End of Summer

Being 4 is off to a great start for Sarah! PreK has started, and I know it's going to be another great year for her! She's going to start reading this year, and I can't wait to see the adventures she goes on once she knows how to read. She's going to love it! She has also started piano lessons and has memorized Hot Cross Buns. Watching her learn knew things is such a precious gift.

Sarah got to do two day camps at a local farm park this summer and loved it. So much of motherhood feels like survival mode, but occasionally I get a boost of energy and live it up and play on the playground equipment even though it's wet from the rain! It was such a fun time!

We took our annual trip down to Alabama to visit Robert's family in August the week before school started. I can't share many pictures because most of them have Baby in them, but the week included lots of swimming (beach and pool), catching up with family, people meeting Baby, and fun adventures.  Of course we had to make sure the hotels had pools for our little fish!

Sarah had a good 4 year old checkup and is 42" (75%) and 42lbs (90%). I took Baby to the doctor today, and of course Sarah wanted to be weighed too. She had on her shoes this time, but she weighed 44lbs. She's definitely been going through a big growth spurt. You know you have a spitfire when the pediatrician describes your child as "precocious." The nurse was a good sport and gave Sarah's unicorn a well check as well.

First day of PreK

I'm afraid 2019 will be looked back upon as the year of the wrist. In July I slipped and fell after getting out of the shower. I was banged up and in quite a bit of pain but just figured it was bruises. After two weeks my wrist still hurt so I visited my primary care physician. He figured it was sprained and gave me some gel to rub on my wrist to help with the pain. Two weeks later it still hurt so he ran an x-ray. I found out my radius had been broken for a month. He referred me to an orthopedic hand specialist, and I got this spiffy thermoplastic cast. It works like a plaster cast, but it's waterproof which makes showering easier. He scheduled an MRI which took two weeks to get me in.

Five days after the cast I started having excruciating pain in my left shoulder and went to urgent care and got diagnosed with tendinitis which was caused by not using my right arm and overdoing it with my left arm. And now I bring you...the sling.

I went two weeks with the sling. I got a cortisone shot in my shoulder and iced it multiple times a day. I finally got the MRI of my wrist.  A few days later I found out I had a tear in my triangular fibrocartilage complex, a body part I never knew existed. I needed to schedule a follow-up with my ortho to discuss the torn TFCC, and they originally said he couldn't see me for three weeks!!! I was pretty upset, and they were able to get me in five days later. I told the ortho that I have constant pain in my wrist/arm and am not able to do normal tasks for my job as a stay at home mom. No one seems to understand that a stay at home mom with a four year old and five month old can't just take it easy for 12 weeks. He said that cartilage doesn't heal on its on and needs to be removed through surgery but that he wants to wait one more month to see if the pain stops. He gave me a cortisone shot a week ago, and I haven't noticed any decrease in the pain. After taking it easy for a month my left shoulder feels quite a bit better, but when I start to overdo it I can tell. Thankfully Robert's dad came to help a week ago and has been able to help with lifting kids and house work. I obviously don't want to have surgery but would rather get it over with now if it's inevitable. The recovery time for the surgery looks like it's about another 6-12 weeks which will put this whole thing at six months. UGH.

We enjoyed a trip to Silver Dollar City, and Sarah was able to ride a few rides for the first time - Fire in the Hole and The Great American Plunge. She had a blast!

Sarah and I had a girly morning together and painted pottery, rode a unicorn, and got our hair cut.

My parents and I all celebrated our birthdays, and we enjoyed getting to celebrate with family.

Sarah had an absolute blast going to a dance clinic with the high school dance team. We enjoyed getting to watch her at the football game.

Robert has finished one full year of doctoral classes and is 3/10 of the way done with his classes. He's in his fourth class now and spends every evening reading and writing. I have a serious question. Wives who have husbands that study or work at night, what do you do in the evening besides watch TV? I'm tired of watching TV by myself. Tired enough that I've literally googled cheap hobbies. What do you do when you don't want to exert a ton of energy or spend much money but want to do something besides watch TV? I already read as well. I like crocheting but am out of commission with my arms.

Sarah is 4!

Sarah turns 4 years old today! I am very thankful for my daughter, and it's been a great year! When I think of Sarah I think of energy, curiosity, beauty, kindness, and humor. I think the gift of being a mom to a baby for the second time now has made me cherish my time with Sarah even more. I'm realizing more and more how fast they grow up. The days are long, but the years are short.

Sarah will be starting PreK in two weeks.  It's hard to believe that this is our last year together before she's in Kindergarten.  She enjoyed her year in Preschool, and thinks that she's nearly a teenager since she's going to PreK. This year she learned how to identify all of the lowercase and uppercase numbers, because even more curious about numbers, became obsessed with rhyming, started writing letters, and made lots of new friends at school.

She loves junk food.  What 4 year old doesn't? If she had her way she'd eat waffles and cake for every meal, but she also likes some really healthy foods like peas and asparagus. She still isn't a huge eater most of the time, but manages to be a very healthy, growing girl.

She's about 42 pounds and 42" and is so excited to finally be riding in a booster seat! I am also excited. :)

She enjoys helping in the kitchen, playing outside, playing Barbies, and doing arts and crafts.

I don't feel old enough to have a four year old, but ready or not, here we come!

Dear Sarah,
I love you so much. You made me a mommy, and you're my sidekick.  We've spent more than 1400 days together at this point, so I think it's safe to say that I know you more than anyone else does. I know that one day you will use your incredible mind to change the world whether it's by being a urologist or a stay at home mom (or both!), and I love getting to see you use it now to explore the world. When you crawl onto my lap and say, "I need a MiMi snuggle," I melt every time. You will always be my baby even though you're such a big girl and remind me of that daily. You are everything I ever could have asked for in a daughter and more. You have a way with words and use that ability to make me laugh, smile, and think deeply. You feel your feelings so strongly and aren't afraid to express them. That inspires me. You aren't afraid to be yourself whether it's expressed through dancing on a table, picking out an incredible Sarah fashion outfit, or singing in the bathroom. You propel me to be myself. I love being silly with you and having inside jokes that only you and I understand because, after all, "We're the girls!" I am thankful for the privilege of being your Mommy. You are my favorite 4 year old in all the land.

Love,
Mommy

Life Lately, June 21

Now that I'm back to blogging, here's a recap of our spring and summer.  You know we went on a big trip to PA. 

I don't think I ever mentioned that Robert started a PhD last August, so he's almost finished with his first year!  He's studying Pastoral Ministry at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  It'll be a long road since he is continuing to be a full-time pastor while in school, but we think he has about two years of class left followed by working on his dissertation for two or three years.  He's doing great!  For each class he goes in person to KC for 40 hours of seated time, and the rest of the class he completes from home.  When he goes in person he gets to stay with his mom and her husband which is really nice! He even made his own "Cloffice" (closet office) for studying at home.  I'm so proud of him!

Sarah had such an amazing year at preschool.  I couldn't have asked for a better experience for her.  She went two mornings a week, and next school year she'll be in PreK three mornings a week.  She learned how to identify all lowercase and uppercase letters, improved in her counting and handwriting skills, made news friends, and enjoyed the special Spanish and Stretch and Grow classes.  She's so sad that school is out for summer which is absolutely precious to me. 

Sarah had her first haircut in March, and she loved it!  I had the same lady who gave me my first haircut do it for Sarah.  My mom still gets her hair done there, and she got to come too.  Sarah got her hair washed, cut, and styled.  She wants to go back every day!

My mom retired in May, and we're so excited to spend more time with her! 

Sarah says the funnest and most adorable things regularly.  Here are some examples:

• She made up some verses for Hush Little Baby: Hush, little baby, Mama's gonna get you a heart, and if that heart should break she'll put it in the trash, but she'll have to sweep it up first. Mama's gonna buy you some hairspray, and if that hairspray runs out Mama's gonna buy you some hair gel.
• If you don't poop for a long time it can causes problems.
• What does my soul look like?
• It breaks Jesus' heart when we fight
• That's a pretty house.  Maybe when I get married I can buy it and we can be neighbors.  That'd be fun!
• Thank you for not making me ride in my stroller.  Dad makes me, and it's so embarrassing!
• Can you please contact Ms Sandy and tell her I won't be at preschool any longer?  I've grown up and will be going to high school.
• Do you know who the king is? Jesus!
• Remember that gross McDonald's in West Plains, and it had a lot of flies?  Yeah, at least there weren't any bears.
• What was it like when you were pregnant with Mittens?
• When I'm holding a baby, he's so warm and cuddly that it feels like he's holding me!
• God, please help Taylor Swift to become a Christian.
• Mittens turns 7 on Saturday.  Is she old enough to go to college now?
• I'm good at practicing being 4!
• The top of my feet are cold, and the bottom of my feet are warm just like how some planets in the universe are hot and some are cold!
• I'm allergic to dust so I'm never going to the moon since it has so much dust! (Robert says you'd wear a helmet and have oxygen so the dust wouldn't bother you.) Okay, if I go to the moon Dad can come with me to keep away the meanies.
• I heard there are streets of gold in heaven.  I can't wait to see them.

2019 Books so far

I know I am the last person on the planet to do so, but I read the entire Harry Potter series this year from January-April.  I loved it!  I don't need to give a review because you've probably already read the books or watched the movies, but it was great, and I didn't want it to end.  I had wanted to read more fiction in 2018 and didn't do it, but I feel like I definitely made up for it over the first four months of 2019!

I followed it up with some nonfiction and read It's Not Supposed to be This Way. I found myself nodding in agreement and crying throughout it.

In MOPS this year we had a guest speaker who became a widow in her 20's when her husband battled colon cancer.  I received her memoir, What I Wasn't Expecting When I Was Expecting, as well.  It's a quick read and kept my attention.  I enjoyed being able to support a local author, and her story was gripping.

So I've read nine books so far this year.  Obviously, the Harry Potter books were all very long.  Robert bought me a few books at Lifeway when everything was on clearance before it closed, so I have a few books on my "Want to Read" bookshelf: Sacred Parenting, Love Where You Live: How to Live Sent in the Place You Call Home, Born to Wander: Recovering the Value of our Pilgrim Identity, Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles that can Radically Change Your Family, and The Mission of Motherhood: Touching Your Child's Heart for Eternity.

What are you reading these days?

Christmas 2018

Well, Christmas 2018 was 6 months ago, and Christmas 2019 is just 6 months away.  I guess it means I should recap last Christmas finally!

On Christmas Eve we went to service at our church, and then we went and had a sleepover with Memaw.  It was Sarah's first time to spend the night there, and it was very special.

Robert had some vacation time left to use up so he was able to mostly work four day weeks in December which was really nice!

We went to an alumni event at Drury with my parents and enjoyed a Christmas breakfast, crafts, music, and a visit from Santa.  This Santa was rather short, and Sarah said, "That's not the real Santa.  It must be his brother."

Sarah and the other pre-k kids at church did a great rendition of Little Drummer Boy!

Sarah got to participate in a Nutcracker ballet clinic and had a blast!

Decorating was so much fun this year!

We enjoyed a weekend trip with my parents!

Sarah loves Sweet Milk aka eggnog and building gingerbread houses.

Sarah had a darling concert at school.  Dad, Robert, and I were able to attend.  They sang a few songs, and Santa even made an appearance.

We even spied Santa at Sky Zone!

We went to KC for a weekend with Robert's family and a pit stop to visit Jim.  Taylor was at work. :(

On Christmas morning Sarah was thrilled to open presents of course.  This is also when Jim and Taylor told Sarah that Taylor is pregnant.  Sarah found it hard to believe since Taylor's tummy didn't look very pregnant yet, but now she can't wait to meet baby Will and enjoys feeling for his kicks.

Tasty Recipes

I wanted to share some recipes with you that I found on Pinterest, tried, and our family liked.  Robert and I both enjoy cooking, but with two kids at home, I typically need to look for recipes that are fast or can be prepared in advance.  Sarah is old enough now that she truly can help which is very fun! 

Snickerdoodles - Robert has historically said that he doesn't like snickerdoodles which is a shame because I love them.  I found this recipe for a thick and chewy version, and he loves them!  I guess what he doesn't like about most snickerdoodles is when they're thin and crispy, so if you're the same way, you will like these!

Lettuce wraps - I guess these are a replica of a menu item at P.F Chang's, but I actually make it as a salad instead of a wrap.  You can use romaine or any other lettuce mix you like.  I omit the mushrooms because Sarah and I don't like them.  If you don't have almond butter, use natural peanut butter.  I've even used natural crunchy peanut butter before and it wasn't a big deal.  If you use almond butter it'll be Whole30 compliant.

Refried beans - It seems a little over the top to make your own refried beans, but when I got a pressure cooker I was looking for recipes and found this one.  I don't use dried beans because Aldi doesn't have them, so I seriously just use a large can of pinto beans and less water than it calls for.  Robert says he can never eat canned refried beans again after having this.  After it's cooked, I drain out some of the water before blending it up with my emulsion blender.

Sausage, egg, and cheese balls - Ok, these are amazing.  You can't taste the coconut flour at all, and they taste like a treat and not like they're keto.  Everyone loves them.  Sarah can usually eat three which is saying something!  Instead of using breakfast sausage we use plain ground pork.

Chicken sausage and veggie sheet pan - I came across this recipe a few years ago and now I make a variation of it at least once a month.  You just need chicken sausage, any vegetables you have on hand, oil, and spices.  You can't go wrong!!!

Homemade breakfast sausage - This tastes just as good as store-bought sausage and is so much better for you!  You can make it without salt if that's necessary for your health needs and you really can't tell a difference.  Make a bunch in advance and freeze as patties or ground up.

Cranberry jalapeno dip - This dip is amazing!  It's one of those where you could sit down and eat the whole thing.  You have to prepare some of it the night before, but it's worth it!

What are some of your favorite recipes these days?

Trip to the East

My dad, Robert, Sarah, and I drove to Pennsylvania in 2015 when Sarah was two months old, and this spring it was time to do it again!  We went over spring break and had a great time!  Sarah really did do well in the car.

3.5 years ago and this time as well, we stayed in Ohio next to another church called South Gate, so Robert needed to document it!

It was so great to see everyone!  Sarah loved seeing her family and didn't want to leave.  Such a special time!

We spent some of our time at my grandparents' house and got to go to a bouncy house and the park and had lots of yummy food!

Then we spent a couple of days in Philadelphia, or as Sarah calls it, Phillyadelphia.  She was so excited to swim in the pool!  We were there for 48 hours, and she swam three times. 

I think we did all that can be done in 48 hours.  We had tickets for a Hop on Hop off bus, and it took us everywhere we wanted to go.  We got to see plenty of things from it like Betsy Ross' house and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  We got off there so Robert and Dad could run up the stairs from Rocky!  We ate a few meals at Reading Terminal Market which was right next to our hotel.  We got to see the Liberty Bell and toured Independence Hall.

We all had a blast at Please Touch Museum.  The carousel was Sarah's favorite part!

The Franklin Institute was probably my favorite!  Sarah got to walk through a huge heart exhibit and crawl through a brain exhibit!

It wore out Sarah!

Such a great trip, and we're thankful we got to go!