Wit by Amanda: April 2016

April was a great month. Highlights include attending a 5-day enneagram bootcamp that was just incredible for Christopher and I, my in-laws in town for those days watching the kids, and Christopher's birthday!

Last year around September (turning 31 was a crazy time for me) I started doing some "personal work" and going deeper into cultivating a healthier me! That led me to reading a lot of books. I couldn't put down Brene Brown books. I read them all. I read Elizabeth Gilbert, Desmund Tutu, Marie Kondo, Edith Schaeffer, and lots more. While reading these books, a close friend of ours introduced us to the Enneagram. It has been a tool that has helped people find out how to be the best them and then share it with others to help people face this crazy thing we all have called a personality. Its equipped with christian beliefs and therapeutic techniques and self help solutions. Its an all package deal and man it has rocked my world. I have found so much help through it and it has been a blessing to share with so many people.

I could literally talk about it for hours but let's move on.

This month for Jack and Francine has been a great month. Francine and I have been able to attend Gymboree classes that were a lot of fun this month. Jack had his first allergy appointment and good news...he is not allergic to gluten! What a relief! We think right now his rash he had on his skin before christmas somehow was connected to weather but definitely not a gluten allergy. Until something else flairs up, we do nothing. So that is good.

**Funny Story's of the month (I remembered to write down)**
Francine is a sponge and will be talking in full sentences before we know it. Until then, here are some funny and really smart things that Jack said this month. It's crazy to see his little wheels turn in that brain.

Jack has noticed that we have been having people over a lot more these days now that we have the space to accommodate. So pretty much every day he says "who's coming over tonight?" Well, the other day I said "Ashley is coming over Jack". Now this is someone who has never been over before...he replies by saying "Is that the one at church who plays the violin?" - Ding Ding he was right. I couldn't believe it. Anyway. It made me very proud!

We love to listen to music in the car. I have been trying to listen to more classical music with the kids in the car. So we were listening to a piece of Mozart. Jack noticed it and said "this is from Veggie Tales!". I did not know what he was referring to but later we pulled up the Veggie Tales song and it's the song about King Darius...who knew...I didn't (Jack did!).

Before I left for work one morning we were talking about something and my friend Jessica's name came up. Jack chimed in and said "Jessica...whose mommy is she?" I said Ambrose. He still seemed puzzled...then he said "Who is her baby's name?" I said Oliver. He said... "Yes, yes Oliver". His little mine is definitely learning and connected different people to different things. So big!

#Jackamadeus - BIG BROTHER update!
We have enjoyed many walks down to the church cemetery since living in our new place. Jack enjoys pushing Francine's stroller sometimes. :) We also got a new swing for the backyard and this has definitely been a highlight of playing outside. It will definitely be a key component of summer 2016! :) Our local Kroger grocery has purchased many child-size shopping carts and this has definitely been a treat for Jack. He looks like such an old man pushing his cart around...it definitely makes me laugh.

A proud moment for me this month is pictured below. Jack has always been a little bit scared/afraid of bounce houses or those kid themed places, indoor playgrounds, and trampoline places. This past week after picking him up from school he asked to go in the church indoor playground...I was shocked. Its two stories tall and when he is at school the teachers have told me that he always just plays on the ground while all the kids play in the playground. Well today was his day and he got up there and was so brave. It made me so proud...and teary eyed. That week also we were at a festival and he saw a bounce house and asked to go play in it. He is growing up!!

Favorite color - orange
Favorite number - 3
Favorite food - "chicken nugges, yellow french fries, and red ketchup"
Favorite hobby - art
Favorite song - "Baby Baby" - new Amy Grant Version

#Francineclaire - LITTLE SIS update!

Highlight - She is still not walking but she is cruising around furniture and at the end of April she started standing independently without holding on. We are close!
Sleep - She loves her new room and loves sleeping still!
Clothes - She is in 12-18 months clothes. She wears size 2 shoes.
Diapers - Size 4 diapers!
Food - Went down to 2 nursings a day. I think she is almost weening herself and it makes me sad. I will be happy to see a pump go (I did a lot of pumping over that 5 day bootcamp!). She has started getting goat milk from our farmer that I got milk for Jack from. So thats good and she loves it. She is also eating lots of different things now too.
Skills - We think Francine loves music. She is a dancer and loves all of the toy instruments we have.
New things - She says "mama", "dada", "Hi", and sometimes "bye". Her phrase she says is when Christopher walks into the room she says "hi dada"
Crying - Still has super separation anxiety. We also have had to work on sharing this month with her brother. She definitely cries when things
Favorite thing she does right now is when she plays Jack's train whistle. For someone so young and so tiny she knows how to blow into the train whistle. Its soo cute.

Pondering Thoughts

Outside my window...I am not looking out any windows. Just at a cubicle wall right now
I am thinking...about my list of things to get done and how far behind I am on so many things
I am thankful for...being able to connect with wonderful people
I am wearing...Madewell jeans and a button up
I am remembering...how to write letters. A girl I have been connected to for a long time is in the Mercy program and her main form of communicating now is through letters.
I am going...to get to work just as soon as I finish this.
I am reading...The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer. INCREDIBLE STUFF from the 70s.
I am hoping...that my list will be under 8 things before the end of the day. :)
On my mind...unfortunately finances. I always have money on my mind and am thinking constantly about where and how and when it should be spent or saved.
Noticing that...people dont take things nearly as seriously as I do.
Pondering these words...creativity
Thought I am processing right now... I want to learn how to do things in excellence not just get them done.
From the kitchen...well this morning it was two awful frozen waffles with sun butter on them as I was rushing out the door. One fell on the floor and I still ate it.
Around the house..There is always going to be new things to update and buy...finding an OK place to just be fine with where it is right now is important.
One of my favorite things...my sleep!