July 2014

It's been a while! Here's a quick update of the last few months. 😉

We bought a house

  

Went to Kaleo at the beach for 6 weeks. 

Had a fun visit from Uncle Joey, Papa, and Gigi. 

Seaside vaca with cousins, BB, and D-dad!

Back home to our own backyard! 

Snowmagedon 12/13

(Found this unpublished and want to get it on there so to not loose pics and mems!) December 2013

Well, the recent snowpocalypse Cleon left us stranded at home from Wednesday evening until MONDAY. Whew! It was a long few days. Stephen was stuck working from home- and in a two bedroom apartment that is TORCHER for all of is. The kids banged on his door and stuck fingers under the bottom all day. School for the kids was canceled Thursday and Monday- which was a HUGE bummer for me. I rely on those days for my personal sanity. 

We did a little playing in the snow- but in an apartment that only goes so far. Also tiny fingers can't stand too much cold weather in the TEENS. Funny thing though- after living in Kansas for 4 years, the south does NOT know how to do cold weather/snow. I miss the snow plows and just general preparedness of northern states when it comes to cold weather and snow. There is no freaking out over milk and bread at the grocery store, the roads are usually cleared within half a day of a storm and people know how to drive in it. 

Goodness gracious people- SLOW DOWN. We walked to church Sunday cause we were so stir crazy and it didn't even phase people that there was INCHES of ice underneath them and if they had lost control going 40 there was a family they would possibly kill. I appreciate the snow freaks that just stay home- I'm with them. BUT when school was canceled Monday, and Stephen was leaving for staff training, I could take it no longer. So we loaded up and headed to okc. There was a good bit of snow there as well, but also a pawpaw and a Gigi to do some entertaining. Also a nice range with farm animals didn't hurt. 

We have taken care of chickens and cows, played in the yard, taken 4wheeler rides, shopped, and just had a change of scenery. It's been a fun few days and we will head back to nwa! 

November days

I can always count on Henry for a good snuggle. 

Stools up high. It's a problem around here. 

We have two strollers. One is used for babies, playing mommy, and sweet things. The other is used for racing, off-roading, and pushing it and other things over. 

Such a happy little guy. Till he's mad. :)

We are a little sad around here these days. We put an offer (full price, mind you) on a house a few days ago and got outbid. It was the first house we really loved and actually wanted to live in it. I definitely got ahead of myself and thought my apartment days were over. I am reminding myself that I have all I need and I can be content right here. Please say a prayer that God provides us a house soon!

On a happy note- my kids are enjoying each other right now! Not always, of course, but they really do play together more than I thought they would. When they play together and giggle, it's pretty hard to enforce rules, as you can see by this action shot. I drew the line when they started climbing on the arms and diving off. And please excuse the nudity. It seems they have the most fun when they are not being held back by clothing. :) 

Getting back in the game.

LeYesterday, she said "we have to go trick or treating again cause we're out of candy."

I really am trying to get back into the blogging game. I have really enjoyed it, and has actually proved beneficial to look back at life memories I have either since forgotten or strategically blocked out of my memory. :)

Can you guess what Henry is? 

Lately we are in a rough transition spot as a family- 4 of us in a 2 bedroom apartment no back yard- only sidewalks and dog poop filled grassy areas to wander. Henry has picked up more than his share of dog turds, and my dislike, not for dogs, big dog OWNERS has definitely gone up. Controversial statement right there since most of you out there are probably are dog owners, but let's just get real- pick up your dog poop and it won't be a problem. 

Anyway, Henry is in the closet of our bedroom- don't worry, it's a walk in, and he doesn't know the difference anyway...but needless to say, I can't imagine that any of us are getting our optimum level of sleep since I hear every snort and each time he rolls over, and I fear rolling over myself cause our bed creeks. I won't get into the other reasons that's less than ideal....

Add that to the fact that Henry is going through a particularly whiney/clingy phase. According to my blog world Blakely went through the same thing at this age (only, I'm sure, much worse). Praise The Lord I don't have a newborn right now. It blows my mind that Henry is the same age as Blakely when he was born. Does that make sense? 

As you can see, Henry is also in a pretty serious climbing phase. I'm sure our neighbors hate us since daily we are sticking a new piece of furniture outside our apartment because Henry keeps climbing and generally has fallen off of it more than once. We have lost bar stools, a coffee table, and a bench so far. Thank goodness we don't have stairs since he fell down a flight at Stephens parents last week. 

I sure am thankful he's happy when he's in my lap, though! I know it won't last forever- and I need to remind myself of that more. 

Left her with a babysitter and woke up to crazy shirt and her diaper on completely backwards. :)

4 months later...

We had a great summer.
Stephen and I went to Crested Butte, CO.
We moved to fayetteville.
We live in a two bedroom apartment- Henry sleeps in our closet.
I played golf for the first time.
We celebrated 6 years of marriage.
My brother got engaged to the girl of ALL OUR dreams.
And my kids are getting too big.

Today. 6.10.13

Snuggles with Henry 

Swimming in the bay

Family bath to wash off the sand-excuse Henry's nudity

Just relaxing from a long hard day

update

Even though I JUST posted Henry's one year update, I feel that I need to do another one since a lot has changed since I actually wrote it!

Henry is WALKING full time.  He occasionally crawls to something if he needs to get there quick, but he usually takes the time to get up and walk.  He's always got something in his hands.  Straw, phone, spatula, pillow, remote...anything he can get his hands on.  I think it helps his balance or something cause he doesn't really walk unless he's got stuff in his hands.

He is sleeping AWESOME lately.  Puts himself to sleep at night and for naps- Stephen letting him cry REALLY paid off.  Sleeping from about 7 to 7, and taking two 1 hour naps a day.

He is totally off formula, and drinks 3 six ounce bottles of milk a day.

Blakely is also sleeping great.  Bed around 8:30, sleeps till 6:30 or 7, and one usually 2 hour nap a day.

She is LOVING being here in Florida.  She and Stephen catch crabs in the bay almost daily in the mornings. She loves seeing all the college students- and gets her fingernails painted several times a week by them.

We did have a little scare with Henry last week.  One of the most horrible parenting moments for me so far.  He fell off backwards off of the stroller and landed on his head on a concrete side walk.  He hit his head really hard so we were pretty worried he got a concussion.  So we called a nurse practitioner friend and she advised us to wake him up hourly to make sure his pupils dilate and constrict normally.  It was a miserable night, and he was fine, but then he threw up the next morning so we went ahead and went in to the ER.  The doc was going to do a CT scan, but it is a huge ordeal with a baby- IV, being knocked out, apparently increases chance of leukemia, etc.  So we opted out and decided to just continue to watch him closely since he had no other signs of issues. ---He is fine.

Our time here in Florida has FLOWN.  I can't believe we will be leaving in 2 weeks.  I am really sad.  I expected for it to go pretty slowly with me being stuck in our room much of the day with my kids sleeping schedules, but I have gotten to hang out with students and staff a lot more than I thought I would, and I am really sad we are leaving!