Posts Tagged ‘Hannah Michelle’
Hannah’s First Day of Preschool
Posted on: February 2, 2012
- In: Life
- 12 Comments
Yesterday was Hannah’s first day of preschool. She started the two-days a week program at the same church where Julia has been going since last fall. Since Julia started “school” Hannah has been talking about going non-stop. While we do educational things at home when Julia is gone, I’ve certainly dropped the teacher ball after Joseph’s birth. To have the opportunity for Hannah to learn in a play-based way is going to be so great for her.
This photo says so much about my sweet girls’ relationship. Hannah, despite her spit fire personality, really does look up to Julia a lot. And Julia, ever the comforter, really does a great job of watching of Hannah.
Once we got to school, Hannah was a little miffed that she wasn’t going to class with Julia. She kept insisting that she was also four years old and needed to be with Julia and her friends. But, her teachers helped distract her with all the fun toys and games they had. As I left the building, I sneaked a quick peek in her room and she was playing and all happy.
When she came home, she was a ball of excitement with all the wonderful things she’d learned and done. She just loves her teachers and is so excited to finally be at school with her big sister and two neighbor friends.
It’s a bittersweet time now. I love that Hannah is getting to participate in such a great program. I love that Hannah and Julia have another way to bond. And I love being just with Joseph. But it’s a bit sad to see my sweet little Hannah growing up so quickly. She’s turning 3 {THREE!!} in just a few more months. How in the world did that happen? :sigh:
What adventures have you, or your children, had this week?
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Weekly Routines – Friday Joy
Posted on: January 13, 2012
- In: Life
- 6 Comments
{via Abby Sokeland on Pinterest}
That quote pretty much summarizes my personality. Jonathan is complete spontaneity, and I am planned spontaneity. It surprisingly works well together. But with the holidays over, with nearly two weeks of no plans and just spontaneity, it has been a happy, happy feeling to be back into a real routine this week.
Julia started back to school on Monday which brings a sense of structure and order to our household. We have spent the week rooting out bad habits, like excessive television and sugar binges, while introducing new ones, like reading chapter books with Julia and Hannah {well, more Julia than Hannah}. This week we’ve read Pippi Longstocking, My Father’s Dragon and started Clementine.
Have I mentioned before that I love how much Julia loves reading?!
Hannah’s newest routine is acting like a 2.5 year old. And if you’ve ever parented, babysat, been in the same room as a 2.5 year old, you know what I’m talking about. That girl has some will power. Big time. Which has given her a new nickname :: Picosita or Picoso {Spanish for spicy/fiery}. But, no matter how picoso she gets, she slays me with her big eyes.
Joseph has been forming a routine of sorts. I’m a mama that doesn’t schedule feedings, naps, etc until my babies are closer to 6 months. And even then, I blur the lines pretty often. But, Joseph has been getting more dependable about when he wants to sleep and eat, which has been nice for scheduling play dates and trips to the store. I won’t go into his overnight sleep, because every time I mention it, people look at me as if to say “bless your little heart”. Then their eyes bulge out when I tell them I really don’t take issue with how much/little he sleeps, because it’s par for the course and my kids just don’t sleep through the night while nursing. Then they verbally say “bless your little heart” and make a mental note to send me to the looney bin.
Do you crave routine? Or do you blow with the wind?
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A New Year, A New Friday Joy
Posted on: January 6, 2012
- In: Life
- 5 Comments
My joy is sweet children
Beautiful babies
And daughters that make me smile
Today I’m reveling in starting a new year as the Fab Five. 2012 is going to be the best year yet.
What’s your Friday Joy?
Word of the Year – Present
Posted on: January 2, 2012
- In: Life
- 5 Comments
Last year I met a lot of different people who had their own Word of the Year – a word that they were focusing on for an entire year as a self improvement effort. I’ve been thinking for the last few weeks what I’d want my Word of the Year 2012 to be. I finally figured it out.
Present
Since Joseph’s birth, it has become increasingly clear to me just how quickly time passes. What’s that saying… The days are long but the years are short? So true. Often my days can drag on, yet I still have a sense of holding sand in my hand, the time is fleeting. Frankly, I don’t do a great job of always being present with my kids. Sure, I am with them, but not always present both in body, mind and heart. This is something I want to work on this year.
But “being present” isn’t a very good goal as it doesn’t have any defined boundaries or standard. I’ve decided to make a “being present” goal for each month in 2012. January’s goal? Board games. The girls both got board games for St. Nick Day and we’re going to put them to good use this month. My plan? Board games twice a week. Might not seem like a big goal, but I’m trying to be realistic and set an achievable bar.
Here’s to fun games of Chutes and Ladders and Candy Land this January!
Learning All About Christ
Posted on: December 2, 2011
- In: Life
- 5 Comments
Yesterday marked the first day of Advent. The girls and I started on our candle ornament from Truth in the Tinsel : An Advent Experience for Little Hands. We read through Isaiah 9, about Jesus coming to bring light into a dark world. We talked about how our hearts are dark from sin, and that only Christ can give us light. I even went so far as to have them stand in my closet, door closed, and lit a match to “bring light” into the darkness. {Thankfully, the house did not burn down.}
Truthfully, taking the above picture was ten times harder than the craft making.
I was a bit under prepared for the first craft. Hannah used up all our glue on purpose {bonus points if you get that reference} and all I was left with was about two inches of Scotch tape. But we made it work! Though, a trip to the store has happened so we are ready for the rest of the month.
I can’t wait to spent the next three weeks talking about Christ, His birth and our redemption.
What’s your Friday joy?
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Kid Oasis
Posted on: November 14, 2011
- In: Life
- 3 Comments
I’m thankful for our transformed backyard that has become an oasis for the girls and me.
- In: Life
- 12 Comments
I feel like my introduction to mama of three has been sink or swim, survival of the fittest.
We brought Joseph home early Saturday morning. Sadly, my parents weren’t able to stay the following week with us {as we had hoped} and left Sunday. Tuesday morning, at 0-dark early, Jonathan took a plane to California. Yep, California. 1,800 miles away. If you do the math just right, you’ll figure out that Joseph was only 4 days old. Sink.
Thankfully, we live in a Mayberry like community that was a tremendous help during the day helping out with the girls and then bringing us dinner the three nights Jonathan was gone. Swim.
Wednesday night, Joseph woke up to feed and went straight back to bed 45 minutes later {he’s a quite the nurser}. 30 minutes later, he woke up screaming. I got him up to burp {a lesson learned with Julia} and tried helping him get out any gas he might have. As I’m going through this process, Julia comes into my bedroom complaining of an earache. We’re all up for the next 1.5 hours. Sink.
After spending three days on my own with all three kiddos, I feel pretty powerful. Even had our first successful outing yesterday afternoon. Swim.
In the end, no matter just how hard things are, just how thin my patience and sleep run, just how completely overwhelmed and out of control I feel, I can take a look at my cuties and know :: I’m glad I jumped in the water.
What’s your Friday joy?
Monday Ain’t so Bad
Posted on: October 31, 2011
- In: Life
- 8 Comments
It’s Monday. Typically I am not a fan of Mondays. You know, since it’s the ruiner of the weekend and all. But this Monday is an exception.
Julia went to school today in her pajamas. And it isn’t because I am that kind of mom {though I am}, but because they are having a pajama party today.
Then I realized, if Julia gets to spend the day in her pjs, shouldn’t Hannah and I also?!
Take that Monday!
Leaving Behind the Grumbling
Posted on: October 18, 2011
- In: Life
- 18 Comments
As I round out the end of this pregnancy {just over 2 weeks till EDD}, I’m finding myself grumbling a lot more. Joseph is determined to already prove he is different from his sisters, and as such, has brought on some random, highly uncomfortable, end of pregnancy issues I never dealt with during my previous pregnancies. But really, I have so much to be grateful for, that grumbling just doesn’t seem right. I loved Alicia’s gratitude post and thought I’d do my own.
1. Cooler weather {specifically cooler nights} and being able to leave our windows open.
2. Good friends who threw a Dr. Seuss themed baby shower for us.
3. Jonathan’s new job – Oh yeah, did I forget to mention Jonathan got a new job? Well, he did. And now he’s working two days from home {score!!}.
4. My daughters – Their lives, their laughter, their overwhelming love for each other.
5. Starting my Bible Study Fellowship class last week.
6. Having the energy to make homemade bread {I highly recommend this recipe}
7. My mom and her mothering {even when you’re nearly 30, it’s still nice having a mom who looks after you}.
8. Getting all the finishing touches taken care of in Joseph’s room.
9. Listening to the girls sing.
10. Julia’s constant request to hear David Crowder Band How He Loves Us – and the reminder of just how much He really does love us.
What are you grateful for this week?
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- In: Life
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One thing I am most grateful for in my girls is that they are good eaters. For having a 2yo and 3yo, we have very few “food fights”. Sure, the occasional issue arises, but mostly they are willing eaters of any thing I make. While I am far from a short order cook {my policy is, if you don’t like what I made, don’t eat}, I do struggle with lunch.
Right before lunch my girls are clawing my eyes out they are so hungry. But as soon as their plates are on the table, it’s like they’ve become complete monkeys. They pick at their favorite foods. Julia tells me her belly hurts. Hannah is off chasing Jack. Lunch takes an hour. It’s like our own “hour lunch break”. Though it’s not nearly as relaxing as my hour lunch break before I had kids.
Then a couple of weeks ago, I decided to try something new. I sectioned off their lunch into a muffin tin. I had read a few years back about how Michelle, at Muffin Tin Mom, put her kids’ food in muffin tins to make it more exciting. Talk about a food revolution. I don’t know what it is about eating out of a muffin tin, but my girls love it. Perhaps it’s all the choices they get {and that they get to decide on their second helping option}. Perhaps they like that it’s unconventional and new. Whatever the case, lunches are going so smoothly {well, to be honest, they aren’t always smooth, but smoother}.
One of the great things about muffin tin meals, is that it makes me focus on giving Julia and Hannah well-rounded meals. Meats, dairy, veggies, fruits and some carbs. Plus, when the pantry gets low right before grocery store days, having a muffin tin really stretches my imagination on the food front.
What ways do you switch up lunch time? Do you have picky eaters or willing eaters?
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