tiny helper

Today Mia wanted to help with the laundry, as she often does. So I gave her a small stack of her clothes and some of Jacksons. She smiled and walked upstairs with a breathy "Byyye Mama!"

30 seconds later I heard her yell from the top of her lungs "JuWeee!! My all finish!!!"

(Julie I'm all finished!) Now THAT'S funny!

how to end a rough day

some snuggle time with loveys...

and Mama's homemade chocolate chip cookies!

this guy looks just like his daddy... complete with food on his face and everything!

and here's Mia explaining why she is too busy to have her picture taken for my heart-warming blog entry!

A Special place for Meeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!

Today I took Mia to do something SPECIAL. Being a 2nd child and only 2, she rarely gets to do things that are specifically designed just for her. Since I had a coupon for Build a Bear, I decided to take her this morning before it expired tomorrow. We had so much fun! When we got to the parking lot I was just talking and not really knowing if she was listening or not. I said to her “Mia, Mama is taking you somewhere SPECIAL!” and she said in her sweet breathy voice “Oooh!!! Wheeerrrre Mama?” I explained to get a special bear or bunny. We were on the way there after a quick potty stop for her and she said so excitedly “A SPECIAL PLACE FOR MEEEE!!!!!!!!!”
Here are some cute pictures of her building her bunny. She was so cute and happy and we had the entire place to ourselves, so she was doted on as she so rightly deserves!!

Here also are some pictures of her helping herself to a snack this morning!

And a picture of her yesterday, on our way to take Bubba his lunch at school and eat with him there!















To see all the pictures go here: share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=2AasXLFy3ZMWJN

A Stick with a dot on top!!

Jackson is really loving his new school! We leave every morning by 7:40am (since our car apparently wasn’t getting him there fast enough to get one of the 2 engines to play with in the mornings!). SO even though school really doesn’t start until 8:15, we are there by 7:55 or 8am so he can get some playtime in! He is really learning a ton! Even in just a few days he was writing his name on the top of his papers (to the best of his ability, I’ll take a picture of it and post it). He was telling me what different letters look like (for instance, the letter “i” is a stick – index finger pointed up – with a dot on top!) Cute stuff. He sings his ABC’s all of the time. He sings me the silly songs he learns from his teacher. He has shown me how to gallop (learned it in PE, one of his favorite things because he is “Super fast! I have my jet engines on and I run the fastest!). He loves his teacher Mrs. Marshall. He has learned in entirety, his very first scripture memory verse “Genesis 1:1, In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.” He always likes to tell me “Gen. 1:1, 1 and 1 is TWO!” At lunch today he said “I don’t know how God made the whole earth!” and I said “I don’t either!” (since I really don’t). he replies “My teacher said he just SPOKE IT!” it was so awesome. I told him he was absolutely right. He told me all about Adam today being the 1st man that God made. And “now there are TWO Adams, because Adam is in his class and he is even faster and smarter than me!! He knows EVERYTHING!!!” He is also excelling in his speech therapy and doing lots of new things there. His K4 teacher told me she has not ever noticed him stuttering in school! Praise God! His teacher also said that he did not have to wear his belt to school (part of the uniform code) if it was easier not to wear it. I told him that this morning and he replied “I want to wear my belt, it looks really cool.” Ah, it starts early!
He has gotten good reports every day, a prize from the treasure chest and stickers! He had his 1st chapel yesterday (we went) and the principal (Mr. PALMER) spoke… late that afternoon Jackson said “Mama, Why did Mr. PLUMBER have that candy up there?”
Hilarious!

Jackson's very 1st day of school, ever! (K4)

My baby boy,

Four years ago today you were a mere 7 ½ week old in my arms. We were like one. I was madly in love with you, my long awaited baby and you were pure sweetness on my lips and the smell of your bald head made me so happy.

You are a mama’s boy, and I mean in it every wonderful way possible. You love to hug me and cuddle with me and tell me you love me and tell me every thought in your brain.

Four years ago today, you were a mere 10 lb baby in my arms and today you walked into your first day of school.

You were the absolute cutest little guy I’ve ever seen. You were so excited and eager and happy. You were brave. You fit in and made friends easily (that’s what your teacher wrote on your note home) and I believe her. Daddy and I watched you play and walk from kid to kid and say “Hi” and smile with your genuine smile that exudes the joy and sunshine like only you can. You ran fast and played hard.

While you played, we were inside for K4 orientation. It was there that I learned that what I thought was a 4 day week of ½ days, was really a 5 day week. When the teacher told me I was mistaking and that you DID have school on Fridays, it took every single ounce of my strength to fight back the tears and the sickness that overtook me. I thought I still had a day of just you and Mama to hang out like we always have every single day for the last 4 years. I thought we still had our time. Then like a snap, it was snatched away from me. I felt myself dying on the inside and was wishing the time to move faster. The meeting finally came to an end and they rushed us out of the room, since you were on your way back in. You were out in the hall, waiting in line to get a drink. Your face was flushed red from all of the fun you’d been having and you even had a little sand on the corner of your mouth. I fought back the tears even more, I wanted you to be happy and not think (or know rather) what a blubbering psychotic your Mama is. I told you that I would be back in a little while to pick you up and for you to have fun! You gave me a big puckered kiss on the lips with your sweaty sandy face and then told Daddy and Ella goodbye. You kissed Daddy and Ella and then laid your head on her belly like you often do. (Mia was at Grammy’s waiting, but when she left, she shouted out “Bye Bubba! I love you!” and you kissed each other).

Daddy and I watched you in your class, sitting at your very first desk, looking so comfortable and at ease. We finally left and sat in the SUV for a moment before heading out. I just burst in to a sobbing mess and I looked at daddy and said “It went so fast.”

IT WENT SO FAST.

From the moment you were born “they” told me how fast it would all pass by and you’d be grown before I knew it. I would smile and nod like I knew what they meant. Oblivious and assuming that it was all a cliché, like so many things often are, but it is not. IT WENT SO FAST.
My baby, my baby boy that I longed for and prayed for, for 3 solid years, my baby that has been by my side every second for the last four. All of the sudden, he has grown up and is going to school. You are a little boy, and the most special one at that. I love you with a deep fervor that only a Mama can know. I see in you the special-ness of who you are and a glimpse of the awesome man you will become.

Four years ago you were a tiny preemie newborn in my arms and today you walked away.

It went so fast. And I know this is just the beginning. There will be 1st grade, middle school, high school, graduation, college- oh my word – college and then marriage.

But one thing is always for sure. I will always be your Mama and you will always be my baby boy. You are amazing and I will always be here for you and love you even more than the 1st moment I saw you.

I love you Jackson Caleb.

Love,
Mama

To see all the pictures, go here: share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=2AasXLFy3ZMWI6
be sure to read all the captions, as they have more details about his time during the day! :)
Today he came home and told me that he learned the letter "i" and when asked what it looked like, he said (holding up his index finger) that "it is a stick, with a dot on top!" and he used his other pointer finger to show me the dot on the "i"! Way to go! I also watched him in PE this morning and he was having a blast!

a letter from Mama

To My Sweet Tiny Sugarbelle on Your 4th Month-day,

Ella, my love, life has been even sweeter since you entered our world 4 months ago. You are so precious to all of us. Your big brother adores you and talks to you often, lays by you and tells you stories. Your big sister is just as in love as she constantly rubs your little head and says “Hi Edda!”

You’ve got us all wrapped around your tiny finger with your big smile and your sparkling blue daddy eyes. You have a sweet little coo and a tight grip and a genuinely happy disposition.

You are still struggling with an upset tummy, but are starting solids (rice cereal and sweet potatoes) now that you are 4 months old, so we hope that will help. You sleep through the night occasionally, but usually wake up around 3:30 to nurse and rock with Mama. Sometimes you will wake up more than once. I love the way you snuggle in my arms and when you are done nursing, I love the way you nestle your head face down into the crook of my arm.

You are a miracle heaven sent and we love you dearly sweet baby girl.

Love,
Mama

untitled

i found this today:

"My need to feed it... my baby"

Looks like baby is eating pretty good these days!

Mia has a wonderful way of putting pauses in her complete, yet disjointed sentences! She says things like "Read it... the Book" or "Wipe it... my bottom"

Since she has potty trained, some times she says she needs to go potty, but then she won’t have to, so I will say “You don’t have to go anymore?” Well, she has taken this new word “Anymore” and started using it all of the time, even though I am fairly certain she doesn't know what it means! She will say things like:”My read the story… anymore!””My eat my oatmeal! Anymore!” She says all of this in a very breathy girly southern belle accent. She is so cute!

Mia is a sweet sweet girl. Yesterday i realized I had somehow gotten bleach spray on my favorite black tank top. I must have looked pretty disappointed because she started saying (and you must remember everything is sweet and breathy with a touch of southern-belle-don't-know-where-it-came-from- accent--) She said to me "It's Ok Mama. We can wash it! Here it is... a towel. here mama!" I was walking off saying "It's Ok Mia, it won't wipe off" and she came running towards me with a dish towel and started wiping at the spot, saying "Wipe it off. See, that's better Mama? that's better. We can wash it"
Sweet sweet girl, she brought tears to my eyes. She is only 2 years and 6 weeks old and so sweet and sensitive, just like her older brother.

Here are some pictures of her reading stories with daddy last night and holding "Edda" tight. She is a very sweet big sister!

Jackson's 1st School Orientation!

Jackson's school had orientation night last night complete with dinner!

Everyone had a really good time!

Click here for the entire set of pictures:

share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=2AasXLFy3ZMWIr

Ready to go! They stopped so I could take their picture. Doesn't Jackson look so proud?

picking up daddy from his corporate jet

We got to pick Phil up from his business trip last night at the private USAA hanger and see the corporate jet! While waiting, Mia kept saying (with her head cocked to the side in her normal cute-Mia fashion) "Daddy's plane fancy! His plane fancy!"

It was very exciting watching him land and then taxi back into the hanger and come up the stairs. Both kids started screaming and jumping once they saw their daddy. it was super cute. One of the Executive Vice Presidents asked if they would show the plane to us, so we got to go on board! Pretty fancy indeed! Mia kept announcing loudly "My ready to go!" as she sat in the big leather seats! She was ready for a trip! When i got off the plane (because Ella was crying) she was yelling from the top of the staircase "Let's go Mama! Time to go!!" As if a little vacation was THAT easy!

See all 41 images here: share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=2AasXLFy3ZMWIY

Oh the Sweetness!! Times 3!!!!!!!!

xoxoxoxox

Potty Post - She's good to go!

Mia goes to the bathroom all by herself and has gone a week (as of tomorrow) with no accidents! Yahoo!

Happy 17 weeks Sweet Ellabel!

Ella is 17 weeks old and a few days away from being 4 months officially!

Daddy's Coming Home Song!

click this link for a little diddy!
http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=10836b0b52a23cfe8a0726&skin_id=0&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url

This morning I heard Jackson wake up and run downstairs, I came down about 5 minutes later to see him standing in the corner of the study quietly staring out the front window. I said to him "Goodmorning Buddy! What are you doing?" and he said "I'm trying to see if Daddy is coming."

Oh! How we all miss Phil!! Tonight we are going to pick him up at the USAA private hanger, that should be exciting to see the corporate Jet and daddy too!

These guys are so excited and have been singing about Daddy coming home all day and running around like little banshees too!!

Potty Post Day 7 & Jackson's School

Mia is potty trained and in pretty girly panties 100% of her waking day! Even when we are not at home! She is doing just perfectly! We are so very proud of Mia!

Today we took Jackson’s school supplies to his new school and saw his classroom again and where his desk is and his little hook on the wall for his backpack and coat. We talked to his teacher in the hall and she said “Well you are a cute little guy aren’t ya?!” Yes he is! She was very very nice and it was a good experience! We played on the playground for a while before we went to have lunch with Grammy and Papa.

Every night when Ella eats her rice cereal, Jackson starts singing and dancing “it’s another special day for Ella! Another special day!” Adorable.

Excited Stage Whisper from Stage Left

Well who knew how “excited” getting a package would be!? This morning at 6:50 a.m.,
Jackson came running into our room and in a loud stage whisper he said “I’m awake for a SPECIAL DAY!!!” Today was the day his coal loader was on it’s way.
Yesterday I did the tracking and then showed Jacks a map of the United States. The coal loader was in Colorado traveling to Texas. We also looked up pictures of FedEx trucks so he knew exactly what was going on. A BIG truck (“Oh! I LOVE big trucks!” he said) was on it’s way with the precious cargo.
This morning it came. (thank GOODNESS!)
It was very exciting indeed. Mia got her special surprise as well.
Mia is amazing. We were gone for a solid 4 hours this morning running errands and eating lunch. She did not have ANY accidents! She used the public restroom with success at Chili’s. I am so proud!

Look at this psychotic-ly excited smile (yes, I know that isn’t a word, haha!)

Mia is thinking “Wow! Look at this thing! It’s pink with PRINCESSES on it! Pure loveliness!”









Update: mia had another 100% dry day! We were also gone for 3 hours in the evening attending a special Romania Missions Night at church for my mom. Being gone so much I thought she would for sure forget, but she even asked her 7 year old cousin Maren to take her while they were playing! She went 3 times in public yesterday and had a perfect potty trained day!

Potty Post Day 4 - "My do it Myyyyself!!" & SHE DID!!!

Mia is doing so great! She now has a step stool by the toilet and is able to get up and down ALL BY HERSELF! She does not want any help at all! "My do it Myyyself!" She gets on and off herself, wipes her own bottom while saying "My wipe my bottom!" and then climbs up to wash her hands all by herself too!

She is pretty proud of her tiny self, and so are we!

She is still yelling "My need go potty! GO! GO! GO! GO!" as she runs to the bathroom, it's really funny and cute!

Only one accident yesterday and none today. She is in panties (except nap) all day.

Mia, you ROCK, little sister!!

UPDATE: she just went again and stood up with her arms above her head and said "Ta Dah!! My did it!!!"
MIA has gone to bed now and she had a completely DRY DAY wearing panties ALL DAY LONG!! NO ACCIDENTS!!! WAY TO GO MIABEL!!!!

a tiny outfit of memories...

When my first niece, Maren Hope, was born 7 years ago I bought this tiny vintage outfit… I decided to save it for my baby someday since we had been trying to get pregnant for about 4 months when I bought it (I naively thought any day I would be pregnant!). Over 3 years later my first child was born. A sweet baby boy. After 11 months of trying for number 2, Mia was conceived. I completely forgot about the outfit and she had outgrown it by the time I tried it on her. So here we are with little Ella wearing the tiny outfit. What memories of heartache and love and patience it brings.
Thank you God for my 3 beautiful miracle babies!

Mmmmm!! Omelets!

Here’s the crazy recipe we made this morning and not only did it work, but it was GOOD! The kids both loved it and ate almost every bite of a 2 egg omelet! (And Jackson had just had an entire thing of yogurt too!)









Karen from Phil’s work gave this recipe to me (thanks Karen!). It is going to be GREAT for back to school good healthy breakfasts! You can make this in the evening, and then cook it in the morning while you are getting yourself or the kids ready or just drinking a cup of Joe!









The kids made these (yep, jackson is actually very good at cracking eggs! He’s almost flawless at it!). It was a lot of fun and it worked!
p.s. aren't thier deliberate "CHEEEESE" smiles so funny?

Here is the recipe (not my words):
Ziploc Omelet
This works great! Good for when all your family is together. The best part is that no one has to wait for their special omelet!
Have guests write their name on a quart size Ziploc freezer bag with a permanent marker.
Crack 2 eggs (large or extra large) into the bag (not more than 2) shake to combine them. Put a variety of ingredients such as: cheeses, ham, onion, green pepper, tomato, hashbrowns, salsa, etc. Make sure to get the air out of the bag, zip it up and SHAKE!
Place the bags into rolling, boiling water for exactly 13 minutes. You can usually cook 6-8 omelets in a large pot. For more, make another pot of boiling water. Open the bags and the omelet will easily roll out. Be prepared for everyone to be amazed.

Our budding LEFT HANDED artist!

Mia is not only seemingly left handed, but she holds the crayon/pencil/whatever CORRECTLY and we did not even teach her how to do it! (However, I saw Papa showing her at Flip Burgers once). Jackson is 4 and refuses to even TRY to do it the way I show him, yet somehow this tiny girl is doing it! And it looks like she is ambedextrious ("just like Grampa!"). Enjoy these cute pictures!












Here she is posing for me. I said "Mia! Mama wants to take a picture of you coloring!" and she did this:









Oh, and here is one of the bandaid she needed when Bubba accidentilly hit her in her eye. She got this and put it on herself. Phil said it would come off when she spoke, and she'd stop and gently press it back on. Soo funny!

this looks like a good spot

I set Ella down in the middle of the living room while i rushed off to help Mia, and then Jackson and then....... oh, she's asleep!! (with the sound of the waterfall in the background from the pond outside). And look, her big brother or sister covered her up with her burp cloth too! HOW CUTE!
and now, 2 hours later, she's rolled onto her side, but still fast asleep:

Way to go Jackson!!!

5 weeks ago, Jackson saw this http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-1/qid=1155238413/ref=sr_1_1/601-3613707-6136115?%5Fencoding=UTF8&asin=B0006V3CU8 at Target. And he wanted it very badly. Since I am in no way about to just spend $20 for the heck of it, we introduced Jackson to a new concept. Earning It.

I made him a special homework chart and he has worked diligently for the last FIVE WEEKS to fill it out. (5 weeks is an eternity to a 4 year old!) His homework included working on his speech therapy papers and sounds, and he had to do it with a good attitude. Each time he worked on it, he got to put (appropriately) a Thomas the Train sticker in one of the 20 squares. Today he put his very last sticker in the square. I almost cried I was so proud of him! I shouted "YOU DID IT!! YOU DID IT!!! WAY TO GO JACKSON!!!!!!!!" and we hugged so tight and i caught sight of his face with the biggest smile and his eyes squeezed shut.

Here's the kicker. Target is OUT of the beloved, well earned coal loader. WHAT THE?! After I made him "slave" to earn it and he worked so hard, it is GONE?!?! I really had envisioned giving him 20 one dollar bills to really show him that he had earned a LOT of money and letting him pay the cashier himself, but instead we had to resort to ordering it online. Thankfully I found a place that will get it here by Saturday for a normal shipping fee. I added a pink princess potty seat (http://www.allaboardtoys.com/disney_princess/accessories/disney_princess_soft_potty_trainer_seat.asp) for our little princess too, as she deserves a special surprise in the mail after such a big week!