Firsts

It has been about six months since I've written much of anything on this blog. I guess I knew myself fairly well when I titled this blog a few years ago.

I know, I know, you've missed me. Well, you can put your Kleenex away because I'm back. Well, back to my "not-so-daily self" that is. I decided I couldn't start blogging again unless I recapped the last six months. Don't worry, I'll be brief.

Samuel went on his first camping trip.

He also had his first day of pre-school.

Gabby ate her first apple off a tree.

And she also won her first award - best costume at our super hero themed harvest party. She was "Grape Girl with Antioxidant Power!"

Samuel had his first experience inside a fire truck.

My husband attended his first party as a Doctor!!!

Gabby wore her first ponytails.

The cousins celebrated their first Christmas all together.

I made it to Courtney's "new" place for the first time.

And... I got highlights for the first time EVER!

Photo Shoot

Earlier this summer we had the wonderful opportunity of doing a photo shoot with one of our favorite people, Miss Amanda! If you have not yet checked out her photography site, you really should do so. She's awesome!!! We laughed, we cried, we had the time of our lives...

Well almost.

Anyway, here's the finished product. Samuel was not totally cooperative and Gabrielle only balled her eyes out once. Amanda picked some interesting locations... a beautiful lake, a grassy knoll behind an Arby's drive thru, a wasp infested shack...

We really did have fun and we certainly laughed a lot!

My week in review and some funny stuff too!

I can't believe I've not had a moment to put up a post. I could go on and on with a list of all that's been going on but I'll spare you the boring details.

Instead I'll just give you a few highlights of the week.

My sweet Gabby girl was dedicated to the Lord at our church last Sunday. We actually managed to get there on time. The kids wore their Easter outfits a week early! And oh how I enjoyed shopping for those girly white patent leather sandals.

Gabrielle and Pastor Josh

Daddy saying a few words about his baby girl.

As I stood there during the dedication, I realized just how much dedication is a daily heart issue and not an event. It starts the moment a baby is formed in the womb. We can eat well, rest, exercise, take vitamins, etc. but the rest is up to God. And so it goes from there... day to day, month to month, year to year. You do the best you know how to and the rest is up to God. How thankful I am to have such a faith in a God who knows my (His) child even better than I do and cares for my children even better than I can. I am an anxious type and so this is the place my head and heart can rest. It is so good to rest.

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On a lighter note,

Samuel has been cracking me up lately. And it would only be appropriate if I share the latest. You bet I got my camera out as fast as I could...


"I'm just pumping a little milk, mom."

Yes, that is what he said. Tim and I were instantly rolling on the floor with laughter. And of course I grabbed my camera as fast as I could. That's what a good mom would do right???



Look at the block carefully. You press the yellow ball at the top and the tube in bottom concave part moves in and out causing the wheel on the block to spin. For those of you who are experienced pumpers you would have to agree he's one smart boy. It really does resemble a breast pump.

Poor kid. Scarred for life.

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My dear friend, Val, had her baby this week. Welcome to the world Rebekah Faith!!!

I was honored to visit during labor. Childbirth never ceases to amaze me!!!

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It's Good Friday today and we have been reading the Easter story this week. This morning Samuel and I were having a heart to heart about discipline issues. Things have been really tough in this arena lately. REALLY tough. I might just be bald by the time this kid turns 4.

Anyway... we were chatting and I was wondering what he would say if I asked him what would be a good discipline for disobeying. Sometimes I just like to get into that little head of his. He said, "I don't know mom... please just don't nail me a to a cross."


Don't worry Samuel honey, mommy would NEVER do that. Oh my gosh!!! Is it really OK to read the Easter story to your 3 year old? At least he loves the part when Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene and turns her tears of sorrow to joy!

Lets catch up some more...

A few posts back I ran through the laundry list of all that has been going on in our lives - the good, the bad and the ugly. Well, here is a photo of the latter.

I mentioned that Tim had an accident at work. He was cutting some lung tissue on the cryostat machine when his hands slipped into the blade and there was blood - A LOT of blood. He wound up lacerating three of his fingers and thankfully the cuts were deep but not deep enough to hit bone!

This is all a distant memory now, but it was a ton of work taking care of my entire family. Tim could not use his hands for pretty much a week or so. Which meant I got to shower him, shave him, feed him, etc. I'm sure you don't need ALL the details. He also could not help me with the kids or the dishes or the laundry or the garbage... I was one busy woman.

To top it off, Gabrielle got a raging ear infection on New Years. This is my first experience with an ear infection. My poor baby girl cried a lot of tears. Unfortunately the first round of antibiotics did not completely get rid of that rotten little bacteria in her ear so we had to do a second round. Hopefully that will take care of it. Still, I keep hearing all these horror stories about persistent ear infections from various people. She has taken almost 30 days of antibiotics in about a 35 day period. I am giving her probiotics and so far no signs of thrush - just a lot of diarrhea.

Take a look at this pic. This is real life here at our house. Gabrielle, with a constant snot bubble, Samuel picking his nose, and me looking EXHAUSTED.

Good news is that Gabrielle has now been snot free for about 5 days, Samuel is healthy and Tim's hands are on the mend. We are slowly returning to life as we know it.

The past 10 days...

Warning: This is a real life post!

I'm back. We have officially moved and I am officially exhausted!

I will at some point regret posting this picture.

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Let me sum up the past 10 days for you all:

We sold our mobile home, filled a 24" moving truck to the max and moved about 10 minutes down the road.

We all caught a cold for the occasion.

I didn't flip out during the move (if you know me, you know this is a very good thing!) although I did have a moment where the grace was not being extended toward my father-in-law when he asked where I wanted my entertainment center. It was the one decision that teetered me over the edge. I really am sorry.

We had amazing help throughout the process - Brian and his 3 buddies, all the men from church, sweet Debbie who adores my kids, my super duper packers - Eileen & Vic, Dan and Dad, Sally who fed us and Teresa (who I swear is an angel). I can't THANK you enough!

Samuel slept through the night 5 nights in a row (TOTAL MIRACLE!) in his new twin bed in his new room.

Gabrielle on the other hand is waking, oh between 4-6 times a night - teething and snot will do that to you.

MOST of the boxes are unpacked but no decorating has begun.

We now have white walls with neighbors on each side.

Each neighbor has 3 kids all under the age of 7. It can get pretty rowdy around here. And I think my kid might be the loudest.

We have two floors - good-bye cellulite, hello thighs of steel!

Samuel decided all the rules from the old house were non-transferable!!! Good grief - I never knew we could do time out that many times in a day!

Everything here is new, clean and spacious! I am in organizing heaven!

My hubby and I are still on the same page! PRICELESS!

We are on the move

If you read my last post all the way through, you know that we are on the move.


We've been happy in our little mobile home for about 4 1/2 years. We started our family here and it's been our home in every sense of the word. We've painted the inside and out, planted shrubs, put up a shed, hung new shutters, the list could go on.


We have outgrown our space, and with Tim still working on his doctorate, it's just not time for a house. So, off we go to a rental townhouse. It will be an adjustment since I haven't had to share walls with strangers in a long time. I guess they won't be strangers for too long.

Samuel is so excited about moving. I was so worried about the transition, but we brought him over to see our new home and he had a blast. He absolutely loves that the townhouse has multiple floors.

Saturday is moving day, so I've got to pack up the whole house. I may get a post or two in during this crazy time, but no promises. Talk to you soon.

Bye, bye, little home, bye, bye!

Harvest Fun - Part 2

Today is Election Day. Please vote!!! It counts!

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My mother came to visit us last weekend. It was about time. We had not seen her in 5 months. We had a great visit. She played a ton with Samuel. Gabrielle adored her and I just loved having her company.

Samuel and Nana had a great time getting out the pumpkin guts.

My little Picasso got his paint brush out and created a pumpkin masterpiece.

Despite samuel's pleading, I did the carving.

Our finished product. Can you guess who our pumpkin is?

This past weekend was our totally awesome Harvest Party at church. It is a safe alternative to "trick or treating." Here are my two kiddos all ready to go.

If you read this post then you would understand why my little girl is dressed as a bee. I made her costume for less than $6. Don't you just love the pink pom poms?

Dr. Samuel and his buddy, Judah.

Samuel won best costume for the night. I was totally shocked because he was not dressed for the theme of the party "Adventure Quest." Regardless, I was so happy for him. I'm not sure he totally got what was going on, but he knew he was special when he got applause from all the other kids and parents.

Way to go Samuel-Boo!!!