Holiday Hooplah

Well, the holidays are among us and it's been a fun (& exhausting) time! We had a really great Christmas this year. Kylie is very caught up in the magic of Christmas which makes it so fun for us.
We spent Christmas Eve with the Biehlers and D'Amuras which is always a fun, but crazy time with 4 little ones. Little Lucy is pretty quiet, mainly just the other 3 musketeers!

Adam and I didn't sleep well at all Christmas Eve... maybe out of anticipation, but that did make Christmas day a bit harder.
Kylie really loved her gifts from Santa and her family. Her favorite gift from Santa was her pink Mustang. She is quite the envy of the neighborhood! She also loves the baking kit Gigi and Gramps gave her. We've made cookies a few times already with it. She's quite the cook (unlike her mommy).

We've enjoyed playing with her new games and reading her new books. This was also the year of the baby dolls. She got one that says the names of body parts in English and Spanish, one that pretends to go on the potty and brush its teeth and one that actually does potty. Oh boy, we're having fun now!

It's hard to believe that 2009 is going to be here so quickly and what a big year it will be. It's still sinking in that we'll have another baby and Kylie turns 4 years old on the 24th. So exciting!

Happy New Year!!!

Happy Happy Holidays

We are all so excited about the holidays! To make it even better, it is stinkin' cold here. Maybe a cold Christmas this year? I hope so. Kylie got her picture with Santa Claus and Adam and I are enjoying using Santa as leverage for good behavior. "Remember, Santa's watching..." I hope we can hang on to that for many years to come! Here are some ideas of what we have on our wish lists this year.

Kylie - A Barbie Car (pink, convertible, mustang). She has very good taste.

An easy-bake oven

Slippers

Pretty much anything else she sees on tv or in the store.

Adam - Rockband - oh yeah baby. Fun for the whole family!!!

Becky - A digital picture frame and a gps system for my car. When God handed out the capacity to configure directions and geography, I think He skipped me! Anyone who has ever gone anywhere with me would know that.

Harley - A new bed

Pudge - Maybe a good belly rub and a brushing. He's easy to please.

Holiday Kick Off

Every year on the weekend before Thanksgiving, a group of girls from Baylor all get together to kick off the holiday season! I look forward to this weekend every year. I am so blessed to have this group of amazing friends. We all went to Baylor and were Tri Delts. It's been almost 9 years since our college days, but our friendship is still so strong. These girls are really the greatest friends in the world! We spend time shopping and eating, but the best time is really when we're in our jammies talking about, well, anything and everything. I love you Schayot, Trimble, Amy, Heather, Jackie, Courtney, Emily, and Maggie!!!

Exciting News!!!

Some of you may already know, but we have some exciting news! We are going to have another baby. We heard the heartbeat this morning and it sounds strong. The doctor said that is a great sign that the baby is thriving and doing well.
Our due date is set for June 4th, so we'll probably end up having the c-section around the end of May, but we'll keep you posted!
We probably won't get a sonogram until 20 weeks, but then we'll find out what we are having! Adam keeps calling it "junior" but I told him he better just wait and see!
We are so very excited to add this blessing on to our already wonderful family. More to come later!

Happy Halloween

Sorry it took me a bit to post some pictures from Halloween! This is such a busy time of year for me work-wise so things get a little hectic!

Halloween was a blast this year. Kylie was so excited about her costume (especially her purple hair) and about the tons of candy she would get.

She was a little more apprehensive about Trick-or-Treating this year but that may come with another year to figure out that she's knocking on strangers' doors. She got over it pretty quickly after she saw all the candy she was getting.

Adam carved an awesome pumpkin of none other than...Tinkerbell! He let Kylie pick out the image and she picked out the most challenging one to carve. He did a super job. I was impressed!

It's hard to believe the holidays are right around the corner. I love the holiday season so much. I just love the joy that surrounds us through those holiday months. Really, it should last all year when we think about what Christmas really means and what it means to be blessed by friends and family. On to another busy week!!!

Fun weekend!

What started out to be a pretty yuck week, ended up with a lot of fun! Kylie got sick on Sunday afternoon with runny nose and cough and by Monday it had really progressed so I took her in to the doctor. Thank goodness I went ahead and took her! She had gotten the Croup! Don't know how, why, or where, but she got it. So, she was pretty poopy until Wednesday and is now finally back to her old self again. So, now we've had the stomach virus and the croup in the last month or so...I hope we're done for a long while!

On to the fun parts! We spent Saturday with our sweet friends Melissa and Lainie. Kylie and Lainie go to the same preschool and have been buddies since before they were two. Lainie's birthday is today and she told her mom all she wanted to do was have Kylie over for cupcakes! I thought that was so sweet. Instead of just having cupcakes, Melissa planned a fun day for all of us. First, we took the girls to get their nails painted. I must say Kylie picked the absolute ugliest color in the whole place - yellow! Then, we picked up a smoothie and headed to Zilker Park to ride the train. It was a beautiful day to ride the train and do some sight-seeing, mostly of people on the trail! After Zilker we went to get some pizza for lunch. The pizza place is right across from Hey Cupcake! this great little trailer that sells amazing cupcakes. So, after lunch we walked over there and each got one of the biggest, sweetest, yummiest cupcakes I've ever had. Wow, that was sweet! After we satisfied our sweet teeth, we headed over to Zilker Gardens for the Dinoland exhibit. It was a pretty neat exhibit. They had fairly realistic renditions of all kinds of dinosaurs in the trees and around the area. We were all tuckered out after this and decided to head home. I know I was exhausted!!! It was such a fun day and Kylie and I are both so thankful for Melissa and Lainie's friendship!

Today's excitement was the annual Candy Carnival close to our house. It was a fun dress-rehearsal for Halloween. I wasn't so sure how it was going to turn out, but Kylie looked adorable. I painted her face and her hair. She begged me to buy her purple hair spray at the store and I caved. It was cute though, definitely added a special dynamic to the whole get-up! She got to play lots of games and got enough candy to last us until Halloween for sure. After she took a two hour nap and then had her fair share of candy tonight, she's still awake and it's almost 10!!! Not a great way to start the week, but oh well, it's Halloween!

Good night, sleep tight!

Every time I hear another mom talk about how their kid goes to bed at 7 and wakes up at 7 I think to myself, really? Is that possible?
We've struggled for the last couple of months with the nap or no nap thing with Kylie. She really needs a rest during the day, but when she gets one she's not falling asleep until 10:00 at night! So, we decided that just isn't going to work. So, we've been trying the no nap for a while now. I'm happy to say night-times were going smoother and much earlier which is great, but the down-side is that Kylie acts like a little monster by around 5:00!
To top it all off, for who knows how long now either Adam or I lays with Kylie every night until she goes to sleep. Every night! Then, when she wakes up in the middle of the night she wants one of us to come in there and lay with her again until she falls back asleep! When this happens 2 or 3 times a night it's like having a newborn all over again. Kylie has never been a good sleeper, but Adam and I are at our whit's-end!

The good news! For the past two nights Kylie has gone to sleep completely on her own and has not woken up either night! I figure if she can learn to go to sleep on her own, then she can fall BACK asleeep on her own. It's only been 2 nights, but man I'm happy about it!

This parenting thing sure is hard! You want so badly to do whatever it is that you can to make your child happy and when you have to do those things that you know are going to hurt them (like a shot) or scare them (going to sleep alone) it's hard not to just crater and want to fix it. As I sit in the living room hearing Kylie cry for a good ten minutes that first night she was trying to sleep alone my heart just sank. It was horrible. I knew she was scared and I could almost feel what she was feeling. Last night I went by her room and said a prayer for her that she would sleep peacefully and not be afraid and then I felt I had done exactly what I needed to do in this situation. I know there are times where I'm going to have to let her face her fears on her own. I'm just thankful her angels are always with her! I know they'll watch over my baby even when I can't.

I just realized that it's been a while since I've posted my last blog! I've been so busy with work and everything else that I've let it go a little longer this time!
Kylie was sick from Thursday through Tuesday with some type of nasty stomach bug. I don't know where she got it, but she got it good. She sure was a trooper! I really was so proud of how she handled it. It was hard for her to be restful when she started to feel better, but she was a good girl about it.
We had our big Hill Country vs. Westridge football games this week. It was fun to have both cheer squads there together since my sis Deanna coaches the Westridge squad. It really has made an impact on the fans to see how the squads have come together. We think that's the best thing for the program since they'll all be in high school together. It's a great feeling to be a part of these young ladies' lives. They are so special and each have their own unique qualities and talents!
Adam and I are looking forward to a night away this weekend. We are going to the Cattle Barron's Ball in Dallas. It is a huge event with music, lots of food, lots of fun! We love to go and hang out with friends from BU. It will be a great time! I need a little getaway!

While we try to teach our children all about life,Our children teach us what life is all about.~Angela Schwindt

Fall is coming!

This is my favorite time of year. I open the door to let Harley out in the morning and a little chill comes into house. I can open the windows and let the fresh air in. I can wear shorts, pants, short sleeves, long sleeves. I love it. It still gets pretty warm in the afternoon, but the mornings and evening are amazing.
We spent some of Saturday with our great friends Derek, Holly, and Ryan Brown. We love spending time with them and Kylie loves to entertain "baby Ryan". I think she'll make a great big sister someday! She gets a bit concerned when her toys are chewed on, but overall, she is so great with babies. She loves to help dad and I in the nursery at church. It is precious to see how sweet and gentle she is with little ones.
We didn't get any of the havoc that Ike brought on to Houston and Galveston. I bought waters and some extra food just in case and it barely rained! I know it's been crazy in Houston, so I'm thinking about you Houston friends! I hope things can get back to normal soon!
Not much else going on. Work is crazy right now as I prepare to launch my Camp 2009 program. It's my largest project of the year and takes so much time and work. Cheer is also busy as we prepare for our big pep rally next week. I think I get more nervous than the girls do! I'll post pictures of them from the pep rally after we have it. They are too cute.
Well, I'll write more soon....

Cole Turned Three!

It's hard to believe Cole is already three years old! We had a great time in Keller at the D'Amura's house to celebrate Cole's birthday. Baby Lucy is just adorable and her smile lights up the room! The party was a circus theme with fun activities for the kiddos. They seemed to like the big inflatable the best, of course. I had the job of painting faces, but it turns out the kids had more fun drawing all over me! I'm really glad we were there for the party. Kylie loves to hang out with her cousins. We have to break up some "disagreements" every now and then, but at the end of the day, they all really love each other. Happy Birthday Cole!

In Max Lucado's Words...

"My child’s feelings are hurt. I tell her she’s special. My child is injured. I do whatever it takes to make her feel better.
My child is afraid. I won’t go to sleep until she is secure.
I’m not a hero. I’m not a superstar. I’m not unusual. I’m a parent. When a child hurts, a parent does what comes naturally. He helps.
And after I help, I don’t charge a fee. I don’t ask for a favor in return. When my child cries, I don’t tell her to buck up, act tough, and keep a stiff upper lip. Nor do I consult a list and ask her why she is still scraping the same elbow or waking me up again.
I’m not a prophet, nor the son of one, but something tells me that in the whole scheme of things the tender moments described above are infinitely more valuable than anything I do in front of a computer screen or congregation. Something tells me that the moments of comfort I give my child are a small price to pay for the joy of someday seeing my daughter do for her daughter what her dad did for her.
Moments of comfort from a parent. As a father, I can tell you they are the sweetest moments in my day. They come naturally. They come willingly. They come joyfully.
If all of that is true, if I know that one of the privileges of fatherhood is to comfort a child, then why am I so reluctant to let my heavenly Father comfort me?
Why do I think he wouldn’t want to hear about my problems? (“They are puny compared to people starving in India.”)
Why do I think he is too busy for me? (“He’s got a whole universe to worry about.”)
Why do I think he’s tired of hearing the same old stuff?
Why do I think he groans when he sees me coming?
Why do I think he consults his list when I ask for forgiveness and asks, “Don’t you think you’re going to the well a few too many times on this one?”
Why do I think I have to speak a holy language around him that I don’t speak with anyone else?
Why do I not take him seriously when he questions, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11)
Why don’t I let my Father do for me what I am more than willing to do for my own children?
I’m learning, though. Being a parent is better than a course on theology. Being a father is teaching me that when I am criticized, injured, or afraid, there is a Father who is ready to comfort me. There is a Father who will hold me until I’m better, help me until I can live with the hurt, and who won’t go to sleep when I’m afraid of waking up and seeing the dark.
Ever. And that’s enough."

Well, we've survived summer! I mean that in the best way, of course. I love what summer brings: sunny days, pool time, camps, lake fun, etc. But, summer is also a time where our schedule seems to be anything but. During the school year, everything seems to fall into place and the schedule doesn't change much from week-to-week. During the summer, trying to juggle work, fun for Kylie, cheer practices, and being a wife and mom can be extremely challenging! So, we are still enjoying summer fun with a little bit more organization.
Kylie got to see her class and meet her teachers on Wednesday. I think she is going to have a great year this year. Her classroom is big and full of activities and her good friends Lainie and Webb are in her class this year!
Kylie is still doing gymnastics and really loves to go to cheerleading events. She wants to be right in the middle of it!
On a more serious note, Adam and I are really trying to focus on our faith and our patience. We feel as though God is really working with us on so many things right now, some of them good and some not so good. We had a great sermon a few weeks ago in which our pastor, Kie said "You're either living in faith or in fear...one does not go with the other." He also said we are all facing some sort of crisis, have just gotten out of one, or are headed for one. This seems a little scary (that's the fear talking), but by having to face these challenges or crisis is the only way we grow. If things are in a continuous state of "hunky dorey" than we start to think maybe we can do this all by ourselves and we stray from what it is that God wants from us most - our faith.
So, pray for us as we continue to be faithful and not fearful. For those of you who know me all too well know that I am a true worrier and this poses quite a challenge!

I'm Melting!!!

It is super hot now. Every year I don't think it's going to be that bad and I quickly remember just how hot it gets here. Yikes! Even the frogs are trying to cool off. There were two frogs chillin' in Kylie's pool in the backyard. It was hilarious. I couldn't blame them. Kylie is continuing her mermaid fascination and now has flippers for the pool that look like a mermaid tail. She's swimming really well with them! We've gotten into a battle with our nap time. It's bitter sweet really. She goes to bed earlier and much quicker at night with no nap, but she can be such a terror in the late afternoon! Of course, she doesn't think she ever needs one, but I beg to differ. I'm not really sure what the answer is, but I guess we'll just take it day by day.

Yesterday I got an epidural steriod in my lower back to alleviate some of the pain and discomfort I've been having lately due to a herniated disc. It all started when I was pregnant with Kylie and has progressively gotten worse. I'm a little sore now, but I have big hopes that this will really feel great soon!

Other than that, it's business as usual at the Biehler Household!

Made for Hollywood

Well, it seems like the only things I really write about are Kylie, but I enjoy telling fun stories about her escapades! The newest fun we've had is the mermaid dress Grandma Mary bought her. It's hilarious and the pose she made for the pictures just says it all. She's so into mermaids write now. Everything is mermaids! Then, today as I was busy working on my computer in the office, she comes dragging her table from the kitchen in here so she can have a tea party. It's a big table for such a little girl! Then, she set up her tea party and we sang Happy Birthday to her bears and wrapped presents for them. What an imagination!

July 4th Fun

We had a great July 4th weekend! Kylie couldn't wait to go swimming. We couldn't swim for a week after she got her ear tubes, so she was anxious to get out there! Grandma Debbie and Big Pa joined us too. Kylie's quite the little waterbaby. People are always asking me how old she is and where did she learn to swim. I can't take credit, though. She really did it herself. It's funny how she's afraid of the hair dryer and the vacuum and yet swimming in deep water is no biggie to her. She'll jump from any height, try any trick, take any challenge, but turn that hair dryer on and she's outta there! Too funny. Adam and I got to spend some time with friends at the lake too which was nice. I learned that I'm actually quite good at horseshoes. Who'd have known? Here are some fun pics!

Kitty Kitty

This is cheesy, but Pudge was sitting in one of Kylie's little chairs and it was the perfect picture moment. Poor Pudge sometimes gets lost in the mix between Kylie and Harley. He's so cute, I just love him!

Recovering

Kylie is starting to get back to her normal self after getting her 2nd set of ear tubes and her adnoids removed last Thursday. She was a trooper. I got nervous when it seemed to take ages for her to wake up. They wouldn't let us leave until she could drink water or juice on her own. So, Adam and I kept trying to get her awake enough to do that and she kept saying "No, I just need to rest." So, we waited and waited until finally the glossy eyes lifted and she sat up and had some juice. Man, we were glad! We had to lay low all weekend which gave us all a bit of cabin fever. Lots of movies! She's back at Champions camp this week and seems to be happy to get out of the house! I'm happy too. It was making us all grumpy! I sure hope this will be the end to all our ear infection days. The ENT seems to think it will do the trick. Keep your fingers crossed!

7 years!

On June 16th, Adam and I celebrated our 7 year anniversary! It's hard to believe it's been 7 years already, but then I can hardly remember days when Adam wasn't in my life. Gosh, we've come a long way. But, we still have a long, wonderful road ahead! I still remember my wedding day like it was yesterday.

What a perfect day!

Big Girl Bike

Well, Kylie is officially a big girl now! Grandma and Big Pa suprised her with a new "big girl" bike! Kylie loves it and has really enjoyed riding it today. She's already getting the hang of it, but we're still working on paying attention to where we are going! Here are some fun pics. It was a bit tricky trying to take these action shots!

I love summer

Well, I really don't have too many things to report. Summer is in full swing and I realize that I just love this time of year. The fact that taking a shower is pretty pointless because once you walk outside you'll sweat like crazy really doesn't bother me. I love being able to spend time in the backyard and going to the pool. Kylie is really doing well with swimming. She is completely self taught, so I can't take credit. I'm pretty sure it's because she is fearless. I call her Kamikaze most of the time. The other times I call her Bruiser because she is constantly bumping into things or falling. She's always in a hurry! Many of my sweet friends are having babies now, and I just love it! It's crazy that we are already in our 30s and have families. It does make me a little sad sometimes just thinking about how quickly time flies. With that, I realize how blessed I am. I have an amazing family with a husband who is always trying to do what he can to be the best man he can be and a daughter who really is the best gift God could have ever given me. Adam is working at home more now, which has been fun. I wasn't sure how I would like that, but I miss him now when he's gone. I like being able to take a break and go hang out at his desk aka the breakfast table! God is good....no, He's great! More updates later!

Memorial Day Fun

We had a great time Memorial Day Weekend. Lots of Friends, Fun, and Sun! We spent the night with the Fletchers and had a great time. We're sure Josh and Kylie will be married someday. They are too cute! Then, it was off to the Helgren's lakehouse. Kylie was really excited about getting in the lake which made me nervous, but she did great. I should never doubt her! She always proves me wrong. She also enjoyed some fun time with Sydney in the pool and on the slip'n'slide! I love summer!

Disney Vacation

What an amazing time we had in Disneyworld. It is such a magical place to be. Kylie loved being there and meeting all of the characters, getting her face painted, riding the rides... by the way, that kid is not scared of rides at all! We stayed at the Fort Wilderness Campground, so we were actually in log cabins in the woods. We rented a golf cart to drive around in and mainly used the ferry to get to the parks. My favorite part of the trip was when Kylie got to meet Ariel. They talked for a bit and then Kylie asked "Where's Prince Eric?" It was priceless. Oh yeah, I turned 30 while we were there! We are ready to go back!