The Old Testament--New Ella Version

This was Ella's retelling of a few well-known Bible studies today on the way to the grocery store:

"Mommy, who's that guy that built a big boat?" 

"Noah?"

"Yeah, and who's that guy that told him to build the boat?"

"Umm...God?"

"Yeah, God told Noah to build a big boat with all the animals.  And then there was a really big storm.  And the storm made an ocean.  One day a man was swimming in the ocean.  What was his name?"

"I'm not sure who you're talking about."

"The one that got eaten by a fish."

"Jonah"

"Yeah, Jonah was swimming and a big fish ate him.  And God said, 'eat him for 3 minutes,' and the fish did.  After 3 minutes he spit him out just like God said."

I love her.

Happy Valentine's Day

I really hope you have a great Valentine's Day!

Check out last year's post:  Ten Things You May Not Know About Valentine's Day, if you have a few free moments today!

Old Pudding and Dirty Laundry

As I write this, I have a dirty pan from lunch, still sitting on the top of the stove.  I have a load of sheets that I put in the washer on Friday that are still there.  I will probably have to rewash them.  My bed is not made, and there is a breast pump on my night stand.  Ella's half eaten chocolate pudding is on the counter.  There are crumbs on the floor under the kitchen table, even though I moved the entire table and swept under, and then mopped it on my hands and knees just two days ago.  You can't really walk in Ella's room, and there are dirty clothes on Aidan's bed.  There are tooth paste splatters on the mirror in the kids' bathroom, and some dried toothpaste in the sink.  My pantry needs to be organized, the recycling needs to be taken out...our Christmas decorations are in boxes that are STILL sitting in our living room (hint, hint, Mark).  Our television has finger prints on the screen...as a matter of fact, the computer screen I am looking at right now, also has finger prints on it.  It's not that we don't clean it up, but it's a struggle to get it all done, and then keep it that way.  Especially with a newborn.  But that's not why I'm telling you this.

I'm telling you this, because I want everyone to know right up front, that my house gets this way sometimes.  Especially on the weekends, when we're busy...or during extremely busy and stressful weeks like the one we just had.  Most of you have never seen my house this way, because I go to great pains to make sure everything is cleaned up before anyone ever comes over...because until now, I would have never wanted you to think that my house gets this way sometimes. 

The problem is, there have been many times when I would have liked to invite someone over for coffee or lunch and I haven't...because the house was like it is right now, and I lacked either the time or the energy to make it look perfect.  There have been lots of Friday or Saturday nights when Mark has said, "Lets see if so and so wants to come over and play games or watch a movie."  And, I have said no...not because I didn't want to hang out with so and so, but because I was too tired to make the house presentable. 

But not anymore.  From now on, I am having people over...even if my house is a mess...so you might as well know now, so you won't be surprised (or disgusted) if you come over.  Sometimes my house is not perfect...not even close.  Because, this week we lost a dear friend.  And, I keep thinking how sad it is that he'll not walk through that door anymore...not for our life group, not for dinner, not for a party, not to watch a baseball game...and it makes me sad.  And I think about all the times we haven't invited people over because the house was a little messy...a few dirty dishes, a little dust...and it makes me even more sad.  I think if Dan and Linda rang my doorbell right now, I wouldn't care one bit about the dishes, or the laundry or the fingerprints.  That's not to say that I think keeping a neat house isn't important...I will still fight that battle.  I will still tackle the laundry every day, do the dishes and wipe down the bathroom sinks every day.  I will still make the kids clean their rooms and put away their toys.  But, if life gets busy...and a few messes get away from me...I'm still inviting my friends over...so please don't mind the mess....my door is always open.

A Few Things...

Just a few random thoughts about our week so far:

1.  Yesterday, Anna reached for me for the first time.  A friend was holding her.  When she heard my voice, she turned toward me and smiled, and then she reached out for me.  My heart might have burst with joy, just a little.

2. Last night, Ella reached over, out of the blue, gave me a big hug and a kiss.  She said, "I love you mommy.  If I go to heaven you won't be able to see me anymore."  I am still a little creeped out by that.  I don't know what made her say that.  There's really no telling with Ella.  Does anyone else ever get creeped out by the things their kids say?  It was eerie. 

3.  This morning I walked into the kitchen.  I was very excited to see through the kitchen window that a hawk was sitting on our fence.  I went to get my camera to take a picture, he flew away.  I was pretty bummed that Mark wasn't here to see it, because we both love to see hawks.  Hawks Rock...Spring Break 2004!!  (Only Mark will understand that, sorry)

4. This is how Ella eats her powdered donuts.  Yes, on rare occasions I give my children powdered donuts for breakfast.  Filled with gluten and processed sugar, and who knows what else.  I am so ashamed.  Please don't turn me in to the FDA.  What's funny is I won't give them to them for lunch, but I don't have a problem with breakfast.  Hmmm.  Anyway...this is what Ella leaves in the bowl for every donut:

She eats all around the edges, and leaves the middles.  You may think this is strange; I think it's genetic.  You see, this is EXACTLY how Mark eats his hamburgers.  Who knew such a thing could be passed down to your children. 

5.  Anna has slept all the way through the night (from 9 or 10 until 6 or 7) for an entire week!  I am so excited about this.  Maybe, just maybe, in the near future, I won't feel completely exhausted. 

I hope everyone is having a good week. 

Jessica

Love and Marriage--According to Ella

Here's a little snippet of a conversation I had with Ella...these conversations are one of my favorite things about being a mommy.

Ella:  When I get bigger will my body make milk for Anna too?
Me:  No, but someday, you will get married and have a baby of your own.  Your body will make milk for your baby.
Ella:  Yea!  When Jesus makes a baby for me, we will have 2 babies!  But, where will my baby ride in the car?  Hey, when I'm big I can ride in the front with you and daddy.  But there are only 2 seats in the front.
Me:  When you get big, you will have your own car.
Ella:  Yea.  Who am I going to marry?
Me:  I don't know.  But, you need to make sure you don't marry anyone until you find someone that is as nice as daddy.
Ella:  Aaaargh!  I want to marry daddy, but he keeps being married to you!
Me:  Well, you can't marry daddy.  He's your daddy and my husband.
Ella:  I know.  Aidan is very nice to me.  He does everything for me.  I will marry him!  (and then...she sings the next part while dancing) I'm going to marry my brother!  I'm going to marry my brother!  Because I love him and he's nice to me.  I'm going to marry my brother!


So special.

Anna Laughs, an I-Phone, and other Randomness

Well, today was the day...the day that will go down in baby book history...Anna laughed out loud.  She's been giggling for several days, but today was the first real baby book worthy laugh.  My mom was holding her and kissing her little chubby cheeks and Anna laughed!  What a great sound!  She laughs with her eyes first.  Absolutely precious.  She is a very happy baby anyway.  She is so peaceful and smiley all the time.  I can't wait to hear her laugh more and more.

Today was also the day that I got my i-phone.  I was a little hesitant to get it, and I've really had no interest in having one.  I think they just might be our downfall.  True story...a while back, Mark and I were at the most beautiful, romantic wedding I've ever been to (besides my own) and at one point I looked up and over half the people there were staring at smart phones...twittering about the wedding, no doubt...and missing the whole experience.  Anyway, all that to say, I never really wanted a smart phone.  However, my old "dumb" phone had stopped working.  It was always freezing up, and to get it to work, I had to take the battery out and then put it back in.  So, when I came due for a free upgrade, smart phones were about the only thing they were selling and the i-phone was free.  So, I reluctantly got one.  How do I feel now that I have it??  Eh.  It's okay.  But, it stresses me out.  It has a glass screen and I have 3 little kids.  Do I need to say more?  I feel like it's another thing for me to keep up with and take care of...and there is not a lack of that in my life.  So, it kind of makes me feel burdened.  I haven't gotten to play with it much yet, so I'm sure it will grow on me.  I know I'll like the calendar/shopping app, and the traffic and map apps.  There have been a few times when that would have come in handy.  But, if you see me staring at my phone and ignoring my family, please feel free to slap my hand and give me a firm, "NO!"  Oh, and did you know you have to pay extra monthly to have a smart phone...that's dumb, not smart.  Maybe I'm just getting too set in my ways.

Should I even start a paragraph about the NFL awards show that Mark is watching right now?  Do these people really need more awards and accolades...or attention??  Good grief.  I do love how the last two guys have made a point of thanking Jesus...Mark and I were just talking about how everything we do should bring glory to God, so, way to go NFL guys that I know nothing about.

Okay, I'll close with a funny, slightly disturbing story.
Mark was at Chic-Fil-A today and noticed that they were having Daddy-Daughter date night tonight.  So, he came home and said, "Ella, do you want to go on a date with daddy tonight?"
Ella said, "No."  He asked again, and she said, "why?"  I said, "you're daddy's little girl and he wants to do something special with you."  To which Ella replied, "why does my dad always want to date little girls?"  Oh, heaven help us.  Can we all just stop right now and say a little prayer that Ella doesn't go to church tomorrow and tell our pastor, or her Sunday School teacher, or ANYone that her daddy likes to date little girls?? 

One last thing.  Does the NFL really need an "official tire?" 

Oh, and one more one last thing...who should I root for in the Super Bowl tomorrow night?  It would not be possible for me to care one iota less about either of the teams that are playing.  So, someone tell me who I should root for and why and I'll go with that.  I could just go with Mark and pull for the Giants, but he doesn't really know anything about who to root for (Steelers fan...it's pitiful).  So help me out...I need to cheer for someone.

Okay, I'm done,
Jessica
The official blogger of the NFL
(not really)

Things I've Heard Lately...the Shirt Edition

Me:  Mark, that shirt is worn out.  It has holes in it. 
Mark:  I know, and I don't think I can get another one.  My mom got it at the gas station.
Me:  The gas station?
Mark:  Yea, the Shell Station in Ridgway has some nice shirts.
Me:  I don't think anyone over the age of 12 should utter that sentence.


Me:  Aidan, why aren't you wearing a shirt?
Aidan:  We're battling.
Me:  So, why aren't you wearing a shirt?
Aidan:  It makes me lighter, so I can kick better.

Anna Kate

I can't believe Anna is already 2 months old.  She has already changed so much.  She weighs in at 10 pounds and is 23 inches long.  She is a very happy baby.  She almost never fusses, unless she is hungry.  She smiles constantly.  If she is awake, she's probably smiling.  She loves to interact with all of us.  She especially loves her brother and sister.  She will stare at their faces and coo and smile at them.  In the last week or so, she has finally started sleeping most of the night.  She sleeps until about 3:00, eats and then sleeps until about 6:30.  She takes a couple of really good naps every day.  She loves playing with the baby gym that Santa brought her.  It has a zebra on it that she loves to stare at and talk to.  She has started swatting and grabbing at things with her hands.  She can hold her head up and move it from side to side pretty well.  She likes to coo, and when she's happy she kicks her legs.  She has a lot of fun during her bath.  She starts kicking her legs wildly and splashes the water.  She is all smiles while in the bath.  In the last few days, she has starting giggling a little.  I know at any moment she will bust out with a full on laugh.  We feel pretty blessed to have our sweet little Anna.  The Lord has been very good to us.