Biehler Family News

Love this....

2012-02-10T07:05:00.001-08:00

Will I meditate on His word or my worries?

2012-01-26T08:54:00.001-08:00

A co-worker and friend sent this to me today and it was just what I've been needing to hear. I keep hearing God telling me to get back into His word and yet I haven't been doing it like I should. So, I'll take this as a clear sign that once again, He is telling me what I need to do.

2011 was a good year, but one of change and hardship. We found out we were pregnant with Carter James in January of 2011. Of course I was joyful that God had blessed me with another precious child, but I have to admit, I was completely overwhelmed by the idea of bringing another child into the world at that time. Things had just gotten a bit easier managing the two children! Now, this was going to be a whole new ball game. Wow. I really had mixed feelings. I will never refer to Carter as an accident. He is no accident. He is God's perfect plan. Now that he's here, I am so grateful that God knows what's best for my life no matter how much I resist.

So, we had some remodeling done to our house which ended well but the process was very unsettling. We were told it would take maybe 5-6 weeks and it ended up taking months. Our house was a disaster, our animals were freaked out, and here I am pregnant in the hot summer. That was neat. The contractor rarely showed up, they had to redo things plenty of times, and it just kept going on and on. It as mentaly and physically exhausting. Luckily, about a week shy of Carter's arrival, we were finished. Now, each kid has a bedroom, my office has been moved to the kitchen and the kids have a fantastic playroom. Thank you Jesus for providing the means for us to do this. Truly, we couldn't have made it happen without blessings from above.

Adam went to a knew mortgage company which we were very excited about. He was promised so many wonderful things, it seemed like the perfect situation. Well, it started out that way. After many broken promises, paychecks not coming as they were supposed to, and a system that seemed to be very dysfunctional, Adam decided to look elsewhere. It was a major disappointment, but once again, God provides! Now, he has been at a new company doing training and computer programming support and is really liking it. He enjoys the people he works with and enjoys being someone that people can go to for help. We are super excited about the opportunities for growth. Yay!!!!

Kylie started first grade at Regents only a few days after Carter was born. This was super hard for me. I was busy taking care of the new baby so Adam pretty much took over Kylie and Jackson's care for a while. Dagger to my heart. I hated not being there for them and I knew they missed me. I knew it wouldn't always be like that, but I am very hands-on with them and I just knew I was scarring them for life! (silly, but that's how I felt). Kylie's teacher reassured me a few weeks after school started that she hadn't skipped a beat and was doing wonderfully in school. That did make me feel better, however, I still felt like I was missing out on so much. Ugh. Thankfully, things are a little easier now that Carter is older and I am able to do more and be there for her more. It's still a challenge with all three, but it is getting more manageable.

Jackson has had a great year. He is absolutely precious and I am so thankful for him and his sweet, funny spirit. He's a mess, don't get me wrong, he knows how to push the limits and push our buttons! But, we can already tell he is going to be a funny guy and other kids love him. He has a very good heart and is very attentive to detail (just like mom). He loves his trucks, trailers, trains and anything with wheels and is very good about playing with his toys. I am excited to see Carter join in the fun! He had a great Christmas this year as he really is starting to "get" the idea of Christmas. I love this age!

Carter, our sweet, sensitive one... Emphasis on sensitive here. Oh man, I thought Kylie was a difficult baby. He makes her look like a piece of cake. This little guy just couldn't be happy. If he wasn't eating or sleeping, he was crying (seriously). It was exhausting! After many doctors appointments and tests, I've come to the conclusion he has a very sensitive tummy and he's overall just a sensitive little guy. He really wants to be held most of the time. He needs that human touch. He does not want to be put in a bouncy or seat and just left there! In a way, I really think it's his own little spirit saying "I know I'm #3 and you want to go about your business, but I need attention and need to feel like my needs are met." Or so I keep telling myself that. Now he's on Zegerid for his reflux and that seems to help with his spitting up and discomfort. We've gotten him more on a schedule and have figured out the best ways to get him what he needs. He's five months now and certainly easier than before, but we're still working on it! I just know he's going to be a sweet boy, I can tell. I love my snuggles with him and watching him grow so quickly makes me want to wish for time to stand still so I can cherish this time. We've started on rice cereal and applesauce and he loves to eat! He is already very interested in real food and grabs for it any chance he gets. Eating with him in my laugh is hard to do because he keeps pulling my plate and grabbing for my food! I don't think we'll have any trouble feeding this guy. He's weighing in at about 19 lbs now and he is a chubber wubber!

As for me, well, I'm hanging in there! Loving my family is what keeps me together. With Adam's new work hours, it has definitely put more on my schedule, but I've got my amazing Grandma Mary to help me. I know it's hard on her too, but she loves being with the kids. It brings her so much joy. God has blessed us so abundantly in her and I couldn't be more grateful. She is leaving a legacy of selflessness and sacrifice and I know many years from now our kids' kids will be talking about her!

I can always tell when I've waited too long to post because my blog will go on forever! So, in closing, in 2012 my focus will be to "meditate on His word and not on my worries." In times when it seems like there is nowhere to turn, I know I can always turn to my Redeemer. He will provide...

2012-01-01T12:10:00.000-08:00

Santa came!

The Cousins!

The Biehlers

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2011-12-20T11:48:00.000-08:00

Grandma Ginny and Carter
Clara

So, I guess I skipped right past Thanksgiving this time! Oops. Life these days is kind of a whirlwind. Seriously, where did 2011 go? It has gone by faster than any other year. We started of the year with a surprise gift from Jesus - that would be little Carter man. Kylie was busy with kindergarten and dance, voice, and piano. Jackson was keeping us all on our toes as he continues to be "all boy" and pretty much do everything very curious and adventurous boys do.

I feel like I will look back on this year and it will all be blur! Between work, lack of sleep and keeping up with three kids, I feel like each day just goes by and I can't even remember how I got to the evening!!!

Kylie is doing so well in school. Her teacher says she is such a joyful child, which makes my heart so happy. She has such a great smile, in fact, her whole face smiles! I hope she never loses that joy she has in her heart. It is contagious and people are so drawn to her, because who doesn't want to be around a joyful heart? She is loving horse riding lessons and is getting to know the different personalities of the horses. It's funny how they each have their own personalities. Her teachers love what they do and you can tell. We have taken a little hiatus with piano but hope to start up in the new year again. She is still doing dance as well. I'm pretty sure the graceful ballerina is not going to be miss Kylie Marie. She's more the hip-hop, jazz kinda girl! She just got the wonderful pleasure of being Clara in their Christmas program. I was so proud of her!!!! She had a solo and was absolutely adorable. This mom was smiling from ear to ear. Hard to believe in about a month she'll be seven years old. My goodness, she is growing up so fast.

Jackson is truly the most hilarious little boy. He makes these facial expressions that I just wish I could freeze forever and never forget them. We keep saying this kid should be on tv. He would be a hit! He is so talkative and says the most funny things. I can't believe how well he can converse now. I can tell he is so smart and inquisitive. He is always studying how things work and how they are put together. He loves his trucks and trailers and has discovered Bob the Builder now too. He continues to challenge us with his silly little antics and curiosity, like pouring a coke into the dog bowl because "the dog wanted a coke." Uhhhhh, okay. He likes to get things out of the fridge and throw just about anything that will fly. He is making great friends at school and the teachers seem to enjoy him in the class. No incidents yet! Phew. We will be working on potty trainging in the new year. He is so capable of going in the potty, but it might have to be a battle of the wills. I can't wait for Christmas. He is old enough now to understand it a bit better and he is going to be so excited!!!!

Carter is growing like crazy. He's our little chubber wubbers. He is smiling and giggling much more these days and is really enjoying using his little hands to grab things. I love to watch him play with his little toys - adorable! He's found his voice too! We are getting a bit more sleep these days. He can make it until about 2 or 3 in his swing and then he's with me the rest of the night. We're working on getting him out of our bed, so I hope we can make that transition soon. He started his rice cereal which he does not like, but I'll keep trying. I'm surprised somewhat since he is such a big eater, but I think it's just the texture of it. I had a dream last night that he rolled over, so maybe that will happen soon:) I am anxious for him to sit up and play with his toys!

I am looking forward to a fun Christmas weekend with our families. So thankful for Jesus and God's abundant grace.

Boo!

2011-11-07T10:33:00.000-08:00

My little punkins
Cutest Fireman Ever

Our littlest punkin

Well, we had a great time celebrating Halloween with or beautiful bat fairy and our handsome fireman. Carter was festively dressed, but no costume this year! Our neighborhood was full of kiddos on the prowl to fill their bags with treats. This was Jackson's first year to really get into it and seeing his face light up when we hit that first house and they handed him candy was priceless. He just couldn't believe that was just for him! I love it!

Happy 2 Months!

2011-10-19T07:57:00.000-07:00

Happy 2 Months Carter!

Hard to believe he's 2 months old now!

We are loving his sweet smiles and little "goooos" when he talks to us:)

He weighs 11 lbs. 9 oz. and is 23" long!

Wow - October already!

2011-10-12T08:48:00.001-07:00

My Beautiful Indian Princess

Bath Time!

Cutest. Thing. Ever!

SO SILLY!

GRANDMA MARY and her newest love

It's hard to believe October is already here and baby Carter will be 2 months old soon. Kylie is doing so well in first grade and is really enjoying horseback riding lessons and her weekly dance class at school. Every day I ask her what was the best part of her day and it never fails for her to answer "outside". She loves to play outside and chase the boys (I think that's what she really likes).

Jackson is doing really well at school too! He's now in school 4 days a week - two days at Bannockburn and two days at Westlake Presbyterian. I actually think it works really well to change things up a bit and not go to the same place every day. We sometimes hear that he has a hard time with "kind hands" which always makes me sad, but I hope it's something he will grow out of. Basically, if someone has something he wants, he has no problem using force to get it from them. He really has such a sweet heart, but he uses his strength to get his way when he needs to. He's talking up a storm too! We get tickled at him all the time over things he says. It's like he's just sponge soaking up every word he hears. It's amazing! And, here I was worried he wouldn't be a big talker. Proved me wrong!

Carter is growing and growing. We are still having some issues with his tummy and trying to figure out what it is that has him so uncomfortable. We've tried different meds and I've cut out just about everything from my diet, but he's still very sensitive and wants to be held 24/7. It is puzzling and frustrating to not know what is bothering him, but I am hopeful things will turnaround soon. Now, it's time to decide if he needs to see a specialist or just continue doing what we're doing. His hair is slowing falling out, but I still think we have a brunette, brown-eyed hunk this time! He loves being outside and his warm baths. He smiles when Kylie and Jackson talk to him, which is so precious. I think he gets overwhelmed by them sometimes, but I can tell he knows who they are.

Adam has been so busy taking care of Kylie and Jackson and working. He's really stepped up and is doing a great job! Having three kids is a whole new level of activity which requires some serious stamina. I am now back working full time, so Grandma Mary has now become the caretaker for a third time. She's like super woman trying to manage hers and everyone else's schedules. I don't know what we'd do without her.

I'm so looking forward to Fall activities with Halloween and Thanksgiving... just one step closer to Christmas!

I can swim!!!

2011-09-13T18:16:00.000-07:00

Jackson has really caught on to swimming this summer with the help of Grandma Debbie and Big Pa. And, when they put him in his vest, he was off on his own! He could swim across the whole pool with his vest and jump in from the side too. We are so proud of him! It is so nice to have a pool we can use right down the street that is small and private. He loves to say
"I go underwater!"

Yay Jackson!!!

Introducing Carter James Biehler!

2011-09-01T18:35:00.000-07:00

He's here! Our healthy, beautiful baby boy is here.

He was born at 12:38 p.m. on August 17th and weighed 7 lbs. 7 oz. and was 19 3/4" long. Just a perfect little guy. He has pretty dark hair and it's even got a wave to it! So, we'll see if it sticks or if we end up with a third blonde-haired kiddo.

The delivery went pretty well. Dr. McIntyre and the nurses, etc. were all amazing. I wasn't really that nervous at all. I will admit this surgery was a bit more intense than the others. I felt quite a bit more tugging and pulling than ever, which was a bit unsettling, but it didn't last too long.

Carter is doing really well. He's gained back all his weight from birth and is eating like a champ. He wants to be held all the time, which is quite challenging for me, but I know he still so young. I just hope he gets over that here soon!

I'm not getting much sleep, but I know sooner or later this little guy will be snoozing the night away (wishful thinking I guess!).

Kylie and Jackson are the best sister and brother ever. They are both so adoring of Carter and love him to death. Jackson is still learning how to be gentle, but he loves giving kisses and gets the biggest grin on his face when he sees his baby brother.

Kylie is a great helper and can even hold him for me sometimes so I can do a few things. I love it!

It has been a huge relief to get a break from the stress of work as well. A very much needed break for my brain! It's going by too quickly though!

I'll do my best to post often as these sweet kids of mine continue to bless my life every day. I love to share my greatest blessings with friends and family!

Happy Baby Eve!

2011-08-16T20:16:00.000-07:00

My sis sent me an email that said "Happy Baby Eve" and I thought that was pretty cute!
So, tomorrow is the big day when we will welcome Carter James into our lives.
I just now packed our bags and I guess I feel like we are ready? I don't know how ready we can be, but I guess we are there.
If it's anything like Jackson's birth, we will go in at 10:30, I'll slip into a gown have my pulse and blood pressure checked and wait around for a bit - then off to surgery! It's actually a pretty low-key affair. Everyone loves Dr. McIntyre and you can tell. It's a pleasant, joyful environment. I've requested the same anesthesiologist I had for both Kylie and Jackson. He's kind and has been so great with the other two, of course I wanted him for Carter!
Nothing can really explain the way it feels to see your baby for the first time. What an amazing experience it is. I can't wait to hold him and snuggle with him.
No doubt I'm anxious about all the things that come along with a newborn and taking care of two other kiddos at the same time. It's a bit overwhelming, but one day at at time.
Here are my prayer requests:
A safe delivery of a healthy baby, a quick recovery, the ability to juggle schedules with school starting, the strength to make it through sleepless nights, and the ability to (despite how tough it might be to adjust) truly appreciate these three precious gifts God has given us. For one day, soon enough, they will all be grown up and we'll wonder where the time went. As much as we like to speed the time up, Lord please slow us down so we can enjoy our greatest treasures.
My next post will be of Mr. Carter! God be with us!

Mark your Calendars for August 17th!!!

2011-08-02T21:15:00.000-07:00

Carter James will be arriving on August 17th (no earlier we hope) around 12:30 p.m. at St. David's Hospital!
So crazy to think that we are only about 2 weeks away from having another baby. Wow! I really love the idea of having it all planned. I can actually get up and get dressed (no breakfast - boo) and have a bit of time in the morning before we head to the hospital. If it's anything like Jackson's birth, it was absolutely low-key and not stressful at all. Dr. McIntyre is always a joy and I can tell nurses and other doctors really enjoy working with him, which makes a huge difference. I've requested the same anesthesiologist (Dr. Allen) I had for Kylie and Jackson. He is also amazing and helped me stay calm through both of their births! He even took some great pictures for us:) I remember when I was having Jackson they were discussing funny commercials and other just casual conversation topics. It really is quite amusing, and then all the sudden "here comes baby!".
I am so anxious to see what he is going to look like! And those tiny little hands and feet that are just the most precious site ever. I really do enjoy those few days in the hospital where Adam and I will be able to spend some time with Carter on our own. Kylie will hopefully be there for the birth and come to visit a bit, but then she'll be off to have her own fun adventures with friends and family. Mr. Jackson will get to meet Carter when he comes home. I'm not too sure he'll be comfortable with mommy lying in the bed with machines all around, so we'll just spare him that experience!
The house is pretty much done except for a few minor things here and there and I've finally gotten around to washing and getting baby clothes, bibs, blankets, etc. all washed and ready. Still have more to do, but at least we are making progress!
Jackson is doing really well in his big boy bed and really made the transition nicely, thank goodness. He still gets a bit hyper at bedtime and wants to play with his toys or heaven-forbid jump on the bed (which has already given us one bloody nose). Overall, I am very proud of him! He has changed so much just in these past few months. He went from not a whole lot of talking to sentences so quickly. My favorite things he says are:
"I love you so much"
"Thank you so much"
"Mommy, get up" (of course when I'm still wanting to sleep!)
"Hi, how are you?" he says this in the cutest little voice ever. It makes me smile every time!
"Mommy, pick it up please" any time he drops something.
It's really funny when he tells Kylie she needs to go to time out!
He really has a sweet demeanor to him and is actually a very polite little boy. So proud of him.
Of course, he likes to play with things he shouldn't and draw on pretty much anything, but overall he is a great kid. We just have to keep a good eye on him!
Kylie is growing up so fast. She's had a great summer of camps and spending the night with friends. She even put up a "DO NOT DISTURVE" sign on her door. Love it! She goes in there more frequently now for some alone time, which I think is really good for her. She'll play with toys, write in her journal (that she locks by the way), or read books. She is going to sleep on her own now, which took us literally up until this summer to make happen. Bad parents. I love our talks at bedtime, so we still have those now and then. Instead of laying in her bed until she falls asleep, I simply give her a kiss and tell her good night. She is really starting to show her personality... sometimes a bit more daring than I would like, and she can be quite the drama queen. We have some moments of talking back or just a snotty tone, but she seems to recognize our disapproval very quickly. I hope that she will really enjoy having another baby brother and being a part of it even more this time, now that she is older.
I'm preparing to take off some time from work which is always hard to do. I'll work up until Wednesday to get ready to be out. Quite stressful! It will be nice to have a few weeks to not be so focused on work. Probably a good break for my brain. Although, my brain will be a little wacky from lack of sleep, I'm sure.

Well, here's to what will hopefully be an uneventful next two weeks! We love you Carter James and can't wait to meet you!

Biehlers hit the beach!

2011-07-18T08:35:00.000-07:00

We managed to get in a beach trip before baby gets here, and I am so glad we did. This is Kylie's absolute favorite place to be and I was determined to take her before the summer was over.

We headed to Port A. and stayed from Thursday to Sunday. Grandma, me and the kids drove down on Thursday and then daddy joined us on Friday.

We went to the Rockport beach the first day and I was pretty anxious about how Jackson would do. Last year when we took him to the beach it was a disaster! He took off into the water and didn't want me to hold him so he just screamed. We ended up banning him from the beach for the rest of the trip. So, this time was so much better. Actually, he was very cautious the first day and didn't really even want to get in the water unless I was holding him. Being almost 8 months pregnant makes that a bit tricky!!!

Things were definitely better once Adam got there so he could hold Jackson if needed or take Kylie out to ride the big waves. There weren't many jellyfish this time (thank goodness) and the beaches looked really great.

Jackson really warmed up to the ocean by the 2nd and 3rd day and had a great time in the shallow part letting the waves get him.

So glad we got to spend some time together having a great time and making memories!!!

Baby Brother in 3D!!!

2011-06-30T21:09:00.000-07:00

I didn't do a 3D sonogram with Kylie or Jackson, so I decided why not do one this time? Adam bought be a great present from Blooming Pregnancy Day Spa that included the sonogram and a massage - yippeeee!

So, here he is, our sweet baby boy! I still can't believe how cool it was to see him like this. At first he had his little hands up at his face, but with enough poking around, he moved them. Then, he smiled and was actually opening and closing his mouth. Kylie got to come see the sonogram too and she thought it was super cool. It is hard to believe he'll be here in just 8 weeks. I am still feeling very unprepared, but we'll get there. Soon, we'll have the house all back together and I can get his baby gear ready to go. The anxiety seems to get a bit worse as we get closer to the big day. I think my biggest fear is being able to be the best mom I can be to all my kiddos. I want to be able to nurture this new little guy as much as possible while still being there for Kylie and Jackson. I know it will take some time for us all to get acquainted, but my hope is that this sweet little guy will just add to the joy of our household! I'm sure he will:)

Raised to walk in a new life...

2011-06-23T14:50:00.000-07:00

Kylie Marie got baptized on Sunday, June 12th!

She spent the week at VBS with Hyde Park and accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior - Hallelujah!!!

I am so happy for her. She has been talking about it for over a year now and I just hadn't been sure she really understood what it meant, so I didn't make too much out of it. I wanted it to be choice that she really understood and could remember forever.

I believe she was completely ready and has such a great foundation of faith already. In fact, I feel like she has taught me so much about my own personal faith starting at a very young age.

It made it even more special that Dr. Bowman who married Adam and I baptized her. It was at the Quarries which is the church's newer location with recreational activities and a beautiful man-made lake.

I just loved the look on her face as she stood there getting ready to go under. She just seemed so excited and so content. This is truly a moment I will never forget...

Jackson Turns Two!

2011-06-03T20:04:00.000-07:00

Pure joy on this little man's face! He was so excited to blow out his candle I had to light it twice.

My little boy turned two! Wow, it's hard to believe he's already two years old. He had such a great time at his birthday party at Gymboree. He takes a class there on Tuesdays with Grandma and his teacher Aaron did his party. Aaron was awesome and really helped the kids have fun. There were maracahs, bubbles, parachutes, balls, jumping, you name it - they loved it. Kylie was such a good big sister and really heped make the party fun for everyone.

The theme of the party was trains of course!!! Are we noticing a trend here?

It's amazing how much he's changed just even in the past few months. He went from saying a few words to sentences and can pretty much repeat anything. I have been amazed at how quickly he is changing. He actually learned how to crawl out of his crib on his birthday too. No fun for us, but it will make the transition to his big boy bed a bit easier for us to do before little man #2 arrives. So, now he comes into my room and says "Mommy Get Up". It really is adorable how he says it no matter how much I really don't want to get up. I still think one of my favorite things he says is "Cuse me" meaning "excuse me". It is so darn cute. Or maybe how he says lollipop like poppypop.

He wants to walk everywhere and does not like to have to sit in the stroller or be carried. The only problem is - he's an escape artist! He will get away from us so fast it's scary. So, that continues to be a challenge. Playing outside is still his most favorite activity. Anything where he can climb, run, throw balls, and just be a rambunctious little boy makes him happy. His favorite toys are his trains, grocery cart, hammer (that's so much fun), his old-school puppy on wheels, and his little cars.
He likes to eat little pancakes every morning and that is typically what he asks for first thing. He still has a major attachment to "roar" his lion. It is very well-loved. He still loves his suckies too. That's going to be a hard habit to break - yikes. His crocs are his favorite shoes and pretty much the only ones he won't take off all the time. He loves to run around the backyard completely naked. I don't know why kids like that so much; Kylie was the same way. FREEDOM!!!! His favorite foods are pizza, oranges, pancakes, chicken, broccoli, and any kind of snack cracker really.
He gets very irritated with bugs that fly in his face or jump on him and he does not like to share mommy. He and Kylie like to have "mommy wars." Having another one could make things very interesting indeed! I'm so blessed by this little boy. He is certainly keeping us very busy, but he's truly a joy.

Grab your umbrella!!!

2011-05-12T08:30:00.000-07:00

You know we needed rain so badly when Facebook is inundated wtih comments about how excited people are that it is raining. Jackson spent quite a bit of time just staring out the window this morning. It's like a phenomenon that it's raining. Hopefully this will bring some pretty flowers and green, green grass! Thank you Lord for the rain!

This past weekend was a big weekend for me. On Friday, I turned 33 years old. Hard to believe, but yes, one more year closer to 35. Kylie came into my room in the morning and with her sweet little voice said "happy birthday mommy" and it started my day off perfectly. Then, Adam and Jackson brought be back breakfast tacos for breakfast, yum! I don't reallydig breakfast very much, but I love me some breakfast tacos! For lunch I met my mom and Deanna at Kerbey Lane for a birthday lunch which is always a treat. We all live here, but our schedules rarely allow us to have even a meal together. Aunt D gave me a free night of babysitting and a movie! Yay! My kids love her, so I am excited they will get a fun night with Aunt D while mommy has a fun night out. Recently Jackson has started spending time with D on Thursdays and he loves it. She truly has a true gift with kids. They are just drawn to her and my kids are no different. He talks about her all the time. I know they always have fun adventures when they are together and I am so happy they are making some sweet memories together. Kylie loves Aunt D too. She thinks having slumber parties at her house might just be the greatest thing ever. Nevermind that she is treated like royalty when she is over there! I am so glad our family is all close. We are so very blessed.

For my birthday evening, Adam and I went to Hula Hut to have my favorite meal - the chicken and avocado tubular taco. It is the greatest thing ever!!! I would have loved to down a margarita, but not this year! After dinner we went and saw the movie Source Code which was actually pretty entertaining. I didn't fall asleep so it must have been good. The kiddos spent the night with Grandma and Big Pa so we slept in until 10:00 on Saturday! Wow! That was AWESOME!

Mother's Day we went to a very nice brunch at Perry's Steakhouse hosted by some of my mom's very dear friends. The set-up was so nice and the food was amazing. I got a pork chop that could have fed about 3 people I think! We don't eat out much, so going to a place like this is super special. I love celebrating my mom on a special day, however, one day would never be enough! She is the most amazing mom in the world and I could never express how much I love and appreciate her. After the brunch, we headed over to the Biehler's to enjoy some more family time (in the pool of course) and dinner. Having the pool has been so much fun for the kids. They have such a blast. Jackson still isn't quite sure about getting off the side ledge, but honestly, I am glad! He is usually so daring that it's scary, so I'll take it while I can get it!

Better get back to work, just needed a little break for my mind!

Dallas Girls' Weekend

2011-04-25T12:23:00.001-07:00

New bed for her doll!

Smoothie with her American Girl Doll!
Shy, Heather, Jackie, Trimble, Becky (four baby boys and a girl!)

Miss Kylie went with me to visit my sweet friends in Dallas for a baby shower and then we had some fun Mommy-Daughter time together!

Jackie is having her first baby, little Olivia. The shower was absolutely adorable. Decorated all in Red, Black, and White. Cutest theme ever. I didn't get to see my friends for too long, but I always treasure every minute I have with them. There were five of us pregnant at the shower! That's out of 9 girls! Very funny.

After the shower, Kylie and I headed to the Westin at the Galleria. Shortly after we got there Kylie was ready to swim, of course. It was maybe 80 degrees, so too cold for mommy! She had a great time and met some friends at the pool. We headed back to the room for a shower and then it was off to ice skate! I couldn't ice skate with her, so I was very apprehensive about her going, but she assured me it was just fine. Of course she did fabulous! She loves ice skating and has gotten pretty good at it for only her second time! After ice skating I told her we could go anywhere she wanted to eat and she picked none other than McDonald's (seriously?). So, we ate at the Food Court - yum. Last, it was a stop at the American Girl store. She picked out a friend for the doll she has and a few other things, such as pj's since she would absolutely need some of those for the night! It was about time to call it a day so we went back to the room. Once we got back, there were little cupcakes, a glass of milk and a doll bed for her American Girl Doll! She was super excited.

The next day we had brunch at the American Girl Bistro, which is actually a pretty great place to eat! They have a little box filled with question cards that you can ask each other so we had fun doing those while we waited. She came up with some pretty funny answers. After brunch, we hit the mall for a few minutes, bought some goodies at Claire's Boutique and hit the road! I just love these fun times with Kylie and I hope she'll remmeber the special times she has with Mom. I know I will!

It's a boy!!!

2011-04-06T11:50:00.000-07:00

Oh, he's already so cute! I can tell! So amazing that this is going on inside my body. And, it's just as amazing as it was the first time I did it! The doctor said everything looked good and the baby seemed to be right on track. I have to say, I am so glad to finally know. I was thinking it was a girl for some reason, but it seems I was the only one. Kylie really wanted it to be a girl, but I think she'll soon realize that she is glad it's a boy. I'm so glad Jackson will now have a little running buddy and I don't even have to redo the nursery! I still love it, so I am leaving it as-is. Check that off the list. Now, if we can just figure out if we are going to get to make some changes to our house. Next thing we have to do is meet with a contractor. If only Papa was still alive, we'd be all set!

So, now I am officially halfway done. Hard to believe. Still feeling great, but I run out of steam around 5:30 or 6:00 and I am exhausted! More to come later!!!

April 18th Folks!!!

2011-03-17T14:05:00.000-07:00

Man, it seems like a long way away, but this pregnancy is already flying by so it will be here soon I know. We moved my due date up to August 17th today. I wasn't very sure about my "dates" so we used the ultrasound and size of the little peanut to give us a better indication of just how far along I really am. It looks like I'll probably deliver around the 12th (by c-section of course). I liked doing it on a Friday before because it is easier to get help with the kiddos over the weekend and Adam doesn't have to miss too much work.

I have my next sonogram scheduled for April 18th, so we'll finally know what we are having! Yay!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I never really knew the story behind St. Patrick, which I'm a little embarrassed to say. I wonder how many people out there who aren't Christians realize that Saint Patrick was actually responsible for converting many people in Ireland to Christianity. He faced many odds along his way and yet he was faithful and steadfast. He is a great example to all Christians and I am proud to say Happy Saint Patrick's Day!!!

Baby Kicks

2011-03-15T14:06:00.001-07:00

Not a whole lot to report today, but I've started to feel little baby kicks now. My little pregnancy app says the baby is about the size of a sweet potato! Funny! It doesn't matter if I've already done this twice before, it's always neat to be able to feel the baby. It certainly makes it more "real". I go to see Dr. McIntyre on Thursday, and it's actually been about 7 weeks since my last appointment. He had knee surgery so I had to postpone my regular appointment. No big deal really. At this point, they are pretty uneventful anyways. But, the fun news is, I'll get to schedule my next big sonogram when we find out what we are having!!! Yippeee. I simply can not wait. It is so hard to wait to find out. I could never let it be a surprise. I can imagine it would be a neat experience to not find out, but I love getting to know ahead so we can start calling the baby by it's name (if we can pick one) and getting baby gear that doesn't have to be gender neutral!

I got rid of most of my maternity clothes, but I'm going to try and keep it simple this time. Summers here are so hot anyways, that a tee and shorts will suffice almost any day.

I'm so grateful for sweet friends who have already offered to lend me some of their baby gear. I just love my friends. Don't know what I would do without them!!!

Apple Juuuuuuice...

2011-03-11T11:32:00.000-08:00

We're in to two word phrases now people! Yay! After a little concern on my end for Jackson not being quite the talker Kylie was, he has really blossomed lately! Just yesterday he started saying Apple Juice and not just juice. He can say "kitty cat", "daddy's truck", "hot dog", "bye bye ______" and quite a few other things. I'm so happy! He's a smart little dude. Every parent thinks their own kids are smart, right?

Adam and I got to help out at school for a little bit this morning for Kylie's Reading Rodeo. They did a big two-week Reading Round-Up to raise money for the school library. Each child read as many minutes as they could for two weeks and then people pledge money for their reading. It's a great tradition at Regents! This morning, Adam and I helped with the Spin Art booth at the Rodeo. It is so wonderful that Adam is able to be a part of things like this at school. We are so lucky. I know it means the world to Kylie when we are involved at school. Adam and I had fun helping the little kids make their spin art papers. They really enjoyed it! The Rodeo was really quite a treat for the kids. Other than spin art, they had bounce houses, an inflatable slide, tug-of-war, popcorn, face painting, ball toss, and more games. The kids had a great time and it was a great reward for their hard work reading.

This whole growing a human thing is really wearing me out! I can't seem to shake off the fatigue! I guess on top of working and raising two other kids, it's just a bit much. I'm going, but man I'm tired. It's too bad I can't tank up on caffeine! One thing that has always been strange about my pregnancies is my inability to drink coffee. I love coffee. I typically drink it every day, but not now. Really the thought of it just gives me a sick feeling. So weird. I guess it's a good thing though! I've switched to hot tea which is probably much better for me.

I'm loving this beautiful weather and hope it stays around for a while! God's glory truly shines on these pretty days!

Irish Wednesday

2011-03-09T19:26:00.000-08:00

Kylie was really intrigued today with people walking around with ashes on her forehead. But, it was so funny because she said "today is Irish Wednesday and so all the Irish people have crosses on their heads after they went to church and asked God to forgive their sins." It was really cute how she explained it all to me. Made me chuckle.

My Aunt Patsy passed away on Sunday after being in and out of the hospital for quite some time. I think her body finally had just had enough. My dad drove to Midland and got to see her and speak to her before she passed and she was surrounded by all her loved ones when she earned her wings. I was hoping to get to Midland for the funeral today but I just couldn't make it happen. I feel bad that I wasn't there to be with my dad. I'm glad he's getting to spend some quality time with his family in Midland though. He doesn't get to see them very often and I know he needs that. I am sad that we have grown distant from my family in Midland. When we moved to Austin we just didn't get back there very much at all and now it's been years. Family is so important to me so I don't know why I've let that slip away. It was always a little different for my sister and I because our cousins were so much older than we were. Many of them were already grown ups when we were kids and we were closer in age to their children. Needless to say, this has reminded me of how important family is and you really never know how long you'll have them here.

Spring Break is next week already? I really feel like Kylie just started kindergarten. She is super excited to go to camp a few days next week with her friend Erin. They are going to Main Event, bowling and Gatti-Town. She can't wait and I am so thankful to have something for her to do since Mom doesn't get a Spring Break. I'm going to try a new place for Jackson this week too. It's called KidSpa and is more of drop-in childcare place. It seems fun and I think he'll like it, but I guess I'll find out on Friday. He's been so great about being in new situations so far. He loves school and church and never gets upset when we leave him. I love that! It makes it so much easier for me to leave him.

Baby #3 seems to be doing well. Not much action so far though. I can actually still fit in my normal clothes which is unexpected. I imagine one of these mornings I'll wake up and go WOW, where did that belly come from? I'm anxious to feel some movements here and there. It's a comforting feeling to know the little peanut is moving around and hopefully feeling well.
We start our next book in our missional community this week on Sacred Parenting. I am so excited to read this book and discuss it with the group. I'll make sure and share some of my favorite parts in my blog!

Introducing the newest addition to the family...

2011-03-01T10:15:00.000-08:00

We are happy to announce our little peanut who will be joining us in mid-August!

So far the pregnancy has been very easy (thank you Lord) with little to no side effects for mommy. Now, we have to start figuring out how to fit this new addition into our house! I am excited about doing a few renovations to our house to make my office a bedroom and add a playroom to what is now our back porch. So, we'll see what comes of our ideas and if we can make it work.

God really has opened my eyes to His plans for my life and as Adam said, we must be doing something right with our kids for him to bless us with another one!

Now, the big question is going to be.... boy or girl? We should know around the end of March.

God's Plans

2011-02-26T12:52:00.000-08:00

Sweetest doggy ever...

Kylie and Mom at competition.

Weeeeeeee.... love these moments!

We spend so much time planning for tomorrow, don't we? We tend to get lost in our plans, ambitions, and goals that we forget about today. I know I do that. I am thinking I have it all down. My life is going pretty well... I have two kiddos whom I adore, a husband who I've loved since childhood, and family and friends who are a true blessing. I have a job that allows me to work from home and still be involved in my kiddos lives more than I would be working away from home. I love our church and we are making some great friends through it and through Regents (Kylie's school).

So, I imagine the conversation a little like this...

"God, it's me Becky. I know, I know. I haven't been spending as much time with you lately. But, there's so much to be done. Just not enough hours in the day. I'm a hard-working mom and it is just exhausting! I'll do better I promise."

God..."Becky, you seem to say this to me every time we talk. When are you going to stop making excuses and stop planning. I AM the plan. I AM your life. I AM the way. What do I have to do to make you understand that?"

"But God, I think I have it all figured out if you'll just humor me here. If we can just make this much money. If we can just have this much time. If I can just do this with my kids. Yada, yada, yada (as I'm sure God hears it at this point)."

God... "Okay Becky, here's the deal. You can spend all the time you want planning, but you WILL see, that my plan is the greatest and it will trump your plan any day. So guess what? I'm going to make it so blatantly obvious that you are NOT in control that you simply will not be abe to ignore it. How does that sound?"

And so HE has, and as anxious as I tend to get when things don't go as I have planned, in some way it is so incredibly humbling to know that the pressure of being in control of my own life is somewhat lifted. Don't get me wrong, it makes me crazy anxious. I'm a worrier. Anyone that knows me well can tell you that. But, it's hard for me to even admit that. Worrying is a lack of faith, period. We worry because we don't have faith that God is in control and knows better than we do. We worry because we are afraid we can't cope with what life brings us. I know this will be a life-long struggle for me to not worry, but I am so grateful to recognize now what it means and why it's so harmful. So, I will continue to work through it every day of my life. I know I will stumble, probably many times. But, I also know God will be there to pick me up every time, without fail.

My Baby Girl Turns Six!

2011-01-28T19:56:00.000-08:00

Great View From the Hotel!

Silly Blue Tongues!

Happy Birthday Dear Kylie!

Look Mom, No Training Wheels!

American Girl Store

I'm watching a show on 20/20 as I write this blog and it happens to feature children who are homeless. Basically, these kids have no one to take care for them or provide them a loving, nurturing environment. I watch this thinking what a shame it is for their parents to not realize what a gift they have been given and how I will do absolutely anything to make sure my kids know they ALWAYS have a loving, safe place to come home to. Kids don't care if they live in biggest house in the most expensive neighborhood. They just want a place to feel secure and loved. So, I hope many people who watched the show tonight will join me in praying for those kids that they will some how find that safe place surrounded by people who love them.

My sweet Kylie turned six years old on Monday. It is just so strange how one minute I look at her and she still seems so young and the next minute I feel like she's so grown up. When I talk to her on the phone she still has the most precious little voice that I will always remember as one of the sweetest sounds on earth. Sometimes when I'm out of town for work she'll call and leave me messages and I just listen to them over and over as it blesses my heart more every time.

We are really going to focus more on her independence this year. She has started taking showers (most of the time) and brushing her own teeth. Now we are working on going to sleep on her own. We are starting with 5 songs and then we'll take one off until we get to just one song. So, eventually, I'll stay in her room for one song and then leave. As much as I love that cuddle time with her, I know it's not good for her to rely on me to be there when she goes to sleep. I almost forgot - Adam taught her to ride her bike without training wheels and she's so great at it. It took her about 15 minutes and she was a pro.

On to her big day! We started off the celebration the week before with a trip to the American Doll Store in Dallas with just Mom and Dad. We stayed at the Westin Galleria, went ice skating, and then had brunch at the American Girl Bistro before shopping. It was a special trip! Then, last weekend she had a slumber party with her cousins at Grandma Mary's house. Grandma decorated for her, they went rollerskating, and had dance party and karaoke fun. The next morning was a trip to Kylie's favorite breakfast spot - IHOP! Kylie really loves hanging out with her cousins and I'm so glad they had the chance to share her birthday with her. On Monday, I took cupcakes to school and got the house all decorated for the big party. All the family came over for pizza and cake! It was a Peace, Love, and Rock'n'Roll theme picked out by little miss birthday herself. The cake was really cute and very colorful. So colorful that we all had blue teeth and tongues after we ate it! Jackson chowed down big time on it.

Want to know what was on Kylie's birthday list? A Big Time Rush CD! What? Yes, that's right, a boy band cd. Huh-larious. And, now, she goes to sleep with it playing in her cd player every night. And notice in the picture her pink hat says "another year of fabulous." So fitting.

Adam and I were talking the other day about how we love life with our kids so much more than we ever loved the single life. Even when we're all tired and cranky, I wouldn't trade it for anything. Would I love a vacation - well, yes, of course! But, rest assured, no matter where I go I would be thinking about my kids and missing them terribly.

Happy Birthday Precious Kylie! I am so proud of you and can not wait to see what God has in store for you my sunshine.

So much to say...

2011-01-02T15:39:00.001-08:00

I am being a big overachiever here already in the New Year! I'm sure it won't stick, but I am waiting for some of my work to print out and thought I would catch everyone up on where Jackson is right now and all of the fun things he is doing!

Here are the words he can say:

Shoes

School (very cute when he says this as we pull up to school)

Juice

Eat

Choooo Chooooo (for train of course)

Bye Bye

Up (or Ups sometimes)

I want that... this is his very favorite thing to say, followed by a fit if he doesn't get what he wants!

Cheese

Car

Bath

Please or (pease)

Those are the main ones. He's starting to really be able to mimick words which usually means he'll start saying many more things pretty quickly. Man, we have been waiting a while to get that boy to talk to us and tell us what he wants!

He continues to be extremely agile and can pretty much climb up or onto anything. He seems to have no fear about climbing or jumping off of things (yeah for us, right?). He is a good eater and seems to actually prefer veggies and fruit most of the time. We officially retired the bottle about 3 weeks before Christmas and he could really care less, so no more cleaning bottles! He still loves his suckies at night time, but doesn't really ever use it out of the bed at all, so hopefully the attachment won't be too severe to kick fairly quick.

He loves going to school and church and his teachers seem to enjoy him so very much. He's the life of the party! He has not had any separation anxiety and just dives right in to what is going on. No doubt he keeps them on their toes, but he is a true delight.

He is always on the GO and when I mean on the go, I mean, he does NOT like to stay home too long. He likes to get out of the house. If Adam or I are going somewhere and he figures it out, he goes and grabs his shoes and brings them too us. He loves it when Grandma Mary shows up at the house because he knows she'll take him on an adventure somewhere!

Oh, I am so anxious to see what this little man will be like when his personality truly shines out. He really seems to have a sweet spirit about him and at the same time he is very determined. He likes to look at how things work and then try it on his own. It doesn't take him long to figure anything out. His mind is always working. I like to say he's like his namesake Papa Ralph who was always tinkering with this and that. I think Adam would agree with me that if he is anything like Papa, we've done something right. I'm sure he's smiling down on him as he watches him grow and says "that's my boy!"

Cheers to you!

2011-01-01T18:35:00.000-08:00

My two favorite gifts!

Sweetest moment of the holiday:)

I have to admit, it is always a bit sad for me when the holidays are coming to an end. I find myself starting to count down to the holidays around September and anxiously await this time of year. So,when it's all over, I am sad that yet another holiday has passed. This time of year is just so magical in so many ways, but here's to a new year full of more wonderful memories.

Kylie had a great last day of school before break. Many moms helped to put together a fun party for the class. They ate some yummy snacks, did a book exchange, and then made homemade snowglobes (I was in charge of this-yikes!). The kids got to wear fun Christmas outfits and Christmas socks instead of their normal uniforms, and they all looked so cute. The next week was full of playdates and more fun for Kylie. She has really made some sweet friends at school and enjoys spending time with them. The parents are all great too, which makes it that much better! She actually had her 2nd sleepover this past week! She had so much fun she didn't want to come home when I went to pick her up. I have to say, though, it is hard for me when she spends the night out. I don't like going in to her room at night and seeing an empty bed! Gosh, there are times (many) when I want to hold on to her so tight and never let go. I am really going to have to pray about it, because I know she's not mine to keep forever. Easier said than done though.

We spent Christmas Eve at the Biehlers' house with the whole family. Kylie and Jackson both love to spend time with their cousins so much. It's crazy with everyone there, but it's fun too. They are playing trains, playing Wii, chasing each other, building things, and generally making a big mess! I think they will all be really happy when the D'Amura's move to Austin. The cousins have never lived in the same town, so I know they will be excited to see each other more often.

Christmas morning was amazing of course. Kylie and Jackson both woke up about 7:00 and then we had them come out together. I will never forget how adorable it was to see them walk around the corner hand-in-hand. It will be a memory I treasure forever! Kylie was happy to see Santa left her a cookie and a letter. Some of her favorite gifts from Santa were a Nintendo DSi and games, Squinkies, earrings, and Hello Kitty rain boots. Jackson immediately started playing with his little basketball hoop. He got a Chuck the Truck (he's still not sure about this one yet), and lots of bath toys. Bath time is always a fun time at our house!

When it was all said and done, the kids ended up with a plethora of new toys and games to play with. Many more than they will ever need! They have been so blessed beyond measure by the family and friends who are so gracious to them.

Adam gave me a beautiful jewelry box which I really enjoyed organizing (I'm a dork). It is perfect! He also got me a sweet new cordless vacuum for my tile (again, I'm a dork)-best gift ever!!! He got a coffee mug made for me with Jackson's handprint made into a Santa face. Oh, it is precious!

Christmas Day afternoon was at my mom's house. Again, more presents, great food and fun! Kylie looks up to her older cousins so much and they take good care of her. Grandma got her an American Girl Doll, which she has been asking for for a while now. It's really a beautiful doll.

The rest of the holidays have been spent just hanging out and playing with our new toys. I managed to get pretty much nothing done around the house that I had wanted to and I even had to work over the break, even though I was supposed to be off. A little bummed about it, but moving along...

Now, on to 2011! I have to be in College Station next week for what will surely be the biggest change my company has made yet. We will hopefully launch a new computer system on January 10th. We will be going from being very paper-driven, to being almost paperless! Very scary transition, but a huge step in the right direction.

My hopes for 2011 and really pretty simple. I want to be content and peaceful. I want to enjoy my family and be able to make more time for them. I want to stress less about stuff that just doesn't matter. I want to invest in people's lives and open my heart. My theme for 2011 will be "Let go, Let God." Gosh, my mom has witnessed this to me so many times. Just let it go and let God do with you what He wants. Stop getting in the way of his work!

Okay, God, here I am...

Cheers to you!!!!

Give Thanks!

2010-11-24T19:19:00.000-08:00

The first grade Pilgrims invite the Indians to a feast!

Indian Games

Lovely Laughing Hyena

So, this is the season of giving thanks. I am thankful for so many things, but I thought I would share some things that I am thankful for!

A God who loves me despite my many faults and the grace and courage He gives me every day.
A husband who has loved me for over 15 years now and still finds ways every day to show me his love.
A daughter who is the greatest joy of my life. She makes me want to be a better person. She is the light in my life that is always there, despite the darkest days.
A precious little boy who has taken hold of my heart in a way I never thought possible. His hugs and kisses are worth more to me than anything money could ever buy.
A mom who continues to be my rock and my saving grace every day. Without her, I simply would not be where I am and who I am today.
A family who loves me and supports me in all that I do. I am thankful to have my family nearby. It is so comforting to know I am surrounded (literally) by my family.
A church that has already blessed us in many ways in less than a year that we've been there. It has helped us grow our faith beyond just Sunday mornings. I am thankful for its people, its purpose, and its potential to reach so many.
A home to call our own. In these difficult times there are so many people facing such terrible struggles and having to give up things we take for granted every day.
Faithful friends who bring me so much joy. Seeing my friends become moms and being able to share the experience with them has been so wonderful and I will cherish my sweet friends forever!
A job that allows me to work out of my home. Although it's a challenge to work from home, I am so thankful that I have a job, I work with people I truly enjoy and I am able to contribute for my family's needs.
Regents School of Austin, a school that I believe might just be the greatest school on earth. I have never been in a place so secure and so filled with love. Kylie's teacher is truly annointed with the Spirit and has to be one of the most amazing teachers I have ever met.

So, thank you God for your love, your patience, and your guidance. Thank you for giving me more than I will ever deserve. Thank you for your son Jesus and the ultimate sacrifice He paid. As a parent, the revelation of this sacrifice and how you gave your son for me, has made this gift more precious than I could have ever imagined.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!!

Sic 'Em Bears!

2010-10-27T20:28:00.000-07:00

Rainy Game! No umbrellas so a sac will do!

Brad (my old cheer coach) was there too!

All the girls!

Deanna, Katie, Kylie, Becky, Grandma Mary, Taylor

Kylie and I on the field!

I still can't believe I graduated from Baylor 10 years ago! Really? And, after visiting the campus, it felt like 10 years. I was amazed at how much it has grown and really changed for the better. Everything looks so nice and the grounds are more beautiful than I even remembered.

We headed to Waco on Friday afternoon (Kylie and I) just in time to get there and have some Ninfa's. Oh, how I love you Ninfarita and how I've missed you! We met up with friends and had a super dinner. Then, we headed over to campus for the bonfire. The Baylor bonfire is pretty tragic, but I know they try hard. Once you've seen the old A&M bonfire in all it's massive glory, it's hard to look at any other bonfires the same. Still, it was a fun event! We stayed long enough to see the yell leaders, hear the band, and sing "that Good Ole Baylor Line...." and then we headed out. Living in a town surrounded by Longhorns and working for an Aggie-owned company in Aggieland itself, sometimes this Baylor Bear gets lonely! So, it was nice to be surrounded by my fellow bears for a weekend.

The next morning we were up bright and early to go see the ever-so-famous Homecoming Parade. The floats were great as usual and I'm glad Kylie got to see what the parade is all about. Tri Delts float was super cute, but unfortunately didn't win any awards. The winning KOT float was amazing! It had a miniature ferris wheel and roller coaster that actually worked. I was thoroughly impressed.

Then, we spent some time walking around the campus, taking some pictures, and checking out the floats up-close after they had parked them. The rain was off and on, but we had no idea what was yet to come later that day. We picked up some Cracker Barrel (yum) and headed back to the hotel for a short break before game time. When we got the game as we were walking into the stadium, they were evacuating what soon would be 20,000 people out of the stands and under them. Yikes! Luckily, I found a small ramp to sit on for the next hour or so while we waited to be let back in the stands. When we finally got back in the stands, the temperature dropped drastically! Then, everyone headed to the shop in the stadium in a frenzy to buy every blanket and sweatshirt on the shelf. It was a mad-house! I ended up buying an XL long sleeve tee because it was the smallest size they had left! At this point, I was starting to worry I would never make it down on the field for the spirit squad alumni reunion during the 3rd quarter. I had been so excited to get back on the field for one more time. I loved being down there. I never cared whether we won or loss, it was always a great joy to be out there cheering.

Luckily, Kylie and I made it down to the locker room during half time to get ready to go out on the field during 3rd quarter. Unfortunately, they wouldn't let kids on the field which I thought was strange they didn't mention that after I specifically said I was bringing my daughter. Kind of important information! Luckily my mom, sis, and nieces were there so she went back and sat with them. During the third quarter, Michelle Nall and I did our thing (mainly just clapping and cheering on the bears) while a group of forty-somethings having their 20-year reunion proceeded to kick our booties. They were stunting, jumping and even tumbling. What? They even remembered the fight song. It was hard to believe it was their 20 year reunion the way they were getting after it and cheering like a bunch of youngsters. It was awesome!

What ended up being a very loooooong game, turned out to be well worth the wait as BU beat KSU and is now eligible for a bowl game. Sic 'Em Bears! So proud of my team!

On Sunday we paid a visit to Lady and Joy, the current Baylor bears who have a pretty sweet pad there on campus. They might be the most spoiled bears ever, but they deserve it! Then, we headed back home to be with our guys whom we left behind for the reunion weekend.

I'm so glad I went back and can't wait to go back again. Such great memories of my four years in Waco. Treasured memories for sure! Who knows, maybe Kylie will rootin' for the green and gold some day? I hope so!

10 Years Already...

2010-10-16T20:24:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe in one week I will be on the Baylor campus celebrating my 10 year reunion. I still feel like it was only a few years ago. Since then, I've been married, had two babies, moved a few times, and even managed to work for the same company for ten years. It will be interesting to be back on campus with Kylie in a whole new way, with a whole new outlook on life. Sometimes I miss those days of going to class, cheering at games, and hanging out with friends every, single day. I hope to see some familiar faces that I haven't seen in a long while and to do some of the things I would have considered dorky before. I am really excited about showing Kylie around the campus, standing with her at the parade, introducing her to the Baylor bear, and taking her down on the field with me during the 3rd quarter.

Yep, that's right! I'm going to go down on the field for the yell leader alumni gathering during the third quarter. I have such great memories of being on that field. I didn't care whether we won or loss, I just loved being in front of the crowd. I miss it! I guess here's another chance, so to speak. Watch out Floyd Casey... here I come!

Here are some updates on the kiddos:

Kylie is a busy girl, as usual. She is really loving her piano lessons and got her Christmas piece this week. I love watching her sit at the piano and play and can really imagine her there playing some amazing piece some day. So, I'm anxious to see how she does with "Away in a Manger" for her recital! Her cheer team at Cheer Station is working hard to prepare for their first competition in November. I will be a nervous wreck for that one, and it's not because I'm worried she won't hit her tricks. I mean, the girl does a cartwheel for goodness sake. No, I will be worried that she'll completely forget what she is supposed to do or where she's supposed to go and stand there freaked out. Uggggghhhh. They are just so little and a whole routine is so hard to remember! I am so proud of what a great big sister she is. She is so wonderful to Jackson. I feel so blessed to have such a good big sister in her. Jackson loves her so much and Kylie really takes good care of him. She's always looking out for him and loves to make him laugh. It's nice having a little mommy every once in a while to let me know if he's doing something he shouldn't and I miss it. He's so quick, it's almost like I need four eyes to watch him! She got an abnormal read on her hearing test at school, which I was surprised to hear. I'm sure it's nothing, but I have to take her to the doctor to get it checked again. I'm sure she has perfectly fine hearing, but those calls from the school always freak me out!

And, my little stinker Jackson. Yes, he is such a toot. I swear I have never seen a kid move as fast as he does. He can get into something quicker than you can even imagine. I feel like I'm telling him "no" about a million times a day. He still doesn't quite get it. He usually just looks at me and grins when I scold him- arrrrghhhh. He got a horrible tummy virus this week when I was out of town (of course), but luckily Grandma Mary was with him and got him to the doctor. On top of it all, he had an ear infection too. Poor baby. He's still not really talking which worries me a bit, but I'm sure he'll catch right up when he's ready. He understands so many things, so I know he gets it, he just can't speak it. I can give him a command like "go get the hat" and he knows what I'm saying, so we'll see how much longer he holds out on us. He's enjoying his time with Grandma Mary during the day when they go to Gymboree and Jumpy Gym. I'm so glad he is able to do those things, even if I can't take him. We found his first favorite movie and it happens to be "Alvin and the Chipmunks!" He actually sat on the floor to watch some of it yesterday. I was shocked! And he laughs and claps with the movie. So, we'll be tuning in to that one quite a bit, I'm sure!

Adam is recovering from the same brutal stomach virus Jackson had. He was laid up for about two days and couldn't really eat anything. He was miserable and I am not only glad he is feeling better (although still a little sluggish), but I didn't get it. I think the Lord is protecting me from it, knowing I have no time to be sick and out of commission. Nope, not an option for this lady. He won second place in a golf tournament on Monday which I thought was very impressive! He loves this time of year full of football, football, football. And, the Rangers are in the playoffs...yeah!!!

I have been working crazy hours the past few weeks. From multiple trips to College Station to train and late nights to catch up, I am one tired momma. It has been so exhausting to keep up with everything and it will continue until about mid-December, so Lord help me stay strong! This time of year is always hectic and challenging, but I seem to get through it after all is said and done. I am losing one of my best employees soon and I am sad to see her go, but I know she will be a great full-time mom. My new hire has a lot of potential and I feel blessed to have found her so quickly. Fingers crossed she can pick things up quickly and mesh well with the job and the team.

In an effort to get my body back into shape and just overall healthier, I started a cleanse this week. No sugar, bread, soda, coffee, dairy, red meat, and so on. Ugggghhhhh. I've been hungry for four days now! Only 6 days to go and I'm counting down people. I am hopeful this will jumpstart my get healthy goal to a better me inside and out! If I could just get my booty to the gym, I would be pumped (no pun intended).

Adam and I are a part of the Married Life class at Stone this semester. We enjoyed the class so much last time, we offered to help with this one. We have already gotten to know some neat people and are excited about the friendships we build as a result of the class. Not only that, we get to hear the messages about a godly marriage again. You can't hear those too many times! One thing we always talk about in class is how at our 50 year anniversary we don't want people to just say we "endured" marriage. That's not enough to just endure marriage. My goal for our marriage is to be one of testimony, one that represents God's intention for marriage. It's a lofty goal, but it's one we will work year after year to attain. Then, at our 50 year anniversary it won't be that we just endured... it will be a story of two people who touched many lives by just the example of their love for one another.

I guess I'll close this out now! That's what happens when you only blog once a month! Love to all. Until next time...

The Lord is my Shepard

2010-09-12T19:14:00.000-07:00

Kylie can now recite almost the entire 23rd Psalm and has learned the Star Spangled Banner in only 3 weeks of school! Every time I hear her recite the Psalm, it just melts my heart. I ask her to do it for me a few times a day. She's not sick of me asking just yet! I guess I never realized how quickly kids as young as 5 can learn new things, and not simple things! To learn an entire Psalm is amazing. I am so proud of her!

She did ger her "clip moved" in class this week, which is another way of saying she got a warning. Her sweet teacher emailed me and said her eyes filled with tears when it happened. It sounds like she was being a chatty kathy during a math lesson with her classmate. I am hopeful this will be a one-time thing for this year, although I was disappointed that it happened only three weeks into school. But, like I told her teacher, sometimes we all need a little humbling reminder to be respectful and do what is expected.

To make things better, Jackson tried to bite a little girl in his class! They were playing in the indoor play room and he just decided he'd take a bite at a little girl. He just got the back of her shirt, thank goodness. I really hope it doesn't become a consistent thing. Yikes, I will be really worried if it does. I am hopeful for now that he just had a lapse of judgement! He has many of those lately it seems. I am definitely finding it difficult to discipline the little guy. He doesn't respond to "no" very well and almost acts like it's a game. It's the "as long as I'm getting attention, even if it's bad attention" deal. He can be pretty exhausting as we try to keep him in line. I try to remain patient with him, but stern at the same time. Mainly, I know I need to keep praying for wisdom, strength, and patience to lead him in the right direction.

I have a fun, busy week planned this week! Aside from meetings and getting ready to train a new hire, I get to be the parent helper in Kylie's class on Tuesday and assist with their art project. Then, I have taken Friday off to get things done, go to a get-to-know-you coffee for the class moms, and prepare for my best buddies from Baylor coming into town! I can't wait to see them. There are nine of us who have stayed very close. We all became friends through Tri Delt and have continued to remain friends for over 10 years. They are all amazing friends and I cherish each fun weekend we have together!

Here's to a fun, busy week!

Getting into the swing of things

2010-09-04T20:55:00.000-07:00

Kylie waiting for Big Pa and Grandma to take her to Keller. We made a sign!

Big Boy Jackson's First Day of School!Back-to-School Festival at Regents

Kylie and Mrs. Crowell

Jackson having a blast at Central Market

It's always hard getting into a new routine once school starts and now Kylie and Jackson are both in school!

Kylie has a pretty busy schedule, even though she gets out of school at noon. On Mondays she is taking voice lessons right after school with her little friend Aubry. Tuesdays and Thursdays she is doing a Fine Arts class after school until 2:35 where they do all kinds of art and nature activities. She seems to really enjoy this so far! She also has cheer practice for her Cheer Station team on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Wednesdays she is taking piano lessons and dance after school! I am so excited to see her learn to play the piano. I still can't believe I don't know how to play when my mom has played nearly all her life. I missed the boat there!

Kylie is loving school and seems to really love her teacher. In fact, when I asked her what her favorite thing about school is, she said her teacher. Not recess, centers, or music... nope, her teacher! Her teacher is absolutely amazing and such a blessing to these kiddos. I am excited to get to joing the class on some fun activities. Throughout the year, there are lots of parent-involvement activities in the classroom and on field trips. I am excited to join in the fun and grateful I can do so. At Back-to-School night, I fell in love with her school even more. I am so grateful to have her in a school where the teachers pray with the children and teach them about Jesus and God's word. It is such a safe and loving environment. Oh, and she's already found herself a "boyfriend." His name is Hondo and he is just adorable. Not sure how I feel about calling him her boyfriend, but she said he has 7 girlfriends, so I think I won't be too worried yet. Geez loueeeeze.

Jackson is loving school too. Phew... what a relief! He has never cried when I drop him off and his teachers say he has a blast while he's there. He's quite a bit younger than Kylie was when she started school, so I was anxious about how he'd do, and he's doing great! He goes on Mondays and Wednesdays and when he comes home he takes a loooooooong nap. I love the little art projects they bring home. I try to envision what it is like to do art with 8 13-15 month old kids. Must be interesting.

It is really fun to see our kids growing up in different stages. Kylie is really maturing as that sweet little baby voice keeps sounding a little older every day. Her taste in clothing is changing and her overall mannerisms are changing. Oh, we still have crybaby fits now and then, she wouldn't want me to miss out on those. But, she is becoming more independent. I am really proud of how self-confident she is. She seems like she can just fit right in anywhere she goes and makes friends with everybody. Her one biggest weakness continues to be sleep. She still, at age 5 1/2 wakes up at night. We've resorted to serious bribing to keep her in her bed or at least not climbing in ours. If she sleeps for 30 nights in her bed she gets a surprise. She decides before hand what it will be. Last time it was a new razor scooter. This time it's a new Build-a-Bear. So far so good. Almost halfway there!

Jackson is still quite the handful! He's a big boy, weighing in at about 27 lbs, he's a stout little guy. He has big feet and hands too! He's very agile and can really walk, climb, and maneuver things well. Oh man, that kiddo keeps us on our toes. I've never seen a kid ransack a house as quickly as he can. It is quite a sight. He might be the busiest kid I have ever known in my life. He has developed some fun new things within the past few months that we are really enjoying...

He gives kisses now. At night when he's in his bed if you ask for a kiss, he'll take out his suckie and give you a kiss. He likes to blow kisses too.
If he hears the word "GO", he heads straight for the door. He loves to go anywhere! He does not want to be stuck in the house! Sometimes he'll go get our shoes for us and drop them by our feet as if he's telling us to hurry up.
He can say "bye bye" and "dog" and "hot" pretty well.
At school the teachers said he saw a picture of a lion and roared (wish I had seen it!)
He's very interested in using a fork and spoon and demands that you give it to him when you are trying to put food on his tray.
If I ask him where my nose is, he can point and touch my nose.
He loves to put his diapers in the diaper pail. He is so proud of himself when he puts things in the trash. Do I find things that shouldn't be in there? Absolutely! But, I can't fault him for trying.
He is a super swimmer! He is such a good little swimmer and loves to go under water. I think he'll be flying solo by summer next year for sure. He already understands to hold his breath and really tries to move his legs and feet when he's under water. He also loves to jump off the edge. I'm so proud of him!
He still uses a newborn soothie pacifier. I could never get him to switch from it, so we've still got it. I tried all kinds of different pacifiers and he would just spit them out. I've given up and we'll just have the soothie for as long as we have the suckies.

Adam and I continue to make every effort to successfully balance home and work life. I think we do a pretty good job of it and make it a team effort. He continues to be very helpful once he gets home from work with cooking, bathing, and picking up. I am grateful to have a husband who does what he can to help me out. Here's to another great school year!!!

Is summer really almost over?

2010-08-09T20:12:00.000-07:00

Wow, this summer has flown by so quickly. I can't believe it. In just a few weeks, my baby girl starts Kindergarten and my little buddy starts preschool.

Kylie is going to camp at Regents this week and getting to meet some of her new classmates! She seems to be excited about it and the kids are just adorable. We got her uniforms all picked up. Not the cutest, I have to admit. The whole "one size fits all" doesn't really work well in this family. So, our jumper looks kinda like a box. Oh well. Nothing a little button-moving can't fix. I happen to love the uniform idea. I didn't like it at first, but now that she is so stinkin' picky about what she wears, I am truly grateful! I would not want to have that discussion every day. Uggggh...

Jackson starts a two-day program at Bannockburn soon as well. He will go from 9:00-2:00 on Mondays and Wednesdays. I have no idea how that is going to work with the napping situation, but I guess we'll find out. I'm definitely concerned, but I'm hopeful he will adjust. He is getting to have some fun afternoon playdates with Grandpa Roy which he really loves. He gets out all the toys and spreads them everywhere and just plays and plays to his hearts content! It's great!

Kylie is working on her inner artist this summer! So far, we have created some great masterpieces! She painted a canvas print for her room that I just need to put the final touches on and a stepping stone for outside. I love watching her be creative. It's so amazing to see how her little mind works. Sometimes that little mind gets carried away, like a few weeks ago in church when she and her best bud Lainie decided that "poop" was the fun word for the day. So, she shows me this sweet little book she's made in sunday school that says Kylie's Helping Hands. In the book is all different ways Kylie can have helping hands. But, if you look closely, on every page you will find the word POOP! Geez. Mom and Dad were not nearly as amused as she was. I don't think she'll be doing that again any time soon.

Jackson's big ole molars are finally breaking through, thank goodness. He had both bottom and top ones come in at the same time. That was fun. He was such a grouch for a while there. He has this little shirt I like to put on him that says RUFF DAY with a paw print. Super cute!

My buds from BU and I are planning a trip to Baylor Homecoming this October. I'm excited to go back and see all the changes since we were there. It's been 10 years! Unbelievable! I hope to see some old friends while I'm there. It will surely be a great time!

2010-07-18T11:50:00.000-07:00

New shoes that make me run fast! I was running circles in the house

when Mommy put them on me!
Seriously? How cute is this?

Mom and Kylie making memories.

Pretty ballerina

Every summer when it gets so incredibly hot that you just literally feel like you are melting, I feel like there is no way it has ever been this hot! But, yes, every year it sure is! Thank goodness Grandma and Big Pa put in a pool in their backyard that has already provided many hours of "cool" entertainment for the kids. I think Jackson is going to learn how to swim really fast thanks to the new pool. He's already showing some natural ability and doesn't seem to be afraid to be under water at all. In fact, he usually seems annoyed that he can't just swim off on his own!

Kylie has been busy with dance camps and is enjoying her summer, full of activities. We are already planning for fall with voice and piano lessons, as well as her dance and cheer classes. She'll be one busy little girl, but with school being a half day she'll need the activity! Jackson will start a program in the fall as well, going two days a week. I'm excited for him to have some play time and meet new friends.

I am really excited to see what Kylie thinks of her voice and piano lessons. She has such a sweet, little voice. She stood in front of me in her room yesterday singing "Temporary Home" by Carrie Underwood and it always brings tears to my eyes. What a precious moment. She probably won't remember it, but I will. She still has one of us lay with her at night when she is going to sleep, so most nights I am the one laying with her and I like to hold her hand when she's going to sleep. But, she loves it too. Usually she wants to hold both of my hands and it blesses me beyond belief. Then, I usually stay in there for a few minutes after she's drifted off to sleep and just watch her sweet little face as she lies there so peacefully. It's in those moments when I am watching my kids or holding them that I can't imagine loving anything more.

Jackson is soooooooooooooo busy and is really proving the whole "boys are very different from girls" theory. Here are Jackson's favorite things to do that drive Mommy crazy:

Climb on the couch to get onto the side tables to play with the lamps.

Climb on the chairs to get up to the breakfast table and sit on it.

Climb on the toilet to get to the sink. (seeing a pattern here?)

Grab on to the handle and pull himself up like he's doing a pull-up on the oven

Pull all of his books off the shelf (just moved them out of reach last night)

Take his diaper off when he has no clothes on.

Play in the dog's water bowl.

Put things in the litter box.

Pull all of my cookie sheets out of the cabinet.

Eat EVERYTHING!!!!

Did I mention he likes to climb things?

Oh, and his new favorite thing to do when I'm feeding him is shake his head "no" at me before he even tastes the food. Then, when he's had enough, he starts spitting it out all over the place. Awesome.

We went to the beach last weekend in Port Aransas. I thought Jackson would just love the beach and enjoy playing the sand and walking in the water. Well, he just heads straight out to the water and dives in. Then, when Mommy tries to take him out and hold him, he screams in protest! Uggggh... So, he was banned from the beach after that. Maybe next year buddy! But, Kylie, Adam and I had a great time because my sweet Mom took one for the team and kept Jackson at the condo while we played. Kylie had a blast with her new boogie board when Adam took her out in the big waves. She is such a beach girl. We saw a big sting ray only a few feet away. Kinda scary, but still really cool.

I redid the kids' bathroom and am really happy with how it's coming together. I had the hardest time finding a unisex idea that was cute. So, I finally found one and am almost finished with it. It's underwater sea creatures. Cliche' a bit, but still very cute. I wanted to do pirates and mermaids but couldn't find anything with both ideas into one. I'll post pictures when I finish it. I like these house projects, but they are non-stop! I always have something I am working on. It's fun to do, but it can be overwhelming sometimes.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer! I'll post again soon. Well, maybe not too soon. I seem to be hitting the blog about every month hence the long post!!!

2010-06-14T19:29:00.000-07:00

I just took a long walk with Harley and was thinking the whole time how peaceful the neighborhood felt. I love that time of night where everyone is done with dinner, getting ready for bed and settling down. It is such a peaceful feeling. I couldn't help but think how nice it would feel to have that peace, all day every day. I think that's what God wants for us, but too many times we let worry, anger, fear, and a million other things get in the way. Of course, I speak from personal experience with this. Anyone who knows me well knows that I am a worrier. I think having kids made this about 100 times worse! So, now I not only worry about myself, I worry about them constantly as well.

God is really working with me on this and I'm sure there are times where he just wants to give me a good pinch or maybe even a punch and tell me to stop worrying.

We found out that our church has a community group right in our neighborhood! I'm excited to meet other people nearby that go to our church. I hope we can make some new friends!

On Wednesday, Adam and I celebrate 9 years of marriage. What? 9 years already? Crazy! I can't believe it. I have a fun dinner planned for us! I'm going to surprise Adam with our plans. It's my turn since he put together the weekend at Lost Pines. I am so thankful to be married to someone that I am confident will be my other half forever. Hey, what is that? Is that peace I'm feeling? I think it is! Yeah! That's one step for today!

2010-06-07T20:34:00.000-07:00

I almost forgot to mention my surprise weekend getaway to Lost Pines Resort! Adam planned a wonderful weekend for just the two of us and it was fantastic. We got to lay by the pool, float the lazy river, get a couples massage and eat great food. And... get lots of rest! I even got chocolate covered strawberries delivered to the room one night! It was such a sweet thing for him to do for me and I really appreciated it so much. He put a ton of effort into the weekend and it meant so much! What a great hubby!

Fun Times

2010-06-06T21:11:00.000-07:00

It is officially summer!!! I realize how much I love summer every time it gets here. I love spending more time outside and playing with my kids outside. My "to-do" list always seems to be bigger in the summer. Maybe I'm more motivated!
Jackson celebrated his first birthday on May 29th. It is hard to believe it has been a year since he came into our lives. It has been such a joy to have him as part of our family. He didn't dive into his birthday cake like I had hoped, but we still had a fun time celebrating. He got some new fun toys (most of his toys were Kylie's). He loves the little playhouse/slide that Grandma Mary bought him and he figured out how to get up there and go down the slide all by himself. After he slides he always looks to make sure someone's watching and then claps and giggles for himself. He loves being outside more than anything these days. Any time he hears a door open he bolts that direction to try and get outside. He's content just walking around checking things out. He'll pick up some grass or a leaf now and then to try and eat, but other than that, he's just playing and exploring. I think I might have found his birthmark! Kylie's is very easy to spot. Hers is right on her collar bone and it's pretty big, maybe about inch long. I have never seen one on Jackson until now. I think his is actually a hyper-pigment birthmark. So, now that he has just a little color from the sun, I can see it. Here are some more things to know about Jackson and the things he can do now that he is a big boy one year old!
1. Clap his hands
2. Say Bye Bye and Dadda and Mama
3. Blow kisses (sort of... still working on this one)
4. Wave bye bye
5. Say Da for "done" and lift up his arms when he's done eating
6. Loves to eat little apple pieces, bananas, cheerios, green beans, and yogurt.
7. Weighs 24.9 lbs!
8. Has 7 teeth, soon to be 8 we think.
9. Uses his suckies at bedtime (we actually never really gave it to him out of bed)
10. Likes to put things in strange places - my shoes in the litter box or Kylie's shoes in her hamper. I always know it's him when I find things in really random places. He also put one of my books in the toilet today.
11. Take his diaper off - really love this one.
12. Blow bubbles in his bath water.
13. Play a recorder - not actually notes, but he can play it without using his fingers.
14. Loves to feed the dog from the highchair.

Kylie is done with school for now and is really loving being home for summer. I got to go to her Splash Day/End of Year party day and really enjoyed spending the day with her and the sweet kids she has been in class with. She starts VBS at Hyde Park on Tuesday with my mom and will go to another one this summer at Bannockburn. I've signed her up for a dance class on Saturdays to get her started with it and see how she likes it. I think she'll be a great dancer. She's obviously got the tippy-toes for being a ballerina! She's still doing Cheer Station which has shown to be pretty tough for her. The practices are twice a week for an hour and a half and it is hard work. She has a great time while she's there, but she's definitely getting a feel for what it's like to work hard for something. She is reading really well right now, actually beyond my hopes for her by Kindergarten. We are going to continue practicing with her this summer so that she goes to school ready to read like crazy! She's going to the swimming pool almost every day it seems and has already way surpassed what I could ever hope to have for a tan. She continues to be such a blessing in our lives. She makes us laugh every day. She is just amazing.
I'll post pictures from the Birthday Fiesta and more soon!!!

First Big Swim

2010-05-19T21:16:00.000-07:00

Hair blowin' in the breeze...

I can't sit up in this thing Mom!

Cheerios anyone?

Jackson has offiically swam for his first time at the pool. I have taken him once before very briefly and noticed in that short time that he has no fear at the pool (much like sister). So, I found it quite necessary to buy him a vest of some sort and this is what I was able to find.

We decided it was his turtle suit because it looks like a turtle shell. It's actually pretty neat. It pretty much forces him to his back if he needs to float. So, I've decided that's what we're going to learn first. We'll see how it goes! I'm glad he's not afraid of the water, but no rest time for mom at the pool!

Luckily, Aunt D and Katie came with us so Katie could play with Kylie while we made sure Jackson didn't jump in somewhere. It was a fun early birthday celebration for my big sis.

Only one more day until Adam and I leave for our surprise getaway weekend. I'm anxious to see where we will be going and am so excited to get away for a bit to relax! I'll miss my babies, but I could use a little R and R.

Here's to a great summer!!!!

May is My Month!

2010-05-10T21:22:00.000-07:00

I love May! May 6th was my birthday, May 9th was Mother's Day, May 21st I leave for a romantic getaway weekend to a surprise destination and May 29th my baby boy turns one year old! There are many fun days in May!

My birthday and mother's day week was very special. I got a beautiful hand-made card from Kylie, great food, yummy cake made by Lisa and fun gifts. Adam worked extra hard to make it a special week for me!

Only 15 days of school left and then we are officially into summer vacation. Kinda scary, but fun too. Summer is a little tricky around the Biehler household trying to manage work, kids and schedules. Not an easy task! There will be many trips to the pool, there is no doubt about that.

Today Jackson was feeling very frisky outside. He absolutely loves being outside, just like his big sister. He was having fun playing with the dog bowls as you can see from the pictures. It was really funny. I kept taking them back to the place where they stay and he would go back and get them over and over. Then, when he found out he could put them on the table and crawl up there... watch out!

We had our first new parent breakfast at Regents and every time we go there we are more excited for Kylie for next year. What an amazing place for any kid to go. It's just incredible. We met some really nice people and learned a bit more about the school and how we can get involved. They promote parent involvement very heavily as the parents and school take an active role side-by-side in helping the kids grow.

We are still loving Austin Stone church and feel truly blessed by it every time we go. We dedicated Jackson May 2nd and the church prayed over him and our family. I'm excited to see what God has in store for us to learn through the people we meet and the things we can learn from this amazing church.

On another great note, Debbie is done with chemo now! She had four treatments and now we will find out what the next step is. She has been so brave through this whole process and it's truly been an inspiration. I pray that God will let her get past this and never have to deal with it again. I'm so thankful for smart doctors and all the research that has been done.

My baby boy can walk!

2010-04-23T06:56:00.000-07:00

Jackson is officially walking now! It is awesome. He went from about 5 steps to walking just about anywhere he wants in a week. I am super-impressed by this little guy. I was thinking he would walk before his first birthday, but I wasn't sure it would happen so quickly. Yeah for him!!! Mommy is sooooo proud!

He loves taking bubble baths and I got this cute picture of him playing in the bath. He's so happy!

Easter fun, Happy Spring

2010-04-13T21:00:00.000-07:00

Easter Egg Hunt @ School!!!
My two handsome men....awwwwww.

My sweet little bunny

Daddy's Girl

Blessed Family

We had a great Easter this year. Pretty low key, but just the way we like it! We had a nice Saturday at Bethany Lutheran's Easter Egg Hunt and picnic. The egg hunt literally lasted maybe 2 minutes. There were so many kids that it was crazy! I found myself getting very competitive as Kylie was trying to get eggs. I was certainly not going to let her walk away empty-handed!

After the egg hunt was face painting, bunny holding, and inflatable jumping! Kylie loves to hold the bunnies and is so good with them. She has the animal love like her mom and dad!

After the picnic, Kylie and I spent some time together and did a little shopping for her at Justice, the big girl store. She loves that store, and secretly I do too. It totally takes me back to when I was a kid. It's so fun to pick things out for her. I know as she gets older we'll have lots of fun shopping excursions together!

Easter Sunday was church, then family time with Adam's family and then mine. Good food and good company with some egg hunting in between. I've never seen so many eggs with money in them. The Easter Bunny must be doing pretty good for himself! Actually, I really prefer money over candy. All of that candy ends up going to waste after a while anyways, or I eat it which is no bueno.

Jackson is really starting to try and walk now. He's taken about 5 steps at one time so far and is really getting to stand up for longer periods of time without holding on. He's getting more teeth and his bite is as fierce as ever! He still has the most precious laugh that we truly enjoy every day. We went to his well-check today and he weighed 22 lbs. 15 oz. and is 27.5 inches long!

Kylie started a new team at Cheer Station this week. I'm a litte nervous about it, but we'll see how it goes. I don't want things to get too intense too quickly. She is still so young and needs to just have fun with it. So, we'll see how she likes it!

Well, better go to bed!!! As usual, a late night post!

Cheese!!!

2010-03-29T21:47:00.000-07:00

I got this picture of Jackson in the bath tub tonight and I just love it. Look at those teeth. Let me tell you, they hurt when he bites! I should know. He loves bath time and has started getting on his belly in the tub. He does try and drink the water, but we're working on that one.

I love this pretty weather. It makes me want to go for walks and play outside!

Kylie will be wearing her bathing suit probably every day from here on out.

Happy Spring!!!

Come on Spring!

2010-03-25T21:19:00.000-07:00

I love Spring and can't wait until it is in full bloom! Everyone starts getting outside and has an extra "spring" in their step!

We are happy to announce that Kylie will be starting Kindergarten at Regents School of Austin next year. She is super excited! We couldn't be happier. It is only a half day kindergarten program, so there is much planning to be done. I think she will really enjoy some more extra-curricular activities like singing and piano lessons, cheer, and maybe some art or dance. It's going to be a fun year!

Jackson is really getting around these days. Not walking yet, but he can take his walker toy and cruise super fast. He seems very coordinated and strong, so I wouldn't be surprised if he's walking before his first birthday. So hard to believe he'll have been with us a whole year in May! What in the world? I couldn't imagine life without him at this point. What a blessing.

I took the kids to Port Aransas for a few days over Spring Break. My mom, sister, and nieces were there as well. The water was freezing, but my little water baby Kylie didn't care at all. She was determined to get in the ocean. Maybe she'll be an olympic swimmer someday! As much as she loves swimming, I wouldn't put it past her.

Work is crazy as ever. In fact, I leave super early tomorrow for a trip to New Hampshire. Of course I haven't finished packing, but what else is new. I'll be back late Saturday night to enjoy a Sunday with the fam.

Debbie is doing well with her chemo treatments. She's got an amazing attitude and is taking very good care of herself. No nausea at all... yeah!!! We hope she is feeling super by the time Easter rolls around so we can have a few fun activities with the kids. I'll be so glad when she's all done with this and can move on to recovery and feeling like herself again. There are so many people out there praying for her and it's just amazing to see how thoughtful friends and family have been.

Well, more to come later!

Here Kitty, Kitty...

2010-02-16T09:11:00.000-08:00

You know who we are XX Cheer Station!
So proud!

Cousin Taylor is a cheerleader too!

Help ever, hurt never! House of Blues onesie from Grandma.

So, if you're wondering about the title of my post it is because Mr. Jackson has starting making this hilarious sound like a cat purring. It is so funny and he does it all the time! I think he likes the way it feels on his tongue. He really does it when he's happy or being mischievous getting into something he shouldn't.

Here are some of the naughty things that Jackson just loves to do:

1. Chew on power cords

2. Eat dog food

3. Play in the dog's water bowl

4. Open the door to Kylie's room and go into her nightstand to pull things out of it.

5. Chew on the dog's hippo toy (are we seeing a trend here?)

6. Roll over while we are trying to change his diaper or get him dressed

7. Open the kitchen cabinets and pull things out

8. Examine the cat litter (disgusting!)

Here are some of the things that Jackson does that I love:

1. Jibber jabber all the time - he's quite talkative!

2. Crawl really fast from me when I say "I'm gonna get you..." It's so cute.

3. Pull up on my leg for me to pick him up.

4. Play with Kylie's kitchen. He plays with it more than she does.

5. Pretend like he's driving really fast with his car toy.

6. Laughs all the time.

7. Chow down on his puffs. He can't get enough of those.

8. Hold his own bottle or play with my hair while he's drinking it.

9. Falls asleep on my shoulder with his blankie.

10. Will hear the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse from across the house and

crawl to the living room to see it.

(takes after Adam's papa Ralph for loving Mickey Mouse).

We are all done with our interviewing process at Regents School of Austin, so now we just wait to see if they accept Kylie. In my opinion, they would be blessed to have her! She just had her first real cheerleading competition on Saturday and she was so great. They are just a show team, so they technically don't compete. She got her first medal and is so proud of it. She's determined to win more medals than mommy and I hope she does! It is extremely surreal to see her doing cheer. Was it really that long ago when it was me out there?

We have a crawler!

2010-01-20T10:58:00.000-08:00

We officially have a crawler! Jackson's being doing what we call "the worm" for a few months now, but he's finally got this crawling thing down. When he wants to go somewhere quickly he reverts back to the worm, but he's doing pretty good at getting his knees under him now. He still has only his bottom two teeth (like razors!), but I think those top two teeth will be here soon. I swear he's saying "mamamamama" as if he knows that's who I am. Adam says no, but he knows who his mama is!!!
I love it when he comes over to me and pulls himself up with my pants so he can stand up holding on to me. It's adorable and it melts my heart. He really loves to stand up on anything now. It doesn't always work out so well for him because he doesn't really discriminate by what he uses to stand up. So, when he tries to stand up using one of Kylie's little chairs, it just falls over on top of him!
We are currently looking at schools for Kindergarten next year. It's been such a stressful decision. Her current school has been great for this year, but they have broken off from the parent school and it will be a different deal next year that we aren't comfortable with. So, we looked at an amazing private school today. I was so impressed by it and it is a strong Christ-centered curriculum. Basically, everything they learn goes back to the Glory of God so they are building not only intellect, but character. Pretty amazing. We'll have to pray about it and just see if that's where God wants us next year! I just want what's best for Kylie. She is such an exceptional little girl. I am humbled that God gave me such a bright, charismatic, sincere, and curious child. That's quite a big challenge for me to raise this young lady to the standard that she deserves, but I'll do my best!
Debbie got through her surgery yesterday and the doctor said everything went really well. They are feeling optimistic that maybe the cancerous cells were pretty localized and haven't spread to the lymph nodes. Won't that be a miracle. We'll know more on Friday, but praying for a miracle.
My baby girl turns five on Sunday. I want to be excited about it, I really do, but I can't just yet. I'm just seeing her grow up so quickly and I am overwhelmed with emotion. She's starting to look more like a girl now, losing some of that baby face and her little voice is getting older too. One of the things I treasure more than anything is the inflection in her voice when she says "I love you too." It is the sweetest four words a mother can hear. Gosh, my heart just explodes when I think about my kids and I'm even tearing up as I'm writing this. I guess I'm emotional today. Well, every day lately! For any of you moms out there, you know what I mean.

Here's to a New Year!!!

2010-01-12T20:13:00.000-08:00

I said before that I was going to be better about blogging. Hmmmm, I haven't done good so far. There are just too many things to do to fit it in, but I'm trying! It usually means staying up later (like I am tonight).

I guess I should backtrack to Christmas. It was wonderful! We had good times with our families and continue to feel so blessed that we are all in the same neighborhood. It is so nice to have everyone right here. I am always shocked at how quickly Christmas seems to come and go, however, we just packed up the tree today! Yikes.

Kylie got a trampoline for Christmas from Grandma Mary which she loves very much. It really is a great thing. I've even enjoyed jumping on it with her. It's fun and great exercise! I actually have to stop here and there to rest. I'm so out of shape, uggggggghhh - New Year's resolution, right? She is growing up so fast. I can't believe she'll be five this month. I'm just in denial that she is that old!

Jackson is changing before our eyes. He is a mad man! He especially likes to seek out power cords and any other hazardous thing he can find in the house. His "worm" version of crawling is hilarious and it's amazing how efficient he is at getting where he wants to go. He actually just started crawling on his knees today! He has constant red rugburn on both knees. He has his two razor-sharp bottom teeth now and the top two teeth are working their way in too. Teething rocks... or maybe not. He really enjoys watching Baby Einstein while he plays with his toys and likes to pull up and stand on anything he can get his hands on. I told Adam we were going to have to anchor things down soon. He likes to pull kitty's hair and grab Harley whenever possible. The cat will just sit there and take it, but Harley likes to flee the scene! We're pretty sure he's going to be a talker like his big sister. He just blabs and blabs all the time and his laugh is the most precious sound I have ever heard. I love it! He is enjoying the new tastes of things and carrots, sweet potatoes and squash are his favorite. Green beans and peas, not so much. I am looking forward to him getting to eat some more real foods!

Work has been crazy. When I accepted a promotion and took on a new market to handle, I had no idea how that would change my workload. Some days it is overwhelming, but I am trying to take it one day at a time and be confident in my ability to do whatever is needed to get the job done. Some nights that means working until I fall asleep at my computer, but hey, gotta get things done before they pile up on me.

We have been enjoying our visits to a new church - Austin Stone. It's at Austin High School and is a bit more casual than our church. We have really gotten so much out of the services and music and feel as though God is calling us to be open to where He wants us to be. So, we'll see where He takes us!

Lastly, I dedicate my blog layout to my wonderful mom-in-law, Debbie. Many of you know that she is pretty much my 2nd mom. I have known her now for over 15 years and she is the best mother-in-law anyone could pray for. She was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and will undergo surgery and treatment starting next week. To all of my Christian friends and family - please pray for her and that God will provide us with a miracle of healing!

I hope everyone has a wonderful and blessed 2010!

2009-12-14T19:28:00.000-08:00

I can't believe how bad I have been about blogging. I really hope that I will be able to spend a little more time recording the precious memories we continue to make every day. Where do I start?

Kylie was recently a flower girl in one of my dear friend Emily's wedding in Dallas. She was so excited just to get to go stay in the hotel and spend the night! She did such an amazing job. Watching her walk down the aisle really made me emotional. I had to fight back the tears. I was bursting with pride and joy at this beautiful creation God has given me. Even on the days when she tests me (many days!) I still go to bed thinking that she is such an amazing little girl. So many nights, Adam comes to me after putting her to bed and says "Aren't we so lucky?" and of course, I couldn't agree more.

We celebrated Adam's 32nd birthday on the 6th and had lunch at Tres Amigos with all the family. Gigi and Gramps even came in from Arizona! It was their first time to meet Jackson and they really had a great visit getting to spend time with him.

Speaking of little Jackson... well, not so little! He just had his 6 month check up and is weighing in at 18 lbs now! Funny thing is, Kylie was even bigger than that. He's already trying to crawl and can pretty much go anywhere he wants to go. He's quite the little stinker already. Some of his favorite things to do are:

Pull Kylie's books of the shelf and eat them
Play with the Christmas tree
Pull the kitty's hair and whiskers
Chew on his spoon
Chew on anything, really
Roll over every time someone wants to change him
Play with the little lever on the diaper pail
Pull his basket of toys off his bookshelf and play with the basket
Watch Mickey Mouse - he loves that show!

He is quite a character and we can already tell we are going to have our hands full with this one. He's getting his two bottom teeth in now and I'm sure more will come soon. He really is such a sweet baby (even if he does pull my hair!). What a blessing he is....

We are getting so excited about the holidays and spending some time together without having to worry about work! I can't wait!

Fall Fun

2009-10-26T19:24:00.000-07:00

We have been really enjoying the beautiful weather here in Austin. Even the rain has been nice! I took Kylie to a pumpkin patch to pick out her pumpkin and she had fun looking at the pumpkins and trying to roll them around. Jackson slept through most of it, but oh well, he'll have his chance later.

It was fun to hang out with Lisa and her crew. Kylie and Cole got to take a trip to Zilker Park to ride the train and it was a perfect day for it! Kylie also got to hang out with her BFF Lainie on Saturday for nails, lunch, and ice cream and then again on Sunday for Lainie's 5th birthday party. Even though they aren't at the same school anymore, they sure still have a sweet friendship. They really crack me up when they're together.

It's been nice to get back into church. Some Sundays it's just been Kylie and I because Jackson was sick and then sometimes it just is too hard for his schedule, but we're trying to get there whenever we can. Kylie has worn her pink cowgirl boots every Sunday for a while now. I told her that God loves her pink cowgirl boots, so go ahead! She's getting them nice and worn in for Halloween... she's going to be "rhinestone cowgirl". Jackson is going to be a pony. Every cowgirl needs a pony!

Adam and Kylie had fun carving pumpkins. They carved a sleeping beauty and a spongebob pumpkin. They turned out really cute! I was glad they got to do that together.

Jackson got his first taste of rice cereal on Friday. He really seems to like it! He's still getting used to it, but he takes it like a champ! I attached a picture of him playing with Harley. He thinks Harley is just too funny. I tried to attach a video of him giggling at Harley but it didn't work, so I'll try again!

Love this time of year!

2009-10-14T20:00:00.000-07:00

I truly love this time of year. It happens to be the most stressful time of year for me job-wise, but other than that, I love it. I love the feeling that you can wear long sleeves and shorts or sit out on the porch swing and not sweat a gallon. I love the crispness in the air and the anticipation of holidays to come!

I have been falling behind on my blog, so tonight instead of working (which I should be doing) I am blogging! I really should be sleeping, but that's a whole other issue in itself.

It's hard to believe it's already mid-October. Jackson is already 4 1/2 months old and is growing like a weed. I call him roly-poly because he could literally roll himself across the room if he wanted to. He's mastered the art of traveling by rolling. At his 4 month check-up he was 24 1/2 inches tall and weighed a little over 15 lbs. He's very strong! He's drooling like a mad man, so I'm thinking teeth have to be coming soon. He will have both of us covered in drool in a matter of minutes. He's quite the chatter box too. He loves to make all kinds of noises and he's very ticklish. He has the most precious smile and a laugh that would melt your heart.

Kylie has really changed in the last two months too! Just since she started school, I swear she has really matured. She is doing so well with her letters and sounds. I think she'll be doing well with her reading before the year is over. She gets stickers for great behavior all the time and I can tell the teacher really enjoys her. There are only 7 kids in her class so they get lots of one-on-one time. She has computer, spanish, art, chapel, P.E., as well as her daily activities like reading and math. It's quite a day! We are still trying to figure out how to get her to sleep through the night. Most nights, Jackson sleeps better than she does! We are also seeing an orthopedic doctor about her tippy toe walking. Although to me it is absolutely her signature, I must admit, it concerns me that she's almost 5 and still walking on her tip toes. So, just to be safe, we are going to make sure there is nothing going on that we need to address now. We'll see what the doc says later this month!

Adam is getting busier with work lately, which is a great thing. He's definitely had some frustrating moments just dealing with some of the logistics of home loans, but overall, he's really having a great time. It's great when he gets excited about his loans and what he's got going on.

As for me, it's mostly work these days. I don't leave the house much, but I know soon, it will get better. Just gotta get through this next month! I am sooooo looking forward to the holidays. In November, I get to stay at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs for a tradeshow - very exciting! I wish my family could come along with me. Kylie is dying to play in snow. Maybe I'll have to buy some fake snow for her!

Well, I think I've written enough for now. I'll attach some recent pics!

Bad Blogger

2009-09-17T11:51:00.001-07:00

I've been a horrible blogger lately. I guess I've been a little busy. So, this won't be long, but I will try to post more very soon.

We've had a hard week at the Biehler house. Kylie has croup which is basically this nasty cough and chest cold. It keeps her up at night and she's been running fever off and on. It's hard to tell a very active 4 yr old that she needs to just chill out and relax. She gets feeling good (mainly because of the steroid she's on) and bounces around the house, only to start feeling crummy after a while. I wish I could just hang out with her and watch movies, but mom has to work... booooooo. What a bummer.

J-man is as happy as ever. He is my main squeeze (besides Adam of course). I love that little guy so much. He brings me so much joy. Just to see his sweet smile and to hear him laugh when I tickle him can take away any worry, no matter how big or small. God must have really known that I needed a little more sunshine in my life. Kylie brings me so much joy that I never thought I'd get again. Well, now it's double the joy!

Adam is really doing well at his job and working hard to create new business for himself. He's really getting out there and trying to be the best that he can be. I love to hear him talk business on the phone. He really is great at what he does and he's so stinkin' smart. Mr. Smarty Pants.

I love the first hints of Fall in the air. It's wonderful! I can't wait to sit out on the porch, watch football, get ready for the holidays. I love it!

More to come soon!

Jackson loves Kylie

2009-08-20T20:21:00.000-07:00

I think this is really sweet. Jackson is so enamored with Kylie. He just loves to stare at her and always smiles when he sees her. It is adorable!

School Days

2009-08-19T19:35:00.000-07:00

Well, Kylie is officially in school now. She started on Tuesday at Bannockburn which is a private school through our sister church. I have been so anxious about her starting because it's every day from 8:15-2:50. I just wasn't sure how she would do going every day! The verdict is still out, but so far she seems to be enjoying it.

I went and picked her up today and she took one look at me and started crying. Ugggh. It was so sad. She kept saying "I wanna go home, I wanna go home." I took her to the doctor and she has an ear infection! Poor thing. She's got so much going on and to top it all off, she has an ear infection. I know these first few weeks will definitely be an adjustment period, for all of us!

But, I did ask her if she enjoyed her day despite the fact that her ear was bothering her and she said she did.

I guess as a parent I'll never stop second guessing the choices I make for her. Then, as she grows up, I'll start second-guessing the choices she makes for herself (trying to bite my tongue I'm sure).

Here are some cute pics of her first day!

2009-08-06T15:55:00.000-07:00

Here is a little video of J Man babbling after his bath. He's very talkative, especially to the fan! He's really smiling more now and seems to be a happy baby, except when he's hungry. It looks like he'll be a big boy, already weighing 13 lbs! We've got quite a few nicknames for the little guy: J Man, J.R., handsome, bubba, brother, little man, buddy, and many more!!!!
Just one more week of summer for Kylie. She's had a good time at Champions camp and dance camp and in just a week she'll be starting school. Adam thinks I'm going to cry like a baby when we drop her off. Pretty sure he's right. I just haven't quite gotten used to the idea that she'll be gone all day, every day. I know it's really going to be good for her, but I'll sure miss her!

I'm posting some pictures that we recently took... Kylie in her dance outfit. I think she looks so grown up and pretty in this picture. Then, two from baby Ryan's birthday party. Kylie loves holding the bunnies and they had piglets that were only 5 days old! I love this picture of Jackson in his bathtub. He really loves his bath. He just sits there all nice and relaxed. I love that time we have together.

Well, the kids are asleep, so I should be too!

Sir Jackson

2009-07-01T12:21:00.000-07:00

I feel like such a bad blogger! But, I've got a good excuse. Having two kiddos is a whole different ballgame. Wow. What a change.

Jackson was born on Friday, May 29th at 12:46 p.m. Everything went so wonderfully. I checked in at 10:30 that morning and he was here two hours later.

He weighed 8 lbs. 2 oz. and was 20 inches long. He was pretty short and stocky, and oh so handsome.

He's growing really well. Must be all that eating! He is sleeping pretty well at night, usually waking up every three hours. I'll be glad when we get some longer stretches in there. He's doing well in his bassinett, which big sister Kylie did not like at all! He's still deciding whether or not he likes his swing. We've lasted about 30 minutes in it so far.

Big sister Kylie is absolutely in love with her little brother. Maybe too much! We are constantly having to ask her to be gentle with him and not squeeze him so hard and get in his face so much. I know she just loves him and that is her way of showing it. I think she will really love it when he starts to respond with smiles and baby noises and giggles. She'll eat that up.

Adam and I are trying to adjust to the lack of sleep, but it certainly hasn't been easy. He's been so helpful at night feedings to get Jackson and change his diaper before bringing him to me. Many times he'll stay up with us while he eats and I love the company!

I'll try to be better about my postings as Jackson and Kylie continue to bless our lives with the amazing things they do and say. We couldn't be happier with our growing family!

The Big Day

2009-05-28T19:55:00.000-07:00

Well, tomorrow's the BIG DAY! Jackson's birthday! It is so surreal to think that we will have a baby boy tomorrow. Kylie is sleeping in my bed tonight. Adam so graciously gave up his spot last night and tonight. I love it when she sleeps in bed with me. Not so much when she comes in from her room and wakes me up from a dead sleep, but more when it's a planned thing! She manages to nuzzle her way over to my side and will even swing an arm across me a time or two.

I think about what a precious gift she is, and it's hard to believe we are about to receive another one.

It has definitely been a rough last few weeks. I kept thinking this kiddo was NOT going to wait until tomorrow, but I am so glad he did. It gave me the time I needed to finish up work and get things ready around the house.

Well, we'll be praying for a safe delivery of a healthy baby boy and ask all of our friends and family to do the same!

A Happy Birthday and Mother's Day

2009-05-11T15:55:00.000-07:00

We celebrated a great Mother's Day yesterday! In fact, my birthday was on Wednesday, so I had a super special week!

We went out to eat at Texas Land and Cattle and then back to our house for a yummy cake that Adam and Kylie made for me. Lots of candles on that cake!

On Thursday, I had another doctor's appointment and we officially have a birthday for Jackson! We will welcome him into the world on Friday, May 29th at 12:30!

For Mother's Day we went to a great service at church (Mother's Day is always one of my favorites!) and then out to brunch with the Biehlers and Grandma Ginny at Iron Cactus. The food was amazing! Then, for dinner we went to my mom's house and celebrated with Deanna and her family. I even got to fit in a nap in the afternoon. Great day!

I've had some rough days here and there, just feeling utterly exhausted and extremely uncomfortable. I'm really trying to be a trooper, but sometimes it is so hard. I want to use these last few weeks to really spend some quality time with Kylie and get all of my work agendas in order, but certain days it is challenging. So, I'm just praying that I can be comfortable and get rested up for Jackson's arrival in these next few weeks and at the same time really relish this time with Kylie. She has been very patient with me and I am so grateful that she understands when Mommy isn't feeling well. What a sweetheart!

Bye Bye Butterfly!

2009-05-05T20:29:00.000-07:00

We have been raising butterflies in one of those pop-up butterfly houses and we just let the last one go. We're not quite sure how well it will do, it seemed to have some not-so-cooperative wings, but here's hoping for the best!

Kylie really loved it. She loved watching them grow and was excited to see them on their way to bigger and better things!

Here's some pictures she took today with the camera. She was having way too much fun with it! Hilarious! Oh, and her new sassy bikini of course!

Feels like any day now!

2009-05-02T19:01:00.000-07:00

So, my doctor assures me that he sees no signs of labor, but I will be shocked if this little guy holds out until the end of May. I know he can prove me wrong, but we'll see. It's not so much my size, but more just the feeling that he's getting ready. I've been extremely uncomfortable for the past few days and have had to really take it easy. With Kylie I didn't feel like this until the week I went into labor! But, I've heard that this is normal with the 2nd one. It's been a rough few days- I'm such a busy body, especially when trying to get ready for Jackson's arrival. It's very hard for me to just sit still. I guess, in a way, it's a blessing that I am being forced to relax!

We are very proud of Adam for passing his composite math test to be eligible to teach math to grades 8-12. What an amazing accomplishment! He really worked hard to prepare, but the test was a doozie. I knew after looking at his study guide that it was going to be a rough one. I couldn't answer a single question! Now, we just have to find a school that will see what a great teacher and coach he will be. Fingers crossed!

Kylie is gearing up for her last 2 weeks of school. It's really hard to believe the year is almost over. I try not to get sad at how time flies, but sometimes it just hits me. She's just growing up so fast. I look forward to a super summer with her and baby Jackson!

I had a great shower with friends and family on April 19th. The hostesses did an amazing job and we got some things we really needed for the little guy. It's always such a blessing to be reminded of all the family and friends who love us!

We'll see how the week goes! I go back to the doctor on Thursday to see if anything interesting is happening!

Hoppy Easter

2009-04-14T20:16:00.001-07:00

We had a great Easter this year. After a total of four egg hunts, we have more eggs than we'll ever know what to do with and enough candy to last a year!

We started off our egg hunts with our church Easter celebration. All of the young adults got together and ate lunch and then let the kids hunt eggs. Kylie was so slow about it and really didn't understand that she had to hurry up and get the eggs! The next time was much better.

Our next egg hunt was at her school. I got to help hide eggs on the playground and then watch them all look for them. I must say, those kiddos are good at finding eggs! Even the ones we thought were hidden really well, they found really quickly. It was so cute.

Then, there was the egg hunt at Bethany Lutheran. This one is fun every year because they have the hunt but also have real bunnies, inflatables, treats, and face painting. I couldn't believe how chilly it was on Saturday morning while we were there. I was wishing I had a sweater! Kylie definitely did better at this hunt but after she got about 10 eggs she said "I'm tired." So, I asked her if she wanted to leave the rest for the other kids and she said yes. Trust me, I was fine with that!

Then, Easter Sunday was a wonderful day too! The Easter Bunny brought Kylie some fun surprises and hid the eggs in our house since it was raining outside. We got dressed up for church and after a great Easter service we headed over to my mom's for lunch with the whole gang. Then, there was more hunting of eggs! Crazy!!! We had a wonderful Sunday with both families and it was a special day to remember the price Jesus paid for us. It's fun to get caught up in the Easter Bunny and baskets of candy, but it's wonderful to be reminded of the sacrifice that was made on our behalf!

Is it summer yet?

2009-03-31T10:33:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm annoyed at this blog. I was trying to change my layout and now it's not working right! It's only letting me use this boring one. I'm annoyed. If you can help, send me advice! The problem is, when I go to the dashboard it won't give the option to type in the "add a gadget" code. Ugggghhh..

Anyways! We've been up to some fun things around here. We took Kylie to the Rodeo, which was actually pretty neat! I don't know why we haven't gone out there before. They had lots of rides Kylie could ride and even a few dad could ride with her. I think her favorite part was the live monkey that wore clothes. Kinda creepy, honestly.

This past weekend the D'Amuras were in town, so Kylie had an awesome time playing with her cousins. They really have fun together and keep each other very busy! I took Ethan and Kylie to our neighborhood playground and took some cute pics.

Kylie is chomping at the bit to go swimming, but this weather has been crazy! Just when I was going to put out her pool in the backyard it got cold, rained, hailed, and then warm again! It was hailing a bit this morning again. Weird...

Adam is busy preparing for his big math test on Saturday. NO pressure though - it's just something he has to pass to get a job!!! Lots of prayers that he passes, please! We won't know until the end of April how he did. He's already sent his resume' and information to Lehman where he's trying to get a job. Gosh, I hope she sees how much potential he has to be a great teacher and coach.

As for me and baby, we are great! He's still very active. I've definitely gotten to the more uncomfortable stage. I bought a body pillow that really helps me sleep better. It just seems to be going by so quickly!!!

Well, more to come later!!

Missing Kylie

2009-03-17T09:17:00.000-07:00

Well, Kylie left yesterday to go to the beach with my mom, sister and nieces. She is already having such a great time, I can tell. I call every couple of hours because I miss her, but she's too busy for mom! This morning after about 2 minutes on the phone she said "can I give you back to Grandma?" Sometimes I wonder if she really is four years old...

I'm trying to use this time that she is out to get things done, but there just aren't enough hours in the day! There are so many projects to do around the house, but so much real work to do too!

So, I'm really missing my girl, but it is nice to have a quite household for a few days. I wish I could be at the beach too, but this body in a bathing suit? Not so sure about that!

Bad Blogger

2009-03-09T22:07:00.000-07:00

I feel bad that I haven't really been keeping up with my blog very well. I will have to just say that time seems to slip by so quickly. Right now it's midnight and I can't believe I'm on my computer and not in bed asleep. Ugggghhh...

Here's some updates on what's going on in our neighborhood!

Kylie has her first big photo shoot tomorrow. I've been wanting this photographer to take her picture for so long and it's finally here. Her outfits are ready, accessories are set, now let's hope she is in a good mood. I did bribe her with a trip to Chuck E Cheese if she behaves and listens well, so hopefully that works! I'll get to be in some of the photographs too, which I am so happy about. I won't have a "maternity" session, but I'm really happy I can get some pictures with her and I together. She is growing up so fast, too fast.

More big news! She got into a private school we applied for in their 4K class. The principal interviewed her and said she was very gifted and completely ready to take on the challenge. Adam and I were beaming with pride when we left. At one point in the interview Kylie said "I'm so lucky because God gave me the best parents." The principal and I were both trying not to cry, because it was the sweetest, most endearing comment. I have never felt so blessed.

Adam is recovering from cutting his finger pretty badly. It was a little mishap at work, that turned into quite an injury. But, he took it like a champ and it's starting to heal nicely. Thank goodness. He's also busy with his Texas Teachers class and preparing to take the big Math exam he has to pass in order to teach the subject. It is extremely comprehensive and difficult material. It's amazing how much you forget from school days!

For me, things have just been really busy as usual. Juggling work and Kylie and trying to get ready for baby Jackson is really taking a toll. We painted his nursery and we love the color. Now, I can actually start decorating the room and getting it all ready. Kylie is still getting used to her new room. It's much bigger than the nursery and she's still a little unsure if she likes sleeping in there. So, I've had quite a few interrupted nights - well, many interrupted nights! The baby seems to be doing really well. He is so active and is constantly kicking and poking me. He's a pretty strong little guy judging from the force of those punches!

Well, I really am going to bed now!!

23 Weeks!

2009-02-10T18:58:00.001-08:00

Here I am...23 weeks and counting!!!

2009-02-09T13:30:00.000-08:00

My little girl is four years old. It's so hard to believe. She's been in my life for only four years and yet I can hardly remember life when she wasn't in it. It's hard not to be a bit sad at how time just flies by.

We had her birthday party at Build-A-Bear with the little girls from her class. They really had a fun time! About half of the girls chose a bride outfit which was very cute. The names that some of them came up with for their bears were pretty comical. Kylie's bear is "Sugar Miss". Not sure where that came from, but I like it!

I have been busying "nesting" as they call it! I told Adam how much I love to organize things last night and he called me a dork. So true. Kylie's furniture is all ready to be moved in and then we'll get the nursery all set up. I just feel like I have so much to do to get ready and be settled when baby boy gets here. I want Kylie to feel settled too so my plan is to get her in her new room asap! Maybe if we didn't have so much stinkin' stuff it would be easier! Note to self...

I'm really excited about both of their rooms. Kylie's is girly and frilly of course! The nursery is going to be cowboys and bandannas and all kinds of western things. I'm really excited about it!

I'm feeling great. I've started trying to work out as much as possible, which is somewhat of a double-edged sword. I work out to have more energy, watch my weight, stay active, but it's really not always the most comfortable thing and tends to make my back hurt worse. I'm stickin' with it though!

Work is still going well. I finish up my cheerleading job in March and will no longer be the coach after tryouts. I'm sad to say goodbye, but I have realized my limitations as a working mom. I just had to make the decision to let it go.

Well, more to come later!

It's a Boy!!!

2009-01-21T08:21:00.000-08:00

We are happy to announce that Baby Biehler is a Boy! We had our 20 week ultrasound last Thursday and it looks like the little guy is healthy and growing just right. He's about 1 lb. right now. I told the doctor that he sure likes to wiggle and he said that means the baby is feeling good. I'll post the sonogram pictures when I get them scanned in. They didn't come out quite as clear as what we could see on the screen, but you'll get the idea.

Kylie is excited about her baby brother, even after she was expecting it to be a girl. We talk about him all the time and all the fun things they can do together. I really hope this will be a special time for her too. I do look forward to her being a big sister and getting to help me do things she enjoys doing with him. It's nice that she's older and can do so many things! It's amazing! She can brush her own teeth, wash herself in the bath (hair too), put on her clothes and shoes, and so many other things. I'm glad she gets excited to do things on her own. She's even gotten so much better about going to bed. Now, we just say our prayers, sing a few songs and then say good night.

We're now in the process of moving her to the bigger room, so we are getting her furniture all ready to go. I think her new room is going to be really cute. I'm excited to work on it. As for the little guy, it looks like he'll have a cowboy room. There are so many cute cowboy things to pick from!

Sorry for the delay in posting, I'll try to post sooner next time!

Holiday Hooplah

2008-12-29T19:56:00.001-08:00

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

2008-12-15T14:29:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-25T11:27:00.000-08:00

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!!!

2008-11-11T11:47:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-09T20:34:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-10-26T19:31:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-10-13T12:29:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-10-02T12:27:00.001-07:00

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!

2008-09-17T15:18:00.000-07:00

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

Fall is coming!

2008-09-17T08:26:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-09-09T16:47:00.000-07:00

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...

2008-09-04T14:08:00.000-07:00

"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."

2008-09-01T10:07:00.000-07:00

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!!!

2008-07-31T13:41:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-16T19:46:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-08T13:08:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-03T08:49:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-01T11:05:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-06-18T09:18:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-14T20:09:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-06T11:46:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-29T14:26:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

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!

Baby Lucy's Big Weekend

2008-04-30T21:51:00.000-07:00

This was a big weekend for baby Lucy. My newest niece! She was christened this weekend in Austin, so we got to spend time with Lisa and her family as well as Gigi and Gramps! That was such a treat. To top it off, they got to go to the Wiener Dog Festival. It doesn't get much better than that!

2008-04-23T07:19:00.000-07:00

Kylie had a big time at the goat farm with Grandma and Big Pa. She did not drink the goat milk, she made sure to tell me that! She loves baby animals and having fun with Grandma and Big Pa!

Sick bug go away!

2008-04-09T12:54:00.000-07:00

Well, we can't seem to all get feeling well at the same time. About a month ago, Kylie got sick, then Adam, then Kylie again, now I have some kind of cold, and Kylie seems to have a virus as well. Geez. It's exhausting! So, we need prayers for a healthy family! Kylie is a professional patient and is such a good girl at the doctor. She is a dream patient, thank goodness!

Recent Pictures

2008-04-02T11:48:00.000-07:00

Here are some recent pics! Kylie and her daddy playing the guitar, Chef Kylie cooking some soup and Easter! She loved holding the bunnies and she's been wearing her ears since then!

New Blog Page

2008-04-02T11:29:00.000-07:00

I was trying to think of a way to help people keep up with our family, so here goes! I'm new to the whole "blogging" thing, but it sounded like fun. Enjoy!