I'd like to remember this

There are so many things that Lily says now that I tell myself, "I need to write that down because I'd like to remember that", but then I don't.  I think its because I am terrible at at writing stuff down, but I think I can blog it when I hear things so I am going to try to do that more now.

Lily after falling and "hurting" herself:
Daddy: "are you hurt what did you hurt?"
Lily:  " my princess jamies "

Lily after falling out of her high chair when climbing out:
Daddy:  "what did you hurt?"
Lily:  "my chair"

This is all I can think of for now.  'Til next time.  I hope I have more of these because she is just so funny these days.

Potty Training, God is Good!

WOW it has been awhile since I have updated my blog!
I will try to make this quick.
Last Monday January 17th we started potty training Lily because she said she wanted to go potty and she actually went on it!!!  This has never happened!  She had sat on it numerous times and never went.  So I let her have candy and we made a big deal about it.  From that point on we said no more diapers!  So we started using training underwear and pull-ups during sleepy time.  She went one more time on Monday but then Tuesday she wasn't as successful because I wasn't able to be home with her all day because I had to work.  Then Wednesday was just awful!  She pooped in her underwear after we had been sitting on the potty for over an hour.  I felt like we spent all day in the potty and she only went once.  In addition to this frustration I was feeling bad because I felt I had been neglecting Charlee.  Spending hours in the bathroom meant leaving her in the bouncer and only really interacting with her when I nurse and feed her. When I got Lily down for her nap I was rocking Charlee just bawling about to give up when I felt overcome and I started to pray.    I prayed out-loud to God in tears just pleading for wisdom and patience to follow through with training her and to not give up on her.   I was determined to not go back to diapers, but I realized I could not be patient with her in my own strength.  I needed God's help for that.  Because as most people or maybe just Ryan know I am not very patient when it comes to stuff like this.  I wanted her to just get it.  She is SOOOOOO smart and I knew she could do it, but after Wednesday I was really questioning whether she was ready.  Thursday morning went ok but starting Thursday night into Friday she really started doing better.  Friday she pooped in the potty!!! I was so excited and shocked at the same time!  I figured it would be awhile before she was ready to do that.  But she did.  So Friday when Ryan got off work we went to Target and bought her some dresses that went with her Belle Beauty and the Beast doll.  We left he house for over an hour and Lily stayed dry the whole time.  We were so proud of her.  Saturday went well and Ryan got a chance to work with Lily.  I think it was important for him to be with her so she could be just as comfortable going with him as she was with me.  If there's one thing we've learned about Lily she is very much about routine and sources of comfort.  Anything out of her daily routine just throws her off.  I feel that consistency and staying home has been key in this process.  And most of all PATIENCE and WISDOM to not give up on her.  BELIEVING in her.  And it has paid off so far.  God is so good!  I definitely felt his presence this past weekend as I had more patience with her than I have had in a long time.  I know God was working and I felt the prayers working.  Lily has done so well in only a week!  Today she has already started telling me she needs to go and then she actually does!
God is so good....God is so good....God is so good... He's so good to me!

Adjusting to TWO, Ryan’s Job, Expenses

So no one told me it would be easy and I never thought it would be, but it seems like this summer hit me pretty hard.   First we had to fork over $6800 for a new AC/Heat Pump and that was before Charlee even got here.  Then Ryan went back to work and started working Saturdays and late almost every night if not every other at least not getting home til 7pm or even 8pm some nights.  Then he’s gone Sunday mornings for Worship team.  Needless to say I was feeling the burn of some “single parenthood” right after bringing home a new baby.  Adjusting to having 2 has been hard for me.  I think its mainly all timing of everything though.  If Lily wasn’t entering her “terrible 2’s” and if Ryan’s job wasn’t so crazy and if we didn’t have to fork out almost $7K while still trying to pay medical bills…it wouldn’t seem so overwhelming would it?  I guess I will never know. 

When did life get so overwhelming?  I have to at least say that the last 5 years we have had it pretty good.  God has blessed our marriage since the beginning.  We have never really had any issues financially or with anything else really.  So now is the time I guess for God to be testing me.  However, I already felt like He tested me with my pregnancy by putting me on bed rest for the last month.  Now its patience in dealing with my sweet 2 year old who definitely knows how to push mommy’s buttons and patience in being content with Ryan’s job.  I want to be able to say “oh I need to just be thankful he has a job and that he enjoys it”  sure easy enough.  I am THANKFUL.  But that doesn’t mean that it still isn’t hard on me.  It doesn’t mean that I don’t miss him when he’s gone or that I just long to be able to have a Saturday together as a family.  I do.  And I think I am entitled to feel this way after just having a baby.  My emotions have definitely gotten the better of me this summer.  Sometimes I don’t even know why I am crying.  Just being overwhelmed at times.  God tells me “HEY” you need to slow down and just breathe ME in!  And that has been my life line.  I had sorta set aside my personal quiet time right after Charlee was born and I don’t doubt that by not spending time in the word and not spending time in prayer it made my struggle even worse.  So the last 3 weeks I have been doing it every morning after feeding Charlee at 5 or 6am before I go back to sleep.  And let me tell you it has made a huge difference to my day!  Imagine that!  I knew it would.  I just needed to get in the habit of doing it again and making it a priority. 

Life seems to be settling down again.  Ryan had this past Saturday off and we enjoyed time together as a family then got to spend time just us.  I will never again think about Saturdays home with the family the same way again.  The time is precious.  I am sure that God longs to be with me the way that I long to have Ryan home and time together as a family.  Wow but what a way to give a girl a wake up call!  I hear ya!  Loud and clear.  Thank you Jesus! 

Now its just the waiting game again.  Waiting to hear either this week or next week where JE Dunn will be sending Ryan next.  I pray that its close to home.  Really anywhere would have to be closer than Warrensburg at this point.  But ultimately I pray that Ryan will enjoy his next project and that it won’t take away anymore of his time with his family.  Because I am sure he’s sick of hearing how tired I am of him coming home late.  I know its not his fault but sometimes a girl just has to VENT!  And that’s kinda what I am doing now too I guess.  So thanks for listening….er reading!