A Chuckle A Day...

Keeping Busy

I spend a lot of time indoors these days.  The snow FINALLY arrived and temps took an abrupt dive, so the kids and I don't venture out much.  Therefore, all the projects that have been on the backburner since we moved in now appear on my to-do list.  And since I've been feeling exceptionally ambitious/crafty/energetic as of late, they're actually getting DONE!  Here's a couple fun ones that I crossed off today...

 We got our prints from Carter's newborn photo shoot!  I put them in their frames (spray painted from black to white by my wonderful mom) and hung them up in Carter's nursery.  Don't worry...I'll be sharing some of the newborn cuteness with you soon.

 AND, after enjoying all of our Christmas cards posted in our home this month, I transferred them all to a small binder.  I HATE throwing them away each year, and with many friends starting families and boasting small children, I thought it would be fun to watch them grow over the years.  Our Christmas card from this year went on top and...voila!  Christmas 2011 is in the books!

Who Needs Sleep Anyway?

Different isn't necessarily a good thing.
I heard from a lot of people that having a boy would be "different, but good".
Well, THIS boy is VERY different than his sister, and not in the best way.

This is the face of colic:

From the hours of 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., approximately, my smallest child SCREAMS his lungs out, with no apparent avenue to console him.
It's tiring.
It's frustrating.
But it's temporary.
I've somewhat adapted to my new three-hours-of-sleep-a-night routine, with the help of coffee in the morning (it's gone from a nice option to necessary...).  And, thank you JESUS, Kendall sleeps through ALL of it!
Because of his sporadic tantrums, I've been sleeping on the couch downstairs next to the little guy's bouncy chair rather than putting him in his nursery (adjacent to his sister's room).  I now face the challenge of crib training a baby that does not sleep well on his back (he startles himself awake).  I'm dreading the transition, but so anxious to sleep once again in my cozy bed next to my husband!


Any encouragement/suggestions from mom's who've had colicky babies?

Insta-Tuesday

I've been having fun with my Instagram application on my iPhone- thought I'd share some moments recently captured of my two favorite models.  (Sorry, Chris...you're a close third!)

 

 

 

 

 

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves today.

For the Love of Tebow.

I'm a 49er fan by birthright.

I'm a Vikings fan by marriage.

I'm a Broncos Tebow fan by choice.

Yeah, I'll admit it.  I have a teeny tiny crush on Tim Tebow.  His charisma, humility, faith, and athleticism (say what you want about his QB'ing skills...the guy commits and gets it done) and his slightly-above-average good looks are a nice bonus.  Looks like I'm not the only Tebow fan in this household...

Kendall was reading Tim Tebow's autobiography when she felt the need to get down on her knees and thank the Lord for this fine human being.  :)
You can find other people doing the same thing in different places on www.tebowing.com for a good laugh.
Okay, actually Chris just finished Tebow's book about sport and faith, which can only be followed by the autobiography of a military sniper who has killed over 150 people.  Ummm....

 And what is on MY reading list?  Well, currently you'll find Mary Beth Chapman's book Choosing to SEE on my nightstand.  And the irony of the eyemask next to it is not lost on me.

So there you go.  Our current reads and my current infatuation...
...which will probably be over by the time the Broncos lose tonight.
But until then, TEBOWWWWW!!!

Sister Meets Brother

Many of you have been asking how Kendall is adapting to her new brother.  After completely ignoring him the first couple of weeks, she started enjoying "helping" Mommy by handing me wipes when I changed his diaper.  The next sign of affection came when he was crying...Kendall started rocking his chair and saying "I sorry...".  Now, she asks to hold "baby," give "baby" kisses, likes to hold his bottle on occasion, and often tells him how "Shuuuuute" (cute) he is.  "So shuuuute!"

We captured their first meeting on video (above)- Kendall wasn't too sure about the baby thing.

From Near and Far...

I love Christmas cards.
I love hearing what other families have been up to during the year...
I love seeing their growing children...
I love knowing that they remembered us during the holiday season.
It makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.  :)

If you had looked at my Christmas card list ten years ago, almost all of my addresses would have read "Stockton, CA."  But as I grow older (yes, I am...and you are too...), friends and family have
diffused across the country and around the world.  Although it makes me sad that I can't visit them all at once anymore, I love knowing that we can go almost anywhere and still see a familiar face!

We've got Washington and Oregon covered, with friends and family in Bend, Paulina, Portland, Seattle, Redmond, Vancouver, Shoreline and Zillah;
Shoutout to the super-cool peeps in Henderson and Sparks, Nevada;
We hope to be closer to friends in Colorado someday- HELLO Windsor, Denver, Boulder, Highlands Ranch and Salida;
I've got faithful blog followers and friends in North and South Carolina;
Baltimore and New Orleans are home to dear church friends;
I'm glad to know new transplants to New York, New York, and Alpharetta, Georgia;
Howdy to friends in Austin, Texas and good ol' Franklin, Tennessee;
We love our Arizona family- hello Tucson!;
From Manhattan, Kansas to Pennsylvania, Lincoln, Nebraska to Locust Grove, Virginia- a sprinkling of friends all over the country;
Close to home here in Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin;
And across the sea!  MAJOR shout-outs to friends in Malaysia and Thailand!  You know who you are...
Last but not least, our friends and family all across California- from Redding to Sacramento, Stockton to Turlock, Fresno to Los Angeles, Long Beach to San Diego, and all the crazies along the coast- Santa Cruz, I'm talking to you :)

For that reason, as weird as this may sound, I love updating our Christmas card list!
Though it's a tedious task, it's such a great reminder of how many people contribute, or have significantly contributed, to making our lives special, and we feel the love from all over the world at least once a year.

Very Pinteresting.

 I've heard talk of Pinterest for quite a while.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with this site, it's basically an online pinboard for things you see online that inspire you- music, food, fashion, photos, crafts...whatev.  While I wasn't initially interested because I don't have a plethora of DIY time in my life, I DO need something to pass the time in the wee hours of the morning when I'm nursing the little one.  Thus, my love for Pinterest was born.  Though I'm just a newbie, I've gathered a pretty good collection of style ideas, kid activities, crafts and recipes. AND, I'm actually DOING some of them!

I made My mom made this yummy Cranberry Apple Pie for our Thanksgiving dinner.  It was yumm-o, though I would tweek the recipe just a tad next time.

This Creamy Caprese Pasta was a winner at our house!

And as soon as opportunity and motivation collide, I want to make a tree like this for Kendall's room.

If you need an invitation to join Pinterest, I'd love to help you out!  (You need an invitation to join.  We're that cool.)

SECRETSSSS....

Animal-Style.
Most hamburger loving Californians (and some Arizonans and Nevadans?...Nevadians?...Nevadites?...) can identify which chain restaurant offers this on their not-so-secret menu.
What I hadn't heard of until yesterday was the "secret menu" at Starbucks.
I offer this to you with the following cautionary note...
If you walk into a Starbucks and order "Captain Crunch", your barista will have no idea what you are talking about.  (...so I've heard.)
Because UNLIKE the popular In-N-Out Secret menu, the Starbucks menu is SO secret that not even the baristas are familiar with it.
I guess rather than "secret menu," it should be referenced as creative flavor combinations that you must dictate in your order.  Nevertheless, there might be a winner on here that you never thought of.
And for THAT, you can thank me later :)

Feelin' Crafty

Hi there.  Welcome back!  Perhaps you've visited my blog more than I have in the last couple weeks, so I should technically welcome myself back.  It hasn't been a lack of ideas keeping me away...just the lack of opportunity!  I've been busy helping a certain toddler in the house foster HER creativity at the expense of my own.  Here's a glimpse at what we've been doing!

Making cookies...

...which we later decorated at a playdate with friends!

Kendall discovered finger-painting with frosting... :)

...and painting with water at her new craft table!

And, of course, getting messy with play-dough.

This guy just watches it all and wishes he were a little bigger!

 As the temperature continues to drop and our excursions outdoors become fewer, I'm really having to step up my indoor creative play ideas because I refuse to listen to Mickey Mouse all day.  Pinterest has been a fun resource, but I'd love to hear what activities worked/are working with your toddler! 

Fire away...

Kendall's Second Birthday!

December 2009- I waited 10 long, agonizing days past my due date to meet my precious {little} baby girl- if "little" includes 9 lb 14 oz babies!  In days that were very dark due to my brother's recent passing, she really brought light into our lives!  Our Kendall tried to "mend-all" of our broken hearts with her coos and giggles, all with Uncle Derek on her shoulder as her special angel. 

December 2010- No stranger to airplanes, we celebrated Kendall's first birthday in style...a special trip to California.  We watched as our one-year-old pulled herself up any furniture within reach, ambitiously tried to walk with Mom & Dad's help, and made everyone around her smile.  Though she hadn't figured out her words yet, she communicated well with her big blue eyes and excitedly waving hands.  She tore into her birthday cake and set records with the mess she left behind.

December 2011- Our little baby is turning two!  Now, we watch in amazement as she walks, talks, laughs and learns.  She recites numbers in order, knows colors and shapes, tries to sing songs...even choreographs her own dance routines!  She shows off her nurturing nature with her stuffed animals and "babies".  And now, she has a REAL baby to dote on...her very own baby brother.  Kendall is a model big sister, helping "brother" with diaper changes and trying to console him when he is fussy.  We couldn't ask for a sweeter daughter!

Happy birthday to our beautiful girl!

There's Still My Joy

For those who grieve, the holidays don't pass by without some tears.  Not that we don't grieve the rest of the year, but the holidays mean noticeable absences from dinner tables and family traditions.  For me, it's remembering the only person with whom I shared childhood Christmas memories.  Derek would get up early in the morning eager to check our stockings, then make his way back up the stairs to wake me up and report to me.  As we got older, he continued to do this, even though he'd likely go back to bed afterwards.  Derek was the one who would distribute all of our family Christmas presents- excitedly as a boy, then somewhat begrudgingly as a grown-up (he secretly liked it).  And I'll never forget the face he would flash in my direction when he received an ugly sweater or ridiculous gift- he knew I'd be laughing inside.  I miss that.

I would be lying if I said the sting of the holidays hasn't blown through my camp for the above reasons.  But I'm also aware of the miracle of Christmas- the joy we have in our Savior's birth.  Because Jesus came to earth, the gap between us and our God was bridged, and eternity became available to those who recognize Him as Lord.  Because of this day, I'll see Derek again, and enjoy that snarky smile that I miss so much.

I found this song a couple years ago and have been wanting to re-record it, but for now this version (complete with cheesy random google images...just close your eyes and listen...) will have to suffice.




There's Still My Joy

I took my tree down to the shore
The garland, and the silver star
To find my peace, and grieve no more
To heal this place inside my heart

On every branch I laid some bread
And hungry birds filled up the sky
They rang thy bells around my head
They sang my spirit back to life

One tiny child can change the world
One shining light can show the way
For all my tears, for what I've lost
There's still my joy
There's still my joy
For Christmas day

The snow comes down on empty sand
There's tinsel moonlight on the waves
My soul was lost, but here I am
So this must be amazing grace

Slow Down, Christmas!

I've been trying to figure out why it feels like the Christmas season is passing me by at warp speed this year, and I've come up with a few theories; 

1)  I didn't leave my house for a month.  Okay, that's an exaggeration.  But my trips to the mall and other highly decorated stores were few and far between around Thanksgiving.  You say Michaels had Christmas decor out in August?  I had no idea.

2)  If Christmas music has been playing for more than a week on the radio, I didn't know anything about it.  Why?  Nothing plays in on my car stereo except Little Einsteins and "Mick Mou" DVDs.  I haven't had a chance to get sick of Christmas music*!  (*With the exception of the highly over-covered "Breath of Heaven" and "Mary, Did You Know".  Seriously, musicians, please write new stuff.)

3) We haven't attended any Christmas parties.  Not. A. Single. One.  Typically, we have Chris' work parties to attend, and some kind of Church leadership gathering.  This year, nothin'.  I'm pretty bummed that I haven't had a reason to dress up and get out of the house!  I'm thankful, however, that the free food and drink at such extravaganzas haven't brought about unholy gluttonous temptations :)

4) Our mailbox has been pretty void of Christmas cards this year.  Obviously, most of our friends haven't updated their address list to include our new address.  Slowly, they're trickling in as forwarding (to another incorrect address, might I add...) kicks in. 

5) I've been preoccupied with other things.  What, you ask?  You obviously haven't been around this blog very long.


Christmas is my FAVORITE time of year.  So, the fact that this is the LAST week to legitimately enjoy the sights and sounds of the season saddens me (sure, I can pop in my Glee Christmas CD in February, but it's not the saaaaaaaame.)  I'm hoping this week brings opportunities to slow down and savor every last drop of Christmas, and I wish the same for you!

ICKY!!!

Lazy Saturday afternoon...so Kendall and I made some play-dough!  It was Kendall's first go with the sticky substance, and my little neat-freak was pretty concerned about the "icky" on her hands.  But with a little coaching from mom, she got into the doughy spirit and made lots of "pancakes"! 

There was a lot of one-fingered play to begin with.

 

When she really got going, it was impossible to get a still picture.  That blue blob is getting a good beat-down.

Play-Dough

1 cup flour
1 cup salt
Mix above together and separate equally into two bowls.
Add 2-3 drops of food coloring to 1/2 cup water.  Add to one bowl and mix.
Add 2-3 drops of food coloring to another 1/2 cup water.  Add to other bowl and mix.
Ta-Da!

The New Man In Town

GUILTY....of letting my camera get a little too dusty while getting acclimated to the new little guy!  By this time in Kendall's life, I had several albums FULL and a newborn photo shoot in the books.  The second time around...I'm just not as trigger happy.  And, he's much more restless than his sister was- stretches of contentment are few and far between.  If this is a "boy" trait, I'm in for a rough ride.  He's adorable, nevertheless...has his sister's sparkly eyes and droopy cheeks :)

Sleeping angel

Sparkly eyes!

Bonding with Daddy

The Toddler Brain

Having a newborn in the house makes us very aware of how much Kendall has grown (wow...they really start out tiny!) and sometimes painfully aware of her "toddlerhood".  There are perks of having a toddler- she loves helping out Mommy and Daddy, and gets excited to help change Carter's diapers.  She is entertaining as all get-out, and we love communicating with her in big-girl words!  Still, she is often an enigma as we try to figure out what she really wants.  This diagram is pretty helpful :)

As frustrating as it can be, it might just be my favorite age yet!

Born to Breed

As I was walking into the mall to finish some Christmas shopping yesterday, I couldn't believe that just a week ago I was in the hospital having a baby!

Yup, as of November 28th, I'm officially not pregnant :)  We welcomed Carter at 8:23 p.m. last Monday, four days overdue.  And, as I could have predicted, he was BIG.  At 9 lbs 12 oz, he still failed to eclipse his sister!

It was an anxious and emotional few days leading up to Carter's birthday...both of my parents were visiting us on fixed travel schedules, and after my dad had to return to CA prior to meeting Carter, I was beginning to think they both would completely miss it!  My plea for induction before Thanksgiving was met with rejection, so all I could do was hope it would happen naturally- and soon.

I went in for a doctor appointment/non-stress test for the baby that Monday, and after looking at my monitor feed, the nurse informed me I was having contractions.  I was completely unaware of this because 1) they didn't hurt, and 2) my labor with Kendall was all in my back.  She was pretty optimistic that I had made some progress with dilating, so I looked forward to the doctor's opinion.  It didn't take him long to ask me "if I wanted to have a baby today".  YESSSS!

I had a couple of hours before I was to check in to the birthing center...enough time to make sure I had everything packed, call the necessary parties (including Chris at work), and spend some special time with Kendall.

My labor started out pretty difficult, being that I waited longer to get the epidural this time around.  But once that sweet relief came, the rest was a breeze!  Just a few pushes and Carter was out.  My doctor told Chris to pick up a shirt for me that says "Born to Breed".  :)

Hospital bound...one last hug for my "baby" girl!

Here we go....round two!

I'm focused on contractions and Chris is focused on....his football scores :-/

First minute of life!

Baby?  Who cares!  There's a BALLOON!!!!!

So glad my mom was here to be a part of Carter's birth!

BAM!  Family of FOUR!

Time for your close-up, Carter!

Kicking our feet up after a long day!

Daddy's favorite boy.

Our handsome little guy!

Home sweet home!