what they hear

Just some snippets from our days:

We were in line at Target, and the girls spied the cover of the latest Sports Illustrated magazine.  You know the one (don't worry, I won't post the picture here): with the three girls' backsides on full display, all of them coyly looking over their shoulders at you.  My girls were AP.PALLED.

"Mama!!" Bella urgently whispered.  "Those girls are showing their... you know... bums!!!"
Summer was hysterical.  "Mama!!!  Their bums are showing!!  I can't believe it!!  They should wear some pants!"
"And Mama..." Bella's face was urgent and grimacing, "I just noticed... they also aren't wearing any booby-bras [their word for bras... they just made it up].  I just can't believe it."

"I know girls, just don't... uh, don't look at them.  Yes, they're being immodest.  I'm not sure why they're not wearing clothes.  It's crazy, huh?"

So... I continue to check out and am paying my bill, when I hear Summer yell at me, "Mama!!  That BOY IS LOOKING AT THE GIRLS' BUMS!!!!"

Turning around, both girls are staring agape at a 30-something man who had innocently [or not so innocently] picked up the magazine and was flipping through it.

He freezes.  Looks at the girls, who are still stuttering over his gazing at the girls' bums and belly buttons.  We make eye-contact... and he quickly puts the magazine away.

Yep.  And thus ended my trip to Target.

+++++++

We had mac-n-cheese for dinner tonight.  With grapes.  High rollin', I'm telling ya!  The girls were all "mmm-ing" and "this is the BEST dinner, EVER, Mama!!"  Then, Bella looks down and grows quiet.  "Mama?  I'm loving mac-n-cheese soooo much.  Mac-n-cheese is my life!!  In fact, I've eaten so much, I think I feel it fillin' up my boobies."

+++++++

Summer's been having lots of trouble being 3 years old.  It's tough.  It's tough listening to instructions.  It's tough obeying with a joyful spirit.  It's tough controlling anger [and there's a lot of anger].  Sooo... while I have no idea how to parent three drastically different children, I do know how to pray.  And I know the One who changes hearts.  

This morning, we read Proverbs 12 together - Bella, Summer and me.  I tried my best to explain verse one with them:

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,

be he who hates reproof is stupid.

It made a big impact, because in this household, we're not supposed to say "stupid."  Anyways, we chatted about how we really desire to be wise women... girls who use our brains and hearts to do the right things, even when they're hard.  And sometimes, we have to be corrected or told to do things, and instead of kicking our feet and crossing our arms in a huff, we can just say, "Ya, I can try to do it better!" 

Fast forward to tonight, I was making dinner and noticed Summy doing her potty dance.  She wanted to help me stir, but I told her to go potty first (this sort of instruction would usually be met with some grumpy face and sour expression).  Instead, she dropped her toys and said, "Okay, Mama!"  

I.about.fell.over.  "Summer!!!  Very good!!!  That makes my heart so happy to hear you obey with a joyful heart!!"

"Ya!" she shouted as she skipped to the bathroom.  Then she halted in her steps, turned around and said, her face aglow, "Mama!  I'm not being stupid!!  I'm being a wise girl!!"

Just about burst my heart in two.  So thankful for little (BIG) moments like these.

Frozen Summer

I'm still aliiiiiiiive!!!  I've been posting regularly over on my Photo-a-Day blog and enjoying it!  I do miss this little ol' space here, and I would say I'll probably be posting more often on here before too long, but for now, I thought I'd stop in to say hello.

Have you seen the new Disney flick, "Frozen"??  My girls are OB.SESSED.  I've never seen them quite like this with another film, but when it comes to Elsa and Anna.... man!!  Let's just say I have all the songs memorized and possibly even dream them.  

We purchased the Barbie dolls for Bella and Summer for Christmas, and those dolls are getting quite the use out of their little $11 bodies.  Summer, especially, loves to belt out Elsa's theme song: in the car, in the store, on the street, at naps... ALL the time.

Trav captured a bit of it yesterday.  Of course, I'm sharing.  And I'll link the "real" song, too, in case you haven't heard it.  

Of course, we all loved the movie.

And highly recommend it.  :-)

new blog + potty talk

Hey all!  (See?  I'm not completely gone!)  In case you didn't read through my long-no-pictures post, I'm going to be dwindling my time on this blog for the year, and focusing on posting a photo-a-day on my NEW BLOG.

Why a new blog??  Why not just post here??
Well, I wanted a place to keep my photography "organized."  A place dedicated to that.  I want to still keep this blog... well, familial.  And for thought provoking posts (however few and far between those have grown).  And for stories about my kids and their obsession with potty talk.

What?  Your kids aren't drawn to potty talk like moth to a flame as are mine??  *gasp!*



MY.GOODNESS.  My girls think poop, bum, pee pee, boogers are the funniest words known to mankind and it's like pulling teeth (or soaping their mouths) getting them to stop.  It's a fine line they draw with how they choose to use it (cunning little folk, they are!).  Just had to share two examples from our Summer girl:

We had an adult friend over yesterday.  When the girls entered the room, they weren't very polite and rather than addressing an adult the way we taught them, they briskly said a shy, "Hi," and ran out of the room.  So, after he left, as we were eating dinner, we went over our manners in how to address adults.  Do we say, "Hi," in a mumbled, shy voice?  Noooo, we look them in the eye and say, "Hello, Mr. _____."  Right?  Good... (we practice...etc.).

Then Summer pipes up, "Ya!  We say, 'Hi, Mr. Perry!'  It would be SO RUDE if we said, 'Hi, Mr. Poo Poo!!'"  Bella laughed so hard she almost choked.  And there went our dinner conversation.

*****

Again, sometime around Christmas, we were all singing, 'Silent Night' together.  After we finished, Summer (rather wide-eyed) looked very seriously at me and said, "Mama?  You all (waving an accusing finger) said potty-talk.... but that's okay.  Sometimes it's funny to say potty-talk."

"When did I say potty talk?"  I asked, bewildered.

"You did!  When you said, 'Sleep in heavenly pee.'"

*****

So yes, these kind of stories will be kept to the confines of this space.  

And more every day pictures and quick snippets on the NEW BLOG.  

And of course, as always, thanks for reading, dear friends.

what I do (B&W)

me:

- trying to get everything in order for Christmas

::buying gifts is really difficult for me::

- feeling defeated in the "cleanliness of the home" area

::seriously wishing I had a housekeeper::

- trying to let the little things go and really just love my kids

::loving doesn't only mean snuggling;

it also means the hard job of being consistent in discipline and teaching::

 bella:

- doing great with her reading and writing

- would rather ride her bike more than anything else

- has more questions about the way the world works more than any kid I know

- is really turning a corner in obeying Mama and Daddy

::so encouraging::

 summer:

- we celebrated her birthday yesterday, because Trav will be out of town on her actual birthday

::she absolutely LOVED her whole day::

- she is struggling so much with controlling her anger and frustration

::it's hard to see your sweet-natured child enter this phase::

- still loves to just be held and snuggled and kissed always

::(i can do that)::

rhett:

- drools like a crazy-man... yet still no teeth

::this nursing mama won't complain!!::

- his favorite game is grabbing my face and/or hair, wait for me to say, "OUCH!",

and then he giggles like crazy.

::so cute.  it's safe to say his favorite word is "ouch."::

- he's started doing the "shy boy" game.  

someone will say hi to him and he gives a huge, gummy smile before 

nuzzling his head in my shoulder.

::LOVE::

3 - 1 = 2

Travis' grandmother is unfortunately not doing well.  She has lived a long, full life (90 years!) and the end is near.  Instead of waiting for the funeral, a lot of the family decided to go now and visit while she is still cognizant and here.  We decided last minute, hours after Trav finished his master's cumulative exam, that he too will be going this weekend.  But, bringing our whole fam?  Headache, to the max (as much as I wish I could go).  Bella, though, is the lucky lady who's accompanying Travis.  She's old enough to remember and will also get to see her cousins and grandparents.

Which leaves me with the two little ones for the next few days.  I was really struggling yesterday with having a good attitude about being left behind.  One of those days where, in your head you know it makes sense, but in your heart it just is HARD and it hurts.  Plus, Travis worked from 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. yesterday.  There were so many times I just had to stop what I was doing, lay my hands over my eyes and cry out to the Lord, "THIS IS SO HARD!!!!  Help me through the next five minutes!"

I often fail to remember that He is our DAILY BREAD.  DAILY.  He is enough for the right now.  Of course, He is enough for all eternity, but we mere humans can't comprehend that scope.  If I look too far into the future (the next three weekends Trav will be absent, the 6-month deployment on the horizon, etc.) I can start freaking out.  Depression can quickly settle in and I become very bitter with our lot in the Air Force.  God was sweet and kind to remind me that He is my daily bread.  I must turn to Him and be filled for the "right now."  He giveth more grace each passing day.

That said, I have been pleasantly surprised at how well this morning has gone.  Of course we miss our B.J., but the house has been very serene and quiet and simple.  Is this how it was with two??  I suppose, before the baby becomes mobile/verbal, things are a bit easier.  Is it because I have one less child or because my child with the dominant personality is missing?  Probably a bit of both...

Bella is a source of energy and action in this home.  She is and always has been Questions.  Why is this the way it is?  How does this work?  Will you read to me?  What does this do?  Why does that mean that?  Will you read MORE and MORE to me?  What does this mean??  Constant curiosity, questioning, learning.  Summer, on the other hand, hasn't asked a single "why?" question ... ever, I think (except in regards to cleaning her room).  She loves quiet, imaginative play.  Playing "Mama" with her animals and babies.  I'm grateful for this chance to spend one-on-one time with Sums.  And I'm grateful for the time Travis has to spend with Bella.  Living in community is good and normal, but one-on-one time is truly special.

So, we got ready (Summer asked for some of my lipstick, to which, of course, I can't say no to that girl) and we did a few errands, played in the backyard and now are enjoying a quiet afternoon.  I'm very thankful for a different set of circumstances than I expected.  And I'm thankful for my Daily Bread.

what my day is comprised of

Yesterday, Bella went missing.  It was rather quiet in the back of the house, and when I called her, I heard a guilty, "COMING, MOM!!!"

"What were you up to?" came out of my mouth, but I already knew by the powerful smell of Anna Sui's "Flight of Fancy" perfume about her.
"Wellllll, I was just trying to open up your perfume so I could smell it... and it spilled.... BUTIWASGOINGTOCLEANITUP!!!"

It had been a long day.  A long week.  I kinda wanted to scream and throw something.  But, I was nursing a baby & Summer was drawing on Smidge's face with a pencil... so I took a deep breath, told her to go clean up the mess and please, NEVER touch my stuff without asking.

As she walked down the hall, I heard her mumble (she talks to herself a LOT), "I made a mistake, but at least I smell good."

And then, after Rhett was done nursing, I went back there to see how big the damage was she had cleaned up.  I heard her talking to herself (see?) in her room.  It went something like this:
"And then Daddy will come home and he'll say, 'It's okay you spilled the perfume, Bella, because you smell good.  So SO GOOD.  I'm very PROUD of you!'  And then I'll say, 'No Daddy, you can't be proud of me, even though I smell so good, because Mama said, "Never, EVER touch my stuff AGAIN."'"

Yes, my daughter.  She's exasperating, hilarious, infuriating, a genius.

+++++++++

My mom sent me this necklace in the mail.  Have you seen them?  Excellent teething necklaces!  Rhett loves his, thus I wear it often.

While we were at the dentist yesterday, Summer told the dentist, "That's my mama's necklace.  She wears it and Rhett likes to chew on it.  He chews on it when he's not sucking on my mama's booby."

Thaaaaanks for the mental image, Sums.  

++++++++++

At lunch, the girls were eating and I was nursing Rhett on the couch.  For some reason, my girls yaw all day about how HUNGRY they are.  I limit their snacking... like major.  I serve them a well-rounded, full meal and what do they do?  Yack and yack and yack and play and play and play ... and it takes FOR.EV.ER for them to finish.  Me no comprendo.  

Anyways, as I sit nursing the baby, I beg them (for the 11th time) to quit talking and finish their SANDWICH.  Because... it's almost nap time.  "My favorite part of the day," I tack on to the end of my plea.

"NAPTIME IS YOUR FAVORITE?!?!"  Bella exclaims incredulously.  "Not mine!!"

"Well, what's yours, little girl?"

"Hmm... my first favorite is the time when Daddy comes home.  Then, my second favorite is when he likes to give us plenty of candy and ice cream (??).  And my third favorite is when I can ride my bike with Daddy."

In case you missed that:

Daddy = WIN WIN WIN

Always.

Forever.

No questions.

catch up

I have been a serious blogger slacker.  Something about having three kids and homeschooling and training and trying to spend less time on the computer, etc.  The more children I have, the more my little world dwindles down to home and those four other people I live with.  Everything is about them: how I serve them, how I love them, how I feed them, how I clean for them, how I teach them.  Of course, it's all ultimately about Christ and how I can do absolutely nothing apart from HIM.  That truth is so poignant, lately.  I am in desperate need of His love and grace in my every day faithfulness to serve and love my family well.

While my life is far from glamorous, there have been a few fun/noteworthy items as of late.  We'll start with the kiddos:

Bella is doing well.  I can see that she is growing up and it is very encouraging.  For the most part, she has a good attitude and is willing to be helpful.  She is as inquisitive, as ever, and loves doing schoolwork.  We were butting heads a bit over reading (which surprised me), so we took a few weeks off of reading and began anew this last week.  I aimed to be way more encouraging and more consistent with just a little bit every day.  It has seemed to help and we always end our lesson with reading a few chapters of our read-aloud book, which is currently Farmer Boy, by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

The girl LOVES dancing (ballet in particular).  She gets books from the library on ballet and studies them constantly.  Whenever she hears music, she begins twirling and leaping and literally is probably dancing 85% of the day.  I'm okay with it, as long as it's not in public spaces.  She's been known to kick innocent passerbys.  She BEGSSSSSS to do ballet.  We've told her that she must prove to us that she's responsible and well-mannered and respectful to adults before she may take ballet.  Annnd... we've noticed much improvement in those areas recently.  The girl's got grit, I tell ya...

Summer ... oh, what to say about Summer.  We've hit a hard streak with this sweet one.  Is it because 3 is around the corner?  Not sure why exactly, but she struggles constantly (it seems) with controlling that little temper of hers.  She is sweet and compliant, until you pass her will and BOOM! that girl is NOT happy.  We really try and nip the tantrums in the bud, so instead she seethes and will respond with a void of emotions and lack of words.  Trav and I feel like we're new parents again.  Often, I just send her to her room to calm down and then go chat with her in a bit.  It usually helps, and we just keep bringing the problem before the Lord, asking for a change of heart within her.  O, these young years... they're so tough!!

And little Rhett.  Well, he had a rough two weeks, where he was waking all throughout the night and crying lots during the day.  It completely wore me out.  Of course, Trav was gone during one of those weeks and when he returned home, I felt pummeled.  Fortunately, Rhett's sleep has improved almost to where he was previously and we're all happier on this end.  He has terribly sensitive skin and I'm not sure what to attribute it to.  Last night, I gave him a bath and put some Aveeno lotion on his eczema-like skin. This morning he awoke with a rash all over his tummy and arms and neck and legs.  Ugh.  I'm not sure where I'm going wrong, or if it has to do with my diet or his lotion or clothes???  Seriously, parenting is TOUGH!!  And such a guessing game.

As for Trav, he is finishing up his LAST MASTERS class EVER this Thursday!!!!!!!!!  This has been such a difficult season for us both to put up with.  He began in 2009 and took one class at a time, with a few breaks in there.  The Air Force pretty much forces you to get a higher education degree if you want to promote.  It's incredibly stupid, as these guys already have a college degree and a degree in flying, but another one is necessary.  Trav is not a school kind-of-guy, so it's been challenging to remain motivated and consistent, to say the least.  ANYways, he's nearly done and we're both oh-so-glad.  Our last weekend with homework getting in the way.  Praise the Lord!!

As for me, I feel that I am finally beginning to warm up to this place as "home."  The weather is cooling a bit (but not nearly as cool as the rest of the U.S.), and we are actually able to be outside once more.  I am involved in a women's Bible study once a week, along with our Missional Community (small group of sorts, through church) once a week.  I go to a co-op for Bella's homeschool once a week, too, so my social life is building, though not overwhelming.  Like I said earlier, though, my life is very much at home and with my children.  It's simple and very basic, but what I firmly feel I'm called to do.  Even though it's mundane, I take joy in the fact that I feel needed and useful and fulfilled in what I do.

On the side, my dad and I are taking an online photography class together.  It's good for me to get out and shoot throughout the week.  I so enjoy that part of life and hope to keep learning more.  I also actually put a book on hold at the library - a reading-for-pleasure type of book!  I don't believe I've read for pleasure in.... well, a very long time.  Let's see if I actually get to enjoy this one!

That's it for now.  Thanks for reading, lovelies... I'll try and check in soon!

kids quotes

It's that time again...

...that time where my husband's out of town and I'm sure my mom is tired of me telling her everything the girls said this week.  Therefore, I turn to the blogosphere to write down their quips.

*****

Like I said, Travis has been out of town all week.  And it's definitely been the hardest week to date.  Rhett came down with some awful cold and wouldn't sleep.  Literally WOULDN'T sleep, unless I was holding him.  All day, he would cry and moan and not sleep.  All night too.  I'm absolutely pooped.  Summer also reverted back to some sort of "Daddy's-gone-so-I'm-going-to-pee-my-pants" syndrome, and to top it off, it rained for 3 days straight.

In the middle of it all, I am running the kids out to the car in the rain because we NEED to get out of the house.  Once we get in the car, Bella says, "Ahh... it's so EASY being a mama."

Dost my ears deceive me?  I, bleary-eyed, crazy-haired, sweatsuited out, stare at her in the rearview mirror.  "What did you say??"

"It's so EASY being a mama.  All you have to do all day is just tell everyone else what to do and then your daughters do all your work for you."

Let's just say it's a good thing she was way in the back seat and I in the front.

 

*****

We were in Sam's Club yesterday, and the girls were chatting their heads off while I mindlessly pushed the cart through the aisles.  My ears perked up when I heard Bella mentioning how fat my tummy is.  

"Bella, my tummy's not FAT.  It's chubby." (What's the difference?  I don't know... but it sounds better... almost cute-like.)

"Well, it's just really squishy."

"You wanna know why it's squishy?  Because it was YOUR home, your sister's home, and your brother's home... and y'all stretched me out."

......

Later, as we're standing in the check-out line, Summer spies the LARGE lady at the cash register.  "Mama!  You're not fat... THAT lady is a FAT mama.  You're not fat.  You just... straight.  You a straight mama!"

Thank you, Summer.  That I am.

*****

Bella, my usually first to rise daughter, laid in bed quite late this morning.  I went in to ask what was wrong and she had a rather mischievous look on her face.  

"What's wrong?  Are you feeling sick?" I queried.

"Well, I think I'm a little sick," she replied.

"What do you mean, 'a little sick.'?"

"Well, it's just that I think I'm a little sick."

"I'm not sure what you mean.  Are you going to throw up?  Does your tummy hurt?  Do you have a head ache??"

"Weelllll... no.  It's just that... well, it's just that I think you should bring me breakfast in bed this morning.  Cuz I'm feeling a little sick and breakfast in bed sounds SO FUN for little girls who are feeling a little sick."

Meanwhile, she pulls out a book and flips open to the page where the kid is getting served breakfast in bed.  Pointing to it, she says, "See?  Now.  Don't you want to go make me some breakfast in bed??"

I'm sorry to say I laughed my head off, and marched straight out of that room.  I told her she could have breakfast in bed on her birthday.  Like I said, it's been a doozy of a week.

*****

I heard Summer in the back bathroom this morning.  Getting up to see how it was all going, I see her shuffling out, jammies around her ankles and hands held outward.  

"I went POOP, Mama!  And I wiped myself!!  And now I need to wash my hands because I have poo poo on my hands."

Yes, she did.  And she may have needed a little help with the other end, as well.  But, kuddos to her for being "responsible." 

As I was helping her wash her hands, she piped up, "I went a BIIIIG poop!  And I named that one Daddy.  And then I went a little poop.  And that one's name was Rhett."

Never a dull moment, folks.  Never a dull moment.

middle child

Summer.

My dear girl.

Ever affectionate.

Always singing.

Stubborn as a mule,

with the sweetest disposition.

She's taken to telling me this often:

"Mama, I don't want you to EVER die.

Ever, EVER!

I want to be with you always."

One of the best things about being a parent

is being able to watch your childrens' personalities develop 

from nearly nothing (infant) to full-bloom.

Such an amazing, and surprising thing.

This girl keeps us laughing.

And we love her for it.

Thank God for Summer.

our little Ludwig

My girls' hair.  It's no secret that it's crazy.  And that it grows at a snail's pace.  Bella's is curly all over, so it creates a natural bob, of sorts.  But Summer's is curly in the back and rather straight on top.  

We have affectionately come to call her our little Ludwig Van Beethoven.  See the resemblance?

Plus, the girl loves music... and she even shares a birthday with the famous composer.  

After all, she is part German... maybe we'll even have a child prodigy pianist on our hands!  :-)

It's Summer time!! {on a Friday evening}

Part of our backyard

It's summertime.  In Florida.  So far this season, I've been putting to practice my "no complaining" rule.  I've failed miserably at times, but honestly, I'm trying not to whine.  Summertime in Florida is, well... miserable.  The humidity is oppressive.  And I've lived in humidity for the last 10 years of my life, so don't go thinking I'm comparing this to California's idyllic beachy air!!  I've lived in Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Kansas during the past summers and let me tell you: they're hot and humid!!!  But Florida humidity??  Blows those states out of the water.  And then there's the bugs... and I'm sure you've all heard me scratching my 40+ mosquito bites clear around the world.  Toads, roaches, mosquitoes... well, this state is one heck of a state in the summertime.

Yet, you know what?  People love it here!  They really, really do.  Especially if it's home.  So, I choose to look at it through their eyes.  And I keep chanting to myself that I will LOOOOOVE it here come October/November - March/April.  Keep yer chin up, Jenny girl!

Our one redeeming thing about our Florida summer??  Our backyard pool.  We live in that thing.  The girls have quickly become little fishies, and while I haven't been able to do my due time (having a young baby that needs tending, etc) yet, I know I'll have my turn in course.  Travis is their playmate and those three can often be heard romping around back there.  The girls and Trav had a late night swim (from 7-8:30 p.m.) last night.  Rhett was in bed and I took the opportunity to catch up with some of my photography.  Still much to learn, but practice makes perfect and I enjoyed shooting on manual setting.  Summer was my most willing participant, so without further ado...

:::Summer time on a Friday evening:::

She was quite tuckered out at this point and quite ready for bed.
Still, the tummy requested a picture of its own.

Thumby wrinkles

Post script: I had a terrible dream last night that Summer was hit by a drunk driver in our driveway.  I was in hysterics in my dream and woke up with tears streaming down my face.  Aren't those just the worst dreams?  Had to snuggle my girl extra tight this morning as she squeezed in bed next to me.  So thankful for life.

B, S, & R

Bella: Well, my little girl is going to turn 5 in just over a month.  How crazy!!  She and Rhett really have bonded well, despite their initial meeting and every day, hundreds of times, she coos over him and proclaims her love for her "favorite brother."  And, he responds most to Bella.  Whenever she comes near, he lights up with a smile and coos right back.  I love these two.

We've decided to begin homeschooling Bella this year.  She missed the cutoff date for public Kindergarten by 3 days and well, I just feel like she needs some sort of schooling.  I am finding myself more and more passionate about teaching her, so this year we will embark on a trial run of homeschooling and see how it fits our family.  I ordered the curriculum and it just came in the mail.  Travis and I are working on turning our extra room/guest room into a school room.  We will begin in a month!!

She is just getting over her 5,210th (or something like that) ear infection.  The Dr. said it he couldn't find the tubes in her ears, so they might've fallen out which will more than likely mean another (her 3rd) set of tubes.  I've noticed her hearing decreasing over the past week and once the infection totally clears and tubes are put in, this should hopefully help.

Summer: Well, wouldn't you know it?  She's pooped on the pot for three days in a row now!  (And I'm sure she'll appreciate me proclaiming this news to the www, but after my last post, I just had to share!)  She's different than her older sister in nearly every way, and Travis and I are learning how to traverse the paths of "drastically different children under the same parenting" road.

She continues to be the goofy little girl we all love.  She naps well and eats like a bird, i.e. very little.  She LOVES stories and begs for us to tell her stories of when we ourselves were little children all day long.  She wants to be held, snuggled, loved on 24/7.  And of course, as we all know, she would eat that little brother of hers right up if we allowed her to.

Rhett: And this little darling has captured my heart in every which way.  He smiles all the time, especially when he sees one of his sisters or myself.  He loves to coo and simply is content to lie on the couch or sit in his bouncy and watch the household go about our business.  Currently, he is enamored with his fists.  He balls them up and waves them in front of his face, all the while cooing away at those curious things!

As of today, he is 8 weeks old and sleeping well.  I put him down around 7:30 or 8 p.m.  He'll wake to eat around 10, but is still mostly asleep while I feed him, and I'm feeling he's going to drop that feeding soon.  Then, he'll go right back down until 4:30 or 5 a.m.  After that feeding, he'll sleep til 7:30 or so.  I can't complain, no siree.

Travis and I were just whispering last night in bed, after we put him down, that we feel like he's always been a part of the family.  So beautiful and strange how that is: before your child comes into the world, you can feel like you just can't imagine anything being different, and yet, once they come, they feel like they've always belonged.

help with my two-year old!!

This dear girl has my heart.  You probably already know that.  Just like her name, her disposition is sweet, sunny and warm.  She probably gets away with more than she should, simply because her face melts our hearts every.stinkin'.time.

Anyways, I need some help with her.  We decided to potty train directly after Rhett was born, simply because I knew I'd have extra help for the month following his birth.  This was our second attempt at training her, and thankfully, she picked it up semi-quickly this time around.

I know that, as a parent, you never really feel like you know what you're doing, but when it comes to potty training... ugh.  I just hate it.  When there are accidents it just drives me bonkers and I want to understand what's going on in that little head???

So... with Bella, she got it in a week flat and rarely had accidents afterwards.  No problems.  Once she was trained, she was trained.  Not so with Summer.  It's been almost 2 months now and we still have a few accidents a week.  Like today, she was just playing and then I saw "that look" on her face.  I urgently asked her what she was doing and she said, "Jus' peein'."  *insert big groan here*  Then she's very remorseful and I make her clean it up herself, etc. etc.

The potty part is frustrating, but I can handle that.  It's the #2.  The girl WON'T GO on the toilet.  She'll hide, she'll wait til she's in her bathing suit, she'll sit on the pot for a half an hour and then go do it in a corner directly after I let her off.  I'm beside myself with frustration.  HOW DO I GET HER TO GO?  I know I've heard of other kids having problems with this, but I just don't understand how to go about parenting it??

Sooo... any tips?  Suggestions?  Methods that have worked for you?  Simple encouragement not to bash my head through the wall????

for my friend, Tabitha

I have been meaning to write.... but, you know how it goes.  Finally, my friend, Tabitha, wrote me and told me to at least post some pictures!  So here I am.  Time flies when you're sleep deprived, hormonal, a mite overwhelmed having fun!

I did pull out my camera today and tried to play around with some settings and, of course, I used my favorite subjects.  I also ordered a portrait lens (Canon 50mm f1.8) and it should be coming in the mail soon.  I'm super excited about the potential.

For now, enjoy some photos.  Know I'm deeply in love with a little boy, and trying my best to give two little girls the attention they want and need.  Mimi should be arriving in two days, so I'm holding on tight, folks!

 

sweetness

**First off, thank you for all your dear replies of prayer and encouragement on my last post.  I really like you guys.**

A couple of nights ago, Travis came home to find me... tired to the bone, waddling, and half bent over with back pain.  The girls were chattering like little squirrels and screams laughter erupted every few seconds.  He said, "I was thinking of taking them on a Daddy-daughter date Wednesday night."  I'm not sure if he truly was thinking this, or if one look at me and one soundbite from them clued him in to the fact that I would enjoy a Daddy-daughter date even more than they would.  Either way, he's a good man.

We told the girls what to look forward to on Wednesday night, and they were ELATED.  So... I decided to doctor it up a bit.  Bubble bath beforehand, painted nails, Sunday dresses, and even a little bit of Mama's blush.  It was pure sweetness to watch them and hear them gush about how they were "sooooooo excited" to be Daddy's date, to go someplace without Mama, to look beautiful for him.  Bella kept reminding me that I was to stay home, and not go with them.  At one point, I pouted a bit and made a sad face.  Summer, my ever-pleasing daughter quickly reassured me that, Okay, I could go with.  But Bella said firmly, "Well, Mama.  We love you.  But Summer and I really need some alone time with Daddy."

They both felt beautiful, special and I was very thankful for a man whom loves his daughters and takes time to be with them.  We've been realizing that Bella is a quality-time girl.  She's not huge on affection, but time spent with her = love.  So, of course, this was right up her alley.  And she couldn't stop flapping that tongue last night about every detail of their night.  Even when she got up in the middle of the night to potty, I checked on her and she began sharing more details.

And what did I do?  Well, I sat on my duff for about an hour and entertained my company: Peace and Quiet.  Then, I grabbed a soda (another indulgence).  And then, I cleaned.  Like really cleaned.  I'm not sure why that sounded so dreamy - to clean in silence without little hands undoing my work - but it did.  And I felt energized.  And smelling clean bathrooms, kitchen sinks, seeing clean floors and hearing the washer whirr did my pregnant, nesting heart good.

Thanks, babe, for the night out.  For all three of your girls.