Little He or Little She?

The butterflies began fluttering as soon as I arrived at Abby and Amanda's house. I couldn't believe the day had finally arrived. We were going to find out the gender! Wait, who's baby is this? Certainly not mine, but for a second I had to remind myself I'm not the one who's pregnant here. Gender reveal parties are where it's at! The suspense, the excitement, the waiting, and then...the REVEAL! It's a big deal. And only those who have participated can truly understand the joy + eager anticipation that are involved.

 

We had a small get together Saturday night to celebrate our good friends Stephen and Heather Jackson and the newest addition to their already precious family of three.

Little Kiah came running into the living room clueless as to what we were all doing. All she cared about were the pink and blue m&m's set on display. As we took pictures voting on what we thought the Jackson's baby gender is, Kiah was not to be left out.

"Pick blue or pink, Kiah. Do you think you'll have a baby brother or baby sister?"

She chose pink!

The rest of the votes...

We enjoyed a delicious meal together but not without our conversations centering on that cake and what color would be seen once it was cut. We just couldn't wait!!! Dishes were cleaned just as quickly as the food was devoured and the time had come to pop open the champagne (sparkling grape juice for Heather!) and let the Jackson's slice into that cake! Shrills from the ladies and woooo's from the guys led up to that last moment and then...

IT'S A BOY!!!!   

 

 

Everyone was so excited! Heather really wanted a boy and Stephen got his mini-me. And once again, I was wrong! Note to self and others: when asking what I think a baby's gender will be know that it'll always be the opposite of what I guess. I've never been right, not even once.

We immediately checked the gender reveal picture just to be sure. Because, you know, we're ultrasound technicians and know exactly what we're looking for.

The cake ended up tasting better than we had thought it would and the pop of blue made it that much better!

Seriously, gender reveal parties are the best! I loved every moment spending it with my friends and eagerly waiting to see what color was inside that cake. How blessed that little boy is to have such wonderful and God-fearing parents in Stephen and Heather and a sweet and loving big sister in Kiah! Now the next reveal will be when we get to finally meet the little guy--I can't wait! Here's to great friends, a new baby boy, and being a great big sister!

"You mean I have to share my mommy and daddy now?" 

Cabin Fever

Ok, before I get shot by all my midwestern friends and family, can I just say we're getting cabin fever down here too? I'm tired of this winter, I'm tired of this weather, I'm tired of being cooped up in our house with no where to go because anything fun indoors costs money. Just the other day Travis and I agreed they need to make an indoor place that's fun for kids (i.e. playground) that doesn't cost money. Who's with me?! I know I can get an "AMEN" from my fellow SAHMs! I mean, you can only get one free hour of childcare at the YMCA a day, and you can only go to the pet store so often before employees are like "Oh, you again? So you're still not going to buy anything, right?" We tried the library for their story hour last week and that was an epic fail. Anna just wanted to pound type on the computer keyboards the whole time. So we may wait a few months before returning.

We've been trying to get creative around the house since we've been stuck inside. Like wash our hands, because it's fun and it keeps someone busy for 5 minutes. Anna's new favorite game is putting a piece of clothing or blanket or towel over her head and pretending like she's a ghost. I have no idea where she got that from because I don't remember doing it. So she must be watching way to many scary movies. I should talk to someone about that, she's way to young. She loves hats--for about 2 seconds. She'd rather you wear the hat than her, but if you insist that you really don't want to wear the Columbus Blue Jackets Stinger hat for the umpteenth time then she'll relent and wear it herself. Her new favorite hat is this one:

Ok, this is super horrible quality because it's from my dumb phone (aka not a smart phone) but I want you to see that what she's wearing is, in fact, not a hat but a skirt. I repeat, the thing on her head is a skirt but she adamantly thinks it's a hat and tries to wear it all the time. Is that not the cutest thing ever?! At least she hasn't tried to leave the house in it. And here she finally agrees to wear the Blue Jackets hat, although it usually adorns Travis' head:

Again, horrible quality, but you get the idea.

So what have you been doing to fight the chilling temperatures and snow? Any suggestions for a desperate mother? I've been thinking of trying the 'no poo' regiment everyone's posting about on Facebook since I don't have anywhere to go and no one to see for the next six weeks. Might as well let my hair get nasty and greasy while we're trying to stay warm inside!

As of Lately

I've already broken my new year's resolutions. So that's great. But, wait, didn't I say they were more like reflections? So, I'm good. I'll just pick up where I left off 3 weeks ago.

I painted Anna's toenails for the first time! And I have to say they are the cutest little piggies I ever did see. I had to bribe her with food in her highchair while I quickly swiped each toe. I think more paint ended up on her skin than the actual nail but it all came off in the bath so who cares, really? Again, cutest little piggies EVER:

A week and a half ago we loaded up the 12 passenger Urban Eagles van with the Urban Eagles staff leaders, wives, and two toddlers and headed two hours to the mountains for a little retreat. It was a great weekend filled with worship and planning surrounded by beautiful scenery. We left refreshed and without my keys (to just about everything). So the only logical thing to do was return, just the three of us, the next weekend for a little getaway!

Perfect, right?! Well it would've been had I not gotten food poisoning the one night we stayed. (Note to self, and really all mothers for that matter: don't ever get sick. Just don't do it. It's bad enough when you only have to take care of yourself but when you now have a little one to take care of it becomes 100 times worse. So just don't plan on getting sick. Ever. Unless, of course, you have an amazing husband, significant other, mother, friend, etc. to basically do everything and more for you, and in that case, get sick all the time!)

Before I got sick and was up all night vomiting, we had a wonderful day relaxing, reading, napping, and enjoying the breathtaking view outside our window. It really was perfect. We saw the sun set and the sun rise. Travis built a little fire. We tried a game of Scrabble, and then when we realized we both have a horrible vocabulary we quit. I mean, we were putting down words like "lid" and "nope". I think my only word that was longer than three letters was "kindle". Pretty embarrassed by this so let's move on.

Let's talk about this child's hair. When is a good time to get a little girl's first haircut? You know, I was thinking I'd at least wait until she was 3 or 4 when her hair's really long, down to her butt, and there's nothing else to do but cut it. But if you see, it's starting to get a little crazy. To cut or not to cut? What do you think? I mean, she still looks absolutely beautiful but Travis thinks it needs a little shape. I'm still on the fence.

If you're wondering, we've gone down to one nursing session a day. I just couldn't give up that bedtime feeding, just not yet. However, even with that one session, we're still able to get in ample cuddle time. I was afraid that would just disappear. It hasn't, we cuddle right before nap after I give her a bottle of whole milk. She falls asleep on me and it's just amazing. I know, you're supposed to put the baby in the crib before she falls asleep, yadda yadda, but that just doesn't work for me us. I can even slip in a quick 10 minute nap as she's falling asleep too. It's been perfect! I know I'll probably get back on here in a couple of months asking advice on how to get my baby to sleep without having to cuddle, but just let me have these moments. I only get them for so long.

So the beginning of 2014? Not bad (if you don't count my little food poisoning episode). I'm about done with this frigid weather though--well, frigid for Charlotte. These 30 and 40 degree days are not fun for a mother of a toddler, let me tell you. Ok, now before all my midwestern friends shoot me for complaining about our fair weather, I'll go ahead and say, 'til next post!

My (Not So) New Year's Resolutions

New Years Eve, December 31, 2012

2013, have you really come and gone just like that? How is it possible that in just a week it'll be a year since Travis left for SE Asia and Anna and I headed to Ohio to be with family for two weeks? How did the year fly by beginning with us having a tiny baby and now we enter a new year with a walking, talking babbling, gets into everything, toddler? I guess that's just what happens when you become a parent. The years really do just fly by, and nothing like they ever did before that little bundle of joy came along. Seriously, time flew before she came but now that she's been with us for over a year it literally feels like I blinked and 2013 is over.

I try not to participate in new years resolutions. Not that I don't think they're great but they're just not for me. I'm not a big picture sorta gal. Big goals and aspirations scare me, they're just too...big. I'd rather look back to 2013 and see where God carried me, and maybe those moments will take me into 2014 with hopes and dreams I will more likely achieve.

1. I didn't write enough. Anna's baby journal, my personal journal, this blog. Writing just wasn't a priority like it had been in previous years. I can probably chalk it up to being a full-time mom and having more important things to do than sit in my little corner and put pen to paper (if you're one of those awesome parents who can still find time, I envy you). I will say I missed it though. Every time I'd open Anna's journal, my journal, or this blog and see the last date I had posted an entry a piece of me grieved knowing I had missed out on writing memories I may soon forget. Therefore, it's simple really, I hope to write more in 2014. Easy enough with a toddler around now, right?

2. I didn't read enough. I don't think I read one fiction book. My heart just broke a little as I wrote that. B.A. (before Anna) I would read almost every night as a way to calm me to sleep. Now I can barely get through two sentences before I'm reading the back of my eyelids. Don't get me wrong, I still read, on the occasional evening that I can make it through a few pages. These books I'm reading though are all about parenting and your child. All the books I've read have been very helpful but I sure miss the suspense, the love, and the excitement a good fiction can only bring. I also didn't read enough of the Word which I miss so much. So my goal for 2014 is to read more fiction and the Bible since I already read everything I need to know about parenting in 2013. Ha, yeah, right.

3. I didn't eat good enough. Ok, isn't this (along with working out) everyones new year's resolution? I can't say this will be a resolution of mine this year, however. Only because I love food, my diet isn't absolutely horrible, and I take a multivitamin that makes me feel better about not eating enough greens.

4. Our YMCA membership has been one of my best friends. We see each other at least three times a week. And I won't deny the fact that I go for the free childcare. I get an hour to do whatever I want. I can take a class, run on the treadmill, swim a few laps, or sit in the sauna. I don't have huge aspirations for my new friendship, just that we'd continue doing what we've been doing, those 3 hours a week are saving my life. Thank you, Y, thank you.

5. Date nights have never been so good (and coveted). What do you do when your parents aren't around to watch the babe? You enlist in good friends and interns. Yep, we had our interns who admitted to not changing a diaper before watch our precious little Anna. We were that desperate. And they have proven to be two of Anna's favorite playdates, not to mention brilliant at putting her to sleep. I'm praying that 2014 sees many more dates because God knows we still need just us time especially living in the ministry and being new parents.

Again, these aren't necessarily goals as much as they are memories of the last year that I hope I can do better with in the year to come. New resolutions and I just do not mix well. They're too big and when I don't accomplish them I'm just too hard on myself. I'd rather just not try than try and fail. So my small goals (since I don't like big goals) for 2014 are to write, read, eat, workout, and love just a little bit more than I already do. Not too difficult, right?

New Year's Eve, December 31, 2013

Can't get enough of new year's kisses! 

A glimpse into the future, maybe?  I pray laughter is a constant in mine and my daughter's relationship.