Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Tiny Treasures

William--Will is just a smiley, fun-loving baby. He laughs now at his brother and sister. He is also learning to soothe himself to sleep.


Joseph--Mr Joey was a ring-bearer this weekend for his Godmother's wedding. (She is the "Mrs" in Mr and Mrs Armstrong .) He was a relatively well behaved little ringbearer for the entire mass. Pictures were another thing though. And he didn't make it to the reception...but one can only expect so much from a not-quite-two-year-old!


Shelby--Miss Shelby is increasingly learning sign language and toured a possible pre-k site this week. She was very well-behaved and seemed to love the environment she was in!

Sunday, July 26, 2009

If there is anything that can show promise for the future like a baby it's...

a couple on their wedding day!

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong!

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Small Successes

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1) I have started heavy-duty planning for my 30th birthday party which will be a joint party with 3 others.
2) Miss Shelby is starting to potty train!
3) Preparing for our first trip with 3 next week...won't be here for small successes then, but hoping all is successful for our Emerald Isle trip!

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Tiny Treasures Tuesday

William--Mr Will is having a slightly stuffy nose. Bring on the saline nose drops! Which he hates, but he tolerates. Lots of smiles and very alert. He is starting to sleep more at night...we're routinely seeing six hour stretches now.

Joseph--Joey is a biting machine :(. Last week he bit Shelby twice in one day and then Jeff. We are hoping this is a short lived phase for little JAWS. His teeth have been bothering him, he is an agonizingly slow teether and refuses teething gels or teethers. We don't want to overdo the ibuprofen either. On the upside, he is still in love with his little "bee-da" (his word for baby now) brother. If Will is fussing in his bouncy seat, Joey is bouncing him gently. If Will is nursing, Joey is gently rubbing his head. If Will is cheerfully enjoying his infant gym, Joey is lying next to him pointing to the different things. We are truly hopeful that they are best friend big brothers!

Shelby--The self-potty training continues! Today she pooped on her potty but not in it...so progress. We keep her in overalls most of the time to minimize accidents that we find out about later! Shelby has continued working with her new speech therapist. She really enjoys the sessions. She is also starting to engage with Will. She is making eye contact with him which is huge. Hopefully this will be on an increasing trajectory.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Small Success

My second loaf of the week: Honey Wheat Sourdough...recipe to follow!

By popular demand

Here is the sourdough recipe I used. We went without the onions this time, but plan on trying them because they look REALLY good!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Word-LESS Wednesday


My first sourdough bread.

URGENT: PLEASE PRAY

for the family of this man who leaves behind a wife, two elementary school aged daughters and two very young sons. His wife is a close friend of mine. The specifics of the story are not as important as the loss of this man to his family. May God hold them in the palm of His hand.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Tiny Treasures Tuesday Volume 4


William--Will weighed 13 lbs 1 oz at his 2 month check last week! He is almost double his birth weight now. He is bright-eyed and social. Especially with Joey.


Joseph--Mr Joey had fun with just Daddy at the beach on Sunday. They watched the surf contest and Joey found an Our Lady of Guadalupe Rosary in the surf. We are still encouraging nice and loving hands with Shelby especially.
Shelby--Shelby got through her 3 year check last week. As we expected, gross motor skills are on target but she is delayed in all other areas. She did an outstanding job though at the visit. It was not without tears, but was a vast improvement over past experiences. She is also encouraging potty training by removing her diaper herself when it is wet which is good and bad. Good because she is recognizing when she is going. Bad because, well, at night Mommy and Daddy don't know it's happened and then there are some spots to be cleaned in the morning!

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Small Successes

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1) We survived the 2 month old shots! Will weighs 13.1 oz. Almost double his birth weight!

2) I made 4th of July dinner! Unfortunately, my husband was not in the picture taking mood, but the salmon cooked perfectly and my parents were all compliments!

3) I applied for a 3rd shift position I think I will really like. So, I'm praying it comes through!

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Word-FULL Wednesdays volume 3 part 1

So, yesterday, in case you missed it on ALL the major networks, was Michael Jackson's memorial service for the public. I really wanted to stand on my roof and yell, "ENOUGH ALREADY!" but Jeff wanted to watch, so I grudgingly went along with watching it.

I pretty much could predict all that was going on until the end. I was moved by Jermaine and Marlon's brief but heartfelt eulogies but I broke down in tears as Paris-Michael Katherine gave her loving and brief expression of grief at the loss of her father.

Jeff and I marveled at her beauty and her poise under such a horrible time in her short life. I was struck that this child that her father had protected so vigilantly her entire life chose in his death to publically show her face and share her feelings and an insight into her world. Much like Bindi Irwin, Paris made us know her father's love for her through her love of him. As she collapsed into her Aunt Janet's arms, I found myself praying for her peace in a time of such upheaval.

I did not get the magic look into Jackson's life that would show him to be more like me than different, but I did find confirmation that he did want what was best for his children and that love for them, was the center of his life.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Tiny Treasures Tuesday volume 3

William--Will is a cooing machine! And he especially loves talking to his big brother Joey. He is following our movements and voices even more and our dogs as well. And he has rolled over exactly one time in his crib. That might have been a fluke though. Big two month check-up tomorrow. Lots of shots.

Joseph--Joey is Mr Conversation although we don't understand most of it. He is trying to say Will or William and loves talking to and about "da-b" as he calls "the baby." We are still working on nice hands. Yesterday for Shelby's birthday we started talking about using nice hands long before the need was present and it seemed to work.

Shelby--Big girl is 3!!! She starts with a new speech therapist today. We are so excited for our big girl. She did very well at the NC 4th of July festival but we weren't able to stay for the parade. Maybe next year!

Monday, July 6, 2009

Happy 3rd Birthday Shelby!

Three years ago our hearts grew like we never could have imagined. Now, you are a growing girl and big sister. We love you Miss Shelby Clare.

Friday, July 3, 2009

***in which we reflect each week on one of the fruits of the holy spirit***

In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such there is no law.~Galatians 5:22-23

Kindness is the word of the day. Namely, the kindness of friends when you ask for advice.

I am loathe to ask for advice, in part because I hate doling it out. And I hate doling it out because I believe I am not qualified to make a decision for anyone else in their life. So having children has been a challenge for me, because there are a lot of times when a book or the internet just doesn't seem to have the answer and I am stuck asking friends how they got through the toddler hitting his sister or picky eaters. But over the past years, my friends have been downright gracious when I have asked advice about parenting, marriage or anything else. They have been clear that there is not necessarily a universal right answer (which I knew, but it's always nice to be reminded) and been willing to listen and share their experiences. For me, the fact that they are not critical and genuinely willing to help is the greatest act of kindness of it all because it shows a caring of others' situations.

Sorry for such a short post, but I plan on covering more on kindness next week...

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Thankful Thursday

1) Shelby's birthday
2) Easy recipes courtesy of Giada de Laurentiis
3) 4 consecutive hours of sleep
4) Perspective
5) Stauffer's Whales
6) Baby smiles
7) Baby coos
8) Baby birds flying the nest in our backyard
9) Joey's babbling
10) Keeping an open mind and trying to see the best in others

Small Successes

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1) Will slept for 2 four hour stretches last night! Not really my success so much as his, but very exciting.

2) We transitioned out of the infant/toddler program and into the preschool program for Shelby. Her IEP has been written and now she is getting ready for school.

3) I have a new idea for 4th of July dinner and cake for Shelby. Can't wait to post pictures!

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Word-FULL Wednesday

Over the last week, I have been challenged when thinking of the deaths of Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett.

Both were iconic images, both were legendary performers and both were flawed human beings.

Yesterday I told Jeff that Michael Jackson was a legendary performer, and I wanted to believe that despite all his controversy he had been a good father and perhaps that was the reason his mother Katherine took care of her grandchildren.

The same day I finally saw the footage of Redmond O'Neal visiting his mother while in handcuffs and shackles. His arrest and imprisonment was kept from her and his father Ryan advised him not to rattle the chains as his mother did not know. My eyes started watering as I heard him call her Mommy and tell her it was her son there.

How do we remember these people? Is Michael the young boy who sang with Diana Ross and his brothers, the man who slept in oxygen chambers on a glorified amusement park, a child predator? Is Farrah the girl in the red bathing suit, an angel, the abused woman from the Burning Bed, the confused woman on David Letterman? Or are they someone else altogether?

I wish I could have seen an image of Michael like I did of Farrah at the end. The image of her clutching her rosary and praying and crossing herself before an MRI. Something that showed me that underneath it all was a person, like me; a sinner seeking redemption, like me.