Posts Tagged ‘Julia Mabel’
My Last Minute Family “Picture”
Posted on: November 30, 2010
- In: Life
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At some point late Saturday night, I announced to Jonathan “I’ve forgotten to take our family picture, let’s make sure to do it tomorrow before you leave.” Then at some point late Sunday night {well after Jon left} I announced to my SIL “I forgot to take our family picture before Jon left.” I soon came up with what I think was a brilliant idea. I asked my 7-year old niece to draw a family picture:
Grandma, Jonathan, Sarah, Julia, Hannah, Jack
November has been a crazy, crazy month. The second week of the month, Jonathan accepted an offer at a company in Austin, Texas. This new job is an amazing opportunity for Jon and we are thrilled to see how God will be using his talents while there. He started the job Monday and is spending this week on a company scavenger hunt – a way the company gets new employees to learn all about company history and their fellow co-workers. Pretty cool idea, huh?
Julia turned 3-years old on the 23rd. Wow. I can’t even fathom that three years have passed. On one hand it’s flown by, but at the same time I can’t remember life without my precious little girl. I’d love for you to read my birthday letter to her: Happy Birthday, Julia Mabel.
Hannah has really started talking more and more. She’s added “Katie {her cousin}”, “guys {as in “hey guys”}, “yes”, “Julia {which sounds more like Ju}” and “grandma”. Hannah is really claiming her own and making me see that she is a force to be reckoned with. She is showing some stubbornness and making herself known far more than I expected at this age. And topping it off with a fearlessness that puts Julia’s antics to shame. She is keeping us on our toes, there is no doubt about that.
As for me, I’m feeling like I’m just trying to keep up with it all. Aside from packing and moving, not much has happened for me this month. I had started the 30 Day Shred, but couldn’t keep up with it the last few days in Iowa and certainly haven’t been able to while we’re in this holding pattern {Jonathan is in Austin, while the girls and I are in Ft. Worth}. It’s been a trying month at times, dealing with a lot of emotions and changes, but God has really been good to show me His continues faithfulness and love. I will say though, I’m so looking forward to setting up all my Christmas decorations. And don’t be surprised if I leave them up a little longer this year.
Happy Birthday Julia Mabel!
Posted on: November 23, 2010
- In: Life
- 5 Comments
Three years ago today, my precious Julia Mabel was born. By request we are celebrating with pizza and cake {clearly, she is my child}. With each passing day, she becomes such a wonderful little girl. Her laughter, her smile, her inquisitive nature. It has been a pure blessing to be her mama.
Mabel this morning playing with her new tea set from Uncle Matt and Aunt Kristen
Julia Mabel,
I love you! You are my delight, even in moments of trials. You have brought me countless joys and I am a better woman because of you. My dear, as your life changes over this next year, I pray that you will continue to grow in the understanding of who God is. I pray that you will more fully grasp how much you are loved {because it’s a lot!} and how much you mean to your family {especially your sister}. I love how you want to share secrets and whisper in my ear – even if it tickles like crazy and I don’t always understand you. You’re laughter and willingness to be crazy is something I hope you hold onto for life. Remember always that God created you, just as you are, to fit into our family perfectly. You’re life has touched us beyond words. I love you, I love you, I love you. Mama.
- In: Life
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Our family is packing up our house for a big move to Texas. We leave next Wednesday, so we are working hard to get everything squared away in time. Thankfully, a lot gets done when Jonathan is at home and we can work together. But, I’ve still found that there are some lessons we’ve learned NOT to do when packing up your entire house.
1. Pack up all your toys – While it might seem like a great idea to clean up the toy room, it’s dangerous territory when your two toddlers have nothing to play with.
2. Pack up all your medicine – Sure, you haven’t been sick in months, so why do you need 3 bottles of NyQuil? Trust me on this – packing up all your medicine is like asking to get sick.
3. Have your oldest get pink eye – See #2. Told you I was asking for it.
4. Have your youngest get pink eye – Could I really expect her not to get it, since big sister is all she has left to play with {see #1}?
5. Get sick yourself – See #2 and #3 and #4.
6. Start The 30 Day Shred – I blame this fully on Alicia’s amazing results. Once I saw her before and after pictures, I went out that afternoon and bought 30 Day Shred. I’m on day 5. And I’m really, really sore.
7. Volunteer for anything – I volunteer for things before I even think. It’s a good habit that comes at bad times. Thankfully all my friends are gracious enough to overlook when I back out of my responsibilities at the last minute {Sorry friends!}.
8. Be hard on yourself – Let’s just say I haven’t been the greenest human lately. Or the most time conscious. Or the most loving. Or the most hygiene prone. Or anything else I strive for.
9. Be overly hard on your kids – Moving is hard for kids. They don’t fully understand what’s going on. And while it’s frustrating to explain for the fourteenth billion time what it means to “pack” I need to cut the girls some slack.
10. Not ask for help – I’m blessed with friends just waiting to help us. And I take advantage of it when I can/need. And that means thankfully I have dinner provided for us every night this week. Can you say awesome? {Thanks friends!}
What are some of your packing tips? Any crazy stories of packing with little ones?
Visit Oh Amanda for more Top Ten Tuesday.
- In: Life
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It’s hard being a mama. And some days I can focus too much on the hardness, and forget just how amazing this journey is. Being in Texas I had the chance to remember all the reasons why I love being a mama to my two precious girls. There are plenty more than I listed, but here are my current top ten:
1. Laughter. There is nothing so amazing as hearing my daughters laugh.
2. Walking into the kitchen to find Julia eating cooking dough straight out of the bowl.
3. Hannah’s tight hugs right before bedtime.
4. Julia’s inquisitiveness about everything.
5. All the dancing and twirling that comes with young girls.
6. Squeals of excitement each time Jonathan comes home from work.
7. Requests for “snuggles and kisses”.
8. Julia’s confidence that she is loved.
9. Hearing “Jack! Jack!” followed by giggling, running and laughter.
10. Sisterhood. A bond that is beautiful and wonderful to see grow.
Visit Oh Amanda for more Top Ten Tuesday.
A Texan Family Picture
Posted on: October 31, 2010
- In: Life
- 3 Comments
We got back yesterday from a week long trip to Texas. We traveled down to Houston to celebrate Matt and Kristen’s wedding, then headed to Austin to visit friends, and ended the trip spending time in Ft. Worth with family. It was a wonderful trip and the girls did amazing.
As evidence from the photo, Hannah has discovered her nose. She doesn’t actual pick it, so much as just “hang out” there. I’ve tried discouraging it, but everything I’ve tried just makes her laugh. Hmmm, not quite what I was going for. Other than discovering body parts, Hannah’s vocabulary is increasingly daily. She’s mostly into animals, either saying their names {cat, dog, duck} or making the animal noise associated with them. The newest Hannah-ism – she’s taken to carrying Molly {her bear} around in her mouth while growling. It is hilarious.
Julia seems like she gets older and wiser every second. Jonathan taught her how to wave her index finger and say “I don’t think so”. Oh man, that had us laughing for days. She’s now a little parrot, repeating everything we say. It’s been a good reminder to say good things and speak edifying words. Julia’s also taken to being really interested in the map. Perhaps it’s because of the trip, but she’s always asking us to “show me” where we’re going.
Jonathan has really been enjoying the football season. He’s doing a much better job of keeping track of the teams than I am, which doesn’t really surprise anyone. He hasn’t had as many “honey-do” projects, so he’s weekends have been more free {if that’s actually possible for any husband and dad}. He was a groomsmen in Matt’s wedding and I must say looked quite dashing in his tuxedo.
As for me, I’m always up to some new project. Unfortunately I didn’t make it the whole month without sugar. I cracked at the wedding, when several people said “you aren’t having wedding cake?!”. Shamefully enough, once I caved, I caved big time and consumed too much sugar on our trip. I’m having to evaluate how it’s effected my body {more tired, headaches, etc} to decide if I really want to be intentional in cutting out sugar more long term. As for my crazy 100 mile running challenge, I’m a wee-bit behind. I didn’t do any running while we were gone, but I’m hopeful I can make it up in the coming weeks. We’ll see!
A Real Texas Wedding
Posted on: October 25, 2010
- In: Life
- 4 Comments
Yesterday we celebrated the marriage of two very close friends, Matt and Kristen. You might recall that Julia was their flower girl. It was a beautiful ceremony and I am so thrilled for them!
Julia was cheesing so hard in all her pictures that her eyes were almost always closed or look closed. But man was she thrilled to be up with with Kristen!
I’m not one to really cry at wedding. But…. I nearly cried. And not at the exchanging of the vows, or the pronouncement of the couple, or even the sentimental feelings of remembering my own wedding. No, I nearly cried at the very beginning when Julia was walking down the aisle. She did an amazing job as flower girl {not being scared, dropping flowers all the way down and not making a peep}. When she first started, she looked back at me a little apprehensively, and with a reassuring nod and some encouraging “You’ve got it” she marched on down. And my heart swelled with pride and sadness. Pride that she was doing something rather brave for a 2 year old, and sadness that she’s growing up so quickly. I pray that I truly live in the moment, that I treasure this time and enjoy our time together. Because one day, she’ll be walking down the aisle, and she won’t be a little girl anymore.
Julia Mabel – Little Flower Girl
Posted on: October 13, 2010
- In: Life
- 2 Comments
Later this month Julia is going to be a flower girl in some dear friends’ wedding. I’ve been practicing with her on how to walk down the aisle {our hallway} and drop the rose pedals {pieces of shredded paper}. Isn’t she a cutie, if I do say so myself?
Part of my mama heart is a sad because Mabel is growing up so fast {she’ll be 3 next month!}. But the other part makes me thrilled to watch her grow and become such a beautiful girl.
I love you Mabel.
- In: Life
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Our family’s educational plans {at this point} are to homeschool the Windhamettes. For various reasons we love the idea and I have been looking forward to both the challenge and excitement of being their teacher.
At the beginning of September we started “school”. Tuesdays and Thursdays for 15-20 minutes the girls sit in the kitchen writing or reading. Hannah doesn’t do much other than scribble on paper, but Julia has really taken off over the last few weeks. We have books that can be written in with dry erase markers, so she practices her numbers, letters, shapes and identifying colors. It has been an absolute joy {most times!} and she is loving it {most days!}. We’ve taken a couple of “field trips” around the neighborhood to learn about different things in our city {what are/how fire hydrants work, why we don’t feed wild animals, etc}. I keep it pretty low key, going at Julia’s rate and allowing her to decide how things go {like when to stop – she usually wants to go past the time limit but Hannah doesn’t}. Our school days are making me look forward even more to our time when we really start “schooling”.
Pumpkin Patch Kids
Posted on: October 6, 2010
- In: Life
- 5 Comments
I have a slight obsession with a local apple orchard. I can’t help it. All you can pick and eat apples? Um, yes please. Plus, the atmosphere is so comfy and inviting. I took the girls there last week for a photo shoot. Not sure why I ever thought two toddlers would sit through pictures, but I tried it none the less. And then about half way through I broke our camera. A-W-E-S-O-M-E. Thankfully, Leah was there and used her camera for me.
Very Chic Style of a Toddler
Posted on: September 27, 2010
- In: Life
- 3 Comments
It’s Monday and my brain and body are recovering from a looong weekend. Our family has been a little sick and it hit me hard Saturday afternoon and most of Sunday. Bummer. I figured a good way to cheer myself up {and hopefully brighten your day too} is by posting some adorable pictures of the girls.
What you get when Hannah demands to wear socks {even if she technically already is wearing socks}:
Like sister like sister:
{Not sure what Julia’s doing in this picture. Her face reminds me of Penelope.}
A Wife Loved Like The Church 
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