In the Warm Hold of Your Loving Mind

Farewell, Clifford

2012-02-10T08:58:00.000-06:00

Clifford was my 4Runner. In college, in typical elementary education major fashion, I dubbed him "Clifford the Big Red Car". Clifford holds such a special place in my heart. He wasn't my first car, but he was the first car that was bought intentionally for me (I drove my dad's Mazda for about a year and a half after I got my license). I have so many memories of dating Peyton, taking trips to Oxford and Destin, driving around in Clinton with my college friends, and driving back and forth from Clinton to my parents' house late at night and early in the morning.

I loved the 4Runner for more than mere sentiments, too, though. I am obviously not a big car person in general, as evidenced by the fact that I'm in my mid twenties and drive a Buick. Also evidenced by the fact that I could not even tell you the model of my Buick. It's white and it's an old woman car. Enough said. But, the 4Runner was just so me. I loved the color, first of all. And it was just a great car. It had a fun, "cool" feel, but it wasn't at all pretentious. It wasn't cutesy and it wasn't sleek. But I loved what it was. Practical. Big. Sharp. Red.

However, it was time to say goodbye. Actually, past time. We've had three cars for several years now...since I got my grandmother's Buick when she passed away. We really have no need for three cars and while it was nice for hauling stuff, it just made less and less sense to keep it. It was hard for me to get the babies in and out of and I never felt like their seats stayed secure (although Peyton figured that out- he wasn't pulling the belts out far enough). And it was costing us several hundred dollars a year to insure it and get tags. It had terrible gas milage. All that was money we could be putting on paying off our house. As was the money we could get for it if we sold it when it was still in good running condition.

Still, I never would have been ready on my own. And Peyton's too sweet to pressure me. Recently, though, some of our good friends from church, a couple that's between our age and our parents' age, approached us about possibly buying it for their high school aged daughter. Their daughter is PRECIOUS and she keeps the nursery when we have Ultreya or Circle meetings and Annie loves her. At first I was hesitant, but the more we thought of it, the more it made sense. So we decided to go ahead and sell it. I'm so glad that it went to a good home.

But I will miss him. So very much.

You'll always have a special place in our hearts, Clifford.

Joy to the World [Christmas 2011: Part 2]

2012-02-09T22:58:00.000-06:00

I was starting to get embarassed about even doing this post, but this week I saw two of my friends do Christmas posts, so I figured it's okay. Anyway, I wanted to share a few pictures of the second part of our Christmas activities!

We had a fun time seeing Peyton's parents on Christmas Day after church.

Unfortuantly, I didn't get many great pictures :(

The day after Christmas we always go to Granny's (Peyton's grandmother) house. We had so much fun!

Annie and Cousin Simeon love playing piano.

Let's play spot the unhappy Babykins.

Blurry, but he's better.

It's an Annie/Uncle sandwich!

Enjoying Granny's chair. And yes, she wore her new pjs all day.

Sweet girl in the baby rocking chair.

So much has changed since her first Christmas in it!

She was so tiny!

Enjoying a little walk sans shoes.

We had such a wonderful time over the holidays and were so blessed by the time with both our families.

Christian Believer: Week 17 {Holy Spirit}

2012-02-08T00:03:00.000-06:00

There's a sweet sweet spirit in this place
And I know that it's the spirit of the Lord
There are sweet expressions on each face
And I know they feel the presence of the Lord
Sweet Holy Spirit
Sweet heavenly dove
Stay right here with us
Filling us with your love
And for these blessings
We lift our hearts in praise (hearts in praise)
Without a doubt we'll know that we have been revived
When we shall leave this place.

("Sweet, Sweet Spirit, Doris Akers)

This past week's lesson was "Holy Spirit: God Present" (God with Us). It was a good lesson, but not one of my very favorites. Something just felt lacking. This week is a continuation of the Holy Spirit, so maybe that will tie up some loose ends.

We watched the video first and I did get a lot out of it. The video first talked about how the Holy Spirit is sometimes sort of like a "divine step child" because people just aren't as familiar with him as they are with Christ or with the Father. However, not is of more importance in our lives as Christians. The doctrine of the Holy Spirit is bound up in the doctrine of the Trinity and grows directly out of the early church's experience with salvation- initiated by God the Father, accomplished through Christ, and made effective by the Holy Spirit. God's salvation is a cooperative work of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The early Christians felt a personal connection with the Holy Spirit just as they had with Jesus. It would have never occurred to them to think of the Spirit as an impersonal force despite all the impersonal images of Him (a dove, fire, water, wind, oil, ect...) They clearly realized the Spirit was fully God and thus completely personal. The personal activities of the Spirit include giving life, dwelling within us, bearing witness, teaching, leading, crying out, having desires, and strengthening believers. The fruit of the Spirit is also expressed in terms of the very personal attributes of God (Galations 5). The Spirit alone knows the mind of God (1 Corinthians 2:10-12) and God knows the mind of the Spirit (Romans 8:26-27). Finally, the Spirit's relationship with Christ conveys this personal dimension- the one known as the "Spirit of God" in the Old Testament came to be known as the "Spirit of Christ" in the New. Thus, Jesus not only put a human face on God the Father, but on the Holy Spirit as well.

In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was primarily seen as the presence of God with Israel and is tied to the tabernacle in the desert and the temple in Jerusalem. In the New Testament, He is recognized as the way God dwells with his people, in the church and in the individual. We are a "people of the presence" and are to "reflect God's own character in our individual lives and our lives together".

The workbook began by noting that if you asked an average person on the street about God, their definition would probably sound more like the Holy Spirit than like God the Father or Jesus. It points out that God's presence may "sustain us, protect us, and solicit us without our recognizing the source". In the Old Testament, the Spirit came to a "special few, for special purposes" and they generally had to do with the wider welfare of the people of God. However, in the New Testament the Spirit began a "broader, graciously inclusive work".

The book then talked about how in Psalm 51 the Psalmist realizes that the Holy Spirit can be taken from him. The book says that because the Spirit is intimate, close and immediate "familiarity can breed, if not contempt, at least casualness".

It then discussed the difference between our conscious and the Holy Spirit. While our conscious is an "ally" of God's spirit, it is not synonymous. For a person "living in a highly permissive culture, the conscious can become so broad as to be nearly meaningless". However, those living under strict requirements my try to outdo the Holy Spirit.

Here are my favorite Scriptures and textbook quotes:

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who morn and provided for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor." - Issiah 61:1-3

"And I will ask the Father and He will give you another counselor to be with you forever- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him because it neither sees nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." -John 14:16-17

"The whole comes to this, that the Holy Spirit is the bond by which Christ effectually binds us to himself." -John Calvin

"But perhaps one might say (desiring any who are taught of god to correct, to soften or strengthen the expression), the testimony of the Spirit is an inward impression the soul, whereby the Spirit of God directly 'witnesses to my spirit that I am a child of God'; that Jesus Christ have loved me, and given himself for me; that all my sins are blotted out, and that I, even I, am reconciled to God." -John Wesley

"Christians believe that God is a majestic Being far above us, and this aspect of God's nature is called the transcendence of God. Yet Christians also believe that God is a loving personal Spirit, concerned about us, very close to us. The belief in the Holy Spirit emphasizes this divine nearness and personal concern, and is the basis of Christian prayer, God as Holy Spirit speaks to us in the deep places of our own spirits, and we can respond to him by our thoughts and lives...The Holy Spirit give us guidance, with light upon the decisions we musk make. The Holy Spirit will not automatically settle our problems for us, for God expects us to us our mind and the best judgment possible about the situation. Yet the Holy Spirit will help us to discover what Paul called "the mind of Christ," that is the attitude of Jesus." -Georgia Harkness

"If the Spirit is the authentic presence and realization of the salvation given through Jesus Christ, then whatever is external in the church- scripture and sacraments, offices and certainly the discipline of the church- has fo rits sole task to prepare men for receiving the gift of the Spirit, to serve in the transmission of this gift, and to enable it to work effectively." -Walter Kasper

Because we the church believe God is present with us in the Holy Spirit, I will live with a sense of the wondrous nearness of God.

Weekly Smorgasbord

2012-02-08T00:02:00.000-06:00

Here are last week's links. It's a pretty small set, but I think they're all pretty good!

Why Being a Jack of All Trades Isn't All It's Cracked Up to Be | Goins, Writer

Posted: 06 Feb 2012 09:31 PM PST

I've been thinking about this lately. How I can't be really good at a huge number of things. I have to pick and focus on those. I think there's a middle ground. I don't want to be good at just one thing, but I don't want to try to do five hundred and not do any of them well.

Encouraging Words for Writers: How Do You Spell Writing Success?

Posted: 06 Feb 2012 09:29 PM PST

I've started reading some "writing" blogs lately. Great acrostic here.

to whom much is given | O My Family – This new mom's blog

Posted: 06 Feb 2012 09:29 PM PST

I love paying off debt. Peyton loves it more. We just hit a big milestone on our house payment (since we're being honest: we have less than $100,000 left to pay on it) and I'm super excited.

stay | O My Family – This new mom's blog

Posted: 06 Feb 2012 09:26 PM PST

This was just beautiful. And it made me appreciate our frequent co-sleeping experiences, instead of feeling guilty about them. [It's not all night and it's not every night, but it's some of the night a lot of nights.]

How to talk to someone living inside an abusive church/cult group | Elizabeth Esther

Posted: 06 Feb 2012 08:43 PM PST

Really informative and insightful.

Why French Parents Are Superior by Pamela Druckerman - WSJ.com

Posted: 06 Feb 2012 08:23 PM PST

"Could it be that teaching children how to delay gratification—as middle-class French parents do—actually makes them calmer and more resilient? Might this partly explain why middle-class American kids, who are in general more used to getting what they want right away, so often fall apart under stress?"

"After a while, it struck me that most French descriptions of American kids include this phrase "n'importe quoi," meaning "whatever" or "anything they like." It suggests that the American kids don't have firm boundaries, that their parents lack authority, and that anything goes. It's the antithesis of the French ideal of the cadre, or frame, that French parents often talk about. Cadre means that kids have very firm limits about certain things—that's the frame—and that the parents strictly enforce these. But inside the cadre, French parents entrust their kids with quite a lot of freedom and autonomy."

This was a really interesting article. I don't agree with teaching a few week old child "patience" by sleep training (that's not to say I hate sleep training, but I think that's flawed logic). However, a lot of the other points were good. I think there's a balance, though, between being too detached and being these "hovers" that many American parents seem to be.

A Mother’s Prayer for Her Child By Tina Fey | Write In Color

Posted: 04 Feb 2012 10:22 PM PST

"May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it's the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach's eye, not the Beauty."

"When the Crystal Meth is offered, may she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half And stick with Beer."
"For childhood is short – a Tiger Flower blooming Magenta for one day – And adulthood is long and dry-humping in cars will wait."

This. I have to get this book. Yesterday. One of my really good friends actually mentioned enjoying it and I was kinda shocked because Tina Fey doesn't totally seem like her cup of tea but she said she enjoyed it and then I read this and y'all I have to read it.

Sh*t Crunchy Mamas Say | Babys First Year Blog

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 09:41 PM PST

Y'all, I die. Personal fave: "We chose not to mutilate his genitals." And also the constant whirring pump.

Enjoy!

Weekly Happenings Post #150 (January 30- February 5)-- More Sickies and Starting to Simplify

2012-02-06T23:08:00.003-06:00

We started out the week with more sickness, but thankfully it was shortlived. Another big theme of the week was simplifying- we got rid of our cable, a car, and my anxiety crutch AngelCare breathing monitor. All a pretty big deal. I also got a monthly visitor that I haven't seen since July before last. I had forgotten what an emotional delight that is. Seriously, y'all it is not pretty.

Peyton had to leave close to nine on Monday to drop our cable box of at UPS before heading to work and the kids woke up around that time, too.

I was thankful, because Graves hadn't had the best night. I think it had to do with him being congested, but it was no fun. Anyway, I had a bit of energy (surprisingly) so I got going, too. I took a bath and had my hair dry before Peyton even left. I nursed Graves, changed him and then we all went to the den. I started some laundry, put some sheets on our bed (they were finally dry from the night before) and put the also freshly washed highchair cover back on the high chair. I Lysoled the bathrooms really good since we had had a virus around the house the weekend before and then I fed Graves solids and put him down for a nap. He slept great and I was super productive. I cleaned up the kitchen, unloaded and loaded the dishwasher (the sink was overflowing with dishes), and pureed some squash for Graves. I even got two (small) loads of laundry folded and had some time to visit with Annie. Graves woke up and I got some things together and got the kids dressed and we were going to go over to my parents' house and pick up a few things and have lunch with my mom. Well....the car seat was with Peyton AGAIN. We've just gotten in the habit of not getting it out of the car. Anyway, we decided to just play outside some and then came in and had lunch ourselves. I was trying to hand our big comforter that I had washed on the shower rod because the dryer would not dry it completely and the rod and curtain came crashing down. Annie helped me fix it by holding the hooks until I needed them ;) and then it was nap time.

I put Graves down for his nap and read to Annie and put her down and then got on the computer. AP was up a couple of times for the bathroom, but then she fell asleep. I caught up on Twitter and worked on a post until Graves woke up and then I folded laundry and watched more in my Thomas Jefferson ducu while he played. Annie woke up and we had snacks and did more laundry and then Peyton got home. He was feeling awful and we thought he might be sick, so I took the kids to my parents' house. They were having chicken pot pie and we had a fun time. We came home and I got the kids to bed. It was AWFUL. I have no idea what was going on, but both kids were so fussy and I couldn't ask Peyton to help. They finally fell asleep and I cleaned up the kitchen, took out the trash and put up some laundry. I finished a post and put pictures on Flikr and went to bed.....

For about two hours. Annie woke up screaming and when I went to check on her she had thrown up a TON. I got her up, put her in the tub and started cleaning up her room. I got her rinsed off, put her in our bed and stripped her bed, Chorox wiped the gazallion books that were in there, cleaned the FLOOR which had chunks all over it (::shutter::), changed my own clothes, and started a cycle of started laundry. Right after that she vommed in our bed. Oh my. I striped our sheets and got a flat crib protector and towel and put it under her (the mattress pad was still on it) and got a bowl for her. Surprisingly, Graves slept through all of it. I woke up Peyton who was sleeping on the sofa to figure out if we should get her medicine, Pedialite, ect. and he came in our room. She got so upset when we tried to turn out the lights so Peyton went and got a wand that glows that he had been saving and she slept with it all night. She woke up probably ever thirty minutes to an hour to heave in the bowl I was holding for her. It was a long night. [Sidenote: my mom couldn't believe we put wee little sick person in our bed. Um, what were we to do, Minnie? She can't hold her own barf bowl very effectively yet and I could hardly get it to her in time with her lying right beside me. Plus, um Baby Graves? He and his health was kind of my priority. I kept thinking that if these past ten sometimes excruciating months of giving up grilled cheeses and pizza and EVERYTHING I LOVE IN LIVE protected him from that, they would be well worth it.]

Peyton was supposed to go in to work on Tuesday, but he was still feeling sort of sick. I told him I was exhausted, but he said it would be unfair to call in sick for that since sick days are sick days for employees, not for kids, wives, ect. Boyfriend is an ethical giant, y'all. He was worried about getting his techs sick and I made the point (and enlisted Twitter's help in backing me up) that nobody wants somebody who had their head in a commode less than twenty four hours prior handling their pills. Obviously calling in to Mother's Day Out was NBD.

Anyway, I got up with Graves and he stayed in bed with Annie. I just let Graves play on the floor and dozed off and on on the couch. Peyton couldn't get anyone to cover for him so he was going to have to go in for an hour or so and so I put Graves down for his morning nap after I fed him breakfast and got back in bed with AP. She wanted to read and talk and not rest. Peyton got back home (someone called right as he was almost to his store), but Graves was up. I was trying to keep him away from Peyton and Annie, so I took him back in the den and he played while I started some more laundry and Lysoled all around the house again. Then I put on a program for him to watch so I could rest some. It was the first time I've ever turned on the TV specifically for him. We made it to almost a year, though. [We made it to almost two with AP.]

I fed him lunch and we all went outside for a bit and it was finally naptime.

Yes, this is how we said goodbye to January. And no, she hardly ever wears clothes.

He slept for about an hour and Peyton and I read some in a new book we got, 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess. After than I laid down and napped for about an hour. Graves woke up and Peyton and I talked while he played and then we woke AP up. We decided to go for a drive since we needed to do some errands anyway. We dropped off the cable box (Peyton hadn't had everything he needed the day before), dropped a letter at the post office, made a Goodwill donation, and picked up supper for us at Broadstreet. Both kids took another nap in the car and we ended up also running to Lowes to exchange some lightbulbs and to Best Buy to get a new TV. NOW, I know that makes NO sense since we just canceled the cable, but Peyton got this thing called "Apple TV'. For a hundred dollar one time fee, it allows you to steam things from an iPad, watch Netflix, see certain Apple TV news events, see/hear everything in your iTunes library, and rent and buy movies and TV shows. We had a really archaic TV that wasn't even compatible with the thing, so we got a new one. I told the guy our specs and a price point and he found us an "open box" one that someone had returned that was still in perfect shape.

We came home and Peyton got it hooked up and I fed Graves supper and put him to bed. I put up some clothes in the kids' room and then Peyton realized we didn't have a remote. I ran back to Best Buy and he gave AP a bath. I got home and straightened the house, changed over laundry, and vacuumed the kitchen. We put Annie to bed and I got on the computer.

Graves woke up around the time Peyton left on Wednesday and I took him in the living room and nursed him and snuggled and then let him play on the floor while I laid on the couch. Annie woke up and I played on the Internet on my phone and fed Graves his applesauce and we played some more and then it was time for his morning nap. I took a bath while AP read books and then started cleaning bathrooms.

[Queens are not scary.]

I had Lysoled them and rinsed out the tub that I bathed AP in the night she threw up, but I wanted to do some deep cleaning with the chemicals that scare Peyton (Comet and such). I cleaned the tubs and toilets really well, wiped down the vanities, and Windexed every mirror in our house. Graves woke up and the kids played will I straightened their room and put fresh sheets on our bed.

I folded laundry and Ann Peyton played in her little house Peyton made her out of a box and then they ate lunch and I put them down for naps.

I straightened the den and put up the laundry I folded and just as I was getting ready to read the Scripture passages for Christian Believer Graves woke up. He stayed in his crib happily for a bit and so I read some. I went and got him and he played independently for a while so I finished that up and then let AP get up (she never napped). I finished my leftover sandwich from the night before and cleaned the kitchen up and then got ready to go. We had a good time at church and when we got home we fed and put the kids to bed and then I got on the computer and then went to bed, too after a bowl of oatmeal.

Thursday was Mother's Day Out and we had a good time. It was good to be back! We stayed for lunch and I put the kids down for naps right when we got home. Graves took a GREAT nap, but AP never went to sleep. I played on the computer and then just relaxed. I let AP watch a video and I just laid on the couch. Peyton got home and we talked and then got ready to go to church since I had my UMW Circle meeting and he had mens' group. Circle was SO FUN. We're having older women from the church speak each month and it's fascinating and so encouraging to hear their testimonies. We got home and took Annie's monthly pic.

Then we got the kids fed and put to bed. I wrote thank you notes, cleaned up the kitchen and straightened the house, did my Beth Moore Bible study and got on the computer.

Friday was such a fun day. We got up and got going. I changed over laundry, folded some clothes, played with the kids fed Graves his breakfast and then gave him a bath put him to bed for his morning nap. I took a shower and got ready and got Annie ready. We woke up Graves and wen to meet Carrie and her kids for lunch. It was so much fun to catch up since one or both of us or our kids have been sick for several weeks. The highlight of the lunch was when Jude gave Baby Graves one of his crackers. I can't wait to watch our boys' friendship develop just like our girls' has! We left in kind of a rush, because AP started saying her tummy was hurting and I was scared it was a relapse. Turned out she just needed a nice loooong trip to the potty ;) After we got home, I put the kids down for naps. They both took good naps and I wasted time on Twitter and worked on a post. Peyton got home and we talked some and then I started getting ready because we were going on a date that night. Peyton had a gift card his techs and coworkers gave him for Christmas and we wanted to take my 4Runner on one last outing before we sold it. We dropped the kids off with my parents and went to Table 100 for dinner. It was good, but not one of my favorite restaurants or anything. We picked up the kids and Peyton gave AP a bath at my parents. We put them right to bed when we got home. I got on the computer and then went to bed.

Saturday was another fun, laid back day. Peyton got up with the kids and took them to visit his parents and I slept in. I'm embarrassed to say how late I woke up, but it was so nice! I got a bath and when they got home I fed Graves and ate lunch and then ran to Target to get a baby shower gift and to the grocery store for a few things. I got home and we put the kids down for naps and I made some pasta salad to take to the shower, wrapped my gift and got ready and then left. The shower was so much fun. It was for a girl at church and she's had some complications, but she's made it to thirty four weeks and that was her big goal. We were all so excited to celebrate wit her! I got home and we fed the babies dinner and just hung out. Peyton and AP went to the grocery store and I straitened around the house, did dishes, and got Graves to bed. They got home and we put Annie down. It took her SO long to go to sleep, but she finally did. I made a chicken pot pie and got on the computer and then went to bed.

Annie was up several times and Graves was up SO much. I have no idea what the deal was. Actually, I think with Graves it was that I put him in a cloth diaper. He does fine in them during the day, but wakes up at night more (I think?) when I put him in them. Anyway, I was SO tired Sunday morning. Peyton was teaching Sunday school and then we went to the late service. After church, there was a little fellowship time where some people brought soup because it was Super Bowl Sunday. We ate and then headed home; I rode in the back on the way home to keep the kids awake. We got home and I put everyone down for naps. Peyton went to work out. Graves took an okay nap, but Annie never fell asleep. I got on Twitter and started some laundry and then read a chapter in Radical. Peyton got home and I was really getting frustrated. Annie had woken Graves up and he was in a horrid mood. I literally wanted to jump out a window (and throw them out one). It was just one of those days and on top of that I was SO emotional because we were selling my 4Runner that day. At one point, I just sobbed over it. Stupid, I know. Anyway, Peyton kept telling me to go drive it one last time and I kept saying I just couldn't. Finally, I decided we'd all go.

We drove around and went by Sonic for a snack and then came home and got the other car and went back to church since our group had decided it wasn't very "radical" to skip for the Super Bowl. After church, we dropped off Clifford at his new house and came home.

Annie was playing with the bottle, giving it to MonkMonk and stuff and she wanted milk in it. Peyton let her have it, y'all! Then he preceded to burp her and play like she was his baby. It was really the sweetest thing!

We got the kids to bed and Peyton and I talked some about some future dreams and I got on the computer. I went to bed kind of early for me.

This week is pretty normal and I'm hoping it stays that way. No more sickness!

Photo A Day Challenge: January

2012-02-03T15:32:00.001-06:00

I've grown to realize that just as I love memes and things of that nature, I love little daily challenges. Just as I gained so much from the November thankful challenge I gave myself, deciding to participate in the Photo A Day Challenge created by Chantelle at FatMumSlim was a such an enjoyable exercise. I won't say it provided the oppurtunity for spiritual growth that my 1000 gifts month did, but it did open my eyes more to little slices of beauty all around me.

Here's how the challenge works. Each day there is a "prompt" or a theme. It's typically one word, or maybe a short phrase, and the thing is most of them are broad enough to be interpreted a variety of different ways. So part of the fun of the project is being able to be creative with it.

I got started late and I did miss a couple of days. Also, somewhere along the way, I decided to focus on my captions as well. I wanted to them to capture as much as the photo. I didn't always succeed, but there's going to be a photo challenge each month, and for February I'm trying even harder to be as creative in my captioning as I am with my pictures.

Day 5

argyle trouser socks, aqua ones at that (something I wore)

Day 6

my sweetums (makes me smile)

Day 7

(favorite) singer and album

Day 9

just in case...surprises can happen ;) (daily routine)

Day 10

Annie's new favorite literary indulgence (childhood)

Day 12

Such a simple, old fashioned toy and yet the source of SO much of his joy! (close-up)

Day 13

the important stuff- robot lovey, Tide to Go pen, and Sofie (in my bag)

Day 14

Well, those are some pretty string implications about my current lifestyle, Mr. Platt. (something I'm reading)

Day 15

(Happiness) is enjoying your own personal leaf collection and ignoring a big pile of favorite toys.

Day 16

Recently acquired: Momma Elephant and Papa Whale. Maybe they'll motivate us to become (morning) people.

Day 17

This guy makes toddler baths much more bearable. (water)

Day 18

green Christmas box, pink girl clothes storage box (something I bought)

Day 19

Nothing says love like seasonal Debbie snack cakes. (sweet)

Day 20

Kinda hard to choose just one (someone I love), ya know?

Day 21

Mirror, mirror on the wall...(reflection)

Day 22

old owls, new monkeys (my shoes)

Day 23

Hushpuppy- Peyton's dog from when he was about the age of the boy in this picture. Definitely (something old)- HP is about to turn thirty!

Day 24

A (guilty pleasure) that is no longer. Peyton canceled the cable today. I am at peace with it.

Day 25

(Something I made) back from my School of Ed days. It's one of AP's treasures now. If I had known I was making it for her...{tear}.

Day 26

Command center during play time. Living room, dining room, den and play room are one and the same at this house. (color)

Day 27

Baby Graves's (lunch)- sweet taters and banana puffs .

Day 28

Natural (light). Goodness knows, this house needs it.

Day 29

(In my fridge) Dairy Free Delight- Tofutti "sour cream" and "cream cheese" and soy yogurt.

Day 30

Every little girl needs a stump for jumping! (nature)

Day 31

And here's (me) on the last day of January. Natural SD.

I'm so excited about doing this again this month!

Letter to (Thirty Four Month Old) Ann Peyton

2012-02-03T01:42:00.000-06:00

Dear Ann Peyton,

The big theme this month with you is imagination. We have seen it explode these past few weeks and it's breathtaking to watch the amazing things your little mind concocts. For example, your stuffed monkey, MonkMonk, continues to be a close confident, but now she's also somewhat of an imaginary friend. You will be holding her, but then you'll tell us something she's doing somewhere else. For example, you will say "MonkMonk knocked on the door" or "MonkMonk was driving down the street" and you'll run to the door or the window respectively. We might say "Oh, I thought you were holding MonkMonk" and you'll just laugh like we are so silly and say "NO!, I not hold MonkMonk". Additionally, you like to create your own little stories about what happened on a given day; I think usually it's things you wish happened, like a trip to the park.

MonkMonk continues to be very much involved in our days. If anything outside the ordinary happens, you can bet it will be reenacted with MonkMonk. You just had the stomach bug, and consequently MonkMonk needed a pink bowl to throw up in the very next day.

You talk so much about the things you love, but you mostly talk about the people you love. Minnie and your dear friend Aubrey topped the list this month. You are forever picking up books and telling me "Minnie gave you (meaning herself) this". Minnie recently sent home a stool for your bathroom and every time you use it you proudly declare its Minnie origins. It's been a couple of weeks since you've seen Aubrey due to sickness, but hardly a day goes by without you mentioning holding her hand, going to a restaurant with her, or the helpful precaution she gave last time you saw her- "CHILDREN NOT RUN AROUND".

Also at the top of your favorite people list is Baby Graves. You love making him laugh and you get very upset when he cries these days. You want me to fix it immediately and if I don't you try to fix it by bringing him things to play with.

You've gotten really good at counting and consistently make it to twelve, sometimes higher. You can say your ABC's well and identify a few letters. And you know lots of songs and love to sing them. And you've become very interested in coloring.

You've gotten pretty opinionated about things lately. The other day I was using your play broom to knock some stuff out from under the couch and you ran and got the real broom and said "Here's your broom, Momma. Not use Annie's broom." I told you that you needed to share and you said, "I share with Baby Graves....not share with Momma." Clearly we have more work to do on the sharing front.

You had been having a lot of trouble with naptime and bedtime until recently. You've been a great sleeper all your life and I had no idea what was going on. I realized finally that you were just craving some individual time with me, so I put Graves down first now and we read some together and snuggle and sing songs before bed and before your nap.

Annie, I am loving these days with you. I love reading to you and teaching you new things and trying to explain things to you in a way your little mind can comprehend. I love that us time we have- the songs and snuggles and silly laughter. I love seeing more and more of myself and Papa reflected in you in different ways. I love reading Bible stories to you and hearing you spontaneously mention them the next day. I love watching your relationship with your brother grow and I love seeing the sparkle in your eye when you discover something exciting. You bring so much to every single day!

Love,
Momma (and Papa)

P.S. Your outfit is a 24 mo.

February Happenings

2012-02-01T22:58:00.000-06:00

Well, I used the Instagrammed pictures again. I had every intention not to, but I ended up doing a photo a day challenge in January and I had a bunch I liked so I went with it. I feel like the title is too small and the font isn't bright enough. But it is what it is. Live and learn.
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Let's see what's on the agenda for February?

- I have a baby shower for a friend this weekend, something fun with some couple friends the next weekend, and Peyton and I are planning to have a nice date night sometime soon. Also, I have an appointment at the breastfeeding clinic to try to figure out what's up with Baby Graves's weight.

- I have a couple of little projects to finish in the kitchen and then I'll post pictures I promise! I also need to post the pictures of the nursery that I took six months ago. Ha!

- Speaking of, I have SO many posts I want to finish. I noticed today that I never did my "Part 2" of my Christmas post. That's how I have so many drafts. Any guesses how many posts I have in my draft folder. Hint: it will blow your mind. I guess I'm at the point where I just think "They'll get done at some point. Maybe when the kids are in college." Ha!

- In addition to the kitchen projects, I think we are going to paint the sunroom. I'm really excited about brightening it up. Peyton's been working on sealing it to try to get it more climate controlled so we can actually use it more.

- My mom is coming over next week and she's going to help me figure out where to hang a few things (I'm so indecisive), help clean out and organize our buffet (it has so much junk in it), teach me how to polish silver and help me go through some of AP's clothes for this Summer and figure out what will actually fit of the stuff I've bought ahead and the stuff she wore at the end of last Summer. Because...

- There are several good consignment sales coming up. Neither of the kids really need much, but there are a few things on my list. I'd love to find some shoes for AP and I'd like to get a couple of diaper sets and bubbles for Graves. He has lots of those short "JonJon" type outfits, but I feel like he can wear those for a long time, whereas for him this is probably the last Summer in bubbles and diaper sets and I want to relish in it!

- I'm also planning on getting my mom to watch the kids that day for a bit so I can go with Peyton to the gym and he can show me around. I really want to start going some but I'm terrified to walk in and even get on a treadmill.

- Lastly, I thought I'd update y'all on last month's goals and then share this month's...
January Goals:
1. To be more intentional about prioritizing time with Peyton in the evenings. Well, I did do better about this. We still have a long way to go, but we're doing better.
2. To finish this ever lovin' kitchen. Well, the floors are DONE. Like I said, I still have a couple of projects hanging over me, but they're small(ish).
3. To spend time in the Word in some form every.single.day. Okay, being honest- every single day didn't happen, but again, I made strides.

February Goals:
1. I am going to keep #1 and #3 on my list and combine them into one- To be more intentional about daily time with the Lord and with Peyton. I'm sure there will always be room for improvement on both fronts, but I want to keep them at the forefront for at least another month.
2. To take more (and better) pictures. I am no photographer and really probably never will be, but we didn't buy a nice camera for nothing and lately I've become so lazy about using it. I used to get it out almost daily, but for some reason I got out of the habit. I want to start using it more again and I want to try to spend some time a few times a week reading up on how to improve my skills.
3. This is HUGE, y'all. To try to enforce a more reasonable bedtime for myself. I'm not saying a consistent one. I'm not saying an early one. I'm not even saying a healthy one. I am saying reasonable. Meaning, I will not go to bed at two AM even one night this month. I've been trying it for a week or so and I've done okay. My goal is twelve, but I give myself a thirty minute grace period. I went to bed by midnight thirty several times and the other nights I was in bed by one.

Christian Believer: Week Sixteen {Faith}

2012-02-01T01:35:00.000-06:00

I know not why God’s wondrous grace

To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.

("I Know Whom I Have Believed", Daniel W. Whittle)

Last week's lesson was "Faith" (The Reach Toward God). I enjoyed it, but not quite as much as the previous week. Thank goodness I'm finally caught up!

We watched the video first and it compared our faith experience with falling in love. It's beyond logic, not reducible to emotion and affection, and there is an element of faith and trust that is involved. Also, faith is a relational dynamic. Faith in God, for Christians, is faith revealed in Jesus Christ. It's like love in several other ways- one surrenders oneself to it and one is grasped by God and so experiences freedom and joy. God is our ultimate concern because we love Him with all our heart, mind and soul. Faith predisposes love and love leads to faithfulness. Mature faith includes assent, obedience, pledge, loyalty and active commitment. Faith is an act- a decision, a leap, which is subjective. But it is also the content of belief- what is believed, which is objective. Faith is a reception of the divine revelation. Also, faith that embraces doubt is not against reason but rather helps reason to be in touch with its own limit. The video wrapped up with these lines, "Through faithful prayer life believers become intimately webbed to the spirit and will of God. They become obedient instruments of the divine will increasingly attuned to the desires of God which drives them to lives of service and love for others. They stand where God stands and sit where Jesus sits- with the poor, the alienated, the estranged, the oppressed, the hungry, the ostracized, the sick, and the marginalized".

The workbook begin by talking about how we show some version of faith whenever we board a plane, ride an elevator or pour cereal from a box. However, Biblical faith is different- "our disposition is to believe after delivery, or to expect delivery very quickly after believing, and possibly as a reward for our believing. The Biblical record suggests that faith may not get delivery at all, and that it will prove itself by the posture it maintains when delivery is postponed or even, apparently, denied". We are to believe in God's character and that He rewards those who seek him. However, the reward isn't always readily apparent. The book then talked about the Biblical examples of Abraham and Noah. It then moved to the three young Israelites who were spared form the fiery furnace- "their faith was demonstrating itself not simply in their expectation that God would work a miracle on their behalf but also in their resolve to be true even if no miracle happened". The belief that God exists and rewards our seeking must be so strong that we leave the "particular working out of God's reward entirely in divine hands".

The book then stated that "faith trusts in the character of God and acts upon that trust, while works rely upon their own merit". It then discussed Cain and Abel and how Cain's sacrifice was possibly rejected because he might have been trusting in the merit of the offering itself and how faith directed anywhere but to God himself is an act of rebellion against Him. It talked about how the New Testament shifts the view on faith as a communal expience in the Old Testament to a much more individual thing.

The book talked about something very interesting to me next. Some people, if asked what a Christian is, will say "Someone who believes in God". However, not only is that imprecise, it really misses the point almost entirely, because a Christian believes in God revealed in Jesus Christ and in faith in Christ as God's way to salvation. This belief was both "the theme and the stigma of the early church". Had they been willing to accept a broader definition, and include Jesus along with the Pantheon gods, there would have been no martyrs. It was neat to realize this is not a new thing. The book said that all this sounds judgmental, but the truth is if we truly love Him and believe this we will want to share this extraordinary knowledge. Finally, it talked about the errant view of placing faith in faith, rather than placing faith in God.

In our group we discussed how Abraham, though lauded for his faith, actually had huge moments of lacking faith. We also discussed situations where people we knew took the "long view" on faith, meaning they saw the big picture. One person mentioned a friend who endured the death of a child and then I talked about a story that has brought such conviction to my life about a mother who watched her child be martyred. Now THAT is the long view- only with a true grasp on eternity could someone endure that. I realized, though, that we had gotten so focused on death. There are tons of situations in LIFE that require the long view. I shared about some dear friends of ours who are prayerfully entering into the process of adopting a special needs child. To me, that again, is the long view on faith. We also talked breifly on prayer and how it works and if we can "change God's mind".

Here were my favorite Scriptures and readings from the text:
"If you do what is right will you not be accepted?" -Genesis 4:7

"I sought the Lord and He answered me, He delivered me from all my fears." - Psalm 34:4

"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace the God we serve is able to save us from it; and he will rescue us from your hand, O King. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O King, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." -Daniel 3:17-18

"Yet he (Abraham) did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what he had promised." -Romans 4:20-21

"It [faith] does not stop to ask whether good works have to be done; before there is time even to ask the question, it has already performed the good works." -Martin Luther

"We see the spiritual world, which is all round about us, and yet no more discerned by our natural faculties than if it had no being; and we see the eternal world, piercing through the veil which hangs between time and eternity. Clouds and darkness then rest upon it no more, but we already see the floor which shall be revealed." -John Wesley

"In order to know we must always rely on something we do not know; in order to walk by sight we need to rely on what we do not see. The most evident example of that truth is to be found in science, which conducts its massive campaign against obscurity and error on the basis of a great faith in the intelligibility of things; when it does not know and finds hindrances in the path of knowledge, it asserts with stubborn faith that knowledge nevertheless is possible, that there is pattern and intelligibility in the things which are not yet intelligible...Our social life, also, proceeds from moment to moment on the ground of a confidence we have in each other which is distinct from our belief in each other's existence and distinct also from knowledge of each other's character...How much we live by faith in this area becomes apparent to us when we are deceived or betrayed by those on whom we have relied...This is the faith that life is worth living, or better, the reliance on certain centers of value as able to bestow significance and worth on our existence. It is a curious and inescapable fact about our lives, of which I think we all become aware at some time or another, that we cannot live without a cause, without some object of devotion, some center of worth, something on which we rely for our meaning...For no man lives without living for some purpose, for the glorification of some god, for the advancement of some cause. If w do not wish to call this faith religion, there is no need to contend about the word...When we believe that life is worth living by the same act we refer to some being which makes our life worth living. We never merely believe that life is worth living, but always thing of it as made worth living by something on which we rely. And this being, whatever it be, is properly termed our god." -Richard Niebuhr

"His grace creates our faith. so that when we come to Him, it is really our faith, and we come willingly. In order to bring about this end He uses means- words, smiles, gestures, symbolic gifts, which we call sacraments...All such are 'means of grace', methods employed by the graciousness of God to express and develop a gracious personal relationship between Him and us." -Donald M. Baillie

"In orthodox theologies of the seventeenth century, faith was affirmed by emphasizing the initiative of God apart from the reception of God; that is, God was the all-determining One, and a person's appropriation of God's initiative was secondary. In Protestant liberalism and sometimes Pietist traditions, the other side of the equation was emphasized. In contrast to faith as a fit, liberals emphasized faith as an individual act of will or as a decision of moral reason." -John Dillenberge

Because we the church believe faith is essential to our salvation and to godly living, I will pursue faith in all of my thinking, speaking, and doing.

Weekly Smorgasbord

2012-01-31T22:21:00.001-06:00

This week's wonderful links:

Clover Lane: Encouragement For The Week

Posted: 30 Jan 2012 09:36 PM PST

Truth.

Sex Trafficking is Closer Than You Think by Caitie Hlushak and Ted Sangalis

Posted: 30 Jan 2012 09:36 PM PST

"A common misbelief about sex trafficking is that the United States is only a destination country, that all of the victims of sex slavery within the U.S. have been carried across international borders. The truth is that literally untold numbers of U.S. citizens are trafficked within our own borders and in our neighborhoods every year."

"We must pursue sexual holiness and boldly teach our children that the threshold for healthy sexuality only begins at sex within marriage. We are called to be God's light in the world and this starts with prayer. We must recognize that our fight is not against the traffickers or the johns, but the powers and principalities over this present darkness. If we combat these forces in the spiritual realm, bonds will break and we will have access to the brokenness of the commercial sex industry. We must stop idolizing straight, married sex. We must pursue sexual holiness as something more than meeting these biblical standards; sexuality must of course be purspursued within Biblical boundaries, but it is so much more than the boundaries themselves. If we live in the land of sexual holiness instead of on the boundary markers, we can show the beauty of mutual respect and love in intimate relationships and compel the world toward a higher calling. We must value those in prostitution as beloved children in a world that so quickly condemns them (John 8:3-11)."

Emerging Mummy: In which I apologise for yesterday's post

Posted: 30 Jan 2012 09:32 PM PST

This is how you do an apology. You own it. You don't delete the old post. You just apologize. So refreshing.

putting myself to bed (the night owl’s lament) | Rage Against the Minivan

Posted: 30 Jan 2012 09:31 PM PST

Um, yes, I struggle with this. Probably anyone who really likes the Internet does, though, right? I guess probably most people from our generation can relate, though. Heck, not even our generation. I physically laughed out loud just now thinking of the many nights when I was in high school that I would find my precious mom up playing computer solitaire in the wee hours of the morning. Bless Minnie's heart, she lives for digital single player card games.

A Letter to Amber — Bringing Sexy Back {Yeah!} | Seth Haines

Posted: 30 Jan 2012 09:30 PM PST

Possibly I mainly love this letter for this phrase: "the Boss on vinyl—Nebraska, that grand, sultry album."

a letter to Seth

Posted: 30 Jan 2012 09:29 PM PST

"You've known it four times now, the way my body sprawls all out for a baby. To my surprise and possibly also to yours, I would grow, skin stretch, and you still found me what you wanted." I am in love with this "Marriage Letters" series. Gotta go back and read them all.

What a Parent Wants to Say Before a Child Leaves

Posted: 30 Jan 2012 09:28 PM PST

Such beautiful writing. Such a poignant experience.

Emerging Mummy: In which I expose the true enemy of the Gospel

Posted: 30 Jan 2012 09:27 PM PST

"If we don't like someone's preaching or teaching or writing, we brand them an 'enemy of the Gospel.'"

"When we brand each other as enemies, we become the enemy of the Gospel."

Lysa TerKeurst – I don’t want to raise a good child

Posted: 30 Jan 2012 09:24 PM PST

"1. Don't take too much credit for their good. "
"2. Don't take too much credit for their bad."
"3. Don't try to raise a good child. Raise a God-following adult."

My mom was so good at not worrying about us being "good girls". She told me that once before. I'm sure that was hard for her, because she's very much into etiquette and being "respectable"...as I've said before, she works at a bridal registry and considers it a noble calling to inform the uneducated brides of today what a demitasse cup is. And yet? She let go of those things a LOT, especially with me. She focused on the important. My character. Not her appearance.

Enjoy them!

Weekly Happenings Post #149 (January 23-29)-- Momma Gets the Sickies

2012-01-30T23:15:00.001-06:00

Totally random coincidence AP is holding her current favorite book, So Sick.

This week started out pretty typical and was actually a really nice, stress free week. We didn't end up getting to go to Bible study on Wednesday morning (Peyton had Graves's car seat), we didn't do anything with Carrie and her kiddos, and we didn't have any random extra night activities outside Wednesday night church and our standing date with my parents for red beans. NOW, I love all of those things, but it's nice to just breath sometimes, too, you know. And be home and clean and organize and read and do small projects. Then on Saturday, I came down with the stomach virus. It was pretty mild and I've made a full recovery at this point!

This post hardly has any pictures and after last week when I said I was going to do better, too. It's a goal for February!

Peyton and I decided to get up early on Monday. It ended up that I got up a little after eight. For a day when he's here, that's kind of early. Ha! I know it sounds bad how much he gets up with the kids in the mornings, but he's so much more of a morning person than I am. And also, I'm the one who wakes up with Graves and feeds his at 5:30 in the morning. Anyway, Ann Peyton was still asleep and Graves played for awhile and we read some in our Christian Believer text, talked and watched part of a DVRed Mary Tyler Moore episode. Peyton made breakfast and we put Graves down for a nap.

Peyton always thinks that there looks like there is something wrong with our kids in the pictures I think are super cute!

I took a bath and called the breastfeeding clinic to discuss Graves's weight. Peyton and I moved around the shelves in the shelving system in the laundry room and I put stuff on it and organized. Ann Peyton finally woke up at TEN THIRTY. I guess she really needed to catch up. Peyton fixed her some "brunch" and then when Graves woke up, he took them outside to play while I finished in the laundry room. He was meeting another pharmacist for lunch, so I stayed outside with them a bit and we had a snack and then came in. I fed Graves an avocado and unloaded dishes and then Peyton got home. He cut out windows and a door in the box the shelves came in and he played with the kids while I talked to the nurse at the breastfeeding clinic. She said she thought I wasn't feeding him often enough. Um, he eats more often that most kids his age (like six times in a twenty four hour period), but I decided I'd try to do it more. Literally, I think every hour on the clock saw me nursing, feeding him solids or eating something myself.

Peyton left and I gave the kids baths. It was a good morning and I felt like we got a lot done AND enjoyed time as a family. I guess I need to make myself get up before nine thirty or ten more often when he's home!

I put Graves down for his nap and read to Annie some and put her down. They both slept awhile and I had lunch and read my Bible some. Graves woke up and he played and I got on the Internet and changed over laundry. When AP woke up, they played some and I cleaned up some dishes in the sink and loaded the dishwasher and then we ran some errands. I wanted to see if I could find some insulated cups and a planner at TJ Maxx, but no luck. Then we headed to the grocery store for a few things. We got home and I fed them dinner and put them to bed. I read blogs and then when Peyton got home I cooked some beef and brocoli stir fry for supper. I got on the computer again and went to bed late.

We had Mother's Day Out on Tuesday and I had everything packed up the night before and got up a little early and we were on time, even though Graves had to have a bath due to his diaper leaking. About half our class was out with sickness and we had a teacher go home sick. I was hoping to avoid of all that. We got home and I fed the kids lunch and unpacked the diaper bag, straightened a bit, and ate some lunch myself. I put them down for naps and uploaded pictures onto the computer. Graves woke up and I played with him, but he was cranky and yanking on my hair and I was tired and kind of stressed. I could feel myself getting a headache. Peyton got home about the time Annie woke up and I laid down for a bit. Peyton decided to take the kids to see his parents so I got up and took a bath and took some medicine. My head felt better and it was nice to have some solitude. I rewatched some Christian Believer videos and read a few blogs. Everyone got home and we put them to bed and then Peyton and I talked. I put some pictures on Flikr and renewed my driver's license and wrote some thank you notes and then went to bed.

On Wednesday, I woke up when Peyton did and we chatted a little until Baby Graves interrupted. I took a bath and gave him a bath and got Annie up to get ready for Bible study when Peyton called and said he had Graves's car seat in his car. Annie wanted to get back in her bed. Weird, but I let her. I got Graves a banana and started unloading dishes and cleaning up the den. I reloaded a full load and then put Graves down for a nap and decided to work on some deep cleaning in the kitchen while AP played. I moved things around and scrubbed the counters and then wiped down the high chair and cleaned the toaster oven. My mom came over so I could run some errands since I didn't have the car seat. I went to Lowes for lightbulbs and for some glue for Peyton to glue down a wood strip where the hardwoods meet the new kitchen floor and then I went to the grocery store. I was speed shopping, but I took a page out of Peyton's book and stopped a manager to brag on how helpful the people in the deli were about offering to order me some pita bread. I got home and visited with my mom some and then she left and I started cooking some chili. Annie helped me chop onions with our new chopper thing and when it was ready she had a bowl for lunch. I gave her a bath and put the children down for naps.

Annie slept great, but Graves didn't sleep long at all and was so fussy. I did manage to get my own bowl of chili. Peyton got home and we took turns with him. I baked some cookies and Peyton glued the wood strip and read for Christian Believer. We got ready and headed to church a little early so we could drop off some chili and cookies with the Howies since they had all sorts of ailments at their house ;) Christian Believer went well and we got home and put the kids to bed. I got on the computer and messed around and then worked on our finances. Peyton and I had a very nice chat and then I got some things ready for MDO the next day and went to bed.

Thursday we were staying at MDO the whole time (meaning until 2:00). It was a long day and the kids were pretty worn out by the end of it. Neither fell asleep in the car, to my surprise (and delight), but I put them down immediately when we got home. Graves took awhile and then had a dirty diaper, but he finally went to sleep. Annie never did. To be honest, even though it's annoying because she calls me in her room to get her books and things (I limit it, but I think it's only fair to indulge her some since we require her to stay in her bed), I've gotten to where I really prefer her not to nap because it makes bedtime so much easier. Funny it used to be the exact opposite! Anyway, I still think she needs the quiet time in her bed, but like I said no naps really make for easier nights.

While they were resting, I just chilled out. I got on the computer and sent a couple of LONG emails (one to Carrie since we missed our lunch date and one to someone inquiring about cloth diapers) and played on Twitter some. Peyton got home and we got the kids up. We played with them for a little bit and talked about our days and then tried to figure out what we wanted to do that afternoon/evening. We talked about going to the park, but then decided that we'd take Annie swimming at the Y. We got ready and headed to the pool. Graves and I observed and Peyton and AP had a blast. She was so mad when it was time to leave! We stopped by Lowes on the way home because I had gotten the wrong kind of glue for the floor and then headed home. We fed the kids and put them to bed and then I watched Lost and grated soap for laundry detergent. I got on the computer and uploaded some pictures to Flikr and straitened up around the house and then went to bed.

Friday was another day at home. Graves woke up first and I snuggled with him and nursed him and then I took a bath and changed his clothes and fed him solids. Annie woke up, but she wanted to stay in bed a bit again. I started dishes and laundry and took out the trash. I vacuumed in the kitchen and AP and I had breakfast when she got up. Graves took his nap and I went through some piles around the house and culled some of the magazines AP likes to look at in bed. Graves woke up and we read some and then I fed Graves lunch and fixed Annie's. I put them down for naps and had my lunch. I watched Lost and folded laundry and then Peyton got home. AP never did take a nap, but Graves got a good one. We got them up and Peyton took both kids outside to wash my 4Runner. Annie played and he put Graves in the saucer. We decided to clean it up because we're trying to sell it. I finished folding clothes and helped them clean out the inside of the car. Graves had gotten bored and Peyton had put him in the driver's seat and strapped him in with the seat belt. We finished that and Peyton gave AP a bath and we got ready to go to my parents' house. We had a good time, but I got so tired and kept dozing off while watching TV. We got home and put the kids in their beds and I talked for a few minutes and then I got on the computer. I finished a post and worked on my blog design for February.

I woke up in the middle of the night throwing up. UGH. I was pretty sure it was the stomach bug since several kids at MDO had had it. I woke Peyton up and got him to move to the couch and went back to bed and slept until morning.

Peyton had an important meeting for a church committee he's on that had been on the calendar for months on Saturday. His mom was supposed to keep the kids that morning so I could go to a baby shower and so thankfully, she was able to just come on. I did get up with Graves while Peyton was showering and he was crying in the high chair so I picked him up. Bad decision. I threw up all over him. UGGGGH. Peyton gave him a bath and I took one, too and his mom got here and I went back to bed for the rest of the morning. Around one my mom came over so Denise could leave and then Peyton got home at two. I woke up around three and Graves took a short nap and Annie rested for a bit. I laid on the couch and watched a PBS documentary on Thomas Jefferson on Netflix instant streaming while Peyton cleaned up the study and played with the kids. He fed them supper and I helped him get them to bed. They both had a hard night and after they went to sleep I went back to bed myself.

I woke up feeling MUCH better on Sunday. I still had a headache, but I took a BC powder and started running my bath. Peyton had to teach Sunday School, but we decided to keep the kids home since they might have been exposed. I got AP up and put her in our bed with a movie (on retrospect, why would I put her in our bed before I changed the sheets/Lysoled???) and got Graves happily playing on the floor. By the time I had gotten my bath and dried my hair, this had happened:
1) AP spilled water in our bed
2) AP "spit up" in our bed (her words)
3) AP teeteed in the tub while I was cleaning her up
4) our new crawler got into the trashcan in our bathroom

So...I got Graves down for his nap and set up Annie watching a video in the den and I just took some deep breaths, texted Peyton, updated my status on all social media outlets, and decided to try and smile. I opened the blinds and started cleaning up the den. It was a total disaster from the day before and I had just left it that night. I got everything picked up and even started working on some piles on the buffet. Ann Peyton and I had a very light breakfast and Graves woke up. Peyton got home and he played with the kids and I started washing our sheets and picking up around the house some more. He took the kids outside to lay pine straw and I went through some piles and filed stuff in the study. I also worked on taping up some of AP's books that had gotten ripped up. Anybody else relate?

We fed the kids lunch and put them down for naps and I ate my lunch and talked to Peyton about a picture I found in the piles that was really how I wanted to do our floors:

He said exactly what I didn't want to hear. That he wished we would have to, that it would have been cheaper, and that the issue would the grout would have been a non issue. I started crying. But then we decided to read Radical. Because martyrs and orphans have a way of making my floor grief seem really small. I got ready and left for church. Peyton kept the kids at home, even though we had pretty much decided AP's throw up episode was a fluke. Our Radical study was good that night and I got home and helped Peyton get the kids to bed and then ran to Target for a storage bin (what else?), a big file folder, and some wipes. I also found some kid pajamas and a purse for me. I got home, rocked Annie one last time, and got on the computer and wrote a post. I went to bed too late.

Christian Believer: Week Fifteen {Lord}

2012-01-30T00:56:00.000-06:00

Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne.
Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who died for thee,
And hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity.

["Crown Him with Many Crowns", Mathew Bridges]

The lesson week before last was "Jesus Christ: Lord" (Jesus Christ Is Lord). I loved this lesson, but I didn't realize until typing it up that it may well be one of my favorites. I actually remembered a lot of our discussion, this time, as well (a benefit of doing these posts in a timely manner), so I think that's interesting. I realize this is long and tedious, so I took the liberty of bolding my favorite things. I may have been a bit liberal with my bold button, however ;)

We started with the video, which had some interesting points. First, when early Christians said "Jesus is Lord", they applied a title used by pious Jews only for God. The term they used for Lord, Yahweh (which means "I am who I am") was so sacred Jews wouldn't say it out loud. They began using the name Adonai and that later became Kyrios. That earliest Christian confession, "Jesus is Lord", somehow, in some way, meant nothing less than "Jesus Christ is Yahweh". This formula seems to include an inequation, though. Because Jesus's lordship and superiority were fundamentally different than God the Father. For example, Jesus announced God's kingdom, called God the one good God, prayed to God, distinguished his own will from the Father's, felt forsaken on the cross, said the Father was greater, and explained himself as an emissary who "lived to do the Father's will, speak the Father's word, and finish the Father's work". As the video states, "This all seems to make the words 'Christ is Lord' strike a false chord, because he points beyond himself to the Father".

However, we see from the Bible that Jesus, as the Word of God, was "in the begining" and "was God and was with God". We also see perhaps the most powerful declarations of Jesus's lordship in the "I am" sayings found in the book of John. Jesus says I am...the Bread of Life; the Good Shepherd; the Ressurection and the Life; the Way, the Truth and the Life; and the True Vine. As modern day Christians, we tend to place emphasis on the object (for example, the Good Shepherd), however, when we look at the Greek, there is strong emphasis on the "I am" part of the phrase and its strong ties to the name Yahweh. The most notable instances are when Jesus was before the Sanhedrin (the Jewish ruling body) and said "Before Abraham was...I am" and when he was before Caphias (the high priest) and was asked "Are you the Messiah?" and he replied, "I am". The Sanhedrin and Caphias both sought death because he was claiming to be Yahweh.

The video ended by saying that the confession "Jesus is Lord" reveals Christians' faith in the full divinity of Christ. I liked this last little tidbit, especially..."This is knowledge not open to reason or any human ability. You could be richer than the highest paid corporate executive and not be able to buy this knowledge. You could be more pious than mystics of old or saints today and not be able to achieve this knowledge. You could lead more people to Jesus Christ than the world's best evangelist and not be able to earn this knowledge. It comes only through faith in Jesus Christ and faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit."

The workbook was full of great insights, too. It first started by saying that the existential question is "Not what do I do?" and that this is where the "rubber meets the road". We all have some lord, the trouble is confessing it and sometimes even recognizing it. I really liked these lines, because they are SO convicting-- "...the lordship part is inescapable. Call it the determining principle in your life, or your grand passion. Or don't call it anything, but ponder what calls the shots in your life. Or become honest with yourself and call it God, with a big or a small g. Everybody has a Lord." Well, then.

However, whereas many of these "little g" gods (money, ambition, sensuality, ect.) slip in unconsciously, Jesus never does. It may be so gradual that we don't recall exactly when it happened, but Jesus never slips up on us without our agreeing to it. He values our integrity and personhood too much to do that. He becomes our Lord only by confession, "first of all, to my own soul; then to God; and then to others and to the life I lead".

The book then talked about the necessity of also confessing our sin and said "the only ones who say it easily are the saints who have come to a wondrous openness to God, or the spiritually naive whose conception of sin is so superficial that they feel nos discomfort in confessing". This lead to several discussions in our group. For one, we discussed which comes first, the confession of sin or the confession of Christ as Lord? It seems to be a bit of a chicken and the egg sort of conundrum, but we resolved that though we are continually confessing both in our daily living, the initial confession of Christ as Lord ultimately includes the confession of sin (which we must be made aware of in order to truly confess him as Savior). I liked how the book phrased it- "We confess sin because we fall short of the glory of God. We continue to confess our faith because with each day of living, we know more of the greatness of our Lord and see larger areas of life we wish to commit to his Lordship".

The book also discussed the possibility of the fields of therapy and counseling having replaced the relgioius confession of sin. This lead to Peyton discussing his Catholic background and also to the group dialoging about the importance of accountability. We also discussed how the book noted that in our age of individualism and independence we are less likely to confess our need. However, when the our bodies are in pain or our relationships are damaged, our spirit sees more clearly its need for a savior.

We see, though, that the New Testament speaks much less often of the confession of sin than of the confession of Christ as Lord. The later is simply more substantive than the former, because it means that I give God the one thing that is mine to give- "my commitment, my confession, my person".

Finally, the group discussed if a verbal confession is always required and who God was refering to when he spoke of the "hot", "cold", and "lukewarm".

Here are the Scriptures and readings I enjoyed most that week:
"For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling." -Psalm 116:8

"Even if I washed myself with soap and my hands with washing soda, you would plunge me into the slime pit so that even my clothes would detest me. He is not a man like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court. If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both, someone to remove God's rode from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more. Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot." -Job 9:30-35

"How, then can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news'." -Romans 10:14-15

"That if you confess with your mouth 'Jesus is Lord' and belive in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." -Romans 10:9-10

"So because you are lukewarm- neither hot nor cold- I am about to spit you out of my mouth." -Revelation 3:16

"Just as the four extremities of the Cross are held fast and bound together by the bolt in the middle, so also by God's power the height and depth, the length and the breadth, that is, every creature visible and invisible, is maintained." -John of Damascus

"Let me love to sit at Thy feet, and suck in with my ears and heart the sweetness of Thy hold sermons. Let my soul be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, with a peaceable and docile disposition. Give me great boldness in the public confession of Thy name and the truth of Thy gospel, in despite of all hostilities and temptations. And grant that I may always remember that Thy name is called upon me, and may so behave myself, that I neither give scandal to others, nor cause disreputation to the honour of religion; but that Thou mayest be glorified in me, and I by Thy mercies, after a strict observance of all the holy laws of Christianity. Amen." -Jeremy Taylor

"Someone has said that all great discoveries are reduction from complexity to simplicity. But of all the reductions from complexity to simplicity the greatest and profoundest was in the earliest creed: 'Jesus is Lord'. Three words, and yet three worlds are in them- heaven, earth, and hell...How did it happen that this phrase arose out of a fiercely monotheistic people whose central confession was: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord' (Deut 6:4). His impact upon nature and human living was so tremendous that they found their unwilling lips making the most momentous confession that ever fell from human lips anywhere at any time. It was life's central revelation. And the revelation was this: 'This man, who walked our dusty roads, slept upon our hillsides, was crucified on one of our trees, and was laid in one of our rock tombs, was at the right hand of final authority- was Lord and would have the final say in human affairs.' That confession was breath-taking". -E. Stanley Jones

"We repudiate the false teaching that the church can and must recognize yet other happenings and powers, images and truths as divine revelation alongside this one Word of God, as a source of her preaching...We repudiate the false teaching that there are areas of life in which we belong not to Jesus Christ but to another lord, areais in which we do not need justification and sanctificantion through him." -Barmen Declaration

"We are fighting to-day for costly grace...It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son. Above all it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God. -Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"'You shall remember the Lord, your God!' We are not asked to remember God in general. We are in constant temptation to think of some abstraction when we pronounce or hear the word 'God"...The Lord, your God is a God with a name, a face, a personality." -Karl Barth

Because we the church believe the proper human response to God's gift of grace is our confession of sin and of faith, I choose to make my full confession.

Christian Believer: Week Fourteen {Atonement}

2012-01-27T20:29:00.000-06:00

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

["When I Survey the Wondrous Cross", Isaac Watts]

The last lesson we had before our break was "Atonement" (Restored to Union with God).

We watched the video first. It discussed how Jesus death relates to our human condition- our distorted relation to God and how Jesus's death overcame sin. It's so much easier to view his death as an example of a good person fighting evil or as an event that exposes human sin. These aren't wrong, but they don't fully describe atonement, an event by which our relationship to God is changed. Atonement is a difficult doctrine for several reasons. First, the word atone is not really commonly used in our vocabularies. Second, it is rooted in an ancient practice that we have never (and will never) see- ritual killing of an animal and the use of it's blood in the temple. Finally, some object to the idea that God would even be involved in Jesus's death, and see this as cruel. The video ended with these lines, which I thought were really good- "The atonement is not something Jesus did to change God from a God of wrath and vengeance to a God of love and reconciliation. God's reconciling love is not the result of atonement, rather atonement is the result of his reconciling love".

The workbook started out by saying that some concepts are just to large to grasp simply by looking at factual data; we need an image. "So it is with atonement. The concept is too big for words; but when we turn to images, we are also in uncertain territory. In careless hands, images may seem confusing, or even unpleasant. Also, we discover different people need different images, and what conveys the concept to one is only bewildering or distracting to another." It then stated that the word atonement, unlike many theological terms, actually appears in the Bible.

There is probably no human experience more universal than the sense of separation from God, it continues, and the longing that sense of separation creates. We need somehow a way to be "at one" with God; a way for our sin stained relationship to be reestablished. Notably, this sense of separation is seen in all cultures, modern and primitive, even though standards of morality vary so widely between cultures. Many modern thinkers discredit this thought process as "primitive". However, they might better say it is "unspoiled by rationalization". Our basic instinct tells us we ought to be in right relationship with God.

The book went on to discuss and differentiate theories of atonement. The first, taken from the letter to the Ephesians, was redemption, meaning the human race is "mortgaged" beyond it's own power to redeem; even to the point where we are sold into slavery to sin. But our closest kin, our "divine Elder Brother" comes to pay the price of our redemption, the price being his very own death. The second theory, based off of John the Baptist's hailing of Jesus as the "lamb of God", is the expiation theory. Expiation means appeasing or purifying through a sacred rite, in this case through the blood of Christ, the perfect lamb.

The next theory was the moral example or the moral influence. This theory states that because Christ's death was the perfect example of God's love, those who recognize this love will be moved to salvation and will be influenced to live lives of love. During the twentieth century, this theory gained promince an was sometimes presented with more emphasis on Christ's life than on his death. It reasoned that there was "transforming power in the moral grandeur of Christ, so when person see the beauty of his life, teachings, and death, they will be moved to live in accord with Jesus' ways". This approach appeals to the idealistic nature, but some say it minimizes the importance of Jesus's actual crucifixion. I kind of agree with this criticism. The most often referred to theory is probably substitution and is based on a very simple idea, one life for another. It shares some of the same insights as the redemption and expiation theories and Scriptures that apply to those could apply to the substitution theory as well. The next theory one that focuses on reconciliation; it suggests that sin has put a great barrier between God and humankind and Jesus reconciles us to God by his death.

Yet another theory is the theory of wrath. Many theologians, especially during Medieval times, reasoned that Christ's death appeased the wrath of God, a wrath that a sin infected humanity deserved. The final theory is the ransom theory. Some contemporary theologians think that this is the oldest theory of atonement and the "classic theory". It states that the Adversary, Satan, had a claim on the human raise because of our sin, even to the extent of us being in his possession. Christ's blood is seen as a ransom for this horrific bondage. It's a great answer to the wrath of God theory because it puts the emphasis back on the goodness of God.

The book again goes back to how hard it is to convey accurately this doctrine, even with the images above. It says at some point we may have to stop analyzing and speculating and realize that we really have no satisfactory language to successfully convey it.

Here are my favorite excerpts from the text and Scripture from that week:

"The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those whoa are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God." -Hebrews 9:13-14

"Yet everyone becomes more righteous- by which we mean a greater lover of the Lord- after the Passion of Christ than before, since a realized gift inspires greater love than one which is only hoped for." -Peter Abelard

"Finally, since as God only he could not suffer, and as man only could not overcome death, he united the human nature with the divine, that he might subject the weakness of the one to death as an expiation of sin, and by the power of the other, maintaining a struggle with death, might gain us the victory." -John Calvin

Every week at the end of the workbook reading, it ends with an affirmation. I think I will start ending each post in the same way.

Because we the church believe Christ has made us at one with God, I accept the divine love and will seek to extend it to others.

Weekly Smorgasbord

2012-01-24T23:03:00.002-06:00

Here are last week's posts:

one thing not on your to-do list (but should be) | chatting at the sky

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 06:07 PM PST

"We are tethered to our own usefulness, big-headed with our own accomplishments, crushed by our shortcomings. We miss the soul breath. We miss the smallness, the doorway through which we must walk to find freedom from the ever moving treadmill of time. Even if we steal time from our productivity to find the sitter, pack the bags, pay the money, sit through the layovers and fly to the shore to relax, sometimes once we get there we forget how. And I realized as I tapped my foot on sand that I have shed my truest identity. Instead of being the beloved, I feel more like the doloved."

I constantly feel "tethered to my usefulness". Can I just be?

No One Disciplines MY Kid! — The Spohrs Are Multiplying...

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 06:02 PM PST

This is one I'm linking to less for the actual content and more for the thoughts it provoked. Peyton and I talked about this awhile back and how we feel so BLESSED because we have a good many friends (mostly at church and a few couple friends) whom we would feel totally comfortable with them disciplining our children. I think it's neat to be able to have friends close enough you can feel confident putting that trust in their hands.

goodbye to the double stroller | Rage Against the Minivan

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 05:58 PM PST

"There is just no dignity when you are pushing a double stroller. The kind gestures and open doors you get when you are pregnant? Those completely disappear when you are trying to squeeze this monstrosity through a swinging door, with two other children in tow. I always felt as though I could exchange that thing for a shopping cart of my belongings in trashbags and the level of disdain from the general public would be about the same. The world is not kind to the double stroller dependent. Being untethered from this thing feels like a new level of freedom. I'm walking a little taller now. Literally."

I'm not sure I totally agree. There is the occasionally person that helps you out, but they always look at you like you're so pitiful. Again, less about the content, more about my feelings. This post is bigger than a double stroller because it had me thinking about a lot of things. We are packing up so many baby things with the knowledge that it's going to be awhile before they come out again. I've got our big travel system stroller ready to go to the attic and to be honest, there is a bit of pain and fear that comes with it because, although we want more children, we've decided (assuming it's God's will- we're always open to surprises, hehe) we want a bigger space between Graves and our third. It's been a complicated thing to process lately and clearly it deserves it's own post. Which I will probably write soon.

Audrey Assad - Sparrow (Official Lyric Video) - YouTube

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 05:55 PM PST

Found this via Ann Voskamp. Cannot get enough.

It's a Girl! Documentary Film - Official Trailer - YouTube

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 10:42 PM PST

This made me so angry. In fact, I had to retype this about five times to take out all the expletives. There is a part of me that really wants to put my hands around the last lady's neck and strangle her like she did her babies. But that's not Christ. The other part of me wants to find a woman like her and tell her not to kill her child- WE WILL TAKE HER. And love her. And tell her she's a little princess, just like we do Ann Peyton. Dammit, I want to so bad now.

The Invisible Woman - YouTube

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 10:32 PM PST

"...with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees"

"At times my invisibility has felt like an affliction to me. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of self centeredness; it is the antidote to my own pride."

your hard is hard — The EO

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 10:08 PM PST

"I hesitate in venting because when I'm doing that it so often seems that other mothers assume I'm saying I win the Hardest Award, or that I'm wishing away my life. But I'm not. I'm just talking. I'm seeking validation and there is nothing more refreshing than another mother who simply sees me and acknowledges The Hard and nods and says, Yes, it's so hard, isn't it? The End."

Yup.

thankful house: Strong Enough.

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 10:08 PM PST

Seeing a theme here? Also, love this:

"Strong enough to be left. That's what we're trying to become, ladies. In one very large sense, we are never left - our identities are in ourselves, not in our children. And many of us are blessed with spouse-best-friends who will, Lord-willing, grow old with us. But in a very real sense, they are all going to leave. They will fly the coop, just like I did, just like Paul did, just like any healthy person does. We leave. So will the children. We pray it every day."

I mean, I also hate it though.

Chapters: Cold Sweat...

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 10:06 PM PST

This post was so honest. I love it when I read a blog and someone lets me in and trusts me with their secret thoughts.

Earning her way…and her pointe shoes | Elizabeth Esther

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 10:01 PM PST

"'I know," I answered. "But none of the other girls have five children in their family. The fact that we get to work for your lessons is actually a generous opportunity from the studio owner. We should be thankful.'"

I want my children to experience this. Having to work for something that's important to them.

Enjoy!

Weekly Happenings Post #148 (January 16-22)-- What With the Tiny Babies I Keep Raising???

2012-01-24T18:43:00.000-06:00

This past week was nice. Not too busy, not too boring.

We did have Graves's nine month check up and he's slowed down on his weight gain a lot. It looks like we're back to doing weight checks and stressing over how often they eat. I really thought we were going to avoid all that with him and I swear if you look at him he looks like he has plenty of chub. And then there's the fact that he and AP are literally like one size apart in several sets of pajamas (12-18 mo., 18-24 mo., respectively). His height is in the fiftieth, so I guess that throws things off. UGH. Honestly, I really think it's just their metabolism. Y'all know I have had my own weight issues and- I do NOT say this to brag- the only times I've broken a hundred pounds in my life is when I was carrying them. Also, I've had to just stop carrying Graves in his carrier at all because it hurts my back so bad. I really feel like God knew what he was doing because if I had one of these twenty five pound kids that still has to be carried everywhere I'm not sure I could wake up in the morning. Peyton did also say he thinks it might be how I kind of stopped worrying about sticking to my diet plan as much when the kitchen was all torn up. I ate way too much junk and skipped eating as often as I should have. Anyway, this week I've tried to do better with that.

In other news, my pictures are either of terrible quality or they're non existent this week. I looked back to last Summer and I did SO much better taking pictures with the camera. I think it's partly because I have a decent phone now and then also when we got the floors redone it threw me off and I was just surviving each day. [I blame everything on that dumb project!] Anyway, this week, I'm trying to do better! Here's a few examples of some of the great photos from last week:

Peyton said I had to put this one up. Someone's dedicated to blogging, yes?

Kid looks ill, ya'll.

This is actually a fun one that I missed last week. Peyton has gotten so much closer to BG lately. I think he's incapable of truly bonding with his children until he can flip them upside down and induce hysteical laughter.

On Monday, we had Graves's nine month visit to the pediatrician. We got up and all got ready since Peyton was going with us this time. We were right on time and then on the way there, someone rear ended me. It was just a small bump, but it kinda shook me up a bit. We didn't even file a report and we made it just a few minutes late. Well, things continued to go downhill. Graves had a good check up, overall, but he's now in the third percentile. I swear he looks like a chunk to me, but Dr. Denney is so cautious (which I really do appreciate) and we're coming back in six weeks for a weight check. I left the appointment early to go have brunch with Carrie and Ashley. Ashley was leaving town right after, but we got a one last fun meal in. Peyton had our kiddos, but Aubrey and Jude were there. We had a nice visit and some yummy food. I got home and Peyton told me the rest of what Dr. Denney said and we cleaned up the kitchen and from where Peyton had cooked breakfast. AP was eating and I fed Graves and then Peyton left and I put the kids down for naps. Annie never slept and I had to keep helping her potty. I watched Lost and got some clothes folded and then the kids both got up. I straightened some, but Graves was SO fussy. Annie stuck her hand in the toilet and made a huge mess with the water and then as I was going to get towels to clean it up, she slipped and busted her lip really badly. It was awful and Graves was SCREAMING. I was so thankful when I heard someone unlocking my house and Minnie walked in! We visited with her and I fed the kids dinner (Graves ate a ton!) and then she left.

I cleaned up some more and straightened up the nursery. I got Annie's bed cleared off (she has SO many books in it!), vacuumed in the kitchen and the nursery, put up some of their clothes, and got Graves ready for bed. I nursed him and put him to sleep and then AP played in our room while I put up laundry in there. I put her to bed and she fell asleep quickly and I got on the computer for the first time all day! Peyton got home and we chatted and then went to sleep.

We had Mother's Day Out on Tuesday, so we got an early start on our day. It was a good, but uneventful day. Peyton came up to the church to make some copies and bring some tea for our Ultreya group that night, so it was fun seeing him. We got home and I made AP's lunch and fed Graves and then Peyton got home. He had to leave for work right after and I put the kiddos down for naps. They both fell asleep SUPER fast and I took a nice, long nap, too. I also talked to my friend Amy on the phone about Graves's weight issues and called the pediatrician's office. I got up and got ready and then woke the kids up to go to Ultreya. We had to get there early because I was one of the hostesses that night and needed to get everything set up. We had a nice meeting, but there was a small turnout. Maybe because of the weather? Anyway, we got home and I fed the children dinner and put them to bed. AP was up late, but she stayed in her bed (or on the potty) for the most part. I got on the computer and then Peyton got home. We talked and I finished a post and went to bed.

Peyton had the day off on Wednesday and we started it off with dentist appointments for the both of us. We decided to just take one car and alternate taking care of the kids. Peyton gave them both baths before we left and then we left. I went first and Peyton took the kids to Primos to pick up some breakfast. I got a good report! They got back and he had his teeth cleaned while I watched the kids in the waiting room. AP and I split a blueberry muffin and I fed Graves some applesauce. We had a small orange juice spill so I lugged them both back to the car to get some wipes to clean it up. When Peyton finished, Dr. Toler did a very quick first visit with Annie. I was still feeding Graves, but Peyton said she did GREAT. After we left the dentist, we went by Target for some storage bins and to look at a new shelving system for the laundry room. We also went by Hob Lob to get a stool for Annie's bathroom so she can wash her hands without help. I got one, but it was too short. We got home and all had lunch and then we put the kids down for naps. Peyton went for a run with his brother and I did some reading for Christian Believer. I also got some stuff together in a bag to take to Goodwill. He got home and we packed up the kids to go look at a couple of antique/consignment stores for stool.

close up of her busted lip from the bar fight, um, playing in the toilet, incident

We didn't find anything and it was getting close to time for church, so we got a snack at Krispie Kreme and I fed Graves and then we headed to church. We had a good meeting and it was fun to start back. We got home and I fed Graves and put him to bed and then we fixed AP supper and put her to bed, too. Peyton and I ate and I cleaned up the kitchen and picked up toys in the living room. I got on the computer for a few minutes and went to bed.

Peyton had the day off again on Thursday and so he kept AP at home for some Papa Daughter time and Graves and I went to MDO by ourselves. We didn't have to stay late and the day just flew by. Also, getting in and out is SO much easier with one kid. Like whoa. After we got home, I fed Graves lunch and then Peyton and Annie got home from the grocery store. I unloaded the groceries and AP ate lunch and then we put them down for naps. I played on the Internet and ate my lunch and then I Choloroxed some of Peyton's pharmacy coats and worked on a little painting project outside. I organized some around the house and started marinating a brisket and then the kids woke up. We played a little bit and then went to run some errands. I had to return the stool to Hobby Lobby and we had some child safety things we've been trying to return to Babies R Us for months (they wouldn't let me make the return because my license was expired...what??). We also went by Lowes to get a shelving system for the laundry room. We got it to the car and I really thought I was going to have to go home and get my 4Runner to pick it up. Peyton made it fit, though:

Once we got home, we fed the children dinner and put them to bed. I ran to Target to look for a new planner and some duct tape and to the grocery store for some corn for a casserole I was making. I got home and Annie was still up, so I rocked her and put her to bed. Peyton and I watched a CNN presidential debate and ate dinner and fell asleep on the couch in front of a fire. I woke up a little later and put the leftover food up and went to bed. Graves woke up once and then was up pretty early on Friday morning.

We all got up around sevenish on Friday and Peyton helped me give the kids baths. He got out the latex gloves he uses to paint because he didn't want to get the band aid he was wearing wet. He's so funny! I fed Graves some solids and then Peyton took the kids to the park for an hour and I took a bath and got ready. We were planning on meeting Carrie and her kids for lunch, but he didn't realize and got back later than I expected. It cut Graves's nap short and he had picked up donuts for himself and AP (and me). I figured Graves would be sleepy and fussy and Ann Peyton wouldn't eat (and not want to sit and be still) and lunch would be a bust. I tried not to be too upset, though, after all he was trying his best to help me every way he knew how. I woke Graves up after thirty minutes and we met the Howies at Broadstreet. Lunch actually was one of our best ones lately. We got to talk more than we usually do and everyone was really well behaved. And Annie decided that she liked holding hands with Aubrey this week, so that was fun! AP mostly recapped the lunch here, but it also included Carrie using the phrase "throw you under the theological bus"...it's quotes like that totally affirm our friendship. Anyway, we got home late and I hadn't fed Graves at the restaurant like I meant to and by the time I got the kids fed and diapers changed and Ann Peyton took a few trips to the potty and all that it was close to three. They both fell asleep and slept GREAT and I really let them nap too long. I was trying to put a couple of apps on my phone and they kept saying "waiting". I Googled the problem and tried everything everyone recommended short of deleting every app on my phone. I really wanted to figure it out myself, but I decided to just wait and ask Peyton after a couple of HOURS of trying. I kind of assumed it would take him awhile, too, and be a few days before he could get around to it. I did get out the double stroller and put the two canopy things on it and tried to attach the front tray like I've been meaning to do. I couldn't figure out the tray, but the other stuff was easy. Dumb they've been sitting in our living room for weeks. I finally woke the kids up and we got ready and headed to my parents' house for beans and rice. We had a nice visit with them and supper was great.

We got home kind of late (intentional since the kids slept so late) and I put them right to bed. Annie took awhile to go to sleep, but Graves went right down. I wrote a post and Peyton got home and I fell asleep on the couch. Graves was up a few times and I didn't sleep great the part of the night I spent on the couch.

Graves woke up pretty early, but I snuggled with him on the sofa and he went back to sleep. I transferred him to his crib and climbed in my bed for another thirty minutes. Peyton had to get ready for work and he was waking back up, so I went and got him. Annie woke up right as Peyton was leaving and we got our day started. I sorted a bunch of laundry and started a load and then started running my bath. I forgot to stop it up and the water got cold, though, so I had to wait awhile for it to heat back up. I fed Graves breakfast and straitened up our room some and then took my bath while AP watched Veggie Tales and Graves played. I got ready and then put him down for his morning nap. Annie and I cleaned up the kitchen and it took a good while because it was such a mess. I've really gotten lazy about just leaving dishes in the sink at night. Graves woke up and I straightened up some in the nursery and fed him and then we went over to my parents' house. Ann Peyton fell asleep on the way. We had a good time- we had lunch, colored and baked cookies and then my mom and dad took the kids on a short walk so I could just have some time to myself. We left and when we got home, I put Graves down for a late nap. Annie and I read books and hung out and then Graves woke up. Peyton got home and I vacuumed the bedrooms and straightened some and then it was Graves's bedtime. Peyton took AP to run some errands- to two Walgreens and to the Dollar Tree for some supplies since I was doing children's church the next day. They got home and AP was fast asleep. He told me that at the second Walgreens (their last stop) she was asleep and he carried her around the store for five minutes without her waking up. Poor thing! I did some stuff on the computer and when they got home and he dropped her in bed. We chatted and then heated up leftovers for supper. We watched the end of Love and Other Drugs (Peyton had seen the beginning earlier) and then an episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show off the DVR. I folded some laundry and then got on the computer again. I got my stuff ready for children's church and went to bed.

I woke up, got ready, got all our stuff together and then started feeling really sick on Sunday morning. I ended up throwing up a couple of times. I think it was just the vitamins I took on an empty stomach, but Peyton said not to risk it, so he ended up doing children's church for me and I stayed home with the kids. I had already woke AP up, so we got going. I fed Graves and started some laundry and the kids played. I fed Graves his solids and then put him down for a nap. I was pretty tired and still feeling kind of nauseous so I put Annie in our bed and we read stories and watched a couple of videos. Graves never did go to sleep and was fussing on and off, so finally I just went and got him up. I was feeling better and we got a lot done around the house. Graves played well independently and I straightened, stripped the beds, swept the hardwood floors, cooked some carrots, and did more laundry. I put the cover I had washed back on the high chair fixed the kids' lunch. I put a mattress pad and fitted sheet on AP's bed and then put them down for naps.

Graves only slept for forty five minutes but I did manage to clean up their lunches, eat my lunch, and read a chapter in Radical and a bit in my Christian Believer text. After he woke up, I folded a bunch of laundry and then I went and got Annie up. She never did take a nap, but she rested pretty good. We watched Galloway's service from that morning (I had DVR'd it) and I did more laundry. Annie was so cute; when they sang Come Thou Fount, I was singing it too and she was trying so hard to sing, but she didn't know the words. We started getting ready for our Radical study really early and actually left on time. Graves didn't fall asleep in the car (surprisingly), but Annie did. The study was good and Graves had fallen asleep when we picked the kids up. We got home and Peyton left to go run with his brother. I put the clean top sheet on on AP's bed (we only have one top sheet) and hung up some clothes in the nursery and then put Graves to bed. He had SUCH a hard time going to sleep and I felt terrible for him. There was just nothing I could do and my nerves were shot by the time he finally fell asleep. I let AP stay up for a bit so he could get into a good sleep. I read Pooh to her and we prayed and read her Bible story. It was about God making the world and I told her God made everything. I said "God made Annie. And God made Baby Graves." and then she said "And God made Momma. And God made Papa. And....God made AUBREY." I'm glad she loves her friends! I got her to bed and Peyton got home and we just chilled out and went to bed early.

This week I'm starting back my morning Bible study and Peyton is working every day. He has something on Saturday, too, and I've got a baby shower. I think it'll be a good amount of busy, again!

Annie's Lunch Recap: Children Not Run Around

2012-01-20T22:38:00.001-06:00

I am so terrible about taking videos of the kids these days. We have countless (okay, a couple of hundred) ones from Annie's first year of life, but lately I haven't made it a priority. Really, I am without excuse, though, because even though the video camera can be a pain, our DSLR camera has a video setting and of course, my phone has video capabilities. Anyway, today I took a couple of videos on my phone, just for fun.

Here is Ann Peyton discussing our lunch date we just arrived home from:

[Playlist is on the right.]

A few observations:
1. Thank goodness Ann Peyton has such a strong role model in her dear little friend, six months her elder. It's so nice for me and Carrie when Aubrey keeps tabs on things and makes sure the "children [herself and Ann Peyton] not run around".

2. Annie has clearly picked up my uh/um habit. She probably doesn't have much of a future in public speaking.

3. I'm pretty confident I didn't mention where we were eating at all today. However, it seems she can identify Broadstreet upon entering Banner Hall. Girlfriend knows her Jackson eateries.

4. In the second video, you can hear one of her new things. She will quote someone or imitate an animal noise and then say "like that". Sometimes, she even does it for non verbal things. For example, the other day Graves was playing on the floor and I was in the other room. He started screaming and was face down on the floor. I knew exactly what had happened; he had fallen over and face planted. I asked Ann Peyton, though, and her response? "He say" [imitates the forceful face plant] "like that." Well, then.

5. After these little interactions, she got out her play telephone and pretended to call Aubrey. Their "conversation": "I don't know where my toothbrush is. I don't know where my pink ring is. I don't know where my STUFF is." Welcome to life, Baby Bunny.

6. Re the second video: I've kind of been debating when is the appropriate age to stop sharing pictures of her in just a diaper. It's hard because, like her Papa, her skivies are her uniform when we're home for more than five minutes at a time. Y'all may have observed this is about 50% of my weekly family pictures. Peyton says he thinks four is the cut off. I'm unsure. Opinions?

That seems like the most awkward place to end this, but I have nothing else. So there's that.

Weekly Smorgasbord

2012-01-18T23:03:00.002-06:00

Well, this is WAY late and I don't even have many links this week. I guess I just didn't do as much blog reading last week.

A Harvest of What is Yet to Come

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 10:33 PM PST

"Could we rejoice in the season of waiting, believing that God who brought Jesus out of the black tomb and brings green shoots out of hard earth will bring new life out of all dark seasons too? Could we know that beauty is in this whole process, the waiting part too, not just the end result?"

I think Katie's story is SO neat and inspiring.

WFMW: Preschool Shoe Tip — We are THAT Family

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 10:32 PM PST

Smart idea!

The LDS Scriptures – and why I’m reading them. | The Outdoor Wife

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 10:32 PM PST

"We've lost a sense of discovery, hard work and independent thought when it comes to learning about other faiths. We take to our computers and scan Wikipedia for a few bullet points. We ask our friends. We maybe read a book or two, but even that is rare these days."

"Don't get me wrong, I think at some level, it's healthy to not engage emotionally and it's healthy to know where I am in the steadiness of my faith. I should always be evaluating that and making smart decisions."

"But, at what point will I decide to grow a pair & be intellectually honest? How can I engage a thoughtful, genuine conversation about the LDS faith WITH people OF that faith, without even knowing what their Scriptures say? Without ever touching the pages and reading the words for myself, how can I talk about it with any kind of integrity? It's too easy to slip into hearsay and assumptions. And frankly, I'm tired of assuming."

I think this is really fascinating. I do think you have to be pretty solid in your faith before you approach something like this, though.

green enough for me: bringing the war home...

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 10:30 PM PST

This was a really bold post. I so appreciate transparency in blogging.

9 Things to Tweet About — Momcomm

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 10:29 PM PST

Interesting and informative.

Hope you enjoyed the small selection!

Christian Believer: Week Thirteen {Savior}

2012-01-17T22:14:00.001-06:00

Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.

["Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners", J. Wilbur Chapman]

The topic of week thirteen was "Jesus Christ: Savior" (The One Who Came to Save). To be honest, I didn't have a lot of new notes from this lesson. I think partly it kind of restated some things we had already studied in a different way. It was a good lesson, but I definitely have less to share.

That particular week I got more than usual out of the video. First of all, it explained that before Jesus, in Jewish though, a savior was someone who delivered the people from oppression and conquered their enemies. Jesus not only conquered the worst of all evils, but he created a new community. Just as sin is not purely individual, salvation has a communal aspect. The video then discussed how for most Christians our behavior doesn't seem that different from the secular public and we rationalize the commandment to be perfect "as your Heavenly Father is perfect". It then stated how most the the influential intellectual movements of the past century (Marxism, Freudianism, Nietzscheism, ect.) are all radically atheistic and interpret absolute claims, truth, beauty and God as "smokescreens behind which privilege and power hide their greedy intent". The video stated that such criticisms have some truth and that's why we have a need for a Savior. [I'm not sure I agree there. More thinking required.] It did say that our sin only has the power God grants it and God's last word on sin is the Savior, Christ.

Finally, the video stated that we should have a "heightened sense of Earthly evils" if we are "truly ruled by the compassion of our crucified Savior". It went on "Does our confidence that God can redeem the tragedy of human existence lead us to self serving resignation (nothing of final significance can be accomplished, God must do it all) or does it lead to an intense passion for the triumph of God's kingdom, passion so focused on the resurrection that it sees the eternal significance of everything that takes place upon Earth. Does the salvation in Christ drive Christians to a ceaseless resolve by prayer and service and self sacrifice to manifest that salvation to the world?" I feel like I've been asking myself that type of question a lot lately.

The workbook talked about how the phrase "Jesus Saves" seems so simplistic for such a broad, important principle. However, "saving is the reason for his birth; the ultimate subject of his teaching, the cause of this death; and his resurrection, finally considered, is the purpose of authenticating his right to be the Savior. If 'Jesus Saves' seems so terse as to have no dignity, remember that when one needs to be saved, dignity is hardly the issue. Urgency may well be the primary issue". It then goes on to talk about Mathew 1:20-21, which is where an angel tells Joseph Jesus' name, which is given to him because he "will save his people from their sins". In Jewish culture, names were very significant and believed both the sound and meaning should reflect the child.

We then read about what seems to be a "disproportionate structure" of the Gospels. Nearly a third of their content focuses on the death of Christ. However, the gospel writers understood that Jesus came to die and told his story accordingly. The book stated that any reading of the Biblical record that ignores this focus is "intellectually irresponsible".

It goes further and says that a martyr's death is a powerful thing and may even bring new levels of commitment from others, but it cannot effect the balance of the spiritual world or the universe. However, if the one who died is "the firstborn of all creation" (Colosians 1:15) and the one in whom "all things hold together", then the death is cosmic and the "structures of the universe" are shaken. This is the "power inherent in naming him Savior".

The word "Savior" has no meaning unless we need to be saved and we don't really want to be saved until we come to understand our inability to save ourselves. So a savior is offensive to the "human sense of adequacy". The fact that he saves us by way of dying compounds the offensiveness of the story. If Jesus had saved by "writing exquisite literature, by mounting a political structure, or by the sheer nobility of his life" the saving would have been more palatable and attractive.

During our group, we mainly focused on discussing the Scripture and we also talked about why it was that the Jews didn't recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

Lastly, my favorite excerpts from Scripture and the text book readings:

"I know my Redeemer lives and that in the end he will stand upon the Earth." -Job 19:25

"...by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities." -Isaiah 53:11

"...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." -John 1:10

" I am the good shepherd, The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep." -John 1:11

"...that being reduced to the measure of our weakness, he might raise us to the measure of his power." -Clement of Alexandria

We have our next meeting tomorrow and I still have one more "catch up" post to do. I'm going to try to do both of those in the next week.

Weekly Happenings Post #147 (January 9-15)-- Finished Floors!!!

2012-01-16T23:00:00.000-06:00

Last week was great on so many levels. The biggest highlights were having the floors finally finished and seeing my good friend Ashley who was in town for the weekend.

Peyton worked a double on Monday, but it actually ended up being a good day. The kids woke up at the normal time, around eight. I got a bath and we had breakfast in our room and played while I got ready. I put Graves down for a nap and Annie and I played some more and finished getting ready. I started some laundry and then we woke Graves up and I nursed him and we headed out to meet the Howies at Newks. We had a good time, but it does seem like things have gotten more chaotic lately. I'm not sure what will happen once we add Alaina into the mix! I decided we needed to run by Target on the way home for several things (tights, bedroom slippers, sippy cups and pacis, dishwasher detergent, and more panties for AP). I ended up splurging on some cute mugs and a dish towel, as well! We got home and I put the children right to bed and they fell asleep easily. I unpacked all our Target stuff, straightened around the house, started laundry and dishes, and moved a bunch of stuff back into the laundry room from when we had the floors in there finished. They both took long naps so I got on the computer and read some blogs.

When they woke up, I folded some laundry and put it up in the nursery while they played and then fed them dinner. I had a snack and unloaded the dishwasher and then we cleaned up the nursery and I finished folding more laundry.

[AP's closet. She had a few things in the wash and has a few dresses on the other side of the armoire, but y'all this is a new thing. She outgrew her clothes and I didn't buy an insane quantity of new ones!]

I put them to bed and got back on the computer. I worked on a post and uploaded a bunch of pictures and also some videos from our video camera and then I put pictures on Flikr. Peyton and I read Radical and went to bed.

Tuesday we had Mother's Day Out. I had gotten up to pump super early and then went back to sleep for a bit. We got ready and headed to school. It was a good day, but I was so tired when we got home and the rain was making me lazy. Peyton had the day off and we talked and ate lunch. We fed lunch and got her and Graves down for naps. I goofed off and then laid down myself. Graves woke up and Peyton played with him

They woke up Annie and they all went to the Science Museum. I stayed in my warm bed and just enjoyed the break. It's SO hard for me to let them do fun things like that without me, but it really was nice to just relax. After they got back, I got up and we got some things together because we were meeting our friend, William, for dinner. We used to work with William at the pool and it was so fun to catch up! We went to Schlotzsky's and it was really good. When we got home, we put the kids to bed and just chilled out. We watched TV and I did a few things on the computer and went to bed early!

Peyton was off again on Wednesday, but he had meetings that morning. The kids got up around the time he was leaving and he put AP in the shower because she really wanted to play in there with her new fish spout thing. I let her play a few minutes and then toweled her off and took my own bath while she watched cartoons and Graves played on the floor. I got ready and then put Graves down for his nap and AP and I had breakfast.

Elliot came over to work on the floor and I straightened up a bit. Annie played and I did some of those things that take ten minutes, but I've been putting them on list after list for weeks. I cleaned the guest bathroom and dusted in our bedroom and worked on some laundry. Peyton got home and helped Elliot move a table and then left again to have lunch with his co-workers. Graves woke up and Peyton got back and he dropped the crib. I started trying to pin the bedskirt to make it work, but it was taking awhile and the kids were exhausted. I gave up and we put them to bed and I made a dessert for the Chili Cook Off that night. Graves slept for about twenty minutes and woke up MAD. I straightened up some around the house and got some Christmas stuff packed in boxes to go to the attic. We got Annie up and got ready to leave for church. We had so much fun at the Chili Cook Off and when we got home we fed AP some supper and I finally got the bedskirt ironed and pinned and looking decent and then we got the children to bed. I talked to Peyton some and cleaned up our room. I hung up a bunch of clothes and unpacked some of my Christmas presents from my parents (yes, I'm terrible!) and then got on the computer. I finished a post and caught up on a few blogs and then Peyton and I read an article together and went to bed.

Thursday was LONG, to be honest. We had one of the teachers from MDO leave after Christmas and it hasn't really caused too much of an issue since Darlene keeps the thing REALLY well staffed, but it did mean we all needed to step up and stay late (until 2:00) a couple of days a month. Anyway, Thursday was my day. I got up and got us ready and packed some lunch for me and Graves (AP was having pizza) and we were on our way. I was so tired because Annie had been up at 4:00 again for the second night in a row. This time I had a little more self control and we didn't just throw her in our bed, but it took me about thirty minutes (and some time outs) to get her to get in her bed and stay in it.

We had a good day at MDO and the kids did great staying late. Graves took his morning nap, but neither of them would nap in the afternoon. Of course, though, they fell asleep in the car on the way home. I treated myself to a cherry limeade from Sonic and was planning on just playing on my phone in the driveway so they could nap more once we got home. Well, Graves woke up the second we pulled in. I took him inside and put a little crib mattress cover on AP's bed since she was still in panties and I don't trust her to sleep in them. I tried to transfer her, but she woke up. She was still happy to relax in bed a bit, though. I nursed Graves and about that time Ellis and Minda dropped by. I was still nursing Graves and it was the first time I've done that in front of a guy other than Peyton or my dad. I felt really proud of myself and it wasn't a big deal at all! We had a great visit and Annie got up and showed them a bunch of her books and played dress up a little bit.

After they left, I took Graves's monthly picture and the kids played in the nursery.

Love this face!

We got things cleaned up and then headed over to my parents' house. I wanted to pick up some cold slaw at a place by their house for the dinner I was planning to fix and since I was going over anyway, I decided we'd visit. I dropped AP off with my mom and Graves and my dad I drove to Cock of the Walk to get the slaw. There was a guy there saying "Fourteen dollars ain't too bad. My pregnant wife just HAD to have some cornbread". For some reason, I thought this was hysterical. Maybe because it was forty five degrees and he's standing there is sweats picking up a HUGE bag of cornbread from a fish house? I was thinking "What a winner." We got home and I ate the BBQ sandwich my parents had picked up for me with their dinner and then got the kids into pjs and we headed home. They both fell asleep in the car and I transferred them and then started working on Graves's letter. He woke up and I just got him and snuggled on the couch. We both ended up falling asleep before Peyton got home. At some point, I obviously moved to the bed, but I didn't even attempt to put him in his crib. I was so tired.

We had a SUPER lazy day on Friday. I woke up around the time Peyton did to go to work and I nursed him and then started some laundry and took out the trash. I took a bath while he played and then got him changed and fed him solids. He played a little more and then I put him down for his morning nap. Annie woke up and I put her in my bed and we just watched Veggie Tales and I dozed. It was nice and I didn't even feel guilty for being so lazy! Elliot got here to finish the floors and Graves woke up and we played in the nursery again. I got on the Internet on my phone and put up a little bit of laundry and then we got ready and drove through Chik Fil A for lunch. We all ate in the nursery and then I put them down for naps. Graves took a good one and AP had some nice quiet time in her room. I got on the computer and answered a couple of emails and worked on Graves's letter. The kids got up and I started getting ready for my big night. Ashley was in town and Carrie and I were going to have dinner with her. I got dressed and Peyton got home and I left (after saying my final goodbyes to Elliot, ha!).

Carrie picked me up and we met Ashley at her hotel, which was like literally two minutes from my house.

We had THE best time catching up and Ashley even had a legit notebook of topics for us to discuss and dissect (per my encouragement for her to get in listmaking mode before her arrival). We went to Bon Ami (a personal fave) and then drove through Sonic for some late night limeades. Peyton had taken the kids to his parents' and then to mine for red beans and rice and so he met us back at the hotel with my car. We went home so I could feed Graves and I changed into my comfy clothes and went back to the hotel for our slumber party. We stayed up until 3:30 trying to make sure to hit every topic.

Peyton was going to a leadership retreat for Ultreya so I had to be back home before eight on Saturday. It worked out good because I decided to go to Moms Pointe, a thing that Morgan's church (our church's church plant) does like once a month. Anyway, Graves hadn't even needed the bottle I pumped. He was in bed with Peyton, but he said he'd only been there an hour or so. I fed him and got a bath and got ready and then got the kids ready. I dropped them off with the babysitter that was keeping everyone's kids that morning (mine ending up being the only ones there) and then headed to the group. It was so good and SO encouraging. I really had a wonderful time.

I picked up the kids and since they had had breakfast late while I was at the group, I just dropped them in bed. No one napped, but they did stay in there awhile. Graves fussed and got pretty cranky and it was kind of frustrating. I laid down but I couldn't really rest. Peyton got home and we decided to just go for a drive. We picked up a Sonic snack and of course, the kids fell asleep. We drove around some and I thought we might could just transfer them. It was still too early, though. We kept Graves up a bit and then put him down but Annie stayed up pretty late.

I got on the computer and finally finished Graves's letter and did a few other things and then Peyton and I chatted and went to bed.

We went to early church on Sunday because Peyton was teaching Children's Church. We gave the kids baths and got ready and headed out the door a little late.

We made it, though and church was great. It was all about Samuel hearing God and how we should be open to hearing Him speak to us. We started a new study on Collosians in Sunday school and that was interesting, too. We got home and changed clothes and all hung out in the back yard some.

We had lunch and put the kids down for naps. They both took good naps and I worked really hard on straightening/cleaning. I sorted and started laundry, straightened the laundry room, cleaned the microwave and high chair, did dishes, and straightened up the living room. Graves woke up and we got ready to head back to church for our Radical study. It was good, too, and after that we came home and started getting the kids ready for bed. Ashley stopped by to pick up some magazines I had for her and she visited a bit and then I straightened up the nursery and we got the kids ready for bed. I made these black-eyed pea cakes for myself and Peyton and then we snuggled on the couch in front of the fire. I put up the leftovers and threw the dishes in the sink and got on the computer for a few minutes and then went to bed.

We don't have too much exciting stuff going on this week, but Peyton and I are planning to try to tackle some projects one the days he's off.

Letter to (Nine Month Old) Graves

2012-01-14T21:22:00.000-06:00

Dear Graves,

You are nine months old and so, so adorable. You really are at a great stage- one with all the benefits of you being really expressive and truly starting to communicate in your own little way and without the constant vigilance that is required during the age of mobility. Especially on your really good days, I kind of wish I could freeze you for a bit, but then I think about your sister and all the fun that lies ahead for us.

You'll be going for your nine month check up next week, but last time we were in you weighed a bit over sixteen pounds. You're starting to feel like a bowling ball, though, and my arm falls asleep when I carry you for very long. I've packed up everything six mo. and under and you're getting close to outgrowing many of your nine mo. things. It blows my brain and rocks my world to put you in twelve month things. My little newborn is getting ever closer to a year as the calendar pages flip and the clock ticks.

You roll all around to get to where you want to go and you've learned to sit yourself up unassisted. You're also doing a backwards crawl thing and I thing the real deal is not far off. Ann Peyton crawled at ten months and I can't imagine you'll be much different from the looks of things. She got her first tooth at eleven months, and again, you seem to be following in her footsteps. I adore your toothless grin, so teeth can wait!

You went from not really being interested in baby food to LOVING it and also being super interested in feeding yourself. Having no teeth makes this a little hard, though. You've had success with bananas and avocados and very, very soft cooked carrots. And you still love you some Baby MumMums.

Your personality is growing increasingly adorable. We had a first last week- you and your sister kept each other up at nap time not by wailing and fussing, but by giggling and "talking". Y'all were cracking each other up and it was too precious for words. You make a lot more noise these days and I love the little happy sounds you've started making. I can't wait to hear what your little voice actually sounds like one day (I'm sure it will sound like an itty bitty Southern gentleman for sure!).

Graves, we love you so much and are so thankful for you. You melt my heart and I fall more in love with you every day. I can't wait to see what the next ones hold!

Love,
Momma (and Papa)

P.S. Your penguin stretchie is a 12 mo.

Christian Believer: Week Twelve {Jesus Christ}

2012-01-12T17:05:00.001-06:00

Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature,

O thou of God and man the Son,
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
thou, my soul's glory, joy, and crown.

["Fairest Lord Jesus", Muster Gesangbuch]

I took a big long break from these, but I have a few to catch up on before we start back meeting on Wednesday nights. The topic of lesson twelve was "Jesus Christ: Human/Divine" (Fully Human Fully Divine). It was an interesting, though complex, topic.

We started out with the video. It started out by stating the Doctrine of Incarnation- "God became embodied in a human being (incarnated)" and went on to say that Jesus was human in all ways except that he was without sin. It then talked about Docetists, who were people who said that Christ only seemed human. They said that he appeared out of nowhere and that either the divine spirit escaped before he was crucified or there was some mix up and someone else died in place of him. Then it discussed how many early Christians thought that Christ was divine, but not fully God. This was probably due largely to the Greek culture with its many divine and semi divine beings. One of these people was a man named Arius, who lived around the year 300, and said that Christ was a lesser divine being who was sent to do God's work. Another teacher, Athanasius insisted that this was a fallacy, as this would mean we weren't actually saved by God and that when we encountered Christ we were only encountering a lesser being and God was remaining hidden. Anthanasius (and the church) maintained that Christ was really God and used two terms for Christ: the Son and the Word. Both terms emphasized the closeness of the relationship with God- both children and words come from us, just as Christ came from God.

The video continued to articulate some important doctrine. While Jesus is distinct from the Father (for example, he prays to the Father), he is much more than a mere emissary. He is of the same substance (or "Godness") as the Father and he didn't become God's son at Jesus' birth. He has always been in relationship with the Father. Finally, it is amazing that we all share in the human nature that was brought together with divinity in Christ. "Know your worth, oh Christian," said Augustine, "you were made a partner in the divine nature." Compared with that all our human distinctions seem much less significant.

The reading in the workbook was interesting. The first thing I thought was really fascinating was that there are four new books published about Jesus every DAY. Wow. It then talked about Jesus' life- when he died there were about one hundred and twenty persons loyal to him. Secular history doesn't say much, which probably reflects how little attention he was paid at the time. It focused on how the most oft used title of Jesus for himself was Son of Man and how that he probably used it because it described the sense of unity he had with the human race. It went on to note that when unclean spirits shouted he was the Son of God, he quieted them and also told his disciples not to share with others that he was the Messiah. Until the last days of his life he seemed content to let people think what they would about him.

It then discussed the doctrine of "the preexistance of Christ" which states that Christ existed eternally and that he was god incarnate when he came as Jesus of Nazareth. The early believers took very seriously his "equality with God", so much so that sometimes they began to see him as exclusively divine, which was the first real heresy. ["Heresy is denying as doctrine of the church or holding any belief that does not agree with the official teaching of the church. Medieval cannon law defined different levels of heresy as marital heresy (wrong belief without blame, as when one has not been taught right belief) and formal heresy (persisting in wrong belief after having been taught correctly."] It went on to further discuss heresies, councils and creeds. The first creed was a simple statement "Jesus is Lord". After that came the symbol of the fish, icthus- an acrostic in which the Greek letters stood for "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior". Later came the Roman Creed, the Apostles' Creed, and the Nicene Creed.

One thing the book said that I thought was interesting was that conflict in the early church often arose "more in matters of emphasis than in points of contradiction, but of course what begins as a difference in emphasis easily becomes an issue of truth." How true is that even today? Another factor in these conflicts was that communication took so long and churches became isolated from the "larger body of Christendom and its unifying influence on beliefs".

The first Christological issue faced was denying the humanity of Jesus, which lead to gnoticism. This philosophy focused on trying to gain secret knowledge, declaring all matter evil, and thus stating that Jesus wasn't really human, because being matter, human bodies are evil. More sophisticated issues arose after that. Modalism, Sabellianism, or Patripassianism centered on the nature of Christ. Sabellius taught that God is "one nature and one person" with three names. Modalism is the belief that God was revealed in different ways at different times, in three unique "modes" of appearance. Arianism, named for the theologian Arius, held that Jesus was the greatest created being, but was not of the same substance as the Father. However, the church concluded that if he were something that was created, it would be wrong to worship him, as he would be a creature rather than the Creator. Where Modalism had stated that Jesus and the Father were one, Arianism taught that the Son is of "different substance" than the Father. The Council of Nicaea confirmed that God the Father and Jesus were, in fact, of the same substance.

Later, Apollinarius raised another issue by trying to say Jesus didn't really have a human soul. Then the Nestorians declared that Jesus had tow natures and two persons. Finally, the Monophysites explained that Jesus had two natures and two persons. All of these views were condemned as heretical and the Council oat Chalcedon agreed that Jesus Christ is one person in two natures.

The book then stated how Jesus says he is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6)- "We seek for the turth because the truth invested in us at our creation is passionate to find itself. We seek the way because we know we are not meaningless vagabonds, we are made to reach a destination. We seek for life because we were made for eternal life."

There was one more exert I really liked toward the end of the reading- "He doesn't allow us the privilege of trivializing him. We can accept him at his own recognizance, which is a grand step of faith; or we can reject his own self-description. But we really can't say his the greatest teacher who ever lived (a quite unsupportable opinion) or that he is an utterly fine human being, perhaps the best the world has ever known. because, of course, if he is not what he said he is, he is a quite irresponsible teacher and an unscrupulous human being."

Here are some passages from Scripture and the text readings that I really liked:

" The people walking in darkness have seen a great light." -Isaiah 9:2

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given. And the government will be on his shoulders.And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." -Isaiah 9:6

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him and by his wounds we are healed." -Isaiah 53:5

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." -John 1:14

"...the property of each nature is so wholly preserved, that the Spirit on the one hand did all things in Jesus suitable to Itself, such as miracles, and mighty deeds an wonders; and the Flesh, on the other hand, exhibited the affections which belong to it. It was hungry under the devil's temptation, thirsty with the Samaritan woman, wept over Lazarus, and was troubled even unto death, and at last actually died." -Tertullian

"...he raised the dead, healed all by the word, and also changed water into wine. These were not the acts of a human being. But as a human being, he felt thirst and tiredness, and he suffered pain. These experiences are not appropriate to a deity...And yet these are not events occurring without any connection, distinguished according to their quality, so that one class may be ascribed to the body, apart from the divinity, and the other to the divinity, apart from the body...He spat in human fashion, but his spittle had divine power, for by it he restored sight to the eyes of the man blind from birth. -Anthanasius

"For he was not first born an ordinary man of the holy Virgin, and then the Word descended upon Him, but having been made one with the flesh from the very womb itself, He is said to have submitted to a birth according to the flesh, as appropriating and making his own the birth of his own flesh." -Cyril of Alexandria

"The central dogma of the Incarnation is that by which relevance stands or falls. If Christ was only man, then He is entirely irrelevant to any thought about God; if He is only God, the He is entirely irrelevant to any experience of human life. It is, in the strictest sense, necessary to the salvation of relevance that man should believe rightly the Incarnation of Our Lord Jesus Christ." -Dorothy L. Sayers

It was a great lesson and the two that followed were also really good. Be looking for those posts in the next week or so!

Weekly Smorgasbord

2012-01-10T21:46:00.001-06:00

This week has several links from one blog. I feel like sometimes I find a blog I love and I get hooked. It takes a lot of self control not to link EVERY post. I've been going back on this particular blog and reading some and I just loved so much of it.

transracial adoption | motherhood| rage against the minivan

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 09:36 PM PST

This really opened my eyes. Mainly because, with my anxiety, finding out this much detail about human atrocities in the FIRST grade would have SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF ME. Peyton and I were in bed talking about this the other night and it really further cemented our decision to homeschool our kids at least in the early years. I just don't want someone else filling my kids' heads with ideas that they are so not equipped to handle.

The Glamorous Life of a Housewife: The Balance Of The Home.

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 09:33 PM PST

This was a neat post about how one parent is often the Disciplinarian and the other is the Softie and what a good balance that makes. I'm sure some people would be surprised, but I think Peyton is more strict than me most of the time. I probably have more rules (because he doesn't care about AP wearing a tacky outfit to Target or something), but the rules he has he enforces really well. I will say (as I've said before) that I feel like discipline isn't just punishment; it encompasses the teaching/correcting part of the process, too.

Our Happily Ever Afters: Old Fashioned Childhood

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 09:28 PM PST

This. I want this for my kids. A nice LONG childhood.

Jen Hatmaker - An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 09:27 PM PST

"Enough with the obscene excess while the rest of the world is burning down outside our windows. Enough with the waste as 25,000 people die today of hunger, while I throw away another pound of food we didn't get around to eating. Enough with the debt, the spending, the amassing, the irresponsibility, the indulgence, the fake discipleship, the rat race, the hamster wheel, the power and positioning and posturing with a hunger still for more, more, more, all the while pretending to follow a Jesus who didn't even have a place to lay his head." Now I want to read this. Gotta read Radical first, though.

green enough for me: two seas

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 09:20 PM PST

Such a beautiful post on the return of a soldier.

fat mum slim: Photo a day challenge: January 2012

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 09:19 PM PST

I'm doing this!

Love Well: Dear January

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 09:19 PM PST

"The best part, January, is that it's all somehow unexpected, like no one believes you can compete with the drama of December. Thing is, you don't even try. Your gift is more substance, less show. You are reality. Like the gift of a good chef's knife, you are both prized and practical. You make even the routine of everyday a little radical."

I'm so glad it's here.

Emerging Mummy: In which [love looks like] a mess

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 09:18 PM PST

"Darling, it's all a mess. We don't know what we're doing half the time and later tonight we're going to hang out in the front street, watching Anne ride her bike and Joe launch rockets and Evelynn resting in your strong arms. I'll think to myself, tonight, like I do every night, I love you more. Grow old with me, my love, these are the days we'll remember someday."

So incredibly beautiful.

Clover Lane: New Years Resolutions

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 09:17 PM PST

"I know some people think New Year's Resolutions are dumb, and self-improvement is some sort of silly psychological stuff, but I feel it's my duty to God-to this gift of life I have been given-to work hard on shedding the weakness of our humanness and strive to become the person He intended me to be every day. And the awesome twist in achieving strides toward being the best person-a virtuous person-is that the rewards are all mine. He takes none for His self-this is not me sacrificing and working FOR someone else-I am the one that reaps the direct benefit every single day. What would be stopping me? Weakness. Laziness. It was a challenge to myself. I don't want to be either of those-weak or lazy-when it comes to any part of my life. And I know have the God-given strength to be neither."

One Word for 2012: OPEN - SortaCrunchy

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 09:15 PM PST

"Since 2009, I've chosen a word to guide each year. Or, more accurately I suppose (though I know it sounds quite mystical), a word chooses me. It's never an easy word and every year without fail, I groan a little bit as soon as the word lands in my thoughts."

I love this idea.

Emerging Mummy: In which I assign positive intent [My Practices of Mothering]

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 09:14 PM PST

"I try to operate from the standpoint that they want to be good and my job is to help them navigate, with grace, the mistakes and missteps that naturally come with the enormous job of growing up to love God and love people well."

This was a really profound thing to think about.

Emerging Mummy: In which I have worth [My Practices of Mothering]

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 09:13 PM PST

"In Christ, I am loved. I have value beyond my productivity or accomplishments or choices as a person and as a mother." "And it helps me to look first to God instead of my tinies to define me. Because that's a terrible burden to place on our children, isn't it? Make me feel valuable! Make me feel worthy! Make me feel loved! It's too much to expect anyone to give you that sense of belonging and worth, let alone your tinies."

PREACH.

2011 Lesson #2 : Don’t Carpe Diem » Momastery

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 09:11 PM PST

I think parenting young children (and old ones, I've heard) is a little like climbing Mount Everest...They try because during the climb, if they allow themselves to pause and lift their eyes and minds from the pain and drudgery, the views are breathtaking. They try because even though it hurts and it's hard, there are moments that make it worth the hard. Even though any climber will tell you that most of the climb is treacherous, exhausting, killer. That they literally cried most of the way up." "Anyway. Clearly, Carpe Diem doesn't work for me. I can't even carpe fifteen minutes in a row, so a whole diem is out of the question."

I *loved* this post (as did at least 1300 other people who commented). So true. And I've struggled so often with those feelings of not only "Why am I doing this all wrong?" but also "Why isn't every blessed moment pure joy?" Since this is the only thing I've wanted to do my whole freaking life. Such perfect words.

Baby Mamas (Put a Sling On 'Em) - YouTube

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 08:48 PM PST

Oh my word, so hilarious!

Stand to Reason Blog: How Do You Know when Your Child Has Genuine Belief? (Video)

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 12:58 PM PST

Peyton shared this with me. Obviously, we baptize infants at our church, but I still think there is a lot to be gained from this video. Specifically the idea that it's better to engage children in an ongoing dialogue about faith and let them determine when they accept Christ rather than asking them point blank if they're ready to.

Chapel's Adoption Story | the feature on Vimeo

Posted: 06 Jan 2012 01:28 PM PST

WHOA. What a powerful story- it's long, but so worth it!

Enjoy!

Weekly Happenings Post #146 (January 2-8)-- Welcome Back, Predictable Routine!

2012-01-09T23:25:00.001-06:00

We had a nice week last week and it was so good to be back in our routine. I've always known that I crave routine and predictability, but this December made it abundantly clear. I really felt like I was about to jump out of my skin a lot of moments, but last week was SO much better!

Graves slept TWELVE hours on Sunday night. He woke up and ate around 7:30 on Monday and then Peyton played with him a little. Annie woke up and I got up around 8:30. I took a bath and Peyton fixed breakfast and we had a pretty slow, easy morning.

I got the kids ready and we took AP's monthly picture and our (late) weekly family picture and then we headed out to do errands.

We went to Kroger for groceries and then to the Mediterranean Cafe for some hummus.

Wish I could relax that much at the grocery!

I was so excited when I tried these. I felt like I could nurse him until he was eight! Obviously, there are a million other reasons I wouldn't do that.

We stopped at Wendy's to let AP use the potty and then Peyton got pulled over because his tag was expired. We got a ticket :( We headed home and I fixed Ann Peyton's lunch and nursed Graves. Peyton left for work and I put the kids down for naps. I put up groceries and cleaned out the whole fridge. I even scooted it out a bit myself so I could take out some of the drawers to scrub them out. I also moved Annie's play kitchen back into the kitchen. I had to use one of Peyton's furniture hauling tricks- I put it on a blanket and scooted it. Funny because he does that for armoires and stuff! I got some laundry going and then had a snack and got on the Internet on my phone. Graves woke up and then Ann Peyton did. We got ready and went over to my parents' house. My mom made tuna croquettes for dinner and we took some food to their neighbor whose husband just passed away. I also helped my mom clean out some the stuff that's still in my old closet over there. We got home and I put the kids right to bed. I got on the computer and sent a few Facebook messages and worked on a couple of posts and then I started cooking some soup (from a mix) for supper. Peyton got home and we talked and I finished up Annie's letter.

Peyton worked Tuesday morning and the Graves woke up around the time he left. AP had had a bad dream and was still asleep in our bed. I nursed Graves and changed his pajamas because his diaper had leaked (it was a disposable!). I changed his bedding, feed him solids, and then decided to go ahead and bath him. I tried to put him back down for a nap, but it was still too early, so he played while I straightened up. I put him down for a nap and since Annie was still sleeping, I was going to crawl back in bed, too for a few minutes. She started to wake up, though, so I decided not to. I cleaned the tub and toilet in our bathroom and then took a bath. Annie woke up and I got ready and made the bed. Graves woke up from his nap and we all finished getting ready and I nursed him and we left to meet the Howies for lunch.

We went to Beagle Bagel and lunch was interesting. Actually, lunch was fine...but afterward we all went to the bathroom and it was kind of a circus. Ann Peyton kept going to the potty like several times. Carrie and I were still talking, so I let her. Then Aubrey started trying to hold her hand and she didn't want to hold hands so she gave Aubrey a "mean look". That really didn't sit well with Aubrey. Ha! Anyway, Annie pulled off her shoes and tights and started to put her head in the toilet! At that point, we knew it was time to leave. Carrie and I were both sweating; it was so hot in there. I feel so weird typing all this...how did all this happen in the bathroom? The Howies left and I tried to get AP to come on. She kept saying she had to potty, but then nothing happened. Finally, I told her we HAD to go. She threw herself (literally) on the floor and sobbed. I had to put Graves down on the nasty floor just to get her to put her panties and shoes on (I didn't even worry about the tights). It's times like that that I think I should still be hauling him in in that heavy carrier! We finally got to the car and she bucked and fought me getting into her car seat.

Graves fell asleep on the way home, but I tried to put them both down for naps. She fell asleep pretty fast, but Graves wasn't ready since he got that car cat nap. I kept him up and just played on Twitter and had a snack. I got him down finally and Peyton got home about twenty minutes later. We chatted and then had to wake up Annie. Graves woke up a bit later and Peyton read to them while I did stuff around the house and worked on a post. I fed Graves solids and AP ate dinner and we put them to bed and Peyton ran to the grocery store for something. I finished up my blog post and then cooked some Tilapia and asparagus for supper. While it was cooking, I unloaded/reloaded dishes and pureed Graves some carrots I had cooked earlier in the week. Peyton and I started watching a documentary on FDR and I fell asleep on the couch.

I moved to the bed at some point and Graves woke up once at some point. I think he was just cold, but I couldn't get him back to sleep easily and I'm a sucker so I just fed him.

The kids both woke up around 7:45 after Peyton left on Wednesday. I nursed Graves and then we all played and snuggled in the bed for a bit and then I changed everyone and fed Graves solids. I organized some stuff in their room while they played and started laundry. I put a fresh sheet on Graves's bed and it was tighter than our other ones. I noticed that there was a pretty significant space between the end of the mattress at the bottom and the crib (I could fit my hand in it and turn it around...not like slide my hand down between it, but like slide it and turn it all around). That made me nervous, so I turned on the old AngelCare monitor and called Peyton and he said we'd figure out something when he got home. I put Graves down for his morning nap late and he slept a really long time. I took a bath while AP watched Elmo and wasted some time on Twitter and Facebook. She and I ate lunch (grilled bologna for me...yay!) and I cleaned up the kitchen a bit and started working on our finances. Graves woke up and I put AP down. Not the most desirable...but whatever. I worked on our finances some more and tried to feed Graves the carrots. They weren't pureed enough, so I ended up having to redo that bowl and then he wasn't even really interested. I finished working on finances and folded some laundry and then woke AP up and we headed to my parents' house by way of Sonic. I tried a strawberry limeade per Cookie's suggestion and it wasn't as good as the cherry. We picked up my mom and went to Leap Frog (my favorite consignment store) to find a few things for the kids because they are both outgrowing their Winter stuff. I found several things and then we went back to my parents' house.

My baby in 12-18 mo. overalls and an 18 mo. shirt. I tweeted the picture with a similar caption and SEVERAL people commented they thought it was going to be AP. Ha!

We didn't stay long and when we got home, Peyton played with the kids and we talked and then I got on the computer for a while. We had leftovers after the kids went to bed and stayed up too late.

Thursday was our first day back at Mother's Day Out and I woke up with a terrible headache. That made for a long day. We ended up staying for lunch and by the time we left I was just done. We got home and I had managed to keep both kids awake in the car. I assumed they'd both fall asleep easily. Um, no. Neither did. They did play happily for about an hour in their beds, though, and we had a first- they kept each other up not with crying and screaming, but with laughing and "talking". If I hadn't been so darn tired and felt so bad, it would have been really cute. I mean it was really cute, but ugh. I laid down in bed but they kept needing things (books!potty!paci!) and then Graves got fussy. I tried to nurse him again, but it didn't help, so I just got him up and played with him and then fed him solids. Annie never fell asleep either and I ended p putting them both in bed with me and we all just watched Elmo. Elliot came over to work on the laundry room floor and Peyton called to say he was going to be late. UGH, I had really hoped for a few minutes before we had to be back at the church. I got us all ready and Peyton met us in the driveway. I had a UMW circle meeting and he was going to watch the kids in the nursery. The meeting went well (one of the ladies from the "older generation" circles talked and it was all about making sure we took care of ourselves and took personal time out of each day). I felt better after the meeting. We put the kids right to bed and I finished a blog post and read blogs. I read my Bible and went to bed.

Graves woke up around 7:45 and talked to himself until about eight on Friday. Annie had woke up screaming in the early morning and she was still snoozing in our bed. I nursed Graves, got him dressed, fed him solids and then started cooking some vegetables. I cooked black eyed peas for a recipe I was going to try later in the week, green beans to puree for Graves, and some edamame because Annie loves it. AP woke up screaming (for a cupcake that had fallen on the ground on the way home from church the night before, ha!) and I asked her if she wanted to get up or if she was still tired. She said she was still tired and fell back asleep until around nine. I finished up with the vegetables and unloaded and loaded the dishwasher. Ann Peyton got up and I started laundry and took out the trash and then put Graves down for his nap. I took a bath and got ready and played on the Internet on my phone a bit. Graves woke up and I straightened the house some and then took the kids outside. We stayed our for close to an hour and then came in for lunch. While they were eating, I pureed the green beans and made some of the carrots a little thinner. I put the kids down for naps and washed dishes, changed over laundry, and got on the computer.

Peyton got home and we got the kids up and got ready to go to the park. When we got there, we saw my friend Kellie from MDO and then we ran into Morgan and her girls and some of her friends, the Blairs. They were all going out to eat after the park and invited us to join them. We decided to forgo beans for the week and take them up on the offer! We went to Aladdin, which I used to not like (bad pregnancy experience!), but it was really good and the kids did great- all SIX of them! The Blairs were going back to Morgan and Haydn's house afterward and they invited us to go, too. Peyton was supposed to work out with his brother and it had fallen through several times, so he said he'd pass. I wasn't going to go, but it was still too early to put the kids to bed, so I decided I would. We went by our house to drop Peyton off, and right as we got there Elliot arrived to put another coat of sealer on the floor (he had to work at his main job that day, so yes, he was there at 7:30). We left and went to the Roberts' and when we got there both kids were fast asleep. I woke them up and we had a great time! The gym ended up closing early on Friday, so Peyton met us there, after all. We got home kind of late and put the kids right to bed. I got on the computer and then went to bed myself.

Peyton had to work on Saturday, but the kids slept SO late. Graves woke up early early, but I nursed him and put him back in bed. He woke up again around eight and I fed him again and he fell asleep, so I just let him snooze in bed with me and he slept until about 9:30 when my mom called.

Annie didn't wake up until ten and I was already in and out of the bath. I bathed the kids and brought breakfast into our room for them while I got ready. We headed to Batte around noon because my mom wanted us to meet her to go look at some precious outfits she had seen for the kids at a nearby store. Ann Peyton had an epic tantrum getting in the car (she hated her shoes, wanted to get in by herself, and then bumped her head in the fit throwing process). We finally made it and ran our errand.

My mom picked these up specifically for Ashley, but I'm gonna browse them a bit first this week!

On the way home, our friends, the Deckards wanted to know if we wanted to meet them at the park and I decided to be brave and say yes. I never take them by myself because it's just crazy and exhausting, but I thought it would be fun and Ann Peyton loves it so much and had been SO sweet shopping. We got there and it was super, insane crowded. Buzz (the daddy) held Graves for me a bunch so I could chase AP, but after awhile we moved from the big part to the little two to five year old area. I was still keeping a close eye on her, but not "hovering". Anyway, I'd check for her at least every ten seconds. Well, one time I checked and I couldn't find her. I panicked. It was awful. It probably wasn't even a minute and I heard someone say my name. It was my friend Sherra (another MDO friend) and she had her! I gave her (and Sherra!) a huge hug. That was TERRIFYING. It was almost time to leave anyway so we played a few more minutes and then loaded up and came home. Annie and I had pita pizzas for a snack and I nursed Graves and fed him solids and put them both down for naps. I sorted some laundry and unloaded dishes and then got on the computer.

I got ready because Peyton and I were going to a party for a high school friend on mine that got married that night.

Glad I looked at the invite. I could have sworn it was "dressy dressy". We'dve looked like morons.

I had to wake both kids up to take them to my parents' house and they both fell back asleep in the car! Poor babies! Apparently, they got some good rest because they were both ready to play when I dropped them off. I met Peyton back at home and we had a quick chat and he got ready and then we headed to the party. It was really fun seeing a lot of people from high school and I couldn't get over how Peyton told everyone what a wonderful job I was doing at home with the kids. I'm sure I was just beaming. He knew I had had a really rough time about the park. [Honestly, it happened so fast I didn't have time to really even panic that much, but later I kept having these awful thoughts of "What if?" and thinking about someone grabbing her.] We went to my parents to get the kids and AP still hadn't had supper so Peyton scrambled her some eggs and then we came home. I got on the computer and worked on a post and went to bed.

We went to Sunday school and late church on Sunday. The sermon was really good and I was so well rested for some reason and really felt like it was such a worshipful experience. We came home and ate lunch and put the kids down for naps. Neither one ever feel asleep :( I folded laundry and watched Lost while Peyton organized some stuff and played with AP in the study. We got ready and headed back to church for the kick off of our Sunday night group. We're reading Radical and this was kind of the introduction. I'm excited, but a little nervous! We got home and fed the kids and put them to bed, but AP had a TERRIBLE time going to sleep (she had fallen asleep on the way to church in the car). I cleaned up a bunch of dishes in the kitchen and then got on the computer.

This week we have a lot of fun stuff going on- we have the chili cook off at church and I've got a really fun Friday night planned with Carrie and Ashley, who is coming into town for the weekend. Peyton's off work a couple of days and I'm hoping we can accomplish a lot, as well. And finally, our floors should be complete by the end of the week!!!

2011: The Best of In the Warm Hold

2012-01-05T22:51:00.000-06:00

Again, this is another post I did last year and really enjoyed it. So much so that I made a link below my header for it. Last year I made the observation that I felt like my blog was a big smorgasbord with the variety of different posts. At points that's really bothered me. I've felt like it needed to be more cohesive- a blog about our daily life or a place for deeper, more meaningful ponderings. I made it a goal last year that I would try to write more creative, literary type posts. Those posts stretch me but I so enjoy writing them and pouring my heart into them. I feel like I probably accomplished that goal to a greater extent than any other. Of course, I have chosen to still use this blog as a virtual scrapbook, as well, primarily in my Weekly Happenings posts and in the "Picture Posts" I do. I've come to accept that I want both and at this point, I have no desire to set up two separate blogs and isolate the two because so often they overlap. I feel like for the most part I covered the latter in my Synopsis post as it was basically a summary of our year. These, however, are my favorite posts and the ones I consider my "best" from this year. It's a pretty extensive list because there are so many that are really important to me.

I didn't write much super deep stuff in January, but there were a few posts worth the mention.
Letter to (Twenty One Month Old) Ann Peyton- I reflected on the year with my girl and all the beauty she brought to it.
The Great Santa Debate- I did my best to articulate mine and Peyton's feelings on Santa and our reasons for celebrating the way we do. It's interesting because of all the things we do differently from most people, this has BY FAR gotten me the most flack. And we aren't even that extreme about it!
A Portrait of Humility- I wrote this post about my sweet sister in law. She's shown a lot of grace in never making me feel like I'm a bad parent because I mother differently than her.
Invasion of a Toddlerkins- Just a fun post showing my living room that also functions as a playroom.

I was a bit more introspective in February, focusing on discipline and love-- two things that were (and I hope will continue to be) of great significance in my life and the life of our family.
Herrington Toddler Discipline Philosophy [Part 1]- I shared our framework for discipline and my overall philosophy on what all discipline actually entails.
Herrington Toddler Discipline Philosophy [Part 2]- This post was less theoretical and more about the practicality of discipline. I shared a lot about mine and Peyton's opinions on spanking, as well.
Like Any Other Day: In Love with My Loves- It was Valentine's Day and I wrote a little about Peyton and our relationship.
Beautiful. Blissful. Chaos.- This might be one of my favorite posts to date. I used my feelings about something I absolutely adored (Ann Peyton's nursery) as a metaphor for something else- the end of an era where it was just her.

I posted a lot of truly significant things (as well as some silly, fun things that I enjoyed, too) in March. I think it had a lot to do with being on bedrest and with the state my mind of was in. I was just very pensive and reflective as I awaited Graves's birth.
Letter to (Twenty Three Month Old) Ann Peyton- This was the last letter to her as our only child, so it was pretty special.
Name Significance- This post was about how we chose Graves's name. Naming a child is such a wonderful, neat experience.
Lemonade and Coco and Raindrops and the Validation That I Needed to Hear This Week- As we got closer and closer to Graves's arrival, I really relished the time, and the moments, with my Annie girl.
A Different Kind of Birth: Final Decision- I wanted to share my reasons behind our final decision to have a natural birth.
I Pray That She'll Be Ordinary- I had read a post that inspired me to write this about Ann Peyton. It's another all time favorite.
Five Minute Friday Prompt: On Waiting- I love these prompts. I wrote this one about waiting for Baby Graves.
More Fashion Rules- Age Appropriate Dressing of the Babykins- This was one of those silly posts, but it was a fun one.
Flashback Friday/Annie Banani Fashionista: Bubblicious- Several people responded to the above post saying they didn't know what a bubble was, so I preceded to do some educating.

April was a life changing, life giving, and life affirming month because it was the month we welcomed Graves into our family.
Letter to (Two Year Old) Ann Peyton- For the first time Peyton wrote Annie's letter. It makes me teary.
The Amazingly Different Story of Graves's Birth- This is a birth story that I am quite proud of.
Amazingly Different. Amazingly Beautiful.- A comparison of births. They were both just that. Beautiful. And different.

I was a wee bit busy in May, but I did find time to write a couple of worthwhile things.
We've Got the World and All Its Charms- One hundred family pictures.
In Which Infection Overtakes My Body (Okay, I'm Being Slightly Melodramatic)- This post makes me laugh. Now. It wasn't funny at the time.
Teeth Grinding. Stomach Churning. Heart Breaking.- This post is filled with passion. And I'm kind of proud of it.

It seems June was rather busy, too. I really only had one post I feel like is worth mentioning.
Terms of Endearment- Not a deep post by any stretch of the imagination, but I thought it was an interesting topic.

July was a rough month emotionally, in a lot of ways. I wrote the first post through tears and I shed them now reading the second.
Weekends Are....hard. Birthdays Are....hard. Motherhood Is....Hard.-Just an honest post about a new reality.
Sister-As my sister got close to moving, I poured out a few memories onto the page.

In August, I experienced a strong sense of conviction and I tried to articulate some of my feelings on parenting decisions.
Letter to (Twenty Eight Month Old) Ann Peyton- In the last paragraph I described my feelings about our life at that point.
Convicted- After counting Ann Peyton's Summer outfits, I nearly vomited. I was so appalled by our (read: my) excess. I will never forget that feeling.
The "Versus" Strikes Again: Opinionated vs. Judgmental and Good vs. Best- I have been criticized (always tastefully) on my blog multiple times for being too judgmental and polarizing in my statements about parenting decisions and I wanted to try to convey my general philosophy on these things. I still fully believe that being opinionated and being judgmental are two entirely different things and that sometimes it's okay to choose "good" over "best" if it's in the best interest of your entire family or if the difference between the two is marginal.

In September, I wrote some about my weight issues and about Graves growing.
Letter to (Twenty Nine Month Old) Ann Peyton- The last paragraph just brings tears because it's so, so true.
Letter to (Five Month Old) Graves- I wrote Graves a short sermon as part of his letter, ha! But seriously, parenting is so tied to my faith and I love writing about that.
Five Minute Friday Prompt: Growing- I take a lot of pride in my role in Graves's growing big and strong.
[Too] Skinny Minnie- This was another really honest, transparent post about something I was struggling with.

There wasn't a whole lot truly stirring in October, really.
Strong Willed?- Again, nothing especially meaningful, but I thought it was an interesting topic to address.

November featured a diverse collection of posts.
Election Day- I posted about our feelings regarding a very important vote in our state.
Five Minute Friday Prompt: Unexpected- This was the last Five Minute Friday I did this year and it was such an important one all about the sweetest unexpected gift ever.
What I Wore Wednesday- Nothing important, but a fun post nonetheless.
Multitudes on Monday- I'm linking to all of them, because they were all really special.

December was kind of full of mundane things, but I did write one post I'm really proud of.
Because I Said So...- I wrote this after a conversation with a group of friends got me thinking about how my mom intentionally avoided this phrase and how I hope to do likewise.

Whew! I want to thank you guys for hanging around here and reading all the crazy thoughts that come in my head and out my fingertips. And for the encouragement and understanding you are so quick to offer. I've said often that if no one read this thing, I'd still keep it up because it's my outlet, but you guys make it even more worthwhile!

Weekly Happenings Post #145 (December 26-January 1)-- Farewell, 2011!!!

2012-01-04T21:54:00.000-06:00

Well, I'm a little late with this. I feel like this time of year is kind of exhausting blog wise. There's so much I want to blog about and just no time. It's weird, I remember a time when I had these things out on Sunday. Then I moved it to Monday. And here we are on Wednesday night, really late. Whatever. Next week I'm going to be back to posting on Monday. Maybe.

Last week was really good. I was glad to done with the busyness of Christmas and ready to start the new year. We didn't do a whole lot and it was really nice!

Graves was up a lot during the early, early morning hours on Monday and then we had to get up early because we were going to celebrate Christmas at Granny's (Peyton's grandmother) house. We left the house before eight. Peyton had to work that afternoon, so we left my car in Richland and rode the rest of the way together. We had a good, but short visit since Peyton had to be back at work by 3:00. It was really fun to see Granny and Aunt Beth and Uncle Reid and the cousins.

Before we left, Peyton's parents asked if I wanted to leave AP and just let them bring her when they left a few hours later. I knew it would mess up her nap, but she was having a great time so I agreed. It was so sweet of them to offer!

Peyton dropped me and Graves off at my car and headed to work. He slept the whole way home, so I missed that nap, too :( He was in a pretty good mood that afternoon, though, so I started cleaning up Christmas presents and organizing while he played on the floor. I put him in the high chair and gave his some avocado and a few pieces of ham (he actually did okay, sans teeth) and he had so much fun eating like a big boy. I grated some soap and made laundry detergent and then gathered and sorted laundry. I stripped our bed and AP's and washed all our sheets and got Annie's gingerbread house set up.

My living room looks like something from Candy Land!

The Herringtons dropped AP off and she had slept the whole way home. I had just gotten Graves to bed, but it ended up working out fine because we had several hours together just the two of us. I cleaned up the kitchen and unloaded and loaded dishes, finished up the last of organizing stuff in the sun room and folded some laundry. I played with AP in her house and read to her and she ate supper and helped me clean up and then I put her to bed, too, way later than usual.

AP totally fit in with the Candy Land color scheme in her infant glow worm costume from her first Halloween. Girlfriend is just.like.me. (and my dad) and is all about "soft" things. I think she would choose plush over princess any day. And to be honest, I *love* that. [I also love watching her put on a crown and saying "I'm a little princess".

Peyton got home and we talked some and I finished the laundry and then got on the computer. I read some and went to bed really late after I put the fresh sheets on our bed.

Tuesday was a really good, easy day. I basically gave myself the closest thing to a day off that this job will allow ;) but then had a productive night. Graves woke up early, but Peyton was sweet and took him after I fed him. AP woke up after that and I got up and watched her while Peyton took a bath. We put Graves down for his morning nap and Peyton took AP up to the church to pay the rest of our tithe for this year and to do a few other errands. Then they went and fed the ducks at the pond in our neighborhood. Graves slept that whole time and I took a long nap, too (which was really just an extension of the night, ha!). Once they got home, Peyton went to meet his brother to work out. I put fresh sheets on AP's bed (she had just been sleeping on the mattress pad) and got lunch ready for myself and the kids. I took a bath and Peyton got home and got ready for work. I fed Graves and put him down for his nap and then put AP down. They both went down SO easily and slept so long. I had been prepared for nap time to be an ordeal since it had been so sporadic the past few days, but I guess they were just really tired.

I "wasted" almost the whole time on the computer. I read blogs and played on Facebook and Twitter and shopped online a bit. I did manage to straighten up our bedroom, make the bed, and put up a little laundry. I had a snack and then woke up the kids. I nursed Graves and gave him a bath and then spent a couple of hours working in their room- hanging up a TON of laundry, getting all their Christmas stuff sorted (some to go to the attic, some of AP's put up in the closet because I think she might be able to wear it next year) and just straightening toys. I had organized her books the day before and I put some more of those up and then I went through a box of cloth diapers from the attic. I wanted to put them in one of those under the bed boxes because I think the heat in the attic was messing up the elastic in them. I fed Graves some solids and then at 8:00, since we were all awake, I decided to run some errands. I know, CRAZY. It took me awhile to even get the kids loaded up and then my windshield was all foggy and I had to get the stroller out of one car and put it in the other and I almost just decided to unload everyone and not go. I'm not one of those people that thinks "well, things aren't going well, we should just try tomorrow", though. It makes me mad and more determined to do it.

Anyway, we went to The Children's Place to get some new jammies for Graves because he's growing so fast and I just can't put him in AP's old pink ones like Peyton suggested. After that we went to Target and it was kind of an adventure. I wanted one of those big bins to put some of our Christmas decorations in (the ones we didn't even get down, ha!) and I thought it would fit under the cart, but it didn't. Here's how we ended up:

I'm dedicated to those storage boxes, y'all.

Watching them love each other is one of the best feelings I've ever known.

I should have just left them that way but after we checked out (for the second time, I forgot something, ah!) I decided it would be better to carry Graves (plus a drying rack I bought for the laundry room) while pushing the cart with AP in it. I was rough and a guy outside offered to help me. He said "I know you don't want some strange man pushing your cart with your baby in it, but you look like you could use some help...". I turned him down. I probably shouldn't have, but I felt weird. Anyway, we made it to the car and got loaded up and as I was backing out my windshield was foggy again and some people walked right behind my car and yup, I almost ran them over. Everyone was crying and mad and it was 9:30 almost, but we still needed to go to the grocery store. I got everyone out again and we really hurried. Annie pitched a fit and threw her books so once we got home, I put her in time out (after she sat on the pottty- I was so proud of her for having dry panties that whole time!). I fed Graves and put him to bed and then got AP supper and a treat (a juice box). Peyton got home and he read her a book and she went right to bed. We talked and I got on the computer and went to bed.

Peyton was off on Wednesday and I had SO much I wanted to accomplish. I woke up with a bad headache, though and felt pretty rotten. I took some medicine and got a bath and we went ahead and ran errands. We got the kids ready and went to Primos for breakfast and I could hardly eat anything, I felt so nauseous. I think it was just drainage, but I was feeling so gross. After that we went by Lemuria for a book on landscaping for Peyton (he really wants to get a plan for our yard this Spring) and then we went to Continental to price new sewing machines(!!!) for me. We had to go back by Lemuria because Annie had left her baby doll. We got home and put the kids down for naps and I took a nap myself. Actually, I couldn't sleep and was near tears my head hurt so bad, but I just rested. My mom came over a couple of hours later and brought some paint chips because we're going to repaint the sunroom. After she left, I took another bath to try to steam away my headache. I felt some better, but not great. Peyton left to go run with his brother and I put fresh sheets on Graves's crib, cleaned the absurd amount of magazines and books of Annie's bed and took out some trash. I got Graves to sleep and fed AP supper and then she and I watched a movie until Peyton got home. I fixed myself some Ramen noodles and went to bed before Annie. Peyton gave her a bath and put her to bed. He got in bed late and I woke up and chatted with him a little bit and then went back to sleep.

The kids both woke up around 8:30 on Thursday. I nursed Graves and then hustled around trying to get some laundry sorted and started. I was hoping to get a bath before Annie woke up, but she got up right after Graves did. Peyton's been working a lot of afternoon and mid shifts and it's been awhile since I've gotten ready with them on my own. It's been a long while since I've done it when we didn't have somewhere to go and I set an alarm to get up and it's been even longer since I tried to do it without the help of my best babysitter, Elmo ;) I felt like since we watched a movie the night before, I just wanted to try not to turn on the TV that morning. Well, it wasn't easy, y'all. Annie didn't want to get off her potty and I can't fit them both in our master bathroom comfortably (or maybe at all?) anyway, so I put them in the guest bath and took a bath in there. With Graves's "Gravey pen", the frog potty, and a bunch of books, I could hardly put my big toe down. Graves was fussy the whole time and as I got out AP got SO upset because she found a piece of gum by the trash can and I wouldn't let her throw it away herself. I moved us all to my room and dried my hair and then I fed Graves some solids and put him down for a nap. Annie and I had lunch and Elliot came by to see if the floors were dry. They weren't :( but he did have a few ideas for us. He put some kitty litter down in a few spots to see if it would help dry it up. I took the kids outside to play for a little bit and then we had lunch and I put them down for naps.

I worked on a post and then Graves woke up. Peyton got home and we visited and I finished my post. Peyton cooked spaghetti and I took a bunch of stuff to the attic and organized it. Peyton left to go work out and I got Graves to bed. He got home and we put Annie to bed and worked on some end of the year finances.

The kids got up early on Friday and we both got up with them. Peyton fixed oatmeal and I worked on our budget most of the morning. We straightened up the house and he went over to his brother's house and I put the kids down for naps early. Graves would not go to sleep- he had taken his typical morning nap a little early, but I have no idea what threw him off. Elliot came back over to try some other things with the floor and I got on the computer.

See how it looks around the edges? That's why we're not sealing it yet.

Graves played while I folded laundry and watched Lost and then when AP woke up we got ready to go to my parents' house. Some of my college friends were getting together, so I left the kids with my parents and went to P.F. Changs to catch up with them. I typically don't really like it, but I found some good stuff! I got back and fed Graves supper while AP ate her beans and then we came home. I put the children right to bed. Peyton got home and we chatted and I worked on a blog post and my January blog design. I went to bed pretty late.

Peyton had to work Saturday and we spent the whole day at home. We got up and had breakfast and I put Graves down for his nap pretty early because he had gotten up early. I took a bath while AP played in the bathroom and dried my hair and then Graves woke up. Elliot came over to do some more work and I started some laundry. I fed the kids lunch and did dishes and ate a sandwich myself. I had to give Graves a bath, he got so messy and then I made AP clean up a bunch of toys by herself. It took her about half an hour and then we went outside for another thirty minutes.

My little jailbird. My friend Logan gave him this outfit and I'll never forget- she said it reminded her of Peyton. She's got his style pegged, no?

We came in for naps and she pitched a fit and had to go to time out. Her and Graves both fell asleep pretty fast. I had a snack and got on the computer for a couple of minutes and Graves was back up. He had been kind of fretful all day and he was not a happy boy the rest of the afternoon. Even when I held him, he fussed. Annie woke up and I managed to fold some more laundry. I fed Graves and got him ready for bed. Peyton got home and he and AP watched some fireworks since it was New Year's Eve. I cooked these tuna cornbread cakes. They were pretty good, but nothing special. AP ate dinner and then Peyton gave her a bath and we put her to bed. I got on the computer and then worked on my Sunday school lesson for the next day. I finished my redic long 2011 wrap up post and went to bed. Such a wild New Year's Eve!

Annie took SO long getting to sleep the night before that I decided we better let Peyton (who was working) go by himself to early church and just go to Sunday school and late church on Sunday. I got up and took a bath and then the kids woke up. I gave myself an hour and a half and I don't know how I did so well because I managed to get us all ready AND somewhat clean up the kitchen from the night before AND feed Graves a bowl of fruit/cereal. I was so proud of myself...until we got to church and I realized I was wearing brown tights with my black shoes and gray dress. Um...okay. I dropped the kids off (poor AP had had a meltdown and I coaxed her in with promises of seeing "Ms. Penny" her Sunday school teacher). Sunday school went well. I'm really glad our class is so laid back because I wasn't that nervous about teaching at all even though I'm not near as smart as a lot of people in it! We had a special service this week at church- it's a John Wesley Covenant Renewal ceremony. We do it every year and it's a really neat time to just reaffirm our commitment to Christ. I loved this part of the covenant that we read...

Christ has many services to be done. Some are easy, others are difficult; some bring honer, others bring reproach; some are suitable to our natural inclinations and temporal interests, others are contrary to both. In some we may please Christ and please ourselves, in others we cannot please Christ except by denying ourselves. Yet the power to do all these things is assuredly given to us in Christ, who strengthens us.

After church we came home and had lunch and then all took naps. Actually, AP never napped and at one point I was asleep on the couch and she came in and told me she pottied. I asked her where and she said in her diaper (she was naked) and so I went to the bathroom to check things out. Sure enough, there was a dirty diaper in the trash can minus the major contents. I asked her where it went and she told me the potty. I'm just praying she didn't "handle" it too much. We had a talk and I sent her back to bed. I fixed some Slice N Bake peppermint sugar cookies and messed around on Twitter and then Graves woke up. We all played in their room and I put fresh sheet's on AP's bed and just kind of straightened. I fed Graves supper and was loading dishes while the kids were playing. Annie kept saying "He's crying". I told her he wasn't and then he started SCREAMING. I ran in the room and she was holding him(!!!) and then dropped him flat on his face. Oh my word. While I was taking care of him, she started hanging on the coffee table and I told her not to. She told me "I want to break it!". What?!? Then she started pulling on her frog rocker and saying the same thing. I sent her to time out and thankfully Peyton walked in the door.

He played with Annie and I put Graves to bed. Peyton had to go pick up something from another Walgreens so I hung out with Annie and then she ate supper. We put her to bed and I got on the computer and then went to bed.

This week we've started getting back to normal. We haven't started back with our Bible studies yet, but we have Mother's Day Out tomorrow and we had our weekly lunch date with the Howies yesterday. I'm glad to have our routine starting back!

2011: The Year in Headers

2012-01-03T20:00:00.000-06:00

I saw a post like this last year and it's actually what inspired me to create new headers each month. I thought it would be fun to do my own little header round-up this year. I think they really improved over time!

Letter to (Thirty Three Month Old) Ann Peyton

2012-01-03T00:22:00.000-06:00

Dear Ann Peyton,

You're getting so close to three. It's mind boggling. I can't imagine having a three year old little girl and in a few short months that will be us! This month has been a blast with you and, as always, it's so much fun to watch you change and grow.

You are still so tiny. A few of your Christmas outfits were 2T, but I also saved alot of those up for next year. You wore mostly 24 mo. and a couple of 18 mo. things that still fit from last year! I just put up one outfit that was a 12-18 mo.! You are now only one diaper size above Graves (a four and a three, respectively).

Speaking of....your doing fabulously with potty training. We still have accidents from time to time and you wear diapers on occasion (to the church nursery and sometimes on errands), but for the most part, we are wearing panties, even on the go! Papa and I joke that at this point, your bladder control is almost equal to mine! You definitely have *strong* preferences when it comes to panties and convincing you to let me wash certain pairs can be an epic battle.

You've gotten to be a bit more of a picky eater here lately. The day has finally come where you turn up your nose at unseasoned steamed vegetables. I guess I'm fortunate to have had that luxury for almost three years. Things you will never (or almost never) turn down include corn dogs, a PB&J sandwich cut in the shape of a heart, a dinosaur, or a teddy bear, and Mickey's red beans and rice. You actually like typical "adult" food-- you eat lots of salads and you don't mind spicy casseroles and soups. You actually love them!

You still sleep well, but bedtime and naptime are sometimes a battle. You take a long time to fall asleep and I think it's hard for you to unwind sometimes. One thing I've done to try to make naps or bedtimes less of a battle is to think of things to make it fun for you. You know that you don't get "rewards" for staying in your bed, per se, but some days I do have a little treat for you right around nap time- it might be a new stationary catalog that came in the mail and I hid for the occasion or a Christmas blanket I got out in December and told you you could only use in your bed. Today I actually let you put on one of my really soft t-shirts to take your nap and it made you so happy!

Papa, however, is the master of creative parenting. The other night I couldn't get you to tell me something you'd like to eat (we were having leftovers for dinner and I gave you a few options, none of which you seemed to like). He got out this little wind sock cheerleader thing that I had in high school and has become the object of your obsession. Then he started asking "cheerleader girl" what she'd like to eat and fixed it for both of you!

He also came up with a great strategy for teeth brushing, which is something you alternate between thoroughly enjoying and violently protesting. He asks you to name of the things you've eaten that day and then proceeds to "find" them and scrub them off. For example: "Oh, you had carrots, today, Annie? Okay, I see a carrot piece there way in the back. Let me get it!".

There are so many wonderful things about you, Ann Peyton. This age is hard because you're really trying to assert your independence, but it's also so much joy and it's one of my favorite ages. When you talk to someone about me in the third person and you refer to me as "MY momma"-- "My momma gave me these pjs...". When I squish you and Graves together in the top part of the shopping cart and you quickly take your little hand and grab hold of his littler one or when you put your head in his lap so he can play with your hair because you know it's his favorite thing to do. When you tell me "Jesus love Annie. Jesus love Momma. And Jesus love MonkMonk". I look at you and smile. I gaze into your deep brown eyes and I see the face of God. We adore you.

Love,
Momma (and Papa)

P.S. Your outfit this month is a 2T.

January Happenings

2012-01-02T22:28:00.001-06:00

I think this may be my favorite header to date. I thought using the Instagrams would be fun and different and I think it turned out cute. I also have to say that one of my favorite things each month is finding a relevant quote for the header. I see it probably daily and it's important to me to pick a meaningful one. I'm determined to have so many "best days" this year. I also really like the new background- it's not as "cutesy" as some of the previous ones and honestly, I think it's more me. I hate that there's going to come a day when I'm going to run out of three column backgrounds to choose from (the blog only has two columns, but a wide middle one, so I have to use three column backgounds). At some point, I do have a goal of becoming more skilled at doing the whole shabang myself. I've done it once, but it was a little time consuming. I'm sure I'll figure it out!
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Whew...thank goodness it's January! I feel like I can breath a little better this week now that all the holiday obligations are over and all the time sensitive stuff is done. Last month wore me out with the floors and everything and I'm glad things are a little bit more relaxed. Anyway, here's the update:

- The floors still aren't actually done, but they will be soon. We moved all our stuff back in to try and let the grout dry for a couple of weeks and not a whole lot happened. Elliot had a great idea to "paint" the bricks with cooking oil and in the spots where he's done it it's made it look much more consistent and all the same color. It's darker than what we planned on the area where the grout shows between the bricks, but it looks fine so we're going to do the whole thing that way. It should be done soon!

- We're starting back to Mother's Day Out this week and our normal Bible study schedule and all that will resume the next. I'm glad- I really enjoy the routine!

- We don't have a whole bunch on the agenda for January and I'm really glad of that, too.

- One thing that I am SO excited about is that my friend Ashley is coming into town. I can't wait to visit and catch up!

- We also have a party this weekend to celebrate the marriage of one of my friends from high school. I'm sure there will be a lot of people from high school there and I'm super excited about that.

- Peyton's new schedule has him only working every third weekend and it's an AMAZING blessing that I don't think I'll ever take for granted. Even though his schedule is crazy at times and I do grind my teeth a lot when I'm doing bedtime by myself for that fifth night in a row, it really does work for us. I love that on days like today he didn't go in to work until 1:30 in the afternoon. On the days he works nights or midshifts he actually gets more time with the kids and they (and I, of course!) love having him here!

- I think I'm going to try something new this year and instead of making a list of goals and resolutions at the begin of the year, I'm going to try to make a few each month and really be intentional about those. There's this whole one word movement thing about choosing one word to focus on this year and I think I am going to do that, but I still have to pick my word. Anyway, I'm not going to ever set more than three goals a month and sometimes it may be fewer. This months goals are:
1. To be more intentional about prioritizing time with Peyton in the evenings. I have let the computer and it's siren call woo me away from my husband one too many times. And y'all, as much as I adore you to pieces, our relationship is not representative of Christ and the church, it is not of paramount significance in the raising of our children, and it's not one that I pledged my life to in a holy covenant. I'm going to try to keep that in focus.
2. To finish this ever lovin' kitchen. I want the floors done, but I also want to finish a craft project and a sewing project and I want to paint the attached sunroom and the shelving unit that goes in the laundry room. It may not get done and that's fine, but it's a goal.
3. To spend time in the Word in some form every.single.day. Weather it be a Bible study, a short devotion with accompanying Scripture, or just picking up the thing itself and flipping around I want to be intentional about making it more of a priority.

Here's to a relaxing, enjoyable January!

2011: A "Breif" Synopsis (Post and Picture Overload)

2011-12-31T23:16:00.014-06:00

This is the third year for me to do this type post and it's always such fun to look back over the year. It's also such a strong reminder of what an amazing tool blogging has been for preserving our memories. Later in the week, I'll also be doing a list of my favorite posts, since this is really just a recap. Without further ado, a little synopsis of 2011:

In January, we finally settled on a name for Graves and I shared some of my goals for the year (many of which are at least partially accomplished). Carrie and I also took a super fun trip to Missouri to visit Ashley. I was thinking back about this trip last week (because Ashley is coming to visit this month!) and it's SO weird because Jude is now almost as old as Ann Peyton was, Graves is older than Jude was, and Carrie will be at almost the exact point in her pregnancy with Alaina as I was with Graves. Those little details blow my mind for some reason!

February was largely uneventful. Baby Graves and I hit the thirty week mark and we had a low key Valentine's Day.

March started out with me being put on bedrest for two weeks, making a final decision about our birth choice, and transitioning Sister to a big girl bed.

In April, we closed the door on Ann Peyton's first two years of life and opened the door to her third. We acquired a fabulous new camera and (after eight hours of unmedicated labor) an even more fabulous baby boy. We worked on getting adjusted, celebrated our Risen Lord and brought our son to church for the first time, and had our first visit to see our precious pediatrician.

May brought Peyton's birthday, a revisiting of our discipline philosophy , a terrible bout with mastitis, and a showcasing of toddler artwork.

By June we were becoming adept at recognizing all things comforting to Baby Graves (the usual front-runner being the rice sock) and felt brave enough to embark on a six hour drive to the beach where I was chastised by a concerned older woman for not putting a hat on Graves in a covered area of an outdoor mall. Papa Peyton also instigated some truly humorous games and activities around the Herrington house.

In July I had one of my first truly hard experiences as a mother of two and I prepared my heart for my sister's upcoming move. We hit a milestone when I put Annie and Graves is the same size clothes from the same line. I also decided to give babywearing a shot and wasn't to proud to admit my mistakes in originally doing it all wrong.

I wrote about a strong sense of conviction I felt in August and Peyton and I both got "dramatic" new hair cuts.

September was full of excitement- I shared my incredibly Southern accent with y'all and then I felt compelled to share Ann Peyton's, too. Ann Peyton exerted her independence and I struggled with some weight issues.

I worked toward achieving a more healthy weight in October and we joined the Howies in bringing our whole family to Saint Louis to greet little Liam Lancaster as he took his first steps on American soil. Sweet Graves got Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease.

Peyton and I had the opportunity to vote our convictions on a very important issue in November and I really struggled with having to being dairy free due to Graves's intolerance. I made a habit of participating in Eucharisteo (giving thanks).

We spent the month of December wrapped up in a big house project and had lots of chaotic moments, but lots of sweet, precious ones, as well.

What a wonderful year 2011 was. We are so excited to begin our 2012 adventures!

Weekly Smorgasbord

2011-12-31T23:13:00.003-06:00

This week's links for your enjoyment:

transracial adoption | motherhood| rage against the minivan

Posted: 31 Dec 2011 08:30 PM PST

"Right now, I can't adopt or be a foster parent. But you can." Convicting much?

Red Letter Christians » Christians, Take Up Your Mats and Walk

Posted: 31 Dec 2011 08:29 PM PST

I think this is so common- churches wanting to grow without making real changes

approval for sale | Grace Is For Sinners

Posted: 31 Dec 2011 08:27 PM PST

"Don't you think there are 'get holy fast' schemes just like there are 'get rich fast' schemes? Don't be taken by the gas station taquitos when you're on your way to a gourmet feast." This post was really, really interesting to me.

#4 in 2011: How to be humble. | Jon Acuff's Blog

Posted: 31 Dec 2011 08:25 PM PST

"Because you already know your stories. You've heard them a dozen times. But the coworker who is so sarcastic he's practically surly, you know that guy? He's going to cry at lunch when you ask him about how he's doing, because it turns out he's walking away from the wreckage of a second divorce, and he's exhausted carrying his story alone. It's really heavy. And he'd gladly share it with you if you weren't so focused on thinking it's all about you."

Adventures in Babywearing: It was only glitter

Posted: 31 Dec 2011 08:24 PM PST

"During a recent daydreaming session I worried that people don't stare out windows anymore. How do we imagine bigger things if we aren't looking at the sky? We look down at a screen and just take other people's dreams and goals and try to pass them off as our own. Have we become too lazy to even dream our own dreams? I still daydream, today at the snow, and sometimes I wait for the uncomfortable to get me to finally bend but I do, I bow, and stretch, and comb this life out." Again, great writing from Steph.

That Was A Bit Of A Hiatus, Wasn’t It?

Posted: 31 Dec 2011 08:23 PM PST

"I practically hitch-kicked in our foyer on the day the unexpected package-o-potions arrived, and I thanked the Lord for sweet friends who spur us on to exfoliation and wrinkle prevention when it comes our skin care goals."

Get More Followers By Breaking the Rules | Goins, Writer

Posted: 31 Dec 2011 08:22 PM PST

"Stop choosing the middle of the roadThere are way too many lame messages out there. Way too much crap for you to play it safe.We need you to be dangerous.Pick a side. Stand for something.Some will love you for it, and others will try to stone you.But.Please.Say.Something.You can be remarkable, or you can be mediocre. There is nothing else.You can tickle ears, or upset the status quo. You can infuriate, or earn passive dismissals.One will make you average; the other will make you a hero. But you have to choose." Yup.

Emerging Mummy: In which I share my favourite books of 2011

Posted: 31 Dec 2011 08:19 PM PST

I love lists like this. I still have lots of New Year's list posts in my Reader to plow through. Of these books, I'm interested in the first one, the Common Prayer book, and the second two parenting books. Too bad my bookshelf is way too full as is.

Namaste By Day: Food Allergy Fridays: Milk Substitutes

Posted: 31 Dec 2011 08:17 PM PST

This is an interesting post that I filed away in case I needed it at a later date. Here's hoping he outgrows it, though.

Emerging Mummy: In which I practice realistic expectations [My Practices of Mothering]

Posted: 31 Dec 2011 08:16 PM PST

"I don't expect to enjoy mothering all of the time. I suppose the big thing with this is that I try to be gentle with myself if I'm not SUPER HAPPY HAVING FUN YAY MOTHERHOOD all of the time. That is unrealistic." "When they make a mistake, it's normal; when they need to be trained or taught, that's my job. If they knew it all, I wouldn't be needed." "I will fail in some way at mothering. And it's amazing how much the knowledge of that helps me...I have the realistic expectation that we all mess up our kids in some way and it's okay. They won't emerge from childhood without both of us well aware that I didn't do everything perfectly." LOVE this post. I think I need to tape it to my mirror.

Thanks for playing!

Joy to the World [Christmas 2011: Part 1]

2011-12-29T16:31:00.003-06:00

Like I mentioned, we had kind of a weird Christmas (which was basically my fault and the fault of circumstances- the kids and everyone else did great!). Anyway, also like I said, there were a lot of bright happy moments and the reason we celebrate Christmas is unchanging even in the ones that aren't bright and happy. I don't want to just skip over those fun, happy times and I'd be remiss to not share every one that I captured with you ;)

[Also, if you read my blog in a feed reader, excuse the trigger finger on the previous post.]

These first pictures are actually from "Christmas Eve Eve". We went over to my parents' house for our usual Friday night beans and Annie ended up being able to participate in one of my favorite traditions, making the "Santy" cake.

The kids also enjoyed some story time with Minnie!

On Christmas Eve, we were back for more fun at the Perry house!

Annie and Cookie-- they've missed each other terribly since Cookie moved to Nash.

Mickey holding his "Bud". Mick is the baby whisperer, for real. He does this by basically zoning himself out into such a relaxed state that he looks like he's asleep himself- "you have to relax your entire body." While I'm sharing Mickey quotes, this assessment of Baby Graves's behavior is especially adorable- ""He studies an object intensely for a few minutes and then he attacks it veraciously". Um, yes, being a boy momma is a different beast entirely.

He made the transfer to the Pack N Play surprisingly easily and slept surprisingly well all night! And yes, he has a blanket and various other lovies and stuffed animals. I would have flipped the heck out over the suffocation risk round one, but somehow I just felt like once he started picking his head up really well and rolling around it was okay. I think Annie got a blanket at around eighteen months. My anxiety is SO much better.

How stinkin' cute are these two? Peyton and I were talking later about this sleeping sitch and I kept saying they were co-sleeping. Peyton said it didn't count as co-sleeping because it wasn't part of a bigger parenting philosophy. It was a "one night co-sleep"...kind of like a one night stand. Okay, dude, let's not talk about one night stands and our daughter in the same sentence EVER AGAIN, okay?

Yes, I know you've seen it three times, but here is our annual family pic in the Christmas jammies. They are all from Target or Target via eBay and I consider my life goal accomplished as we've possibly persuaded another family to do whole family matching Christmas morning pjs. Also, these are a first for both children- they've never one had real pajamies like this, just sleepers and tight stretchy cotton sets. They look SO grown!

We woke up and did presents for about an hour before we had to get ready for church and it was a bit too rushed for my tastes. I think next year we'll do Christmas differently, even though it won't be on a Sunday, anyway. We had asked my parents to TRY to be minimal in their gift giving as to preserve the true meaning of the holiday and they actually did better than I anticipated.

First, here's what we got the kids. We actually did better than I had thought we would, too, but I think we're going to scale back even more next year.

Here's the big thing we got them- a gingerbread house to play in. I got it off Zulily a while back and it's been the source of much happiness and joy.

We got Annie the stuff on the floor- two costumes that we bought on clearance for less than five dollars after Halloween, some adorable vintage inspired flashcards I saw on my friend Ashley's blog, and since the devotion I ordered didn't come in and I was determined to adhere to a Something You Want, Something You Need, Something to Wear, Something to Read gift giving stipulation as much as possible, I regifted a Bible I gave her last year and put in the attic because it wasn't entirely age appropriate. [I figured she "needed" the flashcards and wanted the playhouse.] And that was it. I was proud of us.

I had a harder time following the stipulations for Graves's Christmas and instead of Something to Wear he got Something to Shake. I also didn't get him anything to read- when the devo come in, I'm sure we'll all read it together. We got him a sippy cup (need), two lovies that aren't hand-me-downs from Annie (want), a rattle and some Christmas sheets for his big boy bed one day.

My mom found some neat things for Annie and Graves. Here's Ann Peyton's stash:

She got a babydoll that goes in the tub (that we ended up taking back because she got a cuter one from someone else- do you think I've been vocal enough about her hatred/fear of the tub??), a picnic basket tea set, some cds, sidewalk chalk, several books, bedroom slippers, a Max and Ruby dvd, an owl sippy, and some Mr. Potato Heads.

And here is Graves's:

Graves got some precious masculine things- his very own set of blocks, several books, a "dressy" train bib for church and other more formal affairs, some slippers (which AP promptly usurped), a teddy bear sandwich cutter, and a space ship sippy.

And here's everyone enjoying their presents on Christmas morning. The playhouse was a big hit with Annie.

She refuses a bow and yet spends half the day holding her hair out of her face like this.

She was excited to have a visitor come a calling...

Another visitor...this place is just too much fun!

Baby Graves (Big Boy Graves?? ahhh, my heart!) was enjoying some quality time with his aunt.

Annie loved her ice cream costume and her tea set!

And books are always a hit.

[This is a new face she does all the time- when she's mad, frustrated, or (as pictured here) contemplative.]

Graves enjoyed his rattle and his bear sandwich cutter.

And I'm hoping he'll have some success with the sippies since he really doesn't consider bottles an option.

Here's Peyton with some sheets I got for our bed. I also got him a journal and a t-shirt from this site and A Charlie Brown Christmas. My parents got him this cool hydration system for bikers.

I didn't even take any pictures of my gifts this year- my mom got me some jewelry and clothes (per my request for no more house stuff, there's just not room!) and Peyton got me a memory card for the camera because we've been arguing about it for months- he says just erase the things, but it makes me too nervous even with them backed up three places and he tried to find me some new slippers (occupational hazard, ya know?) but ran out of time.

So that was the first part of our Christmas. Even though it was sort of frantic and crazy, it was spent with those we love and that's what is important. I'm so blessed!

Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing!

Weekly Happenings #144 (December 19-25)-- Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night

2011-12-27T07:22:00.008-06:00

Last week was weird, as I shared here. It wasn't terrible or anything, but it wasn't like any other Christmas and I just felt tired and frazzled and by the time Sunday rolled around I was kind of over it. I'm so glad the kids were too young to really notice and they enjoyed the day! [Oh and for anybody that thinks it's weird I'm super tired and hormonal (Carrie Howie), I made Peyton pick up a test last night just in case...one line, no worries ;)]

Monday was kind of weird- one of those days where you feel like you just can't accomplish one thing. Graves got up around eight and I fed him and played with him and when AP got up at nine, I brought her in our room.

The plumbers hooked back up the water heater, so I put up clothes for about half an hour after Peyton left for work and then got a bath while Graves took a nap and Annie watched Elmo. I talked to Darlene for an hour and also started trying to print our Christmas letter. Here's how that went:
1. It wouldn't print on both sides
2. I got it to print on both sides but it wouldn't print multiple copies
3. I ran out of colored ink
4. The paper jammed.
5. I ran out of black ink.
6. I cried.
7. AP called me crying because she teeteed on our bed- actually on a tote bag of clothes beside our bed; poor thing was trying to make it.
8. I cried. [Just kidding. But almost]

Anyway, after Graves woke up, we went over to my parents' to get some laundry and MonkMonk, who got left again the night before. We got a late start, but we didn't stay too long. Annie wanted to go to the park, but I told her we could stroll around my parents' neighborhood. Having a double stroller is really nice! She turned around at one point and said "Momma, I LOVE strolling." Guess we need to get the thing out more. Anyway, there was traffic on the way home and I was sure she was going to have another accident or fall asleep. We made it home, though and I put both kids down for naps. I had to FB message/email some people so I did that and then played on Twitter and Pinterest, like I didn't have a mile long list of things to do. I ended up having to wake the kids up. We played in their room and I put up laundry and then brought in another big basket to fold.

[6-12 mo. bear suit; undies as a hat-- it's a fun age, I tell ya!]

Peyton finally got home and his brother helped him move the washing machine and dryer back in and then his brother left and he hung out with me and the kids. I decided to run to Target for a bunch of random stuff (more Christmas sheets, a hair dryer, a veggie chopper, some makeup and hairspray, wood floor cleaner, printer ink, and a storage box). I got home and AP had fallen asleep waiting in her bed for me to rock her! Graves got really fussy and Peyton worked on the printer, which at that point, had stopped working almost completely. He couldn't fix it and he got really frustrated with all the storage boxes waiting to go the attic that were junking up the study, so he took them up there. I was feeling sort of yucky, so I took a hot bath and Peyton drove around with Graves. I got on the computer and then went to bed.

Peyton helped me wash Annie's hair before he left for work on Tuesday and I got a bath and gave both the kids theirs and got ready to go meet Carrie and her kiddos for lunch. Graves took a short nap while I finished getting myself and Annie ready and then we headed to Mellow Mushroom. We had a good lunch. Graves sat in a highchair and AP wore panties. She did really good, until the end when we were talking outside and then she had an accident of the number two variety. UGH. I changed her in the car and then we headed to Office Depot so I could get copies made of our Christmas letter.

Both kids took good naps and I wasted the majority of them on the computer. I sent a blog friend an email, finished my Weekly Happenings Post, and strangely ran across an old email exchange from a friend from the week after Graves was born. I had been so frazzled and it was so, so sweet and actually made my whole night feel better.The kids woke up and we played in their room awhile until Peyton got home.

We fed them dinner and then Peyton took AP with him to pick something up from the Walgreens near us. She had another accident in the store, but it wasn't a huge deal except that he forgot the diaper bag so she rode home naked! I got Graves to bed and cleaned up the kitchen which was a total mess. I did my best to straighten up the living room a little- I got all the small appliances that were under the kitchen sink put up (we took them out because it was leaking) and sorted laundry. I got on the computer and worked on Christmas cards and went to bed late.

One Wednesday, Peyton got up with the kids and I tried to sleep a little late. AP wanted to climb in bed with me, though, so I didn't really get much rest. I went ahead and got up and got ready for the day and we got the kids ready and dropped off my Buick to have the tire fixed again (since they didn't fix it last time and it got flat over night). We headed to the park after than and Peyton's sister and her little boy met us. We had so much fun and stayed for two solid hours.

We picked up the Buick and came home for lunch and naps. Peyton left for work and I straightened up the house a bit and then got on the computer. I finished a post and got on Twitter and then I watched Lost and worked on a sewing project. The kids woke up and I got things together and we went over to my parents' house for dinner. We had sushi- yum! We got home around nine thirty and I told AP keep saying she had to go the potty when I put her to bed. I told her it was the last time, so to make it count. At ten fifteen, she was still counting. Ha! She finally got up and told me she wanted her elephant pjs and went straight to sleep. I straightened some in the office, started laundry and picked up a little bit. I got on the computer and tried to work on my sewing project, but my machine was messed up. Peyton got home and we talked and I actually almost made it to bed by my midnight goal.

Graves woke up around seven on Thursday and I fed him and played with him some. When Annie still wasn't up at 8:30, I put him back in his bed and went back to sleep (Peyton was asleep the whole time). AP woke up around nine and we put her in our bed and watched Elmo for an hour. Peyton had been up watching Harry Potter until the wee hours of the morning and I don't know what was wrong with me. Thanks, kids, for cutting us a break, though! I finally got up around ten thirty and Peyton made breakfast. I unloaded the dishes and started laundry and got in the tub while Peyton reloaded dishes. Elliot came over and we decided to just move back our furniture and wait until next week to seal the floor. I was kind of bummed- I was so ready to be DONE. Peyton watched the kids while I ran to TJ Maxx for some last minute gifts and to Old Navy for some new yoga pants. I got home and Peyton left for work. I fed AP lunch and put the kids down for naps. I watched Lost, at my lunch, wrote a blog post and emailed a friend. The kids woke up and we spent the entire evening playing in their room. I folded several loads of laundry and vacuumed the nursery and study and then I fed Graves some solids, nursed him and got him to bed. I fixed AP's dinner and then got her ready for bed. That child moves so slow- she took thirty minutes to eat, about that long to potty, and two hours to go to sleep. AHHH! I got on the computer and talked to Peyton when he got home and then went to bed, again, at a reasonable time.

Graves did SO good that night- I put him down at 7:30 and he didn't wake up until around 6:00 and then I put him back down until 8:30. Annie woke up around that time on Friday and we all got ready and headed over to my parents' since Cookie was home. We had fun seeing Conrad (her boyfriend), too and eating breakfast. We left before noon but Annie feel asleep for seriously two minutes in the car. We got home and I put the kids down for naps. They both had a horrible time- I guess those two minutes threw AP off and Graves was cranky because he had missed his morning nap. They did stay in bed for awhile, but I had to keep going in and enforcing nap rules/putting pacis back in/turning on the mobile/ect. I worked on organizing my gift wrap drawer and cabinet for about half an hour

Then I spent an hour and a half trying to get the living room back in order. Remember it looked like this. It took me awhile because I wanted to go through everything and just get rid of some stuff and better organize all of it. Once the kids got up, we got ready and headed back to my parents' house. I stopped at Sonic on the way and AP fell asleep again. We had a good time and AP helped Cookie make a Santy cake. We got home and I put the kids right to bed. AP had trouble, but she finally went to sleep. I messed around on the computer and went to bed shortly after Peyton got home.

Saturday was Christmas Eve and Peyton had the day off. Baby Graves got up around 5:00 and wouldn't go back to sleep, so I put him in our bed and he slept until eight. Annie woke up at nine and we had a slow fun morning just playing around the house. We got ready and headed to Peyton's parents' house to spend some time with them and a couple of his brothers.

[Annie picked her own outfit- my tshirt, a tutu, and girly Chucks]

We had a good time, but I was so tired and just stressed for some reason, so afterward Peyton and AP went to the park and Baby Graves and I took a nap at home. They got back and AP had some rest time in her bed (she had fallen asleep earlier in the car) and I worked on straightening the living room some more. There was still a good bit of stuff to sort through. I ended up getting it basically picked up, but I still want to go through some of my bins that have cleaning stuff in them and organize even more. I fed Graves some solids and we got ready and went to our church's candlelight communion service.

[I LOVE this picture. He looks like somebody in our families to me, but I can't tell who!]

There was no nursery and both kids did great. AP fell asleep in the car on the way there and on the way home! After we got home, I got stuff together to take to my parents' house because we always spend Christmas Eve with them. I packed our stuff, got down a few presents from the attic and wrapped some others and then I ate dinner and got on the computer for a couple of minutes and I packed up the kids and we left. Peyton was going to a midnight mass at a Catholic church with some of our friends. [He used to be Catholic and still adores the holy day masses.] We got to my parents and visited and ate some more and got ready for bed. I got the kids in their Christmas jammies and put on mine and put Graves in the Pack N Play that I had moved downstairs to my old bedroom where we were sleeping. He hated it, though, so my dad held him and somehow got him to sleep.

[Mickey with his "Bud"]

We transitioned him to the Pack N Play and I let AP stay up and play and we went to bed really late even for her- around eleven. It was so hard making her stay in bed with me. She actually started telling me she wanted to go home and get in her own bed :( I started talking to her about all the trips she had taken where she had slept in different places and she told me all about the zoo in Saint Louis and the sand at the beach and finally went to sleep. Peyton got to my parents' house about one thirty and I woke up, let him in, and we put out all the kids' presents. My parents woke up and put their stuff out, too. I was SO impressed with how well both kids slept. Graves woke up once in the early morning, but I fed him and he went right back to sleep!

I set my alarm for seven, but I snoozed it until almost eight on Sunday (CHRISTMAS!).

[More pictures to come- obs.]

We had to leave for church by 9:30, so things were kind of rushed. We did presents and then I hopped in the shower and got ready faster than I ever have maybe. I had on no make-up and was planning to do it in the car, but Peyton reminded me he wanted to drop off one car on the way to his parents' house after church. We were already running late, but I agreed. We got there a little late and as Peyton was getting Graves out I noticed the car seat belt had come loose again. I got really mad, started crying, and maybe dropped an F Bomb after the kids were out of the car. It was definitely not a way to enter into a Christmas worship service. Heck, it was not a way to enter into a worship service, period. I spent (literally) about a minute and a half putting on VERY minimal makeup and caught up with Peyton and the kids.

The service was nice, we sang lots of Christmas carols and just read passages from the Christmas story. The kids got to bring one present to show the congregation during the children's sermon time, and we opted out of that since we really didn't want that to be our focus. Fortunately, AP was too young to even notice and she did get to bring some of her new books to read during the service. We dropped off my car at home and I told Peyton that our options concerning the 4Runner were a) sell the freaking thing, which breaks my heart more than y'all could know, b) keep it but have a no kid policy, which seems stupid on so many levels or c) let him tear up the seatbelts "rigging" the thing and basically screwing them in place to hold the seats. Anyway, I'm glad I have the Buick, because I'm done with that thing. Peyton changed clothes and we headed to his parents' house. We had a good visit with them and there was lots of yummy food. All of his siblings were there and so that was really fun. We left there about two and headed back to my parents' house for a late lunch. Both kids took short naps on the way to the Herringtons, but they were having a hard time at that point. Peyton just let Annie play during lunch and we got Graves to take a nap. Lunch was really good- steaks, crunchy romaine salad, and twice baked potatoes (minus the cheese and sour cream on mine, boo!). After lunch, I took a long nap in my sister's bed and Peyton was so sweet and packed up all our stuff and presents and then we headed home. We actually put Annie to bed right when we got home (around seven). We tried to feed Graves solids, but he was so tired we just ended up putting him in bed, too. I got on the computer and went to bed early.

I'm glad that this week we really don't have much on the agenda- just hanging out at home and enjoying some relaxing days!