Cuz They're Just So Fun

 

For the Gramas

Havah has rediscovered her jumparoo.

Havah was a bit grumpy yesterday. At random she looks at me. Big tears well up and she sticks as many fingers in her mouth as she can fit and comps down. Her dad got out the guitar to distract her. She LOVES music.

 

She also loves her busy box that Gram got for her. Only she doesn't stay busy all that long. Maybe 10 minutes. Maybe...

 

 

Another funny face

 

Havah's been practicing funny faces this week. This is the face she makes when she thinks I'm going to put food in her mouth.

Judah Dressed Havah Today

 

 

 

More Photos

 

 

 

 

There's a Little Black Spot on the Sun Today

It's hard to believe it's been a year. It's been a year since my dad passed away and a year since he was buried. I remember feeling so silly at his funeral. The funeral director spoke. He didn't know my dad. He kept calling him "Brother David". If he had known my dad he wouldn't have called him that. It was really humorous. It was cold that day, so we decided that we wouldn't follow the casket out, but meet them at the grave site a little bit later. When we got there they had already buried him. As we pulled up I told my mom and everyone else in the car how I thought this had been a big waste. My dad would have preferred to have been sunk in the lake. They all laughed in agreement.

This year really has gone by so quickly. It wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be, but there were moments that I didn't think were bearable. I'm so thankful that my mom has been able to spend this year with her grandkids, kids and brothers and sisters. I'm so thankful for her brothers and sisters (and my dear cuz Paul). They came down to Alabama for the funeral, drove to North Carolina when her house sold and packed the moving truck and unloaded it into a storage unit in Cincinnati just a few days later.

I miss my dad. A year later and the pain still feels like it did yesterday. Maybe it feels more real now or hurts a little more now. I'm not sure. A good friend told me that when his dad died he looked at his wife and said that he was too young not to have a dad. I can't ever imagine that there's an age that feels appropriate, but at 24 I feel a bit ripped off. I would have liked for my dad to have met Havah and teach her to say "yes", not yeah. I would have liked for him to come see my house and tell me how to fix the grass. Our grass is in REALLY bad shape. I would have liked to have a few more years to make some more memories. I would like to have just a little bit more time.

I'm feeling quite sad, but I'm also feeling thankful. I'm appreciating family more. I'm thankful for relationships. I'm thankful for friends and for conversations. They all mean a little bit more now.

Photo Update

Here's a few photos from our trip to California.

I hope you can actually hear Havah above the other growlers. We had SO MUCH fun tonight!

From 12-16-2008

This is how Judah gets ready for snow.

Layer, after layer, after later. I think she was actually sweating in the snow.

Snow Day

 

Here's a sneak peak at yesterday's snow day. :)

If You Plan on Buying a Christmas Present...

You should probably first bid on this...

Art Journal

You've gotta see it!

The Best News Ever

Hope will see! Check out her story here.

Video Update

Here's how Havah's doing...

Here's Another

Please see the post below and here's another great shop.

Junk Posse

Christmas Shopping Suggestions

I was talking to my dear friend Tracie the other day. She mentioned a blog that lists adoption fund raisers. I think this is great! When you go to buy your Chritmas gifts this year check out these great options first! Give wonderful gifts to your friends and families while helping bring children into families. It doesn't get any better than this.


Check out the link here.

My Favorite Time of the Year

ADOPTION TIME!



John and Tracie are in the process of adopting a little boy named Aiden from Eastern Europe. Aiden has Down Syndrome and will be 3 in March. We are excited to welcome him into our family. The Loux’s are currently raising finances to help pay the cost of adoption. They are still in need of $18,000, and are trusting God for total provision.

If you would like to help support their adoption, they are currently having a fundraiser called ART FOR ADOPTION.
They are currently selling photographs and will be listing some original paintings and other artwork soon.
The link to their webstore is http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6457320

You can read more about Aiden and their adoption at their blog www.tracieloux.wordpress.com, where they also have posted other ways that you can give to their adoption fund.

Good news! Havah slept 8 hours straight the following two nights. Maybe I should get you guys praying more often!

In other news, I got an end table from the thrift store that perfectly matches on of our coffee tables. I painted it black to match and now it's drying in the garage. Painting is a great way to spend Havah's nap time!

Havah and Gram

Almost every morning Havah wakes up to her fan club. I'm quite often at the gym, so it's the fun folks who she starts her day with. One of her very favorites is her Grammy. Grammy is so fun. She gets out the best toys, she snuggles, and when Havah is done snuggling or playing with toys Gram moves her onto the next thing.

Last night was pretty rough. Havah woke before her normal 10pm dream feed and wouldn't calm down, so I fed her and went to bed early. She woke again before 12, then again around 3, then 6, then 7:15. So...I'm tired. It was one of those nights where you're so tired you are thinking irrational things like..."God, why are you doing this to me?". I was thinking, do I need to bind evil? So I prayed and I felt better, but Havah just kept right on with the crying. Even now I'm typing with one hand because guess who only wants to sit in my lap.

 

 

Aren't these leaves lovely? Our tree stands above them all. When you drive down the street you could see the golden beautiful tree standing tall saying...look what I'm about to do to your neighbors yard. Pray that this mess doesn't blow into yours.

It was very beautiful and all in one day all those beautiful leaves landed in perfect piles ready to be bagged and carried off. Oh wait, that last part really didn't happen.

Getting Started

 

Well we've been putting the new sewing room to good use, so I've decided to start a little online shop. I've been making these wraps as gifts for friends. It's been so much fun that I decided to make a few extra and list them on ETSY. I'll have several more to list next week. Check it out and let me know what you think.

First Taste

 

Surprise!

My life is so full of new experiences. Things happen that I would have never imagined.

Last week Havah woke up more than 30 minutes early. This isn't totally uncommon, but usually she'll go back to sleep and snooze for a bit longer. On this day she wouldn't! I came in to check in on her and found quite a surprise. Somehow she had undone her diaper. She and her bed were soaked and angry she was about it!

This morning was worse! She slept later than she usually does and when she finally woke up I went in and again found that she was very upset. I went to change her diaper and found an even better surprise...more poop than should ever come out of one baby at one time. The wonderful surprise had gone through her jamis, through her sleep sack, through the sheet and blankie down to the pad.

In other news, last month she got two new teeth and tomorrow we plan on trying them out (other than the refrigerated carrots she teethes on). I'm sure there will be a video or something to show you tomorrow.

Judah and Havah

What happens when you are left alone with the funnest person in your life for more than five minutes?

Something like this...

Thankful

Well here are some pictures of the new sewing room. It's still in progress and a mess, but I'm LOVING it! I would never guess how much fun this would be. Last week Israel came down and did her homework at the new desk, Judah came and claimed her special spot, Christina has been studying and hanging out, and last night Sean came down and built us a fire! It's made the downstairs quite the hang out. I am so thankful for my life. I am in a city that I really like, near to the House of Prayer and the best part - surrounded by people who I love. I live with one of my dearest friends in the whole world, my Mom is here!!, I have the coolest kids in the whole world and I have the best husband ever! Havah has been great. She is growing and changing so quickly. She loves the new sewing room too. I put the pack and play down here and she loves playing in there while she can still peak out at us all.

 
 
 
 

Second Hand

Mom, Judah, Havah and I went to two local thrift shops in search of tables for the new sewing room. Not only did we find two great tables we also found a Snuggli to sell on craigslist, a thermos for Israel's lunch, a lamp shade, a tennis racket (for Judah of course), a musical table for Havah, some tupperware for Sean and the big highlight a garage with an elevator for Judah's cars. Total spent: less than $30

Transformation

I'm not sure if I've ever really posted pictures of our family room. It is currently under a major makeover! Family room turned sewing studio! Woo Hoo! Pictures will follow. First I have to make a few more changes.

She was posing. What was I supposed to do?

Not So Happy

Happy

 

Play Time

Havah got some new toys this week. A jumparoo and a few fun things for the floor. She LOVES the jumparoo, but not as much as she loves to play on the floor with her dad.

I Know I Know

  You're jealous. I can understand. Not everyone gets to have a sister-in-law like mine. Thanks Dawn!

A Real Friend

 

Zeb is such a good friend. Secretly I think he favors Judah. I found Zeb laying on Judah's bed earlier today. If she leaves a sweater out he will lay on it. The other day I found one of her toys in his kennel. It hadn't been chewed - just snuggled.

The New Bath Seat

Bath time is Havah's favorite time of the day. She has been trying to sit up while in the tub for the past week. I keep trying to make her be a little baby, but she keeps trying to get big.

What could be better than bath time? Bath time with big sisters!

Caroline and Luke

My dear friend Caroline and her husband Scott are in Salt Lake City awaiting the birth of their new little boy. This past weekend I was so thankful that I got to attend their fundraiser. I saw so many people that I hadn't seen in years. I can't believe how much everyone has changed and how much their kids have grown up!

Hurry up Luke! We can't wait for you to be born!

*Note the cup of pink goodness in my hand. That would be Black Rasberry Chip Ice Cream.

More of Ethan

He's just SO wonderful!

Havah has something to say...

Little Baby Ethan

I got to squeeze this little bundle of joy yesterday. I can't wait to see him again tomorrow! He is absolutely wonderful. Congratulations Jeannie on an truly delightful baby boy.

I haven't seen a photo like this in a long time. This is mom my mom, her sisters and brothers and my Grandma. The strange the location. :)

What a fun family!

Photo courtesy of the slide show on Ava's Momma's computer.

Did I Tell You?

Sean shaved his head and now has a mohawk. I have more pictures, but they are on the server and I can't seem to get to it right now. Locks of Love LOVES Sean Henry!






Jason came to visit! Havah LOVES Jason.



Auntie Chrisi isn't working as much. We are ALL loving that!



Our friends the Winters came to visit. They came with their dog Saddie. Can you guess who Saddie is?