My parent's beach house was built in the late 1800's so it has some really old fun details, like this fireplace.Sunday, March 29, 2009
Photo Shoot
While we were in NJ I took advantage of having a super talented friend with me and made her take pictures of my baby boy. I just love him and I love the pictures she took! Thanks, Jenn!
My parent's beach house was built in the late 1800's so it has some really old fun details, like this fireplace.
My parent's beach house was built in the late 1800's so it has some really old fun details, like this fireplace.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Spring Break
You probably know that I am a Jersey Girl. I grew up there and lived most of my life in NJ and I love it, the armpit of America. My family has a house at the shore and it is one of my most favorite places to be. This past weekend we went up for a little mini-vacation. One of the highlights of our time was being able to spend some time with my family. We were even able to get a photo of everyone together. I think it has been two years since we did this.
Our dear friends, the Dabbs, were able to come for a few of the days we were there. One of those days, Jenn & I took Aubreigh, Karis & Jedi to the Statue of Liberty and into the city. My paternal grandmother was from Germany and when she around five years old she came over on a boat and went through Ellis Island. She was a remarkable woman who lived a remarkable life, I wish she had written her life story down before she died because it could have been a book. Her name is on the memorial wall at Ellis Island, this was the first time I was able to see it. It was very moving for me. I'm so glad that I had Jedi with me. His middle name is Anton, which was his Great-great Grandfather's first name (and also my Dad and brother's middle name). Jenn took a photo for me of him next to it. My grandmother would have cherished it.
After visiting the Statue of Liberty we went into NYC (for those of you outside the NY metro area the Statue of Liberty is not in NYC, it is on an island between NJ & NY, you can access it only by ferry from either NJ or Battery Park, NY). In NYC we went to my cousin's bakery, Billy's. If you happen to be in NYC it it very good. And also a fun restaurant called Peanut Butter & Company, almost everything is made with peanut butter. It was a great day bonding with my girlie.
It was a very restful and refreshing time for me. Erik is an amazing servant and went above and beyond to make the time restful for me. I'm so grateful for the time we had and even more grateful for my husband who made it possible.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Updates
It has been awhile since I've posted so I thought I'd do a little update on the family.
Erik- many of you know that his health has been not so good over the past few months. The lung issue and the antibiotics used to clear that up caused his Crohn's Disease to flare up to the worst it has ever been. He is now taking steroids to control that and Lord willing will wean off of these in the next few months. We are grateful for our doctor and medication and pray that he'll be back to normal soon.
Karis- She is a wonderful little girl. She helps out so much around home. She is learning to read, which is very exciting for me. It is hard work for her but she continues to make great progress. She would tell you that she doesn't like school but everyday when we are done she asks to do more. She loves to wear dresses and is trying hard to convert Mercia to her ways, whenever she gets her dressed in the morning Mercia is wearing a dress. She and Mercia have been sharing a room for a few months and we love listening to them sing in the morning when they wake up.
Jotham- He is at such a fun stage. More boy than baby, but still some baby in there. He is sensitive and scared by little things but getting more brave. He LOVES Jedidiah and I have to say his tenderness toward his little brother warms my heart. He does not know any of his letters but has expressed some interest in learning them.
Mercia- She is handful. She sort of runs/hops everywhere and it is so cute, I just love it. She has her opinions and lets them be know, especially when she doesn't get her way. She has now enjoyed pizza and ice cream. She thinks things with cheese in it are "spicy" but she very much enjoyed her first ice cream cone and was very upset with the idea of having to share it. This picture is her enjoying her first cone, I wish I had a picture of her eyes when she got to the cone. You would have thought we had given her gold. I don't think she realized that she was going to eat the thing she was holding so she was very excited!
Erik- many of you know that his health has been not so good over the past few months. The lung issue and the antibiotics used to clear that up caused his Crohn's Disease to flare up to the worst it has ever been. He is now taking steroids to control that and Lord willing will wean off of these in the next few months. We are grateful for our doctor and medication and pray that he'll be back to normal soon.
Karis- She is a wonderful little girl. She helps out so much around home. She is learning to read, which is very exciting for me. It is hard work for her but she continues to make great progress. She would tell you that she doesn't like school but everyday when we are done she asks to do more. She loves to wear dresses and is trying hard to convert Mercia to her ways, whenever she gets her dressed in the morning Mercia is wearing a dress. She and Mercia have been sharing a room for a few months and we love listening to them sing in the morning when they wake up.
Jotham- He is at such a fun stage. More boy than baby, but still some baby in there. He is sensitive and scared by little things but getting more brave. He LOVES Jedidiah and I have to say his tenderness toward his little brother warms my heart. He does not know any of his letters but has expressed some interest in learning them.
Mercia- She is handful. She sort of runs/hops everywhere and it is so cute, I just love it. She has her opinions and lets them be know, especially when she doesn't get her way. She has now enjoyed pizza and ice cream. She thinks things with cheese in it are "spicy" but she very much enjoyed her first ice cream cone and was very upset with the idea of having to share it. This picture is her enjoying her first cone, I wish I had a picture of her eyes when she got to the cone. You would have thought we had given her gold. I don't think she realized that she was going to eat the thing she was holding so she was very excited!
Jedidiah- He is a sweet and easy baby. He sleeps great and is usually pretty calm. He seems to have a milk allergy so I am not eating any dairy. We have noticed clear signs of his aversion whenever I do it. He is getting more social but hasn't been the most smiley baby. At his 2 month visit he weighed 12 lbs. 5 oz (50-75%), he was 23 inches long (50%) and his head was also 50%. I'm not sure who he looks like but several people have said he resembles my Dad, which would be nice since they have the same middle name and have similar birthdays. Sad to say, I don't have many pictures of him but here is one from the other day.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Celebration
In case you didn't know, our little Cia has food allergies, milk & peanuts. When she was seven months old she was diagnosed with a life threatening allergy to milk (the peanut was added later). Since then she has been in a food allergy study at Johns Hopkins. At her last visit they said her blood test had gone low enough that they wanted to do a food challenge with her. A food challenge is when over the course of an hour you work you way up to eating a full serving of the allergic item (you start really small- a teaspoon).So today I took her to Hopkins and did the challenge and HOORAY!!! She passed!!! Unless you have a food allergic kid you have no idea how awesome this is. Can anyone say, pizza for dinner, grilled cheese for lunch!
Anyway, just wanted to share my happy news.
On another Cia note, she is seems to be spatially challenged. She thinks she can sit in dollhouse chairs and has recently taken to to trying baby doll cloths on. She really thinks they are going to fit. I'm hoping she'll grow out of this but if she doesn't real estate should be pretty cheap for her, and though they lack privacy doll houses are very cute.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Snow Day
How exciting to get a little bit of snow. If you know my hubby, you know he LOVES snow. I mean really loves- prays for it, is sinfully disappointed when it doesn't happen, loves snow. So he was extra excited that it snowed on his day off and he was able to spend sometime outside with the kids. I have pictures of him playing outside with our growing family each year from the past few years so I had to take one with Jedi outside too.
And I just liked this picture of Karis. She was having so much fun outside today.
And I just liked this picture of Karis. She was having so much fun outside today.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Looking for...
a blond haired 7 year old boy who really, really, really, for sure, loves the Lord. He is needed to marry my daughter when she turns 8 and he is 10. You can see a picture of the ceremony. That is Daddy in a styling red and green outfit (check out the beard), Karis with balloons and her future husband at their wedding.
