As they say, the third time's a charm! I was tagged by my blogging friend, Lisa, who resides in Georgia and writes some of the funniest posts.
Because I did the "6 random things about myself" last week, I'll save you all from the hassle of leaving my site and only do the "6 words that describe ME."
1. I
2. Am
3. An
4. Utterly
5. Exhausted
6. Woman
Oh wait, did I do that wrong? Oh, I was supposed to write 6 adjectives that describe me. Sorry.
1. Friendly
2. Dedicated
3. Hard-working
4. Loyal
5. Talkative, if you get me around the right people. I can also clam up when put in situations where I feel awkward or uncomfortable.
6. Exhausted
Why was that so hard?
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
what a day!
Today was a special day. Yes, it was Mother's Day and it was special for that reason, of course. I was showered with hugs and kisses, cards and flowers and everyone in my house acknowledged that I was the "Best Mom in the World!" But today wasn't about me. Today was about something much more important than me. Today was about her:
Family gathered. Friends gathered. Our church family gathered. They all gathered today to share a part in one of Chloe's most important babyhood experiences. Her dedication to the Lord. This is such an important event for her, and for us, as her parents. It's our moment to give Chloe back to Him, her Creator. To proclaim that we are dedicated to fulfill our purpose as her parents. and to teach her God's most important commandments. To teach her how to love God, above all, and to serve Him in all she does.
We stood on stage as a family, along with our Pastor, and he read aloud the life verse we chose for Chloe.
Colossians 3:23-24 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the LORD CHRIST you are serving."
Family gathered. Friends gathered. Our church family gathered. They all gathered today to share a part in one of Chloe's most important babyhood experiences. Her dedication to the Lord. This is such an important event for her, and for us, as her parents. It's our moment to give Chloe back to Him, her Creator. To proclaim that we are dedicated to fulfill our purpose as her parents. and to teach her God's most important commandments. To teach her how to love God, above all, and to serve Him in all she does.
We stood on stage as a family, along with our Pastor, and he read aloud the life verse we chose for Chloe.Colossians 3:23-24 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the LORD CHRIST you are serving."
He also said a specific prayer for Chloe and for our family. It was a brief, but very special, moment for us. Aside from a little mischief on stage (you know the ol' saying, "a picture's worth a thousand words?" Look again. There's mischief all over this picture and that wasn't the worst of it), all went well.
What made the morning even more special is that Ella was specially asked to sing in a small choir for Mother's Day. They sang the song, "Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord," and it was absolutely heart-melting to watch.
Ella was the youngest child by almost 2 years, though you wouldn't know it by looking at the picture because she's soooooo tall (I'm 5' 2" and born into a family where there's an average height of 5'3". She most definitely gets this trait from her Daddy's side of the family. We joke that she'll be taller than me by the time she's 8 years old)!
For being shy by nature, Ella was so comfortable on stage. She did such a wonderful job singing the song and I was so proud of her. There was a little nose picking and belly scratching, so I best be working with her on her stage etiquettes.
She'd work tirelessly at grabbing these blocks, and then plop her head down on top of the block once she'd get it in her hands. It would proceed to pop out of her little hands and the game would begin all over again.
She handled the day in stride and wore a smile all day long...between naps, that is!
What made the morning even more special is that Ella was specially asked to sing in a small choir for Mother's Day. They sang the song, "Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord," and it was absolutely heart-melting to watch.
Ella was the youngest child by almost 2 years, though you wouldn't know it by looking at the picture because she's soooooo tall (I'm 5' 2" and born into a family where there's an average height of 5'3". She most definitely gets this trait from her Daddy's side of the family. We joke that she'll be taller than me by the time she's 8 years old)!
For being shy by nature, Ella was so comfortable on stage. She did such a wonderful job singing the song and I was so proud of her. There was a little nose picking and belly scratching, so I best be working with her on her stage etiquettes.Lunch for our entire family (including grandparents, great-grandparents, uncles, aunts and one great-uncle) was at our house following the church service. We had a blast, grilling burgers and just hanging out. You wouldn't know we had any company at our house today because we don't have any pictures to prove it! You almost can't blame me, though. I was too busy taking pictures of HER...
Great-Grandma Arlene and Great-Grandpa Evans made Chloe's day by buying her some new, soft blocks to play with!
Great-Grandma Arlene and Great-Grandpa Evans made Chloe's day by buying her some new, soft blocks to play with!
She'd work tirelessly at grabbing these blocks, and then plop her head down on top of the block once she'd get it in her hands. It would proceed to pop out of her little hands and the game would begin all over again.
She handled the day in stride and wore a smile all day long...between naps, that is!Thursday, May 8, 2008
calling all readers update!
Update: THANK YOU to all who participated in helping me make a choice on which of these pictures I should print. It was very informative to read through the comments and I so appreciate you taking the time to help me make this difficult decision!
With that said, because I am SUCH an indecisive person and there were such varying opinions on the photos, I opted to print 2 pictures instead of 1. #1 & #3 were the top choices for most, and I'm glad, because in the end, they were MY favorite, too.
Thanks again, readers. You rock!
With that said, because I am SUCH an indecisive person and there were such varying opinions on the photos, I opted to print 2 pictures instead of 1. #1 & #3 were the top choices for most, and I'm glad, because in the end, they were MY favorite, too.
Thanks again, readers. You rock!
a day at the farm...and a little fitness, too
Yesterday was Ella's class trip to the farm. It was an event we'd been looking forward to for weeks! I had originally planned on going with her, but last minute, we decided that her Daddy should go with instead.* They needed some quality Daddy/Daugther time and they had so much fun spending the morning together!
Ella buddied up with her friend and neighbor, Tristan, who is also in the same preschool class with her. They're 6 days apart in age and could almost pass and brother and sister!
I'm not sure what she's looking at, because like I said, I wasn't there. But she sure is cute, isn't she?
I'm not sure the chicken looks to be enjoying herself...
...but the baby chick sure looks comfy!
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It was a great day at the farm and beautiful weather to boot!
Ella buddied up with her friend and neighbor, Tristan, who is also in the same preschool class with her. They're 6 days apart in age and could almost pass and brother and sister!
I'm not sure what she's looking at, because like I said, I wasn't there. But she sure is cute, isn't she?
I'm not sure the chicken looks to be enjoying herself...
...but the baby chick sure looks comfy!.jpg)
It was a great day at the farm and beautiful weather to boot!* While Daddy and Ella spent their morning at the farm, I spent my time working my tail feathers off in my 4th consecutive F.I.T. class. I know you were wondering if I made it back to the infamous class, and I'm sure you're also wondering if it's gotten any easier. The short answer is: NO. But I love it.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
six months ago...
...I was awoken from my sleep at 3:30am. I was in the middle of a really strong contraction. It seemed to come out of nowhere. I decided to get out of bed, without waking your Daddy, and go to the living room to time my contractions. Not even 4 minutes later, I was doubled over with another really strong contraction. Is this real labor? Should I call the doctor? Should I try to go back to sleep and wait it out? All of these thoughts were going through my mind only to be interrupted by yet another strong contraction!
At 3:39am I called the doctor. He told me, nonchalantly, that it may or may not be labor, but I should probably get my stuff together and come in to the hospital.
Within seconds of hanging up the phone, I was having another contraction. They were apart 3 minutes apart and I could hardly stand it. The previous morning, I had had my 40 week check-up and my doctor noted that I was 100% effaced and almost 4 cm dilated. Worried about the chances of labor going too quickly and delivering my baby at home (YIKES!), my doctor had scheduled me to have my water broken the very next morning at 6:30am. Apparently, you inherited my wonderful strong-willed and impatient qualities, because you were coming on your own terms!
Contractions were just too close together and things were moving too quickly that were forced to wake your sisters and bring them to the hospital with us. My dear friend, Amy, who had previously agreed to watch Ella and Britten, was gracious enough to meet us at the hospital and bring them back home.
By 4:30am I was checked into my room and finally able to relax (well, relax as much as you can when you're going through transition!) knowing I wasn't having YOU at home. I was in good hands with the staff at my hospital.
By 5:00am, my water still hadn't broken, and the doctor I had called, who was still at home at the time, still hadn't made it to the hospital. I was ready to push, but because the nurses couldn't break my water without the doctor present, I had to patiently breathe through my contractions until the doctor arrived at 5:20am (and believe me, that's not easy!).
Finally, 5:25am, everything was set to go! At 5:39am, we welcomed YOU, our beautiful little Chloe, into the world. Weighing 6 lbs 13 oz and 19 inches long, you were such a little peanut! And the head of hair you had! We just couldn't believe it! 6 months later, you still have every single strand on your head.
Two hours, to the exact minute, after calling my doctor (I confirmed this by looking at outgoing calls on my cell phone), you were here. In all your glory.
We love you, little girl! We are so blessed to have you in our lives! Happy 6 months, Chloe Jean!
PS. You must have a good sense of humor, too, because this morning, at EXACTLY 5:39am you woke up, ready to go! Just don't let that become a habit, you hear?!
At 3:39am I called the doctor. He told me, nonchalantly, that it may or may not be labor, but I should probably get my stuff together and come in to the hospital.
Within seconds of hanging up the phone, I was having another contraction. They were apart 3 minutes apart and I could hardly stand it. The previous morning, I had had my 40 week check-up and my doctor noted that I was 100% effaced and almost 4 cm dilated. Worried about the chances of labor going too quickly and delivering my baby at home (YIKES!), my doctor had scheduled me to have my water broken the very next morning at 6:30am. Apparently, you inherited my wonderful strong-willed and impatient qualities, because you were coming on your own terms!
Contractions were just too close together and things were moving too quickly that were forced to wake your sisters and bring them to the hospital with us. My dear friend, Amy, who had previously agreed to watch Ella and Britten, was gracious enough to meet us at the hospital and bring them back home.
By 4:30am I was checked into my room and finally able to relax (well, relax as much as you can when you're going through transition!) knowing I wasn't having YOU at home. I was in good hands with the staff at my hospital.
By 5:00am, my water still hadn't broken, and the doctor I had called, who was still at home at the time, still hadn't made it to the hospital. I was ready to push, but because the nurses couldn't break my water without the doctor present, I had to patiently breathe through my contractions until the doctor arrived at 5:20am (and believe me, that's not easy!).
Finally, 5:25am, everything was set to go! At 5:39am, we welcomed YOU, our beautiful little Chloe, into the world. Weighing 6 lbs 13 oz and 19 inches long, you were such a little peanut! And the head of hair you had! We just couldn't believe it! 6 months later, you still have every single strand on your head.
Two hours, to the exact minute, after calling my doctor (I confirmed this by looking at outgoing calls on my cell phone), you were here. In all your glory.
We love you, little girl! We are so blessed to have you in our lives! Happy 6 months, Chloe Jean!
PS. You must have a good sense of humor, too, because this morning, at EXACTLY 5:39am you woke up, ready to go! Just don't let that become a habit, you hear?!
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
i've been tagged...AGAIN!
For the second time in 2 days, I've been tagged! You're going to learn wwwwaaaayyyy more about me than you ever thought you could!
Another blogging friend, who I hope to meet IRL and probably will at the next local GF concert, Sarah, tagged me. I told her I was up for the challenge, so here goes...again:
I am….....a mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister, an aunt to 6 beautiful nieces and nephews (and 2 more on the way!) and a friend to many, many wonderful people
I want..... warm weather, a vacation, a tan, and a big plate of chocolate chip cookies (this was Sarah's answer, but I'm not changing it!).
I wish..... my hair would stop falling out already! (you know, just one of those postpartum symptoms!)
I hate......the army of ants that are currently infesting our upstairs bathroom. I sprayed them with bleach, but that didn't seem to do the trick!
I miss.....going on spontaneous dates with my husband.
I fear......leaving my children and husband without a mom or a wife.
I feel........ exhausted and sick of being sick. I've keep catching cold after cold after cold...
I hear......... Ella singing to herself and Chloe crying in her crib. Bummer! She's up from her nap and now I have to put my computer aways! :)
I smell....... the vanilla candle that's burning in my kitchen.
I crave........ chocolate, specifically chocolate chip cookies. I also crave marshmallows and ice cream. Why can't I crave something healthy?!?
I search......the internet for any random question on my mind.
I wonder..... why Chloe won't nap for longer than 45 minutes at a time.
I regret.......never caring about school or my grades and only wanting to socialize.
I love...........God, my family, our yard, to exercise, good food, coffee, sleep, small town living (funny how I live in the city), to meet new people and experiencing life to its fullest.
I ache......... in my head. I've had a throbbing sinus infection (at least, I think it's a sinus infection) for days. I really should see a doctor, but who has time for a doctor?
I care........ about people in need. I wish I could help everyone that needs help, but I know that's impossible.
I always...... swear to myself that I won't let my laundry get out of control, but it always does. Always.
I am not…..a packrat. I never hang onto things if I don't need them. I hate clutter. I always throw things away, probably before I should. There's been many occasions where my husband has had to "dumpster dive" for stuff that had accidentally been thrown away.
I believe......... that there will be a day when everyone is forced to take responsibility for their actions. I look forward to that day.
I dance......... on rare occasion. I was not blessed with good dancing moves. :(
I sing............ around the house, in the shower, with my girls, but that's about it. Again, not blessed with a great singing voice. :(
I cry........... on rare occasion, but when I do, I'm a flubbering mess. It seems to happen at the worst moments, usually in front of a group of people. The topic of discussion usually involves children. I easily cry when talking about my children.
I don’t always........brush my teeth.
I fight........when I'm put on the defensive. I don't like feeling defensive, and when I do, I fight back. This is something I wish I could change about myself. I'm sure it'll always be a work in progress, like a lot of other things.
I write.......notes to myself all over everything. I can't seem to keep my "to-do" list on one sheet of paper.
I never.......let my kids eat McDonalds. (JUST KIDDING!!!!!) I wish I didn't, but I do...sometimes.
I listen.........to Christmas music while working out. Not all the time, but a lot of the time!
I need.......... sunshine, lots of love, affirmation, sugar, a good workout, and a Caribou* to get me through the day (again, this was Sarah's answer with one little tweak - *Starbucks to Caribou. I guess we have a lot in common, Sarah!).
I am happy...... knowing that my WHOLE family is safe, healthy and loved.
Now I tag Beth & Brianna! You go girls!
Another blogging friend, who I hope to meet IRL and probably will at the next local GF concert, Sarah, tagged me. I told her I was up for the challenge, so here goes...again:
I am….....a mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister, an aunt to 6 beautiful nieces and nephews (and 2 more on the way!) and a friend to many, many wonderful people
I want..... warm weather, a vacation, a tan, and a big plate of chocolate chip cookies (this was Sarah's answer, but I'm not changing it!).
I wish..... my hair would stop falling out already! (you know, just one of those postpartum symptoms!)
I hate......the army of ants that are currently infesting our upstairs bathroom. I sprayed them with bleach, but that didn't seem to do the trick!
I miss.....going on spontaneous dates with my husband.
I fear......leaving my children and husband without a mom or a wife.
I feel........ exhausted and sick of being sick. I've keep catching cold after cold after cold...
I hear......... Ella singing to herself and Chloe crying in her crib. Bummer! She's up from her nap and now I have to put my computer aways! :)
I smell....... the vanilla candle that's burning in my kitchen.
I crave........ chocolate, specifically chocolate chip cookies. I also crave marshmallows and ice cream. Why can't I crave something healthy?!?
I search......the internet for any random question on my mind.
I wonder..... why Chloe won't nap for longer than 45 minutes at a time.
I regret.......never caring about school or my grades and only wanting to socialize.
I love...........God, my family, our yard, to exercise, good food, coffee, sleep, small town living (funny how I live in the city), to meet new people and experiencing life to its fullest.
I ache......... in my head. I've had a throbbing sinus infection (at least, I think it's a sinus infection) for days. I really should see a doctor, but who has time for a doctor?
I care........ about people in need. I wish I could help everyone that needs help, but I know that's impossible.
I always...... swear to myself that I won't let my laundry get out of control, but it always does. Always.
I am not…..a packrat. I never hang onto things if I don't need them. I hate clutter. I always throw things away, probably before I should. There's been many occasions where my husband has had to "dumpster dive" for stuff that had accidentally been thrown away.
I believe......... that there will be a day when everyone is forced to take responsibility for their actions. I look forward to that day.
I dance......... on rare occasion. I was not blessed with good dancing moves. :(
I sing............ around the house, in the shower, with my girls, but that's about it. Again, not blessed with a great singing voice. :(
I cry........... on rare occasion, but when I do, I'm a flubbering mess. It seems to happen at the worst moments, usually in front of a group of people. The topic of discussion usually involves children. I easily cry when talking about my children.
I don’t always........brush my teeth.
I fight........when I'm put on the defensive. I don't like feeling defensive, and when I do, I fight back. This is something I wish I could change about myself. I'm sure it'll always be a work in progress, like a lot of other things.
I write.......notes to myself all over everything. I can't seem to keep my "to-do" list on one sheet of paper.
I never.......let my kids eat McDonalds. (JUST KIDDING!!!!!) I wish I didn't, but I do...sometimes.
I listen.........to Christmas music while working out. Not all the time, but a lot of the time!
I need.......... sunshine, lots of love, affirmation, sugar, a good workout, and a Caribou* to get me through the day (again, this was Sarah's answer with one little tweak - *Starbucks to Caribou. I guess we have a lot in common, Sarah!).
I am happy...... knowing that my WHOLE family is safe, healthy and loved.
Now I tag Beth & Brianna! You go girls!
attention, attention...calling all readers!
I need YOUR help! As I previously mentioned, my husband has taken a recent interest in photography and he is learning the ropes fast! It's wonderful, and I love that he's taking beautiful pictures of our girls, but now comes the hard part. I need to CHOOSE my favorite pictures for print, and considering I'm the most indecisive person in the world, I'm finding this to be a very challenging task...
That's where YOU come in. I've narrowed it down to 3 pictures of the two older girls. We intend to print a bunch of 4X6's, but I need to choose ONE of the following three for a larger print. I love them all and can't decide which is my favorite. Please help!
I've numbered each picture #1, #2, #3. Please respond in the comment section below with YOUR favorite number. I don't care who you are or whether you've ever commented on my blog before, YOU can make a difference! :)
1)
2)
3)
That's where YOU come in. I've narrowed it down to 3 pictures of the two older girls. We intend to print a bunch of 4X6's, but I need to choose ONE of the following three for a larger print. I love them all and can't decide which is my favorite. Please help!
I've numbered each picture #1, #2, #3. Please respond in the comment section below with YOUR favorite number. I don't care who you are or whether you've ever commented on my blog before, YOU can make a difference! :)
1)
2)
3)
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