Ellie's Birthday and More

I know that I haven't posted in a while but hopefully this one will make up for lost time!

Garyn is getting so big! I had to take him to the doctor right after he turned 3 months (on the 12th) because he had an ear infection--sad, I know--and he weighed 14.6 lbs. He gained a full pound from his 2 month visit. He smiles all the time now. We are over colic and the only time that he fusses is when he is tired, gassy, or hungry--just like any man. He is rolling from his back to his tummy. He will roll all over the floor or his bed. He can hold his head up pretty well, but the newest and cutest thing that he has started is laughing. The video below is of Garyn laughing and playing Pat-a-cake with daddy.



The next video is something that Ellie has never done before. We had been running errands earlier that day and came home around lunch time. She wasn't acting tired or sleepy, but soon after she ate her SpagettiO's she fell asleep in her chair. So like an obnoxious mom, I video taped it!



Ellie turned 2 on the 18th. I can't believe that she's 2 already! We had a family party for her on the 19th. At her 2 year well child check-up she weighed 27 lbs and was 36 inches tall, so we will probably have a tall drink of water on our hands. My mother-in-law, Susan, and I made Ellie a pillowcase dress for her to wear for her party. She looked absolutely precious in it. Some of the fun things that she got for her birthday: books, clothes, puzzles, baby dolls, a swing set from her grandparents and a tricycle from mommy and daddy. I think that her reaction to her dress up stuff was so funny...when I clipped on the earrings and put her necklace on she kept turning her head and looked like she was a movie star. She is so funny!

I hope that you enjoy all of the pictures and videos, and hopefully I won't be such a stranger!

Taken for Granted

On July 5th, I was casually clicking away, looking at my friends blogs when I discovered a link to another blog. I always think that it is very interesting to see what other people are interested in. I clicked on a link to the blog entitled "Bring the Rain". Little did I know that this blog would change my outlook on life and motherhood completely. I can only say that this must have been an attitude adjustment from God, but in a very kind, humbling, eye-opening way.

The blog is written by a woman named Angie Smith. She started the blog when she found out mid-way through her 3rd pregnancy that her baby had some problems and would not live. She describes her journey through a difficult pregnancy and her journey with God. The attitude that she has through her pregnancy, knowing that God could heal her little girl and chose not to, is absolutely amazing! Does she ask God for the cup to pass? Of course! Jesus Himself asked for the cup to pass. But what is truly inspiring to me is that more than she wanted the cup to pass and her sweet baby girl to be healed, she wanted God's will to be done and she was at peace with His decision not to heal her daughter.

I wept over her beautiful descriptions of her journey--the memories that she made, the anger that she felt, the consuming sorrow, and the perfect 2 1/2 hours that she got to spend with her daughter. I suddenly felt ashamed of all of the times that I have taken my children for granted. Of course I thank God every day for my beautiful family, but there are sometimes that I don't want to change diapers or wash a million bottles and sippy cups. There are times that I wish my baby wouldn't cry the minute that I put him down. There are times that I wish my daughter didn't strip down in the middle of the night and wet the bed. But I bet Angie Smith would give anything to have these experiences with her daughter.

So here's what I've decided...after all the trouble that we had getting pregnant with Ellie, God blessed me again with a beautiful baby, and instead of getting angry or feeling sorry for myself because I'm tired or I just want a minute to myself, I am going to try (the operative word is TRY) to cherish every minute that I have with my children and husband. I know that they are really just on loan to me and that God can choose to take them back 15 minutes from now. Everything is a memory and I can make it a good one or a bad one simply by my attitude and reaction to it. So I might have to change the sheets on my daughter's bed at midnight--at least it is a few more minutes that I get to spend with her and tell her that I love her. So I might have to hold my baby a little longer--before long he will not need me so much, and then I'll wish I would have held him more. For Angie's sake, I am going to enjoy the experiences that she never got to experience with her sweet Audrey Caroline.

Interestingly, Angie and I were originally scheduled for our c-sections the same day at the same time. I highly recommend reading Angie's blog--it's truly inspiring. Her blogspot is http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com

My Little Boy is Big!

Ellie and Garyn snugglin'

On the 18th, we went to the pediatrician for Garyn's 2 month check up. Luckily, his colic is getting better, his cradle cap is better and he's HUGE! His birth weight was 8 lbs 10 oz, and now he weighs 13.6 lbs and is 24 1/4 inches. He's a good eater and a good sleeper.

He smiles and coos a lot these days. Ellie loves to talk to him and make him smile. But, when he's upset, she sings to him to calm him down. In the mornings when I am getting ready, she likes to snuggle with him on mommy's pillow and watch cartoons. She is such a great big sister.

Watching my son grow so fast is wonderful, but it is bittersweet sometimes because you love to cuddle and hold him, and you know that in a couple of months he won't want to cuddle all the time. It's really sad when you finally realize that your favorite outfit is too small! Believe it or not my son can wear some 6 month stuff!

Can't wait to see what my beautiful, fascinating children will do next!

My Wednesday Mom's group

Two posts in one day! Can you believe it?!

I have been so blessed by my Wednesday Mom's group. I was invited by my friend Shaylene, who went to nursing school with me. She is a great christian mom and decided to put the group together to spend some quality time with some moms that she doesn't get to spend a whole lot of time with. We all have children of varying ages, but they all seem to play very well for the 2 hours that we meet.

Shaylene was the only mom that I actually knew, but I have gotten to know some of the others. It is such a blessing to be able to share your faith and struggles with a group of women who have gone through the same things. As an added bonus, you also can get handy parenting tips and tricks! The group has really helped me realize that I need to have a cheerful heart, even when my children are throwing fits, I have a sink full of dirty dished and a huge mound of laundry to do! I am doing better with it, but still struggle with this at times, as I am sure a lot of us do!

I hope that every mom has some sort of support like this!

Back to the Grindstone!

Happy 2 month birthday to Garyn Riley!

And back to work for me! I am totally okay with working, but I would be okay with staying at home too! Monday (the 9th) was my first day back to work...I spent the whole day trying to figure out what's going on with my new nurses, making my to do list of projects to start, and checking e-mails. I don't feel like I accomplished anything!

Luckily, though, I didn't have to worry about my kids because I have an awesome babysitter. Garyn did great, but Ellie had one of her moody days.

Ellie has started the potty training process! It is an extremely exciting thought that I might just have one child in diapers soon, but I do need some advice. My daughter will tell us that she has to potty...after the fact. But the real kicker is that she only does that at home! When we go out in public she will tell us and not have just gone in her diaper/pull-up. I have tried to do the really thick training panties, but as soon as I put them on her I have to clean up big messes. I know that sometimes it is just best to grin and bear it, but Garyn tends to keep me tied up a lot! We are not pushing really hard on this because she is still pretty young, but if any of you have any tricks of the trade that might help speed things along that would be great!

Catching Up!

I have not been a very good blogger lately because I have not been keeping up with events. There are so many cute picutres that I have to share that I decided to do a slide show. The captions explain some of the events which include Ellie's first haircut and Garyn's first trip to the park.

In the past couple of days Garyn has started grinning and cooing, which absolutely melts me! Ellie has become obsessed with praying, which is a good obsession to have. She won't actually say a prayer, but she will grab your hand and say, "You pray," and want you to say a prayer. My kids are growing up in so many ways!

Mother's Day

I know that it has been forever since I have posted, so I guess I will start with Mother's Day.

We didn't do very much, except for spend time with family. We had lunch/brunch with Wes's mom, then went to my grandmothers, then home. Then I was finally able to take my mom her Mother's Day gift. We did a lot of running around, but it was good to see our family.

Wes gave me some money to go shopping, and he actually went shopping with me the next weekend! A couple of weeks before Mother's Day (actually Garyn was only 10 days old), we got to go to a Cherished Prints party, and I got a big platter with the kid's foot prints on it--this was my gift from the kids. I love the platter because it is a keepsake that I will use proudly( and absolutely die if anything ever happened to it).

And, yes, my kids have big feet. Ellie and I will probably be able to share shoes when she's in kindergarten!

I love being a mother, and I have to admit that being a mom to a little boy is different than being a mom to a little girl. I can't put my finger on exactly what is so different, but it is. I guess I am just doubly blessed because I have both! Ellie and I almost have a secret relationship because she usually doesn't want mommy when other people are around--especially her daddy! But she is so sweet to me when it is just her and mommy. Garyn just likes to snuggle--it probably also helps that I provide the groceries, but he loves to cuddle with me. He likes to cuddle with Wes too, but they are both very hot natured so that only last for a short time. Garyn will snuggle with me as long as neither one of us has to get up and go anywhere.

Our good friends Brett and Michelle Rodgers were also in town that weekend, so we got to hang out with them and their sweet little boy Emerson. This is a picture of all of us. It was so good to see them and for the kids to get to play together--more like Ellie playing with Emerson like he's a really big baby doll, and Emerson wondering when someone was going to save him!

The next post will include some pictures of Ellie's first hair cut and Garyn's first trip to the park! Stay tuned!