Time Continues to Fly

So I kind of bypassed Tobe's 1st bday. It was on the 8th of February. We had a small party for him on the 7th and then had a Baby Dedication on his actual birthday at church. It was funny, because at Eden's baby dedication she was only 3 weeks old. Eli was 7 months on his dedication. And I finally fit Tobe in at 1 year, when hopefully it would still be considered a "baby" dedication. Anyways time flies.

Tobe still is my baby. He mumbles two words "mama" and "dada". Although he can wave, give kisses, and say gentle and more with his hands, we don't get much out of the guy. He is cruising and crawling, but I don't think he is anywhere near walking. Although I probably forget how fast they go from one stage to another. Anyways, I said that is OK, he doesn't have to walk until he is 3 since he is my last baby. Either I truly have babied him and Eli at the time, or there is such a HUGE difference between boys and girls. Now Eden walked at about 9/10 months and Eli walked the week of his first bday. But we were just thinking (and I guess comparing) what Eden was doing when she turned one: she was already sleeping in a toddler bed, she would dance to Dragon Tales on the TV, she would sit and listen/read a book, she was talking in paragraphs, and running! It is such a vast difference. Now Eli is VERY verbal as well, although it just came all of a sudden like at the end of 2--beginning of 3. I was worried for a while, only because I only had Eden to compare him too. (I know, I know, You are not suppose to compare). And now Tobe is on the same track. I only hope he doesn't decide to walk when I am out of the country and on my cruise (in 10 days!!Yeah!). Anyways each phase has it's own blessings and curses. I am enjoying Darius Rucker's new song "It won't be like this for long" and really trying to soak it in. I just cried in the car, on a long road trip listening to that song, looking back at Eden sleeping and thinking I'm not sure I will be able to let her go. It seems so far away and yet time continues to fly.

The Luckiest Girl in the World

So today during our MOPS meeting, we had a husband panel to share some secrets of marriage and get some guys perspective on some items that can often cause tension in a marriage. Well overall it went great. All of the husbands were great and very vulnerable to speaking to a whole room of ladies...however, my hubby was on the panel as well and anyways........I totally take Chris for granted. I am so lucky to be his wife. He is not your stereotypical man (OK---he does still leave his socks and clothes in the middle of the floor), he is quite the opposite. One of the more lighthearted questions was: "What is the one housekeeping task that you have not admitted to your wife that you would actually not mind doing if she could not?" Chris really could not answer this question. Why? Because there is not a housekeeping task he hasn't done. OK, he is not great at cleaning the bathroom and he HATES doing laundry, but he daily cleans dishes, cooks, sweeps, mops, vacuums, still takes out the trash, grills, mows the lawn, etc. In other words, he does the "normal" guy things and a lot of what would be normally the "woman's" thing. He also feeds our kids, changes as many diapers as I do, and puts gas in my car. It kind of makes you wonder what I do, doesn't it? I feel like I am always doing stuff or trying to force naps during the day that by evening it wears me out. Chris is a wonderful partner, I couldn't ask for more. So if your man is anything like mine, please don't take him for granted. I have already done it enough for all of us.

Which came first?

Because of You, God

Because of You
I have life.
I am a princess and part
of the bride of Christ.

Because of You
I have a song.
You gave me a Godly man
whose love is strong.

Because of You
I am warmed.
You gave me Delight,
my lucky charm.

Because of You
I can smile.
You gave me my Sunshine,
whose joy lasts for miles.

Because of You
I am amazed.
You gave me my sweet Valentine
to cherish and raise.

Because of You
I am blessed:
-with life,
-with song,
-with happiness.


I am not much of a poet, however, this came to me the other night at 1 am when I was up with sick kids and then laying wide awake (anyone ever experince that?) So I got up and penned this poem. At the time, I was trying to find some inspiration for a tatoo that I plan on getting in the near future, but could not decide what I wanted to do. So I don't even know if the tatoo or the poem came first, kind of like the chicken and the egg. But here is the result, this poem is sort of a testimonial to the blessings God has given me. So I plan on getting an ankle charm bracelet and each charm will mean something significant: a small tiara showing that I am a daughter of the King of Kings (i.e. princess), a cross explaining what Jesus did for me which allows me to be part of his bride and join him in heaven some day, a treble clef which represents Chris "my song", a shamrock because Eden was born on St. Patrick's Day "my luck charm", a sunshine because Eli was born in the heat of the summer and his favorite lullaby is "You are my Sunshine", and a heart because Tobe came a little earlier than his Feb. 14th due date so he's my favorite Valentine. So now I am really excited and passionate about my future tatoo and believe that this passion will hopefully diminish some of the pain. Wishful thinking, right? Anyways, God's blessings are good.

Could it be any colder?

This week has marked one of the coldest weeks I've seen in years. Maybe I'm just more aware of it, since I'm bundling up my little girl to head to school and having to do the same to the boys when it is time to pick her up. But on Thursday it was at one point -4 degrees with a wind chill of -20. On Friday we had a heat wave and it reached 8 degrees at 3 pm. On days like these I truly do miss Arizona. Chris and I lived in Arizona from Nov. of 1999 till July 2004. It was such a fun time, especially as newly weds, on our own for the first time, big city and all. If you can stand a little heat for 3 months, the other 9 months is just gorgeous weather. (Now those Arizonians start freaking out when it gets in the high 50's--that's too cold for them). Now I'm not laughing at them, just stating the facts. We both vividly remember on Jan. 1, 2000 (after seeing that everything was ok from Y2K :) )buying our exercise bikes and wearing shorts. Who would think of buying bikes in Missouri in January? (The answer is no one.) Being AZ newbies, we even took a picture of us holding the newspaper in our shorts. Don't laugh at us!!! Unfortunately the bikes have not seen the light of day very much, they have been moved from one garage to another, more than they have been ridden, but that is another blog. Anyways, I guess I will never wonder why when I suggest to my Arizona friends they should pack up and come live by me in St. Louis they don't jump at the chance---especially if I ask them in Jan. or Feb. I must convince them about the beauty of Fall and how rain in the Spring can actually smell good rather than smell like dust, crisp air Friday night football games, and how you don't always have third degree burns from your steering wheel when you drive in the summer. (If you haven't noticed---I am trying to talk myself into staying in MO.---because I can't take the cold much longer.) SOOOOOO......Christina & Andy, Shanna & Matt, Nicole & Joe.... why don't you all come live in Missouri?! I'm about to become a snow bird.

Beautiful Branson

So I am a little behind...but better late than never. Right? Over the New Year Holiday we got to go to our friends' cabin in Branson and ring in the new year with them. (The above picture is Eden & Eli and the Gerdel clan ringing in the New Year at 10 PM CST. They were pretty excited to get to toast and stay up till then.) The Gerdel's are our best friends here in Washington and have a cabin in Branson (no offense to my best friends in Phoenix or my best friends in Branson or my other best friends all over the country). Normally when we've gone somewhere with the Gerdels it has been camping at the Meramac State Park during the heat of summer, so needless to say, Eden was confused. She asked if she could bring her bike to ride. I had to say no, because riding your bike in 40 degree weather isn't as fun. Then she asked the funniest thing. "Is Branson full of nature?" Having lived in Branson for a year, we told her yes. It is a beautiful town full of nature. I guess it is a little sad, that she doesn't recognize Washington as being "full of nature". (Because it also is a beautiful town on the most southern tip of the Missouri River). She thinks in order to view nature, it must be a long trip that we have to pack for, rather than looking for nature in our own backyard. I guess I need to highlight God's creation a little more often at our own home. We did have a great time and the weather actually was in the mid-60's. It truly was gorgeous nature weather. We got to go to the fish hatchery under Tablerock Dam, the Branson Landing, explore around the cabin, see at least 8 deer from their back door, and visit some other best friends as well. All in all, it was a great trip: very relaxing, lots of laughing, making new friends and keeping the old, ringing in the new year, and of course enjoying nature! Thank you, Missy and Andrew, for including us in your family and allowing us to ring in the new year with you and in your wonderful cabin.