In the few quiet moments I get these days I sometimes sit back and wonder if we have some twisted need to continuously create chaos in our life?! ;) While, I know that's not the case, there is no doubt that we lead a very busy and unpredictable existence. I will be the first to admit that most of the time I am dragging my feet, sometimes even kicking and screaming, but eventually I come around to see that everything really does "work for the good" of those who trust in God and His perfect plan for our lives!
Our big news over this past month is that in a very short 30 days, we put an offer on a house, had the offer accepted, packed up our home, rented it out to a family and move across town! It would take much more time that I have right now to explain the details of how this all came to be, but suffice to say that there is no doubt that this is part of Gods plan for our family and without His favor there is no way any of this would have been possible. Bottom line, we are blessed!
It was definitely bitter sweet to leave the house we have worked so hard to make our home over the past 7 years. It represented so much "life" and it was hard to drive away knowing that in that moment it went from our "home" to a rental property. Even though it is just a structure, it is still hard to let go of the emotions attached to it. A very nice family has moved in and we are hoping that they find as much joy living there as we did!
We are currently in the unpacking process and while I would give anything to be able to wave my magic wand and have everything "just so", I know this is a process...a process that won't just happen overnight. We have some projects in the works and with the completion of each one, I know it will feel more and more like home to us and less like a place we are staying for a while. My mom and Mike came over this weekend and were such a blessing with their help. We spruced up the front yard a bit, installed a garage door opener, unpacked and organized boxes, and had a sounding board for some of our project ideas. In between all of that we also managed to enjoy our favorite past time when they visit and indulge in a ridiculous amount of sushi at our favorite sushi joint (which just so happens to be 5 minutes away from our new home). As a side note...as a sushi lover it is close to torture to only be able to order off of the cooked fish menu while pregnant...I'm pretty certain that after our sweet boy is here, Andy and I will escape for a few hours so I can enjoy all the raw fish my little heart desires! ;)
In other news, today marks the start of my 3rd trimester of pregnancy. It's hard to believe that I'm 28 weeks already and that we will be meeting our baby boy in 3 short months. I'd be lying if I didn't say that this move has me a bit stressed about feeling "settled" before the baby is here, but I'm trying to let go of some of my expectations and just focus on doing what we can and taking things one day at a time. I am getting to the point where my mind and my body are not necessarily in agreement when it comes to what I can do. In my mind I feel like I should be able to just continue along as usual, not being restricted at all by the fact that I'm growing another human being, but my body is telling me otherwise! ;) All of a sudden my belly is in the way of doing simple things such as bending over and my stamina just isn't what it used to be. I'm trying to be good and rest when I need to, but for those of you who know me, you won't be surprised to hear that I can be a bit stubborn at times and have a tendency to push myself just a little more that I probably should. Thankfully I have plenty of loving people in my life who remind me to take it easy and not over do it. :)
Andy and I are planning a short get away this month and I am simply cannot wait! Not only did Andy turn 33 last weekend, but we will be celebrating 11 years of marriage on the 17th. With this being our last opportunity to run away sans kiddos for a while, we've decided to take advantage of the time we have and combine a few milestones and celebrate with a short escape full of some of our favorite things!
Bella is out of school this week and we are all ready for her summer vacation to begin. It's hard to believe that another year is down and she will be a 4th grader, but this past year has been wonderful for her and we are so grateful for the wonderful education she is receiving. We have lots of fun things planned for her time off and are hoping that the weather begins to cooperate so we can take advantage of our summer!
There is so much more, but for now this update will have to do. In the midst of all of the "big stuff", life still goes on as usual...there is homework, play dates, bed time, dance recitals, end of the year parties and so on. And while there are times I feel totally overwhelmed by it all, when I take a step back, I realize that I wouldn't trade any of it for the world. I love our crazy and sometimes chaotic life and feel so incredibly blessed by it all!
6.05.2011
5.22.2011
Dancing beauty!
Chloe has been taking dance with the same dance instructor that Bella had throughout Preschool. Honestly, we wouldn't have guessed that dance would be top on Chloe's list of things she wants to do, but evidentally we were wrong. Several months back I found a notice in her cubby at school notifying me that we were late in paying our bill. I was just a bit confused because I hadn't signed Chloe up for dance. Well after a bit of investigation I discovered that Chloe had signed herself up! ;) Yes, you read that right...she decided that she wanted to go to dance so one week when Ms. Katherine came to pick up the kids for dance, Chloe lined up and told her that her mom said she could be in dance now and with that, she was enrolled in dance class! ;)
Once we got the mystery of the late bill figured out, Chloe continued in dance and yesterday she participated in her first recital. The thought of Chloe dolled up in a tutu was a bit hard for me to wrap my mind around, but I thought we'd give it a try and see how she did. Well, she had a few "moments", but overall she really enjoyed it. As long as she was on stage she was happy as could be, but the whole sitting around, waiting really wasn't for her. The longer she sat, the more itchy her costume became, the worse her hair hurt and the more she just wanted her daddy! ;) Never being able to predict Chloe's behavior, we were quite surprised and impressed with her focus on stage. She knew every step of her routine and had a great time on stage!
Here are a few pictures we snapped...
And here she is, back to the spunky Chloe we love and know so well... ;)
Once we got the mystery of the late bill figured out, Chloe continued in dance and yesterday she participated in her first recital. The thought of Chloe dolled up in a tutu was a bit hard for me to wrap my mind around, but I thought we'd give it a try and see how she did. Well, she had a few "moments", but overall she really enjoyed it. As long as she was on stage she was happy as could be, but the whole sitting around, waiting really wasn't for her. The longer she sat, the more itchy her costume became, the worse her hair hurt and the more she just wanted her daddy! ;) Never being able to predict Chloe's behavior, we were quite surprised and impressed with her focus on stage. She knew every step of her routine and had a great time on stage!
Here are a few pictures we snapped...
And here she is, back to the spunky Chloe we love and know so well... ;)
5.18.2011
On being a kid...
There are times when against my better judgment regarding the longevity of our furniture, I take a deep breath, walk away, and just let the kids be kids...here's an example of one of those times...
5.16.2011
Great American!
For the past couple months Bella has been working on a project for school called "The Great American Project". In a nutshell, the kids chose a "great american" and had to complete 3 parts over the course of 2 months. The first was to create a bust, the second was a written report and the final part was to write and memorize a speech to be presented to the school. In addition to the speech they had to dress up as their great american and bring a food from their time period.
Bella choose Betsy Ross and not only did she learn a great deal about Betsy, but our family now knows more than we ever thought we would about the women who sewed the first American flag! ;) Chloe was even able to recite the majority of Bella's speech and could answer questions, like "what was Betsy Ross' real name?" For those of you who are curious...she was born Elizabeth Griscom! ;)
Of course the "fun" part was speech day and in addition to their presentation to the school, the parents gathered for the potluck and a final presentation of the speeches. All of Bella's classmates did a amazing job and it was so neat to see every dressed up and smiling from ear.
It certainly was a lot of work and a few times I found myself wondering, "if this is what Bella is doing in third grade, what in the world are the next few years going to be like?" but in the end, I am so grateful for a school who takes such pride in the excellence of their education. It has been such a blessing to have Bella where she is and we're grateful for all that she is learning!
And without further ado, our very own Betsy Ross...
Bella choose Betsy Ross and not only did she learn a great deal about Betsy, but our family now knows more than we ever thought we would about the women who sewed the first American flag! ;) Chloe was even able to recite the majority of Bella's speech and could answer questions, like "what was Betsy Ross' real name?" For those of you who are curious...she was born Elizabeth Griscom! ;)
Of course the "fun" part was speech day and in addition to their presentation to the school, the parents gathered for the potluck and a final presentation of the speeches. All of Bella's classmates did a amazing job and it was so neat to see every dressed up and smiling from ear.
It certainly was a lot of work and a few times I found myself wondering, "if this is what Bella is doing in third grade, what in the world are the next few years going to be like?" but in the end, I am so grateful for a school who takes such pride in the excellence of their education. It has been such a blessing to have Bella where she is and we're grateful for all that she is learning!
And without further ado, our very own Betsy Ross...
5.09.2011
Mother's Day...
a day late. ;)
There is so much I could say about Mother's Day, but I'll do my best to keep this short and to the point.
First and foremost, I am blessed with the best mom anyone could ever ask for. She has taught me much of what has made me the woman I am today and has allowed me to learn from not only her successes, but her failures as well. I'm so grateful for the relationship we have and hope that I can demonstrate the same unconditional love she has shown me all of my life to my children!
I am also very lucky to have a wonderful mother-in-law. So many people complain about how meddling and bothersome their in-laws are, but I can say without a doubt that my in-laws are neither of those. They are supportive and loving and are absolutely wonderful grandparents! It's amazing to think that I have known them for 14 years now and while there were some "growing pains" in the beginning, I'm so grateful for the family we have become!
And then there's me. From as early as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a mom and these past 9 years have been more wonderful than I could have ever imagined. Sure, being a parent isn't always easy and I've definitely had my "moments", but when the day is done, I count my title of "mom" as one of my greatest honors and accomplishments in life. I love my girls with every ounce of my being and hope that they know that they will never have a bigger fan in life than they have in me...their mom. I am already falling in love with our baby boy as the days go by and I can't wait to experience the blessing of raising a son. A mother's day doesn't go by that I don't also have a few moments of reflections as I think about our children that aren't here on earth with us. It gives me an even greater appreciation for the blessing of our 2 daughters and the impending arrival of our son. It also reminds me that Mother's Day can be a heartbreaking reminder to many people...those who don't ha
There is so much I could say about Mother's Day, but I'll do my best to keep this short and to the point.
First and foremost, I am blessed with the best mom anyone could ever ask for. She has taught me much of what has made me the woman I am today and has allowed me to learn from not only her successes, but her failures as well. I'm so grateful for the relationship we have and hope that I can demonstrate the same unconditional love she has shown me all of my life to my children!
I am also very lucky to have a wonderful mother-in-law. So many people complain about how meddling and bothersome their in-laws are, but I can say without a doubt that my in-laws are neither of those. They are supportive and loving and are absolutely wonderful grandparents! It's amazing to think that I have known them for 14 years now and while there were some "growing pains" in the beginning, I'm so grateful for the family we have become!
And then there's me. From as early as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a mom and these past 9 years have been more wonderful than I could have ever imagined. Sure, being a parent isn't always easy and I've definitely had my "moments", but when the day is done, I count my title of "mom" as one of my greatest honors and accomplishments in life. I love my girls with every ounce of my being and hope that they know that they will never have a bigger fan in life than they have in me...their mom. I am already falling in love with our baby boy as the days go by and I can't wait to experience the blessing of raising a son. A mother's day doesn't go by that I don't also have a few moments of reflections as I think about our children that aren't here on earth with us. It gives me an even greater appreciation for the blessing of our 2 daughters and the impending arrival of our son. It also reminds me that Mother's Day can be a heartbreaking reminder to many people...those who don't ha
5.02.2011
Baby Bargains!
Okay, I know that my blog has become disproportionate in baby related posts, but the truth is, the McMinn household is very excited to welcome this baby boy into our family and we just can't help but share our excitement! The girls are constantly inquiring about what the baby is doing...is he moving? Is he sleeping? Does he have the hiccups? Andy and I are throwing around names, talking about what it will be like with a 3rd child and still stopping every once in a while to shake our heads at the fact that we are actually having a baby boy! So since this is my blog, I won't apologize too much for sharing our excitement, although I will recognize that we talk "baby stuff" a lot...both here and in person! ;)
Okay, without further ado, this weekend proved to be very successful in bargain hunting. As I've mentioned before, we need a new stroller and car seat this time around. I've gotten good use out of my stroller with the girls, but it is literally falling apart and as much as I'd like it to make it through another baby, it's just not going to happen. The carseat is a different story. We are very limited in space with our GTI and while we have the Durango, we try our best to use the GTI whenever we can because of the significant difference in fuel efficiency. While we won't be packing all of 5 of us in the GTI for any long distance trips, we do plan on continuing to use it around town as much as possible. I did some research and found a very safe carseat with great reviews that is specifically made for smaller vehicles. It wasn't the cheapest, but once I found it, my bargain hunting skills kicked in! I've been watching for several months now and on Saturday morning was able to take advantage of several "deals" which added up to a significant savings on the seat. Just to give you an example of how serious I am about my bargains, I even had it shipped to my moms house in California because they added tax to shipping addresses in Nevada. Knowing she would be over soon made saving another $20 a no brainer! :) It has arrived safely at Grandma's and I'm very excited to check it out when it finally makes it's way to our house! Here's a pic of the seat our little guy will be riding in...
As if that wasn't enough, I've also been diligently searching for stroller deals. I've found a few, but none that were just too good to pass up. Until this weekend that is. I was browsing craigslist for a few different brands of strollers I've been looking at and up popped a post that caught my eye right away. After exchanging a few emails and setting up a time to look at the stroller on Sunday, we are the proud new owners of this...
It is in like-new condition, used only a handful of times before they realized that a double stroller would fit the needs of their family much better. It came with an extra cover and a removable attachment that allows an older child to stand at the back of the stroller and ride as it's being pushed. It's absolutely perfect for Chloe who likes to walk just about everywhere, but who also gets tired on occasion and could use a break every once in a while. And at almost a third of the cost new I was thrilled to load it the back of the car and drive away!
It felt so good to mark those 2 items off our list...now it's just the "little" things...diapers, wipes, pacifiers, nursing accessories, etc. Things that are easy to stop by the store and pick up. It's kind of crazy how much changes with each subsequent child. I definitely have a list, but it is nothing compared to what my list looked like with Bella...or Chloe for that matter. As I told someone yesterday, all this little guys is going to need at first is a bassinet, a couple blankets and boobs. ;) Luckily, we have those things taken care of! :)
Okay, without further ado, this weekend proved to be very successful in bargain hunting. As I've mentioned before, we need a new stroller and car seat this time around. I've gotten good use out of my stroller with the girls, but it is literally falling apart and as much as I'd like it to make it through another baby, it's just not going to happen. The carseat is a different story. We are very limited in space with our GTI and while we have the Durango, we try our best to use the GTI whenever we can because of the significant difference in fuel efficiency. While we won't be packing all of 5 of us in the GTI for any long distance trips, we do plan on continuing to use it around town as much as possible. I did some research and found a very safe carseat with great reviews that is specifically made for smaller vehicles. It wasn't the cheapest, but once I found it, my bargain hunting skills kicked in! I've been watching for several months now and on Saturday morning was able to take advantage of several "deals" which added up to a significant savings on the seat. Just to give you an example of how serious I am about my bargains, I even had it shipped to my moms house in California because they added tax to shipping addresses in Nevada. Knowing she would be over soon made saving another $20 a no brainer! :) It has arrived safely at Grandma's and I'm very excited to check it out when it finally makes it's way to our house! Here's a pic of the seat our little guy will be riding in...
As if that wasn't enough, I've also been diligently searching for stroller deals. I've found a few, but none that were just too good to pass up. Until this weekend that is. I was browsing craigslist for a few different brands of strollers I've been looking at and up popped a post that caught my eye right away. After exchanging a few emails and setting up a time to look at the stroller on Sunday, we are the proud new owners of this...
It is in like-new condition, used only a handful of times before they realized that a double stroller would fit the needs of their family much better. It came with an extra cover and a removable attachment that allows an older child to stand at the back of the stroller and ride as it's being pushed. It's absolutely perfect for Chloe who likes to walk just about everywhere, but who also gets tired on occasion and could use a break every once in a while. And at almost a third of the cost new I was thrilled to load it the back of the car and drive away! It felt so good to mark those 2 items off our list...now it's just the "little" things...diapers, wipes, pacifiers, nursing accessories, etc. Things that are easy to stop by the store and pick up. It's kind of crazy how much changes with each subsequent child. I definitely have a list, but it is nothing compared to what my list looked like with Bella...or Chloe for that matter. As I told someone yesterday, all this little guys is going to need at first is a bassinet, a couple blankets and boobs. ;) Luckily, we have those things taken care of! :)
4.26.2011
A special moment...
While I've been feeling this little guy move around in my belly for quite some time now, it's just been in the last few weeks that Andy has been able to feel him on a regular basis. The girls have been anxious to join in on the excitement, but their little brother already seems to be playing games with them as they rest their hands on my belly and suddenly he stops moving. ;)
On Sunday evening our little guy was especially active and so I had Bella come sit by me and put her hand on my belly. Sure enough after just a few seconds, he gave quit a thump to his big sister! Bella's face lit up with a huge smile and she giggled with excitement. She was beyond thrilled as he made sure that she knew there was a little person moving around inside of my belly. It was so neat to see her just beam from ear to ear as she got to feel her baby brother move for the first time!
While we never would have expected that our family would grow the way it has, with our children as spaced out as they are, there is always a "silver lining" and I'm seeing that right now with Bella's age. It has been such a joy to share this pregnancy with her...she's so intrigued by everything that is happening and loves hearing about everything pregnancy related. We have yet to go, but have already decided to make a special shopping day where her and I go out and shop for the baby. She is already the most amazing big sister that we could have ever asked for and I simply cannot wait to see her love on her baby brother after he is born! :)
On Sunday evening our little guy was especially active and so I had Bella come sit by me and put her hand on my belly. Sure enough after just a few seconds, he gave quit a thump to his big sister! Bella's face lit up with a huge smile and she giggled with excitement. She was beyond thrilled as he made sure that she knew there was a little person moving around inside of my belly. It was so neat to see her just beam from ear to ear as she got to feel her baby brother move for the first time!
While we never would have expected that our family would grow the way it has, with our children as spaced out as they are, there is always a "silver lining" and I'm seeing that right now with Bella's age. It has been such a joy to share this pregnancy with her...she's so intrigued by everything that is happening and loves hearing about everything pregnancy related. We have yet to go, but have already decided to make a special shopping day where her and I go out and shop for the baby. She is already the most amazing big sister that we could have ever asked for and I simply cannot wait to see her love on her baby brother after he is born! :)
4.24.2011
Happy Easter!
For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6: 9-11
As we celebrate this day I can't help but take time to reflect on what is without a doubt the most important event in history! As Andy shared at our Good Friday service, "most of us would sacrifice anything, including ourselves in a heartbeat for our children, but don't ask me to sacrifice my children for anything!" When I begin to think about the magnitude of a God who loves me enough to send His son to die and take on all my past, present and future sins, there is an amazing sense of humility and gratitude that overcomes me. I hope that the same is for each and every one of you!
Our day began at 4:30 a.m. so that we could be at church by 6:00 to begin preparations for services today. After church we enjoyed a relaxing lunch with friends and then headed home to see if the Easter Bunny received my email requesting that he visit our house a little later than usual since we had to get up so early. Even though I didn't get a response, he must have gotten it, because the girls Easter baskets were waiting for them when we walked in the door!
Happy Easter to all of our friends and family. We hope your day was blessed!
As we celebrate this day I can't help but take time to reflect on what is without a doubt the most important event in history! As Andy shared at our Good Friday service, "most of us would sacrifice anything, including ourselves in a heartbeat for our children, but don't ask me to sacrifice my children for anything!" When I begin to think about the magnitude of a God who loves me enough to send His son to die and take on all my past, present and future sins, there is an amazing sense of humility and gratitude that overcomes me. I hope that the same is for each and every one of you!
Our day began at 4:30 a.m. so that we could be at church by 6:00 to begin preparations for services today. After church we enjoyed a relaxing lunch with friends and then headed home to see if the Easter Bunny received my email requesting that he visit our house a little later than usual since we had to get up so early. Even though I didn't get a response, he must have gotten it, because the girls Easter baskets were waiting for them when we walked in the door!
Happy Easter to all of our friends and family. We hope your day was blessed!
4.17.2011
Unbelievable!
While Andy will still be out numbered by lovely ladies, there's going to be a little man joining our family that will help bring a bit of balance to the scales! ;) Yes, it's true, there is a precious baby boy growing in my belly!
We had our routine 20 weeks ultrasound on April 6th and when we arrived we told the technician that while we wanted to know the sex of the baby, we didn't want to know right then. She was more than happy to oblige and when it came time to check out the babies "goods" she had us turn our heads so she could capture a picture and print it out. She then folded it and stapled it up in an envelope to be sure that there would be no peeking!
That evening we had dinner with some of our closest friends and afterwards, we opened the envelope and let Bella announce the news! I have to admit that I saw "BOY" before she did and at that moment a grin spread across my face and I looked to watch Andy's expression as he heard the news. He has dreamed of having a son for so long and to see the look on his face when he realized that his dream was finally coming true, was just priceless! Of course the story can't end there with the McMinn's...it wasn't seconds later that Chloe burst into hysterics saying through her sobs, "I wanted it to be a baby girl! I wanted a baby sister!" It was both heart breaking and funny to see her so distraught while everyone else celebrated! Poor things cried on and off (mostly on) for over an hour. She went to bed telling us, "but I just really wanted a baby sister." By the morning she wasn't crying about it and said that she was "a little excited to have a baby brother", and now while she fully understands that she is having a brother, she still tells us that she really wanted a sister. I can live with that. I know it takes me some time to work through disappointment and so I'm okay allowing her the time necessary to adjust to the idea!
The whole notion of having a son has taken some time to really sink in for me, but as the days go by I find myself getting more and more excited! It's such a shift from what I'm used to though...I automatically gravitate toward everything girly and in the few stores I've popped in to since finding out, it feels so strange to even be looking a boy stuff, let alone thinking about having a boy of our own! We would have been so grateful and content to have found out we were having another healthy girl, but I would by lying if I said that knowing God saw fit to bless us with a healthy boy feels amazing! Through all the trials of the past year, we've constantly reminded ourselves that "God is good all the time"...even we we don't necessarily "feel" it, the truth of His goodness doesn't change. It's times like these that we just stand in awe of His goodness through it all!
In addition to the blessing of our son, in the short amount of time since we've known, we've already started to receive offers of gently used clothing and other baby boy items that are no where to be found in the McMinn household. While some of what we have is usable, there are somethings that we just can't reuse from the girls and it's such a blessing to have people be so generous. Instead of worrying about buying all new clothes, with what we are receiving we should be able to use that money to instead purchase things like a new car seat and stroller...bigger ticket items that add up quickly. What a blessing to have resources freed up that we would have spent on clothing that babies go through so quickly and instead use them for more long term items!
In case you can't tell we are definitely on "cloud nine". A while back I wrote that when we found out we were expecting another baby, there was a deep sense for us that this child was THE child we had been praying for and as my pregnancy has progressed, that feeling has been solidified over and over again. We love our girls more than we could have ever imagined and to know that we get the opportunity to welcome another child into our family feels just as incredible as the first two did!
Here's a picture of our sweet baby boy...profile pictures like this are my very favorite. :)
We had our routine 20 weeks ultrasound on April 6th and when we arrived we told the technician that while we wanted to know the sex of the baby, we didn't want to know right then. She was more than happy to oblige and when it came time to check out the babies "goods" she had us turn our heads so she could capture a picture and print it out. She then folded it and stapled it up in an envelope to be sure that there would be no peeking!
That evening we had dinner with some of our closest friends and afterwards, we opened the envelope and let Bella announce the news! I have to admit that I saw "BOY" before she did and at that moment a grin spread across my face and I looked to watch Andy's expression as he heard the news. He has dreamed of having a son for so long and to see the look on his face when he realized that his dream was finally coming true, was just priceless! Of course the story can't end there with the McMinn's...it wasn't seconds later that Chloe burst into hysterics saying through her sobs, "I wanted it to be a baby girl! I wanted a baby sister!" It was both heart breaking and funny to see her so distraught while everyone else celebrated! Poor things cried on and off (mostly on) for over an hour. She went to bed telling us, "but I just really wanted a baby sister." By the morning she wasn't crying about it and said that she was "a little excited to have a baby brother", and now while she fully understands that she is having a brother, she still tells us that she really wanted a sister. I can live with that. I know it takes me some time to work through disappointment and so I'm okay allowing her the time necessary to adjust to the idea!
The whole notion of having a son has taken some time to really sink in for me, but as the days go by I find myself getting more and more excited! It's such a shift from what I'm used to though...I automatically gravitate toward everything girly and in the few stores I've popped in to since finding out, it feels so strange to even be looking a boy stuff, let alone thinking about having a boy of our own! We would have been so grateful and content to have found out we were having another healthy girl, but I would by lying if I said that knowing God saw fit to bless us with a healthy boy feels amazing! Through all the trials of the past year, we've constantly reminded ourselves that "God is good all the time"...even we we don't necessarily "feel" it, the truth of His goodness doesn't change. It's times like these that we just stand in awe of His goodness through it all!
In addition to the blessing of our son, in the short amount of time since we've known, we've already started to receive offers of gently used clothing and other baby boy items that are no where to be found in the McMinn household. While some of what we have is usable, there are somethings that we just can't reuse from the girls and it's such a blessing to have people be so generous. Instead of worrying about buying all new clothes, with what we are receiving we should be able to use that money to instead purchase things like a new car seat and stroller...bigger ticket items that add up quickly. What a blessing to have resources freed up that we would have spent on clothing that babies go through so quickly and instead use them for more long term items!
In case you can't tell we are definitely on "cloud nine". A while back I wrote that when we found out we were expecting another baby, there was a deep sense for us that this child was THE child we had been praying for and as my pregnancy has progressed, that feeling has been solidified over and over again. We love our girls more than we could have ever imagined and to know that we get the opportunity to welcome another child into our family feels just as incredible as the first two did!
Here's a picture of our sweet baby boy...profile pictures like this are my very favorite. :)
4.04.2011
Refreshed...
I love that most of our time is spent as a family, whether it be cuddling on the couch watching a movie, playing at the park or even working on household chores together...we try to spend as much time together as possible and I wouldn't trade it for the world.
But today was different...today Andy and the girls left the house early this morning for school and work and I stayed behind. I picked up the house and then got myself ready to head to the spa for a much anticipated day of relaxation. I have to admit that I struggled with taking a whole day "off" when there was so much to be done, but when I finally arrived, changed into my spa robe, poured myself a cup of infused water and found the most comfortable lounge chair and blanket waiting for me, everything else faded. I took a few deep breaths, determined not to only rest my body, but my mind as well and from that point on it was the most fabulous "me time" I've had in a very long time. I spent the rest of the day doing nothing more than allowing myself to be pampered and rejuvenated. I ended my day with a shower in the most indulgent shower I've ever experienced...5 shower heads, a wonderful lavender body scrub and most importantly, all the time in the world to enjoy it! :)
I am so grateful for my day and for the amazing sense of refreshment I feel. Like I said, I love my family more than anything in the world, but today I was reminded of how important it is to set time aside to rest and recharge so that I can be the best "me" possible.
Andy and Bella are out for the evening watching a concert and Chloe and I are getting ready to head to bed. I can't think of a better way to end my day then a good nights sleep in my comfy bed! ;)
But today was different...today Andy and the girls left the house early this morning for school and work and I stayed behind. I picked up the house and then got myself ready to head to the spa for a much anticipated day of relaxation. I have to admit that I struggled with taking a whole day "off" when there was so much to be done, but when I finally arrived, changed into my spa robe, poured myself a cup of infused water and found the most comfortable lounge chair and blanket waiting for me, everything else faded. I took a few deep breaths, determined not to only rest my body, but my mind as well and from that point on it was the most fabulous "me time" I've had in a very long time. I spent the rest of the day doing nothing more than allowing myself to be pampered and rejuvenated. I ended my day with a shower in the most indulgent shower I've ever experienced...5 shower heads, a wonderful lavender body scrub and most importantly, all the time in the world to enjoy it! :)
I am so grateful for my day and for the amazing sense of refreshment I feel. Like I said, I love my family more than anything in the world, but today I was reminded of how important it is to set time aside to rest and recharge so that I can be the best "me" possible.
Andy and Bella are out for the evening watching a concert and Chloe and I are getting ready to head to bed. I can't think of a better way to end my day then a good nights sleep in my comfy bed! ;)
3.27.2011
A week later...
And I'm still sick. As a matter of fact, I'm worse off than I was last week. I stayed home Tuesday for an extra "rest day" just to be good and not push myself. I was back to work Wednesday and Thursday, not feeling great, but confident I was on the mend. Friday morning I woke up and knew instantly that as much as I had tried, I hadn't managed to dodge a sinus infection. My head, face, jaw and teeth were pulsing with pain and I was seriously bummed, to say the least. I called my Drs. office and thankfully they were able to get me in on Friday afternoon. The Dr. confirmed my self-diagnosis and gave me a prescription for a z-pack. I filled my prescription and came home and immediately took my first dose. As terrible as I felt I was relieved to know that the antibiotic would be kicking in soon and I would be on the mend in no time. The Saturday came and not only did I not feel better, but I felt worse...much worse. Now even the roof of my mouth hurt and it was all I could do to move without causing myself serious pain. I tried to push through it for a few hours in the morning, but finally realized that it was useless and spent the rest of the day between the couch and my bed in pretty bad shape. This morning, more of the same. The girls and I stayed home from church and I have left my bed only a few short times to tend to the necessary care of the girls. Bella has been an amazing helper and Chloe has done pretty well herself. I've taken 3 doses of antibiotics and have 2 left. If I'm not significantly better in the morning it's back to the Dr. I go. As the Dr. was writing my prescription she said, "if you aren't feeling much better by Monday this probably isn't strong enough and we'll have to give you something else." The z-pack has worked before on a sinus infection, but I recall experiencing relief much sooner so I won't be surprised if I end up on a second round of something. I have to say that the thought of taking one course of antibiotics while pregnant is less than thrilling to me, so 2 is down right discouraging, but in the end I know I need something to help me kick this. I'm on day 9 of this crap and unfortunately my body just doesn't seem to have what it takes to kick this one naturally.
I can't say how ready I am to feel better. I want to be back to my usual self. My poor family has no doubt suffered from my week long stay in bed and that's not to mention any of the months prior that has seen me less than functional due to pregnancy related sickness. I had a little melt down this morning as I was trying to explain to Andy how discouraging and down right exhausting, physically, mentally and emotionally, feeling "sick" for so long has been. It started with influenza the week before Christmas, which was immediately followed by the start of extreme nausea and exhaustion and within a week of starting to get a glimpse of feeling a bit more back to myself, I came down with this crud. Just to torture myself a bit more I counted on the calendar and that makes 14 weeks of just plain feeling like crap! And I'm over it! ;)
I am praying that a good nights sleep tonight will be the turning point and that I will wake up with noticeable improvement. While the odds may not be in my favor, I can still be hopeful, right? ;)
And one more thing...for the 2nd week in a row I had to cancel my spa day. :( I've rescheduled for next Monday and come hell or high water, I'm having my spa day! ;)
I can't say how ready I am to feel better. I want to be back to my usual self. My poor family has no doubt suffered from my week long stay in bed and that's not to mention any of the months prior that has seen me less than functional due to pregnancy related sickness. I had a little melt down this morning as I was trying to explain to Andy how discouraging and down right exhausting, physically, mentally and emotionally, feeling "sick" for so long has been. It started with influenza the week before Christmas, which was immediately followed by the start of extreme nausea and exhaustion and within a week of starting to get a glimpse of feeling a bit more back to myself, I came down with this crud. Just to torture myself a bit more I counted on the calendar and that makes 14 weeks of just plain feeling like crap! And I'm over it! ;)
I am praying that a good nights sleep tonight will be the turning point and that I will wake up with noticeable improvement. While the odds may not be in my favor, I can still be hopeful, right? ;)
And one more thing...for the 2nd week in a row I had to cancel my spa day. :( I've rescheduled for next Monday and come hell or high water, I'm having my spa day! ;)
3.21.2011
Feeling sorry for myself...
Just as I started to feel some much anticipated relief from months of pregnancy related sickness, I came down with a nasty cold. Honestly, I don't remember a cold making me feel this terrible before, but I'm pretty sure that's what it is. It started with a sore throat (a bad one) and quickly took over my body with sinus pain (head, face and ears), terrible back pain and just an overall feeling of sickness. I am going on my third day and feel worse today than the past 2 days. To add to my misery I had scheduled a "spa day" for myself today and had to cancel it. I've had a gift certificate since August and our life was finally at a place where I had the ability to escape for a day and pamper myself a bit. I've been counting down the days and was praying that I would wake up feeling better this morning...no such luck. I rescheduled for next Monday, so I'll start my countdown over. I know I will be thankful that I waited until I feel better and can enjoy each and every minute of it, but while I lay on the couch miserable today, I can't help but feel a little sorry for myself. ;)
One more thing I have to mention is how much I love my husband. I know I don't tell him enough (I'm trying to get better at this by the way), but I see him growing in so many ways, ways that are an incredible blessing to our family. He's the first to tell you that he's just a "regular guy", with regular issues, who screws up sometimes, but at the same time I see him doing everything he can to submit his life to Christ's lead and acting in a way that is not "of the flesh" but rather of a man allowing God to transform him from the inside out. For example, in spite of a very early morning, a long list of tasks to complete at our rentals before renters move in tomorrow (in the freezing snow none-the-less) and then almost 3 hours spent working on long overdue projects around the house, he did nothing less than selflessly serve me all day long while I moved between the bath and my bed, whining about how terrible I felt. The icing on the cake was when he offered to go get me Wor Won Ton soup for dinner. I'm not sure how it came about but years ago when we weren't feeling good we would order Wor Won Ton soup, spice it up with hot oil and eat it...it always hit the spot and did an amazing job at clearing out the sinuses. ;) It has been years since we've done this and so my anticipation was great and it was even better than I remembered. Sitting at the table eating our soup, feeling a bit of relief, I realized just how grateful I am for this life I've been blessed with. I made sure to express my appreciation verbally last night (it can be difficult to go from thinking it in your head to saying it out loud) and fell asleep counting my many blessings despite feeling physically drained.
Okay, that's all I've got for today. I'm going to make my way upstairs to the bath...the only place I seem to find relief. I'm hoping that a day of rest will be just what I need to be back "in the game" tomorrow!
One more thing I have to mention is how much I love my husband. I know I don't tell him enough (I'm trying to get better at this by the way), but I see him growing in so many ways, ways that are an incredible blessing to our family. He's the first to tell you that he's just a "regular guy", with regular issues, who screws up sometimes, but at the same time I see him doing everything he can to submit his life to Christ's lead and acting in a way that is not "of the flesh" but rather of a man allowing God to transform him from the inside out. For example, in spite of a very early morning, a long list of tasks to complete at our rentals before renters move in tomorrow (in the freezing snow none-the-less) and then almost 3 hours spent working on long overdue projects around the house, he did nothing less than selflessly serve me all day long while I moved between the bath and my bed, whining about how terrible I felt. The icing on the cake was when he offered to go get me Wor Won Ton soup for dinner. I'm not sure how it came about but years ago when we weren't feeling good we would order Wor Won Ton soup, spice it up with hot oil and eat it...it always hit the spot and did an amazing job at clearing out the sinuses. ;) It has been years since we've done this and so my anticipation was great and it was even better than I remembered. Sitting at the table eating our soup, feeling a bit of relief, I realized just how grateful I am for this life I've been blessed with. I made sure to express my appreciation verbally last night (it can be difficult to go from thinking it in your head to saying it out loud) and fell asleep counting my many blessings despite feeling physically drained.
Okay, that's all I've got for today. I'm going to make my way upstairs to the bath...the only place I seem to find relief. I'm hoping that a day of rest will be just what I need to be back "in the game" tomorrow!
3.11.2011
Bargains!
Okay, if you know me at all, you know I'm always looking for a "good deal". I love bargain shopping, scouring the clearance racks and combining sales and coupons to see just how much I can save. Lately I've come across several online sites that are just awesome! Most of them are what are referred to as "Daily Deal" sites. In other words, they have a specific deal (or sometimes several) for a set time period...some are 24 hours and others can last a week or so.
It can be tempting to purchase more than you really need when you see all the neat stuff that theses sites have to offer, but with a little discipline and patience, inevitably something that you actually need will pop up and when it does, you won't be able to beat the price anywhere else. For example I've been in desperate need of new makeup brushes, but cringe every time I look at the prices of decent brush sets. I've been making do with what I have and just this week on HauteLook at deal for a professional brush set popped up and it was exactly what I was looking for! It retailed for $76 and I purchased it for $25!
The only non daily deal site I've listed is Ebates, but in my opinion, it's the first one you should sign up for. Ebates is so simple that it almost seems too good to be true. All you do is sign up for an account and before you make a purchase online, sign into your Ebates account, search for the online retailer you are shopping from and make your purchase. There are thousands of online retailers in their system (Walmart, Ebay, Netflix, Gap, Macy's, Sephora, and so many more) and each one gives you a different percentage of cash back just for accessing the store through Ebates. As your cash back adds up they send you a check in the mail and that's it...the money is yours! Two of the daily deal sites I've listed below are on Ebates as well (Groupon and Zulily) which make their bargains even better!
So here's the list of my favorite ones...not all of them, but several will offer anywhere between a $5-$15 credit just for signing up. Once you sign up you can opt to have a daily email sent to you with the current deals. It's a great way to quickly glance over things and see if there is anything you are interested in. If not, just delete the email and wait check the deals out again the next day.
Ebates
Groupon (3% cash back from Ebates)
Plum District
Jasmere
No More Rack
HauteLook
Zulily (3.5% cash back from Ebates)
Okay, there's your daily dose of "bargain shopping with Donielle". ;) I'll be sure to update my list and I find more sites so check back often! Happy Shopping! :)
It can be tempting to purchase more than you really need when you see all the neat stuff that theses sites have to offer, but with a little discipline and patience, inevitably something that you actually need will pop up and when it does, you won't be able to beat the price anywhere else. For example I've been in desperate need of new makeup brushes, but cringe every time I look at the prices of decent brush sets. I've been making do with what I have and just this week on HauteLook at deal for a professional brush set popped up and it was exactly what I was looking for! It retailed for $76 and I purchased it for $25!
The only non daily deal site I've listed is Ebates, but in my opinion, it's the first one you should sign up for. Ebates is so simple that it almost seems too good to be true. All you do is sign up for an account and before you make a purchase online, sign into your Ebates account, search for the online retailer you are shopping from and make your purchase. There are thousands of online retailers in their system (Walmart, Ebay, Netflix, Gap, Macy's, Sephora, and so many more) and each one gives you a different percentage of cash back just for accessing the store through Ebates. As your cash back adds up they send you a check in the mail and that's it...the money is yours! Two of the daily deal sites I've listed below are on Ebates as well (Groupon and Zulily) which make their bargains even better!
So here's the list of my favorite ones...not all of them, but several will offer anywhere between a $5-$15 credit just for signing up. Once you sign up you can opt to have a daily email sent to you with the current deals. It's a great way to quickly glance over things and see if there is anything you are interested in. If not, just delete the email and wait check the deals out again the next day.
Ebates
Groupon (3% cash back from Ebates)
Plum District
Jasmere
No More Rack
HauteLook
Zulily (3.5% cash back from Ebates)
Okay, there's your daily dose of "bargain shopping with Donielle". ;) I'll be sure to update my list and I find more sites so check back often! Happy Shopping! :)
3.01.2011
A surprise peek...
At our 14 week check-up this morning my Dr. surprised me by walking in and asking if we wanted to see the baby instead of just listening to the heartbeat. We or course couldn't pass up the opportunity and were thrilled to see our little one bouncing around in my belly. It was simply amazing to see the growth in just 4 short weeks. It was totally unexpected, but a wonderful surprise for us to get another glimpse at our baby. Here are a couple of the pics we got...
2.28.2011
Welcome change!
Last week was Andy's first official week of working at the church and it was such a strange experience. Now don't get me wrong, when I say "strange" it's not with a negative connotation, but when you've been used to a specific routine for so many years to all of a sudden have it completely turned upside down, comes with a bit of shock. Here's what our daily routine last week looked like...we left the house in the morning as a family, dropped Bella off at school, got to the church, walked Chloe to her class and then headed into the office together. When it was time to go, we packed everything up, got Chloe, drove to Bella's school where I waited in the car with Chloe while Andy went in and got her and then back home as a family we went. We all sat down at the dinner table together, Andy helped out with homework, we hung out as a family and then the girls had their Daddy home to tuck them into bed while their pregnant momma dozed off on the couch. ;) To think that this is the routine of our "new life" is just crazy and like I said, a little strange. It's a change that we all welcome wholeheartedly, but right now I'm finding it hard to grasp the idea that this is permanent and that we are blessed with the opportunity to be together as a family like this!
We are still extremely busy during this transition time, but we are definitely seeing the "light at the end of the tunnel." We (well mostly Andy) have been working very hard at fixing up one of our rental properties we recently purchased. Every spare minute Andy has had has been spent over there...we've recently been joining him more and even though he's working it's still nice to be able to hang out together and help him here and there. We have made significant progress in the past couple weeks and are hoping to have it "move in" ready within the next couple weeks. Once we are done with that project we will see even more time freed up, but as much as we might like to spend it lounging around we have a list a mile long of stuff around our house that has been neglected over the past year. We are determined to tackle things one by one until we are at the place where we don't feel like we are a step behind, but rather a step ahead!
In pregnancy news, I hit the 14 week mark yesterday...officially in my 2nd trimester...1/3 of the way already. In just the last week I have noticed that little by little I'm beginning to feel better. I'm still not out of the woods, but am encouraged each day as I find it a little easier to make it through the day. At about the same time I also noticed a dramatic increase in hunger. It's kind of ridiculous actually. I have been doing my best to figure out ways to keep it under control because if I let myself get too hungry I get sick and very grouchy! ;) I think I made it through my first trimester without gaining a pound, but I have a feeling that is about to change very quickly! ;) Of course eating and gaining weight while pregnant is not a bad thing, so I welcome it gladly, but at the same time am doing my best to make healthy food choices and not use being pregnant as an excuse to eat whatever I want whenever I want. Thankfully I naturally like healthy foods and right now I can't seem to get enough fruit. This was my snack this morning and believe it or not, the bowl is sitting next to me right now...empty. ;)
I have a regular check-up with my OB tomorrow. It should be a fairly quick one...no ultrasound this time, just a nice listen to the baby's heartbeat. I will also schedule my next appointment tomorrow at which time we hope to be able to find out if this is a girl or boy. I have to say, I am very excited to know and can't wait to really start planning and getting ready for this little one. Bella has already requested to be my "helper" when it comes to shopping, decorating and getting stuff ready for the baby. I told her I couldn't think of a better helper and am looking forward to spending some special time with her as we prepare for this baby.
We are still extremely busy during this transition time, but we are definitely seeing the "light at the end of the tunnel." We (well mostly Andy) have been working very hard at fixing up one of our rental properties we recently purchased. Every spare minute Andy has had has been spent over there...we've recently been joining him more and even though he's working it's still nice to be able to hang out together and help him here and there. We have made significant progress in the past couple weeks and are hoping to have it "move in" ready within the next couple weeks. Once we are done with that project we will see even more time freed up, but as much as we might like to spend it lounging around we have a list a mile long of stuff around our house that has been neglected over the past year. We are determined to tackle things one by one until we are at the place where we don't feel like we are a step behind, but rather a step ahead!
In pregnancy news, I hit the 14 week mark yesterday...officially in my 2nd trimester...1/3 of the way already. In just the last week I have noticed that little by little I'm beginning to feel better. I'm still not out of the woods, but am encouraged each day as I find it a little easier to make it through the day. At about the same time I also noticed a dramatic increase in hunger. It's kind of ridiculous actually. I have been doing my best to figure out ways to keep it under control because if I let myself get too hungry I get sick and very grouchy! ;) I think I made it through my first trimester without gaining a pound, but I have a feeling that is about to change very quickly! ;) Of course eating and gaining weight while pregnant is not a bad thing, so I welcome it gladly, but at the same time am doing my best to make healthy food choices and not use being pregnant as an excuse to eat whatever I want whenever I want. Thankfully I naturally like healthy foods and right now I can't seem to get enough fruit. This was my snack this morning and believe it or not, the bowl is sitting next to me right now...empty. ;)
I have a regular check-up with my OB tomorrow. It should be a fairly quick one...no ultrasound this time, just a nice listen to the baby's heartbeat. I will also schedule my next appointment tomorrow at which time we hope to be able to find out if this is a girl or boy. I have to say, I am very excited to know and can't wait to really start planning and getting ready for this little one. Bella has already requested to be my "helper" when it comes to shopping, decorating and getting stuff ready for the baby. I told her I couldn't think of a better helper and am looking forward to spending some special time with her as we prepare for this baby.
2.20.2011
13 weeks...
Today begins the much anticipated countdown to the end of my first trimester...just 7 more days and I will officially be a third of way through my pregnancy and hopefully beginning to enjoy relief from many of the yucky symptoms that I've been experiencing!
And what a better way to mark one week closer to meeting our sweet baby than to feel him/her moving around in my belly. For the past couple weeks I've felt little flutters, but for about 20 minutes this morning I was able to feel distinct movement. It felt like our little one was doing somersaults and even having experienced a baby moving inside of me twice before, it was still such an amazing moment. It's one of the true miracles of life and something that absolutely makes me giddy with excitement! I know that for the next few weeks I won't necessarily feel movement on a regular basis, but I'm anxious for the next time and can't wait until Andy and the girls can feel this little one too!
And what a better way to mark one week closer to meeting our sweet baby than to feel him/her moving around in my belly. For the past couple weeks I've felt little flutters, but for about 20 minutes this morning I was able to feel distinct movement. It felt like our little one was doing somersaults and even having experienced a baby moving inside of me twice before, it was still such an amazing moment. It's one of the true miracles of life and something that absolutely makes me giddy with excitement! I know that for the next few weeks I won't necessarily feel movement on a regular basis, but I'm anxious for the next time and can't wait until Andy and the girls can feel this little one too!
2.19.2011
A smile is worth a thousand words...
Or a few thousand dollars! ;)
Bella and I spent most of Thursday morning at the Orthodontist as she began her "phased orthodontics". After the girls last 6 months visit to the dentist, we left with a referral and strong recommendation to get Bella in as soon as possible. As the Orthodontist told us at her consultation, she has "big beautiful teeth and little tiny mouth". As her baby teeth have fallen out and permanent ones come in there is just not enough room and they have begun to twist and turn in an attempt to find a spot in her little mouth.
With that we've entered Phase 1...approximately 18 months of spacers...on top and bottom. They took the impressions they needed at her initial consultation and on Thursday she had a permanent spacer cemented to her top teeth and a removable one put on the bottom. The orthodontist will adjust the top one at her appointments, but we adjust the bottom one once a week at home. The idea is to start at a young enough age where they can actually move her jaw. Her jaw bone is still pliable enough that they should be able to create a significant amount of room over the next year and a half or so that her teeth will actually fit. After she is done with this, she gets braces on. With doing it in 2 phases, the hope is that her braces will only have to be on for about 12 months. If everything goes according to plan her teeth will be right where they are supposed to be before she starts high school!
The Orthodontist warned us that she would be very sore for about a week...sore enough that she probably wouldn't want to eat. By Friday morning she was laying in my lap on the couch crying because her teeth hurt so bad. Even knowing that it's for her benefit, it's still so hard to see your kids in pain. :( We stocked up on soft foods and she's been doing a good job and eating what she can. She went to a sleepover birthday party last night and I think the distraction was probably good for her. She ended up having a 4 day weekend with a snow day on Friday and holiday on Monday, so by the time she goes back to school on Tuesday she should be feeling some relief.
For some reason all of this makes the fact that she is growing up so quickly all that much more real. We couldn't be more pleased with the young lady she is growing in to, but it's still a little heart breaking to see it all happening so quickly. Yesterday afternoon she came downstairs and said, "when the baby is 10, I will be 19!" Andy and I just looked at each other and shook our head as the reality of her statement hit us. Bella will be 9 in a few short months and it's gone by so incredibly fast!
Braces...bras...and boys...I don't think I'm ready! ;)
Bella and I spent most of Thursday morning at the Orthodontist as she began her "phased orthodontics". After the girls last 6 months visit to the dentist, we left with a referral and strong recommendation to get Bella in as soon as possible. As the Orthodontist told us at her consultation, she has "big beautiful teeth and little tiny mouth". As her baby teeth have fallen out and permanent ones come in there is just not enough room and they have begun to twist and turn in an attempt to find a spot in her little mouth.
With that we've entered Phase 1...approximately 18 months of spacers...on top and bottom. They took the impressions they needed at her initial consultation and on Thursday she had a permanent spacer cemented to her top teeth and a removable one put on the bottom. The orthodontist will adjust the top one at her appointments, but we adjust the bottom one once a week at home. The idea is to start at a young enough age where they can actually move her jaw. Her jaw bone is still pliable enough that they should be able to create a significant amount of room over the next year and a half or so that her teeth will actually fit. After she is done with this, she gets braces on. With doing it in 2 phases, the hope is that her braces will only have to be on for about 12 months. If everything goes according to plan her teeth will be right where they are supposed to be before she starts high school!
The Orthodontist warned us that she would be very sore for about a week...sore enough that she probably wouldn't want to eat. By Friday morning she was laying in my lap on the couch crying because her teeth hurt so bad. Even knowing that it's for her benefit, it's still so hard to see your kids in pain. :( We stocked up on soft foods and she's been doing a good job and eating what she can. She went to a sleepover birthday party last night and I think the distraction was probably good for her. She ended up having a 4 day weekend with a snow day on Friday and holiday on Monday, so by the time she goes back to school on Tuesday she should be feeling some relief.
For some reason all of this makes the fact that she is growing up so quickly all that much more real. We couldn't be more pleased with the young lady she is growing in to, but it's still a little heart breaking to see it all happening so quickly. Yesterday afternoon she came downstairs and said, "when the baby is 10, I will be 19!" Andy and I just looked at each other and shook our head as the reality of her statement hit us. Bella will be 9 in a few short months and it's gone by so incredibly fast!
Braces...bras...and boys...I don't think I'm ready! ;)
2.18.2011
Snow Day!
Nothing like a snow day on the Friday of a 3 day weekend! It's 4 days of hanging around the house, playing in the snow, keeping warm by the fire and just enjoying being a family! Love it! :)
2.14.2011
A day of LOVE!
“Love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous, love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offense, and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes. Love does not come to an end.”
On Valentine's day, a day to celebrate love, I can't help but think of this verse from 1 Corinthians. I've already read it several times this morning, first in the context of my marriage and then in the context of my relationship with my children. It's something that can be applied to many different relationships in our lives, but today I'm focusing on how to better apply these principles within my family. I know I fail miserably more times than I would like to admit, but with Christs love as the ultimate example, I hope to show my family this kind of love more times than not.
So, here are a few random things that have to do with today, February 14th...
1. Bella is home sick today. She hasn't missed a single day due to being sick since first grade. She seems to have caught a stomach bug and is pretty miserable. I'm hoping that a good days rest and a little extra pampering from mom will do the trick and she will be on the mend by tomorrow.
2. 14 years ago today Andy and I walked through the wooded area behind his dorms at college talking about everything under the sun. I don't remember the details of the conversation, but I do remember it being a beautiful day and talking for hours. It's hard to believe that 14 years have gone by...so much "life" has happened in those years and I feel so blessed to have spent such a significant chunk of my life with the same man.
3. It was so strange...and wonderful to wake up today, get Chloe ready for school (today is her Valentine's Day party), pack her things up and say goodbye to her and Andy as they headed off to work/school together!
4. Andy and I decided this year to for go the usual Valentine's Day exchange and instead focus on making it a fun day for the girls. We are in the early stages of planning a "get away" before the baby is born and are going to focus our time and money on making it a very special time for the two of us. With that, I picked up a few things for the girls, got some fun decorations, a box of Valentine's Day cupcake mix and we are going to spend the evening celebrating as a family. Even though we aren't buying each other anything, I thought I could do a little something for Andy so I'm making Beef Stroganoff for dinner...one of his favorites. :)
5. I am 12 weeks 1 day pregnant today and while I don't want the time to go by too quickly, I'm am so anxious to be out of my first trimester in hopes of leaving the constant nausea behind and regaining some of my energy. I am in the awkward stage of not quite being big enough for maternity clothes, but definitely outgrowing my regular clothes. Andy gets quite a kick out of me and my little "tricks" I use in an attempt to get a little more time out of my regular clothes...sometimes it works and other times it's a near disaster. ;)
Okay, time for me find my motivation for the day and get some stuff done around the house. If I'm stuck at home with a sick child I figured I'd better make the most of it and check a few things off my list.
Happy Valentine's Day!
On Valentine's day, a day to celebrate love, I can't help but think of this verse from 1 Corinthians. I've already read it several times this morning, first in the context of my marriage and then in the context of my relationship with my children. It's something that can be applied to many different relationships in our lives, but today I'm focusing on how to better apply these principles within my family. I know I fail miserably more times than I would like to admit, but with Christs love as the ultimate example, I hope to show my family this kind of love more times than not.
So, here are a few random things that have to do with today, February 14th...
1. Bella is home sick today. She hasn't missed a single day due to being sick since first grade. She seems to have caught a stomach bug and is pretty miserable. I'm hoping that a good days rest and a little extra pampering from mom will do the trick and she will be on the mend by tomorrow.
2. 14 years ago today Andy and I walked through the wooded area behind his dorms at college talking about everything under the sun. I don't remember the details of the conversation, but I do remember it being a beautiful day and talking for hours. It's hard to believe that 14 years have gone by...so much "life" has happened in those years and I feel so blessed to have spent such a significant chunk of my life with the same man.
3. It was so strange...and wonderful to wake up today, get Chloe ready for school (today is her Valentine's Day party), pack her things up and say goodbye to her and Andy as they headed off to work/school together!
4. Andy and I decided this year to for go the usual Valentine's Day exchange and instead focus on making it a fun day for the girls. We are in the early stages of planning a "get away" before the baby is born and are going to focus our time and money on making it a very special time for the two of us. With that, I picked up a few things for the girls, got some fun decorations, a box of Valentine's Day cupcake mix and we are going to spend the evening celebrating as a family. Even though we aren't buying each other anything, I thought I could do a little something for Andy so I'm making Beef Stroganoff for dinner...one of his favorites. :)
5. I am 12 weeks 1 day pregnant today and while I don't want the time to go by too quickly, I'm am so anxious to be out of my first trimester in hopes of leaving the constant nausea behind and regaining some of my energy. I am in the awkward stage of not quite being big enough for maternity clothes, but definitely outgrowing my regular clothes. Andy gets quite a kick out of me and my little "tricks" I use in an attempt to get a little more time out of my regular clothes...sometimes it works and other times it's a near disaster. ;)
Okay, time for me find my motivation for the day and get some stuff done around the house. If I'm stuck at home with a sick child I figured I'd better make the most of it and check a few things off my list.
Happy Valentine's Day!
2.12.2011
Today is the Day!
After 13 years in the car business, Andy is 3 hours away from ending his career in the business and moving on to full time ministry! Last night he cleaned out his closet and when he was done I told him if I didn't know better I would think he'd moved out...over half of this clothes were "work clothes" and instead of hanging in the closet they were packed up in bags. He kept a few nice slacks and shirts, but passed the rest on to a friend at work. I wish I could put into words how excited we are, but I really can't. Andy told me that someone recently said, "it must be bittersweet" referring to leaving and he replied, "no, actually it's pretty much just sweet!!" ;) After such a trying year I feel like I can finally breath again and it's awesome!
In other news, after Chloe begging me to cut her hair "like I cut Daddy's", I conceded even though I was fairly sure it was a mistake. She seriously has the wildest hair I've ever seen with more cowlicks on her pretty little head than anyone could count. Her hair constantly falls in her eyes and the only real solution was bangs. Once I got started I decided to just throw all caution to the wind and pretend like I actually knew what I was doing. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised with the results...although it's not perfect her curls make everything very forgiving because nothing lays flat anyways. ;) About half way through she remembered that at Snip-Its they put glitter in your hair when you were done and was a bit upset that she wasn't going to have glitter. Believe it or not I had some left over hair glitter from Halloween so when she was done I even put pretty sparkles in her hair. She was thrilled! :) She was not overly excited about posing for a picture, but I was able to snap a few quick ones with my phone...they aren't the best quality, but here they are...
In other news, after Chloe begging me to cut her hair "like I cut Daddy's", I conceded even though I was fairly sure it was a mistake. She seriously has the wildest hair I've ever seen with more cowlicks on her pretty little head than anyone could count. Her hair constantly falls in her eyes and the only real solution was bangs. Once I got started I decided to just throw all caution to the wind and pretend like I actually knew what I was doing. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised with the results...although it's not perfect her curls make everything very forgiving because nothing lays flat anyways. ;) About half way through she remembered that at Snip-Its they put glitter in your hair when you were done and was a bit upset that she wasn't going to have glitter. Believe it or not I had some left over hair glitter from Halloween so when she was done I even put pretty sparkles in her hair. She was thrilled! :) She was not overly excited about posing for a picture, but I was able to snap a few quick ones with my phone...they aren't the best quality, but here they are...
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