Yesterday was Rob's birthday. We essentially didn't have a moment of down-time (being that it fell on a Sunday this year) so we didn't really do anything birthday-related. Some friends of ours, Craig and Mandy and Rob and I did go out to dinner for Rob's birthday on Friday night though. And, I might say he got a super cool present... it's something he was hoping for, but very unlikely to get! Thanks to his mom and step dad, my dad and Tasha, Craig and Mandy and the kids and I, however... he got what he was hoping for. I won't ruin his surprise though, you can check out his blog www.robbuhl.blogspot.com, I'm sure he'll update it soon with some more information on his cool new present. Either way, you should leave a message on his blog and wish him a happy belated birthday!
Rob has been a wonderful friend, an incredible husband and and the greatest daddy ever! I'm glad that we get to celebrate another year with him. Happy Birthday Rob!
Monday, October 30, 2006
Monday, October 23, 2006
Miss Manners
We've been working on manners with Leeann for the better part of her life now. It's really cute when she finally "get's it". She's started to ask "May I?" whenever she wants something, or wants to do something. "May I get down? May I have another bite? May I come into your room?" May I was something we've worked on for what seems like forever.
Well, lately we've been working on conversations. When we sit down for dinner I tend to over emphatically ask Rob how his day was and what he did at work. Then she tends to copy me and ask the same questions. Every once in a while Leeann will chime in at random times during the day and ask me how my day was.
Well, this morning Leeann woke up and came downstairs and looked at me through sleepy eyes. "How was your day mommy?" It was hard to answer since it just got started... I don't think she's quite gotten the context yet... but it was still cute :0)
In other news: I've been experiencing random pains again. They come and go, and they have for several years now. It started in my shoulder occasionally then spread to my hip and now it's settled in my knee and is causing me quite a bit of pain there. It makes it difficult to function in day-to-day routines. These last two night I haven't slept well either because of it. Just about the time it gets so bad I can't stand it anymore, it seems to let up, or go away all-together, only to come back again at some point. My last really painful time was in late July, and I've only had random occasional pains since then.
I feel like an old lady sometimes... and I'm only 24!
The kids don't seem to know that mommy's in pain. I'm pretty sure they would just play contently and quietly all day if they knew! I don't know if they've been overly fussy, or if I've been overly irritable but these past couple of days have been awfully stressful around here. Maybe we just need to get out of the house? Now there's a thought! Maybe that's what we'll do today? Hmmm...
Just about the time I think about how "rough" my life is, or how much "pain" I'm in... I go here: www.rebekahspage.blogspot.com. I only met Rebekah once, on Leeann's adoption day (her dad was our lawyer), but that one meeting and lot's of blog-reading later, my perspective on life may never be the same. It's a good perspective! With that, I'm going to stop complaining :0) I hope your day is wonderful!
Well, lately we've been working on conversations. When we sit down for dinner I tend to over emphatically ask Rob how his day was and what he did at work. Then she tends to copy me and ask the same questions. Every once in a while Leeann will chime in at random times during the day and ask me how my day was.
Well, this morning Leeann woke up and came downstairs and looked at me through sleepy eyes. "How was your day mommy?" It was hard to answer since it just got started... I don't think she's quite gotten the context yet... but it was still cute :0)
In other news: I've been experiencing random pains again. They come and go, and they have for several years now. It started in my shoulder occasionally then spread to my hip and now it's settled in my knee and is causing me quite a bit of pain there. It makes it difficult to function in day-to-day routines. These last two night I haven't slept well either because of it. Just about the time it gets so bad I can't stand it anymore, it seems to let up, or go away all-together, only to come back again at some point. My last really painful time was in late July, and I've only had random occasional pains since then.
I feel like an old lady sometimes... and I'm only 24!
The kids don't seem to know that mommy's in pain. I'm pretty sure they would just play contently and quietly all day if they knew! I don't know if they've been overly fussy, or if I've been overly irritable but these past couple of days have been awfully stressful around here. Maybe we just need to get out of the house? Now there's a thought! Maybe that's what we'll do today? Hmmm...
Just about the time I think about how "rough" my life is, or how much "pain" I'm in... I go here: www.rebekahspage.blogspot.com. I only met Rebekah once, on Leeann's adoption day (her dad was our lawyer), but that one meeting and lot's of blog-reading later, my perspective on life may never be the same. It's a good perspective! With that, I'm going to stop complaining :0) I hope your day is wonderful!
Friday, October 20, 2006
Get me a one way ticket...
... to the looney bin! It's a wonder any mom escapes child-rearing without at least one trip to the looney bin.
Titus has been crying for oh, about 2 hours now. Snuggling doesn't help, he's not a snuggler. Isolating him doesn't help, he just cries. Feeding him? Not interested. Wet diaper? Not a drop. Tired? Yup, but he's not giving in.
So what do I do? I give him a cup of formula. Maybe he's thirsty? He downed half of the cup in 3.2 seconds. I set the cup down so I could burp him, as is customary 1/3 to 1/2 way through a cup. He doesn't want to burp, he's screaming at the top of his lungs lunging toward the cup, so I give him more. He get's most of the way to the bottom and starts crying again, so I try burping again. Still not interested, but still screaming. So I try for a little snuggle time, maybe he's sick and just needs mommy? Man, am I not very wise! The whole cup of formula came up, right down the front of my shirt, and all over him. Keep in mind, he'd been screaming for more than an hour at this point so my nerves were already fried!
This was an almost verbatim repeat of an episode last Friday night, but Brenna was over and was able to help me clean up the situation. This time, I was all alone. Leeann was offering to help because she's so sweet, but the reality is... well, Brenna was a little more helpful!
The only redeeming factor is how cute Titus was in the shower as I was trying to clean him off. I placed him out of the water but he was cold so he scooted into the water. I placed him backwards so it wouldn't get in his face, but he turned around and looked straight into the water and held his mouth open like a little birdy trying to drink the rain! It was so cute! I have a fear of water in my face, so he didn't get that from me! He's in his crib now, settling down. I need some Starbucks, or Steamers, or ice cream... or something! It's been a long day and it's only 3! Maybe I just need a nap, or maybe that one way ticket?
Titus has been crying for oh, about 2 hours now. Snuggling doesn't help, he's not a snuggler. Isolating him doesn't help, he just cries. Feeding him? Not interested. Wet diaper? Not a drop. Tired? Yup, but he's not giving in.
So what do I do? I give him a cup of formula. Maybe he's thirsty? He downed half of the cup in 3.2 seconds. I set the cup down so I could burp him, as is customary 1/3 to 1/2 way through a cup. He doesn't want to burp, he's screaming at the top of his lungs lunging toward the cup, so I give him more. He get's most of the way to the bottom and starts crying again, so I try burping again. Still not interested, but still screaming. So I try for a little snuggle time, maybe he's sick and just needs mommy? Man, am I not very wise! The whole cup of formula came up, right down the front of my shirt, and all over him. Keep in mind, he'd been screaming for more than an hour at this point so my nerves were already fried!
This was an almost verbatim repeat of an episode last Friday night, but Brenna was over and was able to help me clean up the situation. This time, I was all alone. Leeann was offering to help because she's so sweet, but the reality is... well, Brenna was a little more helpful!
The only redeeming factor is how cute Titus was in the shower as I was trying to clean him off. I placed him out of the water but he was cold so he scooted into the water. I placed him backwards so it wouldn't get in his face, but he turned around and looked straight into the water and held his mouth open like a little birdy trying to drink the rain! It was so cute! I have a fear of water in my face, so he didn't get that from me! He's in his crib now, settling down. I need some Starbucks, or Steamers, or ice cream... or something! It's been a long day and it's only 3! Maybe I just need a nap, or maybe that one way ticket?
Titus's Stats
Titus went to the doctor on Tuesday and he's still off the bottom of the charts. He weighs 15 lbs 9 ozs and he's 26.25 inches long. The doctor said out of a thousand kids his age, he'd be one of the 5 smallest! He's still not overly worried because Rob and I are obviously small, and he's still proportionate and developmentally right on cue. He's got a thought in mind for how big he ought to be at a year, and if he doesn't meet that than he'll start checking things out just to make sure. My poor child is going to be toted around in his backward facing infant carrier until he's 2!
But, he's happy as can be and developing just fine. Rob and I both have brothers who are over 6 feet tall. I was a little hopeful that Titus might get some of those genes, at least enough to make him average, but it looks like he's definately going to be a little one! The doctor guesses he'll probably be 5'4" or maybe 5'5". We'll see!
But, he's happy as can be and developing just fine. Rob and I both have brothers who are over 6 feet tall. I was a little hopeful that Titus might get some of those genes, at least enough to make him average, but it looks like he's definately going to be a little one! The doctor guesses he'll probably be 5'4" or maybe 5'5". We'll see!
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Pastor's Appreciation Month
That's right folks, it's Pastor's Appreciation Month.
Moral of the post? Let your Pastor know you appreciate him! That's all...
Moral of the post? Let your Pastor know you appreciate him! That's all...
WOW!
Our church held an "Advanced Foundations Banquet" on Friday night to take advanced pledges toward our Capital Campaign. We are planning on building a 3,500 sq ft foyer (our current foyer is the size of a postage stamp!) and some offices to accomodate the growing number of staff and volunteers. We are also hoping to remodel the children's and nursery wings and maybe even the youth room too. Our goal is to raise $1 million in one time gifts or three year pledges. We raised $434,000 of it at our adanced foundations banquet. The majority of the families in our church will get the opportunity to make pledges on November 5th. It's quite exciting! God is doing great things in our church and I'm excited to get to be a part of it!
Monday, October 16, 2006
3 a.m.
My dear sweet son decided to wake up at 3:00 this morning. Needless to say, I was not too excited! He's been sleeping through the night for nearly 2 months now. I sure don't miss those middle of the night adventures! A jar of baby food, a diaper change and a little bit of snuggles later and we both went back to sleep for the night.
Other than that, there's not a whole lot to mention here. Life seems to be going on as normal lately. The dishes still get dirty, the kids still need fed and the laundry still needs done... and on and on it goes!
Other than that, there's not a whole lot to mention here. Life seems to be going on as normal lately. The dishes still get dirty, the kids still need fed and the laundry still needs done... and on and on it goes!
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Alone Time, Attitude, Conference and Root Canal
Alone Time
Rob, Leeann and Titus went up to visit Rob's family last Wednesday night and they stayed up there for 3 whole days! Did you catch who wasn't there? Me! That's right, I spend 3 whole days childless. It was good, but it was also hard... that's a long time to be without my babies! I nearly lost it when I put Titus into his car seat as I sent them on their way. We all survived, and Rob actually did really well with the kids. I secretly think it's really good because it makes Rob more confident in his abilities with the kids (Titus especially!). He does wonderfully with them, sometimes he just needs a little bit of encouragement :0)
We had originally taken those days off and planned a family trip up to WA., but then I got a flyer in the mail for a Children's Ministry Conference in Eugene. The speaker was Craig Jutila who's the Children's Pastor at Saddleback, and I simply couldn't pass up the opportunity to hear him speak, especially since it was less than an hours drive from here. We thought about rearranging our days off, but than decided that maybe it would be best if Rob went ahead and took the kids up with him. It worked out well. In fact, I'd say it was a God thing!
Conference
Wow! The conference was amazing! Julie (a friend of mine who also works with kids at our church) went with me to the conference. I don't feel like I would do justice even beginning to try to explain the many things he talked about. I appreciate his ministry and the ministry of his church. They do a lot to train other leaders to be effective in ministry, regardless of their size or location. Their goal isn't to grow their church, but to win kids to Christ and grow them spiritually... wherever it is that might be! They do that by training leaders from other churches to do ministry effectively wherever their at. It's exciting!
Attitude
Titus has an attitude lately. It's getting on my nerves. My sweet, laid-back even tempered little boy is undoubtedly getting an opinion of his own! Any time I put him in his pack-n-play he screams. If I walk into a room, he screams. If I put him in his exersaucer, he screams. This isn't a cute scream either. It's obnoxious. I know that he just wants to explore his world, but man, my nerves are shot! :0)
Root Canal
I went into get a cavity filled yesterday and came out with a root canal. Apparently it was worse than they thought it was. I was a little worn out yesterday, and my teeth are hurting this morning, but it hasn't been too bad so far. Do you want to hear a great story?
I knew coming into this appointment that I was going to have to pay some money out-of-pocket. We are doing just fine financially, it's just the unexpected expenses that stress us out a little. You know, like dentist appointments and root canals and stuff! Well, last week we received a gift that covered all but $16 of my dentist appointment. God is good! But oh wait, it gets better!
Sunday Rob and I received a check. We were quite overwhelmed with the amount of money that unexpectedly came through our hands. We talked Sunday night about why God would do that, and what he wanted us to do with it. Well, we didn't have to think long, because Monday morning came around and I needed an emergency root canal. And apparently after a root canal you need to get your tooth crowned. Total cost? $2 more than the check we had just received! Crazy huh? I think God has really been working in my heart to trust him. He's the provider of all things and he cares about me. He cares about you too, do you trust him even when things seem impossible? The bottom line is without that check, if I had gone in yesterday morning and found out that I needed a root canal (and the money attached to it) I would have cried. I would have cried really, really hard. But instead, I laughed. I laughed because God was showing me in such a tangible way, that he indeed is in control and that he cares!
Rob, Leeann and Titus went up to visit Rob's family last Wednesday night and they stayed up there for 3 whole days! Did you catch who wasn't there? Me! That's right, I spend 3 whole days childless. It was good, but it was also hard... that's a long time to be without my babies! I nearly lost it when I put Titus into his car seat as I sent them on their way. We all survived, and Rob actually did really well with the kids. I secretly think it's really good because it makes Rob more confident in his abilities with the kids (Titus especially!). He does wonderfully with them, sometimes he just needs a little bit of encouragement :0)
We had originally taken those days off and planned a family trip up to WA., but then I got a flyer in the mail for a Children's Ministry Conference in Eugene. The speaker was Craig Jutila who's the Children's Pastor at Saddleback, and I simply couldn't pass up the opportunity to hear him speak, especially since it was less than an hours drive from here. We thought about rearranging our days off, but than decided that maybe it would be best if Rob went ahead and took the kids up with him. It worked out well. In fact, I'd say it was a God thing!
Conference
Wow! The conference was amazing! Julie (a friend of mine who also works with kids at our church) went with me to the conference. I don't feel like I would do justice even beginning to try to explain the many things he talked about. I appreciate his ministry and the ministry of his church. They do a lot to train other leaders to be effective in ministry, regardless of their size or location. Their goal isn't to grow their church, but to win kids to Christ and grow them spiritually... wherever it is that might be! They do that by training leaders from other churches to do ministry effectively wherever their at. It's exciting!
Attitude
Titus has an attitude lately. It's getting on my nerves. My sweet, laid-back even tempered little boy is undoubtedly getting an opinion of his own! Any time I put him in his pack-n-play he screams. If I walk into a room, he screams. If I put him in his exersaucer, he screams. This isn't a cute scream either. It's obnoxious. I know that he just wants to explore his world, but man, my nerves are shot! :0)
Root Canal
I went into get a cavity filled yesterday and came out with a root canal. Apparently it was worse than they thought it was. I was a little worn out yesterday, and my teeth are hurting this morning, but it hasn't been too bad so far. Do you want to hear a great story?
I knew coming into this appointment that I was going to have to pay some money out-of-pocket. We are doing just fine financially, it's just the unexpected expenses that stress us out a little. You know, like dentist appointments and root canals and stuff! Well, last week we received a gift that covered all but $16 of my dentist appointment. God is good! But oh wait, it gets better!
Sunday Rob and I received a check. We were quite overwhelmed with the amount of money that unexpectedly came through our hands. We talked Sunday night about why God would do that, and what he wanted us to do with it. Well, we didn't have to think long, because Monday morning came around and I needed an emergency root canal. And apparently after a root canal you need to get your tooth crowned. Total cost? $2 more than the check we had just received! Crazy huh? I think God has really been working in my heart to trust him. He's the provider of all things and he cares about me. He cares about you too, do you trust him even when things seem impossible? The bottom line is without that check, if I had gone in yesterday morning and found out that I needed a root canal (and the money attached to it) I would have cried. I would have cried really, really hard. But instead, I laughed. I laughed because God was showing me in such a tangible way, that he indeed is in control and that he cares!
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Monday, October 02, 2006
10 Months Old Today
My baby boy is 10 months old today. I've said this before and I'll keep on saying it--time flies!
Titus has one tooth (his bottom right)
He sits up for extended periods of time without problem
He's ditched the army crawl for the baby crawl
He climbs up on furniture and walks around it
He loves to clap his hands, especially when he see's someone excited, or when you tell him no!
His favorite song is ABC's, he stops crying when you sing it to him, especially if your name is Leeann
His favorite person is his sister
He smiles--a lot!
He loves to laugh and giggle
He sometimes says 'da-da'
He travels well, we rarely have problems with him in the car, but that might be because he gets to just stare at his sister!
He's sleeping through the night, on average 11 hours even
He's starting to revolt against the pack-n-play, he wants his freedom
He's super squirmy. Changing him and bathing him are very difficult at this stage
He's never met a food item that he didn't like, just like his sister
He loves going on walks
He's rarely fussy when we're around people or in a new place, he's just taking in the world!
His eyes are brown around his pupil, then they're blue on the outside. What color does that make his eyes? Blown?
He's still in 3-6 month clothes for the most part
He's still off the bottom of the charts in height and weight
He still looks like he's about 6 months old
Anytime I walk into the room he starts crying. It gets obnoxious!
He's the most handsome little boy I ever did see!!!
And now you know most everything there is to know about my 10 month-old son!
Signed,
Proud Mommy
Lazy Boy
I am making a prediction: Titus is going to be lazy. It's just a prediction, but now it's in writing. No, I don't know this for sure, but it's a good guess at least. Here's why-
Titus has never been willing to 'work' for his milk. Because the body works on supply and demand, if you don't use it you lose it. We recently started switching him over to formula to keep him hydrated. Or, try to anyway, because nursing wasn't providing him with what he needed. Well, the problem is, he wouldn't drink it. He'd get a few drinks here and a few drinks there, but he'd leave 1/2 to 3/4 of a 6 oz sippy cup of formula in the cup. This obviously isn't enough to keep him hydrated. He's been super-fussy lately and I imagine that was part of the problem, but he just wouldn't drink it.
Well, Saturday night Rob took the stopper out of the cup (it's a valve that makes it spill-proof) and Titus downed almost the entire cup in a matter of about a minute! He drank two full cups yesterday also by using this new method. You see, he's very capable of sucking liquids out of a sippy cup with a stopper in it. He's been able to for months now, but he doesn't want to work for it so he'll stop after the first couple of sucks. As long as it's free flowing though, the kid will drink to his hearts content! So, for now, we'll go with the stopper-less sippy cup, and we'll see if my prediction turns out to be true!
Titus has never been willing to 'work' for his milk. Because the body works on supply and demand, if you don't use it you lose it. We recently started switching him over to formula to keep him hydrated. Or, try to anyway, because nursing wasn't providing him with what he needed. Well, the problem is, he wouldn't drink it. He'd get a few drinks here and a few drinks there, but he'd leave 1/2 to 3/4 of a 6 oz sippy cup of formula in the cup. This obviously isn't enough to keep him hydrated. He's been super-fussy lately and I imagine that was part of the problem, but he just wouldn't drink it.
Well, Saturday night Rob took the stopper out of the cup (it's a valve that makes it spill-proof) and Titus downed almost the entire cup in a matter of about a minute! He drank two full cups yesterday also by using this new method. You see, he's very capable of sucking liquids out of a sippy cup with a stopper in it. He's been able to for months now, but he doesn't want to work for it so he'll stop after the first couple of sucks. As long as it's free flowing though, the kid will drink to his hearts content! So, for now, we'll go with the stopper-less sippy cup, and we'll see if my prediction turns out to be true!
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