Fourisms....

It's been a while since I shared some of the cute and entertaining things Miss Rose comes up with. Four is a fun age because their little brains are starting to rationalize and put abstract ideas together...but yet there is often a missing piece.

Miss Rose: Mama, I have a really good question.
Me: Well, I hope I have a really good answer.
Miss Rose: Where does turkey come from? (we were eating deli meat)
Me: It comes from a turkey.
Miss Rose: Turkey comes from turkey??

At which point she almost fell out of her chair with laughter, repeating in an incredulous voice "turkey comes from turkey." Now to you and me, it's most logical. But she had never thought of it that way. Then we had to have a conversation about how we get turkey meat from a turkey. I was petrified I was about to create a vegetarian. Thankfully that wasn't the outcome. She had a similar conversation with Bean about chicken the next day..

Discussing the death of a friend...

Miss Rose: What happened?
Me: Well, he was sick and sometimes God heals us when we are sick and sometimes he decides it's time for us to come live in heaven.
Miss Rose: So he's with Jesus now?
Me: Yes, he is.
Miss Rose: So did he go in his own heart?
Me: What do you mean?
Miss Rose: Well, if he had Jesus in his heart, and he went to be with Jesus, is he in his heart.
Me: Not really. God is in our hearts and everywhere else.
Miss Rose: Oh.

I thought she did a pretty good job of thinking that one through though!

Miss Rose: Why can't two boys get married?
Me: (good grief...already?) Because that's not how God created it.

Miss Rose takes flouride each night that comes in a pill form in a childproof bottle--the kind you press down and turn. Well, my little observant one has figured out how to open it. This is her new mantra every night...

Miss Rose: Not childproof for me! I just press down real hard and turn and it opens.

Great. My 4 year old opens childproof bottles. We've had a few conversations about how she is not to ever open any bottle unless a parent is with her.

Never a dull moment!

This weekend...I promise

I can't believe it's been so long since I've blogged. I was on such a good roll. There has just been a lot going on. Most of my extra time has been consumed by my summer class. But my final is in a week---and I can't wait for it to be over. I'm doing better than expected, so that is a pleasant surprise.

But I have several blogs in mind and I'm planning to write and get them scheduled this weekend.

Here are some pictures though to enjoy!!

Miss Rose, Gracie and Cousin B.

Me and Bean at wedding last weekend

What better toy is there for a 1 yr old than a box she can sit in?

Miss Rose waiting patiently for her Nanny (my mom) to come. She was wearing the helmet all morning...not sure why!

Who can resist a little naked butt!!??

Until later....

Morning People

I am not one of them. But I am beginning to see the draw.

I've always enjoyed my sleep. I wasn't really a teenager or college that slept until noon, but if I had the chance--I'd sleep until 10am. Probably the thing that makes me most NOT a morning person is that I need time to wake up.

The second the alarm goes off, no matter what time it is, Bean pops up, is wide awake and ready to face the day. Miss Rose is like this too, for the most part. Me...I am a snoozer. I used to set my alarm early just to be able to snooze it a few times. I need my wake up time.

When Bean and I were first married we had a halogen lamp in our room, which was next to my side of the bed. He needed a little light to get ready with--but I made him turn it on the lowest setting possible, otherwise I got really grumpy! I made it clear that least amount of noise and light possible was a must.

Once I get a shower, or 20 minutes of gazing off into la-la land, I'm good to go. It's not so much about the amount of sleep I get or the time I have to wake up, it's about actually getting my brain and body to be awake. Even when the kids are up and bouncing around, I'm still moving around like a zombie. Miss Rose sometimes get frustrated with me because I don't remember what she asked for or am moving so slowly.

My sister has recently been insiring me to get up early. She's been on this fitness and health quest and has been waking up at 5am a few mornings a week to do an exercise DVD. Some days, she even goes running after work too. So, I've given it a try. It is difficult, especially on the days I work, to get to the lake with the kids to run in the evening.

I must admit...I saw the light on the dark side for a moment. It does feel really good to get a strong start to the day. To get a whole workout in before starting the day. It was nice to sit at my desk knowing I could lesiurely pick the kids up and head home for the night.

Growing up I remember my mom often being up before the rest of us (4 kids) to have quiet time with God or get started on household stuff. I couldn't imagine getting up so early, but now I see why she did it. It's one of the only times the house is quiet and I can work uninterrupted.

There is a chance that I will try to get up early a few days a week to get things done or to work out. But, I don't think I'll ever be able to consider myself a morning person. I still need my wake-up time. I can't wait until the kids learn to sleep in on a Saturday.

My Little Troopers

Kids are often more resilient than we give them credit for. Even newborn babies can handle more than we think they can. But as parents, we have such a tender spot in our hearts for our little ones that we hate to see them suffer at all. However, it can't be avoided.

While kids are resilient, we still are so proud when they handle things well. Yes there may be some tears and even drama to go along with it, but they get through it and come out on the other end. And like good mother hens, we cluck around them and puff our feathers up with pride.

I have two little troopers in my house right now!

Miss Rose was stung by a bee yesterday in the pool--and never truly shed a tear. We think she jumped in and landed on a bee already in the water. She kept pulling at her suit and grabbing her side. When Bean checked it out, he realized what happened. I think she since was having so much fun swimming, she just wanted the pain out of her mind so she could keep playing.

This is a girl who practically wants stitches for a 1 cm scratch. Everything requires neosporin and a bandaid. We're trying to teach her to cut the drama and deal with the discomfort. Especially since she starts soccer next month.

Today, Miss Rose needed a blood test to determine her allergens. With her, knowledge is more than half the battle, so I tried to prepare her with what would happen and what it would feel like. Unfortunately I forgot about how they tie off the arm with elastic and at that point she began to scream a bit.

Poor baby had to be stuck twice since the first stick wouldn't give any blood. I kept talking to her (she got to sit on my lap) and telling her it was like the bee sting and trying to calm her. She screamed a bit more than I had hoped, but in the end she did okay. (The technition told me I was a great parent--not sure what I said or did that gave him that impression, but it was appreciated).

Once it was over and we were on our way, there were no more tears and she didn't complain too much. Of course the Starbucks treat helped with that. But she deserved it (nothing with caffeine of course). A few hours later she took off her band-aids and hardly mentioned it the rest of the day!

Gracie is my little trooper too. She really is such an easy-going child. Her personality is coming out more, and there are a few fits over not getting a toy she wants. But she is just a steady child. Today she was throwing more fits and fussing more than normal, so I took a peek into her mouth.

What do you know? My baby is cutting 3 molars, another recently cut and I think there was an eye tooth coming through also. I never would have guessed. Hardly a peep or a fuss. It might explain why she hasn't been eating as well lately and only wanting her milk.

I'm so proud of my kiddos! They never cease to amaze me. What troopers.

The Magic Number

My friends have ranging numbers of children. Some have decided their families are complete, others aren't sure or know they still want to add to their family. I know families of all girls and all boys and mixtures of genders.

With the availability of many different types of birth control, many families "choose" the size of their family. There are always those who get a little "surprise." A few friends have recieved this precious surprise due to hubby's lack speed in getting a particular procedure done, once the family size was decided on. Around me, it seems that many have settled on 2. A few ended up with 3 due to hubby's tardiness in getting a particular procedure done.

I strongly believe that God is in control of reproductive organs! If He so desires, God has a way of getting around all of our prevention. Conversely, I think there are times conception is delayed as a part of God's plan. And then there are those who struggle so greatly against fertility issues---none of which I believe are God's direct doing.

But--here's my question for today. How do you determine that "magic number?" And what if the magic number is different for husband than for wife?

I have this strong desire for another child. Growing up in a family of 4 kids, I always imagined myself with 4 or more kids. I loved having a lot of siblings and even as an adult, I still do. When we've faced various family difficulties, tragedies and challenges--the more shoulders to bear the burden, the better.

Bean would have been happy with just one child. A famous story in our life is that the night before my scheduled c-section with Miss Rose (#1) he mentioned that he had never seen himself as a father or having children. Not a good thing to tell your 39-week, hugely pregnant and highly hormonal wife! We decided to add to our family because we saw value in Miss Rose having a sibling. (I was willing to say anything to get that second baby!!)

I have many friends with two children who have decided their family is complete. There are a lot of pro's to two children. When the whole family is together, there's always a 1:1 ratio. He gets one, I get the other. We fit in basic cars/small SUV's. With two children of the same gender, we could even get by with a two-bedroom house. The list could go on.

But there is this desire deep down inside me for another child. I just can't imagine not having another one. It doesn't matter if it's a boy or a girl--at this point, I'd expect a third girl. I just want another baby, someday.

Bean and I have had many discussions about this. He looks at it from the practical, financial standpoint. The addition of another child would divide our ability to help with vehicles, college, weddings, by 3 instead of 2. However, I figured out my own way through 4 years of private college--and although I have student loans, it was well worth it. Bean and I pretty much paid for our own wedding. Neither were the end of the world and it all worked out. I DO want to provide my kid with the best I can, but I have to acknowledge that it's all in God's hands anyways.

A few months back we reached a compromise. My AMAZING hubby recognized the fact that while he will love a third child just as much as the first two, I would always feel an emptiness not having a third child. We both were willing to give up our sides, but I really appreciate his insight, because I think he is right. So, Lord willing, we will have a third child.

There are days though, I try to convince myself that my two are enough, that we are complete. I'm a bit envious of those who have reached this conclusion, because there are a lot of positives about stopping at two. I try to imagine our family, years down the road, with Miss Rose and Gracie. While I know life would be full and lovely, I still have the longing for more.

I guess I just have to trust God and the desire he's placed in my heart. There must be a child that he has predestined to be in this world, with us as his/her parents. My long-time favorite scripture verse is "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." I've always held to the fact that when you are delighting in him, the desires in your heart are his desires for you. So I suppose if I make sure I'm delighting in him, and the desire for another child remains--it's up to him to make it happen.

(and secretly, I'd LOVE for a third pregnancy to result in twins...then I'd get my 4 children and Bean would have to accept it as God's will!)

Yay for Family Days

This just seems to have been a slow week all around in "bloggy world." I guess with the shortened work week for some and the coming holiday everyone is busy.

We are looking forward to two family days in a row! Miss
Rose is big on schedule and knowing what to expect in the days to come. From before she was two, she'd ask us for the "plan" of a day and we'd have to repeat it several times while she committed it to memory. And if we deviated from the plan...oh we heard about it! Yes--she has the anal retentive side of her father and the control issues of her mother.

It's hard to say when it started, but for a while now we've been referring to days by what Miss Rose is doing. We have "school days", "Grammie days", "Mommy days", "family days", "church days" etc. Usually Friday is a "mommy day" as I'm off so the girls are home with me. Bean works his day job and his evening job on Fridays.

Since tomorrow is a holiday--Bean doesn't have to work either of his jobs--so we get an extra family day. Miss Rose and Gracie are always so excited to see Daddy in the morning, since he usually leaves at 6:30am. We are looking forward to lots of time together on Friday and Saturday.

Gracie is becoming quite the little walker. It also means her falls are harder, and some nights there are quite a few tears. She's so proud of herself though when she walks.

Have a happy 4th of July and I hope you get lots of good family time too.

Walking girl, busy mama

Gracie is finally walking!! She started venturing across half of the room on Sunday. When she'd fall--she'd get back up at least a few times before she gave up to crawl. Now she's walking from room to room in the house with just a few falls here and there. There still is some crawling...but I'd guess in a week or two, it will be a thing of the past.

It's so cute to see a baby taking those early steps! Her little chubby legs wide apart, super stiff, her little face so proud of the accomplishment.

I can't wait until she's walking full-time--because she won't get such dirty knees and feet from our floors.

Photobucket is making me VERY MAD right now, as I wanted to share a video of her with you. Oh well. Next time. If I decide to ever use Photobucket again.

I am super busy this week, so I probably won't be posting much for a few more days. Pray for my statistics midterm on Thursday. YIKES!