tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22183480873515484442024-03-12T23:39:16.524-05:00Everything ChangesTherefore do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02900990551382691170noreply@blogger.comBlogger285125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218348087351548444.post-89474790372037635702010-08-18T18:59:00.000-05:002010-08-18T18:59:14.428-05:00Being sneakyOne of the songs we've sang to Judah since he was born is "I love you Judah" and it has calmed him down almost instantly. Eli LOVES singing it too but every time I try to record him he gets all shy or crazy. So... on the way home from the park I thought I would try and hide the camera between the seat and the head rest to film Eli. The only problem is that I was driving and couldn't see what I was filming... so you get to hear it but not see it. Hope it doesn't make you have motion sickness ;) It's really really sweet though.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzhkK2CWirEbAA14QRXZox5P3pQ39_W1on9UMXLJMB2bwhnoFC_1Moe01ZPu8ixsM222wawdwxXuBCTtxgjfQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Oh! And the first part Eli is singing "I love you Ebony" who's our dog. precious precious.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02900990551382691170noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218348087351548444.post-47012127143368452022010-08-17T21:01:00.000-05:002010-08-17T21:01:17.335-05:00I'm pretty sure...I'm pretty sure I haven't been on in a good while! Yikes! So, here are 9 things that have happened that I can't wait to tell you about!<br />
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1. I have a new job! I'm going to be an elementary school counselor!<br />
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2. My car has been breaking down continually! As in, I would be driving down the road and it would literally STOP. Turn off. Not move. Completely die... while I was driving! I can't think of many things that are more dangerous than that.<br />
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3. Eli and Judah are growing like crazy! Judah is 8 months now and Eli is 2 years and 8 months!<br />
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4. I finally got to go on vacation with my family! Wes has been traveling all summer and had a little bit of time off and got to have some family time!<br />
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5. My sister graduated from college! SO proud of you Amy!<br />
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6. I took my first "bridal" shots for Meredith. It's a weird feeling taking someone else's picture and displaying them for people to see, but it was awesome overall!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpyMGpKExpTi-kdSy_qIu-dOq5ktEh-ADDZGIj0sTgUeD38CzWhiAeBEGUMOAwhY6LpNlPfYJOlX9sF75xWqo01XSMip7oArJDSG3SeC3_y-Mr4235ir3jjp52z9jdHKcWNSlQVn6bfx43/s1600/IMG_3389-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpyMGpKExpTi-kdSy_qIu-dOq5ktEh-ADDZGIj0sTgUeD38CzWhiAeBEGUMOAwhY6LpNlPfYJOlX9sF75xWqo01XSMip7oArJDSG3SeC3_y-Mr4235ir3jjp52z9jdHKcWNSlQVn6bfx43/s320/IMG_3389-1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
7. I went to my 10 year high school reunion!<br />
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8. We got to spend some fun time with dear friends and their kids! Thank you Allen for having a FREE spray park!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3uKSOD7nGDNcSDS4czveUjer3J28KBPM7BtGlPG_7LNPIatdmLBduENvDWIpzDPUXrhpql9VVWgG9-wdNw-WnVTwH6qdnE2jt3MYdP-qZKL3LhyxuhSQvH3j7w39tF-xxvFWg5b2HDB6/s1600/IMG_3368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3uKSOD7nGDNcSDS4czveUjer3J28KBPM7BtGlPG_7LNPIatdmLBduENvDWIpzDPUXrhpql9VVWgG9-wdNw-WnVTwH6qdnE2jt3MYdP-qZKL3LhyxuhSQvH3j7w39tF-xxvFWg5b2HDB6/s320/IMG_3368.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRdPAQLVwpDxyHenjeTNH3QHR8cQcmmuMnuzdzJ6rGur9peHHXEV9QxLHYRgApi6nX62jLFRWyWGbBqLx3ax_7Zhv_YO5raI7U1LZpeRUWtpcaazbskmm-RPMuLNlXUSbyqS3bATlZWFQ/s1600/IMG_4196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>9. I actually played tennis again. I wasn't terrible. But I defffffffinitely wasn't great! I need to get out there more often.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRdPAQLVwpDxyHenjeTNH3QHR8cQcmmuMnuzdzJ6rGur9peHHXEV9QxLHYRgApi6nX62jLFRWyWGbBqLx3ax_7Zhv_YO5raI7U1LZpeRUWtpcaazbskmm-RPMuLNlXUSbyqS3bATlZWFQ/s1600/IMG_4196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRdPAQLVwpDxyHenjeTNH3QHR8cQcmmuMnuzdzJ6rGur9peHHXEV9QxLHYRgApi6nX62jLFRWyWGbBqLx3ax_7Zhv_YO5raI7U1LZpeRUWtpcaazbskmm-RPMuLNlXUSbyqS3bATlZWFQ/s320/IMG_4196.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>So... I'm going to try and be back! I missed you guys!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02900990551382691170noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218348087351548444.post-36614158479646749992010-04-04T18:34:00.000-05:002010-04-04T18:34:32.498-05:00Happy Easter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38m0zJXQlzeBLKdNrQwF-ercoY-W5CetMItuzfAgAgOzPu-RuaD5MgBPqasv3qLo-Xs49ADne4B2L67yKWhiEx7e-nWMa1g1NNB8KFqSO2mbqYBt7ZNM76L-IR2WWx03XvotDEnx8BsvQ/s1600/IMG_2823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38m0zJXQlzeBLKdNrQwF-ercoY-W5CetMItuzfAgAgOzPu-RuaD5MgBPqasv3qLo-Xs49ADne4B2L67yKWhiEx7e-nWMa1g1NNB8KFqSO2mbqYBt7ZNM76L-IR2WWx03XvotDEnx8BsvQ/s320/IMG_2823.JPG" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL';"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25983" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">1</sup>On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25984" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">2</sup>They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25985" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">3</sup>but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25986" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">4</sup>While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25987" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">5</sup>In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25988" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">6</sup>He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25989" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">7</sup>'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25990" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">8</sup>Then they remembered his words.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL';"></span><br />
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<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25991" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">9</sup>When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25992" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">10</sup>It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25993" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">11</sup>But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25994" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">12</sup>Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. Luke 24:1-12Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02900990551382691170noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218348087351548444.post-45160285080907232402010-04-03T10:45:00.000-05:002010-04-03T10:45:52.173-05:00Babies, Tigers, and Hives Oh my!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkY5dcHyuyD33hOQirOo5YUinu3lxZZzwggnVwKyTvYlqxJVujUcb9B12rmMdt5WtloPvNQv3NdZFGB1oH7l-d7CP0kcR3Z5Xf9cCnbfMEn2FnysehDSb8PjBVZZa-lKLiy8LIVOUBuvtq/s1600/IMG_2745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkY5dcHyuyD33hOQirOo5YUinu3lxZZzwggnVwKyTvYlqxJVujUcb9B12rmMdt5WtloPvNQv3NdZFGB1oH7l-d7CP0kcR3Z5Xf9cCnbfMEn2FnysehDSb8PjBVZZa-lKLiy8LIVOUBuvtq/s320/IMG_2745.JPG" /></a></div>Well it has been an eventful few weeks. We've gone through strep. We've gone through RSV. We've gone through colds. We've gone through allergies. Lots of little sickly things. I think everyone is on the mend now and hopefully will stay that way!<br />
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Judah turned 4 months old yesterday! I cannot believe it. He is almost rolling over from back to front (he's been doing front to back for awhile now) and has THE most adorable little laugh! Today I thought he was going to do a full on push up because he was in the midst of our beloved tummy time and he went into his own version of a yoga seal pose! Arms were straight and everything! He is such a strong baby! And he did not get sick one single time (thank you God!). I'm so in love with him! We go to his 4 month check up this week. I can't wait to go show him off!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMLeEWcXuN80yoyRoidtJs0ay1_VhMGShnrES2HsujrzL2nC9K2GQQDi-c2Cd-_auydmKJ01d-5oquV_EcCxh9pY0FuURb2WsjoRX5a5JC82SRLq_JaVfYOO-pLo9bTMi7GeT8KH1Ab6M/s1600/IMG_2764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMLeEWcXuN80yoyRoidtJs0ay1_VhMGShnrES2HsujrzL2nC9K2GQQDi-c2Cd-_auydmKJ01d-5oquV_EcCxh9pY0FuURb2WsjoRX5a5JC82SRLq_JaVfYOO-pLo9bTMi7GeT8KH1Ab6M/s320/IMG_2764.JPG" /></a></div><br />
My dad is the principal of Commerce High School and their mascot is a tiger. They had some sort of gathering and he got all painted up to show off his over the top school spirit. Eli was a little taken back at first but then he just wanted to stare at "tiger" Gramps! When dad washed his face off Eli kept saying, "where'd tiger go?" haha... so cute!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHAhA-lcxD9q8a7t8V4T4v0iRhMZ3uxXyfV8VGI09P2ykdK5A-OTJ7HBbD9LnFDhlek4SN1FyYvGvbRXe74VtrK-ZlBZ8m1JtUzIs0IIZtuilsTnIZ_ocK5GgH6sSIlpjomRl1nT2EuBy/s1600/IMG_2757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHAhA-lcxD9q8a7t8V4T4v0iRhMZ3uxXyfV8VGI09P2ykdK5A-OTJ7HBbD9LnFDhlek4SN1FyYvGvbRXe74VtrK-ZlBZ8m1JtUzIs0IIZtuilsTnIZ_ocK5GgH6sSIlpjomRl1nT2EuBy/s320/IMG_2757.JPG" /></a>Now these dang hives are making me CRAZY! Eli had them the first time when he was around a year old I think and has had them a couple of times since then, but they have never been to this extreme. It's been like 8 straight days now. The first 5 were at least this bad but after we saw the allergist and he's been on 3 doses of different antihistamines every day they are no where near this extent.<br />
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We have no idea what the cause is and we may never know. They don't hurt him or itch so that is definitely a praise! But I can't stand them. Hopefully we can get this batch under control and figure out a way to keep them gone!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02900990551382691170noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218348087351548444.post-20055160542706411132010-03-21T18:41:00.001-05:002010-03-22T06:12:53.413-05:00Forced Family Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhod-aCBcm4IFBjkjVU0_dvxBydpKsAyVTI-C_52HqPT71lO7EzCJLeaQP6TyTKqmkLjAo-6NjxNVt7-HoslIdIY6vS67y2jmWOV-GY0tioOaZ1eKdUaI4Ot9pTmLOonMGpNybK_K-x9i1v/s1600-h/IMG_2550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhod-aCBcm4IFBjkjVU0_dvxBydpKsAyVTI-C_52HqPT71lO7EzCJLeaQP6TyTKqmkLjAo-6NjxNVt7-HoslIdIY6vS67y2jmWOV-GY0tioOaZ1eKdUaI4Ot9pTmLOonMGpNybK_K-x9i1v/s320/IMG_2550.JPG" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">**Hey friends! Last night after my husband's band played their gig in Houston, they went to eat. While they were eating their van was broken into and all of their bags were stolen (laptops, ipods, some wallets, you know... all that personal information!!) Anyways, please just say a little prayer that they get what is necessary to replace what was lost! Thanks guys!**</span><br />
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When we were growing up we ate pretty much all of our dinners together at home. Mom would cook and then Josh and I would take turns cleaning the kitchen... and I don't think we did that great of a job now that I think back on it. Well when we got into junior high and high school, we spent more and more time away from home doing whatever so when we were home, my parents established what I like to refer to as "forced family time."<br />
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I remember being in my room, minding my own business, Josh would be in his room, minding his own business, and I'm not sure where Amy was... but anyway, we would be in our various corners of the house and it would get close to around 7:00 I would hear my dad yell, "AMANDA! JOSH! Get in here!" And then after that happened a couple of times, Josh and I would drag ourselves out of our rooms and go sit in the living room.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiotCUOhjirV_TC6Iowr_dmEQVoncGeydUamCf5iQdiqbjTRfm7rhrCfkx0-51V4mNI_XLqhBGArdLch5Jt8xQxvs6eTSRvRrDJP3o-OMWMvYPnecc33B5FiWhvqJjd4AdYRq5Gy-dprlZU/s1600-h/IMG_2565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiotCUOhjirV_TC6Iowr_dmEQVoncGeydUamCf5iQdiqbjTRfm7rhrCfkx0-51V4mNI_XLqhBGArdLch5Jt8xQxvs6eTSRvRrDJP3o-OMWMvYPnecc33B5FiWhvqJjd4AdYRq5Gy-dprlZU/s320/IMG_2565.JPG" /></a></div>That's it.<br />
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We would have to go sit in the living room with my parents and watch them watch TV. I would get <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">so</span> annoyed at this. I could not believe that they would make me leave the comforts of my favorite room and come literally SIT in the same room with them just to do nothing! *I would always just pretend that I didn't like whatever they were watching even though I really did, and would just sit with this look of disgust on my face. haha...*<br />
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My parents just wanted us to be in the same room as them because they loved us. So forced family time it was.<br />
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Well now I'm all grown up (haha) and make Eli and Judah come sit with me all the time and I know that I will continue to do that for many years to come!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh995nhZ611riZ8RBHgRth6dsHJgaLduMQdG6iZW-0MxmJeYoa9yfmE8GGdAdonxUUbL8HeSwRNyMzS1yeoZgS_eijbZn7UYaEkJVp5C7TQJK6h79VfIz9gr8qPBlyI84d_U0uyhPXdK-Nb/s1600-h/IMG_2576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh995nhZ611riZ8RBHgRth6dsHJgaLduMQdG6iZW-0MxmJeYoa9yfmE8GGdAdonxUUbL8HeSwRNyMzS1yeoZgS_eijbZn7UYaEkJVp5C7TQJK6h79VfIz9gr8qPBlyI84d_U0uyhPXdK-Nb/s320/IMG_2576.JPG" /></a></div>So my parents invite Wes and I to dinner at their house with Amy and her boyfriend. They tell us they are cooking out and they have a fun activity planned for us. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">oh great...what in the world could this possible be??</span> We are always up for a free meal and hanging out with my folks so we went over there not having any idea what this "activity" was going to be.<br />
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We eat a delicious meal, have crazy good dessert, and then it's time for the activity to commence. My dad tells us that it is a game and that he is the MC. I roll my eyes thinking, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">oh no... this game will last forever!!</span> haha... We make our way into the living room and my parents read us the rules. It's a game about how much we know about our family. You know, like random facts, where people were born, who they worked for, favorite colors, stuff like that. I LOVE this whole idea and I am beyond excited! It's Wes and I against Amy and Eric and we get $1 for every correct answer. Brilliant!<br />
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Amy and Eric get $4 to start off with because Eric hasn't been around that long and so they thought it wasn't fair to them. whatever :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqzbn3WlTrSibnoOAQa69ER0s-YNZKTyfGmfbBFbJS8AsOr_t7-e1HPQ9Lo2D8ylbKQ6uBNmse_InCObrsvHS_o2t2mIghw527yO-rCf-nwYwMW_TQ5NPodHIeLjXV5gyS0ia4URr-cdc/s1600-h/IMG_2621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqzbn3WlTrSibnoOAQa69ER0s-YNZKTyfGmfbBFbJS8AsOr_t7-e1HPQ9Lo2D8ylbKQ6uBNmse_InCObrsvHS_o2t2mIghw527yO-rCf-nwYwMW_TQ5NPodHIeLjXV5gyS0ia4URr-cdc/s320/IMG_2621.JPG" /></a></div>The game goes on, it is so much fun, dad asks really good questions and then some ridiculous questions and then it ends with my team with $10 and Amy's with $13 (let's not forget their $4 head start).<br />
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After that there is a part 2. A treasure hunt with 5 clues leading up to a prize. If any of you know my father, who wrote the clues, he is kind of long winded... especially in writing. So clue after clue was prefaced with about 3 sentences of encouragement and big words before you actually made it to the actual clue.<br />
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It was an absolute blast and ended with a gift card to the movies (YES!) and my parents house being slightly destroyed due to my sister's aggressiveness. :)<br />
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I loved every minute of it. It was the best "forced family time" yet. We missed you Josh!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuIxT75tQ1NGipqvjvFK6hSEVQ-bXhdlwsGM6LBCMw380L6U2aDSj4QLs-9VJ4sdjdhRax0udgLIYyV7xNMCk9LDhepaVAxAaCvn8vD1n-BmcHc5z-uE62i8hY_Vr-oBA6ctiuTJnYQJk/s1600-h/IMG_2690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuIxT75tQ1NGipqvjvFK6hSEVQ-bXhdlwsGM6LBCMw380L6U2aDSj4QLs-9VJ4sdjdhRax0udgLIYyV7xNMCk9LDhepaVAxAaCvn8vD1n-BmcHc5z-uE62i8hY_Vr-oBA6ctiuTJnYQJk/s320/IMG_2690.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qW9yj1FGJXaqWsiQGVjmEGMNh1aCRP7h_MGQGkoPv5cJ1HVcpAJfyA7D9XyKJ02Ul9PobrFkAViw5eQoRmgyhOnm24j-ltPOjTrOvc_P4GmqfAdgvgkhJcY3mUiTHx49RrCisZzMZj73/s1600-h/IMG_2689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qW9yj1FGJXaqWsiQGVjmEGMNh1aCRP7h_MGQGkoPv5cJ1HVcpAJfyA7D9XyKJ02Ul9PobrFkAViw5eQoRmgyhOnm24j-ltPOjTrOvc_P4GmqfAdgvgkhJcY3mUiTHx49RrCisZzMZj73/s320/IMG_2689.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqCQVmMKmZAdkL9dfwsyMubl1sS-5zA6xx680ikOFfB4VLPQ87nHw7RzsuEphSzlGCTVbrj3TVNNAJR-NYUwMY2p4kPLx5g5u5PmDy-SiZ9g5foysT7yqU-Qgh9P4zAqgezWMKyLJYobZ/s1600-h/IMG_2688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqCQVmMKmZAdkL9dfwsyMubl1sS-5zA6xx680ikOFfB4VLPQ87nHw7RzsuEphSzlGCTVbrj3TVNNAJR-NYUwMY2p4kPLx5g5u5PmDy-SiZ9g5foysT7yqU-Qgh9P4zAqgezWMKyLJYobZ/s320/IMG_2688.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0RrLATry4WLuzD63kv3VviKudoOhUNOYz71BasQEZtCHbf3sxcCu6RKXC5GD6cXbAzH0eCwxKnauHqW4P-cy0fnUuH1vo2R9DLAgJXe9wQjq7I44JokXiAQP1DBErbGm4zzoi3rhlLT9f/s1600-h/IMG_2691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0RrLATry4WLuzD63kv3VviKudoOhUNOYz71BasQEZtCHbf3sxcCu6RKXC5GD6cXbAzH0eCwxKnauHqW4P-cy0fnUuH1vo2R9DLAgJXe9wQjq7I44JokXiAQP1DBErbGm4zzoi3rhlLT9f/s320/IMG_2691.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UBOJ8xmzXWGKz7a7ovl7v9bRdxlWZjhRxxEPPJr8bgeOIfI_OAF-LHeX1K2eTBNjGp7bsAMIyQ4WtvmILQQ2NUPtCfQoHJtZ15k2rsLn92KcIAf3zdvrbXTaLOhDc-Ea3ZTdJwYoGeFS/s1600-h/IMG_2692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UBOJ8xmzXWGKz7a7ovl7v9bRdxlWZjhRxxEPPJr8bgeOIfI_OAF-LHeX1K2eTBNjGp7bsAMIyQ4WtvmILQQ2NUPtCfQoHJtZ15k2rsLn92KcIAf3zdvrbXTaLOhDc-Ea3ZTdJwYoGeFS/s320/IMG_2692.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6CORbbgKsZPiySF9p1AOgRUi9Ncl2UU9kZgvB8fCLkzEJK4KF6hsR1AGsp7JrbvQuyHQeKzpOEe6fXluCWteLCDPlIs8RkyknL_oePCEkeV3pxC4stYxG37L7skLalWGVkBJ0KkhLy3vH/s1600-h/IMG_2698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6CORbbgKsZPiySF9p1AOgRUi9Ncl2UU9kZgvB8fCLkzEJK4KF6hsR1AGsp7JrbvQuyHQeKzpOEe6fXluCWteLCDPlIs8RkyknL_oePCEkeV3pxC4stYxG37L7skLalWGVkBJ0KkhLy3vH/s320/IMG_2698.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5tqwdASvCknHmJ1o7wVnE4d6L6POs3Uv5iahHfXgOXbsgRFOoEtD7cc9HWqfPIN_Lui2lAQbUSL09q3gUP4QmmgKxpmYHoyoDRgJXkT_Va-JebgItC5g0D8FLMe5ZjtZBCCjPBhmX3mh/s1600-h/IMG_2697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5tqwdASvCknHmJ1o7wVnE4d6L6POs3Uv5iahHfXgOXbsgRFOoEtD7cc9HWqfPIN_Lui2lAQbUSL09q3gUP4QmmgKxpmYHoyoDRgJXkT_Va-JebgItC5g0D8FLMe5ZjtZBCCjPBhmX3mh/s320/IMG_2697.JPG" /></a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02900990551382691170noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218348087351548444.post-52998112159335043162010-03-20T20:48:00.002-05:002010-03-20T22:15:19.695-05:00Getting defensive and getting Judah to sleep<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWEdc8NIy0PuESSjDCK2XdcpXugEdbLQMH39EQFwcZ37IZx-f914eQEhH_ms4T2CWLxsYf4PpRHVRYxWHw766nN0xkoFY7RJhEw9efQhqhnmUD2CmZrv6-KiW7s2wPlwDEw1XNKyWmD-13/s1600-h/IMG_1559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWEdc8NIy0PuESSjDCK2XdcpXugEdbLQMH39EQFwcZ37IZx-f914eQEhH_ms4T2CWLxsYf4PpRHVRYxWHw766nN0xkoFY7RJhEw9efQhqhnmUD2CmZrv6-KiW7s2wPlwDEw1XNKyWmD-13/s320/IMG_1559.JPG"></a>My mom would always quickly rush to my brother's defense in almost every situation that she felt he was being criticized by me. In my immaturity I would usually throw out some comment like "he's your favorite" or "Josh doesn't ever do anything wrong" or ridiculous things like that. To be honest, I was <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">mostly</span> kidding, but there were a few hidden truths to those statements in my mind. Probably because I did <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">plenty</span> of things wrong and felt like I was in trouble more than not! oops! Sorry mom and dad! :)<br /><br />But I'm entering into this whole new world of having 2 kids and it is bringing out all of these things in me that I didn't even know existed. Judah and Eli are completely different. Eli didn't mind his car seat, Judah hates it. Eli would fall asleep eating, Judah has to be put to sleep *more on that in a minute*. Eli had to have his diaper changed every 5 seconds it seemed like, Judah can handle much longer than that. Eli hated to be on his tummy, Judah almost exclusively sleeps on his. Eli was hardly ever burped and never spit up, Judah spits up all the time. The list truly can go on and on, but the biggest difference is that Eli did not cry much as a baby and Judah does.<br /><br />Please hear me. Judah cries when he is tired, hungry, or needs to burp (which is frequent), but I know several friends who had babies that their crying almost seemed nonstop. I'm not trying to put myself in their category because I know their stress level in that area was much higher than mine and I don't want to make it seem like Judah never stops crying, but compared to Eli, he does cry much more.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YuG2KH9bZ2QdoM3IaOjevq_NroLIJENMA089rtVls4Tep8GLq0T5VqFpiA9npqZMa_q9Ks_5pdZX8ASGsWRK3dxQ1TbsZZ638HumSUKpBFksy3obQGGg0o-9QHGvXSBbuInmstYS8bBp/s1600-h/IMG_1610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YuG2KH9bZ2QdoM3IaOjevq_NroLIJENMA089rtVls4Tep8GLq0T5VqFpiA9npqZMa_q9Ks_5pdZX8ASGsWRK3dxQ1TbsZZ638HumSUKpBFksy3obQGGg0o-9QHGvXSBbuInmstYS8bBp/s320/IMG_1610.JPG"></a></div>With that said, Judah is darling. I'm getting all teary eyed just thinking about this. He is so strong, so advanced in so many areas, and completely beautiful. Babies cry. Judah cries. And when people make comments about Judah crying I get all defensive and it makes me want to scratch their eyes out. That's not a healthy response (the scratch their eyes out thing anyway) but I totally do get so defensive when it's brought up, especially in comparison to Eli. No one is meaning any harm by it. No one is judging my baby. They are just merely making an out loud observation. I get that. I do...on the surface anyway. But within me, I just want to scream that there is nothing wrong with him and babies cry!<br /><br />That whole Mama Bear thing is for real y'all! And I need to reign that in a bit! :) So, just as some therapy for me, I am admitting that yes Judah does cry more than Eli did. Yes, it can be more stressful to be around than Eli was at this age. And knowing that I have no control over what people say (and being very aware that they are not meaning it in any kind of hurtful way) I just need to have better control over the reaction it brings out in me.<br /><br />So I get it mom. Thanks for defending Josh when I was being a bratty sister. He deserves it. :)<br /><br />As I mentioned earlier, Judah has to be put to sleep. We have a variety of things we go through and one of them will eventually work.<br /><br />We do the walk about: which is just holding him in a cradle position and walk kind of fast all over the house never making eye contact with him. haha...<br /><br />We do the rocking chair: which is trying every position possible while rocking and trying to get him from squirming out of our arms.<br /><br />We do the basketball drills: which is putting him on his tummy and patting his back hundreds of times (literally) until he is finally dead asleep<br /><br />And on many occasions we do all 3! Most of the time we just have to do one for a couple of minutes and then he is out. Easy breezy. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Most</span> of the time...<br /><br />Well yesterday afternoon he was being all squirmy and rubbing his eyes and he was completely exhausted. I tried my gamete of tricks and nothing was working. I really didn't know what to do. My giant 3 month old is getting super heavy and I couldn't walk him around anymore, rocking wasn't working, bouncing him wasn't working so I just let him lay in his crib and cry. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Gasp!</span><br /><br />I walked out of the room, opened my computer, went to <a href="http://www.askdrsears.com/">Dr. Sears' website (that I adore!) </a> , checked the clock, and started reading all of their articles on sleeping. I told myself I was going to let him cry for 5 minutes. My heart was racing. I hated every single second of those 5 minutes. I read the articles, calmed down, told myself he was fine, and let the 5 minutes pass.<br /><br />After time was up, I went back in there, picked up my angel with a renewed sense of determination, walked around with him for like 1 minute and he was out. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Whew!</span><br /><br />I have no judgement towards parents that let their babies "cry it out" in bed. I just am not one of them. I think it might do more damage to my psyche than the baby's but I still just can't do it. Those 5 minutes were good for me to see that Judah was still fine (although upset) and that sometimes I might just need to refresh with a nice little article sometimes and then go back to parenting my baby to sleep.<br /><br />And... I am almost positive he's teething. He chews on everything nonstop. He's drooling more than he is spitting up (is that even possible??) and I can see a little white speck at the front of his bottom gum. Why is he trying to grow up so fast? :)<br /><br /><br /><br />I asked, and continue to ask, God to refine me. To teach me discipline. To give me patience. To learn to love like He does. I feel like He uses many moments with me trying to get Judah to sleep to do those things. I love that. I love that instead of using something else, I am being refined by such a sweet and fantastically wonderful baby.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHL8VGT_r-VTfwU3ts8lcsImIcSWxjvNa60VmbQXIZfDaqhMsb3ybjex3bweg6fiaTaFLMoAWTGx8PLK6e9IwfqiS55IOF3N_TW48BGb0TgjPQA1antBYL7raBiYGEdZt4YVJFwcKCdmVg/s1600-h/IMG_1572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHL8VGT_r-VTfwU3ts8lcsImIcSWxjvNa60VmbQXIZfDaqhMsb3ybjex3bweg6fiaTaFLMoAWTGx8PLK6e9IwfqiS55IOF3N_TW48BGb0TgjPQA1antBYL7raBiYGEdZt4YVJFwcKCdmVg/s320/IMG_1572.JPG"></a></div>And on a completely random note, does anyone know what plant this is? Sorry it's kind of fuzzy but I was driving by this house and took a picture. I felt like a huge creeper so I didn't get out of the car to take the pic but I really would love to know what this is. :)Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02900990551382691170noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218348087351548444.post-62230267150398986302010-03-16T11:10:00.000-05:002010-03-16T11:10:00.981-05:00People get readyWell, it's been over a month since I was last on here! Y'all, when Wes is gone it is so hard for me to get stuff done! And he's been gone a lot!<br />
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Ok, so people get ready. Here we go:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKX7mnvQjRE9hZY7nicjKOmUWwjVlhYa5Bn41hz40ZreoGPRvfD-RZYKWAoVS7pZ4UPlhpaL0c2lMF0Hkknf4cCGK7Wmsf6rHaVPk22pMuC_8Aeoz_K2SNuEL87_NRgCnSlIJcC394PEb4/s1600-h/IMG_2533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKX7mnvQjRE9hZY7nicjKOmUWwjVlhYa5Bn41hz40ZreoGPRvfD-RZYKWAoVS7pZ4UPlhpaL0c2lMF0Hkknf4cCGK7Wmsf6rHaVPk22pMuC_8Aeoz_K2SNuEL87_NRgCnSlIJcC394PEb4/s320/IMG_2533.JPG" /></a></div>Today we're just trying out potty training with Eli. He's pretty much obsessed with potties but we've never really started anything with him about it. He is all about sitting on the potty (as of this posting he has been sitting there for about 18 minutes, and my son does not sit for anything!) and so we're making the most of it and seeing what happens!<br />
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I am fine with potty humor and stuff but constantly talking about pee pee and poo poo is already getting old. Uh oh. Today is only day 1! I've heard a million suggestions on how to make this all go down but honestly, who the heck knows! What works for one might not work for another! (hmm... he just got up and moved to Judah's bumbo seat... sigh...)<br />
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The most appealing advice to me was to just relax, not pressure him, and just take it as it comes. I can do that. It's Spring Break so we thought we might as well give it a shot!<br />
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Judah turned 3 months old this month! He is well into his 3-6 month clothes and I highly doubt he'll make it to 6 months in those clothes! He is so big y'all! I can't wait for his 4 month check up to see how much he has grown because it really seems like a lot!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNjV6XYA1EyYM6VfG8acmgghG-Oi_VyujlBDN1DzCNmF3g1EsODHiSgUlmNCDUKspwTV08znsfdATWdtEIm9G2fes06wdggK17c2cpYO17GmWVYR2F7fWAyI2Wjet_Zd2jGUzr19LIEBV/s1600-h/IMG_2507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNjV6XYA1EyYM6VfG8acmgghG-Oi_VyujlBDN1DzCNmF3g1EsODHiSgUlmNCDUKspwTV08znsfdATWdtEIm9G2fes06wdggK17c2cpYO17GmWVYR2F7fWAyI2Wjet_Zd2jGUzr19LIEBV/s320/IMG_2507.JPG" /></a></div>We did experience the worst night of our entire lives last Wednesday. I don't think it was until Sunday evening that Wes and I finally got over it. I had been taking a nap with Judah on my bed. I woke up, left him in there (in the middle of course on his blanket) and went to play with Wes and Eli in the living room.<br />
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Every 10 minutes or so one of us goes and checks on Judah. Well we had heard him start to wake up and start talking a little bit so I got up to go get him. I walked in the door, the lights were off, it was dark, and then all of a sudden I hear the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">worst</span> cry from Judah I had ever heard. I run over to the bed and he isn't there. He is laying on the floor screaming. Right as I walked in, Judah fell off of our very tall bed (at least 3 feet) and landed on our hard floor. I screamed and picked him up as fast as I could. Wes heard me, we flipped on the light, and saw 2 huge bumps on my sweet baby's head. One in front. One in back. He had hit his head twice. Sickening.<br />
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Wes called 911 and within a matter of minutes the ambulance was at our house and we were loading our 3 month old into his car seat and strapping him into the ambulance to go to the ER.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg47E3ecBkoreoMuQGRnJ1IT_RdSF95W4ScQuGFuwnY0uAAW_Wq670yi3fioMsyU_QVPtlkxdWJ3DJBjAaPdOZH3afIRLUeenQNrLiOFVeOhOZnKik6TJLATZOgn_-aVo9eSon4wy6lJCh6/s1600-h/IMG_2462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg47E3ecBkoreoMuQGRnJ1IT_RdSF95W4ScQuGFuwnY0uAAW_Wq670yi3fioMsyU_QVPtlkxdWJ3DJBjAaPdOZH3afIRLUeenQNrLiOFVeOhOZnKik6TJLATZOgn_-aVo9eSon4wy6lJCh6/s320/IMG_2462.JPG" /></a></div>All the signs were good. He cried immediately. The bumps were hard and they were sticking out instead of not crying and his head being sunken in. They put ice on his head on the way to the hospital and he had calmed down. When we arrived, the bumps were almost completely gone and Judah was acting totally normal. The ER doctor said that he wouldn't have thought anything was wrong with him if we had just walked in from the street.<br />
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We learned many lessons that night. The most important being that our 3 month old rolls over. We put him on his tummy to sleep (it's pretty much the only way he will sleep) and he can scoot and roll now. Wes and I put him on him tummy and within a minute Judah flipped himself over.<br />
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I know God spared my eyes from actually seeing Judah fall from our bed. I don't think you can forget images like that and seeing him on the floor was bad enough. He is totally fine. Thank God he will not have to ever remember that, and Wes and I had upset stomachs for several days after that incident. Every once in awhile we would just look at him and start crying. Worst night ever.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfZHCbscROpXWpUG_hb6FOgYE_yH5nK_mt4zsLOQRZ_FI3LC1iDo2Ciq0FAC-J6dZUX-fSNusjxHGYFq1Y6yFV1bQMogkjDCoClOd_guxOTp2oFpxEztFQMOoNJrdUNKZ_XoZEGs2a_hb/s1600-h/IMG_2399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfZHCbscROpXWpUG_hb6FOgYE_yH5nK_mt4zsLOQRZ_FI3LC1iDo2Ciq0FAC-J6dZUX-fSNusjxHGYFq1Y6yFV1bQMogkjDCoClOd_guxOTp2oFpxEztFQMOoNJrdUNKZ_XoZEGs2a_hb/s320/IMG_2399.JPG" /></a></div>Rachel got to come to town for a concert she was in and so we got to spend some time with her and Ellie! It was so much fun! It is kind of crazy how alike our kids are! From the way they say things, to their mannerisms, and their little attitudes they are so similar! We loved it!<br />
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And I also got to meet <a href="http://mcwhorterfamily.blogspot.com/">Ashley</a>!! She came to town to visit her bestie and we all met up for breakfast! She is just as fantastic in person as she is on her blog and I loved it! She took a picture so when I get it it will be posted!<br />
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In other news, I'm still slowly losing weight, which is awesome. I'm getting back on my Chalean Extreme bandwagon this week since I fell off when Wes left. Look Like Heaven on Seven One Seven is still going!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02900990551382691170noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218348087351548444.post-80291892873972548902010-02-02T15:18:00.002-06:002010-02-02T15:21:59.053-06:00Jello, Why I hate oatmeal, and Why I love chocolate milk<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xy-wRB_Hyb_XgBA33wL32N9Mh9MkliGau90hH1hPWspbVuX9WCwDpi6g9upjJnZBVk_f8I38kMK30bKe88twH9QnVjemOt0Gcw0bxjFFd5cRplIl2ySUmYoeD-qN519UWsUt9FhX3Iof/s1600-h/IMG_2005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xy-wRB_Hyb_XgBA33wL32N9Mh9MkliGau90hH1hPWspbVuX9WCwDpi6g9upjJnZBVk_f8I38kMK30bKe88twH9QnVjemOt0Gcw0bxjFFd5cRplIl2ySUmYoeD-qN519UWsUt9FhX3Iof/s320/IMG_2005.JPG" /></a><br />
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I have a lot of different associations with jello. Good... and very very bad.<br />
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After having both of my c-sections, my mid section is a lot like jello. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">very very bad</span><br />
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After doing my Chalean Extreme workouts (which by the way, I have been doing consistently and giving them my all! ...except for quitting 7 minutes early on my workout today. ugh...), anyways, after doing those workouts, my arms and legs feel like jello. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Good!</span><br />
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When I was in like the fourth or fifth grade, my family and I were taking a trip. We always drove, so we spent many quality hours in the car. I'm pretty sure we ate at Luby's (which I still love... don't judge) and my sister ate some green jello. We get back in the car to continue our journey and as she did many more times, Amy got car sick. My always prepared mother had some clear big plastic bags that she keeps in her purse so we can all share popcorn at the movies and gave it to Amy to, well, you know, throw up in. I just remember looking over to see a bag full of thrown up green jello slime. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">very very bad</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZrqqqfbvGyJJawoitSgUl7-DF77SewDqalHndOcmxx8OoHCeFfFtyA5sDKCwDjPlzS3juPWg4mK30Tji7c2y4I6QHMV7BmYMlcxUTzaBRbyOAcsML7N2FYClt6fwZJ_KmNUzk8F4q_wI/s1600-h/IMG_1934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZrqqqfbvGyJJawoitSgUl7-DF77SewDqalHndOcmxx8OoHCeFfFtyA5sDKCwDjPlzS3juPWg4mK30Tji7c2y4I6QHMV7BmYMlcxUTzaBRbyOAcsML7N2FYClt6fwZJ_KmNUzk8F4q_wI/s320/IMG_1934.JPG" /></a></div>Because I'm no longer eating my emotions and not constantly baking cookies or brownies anymore, I wanted to tame my sweet tooth with something that wasn't too over the top. So Wes and I not buy those <a href="http://brands.kraftfoods.com/jello/products/Mousse-Temptations.aspx">Jello Mousse Temptations </a> which are delicious! I can't lie and say that are filling, but they do at least make me feel like I can have something sweet. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Good!</span><br />
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I've never had oatmeal before until I got married. Wes eats it almsot every morning and finally convinced me to try it. I had Apples and Cinnamon Quaker Oatmeal and actually, it was really good! We pretty much take care of our own bowls by rinsing them out and putting them in the sink (or dishwasher... sometimes...). Well Eli has really wanted to start doing basically everything that Wes does, which as mentioned, includes eating oatmeal! So we make it just like we make ours, piping hot! I mix it up with just a little water so he doesn't drip it all over the place. Well the problem with Eli eating oatmeal is that he takes his sweet time, telling us how good every bite is, and it just gets colder and colder, and stickier and stickier. By the time he is finished eating, the oatmeal has basically glued itself to the bowl... which is why I hate oatmeal. I literally am chipping it away with a butter knife, cursing in my head how much I ate oatmeal. I would just fill up the bowl with water and let it soak off, but seeing bowls filled with water and floating particles in the sink literally makes my stomach churn.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2s4zY4474ApNZvI0smYNCsWLVqEaAC9QmW13ntz4F-G7-F_0iGhbmz47fyzT1E4It4IHeO-5btrJlP_0ZisSQPf84_t4_aCo3azG7yltwJ49M4zoKDzECSPHYBVz1ACC3UJGD4K1K21f/s1600-h/IMG_2028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2s4zY4474ApNZvI0smYNCsWLVqEaAC9QmW13ntz4F-G7-F_0iGhbmz47fyzT1E4It4IHeO-5btrJlP_0ZisSQPf84_t4_aCo3azG7yltwJ49M4zoKDzECSPHYBVz1ACC3UJGD4K1K21f/s320/IMG_2028.JPG" /></a><br />
But. I LOVE chocolate milk. I probably drink at least 3 full classes of chocolate milk every single day. Do you? Don't you love it?? I can't get enough of it. mmmm... I think I need to make some right now. I love chocolate milk because it's so good! And that's about it :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6vZ-mEW9wj29BFUiqSh_xDsxu8oDACAz19Y13fbQV47NbiQoDDFuG23kCc9gdkXlM09qdeHfbdcDrd-lycRgfazt_PmZ74x3Ru0Ykxyth5dJwT-Wjj1Ez_qH5CMnUhyphenhyphenqXTFVoTafdzmrN/s1600-h/IMG_2029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6vZ-mEW9wj29BFUiqSh_xDsxu8oDACAz19Y13fbQV47NbiQoDDFuG23kCc9gdkXlM09qdeHfbdcDrd-lycRgfazt_PmZ74x3Ru0Ykxyth5dJwT-Wjj1Ez_qH5CMnUhyphenhyphenqXTFVoTafdzmrN/s320/IMG_2029.JPG" /></a></div>Last night we went and picked up Meredith's wedding dress! She looks FANTASTIC in this dress! It is beyond beautiful by itself and when she puts it on it is radiant! I can't wait for the wedding day! Love you Mere!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcunx6X18RxAL_gPIU188iEGgSmc4xhqvD02pj7BP4ZRf2PFgd8CiOdF50snrmXDpMirKnP1oiM7_bQxa0wsEAgus1A-IPtenHkwSnMLdQJSOtf3qeDECfM4C9IJO7uJsLZbOCdsZi31D7/s1600-h/IMG_1383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcunx6X18RxAL_gPIU188iEGgSmc4xhqvD02pj7BP4ZRf2PFgd8CiOdF50snrmXDpMirKnP1oiM7_bQxa0wsEAgus1A-IPtenHkwSnMLdQJSOtf3qeDECfM4C9IJO7uJsLZbOCdsZi31D7/s320/IMG_1383.JPG" /></a></div>Oh and did I mention that just the other day my sister put her foot right through my parents' ceiling?Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02900990551382691170noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218348087351548444.post-58076041174447731162010-01-31T14:49:00.001-06:002010-01-31T15:33:09.177-06:00Meanwhile...I got a call from my friend Jennifer who had some devastating news. We used to work with Coach R. Coach R and his wife have an older child and then they had twins in December, a boy and a girl. His wife went back to work and their children went off to the babysitter's house. I don't know all of the details, only the horrific ending. The baby girl twin died somehow. I can't believe it. I can't imagine it. Please be praying for this family.<br />
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meanwhile...<br />
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There were many families from all over with their applications in to Haiti for adopting Haitian orphans. As many of you may have heard on the news I'm sure, those families that were in the later stages of the adoption process were given the green light to finalize the adoptions and get their sweet children and bring them home. Many many children were allowed to leave Haiti and run into the loving arms of their incredible new families. Well, much of that has changed now thanks to UNICEF. As the <a href="http://thehowertons.blogspot.com/2010/01/prayers-for-ronel.html">Howerton</a> family so clearly tells it, UNICEF has added ridiculous steps to slow the process down and many many more children are suffering because of UNICEF's outrageous ways of making themselves first and these children a very distant second. The <a href="http://livesayhaiti.blogspot.com/2010/01/no-place-for-politics.html">Livesay's</a> who are in Haiti, have given some first hand accounts of UNICEF's selfish ways. Please be praying for these children and these families.<br />
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meanwhile...<br />
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Matt Chandler is still battling stage 3 brain cancer and undergoing daily radiation and chemo. He still gives his weekly updates through <a href="http://fm.thevillagechurch.net/blog/pastors/">videos</a> and here is the <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100131/ap_on_re/us_rel_the_pastor_s_cancer_1">latest article</a> written about him that I've seen. God is being read about and talked about all over the world because one man has brain cancer. It's incredible. So many other people battling probably every type of cancer under the sun are being prayed over and loved on because they are making themselves known all because Matt has brain cancer. I have no idea what it's like to be so sick and so strong. God has truly been powerful and loving and people are getting to see that and believe that and feel that through Matt's story, and the stories of so many others. Please be praying for the <a href="http://themchandlers.blogspot.com/">Chandlers </a> and the countless people making the daily drives for treatment to beat this disease.<br />
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meanwhile...<br />
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My husband and the band are driving back from Florida today. They have to drive all day and all night. They are on the road right now so please be praying for their safety. I start back to work tomorrow and so the boys will be home with one extremely exhausted daddy. :)<br />
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meanwhile...<br />
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After I finished my Master's this past summer I took a nice long semester break to give my brain a rest I guess! Not to mention get everything ready for Judah to be born. But now I've been kind of bored. Not bored like I have nothing to do, because that is almost laughably not the case. But bored like I need to be learning something new. So, I've decided to really learn about photography. I have an awesome camera, an awesome lens (thanks to my brother Josh), and a love for all things artistic. I have no idea where to start, or what to do, but that's what I'm going to do.<br />
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One of Wes' new year's resolutions was to love discipline, and 2 Timothy 1:7 says "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, or love, and of self-discipline."<br />
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I have to admit that I'm one of those people who backs out of or gives up on things when I think that I can't do them. It's so silly. I act all confident about almost everything I do, but that's because I usually only do what I'm confident in! But that's not why we were created and that's not what we were given. So because of that, I'm going to learn about my camera and figure out this whole photography thing. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Any of you amazing photographers out there, feel free to pass on some tips!!</span><br />
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Oh, and I finally gave Ebony a bath. You're welcome.<br />
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Love you friends!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02900990551382691170noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218348087351548444.post-70239707499919009642010-01-26T13:17:00.000-06:002010-01-26T13:17:22.421-06:00Time to get extreme?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjXK_i5hEWi-mmrgCwgRd61flK7TFERWxdVLmSBPmUTPUIh57pAADE2wSPCS6e_7BpC3FWDQPK0yDgWVonmG_NxWJVOeO28eKtFuM_XkyRtIyL9Hn1OV6lWiVeinD9rIJQt4P4pNd-9Dd/s1600-h/IMG_6841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjXK_i5hEWi-mmrgCwgRd61flK7TFERWxdVLmSBPmUTPUIh57pAADE2wSPCS6e_7BpC3FWDQPK0yDgWVonmG_NxWJVOeO28eKtFuM_XkyRtIyL9Hn1OV6lWiVeinD9rIJQt4P4pNd-9Dd/s320/IMG_6841.JPG" /></a><br />
</div>So we've started our workout program which is called <a href="http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/chalean_extreme.do?gclid=CMXL2u3mwJ8CFQKbnAodpCl70w&code=GOOGLE_SEMB_CE&ef_id=1908:3:s_932bb9f5dffd76d6b6857bc5469a93a5_4207432153:S144Pko-JyIAAAxgm28AAABA:20100126003302">Chalean Extreme</a> . Ever heard of it? <span style="font-style: italic;">I really thought she may have changed her name to ChaLEAN just for this program, but her real name is Chalene. Only changed the spelling :)</span> It's a 90 day program broken up into 3, 30 day segments. I just completed day 5 of the first 30 days. It's hard. Of course, everything is hard to me considering I literally can't remember the last time I worked out before I got pregnant.<br />
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I'm working out. I'm doing everything she tells me to do (with the exception of this crazy push up thing... haven't been able to do that ...yet). I took those completely humiliating "before" pictures and hope to see some sort of improvement every 30 days. I'm really really sore but I refuse to stop. I really want to finish this thing! I'll keep you posted. :)<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">completely random: I'm watching America's Funniest Home Videos and just saw one of the best proposals ever! It was a bunch of friends out on a boat and the guys went diving. The girls were all on the boat and when the guys came up they said they found a little treasure chest at the bottom of the lake! They brought it up and the girls were freaking out. One guy opened it up next to his girlfriend and she started freaking out because she saw a diamond ring in there not even realizing what was happening! She picked it up and he started to go down on one knee and everyone started screaming! ...now that's a GREAT story!</span><br />
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</div>The final season of LOST comes on soon. ughh... I hate that LOST is ending.<br />
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Oh! We found out that the little boy we sponsor in Haiti is ok! There are many sad stories out there, but we were overjoyed to hear that he and his family are safe. If you are interested in sponsoring a child from Haiti, please check out <a href="http://newmissions.org/">New Missions</a> . Such an incredible gift!<br />
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Eli turned 2 on December 18. I just wanted to post his 1 year picture and his 2 year picture. SO sweet :)Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02900990551382691170noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218348087351548444.post-53357474541195977112010-01-25T16:22:00.000-06:002010-01-25T16:22:47.333-06:00One more weekWell, my internet is back! hooray! I love it when Verizon tells me to use their website for troubleshooting and I can't get to the website <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">because my internet was down!</span> (sigh) But, we're back in business!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITXTGZRoOwSUnHZm0tcf1KM7f5FvKr1-RsoeCD6wWxbgE4VSokpT7GIUMG3M-MPaoKRv6Ch-cZ5gJniQY8D8HtD0VI3E6CU_R2SDNk2SB2D5h7OOeLuFKkGiNBzDCumh8TycCAVlgHTZQ/s1600-h/IMG_1391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITXTGZRoOwSUnHZm0tcf1KM7f5FvKr1-RsoeCD6wWxbgE4VSokpT7GIUMG3M-MPaoKRv6Ch-cZ5gJniQY8D8HtD0VI3E6CU_R2SDNk2SB2D5h7OOeLuFKkGiNBzDCumh8TycCAVlgHTZQ/s320/IMG_1391.JPG" /></a>So on Wednesday, Judah is going to be 8 weeks old. I'm not counting him 2 months old until his official February 2 two month old birthday. I absolutely think things are flying by with Judah so much faster than they did with Eli. I look at him and just can't even believe that he has grown so much! He still only smiles at the fan every once in awhile BUT today I got a big ole smile right at ME! It just melts my heart!<br />
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Judah is so good at tummy time. He will stay down there a long time as long as that paci is close by. :) Lately he's been napping on his tummy under my watchful eye. I probably am annoying him beyond belief because I check on him like every 5 minutes!<br />
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</div>Eli is of course growing like crazy and we are loving it! He is talking <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">a lot... A LOT!!</span> And I'm pretty amazed every day that he picks up on stuff as fast as he does! We're leading him out of his baby talk words like "yo yo" for "yogurt" and "atch" for "applesauce" and getting him to say the actual words. We kind of hesitate before we ask him to say the full word because it's just one more reminder that he is growing up. He is so precious. :)<br />
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So I have one more week here at home before I go back to work. I'm not really letting my mind go there completely yet, but I will say only working 1/2 a day is already making it much better for my mental preparation. I won't be gone too long and I'm looking forward to seeing my students and my coworkers! ...but my heart still breaks thinking of being gone from the boys again. Wait! I'm not going there yet! ...moving on...<br />
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I have more to discuss but my oldest child has been talking in his crib after his nap and it's getting into that high pitched squeal voice which means he is beyond ready to get up! ha! I'll be back tomorrow!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02900990551382691170noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218348087351548444.post-12184921517137428272010-01-15T16:15:00.001-06:002010-01-15T20:56:57.821-06:00Eli's first and last haircut<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QQAd9EReUPiCLPzOZW9vw6Sjj5k8nyavuPI8kP6UH3ce4n7Yt6lnqT2rNyoHFD0-0PEiI4PZELKh80QvhYJR4IkIa8eLEY6g6GP24dQtCy5UZ0CtLgJU_KJVdxJQ69cawI4P1MEpQZ9s/s1600-h/IMG_1863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QQAd9EReUPiCLPzOZW9vw6Sjj5k8nyavuPI8kP6UH3ce4n7Yt6lnqT2rNyoHFD0-0PEiI4PZELKh80QvhYJR4IkIa8eLEY6g6GP24dQtCy5UZ0CtLgJU_KJVdxJQ69cawI4P1MEpQZ9s/s320/IMG_1863.JPG" /></a>...kidding... sort of :)<br />
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We finally went and had Eli's hair cut by our dear friend <a href="http://www.lindeystyle.com/Site_2/About_Me.html">Lindey</a> . She did a fantastic job and I am SO glad that we went to her because she's a mom of a two year old too so she understands the extreme emotional turmoil that I was going through! haha...<br />
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I think she did a great job but I miss his long hair so much! ...ugh... but without further ado...<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZSLuF9DaJeDeS_WcNLKkaiqnua3qUsgFbdLi1laegSwAWfBky64F7RiP3hc3mSjBPUgF2cSsM5JCTJNaBtHxKt85bQ8nOk2KgvvlXZHvIihznIPBXHxeTd8Uoq-PzvkevUcb5YLm5PTv/s1600-h/IMG_1904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZSLuF9DaJeDeS_WcNLKkaiqnua3qUsgFbdLi1laegSwAWfBky64F7RiP3hc3mSjBPUgF2cSsM5JCTJNaBtHxKt85bQ8nOk2KgvvlXZHvIihznIPBXHxeTd8Uoq-PzvkevUcb5YLm5PTv/s320/IMG_1904.JPG" /></a><br />
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He sobbed the entire time, I held strong. I lost it when I got in the car and looked at him. Obviously in the grand scheme of things this isn't that big of a deal, but ugh! He's my baby!<br />
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Thank you Lindey! You were so sweet to endure this with us!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02900990551382691170noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218348087351548444.post-53303480934730494352010-01-12T18:03:00.001-06:002010-01-12T18:05:16.043-06:00Week 2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCwn4znqXuFM_pq9BAvDC1r4_7wjurDC8Iq1xXEbBxQ22BKC8rkNTg7ezmynCAfTvVEeJi0JILZmuggN-HBGt0szsQmOdAjUIejvK54BT3IWsgkWarhBsWxWOU5TRkBrY-ol1KZ6vPLVw/s1600-h/IMG_1833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCwn4znqXuFM_pq9BAvDC1r4_7wjurDC8Iq1xXEbBxQ22BKC8rkNTg7ezmynCAfTvVEeJi0JILZmuggN-HBGt0szsQmOdAjUIejvK54BT3IWsgkWarhBsWxWOU5TRkBrY-ol1KZ6vPLVw/s400/IMG_1833.JPG" /></a>So today is the beginning of Look Like Heaven on Seven One Seven: Week 2. I lost 2.5 pounds last week (whoo hoo!!) and I am very happy with that. Still a good long way to go, but I am willing to be patient ...as long as it's off by Meredith's wedding! :)<br />
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I had my doctor's appointment today to see how I am healing. Everything looks good! I'm released to start exercising and my incision looks great. C-sections... blah. But, at least I'm not sore anymore!<br />
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Eli is changing so much. He used to say "atch" for applesauce but now he just plainly says "applesauce." His "r" sounds are coming along and he's even saying "Gramps!" I can't remember if I wrote this before but my dad wanted to be called Gramps. Forever Eli called him "Josh" and then it was "Peach!" (which we have NO idea where that came from) and then it was "Virdie" (since that's his name and what my mom calls him) and then "Dad" (which is what I call him). Actually he still calls him all of those, except Josh.<br />
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</div>After the Christmas Eve service Eli came to all of us in the house and shook our hands and said, "How ah you?" haha... so random! gosh I love that kid!<br />
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He's also started to want hugs all the time and will say "I uh you mama" <span style="font-style: italic;">I love you too baby!</span><br />
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But a lot of my favorite things about him are still alive and active. He still sings as loud as he can. He dances to every single bit of music he hears no matter how short it is. And he can spot a star, a cow, or a horse from a mile away. Precious precious!<br />
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</div>Judah hasn't smiled since the double smile the other day. That's ok though. He can be serious for a little while longer :)<br />
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The Biggest Loser comes on tonight! Are you watching???Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02900990551382691170noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218348087351548444.post-77190602481336263992010-01-10T16:16:00.000-06:002010-01-10T16:16:55.984-06:00:) times 2!aaahhh!! What a great day! Does it matter that I was spit up on 4 times? NO! Does it matter that I still smell like spit up after repeated attempts to find where it's coming from? NO! Why? Because...<br />
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Judah smiled today! REAL smiles! Two of them! Melt my heart! He is fantastic... I love seeing all of his little firsts!<br />
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</div>On top of that I just saw that 3 of my sweet friends, <a href="http://embracejourney.blogspot.com/">Caanon</a> , <a href="http://jamie-reed.blogspot.com/">Jamie</a> , and <a href="http://erynmichele.blogspot.com/">Eryn</a> , are all pregnant with their second babies! I am overjoyed for them and their growing new additions, but it's also really a selfish happiness for me as well. Honestly, sometimes Wes and I feel kind of out of place. We don't have that many friends who are married with kids, much less two of them now. Obviously everyone's life plays out in it's own way, but it really does make me feel a little bit more normal to know that other people out there are doing the same thing. Does that make any sense? Anyways, congratulations girls! We are all so excited for you!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02900990551382691170noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218348087351548444.post-79002882722033848452010-01-09T18:10:00.000-06:002010-01-09T18:10:24.354-06:00The boysThe boys are great! Judah is already a month old! I definitely think time flies faster with the second one. Wes and I are learning our footing and it's becoming easier and easier to have two! Judah slept for like 6 hours last night and of course that helps!<br />
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Eli: just bouncing around doing his thing! He is actively leaving toddlerhood and becoming a preschooler! Every time I look at him I am shocked at how much he has grown. He'll say phrases or do things I didn't even know he knew! It's pretty incredible. And my friend Jennifer was telling me about how she finally realized that we are creating our kids' childhoods- what they will look back on and remember just like we do. That kind of floored me. She's right! I hadn't really thought about it in that way and it actually made me feel really old! Two kids? Two childhoods? what?! But actually it's pretty awesome!<br />
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Judah: he is very different than Eli was as a baby! He spits up, he's gassy, he seems so much bigger, and he's looking less and less like me every day! ha! He doesn't mind a wet or dirty diaper for a while whereas Eli (annoyingly) had to be changed that very second a speck of anything hit his diaper! He's learning to use his little voice with some gurgles and goos every once in awhile. I'm still waiting on that first real smile! He loves loves loves to be held and walked around- it's probably his very favorite thing! precious precious! I will say he's fussier than Eli so the walking around thing calms him, but I'm using it as a perfect opportunity to burn some calories! Glass half full! :)<br />
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Wes: he's a GREAT dad. He has been busy traveling, working at home, and balancing me, Eli, and Judah. I truly cannot imagine doing any of this without him! I love you babe!<br />
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Me: this time around I'm much more present. With Eli I was under that postpartum depression spell for a good while. It was just the regular baby blues with Judah, thank you God!! We've been out and about, I've already lost a little weight, and I feel like I'm doing the best I can at taking care of myself and the boys. It's not near as overwhelming as I thought it might be. But those first 4 weeks were definitely hard. C-sections are super annoying. I could not have done it without constant help from Wes, my sister, and especially my mom. Truly lifesavers!!<br />
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My friend Meredith is getting married on July 17, which just happens to also be my anniversary! So, of course she's wanting to drop a few pounds as many brides are, and hello... of course so am I! So, last Tuesday we started the Look Like Heaven on Seven One Seven (7-17) weight loss/lifestyle change plan. Basically we name everything we do together so that's our latest endeavor. We weigh in every Tuesday (because that's the night Biggest Loser is on) and we aren't eating any fried foods (which I accidentally ate chips tonight because I forgot they were fried, and once I realized it, I ate like 10 more! yikes!) or any sweets since that is my biggest downfall. It's worked for us in the past so hopefully it works again!<br />
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</div>On top of changing our terrible eating, we'll also be working out. I'll let you know once that starts for me. And I'm taking those humiliating "before" pictures so once I start getting some results I'll post those. We haven't started that part yet. baby steps people :)<br />
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Anyway! I've missed this blog. I think about it every single day. Now that I don't feel like my world is swirling around me hopefully I'll be better about posting. Love you guys!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02900990551382691170noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218348087351548444.post-10442492997536113262009-12-04T05:12:00.000-06:002009-12-04T05:12:59.731-06:00Judah Miles MartinBorn on December 2, 2009 at 7:58 am. He weighed 7 lbs 12 oz and was 20 inches long! He is PERFECT!<br />
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</div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02900990551382691170noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218348087351548444.post-61169341968996567422009-11-20T06:30:00.000-06:002009-11-20T06:30:10.694-06:00Forget the rest of the storyWell, the week ended kind of crazy with Eli waking up and being completely covered in poop and my parents giving us one of the best Christmas presents ever (which I will take pictures of as soon as our house is done!) but let's not get into that now.<br />
<br />
Today is Friday! Today is my LAST day of work until February. Today we get to wear jeans to work! Today is my girl's night/baby shower that my friend's are throwing for me! Today my friend Rachel who I never get to see comes in town! Today I'm 38 weeks pregnant! Today I get to wrap some Christmas presents (which I LOVE to do)! And today, well today rocks no matter how you look at it!<br />
<br />
Happy Friday!!!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02900990551382691170noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218348087351548444.post-45881492730957429542009-11-16T05:29:00.000-06:002009-11-16T05:29:37.938-06:00Where to begin...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday, Nov. 5</span><br />
<br />
My sister came in town that weekend because she didn't have class on Friday! (ugh! Don't you remember how awesome that was when you had those days in college??) And so Wes and I took that opportunity to have Amy and my mom babysit while we went to see <a href="http://www.michaeljackson.com/us/home">Michael Jackson's This Is It</a> movie. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">INCREDIBLE!</span> Have you seen it?? I know there is controversy that swirled all about that man, but the movie has nothing to do with that. It is just him, being truly in his element, and I don't know how you could walk out of that theatre not being completely impressed by him. LOVED it!<br />
<br />
We picked up Eli, came home, put him to bed, and by this point it's like 9:00. I decided to check my work email and I had a new email from our campus secretary! She sent an email to the entire school that read something like, "The Allen Events Center has given our school some Reba McEntire tickets to thank us for the use of their facility and for us to preview the facility before graduation. First come first serve." I was like WHAT?! Reba McEntire??? Now friends I don't know how you feel about Reba, but I love love love her and have from the time I first heard her <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">years</span> ago. I asked for 4 tickets and got them! YES!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Friday, Nov. 6</span><br />
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</div>So Friday night Wes, Jeff, Amy, and I all met in Allen to go eat and go to her fantastic concert. We walk in and our seats were awesome! We were on the floor, in the center, and could clearly see her and all of her greatness! ha! (Thank you Mom for watching Eli again that night!)<br />
<br />
The majority of the crowd was probably in the upper half of their life which made it such a chill and relaxed concert. Reba sang some of her new stuff and plenty of her old songs that made her. I don't think it lasted that long, but everyone there was so excited and the four of us were <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">dying</span> that we were actually there!<br />
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She looks exactly like she does on TV in real life. Completely cute and tiny and perfect looking skin, and her voice is flawless.<br />
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And at the end of the night, she walks off stage, hasn't played Fancy yet and so we all knew it would be her encore. Everyone is screaming and getting excited and then Reba rises up from the back of the stage in that red dress and everyone went crazy! hahaha... y'all. It was SO fun.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday, Nov. 7 and Sunday, Nov. 8</span><br />
<br />
Not too much happened over the weekend. Wes was busy playing guitar and I was feeling so sick with a cold or something so I laid low.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Monday, Nov. 9</span><br />
<br />
Monday was a really busy day. As soon as I got home from work and got to eat lunch with Wes and Eli, I had to drive to Dallas for my doctor's appointment, you know the one where I got "checked." Nothing crazy to report. Everything was looking good. Judah's heartbeat was good, his movement seemed great, and my doctor thinks he was head down but kind of off to the side. Surprise surprise... I'm feeling more and more relaxed that I just went ahead and booked that c-section.<br />
<br />
Then Wes had to leave as soon as I got back for the afternoon. So I took a really long nap while Eli was sleeping and then when we both got up it was time for supper! Jourdan was coming over for dinner! I wasn't feeling that great, but she is so sweet and made the drive all the way out here instead of meeting somewhere, so it turned out to be so fun, as always... We love us some Jourdan!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday, Nov. 10</span><br />
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</div>What is there to say about this day really. Wes was working so I dropped Eli off at his babysitter's house (which he LOVES by the way) and off to work I went. I picked him up as usual, brought him home as usual, and fed him some lunch... as usual.<br />
<br />
We played for awhile and then it was time to go "night night" which means climb up on our bed, get in your sleep clothes, and read books before nap time. He was acting tired, everything was normal, and after "night night" I put him in his bed and I went to lay down in mine.<br />
<br />
My child <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">never went to sleep!</span> Two hours later (almost) he is still just playing around in his bed, talking, laughing, just whatever. I finally just go get him out and he thinks that is the best thing ever and is laughing just running all around the house. Please remember that I am feeling horrible still and really really wanted to take that nap that obviously was never going to happen.<br />
<br />
All I remember is that I was laying on the couch watching him literally spin in circles laughing when he tells me that he is going to go get some chips. Great, go get 'em kid. He comes back in with a full bag of chips that we had opened the day before but never ate. He's just bouncing a long carrying the bag and I notice that he's carrying it upside down. No chips are falling. I did an excellent job of rolling up the chip bag, but I'm starting to panic so I get up as fast as I could (ha...) and right when I reach for the bag it opens and the entire bag of little tortilla chips spill ALL over my living room floor.<br />
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</div>Some of you might be thinking (if you've made it this far... haha...) "aw man! That stinks! Well pick them up lady!" I on the other hand lost it. I'm sure it was the tiredness, the sickness, the end of pregnancy hormones, the fact that I am huge and can barely bend over to reach anything, the Wes isn't home, the Eli didn't take a nap part of me that kicked in but I started SOBBING. And I'm not talking just that constant flow of pretty tears, I'm talking hysterically crying.<br />
<br />
I scared Eli half to death probably because he got teary eyed and started saying "sawyee sawyee" and that made me cry even more because I wasn't mad at him obviously, and so I just hugged him and had him help me pick up some of the chips and sent him playing. I, on the other hand, just sat in the floor and cried.... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">over spilled chips!</span> I was a HUGE mess.<br />
<br />
Meredith called, could tell immediately something was wrong, I started telling her and just cried the entire time. Then Wes called, same story, asked if he should come home, told him no. Then my mom called, and was on her way home and so she just decided to come over.<br />
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Retelling this story makes me sound crazy. And I guess I was that day. But I just could not control myself! haha... Jeff said it would make for an awesome youtube video if that scene had been recorded. I would have been famous! haha...<br />
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But, the chips are cleaned up (thanks to Ebony) and I got my haircut that night with Meredith, so I was much better by the end of the night. sheesh...<br />
<br />
...more to come about the rest of the week later...Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02900990551382691170noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218348087351548444.post-79179061441056570982009-11-09T06:42:00.002-06:002009-11-09T06:42:25.290-06:00Sick.Still here. Not in labor. Just had a busy few days and now I feel sick! :( booo.... Going to the doctor today.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02900990551382691170noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218348087351548444.post-67431826003170862012009-11-04T20:27:00.001-06:002009-11-04T20:29:09.390-06:00The update and Chicken Satay Wraps<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyeOrdE0w1ZWA3CbMJxiJ0M0Zd-jKad6jFBv0trQY2byoKI24sqbPNUELRUeiE-UUSWDeCCVxvGtk5RwOq707jCMXRHUJv9OJAoN0iZcjD903WMuTLTHRXPLlwjbMIHbUrPKZbIFXB6Qln/s1600-h/11460_190559576807_510151807_4078413_7479497_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyeOrdE0w1ZWA3CbMJxiJ0M0Zd-jKad6jFBv0trQY2byoKI24sqbPNUELRUeiE-UUSWDeCCVxvGtk5RwOq707jCMXRHUJv9OJAoN0iZcjD903WMuTLTHRXPLlwjbMIHbUrPKZbIFXB6Qln/s320/11460_190559576807_510151807_4078413_7479497_n.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
Ok! Well I didn't get "checked" at yesterday's appointment, but that was fine with me! I did end up scheduling my remaining appointments though, which there are only 4 left!! So, I go back on Monday and he said that's when he'll start taking a look at things and seeing how Judah is progressing. SO exciting!<br />
<br />
The baby shower yesterday was so much fun! All of the hostesses were so sweet to put it together for me and I was really overwhelmed with how amazing my friends are! The shower was a diaper/book shower, which is so adorable, and we came home with diapers of all different sizes and some of the cutest little books I have ever seen!<br />
<br />
I had a lot of fun, ate one of the best cupcakes I have ever had, and loved every minute of it. Thank you so much sweet friends!!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZc2X08lwGbd0_LWwPc15BAtMxkc6IifpFNskX0OfbPeoUMHIl37hMce6MRVMMtadseTGKryHFALoJznDkV4iG1tODT1Tt6bwlLH_z1v81ocB6slyVggnnLstKC_o-MTMo7X8-pWLgY6k/s1600-h/11460_190561116807_510151807_4078422_5566468_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZc2X08lwGbd0_LWwPc15BAtMxkc6IifpFNskX0OfbPeoUMHIl37hMce6MRVMMtadseTGKryHFALoJznDkV4iG1tODT1Tt6bwlLH_z1v81ocB6slyVggnnLstKC_o-MTMo7X8-pWLgY6k/s320/11460_190561116807_510151807_4078422_5566468_n.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Judah's room still isn't completed decoration wise. In fact, I haven't done a single thing more to it! I know it doesn't really matter and he wouldn't know the difference anyway, but just getting it done before he arrives would be nice so that would be one less thing to worry about when he gets here. Sheesh.<br />
<br />
Wes has been a trooper. He has taken on so much stuff around the house and with Eli, which is kind of hard to do considering he did so much already! He still isn't feeling 100% yet. Last week he went to the doctor and was tested for the flu. He'd already had the seasonal flu shot, and tested negative for that, but the doctor didn't rule out swine flu. So... we really don't know if he had it or not. Eli and I seem to be fine (other than a little cold Eli has had for a few days) but I feel so bad for Wes! He's done his round of Tamiflu and hopefully now it's just some sinus thing or something. Say a little prayer for him. :)<br />
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Now on to the recipe for today! Ok, so when I first read this one, I was thinking... ew. But! As long as it's chicken, Wes and I will try pretty much anything! So if you are thinking "ew" at first, you might just go ahead and give this one a shot. My friend from high school used this recipe and he said that his boyfriend <span style="font-style: italic;">loved</span> it and they make it all the time! It takes no time at all (like 15 minutes total!) and is delish! I hope you enjoy!<br />
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Chicken Satay Wraps<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">prep/total time: 15 minutes<br />
<br />
ok, this one is super easy and fast!<br />
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This is like an Indonesian appetizer that is yummy!! You can serve the chicken on skewers and dip it in the sauce or you can make it in a wrap. We ate it as a wrap and for a meal.<br />
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2 tbs. olive oil<br />
2 tbs. creamy peanut butter<br />
2 green onions chopped<br />
1 tsp. soy sauce (I actually put about 2-3 in mine)<br />
1/4 tsp. pepper<br />
2 cups sliced cooked chicken (I just put a little oil in a pan, sliced up some mostly thawed chicken breasts and cooked them in the pan with a bit of salt and pepper)<br />
1 cup coleslaw mix (I don't really like coleslaw mix that much so I did like 1/4 cup coleslaw and the rest chopped up lettuce)<br />
some flour tortillas (we did like some whole grain ones, but any flavor would be good I bet!)<br />
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So, in a bowl you just whisk the oil, peanut butter, onions, soy sauce, and pepper until combined. I did this before I cooked up my chicken so the flavors could sit together longer.<br />
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Then you just add the chicken and toss it around to coat.<br />
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Put some lettuce/coleslaw mix on a warm tortilla, top with chicken, roll up, and they are ready to eat!<br />
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I served this with some rice and made a salad from leftover lettuce. YUM!</span> </span></span>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02900990551382691170noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218348087351548444.post-25314919906367847352009-11-03T06:31:00.001-06:002009-11-03T06:32:38.938-06:00Let's revisit my last 36 week appointmentSo, here is what I had to say with Eli's 36 weeks appointment in 2007. Today I am going to Judah's. Please note that my child was HEAD DOWN... and I ended up with a breech baby. Y'all. My dreams are for real! More to come later today with updates and baby shower pics! I like to put things from the past in italics... like a flash back or a dream. Let's just thank Wayne's World for that.<br />
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<span style="color: #0d0600; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">So, I went to the doctor on Monday. My 36 week appointment was MUCH different than my regular check ups that I have been going to. Oh we started with the regular, weight, blood pressure, urine sample. But then there was a sheet on the exam table, and you know what that means...this time the exam would be much more in depth.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Eli's progress:</span><br />
<ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Well first of all his heartbeat is loud and strong. I still LOVE hearing that! That has been my favorite part of this whole experience when I'm at the doctor's office!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">He is head DOWN! whoo hoo!! I, for some reason, had it in my head that he was breech. And even last night I had a dream that he was transverse (laying across me) and that I could feel his ear...haha...who knows. So, I'm very happy about that!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I didn't get any possible weight or length measurements, but I'm measuring right on track so I'm assuming Eli is as well.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I haven't started dilating yet, and he said that was normal to not be dilating at 36 weeks.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">And that I am also 50% effaced and Eli has already dropped and is in position! :)</span></li>
</ul>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02900990551382691170noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218348087351548444.post-42490830261837845212009-11-02T06:50:00.001-06:002009-11-02T06:51:55.711-06:00Have gnome, will travel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0paNMzVpyR38gVGJ0uL-CKcHnD4-n5tr9fg0LpuY7hKEY3-Vnx_slqEmAa75AbRUyLU3ja63Npc5aN4uevxDYq8OSgdKPvQqfMNWAWrWpi8Sv2L20-iDWYZ8iZRjN_DHwxBN8dHIAZ84/s1600-h/15869_166196332404_752877404_2796450_553154_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0paNMzVpyR38gVGJ0uL-CKcHnD4-n5tr9fg0LpuY7hKEY3-Vnx_slqEmAa75AbRUyLU3ja63Npc5aN4uevxDYq8OSgdKPvQqfMNWAWrWpi8Sv2L20-iDWYZ8iZRjN_DHwxBN8dHIAZ84/s320/15869_166196332404_752877404_2796450_553154_n.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Hey guys! Well we have been gone for the past several days traveling with Wes and the <a href="http://jeffjohnsonband.org/">Jeff Johnson Band</a> to Shawnee, OK! We wanted to get in one more family "vacation" before Judah is born.<br />
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It was a really fun and sometimes difficult trip. Wes might have possibly (or might possibly) have the swine flu. I am almost 36 weeks pregnant, which equals to uncomfortable, complaining, tired, in a significant amount of pain, over emotional me. And then we have our 22 1/2 month old who has a little cold but pretty great for the most part!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmMRxqwbdNEbM8KyaTwhXhUHB5T5GuNkqyOnysd9jDpva6g0fN7RENMrEk_MPDu7l1btQRe5BQnJD2BTELuQF-bfng1PqwTUfPXF0SjlqG_-YOTx0x-DG6XBScGJPph06RHhATpyXa4pu/s1600-h/IMG_6072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmMRxqwbdNEbM8KyaTwhXhUHB5T5GuNkqyOnysd9jDpva6g0fN7RENMrEk_MPDu7l1btQRe5BQnJD2BTELuQF-bfng1PqwTUfPXF0SjlqG_-YOTx0x-DG6XBScGJPph06RHhATpyXa4pu/s320/IMG_6072.JPG" /></a>So, when you mix up a tired flu feeling dad with an all of those things me, we didn't have some of our best moments. But! I will say that Wes and I have pretty much mastered the art of seeing that the root of the thing is never the thing, and chalked most of our moments up to being tired and not feeling good. And, truly, they were only moments so most of the time we were having SO much fun! Eli and I LOVE traveling with them and getting to hang out with the band, our family.<br />
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What made it even more fun is that all the band wives were there (Sarah! Jouleen!) and Mandy was there who basically runs <span style="font-style: italic;">everything</span> behind the scenes and makes everyone's life so much easier. AND <a href="http://www.drewworsham.com/drewworsham.com/Intro.html">Drew Worsham</a> , one of our very close friends was there doing his illusions for the kids. He is precious!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMn5VuBA78V3CX5f_eVc3nr1GLUBdEv_YPJcLgquQ9RXflt8njf9bvT-5Lgze0HId3RpkobgA_Izk9xx7yidexhOlDBjoM3VcK-QSUphLZ314AjjzPLEWuEZ27Ejddq6o5hyvOvhlxuts/s1600-h/IMG_0430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMn5VuBA78V3CX5f_eVc3nr1GLUBdEv_YPJcLgquQ9RXflt8njf9bvT-5Lgze0HId3RpkobgA_Izk9xx7yidexhOlDBjoM3VcK-QSUphLZ314AjjzPLEWuEZ27Ejddq6o5hyvOvhlxuts/s320/IMG_0430.JPG" /></a>And then there is <a href="http://www.afshinziafat.com/">Afhsin</a> and Meredith Ziafat. What's crazy is that when I was like a sophomore or junior in high school, our youth minister Michael brought in this guy named Afshin Ziafat to speak to the youth. I'd never heard a name like before (if you've been to Levelland you can see why... just small town, West Texas, just... different). Anyways, I remember him speaking about how he became a Christian. He was raised a Muslim (first time I had <span style="font-style: italic;">ever</span> heard of that... obviously pre 9-11) and become a Christian and then of course was ousted from his family.<br />
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What's so crazy is that I remember that story completely changing so many things about how I thought about thing. It really truly gave me a more global perspective of Christ. Anyways, here I am, 10, 11 years older and Afshin (and his fantastic wife Meredith) are now friends of the band and me! It's so crazy! His story is beautiful and hard and honest and if you ever get a chance to go see him, or Jeff Johnson, or Drew Worsham then do it! You won't be disappointed!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjq_XD3GgHl4_m6PP-RZ8h_pdaHFAukXcR5ZryL4s2eJE0AezzyCdCB129LV5lEzZwthzr7bFkQrLfuObElucRsoNwfXP-27V0ZspuXL_M04AHuSANfVqxrZNCJDx2yl-zsk9eD1aaK0_g/s1600-h/IMG_0463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjq_XD3GgHl4_m6PP-RZ8h_pdaHFAukXcR5ZryL4s2eJE0AezzyCdCB129LV5lEzZwthzr7bFkQrLfuObElucRsoNwfXP-27V0ZspuXL_M04AHuSANfVqxrZNCJDx2yl-zsk9eD1aaK0_g/s320/IMG_0463.JPG" /></a>Now sweet Jeff is super giving and last year bought Eli his Halloween costume, that adorable little black spider. Do you remember that?<br />
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Well a month or two ago, Jeff showed me this picture of this garden gnome Halloween costume and we thought it was one of THE cutest things we had ever seen! So we go to Oklahoma, and Mandy and Jeff pull out this little garden gnome costume and I about died! So, that evening for the fall festival at the church on Halloween, we had a perfect little gnome (aka a 22 month old smooshed into a 2T costume that almost didn't fit, which actually made it cuter!) who was dancing and playing the drums and running around all night. Thank you Jeff!!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGV5EGUJ8ZZcQJCqneBXn_JGyaSxPokUzKQIlj4cbMoF5fB1l73TBI5xptYdM7TXRzgk4jEaJTwKmMV8pNxn4gVwktGQhjWJa7upqXofnSpTHjDo2n0p3aGBI9B3gOIr4wncC2hM25i9s/s1600-h/IMG_0462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGV5EGUJ8ZZcQJCqneBXn_JGyaSxPokUzKQIlj4cbMoF5fB1l73TBI5xptYdM7TXRzgk4jEaJTwKmMV8pNxn4gVwktGQhjWJa7upqXofnSpTHjDo2n0p3aGBI9B3gOIr4wncC2hM25i9s/s320/IMG_0462.JPG" /></a><br />
</div>We had a really fun time and I love that band and friends so much. They truly are part of our family.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02900990551382691170noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218348087351548444.post-22914502933794540152009-10-28T06:31:00.000-05:002009-10-28T06:31:51.688-05:00Southwestern Skillet Burgers and Ghost Brownies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2airW4Uj3KMGqpMMNFZkzLJnmTfTbIoFJxIJytT4c3GI1NfJgRrgEt9mwAt13OLWdrWV3WoOquAALcmclpF-64TX205lLzKNZzvvUTG5mJBitMKKazeUriMq-NhgcEgjp65SCLz5k9ycZ/s1600-h/skillet+burgers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2airW4Uj3KMGqpMMNFZkzLJnmTfTbIoFJxIJytT4c3GI1NfJgRrgEt9mwAt13OLWdrWV3WoOquAALcmclpF-64TX205lLzKNZzvvUTG5mJBitMKKazeUriMq-NhgcEgjp65SCLz5k9ycZ/s320/skillet+burgers.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Can we all stop a minute and <a href="http://www.mycharmingkids.net/">pray for Stellan</a>?<br />
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Now I didn't take that picture, but that really is what they end up looking like! This is a <a href="http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Southwestern-Skillet-Burgers#at">Taste of Home</a> recipe that Wes and I <span style="font-style: italic;">love!</span><br />
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Southwestern Skillet Burgers<br />
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">ok. This recipe makes well over 6 servings, so I cut it in half and it feeds 3 people plenty! </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande'; line-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
2 lbs ground beef<br />
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs<br />
1 packet of taco seasoning<br />
1 can diced tomatoes with onions and garlic<br />
some shredded cheddar cheese<br />
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You just combine all the beef and bread crumbs and taco seasoning in a bowl and shape them into thick burger patties.<br />
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Throw them in a medium heated skillet and cook them for a few minutes on each side until they are browned, then drain any sick juices.<br />
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Add the tomatoes into the skillet with the patties that you put back in there and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover it up, and let it simmer until all the pink is gone from the patties... around 10 min or less.<br />
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Sprinkle them with plenty of cheese, cover them up again and watch until the cheese is melted.<br />
</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
Then serve them up! They are GOOD!!! ** now the real recipe calls for a can of bean and bacon soup also. I hate that stuff so I didn't put it in there and it was st</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">ill delicious! suit yourself :) **</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span><br />
Ok, the Ghost Brownies come from Brittnye. Brittnye is like this cake genius that makes all of these adorable cake designs and has all of these cute ideas. Well, she normally doesn't share her secrets because I'm pretty sure she sells most of her stuff (who could blame her!) but she did spill the beans on this one!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomCT1rNic1Gz7syHBjRC9x8rgZh1fPl1zYtJ6T3hi822JPjnI2W11oBC528r9awOZlJWHoEgCvpwpiz0ILMDfFT9L9HH4wzX06Hkn8yl00n6j5bVVmyxZHTTgXUPfie4hyphenhyphenZwN_p_WN3OH/s1600-h/ghost+brownies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomCT1rNic1Gz7syHBjRC9x8rgZh1fPl1zYtJ6T3hi822JPjnI2W11oBC528r9awOZlJWHoEgCvpwpiz0ILMDfFT9L9HH4wzX06Hkn8yl00n6j5bVVmyxZHTTgXUPfie4hyphenhyphenZwN_p_WN3OH/s320/ghost+brownies.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Now this picture is of the actual ghost brownies that Brittnye made. Aren't they adorable?! They reminded me of something you would make <a href="http://babyboyengland.blogspot.com/">Yomaida</a>!<br />
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Ghost Brownies<br />
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1 box of your favorite brownie mix<br />
1 jar of white icing<br />
1 package of giant marshmallows<br />
1 tube of black decorating icing<br />
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It's really easy. You just make your brownies like the box tells you to.<br />
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After they have cooled, just cut them up in little squares and put them on whatever you want to serve them on and place a giant marshmallow on each brownie.<br />
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Melt some of your icing in the microwave. I would melt in something with a spout so that when it pours, it's an actual pour and not like a spill over so you can control it.<br />
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Now watch your icing. You don't want to pour it when it's completely runny melted because it will make a big mess all over your brownie. You want to pour it when it's a little thick so it will pour over the marshmallow and stick and not run off.<br />
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The icing will thicken and cool quickly, so you might even want to have a few practice sessions with the "ghosts" before doing it on the brownie.<br />
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After you've made your ghosts it's time to add their little faces! Just put on their tiny eyes and mouths and your ghosts are complete! So fun!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02900990551382691170noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218348087351548444.post-53843780755089047742009-10-27T06:58:00.000-05:002009-10-27T06:58:24.159-05:00In print<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4dq9OJ3qftqz-DdM7HPch8r_TMlIXDj5aLvCKO2Q7bnzCV5p7FwyD12jzO8V3f2zYNVU1GuUm8NePTkMMwAqTtTLHiKYB9xgPu97zyGcDMkG1jHByEuP_ajjmLtIMxWv_ZRp6ZD0pX4No/s1600-h/IMG_0166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4dq9OJ3qftqz-DdM7HPch8r_TMlIXDj5aLvCKO2Q7bnzCV5p7FwyD12jzO8V3f2zYNVU1GuUm8NePTkMMwAqTtTLHiKYB9xgPu97zyGcDMkG1jHByEuP_ajjmLtIMxWv_ZRp6ZD0pX4No/s320/IMG_0166.JPG" /></a><br />
</div>Some of my super adorably sweet friends from work (Leny, Liz, Julie, and Tiffany) are throwing me a cute little diapers and books baby shower next week. So far they've only had one person who was invited say, "oh. Is this a 2nd baby shower?" haha... YES! It is! :) Anyways, they delivered me my invitation and it is SO precious!<br />
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I love every word on the invitation, especially seeing my sweet baby's name in print! It was the firs time Wes and I had seen Judah Miles Martin written out on something and it made us all teary! Thank you so much girlies for having this little party for me! I cannot wait!<br />
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Completely off topic, but I really do not need to watch that Unwrapped show, even though it makes me so happy, because, I am SO hungry when I see it! sigh...<br />
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Yesterday it was raining and cold in the morning. I do realize that many people (oh gosh... what is the word??! not migrate... not travel... not transfer... ugghhh!! what is that dang word?! oh! got it!) <span style="font-weight: bold;">commute</span> to work with long tedious drives. However, that is not me. I'm from small town West Texas, I love being a part of a community, I actually do like seeing my students around town since that is how I grew up, and so I only work like 7 or 8 minutes from my job depending on which lights I hit.<br />
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</div><br />
Well, when it rains in Dallas it seems like people completely forget how to drive. Like one of my teacher friend's was saying yesterday morning, it's like they either drive 30 mph faster or almost stop driving all the car which causes all kinds of wrecks.<br />
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We have this light in front of our school that's a pretty big intersection for our area and when there are wrecks there, it's pretty bad. That's what happened yesterday. I don't know what happened to those poor people in the wreck, since I was so far back, but it took me 35 minutes to get to work. You know, I don't think I even have a point to this story. Y'all. This pregnancy... sorry for wasting a few moments of your life! ha! But I did include a picture! I could have sworn I had something to say about this...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdERsZAa0smhitLn9f1ENil5SPKUzg3FeeEKwoCs59rjX1x5NrJqKD5qL_ATllJUCQhGpqLToVS3FuRIeYlyg5DQRcjgCJC2s1A2QoXuo_lm4F0whS2rNRJqg4XMFhmjSs_Ugb0xSWpD-k/s1600-h/IMG_0188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdERsZAa0smhitLn9f1ENil5SPKUzg3FeeEKwoCs59rjX1x5NrJqKD5qL_ATllJUCQhGpqLToVS3FuRIeYlyg5DQRcjgCJC2s1A2QoXuo_lm4F0whS2rNRJqg4XMFhmjSs_Ugb0xSWpD-k/s320/IMG_0188.JPG" /></a><br />
</div>So the leaves are ever so slightly starting to change on the trees. Can you see it? Wes and I are out of town again this weekend and I'm so excited because we're going to Oklahoma! Everyone keeps talking about how beautifully the trees change there so it will be so fun to show Eli and see them for myself!<br />
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I kind of was in shock at work yesterday because I was trying to finalize my syllabus for next 6 weeks and I noticed that after this week, I only have 3 weeks left before Thanksgiving and maternity leave! yikes! 3 weeks?! Obviously part of me is really excited to have a break, meet my baby, and spend some good time with our new little family, but it really does kind of bother me to leave my school kiddos for so long with someone I don't really know. They are really awesome and will be fine, but I really actually like them and will miss them!<br />
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Did you watch the Jon and Kate Plus 8 question and answer session last night? I know a lot of people are sick of them and all of that, but I have watched their show since their early specials before they were a series and still watch them! Anyways, I still think it's sad, for everyone involved. But I liked watching the episode because their earlier Q&A episodes are some of my favorites. :) So much has changed... it was just a little over a year ago that they renewed their vows in Hawaii. What I take from all of this is how important it is to invest in your marriage. I have no idea obviously what went on really with them, but it's just a great reminder to me to pay attention. It's one of those things where I don't think anyone is immune to distance creeping in to your relationships, no matter what kind of relationship it is. And for us, our marriage is top priority and we have to actively work at keeping it that way, especially when Wes travels so much. I don't know. Many times when I hear about them or see them in a magazine, I just try to say a prayer for them and then remember to say a prayer for us. I really need to be more diligent in that as well.<br />
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Love you friends!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02900990551382691170noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218348087351548444.post-34506957082007731162009-10-26T07:04:00.000-05:002009-10-26T07:04:41.824-05:00"BUG!!" (says my screaming child)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUbjLLnYWZR-zBcR2XOp7-cYcKuZwurxy3URd1dHKKpgtrOAW5fYDYPCjS4IA2s2cAc_wzu_Vhoww1s76E5szazSmaj1oBMrLhkrtUDcoUDrqX5UZRn-W-FY6-MSSzi0sAn8gEJ7izhcT/s1600-h/IMG_0131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUbjLLnYWZR-zBcR2XOp7-cYcKuZwurxy3URd1dHKKpgtrOAW5fYDYPCjS4IA2s2cAc_wzu_Vhoww1s76E5szazSmaj1oBMrLhkrtUDcoUDrqX5UZRn-W-FY6-MSSzi0sAn8gEJ7izhcT/s320/IMG_0131.JPG" /></a><br />
</div>Yesterday, well, about 10 minutes of yesterday, was terrible. Eli and I just got home from getting groceries and I was letting Ebony out and he always to go with her. So, out the back door they went. I can see Eli through the kitchen windows and he was doing his usual thing of finding random outdoor toys and playing with them. As I was putting the groceries away I heard Eli crying! I looked out the window and then I heard him screaming!<br />
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I ran out there as fast as I could and he was holding his hand screaming "BUG!" It was awful! I looked at his finger and there was a stinger on the side of his pointer. I scooped him up, ran inside, sat him on the counter and took out the stinger so I wouldn't lose it. He just kept screaming and crying "mama, MAMA!" and I just kept trying not to panic.<br />
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</div>I washed his hands, gave him some Motrin and called Kelli (nurse) who is married to Justin (pharmacist) to see what I was supposed to do! By this point (probably 10 minutes after the sting) Eli is already running around the house, playing drums of course, and is no longer crying. He just would kind of whimper when he would hit his finger or try to use it. Kelli and Justin gave me the scoop and all was fine with Eli.<br />
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I tried to find what stung him but I couldn't. What does it look like to you? A bee? A wasp? I have never been stung by anything besides an ant before so I have no idea. Y'all it was terrible. Just seeing him in pain like that!! (shudders) It totally freaked me out. But, he is fine, thank you God, and apparently wasn't allergic to whatever hurt him.<br />
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</div>We aren't completely done decorating Judah's nursery yet, but my mom found the most adorably precious wall art at Kirkland's on sale and thought they would be perfect for his room! I can't wait to get it all done! She also found some blackout curtains for a good price on Amazon, so hopefully we'll be able to get those too! Eli and Judah's rooms face the sun at all times it feels like! It's great to have fun bright rooms but really annoying when the light doesn't chill out!<br />
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</div>I am continuously getting bigger and bigger. I feel full term. I walk full term. I <span style="font-style: italic;">complain</span> full term (sorry Wes). But, I am not full term. More than the frustrations and uncomfortableness of being pregnant, I just truly long to see my new son. I can't wait to see him, smell him, hold him, kiss him, and be near him (without that whole him living inside my body thing). Five and a half more weeks...<br />
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Wes and I have really been good at trying to stay connected and intentional about spending time together as a family, which was one of our reasons for eating at home more often. Well, in August I started the good ole family calendar for the fridge where I can plan meals, write down when Wes will be gone, when I have appointments, when we have dates, just whatever. It's actually been really nice because it's seeing both of our calendars on one central location, but it has also opened our eyes to how much we plan in our lives. Each month starts off kind of empty and then more and more things come our way, we say yes to most of them, and the calendar begins to fill.<br />
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I think Wes and I both love being with our friends, seeing our family, working, stuff like that. But sometimes, we just feel like we're missing out on each other or our family of 3 time. I'm going to be better at scheduling those times for us on our calendar, and not just scheduling time for everyone else.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02900990551382691170noreply@blogger.com5