One of those days!

Today has been just one of those days!  You know how you can tell how the day is going to be based on the first hour of the morning?  Either the kids wake up happy and all is well, or they wake up not so happy and all is not well. 

Today was a not so happy and all is not well morning.  Grace woke up at 3:30 to begin with and climbed in bed with me saying the rain was scaring her.  Since it is very rare that she comes in our room before "the sun comes through her window", I let her stay.  After an hour of kicking and moving around she finally feel back asleep, I however, was wide awake by then.  Once Noah woke up, the kids had a long brawl/tantrum over who gets what sippy cups.  I'm really close to throwing all my sippy cups away and buying like 10 of the exact same cups. 

Next we went to Target.  Why I thought it would be a good idea to go to Target after their cranky morning, I don't exactly know.  I did need a few essentials and I'm having Gracie do a giving box from church.  She chose to buy for a 2-4 year old girl and I knew she would have so much fun picking things out.  We had to explain how these presents weren't for her a few times but by the end she understood.  Noah, was not a happy camper at the store and if you know Noah you know that he has this "fingers on a chalkboard" scream.  It is so high and so loud.  Once the screaming started, I was racing to the cashier trying to get out of that store as fast as possible while praying I didn't see anyone I knew.  Now that we live closer to where I grew up and where I used to teach, I am constantly running into people, which is great when I am actually dressed in real clothes and my kids are behaving like angels.  Rare for those two to occur at the same time. Oh and I love handing items to the cashier after my kids have pretty much unwrapped, crushed or de-boxed (?) everything I had in the cart.  They give me the greatest looks.

After we got home I dropped a full jar of pickles which splattered and shattered everywhere. Wonderful.  While I was cleaning that, Grace found a packet of saltine crackers and crushed them up then opened them and poured them out.  I think she was pretending it was snow the way that she was picking them up and throwing them above her head.  So off to timeout she goes. 

Once I finished cleaning the messes I went to talk to Grace and found her and Noah ripping out, page by page from her bible.  I kinda loose it at this point and end with throwing myself on the couch and crying.  (I know I'm so dramatic but the crying really did help and I got over it.)  My little Noah came over and consoled me then brought me a book and read to me to make it better.  I love that little man.  Grace.... I love her too, it's just so hard to know what to do with her at this age.  The best way to discipline, what to expect from her, ect.  In someways I think I expect and ask a lot of her.  She is my helper.  She does little chores for me around the house and she is wonderful about helping Noah when my hands are tied doing other thing.  She really is a sweet little thing, mix with some spice and a few shots of espresso!  Now how to parent a little girl with so much energy and curiosity?

Luckily they are taking a nap right now.  There is banana bread baking in the oven, the smell of pickles is finally going away and I get to look outside at this beautiful weather and enjoy some peace and quiet.  When the kids wake up, I will give them a kiss, some banana bread, and we'll start over and enjoy our afternoon together.

Just Like Sis!

I'm only 19 1/2 (to be exact) weeks pregnant and already this little girl is kicking and going crazy all the time!  Oh she is so much like her sister already.  I have to be honest and say I'm a little scared!  At our ultrasound the tech could not believe how active she was.  The ultrasound took over an hour because Little Miss would not stay still long enough to get the pics needed.  About every 5 minutes the tech would make some comment about how active she was or she would just laugh.

I have to say I guessed this one was going to be a girl from the beginning (but in fairness I was wrong about the other 2) just because she has made me so sick and Gracie did the same, much more than Noah!  I still start to feel crummy some nights which surprises me because I thought I'd be over that by now.  I'm also so surprised with how tired I am all the time.  I remember in my second trimester with the other two feeling so great and full of energy.  Maybe I'm just getting older?  Or maybe it's because I'm busy prying my two other kids off the walls all the time....hmmmmm.

Regardless, I am just so so excited for her to come.  I thought by the third I'd be a little more relaxed and not as anxious but every time I see a baby or see a silly baby show on TV I just get so excited and it makes me want my baby now!

I have had it in my head since I found out I was pregnant that we would be done after her but my wonderful husband seems to think we might want to have another!  Uh, I don't know how I feel about that.  The finality of saying, "we're done" does definitely scare me because there's always those "what ifs" but being pregnant is not my favorite state, although the end result is entirely worth it and so wonderful, and then there's the whole financial part of colleges, weddings, blah.   But is that what you plan having kids around?  I don't know.  I am a little worried that if we do say "maybe" then I will definitely end up pregnant again before this little girl is 1, regardless if we're trying or not, since that has been how our life rolls.  Oh decisions, decisions!  To be done or plan for another?

The Simple Things

I'm having one of those days where all is well and I'm just so full of love for my little family. 

Today when Levi left for work he went around and gave his goodbye hugs and left.  About a minute later he comes racing in the door, scared me a little.  He grabs me and gives me another kiss and tells me how much he loves and appreciates me.  Then runs back out the door.  It was so random but so intentional.  That simple act meant more to me than any gift he could give me.  It's nice to be appreicated and even nice to be reminded of that.  :)  He's a good man that Levi.  I love him.

Grace has been asking to watch videos of when her and Noah were born so tonight I finally got them out and we watched a few.  OH. MY. GOSH.  They used to be so little and oh wow they were so cute!  I was just melting the entire time.  Grace kept asking me why I was smiling.  Those cute little baby faces on the TV have given me a smile that will last the rest of the night.  Watching the videos makes me so excited for this next baby.  I can't wait to hold her and kiss her.  When we found out we were expecting another it was a little scary.  I didn't think I was ready but I'm so glad God knew!

I'm feeling very blessed.  At least for tonight there is no room for no worries, stress, or exhaustion.  I'm full of thankfulness and love for my husband and kids!

Names=World War 3

I was laying down trying to take a nap and my mind drifted to my poor forgotten blog.  I started reminding myself about how fun it is to have small pieces of our life documented and began feeling guilty that I've been so lazy about it lately.  Granted we do have a lot going on right now, I really need to try and make time for this.

What do we have going on?  Well, Levi's "interesting" work schedule.  We are so blessed that he has a great job right now but it definitely makes for planning life/appointments/vacations difficult.  Levi is currently working 12 hours shifts, the good part to that is that he gets a lot of time off since he puts in so many hours.  The hard thing is that there is not a set schedule or pattern to his time off.  But it is a good job and I am extremely grateful for that.  We also just moved in July and are loving our house and being closer to family.  We're staying busy with all the many projects we have going on to make this our dream home!  I should say that Levi is doing most of the work.  But I'm a great manager!  I am still doing a little bit of work (billing) for Guthrie.  I have the convenience of working from home, in my pj's, when the kids are sleeping.  It's wonderful!  Little Miss Grace has started preschool and is LOVING it.  I find it funny that her friends only seem to be boys, should we start to worry about that yet?! :)  She is so so so (can i stress this enough?) a daddy's girl!  Mr. Noah Bear is 19 months and has quite a personality.  Is it possible that he is all boy in every way except he's got some big time Drama King stuff going on too?  He is obsessed with fire trucks, planes, police cars and tackling people, especially his sister.  Grace is tough, she can handle it.  He has also mastered throwing himself down to the ground and having a total fit when he doesn't get his way.

Yesterday, we just found out we are having another baby girl!  I am so excited.  Once again, this pregnancy was not planned.  Yes, none of our pregnancies were planned.  Honestly, if someone told me this was their third "unplanned" pregnancy, I'd have a hard time not rolling my eyes.  I mean seriously people, do you not know what causes pregnancies?!  But, it is our true story. I will spare everyone the details of how we really were using preventative measures and how sometimes they just don't work, especially for us!  We didn't think we were quite ready for another one but God's will be done. :)  I do feel blessed that God has entrusted to us another child to love and raise up to glorify Him.  Gracie knew all along that this baby was a girl. She wouldn't even discuss the idea that it could be a boy.  She was right.  I am thrilled it's a girl!  Every girl needs a sister.  The first words out of Levi's mouth when we found out was, "Oh man, that means another wedding to pay for!"  Yes, that is a scary thought.   But we are all excited and now comes the fun part of choosing a name.  Levi and I do not agree on one single name.  And with my already heightened emotions, I blame it on the hormones, I'm becoming very cranky that Levi doesn't like any of my names.  They are great names!  For some reason he thinks that being the dad makes him entitled to his own opinion!  Who told him that?  :)

My choice of names:  Ava, Hope, Leigh, Kate, Scarlett, Leighton, Gabrielle (Levi said he'll consider this one), and I kinda like Jane....


Levi's choice of names: Emily, Paige (hmm how do I feel about this one?), Elizabeth, Ariel (I just think of the Little Mermaid), Naomi, Sarah, Faith (I think of Faith Hill), Trinity (I don't hate this one.  Esp because I had a cute little girl in my class with this name), Cesia (really?!), Serenity (so hippy-ish)

Grace's choices: Fuzzy Wuzzy, Hopi, Hopa, and every once in a while she thinks of a letter from the alphabet that she thinks would make a great name.

My Noah Bear is 1!

Last Friday Noah turned 1 year old.  I cannot believe how fast this past year went by.  He is still so much my baby.  Maybe I'll always see him as the "baby" until we have another one.  I love him so much.  Even just thinking about him as I type this just melts my heart.  He's got this round little face and "pinchy" cheeks that I completely adore. 

About my Noah-Son (don't know how he got that nickname but it has stuck):

1.  He loves, loves, loves food.  More like he's obsessed with food.  This can be a good thing and a bad thing.  He will gladly eat any food put in front of him, veggies included, but all day he is constantly pointing and begging to go in the kitchen to eat.  He now eats bigger portion sizes than his sister!

2.  Noah is very independent when we are at home, in his element.  He is totally content to crawl out of the room and play with toys by himself.  But if we are out or at someone else's house, he tends to be very needy and needs constant reassurance that mommy is close by.

3.  He will always be a "momma's boy" but he has now learned how fun daddy is and wants to be with him constantly.  I can't blame him.  Daddy is much more fun than me!

4.  He is walking!  He is not a pro yet but is getting braver by the day.  After he takes a few steps he will look at me and just giggle or smile because he's so proud that he can walk like his sis.

5.  He adores his sister.  He hugs her, kisses her, laughs at/with her and has to be right in the middle of everything she is doing.

6.  Did I say he loves food?

7.  He loves watching Baby Einstein movies. 

8.  Noah loves bike rides with the family.  He will happily sit in the ride-along with Grace and smile the entire ride.  (Sometimes he tries to eat the window too...)

9.  He is already a professional climber, trained by the best, Grace.  Poor mommy.

10.  Noah LOVES music.  He sings, dances and plays the guitar.  I'm really hoping that means he'll be musically talented like his daddy.

11.  Noah loves his family; grandparents, aunts, uncles, ect, but he is still very weary of strangers.  I'm okay with that!

12.  He loves and needs structure and routine.  He struggles during days when the routine is changed up.

13.  Noah has his own language.  He can repeat simple sounds and words but most of the time he says what he wants and combines sounds in very creative ways!  He has mastered pointing to things he wants and saying "this!" Usually what he wants is food.
14.  Crawling over and trying to splash around in the dog bowls before mommy notices is Noah's favorite game!
15. Noah loves to find the smallest corner/place and try to squeeze himself into it.  He often then panics and yells for someone to come save him.
16:  He is going to be the hardest baby in the world to stop nursing! 
17.  Gracie is the one that can make Noah laugh hardest and longest. He just thinks she is the funniest thing ever.
18.  Noah's current schedule:  5:30 - (eh) wakes up, eats and plays, 8:30 - takes a nap, 10:00 -wakes up, plays with sis, goes on walk/park, 11:30 - eats lunch, plays, helps mommy do chores, 1:00 - takes a nap, 3:00-wakes up, watches Baby Einstein and eats a snack, plays with sis, cries while mommy tries to cook dinner :) 5:30 - eats dinner, bath, reads books, 6:30 - goes to sleep.
19.  He is incredibly loved and is a such a blessing to us!

Happy Birthday my little handsome man. You have brought so much joy to our lives. We love you so much.

Oh how I love that face!

Is he not the cutest thing ever?!

Noah was so full from eating so much already he wasn't going as crazy over the cake as I thought he would.  He still thought it was pretty cool to dig into his cake.  He was even willing to share with his sis!

This was his favorite present of the night, Uncle Brandon got him a Baby Einstein DVD and Noah was thrilled!

He's really excited about this birthday card!

More pics of Noah's birthday party to come because his wonderful aunt Missy asked her friends to come take professional pictures of the special day.  So excited to see them!

What's new?

What is new?  Levi graduated from UTI!  Well, sort of.  He graduated but then was accepted into the Cummin's program that we were praying for.  It was such a bittersweet thing for me, I was so proud and happy for him but then I realized that meant we were going to have to get through another 3 months of hardly seeing each other.  BUT God is good and already we are seeing some job possibilities once he finishes the program.  Levi is going hard for them!  We celebrated his "sort of" graduation with close family and friends at a restaurant and ate amazing food, delicious cake (thanks to Missy) and sang karaoke!  It was so much fun! 

Poor little Noah got the flu last week and has gradually been gaining his strength back.  On top of that, his top teeth started coming in smack in the middle of the flu.  Oh it's been fun!  I'm thanking God that the rest of the family didn't get sick which was my constant prayer the past week.  As of yesterday, Noah is 10 months old.  I can't believe that next month I will need to start planning his first birthday party!  It just goes by so fast!  He is walking along furniture and walls and I'm expecting any day now to see him take his first steps.  Not looking forward to it as much as I did with Grace.  A newly walking baby means lots of accidents and bruises!  

Gracie is still in the terrible two phase and OH BOY!  She is as feisty and sassy as they get.  A few weeks ago I caught her climbing the blinds in Noah's room.  Yes, that is right, she was actually climbing the window blinds.  When I walked in she already had one hand on the ceiling.  I screamed "What are you doing?!"  Her response, "Super Why and I are trying to get to the fan!"  I couldn't believe the blinds held her, but she's such a little peanut!  We then walked around our entire house and pointed at everything she may not climb.  After, she said, "But then is it okay if I just walk on the floor?"  "Yes, Grace, walking on the floor is a great idea."  Her new imaginary friends are the Super Why kids from the TV show.  She does everything with them and when she gets in trouble she blames it on them and asks me to discipline them too.  Yesterday I was nursing Noah and she pointed to my stomach and said "Mommy!  You're fat!"  Nothing like a two year old to make you feel great!  As crazy as she is I love her and she makes me laugh like no one else!  Noah adores her too and follows her around the entire house not wanting to miss out on the next crazy thing she does.

Here are a few pics from the past month:

At the zoo.  We got a zoo membership for Christmas and are LOVING it.

Noah with his Bobo (great grandpa in Burmese)

Levi rocking it at Mandalay Noodle House.



Gracie is so her mom.  She loves to line things up and color coordinate.



Too cute!

Gettin sleepy!

BFF's! :)

This picture doesn't do this cake justice!  Missy did an AMAZING job!

They loved the stage and attention!

Gracie singing her rendition of "Twinkle Twinkle".  Savannah is patiently awaiting her turn.

Gracie, Savannah, Stetson and Uncle Brandon rocking out on stage.

Daddy/daughter song but Gracie kept pushing Levi's hand away when he would try and help with the mic.

Noni and Gracie singing "Return to Pooh Corner".  That is the song Gracie makes Levi sing to her every night before she goes to sleep.  I wish I could have gotten this one on video, it was so cute!

They love their daddy!

AND they love each other!

Gracie's Angels

Today Gracie sat down next to Noah and looked at him very seriously and said,

"Noah I want to tell you something.  Did you know the day I was born angels came and sang to me?"

I melted!  I don't doubt for a second that angels were singing the day she was born.