Little Momma

Yesterday Avery spent some time going through a bin of tiny boy clothes we were given. I kept hearing, "Oh, Mom! Look how cute!", "This is SO tiny", "Baby Brother can wear this", "Mom! Isn't this sweet!?", etc. Its still a bit surreal that a real person of the male gender will be filling those clothes very soon, but I know its true. (excuse the bare sheetrock in the background...I'll have to use a wider aperature next time :) )


Avery took it upon herself to conduct Breastfeeding 101 for her sister and, I have to say,
she did a better job than the nurse who presented at my pre-natal class.

Avery fed her baby throughout the entire day and when she woke up this morning she said, "Mom, I'm going to wear this dress so it will be easy to feed my baby." Oh, my. How old IS this girl? I just know she's going to be a huge help when her brother arrives.

Then there's Amanda...

Project 365, Week 23

May 31
This is how I found the girls when I picked them up after our weekend in Boston. Too much fun with grandparents, aunts and cousins. :)

June 1

It is SO hard for me to sit/lay down and watch TV or a movie, but occasionally the girls ask if we can watch a movie as a family and I find that request hard to deny. This night it was Peter Pan and for some reason they thought they could fit on the love seat with me just fine.

June 2

We went to watch my nephew, Nathanael play t-ball. The girls were pleased to discover many of their cousins were there.

June 3

The girls new thing is playing "library". They use an old phone/fax for the scanner and pile up the books for the "payer".

June 4

The girls usually get right to work on digging sand when we get to the ball field. We won the game so it was a good night. :)

June 5

Avery had the camera and it was interesting to see what was on it. This is one of their favorite shows to watch while eating breakfast.

June 6

I took the girls to Uncle Nathan's house to meet their new kittens. Avery was more interested in reading a book with Aunt Laryssa, but Amanda stuck with it and eventually won the kitten's trust.

I'm not big on cats so Nathan said we could come over any time the girls started asking about getting one. Likewise, Nathan and Laryssa are not ready for kids, so I told him they could come over anytime and get a fresh dose of crazy kids. :)

Thanks so much for hosting this project, Sara. I'm having a blast with it.

New York City!

At the last minute, (as in four hours before departure) Amy called and asked if we wanted to go with them to Broadway to see Mary Poppins.  Her MIL Karen had tickets that were not going to get used.  After a few phone calls to Shaun we had everything arranged and we were in the car headed to NYC!

Once we were in the city, the girls had a blast looking at all the tall buildings and exclaming over everything they saw.  The guys dropped us and the kids at the door in front of AppleBee's and we had dinner together.  We walked next door and got ice cream cones then we walked a block or two for a photo op in Times Square before heading to the show.  It was warm but rainy.  We were thankful for the rain because it meant Shaun's softball game was cancelled and he was able to be with us distraction free!

First time in NYC, first time in a theater.  The girls had a blast and it was made all the more special to be able to do it with "cousins".  The show was done very well, and Burt stole the show.  We were thankful for such an opportunity to go.  It was a very special experience.

Pregnancy-35 weeks

After several failed attempts at having Avery take my picture, I resorted to doing it myself. I'm 35 weeks now and can feel the countdown coming on.

The website I read says:

he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

This is why I start I start getting a little impatient about this time. He's got everything he needs, he's just getting fatter and harder to push out. But I know better than to rush it. I am trusting in God's timing and enjoying the good life I have right now. I more or less go to bed when I want and I get up without an alarm clock. I get at least 20 minutes of a nap with my feet up most everyday. I even sleep through the night without interruption (not even bathroom trips).

The girls are so independent. They get themselves dressed, feed the themselves, play for hours on their own and take 2-3 hour naps at the same time everyday. Yeah, the good life. For being 2 and 3, I think they are pretty easy and I'm realistic enough to know a baby is going to change up our sweet routine just a bit.

I feel good and have nothing worth complaining about, however, I've definitely felt more pregnant with this one than the first two. The doctor has been happy with everything, in fact they've kept me to monthly appointments only so far.

Feeling blessed, that is for sure!

(Avery had put the flower in my hair and hers earlier in the afternoon. I'm trying to get them to understand that our flowers are to look at and enjoy where they are planted, and not to be picked)

Whirly Twirly Wednesday

We were back at it today with the dancing. She did great and stayed focused without any prodding from me.

Also, I thought Avery's outfit was worth honorable mention. I took the opportunity to again remind her about how patterns and solids go together but she wasn't feeling it. I feel the need to be clear here, for when she is reading this in 10-15 years, that I made sure she understood that she could wear the outfit but it didn't match.

Here's a Story

This story has my family shaking their heads. If you have been following closely or know us personally, then you already know the story, but here's the recap...

There are four kids in my original family. Here we are, several years ago and completely out of order.Amy #2, Bethany #4, Me #1, Tim #3

This year we've had a bit of a baby boom. My brother and his wife Elizabeth has a baby boy born February 24. This is Trey.



My sister Bethany and her husband Chris adopted a baby boy who was born on May 14. This is Levi

They were finally given the green light to leave the state where they adopted and were able to come home. We were thrilled to be able to meet him over the weekend!

My sister Amy and her husband Colombo had their baby boy on May 29. This is Rocco.

And lastly, we are expecting a boy in July.


Needless to say all this baby activity has got my girls completely confused. We've been talking about our baby coming since Christmas and how they'll come visit him in the hospital after he is born. When we went to visit Rocco in the hospital, Amanda said, "Our baby brother has boo-boos?", meaning, that's why he is in the hospital. They told someone at my dad's church that their baby brother had been born.

Avery was also very confused why we couldn't visit Levi right away and asked about it nearly every day of the two weeks. We've had several heart-to-hearts about the issue of adoption too. Anyway, all very confusing to a 2 and 3 year-old!

So, in 2009 we will have added FOUR BOY cousins who will be five months apart, making a total of 14 grandkids for my parents. Who would have thought?? And, oh yeah, they'll have one more cousin born this year on Shaun's side in September, but she's a girl so we should be able to keep her straight! 13 cousins for my kids and definitely counting!

Scripture Memory #9

Wow! It's June! This is the chapter Avery and I will be working on for the June 1 scripture. I pretty much know it, but its such a good one to have on my heart and tongue for a couple weeks and Avery will enjoy a new challenge, too.


1 Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!

2 Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.

3 Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

5 For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.

Psalm 100