As a woman, you'd think I'd enjoy clothes shopping.  The multitude of shirts, dresses, shorts, pants, skirts, shoes, and necessary accessories should leave me feeling euphoric.  Instead, it's usually not a pleasant experience if I'm doing the shopping for me. And, it's probably less of a fun time for anyone with me.  Does anyone else out there feel me?  My mom wanted to take me clothes shopping for my birthday 6 weeks ago, but since The Husband was in the midst of his correctional officer training course, we had to postpone.  Today turned out to be a lovely day, and after getting The Husband squared away with the kiddos, my mom and I hopped in the car and headed to the mall.  We looked in two different stores, and after HOURS of looking and laughing and mocking the latest styles (all me--my mom rarely mocks), and a little frustration (mostly because I need nursing-capable shirts/dresses), we came away with what I hope are a couple of very cute i...

The kids and I (with the awesome help of my parents!) made these signs yesterday afternoon while The Husband was at work (where he had a simply awful & scary day--doubling down on prayers for a new job) and then hung them up so he'd have something nice to see when he got home around midnight.  I know they'll get tossed out eventually, but I sure love looking at Jack's small (and smudgy) handprints and Ella's oh-so-tiny footprints!  At least I'll have these pictures :) Happy, happy birthday to my dear husband! We love you bunches!

My venture into gardening has finally begun... :)

Today, I'm thankful for the ages and stages these two are at/in right now.  Jack is 21 months old.  He's smart and obedient 50-75% of the time.  He's such an emotional faker! The pretend crying makes me giggle. He can turn it on and off like that.  He's so funny, and he finds such joy in things I've forgotten to find joy in.  Ella is 8 1/2 months old.  First, she's ridiculously adorable. Biased.   Second, she has got to be the happiest baby alive. She wakes up giggling. Well, she wakes up, and then she begins to giggle. And squeal. And blow raspberries. She's just so happy. I hope that her disposition stays this sweet even when she begins teething.  She's beginning to do lots of new things (that I'll save for her 9 month update), and she's doing it all with a smile.  I love them. Completely. 

A little Jesus and a little play-doh.  Some mushing here and some shaping there.  I know He's molding me with this study because I feel His gentle prodding with passages like this one.  I'm thankful He can still get my attention, but I have a long way to go.  It's like anything learned, really.  We hear the words, we try the steps, we make progress, and then we falter.  Ella is learning to sit and roll these days.  She can sit unassisted for about twenty seconds before she begins to topple. She leans too far forward or to the left or right, and then she loses her balance.  We do that, I do that, too.  I know what I need to do. I know what's healthy. I know what's right. And yet. I lean too far toward anger or bitterness, and I've stumbled off the path.  I'm learning. Im getting there. I haven't finished the race yet, so I will continue moving forward, trying my best not to take too many steps back along the way. 

Well another few busy days have passed, and I'm just now finding time to post about the latest craziness.  Monday night, after everyone had gone to bed except me, I noticed a funny smell. The heater had kicked on, and there was a definite, almost-chemical smell coming from the vents. I turned the heater off, prayed for God to protect us while we slept, and went to sleep. The next morning, The Husband, up early for a correctional officer course he's taking for three weeks, turned on the heat. I immediately noticed the smell, and asked him if he smelled it, too. He did, and he told me not to run the heater at all. He'd check it that evening when he got home. About 45 minutes before Jack's bedtime that night, The Husband was able to take a look. The wires were burning right through the electrical tape. Again. He called his dad and his grandpa, and they came up with a solution. But because he's in school and working full time, he had no time to fix it before the latest ...

So, this gal is 8 months old today; though, technically, it's not the 29th. Oh February, you trouble maker, you.  She's not rolling over  (I assume because she's not a big fan of tummy time), but I know she'll do it in her own time--she does roll to her side. Jack was a late roller and crawler, but he's running and trying to hop now, so I'm not worried. :) She hasn't shown interest in table food, but when she does, I think we'll go the baby-led-weaning route instead of me making tons of baby food like I did with Jack. I'll make some of the purées of the foods that aren't soft enough for her to chew/gum on though.  We love her so much. Her cheeks are sooo nom-nomable. Her smiles and squeals are infectious. Her hair is coming in on top and resembles the fuzzy down of a baby chick. She fills our home with such light. I can't help but smile when I think about her.