Posts Tagged ‘Julia Mabel’
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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Happy Birthday, Julia Mabel!
Posted on: November 23, 2011
- In: Life
- 8 Comments
My sweet baby girl turns four years old today.
Four.
My, my, where has the time gone? I cannot begin to wrap my mama mind around this fact. In the last year, Julia has become such a big little girl and has shed so many of the baby things she use to do. It’s all very bitter sweet. She started preschool, learned to swim, learned to write her name {along with her ABC’s}, started “reading” sight words and became a big sister a second time.
Dear sweet Julia Mabel,
I can’t begin to tell you what a joy you are in my life. Not to mention just how helpful you are around the house! Your infectious laughter, your desire to care for Hannah and Joseph and your never ending love for learning are just a few things that I love about you. In this last year, you’ve started asking more and more questions about the world around you. Honestly, sometimes it gets a little overwhelming for your mama, but I am so happy to be the person you trust to ask and learn from. Some of the best “Q & A” times are when you start asking about Jesus. Who He is, what He has done and how it applies to you. Each time I can see in your eyes how God is using these moments to reveal Himself to you. Then there are the songs you’ve learned at school that you are constantly singing and teaching to Hannah. My personal favorite has been your rendition of “Frosty the Snowman” which goes like this “Frosty the Snowman was a jolly happy soul, he was made of snow on the hills of woe…”
You are a beautiful and sweet girl. It is my constant prayer that God uses you in powerful ways. That you allow not only your strengths, but your weaknesses, to be a testimony of how great your God is. Even at the age of four, I know that you will be a woman that brings this world light, just as you have done for our family.
I love you,
Mama
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?
Visit Amanda at Oh Amanda for more Top Ten Tuesday.
Julia’s First Day of Preschool
Posted on: August 25, 2011
- In: Life
- 12 Comments
Yesterday was Julia’s first day of preschool outside of our home. We’ve been “homeschooling” since last year. After taking off for the summer, we started back again at the beginning of August. But this week, Julia started preschool at a local church. Technically, it’s a mother’s day out program, but they offer lesson plans and curriculum for the students. Julia will be going Mondays and Wednesdays from 9-2. On Tuesdays and Thursdays we will continue her “schooling” at home.
I have to admit, I’m really excited for this new adventure for Julia {and our family}. Our family has really been exploring how homeschooling will look for us and doing something along the lines of a homeschooling co-op. With Julia’s preschool, we are getting our first taste of what a co-op could act as for us. Her preschool follows after Wee Learn, which incorporates biblical foundations through play centered activities. Every class has a verse of the day that the teachers focus on. We have the schedule through September and will be using those verses at home to help Julia with memorization.
While it’s very exciting, it’s still emotional. Hannah spent most of the day ask for Julia {quote “I want my sister!”}. When we picked Julia up, Hannah started crying. Julia ran up to her and showered her with hugs and kisses. They spent the rest of the afternoon playing together {and I should note, there was much less sibling fighting than usual – which is a major plus}. Jonathan was with us to drop Julia off and pick her up. He kept asking me while we were dropping her off if I was going to cry. I did get a pretty good lump in my throat, but managed to not shed any tears. However, when we talked about it through out the day, I did get sad. Not because I think this isn’t a great opportunity for Julia, but because I just missed my baby. We have her daily schedule hanging on our fridge, and it was comforting having an idea of what she was doing throughout the day.
Have your kids, or you, started back to school this week?
Visit Alicia at Alicia’s Homemaking for more Try New Adventures Thursday.
A Wife Loved Like The Church 
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