Still Life

Where have you been?! Oh, wait - that's me!! Just when I think things can't get any busier, they do and are.

That said, it's not all work and meetings - when I'm home with the kids I try to give them my undivided attention, and when they go to bed, everything is waiting politely for me to deal with it. If Scott had not gone to the supermarket with the kids yesterday, they would have had to eat waffles for dinner, because we had nothing else!

I can't remember what I have or haven't told you, so I'm just going to run through the pictures on my phone (Going back to October 2!)!!

October 2nd, we had an evening prayer service at church. We brought the kids (we feel bad leaving them when we don't have to, not to mention Nanna and Pops needing weekends off!).

As you can see they were quite lively, and stayed that way!

On Toby's birthday we decided to splash out (with a coupon, of course) for dinner at Famous Dave's!

It amazes me every time we go somewhere like a restaurant with the kids, just how well-behaved they are. Of course, there's an app for that!

Emma was adamant about using a straw because Toby was, and they only had those giant cups. In the end, we found that if she blew bubbles in her water, when she then inhaled she actually got some water up! I'm sure she'll find a way to use a straw in time, but for now it's tough to explain how to her.

Emma had a check-up at the dentist, which went great but she was really nervous about. I promised a great surprise if she was a good girl. She was, and I gave her one of the dresses I was saving for her birthday. (I got a few at a thrift store, this one just $3!!) Unfortunately it's really well made - the waist cuts into her round belly, so it "hurts" her. She disguised it well when I asked her to smile big for a picture!

Finally the weather is suitable [for me] to take a walk! So we headed out one afternoon after school. Emma demanded to go in a stroller...
while Toby peeled off, pushing his fire truck...

Then we mixed it up a bit! (This was up-hill!)


In an effort to dissuade Emma from sleeping in our bed, I hit IKEA for the big girl bed fit for a princess! We put it together that evening (as Emma slept soundly in our bed!), canopy and new memory-foam pillow...
and Emma got to see it in the morning (hence the bed-head!).
Since then Emma asked me to take the canopy down! Other than that she sleeps great and often doesn't want to get up. She still cries about sleeping in our bed, so we are working on that. The plus side is, we can lay down with her in her bed until she falls asleep.

On the days I take Emma to school, Toby comes with us. He so desperately wants to stay, and if there's an open chair, he's in it!
This week, my friend was waiting for us when we got back from dropping off Emma. Toby did not want to nap, sensing there was fun to be had. He soon passed out, literally at my feet!

Toby enjoys going to collect Emma too, playing in the car while we wait...
And this was the kids last night...



There is something so precious when your kids play together and have fun. Love it!

Ban it

The practice of bringing donuts into the office should be banned, on
the grounds of unadulterated temptation!

Luckily, abstaining for just a half hour has meant all the really
fancy looking ones have gone, leaving the boring ones! That jelly
donut is one of my favorites though...

Just need to hold out a bit longer!!

Rescue Me

We went to the playground for a little bit yesterday. Emma has such a vivid imagination and loves to role play, so Scott obliged her princess story with a dramatic rescue from her "tower"...

(The first time he did this, a group of 10 year old boys were watching and started to applaud! They tried later but weren't so successful! I told Scott it was on him if they fell and got hurt.)

Season of Thanksgiving

Did I mention Scott started a new job last Monday? No!!

Well, we've known for a while that the project he was working on was set to be complete in October and after the summer that seemed all too close. Scott's boss has another project running, but that should wind up only a few weeks later.

Facing the uncertainty of regular work, Scott has been taking outside projects wherever possible. It's been challenging, with me also working and having limited time with the kids, but you gotta make hay while the sun shines - and God has been shining on us lately!

So it was a surprise when a guy Scott has worked with (and really likes) called up in September and said he is working for a new company and the boss wants Scott to join the crew - totally out of the blue! Apparently he'd been giving Scott a rave review, and the boss wanted him join the team. (A great case of having true integrity, because you never know who is watching!)

Scott prayed about it, and eventually started with the new company on Monday.

We are so incredibly thankful that we have a reprieve, however long, for facing a lay-off. His new boss is always available, pro-active and pretty laid back, so it's less stressful too. Oh, and Scott even has been working down the street from my office, so we get to see each other occasionally during the day!

So, imagine our utter and absolute shock and joy when we also found out Scott got a promotion with the new job!!

It looks like Scott has a great future with this new company, and the boss is trying to expand the company. My job is also going great, and I'm really enjoying it. The kids are having a lot of fun spending time with their grandparents while I am at work (and spoiled by me when I'm not!).

As I approach the fourth anniversary of leaving my job (aka Emma's 4th birthday!) I am struck once again by how good God is. A year ago I could never have imagined this scenario, especially not with the economic climate the way it is, but I do know that God is faithful, whether he provides just enough to get by, or an over-abundance of blessings - He will always provide.


For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29: 11-13

Birthday Boy

Here are the pictures from Saturday, Toby's "birthday"...

The kids started out the day as usual, playing [or often fighting] in Emma's room!

After everyone was dressed, the kids came downstairs... (I thought I was filming here, but alas no!)
Where Toby found the old living room...

Was replaced with Hot Wheels Party Zone!!

Our living room is pretty big without furniture in it and the floors are easy to clean after a kids party!

We had a few ramps set up around the room...


As well as party hats...
The furniture found a home in the dining room for the day, or as I referred to it, the adult zone! (I loved the coziness in there and wanted to keep the sofas in there!)


After much deliberation we took Emma over to Nanna's for a couple of hours, for the early part of the party. She is so self-assured and social, we knew she would be center of attention if she stayed!

In exchange, we brought cousin Josiah back with us as the first party guest...
These two are definitely trouble!

Nate also came over, and Emma (after putting on her Belle costume for the party) played happily with the boys on her return!

I went with a Cars cake, because it was the best!

And just added Hot Wheels candles for the theme!

Toby waited ever so patiently for me to bring the cake out



and tried so hard to blow out the candles! (When we sang him "Happy Birthday" first thing that morning his immediate response was to blow, I guess he knew the drill already!)

Looking forward to eating the cake!
Pops kept a close eye on the kids, a huge help!

Nate gave Toby a Little People racing ramp. Toby prefers to use it as the world's smallest slide!

Amazingly both kids took a nap, while the house was put back together. After nap they got to play outside because the weather was so good.

Then inside for dinner...

Such a good waiter!!!

I had asked Scott to get a picture of me holding Toby that day, for the comparison shot, but other than dealing with crying or some other request, he didn't stop still long enough for that. Until the end of the day, when he voluntarily asked to sit with me...
I can't believe how fast the past two years have gone!



He just gets cuter and cuter!!

Terrible Toby Twos

We had a great weekend. Toby really enjoyed his birthday on Saturday and it was such a joy compared to last year when he didn't feel good and cried the whole time! We got some pictures, but not many because two year old Toby does not stop for long and after he does grin and say "cheese" he usually dives for the camera! (I'll post them this week)

Toby slept the whole night in his crib last night, the first time in a while. Of course this meant he woke up earlier, when he heard Scott leave. So the kids laid in my bed and watched Disney Jr. while I got ready for work.

Since I am feeling better I got up earlier too, so we had time to play and snuggle before we had to leave. Everything was going so well!

We got to Nanna and Pops house around 8am, but trouble started before we got in the door! Julie was leaving for work, but I blocked the driveway, so I put the kids down on the path and told them to go inside while I moved the car.

Apparently Toby thought this was my attempt to leave him without a goodbye and started screaming and running after me. Nanna grabbed him and tried to comfort him while I moved as quickly as possible.

When I got back to him, he clung to me, eyes and nose streaming. We went inside and he would not let go. He's been a little clingy a few times lately, until Pops has the kids marching around or the like.

As we sat in the chair, Toby all sad, cousin Josiah came over and tried to talk to him. Toby yelled "NO" and pushed him in the face. I don't care how sad he was, I sat him in time-out where he refused to say sorry and kept trying to crawl on my lap for about 10 minutes.

Inconsolable, and grumpy, they finally coaxed him away. I didn't hit the road immediately, but left shortly after without much of a scene.

My whole 25 minute drive to work I was pre-occupied with the feelings of guilt that my baby feels abandoned and will grow up thinking I don't love him, or worse - that it's his fault.

As soon as I got to my desk I called home and sure enough, Toby had eaten two whole bananas and a waffle by the time I parked my car! All was well and the kids were having a blast (as usual).

Then I opened my email. I have subscribed to Babycenter.com updates, which give weekly developmental updates for your kids age, but today it said "My preschooler this week..." instead of "My baby this week..." My baby's all grown-up!

Anyway, the main text said this:
Two-year-olds give the biggest hugs, flash the biggest smiles, and yes, throw the loudest, most spectacular tantrums. Because they live in the moment, their feelings are especially transparent. It's tempting to want to keep things happy for your child at all times. But it's also important for her to experience emotions like sadness, frustration, and anger without always being "rescued" by Mom or Dad, so she can learn to cope better with small setbacks.

Huge relief! It's so easy to beat myself up that working three days a week is going to "damage" my kids, but it's just not true. Maybe I just am such a great mom, he doesn't want to be away from me - don't even think about disagreeing with me on that, not today!

And in a few years when they start school won't know where I am and at least one of us will be home when they are finished!

Did I mention that Toby is in the 75th percentile for height (he's taller than 75% of kids his age) and the 50th for weight (he weighs more than 50% of kids his age). And the 100th percentile for cuteness!!

Ignorance is bliss

While I was at work today, three salespeople came in to the office to try and sell me on using their office supply company. (Note: I used to be a sales person, and was pretty good, so I do like to mess with bad sales people. Also they should not have been in the building soliciting business!)

They really tried to push me on to switching from the place we order from now (it's my job to order all supplies etc). The three of them surrounded my desk in reception and several of my colleagues were quite concerned about what was going on! I later let them know I can handle myself pretty well!

I was willing to order a few things I knew we needed and our other place did not have in stock. Went through the whole process and put up with the annoyingly pushy and aggressive sales pitch because it would save us some money.

Not so strange you might think, but it was what happened as they were leaving that impacted me. Had this happened earlier in the encounter it would have gone a lot differently.

The one woman who had decided to stand behind me at my desk to "help" me look at their website (hate being patronized!) saw these pictures I have of the kids on my wall, not visible to guests in reception.


These are my favorite pictures of the kids and I think capture their adorability well.

However, the lady who at first said "Are those your kids? They are so cute!" (Smart thing to say) followed it with "Did you tell them to make those funny faces?"

Now, she clearly referred to both kids, so I can not be sure what she was implying, if anything. I don't think either of them look very "funny"! However, had she not already been walking out the door, my response would have been different from "no." and they would not have had any shot at new business!!

Regardless of who the children are, what a dumb thing to say, especially if you are trying to sell something!

Happy birthday Toby!

I can't believe my baby is 2 today! It has been so much fun watching
him grow and this wonderful character develop.

Of course he doesn't know it's his birthday! We have a little party
for him and a few of his little friends on Saturday, so that will be
his special day.

The house will be decorated and he will be the star for a day. That's
if he gets better. Both kids and I have a stubborn cold, so I'll have
to send a note to the invitees in case they'd rather not come.

Either way we will make sure Toby has the best day possible!

Move over please

This is the real reason we need to get Emma a full size bed!

The kids and I are all fighting a cold (after getting a flu shot
Friday - coincidence?) which means Emma needs to sleep elevated or she
chokes. Toby is coughing and wheezy, and needs his cuddles.

Second night in a row the bed is full before I get in! If Emma had a
big bed I could go and sleep in her room.

As it is, the weather has taken a dive into fall temperatures and is
pretty cold. Scott won't let me turn the heat on (yes, I really
would!) so the kids are serving as pretty effective bed warmers!!

Tuesday

I was off with the kids on Tuesday and took a few pictures on my phone. It's like a diary of the day in pictures! Here goes...

Dropped the kids off to see Nanna and Pops while my car got an oil change

Emma getting ready for school - had to take a picture for Daddy of her choice of shirt for the day!

Picked Emma up from school - this was totally not staged, I promise!

Stopped by the shoe store to get Emma some shoes for fall. She wanted the princess boots, but it's not cold enough yet!


Rather than heading straight home, we went to the playground! Emma blew me away when she manged this...



And then this - she must've have grown quite a bit because at the start of the summer she couldn't reach the poles!!

Today is "show and tell" at school. She had to take something red, and picked her toy cell phone! Can't wait to hear how it went!!

Quotes

Yesterday we were hanging out at Scott's parents for a bit. Emma was
sat on the sofa quietly watching tv. I laid down next to her and
started to tickle her. She cried out...

"STOP! I'm just chillin'!!"

Today we were heading to go bowling in the car. Emma started talking
about wanting a dress like Tiana's, moving on to Rapunzel...

"I want a purple dress just like Rapunzel's, who, by the way, has
really long hair."

You might think I'm nuts but I love the way she learns phrases.

Toby, on the other hand, is more of a one-word kind of guy - no
surprise, that's all he can fit in with Emma around!

I've been a bit worried, actually, but since we started making him try
to say what he wants and teaching him to sign, he's doing really well.

BEAUTIFUL FOR ME

There is a song that plays at the end of Sweetpea Beauty, softly playing over the credits. It's one of the few times I let the credits play out in full. This song is moving, beautiful and I want every woman and girl to hear it, and receive it as if God himself is singing it.

Check it out...

http://youtu.be/BLaqNbQNo4w

Here are the lyrics if you like to follow along!

BEAUTIFUL FOR ME
Nichole Nordeman

Every girl young and old has to face her own reflection
Twirl around, stare it down
What’s the mirror gonna say
With some luck, you’ll measure up
But you might not hold a candle to the rest
“Is that your best?” says the mirror to the mess

But there’s a whisper in the noise
Can you hear a little voice
and he says

Has anybody told you you’re beautiful?
You might agree if you could see what I see
Oh
‘Cuz everything about you is incredible
You should have seen me smile the day that I made you beautiful for me

If it’s true beauty lies in the eye of the beholder
What my life and what’s inside to give him something to behold
I want a heart that’s captivating
I wanna hear my Father say

Has anybody told you you’re beautiful?
You might agree if you could see what I see
Oh
‘Cuz everything about you is incredible
You should have seen me smile the day that I made you beautiful for me

Close your eyes
Look inside
Let me see the you that you’ve been trying to hide
Long ago, I made you so very beautiful
So I ought to know you’re beautiful

Has anybody told you you’re beautiful?
You might agree if you could see what I see
Yeah
‘Cuz everything about you is incredible
You should have seen me smile the day that I made you beautiful
You’re so beautiful
Beautiful for me
So beautiful for me
Has anybody told you?

A week (or so) in review

I don't think it is any one thing that leads me to conclude that life is moving faster than ever! Clearly the busier you are, the less time you seem to have for those moments of "I have nothing to do", but that's a good thing because too many of those moments lead to boredom!

Emma's doing great. Fully recovered from her face-to-floor- bump, and enjoying school. In fact, this week Pops took Emma on a day I was working, so it looks like we are good to go!

We did have to address something with the teachers this week - they give the kids cool stamps on their hands when it's someones birthday.

Both times Emma has expressed unhappiness after the fact, and even went so far as to say she did not want to return because of "stamps"! I told her to just tell the teachers she didn't want one, which she did (and they'd also worked it out!) so she's really proud of herself for communicating!

School seems to be having a positive impact on her therapy too, as she is better at following instructions and a longer attention span.

On Friday we went to IKEA to look for big girl beds! We realized that the kids want to be in our bed so much, not because they need closeness with us, but our pillow top mattress is much nicer than there firm crib mattresses!

We plan to buy Emma a full size single bed in the next few weeks "for her birthday". We'll put her bed in Toby's room and see if he can be trusted with the freedom! If he can, we'll have to get him one too, because the crib/toddler bed are also too small for both kids.

As for Toby, it's hard to believe that he turns 2 in less than 2 weeks. They say that having a boy and girl is a rich mans family, and I think it's a good saying. I love my kids so much, and the fact that they are so very different is awesome.

Yesterday Scott brought home a large remote controlled car, the kind with long antennae. Toby, being Toby, likes to chew on the end of the antenna, or just sit with the wire in his mouth. We have to keep confiscating it!

This afternoon, while we had a lot of friends over I was not paying as much attention to the kids. Emma, standing in front of me started waving her thumbs around like a hitchhiker. When I did the same back to her she said "nooo" and without turning her head pointed to her left. I turned and saw Toby with the antenna in his mouth!

It was hard not to laugh at how subtle she had been at telling on him. And how flagrant he is in response when you call his name and he grins at you, with the antenna hanging out of his mouth!

Toby is such a character and it's so great to see how much he loves Emma. When he won't eat a bite of food from us, he'll let Emma feed him or do something she tells him to do without question. Of course, she also intentionally gets him in trouble that way!

Toby is trying hard with his words, making more attempts at differing sounds. I suspect we have contributed to his lack of vocabulary by "understanding" his gestures and grunts and not requiring better articulation. I didn't realize how much you have to teach all kids to speak!!

For Toby's party we are staying small this year, inviting his favorite friends over for a car party - a couple hours of hotwheels and remote controlled cars racing around a furniture-less living room! We are even making it a girl-free zone, and we'll take Emma out for most of the time. Oh, and a cake of course!

Scott and I are doing well. We're incredibly busy, as I am working three days a week, getting home about 6pm, and he has quite a bit of overtime too. We are seeing this as a time of harvest, because you never know when there will be a time of "famine" in the workplace!

We have been much more intentional about family time, trying to make one night a week a time when we all go out together. It doesn't even have to be something expensive - last week it was IKEA, which is actually as much fun for the kids as a playground. At least it is when you let the kids jump on the mattresses and try out beds!! ;-)

October and November weekends are pretty much all booked up, so before I know it we'll be into December. This year is moving so fast I can't quite believe it. It's all been good though, maybe better than I ever imagined. Maybe one day soon I'll find a minute to sit back and reflect!