Birthday Week Wrap Up

My boys turned 2, 4 & 29 this week! :) Dec. 6-12 is an insane week for us every year, but oh so fun! The best part is we get to eat cake and ice cream pretty much every day & night for a whole week and we don't have to feel guilty!

My amazing hubby's birthday is today! I love you, Ross and am the luckiest girl in the world to be married to you and get to celebrate your 29 blessed years so far on this earth!

I was looking back through my blog and found this one when Aiden and Eli were 2 and 3 mo. old.... I figured I'd up date commemorating their birthdays! We'll see how many remain the same!

Top 10 fun facts about Aiden (2 yrs old, now 4!):

1. his personality reminds me of me.- STILL!

2. he truly loves people (I have yet to see him scared of anyone or not like them)- STILL!

3. he talks with a British accent sometimes (and I didn't coax him!) UPDATE: no more british accent, sad, but he is picking up some Spanish now!

4. he never stops (talking, moving, you name it) UPDATE: add Climbing to that.

5. he loves the Bible (especially page 368) UPDATE: he loves ALL books

6. he loves to sing (and hear ME sing!)- STILL!

7. his favorite hobbies lately are playing with cars, riding his bike, and coloring. UPDATE: Painting & writing letters has trumped coloring.

8. he loves being outside (and swimming in the summer) UPDATE: Playing in SNOW!

9. he eats his veggies without complaining (unlike his father!) UPDATE: He still prefers veggies over meat, but it's harder to get him to eat it these days, he's more into bread & dessert.

10. when he will be still enough to give me a hug, it's the best!- STILL!

10 fun things about Eli (3 months old/ now 2!):

1. he came early so I didn't have to gain as much weight this pregnancy. UPDATE: he has more than caught up from being a premie, in weight, development, etc!

2. he is a chunky monkey (15 lbs already, 97th percentile!) - STILL! (weighs pretty much the same as Aiden now!) Eli is my meat eater too... prefers meat over anything else.

3. he smiles every time Aiden gets in his face- STILL! (and copies everything he does too!)

4. he has an amazing ability to projectile poop UPDATE: Thankfully we are past that stage, but he sure does love talking about poopie and bum bums now!

5. he sleeps a lot (great on long car rides) UPDATE: not so great on long car rides anymore, but does still sleep great (with the exception of this afternoon and him crying instead of napping)

6. he has blue eyes- STILL- and kept that blonde hair!!!

7. he has started to laugh UPDATE: his laugh is so infectious!

8. he is totally different than Aiden (looks and personality)- STILL!

9. he looks just like his daddy-STILL!

10. he snuggles!- STILL!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday to my birthday boys this week! I love you all!

I Met a MilkMan!

I don't know why this is so funny to me, but I actually met a milkman the other day! I honestly didn't know they still existed! I was babysitting for a friend in a beautiful old restored row house in DC and someone rang the door bell. When I opened the door I literally felt like I stepped back in time to 1950!

The Milkman looked exactly like this dude pictured to the left! The bottles were exactly the same, and his truck was old school! It was quite the experience! The friend I was babysitting for gets her milk, eggs and cream delivered by this dude like once a week! He just drops it off on her doorstep wether she's there or not.

So there you have it, if you ever need one, they're still out there!

Need Mommy Advice

Eli climbed out of his crib tonight. Aiden never even tried when he slept in it.... so I wanted to know- anyone have this happen? What did you do? Do I discipline him and teach him not to or does that mean it's time to move him to a big boy bed?

The boys share a room, so I'd rather keep him in the crib. They'd have to share the double bed if he left it. What would you do? He turns 2 on Sunday!!!!

Grocery Shopping in the year 2009!

Grocery shopping has gone to a whole new level.... everyone say it with me like Conan O'brien "in the year 2000...9". :)

I thought my boys went crazy over the race car carts at Publix, but after my shopping trip this morning I have to ask.... have we gone too far?

TV SHOPPING CARTS PEOPLE!

That's right. FREE. CAR CARTS. KIDS TV SHOWS. need I say more?

I almost feel like a bad mother putting my boys in there. It's a car cart, with an added bonus, a little LCD flat screen tv inside! You can choose from Dora, Handy Many, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Special Agent OSO, and more! There is even a screen for me that I can flip through recipes, see the latest sales and ads, and control the kids show. Crazy!

RIDICULOUS.

but I use it. :)

Baby Fever!

That's it.... it's official, I have baby fever! I can count on my hand the number of friends, NOT preggo right now.... yeah pretty much everyone is getting pregnant or having babies all around me.... and my boys are turning 2 & 4 in less than a month! UGH!

I cannot wait to have another baby, I love being pregnant and the whole process SO amazing to me, and shows me more of God each time.

But alas.... I must wait, lots going on in our life right now, and finances need to be in a better place before we can focus on that. Be still my heart (and womb!) :) I guess I gotta just keep telling myself {don't give in to peer pressure, don't give in to peer pressure} lol.

My Precious....

Nothing in the world is quite as precious as watching your children sleep.

1. because they are actually asleep!

2. because they look so sweet and innocent.

...melts my heart :)

Celebrating 10 Years!

November 17, 1999

I was a freshman at FSU and living the "typical" college life. I joined a sorority, lived in a dorm, was really trying to control & live my own life. I had just gotten back from a fraternity formal weekend in Destin, FL, where some sketchy things happened and that was fresh off of a trip with some sorority sisters to Orlando the weekend before, where one of them OD'd and ended up in the hospital- just after we both had taken the same things at the same time. It was all catching up to me. Reality was hitting me that I was not in control. In fact, I was losing control pretty fast.

My roommate, Kelly, (hind sight was completely placed in my life by God) and her boyfriend at the time (now hubby) kept inviting me out to their campus ministry. I blew them off every time for a party or sorority function. But this week something was different. Just coming off some crazy weekends, with reality hitting me of what could happen with my life out of control. I gave in and figured it couldn't hurt to go with them this one time (I grew up in church and youth group and all, couldn't be that different, right?!).

We walked to the student union, entered one of the ballrooms and there was a band playing. Sterling Brown was leading that band, and Pastor Chip Buhleur was getting ready to preach. The music had begun, and there were only a few seats open, so we had to sit right in the front row. As Sterling started singing the lyrics, he made eye contact with me, I felt like he looked right into my soul and could see all the junk I was hiding.

I fell to my knees and started BALLING. Like the not pretty kind of crying. No one had even preached a word. God spoke to me in that moment like I had never heard before. He wanted me. I think I was embarrassing Clayton because he immediately ran to get the campus minister's wife (Jen!). She took (dragged) me outside along with her baby (Clara) who was only like 4 months old.

That night I changed. I have never been the same. I am dramatic in nature, and it seems like my180 was just as dramatic. November 17, 1999 was the night I completely surrendered my life to Christ. It has been the most AMAZING 10 years of my life since then. It is so hard to believe from one little moment like that the course of my destiny was changed. I am so completely grateful for Jesus getting a hold of me, and also for friends who didn't stop trying. I am just in awe of all that God has done in my life since then, just for being willing to lay it all down to Him. It is all about Jesus.... but I must also say thank you to all my great friends (and my hubby!) that constantly keep me encouraged, accountable, and in the game.

So as tomorrow comes. I will celebrate! 10 years of being a daughter of The King!

The Crazy Thing About Kids Songs

It is unreal to me how "Kids Songs" appeal to kids! I cannot figure out why kids like to hear terrible music and singers over GREAT music and singers (ie. my/adult music). It's practically soothing to them! We have a couple of really really bad (as in annoying) kids CDs, so bad Ross can't stand them for a minute. And of course, those are the 2 that the boys MAKE us play.

It is rather amazing how they do the trick though. If we're in the car for a long time or late at night, just stick one of those CDs in, and it practically puts the boys in a trance. It's hilarious (yet annoying). :)

Luckily today I got the deal of the year! I went to Family Christian Bookstores and found a great CHRISTMAS VeggieTales CD... as I was checking out the clerk told me about a great deal they had, and only had 4 left of- I ended up with 1 VeggieTales DVD, 2 CDs, and 1 VeggieTales cookie cutter all for under $20! (great for part of the boys B-day gifts!). I was so excited. For some reason, the silly VeggieTales voice are WAY better to me than typical Kid CDs.

Do you have any recommendations of good Kid CDs? Especially worship or Scripture memory ones?

Decompression

How do YOU decompress?

Every so often "it" always piles up on me.... I feel overwhelmed, exhausted, stretched to my limit, get snappy, easily frustrated and I'm just not fun to be around. I realized this the other day, and it dawned on me... I haven't had any "time off". I try to have my quiet time each day, and that's usually enough to help me get through the day, but sometimes you need just a little bit more.

It's amazing how just a little change in scenery can change your perspective and help you decompress. I am trying to work it into our weekly schedule that Ross spends extra time with the boys alone, and I go somewhere to "decompress". It doesn't take a whole lot to have a huge effect on me. This week I just went window shopping, alone, for a few hours, got a Starbucks, journaled, and read a book. When I got home, I was like a new woman!

What does the trick for you? How do you refresh/decompress? I would love to hear some tips or ideas!

I Never Thought I'd...

be a missionary!

I grew up in church, it was a fun church, nice people and all, but "church" never grabbed my heart. It wasn't until I was in college that I saw christianity wasn't about church, but about Jesus. About knowing Him, about loving Him. I realized church should be the place of encouragement and meeting together to meet needs and worship corporately, but not the end all.

When Jesus got a hold of me, I was compelled to serve Him. I couldn't stop finding ways to know Him better through doing His Word (Philemon 6). I went on a mission trip that changed the course of my life forever. I saw how much need there was in the world. I saw how amazing the transformation can be when someone grabs hold of Jesus. It was addicting.

I had 2 experiences that confirmed ministry was for me. The first was on a retreat with college students, where someone prayed for me and told me I was called to be an evangelist (insert image of purple-haired lady sitting on a gold chair on TBN). The other was one night on the mission trip I was listening to the worship music and it was as if everything got quiet (even though it was still loud) and I heard that still small voice. It was unmistakable. I heard God say to me "this is what you are called to do for the rest of your life." As amazing as that moment was... it freaked me out!

My first thought was that I was called to live with my hair in a bun, floor-lengthed skirts, in mud huts in Africa, alone. No thank you. (I mean if Jesus appeared and told me to do that I would, but it would take that!) Those two images (purple hair and mud huts) were all I knew of missionaries. Thankfully God started changing my view. You don't have to be on TBN to be a minister, and you don't have to move to Africa (although I appreciate those who do). EVERYONE is called to minister the gospel if they are a Christian, right where they are.

I am blessed that God has provided me to be able to do it full time, with a husband with the same passion. I am blessed and honored that God would call ME to do this! I mean, I'm far from perfect, and he STILL uses me! I never thought I'd be in ministry. But I praise God for the opportunity!

I Never Thought I'd be....

A Stay At Home Mom.

I was hanging out with some other mom's the other night and an interesting question was asked "what did you do in your former life?".

We all started laughing. What a question! It wasn't derogatory at all though, it was pretty accurate... what did we do before we had kids. I mean, once the kids come, life IS way different! We went around answering and I was amazed. I sat in the presence of a mom who formerly was a NASA space simulator trainer in Houston, another who was an engineer, another who worked for a Senator, another who was a music teacher, many more, and me, who was (is) in ministry.

Since moving to DC a month ago, my role has changed a lot. Ross is primarily doing the field work of a minister, there just hasn't been much for me to do yet (I know i'll get my turn soon). My day looks extremely different than it did in Tallahassee. I realized I'm just a stay at home mom now.

JUST a stay at home mom??? I have a 2 & a 4 year old (in a month!).... it is SO different than it sounds! lol. All I can say is that I have a whole new respect for single moms, moms w/ careers, and my mom! THIS IS A FULL TIME JOB. I love all those stats on "if we paid our mom's what they work", it's so true. I'm a maid, a chef, a teacher, a wife, a friend, a mom, a chauffeur, a pastor, a seamstress, a tickle monster... and the list goes on 24/7.

I love being a mom, and it is quite the experience and it's extremely special being a stay at home mom! I feel completely blessed to be in the postion that I am able to do this! I never thought I'd be a stay at home mom, but now that I am, I can't imagine not getting this opportunity!

I Never Thought I'd be....

a housewife.


When I was growing up I never really wanted to be a housewife. I wanted to be a career woman, work the 9-5.... infact, I loved Dolly Parton when I was little and that song (not so much now though, haha). I had my mind set on being a TV anchor woman. From the time I was a tot and got the TV anchor Barbie (yes they make those). I played with that doll and the TV set for HOURS on end. I even was in journalism in high shcool and went to college specifically to study mass media!

God had a different plan. See, after He radically got a hold of my heart 1/2 way through my freshman year of college my desires started to change. The idea of fame and a paycheck just didn't seem as glamorous anymore. Knowing God and serving Him is what lit me up after that point. After feeling called to missions (that is a whole nother story), I changed my major, and started pursuing that. Then God knocked me up side the head w/ a man. I wasn't expecting that. I didn't go to college to get my MRS. degree. I wasn't one of those girls. (met many of them though and laughed at that). Funny that is pretty much what I turned out to be. lol.

When Ross and I started dating and knew we would both go into ministry, I realized my career was gonna look WAY different than expected. Before we had kids I worked, in ministry. I didn't stay home all day and cook and clean, I was working side by side w/ Ross on our mission field (the college campus). But naturally, being married (and now having kids) I had a role to play. I became a housewife.

I am proud to say, I am NOT a desperate Housewife. I love it. I LOVE IT! It is an HONOR and privileged to get to "work from home". Not only do I get to do what I love and was created for (ministry to others), but I get to minister to my husband and kids! I get to disciple my boys! I get to support and encourage and allow my man to do GREAT things for the Kingdom! I am a housewife, at 28 years old, and I am not ashamed!

Never thought I'd.....

....use my kids to ward off bad guys. :)

That sounds strange, I know... but living in a big city now, and there are some shady people sometimes, especially when you ride the mass transit. One thing friends here tell me is that if you go in a shady area, just act like you are supposed to be there and you know what you're doing and most people won't bother you.

Good thing for me, Aiden & Eli aren't intimidated by anyone. No matter how shady or scary someone may be, they will still talk to them. I hope this is a gift they never loose! Like the other day, a shady lady started talking our ear off as we waited for the Metro. Aiden started asking her questions and being nice to her, and I could tell her wall started coming down. The conversation actually went so long that she ended up asking us if she could live at our house. lol. (Ross let her know about a rescue mission in DC as an alternative).

At the grocery store the other day, Eli asked EVERY person that walked by for a hug. (luckily no one really understood him, so we avoided the Swine Flu), but it surly got everyone to smile and say hi.

All that to say.... if you act friendly, so will they. Making eye contact and a smile go a long way, no matter a shady person or not. I find around here, it goes further than you think.... if you're kind to someone, they won't want to mug you. :)

The Magic Potion

Tonight I have discovered what will make my boys happy, energetic, and silly.... without bad side effects! HOT CHOCOLATE!

The boys woke up from their nap (meaning Eli, because Aiden refuses them again) pretty grumpy today. So I fed them some Hot Chocolate. I've never actually given them it before, but Aiden got a taste at a friends house last week, and I decided we're in a great season to partake.

It was the Magic Potion! They got so Happy and fun it was unbelievable! When Ross got home from work and we ate dinner they were cracking us up. Ross even asked if I gave them speed or something, haha. I mean, they've never been effected by anything like this!

Am I a bad mom if I use this to my advantage now? Slip them a little Hot Chocolate when I need them in good moods and fun? hmmmmmmmmmm. :)

I liken it to what coffee does for me. This could be bad. lol

Theme Park Kids

I have come to realize after being to several theme parks this summer (all of which were awesome hook-ups & super fun!) that we offically have Theme Park Kids.

For some reason, which I am very thankful for, when we go to theme parks with our boys they become different kids. They are happy, they don't cry, they are patient in line, they have never ending energy and appetites! They wake up early and stay up late and don't have to take naps. When does THAT ever happen? Who ARE these kids?

I really understand why they say Disney is a magical place.... I think that's true of all theme parks (so far, I hope I'm not jinks-ing us!). I even said to a friend the other day that I wish I could go every day with the boys, because I guess I'm just not as entertaining and fun at home. :)

If you wanna see Aiden's Disney perspective click here.

Perspective

Ever been praying for something and it feels like your prayers are just hitting the ceiling and God doesn't hear them? Yeah, i've been in one of those seasons. It's hard to stay consistently in faith when that happens.

Today God gave me a picture of what He's doing in times like those. I was listening to that old school Life House song that says "How can I be with you and not be moved by you" and it goes on to say "You're all I need, You're all I want, You're everything..."

I saw this really dark stage and there was a spotlight on a man in white (representing God) and me wearing a dark dress. It was like one of those dances where the man is behind me and without touching me leads my movements (for anyone who was at Campus Harvest back in 2003 you remember that Jim Monroe dance that made everyone cry? kind of like that). Each movement the man behind me made would cause my arms, feet and body to gracefully move with him, even though I couldn't see him.

I was dancing and the man (God) was leading me, He kept taking a step and I felt like he was far away and the spotlight would go with him, leaving me in the dark, I couldnt reach Him (as if I couldn't hear/feel God), but all along He was just leading me. Each time I would follow, and get back in the spotlight with Him.

It's like Prov. 16:9 & 3:5-6. God has ordered my steps. I just need to, by faith, step along with Him, let him LEAD me. It turns out to be a BEAUTIFUL dance. I have no idea where it's leading, in this dance (song, season of life) but I will follow because God makes those steps BEAUTIFUL and GRACEFUL and in WORSHIP to Him.

Just keep dancing (going) and God WILL LEAD. His steps are beautiful and full of Grace. Praise God!

DUI???

It's not what you think. I do drive under the influence; not of any substance, but of a 3 year old!!!

My 3 year old is waaaaaaaaay too into cars and racing... it's starting to effect ME! When we drive now it is like he is narrating my passing, speeding, and driving skills, like an announcer at the Daytona 500! It's quite funny, and at first I would just laugh at him. But I am starting to be influenced by it!

For instance, yesterday we drove 4 hrs south to go stay with my parents. He continually would look ahead and see a car and say "Mom, look at that jeep! I know you can pass it, You can do it! Go fast fast fast!" and what do you know? I would set that goal and meet it too. LOL.

It's getting out of hand. When we are at stop lights he says "when the light turns green I want you to GO GO GO and beat that motorcycle!"..... I would ignore it our just laugh it off in the beginning, but I am catching myself actually doing what he says! AHHHH! I must stop. On the good side, he is very encouraging as I drive! :)

Pack-N-Play Time!!!

Pack-N-Play Time has become a household favorite recently! I discovered this trick when Aiden was under 2, but didn't do it consistently enough, but it is a life saver if you do schedule it in! Eli is now a champ at pack-n-play time and even asking for it!

What is pack-n-play time? Like I said, a life saver (or sanity saver, i'd say!). It's a great way to get your kid to learn how to entertain themselves and play all by themselves without needing someone to constantly play with them. I love my boys, I love playing with them, but this is a critical skill I think they (and I) need to have for all of our sanity!

I started as early as 10 months with Aiden because that is when he got mobile. Start out about 5-10 min, put them in another room (out of sight) with their favorite toys (add a different one to the mix every day so they don't get bored), and I like to turn music on so they don't hear me and want out. Then I set the timer and see how long they can last! My goal is to work it to 20-30 min where they get undistracted playpin time, and sometimes 2x's a day.

Doing it w/ 2 boys now is so great because I can get good focus time with Aiden to work on school works, and do stuff that Eli isn't big enough to do yet. It's also a great way to keep him happy while I'm cooking instead of just plopping him infront of the tv.

For Eli the first couple of days were rough. Meaning, he cried and screamed the WHOLE time he was in there (10 min.) for 3 straight days. But I kept being consistent and when I was about to give up I decided to try one more day. That 4th day he cried for 2 min. and ended up deciding it was more fun to actually be quite and play... he lasted 20 min! We do it about every day now and when I say "Eli it's time for playpin time!" he yells "YAY! Playpin Time!" and runs to find his favorite toys, throws them in and waits next to the pack-n-play! lol. He's up to 30 minutes right now 1x a day. I only do it 2x's if Ross isn't home while I have to get dinner going.

Just wanted to share a tip with you if it's needed. Let me know if you try it and if it works for you! Remember, it takes a few days of being consistent to get them to realize it's not punishment and it's FUN TIME! Just keep trying! Once they outgrow the pack-n-play you can move it to "room time".

That's What Friends Are For....

Typing out this story reminded me of this one:

When I was in college living with my bff, Kelly, I was always the one killing bugs and stuff. I don't know how or why I ended up being the one that did it, but it seemed inevitable that I was the one called on to kill a spider or roach or something.

Well, one night I was sleeping soundly. Kelly lived in the room across the hall from me. She had to wake up real early, like dark out early, that semester for an internship she had. She woke up and stepped out her room to go to the bathroom and stopped dead in her tracks because a huge roach was crawling on the floor infront of her room into the bathroom (where she was headed). So she decides not to jump over it, or kill it or trap it or anything, no.... she decides to go back in her room, shut the door and CALL ME ON HER CELL PHONE. lol.

Meanwhile, I was sleeping peacefully in the dark in my room and I hear my phone ring. I see it's Kelly calling and I was so confused and immediately worried because she was supposed to be in her room, so I thought. She whispers on the phone "Amy, don't be mad at me, but I am stuck in my room. There is a huge roach infront of my door, and I can't get out."

WOW..... I hang up the phone, and the good friend I am, instead of just turning over and pulling the covers over my head, I open my door and kill the roach for her.

It wasn't so funny at the time for me (I was rather annoyed, haha)... but looking back, it's one hilarious memory, one that we still laugh about to this day.... I miss those days sometimes.... then I realize, she was just training ground for my hubby. LOL (you can see if you clicked on that link above, why).

The Things I Never Thought I'd Do....

Today was one of them...

you can read Aiden's rendition here: www.smallkidbigstories.wordpress.com or hear my version:

My friend Jessica was over for lunch, we were enjoying our conversation when we were so rudely interrupted by Aiden screaming from the bathroom. He went all my himself (which I'm really enjoying these days), and did both. I was unaware he brought his favorite car, Lightning McQueen with him. He dropped the car in the dirty toilet! Thank God he didn't flush, can't imagine what would have happened. But I had to somehow get him out. Now I'm the hero. WOW.

I think i'll continue this blog topic with future stories, I got a handful of Things I Never Thought I'd Do.... :) Stay tuned...