We found out!

Last week, we found out whether we are having a boy or a girl. I can't tell you yet (although a lot of you already know :) I have to download pics from the ultrasound, and then I will reveal it. Anyway, the baby is rockin' and rollin' these days. I can feel it kick around a lot. Makes me excited to have another baby in the house. Stay tuned to find out what the sex of our baby is!!

Any predictions?? (shhh..if you already know, don't give it away!!)

Where is the baby?

The other day, we were talking to Tayva about the new baby. She often says, "big sister" in a very loud, energetic voice. Then, we talk to her about being a big sister etc. Well, when she said that the other day, Bob asked, "Tayva, where is the new baby?" (expecting her to say "mommy's tummy") She replied, "in the fridge". Bob said, "the new baby is in the fridge??" Tayva, without hesitation said, "uh-huh" Bob and I looked at each other and giggled. Too cute!

Children are a blessing from the Lord!!

I have had some people give me a painful grimace when I tell them I have a 23 month old and another one on the way. They act as though they feel sorry for me that I will have two children to "tend to". What a pity for them to look at children as such a burden.
Here is a quote from Stepping Heavenward that I ran across, and hit home with me--please read it:

A friend says to Katy (the character):

You shall now have one more mouth to fill and two more feet the more to shoe, more disturbed nights, more laborious days, and less leisure or visiting, reading, music, and drawing.

Her response?

Well! That is one side of the story, to be sure, but I look at the other. Here is a sweet, fragrant mouth to kiss; here are two more feet to make music with their pattering about my nursery. Here is a soul to train for God; and the body in which it dwells is worthy all it will cost, since it is the abode of a kingly servant. I may see less of friends, but I have gained one dearer than them all, to whom, while I minister in Christ’s name, I make a willing sacrifice of what little leisure for my own recreation my other darlings had left me. Yes, my precious baby, you are welcome to your mother’s heart, welcome to her time, her strength, her health, her tenderest cares, to her lifelong prayers! Oh, how rich I am, how truly, how wondrously blest!

Do we trust God when He says, "children are a blessing from the Lord"?

Tayva reads to me

Last night, I was reading to Tayva before she went to bed-that is our nightly routine. She said "Tayva read" and she proceeded to read the book to me. I was having so much fun listening to her make up her own version of the story. That was the first time that Tayva has read to me--usually I read to her! What a sweet experience.

Kicked out of the house!

Yep, that is right. Tonight I got kicked out of the house. Bob arranged for a good girlfriend of mine to pick me up and take me out to supper. Boy, was it fantastic!! I think he sensed that I was getting a bit worn out, and wanted to give me a break. We had so much fun! He even bought dinner for both of us! I got to pick the restaurant of my choice, and after, my friend came to my house for a bit to visit some more.

I have to give Bob credit. Even with his aching back, he was willing to try to put Tayva to bed so that I could go out to eat! What a great hubby! Actually, that is why I needed a break--I have been having to do most of the daily routine all by myself because Bob's back is so sore. I am TOTALLY willing to do it, but it sure was nice to have a break! I know that it is hard for Bob to see me doing a lot of the work without being able to help, so I know he felt good to be able to give me a treat. I am thankful for such a great evening, a great girlfriend, and an awesome husband!

Bob's b-day

Today was Bob's birthday, and oddly enough, it was a rough day. Bob is still extremely uncomfortable with his back pain. This morning, he had an MRI done (what a great thing to do on your birthday!), and we met with the doctor after, and they said everything looks good. Normally, that would be good news, but we are at the stage where we were hoping that they would find something wrong so either physical therapy or surgery would take care of it. We are not quite sure what to do next. We are going to try to explore all options.

Despite the rough day, I did actually get to take Bob out for a birthday dinner. (Bob's mom and dad watched Tayva for us while we were at dinner.) We are trying to keep a positive attitude through this, but it is really hard. It is hard for me to watch Bob go through so much pain on a daily basis.

On another note, Tayva is doing well. The weather is getting nice here. Some days are nice enough to go outside and play. She LOVES to play outside (what kid doesn't?) So, the other day, we were outside, and she kind of fell in the grass, and while she was down there, she decided to investigate some nearby deer poop!! Yucky poo!!! She actually picked it up and had it in her fingers! I was right there, so right away I told her to put it down. Within the next few minutes, I caught her picking up some bird poop!! Oh boy!!!

4:30 a.m.

Bob has been gone the past few days. he just got home tonight--YIPPEE! Anyway, when he is gone, I always set the alarm system in our house. So, last night, I set the alarm system, and at 4:30 in the morning it went off!! I jumped out of bed and went to check the alarm panel. The alarm in our house is so loud, but Tayva didn't even wake up (thank goodness). So, the alarm company called to make sure everything was OK, and to see if I wanted to send the police to check things out. I felt confident that things were OK, and it was just a fluke (I had noticed a "trouble" signal a few weeks ago on the door that tripped the alarm, so I knew it was acting up) So, now I need to have the alarm company come and take a look at it.

Even though I knew everything was OK. I had trouble falling back to sleep. I did eventually fall back asleep--until Tayva woke up and was ready to rock and roll. :) I am thankful that everything was OK.

p.s. Alyse, I will definitely have to write about how Bob and I met, but that would take to much energy for what I have tonight.

Blogger's Block

I don't know why, but I have "blogger's block". Tonight, I was thinking of something to write about, then I thought, "No, that's too personal" or "No, that might offend someone". So, I am left with not much to write.

I can tell you that Tayva peed on the carpet and in the bathtub tonight. She is also singing "Jesus Loves Me" and is almost counting to 15! She calls the bathtub the "tub-tub", and she LOVES her new ducky game.

OK, I will try my hardest to think of something to write soon!!!

Moving

OK, I declare that no one else can move!!!

Let me explain myself. A few weeks ago, a good friend of mine told me that her and her family are moving to South Carolina. Her husband was offered a job there, and they felt like this was were the Lord was leading them. I am SO disappointed. I mean, I am happy that they are following God's will, but selfishly, I am sad that my friend is moving!!

Today, another friend of mine told me that she is engaged, and she is moving to Montana. Her fiance owns and operates a ranch there, so she is going to move there once they are married. They are hoping the wedding will be at the end of June. So, I have one friend moving in 2 weeks, and the other moving in June--bah humbug!

So, because of this I am declaring that none of my other friends can move--agreed?? Good.

Pics from Our Vacation

Our Family!
Look at that cutie pie!

Daddy and Tayva out for a walk
Tayva LOVED being pulled in the sled!

More pics to come!

Awfully Scary!!

I heard this on Focus on the Family this morning. Please go to this site http://www.citizenlink.org/CLtopstories/A000006717.cfm and read the short article. At the bottom of the article, you can sign the petition (which I encourage you to do), or you can listen to the whole broadcast (which I also strongly encourage!!)

Please, check this out. It is awfully scary that the courts can take away the rights of parents like this. This morning it hit awfully close to home as I was listening to the broadcast. Often court rulings made in California set a precedent for the rest of the nation. That is SO scary to me, and could mean that I may not be able to home-school my children if we so choose. (actually we wouldn't even have a CHOICE!!!)

p.s. I signed the petition, and the petition itself has a brief, easy-to-understand explanation of the ruling and its implications. It is very easy to sign the petition-it took me less than 30 seconds.

Good to be Home!

We just got back from just under a week of vacation. We rented a cabin near the ski slopes and had lots of rest and relaxation. My mom and dad came with. It was SO nice to have them with. They helped take care of Tayva, and one night Bob and I even went out for a nice dinner--while grandma and grandpa watched Tayva. I will post pictures in the near future, and tell you more about it. We had an absolute blast!

I was just telling Bob that vacations are good for two reasons. The first is that it is so good to get away, and just to have time to spend as a family. No running from here to there. No time demands or demands from work. It is just great to get a break from all those things, and just spend time enjoying each other. The second reason is that is makes me appreciate home so much more. As much as I did not want to leave the cabin, I was still excited to come home. I was excited to be in my own home, with my own bed, and everything in it's place. I was also excited to come home to see our family and friends. I was able to go to our couple's Bible study tonight which was great to get together with everyone once again. What a blessing. It was good to be gone and get some vacation, and good to be back home too!!!