VerWaynia

I Choo-Choose You…

noreply@blogger.com (VerWaynia) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 15:52:00 +0000

When Jeanelle started this blog many, many moons ago, I was somewhat involved but not that much. We would post together periodically as we eagerly awaited the arrival of our firstborn son, Evan, but overall, the blog was a place that Jeanelle made her own in every way.

Most of the posts here serve as a document of our family life and a way for friends and family to keep up with all the latest, but I wanted to take the time this Valentine's Day to come back and let my beautiful wife know how important she is to me and how so very much of my life revolves around the blessing she's brought into it.

I am a curmudgeon. Ask anyone. There are days when I feel like I sold my wife a lemon when it comes to my personality and the man she thought she married and the man she now shares life with on a daily basis. I'm grouchy, impatient, easily angered, and difficult. Jeanelle is anything but. My wife has joy and laughter and humor to give everyday. Even when things aren't the best, she has the silver lining. Whenever things are overwhelming, she brings perspective. Whenever I want to feel sorry for myself and complain (which is more often than I care to admit), she doesn't coddle me--she encourages and gives things to me straight. And she's always right. Mostly. :)

Jeanelle is an incredible mother. She spearheads every program and activity, play dates, and much more. She is always aware of the school schedule and takes the time to document everything having to do with our children, showering them with love, but also a firm hand when they need it. Our son and daughter simply love their mother. From snuggling with Aida to making sure Evan has a partner to play video games with, Jeanelle is always there. Always.

My wife is also a caretaker of tradition and family. She is constantly making sure that our family is taking part in the traditions her mother passed down to her and always mindful of big family get-togethers and what that means to the kids and us.

Did I also mention she's an excellent cook?

Every week there are at least 3 new dishes Jeanelle conjures up. She's always on the lookout for new recipes and things she can share with the family, and it's all DELICIOUS. People I work with are always intrigued when I bring in some new leftover item asking me what it is and how it was made--I've had multiple requests for Jeanelle to become the in-office cook.

What else can I say? There's definitely more, but I've already gone long here. All this to say, that I love you Jeanelle. I know I say it a lot, but actions speak louder than words. I hope that by flying my heart flag out here in blogland for everyone to see you would know just how much. A long time ago, I can remember praying that God would bring me someone that truly loved me and that I could love back with all my heart. I made so many wrong decisions, but every single day I wake up, I see how richly God has blessed me. You and the kids are the jewels in my crown.

Happy Valentine's Day. I love you.

--Jeff

I could have written so much more

noreply@blogger.com (VerWaynia) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 03:53:00 +0000

This obviously isn't the most recent picture of Mom and I, but it's my favorite.

Yes, it has been a very long time since I’ve posted something here. I’m fairly certain no one stops by anymore, and that’s ok, because this post might get a little personal. When I started the blog, I did so as a way to chronicle our journey through parenthood and hoped it would serve as a reminder of all of those important milestones that I was sure to forget. My last post was Aida’s second birthday. So much has happened since then, but I don’t think I’ve been ready to sit and reflect much less document those moments. But this is as much for the kids and their eventual nostalgia as it is for me and my opportunity to journal the events that shape their lives. It may have been a difficult 6+ months, but it’s one I know I’ll want them to remember, so here goes…

Mom holding Evan for the first time

My Mom passed away on October 23, 2012 after a hard fought battle with breast cancer. In May, after months of chemotherapy, we were very hopeful that she was finally going to be able to have a mastectomy. I never attended Mom’s doctor visits, and looking back on it I wish I had, because I think that I was hopeful under false pretenses. I thought the worst was about to be over, and I had not prepared myself for the possibility of losing her. October was a brutal month, but at least I had time to prepare for the grief. On May 17^th when she told me that they weren’t going to operate and that her tests had come back devoid of any hope, I realized the worst was actually still to come and I was devastated. I was hit so hard by the onslaught of grief that it was like I had already lost her.

Mom holding Aida for the first time

It took a few days for the fog to lift and for me to decide to make the most of what time we had left, rather than beginning each day like I was attending a funeral. Of course, I distinctly remember Mom telling me that the doctor thought we had anywhere from 2-5 years with her. I don’t know if she didn’t want to give me more bad news, if she honestly hadn’t heard him right, or if it was just a mistake, but later I learned that he had actually said 6 months to 5 years. It was the hope for those 2 years that helped lift the fog, so maybe the error was a good thing, but it didn’t take long to realize we wouldn’t have that kind of time.

Over the next few months we spent as much time with her as possible, especially for the kids. Even as her health started to decline, I still took the kids with me whenever possible. I didn’t want Evan and Aida’s only lasting memories of Grandma to be those when she was sick, but it was better than not making any memories at all.

Mom and Aida at one of Evan's soccer games

When she died I tried to minimize their grief and confusion by not talking about her as much, but then I started to worry that they would forget her. I’ve tried to find a balance, but it’s hard. I know that Evan will always remember my Mom, although maybe not as clearly the “good times,” before she got sick. But I know that Aida’s memories will mostly be through stories and pictures. Just the other day we were in the store and she saw an older woman and she asked me if it was Grandma. I was so sad because the woman didn’t look anything like my Mom. Grandma has probably already become more of a concept for Aida and less of a tangible memory and knowing how much they loved each other makes that a very sad reality for me.

Mom and Evan looking for "crawdads"

Evan and Aida, your Grandma loved you both so much. Evan, you got to spend several weekends with her and Grandpa and even though I’m sure her patience was tested sometimes, she loved having you. She enjoyed bringing you to church and showing you off and she loved giving you almost anything you wanted, especially candy J She dedicated a day each week to watch you while Mommy worked and she even took you to preschool on those days. Grandma was a very big part of your little life. Aida, when Grandma first got sick and couldn’t watch you both anymore, she was the most worried about you forgetting her because she hadn’t spent as much time with you. But the exact opposite happened, you talked about her all of the time and if you saw a picture of her you would walk to the door and cry “brama.” I think it warmed her heart to know how much she was loved in return. You never got an overnight visit with Grandma and I deeply regret that, but I know that you had a beautiful bond of your own with her, even if you won’t fully remember it.

I wish I could fully express what she meant to me, but I don’t think it’s possible. I can only give you glimpses...shadows of the real thing. I don’t remember there ever being a time when I needed her that she wasn’t there. She was present at every school event and function, and she was there every day when I got home from school. She even made a 4 hour trip once when I was in college just to watch me play in an intramural football game. Until she got sick, and even after when she could, she was always there for our family. If there was ever any way that she could help us, or anyone else for that matter, she did. She was an amazing woman of God and even through many trials, her faith in Him and His goodness never faltered. She helped shape my faith and relationship with God in ways that I’m still realizing. She had a fabulously eclectic taste in music and I remember as a little girl getting lost in her Simon and Garfunkel or Led Zeppelin vinyls, and I hope the love of good music is something of hers that I’m able to pass on to you both. She was strict, which is something I now appreciate, but she still found ways to give me independence and the space to discover who I was and who I wanted to be, like letting me blare my music. I remember how she comforted me during a broken heart with the words that I have shared with many friends since and will undoubtedly say to you one day, “Remember everything good and loved about that person and that relationship and then know that if God saw fit to take that away, it could only mean that He has something even better waiting for you.” Or how the day we brought Evan home from the hospital, she came to the side of my bed and cried with me as I struggled through all of the emotions of being a new Mom.

Mom and Aida at Evan's preschool graduation

Then there are the obvious things that everyone knew about her, like how much she loved animals and garage sales, and her heart for missions work. Of course, she loved to shop but she was always shopping for other people and she loved finding the best deals. We’ve benefited tremendously from those deals. In fact, you’re probably still wearing clothes she got from a garage sale.

Mom and Evan at his preschool graduation

If I've learned one thing during these last few months, it's that you always need your Mom and to not take for granted the time that you have with your loved ones. I took my Mom and all that she was to me for granted and there are so many minutes and even seconds that I wish I could have back. Evan and Aida, know that I love you and that I hope to be the type of Mother that elicits the kind of love I felt for mine. I can only hope to be half the woman your Grandmother was, and I will miss her every day of my life. I will do my very best to keep her memory alive, whether through stories, pictures, or by making her favorite desserts as often as possible. Hopefully, I've taken another step by writing this post.

Taken a week before she died

I don't know if I'll keep updating the blog, but I certainly didn't want the blog to end without acknowledging something so monumental to our 2012.

2 Already?

noreply@blogger.com (VerWaynia) — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 02:23:00 +0000

Dear Aida,

Sometimes you look at me and say something in your sweet little voice that makes me think that there is no possible way any other little girl in the history of the world could ever have been this cute. You're simply amazing, and I constantly see your little mind working. You speak in full sentences and mimic everything you hear, which of course keeps all of us on our toes. You're almost as extroverted as your Brother, but you also appreciate your own space and don't mind playing by yourself. You adore Evan, but you have no problem sticking up for yourself if he's trying to boss you around. You do not get pushed around - I really admire that about you :-)

You love animals, especially kitties and puppies. If a book has a kitty cat or puppy dog in it, you are all about it and you're always asking us to draw them on your doodle pad. You play the cutest game with your Daddy where you ask him to be a kitty, and then you say, "give me hug, kitty." Then you wrap your arms around his neck and it's ridiculously precious.

If you were asked what you wanted to be when you grow up, I'm fairly certain you would say either a ballerina or a princess. You love all things girly, but you also like to watch super hero cartoons with us, so I think you're going to be well rounded. Besides princesses and baby dolls, your favorite toys to play with are probably still your Little People. And your favorite Little People? The baby, the Mommy, and Noah. You're crazy about those three!

We had your party this weekend and you loved all of the sweets. In general, you're not that interested in tv, but if you had a favorite cartoon, it would be Super Why. You request it by name and it seems to hold your interest the longest. So, we decorated your cake with the Super Why gang and skittles. I think you approved. I made the butter cream frosting for your cake and ice cream cupcakes, and it was my first time ever attempting it. I love butter cream icing so dearly that I've never wanted to take the chance I'd mess it up. It wasn't the best ever, but it was good enough that I'm willing to keep trying to perfect it. We'll see how Evan's cake turns out!

You loved all of your presents, but you did not like it when we sang happy birthday to you. You made this face...

This is going to be a big year for you. You've been showing a lot of readiness, so we've already started preparing for potty training but we'll officially kick things off at the end of the month. I think you're going to do great! When Evan starts school, on days that I work, you'll be going to daycare all by yourself. No more big Brother to lead the way. Your speech continues to advance - you no longer call Evan, "Emmy," and that makes me sad. About a month ago it just changed overnight to a completely clear "Evan." You're growing up and changing so much every day. You're not nearly as clingy with me as you used to be, and although it means I'm able to get a lot more done, I miss it. Ever since getting a big girl bed, your naps are fewer and farther between, and you've been asserting your independence more too. For awhile your favorite phrase was, "No I not!" The truth is that I really just want you to stay my baby forever, but I know that can't happen. You're going to be a "big girl" whether I like it or not. But I am so tremendously honored to be your Mother and guide on this journey! We love you Aida Bear - Happy Birthday!!

Aida's official stats from today's Doctor's Appointment: 3 feet tall and 34 pounds light. She's in the 90th percentile for height and 95th in weight. She's an overachiever :-)

He Graduated

noreply@blogger.com (VerWaynia) — Fri, 25 May 2012 16:03:00 +0000

So, it would seem that everyone but me is ready for Evan to go to Kindergarten. He even has a preschool diploma to prove it. Evan had his graduation this week, he thought he was a celebrity with all of the cheers and camera flashes. In one of the pictures you'll see his arms raised high, and I'm certain he thought everyone was there for him :-)

He went to his new school a few weeks ago to complete the Kindergarten screening process and he loved it. He can't wait to go back. He has a few friends that will be going to Kindergarten there next year too, and I'm glad he'll know some of his classmates. I was of course "that parent" that requested his testing results and I was devastated when the principal responded with failing scores. Of course, he quickly realized he'd sent me the wrong scores and the real ones showed that he crushed the test. He was above average in every category, and I knew he would be. But I also learned from that experience just how much I want him to do well. I want him to succeed and excel, but I also want him to enjoy school. I'll need to be careful not to pressure him too much in order to strike that balance!

It's going to be so strange next year having him gone all day. The drop off/pick up routine of preschool was getting old by the end of the second year, but it will be sad not having him home for lunch every day, and I know Aida will miss him too. On the plus side, I'll finally be able to dictate my own schedule on the days that I'm home, and Aida and I will have more time for chillin' and running errands. I'm definitely entering a new stage of life, and so is Evan. Together, I think we're going to meet the challenges head on!

How about some Easter in May?

noreply@blogger.com (VerWaynia) — Wed, 02 May 2012 22:07:00 +0000

April went by so fast and I'm fairly sure that May is going to go even faster. So much happened in April. Of course, there was Easter, and the annual Easter egg hunt at my Mom's. This was Aida's first year to join the hunt and she thought it was fantastic, and how could it not be? My Mom throws an amazing Easter egg hunt! I think there were even a few eggs that we adults didn't find this year. Mom was in between chemo treatments so she was feeling well enough to organize it. I was so glad because Easter would not have been the same if we'd had to skip it.

Then there was that other major event in April, my turning a year older. I'm 34 years old now. Hmm, Maybe that's why I ignored the blog. This year's birthday was fairly low key. Jeff and I decided to get each other iPads for our birthdays/anniversary, so that was obviously the bulk of my fanfare. We had said we would wait until the iPad 3 came out in order to see how much the 2 went down in price. We were able to get a great deal on two refurbished iPad 2's from Apple. I almost never get the MacBook out anymore, and the iPad has seriously improved my time spent on the treadmill. Because of space limitations, our treadmill faces a corner, sans tv. I was watching netflix on my iPhone, but the iPad is so much better! We also used our monthly date night on my birthday and saw Hunger Games. But don't worry, even though I read all three books in 2 days and saw the movie, I'm definitely still Team Twilight :-)

I successfully registered my first born for Kindergarten in April, so that happened. He'll be going to full day Kindergarten and the powers that be decided it should be free, so our budget is super excited. However, his Mommy isn't so sure. I'm nervous about so many things: should he ride the bus, dropping his food in the cafeteria, the potential for arm breaking at recess, whether he'll make friends, his ability to sit still for long periods of time. But I know he's going to love it and I'm excited to start this new adventure...I think.

We're all getting really ready for Summer around here, which by the way, starts in 3 1/2 weeks! It's a little shorter this year, and I'm still coming to grips with that reality. I have always been on a school calendar. As soon as I was done going to school, I started working in one. Summers are an institution that I'm not ready to give up. But having longer Fall and Spring breaks will be nice and I'm so glad that we're all on the same schedule.

We had decided not to plan a full vacation this Summer because of my decreased hours at work, but then with the new "from home" duties, they turned out to not really be decreased. Plus, I found out that she wants me to keep up that 1 day per week over the Summer in order to randomly audit documentation. But by the time we figured out all of those changes, we were already really excited by the prospect of visiting friends in Atlanta. So, we decided to rent a cabin in the mountains on the way for a few nights. It's crazy how many more amenities you can get for less in a mountain cabin versus a beach cabin. I'm talking hot tub, game room, full cable, gaming systems, and my personal favorite wi-fi! We don't usually get any of those when we go to the beach! Although maybe after this trip, we might start.

I'm going to end this post with a video clip. I think I mentioned this awhile back, but Aida's name for Evan is "Emmy." Hearing her call him that might be one of the cutest thing ever, so I had to share it. Is it even possible this cute little girl is going to be 2 years old in only 1 month?!?!

Could they slow down a little?

noreply@blogger.com (VerWaynia) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 01:38:00 +0000

Last week was Spring Break and the biggest thing on our agenda was a trip to IKEA. It had been so long since our last visit, I almost felt guilty when we walked through those big glorious doors. As always, we only had a few hours, so we decided to try a new tactic this time. We usually make a shopping list on their site, but this time we started in the pick up area. We used the list to get all of the things we knew for sure we were going to buy and loaded them in the car. That left the rest of the time to leisurely browse. We felt it was an effective strategy, especially when you have limited time.

The main reason for this trip was to purchase Aida's "big girl" bed. We got her the Malm and she loves it. It's really low to the ground, so I don't have to worry about her falling out. I was worried that the freedom to get out of bed would be too much, but she's done a really great job with the transition. She's still napping, and bedtime has even gotten easier. But, when we check on her before going to bed, it's so surreal seeing her asleep in that big bed. I sold her rocker on Craigslist and I got a little emotional last week when I knew I was rocking her in it for the last time. Aida has stayed a "baby" so much longer than Evan, and I've loved every moment of it, but I know they have to grow up sometime.

We moved her name to the opposite wall and used IKEA flower lights as a border. They function as nightlights too, and I think those have helped with bedtime as well.

This is her dresser after being painted and detailed. I also used different fabrics to cover the knobs and I love the finished product. It's a completely different dresser and so girly and it fits perfectly in her room. The mirror is IKEA, as is the lamp, but the jewelry holder is from Target - that girl loves her necklaces :-)

Aida's room is really small, but I think we've made the most of her space. She has 2 little nook areas - one for reading, and one for playing. She also has her dress up clothes out where she can get them now, which she loves. And she thinks she is so cool when she sits at her table. The shelves and hooks are IKEA. The bins are Target, and the table and chairs, that my Mom painted, are from a garage sale.

The second major item on our shopping list at IKEA was a desk for Evan. He has recently entered the world of Legos and he had long outgrown his little kid table. He needed a workspace and something that could grow with him. If all goes well, this will be his desk until he leaves home. This acquisition has been a major game changer. The other day, Aida and I were downstairs and I realized he wasn't with us. I went to his room and there he was, with his door shut, working on his legos. Let's be clear here, this child NEVER voluntarily goes to his room or anywhere that is not where everyone else is. I was shocked. I think he really likes the space to create and focus. It's a good thing because he's about to be a Kindergartener! I registered him this morning. Ack! I hope this Summer really drags, because I don't think I'm ready for August!

And of course, Mommy had to get something on this trip too. Remember last year when we put in a patio and I got a chaise lounge, but really wanted 2? Well, it just wasn't in the budget then, but I'm glad we waited because they dropped significantly in price, so I was finally able to get the second one. Don't worry, Jeff wasn't left out - he also got a new desk. It was a great trip and a great Spring Break! Too bad work starts tomorrow...

How I plan to survive the Zombie Apocalypse

noreply@blogger.com (VerWaynia) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:23:00 +0000

I'm sure you all know that in the great zombie versus vampire debate, I am picking vampires 180% of the time. However, my husband loves a good zombie flick, so on rare occasions I find myself trying to endure the torture that is the post-apocalyptic genre. During these rare occasions, Jeff and I almost always have the following conversation: If a "world-as-we-know-it-ending" disaster was to happen, we would totally be the first to die. We are all about convenience and comfort, and we have no survival skills. None. Losing my DVR alone might be enough to do me in. But on top of that, we don't camp, we don't build things, and we certainly don't know how to live off of the land. We'd be goners for sure!

Well, this Spring we're going to correct 2 of those deficits. We're going to build a box, fill it with dirt, plant a bunch of vegetables in it, and try really hard to remember to water them. That's right, I'm planting a garden! But, we're definitely not camping, because "ewww!"

I've been announcing this plan to anyone and everyone who will listen because I need accountability. When things require even the tiniest amount of work I tend to make grand plans and then never follow through. But, we have a huge yard with lots of sun, and I've been wanting to do this since we moved here. So, this is happening! I've done a lot of research, and have decided to go with a raised garden. We're going to build a 4x8 bed that will hopefully look like this, and I'm planting tomatoes, peppers, beans, lettuce, spinach, herbs, eggplant, squash, zucchini, bok choy, onions, and strawberries. I love to cook with fresh veggies, especially in the Summer, and I'm excited for those to be vegetables I worked hard to grow. I'm also going to try to incorporate the kids in this project as much as possible, and that should be a lot of fun!

The blog is getting in on the action as well because I plan to document the experience, starting with pictures of us attempting to build a box and ending with what will hopefully be a bountiful harvest and not a massive failure. So you will have that "flip of a coin" to look forward to!

February

noreply@blogger.com (VerWaynia) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:33:00 +0000

It's practically March, so I decided to sum up February with one big post. And since that's incredibly lame, I figured I'd complete the effort with an equally lame title. Just like everyone else in Indianapolis, we kicked off the month with the Super Bowl. Jeff works downtown, and designed the city's Super Bowl website and logo, so he got his fill of festivities. But the kids and I didn't go downtown at all. I started out not wanting to go because of the crowds and the fear it might be too cold. Obviously, the weather turned out to be a non-issue, but we still decided not to make the trip. What's funny was that I didn't regret that decision until I heard that there were food trucks! Our House Church had a fabulous Super Bowl party, though, with a projector screen and tons of good food, so all was well!

And then there was Valentine's Day. Jeff and I went to Zest in Broadripple for dinner, and we loved it. I would definitely recommend it. Date nights had started to get a little tricky because our babysitter is in college now, and her schedule is a lot busier. We adore her, but knew it was time to find a back up, and luckily we have a 16 y/o neighbor who said she was interested. It's nice to know that now we have 2 options when we want to go out! Evan really got into Valentine's Day this year and was very excited for his class party and the chance to hand out all of his Valentines. His excitement might have also been fueled by the new tradition we started - on Valentine's Day the kids get to eat candy/chocolate for breakfast :-) I'm fairly regimented about snacks, so he probably thought he was in some kind of alternate universe. We got both of the kids small Valentines, but next year when Aida is a little older, I'd like to start the tradition of Father/Daughter and Mother/Son dates on Valentine's Day. I think they'll both really like that.

I officially started working from home 1 day per week at the end of January, and that's been a fun adjustment. My company put me back to a flat three days per week, and I've really been enjoying the work. I get to review the notes and documentation of new hires but I also get to provide feedback and coach them on how to make improvements. It's supervisory work but without any of the responsibilities. Between that and the two days I do spend in the office being less clinical, I'm a lot happier with work. I thought it would be difficult to work from home, but the only thing I've had to give up is a little TV time, and the extra money has made that more than worth it.

Aida is almost 21 months old and she is so much fun! She loves playing with her Little People and her kitchen, and she's recently discovered dress-up clothes. This weekend she said a 3 word sentence! And her newest phrase is "that's so funny." Way too cute! I've been taking her to story time at the library this Winter and she loves it. And in April, Jeff and I are heading to IKEA to get her "big girl" bed. I have some really fun ideas for transforming her room. We'll be keeping most of the decorations, but all of the furniture and definitely the layout will be changing. I plan to do a before and after post, and I can't wait to see it finished!

I'm starting to think about doing a new edition of the VerWaynian Delicacies. I've worked some new recipes into the rotation (thanks to Pinterest,) and I'd really like to create a new meal plan. But we'll see, it's a lot of work, so it might have to wait until Summer. In the meantime, I hope you like coffee, because I have a few more K-Cup reviews I'm working on...you know, priorities!

I'm really just loving life right now and some days I look around at all the things and people God has blessed me with and I feel incredibly unworthy but also so incredibly thankful. As we barrel into Spring, I pray that each of you are loving life as well!

Love & Happiness

noreply@blogger.com (VerWaynia) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:03:00 +0000

Because of the advertisements you see in the left column of my blog, I sometimes get offers to participate in ad campaigns. I almost never accept, because frankly it's extra work and I have a hard enough time writing regular blog posts, let alone sponsored ones. But I thought this one was interesting, so I decided to give it a shot. I'll be honest, I've done little to no research on the actual campaign, so I can't say I'm endorsing it, but I like this week's question and wanted to answer it...

How do you practice self-acceptance and find unconditional love for yourself? How does practicing love first help you attract more love and happiness in your life?

There was a time in my life that I really had no idea who I was and I certainly wasn't prepared to love whoever that turned out to be. I had to gain some independence. From my parents, from boys, and from my own hang ups. But, I also had to gain some dependence on God. I was in flux for a few years, but something that was never in flux was my faith. God loves me beyond measure even when I make mistakes, and because of that I'm able to love myself (usually) and I'm able to try my hardest every day to show what's probably only a fraction of His love to the people in my life.

That's my official answer, but of course there are a few less grand answers to that question as well.

1) I married well, which I have God to thank for. My husband and I are best friends. We compliment each other. My strengths are his weaknesses and his strengths are my weaknesses. We have fun together, and we're a team in everything we do. It's much easier to love yourself when you're around someone everyday that loves you so obviously.

2) I believe you should "treat yo self" every now and then. Jeff and I feel strongly about not living beyond our means, especially since I work so little, but we also think it's ok to splurge once in awhile. That also applies to self care. I'm not especially good at making time for things like pedicures and haircuts (I shoot for twice a year for both - yikes,) but I do make time for exercise. Not a lot of time mind you, but 30-40 minutes on the treadmill or in front of a strength training video I can handle, and it makes such a difference in my self-image. Plus, Jeff and I exercise together sometimes, and that's a lot of fun.

3) I love to laugh. Jeff and I have that in common. We joke all the time, and I try to be silly with the kids whenever possible. I also try really hard not to take things too seriously, and to stay out of drama.

4) I have a strong support network. I have some great friends and we have an awesome House Church. I know I have people in my life that I can turn to for prayer and help with just about anything and that they truly care about me and my family.

5) As you can see from all of these pictures, I also have 2 amazing children, made fairly obvious by the fact that they're shopping the IKEA catalog in the picture above! I'm not the best Mom. I make mistakes every day, and I'll be the first to admit it. But loving them makes me want to be better. I want them to be happy, healthy children who love themselves and know that they're loved in the way they deserve. And of course, that brings us back to my original answer, because I can't accomplish that without God!

If you'd like to share your own answers to the question, feel free to visit the host site, and you can also enter the corresponding sweepstakes here.

K-Cup Standoff: French Vanilla

noreply@blogger.com (VerWaynia) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:42:00 +0000

As said in this post, I love my new Keurig and I've been quickly working my way through the sample pack that I got for Christmas. This week, I'm reviewing the French Vanilla selections. It's probably important to note, that in general, French Vanilla isn't my favorite of the flavored coffees. But, I gave each of them a try, and here are my impressions...

The Contestants: Timothy's French Vanilla, Green Mountain French Vanilla, and Wolf Gang Puck Francaise Vanilla

Cup Size: 7.25 oz (I used the smaller brew size for all three of these selections because I have found that flavored k-cups tend to err on the weak side. Of the three, I think only the Timothy's would have been strong enough for my taste in the larger size.)

Flavored Creamer: 1 teaspoon of Coffee-mate's Caramel Macchiato

First of all, I'm going to rank these for you by two categories: overall strength of brew and also strength of vanilla flavor - 1 is strongest, 3 is weakest.

Strength of Brew:
1) Timothy's
2) Green Mountain
3) Wolf Gang Puck

Strength of Flavor:
1) Wolf Gang Puck
2) Green Mountain
3) Timothy's

Timothy's was the strongest cup of coffee, although it had a bite to it (I think the professionals call this acidity) and I think it would have been better in the larger size. I had a very hard time distinguishing the French Vanilla flavor in this coffee, which for me wasn't such a bad thing, but since this is a French Vanilla standoff, I'm taking that into consideration. Wolf Gang Puck's hoity-toity Francaise Vanilla had a great vanilla aroma and I think the vanilla flavor was slightly stronger than in the Green Mountain, but it was a really weak cup of coffee. Green Mountain's was the best of both worlds. I could taste and smell the French Vanilla, but it didn't overpower the coffee. I'm pretty sure that if I had used the 9.25 cup size that the Green Mountain wouldn't have been strong enough for me, but in the 7.25 it was just right.

Verdict: Green Mountain wins this standoff again! However, if you want to drink a 9.25 oz cup of coffee and you're not that concerned with the French Vanilla flavor, I would probably pick the Timothy's.

You're Welcome!

Meaningful Art in Every Room of the House

noreply@blogger.com (VerWaynia) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:25:00 +0000

We love having things on our walls, but we're very selective about what we display, because we want those things to have purpose. It's important to us that the things you see in our home reflect who we are and we choose them carefully. Of course, having a designer as a husband certainly helps with this!

We added a cool feature to our kitchen the other day, and then I started thinking about the other rooms in our house. I realized that we have at least one meaningful piece of "art" in every room, so I decided to take some pictures and share them with all of you.

We went to San Francisco on our honeymoon almost 8 years ago, and we found this gorgeous silk table runner in Chinatown. Unfortunately, over the years it's gotten stained, but I couldn't bear to throw it away. We had these frames sitting around (from one of our many IKEA trips,) so I decided to cut out the prettiest parts, frame them, and hang them. These are in the den and are actually the only things on any of the walls in that room. Our den is still a work in progress, because we haven't quite determined its personality yet.

And while we're on the subject of San Francisco, I love that we got these pictures framed. They're photographs I took on our honeymoon and now they hang in our bedroom.

Jeff called dibs on our 4th bedroom to use as his office, and of course he has a ton of cool stuff in there, but I'm highlighting his movie poster. He loved its design, but it was just sitting in his closet. So, one year for his birthday, I surprised him and had it framed. Also in this picture are two Bob Dylan vinyls that I gave him for our first Valentine's Day. He displays them proudly :-)

And then there are the kids' rooms. You've seen pictures of Aida's nursery, but this barrette holder is a newer addition. I don't think I've done a post about this, but one of my hobbies is making cute hair clips for Aida. I was buying so many on Etsy that I decided to try my hand at making them. It's a lot of fun, but I was running out of places to put them. So, once again I turned to Etsy and found this store. I absolutely love her style and she does custom orders. I sent her pictures of Aida's nursery and she created something entirely unique for me.

I'm not sure if you remember this post, but we were so impressed by Evan's ingenuity, that Jeff compiled his photographic creations and we hung them up in his room. The day will probably come when he doesn't find this cool and he insists we find it a new home, but until then he's pretty proud of it too.

This is our dining room. We augmented the original design by cutting each sheet into separate branches so that we could create something new. These wall graphics are one of the first things we ever put on our walls and I still get excited every time I walk in to this room.

We have this rotating display in our living room. Jeff creates these really cool graphic collages, and I love them all so much that I can't pick favorites. So every few months we rotate 2 new ones in. And I get to show off my husband's talent, so that's fun!

Last but not least is the kitchen feature that prompted this post. Jeff went to art school with someone that started their own business creating these table decals. She has a ton of amazing designs, and our table was in desperate need of a face lift so we were really excited by the concept. I think she'll do custom designs, but I fell in love with this one. It's only been a few days, but so far we would definitely recommend her product. It seems durable, it has a matte finish that cleans really well, and it looks great. We love it!

So there you have it, meaningful art in every room of our house: Den, Bedroom, Office, Aida's room, Evan's room, Dining room, Living room, and Kitchen. And the best part is that all but one are completely one-of-a-kinds. It's been a slow process, and there's still a lot more wall space to cover, but it's a process we enjoy!

K-Cup Standoff: Hazelnut

noreply@blogger.com (VerWaynia) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:29:00 +0000

I think that my Keurig Coffeemaker has revolutionized my life in ways that could only be compared to the significance of the Microwave Oven's effects on the American household. You know, excluding all of its negative impacts like increased divorce, cancer, and childhood obesity rates. For someone who loves coffee, but is the only person in her family with a palette advanced enough to enjoy it, besides my toddler of course, it is the perfect way to make coffee.

If you have a Keurig, you know how instantly the vast realm of K-cups can engulf your world. I keep promising myself that I'm going to do the smart thing and buy a reusable K-cup so that I can use my own 12 oz bags of coffee. And I will. Eventually. In the meantime, I'm having way too much fun researching and taste testing the endless varieties of perfectly convenient, all inclusive, 5 seconds to brew, caffeinated K-Cup goodness.

However, I am finding a lot of the reviews to be a little intellectual for my taste, so I decided to dumb it down a little and write my own every now and then. I'm starting with a comparison of two that I enjoyed this week. I do need to make a few disclaimers. My palette may be advanced enough to appreciate coffee, but it's not advanced enough to detect every hint of earthy flavor and inspiration. Plus, even though, I am perfectly capable of enjoying a strong cup of black coffee (especially with some type of chocolate decadence,) I almost always add flavored creamer. But, I do not EVER drink my coffee with "cream and sugar." It's either black, or flavored. So, if you are a black coffee elitist, then my opinion may mean nothing to you. Also, I like my coffee strong, so that impacts my perspective.

The Contestants: Gloria Jeans Hazelnut vs Green Mountain Hazelnut

I read the following reviews:
Gloria Jeans
Green Mountain

Cup Size: 9.25 oz

Flavored Creamer: 2 teaspoons of Coffee-mate's Belgian Chocolate Toffee (which may or not be expired.)

According to the reviews, I expected to prefer the Gloria Jeans variety. But, I did not. End of review. Ok, maybe that's a little too dumbed down. I've tried a few of Gloria Jeans' selections, and I'm not impressed with the strength of their brews. I've found all of them to be a little weak and watered down for my taste, especially when using the 9.25 oz size. However, I think that the times I've used the 7.25 oz, I've liked them much better.

The hazelnut flavor was a little more pronounced in the Gloria Jeans, but the Green Mountain was a better cup of coffee overall. Even on the larger size it had a lot of body and was strong enough that the creamer didn't hide the taste of the coffee, and there was still the hint of hazelnut that rounded out the experience.

Verdict: If you only want the small cup of coffee and you care more about the Hazelnut flavor than the strength of your coffee, then you might prefer the Gloria Jeans. However, if you want the larger size and prefer a good cup of coffee that just happens to have a hazelnut influence my choice is the Green Mountain.

You're Welcome!

It's a new year

noreply@blogger.com (VerWaynia) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 01:39:00 +0000

2012 has been pretty great so far. It started with a fabulous party with our House Church that just kept getting better the later it got. Then we rounded out our Christmas break, during which Jeff was home for a full week. I went back to work on Wednesday after having almost 3 weeks off, and besides all of us feeling tired, it was a smooth adjustment back into routine.

I've been thinking about what's to come, and what lies ahead for each of us this year?

Jeanelle - I got a really interesting call this week from my supervisor. My company has asked if I would be willing to spend some of my newly increased time at home doing administrative tasks that the supervisors don't have time for. We have a lot of new hires coming on soon, and all of their notes and other paperwork need to be reviewed. I don't know if any of you have ever looked in to working from home, but I have, and it's a hard gig to land. In order for a company to pay you to sit around on your laptop in your pj's, you either have to be grandfathered in or it's a scam. So, this is a great opportunity. It sounds like it could be an ongoing thing with some changing responsibilities, and that's exciting. And the best part is that I'll still be home just as much with the kids!

The second best part of this development is it's impact on our finances. I'm not going to lie, we were a little worried how things were going to shake out with my decreased hours after realizing my Mom wouldn't be watching the kids for the remainder of the school year. We don't believe in living on credit, so we were going to be using more of our savings than planned. It always amazes me how God provides exactly what you need. I've done the math and I think that the extra hours from working at home will just cover the shortage we were facing. I had a huge smile on my face during our phone call as I realized that I was experiencing a tangible example of God's provision!

Jeff - As an avid Colts fan, Jeff's 2012 is all over the place! He's been hoping for change all year, and he's definitely going to get it. It's a weird time to be a Colts fan, but he's embracing it! He's also ready for the Super Bowl to come and go. He worked on the bid to the NFL owners that brought the big game to our city and since then, his company has been doing a lot of follow up work. I keep saying he should get tickets as a result, but that's not happening. He works downtown, so I'm a little worried what the Super Bowl is going to do to his already extremely exaggerated commute, but maybe he'll see some celebrities :-)

He's also going to be finishing his "Bible in a Year" plan. He's already almost 80% through and I'm really proud of how diligent he's been. He rarely misses a day and even though I fall far behind, it's been inspiring. I'm sure he has a lot more planned for the upcoming year, but as always, I know that the top of his list includes being an amazing husband, provider, and Father.

Evan - Kindergarten! Need I say more? Seriously, we'll be going to Evan's elementary school in just a few short months to register and make our final decisions on full vs half day Kindergarten. We're 99% sure that we'll be doing full day. We think he's ready. He's comfortable being away from us, he can't get enough of being around friends, and he loves to learn. My only fear is that the long day may lead to increased frustration and behavior problems. But, every month I see Evan mature even more, so I know he's going to do great!

Aida - She is 100% pacifier free. It was so much easier than I had built up in my head. We went the cold turkey route - started the day without it and never looked back. I can't say I haven't missed it on occasion, when she's being fussy, and I know a pacifier would buy me a few moments of peace. But we're free and it feels good. She also turns 2 in June, and yes, we've already seen a few tantrums. Aida's not a fan of "no," but she responds well to discipline and usually turns things around as soon you correct her. I'm considering putting potty training on Summer's agenda, so that could be huge for her, but we'll see. I don't know if I've recovered from Evan's potty training, but I've heard girls are easier...

It's going to be a great year!

Hermits

noreply@blogger.com (VerWaynia) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:35:00 +0000

We have been absolute hermits during this break. We stayed busy and visited with family and friends while Jeff was home. But on the days that it's just been me and the kids, we've barely left the house. I really don't feel that bad about it, I've enjoyed all of the quality time with the kids, and it's meant more time in my fleece pajamas, so I've been happy! The picture above is one of Evan's creations from last week. I was trying to keep him busy with crafts, so I gave him leftover wrapping paper, ribbon, shapes, glue sticks, and scissors. He came up with this all on his own with absolutely no direction. He says it's Aida :-) We've also watched a lot of movies and played with all of their new toys. It's been a great 2 weeks!!

I did have one thing I wanted to accomplish before break was over - weaning Aida off of her pacifier. She still wakes up once or twice at night looking for it, and if we don't get it to her fast enough she doesn't go right back to sleep. She's been asking for it more and more during the day too. Meanwhile, she also still thinks she's nursing. I said "thinks she's nursing" because I'm pretty sure I no longer have much in the way of supply. We started the process yesterday, and it's been over 24 hours with no pacifier. Yesterday morning was kind of rough, and then she didn't want to go to sleep at nap time, but bedtime was a lot easier. Of course, she had just had a fall that resulted in a fat lip and Tylenol, so that might have helped. And the best part? She didn't wake up or stir once last night, again, maybe thanks to the Tylenol. Day 2 is going well so far, but we'll see how nap time goes.

One unintended result of this process is that so far she hasn't asked to nurse at all today, so I think the two were connected. For all intents and purposes she was already weaned from nursing anyway, but it's almost like sometimes she just wants to check in to make sure that I'm still here. I'll miss those times with her when they're gone, but I won't miss being a slave to the pacifier - especially at 5:30 in the morning!

It finally snowed

noreply@blogger.com (VerWaynia) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 03:14:00 +0000

Jeff was so disappointed that it wasn't cold on Christmas and there was no snow, but at least it snowed before break was over. This is the first time that Aida has actually played in the snow, because last year she was too little. She loves to go outside and wanted to so badly when she saw Evan getting ready, but once she got out there, she wasn't so sure anymore. Daddy and Evan had a snowball fight, while Aida, the camera, and I tried to stay out of the line of fire.

Christmas Was Here

noreply@blogger.com (VerWaynia) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 20:33:00 +0000

This was the most excited I've been for Christmas in a long time. That's not to say that I haven't enjoyed and looked forward to each Christmas, but there was just something special about this one. We were excited about the kids' gifts and I couldn't wait to watch their faces when they opened their presents. But, I was also really excited about my own gifts. Jeff and I haven't really exchanged "big" presents in a few years, but we decided to spend a little more money on each other this year. I had two major items on my wishlist: a Keurig coffeemaker and fleece pajama pants (because if I'm at home, I'm in pajama pants, and we're cheap so our house is always cold!) I got both, so I've been drinking coffee in comfort since Sunday!

Evan didn't get one big gift, but he got a lot of "medium" ones that we knew he would really like. He now has walkie talkies and enough remote control cars that he and Daddy can race each other all over the house. Aida got a few little things, but her major gift was a new kitchen. We had been borrowing a baby kitchen from friends, but she had long outgrown that one. We were waiting for Christmas to give her the new one and I could hardly wait! It's the perfect size for her and she seems to love it!

I think everyone got exactly what they wanted this year and it was a great Christmas. But, between our own advent activities, Sunday school, preschool, and House Church, I also feel confident that our children know the real meaning of Christmas. We're filled with pride and joy every time we hear Evan talk about Jesus, and not just during the holidays. We know that every day he has a better understanding of God's love and sacrifice and that makes us so happy!

Merry Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (VerWaynia) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:17:00 +0000

I won't be getting these in the mail this year, but this is our Christmas card! Just pretend it's in an envelope and you got it out of your mailbox today! We're currently on Christmas break and having a blast watching movies, doing Christmas crafts, drinking hot chocolate, and trying to convince the kids to sleep in. I also fully intend to add a little blogging to that agenda!

So Much

noreply@blogger.com (VerWaynia) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 03:17:00 +0000

November was so busy and a tad overwhelming, hence the only one blog entry in 6 weeks. We had Evan's birthday, Thanksgiving, my work schedule changed, and the heaviest...My Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. November was an emotional roller coaster, full of questions and unkowns, and prayer, lots of prayer. I'm not going to go in to much detail on here because it's not exactly my story to tell. But I am in the fight, and that's what we're doing. Praying and fighting. Things could look better, but they could also look a lot worse. God is the Lord of our lives, no matter what the situation, and I know that Mom believes and lives into that truth!

My moving down to 2 days per week was a little stressful at first because Mom isn't able to watch the kids while she is being treated. Our plans had to be changed, but it has been such a blessing. Not only have I loved being home more with the kids, but I also wouldn't have had a way for Evan to get to preschool on Wednesdays if I hadn't dropped that day. So far I'm loving the new schedule, and I know Aida appreciates the extra time with Mommy. Three days away were a little much for her I think.

Speaking of Aida, she turned 18 months old this month and she really outdid herself at her check-up. She now weighs 31 pounds and is 33 inches tall, which is almost exactly what Evan's stats were when he was 18 months old, so she's finally caught up. She looks like a 3 year old and she's definitely sturdy, but when I look at her I still just see a baby :-) She's talking so much now, that I can't even count how many words she says. She's so sweet and cuddly and I love her so much that sometimes my heart feels like it might explode when I look at her.

Evan is gearing up for his Christmas party at school and we went to his Christmas program last week. He did such a good job - I took some video on my phone that I might try to get on here soon. We were really proud of him. He's growing up so fast - only one more semester of preschool! He's really excited about Christmas and it's infectious - we can't wait!

Happy 5th Birthday Evan!

noreply@blogger.com (VerWaynia) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 20:09:00 +0000

Yesterday was Evan's 5th birthday and today he went to the doctor for his check up and the last round of his Kindergarten shots. Again with the Kindergarten? Really?? Between that and his measurements, there's no denying it. He really is growing up! He weighs 48.5 lbs and he's 3'8 feet tall. This weekend we had a small party for Evan, and after much deliberation, decided to keep it just family. We've promised him a "friend party" next year, though, and he doesn't forget anything, so there's no backing out. Thanks to commercials and McDonalds, Evan insisted on having a Bakugan cake, and he got some pretty cool presents, so he was happy.

Jeff and I got Evan a bunch of "spy" toys for his birthday because he's always talking about wanting to be a spy. I think he'd be good at it because the boy who is never quiet can somehow sneak down the stairs without us ever knowing.

I always say this, but I can't believe that we've been parents for 5 years. There are days that it seems like it's been a lot longer, but most of the time it feels like just yesterday we started this journey. And meanwhile, Evan has turned into a really awesome little boy. He loves school, and he loves his friends, and he loves his Sister. Actually, Evan just plain loves. He has a huge heart and he deeply desires to share that heart with those around him. Jeff and I feel honored that God chose us to be the ones to care for and protect that heart.

I've included a video of Evan singing a song that he made up about God that speaks volumes. He had already been singing for several minutes when I got the idea to record him, so I missed the best parts. He sings likes this a lot and he loves to get his guitar out and perform for us. Of course, his Daddy plays in the worship band at our church, so he has a good role model. These are the moments that make me so proud to be Evan's Mommy. There is never a dull moment with Evan and we love him! Happy Birthday, Evan!

Happy Halloween

noreply@blogger.com (VerWaynia) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 01:39:00 +0000

We started a great Halloween tradition a few years back of having dinner with friends before taking all of our kids trick or treating and we did that again this year. Evan looks forward to walking the neighborhood with his friends almost as much as the candy itself :-) This was Aida's first official trick or treating and it took her a few houses, but I think she got the general idea. Aida was a super cute ice cream cone and Evan was a mighty Thor. I was a little skeptical of getting him the hammer, but Jeff said it was a must, and as far as I could tell he was very responsible with it. As usual, our neighborhood was crazy busy with trick or treaters, and we gave out a ton of candy!

We also carved our pumpkins this weekend, and by "we" I mean Jeff. Although, Evan did work up some sketches and he "art directed" Jeff's carving. I'm always amazed by the finished product. Jeff is a very talented pumpkin carver! Aida wasn't overly involved this year, but she did watch and seemed interested. I'm sure she'll play a bigger role next year. Speaking of next year, I can not believe that November is here! Evan will be turning 5 in a few weeks and then it's the holidays and we're on to 2012. It's crazy how fast this year has been going!

Field Trips

noreply@blogger.com (VerWaynia) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 17:33:00 +0000

Evan has been on two field trips for school this year: the Apple Orchard and the Fire Station, and he also just had his first class party for Halloween. I'm going to be honest - these events exhaust me! They're fun and he has a blast, but I am always completely wiped out afterwards. The orchard wasn't so bad because it was outside and Aida was in a stroller and we went at our own pace. But, the fire station field trip and the class party were inside and there are always a ton of parents at those things so it's really crowded, and I'm always stressed and worried that I might have to redirect Evan in front of everyone. Of course, he was really good for both, although maybe a tad too talkative and inquisitive at the fire station. Once I've recovered, I look at the pictures, and remind myself that I'm really lucky to be able to attend those with him

I left Aida with my Mom for the fire station field trip, but I brought her yesterday for the class party and that was a big mistake. She chose the moment of silence right before the class prayer to have her first full-on temper tantrum. I had to remove her from the room and didn't know that meanwhile Evan was going to be the one saying the prayer. When I got back, the teacher told me that I had missed it and that his prayer was so sweet and heartfelt. "Way to go Aida!" I learned my lesson, though. An hour is too long to be cooped up in an overcrowded room watching everyone else have snacks and play games when you've missed your lunch and are getting dangerously close to nap time!

Boo at the Zoo, without much boo

noreply@blogger.com (VerWaynia) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:51:00 +0000

Aida finally got her first trip to the zoo last week. Jeff took a couple of days off for our Fall Break so we decided to go for ZooBoo. I know it doesn't look like we dressed up, but Evan did have a mask he was occasionally wearing. And Aida's costume is so completely adorable that I didn't want to take the chance that it would get damaged before Halloween. I really have no idea how it's taken us so long to get Aida to the zoo, because she loves animals. We knew she would love it, and I think maybe we wanted to wait until she could really appreciate the animals. There was a lot of pointing and "ooohs" and "ahhs" - it was very fun, of course!

All in one day

noreply@blogger.com (VerWaynia) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:03:00 +0000

My blogging abilities can NOT keep up with all of the Fall activities! Evan wrapped up his soccer season a few weeks back and later that day we went to my Mom's for a wiener roast. All of the running made Aida a little grouchy (see above) but otherwise it was good day. Evan got his trophy, so that made him happy. We considered getting him involved in the Y's basketball program because we thought it might help with coordination and following directions, but we missed the cutoff. We might look for that next time.

Next week is my last week of working 3 days. I know, it kept getting delayed, but it really is happening this time! And now that I'll be home more during the week and Aida is a little older, it's time to start thinking about involving her in activities. I'm definitely going to start taking her to the library for story time, but I'm also going to do either kindermusik or tumbling. We did tumbling for Evan, but it might be time for some variety. I know she'll have fun at whatever we do, and I can't wait to have those experiences with her.

Driving Miss Aida

noreply@blogger.com (VerWaynia) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 02:29:00 +0000

The kids were making the most of our patio this afternoon. We had moved the furniture aside on one of those recent windy days, and Evan used the space to practice his chauffeuring skills. Aida might have gotten a little whiplash, but she was loving it! This video was taken towards the end, after they'd already made several, even cuter laps. The excitement on her face was cracking us up!

Fall Days

noreply@blogger.com (VerWaynia) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 20:37:00 +0000

I love Fall! We've been to the orchard, made apple pie, eaten s'mores, and we've had a "bonfire." Soon we'll be playing in the leaves, carving pumpkins, eating chili, and going to Boo at the Zoo. Oh, and we've watched lots of football! We were hanging out in the backyard the other day and I decided to take some pictures. I've gotten really lazy with the picture taking lately, but they were being pretty cute so I got some good ones...

Evan is finishing up Soccer and getting excited about his birthday. It's a month away and I have no idea what we're doing yet. Thanks to commercials, he's decided he wants to have a Bakugan cake, and yesterday he asked if we could invite his friends, so now I have some serious decisions to make. We weren't planning on starting the "friend" birthdays for another year, but now I'm not so sure. Although, with only a month to go, I'm not sure I have the time to plan for that type of party. I'm not sure I'm really ready for all of that, but then again, what else would you get for the extrovert that has everything?

Aida is trying to talk more. I think she's saying variations of the following words: bye, balloon, brother, Daddy, Mommy, paci, baby, doggy, belly, and kitty. She can point to most of her body parts, and she can make a few animal sounds. And every time we praise her, she claps for herself, so she's got self esteem down. She's at such a fun age right now. She's more independent, but still loves to cuddle. Her newest interest is books. Evan loved books from the beginning and has always liked being read to, but Aida did not have time for books! Now, she constantly brings us books and loves story time.

I keep thinking back to last year at this time and I'm so amazed at how different life already is. Aida isn't a baby anymore, and now she can participate in all of our Fall activities and enjoy them as much as we do. And Evan can take his Sister by the hand and tell her about all the fun things they get to do. It's all so cute I can hardly take it!! I love these kids!