Grandparents in Town!

Chris's parents made a pitstop to see us on their way home from their vacation in Hawaii last weekend. People traveling from Australia, Alaska and Hawaii say they find stopping in California helpful in readjusting to the time change. Something to keep in mind if you travel! We'd love to see you!

We had two days to spend together and I think we did a good job of making the most of it. For starters, it was the first time Papa had met Stephen so he spent the first 30 minutes holding the baby while I tried to convince William not to be scared or shy of seeing his grandparents! He had been so excited to see them and then when I let them in he ran to his room crying. (I remember doing this when I was a kid too . . .) But soon enough, he let Nana play with him and then shortly after that he was happy to show Papa his toys too. And then he was up on his lap reading books!

We had dinner together on Friday night and on Saturday they joined me at the picnic after the Walk for Life. I had planned to go shopping with Sheryl after the walk, but I was pretty wiped out so I took a nap instead. Chris took his mom on a hike up Bernal Hill.

On Sunday we met at church and then Sheryl came home with me to help get the boys down for naps and Bob stayed behind with Chris who had to attend a congregational meeting. That afternoon we all went to the park to play (but really just so I could get some photos!).

I absolutely love that they come and visit us twice (at least!) a year! I love that we get to share meals together and have really great conversations. I love that they can see our boys grow (Stephen had more than doubled his weight since Sheryl last held him!) and speak into their lives. I appreciate their speaking into our lives as well. They have so much wisdom to share and I just eat it up! I was really encouraged by their visit.

Chris's parents made a pitstop to see us on their way home from their vacation in Hawaii last weekend. People traveling from Australia, Alaska and Hawaii say they find stopping in California helpful in readjusting to the time change. Something to keep in mind if you travel! We'd love to see you!

We had two days to spend together and I think we did a good job of making the most of it. For starters, it was the first time Papa had met Stephen so he spent the first 30 minutes holding the baby while I tried to convince William not to be scared or shy of seeing his grandparents! He had been so excited to see them and then when I let them in he ran to his room crying. (I remember doing this when I was a kid too . . .) But soon enough, he let Nana play with him and then shortly after that he was happy to show Papa his toys too. And then he was up on his lap reading books!

We had dinner together on Friday night and on Saturday they joined me at the picnic after the Walk for Life. I had planned to go shopping with Sheryl after the walk, but I was pretty wiped out so I took a nap instead. Chris took his mom on a hike up Bernal Hill.

On Sunday we met at church and then Sheryl came home with me to help get the boys down for naps and Bob stayed behind with Chris who had to attend a congregational meeting. That afternoon we all went to the park to play (but really just so I could get some photos!).

I absolutely love that they come and visit us twice (at least!) a year! I love that we get to share meals together and have really great conversations. I love that they can see our boys grow (Stephen had more than doubled his weight since Sheryl last held him!) and speak into their lives. I appreciate their speaking into our lives as well. They have so much wisdom to share and I just eat it up! I was really encouraged by their visit.

2016 Walk For Life: Goals Met, Friends Made

Thanks to everyone who helped me reach my fundraising goal this year! We raised $550 for Alpha Pregnancy Center. And all participants combined raised over $12,000!

The walk was great. My team was small, just four of us and a little boy. (I didn't bring William and Stephen because it gets to be a long morning and I wanted to focus on leading the team and being a photographer). We walked a little over two miles total delivering a couple of packages to one family who has been blessed by Alpha this year.

The whole family was home. A little 7 year-old girl and a boy nearly 18 months. They were getting ready to go to a harvest festival at a nearby school so the boy was dressed up as spiderman and the girl a princess. They entire family was all smiles. I could tell they loved Alpha and they loved this special delivery. We prayed with them and asked the Lord of Heaven and Earth to provide stable employment for the father and health and provision for all four of them.

I had signed up to be a team leader which means I was suppose to recruit five walkers to join me. I asked a lot of mom friends, at least the ones I thought might be interested but all were out of town or busy that weekend. Only one said she'd come. I was so thankful! She was a new friend and I didn't know her well so when she came I was thrilled. We had nearly two hours to talk and get to know each other (and the other two members of my team who had signed up without a team).

After delivering the gifts, we hiked up a hill to a park where everyone was gathering for a picnic. At the park, our families joined us and our boys played really well together! I'm hoping we can arrange for us all to play again soon!

Thanks again for partnering with me in this year's walk! Looking forward to doing it again next year!

Thanks to everyone who helped me reach my fundraising goal this year! We raised $550 for Alpha Pregnancy Center. And all participants combined raised over $12,000!

The walk was great. My team was small, just four of us and a little boy. (I didn't bring William and Stephen because it gets to be a long morning and I wanted to focus on leading the team and being a photographer). We walked a little over two miles total delivering a couple of packages to one family who has been blessed by Alpha this year.

The whole family was home. A little 7 year-old girl and a boy nearly 18 months. They were getting ready to go to a harvest festival at a nearby school so the boy was dressed up as spiderman and the girl a princess. They entire family was all smiles. I could tell they loved Alpha and they loved this special delivery. We prayed with them and asked the Lord of Heaven and Earth to provide stable employment for the father and health and provision for all four of them.

I had signed up to be a team leader which means I was suppose to recruit five walkers to join me. I asked a lot of mom friends, at least the ones I thought might be interested but all were out of town or busy that weekend. Only one said she'd come. I was so thankful! She was a new friend and I didn't know her well so when she came I was thrilled. We had nearly two hours to talk and get to know each other (and the other two members of my team who had signed up without a team).

After delivering the gifts, we hiked up a hill to a park where everyone was gathering for a picnic. At the park, our families joined us and our boys played really well together! I'm hoping we can arrange for us all to play again soon!

Thanks again for partnering with me in this year's walk! Looking forward to doing it again next year!

Baby B2: Five Months Old

This month really snuck up on me. It wasn't until I had to write the date for work that I realized Stephen had become a five month old. Time keeps on going and life keeps on being lived.

He didn't have a check-up this month so I don't have any new stats for you but he is growing I can tell you that! This weekend I unpacked all of the 6-month clothing and packed away the 3-month wardrobe. Between the hand-me downs from William and my nephew Alexander and the gifts we received, he has enough clothes in this size to last a year! Seriously! So many cute and adorable clothes!

We brought out the bumbo seat the other day and Stephen is a pro. I didn't even realize he was ready for sitting but he totally is. It's great to give him another angle to see the world from - instead of just laying on the floor. Tummy time still means "roll over time." He doesn't like being left alone for too long. He will play with his toys much longer if you are near him or he can see you. He loves his Sofie giraffe teething toy and his mobile which he can actually reach and dismantle and stick in his mouth!

Sleep is still a struggle. A real struggle. His naps are way too short to be restorative, lasting 20 - 40 minutes. Sometimes we can get him to fall back asleep but not often. I should say Chris can get him back to sleep, I can't. And you would think that if he doesn't nap well during the day that he surely would sleep well at night --but nope. Babies don't work that way. He is still waking up 4 times a night. We've talked about sleep training but I'm honestly too tired to put up with it. I don't have the energy to be consistent.

Feedings are interesting. He seems to prefer the bottle most of the time, although I still offer to nurse several times a day. And then sometimes he really just wants to nurse and will refuse the bottle all together. I cannot win. I end up pumping a lot even though I'm home with him.

This month we went on a little adventure to Roaring Railroad in Felton CA for William's birthday. It was a special Day Out with Thomas event. Stephen did really great most of the day. I was really thankful. I'm so glad he enjoys being in a carrier now!

Chris and I tried something new this month for our date. (Yes, we only get one a month.) Instead of going out at night when we are both so tired and miss out on the opportunity to sleep, we hired a sitter for a Saturday morning date. I was a little nervous because this meant both kids would be awake which is something I still have a hard time managing. But the boys did fantastic and the sitter survived just fine. It worked out well for us too because we had a break from the kids and got to go to bed early! (the downside was that the previous night was terrible so we were exhausted on our date, but you can't win at everything . . . )

Stephen loves his big brother and smiles nearly every time William walks into his line of sight. The other day I overheard sweet giggles as William played with him. It's really great to see them interact already! I can't wait for more!

This month really snuck up on me. It wasn't until I had to write the date for work that I realized Stephen had become a five month old. Time keeps on going and life keeps on being lived.

He didn't have a check-up this month so I don't have any new stats for you but he is growing I can tell you that! This weekend I unpacked all of the 6-month clothing and packed away the 3-month wardrobe. Between the hand-me downs from William and my nephew Alexander and the gifts we received, he has enough clothes in this size to last a year! Seriously! So many cute and adorable clothes!

We brought out the bumbo seat the other day and Stephen is a pro. I didn't even realize he was ready for sitting but he totally is. It's great to give him another angle to see the world from - instead of just laying on the floor. Tummy time still means "roll over time." He doesn't like being left alone for too long. He will play with his toys much longer if you are near him or he can see you. He loves his Sofie giraffe teething toy and his mobile which he can actually reach and dismantle and stick in his mouth!

Sleep is still a struggle. A real struggle. His naps are way too short to be restorative, lasting 20 - 40 minutes. Sometimes we can get him to fall back asleep but not often. I should say Chris can get him back to sleep, I can't. And you would think that if he doesn't nap well during the day that he surely would sleep well at night --but nope. Babies don't work that way. He is still waking up 4 times a night. We've talked about sleep training but I'm honestly too tired to put up with it. I don't have the energy to be consistent.

Feedings are interesting. He seems to prefer the bottle most of the time, although I still offer to nurse several times a day. And then sometimes he really just wants to nurse and will refuse the bottle all together. I cannot win. I end up pumping a lot even though I'm home with him.

This month we went on a little adventure to Roaring Railroad in Felton CA for William's birthday. It was a special Day Out with Thomas event. Stephen did really great most of the day. I was really thankful. I'm so glad he enjoys being in a carrier now!

Chris and I tried something new this month for our date. (Yes, we only get one a month.) Instead of going out at night when we are both so tired and miss out on the opportunity to sleep, we hired a sitter for a Saturday morning date. I was a little nervous because this meant both kids would be awake which is something I still have a hard time managing. But the boys did fantastic and the sitter survived just fine. It worked out well for us too because we had a break from the kids and got to go to bed early! (the downside was that the previous night was terrible so we were exhausted on our date, but you can't win at everything . . . )

Stephen loves his big brother and smiles nearly every time William walks into his line of sight. The other day I overheard sweet giggles as William played with him. It's really great to see them interact already! I can't wait for more!