The Princess Diaries...

Simple Gifts

2011-07-03T23:58:00.003-04:00

We have spent much of this last year moving closer and closer towards simplicity and the gifts from this process have been simply sweet! Clint and I really felt a calling to abandon our mainstream mentalities that were telling us more is better and learn to find contentment with less -

Less job - Clint traded in his highly esteemed, high-tech job as an electrical engineer to become an electronics educator which has greatly reduced his daily stress.
Less money - Our experience was that when you have more money, you just spend more. A bigger paycheck meant a bigger house, more stuff, and more activities for the kids. It was easier to justify buying things that we wanted versus just what we needed when we had the money in the bank account to spend. We have become much more disciplined with our spending and better managers of what we do have.
Less house - We moved out of our big house that came with a big mortgage, big expenses, and big responsibilities which lifted a big burden!
Less hustle and bustle - We moved to a slower-paced, smaller town which I will admit was hard to adjust to, but the benefits far outweigh any hesitations I once had.
Less stuff - We sold or donated over half of all we owned and it felt great! It is so much simpler to keep track of and take care of less stuff! The best part was that our whole family learned that the joy of giving is far greater than the joy of having and we will continue to take seasonal inventories to get rid of more stuff! Be free from stuff!
Less activities - There was always something to do and somewhere to go and busyness divided us. I still struggle sometimes to maintain a healthy balance, but we have really enjoyed just spending time at home as a family playing in the backyard or baking together or building something together and that motivates me to keep activities to a minimum.
Less technology - This has made the biggest difference in my life. I used to be so connected to my iphone that I was becoming disconnected from everything else...ironic! Praise the Lord that my iphone crashed one day and my eyes were opened to a life free from the distraction of a "smart" phone! We rarely watch TV anymore and we do not own a gaming system. I spend less time on the computer these days as well and consequently less time blogging, but I figure if I am spending more time making memories than recording them...it's a good thing (that was so Martha Stewart)!

Less really is more!

A Better View

2011-03-12T21:26:00.005-05:00

Sophie recently got her first pair glasses and she loves them!! The first time she put them on she was amazed at all she could see! I think she looks adorable in them all well!

Out of the mouths of babes...

2011-02-07T17:12:00.004-05:00

Ella says the funniest, sweetest, and most adorable things! I love how she expresses herself and communicates with us. Actually, she will talk to anyone who will listen! It took her a long time to find her words, but as she neared 2 years old, her babble finally became recognizable and now it will be memorable too.

Ella's first word - "uh-oh"

Ella's first sentence - "Max, shut mouf!" (to our dog who was barking when she was trying to take a nap)

Ella's famous phrases -
"That's too loud!"
"Shhhh, baby sleeping!"
"Yummy cakes please!"
"Dance with me!"
"Daddy home!"
"Kiss my boo-boo."
"Feel better."
"My boo-boo needs a banaid."
"Wuv you!" (love you!)
"That's my favorite!" (to just about everything)
"I clean it."
"I help you!"
"Ella do!"
"I do it by myself."
"Ella eata it!"
"No baby Kate...that's mine!"
"I need my pretty dress."
"I see you later!"

Funny mistakes -
"No may!" (instead of no mam)
"That's my pot!" (instead of that's my spot)
"auce" or "appo-auce" (instead of applesauce)
"obama" (instead of bottom...really...I'm not kidding)

Precious moments -
When baby Kate is crying, Ella says, "It ok...Ella here, I'm here...no wying" as she strokes her head and gives her a kiss.

Big sister Ella will also let me know when Baby Kate is hungry. She says, "baby needs to nurse" or "baby wants mama's milk."

When I get her out of her crib in the morning she will hug me and say, "Good morning! I sleep good!"

When Ella sees me clean something up she says, "Good job mommy! I so proud of you!"

Clint and I call each other babe or honey so Ella will sometimes greet us by saying, "hi honey" or "hey babe" - so cute!

The other day, I asked her to help me clean up and she said, "I can't hear you." So, I got right next to her and looked in her eyes and asked her again. She looked right in my eyes and with a smile said, "I still can't hear you." I couldn't help but laugh. What a stinker!

Ella also loves to sing...as loud as she can! She makes me smile everyday. What a fun stage!

The 2010 Christmas Photo Experience

2010-12-22T23:19:00.006-05:00

Have you ever had an idea that seemed really great at the time and then later you realized it was a really bad idea, but it was too late to change your mind? So, I thought that I would save time and money by taking my own photo of the girls in front of the Christmas tree to send out to friends and family. How hard can this be, right? I realized as I was getting the girls all dressed up that this may have been a bad idea. Ella was having a meltdown because she wanted to wear a pink tu-tu skirt over her pretty Christmas dress and I asked her not to. Kate was not liking her tights and she was trying to rip them off (I can't really blame her...I feel the same way about them). Sophie was grumbling about the whole idea. After some coaching and cheerleading from mommy, I managed to get them all to agree to sit by the tree, but I couldn't get them all to be still and smile and look at the camera at the same time! How do photographers do that? I had to jump around and make silly faces and noises like a clown while Clint tried to snap a few photos. We took around 40 photos, several breaks, and finally ended up with 1 photo that was pretty good 45 minutes later. We laughed afterwards. It was quite the experience. Next year, I am going to let a professional handle the job! Oh, and I only managed to get Christmas cards and photos out to family this year. I apologize to all of my friends for not sending out Christmas greetings and the fruit of our hard photography labor, but please look forward to a fabulous, professional photo card next year! Merry Christmas to all!!

Pumpkin Pickin' with my Pumpkins

2010-10-23T09:37:00.003-04:00

We found a great farm out here to spend the day and have some fall fun! I love this time of year - the cooler weather, the changing leaves, apple season, the pumpkin pickin', the hay rides, a hot bowl of chili, the smell of wood burning fires in the air! Nana and Papa came over for a weekend to enjoy some of the season's best moments with us! Here are some pics at Carrigan Farm in Mooresville: (more to come when I can get them uploaded)

Up, Up, and Away!

2010-10-19T11:30:00.001-04:00

The girls are growing up so fast and if I don't hurry up and write some things down, these priceless moments may get away from me! I am amazed at how things seem to get lost in my brain, especially since I have become a mom.

Baby Kate - 9 months old

9 months old today - 10/19/10

Kate is still the happiest baby I know! I have noticed that she seems a little shy sometimes, but she is always friendly. She has beautiful, bright blue eyes and a smile that seriously melts my heart everytime. She also has the cutest giggle. I love my baby girl!!!

Kate spent her first few months quietly observing her new surroundings and her two big sisters in action. She made her movement debut at 4 months when she rolled over, but it took her a long time to figure out how to master sitting on her own. She was nearly 8 months before she gained the balance and strength to stay upright. Almost immediately after sitting, she learned to lean forward into the crawling position. She managed to pull her body with her arms and "scoot" across the floor for a while and then on 10/18, she finally figured out how to make her knees work for her and she began to crawl. She is cruisin' everywhere now! She is so proud of her new crawling skills and is quickly moving on to pulling herself up to the standing position.

Kate's first tooth finally made an appearance on 10/16 - the bottom right one. I had been waiting to start finger foods since she had no teeth to chew with, but we are trying mashed fruit pieces now. She is already expressing likes and dislikes with food. She seems to prefer fruits, yogurt and cereals while veggies get a grimace most of the time. I am making her baby food, but I have not been too creative yet. Sweet potatoes, butternut squash, applesauce, and pears are the majority of her solid food diet. She is still nursing 5-6 times a day and once during the night a few times a week. Most nights she sleeps 10-11 hours and takes a 1 1/2 - 2 hour morning nap and a 1 1/2 - 2 hour afternoon nap.

Kate is already signing milk and more and seems to have a high aptitude for expressive communication. She also claps and moves her upper body to dance to music too. I have even heard her trying to sing - music to my ears!

8 months old - ready for take off!

8 months old - out riding in the stroller

8 months old - the shirt speaks for itself

7 months old - still holding on for dear life, but sitting on her own...pretty much

7 months old - not sure about that hair band (me either)

7 months old - hey mommy!

6 months old - yes, that is sweet potato on my chin :)

6 months old - my big sisters really like to feed me

5 months old - found her new perspective and she loves being on her belly!

4 months old - thinking about gaining a new perspective

3 months old - happy girl

... and daydreaming

3 months old - just laying around with Sophie

Two months old - nap before church on Easter Sunday

One month old - getting sweet snuggles from Ella one morning

10 days old and already loved so much!

What an amazing 9 months we have had together!

Sophie Goes To School

2010-09-22T09:50:00.006-04:00

This year, Sophie is attending a traditional public school. This is a huge shift for us and we are taking it one day at a time, but Sophie enjoys it most days so far. We loved our homeschool experience last year and we may go back to it in the future, but we are really trying to give traditional school a try. Why the change? Initially, it was because I was getting a lot of pressure from Sophie's dad and others to send Sophie to school and it is difficult to stand up to that on a regular basis. I grew weary of defending the benefits of homeschooling. I still believe that homeschooling is a better educational choice for Sophie with numerous benefits that go above and beyond school work, but we have decided to take a break from it for now. Sophie misses homeschooling too, but she also loves recess and lunch time and riding the school bus with her new friends. Tax dollars well spent :). In all fairness, Sophie has a wonderful teacher who loves the Lord and loves to teach. As the school year progresses, the school work should become more challenging and Sophie will be more interested in learning.

Clint also encouraged me to look at the advantages of traditional school and there have been some really great ones. I am able to spend more time focusing my attention on Ella and Kate. Ella is really blossoming. She was speech delayed and now she is saying new words every day and putting together 5 word sentences. I have seen Ella emerge into her own person instead of always following Sophie's lead. Kate is so happy and fun to play with and I am really enjoying our moments together. I also have a lot to accomplish around the house right now since we just moved. I have boxes to unpack and organization to do so I can make our home liveable in addition to the normal housework. Sophie is meeting new friends while she is at school during the day and that is helping her to make the adjustment to a new town. This is good timing for our whole family to try something different.

Sophie has also had the opportunity to share about Jesus with some kids on the school bus and a little girl who had never heard His name before! God has a plan for Sophie's life and He is already using her to share His great love with other kids. That's the only reason I really need to send her to public school. Sophie just may have the gift of evangelism and she may be right where God wants her to be so He can use her to tell others about Jesus and the great hope we have in Christ!

Home Sweet Home!

2010-09-22T08:49:00.001-04:00

We are officially residents of Statesville and so far we love it here! I can honestly say that we are already feeling right at home even though there are still boxes to unpack. We love the character and charm of our historic home, the tree-lined streets with sidewalks that lead to the heart of downtown, the short walk to Clint's new job at the college, the family friendly community events, and the small town atmosphere full of friendly people. I love that the mailman, Bud, an elderly gentleman, comes right to the house to deliver the mail and he stops to chat a couple of times a week. I love that I am able to take walks with the girls everyday around town, to the park, or even a grocery store. I love being able to drive somewhere without traffic. Both Clint and I love that this town is so rich with history. We love being much closer to the mountains too. This town is a great fit for Clint and I and a great place to raise the girls. I am so glad that we trusted in the Lord and followed His lead here!

We love Aunt Allie!

2010-09-19T21:40:00.007-04:00

My sister came to visit us recently and we had such a great time with her! The girls missed their Aunt Allie and I really needed some sissy time. Allie brought me wine and chocolates and she even cut my hair for me. She is so thoughtful and giving and she always knows how to make me feel better. I have the best sister in the world!!! While Allie was here, we finally got a couple of photos of our whole family of 5 too.

A Fresh Start

2010-09-09T09:26:00.005-04:00

I am so excited to begin blogging again! I have missed recording family moments, sharing thoughts and pictures, and creating a journal of memories. After Kate's birth, I had my hands full with newborn care, a very needy toddler, homeschooling our oldest, my sister's wedding (for which I was the matron of honor), my husband's job and career change, selling our home, selling or donating half of our belongings and packing the rest, moving across the state with a few stops along the way, and finally settling into our new home! In the midst of it all, my computer's hard drive crashed and my ability to blog or communicate via the internet was limited to a few cell phone uploads. It has been a long 7 months, but with a new season just around the corner comes a new beginning for our family and a fresh start in many ways!

Kate Lilian has arrived!

2010-01-25T20:44:00.006-05:00

Our sweet baby girl has finally joined the Halsted family and we love her bunches already!! Kate Lilian was born on 1/19/10 at 5:23 am. She weighed 7 lbs. 13 oz. and measured 19 1/2 " long. I started having contractions 2 weeks prior to her birth. It was rather frustrating because it seemed as though labor was beginning and every time it fizzled out after a couple of hours. By 1/13/10, I was dilated to a 3, 70% effaced, and the baby's head was very far down in my pelvis. We (me, Clint, my midwife, one of the OBs, everyone I talked to...) all thought that the baby would be born within a couple of days, but she wasn't coming out! I knew that she would eventually get here, but it was so hard to wait and anticipate her birth. What added even more pressure for me was knowing that the OB scheduled an induction for 1/21/10. I was not interested in having labor artificially induced, but I would have been about 41 weeks and the OB thought it would be best considering my high-risk pregnancy and the fact that this was my third baby. On Monday night, 1/18/10, I had decided that I didn't want to be induced and I was planning to ask for a few more days, but there was no need!

Kate's birth story-

I had my usual pattern of contractions ranging from 3-6 minutes apart from 10pm-12am on Monday night (1/18/10). The contractions stopped so I went to sleep. I was woken up at 3am with some intense cramping. I decided to get up and go to the bathroom and realized that I was actually having some heavy contractions and they were coming fast. I timed them for about 10 minutes and they were 2 minutes apart. I called my midwife first and by this time I was shaking so I could barely speak. Lucie was the midwife on call and she asked me how fast could I get to the hospital...she knew the baby was coming fast and she was debating whether or not to have me call the paramedics to the house. I told her we could be there in 20 minutes so she said to go. I had to call my parents and tell them it was time and to come on over, but they were an hour away and they had to get dressed so I knew they wouldn't make it in time. Then, I called my neighbor, Linda, and asked her to please come over to stay with the girls until my parents could get there. She was a lifesaver and came right over! Clint and I finally headed for the hospital and arrived shortly after 4am. The nurses and Lucie were ready for me and this was definitely my fastest labor and delivery! Lucie was amazing!! She stood on one side of me and Clint was on the other and I felt completely supported and encouraged throughout that very difficult last hour of labor. With one long push, Kate was born at 5:23am!

36 weeks...the home stretch!!

2009-12-22T19:51:00.004-05:00

Baby girl is looking good and measuring well! She is head down and now we are just waiting for her to make her grand entrance into this world!! We are so excited! I have been playing baby a lot with Ella to help her get used to the idea of having another baby around. So far, there has been a LOT of jealous whining, poking of baby's eyes, ripping baby out of my arms, picking her up by the neck, throwing her on the floor, and covering her head with a blanket. Is this normal for a 16 month old?? When does the gentle, nurturing instinct kick in? I may have to keep baby girl at a very safe distance from her little/big sister Ella :). Good thing big sister Sophie has some experience and will be a great example for Ella!

Here is a picture of my basketball shaped belly (as many people have told me) and the latest stats...

How far along? 36 weeks

Total weight gain: 31 lbs.

Maternity clothes? yes...I only have one pair of jeans that fit comfortably now

Stretch marks? nothing new

Sleep: still waking from aches and pains and having to pee

Movement: a ton...she is still poking and pushing although I can tell she is starting to run out of room in there.

Food cravings: still sweets unfortunately...I can see the affect on my thighs :)

Gender: girl

Name: We have narrowed it down to Lily or Mary for a first name and the middle name is still a work in progress. Feel free to vote and help us pick one!

Belly Button in or out? out

What I miss: a few things, but it is worth the sacrifice :)

What I love most: that she is almost here now!

Weekly Wisdom: stretch muscles, take deep breaths, careful with body movements and heavy lifting

34 weeks and counting down...

2009-12-10T10:19:00.005-05:00

We are so close now to meeting baby girl and I just know these weeks through the Christmas season will help the time fly even faster!

Here are the stats...

How far along? 34 weeks

Total weight gain: 29 lbs. (I am 2 lbs. heavier than I was with Ella at this point in the pregnancy)

Fundal Height (size of uterus): 33 cm. (I was at 34 cm. last time at this point)

Maternity clothes? Of course!

Stretch marks? Same as before...nothing new thank goodness :)

Sleep: Still waking a couple of times at night, but I am usually able to fall back asleep

Movement: Wow! This one is the most active in the womb! The other night I put a cup on my belly and she was moving it around and poking out so hard that she was able to tip it off several times...quite amazing!

Food cravings: chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven and a glass of milk at night

Gender: girl

Name: Mary Kate, Lily Claire, or Emilie Claire. I also like Sadie which means princess, but I am not sure what Clint thinks about it.

Belly Button in or out? out

What I miss: energy...I have been really tired lately

What I love most: still the baby belly (even though it is getting bigger and bigger) and feeling her move although she is so strong that sometimes she takes my breath away with a kick!

Weekly Wisdom: Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights...

For the record...at 32 weeks and 2 days, baby girl dropped down a bit. I could tell because my heartburn/reflux was better, but I started having sciatic nerve pain through my right butt cheek, hip and leg. I was able to limp around during the day, but by the evening I could barely walk. On Friday, Nov. 27th (the day after Thanksgiving) I was unable to put any pressure on my right leg making it impossible to walk or move at all. It was incredibly painful...worse than natural childbirth in my opinion. Clint had to lift me up and carry me to the bathroom if I needed to go. I am so grateful that this happened over the holiday weekend because Clint was home from work and he took care of all the meals and the girls. I felt so helpless and awful. I was able to get around some with assistance by Sunday afternoon, but I had another serious flare up on Monday and I was unable to move again. It hurt if anyone even touched me so I was so depressed not being able to snuggle with my girls. Finally, by the following Wednesday, I was able to stand on my own two legs and get around. I have been taking it very slow since then and seeing the chiropractor and praying a lot. I have not had another flare up for a whole week now...praise the Lord! I hope and pray that I make it through the rest of this pregnancy without any more problems!

Reading, Writing, Arithmetic...Oh My!!!

2009-12-07T15:22:00.000-05:00

Warning: this blog post is full of praise towards Sophie's homeschool accomplishments from the heart of her very proud teacher and mama. My intention is for this to serve as some kind of progress report so I can remember this first 3 months of homeschooling.

I am so proud of Sophie!!! She is officially reading up to 4 letter words and is able to sound out some larger ones too. She can read beginner books on her own and I know she is amazed by her own accomplishments. Sophie's writing skills have greatly improved as well and she is finally confident using all her lowercase letters and even writing short sentences. Kindergarten level math was a breeze for her and she is quickly advancing through 1st grade math now. She counts and writes numbers up to 100 one number at a time and by tens, knows the value of coin money and how to add it together, and is excelling in addition and subtraction without the use of visual aids. I can see where her strength is going to be! It is so exciting to watch Sophie learn and make these important connections.

Sophie still needs some improvement with her handwriting as she tends to become sloppy or write a few letters or numbers backwards when she gets tired and when she tries to go too fast, but she is really working on taking her time and focusing.

I have to admit that I was very nervous to take on the responsibility of homeschooling. It was rough in the beginning as we both struggled through frustrations, but I am finally able to see some of the fruits of this labor. There are still days when Sophie grumbles about doing school work, but that just challenges me to be more creative in how I present the information. Sophie does not learn well under the "traditional" model so I am glad that I am able to help her learn according to how her brain processes things.

Art is still her favorite "subject" and the detail in her drawings really amazes me. She is also learning how to play the piano and is able to figure out simple songs by ear. I will definitely continue to nurture her love and skill in creative arts.

I have noticed a change in attitude in Sophie as well. She helps out without being asked and has shown real maturity in her compassion towards others and her desire to give. It is hard to stay calm when her little sister has just torn apart something special, but Sophie has been very understanding and loving about these things. Sophie is learning a lot about God's Word and His character as well and she has memorized a few scripture verses along the way. I know this is why her attitude and behavior have made such positive changes.

Sophie does seem to be closer to tears than usual and is expressing a lot of emotion. I was talking to a couple of other moms of 6 or near 6 year old girls and they described some of the same behaviors as I am seeing in Sophie. She is just so sensitive right now. The other day she found out that the Bear Rock Cafe at Cary Crossroads is closed and moving locations and she cried because this was her favorite place to eat lunch with her "partner" Clinty on his lunch breaks from work. She also gets really whiny and tearful when she is tired or hungry which reflects her behavior from back when she was 2 or 3 years old. I am thinking this must be something developmental, but I haven't really researched it yet.

Ok. I think I am done with the first unofficial progress report from our first quarter of homeschool. I am looking forward to this next quarter and hoping that we are able to stay on track with the addition of another baby coming soon!

32 weeks complete...only 8 to go!

2009-11-22T09:52:00.006-05:00

Wow! I really can't believe another due date is just around the corner. The time has really flown by with this pregnancy. I am trying to enjoy my belly and feeling baby girl move as much as possible during these busy days. I am already starting to feel sad about this pregnancy coming to an end because it will probably be my last. I know that sounds crazy and of course I am looking forward to holding our little girl, but I also love being pregnant. There is something so amazing about being a life giver. What a miracle to be growing a life inside of me and giving birth to one of God's creations! I will miss that part, however; I do feel very blessed and honored to be given these little girls to love, care for, teach and train.

As far as being "prepared" for baby girl's birth, we are not...at all. I have moments of panic and nesting, but it is not as bad this time as it was when I was awaiting Ella's arrival. I am going to try to get the car seat washed and installed in the mini van this weekend. Maybe I will even make a list of all the "to-do's" as well. I guess I am more relaxed because I know all baby girl really needs in the beginning is love and mama's milk (and maybe some diapers would be good too). I am also too tired this time to get everything done that I would normally like to have accomplished before a baby comes. I am trying to just let some things go and make sure I am taking care of myself and the girls (and the house and my husband too) :).

Belly at 30 weeks...

At 32 weeks...getting bigger and bigger :)

And here are the current stats...

How far along? 32 weeks

Total weight gain: 27 lbs.

Fundal Height (measurement of uterus): 32 cm

Maternity clothes? Oh yeah. There is no other choice in pants at this point although I do have some non-maternity long sweaters that will still fit over the belly :).

Stretch marks? Truth time - no new ones, but I do have one that I got during my first pregnancy with Sophie. In my younger, less wise days, I had to get a belly button ring. I took the ring out when I got pregnant with Sophie (or maybe a little before that), but it left a hole and a small scar and of course my growing, pregnant belly stretched the scar tissue. After 3 pregnant bellies, the scar is now a permanent stretch mark that extends about 1 inch from the top of my belly button. Oh well...lesson learned.

Sleep: I am waking up every night now sometimes multiple times during the night. I have terrible sciatic nerve pain through my right side and heartburn/reflux pain as well. It's ok...I know it won't last much longer.

Movement: All the time! I hope she is not that squirmy out of the womb :)!

Food cravings: Sweets. I have to eat smaller meals at a time now too because my stomach is being smashed and I get full faster.

Gender: Another girl!

Name: Top agreed upon picks are still Mary, Emilie, or Lily for first names and Claire or Kate for a middle name.

Belly Button in or out? Out

What I miss: Walking, sitting, movement without pain in my hips, butt, or lower back.

What I love most: My baby belly...holding her, feeling her move.

Weekly Wisdom: Slow down to cherish every fleeting moment and find time to sit and rest!

Fall Festival 2009

2009-11-15T16:53:00.000-05:00

I'm finally getting some photos posted from Fall Festival this year! Sophie was a beautiful Minnie Mouse and she had a ball bouncing, sliding, hunting for candy, and playing with her friend, Tinkerbell.

Mountain Memories

2009-11-01T20:47:00.000-05:00

I wish I could say that we had a great vacation in the mountains this fall, but it was not exactly the experience that we had hoped for. We went to a favorite mountain town of ours called Blowing Rock just south of Boone here in NC. The drive there was beautiful and we stopped along the Blue Ridge Parkway to grab a couple of photos.

On our first full day, the weather was terrible. There was a thick fog all day, rain that went from a mist at times to a downpour at other times, and cold wind. We tried to walk around downtown Blowing Rock, but we were nearly blown away by wind and soaked with rain.

We managed to get some lunch, but Ella screamed through the whole meal. Needless to say, we HAD to get back to our room. We ended up spending quite a bit of time in our "cozy" little room. However, the kids were getting restless so Clint made some hats out of the newspaper to play pirates and princesses with. Thank goodness he is so creative!

I found an advertisement for a local museum in the meantime so we decided to check that out later in the day. We should have known that it would be an overpriced tourist trap, but honestly, I don't think we cared at that point. We needed to get out of that room and do something with the kids! The "museum" had two rooms to play in. One room was designed at a 45 degree angle so you could walk around at an angle and get dizzy and fall down. I guess kids like that stuff. The other room had a couple of puzzles and some bubbles. Was it worth the $22 admission and extra $20 of crap from the "gifts and souvenirs" shop? Probably not. But Sophie seemed to enjoy herself and Clint and I had a good laugh over it :).

That night, Ella would not go to sleep in our room. She fussed and cried. She is used to her own space with complete darkness and soothing sounds to help her fall asleep which was very difficult to recreate. We ended up having to put her in the seat of her swing in the bathroom to get her to fall asleep. Finally we had some peace and quiet around 10pm. However, Clint and I could not sleep because our mattress was so uncomfortable. I was awake every hour in pain as I switched positions. A hard, thin mattress does not go well with being 7 months pregnant. Since Ella was in the bathroom, I had to hold my pee which made me even more uncomfortable. Clint was at least able to go outside to relieve himself. I wanted to cry, but Clint kept me laughing.

Day 1 did not go well, but it ended and I woke up with new hope for Day 2.

On Day 2, the rain finally cleared out late in the morning and we went to Tweetsie Railroad Park.

Gem mining

Poor baby was ready for a nap...

We did have fun exploring the old West, riding some rides, and riding the old steam train through the mountains, but it was cold and grew colder throughout the day. Clint took Ella back to the car to nap and get warm and Sophie and I stayed to do a couple more activities. We ended up leaving earlier than we wanted to with at least 1/3 of the park left to explore, but it was just too cold and it had started to rain again (and half the family was already waiting in the car). At least we were wise enough to pick up take out food on the way back to the room instead of dealing with a fussy, screaming toddler and leaving half eaten meals at the table that night.

I think I got a few more hours of sleep on the second night, but woke up incredibly sore and with the beginnings of a cold on Day 3. I remember thinking... this is our last day...I hope it is better!

Day 3, our last day, was the best day of the trip. The weather was still brisk, but sunny and we were finally able to take in a little bit of the beauty of the mountains. We enjoyed some Kilwin's ice cream and played at a beautiful park in the center of downtown Blowing Rock.

We did the short hike at Linville Falls later that day. We actually tried to push Ella in the stroller for half the hike, but the tree roots and rocky terrain about took it out so we had to abandon the stroller half way along the path. I can't wear Ella in a carrier anymore since I am so large with child so Clint had to carry her the rest of the way. It took talent, coordination, and sheer strength to hold onto a squirmy toddler while trying not to wipe out on the slippery rocks as we got closer to the falls. I admire my husband for persevering through the adventure! The reward was worth it. The rushing water over the rocks was a beautiful sight!

The last time Clint and I went to the NC mountains together was two years ago. It was a completely different experience because Sophie stayed with my parents for the weekend and Ella wasn't born yet. It was just the two of us. I wanted to recreate that trip because it was refreshing and breathtaking, but a mountain trip with small children is just not refreshing. The trip did manage to take my breath away in a different kind of way since I was exhausted by the time we got home, but I guess that is the season of life we are in. I love my girls and I would rather have them than a nice vacation any day, but I learned an important lesson after this trip: family "vacations" are a lot more work than rest and refreshment. For now, I think we will plan "stay-cations" and enjoy our time at home with the girls while they are little :).

"I lost my first tooth!" -by Sophie

2009-10-31T12:54:00.006-04:00

"My first tooth came out on the morning of Halloween! I am so excited! I've been wiggling it so much for a lot of days now and I am so excited that it finally came out that I just want to scream!! It hurt a little bit at first, but it feels so much better now. It feels weird too. The end."

7 months pregnant!

2009-10-27T21:37:00.010-04:00

Profile view of baby girl

This 3D image was an unexpected treat. My umbilical cord was floating in front of her mouth, but you can see her eyes and her nose in the image. Technology is so cool!

Baby girl is looking healthy, measuring well, and keeping a steady heartbeat! I feel so blessed. I am so grateful that she is continuing to thrive despite my risk factors and statistics. Praise God!!

One of my friends had this pregnancy update list on her blog and I decided to borrow it to record some of the important things in my pregnancy along the way...

How far along? 28 weeks

Total weight gain: 20 lbs.

Fundal Height (measurement of uterus): 27 cm

Maternity clothes? Exclusively! I have no shame in wearing the biggest maternity band possible these days for extra comfort :)

Stretch marks? Nope :)

Sleep: It depends on the night. I have to sleep with a pillow between my legs now to reduce hip pain. I am also getting some significant round ligament pain in my abdomen when I change positions which always wakes me up!

Movement: Often. I can feel her doing somersaults and pushing to move around these days in addition to the kicks and elbow pokes. Clint thinks the movement is a bit weird still, but I love it. It gives me a sense of security that she is ok in there!

Food cravings: Random. Sometimes I get tired of drinking so much water and I will crave a glass of pepsi or sweet tea. There are not any foods that make me feel nauseous anymore.

Gender: Another girl!

Name: Still working on this. Top picks are Mary, Emilie, Lily, Abigail for first names and Claire or Kate for a middle name. We are still adding new names to the list every day. I hope we decide on one soon :).

Belly Button in or out? Out

What I miss: Walking, sitting, movement without pain in my hips, butt, or lower back.

What I love most: My baby belly...holding her, feeling her move.

Weekly Wisdom: Slow down and cherish every fleeting moment!

Pumpkin Pickin'

2009-10-13T21:36:00.018-04:00

Last weekend, the Halsteds (plus nana and papa) traveled the Apex countryside in search of the perfect pumpkin patch. They came across a quaint, little farm called the Green Level Gourd Farm. They were amazed to find a corn maze, a hay ride, donkey rides, farm animals, and *FREE* games for the kids in addition to the sea of pumpkins ripe for the picking. They had a grand adventure!

Time to go...

26 weeks pregnant already!

2009-10-12T15:10:00.002-04:00

Time seems to be moving much faster than me these days! I am already 6 1/2 months pregnant and the countdown to baby girl's birth seems to be just around the corner. Here is a picture of my belly at 26 weeks taken by my favorite photographer, miss Sophie...

Sophie's dance class

2009-10-09T10:16:00.005-04:00

I just wanted to add a few more pictures of Sophie's dance class this fall (taken by her dance teacher, Miss Lisa). She loves it!! I love it!! A friend recommended this studio where they have classes for homeschool students. Sophie has dance class on Wednesday mornings with a bunch of other girls 5-8 years old. They are like a big family and I get to talk to other moms who are homeschooling to get great tips about daily schedules, curriculum options, making it fun...it's great! The best part is that the teacher is a Christian so the girls begin and end class with prayer and they dance to praise and worship music. Instead of a recital, they will perform at a local nursing home for the elderly. What a blessing!

Here is miss twinkle toes with her class...

Back to the Blog!

2009-09-29T22:15:00.007-04:00

I think this was my longest absence from the Blog! I can't believe it has been nearly 2 months since the last entry, but it has been a busy 7 weeks filled with change and new adventures.

Our baby girl in the belly is doing great! I am 24 weeks along (only 4 months to go)! Specialists have been monitoring her heart every week and everything looks and sounds normal so far. My uterus is measuring on the small side so tomorrow we have another ultrasound to take all of baby girl's measurements again to see how she is growing in there. Hopefully she measures up :)! Our list of names is growing along with my belly. So far we have Lily, Emilie, Claire, Mary, Kate... or something really southern perhaps like Charlotte or Savannah. Clint also likes Lindsey because it is his mother's maiden name and the side of the family that he takes after, but I am not so sure about that name yet. We will see :). We have a few more months left to decide.

Here is the belly shot at 24 weeks from Sophie's perspective...

and at 20 weeks...

Ella has celebrated many firsts since her first birthday. She has definitely entered the "toddler" phase and is always finding new ways to surprise me and keep me on my toes :). The biggest news is...

Ella took her first steps!

On the eve of her first birthday, Ella shocked us all by taking her first few steps. About a week went by before she was brave enough to try again, but with every step she gained new confidence and she was walking across the room in no time.

Just starting out...

Accomplished walker...

And forget riding in the stroller now that she has figured out how to walk. She would much rather push the stroller. What a big girl she is!

Ella got her first big boo-boo...

Of course, quickly after walking came climbing. We had a cooler sitting on the kitchen floor that needed to be emptied out. Ella spotted it, climbed on top, and dove off of it head first into the wood floor all before I could get from the kitchen sink to where she was across the kitchen. I felt like it happened so quickly yet I was moving in slow motion just watching in horror. She got a big lump on her forehead and a nasty bruise. You can barely see what is left of the boo-boo on her forehead in the picture below, but I had to document what I am afraid will be the first of many boo-boos for miss Ella Rose. She wants to climb and conquer everything!

Ella said her first "word"... "uh-oh"!

Her first sound was a dog bark. She is repeating many sounds, but not forming words yet. She signs milk, eat, more, and please and points and screams to try to communicate everything else. She started saying "da da da da" while pointing at her daddy just the other day. I'm sure that will become a recognizable "da-da" soon.

Ella ate dirt...

Oh yes...I look guilty and I am guilty. I ate dirt.

Ella cleaned the floor...with a box of baby wipes :)

Actually, she loves to clean everything which will be helpful around the house someday! Ella does not like messes. She doesn't mind making them, but she has to clean them up immediately or screaming will ensue. She wipes her place at the table clean, her hands and face, picks up her toys, and she even picks the crumbs up off the floor and brings them to me.

Ella was recently diagnosed with sensory integration disorder which explains her failure to gain weight and some of her special behaviors we are starting to see. I guess her brain is not able to regulate certain information it receives from the body. Sometimes it sends the wrong messages like "you are full" instead of "you are hungry" so she refuses to eat. Her brain also overreacts or under reacts to certain things like touch, sound, or movement. We have done one Occupational Therapy session so far and plan to schedule these on a regular basis next year. Ella is a little young yet for therapy to have a great impact so we are going to hold off for a little bit. I am slowly learning more and for the most part just adjusting her surroundings to avoid the major meltdowns. Ella has started to gain some weight and at 14 months she is now 18 lbs. 3 oz.! Ella's uniqueness can present some challenges, but she is just as precious as ever and I love watching her gain more understanding about her world.

Sophie has also started some new adventures of her own. She is enjoying her first year of school at home and a new dance class. We are planning to sign her up for an art class soon as well because she LOVES to draw, paint, and create! She is very smart and talented yet she struggles with perfectionism and she is very hard on herself. She gets frustrated if she can't write a letter or a number perfectly the first time. This has been my greatest challenge so far with homeschooling. I have always been very encouraging towards her, but I am a struggling perfectionist myself so I understand her heart on this. Sophie is still very playful and full of energy. I hope she always loves to twirl around the house and tap into her uninhibited imagination!

Here is one of Sophie's new dance moves...

Super Sophie...

Sophie playing the piano...with a little help :)

Clint and I managed to carve out some time for just the two of us to celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary. My parents took care of the girls for 4 days and 3 nights so we could take a trip to Savannah, GA. We had the best time and fell in love all over again. What a romantic and beautiful city!

Our Savannah trip...

This square became famous for it's role in the movie Forrest Gump. Forrest sat on one of these benches when he shared that unforgettable wisdom with the world..."Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get."

Clint pretending to be Forrest :).

That brick building in the background is the Foley House Inn where we stayed.

Roar.

Here is the church...

...now that is a steeple!

He may look small in this photo, but he is strong (and a little silly too)!

The spanish moss was everywhere and so beautiful during the day. It was a little spooky at night; however, especially when we learned that Savannah is known as one of the most haunted cities in the US.

Yes, we were hanging out in a cemetery, but in the daylight...it was so peaceful.

These vine covered doorways to hidden paths and incredible iron works could be found on every street. There is so much charm and character in Savannah!

I know it looks like the roses are from the horse, but they are actually from

my loving husband :). Thanks honey!

I guess he didn't want to get too close :).

Our private horse-drawn carriage ride at sunset.

Our romantic anniversary dinner. He is so cute :)!

We climbed all 178 stairs of the Tybee Island lighthouse on our last day...woohoo :)

The view from the top...

Finally made it to the beach...

... just in time for a sunset.

The parlor of the Inn we stayed at. We love to travel B&B style. We love the stories behind each place and the homey feel.

Me and Clint and the roses again.

This was my first bouquet of roses from a boy so I had to take a few pics :).

The Mercer house from the true story and book/movie about it, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil."

Words can not describe...this photo could not capture the beauty of this place!

Can you hear the opera singers in the background?

This was the grandest fountain I have ever seen.

Savannah was amazing, but the best part was spending some quality time with the man I love and then coming home refreshed to lots of hugs and kisses with the girls. Good times for the Halsted homestead this summer!

Once, twice, three times...a lady!

2009-08-12T10:54:00.005-04:00

Oh yes, things are going to get even sweeter around here. We are expecting another girl and she looked great during our most recent ultrasound!! Just to be on the cautious side, however, I am being sent to a pediatric cardiologist to get fetal echocardiograms every 2 weeks to monitor her heart and to a perinatologist (an OB specialist for high-risk pregnancies) once a month to have an ultrasound to check her measurements on top of weekly OB visits. Good grief! All this because of this annoying autoimmune disease I have which has a track record for causing some pretty serious problems in utero, but we are very optimistic and like I said before...she looks great so far! Thank God!

Ella's 1st Birthday!

2009-07-31T15:49:00.009-04:00

Wow...has it been a year already? I can't believe it!! It seems like I just posted the pictures of her birth! Here are some pictures from Ella's 1st birthday party at home with me and daddy and big sister Sophie on July 28, 2009!

12 weeks and 2 days ultrasound

2009-07-07T14:56:00.004-04:00

The new baby is doing great! Heart rate was 161 beats per minute and everything appears to be developing at the normal rate. We were so relieved to see and hear that baby is ok in there! Our little peanut is looking much more like a little baby now and we even got to see him or her bounce around and wave at us (well probably not right at us, but we like to think that it was at us)! If you can not tell, this is a view of the baby's profile. The head is at the top. We saw the arms, hands, legs, feet, and even fingers and toes today as well! So amazing! We are so excited to watch the baby and my tummy grow. Next ultrasound will be at 18-20 weeks and we will find out if it is a boy or a girl!

4th of July

2009-07-05T11:14:00.000-04:00

Yay America!

Here are some pictures from this year's 4th of July celebration at Benson Lake.

We love it and have made it a family tradition!

Sophie bouncing in the "jumpy house"

There she goes down the slide!

Whoa...big balloon!

Ella's first ice cream :)

"more please"

Sophie made a new friend, of course :)

The NC Symphony Orchestra put on a concert and Ella played along with her

mini maraca the whole time! She loves music!

Ella was unsure at first about the loud fireworks, but she ended up enjoying them

...thank goodness :) !

The fireworks were much more impressive than this one, but I wanted to just enjoy them instead of taking photos :)

Happy Independence Day America!

Two peas in a pod

2009-06-29T22:35:00.000-04:00

Sophie and Ella have recently become inseparable and they do everything together. Ella is finally old enough to play and laugh along with Sophie and the girls are really enjoying each other's company. I caught some sweet moments between them the other day.

Music time in the morning...

And in the afternoon... Sophie was eating an ice cream treat on the back porch and Ella wanted to go out there too (of course). So, she was banging on the door. Sophie came over and placed her hand on the window and Ella put her hand right where Sophie's was. They turned this into a game and wherever Sophie put her hand, Ella would follow it. It was so cute and they were both giggling. I love watching their friendship grow!

My sweet peas :)

Great Day for a Great Dad!

2009-06-21T11:53:00.000-04:00

Clint has been such a great daddy! He jumped right into parenthood when we got married and he is a natural! He and Sophie have such a special relationship and I have loved watching the two of them become "parkners". Sophie is Clint's shadow. She loves to be with him and do everything that he is doing (except drink sweet tea, of course)! This year he took her to a Father/Daughter dance at our church and Sophie had a ball!

practicing...

getting in her "carriage" for the journey to the ball that night :)

Clint also adores his new baby girl, Elizabeth. Even though he calls her "pooper-stink" most days, I know he loves her bunches. He is the ultimate goofy dad who loves to make the girls laugh, but he also loves to give lots of kisses and hugs and snuggle with them too.

This is still my favorite picture of daddy and baby. It melts my heart every time I see it!

Clint and his girls...

We had a great time on Father's Day with our favorite daddy. Clint wanted a day at home with his family so we made him a special breakfast and spent some time just relaxing. Later, Clint and Sophie had a water balloon fight and played on the slip and slide and then we all took a Jeep ride to Sonic for treats. It was a great day for a great dad!

We love you daddy!

Our little peanut

2009-06-19T08:42:00.003-04:00

Last week we had our first ultrasound and we got a sneak peek at baby #3. Everything looked great! The baby measured to be about 8 1/2 weeks along instead of 10 weeks like we thought, but that's ok. We'll have about 10 more days to prepare for his or her arrival. The new due date is January 17, 2010.

This pregnancy will be a little different than my first two. It will be a high risk pregnancy due to the fact that I was recently diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. It is not life threatening, however, there are some annoying symptoms to deal with and some potentially serious risks with pregnancy. My body is producing antibodies that are attacking my healthy cells and tissues. Unfortunately, these antibodies can cross the placental barrier and attack the fetus as well. It is unknown how long I have had the disease or if it has recently been triggered from this last pregnancy, but since we know it is currently active, baby #3 will be monitored much more closely and regularly. I will have to stay under the care of an OB instead of a midwife this time.

We are all staying positive and worry-free and trusting God with our little one! Besides, my two other little ones are keeping me so busy that I don't have time to stop and worry!

It's time to get . . . the Minivan

2009-06-03T14:44:00.004-04:00

... or some kind of larger vehicle that will fit a third car seat because I am pregnant again!!! Another baby is on the way and I am due January 6th, 2010. Elizabeth will be 17 months old when her little sister or brother arrives so we will have our hands full!! We were a bit surprised by the news, but of course overjoyed as well. The story goes like this...

I had been sick with pneumonia for several weeks. I was supposed to have a follow up chest X-ray done the first or second week in May to make sure my lungs had cleared completely. The day I was planning to have the X-ray done, I felt very sick. Clint made plans to take off work to watch the girls and I just could not go get the X-ray. I had that thought in the back of my mind...I wonder if I could be pregnant. Since you can not be exposed to radiation while you are pregnant, I decided to take a pregnancy test just to make sure that I wasn't. Well, to my surprise and Clint's surprise, I am! We knew that we wanted to have another child, but we weren't necessarily planning to have one so soon. I am still breastfeeding Elizabeth and she is not showing any signs of weaning soon. I was hoping to be done breastfeeding one before becoming pregnant with another, but I know that I am not the first woman to be in this situation and I know that God is taking great care of both babies and will make sure they both get what they need.

I am 9 weeks along today. Next week we will have our first ultrasound and we are so excited to see our little peanut and hear his or her little heartbeat.

Arkansas Photos

2009-05-31T14:27:00.000-04:00

Over Memorial Day weekend, we went up to a cemetery in the mountains where many of Clint's relatives are buried. His family has a tradition of clearing the grave sites of any debris and adding new flowers to decorate them each year. Everyone gathers to remember and tell stories to be passed down through future generations. It was a beautiful piece of history to be a part of.

Many people came to decorate their families' graves over Memorial Day weekend. There were many more smiles and hugs than tears that day.

The boys and Sophie hard at work

Sophie really wanted to make sure she did her part to help make each tombstone pretty. She even put a few extra flowers at some of the stones that no one had come to care for. This is the first time that she can remember being at a cemetery. We had many great discussions about death, but also about the beautiful life that awaits us in Heaven when we pass over from this earth. I'm so glad she was able to be a part of this day. Death is one of those things that we want to shelter or protect our kids from, but it is one of life's realities. And even though Sophie was a little sad at times, I am so glad she experienced this so that she is a little better prepared when someone she loves passes on.

Some of the family visiting with each other

The brothers - Chad, Kenneth, and Clint

Sophie, me, Elizabeth, and Clint with his parents, Helen and Arlin

Uncle Alphie told us that Walter and Clara's name was spelled wrong on this tombstone and they were not able to get it fixed so it stayed spelled that way and now there is a whole line of Holsteds spelled with an 'o' instead of an 'a'.

The complete decoration

This is the oldest Halsted/Holsted in this cemetery. There are other theories or disputes over the spelling of the Halsted's last name, but they can all be traced back to the same family lines.

He fought in the civil war and probably died in the war which ended the same year as his death. We would like to do some research and find out more about Clint's family.

We both love history!

After the visit to the cemetery, we headed to Grandma's house to spend some time with family there...

The road to Grandma's house. She lives on 200 acres in the Ozark mountains

...simply beautiful!

Grandma's house

Checking out the views

Best buds :)

The cows

Grandpa's old workshop and tractor

The chicken coop

Sophie striking a pose in front of Grandma's house

Gathering on the front porch

Clint and Elizabeth with Grandma Lillie Marie

4 generations - Clint, Grandma, Mom (Helen), and baby Elizabeth

Grandma, Helen, Evelyn, and Elizabeth - a mom with two of her 8 children and one of her many, many grandchildren

another view

Clint took Sophie off-roading in the Jeep on Grandma's property. I guess she picked that leaf off a tree branch that they passed...hope it's not poisonous :)

Daddy and "Ellie Rose" (her southern name given to her by Great Aunt Evelyn)

Sophie and Elizabeth playing with a few of their cousins - Chord, Noah, and Vivian

The big kids built a fort around Elizabeth, but she knocked it down!

Vivian and Elizabeth just relaxin'

The new trick...pulling up on things and standing! Life just got a little more worrisome and busy for mama since I am now following miss Elizabeth around everywhere to make sure she does not bump her head on something!

Look how happy she is! She likes her new view!

She's growing up so fast!

We had a great time in Arkansas. We were so busy! When all of the kids got together I was so focused on being a mom that I forgot to take pictures half the time, but we have lots of memories of the trip. We already miss everyone!

Road Trip to Arkansas

2009-05-31T12:24:00.002-04:00

We just returned last night from the longest road trip EVER to and from Arkansas...about 34 hours round trip! Clint's family lives there and we made the journey for a much overdue visit with everyone. We had a great time, but it sure feels good to be home! We left May 19th and got home last night, May 30th, around 8:30pm.

I have lots of pictures to load and stories to tell...

Happy 9 months baby girl!

2009-05-15T09:51:00.004-04:00

(technically she was 9 months old on April 28th, but I am a little behind on my blogging!)

Sweet baby Elizabeth Rose has officially been out of my belly as long as she was in my belly! I love this milestone. I feel much more confident these days as a mother of two. It was a little tough for me to make the transition from one child to two children even though Sophie is a little older and such a great helper. I often felt drained trying to balance my time between the girls and meet both of their needs, but I think I have finally learned how to manage and life seems just a little simpler and more organized these days.

Ella has changed SO much this month! She is signing "milk" and "more". She got two new teeth (one on the top and one on the bottom for a total of 5 now). She is eating "finger foods" - peas, cheerios, tiny bites of fruit...next week beans! She is drinking water out of her sippy cup. She started clapping, dancing and "singing", and now she is crawling!! She is getting into everything! We are quickly trying to baby-proof every nook and cranny because Ella is an explorer! She is so much fun and we are having a blast with her!

Elizabeth had a minor set back with her growth this week. She has not gained any weight in 4 weeks. She is still 14 lbs. 1 oz. Her head has grown considerably and is actually in the 30% for her age, but her weight and height have plateaued again so we are being sent back up to UNC Chapel Hill for further testing. I am not too concerned at this point...just a little frustrated that she is struggling so much to grow. She may be little, but she will be smart! She is so aware and interested in everything! She loves to play and move around on the floor and her new favorite things are books (no surprise there).

It's been a while since I have posted new photos of her...enjoy!

I call this the "pooper-saucer" now because this is where the poops happen :)

"I'm feeding myself!"

All blonde now just like daddy and big sis

The Salon Experience!

2009-04-28T10:42:00.008-04:00

A few weeks ago, Sophie told me that she was ready to get her hair cut. She has had it trimmed before at home by me or her Aunt Allie, but this time... she wanted the "salon experience". So, her Aunt Allie (who is a hair stylist) set it all up for her. Allie works at this fabulous salon in Chapel Hill called Caju. The salon owner (thank you Patricia) let Allie open the salon yesterday (they are usually closed on Mondays) so Sophie could have her very own "salon experience". Thank you so much Aunt Allie for loving Sophie so much and for using your day off of work to make Sophie feel so special!! We love you!

Waiting her turn (hee, hee) ...

Caju Salon

Before

"This is so cool!"

Look at that long hair!

The first cut

She was smiling just about the entire time!

Evidence that my little baby is a big girl now ... little tear :)

After - Wow... she looks so grown up!

"I love my Aunt Allie!"

Cute place called Lickety Splits where we ate lunch and had some ice cream

Vanilla ice cream cone with rainbow sprinkles -

the perfect ending for her perfect "salon experience" day

The Hunt for Easter

2009-04-13T12:34:00.012-04:00

Have you ever wondered where the tradition of hunting for colorful little plastic eggs filled with candy came from? Sophie's preschool had an "Easter" egg hunt a couple of weeks ago and it really got me thinking this year. Here are some pics from the event...

Sophie had fun collecting eggs, but something was bothering me. I began to feel uneasy as images of the "Easter" bunny, the baskets, the candy, those little plastic eggs, the home decor, and aisles of pastel overloaded my brain when I went to the grocery store. When and why did Easter turn into such a huge commercial distraction from the real reason we celebrate? Isn't Easter supposed to be about Jesus? Easter is a Christian holiday to celebrate Jesus' resurrection. What was I teaching my children? Clint and I started having some discussions about it and doing some research and I learned some very eye-opening things.

The "Easter Bunny" can be traced back to the German fertility goddess, Eostre. Hares (or rabbits) were given to Eostre as a form of worship and were considered a sacred animal due to their ability to reproduce multiple litters each year. The spring, fertility goddess and the hares share a strong connection that dates back to the 1600s. In the practice of paganism, eggs were an obvious symbol of fertility. It was believed that during springtime (around March) the "Easter rabbit" who was a legendary producer of "Easter eggs" was also a symbol of fertility and new life. Children used to make little nests for the "Easter bunny" to come lay eggs in and this brought good luck. This folklore and mythology has been passed down from generation to generation taking shape as different traditions within each culture and area of the world. But in the end, they are just silly stories about some bunny that lays eggs and the worship of a goddess that brings forth new life. I only know of one God that brings new life.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" -2 Corinthians 5:17.

While intended to be harmless fun for the kids, I think next year we will have to pass on all the "colorful" traditions of eggs and bunnies so we can just focus on the reason we truly celebrate Easter - the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

"He is not here; He has risen!" - Matthew 28:6, Luke 24:6

Easter Sunday

2009-04-12T21:41:00.003-04:00

I love Easter Sunday! I love the excitement and overwhelming joy and happiness that I feel! I could not wait to get to church this morning to sing and shout out praise to God! Jesus rose and conquered the grave on that first Easter Sunday and He lives today! That is definitely something to get excited about when you know you are saved from death and will live with Him in heaven someday. God is good!

This Dark Day

2009-04-10T00:39:00.002-04:00

Father, my heart always aches on this day for the suffering your son endured on the cross. I know why he had to die. You love us so much that you sent him to die on that cross so we can be forgiven and saved from death. I believe that Jesus sacrificed his life for mine and today, although I am sad, I am also very grateful. Lord, thank you for saving me. Please take my life which has been purchased with the blood of your precious son and use it to honor his name.

A Dream About a Nursery

2009-04-08T09:53:00.017-04:00

Once upon a time, when mommy was pregnant, she dreamed of a beautiful nursery for her little girl (part of the "nesting" instinct I suppose). Well, the nursery she had envisioned got pushed to one wall in the guest bedroom and consisted of big sister's old changing table. A crib was squeezed in the room just before baby was born. Mommy was soon holding her precious little girl and her dream about the beautiful nursery faded in comparison to her beautiful new baby.

When baby turned 6 months old, mommy began to feel the need to create a room just for her baby again where she could play, sleep, grow, and dream. Mommy and daddy worked together a little bit at a time to make it happen. They donated the big guest bed in the room and nana and papa donated a rocking chair to them. With a few accessories, the beautiful nursery began to emerge and the dream of long, long ago was realized. The End.

Well, almost the end. The room has come a long way in the last couple of months, but I would like to add a few more things and paint it someday. The original color is still on the walls and something softer would definitely finish the room better. I guess I have more dreaming to do...

This is the view as you enter the room

I love this bedding with the vintage rose print. I thought it was perfect for our Elizabeth Rose and Clint told me that it couldn't be all pink...notice the small fabric strip of robin egg blue :).

Ella's favorite place to play and have floor time

This used to be the "junk" closet.

It was packed with random stuff and very messy.

Now it is just for Ella. I love getting organized!!

This was Sophie's old changing table/dresser. I added the decorative wood designs and switched the knobs to these glass ones for the more "shabby chic" look I was going for :).

And this is "sweet peace", the swing we can not live without. This is where Ella still sleeps today. She can not lay flat on her back in the crib because of her reflux. She could choke and that wouldn't be good. We don't run the swing all night, but we do let the soothing sounds play while she sleeps. This swing has really lived up to its name!

Great at 8 months!

2009-03-28T10:52:00.005-04:00

Elizabeth Rose is 8 months old now and is doing great! She seems to be right on track developmentally now and she is still growing...yay! Ella is so much more content these days. She only fusses when she is hungry, tired, wants to be held, or needs a poopy diaper changed...very typical. Since I am usually holding her and she only poops once every 5 days now instead of 5 times a day (sorry if that is TMI), it is rare to hear her cry. She has been teething off and on and she has a new tooth on top. She "talks" all the time now and she has even signed her first word...milk (of course)! I thought it was just a fluke since she is so young, but she has consistently been using the sign and staring right at the source of her milk when she signs so I know she understands. Wow...babies are smart!

Ella is still nursing 6 times a day and she eats solids 2-3 times a day. She likes oatmeal cereal and sweet potatoes the best, but she also eats rice cereal, avocado, bananas, and butternut squash (all pureed of course). I am making my own baby food which I would highly recommend because it is easy, very cost effective (28 servings for $1-2 instead of $15-20 at the grocery store), and nutritious! I know exactly what she is eating...no preservatives or dyes or sweeteners added. We finally bought a high chair since feedings in the bouncy seat were just not working anymore :). It is a "super space saver" chair (ooooh, aaaaaah) that attaches to one of our chairs. She loves being at the table with us.

She is also trying a little water now although she likes to use the sippy cup more as a teether.

Ella practices standing up in her ExerSaucer. She plays in there when I am making dinner or cleaning up in the kitchen sometimes and it works out really well.

She also likes to play the piano...babies love music!

My well-rounded child

2009-03-15T10:07:00.000-04:00

Sophie loves to be very "girlie". She loves the color pink, dresses up like a princess nearly every day, dances and twirls around the house ...you get the idea. Sophie also loves to "be a boy" as she puts it. I certainly did not teach her that certain things are gender specific; however, she has really taken notice of the differences between me and Clint lately. She sees Clint using his tools around the house and she wants to "project" with him. She sees me putting on make up and she wants to try. She sees Clint take off his shirt and she takes hers off too and declares that she wants to be a boy for the day! She sees me baking and she jumps right in to help. Clint takes her on wild Jeep rides and she wants to be wild like the boys! She sees me nurse the baby and she nurses her baby dolls too. She sees Clint playing sports and running around and climbing things outside and, of course, she wants to do what he is doing. She tells me to stay in the house because it might get a little rough out there doing "boy" stuff. "Boy" stuff is more dangerous and exciting to Sophie and she is always telling me not to worry! It is all too funny! The great thing is that she enjoys it all. Sophie is a very well-rounded child and we will continue to encourage her to try all things...as long as they are not too dangerous :)!

Clint is wondering if mommy is mad that he let Sophie climb on top of the Jeep...

Sophie: "Don't worry mom...I won't fall!" (as she balances on the roll bar)

Mommy: "Clint... don't let go of her or I'll ... "

I bought Sophie some play tools because Clint-y kept letting her use the real ones. I know it is important for her to experience the real ones too while supervised, but mommy knows that when Clint-y gets focused on his projects, the supervision dwindles and Sophie alone with a saw, hammer, and nails is just not a super idea! (Can you see why I am earning the name "party-pooper" around the house!)

See...she is still having fun spending time with her "partner"!

Sporty Princess...the outfit says it all!

Growth Report

2009-03-12T11:44:00.002-04:00

We got another growth and development report yesterday for Ella. Here are the stats...

Weight - 13 lbs. 1 oz.

Height - 25"

Head - 16"

She is still just below the growth chart for weight, but she is moving along her own curve and showing progress each time we take measurements so their is no reason to be concerned. Thank God for this good news! Her reflux has become a little worse recently so we are increasing her medicine to try to calm things down; however, once the meds kick in we should see some more growth as well.

Ella is very observant and aware of all that is happening around her. I think she gets a little frustrated at times that she can't make her body do what she wants it to do, but I know eventually she will have more strength to accomplish these things. I am just so pleased with how far she has come! She is really so sweet and so much fun to be around. She makes us smile and we love her bunches!

Shout out to Breastfeeding :)

2009-03-11T00:09:00.003-04:00

I have to include this post about the benefits of breastfeeding that go well beyond nutrition and how my breast milk has recently protected our baby.

For the past month, we have been fighting off colds, upper respiratory infections, double ear infections (sophie), flu, mystery viruses...the works in our house! Last week was the worst. I developed a high fever and after the third day of it, I went to the doctor. It turns out that I had a sinus infection (from a lingering cold virus), bronchitis, and a pocket of pneumonia deep in my right lung! I started antibiotics right away, but the fever and the extreme fatigue lasted for another two days. I was MISERABLE, not able to get out of bed and I can not remember the last time I was that sick. I am feeling much better today, but I get very weak around dinner time and I still have trouble taking a deep breath. The cough will also probably linger for a while although I am no longer contagious:). Anyway, here is the good part...

Elizabeth had only a couple of days during all of this mess last month where she sneezed and had a runny nose which didn't seem to bother her at all. She has seen the pediatrician twice during this time for growth and development check ups and they have even commented on her good health despite the sickness going around! One of the doctors we saw said, "this is a testament to breastfeeding and the protection it provides for a baby's health"!

Here is a great article I found online about this incredible gift that breast milk provides for babies (I know this will be interesting to my fellow breastfeeding mommies, but I hope others will find it fascinating as well)!

Antibodies in Breast Milk

Breast milk is packed with antibodies that fight diseases and viruses as well protect the baby from short and long-term health problems.

©Brenda Lane

Breast milk has a unique ability to not only nourish the baby but provide antibodies that are crucial protection against disease and illness.

Even though breast milk is known for beingnutritionally-perfect,perhaps the most amazing characteristic about breast milk is its ability to fight off and protect babies from illness. In fact, some have said that the antibodies in breast milk make it more like human blood since they both contain white blood cells.

Here are just a few of the many antibodies contained in human breast milk and what they do to mobilize the baby's immune system:

Antibodies - White blood cells

B lymphocytes- forms antibodies that target specific microbes
Macrophages- destroy microbes in baby's stomach
Neutrophils- may act to ingest bacteria in baby's digestive system
T lymphocytes- kills infected cells and send out messages to mobilize other defenses; also produce compounds that activate baby's immune system

Antibodies - Other Molecules

Antibodies of secretory IgA class- bind to harmful cells in baby's digestive system to prevent them from passing through the walls of the gut into the tissues of the baby's body
Bifidus Factor- increases growth ofLactobacillus bifidus- which is a good bacteria
Fatty Acids- destroys cell membranes around harmful cells to kill them
Lactoferrin- Binds to iron which prevents harmful bacteria from using the iron to grow
Mucins- attaches to bacteria and viruses to prevent them from clinging to mucousal tissues
Oligosaccharides- adheres to bacteria and other harmful cells to prevent them from attaching to mucosal surfaces.

What we have in breast milk antibodies is a spectacular immune system enhancer for our babies! Remember even if you return to work, your baby can still benefit from your pumped breast milk in order to get all of the superiornutritionas well as antibodies.Formulacannot match it.

Read more: "Antibodies in Breast Milk: Breast milk is packed with antibodies that fight diseases and viruses as well protect the baby from short and long-term health problems." -http://pregnancychildbirth.suite101.com/article.cfm/antibodies_in_breastmilk#ixzz09Pu8jaSm

Perfect Progress

2009-03-03T15:29:00.008-05:00

We have really noticed that Ella has been making great progress in the last couple of weeks. She may not be meeting growth chart standards or hitting the age-appropriate developmental milestones, but she is making progress every day at what seems to be the perfect pace for her. I like to think that she is marching to the beat of her own drum. Here are some new pics of her progress...

This is her new game where she likes to make this sound with her lips back and forth with us. She thinks it is so funny and I know she feels proud of herself for figuring out a way to communicate with us and make us laugh!

Two teeth!

She loves her oatmeal cereal, but she managed to take a break from eating to strike a pose for this picture (hmmm...that reminds me a lot of her big sis)!

I think she was saying to me, "Hey...why did you put that toy out of my reach?" Well, it is all a part of my plan to encourage her to crawl and it is starting to work!

Notice the lifting of the bottom... she is starting to pull her knees up under herself in the attempt to move forward and crawl!

She is also using her feet to scoot...so cute!

almost there...

"I've got it..."

"Oh no... I lost my balance...I'm doing the rollover to my back!"

"Ahhh, mommy to the rescue. Now I can practice sitting up and I get to have my toy!"

In the last couple of days, she has been sitting all on her own without the assistance or protection of a pillow (a little scary for mommy), but she is doing great! She can stay in this position for about 2 minutes at the most so far.

Sophie was actually getting nervous that her baby sister would fall over and hit her head so she decided to sit behind her to keep her safe. What a protective big sis!

Sophie's love for Ella is so sweet!

7 things I love about my 7 month old ...

2009-02-28T11:56:00.002-05:00

(in no particular order)

- the way she lights up the room when she smiles

- the way she grabs my face and pulls me close for a snuggle

- the way she kicks her legs when she is excited

- the way she gazes into her daddy's eyes

- the way she giggles when we play baby games

- the way she watches her big sister with amazement

- the way she observes the world around her and soaks it all in

This old Billy Joel song comes to my mind when I think of her...

She's got a way about her

I don't know what it is

But I know that I can't live without her

She's got a way of pleasin'

I don't know why it is

But there doesn't have to be a reason anywhere

She's got a smile that heals me

I don't know what it is

But I have to laugh when she reveals me

She's got a way of talkin'

I don't know why it is

But it lifts me up when we are walkin' anywhere

She comes to me when I'm feelin' down

Inspires me without a sound

She touches me and I get turned around

She's got a way of showin'

How I make her feel

And I find the strength to keep on goin'

She's got a light around her

And ev'rywhere she goes a million

Dreams of love surround her everywhere

She's got a way about her

I don't know what it is

But I know that I can't live without her any way

I am totally smitten with my precious baby girl!

Fabulous at Five!

2009-02-19T12:11:00.000-05:00

Warning: this blog entry contains lots of bragging and gushing from a very proud mama!

Five seems to be a magic number for Sophie. All of the sudden she has turned into a young lady. She is more polite, more helpful, and sweeter than ever. She is taking the initiative to do things on her own (without me having to ask a dozen times). She cleans up her room and turns out the light when she leaves it. She gets herself ready in the mornings and stays on task. She cleans up the dinner dishes for me and the other day she folded a basket of clean laundry that I had sitting in her room! She said, "I knew you would appreciate the extra help since you are busy with the baby today." Wow! I am so proud of the little lady she is becoming!

my little helper

Sophie constantly amazes me with her intelligence as well. She understands many concepts that should be well beyond her developmental level. Her preschool teacher said she is by far the brightest student of all of her classes. She also said Sophie is emotionally, physically, and socially superior as well. I was a little surprised at first by her teacher's comments, but very pleased! At church, Sophie has been the "Rainbow of the Month" for her responsible and respectful behavior twice. I am so proud of her!

Sophie has endured many life changes and some heavy heartache for a five year old. I have always worried that these things would somehow impact her negatively, but so far she is thriving! It reminds me of this passage in the Bible, "²Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." - James 1. I am seeing new levels of maturity and growth in Sophie and I know that God has used what was intended to harm her for good; to strengthen her and develop her character.

Here are some of my favorite Sophie pictures from 2008 and her favorite things:

she loves playing sports

she loves to hunt for treasures

she loves kitty

she loves to bake

she loves to make mud balls :)

she loves the beach

she loves to pose for pics...

... and another

she loves roasted marshmallows and camping

she loves to run around in the sprinklers

she loves teaching Kindermusik class :)

she loves showing off her mud balls

she loves fireworks and popcorn

she loves being a big sister

she loves her preschool

she loves to "project" with her Clinty

she loves dressing up like a princess

she loves her snuggle bunny

she loves playing in leaves

she loves to make crafts

she loves to use tools

she loves to catch snowflakes...

...and I love her!

Happy Half-Birthday Sweet Baby!

2009-01-28T10:03:00.007-05:00

Elizabeth Rose is six months old! Wow... her time out of my belly has sure gone faster than the time in my belly! She continues to make progress every week. She is still growing at a slow rate, however, she is growing! She weighed 11 lbs. and 10 oz. at our last visit to UNC's Children's Hospital almost two weeks ago and was 24 1/2" long. Our GI Specialist "graduated" us from the program at UNC as long as we keep regular two-four week visits with our pediatrician to measure her growth. What a relief! She is on medication twice a day to reduce the pain associated with the reflux and we are finally noticing a HUGE difference! She has stopped arching her back and stiffening her arms and legs completely which is amazing since that happened about every two hours before. She will sit in my lap now without fussing and I can hold her and snuggle her now. I am just soaking up every calm and quiet moment I get with such gratitude! She still has good days and bad days with the vomiting and we were told to expect this until she outgrows the reflux a bit, but that is ok. I always have a fresh cloth handy! Her lower GI problems seem to have disappeared as well. What a pleasant diaper change... literally!

Ella (or "peanut" or "baby" as we most often refer to her) has started eating 1-2 Tbsp. of rice cereal everyday.

We also introduced avocado as her first solid food and she really likes it (thanks for the suggestion Francie)! Our Pediatric Nutritionist also recommended an avocado because it has a high fat content which will help Ella gain weight faster! Avocados have the highest fiber content of any fruit which will be beneficial for her intestinal health as well (not to mention they taste great as guacamole dip which her mama loves). Hooray for my new favorite fruit!

Here is a look at Ella's current daily schedule from her point of view:

around 7:00 am

- wake up with the sunrise

- smile at mama

- frantically move my arms up and down with excitement as she picks me up

- get my diaper changed and my clothes if I have puked on myself

- take my medicine

- snuggle with mama, grab her face, give her loves and big, sloppy kisses

around 7:30 am

- have mama's milks

- do my burps, laugh at myself

- spit up

around 8:00 am

- play time

- say good morning to big sis

around 9:00 am

- eat my cereal

- hang out with mama and big sis while they eat

- cry a little

- cry a little louder until mama picks me up

- bath time on bath days

around 10:00 am

- get my diaper changed and maybe my outfit...again

- have more of mama's milks

- rub my eyes

10:30 am-12:30 pm

- take a nap in my sweet peace swing

around 12:30 pm

- wake up

- fuss for mama until I see her and then I smile :)

- get my diaper changed

around 1:00 pm

- more of mama's yummy milkies

- spit up

- hang out with mama and big sis while they eat

around 2:00 pm

- play with my toys, my toes, and my big sis Sophie

- do some giggles and make some cute noises

- exercise, practice sitting up, tummy time

- I usually spit up some more on mama

around 3:00 pm

- another diaper and wardrobe change

- more milkies

3:30 pm - 4:30 pm or 5:00 pm

- more sleep

around 5:00 pm

- wake up

- diaper change

- more of that medicine that makes me gag

- hang out with mama while she runs around cleaning the house

around 6:00 pm

- finally more milkies!

around 6:30 pm

- eat more rice cereal or avocado

- get ready for night-nights

7:00 pm

- bedtime

sometime between 2:00 am - 3:00 am

- wake up because I miss my mama so much :)

- get my diaper changed

- enjoy my mama's milks

sometimes 5:00 am

- wake up again and repeat

around 7:00 am

- start it all over again!!

Everyday is different yet the same; predictable, but also surprising. All I know is that at the end of each day... even the challenging ones... I love being a mom!

Snowy Surprise!

2009-01-20T12:15:00.001-05:00

I woke up early (sometime before sunrise) on Jan. 20th to nurse Elizabeth and was surprised to see a freshly fallen blanket of snow! I enjoyed watching the snowflakes float around while I snuggled with my baby. It was so quiet and peaceful.

Winter Wonderland

2009-01-20T10:55:00.002-05:00

We had to savor this beautiful and rare occurrence of snow in central North Carolina that created a winter wonderland for a day. Here are some of the highlights...

The ruler measured 6 1/2" of snow!

Catching some snowflakes

Max loved prancing around in the snow and chasing snowballs.

Although he had a hard time finding the snowballs:)

Our snow angel

No wait...here she is!

Always ready with a pose

Watch out mommy!

After this photo, I had to put the camera down so I could defend myself from the flying snow and toss some back. I had forgotten how much fun the snow can be and I laughed like a kid most of the day. What a treat!

Snow Princesses

2009-01-20T09:40:00.002-05:00

Sadly, shortly after this photo session our beloved snow princess crashed to the ground. The warm sun quickly melted her and she could no longer stand tall (or slightly crooked). I fully expected to see some disappointment from Sophie. We spent an hour making snow princess and dressing her and dancing with her. However, Sophie embraced the opportunity to kick the freshly fallen remains of our snow princess to pieces! I think I was more upset by the destruction of our masterpiece than she was! Oh well... Sophie had a great time building snow princess and knocking her down. It reminded me of her toddler days :)