The Things They Do

Griffin, I want to be able to look back and see all the many cool things you did.  I unfortunately or fortunately can't save all your little drawling or creations, but this is one way we can always see them.  May you always know that you were creative from the beginning.  We love you so much and are SO proud of you. 

OHHHH and btw, both Momma and Son got in the pool for swimming lessons today.  There was a lot of step sitting, but we're taking it one class at a time.  We actually want him to WANT to swim some day, so this is the way it goes for our mild, CAUTIOUS little one.

We don't want Ailee to feel left out, so I have added a few pictures of her lastest creations.  This amazing scarf she's been working on ;-)  Keep up the good work.  Love ya, sweets.

swimming

no dice...
better luck next time...
dad was even there...
Guess what we are doing as a family tonight?

Experiment 52, #12

This morning before church I grabbed the camera, as we were loading the kids in the car, and asked Jeff to snap a few pics.   She's almost 8 months old and I'm loving her and my role as their mom more and more. 

 I recently got a new frame...

(side note. I got a bday certificate 13 years ago from Shane and Izzy to Off the Beaten Path, and I just redeemed it last weekend.  I can't believe they let me!!  What a fun surprise that was, so thanks Shane and Iz for such a sweet frame, funny to think of what I would have put in this at 18 versus 31.)

...it says at the bottom, "Who knew how much you'd change my heart."  I knew I had to get it, 'cause it said, HEART, not life or world or whatev..., but heart.  That's exactly with G and A have done to me.  I feel like they have given me a rebirth of sorts, anyone else know what I'm talkin' about?  For you Beth Moore lovers, a "peripety," if you will.  My heart has seen more peaceful, gentle, content, and loving days since these two beauties have entered into it. AMEN!

 BTW, A.Mae, has started waving, similar to the sign for milk.  Love, love, love it.  Also, she's starting to get that bum in the air and teasing me about her thoughts on crawling.  I tell her she better not get more serious about it or we'll have to have a conversation.

Wish us luck on swimming lessons tomorrow.  Griff says he's going in, oh I sure hope so.  Daddy will be there for backup...so he gets to handle it tomorrow.   

SK8 Church...

Last weekend the kids and I went up to Steamboat, here's just ONE thing we did while in town. 

God bless Buck and Tara for having willing and obedient hearts to serve.

Experiment 52, #11

This slide looks fun, right?  Not to this guy...

this was the view he preferred.

Just as a note, this was after three forced trips down with Momma and Ailee.  Jeff said, he smiled every time, but then pleaded to no do it again.  So, we gave in, NO MORE trips down the slide of death.  Just look at his face. Sheer terror.

Most days I appreciate that our boy is mild-mannered.  Other days I struggle.  Like today, we had our first swimming lesson and he refused to get in the pool.  I'm learning/trying to take the good with the not so good, but some days are easier then others.  Well, we'll try again on Monday and hope for better results.  I love that little guy, sometimes I just want to spark a little adventure in him. 

Experiment 52, #10 (B.O.B. & Sushi)

I'm exhausted, we had a totally packed, non-stop weekend.  It started Thursday with a girls night,  I wore a bra.  That's right, a real night out...no nursing tank for this Momma, the ladies are goin' out.  Sushi and a good friend back in town to take care of some family stuff, AND we got her for a night.

Thursday:

 

BUT before we went out, Momma introduced Ailee to a VERY good friend of ours, B.O.B.  For those of you who know B.O.B. know this is an important introduction, for both Ailee and Momma.  From the looks of it, they hit it off well.



I love my girls.  More the merrier in our world.  Love. Jokes. Vulnerability.  Plus tonight we got some TDF DRINKS...

...and Sushi.

My heart hurts.

Okay, now I'm sad.  Really.  Is this for real?  He's totally making my God out to be something he's not.  May God have mercy on all of us.

The Hubs..."He applies a little bit of evil to God...that's a road nobody should head down."
continued...
"We all know he is a libtard...I am mostly pissed that he is Universalist who only sort of believes in hell and thinks God might be a little evil.....I fear my God because he is holy beyond measure...not because I need to be "saved" from him.."

A.Mae.Zing

Chalk this up to one more thing I swore I would never do: ANIMAL PRINT!!!

How does she do this to me?

Our Rock...Part 1

Jeff and I met on eharmony.  Yep it's true.  There, I said it, it's out!

With all the greatness and joy that this little website ;-) brought into my life, it started out very differently.  The beginning included a lot of soul searching, fear, walls, a despeartion to hear God's voice, anxiety, and uncertainty. 

It's a funny thing, dating.  Everyone loves their dating experiences, us, not so much.  BUT not everyone loves their marriage, us, YES.  All those things we had to go through to get us to where we are today. 



Caryn Ahern Photography



At the time, 23 years old, I was searching for my location in life.  I had already been through 3 colleges, 3 majors and was attending my 4th and final college.  I did graduate, which was the goal.  My degree, well you know the saying, "those that can't wed, they plan" isn't that from the Wedding Planner?  I think so... anyway, those that can't get it together, they help others, right? 

My greatest desert: acting like I had it all together. 

My degree, Sociology: emphasis in Family Studies.  I was pretty much searching for the answers and hoping one day I could have a family, first of all and secondly, serve to restore the most sacred institute: the family. 

My story of restitution could never have come from my pad of paper, I will assure you that.  Only God could have written this story.  The harder I tried to push, the closer he inched.

So, yes, it was at this time a friend convinced me to sign up for eharmony.  It's only 30 days, I'm in a new town, no friends, not much going on, what do you I have to lose?  What the H, I'm in. 

We met on December 7, 2003. 

Have you ever had an experience where the very thing you were looking for, was the worst thing for you? 

I was NOT looking for a Jeff, but oh did the LORD want to give him to me.  This gift, of all gifts, shows God's faithfulness to me.

The harder I pushed away, the more faithful he was.  He pursued. He loved. He encouraged. He prayed. He cried.  He fell on his knees before the Lord.

I cry now to think about what I could have missed. 

Not all gifts have a bright red bow, but some do come with the most amazing blue eyes.

Experiment 52, #9

Even when he sleeps...

If Travis only knew.

7 and 17lbs :-)



If there's one thing I hate, it's vaccines.  We are only giving 3 and I still hate them.  She's not herself for about 24 hours and last time she got a sweet cold right after, so yeah. they suck.  If anyone is interested we follow Dr. Sears' "selective schedule" but I waited until 6 months to start, where he starts at 2 months. 

On a funny note, I mentioned earlier how this girl isn't interested AT ALL in food.  We finally got her to eat oatmeal with milk, NO water, but that's as pretty much as far as we've gotten.  She's learned to laugh, talk, cry and just sit with her mouth closed like a steal trap.  She knows if it opens for just one second food is sure to enter.  If it does there's gaging, chills, and finally the exit of whatever intruded into her world. 

BUT...

recently we  have been able to keep a few more things from coming out.  Banana, only from the source; avocado, right from the peal, and get this...the girls LOVES lemons.  I know they are not supposed to have them but we were just messing while eating out one day and she kept going back for more.  (She also likes pickles, but we leave that one alone.)

Little Ailee...

You are getting so big.  You now weigh in at 17.1 lbs.  (Good thing we have whole milk around here!) 

In a typical day we find you:

• Sitting up so big (makes me want your posture)
• Playing/putting all brother's and your toys and  in your mouth. 
• Making lots of fun sounds, the coolest is the "b" sound for brother.  "ba ba"...wonder if Griff will get bubba as a new name???
• Lovin' your bath time.  If anyone stands close they are sure to get soaked, which we all love.
• Trying to get that bum in the air and pulling those legs under you.  Slow down girl, I'm not ready to baby proof the millions of Legos, tiny helmets, and other such items around the house.
• Still taking two great naps a day
• and hittin' the hay around 8 and wake up around 4 or 5, then back to sleep until 7ish. 



I can only hope that next time I report back, she's eating a few more things and still not crawing.  It's funny how all I wanted was for Griffin to master the next step and this time, I don't mind it takin' a bit longer.