Hannah and I are currently loving the word Yak. We drive past a farm on the way to most places that has a couple Yaks. Their's are much cuter than the one pictured here but he is cute as well. Last year when we went to the Pumpkin Patch I met a Yak. He was great. And from there I decided I love them. They seem so calm and friendly and are cute! And it's fun to say! Yak! We found the word Yak in a small dictionary Hannah has and she loves that page now. And I don't blame her! I want to find an entire kid's book dedicated to a Yak. If anyone knows of one off the top of their heads I'd be grateful. I just think we need a book about a crazy Yak that caught a cold or that does something silly. So I'l be on the lookout too...but I seriously want one for the backyard. I don't kow what I'd name him. Mac? Or Henry. What do you name a Yak? You can't just go with any ole name! I mean you don't want to introduce your pet Yak DAVID?! Not that David is a horrible name but for a Yak it just won't do....I may have to think on this.
4.30.2009
Pet Yak
Now don't laugh! But I really want a Yak. I've decided I really like them!
Hannah and I are currently loving the word Yak. We drive past a farm on the way to most places that has a couple Yaks. Their's are much cuter than the one pictured here but he is cute as well. Last year when we went to the Pumpkin Patch I met a Yak. He was great. And from there I decided I love them. They seem so calm and friendly and are cute! And it's fun to say! Yak! We found the word Yak in a small dictionary Hannah has and she loves that page now. And I don't blame her! I want to find an entire kid's book dedicated to a Yak. If anyone knows of one off the top of their heads I'd be grateful. I just think we need a book about a crazy Yak that caught a cold or that does something silly. So I'l be on the lookout too...but I seriously want one for the backyard. I don't kow what I'd name him. Mac? Or Henry. What do you name a Yak? You can't just go with any ole name! I mean you don't want to introduce your pet Yak DAVID?! Not that David is a horrible name but for a Yak it just won't do....I may have to think on this.
Hannah and I are currently loving the word Yak. We drive past a farm on the way to most places that has a couple Yaks. Their's are much cuter than the one pictured here but he is cute as well. Last year when we went to the Pumpkin Patch I met a Yak. He was great. And from there I decided I love them. They seem so calm and friendly and are cute! And it's fun to say! Yak! We found the word Yak in a small dictionary Hannah has and she loves that page now. And I don't blame her! I want to find an entire kid's book dedicated to a Yak. If anyone knows of one off the top of their heads I'd be grateful. I just think we need a book about a crazy Yak that caught a cold or that does something silly. So I'l be on the lookout too...but I seriously want one for the backyard. I don't kow what I'd name him. Mac? Or Henry. What do you name a Yak? You can't just go with any ole name! I mean you don't want to introduce your pet Yak DAVID?! Not that David is a horrible name but for a Yak it just won't do....I may have to think on this.
4.29.2009
Confession
Ok. So we've all done it. We've looked at other mothers and children and been thankful we weren't them...or we've seen things other mother's have done and rolled our eyes or shaken our heads. One of those things I've been guilty of is in regards to child leashes. Before we had Hannah I could never see myself using one. What is the point? Is it really necssary.
Ok...then I had Hannah. And the answer became YES! For those of you who know her well...she's BUSY. Constantly. Like she never stops. Ever. And this I feel is normal on some levels but she seems to take it to a whole new level.
The few times I've been shopping with Hannah and someone else they get a firsthand look at how very bad it is. For any length of time. She's rather crazy. I've tried everything. We've already left stores. And after about the third time of her dashing off and hiding from me and stopping my heart dead I decided I couldn't do this anymore. It may be paranoid of me but she is incredibly charming and FAST and it would take her like 2 seconds to be on the other side of a store while I'm still looking for her in one location and then SNATCH...someone could take her.
I cannot express to you the panic and heart attack the mere thought of this brings on. So I did it. I broke down and got a cute fuzzy one from Target that looks more stuffed animal like than child leash and I put it on her yesterday.
Now...I already knew it would only succeed in keeping her closer...not in keeping her calm and less crazy. It worked pretty well and I feel better knowing she can't dash off but it sure doesn't take her frustration level down any. And you'd think I should be able just to put her in the cart! Oh but no! Even strapped in she manges to shimmy out or unbuckle herself without you knowing even while looking right at her and then next thing you know she's standing or trying to stand or trying to exit the cart or getting mad because she's contained. *Sigh* For a baby who being five weeks early was supposed to be delayed in certain areas...we seem to be more rapidly approaching two than we should be!!
Ok...then I had Hannah. And the answer became YES! For those of you who know her well...she's BUSY. Constantly. Like she never stops. Ever. And this I feel is normal on some levels but she seems to take it to a whole new level.
The few times I've been shopping with Hannah and someone else they get a firsthand look at how very bad it is. For any length of time. She's rather crazy. I've tried everything. We've already left stores. And after about the third time of her dashing off and hiding from me and stopping my heart dead I decided I couldn't do this anymore. It may be paranoid of me but she is incredibly charming and FAST and it would take her like 2 seconds to be on the other side of a store while I'm still looking for her in one location and then SNATCH...someone could take her.
I cannot express to you the panic and heart attack the mere thought of this brings on. So I did it. I broke down and got a cute fuzzy one from Target that looks more stuffed animal like than child leash and I put it on her yesterday.
Now...I already knew it would only succeed in keeping her closer...not in keeping her calm and less crazy. It worked pretty well and I feel better knowing she can't dash off but it sure doesn't take her frustration level down any. And you'd think I should be able just to put her in the cart! Oh but no! Even strapped in she manges to shimmy out or unbuckle herself without you knowing even while looking right at her and then next thing you know she's standing or trying to stand or trying to exit the cart or getting mad because she's contained. *Sigh* For a baby who being five weeks early was supposed to be delayed in certain areas...we seem to be more rapidly approaching two than we should be!!
4.28.2009
Rock, Paper, Scissors - Take 2
So I really don't know why I didn't start using this more often a long time ago as a means to get out of undesirable things. Because...I am good! I keep winning!! The other day I used it to get out of doing something mundane and having to move from the comfortable spot I was currently in. And won. (Normally I am not this lazy. I don't sit til everything is done)
But after I played and won Adam decides to change the rules. (He does this a lot. He tries to be very convincing and if you don't know him well it ALMOST works) He tells me that the game meant nothing because it is a man's game and is not to be played by women because we don't know how to properly use it and the power it comes with. (Oh he is REACHING!) I laugh and say: No but seriously I just won so go. Go do it.
This doesn't work. He keeps trying to argue that he's not going to do it. And I laugh and say: But I just won. So seriously go.
Eventually he got up and did it. I really think I'm going to start using this more often. I'm basking in the afterglow of several victories in a row now! And I'll have no problem if I lose a game here and there conceeding and getting up to do what needs to be done. But for now....I'm rather enjoying this streak!
But after I played and won Adam decides to change the rules. (He does this a lot. He tries to be very convincing and if you don't know him well it ALMOST works) He tells me that the game meant nothing because it is a man's game and is not to be played by women because we don't know how to properly use it and the power it comes with. (Oh he is REACHING!) I laugh and say: No but seriously I just won so go. Go do it.
This doesn't work. He keeps trying to argue that he's not going to do it. And I laugh and say: But I just won. So seriously go.
Eventually he got up and did it. I really think I'm going to start using this more often. I'm basking in the afterglow of several victories in a row now! And I'll have no problem if I lose a game here and there conceeding and getting up to do what needs to be done. But for now....I'm rather enjoying this streak!
Get Over Yourself
This last weekend the Nazarene Church held their annual NMI (Nazarene Missionary International) convention out here in Beaverton for this district. It's been YEARS since I've attended one; I used to go as a delegate or for various reasons but it's been ages. My friend Joey who leads worship at Hillsboro Church (and does an amazing job) was asked to help lead worship for the conference...and he asked me to help out as well. Now there are no two people I love leading worship with more at this point than Adam and Joey. It's just different...the spirit of it is different. So I was incredibly honored he asked. So we went. Turns out God had a lot to say to me this weekend. First off the worship portion was phenomenal. The response from people and the blessing I got from being up there singing with these people was beyond words.
The missionaries who spoke (Carlos and Robin Radi) were nothing short of amazing. Their speaking style engaging! He spoke in Spanish and she translated into English which one might think would be distracting or take away from what was being said. Not so. In fact it made the message that much more powerful. They are an incredible couple and he is very softspoken and she adds this extra energy. Their message was simple, but very profound. Simple things make a difference. Simple things can be all it takes if we are willing to do what it takes.
All weekend I had this nagging feeling that I needed to be examining my own life. And everytime we got up to sing I kept feeling this sense of rightness...of being right where I was supposed to be.
I have felt for years called to do more with music and have always decided I knew better than GOD. I'm underqualified, I fall short etc...besides I can think of MANY people who sing better than I do or who are more talented than I am. (I sing and play with many of them every Sunday morning) But this was holding me back. I've been praying to be open to being right where I need to be, where God needs me and our family to be and I've been contradicting my own prayers by saying I'm not good enough or that HE could better use someone else. So this weekend I felt very clearly God telling me to "Get over myself!" To move past any ridiculous hangups I have about this or that or whether my voice is good enough or whether I can play anything, to get out of the way and really let Him move in our lives, in my life. So...this is what I'm going to do. I don't know what this means. I don't know where it takes us or how soon. But this is the point I am at.
All weekend there were a million things that fit into this same - for lack of a better word - theme! And like I said I don't know what the heck it means for us or for me...except that I work on getting over myself and out of the way. Which sometimes is easier said than done. :)
The missionaries who spoke (Carlos and Robin Radi) were nothing short of amazing. Their speaking style engaging! He spoke in Spanish and she translated into English which one might think would be distracting or take away from what was being said. Not so. In fact it made the message that much more powerful. They are an incredible couple and he is very softspoken and she adds this extra energy. Their message was simple, but very profound. Simple things make a difference. Simple things can be all it takes if we are willing to do what it takes.
All weekend I had this nagging feeling that I needed to be examining my own life. And everytime we got up to sing I kept feeling this sense of rightness...of being right where I was supposed to be.
I have felt for years called to do more with music and have always decided I knew better than GOD. I'm underqualified, I fall short etc...besides I can think of MANY people who sing better than I do or who are more talented than I am. (I sing and play with many of them every Sunday morning) But this was holding me back. I've been praying to be open to being right where I need to be, where God needs me and our family to be and I've been contradicting my own prayers by saying I'm not good enough or that HE could better use someone else. So this weekend I felt very clearly God telling me to "Get over myself!" To move past any ridiculous hangups I have about this or that or whether my voice is good enough or whether I can play anything, to get out of the way and really let Him move in our lives, in my life. So...this is what I'm going to do. I don't know what this means. I don't know where it takes us or how soon. But this is the point I am at.
All weekend there were a million things that fit into this same - for lack of a better word - theme! And like I said I don't know what the heck it means for us or for me...except that I work on getting over myself and out of the way. Which sometimes is easier said than done. :)
4.25.2009
The simplest of things....
Hannah's only a year and a half but she's already done a kajillion things that have melted my heart. It really is the little things. This weekend I was gone for a good portion because I was honored to be asked in helping lead worship for a couple days with a group of friends. My mom (bless you!!) did a marvelous thing for me and took half a day on Friday so she could hang out with Hannah and so I could be gone singing. While hanging out they went on a walk and decided to pick some flowers for me. (She brought me some on Sunday as well after a walk with her Popsie but those are sandwiched in a book I frequently read.) Hannah and Gram picked a daffodil and carefully put it in a vase of water and put it by my bed so when I got home late Friday night I would see it...I'm sure I smiled all night thinking about that. Because I wasn't going to see her much today either it was very sweet to be able to go to sleep and wake up to this reminder of her.
Is it so wrong?
I don't mind it.
I don't blink an eye when it comes time to...it's not a big deal.
But some days if another option is available...it's nice to opt out occasionally.
Cause sometimes you just don't want to change another poopy diaper.
So is it so wrong that when the time came to help her out...I rock, paper, scissored for it?
(And won!) :-D I think not.
This victory smelled very sweet!
4.23.2009
Na Na Na Na...Na Na Na NA HEY HEY Goodbye...
So there's this pillow....it's Adam's pillow. He cannot recall ever NOT having it. It's been a sorespot in our marriage. (Well I think it's funny) Adam has been unable to tolerate any talk of it's disappearing. I washed it a few times....it has not helped. He complained I made it lumpier and ruined it's disposition by washing and bleaching it. (it has a greenish tint to it) He's had valid points that most likely I killed anything living in it by washing it in the hottest of hot waters in bleach but I was uncomforted. It's been a subject many a random night in bed and once when I jokingly threatened to punt it off the balcony I was treated with stony silence for the rest of the night. (Oh honey I love you) He's already in disbelief that I refuse to use his old worn out bachelor looking comforter on our bed. There's been a handful of times that he's been able to use it because of various reasons and he swears he sleeps so much better with it. (This is false.) So I've joked about burning the pillow at the stake among other things and it's obvious he is not amused.
There's also a featherbed. I bought it several years back because I love being enveloped in yummy fluffiness when I sleep. It was good to start but I had to wash it a couple of times for various reasons. It should have been taken to a dry cleaner but I'm cheap and so did it myself. This caused the feathers to kind of bunch and flock in all different directions most especially the corners and baffle lines. This drive Adam crazy. I did not care. I liked that it bunched and created cozy little nooks for parts of my body. After months of grumbling he tells me I need to keep it on my side only. He wants no part of this ridiculous featherbed. So he doubles it up and keeps it on my side. Well I am ecstatic! Now I get even more fluffy goodness! The places where there were no feathers before have a backup as the doubled up part creates even more coziness.
Well as you can imagine it didn't take long before a new grumble sprouted. "I hate this!" he says. "It's like I'm sleeping on two different beds! You're so much higher than I am and when I go to roll over it's like this wall of fluff in my way." (As I pointed out to Mom Sonia I'm sure now this was Adam's careful and calulated way to get the featherbed out the door.) I paid no mind but the grumbling got more and more frequent until Sunday night when I asked Adam to please help me change the sheets. As we're changing the sheets he agains launches into his greivances about the featherbed and tells me I need to remove it completely. After back and forth conversation I finally say: "You know what!? I will take this featherbed off and not put it back on if you throw your pillow out tonight." Silence. Then, "Ok done! Take it off and I'll throw my pillow away." I laugh. This is so NOT going to happen. There is no way he's throwing his beloved pillow out this easily. SO after more conversation and my sadness over losing ole fluffy he says "Ok whatever just put it back on the bed keep the stupid featherbed."
Ohhhh no no no my friends! I have a window of opportunity here! I am of course losing my fluffy goodness but he is losing THEE PILLOW! After a ridiculous wrestling match where he tries to put the bed back on the matrtess and I trying to take it back off...the final score: the featherbed was off to dumpster land and the beloved pillow was sent immediately to the trash can where it was whisked off by the friendly garbage people this morning unable to be retrieved in a moment of weakness. Adam - a better person for it...
Now if I'm being honest it really was harder on Adam. It was more of a sacrifice on his part. And he was VERY gracious because he immediately said I could look for another featherbed to replace the old one since I have such a hard time sleeping on our regular old mattess (When did I become so old!?) and later this week we replaced it with a memory foam topper. One we can both live with....so I guess this means we have to move on to more trivial things in life.
Good-bye beloved pillow...you will be missed (by Adam not me)
Somewhere from Adam's childhood - April 2009
There's also a featherbed. I bought it several years back because I love being enveloped in yummy fluffiness when I sleep. It was good to start but I had to wash it a couple of times for various reasons. It should have been taken to a dry cleaner but I'm cheap and so did it myself. This caused the feathers to kind of bunch and flock in all different directions most especially the corners and baffle lines. This drive Adam crazy. I did not care. I liked that it bunched and created cozy little nooks for parts of my body. After months of grumbling he tells me I need to keep it on my side only. He wants no part of this ridiculous featherbed. So he doubles it up and keeps it on my side. Well I am ecstatic! Now I get even more fluffy goodness! The places where there were no feathers before have a backup as the doubled up part creates even more coziness.
Well as you can imagine it didn't take long before a new grumble sprouted. "I hate this!" he says. "It's like I'm sleeping on two different beds! You're so much higher than I am and when I go to roll over it's like this wall of fluff in my way." (As I pointed out to Mom Sonia I'm sure now this was Adam's careful and calulated way to get the featherbed out the door.) I paid no mind but the grumbling got more and more frequent until Sunday night when I asked Adam to please help me change the sheets. As we're changing the sheets he agains launches into his greivances about the featherbed and tells me I need to remove it completely. After back and forth conversation I finally say: "You know what!? I will take this featherbed off and not put it back on if you throw your pillow out tonight." Silence. Then, "Ok done! Take it off and I'll throw my pillow away." I laugh. This is so NOT going to happen. There is no way he's throwing his beloved pillow out this easily. SO after more conversation and my sadness over losing ole fluffy he says "Ok whatever just put it back on the bed keep the stupid featherbed."
Ohhhh no no no my friends! I have a window of opportunity here! I am of course losing my fluffy goodness but he is losing THEE PILLOW! After a ridiculous wrestling match where he tries to put the bed back on the matrtess and I trying to take it back off...the final score: the featherbed was off to dumpster land and the beloved pillow was sent immediately to the trash can where it was whisked off by the friendly garbage people this morning unable to be retrieved in a moment of weakness. Adam - a better person for it...
Now if I'm being honest it really was harder on Adam. It was more of a sacrifice on his part. And he was VERY gracious because he immediately said I could look for another featherbed to replace the old one since I have such a hard time sleeping on our regular old mattess (When did I become so old!?) and later this week we replaced it with a memory foam topper. One we can both live with....so I guess this means we have to move on to more trivial things in life.
Good-bye beloved pillow...you will be missed (by Adam not me)
Somewhere from Adam's childhood - April 2009
4.15.2009
"Good GIRL Mama!!"
When we first got pregnant with Hannah I felt pretty prepared. I wasn't freaking out about anything really...I've been around kids and babies my whole life and for the most part with the exception of a few nerve-wracking things I felt pretty at ease and calm about most things I knew I'd encounter. One thing I was NOT looking forward to however, was potty training. For some reason shortly after she got here I would think about it and even though I knew we were nowhere near ready I was having a hard time with it! I was mentally preparing myself for it to be incredibly difficult, especially once we started seeing how much she loves to challenge EVERYTHING.
Several months ago it was obvious in many ways she was interested in going potty...and for about a month she did great. But I wanted to be really relaxed about it and just get her used to the idea etc...she has PLENTY of time to learn and we're in no rush. Well then she suddenly decided that anything having to do with going potty freaked her out. You'd try to get her to go and she'd panic and cry. Ok! No big deal to me so I put it aside figuring she'd grow out of this little stage in awhile and we'd try again.
Fast forward 2 months and she became SUPER interested in going again. So for the last 3 weeks we've been really consistent about getting her used to it and last night I think I actually saw the lightbulb go off that made it click in her mind! She came running to me with a very concerned look and says "Mama potty!!!" So off we go and sure enough! It wasn't the first time she'd asked to go but it was definitely the first time we got it all coordinated with what she had going on! It's very cute though because she INSISTS that I go as well while we're in there and baby doll has to go too. And at the very end I get a nice Hannah pat and sometimes even a clap and a "Good GIRl my Mama!" (Oh I love her!) Guess it wasn't so bad after all...
Several months ago it was obvious in many ways she was interested in going potty...and for about a month she did great. But I wanted to be really relaxed about it and just get her used to the idea etc...she has PLENTY of time to learn and we're in no rush. Well then she suddenly decided that anything having to do with going potty freaked her out. You'd try to get her to go and she'd panic and cry. Ok! No big deal to me so I put it aside figuring she'd grow out of this little stage in awhile and we'd try again.
Fast forward 2 months and she became SUPER interested in going again. So for the last 3 weeks we've been really consistent about getting her used to it and last night I think I actually saw the lightbulb go off that made it click in her mind! She came running to me with a very concerned look and says "Mama potty!!!" So off we go and sure enough! It wasn't the first time she'd asked to go but it was definitely the first time we got it all coordinated with what she had going on! It's very cute though because she INSISTS that I go as well while we're in there and baby doll has to go too. And at the very end I get a nice Hannah pat and sometimes even a clap and a "Good GIRl my Mama!" (Oh I love her!) Guess it wasn't so bad after all...
Night Terrors....
Hannah has these....which I found out about a month or so ago. And while it's lovely that she doesn't remember it...it is absolutely TERRIFYING and heart breaking to watch. After I had calmed down the first time this happened I had my immediate suspicions as to it being this kind of a thing since Adam still gets night terrors. (so much for growing out of them!!) His are different than what it describes here but the more I see them in him the more I'm convinced it's how his body deals with anything he's stressed or worried about. It comes out in his sleep. After researching this further it's common to happen in kids where a parent has had the same issues as a child or currently. We've only had a couple and it was during that period of time where she refused to take naps or sleep at night and we were both so exhausted! But nevertheless these are NO fun as a mom to witness....Here's the official description below:
Night terrors are a sleep disorder characterized by anxiety episodes with extreme panic, often accompanied by screaming, flailing, fast breathing, and sweating and that usually occur within a few hours after going to sleep.
Night terrors occur most commonly in children between the ages of four and 12 but can also occur at all ages. Affected individuals usually suffer these episodes within a few hours after going to sleep. They appear to bolt up suddenly, and wake up screaming, sweating and panicked. The episode may last anywhere from five to 20 minutes. During this time, the individual is actually asleep, although the eyes may open. Quite often, nothing can be done to comfort the affected person. Very often, the person has no memory of the episode upon waking the next day.
Night terrors are a sleep disorder characterized by anxiety episodes with extreme panic, often accompanied by screaming, flailing, fast breathing, and sweating and that usually occur within a few hours after going to sleep.
Night terrors occur most commonly in children between the ages of four and 12 but can also occur at all ages. Affected individuals usually suffer these episodes within a few hours after going to sleep. They appear to bolt up suddenly, and wake up screaming, sweating and panicked. The episode may last anywhere from five to 20 minutes. During this time, the individual is actually asleep, although the eyes may open. Quite often, nothing can be done to comfort the affected person. Very often, the person has no memory of the episode upon waking the next day.
4.13.2009
Cherry Limeades....Need I say more
Easter...
So it's a good thing we got the easter egg hunt done on Saturday! The plan was to do a smaller one on Sunday for her with family but seeing as how it poured down rain all day and was nasty...glad we did one on Saturday too! Although she'd been up late Friday night because we went to a little party at Tio's new house and so Saturday morning started off with a major attitude and many meltdowns.
Easter was good...the morning started off as a big hurumph. I managed to get one picture of Hannah in her original easter dress before we had to take that one off and start over. (Adam accidentally got blood from a cut finger all over it) and then Hannah manged to get something crazy all over her white sweater...so a dress and a sweater change later...and then we got to church and she spilled apple juice all over her dress and mine. *Sigh* haha It was kind of a crazy day from many aspects but it was pretty relaxing to end. Hannah was on a major sugar rush in the afternoon and I'd never seen her that crazy! Between that and trying to get packed to go to Washington today it was a little insane. But Troy and Jen and Kendyl came up as well as my aunt and uncle and we had a good time chatting and playing Wii and riling up Hannah! :)
4.07.2009
Spring! Yay!
4.01.2009
Beach Day...

Mum, Becca and Me
Mama and Hannah
Sand! How fun!
Hannah and daddyGood grief it was cold! But we had such a good time! Despite that we were all wearing like five layers (that's why we look like marshmallows in all these pictures) and the wind and mist was blowing our hair so it stuck to our faces, we played in the sand and walked around town and the beach! Hannah had a BLAST! She loves getting out and doing anything! She's so much like Adam in that it's super hard for her to just hang out and be still. She has to keep going or be doing something. We had a really fun day. It was nice that Adam was able to take a day off and come with us! That was the best!
Adam hair....


This is not the bushiest or craziest it's been for a longshot BUT it hasn't been like this for quite awhile...since I think we were engaged. It gets so curly when it gets long...Hannah's hair is shaping up to be the same way. :) Before and afters...(sorry this is such a random post...I just like pictures.) Plus a cheeze-oh picture of us together. Which while usually rare is happening more and more (pictures of he and I together!) Ok for some reason it loaded these backwards...so the before picture is last...then the afters. Mmm Pudding! (*gag*)



Well I'm glad Hannah likes it! It personally makes me gag. The thought of pudding makes me dry heave! It must be a texture thing but I remember being in elementary school and getting a cup of pudding and thinking...this is not delightful! haha I can tolerate Butterscotch pudding but I have to be in the right mood. Hannah sure does LOVE it though! :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
