Here we go again!

Well- it's time to tell the world, (because my tummy is already "speaking" out) that we are expecting another blessing in the form of a baby in June of 2014!

To answer your questions:

1. No, this was not planned! We were stunned, as we thought this really was not a possibility!

2. Yes, we are excited. We feel so humbled that even though we often don't feel fit to parent the 3 angels we have, The Lord finds it a part of his perfect will to have another child of his to be be raised by us.

3. We are 12 weeks, and the due date is June 6. (I am 12 weeks based on this date) The scheduled c-section would be set for around May 31st. Let's be real- my body has never gone to 38 weeks. It's safe to say, we will have a baby end of May.

4. This will be our last, as permanent medical procedures are being set in place to ensure this as real truth. The Lord has graced us so much in our journey as parents, and we know that will continue with the 4 we will soon have.

5. We would appreciate your support. It's common for families to have 2 or 3 children, but past that, when you tell people about adding to your family...you get a lot of strange looks. You get a lot of whispers behind your back, and that doesn't feel good. Each life that God knits together has purpose and deserves to be celebrated. We want this baby to be as loved upon as Anslee was as the first child we welcomed into our family.

6. We would love a boy. We would love to add another girl to this crew. Either way- we have great reason to be excited. Either something new to experience, or something we are EXTREMELY familiar/comfortable with. We do have a boy name, though! Our list of girls names has run short over the years.

7. When this baby joins us, Anslee will be 5 years and 4 months old. Kensington will be 3 years and 4 months old. Laynee will be right at 22 months old.

8. No, Laynee will not be potty trained when this baby is born. I wouldn't know what to do if I potty trained a toddler without having an infant around while doing so...so to keep history the same....

9. We will find out the gender in January!

10. I am feeling ok- out of 4 pregnancies, I've never thrown up in the first trimester, so that is wonderful! I just mainly can't keep my eyes open. My bedtime for the last 10 weeks had been 9 or so. Ha!

So...here we go again!

Shea Moses
Rodan and Fields Executive Consultant

The Problem With McDonalds

On rainy days, hot days, or cold days

I like to do 1 of 2 things with the girls.

1. Go to the library.

2. Let them ransack the only play place in Brownwood, Texas.

McDonalds.

Today it was hot and rainy and we had just been to the library last week,

so McDonalads it was.

It seems like there is a situation that occurs everytime we go to McDonalds.

One time, Kensington peed in the top of the play area.

Everyone had to come down and it had to be cleaned.

From time to time we witness CPS supervised visitation meetings between

biological parents and their kids who have been placed in the foster care system.

Its always really awkward and little sad for me to watch. 

I hate that for all parties involved in those visits. It can't be easy.

I have seen the bully kids.

I have seen 12 year old playing the 3 and under area.

My kids have been cussed in front of by other young kids.

I once saw a young pre-school age boy who could not keep his pants

on for some strange reason.

Today was another one of those days and I have another story.

A little boy came up to Kensington while we were eating.

He had a rocketship toy in his hand and put it up to her head

(as if it were a toy gun).

He said,

"I'm gonna shoot you dead."

Kensington and Anslee just looked back at him,

they had no idea what he was trying to "play".

Thank goodness they were confused.

Yall. I didnt know what to do. His guardians (who looked to be grandparents, possibly?)

were on the other side of the play area and did not see or hear any of this take place.

I just said, Oh - we don't play like that. Thats not a nice way to play with friends.

He ran off and didn't come back.

I just told my girls after he left that it is never

"fun" to play using the words "shoot" and "dead".

We don't need to pretend like thats a fun way to play.

I don't think they really understood too much of what was going on -

But it just makes me sad that I had to have this type of conversation with my 2.5 year old.

It was probably totally innocent play, and that little boy probably had seen something 

on TV or maybe has older siblings, or a daddy that goes hunting or something.

Who knows.  

I just know it didn't sit well with me - someone pretending to shoot my daughter dead.

There are just times when I don't really know what to say or how to handle

little moments like these that will come up. 

What would you do? Could I have done something better?

Am I making this a bigger deal than it should be?

Sometimes, I am just still a silly first time mama!

Our First 2 days!

Anslee has had an amazing past two days! Sweet girl is already learning tons, and nothing is more precious to see!








Yesterday, was her first full day at Cross Classical with her teacher and her class. Her day began with the chapel service. (Mamas get to stay for this part!) we did the pledges (pledge of Allegiance, Pledge to the Christian Flag, Pledge to the Bible) we recited the first 2 verses of Proverbs 3. By the end of this year- they will have memorized all of Proverbs 3. (35 verses). It is always encouraging knowing their school day starts with Reverence for The Lord- seeking him first for the wisdom and knowledge they will gain during the day.

Then- throughout the day their teacher had many learning activities for them. They are starting with learning about the 7 days of creation (we are memorizing at great song about it to the tune of "are you sleeping?") Then they followed up with math and reading and recess!

I got these pictures texted to me from the day!





I got a great report at the end of the day. Though I was worried- as we had a little episode in chapel. All the new students were introduced in front of the school and given a gift. All the other children walked back nicely and quietly to their seats and Anslee just got uncomfortable and naturally just laid down in front of the entire school. Her teacher swooped her up, and apparently- she was good to go after that.

Today was our first day at home. It was probably 3 hours total of instruction time at our table. We also began with prayer and bible verse memory. We talked about creation and reviewed the creation song. Then- we got our quarter mile run in!



This girl loves some run time! She took off at the high school track and did not stop! In a dress and everything! Me and the sister girls just walked behind her. She wanted to keep going, but Laynee needed a nap- and the football team was standing in the field right next to us running drills. It felt weird- so I wanted to leave.

Here is what most of the day looked like!




Math


^she will present her "all about me" report to her class tomorrow!





I loved this^activity. I got clothespins and wrote the letters on them (upper and lowercase- apparently, that's of value...ha!) and she had to match the letters on a piece of paper and place the matching letters together. They did this in her classroom, too- and I just made a non fancy version of this for at home! Fine motor and letter instruction in one activity!


Kensington really enjoyed being involved. She is learning the verses and songs right alongside Ans. Her brain actually catches on quicker than Anslee's sometimes!

While reading our bible story- Kens wanted to read a bible story to her baby-








On another note- this kid is half monkey. Her crib is lowered- and here she is. Perched herself right on up- and yes, she climbed out during nap time yesterday and crawled right up to me. I was in the kitchen- under the full notion she was asleep.

Well! We are ready for day 2 at school tomorrow! :)

Shea Moses
Rodan and Fields Executive Consultant

Random Shorts

Laynee is at an awkward stage of life.

I am specifically referring to the nature of her hair.

Too short to be pulled up with a bow.

Too long for headbands (hair sticks out in the most awful way)

Both the big girls went through this. Hated it then,

hate it now.

If you know me, you know I am particular about a few things.

As girl mom, its hair. 

Parts need to be straight. No bumps allowed. A bow always.

Laynee's awkward hair phase is putting a kink in our style.

Still as cute as ever though. No doubt on that.

Found this little back to school gem.

Fits perfectly into the insulated lunch box.

3 different compartments for full meals at school.

Freezer block on the bottom.

All the compartments fit like a puzzle piece on each other.

Most organized this mama has ever done lunch.

Boom.

Been catching sticky hands in the sugar bowl lately.

Super Star mama.

Sweetest sister hugs right in front of the 

biggest mess. How we do.

Never too early to be practicing selfies.

I find photos of the like every.single.day. on my phone.

They don't look like grandparents.

School starts Monday. Tuesday We will begin working at home.

I have a feeling this will be normal school time behavior at our house.

Laynee is 1!

Oh my goodness!

July 31st marked by youngest babes very

1st birthday!

Can't believe she is on her way to toddlerhood!

What a whirlwind of a year it has been!

One year ago - 

I posted this pic for the world to see her sweet face for the first time

She was 5 lbs and 12 ounces of pure sweetness.

She looked so much like her big sister girls - but we were not surprised about that.

She didn't want to nurse, because sleep was the only thing her tiny body 

thought it needed! Bless her heart - we ran her ragged that day trying.

She came out of the womb needing a fingernail clipping

The moment they lifted her little purple body over the cover for me to see, 

I was hooked. She had me. She still does.

Over this year - we have transitioned so much!

She went from 5-6 naps, and is now down to 2.

She transitioned from nursing to a bottle.

She started sleeping all night long around 8-9 weeks.

She went from sleeping in our room to her own crib in her room at 7 weeks.

She loved a swaddle, and we broke her of that at 21 weeks. 

Her hardest time was 4.5-6 months. The dreaded Wonder Week 19 

was not kind to her at all. 

Her sweetest time was 6-8 months.

She went 7 days straight during this time without crying 1 time. 

I almost took her to the doctor to make sure her "cry" still worked.

(No worries. It did. Still does.)

During this time, she went from 3 - 2 naps, 

and handled that transition very well. 

She crawled at 8 months.

She got her first tooth at 6 months

Now at 12 months, she has 6 teeth (4 top, 2 bottom)

and a 7th coming in on the bottom. 

She takes a few steps here and there - I would NOT consider her walking.

She loves to talk! She loves to wave.

She loves to eat. Clapping is still her favorite.

Here we go. Toddlerhood is always a special time. 

I am seeing HUGE signs of a strong willed little thing blooming in her.

Someone already knows how to make her voice be heard among the sisters.

Can't wait to see who she becomes to be!

Happy 1st birthday to our sweet baby Tiny!

We are so thankful for the way she has completed our family!

Cross Classical

I am sitting here thinking about my oldest daughter beginning her life long journey of learning. She begins this process in roughly 2 weeks. We are so excited about this method of education we have chosen for her. This is going to be a HUGE year for her, and I am anxious to see true growth in her in ALL areas of her life. Yes. ALL areas of her life. Most importantly - her worldview. We are attending Cross Classical Academy, here in Brownwood where the foundation of her education begins by teaching a BIBLICAL worldview. All things we learn on an academic level are grounded in the teachings of Jesus and how he instructs us to approach our world.

Cross Classical is a University Model setting, where they have formal classroom instruction 2 days per week. (Monday and Wednesday) On Tuesday and Thursday, I will be Anslee's teacher. We will follow the lesson plans and curriculum set by the Academy, but I will be guiding, instructing, and most importantly - engaged. I will not sit back and watch her learn from an outsiders perspective. I will have a firm hand in what she is learning and how she comes into knowledge. Am I not her first teacher anyway? The method to which she will be taught is extremely innovative and will be challenging at just her level. It will be fun and practical for her 4.5 year old mind, but will sharpen her developmentally while she enjoys learning new things.

This is from our School's website:

PURPOSE

To invest in the Kingdom of God by supporting parents as they raise a generation to love the Lord whole-heartedly and to be Christ-like leaders in their homes, churches, communities, and the world. Deuteronomy 6:4-7

MISSION

The mission of Cross Classical Academy is to minister to families by partnering with Christian parents to provide for their children a classical education founded upon a Biblical worldview so that these children may commence a lifelong pursuit of knowledge, wisdom and understanding in their purposeful and passionate service of Jesus Christ, for the glory of God. Cross Classical Academy has adopted a university-model approach which integrates professional instruction with parent mentored study and character development to achieve a college preparatory level of academic excellence.

VISION

Community of Christian educators and families that impacts, influences, and transforms lives through academics, character development, servant leadership, and the arts.

VALUES

Cross Classical Academy prioritizes the following values: honesty, integrity, perseverance, love, service, passion, compassion, leadership, endurance, truth, joy, peace, faithfulness, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control, hope, humility, joy, faith.

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I can't believe she will be attending a school that has the mission and values that school holds. It expects parents to be a vital part of what their children are learning. It is founded on what The Bible says about learning, how we become wise and how we receive knowledge. 

Classical learning is set up like this. 

 

You begin with grammar. Its the base. The foundation. Facts - memorization is key here. You burn into forming brains truth and sense. You build from there. Grammar is our school goes from Pre-K to 4th. Logic begins in 5th. Logic ties truth and facts together. It makes sense of what was learned well in the grammar years. Rhetoric follows with details, original thoughts, debates,piecing all truths together and understanding relationships between ideas and then building upon them. 

I love this model of learning because it makes sense. So you can look at the end goal for education that you seek for your child's life and you break that goal down into tangible learning styles for where the child is developmentally. Example: If you want your child to be able to speak clearly and confidently at their first job interview one day - you can break those skills down and teach them one at a time on an age appropriate level. In Pre-K our children will do book reviews. They stand up in front of their class, and with the aide of their teacher they will state the name of the book, the author, and the main character in the story. They learn to address their peers. They learn how to speak on topic. They learn how to follow direction. They learn how to speak about something they read. They begin to communicate about something they are trying to understand.

I have always been a huge fan of "begin as you mean to go". I LOVE the idea of having an end goal in mind and taking small steps to get there. This means that everything she will do will have real purpose. That is exactly how this method operates and I am thrilled that we get to help Anslee begin reaching her goals (I guess they are our goals for her now, that will essentially be molded into what SHE wants for her life, and hopefully this will help figure out her own goals as she grows into being able to do that for herself.)

To be perfectly honest, I am very emotional about this process beginning. I feel like what I think most "kinder moms" feel as they usher their babes off into the world of schooling. I feel that way, because this year is truly going to be a year of routine education for Anslee. I will see a major advances in all areas of Anslee's life 9 months from now. I know I will be floored at what she will be able to do then, so I feel like her journey to learning is beginning now. I hope that she enjoys each moment of this new adventure and that she will gain a new perspective - the beginning to a biblical worldview - in her pre-school year with Cross. 

21 on 30.

So today I am 30. I mean, how did that happen? Why do I still think like a 15 year old most of the time? Should I not be more organized, put together, responsible, and less emotional, careless, and self centered? Then again, age is just a number, right? Well - here are some thoughts I have as I turn the big 3-0.

 1. When I get to go shopping I keep gravitating towards the sweat pant/athletic gear section. Is this because I have a sub-conscience effort to be fit/atheltic or is it because my reality says my clothes need to be a bit more elastic in some areas?

 2. When I am looking at make-up - I am thinking about what will be "too bold". Wow. Its not about highlighting good features anymore. Its all about what will blend the best. 

 3. I actually care about anti-aging skin care now. I used to wash my face 3 times a week in a good week.

 4. I am consumed with the next diet fad. What will really work for me? Advocare? Metabolic Effect? Hydroxycut? (Hey - Sean Lowe supports the brand, so I looked into it.) 

 5. Speaking of Sean Lowe - would it be very 20-ish of me to admit to my obsession of reality TV? I love it. Or is it very 30-ish of me to be living out the younger hope in 20 somethings lives? I can't decide. 

 6. Do not get me started on the handful of gray hairs Tyler constantly points out to me. I am now trying to figure out how I can work out getting "color" added in to my hair care regimen budget. I have been interested in coloring my hair before now. Never! 

 7.I drive a mini-van, and I love it.

 8. I must have coffee every single morning or I am not effective in any way.

 9. Anyone have any good suggestions for a great fiber supplement? 

 10. I actually remember celebrating my dad's 30th birthday. We took him black "over the hill" balloons and a cake to his office that day. I think I was 6.5 years old - but its weird that I remember that day for exactly what it was, and now I am that same age. 

 11. Taylor Swifts "22" makes me laugh. And remember the good times. 

 12. I am realizing how somethings 10 years ago were HUGE deal. They are mere details now, that I hardly remember anymore. 

 13. I think in terms of trimesters instead of semesters now. 

 14. I told Tyler right around the time we got married that I wanted to have all my kids by the time I was 30. I have done that, and I feel so blessed. 

 15. My biggest accomplishment for this year: Having a 8 month old and a 4 year old stay content while I potty trained the 2 year old. 

 16. I can totally remember when my facebook news feed was full of "relationship status updates" that were exciting to see for my friends. Now - my newsfeed is filled with pictures of their sweet babies. Isn't it telling how our FB newsfeeds clearly depict what stage of life we are in? 

 17. I need a good at-home teeth whitening solution!! STAT! 

 18. Keeping up with the Jones' can be a real problem in life. 

 19. For some strange reason, the older I get, the worse I have become at knowing my basic grammar and spelling rules. Bless my kids hearts - for they will be taught wrong many times I think. 

 20. Chiropractors are worth every dime. 

 21. So, I wanted to do 30 thoughts on becoming 30 - but since I wish I was still 21 (sometimes), I'll stop here. Well, that and I am officially out of brain power so this will have to do!

 Hope you all have a great day, and that if you are in your 30's - or close to them - you can appreciate and relate to my major problems in life right now!