See Ya, September!

It's always at this time every year that I begin to bemoan the fact that we didn't make the most of summer. We are seeing some cool days crowd in here and there, and it reminds me that I need to make the most of these days! We spent some time at the park on Monday, which is much more fun now that Elyse can swing :) I LOVE Septembers in Virginia. The days still have some heat without most of the humidity, and the nights are almost cool enough to want a sweatshirt. I'm not quite in the "fall" mood, yet, but I'll get there. Until then, I'm going to enjoy these lovely days that don't come around yearly: the days we have with Elyse as a 9-month old :)

Savin' for a rainy day, or a doll...

Last week, we enjoyed a visit from Jordan's parents. They were en route to the great NORTH, but we were happy to distract them for a few days! Elyse enjoyed the extra attention immensely. Having an audience other than Mom and Dad is quite fun. Mom and Dad brought each of the grandkids a bank, and Elyse's cousin Shiloh was just enthralled by these banks! As you can see from the pictures, Eli and Elyse were only along for the ride :) Mom and Dad hand-painted them, and they are simply adorable. These pictures were just too irresistible to post, mostly because it is so fun to watch kids enjoy the simple things of life. I remember my first "piggy" bank (which was actually a plastic bunny), and each penny I added made me feel so rich. Though Elyse doesn't enjoy putting coins in this adorable little elephant yet, I hope she finds GREAT enjoyment someday in saving for the future! I'm already curious as to what she will want to spend her savings on in a few years. Hmm...

9 Months Old!

My little pumpkin is 9 months old today! I am spending a lot of time laughing at Miss Elyse lately. She is revealing some very interesting parts of her personality, and I'm starting to wonder what these next months will be like! We definitely have a little chatter-box on our hands. She still gets kind of intimidated when "strangers" are around, but when it's quiet, you should hear her go! She is saying "da-da" and "ya-ya" very often, and she peppers lots of her noises with squeals that make her face all red. She is now "growling" some, which is kind of frightening, but thankfully, she's usually happy when she's making that noise. She is becoming more interested in her toys, and even has a few favorites. She's still addicted to the "Three Little Kittens" story, but she is broadening her horizons and tolerating some other fun books. If it was possible, she is an even bigger fan of Daddy these days, and she likes to seek him out in every room. If that doesn't melt my heart...! It took almost a week of practice, but she is now officially eating finger foods. Welcome to the world of Cheerios! She's rolling over, and scoots all over her crib, but seems to reserve her movement for the crib. She's pulled herself up on her knees a couple of times, but looks a little overwhelmed once she gets there! :) As she grows, it's sad to watch the baby-ness slip away, but she'll always be my little girlie. Here are some of my traditional fun's and not-so-fun's for this month:

fun's:

* Elyse loves to clap these days - I LOVE it!
* I love watching her chew with her two teeth :) A true talent...
* She passes food from her right hand to her left before placing it in her mouth...?
* She giggles whenever we whistle.
* Sitting in the front of a shopping cart is SO fun.
* CHUBBY, CHUBBY arms and legs!
* I think she's discovered 200 new facial expressions this month, each of which cracks me up!
* I love discovering what corner of the crib she'll be hiding in when I get her up from a nap :)
* She really enjoys dancing to music. Sometimes she bops so hard, she looks a little dizzy.
* For some reason, other babies really make her laugh.
* She now waits for me to blow her a kiss when I put her down for a nap...
* Baby food is much easier to make these days.

not-so-fun's:

* She is having a rough time learning the sign for "please," and the whining is my least favorite noise these days.
* More food = more _____.
* She is definitely getting more frustrated that she's not moving much, but she obviously doesn't really care :)
* I've officially entered the stage of the "food-littered-floor." I'm already sick of my broom!
* She is really abusing the whole poochy-lip thing.
* It's hitting me that she's only 3 months away from turning 1!

Ginger Cookies...

Happy Fall to one and all! Okay, that was cheesy. I honestly haven't really gotten into fall yet, but all you blogging friends out there are inspiring me with your posts! Here is a recipe for ginger cookies some of you have asked me about. Maybe this will inspire me to get into the spirit! :)

1 cup sugar
3/4 cup shortening (I use butter-flavored)
1 egg
3 Tblspoons molasses

2 cups flour
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp cloves
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda

Cream the first four ingredients together. In a separate bowl, combine all dry ingredients. Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well. Shape dough into small balls and roll in white sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. 1 batch yields almost 4 dozen. Enjoy!

Team Canada

Over the weekend, we headed to Corolla, NC, for a few days of bonding time with our very own Team Canada! I don't believe I've yet shared any of our future plans, but our goal is to get out to Vancouver, BC, and serve the Lord by working in a church-planting setting. Since we've dreamed of this for years (it's so strange typing that it's been years since our college days), it is so exciting to see how God is leading us along in this adventure. There are days when it seems we will never get there, but those days are getting fewer and fewer. We've watched "what-if's" turn into "somehow's," and now they're turning into "when's" before our eyes. It's so exciting to watch God open and shut doors for his glory as they pertain to our future (some parts of that are more exciting than others). Our team started as four friends and has now morphed into six friends and a few additional tag-a-long's (5 very cute ones, I might add). While we were there, the guys were able to spend lots of time planning, and we girls were able to spend lots of time talking as we cared for the kiddos. We even put up with each other through a nasty bout of flu that threatened to ruin our perfect weekend :) We beat it, though, and even had fun despite the major inconvenience. Yes, the flu inspires bonding at its best! There's nothing like a kick of reality to bring a new dimension to plans for ministry. Ha! SO, now we're home with lots of food for thought, work to do, plans to make and good memories. Here are some pictures of our fun time away. (No, I have no pictures of any major inconveniences...)

In the blink of an eye...

... my baby is becoming a big girl. Well, she's not exactly big, but she seems to be changing more and more each day. I think the most frequent piece of advice that I have received over the last 17 months (from pregnancy on) from other parents is to enjoy every minute, because those precious minutes are gone in a split-second. I remember holding Elyse in the hospital and specifically determining that I would enjoy every day with her. It sounds so simple, yet the days get so busy. I've learned that it is something I have to consciously do every day, or I'll fall into bed at night and forget the expressions on her face or the funny things she did. It often isn't easy to enjoy the new meal-time messes, but the sweet face she makes when she eats is worth every nasty pile of mush. I'm not a huge fan of this new "whining" stage she's in (YES, we're working on signing!) right now, yet her look of excitement when I finally leave the kitchen sink full of dishes to play with her for a while is worth it. That short nap that surprises me every so often (only ever when I'm trying to get a few hours of work in for my "paid" job) is a real pain, but seeing her happy little face when I surprise her by getting her UP is such a joy. I have enjoyed these months so much, perhaps more so since I have determined to enjoy every minute. Alas, I'll probably look back and wonder why I didn't enjoy it more... Honestly, much of the advice I received (and still receive) about parenting was worth about nothing, but that was one tip I am glad I took. One of my favorite pieces of advice was from a former coworker and goes something like this: the dishes, laundry and cleaning can all wait... take a nap. I keep reminding Jordan of that, but for some reason, he think's she's full of bologna?

~trying out the whole "finger food" thing

~Labor Day concert at the park

A bit irreverent, perhaps...

I'm not sure what she thought was so funny, but she could not contain herself yesterday morning! I hope this isn't a sign of what's to come in our future as we sit through sermons. It reminds me of all the times I tried so hard to contain my laughter during church (when I was a wee tike, mind you), usually as a result of one of my brother's ridiculously funny jokes. At those times, he could look at me sideways, and I would about fall off my seat. It truly is one of the best and worst feelings ever: trying to smother laughter. Elyse just hasn't learned the art, right?

Love that sparkle in her eyes...

Sweet Sounds

Since I am just wasting time listening outside Elyse's room to some of the sweetest sounds in the world, I figured I might as well grab the computer and write it down. Hmm...do you think I'll be able to access my blog in 18 years? Have you ever taken a nap and been awakened by a very rude alarm, just as you fell into the deepest of sleeps? Typically, that's my Sunday afternoon nap. I'm so aware of my limited time, so I set an alarm to prevent one of my greatest fears: oversleeping. Naps like those are miserable to wake up from. I love waking up on my own without a rude alarm. Jordan and I have both experienced being a "rude alarm" to Elyse in the middle of the night as we've gone to check on her before going to bed. Without even a peep, her eyes would pop open, and she would let loose a horrible, sad scream.

I intended to write about sweet sounds, so we'll focus on what's going on now in my house. Some of the cutest sounds I hear are the noises Elyse makes when she wakes up. Perhaps she's still too little to be frustrated by not being heard, but I really think she is as happy as a lark in there! Her first awake sound in the morning is usually a big, "gurgley" squeal of delight. I usually let her go for a while until I'm fully ready for the day to begin, and I'm so entertained by the funny noises that follow. Her awake sounds from naps are usually really happy little "words" like "ma-ma" (not often enough), "ba-ba," "va-va," and now "fa-fa." Interspersed are little noises that I know I'll hear in a few years as she's playing with her toys and her imaginary friends. Sometimes, it sounds like she's doing vocal exercises in there! Are any of you secretly giving her voice lessons?

I know nothing feels better than waking up on your own, happy, so I can imagine she is feeling the joys of good sleep in there already! :) AND, if she's like us, she will appreciate her sleep very much as she gets older, too! These are some of the things I hope I won't ever forget. Though I'm sure I'll be sad for many other reasons when she outgrows her naps, I know I will miss these sounds. I tried to post a video, but the upload was too ridiculously slow... You'll have to use your imagination...

On being picky...

At one time in my life (at least 22 years of my life, actually), I was a very picky eater. My family will attest to the fact that I found a reason to dislike just about anything. The short list includes: tomatoes, onions, peppers, any white sauce at all, mustard, sour cream, mayo, beans, ... The list seriously could go on and on. Jordan and I laugh frequently about the first time I went to his place and he forced me to try "solomon gundy," which is a name for pickled herring, dipped in sour cream. I objected "nicely" to tasting it, but since we were dating, I wasn't going to lose him over it! Though I despised it (and still do), it is funny how Jordan can take the credit for introducing me to the wonderful world of food I used to hate :) I can only imagine what he thought of my cooking those first few months of our marriage when I took the opportunity to cook only what I liked...? Soon after getting his input on meal plans, I quickly learned I had better switch it up a bit! I realize now how much my poor mom must have hated my horrible reactions to good food growing up. Of that previous list, I have learned to like most of those items, including tomatoes. I have been loving the beautiful tomatoes that my husband grew in our backyard. Our one plant has yielded us at least 20 tomatoes already, and several more are ripening as we speak. I also have red peppers growing and have had lots of rhubarb. My generous neighbor has showered me with fresh produce again this summer (squash, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, beans), and I appreciate it so much more now than I did before I stayed at home! One of my favorite meals to make when I'm alone for dinner is mac and cheese. My dear sis-in-law Anneke introduced me to it, and although I don't have a recipe, it usually turns out as long as I put cheese in it! I know, it's so healthy... I'm going to miss summer produce. There is nothing like a fresh, homegrown tomato! Oh, how much I used to miss...

8 Months Old!

Happy 8 month birthday, Elyse! I can hardly believe I'm writing another post like this so soon! Elyse is getting big, literally! She is pretty pudgy all over, and there's nothing more squeezable than baby fat :) She's eating three solid meals a day now, and mealtimes are full of NOISE (thankfully, happy noises). She now has two bottom teeth, and she loves "feeling" them with her tongue and lips. It makes for some pretty funny facial expressions. She seems to have grown so much more aware of her surroundings in the last month, and she likes her toys more than she used to. I'm thankful she'll still let me rock her, but it's sad to see her legs hanging down so far. Last August, we found out we were having "pink," and I had no idea how fun this little girl would be. She makes me laugh every day, and I still can't believe we're parents! Here are some of my traditional fun's and not-so-fun's for this new stage:

fun's:

* Her feet twirl all the time like little windmills. When my mom saw it last month, she commented that I twirled my feet all the time when I was a baby. What a great trait to pass on, huh?

* She seems to try to give kisses. TRY is the key word there.

* I love watching her eat. She loves everything she tries and acts as though she could not possibly live without the next bite! I'm thankful we don't have to have food battles yet!

* She has a little "smug" face that she pulls out when we praise her for something.

* She sings a lot, especially when I have music on or when I play the piano.

* Bedtime is still really fun for her, and I love to see her grinnin' as she stretches in her crib when I put her down.

* She loves to hold something in her hand as she sucks her thumb. That something could be your shirt, her blanket, a toy... I'm going to hate this someday, right?

* She loves to play games with us: peek-a-boo or anything involving Daddy...

* She's taking shorter naps, and it really frees me up more when we want to get out or run errands.

not-so-fun's:

* She's still not moving around much, which only concerns me because she's getting HEAVY!

* Her temper- yuk!

* She'll laugh/sing so hard that she'll gag herself.

* Does anyone else believe in teething diapers?

* We had a deal in the hospital that she wouldn't grow up, but she's obviously still not keeping her end of the bargain!

I LOVE MONDAYS!

I never thought I would enjoy Mondays. Traditionally, Mondays were the days I would dread as I anticipated trudging into work. Now, Mondays are beautiful, since it's the one day of the week that we have the option to be together as a family from the crack of dawn until nightfall. Yesterday, we spent a beautiful morning at the beach with some of our family. It was a perfect day, and we were reminded again of how beautiful the ocean is! By nature, I'm not a big fan of sandy messes, but these three little messes were the cutest on the beach. Here are some pictures of my baby and my adorable nephews. Elyse sat in the waves for the first time, and she loved it!

Notice the water droplets on her face? This was taken after her initiation :)

Daddy introduced Elyse gently to some waves...

Beautiful.

Beautiful.

Beautiful.

Prettiest girl at the beach!!!

Goofin' with Aunt Anneke...

Happy girl after naptime

Peek-a-boo!!!

What am I doing today?

Today I'm celebrating my husband. Today is his birthday! He has finally caught up to me in age... *cough, cough* Elyse and I made him a cheesecake & cinnamon rolls last night, and Elyse's help consisted of singing to Mommy while she baked. She hit some very interesting notes, and she really enjoys gagging at the end of each song, much to my dismay. I'm not sure how that feels, but it must be entertaining!

This week has really made me thankful for my man. I was dreading our first week home from vacation, because the calendar was looking quite crowded. Wednesday, I had to spend the day in Williamsburg to complete a certification for my job... even though I work at home... sometimes in my pj's... sometimes only a couple of hours a week. Yes, I am still struggling with my attitude. All that to say that Jordan covered for me smashingly. I had my first (I sure hope last!) bout with vertigo this week. I assume it was a result of our recent flights, but I do know it was awful. I couldn't walk a straight line to save my life or manage to keep food down, but Jordan took care of everything. I didn't have to ask him twice to do all the little things I get done during the mornings before he headed off to work. Yesterday morning, he took care of Elyse so I could go to the chiropractor and get some shopping done. She fought her morning nap most of that time, and though I'm sure it wasn't pretty, he didn't complain once. He even said they had "fun" together :) I was reminded this week again that I don't tell him nearly enough that he means the world to me, and not just because he helps me with Elyse.

He puts love to action verbs every day.

It was TEN years ago this month that we met in the first class of our college career. We were assigned seats next to each other alphabetically, and I vividly remember him sitting down next to me for the first time. Funny thing is, he remembers each detail, too :) It wasn't exactly love at first sight, but it was the start! NINE years ago this month, we started dating. We both love to laugh about our first goofy conversation and the fact that ten years later, we're spending life together. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect husband, and I'm so thankful that we're able to take this journey together. SO, today I'm celebrating my husband.

Happy birthday, Jordan! I love you!

(He's going to kill me when he sees I posted this picture!!!)

First tooth!

After months of drool, we finally have a tooth to brag about! It made its grand appearance on our vacation, which explained some bizarre behavior during the week. It's sharp as a razor, and I'm expecting its little neighbor to pop out anytime. This is the best picture I could get, and you can barely see the little bugger, but it's there. OWW! Is it true that if we had to cut teeth as adults, we'd pass out from the pain? I heard that somewhere, but have no idea if it's true. Teeth are definitely something I take for granted!

A vacation from my problems!

Okay, I couldn't resist that line from a favorite movie of mine, but we indeed got a vacation last week, and it was wonderful. Wonderful. Last Saturday, we headed up to northern Minnesota for a week with my family. My grandpa is gracious enough to take us all up to a cabin on a lake every year, and we love every day of it, even though we have done everything and have seen every square inch of that resort. Yes, we're a very traditional family, and we love it :) Certain "adopted" members of our family (I won't name any names, Nate & Jordan) get a big kick out of how we start taking about the next year's vacation the day we get home, but we just ignore the outsiders. This year was special to us because we were able to take Elyse with us on the OUTSIDE of me! It really did make vacation interesting (I'm beginning to realize that moms never really get a true vacation). We spent the week eating, playing games, trying to catch fish (which we didn't succeed at very well this year), eating, talking, relaxing, eating.... you get the picture. Though it's nice to be unpacked and settled back at home, I still wish we could just hang out for one more week. Here are some pictures of our time, a select few of the many :)