Here are a few short clips of Mary recently. It is fun to see her personality and hear her speech development.
I love her walk in this video . . .
SPIDER!
MY GUITAR!
The bike Mary has been using was actually our neighbors. We decided to return it since her little girl is getting big enough now to use it. So Jeff went out and got Mary her own. I tell you I sure think it is cute to see your little one pedaling so fast (not so much in this video). Mary sure seems big!
TRICYCLE
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
Imagination
A few weeks ago, Mary and I were listening to some 80's tunes, and Mary - in just her underwear - was looking at herself in the mirror, dancing, and saying, "I'm dancing on the stage!". It reminded me of myself and I mentioned it on Facebook. My Mom commented that it is interesting that a child as young as 2 has an imagination. And I've been thinking about that and noticing that more since.
The fact that Mary does have an imagination, I'm sure doesn't make her exceptional in any way. Most kids do I think. But it is fun to hear what she comes up with.
In just the last few days, I've noticed a few things that she imagined up.
We keep her rocking horse in her room now, and the other day, she was pretending to pull the polka dots off the curtains calling them "money" and was putting them in the horse, so she could ride him (just like the horse at King Soopers).
And then also she likes to pick up pretend spiders and hold them. I ask her what color they are and she'll say brown or yellow or black. And she also likes to hold her pretend skeletens - one with green eyes and one with yellow eyes. Isn't that kind of funny? I don't know why she thinks about skeletons often. I guess Halloween really made an impression on her this year. The spider thing comes - I think - from an Itsy Bitsy Spider video that we watch on YouTube (I posted earlier on FB this week). Also Jeff is always telling her to "smash the spider" whenever we see them.
One other thing that Mary has been doing that I have mentioned here before is putting blankets on herself and saying, "I'm so married!" Again, I'm not quite sure where she picked that up. We haven't talked much about marriage in her young age : ). But she does it a lot.
Yesterday she even wanted to add flowers to the rest of her garb.
She also likes to make waffles using different objects. At meal times she'll stir her spoon in her bowl and say she is mixing the eggs and oil together or in the bathtub she'll stir her brush in a bucket of water.
Kind of going along with that . . .
A few months ago, something really cute happened, and I just never recorded it. So I thought I would now.
Jeff introduced Mary to Angelina the Ballerina on the Sprout network. One morning in November, she went to her drawer, pulled out her leg warmers, and came back into my room and did an arabesque right there by the tv cabinet. I was so proud! I couldn't get my camera fast enough. It was completely her doing. I hadn't taught her or coached her at all. I did get a picture, but in this one her leg is more bent than when she originally struck the pose.
And since she has also been caught doing a posse' from her "Peter is just a Baby" book that we got from the library (the big sister is a ballerina).
So I just thought you might enjoy that. Kids sure are a delight.
Monday, March 12, 2012
A Hymn For You
I love to sing a hymn or two (or three or four) with my scripture study. The hymns touch my heart. I enjoyed singing this one today and letting it's message sink in.
A quick definition from Webster's:
pilot - a person licensed to direct ships into or out of a harbor or through difficult waters
Jesus, Savior, pilot me Over life's tempestuous sea;
Unknown waves before me roll, Hiding rock and treach'rous shoal.
Chart and compass came from thee. Jesus, Savior, pilot me.
As a mother stills her child, Thou canst hush the ocean wild;
Boist'rous waves obey thy will When thos say'st to them, "Be Still!"
Wondrous Sov'reign of the sea, Jesus, Savior, pilot me.
When at last I near the shore, And the fearful breakers roar
'Twixt me and the peaceful rest, Then, while leaning on thy breast,
May I hear thee say to me, "Fear not: I will pilot thee."
A quick definition from Webster's:
pilot - a person licensed to direct ships into or out of a harbor or through difficult waters
Jesus, Savior, pilot me Over life's tempestuous sea;
Unknown waves before me roll, Hiding rock and treach'rous shoal.
Chart and compass came from thee. Jesus, Savior, pilot me.
As a mother stills her child, Thou canst hush the ocean wild;
Boist'rous waves obey thy will When thos say'st to them, "Be Still!"
Wondrous Sov'reign of the sea, Jesus, Savior, pilot me.
When at last I near the shore, And the fearful breakers roar
'Twixt me and the peaceful rest, Then, while leaning on thy breast,
May I hear thee say to me, "Fear not: I will pilot thee."
Monday, March 5, 2012
Family Report
I thought I'd give a quick family report . . .
Jeff is well (although he was feeling not so well this afternoon - hopefully he isn't getting sick). He just got back on Friday from a business trip to Vancouver. He is glad to be home and we are glad too.
I am fine. I'm starting to feel the effects of getting big. I bought a pregnancy support belt that I've been wearing because this baby is so low, the area at the base of my belly is pretty sore. I think the belt has been helping and has also made a difference with some other unpleasant side affects I've been experiencing. So that is good. I think it has also helped my energy level. At my doctor's visit last week, she said I was measuring small - meaning the baby might be small (believe me, I've been gaining plenty of weight - already 30 pounds). She said not to worry - it was probably just because he is so low - but just because she says she is neurotic, she ordered an ultrasound for my next visit in two weeks.
I have always been an active person and usually shoot for doing something active 5 times a week. But probably since Mary's been born it has been more like 3 times a week. And since I've been pregnant - it has been sketchy. I kept up pretty well through about half of my first trimester. Then I just didn't have enough energy to get through the day - and be a good mom - if I worked out - so I cut way back. About half way through my second trimester, I tried adding it back in. But I've really only been able to get in 1-2 times a week. It still really takes a lot of energy out of me. But I'm trying to really do a little bit better lately so I can prepare my body for labor.
Mary is great. She is healthy and active and smart. She speaks so well now. It is really fun to listen to her. Tonight at dinner, she said "Bon Appetite!" - she picked it up from one of her books - I didn't teach her. She really is a joy. We also finally bit the bullet and switched her to a toddler bed. I'm still not sure if we should've yet or not. Part of me wanted to have this taken care of before the baby came and the other part of me wanted to have the ability to contain her. But we are able to keep her contained in her room even if she isn't lying in her bed. I have to say, it has gone well so far. No problems at night. Yesterday she napped. Today she didn't. She probably would have eventually fallen asleep today had she been in her crib, but this isn't too bad either. We'll be able to put her to bed earlier. A book I'm reading said that switching to a toddler bed is really best between age 3-3 1/2. But Jeff was ready this weekend and I kind of got a wild hair and I just said, "Okay! Go for it!" And here we are. She really does enjoy it. And I enjoy a few less heavy liftings in and out of the crib!
That is mostly it. In case you haven't noticed - Mary has started pulling out her pig tails, so her hair is in her face a lot of the time. Sometimes she'll let me clip it back a bit, but mostly she just likes it long. So there is a lot of this going on right now. . .
That's it for now!
Jeff is well (although he was feeling not so well this afternoon - hopefully he isn't getting sick). He just got back on Friday from a business trip to Vancouver. He is glad to be home and we are glad too.
I am fine. I'm starting to feel the effects of getting big. I bought a pregnancy support belt that I've been wearing because this baby is so low, the area at the base of my belly is pretty sore. I think the belt has been helping and has also made a difference with some other unpleasant side affects I've been experiencing. So that is good. I think it has also helped my energy level. At my doctor's visit last week, she said I was measuring small - meaning the baby might be small (believe me, I've been gaining plenty of weight - already 30 pounds). She said not to worry - it was probably just because he is so low - but just because she says she is neurotic, she ordered an ultrasound for my next visit in two weeks.
I have always been an active person and usually shoot for doing something active 5 times a week. But probably since Mary's been born it has been more like 3 times a week. And since I've been pregnant - it has been sketchy. I kept up pretty well through about half of my first trimester. Then I just didn't have enough energy to get through the day - and be a good mom - if I worked out - so I cut way back. About half way through my second trimester, I tried adding it back in. But I've really only been able to get in 1-2 times a week. It still really takes a lot of energy out of me. But I'm trying to really do a little bit better lately so I can prepare my body for labor.
Mary is great. She is healthy and active and smart. She speaks so well now. It is really fun to listen to her. Tonight at dinner, she said "Bon Appetite!" - she picked it up from one of her books - I didn't teach her. She really is a joy. We also finally bit the bullet and switched her to a toddler bed. I'm still not sure if we should've yet or not. Part of me wanted to have this taken care of before the baby came and the other part of me wanted to have the ability to contain her. But we are able to keep her contained in her room even if she isn't lying in her bed. I have to say, it has gone well so far. No problems at night. Yesterday she napped. Today she didn't. She probably would have eventually fallen asleep today had she been in her crib, but this isn't too bad either. We'll be able to put her to bed earlier. A book I'm reading said that switching to a toddler bed is really best between age 3-3 1/2. But Jeff was ready this weekend and I kind of got a wild hair and I just said, "Okay! Go for it!" And here we are. She really does enjoy it. And I enjoy a few less heavy liftings in and out of the crib!
That is mostly it. In case you haven't noticed - Mary has started pulling out her pig tails, so her hair is in her face a lot of the time. Sometimes she'll let me clip it back a bit, but mostly she just likes it long. So there is a lot of this going on right now. . .
That's it for now!
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
We made it!
Well friends,
It has been a month of ups and downs here . . .
Some of the downs?
Lost mailbox key
Sickness
Had to find a different doula
Some of the ups?
Valentine's Day
Murray Family get together for Ivan
Sullins Family get together for ALL the February birthdays - including Jeff's
Service to a friend
Singing for All State Choir kids and workshop with Rene Clausen
I'm in my third trimester now - which is good - although, I still have so much to do to prepare for the baby and this month was a giant setback for making progress in that area. But all is well and I know everything will be okay.
This month has been a month of a lot of reflection and searching for me. I wish I had all the answers sometimes or that I could see the end from the beginning. But no matter what, I will try to always remain hopeful and grateful and do my best.
Here are some pics . . .
I'm trying to take a few more pics of myself this pregnancy than I have so far. Some pics I look bigger than others. In this one, I'm not as big as I think I actually look. Occasionally I'll get a comment like the one I did a few weeks ago at choir, where someone said, "Are you gonna make it???" - referring to how big I was getting. I'm thinking, "I hope so!" What choice is there? : )
Mary likes to be the baby in the stomach sometimes. : ) She has done this with Jeff too.
She loves swimming so much. I try to take her every couple of weeks.
Snow has been a part of our lives this month for sure. Here is Mary wearing the snowman hat and scarf.
A friend of mine's boy - who is also Mary's age - stayed with us a few nights while she was in the hospital. Mary enjoyed having a playmate - mostly. Sharing was not her strength. But she did well enough. We enjoyed being able to help out a friend.
Sullins family get together- GrammE and our new baby boy cousin - who is the same age as our baby boy will be!
Our little family.
Sullins girl cousins!
On the docket of things to do while we were at the new Sullins home in Parker was for the men to put Ellen's dollhouse together. I love the size difference between Mary and Charles here.
Yes - that is how big Ellen's doll house is! Can you just imagine how fun it would be to be one of her granddaughters?
Lately whenever Mary encounters pretty characters with long flowing dresses, she says they are married. She has taken to saying this about herself whenever she has lots of pretty jewelry or in this case blankets draped on herself. Here she says, "I'm so married!!!!" SOOO Cute!!!
Seriously? I don't even know what to say about this except that she takes after her mother a bit. : )
Happy Leap Day everyone! Here's to looking forward to a new month, a new season, and new adventures.
Love,
Annie
It has been a month of ups and downs here . . .
Some of the downs?
Lost mailbox key
Sickness
Had to find a different doula
Some of the ups?
Valentine's Day
Murray Family get together for Ivan
Sullins Family get together for ALL the February birthdays - including Jeff's
Service to a friend
Singing for All State Choir kids and workshop with Rene Clausen
I'm in my third trimester now - which is good - although, I still have so much to do to prepare for the baby and this month was a giant setback for making progress in that area. But all is well and I know everything will be okay.
This month has been a month of a lot of reflection and searching for me. I wish I had all the answers sometimes or that I could see the end from the beginning. But no matter what, I will try to always remain hopeful and grateful and do my best.
Here are some pics . . .
I'm trying to take a few more pics of myself this pregnancy than I have so far. Some pics I look bigger than others. In this one, I'm not as big as I think I actually look. Occasionally I'll get a comment like the one I did a few weeks ago at choir, where someone said, "Are you gonna make it???" - referring to how big I was getting. I'm thinking, "I hope so!" What choice is there? : )
Mary likes to be the baby in the stomach sometimes. : ) She has done this with Jeff too.
She loves swimming so much. I try to take her every couple of weeks.
Snow has been a part of our lives this month for sure. Here is Mary wearing the snowman hat and scarf.
A friend of mine's boy - who is also Mary's age - stayed with us a few nights while she was in the hospital. Mary enjoyed having a playmate - mostly. Sharing was not her strength. But she did well enough. We enjoyed being able to help out a friend.
Sullins family get together- GrammE and our new baby boy cousin - who is the same age as our baby boy will be!
Our little family.
Sullins girl cousins!
On the docket of things to do while we were at the new Sullins home in Parker was for the men to put Ellen's dollhouse together. I love the size difference between Mary and Charles here.
Yes - that is how big Ellen's doll house is! Can you just imagine how fun it would be to be one of her granddaughters?
Lately whenever Mary encounters pretty characters with long flowing dresses, she says they are married. She has taken to saying this about herself whenever she has lots of pretty jewelry or in this case blankets draped on herself. Here she says, "I'm so married!!!!" SOOO Cute!!!
Seriously? I don't even know what to say about this except that she takes after her mother a bit. : )
Happy Leap Day everyone! Here's to looking forward to a new month, a new season, and new adventures.
Love,
Annie
Monday, February 13, 2012
My Valentine
If you know me at all, you should know that I LOVE Valentine's Day. It is probably my 2nd favorite holiday after Christmas. Course I love all the holidays. Holidays make life more fun and festive. I know some people hate Valentine's but I have a hard time relating. Yea, maybe you don't have a significant other or maybe they are lame and don't do anything to show their love for you. But still, what about all the other people who show love to you? And it is also a chance to show others that you love them. And of course, I love pink and red . . . and chocolate. : ) (Easter actually has the best candy of all the holidays IMHO but I could actually write a post about that and I will spare you that for today : )).
But speaking of chocolate . . . about the 2nd week in January I told Jeff that I wanted to have an early Valentine's box of chocolates. And he obliged! Because of his sweetness, I thought it might be fun to document so many of the nice things he does for me on a regular basis and share them here.
Jeff consistently tries to make me happy by giving in to many of my unnecessary wants.
The first pic - which would have been here - was supposed to be a pic of the chocolates, but alas, I ate them all before I got my act together to take a pic. : ) But just imagine a beautiful array of chocolates and their luscious smell.
Jeff helps with several chores I just don't like doing:
Deboning chicken!
Shoveling the driveway!
Jeff is - and always has been - a huge help with Mary. He is a wonderful father!
Jeff takes care of me when I'm sick. This is a lovely picture of me last week after getting probably the worst case of food poisoning I've ever had. Last week wasn't a good week all around I tell ya.
He regularly goes to social events that he would gladly skip just to make me happy.
These are some of the main things, but of course, not all of them. I feel blessed to be married to such a devoted husband and father. Jeff, you are my Valentine!
Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Thanks for all your love!
But speaking of chocolate . . . about the 2nd week in January I told Jeff that I wanted to have an early Valentine's box of chocolates. And he obliged! Because of his sweetness, I thought it might be fun to document so many of the nice things he does for me on a regular basis and share them here.
Jeff consistently tries to make me happy by giving in to many of my unnecessary wants.
The first pic - which would have been here - was supposed to be a pic of the chocolates, but alas, I ate them all before I got my act together to take a pic. : ) But just imagine a beautiful array of chocolates and their luscious smell.
Jeff helps with several chores I just don't like doing:
Deboning chicken!
Shoveling the driveway!
Jeff is - and always has been - a huge help with Mary. He is a wonderful father!
Jeff takes care of me when I'm sick. This is a lovely picture of me last week after getting probably the worst case of food poisoning I've ever had. Last week wasn't a good week all around I tell ya.
He regularly goes to social events that he would gladly skip just to make me happy.
These are some of the main things, but of course, not all of them. I feel blessed to be married to such a devoted husband and father. Jeff, you are my Valentine!
Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Thanks for all your love!
Friday, February 3, 2012
Scrapbook done. Doula hired.
I'm pleased because I have recently finished two big projects that needed getting done.
The first one was that I finally finished an engagement scrapbook that I made for my friend, Annabel. Her mom asked me if I would make one for her and I thought it would be a wonderful thing that she could always treasure. I spent many, MANY hours on it and I feel like I did my best. There are some amazing scrapbookers in this world - and I am not one of them unfortunately. But I'm decent and it almost doesn't matter. Because what matters most is capturing the memories. So here is a picture of the album cover(I won't include pics of each page). The entire album was based on these colors. I found an awesome line at Archiver's that just screamed Annabel (Teresa Collins Posh line) and it streamlined the process.
The other project that I wanted to figure out/do was hire a doula for my upcoming birth. I wanted to share a few thoughts about that here briefly.
I can't really share all the details here or reasons for why I am doing this, but I have wanted to -for a long time- have this next baby without drugs (if I can). By choosing this, I hope others don't feel that I am judging them if they don't choose this route. It really is true that each woman is different and cares about different things and so I know that natural childbirth is not for everyone. But for me, it is really something that has always been in my head and I think if you have that desire, it doesn't go away until you get to experience it.
Here are the main reasons why I'm choosing this method:
Incidentally, I chose to hire a doula because hiring a midwife is similar to having a doctor. A midwife can do medical things such as check the cervix, check the heart rate, etc. Since I have a doctor I feel like more what I need is someone who can just help me through labor and prepare for it. I didn't feel like I could do it with just Jeff and me. I felt like I needed someone with a lot of experience and someone who understood me and would be with me through the entire labor.
1. I believe that natural childbirth is the healthiest and safest way to bring a baby into the world (generally). This is widely known and accepted and proven even by the medical community (though not really encouraged, sadly).
2. I will have more control over what happens to my body in the hospital if I don't start having interventions (enducing, pitocin, epidurals, etc.) to begin with.
3. I feel a strong desire to experience what it actually feels like to have a baby. I feel it could be an amazing learning experience. I also feel completely terrified! I HATE pain and discomfort. I'm kind of a princess. And I live my life in such a way to avoid health problems if at all possible. That is why pregnancy is hard for me I think. But I do feel I have something to learn from this.
People always use the word "empowered". Maybe that is it. My sister Jennifer has said that when she had to take care of one of her children that died before turning one, that it taught her a lot about herself and boosted her self esteem because SHE was the one who took care of him. So maybe this will be something like that for me.
4. I feel a desire to experience what women throughout the ages - including my pioneer ancestors - experienced. I keep having the thought that if I ever go back to acting (or even anything artistic) that this experience will be a huge resource for me. When I tell women of my mother's generation that I want to do this, I usually get a "you're crazy" kind of look followed by an admission that, "yes, I'm glad I had the experience". My own mother had 5 natural births and 1 epidural. She has said before she'd rather have had 1 natural and 5 epidurals. But she does always say that she is glad she got to know what it is like to go naturally.
So that is basically it! Jeff is supportive but also thinks I am a little crazy I think. He has said that some women are more apt for this sort of thing than I am - which is probably true. But he is supportive and I'm grateful for that.
I am fairly determined to go this route, but as we all know, labor doesn't always go as planned. If the baby is turned funny or something I might change my mind. But I really hope that this will be a wonderful experience for us and planning for it to be so. I invoke your prayers and good thoughts now so that I will continue to have a healthy pregnancy and a wonderful childbirth.
If you'd like more details, I'm pretty much an open book. You can feel free to ask me anything.
Also, if you're interested in seeing my doula's (Heather is her name) website, I will also include that here. http://www.birthangel.net/
The first one was that I finally finished an engagement scrapbook that I made for my friend, Annabel. Her mom asked me if I would make one for her and I thought it would be a wonderful thing that she could always treasure. I spent many, MANY hours on it and I feel like I did my best. There are some amazing scrapbookers in this world - and I am not one of them unfortunately. But I'm decent and it almost doesn't matter. Because what matters most is capturing the memories. So here is a picture of the album cover(I won't include pics of each page). The entire album was based on these colors. I found an awesome line at Archiver's that just screamed Annabel (Teresa Collins Posh line) and it streamlined the process.
The other project that I wanted to figure out/do was hire a doula for my upcoming birth. I wanted to share a few thoughts about that here briefly.
I can't really share all the details here or reasons for why I am doing this, but I have wanted to -for a long time- have this next baby without drugs (if I can). By choosing this, I hope others don't feel that I am judging them if they don't choose this route. It really is true that each woman is different and cares about different things and so I know that natural childbirth is not for everyone. But for me, it is really something that has always been in my head and I think if you have that desire, it doesn't go away until you get to experience it.
Here are the main reasons why I'm choosing this method:
Incidentally, I chose to hire a doula because hiring a midwife is similar to having a doctor. A midwife can do medical things such as check the cervix, check the heart rate, etc. Since I have a doctor I feel like more what I need is someone who can just help me through labor and prepare for it. I didn't feel like I could do it with just Jeff and me. I felt like I needed someone with a lot of experience and someone who understood me and would be with me through the entire labor.
1. I believe that natural childbirth is the healthiest and safest way to bring a baby into the world (generally). This is widely known and accepted and proven even by the medical community (though not really encouraged, sadly).
2. I will have more control over what happens to my body in the hospital if I don't start having interventions (enducing, pitocin, epidurals, etc.) to begin with.
3. I feel a strong desire to experience what it actually feels like to have a baby. I feel it could be an amazing learning experience. I also feel completely terrified! I HATE pain and discomfort. I'm kind of a princess. And I live my life in such a way to avoid health problems if at all possible. That is why pregnancy is hard for me I think. But I do feel I have something to learn from this.
People always use the word "empowered". Maybe that is it. My sister Jennifer has said that when she had to take care of one of her children that died before turning one, that it taught her a lot about herself and boosted her self esteem because SHE was the one who took care of him. So maybe this will be something like that for me.
4. I feel a desire to experience what women throughout the ages - including my pioneer ancestors - experienced. I keep having the thought that if I ever go back to acting (or even anything artistic) that this experience will be a huge resource for me. When I tell women of my mother's generation that I want to do this, I usually get a "you're crazy" kind of look followed by an admission that, "yes, I'm glad I had the experience". My own mother had 5 natural births and 1 epidural. She has said before she'd rather have had 1 natural and 5 epidurals. But she does always say that she is glad she got to know what it is like to go naturally.
So that is basically it! Jeff is supportive but also thinks I am a little crazy I think. He has said that some women are more apt for this sort of thing than I am - which is probably true. But he is supportive and I'm grateful for that.
I am fairly determined to go this route, but as we all know, labor doesn't always go as planned. If the baby is turned funny or something I might change my mind. But I really hope that this will be a wonderful experience for us and planning for it to be so. I invoke your prayers and good thoughts now so that I will continue to have a healthy pregnancy and a wonderful childbirth.
If you'd like more details, I'm pretty much an open book. You can feel free to ask me anything.
Also, if you're interested in seeing my doula's (Heather is her name) website, I will also include that here. http://www.birthangel.net/
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