Music to His ears

This evening during dinner we were listening to worship music and Sydaleigh started singing, "hallelujah, hallelujah" over and over again along with the song. Sydaleigh typically sings along to worship music because we listen to them almost daily in our house, but tonight it was just so endearing to hear her sing. I know she doesn't know what she is singing yet, but you just gotta know that God was smiling down at her sweet innocense, listening to the praise for Him coming out of her mouth. It was beautiful.

Moments like this

Today we had no plans. So I asked Sydaleigh where she would like to go and she emphatically said the park, meaning the sprinkler park, but since it was too early and too chilly, we compromised on a regular park, just down the street from our house a bit.
We arrive and there are a number of little kids already playing as their 'caregivers' sat chatting on a nearby bench. None looked like parents, as most were older so I'm assuming Grandparents, or babysitters, who knows, just not parents.
We head down the hill and as soon as I set Marvelly's car seat down a little blond girl comes running up to me. And just stands there.
Sydaleigh starts playing and while I watch her this little girl is watching me.
After a minute she she sits down by me and just starts talking, about anything and everything.
Had absolutely no desire to play anymore, just wanted to sit by me and talk.
Whenever I would move to keep my eyes on Sydaleigh, the little girl was right on my heals.
Over the course of the hour that we were there I found out many things about her, as she was very chatty, and clearly thought I was a person suitable to talk to.
But what struck me was the fact that this little girl kept telling me over and over again that her Mommy and Daddy are both at work, and they don't come home until after dinner. And she wished that her Mommy and Daddy would come to the park with her one day.
(there goes my heart)
It made me sad to hear that from a little girl I don't even know.
But in addition to that, whoever brought her to the park, as there were a few ladies and I don't know which one she came with, never looked for her, called for her, or checked on her one time.
How sad.
In one hour, no one.
It's moments like this that make me appreciate my job as a mother so much.
Appreciate the fact that I am blessed in my ability to stay home, all day, and play and love on my girls.
Today brought a very real, vivid insight into a child's heart that shows just how much they yearn for the company and companionship of their parents.
Not only do our children need us, they want us.
Parenting is a responsibility I take very seriously, every day, no exceptions.
It is my heart's desire to wake up every day and leave a legacy of love and commitment with my girls.
I never want to let my children slip through these fingers to wake up one day and find that they are grown, and gone, and I missed it all.
My heart goes out to the children that happens to.

" Soft is the heart of a child, do not harden it"
(-author unknown)

this weekend...

We did a little bit of this...

picnic with Cinderella lunch box and

and a little bit of that...

flying a kite





a little more of this...


pictures of a pretty baby


and a little bit of that...

(putting Syd the kid to work washing the car)





followed by a little birthday party with a lot of little girls


and three cool dads.
There was also a trip to the sprinkler park, a trip to Target which resulted in the purchase of a clearanced backyard canopy swing, relaxing, playing outside, meeting new neighbors, and that was all in a weekend's work!

Happy six months!

Marvelly has made it half way to her milestone of a year
Here are the things she's up to...
She is rolling over-though still not from her back to belly.
She can sit up almost 100% independently.
Scoots on her belly when she is ultra frustrated and wanting to be picked up
( I don't even think she knows she's scooting)
Loves loves loves to smile!
Is really into chewing her thumb right now.
Is ultra content (90% of the time) chilling in her swing or lounging somewhere near the action.
Can say "HI" (I am not being a delusional mom, I'm sure that's what she's saying!)
Loves loves loves to play with her REALLY long tongue (it really is crazy long)
Is obsessed with watching the TV and will contort her body however possible
to be able to see it.
Still doesn't know she has hair on the top of her head.
Loves loves loves chasing Sydaleigh around the house (with mommy's help of course) and laughs whenever we do.
Likes looking at picture books of other babies and reading with Syd on her bed.
Already has two, count that two, boyfriends, Cole and Porter. (they love her)
Gets the biggest kick out of looking at herself in the mirror.
Faithfully sleeps 13 straight hours every night.
Loves to cuddle and fall asleep on Mommy the same way every night.
Has already had one cold.
You can always count on her to have eye boogers.
She is one baby who is happy to be alive, knows her family, loves to smile at strangers, has very strong steady legs, is scared of loud noises, and still has her 'baby smell'.

(Isaak took this picture before church while I was upstairs

getting ready-he posed her and everything, all by himself!-go Isaak!!!)

You want a what?

This morning Sydaleigh came into our bedroom, climbed atop the bed, laid down to snuggle, looked at Isaak and said, "Daddy, I want a pony."
over and over and over again.
It was so cute we were busting up laughing because we had no clue where that even came from.
A pony?!
I think it's pretty much a given that every little girl is going to ask for one of those, but I thought we at least had a few more years.

Another new phase

We have entered into another new phase of the 'twos'.
It consists of Sydaleigh asking over...
and over...
and over...
and over again for the same thing.
Doesn't matter what it is, it could be completely random,
but whatever it is she sets her mind on at that moment,
she asks for it until you want to cry from exhaustion of having to listen to her.
Morph this new phase with the fact that she is already a very strong willed child and it makes for some very comical and frustrating days.
I hear this phase lasts a while.
Praying for patience has a whole new meaning these days.

Must be part of the man's manual

It's a good thing men know what to do with this stuff cause I haven't a freakin clue. I think it's just one of those crazy 'man things' that they are born with the ability to make sense out of all of this...



To me it's a big ugly, juggly complicated pile of mess, to Isaak it makes complete sense.
Mind boggling.

About that time

Marvelly finally got her first taste of non milk food yesterday, good ole rice cereal.

She liked it-though she hasn't pooped since, but I'm sure that will come later.

Big sister helping

Sydaleigh braving the rice cereal and taking a taste,

because everything Marvelly does, Sydaleigh has to do too.

Uh-oh! What we got here??

My girls got themselves some boyfriends!!

Marvi and Cole, Sydaleigh and Landen

(Isaak has a mini heart attack even when
I joke-he dreads the day.)

Sydaleigh

Fancy lady eating ice cream

Super high fashion!
Hollywood, you don't have
anything on my girl!

(I actually let her wear those shoes to Michael's last
week-I figure what they hey, you're only two once!)

Peace flows like a river

Well, took Sydaleigh in to the doctor today for her follow up appointment since acquiring another UTI over a week ago.
Her third UTI in less than a year.
I knew what they were going to tell me.
But this time I was a lot more open to hearing it.
We will be sending Sydaleigh for additional testing to make sure that there are no defects within her kidneys or bladder.
I was so opposed to this the first time they mentioned it, but now, I'm at peace.
It needs to be done, for safety and for peace of mind.
It will be a traumatizing day for her no doubt, as she is only two.
But as upset as she will be in the moment, what's great about kids is they have a super quick rebound of emotions, and she will forget and move on.
It's not easy making hard decisions as a parent, especially when your child's health is the cause. But I am putting my assurance and reassurance in the Lord, knowing his peace will flow like a river over me and Sydaleigh.
Don't have an appointment yet, that will come in the next week.
Will keep you posted.
And prayers are always welcome!!

Table tennis? Come on!

I turned the Olympics on this afternoon during my lunch hoping to catch some track and field or something, and rather than something cool, or competitive to watch, they had on table tennis. Oh my gosh this was the most ridiculous thing ever. Mainly because they call it table tennis! Hello, it's ping pong! It was so absurd, there were actually two guys on a team, because apparently is takes two grown men to try and hit a little ping pong ball. They were all hiking their shorts up, jogging in place back and forth, and taking time outs to guzzle water. You can't even break a sweat doing that, what do you need to guzzle water for?!! It was just so silly watching this, I can't even believe this is in the Olympics.

What is going on!!!

Where in the world did this come from???!!!
Sunday morning I wake up and feel absolutely terrible.
All of a sudden, totally out of the blue, I am sick.
A yucky nauseated hurt all over sick.
My body is turning against me!
Maybe it was all the Hershey's, Fritos, and Famous Dave's corn bread I ate Saturday night at small group? Or perhaps the meat I handled actually soaked into my pores just to further remind me why I do not eat the stuff.
No clue.
Don't like this one bit.
I'm a teensy bit better today but still feel lousy.
Hoping whatever it is that's rearing it's ugly head finds someone else to pick on.
(just no one else in my family please)!

I do because I love

I am a vegetarian-have been for the past 16 years.
I am also the lone ranger in my family when it comes to this way of life.
Isaak loves his meat.
And since I am married to a meatetarian it is also a part of my life that I have to cook him the meat he loves so much.
I really don't have a problem with this.
I actually don't mind on the whole cooking meat dishes for him.
I gag every now and then but for the most part I'm pretty used to it.
I've even gotten really crafty at cooking and handling the meat without ever having to touch it.
How?
I cut the package open with a knife and use a fork knife combo to scoop the chicken or ground turkey out of the package onto wherever it is I need it to go.
I've got mad skills.
But today, for dinner, I decided to make swedish meatballs.
Why?
Because my husband really liked the ones my aunt made when we were up in Michigan and I was going to make them for him again, because he liked them so much. ( I'm so nice)
I am like SOOOOO nice.
I actually had to touch the meat today.
A fact that didn't occur to me until after I decided on this recipe and it was too late to make something else.
Ick, the meat got all over my hands and up under my fingernails-it was terrible!
It took probably five washes with heavy duty scrubbing to get the ick off of me.
I mean the sacrifice I make for my family to put food on the table.
I am such a good wife.

"WEEEEEEEEE!!!"

"Won't you smile with me?!"

Not during nap time!!!!!!!!

Uhhh, I JUST laid both girls down for naps, it's 2:00, and wouldn't you know the Thunderbirds start doing flyovers over my house. They are so ridiculously loud!!!! It's literally ever 3-4 minutes they come blaring over head, I am so annoyed right now! I'm assuming it's going to be like this all day since the air show is tomorrow. Great, a big fat great!

Good tip

If you are wondering what it is you are looking at...
Sydaleigh decided to decorate herself with giant stickers following her doctors appointment, and upon taking them off at then end of the day this lovely residue remained.
It wouldn't come off for three days, but luckily a friend recommended 'Goo Gone' and zap! that stuff came right off. I've used Goo Gone to remove just about everyone from floors, but never did I think to use it on my kid. I will be now!

Quietness

Ah, I love that tonight everybody is in bed on time.
No screaming or tantrums. Just nice and easy.
Which means I am left to enjoy the quiet.
To sit and listen-
to my thoughts...
to the crickets outside...
to the Lord...
to the anything and everything that is peaceful.
I get to sit and enjoy my last piece of poppy seed bread that Tera made before she left.
I purposely saved it until after she moved so that I could enjoy it on a night like tonight.
I get to sit and reminisce.
I get to sit and ravel in what the Lord is doing all around me. It's spectacular.
I get to sit on the couch and watch the Olympics with my hubby.
I haven't had such a peaceful night like this in a while, so I am appreciating it and taking advantage of it in all the simple ways that I can.

better luck next time

I was reading a friend's blog about how she is trying to create family traditions that don't have to do with holidays. And it got me thinking about how I want the same. We didn't have a lot of traditions in my family growing up outside of holiday traditions, but a 'few' is better than 'none'. So in my attempt to start one, I stole her idea of pizza and movie night. Everyone helps in the kitchen making pizza for dinner and then we all sit down with our meal and watch a movie. And for the most part it went off pretty good. Sydaleigh had a blast helping me cook, kneading the dough, playing in the flour, making a mess-all of that was a lot of fun. But the tradition pretty much ended there-after the pizza came out of the oven she was no longer interested and didn't want to eat it, said it was yucky ( she actually likes pizza, just a typical two year old thing to say), and we never even made it to the movie part because her friends were outside. So, I'll probably be putting the kibosh on this tradition and keeping my brain peeled for something else we can do.

very proud of her little ball of dough...

and very proud of her little pile of flour

My Night Owl

This is Marvelly (tonight).
She is supposed to be sleeping.
Well, in a fairness, she was sleeping, but a crying Sydaleigh woke her up (that was definitely an 'errrrr' moment).
But rather than get upset, we embraced, and talked and laughed.
She was just so happy to be hanging out, how could I not be happy with her?!

The military life

I learned to deal with the deployments, the moves, the bases, long hours, the uncertainty, the this and the that, that goes into being in the military. But one thing I have never had to deal with until today, is the being left, by others who are moving. Its always been our luck that wherever we go, we always seem to be the first of our group of friends to leave. It's easier being the 'leaver'. I found out today it's not see easy being the 'leftie'. I had to say goodbye to Tera today. It was by far the quickest goodbye I've ever said in my life or else I would have stood there balling for twenty minutes. I'm gonna miss her. I'm gonna miss her family. I'm gonna thank the Lord daily for moving her in next door to me, even if it was only for a year. It was a really great year.

Real dads

Last night Isaak and Sydaleigh were sitting on the couch together watching The Little Mermaid.

No biggie, we always let her watch a little something in the evening.

It was when I heard Isaak singing to her the song Part of Your World ( You know, "Look at this stuff, isn't it neat, wouldn't you think my collections complete, ect. song) that caught my attention.

He sang her the whole song. ( he only messed up a few lines)

Real dads sing to their kids without feeling silly. (not that other dads are fake or anything-it just touched my heart to see Isaak do that)

I've got my girls a real good dad.

July

some randomness from July...

splash park (free)

I threw a baby shower for Brindee and baby Hattie
(Tera and baby Collin didn't leave empty handed either though)

sucker after breakfast
(that's how we roll in the summer-whatever!)

trip to the zoo with Daddy this time

in the backyard playing in the dirt

and the two princess girls at the base pool