Rules Changed in about an hour

I don't get out much anymore it seems. And, when I do, it is to do something exciting like go to the grocery store or Wal-Mart. Such was the case yesterday. Woody graciously accepted watching the kids for the time for me to zip over to Wal-Mart and pick up some needed items. He was busy doing a few things, but I knew it would be okay for him for just around an hour to take on this task too. What I didn't know was that he was very good about delegation...I arrived home to find this going on in my absence.

Now, I hadn't really thought about having Natalie help out. She definitely wasn't forbidden to do it, just didn't seem interested. Here in her mermaid outfit, she was happy to help feed peas and cereal to Nicole. And, she did a really good job. Woody was in the kitchen supervising as he put toppings on a pizza for us to eat for supper. Now, we had supper and a new helper for feeding Nicole! All in about an hour.

Better the 2nd Time Around

Now that I am a parent of 2 children (which seems scary in itself!), I can definitely tell that I am more relaxed the second time around. I guess I know more now that I am not in charge of all the circumstance that happen, that can only be God. I also am not working while Nicole is at this age. When I was working, I was constantly on "go" and never able to sit and just marvel at the different stages. Of course, now I have the guilt issue whenever I am needing to pay more attention to one child than the other for a while. I want to be equal with both children as much as possible.

Things I am enjoying right now:

• Seeing Nicole try to crawl. Which is more like a scoot back and continual roll right now. But, she enjoys getting around this way right now.
• Seeing Natalie learn more at school. Writing her name, coloring within the lines, all these steps of getting better and better.
• Seeing either child smile. It is just like sunshine beaming out.
• Talking in conversations with Natalie. She really enjoys asking and answering questions right now.
• Seeing Nicole clap, try to wave bye bye, lifting her arms to be picked up, trying to talk, investigating toys with her hands.

Of course, there are days when I feel overwhelmed (although I don't quite know why!). But, the BSF Bible study on the Life of Moses has taught me that I don't need to complain or grumble. The Israelites were guilty of this and it only brought them more hardship. I don't really have any hardship! Like the Israelites, I am taken care of by God. So, it doesn't matter if I am getting manna...God has a time and a place when I will have more if needed. I just need to ask, wait, and not complain. Or, just enjoy what I have. And, that is what I wish to do--just enjoy each day as it comes.

New Beginnings After Sleepless Nights

Nicole usually wakes up once or twice a night, but last night the waker was Natalie. I woke up to see the bathroom light on. I went in there and Natalie cried in a scared voice that there was something in her bed. I went back with her to bed and did not find anything. I tried soothing her down and put her back to bed. This lasted about 5 minutes until she ran into our room again. We went through different scenarios about leaving a light on in her room, her getting out of her bed and sleeping in the sleeping bag (because the bed was growing or there was a hand in her bed). Her imagination was running wild and Woody ended up sleeping in her bed while she was on the floor in the sleeping bag. I woke them both up and fed them breakfast. Everyone was a little sleepy.

Natalie began talking about God and Jesus as I was cleaning up the dishes. Usually this ends with changing the subject to something else. However, it led to her eventually saying the sinner's prayer. We've been talking about sin over the past week due to some BSF and Sunday school lessons. This has always been the point that I didn't think she understood, why she wouldn't be ready to accept. The stopping point. But, over the past week she has begun to show that she understands this concept. So, at this point we're praying and trying to get an appointment with the children's minister to make sure and pursue further. All prayers are welcomed!!

More parties!

Natalie certainly looks forward to all the parties that come her way! At school, there was a Valentine's party last week. First, the children shared valentines (and treats!) and then had a special lunch time together. They made Valentine crowns to wear and had a pretty good lunch, although most of the kids went for the cookies & M&M's first!

Natalie with her crown
Natalie with her friend Katherine

They are sure to show the real one who loves us to the kids

Look at all this loot she accumulated! And, she has a candy in her mouth too!!

Now, here's a lot of work for someone's birthday party. Who might this be for?? Who is getting a year older but not acknowledging it??

A lot of family and friends came to celebrate with a fabulous supper. Salmon, shrimp, twice baked potatoes, and salad. Yummy!!

The main conspirator is at the other end of the table (thanks, honey!!).

What a fashionable hat...thanks, honey...

The next day was Valentine's day, which was special with giving gifts to everyone. Well, I guess Nicole was slighted because we wouldn't give her candy. She mainly had a fruit dessert baby food and a stuffed bear. Everyone else had candy with their cards. Next year, sweetie!

Here's Natalie's valentine's day breakfast. She ate the banana and apples, strawberries, and whipped cream. But, none of the pancake?

And, as I type, Natalie is off at a birthday party for two of her friends (brothers) at a jump place. She has definitely had a party-packed weekend!

My Valentine Girls

Happy Valentine's Day from my precious girls!

What would you put in the bag??

Sometimes, we parents have homework from school, not just the kids! This time, they sent home a paper lunch bag and asked us to put items representing each family member in the bag. These kind of assignments cause me a little stress as I don't always know what represents each family member. So, I started looking around the house for different items for Woody, Natalie, Nicole, Rosco, and myself. And, this is what I came up with...
I wonder if you can guess which one goes with which family member!

The Newest Gardener on the Block

Natalie has her own plot of ground now to add flowers as season (thanks to Woody building it!). Since it is still cold, pansies are the most hardy at this time, so we decided to start with hers. She loves digging in the dirt and planting things. Even if she just has a stick, she thinks she is planting when she sticks it in the ground! But, now she is learning she needs to dig a certain depth and water the flowers so they will grow.

Planting the flowers!
They look so pretty! By the way, the orange thing in the foreground is a stick with my doodlebug flag on it. The doodlebug is the bike trailer for children. I tried the other day to put both kids into it. Although Natalie was excited and wanted to go, Nicole wasn't thrilled with the idea (or the helmet). So, we'll have to ease into doing the doodlebug again. I really love that form of exercise, so I hope it will do great!

Just Desserts

In the space of about 5 minutes during and after dinner last night, Natalie managed to ask for dessert in about 20 different ways. No, she had not finished her meal. Some of it was direct question, some indirect, some reverse psychology, some just sneaky. It seems to be her main focus at the start of the meal to manage to work toward dessert. Not that we have dessert every time. But, we have gotten into the bad habit of trying to use it as a reward for eating her food.

Can I have some dessert?
Are you getting 3 desserts, or 2? (one for Woody, me, or her too)
I don't need dessert...
I don't deserve dessert...
After I finish this, I can get some dessert!
I'll eat this and this and then I can have some dessert!
I'm ready for ice cream now.
I'm hungry for ice cream...
Please get me some dessert.
Pink bear wants me to have dessert...

After all this, we ended up not even having dessert. All that work for nothing, Natalie!

Happy 7 Months!

Nicole is 7 months today! I know no one will believe me, but she has started to say something that sounds like "Momma." Well, Momma says Happy 7 month birthday!!

It's a Circus in Here!

Natalie's big weekend had another twist of going to see the circus with Grandma & Grandpa! She really had a great weekend after the last one being so bored! She was riveted to the action, as you can see in the below photo. It was a great time that she really enjoyed. She talks about the lady shot out of the cannon the most, but she liked all of it, including the clowns! She also loved a light up toy that Grandma & Grandpa bought, it will probably take about 6 batteries a week at this rate!
The clowns...

The elephants!

So much fun was seen, here was only a couple of shots! Thanks, Grandma & Grandpa!!

3 in for Fun

It was time to do something just for fun, and just with Natalie. Mimi and Poppa watched Nicole while we went on a journey to find some snow! The conditions were just right. It had snowed earlier in the week, so there was packed powder, but yet was warming up so it wasn't frigid. In fact, we were quite hot in our snow gear! This was a lot of fun to Natalie, who really enjoyed going by herself on the inner tube. We had only rented two because we weren't sure whether she would like to go by herself. But, she really did! And, on a weekday, there weren't a lot of people there. They had a moving conveyer belt that moved you back up the hill, or you could walk up. It was a lot of fun!

Woody & Natalie going down together

Here's Natalie & Mommy!

Natalie all by herself!

She was the Tube Pro, all right!

She was tired and slept on the way back. I wish I could have slept too! We had a great memory and a good time together.

Out of...

the house. Woody once said if I had two kids, I probably would never leave the house. And, sometimes it feels that way. But, we were getting stir crazy, and we had to go out of the house to do something! Woody was out working, so I took the girls to a restaurant that also has craft night. Natalie had fun doing a friendship bracelet.

These pictures are kind of blurry because I am back with Nicole at the table with the zoom on! After this, she wanted to go on the playground equipment. I agreed for a short time if she would come down as soon as I called. Which led to the next "out of..."

sight! After a few minutes of playing, I saw several other children but not my own. I put Nicole back in her carrier, lugging her with me, went into the play area and started calling for Natalie. Nothing. No reply, nothing. My little voice began to get a little panicked and more than a little upset. Finally, after a couple of minutes, I saw her start to come down with a bigger kid leading her. We left the restaurant and I asked why she did not come when I called. She said the girl had told her to act like she was hurt. Peer pressure already!! So, a few more gray hairs here and there won't show up I guess!

Next time, we're going with Woody if she goes to the play area!

Homebodies

This weekend, Nicole, Natalie, and I were homebodies while Woody was working. Not much going on to take pictures about, except that Nicole had discovered how to clap on Friday. She is doing well clapping. However, my videos aren't working on blogger right now (and I didn't have the camera when she was really in the mood to clap!). So, you'll just have to take my word for it I guess!

Natalie is able to do most things with her hands as well--buttoning buttons, sliding locks, zippers, there is little she can't do now. It's odd to think of having to do things for her as a distant memory. She is really doing well! I probably delayed her development a bit when I would go ahead & do things for her! First child syndrome, I guess! Now, with 2 girls, she has to be a lot more independent. She now even goes to the bathroom at night completely by herself (yea!!).

I had the challenge of getting snacks for Sunday School plus both girls to church. I actually went 30 minutes early to get a close parking space this week. It turns out that I needed it, because it took a lot longer to find our new SS classroom than I had thought.

One change for us is that on Superbowl Sunday, the Superbowl is a complete afterthought. Much different than when I was single! We turned it on after the girl's baths and tucking in to see what the score was. No parties, no really big interest. Just another day...

Well, I know Natalie was excited to get to school after her not so exciting weekend. Nicole is quite happy to be back home dropping her off and going to the grocery store. Just like her mommy!