Love & War

Aaron & I have been fans of authors, John & Stasi Eldredge, for a long time. John's book, Wild at Heart, has given us (especially me) a lot of insight into the hearts & minds of men (and little boys). Aaron read the book several times before we had children & said that it would be a great book for me to read if we had a son, and it has been!

I was really excited when Stasi came out with a book especially for women, called Captivating. Now that we have a daughter, it will be a good for Aaron to read for some insight into girls & women :)

The Eldredges recently co-wrote a book called, Love & War. I excitedly pre-ordered the book, and as soon as it came in, my husband snatched it up & started reading it. I haven't had the chance to read it yet, but am very anxious to. Aaron speaks highly of it!



Here's how John & Stasi describe the book!

John and Stasi's new book, Love and War: Finding the Marriage You've Dreamed Of does for couples what Captivating did for women and Wild at Heart did for men. With refreshing openness that will grab readers from the first page, the Eldredges candidly discuss their own marriage and the insights they've gained from the challenges they have faced. Each talks independently to the reader about what they've learned , giving their guidance personal immediacy and a balance between the male and female perspectives that has been absent from all previous books on this topic.

John and Stasi begin Love & War with an obvious but necessary acknowledgement: Marriage is fabulously hard. They believe we need to get past the shame and confusion surrounding the undertaking of marriage before we can truly deal with our day-to-day situations.

Love & War shows couples how to fight for their love and happiness, calling on both men and women to step into the great adventure God has waiting for them together. Walking alongside John and Stasi Eldredge, every couple can discover how their journey together is growing into a story of meaning much greater than anything they could do or be on their own.

If you haven't read one of their books, pick one up! You won't be disappointed!!!

10 Months!

*You are almost completely weaned & taking the bottle like a pro.
*You eat mainly table food.
*You are very fast with your method of scooting across the floor.
*You say dada, except when daddy is around. You just smirk at him when we try to get you to say it.
*You put EVERYTHING in your mouth. I have found legos, rocks, paper & grass.
*You are right at 14 lbs.
*You love being outside.
*You do the signs for milk, more & all done.
*You have one tooth.

You are such a little blessing & a lot of fun for our family! Your brothers love you to pieces & want to carry you everywhere. I think we may want to buy you a helmet!

Girl's Weekend.

A couple weeks ago, I spent a girls weekend with my college roommates. It was so much fun to get away & catch up! We met for lunch, shopped, went for walk, had dinner, chilled in the hot-tub, rented a movie & did a lot of chatting! It had been about 8 years since we had all been together. We decided that we need to do this yearly!

Easter Weekend

What a fun Easter weekend we had! We spent a long weekend with Aaron's family. The kids enjoyed dying eggs together. We spent a lot of time outside because the weather was so nice!

Here's one of Zoe's 'signature' looks.

My attempts at getting a picture of all 3 kids on Easter Sunday before church were interesting...

Utah Trip

If I had to use one word to describe our trip to Utah, I would say Amazing.

Amazing lodging...amazing skiing (love you Deer Valley)...amazing friends...amazing basketball (too bad that had to end). We HAVE to do it again :) Thanks to the amazing grandparents who took care of our kids!!!

One of our favorite runs of Deer Valley.


Justin & Edee


Aaron & Tiffany


Jace


Chris & Kara


We neglected to get a group picture until we were in the airport ready to fly home! So here we are before saying our good-byes.

A Good Reminder

My husband sent me this last week. It's a good reminder to live in the moment! Although the days may seem long at times, the years are short!!!

Wet Oatmeal Kisses
By: Erma Bombeck

One of these days you’ll explode and shout to all the kids,
“Why don’t you just grow up and act your age!”
And they will…

Or, “You guys get outside and find something to do –
without hurting each other. And don’t slam the door!”
And they don’t.

You’ll straighten their bedrooms
until it’s all neat and tidy,
toys displayed on the shelf,
hangers in the closet, animals caged.
You’ll yell, “Now I want it to stay this way!”
And it will…

You will prepare a perfect dinner
with a salad that hasn’t had all the olives picked out
and a cake with no finger traces in the icing
and you’ll say, “Now this is a meal for company.”
And you will eat it alone…

You’ll yell, “I want complete privacy on the phone.
No screaming, Do you hear me?”
And no one will answer.

No more plastic tablecloths stained
No more dandelion bouquets.
No more iron-on patches.
No more wet, knotted shoelaces,
muddy boots or rubber bands for ponytails.

Imagine…. a lipstick with a point,
no babysitters for New Years Eve,
washing clothes only once a week,
no PTA meetings or silly school plays where your child is a tree,
no car pools, blaring stereos or forgotten lunch money.

No more Christmas presents made of library paste and toothpicks,
no wet oatmeal kisses,
no more tooth fairy,
no more giggles in the dark,
scraped knees to kiss or sticky fingers to clean
Only a voice asking, “Why don’t you grow up?”
And the silence echoes: “I did.”

Stats Update

At 9 months Zoe is:

13lbs 12oz, .25 %-tile, yes, that is 1/4 of 1%
27" long - 31st %-tile

9 months!

This was one of mommy's outfits when she was a baby!




At 9 months you:

*Scoot wherever you want on your bottom.
*Say mama, even when daddy tells you to say dada.
*Stayed away from mommy for the first time (for 4 nights!) & did awesome!
*Love being outside & swinging at the park.
*Love taking baths - if we give your brothers a bath & you see them, you crab at us until we put you in too :)
*Take a bottle for at least one feeding per day.

Stats to come later this week after your appointment. We'll see if you have finally broken the 14lb mark!

Sweet things

Here are some pics of my sweet kids that I'm going to miss terribly this week! Know we will all have fun though - the kids with the grandparents & Aaron & I with our friends!

In 1 week

No laundry
No cleaning
No disciplining
No whining

Skiing
Snowshoeing
Hot-tubbing
Relaxing

Adult Conversation
Peaceful meals
Fight Free bedtime
No night-time awakenings

Justin & Edee
Chris & Kara
Jace & Jill
Aaron & Tiffany

Bring it on Utah :)

Verdict: Boys are messier than girls

Zoe had her first biter biscuit today & was really 'clean' about it. My boys were so messy with them. They would smear them all over in their ears, in their hair...everywhere!

Brecken

Leighton

Zoe

Catch up

I've been a slacker lately when it comes to blogging! We traveled to San Diego right after my last post...and I just can't seem to get caught up on anything. The nice weather (Praise the Lord!) has kept us outside this past week, which has put my laundry/cleaning/organizing even further down the list :) So here's a quick update or story on each kid :)

Brecken: He was bathing with Zoe last week & as I washing her, he said, I see her woo. I said, well, or lack-of-woo. He said, Lackawoo? It's a Lackawoo? I couldn't keep a straight face & am afraid this has become a new term in our household.

Leighton: He likes to wrestle & has figured out how to get out of any holds...he either says, I need to go potty!!!! OR Stop, You're going to make me throw up. (with his sensitive gag reflex, we don't chance it). How early they learn things...

Zoe: Is saying Mama, which makes her mommy very happy since the boys both said, dada first :) She can push herself into a sitting position, is attempting to pull up on things (just to her knees...and then gets scared), and is doing a lot of rocking on hands and knees. She'll be crawling before long! She is also starting to sign 'All Done' & 'More' when she eats!

8 months!

At 8 months you:

*After letting you cry it out a few nights, you are a good sleeper & usually only up once, at 4am.
*You apparently gave up your aversion to a bottle for Lent, because you will now miraculously take one!
*You clap your hands & are so thrilled with yourself when you do.
*Love eating 'big girl food' including Puffs.
*You are getting more hair. We have to tuck it behind your ears constantly or you look like you have massive sideburns.
*You lay on your back & scoot to get places (see previous post).
*You are a mommy's girl & won't let anyone else hold you if I am in the room (except daddy, sometimes).
*Are a tough girl...you took your first fall push off of the couch & cried for a shorter amount of time than your brother who 'helped' you (and got in trouble).

Oh what a blessing you are, baby girl!

Zoe's Method of Movement...

How much longer?

This little lady is ready for warmer temperatures!

5 Years ago!

5 years ago today, we were anticipating an upcoming appointment with our fertility specialist, yet again, to discuss & make plans for IVF, but I was also several days late... On a whim, I bought a pregnancy test & was expecting another negative, since that was what we had been so familiar with for the previous 3 & 1/2 years. I took it while Aaron was at work & although there was a VERY faint 2nd line, I said nothing to him. I wasn't hopeful that the test was accurate. I purchased another one & tested again the next morning while he was at a basketball tournament and it registered the same results!

It's so easy to forget all that we went through - the appointments, the surgeries, the failed attempt at IUI & the monthly heartbreaks. Sadly, it's also easy to forget the amazing answer to prayer we received, not just once...but three times. I wouldn't trade the struggles we went through! We grew individually, as a couple & in our faith!

I think the doctors that told us we wouldn't conceive naturally, would be shocked to know that we had 3 children within 3 1/2 years :) When I met with the nurse for my first appointment when we found out we were expecting Zoe, she said...your chart says you were diagnosed with infertility...and laughed knowing our successes!

Count your blessings & reflect upon the struggles!!

Spring Cleaning...

I know it's not spring, but I'm hoping by doing some early spring cleaning, it will arrive earlier :)

I came across a blog Clean Mama & it got me motivated to do some organizing & purging of unneeded stuff.

She basically picks a spot & sets a timer for 15 minutes - takes everything out of the spot, cleans it, sorts things into 3 piles (trash, keep, give away) and puts things back. I have a LOT of areas that will take longer than 15 minutes, but it's a start :) I've just been doing one area per day & I'm loving the results! I cleaned out our bathroom cabinets while the boys were taking a bath, reorganized the craft closet while they were working on an art project & last night cleaned out the freezer while they were playing a game in the kitchen. The amazing thing with the freezer is that I didn't throw anything out...cooked a couple things for supper & just stacked it better. Looking at the first picture, that's hard to believe :)

Freezer Before:

Freezer After:

Plllthhth...

Zoe thinks when we wipe her nose, she has to make 'the noise' with her mouth.

Inspired to Action

I came across this new blog & am really excited about reading it. I thought I would share it with you! Here is an excerpt from her post earlier this week.

Perfection vs. Balance

The world calls us to be “perfect” mothers, but I believe God calls us to be “balanced” mothers.

A “perfect” mother puts appearance above relationship. A “balanced” mother sacrifices appearance for relationship.

A “perfect” mother seeks approval from others. A “balanced” mother seeks approval from God.

A “perfect” mother finds reward in perceived success. A “balanced” mother’s reward is a peaceful heart, family and home.

A “perfect” mother perpetuates the lie and spreads disillusionment. A “balanced” mother breaks the lie and spreads hope, truth and inspiration.
The Challenge

The challenge for us today is to focus on being balanced rather than perfect. That every moment we’d love our children more than our clean house or the approving look of a stranger. That our confidence, strength, hope and identity would be found in God and the trust He’s put in us by giving us His perfect little gifts that look to us and call us “Mommy.”

Click below to go to Kat's blog & to download her free e-book!

Inspired to Action

I am a Princess :)

Thank you Erica for this prestigious award. I have so many people to thank...but I'll spare you my acceptance speech :) This award is for readers & anyone that knows me has seen me with my nose glued in a book. I can't tell you the number of books I go through in a year, but I will say that I just finished 2 over the weekend (thanks to a visit from my sis-in-law & nieces who helped to entertain my hoodlums) :) I do most of my reading after my kids are in bed at night. Aaron has to remind me at night to PUT THE BOOK DOWN & GO TO SLEEP, TIFFANY!

This is my nightstand & stack of books waiting to be (or currently being) read.



1. Name an author you love.
Karen Kingsbury is my current favorite, but I also love Jodi Picoult, Andy Andrews, Dan Brown, James Patterson & many others!

2. Name an author who highlights your personality.
I see myself in a lot of the books I read - but can't pinpoint a subject who is really 'me'. Guess that makes me unique, haha.

3. Name some books you love.
Just finished the Redemption series by Karen Kingsbury - loved it. I really like most of the books I read. I have come to the point that if I am not enjoying a book, I'll quit reading it - why waste my time reading a book I don't like!?

4. Something that always excites you.
Always? Hmmmm...at the moment, a full night sleep or 20 minutes to myself :) A new book, sunny weather, a new baby, a date with my husband.

5. Something you hate
Negativity! Hamburger, or any ground meat, for that matter.

NOW I am passing this award along. All they have to do is grab the princess award above and post the questions and answers. Call me if you need a good book to read :)



And the nominess are:

Courtney @ Carpenters Colorful Collections

Kara @ My Sweet Little Life

Jericho @ Faith Family Fun

Jamie @ In Full Bloom Photography