Being a Parent

Being a parent is a lot of responsibility and a lot of times when I "run out" I am thankful that I have a husband who leads us. He leads me and cares for me, and he leads our children in the ways that they should grow up. It's refreshing to look to him knowing that we BOTH look to God to lead us in this adventure called parenting.

There's so many things you think of AFTER the fact that when this song came out it struck a cord in my heart. I cry out sometimes not know how to lead my kids...but don't have to worry because I know someone is there that will lead me...

The song is "Lead Me" by Sanctus Real - here's a video with the words displayed for you.

16 weeks...update

I am getting close to that half way point and getting so excited to find out what baby will be. I think everyone knows we believe it is going to be a boy, but we will have the sonogram evidence on JULY 19th!

The past month has been pretty good - I'm in the second trimester full swing now and can't really complain. Baby is doing well and developing on pace. Heartbeat the other day was at about 140, so that's good too. I did have to get my TSH levels retested as there is suspicion of overactive thyroid - which come to find out is actually common during pregnancy. It's what is making me still really tired, even though I am past the first trimester. I am working on battling that by drinking gatorade and other drinks that have electrolytes in them. I also have stopped my two-mile walk to Kroger every Tuesday and Thursday because the heat just drains me....and honestly those munchkins are getting heavy to push!!!

Baby is growing and I feel him move ALL the time. It reminds me of when I was carrying Josh. I began to think at about 32 weeks that he was going to escape and bust out! We shall find out for sure baby in a little over 3 weeks now... be on the lookout for the update! Here's some pics...

12 weeks

16 weeks

My Girls

Being a mommy is the most rewarding/challenging thing I've ever encountered. I am blessed with an amazing son, but there's something about a little girl that just warms your heart in a different way. There's a special bond I share with Josh that I don't share with the girls, but there's a different special relationship I share with the girls. The love to "pretend to be mommy" and wear my shoes, carry my purses, wear lipgloss and hold their "babies". It's so cute to watch and so interesting to see that mothering nature that God gives us women that men definately do not have! I've been blessed with my girls, and I cherish when they crawl up in my lap and just cuddle....

In fact as I type this blog, Julianna is sitting in my lap at the computer - just watching me and wanting to be near me. It's so sweet and so indescribable... Here's my precious girls:

And little "Nanna" is becoming quite the talker! Here she is - although she's a little camera shy :)

This little video shows my little Jenna-girl. She's become such a mommy's girl lately and I love it! She is so funny though when it's bed time. She makes these "eyes" at you as if trying to keep them awake. It's the funniest thing and I finally got a little of it on video. :)

And of course, Jenna would be Jenna without her desire to serenade us in the car.

Sweetness

There truely is no sweeter joy than being a parent and molding and shaping your kid(s) for the future. I've had so much fun and memories these past few weeks with my little munchkins that I want to just freeze time sometimes to just hold them forever. Here's a few pictures of our fun times together:
Jason & Josh going to the Men's Breakfast at church

Bedtime loves

Lunchtime fun together

Julianna loves her big brother :)

Sleeping on her daddy...

Look Mom! We can stand on our heads!

Tickle-fest!!!

Wearing her brother's backpack

June = Lots of Parties

I used to always want a summer baby to celebrate in with all the other people having little swim parties and all. Now that I have my own kids, I am actually glad that they are not born during birthday/wedding season. (May - August). This month alone we have 5 birthday parties to go to and almost every weekend is taken up with some sort of little party. Definately keeps us busy this month!

This past Saturday we had a party for two little girls in Josh & Jenna's Sunday School class at church. Brooklyn & Naomi aren't related, but were born a day apart and their mommies are good friends at church, so they had a joint party at a place called "The Little Gym". I've never been to this place before, but it was an AWESOME place to have a birthday party! It's a gym for kids 12 months through 12 years. The kids got to do a lot of guided and independent activities that allowed them to exert physical energy.

I had forgot to bring my camera, but here's a few videos I took of the kids with my phone. Sorry for the lack of sound. I wish you could hear them giggling away!

Up next is my neice Caityln's 2nd birthday party this Saturday. Stay tuned for more June fun!

Sharing A Room...

I love the fact that the girls get along so well and that they actually enjoy one another. The problem comes in preparing for nite-nite time and getting them to understand that we don't climb into the crib to play; we can't stay up tickling for hours past our bedtime; and we definately can't play hide-and-go-seek with the blankets and each other when we are supposed to be sleeping. Here's a little video of what I catch Jenna doing almost every night....

The solution? I haven't really found one yet other than to make sure Jenna goes to sleep first. Sounds simple, right? It would be but usually Julianna is the one who needs to go to sleep first. We used to set up the pack-n-play in the playroom and then just put the girls to sleep separately, but being that a new little one will be needing that in a few short months, and we really don't want to ignore the problem, but deal with it, we decided not to go that route. Instead we usually have to give a couple spankings and keep a close eye out on "michevious giggling" until both are asleep. I have to say though that each night the time it takes gets shorter and shorter. Soon we won't have to say anything at all, but they will know bed time means bed time!