Valentine's Day

Yesterday was a fun day around here. When I woke up I had 20 or so hearts taped up all around the house with sweet sayings in them, and Valentines waiting for me on the table. Aaron is so good to me!

We started off with pink heart pancakes, pink eggs and pink lemonade for breakfast. I think Taylynn is the only one who ate it. Alayna only wanted her Valentine chocolates (who can blame her) so I let her eat them, it's Valentines day only once a year. Preston wanted cereal, so he had that.

For lunch we met Aaron at his office and ate there. We made him some cake pops and chocolate popcorn for his valentine treat.

For dinner we fed the children early then put a movie on for them and I made a cheese fondue for dinner. It was romantic!
Taylynn has her Valentine party on Friday so we are keeping up the Valentine mood around here. Here is a sneak at the treats we've been making.

4 months

Chandler, my baby, you are four months. These baby days are slipping by so fast. It seems the more children I have the faster time goes. I will say you are with me all throughout the day. I think the fact that I know your my last baby I want to be with you 24/7. I do let you sleep in your own room at night, but even naps during the day are usually in my arms. I am enjoying your noon snooze just you and me.

You are growing, but you definitely are the smallest of them all. You weigh 17 pounds, 24.5 inches and you wear 3-6/6-12 month clothes.

You only nurse and maybe next month we'll start cereals.

You still sleep in the car seat, but your crib is out of Alayna's room and ready for you. Baby sleeping boot camp starts next week.

You sleep through the night, but sometimes get up once to eat.

I don't have to do anything to make you smile, your just so happy and that makes my day, everyday!

You love to talk and play with toys and just look around.

Your momma loves you!

Babysitting Co-Op

Two of my friends and I decided to start a babysitting co-op so we could have some date nights with our husbands. January was the first month. I watched one of the families one night and then the other family another night. This month one of the families will watch all of the kids so we can go on a date as well as the other family. And the next month we have a date night too. Does this make any since????

Well so far it's working and I am really looking forward to going on a date with Aaron!

I took some pictures of one of the nights when we watched our friends girls (oh yes, by the way Preston and Chandler are the only boys out of 12 children).

We made home made pizzas, played dress up and they each took turns sitting in the "teachers" chair telling stories.

Oh and if you notice the green paint in our kitchen and think...... wow! that is bright! well it is getting a makeover this month, so excited!

Pizza Field trip

Taylynn had her school field trip last week at CiCi's Pizza. They got to make their own pizzas and eat them. We do this a lot around here, but it was fun for her to do it with her classmates.

Preston, Alayna and Chandler were with me and did great! I only got a picture of Chandler though.

Big girl bed

Since Alayna and Chandler are less then 15 months apart, we have to do some things a bit earlier than normal.
We only have one crib and it's Alayna's for now. She just turned 18 months and I thought I would just try taking the side off her bed to see if she would stay in bed. She has a twin bed already in her room, but I didn't want to take the entire crib apart move it to Chandler's room and have trouble with her at night to the point where she needed back in the crib. BTW why don't they make cribs so they can fit through a standard door??? I have to take the crib apart just to put it back together again. Gee Whiz!

So anyway we are on her fourth night and she is doing great. Yes, she gets out once and a while and sits and plays with books, but we just put her back in her bed. She doesn't scream or cry, in fact she is pretty quite and kinda sneaks out of her bed. I really wish we had a video monitor in her room to see what she is really doing.

We are going to take the crib out in the middle of February so Chandler can finally have a bed. He has a pack and play to sleep in, but he doesn't sleep in it. He is still in his car seat, but that is all coming to an end. This mommy is cracking down!

I am about to have only one left in a crib, I am going to miss these baby stages. I have been telling my self "these are the best days" one day I am going to look back and only remember the joy and the fun little things I do with the children, I'll forget that I had to say "no" 200 times in one day or that I had to send someone to time out just so they could learn how to be behave. I'll remember their smiles, the cute little things they say and the way their hand feels so little in mine. These are the best days!

Eyes

Last week was kinda crazy around here. Taylynn scratched her eye with an unsharpened pencil and cried off and on for four hours before I took her to the Dr. We just went to express care and they checked her after I paid the co pay and said they couldn't see anything because they don't have the right equipment to check eyes. So they sent us to a specialist where we had to pay an even higher co pay to get in. He confirmed she had a scratch and because of the scratch her vision was really blurred. She could only see the letter on the top of the chart, nothing else. When it comes to eyes, it's pretty scary. We never really think about being able to see, but it is such a blessing. She got an ointment that helped the corneal abrasion, but she hated it!

One of my friends is married to an eye Dr. He is my friend too. I actually set them up and they ended up getting married.....anyway.....We went and saw him a couple days later for Preston's first eye appointment and he went ahead and checked Taylynn and her eye was great and she COULD see! Yay! Dr. Swader is the best Dr. he explains things and lets me know what he is doing and looking for when he checks their eyes. I really appreciate Dr. that take their time rather than rushing just to get done. Plus I know him as a really great daddy so of course he is going to be great with my kids. He even checked Alayna's eyes so she didn't feel left out :)
Here are some pictures of the visit:

The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.
Matthew 6:22

Hand full of Prayers

Last night while I was up with Chandler just enjoying the quite moments of the night with him, I held his hand and began praying for each of his fingers and how God will use them when he is a man. It was one of those moments I don't ever want to forget. A moment where I recognized that Chandler is not just MINE, he is God's child and I am just a temporary parent. I have chosen to be the best parent I can and raise Chandler to be the man God has planned for him to be. All I can do is set the foundation and pray for him. So Chandler dear, this is my prayer:

Left hand

pinky finger:

Lord, I pray that you will hold Chandler's hand when he is in a time of need. Guide him through a smooth path and allow him to feel the comfort of your hand.

ring finger:

God, my prayer is that Chandler will find other believers in his life and spend time hand in hand with them, as he walks them through rough moments and they walk him through his rough moments.

middle finger:

God I pray that Chandler can bring unbelievers to you. I pray that he will share his love for you with everyone he knows.

pointer finger:

Lord, I know its important to know your word. I pray that Chandler will search and discover your word, leaving his fingerprints among all your stories.

thumb:

Lord I pray that Chandler will come to you with his hand clutched together in prayer and with thankfulness. I pray that he uses prayer in all moments of joy and sadness.

Right hand

thumb:

God, I pray that Chandler's hands will often be found in his wive's hands. I pray for their love for each other and many years together.

pointer finger:

God I pray these hands will be used to serve you. I pray he uses the gifts you have given him to surpass his expectations where they will meet yours.

middle finger:

Lord I pray that he will lead his family. That he will step up and be a godly father and husband.

ring finger:

Lord, I pray that these hands will often be lifted up to you in praise. I pray he won't be timid about lifting his hands up you.

pinky finger:

God, I pray that one day Chandler will have a little baby of his own whose hand will be wrapped around his pinky. Bless those tiny hands and those sweet moments Chandler will have with his children. I pray Lord that one day Chandler will be on his knees praying these things for his own children.


To all my children, These are just some of my prayers for you. I have dreams and hopes for you, but on top of it all I just want you to know Jesus and build a relationship with Him. He will then guide you and be with you and take you beyond your dreams and hopes.
Love you much!
Mommy

Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens. Lamentations 3:41