Our Goin Life

We had such a great time at my mother’s yesterday. Our day with Grandma started at Christina’s for lunch, where she met us so we didn’t have to get the boys in and out of the carseats. We sat there and ate and talked and played for almost an hour, it was a blast! Then Andrew was ready to go and play! So we headed to a park near Grandma’s home. Andrew spent most of the time being pushed in a swing but he also climbed and jumped from very high ledges, and even went on a nature walk with Daddy through some woodsy areas. I really wanted to go but my back was sore from carrying Paul T! That child is getting so big! That reminds me I need to weigh him…

Anyway, after playing at the park for a good long time, we headed back to Grandma’s. She needed Andy to take care of some things around the place for her, which he loves doing, and I wanted to get her mixer to borrow for bread making. And Andrew has special toys over there. One is a 3 car garage with keys for each garage shaped differently. it is so neat to see him get better and better at opening the doors to get the cars out every time we are there, this time he almost did it himself!

It was so beautiful outside that i took Andrew out to play on Grandma’s ramp. She uses a walker and has a huge ramp taking up most of her yard that goes around. So we took out a big car and pushed it down the ramp. That is until I had to go and get Paul! Then Andy came out and took Andrew for a short walk to find stick guns. lol Well when he got back to Grandma’s Andrew was in no way ready to come in. So Grandma came out and watched him while he played in her rock path and dried leaves that surround the ramp on the ground. Andrew is such a strong thrower and he was marveling his Grandma with his skills. He would throw rocks at her ramp and could throw from almost one end to the other!

While he was doing that I started packing up the van. My mom had several things for us and I was carrying around Paul, and Andy was finishing up changing some light bulbs. On about my 3rd trip with both hands and arms full, as I was coming out the door, Andrew starts whining for me. I headed out to see, asking if he was OK. He was holding up his hand and saying “hand” and it looked like he had a piece of pine needle sticking out of it! But he wasn’t crying in pain. And then he started saying “yucky” and “wipe it.” My hands were completely full but I walked closer to inspect him. I didn’t have to get too close…

He had found a bit of fresh dog poop amongst the leaves! I smelled it before I even got to him! I was gagging and hollering for Andy to come quick. Andrew had it squished all around his fingers and smeared across the front of one shoe. I had Paul T in my arms along with many other miscellaneous things so I wasn’t getting any closer. Andy came out and grabbed him up and carried him to the bathroom where they washed up in the tub.

It was quite funny actually, and quite a bit more stinky. He disturbed some dogs buried treasure and now my poor mom’s whole front walkway stunk like it even from a distance! Ew.

Well, with all the commotion and all the trips I made to the van, I forgot to get the darned mixer! Ah well, like I said, dog poop happens.

Heyoooooo Andy here. How are ya? Long time no post, I know, but I normally leave the posting up to Lea as she’s much more eloquent when it comes to making a point and sticking with it. Things have been going very well for us over the past few months since Paul’s birth and really for a good long time, but I feel like I must start to share my view on things a bit and maybe talk a little about what I am grateful for in life and what I see as to be the meaning of it all. I must warn in advance this post may come off as preachy but I in no way insist you follow my path or words, but to instead take them as an explanation as to how we live our life and why we choose certain paths when easier ones could be chosen.

We’ve started to attend a local church, one that accepts all beliefs and less about preaching one singular system. It’s more focused on the want to learn more and expand your horizons by respecting others’ beliefs and while you in no way have to take them as your own, the same goes both ways and your own beliefs will be heard and respected. It’s a great, positive thing for us so far and we look forward to visiting again.

Another thing we’ve been enjoying is our new friends we’ve met through our parenting groups including Ken and Angie who have invited us into their homes for dinner and great conversations. They also have two children around the same ages as our children and they themselves are more our age and thoroughly enjoyable to be around. There are others in the group we have come close to, but so with time being short for us in our lives, we’ve hardly been able to get close to any of them as we have with Ken and Angie and we’re grateful to have them as friends.

Business for us is going well also. We’ve been working on our own small business web development services for almost 5 years now and we’ve not only made a good living doing it, but it’s also afforded us things in life like time with each other. We enjoy material items to an extent but nothing in life can compare to the time I get to spend with my family and friends. It is something money cannot buy and I wouldn’t trade for anything. I actually traded a very high paying job that was set to send us traveling all over for the opportunity to be home with my family at all times. I would like to quote Luke 12:15 from the bible here:

Luke 12:15 “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a mans life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

This should be nothing new, but it is a timeless message that gets lost in today’s society. It seems more and more people are trading their one time, their one chance at life for material items, sometimes losing focus on what is truly important in this existence. I’m not saying we do not have some fine items, we have a good TV, 2 computers, and other nice items we are blessed to have, but it’s important not to sacrifice yourself or time with loved ones to an over extension that leads to the loss of what is truly important. Our widescreen TV won’t be coming with us when we pass and we won’t be judged on the size of our home. We will hopefully be judged by higher ones and loved ones for our ability to control our wants and greedy tendencies and keeping family and loved ones as the most important thing.

One more quote, this time from II Corinthians 4:18:

“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Before passing away in 1603, Queen Elizabeth uttered her final words: “All my possessions for a moment of time.” She had reigned over England, but as death was knocking on her door, absolutely nothing from the temporal world had any relevance. We gnat strain over all of the dramas that the world holds in high esteem, but when it comes to the real issues, many of us are hardened.

I really don’t mean to come off as preachy and in no way do I wish for anyone to take what I am saying as a way I wish them to live their lives. It would be nice, but I will love those that live in other ways just as much as if they lived with mine. I think life presents opportunities to not only learn from situations, but to also teach or maybe remind is a better word those that may be lost what might be important in life. You can easily dismiss any of my beliefs and continue on your path and I will love you the same. My words are less for debating and hopefully more for simple thought.

We love you all, and wish you all the best for 2009!

LOL! I know I haven’t been good about the vids lately but hey I was a zombie for like 2 months with the new baby and move so cut me some slack. I am sorry and there are a lot of videos you may never see until someday when the kids are grown enough to give me a few hours alone at the computer. So for now we pick up right here with today!

Today btw was Paul T’s 3 month birthday. Can you believe it?

We went and picked up an old desk for Andrew. A friend of ours had one she was no longer using and it was just the right size to fit in a spot by Daddy’s desk for Andrew to now have his own space for art and such. I get my dining room table back! So here he is enjoying it, learning puzzles:

And then after Andrew had gone to bed I was sitting on the floor talking with Paul T. He is so verbal! Andrew was too at this age but it was totally different. Andrew Baba’d and Mama’d a lot while Paul just coos and gurgles and blows raspberries with a cute dove like sound. I adore it! I figured I better try to catch it on cam while I could so here is my attempt:

We’ve really had a wonderful day. I am just so grateful to be able to enjoy these days with my kids. Time slips by so quickly. Flies by really! Especially being so busy. It is easy to get caught up thinking about the next thing we are going to, the the stuff I need to get done. But with these times I strive every day to just live in the moment. To enjoy right now, today, because I’ll never get this day back. And every single day is precious.
These boys grow and change so much every day. Andrew is learning so quickly now he’s like a sponge and he soaks up new and bigger skills and words daily. And of course Paul is in the middle of the biggest growth spurt he’ll ever have in his whole life! So he’s literally looking (and feeling) bigger every day.
I love it! I love being here to enjoy this to see this and experience it. I am so grateful to have my loving husband here with us and not have to tell him the stories of what his beautiful kids did at the end of every day. Heck, most days I couldn’t do much without his help! We are so truly blessed!

As usual our week is pretty booked. I like to keep things active now that we live in Denton and it isn’t a long drive to come to fun activities. Today will be taking care of errands and groceries needed. Shouldn’t be too much.

But tomorrow the fun begins with Story Time at the library. Then weather permitting we go to a park. We are in 2 parent groups both of which meet on Wednesday afternoons. Last week we met with one and this week we may visit the other. Again depending on weather, some parks are better when it’s colder. It should be nice though.

Then Thursday we are going to visit my mom. She has another puzzle for Andrew and I. We have been quite enjoying puzzles together! It is one of my favorite activities and I am so grateful to be sharing it with him and that he enjoys it too. I am also going to borrow her Kitchenaide mixer and see if I can’t get back to baking our bread. It’s easier with the mixer because I won’t have to try and find 10 minutes to knead the dough.

Then Friday I have a book club meeting. One of my mom’s groups sprouted off to read a mommy book and we are going to meet once a month to discuss each chapter. It’s a great book called The Tao of Poop about mommying a baby and all that comes with that. I’m bringing the kids to play with the other mom’s children while we are there. Daddy should enjoy some time alone but chances are he’ll just miss us!

We are reading some books from my mother that are about virtues and manners daily. There’s a series of each and they are a perfect length. Paul even likes to look at the pictures while I read! I also read aloud to them the book I am enjoying, The Golden Compass.

No rolling over yet by Paul T but we aren’t pushing anything. He’ll do it when he’s good and ready to!

As you can see we will be busy this week but if I have time in the evenings after Andrew is in bed I will try to sort out some videos to put up. It has been far too long! I also will try to take some pics of the kids while we are out at our events this week to put up as well.

We have been so blessed int he last year with our family and friends. So much has happened! A baby, a move, some serious illness, some big wellness, several trips to the hospital for various people and things. Watching Andrew grow has been a joy a true joy. At times it is a tearful joy as I let go of him a little more with each new thing.

He is officially out of diapers during the day and able to wear underwear and pants with very rare accidents. At just over 2 years old as a first boy this is really amazing for this generation of plastic diapers and pullups. We are so proud. It was a partnership with him that got us here. We recognized his signs of readiness and decided we were up to the extra work of taking him to potties and of doing extra laundry. His Meeema Tressie was a big help too. The first time he ever was able to verbalize his need to potty while wearing pants was with her and that was our first giant step in the process.

I have a few resolutions for this year. Exercise is the main one. We are starting back on our push up routine that once got us both super in shape. I don’t know that this will be what we do all day every day for the next year but as long as we are doing something all is well. I also have a resolution to wean Andrew completely by the end of the year. We have gone to 2 times a day and I am willing to do one more time in emergency situations. Yesterday he only nursed once because he fell asleep on the way home. Again I think he is ready. He does ask a lot during the day but I am still the first place he comes when hungry or thirsty or sleepy. We spend lots of other ways cuddling and connecting so now it is only a matter of letting him see that we can satisfy thirst and hunger in other ways that big boys do. Paul T has to nurse because he cannot eat anything else, but Andrew gets to have chocolate milk and smoothies! I am sure it will be fine. Just another part of letting go.

Our Christmas was wonderful this year, we got to see our whole family and we stayed home for Christmas morning beginning a tradition that Andy and I remember from childhood. There’s not much more excited than waking up Christmas morning and running to see what is under the tree and in your stocking.

My final resolution for this year is to be better at updating this blog! I am sorry for falling off during a time when most readers are looking for info – when there’s a new member! But the first 2 months of Paul T’s life were quite sleepless for me. I was a zombie. But we have turned a major corner and he is now the sweetest cutest fat 3 month old! He coos and giggles and kicks and squirms. He is trying very hard to turn over from his back to him tummy but that darned arm gets in his way! He did turn from tummy to back yesterday though! We all missed it. All I know is I laid him in bed asleep on his belly and when he was calling for me I went in to find him on his back! Now being in the bed may have helped him roll but still at not even a full 3 months yet that’s pretty good! I am actually a bit sad. Andrew progressed very quickly in his large motor skills also and I was hoping this one would take some more time. Though he is already getting very heavy in our carriers so by the time he’s 10 months old I may be ready for him to walk too!

I hope all of you had a Happy New Year and a fun Christmas full of family and love. We have so much to be thankful for here it fills me up! Thank you to all of my family for a wonderful year together and we look forward to an even more wonderful and eventful year full of growth!

~~Be sure you heck the album for December for Xmas pics! HERE!

And I’ve already started January’s so check back often!