happy "valentime's day" spelling is correct ;-)

"happy valentime's day" (i hope it will always be "valentime's day") a little late in the day! once you have kids, valentines day is really whenever they have their school parties, not necessarily on the actual day....so this was put off a little. both girls had their valentine's parties last week (not sure why kylee had hers last week....why not start the week off with a party). candy is again coming out of our ears.

i can't stand that every time i sit down to post something, i forget EVERYTHING i was going to say. darn it!! the girls have been saying the funniest things lately and i can't remember all of them, but one of them is the "ducks of huzzard." kylee came and told me about this show alan had let her watch and kept saying something about "ducks," i was so confused. i finally went to alan to clarify...."dukes of hazard!" oh, and tonight we were sitting at dinner, watching the news when an old picture of elizabeth taylor comes on and kylee pipes up and says that she has an "air fro!" alan and i look at each other and start cracking up. it didn't take her to long to figure out that she meant "afro." alaina, today in the car told me to stop talking because her knees hurt. it just made me laugh. out of the mouths of babes! speaking of laughing, mya still does not laugh, well, she does laugh it just sounds more like a high pitched cough...if you can imagine. it's pretty funny! all it takes is for you to start laughing then she will get all excited. she has finally accomplished putting "puffs" in her mouth. it has amazed us that everything else can go in her mouth, but she couldn't put a puff or a yogurt melt into her mouth. so we have been helping her and when she gets it, we all cheer...and she LOVES that!! it is really funny, because when we started putting things on her tray it looked like a game of hungry, hungry hippos....her hands attacking the puff, only pushing it away with her fingers. so funny!

the next couple of weeks are going to be busy, birthday month is coming and i need to get prepared....and start thinking of all the things i need to gather together for our little adventure. it's time to make some more lists! oh boy! wish me luck. anyway, i hope everyone had a great valentines day. we did! i just love my honey's practicality and love....he got me a book light for my kindle (so i don't have to look like a miner at night) and a movie that i was never able to see at the theaters (hope it is good). thank you sweetie. i love you so much!! i love all my funny little valentines!!

random

naptime....sweet sleeper!!!

i'm up ;-)

coach papooh and his girl!

today after a little latte stop, it was time to take miss lainey to school. since it was a little out of the way, i think it may have confused her. she proceeds to tell me that we are going the wrong way (we were just going a different way) so i asked her how we should go...."we need to go back there, then back, then turn. that is the easiest way." sounds simple enough to me! it made me laugh. i love kid directions. i wish she could have given them to the two people from craigslist that stood us up. i recently posted a few items on craigslist to help buy our girls a swing set this spring. i responded to the first person and we agreed to meet at a store at 3:30....we all loaded up in the car, and waited and waited until i called him asking if he was still coming. his response "never mind," and hung up. okay! then alan spoke with the next person who said he would come by that evening, but it wouldn't be until after the superbowl, but because it would be so late they decided that the next day would be better...so he said that he would call the next evening. the next evening, no phone call....and no response after alan called. why are people so inconsiderate? if you don't want it, no big deal, really! but to stand someone up, or not to respond...not cool. i was so irritated yesterday i could scream. luckily the third time was the charm. done!!

oh, and kylee just finished up basketball this past weekend. she had a good time. and it was fun to watch....they really showed improvement over the weeks that they played and made a few friends too. thanks dad for being willing to coach. kylee has already asked if you are going to coach again next time. we may have to do a little practicing this summer ;-) when lainey saw the trophies being pulled out of the boxes she announced that she wanted to play next year so she could get a trophy too....i think she should just borrow kylee's! i guess we'll see!

and sweet mya, i just couldn't resist sneaking up on her during her nap. i have loved watching each one of the girls sleep. too bad the camera wakes them up ;-) when i was putting her to bed the other night she was wide awake, not wanting to go to bed, she leans in for a big open mouth baby kiss. so sweet...even if it turned into a game of sorts....getting out of going to bed! she kept turning her head away, then turn back to find my lips and give me a kiss, over and over again. the next morning alan is making his good bye rounds when he comes to her...he leans down to give her a kiss and she gives him one back! this causes excitement from everyone, so everyone lines up to get a kiss from miss mya...kylee first, she gets one, then lainey, she gets one....then me...NOPE! what the heck? can you tell i was a little disappointed? i guess i will have to wait until she doesn't want to go to bed at night! little stinker ;-)

snow days...snow days

starting the valentines month off right with a little sweetheart hot chocolate (soy of course)...strawberry marshmallows are actually pretty awesome in chocolate! not to mention, they look kinda pretty!!

playing parachute with the blanket...

my little poser.....and her sister!

you never know what face your going to get! when she was just a few months old i took a series of pictures of her making so many different expressions (i think i even blogged about it)....still to this day she will have a different look in five frames...our funny valentine!

it looks like we will be adding a few extra days to the school year....oh boy! this winter is starting to remind me of last year. i'm not even sure we have had one full week of school yet since christmas break.....geesh! so yesterday was a fun day, playing, watching movies and drinking hot chocolate, but today......is home schooling day. you can call us mean, but they need to put there little brains to work.....then they can kill a few brain cells watching bye bye birdie and yes, that movie was my suggestion....checked it out from the library on monday (anticipating snow days...because i am actually a little tired of watching star wars)...needless to say it was a huge hit. kylee was actually moaning and groaning about having to watch it (like i was twisting her arm or something), then in the midst of watching it she stopped to thank me because she really liked it. go figure!

you would think that snow days would be a good time to clean, but not in my house...what is the point really. there is a trail that follows each kid. i wish kids understood that their little lives would be so much easier if they would just pick up after themselves before moving on to the next task. why can't they figure this out?? i don't like having to tell them over and over again, but i am not going to pick it up either. that is why weekend cleaning is better...they go back to school after it is clean...ha! well, maybe not in the winter ;-)

i think being cooped up indoors has helped mya finally get back on track...just in time to mess her up again when we go on our trip that has a four hour time difference. we think she has also started to do a wave of sorts. when she sees you across the room and you say "hi" she moves her arm up and down and waves her fingers towards herself. it's pretty cute! she's getting so big...they all are...but don't i always say this??

picture overload......

the time just slips by....well, actually, i think it runs right by me. i have been looking back at older pictures of the girls and it reminds me how big they are. kylee is going to be eight and alaina five in just a couple of months. alaina is at the age where she is losing all her baby features...her face just seems more mature. when i thought of her turning five, i started thinking about the big year ahead of us. losing teeth, kindergarten...reading. can this really be? just yesterday it seems she had a few hairs on her head and was giving me silly faces every time i got the camera out. if you can't tell, the reality of all of this is hitting me pretty hard. my babies are growing up. speaking of babies, mya is now 7 months old! serious as ever, but as sweet as can be. december was a bit of a rough month, seeing as how she decided she wanted to act like a brand new newborn and wanted to be awake all night!!! that was fun! can you see the sarcasm dripping from my lips? it has taken about three to four weeks, but i think we may be getting back to normalcy.....i think...and hope!

it's been so long since i posted , christmas, new years and our first snow days have come and gone. christmas was wonderful....even if everyone had a cold the week leading up to it. every year i hope with all my heart that the celebration of our saviors birth will be just that....a celebration! though it was, why is it that i let all the business consume me. i was very overwhelmed and bit stressed this season because i was busy with work...and still trying to make everything just right for christmas. i really hate (especially hate to admit) that i get so frazzled, that i don't STOP....and rejoice and celebrate why we celebrate. did i make any sense...or am i just babbling? i could come up with a million excuses, but none of them would ever be good enough. i think i need a plan of action for next year. but aside from that, it was wonderful. the girls had a great time. santa brought kylee a "DS" and alaina a "lainey, american girl doll" and mya a silver rattle (which she loves). we were able to spend Christmas with everyone and it was great...and the fact we were able to celebrate an additional day was even better. one thing that made me laugh was when lainey opened one of her gifts (an ironing board)..."oh boy, now i can iron with daddy!" yes, did you get that...."daddy," not mommy!!! i hate to iron, nor am i any good at it, but alan is awesome! i thought that was pretty cute. one morning while on christmas break after leaving the room, i come back to find kylee on all fours (with reindeer antlers on) in front of the exersaucer which held mya (with a santa hat on), and alaina in the rear pushing the exersaucer....yes, we had kylee the reindeer, santa in her sleigh and alaina the elf pushing the sleigh. so awesome and so creative...and i love how they include mya in their play....even if she has no idea what the heck is going on. they all have a great time. i know there are more stories, but of course none are coming to mind right now. the girls are just getting so big that the stories are more serious now instead of funny....however, i think we will always have stories of alaina running into walls that jump out at her, or her falling off chairs (like the ground was a magnet).

new years we were able to have our friends over from across the street to have a little wii dance party action. the kids had a ball! i wish i can say that i was a big enough person to participate, but i can't....i don't think that will happen unless i am completely alone....even then i may embarrass myself. it really was a nice christmas break...i think the girls would agree. they kept so busy between grandparents and there aunt d. i must admit, i wasn't dying for them to go back to school like i have been in the past. it was really nice to not have to rush around in the morning...staying in our pjs....yes, lovely. i was actually sad for them to go back. but just like last year, it didn't last too long....we had two snow days in a row the week after they went back to school! and this monday they don't have school again. oh, the life!! but from the lips of babes, "i hate preschool, i want to go to college!" alaina (because she thinks that is when you get a cell phone). what a goof, but man do i love her....all my girls. they are AWESOME!!!!

i feel like i am forgetting something....hmmm. i guess i'll just have to post again in a month or so...ha, ha!!

SIX months....(tear!)

i just love six month old babies...they are just so cute and so much fun...but why is it that my baby is already six months old today? can this be? the first year just seems to flash by in the wink of an eye and it makes me a little sad. i just love this girl to pieces and don't want her to grow up so fast, just like her big sisters. i do have to say that the really fun times are just about to begin. this is the time that goes even faster because they are doing so much.

she is already rolling over (one side preferred of course), and yesterday she sat up by herself...for a few minutes...and in our bed (which gave her a little more butt support i think). she still doesn't laugh a whole lot, but smiles all the time especially when her daddy walks in the room. however, alan did get her to laugh really good last night (when i was at work of course....but thank you so much for calling me to let me hear it). she gets so excited when she sees certain things she likes...like the tv. the kid won't eat if there is a tv on in the room! one thing she has been doing for the past few weeks is when i pick her up from her crib after a nap...she is all smiles, then buries her face in my neck and shoulder...i kiss on her neck, then she lifts her head back up. then i ask her "where are my snuggles?" she buries her face back into my neck...and the whole process repeats itself two or three times. i love that the 'cause and effect' thing is starting to happen. it makes everything a little funnier...and sweeter too! oh, and who ever said that the more kids you have the less and less pictures you have of them....not in this house!!!! the baby book may be neglected almost entirely, but not photos of my girls for heavens sake.

so my dearest mya patricia, you are half a year old today. i can't believe it...but what i can believe is how wonderful you are! you stole my heart the before i even new you. you are so precious and so sweet. your daddy and i are the luckiest parents to have three amazing little girls. when i look at the three of you...or even think about you, i just smile. i am looking forward to the next six months and forever with you. love you my sweet 'my pie.' -mommy

hello

five month picture of miss mya......

i should be in bed right now...it was only a few hours ago and i was yawning feeling oh so tired....but i guess i got a second wind. i thought i would let my brain unwind a little bit. it needs to be wrung out. it's been so crazy around her i haven't been able to keep up. i did however take most of the day off from editing photos and other busy work to put up the christmas tree. yes, the christmas spirit bit me in the butt today! i just love it when the house is decorated for christmas, it just feels so warm and cozy...it also makes me want to bake. need to stay away from that for a little while. the girls helped get all the ornaments out...making a mess and fighting the entire time. we popped popcorn and had cheese and apples for lunch while we decorated....though i had to fight for my food....little piggies were on the loose! each year since i was pregnant with kylee we have gotten each one of the girls a brand new ornament, one that somewhat reflects them at their stage in life. it is always so fun to pull them out and reminisce. it was interesting though to look at the three or four "baby's first christmas" ornaments kylee got and alaina and mya just one (don't worry girls, you are loved just the same...trust me). it's not that the same excitement isn't there for each one, i think it is just the practicality of it all...what baby needs four "first baby's christmas" ornaments.....just funny!

i am so excited to celebrate this year...our little family is complete! four years ago after alaina was born i decided it was time to have matching stockings. so i found some really cute ones at target. not realizing until i went to hang them that i didn't just buy four, i bought five. i never took it back because i new that there was just one more little person who needed to have their name on that stocking. even though she will never remember this christmas i am so glad she is here with us! i will remember it for her ;-)

speaking of mya, she is growing like a weed! seriously, it really hit me the other day when she was sitting in alaina'a lap....she looked huge. what the heck, where has the time gone...it really doesn't seem fair. she is finally starting to laugh more (with a lot of work on our part of course). she is really in to watching bella too! let's just say that poor little bella is getting a lot more play time because i can kill two birds with one stone....entertain the baby and play with the dog. speaking of killing, i went down stairs before a photo shoot yesterday to set up...i went over to the basement window to see if i could spot the GIGANTIC spider that has been living in window well. well, instead of a spider i saw furr...yes, furr! it was lying in the corner under a peace of plastic. i watched it to see if it was breathing, and sure enough it was.....ooooh! i ran outside to tell alan. he brought with him our neighbor who said it was a mouse. alan asked what we should do with it and he said "kill it." the next thing i know our neighbor (good ole' country boy) is down in the window well stomping on the mouse. OH MY GOODNESS!!!! it was horrible. alan was later making fun of me because they could both hear me in the house yelling like a little girl...but come on, it was nasty and sad all at the same time. if fact when i went to bed last night, the first vision i saw when i closed my eyes was a foot stomping on that thing. don't get me wrong, i am grateful that he was able to do it because i guarantee that alan nor i would have been able to do much about it. i am just glad the girls were not around!!

before i sign off i have to tell a little funny kyleeism. kylee has been very interested in nutcrackers lately (probably because they are everywhere), so i have been telling her that i would really like to take her to the "nutcracker" next year when she is eight (because that is the first time i saw it....and i LOVED it!) well, in the car tonight kylee proceeds to tell me that she doesn't think she wants to go to the nutcracker. i asked her why and this was her response....."i don't think i want to go watch a play about nutcrackers eating nuts!" i just about fell over. that was awesome...and so is she! just love that girl!!! i don't think i would want to do that either honey ;-)

:5 mo:

can it be so that my baby is five months old already? my fuzzy head, smiley girl is getting so big....it is making me sad :-( today i am so thankful for the little snuggle/nap time we had this afternoon. she hasn't fallen asleep on my chest since she was a few weeks old (she would rather be in her crib)...i savored every second...even though i had my eyes closed too!

her daily routine hasn't changed much. she still doesn't take very long naps...maybe an hour or so. she has started eating veggies and LOVEs them! however, the diet changes have constipated the poor thing...the one time she does try to poop is in the bathtub....oooh gross! she will finally roll over from her tummy to her back (she still doesn't like to spend much time on her tummy). she is really grabbing things and bringing them to her mouth. when she wants to be she is super smiley and very vocal. her sweet sounds are like music to my ears. i am trying to think of other things that she is doing...i know there are more. one thing i do know is that she is AWESOME! we love her so much.

"worstest" day

i feel as though i have lost my creativity when writing blog post. we have funny things happen all the time, it just seems that i forget them too quickly...and when i do remember i don't have my computer or a piece of paper to write them down. my brain is mush....complete mush! even sticky notes don't help anymore (i lose those before i can use them). these past few weeks have been super busy...and i think they will continue to be busy until the holidays are over!

anyway, kylee didn't have school yesterday (or today), so the day started very early (6:30 am)...why is it that when kids have to be up for school they can't drag themselves out of bed, but on days off, they are up at the crack of dawn? i am sure i did it when i was a kid, but for the life of me, i just cannot figure out "why?" so, early morning = tired kid...emotional kid, cranky kid....mouthy kid...hmmmm. needless to say that yesterday wasn't a great day. it didn't help that it was a thursday, and thursdays i lay low because i have to work at night. that meant that kylee and i had very different ideas of what the day should look like. to her....a vacation, to me.....rest and mentally prepare for the evening (mind you lainey did have to go to school in the am). so what ever didn't go my little darling's way, the tears would flow, the arms would flail and the words, "this is the worstest day EVER!" would pour out. poor kid! i really did and do feel bad....she has been in school for a while and isn't used to our little daily routine...it's pretty boring (especially on a thursdays). i guess what i need next time is to prepare myself for no rest and just stop and enjoy the time i have with her. i really hate that i don't do this more often. i am always doing, doing...not stopping! she is such a good kid and i love her to pieces. i feel like i need to just stop and get to know her better...in this stage of life. she is growing up so fast and i miss out on so much...so much of her, when i am "going" all the time. her sweet, tender heart is so big and i want a piece of it...and i want to give her a piece of mine! she deserves that and much more...each one of the girls do. i am learning each an every day!! Lord, please help me to be quiet and still, even in the most busiest of days....help me to be slow to speak and quick to love and embrace my girls (and husband too!)

this is what i found at work in my lunch bag......

adventure

adventures.....the first one i want to mention is the adventure my husband and i have been on for the last nine years (actually a lot longer, but today was the day we said "i do" nine years ago). my man is the greatest...he's my best friend, and i cannot imagine my life without him. each day is a new adventure, i look forward to many more....hand in hand. i love you babe!!

the second adventure is the one lainey and i got to go on the other day. tuesday was lainey's fall field trip with her preschool to the "red barn farm." our plan was to meet everyone there because i needed to take big sis to school then wait for someone to come and watch little sis....so, we left following google maps directions.....taking k-7 most of the way....big mistake. so we go, and go and go, then go the wrong way, then go another wrong way...then it starts to rain...then we go another wrong way. i ask lainey if it is okay if we go home if we can't find it.....she says "sure" (not seeming to be too disappointed) but i said i would give it another try, if not we would have our own adventure. so we drove down this road and found an apple orchard. we went inside the store to ask if we could just walk around the orchard...because no one was there, there were no apples and most of the pumpkins had been picked....and it was raining. so we put on our boots and went walking in the rain. we found a pumpkin and bought some jelly beans and called it good! our very own adventure ;-) when we were pulling out...guess what i saw? the sign for the red barn farm directly across the street. so we head on down that road and met up with her class for the last half an hour of the field trip. fun times! i think we both enjoyed it best when it was just the two of us ;-) sweet little moments with my middle wee one!

:4mo:

i CANNOT believe that four months have passed since this precious little girl came into our lives! super sweet and super serious....we love her. little miss mya p, four months seems such a short amount of time...but my, how much love can fill that time. your smile lights up my heart! i guess you can say you "turn on my heartlight" (words from a favorite of mine....neil diamond...wink, wink) yes, i love me a little neil diamond...one day i am sure you will laugh at me...everyone else does! you really are such a delightful little person already. you are changing so much, so fast. you are now starting to grab things and really pay attention to what you are doing. you love the TV! in fact, i can't feed you in the same room if the TV is on...you get a little distracted. oh, and you are finally lifting your head and chest up when on your tummy....though it is quite loud when you do this.... a lot of grunting. with a 4 year gap between you and alaina, it is amazing how much you forget what babies do do! i love it. i love you! i love all my girls. i have the greatest little family ever!!! i am such a lucky mommy ;-) thank you Jesus!

5 days over due

working on it!!!!

feeling much better!!!

5 days+ no poop = very stinky baby!!! for the last five days mya has been passing an obscene amount of gas...and i am talking "foul" smelling. she could clear a room or two! i started to panic a little bit sunday night...i don't think i have heard of any babies who were constipated while breastfeeding. but instead of freaking out i just prayed. i couldn't believe i was praying for poop....actually, i wish i would remember to pray for the simpler things ALL the time. we're supposed to! well, He heard and answered. when i was feeding her this morning the eye brows furrowed, the eyes began to water and the chair started to vibrate...and i started cheering her on! boy was i in for a treat. oh my goodness. poor baby had to feel better after that. i think she weighed a few pounds lighter. it was one of the most disgusting things i have seen in a long time....it was everywhere. sure was a good thing daddy wasn't around....i would have been cleaning up after him too. after we got all cleaned up she took a two hour nap. i guess pooping that much will take it out of you ;-) i am so glad that all of cyberspace can know about my daughters first bout of constipation...or whatever you want to call it. she'll be so proud one of these days...mommy loves you honey!!

no pictures tonight...just a little talk. i am sitting here in my office preparing for a busy day of photo shoots tomorrow. the windows are open, the weather is perfect, mya is sleeping, the girls are with papooh and nana....all is good...quiet and peaceful! i have been looking over and over my calendar for the month of october and my head begins to spin. i think i keep looking at it hoping a few things may disappear, but they don't. i don't want to whine because being busy is a good thing...my brain just has to process and organize it all. each phase of life has it's own "busy." it just takes a little time getting used to. right now it's babies, homework, work, bath times and bedtimes, field trips, doctors appointments, grocery shopping....trying to keep the house clean. as i listen to the announcer at the high school football game (it's actually pretty fun to hear....brings back SOOOOOOOOO many memories), just a short ways away i start to think of the different kind of "busy" our lives will be then. not to rush anything, but it is exciting. sitting here thinking about the good old days. waiting for the fall friday nights to begin.....for the football team to run through the "run through" sign we worked so hard on, the fans cheering with you in the stands....the excitement of the first touch down, hanging out with all your friends...or that special guy ;-) wink, wink alan!! i just love to sit here and wonder where are girls will be, what our life will be like then. it's crazy and so surreal. it just makes me feel so blessed to have such an amazing family. to dream about the plans God has for us. i can't wait for each days adventures with them. many will be rough, but many will be mountain top moments. i get goose bumps thinking about it. go team go! i know i am so weird ;-)

love fall

i just love fall! days like today are just so lovely, they make me smile. i wish you could just bottle it up and save it for a rainy winter day. yesterday i even planted mums for the porch...lets see how long it take before they die! i do not have a green thumb, but i am still hopeful.

guess what??? mya has been napping during the day...longer than 30 min at a time. i had to make a parental judgment call....we started cereal and i am still waking her up at 5:30 am. it seems to be working. she actually took a two hour nap this morning....it was so great and what was better was than she woke up so happy. hopefully this will be an ongoing thing. not that i would complain about anything she does...she is just too great ;-)

on a funny note, lainey today, had gone to the bathroom...so i go in to do my motherly duty and wipe her little fanny. as i was proceeding to do this i say, "lainey, you really need to wipe your own butt!" she responds with, "mom, i'll wipe myself when i am in high school." wow, really!! do i really have to do that for that long??? too funny. high school??? i wonder what made her think of that. she is just too much.

i know this was a hodge podge post, but i wanted to tell lainey's story before i forget it!!!

all five

finally.....we have a picture of all five of us. i had to put my foot down...ha, ha! it was killing me that mya is three months old and we have only one picture of the five of us...and it's blurry. thanks d for taking a few pictures of us.

it still feels a little surreal when i look at them and see not just two kids, but three.....and not only that, but to see how big kylee and alaina are getting. our three pretty little girls. we are so blessed! i want to slow things down just a bit. it really hits me when i am rocking mya at night, i just want to savor every moment, yet all day long i move everything along so quickly. i am sure every mother knows what i am talking about?!?

mya is finally back on track at night...in fact she has been sleeping 13 hours....seriously!! however, she doesn't like to sleep during the day. i am wonder if she is getting too much sleep. the last two days i have been waking her up and feed her at 5:30 am, then put her back to bed. she seems to do a little better. she is such a good baby.

we went to the pumpkin patch this weekend and you wouldn't have even known she was there she was so quiet. she is so serious (she hasn't laughed again since that one time). it is going to be so interesting to see her personality come out....not that i want to rush things. little miss has also officially found her thumb, but doesn't use it all that much. she is also on the verge of rolling over. i have forgotten how much they do and how fast they change the first year. it is so amazing!

i need to post some pictures of the pumpkin patch, but i am really tired and need to go to bed. i want to start the week of right...so off i go! night, night!

:3 mo:

i am just a few days behind in posting...imagine why? i can't even believe that our little baby is already three months old. how can this be? our very sweet, but oh so serious little girl. i know i have already said this before, but i will say it again...she has captured my heart. she has changed so much in the last few weeks. even though we still don't like to sleep much during the day we are getting better again at night. two days before i went back to work we started putting her to bed at 6:00/6:30....which helped a lot. the bonus of that was that i am able to feed her before i go to work....so the cow only has to be milked once at night during my shift, ha, ha!!

she "coo's" all the time now and is typically pretty smiley...until i try to get the camera out, then she pulls out the serious face, furrowed brow and all! seriously, i think i only have one or two pictures of her smiling. one of the cutest things she does is after her bath, she LOVES to have her legs massaged. she starts cooing and gets so excited...and she doesn't stop until i put her jammies on...then the tune changes dramatically. she knows exactly what is happening next...bed! from that moment on, she cries, that is until she gives up the fight or i start singing "you are my sunshine." why she would like it when i sing is beyond me...poor thing has to endure that!

oh, and late this afternoon she made my day....she laughed for the first time! that sound really is the sweetest sound. that first little laugh can just melt your heart. i am so thankful i was able to record it (unfortunately i didn't have the video camera handy, but i did have a digital audio recorder...that way alan was able to hear it too!) we just love her to pieces and are so glad she is a part of our family...i already couldn't imagine it without her. love you baby girl!

on a side note....kylee is doing very well in school and has overcome her fear of going over to ask to play with the neighborhood kiddos (i have to mention that they are great kids...they all have a good time together.) in fact we have been able to get to know our neighbors as well, and i just have to say that it has been awesome! we are having a lot of fun getting to know them...they are wonderful "salt of the earth" people...and great parents too! you can't beat that. i think it's actually funny to see....all the guys will be out in there yards on the weekends and within a short while they will all congregate together on the sidewalk...sharing "tips" or helping each other out. it's really awesome! and the kids (our kids anyway)...oh my, they just wait by the door waiting for one of the other kids to emerge from their house so they can go out and join them. this is so new to kylee and alaina that they are a little obnoxious about the whole thing, but i guess you can't blame them! we knew from the beginning that this house was a God thing....this just proves it all the more! he is so good and so faithful, why do we ever doubt? anyway, i need to run...lots of work to do and pictures to edit! good night ;-)

WTH?

i am so overwhelmed by emotions right now and i think this morning they got the better of me. when you think of starting a family, you don't necessarily think about how hard it is to raise children...not bad, just HARD! as we are going back to "baby days" we are continuing to enter adolescents as well. while both are challenging in themselves they are so confusing to parents....i guess i shouldn't speak for anyone other than myself. i am having a hard time! miss mya was doing so well, sleeping through the night, starting to take naps....over all happy. then about two weeks ago now she started waking up again in the middle of the night (it has not helped that she CANNOT get her thumb in her mouth...she wants it, but just can't quite release it from her death grip) and the past three or four days she is so over tired that she won't take naps, starts screaming out of no where and is still waking up in the night. everyday i rat my brain trying to figure out what the heck it can be and then i start comparing her to her sisters....and i don't remember them doing this (but i must say that my brain does not work as at remembering things these days). i have come to the conclusion that she is just way over tired. but what do i do about this? even when i try to rock her she screams forever. do i let her cry it out already, she is almost three months, but still not there??? i may be stressed over nothing, but in the midst of it...and other things it IS stressful, especially because i am probably just as tired as she is!

on to the next thing...my poor bug! i shouldn't say "poor" because i know that she will get through this stage...it's just hard to watch (and i know it's just going to get harder). my heart is just aching for her. it is so hard going to a new school and after last year, even harder. i really feel that last year tore down a bit of her confidence. recently we met our neighbors kids (which are both seven) and kylee has played with them just one or two times....but is already afraid to go over and ask to play because the last time she was there, when one of the kiddos had to go inside she asked to play with the other one and he said he didn't want to if the other girl couldn't. that right there just shot a hole in her heart. she is a clayton through and through when it comes to her sensitive side. because when she told me it shot a hole in my heart too. as parents, you, just like they do want everyone to like them....you think, "who wouldn't want to play with my kid, they're great!" but the fact of the matter is, not every one likes one another, not everyone gets along....but when you are "that" person, it hurts just the same. we tried to encourage her, telling her that they have known each other longer and it takes time and effort getting to know someone. we also told her that she has to think about others and what they would like to play, because there is a slight tendency to have a one track mind and to only want to play what she wants to play (i have NO idea who she would get this from). so all i can do is pray and ask God for an abundance of wisdom for alan and i as parents and for her as a young girl and friend.

phew, that feels better! oh, did i mention that as i was writing this i let miss mya cry herself back to sleep and it worked!!! thank you Jesus!

i love my husband, i love my girls and i wouldn't change my life for anything....tis a season and with the Lord on my side we will ALL get through it...for the better!

sweet baby

oh sweet baby mya! i had to post a little something about you since i have almost completely neglected your baby book (i am hoping this blog will help me fill in the blanks). i just have to say that i am so happy you are here with us to make us five. you are indeed a blessing. after feeding you in the middle of the night (which is practically morning), i place you on my shoulder to burp you....you just lay your head on my should and sleep....your heavy breaths, your pouty lips...and sweet random smiles....so peaceful. some may say that newborn smiles are from "gas," but i disagree. i want to think that God is speaking to you and you can't help but smile. i just stare at you and thank Him for you.

in the morning when you wake, you are now full of smiles. your arms stretch up over your head and you look up at me and smile. what a wonderful feeling that is, to see your baby look up at you and grin from ear to ear. we have learned that you are not a fan of your bouncy seat...which your other sisters loved. you would rather be lying on a blanket on the floor. so each room is equipped with a blanket just for you. because your sisters never liked being on the floor i got rid of the baby entertainment mat...so guess what i had to buy the other day....an entertainment mat....and you LOVE it. you lie there and swing your arms around and coo....especially when you see yourself in the mirror.

you had your first bottle two days ago....we thought we would give you a little practice before i go back to work in a couple of weeks (not looking forward to that). you weren't a big fan of daddy giving it to you, so i finished....but we'll keep practicing with him. i am just hoping you will sleep at night like you do for me. you typically sleep anywhere from 8-10 hours at night...bless you sweet girl. well, i think i need to go to bed so i can say i had a little sleep before you decide you would like to eat again. i love you so much, you are a delight and a blessing little one!

PS. did i mention how fun you are to look at! i could stare at you for hours ;-)

grade 2

what a day! today was kylee's first day of second grade at prairie ridge elementary. i am sure that many people saw my post on facebook after dropping her off. i was miserable. she didn't want me to walk her in like ALL the other mom's and dad's. watching her walk off and walk up to the school just broke my heart. i think i was more nervous for her than she was. i couldn't help myself...i even emailed her teacher to check in on her. i didn't want to be "that" parent, but i remember starting a new school, in the second grade i might add. i remember feeling scared and anxious, but never expressing those feelings out loud. i didn't want her to have to experience the same thing...putting on a brave face. however, i think i under estimate my little bug. she is a super brave girl...and when she does have feelings of fear she typically is able to express it very well. i am so proud of her.

so, i get in the car line at school 25 min early ;-) so i can be one of the first ones to pick up....she gets in the car and says "it wasn't such a good day." heart sinks! i asked her what happened and she said that her stomach hurt all day. so we talk about it and i ask her about the kids in class, and what she did and she seemed to perk up a bit. i also told her how sad i was to drop her off by herself this morning, but how incredibly proud i was of her....how brave she was. i did add to that and told her that next year that i am going in with her. her response, "no mom, i can do it by myself." with that response i was reassured that i wasn't a horrible mom and that she made a decision that she was more than capable of making...not that i will give her that option next year ;-) we get home and her stomach is still hurting...i am thinking it is just nerves (especially after reading the response i got from her teacher via email....she said that she seemed a little sad throughout the morning and was complaining of her tummy hurting....so she went to the nurse and spoke with the school counselor before lunch, but after lunch wanted to go back to the nurse. they avoided sending her back to the nurse and made it through the rest of the day...she seemed a little happier), but i decided to go and feel her head and sure enough she had a fever! seriously, sick on her first day of school...at a brand new school....poor kid!! no back to school dinner for miss kylee, just a little motrin and early to bed. praying for a quick recovery from what ever is going on with her. what a way to start the year.

kylee, i am so sorry that today was such a difficult day, but it is only one day. changing schools is not an easy thing to do, but you are beautiful and smart and have a heart of gold. just keep trusting in Jesus and know that he is with you where ever you go. He loves you so much and will give you all the strength, peace and comfort you need. i think i needed to remind myself of that this morning. i love you honey. you are going to have a great year in the second grade!!!

i cannot believe that summer is coming to an end! kylee starts school next friday and is going to be in the second grade.....the second grade!!! after last year's not so good experience i am feeling a little anxious for her (not that she is showing any signs of feeling anxious....it's all me). please join me and praying for our sweet bug that this year will be a great year, that it will be filled with fun and friends...and lots of learning ;-)

this summer has been bitter sweet for the girls. it has been fun and exciting having a new little sister, but also a very big adjustment. we were just getting used to being able to go anywhere we wanted when we wanted....and they had a lot more of my attention. like i have said before, i know this is a season and it will pass and hopefully the girls won't hold it against me until i die. but i also don't want to rush this season because it is also so tender and sweet (especially on mya's and i's end). you may be able to tell that i am really struggling with this. everyone is so used to the way it was...mommy/wife did certain things a certain way, had more time and energy (some days) and now things are different. this week my brain has been spinning....so many things to do and not enough time in a day or hour to do them. i am not complaining, i knew it would be this way and wouldn't want it to be any other way, mya is worth all of it....it's just challenging and i need to vent. my sweet girls really have been amazingly patient...just not in stores...ha!

the picture of kylee above was just a little time we had together while everyone else was napping. she is so stinking photogenic and cute! she is growing up so fast. she has changed so much in the last two years. such a beautiful girl with such a compassionate heart...truely! but seriously, what seven year old wants to have their picture taken?? our kids actually like it. next it's alaina's turn! they even want me to take more of mya...like i haven't take enough already.

oh, and miss alaina with her accessories....getting ready to go to schlitterbahn with papa and ohie. a green plastic necklace as a belt...nice touch! two funny little stories that i don't know if i will be able to explain in writing...you really have to hear it, but i will try. the trip to schlitterbahn today was a surprise (for the last couple of weeks they have been talking about wanting to go...and alan kept teasing her that because she was so short that she couldn't go down the slides because she was too short....that she would have to swim in the baby pool with all the snotty nose kids), so when they found out where they were going alaina stands there, shoulders drop, head drops and the eyes roll back as she says "great, i have to swim with the snotty nose kids." poor thing actually believed it. her reaction was so priceless! the other thing happened several days ago. all three of us girls had our hair cut the other day, but because lainey's hair get so tangly she had to have it washed. i think she thought she was pretty special because she got a little extra treatment. lets just say that she really enjoyed being primped and pampered. so, the next day we were at papa and ohie's and they had just gotten out of the shower when lainey goes over to the vanity and sits down on the stool...pulls up the mirror and starts combing her hair....and as she does this she looks up at me through the mirror and says matter of fact, "tom really did a nice job cutting my hair." i just about lost it! what are we going to do?

last, but not least, sweet little mya...she's is just great! we are starting to get into a pretty regular routine (for now anyway). she eats, she plays (smiles), she sleeps...couldn't ask for anything more...especially for the amount of sleep she is getting at night....she is a rock star (do i need to knock on wood?) i just love her, love her, love her......all my girls! i am so blessed. did i happen to mention that i have a wonderful husband too! he is the greatest husband/daddy i could ever ask for....he's pretty good lookin' too;-) love you babe, i don't tell you that enough!