New Year, New Blog

Just like every other new year, I have new goals to actually write on this blog!  This time, I think I really want to focus on things I look for in other blogs…what's cooking, what we're reading, what we're crafting, and of course, our super cute kids!

Starting yesterday, Tim and I are both starting new Bible reading plans.  Our Sunday school teacher always encourages us to be daily Bible readers, so we're hoping that these new plans will aid us in that. Speaking of our Sunday school teacher, he will be leaving to do training for a job transfer for several weeks, and Tim will be teaching our class starting this Sunday.  When someone says, "I'm a teach Sunday school," most people don't think about all that goes in to it.  I remember seeing my dad sit for hours with his Bible and lesson books growing up when he taught.  I pray that Tim will be able to devote that time needed and share the words that God has for him to teach.  

At home we're trying to clean things out.  With 4 of us living in 2 bedrooms and 1 bath, we don't have a lot of extra space.  We got the best gift ever from my parents for Christmas…a dish washer!  It's a small, 1 shelf, on the counter version, but it's amazing!  We've run it at least once every day since Christmas trying to catch up on all of our dirty dishes.  Also, I was able to go through all of Parker's old clothes to get ready for the spring consignment sales yesterday since Tim was home watching the kids.  I went from 10 boxes down to 1 to keep!  I still have Charleigh's to work on, but there aren't near as many.  To help on our organizing theme, I bought a small binder and some other goodies to make my own planner.  I found a few that I loved online, but I'm not going to go broke working on getting organized to save money!  Hopefully, that will be a post soon; in fact, I need to get busy now!

More soon...

First Day of School

Both babies started back to school today.  I can't believe Charleigh is old enough to be in preschool!  They both went right in and there were no tears...from them or me!  It did help that I'm working an interim position at church, so I'm right around the corner!

My First Week

Allow me to introduce the cutest little girl ever...Charleigh!

She arrived on August 7th, weighing in at 7 pounds 2 ounces and 19 inches long.  She is such a wonderful baby.  We're even getting sleep!  The first 4 weeks she only wanted to sleep if someone was holding her, so my nights were spent in the recliner.  Hey, sleep is sleep...I'll take it where ever I can get it!  Now, she's sleep several hours on her own in the bassinet.  She wakes up around 1 and 5 to eat, and then back to sleep she goes.  She is a great eater.  We had a difficult time with Parker, so this is truly an answer to prayer.  Speaking of Parker...he loves his new sister.

He does, however, miss everyone's full attention.  His perfect behavior is no longer.  Some of this is just his age, I'm sure.  Compared to most 2 year olds, his behavior would be exemplary, but needing to repeat myself is something new for me.
Luckily, my parents have been great about helping us out.  They will take Parker, so he gets lots of one on one attention, watch both kids so I can take a shower, or just hang out so I'm not alone.  This was the first week I've been on my own each day since they're on vacation.  Guess what...I survived!  Tim is such a big helper.  He's always going above and beyond around here.  Friday, he cleaned the toilet...for no reason (other than it needed it!).  We were talking tonight before he went to bed about how much we love having our family of 4.  We really have worked together and know how blessed we are!

One More Week!

I can't believe that in a week we'll have a new baby!  That's right...in one week or less, we will be a family of 4.  I had my weekly visit at the doctor's office today, and the c-section is scheduled for Wednesday if things don't happen naturally before then.  We were talking tonight, and Tim thinks it's funny to have something like that listed on the calendar!
With the anticipation of new baby, I have been determined to have things much better prepared than when Parker boy arrived.  He was 2 weeks early, and he came over spring break.  For any teachers reading this, you know that you save everything that you need to get done for months to complete over spring break...well, that was all out the window!  I'm pretty sure we only lived in our bed room for a couple of months when he arrived because that was the only room with any place to sit!
This time, I'm forcing myself to nest!  I started a few weeks ago, and things are finally getting there!  The house, with very few exceptions, is ready for baby to arrive...and any other visitors who want to witness the cuteness which will come along with it!  Here is a peek at the living room.

Parker is getting ready to share his room.  We have changed his crib to a toddler bed (finally), and the new baby's bed is all set.  We have some friends at church who are moving and cleaning out, so they gave us a baby bed with a mattress!!!  For a new one-income family, this has been a huge blessing!  The closet is completely cleaned out, and as organized as much as it can be for now.  I know it will change drastically when we know if new baby needs pink or blue, but for now, it's as good as it can be!
I have stocked up on necessities that I won't feel like going to Target to pick up...paper plates, tooth paste, toilet paper,....  It's hard to think of me not wanting to go to Target, but taking 2 little ones with me may keep me at home a lot more!
I've been working on a few crafty projects...curtains for our bedroom, a wreath, and lots of super cute headbands (just incase we have a Charleigh!)

Of course, I've gotten things ready for the hospital as well.  My bag is packed, along with charged cameras, the boppy, and a few of those headbands I've made!  Also, I have gifts for Parker from baby and for baby from Parker.  Parker also has a Big Brother bag that will be awaiting him when he gets to visit at the hospital.  I have a little something special for Tim also, but I don't want to put it on here just incase he takes a look at the blog!

We had our maternity pictures made a few weeks ago, and we LOVE them!  Here's one of my favorites!

I can't fail to mention Tim's promotion at work.  He's been doing great since he's been at Yamaha.  I know that it's not the career that he wants, but he is working his hardest at what God has given him.  I'm so proud of him...not only for the hard work that he puts in, but for doing what it best for our family!  I'm a lucky girl!

Catch up...

It seems like I'm always playing catch up on here.  Between being a mommy, wife, teacher, growing a baby, and sleeping, I'm just not good at keeping up with the blog!  Hopefully that will change next year while I'm home.  That's right...I'm staying home next year.  We may be poor and eat grilled cheese 4 days a week, but it's going to be worth it!!!  Oh, and you didn't read that wrong...I'm growing a baby!  At the end of the summer we'll need to change the blog title to "Just the 4 of Us...".

Happy New Year!

Welcome 2013!
Don't you love the start of a new year?  A chance to set goals and have dreams of how to make this the best year yet...you know, goals like blogging more!
2012 was a wonderful year.  Fun times watching Parker grow, new friends at work, and honestly, every year I am with Tim it really does feel like the best one yet.  I have high hopes for 2013!
Here are a few of my fave pics from the past year...

UNO!

Parker's party was a success!  I think everyone had fun and the birthday boy was super cute!  He hadn't had a nap and it was hot outside, but he smiled, ate cake, and opened presents like a big boy!  The only problem was that there are no really good pics!  I'm still bitter about this...even though it's been 2 months!  Here are some of the good ones from the day...

Here are the cake push ups!  I was so proud of them.  Apparently they were pretty good because they were all eaten!

He didn't get too messy.  He has texture issues when it comes to touching his food...he gets that from his dad!

He loved his lawn mower!  He wouldn't slow down long enough for us to take the tags off.

Here's the after party.  I was really impressed with Tim and myself because we had it all cleaned up 2 hours after everyone left.  Then we went to bed...early!

We're so blessed to have this little man in our lives.  He is nothing but joy!