Great Evening!

Yesterday we had a great visit from Nanny Carol and Papa Lin. Izze was so excited to see them. This time Papa got to come too. Izze didn't waste much time getting Papa involved in playing. She had him throwing the ball back and forth, and building blocks, so she could knock them down. She wanted the worship CD on so she could show them how she danced. She was pulling out all the good stuff to show to nanny and papa. She even got to go with daddy and papa to pick up the pizza for dinner. That is her favorite thing to eat. Ian was showing them how he is crawling now. He was checking them out. He would give those big smiles while holding on to mommy. Izze didn't want nanny and papa to leave, she doesn't understand that they have to go back home. I didn't even get one picture this time. Next time I will have too. It's always nice to spend time with them.

The Prayer!

This Friday night Izze and the kids and I were driving in the car to run some errands. Izze says, Mommy I don't feel good. I was thinking, does she really not feel good, or is she just saying that. She has heard that phrase a lot lately with all of us being sick in the last month. I preceded to ask where it hurt and she said her tummy and then ask to pray for it. I ask if she wanted to pray and she did. It was quite and precise with meaning and intent in it, and I heard her say in Jesus name amen. At that moment I was the proudest parent. Thinking to myself we have taught her something in her little two years on this earth. Then later she said her head hurt and we had to pray for it too. That was ok with me. I pray she will always know where our source of strength and help comes from. I don't think she really was "not feeling good", because she never got sick or had any symptoms of anything.

9 MONTHS OLD!!

Wow! Can you believe our little guy is already 9 months old. It seems like it just popped up on me. Ian had his 9 month doctor's appointment yesterday and he is growing just fine. He now seems to be on the small end like his sister, but still for him is growing good. He is starting to crawl now, he gives kisses, and says da, da a lot. His sister and him like to "grunt" as I call it back and forth. He will look at her and grunt, and wait for her to respond and then does it again when she does. It is so much fun to watch. I just never knew how amazing it would be to see them interact together. It takes being a mother to a whole new level. I think he is going to have quite the personality, we can already see it. Fun times a head. Three months and he will be one, wow and then the baby stage will be over, and the toddler stage for him will begin. I'm kind of torn, because I know that I am almost over with this whole wonderful baby stage, and yet excited for him to join his sister in the wonderful world of toddler hood. I know they will have so much fun together, and they will melt my heart along the way. This growing up thing is a lot harder on me than them. I have been getting information on Mother's Day out programs for Izze next fall, and I am fighting back the tears all along the way. Who knew you would have to come in contact with so many different emotions as your children are growing. I guess everyone else, but me. Sometimes I hug them and hold them so tight just wanting to absorb every ounce of the moment I can, not wanting to forget how it feels as the years go by. I love my babies!

"Mimi" Visit

This week we had a visit from "mimi". Izze was excited to see her. It has been awhile, and the kids missed her at Christmas too. Paw, Paw was over too. The kids got to play with mimi, and Paw, Paw. Izze was showing them how she could build a big house with her blocks and then knock it down. She was singing them songs too. She was cute. Then we had a good dinner together.

NIGHT OUT!!!

Friday night Brian and I got away for a much needed date night. We were a little over do for one. Jack (Paw,Paw) came over a little early to spend some time with the kids and then he was going to stay while the kids went to bed for the night. Brian and I headed out to the Cheesecake Factory! One of our favorites, but it has been awhile since we have made a visit there. We split our favorite dish, the chicken madaria, and then the brownie hot fudge cheesecake. It was definitely for the chocolate lover. If you love chocolate then you may want to try this out next time you are there. We were going to catch a movie too, but the times were a little late, so maybe next time. Sometimes we forget that people actually go out after 7pm. Since that is the kids bed time we don't get out a lot after that. I love spending time with my man! Thanks babe for a great night out, and thank you "Paw, Paw" for your time, so we could have some time together!

Thursday

Thursday! Yep our long day. Today we meet with daddy at Jason's deli for some lunch. Izze was excited to see him. She missed him last night too, because of some late night activities going on. This way she got to see him for a little bit. We like Jason's deli. I like the salad bar and soups, and Izze likes to eat the pickled okra (or little devils, as my brother and I would call them when we were growing up). She thinks they are pickles. It sometimes seems so fast and furious trying to get everyone in and seated, and then eating, but it was still good to get out. Ian and I are still fighting off this cold thing that we have had for about two and half weeks. I think his is partially due to teeth though. I can see another one on the top popping through. He is popping them out like crazy. Izze has been playing dress up with all of Ian's clothes today. The ones he has out grown. She had on one of Ian's 3 to 6 month sleepers. Just the top half on and a couple of buttons. She didn't understand why she couldn't were it to bed. The kids and I did a second run to Walmart for the week, and the day ended with a little play time on the floor. It was a good day.

Nanny Visit!

Nanny Carol made a visit to our house yesterday! It was Christmas that we last saw her, so this was a treat! Izze was so excited to see her. I think she thought Nanny and Carol were two different people. She kept saying "Carol Coming" to Nanny. I usually just say nanny, but I threw in the Nanny Carol and I think it through her off. We tried to tell her that this was Carol, but I'm not sure she understood completely. Nanny brought us lunch again. Izze likes the popcorn chicken from Sonic, it was nice to have something already made that she would eat. For those of you that know what kind of picky eater she is. Nanny was passing through on her way back to Amarillo, TX. Her and papa are getting ready to move into their new house in February. It is suppose to be finished the middle of Feb. We are looking forward to making a trip there to see their new house and spend some time with them. Hope to see you in a few months!

Growing Boy!

Ian is growing sooo fast! He now has six teeth, three on top and three on bottom! It seems he was getting in the three top teeth all at the same time around Christmas! He is only 8 months old. Izze didn't get her first one until she was 8 or 9 months old, so Ian is moving fast. His newest thing is clapping his hands. We say "clap your hands," and he does, it is really cute. He is getting more expressive, and his personality is coming out even more. He is already showing signs of moving to the crawling stage. He gets up on his knees and kinda rocks back and forth. He just doesn't know he can move yet, but when he figures that out, he will be everywhere. I think he will be a little bit harder to keep track of than Izze was. We'll see. He already moves around on the floor so fast, he will be in another direction than what I placed him in seconds. We have this game we play when I am changing his diaper on the changing table. I put a blanket rolled up at his head so he doesn't hit his head on the end of the table, because he has before, he pushes a lot with his legs. Anyways, he will grab it and I will put it back and say "you can't have that". Well, he thinks it is a game and will grab it repeatedly until diaper changing is over. It's fun for both of us. I think it is exciting to both of us because everything for him is new and for the first time, and for me, I love to see his face light up! Many more adventures to come with this little man!

Visit to "Paw, Paw's"

This weekend we made a visit to 'Paw, Paw Jack's" house. Izze always likes going to see Paw, Paw and his dog, "Lady dog". Izze mostly wanted to sit with Paw, Paw in his big rocking chair and watch lady as she ran and jumped, because she was so excited to see us. Paw, Paw had found some good deals at the store, and got Izze a few more surprises. She is enjoying playing with the new "finds". Paw Paw had also been cooking, so we tested out his noodles and turkey dish. It was very good! Even Izze ate some! For those of you that know how she is about eating, it must have been good! Ian really seemed to like lady dog too. He really wanted to get a hold of her. Every time she would come up to him he would put out his hands and try and grab her. I think some day the kids will enjoy having a dog!

THE NEW YEAR - 2008!

Now that it is a new year why not jump on the ban-wagon with the rest of the world! Really though a new year does make you want to start fresh, and try to accomplish some things that you didn't quite get to in the last 365 days. There are some things I would like to do/accomplish in this new year, so here it goes.
1. I would like to stop saying, "I THINK" in a sentence when I could just say "I KNOW". (Pet-Peav of mine lately, about myself.)
2. I would like to be more organized! (junk drawers cleared out, pictures in actual photo albums, etc, etc.)
3.TIME, as I blogged about before. I would like to be better at time management, although taking in consideration that kids, and naps WILL play a big role. I do consider their sleep, and other needs a major priority. I would like to not feel so rushed to get to places.
4.Workout! The gym probably won't happen at this stage in my life, so I'll have to break out the pilates.
5.Be a more creative person! In all aspects of life!
I think the most important thing for me this year would be to become better! A better child of God, a better wife, mother, friend to those in my life. So, for the rest of the year I will strive to accomplish, or at least do better at these things along with many more, with the help of those closest to me. So here is to the next 363 days - may I be a better person at the end.