Monday Musings (on Tuesday)

You know it's Monday when Eleanor puts something in the toilet that doesn't belong there. Today it was her snazzy pink shoes.

Monday also brings dance class, and the new studio has more space for Eleanor to walk around and more space for the moms to sit and talk. Really enjoying this one hour of our week.

Avery is doing so well with listening to her teachers, following instructions, and focusing in class.

Our home is a disaster. We've been out of town on 3 separate occasions over the past 2 weeks, and we barely have time to recover from one trip before we're packing for another. I have exactly 8 days before we leave for Thanksgiving, so it's a flurry of activity trying to get everything unpacked, washed, and re-packed all amidst purging the extra junk that has piled up and the regular life activities of the week.

Worn.Out.

Eleanor loves post-bath naked time. She runs around with just the hooded towel flying out behind her and squeals with laughter as we chase her.

I'll throw in a couple Avery-isms, too.
We saw a "hiccup" truck on the road yesterday.
"Break-dancing is much more cool. Check this out." And then...she break-dances. (She's quoting from Angelina Ballerina.)
Her dance teacher couldn't find a CD she wanted, so she asked Avery if she took it. Avery didn't even miss a beat, responding with, "Yes, I did!" So Ms. Sarah asked Avery to return it, and Avery pretended to toss it back to her and exclaimed, "There, I gave her her music back!" Ha!
"I just want to focus on eating right now."

an old photo, from a month or two ago, but just the right amount of cuteness to perk me up

One Year

I felt weird tacking this onto the Monday Musings post, so I'm making it a separate thought.

I feel as if this shouldn't go unmentioned, though I still can't bring myself to really blog my feelings on this....yesterday was the one-year anniversary of Dave's death. Words on this blog won't do justice to what I'm feeling or who he was, but it was a hard weekend. Maybe one day I'll be able to write about all of this. I miss him so terribly much. Thank you to all of my family and friends who checked in on me and prayed for my family this weekend. You have cared well for me and the rest of the family this past year, and I'm thankful for God's lovingkindness in small mercies worked through each of you.

Monday Musings

A little contemplative, a little lighthearted for your Monday morning....

My one word this year is RENEWAL. I have to say that this year has felt like anything but that. More like sifting, so I guess that would translate to renewing, but "renewal" has such a positive connotation, and not much has felt positive this year. But, looking back on my original post about this year's word, I'm reminded of this:

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4: 16-18

I'm also a glass half-empty kind of person, and that's a battle of the mind I have to fight constantly. As the holidays approach, it's time to start thinking of next year's word. I wonder what word will find me in the next couple of months.

Eleanor is sick, with the highest temp I've ever seen her display before. We're headed to the doctor first thing in the morning to see if it's RSV, which is going around right now. Poor little girl has been happy happy despite all of this, apart from an hour or so after nap today when her temp was at it's peak.

We are back in dance after having to miss last week, and Avery was so excited to go. We watched Angelina Ballerina this morning in anticipation of her class.

Avery is into role-playing. All weekend she was Kai-Lan, and Luke was Grandpa (from an episode on one of her movies we have in the car). Eleanor turned into Baby Amy (?) and I became Aunt Michelle. Uncle Nick was Santa Claus. Not once did she misspeak and get us confused. That girl's memory is incredible.

It's Not A Glamorous Life

 Today, I'm thankful that God uses my children to sanctify me - what better way to grow in grace than through precious faces like these? I'm also thankful that I can (sometimes) laugh at the curveballs these girls throw my way, especially when it's been a hard week, or month, or year, or more. Maybe she writes all over her face with pen the day before a funeral. Pray it comes off.

3 days later, she did it again

Maybe the little one has the world's biggest blowout in her carseat, and you and the hubby stand in the middle of a parking lot, cleaning the baby and the car up for the next 20 minutes, laughing too hard to get the poop off efficiently, because the only alternative is to cry and yell, and that certainly doesn't make the poop go away any quicker. I'm the mom that grabs the camera when chaos erupts, not because I want to embarrass my children later in life, but because these are the events that I look back on and smile at, because I'm reminded that I was able to laugh in the moment, snuggle my baby no matter how badly she smelled, and to simply enjoy this crazy journey of motherhood. It's not a glamorous life, but it's my favorite way to spend it.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from our funny girls!

Halloween is much more enjoyable when you have kids - the joy on Avery's face when she puts on the costume I made her, the excitement flowing off of her from getting to trick-or-treat for candy...it's just so fun! There was a marked difference between last year and this year - she really understood what it meant to put the costume on and go house to house for candy.

We have a long-standing tradition of trick-or-treating with my sister in her neighborhood - we do a short loop just on her street and around the corner a bit before we camp out and enjoy the loot we brought in through Avery, a glass of wine, and passing out candy to the other trick-or-treaters. Finally, Michelle and Nick were able to participate with their own little guy, and they surprised us by having him join our barnyard fun this year!

Farmer Luke, Farmer's Wife, our sweet cow and tiny little chicken

Sheriff, Cowgirl, and their trusty steed

Some of the funnies from our Avery-girl:

One house gave Avery a bag of pretzels. She looked at them, said, "Daddy, are these pretzels?" Yes. "Is this a treat?"

"Let's go faster!"

One man wanted to end his night of giving out candy, so he dumped the rest of his bowl in Avery's bag. Her eyes got wide, she looked up at us, and exclaimed, "I got LOTS of candy!"

All in all, a really fun night, with lots of compliments on the costumes (*insert Mom-pride here). We let Avery have quite a few pieces of candy, and then it gets doled out very sparingly once Halloween is over. Even Eleanor tried a small bite of chocolate and LOVED it. She just sat back so contentedly on Luke's lap while she nibbled on it.

Look What She Can Do!

This tiny love started walking last weekend. She's been taking steps here and there since before her birthday, but a week ago she made it her main mode of transportation! Since the video she's upped her speed, which cracks me up because her stance is still so wide. This morning after a bath, with her hooded towel, she came "running" around the corner sporting a little towel wedgie.

Conversations with Avery

A few of my favorites from the past month....

"Fee fi four three!"  She was sitting on her bed, reading Jack and the Beanstalk.

At Joann's, while looking for a pattern for her Halloween costume, I was perched on the edge of my chair (I rarely sit all the way back). She turned to me, rubbed my back, and said, "Sweetie, you need to sit back in your chair." The lady across from us looking at magazines had to turn around to hide her laughter.

"Uuuh, this is ridiculous!" (pronounced ridicholas) while having trouble putting on panties

Me: "Avery, you're so sweet. I really enjoy that about you."
Avery: "Yes, I know."

"Hi, kiddo."  To Eleanor one morning.

"But I need my doctor bag!! I'm not healthy!"

This morning at church she told one of her teachers that she was going to be Audrey Hepburn for Halloween. I started laughing when she told me this, because we haven't introduced her to Audrey yet, and Avery has requested to be a cow. There must have been another girl who said that, and Avery agreed that she was going to be Audrey, too. I asked her about it in the car, and she confirmed that a friend was going to be Audrey Hepbird.

Also, at church, Eleanor cries LOUDLY when I drop her off. Her room is across the hall from Avery's, and Avery told her teachers, "That's my sister. And she is crying and whining."

While working on Avery's Halloween costume, I had her try the pants on one morning, because I had to alter them down to fit her. I asked if she liked the costume, would she be okay with wearing this (yes, why would I ask a 3 year old that...she's going to wear it regardless of her answer)...she responded with "Yes, but I just want to walk on two legs, not three (she meant four)."

Monday Musings

Man, things happen around here on Mondays just so I have something to write about.

After the dumping of trash into the toilet by the 1 year old last Monday, combined with a 3 year old who uses the potty regularly, we had to have maintenance come fix it because our plunging efforts failed. They brought out some kind of scary looking 6 foot pole thing. On the upside, I got them to change out the line for me so that we could hook up our diaper sprayer!

Eleanor also experimented with Lysol today. We spent the next 15 minutes flushing her eyes out (in which I had to climb in the bathtub with her, after I saw her squat and pee in it...I later amended my technique to sink-side, duh) and then I had to try and get juice down her, which she refused because I had traumatized her with eye-flushing. Or maybe she just preferred the taste of Lysol? Sigh. I have never felt so horrible, because it's absolutely my fault that she could even reach it. That can has been BANISHED to the top shelf, along with everything else I could find, and if you get sick at my house, it's because I've quit cleaning because I can't reach anything anymore.

No dance today because of Columbus Day (the holiday I never remember), so we played at Barnes at the train and lego tables with our dance friend T, her siblings, and her mama. Kids played, we drank coffee. Nice way to spend the morning!

Avery is spending nap time singing to herself and playing make-believe. Last week she only had two naps all week. Sigh. Is this the end of naptime? At least we have quiet time everyday, where she's in her room for a couple hours. Signs of her growing up. *sniffle*

Crazy fun weekend! I'll do a separate post, but it involved chalk and a (food) trailer park. Suburban Round Rock's not so bad!

Crazy fun week! It was Round Top week! I scored some nice finds and walked my poor little feet to the end of their capabilities, sorting through junk to find good treasures. The girls were awesome on Wednesday, as were their baby cousins. We didn't see as much as we could have without the babies, but we had fun. Avery-girl showed off her dancing moves on the stage at lunch. I learned that she knows how to waggle her hips. I also learned that her shyness with strangers doesn't extend to performing in front of strangers - not a lick of stage fright in her! Thursday I hit up Round Top adult-style with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law, and we scored big.

Struggling with discontentment - my usual vice.

No pics because I haven't uploaded them yet. It's my least favorite part of the blogging process. Uploading them, that is. I like having them on the posts.

Monday Musings

It's October!! I love the start of a new month, especially one that ushers in fall so well. Avery is super-excited about Halloween simply for the candy. I could skip over that day entirely, but I'm always excited to sew her a new costume and I don't mind the loot she brings home, either. 

You know it's Monday when your morning starts out by fishing trash out of the toilet because your 1-year-old dumped all of it in.

We spent last week at my mom's house while she was out of town, taking care of her dogs. Easiest dog-sitting gig ever, since my sister was there (someone to hang out with) and my brother-in-law had to be in town also for work, so he did all the heavy lifting regarding the dogs. Thanks, Nick!!! We made a point to visit as many people as we could. Tuesday was Aunt Ju-Ju and Cousin Sophie day, with some shopping at H&M and lunch out, Wednesday was with my friend Lauren from college and her 10-month-old Isaiah, and Thursday we went to Nana's for the day!

visiting my grandparents - Grandpa just had shoulder surgery , so we had a short visit

Avery loves finding Easter eggs, so my grandma had them hidden for her to find when we got there

Avery then hid them again and again so she could find them a few more times

sweet Isaiah - it was so fun to finally meet him!! And hanging out with his precious mommy was good for my soul

hangin' while I folded the stroller up

Eleanor was in love with Hannah the cat at Nana's house

she has a unique sense of style

Eleanor's sniffy face. This is the face that Avery also did, copying their daddy's face from when he was a baby. Genetics are so interesting. 

The girls are a mixed bag when it comes to traveling. Avery does okay for the most part, but she was a tad whiny and didn't understand why Nonnie wasn't home when we were there. Eleanor - that girl. Ugh. She cried anytime I put her down or left the room. It was fine for her to leave me, but not the other way around. We also had the worst nap schedule ever because we were out too much. We got home Friday and I handed them off to Luke.

We had the first cousin bath. No pics of the full group because I think Avery is too old to have bath pics posted online. But here's a modest shot of the cute babies! Right after this, Grayson decided to tackle Eleanor. And then he melted down into absolute anger-tears. He was DONE with this bath.

Eleanor finally cut that fourth tooth, so we have a happy girl again.

I introduced Avery to the Fancy Nancy books, and she is loving them. We took home about a dozen assorted books from the library, and the Fancy Nancy books are the only ones we have repeated. She barely acknowledges me when I tell her goodnight because she's already absorbed in the books. She's going to be the kid that hides under the covers with a flashlight.

Avery loves her dance class still (phew!), and one of her favorite parts is when they get to dance around freely with scarves. Avery prefers to run laps around the other girls while waving her scarf around, but she was put out this morning after class because her teacher told her to quit, that she should sway gently with the scarf instead. Boring, right?

Her second favorite part of dance? The stamps on their hands.

I don't have a ton of caffeine these days because of nursing, but over the course of 2 hours today, I had a (half-caff) pumpkin spice latte AND a diet coke. I'm surging with energy over here. I hope Eleanor sleeps well tonight!

trying to climb onto the table, but got trapped

our climber getting in on a little Pinterest action

 Eleanor fell into Avery's bubble bath one night, shocked herself silly and then proceeded to eat as many bubbles as she could.

I have stacks of books to go through on my side of the bed. STACKS. I'm trying hard to get through them all, but I just keep adding to the pile. Religion/doctrine, grief, fiction, parenting, and birth education books abound. I think my currently-reading list on Goodreads is half-a-dozen books long?

Round Top on Wednesday and Thursday! This week is going to be a good one.

Monday Musings

Had a really great day with the girls, after a really long night with Eleanor - she woke up at 1:30 and we were up for the next hour. Have no idea why. Teeth? Sinus issues? So we cuddled in the rocker for 30 minutes until I felt her body go limp, and then I layed her down in the pack n play in our bathroom, praying praying that she would stay asleep.

Dance class and lunch at home, good naps, then early dinner at home followed by ice cream at Chick-fil-a because we had a toy to turn in for free ice cream, then a quick run through Target. Eleanor fought going down for some reason, I think she was hungry, so I got her back up, gave her a snack, and then Luke and I tucked the girls in at the same time with a story.

Wrote down some GOALS for this fall. It's high time I'm more intentional with our days.

• Starting quiet time with Avery - she journals next to me while I do my morning devotional. I set my clock for 10 minutes, because that's all the focus she has unless it's Dora. We'll gradually increase this over time, but for now, shorter is better. Her journaling consists of colored scribbles on multiple pages. We're going to go through journals very quickly at this rate! Eventually I'll have her color something specific or actually write in it (when she learns to write). Again, the object lesson is FOCUS. Can this wiggle-worm sit still for 10 minutes?

• Start rising before the girls, instead of with the girls. It's hard, because they are technically awake before seven and want up if they hear any noise going on outside their room. Living in an apartment makes it difficult to do anything in the kitchen (like make the necessary coffee) without disturbing them. I'll have to settle for quiet time in my room without coffee. 

• Preschool-lite with Avery. I was supposed to start after Labor Day. It's still technically after Labor Day, right? Just pushed back a bit. Tuesdays and Thursdays will be short lessons with her, to help teach her focus, to work on learning some Bible stories, to read new books, etc. Nothing too strenuous - it's more of a chance for me to see if homeschooling is in our future, because this past year has really made me re-evaluate where we are headed in terms of a lot of things. I always thought I'd homeschool, but now I'm struggling with that decision. School is such a hard choice, and there are opinions from all different camps, which I won't get into here because I'm just not that brave on the web. What I've learned this year, though, is that sometimes it's okay to let go of what we thought was best and to rest in what God is working in us. Perhaps we'll still end up where I thought we would. But this is my year to really pray and seek God's wisdom in this.

• Find a hobby. I'd love to take guitar lessons, but I need a guitar first. I have grand visions of running a half-marathon, but my track record (ha!) for exercise is not great. But, I am seriously considering this, possibly one for mid-spring. 

And some random tidbits:

Avery loves bubble baths these days. I need to find some kid bubble bath because she's going through my favorite scent way too quickly. 

Avery announced to everyone, "Welcome to Chick-fil-a!" when we were sitting down at our table tonight. 

My vegetarian/vegan friends will rejoice - I love tofu. I make a lot of vegetarian dishes at home now. Way more fun than messing with meat in my kitchen. Still not fully converted. Please send your favorite recipes my way!!

Round Top is two weeks away. I am SO DARN EXCITED. I even get to go twice that week, once with the girls and once without. 

Life, as iPhotographed

Doing a phone dump from the past month or two. Random snapshots of our days, with some real gems tucked in here that make me smile every time.

introduction to a Waco favorite

trying to escape

she loves to play with Avery's (clean) underwear

awesome interior of Midnight Cowboy

Happy 30th to Luke. @Midnight Cowboy

sometimes she flushes the toilet with her foot, like I do in public restrooms

making sure I remember to take her to Nonnie's house too

mommy-daughter date

birthday fro-yo

new shoes