May 2016

May. It was definitely a busy month but not with huge things. A lot of little things like parties, strawberry picking with the kids, Mothers Day, zoo day, and lots of people over to the house for dinner. We definitely are in full on summer heat around here. We have really enjoyed our backyard so far. In the late afternoon the house shades the backyard so its not near as hot as it really is...at least it feels that way so that's nice.

I read something this month that inspired me. I want to make home more fun than any other place. I definitely have not mastered this but I try to make sure that we have a fun activity to do at home and that home is not a boring place. Right now, Francine is still taking a morning nap so that is when Jack and I have a "project" that we like to work on whether its puzzles, painting, coloring, games, etc. It helps to have that time to do older kid things. These days are long but I know the years or short. Its important to cherish the hard stuff and find spots of fun in the middle of it all. 

**Funny Story's of the month (I remembered to write down)**
Jack asks this lovely phrase multiple times a day - "What can I do for you?" Its very sweet and it really means "mommy I want to be with you so how can we make that happen". I know he is not going to always say such cute stuff like this so I need to make sure and try and remember to write these things down.

Another one has to do with spanking. Yes, we spank. Jack was getting in trouble and Christopher said "Jack I am going to give you a spanking because you did 'X'"...and Jack responded "Is it a little spanking or big spanking?" We both smiled and laughed a little because it was so funny and sincere at the same time. Poor little guy. He

#Jackamadeus - BIG BROTHER update!

Jack got his toddler rail put on his crib this month! He also went to a really cool pediatric dentist for a check-up this month. One thing we decided it was time to give up was Jack was sleeping with a bid dog called "Frank". It was to big and bulky and for the summertime I thought it was going to be so hot in his bed. So we have officially removed Frank from nap and bedtime and it has not been such a traumatic thing.

• Favorite color - dark blue 
• Favorite number - 3
• Favorite food - Every morning he wants me to juice for him. 
• Favorite hobby - "mommy do you want to dig with me?" - In the dirt outside with his trucks. 
• Favorite song - Veggie Tales Theme Song right now or I Love you More by Harry Connick Jr...its a toss up this month!

#Francineclaire - LITTLE SIS update!

Two Princesses!

• Highlight - We attended our first Mother Daughter tea at the church for Mothers Day. It was really sweet
• Her words - I cant believe I am writing this all down - Hi, Bye, Mama, Dada, Jah (for Jack), and LaLa (for Lucy)
• Sleep - Great sleeper still. We gave up her wubanub paci with the lamb on it and are only doing a paci this month. Slowly moving away from pacis before she is in kindergarten with it. :) 
• 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. She is really getting into smoothies this month!
• Skills - She has taken her first official steps (may 14, 2016). Its about 2 weeks earlier then Jack did. 
• Crying - She has only had 2 teeth for her first 14 months of life poor thing (Jack had 12 at 12 months!!). So this month has definitely been dedicated to teething and getting quite a few painful teeth in.

Pondering Thoughts

• Outside my window...No windows from where I sit right now.
• I am thinking...about the ways I can choose joy over stress
• I am thankful for...my husband
• I am wearing...Madewell jeans and button up shirt and gold sandals.
• I am remembering...the days are long and the years are short.
• I am going...to cut myself some slack. My expectations are sometimes impossible to meet.
• I am reading...To Kill A Mockingbird....a great summer read.
• I am hoping...for success in finding some pieces for our house this evening shopping.
• On my mind...how I want to buy so many things. So many things...so little time! (And $$)
• Noticing that...I need to choose who to put in my world that brings me joy. small doses of the people who don't.
• Pondering these words...inspiration.
• Thought I am processing right now...gratefulness. I have a lot to be thankful for. 
• From the kitchen...well this morning it was two awful frozen waffles with almond butter and a to-go cup of Irish tea. 
• Around the house...I am thankful to be able to walk this afternoon into a freshly cleaned house!
• One of my favorite things...holding my children!

Until next time....here are some photos from life lately!

Picture taken at "The Nashville Mom Birthday Bash"

Francine is into everything!

We can walk to church, school, YMCA now thanks to our new gate installed at our house! :)

So big! 

Mother-Daughter tea with Linda!

These two are going to be best of friends!

Love her!

Zoo Day! 

My dear friend Whitney's birthday party!

Cant get enough smoothies and juice with this heat! 

First and last day of MDO year 2

Our weekly favorite activity...library time! 

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!

Until next time....here are some photos from life lately!

Happy Birthday to Christopher

Relaxing in the backyard.

The biggest rose I have ever seen

Birthday festivities for Christopher!

She still loves her Paci!

Jack got a new train from Nonna and Papa

Enjoying the swing in the backyard!

March 2016

Spring at Cheekwood!

She loves her carbs. This was her first sweet (a cupcake) and she loved it! 

So thankful my mom was here for Francine's 1st birthday and to help us move!

March was an exciting month. Francine turned 1 and we had a party, my mom visited, and we moved into our new house...all in 72 hours! The transition from a townhouse to a "big person" house was anxiety inducing before hand. After moving in with out stuff and our people...its just home! That is a great feeling to have something that feels like home. We have had quite a few get togethers here already and I know there are more to come for sure. We have definitely learned that in order to be social in this season of our life it requires us to hire a babysitter or to have people come to our house. Normally when we hire a babysitter its to go out on a date just the two of us. So now that means when we are social and not on a date...it probably is going to be at our place. I have been reading through Edith Schaefer's work this spring and this quote stood out to me in regards to having people over...and just life in general right now: 

"There must be no pressure for perfection perfection is not possible" - Edith Schaefer 

Something else that I read this month that just hit me pretty hard was this quote by Elizabeth Lawrence: "There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever before". 

I want my kids to not be tainted by american culture that includes obsessive amounts of TV watching, moving to quickly through the day, and looking constantly on all of our tech devices. I want them to find the enchantment of the next morning. But still be of this current world...where technology is such a huge piece. #balance

**Funny Story's of the month (I remembered to write down)**
We have been trying to teach Jack compliments. He said to me this month he liked my shoes when I wore heals. Another funny thing I love about him are his love for lipstick 

Another cute story about Jack, is when we tell him to say hey to somebody he tells us to say hey back. Also he'd he takes the initiative and tells us to say hey to people whenever he wants us to say hey to them. He also likes in barest me by saying mommy what's that guys name or what's that girls name and it should be sometimes people that I know and I don't know their name and I should know their name

Siblings!

#Jackamadeus - BIG BROTHER update!

Jack got registered for summer mothers day out at the same place he went last summer. Its a real small program and it will be nice for him to have 2 days away from Mommy and Francine. 

At the zoo!

• Favorite color - orange 
• Favorite number - 3
• Favorite food - mac n cheese
• Favorite hobby - trains
• Favorite song - "Veggie Tales Theme Song"

#Francineclaire - LITTLE SIS update!

I love this girl!

Sweet Francine!

• Highlight - Francine had her 12 month follow-up with Dr. Frank Fish. Looks like her heart rate was higher than it had ever been on the EKG which is very promising for her heart block 
• Sleep - She loves her new room and loves sleeping still! 
• Clothes - She is in 12-18 months clothes. She wears size 2 shoes. Definitely in need of some cute early walking shoes. 
• Diapers - Size 3 moving into 4 diapers! 
• Food - 4 nursing sessions. I am getting sad to giving that up knowing this is probably our last kid. She is a quick eater now which is a good thing. Doing baby food at each meal. She has also become our picky eater I can tell. It may be because we focused so much on it with Jack.
• Skills - Francine is walking around tables and couches now. She got a walker for her birthday and she pushes it all throughout our new house. She loves it. 
• New things - I guess her new things is just everything. She is learning so much. She says "mama", "dada", "Hi". She is working on sign language right now. She wants to make a mess wherever she is. She also loves to put things away. Haha
• Crying - Only when her mama leaves her. Still has super separation anxiety. But once I am gone from the room she is fine 
• 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...cars and a parking lot at the Starbucks. 
• I am thinking...about my kids.
• I am thankful for...new mercies and grace. I know that God grants those and I am forever grateful
• I am wearing...Madewell jeans and a white/black polka dot shirt
• I am remembering...that a lot of my life I have always tried to BE someone and now I am trying to learn how to be myself.
• I am going...to seize this moment in my life.
• I am reading...The Patron Saints of Liars by Anne Patchett. A fiction book.
• I am hoping...that I get to find more alone time so that I enjoy the family time and mommy time even more when I am with them
• On my mind...I am blessed. I am so thankful in this season of my life. 
• Noticing that...My age is starting to show. I cant consider myself a "young" person anymore. I have two kids. I am called "Ms" now! 
• Pondering these words...Intentionality and being present
• Thought I am processing right now... how can I read more and learn more! All I want to do is read this days.
• From the kitchen...It was a frozen pizza before leaving tonight!
• Around the house...Its in good hands. Its not perfect, but its good enough.
• One of my favorite things...my time!

Until next time....here are some photos from life lately!

Dying eggs!

My Mom came to help with the kids when we moved. It was helpful to have 2 more hands!

Bye townhouse! You were great for 8+ years!

He loved the petting zoo at Cheekwood

Spring at Cheekwood!

Zoo time!

Happy Easter!

Love my sweet baby and that she still enjoys the Ergo!

SHOES! :)

Happy Birthday Francine!

Friends for life!