Lizzie's exclamations 5-23-11

Today has been a fun one for Lizzie quotes.

I always think to myself that I will write down all the funny and cute and smart things Lizzie says, but usually forget to. I guess Facebook has its place in some way for recording some of these things, but it really doesn't count. Let's face it; once a status update becomes old news of 22 hours ago (or if you're really popular, 3 hours ago), it is never heard from again.

Today Lizzie counted to ten without any coaching or prompting. She was in her high chair, minding her own business while I was getting ready to clean her up from lunch (rather, her pre-nap "I'm hungry" stalling routine cheese sandwich), when she started counting her fingers. "Two, fwee, fwee..." I almost stopped listening because she usually gets stuck at "fwee" like a broken record. But to my great surprise, she kept going. "Fo', fy, siss," I couldn't help it, I interrupted. "Wow, Lizzie! You counted to six!" She grinned up at me, then went back to her fingers. "Se'en," then moved to her other hand to finish, "Eight, nine, ten!"

Ten fingers. So what if she thinks the first seven of them are on her right hand. But at least she has ten in total!

While in the bath tub tonight, Lizzie was splashing up a storm with her toys. Once the waves subsided, her toys were floating in a spiral.

She started to exclaim, "Ring around rosie! Ring around rosie!" (Except she can't say her "R"s yet, so it was more along the lines of "wing wound wosie," which is kind of cuter.)

A few minutes later, she had her drenched washcloth draped over her head, dripping water down her face, thus, "Waning on you!" (Raining on you!)

Yes, "You" equals "me" and "Me" equals "Mommy". 'Cause that's how it makes sense in her head.

Unofficially

I took an unofficial break from pretty much all things blogs last week. I didn't write any. I only read a few (my Google reader had some 500 unread blogs that I sort of skimmed marked as read this past weekend). And I had a great week.

I've been getting up before 7 (most mornings) and having coffee, a good little quiet time, making something of a plan for the day, and usually doing a bit of exercise. Most mornings I can get all of this in before Lizzie wakes up. This is why I love it when my husband is on a routine that gets him up and out the door early in the morning, which also makes us ready to go to bed before midnight each night. All these things don't happen on a retail or unemployment schedule--or lack thereof.

Then during naptimes, I have been either getting in some reading or doing stuff around the house that needs to be done. Like de-cluttering. (Don't tell anyone but I actually borrowed and read through The Complete Idiot's Guide to Cleaning this week. I have 2 more weeks before I have to return it to the library, and I'm hoping I will actually implement at least some of it before taking it back.) But so far, I've just been trying to uncover the surfaces in our home. If I can find our furniture, I think I'll have a much better chance at maintaining a neat and peaceful home. At least for the next 2 months.

So, not much has been done in the realm of blogging.

However, I feel like it's a good time to give a brief update.

Lizzie is 23 months old. Almost 2. Sleeping in a big girl bed. Singing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" into a microphone. Parroting what she hears. Walking around the house with her shopping cart (with her baby doll or puppy dog sitting in the front basket), putting things into it, and saying, "Buy diss." She has cut the first of four of her 2-year molars, and seems to be working on the next one. She is mastering the art of manipulation by cuteness. She "helps" me sweep the floor, water the garden, and clean up. (The garden currently still has one cherry tomato, one cucumber, and now 4 (hopefully) lettuce seedlings.) She still can't say her "k" sounds. She says "wuv you" when she gives hugs. She seems to be catching on to the idea that she will be a big sister, and that there is a "bay-ee hiding" in Mommy's tummy.

Speaking of which, I am 32 weeks pregnant. There are only 8 weeks left to go, Lord willing. I'm really hoping there aren't 9 weeks left. I'll try not to complain about it too much, but I just have to say that I am still not the biggest fan of being pregnant. I had to break out the support hose on Sunday; it helped the insane swelling I've been having in my left foot/ankle/leg, but I'm not sure if it was worth it. Part of me would rather have swelling than wear nylons. I haven't taken a picture of my pregnant self in a while, though I know I should. If for no other reason than to see how my size compares to what I looked like at this point last time. I have a feeling I'm bigger.

Every once in a while I get concerned about giving birth again, but the other night, after seeing a video of a goat being born, I was considering that I was glad we deliver little, soft, human babies, rather than anything huge or with hooves. I'm pretty sure being a mother rhinoceros would be the worst thing ever. Most other babies don't grow their horns or antlers until they're older. Not so the rhinos.

My mom's book release party/signing went really well. Here are some pictures. It was a lot of fun, and it was a huge success, due largely to a fantastic turnout of friends from church.

I am strongly considering venturing out into a business. Ambitious, I know. Especially for someone who is expecting a second child, and is somewhat lazy. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of risk, and there could be a fair amount of profit, even if I do get off to a slow start. We're praying about it, but for the most part we have peace.

Well, it's been about half an hour of nap time consumed here, and I have some more decluttering to do before I can feel like I crossed off much of significance on my To Do list today.

This may unofficially be my only post of this week. And I am OK with that.

Coffee and Meg's Book Launch!

Good morning!

This week has been a good one.

Sam started his full time job on Monday.  It's been great for him to be in a new schedule - a regular schedule - one that gets him up in the mornings and allows him to be home for dinner.

Sam's schedule has impacted my schedule, of course.  I've been able to get up before Lizzie most mornings, have coffee and a quiet time, and once actually did a complete 20 minute workout.  I thought about exercising this morning, but had vacuumed yesterday, and apparently pulled my lower ab muscles, so I will pass on that for a few days.  Pregnancy has its perks: Sam says he'll take over the vacuuming from here on out. 

Tomorrow is a big day.  It's Meg Moseley's book launch party and her first book signing!  When Sparrows Fall was released on Tuesday, May 3, by Waterbook Multnomah, and you can actually buy it off a shelf now!  It is real.

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Mom's book, follow this link.


http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bookcontests/.

In fact, you can win her book, plus a book of your choice from among these titles:
Be sure to include the contest code for the book you’d like to win.

• Lady in Waiting by Susan Meissner (Contest Code: MMLIW)
• Anna Finch and the Hired Gun by Kathleen Y’Barbo (Contest Code: MMAFATHG)
• Shades of Morning by Marlo Schalesky (Contest Code: MMSOM)
• The Daughter’s Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick (Contest Code: MMTDW)
• Indivisible by Kristen Heitzmann (Contest Code: MMIKH)
• Lilies in Moonlight by Allison Pittman (Contest Code: MMLIM)
• The Harvest of Grace by Cindy Woodsmall, Advance Reading Copy (Contest Code: MMTHOG)
• Deadly Ties by Vicki Hinze (Contest Code: MMDT)

I can't linger online very long today, since I've got to make 5 dozen Snickerdoodles to bring to the launch party, run to Costco and the bank, and ideally even make dinner. And Lizzie is telling me that I have to "fix house" made of Lincoln Logs that she knocked over for the 3rd time.

But next week I will try to get a  bit of a recap of the launch party.  It will be quite the event!

Have a happy weekend!

Would you like to join this little blog hop?  Go ahead, it's fun!

Garden Update

You may remember that I had shared a fantastic plan for our Square Foot Garden for this spring.  It was a tad  bit ambitious.

Well, that ambition has been checked.  It's really due to the need for our land to be graded.  Our back yard turns into a muddy bog when it rains.  And we're kind of afraid that one side of the house is sinking and making our drywall crack.

Cute, right?  I mean the garden.

And we have at least 8 pine trees that need to go before we feel that our roof is safe.

So, considering that all these yard improvement projects will cost us a small fortune, and because a truck would have to drive directly over our garden plot to deliver fill dirt, we have decided to hold off on the full plan.  It's probably better to start slower, anyway, considering what all is going on this summer.

Thus, our abbreviated garden.

Yes, my Texan friends, that is a Buc-ee's shirt.  Eat your heart out.

This is only 2' by 2' and it is actually only a leftover piece from a container garden that my dad made to surprise my mom for their anniversary.  There are two plants in it so far: one cherry tomato, and one cucumber.  They will need a trellis, but that isn't quite necessary yet.



There are 2 more square feet available, and I am debating what exactly to plant there.  I think I will start putting in a few lettuce plants each week for a little while, until I have a good little salad bar setup.



We also have 2 blueberry bushes, one of which has a handful of berries coming along!  I'm hoping rabbits and birds don't steal them before we get to them. 

Do you have a garden going?  How does your garden grow?



My New Adventure is nothing like Alicia's this week, but I suppose we're adventuring along the same lines this year. :) Congratulations to her growing family!

Lessons Learned from a Little Engine

Or, God Really Meets Us Where We Are

A few months ago we had to renew The Little Engine That Could, by Watty Piper three times.  It has been 2 months since we returned it, and still, Lizzie quotes from it:  "Chug, chug, chug. Puff, puff, puff.  Ding-dong, ding-dong."  She read it to the dog.  She read it to her baby doll.  She read it to herself if no one would sit still for her to read it.  And she requested it every time I sat down to read her a book. 

If you think this is about the Little Blue Engine, who says, "I think I can..." and pulls the little train over the mountain for the good boys and girls on the other side, then you will have to keep reading, because it's not. 

I had just come out of my 4-month-long first trimester (yes, my first trimester was 4 months long... or at least felt that way), in which I was run down, miserable, and mildly depressed.  Then came February, in which some energy returned.  Sam was working, I was getting back in the swing of living again, and the weather was getting slightly warmer.  Things were looking up.  But I wasn't.

The fact is, I was struggling to get out of bed, to make meals, to have patience, to get--let alone keep--the house in order, and to just function.  Quiet time? Prayer? What were those?

Thus the only way for God to get my attention was through what I was doing every day: Reading picture books.  Every day--sometimes multiple times a day--I read The Little Engine That Could.

I think there are two kinds of women in the world.  The kind who over-commit and run themselves ragged trying to do a million things because they said they would; and the kind who are terrified of over-committing and rarely volunteer their time or resources, for fear of running themselves ragged.  I am typically the latter.  My first response is not usually, "I think I can." 

Enter the Old, Tired Engine.

I wish I could find a picture of the Old, Tired Engine on Google Images, because it is a very pathetic looking engine.  All the dolls and toys become so disappointed after asking the Old, Tired Engine to help them.  But the Old, Tired Engine explains, "I cannot; I am too tired.  I must rest my weary wheels," then he chugs slowly past them to the roundhouse (where engines go when they are not busy) with this refrain:

"I cannot.  I cannot."

Finally on a Sunday this spring our pastor spoke on repentance and refreshing.  My spirit was stirred, though I wasn't able to put it into words.  I just knew a shift had occurred in my heart.  Then shortly after I finally felt the words of the silly story pierce my exhaustion and prod my heart.  Why do I say that I cannot?  What is keeping me from doing what is before me to do?  What keeps me from helping?  From blessing?  From at least being kind?

Nothing, honestly.  Only a lie that kept me saying, "I cannot." 

I am not bounding out of bed every morning, of course.  Some days go better than others.  But I have hope that I can do the things that are in my heart to do--that God has placed me where I am to be a blessing.  I am not saved and redeemed and blessed in order to preserve myself.  Indeed, it is not by my works that I am saved, nor by my rest that I am preserved, but I am appointed and "created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Eph 2:8-10

Even when that simply means reading picture book after picture book, and preparing and cleaning up meal after meal.  The truth of it is, I can.

I'm linking up with the girls from Soli Deo Gloria today. :)

We're back! {Top Ten} April So Far

This has been a full month.  It has been wonderful.  I wish I had started a list of bullet points of everything that's happened in the past few weeks, so that I could put together an intelligent recap of our April.  Or at least so that I could remember things.  But I didn't, so this is the brief run-down of what we've been up to!

1.  Almost 3 weeks ago, my sweet and dear friend, Michelle, drove 800+ miles from Michigan with her boyfriend, Rob, solely to visit with us.  That is a good friend there. 

Rob, Michelle, and Lizzie, at the park

Michelle was my maid of honor in my wedding.  Whenever she gets married--which shouldn't be too far off now--she's already picked me for the position, though with the title Matron. 

Michelle & Cindy, all dressed up

We used to stay up until all hours, talking about all the things that girls talk about--school, boys, relationships, our spiritual journey, boys, and dreams for the future.  While they visited, we got our "late night" time in during the early morning, while Lizzie and Rob slept in. 

Having Michelle as a friend is like having a sister.  No matter how often we see each other, we can always pick up where we left off.  And I hope that my girls get to be such close friends, too.

2.  In preparation for having houseguests, we had to clean.  Their stay motivated us to rearrange our guest room and make it livable. 
Before:

(Yes, I do understand that the blocks and colorful toys add drama, and make it look worse than it was, but it really was that bad.  I found that I had not filed or even remotely dealt with paperwork since October.  October, people!)

After:

 3.  We ventured to the Southeastern Railway Museum.  Lizzie loves trains, more than I would expect a girl to love trains, and we are right around the corner from this surprisingly great "museum" of trains and transportation. 

 

4.  Sam has another job prospect lined up, and it starts at the beginning of next month.  It's a three-month internship contract, which we are praying will become a permanent position.  He is excited to get back on track with a construction job, since his most recent degree is in construction project management.  I am excited for him, too!  The retail place has been God's provision for us, however, it's only an interim job. I am also looking forward to the retail schedule coming to an end and having a regular work week, that starts with early mornings and early bedtimes.

5.  We went to Texas and back!  We put approximately 2500 miles on our truck, but it was worth every mile.  Along the way we stayed with friends in Hattiesburg, MS, spent several days with Sam's family in Houston, made a 24 hour trip to stay with more friends and make a cameo appearance at a home church in San Antonio, returned to Houston, then departed for Mobile, AL, for one final stay with more friends, before heading home.  

6.  While in Houston, we got to go to the zoo, which was so much fun.  We went during nap time, so even though Lizzie was slightly zombie-like, she did really love being there.  

7.  Lizzie adores her grandparents.  Both sets.  She was actually disappointed when we told her we were going home instead of going back to Yeh-Yeh and Ni-Ni's house.  

 

When we did get back home, we got to visit with my family, too.  My mom is back in town.  She'd been in California for nearly a month, helping her sister care for their mother.  Her mother is still hanging in there, so she may need to fly back out soon, but we hope that her mom will hold out until after the book launch on May 3, at least.

 

8.  I arrived at my third trimester.  There are now only 11 weeks left before my due date of July 11 (Lord willing, no more than that!).  I am feeling quite large, my ankles are feeling quite larger, and whatever energy I had in the 2nd trimester is gradually leaving.  I'm glad we got to travel together as a family of 3 this month.

9.  Lizzie is making some "big girl" transitions.  While at Sam's parents' house, she went #2 in her potty for the first time.  That was a big deal.  She hasn't done it since, but she's put forth some good effort.  We haven't put forth a huge effort to push potty training, but we are giving her opportunity to try, especially if she asks. 

As of last night, Lizzie has decided she is no longer interested in sleeping in her crib.  So, she has slept on her crib mattress on the floor - which actually means, on the floor itself - for one evening and one nap.  The going to bed process has been a bit of a struggle, but once the lights are off and the door is closed, she has stayed in her bed like a big girl!  If we can keep this up until the new baby comes, then we'll only have to get one more mattress, instead of a whole new crib set. 

10.  Easter.   Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!  That we have a resurrection and the hope of the gospel, the strength of the same Spirit who raised Christ Jesus from the dead also in us.  It is truly indescribable.

Lizzie got to experience an egg hunt for the first time.  She was a little foggy on the details until she picked up a few eggs.  Then she got the hang of it.  And as soon as she got to what was on the inside (chocolate candy! stickers! bubble gum - we didn't know about that one until she gave me a very chewed up piece), she was pretty stoked to find more!

 

Those are our highlights.  How has your April been?

Never too young to have a fashion opinion...

22 months, and this is how she wants her hair.  Gotta love having a daughter.