10 on 10:: January 2014

Being that it is now the 20th of January, I figured it is about time I post my ten on ten!  

The first picture should really be of our ancient alarm clock radio...reading 7:18! (yes we still use one as our alarm in the morning.)  We had our clock set for PM...fortunately I just happened to wake up.  My first thought was I feel too rested, my next thought was crap it's light outside and Josh is still next to me.  His first class is at 8:15 and has a 45 minute drive.  He actually made it to work in time!  What a way to start our day.

Josh and I decided we are going to try homeschooling Anya for pre-school. Since I was an early childhood teacher I have a ton of resources and it only seems natural.  A few weeks ago we started centers during my shower time.  It also allows me some time to fold laundry without having little fingers try to "help".    

 Love this guy in his warm fuzzy plaid!

 Cheesy smiles....

 Naptime!  

 The view from Oliver's nursery: January snow!

More pictures and frames to add to my wall collage!

 Pick me up already Mommy!!!

 Anya helps with bathtime.  I'm assuming he had a blow out which is why it was mid-day, but can't remember!

 He still loves his Moby wrap time with Mommy.

I hope you are having a great January and start to 2014!  

Happy 10th 20th!

Little O is 5 Months!

Dear Oliver,

Happy 5 months little dude!  Seriously, where has time gone?  How are you already five months old?  How are you already so big?  How can this be? (tear*)
Let me just begin by saying you are the sweetest little boy I've ever met.  You are so happy and easily smile, especially when you hear familiar voices like Mommy, Daddy, and Anya.  Your smile just about melts my heart.  You have not one but two dimples!  Daddy and I are so glad you got my trait just like Anya.  The past week you've been making tons of "talking" noises.  It's so cute to hear.  I imagine you are trying to be just like your big sister, who you absolutely adore and think the world of.  That's exactly why I let Anya be in  your five month photo shoot.  When she sees me taking your picture she invites herself right on up to your rocking chair and you love it.

This month you have mastered rolling from tummy to back, although you were doing this at 2 months I wonder how much was an accident and how much you mastered at that point.  You love being on your tummy to sleep so most of the time during tummy time you just lay down and put your fingers in your mouth. Oh the fingers, you don't use "paci" anymore, you are officially a finger sucker.  You love your first two fingers on your left hand.  It's so convenient and I think you are such a great sleeper because I don't need to keep putting "paci" back in.  The past two nights you've gone to bed between 6-7pm, woke up to play between 9-10pm, then back to bed until.....9:00am!!!  You are a rock star sleeper;-)

You nurse on demand, but I'd say most of the time it's every 3 hours. At 4 months you weighed 15lbs 10oz, so I'm thinking now you are close to 17lbs.  You wear size 9 month clothes, although most 6 month outfits still fit you too.  I do cloth diapers with you, but when I do put you in disposable it's size 3.  You've just recently started sitting up much better on your own.  You still fall to the side but I can tell it's going to be really soon that you will be sitting on your own.  You inch worm crawl when you really want something, but since you are so chill you normally just put your head down and suck your fingers.

I'm not even going to talk about sleep schedules for you because you are still so young and nothing is consistent yet.  Some nights you sleep with me and eat every hour.  Other nights you sleep through the night. You are still unpredictable but I think that is to be expected.

Likes:
Sucking on fingers
Sleeping on tummy
Mommy singing
Eating
Baths with Anya
Excersaucer
Cuddles

Dislikes:
Hmmm....I'm not actually sure at the moment because you've been so happy and well rested lately.  Typically you don't like being put down, but you've started to "play" and interact with toys more so you don't mind it so much anymore.

Mommy loves you so much, and God loves you even more. (Unbelievable that love)

Love,
Mommy

Freeze Day #1, Day #2 tomorrow!

Greetings from  Chicago ahem, the Artic circle! (Nerd!)

What a way to start off the year!  Just when we thought Christmas break was ending, Josh gets a phone call saying school was cancelled because of the extreme cold temperatures.  Woohoo!!!!!

Hey! It's "warming up" this morning my phone said -17! Wind chills are up to -50 below wind chill.  If you don't know what wind chill means....I'm jealous;-)

I thought I'd take a few pictures to capture our day of hibernating.

Good morning!  Beautiful looking day outside, but don't let that sun fool you.  I do love how the sun warms up our house.

Poor Charlie practically froze.  I'm so thankful for our heat and home! 

9 am Coffee and homemade pumpkin bread for breakfast.  Josh let me sleep in...I woke up at 8:30.  

This little guy woke up at 9!  It's so nice to have a late sleeper.

Listening to some classic Christmas songs on Pandora.  I'm not ready to give it up just yet. 

Almost, but not quite.

Great candle. Great price.  Jewel! 

After lunch we made some peanut butter cracker sandwiches dipped in chocolate.  These are so easy and so good!  Crackers (Ritz or Club) + peanut butter + almond bark

Anya was more interested in eating the crackers than dipping them in chocolate.  Then Josh blast chilled them outside.  The chocolate hardened in a few seconds, awesome that we are putting that cold air to good use;-)

 The blast chiller got us thinking we should do a few below-zero experiments.  First we boiled water and threw it in the air.  It freezes super quick so even the steam from the water freezes.  It looks very cool!  Josh also tried blowing bubbles to watch them freeze, but it was too windy and we were frozen by this point so we ran inside.  

Then we made peppermint schnapps hot chocolate.  Thanks Joey and Lauren!  We are putting your gifts to use again;-)

 Anya loves hot chocolate...without the schnapps, that is.

 These crackers are delicious.  

 Cheers to Day #2 of school cancellations!  We tend to "cheer" with Glogg when given news of great joy!  I love Josh's "win" of these glasses from our Egbers' Family white elephant exchange.  He won Grandma's "Ziggy" glasses!!

 We have six doves that sit outside on our patio furniture.  Today I only saw five....:-(  Gotta love the random tiki torch I forgot to bring inside in the fall.  Reminding me one day we will have warm days again...

STAY WARM!!!!

2014: New Year's Resolution

This past week I've been thinking about some New Years resolutions and goals for myself and family. Conversations with Josh and my pastor's sermons have helped me shape and decide what my resolutions will be.  I love when people decide on a word to describe their goal for the year.  So I am going to adopt that idea to my resolutions for this year.  My 2014 word/ phrase is:

"BE INTENTIONAL"

Here are some ways I want to put my word into practice.  

I'm taking after Pastor Jim with the "F's".

1.)  Family: Be intentional about how I spend my time with my kids.  Am I mentally "present" with my children as well as physically?  Scheduling date nights with my husband and planning for daily special time with my children will take priority.  

2.)  Faith:  Be intentional about spending more time in God's Word and in prayer .  Take every opportunity given to share the love of Christ with another and intentionally serve others.  

3.) Friends: Be intentional about scheduling play dates, coffee dates, and girl's nights. Look for opportunities to help friends and serve them.

4.) Freedom: Be intentional about how I use my "down time".  Put limits on social media, TV, and other "time wasters".

5.) Food: Be intentional about what I eat, meals I plan for my family, and how I spend money on food.  

What are your New Year's resolutions?
Do you have any words that you are using to describe your goals for 2014?  

Happy New Year!

Reflecting on Christmas 2013

2 year olds make Christmas child-like again. This Christmas brought back many memories from my childhood, and it's exciting being on the parent-side of things.  It was all about making memories for Anya and starting traditions.  

We celebrated with my M.I.L's family at our Community Rec center's hall.  Anya loved getting all dolled up in her Christmas dress for the party.  We had great food, fun games, and good conversations with family. 

 Oliver's first Christmas:-)

 Presents was by far Anya's favorite part of the evening.  She was thrilled by everything her (and Ollie) received.  

 Christmas morning...woohoo!!

 There's nothing more special than the feeling on Christmas morning.  The magic, the love, the warmth...Christ's birthday.  Santa came and left footprints on the carpet (Pinterest fail!  I should have done a close-up the "boot prints" looked terrible....lol!)  Anya was ecstatic.  

 Christmas Eve we went to church with my parents and Katie.  At the end of the service Katie dedicated her life to Christ.  Best. Gift. Ever!  There's nothing better than that for Christmas!!!  Then we sang Silent Night by candlelight.  I look forward to it every year.  And this year was even more special.

When we got home Anya and I prepared for Santa's arrival. We decided Santa likes peanut butter cookies with his milk;-)  Of course we left carrots and celery for the reindeer.  They need some fuel too! We also sprinkled some reindeer food on the snow so Rudolph can guide Santa to our house. 

 (Oatmeal with glitter)  

The reindeer dropped a carrot outside on our patio too!

 Christmas morning we made our Jesus cake...cinnamon rolls.

 I let Anya do most of the work.  

 Thanks Joey and Lauren for our hot cocoa mugs!  They are perfect!

Daddy always reads us the Christmas story.  This year we decided to read it from the children's Bible so Anya would be more engaged.  Then Anya recited her memory verse.  Melts my heart!

 We did very few and simple gifts this year.  

 After our Christmas morning at home we went to Cary to have brunch with my family and then we all went to my in-laws for dinner.  We are so blessed our families get along and live in the same small town.  We have been doing Christmas dinner together now for 13 years!  

 Gifts wrapped in the never-ending wrapping paper that is from my dad's childhood.  

It goes on and on.  Very cool!

 At Mama and Papa's house for dinner!  They had a surprise train set up for Anya around the tree. 

 

I'm bummed I didn't get any pictures of us opening gifts or dinner table picture.  With a baby and toddler you know how dinnertime can be....

We also celebrated with Diana's family for Christmas.  

I wish I had a few pictures to put up, but I had my hands full with Oliver.  Thank you Diana and Joe for inviting us to celebrate Christmas with your family.  We enjoyed meeting everyone and visiting!

We went to Cincinnati the weekend after Christmas to celebrate with Cindy, Tony, Mary at my grandma's house.  

All we wanted was a simple, quick, picture of the 3 cousins.  Nope. Not going to happen.  This picture cracks me up!

It was a busy Christmas, but very fulfilling and fun!  First week of break was spent celebrating Christmas with the people we love.  The second week was all about doing nothing at home.  

It was a great balance!  

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas celebrating with your loved ones!