Tuesday, August 26, 2014

8 Months/"Back to School"/35 Weeks

Another random blog of everything going on this week.



At 8 months, Rose:
Weighs 18 pounds!
Is eating about 6 6-ounce bottles per day!
Is eating nearly any and all baby foods, and loving them!
Wears size 12-18 month clothes and shoes that fit are hard to find since our feet are a wee chubby ;).
Is babbling "bye bye" and lots of consonant/vowel combos. 
Can wave and clap when prompted.
LOVES LOVES LOVES music!  Music speaks to her!
Knows her parents are WEAK for her giggles and grins.  It is no wonder she's so spoiled.

The Kerrs hosted a special going away party for us this past Saturday.  It was so kind of them and we enjoyed getting to spend a few hours with our favorite people in Lubbock.  They will all be missed very much.  Yet again I did not think to take photos.  :(  Val of course had every detail beautiful!!

Because of the move, our girls will not attend a CDO here, so their first day of school didn't happen today.  I did snap some photos of them yesterday though, just to have on "file".  :)  I am going to try to be more structured for Grey with lessons.  She loves to learn, so it should be quite fun!  Rose follows along with anything Grey does, so I am excited about this fall even if I will miss them getting to be a part of a CDO.


This is officially the worst ever weekly photo for a mom to take.  We were at the Allen's home until late last night, so I snapped this at an hour I won't even care to admit.  Poor girl was such a trooper, even with the most tired eyes I have ever seen on her.

We had given potty training a break, since Grey only wanted to tee-tee in the potty.  I started it back up again yesterday, and I think this is it!!  I bet we can officially say we are potty trained!  WOOOHOOOOO!!!!  There has been some major celebrating around here, complete with Frozen and Elmo underwear, Chick-Fil-A cookies and dancing!  Lots of dancing.

Chet is in Dallas this week, so I am getting the hang of working from home with the kiddos while he is away again.  I feel like it's not that unusual considering he spent so many months in Oklahoma.  I am CRAVING togetherness though, and cannot wait for us to move into our new home in McKinney on September 20th.  We can do these next 24 days! 

Today is our niece Hannah Grace's 3rd birthday!!  Happy Birthday beautiful Hannah!!  We love you!

 For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, and the hungry soul He has filled with what is good. Psalm 107:9
For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good. - See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/God,-The-Provider#sthash.eLn8k8dH.dpuf
For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good. - See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/God,-The-Provider#sthash.eLn8k8dH.dpuf

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Our new home sweet home!

God's hand in our home search was evident in every turn this weekend.  We loaded up the car early Sunday morning to take a look at homes all over the DFW area.  I already knew which home I wanted, and prayed the entire time that if it was God's will for us to have it, we would have it.  It was in a multiple offer situation, but I knew it still could be ours:).  The girls were truly DREAMY the entire car ride.  It could not have gone any smoother...they were actually troopers throughout the weekend.  That was the BEST part of the entire trip - two happy girls!!  WOOHOO!!

We fell in love with the town of McKinney.  It is safe, clean, not dead in the middle of "city" (aka traffic), and happens to have the cutest town square outside of Fredericksburg that I have ever seen in Texas.  I just had a peace that we would get our dream home.

--- Side note:  We took a family walk the day we decided to accept Chet's new job offer, and I told Chet [I'm random] that I would love to plant a big magnolia tree in our front yard in Dallas, since the weather is more conducive to growing them there. ---

We drove up to the home that would become ours, and low and behold, a MAGNOLIA TREE!  God is always in the small details.  What a sweet reminder of my Father's care and love.

 The home is so great for us.  I feel it's meant to be.
Even Grey kept saying, "My home!"  She even tried to get on their daughter's bed in the "pink room" and said, "My cute bed!"  (Oops!  We had to learn a few new lessons on being in other people's homes!)

We have a guest bedroom upstairs, complete with a "media room" (I know, RIDICULOUS) that I will host my Nerium trainings in.  The Nerium trainings thing is really just a way to justify something so silly and over the top as a media room.  ;)  Chet is already imagining Tech games on that screen. 


The two things that drew me in the most were the kitchen and fireplace. 

God had his hand in them accepting our offer.  We are so grateful and know this home on earth is more than we need.  It's a privilege.

We had a fun family mini vacay in Dallas Sunday evening and Monday.  Chet and Grey swam the entire night away Sunday evening at the hotel pool (Rose and I didn't last quite so long in the cold water).  Since our offer was accepted, we spent the day Monday exploring the area and visited the Perot Museum, which was amazing.  We ended the day enjoying dinner with our friend Blair.  Perfect mini vacay day we needed so badly.

 Rose's FIRST official swim.  I was such a lame mom this summer. 

This little princess turned 34 weeks on Monday, but since we didn't arrive home until 2am, I snapped this yesterday.  She will turn 8 months on Saturday.  It's just crazy.

Rose's latest accomplishments include wearing the same size diapers as Grey (size 5!!), going from her stomach to a sitting position on her own, sleeping better (thank goodness!), and being able to feed herself with the baby food pouches. 

We close on our home here on September 15th.  We close there on the 17th, and move in on the 19th.  Praying for a smooth month ahead with all we have going on!

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.  
1 Thessalonians 5:18

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Life around here


This is really just a season I am doing my best to rely on God.  Life is out of control as we get ready to move with everything else going on, yet I know my VERY blessed and privileged life is only something to be grateful for.
But aren't those two girls up there CUTE?!

We head to DFW next week to search for a home.  Praying!

Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. Psalm 119:65

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

32 weeks!



As you can see from the above illustrations, Rose loves to scoot ---- backwards. ;)  Precious girl is FAST going backwards; the forward movement is harder to master!  She is rocking back and forth on all fours though, so I know she will be crawling before too long. 

Rose is in all size 12 clothes, and even a few 18 month ones.  Such a tall sweetie!  She is in size 4 diapers, but truth be told, we even wear some of sister's size 5s too!!  EEK! 

We haven't been nearly as consistent as we need to be about baby food (I'm blaming life on this one), but I am making sure she eats a couple "real food" meals a day now.  So far we have loved most of it, even if she is still preferring bottles hands down. 

Rose loves:
  • Splashing in the bathtub
  • Reading books
  • Snuggling forever - I mean, 24/7
  • Watching Rusty and Henri 
  • Watching Grey and playing with Grey!
  • Watching Frozen (guilty momma)
  • Bananas
  • Sitting in her high chair and ATTACKING whatever lands on the tray ;)
  • Grunting and growling - it's adorable
I am surprised I am actually blogging before Friday.  I am patting myself  on the back haha (and my girls for napping at the same time)! 
 A PRAISE:  We accepted an offer on the house yesterday.  One week on the market, praise God!  We will close on September 15th, so praying we find a good deal on a home in the DFW area soon!

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
    but the Lord tests the heart.  
Proverbs 17:3

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Summer of Surprises...and second summer in a row to be MOVING

Yes. You read that right.
I am still sitting here in shock as I type this out, and I have known for a few weeks.  It's hard to believe we will soon be packing things up in our "dream home" in a town so special to us, and moving to the DFW area.  Chet has never lived a day of his life outside of West Texas, and this area has been home for my entire adult life and married life ... and all three of our kids were born here.  To say that this move is bittersweet is an understatement.  We are excited about Chet's new job (and hopefully more family friendly hours), but it was not something we were "seeking out", as he really liked his former job and employers, and we certainly love our life here in Lubbock.  The opportunity was a surprise, and after MUCH prayer, we feel like it is one Chet needs to pursue.  Here's to a huge adventure for our family!

My lack of blogging has nothing to do with me being lax about it.  It has been such an insane couple weeks, we are sleeping about 3-4 hours a night.  I don't even know where to start to recap some of what is going on.  In fact, tomorrow is Rose's 32 week birthday, and I am going to post her 31 week photos tonight. ;)  Oi.

Snapshots from this past week:


 31 weeks last Monday - just a joy through everything going on.  I do believe she is the most heaven-sent little person.  She is our little calm in every storm.
 The Allens invited us to come to the fire department on Wednesday.  Grey LOVED the trucks.  It was such a fun little moment in our week. 
 I snapped these photos while playing in the yard Tuesday.  No bows, nothing fancy, but I love them.  Simply the sweetest two girls I have ever known.  Sigh.

Now...for the next few photos:  I debated on even blogging any of this, but it is an important part of Grey's "life journal".  Grey has consistently passed out when she gets very upset or worked up since she was about 8 months old, and we have been told that it is likely to her strong-willed nature.  (Which we believe.  Trust me.  We believe. ;))
However, recently she has grabbed her chest and said, "OW OW OW", while gasping and wheezing after she jumps in the bouncehouse (or whenever she exerts a lot of energy).  We brought the issue up to her pediatrician at her 2 year well check last month, and were told it was due to her being a little out of shape.  Though I doubted her being out of shape (you must know Grey to know how much she never.sits.still. for even 4 minutes in an entire day), we accepted that and intentionally added more cardio to our days.  The problem continued, and it concerned Chet and I considerably.  I truly thought she may have asthma or a breathing issue, and never once thought of her heart...

I was at a Nerium party on Thursday for some friends, when we chatted afterwards about careers, etc.  Our children came up and I mentioned Grey's latest odd behavior.  I was strongly advised by the cardio team in the room to get her checked out if she kept passing out multiple times a day and grabbing her chest.  That Friday evening, she passed out again, so we decided to be "those parents" and take her to the E.R..  Grey's E.R. trip was the first one for our family, and pretty yucky and scary for all of us.
She had chest x-rays, an IV blood draw for labs, a catheter for urine labs and an EKG.  Daddy was a genius and brought a paci just in case she needed one, and it was the best idea ever.  She hadn't had a paci since January, so she was thrilled to get one.  Daddy was the brave one who stayed in the room for the IV...me not so much.  :'( 
We had a follow-up appointment with a pediatric cardiologist on Thursday where Grey had another EKG and an ECHO.  We learned that Grey's heart is healthy and that nothing urgent or serious is wrong!  PRAISING JESUS!!!! I have probably never prayed so fervently for something in my whole life. 
 They put Grey on a 24-hour heart monitor Thursday/Friday, so Grey slept on my lap on the couch Thursday night.  Sleep?  What sleep?  Haha! 
We will deliver the heart monitor data card to the clinic tomorrow morning so we can discuss the results in three weeks.  We really appreciate the thoroughness and care we are getting from her cardiologist.

Relief and praises.  PRAISES.
 Oh yeah, and amidst all that...we listed our house on Wednesday. :)
I just thought it was difficult to keep a house show-ready with one child last year.  Oh my goodness.  There has been a considerable amount of stress-eating for me.  Don't mention anything when you see me devour a 1/2 dozen Chick-Fil-A cookies by myself.  Okay?

 We had a garage sale two weekends ago, and another one yesterday with friends.  Both were not very good.  Oh well!  We were able to clear out and organize things!  I jokingly said that everyone should move once a year to stay de-cluttered and organized when we moved last year.  I need to keep my mouth shut ;).  lol.  Yesterday was the Nerium Family Day at the Park too, which was so fun!  BUSY DAY!

With all that has been going on, and Chet leaving for his new job tomorrow, we spent every moment of today as a family.  What a blessing it was. 
 Maxey Park fun!

Chet leaves for Houston at 2am tomorrow morning.  He will train there for the week before starting in DFW.  We are praying for a contract soon so that we can join Chet and the Dallas area as soon as possible.  We have been house shopping in several cities online.  We need a contract on this one before we can go up there and look/make an offer.

Lots of big things ahead...Praying for faith of a mustard seed right now.

"You don't have enough faith," Jesus told them. "I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible."  Matthew 17:20