Wit by Amanda: December 2015

December...I do love this month 99% of the time. At about 4:15 when it is getting dark every day...not so much...but most of the rest of the day...its my jam! We had a busy and fun filled December. I took Francine on a trip to Florida for my cousin's wedding and for her to meet her great grandparents. Then we spent 8 days in Arizona with my entire family. We had some beautiful weather for December....definitely spent Christmas Eve outside eating lunch in Tennessee. Jack and Francine are definitely starting to interact more. I am anticipating the day where they are each other's playmates and I am not the cruise director anymore. Soon! Very soon! :)

**Funny Story's of the month (I remembered to write down)**
Jack randomly asked "where's daddy's computer?" I said "Its with him at work" and he said "praising the Lord?" Haha. Where does he get this stuff? I guess a computer can praise the Lord. :)

#Jackamadeus - BIG BROTHER update

Favorite color - orange

Favorite number - 2

Favorite food - macaroni and cheese

Favorite hobby - art projects

Favorite song - Row Row Your boat (He thinks its Francine's favorite so he always wants to sing it "for her")

I self diagnosed Jack this month with eczema from gluten. His skin has cleared up so much on his cheeks and his arms. I am so thankful a mama's intuition and wisdom about her child is real. I can definitely see a difference.

#Francineclaire - LITTLE SIS update!

Highlight - Lots of FIRSTS THIS MONTH! Her First Christmas! She turned 9 months old. Started crawling, pulling up, and she got her first tooth. She had her checkup this month (12/1/15) She is 17lbs and 1oz. and 271/4 inches (50% percentile for both).
Sleep - She is a great sleeper still. Love my happy, all night sleeping babies!
Clothes - She is in 9 months clothes and lots of 12 months clothes. She wears size 2 shoes.
Diapers - Size 3 diapers!
Food - 5x nursing still. Doing baby food at each meal. I have realized over Christmas break that she is a fruit lover. Jack use to (still does) eat anything you put in front of him as a baby. This one...not so much!
Skills - Crawling when she wants to. I dont think she is a "CRAWLER" just yet. But she knows how to do it. She definitely knows how to pull up on furniture though.
New things - I guess she is starting to hurt herself a little more because she doesn't know caution yet. Its crazy to think that you have to teach that to someone. Jack was and is such a cautious child I felt it came naturally for him. Francine...not so much. I think she will need all the baby proofing we can get.
Crying - Only when her mama leaves her.
She did get sick for the first time in her life. It was pretty miserable for about 3 days in Arizona. I felt so bad for her. She almost stopped eating food completely and she was congested and lethargic. We made it through it and I am thankful to have my healthy, happy baby back.
Schedule right now - no changes the past 4 months.

Thought I would start writing some more pondering thoughts at the ends of my blogs...see how it goes.

Outside my window...Sunshine
I am thinking...about all the "Things" I need to do. Updates, photo organizing, thank yous to write, birthday party invites to address
I am thankful for...my health, my kids, my home.
I am wearing...a big sweater, scarf, KALE shirt, and Jeans! (and a blanket...its cold outside)
I am remembering...to find ways to not be alone. It gets easy to be lonely to me...especially during the winter.
I am going...to find joy with my kid when they wake up from there nap
I am reading...Forgiveness by Desmund Tutu. Sooo Good!
I am hoping...to take the kids outside this afternoon so I can get a little sunshine even though its cold
On my mind...dates...dates...lots of things floating around in my head. Our calendar has filled up this winter. Christopher going to Norway, Valentines Day, Lynn visiting, Jack's birthday, Francine's birthday.
Noticing that...I need to find ways to age better. I need to take care of my skin and hair better.
Pondering these words...HAPPYISH and BRUTIFUL (beautiful and brutal all the time...both/and/or)
Thought I am processing right now... I have an Incredible desire for connection but also to constantly retreat. I want friends but I dont want to leave my house. Not sure if I am social person or a hermit. -- Glennon Melton
From the kitchen...The smell of roasting sweet potatoes
Around the house...Train tracks on the floor and dust all over the floor.
One of my favorite things...Avocado right now. Listening to podcasts and youtube clips that are inspiring.