Summer Fun!

We've been keeping busy this summer, and it's hard to believe how quickly the kids are growing up! We went on our first family vacation (to Traverse City) and have done a lot of fun things at home (many of them inside because of the insane heat!). Here are a few of the things we did in June :)

Mabelyn discovered corn on the cob is even yummier than her beloved frozen corn! 

The water table is always a hit. . .even if Mabelyn just thinks it's for drinking. 

Splashing in Lake Michigan outside the condo we rented. 

 Someone thought it was an all-you-can-eat sand buffet.

 Building a sand castle.

 Playing football with Uncle Robert. You can tell it's been a dry summer (and that we didn't turn on our sprinklers this year).

At the petting farm with a friend.

Cubbies

This year, Steven started going to Cubbies (through AWANA) at a church in our area. Each week we read a couple stories out of his book and memorize a verse. He has the option of doing "extra credit" each week and doing a craft or activity that's in the book, and we generally do it.

Last week, I decided to write Steven's verse on the chalkboard in the kitchen (which had not been updated since I put a countdown to Mabelyn's due date on it and still said "Mabelyn is here!"). This way, I can work with him on his verse all week without pulling out his book to make sure I have the wording correct.

We also worked on saying it while marching, while hopping on one foot, while clapping, while spinning around and around, etc. That was especially helpful as we worked on learning the reference (which isn't required until their second year). Here he is saying it on his bed.

We also had his stuffed animals say it, and each one took a turn. As you can see, it's Elmo's turn to say the verse.

I am amazed at how easily Steven learns his verses. The different steps we are taking aren't really necessary for him, but they help Michelle learn it too :) A couple weeks ago, I decided to review all his old verses with him, and we went all the way back to early November/late October without having to give him more than the first one or two words. Way to go, Steven!

Hair!

Now that Michelle is getting older, we are starting to do more with her hair. For the longest time, we just kept it in puffs because that's pretty much all I knew. When I was pregnant, I suffered from hyperemesis, and I could barely brush/wash my own hair without throwing up, so I didn't do much with Michelle's hair either (other than to attempt to trim her hair that ended badly).

I recently discovered the site Chocolate Hair/Vanilla Care (and the corresponding Facebook page), and we have been busy trying new things. Michelle started using a sleep cap (much to her dismay at times), and we're experimenting with different creams and oils. We've also started using beads and snaps and clippies.

One of our first styles--braids with clippies

Rope twists with beads

Rope twist yarn extensions with beads

Faux french braids

Doing Michelle's hair takes a lot of time, and since I work on Saturdays, we're starting to do it during the week. To be honest, it can be exhuasting at times, and if I'm not careful, I get frustrated with both her and her hair. Keeping her hair in puffs would be easy, and we still do them occasionally, but I know that it means the world to Michelle when we do her hair in fancy new styles. I want her to be proud of her hair and to appreciate the hair that God has given her, so we do fancy hair. And someday, if Mabelyn ever grows some hair, I'm sure I'll be putting beads and braids and twists and clippies in her hair too :)

It's Been a Long Time

I can't believe how long it's been since I last posted. Our tiny little peanut isn't so tiny any more, and the older kids are getting way too big. I don't think I'll try to cram everything we've done into one post, so I'll just upload some recent pictures :) Hopefully I do better this year about updating my blog (assuming anyone is still interested!).

Making Kool Aid Playdough

At Grandma and Grandpa's House

Sisters!

Celebrating Michelle's Birthday

Matching Church Outfits

How We Spend Our Days. . .

One Month Old!

It's hard to believe that Mabelyn is one month old today. Just in the past few days, we've seen a lot of changes in her. Her cheeks are filling out, and she's awake for longer periods of time. I need to get some updated pictures because all the ones I've taken in the past week or so are while she's sleeping, and I'm sure that grandparents would like to see pictures of her very blue eyes.

I'm finally starting to feel like myself again, and it helped that I was able to wear my old jeans again on Saturday :) Of course, they are low rise and were a bit big before I got pregnant, but still! It's nice that my incision area isn't hurting as much anymore--it hurt to wear even maternity jeans for a long time because it was all so sensitive.

Steven and Michelle have adjusted well to Mabelyn, and they both like to "help" with her. Steven loves holding her, even if she's crying, and Michelle likes to burp her and help with any bottles she may get. So far, I haven't gotten the sense that they are jealous of her at all, which surprises me. They have acted out, though, especially after the last family members left and Mark went back to work. It took a while to reassert myself as an authority figure and let them know that Mommy's rules are back in effect after several weeks of grandmas and Daddy being in charge. Overall, though, they are doing better than I anticipated. It's definitely been easier going from two kids to three than it was going from one to two, and I think part of that is their age and the fact that they have each other to play with while I take care of Mabelyn.

Big Sister Michelle

First Bath

Introducing Mabelyn Elizabeth!

Mabelyn was born on Friday, March 4 at 8:30 a.m. via c-section a couple weeks early because of low fluid/possible placenta problems. She weighed 5 lbs., 13 ozs. and was 18" long.

Making Valentines

Freezer Meals

On the days that I'm not having contractions/confined to bed, I've been working on freezer meals and getting things made ahead of time for when Baby M makes her appearance sometime in March. I've been trying out new recipes, but I'm looking for more. Now that I seem to be done with the hyperemesis, I'm starting to actually cook (much to Mark's delight!).

So far, I've made and froze lasagna, taco soup, taco meat, and shredded chicken taco meat. It's a good start, but I need more ideas. I'm going to make meatballs (just thought of that one) and BBQ beef/pork for sandwiches, but that's about all I have left on my list.

I don't want to do anything too complicated since I'm still having contractions (although the antibiotic I'm on for an infection seems to really be helping in that area). I am also working around Michelle's food allergies (eggs, sesame, and tree nuts). I've been hitting different cooking blogs/recipe sites, but I don't want to waste time and money on something that I don't know if it will turn out.

If you have any easy freezer/crock pot recipes to share, I'd LOVE to have them!

Conversation at Dinner

Preface: Dinner is always a challenge at our house anymore. It generally involves at least one child refusing to eat, and for the past week or so, that has been Michelle. We don't make her a separate meal, and we don't force her to eat. If she wants to eat, though, she gets what we're having, and she can't just fill up on bread (which seems to be her favorite right now). Tonight was no different, and Michelle was a basket case.

Steven: Mommy, is Jesus happy with me when I obey?

Me: Yes.

Steven: Is Jesus happy when Michelle obeys?

Me (wondering where this is going): Yes.

Steven: Michelle, Jesus is NOT happy with you right now.

Me: Okay, that's enough. Eat your jell-o.

Lovely!

Just 70 Days To Go!

In some ways, it feels like I've been pregnant forever. That's probably because it hasn't been an easy pregnancy by any means. Most women struggle with morning sickness, but about 3%-5% have the pleasure of hyperemesis, which is the most extreme morning sickness you can imagine. At its peak, I was throwing up every time I got out of bed (despite being on two anti-nausea meds, including one that is used for chemo patients). I also had to go in and get iv fluids because I was so dehydrated.

Just about anything would trigger the throwing up--being touched (which the kids had a hard time understanding), smelling food, seeing food (even on tv), moving, and sometimes, it just happened without warning (like on the way to Bible study one day when I had to pull over to throw up in a gas station parking lot).

Thankfully, that has subsided. I rarely take the anti-nausea meds, and I'm only throwing up once or twice a week. However, I started having contractions back in November. They got worse after I carried Steven from his bed to the living room, and I ended up spending most of the following three days resting in bed. I was checked by my doctor before we left for PA, and everything looked good. I was just told not to lift the kids if I could help it.

While we were in PA, if I did too much, the contractions started up again, and then it got to the point on Christmas Day where they were just happening even if I didn't do anything. That's when we decided it would be best to get checked out at a hospital near my parents' house. Of course, the contractions stopped before we got there, but when they got me hooked up to the monitor, they were picking up Braxton Hicks contractions. It was the first time mark had heard the heartbeat since our big ultrasound in October, and he got to hear her kicking too. I'd been telling him that it felt like earthquakes in there because she is so active, and you could hear that on the monitor. Everyone who came in commented on how active she was and said that they had never heard such loud kicks (they could hear them down the hall despite the door being shut!). The midwife also said surprised by how neurologically advanced the baby was for her age :)

Mark and I were there for a couple hours, and they ran several tests and checked me again. Everything checked out okay, but they gave me two shots to stop the contractions, and they seem to have worked. I've only had a handful of contractions in the past week and a half.

We never got a clear answer on what was causing the contractions, but they think that it was a partly due to dehydration (which we don't really agree with because I had been drinking like crazy to try to make them stop) but mostly due to her insane activity, which I guess can cause contractions.

Since we've been home, I've followed up with my doctor, and everything still looks good. I am on limited activity, but I'd not on bedrest or anything. I just have to be careful not to do too much, and I really can't lift the kids (or anything else for that matter). I think I can handle that for the next 10 weeks if it keeps her from coming early!

Two!!

It's hard to believe that the Peanut is two! She decided to celebrate turning two with a bang and threw a spectacular temper tantrum in Meijer (which resulted in her learning that even birthday girls have to behave if they are going to ride the horsie!). She also started potty training that day and has used the potty consistently the last three days (despite being a bit sick yesterday). Way to go, Sissy!

She is talking non stop, and I'm understanding most of what she says (and if I don't understand it, she just yells it louder and louder). She loves to play with her new doctor kit and has been busy developing her drawing skills on the Magnadoodle she got for Christmas (which was wonderful to have in the car for the long trip to PA and back!). She loves her brother dearly and walks around like a little lost soul if she wakes up before him. She's both sassy and sweet, and we definitely can't imagine life without her!

To read my post from the day she was born, go here . (We originally named her Abigail and then decided to keep her birthname, so don't let the name confuse you!)