What Better Way...

to start off your work week than with this sweet smiling 4 month old.

So serious
Building up to a smile...

There it is!

I have a crazy schedule this week. I have Reagan's 4 month well visit, a dentist appointment, cleaning my parents' house, starting a new bible study, picking up the in-laws from the airport, Busch Gardens, and planning and doing the most awesome princess party! Whew!

Have a great week!

Sleepy Sisters

The other day, Sarah and I along with all 4 girls traveled up to see my mom at her work and then took her out for a very belated birthday lunch. Hannah and Kate both fell asleep on the way home, which means that I did not get my usual afternoon break. They had fun "play" sleeping though in their house.

George was reading to the girls before bed the other night and I thought their configuration on the bed was cute so I snapped some pictures. The girls will surely remember that they have a father from all of the pictures they have with him, but if I want a picture with my children, I have to hire a professional photographer. Hmmm.....

And this little cutie likes to play with the toys on her activity gym now. She loves the little purple bear that also has a rattle on it. Notice the bib...it seems we have another "happy" spitter. Within the last two weeks, I have pretty much had to keep a bib on her all the time. I am thinking that maybe it might be that she is trying to sit up by herself and crunches her ab muscles. Who knows? At least I have a happy, healthy baby!

Shower Snorkeling Sisters

George bought Hannah and Kate snorkels for their birthday. Of course, he isn't one of those people who can wait to give gifts so he gave it to them early. After replacing parts of our pool filter, balancing the chemicals, and buying a nice, new vacuum, our pool is officially ready to be swam in again. It is crystal clear! It is kind of sad that we haven't really been able to use it all summer. However, it's ready for the birthday party in a couple of weeks! A couple of days ago, we let the girls try their snorkels out in the shower.

And no blog post would be complete without the cutest 4 month old in the whole wide world!

It's Been Loved

Another one of my faithful, yet demanding (just kidding) blog readers informed me that my blog needed some lovin'. Well, it's officially being loved right now. Here is a list of some of the things that I have been busy with lately: trying to make our pool swimmable, laundry, dishes, cleaning my house, touch-up painting (still so much left to do), doctors appointments out the wazoo (more on that later), being a "single" mommy for 6 days, planning a 3rd birthday party, mowing the lawn twice a week, etc.

In addition, I switched Reagan to a 3.5 hour schedule and eliminated her dream feed. She only eats 5 times a day now. It's nice to lengthen the time in between feedings, but that makes it to where I no longer have any free time in my day anymore. I put Hannah and Kate down for a nap at 2, which is when Reagan wakes up to eat. She's usually awake for about 1.5 hours and I either get a half hour to myself or like today, Hannah and Kate were awake just as I was putting Reagan down for another nap. Hence, no me time until about 8:30 at night. George has been gone a lot lately due to his vacationing (yes, his 2nd this summer...more on this), working crazy hours at Verizon, and lawn care.

We have also started potty training and sometimes I want to rip my hair out. You think you have it bad potty training one...try two. Neither of them will tell me before they have to go. They usually tell me afterwards. So far I have mainly kept them in pull-ups and just stayed on them about going to the potty. Kate is better than Hannah about holding it longer. Hannah will do little pees about every hour. Today, they are wearing Minnie panties with plastic covers over them. I remember a very experienced mother telling us not to push potty training, especially when you have a new baby and are nursing. So, we are going with it right now, but I'm not a potty dictator yet.

Hannah
Reagan

My little heffalump (it's a name from one of the Pooh movies) ate a 7 oz. bottle last night and then proceeded to poop on our way to Busch Gardens. Luckily, we were still at my parent's house and I thought I should check to make sure the toots were nothing more than toots, but in the time it took for me to walk to her side of the car, she had managed to create a pool of poop in her carseat.

She is just starting to play with her toys on her bouncy seat, she really likes to watch TV (no, I don't plant her in front of the TV...I think she has only watched one Baby Einstein while I was folding laundry), and she tries to sit up on her own. She had her follow-up appointment with her gastroenterologist last week and she was given a clean bill of health.

George went on his 3rd annual Florida Keys trip with a group of guys. He was gone for 6 days. He brought back about 20 lobsters, grouper, and hogfish. Saturday night, we cooked up some salmon (my favorite fish), hogfish, and lobster. It was yummy! He cooked the fish on cedar. We watch Master Chef on Fox and I told George that Chef Ramsey would be so proud of him. For Sunday lunch, he did even better. He made a seafood chowder with lobster, hogfish, scallops, potatoes, corn, and some other ingredients. It was delicious! Unfortunately, most of our seafood loving family wasn't able to make it. You guys really missed out! I always tell George that if he could ever trade me for another woman it would be one that cooked.

Between myself and 3 children, I feel like we have been at so many doctors' appointments lately. When I was at one recently just being established as a patient, the doctor pointed out that I have an enlarged thyroid. Just to be on the safe side, he sent me for bloodwork and an ultrasound. The bloodwork came back completely normal. However, the ultrasound showed that my thyroid is enlarged and I do have a cyst on my left lobe. He doesn't think it's anything serious, but because I am breastfeeding and plan to be for many more months, he is sending me to an ENT. I have that appointment this week so I will let you know how that turns out.

I feel like I just wrote you all a novel. Hope you have a great week!

But What If...?

There are few moments in my current stage of life where I get some absolute silence and time to myself with no one around (well, almost...the only one around is the 4-legged and 2-legged loves that can't talk yet). Those calm, quiet times are when I feel the Lord's presence the most. I was actually driving in my car tonight and heard a song on the radio that I've only heard a couple of times before. It's called, "Blessings" by Laura Story. You can check out the lyrics here. The basic message of the song is what if all of the disappointments in life are actually God's answers to our prayers that end up allowing us to intimately know Him. Read the lyrics or try and listen to it somewhere online. I was inspired to think about my own list of the lessons God has taught me by not answering my prayer the way I wanted Him to.

But What If...

*The heartache of a breakup of a dating relationship was meant to show me that God's plans for me are far beyond my plans. ("Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us...~Ephesians 3:20)

*The loneliness of leaving friends behind and moving to a place where I knew no one was meant to show me that He had good plans for me. ("For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11)

*The years of singleness was meant to show me that my beauty and worth came not from the man standing next to me, but my Creator who lives within me. (Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. ~1 Peter 3:6-5)

*The painful mistakes & imperfections (not going into specifics here) of my husband were meant to show me the beauty of the Lord's forgiveness towards me. (Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows...But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. ~Isaiah 54:4-5)

*The pain of waiting for months to get pregnant was meant to teach me that He is trustworthy, faithful, and will not fail me. (I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him. The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him...~Lamentations 3:19-25)

*The fear of wondering how I would ever be able to move beyond the uncertainty of infertility and then losing my long-awaited baby. (When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;...since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you...~Isaiah 43:2-4)

*The agony of miscarrying a child was meant to show me that He is loving and compassionate. (Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. ~Lamentations 3:32)

*The feelings of helplessness as I watched my two precious preemies fight for their lives was meant to show me that He is an Almighty God. ("My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." ~2 Corinthians 12:9)

What are your but what ifs?

Restless Readers, Raspberries, & a Roller

One faithful, restless reader informed me that my lack of posting was causing her productivity to go up at work. Well, we can't have that, can we? Here's to unproductivity:

Hannah and Kate were having a picnic the other day and I thought Reagan should be allowed to join in the fun and food!

I had George snap a picture of me and my baby. I have hardly any pictures of her and me because I'm always the one doing the picture taking. It's not a great picture, but something is better than nothing.

And finally, Reagan came back from the church nursery two Sundays ago with a newly acquired skill: blowing raspberries. She loves it and will imitate you. She also rolled over for the first time on Monday. I haven't caught that on video yet.

Have I also mentioned that we finally got new garage doors! I can park in my garage. Woohoo for no more jumping in scorching cars and worrying about rain!