Christmas is one week away...WOW! This year more than ever it seems to have flown by! We have only done about half of our Christmas shopping, yep, we aren't done and will be out in the craziness of all the other last minute shoppers this year. Yay! (insert sarcasm here)
This year for the first time since we have been married, we didn't do Christmas cards. We really wanted to do a 2 year photo session for Savannah and a 3 month photo session for Thomas. The idea was for it be "Christmas-y" so we would go somewhere and take the photos ourselves to save a little money. Whatever good photos we could get, would then go on a Christmas card, well..........that just didn't happen. We were late in getting up Christmas decorations and as great as a photographer Aric is, we just haven't been able to set aside the time to do this. If we aren't busy then we have been sick, and if we weren't sick then we have been busy! For all of our faithful blog readers out there: We hope y'all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Love,
Aric, Emily, Savannah and Thomas Lobenstein
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Blogmation!
It's snowing!
I was just fooling around with this blogmation and decided it would be more festive to add snow to our blog. (As if the christmas background wasn't enough)
I think it is pretty neat and hope you do too! :)
Merry Christmas!
I was just fooling around with this blogmation and decided it would be more festive to add snow to our blog. (As if the christmas background wasn't enough)
I think it is pretty neat and hope you do too! :)
Merry Christmas!
Friday, December 3, 2010
Savannah's 2nd Birthday...a little late :)
I'm NOT the best blogger in the world. I'm bad about posting pictures and when I decide to blog it is usually very hard for me to put into words what I want to say, so, good luck if you can make sense of any of this! :)
Savannah turned 2 on November 20! It was a gorgeous Saturday! A typical fall day with plenty of sun and just a bit of crispness in the air to make it not too cold but not too warm either.
This year we decided to keep it small for Savannah's birthday. We decided not to throw a big birthday party for several reasons, most of which was in our best interest and we just felt like it was the way to go this year. Keeping that in mind, we wanted family around, of course, and some very close friends of ours (The Smiths) that have a daughter (Ainsley)who is Savannah's age that Savannah plays well with.
Do to most of Aric's family being out of town that weekend, my parents and The Smiths were in attendance to celebrate Savannah's birthday.
We all met up at Chic-fil-a at around 3 o'clock to celebrate. Sidenote: Chic-fil-a was a fantastic place to celebrate Savannah's birthday. The one on Ann St. has a play area JUST for toddlers, which means no big kids, which means, Savannah can play without me worrying about her getting trampled. :) Also, the employees are fantastic and very accomodating!
We let Savannah and Ainsley play in the toddler area for a little while and then did cupcakes and presents. We didn't really have a theme since it wasn't really a big to-do birthday party, but we found this Mickey Mouse cupcake tower at Wal-Mart for nothing, and since our little girl LOVES Mickey Mouse, we thought it would be fun for her. We also found a Mickey Mouse birthday kit which allowed me to decorate the cupcakes with Mickey Mouse on top. Savannah LOVED it! Speaking of cupcakes, when it came time to blow out her two little candles, she did it all by herself! :) She was so proud and happy!
After all the birthday festivites were over, we came home and had some quality family time. My sister came in town bearing all kinds of presents and Savannah loved that! (She went to Rome recently and brought back some goodies)
My little girl is 2 now. She is growing up so fast. She will repeat just about anything you say, so, around our household you better think before you speak, lol!
She loves to clean, and I am NOT kidding. She will get wipes or tissues from where ever she can find them and clean the carpet or the the cabinets in the kitchen. When she is done "cleaning" she will then say, "All clean!" It is precious. We no longer have to put her to bed anymore. We simply ask her around her bedtime if she is ready to go night-night and she will say "night-night?" Look up at me or Aric, give us a hug and a kiss and walk to her room to her big girl bed and lay down. Of course, we follow her in there and tuck her in and give kisses and love but, that's it. Now, is it always that easy? Goodness, NO! :) Some nights it is a struggle...bring on the terrible twos! :)
I am going to post some pictures from her birthday but I ask that you bear with me; they may not be in order or the best picture.
Not a cupcake queen, but I must say, these were pretty tasty!
Mickey Mouse cupcake tower!
Birthday girl!
Sliding with Ainsley
Savannah and Mommy
Grammy and Thomas
The bouquet of balloons the employees of Chic-fil-a surprised Savannah with. We didn't even ask them, they just brought them out to be nice!
Happy Birthday to Savannah!
She LOVES Mickey Mouse
She did very good at opening presents!
This was not on her birthday but I had to throw it in there! :)
One last thing, ever since her birthday, Savannah can now sing, "Happy Birthday to you" which she now sings ALL the time! It is really cute! She can't quite say her name yet so she will sing, "Happy Birthday to Sana!" (pronounced like Santa)
This age is so much fun. I am definitely looking forward to many fun years to come :)
Savannah turned 2 on November 20! It was a gorgeous Saturday! A typical fall day with plenty of sun and just a bit of crispness in the air to make it not too cold but not too warm either.
This year we decided to keep it small for Savannah's birthday. We decided not to throw a big birthday party for several reasons, most of which was in our best interest and we just felt like it was the way to go this year. Keeping that in mind, we wanted family around, of course, and some very close friends of ours (The Smiths) that have a daughter (Ainsley)who is Savannah's age that Savannah plays well with.
Do to most of Aric's family being out of town that weekend, my parents and The Smiths were in attendance to celebrate Savannah's birthday.
We all met up at Chic-fil-a at around 3 o'clock to celebrate. Sidenote: Chic-fil-a was a fantastic place to celebrate Savannah's birthday. The one on Ann St. has a play area JUST for toddlers, which means no big kids, which means, Savannah can play without me worrying about her getting trampled. :) Also, the employees are fantastic and very accomodating!
We let Savannah and Ainsley play in the toddler area for a little while and then did cupcakes and presents. We didn't really have a theme since it wasn't really a big to-do birthday party, but we found this Mickey Mouse cupcake tower at Wal-Mart for nothing, and since our little girl LOVES Mickey Mouse, we thought it would be fun for her. We also found a Mickey Mouse birthday kit which allowed me to decorate the cupcakes with Mickey Mouse on top. Savannah LOVED it! Speaking of cupcakes, when it came time to blow out her two little candles, she did it all by herself! :) She was so proud and happy!
After all the birthday festivites were over, we came home and had some quality family time. My sister came in town bearing all kinds of presents and Savannah loved that! (She went to Rome recently and brought back some goodies)
My little girl is 2 now. She is growing up so fast. She will repeat just about anything you say, so, around our household you better think before you speak, lol!
She loves to clean, and I am NOT kidding. She will get wipes or tissues from where ever she can find them and clean the carpet or the the cabinets in the kitchen. When she is done "cleaning" she will then say, "All clean!" It is precious. We no longer have to put her to bed anymore. We simply ask her around her bedtime if she is ready to go night-night and she will say "night-night?" Look up at me or Aric, give us a hug and a kiss and walk to her room to her big girl bed and lay down. Of course, we follow her in there and tuck her in and give kisses and love but, that's it. Now, is it always that easy? Goodness, NO! :) Some nights it is a struggle...bring on the terrible twos! :)
I am going to post some pictures from her birthday but I ask that you bear with me; they may not be in order or the best picture.
Not a cupcake queen, but I must say, these were pretty tasty!
Mickey Mouse cupcake tower!
Birthday girl!
Sliding with Ainsley
Savannah and Mommy
Grammy and Thomas
The bouquet of balloons the employees of Chic-fil-a surprised Savannah with. We didn't even ask them, they just brought them out to be nice!
Happy Birthday to Savannah!
She LOVES Mickey Mouse
She did very good at opening presents!
This was not on her birthday but I had to throw it in there! :)
One last thing, ever since her birthday, Savannah can now sing, "Happy Birthday to you" which she now sings ALL the time! It is really cute! She can't quite say her name yet so she will sing, "Happy Birthday to Sana!" (pronounced like Santa)
This age is so much fun. I am definitely looking forward to many fun years to come :)
Monday, November 15, 2010
SEC West Champions!
I just had to do a quick post about how excited I am that Auburn is going to the SEC Championship game! WAR EAGLE!
I watched the Auburn/Georgia game from the comfort of my living room and enjoyed it until the very end. Our boys acted a mess on the field, that quite frankly, was embarrassing! We already have all these allegations against one of our best players that has probably tainted our name a little bit and then our boys had to go on throwing punches on the field to the opposing teams players, like that is supposed to make us look any better?? Come on, guys!! Now, that I have gotten that off my chest, I am still proud of my Auburn Tigers for doing such an awesome job this season. I wish I could have gone to more home games, but spending time with my sweet little boy is worth it :)
For all you non-Auburn fans reading this, good luck to your teams the rest of the season! It has been an exciting year!
WAR EAGLE, y'all!!!! :)
I watched the Auburn/Georgia game from the comfort of my living room and enjoyed it until the very end. Our boys acted a mess on the field, that quite frankly, was embarrassing! We already have all these allegations against one of our best players that has probably tainted our name a little bit and then our boys had to go on throwing punches on the field to the opposing teams players, like that is supposed to make us look any better?? Come on, guys!! Now, that I have gotten that off my chest, I am still proud of my Auburn Tigers for doing such an awesome job this season. I wish I could have gone to more home games, but spending time with my sweet little boy is worth it :)
For all you non-Auburn fans reading this, good luck to your teams the rest of the season! It has been an exciting year!
WAR EAGLE, y'all!!!! :)
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Catching up
Thomas had his appointment at Children's Hospital this past Monday. This appointment, as most of you know, was to check out his hernia and see about the possibility of surgery. Dr. Albert Chong was Thomas's doctor and was in and out in a breeze so by the time we left, we had scheduled Thomas's surgery. Let me back up a minute. Dr. Chong came in and checked Thomas out and stated that he did not feel anything. We let him know about T's one month check up and what the pediatrician found; a protrusion for sure, but by his 2 month check up it wasn't there. Dr. Chong then said, "ok, well, if you felt it and the pediatrician felt it and you know for sure, it was there, then that is good enough for me to do surgery."
Dr. Chong then went into how they would do the surgery and how common the procedure is and that he would do it for his kids, etc. It all seemed to happen so fast, Aric and I scheduled the surgery and were on our way.
Now, if you go back to what Dr. Chong said about the surgery, you would have thought that we would have stopped right there and asked, "what?!" If he didn't feel anything, why operate?? Hinds sight 20/20, right?
Once we got home we really started thinking that maybe Thomas didn't need this surgery after all. Aric called the pediatrician and explained our visit and he recommened that if we didn't feel comfortable, then it would be fine not to do the surgery. OH! SIDENOTE: Aric later found Dr. Chongs's profile here:
http://www.chsys.org/body.cfm?id=514
If you see at the very bottom, Dr. Chong's Research Interests, Clinical outcomes in pediatric surgery!! Now, I'm not going to jump to conclusions but after seeing that, we decided to not have the surgery right away.
Aric called Dr. Chong's nurse and explained our concern and she agreed that if we weren't ready that it would be fine. She told us to keep an eye on the area where his hernia was and if we notice any changes that seem to be bothersome, that we should go straight to Children's.
I think Thomas is going to be just fine. Aric lived with 3 hernias his whole life and just had 2 removed last year! We will just have to see how Thomas does.
Thanks to all for your prayers and words of encouragement. We will keep everyone posted if anything changes!
God Bless!
Dr. Chong then went into how they would do the surgery and how common the procedure is and that he would do it for his kids, etc. It all seemed to happen so fast, Aric and I scheduled the surgery and were on our way.
Now, if you go back to what Dr. Chong said about the surgery, you would have thought that we would have stopped right there and asked, "what?!" If he didn't feel anything, why operate?? Hinds sight 20/20, right?
Once we got home we really started thinking that maybe Thomas didn't need this surgery after all. Aric called the pediatrician and explained our visit and he recommened that if we didn't feel comfortable, then it would be fine not to do the surgery. OH! SIDENOTE: Aric later found Dr. Chongs's profile here:
http://www.chsys.org/body.cfm?id=514
If you see at the very bottom, Dr. Chong's Research Interests, Clinical outcomes in pediatric surgery!! Now, I'm not going to jump to conclusions but after seeing that, we decided to not have the surgery right away.
Aric called Dr. Chong's nurse and explained our concern and she agreed that if we weren't ready that it would be fine. She told us to keep an eye on the area where his hernia was and if we notice any changes that seem to be bothersome, that we should go straight to Children's.
I think Thomas is going to be just fine. Aric lived with 3 hernias his whole life and just had 2 removed last year! We will just have to see how Thomas does.
Thanks to all for your prayers and words of encouragement. We will keep everyone posted if anything changes!
God Bless!
Friday, November 5, 2010
Southern Savers and Savannah
A sweet friend of mine introduced me to this website, http://www.southernsavers.com
I am no coupon queen, more of an amatuer, if you will. This website, however, has been a huge help to me and our family. You definitely need some time in your day that you can sit down and read everything carefully, but once you do, it is well worth it. Like I said, I am still very much an amatuer, like, I have yet to go to the grocery store and spend $200 but with coupons walk out only spending $50. This website is maintained by a woman who is a coupon queen and she does a great job! I can't really explain it all in a way that y'all would understand, but if you check out the website and let me know what you think, I would love to hear any success stories.
I feel like I have been blogging more about Thomas lately than Savannah. I need to do a better job about including both of them in my blog posts but to be quite honest, I am not the best at blogging and in any attempt that I can even post something, then I am doing good. Anywho, here are a couple of pictures from Halloween weekend. Savannah did not want to cooperate, AT ALL, so I apologize for the lack of smiles and her actually looking at the camera. I can't figure out how to add a caption to each photo so I'll just do a quick explanation. Included in these pictures are from our trip to the pumpkin patch. There is one of her in her Auburn cheerleader outfit. We are working on "WAR EAGLE, HEY!" but so far, all we can get is, "WARRRRR HEY!" It is adorable, because she says it with such enthusiasm! Also, Savannah was a ladybug for Halloween but the two photos you see are the only good ones I could get. We went out to eat at a mexican restaurant, (Savannah loves chips and salsa!)and she was still in her ladybuy costume. She is getting so big and so independent. I cannot "baby" her anymore because she wants to do everything, from feed herself, to getting dressed, sometimes, even going to bed on her own. (that only happened once) Speaking of beds, have I mentioned she has a big girl bed now? We put her toddler rail on a few weeks ago and she has done fantastic with it! :)
Happy Friday, Y'all!
I am no coupon queen, more of an amatuer, if you will. This website, however, has been a huge help to me and our family. You definitely need some time in your day that you can sit down and read everything carefully, but once you do, it is well worth it. Like I said, I am still very much an amatuer, like, I have yet to go to the grocery store and spend $200 but with coupons walk out only spending $50. This website is maintained by a woman who is a coupon queen and she does a great job! I can't really explain it all in a way that y'all would understand, but if you check out the website and let me know what you think, I would love to hear any success stories.
I feel like I have been blogging more about Thomas lately than Savannah. I need to do a better job about including both of them in my blog posts but to be quite honest, I am not the best at blogging and in any attempt that I can even post something, then I am doing good. Anywho, here are a couple of pictures from Halloween weekend. Savannah did not want to cooperate, AT ALL, so I apologize for the lack of smiles and her actually looking at the camera. I can't figure out how to add a caption to each photo so I'll just do a quick explanation. Included in these pictures are from our trip to the pumpkin patch. There is one of her in her Auburn cheerleader outfit. We are working on "WAR EAGLE, HEY!" but so far, all we can get is, "WARRRRR HEY!" It is adorable, because she says it with such enthusiasm! Also, Savannah was a ladybug for Halloween but the two photos you see are the only good ones I could get. We went out to eat at a mexican restaurant, (Savannah loves chips and salsa!)and she was still in her ladybuy costume. She is getting so big and so independent. I cannot "baby" her anymore because she wants to do everything, from feed herself, to getting dressed, sometimes, even going to bed on her own. (that only happened once) Speaking of beds, have I mentioned she has a big girl bed now? We put her toddler rail on a few weeks ago and she has done fantastic with it! :)
Happy Friday, Y'all!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Thomas's 2 month check up
Happy 2 month birthday Thomas!
We have been busy bees lately. Thomas went to his first baby shower in October for a sweet friend of mine. He was an angel the whole time. We went to the pumpkin patch at the end of October and got to see his big sister pick out a pumpkin. Nana and Popsie got to watch Thomas for the first time by themselves a couple of weeks ago. According to Nana he was great! Also, Aunt Kristen came over last Friday night to watch the kids so Aric and I could have a date night. When we got back, Thomas was sleeping on Aunt Kristen and what a sweet sight that was to see!
Today, Thomas got to go the doctor and what better way to celebrate a birthday than to get 3 shots! Of course, he screamed his head off, but with a little comforting from Aric and I, he was fine and asleep before we could get on the road. Baby boy is growing good! He is now 10 pounds 2.4 ounces and 22 inches long. He has gained 2 pounds and grown an inch and a half in one month! Here is how Thomas and Savannah measure up so far:
Thomas: 6lbs 8oz - birth - 19 inches
8lbs 2oz - 1 month - 20 1/2 inches
10lbs 2oz - 2 months - 22 inches
Savannah: 6lbs 11oz - birth - 19 inches
8lbs 10oz - 1 month - 20 1/2 inces
9lbs 7oz - 2 months - 21 inches
As you can see, the similarities are amazing! I think it is kind of neat to look back at Savannah's baby book and see how her and Thomas compare.
A bit of great news we got from this check up was that Thomas's hernia wasn't protruding as it was at his 1 month check up. The doctor said we still neeed to keep our appointment at Children's, obviously, but we are hoping that once the surgeon looks at him, it will be good news. Good news meaning, no surgery for our little guy.
4 month check up will be next and in between that, we have Savannah's 2nd birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year! Busy times but extremely blessed!
Have a great day everyone! :)
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
My two cents
Warning: This blog post will probably be boring or be meaningless to some, or maybe even too much information, but I just had to post in hopes that someone will benefit. :)
The Lobenstein household should definitely invest in some stock of this.....
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Lansinoh products! (Especially if you are breastfeeding)
The disposable nursing pads are fabulous! I have actually tried cheaper brands of nursing pads and they were awful. I might as well have not worn any! I also use the Lanisoh brand lanolin ointment, Soothies gel pads and the breastmilk storage bags. All of these products are essential for breastfeeding. Honestly, the Lansinoh brand is a bit more expensive than other brands I have found but, it is well worth your money spent. So, your probably asking why I love this product so much, especially if it is more expensive. Let's see, if I had to sum it up in one sentence it would be, you get what you pay for. It is more expensive but you REALLY do get a quality product. I used to think like this all the time, especially when it came to groceries. Aric introduced me to off brand items, that are just the same as the name brand and well, that is what we buy now (unless there are coupons and it is on sale) Anyway, got sidetracked, From the nursing pads, which work really well in keeping me dry to the soothies and lanolin that help with soreness. The breastmilk storage bags have been fabulous because not only are they BPA free, they actually stand up on their own in the fridge! (I honestly thought that was cool...and convenient!) They also travel well. I didn't think bags would travel well, but the zipper has a double lock seal on it. No leaking! :)
I kind of feel silly posting about this but, to all my mommies out there that are breastfeeding...You should really try Lansinoh products! If you are not breastfeeding, Lansinoh has other products for baby. I haven't tried those yet but could probably guess that they are great.
That is my two cents about Lansinoh products. Hopefully, I didn't just bore you to death and maybe even helped someone out! :)
The Lobenstein household should definitely invest in some stock of this.....
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Lansinoh products! (Especially if you are breastfeeding)
The disposable nursing pads are fabulous! I have actually tried cheaper brands of nursing pads and they were awful. I might as well have not worn any! I also use the Lanisoh brand lanolin ointment, Soothies gel pads and the breastmilk storage bags. All of these products are essential for breastfeeding. Honestly, the Lansinoh brand is a bit more expensive than other brands I have found but, it is well worth your money spent. So, your probably asking why I love this product so much, especially if it is more expensive. Let's see, if I had to sum it up in one sentence it would be, you get what you pay for. It is more expensive but you REALLY do get a quality product. I used to think like this all the time, especially when it came to groceries. Aric introduced me to off brand items, that are just the same as the name brand and well, that is what we buy now (unless there are coupons and it is on sale) Anyway, got sidetracked, From the nursing pads, which work really well in keeping me dry to the soothies and lanolin that help with soreness. The breastmilk storage bags have been fabulous because not only are they BPA free, they actually stand up on their own in the fridge! (I honestly thought that was cool...and convenient!) They also travel well. I didn't think bags would travel well, but the zipper has a double lock seal on it. No leaking! :)
I kind of feel silly posting about this but, to all my mommies out there that are breastfeeding...You should really try Lansinoh products! If you are not breastfeeding, Lansinoh has other products for baby. I haven't tried those yet but could probably guess that they are great.
That is my two cents about Lansinoh products. Hopefully, I didn't just bore you to death and maybe even helped someone out! :)
Thursday, October 21, 2010
No Stinking Thinking
No Stinking Thinking
Saw this post on a blog I read called Moms of Faith. I thought it was great and had to share. I hope you enjoy!
Saw this post on a blog I read called Moms of Faith. I thought it was great and had to share. I hope you enjoy!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Savannah's first "school" picture
Friday, October 15, 2010
The first month
I have seriously been trying to blog about Thomas's first month for weeks now. I guess I have been a little preoccupied. :)
Thomas went for his 1 month check up on October 5. Baby boy was looking good! He weighed 6lbs 8oz. at birth and at this check up he weighed 8lbs 2oz! I was thrilled to see those numbers. You see, with Savannah, I was not successful at nursing. She never did well with it, I would get frustrated, we always supplemented with formula and quite honestly, I felt like a failure. This time around I was determined to nurse. Maybe the positive attitude helped because Thomas has been a champ so far. I never worry if he is getting enough and it was obvious by his weight gain that he was. Ok, back to the actual visit. He is 20 1/2" long and his head circumference is 14 1/4". The doctor came in after the nurse had finished up all her measurements and began his exam. At this point in time, the visit was going well until the doctor took off his diaper to check him out. Almost immediately, he said, "Hmmm, he seems to have a hernia." (WHAT!!??) I realize what a hernia is and in the grand scheme of things, it really is not a big deal, but when you are hearing this about your 4 week old baby, believe me, it is NOT somthing you want to hear. The next thing he said didn't make me feel any better. "We will need to refer him to a specialist at Childrens' Hospital who can get a better look and make a decision as to what needs to happen." (again, WHAT!!??) insert panic mode here:
Although that is not what I did. I remained very calm and started to ask questions. The doctor assured me that something like this was normal in little boys. It will more than likely be something that can be left alone but that will be up to the doctor at Childrens. I sure hope they don't have to operate on my sweet boy to fix this. It is one thing to have a minor procedure like tubes be done when your child is a little older but the thought of hernia surgery on a 2 month old? I honestly don't know if that will happen but the thought of it terrifies me. Our appointment is on November 8. Until then I am trying not to worry too much. Quite frankly, there is nothing I can really do now and Thomas is not in any pain. Those two things put together will help me get through the next few weeks.
SLEEP. Something that I haven't had much of this past month. Savannah came home sleeping through the night but Thomas is not quite there yet. This past week has been better. I feed him sometime between 7 and 8pm and he will sleep until at least 1. I feed him again and he sleeps until 4 or 5 and from then, he eats about every 3 hours. After his night feeding we put him in the swing to go to sleep because, as of right now, he DOES NOT like his crib. Aric and I wonder if putting him in the swing every night is safe. I believe it mimics him being in the womb that is why he likes it so much. We will wait a few more weeks and start to transition him to the crib. The tricky part is going to be letting him cry it out. Savannah usually goes to bed by 9. If we put Thomas to bed earlier, let him cry it out, I think we will be ok. But if Thomas goes to bed later, we risk him waking up Savannah with his crying. (something that is very real in this household) SIDENOTE: The first couple of weeks with Thomas I thought Savannah was never going to get any sleep. She woke up everytime he cried.
This first month as been interesting. I thought my life changed with one baby. With two, it is a little more interesting. It is a little bit more busy, a little bit more stressful, a little bit more tears. I never thought I would be a mother of two, but here I am. Every day is going to be interesting. Every day is also a blessing. A blessing that I am here, a mother with two beautiful children. Thank you Lord!
Have a great Friday everyone! :)
Thomas went for his 1 month check up on October 5. Baby boy was looking good! He weighed 6lbs 8oz. at birth and at this check up he weighed 8lbs 2oz! I was thrilled to see those numbers. You see, with Savannah, I was not successful at nursing. She never did well with it, I would get frustrated, we always supplemented with formula and quite honestly, I felt like a failure. This time around I was determined to nurse. Maybe the positive attitude helped because Thomas has been a champ so far. I never worry if he is getting enough and it was obvious by his weight gain that he was. Ok, back to the actual visit. He is 20 1/2" long and his head circumference is 14 1/4". The doctor came in after the nurse had finished up all her measurements and began his exam. At this point in time, the visit was going well until the doctor took off his diaper to check him out. Almost immediately, he said, "Hmmm, he seems to have a hernia." (WHAT!!??) I realize what a hernia is and in the grand scheme of things, it really is not a big deal, but when you are hearing this about your 4 week old baby, believe me, it is NOT somthing you want to hear. The next thing he said didn't make me feel any better. "We will need to refer him to a specialist at Childrens' Hospital who can get a better look and make a decision as to what needs to happen." (again, WHAT!!??) insert panic mode here:
Although that is not what I did. I remained very calm and started to ask questions. The doctor assured me that something like this was normal in little boys. It will more than likely be something that can be left alone but that will be up to the doctor at Childrens. I sure hope they don't have to operate on my sweet boy to fix this. It is one thing to have a minor procedure like tubes be done when your child is a little older but the thought of hernia surgery on a 2 month old? I honestly don't know if that will happen but the thought of it terrifies me. Our appointment is on November 8. Until then I am trying not to worry too much. Quite frankly, there is nothing I can really do now and Thomas is not in any pain. Those two things put together will help me get through the next few weeks.
SLEEP. Something that I haven't had much of this past month. Savannah came home sleeping through the night but Thomas is not quite there yet. This past week has been better. I feed him sometime between 7 and 8pm and he will sleep until at least 1. I feed him again and he sleeps until 4 or 5 and from then, he eats about every 3 hours. After his night feeding we put him in the swing to go to sleep because, as of right now, he DOES NOT like his crib. Aric and I wonder if putting him in the swing every night is safe. I believe it mimics him being in the womb that is why he likes it so much. We will wait a few more weeks and start to transition him to the crib. The tricky part is going to be letting him cry it out. Savannah usually goes to bed by 9. If we put Thomas to bed earlier, let him cry it out, I think we will be ok. But if Thomas goes to bed later, we risk him waking up Savannah with his crying. (something that is very real in this household) SIDENOTE: The first couple of weeks with Thomas I thought Savannah was never going to get any sleep. She woke up everytime he cried.
This first month as been interesting. I thought my life changed with one baby. With two, it is a little more interesting. It is a little bit more busy, a little bit more stressful, a little bit more tears. I never thought I would be a mother of two, but here I am. Every day is going to be interesting. Every day is also a blessing. A blessing that I am here, a mother with two beautiful children. Thank you Lord!
Have a great Friday everyone! :)
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Professional Pics of THomas
http://poshpics.net/viewing/?slideshowID=83204
password is: wareagle
Enjoy!
password is: wareagle
Enjoy!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Hello Fall...
how I have missed you in my life! How about this cooler weather?! I am loving it. I stepped outside this morning to take out the trash and just wished I could have stayed out there for a few hours.
Here are some things I think of when I think of fall: (in no particular order)
College football (AMEN?)
Leaves falling and changing color
pumpkin spice latte (one of my favorites)
baking
fall festivals
cooler weather
less humidity
pumpkins
sweaters
To me, fall is the perfect season. There are usually so many fun things going on and the weather just makes it that much more enjoyable.
Here's to the 2010 fall season! Hope everyone enjoys it as much as I do!
Here are some things I think of when I think of fall: (in no particular order)
College football (AMEN?)
Leaves falling and changing color
pumpkin spice latte (one of my favorites)
baking
fall festivals
cooler weather
less humidity
pumpkins
sweaters
To me, fall is the perfect season. There are usually so many fun things going on and the weather just makes it that much more enjoyable.
Here's to the 2010 fall season! Hope everyone enjoys it as much as I do!
Friday, September 17, 2010
2 week birthday!
Happy 2 week birthday Thomas!
You are already growing so much mommy and daddy and big sister can't believe it. We went for your two week weight check today and you were already up to your birth weight plus a few ounces. 6 lbs 11.2 oz!
I was very pleased to see that number. I have been exclusively breastfeeding (except for 1 oz of formula in the hospital because he was not having a good day) and so far it is going great. Savannah never did very will with nursing and I felt like we constantly had to supplement with formula but so far, Thomas has caught on and is doing great. I will admit sometimes it is difficult, especially when he decides he is hungry and hour or so after he has already eaten but, I realize with a newborn, that is just part of it.
The past couple of nights have been rough. Thomas has decided that when we are ready for bed, he wants to be wide awake and fussing. It all starts between the 9 and 11 PM hours and he usually doesn't settle down until the wee hours of the morning, like 3 AM. Can we say, HUGE lack of sleep?! It is all worth it though. As he is laying there fussing, keeping us awake, I can't help but think, how fast he is going to grow up and before long I will be wishing he was a baby again. I am hanging in there and I think Aric is too. Bless his heart; at least I have the opportunity to take naps during the day, he is up all night helping me and then at work all day. He is wonderful! Aric, if you are reading this, I LOVE YOU and THANK YOU for being you.
Next week we are having some pictures taken of Thomas. A sweet friend is an amatuer photographer and trying to build up her portfolio. She offered to take some photos of Thomas while he is still little so, be on the look out for those sooon.
Today also marks the end of my "no driving" days. The only problem is, I am still not supposed to lift anything heaving than Thomas for 4 more weeks so, being able to drive now really doesn't help me out. Oh well, I am recovering well from my c-section and am very pleased with the progress I have made. :)
Well, my down time is about up. Both kiddos are napping but I hear one of them stirring so I better hop to it.
Have a great day everyone! God Bless!
Emily
You are already growing so much mommy and daddy and big sister can't believe it. We went for your two week weight check today and you were already up to your birth weight plus a few ounces. 6 lbs 11.2 oz!
I was very pleased to see that number. I have been exclusively breastfeeding (except for 1 oz of formula in the hospital because he was not having a good day) and so far it is going great. Savannah never did very will with nursing and I felt like we constantly had to supplement with formula but so far, Thomas has caught on and is doing great. I will admit sometimes it is difficult, especially when he decides he is hungry and hour or so after he has already eaten but, I realize with a newborn, that is just part of it.
The past couple of nights have been rough. Thomas has decided that when we are ready for bed, he wants to be wide awake and fussing. It all starts between the 9 and 11 PM hours and he usually doesn't settle down until the wee hours of the morning, like 3 AM. Can we say, HUGE lack of sleep?! It is all worth it though. As he is laying there fussing, keeping us awake, I can't help but think, how fast he is going to grow up and before long I will be wishing he was a baby again. I am hanging in there and I think Aric is too. Bless his heart; at least I have the opportunity to take naps during the day, he is up all night helping me and then at work all day. He is wonderful! Aric, if you are reading this, I LOVE YOU and THANK YOU for being you.
Next week we are having some pictures taken of Thomas. A sweet friend is an amatuer photographer and trying to build up her portfolio. She offered to take some photos of Thomas while he is still little so, be on the look out for those sooon.
Today also marks the end of my "no driving" days. The only problem is, I am still not supposed to lift anything heaving than Thomas for 4 more weeks so, being able to drive now really doesn't help me out. Oh well, I am recovering well from my c-section and am very pleased with the progress I have made. :)
Well, my down time is about up. Both kiddos are napping but I hear one of them stirring so I better hop to it.
Have a great day everyone! God Bless!
Emily
Monday, September 13, 2010
Pictures of the newest Lobenstein
Here are a few pictures we've been able to take so far. Things have been busy, and we need to take some more, but I wanted to go ahead and get some out there...
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Thomas is here!!!
Well, we've been a little busy around the Lobenstein household for the past week or so... BUT, I am very happy to announce that Thomas has joined us and is just as PERFECT as he can be! Praises to God for the blessings that He imparts on us!
Thomas was born at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, September 3, 2010. He weighed in at 6 lbs, 8 oz and was 19.5 inches long. Mother and baby are at home and recovering well.
We did have a slight hiccup, in that his bilirubin levels got a little higher than the doctors like to see - at discharge, he was right at 11 and at 5 days old, he was at 6 lbs, 1 oz and a 15.2 bilirubin level, which is right at the lower end of the "at risk" range. However, we took him in for another test this morning and on his 6th day, he was back up to 6 lbs, 2.6 oz and a bilirubin level down to 13.3. The doctor says we're out of the woods now and we don't need to come back until his 2-week weight check.
Emily is recovering well also - her doctor is very pleased with her progress and her incision is healing nicely. Thankfully, we are blessed with having both sets of grandparents in town, so Grammy has been coming over to help Emily in the afternoons while I go into the office for a few hours each day. Today, Nana is helping this afternoon and giving Grammy a little bit of a break as well. Thank God for Grandmothers!!!!
We will post more soon, but I wanted to go ahead and get the word out - Thomas is here, healthy, and generally very happy! We are amazingly blessed with these two beautiful children and with so many family and friends who have just loved all over us as we celebrate together the blessing of bringing another of God's children into this world. THANK YOU ALL!!!!
Thomas was born at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, September 3, 2010. He weighed in at 6 lbs, 8 oz and was 19.5 inches long. Mother and baby are at home and recovering well.
We did have a slight hiccup, in that his bilirubin levels got a little higher than the doctors like to see - at discharge, he was right at 11 and at 5 days old, he was at 6 lbs, 1 oz and a 15.2 bilirubin level, which is right at the lower end of the "at risk" range. However, we took him in for another test this morning and on his 6th day, he was back up to 6 lbs, 2.6 oz and a bilirubin level down to 13.3. The doctor says we're out of the woods now and we don't need to come back until his 2-week weight check.
Emily is recovering well also - her doctor is very pleased with her progress and her incision is healing nicely. Thankfully, we are blessed with having both sets of grandparents in town, so Grammy has been coming over to help Emily in the afternoons while I go into the office for a few hours each day. Today, Nana is helping this afternoon and giving Grammy a little bit of a break as well. Thank God for Grandmothers!!!!
We will post more soon, but I wanted to go ahead and get the word out - Thomas is here, healthy, and generally very happy! We are amazingly blessed with these two beautiful children and with so many family and friends who have just loved all over us as we celebrate together the blessing of bringing another of God's children into this world. THANK YOU ALL!!!!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Happy Birthday Aric!
Today is my sweet husbands birthday!
This past weekend we celebrated early with a cookout for him that was very simple and small which I believe went very well. Aric got to use his nice "new" grill and the burgers turned out delish! I say "new" because we got the grill back in April or May as an early Father's Day/Birthday present for him. (it was on sale!)
Aric if you are reading this, I love you and am so fortunate to have you here in my life. You are such a great example of a Godly man and a true servant leader. I thank God for birthdays and I thank God for you every day.
I hope you enjoy your day today and I look forward to many more birthdays to come! :)
This past weekend we celebrated early with a cookout for him that was very simple and small which I believe went very well. Aric got to use his nice "new" grill and the burgers turned out delish! I say "new" because we got the grill back in April or May as an early Father's Day/Birthday present for him. (it was on sale!)
Aric if you are reading this, I love you and am so fortunate to have you here in my life. You are such a great example of a Godly man and a true servant leader. I thank God for birthdays and I thank God for you every day.
I hope you enjoy your day today and I look forward to many more birthdays to come! :)
Monday, August 30, 2010
Waiting game
I cannot believe Thomas will be here Friday!
Yes, there is still a chance that he may come earlier but my "mommy-sense" is telling me he won't. I just have that feeling if you know what I mean.
We are ready. The house is clean, nursery is ready, cradle is ready, bags are packed; it is just a waiting game now. :)
Well,This week should be a fun week. Tomorrow is Aric's birthday. Wednesday is Savannah'a open house for school, Thursday is one last doctor appointment and my pre-op appointment and then Friday is D-Day!
As we await the arrival of our baby boy I am still in awe at how fast this pregnancy has gone by. It really opened my eyes to how fast he (and Savannah) will grow up. Some days are harder than others but I am learning to take it one day at a time and REALLY enjoy this time when I have "babies" because, before I know it, they will be all grown up and gone. (like the opening song says on our blog)
Please say a prayer or two for us on Friday. I am still a little nervous even though I am ready. A small part of me worries about the surgery part.
Have a great week and Aric will probably be posting the updates once T-man gets here!
God Bless!!
Emily
Yes, there is still a chance that he may come earlier but my "mommy-sense" is telling me he won't. I just have that feeling if you know what I mean.
We are ready. The house is clean, nursery is ready, cradle is ready, bags are packed; it is just a waiting game now. :)
Well,This week should be a fun week. Tomorrow is Aric's birthday. Wednesday is Savannah'a open house for school, Thursday is one last doctor appointment and my pre-op appointment and then Friday is D-Day!
As we await the arrival of our baby boy I am still in awe at how fast this pregnancy has gone by. It really opened my eyes to how fast he (and Savannah) will grow up. Some days are harder than others but I am learning to take it one day at a time and REALLY enjoy this time when I have "babies" because, before I know it, they will be all grown up and gone. (like the opening song says on our blog)
Please say a prayer or two for us on Friday. I am still a little nervous even though I am ready. A small part of me worries about the surgery part.
Have a great week and Aric will probably be posting the updates once T-man gets here!
God Bless!!
Emily
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Our dog has WHAT??
So, a couple of weeks ago, I took one of our dogs (Montana) to the vet with some serious skin issues. Thinking it was just hot spots due to this INSANE HOT summer we are having, I really didn't think much of it. The vet that looked at her immediately feared it might be ringworm and I tried to remain calm. She did a fungal test but said it could take up to 14 days to recieve the results! In the mean time, we have been very careful around our household and not letting Savannah touch Montana. I have been making sure we wash our hands all of the time and taking any other necessary precautions. Montana has also been on some antibiotics.
This morning I got a call from the vet with the results and it came back POSITIVE! Positive for ringworm! Y-U-C-K! This is not something I want to hear a week and a half before Thomas gets here. Not to mention having a busy toddler in the house with this dog!
This is so frustrating considering the circumstances and if there is a silver lining out there I think it would be this: I have had ringworm before and it is not the end of the world. It is more of an annoyance than anything. Constantly having to keep things sanitized and clean and making sure not to touch the infected area. (which is the only way it can spread) At least it is just a skin issue and it can be treated easily. Another thing is, I needed to sanitize the house anyway before Thomas gets here, so this is just extra motivation (if you want to call it that) to get it done faster. :)
Oh the joys of everyday life! I do count my blessings everyday, even when hiccups like this come along.
I hope everyone has great day and remembers not to let the little things mess up your day. :)
Here is a photo of our sweet Montana. Poor baby :(
This morning I got a call from the vet with the results and it came back POSITIVE! Positive for ringworm! Y-U-C-K! This is not something I want to hear a week and a half before Thomas gets here. Not to mention having a busy toddler in the house with this dog!
This is so frustrating considering the circumstances and if there is a silver lining out there I think it would be this: I have had ringworm before and it is not the end of the world. It is more of an annoyance than anything. Constantly having to keep things sanitized and clean and making sure not to touch the infected area. (which is the only way it can spread) At least it is just a skin issue and it can be treated easily. Another thing is, I needed to sanitize the house anyway before Thomas gets here, so this is just extra motivation (if you want to call it that) to get it done faster. :)
Oh the joys of everyday life! I do count my blessings everyday, even when hiccups like this come along.
I hope everyone has great day and remembers not to let the little things mess up your day. :)
Here is a photo of our sweet Montana. Poor baby :(
Friday, August 20, 2010
21 Months Old
I just wanted to do a quick blog post about how my sweet girl is 21 months old today! She is getting so big and so independent. It is bittersweet. Savannah has recently started telling us when she has a "poo-poo". She is right about 95% of the time. Does this mean potty training? Not yet, not for us. There are still other signs that I would like to wait for, like, waking up dry from naps and her being able to tell me, "potty" or "tee-tee". I just don't want to rush it because I hear that if you start too early it can seem to take forever. We'll know when the time is right. :)
At 21 months old, she seems to be finally sleeping through the night again. (watch, I probably just jinxed myself) It has been about a week or so since she has woken up screaming. I have been giving her teething tablets an hour before bed and then some right before I put her down. I am going to assume that is what is helping. We shall see...
Savannah continues to be a daddy's girl for sure. She has her moments with me, but if Aric is around, forget about it. I think it is so sweet and it just warms my heart watching her with him. When Thomas gets here, though, he is all mine! :)
I can't believe in a few short months I will be a mommy of two and have a two year old!
I was doing some chores around the house the other day and it got really quiet...Hmmm...and this is what I found...
My girl loves some chips! I really couldn't get mad but around our household we have to remember to keep the pantry door shut. :)
Savannah Claire, Happy 21 month old birthday! Mommy and Daddy love you very much!
GOD BLESS!!
At 21 months old, she seems to be finally sleeping through the night again. (watch, I probably just jinxed myself) It has been about a week or so since she has woken up screaming. I have been giving her teething tablets an hour before bed and then some right before I put her down. I am going to assume that is what is helping. We shall see...
Savannah continues to be a daddy's girl for sure. She has her moments with me, but if Aric is around, forget about it. I think it is so sweet and it just warms my heart watching her with him. When Thomas gets here, though, he is all mine! :)
I can't believe in a few short months I will be a mommy of two and have a two year old!
I was doing some chores around the house the other day and it got really quiet...Hmmm...and this is what I found...
My girl loves some chips! I really couldn't get mad but around our household we have to remember to keep the pantry door shut. :)
Savannah Claire, Happy 21 month old birthday! Mommy and Daddy love you very much!
GOD BLESS!!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Explanation
I added a new pic of all three of us and felt the need to explain.
I mentioned in an earlier blog post about us attending YMCA Christian Values Conference back in July. There was a theme night called "Re-Mixer" and you were to dress up as your favorite musician, singer, band, music instrument...you get the idea.
We decided we wanted to do something as a family but had no idea what to do. At the last minute, literally, we thought of the band, Earth Wind & Fire. (known for great songs such as "Let's Groove" and "September".)
Anyway, due to limited time constraints I had to think of something quick. So, I made these beautiful shirts that we are wearing in the picture. Simply stated, don't ya think? :)
You can't tell by the picture but Savannah is holding a pair of guitar sunglasses. She loved to wear them but they were so big they wouldn't stay on long enough for a picture.
There is your explanation. I hope that helps a bit. I love this picture but it is also the most recent picture I could find of all three of us. I guess we need to do a better job of getting some family photos taken :)
Have a great day everyone! :)
I mentioned in an earlier blog post about us attending YMCA Christian Values Conference back in July. There was a theme night called "Re-Mixer" and you were to dress up as your favorite musician, singer, band, music instrument...you get the idea.
We decided we wanted to do something as a family but had no idea what to do. At the last minute, literally, we thought of the band, Earth Wind & Fire. (known for great songs such as "Let's Groove" and "September".)
Anyway, due to limited time constraints I had to think of something quick. So, I made these beautiful shirts that we are wearing in the picture. Simply stated, don't ya think? :)
You can't tell by the picture but Savannah is holding a pair of guitar sunglasses. She loved to wear them but they were so big they wouldn't stay on long enough for a picture.
There is your explanation. I hope that helps a bit. I love this picture but it is also the most recent picture I could find of all three of us. I guess we need to do a better job of getting some family photos taken :)
Have a great day everyone! :)
The nursery is D-O-N-E!
I can hear the angels in the background singing "Hallelujah!"
Seriously, we are so relieved that the nursery is done. You would think that 9 months would be plenty of time to do a nursery but throw in: commitments outside of the home, living in an old stubborn home that doesn't necessarily make home improvement projects "easy", having a busy toddler, and HARD WORKING HUBBY that makes it possible for you to stay at home and those 9 months fly by!
I posted some pics on facebook but for those that haven't seen facebook, I have added these pics for your viewing pleasure.
We are now counting down the days. 16 more days to go! I can't wait to meet our baby boy!
Seriously, we are so relieved that the nursery is done. You would think that 9 months would be plenty of time to do a nursery but throw in: commitments outside of the home, living in an old stubborn home that doesn't necessarily make home improvement projects "easy", having a busy toddler, and HARD WORKING HUBBY that makes it possible for you to stay at home and those 9 months fly by!
I posted some pics on facebook but for those that haven't seen facebook, I have added these pics for your viewing pleasure.
We are now counting down the days. 16 more days to go! I can't wait to meet our baby boy!
Friday, August 13, 2010
Craft project for Thomas
So this is what I have been working SO hard on the past few days for Thomas....
This will be his hospital wreath. I saw the idea in a magazine at Hobby Lobby one day and thought, "I could do that!" It was really quite easy once I figured out that you need to use wider ribbon for a ribbon wreath. :) (I started out with thinner ribbon and it wasn't working out so well)
I really enjoy doing crafty things like this, it is just trying to find the time to do them with a busy toddler! :)
This will be his hospital wreath. I saw the idea in a magazine at Hobby Lobby one day and thought, "I could do that!" It was really quite easy once I figured out that you need to use wider ribbon for a ribbon wreath. :) (I started out with thinner ribbon and it wasn't working out so well)
I really enjoy doing crafty things like this, it is just trying to find the time to do them with a busy toddler! :)
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
36 Weeks!!
Wow...today I am 36 weeks and I am truly amazed at how fast this pregancy went/is going.
I go to my doctor Thursday and from here on out will begin the weekly check ups. I keep telling myself the appointments will be uneventful because if Thomas is anything like Savannah, he is just going to stay put until September 3.
In case it hasn't been mentioned earlier, we are scheduled to have a c-section on September 3. The funny thing is, September 3 is on a Friday which is the beginning of Labor Day weekend. (Ha! get it.... "Labor Day".....and the crickets are chirping)
Moving on...the nursery is almost ready. We have everything we need to go in it, we are just working on some final paint touches. As soon as we get everything ready, I will post some pics. I think it is going to be pretty cute.
Savannah has finished MDO for the summer. She has gotten really good at drop off. I just hope she remembers that when it is time for "school" to start in the fall. She got comfortable enough to push (with my assistance) the door open to her classroom and mingle with the kids immediately. Sometimes I didn't even have a chance to say "bye". :(
"School" for the fall will start back September 8 and she will continue to go 2 days a week.
Savannah's little personality has been really blooming lately. She is quite the stubborn one at times but she can also be very polite. She loves to say "thank you" and "please". (sometimes a little too much but I guess I shouldn't complain)
She likes to give hugs and kisses when say bye to everyone; it is so sweet tht it just melts your heart everytime.
I am beginning to think that the Savannah is going to be a neat freak. If there is any speck of what looks like it may be trash she will pick it up and throw it away. If she can get a hold of her wipes, she will proceed to "clean" herself or other things with them. She spilled a little bit of milk on the carpet a couple of weeks ago. She looked at me and said "uh oh". She walked out of the room came back with a dryer sheet (where she got it, I have no clue) and started to blot up the spilled milk. I thought, "wow! she is going to be a great helper around the house one day!" :) I thought it was pretty cool because she must pick up on that kind of stuff from me when I am cleaning because I have never actually taught her that. I am not a neat freak by any means but I do like the house to be somewhat in order. I doubt her cleaning moments will stick around but while they are here, I will enjoy them!
Another day is here and I have stuff to do...surprise, surprise. I hope everyone reading has a wonderful day. :)
Emily
I go to my doctor Thursday and from here on out will begin the weekly check ups. I keep telling myself the appointments will be uneventful because if Thomas is anything like Savannah, he is just going to stay put until September 3.
In case it hasn't been mentioned earlier, we are scheduled to have a c-section on September 3. The funny thing is, September 3 is on a Friday which is the beginning of Labor Day weekend. (Ha! get it.... "Labor Day".....and the crickets are chirping)
Moving on...the nursery is almost ready. We have everything we need to go in it, we are just working on some final paint touches. As soon as we get everything ready, I will post some pics. I think it is going to be pretty cute.
Savannah has finished MDO for the summer. She has gotten really good at drop off. I just hope she remembers that when it is time for "school" to start in the fall. She got comfortable enough to push (with my assistance) the door open to her classroom and mingle with the kids immediately. Sometimes I didn't even have a chance to say "bye". :(
"School" for the fall will start back September 8 and she will continue to go 2 days a week.
Savannah's little personality has been really blooming lately. She is quite the stubborn one at times but she can also be very polite. She loves to say "thank you" and "please". (sometimes a little too much but I guess I shouldn't complain)
She likes to give hugs and kisses when say bye to everyone; it is so sweet tht it just melts your heart everytime.
I am beginning to think that the Savannah is going to be a neat freak. If there is any speck of what looks like it may be trash she will pick it up and throw it away. If she can get a hold of her wipes, she will proceed to "clean" herself or other things with them. She spilled a little bit of milk on the carpet a couple of weeks ago. She looked at me and said "uh oh". She walked out of the room came back with a dryer sheet (where she got it, I have no clue) and started to blot up the spilled milk. I thought, "wow! she is going to be a great helper around the house one day!" :) I thought it was pretty cool because she must pick up on that kind of stuff from me when I am cleaning because I have never actually taught her that. I am not a neat freak by any means but I do like the house to be somewhat in order. I doubt her cleaning moments will stick around but while they are here, I will enjoy them!
Another day is here and I have stuff to do...surprise, surprise. I hope everyone reading has a wonderful day. :)
Emily
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Where'd the time go???
Didn't we JUST find out we were pregnant like TWO months ago??? How is it that we are literally only FOUR WEEKS away from Thomas's arrival?! Wow. Time has flown! But, so far, everybody's healthy so I'm happy. :o) Emily has been LOVIN' the hottest summer on record and being pregnant at the same time - I think she's going to want to try to do this EVERY year now. LOL! (I love you baby, sweetie, honey-muffin!) Anyway, we hope to get the nursery done this weekend, so be on the lookout for some pictures in the next week or so. I hope you're all well - God Bless!!!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Night-Night and NO sleep
Since about May, Savannah has had a real hard time sleeping through the night. She wakes up 1-2 times sometime between the hours of 12-4. It wouldn't seem like such a big deal if she were a newborn because it would be expected, but because she is 1 and a half, Aric and I are scratching our heads going....what happened??
At first we attributed the sleepless nights to her ears. She had ear infections back to back to back before we got tubes. Once the tubes were in, she did ok for a couple of weeks....
Then we went out of town and I don't know about other kids, but Savannah doesn't do to well sleeping in an unfamiliar place. We caved and ended up putting her in the bed with us while on a trip. We were desperate! Well, that definitely didn't help things because as soon as we got back, she wanted to sleep in our bed, so when she started waking up in the middle of the night again, we knew we had to let her just cry it out. That worked for a few days....
Then she got sick. (tummy virus) That was no fun for her or us. We felt so bad for her because she wasn't holding anything down, we put her in the bed with us again so we could be prepared if she got sick. She got better but kept on waking up in the night so, we just knew we HAD to let her cry it out....
Then we went out of town again and well, you can probably figure out what happened. Yep, we had to put her in bed with us. This time is was from our most recent trip to NC. We were basically in a dorm where the walls were pretty thin and we felt bad just letting her cry as it would probably wake up the whole dorm.
Since we have been back she is still waking up crying in the middle of the night. Last night she woke up 2 different times and both times she probably cried at least 20 minutes.
Aric has been WONDERFUL in that, anytime we decide to go in and change her diaper or just check on her real quick, he gets up EVERYTIME! (with no complaints) We are trying to cut back on that a little because we don't want her to get used to him going in there all the time.
Savannah never has a problem going "night-night" (as we like to call it around here). She will go to bed without any kind of fight. Honestly, we have been spoiled, because as an infant she always slept so soundly. Now it is totally different and with Thomas coming in a month, I'm afraid we are looking forward to many more sleepless nights. Of course it will be expected with Thomas when he wakes up crying, that is what newborns do! But when he wakes up and Savannah wakes up...that is going to be interesting.
Let me also mention this...you would think because of her restlessness at night, she would be very tired during the day and would want to nap all the time. WRONG! She is just as happy and playful during the day and will take at least one nap during the day lasting a couple of hours.
(BIG SIGH) This is something I know we will get through, but it is hard. I do realize though, that we are extremely blessed and if this is the only problem we are having right now, then great! We may be a little sleep deprived but I am so thankful for my family and all of our many blessings that God shows us every day.
Happy Friday!!
Emily
At first we attributed the sleepless nights to her ears. She had ear infections back to back to back before we got tubes. Once the tubes were in, she did ok for a couple of weeks....
Then we went out of town and I don't know about other kids, but Savannah doesn't do to well sleeping in an unfamiliar place. We caved and ended up putting her in the bed with us while on a trip. We were desperate! Well, that definitely didn't help things because as soon as we got back, she wanted to sleep in our bed, so when she started waking up in the middle of the night again, we knew we had to let her just cry it out. That worked for a few days....
Then she got sick. (tummy virus) That was no fun for her or us. We felt so bad for her because she wasn't holding anything down, we put her in the bed with us again so we could be prepared if she got sick. She got better but kept on waking up in the night so, we just knew we HAD to let her cry it out....
Then we went out of town again and well, you can probably figure out what happened. Yep, we had to put her in bed with us. This time is was from our most recent trip to NC. We were basically in a dorm where the walls were pretty thin and we felt bad just letting her cry as it would probably wake up the whole dorm.
Since we have been back she is still waking up crying in the middle of the night. Last night she woke up 2 different times and both times she probably cried at least 20 minutes.
Aric has been WONDERFUL in that, anytime we decide to go in and change her diaper or just check on her real quick, he gets up EVERYTIME! (with no complaints) We are trying to cut back on that a little because we don't want her to get used to him going in there all the time.
Savannah never has a problem going "night-night" (as we like to call it around here). She will go to bed without any kind of fight. Honestly, we have been spoiled, because as an infant she always slept so soundly. Now it is totally different and with Thomas coming in a month, I'm afraid we are looking forward to many more sleepless nights. Of course it will be expected with Thomas when he wakes up crying, that is what newborns do! But when he wakes up and Savannah wakes up...that is going to be interesting.
Let me also mention this...you would think because of her restlessness at night, she would be very tired during the day and would want to nap all the time. WRONG! She is just as happy and playful during the day and will take at least one nap during the day lasting a couple of hours.
(BIG SIGH) This is something I know we will get through, but it is hard. I do realize though, that we are extremely blessed and if this is the only problem we are having right now, then great! We may be a little sleep deprived but I am so thankful for my family and all of our many blessings that God shows us every day.
Happy Friday!!
Emily
Saturday, July 17, 2010
And we're off....
well, by 11pm tonight we will be off; to Black Mountain, NC. that is. We are embarking on a trip with the Prattville YMCA Leaders' Club to a conference at the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly called Christian Values Conference.
Every year we usually make this trip to NC it is for a conference called Blue Ridge Leaders' School. It is basically a week long school (literally, they have classes and periods) to help develop all kinds of leadership qualities and attributes amoung teenagers. All Leaders' Clubs with participating YMCA's around the southeast usually come to this school, totaling about 600-700 kids.
This year, we did not attend the Blue Ridge Leaders' School and are looking forward to this Christian Values Conference. The Montgomery YMCA is THE organizer of this conference. This will be the first time the Prattville YMCA and the Montgomery YMCA will be attending this conference together. FUN TIMES!
I have attached a link here
http://www.ymcacvc.org/
In case anyone reading this is curious about this conference.
Working with teenagers has definitely been an eye opener for me. First of all, I would have never thought that I would be working with/ministering to a group of teens, EVER! I know how I was when I was a teenager and when I first joined Aric in working we these teens, I was terrified! The Lord really helped me to overcome my fears and as of right now, it has been over a year since I started with Leaders' Club and I feel like I really have been blessed by this experience. Not only have I learned a lot about myself but I have also learned a lot about teenagers these days. (makes me feel real old sometimes)
Oh! Yes, if you noticed in the opening sentence, I mentioned we would be leaving at 11pm. That is NO typo. We will meet up with the Montgomery YMCA kids at 10-10:30, at which time we will board one of two charter buses and then depart at 11pm! Did i mention that it is about an 8 hour bus ride? We will be arriving early in the morning and hopefully be somewhat rested. The ride back will be the same way. I am praying this trip goes as smoothly as possible. We will be taking Savannah and some friends of ours will be taking their 22 month old. 7 month pregnant lady, 2 toddlers and a bus full of teens (with some adults chaperoning) traveling in the middle of the night will make for an interesting trip. Please say a prayer for us, not only for safe travels but for the teenagers that will be attending this conference. I am praying that God will reveal himself to them and show them greater things. (about His kingdom and His will in their lives)
Have a fun and safe week everyone!
God Bless!
Emily
Every year we usually make this trip to NC it is for a conference called Blue Ridge Leaders' School. It is basically a week long school (literally, they have classes and periods) to help develop all kinds of leadership qualities and attributes amoung teenagers. All Leaders' Clubs with participating YMCA's around the southeast usually come to this school, totaling about 600-700 kids.
This year, we did not attend the Blue Ridge Leaders' School and are looking forward to this Christian Values Conference. The Montgomery YMCA is THE organizer of this conference. This will be the first time the Prattville YMCA and the Montgomery YMCA will be attending this conference together. FUN TIMES!
I have attached a link here
http://www.ymcacvc.org/
In case anyone reading this is curious about this conference.
Working with teenagers has definitely been an eye opener for me. First of all, I would have never thought that I would be working with/ministering to a group of teens, EVER! I know how I was when I was a teenager and when I first joined Aric in working we these teens, I was terrified! The Lord really helped me to overcome my fears and as of right now, it has been over a year since I started with Leaders' Club and I feel like I really have been blessed by this experience. Not only have I learned a lot about myself but I have also learned a lot about teenagers these days. (makes me feel real old sometimes)
Oh! Yes, if you noticed in the opening sentence, I mentioned we would be leaving at 11pm. That is NO typo. We will meet up with the Montgomery YMCA kids at 10-10:30, at which time we will board one of two charter buses and then depart at 11pm! Did i mention that it is about an 8 hour bus ride? We will be arriving early in the morning and hopefully be somewhat rested. The ride back will be the same way. I am praying this trip goes as smoothly as possible. We will be taking Savannah and some friends of ours will be taking their 22 month old. 7 month pregnant lady, 2 toddlers and a bus full of teens (with some adults chaperoning) traveling in the middle of the night will make for an interesting trip. Please say a prayer for us, not only for safe travels but for the teenagers that will be attending this conference. I am praying that God will reveal himself to them and show them greater things. (about His kingdom and His will in their lives)
Have a fun and safe week everyone!
God Bless!
Emily
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Yes, I changed it again....
in honor of the upcoming holiday. For those of you that read my blog on a somewhat regular basis, you may notice that I changed the background again. I have become a little obsessed with blogging and like to change the background according to different holidays and seasons.
Speaking of the upcoming holiday, happy early 4th of July!
As ususal we don't have any big plans and that is perfectly ok with me. This time last year we bought a little kiddie pool for Savannah and let her play in it for the first time. She loved it! Shortly after that she was crawling. My how time flies! (unfortunately, our dog ate the pool because we left in the backyard blown up. I guess he thought it looked like a fun chew toy)
This year we will be going to Lake Jordan on Friday for Aric's annual office lake day. Aric's boss bought a lake house a few years back and had it completely re-done and I must say, it is awesome! Not a day goes by that we are not thankful for his job and the great benefits that are included.
Back to our plans for the weekend, Saturday is open to whatever we want to do (I love those kind of days) and Sunday is a glorious day to worship our Lord and Savior. Last but not least, Monday is a holiday for Aric (yay for 3 day weekends!) So as you can read, we are pretty simple folks.
One last thing before I go, I also like to post fun facts about the holidays that roll around. I hope you enjoy as much as I do! (it's the small things)
-When the holiday was declared a holiday. Although Independence Day is a legal holiday, it was not declared so until 1941. This was the date that signified the formal adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
-The introduction of fireworks. The 4th of July is synonymous with firework displays and are a staple in the celebration. History shows that they were originally made in China as early as the 11th century. This was during the time that the Chinese people used pyrotechnic mixtures for war rockets and explosives.
-Uncle Sam. The 4th of July facts surrounding the term "Uncle Sam" was finally clarified and popularized during the War of 1812. This is when the term originally appeared on supply containers that held war materials. The "Uncle Sam" symbol became synonymous with servitude and devotion, as in Uncle Sam wants YOU. Although there was heavy recruitment taking place, Congress did not adopt Uncle Sam as national symbol until 1961.
-Two factoids. 1)Full support of the Declaration of Independence was not supported by all members of the Continental Congress 2)a representative of Congress rode horseback 80 miles to reach Philadelphia and break a tie in support of independence.
-The Liberty Bell. Originally there were two versions of the Liberty Bell. At the time of their manufacturing, one was found to be defective and had to be melted and recast. The second bell subsequently was also found to be defective. It too had to be melted down and recast. Without any defective places, the third version of the Liberty Bell rang every 4th of July from 1778 to 1835. According to history and tradition, as it rang, it cracked as it was being tolled for the death of Cheif Justice John Marshall, the longest serving Cheif Justice in the Supreme Court.
-Our national poem. A Wellesley College professor, Katharine Lee Bates, was the author of the patriotic poem, "America the Beautiful" which was published on July 4, 1895.
Happy Independence Day Everyone!
Speaking of the upcoming holiday, happy early 4th of July!
As ususal we don't have any big plans and that is perfectly ok with me. This time last year we bought a little kiddie pool for Savannah and let her play in it for the first time. She loved it! Shortly after that she was crawling. My how time flies! (unfortunately, our dog ate the pool because we left in the backyard blown up. I guess he thought it looked like a fun chew toy)
This year we will be going to Lake Jordan on Friday for Aric's annual office lake day. Aric's boss bought a lake house a few years back and had it completely re-done and I must say, it is awesome! Not a day goes by that we are not thankful for his job and the great benefits that are included.
Back to our plans for the weekend, Saturday is open to whatever we want to do (I love those kind of days) and Sunday is a glorious day to worship our Lord and Savior. Last but not least, Monday is a holiday for Aric (yay for 3 day weekends!) So as you can read, we are pretty simple folks.
One last thing before I go, I also like to post fun facts about the holidays that roll around. I hope you enjoy as much as I do! (it's the small things)
-When the holiday was declared a holiday. Although Independence Day is a legal holiday, it was not declared so until 1941. This was the date that signified the formal adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
-The introduction of fireworks. The 4th of July is synonymous with firework displays and are a staple in the celebration. History shows that they were originally made in China as early as the 11th century. This was during the time that the Chinese people used pyrotechnic mixtures for war rockets and explosives.
-Uncle Sam. The 4th of July facts surrounding the term "Uncle Sam" was finally clarified and popularized during the War of 1812. This is when the term originally appeared on supply containers that held war materials. The "Uncle Sam" symbol became synonymous with servitude and devotion, as in Uncle Sam wants YOU. Although there was heavy recruitment taking place, Congress did not adopt Uncle Sam as national symbol until 1961.
-Two factoids. 1)Full support of the Declaration of Independence was not supported by all members of the Continental Congress 2)a representative of Congress rode horseback 80 miles to reach Philadelphia and break a tie in support of independence.
-The Liberty Bell. Originally there were two versions of the Liberty Bell. At the time of their manufacturing, one was found to be defective and had to be melted and recast. The second bell subsequently was also found to be defective. It too had to be melted down and recast. Without any defective places, the third version of the Liberty Bell rang every 4th of July from 1778 to 1835. According to history and tradition, as it rang, it cracked as it was being tolled for the death of Cheif Justice John Marshall, the longest serving Cheif Justice in the Supreme Court.
-Our national poem. A Wellesley College professor, Katharine Lee Bates, was the author of the patriotic poem, "America the Beautiful" which was published on July 4, 1895.
Happy Independence Day Everyone!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
A late Father's Day tribute
So, I know Father's Day was this past Sunday but my funny husband posted this on Facebook and I thought I would share it here on our blog.
Hope you enjoy as much as I did...oh, and thank you to all the dad's out there. We love you and would be lost without you.
p.s. you may need to pause my ipod music player on the right hand side of the blog so you can hear this better.
Hope you enjoy as much as I did...oh, and thank you to all the dad's out there. We love you and would be lost without you.
p.s. you may need to pause my ipod music player on the right hand side of the blog so you can hear this better.
Dad Life from Church on the Move on Vimeo.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Centerpoint Mission Team in Peru
I really feel like God lead me to make this blog post. I am not sure exactly what I am going to say so, hang in there, it should be worth your while.
This past Sunday our church, during the 9AM service, said a prayer for a group of missionaries that are now on the ground in Lima, Peru. Included in this group are mostly youth, some adults and a sweet family that are dear to our hearts. I have always prayed for mission trips and the missionaries that go on them but there was something different about this time.
I have never been on a mission trip, my husband has and I have known other people that have, and always hear wonderful stories about them. I always hear about how the person that went had intentions of being a blessing for someone else and in turn God takes that blessing and magnifies so that the person serving gets blessed ten fold. I have always thought that was so cool. Our God is always with us, working in our hearts and He does not disappoint!
This group that is in Peru is special. They have a heart for serving and they love the Lord. This may sound very cliche but I just have a feeling something extraordinary is going to happen. I'm sure extraordinary things happen on mission trips all the time, but I feel like this is different.
For those of you that follow our blog, if you could take a few minutes and say a prayer with me for this mission team. I am praying that God will reveal Himself in every situation while the missionaries are there and God will fill the team with the Holy Spirit to spread God's love like never before so that those people who may not know Jesus, will really be able to see Him right there, before their very eyes.
This mission trip is a great reminder for me, that even though I am not actually on a trip with a team in another country, that the mission field is right here, every day. I need to constantly put on the armor of God (as mentioned in Ephesians 6) and be a missionary for my family, friends and community. We all do. Now I am not saying that lightly, because I know it can be difficult. We all get caught up in our day to day routines and may sometimes lose track of where we are heading. If we can just always have that mindset of being on a mission everyday and with prayer and thanksgiving, lift our lives up to the Lord, He will show us the way make us powerful missionaries of Him.
I thank God for missionaries. Not everyone has a heart for missions and for some, it may come easier than others. Please pray for our team and pray for other missionaries out there. People need to hear about Christ and it is through us believers that people can hear about Him.
Thank you and God Bless!
This past Sunday our church, during the 9AM service, said a prayer for a group of missionaries that are now on the ground in Lima, Peru. Included in this group are mostly youth, some adults and a sweet family that are dear to our hearts. I have always prayed for mission trips and the missionaries that go on them but there was something different about this time.
I have never been on a mission trip, my husband has and I have known other people that have, and always hear wonderful stories about them. I always hear about how the person that went had intentions of being a blessing for someone else and in turn God takes that blessing and magnifies so that the person serving gets blessed ten fold. I have always thought that was so cool. Our God is always with us, working in our hearts and He does not disappoint!
This group that is in Peru is special. They have a heart for serving and they love the Lord. This may sound very cliche but I just have a feeling something extraordinary is going to happen. I'm sure extraordinary things happen on mission trips all the time, but I feel like this is different.
For those of you that follow our blog, if you could take a few minutes and say a prayer with me for this mission team. I am praying that God will reveal Himself in every situation while the missionaries are there and God will fill the team with the Holy Spirit to spread God's love like never before so that those people who may not know Jesus, will really be able to see Him right there, before their very eyes.
This mission trip is a great reminder for me, that even though I am not actually on a trip with a team in another country, that the mission field is right here, every day. I need to constantly put on the armor of God (as mentioned in Ephesians 6) and be a missionary for my family, friends and community. We all do. Now I am not saying that lightly, because I know it can be difficult. We all get caught up in our day to day routines and may sometimes lose track of where we are heading. If we can just always have that mindset of being on a mission everyday and with prayer and thanksgiving, lift our lives up to the Lord, He will show us the way make us powerful missionaries of Him.
I thank God for missionaries. Not everyone has a heart for missions and for some, it may come easier than others. Please pray for our team and pray for other missionaries out there. People need to hear about Christ and it is through us believers that people can hear about Him.
Thank you and God Bless!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
just blogging...
We have survived our first week at MDO! For the summer Savannah is only going 2 days a week: Monday and Wednesday. That may change in the fall but we will just have to see. I didn't get as much done around the house as I thought I would with her being gone. I didn't plan very well on Monday by cleaning the kitchen and living room. I can do that kind of stuff when she is here. I should have gotten in her room and tackled it, because that is the most difficult to do. She likes to get in there while I am cleaning and undo everything I have just picked up. It is also hard to clean her room when she is napping. I will plan better next week and try to do stuff that I really can't get done while she is here. Savannah did very well for her first week at MDO. She cried for literally, a minute, at drop off on Monday. I wasn't able to take her on Wednesday because I had to take the 3 hour glucose tolerance test (yuck) but Aric said she did very well. The two teachers in her room are very sweet and on Monday when I went to pick her up she was so happy! On Wednesday she had fallen asleep, took a good nap when we got home and woke up happy. Happy baby=happy mommy! I think she will really enjoy it for the remainder of the summer and then we will continue doing this in the fall and even the spring. I'll be honest, I really wasn't that nervous dropping her off the first day like I thought I would be. It really just felt like dropping her off at our church's nursery on Sunday's. (I guess it did help that we had been there before and met the teacher's so we kind of knew what to expect.) Either that or maybe I was just ready for a break! :)
P.S. As for the new picture at the top of our blog. This is one my favorites. This picture was taken while on our trip to the mountains. She had just woken up and already wanted to go outside. That is why she is wearing her PJ's and sandals and her hair is a mess. Anyway, I have tried and tried to capture her "cheesin" face that she makes when she smiles really big and this was the best I could get. I absolutely love it and just had to share!
A couple of weeks ago was Savannah's 18 month check-up. It was uneventful but I will go ahead and mention a few things about it. She weighs 23lbs and is 30 1/2 inches long. Her head circumference is 19 inches! Basically I have petite baby with a big head! (lol) Aric and I tend to joke to one another about how big her head is. We aren't doing it to be mean, I promise, but as big as her head is, she can really pull it off because we think she is still SO CUTE! She got one shot, cried for a few seconds and then was fine. She seems to be doing well developmentally. Everything she does seems to be right on track with her age. For example, stacking blocks, saying a lot of words, mimicking (sp?), trying to dress herself and feeding herself. Those are just few things that doctor asked about. I have to share one cute thing she is now doing that we have been working with her on. Praying. Before meals, specifically. She will take our hands and sort of bow her head while we pray and then at the end of the prayer she very energetically says, AMEN! It is really cute and we hope and pray that this is the start of many more spiritual lessons to come.
I believe I have mentioned before that Savannah's favorite new word is "NO". And she uses it in the right context. She has also become quite the little whiner and tantrum thrower if she doesn't get her way. We are trying very hard to work with her on this but it is tough! Anyone else having similar issues with her toddler?? Please let me know how you handle it because sometimes she acts out in ways I just can't believe! We went to a birthday party last weekend and they had one of the huge blow up/jumper slides. I convinced Aric to carry her on there, since there were mostly big kids playing, I didn't want her to get trampled. Savannah ended up loving it and of course wanted to go again and again and again. I even took her up a few times. When we decided she had enough we told her "no more" and she threw her first real tantrum ever. She pulled out all the bells and whistles for this one. She threw herself on the floor, screaming bloody murder and crying hysterically. I picked her up, looked her in the eye, told her to stop or she will get a spanking. She didn't stop so I spanked her and told her that this was not the right way to behave at a birthday party, then I just let her cry it out. She stopped a little while later and was fine for the rest of the time. WHEW! Whether she understood me or not, I don't know but it was tough! Disciplining an 18 month old is not easy. (for me anyway)
As for the whining, she is the queen of it. I try every day to get her to tell me what she wants, sometimes she does and sometimes she doesn't. I know people say be careful what you wish for, but sometimes I do wish she could just go ahead and say complete sentences so I knew what she wants or doesn't want. I feel like that would ease the whining a little. As headstrong as she can be sometimes, she can also be the sweetest little princess. Oh, joys of parenting. There is never a dull moment.
I recently just had another prenatal checkup. I am now 28 weeks along and everything is looking great. The baby's heartbeat is strong at around 148 and my belly is measuring about 28 centimeters. Everyone keeps telling me how little I look to be due in September but I don't feel little. Getting around is more difficult these days and I sweat at just the thought of being hot. I did fail my 1hour glucose screening. (by 4 points) The doctors like to see anything below 140 and I was at 144. I had to take the 3 hour tolerance test yesterday. I also had to take it with Savannah and everything turned out fine. I am pretty confident that it will turn out fine this time. My next appointment is July 7! I can't believe how fast September 3 is coming. That is right around the corner! I cannot wait to meet my sweet baby boy! (I still have a hard time saying that) I am just so used to girls I don't know what to do with a boy but I am so excited! I LOVE him so much already and look forward to raising 2 beautiful children.
One last thing and I really need to go. It is grocery store day and I'd like to go ahead and get it done before the heat of the day gets here.
I have recently started a new book called "Grace Based Parenting" by Dr. Tim Kimmel. I am only on Chapter 3 but so far it is wonderful. I suggest that every parent purchase this book and read it. It is a very easy read and the author expains a new way of learning to see ourselves and our children through God's limitless tenderness-to raise our kids the way God raises us. The author focuses on the model and guidance provided by God who is the ultimate child and family expert. (I just paraphrased the description on the back of the book)
Enjoy your day everyone! God bless!
Emily
P.S. As for the new picture at the top of our blog. This is one my favorites. This picture was taken while on our trip to the mountains. She had just woken up and already wanted to go outside. That is why she is wearing her PJ's and sandals and her hair is a mess. Anyway, I have tried and tried to capture her "cheesin" face that she makes when she smiles really big and this was the best I could get. I absolutely love it and just had to share!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Summer 2010 Pictures
The first few pictures are from Savannah's 1st day at MDO. Truth be told, though, this was last week when I originally thought MDO started. Either way, you get the point. She looked just as cute today, I just forgot to take pictures. (hmm...surprise, surprise)
The next two pictures are self explanatory. The last set, however, is from our trip to Blue Ridge, GA. I have many more pictures of the cabin and other scenic shots that I am trying to put up on Facebook but it is just not letting me right now. We had a fabulous time! The scenic train ride, took us along the Toccoa River and it was about an hour long. Our destination was McCaysville, TN where we had about 2 1/2 hours to shop, eat and site see. We then hopped back on the train back to GA and enjoyed the rest of the weekend.
Cute lunchbox I got to go with the backpack
Cute backpack I got for MDO
First day at MDO
My sweetie!
Savannah swinging at Ainsley's 2nd birthday
On 0ur hike at Fall Branch Falls
Aric and Savannah on the hike
The train we took to McCaysville, TN
The Toccoa River
Another scenic shot along our train ride
The next two pictures are self explanatory. The last set, however, is from our trip to Blue Ridge, GA. I have many more pictures of the cabin and other scenic shots that I am trying to put up on Facebook but it is just not letting me right now. We had a fabulous time! The scenic train ride, took us along the Toccoa River and it was about an hour long. Our destination was McCaysville, TN where we had about 2 1/2 hours to shop, eat and site see. We then hopped back on the train back to GA and enjoyed the rest of the weekend.
Cute lunchbox I got to go with the backpack
Cute backpack I got for MDO
First day at MDO
My sweetie!
Savannah swinging at Ainsley's 2nd birthday
On 0ur hike at Fall Branch Falls
Aric and Savannah on the hike
The train we took to McCaysville, TN
The Toccoa River 
Another scenic shot along our train ride
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