Greenhill, Party of 4

New Location!

2011-01-03T13:01:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year! It's that time... As promised, this blog has now come to an end. Instead, you can now find me at www.momconformist.com. Bookmark the new link so you don't miss anything! A huge thank you to all of my readers: those who have encouraged me in this endeavor and those who have challenged my thinking, those who comment and those who are shy, those who know me personally and those who don't, yet read regularly anyway! Y'all are great!! Join me as I strive to be a Momconformist... See you there!

2010 in pictures

2011-01-01T00:28:00.000-05:00

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November


December

Happy New Year and Best Wishes for 2011!

Something NEW in 2011

2010-12-30T13:16:00.000-05:00

2011 seems to be promising of many new things! New year, new babies (not for ME, crazies! Did I have you wondering??). New year, new pictures. New year, new goals (I have a few). New year, new friends. New year, new recipes (one of my faves!). New year, new heart (literally, for a friend's baby). New year, new tricks (as I'm watching my boy scoot across the living room floor). New year, new clothes (yay, Christmas gift cards!).

A big one for me in 2011 is new year, new blog! "Greenhill, Party of 4" at jonandmollie.blogspot.com will be no longer after 2010 passes. We'll still be a circus-like party of four, but as our focus shifts and goals and dreams for the new year develop, my blog is going to change along with everything else- including its location!! We'll start out with a few giveaways in the month of January, so you won't want to miss out. Be sure to check here next week for the details so you'll know where to find the goods!

2011=new blog for me.

What's new for YOU in 2011?

Our lives...

2010-12-29T13:00:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas, Y'all!

2010-12-24T15:13:00.000-05:00

Our lives...

2010-12-22T13:00:00.001-05:00

The Great Santa Debate

2010-12-20T13:36:00.001-05:00

"Are y'all going to do Santa?" It's an awfully popular question when you have small children. And it's been an ongoing conversation for the past 2 months or so. But what does that mean, anyway? "Do Santa."

Are you wondering if we're going to visit Santa at the mall? Are you wondering if presents marked "From Santa" will be under our tree? Perhaps you're curious to see if we'll put out cookies and milk for the jolly man or if we'll leave carrots out in the yard for his ~~dreadful creatures~~ reindeer. (Do you know about my intense fear and hate of deer? Stupid animals.) Maybe you're asking if we'll utter his name in our house. Some people don't, you know. Will we ban all songs about Santa in our house?

A little bit of background for you: I don't ever remember growing up with Santa. Santa wasn't a big deal at my house. Sure, we left cookies and milk for Santa. We even had a handful of Santa decorations around the house. We decorated Santa-shaped cookies with sugar sprinkles, red hots, and those microscopic candy balls that break your teeth. We waved "Hello" to Santa as we passed him in the mall. But we didn't go sit on his lap, we didn't write letters to him, and we didn't talk about him a whole lot. We were never told that there WAS or WASN'T a Santa. And I never ever felt like I was missing out on any part of my childhood.

Fast forward to the present: We have our own children. So, what are we going to do? We have lots of traditions in the Greenhill house. You can check out some of them here and here. However, Santa will not be one of our traditions. To answer the questions above... No, we are not going to visit him at the mall. I don't want to pay to have a picture of my two children shrieking in Santa's lap, and it's just not an important tradition to me. There will be no presents "From Santa" under our tree. Cookies and milk? Perhaps. I do like cookies an awful lot. Carrots? Nah. Will we speak the man's name? Sure! St. Nicholas was a great guy with a great heart. He's a great example to use as we teach our kids about giving. We might ban certain Santa songs, but not for the reasons you'd think.

So, why no Santa? I could tell you it's because we don't want to lie to our kids. It sounds terribly harsh, and it IS a reason, but it's not my main reason. I mentioned a few weeks ago how I hate one particular phrase that has become a cliche in the "Christian world." Goofy cliche, but true. Santa is not the reason for the season. My children are not the reason for the season. Consumerism is not the reason for the season. A friend shared a thought with me recently, and it has really stuck with me. "Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus. So, why in the world do we get a bunch of presents?" Christmas is not a time to celebrate my kids. It's not a time to celebrate my husband. Is it a time to be so thankful for them that my heart wants to burst? You bet. But, I don't want Kate and Drew to grow up thinking that Christmas is all about them. And I certainly don't want them thinking that they ought to be good so a fictitious fat man with a beard will bring them presents! I don't want them missing out for even one second on the enormity of the gift of Jesus.

"But, how/what are you going to tell them?" Beats me! Really. I don't know. They can't talk yet, so they can't ask. Ha! ;) We have a little bit of time to come up with a thoughtful and sensitive answer. In the meantime, we are praying that our home will be a place of peace as "the weary world rejoices" because Christ our King is born!

What kind of Santa traditions do/did you have in your family? If your family didn't "do Santa," feel free to share the reasons for that! *Please remember to be kind and sensitive, as some thoughts (including mine!) may differ from yours.*

Our lives... (For Aunt Mary, in particular)

2010-12-15T13:00:00.001-05:00

2009

2010: Kate can pass down SOME things to Drew!

Christmas with 2 under 2

2010-12-14T13:53:00.000-05:00

Our Christmas decorating looks rather different this year, now that we have one walking and another trying with all of his might to figure out crawling. Last year, Kate began crawling the week after Christmas (the day after cutting BOTH bottom teeth), so we didn't have to worry about our decorations. She loved the tree and could have spent hours in this very position:

I cannot even believe that was just a year ago!! This year, Drew does much of the same (imagine that!). He's much more of a roller than Kate was, so he still gets around. He's content just to sit and look at the tree, though. NEXT YEAR will bring even more changes as far as decorating and traditions go. We'll have a 1 1/2 year old and a 2 1/2 year old (I do like how simple this math is when it concerns my children!!) and that brings a new set of dynamics!

People often ask me what life is like with two so close together (362 days, remember). A little like having twins, yet not quite. Here is a glimpse into the Christmas season at the Greenhill home with two under two.

Christmas cards: Getting 3 of us to look at the camera for a decent family picture? Yup, we did it. Remember the Christmas card post a few weeks ago? You can see last year's picture here. How about 4 of us looking in the same direction and smiling? Probably not. My plan was to split up the pictures and include 3 on our card this year. One of Kate, one of Drew, and one of Jon and me. Amazingly, my mom and sister managed to capture a pretty good one of the entire Greenhill party of four this past weekend and it's a keeper!!

Christmas cookies: I LOVE baking for Christmas. My sister and I have started a fun tradition of taking a "Baking Day" before Christmas and we spend the entire day baking/prepping Christmas goodies. Last year, it was on a Saturday and Jon was able to keep Kate occupied during her awake hours. This year, it was on a Monday (therefore, no blog post yesterday!). Let's just say that with two under two, Gretchen and I didn't have many moments alone for peaceful baking!

Decorations: Most of my favorite decorations are candles. Or breakable things. You know, toddler/baby appropriate items. *sigh* I pulled out many of them from the Christmas bins, stared longingly at them, and returned them to the bins. We don't have much shelf/counter space in our home, so we don't have many places to put our decorations out of harm's way. However, our house is not void of breakable Christmas decorations. Call me crazy, but here's my plan. Kate needs to learn that not everything is fair game. We still have candles in the windows, ornaments on the entire tree, a tablecloth with a glass nativity on the dining room table, and a mini Christmas tree all within reach of little hands. Reality: The world is not baby proof. And Kate is learning what she can and can't touch/play with. It's important for her to learn that our home will have some of Mom and Dad's things within her grasp and they are not toys. And believe it or not, this has worked REALLY well! She knows that she can look at the candles in the windows, but not touch. She can peek up on the dining room table, but doesn't yank on the tablecloth. She can touch some of the ornaments on the bottom part of the tree, but she knows not to pull them off. (In case she does, they aren't breakable!)

Tree watering: I don't do it anymore. HA! Guess who does??

Yup! I just gave her a container with ice cubes, and she got to work! Those bad boys will melt in the stand, and our beautiful Fraser fir is watered until it's thirsty again! Sorry about the bad lighting- you can only get but so many angles when you're under. the. tree. :)

Those are a few ways our Christmas looks a little bit different this year. We're also coming to some conclusions regarding "The Great Santa Debate." Check back next week for more on that!

Did you/do you do anything differently in the Christmas season with young ones in the house?

Our lives...

2010-12-08T13:00:00.001-05:00

Christmas traditions and Facebook

2010-12-06T13:02:00.001-05:00

Nope, this blog is not about Christmas traditions using Facebook. Those topics are totally unrelated, but I wasn't coming up with anything creative for a title today.

Facebook news: For a very long time, I've had Facebook importing my blog posts. This is where most of you comment on whatever I've written. After this post, I'm disabling that feature. SO... If you enjoy reading about our little family or you're entertained by my weirdness or you just like looking at pictures of my sweet babies (I do too, don't worry), go ahead and bookmark this blog!! http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com will provide all of those goodies for you and you can (and should!) comment over there. AND, an exciting blog change is going to take place in the New Year, so stay tuned for that! We're working really hard to get it off the ground (ie: my husband is doing a TON of work for me)!

Christmas traditions: I'm a tradition girl. I love traditions and I love eagerly anticipating them. In fact, my mom used to remind me that doing something once didn't make it a tradition. Prime example: She bought us some special treats for a plane ride one time and we looooooved them. One time, people. Next plane ride? "We ALWAYS have those on the plane, Mom!!!!!!!!!" Anyway, traditions hold a special place in my heart, and Christmas brings out many of them. I guarantee you'd quit reading this post if I listed them all, so here are just a few.

Nativities: I love having a visual of Jesus' birth. So much so, that I have just a "few" Nativity sets around our house. One may or not be the Veggie Tales nativity. And Kate may or may not have realized that the star (Laura's face with Junior's voice) will screech "O Little Town of Bethlehem" as many times as she might wish to press it. Growing up, my sister and I loved to play with the nativity and even act out the story of Jesus' birth.
Advent calendars: You can find a million different Advent calendars out there. Many of them have candy in them. NOT exactly the point of Advent... but hey! Some of the best Advent calendars include Scripture or activities that help remind us of the purpose of the days leading up to Christmas.
Christmas lights: Don't think much of an explanation is needed for this one. There are a ton of ~~beautiful~~ ~~tacky~~ fun lights around Richmond and we love to check them out! If you're in the Raleigh-Durham area, you should scoot on by my sister-in-law's house. It's quite a sight!!
Pajamas: We always open one package on Christmas Eve: new pajamas to wear to bed! And Jon got to join in on the fun when we started dating! Even still, at 28 and 29, we look forward to our new jammies! I'm especially looking forward to MINE this year, because for the first time since 2007, they will not be maternity pjs. HA! ;)

We have some other important traditions in our families related to giving and living lives of gratitude, but that's for another time.

What are some of YOUR favorite family Christmas traditions?
http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Our lives...

2010-12-01T13:00:00.018-05:00

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Decisions, decisions!

2010-11-30T13:00:00.004-05:00

I. love. Christmas. cards. A lot. One of my favorite parts about the weeks leading up to Christmas is finding Christmas cards in my mailbox. Extra points if they include a Christmas letter. Even more extra points if they include a picture. I pop those pictures up on our fridge and they become my reminders to pray for those families each day! Last year, I had my parents and sister team up to take our family picture. One person to position us, one to snap (quickly!), and one to make Kate smile. It's a group effort. We found a great deal on Shutterfly for our Christmas card last year. I think it turned out pretty well! (Drew is in this picture too...!!)

Shutterfly has some awesome options for gifts- and it doesn't even have to be the holiday season! Their calendars can be hung on the wall, propped on a desk, or displayed in a poster. This is a really great idea to incorporate more than one family. Or, how about a birthday party? You have the option of a photo card or a regular flat invitation. I really like this one (don't be fooled- this is not my sweet Drew!). Either way, they're really cute and creative designs with excellent prices!

This year, I'm not even attempting to get everyone smiling in one picture. It will never ever happen. Instead, we're going to use the great design options that Shutterfly offers and split into three pictures. One of Jon and me, one of Kate, and one of Drew. I think this will work!! And the best part? Shutterfly is offering 50 free Christmas cards to bloggers who might want to brag on them! Luckily for them, I can honestly put together a blog post of praises! Only problem? There are an awful lot of choices. I think I've narrowed it down to 8. I guess that's not very narrow, is it? P.S.- These are NOT the pictures I'm going to use. That would ruin the anticipation, y'all!

Which do you like the best? Or should I just surprise you with one that I didn't include? ;)
http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Christmas sweaters and rocks

2010-11-29T13:10:00.002-05:00

You've probably heard someone share an illustration using a jar, a pitcher of water, and a pile of rocks of varying size and shape. "Try to fit all of the rocks and the water in this jar," the speaker says. At first glance, it doesn't seem possible. The lesson is learned quickly that this is only possible if the rocks are strategically placed into the jar. The big ones have to go first. What are the "big rocks?" They're our biggest priorities.

Once our big priorities are settled and in place, the smaller things can settle around them. And there's still room to pour a little "water." I've heard this illustration more times than I can actually remember. It's so familiar, yet easy for me to brush off. "Yeah, yeah. I've heard that. I know, I know." But it's come back to me in the past month. And I'm particularly reminded of it as yesterday was the first day of Advent. The beginning of 4 weeks when we wait in eager anticipation of the birth of the Messiah. I'm trying to be more intentional about truly waiting for the birth of Christ this year. I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in my struggles- I fall into the trap of busyness and the "hustle and bustle" (what a weird phrase) of the season. Our family calendar does not have one free weekend in the month of December. Ouch. I see mugs and t shirts and bumper stickers with the Christian cliche "Jesus is the reason for the season!" and it makes me roll my eyes and possibly gag. Just being honest. Not that I disagree with the sentiment in any way, but for heaven's sake... But that's not my point. Or maybe it is.

I don't want to forget about Jesus. I don't want to make him secondary in my holiday preparations. Author Joanna Weaver put it so simply when she writes about this from God's perspective, "Take care of My business, and I'll take care of yours. Make room in your heart for me, and I'll make room for everything else." Step back, Mollie. Lights and wreaths and trees and music make my heart smile. But they aren't top priority. Presents and wrapping paper and parties and ~~tacky Christmas sweaters~~ chocolate and red Starbucks cups are tons of fun. But they aren't number one. And I let them steal the number one spot ~~sometimes~~ really often, rather than letting them fall in place further down the list.

There wasn't any room for Jesus when He was born. I'm challenging myself to make room for Him in my Christmas this year.

What do you do to keep your focus steady during the hectic holiday season?
http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Some old words

2010-11-25T13:00:00.003-05:00

Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home;
All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin.
God our Maker doth provide for our wants to be supplied;
Come to God’s own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home.

-Henry Alford, 1844

Our lives...

2010-11-24T13:00:00.001-05:00

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

"I'm tired! My knee hurts!"

2010-11-23T10:09:00.003-05:00

We love the movie "Up" at our house. Jon and I went to see it on our 5th anniversary (our first time leaving Kate!) and it is a sentimental movie for us both, Kate loves the balloons, and Drew just likes everything. The other night as I was making dinner, Jon skipped through different parts of "Up" to keep the kids entertained during the bewitching hour. You know that time, moms. Typically about 4-6 pm. And it's usually really ugly.

Dinner was ~~strewn across the table and floor~~ eaten, kids were bathed and in bed, and Jon and I watched more of the movie. At one point, Russell says to Mr. Fredrickson (How do you spell his name, anyway? IMDB has three different spellings listed!), "That might sound boring, but I think the boring stuff is the stuff I remember the most." And that got me thinking... about my childhood and about parenting my own children.

When I was a little girl, I frequently tagged along with my dad on Saturday evenings when he went to church to prepare communion. He taught me exactly how the bread needed to be cut and how to pour the juice into those tiny cups. With no air bubbles floating on the top. We sliced the bread from the bottom so it would flawlessly break in half on Sunday morning when the pastor introduced the sacrament. We listened to oldies in the car and talked about absolutely nothing in particular. These were not events of epic proportions. It might sound boring. But, it's the boring stuff that I remember the most. Time with my dad. I was just happy to be by his side. I have really special memories of "boring" things with my mom, sister, and brother, too.

I sat on the floor the other day, talking to two children who cannot talk back to me. And that's what I do for most of my day. Well, one's vocabulary is rapidly increasing these days... Anyway, we put together a puzzle and we were counting animals and naming them and making animal sounds. We sang songs about animals and we pulled the puzzle apart. And then we rolled around on the floor and giggled a lot. And then we had a dance party. Yup, a 6 month old, an 18 month old, and a 28 year old. BO-RING. Right? Maybe. But those times are most precious to my heart. They won't remember them. But I do and I will. Perhaps the "level of boring" is simply in the eye of the beholder.

In my efforts to be a mom who doesn't conform to the standards of this world and the parenting pressures around me, I've learned to soak in in the "boring" times. Not everything has to be a grandiose planned event for entertainment purposes. Sometimes it's special to just be boring. It IS the stuff that we often remember most.

What "boring" things do you remember most from your childhood or from raising your own kids?
http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Eat 'em up!

2010-11-18T15:19:00.001-05:00

Eat 'em up! Because that's exactly what Jon's family does when we get together- especially since we don't see them super often! Here are a few awesome pictures that my precious sister-in-law, Ashley, snapped when we were in Boone this past weekend...

Meeting Aunt Ashley for the first time. She's happy and he's ready to snuggle and snooze!

This just makes my heart happy!

You know what she's saying. "Ehhhh?" Her trademark.

Kisses for Mom

He doesn't go hungry...

My snugglin' boy and his Gaga

Two happy campers

Kate LOVES Cousin Taylor. LOVES.

No caption necessary. Like father, like son. THIS is where my man gets it!

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

He has a name!

2010-11-18T10:10:00.001-05:00

It sounds like "We-ooooo!!!" and it is translated "Drew!!" Someone loves her brother and is so proud to call him by name (and help him learn how to drink from a sippy). Love this girl!!

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Our lives...

2010-11-17T13:00:00.002-05:00

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Size 4 and Number One. Or Two.

2010-11-15T13:47:00.002-05:00

The conversation that could be heard in the Swagger Wagon yesterday evening, on our way home from an amazing weekend in Boone. We're processing through some things we've been learning lately:

Jon: What's something big that you've learned this week about being a mom?
Me: That size 4 Target brand diapers are absolutely not the same fit as a size 4 of any name brand.
Jon: Okay... So, number one. Diapers.
Me: No, it was actually number two that cause me to have this realization.

GROSS. But, such is the life of having an 18 month old and a 6 month old. Diapers, diapers, and more diapers. One of the hardest things about preparing for a baby is registering somewhere. Have you ever walked into Babies R Us? Anyone can feel totally lost in that place! It's not just like a man in Michael's or a woman in Lowe's or Home Depot (Right, Kristen??) Anyone can feel lost! Too. Many. Choices.

And diaper options are as numerous as the stars, I think. Luvs? Pampers? Huggies? Sam's brand? Costco brand? Target brand? CLOTH? Think about the options and accoutrements that get added if you go cloth! I remember bringing Kate home from the hospital and using up the remainder of our "free" diapers (you know, the ones you snag off the bassinet cart). I loved how they smelled (before being filled, that is). Pampers Swaddlers sealed the deal for me. She was so cozy and I never ever wanted her to lose that newborn smell.

Then I read somewhere that Pampers are good for long and lean babies and Huggies are good for the rounder ones. Uhhhh... really? Maybe it's legit. I don't know.

I do know that all of our gift cards have now run out and it's time to start purchasing diapers with real money now. So I busted into Target last week, grabbed a box of size 4 diapers (such a deal for this frugal mama) and headed home. I now know why my dear friend Dawn was so surprised when I told her that Kate is in a 4. Because Target size 4 apparently does not equal Pampers size 4. Which, in turn, means that they don't contain deposits quite as well. That was our lesson learned this weekend. Poor Kate and her saggy britches. It was like putting a newborn in size 2 diapers.

Most moms I know didn't HAVE these options when they were raising their children. And while many things are much easier now in 2010 than "back then," I sure wouldn't mind a smaller number of options when it comes to baby stuff.

Lest you lose all faith in me entirely, I have been learning other things lately about being a mom. Check back over the next few weeks to see what I've been learning about discipline, time management, ~~ear plugs~~, faith, marriage, and a few other things!

In the meantime, what brand of diapers do/did you use for your children and how do/did you choose them?

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Wordless Wednesday

2010-11-10T13:27:00.000-05:00

Ready or not...

2010-11-09T13:40:00.001-05:00

Who needs Mom? I mean, really...

Behind the times

2010-11-06T08:45:00.001-05:00

When one reaches the 100th blog post, it's a pretty big milestone. And it's celebrated! Not here. I didn't even realize it until I went to write today's, and saw that this is #101. Oops. It's all good, though, because I have some big and exciting things coming in the near future on my blog- including a MAJOR change! So, stay tuned in the next few weeks so you don't miss out! Soon, jonandmollie.blogspot.com will be no longer!! I am so excited, y'all!

On to the current important things... A pediatrician appointment with two children at. the. same. time. I conveniently scheduled this particular appointment on my husband's day off, and then entered it into his phone as one of his appointments. I'm sneaky like that. Seriously, though. He is amazing and there is nooooo way I could have done that trip without him! Plus, he has this incredible ability to see things in a totally different way than I can. I keep the stats and hold the children while they are screaming. He has a really unique way of looking at the situation, so head over to his blog and check out this most recent post on growing through pain.

And now for the goods (I know my MIL and SIL are anxiously awaiting):

Kate at 18 months:

Weight: 23 pounds
Height: 31 1/2 inches

Drew at 6 months:

Weight: 17 pounds, 1 ounce
Height: 25 1/2 inches (The dr. said that the nurse didn't stretch him out as far as he could go, so this is our best adjusted guess about his height. It's pretty accurate, I think.)

This was a rough trip to the pediatrician. Kate has entered the stage where she doesn't want anyone touching her unless she knows them very well. So, the screaming commenced well before the shots came! Drew watched her intently and his face said, "Uhhhh, what exactly am I missing?" Once his exam began (and Kate and Dad were back in the waiting room checking out the fish), he was awfully upset too. You've got to understand that this child does not cry. Really. He has to be totally incensed to start crying, and I was amazed at what came out of his little mouth and the monstrous alligator tears that poured from his eyes. I can honestly say that he cried more at yesterday's appointment than he has cried in his entire life. Truly. It was a sad ~~day~~ ~~morning~~ hour.

Back to the stats: My dear friend, Kristen, suggested that I start a pool for people to guess when Drew will be taller than Kate. The time is not far away when they will look like twins! Especially since Drew hovers around the 50th percentile for his height and weight and Kate has stuck around the 30th. Girl, your brother is rapidly approaching!!

So, Drew is 6 months and Kate is 18 months. How much longer before they look like twins? When will Drew look like the big brother?

What I'm praying for today

2010-10-26T14:25:00.001-05:00

Crystal, over at Little Bit Funky, is a jack of all trades! She blogs about family and faith, crafts and fun kids' activities. She's so totally down to earth and honest, and she's just begun a new series called "What I Wish I Could Tell You." It's exactly what it sounds like. Ever wish you could tell someone what you were thinking or feeling- but you CAN'T? Crystal is offering a chance for people to anonymously get some things out in the open and maybe even receive some encouragement.
I can't always identify with people's struggles (and often feel pretty lame because of that), but today's post struck a chord. After attending countless ministry seminars and conferences as a pastor's wife, I've heard this story over and over. And over and over. The details differ ever so slightly from story to story, but much of the same heartache is there. I'm praying for this sweet woman today. I don't know her, but I feel like I do. And she's heavy on my heart today.
Who are YOU praying for? (to think about, not necessarily to share for all to see)

Do you want to be great?

2010-10-22T15:32:00.001-05:00

Lately, our pastor has been preaching some pretty awesome sermons. You know, the kind that make my husband come home and say, "Man. He BROUGHT IT!" Stepping on people's toes, saying things to challenge people's thinking. Not making it all sweet and sugary and wrapped with a beautiful bow. Making some people mad, probably. "Oh, that's not very good for church," you might think. "Saying controversial things? That's not a very good idea. We shouldn't upset people." Welllll.... Jesus did. He was controversial. He upset people. And He most definitely stepped on people's toes. He wasn't super popular because of the things he had to say.

Back to a recent sermon... The title was "Let the Children Come." You can guess where that came from (Luke 18:15-17). And in this particular sermon, he BROUGHT IT. As a youth ministry volunteer for over 10 years now, and as a youth pastor's wife for 6 1/2, one particular statement made me laugh out loud. I had to force myself to remain seated and not cheer and wave my arms in the air. And if you are in ministry (or are married to someone who is), you will totally get it. Bert said, "It is not our job to fix your children. If you messed them up the rest of the week, don't bring them to us expecting us to fix them." I can't tell you how many parents have actually requested that we "fix their children." As hilarious and painfully true as that statement is, Bert's challenge was such a great reminder for parents that day and it has really resonated in my soul.

My moms' group is currently reading a book called Raising Kids for True Greatness. It's a very counter-cultural book, but is challenging us to take a close look at how we are raising our kids. Are we raising them to be successful or are we raising them to be truly great? It's our job to discipline, love, and raise our children. The work HAS to occur at home. Church is a great place for them to grow, but it's just an extra measure of support. It's up to parents to teach their children to be like Jesus. One of the unpopular things that Jesus had to say dealt with this very situation of being "great." He said that if we want to be great, we must be servants of one another. Pardon me? In this culture where everything is about me? Yup. Serve one another. That's just one step in raising kids for true greatness.

This is a pretty major theme in my life right now, so expect more posts on this topic as we work through the book and I wrestle with how to make it a reality in my life and in my children's lives. Serving others isn't so popular in our culture. We say that it is, but mostly we want to look out for ourselves. Can you think of any practical ways to work on this?

How are you teaching your children to be truly great? Or how are YOU trying to be truly great?

Melty heart

2010-10-21T20:17:00.000-05:00

I should be patient...

2010-10-19T14:25:00.000-05:00

... I don't always want to nap in MY bed, either!!

A letter to my children

2010-09-30T15:25:00.000-05:00

Dear Greenhill babies,

Should you choose not to nap (for long or at all) on any given afternoon, please be advised that you may be subjected to a photo shoot as a result of your decision. You're the lucky winner today, son! I could stare at you all day. For real.

Much love,
Mom

September 30, 2010

2010-09-30T10:28:00.000-05:00


Happy 17 month Birthday, my sweet girl! I can't get enough of you!

What do you want?

2010-09-27T12:22:00.002-05:00

I often get two words confused in my mind: need and want. Their definitions are so very different and it shouldn't be difficult to distinguish between the two, but I am so very human. They frequently seem to be the same thing to me. Sometimes, I'm like a little kid in the toy aisle at the store. Lots of things that I want and those wants morphs into needs. Ever heard a child say, "But I neeeeeeeed it!" Yeah, that's me.

We have 2 children now, and that means that we don't have a guest room anymore. You know, we really need a bigger house. Wrong. We don't have an entire room dedicated to toys for our children. In general, they don't have tons of stuff. Will there be enough to make everyone happy when a friend comes to play? We need more toys. Wrong. I'm a little tired of the wardrobe I have. I'm finally not pregnant and I'd like some cute (machine washable) clothes for this fall and winter. I need more clothes. Wrong. Am I alone in this? Or do you get it?

My God will supply all my needs, according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:19 (NASB)

My needs. Not my wants. My needs. And He does. Without fail. Don't believe me? Here are a few ways that I have been completely humbled in the past 2 months.

Applied for financial aid after Baby #2 was born. Lots of money forked over for bills before he was born. Another $12,000 due to the hospital after his birth. Precious lady on the phone says, "You've been approved for 100% of your bill." God knew what we needed at. that. time. And He made it possible.
Baby # 2 also means that we have physically run out of room in our car. Some baby things are for fun. Many of the accoutrements are vital and there simply was not room! We purchased a car yesterday afternoon at a ridiculously awesome price. Did our savings account take a hit? Sure. But God knew what we needed at. that. time. And He made it possible.
Those are all big ticket items. Would you believe me if I told you that they weren't my most treasured provision? Oh trust me, I am eternally grateful for those things. But the provision that is dearest to my heart came in an envelope one day. In a greeting card. I was so excited to see who had sent us a card! I love cards. Love, love, love them. Well, I mostly love the sweet notes that are typically inside of them. But, I digress. I tore open this particular card and read the outside, "Time for a 'God loves you' break in your day." I sure do like those breaks, so I opened it quickly to keep reading. "You're loved, valued, honored, and special- today and always." No signature. A gift card to a nearby grocery store (the one I frequent, actually). Enough to cover one week's worth of groceries. (Plus a cup of coffee if I can work my coupons just right). I am humbled and we are blessed. God placed our little family on someone's heart. And they listened to Him. Thank you for being used by God, dear anonymous friend. God knew what we needed at. that. time. And He made it possible.

Do you confuse needs and wants in your life, too? How has God provided for you and your family (not necessarily financially)?

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Grammar, anyone?

2010-09-23T13:52:00.001-05:00

I am a grammar nerd. I admit it. If I could have gotten away with it, I would have taught grammar all year long to my 10th graders. My eyes are trained and my ears are ultra sensitive. Grammar mistakes scream at me everywhere I go. It's no wonder that this picture, posted on Katie's blog, made me shudder and laugh. Katie found the picture here, along with a quick apostrophe tutorial. It's not that difficult, people!!

Happiness is...

2010-09-20T14:48:00.000-05:00

still feeling giddy inside when my man gets home from work every day
having a sister who doesn't live 7 hours away anymore

claiming a brother who does this on the weekends

movie on the couch date night with my love after kids are in bed- free and totally worth it
sweet kisses from Ladybug (with no prompting)
smiles and giggles from Lovebug (who is totally in love with his mama, if I do say so myself)
a dad who knows how to fix anything in the entire world
hugs in the kitchen from my man that make all the problems in the world disappear
generosity of a stranger who gave us millions of baby clothes for my little girl
an adorable tennis dress in the pile of millions of baby clothes
my little lady in the aforementioned tennis dress watching Gram play tennis
my little man playing with his links and enjoying the breeze
a picnic in the shade with two perfectly behaved children watching Gram crush her opponents
a sleeping boy upstairs and a sweet girl off at Gram's house for the afternoon

this face

this face

these faces

A sweet big sister

2010-09-08T14:06:00.000-05:00

When my brother was born, I thought that life could not possibly get any better. I had so wanted a baby in my family (I was only 3 when my sister was born and didn't really remember it), and I was going to get one! Daniel was welcomed into our family the month before I turned 8. I was so excited I could hardly stand myself. I stayed awake at night, waiting for him to cry, so I could race into his room and hold him. (Now that I have a better grip on the lives of babies and mothers, I look back and wonder what exactly I thought that I could do for him in the middle of the night. No food from this girl!) I guess it didn't really matter, though. I loved that sweet baby boy and he was my baby, as far as I was concerned. Side note: Not a whole lot has changed; I am still crazy protective of him and act like his second mother (probably too often... sorry, D), even though he's 20 and in college.

Long intro to get to my point... Kate is an awful lot like her mama (in about a billion ways, actually). She has always been very nurturing toward Drew, although she is 362 days older and not 8 years. Today, her main interest is holding him. He was "playing" on the floor and she went over to scoop him up. Oh boy. So, I had her sit on the floor and I handed him to her. She wrapped her pudgy little arms all the way around him and looked at his face, adoringly, as though she couldn't get enough of him. Without prompting, she kissed him several times on his head and forehead (not her usual open mouthed kiss, either) and then gently rubbed his head. And then she rocked him. "Ra, ra, ra, ra." Please keep in mind that Kate weighs all of 21 pounds and Drew weighs 15. She almost doesn't have room to hold him. But, oh how she loves him. I might as well not have even been there. She was in her own little world, with her real live baby. Most people don't get to see maternal instincts in a 16 month old. Hahahahaha!!

One of the main questions that people ask of me (After staring with mouth wide open, "How close are they in age??") is "Oh man. Is she jealous?" Not at all. Well, kinda. But not like you'd think. If I'm holding her baby, she's not jealous because it takes time away from her. She's jealous because she wants to be holding that little fella. How I wish I had been near the camera...

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Baby bragging

2010-08-31T14:30:00.000-05:00

Oops. It's been almost a month. I just do not even have TIME to blog! I cannot figure out how some moms can write 3 or 4 posts a DAY, sometimes!

This summer has been so much fun for our family! Kate and Drew have both been doing so many new things, it's hard to keep up! Drew is 4 months now and Kate is 16 months. I can always keep track of their ages now... A simple 12 months in between! ;)

Drew is a champ. He is the world's best smiler and is such a relaxed baby. He has to be, with a total first born child as his big sister! He is so ticklish, and always has been. It's just that now he giggles when he's tickled. He wants to look at people all the time, so he's lucky to have some built in entertainment! He will watch Kate wherever. she. goes. He loves his big sister. He thinks that bath time is the greatest invention and being outside is almost as fun! He is really interactive with his toys that hang down within his reach and he especially likes the ones that make noise. He is used to getting clocked in the head with a sippy cup and having a pacifier jammed into his face. He is a ferocious drooler, just as Kate was at this age, but according to the pediatrician yesterday at his 4 mo. appointment, it's all in vain. No teeth on the way, yet! In general, Drew just doesn't cry. He's a sweet, sweet boy whose smiles indicate that he is in love with his family!

Kate. Oh my. She's such a little girl. I can't decide if I love it so much I can't stand it or if I want to cry because she's so grown up. She thinks that SHE is Drew's caretaker, and works very hard to see that he is content. If a pacifier is in sight, it must go in his mouth. Even if he doesn't want it. And if he doesn't open his mouth, she can be heard saying, "Aaaaaahhhh." She'll show him how it's done! He should always be covered with a blanket, so she will drag one across the room to place on top of him. Even if the placement happens to be over his face. We're still working on that part. She likes to rock him in his swing ("Ra, ra, ra, ra") and rub or pat his back and tummy. She runs to his room when she hears him fuss and wants to help get him out of bed. She loves to be helpful in any way possible. She will deliver items from Mom to Dad and gets a kick out of throwing things away, especially diapers! She will greet anyone or tell them "bye," and most likely will blow kisses at the same time. Dancing is also a pretty fun activity. Her new favorite fruit is peaches, she doesn't want to have a thing to do with veggies, and she likes eating a banana or a sandwich by herself. Oh, she is so pleased with herself! She is learning manners and likes to knock on any door if it's closed ("Dat, dat") and she enjoys praying with us before meals. She will sit quietly and hold our hands and then make some loud triumphant noise when we say amen.

I could say so much more about my sweet babies (will they always be babies in my mind?), but it's taken me multiple days to even get this post written and it needs to end! Just for entertainment value, here are the latest stats of the Greenhill kids. LOOK OUT, KATE! And, a picture of each, plus a video of Drew's giggles and Kate's diva-ness coming through because she's not on the camera, followed up with her tricks!

Drew at 4 months:
Weight: 14 lbs. 14 oz.
Height: 24.5 in.

Kate at 15 months:
Weight: 21 lbs. 10 oz.
Height: 29.5 in.


Drew's birth announcement pic

One of her favorite places to play: the bathroom!

A good way to start the week

2010-08-02T14:05:00.000-05:00

Shortly before I learned that I was pregnant with Drew, we went to Boone for a weekend with our sweet friends Amy and Brian. In the Gap outlet dressing room, I could be heard ~~asking~~ shouting to my husband to get me a pair of jeans in a smaller size. That's right, after reaching my pre-Kate pregnancy weight, I had then dropped another pant size. Hence, the joyful, loud calling to my husband, rather than reluctant whispering. I slipped on those pants and grinned. 3 weeks later, I found out that I was pregnant again. Eek. Those pants have been in hiding in my drawer since November. Last night I put them on to go out to dinner with my man and BFF Kristen. They fit. Oh yes, they fit! Oh, happy day!

Summer time!

2010-07-29T15:13:00.000-05:00

It's been a busy month around here! We've played hard, hidden inside away from the 100+ degree heat, road tripped to Northern VA to visit Aunt Gretchen and now we're enjoying our time with a visit from Kristen! Here are a few pics of my summertime babies!

Hey brother, wanna play the Wii? I'll leave this on your head in case you change your mind.

No more cutting up bananas for this girl! She can eat it herself!


Just lookin' around!

A baby doll for Drew. Guess who likes to share her toys with her brother?

He does not look like a line backer in real life. He does love ASU, though.

Stop. Talking.

2010-07-05T10:15:00.002-05:00

Do you like to talk? I sure do. If you look at our cell phone bill, you'll see that I'm the one who uses the majority of our shared minutes. It's been proven that women talk more than men. This is most certainly the case in our house! I love talking to anyone, anywhere! I've stopped talking on the phone when I'm in the car with my children- partly for the safety of Kate and Drew and partly because I want to be talking to THEM when we're in the car together. We chat about everything that we see out the window and we always sing in the car, too.

Amanda, our children's pastor (who is phenomenal), shared this thought during her children's message on Sunday. "When our lips are closed, our ears start listening more." Hmmm... She really has a knack for breaking down the "grown ups' sermon" for the kids. But, my simple mind sure does appreciate her thoughts. We are so good at talking to God. We tell him what we want, what we need, what others want and what others need. Sure, occasionally we will praise Him or confess things to Him. But honestly, most people are heading to God when they want something. Don't get me wrong, our needs and wants are often legitimate. And God hears every one of them.

But, do you ever stop to listen? God talks back to us, you know. I'm ashamed to admit that I forget that I need to be intentional about listening for God's voice. I'm so busy with my own agenda that I yammer on and on and forget to be quiet. I've challenged my high school girls' Bible study with this over the past few months. Where is the quiet time in your life? We live such a fast paced life that we hate the quiet. We don't want to be still. It makes us uncomfortable. Too many things to do. Places to go. Don't be lazy. Can't waste time.

I promise that it won't be a waste of time. What has God been telling you lately? What's He trying to tell you? "When our lips are closed, our ears start listening more."

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

With love, from my "little firecracker" and Miss Patriotic

2010-07-04T20:59:00.003-05:00

God bless America, my home sweet home!

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Laundry tactics

2010-06-29T10:41:00.004-05:00

When the clean laundry pile is far too overwhelming for you, do the following:

1. Empty most of the clothes onto the floor. Then climb into the basket.

2. Finally, just have a seat.

I think it's brilliant. And not just because she's my daughter...

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Colorado and sleeping in

2010-06-24T13:24:00.016-05:00

If you live on the East Coast, those two things really do go hand in hand! Since we've been back from our trip out west, Kate has been a champion at sleeping in! The first day back, she slept until 10:30 and today she snoozed until 9:15! Morning nap is out the window at that point! Needless to say, we are still adjusting to our time zone.

Our trip was phenomenal. We are so thankful that Mom and Dad provided the opportunity for us to go visit with family and for Jon to meet them for the first time. This particular family is rather dear to my heart, and it was so special for my husband and my kids to meet them- and for them to know my family. We took in the sights as much as we could, for a family scooting around town with 2 little ones. Read: We took the long route to the Air Force Academy and then it was experienced from the back seat of the car, rather than getting out (Kate's 1 hr. morning nap), Garden of the Gods- again from the back seat, except for Jon with the camera and ferocious love of nature (Kate's 1 hr. afternoon nap).
Everything we did was leisurely; we simply enjoyed where we were. One day it meant a two hour breakfast in the hotel lobby while catching up with and meeting extended family. Another day it meant a slow morning and a dip in the pool. One of the best things about the weekend (aside from sweet Cousin Shannon's wedding) was meeting more family. I guess it's not really my family (my aunt's sisters and their kids), but they sure did feel like it by the end of our long weekend! The three musketeers (picture below) snatched Drew up as quickly as they could, and proceeded to snuggle with and love on him the entire weekend. I think I only held him when he needed to eat. Really. They quietly passed him around, from arms to arms. I think they had a "holding schedule," and they took turns and waited patiently. Precious, precious girls. I wish I could have taken them home with me. And not just because they gave my arms a break! We also got to meet my cousin's fiancee. What a treat! And we are so excited that she will be part of our family next summer! When the three musketeers weren't kidnapping Drew, Grethel cuddled with him! And when Drew was otherwise occupied, sweet Grethel played with Kate. That's the way to this mama's heart- love on my children.

It was often hectic in the airport, kids' schedules were all off, but I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat. With the help of my parents and sister, of course!

Shortly after landing in CO. Her body thinks it's almost 11 pm!

Focus on the Family- touching the computer screen changes the colors on the pictures!

Nap time!

Pool time!

Pool time!

Beautiful bride and her dad

So victorious!! I love this one!

Cousins: Minus the bride, Daniel, and sweet Tim

After about 6 tries...

Grethel and Drew

The three musketeers

Uncle Charlie, Aunt Kathy, and almost all of us!

Pikes Peak in the background- a more typical family picture, with Kate trying to get down!

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Better late than never!

2010-06-23T15:06:00.013-05:00

Our sweet little Drew is 8 weeks old today! Where did time go? I've had a hard time with the reality of his age because I was recovering for so long. Therefore, I feel like time really started once I was able to be Mom again. He seems so young to me! His 2 month appointment is scheduled for next week and I haven't even updated on his 1 month stats! Here are some stats and what our little man is up to these days!

Weight at 5 days: 7 lb. 8 oz.
Weight at 1 month: 10 lb.

Height at 5 days: 19 3/4 in
Height at 1 month: 21 1/2 in.

He lines up in the 50th percentile for everything, but his actions seem to indicate otherwise! He has been trying to hold up his head since the first week we were home, and it's only gotten stronger! His arms are super strong too, and he practically does push ups! He pushes up with his legs and they are strong enough to hurt your gut when he's in your lap! Drew is a mover. His legs are constantly kicking and moving around when he's awake, and I can now see what it was that he was doing in my belly! His moves haven't changed much! He is super alert and loves to smile. He is frequently plagued by hiccups, which drive him mad! He has huge blue eyes, just like his big sister and he is pretty accustomed to her ~~abuse~~ love at this point. Bath time is a huge hit, which is good and necessary after we have our quality time together outside. After Kate goes down for her afternoon nap, Drew and I often stand on the front porch and listen to the outdoor noises together. Then he's ready to snuggle down for his afternoon nap! In general, Drew is just a really sweet boy. He loves to cuddle and he is certainly not hungering for attention!

A few more recent pics of my little man:

Chillin' with Gram while Kate plays in the play area

Relaxin' pool side

At Cousin Shannon's wedding reception in Colorado

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I thought the Rockies would be rockier...

2010-06-18T18:49:00.003-05:00

We made it!! Our flight to Colorado and we are so glad to be here, 6000 feet above sea level! Kate and Drew were GREAT on the plane... A friend had warned me that two babies can't sit on laps in the same row, so we had to divide and conquer! Aunt Gretchen sat with Kate in the row in front of us on the way to Atlanta, and kept her busy the entire time! (One girl kept the other busy... you guess which girl was which...) We could hear Kate talking on her phone that she brought with her and giving kisses to pictures of her family in books and photo albums. And she only whacked her seat neighbor a few times in the head. Reading is an aerobic sport and VERY exciting in our family!! Drew was supposed to nurse on take off, and finished before we were even cleared to head down the runway! How in the world are you supposed to know when you'll be cleared?! Fortunately, he fell asleep and slept for pretty much the whole flight to Atlanta. Not. A. Peep.

Quick layover in Atlanta: scarf down dinner and climb on the next plane... This time Kate sat with Daddy and Drew chilled with Gretchen and me. Again, Drew slept. Didn't even bother trying to nurse that man! And Daddy kept Kate busy for almost 3 hours on the flight to Colorado Springs. Amazing man, I tell you! A sippy cup, paci, and dropper for ear drops could all be found on the floor (out of arm's reach) before we were cleared for take off. But, they were champs together! Kate fussed some because she had not napped the entire day. The ENTIRE day. But don't worry. She fell asleep as we were taxiing to the gate. In Colorado. Oh yes!! She has great timing...

Today has been a full day (napless, of course) of visiting with precious family, driving around the Air Force Academy, and playing in the huge kids' area at Focus on the Family. We'll head down to dinner with the family in just a bit and can't wait to see my cousin get married tomorrow afternoon!

A 2 hour time change is a little confusing to small bodies, but we're hanging in there. It makes for tough nights, early mornings, and napless days- but it's definitely worth it. And we can't beat 80 degree weather, no humidity, gentle breezes, and a view of the Rockies no matter where we are. God sure is good!!

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Flying across the country

2010-06-10T19:30:00.003-05:00

I need YOUR advice! We are leaving next week to hop on a plane to Colorado with. two. babies. We have a quick layover in Atlanta, then will be on our way to Colorado Springs and in the air for several hours to follow. I've been brainstorming a bunch of things (this is what happens when you're stuck in a recliner for 3 weeks!) but I'm sure I'm forgetting something. Here's what our set up is: Drew will be in the sling with me and Kate will be on a lap. Jon's? Gretchen's? What are your tips for traveling with a 13 month old and a 7 week old?

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Just one day?

2010-05-09T15:07:00.007-05:00

Today is the day that people all over our country celebrate mothers. This year, in particular, I feel that this day is a little bit silly. I equate it to the feeling my husband has about Valentine's Day. "Why should I designate one day out of the year to show you that I love you? That doesn't make any sense! I don't love you any more on that one day than I do on the others!" This year, I wish that every day was for celebrating our moms- and that we would actually remember to verbalize our appreciation. Let me tell you about just the past 2 weeks. And my mom. You'll see what I mean.

On April 26, little Miss Kate arrived at her Gram and Grandpa's house for a sleepover. Her brother was to be welcomed into our family the following morning, and life was simpler for her to spend the night over there. Each day for the rest of the week, Kate spent much time with her Gram (my mom). I was in the hospital from Tuesday until Friday, and my mom was the surrogate mom for those days. Kate and Gram went shoe shopping together, they came to visit us in the hospital, they went for walks, etc. Mom knows our routines and she picks them right up where I left off, so Kate has consistency in a crazy time.

Last Saturday began the "fun." This time, she was being my mom and not Kate's Gram. We spent our afternoon in the emergency room for my semi-open c-section incision. (Jon stayed home, being the all-star dad that he is, playing and caring for Lady Kate.) This is not how recovery went last time around! And so began my week in "recliner confinement." Every day this week, Mom has been at our house. Along with a few other precious friends, Mom has been doing everything that I physically can't (because of pain or doctor restrictions). Think: babysitting while I go back to the doctor, feeding Kate, putting down and getting Kate up from nap, playing with Kate, lifting Kate, doing dishes, cleaning the kitchen, taking out the trash, watering plants, picking up toys, washing clothes- are you getting the picture?

As of Monday afternoon it's determined that I have a pinched nerve in my abdomen, which is causing my pain (not the actual incision, unbelievably). And the never ending incision bleeding is due to the horrific bruising from the surgery (I'll spare the details). Where is Mom? Right next to me, balancing my precious girl on her hip, and fetching everything I could possibly need.

More bleeding on Wednesday of this week. Back to the doctor on Friday. Did I mention that this is not my normal recovery experience? There was Mom again- holding my hand as the doctor messed around and made a mess, trying to fix things. The verdict: a home nurse will be coming to my house over the weekend to pack my wound twice a day. Are you kidding? I'm. So. Over. This. Fortunately, the only pain is still the pinched nerve, but it is rather excruciating. So, who wiped the tears away when I was too overwhelmed to think straight? Yup. My mom. Who prayed over me and with me while still at the doctor's office? You got it. This woman stood next to me, collecting buckets of tears on her shoulder, while reminding me of God's goodness despite my lack of patience and abounding selfishness and frustration. She reminded me of the blessings that we have in a tremendously skilled and highly compassionate doctor, good friends for support, a beautiful, beautiful, healthy baby boy, and even the miracle of blood clotting. :)

And today. The day for moms. As Kate is getting ready to eat her breakfast, she flips out of her high chair and face plants on the kitchen floor. Blood is such a common theme in our house this week, and guess what Kate had to contribute? All. Over. Her. Mouth. And guess who was at our house within 10 minutes? Yes. Mom. My firstborn love is screaming and I cannot pick her up. She fell asleep in Gram's arms until it was time to go to the doctor. (Do you sense a pattern in my life this week? I have left the house 5 times in 9 times. Every time was to see a doctor of some sort.) My mom, in her selfless way, stayed home with Drew, cuddled him, cleaned house again, treated stained clothes, and the list goes on and on and on.

Can you see how one day is not enough? These are just the events of the last 2 weeks. How is it possible to thank someone and appreciate someone as much as they deserve? This year, especially, my mom deserves extra trophies and gold stars. And when June rolls around, don't even get me started on the daddy of my children and my own daddy. I might break the computer with more tears of appreciation.

Praise God for my amazing mom! My best friend and absolute life line.

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Introducing...

2010-05-08T21:21:00.005-05:00

Andrew Mark (Drew)
April 27, 2010
10:33 am
7 lbs. 5 oz.

Our family of 4!

Hugs and snuggles- within seconds of meeting her brother

The best surprise we've ever gotten in our lives...

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A not so happy birthday

2010-04-25T08:11:00.008-05:00

We celebrated Kate's first birthday yesterday with our families (from Durham and Richmond), but the guest of honor woke up with a 102 fever. :( I was sick on my first birthday, so I guess she just wanted to be like her mama!

She was totally pitiful when she woke up from her first nap of the day, and it's obvious which pictures were taken at which time during the day! We ate quickly, had some cake, opened a few presents, and then she went back to bed for a bit. When she woke up, the Tylenol had clearly kicked in, and she was a new girl (for an hour or 2)! No more cute birthday dress, but I figured it was more important to be comfy at nap time! She opened the rest of her gifts, and then got right to work on her new toys! Aunt Ashley picks out the best toys for Miss Kate... and she can push this one all over town!

Then, it was time for one more nap. Daddy joined in on this one, while Mom hammered out all of the thank you notes! After that, we went to Noodles and Co. (our fave!) for dinner with Jon's family and snagged some Krispy Kreme on the way home. Hallelujah! I think birthday cake might be on the menu for today. Kate loved her yellow cake with chocolate icing and lots of yummy ice cream. A girl after my own heart!

This is pretty indicative of what life was like between nap #1 and nap #2. :(

The reaction to the cake- only after the whole room cheered, "Yay!!!!" very loudly.

How do you know when it's time for a nap??

Moving too quickly for a picture!

Love this thing!!

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

A totally NOT shameless plug!

2010-04-22T14:04:00.013-05:00

These formal pictures (without a couch and other general mess in the background) were done by a high school friend of mine, Rebekah (Edwards) O'Dell. She has her own photography business now and is VERY talented!! If you're in the Richmond area and need some pictures done, call her right now (804.543.4633)!!! If you let me know first, I can give you a card for a discount on your first session. She is GREAT with kids and has been known to take some really sweet pictures of couples/families, too. The best part (for me) was that all of these pictures were done in my living room during playtime or in our front yard! Check out her website to see some of her work!

www.rebekahodellphotography.com

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Almost 1?!

2010-04-22T13:49:00.016-05:00

Some pictures of JUST my baby girl. The days are numbered... she won't be the only baby for long! Much more of her yummy cheeks can be found in my Facebook albums. Eventually. :)

On the porch swing at Mast General Store in Valle Crucis

Ready for a hike at Price Lake

Peach ice cream from Kilwin's! YUM!

First time swinging!

First Easter egg hunt

Easter Sunday- too close to lunch for smiles!

I can eat my own bananas with my own fork, thank you.

Playing basketball in Daddy's office

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Babysitters

2010-04-19T14:06:00.003-05:00

When I was in middle school, my mom gave me some pointers to help make me the best babysitter I could be. So, I began washing the dishes in the sink whenever I went to someone's house to babysit. I'd either wash, dry, and leave them on the counter, or load them in the dishwasher so they were out of the way and ready to be cleaned. No big deal, right? I mean, it's such a boring job and it's not a huge thing.

UNTIL.... I became a mom. And someone did it for me. Oh. My. Gosh. What a gift!!!! Our precious friend Abby offered to stay with Kate so Jon and I could get in one more date before little brother arrives (next week!!). So, we scooted out the door on Friday night to dinner and a movie and left Kate to play with her buddy Abby. When we came home, there was not a dirty dish to be found! Abby had washed all the dishes in the sink and on the counter, dried them and left them stacked neatly to be put away, had EMPTIED the dishwasher and added those dishes to the "put away" pile, and then RELOADED the dishwasher with the new stuff. Be still, my heart!

Did I (and do I still) rejoice over that?! Oh yes. Oh yes. Thanks for being such a great and completely selfless friend to us, Abby... And for loving our sweet girl so much, too!!

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Bad blogger, anxieties, and loves

2010-04-18T07:23:00.005-05:00

What a terrible blog posting rate! Once a month for the last 3 months... And life is going to be more chaotic in a week? Pretty unbelievable! If I look back at the last month (when I haven't been posting), I realize that all of my time has been spent soaking up time with sweet Kate. And I'm totally okay with that. She's been a little more clingy lately, and I truly think that she knows that something's up. She sure doesn't have a clue what it is, but she wants to snuggle more and give more hugs and just be with Mom more. And I just don't mind at all! I've been learning a lot lately about being a mom (through the heart tuggings of God and the wisdom of my husband).

It all started with 5 teeth. Most of which have now arrived in Kate's little mouth. What happened to my favorite gummy smile?! It's the little changes in her life that make me stop and think about how quickly time passes. And that make me wish I could put time on hold and take in every second. But... in a week, life will get busier. And for a time, I feel like I will have to neglect Kate. It's just one of those things that comes along with recovering from surgery and not being able to lift your child. Jon, of course, assures me that it's not really neglecting her- it WOULD be neglecting her if I left her in the car to go get a manicure. HA! But, much of this comes from my own pride. I want to be the one to do things for my kids. I want to be the one to be everything to my kids. I don't WANT someone else putting Kate down for her nap. That's OUR time! And I don't like relying on other people. It's really hard for me to give up control and let other people help. But, when you're recovering from surgery, there's no other option! I'm such a control freak. :( I like to think I'm pretty laid back, but God is showing me otherwise! But, it's all about letting go. God has entrusted these babies to me for a time, but I have to acknowledge that. I'm really in trouble when kindergarten comes!! ;)

It took me a long time to be truly THRILLED about this fella joining our family. Finding out about a pregnancy when it's halfway over can really do a number on you! But, I cannot WAIT to see his sweet face. I cannot wait to meet him and see how much he looks like his daddy (which I know he will), I cannot wait to cuddle and smell him, and I'm actually looking forward to our time together in the hospital before real life hits when we get home. I'm excited to finally be able to share his name with people, to put him to sleep in his precious nursery, and to experience an extension of my heart that somehow can contain more love. Dissipating sciatica won't upset me either. ;) But in the midst of that, I still have a fear of inadequacy. Having two babies within a year is something that most people don't experience. Emotionally, physically, and spiritually, it will be challenging. God very clearly has more faith in my parenting skills than I do, otherwise I wouldn't be feeling a kickboxing boy inside of me right now! He has chosen this baby for our family. God has told us that His plan is far better than ours and I'm even more excited now to see how He will work in our family.

So, pray for us (me) as we (I) learn to let go. I'm not very good at it. But, I know that as I'm humbled, I am becoming more like Christ. And that is the deepest desire of my heart. To God be the glory!

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Oops.

2010-03-15T14:10:00.004-05:00

Oops. My last post was on Feb. 15. Today is March 15. I don't have anything to say other than "oops." Life has been a blur in the past month or so. And, I've developed writer's block. If you can have writer's block when you aren't even a writer in the first place... A glance at the last month that apparently flew by:

Kate is entirely a formula lovin' girl now, and has been for about a month. For this nursing lovin' fool of a mom, it was quite the experience. Kate could have cared less, because she'll roll with anything; I was a basket case. It doesn't matter that I'll get to do it all over again in April. That era with my sweet little girl is over and it wasn't an easy matter for me. Pregnancy hormones were not helpful there! The little lady is ALLLL over the place, too. We're starting to take bets on whether or not she'll be walking by the time her brother gets here. She is dangerously close!! She loves walking (and thinks she is HOT stuff) while she holds on to things (someone's hands, the couch, the trashcan, kitchen chairs, anything!). She entertains herself- in every sense of the word... She can keep herself occupied, but also seems to think that she is hilarious! She has the best "gut laugh" and shows off her 3 sparkly whites whenever she gets the chance. Dada is her favorite friend in the world (he's my favorite too, so it's okay!) and this morning I caught her "talking" on the phone to him while she was playing. Such a sweet pea!

Speaking of Dada, we got to go on a trip in February- just the two of us! Kate stayed with Gram and Grandpa and behaved herself very well! We headed to Chicago for a long weekend at a youth pastors' conference and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! And I was surprisingly FINE to leave Kate behind! I got to see my sweet friend, Kristen, which made the trip even more worth it! Weird grownup moment for us: writing up our wills before hopping on a plane. EEK! More thoughts later on some realizations and good times with God that weekend...

Our little fella will be here in 6 weeks. I cannot even explain to you what it's like to have missed half of your pregnancy. This has been the most bizarre 4 months of my life! 2 more dr. appts. and then I go visit Dr. Lewis once a week. HELLO! Where the heck did time go?! Little man's room is painted and the border will be up soon. Precious friends around town have so graciously offered us furniture, so we'll collect that and soon be totally ready. Well, as totally ready as one can be! ;) The way he is movin' and groovin', I get more nervous each day- we will NEVER be ready for this BOY! In the meantime, I am soaking up every second that I have with just my little girl. She really has the sweetest personality, and it's a little bittersweet to think that my time will have to be divided very soon. Yet, it's supersweet (made up that word) to think that my heart could have even more love for another baby. Kinda blows my mind!

So, Ladybug will turn ONE next month. What?!?!! I'm processing her birthday party every now and then in the back of my mind. And on that note, I'm off to call the pediatrician to schedule her 12 month appointment AND little man's first ever appointment. On the same day. Who DOES that?! Or better yet, who is ABLE to do that?! :)

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Who's Cute??

2010-02-15T11:26:00.013-05:00

Snow cream!!

Hangin' out at the mall with Baby Will and his mom

Storage for clothes= Great place to play!

Sports Illustrated? Yes, please!

Climbing on Baby Brother

Pushing the trashcan around the kitchen

Just being sweet...

Who needs handles on a sippy? Not me!!

I'm coming to get you, Mom!!

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

9 months and getting cuter!

2010-02-12T16:43:00.004-05:00

Our little Ladybug is 9 1/2 months already! She is the sweetest girl and we are having the best time watching her learn and take in the world around her. She is constantly observing life around her and it's so awesome to watch her mind work. We went for her 9 month appointment the other week, and she entertained the pediatrician like usual! She weighs 17.5 pounds and is 26.75 inches tall. She's hanging out around the 25-30th percentile, and the doctor was pleased with her progress! She was really thrilled to see how well (and quickly) she crawls, and was even more impressed to see her with her sippy cup. She has mastered that bad boy! She loves her juice, but doesn't mind when I water it down. She's also started drinking formula out of her sippy in the past week, in preparation for her stay with Gram and Grandpa while we head to Chicago for a conference at the end of the month (and for baby brother to get his turn at nursing!).

There isn't much that Kate won't eat these days, and she loves to feed herself. Mangoes and pears are the best fruit to eat by yourself, and she loves Gram's mac and cheese. Those pieces of macaroni sure are slippery! Yogurt is delicious and is best when mixed with fruit. Applesauce remains the all time favorite and staple. Crackers and Puffs are a great afternoon snack or appetizer... However, if Mom and Dad are eating something different, this girl gets MAD!!

She is crawling ALL over the place (hasn't mastered stairs... yet) and loves to furniture walk. Who knows? Maybe this girl WILL be walking by the time her brother arrives! She loves to walk while we hold her hands and she is SO proud of herself! Dancing is her new thing- particularly with Dad when he cranks up TobyMac. She flaps her arms around, and if she's standing up, she bounces. The intro music to Mike and Mike on ESPN is also great for dancing. She LOVES music!!

Life is just great when you're almost 10 months old. She plays happily by herself in the living room while I finish up dishes or work on dinner. And sometimes she just giggles to herself. I wish I knew what she was thinking!! Not everything goes in the mouth anymore- only when the teeth are a little sore. The bottom two both popped through at the same time, on her 8 month birthday! We can see both top teeth just underneath the gums, but they haven't made their official entrance yet. She seems to be handling the second batch better than the first!

Ladybug is a talker and she will chat with anyone! I guess that doesn't require much explanation in this family. Let's just hope her brother will be able to get in a few words one day!

I think that Daddy is currently her favorite friend. She looks all over for him when he's not in her sight. She waits at the door (standing at the storm door) for him to get home from work and gets so excited every time she sees him. She's a pro at waving goodbye when he leaves for work, and then she goes right back to playing. Daddy rolls around on the floor with her (Mom can hardly get up and down OFF the floor these days!) and they tickle and giggle together. Too precious for words, and it makes my heart so happy!

That's enough for now. I could write all day about this child... Next post will be some recent pics of my little love. Have a great week!

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Moms

2010-02-07T16:37:00.002-05:00

My friend Mary posted this link on her blog the other day. She called it a "must-read" for moms, and I totally agree! Such a great reminder for those of us who strive daily to be good mothers... Just a few thoughts as we try to keep our perspectives focused.

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Spontaneity

2010-01-29T22:56:00.002-05:00

Plans thwarted! This weekend is Acquire the Fire here in Richmond and Jon is taking the youth. So, Kate and I made plans to head to Arlington tomorrow to visit Gretchen (since Jon would be gone from 6 am-11 pm). A forecast of 6-10 inches of snow has changed ALL of our plans!! I was sitting at home this afternoon, feeling sorry for myself because my plans to visit my sweet sister got messed up again. AND Kate decided that she was only going to take a one hour nap this afternoon. Oh, but she wanted so much more than that and would. not. sleep. At that point, I felt the "ican'thandlethisican'tbewithyoubymyselfuntil11tonightbecauseyourcontinuousfussingisdrivingmemad" emotions hit. I called G to see what her plans were, and fortunately, she had none! So, within 20 minutes, Kate and I hopped in the car and drove an hour (halfway to Arlington) to meet Gretch for dinner!! Can't say that I've been that spontaneous with Kate before (at least when it comes to leaving town) and it was awesome! We went to O'Charley's for dinner and then shopped at Old Navy and Target before heading back home. And Kate slept the entire time- both ways! And even went right to bed when we got home. Praise God for an awesome sister who was willing to jump in the car to come meet us- even in the middle of a Gilmore Girls episode!!
Looks like the youth won't be making it to ATF tomorrow, so we'll get to have Daddy home with us. A fun, unexpected evening with Gretchen and a snow day tomorrow with my man all trump the fact that ATF ended an hour late tonight!! I'm heading to BED and not waiting up for Jonathan Mark!

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Weird. Yum.

2010-01-24T20:47:00.002-05:00

I'm never particularly motivated to make dinner for myself when Jon is out for a meeting/youth event, and tonight was no exception. Pair that with pregnancy hunger and you never know what I might come up with. Tonight's dinner of champions (at 8:50 pm, nonetheless): pita chips and homemade hummus; apples and peanut butter. Awesome...

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Wednesday thoughts

2010-01-20T15:17:00.005-05:00

1. Today is Wednesday. And that means only one more day 'til the weekend for the Greenhills. This makes me ridiculously happy!

2. I can't stop thinking about Haiti. My college roommate and friend Heather mentioned this same thing in her blog. I don't even know how to pray for the people there. When I heard today about the aftershock, I wanted to cry all over again. These precious people who were already living on $1 or less per day, are reliving their nightmare or have joined the ranks of those with nothing. We sponsor two Compassion children, one of whom lives in Haiti. From what we can tell, he is far away from the epicenter and major damage. However, 63,000 other Compassion children are also living in Haiti. What a scary time for sweet children who don't even really understand what's going on... Thank you, Lord, that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us in prayer- especially when we are at a loss for words.

3. Stacy's Pita Chips=YUM.

Only thing that might make them better is some hummus. I may or may not have eaten half the bag while writing this post.

4. It was confirmed today that we have been offered a crib, changing table, and 2 (!!) different sets of bedding for our little guy. Sounds nice? There's more. We've also been offered a car seat for Kate, so the little fella can have her infant carrier when he arrives. It gets better than that. It's all free. Because we have precious friends and we serve a faithful God. Hallelujah!

5. Kate tried yogurt today for the first time. And she loved it. She is so like her mama. I cannot believe that my sweet ladybug is almost 9 months. How can this be?? She'll be going to college tomorrow, I'm afraid! Speaking of my precious girl, check out this beautiful face!

6. Time to clean a few toilets and sinks before a little someone is finished napping. Have a great day!

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Faith like a child

2010-01-12T14:42:00.003-05:00

This pregnancy is most certainly different from the last. And, obviously it's been on my mind a lot lately. We are so so excited to be adding a little boy to our family. I will never forget the look on Jon's face when he realized that he was looking at his son, rather than just a baby without an identifiable gender. Priceless. I will never forget some of the comments that were made when we announced our news... "Now you'll have the 'perfect family!' Mom, Dad, a girl, and a boy!" And one that I really hold dear to my heart because she didn't even know me (or the background story): "What a blessing!!!!!!" She was just so thrilled and it really helped me to put things back into perspective and forget about my panic for a bit. Little by little, this all becomes reality...

But, for a variety of reasons, it's been MUCH more difficult to kick back and enjoy every second of this pregnancy. Which is what I really want to do. I don't want to look back on this and remember some of the mountains we have had to face. It was such a time of bliss with Kate, and this time around has involved a lot of wild emotions (which are compounded by recent long, sleepless nights with Kate), a lot of phone calls, a lot of tears, and a lot of trust. God has been faithful to me for as long as I can possibly remember. He has never once failed me. And He isn't going to either. He provides for all of my needs (and the needs of my precious family). So, why do I have such issues with faith? I long for "faith like a child." I long to rest comfortably in His promises. But alas, this pregnancy has bared all of my inadequacies in my faith and has forced me to face them head on. The issues aren't really what I think they are, though. The issues have nothing to do with insurance complications or teething or lack of sleep (day and night). The issues don't stem from having one income and living frugally. The issues arise from my stubbornness to let go. They come from my unwillingness to let Someone else have full control of my life. Don't I know what's best for me, anyway?? ;) God is good, y'all. In the beautiful times of life and in the tedious days. I wish I remembered that more often... and that I truly lived like it.

So, what do you do to keep that in your mind?

Kate and I listened to her lullaby CD on the way home from church today (my desperate measure to get her to take a nap) and this song sung by Nichole Nordeman came on. I really needed to hear it this week. If you have a few minutes, it's totally worth a listen here. If not, here are the lyrics:

When the sun starts to rise
And I open my eyes
You are good, so good
In the heat of the day
With each stone that I lay
You are good, so good

With every breath I take in
I'll tell you I'm grateful again
When the moon climbs high
Before each kiss goodnight
You are good

When the road starts to turn
Around each bend I've learned
You are good, so good
And when somebody's hand
Holds me up helps me stand
You are so good

With every breath I take in
I'll tell You I'm grateful again
'Cause it's more than enough
Just to know I am loved
And You are good

So how can I thank You
What can I bring
What can these poor hands
Lay at the feet of a King
I'll sing You a love song
It's all that I have
To tell You I'm grateful
For holding my life in Your Hands

When it's dark and it's cold
And I can't feel my soul
You are so good
When the world is gone gray
And the rain's here to stay
You are still good

So with every breath I take in
I'll tell You I am grateful again
And the storm may swell
Even then it is well and You are good

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Names

2010-01-06T09:25:00.003-05:00

I'm in need of some names. Before we started having kids, I had a long list of names (first and middle) that I loved. Not so much anymore... All of a sudden, I don't like the names I once did. I can't come up with anything that I adore quite as much as Kate. And Kathryn Grace seems to flow so perfectly to me! I walk around the house saying names out loud, and none of them sound just right to me. Maybe that's because this baby boy still isn't reality in my mind. I guess delayed reality isn't that abnormal when you miss the first half of your pregnancy (crucial processing time, in my opinion). So, this little fella needs a name. I think we're set on his first name- and yes, we are keeping it a secret again, so don't ask- but we're still working on a middle name.

Next naming situation, although not nearly as vital as naming your son... The name of my blog will have to change. Jon and Mollie plus Kate was creative at the time, but with the arrival of #2, it just won't do any longer. Had I been smart like Sheila or Cheri or Kirsten, I wouldn't have this problem. Their blog names can last forever! So, I'm back at square one. Any suggestions??

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Valentine's Day??

2010-01-05T14:47:00.002-05:00

Well, yes. Because if I didn't do it today, I'd only have it up for 3 days before Valentine's Day actually happens, and I'd be stuck with finding a new background all over again! Christmas pictures and update soon to come... once I get two spare seconds!

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

2010

2010-01-04T15:11:00.003-05:00

1. Yes, I know it's not Christmas anymore and that I need to change my blog a bit.

2. No, I do not have time to find something cute or create something new and adorable.

3. Yes, this is a conversation that took place this morning at the grocery store:

Employee: Hey, Mollie! (this is the parent of a former student)

Me: Hey there!

Employee: Oh, how cute is she? She is such a beautiful little girl! Is she crawling yet?

Me: Yep, she's just starting to!

Employee: I mean, she is just so beautiful! Are you just having so muchOHMYGOSH! ANOTHER ONE?! ALREADY?????

Me: Yes, already. (I mean, how else do you answer that question??)

I guess my belly is enough to stop someone mid-sentence as she's ooohing and ahhhing over my sweet girl! OH BROTHER!

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

A familiar timeline

2009-12-24T22:41:00.002-05:00

I was taking a few minutes and looking back on my blog posts from last year at this time. Uhhhhh... very strange to be reading about the same things I'm currently feeling. This is not a common experience for most people! For example, I first felt Kate kick in December of last year. What has our little guy been doing all month? Playing kickball in my belly. I was feeling particularly sentimental last year at this time, thinking about Mary as she was carrying her little boy. And this week? I've been thinking about her again, as I have so many questions for God about our little blessing. It's all so strange. Pregnant again, from August til May (or somewhere around then). Same clothes as last year, same baby emails ("your baby is now the length of a carrot"), same baby feelings, same baby emotions.

This year, though, I am missing church that will begin in about 10 minutes. It's the first time since I was 10 that I am missing the 11:00 service on Christmas Eve. I have a new role in life now, and I doubt I'll be going to any 11:00 service for another 10 years or so! Kate is snuggled up in her new Christmas Eve pajamas from Gram and Grandpa. She fell asleep in no time at all, and I'm just about ready to join that fun!

I heard this song by Sixpence None the Richer last year, and it resonates so clearly again this year. This is our first Christmas as a family of 3, and strangely enough, it's our last Christmas as a family of three. It's our last Christmas without our son. Life will never again be the same!

I feel your heart beating
Inside my own skin
And I think of Mary
In Bethlehem

That night in a stable
Our Savior was born
Yes, we have so much
To be thankful for

On the last Christmas
The last Christmas
The last Christmas
Without you

They're choosing the colors
Preparing your room
For one day; Midsummer
The advent of you

Together we wait for
A heavenly gift
Is winter a wonder?
Enchanted that this is

The last Christmas
The last Christmas
The last Christmas
Without you

See the stars shining for above
Hear the singing
Praise to the Giver of Life and Love
Maker of Beautiful things..

I feel you heart beating
Inside my own skin
And I think of Mary
In Bethlehem

When darkness was shattered
The dawn of God's grace
And the journey'd begun
To the the first Easter day

On the this Christmas
The last Christmas
The last Christmas
The very last Christmas
The last Christmas (x 3)
Without you

Merry Christmas, dear friends!!

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Snow Day!

2009-12-19T17:31:00.011-05:00

Even on a Saturday, a snow day is a great day at the Greenhill house. It was so nice to feel free to stay in pajamas all day and be lazy (which we have done, indeed). Kate preferred the snow from the window/door... She wasn't so sure about it when we were outside. Just like her mama! Here are a few pictures from our day... Could a wife/mama be ANY more in love?!?!

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Presenting...

2009-12-17T09:22:00.003-05:00

Kathryn Grace Greenhill! Kate was dedicated on Sunday morning and it was such a sweet time for our family. More about it later, but here is a picture that my precious sister sent to me. I cannot even describe how handsome this man is... This might be my new all time favorite picture (and should have been our Christmas card picture, had I not already ordered them all)! That little girl is pretty adorable, too!

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

It's true. It really is!!!

2009-12-11T15:54:00.008-05:00

I never knew I was capable of stirring up such drama on Facebook! Mostly, I didn't realize that so many people actually were that curious about my life. I mean, really!

So, what is it that's true? Well, many things are true these days... My sweet brother is home safely from a semester in Serbia, my precious sister is coming this weekend for our Christmas cookie/baking extravaganza, my awesome in-laws and amazing niece are coming from NC for Kate's dedication this weekend, my parents are just the dearest people I know, my daughter is still the joy of my life, and my husband is the most attractive man in the known universe. I could go on about him for days. I bet y'all wouldn't have kept asking "What's true?" if you had known that my answer would look like that!!!

However, in addition to all of those factual things, one additional thing remains true. And it can be told in any number of ways. Kate is going to be a big sister. The Greenhills are becoming a family of 4. I am rapidly getting larger around the middle. Kate didn't even harass us for one, but she is getting a baby brother for her first birthday!

Why the sudden announcement that is full of details are that aren't typical for the first news? Well, to spare you the details (email or message me if you want them), just know that medical data isn't always entirely accurate. When we arrived for our 8 week ultrasound on Monday of this week, we learned that I was not growing an 8 week baby in my belly (as I had guessed). In fact, I have a 19 week baby in my belly (not exactly what I had guessed)... and it's a boy! Again, sparing the details for sake of time, this discrepancy is entirely possible and not unheard of. All of that to say, we are thrilled that God has seen fit to bless us with another baby so quickly; he is due around the beginning of May, but will probably arrive in late April. We are still in a whirlwind from this past week and the shock is slowly wearing off. A HUGE thanks goes to the people closest to us in our lives, who have provided unending encouragement and love. We so appreciate the kind words and the lack of inappropriate/rude questions/comments from people- people who are just excited to celebrate with us!! Thank you, thank you, thank you from this hormonal mama!

So, here we are. My beautiful ladybug, her brother, and one tired mom! Oh, my friends... God is good. He is so good!

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Thanksgiving Fun

2009-12-02T13:33:00.010-05:00

It's so strange how I can't think of anything to write, even when life is completely crazy and busy. There's so much to tell, so I guess I get overwhelmed and pretend that my blog doesn't exist! We just enjoyed one of the best Thanksgiving holidays that I can remember. As Mom and Dad headed out of the country to visit Daniel, Gretchen scooted down here to head to Durham with us for Thanksgiving. What a fun treat!!! She was an enormous help- with Kate, with packing, with EVERYTHING. And we got her to ourselves for almost an entire week!! And thanks to my parents who let us borrow their car so we could fit! The Volvo isn't so great for a road trip- especially since we were taking Gretch with us! Thanksgiving was just with Gretchen, the Richmond Greenhills, Jon's parents, and his sister, her husband, and kids. 10 people (11, including Kate) crammed into the kitchen eating Thanksgiving dinner and it was just awesome. Everyone was in a good mood (very little stress!) and we really just enjoyed being together. We laughed a lot, ate a ton, and slept a little. Kate loved playing with toys at her Gaga and Papa's house. She was fascinated by playing with the bumblebee toy with Gaga and giggled and squealed at Papa's Donald Duck noises.

We are so blessed with great family. I am so thankful that my family lives in town and that Jon's family is not too far away. I grew up without seeing my grandparents very often because of distance, and I'm grateful that Kate knows and adores her Gram, Grandpa, Gaga, and Papa!

No formal pictures of Thanksgiving, but here are few that ended up on my camera... You can only guess how they landed there!

Crazy kids in the car...

Someone found Dad's sunglasses in his car...

Kate says, "Don't forget about me back here!"

Sleepyhead with Daddy

#1 favorite toy- that got left behind... Big thanks to Gaga for mailing it back to us SO quickly!!!

Daddy is great for climbing on!

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Sharing ice cream

2009-11-23T16:08:00.002-05:00

As I frantically tried to finish up my bowl of ice cream this afternoon, a little girl in pink watched me with big eyes that began to fill with tears. Not only has she now learned that a bowl and a spoon equal food, it was time for her to nurse. She was both angry and jealous. I finished up, scooped her into my arms and she was happy for a moment. I gave her kisses and as we were snuggling, I realized that a tiny tongue was finding its way onto my lips and INTO my mouth!!! Gross! She wanted to try whatever Mom was eating! She knew where to find the remnants, too! And Greenhill girls DO love some ice cream!! I think we'll avoid the kisses next time!

Now the little girl in pink is chewing on Daddy's Christmas present that just came in the mail. Guess it's time to go wrap some presents!!

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Stolen posts...

2009-11-19T17:21:00.003-05:00

A stolen post from my friend Katie, who borrowed it from someone else. Thoughts for stay at home moms. I really appreciated this one!

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Gift Ideas for Something Different

2009-11-06T14:07:00.003-05:00

Today is the last day of Sheila's fun blog carnival... And we're compiling ideas for "Something Different."

1. XM radio: This is a great gift for the entire family because there's something for everyone on at least one channel! You can find channels to cover music from the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. And those are all different channels! You can find many different sports channels- which means you can find ANY game, especially if it's not showing on your TV! Radio Disney and XM Kids are also available, along with a handful of other kids' channels. And my favorite: MULTIPLE channels of only Christmas music, beginning on Thanksgiving Day! Listen in the car, or bring it inside to the docking station.

2. Bedroom makeover: Really, you could do this for any room in the house. I received a coupon for Christmas one year from Jon for a bedroom makeover. It meant new paint (if I wanted), window treatments, sheets, comforter, and wall hangings. One of the perks of this gift is that the money doesn't have to be spent just in December in time for Christmas- we could spread it out over several months. Much easier on the budget!

3. Timothy Botts prints: Botts is a talented calligrapher who takes scripture and hymns and expresses them in "word pictures," making the words on the page look like what they mean. You can purchase individual prints or a coffee table book full of them. Either way, they're a gorgeous expression of his faith and would make for a great gift (especially framed!). You can find them at www.inkwellgreetings.com, and they are a great price- even if you purchase a framed print instead of doing it yourself!

Check out Sheila's page one more time for some fresh ideas, and happy shopping!

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Gift Ideas for the Book Lover

2009-11-05T11:59:00.005-05:00

Today's gift ideas make me very excited. We LOVE books in our family! In fact, one day when we have to move out of our house, it will be because we've accumulated so many books- not because our family is growing in size! You can find a stash of books in almost every room of the house! As a former English teacher, I LOVE books. I don't necessarily love the books that an English teacher is supposed to love, though. But, I do love to read. And hubby might love to read even more than I. He is often reading 6 or 7 books at a time. I sure can't do that. Here are some authors (and specific books) that we've enjoyed in our family.

Clive Cussler- This has become a common element between my hubby and his father. They both really enjoy all of Cussler's books, and often trade them back and forth. Any of his books will do!

Ted Dekker- A Christian author out of Colorado; Definitely not my style (or content!), but my brother and Jon really enjoy him a lot. Again, any book you choose will be a good one!

David Baldacci- In particular, Wish You Well. This was a summer reading book for my students one year, so naturally I read it too. It's completely unlike his other books (courtroom setting) and I adored it.

Kristin Billerbeck- She's labeled as a Christian Chick Lit author. My sister and I really enjoyed the Spa Girls series (3 books) and also What a Girl Wants. Very light reading; they're what we call a "great beach book."

Ray Blackston- Also a Christian fiction novelist, and also a great "beach book" author. Flabbergasted and A Delirious Summer are our favorites.

Jane Austen- Pride and Prejudice. I love it. The. End.

David McCullough- He writes those books that are big enough to make Kate as tall as me. I haven't actually read any of them, but my dear husband has really gotten into them. As far as I can tell, he hasn't disliked one yet! I'd guess his favorites are 1776 and John Adams, though.

Larry Burkett- Money Matters; My parents gave this book to us for Christmas the year we were engaged. We have lent it to many people, and it's been really helpful in working our finances. It also has tons of practical questions and answers to almost anything money related.

Gary Chapman- The Four Seasons of Marriage; This book really nails it on the head. Everyone goes through different seasons in their marriage- over and over again. This book addresses those seasons and what to expect in each of them, and also how to work through the tough parts.

John Rosemond- Parenting by the Book; This book will challenge your thinking about how you parent. I'm studying it in my moms' group this year and it can be really hard to read sometimes! He takes a tough approach to parenting that goes against everything our culture tells us. He is a psychologist who no longer buys into the "crap" that psychologists tend to preach. Buckle up if you snag a copy! I love this book.

Louie Giglio- I am not but I know I AM; How's that for a title? The premise is simple. Remember your place in the universe, and recognize God for who He really is. Basic ideas, but beautifully written.

Linda Dillow- Calm My Anxious Heart; I love how books can bring people together. My precious friend Kristen lives a million miles away (not really, just Wisconsin... but it seems like it!) and we are reading this book together. We read a chapter at a time and chat about it, usually once a week. It's a book on finding contentment and being okay with who you are and where you are.

And because we love to laugh, I always buy a comic book for hubby for Christmas. Not like Superman or Spiderman comics, but books such as Calvin and Hobbes or The Far Side. Our top favorites are Pearls Before Swine and FoxTrot. Totally our senses of humor! Here's a sneak peek into the two, and then head over to Sheila's site to find more ideas!

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

A few random thoughts

2009-11-04T15:07:00.006-05:00

1. When the love of my life calls me and says, "Meet me in the driveway in 10 minutes," I am one happy lady. Because I have learned what that means. It means, "I've been doing work all morning somewhere that you like a lot and I'm bringing you a treat." I've been curled up in the recliner during naptimes today because I've been feeling under the weather. And before I knew it, one handsome man was sitting in my driveway with a steaming hazelnut coffee from Panera. Oh, he still makes my heart beat in double time!!

2. I thought November was going to be a semi-laid back month. It turns out that I don't know how to read a calendar. We are headed to Atlanta in just 2 weeks for a conference. We will get back around midnight on a Monday evening or 1 am on a Tuesday morning. Then, we have dinner and a service at church that night, and we'll leave the next day for Thanksgiving. So much for a regular schedule for my lady bug. I hope she's not in a ~~fowl~~ foul mood for Turkey Day!

3. Here is the little lady who has stolen my heart. And my brain, for that matter. She has the sweetest personality and I am so in love with this girl. We have the BEST time together during the day, and her smile at night when she should be asleep still melts my heart. She has brought more joy to our lives than I will ever be able to express. Check out my little love on Halloween... More pictures on Facebook!

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Gifts for KIDS

2009-11-04T13:31:00.026-05:00

After having small kids in my life for the past 10 years or so, you'd think I would be well versed in gifts for kids. But, for some reason, I end up stumped! Part of the problem is that I insist on being sure that my gifts have special meaning. Little kids are excited about most anything! I really love that Sheila's little girl has started picking up "mommy traits" and that she wants to be just like her mama. This is not a bad thing in this case!!

1. Vitamin water- Actually, all you need is the bottle. And it can even be empty. This kind of gift is best for a 6 month old. Mine, in particular. Yes, this is one of Kate's favorite toys in the world. It feels funny, it looks neat, and the wrapper and the bottle can both make noises that are so much fun! Her "papa" thinks it would be a good idea to fill it with bb's. Only her father's father would have this idea. ;) As long as she's happy with just a bottle, I'm not creating it to make any more noise! Seriously, though. This might not actually be a good gift to give someone. :)

2. Baby Einstein Musical Jumper- This has been one of the most used gifts that we received before Kate was born. The seat swivels and she can focus on whatever "station" she wants to at the time. Now that her feet touch the ground, she can make use of the "jumper" part of it! It does make sounds, but you can turn them off! I am a big fan of that option on kids' toys! You will not see me endorse ANYTHING Baby Einstein or Little Einstein other than this product. You don't even want to get me started on that stuff. What a waste of money! It is a little pricey, so ask the grandparents to snag it for you!

3. If you are looking for a girl gift (I'm always searching for my 2nd grade niece), it really does depend on what she likes to do. My youngest niece was into princesses (of course!) for awhile, so we got her some dress up clothes one year. Another year we got her a princess art kit. Then, she "grew up," so I made her a "grownup" art stand last year. I bought this little tray, and I painted her name on the top and decorated it. Then, I filled the side pockets with paints and paintbrushes. If water based paints are used, it can be easily wiped down when paint gets on the tray. *Disclaimer: Her name is not Aubrey, and this is not the one I painted, although it looked alarmingly similar!**Disclaimer #2: If you use this idea, be sure that YOU don't use water based paint to decorate her name. Then it will ALLLLL come off. If you do, though, you can pretend that you meant for it to be that way. ;)

4. Year long membership- This is something that my friend's parents did for her, and I love this idea! Get a membership to the local children's museum, science museum, (any museum!), zoo, aquarium, etc. Heck, you could even get season tickets to your local baseball team's games. That is, if you have a team that's not very good and tickets are really cheap! This is a gift that kids can enjoy, but parents can enjoy as well. And it has appeal that lasts longer than Christmas Day!

5. Jogger stroller- I never thought I would own one of these. Trust me... I am NOT a jogger. Nor do I ever anticipate becoming one (although I wish I could be a runner!)! I also had been given several strollers as hand-me-downs before Kate was born. So, why spend money on a new one when those are just fine?? Because this is fabulous. It handles so much better than any other stroller, and is amazing for walks in the park or walks in the neighborhood. It's easier on your back (I think), and is great for a really comfortable stroll (or jog, if you must!). The front wheel locks into place if you'd like, so you don't have to worry about direction control while you're ~~jogging~~ walking.

Enough from me. Find some other great ideas from Momfessions or the other links over there!

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Gift Ideas for HIM

2009-11-03T09:05:00.006-05:00

If I'm really honest (and I do tend to try to be!), this one makes me cringe. I am forever at a loss of what to get my dear husband for pretty much any occasion. Anniversary, Christmas, birthday, you name it. Part of the problem is that their "toys" are so expensive! Sheila mentions a certain Apple product in her post today, and that's just one of many examples of pricey gifts (although a guaranteed success). Here goes, though. And they aren't necessarily easy on the wallet.

1. Subscription to Sports Illustrated- Magazines.com often has deals on subscriptions, and this has been an awesome one for my hubby. Girls love to flip through magazines, and guys do too, sometimes! One of my favorite parts of ordering online is that we can opt out of the swimsuit issue and get extra issues in its place. This saves me from having to dig it out of the mailbox and discard it (that's my job because he won't touch it) before he gets home. He would much rather read about more sports, anyway!

2. Leatherman pocket knife- This is where I am mostly clueless. But, he has mentioned it for the past several years (since I am clueless, he has yet to receive one!), so it must be something exciting. A Leatherman is "like a Swiss army knife, only more heavy duty," according to my man. It contains pliers and sometimes a saw, and other manly things (my words, not his). It's kind of like buying a car. There are many different accessories that you can get- and that will alter the price. And since I don't know what things are "good" to have on there, I haven't ventured out to purchase one! My description is fairly unhelpful, I realize, but it's an idea nevertheless! I chose this picture because it looked the most scary- 18 tools in one!

3. Starbucks gift card- I was thinking really hard this morning about what gifts would be good for this post. I asked HIM for some ideas and didn't really get too much of a response. But, my phone rang just now with some affirmation for me! The Starbucks gift card that I put in his stocking each year is one of the most anticipated gifts, apparently!! From the mouth of the gift card receiver, "It's a really good excuse to be able to go relax and enjoy yourself. Especially when money is tight, you can still get a great drink, take it easy, and not feel guilty." There you have it!

Head over Momfessions to see what other ideas people have for this winter! Happy shopping!

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Christmas for the Ladies

2009-11-02T12:13:00.005-05:00

Well, it's November 2nd, so you know what that means! Time for the blog carnival of Christmas ideas! Sheila (from Momfessions) had a great idea for a gift idea exchange, and today is Day 1: Gifts for HER (women in general, not just my sweet friend Sheila!).

1. Immersion Blender: This is one of my all time favorite kitchen gadgets. The immersion blender has several attachments, depending on what you're making. I especially love it for when I need to mix something, but don't want to use my enormous mixer. I don't have a hand held mixer, so this works really well! A mini food processor/chopper also comes as an attachment... Make smoothies, quick purees, or even brownies! The best part is that you don't have to dirty any other dishes- use the immersion blender right in the bowl you're already using!

2. James Avery jewelry: I love James Avery jewelry. I'm pretty sure one of the first volunteers in my youth group got me hooked on Avery's designs. (Thanks, Karey Garrison!) My favorite is the crosslet ring. It's so simple, yet makes a profound statement about what I believe. I wore this ring on my left ring finger until the day I received something more beautiful and sparkly to take its place! ;) It comes in silver or gold, so you can take your pick for your favorite lady! James Avery makes all sorts of gorgeous pieces- and not all are religious. I just happen to prefer the ones that are! Check out his website: jamesavery.com

3. Massage: Be sure that your gift receiving girl even LIKES massages- I know of several who don't want to be touched at all! You can really find some great deals on massages (and still receive quality treatment)! For example, the YMCA where we belong offers a deal to members: $60 for an hour. That is a DEAL compared to going to a spa! They have a room set up that is very cozy- candles, music, dim lighting- with a very comfy massage bed! Of course, the masseuses are all certified, so rest easy! Another option is booking an appointment at a massage school. My sister did this with some friends, and even determined the best time to go. Training at the school lasts for a certain number of months. If you can figure out when their training is coming to a close, go then! They will have learned a lot and had lots of practice by this point. It's not quite as glamorous as a spa or anywhere else, but I've heard the quality is still good!

Head over to Sheila's blog to see what suggestions she has. I can't disagree with any of them! And, if you feel so inclined, link up on her blog to your own page and share some more ideas with us!

http:jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Boonetown!!

2009-10-27T14:47:00.002-05:00

OH MAN. What an awesome weekend. We left town late afternoon on Thursday to make the trek to Boone, with a stop in Durham on the way. We were able to meet up with Jon's parents, his sister, and our nieces and nephew for dinner before heading the rest of the way. It was fun for Kate to be able to meet her other aunt and her other 2 cousins. She'd already met her oldest cousin this summer and she LOVES her!! We didn't get to Boone until 11:30 or so on Thursday night, which is when the adventure began. I fed K and tried to put her down around midnight. That was not a part of her plan. She was awake (and super fussy) until 3 am!!!!!!! We decided that it was a combination of being super sleepy, a new place, and a new bed (pack n play). Then she slept for 2 hours and was up again. Heaven help us. Jon and I were crazy people at this point. By the time 8 am rolled around, we had all slept for about 3 1/2 hours. So, when she went down for a nap at 9:30, we did too!! Around noon, we started our day. Remaining true to Boone weather, it was raining and cold on Friday. We got Tucker's for lunch (praise God from whom all blessings flow), and went up to the outlets for a bit. Dinner was with Meridith (Daniel, it's true. Sometimes your family seems to like the person you're dating more than they like you.) at Woodlands- SO yummy!!!

Saturday and Sunday were spent with our favorite Hinch family!! Tucker's and Dos Amigos fed us on Saturday... Is it bad that much of our trips to Boone revolves around eating? Especially at Tucker's.... We went to the game (Black Saturday) in the afternoon and Kate slept until the first touchdown. Then she wanted to watch! Or entertain the people around us. Church on Sunday, of course, and we got to see our beloved Andrews family while we were there. Macado's for lunch after church, then quick goodbyes to our sweet friends so we could hit the road. Lots of fun to run into old friends unexpectedly- the whole Chasteen crew at our hotel, Lisa, Pat and Lucy, Candace, and more.

One last stop in Durham on the way home for some more family time and an awesome dinner made by my sweet mother in law. It was nice to sit on the couch and chat for awhile, and especially to break up that trip! Kate was glad to get out of her carseat too! Pictures of the weekend to come later. Thank you, Lord, for such a wonderful place to visit with such DEAR memories!!

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Crisp weather and blog carnivals

2009-10-21T12:31:00.006-05:00

It looks like it will be a pretty nice weekend in Boone... well, at least not as cold as last weekend. A late afternoon football game will still be pretty chilly, but Kate is in luck because she has this to wear:

She will be one snuggly girl, thanks to Gram!!

On another note, I've been thinking about Christmas gifts. Already. Mostly because I need to budget differently this year, now that I'm not teaching anymore. It won't work to cram in all of my shopping in the last 2 weeks before Christmas! I've had some pretty fun idea for gifts for my sweet hubby in the past, but I often get stumped on what to buy him. Men like the expensive toys and my creative juices get frozen in the winter. My dear friend Sheila is hosting a blog carnival for people to share gift ideas. During the week of Nov. 2-6, there will be different ideas for the different folks in your family. Check out her blog to learn more!

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Blogs and numbers

2009-10-14T14:26:00.003-05:00

I follow one particular blog because it's all about sweet stuff- cookies, cakes, breads, etc. YUM. Baking vs. cooking. The most recent post has 3800 comments. Ummmm, seriously?? I think I have 2 followers on my blog. Maybe. 3800 comments, though?! Holy smokes. Perhaps yummy desserts are more interesting than my subject matter. Oh well. I'm pretty okay with that. I love my cupcake who is taking her nap right now far more than a cupcake that will make me gain back this weight that is finally gone!!!!

Boone, NC

2009-10-13T20:02:00.011-05:00

We leave in one week and 2 days for a long weekend at our favorite place on earth, and this time we get to introduce our favorite little girl on earth to God's country. I cannot wait!! Fall leaves and colors, Appalachian football, Valle Crucis Mast General Store, Tucker's, Alliance, and a weekend with Amy, Brian, and Noah. Here are some pictures that really capture what makes me excited...

What's next?

2009-10-07T13:34:00.008-05:00

For the first 4 months of Kate's life, I must have been living in an alternate world. I was never the typical exhausted new mom and was ready to do anything at most any time! I was never sleepy during the day, therefore could not ever nap while Kate napped. I was certainly ready for bed when it was time, but I wasn't dying by the end of the day (as many of my friends have been). I didn't dread feedings every 3 hours- I didn't look forward to them either, but I didn't dread them. It just wasn't a big deal to get up and take care of my sweet girl. I got up each morning and worked out most days of the week for awhile. And then she started sleeping through the night at 4 months. Yes, I knew that this "simple" life of being a mom was too good to be true. I'm not stupid!

Now, it's all caught up to me. I feel like the dead walking. Maybe it was just adrenaline at the beginning. It's hit me like a truck now, though!! I have zero energy to go work out or anything! I'm happy to just sit around the entire day. Adding to the mix- Kate no longer sleeps through the night (this could be the reason for my zombie-like behavior). And she would like to eat at 1, 2, 3, or 4 am. And she eats a LOT then! Fortunately, Kate goes to sleep immediately after eating at one of these ungodly hours. Although it's been proven that babies don't wake up because of hunger, I still was convinced that it was time to start some rice cereal (pediatrician said to start around 5 months). What a disaster! See pictures below of first attempt... My list of things to attempt is turning out as follows:

~~Rice cereal with water (dumb idea to begin with, but didn't have milk ready)~~

~~Rice cereal with milk (from a spoon)~~

~~Rice cereal with milk (from a bottle- she's not a big fan of bottles PERIOD.)~~

~~Nursing right before bed (feeble attempt, though studies show that feeding before bed does not prolong sleep)~~

~~Add something w/ more flavor to the rice cereal (she's not old enough for anything else yet)~~

First bite and permanent reaction...

She doesn't actually wake up in the night- she just cries and cries with her eyes closed until she gets totally carried away. She can't be soothed by anything, and when we pick her up, she opens her eyes and we are greeted with enormous smiles.

So, any new ideas for me? What did you do to help your kids sleep through the night??

http://jonandmollie.blogspot.com

Weddings and such

2009-10-04T15:39:00.003-05:00

This weekend seemed to be a weekend of weddings. We were fortunate enough to attend one of some sweet friends, Andrea and Ian. I've known Andrea almost my entire life, and we've LOVED getting to know Ian over the past several years. Both sets of their parents celebrated anniversaries this week, and they finished out the anniversary trend by getting married yesterday! What a sweet time to spend together! I've seen a "count up" ticker on someone's blog recently, and after the wedding yesterday evening, it got me thinking... How many days have WE been married? 1,954! Wow. How about my parents? 12,461. Amazing. And with that, I'm off to rescue the crying girl in her crib.

Want to laugh out loud like I did?

2009-09-30T15:18:00.001-05:00

Check out this link to my friend Kirsten's blog today. Oh, the woes of being a beautiful pregnant woman.

In Christ Alone

2009-09-28T14:34:00.003-05:00

Last week, the choir sang an awesome song during the offertory. It's one of my favorites, and they did a beautiful arrangement of it. Here are the lyrics, which I've been pondering (and singing) for the last week or so:

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease.
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain.
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

The little lady

2009-09-26T11:32:00.009-05:00

I suppose it's time for an update on our sweet girl, since we have many friends and family out of town/out of the country, and verbal communication is not always possible.

At Kate's 4 month appointment, which was actually closer to 5 months (thank you, slow insurance company), she weighed 15 pounds, 10 ounces. She measured 23 3/4 inches, but the doctor thinks she really is 24 inches and that the nurse didn't stretch her out as much as she could have. So, little lady is 2 feet tall! She got another round of shots, and she did really well! She is all smiles, so the doctor enjoyed our visit! Kate helped the doctor as she listened to her heart- she will grab anything in front of her, and this time it happened to be the doctor's fingers that weren't holding the stethoscope!

Our sweet pea is always looking around, with huge eyes, taking everything in around her. She wants to learn so badly! She prefers to look out the window during car rides instead of snoozing. It's been a long time since she let us cradle her like a baby. She wants to be up on someone's shoulder, so she can look around- even when she's being rocked to sleep. I guess she's wanted to be like the grownups from the very beginning... she wouldn't flip when I was pregnant with her, remember?? Grownups do NOT stand on their heads, and she was not going to either! A reclining position is much better. Her comfort in reclining also extends to football watching. She LOVES to watch football and Sports Center. This makes Daddy happy.

She has figured out how to roll over (my birthday present from her) and she's trying hard to crawl. She pushes herself so far up and tries to pull her legs up underneath her, but it doesn't work quite yet! This mama is okay with that for now. ;) She scoots a lot, so when we put her to bed, we start her at the far end. Come morning time, she has scooted all the way up and often has an arm sticking out of the slats of the crib! Since she loves to grab things that she sees, that also means the pacifier. She's AWESOME at taking it out of her mouth and looking at it and playing with it, but she can't figure out how to get it back IN her mouth... at least not in the direction it's supposed to go!

She loves to laugh and she loves to talk. She comes by it pretty honestly. Kisses from Daddy are her favorite, and we always greet him at the front door when he gets home from work. She's always SO excited to see him get out of his car and walk across the front yard.

We went to Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens the other day with my mom and our dear friend Agnes to check out the butterfly exhibit. I was amazed at how attentive Kate is. Her attention span is far greater than I anticipated or even knew was normal for someone her age. She was enthralled with the butterflies and followed their every move. We just walked around the room and she jumped and kicked in my arms as butterflies fluttered past her face. Such a fun day!

I think that's enough of an update for now. Maybe a future post will include some of our nursery sagas. It's been an interesting ride, and it's only just starting!

**Just waking up from naptime**

**Wait... how did I end up like this?**

**Butterflies!**

Boy or Girl?

2009-09-23T14:35:00.002-05:00

The number of friends who are expecting seems to keep increasing! And many are due around the same time! Blogs are being updated today, because today is apparently THE day!! Two boys, so far... Which leads me to my experience at the post office today. A month or so ago, I entered the world of half.com- this time as a seller. I have books from grad school to get rid of, and you can get good money for those! That, of course, sent me on a hunt around the house (at my husband's prompting) to see what other stuff I could sell. Especially since some books net $75! Poor Jon might come home one day to an empty house... But, I digress. At the post office (while shipping a book that had been sold), I was greeted by the kind lady at the counter. Really, she is kind. Surprisingly. I was carrying Kate in my arms, so she could look around and not be trapped in her seat. Here is the conversation that ensued:

Clerk: "Awwwwwww!!!!! Is it a boy or girl?"

Me: "She's a girl."

Clerk: "Oh, you confused me because she's wearing blue."

Well, I made Kate stand on the counter so I could make my point without speaking another word. Kate had on a bluish-turquoise onesie today with a slice of PINK watermelon on the front, and BRIGHT PINK shorts. All of which could be seen even before I perched her on the counter. I suppose girls are only allowed to wear pink and purple... Come on, people!!

Rest

2009-09-15T16:00:00.003-05:00

Is it time to go to Boone yet? I'm exhausted and ready for a vacation.

Sexiest Men Alive?

2009-09-09T16:18:00.003-05:00

Today I learned that you can add any of the following gadgets to your blog, if you so choose: Swine Flu Prevention Tips, Twilight Quotes, or Sexiest Men Alive pictures. We are pretty well protected against Swine Flu, I think Twilight is one of most absurd pandemics/fads/foolishness to come our way, and I will just check out this picture of the "Sexiest Man Alive," if I want that. I might also call it the "Jon and Kate" or "Dad and his Girl"gadget. Go Appalachian!

Back to School

2009-09-07T14:30:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow is the first day of school. Here is the real reason I'm glad I'm not going back. And yes, this is one type of foolishness that high school (and middle school, I suppose) teachers deal with every day.

Mums and Football

2009-09-06T20:20:00.002-05:00

It seems as though fall has arrived here in Richmond! So, I decided to autumnize my blog a little. Yes, this English teacher just made up that word. I've always loved fall and fall colors, but I'm especially enjoying it this year... It doesn't usually cool down quite this early (in the 80's... ha, ha!), but it gets in the low 70's at night, which makes this air feel much cooler! I ran by school to return my keys last week and the drum line was out front practicing. Praise God!! There's something about that deep sound that resonates through my soul, and gets me giddy for football. And I'm not even a huge football fan! Kate's eyes were huge as she took it all in. Each season brings new sounds and sights for her and I'm so excited to watch her learn even more.

Fall also means mums and I can't wait to go get them. I'm crazy like that, but I do love a few pots of mums perched on the front steps- gold, maroon, and orange. Such great fall colors!

Fall means football. My poor ASU Mountaineers couldn't quite pull it off this past weekend. Pirates are so mean. But as a college friend said, "Turned out to be a pretty good game - I still hate losing! But I can promise you this....I would rather lose a ballgame and ride back to BOONE than win and have to stay in a dump like Greenville." True, true. I don't really care too much about other football. I'll definitely cheer on the Panthers with my hubby and the Steelers with the rest of my family, but other than that... football makes for a good nap!

School starts here on Tuesday. And I'm not going. So weird! I've found myself thinking about it a ton lately, and almost literally crying in thanksgiving to Jesus for making it so I can stay home with my sweet pea. I will miss my friends, for sure, but check out my alternative!! Nothing beats those kissable cheeks and a huge gummy grin!

Enjoy the weather as it gets crisper, relax as football season kicks off, take in the smell of the fall air, and snuggle up in your favorite pair of jeans. God is so good to us!!

The Star of the Summer

2009-09-04T17:33:00.010-05:00

It was brought to my attention that I haven't done a very good job of updating pictures of Kate on my blog. :) So, here are some pictures of my sweet girl from this summer, particularly from the beach...

What a guy!

2009-08-24T09:20:00.003-05:00

Happy birthday to my sweet fella! He might be that much closer to 30, and terrified of it, but I sure do love my groom! He is a godly husband and father, he has the BEST sense of humor, and I fall more in love with him everyday. Thank you for working hard so Kate and I can be home together everyday. She adores you and I do too...

Another job that doesn't pay...monetarily.

2009-08-19T21:04:00.010-05:00

In my previous life, I was a 10th grade English teacher at my former high school. That paid me fairly well. In April, I embarked on a most precious journey. My new occupation is Kate's mom. I'm no longer rewarded with a paycheck, but that's definitely okay by me. There remains yet another job that I claim as mine, that also does not come with a paycheck! I am a pastor's wife and have held this position for 5 years now. And that, my friend, is a job in itself! I love being married to a pastor. And most days I love this job. But other days, it can be really tough. I've been working on this post for days (I've been a little distracted), but here are some of the harder things that I have wrestled with this summer:

Beyond Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights: MUCH time is spent between services. Pastors don't just show up on Sunday morning and Wednesday night! Hours aren't typically constant because every week looks different. Meetings with staff, meetings with students or other members of the congregation, and planning time consume time during the week. Pastors are on call 24/7... literally. If one of the youth is having a rough night or needs some help, a phone call at an obscene hour is not uncommon!
Long hours: It's a beautiful thing when my dear hubby doesn't have to go to work until noon. But, he's going to work at noon because he won't be coming home until 8 or 9 that evening. Sometimes, though, he leaves for work at 9 to make it in time for staff meeting. Then Bible study is that evening. Before I know it, he's been gone for 12 hours and we miss spending any time with him. Or, meetings last well into the evening (he arrived home at 10:30 one evening last week). For two weeks in a row, two separate nights held the 12 hour work days. Baby (kids, for some) is in bed and Mom is ready to crash too. It's not easy.
Watch your mouth, young lady: As a pastor's wife, I represent my husband and my family. Of course, I represent the Most High as well and I'm very aware of this. But church life is not perfect. If I disagree with something going on in the church, I have to be extremely careful when/if I open my mouth. Unfortunately, what you say at church can and will be used against you at some point in time. And people talk. Oh, how they talk. You have to know how to play the game. And it can be pretty exhausting at times.
People are watching... and talking: Sometimes it feels as though I have to be "on" all the time. Feeling the need to appear perfect will wear you down! And rumors often run rampant. I try to remember that people need to see an example of a healthy marriage. So, I aim to keep my actions and words about (and to!) my hubby as encouraging as possible.
Scheduling: By the time we pencil in church events, deacon's meetings/budget meetings/quarterly meetings/youth team meetings, we don't have many evenings left in the week. Throw in a date night (super important) and getting together with a friend, and we're down to one night at home. Not quite as terrible when it's just two of you, but add a child to the mix and it's hard to NOT be home.
Did the church hire me, too??: This is a hard concept for some churches (especially in regard to the youth pastor). I am extremely blessed at our current church because no one EXPECTS me to do anything in relation to his job. They are certainly grateful when I do, but no one assumes that my calling is exclusively to the youth. I adore my high school girls and cherish my time with them, and I'm thankful that I was able to choose that for myself! Although it's not in my current plan, my role may change as Kate grows, and as I grow in my relationship with Jesus.
Taking it personally: If anyone has anything negative to say about my man or his ministry, LOOK OUT! Just kidding. Well, kinda. If anyone knows the faults of my fella, it's me. I know them better than anyone. (Yes, it does go both ways... He has lots of dirt on me and knows all the ugly things about me!!) But anyway, it's really hard to hear someone talk negatively about your husband. As a woman, my feelings are pretty sensitive. And it hurts my feelings when someone is harsh- even if it's not toward me!!
Friends: This one is really tough for me. Unless you are starting a new church (and pretty much chose the staff members with whom you'll be working), it can be difficult to make friends. Especially when going to a new church. For some reason, people aren't jumping at the chance to be friends with a pastor and his wife! ;) It can be hard to be transparent (and I'm all about some honesty and deep conversations) with church members. You have to be guarded in the things you say (for example, prayer requests have to be very vague when related to hubby's job). Plus, people already have their own circles of friends. When your life is engulfed in the church, how can you find solid fellowship with those who don't necessarily GO to your church??
Contentment: I'm reading a book with a dear friend right now entitled, "Calm my Anxious Heart." The book starts out addressing contentment, so I've really been focusing on Philippians 4:11-13 lately. Life in ministry is not life in luxury. And I don't think that it should be. It's not about the love of my life being appreciated (although it sure is nice when it happens!). It's not about owning all the things that people around me own (I really have to check myself when I wish for bigger and better). And I will eventually have to learn that it's not about Kate being happy all the time. We live our lives for Jesus and not for ourselves or anyone else.

Being content isn't always easy. But He is the most important aspect of our lives and when we are solely focused on Him, "... the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace." What a joy it is to develop relationships with teenagers and to encourage them and challenge them in their walks with the Lord. How precious it is to stumble through the rocky teenage life alongside our awesome youth. And what a sheer honor and privilege it is to serve them, pray for them, laugh with them, cry with them, and grow closer to our heavenly Father with them!!

Urgent Care and the beach

2009-08-02T09:30:00.008-05:00

Yes. That is how our trip to Emerald Isle began this year. Here are the events of Friday night and yesterday:
-Around midnight on Friday night, Kate woke up and started screaming like a banshee...like she was in severe pain... and NOTHING could console her.
-2 am, Jon put her in the car and drove around the neighborhood.
-Once she was asleep, they came home and he put her in her bed.
-Totally fine in the morning.
-Jon, Daniel, Kate, and I left for the beach yesterday morning. Mom, Dad, and Gretchen came late last night after a wedding.
-On the road to NC. Kate slept like a champ until we stopped for lunch and I tried to feed her.
-Howling commenced.
-Kate refused to eat anything and would not stop shrieking.
-We shoved our food down our throats, calmed her down, and got back on the road.
-Arrived in Emerald Isle, Kate finally ate at 5 pm (had not eaten since 9:30 am).
-Conveniently, urgent care places around here are closed on the weekends.
-Head to Morehead City to BEACH CARE.
-Cute little place with a sweet receptionist (big hair and lots of makeup- who also gave us directions on the phone, "It's across the street from Hooters.").
-They don't take our insurance. Sweet southern receptionist tells me that the ER is the only place open that can't turn us away.
-Don't even really have any symptoms to tell them, so we decide to stay.
-Receptionist says that doctor is the "fairest" person she knows. He probably won't charge us too much out of pocket- between $98-$138
-In and out of BEACH CARE within 40 minutes.
-Diagnosis: She looks fine! Cost: $98.

So, I had my maternal instincts challenged yesterday for $98. The doctor was very kind, and it turned out that he really did charge as little as possible. Mom knows best, though. And something was not right with my sweet girl. No clue what it was, but I KNOW that something was off. She was not herself. But how do you tell the doctor, "She's crying a lot."?? That's what babies do! But mine doesn't. And he made me feel like an idiot. Like I couldn't handle a little crying. Like I don't know my own daughter. Whatever. Anyone who heard it would tell you that it wasn't just "a little crying." He did tell me that if nothing changed, that I could bring her back today for no charge.

Our first full day at the beach is halfway over. And we have yet to set foot on the sand! Dad, Daniel, and Jon set up the cabana this morning to stake our territory. But storms have threatened the rest of the day. We got all set to head down just a few minutes ago... despite the wind, clouds, and rough waves. As soon as we set foot on the walkway to the beach, I got nailed with a raindrop on my forehead. So, we turned around and came back up! I was not trying to run up stairs in the pouring rain with this chica!

Kate and I were in our pajamas until about 2o minutes ago (2:30 pm!!), we ate tomato and bacon sandwiches for lunch, and we're meeting up with Dad's college roommate and his family for dinner (2:30 pm!!). I love vacation...

Here is what the 3 month old beach babe looks like. It's a picture from the pool the other week, but she has the same gear on here at the beach! Anyone can look cool with sunglasses on top of her head! Once we get on the beach, we'll snap some more!

What will God do to get your attention?

2009-07-07T09:20:00.003-05:00

God is bringing me to my knees again. And if I had to be honest, it's been a long time since I've "needed" God. Or at least realized that I needed Him. I've been doing things on my own, and it's been working out fairly decently. No major hangups. But it's not how I'm meant to live. Don't get me wrong- life hasn't been absolutely fantastic as it can be when you are living in the Word and in God's peace. But, it hasn't been disastrous either. And I'm realizing that I need the strength of the Lord to make it through things that seem minor to other people. It started last week when my sweet friend Kristen came to visit. I have missed my dear friend since she moved back to Wisconsin several years ago. Our time together was precious, but far too short. We spent every minute of the day together, and once she left, I realized my struggle with loneliness. It has pervaded my life, but is usually hidden under other struggles. It's one of the most painful struggles in my life. I could write forever on that one, so maybe in another post.

Jon's niece is visiting this week, and we love it when she comes! We always have so much fun together (while poor Jon is at work), and we are ready to hang out this week! But, she came down with a fever shortly after arriving here from camp, and it's put a damper on our activities. We are going to the pediatrician today to see what's going on with her. We have a big youth conference this weekend, so we are really hoping that she'll get well soon!

And then there's Kate. My sweet baby girl has been more irritable as of late. I think it's mostly gas (she is her father's daughter!), but a fussy baby is never any fun- for Mom or for baby! We are praying that she doesn't get sick too! She's been so grumpy the past two days that she's having a hard time nursing. Well, that is emotionally rough for me! I've been nursing her every day since she was born and she's had 2 bottles in that entire time. She wouldn't eat last night, so Jon gave her a bottle. But, thoughts raced through my head the entire time: What am I doing wrong? Why doesn't she want me to feed her? Is she sick? Will this be forever? Everything has just been so overwhelming. From an outsider's point of view, though, it's not much of anything! God is taking this chance to grab my attention, though. Jon stuck around this morning until I could get a shower so I didn't have a sick girl and a fussy baby on my hands. I spent my shower and getting ready time in prayer... Praying for the ability to handle the chaos in my life right now. Praying for a renewed passion for Jesus. Praying for my girls to be back their normal selves. Praying for Jon and some challenging work issues he has right now. And praying for peace. God knows He can get my attention when I feel like life is spiraling out of control. What will God do to get YOUR attention?

Awesome parents

2009-06-24T12:17:00.004-05:00

In case I wasn't already super thankful for my parents, they caused me to take Kate to Panera this morning and hang out for several hours. Why? Because for my first Mother's Day, my parents gave us a house cleaning. They spent 2 hours just on the upstairs- and we do not have a huge house! They cleaned windows, bathrooms, base boards, ceiling fans, etc. We have since returned home and they are still hard at work on the downstairs. And I feel like I'm sitting in someone else's house!! It is BEAUTIFUL!!! My parents have been amazing since Kate was born. They are always doing something to serve us and help us out. I've never felt more blessed in my life. We are so grateful for you, Mom and Dad!!

Father's Day

2009-06-21T08:34:00.005-05:00

Every girl thinks that her husband is the best dad in the world. I'm definitely one of those gals. And Kate thinks her dad is the best dad in the world. In honor of Father's Day, she slept through the night!! Midnight 'til 6:30 counts, doesn't it??

Happy Father's Day to the sweetest man I know!

Cleaning and smiles

2009-06-14T22:01:00.005-05:00

Is nesting supposed to end once you have had the baby? Because I had the baby 6 weeks ago, and I think that the desire to clean and organize is greater now than it was before!! I wanted a clean house while I was pregnant, but lacked the energy to actually make it that way. I think I secretly hoped that someone else would take care of that for me. Now, Kate is here and I desperately want a clean home. I just don't have the time to do it now! I think she has "Mom's doing something important" radar, and she knows that whatever was so important before will be trumped by her wail for some snuggle time. And then there's the dad factor. I don't want to clean when Jon is home either. I'd much rather waste time watching The Office on DVD (I suppose this can't really be considered "wasting time"). But Jon is gone until Tuesday night on the first part of the youth choir tour in DC. And I am home with our girl. She napped like a champ this afternoon and evening, and I beasted the downstairs. I feel like I could go ahead and tackle upstairs!!! As I finished down here, the princess woke up and announced that it was time to eat once more before bed. I started talking to her before I got into the room, and as soon as I got close to her, here is what I found...

Her hair isn't actually that ridiculous looking, but the smile was too much to pass up! Plus, I can't ever get it captured in a picture. This pic on my cell phone was the best I could do!

Alas, I am not off to clean the upstairs... That will have to wait until tomorrow. I have put the sweet girl in bed, which means it's time to run and jump in mine. Because when will I be awakened? Your guess is as good as mine!

Naptime

2009-06-08T13:14:00.006-05:00

Places that are apparently not sufficient for a nap today:
crib
swing
pack n play
bouncy seat

The ONLY place suitable for a nap today:
sling or in Mom's arms

New Beginnings...

2009-06-07T19:15:00.020-05:00

It's not a wise idea to go for this long without blogging. By the time you get back into it, too much has happened and playing catch up is rather difficult. Here's somewhat of a recap...
At our appointment during the first week of April, we learned that Babe was upside down (or is it right side up??). We figured that she understood the way of humans. People don't move around on their heads, so why should she?? So, we scheduled a C section at the following appointment. The last few weeks were stressful and exciting. I felt great (probably because she was pleasantly reclined and not putting pressure on me) but I was really upset about having a C section. Something about never having surgery before and things not going as I had planned them. I was scared and I cried a lot. Probably more than was necessary... But, I knew that it was the only way my precious one could enter this world safely, so my feelings were utlimately cast aside. On April 30, all fears and anxiety disappeared at about 8:00 am. God was totally in control of this birth, and my plans were not to get in the way! He truly is the peace that passes all understanding. Really. I can't tell you how upset I was about having a C section. Words cannot describe my anxiety and disappointment. Kate blessed us with her presence at 8:25 that morning and we have been rockin' and rollin' since then!!
The next few weeks were packed with visitors and sleepless nights. More visitors than completely sleepless nights, though! I had written over 100 thank you notes before Kate was born, and the list has begun again. Between gifts and meals since she's been born, I think I'm back up to 40 or so. And yes. I'm very far behind on those all over again. I have baby help from my entire family while Jon is at work, and Gretchen even comes to town almost once a week to visit!! Kate weighed in at 10 pounds even at her 5 week appointment this past week, putting her in the 50th percentile (and making her Mom and Dad VERY proud!!). Our biggest victory so far is last night's champion sleeping: she didn't wake up until 5:15!! Here are some more pics to mark our last few weeks at home...

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

What happened??

2009-06-01T16:18:00.003-05:00

What happened to time? My last post was on April 14... 16 days before my lady bug was born. And my ticker at the top of the page suggested (until about 10 minutes ago) that I am 43 weeks pregnant. Can you even imagine if that were true?!?! What IS true, though, is that time flies once new life enters the world. I can't believe that I've been a mom for over a little over a month now. I can't believe that I don't remember my life before my little girl was born. I can't believe that it's possible to love such a tiny thing so much. And of course, by the time I finally get ready to post again, the little lady is calling to me from her crib and telling me that it's time for dinner. So, my blogging changes because my life changed. In a huge way. Until later!

Kathryn Grace (Kate)
born April 30, 2009
7 lbs. 8 oz.
20 inches