12-31-13: Christmas Recap 2013

Christmas was nice this year. Truly, I think having little ones just adds so much spice to everything! I just loved having the time to spend with the girls and Andy--and as an added bonus, his grandparents got to visit this week also, which was nice.

As a recap, we continued our tradition of everyone getting one new ornament to signify something special about the year--here's what we got:

Andy: guitar.

Not only did he finally get that Taylor acoustic he's been wanting forever, but he also got the chance to lead worship in a lot of different settings this year--youth choir tour, normal worship services at Bethel, the band led worship at kids camp, etc. He is a busy, talented guy!

(As an aside, I really wanted to find some kind of ornament to represent healing/glory to God, but everything was kind of morbid. Honestly there is nothing more major that happened in our whole family's life this year than his not having cancer---I am SO grateful and thankful to God and I doubt I will ever stop being awed at how he moved in our lives. Wish I could have found a non-morbid way to memorialize that on the tree.....)

Juliana: baby doll 2013.

My little girl is a born mommy! She LOVES baby dolls! Will carry them around, light up at seeing them and even kiss them! This was the only ornament I found with a baby on it. So glad that she is a part of our little family this year!

Anna Claire: Cinderella.

It's been a Cinderella kind of year! Anna Claire is a princess through and through! She loves dresses and dress up and to be pretty! She loves Cinderella but as the year progressed she also started liking the Little Mermaid very well also--never more than second place though! I got her a Cinderella ornament that I thought would be sturdy enough for her to play with....WRONG!  Notice in the first picture that she has a superglued neck and superglued torso and no arms at all.  Poor Cinderella....

So the second ornament is the "keeping" ornament that goes up high on the tree!

Rhonda: pregnancy.

Biggest thing for me this year is our precious surprise baby Eliza Joy! I feel miserably pregnant at this point but we are so excited nonetheless!

And of course, our annual family picture ornament:

Anna Claire got crafty this year and here are some of the ornaments that she got to help make at church, Sunday School and mothers morning out:

Mom bought us this cute family snowmen ornament at the Christmas Made in the South craft show:

And I got this painted/decoupage (not really sure which) Ostrich Egg of the three Wise Men.

And this Goofy ornament for Anna Claire since she really likes him right now....

And lastly, our Christmas card:

This was a special gift for Andy this year - I took some of his worn out tee shirts and sent them to Granny and Aunt Carol and they made them into a quilt for me!  I just love how it turned out!  He was so surprised that I even had kept many of them - we have blocks representing everything from high school marching band to Cowarts Baptist and on to many of his adventures at Bethel!  Neat memories!

My favorite gift was my Origami Owl locket that Andy picked out all by himself - SOOOOO special!
I'm still working hard at my Jesse Tree ornaments--I'm hoping to have them complete by springtime!

12-31-13

Anna Claire says giraff-E.

Juliana say mama, dah!, bye, ruff and woof, bow! (Don't know what that means) and now FY! (For fry initially but now I think it can mean more of any food. :-)

She is a doll!

12-23-13

Watching Rudolph again with my two babies. So blessed.

12-22-13

Really feeling bad today. Hoping to feel lots better with a good nights sleep. I can officially say that I am ready for this baby to come! I am OVER being pregnant. :-)

A little extra emotional tonight too--a touch of meloncholy and i absolutely hate that. It seeps the joy right out of you for no reason at all. Guess it's pregnancy hormones but I hate it nonetheless. I just live in such paranoia about serious illness ever since Andy's sickness and that is so unlike who I was before that event. It is NOT who I want to be!

12-19-13

Tonight we watched Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty and the very mediocre Frosty Returns. Fun night with our girls! Can't believe Anna Claire was so into them! She loved them all!

12-17-13

One month from today our little family of four will become five!

I'm just about physically ready. I think I've turned the corner from uncomfortable to miserable in the last day or so.....although honestly, no pregnant woman should be working as hard as I have been working.....Dr. Lazenby would NOT approve. But you do what you have to do, and I have to get this house in order.....a little closer everyday, and tomorrow Hannah comes to help so it should be a very productive day!

12-17-13

Tonight we went to look at Christmas lights. We had heard of four or five houses in the area with big displays so we headed off in search of them! I really enjoyed it--hadn't ever went out purely for that purpose and it was fun! Anna Claire really liked looking at the lights, although she was obsessed with wanting to get out to touch them--especially the blow up Santas, reindeer, etc!!

Mom visited this weekend and we made lots of progress on my post-renovation-whole-house-organization-project. That was a relief, even though on the surface it really doesn't look a lot cleaner. It is getting there....very slowly but surely. This has been one of the most physically and mentally demanding household projects I've ever taken on. First the chaos and disarray of construction itself. The constant cleanup of debris, displaced items and sheetrock dust. Then having to clean all the new spaces and discover how to incorporate new furniture/decor into those spaces. Trying not to refill those areas with junk, etc. I have taken probably ten boxes of stuff to the rescue mission. Could have had a yard sale, but frankly I do not have the stamina.

12-09-13

A girl after my own heart: Anna Claire says, "Mommy, I watch bunny!" It took a few minutes of figuring, but she meant BUGS Bunny....girl has good taste!!

This is what I found when I walked into the living room....Anna Claire had put antlers on Junia....and she apparently didn't mind a bit!

12-8-13

Laughing at Larry's....

11-04-13

On vacation in Helen, GA: Junia was in bed just now and the floor squeaked when Andy went up with Anna Claire...Junia started yelling again....and after about thirty seconds we hear (from downstairs) Anna Claire yelling back across the room, "go SEEP Junia!!" Apparently it worked....hah!!

10-17-13

Juliana loves baby dolls! Far more than Anna Claire ever did! It is so sweet to see how she lights up when you hand her baby doll and immediately pulls it to her chest.

I think we will name the new baby Eliza Joy. I really, really like Eliza and Andy says it's my turn to get to pick my number one choice this time since he got to pick his number one choice the last two times. He likes it too though, or I wouldn't settle on it. :-)

Anna Claire is so funny, she got in trouble last week at church because she didn't take a nap and when Mrs. April told her to do something she got hysterical and worked herself into such a frenzy that she threw up. I was not a happy mama. So I did not let her go back in to play with her friends after I cleaned her up which made her very unhappy. So when she came home from church last night and saw me the first thing she said was, "I play with my friends, Mama! I no throw up!" Such a funny little girl she is! Such a bright spot in our lives.

09-28-13

Long day but enjoyed ending it by making homemade pear honey with my Honey.

09-24-13

Bought Anna Claire a $2 Little Mermaid shirt at Kids Market. You'd think I bought her the moon! "Thanks Momma!!!!!"

Juliana has started wearing shoes--I've been bad about not putting them on her and someone remarked that she will hate them when I do start. I thought that seemed like wisdom---so far so good. She's adorable in them!

Andy had an EGD today---looks like everything will be okay. I feel much better. Biopsies won't be in for a week or so, but they anticipate the irritation in his stomach to be either acid related or H. Pylori , which is treatable. Sooooo thankful!

They are making beautiful progress on our remodel---tiled the shower today-love it!

Juliana lovessss baby dolls---Anna Claire never really did very much. Juliana picks them up straightaway when she sees one! So sweet!

09-18-13

Report from Anna Claire's 3 year checkup:

Weighed 33 lbs 8 oz (dressed)
38 inches tall

Had grown 3 inches and up 5 lbs over past year. She is 76th percentile of height and 71st percentile of weight.

09-14-13

Big night for Anna Claire--we went to see The Little Mermaid, Jr put on by the local community theater. One of our students was in it and we thought she would enjoy it---and boy did she ever!!

We psyched her up by watching the movie a couple of times beforehand, and we kept talking about it. When the lights dimmed tonight she almost came unglued!! She was mesmerized the whole time! Called Prince Eric "Prince Charming" and never wanted Ariel to go offstage!

Then when it was over she wanted to meet Mermaid. Almost cried because she didn't understand what was taking so long and thought we weren't going to see her. Then when we got up to her, Anna Claire got shy and wouldn't look up for a picture!! Stinker!

Great evening out--love getting to share experiences with her now that she's getting older!

09-13-13

I am hormonal. Pregnancy hormones and stress are kicking my butt. As hard as I continue to try to rest and trust God with what concerns me, I have suchhhh a hard time walking in joy even if I'm not crying. The stress that this bank stuff has caused me is absolutely monumental. Nothing in my adult life except Andy's sickness last January eclipses it. Now Andy is having chronic indigestion.....that makes me automatically jump the gun to thinking about something serious. Prob just reflux or maybe even gallbladder. But I don't want him to ever be sick again....ever. I don't want him to ever have a ct scan again....ever. I just want to be at peace and trust the good plans God has for me that are working together in the best possible way right now as we speak. Writing this out really helps me. I know this stress isn't good for sweet baby....

Speaking of baby--we think we have a name! Eliza Joy! I just love it!! Can't wait to meet her! It could still change but I kind of doubt it! Anna Claire can't wait for her to get here---she keeps saying "I hold baby in mommy's belly....baby cry.....I hold baby--baby coming?" So sweet!

09-11-13

I'm tired tonight. Been up since 4:45 when Juliana woke up for a bottle. So I ask Anna Claire to put me to bed. She does a thorough job! Off to bed, covers on, pray to Jesus, kisses and then as she is walking out says, "shhh!! No wake up Junia!" Hahahaha!!! I couldn't help but crack up!! That girl is always coming up with something!

Juliana is walking! Day 5 of walking more than crawling and she is really getting the knack! My baby is growing up! She had hand, foot and mouth disease this past weekend and has been a real pistol to deal with---I'm glad my sweet baby is showing back up now!

This was her last night after Anna Claire got through with her.....poor sweet girl! Needless to say, Mommy didn't know what was happening while i was cooking! She just loves sissy's attention, even if she does look like she endured a tribal ritual when she is done!!

They put in insulation today and finished the termite treatment for the termite bond. Yesterday they put up the vinyl under the carport, did some wiring stuff, blocked in the kitchen back door and patched that wall. I think sheetrock starts tomorrow and maybe brick also. It's coming along fabulously! So excited!!

09-04-13

Both girls are in bed early--I'm in our bedroom and I hear Anna Claire saying "get outta here" and two little girls giggling--and then it repeats again! So sweet! I adore seeing their relationship develop!

House remodel is looking amazing---better than i could've dreamed! Hoping another 2-3 weeks and we will be completely done.

Good pregnancy so far. Gained 13 pounds which is more than I had in mind but my stress level has been much higher than with the other two pregnancies. Bad headache tonight. Praying God grants me some real rest tonight and some relief from the stress soon. I've been really concerned about the permanent financing--it hit a snag and totally wigged me out. There's a ton of decisions to be made on every front with the remodel--Andy defers to my judgement on most of the aesthetic choices so I've been researching Pinterest, thinking it through and doubling back again. Lot of thinking.....

Add to it that the house is in disorder from having the garage space in disarray and the girls continue to strow (which is to be expected) but I feel like I work ALL THE TIME. I'm very tired.

Speaking of--I'm heading to bed. Love my family and am so thankful to have the opportunity to serve them, even if it does pour me out completely some days.

8-31-13

Juliana will laugh at Anna Claire more than anybody else in the world! NEVER have I gotten her to cackle and belly laugh like Anna Claire did tonight in the bathtub! She adores her! Anna Claire loves her too, although she still doesn't understand boundaries with her being a bit fragile still. ;-)

Our first real prospect for a name: Molly Elyse. I like the fact that both names are derivatives of another: Molly comes from Mary and Elyse from Elizabeth. I also love Eliza but I don't think I'm going to be able to sell Andy on it. :-) we have succhhhhh a hard time agreeing on names! ;-)

Working on remodel--they made huge progress this week:

Day 1:

By Day 5:

8-30-13

Feeling the baby move today! It may be the third baby but its always a crazy feeling at first until you get used to it! I love it because it lets me know she is okay. :-)

8-26-13

New baby is a GIRL! Yay! Just found out! We are not a bit disappointed not to have a boy--we have enjoyed our girls and look forward to getting to know this one as well! Now to pick a name..... :-)

Baby is approximately ten ounces right now and on track for a January 22nd due date. We are so thankful that she is healthy and developing well! Thank you Jesus!

8-23-13

Closed on our construction loan today. Scary but good.

My little Juliana is so funny! She makes me smile with all her chatter! I love the way her soft little cheeks feel when she will let me hold her close to my face. She's still got chunky thighs that everyone is gaga over because they are so cute! She's just an adorable baby in every way!! I love her so much and my heart is so full of gratitude for my second baby girl! We are so blessed to have TWO children that have added so much to our lives!

8-19-13

Juliana took her first step today!!!

8-18-13

My girls continue to grow and grow! Juliana has really started showing some serious personality in the last month or so! She wouldn't laugh out loud for the longest time but boy, that ship has sailed! She laughs often and without reserve! Soooo cute! Her hair has a distinct red tint, but it's not straight red-more of an auburn. Very pretty. She wants to walk soooo badly! She stands up on her own and has even tried (unsuccessfully) to take steps. She will be walking any day!

Anna Claire is growing up and it really is bittersweet. She is now officially in the preschool class at church and is doing great even though she's the absolute youngest one in her class. Knowing we have only two years left until we have to make school decisions is daunting because we haven't come close to nailing that down.......

Anna Claire has a birthday party coming up Saturday and she is soooo pumped! Her invitation is beautiful and she has specifically asked for certain people to come. Just praying it doesn't rain!

Anna Claire says to me (while hitting the couch) "sit with me!" So bossy but so sweet!
She has two boo-boos on her feet, and as I was putting Neosporin on the worse of the two, I asked her if I should kiss it--she says, "Jesus make it better. Jesus fix it." No worries. Maybe she is listening sometimes....

8-5-13

Anna Claire's vocabulary is increasing exponentially---daily she is using new words and old words in new ways. Learning to use pronouns and her sentence structure is developing from straight baby talk to a more adult version of speech. It's so cute! Thankfully she still says Buddha for flower--I'm not ready for her to give that up!! Yesterday she said she was "busy" which was new. Today she told me all about the "yuck green frog" she saw on her bike ride with daddy.

While at camp, she got in pretty big trouble over being mean to two other girls regarding sharing her iPad. (Like a dog with a bone!!) SO she had to sit in timeout and then when she wouldn't calm down still she had to go on to bed. After fifteen minutes I went to bed thinking she was asleep......then I hear a little voice say "mama--I no listen, I go timeout......MAMA, I no listen....I go timeout." Just broken-hearted and pitiful. I guess she had lain down and had time to think on things as much as an also three-year-old can. She was very sad and wanted me to kiss her and reassure her. So I did--and I prayed for Jesus to help her obey. She seemed better and i laid down with her to go on to sleep. Precious growth in her.....

She's soooo excited about her Cinderella party coming up in a few weeks----here's her early present from Nani:

She stated that she would be going to her castle!

Juliana is adorable! Wants to walk sooooo badly! She is later than Anna Claire, but she will be doing it within the next couple of weeks for sure! She's getting spunky---laughing out loud easily and understanding interactive play better. I can lay her on her back and raise my hand to tickle her and she knows anticipation and what to expect. She wrinkles that little nose and giggles so cute!

She is THE HARDEST baby to diaper and dress though!!! She does NOT want to be on her back, ever!!! Makes me soooo aggravated!! She screams and tries to flip over the entire time....argh!

Today at Chick-Fil-A: rottenness!

7-27-13

When it comes to Anna Claire's age, I think you could say "it was the best of times, it was the worst of times" and be spot on. Today was a great day!

Carrie (Plumlee) Smith came to visit me with her two kids---haven't seen her in six years or so and really enjoyed catching up.

Anna Claire found a purple minion at McDonald's and it made her day. She has, like seven, of the yellow minions from Despicable Me 2, but this one was special! Apparently the purple one was getting picked on by the yellow minions and they had to get spankings (while saying "no no no! Be nice to friends!") then off to time out in the kitchen. Then back to give purple minion kisses and make up. They tend to be slow learners though and seemed to repeat this process. At one time I think all seven yellow minions were in time out together! What a motley crew! Hilarious!

Defended Juliana in the car---she was fussing and we were talking to her and Anna Claire apparently thought we were upset with Juliana and said "my Junia no pank!!" Haha!

Later Daddy kissed me and Anna Claire says "yuck!!"

Fun day!

7-25-13

Heard Anna Claire count to eight on her own last night. Of course she won't do it when I'm watching....always says 1,2,6 still. :-)

Juliana HATES laying on her back to have her diaper changed---diapering her is miserable right now!! She fights and squirms and raises a royal ruckus!!! Grrrr!

She ate her first bug a week or so ago....Daddy had her on the back porch and didn't realize she'd found a bug before it was gone down the hatch! Yuck!!!!

I'm really struggling emotionally--whether that is because of pregnancy hormones or because I've had so much on my plate with paperwork for health insurance recertification/remodel bank loan/student loan repayment annual certification along with a super messy house etc. Anna Claire has started really trying me (and Andy). She's sweet and loving as ever but lacks in the obedience department. We have had to start to be more disciplined with how we handle her, which isn't fun but is necessary. Had a good tearful talk with April Wilson today about it which really did make me feel a good bit better.

7-22-13

Anna Claire is learning her numbers---she knows 4,5,6 and 7,8 and I think she can say 1-6, but more often than not she says 1,2,6! It's cute!

7-16-13

Juliana had a doctor appointment today --- Looked great!

She weighed 20.1 lbs and was 27 inches long. 75% on weight and 25% on height. The doctor was very pleased with how she looked and how she was developing. :-) No shots today since she is still on antibiotics from her infection last week.

7-9-13

Juliana has started to say "da da da da da" and its so sweet!

She can't seem to get well though....had an ear infection last week, then had two good days off medicine and started running fever. Back to dr and she thinks teething and bacterial infection. Concerns me. I love her so much. Can't imagine our family before she came! Precious baby!

She is growing so fast! Pulling up on everything and wants to walk so badly she can't stand it! Sweet baby--smiles all the time (when not sick) and has gorgeous big blue eyes that everyone comments on. Add to that her pretty ginger hair and she's just so pretty!

Anna Claire is a joy. She grows constantly. Physically, she has hit a growth spurt and shot up. 2T are now becoming short on her and around her. She's beautiful -- pretty skin and eyes and a mischievous smile that wins people everywhere she goes!

She's completely potty trained now and it's great. I don't much like visiting every restroom in Dothan but alas... ;-)

7-5-13

Juliana learned to clap today! She also stood up on her own, unassisted for three seconds or so! Walking will be coming soon!

Took Anna Claire to a movie today--Monsters University. She got bored and said "turn it off" after about an hour. I think she couldn't relate to it as well. Andy and I loved it, and I loved seeing her reactions, since this is the first time I've been with her to a movie (Andy took her alone to her first one). It was a fun experience.

This pregnancy is kicking my butt---nighttime nausea and all the time fatigue is wearing me down majorly. The house is a disaster area. :-( It makes me sad. Hate to feel like I'm letting my family down...

7-4-13

Today Juliana cut her bottom tooth on the right looking at her next to her front tooth.

6-27-13

Today Juliana cut her upper top left tooth next to front tooth!

6-12-13

Big day for Anna Claire in Vacation Bible School!!

She's crossing a "bridge" - the missionaries they are studying needed a bridge so that people could come to church.

The missionaries also have a puppy--so the teacher brought a puppy to class. Anna Claire had to kiss it---and it licked her right in the mouth!! Yuck!! But she thought it was so funny!!

Also in missions class Anna Claire was "glued" to Dixie the Dog (aka Tyler O'Brian) per her missions teacher, Diann Waller.

It's been a great experience!

6-9-13

No go to bed---sit w mama!! This is what we found by the time we had carried in Junia....asleep face first!!

5-29-13

Three days, three milestones!! 

Today Juliana waved bye-bye!!  I cannot believe how much she has learned just all of a sudden!  Andy is going to be stunned at what she can do when we get back home!

5-28-13

Two biggies today - not only did Juliana SIT UP yesterday...today she PULLED up into a standing position!!! 

On top of that, the tooth next to her upper front right tooth has peeked through!  My goodness!

5-27-13

Today Juliana learned to sit up on her own from a laying position!  Go big girl!

Went out on the boat today with Nani and Pawpaw...

Then back to their house to play...

5-26-13

Juliana first tub bath---she totally loved it!

Then the rascal got out and was so stinking cute--Pawpaw had to get his hands on her!

5-23-13

Juliana's top left tooth (when you are looking at her) finally broke through today----it's been hard won!!

My girls "playing" together - Anna Claire wants to play with her, but is stronger than she knows!