Our Scenic Route

sunday morning pictures

2012-02-12T07:33:00.000-08:00

When we finished taking these pictures, Anna noticed a tag inside her shirt. She goes, matter-of-factly, "Oh, this tag tells me what to do if I fall over and there's no Mom, Dad, or Eleanor. It tells me to just pull myself up and stand up." I can think of many things I wish her tag would tell her.

2012-02-06T07:48:00.001-08:00

Winter in Florida is the ideal summer

2012-01-29T18:40:00.000-08:00

Instead of being responsible this weekend and doing chores, we hung out at the beach and the park. We don't know if we can credit our fun parenting, but Anna spent Sunday evening singing a made-up song with the chorus, "I love Mom and Dad...I love Mom and Dad, and Eleanor....I love Mom and Dad" at the top of her lungs. It was her first serious musical tribute to us. A good reminder - children don't care if there is a massive pile of laundry spilling out into the hallway.

2012-01-24T18:40:00.000-08:00

Whenever Anna realizes all four of us are in the same place, she says, "Whole family!!" and she wants a family hug. Here's last Friday's.

2012-01-14T19:02:00.000-08:00

Another Whidbey Island friend, Dawn, came to join us this weekend with her 2 year-old! It's been so much fun to spend time with these women who helped me survive three crazy years in Washington. We are quite a crowd, but when Anna was going to sleep tonight, she rolled over and grinned: "Mom, I am so happy there are so many people here who are TWO! Like me!"

We couldn't get the babies to look at the camera, because they were too interested in eating leaves.

This is what our weekend was like.

Full House

2012-01-11T18:39:00.000-08:00

We've been distracted from our sleeplessness by visitors! Shelly and her boys, our Whidbey Island friends, are here for the week. Anna and Ian are two months apart, and Micah and Eleanor are one month apart. This is what life would be like with two sets of twins (wild and crazy!).

Anna is delighted to have "brothers" to play with, and our extroverted Eleanor is pretty excited too.

We really love this cutie, even at 5am.

When Mark got home this afternoon, one out of four children was sleeping, so he took the other three on a walk by himself. Is that a dad superhero or what??

PJ time after bubble baths

thoughts on sleep and mother burnout

2012-01-07T19:43:00.000-08:00

How am I doing? I don't know. I'm tired. I'm sort of at a mother-identity crisis stage, and mostly I'm too tired to think about it. I love being a mother -- but sometimes I want to crawl under the covers with a pile of books, a carton of Ben and Jerry's, and come out in two days.

I don't think I've ever been this tired for this long a period of time. It doesn't seem like an eight month old and an almost three year old would be the combination that would do me in, but for some reason this phase we're in is pretty intense. Both Eleanor and Anna are extra needy right now -- Eleanor is getting her eighth painful, dramatic, sleep reducing tooth, and I think Anna is panicking a bit about Eleanor's emerging self. It's starting to feel like there are two children around here now, instead of one child and a baby, if that makes sense. Add those stages and teeth to the extraness of the holidays, a bout of the stomach flu, a few thousand-mile journeys in a minivan, and we're left running on fumes around here.

The other night Mark was working and I explained to Anna that Icouldn't read her three books, only one, because "Mommy is having areally hard night. Mommy can't get Eleanor to sleep and I'm reallyfrustrated." Anna patted me and said, "Don't worry Mommy. God is just teaching you how to be patient." Perhaps He is, Anna.

Mark and I aren't really into sleep training. I sort of nod along and pretend to understand when people discuss the details of cry-it-out sleep training at baby showers and playdates, but I don't do it. I feel vulnerable writing that, because I know there are compelling arguments about "giving my children the gift of sleep" and "avoiding zombie mother syndrome," etc. etc., but let's just not judge each other. We all know there are a million different kinds of children and mothers with every kind of sleep belief love their children. But yes, many of you would be right if you pointed out what you're thinking - this tiredness is partly/mostly my own decision, and that just makes it more difficult to talk about.

When Anna was little, Mark was deployed and I was alone with her for seven months. I didn't want to make her to go to sleep alone, because I wanted/needed the bedtime cuddling as much as she did. She eventually decided to go to sleep by herself and sleep all night (mostly), and so I'm confident the same transition will come for Eleanor. If I never got to nurse Eleanor to sleep or feel her heavy in my arms in the silence of the early morning, I would be sad. So my general sleep philosophy is that I just deal with nightwaking, usually get up only once or twice a night, and feel fine about handling that indefinitely.

However, Eleanor's crazy teething situation has been a whole different planet of sleep deprivation since October, and she has been waking up so.many.times.a.night and sometimes even staying awake for long periods when she's up. Cue insanity, resentment, crying, questioning all things I thought I knew...

When I found myself alluding to Sylvia Plath several times this week, throwing a fit about organizing the pantry, and lecturing Eleanor on the importance of sleep - I realized something was seriously wrong with my perspective.

The thing is, I don't think the answer to mother burnout is more me-time or two days under the covers with books. I don't think it's not having children in the first place, and I don't think it's finding a way to give less of myself.

In some ways, I think the answer is to give more of myself, because in giving much more than I can handle, I am acting in faith that there is One who fills me when I'm empty, whose power is made perfect in weakness, and who wrote the life where it's in dying that we live and in losing that we find.

I'm still figuring out what this all means in a practical sense, but tonight I think it means trusting there is One who fills me up, and I don't have to worry about how much of me is left. He makes me lie down in green pastures...He restores my soul. (Psalm 23:2-3)

For those traveling with babies this time of year...

2011-12-22T09:56:00.000-08:00

Baby Travel Piece

why you're not getting a Christmas card

2011-12-16T14:13:00.000-08:00

Loving Florida in December

2011-12-16T12:09:00.000-08:00

Randoms

2011-12-11T19:36:00.001-08:00

She's a firefighter, in case you couldn't tell...

Sunday Morning

2011-12-11T19:24:00.001-08:00

The girls were up early, so Mark took them to Sonic. I was so much more excited about these faces after an extra hour of sleep..so excited that I took their picture.

Thanksgiving, part 1

2011-11-28T17:45:00.001-08:00

2011-11-16T11:00:00.001-08:00

2011-11-07T17:58:00.000-08:00

We had a great time visiting the Olsen family in Jacksonville this past weekend!

Mark and I met Chris and Allie when we lived in Jacksonville in 2007. We lived there for less than a year, but our time was long in friendship. We've been so blessed by their vulnerability and wisdom as they've let us see their lives. They've done an amazing job keeping in touch with us through several moves and deployments too.

Back then we didn't have any children; they had four. Now there are eight between us!

Yes, that is our child with a finger up her nose.

2011-10-31T18:13:00.000-07:00

parenthood back then

2011-10-31T12:45:00.000-07:00

It was our first ultrasound appointment - the first time we heard Anna's heartbeat and saw her little body.

The story goes like this:
We see the baby body with a beating heart; I get teary.
"There's your baby," the doctor says.
"Only one?" Mark says.

Ah, I love him.

I am thinking of his early fatherhood enthusiasm this afternoon, while I'm at home with two.

2011-10-27T13:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday when Anna got dressed, she smiled brightly and said, "I am a CUTIE PIE!"

She's been in a princess mood lately, so we thought we knew what she would want to be for Halloween. We asked her what kind of costume she wanted. Her answer? A gorilla one. We couldn't find a gorilla costume, so Anna will be a Tyrannosaurus Rex on Monday night. I love how she desires both grace and strength.

At dinner we've been talking about thankfulness. After listing many things for which she was thankful, Anna wanted me to share. I said I was thankful that my cold was getting better. Anna (in complete sincerity) opened her eyes wide, jumped up, clapped her hands and said, "Oh YAY! Good news!...Is all the mucus gone from your nose? Let me see....Oh WOW!" She is my biggest cheerleader lately.

Eleanor has her first two teeth. Baby teeth are like little trophies to me. I was hoping she would be one of those magical babies who gets teeth uneventfully, but nope. I feel I deserve a special prize when each tooth pops through -- for the massive energy I've contributed to the accomplishment. It seemed kind of appropriate that Eleanor started teething this week, because Anna's last 2 year molars just finished coming in. I looked at Mark at 4am the other night and said, "Well, in another two years Eleanor will have all of her teeth!"

There are some benefits to lack of sleep though, in case you weren't aware. I'll tell you one, and perhaps my sleep philosophizing will become a longer post another day. When Mark and I squeeze out a few minutes to sit down on Friday nights and watch some Hulu shows, everything is funny. The less sleep we get, the more hilarious television gets.

This week was the kind that keeps me from feeling too successful at this whole wife/mother thing. My poor husband has eaten more peanut butter and jelly sandwiches than I care to admit, my daughters have skipped a lot of baths, and the house is sporting some serious dust (not to mention much worse and more embarrassing effects of crankiness). Yet, I know the girls won't remember the dust or wish I washed their hair more often (and I hope Mark can forget some of the comments I made to him this week). My hope is that there would be a life about our home that has nothing to do with hours of sleep or degrees of cleanliness. Thank you God, for less mucus in my nose, but most of all for the grace to persevere in the giant responsibility of caring for these precious people.

naptime haiku

2011-10-20T12:39:00.000-07:00

watching eyes blink. slow.
so close. please no noise right now.

shut door with my foot.

balancing a neck.

cheek cozy. arms just right. wait.

i'll hold you once more.

Dad and Kevin Visit

2011-10-18T06:58:00.000-07:00

almost 5 months old

2011-10-07T11:02:00.000-07:00

Skype picture

2011-10-01T12:03:00.001-07:00

whoo hoo, it's fall

2011-09-29T18:33:00.000-07:00

Such a happy girl! I can't wait to find out what she has to say.

Anna's making a funny face because she's saying, "Clickety-clack."

I promise I do hold you, baby girl - we just don't have many pictures to prove it.

Self-proclaimed future drummer, practicing on the only percussion instrument in the house.

2011-09-22T18:36:00.000-07:00

Yes, it seems all the babies in the house get to ride in baby carriers.
It makes tired mamas but happy babies.

sharing

2011-09-19T15:29:00.001-07:00

TGIF

2011-09-16T06:47:00.000-07:00

Anna is holding two ducks, and they are talking to each other.

Duck 1: Is your daddy at work?
Duck 2: He is in a PLANE!
Duck 1: Do you like your daddy when he goes to work?
Duck 2: No. I get MAD and SAD.
Duck 1: Do you cry?
Duck 2: Yes. BOOO HOOO!

scenes from life at home

2011-09-14T10:54:00.000-07:00

Anna often packs up to go "on a VACATION!"

2011-09-05T14:07:00.000-07:00

My hero

2011-09-02T16:47:00.001-07:00

A text I sent Mark this afternoon: "Please come home ASAP before I drive away in the car and abandon the children."

He understands I can be a little dramatic...but he still rushed home after his meeting and took the girls for a walk. I love him.

random thoughts about my life

2011-08-29T18:44:00.001-07:00

It's the first day of school in Maryland. On other first days when I haven't been teaching, I've cried about how much I wished I was at a high school English classroom in a new outfit greeting teenagers and trying to drum up enthusiasm about the coming unit on The Odyssey. This year I didn't cry. I hope I teach again someday, but right now I think I'm happy at home. Amazing -- especially if you heard about the recent research that says stay-at-home moms are much more likely to be depressed. It is a different world, I'll give you that, but it's a good one.

Eleanor decided, completely unexpectedly, to sleep for a long stretch last night. I was high on restedness. Before 8am this morning I had laundry in the washer, homemade yogurt going in the crockpot, bread rising, the bed made.

I started feeling like Eleanor's all grown up already though, and I got a little sad. She still sleeps in our room, and I'm in no hurry for her to leave. I like to wake up and hear her stirring and know she breathes close to me. She's been such a surprise. I thought that a second baby would feel more predictable, just because we've done it before, but her emerging personality is just as exciting to us as Anna's, and so are her milestones. When I was pregnant, we had convinced ourselves she was a boy, because she was so ridiculously active in the womb. When she was born, I got to be the one to announce that she was a girl. Oh good, it's Eleanor, both Mark and I thought. Even her birth was surprising and more exciting than we anticipated. I never had a chance to post about it here -- I wasn't sure what was too much information -- but frozen edamame packages were involved, as was the phrase, "I feel like a princess."

Eleanor means "A shining light," and she has been a shining light in our home these three and a half months. She has the widest grin of anyone in the family, and it delights us every time. What was our life without her?

Something about child two makes me realize I'm really a Mother though. I think it's the hands full thing. I honestly fantasize about having more arms. I am willing to hold them both and do stuff; it's just impossible. There are never enough arms.

Even though I'm realizing I'm a Mother, there are many moments when I still feel like my 14 year old self. I don't really feel like a person who drives a minivan. I mean, I drive a minivan, but when a little voice is yelling "Mommy" and another little voice is using all her might to communicate "get me out of here," sometimes I wonder who they're talking to.

Tonight when Anna was riding her truck to the bathroom, repeating, "I have to get to the potty because the poop train is on its way!" Mark looked at me with that knowing look that means, wow, life is different than it used to be.

It's hard to explain how ordinary things start to feel important and even thrilling, but they do. I know from before I had children that from the outside these things just appear boring. They're not though. That's the secret. Don't be fooled by my frumpy clothes and tired eyes. I'm loving this baby/toddler adventure.

I've got my hands full..

2011-08-24T19:34:00.000-07:00

..full of good things!

(another Rachel Jankovic saying that I'm saying to myself these days)

Babyfaces

2011-08-23T19:24:00.001-07:00

Mark and I went out on a date on Saturday! We were giddy. Our waiter told us we look 20. Ah, nope. 2 kids at home with a babysitter. We are officially adults.

Here's a real babyface:

2011-08-22T11:45:00.000-07:00

"Our essential self is not back in the intro, waiting to be discovered. Who you are is where you are. When you are married, your essential self is married. As the story grows, so does your character. Your children change you into a different person. If you suddenly panic because it all happened so fast and now you don't recognize yourself, what you need is not time alone. What you need is your people. Look out -- look at the people who made you what you are -- your husband and your children. Study them. They are you. If you want to know yourself, concentrate on them."

~ Rachel Jankovic, in Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches

2011-08-13T06:59:00.000-07:00

We're inside to cool off -- can you see the sweat in Anna's hair? It's 7:15 am in this picture.

"I am going for a jog. Then I'm going to feed the fly some breakfast.
When I give him a drink, he will say, 'Yes, Anna' and obey me."

2011-08-12T19:22:00.000-07:00

Why I'm Drinking Coffee Today

2011-08-10T06:17:00.001-07:00

Last night:

10 pm: I get off the phone with Mark, who says he can't fly home because of thunderstorms. He's spending the night in Tallahassee. I sigh, because I can still hear Anna talking to her stuffed animals in her room.

10:35 pm: Anna is asleep, and I go move the animals away from her face and cover her with her sheet.

10:45 pm: I crawl into my bed, where there's A ROACH! Ewww Florida, sometimes you are too much for me.

10:45 until at least 11:45: I am awake in bed, because a) It's hard to calm down when you just saw a roach in your bed, and b) I've gotten kind of used to Mark being home lately

1:50 am: Eleanor wakes up hungry. I nurse her and put her back down at 2:15.

2:32 am: Anna wakes up WAILING. Bad dream? Just wants some middle of the night cuddle time with mom? I can't get her back to sleep until 4:10.

5:12 am: Eleanor is up for the day. Good thing she's adorable.

good morning

2011-08-07T05:56:00.000-07:00

2011-08-05T12:06:00.000-07:00

A prayer for a daughter

2011-07-31T11:56:00.000-07:00

hairdo milestone

2011-07-31T05:45:00.001-07:00

She let me braid her hair this morning!

helper

2011-07-30T16:41:00.000-07:00

"I'm.not.finished.YET!" she cries in a singsong voice.

Anna's first movie

2011-07-25T16:48:00.001-07:00

We went to see the new Winnie the Pooh movie tonight - all 4 of us. Winnie the Pooh has been the only kids DVD that doesn't annoy Mark or me, and we loved the new movie too.

We were smart to go during a thunderstorm on a Monday night; we were the only ones in the theater, which turned out to be a good thing.

Our sweet, emotional Anna shrieked and howled every time (many times) a honey pot fell onto a character's head until his/her head reappeared. She was enthralled with the whole experience though, and it was awesome to watch her face as she watched the story.

(It was unfortunate that the movie ended with Pooh falling into a big honey pot...though we tried to explain to her that he was really happy about it).

we love company

2011-07-24T13:36:00.001-07:00

What a gift to have our friends Andrew and Sarah here from Atlanta for the weekend!

2011-07-22T10:58:00.000-07:00

Literary Allusions

2011-07-21T14:16:00.000-07:00

Anna has been quoting her books a lot lately --->

"Do you like my hat? I do not like your hat. Goodbye. Goodbye." (Go Dogs Go)

"Can you do it? I can do it!" (Head to Toe)

"Are you my mother? I am not your mother. I am a dog. " (Are You My Mother?)

"First they had a fiesta. Then they had a siesta!" (Skippy Jon Jones)

Then this week she started saying, "Things aren't going very well around this house," with a sad shake of her head and a pained expression. After wondering what she was talking about (though there are plenty of things that "aren't going well" - the housework, mainly), I realized it's a quote from A Baby Sister for Frances.

Another Anna quote from today -- unfortunately not from a book that I know of -- "Mommy, you smell like poo-poo."

Our 5th Anniversary

2011-07-16T09:12:00.000-07:00

Marriage is "two people who keep kindling and igniting in a thousand little ways,

grace sparks flying high and everywhere..." ~Ann Voskamp

It's our tradition to make a more-effort-than-usual meal together on our anniversary and eat it in style in our very own kitchen. This year there were a few obstacles: Mark was scheduled for two late flights, Anna's gotten in some bad bedtime habits that started on vacation, etc. etc.

BUT -- Beautiful thunderstorms sent Mark home early!

We began dinner preparations at 4.

We put these sweet faces to bed

and then reheated our food and dressed up.

By 9:30, we were sitting down to delicious Saag Paneer.
9:30 pm is probably when cool people go out to dinner, so we were right on track.

Five years of marriage have taught us that you have to fight for romance, but it's worth it.

(you always knew i was weird)

2011-07-13T19:43:00.000-07:00

I can't explain why these diapers make me happy. I'm not even convinced they are better for the environment than disposable diapers when you factor in the water/energy they require (I hope they are though...especially since we line dry them?), and they only save us about a dollar a day.

Why do I love them so? Is it a sense of permanence they bring? I like commitment, and these require more of that than Pampers. Is it my love for the world of Little House on the Prairie? Surely cloth diapers were part of that world, though they probably didn't have BumGenius.

Whatever the reason, during a day like today --- when the only things accomplished involved food and outfit changes --- the diapers are a quiet grace, forcing me to slow down and remember that I am covering the bottom of a little soul entrusted to me.

attachment

2011-07-09T12:23:00.000-07:00

Anna has been a little clingy since she became a big sister. Here's how we're dealing with it this weekend.

I understand why people buy minivans

2011-07-07T05:29:00.001-07:00

We're home from our road trip to Oglebay Park in West Virginia, where we gathered to celebrate my grandfather's 90th birthday.

There were a few overwhelming moments (2 hours from home, looking for a place to stop for dinner, both girls screaming, me with my hands over my ears, "Come on team Wernly, hang in there!"), but actually the number of times both girls were crying was probably in the single digits. I'd say that's pretty good for over 30 hours in the car.

Anyway, it was a good time. There's tons of personality in the Van Horn family, and I was happy for Mark to see them all in action as a big group, haha.

Granddad, with the newest great-grandchild.

Grandma and Eleanor

Anna and my family on the lake

Anna and Baby Elizabeth - of course she made the trip with us

2011-06-27T13:01:00.000-07:00

I look over at Anna this morning as she breastfeeds Baby Elizabeth, and she has her hands in her hair. "What are you doing?" I ask. "I'm trying to look like Jenny," she answers.

She insists on wearing a white shirt "to match" and having a braid in her hair like mine.

"My name is Jenny. Mm-hmm" she says.

2011-06-23T11:14:00.001-07:00

"I seldom feel like much of an adventurer -- standing in the kitchen, pouring cereal into bowls, refilling them, handing out paper towels when the inevitable cry comes: 'Uh-oh, I spilled.' But sometimes at night the thought will strike me: There are three small people here, breathing sweetly in their beds, whose lives are for the moment in our hands. I might as well be at the controls of a moon shot, the mission is so grave and vast." ~Joyce Maynard, Domestic Affairs

2011-06-23T09:20:00.000-07:00

Well, our last set of visitors, Mark's parents, just left on Tuesday. The guest room has been full this spring, and that's how we like it.

Our next adventure is a road trip to Oglebay Park in West Virginia for my grandfather's 90th birthday party. We're driving because we'll pretty much do anything to avoid airplanes with children. 15 hours each way ~ We'll let you know how it turns out!

scenes from around the house

2011-06-18T11:25:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning

2011-06-14T15:33:00.000-07:00

2011-06-14T07:09:00.000-07:00

neighbor

2011-06-08T05:29:00.000-07:00

Uncle John and Aunt Laurie Visit

2011-06-07T13:58:00.001-07:00

2011-06-04T13:01:00.000-07:00

It's still technically spring!

Something tells me it's not 102 degrees in Oak Harbor today. I miss you, Whidbey Island!

the baby fog is here

2011-05-31T10:52:00.000-07:00

The adrenaline of the first few weeks has faded a bit and the consequences of sleep deprivation are beginning to set in.

But, when I'm about to lose my mind at 3am -- as I sit in my chair in milk-stained pajamas on top of a pile of laundry -- Eleanor's eyes will close and her lips will curl into a baby sleep smile, and suddenly all is well.

It's tiring being a big sister

2011-05-17T08:28:00.000-07:00

2011-05-14T13:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday

2011-05-11T07:31:00.000-07:00

The three women on the left are our doula, Jackie, our nurse, Melissa, and our midwife, Jenny. We have to live here forever so if I have more babies these amazing people can all be there.

Anna was very excited about meeting her new sister, but she did want to "help baby Eleanor walk."

It's a girl!

2011-05-10T17:13:00.000-07:00

Eleanor Grace, 8 lbs. 7.5 oz., was born at 8:30 this morning!
We're all doing well. Lots of pictures and some great story details to come soon...

practicing

2011-05-07T08:10:00.000-07:00

Mark and I used to laugh at baby-sized baby carriers, like the one Ergo makes, and wonder who ever felt the need to buy them for their children. Well, now we know. People like us. Anna LOVES to use the exact same things I use -- which is why her dolls now have diapers and potty seats of their own. When my friend Shelly made me a baby carrier for the new baby, she (brilliantly and thoughtfully) made the same one for Anna! We've been practicing carrying her baby like I'll carry mine. (If he/she ever arrives....)

*Can you see the forehead bump? So sad! The first sibling pictures might be a little real looking.

life with a pregnant mother

2011-04-27T08:29:00.001-07:00

Last week Anna told me Baby Elizabeth (her doll) had heartburn, but "it be okay when baby comes."

Yesterday, when asked to pick up a toy from the kitchen floor, she said, "I can't. My tummy is too big."

silly face

2011-04-19T06:53:00.000-07:00

thank you!

2011-04-18T12:10:00.000-07:00

Someone sent me adorable address labels for our new house!

Was it you?

It didn't have a "from" on it -- So here's a big THANK YOU to the thoughtful person who sent such a perfect gift!!!!

pictures from our visit with Hannah and Tim (but beware of the giant lady in a red dress)

2011-04-15T14:15:00.000-07:00

Hannah and Tim were in Peru while we were in Washington, so our paths haven't crossed in awhile. We're finally a mere 9-10 hours away from them, and they made the trip to see us -- what a gift! Not only did Anna adore them (this morning she asked to go in their room and "hold them"), but Mark and I were both refreshed by great conversations and lots of laughing. We miss you already, dear friends!

37 Weeks

2011-04-14T19:50:00.000-07:00

birthday girl

2011-04-03T18:26:00.001-07:00

Our baby girl is 2! Mark wasn't home for Anna's birthday last year, so it was extra fun to have the whole family together this year.

Anna's not sure if she wants to be grown up yet. Sometimes she walks with a decidedly independent strut, and other times she tearfully confesses, "Anna not want to be big girl." (Big girls have to use the potty and stop whining...)

Mark and I started the tradition of writing Anna letters for her birthdays; I might post my sappy remarks sometime soon. For now, here are some pictures from Anna's birthday weekend/my parents' visit (I know I look enormous - because I am) --->

more mommies

2011-03-31T17:39:00.001-07:00

Apparently I'm doing a halfway job as a mother lately....or I'm doing such a good job that Anna thinks the world needs more people like me.

Over the past three days, she's remarked several times:

"I have one Mommy.....I need TWO Mommies!"

sunday

2011-03-20T07:30:00.000-07:00

we have internet

2011-03-18T08:19:00.000-07:00

Mark, Anna, and I are all in Florida. All of our stuff is here too (a Navy moving miracle! and nothing is broken!).

We're still completely unorganized (the unpacking efficiency we developed in our early marriage has been trumped by my desire to take naps and Anna's desire to help us unpack), but we're relieved to be together in our new home.

Giving thanks -->
*notes from Oak Harbor friends in the mail yesterday
*a little girl next door who is only 10 days older than Anna
*with another baby sister on the way in June
*welcome to the neighborhood cookies and brownies
*80 degrees outside
*a shaded house
*water games in the driveway
*clean kitchen stuff - thanks to Mark's dad
*a pregnancy check-up that lasted a whole half hour...because she cared about how I'm really doing
*the excitement of not knowing whether the baby is a boy or a girl

and last, but not at all least -
*a napping Anna, almost every day this week

I will miss these ladies

2011-02-24T14:59:00.000-08:00

My friend Heather had a Bon Voyage brunch for me last weekend -- so sweet of her! (As a Florida girl herself, she's been helping me get excited about moving there).

Anyway, these are some of the wonderful people who have encouraged me, helped me, and loved me during my time on Whidbey Island. They know what it's like to live the crazy military life, and I never could've survived the last three years without them.

Thank you, friends. I will miss you dearly.

surprise for us

2011-02-23T08:54:00.000-08:00

It's an unexpected snow day in Oak Harbor. This town rarely gets snow, and if it does, we live too close to the water to see much of it. But today it's here! And it's supposed to snow all day and into tomorrow.

We can't get out of our steep driveway to accomplish the list of errands and appointments we had for today.

But the snow seems extra sweet in light of the hot Florida sun in our future.

Anna knew just what to do -- when she saw the snow this morning, she said, "Build snowman!"

Clear Evening

2011-02-20T18:01:00.001-08:00

Ah, there's the belly at 29 weeks

Thanks for taking pictures, Shelly!

Best Toys of All Time

2011-02-17T12:35:00.000-08:00

Thank you for the link, Hannah!

An Inspiring Read

sigh

2011-02-16T15:12:00.001-08:00

She's quiet in her room, finally.

Three minutes go by, and I'm sure she must be napping...for the first time in several days.

I get my pillow, my blanket, and shut my eyes on the couch.

Then I hear, "Good nap. All done. Play with Mama now!"

[When I go to get her, she says, "Hi, Jenny."]

natural consequences

2011-02-08T13:58:00.000-08:00

Our life is a huge to-do list these days as we get ready for our move, cope with the extra tiredness that comes with being (or having a wife who is) 28 weeks pregnant, and deal with a toddler whose desire for sleep is non-existent.

In the midst of the craziness, Anna's personality is providing all kinds of entertainment.

I've been thinking a lot about the importance of natural consequences. For instance, if Anna insists on taking off her shoes and socks in the car and then cries for someone to put them back on, I'm not going to pull over immediately. She needs to learn that her feet might be cold if she takes off her socks in the car.

However, this adherence to natural consequences gets complicated when we're dealing with dolls that function as actual family members --->

Me: Anna, it's naptime. You can play quietly in your crib, or put your head on the pillow and take a nap, but Mama is not coming back until naptime is over. If you throw your animals or your babies on the floor, I'm not going to come get them. Do you understand?

Anna: Anna not throw baby on floor.

Heard over the monitor: (loudly, desperately) HELP! BABY ELIZABETH FALL DOWN! HELP PLEASE! AHHHHHHHHHH! (then, in a quieter, soothing voice) Baby, don't cry. It o-tay. It o-tay. Don't cry. (Screaming again) MAMA HELP! BABY FALL! OH NO! OH NO!

Do I help? Well, yes. I'm such an enabler.

(The exchange above also demonstrates why Anna will never be left alone with the new baby).

the call that happens 25 times a day

2011-02-04T12:09:00.000-08:00

Hi. Come home, Daddy. quick.

(Thank goodness it's Friday).

it never gets old

2011-01-26T09:43:00.000-08:00

2011-01-23T20:35:00.000-08:00

she says

2011-01-20T10:14:00.001-08:00

Me: Anna, do you hear the rain on the roof?
Anna: Rain need food!
Me: The rain is hungry?
Anna: Yes.
Me: What kind of food does the rain want to eat?
Anna: New food.
Me: What does new food mean?
Anna: hmmmmmmmm. Oatmeal, eggs, ice cream.
Me: Are you going to feed it?
Anna: No...... Rain crying! Mama feed rain.

they did this themselves

2011-01-14T20:29:00.001-08:00

Like all growing-up steps so far, sleeping in a "big girl bed" is Anna's idea lately. She keeps wanting to take her nap in this bed in her room. I'm resisting any sort of change like that until after our move, but she's decided to spend some leisure time there anyway. A few days ago, she and Ian climbed under the covers and asked for books.

If I had Anna's life, I would stay under the covers all day with a book.

a funny reminder of the early days...

2011-01-10T12:04:00.001-08:00

Advice from other people

toddlers don't just smile for the camera

2011-01-03T19:33:00.000-08:00

mail

2010-12-28T19:13:00.000-08:00

Someone sent Anna an amazing Christmas music CD in the mail!
Was it you?
I have my suspicions, since the lead singer on the CD is Andrew Peterson...
We love it! What a fun surprise today!

christmas vacation attire

2010-12-27T11:01:00.000-08:00

Anna's two favorite words these days - snowman and tutu.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T16:59:00.000-08:00

What hope we hold this starlit night;
A King is born in Bethlehem.
Our journey long, we seek the light
That leads to the hallowed manger ground. (E. Cash)

Phew

2010-12-21T08:54:00.001-08:00

Mark got home at 3am.

Now the Christmas festivities can begin!

Christmas drama

2010-12-16T21:21:00.000-08:00

Here's the one shot I have from Anna's Christmas show at church. Apparently she refused to go anywhere without "baby Jesus." While the group sang a song and shook their bells, Anna spotted me and screamed "Mama hold Anna" until her teacher handed her to me.

Tomorrow is supposed to be the first day of a peaceful Christmas week at our house, but in the typical Navy fashion, Mark left on an unexpected trip this morning. You might think I am good at dealing with this kind of stuff by now, but you would be wrong. I said, "If you don't make it home for Christmas, I'll be angry forever."

No, I'm not dramatic, and neither is my daughter.

O Christmas Tree

2010-12-06T19:07:00.000-08:00

Before Mark cut it down

Perfect tree-finding weather

At home and decorated.
(Anna thinks it's a person and says "Hi, tree!" "Bye, tree!" whenever we walk by it).

some pictures from our MD trip

2010-12-04T12:07:00.000-08:00

Sweet college friends

Anna with Katie and Caroline
(Caroline is only about a week older than Anna, and Mary and I were so excited to finally get them together. We have big plans for their future best-friendship).

Anna with 5 of her great-grandparents

Thanksgiving crowd

Going to our 10-year high school reunion

4 generations

The youngest is part of the technology generation

teaser

2010-12-01T18:46:00.000-08:00

We're back from our Thanksgiving trip -- more pictures to come!

Here's a teaser though. Yes, she's asleep on the plane. We take pictures of moments like this.

Reasons to Give Thanks

2010-11-10T13:25:00.000-08:00

Thanks to someone wonderful, we have a "Thankful Board" on our refrigerator.

Here's a sneak peek into a few of our reasons for thanksgiving:

- Last year at this time, we were overwhelmed because Mark was about to leave for a 7 month deployment. The time change this past weekend reminded us that he doesn't have to leave this year! We'll be a family of 3 for Christmas for the first time!

- We'll be a family of 3 for the last time this Christmas too. Baby #2 is due to arrive in early May! Anna's already anticipated the new addition, and is practicing mothering two babies ->

- I am a teacher again! I'm teaching a college English literature class on Thursday nights, and it has been so much fun so far. I get to teach one of my favorite Flannery O'Connor stories this week, and I can't wait for the class discussion.

- Mark is excited about his next job in Pensacola, Florida, starting in March - a flight school instructor! He's going to take people who can't fly and teach them how to be pilots. I think he'll do an amazing job.

- We're heading to Maryland for Thanksgiving. And we splurged on direct flights.

-A plumbing disaster involving 3 months of repairs is finally finished! Goodbye to Larry the plumber, our daily companion for so long. (And yay for being renters and not paying the bills!)

- We have friends who inspire us with their sacrificial love for other people.

Other things on our thankful board:

grapefruit (biggest pregnancy craving)
A Praying Life in the mail from a friend
a neighbor who cares about the details of our life
Anna's now understandable phrase: "T(h)ank you!"
evening giggles
the Jesus Storybook Bible
gazing lovingly (a phrase we stole from a book - our practice of peeking at Anna sleeping)
Mark's willingness to go to Dairy Queen when I want to
family dancing in the kitchen

Happy almost-Thanksgiving!

early Christmas present

2010-11-06T13:03:00.000-07:00

We went to the Christmas Bazaar at church this morning, looking for gifts for all of you.
Unfortunately most of the gifts we wanted to buy would have been impossible to take on an airplane or were too expensive to mail.

We did come home with this desk though! One of the ladies working at the bazaar gave Anna a pencil and paper and sat her in the desk - she said it had our name on it. When the bazaar workers saw Anna take to it like this, they convinced us we had to buy it (the fact that it was so cheap and cool helped too), and a high school boy even drove it to our house.

I guess it's probably time to invest in some crayons.

Potty Time

2010-11-04T20:20:00.001-07:00

Anna seems to be potty-training herself. Tonight she insisted on using the potty, and sure enough - she went. This fairly frequent recent occurrence has come with no encouragement from her parents. In fact, we think it seems much scarier to be sprinting for public bathrooms than merely changing a few diapers. We do clap and cheer and make a big deal out of her when she uses the potty successfully, but we don't do anything to encourage her to use it.

My only thought is that she's internalized Elmo's Potty Time more than I realized. (The dvd is the only Elmo movie we could find in town when I was desperate for something-anything-to-get-us-through-a-rainy-day a few weeks ago).

I guess this is reason 2,000 why tv exposure should be limited --- apparently 19 month-olds understand what they see more than we think.

happy Halloween

2010-10-31T20:44:00.000-07:00

She's showing how Pooh's tummy is full after he eats a lot of honey.

our pumpkin

2010-10-23T19:14:00.000-07:00

5 years ago

2010-10-21T11:51:00.000-07:00

Mark asked me to marry him.
It was a brave move - he didn't know what I would say.
I said yes.
And so it began.
5 years, 3 states, 2 deployments, a baby...
and yet not a day goes by when I'm not happy to be brushing my teeth next to him.
Thank you Mark, for inviting me into this crazy, amazing life.