Gooooo Wonder Pets!

My hubby got me a new dishwasher and had it in before noon this morning and he did it all with Caelen because I was out of the house. I'm so proud of him and very impressed! I'm also so thankful to give my poor chapped hands a rest from the dishwashing duties of the past 3 months. It's super quiet too compared to my old 747 I had parked in the kitchen. Thanks Thomas!

Thomas is also working on drawing up a set of non-official plans for Caelen's little playhouse that he's going to build in our backyard. The front will look like a miniature cottage and I can't wait to see it. His Dad and he are going to build it probably in just a couple of weekends from now.

It feels like Caelen just talks to me all day long. It's almost rare now that I don't know what she's talking about (parents understand their toddlers' Eewok language.) This evening, while we were trying to run out the last couple hours of her day before bed at 7:00 we were looking at books. She was looking through the "Who Loves Baby?" book with pictures of all her family. There's a picture of her dad and his brother in there and she of course knew who Daddy was and I reminded her of Uncle Josh's name which she repeated as "Aye Yash." About half an hour later we're snuggling on the recliner and she has her head on my chest and says quietly, to herself, "Aye Yash..... DaDa." I couldn't believe it! She was sitting there thinking about that picture. She never fails to blow my mind :)
(Note to reader: These things that blow my mind are always firsts for Caelen. She has never made it obvious to me until recently that she is thinking about something besides what she's doing at that moment. Although yesterday at the store she randomly blurted out "Ba Bo Pets" which is Wonder Pets, our favorite cartoon. It's so fun to find out what her little mind thinks about during the day!)

I then told her it was time for bed and she immediately began asking for her "Boppies" (blankies) so I took her into her room and she went straight for her space heater and pulled it out from behind her toy basket and tried to turn it on (since that's what I do usually after I've put her into her bed for the night). She's just too smart for me.

Happy Birthday to my cousin Cody!! And Caelen will be 15 months on Tuesday.

Austin James

Just a quick post to say congratulations to Doug and Adria on their new little boy Austin James! He was born yesterday after 6 hours of labor! I told Adria that since her first was 20 hours and her second was 6, that gives me hope that maybe next time I can do it too!! We'll see ;)

The one with the high heels

This is just a picture I stole off of my parent's computer. Caelen must be around 5 months old in this shot. I cannot believe how fast my little girl has grown up!!!
Here's Caelen at her Grandma's house after Great Grandpa's funeral. The funeral was at 11:00 at St. Vincent's in Petaluma on Wednesday. It's a big old school Catholic church so every little sound Caelen made echoed 10 times louder than it really was. Needless to say we were in there for 2 minutes before Caelen started yelling about Dada and more food, so I took her outside. It lasted 1 hour 45 minutes. Try keeping a toddler out of the street and from cracking her head on concrete steps for that amount of time in a pencil skirt and high heels.

She ended up falling asleep in the car on the way to the cemetary so I stayed in the car with her while Thomas went to the graveside ceremony. Then we went back to Thomas' mom's place where there was a catered reception. And that is were this photo was taken. Caelen was busy either running up and down her staircase (with Mom always one step behind), or walking around in my shoes. She LOVES grown up shoes! I think feel like Caelen's switch is set to "fast forward" until all of a sudden someone hits "stop" and she crashes for the night. But this child is busy busy busy. She's got missions and things to organize constantly.

She's also getting new words everyday. Yesterday she opened up the cabinent and grabbed one of her little plastic bowls, holds it up to me and says, "A Bowl", clear as day. I don't remember ever specifically teaching her that word, she just picked it up. It always shocks me when she comes out of left field with a new word, and then I'm reminded of just how much she is always paying attention. Little Bug :)

Daddy's Girl

Caelen straight up said "Applesauce" today while she was trying to climb into her high chair with her container of Mott's Applesauce. I stopped dead what I was doing and asked her to say it again but it never quite came out the same way!
She's big into saying "Ahhh Dee Dow" and I wish I knew what it meant. She gets enjoyment out of saying it and is usually grinning to herself. She says it a lot in the car, but also other times during the day. The Dow part is very drawn out and seems to be the amusing part of the phrase.
She's so into Daddy these days! Every morning when I go in to get her out of her crib, I can tell she'd so much rather it was Daddy than me. She always stands up, runs toward the door side of her crib, and points to the door saying, "Dada!!! Dada!!" I have to tell her he's at work and she'll get to see him later but that doesn't stop her from checking the backyard and the garage during the day as well. The moment he's home she goes running to him. It's pretty darn cute and I prefer it to her being clingy to me.

A horse with no name

Here's a few pictures from our trip to Arizona last weekend. Caelen slept for about an hour of the hour and forty five minute flight out there.



Here she is with her step-cousins Lilia (6) Abrielle (3) and Alivia (8 mo).


Here's beautiful Sedona


And here's my little ham entertaining herself and everyone else in the car.

Just Those Few Weeks

Just Those Few Weeks
by Susan Erling.

For those few weeks-
I had you to myself.
And that seems too short a time
to be changed so profoundly.

In those few weeks-
I came to know you...
and to love you.
You came to trust me with your life.
Oh, what a life I had planned for you!

Just those few weeks-
When I lost you.
I lost a lifetime of hopes,
plans, dreams, and aspirations...
A slice of my future
simply vanished overnight.

Just those few weeks-
And no "normal" person
would cry all nightover a tiny,
unfinished baby,
or get depressed and withdraw
day after endless day.
No one would, so why am I?

You were those few weeks my little one
you darted in and out of my life too quickly.
But it seems that's all the time you needed
to make my life so much richer
and give me a small glimpse of eternity.

Saying Goodbye again and again

Thank you to everyone for your well wishes and congrats but this pregnancy didn't work out. I just wanted you guys to know, so you're not wondering why I took my post down or why I'm not mentioning it anymore.
Thomas's Grandpa died on Tuesday. This was his closest Grandpa whom he spent a lot of time with growing up and even until his death would visit with frequently as he lived just down the street. Poor Thomas is having a really rough time lately but he's handling it really well and managing to keep a sense of humor.
When it rains it pours, but then the sun comes out.

"Bees!" and other stuff

Caelen is just so darn polite. I think I mentioned her saying Up Please. Now she mostly just goes around saying, "Bees!" "Bees!" and "det det" for Thank You.

My dad has been having some on-going medical problems with his stomach, but today they found out that it's nothing a little medicine won't fix and we're all so relieved! (Well especially Dad.)

Anyone want oranges? My tree is so full of them I can't eat them or give them away fast enough.

Oh and I also wanted to mention that yesterday was my late Grandpa Jerry's birthday and that we miss him so much!

Who knew the Travel Channel would save my sanity?

I have been trying to figure out why Caelen won't nap here at home. I do exactly the same thing here that I do at my mom's. I turn a heater on, close the blinds, give her the same two blankets......
Then it dawns on me, the only difference is NOISE. When I'm at my mom's, the TV is on, the sewing machines are going and we're talking. At night when I put her down for bed, Thomas and I are talking, the TV might be on and the dogs are thundering around the house.
I put her down at 2:15 and turned the TV up. She's fast asleep. Go figure.

I recently read Atonement by Ian McEwan. It's the book that got made into a movie with Kiera Knightley and James McAvoy and won some Godlen Globes or something like that. I haven't seen the movie but the book was pretty good. It took the author 300 pages to say what one author might say in 30 but I guess it was necessary to the style of the book. If you've read it, please leave me a comment about how you felt about it.

I also would recommend seeing A Good Year with Russell Crowe. My parents really liked it and had us over last night to see it. Worth seeing!

Go to sleep!

Please be praying for my Grandma Evelyn (shown here at Caelen's birthday party.) She had to go to the hospital this morning because of a bad infection that had her so weak she couldn't get around. They've got her antibiotics and say she looks good enough to go home. My mom and dad are having to do a lot to take care of her as she lives by herself here in town and isn't able to drive, so remember them too!!

I want to know this: Caelen sleeps beautifully at night in her crib. She sleeps beautifully every weekday morning at her Grandparents house for her nap. So WHY won't she take a nap in her crib here at home????? Yesterday I put her down at the normal nap time and she hollered for 30 minutes and then slept for 40! Ugh. Now she's in there crying, and she only slpet for about 10 minutes on the way home from church! Why, why, why???

Finally, a vacation!

We're planning a trip down to Arizona in a couple of weeks. We'll be visiting Thomas' step-brother, his wife and 3 daughters. We're travelling with Thomas' dad and step-mom. I'm really excited because every once in awhile I get this bug to just GO! I don't care where and for how long just as long as I get in a car or an airplane. Call it wanderlust.
Anyway, the three girls are about 5, 3 and 6 months old I think. So Caelen will fit right into that mix. It'll be fun to see where they live and get to know them better (I have met them once, and that was before this last baby.) It'll be fun to spend some time with Thomas' Dad and Faith. The last time we took a trip with them, Caelen was 4 months old. And the last time Caelen was on a plane she was 6 months old and it was for 5 hours to and from Hawaii, so I think we can handle 1 1/2 hours. I hope we can.......

Just being like my mommy...

So my little missy and I were reading books yesterday on her floor in her room. She got the book she wanted and I patted the floor in front of me for her to come and sit. We read the book, and when she was done she got up to get another. She grabbed a book about 3 feet away from me and plopped down on the ground, looks at me and pats the ground next to her!!! She makes me laugh so much sometimes.

Yesterday while I was working at my mom's she somehow managed to get a piece of Orbit gum from my purse. They're small pieces, and my mom saw her just as she stuck it in her mouth, wrapper and all! I ran over and tried to pry her mouth open but she clamped down so hard it was a good 15 seconds before I could really get my finger in there. By the time I did, it was gone. I said, "Did you swallow that!!!???" She looked at me, put a hand to her mouth and said, "All done...... uh-oh".

Don't forget Christmas!

So I thought I'd post a few pictures from Christmas time. I can't believe I haven't yet!
These first pictures are of us getting our Christmas tree. It was Caelen's first time because last year we decorated our tree on Sunday Dec. 3 and two hours later I went into labor! Just in the nick of time :)
Anyway, we don't usually dress up to get our tree but the only time we could really manage it was right after church.

These next pictures are from when we did an early Christmas celebration with Thomas' Dad and Faith. This was the day before Christmas Eve. Faith had just gotten back from a trip to China so we got a lot of awesome and unique gifts! Caelen looked just adorable in her Chinese handmade jammies. She also (among other fun toys) got a wooden tool set that she absolutely loves. So here's her carpenter Grandpa showing her how to use it!

These pictures are from Christmas Eve at my parents house. Last year Caelen was only 3 weeks old! Time flies

Not by my genius for sure!

They are not mine, they are not really mine

not even in the night when they cry out

and I, half-stifled with the need of sleep,

stumble awake and go to quiet them.

Not by my grace or genius have they grown,

nor by my merit did I bring them forth,

nor by that sealed and deep-loved partnership,

the light that crowns them is none of my own.

And in my tempers and my discontents,

when my own devil mutters and is bad,

I must remember still they are not mine,

not even to deny- but wholly Thine.

CHILDREN by Jane Tyson Clement

I think it is so important as a parent to remember the simple truths in this poem. I have many young mom friends and I realize that, sadly, there can be a lot of discouragment in the job. I wish it wasn't that way. I think for some, being a mom comes very naturally, and for others it's a bit more work. I have wonderful friends who fall anywhere on this scale. I think I would place myself somewhere towards the middle but more to the "I Love It, There's Nothing Better In The World" side. I DO love being Caelen's mom. Even when things are not perfect, it doesn't matter, I wouldn't want to be doing anything else with my life. I'm blessed in that way.

But for those of us who are human and get discouraged, how important it is to remember that our children, no matter how old! or how young they are, are not and never were really ours! They belong to the Lord and He has entrusted them to our care for a time. What a job! He loves them more than we ever will, and loves us the same. That is pretty darn amazing if you ask me.

Hello 2008

A year in review:
I got less sleep in 2007 than I ever thought a person could function on. Anyone who has ever had an infant knows about that magical power to do amazing things on zero sleep that comes over every new parent.
I learned about coupons and bargain shopping. When we switched from a two-income to a one-income family with an extra member, I had to figure out how to stretch the dollar alot further!! I'm still figuring it out.
I also learned about patience as it takes me at least twice as long to do everything as it used to. Just getting the laundry folded and put away is something I have to plan ahead for. When Caelen is napping I have already planned out everything I would like to get done while she's sleeping. I start with the highest priority and work my way down. A great day was when she slept long enough for me to get everything on the list done and actually sit down for a few minutes. I think I had a few of those days......
2007 was less stressful in that having a beautiful baby made me slow down and enjoy every moment.
It's been a social year dispite having an infant. I don't think a week went by without us getting together with friends or family. (Wait, that's not true, we did spend a week alone in Hawaii).
We travelled to Hawaii and Tahoe this past year and have even more trips planned for 2008.
And in 2007 we watched as Grandpa went home to be with the Lord. He will be sorely missed by us all.

A year ahead:
In 2008 we are planning on going to Arizona to visit extended family on Thomas' side in February. We'll be in Kauai in July with Thomas' mom's family. And Colorado with Thomas' Dad's family in Sept or Aug, I can't remember which right now. We're hoping to reinstate Casini Ranch camping this year in the late summer. It will be interesting trying to keep Caelen in the campsite.....
My friend Adria will be having another little boy in February (due the day after my birthday!) and we're so excited to add another child into the mix. Hopefully this year we'll be able to expect another, but with our track record, we'll take it whenever we can get it! :)
I can't wait to watch Caelen go from 1 to 2. I mean, I can wait of course, I don't want to rush it, but I'm so excited for this year and all that it will bring. She's beginning to get some good words and she tries to imitate everything you say. Her best word is Juice, which comes out as "Chuice". I love it. She says, Up Please as "Up bah". and Open as "Oh pah." You kind of have to figure out what she's saying by the context of the situation but she's getting so good at communicating, I know this year will bring a lot of changes for her.

Hopefully we'll be able to stay up long enough to ring in the new year.... or on second thought, hopefully we'll get to bed at a decent hour. Staying up that late is just too much torture these days, and I intend on getting a lot more sleep in 2008!

Saying Goodbye

It's such a bummer that life includes death. My Grandpa is being taken off of the machines that are keeping him alive and given morphine probably right as I write this. My Dad is out in Michigan with his brother, sister and his mom. I'm thankful that Grandpa came around one last time so that his family could spend some time with him and he could see that they were all there for him. I'm thankful for my Dad's sake also.

I thought I'd be OK with it all. When you don't see a family member alot and you know they're sick for awhile, you think you've kind of dealt with the emotions of it. But not until it happens can you really deal with it. I'm not as close to him as his immediate family or as my cousins Logan, Cody and Cameron, but it's still hard, he's still my Grandpa! It's a crying day for sure. I'm sorry him and Caelen never got to meet.

I'll always remember my Grandpa with his funny grin on his face, it was pretty contagious. He was a quiet man when I knew him and a good grandpa. I only got to see him once a year or every other year because we always lived far apart. But he came out for my wedding and I saw him last summer. That's weird that it was the last time I'll have ever seen him.

It's weird that I'll have no more Grandpas.

Please keep the family in your prayers. I love you and I'll miss you Grandpa!

Currently:

At: My parents house
Reading: Power of a Praying Parent
Watching: Love & Respect Video Series
Listening To: Jingle Bellls By Perry Como on TV
Eating: Anything and everything, it's the holidays!
Thinking: About my Dad flying out to Michigan tomorrow
Wishing: It was Christmas Eve
Wanting: Lots of money

Some musings if you will

I'm home alone with the baby who is fast asleep. That's fine with me. She's been sleeping beautifully these past couple of days and my sanity that has been lost for the past year returned in full force with just a couple days of enjoying her long naps and sleeping in in the morning. The best part: she's perfectly well, not sick at all, and very happy! Which makes mama happy. It also let's mama do a few things around the house, so I cleaned up a lot today. The only thing nagging at me is the huge pile of laundry to be put away, but everything else is done and I can begin to relax and enjoy having the house to myself.

My thoughts are often with my parents and my dad's family out in Michigan. My Grandpa has been suffering from ill health for a while and things have just seemed to have gotten worse and worse through a series of unfortunate events. He's now in hospital again and only God knows what will happen tomorrow. It has been incredibly stressful for everyone out there and for my parents who are left to wait for the phone to ring or a text message to come in letting them know what the latest is and if they need to buy a plane ticket. Please pray for them all if you think of it.

I'm sure my blog sounds melencholy, but I'm doing just fine. I'm mellow and happy, but not very talkative so I'll leave you with a picture of Caelen eating her birthday cupcake at Grandma Suzanne's.

Christmas is coming and I'm warm.

holy cow, Christmas is coming! I have three presents under my tree. Two of them are the individual ornaments that I get Thomas and Caelen each Christmas as a tradition. The ornament is either unique to them or represents their year. The other one is a gift I got Thomas back in November. I have two that need to be wrapped and a few things for stocking stuffers. I have no clue what to get anybody else and I have no money with which to purchase the unknown gifts. Ahhhh Christmas.

No worries (Or "No Matters" as my friend's little girl says). It'll get taken care of. It always does somehow.



When you're trying to save money and not running your heater, something funny happens; You aclimate to the cooler temperatures. I've always been someone who runs cold, bundled up when others are hot, but I was in my house the other day in a 3/4 length sleeve in a light cotton material and was very comfortable. When I looked at the thermostat it was 61 degrees in the house. Just a couple days ago I was shopping at Target (not very vigorously mind you) and I had to take my sweatshirt off because I was hot and flushed. Same with dining in Chili's and visiting Starbucks. It's just too warm in these establishments! LOL :)



Caelen is my little copycat these days. She amazes me when she does exaclty what I just did or makes a sound I just made. Like running her toothbrush under the water, putting the sheep on top of the barn, stomping her feet. She's such a good mimicker. She's also climbing all over everything. I think it must be a developmental stage because she couldn't climb on anything just a couple days ago. Last night I was sitting at the dining room table and she was standing next to me and seemed quite a bit taller than usual. When I looked down she was standing on the bottom rung of the chair and pulling herself up on the table! Little monkey.

Going down Grandpa and Grandma's slide

Breathe, just breathe...

It's the most wonderful time of the year. A time when I'm stressed about Christmas presents (What do I get and where do I find the money to buy it with?), recovering from Thanksgiving, writing Christmas cards, getting fat on Christmas party food (when should I start my diet?), participating in the church Christmas production (more time consuming than a high school musical), freezing my butt off.......... and now I'm throwing a birthday party for my precious little girl into the mix!!
With the overscheduled calendar on my fridge and the perpetual mess in my house, I think I just want to hop on an airplane to Tahiti.
But when I say that it's the most wonderful time of the year, I truely mean it. And having Caelen's birthday right between Thanksgiving and Christmas is just another reason that it's a fabulous time. A time for celebrating the little miracle we always wondered if would ever come! A time for celebrating the most amazing thing God has every done for a humanity that He loves perfectly. A time for remembering what we're thankful for like health, family nearby to celebrate with, wonderful memories and the people in my life who I've made them with, looking forward to more memories, my husband, my little girl, my home, food on the table, and so many precious people in my life whom I cherish!
So what I think I need to do is look at the calendar, ONLY today, not the scribbled-in-boxes extending into next year, and breathe, remember the important things, and that THESE are the good old days :)