So I set up the soccer goal and we played a little soccer...
Trying a move I showed her. The ball comes up to her knees:)
GOAL!!!
She missed the ball and fell down and started giggling.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
"Wordless" Wednesday
Jon had bought this jacket for Mia last year because it is Briarwood colors (even though it is too big). So yesterday she decided she wanted to put it on. Then she put her cleats on (that are also 2 sizes too big) and she came outside and said "look now I look like a soccer coach like mommy and daddy".
So I set up the soccer goal and we played a little soccer...
Trying a move I showed her. The ball comes up to her knees:)
GOAL!!!
She missed the ball and fell down and started giggling.
So I set up the soccer goal and we played a little soccer...
Trying a move I showed her. The ball comes up to her knees:)
GOAL!!!
She missed the ball and fell down and started giggling.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Potty Training
So I think we have pretty much accomplished potty training with Averi. She has been going sporadically for months now but it was on again/off again and I never pushed it much. Last week I finally decided I was just going to take charge and train her. I knew that she knows how to go on the potty successfully and that she is old enough to understand it. It really just came down to me taking the time and initiative to work hard with her on it. So I dedicated my entire 4 days off to it.
The first couple days were a little hard as she was just not really very interested and it seemed like no treats, candy or promises would get her excited about it. But I think she realized that mommy was not giving up on it and we had finally had a breakthrough on Saturday. She had 3 successes with only 1 accident. Then yesterday we had 5 successes, and then today she has been going on the potty all day. We even went to I Jump today and she peed on the potty when she first got there, stayed dry the entire time, and then peed again before we left. She also stayed dry during her nap and then peed as soon as she got up. I am so proud of her!
We have been using this Elmo sticker chart which she has gotten really into and loves getting to pick out a sticker to put on her chart. I also have a bag of treats of stuff that I picked out at the Dollar Tree and she gets to pick a treat out of the bag. What's funny is she often forgets about getting a treat and seems to be more excited about putting a sticker on the chart. So whatever works is fine with me:) I go back to work tomorrow so I really hope she does as well with Juju. We'll see how it goes...
The first couple days were a little hard as she was just not really very interested and it seemed like no treats, candy or promises would get her excited about it. But I think she realized that mommy was not giving up on it and we had finally had a breakthrough on Saturday. She had 3 successes with only 1 accident. Then yesterday we had 5 successes, and then today she has been going on the potty all day. We even went to I Jump today and she peed on the potty when she first got there, stayed dry the entire time, and then peed again before we left. She also stayed dry during her nap and then peed as soon as she got up. I am so proud of her!
We have been using this Elmo sticker chart which she has gotten really into and loves getting to pick out a sticker to put on her chart. I also have a bag of treats of stuff that I picked out at the Dollar Tree and she gets to pick a treat out of the bag. What's funny is she often forgets about getting a treat and seems to be more excited about putting a sticker on the chart. So whatever works is fine with me:) I go back to work tomorrow so I really hope she does as well with Juju. We'll see how it goes...
Friday, September 25, 2009
A Build a Bear Experience
Judy & I took the girls to Build a Bear today. They have never been before but Mia has asked to go pretty much every time we pass that store in the mall. Her class went on a field trip there last week when we were out of town at staff retreat so she didn't get to go. So Juju suggested that we take them this week. Anyways, they really had a wonderful time. Mia LOVED all of it. Averi was little scared of the machine that puffed her panda with cotton. It was very loud and she didn't exactly understand what the man was doing to her bear:) But once we got past that she had a blast...
Admiring her panda bear that she named "Brooklynn"
Here is Averi's Panda...Brooklynn Spain
And here is Mia's doggy Hannah Victoria Savanna Spain:)
Admiring her panda bear that she named "Brooklynn"
Here is Averi's Panda...Brooklynn Spain
And here is Mia's doggy Hannah Victoria Savanna Spain:)
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Staff Retreat
Jon & I just returned from a wonderful time at staff retreat. All the staff from SMI along with their spouses went down to Panama City Beach for 3 days. I really enjoyed getting to know each of the staff members better.
We had plenty of time for relaxation and fellowship. We swam in the pool/hot tub, played beach volleyball (and Jon played tennis too), went shopping, walked on the beach, slept, ate and just visited with everyone. On Thursday night we all celebrated communion on the beach which was a really neat experience. The last 2 nights there, we had a room on the 20th floor with a balcony off our room and the view was incredible. We cracked the door so that we could hear the ocean and feel the breeze at night! It was very different from vacation when we have the girls with us:) But it was nice and a much needed break for us.
We stayed at an amazing resort called the Grand Panama Resort. Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures, but here are a few from their website of what the place looked like...
We had plenty of time for relaxation and fellowship. We swam in the pool/hot tub, played beach volleyball (and Jon played tennis too), went shopping, walked on the beach, slept, ate and just visited with everyone. On Thursday night we all celebrated communion on the beach which was a really neat experience. The last 2 nights there, we had a room on the 20th floor with a balcony off our room and the view was incredible. We cracked the door so that we could hear the ocean and feel the breeze at night! It was very different from vacation when we have the girls with us:) But it was nice and a much needed break for us.
We stayed at an amazing resort called the Grand Panama Resort. Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures, but here are a few from their website of what the place looked like...
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Finally an Answer
I have been waiting for almost 2 weeks now to get all the results back from the tests my doctor ran in order to see what is causing my recurrent miscarriages. He called me today and said that something did show up on one of the final tests. I have something called MTHFR.
MTHFR (Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) is a rare genetic defect that can lead to complications in pregnancy. Because of a mother with MTHFR’s inability to efficiently metabolize folic acid and vitamin B9, the disorder has been linked to a variety of pregnancy complications such as chromosomal abnormalities.
The good news is that it is something that is treatable. It is treated with Folgard (Folic Acid, vitamins B6 and B12) and baby aspirin. He wants me to go ahead and start on the Folgard now to allow it to build up in my body. I will start baby aspirin and progesterone as soon as I find out I am pregnant.
This makes me feel a whole lot better! Just knowing that if God allows me to get pregnant again, then these 2 things will hopefully help the baby survive the pregnancy. My doctor has another patient with MTHFR and she has also had recurring miscarriages and he said she is on these 2 medicines and is doing great during this pregnancy.
Oh, and yes it is pretty much amazing that I had healthy pregnancies with Mia & Averi...so praise the Lord for that!
MTHFR (Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) is a rare genetic defect that can lead to complications in pregnancy. Because of a mother with MTHFR’s inability to efficiently metabolize folic acid and vitamin B9, the disorder has been linked to a variety of pregnancy complications such as chromosomal abnormalities.
The good news is that it is something that is treatable. It is treated with Folgard (Folic Acid, vitamins B6 and B12) and baby aspirin. He wants me to go ahead and start on the Folgard now to allow it to build up in my body. I will start baby aspirin and progesterone as soon as I find out I am pregnant.
This makes me feel a whole lot better! Just knowing that if God allows me to get pregnant again, then these 2 things will hopefully help the baby survive the pregnancy. My doctor has another patient with MTHFR and she has also had recurring miscarriages and he said she is on these 2 medicines and is doing great during this pregnancy.
Oh, and yes it is pretty much amazing that I had healthy pregnancies with Mia & Averi...so praise the Lord for that!
Monday, September 14, 2009
Prayer Request for My Parents
I have a BIG prayer request. As I mentioned a couple months ago, my dad has been having some severe (nerve-related) back problems. When they were home from January to June, he saw many doctors, got several epidurals, was on pain medication, had chiropractic care, and even tried acupuncture. But nothing seemed to cure the pain. They decided to go ahead and go back to Kazakhstan as they had a missions team coming over and a wedding that they were helping with this summer. So they went back in faith hoping and praying that my dad's back would get better while they were there. Well it hasn't. If anything it has gotten worse. It's so bad that he is having to lay down 80% of the time. He said even if he gets up to take out the trash he is in severe pain for the rest of the day.
So all that to say they have decided that they will be moving back here to get my dad some help. Here are some specific requests for them:
A. Please pray that they can sell their condo over in Kazakhstan. The sooner they sell it, the sooner they will be able to move back and get my dad help.
B. Please pray for my mom as she packs up all there stuff over there (as my dad is unable to lift or be of much help right now).
C. Pray that once they do get back to the U.S. the doctor's will be able to find a treatment that will work and give my dad some relief.
D. Pray that my mom can find a job that will provide them with insurance to be able to cover some of the expenses for my dad's back.
E. Please pray for their long term plans. It has become very evident to them that the Lord is changing their ministry.
We are obviously excited to have them coming back to Birmingham. But ultimately we just want my dad to be back to normal. For those of you who know my dad, he is a very active person for his age, so we want him to be able to get back to his normal self...
So all that to say they have decided that they will be moving back here to get my dad some help. Here are some specific requests for them:
A. Please pray that they can sell their condo over in Kazakhstan. The sooner they sell it, the sooner they will be able to move back and get my dad help.
B. Please pray for my mom as she packs up all there stuff over there (as my dad is unable to lift or be of much help right now).
C. Pray that once they do get back to the U.S. the doctor's will be able to find a treatment that will work and give my dad some relief.
D. Pray that my mom can find a job that will provide them with insurance to be able to cover some of the expenses for my dad's back.
E. Please pray for their long term plans. It has become very evident to them that the Lord is changing their ministry.
We are obviously excited to have them coming back to Birmingham. But ultimately we just want my dad to be back to normal. For those of you who know my dad, he is a very active person for his age, so we want him to be able to get back to his normal self...
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Funny Sayings...
Someone asked Mia the other day who her teacher was and she said "Mrs. Moore". Then Averi looked at us and said "Juju's my teacher" :)
On the way to school today Mia was talking about some of the kids in her class and she all of the sudden said:
"Elliott really just loves me a lot" then she paused and went on to say..."I think he loves me because I am cute"!
I couldn't help but to burst out laughing. The things that come out of that child's mouth crack me up! She has heard people say that to her a lot and that's where she learned it. So we've got to work on humility a little bit:) I was trying to explain to her that it's okay for people to say it to her but not necessarily something she should go around saying about herself:) I think it kind of went over her head though...It was pretty funny!
On the way to school today Mia was talking about some of the kids in her class and she all of the sudden said:
"Elliott really just loves me a lot" then she paused and went on to say..."I think he loves me because I am cute"!
I couldn't help but to burst out laughing. The things that come out of that child's mouth crack me up! She has heard people say that to her a lot and that's where she learned it. So we've got to work on humility a little bit:) I was trying to explain to her that it's okay for people to say it to her but not necessarily something she should go around saying about herself:) I think it kind of went over her head though...It was pretty funny!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
God's Timing
As many of you know we have been trying for another baby. We have 2 beautiful little girls, but we have always said and hoped for 3 children. I have had 2 miscarriages in the last 6 months (with another one before I had Mia). The doctor ran a bunch of tests and so far the ones that have come back have been normal. He is still waiting on the results of a couple more. I have mixed feelings about that. I don't want anything to be wrong with me but at the same time I want an explanation as to why they are occurring. It makes me scared to get pregnant again and fearful that I may suffer yet another one... But if we don't know what is wrong then there's no way to "fix" it. I realize God knows exactly why, but it is truly hard for me to understand it...
The thing God has been teaching me the most through all this is that His timing is not always ours and His ways are not always ours. Which means that I have to:
1. Be okay with His timing! I am such a planner that I always have a set timeline that I think everything has to happen in.
2. Be okay with the fact that we do have 2 sweet little girls and it may not be HIS way/plan for us to have another one. That has been the hardest place for me to come to. I cry each and every time I think about that. But I have to be okay with that and I know he is breaking me and bringing me to this point for a reason. TOTAL and COMPLETE reliance on Him...NO MATTER WHAT!
This was my devotion for today. It was perfect for me and REALLY hit me hard...
In Times of Uncertainty,
Trust God’s Timing
I waited patiently for the LORD;
And He inclined to me, and heard my cry.
Psalm 40:1 NKJV
The Bible teaches us to trust God’s timing in all matters, but we are sorely tempted to do otherwise, especially when times are tough. When we are beset with problems, we are understandably anxious for a quick conclusion to our hardships. We know that our problems will end some day, and we want it to end NOW. God, however, works on His own timetable, and His schedule does not always coincide with ours.
God’s plans are perfect; ours most certainly are not. So we must learn to trust the Father in good times and hard times. No exceptions.
Elisabeth Elliot advised, “We must learn to move according to the timetable of the Timeless One, and to be at peace.” And Billy Graham observed, “As we wait on God, He helps us use the winds of adversity to soar above our problems.”
So today, as you face the uncertainties of everyday life, do your best to turn everything over to God. Whatever “it” is, He can handle it. And you can be sure that He will handle it when the time is right.
Will not the Lord’s time be better than your time?
C. H. Spurgeon
By His wisdom, He orders His delays so that they prove to be far better than our hurries.
C. H. Spurgeon
Waiting on God brings us to the journey’s end quicker than our feet.
Mrs. Charles E. Cowman
God is in no hurry. Compared to the works of mankind, He is extremely deliberate. God is not a slave to the human clock.
Charles Swindoll
The thing God has been teaching me the most through all this is that His timing is not always ours and His ways are not always ours. Which means that I have to:
1. Be okay with His timing! I am such a planner that I always have a set timeline that I think everything has to happen in.
2. Be okay with the fact that we do have 2 sweet little girls and it may not be HIS way/plan for us to have another one. That has been the hardest place for me to come to. I cry each and every time I think about that. But I have to be okay with that and I know he is breaking me and bringing me to this point for a reason. TOTAL and COMPLETE reliance on Him...NO MATTER WHAT!
This was my devotion for today. It was perfect for me and REALLY hit me hard...
In Times of Uncertainty,
Trust God’s Timing
I waited patiently for the LORD;
And He inclined to me, and heard my cry.
Psalm 40:1 NKJV
The Bible teaches us to trust God’s timing in all matters, but we are sorely tempted to do otherwise, especially when times are tough. When we are beset with problems, we are understandably anxious for a quick conclusion to our hardships. We know that our problems will end some day, and we want it to end NOW. God, however, works on His own timetable, and His schedule does not always coincide with ours.
God’s plans are perfect; ours most certainly are not. So we must learn to trust the Father in good times and hard times. No exceptions.
Elisabeth Elliot advised, “We must learn to move according to the timetable of the Timeless One, and to be at peace.” And Billy Graham observed, “As we wait on God, He helps us use the winds of adversity to soar above our problems.”
So today, as you face the uncertainties of everyday life, do your best to turn everything over to God. Whatever “it” is, He can handle it. And you can be sure that He will handle it when the time is right.
Will not the Lord’s time be better than your time?
C. H. Spurgeon
By His wisdom, He orders His delays so that they prove to be far better than our hurries.
C. H. Spurgeon
Waiting on God brings us to the journey’s end quicker than our feet.
Mrs. Charles E. Cowman
God is in no hurry. Compared to the works of mankind, He is extremely deliberate. God is not a slave to the human clock.
Charles Swindoll
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
Labor Day Weekend at the Lake
We went to Lake Mitchell for the day yesterday to visit our dear friends the Stephens. We had a great time! The girls LOVE going there and it's probably one of their favorite things to do. Thankfully the rain held off so we could take a ride on the boat, swim and grill out...
Aunt Cheryl helping Averi with her life jacket...
Suited up and ready to go on the boat...
Mia & Daddy having a good time on the boat...
Uncle Chip & Mia
Cuddling with mommy because she was cold...
Trying to get Averi to smile...
There it is...:)
Mia had a blast sitting in the tube...
But she was NOT happy once daddy pulled her in the water with him. She said the water was "dirty" and "green"...lol:)
Poor Averi on the other hand was begging to swim but I couldn't let her because of her burn. Maybe next time:(
Aunt Cheryl helping Averi with her life jacket...
Suited up and ready to go on the boat...
Mia & Daddy having a good time on the boat...
Uncle Chip & Mia
Cuddling with mommy because she was cold...
Trying to get Averi to smile...
There it is...:)
Mia had a blast sitting in the tube...
But she was NOT happy once daddy pulled her in the water with him. She said the water was "dirty" and "green"...lol:)
Poor Averi on the other hand was begging to swim but I couldn't let her because of her burn. Maybe next time:(
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
