Choosing to Laugh instead of Cry!

(A lesson in learning the peace and calmness from my previous post.)

Ben is out of town this weekend, of course, what does that mean for a mommy at home with a toddler? Well, no sleep because I thought it would be fun to have a sleepover in my bed. (Maybe when she gets older or at least not when I'm pregnant and barely get sleep as it is). We kept ourselves pretty busy most of the day, but when I got home, I felt the no sleep come on with such force; I was able to get to the couch before it knocked me on my butt. It didn't matter because every 2 minutes, Emma asked to use the bathroom. (I had no idea she drank so much today!) What happened next?! The toilet decided to go crazy! Thank God she was off it before I flushed, otherwise her bum would have been soaked. As I was figuring out what to do with the toilet, Emma asked to use some lotion. Sure, anything to get her out of the bathroom and distracted. At that moment, I was completely overwhelmed with the situation, that I didn't care what she wanted...take it! Did it get any better? Nope. She comes running in the bathroom slathered in lotion; apparently she squeezed too much out and didn't know where to wipe all the excess. I about freaked! But after a moment of helping her wipe off the lotion (she smelled like apricot for most of the night) and putting off the toilet issue until Ben gets home today (I got it to the point of at least flushing), I found how comical the whole situation was.

I didn't have my camera, otherwise I would have tried to catch it all in photo's, but just imagine in your head. A sleep deprived mother. A toilet overflowing. And a toddler who was covered in lotion (yes, given to her by me...I take full responsibility for that one).

Hope you are able to laugh about the crazy moments in your life too!

Reflection #1 on having another little girl

"To be known as a woman who experiences God as He truly is and trusts Him fully with the deepest, most intimate details of her life. To be a woman so confident of God's goodness and strength that calmness and peace radiate from her, warming the cold places in all who stand near her- I want to be such a woman." Jan Winebrenner

I love this quote! I pray as I continue this journey of motherhood with Emma, and now another little girl, that I would be an example of such calmness and peace. By God's grace I will be that woman and they will be too!

I'm SOOOO excited to be having another little girl!

Christmas Eve!

We spent Christmas Eve with Jess' mom in Milwaukee. It's the first time in years, where all the kids were home. Jess' brother Chuck has been in South Korea or Japan the past several, so it was nice and surreal to have everyone under one roof.

Any visit with Grandma wouldn't be the same without her giving LOTS of kisses!

Look at my surprise face!

Grandma showing her loot!

Ben got this awesome shirt from Jedidiah. (online store) You can buy shirts that help support different organizations/causes. This one is for Invisible Children, so some of the proceeds from the shirt sale went to their cause. It's like giving the gift of LOVE twice!

My lovely mom playing santa with all her gifts!

Look at that face!

A Baby...like the one mommy's having!

Emma LOVED her box of princess things from Uncle Eric! She loves wearing pretty things!

Christmas Day

Christmas Morning...opening presents with all of Ben's siblings, but first feed the pregnant lady; don't want her to get hungry.

Auntie Em made the girls these fabulous tu-tu's and fun headbands!

She's so crafty!

Ben snuggling up with Murphy

Emma loved the time she spent with Tanti! AZ is just too far away!

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Christmas Day afternoon...(Last stop) Ben was feeling crazy from all the travel and Emma was exhausted, which came out in multiple forms of grumpiness. Gramps and Mimi took it all in stride though and, of course, by letting Emma watch Milo and Otis.

(the only picture we could get Emma to take without a frown on her face...silly face shot!)

Messing with color in the snow

(okay, so it's really Emma playing in the snow and me adding some different color effects afterwards)

More snow pictures to come soon...

Goldilocks!

We've got some news! Yes, the test is right! Ben and I will be adding to our family some time in mid to late May, 2010. We are beyond excited! Emma's excited too; now that mommy isn't just a blob laying around all the time because she's too tired to play. (Well, let's be honest, that still happens because mommy feels tired ALL THE TIME). Emma has already named her baby brother or sister....can you guess what is might be?! Scroll up to the title and that is her reply EVERY time we ask her what she's going to name the baby. I'm not sure how she's going to respond when we name him/her some thing different, but until we know, Goldilocks will be his/her name.

Looking through some pictures of Emma as a baby gets me even more excited about the new addition! She's so stinkin cute (still is)! Who wouldn't want to have more cute baby's, when the first turns out as cute as she did?!

So in closing...YES, this not so little girl is going to be a BIG sister and loves the name Goldilocks!

YEHAW!!!

Ben and I were able to help out at the Fall Festival for Emma's class. It was so fun hanging out with all the kids!

Who doesn't like a nice cowgirl hat?!

My job was to paint all the little faces...so fun!

Cut outs are the best!

Emma enjoyed eating the donuts! Yummy!

Yes, that is me riding a horse around the maze with Emma.

(Some one had to show her how it's done!)

This is Emma making me a craft to put at my desk.

Ring toss!

Now comes the really fun part!

a

HAYRIDE!

Not just any hayride, one with a HUGE hill!

And they survived!

Watching the other kids have a turn!

WHAT A FUN DAY!!!!