June 2016

"This is my circus and these are my monkeys" - Uknown

June. It was good. Ok parts of it were bad...but we made it right? Christopher was in Japan for the first 10 days. My mom flew in for some of those days to help with the kids and take a trip to Indiana to visit some family. She was definitely a huge help. However, Francine for the month of June was a piece of work. She denied food for like two weeks, she was teething, she full on started walking, she screamed when I would put her down, and we stopped nursing. So there was a lot of good and a lot of bad. Definitely I didn't win a parenting award this month. I know that I am tough on myself and on my kids and usually I am able to get through the hard phases of kids growing up (in my 3.5 years of parenting experience)...however this month was maybe the most challenging of them all.. Man - I did feel like June was a circus but so far July has been a breath of fresh air. 

Something else I read this month that has touched me and I have tried hard to do this with my kids is "warm hellos and warm goodbyes!" So good! Children should never feel like we are not happy to see them. When they wake up in the morning or when I drop Jack at school or when I get Francine out of her bed from a nap...it should always be warm. I gotta do this better! I will say Christopher does this very well. So I just need to look to him to make this happen more with me.

**Funny Story's of the month (I remembered to write down)**
We were at church one Sunday and he saw the people that were getting baptized that morning walk up on stage in there white clothes. He said in a not-so-quiet voice "Mommy why dont they have shoes on?" It made me smile because it was such an innocent look at life. 

#Jackamadeus - BIG BROTHER update!

Jack started a summer program two days a week at Community Bible Church. I think he has really enjoyed it. We have gone to the library a few times and been working on some summer reading. He loves books! We are definitely getting more comfortable with singing. The kid love music. This year he was still to little to attend VBS at our church but next year he will be 4 and thats when they allow kids to go. We did stay and listen to the openers most mornings of VBS just so he could see what all it was. 

• Favorite color - white
• Favorite number - 3
• Favorite food - Chocolate Chips in his oatmeal. Its changed breakfast! 
• Favorite hobby - Cutting. He has gotten really good at cutting paper
• Favorite song - Come People of the Risen King by the Gettys and He's Got the Whole World

#Francineclaire - LITTLE SIS update!

• Highlight - She is a full on walker and she is starting to blow kisses to people. 
• Her words - I cant believe I am writing this all down - Hi, Bye, Mama, Dada, Jah (for Jack), and LaLa (for Lucy), Water, Hello, 
• Sleep - Great sleeper still. 
• Clothes - She is in 12-18 months clothes. She wears size 2 shoes.
• Diapers - Size 4 diapers! 
• Food - We are done with nursing. She definitely had her moments this month where she didn't want anything to do with food but she came back around. 
• Skills - She started holding up her index finger for showing us she is 1. :) 
• Crying - We have had some serious separation anxiety since about 3 months old. Its hard to help her sometimes

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

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!