Constant Beginnings

I am thankful. Very thankful. As we embrace Thanksgiving, I find myself thinking of the gifts in my life. Life is far from perfect--marriage is difficult, motherhood is trying and successfully blending the two is the ultimate challenge, but I wouldn't change a thing. God has a plan for each of us, which has given me faith to push the bad and focus on the good. I have an incredible family who will tell it like it is, supports me in ways I didn't know I needed, and drops everything and anything to help me. Chris is a great husband and partner. We work hard on our marriage, working to be a team, and maintaining focus on our future goals, Our marriage needs constant checking and adjusting, and although it could probably use more attention than it is getting in the midst of our craziness, Chris and I have successfully established our team. We work hard to provide a united front to our children, make decisions as a couple and prioritize our togetherness as a family. W...

Chris left for DC on Monday only to head to Ohio on Tuesday and return home on Wednesday. After spending a week and a half alone this month, I am ready for him to be home for awhile. However, I do not have any power as he is scheduled to leave again in a couple of weeks. I ordered a new blog design. Kathy at the Modern Polka Dot does an amazing job, and I cannot wait to see what she has made just for us. Claire experienced her first little bout with the flu. It was a long night filled with crying, fevers and vomitting, but she seems to be on the mend after a few hours of cuddling and princess fruit snacks. Behold the healing power of Princess fruit snacks. They are awesome :) Chris, being the petri dish that he is, has managed to catch another bug. He, for the fifth time this fall, is congested with a sore throat. He is off to get his crazy medicine again despite my urging to get a real medicine. I am enjoying the smell of sweet potatoes roasting in the oven. I may be crazy...

my recent thing as i try to find that perfect gift for everyone on my list is to do so without sending us to the poor farm. one way i've managed to do a bit of saving is by following a few great blogs. stretchingabuckblog.com thefrugalgirls.com 2 great sites that have helped us save a bit... UP movie for $2--reg. $15 Tag reading system for $19.99--reg. $39.99 i love a good deal almost as much as I like winning.

Christmas is huge. It is tied to many, many fabulous traditions and memories from my childhood. I love, love, love Christmas. Everything about it has me smitten for the occasion--sparkly lights, glitter, blown glass ornaments, Christmas carolers, Snow Villages, the angel collection, snow, cold weather to curl up under a blanket, candlelight service, Christmas carols. All of it. I. love. Christmas. We've lived here four years and the ornaments and beautiful Snow Villages that Chris and I have eagerly purchased in anticipation of our future Christmas' together have sat in their boxes, untouched. Let's face it. We have a crazy life. Crazy busy, crazy chaotic. We travel to spend Christmas with my family every year. It is our one holiday with them. I get so excited at just the thought of seeing my parent's BEEEAAUUTIFULLLL tree--entirely full of blown glass ornaments or Hallmark treasures with a TON of lights. It is gorgeous. The rest of the house...

A flash of white, a bit of skin, could it be--Papa's twin?? claire stripped down to her tighty whiteys tonight. not sure what the appeal, but she enjoyed prancing around in nothing but her little undies and boots. it was pretty much adorable.

 Wow, I can't believe i am writing this post already--6 months?? really?? in some ways it feels like just yesterday we were snuggling Mya in the hospital and in other ways, it feels as though she's been here forever. she is such a little blessing. mya has had quite an eventful month. she's had her first taste of rice cereal, rolled from her back to her front and not long after that, began to sit independently. she is on a roll. my friend alison told me about her son, who is the same age as Mya, loving the johnny jumper, so i picked one up. mya really likes it too. i think it gives her a sense of freedom being able to move sde to side vs. just up and down. she still likes the supersaucer as well as her baby einstein activity mat. she enjoys sitting in the bumbo for short periods of time, but much less than claire did. mya continues to be in love with her big sister. i mean head over heels, completely smitten with her. in mya's eyes, claire can do no wrong. she can bump...

i knew this time would come, but didn't expect it to be at the age of 2. i am not sure what we expected, giving a 2 year old a scissors. i guess i got wrapped up in the greatness of claire holding the scissors CORRECTLY and even opening and closing them to actually CUT, that it got the best of me. i know, jessica, you are impressed, right?? i mean, she's 2!! pretty good. anyway, we have a mantra of sorts at our house..."we only cut paper, not sophie's tail, not mya's toys, not the wrapper of the crayons. we only cut paper." (all things that she has attempted to trim). obviously, claire failed to receive the message as she. did. it. she cut her hair. i could have died. we have worked so hard on growing out her hair that she has never had a haircut. until tonight. luckily, the damage wasn't too bad. no, there won't be a flowergirl with a mohawk walking down the aisle at jessica and nate's wedding, but claire does have a few little bangs. what a kid...

Ok, Chris didn't think I should post this, but this is a journal of our life with kiddos. I am trying desperately to document the cute, funny things, so I must include the following. Chris is pretty private at least in one aspect of his life. From the time Claire was born, he wouldn't change his clothes in the same room as her, let her into the bathroom while he was using it not to mention showering. Anyway, Claire is constantly asking what things are, much beyond basic objects--telephone poles, satellite dishes, etc. She has also asked many questions about body parts. When I nurse Mya, she thinks I use my tummy to feed her. Fine with me. Claire moves on to Chris and points to his nipples and asks what they are, to which he responds, "those are Daddy's nipples." Great. Now she is ever so consistently pointing out "Daddy's niffles." Very cute. She has gone a step further to identify these on Mya as well as herself. She asked me just last night what th...

I have a thing for dressing my kiddos in the same outfits. I love it. My Mom and Dad brought these adorable outfits for our girls when they visited this summer. They are so cute--both the outfits and our girls. Thanks Mom and Dad!                              eeeww...get away.                        you. will. like. this.

mya rolled from her back to her tummy on sunday. i noticed for the past few weeks she'd roll onto her side, so i am not convinced that this weekend was in fact her first time. however, we've been so focused on improving her torticollis and the asymmetry of her head by keeping her upright that we may have prevented her from rolling around. oh well. she is making up for lost time. the girl automatically rolls right over, which is kind of funny as she doesn't really like being on her tummy all that well.