Well, I am starting to feel the strain. It happens sometimes where I feel I have a lot on my plate and it seems like nothing is getting done well. There is the itch to reorganize and declutter the whole house too. We have upcoming parties which I really enjoy but they do cause me to stress out too. I wish I was more laid back sometimes. I keep reminding myself at the end of the day that there are much worse problems to have and we all have those times where we feel like we aren't "together" or just "behind". Yes, I do wish my basement didn't look a tornado went through it or that all my laundry was done and put away or that there were no stacks of paper anywhere etc...but for now I'm just going to reflect on what I am thankful for:
~ A wonderful husband
~ 2 wonderful daughters who teach me so much about myself - they bring me pure joy
~ A warm house
~ Food to Eat
~ Healthy families
~ Good books
~ Hot Cocoa
~ Warm blankets
~ Hot Showers
~ Rose
...and that's just a few things. I need to remember what my priorities are in this season of my life. They'll only be little for such a short time.
Showing posts with label Reflections. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reflections. Show all posts
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Lauren ~ 21 months
Dear Lauren,
You will be 2 years old in just a couple of months. Time has flown by so quickly. You have really shown us how two siblings can be so different. You love your "jesse". It is so sweet to see you get upset when Jess goes to school. You genuinely miss her and can't wait until we pick her up.
You have such a fun personality. This is a wonderful age to watch you grow. You've got the family laughing all the time. You have a beautiful smiley face but you also have a very serious pouty face. You used to scream all the time but it's gotten a lot better now that you can say more words. You love to try to do things yourself. You want to put your socks on yourself and try to put your pants on yourself. You'd usually rather climb stairs yourself than be carried. You even said the other day while putting on socks "I do it m..self." You love putting on shoes - yours, Jess' and even mine (mommy). You love to dress up and dance with Jessica. You love your babies and are really starting to care for them. You feed them and put them to bed. I think babies are your favorite thing to play with right now. You're quite the helper too - like taking the groceries out of the shopping bag and bringing each item to me and when we get ready to leave you bring everyone their shoes and coats...you'll always say "here ya go". You have so many words now. You seem to understand so much which has been so helpful. When we say "I love you" you respond withh "achoo". We know what you mean. :-)
We haven't started potty training you but you don't like to have poop in your diaper. You'll always run to tell me as soon as you've done your #2 and you want me to change you a.s.a.p. You usually say "poopy...eeewwww" or "stinka".
At bedtime, you always ask for "pray" and "tinkle" -- Mommy will pray with you and then sing twinkle, twinkle little star. You usually sleep all night in your bed but sometimes you wake up crying and we scoop you up and bring into bed with us.
We've just started doing a little "time out" discipline with you. When you get frustrated you sometimes hit and maybe even try to bite. It's usually just Jessica and mommy that gets the brunt of that behavior. You're learning though.
Your favorites:
Book: Big Red Barn, Going on a Bear Hunt, I Can Do It
Food: Bacon, grapes, avocado but you eat lots of things
Toy: Babies
You have way too many words to list out I think. You even tell me in the morning whether you want to wear a clip or headband.
We are working on teaching you shapes and colors and we practice your counting all the time (especially climbing stairs).
Oh and you love Elmo!
You're our little bear and you love to cuddle and be held but you also have a strong independent spirit. You have blessed our family in so many ways. I am so thankful that we were able to give Jessica a sister. I hope you always remain close. We love you so much. :-)
You will be 2 years old in just a couple of months. Time has flown by so quickly. You have really shown us how two siblings can be so different. You love your "jesse". It is so sweet to see you get upset when Jess goes to school. You genuinely miss her and can't wait until we pick her up.
You have such a fun personality. This is a wonderful age to watch you grow. You've got the family laughing all the time. You have a beautiful smiley face but you also have a very serious pouty face. You used to scream all the time but it's gotten a lot better now that you can say more words. You love to try to do things yourself. You want to put your socks on yourself and try to put your pants on yourself. You'd usually rather climb stairs yourself than be carried. You even said the other day while putting on socks "I do it m..self." You love putting on shoes - yours, Jess' and even mine (mommy). You love to dress up and dance with Jessica. You love your babies and are really starting to care for them. You feed them and put them to bed. I think babies are your favorite thing to play with right now. You're quite the helper too - like taking the groceries out of the shopping bag and bringing each item to me and when we get ready to leave you bring everyone their shoes and coats...you'll always say "here ya go". You have so many words now. You seem to understand so much which has been so helpful. When we say "I love you" you respond withh "achoo". We know what you mean. :-)
We haven't started potty training you but you don't like to have poop in your diaper. You'll always run to tell me as soon as you've done your #2 and you want me to change you a.s.a.p. You usually say "poopy...eeewwww" or "stinka".
At bedtime, you always ask for "pray" and "tinkle" -- Mommy will pray with you and then sing twinkle, twinkle little star. You usually sleep all night in your bed but sometimes you wake up crying and we scoop you up and bring into bed with us.
We've just started doing a little "time out" discipline with you. When you get frustrated you sometimes hit and maybe even try to bite. It's usually just Jessica and mommy that gets the brunt of that behavior. You're learning though.
Your favorites:
Book: Big Red Barn, Going on a Bear Hunt, I Can Do It
Food: Bacon, grapes, avocado but you eat lots of things
Toy: Babies
You have way too many words to list out I think. You even tell me in the morning whether you want to wear a clip or headband.
We are working on teaching you shapes and colors and we practice your counting all the time (especially climbing stairs).
Oh and you love Elmo!
You're our little bear and you love to cuddle and be held but you also have a strong independent spirit. You have blessed our family in so many ways. I am so thankful that we were able to give Jessica a sister. I hope you always remain close. We love you so much. :-)
Jessica ~ 4 years and 8 months
My Dear Jessica,
I had to be very clear when I wrote your age in the title. If I ever say that you are 4, you always like to correct and say you are 4 1/2. Now 4 1/2 doesn't seem as accurate. In a couple of months you will be 5 years old. This is a very big milestone for you! It's a very special birthday. I can't believe you will be 5 and starting kindergarten next year. The new school year is still a ways off and I still can't help but think how quickly it is approaching. It feels like just yesterday that we brought you home to our apartment in West New York. Here you are now, a big sister now and you are growing so beautifully.
You recently started taking gymnastics classes and you love it. You love to dance too. Those are your favorite things in the whole world to do right now. I recently bought a cd of classical ballet music for children and you always want me to play it so you can dance in the living room. You've even told me that you want to have a ballet birthday party. We'll see. :-)
I want you to know how much I love our special moments together. You might think those moments revolve around big events. But some of the special moments I never want to forget are when we cuddle up for our stories at bedtime, enjoying watching a cooking show together, baking together, playing board games together and when you come in our room in the middle of the night to snuggle. My heart melts when I see you and Lauren playing so nicely together. I hope that you always remain best of friends. Lauren always like to copy everything you do. I know that is a big responsibility sometimes. You always look out for her and try to protect her. It makes us (mommy and daddy) so happy to see the love you have for her.
Since the day you were born, your smile lights up a room. You are so happy. You certainly have your moments of poutiness but you have grown so much in this area. You are very sensitive but still very strong.
You bring us so much joy and we can't imagine our life without you. We don't know what plans God has for you in your future but we feel so privileged and honored to be able to guide you, watch you grow and just enjoy who you are each day. We love you so much cuddles.
Questions to Jessica:
1) What is your favorite color? Pink and Purple
2) What do you want to be when you grow up? A ballerina
3) What is your favorite thing to do? Ballet and gymnastics
4) What is your favorite book? Fancy Nancy Bonjour Butterfly and Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas
5) What do you love most about Lauren? I love that we like to play together.
6) What is your favorite thing to do with your family? Love going to the gym together and when we all cuddle together
7) What is your favorite food? Pancakes, yogurt...and a little candy :-)
8) What is your favorite toy? Daddy Lulu (Wuwu)
I had to be very clear when I wrote your age in the title. If I ever say that you are 4, you always like to correct and say you are 4 1/2. Now 4 1/2 doesn't seem as accurate. In a couple of months you will be 5 years old. This is a very big milestone for you! It's a very special birthday. I can't believe you will be 5 and starting kindergarten next year. The new school year is still a ways off and I still can't help but think how quickly it is approaching. It feels like just yesterday that we brought you home to our apartment in West New York. Here you are now, a big sister now and you are growing so beautifully.
You recently started taking gymnastics classes and you love it. You love to dance too. Those are your favorite things in the whole world to do right now. I recently bought a cd of classical ballet music for children and you always want me to play it so you can dance in the living room. You've even told me that you want to have a ballet birthday party. We'll see. :-)
I want you to know how much I love our special moments together. You might think those moments revolve around big events. But some of the special moments I never want to forget are when we cuddle up for our stories at bedtime, enjoying watching a cooking show together, baking together, playing board games together and when you come in our room in the middle of the night to snuggle. My heart melts when I see you and Lauren playing so nicely together. I hope that you always remain best of friends. Lauren always like to copy everything you do. I know that is a big responsibility sometimes. You always look out for her and try to protect her. It makes us (mommy and daddy) so happy to see the love you have for her.
Since the day you were born, your smile lights up a room. You are so happy. You certainly have your moments of poutiness but you have grown so much in this area. You are very sensitive but still very strong.
You bring us so much joy and we can't imagine our life without you. We don't know what plans God has for you in your future but we feel so privileged and honored to be able to guide you, watch you grow and just enjoy who you are each day. We love you so much cuddles.
Questions to Jessica:
1) What is your favorite color? Pink and Purple
2) What do you want to be when you grow up? A ballerina
3) What is your favorite thing to do? Ballet and gymnastics
4) What is your favorite book? Fancy Nancy Bonjour Butterfly and Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas
5) What do you love most about Lauren? I love that we like to play together.
6) What is your favorite thing to do with your family? Love going to the gym together and when we all cuddle together
7) What is your favorite food? Pancakes, yogurt...and a little candy :-)
8) What is your favorite toy? Daddy Lulu (Wuwu)
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Thoughts on Christmas Planning
I just wanted to write a little note to myself to help me with Christmas plans for next year...just things I want to remember for next time.
1. Plan ahead what to put in the advent house -- a few too many last minute marshmallows in 2009 :-) Maybe there are slips of paper with a 'craft of the day' or a good deed for the day.
2. Incorporate an advent wreath in our home
3. Give Christmas PJs the day after Thanksgiving.
4. I really liked starting the new tradition of opening a gift on Christmas Eve of a book(s) and an ornament. I already purchased the ornament for the girls for 2010. Try to remember to take a photo of them with their ornament and books. I wish I did that this time.
5. Purchase a little tree from Michaels right after Thanksgiving for Lauren's room.
6. Purchase another 6' Canadian Christmas tree from target to match the one in the dining room.
7. Plan ahead and purchase ahead of time materials for more Christmas crafts. Definitely purchase another wooden ornament for the girls to paint. I absolutely love Jess' angel ornament from 2009.
8. Try to make the handprint ornaments in November. We also want to make a few more of our own ornaments in the coming year.
9. Don't purchase the tree the weekend after Thanksgiving. Decorate everything else that weekend but wait to the following for the tree.
10. The stockings need a little repair. Pull them out early to spruce them up.
11. Talk to the girls about a gift for Jesus and review the Samaritan's Purse catalog. Continue to seek ways we can help others.
12. And the usual...try to wrap earlier, ship gifts early, start shopping in October etc...
13. Plan gifts that the girls can make for grandparents.
1. Plan ahead what to put in the advent house -- a few too many last minute marshmallows in 2009 :-) Maybe there are slips of paper with a 'craft of the day' or a good deed for the day.
2. Incorporate an advent wreath in our home
3. Give Christmas PJs the day after Thanksgiving.
4. I really liked starting the new tradition of opening a gift on Christmas Eve of a book(s) and an ornament. I already purchased the ornament for the girls for 2010. Try to remember to take a photo of them with their ornament and books. I wish I did that this time.
5. Purchase a little tree from Michaels right after Thanksgiving for Lauren's room.
6. Purchase another 6' Canadian Christmas tree from target to match the one in the dining room.
7. Plan ahead and purchase ahead of time materials for more Christmas crafts. Definitely purchase another wooden ornament for the girls to paint. I absolutely love Jess' angel ornament from 2009.
8. Try to make the handprint ornaments in November. We also want to make a few more of our own ornaments in the coming year.
9. Don't purchase the tree the weekend after Thanksgiving. Decorate everything else that weekend but wait to the following for the tree.
10. The stockings need a little repair. Pull them out early to spruce them up.
11. Talk to the girls about a gift for Jesus and review the Samaritan's Purse catalog. Continue to seek ways we can help others.
12. And the usual...try to wrap earlier, ship gifts early, start shopping in October etc...
13. Plan gifts that the girls can make for grandparents.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Momma's Thoughts
Well I've updated the look of the blog and I hope this reinvigorates me to start blogging more regularly. I do like to keep a little diary of our life at home. You always think you'll remember a special moment and sometimes you do but over time you often don't. The girls are growing so quickly and there are moments that I wish I could just freeze. I do get nervous raising two daughters in the world that we live in now. I worry that in my intent to teach them the right way to go that I may not explain things well enough or teach them well enough or just plain confuse them. I want to just shelter them at times from the world around them. I want them to hold onto their beautiful child ways, their simple yet poignant views on life, their innocence...they are just so precious.
When I picked up Jess at preschool this week, she told me that during their recess time some boys like to play a game called 'hyenas'. They run around and chase each other. It's fairly innocent boy play. However, that day they had been saying things and chasing Jessica in their play. She didn't like it and she told them so but I think they still kept it up. The next day I spoke with one of the teachers about it and she was wonderful in talking to Jess about it too. I picked her up after school and asked her how things went with the hyenas. She said it was fine and that they seemed to forget about chasing her. She said "Momma, when you forget something that's not good, that's good, right?". :-)
On another note, Jess has been very inquisitive lately on heaven and bible stuff. Some recent questions:
1. When we go to heaven will we fall through the clouds?
2. Where is God?
3. Will everyone go to heaven?
4. When we die, will we just fall down on the sidewalk?
5. How come Joseph's father didn't love all his sons the same? How come he gave the beautiful rainbow coat to only one son? That wasn't very nice.
6. Will my daddy lulu (her favorite stuffed animal) be in heaven?
Lots of questions and I am challenged by how to answer them so that she feels like the answer is sufficient and satisfying but it also needs to be age appropriate. There is a lot that goes on in the mind of a 4 year old. She is very thoughtful and ponders a lot of different things. Needless to say, I am doing a lot more praying. :-)
When I picked up Jess at preschool this week, she told me that during their recess time some boys like to play a game called 'hyenas'. They run around and chase each other. It's fairly innocent boy play. However, that day they had been saying things and chasing Jessica in their play. She didn't like it and she told them so but I think they still kept it up. The next day I spoke with one of the teachers about it and she was wonderful in talking to Jess about it too. I picked her up after school and asked her how things went with the hyenas. She said it was fine and that they seemed to forget about chasing her. She said "Momma, when you forget something that's not good, that's good, right?". :-)
On another note, Jess has been very inquisitive lately on heaven and bible stuff. Some recent questions:
1. When we go to heaven will we fall through the clouds?
2. Where is God?
3. Will everyone go to heaven?
4. When we die, will we just fall down on the sidewalk?
5. How come Joseph's father didn't love all his sons the same? How come he gave the beautiful rainbow coat to only one son? That wasn't very nice.
6. Will my daddy lulu (her favorite stuffed animal) be in heaven?
Lots of questions and I am challenged by how to answer them so that she feels like the answer is sufficient and satisfying but it also needs to be age appropriate. There is a lot that goes on in the mind of a 4 year old. She is very thoughtful and ponders a lot of different things. Needless to say, I am doing a lot more praying. :-)
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
It's Been An Eternity!
Well, it's been an eternity since I've posted to this blog. I haven't been sticking to my journal either so I thought I should revisit blogging. So much has happened since my last post. The most important event was the birth of our second daughter - Lauren Grace Clark. She was born on 3/28 and is now already 8 months. Jessica is 3 1/2 now. They really keep me busy and on my toes. It can be challenging but really fun too. Jess is in preschool now 3 days a week. I think it would be too much to try to summarize the last year and a half so let's just start fresh.
It's December 2 (my Grandma's birthday) - a Tuesday - and it was a somewhat tough day. The girls can be challenging in their own way. Lauren who is full of smiles and is totally adorable and is a little roly poly, can also be pretty demanding and fussy. She doesn't take a pacifier and she certainly isn't one of those babies that can hang out all day in a stroller. She's pretty good about playing in her playpen in the morning. She is getting very messy when we eat now. She wants the spoon and if she doesn't want anymore she pushes the spoon away w/ the food flying. I just gave her her first meat today - it was apple turkey cranberry and she loved it. We are still nursing. That's another story as I still try to figure out if we are on a good schedule. She nurses 4x per day. I hope that is enough. She loves to dance and she is very good at putting weight on her legs. We aren't crawling yet but she can hold herself up in the 'crawl' position. She has two teeth too. Jessica is going through a lot of stuff right now. She's my 'big girl' but also wants to be a 'baby' at the same time. She loves her baby sister but still craves that extra attention Lauren sometimes gets. Jess loves to sing and dance. She is so funny and beautiful. I look at her and can't believe how much time has passed already. Now 3 1/2 has also posed some challenges. We want to be very independent and somewhat bossy and we can be a little defiant too. Who knew? I feel so much pressure to raise her well and during the week I pretty much do it on my own and there are times when I feel like I'm really failing her. Having children really can reveal all your own weaknesses (in case they weren't already clear to you before kids :-P) It's funny how sometimes when I feel that way, Jess comes out of nowhere with "I love you mommy. You're the best mommy in the whole world." Ahhhhh - so nice. It's very easy to lose perspective and those words just help me so much. I feel like there is so much 'on the job' training and I don't want my missteps to affect her. I just want her to be happy and confident in herself. I pray for a kind and empathetic heart and a loving and generous spirit. I just hope she knows that I'm doing my best and I love her "oodles and oodles with lots of cheese doodles" (it's our thing).
It's December 2 (my Grandma's birthday) - a Tuesday - and it was a somewhat tough day. The girls can be challenging in their own way. Lauren who is full of smiles and is totally adorable and is a little roly poly, can also be pretty demanding and fussy. She doesn't take a pacifier and she certainly isn't one of those babies that can hang out all day in a stroller. She's pretty good about playing in her playpen in the morning. She is getting very messy when we eat now. She wants the spoon and if she doesn't want anymore she pushes the spoon away w/ the food flying. I just gave her her first meat today - it was apple turkey cranberry and she loved it. We are still nursing. That's another story as I still try to figure out if we are on a good schedule. She nurses 4x per day. I hope that is enough. She loves to dance and she is very good at putting weight on her legs. We aren't crawling yet but she can hold herself up in the 'crawl' position. She has two teeth too. Jessica is going through a lot of stuff right now. She's my 'big girl' but also wants to be a 'baby' at the same time. She loves her baby sister but still craves that extra attention Lauren sometimes gets. Jess loves to sing and dance. She is so funny and beautiful. I look at her and can't believe how much time has passed already. Now 3 1/2 has also posed some challenges. We want to be very independent and somewhat bossy and we can be a little defiant too. Who knew? I feel so much pressure to raise her well and during the week I pretty much do it on my own and there are times when I feel like I'm really failing her. Having children really can reveal all your own weaknesses (in case they weren't already clear to you before kids :-P) It's funny how sometimes when I feel that way, Jess comes out of nowhere with "I love you mommy. You're the best mommy in the whole world." Ahhhhh - so nice. It's very easy to lose perspective and those words just help me so much. I feel like there is so much 'on the job' training and I don't want my missteps to affect her. I just want her to be happy and confident in herself. I pray for a kind and empathetic heart and a loving and generous spirit. I just hope she knows that I'm doing my best and I love her "oodles and oodles with lots of cheese doodles" (it's our thing).
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