months fly by....

Since I am finding the months flying by, I realized I never posted our 16 month pictures and Jace is officially 17 months. I could give up on the monthly pics but I do love the chance to look back at how much they change in these first two years during each month. SOMEDAY I will appreciate the time I took to do this!

Addelyn helped and wrote the 17 month sheet! That big sis is learning how to write, woo hoo!

Jace at 16-17 months, yes it all runs together:

*Has 16 teeth and is possibly getting more molars, cripes! 

*Still nursing morning and night. 

*Not a big eater but we are working on changing our goals. Throwing manners and caring about mess out the door. Letting this boy play with whatever food he wants, in any way- as long as he'll touch it! It is good!

*Climber boy- he is found standing in the middle of our kitchen table numerous times a day. Aggh.

*Loves "melmo" (Elmo). Carries him around the house a lot and often wakes up in the morning and goes to bed at night, asking for Melmo!

*Loves tractors and trucks and legos.

*Loves his Mama and Dada....says our names a lot. Also starting to say other words- in the right context. Saying "no." Of course, his fave- ball!

*Cuddle bug. I always complained because at 3 months of life- Addelyn was done cuddling. And now I have a cuddler! This boy will come over just to give me a sweet hug and put his head on my shoulder for a minute- then goes back to playing. I LOVE IT! 

*He has the sweetest and most tender little heart. Today Addelyn was crying about something and he came in and put his head down and cried next to her- and put arms around her. What a sweet boy.

*Entertains himself so much! Sometimes I feel guilty because he doesn't get my attention as much because Addelyn seems to demand it more. He is just so content though- playing with toys, looking at books, and doing his own thing. 

We love our little Jacer man!

fall family to do list

I'm a to do list kinda gal! So why not a fall to do list for the family? Of course, Addelyn helped make it. (And our roomie Lindsey and friend Natalie were there too, helping with the list.) Then we even had fun typing it up and finding pictures (which Addelyn picked out herself). We are getting through most of our list! Fun times for us this fall. More than that, great memories made!

Nonnie Kathy came to visit and they painted a pumpkin.

Gotta love raking! We had some warm days this fall and we had a great time out in the leaves. Some raking, lots of jumping!

Addelyn made moon sand with our roomie Lindsey. She had a blast with it.

Caramel apples- yum! Addelyn took these over to Ilene's house and shared them with her past daycare buddies.

Veridian Credit Union has a free farm day at Heritage Farms in Hudson. I decided last minute to run out there with the kids. We went on a hayride, Addelyn rode a pony, and the kids played in a corn box. It was a fun afternoon for us.

The cold fall nights means it was time to get out the footie pjs!

Our sweet friend Aquayla has hung out with us a number of times this fall. Here is one fun night where Addelyn and Aqualya were doing sit ups. We even got a picture of Lindsey and Aquayla and the kids.

More leaf raking? Yes, I think raking leaves is the most pointless, never ending job. But I guess it has to happen? Good thing our kids can help now ha ha.

Jace had many moments where he was carried and dropped into the leaves. Poor buddy. Some day Addelyn will pay for these moments!

More fall pics to come.....Gotta check off everything on the list, of course!

Heaven in Her Arms by Catherine Hickem

 

This is one of the better "momma" books I have read in a long time. Catherine Hickem's "Heaven in Her Arms," was a great read. In my faith, I haven't often thought about Mary and her role as Jesus' mother and how I can learn from her. That is exactly the focus of this book. Each chapter spent time on what Mary "knew." A few examples- Mary knew she could ask God questions, Mary knew to be there when things got tough, and Mary knew she would have to let her son fulfill his purpose. Each chapter challenged and encouraged me in my parenting right now and more than that, my faith right now.

"My children have been my greatest teachers," she wrote. I have been in the midst of that, as I feel as if I have learned more in the past four years as a mom than I have at any other time in my life.

Hickem also wrote about legacy. "All of us will leave an imprint on those we leave behind. The question is simply, what will it be?" I love these challenges and deep thoughts that encourage me to be living intentionally today as a mom. She wrote of "pondering" and how Mary spent a great deal of time doing this intentional thinking and praying to God. Hickem challenged us as mothers to take time to think deeply through our lives and the lives of our family and not to overlook the deep themes of God's movement in our lives.

Mary faced the loss of her Son Jesus with faithfulness, as I was reminded by this book. "When Mary faces her most difficult moment as a mother, she is found present and faithful to her child. Most important, she is found faithful to God, the Father." wrote Hickem.

I could sit and write quotes from this book all night, as there are many words of wisdom that I grabbed ahold of. This is a book I would definitely suggest to any mom looking for a word of encouragement today. Could be a great one to read during Advent season!

easy entertainment

 

Sometimes my kids play in the shower. For a long time. And for some weird reason, they are entertained! Whatever works.....At least I know where they are at and what they are into!

farm life

I would say during the last few years of my life, I have gained more appreciation for my growing up years on the farm. More appreciation for the way we were brought up- for the slower pace of life we had as kids, without tons of "activities" but lots of making our own fun on the farm. I appreciate the hard work my parents did on the farm, both in the field and the acres of vegetables they grew, the chickens they raised for eggs and meat, and more. I still remember grumbling as my dad would make me hold mason jars under the sprayer as he checked sprayer tips each year. I can remember the smell of the cab of the combine, as I would ride along with my dad- laying up in the back window, feeling the warm sun on my back, usually reading a book I brought along. I remember going out to pick up rocks from the field (boy, I grumbled about that too!), riding in the back of our pickup truck with piles of pumpkins to take to the local stores to sell, and many days of taking snacks and meals out to my dad and grandpa and uncle in the field. Now that I live in town- I appreciate a place to take my kids and let them experience farm life. This year was the first year Addelyn was brave enough or interested enough to want to go out in the combine with her Papa Marvin. And boy did she have fun. She rode with him for an hour and a half and had a blast. She also enjoyed the Oreos he shared with her while riding of course (for some reason I don't remember that part growing up!) I would expect this to become a fall harvest ritual (both the combine riding and Oreos). 

My dad always jokes and asks how in the world was I ever a farm girl. But I can honestly say, I am very thankful for my farm girl roots....

This last picture, Jace and I jumped up in the combine with my dad. Jace was a little too nervous with the loud noise of the combine so I think we'll have to wait til next year. This boy is going to LOVE it though, I guarantee. He is obsessed with trucks, tractors, and combines. It will be fun when he can really experience it too! 

we have a preschooler!

This post is coming two months into having a preschooler! Crazy. Here are some pics from Addelyn's first day of preschool. She is going to Orchard's preschool, so it is fun- she is right down the hall from me on the days I'm there. So I often get to see her as she walks to play outside- she runs over to hug her mommy!

Jace is loving his mornings with Addelyn at preschool. He just transitioned to one nap in the afternoon so he gets lots of one on one attention in the morning. On Monday and Wednesdays I'm working and on Fridays, I get special Jacer time!

Had to get the roomie in the first day pics too (Addelyn required this picture to happen!)

 

In front of her coat hook at school.

 

My beautiful little lady. Time flies, I cannot believe my baby girl is in preschool. Mrs. Knapp, her teacher is amazing. I absolutely love knowing she is impacting and loving on my girl three days a week.

seasons change

 

I am behind on the blogging. For good reason- who wants to sit in front of a computer to write about memories when you are busy making them? Summer and the beginning of fall have been full of fun, full days. So here I am, with a blanket on my lap, sipping some hot tea, and settling into a colder day kind of activity- catching up on the blog!

 

 

This blog post may involve some tears for me. It has to do with a changing of seasons, which we have been experiencing this fall. Little Miss Addelyn and the other sweet girls in this picture are growing up! Crazy, where does time go. These girls have been together at Ilene's daycare since they were little ones. Addelyn started there when she was eight months old (with Katie, Ilene's daughter watching her the months before that).

I have been on quite the mom journey when it comes to work/childcare/being gone/being home. I think every mom is different so moms that read this, please understand I have no judgement and expectations of other moms! I've learned every situation, household, season are different for different families. For me, I was doing full time ministry when Addelyn was born. And to be honest, I (along with Mark) didn't see much changing when I was pregnant. Except for maybe that I'd be bringing my baby with me to every outing, trip, student event, coffee date, etc! In fact, I didn't even line up childcare at first because I thought I could make it work- which is another story in itself. After Addelyn was born and I had a three month maternity leave, I wondered how in the world would I leave my sweet girl with ANYONE? After having a few months of stress/fretting, we figured out the Boelmans could make it work to watch her - with Katie helping til Addelyn could start there in the fall (as an 8 month old). These other sweet girls in the picture were also all there at that time too.

Ilene (and her family) was a huge blessing as she loved my little girl, taught her so many things, and didn't make it feel like I was taking her to a daycare- but to a home where she was loved and cared for each day while I was gone from her. Addelyn also grew to love the other girls in the picture. At the same time while Addelyn was growing and learning at the Boelmans- I as a mom was changing. I wanted to be home more- I wanted to be with my little girl each day as she grew, changed, and learned. Ilene was caring and thoughtful each day when I had a hard time leaving my little girl. It took awhile to get there, but after some big sacrifices, choices, and decisions made between Mark and I- I cut to part-time and changed my focus (which meant less nights/weekends/trips). This ended up being one of the best decisions for our family. I still got to be home much more, but still got to do ministry outside of our home too. Also, Addelyn had a great influence in her life through Ilene, her family, and the other kiddos (plus some other great options, like Learn and Play at my friend Jess' house one day a week.) Not long after I went part-time, we got pregnant and had Jacers. Having a part-time schedule is something I've been truly thankful for. As for Ilene, she still watched my kiddos and all was well. And the whole group of little girls in the picture all split this fall as they headed to school. Addelyn started preschool and this also meant my schedule changed and it didn't work for the kids to go to Ilene's anymore. This change was a sad, sad thing for me. When you aren't the one home with your kiddos, the one thing you want is someone who loves, cares, disciplines, reacts, etc with the same kind of love and care you have. I was sad to close the door on such an important, influential season of Addelyn's life. I know the Boelmans will be people forever in our families lives but it sure is different not taking my kids there.  We have a college student living with us now which is amazing but I'm putting off the question of what will happen next semester. Whew...a semester at a time! It seems like once we get something figured out- life changes again anyway so I'm trying to hold loosely to my future "plans" as we see what God has in front of us RIGHT now. We will get this figured out. And in the meantime, we send our love and thanks to Ilene for her influence on our family in so many ways. We love you Ilene!