An Elephant of sorts!!!

Kallen is really into Elephants these days, which is very fitting because we keep telling him he looks like one!!!

You see...Kallen woke up Monday morning, having a really hard time breathing. I wasn't too worried about it, but with the slight fever and cough, I thought I better take him in! Turns out He's got Bronchiolitis. Basically a viral form of Bronchitis! Anyways...as treatment, he's got a Nebulizer and has to have a breathing treatment 3 times a day! As you can imagine...it isn't the easiest thing we've ever had to do with him, but the "special treats" he gets for taking his "special medicine" helps him hang in there for the 15 minutes it takes!!! As much as he hates it...it's amazing to me that he sits there as stiff as a board not moving until I turn the machine off! Only a few more days buddy!

Blessings,

A Baby Boom!!!

Well, I have a little baby news to report to you, so join me in my praise for these little blessings from God!!!


First, my dear, dear friend Ashley (you know, the one from Alaska) and her family welcomed Grace Leanne to the family on Thursday the 21st, weighing in at 7lbs and was 19 3/4 inches long! Here is little Grace, and her proud big brother David!!!



Second, my cousin Lyndzie and her husband Brandon welcomed Caleb Ryan to their family Monday the 25th, weighing in at 6lbs 14oz and 19 inches long! For those of you who don't know my cousin...she is very near and dear to my heart. We are 3 months apart in age, and have always been very close...although we've lived a state apart almost our whole lives. Growing up, we always said that we wanted to be pregnant and having babies at the same time...7 1/2 months apart for our little kiddos, is as close as we could get!!!



Third, my friend Mackenzie who I've known since Elementary School, and her family, welcomed Payton Marcus to their family on Monday as well. He weighed in at 9lbs 3 (or 6...I can't remember) oz and was 22 inches long!!! After a rough pregnancy and bed rest at the end...he finally made it!!!


And Fourth, my friend (who is basically like family, since her sister is my sister-in-law) Jamee and her family will be welcoming Averee Layne any day now!!! Her due date isn't until the 10th of March I believe...but we're all betting she'll be early!


So...welcome little ones, and little ones to come...and I can't wait to meet all of you and hold you in my arms!


Blessings,

A Style All His Own

As of yet, Kallen hasn't really been into the whole dressing himself thing. I find an outfit (yes, my son wears "outfits"), and that's what he wears that day! He is definitely capable of dressing himself, but it simply gets done quicker if I do it, and we don't have any heads stuck in arm holes or anything like that!!! He really hasn't even had a preference on what he wears. He just goes with the flow...

...until today! I told him he needed to get dressed for church, and this is what he came out of his bedroom looking like...all the while saying "I go bye-bye...c'mon mommy...let's go"! Not only is he wearing pajamas, but 2 different pairs at that, his daddies stocking hat, a non matching jacket, and the bright red socks with his crocs were a nice way to finish off the ensemble!

Needless to say...he changed! I'm just not ready to give up the control of his matching outfits...yet another aspect of my OCD!!!

Blessings,

Finally Sold!!!

Several years ago my friend Laura became part of a wellness group called Melaleuca and in that time, she has tried endless times to get me involved as well. I've listened to the sales calls, heard her testimony and scoured the website, only to "ho, him and haw" through not becoming a member.

I'm not sure why I was so reluctant, except for the requirement to purchase a certain amount of points (aka product) each month, and I didn't want to be tied down to that. I had no doubt that the non toxic Malaleuca products were good for the environment, safe for my children, and that they worked well...I just went with "we survived using the old school products, so why won't my children?" philosophy. I'm still not sold on the idea of throwing away everything in my house that is not Melaleuca (sorry Laura...maybe I'll get there one day)...but, and a big but...I'm willing to give the company a try, and here's why!

Remember our Silly Putty dilemma (see below)? Well, after lots of advice (thank you all for that by the way), Kim (who also recently signed on as a member) suggested Sol-u-Mel, which is a concentrated Melaleuca cleaning product. Laura of course validated that suggestion, and since she lives right down the road from us, brought me a little to try out. Now, let me tell you all that Kallen’s pajamas and blankie sat in our deep freezer for most of the day yesterday, only to help break off a few chunks of the putty, but it didn't touch the stuff that was smeared deep into the fabric. Sol-u-Mel to the rescue. I could not believe how effectively it cleaned everything up, to the point that I don't even know where it used to be. It left no oily residue or any amount of the putty! Sold, sold, sold!!! I even left a little on Kallen's pajamas so that Kevin could see the demonstration first hand, and he too was just as impressed as I was!

If for that product alone and I'm sure the others work just as well, I'm willing to become a member!!! Thank you Kim and Laura...now my son can sleep at night since we don't have to throw away his dear, sacred blanket!!!

Blessings,

Kati

Do You See a Problem?

We all know what this is, right...

yes...it's good ol' Silly Putty.

And we all know what this is...

yup...an empty egg of Silly Putty. So far so good, right?

Now do you see a problem???

I'm not sure where he got it, in fact I didn't even know we had any in the house...yet sure enough, Kallen woke up with Silly Putty EVERYWHERE. On the wall, his sheets, pajamas, pillow and even his dear, dear blanket! I've tried peeling it off, but to no avail. Any suggestions? I'd really like to not throw everything away...especially the blanket, and I'm pretty sure my washing machine would appreciate if I don't put them in there...so help!!! I am laughing about it by the way. I think it's hillarious how he truly got it EVERYWHERE! I don't think he could have done that if he tried!

Blessings,

He Can't Resist...

...that blond haired, blue eyed girl next door!!!



Meet Ellie! Ellie and her little brother River, live next door, and have quickly become our kids, "bestest fwends"! Ellie is 6 months older than Kallen, and River is 6 months older than Kynlee...too perfect wouldn't you say!


One bright sunny day about a year ago, Kallen spotted lil' miss Ellie from across the driveway, and has been smitten ever since...hence our little V Day Casanova!







Blessings,

I Think I have OCD!!!

My sister Danielle Tagged me, to write 6 random things about myself, so here it goes...

1. I like things to be symmetrical: Something tall on this side, we need something tall on that side...Bed in the center of the wall...quilting...scrapbooking...yadda, yadda, yadda...it's all got to be perfectly symmetrical in one way or another!

2. I can't leave the TV volume on an odd number: I always have to go up or down 2 notches when changing the volume of the TV. 11 just won't do...it's got to be 10 or 12, which sometimes is too loud or too soft, but I just can't bring myself to stop it on that "dreaded" odd number. There is something about being able to divide whatever it is I'm doing in half...back to that symmetry again!

3. When I eat colored candy (skittles, m&m's, jelly beans, etc.) I have to separate them into even colored piles: Whatever candy is left over goes in it's own pile, and I attack that first! Then I pull from the other piles, one piece at a time, in order to always keep them equal! Yes...EVERY time I eat these candies!

4. Big gouges or scrapes in tubs of food items, drives me nuts: When dishing up icecream, I scrape the top of the tub in such a way that it is left perfectly flat. Same with butter. If someone has gouged the center of the butter...I try my best to smooth it out.

5. I Organize Everything I can: The clothes in my closet, as in my children's, are arranged by color, then by sleave length within each color. The fabric in my sewing room...the towels in my linen closet...the socks in my sock drawer...etc, etc, etc...all arranged by color. The DVD's and CD's...all arranged alphabetically. Books on the bookshelf and games in the game cupboard...by size. The spices in my spice cupboard...by uses. Baking spices all together, rubs and seasonings all together. The kids toys are even separated into baskets. A basket of cars, farm stuff, art things, etc. etc. etc.

6. We have 14 pillows on our bed...only 4 of which are decorative:

Okay...so after reading this, I think I offically have OCD...anyone know a good psyciatrist?

* Anyone else who wants to play along...feel free! It's kind of fun, and most definitely revealing!!!

Blessings,

A Suck, Smile or Growl!

Kynlee turned 7 months on Saturday, and what a fun 7 months it has been!

I am amazed every day how different my little children are. I don't think a day goes by that Kynlee doesn't wake up with a great big smile on her face...wether it's first thing in the morning, or we're waking her up late at night from Grandpa and Grandmas (on one of those nice evenings out for Kevin and I). Smiles, smiles, smiles...always smiling!

Lately her little grin, has turned into an open mouth growl as well. If someone is holding her, she'll open her mouth nice and wide, let out a great big growl, then lean in for the "kill"...aka, the slobber attack! She growls at her toys, at her brother, at the dog, and of course at anyone who strikes up a conversation with her. I keep trying to tell her she's not a lion...but she doesn't quite get that yet!

We're not crawling yet, but she's started to figure out that if she pushes off with her feet she moves...fancy that! Therefor, I guess we're in the beginning stages of the "army crawl". She's much like her friend Dawson, and would rather walk than anything! She'll walk all over the house with us holding her hands if we'd let her (I'm trying to keep her down and not let the walking happen until WAY later in life..hahaha). Anyways...she's just a joy, and we're so blessed to have her in our lives!

The stats (for my future reference)...16.8 pounds, 27 1/2 inches...and some pictures we describe as the 3 faces of Kynlee:

The "Finger Suck"...

The "Growl"...
and the good ol' "Smile"

Kallen 7 months (to compare!!!)

Blessings,

A Helping Hand

In our kitchen, we have 2 sinks! We have your everyday Kitchen sink...

...and a smaller bar/prep sink...


...a.k.a Kynlee's Bathtub!

Bathtime is her favorite part of the day, and aside from his own bath, helping sissy take hers has quickly become one of Kallen's favorite times well!

He makes her laugh...

...rinses the soap out...

...and helps scrub the craddle cap off her head!

Thanks for the help Kal!

Blessings,

45 Minutes...

...That's how long our "power struggle" lasted before Kallen gave in and ate his lunch yesterday. Now, I understand that many of you out there have had similar meal time battles, that may have even lasted longer than our short bout...but do understand, that for us...45 minutes was an eternity!

You see...Kallen tends to be a 2 second eater, and in fact, I'm pretty sure he may hold a record for the shortest amount of time sitting in his seat for a meal before he is done! If we get two bites out of him, it's a good meal! People ask me, "is he a picky eater", and the answer used to be "no". He will take a bite of almost anything you put in front of him, but that may be it...a bite. I never thought of it as him being picky, until a recent lightbulb went on.

Sometime the beginning of January, he started pushing his plates away saying "I no like it". Sometimes he would take a bite, and sometimes just look at the food, before pronouncing his disgust. I tried every food possible to see what he might like, and no matter what was put in front of him, the response was the same "I no like it".

Kallen mind you has a choice for breakfast and lunch. When he gets hungry, he comes to me and says "I need eat...me pick". (There for a while I thought maybe he wasn't hungry the times I thought he ought to be eating, so now he lets me know when he's hungry and that's when he eats). Dinner is dinner, and we eat as a family, so he has no choice there, but the rest of the day is all his!

Well...I've gotten so tired of throwing away food after he asks for it, that I finally got fed up, and put my foot down. (I know, I know...I'm a little slow). Anyways. He went to the fridge and asked for an egg. No problem. It was a hardboiled egg, so I cut it open and turned it into a deviled egg (one of his favorite things). Well...as soon as I got it made he started throwing a fit that he wanted to pick something else...No way mister...sit and eat your egg! So, I put him at the table, egg in front of him, and went on my merry way. He basically screamed at the top of his lungs for 45 straight minutes that he "didn't like it" and shouting "no", when I told him he could get down as soon as he ate the egg! One silly little egg!

I kept ignoring him, and finally about minute 44 or so...he gave in. He wasn't happy about "losing" the battle, but it was obvious I wasn't letting him off the hook! Man...Just eat kiddo!!!

Blessings,

A New Me...scratch that...A Healthier Me!!!

Last week I was reading a post by MCK Mama over at My Charming Kids, and realized If I'm going to be successful (like her), I need to share my journey with others who can support and encourage me, instead of trying to do it on my own "behind the scenes". What journey you ask???

Well...Tomorrow, February 4th 2008, I am beginning a program called Body-for-LIFE! It's a LIFE program that involves eating healthy and exercising...novel idea...though something I haven't been doing! Kevin's college roommate did this proram back in the day, and we all thought of it as a "body building" program. However...after devouring the website and reading through the book, I realize it is not that at all. I even have a friend who successfully completed the "challenge" and looks and feels great several years later! So...

After seeing some current pictures of myself, and examining the person who was looking back at me in the mirror, I realized that my body just wasn't the same as it used to be. My weight is the same as it has been for the last 10 years or so...however the saggy, flabby, skin, and tight fitting jeans, just arn't! (Truly a realization that the numbers on the scale don't mean as much as the way my clothes fit!) Anyways...this program (though I heard about it years ago), was put in front of me just at the right time. I'm making a commitment to change...for me, my husband, and my kids!!!

This was a hard decision for me to share this with you all or not, because I tend to be the person who wants to change before anyone knows I'm trying. The problem is...failure tends to be my middle name, and if no one knows...then there's no one to keep me accountable! So...I'm letting you all know, and I'll be posting about my progress each week for the next 12 weeks (and hopefully beyond), and I would love all the encouragement and support I can get!

Come back April 28th for the results, and each week in between for my progress!!!

Blessings,