Author Archive
A Father’s Day Surprise
Posted on: June 19, 2011
- In: Life
- 25 Comments
This past Wednesday, we had our 20-week ultrasound. You might have seen my tweet/facebook update:
Well, my dear friends, are you ready for our news?
Really, really ready?
Like, so ready, that when you see this:
You let out a little squee?
Or
Are you so ready, that when you see this:
You let out a big ol’ “Woo-hoo!”
That’s right, my friends, come November, the Windhams are having a baby boy.
Julia’s New Swimming Adventure
Posted on: June 16, 2011
- In: Life
- 7 Comments
This week’s Try New Adventure isn’t about what I’ve tried, but what Julia did.
We go to the pool a shameful amount. After all, it’s free and the weather is hot. There is an amazing kiddie pool, that is about 1.5 feet deep {as well as a normal pool}. We typically go during the mid-morning and stay till naptime. As the weeks go on, the girls have gotten more and more confident in the water. Hannah will jump off the edge {whether you’re there to catch her or not} and Julia will dive under for several seconds.
But this past Tuesday, Julia started swimming.
She’s been hanging on the edge, then will push off towards me. She’s not actually swimming, but at least getting confidence in not holding on to me or the wall for a few seconds. We got out the pool noodle and the girls were jumping off the edge, onto the noodle while I stood there to catch them. I exampled to Julia how she could balance herself on the noodle and “swim” on her own. She was doubtful at first, but finally tried it.
Next thing I knew, she was swimming. Of course, she was balancing herself on the noodle {to support her upper body} and I was in front with my hands out in case she needed help. But the girl did it. She swam all over the pool.
It was awesome.
She was so incredibly proud of herself. At one point she said “I can’t wait to tell Daddy. He’ll be so proud of me!” He was. And so I am.
What new adventures have you tried? Or even your kiddos?
Visit Alicia at Alicia’s Homemaking for more Try New Adventures.
Happy Birthday, Hannah Michelle!
Posted on: June 15, 2011
- In: Life
- 8 Comments
My sweet little baby turns 2 today. It’s hard for me to believe that two years have gone by. That Hannah Bear has gone from this:
to this:
I don’t even know how that happened! For whatever reason, with both girls, turning 2 has been much harder on me than turning 1. Two is such a big kid and shows me how fleeting are the moments I have with these precious little girls. *tear*
Hannah Michelle,
My sweet cuddly mama’s girl, you are such a wonder to me. God has blessed us greatly by adding you to our family. Your appetite for life {and food} are such testimonies to your little personality. How you willingly take on something scary, like jumping into the pool, as though it’s the easiest thing you’ve ever done. I love that about you. Your strength to pave your way in a family full of strong personalities, just shows how perfectly you fit in with us. I love that you delight in your sister and think the world of her. She is your best friend and it’s my prayer that she will always be that way. I also pray that in the next year, your understanding of God would grow, that your little heart would already be on the path to serving Him for your life. Know that you are loved, by God and your family, more than you will ever fully realize. My only advice to you is, try not to eat Molly’s face so much. She’s such a cute little bear and I’d hate for her to not have a nose. I love you my dear, Mama.
What to Feed a Monkey
Posted on: June 14, 2011
- In: Life
- 8 Comments
Hannah turns two tomorrow and we are celebrating her birthday with a party this Saturday. Because of her crazy love for the Paul Frank monkey, I decided we needed a monkey theme party. And what do monkeys {especially my monkey Bear} love to do most? Eat. While I am going for banana themed foods, I’m also adding Hannah’s other favorite foods. Here’s what is on the menu for Saturday’s party:
2. Banana Bread
3. Cheese Slices
4. Peanut Butter Sandwiches with Banana Slices
5. Fruit slices
6. Pita Chips and Hummus
7. Monkey Bread
9. Carrots and Dip
10. Your Suggestions – Any more banana themed ideas of what to feed a group of kids and parents?
Visit Amanda at Oh Amanda for more Top Ten Tuesday.
The (*) indicates photo and recipe credit.
Oh Happy Days Goes to Paris
Posted on: June 11, 2011
- In: Life
- 3 Comments
Thanks to Jodi at Life & Oh-La-Dee-Dah I found out about this wonderful giveaway for a 7 day trip to Paris for 2! Given my love of Paris, I’ve enter the giveaway. And being the sweet person I am, I’m spreading the news. Though… if you read my blog and win, we might need to strike up a deal that I can go with you. 😉
Head over to Oh Happy Day and be sure to enter!
100 Books for a Library of Hope
Posted on: June 9, 2011
- In: Life
- 15 Comments
Monday night, Jonathan and I watched this wonderful documentary called Building Hope. It’s the story of journalist, Turk Pipkin, who, after visiting Mahiga in rural Kenya, decided to help them build a high school. After the movie, we started talking about what our family could do to help. Inspired and motivated, we came up with an idea.
Why a high school?
While the children in the area have access to a primary education, none of them have access to a secondary education. In other words, their education stops at eighth grade.
Why do they need secondary education?
Just like in America, without a high school education, you can’t go to college in Africa. And even if you choose not to go to college, ending your formal education at eighth grade, greatly hinders your ability to succeed in work or even provide for your family.
Why should you care?
There are countless stories around the world about the needs of the less fortunate. Each one as heartbreaking as the last. Each one pulling at our strings of humanity. Yet, once the story is told and we walk away, it seems too big to conquer on our own. And so we move on with our lives. But this story has hope. This story shows that one person can make a difference. That there really is something you can do. Something we can all do that will make a big difference.
What can you do to help Mahiga?
1. Grab a book off your shelf, any book, pre-K through 12th.
2. Write a note on the inside cover to make it special. Something like: “Here is To Kill a Mockingbird, one of my favorite fictional stories. A story of triumph and the victory of truth. I hope it brings you as much enjoyment and enlightenment as it has brought me. Love, Sarah from Austin, Texas”
3. Mail the book to:
It’s that simple. Just one book. Or as many books as you want to send. We are working together with Turk Pipkin and the Bazaarvoice Foundation to ship them directly to the school.
From now until July 4th, we will be collecting books. Our goal is to gather 100 books to send to Mahiga Hope. If we band together, we can have the books to the students by the start of their fall semester.
Will you join us? Will you help us build an even greater library of hope for the students of Mahiga Hope School?
================================
This post is linked to Try New Adventures at Alicia’s Homemaking and Things I Love Thursday at Diaper Diaries.
Maternity Swimsuits – Works for Me?
Posted on: June 8, 2011
- In: Life
- 13 Comments
Add me to the ranks of women who don’t like swimsuit shopping. Perhaps second only to jean shopping in the do-I-really-have to category. But, with an expanding belly and a one piece that won’t quite do the trick anymore, I found myself last weekend at Target hunting down a swimsuit.
Truth be known, shopping for a swimsuit while pregnant doesn’t quite help with any self-esteem issues you might have. I just had to remind myself that 1) there’s a reason I need this size 2) the reason will be way cute/worth it come November. I decided to stick with something plain-ish that would grow with me and not fall off when the girls grab on to me. After five tries and a coin toss, this is what I went with:
It’s hard to tell, since I’m sitting down, but the bottoms are plain black. The sides are ruched, making it look cute and fitted now with room to expand by August/September. The back is a racerback, making it feel a lot like a sports bra – which makes it so incredibly comfortable. Overall, it’s a win.
Do you dread swimsuit shopping? Have you ever shopped for a maternity suit?
Visit Kristen at We are THAT Family for more Works For Me Wednesday.
Blame it on Pregnancy Brain
Posted on: June 7, 2011
- In: Life
- 15 Comments
Lately, I’ve been mid-sentence when I forget what…. um, um… oh, what I was going to say. Last night, Jonathan and I went out for a date. It was a work function of sorts, and I had the chance to meet a few of his co-workers. I also met the CEO of his company. In a shining moment of pregnancy, after the introduction was made, I knew {just knew} I was suppose to know this man, but for the life of me I couldn’t remember. Then, it went off like a light bulb and I blurted out “Your wife just had a baby!” really loud. Yeah, that was nice. And that is mild compared to the other things I forget. Like:
1. Buying two yards of fabric and that have magically disappeared. {Update: I just found the fabric, rolled up and tucked into the girls’ closet. Who knows.}
2. Using a pair of scissors, remembering to put them back, and they are now gone.
3. Looking at our daily menu multiple times a day because I can’t remember what I’m suppose to make.
4. Meeting a wonderful lady and her two adorable kids at the pool before leaving for vacation and then forgetting I ever met her. *sheepish face*
5. Going to the grocery store for 2 {TWO!} items and forgetting why I went.
6. Calling the girls “Jul-Han-Mab-Mic, hey kid!” because I can’t get their names straight.
7. Being absolutely convinced that it’s Monday, when it’s really Wednesday, but actually Thursday.
8. Standing in the grocery aisle trying to remember what is more $.162 per ounce or $.167.
9. Having schooltime that sounds like “This is red. I mean, green. No, no, really, it’s blue. Sorry Hannah.”
10. Sending an email to a friend on Thursday, only to see this morning that it never got sent {though I swear it did}.
I’d say things will go back to normal once Baby Three arrives, but I know things will just get worse for a while as sleep deprivation sets in and then I really won’t remember anything.
Have you ever suffered from pregnancy brain? Or nursing brain? Or just old brain? Whew.
Visit Amanda at Oh Amanda for more Top Ten Tuesday.
- In: Life
- 15 Comments
Since being a cell phone owner for over 12 years a really long time, I’ve always gone the free-phone route. It never made sense to buy a phone and what the carrier had to offer always seemed good enough to me. I’d bear through the dropped calls, frying of sims cards and complete malfunction until we were up for a new free phone. It was frustrating, but I could deal. Then my last phone sent me over the edge.
A standard LG, with decent texting ability, there really isn’t any one thing wrong with my phone, well, except for everything. It turns off randomly. It will start calling people on its own. It won’t ring when it should and will delay messages. Sometimes, mid-conversation, it will hang up. I call this my limited-talk feature. If I place too many calls in a day {say, three or more} it just shuts down. Unlike my previous phones, this phone has been acting a fool since day one. But once you’re locked in, your locked in, so I’ve been waiting for 2 years to get a new one.
When our phone contract came up this last week, Jonathan asked me what phone I wanted. I think my response was “something that doesn’t suck”. I still really didn’t care what I had, just so long as it was reliable and wouldn’t make me want to run over it with our van. But, as we were standing in AT&T and I was looking over my not-quite-free-but-still-cheap-phone options, Jonathan asked if what I had chosen was what I really wanted. Really wanted? Another phone whose con ratings include “dropped calls, turns off randomly and isn’t always reliable” just like all the other options I had? No, not really. What I really want, what I know will actually be a good phone is:
So, out of no where, Jonathan got it for me. I was floored. After years of bad cell phones, I feel like I’ve just stepped into true adulthood, with a real cell phone. Aside from the countless apps, the feeding of my Apple obsession and having internet on my phone, I’m just excited to own a phone that will actually work. And it doesn’t hurt that my kids can have facetime with my mom and I can snap awesome pictures:
What is your cell phone like? Do you have a dud like my old one? Or have you stepped it up to electronic adulthood?
It’s the Little Joys in Life
Posted on: June 3, 2011
- In: Life
- 5 Comments
It’s the little joys in life that add up to a joyous life. Little joys like –
Coming home to this guy after a week+ away:
Finding random pictures of the girls on our computer:
Yes, that is underwear on her head
What are your Friday Joys?
A Wife Loved Like The Church 
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