Family News

As you may see, I've tried to change things up a bit...hopefully for the better.

In an effort to keep up with Daring Young Mom (see post below) and truly simplify my life for the better, I am trying to streamline things, and make them not only physically more simple, but to mentally and emotionally trim things down a bit.

Hence the new template. Besides, I get bored easily right now, so perhaps I'll be a bit more attached to this one.

OK, that being said, let me fill you in on happenings within my family lately.

Tiny Princess has decided that she is more than ready to stand up. So she does. A lot. She still has the "derriere wiggle" of a new stander, but she's a lot less shaky than she was just a few days ago. She now stands up in her crib proudly and happily upon waking from naps and overnight. She crawls on hands and knees all the time now, no more belly crawl like a soldier under fire...To top it all off, she has not one, not two, but 3 new teeth that have broken through in the last 24 hours. No wonder she's been so cranky and "off her feed" lately! Poor little thing! She's a trooper though, no fever, no digestive issues, just a constant snot-nose.

She came through her 9-month check-up on Friday with flying colors and 2 band-aids. One for her flu shot, and the other for her blood draw to test for anemia. I have not heard from the doctor's office today, and am pretty sure that she's fine. She doesn't seem to have any signs that would indicate she suffers from anemia, but still, one never knows. She weighs 20 1/2 pounds, and is around 30 inches tall. She is in the 95th percentile for height and head size (really, does anyone ever remember that, and what purpose does it serve to tell you your baby has a big noggin?), and the 75th for weight. She is now allowed, with doctor's permission, to transition to table food over the next months. She has already had yogurt, mashed potatoes, bananas, avocados, and cantaloupe. She had pancakes and a french fry over the weekend...we'll hold off on the big things for a while yet to let the next stage of prepared baby food be gotten used to.

Captain Chaos is getting to be more and more of a little boy than my baby...and I miss it. It is hard for me to realize that before I know it, he'll be putting on his own clothes and shoes, and will not "need" me to do a lot of things for him. He still loves to snuggle up to me and read, or watch a movie or an episode of Veggie Tales, and yet, at the same time, he will proudly pick up his toys and tell me "Mine did it Mommy!" when he is all done "kweenin up a tays!" In fact, he's already losing some of his cutest Captain Chaos-isms and special words...

It didn't help that Tiny Princess started the whole standing up thing this last week...

I am rapidly losing my babies, and it breaks my heart, even though I know this is how it is supposed to work, and that I wouldn't want it any other way.

I love mealtimes and bedtime with Captain Chaos, when we say "Thank You Jesus for..." and pray, or when he uses his new Lightning McQueen toothbrush and Thomas the Train toothpaste to brush his teeth (which he does really well), and when he washes his hands after sitting on his potty...and to see him grow and change into a little boy, and speak properly, and start to truly understand why I tell him "no" a thousand times an hour is so rewarding, but really, why can't they stay snuggly, and lovey, and give you those big, uninhibited kisses and hugs forever?

OK...enough of the bittersweet talks.

Recently, I posted some prayer requests and have the following updates:

1 - BB has found out that with upper management's approval, he will be pulled off his wide and varied workload, to become an expert! This means that he'll get to do more of what he wants to be doing, and less going to meetings etc. This is a GREAT thing! Not only does it mean that he still has a job, and will for a long time to come, but he can actually focus on developing new skills and products, and perhaps, just perhaps, will actually be selected for a management position the next time one opens in his department!

2 - Our friends that had baby #3 and lost a job all in one week are doing ok. He had an interview with a city that is several hours from where they currently live, but is the city in which many family members live! God is good! The baby is healthy, as are they all, and she is now able to pick up a couple extra shifts a week to bring in some extra money and put some away while they are looking for work for him. If they had to, they could move to a place that a family member owns but doesn't live in, rent-free until their place sells, and they would have LOTS of help with their children, so she could, if needed, work extra hours at a medical center or hospital.

3 - My brother and his wife are doing well after their little girl was born 2 weeks ago. They are preparing for a trip back to their village, where they will do some intense training, work with and share with their neighbors, and then pakcage everything up in metal or heavy plastic containers, so they can come to the States for a month! Phew, that makes me tired just thinking about it.

Please continue to pray for these things, however, as there are many obstacles that could still come up!

In other news, BB's parents are renovating their kitchen, and it is coming along...the demolition and removal of all things is done, half of the kitchen is in their guest room (as far as dishes etc), 1/3 is in their craft room, and the kitchen sink is in the master bedroom closet. FIL put in the new vent hood for the stove this weekend. I think BB said that the cabinets arrive next week...

As a result, MIL and FIL have experienced and fallen in love with several restaurants in their little town. MIL is a creature of habit...she finds something she loves, and sticks with it, no matter what. We have heard about several places in town that are rumored to be excellent in both food and service quality, but have never tried them...now that the kitchen is in upheaval, we're hearing about really good places that we keep saying "We should go there"...eh, what can you do?

Grandma is enjoying her place, and continues to be the social butterfly, in fact, being away from her apartment so frequently, that she packs her cordless phone hand-set in her walker basket along with her cell phone, just in case anyone from town calls her to talk to her! I love her...she is such an amazing woman, and I will be devestated when she finally gets called Home...

My nephew starts drivers' education in January upon his 16th birthday. Holy smokes! I remember sitting in biology class when the office aid carried in a message for me that he'd been born! Where does the time go?!?!??!

The days are rapidly counting down until MissionaryMan and family arrive in the States...and are ticking away even more quickly for our departure to the Pacific NW for Thanksgiving...I am excited and mad about this trip all at the same time. I don't like to be away for family visits...but I want a vacation. MIL and FIL generously paid for our tickets again this year, or else we wouldn't be going. I have a feeling they'll pick up the tab for all of the groceries, and many meals out, as well as our rental car while we are there. I love them for many reasons, but sometimes this generosity makes me mad...I often feel guilty about spending time with our friends in other cities when they foot the bill for the trip...the old "they paid for it, we should do what they want with it" sort of feeling...

But, with MIL not being able to travel, we know that these visits are the only opportunity our children will have to know these grandparents, so we pack up and go for weeks on end, to stay in their cold, gray house, and look out the windows at the cold gray sky. Seriously...the inside of their house is very neutral...as in everything is shades of gray or blue or white. And they keep the thermostat set at 60. Sorry, but that is chilly to me, and hard on the kiddos...I hate bundling them up in heavy sweatpants, sweatshirts, and socks to play on the floor. They dress more warmly at their grandparents then they do when it is 30 outside in Colorado...OY!

Oh well, it has now been over an hour since I sat down "for a few minutes" to check my email etc...guess I'd better decide what we're doing for dinner tonight, and get that going...hmmmmm...leftovers, or cook?