Little Mommy & Barney

It is not unusual to witness Chloe and her friend Barney together around our house. Yes, that's right, I mean the Barney, the big purple dinosaur. We lucked out when Gabe and Cooper never really liked to watch Barney much, but Chloe just loves him! And yes, she loves the theme song, singing it over and over...'I wove you, You wove you.' {She needs to work on the lyrics a little bit!}

Chloe got this stuffed Barney from some relatives {Les & Terri} and if I'm not mistaken, I think it was actually a toy for their dog. I know, I know, kind of gross to let my daughter play with a dog's old chew toy. Don't judge me people! I did wash Barney before letting Chloe have it :)
Anyway, the past week or so, Chloe has started to take very close interest in Barney's personal hygiene. She gets out the wet wipes and washes Barney's body while saying things like, "Whoo! Barney stinks!"
And, she attempts to diaper Barney.

{*Please excuse the quality of the photos. As with every time I seem to need a camera in a moments notice, the battery was low and the flash wasn't cooperating.}







Jason was watching her, thinking maybe this could come in handy once Chloe's little brother arrives. You know, it's always nice to have an extra set of helping hands around the house with a newborn. But that idea was quickly squelched when a song came on the radio that was to Chloe's liking. She proceeded to drop Barney onto the tile floor and commence a fierce dance routine, while saying, "Oooh, let's dance. Come on! Dance, dance!"

Maybe a longer attention span and a few babysitting lessons are in order before we let her get too hands-on with her little brother.

Another disturbing discovery occurred when we were watching Chloe clean Barney's apparently dirty bottom {this was a time when she was commenting on Barney stench} and then proceeded to use the same wet wipe to wipe her own runny nose...



Definitely not good hygiene, and NO, she didn't learn that trick from mom!
So, although Chloe is showing interest in helping with Mommy's chores, I'd say she's not quite ready to make a go of it on her own.

Under 100, and counting...

This post is thanks to Shawna for pointing out the pregnancy counter to the right and the number it displays. {Shawna, you really made my day by making this known to me!!!}

Anyway...
Do you notice the baby counter to the right of this post?
It says 99 days!
That's under 100!
Woo Hoo!
As I've so subtly hinted at, I really don't enjoy the nine months of pregnancy like some women do, so this is a great milestone for me!
And so that I stop getting nagged to post a pregnancy photo of myself, here's a couple quick shots Jason took of me this morning...




I honestly think this is the biggest I've ever been at this point in a pregnancy.
I know, it's not like I need to post a 'wide load' sign on my stomach. Jason actually laughs at me when I complain about how huge I am.
I'm still measuring small, BUT when you're used to hiding the baby in your freakishly long torso like I usually do, having a more normal pregnancy physique takes some getting used to.
I'm 26 weeks along and still getting over the ear infections I posted about last week.
But it definitely cheers me up to see the number in the pregnancy counter finally exhibit that I have under 100 days left!
I hope you all are doing well. I know from the emails, comments and blog counter that you're visiting, despite the lack of actual blog comments lately {smile}.
It really isn't that hard to set up a Google account to be able to post comments, I promise :)
Have a blessed day!

Ear Infections

Chloe has yet another ear infection. No surprise there.
If we're counting, I've actually lost track of how many ear infections that makes for Chloe in the past few months.

The tubes that are in her ears just haven't done the magical work that they did for Gabe and Cooper. I feel like all that the tubes accomplish is letting me know right away when she does get infections by enabling massive amounts of fluid to drain from her infected ears.

Unfortunately, I learned at the doctor today that I actually have an ear infection too.
Actually, both ears are feeling bad.
I have fluid trapped behind my ear drums, and major sinus stuffiness.

Oh, the Joys of Pregnancy. {Oops. Does that sound too sarcastic?}

With Cooper, I couldn't breathe out of my nose for the last 2 months of pregnancy. Hopefully things won't get that bad.

Just add my ear troubles to the list of things I don't enjoy about being pregnant. It's getting to be a long list actually...

• I am starting to have bouts of morning sickness AGAIN.

• Heartburn is trying to do me in.

• I have not been sleeping at night because all I want to do is lay on my stomach or back, but all I can do is lay on my sides.

• I am so tired I can't make it through the day without a nap.

• And I feel like a bit of a blimp with my stomach seeming to increase in size by the hour.

Sounds a bit over-dramatic, doesn't it. Well, I'm just being honest.

It really does not help that I seem to get comments daily from women who just LOVED being pregnant, and the thought that I don't seems to make them think I'm crazy.

At my last doctor's appointment, my doctor and the nurse were talking about how great I looked, how they can't believe this is my fourth child and that I must have been made to have babies.

Well let me tell you, by the way I feel, I certainly don't feel like that's the case.

I just keep telling myself, it's only a few more months. It's only a few more months! I can make it!

On a side note, there have been requests for a pregnancy photo. With my ever dwindling wardrobe selection that coincides with my ever increasing stomach size, I just didn't feel up to a self-photo session today.

Maybe tomorrow.

But don't worry, I'll try to have a smile on my face :) After all, no matter how I feel at the moment, I know I am truly blessed!

Instead of me, here's a photo of Chloe. No smiles for her today with that ear ache, but she's still pretty cute!

The Kids on Easter 2009

Thought I'd share some photos I took of the kids on Easter.
Of course, notice how their clothes are color coordinated.
Yes, my obsession continues ;)

Gabe's Bowling Party

It's almost been two weeks and I still haven't shared any photos from Gabe's Birthday Bowling Party with his friends. Better late than never, right?!?

As always, I made the party invites, this time by hand rather than designing them on the computer. That's the joys {or perhaps embarrassments as the kids get a little older} of having a graphic designer mom...


This was only Gabe's second time bowling, and he had a 'ball' {pun intended.}



And check out the excitement after knocking down some pins...


This marked Cooper's debut at the bowling alley...


He had a great time too, except I think it added about 40 minutes to the game time just waiting for Coop's ball to reach the pins. At least he had his favorite helper, our neighbor and friend Sarah...


Here's Gabe opening presents...



And some group photos, minus a few who had to leave early, and one camera-shy classmate...




There was also a surprise memento, a real bowling pin adorned with the greeting, 'Happy Birthday Gabe' that all of Gabe's friends signed their names to.
What a treasure!
I think Gabe's favorite birthday message came from his friend Kinzley, who wrote, 'I {heart} U!'
Ahhh, young love... {But seriously, aren't they too cute!}


All the kids left with these party favors, simple Hershey's candy bars wrapped in our own personalized wrapper...


Sure, there was some rowdiness that comes from getting a bunch of 5 and 6 year olds together. {So glad we decided to limit the guests to a few close friends rather than inviting the whole Kindergarten class. That was done due to our cheapness, but I think in addition to saving money, it saved our sanity too!}
But more importantly, there was a lot of fun!

And with all the thank-you notes finally written, the party is officially over and deemed a success.

Best Brother in the Whole World

A few days ago, Cooper was looking around the house, wondering where Gabe was.
"Maybe he disappeared," Cooper said.
I replied, "I hope not."
Cooper then says, "I hope not too, because I love Gabe so much and I'd miss him so much 'cause he's my best friend in the whole world and my best brother in the whole world!"
Run on sentence and all, Cooper is the sweetest little guy!
If that doesn't melt a mother's heart, I don't know what does!

How Deep the Father's Love for Us

Do you know how much our Father in Heaven loves you?
I know how much He loves me!
He loves me so much that He sent His one and only Son into the world to die a horrifying and humiliating death on a cross in my place.
It should have been me on that cross.
It should have been you on that cross.
But instead, Jesus Christ, free of sin, took our place.
He took our place, dying a death that should have been ours, and three days later rose from the grave ensuring a path for us to live eternally in Heaven with our Lord.
Though we are so undeserving, the Lord's love and grace covers us.

I could continue to attempt to muster up the words to explain 'How Deep the Father's Love for Us' really is, but instead I'll just share the lyrics to that very song.
{If you want to play the song while you read the lyrics, just select it from the music playlist at the right. You'll have to scroll through to get to the song.}
I love the song, although I still have a hard time singing it through for praise team at church without breaking into tears. It really paints such a vivid picture of our Heavenly Father and His love for us.

If you haven't yet accepted the love Jesus Christ offers to us through His sacrifice, I pray that you will consider today, on this Easter Sunday, giving your life to Him.

How Deep the Father's Love for Us...
How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Pizza! Pizza! Pizza!

There is absolutely no doubt what Chloe's favorite food is.

Yes, that's right...it's Pizza!
I do believe that if given a choice, Chloe would choose to eat pizza for every meal, every day.
She loves pizza.
She has no favorite kind. She eats it all.
And, she's also been known to eat the toppings that her brothers tend to pick off their pizza.
Chloe is just a pizza eating machine.
The other day, we got a pizza and as soon as she saw the pizza box, she started yelling, "Pizza! Pizza! Pizza!"
I tried to explain to her that we would eat the pizza as soon as we got home, but that didn't quiet down Chloe's cries for pizza one bit.
From the moment she sees the pizza box, she has a one-track mind..."I need to eat that pizza now!"

So while she was eating her pizza, I took a few photos...

After being given a slice of pizza,
Chloe takes bite...


after bite...


after bite...


after bite...


Until it's all gone, and we inevitably
hear her request for, "More Pizza!"

Sleeping Beauty

Most moms have memories of holding their sleeping babies in their arms. And I do have those memories with Gabe and Cooper.
But our little Miss Chloe, from day one, would not sleep in anyone's arms.
If she was being held, she was awake, taking everything in.
In her own bed is where she sleeps, and no place else.
That's why capturing these photos last night was so important...



I was sitting on the couch watching TV around 10 p.m. when I heard Chloe crying in her room. Unless she's sick, this really never happens, because Chloe is a very good sleeper and always sleeps through the night. She was not sick, so I'm not sure if she had a bad dream or what, but the instant I picked her up she stopped crying. I took her into the living room and sat with her on the couch where she proceeded to fall back to sleep WHILE I WAS HOLDING HER! And I could not believe it!
At 23 months old, this little girl who as a newborn would never fall asleep while being held, was now sleeping in my arms.
Maybe it's the pregnancy hormones, but once I got over the shock of it, I just started to cry. She looked so beautiful, so peaceful. I looked at her little rosy cheeks, her long eyelashes, her perfectly shaped lips and I prayed that God would help me remember this moment because I didn't want it to slip away. As I sat there, I thanked God for Chloe and prayed that the years of her childhood would not pass by too fast. I can hardly believe she is soon to be two, and no longer a baby. But it was nice for her to regress a little last night, and to let me hold her as if she was again my little babe.
Sometimes it's the little things, like watching your child asleep in your arms, that fill a mother with such great joy.

A Reason for the Crankiness

The dazed, dull look you see in the photo above isn't typical for Cooper, but it's one we've seen a lot lately.
Cooper has not been himself.
He does tends to get cranky when he doesn't get enough sleep. He just needs sleep, and when his internal clock seems to go off every day at 7:00 a.m., this doesn't always allow for him to get that needed rest.
But the kind of crankiness I've been dealing with lately was more than could be explained away by a lack of rest.
Yesterday when I took Coop to get his ears re-checked after the ear infection he had two weeks ago, I realized the cause of this crankiness. His right ear is still infected.
I don't know what it is about our kids and their ears!!! Maybe it has something to do with the fact that both Jason and I had ear problems as children too.
Nevertheless, we've been battling ear infections in our house for what seems like the past six years!
The good news is that Chloe's ears checked out great, which marks the first time in 6 weeks that her ears haven't been infected!
No worries about Cooper though.
No matter whether Cooper's ear is infected or not, that little smile just doesn't stay away for long...