Monday, July 2, 2012

Droppin' Socks

You know how when you carry a load of laundry in your arms from one side of the house to the other, you inevitably drop a sock or two along the way?? Sometimes you notice they're dropping, while other times you discover the trail of them later. Well, that's how I feel life is going right now. There are things I'm totally dropping the ball on and don't even realize it (until it hits me way later), and there are other things I know are supposed to be happening but...well...they just aren't. Clearly blogging has been one of those things...

Apparently the kids have been drinking fertilizer again, because they are just getting sooo big. Eli has hit that 2.5yr mark when words and sentences start flowing like crazy. I'm like, who is this little boy?? My favorite word of his has to be "ban-bade" (band aid). Almost all words have to be two syllables, so he often adds the -ey sound to short words. Like, "shut the doorie." ... "We goin to the storey" All of it is too cute. I'm not ready for him to speak "correctly" yet. Charley is already out of the cute-pronunciation stage, although she is still in the mix-up-words stage. For instance, she doesn't like driving on the "inter-steak" because you have to drive on it for a lllllong time. She turned four at the end of April, and she is most definitely a little girl now...crazy. She adores her brothers, singing songs with made-up lyrics, anything sweet, and using her wild imagination.
Landon is eight-months. Wow. He has seven teeth, is up on all fours (but not going anywhere, thankfully), and has a favorite word that he says ALL the time: "GAH." He has the sweetest smile and the most contagious giggle. He's working on a few finger foods, but his main diet consists of the 100% baby food stuff. Mmmm. His newest trick is going from the laying down to the sitting up position. This means I lay him down to go to sleep annnnd find him later sitting up playing. It was the hilarious the first time I discovered him just sitting there looking around when I thought he was sleeping...won't be cute soon.
I have many more updates to post, but they will have to wait...

"Remember that every physical, situation, or relational glory you'll experience today is meant to point you to the glory of God." Paul David Tripp

For now...Pictures!
Big News! Charley and Eli are sharing a room now! They love it.

We had a great Father's Day at home, celebrating Daddy!
Sweet Boy

We tried to watch the Memorial Hot Air Balloons again this year...but after waiting a couple of hours...they cancelled it b/c of the wind... It was fun, nonetheless!
Sucha big girl!

We went on our annual Salley Family Beach Trip in June... it was amazing. Lots of good pics...here's one of 'em

"I love this, Mom!!!" ... Landon loved the water. and the sand. So much that he thought he'd eat it. He was a trooper on our beach vacation!

Sunday, February 19, 2012

An Early Summer Cut

So I thought that maybe I'd let Eli's hair grow out some, and then chop it all off before we go to the beach in June. He still needed a trim in the back and around his ears, but after doing that, D and I agreed the next day that Eli had what D affectionately calls a "muffin head." (short on the sides, tall and poofy up top).So then, in a nutshell, what was supposed to be "a little off the top" turned into "almost everything off the top." Basically a result in poor communication and a difference in how D and I hold the clippers. Eli came into the bathroom after his cut and I was like, "WHAT IN THE WORLD happened to your hair?!?!" Anyways. It will grow back. He is so handsome with it short, but looks way too grown up!




His hair hasn't been this short since: (8mos)
 

Thursday, January 26, 2012

May I Have...?

So Eli is talking more and more and more each day. It's quite cute. I usually serve as his translator as some words aren't exactly clear to the average English-speaking human. As he starts speaking in sentences, we are challenging him to bring his A-game in the manners department. Just plain "meeze" (please) doesn't cut it anymore. So, when asking for things, we expect him to say, "May I have..." As in, "May I have some more milk please??" And this isn't just about being polite. It's about our kids being able to put themselves under authority...If they are demanding things from us (Get me more milk please/ I want more milk please), that's not exactly what we are going for when raising kids who we ultimately want to place themselves under God's authority. Is that a run-on? Not that saying "May I have..." is a formula for producing God-fearing individuals...but you get what I'm saying...hopefully. Anyway...
So it's really quite precious now that Eli can say "May I have..." because he doesn't quite get it. This is a few things he has said just yesterday and today. Please note that he says "May I have..." all drawn out like each word is it's own sentence.

"Mama, turn it down; it too loud" to which I reply, "Excuse me, Eli??" to which he "corrects" himself, "Mama, May.I.have.turn it down, meeze??"

While I'm hitting the garage door door-bell looking button: "I wanna do it!" "Eli..." "May.I.have.do it, meeze?"

"Eli...it's time to go take a nap...Let's go." "Mama, I poopy" (Translation: "Mother, I am currently using the bathroom, and, in my 2-yr-old mind, I cannot get up and walk out of this room.") To which I reply, "No Eli, you need to come right now..." So he then replies, "Mama, may.I.have poopy meeze?" (See...this is when he needs a translator. The subject is not actually asking for poopy).

And my favorite...
He just called me into his room (he was supposed to be asleep a long time ago, but he's stalling...).
"Mama...I wanna snuggle." "Eli...." I can't even say what I was gonna say before he says, "Mama. May I have little bit snuggle, meeze??" Oh, how could I resist?!

In summary, it's precious. I haven't corrected him and probably won't because it will work itself out all too soon. And since our ultimate goal isn't just manners, the whole improper grammar thing doesn't bother me. Weese gots bigger fishes to fry.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Who Does He Look Like?

We often get asked who Landon looks like. We often wonder that ourselves! Before giving you my opinion, I will let you have some fun guessing who is who in the pictures below! Charley got 1 out of 13 correct. Eli got an amazing 4/13. If you answer 'Landon' for all of them, you might do that well too.

Newborn Pics


  
Car-Seat Pics

 



 Sleeping-Baby Pics
 



Smile-at-the-Camera Pics




Okay, so... Besides the obvious ones (pink blanket, dress, flowers), did you get any right?? Here are the answers:



Newborn Pics
Kirsten
Landon
Eli
Charley

  
Car-Seat Pics
Eli
Landon
 
Charley



 Sleeping-Baby Pics
Eli
Charley
Landon

 Smile-at-the-Camera Pics
Charley

Eli
Landon

So. Interesting huh? We think they all look very different. What do you think? As you can see, Charley and Eli's hair remained straight for a long time, while Landon's curled up almost immediately. In the last picture, with him in the yellow, you can't really see because of the background, but his hair is totally curly on top.

Such miracles, these people. God, YOU are amazing. All glory, and honor, and power be unto You!
"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Rev 4:11

Saturday, December 17, 2011

And Thus Ends 2011

A little premature. I know. But let's face it...you and I both know I won't blog again for awhile.
I keep wishing I could rattle out a meaningful blog, but I just can't right now. I love writing, but it takes major brain power for me to come up with anything good, and currently all of my brain power is being converted into breast milk. I will have to post bullet points and pictures, which is probably all you care for anyway. :)

-Landon is eight-weeks-old today! Holy Moly! Our little guy seems to be adjusting to this world pretty well. And how are we adjusting? Hmm. I think it's going okayzzzzzzzzz (sorry. I just fell asleep). D and I are just tired. Well. I can't speak for Donald. For him to be tired takes a lot, so I better not say he's tired without his permission. I'm tired. But, I know this is just a season. And a wonderful season that I wouldn't trade for sleep any day!!

our last 8-weeks, in a nutshell...

-Landon was born a week before Halloween, so we were able to take the big kids trick-or-treating while my parents were in town. This was a secret wish fulfilled as Landon's due date was actually Oct 31 and I was hoping we wouldn't actually be in the hospital on that day. Charley was a unicorn at school and a princess that night (impressive wardrobe change, right?), and Eli was a cowboy. I'm so glad I got to be there with them (thanks mom and dad).
-We had Thanksgiving dinner with the Rose family, and it was fabulous as usual. One highlight of the night was our brother (cousin) Mylin and sister-in-law (cousin) Fran announcing that they are expecting a baby in May! Woop! They are not finding out what they are having. Thumbs down. Mystery baby and Landon will be the same age! Thumbs up! Charley has Jrew. Eli has Jazz and Zachary. Landon-- Baby Sinkler! Yay for cousins the same age! I never had that! Now if we could all just live in the same city.
-Charley had her first school performance the other day. Her 3K class participated in the Christmas program at her school. It was too cute. Charley looked like a deer in the headlights and didn't take her eyes off of her teachers who were down in front directing. However, she didn't seem to miss the words or the hand motions... They were just toned down a bit. :) This seems to fit her personality...wide open and boisterous at home. Reserved in public.
-Eli is still growing like a weed and continues to amaze us with how much he is talking. I remember that this was the age (a little past two) with Charley that her speech took off as well. It's so fun!
-We went downtown for the Christmas parade this year. Definitely want to make that a tradition. Hoping the Star Wars float returns next year. It was incredibly random, but the costumes makes me think someone has the hookups in Hollywood.
-We took the kids to McAdenville, NC, the other night. Ever been?? We had never heard of it until last week when a nurse friend mentioned it to Donald. It's basically a small town that completely lights up with Christmas lights. It's pretty impressive. The best part was everyone saying Merry Christmas to each other from their cars (mainly children). Our kids loved yelling, "Merry Christmas!" out the window. It was precious! Eli's "Merwee Mismas!!" was sweet enough to melt the Polar Icecap. D was smart enough to bring the camera so we could record their sweet little voices. Google 'Christmas Town USA NC" if you wanna check it out.
-Kirsten is coming this week! We are excited to share some pre-Christmas action with her in Greenville this year! 

Happy Halloween!

Our lil pumpkin...One week old.

I love my little brother!

Landon meets my sister and her family.

Sleepy four-week old

Landon meets Aunt Alice

The Rose family had a 'Pumpkin Hour' where we all made a pumpkin recipe to share on Thanksgiving day. This was my mother-in-law's pumpkin stew...Beautiful, huh?

These are my pumpkin muffins (aka cupcakes with sinful icing)

My nieces Lexie and Mairin meet Landon!

Frenchiemama gives Landon a bottle

My other sister and her family meet Landon (everyone met him for the first time the same weekend!)

Had to get a car-seat shot

We decorated our tree the week after Thanksgiving. I always am so nervous with it strapped to the roof of the van. But we made it home safely. As did everyone in our path.

Our first Christmas Parade. Actually our first 'city parade' period! Not sure Disney parades should count.

Eli was SO excited to wave at the firetruck.

Our best McAdenville picture. One of the many giant Christmas trees!

Concentrating hard! We are proud!

This is Eli's Wabbit. If you ask him his name, it's 'Bunny.' Original. I know. He has had Wabbit in his crib since birth, but just started paying him attention in the last couple of months. They are now inseparable.
Landon started smiling this week. You have to coax it out of him sometimes, but it lights up the room. I haven't captured it on camera yet. This is as good as it gets.


And to conclude the longest blog post ever, and my last one of 2011... As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, check out the words to this hymn. Praise Him!

Come, thou long expected Jesus, 
 born to set thy people free; 
 from our fears and sins release us, 
 let us find our rest in thee.  
 Israel's strength and consolation, 
 hope of all the earth thou art; 
 dear desire of every nation, 
 joy of every longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver, 
 born a child and yet a King, 
 born to reign in us forever, 
 now thy gracious kingdom bring. 
 By thine own eternal spirit 
 rule in all our hearts alone; 
 by thine all sufficient merit, 
 raise us to thy glorious throne.

Merry Christmas!