Oh EXCITEMENT!

I am so excited to try some make-ahead cooking stuff. Grandma Donna sent us a great website called Once-A-Month Mom that gives you recipes, menus, and grocery lists so that you can actually get a lot of your cooking done once--That's right!--Once a month! It sounds a little crazy, like something I would hate doing, but I think we are going to try it. Actually, John wants to try it on one of his days off this week, and I am going to be his helper. I love to cook, but it when it comes to cooking all day, I start to forget things, lose track of what I'm doing, or just go plain crazy.

We aren't going to do all of the cooking ahead. We're just going to try making three meals ahead from the February menu: Lasagna, Taco Soup, and Mexican Stuffed Shells. This is partially due to ground beef being on sale at Publix this week. If you are into buying in bulk, like at Costco, this website is definitely for you! You will certainly make use of your bulk food items, and you can make meals for other families, freeze a bunch of meals ahead of time for unexpected company or whatever you want.

There is also a plan for making baby food ahead, which I also hope to do. I don't know if I can talk John into spending all this money in one week, but I think it'll pay off in the long run. I really want to try to avoid jarred baby food as much as I can. I haven't been giving Maryn table food much yet. We're still getting used to the oatmeal. Her little digestive system is having a semi-hard time. Here she is drinking her prune juice just before her monster poop this morning:

I am also really excited about this book I'm reading: Shopping for Time by Carolyn Mahaney and her three daughters. You can see their GirlTalk blog which I have linked over there on the side of my blog page. I think I am going to become a member of the 5 am Club. Which will be the 5:30 am Club for me, because they said if I have a baby that isn't sleeping through the night, I'm excused! But I have been getting up at 6 am lately, and I think if I get up at 5:30 I may have time to exercise. Besides, Maryn is mostly sleeping through the night, and with our bedtime being 9pm, I usually can get in at least 7 hours of good sleep. I'll need your prayers about that, because I have been unusually exhausted lately. So, I am going to get some good iron supplement stuff I used while pregnant, just in case I'm anemic again. I have a feeling I might be. Either that or I'm pregnant! Which would be a major oopsy-daisy.

I am ALSO really excited about our pajama party we had yesterday with the kiddos. We wore our PJs all day, listened to lullabyes, read bedtime stories, and ate a lot of crazy junk food. Here is a snack I made:

Yep. That's a Twinkie body, a marshmallow pillow, a vanilla wafer head with icing features and a fruit roll-up blanket, all placed upon a bed of lace (a paper doily). Not recommended for the faint of heart, for it creates a wild sugar rush to any child that consumes it (except our sweet-tempered little Nicole).

Well, we had a fun week. And another FUN one is coming. But I hope Sunday will last forever. Sigh. I need a vacation.

Friday Funnies

A few of my favorite things

Maryn loves tags! She will even take apart her bed to get to the tag
on the bumper around her crib.

Maryn LOVES to stick out her tongue. She's been doing it constantly.

Look at me! I can sit up! Sort of...and not for long.

When I asked John to type the title of my blog for me yesterday, I just knew he was probably going to spell "you're" wrong, but I decided to trust in his new grammar skills. So much for that, I guess. Ah, well, I am working on him. He's a work in progress!

At least his grammar could improve. My sense of direction will most likely never change. So I'll still be the biggest idiot between us both. If John's grammar suddenly improves, I may need an ego boost. :) Not that John and I are AT ALL competitive with one another (ha, right).

Your (You're) just what I needed.

As I sat down to read my Bible yesterday morning, I was thinking about a million other things. First of all, I was (and have been for about the past week) exhausted. My body hurts, my head hurts, my jaw keeps getting stuck (it's been sore since my five hours of pushing in labor), and I've just about had it with this weird allergy that's going on in my throat. I had fallen far behind in my household duties. John didn't even have any clothes to wear to work and I was wearing jeans that had probably been spit up on about four times. Sigh.

So the last thing I wanted to be doing at that time was reading God's Word. If I could just work on the laundry really fast, email a friend all my complaints, or blog about my terrible life, I would feel better, surely. But I know from experience that these are the times I need to stick my nose in His Word the most, and I know that it's during these times He does awesome works in me.

This is what I read:

"For what we proclaim is Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ...We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies...So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." -2 Corinthians 4:5-18 with a few verses missing :)

Now let me randomly add that I hate it when I feel sorry for myself. It's incredibly stupid considering there's just no reason for that. I really hate pity parties, and I'm just certain God hates that, too. But anyway.

I'm not an expert stay-at-home-mom yet, but I have already learned a few things. Like that it's easy to feel like a slave. And it's easy to feel that, after a hard day's work, I just want to go home. But I already am home. And I could go out, but let's face it, going out isn't all that relaxing. So I feel kind of stuck.

But being a stay-at-home mom is my ministry. I am ministering to the needs of my family and hopefully I'll get better at ministering to the needs of the church (meaning any other Christians) and reaching out to non-believers. So slaving away over dishes, laundry, carpets, tile, and losing to three year olds at Memory time and time again really isn't so bad. I don't have to lose heart. And someday, I will get to go HOME. And my eternal home will be absolutely perfect. My body won't hurt, my head won't ache, and I'll get to ride a lion!

All right, I know that lion reference was weird, but for some reason, what I'm most looking forward to about Heaven is that I'll get to be friends with things like lions, alligators, and other things that are usually mean. At least maybe, if that's what Heaven is really like.

I was greatly encouraged by my Bible study time yesterday, and I hope that in some small way, you're encouraged by those verses, too.

On another note, I am so looking forward to MOPS tomorrow where the speaker is going to talk about meal planning. I love to hear what other moms and wives do and what routines other families have for things like meals, cleaning, etc. I guess that's one of the reasons I like the Duggars' show so much.

I am really going to try to be more hospitable to others, and not just by making people cookies. I found some good tips on this new website: The Purple Cellar

Hospitality and Housewifedom

The Purple Cellar

I'll post more on this later, but here's a good link for now.

a heavy heart, walking on clouds

This is a post I have been waiting to write for quite some time, as I rolled it over and over in my mind, thinking of the right way to break the news that many of you readers probably don't yet know. I tried to tell most of you in person, and if I didn't, I apologize. I hate for you to find out this way.

For some the news is good, and for some the news is bad. For me, the news is good and exciting, but it is also sad and scary.

John and I are moving. We're moving far away, closer to our families, yet still a good distance from them as well. And a long, long distance from all of our new friends down here in Naples. And a long, long distance from John's swim team, which may very well be the saddest thing about our move. John's passion for the past few years has been coaching, but God has instilled a new passion in him, and that is for learning.

John is accustomed to moving, having been born into a military family, where his dad must have caught the moving bug and kept moving all over the place. So it takes a while, I think, for John to make attachments. And I won't even go into my attachment issues because it hardly has to do with this--I'll save that for another post (or novel)! But anyway, both of us are very attached to this place, to the people here, and to our church. And the um, restaurants and malls and stores...

John will be beginning seminary in the fall at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. It is a place that many friends here know and where many have lived or lived nearby. But we know no one there, are unsure of how we will make money while there, and have no idea where to live. We know we will have to downsize significantly and will need to try to sell as much as we can. I will post some things we are selling soon. We may not be able to find an apartment that will allow pets, and I fear we may have to find Rosa a home (and if that's the case, the only family that is allowed to adopt her are the Gerlachs! :) ). I hope to find a family to nanny for in their home or provide day care in our own home, but as you can imagine, there are so many details involved in all that, I have no idea what will happen.

And who is to blame/thank for all this? Well, God of course, but also Kendra! Kendra and her husband, Richard have been such great friends, always on the watch for jobs for John and praying for us and with us. So when she told us about a camp director position in Ohio, our brains started working on a plan, and God's call last summer finally started to make sense.

So, to add to all this confusion, John may be working as a camp director over the summer, and maybe if it all works out, we can do that every summer over summer breaks. And that means we will be leaving Naples quite soon, the first week of May at the latest.

And that all makes moving quite complicated as we take some things to camp, and some things to a storage shelter in Louisville...or something like that.

So yes, God has uprooted us. But, my dear Neapolitan friends, we just can't stay in Naples any longer. Our lease is up in May and with the job market and construction being so uncertain, we know it wouldn't be wise to sign another lease. And even if we did think it was time for me to return to work, the job market for teachers is terrible right now and it would hardly be worth it anyway. God has been doing great works in our hearts! I am doing and saying things I never, ever thought I would.

Ministry
John doesn't know what he is being called to do exactly. But I should say this, because it's funny the way God tricks me. Early on in college, I thought it would be great to be a pastor's wife. This is because I've always made a good sidekick. A good helper. A good vice president. And then I actually dated this very worship-pastorly like guy in college. It was awful. It made me totally change my mind about everything pastoral. I never wanted to have any kind of relationship with anyone in ministry or work in a church, or anything like that. So shortly after that relationship ended, I began dating John. John, who was very quiet and hadn't read a book since who-knows-when. I remember sitting upstairs in my bedroom with John with my Introduction to Christianity book, telling him who John Calvin was and trying my best to explain Calvinism to him. And the other day, John was trying to better explain partial atonement (a point in Calvinism) to ME.

Matt and Roxann Nolton, I thank God for you. When you offered John his current job, our lives drastically changed. He had been working overnight at Target. With his new job, we were able to save a lot more money and pay off huge amounts of debt. And John was given the opportunity to sit in his truck for hours and hours every day. Which led John to listen to some excellent Christian radio stations via satellite, study his Bible, and read some excellent Christian books. Our marriage flourished and John quickly became not only the perfect guy for me (we were married, so he already was that!), but more than I ever expected or dreamed of. He has taught me so much. It is truly incredible how much I grow when he grows.

I think I am going to cut this story short (even though it is way too long right now) and say goodbye for now, since tears are now rolling down my face and I absolutely hate to cry. Please pray for us. And please, friends, let's all get together and spend as much time as we can together before it is time for us to go. Don't let me detatch myself early (attachment disorder issue #1!).

50% Off!

MacArthur Study Bibles are 50% off today and today only!

John has a MacArthur Study Bible and it is probably the best Study Bible out there. I have an ESV and it is also very good. But think of people you know that might be looking or for future Christmas/Birthday presents. This is a very good deal!

MacArthur Study Bibles 50% Off

I'd suggest getting hardback or genuine leather. John's "bonded leather" fell apart rather quickly.

Praise Baby!

I tried to take a day off today because I wasn't going to have kids all day tomorrow, but it now turns out that the kids will be coming afterall. So now I'm a little freaked out that I didn't do any laundry and all that stuff I was planning to do tomorrow.

Today was nice. We all went grocery shopping together. I actually found time to read a book. I went to a friend's house for a Shaklee party by MYSELF. I've gone out by myself about three times since Maryn was born. Then John and I watched a movie, John made dinner, and Maryn took an almost 3-hour nap. It was a pleasant, rainy, lazy day. Boy, did I need it.

Maryn has figured out how to do that blowing-blubbery thing with her lips and tongue. She isn't very good at it yet and mostly just spits a lot when she does it, but it's adorable.

We took Maryn into the worship service with us last night, and it actually went very well. We were in the overflow section in the chapel, which seemed more relaxed and I felt less pressured to keep her absolutely silent. I couldn't put her in the nursery because of the thrush thing, but I enjoyed having an excuse to keep her with us.

It's funny because I remember telling Alicia when I was pregnant, "Never let me bring my baby into worship with me!" Because I found babies to be annoying in worship and thought it would be impossible to pay attention. Oh boy, have my views changed! I had the most wonderful worship experience last night with Maryn in my arms. And I didn't have to miss half the service because of being "buzzed" to pick her up in the nursery (which happens every time after about 30 minutes).

What do you all think? Should babies and children be allowed in the worship services? I have some more thoughts on this, and a few articles and blogs we've found about it as well. I may share them with you all soon.

New Links

John and I have been leaving the television off and instead have been spending more time together in the Word, reading books, and reading blogs and resources online. Because of this I have come across a few very noteworthy blogs and resources, which I have added to my links. And because you'll find a lot of blogs where people call themselves "reformed," or "Calvinist," I thought I'd post two more links for your own reference; one link will tell you the basic points of Calvinism and a good argument against Arminianism, while the other link will give you the basic points of Arminianism and a good argument against Calvinism, written by John Wesley himself.

I do apologize if all this stuff is annoying to you, as I know it is much, much more entertaining to read about the ins and outs of my exciting life. But I assure you, there will be plenty of those kinds of posts to come!

I have found that posting to my blog every once in a while about what I'm learning about God makes me more accountable to what I am saying and helps me remember that I need to know exactly what I believe and why. So thank you, friends, for being good listeners, and I invite you to challenge, encourage, and lovingly correct.

Gotta Love Free

Bible Study Magazine and Mars Hill are giving away 20 copies of Mark Driscoll’s new book, Vintage Church. Not only that, but they are also giving away five subscriptions to Bible Study Magazine and a copy of their Bible Study Library software! Enter to win on the Bible Study Magazine Mark Driscoll page, then take a look at all the cool tools they have to take your Bible study to the next level!

Be My Valentine

As I've said before, God does not try to woo us. Love this post. Read it. Think about it. Because this is a VERY common thought today. Easy to fall into, I guess, but stupid. Yes. I said it. Stupid. God is not a "sweaty palmed 6th grade girl!"

Valentines From God

This stuff makes me shake. Literally, I am shaking from head to toe. I just hate the things people come up with sometimes. It's so wrong.

Friday Funnies

Another way to view Thomas Kinkade's Masterpieces...

I'm copying a cute idea from the GirlTalk website to post a Friday Funny--anything funny--here on Fridays. I've stumbled across quite a few funny things this week, but this is one of my favorites. I'm not posting my absolute favorite here though, because it's a little bit inappropriate if you have little ones around you, but if you want to see something REALLY funny, go here.

A day in the life of Maryn, 5 months old today!

Mom, you're gonna be in some serious trouble soon!

Hey! Where'd the baby go?

And this, my friends, is how we get sick.

Something tells me Maryn will be a thrill-seeker...

She managed to get herself into this position in about two seconds.

Act Like a Man

Sometimes I consider the reasons I love my husband. I love to look in the mirror at him as I'm brushing my teeth, because I can see him in front of his mirror. And this makes it so that I can see him from behind and from the front at the same time. Which is a little overwhelming, I must say, but I just love his manliness. And it's not that he's insensitive, and he doesn't refuse to share his feelings. He's just not prancing around crying about this and that and whining about the guy who hurt his feelings at work for taking his green tea latte. Okay. I know I probably offended some people with that, but you know by now that I just don't care. My man is a man.

All this came to my mind as I completed 1 Corinthians this morning.

"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." -1 Corinthians 16:13-14

This "act like men" stuff is common throughout the Old Testament in encouraging people, especially soldiers, to be courageous and strong, obedient to the Lord and trusting his power (see Deut. 31:6-23; Josh. 1:6-9; 10:25; 1 Chron. 28:20).

I wanted to find out if my feelings on this issue were shared. And I thought maybe I could get a man's perspective on this whole idea. I stumbled upon a new blog, which I added to my links, by a "dude" named Erik Raymond. Read the entire blog entry here.

"Since most of you who read this blog are dudes, here is my exhortation to be dudely which does not automatically mean you are godly, but if your wife is your leader than you are ungodly. You don’t have to ask God if you can lead your family, you already do. The only question is how well.

It may be easy if you are blessed with an assertive and competent wife to just let her go run the show while you sit back and spill chips on your shirt, watch the game and your belly grow. This is not what you’ve been called to do.

You and I are to lead our wife. To tirelessly work to present her as spotless and blameless before Jesus, the ultimate husband (Eph. 5.23,25-27). Don’t sit back like a chump, but step up and be a man, like Jesus, even laying down your life and interests for the sanctification and protection of your wife. I fear that too many men are comfortable acting like women and women like men."

John doesn't have me in a back corner with a doily on my head. If you know us, you certainly know that is absolutely not the case! But John empowers me to do so, so much.

I couldn't do it all without you, Johnniebear. I love you. And THANK YOU for acting like a man!

John has become one of us.

That's right. He started his own blog. Go read it and add it to your bookmarks. :)

John and I listened to some Mark Driscoll sermons on 1 Corinthians since we've both been reading that. Mark Driscoll was once known as the "cussing pastor" but has since calmed down since being mentored by John Piper. He is, however, quite eccentric, and though I certainly wouldn't want my own husband preaching the way Mark Driscoll sometimes does (he is very, very straightforward, a little--um, colorful, at times offensive), he does speak truth and he does know what he's talking about (though this hasn't always been the case). Anyway, I found this link about how his family does family devotions.

Realistic Family Devos at Dinner Time

I am definitely going to force my parents to listen to some of his sermons. They would love him, I think. Get ready, Mom!

Capturing Maryn's smile has become increasingly difficult. About 85% of the time she turns away or blinks for the flash of the camera. So I still don't have a good picture of her with her Tigger or her sippy cup, but here she is with her other favorite toy below.
Maryn has been flapping her arms like crazy. She flaps when she wants to be held, when she's excited, and when she's "done." She's also been reaching out for me. Ah, it's irresistible!

Today I had the day off from babysitting, so I was hoping to tackle our spare bedroom. I've been wanting to get rid of a lot of our books and things. But this morning I realized Maryn's "diaper rash" had only grown worse, and knew what that meant. Not a diaper rash. So I looked in her mouth and wasn't surprised to see the dreaded white spots. Thrush. I recognized it because I have very vivid memories of my brother having it some 13 or 14 years ago. How could I forget my mother telling me that my brother had a kind of yeast infection in his mouth? Sick!

Well, the sad part is why Maryn probably has this nasty fungus in her mouth. It's our fault. The sippy cup was too good at keeping her quiet in the car on the way from Orlando and we overused it. It should have been washed when instead, it was stuck in Maryn's mouth on the way home.

So today, instead of getting some other things done, we went to the doctor, Walgreen's and Calistoga (Santa Rosa Club--my favorite!!!!!!!!!). Walgreen's, by the way, was not a happy experience. At the doctor, by the way, a 3 year old (with a pacifier, I might add) tried to touch Maryn's face and her mother just stood there watching as her probably diseased child touched my daughter's fungus-y face. Sigh.

Okay, I better stop being lazy since my husband is now done preparing dinner for me, and Maryn is climbing (yes, climbing) out of her bouncy seat. She's just like her father...

Love <3

Our Trip to Orlando

Here she is with Grandpa Erdman at McDonald's in Downtown Disney.

A picture in front of my favorite princess!

Maryn doing her famous pigeon dance at the Mexican Restaurant
we visited on the way home. Yummy!

I was a bit preoccupied while in Orlando, carrying Maryn around in the Moby wrap, chatting away with Donna, etc., and didn't take many pictures. I'm not very good at taking pictures on trips. We spent much of our time testing different toys and shiny things on Maryn to see what she'd like and she absolutely fell in love with a little stuffed Tigger, which Grandma and Grandpa bought for her! She's a girl who knows how to get what she wants, I guess. :)

Having a baby at Disney World isn't much fun now that we are regulated by nap times, but we got by. I was so, so grateful for a few new things Grandma and Grandpa got her on the way home. I'll try to get pictures of her with some of her new toys and her new sippy cup. She adores them all!

Today I woke up feeling rather ill and have been trying to rest on the couch. I washed my hands like crazy while we were away, knowing that everyone around me has been sick. I guess the psychotic hand washing idea doesn't really work. John's been taking good care of me. We watched the craziest movie called Be Kind Rewind with Jack Black and Mos Def. It made me laugh.

Spirit's Work

God is really working on me a lot. Sometimes God gives us valleys to walk through to make us more like Christ. Well, He hasn't given me a valley this time. Just a lot of convictions. I'm not sure where or why or how it all started, but every day I am convicted, convicted, convicted. Mostly about three things. 1. Keeping a Rein on My Tongue 2. Glorifying God in My Body 3. Being Self-Disciplined and Efficient

I have started reading a Proverb each day, and my goodness, the Proverbs are hitting me like they've never hit me before. Here are some great ones that are helping me with that mouth problem.

"The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness." -Proverbs 16:21

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue and those who love it will eat its fruits." -Proverbs 18:21

"A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only in expressing his opinion." Proverbs 18:2

"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." -Proverbs 15:1

Oh, how these verses have helped me while caring for these little ones. And how the Lord is preparing me for situations...the ones where I should speak up, and the ones where I should not. I am having a hard time finding a balance between saying things nicely and being straightforward. I admire those that can be straightforward but kind and gentle at the same time. I wish I knew how to be that way, and pray--oh, how I pray I can be that way, someday! And that I could be a better listener, less focused on formulating my own opinion, relying on the Holy Spirit for an answer (or for silence if that is what is due).

It's so hard when God works on our character. This is my "personality," and He wants to change it. This is such a bold prayer:

"Search me, Oh God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way."
-Psalm 139:24

And sometimes I wish not to pray it. For when I do, He reveals, and twists, and turns...He is the potter, and I am the clay, that's for sure. I pray for pliability!

Yay for Sophie! We're off to the bookstore and Staples!

I love to lick my bear's foot!

Daddy, I'm no pig or donkey!

My new pacifier! I only use it sometimes, in a state of emergency.

She's like one of Pavlov's dogs.

This is what Maryn does whenever I am about to take a picture. She immediately squints or closes her eyes. I'll have to try to take more pictures outside, I guess.
Here are the kids playing in the street. Hahaha. We live at the end of a cul-de-sac, so there is very little traffic. At the very end of the the cul-de-sac there's a pile of really fine beach-like sand. So I guess there's no need for a sandbox! The kids love it. And this way they can do whatever they want with the sand and I don't have to freak out when they dump it in the grass.

Maryn is moving all over the place. We need to find a new spot for her little play gym because she now gets herself trapped under the table or hits her head on the wall, a chair, whatever. In this picture you see her at the beginning of her tummy time, but within seconds she was practically under that couch you see there, head first.

Today I am traveling over to Nathan and Bethany's where I will be caring for five children under the age of 4. Joy. It should be an interesting time. Lucky for me, 2 hours of it will be during naptime. And the other 3 hours should be interesting. But I think the older ones will play and occupy themselves fairly well, and hopefully Maryn will feel better than she did last night.

Which brings me to another teething trick. Chamomile tea, recommended by Donna (John's stepmom, Maryn's grandma), who is a camp nurse (she spent a whole week getting lice out of my hair when I was a camp counselor) and our doctor. We gave her a teaspoon or so and rubbed some on her gums. It seemed to work! It's supposed to be soothing and help babies sleep. She was out within 5 minutes, But it COULD have been my sparkling rendition of the Alphabet Song.

Well, I will try to take pictures of my adventures with Maryn (5 months), the two I babysit (3 and 4), Jaxon (3), and Jovie (10 months). Yeah. I think I'm going to bring the DVD Michele is letting me borrow...

Hey, it's educational. :)

Personality

Someone mentioned to me recently that babies are fascinating at this age because they start to show their own little personality. After hearing this, I wondered what sort of personality Maryn has, and have been looking for little cues as to what type of personality she has, and what traits she may develop later.

Well, here she is chewing on her froggy covered foot. She's very active. She watches everything, she wants to feel everything with her fingers and with her mouth, and she is usually more interested in adult food than she is her baby food. It's become increasingly difficult to eat while I nurse. It's actually almost impossible.

She's very cheerful as long as John and I are nearby and can skip naps happily as long as we are holding her. But as soon as anyone else holds her, she usually cries. Unless they look like me, I've noticed...she seems to last a bit longer.

But the one trait I've noticed in Maryn is that she seems to have a sweet spirit. She is very quick to grab things, but she doesn't grab my hair. Instead, she pets me or combs her fingers through it, not usually grabbing or pulling. It's the same with the cat. She pets Rosa softly, not usually pulling. We'll see how long that lasts! She seems to have a lot of empathy. She cries when she hears other children or babies cry, and gets very upset if we accidentally make an angry face at her.

Anyway, it may all be my imagination. But I'm going to pray God develops this sweet, gentle spirit in her. He knows she won't get too much of it from me...but maybe a little. :)

Teething, Valentines and Charts

Today we had a Valentine's Day Party! Since Teri and Michele have kids around the same ages as the little ones I babysit, we invited them over for some card making, some lunch and some playing. I think all the kids had fun. I didn't take many pictures because my camera is dying. But here you see Nicole making a card for her sweetheart: Her Daddy!

The kids have been obsessed with making charts thanks to an educational video about charts we saw last week. So here we are sorting hearts, getting ready to make a graph.

And here we are making a gummy bears graph. This helps us practice sorting, counting, numbers, and reading a chart. We have been talking about words like, "most, least, greatest, same, different, more, less..."
And here we are playing post office!

I made a surprise visit to the doctor today because Maryn was pulling on her ears. I suspected it was caused by her teething, and it was. But I certainly didn't want to go through the weekend wondering if she has an ear infection. The frozen washcloth idea is working wonders, as well as Sophie the giraffe, and we are about to try chamomile tea before bed times. Because bed times are, by far, the worst times. Mommy hasn't been sleeping so well. I'm tired, going on exhausted.

Speaking of which, it sounds like Maryn is awake. I know it's the 45-minute intruder, but she hasn't been able to put herself back to sleep lately. Looks like I'll be going to get her.

I hope I'll get some rest this weekend.

This post is boring. Sorry.

Maryn has been trying to drink out of our cups for a while now, so today I decided to give her one. It was empty of course. She seemed a bit disappointed.

Today we had a picnic at the park with my friends Michele and Teri. So with their kids, Maryn, and the two I babysat today, we had seven kids with us. It went pretty much without a hitch. I think the only problem was the bees. But we survived, and no one was stung.

I had my camera but forgot to take pictures. Too busy talking! It was so much fun and encouraging just to hang out with some moms for a while.

All three kids are sleeping right now, and I'm not quite sure what to do with myself. Although I should be doing laundry. I think we're going to make some cupcakes. Then maybe I'll put away laundry tomorrow...

I'm feeling pretty tired today. We had a rough night last night and I slept in until 7:45. I kind of feel guilty about it. And, my day always goes a bit better when I get up early, even if I am exhausted. So I really should pulled my lazy butt out of bed. I wish I could drink coffee. I kind of wanted to go to the fair tonight because tickets are half price, but John and I have had rough weeks and Maryn's bed time is at 8 AND the kids are here until 6:30. I guess Maryn will have to wait until she's older to pet a camel. I haven't been to a county fair in over five years.

Just don't even bother reading this. I'm only typing it for myself and you'll probably regret reading it anyway.

I called Kendra today in desperation, mostly just to let her know I was having the worst day ever. I usually have the worst day ever when my little 2 1/2 year old monster girl is here. I'm just not always sure what to expect from a 2 1/2 year old, so I check in with Kendra to find out if...

...it's normal for a 2 1/2 year old to not play anything.
...it's normal for a 2 1/2 year old to not play with anyone.
...it's normal for a 2 1/2 year old to throw herself on the ground and cry when anyone tries to play with her or ask her to do anything.

Normally, I keep an eye on her constantly, but I've been walking away more and more. So today I nursed Maryn for ten minutes while the 3 year old and her played in the playroom. I wondered why they were so quiet and figured it meant trouble. But the playroom is safe and there are very few things that can be permanently damaged.

Every single toy, block and puzzle was dumped in the middle of the room. The 3 year old was playing with the train quietly, looked at me, and said, "Her made a mess."

I made her sit in the corner while I put the puzzles back together. No, I didn't find every piece. In fact, the only pieces missing were the ones from the most expensive, wooden magnetic Melissa & Doug puzzle I have, that is one of my favorites. And one piece of another puzzle was bitten and chewed apart. Joy. After the puzzles were back together, she helped clean up the rest. No real harm done, I guess. I controlled my temper, not sure what to do or say or expect from this little Tasmanian devil.

So, I then decided it was time to play outside. We were all ready to go and I stopped by the restroom on the way out to find a toilet, a wall, a trashcan, and a tile floor all covered with pee. So I mopped and scrubbed and reprimanded and corrected and we role played the proper way to use the potty with the little 3 year old boy I am babysitting. He's a good kid, but I guess he was in a hurry...

And that leads me to discuss poop and pee. Because poop and pee in a 2/3 year old's life is pretty major. I do not like changing 3 year olds' diapers. It's ridiculous, and for this reason I'm secretly praying we have all girls who will be PT by 2 1/2. I keep thinking that, surely, there is pee all over my house and little bits of poop everywhere. There's no way they can be going to the restroom and washing their hands properly every time, even if I'm there and watching every move. Not to mention that Pull-Ups and disposable diapers smell awful. Big kid pee stinks, but it stinks even worse in a diaper. Our disposable diaper pail, that is now only used for the kids I watch, smells far worse than the cloth diaper pail. People think that cloth diapers must be disgusting. Let me tell you, disposables are pretty repulsive.

I know I just rambled on and on in this post about a bunch of nonsense, but I needed to rant. And now I'm going to go fold our nice, clean, fresh diapers and check on our sweet baby girl who (OH GOD, PLEASE!) will be able to follow some kind of directions, play like a normal child, and will be potty trained before three.

A busy weekend!

These pictures are backwards, most recent first.
This afternoon (Sunday) we spent some time at Coconut Point Mall, where we stopped at the Apple store, the Disney store, and had some cinnamon sticks from Auntie Anne's. John and I are some wild parents, I know. Then we visited Grammy and Grampy's house (John's grandparents) where we visited and ate dinner. Maryn took a two hour nap on their bed!

Here's Maryn after her exhausting day! Saturday, we started off at Alicia's at 10 am doing hair, makeup, getting dressed, and taking pictures. Then we went to the church, nursed, got ready again, had the ceremony, nursed, got ready again, took pictures, got ready again, and then went to the reception. And nursed. Maryn took only a few cat naps all day and all evening. So last night she had no trouble sleeping a full, straight six hours in her own bed! A feat she hasn't accomplished since she was six weeks old. Let's hope it becomes routine!

Pretty girls by the pretty cake!

The happy little family

Maryn with the flower girl a couple hours before the wedding

Maryn took a nap on Alicia's bed and then was ready to go!

My Body

I was just gathering together some activities this morning for preschoolers circling around the theme, "My Body." Coincidentally, I then went upstairs to do all the things I do to take care of my body each day (which will also be practiced and discussed with the kids). Brushing, flossing, showering, etc. I had to do some extra work today because tonight is the dress rehearsal.

I was absolutely dreading it. Not being there, because it's going to be fantastic. But not being invisible is the problem. I don't want anyone to see me in my dumpy, breastfeeding-friendly clothes. The only clothes that fit. I absolutely cannot wear any of the nicer things I own because they're too small or would be impossible for nursing.

But then I came across the dress I wore for Kari's wedding two (?) years ago, also in February. I remembered it being slightly large in the bust area then, so perhaps it would fit. Well, after about a half hour of sucking in, pulling a muscle, and squeezing into some control-top pantyhose, I got this thing on! And honestly, I look pretty darn good for having a baby four months ago. Until I sit down and my stretched out belly flab plops out, practically sitting on my lap. Sigh.

And I know that tonight and tomorrow, everyone will be saying how great I look. Because everyone knows that I did have a baby recently. But I just want people to not say that. I can't breathe, after all, and every day I feel ugly.

But then I sit here to write on my blog, and the plans I was pulling together pop up. Because in this theme, we also talking about loving and caring for the body God gave us.

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

-Psalm 139:13-14

I know these verses. I've known them by heart since college. I know I should love and appreciate the body I have, as well as the clothes I have. Why do I have to be so dissatisfied, so discontent? Why am I like that? Arrghh. I frustrate myself. I do not do, I do not think, I do not act the way I should do, think, and act.

Everyone wants to be me.

I am so cute in my babylegs and skirt!

Look! I can almost stand up by myself!

Fun, fun, fun!

I'm a really great mother. Maryn tries to strangle herself with
links and plays around
toys with small parts like cars. Ah! :)

Oh, how Maryn loves to eat her cereal!

Another day of swinging at the park.

Also, Maryn has been napping and sleeping like a champ! She usually takes a three hour nap and a two hour nap each day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. I don't have her on a schedule yet and am wondering if I want to have her on a strict nap schedule. I kind of like how flexible things are right now. But her bed time usually falls somewhere between 8 and 9. John and I go to bed at 9, so I'd like to keep it around 8. What do you moms think? To schedule or not to schedule?

With all this free time, I am starting to get bored. I'm so glad I have kids to babysit. I have no idea what I would do without them! And when Maryn is awake, I just want to cuddle her. All that sleeping makes me miss her!

Ah, they grow so fast.

Today I was supposed to babysit three kids, but my full time kids aren't coming for the rest of the week. They are sick, sick, sick. And normally one might think this would be good news for me. A vacation! But I am sad. I have no one to play with me. What am I going to do all day?

Well, it turns out that I have a bit of a sore throat and am starting to feel nauseated. Is it all in my head? I hope so. The big wedding is Saturday. I have the rehearsal on Friday, hair and make up on Saturday, pictures, and I have to walk in REALLY high heels. I can't figure out how to walk in them. I look like a moron. If someone can help me, PLEASE come over and teach me some runway tricks!

Yes, I am a bridesmaid. In Alicia's wedding. I am SO excited. But I think this might be my last bridesmaid stint. Most of my very closest friends are married now. It's OK with me, because I'm kind of over this wedding/bridesmaid thing. But Alicia and Bradd are an amazing couple truly after God's heart and purpose for their lives. Alicia was in my small group when she was a junior and a senior in high school. I was her leader! Now she is more wise and certainly more patient, kind, generous, and loving than me. Not that that's a hard thing to accomplish.


Here's Maryn with Alicia at Alicia's bridal shower. I hope someday Maryn will be a strong woman of God like Alicia. But hopefully she won't get married when she's 20. Maybe more like 30. Just kidding! If Maryn can find a guy like Bradd, or like her Daddy, I'll give her my blessing. :)

John, however, may see things differently!

My mouth is a window into my heart.. Uh-oh.

“Surely what a man does when he is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of a man he is? Surely what pops out before the man has time to put on a disguise is the truth? If there are rats in a cellar you are most likely to see them if you go in very suddenly. But the suddenness does not create the rats; it only prevents them from hiding.”

-C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity

And that is why when those negative words pop out when I lose something, drop something, or forget something, I am reminded of my sinful nature and am given an unexpected newsflash by God on how I'm really doing spiritually.

Because when I'm doing well (which is rare, by the way), I'll say "Oops!" in my head or out loud.

And when I'm not doing so well, I'll say things in my head or out loud like, "Arrghh! I'm so stupid!" Or I use words that might as well be swearing.

"Be careful, little ears what you hear...
Be careful, little eyes what you see...
Be careful, little feet where you go...
For the Father up above is looking down in love,
Oh be careful..."


"From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so." -James 3:10


Every morning I sing "Jesus Loves Me" with Maryn and we pray together. And every day I also somehow slip up in the use of my words. How sad that is.

Unfortunately, going through the motions just isn't enough sometimes. I need to practice in, and be held accountable for, my language, my attitude, my heart.

Book Review and Super Bowl Fun

The Duggars: 20 and Counting

I have been watching the Duggars on TLC in their show 17 Kids and Counting (watch it Tuesdays at 9), which will soon be 18 Kids and Counting, as they just had their 18th child in December.

The intro of the show starts off with Michelle, the mother, introducing her family and explaining some of the ways their family operates. During this intro, I always try to remember each child's name and wonder at how many people watch this program for the entertainment of watching some kind of freak show.

Freak show. Michelle has given birth to 18 children. The kids never watch TV, just some educational videos. The kids are home schooled. The girls wear skirts and the boys wear collared shirts. And the intro shows the family standing in a circle, holding hands and praying. Weird!

Weird? It should be more shocking to us to watch the more common TV family dynamics of a dominating, high strung wife and a dopey, overweight and slothful father with the more popular parenting beliefs of "Let children make mistakes, (which is true in some circumstances, but for goodness sake!)" and where struggles with major addictions such as pornography, alcohol and drugs are not only accepted but expected. "It's something all kids/marriages go through."

No, it's not.

There aren't many things that, if I had the conviction and self-control, I wouldn't like to copy from the Duggar family. And now that I have read their book, I am even more convicted. This book reminded me of our commitment to pay off our debts and not accumulate more. It convicted me of my impatience with Maryn, John, the children I babysit, and others. It made me really think about home schooling and that, it would actually be more awkward to send my children away for 7 hours per day than it would to spend some extra time, money and make a few sacrifices to teach my own children and hold them to God's standards, under my authority, instead of to the State's standards and under the authority of people I wouldn't trust to take care of my cat. And be exposed to the disrespect, attitudes, language...of children such as those living in our neighborhood.

When you watch the show, you start to ask yourself questions, like, "Should children really be sheltered that way?" But if you watch it and you read the book, you quickly realize these kids aren't sheltered, and they're probably going to turn out quite well.

Anyway, get the book ASAP. You'll find useful, practical recipes, organization tips and things like that. You'll learn why the Duggars decided not to use birth control after a miscarriage, about Jim Bob's experiences with politics, some truly incredible, inspiring stories about how God has blessed them in times of trial. And how their faithfulness, prayers and patience have "paid" off in a variety of ways.

Super Bowl Fun

Maryn finally got to spend some time with her BFF London while not in a stroller or nursing in the "nursing room" at church. They loved each other. We tried to capture the cutest moments, such as when London was sucking on Maryn's thumb and when Maryn wanted to have her bunny-feet in London's face, but our cameras weren't fast enough. But it was adorable.