wasn't just making up words to go with the pictures. They were the actual words on the page. It was amazing. Later that day I sat to read the book with her and sure enough she had memorized the book- an early sign of literacy. I was blown away. I told Matt and then showed him and he was blown away. I told and showed Matt's mom and she was blown away. This girl is just shy of 2 years old and she has memorized her first book. It is a book I know I'll need to purchase some day because it will forever hold a special place in my heart. She hasn't shown this awesome skill in such force with other books, but she definitely has parts of other books down. 



So on to the funny part. I squat down next to Ms. Erin who is sitting on the floor and I hear the worse sound come from my backside...my pant ripping!!!!!!!!!!! My eyes must have looked like a cartoon characters eyes! I slowly bring my hand around hoping no one else heard that noise and sure enough I could feel my undies. I was so embarrassed. So as I'm sharing this exciting news and watching Ms. Erin start crying over Lauren's accomplishment, all I kept thinking is how on earth do I get to other side of the room with no one seeing my underwear?!?!

I slowly get up and sideways walk over to my bag and our coats, and thank goodness Esther was standing and I'm side talking to her in the quietest voice I can "Can you please get me my jacket. I've ripped my pants" (because of course my stuff is on the ground). As she bends down to get the coat she says "Oh my, they did!" I wrap my coat around my ever pregnant belly (the arms just barely long enough to make the knot)  and we make our way out. 

Once outside I was able to laugh. I mean I had just bent over and split my pants- oh bless my heart!!! Esther and I brainstorm what to do. Our original plans were to head to the park to eat and let the girls play before heading to the second hand kids store. I wasn't about to show up anywhere with my pants in the state that they were. So we headed to her house, which is closer to the library and park than mine and she gives me a pair of her, very comfortable might I add, maternity pants. Nice and stretchy so I hopefully won't be splitting them! 

I called Matt, my mom and my sister to tell them my embarrassing, yet hilarious story as we made our way to Esther's. When I took the pants off I was laughing yet again. This rip wasn't just a little one, it was next to the back pocket and about 10 inches long. I thought about posting a picture, but I'll let you use your imagination on this one. It wasn't on a seam and the pants were by no means tight on me, so I'm thinking it was just warn out??? These are the only jeans I had purchased when I was pregnant with Lauren and I've worn them a lot, but still. 

Glad I can laugh and hope you enjoyed a few giggles yourself! Maybe I should seriously rethink that piece of pie for Thanksgiving...

"...'God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me'." Genesis 21:6 

(This quote is from Sarah about her being so old and bearing a child, but I think she would be laughing with me about this as well.)

Sitting in the doctor's office...

Here I am at the doctor’s office. Sitting in a corner chair, typing this post in Microsoft Word (I plan on cutting and pasting it later since I can’t seem to find a network to connect with). I have three hours to kill sitting on my butt. My last doctor appointment, last Tuesday, I had to do the blood glucose test. For those of you who might not have a clue, you fast after dinner, head to the doctors and they give you an “Oral Glucose Tolerance Beverage” to drink (you have five minutes to get it down), and then they take your blood in an hour later.  This is the test to determine if you have Gestational Diabetes.

I passed this test with flying colors when I was pregnant with Lauren, so I wasn’t worried about it in the least. Well last Thursday I get a call from my doctor’s nurse saying I failed. Yuck! According to Matt’s research, 20% of women fail the first test. So those, or should I say us, lucky 20% get to take the test again. But this second test is yuckier!! This time you fast after dinner the night before, get your blood taken when you get to the doctor’s office (base line reading is my guess), then you drink the drink and get your blood drawn every hour after that for the next three hours. Matt tells me that 2-5% of women fail the second time around. Let’s all pray I don’t fall into that category.

So here I am just ten minutes into the first hour of waiting. I apologize for what I know while be a long post…hey this girl has three hours to kill. I did bring a book but it’s too early in the morning for that. Too much floating around in my mind- so first I’m writing here.

Oh I forgot to mention you pretty much have to sit on your butt this whole time too. No walking around, except when you need to use the restroom. You are allowed to drink water and they did allow me my pepcid AC (so grateful for this since the stomach acid will be begging for food and the last thing I want to do is throw this “yummy” fruit punch drink up and have to repeat the process).

So now onto my random thought…first I can’t get over how much Lauren has ‘bloomed’ this past month. She has learned how to use zippers and loves to zip up her coat and pajamas (she can’t get it started yet but once I’ve gotten it going she’s good). She can also take off her shoes, and we’re working on getting her coat off- some she’s better at than others.  She recognizes our house when we pull into our street, and once or twice when we’ve made the turn off the main street she’s said “house” from the back seat. She’s getting so much better at using her fork. I know it’s still easier for her to pick things up with her fingers and stuff them into her mouth but we’ve been working hard for her to use a folk/spoon and she’s getting there.

She loves watching old video’s of herself on the computer and the ones of her at the beach are her favorites (this makes Matt and I super excited for our beach trip this year).  When we’re watching one she’s had enough of she says “All done this one.” We find this so adorable.

She also has learned to match things. I’m so blow away and impressed with this skill. I think it’s from playing Hello Kitty Bingo with daddy so much. She matches like colors or like objects, as well as like pictures. She said two books matched because they were both orange and then two other books from the same series matched because the covers looked similar. It’s just such a higher level of thinking for a girl her age.  I have said it before and I will say it again, I give her until 3 years old and this girl is going to be smarter than me!

 Oh, another thing she did was use her manors the other day without being prompted and she did it perfectly, saying “More milk please.” I’ve been teaching her this for quite some time now. We started by just saying “please” and “thank you,” and then we moved into saying “no, thank you” and “_____ please.”  So her doing this unprompted was super exciting and was enough of a blessing to let this mama know that she’s getting it, so don’t stop (even if I have to prompt her seven hundred times a day)!

One more thing, she’s been acting shy and this is new. At church we have the “meet & greet” time and the last few Sundays she just snuggles into Matt’s arms instead of smiling and saying hi, which she use to do. Not sure why, but Matt thinks it’s the cutest thing ever.

Next random thought has to do with the holidays. We’ve super excited to be headed to visit family and celebrating Lauren’s birthday, Thanksgiving, and my mom’s birthday. Wow, three days of special moments. I can’t wait to enjoy time with my mom and sister and soak up everything I can about my ever growing nephew. It really does kill me that our little ones are so close in age and they aren’t able to see each other more. I don’t know why God kept them where they were but I hope maybe someday he’ll move us closer together. It will be a great time, that’s for sure. But before we head to visit them, Lauren’s going to enjoy her birthday at home. I’ve got her presents all wrapped up (all two of them) and now I just need to get her a card. Silly me, totally didn’t think about a card until I was wrapping the gifts- oops.

I know this next thought is silly, but I’ll put it down anyway…way back when I purchased her gifts I found the cutest pair of Bunny pajamas at the Gap Outlets. They reminded me of these sweet hand me down pajamas she had when she was a little baby, and my girl loves her bunnies so I thought they were the perfect gift. Now months later as I’m wrapping the gift, I realize this girl has a plethora of pajamas. She got a bunch of hand me downs, a bunch from my mother-in-law from her garage sale adventures, and my mom had picked up a bunch here and there when she found a good sale. I’m not kicking a gift horse in the mouth and I’m extremely grateful for each and every pair she has, but she could go two weeks plus and not need me to do laundry. Now I’m wishing I had gotten them the next size up. Oh well, maybe we’ll have a lot of pajama days once the baby gets here were we just go from one pair of jammies to the next instead of putting on clothes!

Random thought number three. Lauren and Matt got to see my belly jumping around this weekend. I was lying down and the sweet baby in my tummy was all over the place. I called them in and she just started whacking me. Lauren could have cared less but Matt was excited. He has felt her kick but hadn’t seen it yet, well now that I think about it, I hadn’t really seen it either. The poor second baby takes a back seat during pregnancy. With Lauren I was so focused on everything going on with my body and hers. Now I’m lucky I get a weekly email that I sometimes have a moment to read, filling me in with fun facts about the baby.  I’ve always got something going on or Lauren’s got something going on and we’re busy little bees. The baby’s not too crazy in there but she’s more of a mover and groover than Lauren, which I personally enjoy.

This pregnancy has gone by so fast. I can’t believe we’re on the home stretch. It feels like the second trimester went by with the blink of an eye, too bad I can’t say the same for the first trimester. I love being pregnant, of course once you get past the yuck. What a privilege God has blessed women with. Even the birthing process. Not that I want to be birthing a baby every day or anything, but it’s just awe inspiring how God made us. How he can make a baby from two small cells. Those cells contain all the information about what this little ones eyes will look like, how tall she’ll be, and everything from her temperament to her health. How do you not know this and believe that God has it all planned out. Not planned to the “T” but he knows us and what we’ll be.  That kind of stuff blows my mind. It makes me so grateful for a God who loves us and desires us to be with him. He’s caring and nurturing. We’re made in His image, he wanted us to be like him. He wanted me to have blue eye, blond hair, and be a planner, and outgoing. He wanted Matt to have his mysterious deep brown eyes, and dark hair, and be patient, and easy going.

Lauren has a book that is called “God Loves Us” and it’s all about how God made us each special, with our own features and our own personalities. He wanted us to be who we are and that being us makes him happy. Being with us makes him happy. I pray that Lauren and our new baby girl yearn to have this shared relationship with God. That they desire to know how great he is and how much he yearns to be in their lives too. I hope that his wonder captivates them as much as it does me. That they too are in awe of his greatness, mercy, and love. May they fear his holiness and walk on His path. Oh Heavenly Father, please help me instill this into their hearts. May they see you and your light in Matt and I so that they too desire to walk with you. These are my deepest desires for these two girls. If they get this, everything else isn’t as hard, life seems that much more bearable and so much more meaningful.

Well my time here is winding down, AMEN!!! I’ve made this post long enough. Now I feel the need to catch up with the magazines sitting next to me. If you've made it through this post I feel like I should send you some cookies or give you a hug for thinking I’m worth your time. Here’s to me passing this test and enjoying the remainder of this blessed pregnancy!

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139: 14-14

The weekend continued...

So when I left off last Lauren was down for her nap and I was cooking my “dish to pass” so that when she woke up we could head to our crazy play date party. When she woke up from her nap though, she was in tears. I picked her up to comfort her only to notice my arm was all wet. My poor baby had pooped herself and it wasn’t pretty. She was devastated and so upset with herself. She just kept crying as I put her in the tub to clean her up. My heart was breaking as I washed her up and she just was sobbing. After cleaning her and her clothes up, I called Amy and let her know that we would not be headed to her house for the night. Matt put her in comfy pajamas and then we put her sheets in the washer.

That night she seemed to do fine and was all crazy, like her normal self. It left us wondering what caused her yucky mess? The only thing we could think of was the massive cupcake she had at Brooke’s party. Can too much sweet stuff cause yucky poop? She wasn’t sick in any other fashion and everything she had eaten that day we had eaten too, so I don’t think it was ‘bad food.’ She wasn’t interested in dinner at all, only eating a 1/3 of a banana- so then I was thinking her tummy might be bothering her, even if she wasn’t acting like it was.

Sunday morning we decided to play it by ear. We didn’t want to get up and jump into getting ready for church if she wasn’t well enough to go. So we decided if she was okay that we’d head to the late service at 11 o’clock. Again she didn’t have any more episodes and was bopping around like her normal self so we went.

The only other thing I noticed Sunday was that she was asking for a drink every time I turned around. She was asking for water or milk and this isn’t normal for her. She’s never been a big drinker (lol, sounds like my baby has a serious problem). I kept asking if her tummy hurt, or her throat. I wondered if she knew what her throat was. She seemed fine otherwise. I’m hoping it was just too much sweet stuff. My poor baby!!

So we laid low on Sunday and enjoyed a day of hanging out around the house. Did I mention that Sunday afternoons are my favorite!

One Saturday Morning...

Saturday morning are my favorite mornings, Friday nights are my favorite nights, and Sunday afternoons are the best afternoons. This Saturday morning was one for the books, so I decided to post the goings on around here. 

I woke up before everyone, as usual (gosh darn the need to use the bathroom- it does me in every time- I'll win next Saturday...or not). I lay in bed, this is after my trip across the hall (okay no more about the bathroom), and I just started thinking about the blessing that occurred this week- the fun with Lauren, the silly Friday evening with Matt, the times Skyping with family members, the trip to the park, etc. I found myself smiling as I tried to fall back asleep. The house was so peaceful. I thought of our plans for the day and I wondered about all the stuff you don't plan that happens and you're thankful for. All blessing from God.

A little after seven I heard Lauren beginning to stir upstairs. I don't go up until she calls me and let her wake up and play a little. But once I heard "Mommy? Mama? Mommy!" Out of bed I got making sure to tell Matt "Here she comes..." as I left the room. She's always so bight eyed and smiley when I go get her. We gather the necessary items: Bunny Night-Night, Hello Kitty Bingo Bag, and her magazine (Oriental Trading Magazines make great books!) and head down to "MamaDada Bed." We all, including Annabelle, snuggle in for a bit. It is so the best part of the best morning. Her and I read her magazine this morning as Matt tried his hardest to stay sleeping (dream on Dada!). After about a half hour of snuggle time I got up to make eggs, while Lauren and daddy played Hello Kitty. We usually have pancakes or waffles, made by daddy and Lauren, but today was going to be too busy so eggs would have to do. As I walked passed our unmake bed, pillows all askew, Hello Kitty boards, cards, and chips everywhere- I smile at the love we shared this morning all snuggled together. I don't think I'll be making the bed today.

After eating and getting ready, we headed to BJ's to purchase the second of the two twin beds for the big room upstairs. While there I looked for some socks (her feet need to stop growing!!!) for Lauren and we had to exchange the paper towels too. While Matt exchanged the paper towels Lauren, sitting a top the mattresses on the flatbed cart, read a Nemo book and I perused the other books. She's just so much gosh darn fun, the simplest task of going to the store was turned into an adventure because of all the fun she saw around her. I just love my little girl! These are those unplanned and precious moments I want to store away in my heart and never forget.

Matt and Lauren had headed to BJ's on Thursday (my night at church) to get all the household and grocery needs since it would be too much to get them and the mattresses too, hence the need to exchange the paper towels (must have select a size). When they were there that night Matt had noticed a book set of Hello Kitty Books. He had talked about wanting to get them for Lauren. We had already purchased all of her birthday and Christmas gifts, and trying to keep a budget I wasn't sure we could do it. But then I remembered talking to a friend at church. She said when she had her second child she had "the baby" purchase a small gift to the older sibling and vise-versa. So I told Matt that would be a perfect thing for the baby to get Lauren (I haven't had Lauren pick out a gift for the baby yet, after the holidays we'll worry about that). So I had Lauren and Matt go ahead and get the bed while I stayed back and got the book set. It was so precious to watch them from the "side lines." I so wished I had a camera as I watched them walking to the door, Lauren handing the lady the receipt, and then watching the two of the head to the car. I just wanted to cry and was surprised I didn't. I love those two with all my heart and soul! I'm a blessed lady because God gave me them! Again another unplanned moment I want to store away in my heart and never forget.

After coming home, unloading the mattresses, and putting my car back together it was time to head to Brooke's first birthday party. It was such a blessing to share that special moment with them. I don't think I posted that Brooke had spent the better half of last week in the hospital. So seeing her well and smiling as she stuffed her cupcake in her mouth was a gift from God. I feel like the first birthday is so precious. Due to her being in the hospital on the day of her original party the party was rescheduled and we were invited (she was just doing a family thing, but since they had to reschedule a bunch of family weren't going to be able to make it and she had already purchased everything- I didn't care that we were an after thought, being a thought at any point was so nice). Lauren had fun playing and eating a cupcake with M & M's on it of her own.

Now it's nap time. Even after that big cupcake this sweet girl is fast asleep. Matt is in the living room enjoying some down time and I'm here writing this. We still have one more planned event tonight and I've already had my full of blessings. But in honor of Thanksgiving I'll let the belt out a notch and make room for more! Bring on the seconds, or would this be thirds? Oh well, tonight's play date party should be interesting. I think at least six kids and there moms are going to be there- I think crazy might be the best descriptive word...we'll see!

So here's to Saturday mornings and precious moments that fill our hearts!

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ." Ephesians 1:3

The Growing Belly these days...

So yesterday I had another wonderful doctors appointment, despite the rain and yucky cold weather. I can't believe I've entered the third trimester! I feel big sometimes but for the most part I'm still pretty content being pregnant. I can't remember when but I do remember towards the end with Lauren being ready to move on and so far this time I'm not ready yet! We took belly shots and here they are for those who might be interested. I'm 26 weeks 3 days in the pictures...

Here I am pregnant with Lauren at exactly 26 weeks 3 days too (I had no idea we had taken shots of me at the exact same time in pregnancy- but when I went looking for pictures around the same time, voila there these were) 

It's hard to tell but I think I'm looking bigger with this second one, lol, who knows though. I think I'm getting all sappy since Lauren will be turning two next week. Thinking of how fast these past two years went and how fast I feel this pregnancy is going, it all feels like a whorl-wind. 

At the appointment I enjoyed listening to her heartbeat and wondering how much she enjoys listening to mine. It was nice to spend some quiet time with just the baby and I as I waited the hour after drinking the sugar drink to get my blood taken. I enjoyed the quiet car ride too. I find that whenever I head to the doctors appointment alone in the car I get all sappy and often cry at whatever song happens to be playing. I just feel so blessed that they're usually tears of joy. I can't tell you how I prayed for this sweet girl in my belly, and how blessed I feel! 

The road to both Lauren's and this pregnancy were not easy but it was all worth it. I wouldn't trade them for anything. I am looking forward to these last 13 weeks and hope that it continues to go smoothly and that she gracefully comes into this world. And for goodness sake, can someone put the brakes on...this ride is going a bit to fast!!!

"...always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off." Proverbs 23: 17-18

Our New Set Up...

If you've cared enough to follow my blog you know that we've had a switch-er-rue of the house in anticipation of our bundle of joy coming this February. We own a cope-cod style home and have two bedrooms upstairs and two down. Ever since we've lived here Matt and I claimed the larger room upstairs for ourselves. The smaller room up there served no purpose at all until Lauren came around. We excitedly made it into a nursery just over two years ago. Of the two rooms downstairs, one was our guestroom and the other an office. After Lauren got a bit older the guestroom morphed into a toy room too. So when baby number two came into the picture I was trying to figure out the best new arrangement of bedrooms.

The final plan was to move Matt and I downstairs and ditch the guestroom/toy room, leave the office alone, move Lauren into the bigger room upstairs, and leave the nursery alone. This would allow us a "Kid Zone" upstairs and wouldn't leave any one child abandoned downstairs, with the rest of us upstairs (a bit dramatic I know). 

After painting the old guestroom I started to feel more ownership over this new room and slowly but surely as furniture moved in and new valences have been hung, the room feels more and more like it's our room. I still have plans on hanging pictures and moving some of the wall decorations from our old room upstairs down and I know that after all is said and done it will be even more of a cozy master suite than it has already become. 

I was apprehensive about moving down here, but knew that I was more than okay with it being us and not Lauren or the baby- I just didn't feel right having them in a more venerable part of the house than us (again I understand the drama of this statement and I'm just trying to be honest here). Now, however, I really enjoy our new house arrangement. I love that the upstairs bedrooms are now next to the kids bathroom and that I was able to decorate it all cute/kid appropriate.

I love that our bathroom is away from their rooms too, yet still next to our room. When Lauren was little I would often be annoyed because I would be a lazy/exhausted mommy and not shower first thing in the morning, and when I was ready to shower it was Lauren's nap time. One might think well, what a perfect time to shower when you have a newborn/infant. Well my bathroom was a small thin wall away from her bedroom. I didn't want to accidently drop the shampoo bottle and jolt her awake- oh no I'd rather sacrifice my shower than wake a baby when she wasn't ready. So I'd often put her in the bouncer seat with some toys and set that in the bathroom while I showered. Now there will be no problems with me showering while Lauren or baby #2 sleeps. We'd have the same problem in the morning. Matt would wait until Lauren woke up to shower so he wouldn't wake her earlier. Now because of our wonderful new arrangement when days like today occur, where I had an early doctor appointment causing me to shower before Lauren had awoken, I took my shower with no thoughts of disturbing her- wonderfulness!

Likewise, when we bath Lauren it is wonderful to just wake two feet from the bathroom and get her dressed for bed. I love that I can keep the bigger, more cumbersome potty seat, practically permanently on the toilet upstairs and the small, easy to store seat down here- where we move it on and off five/six times daily. 

Also, L.O.V.E, love that 99% of the toys are upstairs and not taking over my house. I have a few things still downstairs but most of it is upstairs. I was also thinking that will make it easy since this house isn't big and soon we'll have the baby's activity mat, swing, bouncer seat, etc. once again taking up residence down here. 

As we all adjust to our new rooms and the new way the house is organized I think it is helping us prepare for our new little girl. As the baby stuff comes out of storage and things like the bassinet take up residence in places they haven't been for two years, I know we'll start preparing to make room for this new little love. I can't wait to see her personality, look into her eyes, snuggle her little delicate body, and dream of the wonderful woman God will make her into. I pray so much that both my girls have a heart filled with Jesus and a desire to see his everlasting love for them. May they grow to know him and all that he promises for us, and all he has done for us! May this house's changes be the first of many happy changes to come!

Clean House & Date Night

I'm going to preface this post by telling you I started it last night but I kept rereading it and it made no sense to me. My tired eyes had been very productive and they just couldn't last one more minute. So I closed them and left it for today. Since then I have enjoyed a full nights sleep and a three hour nap. Some vanilla ice cream with melted peanut butter and peanut butter chips have allowed me the bright eyes and energy needed now. Hope it's more enjoyable to read now!

Today (Saturday) was the day when my energy and desire aligned with the opportunity and time. My house is now clean. Clean to my standards and over clean to most. I have been barely maintaining clean around here. With 1st trimester yuckiness all summer, going out of town, then rearranging rooms/up rooting the hole house, weekends painting and heading out of town, Brooke being here a least three days a week most of September and October- I had been neglecting the house. I was keeping it from getting too nasty but just by the hairs on my chinny, chin, chin. I'm also a person that procrastinates when I want to do a project and do not have the time to do it completely/100%, so if I can't obtain that level I don't even bother. Matt said, oh this is nesting at its finest, as he watched me clean things that had gone neglected for the better part of this calender year. While Matt and Lauren enjoyed an outing to Home Depot and did work in the yard on this gorgeous Autumn Saturday, I opened the windows and got to cleaning. I'm thrilled to say I can now easily maintain the cleanliness of my house as we prepare for sweet baby number two!

Matt and I also enjoyed a few hours away tonight to do some holiday shopping. Thank goodness that our adventures did not entail any of the craziness that went on in the movie "Date Night"- which is a freakin' hilarious movie (love me some Steve Carell and Tina Fay). We did have our fair share of silliness and laughing, but no crazy people chasing us. I don't know what I would do if we could laugh at each other/with each other, because I completely believe Laughter is the best medicine!

We started our outing at the wonderful Dollar Tree. Lauren and I must go there a lot without him, because he was in aw of how many things you can still get for a dollar. We both thought it was interesting that after all these years, the dollar tree has overcome inflation- how is that? Well anyway, it's a great place for stocking stuffer gifts- and that's we got. Of course when I lost Matt and went looking for him I found him in the candy isle. I never have to wonder where Lauren gets her sweet tooth from, her daddy! He was amazed at all the different kinds of candy. He was like a little kid, describing all the candy he had found and what he would want to get. Had we not already planned on our milkshake desert, he might have had to get a few things. I think I know what he's getting in his stocking this year!

Then we headed to get a yummy seasonal milkshake- peppermint. Oh it was good. We enjoyed this as we drove to ToysRUs. Matt analyzing the drink and making comments about what milkshake might have been better to get and me, I just enjoying it as I rolled my sweet little eyes at his "consumer reports" analysis. I love that man!!

Who knew that ToysRUs would be so crazy busy this early in the season! They were having a buy one, get one free sale on some doll house accessories. Matt and I were going to get her the 'sister' doll that goes with the doll house Santa is getting her. They however had every other figure except the sister- ergh! Go figure. We even had them look in the back. No luck there either. Oh well, I'll hit up WallyWorld and grab it some other day. Guess we won't get one for free- stinkers!

As we headed back home after just a few hours away we found a happy, clean little girl awaiting us. What a typical Saturday made beautiful before our eyes. Thanks be to God. our divine creator, for the wonderfulness we enjoyed today. May these wonderful days always be remember and cherished.

"[God] will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy." Job 8:21

Puppy Parade!

So much goes on here everyday yet sometimes I fail to capture it on here and I'm so afraid I might forget these precious moments. So today is just a pain post about a not so plain little girl who bring joy and laughter to our life. Here are a few ways she does that.

• We've been in a new playing cycle where we want to play one of a few very exciting activities. Lauren Shea loves to take us on a puppy parade! She has two dogs that are pull toys. She has "Lauren's puppy" and I have "Mama's puppy" and we walk our puppies around the house. Daddy has been included with a Little People puppy he holds. I personally think he's got the best puppy since he just holds it and walks. My very pregnant self (almost 26 weeks and feeling 36 weeks) has to bend over to hold this very short string and try to keep my puppy upright as we race through the house. Both Matt and I love the joy and silliness that comes from this game- but we're asked to join the puppy parade pretty regularly and so I've made some fun revisions. Were we take a few laps and then make the bed, take a few more laps, and put in a load of laundry. It helps us be productive and fun! At night we have to tuck the puppies into their spot in Lauren's bedroom for bed- and she will try her hardest to stall bedtime by asking for yet one more spin on the puppy parade.
  
  
• We've been gifted two Hello Kitty toys from a sweet girl at church. These toys often monopolize a lot of play time in our house these days. She was given a small house with some furniture and three "Hello Kitties." She played with this daily for the longest time, now we can go a day or two without it. Lauren and daddy often play this in the evenings and have developed many fun things the kitties do. Like dada will make the kitties try and open the front door and Lauren will scream with delight as she slams it shut to keep them inside. She also will put the kitties on the bed and balance them to the second floor and then catapult them into the house. She will do each kitty one at a time, and to watch her concentrate and keep trying over and over as they fall off the bed is quite amazing. She'll fuss and get frustrated only to try it once more.
  
  The second Hello Kitty item given to Lauren was a BINGO game. She loves to play this over and over and has many different ways to "play" the game. She lays out a board for dada even when he's at work, which is just too sweet. Those two have such a special bond that warms this mama's heart.
• Outside we have a fun game of running along this dip/ditch in our back yard. She picks up her ball and a leaf or two and goes "runnin" from one end to the other. Of course she solicits mommy and/or daddy to join her on this fun run. After we tire of running she will play in the sand table or swing on her swing. Then she'll start collecting sticks, leaves, or rocks. Then we more onto riding her tricycle around the back yard or blowing bubbles. It's just so a ball to watch her enjoy the yard and see her imagination unfold as we play.
                                     
• Back inside the house we have a girl who will "fold" laundry, "wash" the dishes, help load the dishwasher, make dinner and or desert with you, as well as attend to the swiffering and vacuuming. She just loves to help you clean and cook. I sure hope this play last forever! (A woman can dream, so let me live in this fantasy for as long as I can!)
                                      
• She loves to color, do stickers, and any craft you put in front of her she will sit patiently and do. In fact, I often tire of any one of these fun activities before she does.
                                 
• She had a new thing where she will just start spinning and loves to get dizzy. Last night she was hilarious as she spun and then held onto the window or bed to steady her body and she kept spinning her head around. Matt and I were laughing so hard at these sweet antics.
• She is also entertained by her play food as she serves up some yummy concoction of donuts, chicken, and fries- with a topping of mustard. She could careless to feed her dolls (she has my old Cabbage Patch Kid, Daisy and a few other dolls from her grandmas) but she will feed her stuffed animals all day long. I find it interesting that she's not a doll girl at all. I'm hoping the doll house she gets from Santa is different and she plays with it more like the Hello Kitty house.

There is so much fun that goes on here as we move through our day. Even yesterday when we had a morning filled with errands, turned into an enjoyable adventure. She just makes the day so amusing. She's so smart, creative, entertaining, silly, and just plan wonderful. 

Now don't think my life is this perfect picture and that she never has a temper tantrum when I need her to do something and she desires to do something else. Like which coat or shoes she'll be wearing. Or that she doesn't get sassy when I need her to put on her clothes and she takes off in the opposite direction full speed. No- me, my life, nor my daughter are perfect- but we're enjoying the blessings God has bestowed upon us, his children, as we navigate our days. 

Living life through her eyes has reminded me of the wonder and aw of this world. It has helped me to slow down and enjoy the little things. I've learned to take in the beauty that surrounds us daily. Were I'm usually focused on getting to the destination in the most timely and efficient way to do this- she's always focused on what she's seeing and experiencing along the way. That is a wonderful trait she got from Matt and I pray she never losses it (by the way I got my focused and efficient manor from my dad too, go figure).

So here's to the memories we've made and to the memories we're about to make today, tomorrow, and every day God blesses us with!

Thoughts from yesterday and beyond...

Well my first thought is from yesterday, but I didn't have time to write this yesterday since I choose to nap instead, so please forgive me. 

That thought came to me as I was "oooing" and "awwwing" over old pictures of Lauren as they popped up on my screen saver. When Lauren was about three months old I went back to work to finish off the school year. I spent four months of her life as a "working" mom (still feel like I'm a working mom, just doing my work from the comfort of my home with my sweet daughter in toe). I left her daily to head to work and came home, raced home, to see her waiting for me. 

I know that God had a reason for me working those months and I'm glad I did it. Glad it helped Matt and I to see that me staying home was the absolute right choice for our family. But my thought was...I won't miss out on four months of baby #2's life. I won't have to leave her five days a week, for four months. I won't have to wonder what she's doing. I won't have to wonder if she's happy or sad. I won't have to worry my brains out that she's okay and that the person in charge is doing what "I" would do (talk about control issues, girl I got them). So, although, she won't ever get this one on one time that Lauren and I have- she will get me all the time. This was a pretty calming and reassuring thought.

Another thought from, hum, I guess Monday-  was thoughts of wondering what this baby's entrance into the world will be. I wonder how her story will "start" (I completely understand it started about seven months ago, don't get me wrong). I was thinking of Lauren's Birth Story and how I would have never in a million years been able to predict what happened, and that made me think how her story will begin. Will I deliver early again? Will she be right on time? Will she stay snug in there a little longer than expected? Will I labor more at home than I did with Lauren? Will she be a fast labor, like all my others? Or will she be slow and steady? Will she struggle with nursing like her sister, or will she take to it like she's a pro? Will she fuss or cry a lot? Will she like to snuggle? Will she enjoy the swing or the bouncer seat more? Will she be easy to calm? Will Lauren and her have an instant bond?

All these thoughts and more make me feel like I'm getting ready to enter the third trimester. I'm starting to go beyond the condition of the house, which by the way is still only about half ready for her (according to my standards for those who might be rolling your eyes), and thinking about who God is knitting together in my womb. Who has God picked out for us? We feel blessed beyond measure with our first bundle from Him- I can only begin to imagine how we'll feel with two nut balls making ruckus in the house. 

As I'm trying to figure out what Lauren will want under the Christmas tree this year, I think of God. Is he as excited as me preparing for Lauren's Christmas as he's preparing my gift? Is he getting antsy for me to open my gift, like I am to see Lauren open hers? I find it comforting that he already knows how it will all turn out and how we'll react to this precious gift. I find calm in knowing that he'll reveal the answers to all my hearts questions in His time. It's like I know the next chapter in my book is ready for editing and the rough draft is looking pretty good. 

I pray for all my questions and all there answers. May God have his hand on all of them. Heavenly Father please give me the peace of mind to place this all back in the palm of your ever warm and comforting hands. Allow Matt, Lauren, and I to enjoy the time we have left as a small family of three. Help us to prepare for this sweet baby. Be with us, as we know you always are, to show us the path you've laid out for us and help us to follow your ever beautiful light. I pray all of this in your name, Amen.

My Big Girl at 23.5 Months

TOP TEN LIST:
WHAT MY BIG GIRL LAUREN SHEA IS UP TO...

10. Having her daddy wrapped around her little finger. Bless my heart it is the most precious sight. 

9. She's obsessed with finding things in the store and she has the eyes of a hawk. Her favorites to locate are Hello Kitty, Thomas, and Cars.
8. Doing crafts: sticker, coloring, painting, school crafts, etc. 
7. Pretending while playing- it's so magical to watch 
6. Learning her numbers and counting. She's got "1" and "2" down then we go to "6" or "8"- when prompted she'll say "3"
5. Hopping around the house, still only gets one foot of the ground so it looks more like limping but she's so cute it's sick.
4. Sleeping in her big girl bed!!!!
3. Running- She's all over the back yard. Just yesterday she picked up some leaves and her ball and they ran with her as she announced "Ball running, Leaf running, Lauren running."
2. READING!!! Yes, you read that right, my sweet girl can read the book "Freight Train" (from memory of course), but wow- you go girl!
1. Talking and repeating everything you say. Her vocabulary is amazing and I'm so proud of her!