Saturday, January 31, 2009

Girlfriends...

I have been having one big pity party for myself this week...I even blogged about it last time!! LOL But, even when we whine, God is so good to us!!

Last night before bed, my devo (from "Joy Breaks: 90 Devotions to Celebrate, Simplify, and Add Laughter to Your Life") was entitled "Help...Now!" by Patsy Clairmont (one of my favorites!!). Anyways, her reference was Psalm 70:1 "O Lord, Come quickly to help me." That was the root of the cry from my heart this week. And, boy did He ever!! :) He's helped me all through this week; from snow days to girlfriends!!

Monday my friend Amy & my sister Chelle & I decided to go out on Friday. I had a sneaking suspicion that Steve had to work, but thought I'd ask my Mom to watch the kiddos for a while.

Well, she couldn't, so earlier in the week I told the girls I couldn't go (::insert Debbie Downer "Wah-wah" here::). So, last night rolled around, and Chelle & Amy went out...Then called me on their way to eat...

Amy: Hey! Whatchya doin?
Me: Oh, just sittin here with the kids...
Amy: (she laughs) Well, duh! Chelle & I are on our way to eat, then we're picking up Cheesecake Factory cheesecakes, and then we'll be over!
Me: (looking at my unbelievably messy house & who-knows-when-the-last-time-I-mopped kitchen floor) Ummm, ahh, OK.

Let me tell you, what a blessing!! It took them a little while, plenty of time for me to get the house 'BFF' ready (you know, not perfect, but acceptable), and I got the kids down right as they walked in.

I can NOT tell you how blessed I felt after they left. It's amazing what a good piece of cheesecake & giggling with your girlfriends will do for your perspective!! :)

But mostly, it's awesome the ways God comes to our rescue...

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Lots of Snow...

Okay, I'm done with winter...

Only, I guess it's not done with me!! LOL

Steve has had the last couple of days off (during the day...he still had to go into HRB...) because of the snow, and that has been SO nice!! :) I have needed the help!! I about had a mental breakdown over the weekend, and Monday...

I was just overwhelmed, the babies wouldn't stop crying & whining, and I was just at my whit's end. He came home Monday night (after the storm had subsided) & said, "You're not going to like this, but I think I'm going in tomorrow night." I just started crying. My intent, honestly, was not to guilt him into staying home, Because "He'll be home tomorrow night, and I'll be able to get a couple of things done." had been my mantra all day (because I knew that he was working every other night but Tuesday). He did say that he could stay home, but I said, "No, go in, it's OK."

Then Tuesday came, and he went to work (reg. work, not HRB) & came home because the weather was getting so bad.

So, I'm sorry it's been inconvenient for all of you, and I know it has been, but it has been a breather for me. Winter is always harder because we're cooped up inside so much more. And, with the 2 of them, it's harder for me to even THINK about leaving the house unless absolutely necessary.

Maybe that makes me look like a wimp, but I don't care. I'm just feeling overwhelmed, so that makes a wimp out of me! LOL

On a happier note, Monday is Abbey's 5th Birthday!! Can you believe it?!?! It's amazing to me that we're already to this point. It feels like yesterday that we brought her home from the hospital.

Okay, I'd better go...the natives might be getting restless again...

Love you all!! :)

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Not much going on here...

We're just waiting on the warmer weather...I only left the house a few times this week...Am feeling a little (read: LOT) cabin fever...

Eli has an ear infection & never cried like Abbey did when she had one. I only had a hunch because he wasn't exactly acting like himself, and was being a little cranky pants :). But, he wasn't constantly screaming his head off like Abbey did!! :)

That same day I took him to the dr. (Wednesday) we went to Meijer...I went alone with the kids & my Pointsfinder, and wanted to sell my kids when I was done!! LOL Abbey was a major PILL & wasn't listening or staying with me for anything. Needless to say, she went to bed extra early that night!

She's been pretty good since then, though, and is trying to earn a sleepover at Mammy's. Every day she has the chance to earn a letter to spell "Mammy" & when she does, she gets a sleepover (when Mammy's schedule allows it, of course).

I'd better get to bed. I'm helping Mr. Ed in his Sunday School class tomorrow...the kids are going to alter composition notebooks as their Purpose Driven Life journals, and I said I'd help with that :). It should be a lot of fun, because these kids are a lot of fun!! :)

Love you all, and am praying!! :)

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Heaven...

I'm so excited!! Today I'm going to my favorite scrapbook store & am going to create as much as I can in 10 hours!! :) I also plan on re-organizing some things...I read a great article in my favorite scrapbooking magazine (Simple Scrapbooks) that got down to how you work is how you should organize...So, I feel like I have a better understanding of what will work for me...The hard part will be not spending so much on new containers!! LOL

I'm a visual person. I don't usually start my project with the photo (I know, sounds weird). Of course, technically, it starts with a photo! But, when I sit down to create, I don't reach for photos first, I reach for paper, colors, etc... So, seeing my colors, sorting my things by color instead of theme will work for me, I think. And, if not, I can always change it later.

So, I'm in heaven...I have a project halfway done, and I'd like to start a similar one to get finished by Abbey's Birthday (an "all about me" book like I made for Gracie).

That will be a timely gift this year.

I stuck to my guns yesterday, and we did not watch ANY TV until she was done in her room. I had decided to leave her alone in her room because I had been in there for about half an hour & she just wasn't cooperating, and I was beginning to just do it...and getting mad. So, after the last time of me directing her in what to do next, and she twirling around like she was alone, I said, "OK, Abbey, I've got to leave & you can do this yourself."

So, I left.

It worked! Well, sort of. I got cooled down, she still didn't get to watch TV, then I finally she asked me to come see her room...Nothing was really different, but I was, so I stayed & watched her clean up.

I hate to yell. So, I've decided not to do that. Dr. Lehman says to "1. Say it once. 2. Turn your back. 3. Walk away." The idea is to get your child thinking on their own, problem solving on their own. And as the parent, waiting for the teachable moment. As he says, they're not exactly teachable during a tantrum.

Months after reading his book (Have a New Kid By Friday), we still waffle back & forth between doing that & back to our old habits. Simple strategy, difficult to execute.

Anyways, after all the drama (and I guess that just comes with her being a girl :)), she came up to me later (while Eli was napping) and says, "Mommy, sometimes when I'm cleaning in my room & you're out here [living room] with Eli, I think you love him more than me."

Talk about melting my heart. I just about sobbed!! I have a lot in common with Abbey May. We are both 1st borns, so I understand that feeling. And, I've worked hard, or so I thought, at trying to balance all that comes with a new sibling.

So, as you can see, an "All About Me" book for her birthday is very appropriate this year, even more than it would have been last year.

Off to Scrappy Land!! :)

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Hmmm, I don't know why you had that problem with the other blog, Missy...

Ok, so today was a pretty good day!! :) I feel like all I've done are dishes, but other than that...

We're having issues with Abbey right now. But, I'm trying to not yell & let her learn through consequences...NOT EASY!!

She wanted to watch "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything" that she & Steve borrowed from the library the other night, but I told her that she needed to pick up her toys in her room before she watched ANY tv tonight, and definately before she watched a movie.

SO, no popcorn, no movie, and she's still not cleaning her room. She doesn't know it, yet, but she doesn't get to watch TV tomorrow until her toys are picked up.

I don't want anyone to misunderstand me...I'm not expecting perfection from my almost-5-year-old, but a big helping of effort would be wonderful.

She did pick up some, but not all...::sigh::

Eli's sleep-deprived. He's so exhausted during the day, no wonder why he sleeps all night...Not that I'm complaining. It's just frustrating when he's grumpy because he's not letting himself nap.

He's a sweet boy, though :), no matter how grumpy!! :)

I'd better go. I want to hear President Bush's last address to the nation.

Love you all!! :)

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Happy Wednesday!! :)

Well, I've started a 2nd blog...NOT a "new" blog, but one to co-exist with this one. It's called "The Mommy Princess on a Diet." I'll be blogging all about my weight loss journey with Weight Watchers, sharing recipes as I come across them, and just being a little more focused on one topic over there. There's a link for it in my sidebar if you'd like a gander. No big deal, just something for me to ramble & share on over there.

Not much more going on with us, because of the sNoW!! :) Yes, the 'white death' is here. How can something so beautiful & fluffy looking cause so much havoc?!?! LOL It really was beautiful to watch coming down today...and it never really stopped all day. They were big fluffy flakes, it looked like a movie set had done it!!

Oh, I started the new blog because I started back to WW's last night. Missy, you would remember the leader at my meeting as the first leader we had in Fairborn with the southern accent who had to leave because she was overloaded. Well, she's still a leader!! :) And she's in Huber!! :) So, not only is she the closest to me, I know her & really like her!! :)

Anyways, it was a good day, I was trying to "get rid" of 5pts. tonight & that has never happened to me before, first day or not!! LOL :) So, I'm taking that as a good sign!! :) Next week's booklet is about exercise, I think, so I'm going to only have the goal of sticking to my points this week & next week will start incorporating the exercise.

Aren't you glad I got another blog for that stuff? LOL Wouldn't you hate to hear all about that when you could care less? LOL

Love you all...Have a great snowed-in weekend!! :)

Sunday, January 11, 2009

A Pictoral Post...

Here's a little look into our Christmas & New Year's...and maybe a few of Isaac's "bathtizing" today :) (that's what Abbey called it)...





And, Missy, I will email you more...Unfortunately, all the ones I took of them in the baptistry were blurry for some reason...

Okay...Love you all!! Good night!! :)

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

How do you keep a 4 year old from dragging your 7.5 mo old all over the living room, repeatedly, after being told not to touch him?

Abbey May was definitely a Diva today, and proud of it.

Everything I said today was met with a "No. I don't want to." She quickly changed her attitude when she got the Mommy Glare, but still...

Awesome.

So, my lesson for the day is that maybe I went a little too soft over Christmas holidays...

In other news, we watched Kung Fu Panda last night (and again today). VERY CUTE MOVIE :) I wasn't disappointed!! :) I wouldn't mind having that one.

Now, because I feel "The Crud" coming on, I'm gonna watch my babies fall asleep, then drink up some NyQuil & head into a restful sleep. I knew I should've still been taking my EmergenC...That stuff's pretty awesome, too!! :)

Monday, January 05, 2009

I can't believe it...they're all 3 asleep! I'm watching Katie today for Chelle & my 2 are asleep (Eli was a hard one today), and both girls are asleep in the living room on the couches...So here I am, in my bedroom, with QVC on & blogging on the brain...

I was actually folding laundry in the living room when both girls went out. I was standing there thinking about how much laundry I do, and it seems as if I'm never caught up...

I realize I've lamented quite a few times about laundry, and it is true that it's a constant chore that never gets checked off as "done."

But as I was standing there folding towels, watching the girls drift off into Sleepy Town, it hit me what a blessing the laundry is. It is a visible sign of life. The life we lead. All those tiny socks, sleepers, princess nightgowns, matching Children's Place sweaters, bed sheets, and, yes, even the dreaded towels, are all evidence of where my life is right now, and how blessed I am.

Those aren't just articles of clothing. They're bedtimes and bathtimes, playtimes full of giggles & smiles, tickles & piggies. OK, and sometimes an, "I thought I told you to put that in your hamper!!"

So, I will try to keep thinking about that when I walk into Eli's room & try not to heave a big sigh at the sight of his overflowing laundry hamper.

I am, beyond a doubt, absolutely blessed.

Sunday, January 04, 2009

Wow, I didn't really mean for that last post to be my last until Christmas & New Year's!! What a busy season!! Our computer's S L O W, too, so it's easy to resist the temptation to blog...

Hmmm, what to talk about? There is too much to catch up on, really, so I'll give you the highlights!! LOL :)

Christmas was GREAT!! :) We had such a fun season this year!! Abbey sang her first solo at our Christmas program at church & did such a great job!! I was so proud of her & my whole family cried while she sang!! Super sweet!!

Eli had a wonderful first Christmas. I'll tell you what, that boy is the best baby I've ever known. He doesn't make much of a fuss unless he's hungry or beyond needing a diaper change, ya know? And, he's always got a smile for you. I love that baby boy!! :)

Christmas Eve was fun, as usual!! :) We got together with the Powell side of the family & this year, we went caroling to some of Mom & Dad's neighbor's houses, and that was a lot of fun!! It got some of the kids' wiggles out, too, so they were ready to sit & sing some more, but of course, we opened presents right after we sang Silent Night!! :) I love the chaos that is Christmas Eve. It's a good chaos...

Christmas Day was easy-going :) We had our little family Christmas (Abbey asked for a "microphone on a stand" from Santa, and Eli got a busy ball popper), and we got ready to go to Mom & Dad's a little earlier this year because we knew we weren't going to stay as late as we have in the past because Dad had surgery the Friday after Christmas Day (on his shoulder...more on that later). We had a great time, and played a game of Scrabble, which I lost miserably. The kids were great all day & Katie LOVED the Princess dress-up dress I got her... She had to immediately put it on & wore it about all day :). When she put it on, her whole countenance changed. That girl, she IS a "Pin-pess."

So, Dad's surgery. I don't know if I shared with all of you or not, but on Thanksgiving Dad tore his shoulder up pretty badly. He had a torn rotator cuff & other torn muscles, come to find out, all from a fall he took in the garage on Thanksgiving day while playing with Abbey & Katie. So, he hasn't had as much fun the last month 1/2 or so as you might think, and I know that kills him. Christmas is his favorite!

Drugged up on percoset & motrin, and he's STILL in pain...I think it's gradually getting better, though...

New Year's we spent at Scott & Missy's!! :) Thank you, Cousin, for having us all over again!! :) We had lots of fun, the kids all got along well (for the most part) & we played a few games that I'd never played, but were a lot of fun!! I hadn't really been sleeping well the few nights prior to that, because Eli was waking up with a cough, so I didn't make it as late as I might've otherwise, but it was good to see & play games & just spend time with family again. Everyone's lives are so busy & full it's hard to make time like that all the time, so it was great getting together with everyone again.

So, now it's 2009, I've got a new background on my blog, and the Christmas tree is starting to make me feel claustrophobic in my living room. That's coming down this week sometime. Also, the trees at church are coming down before next Sunday, too :). I'm still listening to my Christmas music, though! That's always the hardest part of the holidays for me, to start integrating "rest-of-the-year" music after Christmas. I LOVE Christmas music, and literally listen to it all year round.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, Everyone!! :) Love you, and I'm praying blessings to fill your 2009!! :)