Monday, September 24, 2012

September

My bedtime is quickly approaching, I'm worn out and ready to just pass out in bed.  BUT, I really haven't posted pictures in almost a month and that makes me so sad. I just don't have time.  I know I've said that before.  I feel like I'm always busy but these past three months have been an entirely different type of busy.  Like I never knew I could have such a long to-do list busy.  Most nights I don't go to bed until 11:00 (which is WAY past my bedtime) and I'm up before 6:00.  This is life right now.  We never sit down, we never get eight hours of sleep.  My house is never clean.  But from the time we walk in the door until the time we fall into bed each night, life is good.  I'm so blessed and so thankful.  And so very tired.

Quick little recap of the past month...


Matt went hunting, I played "single momma" for a weekend.  We spent a morning at the park. They loved it.




Avery is completely potty-trained!! Took her to Target to pick out a tee-tee present... she picked out the baby care kit.  This girl is a momma at heart.
 

This guy is always moving. Always smiling. Always drooling.



Failed attempt at a sister/brother photo shoot before church


Matt turned 30!!!  He repeatedly insisted no party, no big fuss.  We had a quiet evening at home and celebrated our favorite guy :)



Summer is winding down (actually officially over) but it is still in the upper 90's here in Dallas.  We're getting in all the pool/swimming time we can. 


Okay, that's all I have tonight. Wouldn't trade all this busy-ness for the world though ;)

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Cooler Weather


Friday night we headed to Temple to see Matt’s family and celebrate Grant’s 8th birthday.  We almost didn’t make it thanks to a sweet little boy who had pink eye in both eyes and a double ear infection.  But he’s a trooper and barely even batted an eye at his various ailments. It was a short trip and we headed home ready to enjoy the cooler weather!

  
Oh fall… I’ve been waiting for you for five months now.  I know it isn’t officially fall yet but on Sunday we were able to sit outside in the middle of the afternoon and not sweat!  Let me just say I am definitely not a southern girl who “glistens” and I dread the Texas heat more than I can possibly explain so the first sign of relief and cooler weather is a big deal for me! Matt and I even set the alarm for 6:30 Saturday morning (yes, I know we’re crazy) so we could sit out back and have coffee date while the weather was cool (a beautiful 63 degrees) and the kids were still sleeping.  With two little ones and no family close by to babysit, we take “date time” whenever we can get it! 

We tried to have a little photo shoot in the backyard.  I need a new picture for my desk at work.




We spent hours cleaning out both kids’ closets to make room for fall clothes. I’m ashamed to admit this but Avery’s closet was such a mess you could hardly even see the floor.   I still had baby clothes hanging up in the back!! Oh how I wish I was more organized.  After a very productive morning I trashed my “to-do” list and we played outside for hours.  Avery played in her little splash pad, Asher loved lounging in the swing and we grilled burgers and just enjoyed each other’s company.  It was perfect.  Just perfect.  






Tuesday, September 4, 2012

5 Months!





This past month has been full of changes and I feel like we’re finally turning a corner.  I’m very hesitant to put this in writing because the last time I did you made me eat my words but you are sleeping through the night (again)!  We are so thankful for this and hopefully it will become a habit now.  We’ve also been trying to work out some tummy issues this month that I think are the cause of much of your unhappiness. We switched to a low-lactate formula and you get a bottle of apple juice every day to help with constipation. It is helping but I’m not sure we’ve completely solved the tummy issues. You LOVE to talk and squeal and shriek and are giggling more and more.  AJ, I think you’re going to have big personality and it’s so fun to watch all of your facial expressions.  You make us laugh all the time.  You still love to watch your sister; she can always make you smile.  You are a drool machine and want to put everything you touch in your mouth – including your arm, fist, all toys, my hair, my hands, etc.  I’m starting to wonder if you’re teething. 

You are wearing 9 month or 6-12 month (depending on the brand) clothes
You are still wearing a size 2 diaper at daycare and we’re doing cloth diapers at home
You’ve tried rice cereal, applesauce and sweet potatoes.  You tolerated the sweet potatoes but wanted nothing to do with the cereal and applesauce. 
You usually go to bed at 8:00 and sleep until 7:00
You take four naps during the day ranging from 30 minutes to two hours.
You drink 5-6 5 oz. bottles
You roll over all the time – both tummy to back and back to tummy
You still don’t like the car seat and spend most of your time in the car crying
We really like your new “teacher” at daycare, Miss Amy.  She is so sweet and you flirt with her all the time
You like the exersaucer but tend to get bored if no one is paying attention to you.





Asher bug, we love you so much and you are at such a fun stage right now! You love interacting with us and we love entertaining you!  You are so curious and love to be the center of attention! I feel like you’ve changed so much during the past month and I can’t believe how quickly you’re growing up.  I love cuddling with you but it’s so fun to watch you play with Avery now and I can’t wait to see you two playing together in the coming months. 





Outward Appearances and Encouragement


This morning I was sitting at our staff meeting feeling grumpy and having a pity-party for myself.  The first day back to work after a long weekend (or any weekend for that matter) is especially hard for me.  It’s hard for me to shift gears and get back in touch with “work me”.  Asher has pink-eye in both eyes and I was daydreaming, wishing I could be home caring for him instead of sitting in a cold, sterile conference room.  I stoically went through my weekly “to-do” list when my turn came up.  I tried to sound peppy and happy but made sure to keep my spiel short and to-the-point.  When I got back to my desk this little note popped up in my inbox. 


Wow.  Really!?!? Me, inspire someone?  I sat in disbelief for a minute or two trying to understand.  Trying to keep my tears at bay, I wrote her back and thanked her and explained how I was having a hard morning; wishing I was at home taking care of my baby.  But it got me thinking how you just never know what kind of day a person is having and how important a quick note of encouragement can be.  A few simple words can change someone’s day.  It’s easy to get caught up in our own story, and forget to look around and be there for someone else.  The funny thing is she’s the one that inspires me.  She’s the one who is positive and selfless and caring.  The one who I often think “I wish I could be more like that”.  So, I’m going to try!!  Try to get out of my “funk” and stop feeling sorry for myself and open my eyes to how I can impact someone’s day in the same way she’s changed mine.  

I’m so thankful for small acts of kindness and God's grace.