Christmas baking.

I have not been faithful to this blog, it is not like lots of things haven't been going on. You can bet your bottom dollar that the kids have been doing super cute and ornery things, but man Mommy is tired.

Henry is making the transition from 2 naps down to one, which has been hit and miss on successful-ness. Today...not so great, lots of grouchy grumbling from him and a guaranteed early bedtime.

Emrie helped make chocolate pixie cookies today, she dumped a whole cup of sugar on the floor when she missed the mixing bowl. Then we made muddy buddies or puppy chow or "dog food" as Emrie calls it. Then finished our kitchen fun with home made chex mix.

Yesterday Emrie and I made a trip to Wal-mart while standing in the long line to check out I told Emrie how sick mommy felt. With concern she said "you need to go to the doctor" I explained that I didn't need to go to the doctor, it is just that mommy's baby makes mommy feel sick and tired. Her reply "Just spit Her out."

Emrie is off to the boys basketball game this evening with Beth, Jim and Jeremiah and I am cleaning and working on laundry that never seems to get completely finished. Henry is actually content for the moment in the pack 'n play and I may be able to get lots accomplished before the night ends!

Praise God for a day of baking with my kids!

I've got a secret!

It is pretty tough for me to carry around any type of secret.....this particular one is driving me crazy! When I have a secret that makes me so very excited and sick all at the same time it makes everyday functioning hard to do!

So...Yes we are expecting another Baby!! I am experiencing All Day Long "morning sickness" I have known this little secret for about a month now and have felt lousy nearly every day. I have tried my best to be perky and normal as to not let on to anyone that I would rather be sleeping and doing nothing else. This is not the time of year to be doing nothing and that really isn't an option anyway with a 3 year old and 1 year old. I keep telling myself that this will pass as it always has after the 13 week mark, but that seems like a long time coming.

I am so nervous and excited for the ultrasound this Friday afternoon. I look forward to seeing a bouncing peanut with a little heart beat that rings loud and healthy. What an amazing way God works, I praise him for this little miracle that is growing inside of me.

Praise God for a new baby!

Dec 1st!

Wow. What a beautiful/cold/snowy December 1st day! My mom would strongly argue that beautiful and snow do NOT go hand in hand....but it seems the first snow always brings a hint of excitement with it. This morning while eating breakfast looking out our large(new&well insulated!!) window Emrie said "The snow is ADORABLE, I can't wait to make an angel in it!"

Oh and on my last post I forgot to mention in the Highlights section that Emrie Ann has a new fascination with peeing backwards on the potty, standing on the potty to pee and even standing in the potty and flushing. Great. Honestly she just about exhausts me with the things she comes up with and the messes she is capable of making. Will my life always be this way? Will I always be asking her "Emrie, Why would you do that?" I am so thankful for our sweet moments and that she loves to cuddle and often says "Mommy I love you!" or I would probably think that I have done something terrible wrong in the first years of this childs life. The Duggar family doesn't give time-0uts they just practice self control with the children. That baffles me, I am sure we are making progress but some days the day is long and the night is too short to re-coup! So Lord, hear me out...Help me be a good Mommy, Help me teach my little ones self control(for I know that standing in the toilet is quite tempting) Help me sow seeds that they want to grow and love you.

Henry has a bag of tricks up his sleeves these days, to list a few:

Shakes his sillys out(a little dance, he has learned from watching sis at the library story time)

Skinnamirky dinky dink, He says "I" love you.

He says shoes for both socks and shoes

He says juice for both milk and juice

He gives kisses...and melts mommys heart

He was trying to jump today, but failed at every attempt.

He chatters his teeth, he thinks it is funny, and I do to!

Bed here I come...Emrie please close your lips and and eyes and drift off to dreamland....So Mommy can too *Yawn*

Praise God for the energy of little ones and the fun and new things each day brings!

It's been awhile.

Henry @ 13 months

Aunt Ea and Emrie Ann

It seems as though I have nearly fallin' of the blogging band wagon, huh? No I haven't, I have thought many times that I should sit down for a brief update on this or that, and that is the end of that.

Highlights

HENRY IS WALKING!! He walks like a pro! Thanksgiving day he decided that he was going to take off and now I rarely see him on his knees! Good job buddy! Sis thinks it is pretty awesome to walk holding hands and even play Ring Around the Roses together.

Emrie gave herself her first hair cut. Last Sunday morning I had the scissors upstairs in the bathroom to cut tags off of some new clothes...in a hurry, leaving for church, left them out. (Scissors are always locked away under the kitchen sink) We come home later that evening and I think nothing of Emrie going upstairs to go potty until she is quieter than normal and been missing for a few minutes longer than a typical potty break. I dash up the stairs with a gut feeling that I am about to see something terrible, I open the bathroom door and she smiles. Just a tiny bit of hair on the floor, no big deal. The next morning while combing her hair lots of clumps begin to fall out and that's when I notice the little spike section of her hair that she has chopped.....Oh no! It really isn't the worst at home hair cut I have seen a little one do, but depending on how I style her hair it is sometimes quite noticeable. It is growing fast and now a week later her spike is almost laying down!

Henry is a fan of the blues. Daddy has a new favorite blues artist he likes to listen to and Henry likes it to. The best is when Henry stands and sways his little body back and forth to the bluesy rhythm. He has defiantly got Papa Mikes musical sway!

Thanksgiving was yummy! Mom prepared a feast and I enjoyed every single bite!

Praise God for a time of Thanksgiving with my wonderful family, and ample delicious food!

Attitude of a 3 year old.

Henry gently greets Baby Jesus.

Slam Dunk Emrie!

Why is it, at every turn Emrie attempts to get away with something she knows isn't right? Last night when she was in her bedroom I could hear her say "stupid, stupid, stupid" So I went in and reminded her that we don't say stupid, and as I exited the room she whispers "stupid, stupid, stupid", I sigh and then go in for the punishment.

Today I was sitting at the computer checking my email when Emrie walked up beside me and said "I have nothing in my mouth." I now know that she just snuck a nibble of sugar cream pie. When I go to check she says "I just had a small taste mom." That small taste resulted in lots of little nibble marks. "It is tempting for me as well but together we must leave it alone until dinner time tonight." I tell her.

Henry is a baby who likes to hear a good song with a groovy beat. Emrie was never so much that way, but I love that when a tune comes on Henry's little body moves right to the beat. Sometimes the music moves him so much that his arms go straight out to the sides and he swings them back and forth rapidly. Tootsee Roll by 69 Boyz gets him like nothing else!

Praise God for a boring Tuesday afternoon.

More Birthday Fun Pictures

Emrie Ann enjoying Henry's new drum...hasn't been very quite around the house lately.

Henry's friend Micah, enjoying some of the yummy caterpillar cupcakes.

Henry looks pleasantly surprised with everyone singing Happy Birthday.

Big Sister leading Henry around, as usual.

Praise God for the bond between big sister and little brother, and for my big sister too.

Birthday Party Success

We had a fun evening Saturday with friends and family celebrating Henry's 1st B-day. Henry has had loads of fun riding his new quad from Uncle Jim, Aunt Beth and Jeremiah. He hasn't figured out the steering therefore he runs into whatever is directly ahead, & he seems to enjoy running into things.

Praise God for time to celebrate birthdays with friends and family