Gywneth's Baptism

Gwyneth was Baptized on Halloween weekend which worked out great since my parents were in town.

 

Ryan and Kari our her Godparents.

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Family Pics

 

 

Happy Halloween

 

We had a fun Halloween. My parents came in town for the weekend, which was a lot of fun. Joe carved a few pumpkins. Cooper helped some. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Halloween night our friends Carly and Mark came over with their daughter Lily. So Cooper had a friend to Trick R Treat with. It was typically Halloween weather though. A little rainy outside. But we got in a good 20 minute stretch of no rain which worked out kinda perfect. 

 

Lily was the main character from Brave and Cooper was spiderman. 

 

Gwen was minnie mouse.

She slept through part of the evening. 

 

 

 

Cooper-ism's

Well its like that old saying "Out of the mouth of babes." HA!

Now that Cooper is talking up a storm he says some of the funniest things and he has a few phrases that he says regularly that I just don't want to forget.

"Oh Yeah So"   - like if he asks for something and we say no. Its his way of bargaining.

"Wass One"  -  Instead of saying "this one" or "that one".. it comes out sounding like a "W" in the
                           beginning.

"My Kids"   - when he refers to his friends at preschool.

"Happy Face, Sad Face"-  a chart they have a school that show their behavior for the day. 

"You Go Sad Face" - telling Joe and I that we are being bad.


"You Go Timeout"

"Deb" "Joe" - he has picked up on our names and for a little while kept calling us by them.


"Oh yeah"   - when he is agreeing with you. Its sounds much different than the "oh yeah sooo".

"No You Don't Talka Back to me"--- Telling us to not talk back.

"Why" 
"Because" 

"Gwennie" - the nickname he made up for Gwen, almost immediately after we brought her home.

"Precious" - One of Joe's nicknames for his brother, that now Cooper has picked up on it and he says it to Ryan repeatedly.

"Kinda cute" - says this about everything.

"Stop Talking"  - if Joe and I are talking about something, its like he feels left out and wants attention.

"Stop Feeding her" - he said this quite a bit when we first brought Gwen home. 

"Red Store" - meaning lets go to Dierbergs. 

"Blue Store"  -  Sam's Club

I'm sure there are more that I am missing. But he just says the funniest things. And I think his little voice just makes everything that much more funny.

Checking in .. a shift in perspective

I feel like the past few weeks have been kinda hectic. We are doing great, don't get me wrong. But everything has seemed so busy. I feel like the stress of being back to work and the busyness of work around the holidays has got a little bit of a grip on me. In that I feel like maybe I'm a little grouchy or 'debbie downer' sometimes. Maybe its just my perfectionist tendencies rubbing me the wrong way. My need to be 'in control'. My need to have everything a 'certain way'. A level of expectation I put onto myself. That at this time I just can't meet that expectation. And that is ok. We are in the midst of learning how to take care of two kids and its wonderful and we are so blessed. I should be nothing but happy and grateful. But I catch myself at times feeling like I'm drowning. I'm not, but in my mind I am. Its hard being back to work. Its hard nursing and pumping and keeping up with chores. The extra laundry, the extra load of cloth diapers. And its hard coming home and not being tired but giving your kids the love and attention that they deserve, that you want to give them. But I'm not perfect. My house can't be perfect all of the time. My mood can't be perfect all of the time. I can't expect Cooper or Gwen to always do exactly what I think they might do. Whether that be naps or bedtime or whatever. I can only do, what I can do.  I feel like God has been telling me that I need to stop trying to be in control and do things myself. I need a little shift in perspective. I need to stop rushing around. I just need to do what I can. I need to come home and hold my new baby and cuddle with my son. And talk to my husband. The dishes, the laundry, they are ok. And they will get done.

I think my first weeks back to work I was still on a 'high' of just having a new baby. Life was good. It is good. It never stopped being good. I just think my perspective was getting a little foggy. I want to start giving things to God, because this little 'busy' phase. Of having an almost, sorta still 'newbie' and my sweet little energetic 3.5 yr old. This time will soon be gone. And though it may seem chaotic at times, I want to just enjoy it. I want to see the good, let the bad or craziness just go.

I don't write journal-like entries on here real often. But this is kinda my journal. I want to remember 'this time'. And I want to start taking a little more time to just sit down.. and just slow it down. Like the quote I heard at church a long time ago and I always think of it when I start to to feel myself saying "I'm too busy", too busy to pray enough or take time to just 'be'. Well busy in that instance stands for 'being under Satan's yolk'. He loves us to be discouraged or feeling defeated. He wants us distracted from seeing how good things really are. Well he won't be distracting me anymore. I'm good, I'm back. I ready to keep plugging along. I'm excited to prepare for the holidays. I'm really excited to have a 'date night' this weekend as we attend a wedding of a long-time friend from college.  I'm excited to take a few days off around Thanksgiving. I'm excited to get ready for the magic of Christmas and to enjoy sharing that with my kids.

I'm good, I'm ready to carry on.

And hopefully that means you might see some much 'overdue' fun blog entries on here soon.

Preschool Halloween Party

With Cooper being in preschool now, this year he got to experience his '1st school party'. I think I was more excited that him! I signed up to be a room mom. I'll have to admit though, things are quite like they were when we were kids. If you know me I was super excited about the party. I love parties I tend to go all out. It was cute and all, but I would have like to done more. Oh well maybe next time. I think the kids had a good time and that is all that matters. I was in charge of treats. And I volunteer before thinking about all of the allergies that exist these days. They were quite a few restrictions. But we were given a list of 'safe' treats. So I picked a few things off of there, mini marshmallows and Jello Jigglers. I only got just a few pics of the party.

 Cooper was spider man. Here they are getting ready to eat their treats. 

 We had a few simple games for them to do. 

 And a festive craft.

 The famous 'circle mat' I finally got to see this in action. As everyone was waiting to be picked up.

 

Here is the 'ghost poop' or mini marshmallows. I forgot to get a picture of the Jello jigglers.