Ok, so nesting has hit hard this time around. I wake up in the middle of the night thinking of things we need to get rid of, when "big trash" day could possibly be, and which neglected, tiny spaces need a wipe down. Of course this all could be compounded by the fact the interviews made it all so real that this house will be on the market in 7-8 months and we will be moving, but....seriously! I did admit in an earlier posting I become more obsessive-compulsive with each successive kid, right???? Guess we know a fourth is probably out of the question. I'm going to buy the Gray's Anatomy t-shirt that simply says Seriously on the front. Maybe when I where it and it only covers half my enlarging belly, I'll keep some perspective....:). Jeanine, at some point I will get brave enough to take a picture of this belly and post it. Trust me...it is there.
By the way, Addy is now officially "soylicious". We have been giving her soy milk for 2 1/2 weeks without any consequence. I know it is hard for those who have not navigated their way through food allergies/intolerances, but trust me, this is huge. The soy protein, which she could not tolerate just a few months ago, is about as large as the milk protein. Therefore, our sweet girl is (hopefully) not too far away from being able to digest milk protein. We just can't wait to see a little mouth and hands covered with ice cream....what a wonderful sight that will be!
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Monday, May 28, 2007
Still truck'n along
Whew! What a whirlwind it has been over the last couple of weeks. Scott has been on "vacation" this last week and to say the least, we were productive. It all started on Friday, May when we welcomed his parents, both brothers and their families for the weekend. I think all of us together made 18! It was a blast and it was so great to see his older brother (Kevin) and his family as we had not seen them since Thanksgiving '05. We were thrilled, which is an understatement, to have us all together and cherished every moment of it. Mary Ella certainly enjoyed all the attention from her older cousins. Everyone arrived Friday evening. We went to beach on Saturday, which was surprisingly clean AND beautiful. We went to a Hibachi restaurant that evening and all caught an Astros game Sunday afternoon (unfortunately they lost big time!). We finished off with a family dinner at a fantastic seafood restaurant. If you travel to the coast, seafood is a must. I'd say two restaurant experiences with 18 people wasn't as challenging as you might think. Here are a few pictures:
Boys talking "shop" (His older brothers are both OB/GYNs)
All our "cuties"
Look at them sitting so nicely!
The "Fam" (Addy stayed home with Nana)
My brother, Uncle "Wobin" with Mary Ella at her first Astros game (he's so proud!)
Friday morning we left for home to have some calm days at home over Memorial Day weekend in order to re-program the children and get back into our routine. I awoke Saturday to a strong need to clean out and organize. Could "nesting"really be starting this early???? We cleaned out 2 storage closets and packed up unused clothes/other items around the house to be given away. My car is now loaded for a Goodwill trip. YEAH! I can't believe it has only been a week, but it has been and we are feeling real good about our progress and options.
Quote of the Week (Mary Ella...of course): "But I don't like healthy food anymore, only sugary food!".....Guess this might take a while!
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Quick update
This is my abbreviated update...no frills to be added as we are expecting a lot of company this weekend and will be traveling the better part of next week (time is crucial)!
Confirmed: We are SURE. We are CERTAIN. We are THRILLED to announce that this baby is, in fact, a little girl as originally predicted. What a precious sight she was! I made the brave (maybe crazy) decision to take both of our girls to this ultrasound while Scott was on-call. We got there a little before our appointment at 3pm and were not seen until 4:30 pm. Yes, I was in the waiting room with two tired little girls who TOTALLY arose to the occasion. It is amazing what dangling a "pink" milkshake can do to a little girls behavior (Hey, desperate times call for desperate measures). Addy stayed in her stroller for two hours and when we got in there. Mary Ella enjoyed playing "mother hen" carefully giving her one Teddy Graham at a time to adequately stretch out our supply and time.....amazing! I can't say enough about how wonderful they were. Needless to say, Mary Ella got the "pink" milkshake and I got myself a chocolate one! Addy got lots of hugs and kisses after making it through a day with only one 10 minute nap without any meltdowns. I'm telling you, the ONLY way to describe this is Devine intervention.
Interviews: We are traveling to Tyler, Texas and Shreveport, Louisiana for back to back interviews. We are hoping to have a calm, settled Memorial Day weekend here at home.
Confirmed: We are SURE. We are CERTAIN. We are THRILLED to announce that this baby is, in fact, a little girl as originally predicted. What a precious sight she was! I made the brave (maybe crazy) decision to take both of our girls to this ultrasound while Scott was on-call. We got there a little before our appointment at 3pm and were not seen until 4:30 pm. Yes, I was in the waiting room with two tired little girls who TOTALLY arose to the occasion. It is amazing what dangling a "pink" milkshake can do to a little girls behavior (Hey, desperate times call for desperate measures). Addy stayed in her stroller for two hours and when we got in there. Mary Ella enjoyed playing "mother hen" carefully giving her one Teddy Graham at a time to adequately stretch out our supply and time.....amazing! I can't say enough about how wonderful they were. Needless to say, Mary Ella got the "pink" milkshake and I got myself a chocolate one! Addy got lots of hugs and kisses after making it through a day with only one 10 minute nap without any meltdowns. I'm telling you, the ONLY way to describe this is Devine intervention.
Interviews: We are traveling to Tyler, Texas and Shreveport, Louisiana for back to back interviews. We are hoping to have a calm, settled Memorial Day weekend here at home.
End of the Year!
We attended Mary Ella's end of the year program last week and also completed our teacher conference. Let me start with the conference. Being my first conference, I was a little nervous about what I would be told about her progress, maturity, etc considering she is the youngest in her class with a July birthday. It was totally painless, she is progressing well, eager to please, and getting along very well with her peers. What more can you ask for? The only negative comment (if you want to call it that) is that sometimes she is so eager to participate and answer questions she blurts out her answers. That's my girl! Even though she challenges me quite often with her impulsivity and "back talking", it is nice to know I'm the only recipient of that behavior. I could really be positive and say that must mean she really trusts me, right???? I believe moms do get "boundary tested" more often than others, but it is good to know she is learning and applying.
Now, the program...IT WAS PRICELESS! Mary Ella donned her jeans, painted t-shirt and bandana she made at school and be-bopped her way into the performance line. They did a series of Texas songs with arm motions and all. I must say, I get overwhelmed with emotion when I see my children get that look of success and pure joy on their face....no, it's not just the pregnancy hormones either. Seeing her up there performing her heart out gives me more joy than I could ever have doing anything or having anything else. That kind of joy CAN NOT be replicated. I can not believe this child only has one year until kindergarten (sniff, sniff).
Now, the program...IT WAS PRICELESS! Mary Ella donned her jeans, painted t-shirt and bandana she made at school and be-bopped her way into the performance line. They did a series of Texas songs with arm motions and all. I must say, I get overwhelmed with emotion when I see my children get that look of success and pure joy on their face....no, it's not just the pregnancy hormones either. Seeing her up there performing her heart out gives me more joy than I could ever have doing anything or having anything else. That kind of joy CAN NOT be replicated. I can not believe this child only has one year until kindergarten (sniff, sniff).
We are happily ushering in the summer activities. I plan to live in the water this summer and am hoping to get Mary Ella more independent in the water.
(I meant to post this earlier, but hadn't had the chance to do so...)
Monday, May 14, 2007
Mother's Day Pictures
Look at those eyes! Because of this look, this child will never be in trouble!!!! 
One of those sweet moments you have to capture.
Noami (my mother) and the girls
Me and my girls. I did get a picture of all four of us, but it didn't turn out...bummer.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Happy Mother's Day
I'll never forget the the first Mother's Day when I was pregnant with Mary Ella. I was only a couple of months away from delivering our first child. I think I cried 2-3 times that day already loving this little person so much it hurt. I couldn't imagine loving her any more than I already did. Boy was I wrong. I had Mary Ella and the second they put her in my arms, she took my breath away and I even think my heart skipped a beat. It is amazing to think God loves us even more than that...I honestly can't wrap my Earthly mind around that, but I know it is true.
Almost exactly two years later, I found out I was pregnant with our second daughter, Addy Scott. This pregnancy was different. I knew how much I was going to love her and the anticipation of meeting and bringing her home was so exciting. More importantly I realized I was not only bringing her into this world for our immediate family, she was a gift for so many to love. Sometimes it is hard to realize that, but really, a baby's effect reaches far beyond the walls of our home. God has great purpose for each one. Again, amazing, but SO true. I heard her cry as she took her first breath and I cried as once again my breath was taken away. Her first year was, in many ways, challenging due to her "food issues", but to see she and her sister develop their own, unique bond has been such a blessing to me. No, things are not always perfect. I often find myself saying things like, "Mary Ella, you're getting to rough," and "Please let her go." However, there are those sweet moments when they are playing in Mary Ella's room giggling and squealing. Those are the moments that affirm things are just as they were intended to be.
Eleven month's later Scott and I decided we would definitely add to our family; however, we would wait until after residency. "Let's give it another year," we said. Well, little did we know God was just softening our hearts to the idea. He felt we needed to expand our family sooner rather than later, so a couple of weeks after the conversation, we found out we were pregnant again. We often get the comments about "trying for the boy," but honestly, that did not cross our minds. We know and trust our family will be comprised of exactly what was intended. It is not our choosing....thankfully! We will know in a couple of weeks if the original prediction of "girl" is correct and will keep you posted. Meanwhile, the baby has hit a rapid growth spurt and Mary Ella's loving every minute, or should I say "inch", of it.
As I've made this journey through early motherhood I have definitely had some revelations about myself and motherhood in general (in no particular order):
1. No matter how much you think you are going to love your children, you'll love them more.
2. No matter how sweet and innocent they are as infants/children, one day they will frustrate you.
3. Personal space does not exist at this time, but I don't know what I would do without those soft hands patting me or those big, slimy kisses.
4. I grew to love my husband even more after we had children even though I didn't know it was possible.
5. I have become more obsessive-compulsive with each child that comes home. Everything has to have order and a "place".
6. Naptime is as much for the mother as it is for the children.
7. I have really come to appreciate "private" bathroom time and long showers. Something I only get if my husband is at home.
8. Motherhood is not glamorous, but there are moments that no outfit, shoes, or "perfect body" could even compare to.
9. The best times to have conversations with my children are in the car. Sometimes it is hard to remember to put down the cell phone and turn off the radio, but it is so worth it if I do.
10. Most of the time my children are dressed and look better than I do.
11. Rest is never something you'll "catch up" on, but that is ok. Moms are made for this stuff.
12. Alone time with Scott is ESSENTIAL. We don't get to very often, but it sure is nice to sit at a restaurant and enjoy a meal.
13. The responsibility of having children is more than you could ever imagine requiring lots of prayer, laughter and tears (hopefully in that order!).
14. Laughing at your own mistakes is a must. I often joke about forfeiting the "mother of the year" award.
15. Nobody is going to do things the way you do, so don't expect it. Besides it adds to the special bond between you and your kids anyways.
16. You will (at some point) worry you are showing early symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease and actually look it up. Don't worry, this is completely normal.
17. Finding a group of positive, supportive women to be around is also a *must*. Who wants to be around a bunch of "negative nancys" anyways???
18. No matter how hard you try not to, you WILL end up with frozen chicken nuggets, corn dogs and Kraft Macaroni and Cheese (surely if I add broccoli it is nutritious, right???)
19. Mothers keep the "paper goods" people in business. How on Earth did mothers ever survive without paper towels and paper plates?
20. I once had a mother tell me motherhood is about the moments, not milestones which I think is so true. With each success and failure comes a moment of special meaning and insight into my children. Sometimes I don't take the time and pay attention to those little things, but once again, it is so worth it if I do.
I could go on and on, but I'll leave it at that. I honestly can say being a mother is such a blessing and a Gift only described by God's Graciousness. So to all the mothers I know out there....Happy Mother's Day to you. I hope this next year brings you many more moments to cherish and, well, some private bathroom time.
Almost exactly two years later, I found out I was pregnant with our second daughter, Addy Scott. This pregnancy was different. I knew how much I was going to love her and the anticipation of meeting and bringing her home was so exciting. More importantly I realized I was not only bringing her into this world for our immediate family, she was a gift for so many to love. Sometimes it is hard to realize that, but really, a baby's effect reaches far beyond the walls of our home. God has great purpose for each one. Again, amazing, but SO true. I heard her cry as she took her first breath and I cried as once again my breath was taken away. Her first year was, in many ways, challenging due to her "food issues", but to see she and her sister develop their own, unique bond has been such a blessing to me. No, things are not always perfect. I often find myself saying things like, "Mary Ella, you're getting to rough," and "Please let her go." However, there are those sweet moments when they are playing in Mary Ella's room giggling and squealing. Those are the moments that affirm things are just as they were intended to be.
Eleven month's later Scott and I decided we would definitely add to our family; however, we would wait until after residency. "Let's give it another year," we said. Well, little did we know God was just softening our hearts to the idea. He felt we needed to expand our family sooner rather than later, so a couple of weeks after the conversation, we found out we were pregnant again. We often get the comments about "trying for the boy," but honestly, that did not cross our minds. We know and trust our family will be comprised of exactly what was intended. It is not our choosing....thankfully! We will know in a couple of weeks if the original prediction of "girl" is correct and will keep you posted. Meanwhile, the baby has hit a rapid growth spurt and Mary Ella's loving every minute, or should I say "inch", of it.
As I've made this journey through early motherhood I have definitely had some revelations about myself and motherhood in general (in no particular order):
1. No matter how much you think you are going to love your children, you'll love them more.
2. No matter how sweet and innocent they are as infants/children, one day they will frustrate you.
3. Personal space does not exist at this time, but I don't know what I would do without those soft hands patting me or those big, slimy kisses.
4. I grew to love my husband even more after we had children even though I didn't know it was possible.
5. I have become more obsessive-compulsive with each child that comes home. Everything has to have order and a "place".
6. Naptime is as much for the mother as it is for the children.
7. I have really come to appreciate "private" bathroom time and long showers. Something I only get if my husband is at home.
8. Motherhood is not glamorous, but there are moments that no outfit, shoes, or "perfect body" could even compare to.
9. The best times to have conversations with my children are in the car. Sometimes it is hard to remember to put down the cell phone and turn off the radio, but it is so worth it if I do.
10. Most of the time my children are dressed and look better than I do.
11. Rest is never something you'll "catch up" on, but that is ok. Moms are made for this stuff.
12. Alone time with Scott is ESSENTIAL. We don't get to very often, but it sure is nice to sit at a restaurant and enjoy a meal.
13. The responsibility of having children is more than you could ever imagine requiring lots of prayer, laughter and tears (hopefully in that order!).
14. Laughing at your own mistakes is a must. I often joke about forfeiting the "mother of the year" award.
15. Nobody is going to do things the way you do, so don't expect it. Besides it adds to the special bond between you and your kids anyways.
16. You will (at some point) worry you are showing early symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease and actually look it up. Don't worry, this is completely normal.
17. Finding a group of positive, supportive women to be around is also a *must*. Who wants to be around a bunch of "negative nancys" anyways???
18. No matter how hard you try not to, you WILL end up with frozen chicken nuggets, corn dogs and Kraft Macaroni and Cheese (surely if I add broccoli it is nutritious, right???)
19. Mothers keep the "paper goods" people in business. How on Earth did mothers ever survive without paper towels and paper plates?
20. I once had a mother tell me motherhood is about the moments, not milestones which I think is so true. With each success and failure comes a moment of special meaning and insight into my children. Sometimes I don't take the time and pay attention to those little things, but once again, it is so worth it if I do.
I could go on and on, but I'll leave it at that. I honestly can say being a mother is such a blessing and a Gift only described by God's Graciousness. So to all the mothers I know out there....Happy Mother's Day to you. I hope this next year brings you many more moments to cherish and, well, some private bathroom time.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Goodbye sweet friend
Well, today we have said goodbye to our sweet, loyal, loving dog Chelsea. We got her the week after we got married 9 years ago. She was our "first born" and this is proving to be as difficult as we had imagined. Although we know this is the right decision for her, we couldn't help but feel guilt when she showed her perky self. We decided to let her go as those moments were usually brief and with all of her falls, she was likely to break something resulting in even more pain. We just couldn't let her go that far. So Chelsea, we thank you for loving us, putting up with our children crawling all over you, and being a great companion for 9 years. We will love and miss you dearly!
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Mothers weigh in please!
OK, so I told my mother I did not enroll Addy Scott in Mother's Day Out next year. Her reaction was, "I really think you're going to need it..." Now, my mother doesn't offer free advice often, so I'm left wondering if I should listen. When I found out about this pregnancy there was no doubt in my mind I would; however, when it came around to registration, I chickened out thinking, "what if she brings home lots of cooties???" and "Isn't she too young?" etc... Then I went to Mary Ella's end of the year program last night and Barbara, the director, tried to convince me I should. THEN, enters my well-intentioned husband who thinks I should. Here is the nitty gritty. Addy Scott will be 19 months when this baby is born which means she will be busy bee, we will be putting this house on the market in January, and moving in June/July. Part of me thinks I will definitely need those two days/week to reorganize, rest, bond with baby, show the house, etc. BUT there is the other part is questioning it. SO moms, I NEED your constructive input as I've heard three children changes many things on top of the many transitions we will already be experiencing. Certainly, no offense will be taken either way (You know I'm not like that!). You can leave a message without registering.
I will also be posting some pictures of the program later. Also, just to prepare you, Scott and I have decided to put our sweet dog, Chelsea down tomorrow. This was a VERY difficult decision, but we feel like it needs to be done as her pain is increasingly evident. Therefore, it is likely going to be a rough couple of days for us, so please forgive us if phone messages go unreturned for a couple of days.
I will also be posting some pictures of the program later. Also, just to prepare you, Scott and I have decided to put our sweet dog, Chelsea down tomorrow. This was a VERY difficult decision, but we feel like it needs to be done as her pain is increasingly evident. Therefore, it is likely going to be a rough couple of days for us, so please forgive us if phone messages go unreturned for a couple of days.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Changes
Golly, it is hot down here on the Gulf Coast and it seems as though overnight, my clothes are no longer fitting. I pulled out my maternity clothes that I feel like I just put away. Well, many of my summer maternity clothes are much too big considering I was 15-20 pounds heavier during my pregnancy with Mary Ella (my summer baby), so this gives me an excuse to go buy some hip summer clothes. So where did I go???? Target. Hey, I'm easy to please. I bought every pair of shorts I could find and a couple pair of flip flops so my feet don't get so darn hot. Thank goodness we live down here where tank tops, shorts, and flip flops are pretty much the uniform. I did come home and go to oldnavy.com for a few cute tops, a dress, and a bathing suit as I will be spending a lot of time in the water. Maternity clothes sure have changed since I was pregnant 4 years ago with Mary Ella (I personally think it is for the better!).
Another change??? I chopped my hair off. Yes, I did and I'm SOOOOO happy about it. It was close to the bottom of my shoulder blades and now it is just below my jaw bone. I woke up one morning and threw it in a wet ponytail for the last time. I'm not sure when I had the time to blow dry it last. Now I blow dry it in less than 4 minutes and I don't feel like such a frump anymore. There is something to be said for feeling groomed again. I walked in from getting it cut and Mary Ella had a shocked look on her face, then regained composure and said sweetly, "Mommy, I like your new haircut. It's really pretty."
The children seem to have changed just in the last couple of weeks too. Addy is in the "aimless wandering" stage leaving little messes all over the house. She picks up one toy and carries it for a few minutes, drops it to get get another. This is repeated all day and before I know it I can't go two feet without stepping on something sharp, slippery, or bulky. I am sure it is an interesting sight to see me try and regain balance with a large load of clothes in my arms. It definitely keeps me on my toes! On the contrary, Mary Ella has developed such a sense of pride cleaning up her room by herself and helping me around the house. Before storytime/bedtime, Mary Ella cleans her room. To my surprise, the past few nights, she is not only picking up her toys, she is organizing them appropriately then comes to me and says (with a very proud smile on her face), "Mom, come look what I did." Now, I know this is temporary, but I will enjoy this while I can. She definitely enjoys all the praise that comes her way. By the way, the "rest time" routine is working beautifully too. I'm on cloud nine and do believe I had more pepper in my stepper today! Praise God!
I know I've written a lot in the last couple of days, but I re-read yesterdays post and realized so much more had happened. Since this is a "journal" I hope to one day have printed and bound for my children, I didn't want to miss any details. So thanks for hangin' in there with me!
Another change??? I chopped my hair off. Yes, I did and I'm SOOOOO happy about it. It was close to the bottom of my shoulder blades and now it is just below my jaw bone. I woke up one morning and threw it in a wet ponytail for the last time. I'm not sure when I had the time to blow dry it last. Now I blow dry it in less than 4 minutes and I don't feel like such a frump anymore. There is something to be said for feeling groomed again. I walked in from getting it cut and Mary Ella had a shocked look on her face, then regained composure and said sweetly, "Mommy, I like your new haircut. It's really pretty."
The children seem to have changed just in the last couple of weeks too. Addy is in the "aimless wandering" stage leaving little messes all over the house. She picks up one toy and carries it for a few minutes, drops it to get get another. This is repeated all day and before I know it I can't go two feet without stepping on something sharp, slippery, or bulky. I am sure it is an interesting sight to see me try and regain balance with a large load of clothes in my arms. It definitely keeps me on my toes! On the contrary, Mary Ella has developed such a sense of pride cleaning up her room by herself and helping me around the house. Before storytime/bedtime, Mary Ella cleans her room. To my surprise, the past few nights, she is not only picking up her toys, she is organizing them appropriately then comes to me and says (with a very proud smile on her face), "Mom, come look what I did." Now, I know this is temporary, but I will enjoy this while I can. She definitely enjoys all the praise that comes her way. By the way, the "rest time" routine is working beautifully too. I'm on cloud nine and do believe I had more pepper in my stepper today! Praise God!
I know I've written a lot in the last couple of days, but I re-read yesterdays post and realized so much more had happened. Since this is a "journal" I hope to one day have printed and bound for my children, I didn't want to miss any details. So thanks for hangin' in there with me!
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