my helpful little man

This is the work of Isaiah:

On Saturday, while we were putting together bunk beds, Isaiah had a mild meltdown. I still have no idea what it was about, but Bryan had him sit in our bedroom until he was ready to compose himself. Isaiah started folding the clean clothes piled on our bed, and said, "this will help calm me down". I have no idea where he learned that phrase from, but I heard him from the other room and could not contain my laughter (he, of course, had no idea I was laughing at him).

Seriously, though. Doesn't he fold amazing for an almost 4 year old? He is such a helper in this department! I can throw all Isaiah and Elias' clothes on the bed, and he will fold and match everything! Isaiah even puts the shirts on hangers and puts the clothes away in the correct drawers in the dresser! Such a great helper. He is going to make an excellent husband someday!

at a loss

I have eight and a half weeks until I have this little girl. I'm so excited for her arrival, but at the same time I feel so unprepared and unorganized for a third child!

We started the process of actually moving rooms around. Isaiah and Elias now have bunk beds and a bookshelf! We have a dresser, but it still needs to be sanded and restained. My "at a loss" is I have no idea how we are going to make everything fit and look uncluttered!

We still have our house on the market, so it needs to look as large as possible. The baby's room is going to be a little cramped, but it will be so cute that hopefully no one will notice! The boys room is the problem. Their bedroom used to have two toddler beds and a dresser. That was all. Now, we're trying to cram in bunk beds, a taller dresser, a bookshelf, and toys. Oh my oh my. It looks cramped!

I'm sure I'll figure it out, but have I mentioned how tired I am? Whew. This tiredness is taking me back to my first trimester when I slept on the couch until noon because I just couldn't keep my eyes open! Last night I sat down to watch a movie with the boys because I just didn't have the energy for coloring, play doh, or games. I passed out about a half hour into it, and didn't wake up until the end of the movie.

I guess it's time I start organizing instead of writing about it. The boys are coloring and getting along so well at the moment. I hope it lasts!

thankful saturday

I've seen lots of people post certain things on certain days like "menu monday" or "wordless wednesday" and so on. I'm just making it thankful Saturday today.

It was just a great day. Nothing special, nothing glorious. Just happy. We spent the morning taking down toddler beds and putting together bunk beds. I did some laundry. Elias had a fever and it broke in the middle of nap time. He woke up crying, so we cuddled and I fell asleep with him for another hour or so. We grabbed some dinner, bought a mattress, watched Megamind with the kiddos.

Not an extra special day. Just a relaxing day spent with all my boys. I'm just feeling extra thankful. I'm thankful for my family, and for all the Lord has blessed us with.

o ye of thick skin

A few quotes of the day from my husband.

#1
Bryan: Seeing you wear my sweatshirt makes me feel fat
What he meant: Seeing you wear my sweatshirt and how it is hanging on you with your baby belly, makes me feel fat.

#2
Me: Do you care what tshirts I wear or can I just grab whatever?
Bryan: Just wear something that I don't normally wear. I don't want you to stretch them out.
FYI: His tshirts HANG on me and I have a mere 9 weeks until I give birth.

#3
Me: Did you like how I did my hair today?
Bryan: I noticed it in the waiting room and knew you did something different.
Me: Did you like it?
Bryan: It was very voluptuous. (actually he says, volumptuous, but means voluptuous).
This, my friends, is what I refer to as a "Bryan compliment".

My husband cracks me up. He just doesn't think out what he's saying, and it usually comes out wrong. He is in no way trying to offend me. It really just makes me laugh all the time. I think I'll just have to start recording all the "Bryan compliments" I get because it truly will have you rolling.

waewhen

That is what Elias and Isaiah call Raelynn. Cutest thing ever in my book. She had the hiccups this morning, so I asked Isaiah and Elias if they wanted to feel her. Isaiah wondered how in the world she got the hiccups and if he gave them to her. Elias just kept giggling and yelling "hi baby" as close as he could to my tummy. He also kept saying, "that baby is so cute". Just makes me smile all day thinking of it.  

I'm not a big fan of prego pics of myself, but I'm really wanting to get some pics of these boys interacting with my big old belly. They are just so darn cute talking to Raelynn and already loving on her. LOVE IT!

whew (sound of relief and relaxation)

For the last three years, I've cooked for 40-50 volunteers who help staff one of our District events - District Youth Conference. I do this in a hotel suite that has a dorm sized fridge, a tiny microwave, and a testy electrical system.

What do I cook with? Crock pots, skillets, griddles, and a roaster oven. I have extension cords coming from the two bathrooms in the suite, the room next door, and a wall that isn't hooked up to the same fuse. So, 11 meals, 5 coolers, 5 crock pots, 1 roaster oven, 1 tiny microwave, 1 small fridge, 4 extension cords, and two power strips. It's NUTS!

I do love doing it, though. The staff that comes are pretty amazing people, and it's so fun for me to be a behind the scenes person.

My favorite part of this year? My friend Krista was flown in from Tennessee to help me! How awesome is that? She helped out the last two years, so they decided to carry on the tradition even though she lives so far away. It was so fun! We're both in our 3rd trimester, and due about 2 days apart. We did get a whole lot of comments about being pregnant in the kitchen...so original (sarcasm), but it was wonderful.

I'm exhausted. I'm thrilled to have spent the whole weekend with Krista. I'm procrastinating all my home duties. This is what I get to come home to.

My big plans of the day? Well, it includes cuddling with my boys and showering at some point.

it's valentines?!

Bryan and I were sitting in church yesterday as the associate pastor walked on stage with giant Valentine's balloons. He promptly reminded all the men in the place that it was Valentine's Day tomorrow (now today). Bryan and I looked at each other and said, "it is?". We are so romantic!

We have our anniversary this month, so I think we've actually celebrated Valentine's Day maybe once since we've been married? It's just not high on the priority list. I'm not one of those people who thinks it's just a Hallmark holiday made up for consumerism...I'd just rather spend more money celebrating our anniversary! I'd take flowers or chocolates if Bryan felt the need to bring them home to me, but I don't expect anything at all. I didn't even buy Valentine's candy!

Anyway, Happy Valentine's Day to all! I hope you have a fantastic day celebrating. Maybe I will have to buy some candy at the store just for fun. As for our plans tonight? Well, Bryan is at work all day and goes straight to Bible study. I'll see him around 9 tonight - just in time for me to go to sleep (I'm still growing a child, you know). Maybe I'll make the boys some heart shaped sugar cookies....

welcome home, dear couch, welcome home

I've been eyeing sectionals for quite some time now. I've been wanting a leather couch that just takes a quick wipe to clean up all the water spills. I've looked all over the internet at different deals and configurations and colors and so on. I've also realized that I don't NEED new couches. I just WANTED new couches. I've realized that I don't need them so much that I have never bothered to work them into our budget.

We need bunk beds. Bunk beds are worked into our budget. I wandered into a store to check out their retirement sale and maybe I'd get lucky and find bunk beds. Instead, I found this beauty and she came home with me. My husband is the greatest for my compulsive buy (something I'm not prone to), and I'm in love with my beautiful new couch!

 


The boys are breaking her in already!



February 13

Our love story started here....

Bryan and I went on our first date on February 13th, 6 years ago. It's such a comical story, that I feel the need to share it. I've been wandering down memory lane a lot lately.

I had met Bryan at my best friend, Jeni's wedding a few years before we actually went out. I remembered who he was - kind of. Jeni described him to me, and I went and looked at pictures from her wedding to see who he was. Anyway, I figured if Jeni said he was a good guy to go out with, well, I'd give him a try.

He showed up at my door for a date, and my first question to him was, "what do you know about computers?" I had been trying for almost 2 hours to send my midterm for my online Trigonometry class, and it HAD to be emailed that day. He came into the apartment, and helped me send it.

Then we left for our date and decided to watch Hitch. Neither one of us realized it was the day before Valentine's Day, and it was crazy busy at the theater! Bryan bought us tickets, then immediately lost them. We had no idea what theater we were going into, so we looked for the sign and in we went. The theater was packed and dark. We sneaked to almost the top row, sat down, and about 5 minutes into it, we realized it was the end of the movie. WRONG theater.

Out we went to wait for the next showing. Once everyone piled out of the theater, we wandered back in, sat down, only to get kicked out so the workers could clean. It was so funny, and a great ice breaker. We laughed and talked for quite some time before the next showing started.

Finally, we went in and sat down. Just as the previews were about to start, I hear an oh so familiar laugh. I looked over and two seats to my left was Josh, my little brother, sitting there with friends. Hilarious. I introduced Bryan and Josh, and thankfully the movie started because it was a bit awkward!

Hitch was a great movie, but the whole time I kept picking up tips of what not to do at the end of the date. For example, at some point in the movie, Will Smith is telling one of his clients that if a woman is standing in front of her door, playing with her keys, then she is waiting for her date to make a move. I made a mental note to myself - "if Bryan walks me to the door, there will be no key jingling! I will grab my keys, say thank you, and walk right through that door".

As soon as the movie ended, I looked over to say hi to Josh, and he and his friends had booked it out of the theater. Josh felt horrible, but I just thought it was so funny. Bryan always says that he thinks I told my brother to follow us there just in case I needed an escape.

We ended our date at Red Robin eating dinner. It was a great date, full of fun memories.

a few of my favorite things

I just have to share with you a few favorite gifts I've received or purchases I've made for our little girl!

You can click on the collage to see it bigger!

Not sure if the whole collage thing was the best way to show off my cute gifts, but I've been trying to find new ways to display pictures...the whole blog thing is still a work in progress for me. 

the day

Ever start your day off with a great attitude and slowly that attitude just slips away into blah? That is my day. It's almost 2, and I can say that I've accomplished little today. There has been eating, playing, list making, and laundrying (had to throw the extra ing even though it's not a word!). Anyway, UNACCOMPLISHED.

Not sure what is going to motivate me into drive, but coffee sure didn't work. Maybe a caramel sauce americano from this little place called Starbucks will kick me into gear? Too bad the kiddos are asleep. Otherwise, I would pile them into the car just to get one.

So, here I sit, blogging about absolutely nothing...Okay, I'm going to go finish my cleaning duties and work while the boys sleep. The sun is shining, and sitting here realizing how little I've done today is enough to get started.

Cheers to you and your accomplished day!

the big five

It's been five years since I walked down the isle to marry Bryan.

Five years, two boys, one girl on the way, one house, four jobs (between the two of us), three cars, a million diapers later, I'm more in love with Bryan than on our wedding day. I've heard people say such things, but I honestly used to think it was just sweet talk to get on their spouses good side. Let me tell you, it is not just sweet talk. Amazing how I can fall more in love with a man that I learn more and more about (good and bad!) with each passing day.

We still laugh like crazy, and enjoy each other's company. We have both grown so much in our relationships with the Lord, and that has brought us even closer. We make date nights a priority - even if it just means getting out for a cup of coffee and getting some errands in with just the two of us.

I love this man the Lord has blessed me with. Bryan is an amazing husband. He brings me to tears watching him love on our boys. He has the funniest way of complimenting me, and it just makes me smile every time.

Happy five years, my love!

is he really only 3?

This little man never ceases to amaze me. Isaiah is so attentive and pays more attention than most grown ups I know! A funny example of how he pays attention is this

This is how we recycle. I put a brown bag next to the trash can and that holds our cans and paper products. I've asked him to put the recycling by the front door before, but I've never asked him to get out a bag or put anything in it.

This morning, I was still in bed and Isaiah jumped on my bed and asked for a snack. I asked him if he thought he could get it himself. He did, and that's the last I thought of it.

Last night, I put the recycling bag by the front door and never put a new one up. Today, after I finished some work, I went to grab a bag to put my paper trash away. There was already one there.

I asked Isaiah about it, and he told me all about his morning snack and he proceeded to show me how he jumped on the box to break it down.

Isaiah had grabbed a new brown bag, broken down the empty ritz cracker box, and put the bag under the sink! What in the world?!

It was just another reminder to me that Isaiah is watching my every move and learning from me. Does that scare any other mama out there? Does it scare you to know that your little ones are watching and learning from your every move? Oh man, I'm so thankful I have my Jesus for guidance! I am free to say, "I'm a sinner, but saved by grace". I am free to say, "I'm not perfect, I make tons of mistakes". I am free to say, "I am sorry, mommy was wrong, but let's ask Jesus to help".