Home Life

Ok, I have to admit that I have been avoiding the computer lately.  It can become such a time waster that I just haven’t had the desire to get on here and post anything.

We’re getting closer to baby #3′s appearance in March.  I go today for another of my two-week appointments and it will be good to hear the baby’s heartbeat again.  I can’t remember if I have written about the blood condition I have developed, so here’s a little recap.  I tested positive on the antibody screening blood test at the beginning of my pregnancy and upon further investigation found out that I have two antibodies in my blood which can be very dangerous for a baby in the womb.  So far the levels of these antigens have not risen and pose no great risk, so we just monitor them at every appointment and pray for great results.  I got moved up to two week appointments about a month and a half ago because I measured two weeks ahead at that appointment (but have measured right on track every time since.)  This is not something that can be treated with Rho-gam shots, and currently it really doesn’t seem like it will be a problem.

Speaking of pregnancy, I know some of you have noticed that we aren’t doing very well keeping up with the weekly pregnancy pics.  It’s turned out to be more challenging than I ever thought it would be to take one picture every week.  We are busy with our two little kiddos 100% of the time and before we know it, time just slips by.  Between the kids, trying to get our house whipped into shape, church obligations, kids’ activities, and keeping in touch with our friends and loved ones- I’m not sure where the time goes.  So- all that to say- think of the “weekly pregnancy pics” more like “ever-so-often pregnancy pics!”  I’m 30 weeks now and just hoping I can get everything ready before our sweet (still nameless) girl makes her debut.

That’s about all.  Amai is doing well in school and starting to read simple words on her own.  She is still such a fireball, but so vibrant all the same.  Asher is still doing well without his front tooth.  I have yet to work on him stopping sucking on his fingers so we aren’t anywhere near getting a fake tooth made.  They are having more and more times of pure sibling sweetness and that has made my life a lot easier.  And they still fight like cats and dogs otherwise.  So there you have it.

Hope you are all doing well!  Thank God it’s Friday!!!

I can’t believe we’re practically half way through January already!  I’ve been really busy lately with various projects at home and just trying to get prepared for this baby in the midst of getting back in the swing of the kids’ schedules, etc.  You know how life goes.  So before Valentine’s day comes I wanted to post about our Christmas break.

I had a huge list of things that I wanted to do here at home.  Since Chris was going to be off from the 23rd through the 5th, I wanted to capitalized on his availability to lift heavy things, paint, etc.  So we kicked off the first night of our vacation painting our “office”.  Amai had been dying to help us paint, so we let her have a go at it before we really painted.

She was so proud!

She was so proud!

Turns out that I actually don’t like the paint color we chose and we will be re-painting at some point. :(  Then I will finally be able to post pictures of this finished room!  Woo hoo!

That was the night before Scott and Meredith and their kids came up for Christmas Eve day to open presents together.  It was really fun, but way too short of a visit.

Waiting patiently.

Waiting patiently.

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Who attaches these toys to the box?  Did they know someone would want to actually pry the pieces out one day?

Who attaches these toys to the box? Did they know someone would want to actually pry the pieces out one day?

Boone loves Christmas!

Boone loves Christmas!

My brother Scott.

My brother Scott.

Then we had our Christmas morning at home alone with just the kids.  It was so much fun this year.  Every parent says the same thing, but I just have to add to the common sentiment of loving Christmas morning more and more as our kids get older.  They both were so excited this year and it’s double the fun having two to share it with.  I can’t imagine what it will be like in the future as our kids get to that age where they try to find their gifts and open them ahead of time like Scott and I used to.

For right now, Christmas is still very simple in their minds.  Amai is starting to understand  that Christmas is when we celebrates Christ’s birth.  At the same time, she heartily believes in Santa Clause.  I wonder when she’ll figure that one out.

Amai wrote this- it says, "For Santa"

Amai wrote this- it says, "For Santa"

And the next morning Santa left her a note in return.

And the next morning Santa left her a note in return.

Surprisingly, she didn't really wake up earlier than normal.

Surprisingly, she didn't really wake up earlier than normal.

We had to wake him up.

We had to wake him up.

I got them both bath robes, which were possibly their favorite gifts.

I got them both bath robes, which were possibly their favorite gifts.

That afternoon we drove down to Arlington for some good time with Chris’s family.  We had our Chinese gift exchange that night and the next day went back down again to take the big kids to see Polar Express at the IMAX theater in Ft. Worth.  It was a lot of fun.  I was pleasantly surprised that Amai didn’t really move around much or talk during the movie at all.

Chinese gift exchange.

Chinese gift exchange.

Amai talkin' to Uncle Hoyt.

Amai talkin' to Uncle Hoyt.

His matchbox cars.  He plays with them all day long.

His matchbox cars. He plays with them all day long.

One of her favorite movies.

One of her favorite movies.

We had a wonderful time.  And it was tiring though not exhausting.  I came home ready to dig into the rest of our (my) projects.

The next day I made Chris get everything out of the attic so I could sort through it all.  Sadly this is the first time since we moved into the house that I’ve really been able to sort through things.  Though I thought it would be really hard, I was able to let go of most of Asher’s baby clothes.  It is a little sad to know I probably will not have another little baby boy, but I love getting rid of junk so much that I wasn’t very sad for very long.  I got to get out all of the infant girl clothes I had, and the rest of the clothes I kept are now catalogued and in numbered boxes by size.  Yes, I love being organized when I can.

We primed the fire place and it is now ready for paint.  We are getting very close to finishing the cabinets in the kitchen.  I narrowed down my options for the crib bedding I will be making.  I went through both kids’ closets and got them completely organized.  There was even a little time to make a dent in sorting through the thousands of pictures I still have from my parents’ life together.  It was great.

Now we’re on to a new year.  I’ve set my goals.  One of them is to be more disciplined.  Disciplined with our money.  Disciplined with taking care of myself in the midst of three children needing me at every waking moment.  And my other goal is to enjoy life more.  Chris works so hard to provide for our family and being that I am the more free-spirited one of us, I want to try and find more things we can get out and enjoy together (that are also free or cost very little.)

It’s going to be a great year.  March and our (still nameless) little girl will be here in no time.   This year will also be Amai’s first year in Kindergarten, as well as Asher’s first year in Mother’s Day Out.  I’m looking forward to all of it.  Thank you Lord for a wonderful 2008, I’m looking forward to the work and blessings you hold in store for me in 2009.