tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65897809922734310922024-03-12T19:27:57.339-04:00love giving itselfSarah Maehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12564278182553801524noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589780992273431092.post-17018871680411408942014-07-04T10:37:00.000-04:002014-07-04T10:37:28.095-04:00About those parks...So, to begin my review of the parks, let me first say that I decided to write these up half way through my adventure, so I don't have many (read...any) pictures for the first three. Sorry about that! I will do my best to give you a good picture though! <br />
The first park, and really the park that started the whole shabang for me, was Southland Park. It's located right behind Southland Pool and Clay's Mill Elementary. It came highly recommended by friends and I became frustrated with myself that I have a four and a half year old and I still hadn't ventured out to other parks. Hence, the Park a Week summer plan. <br />
Well, Southland Park did nothing to disappoint all the rave reviews I had heard about it from friends! We met a few friends there around 11 with lunch in tow. I had my three kiddos ages 4, 2 and 7 months. If my four year old were reading this she would quickly correct me "I am four and a HALF!" Such an important distinction! When we got there there was a end of school picnic going on for what looked like the 4th or 5th grade of the nearby elementary school. I was a little worried since mine are so much smaller, but I was so pleasantly surprised! The playground itself is great! It is laid out so well! It has a great variety of equipment that spans the ages really well! The right side of the playground has things for slightly older children, while the left side is more geared towards the littles. My friend and I spread out on a blanket under one of the very large shade trees lining the edge of the playground. Notice I said SHADE! That's a very important thing to find when looking for a great park! The thing I noticed and LOVED about this park was these trees. I'm not much of a landscaper or botanist, so I have no idea what kind of tree this is, but with age I have grown a great appreciation for large old trees. Someone had great foresight to plant these beauties, and may not have ever lived to see them in their full glory. Makes me want to go out and plant a tree for the next generation of mamas, who will certainly need some shade! <br />
Ok, back to the park. From our nice shady spot we could see the whole playground. The playground itself isn't very shady, no problem for my kids. My eldest plopped down underneath a slide and proceeded to get everyone involved in building a "worm castle" for all the worms who live in the playground mulch. My son loved the mulch diggers, a mini-bulldozer piece of equipment he could sit on and pull some levers and dig up the mulch. He wasn't quite coordinated for the machine, but that didn't stop him from trying! The equipment has a nice variety to it. We didn't even make it over to the right side and we stayed for a few hours! The kids loved some of the smaller trees off to the side also. They got lots of accessories for their worm castle from there! <br />
Next to shade, there is one other all important factor to a great park...bathrooms!! And this one comes well equip. There is a shelter with picnic tables and restrooms. The <a href="http://www.lexingtonky.gov/index.aspx?page=279" target="_blank">parks and rec website</a> says this shelter seats 50, and rents for $50/day. Sounds like a birthday party waiting to happen!<br />
Well, I'm very sorry to say that I don't have any pictures from this adventure to share with you, but I hope you go and make some good memories for yourself!! <br />
Grab a picnic blanket, set this address into your GPS and go!<br />
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625 Hill n Dale Dr.<br />
Lexington, KY 40503Sarah Maehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12564278182553801524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589780992273431092.post-68928236153700827192014-07-01T09:46:00.001-04:002014-07-01T09:46:34.570-04:00Still changing lives<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.940000534057617px; margin-top: 10px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
Two years ago we lost a dear friend in a tragic and inexplicable accident. No rhyme or reason, he just fell. We miss Jay all the time. We find our selves mentioning him often. Thinking he'd enjoy something we're seeing or doing. Telling stories about him, or when we just happen to be at the last place we saw him. For sure we have been changed by him. Both Bert and I each have our individual reasons. Jay saw each of us through some crazy hard times in college. But while he is gone, he is not done changing lives. </div>
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Like I said, Jay still comes up in our home often. He is mostly brought up by Tempie funny enough. Bert and I were both trying to remember if she'd ever met him. If she did, she was certainly too young to remember. But she brings him up any time she wants to have a spiritual conversation. Any time she wants to talk about God or heaven, she begins the conversation by saying "mom/dad you miss your friend Jay don't you?" She then proceeds to talk about him being in heaven and she'll ask whatever question is on her mind about God. But it always starts with Jay. Jay is the lead in to Christ for Tempie. </div>
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She's already talking about asking Jesus into her heart. She's so sensitive spiritually. I really wish I could tell him...I guess he already knows. Thank you Jay...you are still being used by God.</div>
Sarah Maehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12564278182553801524noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589780992273431092.post-72656840278175609822014-06-22T15:21:00.000-04:002014-06-22T15:21:33.118-04:00Frugal Summertime FunLexington grows on me more and more every year. A large part of that is our "framily" that lives here. Each year we grow another year closer to one another. Each year contains something new. Sickness, death, babies, more babies. Lately babies have been the story. I couldn't begin to imagine leaving these people I love so dearly. <div>
Another piece of my love for Lexington has everything to do with the city itself. Lexington is big enough to have offerings for everyone, yet small enough to still feel like home. After talking to my "framily" members recently it occurred to me that I do not take advantage of enough of Lexington. I have a tendency to stay in my little corner, my little pie piece (Lexington is laid out like a giant pie...another great reason to love it...who doesn't love pie?). </div>
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As we were looking forward to the summer and making plans, I knew I would need to get the kiddos out of the house often. If Tempie stays at home for more than 6 hours straight, she begins to whine and ask..."when can we get out of the house?" Funny coming from my reserved introvert. Interestingly enough, my extroverted charmer would just as soon be at home than anywhere else. However, as long as he's with the ones he loves...or with people at all...he's fine. So, getting out of the house is on our agenda. But...so is saving money...hmm. Dilemma. </div>
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We were all getting a little bored with our usual free places to go. So I came up with the idea to visit a new park in Lexington each Friday (a little routine in there to please my eldest's need for schedule). There are so many amazing parks in Lexington, and we stick to the ones within a mile radius of us. Bert informed me yesterday that there are over 100 parks in Lexington. 100!! Now, I'm looking for parks that will suit my 4, 2 and 8 month old children. So playgrounds are pretty essential. So far we have made it to three new parks. We are enjoying it very much! </div>
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This past Friday while enjoying a park with some friends, one issued a challenge to me. It didn't come out like a challenge, it went something like this:</div>
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LB: "Hey, you should...wait nevermind...I'm not even going to say it..."</div>
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me: "What?"</div>
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LB: "I was going to say that you should blog about your visiting the parks. Give reviews on each one, etc. But you have no time to blog."</div>
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LS: "Yeah, that would be a great resource for people."</div>
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Now, you can see that with my stubborn personality how that came out like a challenge. Everything she said would be true. I don't have time to blog. It would be a great resource. It may be crazy to try. But try I will. </div>
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Be looking for the first few posts soon. I already have three to review!</div>
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Sarah Maehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12564278182553801524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589780992273431092.post-35409823942560088262014-02-01T14:45:00.000-05:002014-02-01T14:45:10.048-05:00Beautiful, Messy, WinterMusings from a snowy Saturday...<br />
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Being stuffed inside for more than a week from bitter cold and snow made a 20 something degree Saturday an invitation out of doors! We bundled up the kids and ourselves in many layers and played in the fresh snow. J.J. <i><u>really</u> </i>didn't like the snow. Tempie didn't last long either. I got outside later than Bert and the kids, and I was no where near ready to go inside when the kids did, so I started an impromptu snowball fight with my dear husband! He's been asking for more spontaneity in our lives. Haha! At one point I decided to sit and bury my legs in the snow. I called out to the kids "Help, a snow monster is eating my legs! What should I do?!" My very literal 4 year old responds "Well, you could just stand up." So much for that one! </div>
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After a while Bert went inside too. It was just me, the sunshine and the snow. So, I shoveled the front driveway and sidewalk. As I was doing so, I was aware of how my actions were disturbing the beautiful perfect serenity of freshly fallen snow. But I couldn't make my self go inside yet, so I shoveled. Then I went to the back porch and just sat, and listened. It was quiet...peaceful! Beautiful. Once I sat still and looked, I could see the ridge lines in the snow where the wind had blown it. <br />
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I got to thinking about last year's word...winter. I realized that winter can be beautiful...if you don't disturb it. Disturbed snow isn't so beautiful! </div>
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But, it encases the footprints of fun had, or work well done. </div>
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It reminded me of a scripture in Proverbs. <br />"Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean; but abundant crops come by the strength of an ox." Prov. 14:4<br />
I've learned a lot from God by meditating on this word 'winter'. Life in winter isn't always pretty, but it can be fun and it can be meaningful. In order for it to be either though, it will be messy. I know my winter isn't over yet, but I also know it is just a season. </div>
Sarah Maehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12564278182553801524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589780992273431092.post-51077643853101217132014-01-26T08:48:00.000-05:002014-01-26T08:48:11.528-05:00It's all about JesusThere was a visiting pastor speaking at our church this past year. He was talking about the Christian Missionary Alliance denomination and how really they are just simply all about Jesus. (One of the reasons I LOVE this denomination and my church!!) But he began to talk about the Bible as a whole, and I think this is a basic teaching about the Bible...it's all about Jesus! All of the Old Testament is pointing to Jesus, the Gospels tell His story, then the letters point back to Jesus. John Soper, the visiting preacher said it this way: "God told us what he was going to do, then He did it, then He explained it." It is a look at the Bible from God's perspective. Because of where I am in life, I instantly thought about my parenting. Isn't this the model! I need to teach (verbally) my children the values I want to instill in them, then model them, then explain my actions. It is God's model...I'll imitate him and make it my own...surely He knows best! He is the Good Father after all! <br />
This model also works for discipline. "Tempie, I am going to put you in time out now...{Time out}....Tempie, do you understand why you were in time out?" Works the same with spankings or any other form of discipline used. By the way, I choose the word discipline intentionally over the word punishment. But this model for discipline is the same God used for His people. God warned the Israelites many times...stop or you will go into exile...{exile}....Do you understand what just happened? It's intentional, it's measured, and it's discipline...not anger, or punishment, or even simply consequential. Discipline is to be so much more. Discipline comes from the same root word as disciple. It is to grow a person into who they are made to be. It is about encouraging growth and change. Not just about beating a bad habit out. That's what punishment and consequences are about. They are about what you are not to do, not about who you are to become. I believe that having kids is all about making disciples. It's my reason for having them. I intend to learn as much as I can from God about how He has made disciples. Who else has His track record?! Sarah Maehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12564278182553801524noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589780992273431092.post-37418718385901419742014-01-26T08:20:00.002-05:002014-01-26T08:20:49.173-05:00Things I want to remember<div dir="ltr">
There are some things and some moments I want to be sure to record and remember somewhere about the first week of baby Zeke's life. </div>
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<li>The first to come to mind is his first birthday party. Tempie wanted to make him a birthday cake, so that's what she and my mom did while we were in the hospital. They brought the cake up and we had a birthday party for Zeke. It was a brilliant big sister moment for Tempie!</li>
<li>I want to remember God's gift of an hour during labor, just before pushing, and how He gave me Psalm 126 & 127. Zeke is a reward...not sure what for....</li>
<li>I want to never forget Zeke cooing at us for the first hour of his life.</li>
<li>Sitting at the kitchen table, by the window, nursing Zeke & watching Bert play outside with Tempie, Ada and JJ. Beautiful fall leaves, weather, lots of laughter. I want to remember JJ's face as he jumped into the leaf pile. It was a taste of Heaven!!</li>
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Sarah Maehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12564278182553801524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589780992273431092.post-34946254529730063572013-07-31T02:08:00.000-04:002013-07-31T02:08:55.782-04:00I may be crazy...but, I think it's possible that God has given me some insight to the spirit of my children through my pregnancies. Perhaps somewhat mystic, but who knows. It's certainly possible. <br />
When I was pregnant with Tempie, I was so passionate about the poor and about social justice. All I wanted to do was to minister to the homeless. And I did give some to that. I actually got to know my first homeless person. Her name was Rose. I lost contact with her. I have never before and never since had that kind of passion for homelessness. Not to say I don't care about it now, but it's not the same. <br />With JJ it was all about preaching the name of Jesus! I wanted to shout the name of Jesus from the roof of every building. Again not to say it's not true now, but the intensity is different. I did some street evangelism on campus. That's not something I'm particularly gifted at or often bold enough to do, but I just had to at the time.<br />
With #3 (still yet to be officially named), I'm wondering if this little man may be one who works with his hands. Not the kind of think I think of when I think of the spirit of a person...at least not till now. I just can't sit still. Thinking is not enough for me (usually it can occupy me for hours!), I need to be doing something....making something with my hands. So far I have built some bookshelves, made curtains and curtain rods, repaired some things around the house like the laundry room doors. I've never had this type of spirit in me that needs to work with my hands. At least not to this degree or intensity. Crocheting a blanket just won't seem to do. <br />
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Who knows really. Maybe I'm just a crazy pregnant woman, with strange non-food cravings! Only time will tell if these spirit predictions come to life in my children. I will try not to feed them into them but rather wait and see what naturally develops. We shall see...Sarah Maehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12564278182553801524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589780992273431092.post-10208691671582117672012-12-07T16:09:00.000-05:002012-12-07T16:09:04.224-05:00JJ is 1!I have spent at least a few minutes every day crying for the past week because my baby boy is ONE!! There is nothing like having children that makes you understand the finality of time. You can not stop it or slow it down no matter what. Once the moments are gone, they're gone. There's no getting it back. I've been sort of mourning my baby turning one because I know that he is growing up and changing. I will never have this baby J.J. again. I will always have my J.J. And I truly can't wait to see who he grows up to be. But right now, he's perfect...no, seriously, he's perfect! He's the happiest, most snuggly baby I've ever met. He does have some downfalls, like car traveling and waking up too early, no matter what time he goes to bed. But when it comes to people, he's a dream! He knows how to make people happy. Soon, he'll learn to talk, and learn that he has a will. He will do things wrong and I will have to discipline him. Sure, I get on to him now, but he's not openly defiant yet. Well, he's getting there. I see hints of it, and that's what makes me sad. I don't want to discipline this perfect creature. But alas, the day is coming, and has already come...discipleship at work. <br />
On the subject of defiance, and wills....have you ever noticed that when
you ask a three year old how old they are, they respond "free". Cutely
holding three fingers. I think those two words get confused...three
& free. Three year olds seem to think they are 'free' (from mom
& dad's rule). Just an observation I had this morning when T told
me she was 'free' so she didn't have to do whatever it was I told her to
do.<br />
Well, here's some pics of the family as of late.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday cake at Grandpa & GiGi's</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many captions could fit this face, but I have a feeling it's one we'll see more of as he gets older and his attitude come out more!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KCTbz7ZfCwTx2azGdfnxj3OQQKTg6rycLfRLBlzfDgw8AQTfn_JxfrubJcoH2MwEeH6i-naM646gIvmWsiGbPFqM_L06kAJrE8tnkB5z_DMkZ3kN8xg-rMI7ReLsnA4hk8KIvHzKY6X2/s1600/IMG_9643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KCTbz7ZfCwTx2azGdfnxj3OQQKTg6rycLfRLBlzfDgw8AQTfn_JxfrubJcoH2MwEeH6i-naM646gIvmWsiGbPFqM_L06kAJrE8tnkB5z_DMkZ3kN8xg-rMI7ReLsnA4hk8KIvHzKY6X2/s320/IMG_9643.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing...one year!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last pic taken of the four of us together! True story. We are having family pics taken tomorrow though!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzooORIoZkQvtlq_zxjICNbaM162oKDFFADXXf9ec6FFC4BkHXlCqWrRTyn_n3rDBC-2cs6DYJ5hZIDvHHYP7py9Jtd3yB4HvH_xWRaRRfnArbs0ah9QkeCtRKbj8t1A7I1o3hx3mg713/s1600/IMG_9680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzooORIoZkQvtlq_zxjICNbaM162oKDFFADXXf9ec6FFC4BkHXlCqWrRTyn_n3rDBC-2cs6DYJ5hZIDvHHYP7py9Jtd3yB4HvH_xWRaRRfnArbs0ah9QkeCtRKbj8t1A7I1o3hx3mg713/s320/IMG_9680.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZfkJ83sF4o5AiO1lSdTI2JvhIWJgfyltfAbAkFxDUkSzqE3e_qrNiDlQNJnXN7C6TZq2_3xRuLqXctrb0VSEOx9iFXPzlf-Bxu9EXC2oA1LtXHDDO45syzZFtq-pntlJoo0-8fhNiWSU/s1600/IMG_1954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZfkJ83sF4o5AiO1lSdTI2JvhIWJgfyltfAbAkFxDUkSzqE3e_qrNiDlQNJnXN7C6TZq2_3xRuLqXctrb0VSEOx9iFXPzlf-Bxu9EXC2oA1LtXHDDO45syzZFtq-pntlJoo0-8fhNiWSU/s320/IMG_1954.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the face we see most often...pure joy! Love this boy!!</td></tr>
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<br />Sarah Maehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12564278182553801524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589780992273431092.post-44214459405255819272012-09-09T20:38:00.001-04:002012-10-12T22:28:17.177-04:00My heart is fullMy heart is so full tonight. I have been somewhat perplexed by my emotions today. We traveled home from a week long visit to see family today. I think that this has been the first car ride back from Ga during which I did not have my usual conversation with God.. The conversation typically starts with me considering all the possible scenarios that would get me to move back to Ga. I of course talk through each one with Him and none of them seem to fit. Then God reminds me of all I have in Ky. All that He has given me and how much He has blessed our life here. It is abundantly clear we are where He wants us to be. <br />
Well this time I didn't even begin this conversation. Don't get me wrong, I did cry once we got home. But I realized that my tears were because my heart is too full of love. It has to overflow somehow. I LOVE Georgia, and I LOVE Kentucky. It won't all fit in my heart at once. So on those occasions when I am feeling each of those loves so strongly it will most likely come out in tears. It's the first time I've been able to celebrate homesickness as an abundance of love rather than mourning a loss. Sarah Maehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12564278182553801524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589780992273431092.post-41646868406232493612012-06-26T21:55:00.001-04:002012-06-26T22:06:07.981-04:00Hmmm what to play with tonight?<div class="mobile-photo">
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Well, we've hit a few milestones this week for both Tempie and JJ.
Tempie is spending the week in Georgia with her grandma and Papa J. She
is very excited and having a good time. This is her first overnight
experience! Grandma is keeping her busy and they are having fun.
Chucky Cheeze, the zoo, and tomorrow a bounce house place (I forgot the
name of it...). I'm missing her like crazy, but making it through :) Her Grandma is the best...she sends me several pics throughout the day of all their adventures, and we get to skype each night. I'm SO blessed!<br />
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JJ
has taken advantage of the quiet house and started crawling. Hopefully he can somewhat master it before his
sister comes home. He has also started taking milk from a cup. This is
a VERY exciting milestone to me because up till now he wouldn't take
milk from anything but me. Which makes for a very tired momma! Now I
can leave him for a little while and not worry about him crying the
whole time...whew! JJ has also started pulling up on things. We are at
the stage where he pulls himself up to standing in the bed and can't
get himself down, so he just cries. It's a sad (but somewhat funny)
experience. Hope that doesn't make me a terrible mom...haha. Here's a
pic of him tonight. He pulled himself up on his toy basket and began
emptying all of it's contents onto the floor one by one. I proceeded to
change out his toy basket for one that he can't pull on top of
himself. It was mighty cute to see him doing this though. What a fun
time! Now comes the real challenge: rebabyproofing my house! AAHH!!!<br />
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Hmmm, what to play with tonight?</div>Sarah Maehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12564278182553801524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589780992273431092.post-61298641292965312542012-06-16T12:51:00.001-04:002012-06-16T12:51:37.737-04:00I can write my letters!Yesterday while drawing with chalk outside during jj's nap, tempie draws an E and says "mommy look E". I was so impressed. She's starting to write her letters. We worked on T E O F and A. She's getting there, and super cute while doing it! Here's a pic of what jj was doing too. Not from the same day, but it's cute.<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1Pxm9BpuVRGGPmGp-Shjx4vyWUJ87bunUGFqoFHJREhKI2Qb0YNsjIUwW58eJ5TdtsUIhfMzRVYWzTnC4-MqgXr6u2JNQYKfUMY7_qLcqOLvnOEafarroEzBd0IH-r7yOma24uiYhTK1/s640/blogger-image--431716777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1Pxm9BpuVRGGPmGp-Shjx4vyWUJ87bunUGFqoFHJREhKI2Qb0YNsjIUwW58eJ5TdtsUIhfMzRVYWzTnC4-MqgXr6u2JNQYKfUMY7_qLcqOLvnOEafarroEzBd0IH-r7yOma24uiYhTK1/s640/blogger-image--431716777.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8C8PJ3d5u9fZM9mUVlU1GjlmJFTIwODwvUwWS6rjw6T_-wkSNwmWn2t1IgXMrhW7pjeftYEryKBdKYhNtl-08zicK_bSbTJVnzBTaGV_tdZpuPv88lZO9JAxQ9nl3I9n_LMFtpEg9Zxw/s640/blogger-image--1809885257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8C8PJ3d5u9fZM9mUVlU1GjlmJFTIwODwvUwWS6rjw6T_-wkSNwmWn2t1IgXMrhW7pjeftYEryKBdKYhNtl-08zicK_bSbTJVnzBTaGV_tdZpuPv88lZO9JAxQ9nl3I9n_LMFtpEg9Zxw/s640/blogger-image--1809885257.jpg" /></a></div>Sarah Maehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12564278182553801524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589780992273431092.post-34833670574637611622012-06-14T21:58:00.000-04:002012-06-14T21:58:53.478-04:00Life these daysThings have changed for our family in the past few months. Bert has gotten a new job working for UK and I have gone part-time at my job. I had the job of my dreams. It took nothing less than the love of a mother for her kids for me to give it up. I was in tears nearly the entire first week of the change. I was terrified that I'd made the mistake of my life. I don't feel that way now. After just two weeks of the new schedule I am sure I love my kids at least 10x more! I love having the time to enjoy them everyday. My heart is so full. I feel like the grinch in that it must be growing to contain all of this! Yes, there are parts of my job that I miss. But college students will always be there, my kids will not. I want to cherish these years. <br />
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Just a few fun facts about the kids these days:<br />
Temperance has a few funny quirks. When we paint her nails, one hand is ALWAYS white and one hand is ALWAYS pink. Same with her feet. It's actually quite cute. I did my nails Tempie style once. When she has pig tails in, one of the rubber bands is pink, and the other is red. When she eats fries or carrot sticks, she will very often eat it down to the last bite and then leave that one on her plate. So she ends up with a bunch of french fry nubs on her plate. It's funny. She sleeps with a book every night. Her Bible is her favorite book. I'm so proud of her on so many levels! <br />
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JJ is tiny and super strong! Due to his reflux issues, he hasn't gained weight like he should. He's in the 5% for his age, but he is a He-man! He sits up unassisted, stands up while holding on to things and is really close to crawling. It's mighty cute to see something so small doing all these things! He is the happiest baby I've seen. He just smiles all the time. He is also VERY SOCIAL! He would rather have a person's face than a toy any day! I already have to tell him to be quiet and eat! He and Tempie play so well together. He puts up with a lot from her...haha. They laugh so much together. It's the best sound in the whole world! <br />
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As soon as I figure out how to get pics and videos off my ipod I'll post some on here. <br />
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Consider giving of your self today for love, for God. You will be blessed beyond your wildest dreams!Sarah Maehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12564278182553801524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589780992273431092.post-60008088408339859932012-03-13T14:39:00.000-04:002012-03-13T14:39:14.420-04:00Long time coming!Well, it's been a long time since I've updated this blog. The last time I posted something was right around the time Tempie started walking. That makes sense since that is the last time I've had a moment's break!! Now Tempie is walking and talking and playing with her little brother! I'm going to try to get back into blogging. I'll start by updating pictures. It just made my heart smile (and tear up) to see the baby pictures of Tempie. She's not a baby anymore. And now I know how fast it will go by with JJ. I watched the video of her eating her pizza here on the blog and laughed, she eats at the same snail's pace now! I imagine she always will. When a whole year has been lost on a blog like this it is tempting to feel the need to fill in the gap. But that task seems so daunting and I know trying to do it will keep me from blogging at all. So, I will just be picking up where we are now. Capturing the cute stories my children create everyday. Enjoy.Sarah Maehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12564278182553801524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589780992273431092.post-52242341881924981212010-11-22T11:43:00.000-05:002010-11-22T11:43:56.426-05:00My Favorite FirstI think I had my favorite first with Temperance last week. I know there are a lot of firsts out there for her, but this one instantly derailed me of every other thought. I was in my office with one of my college girls. We were about to leave for the day, and I wanted to pray with her. This is not an unusual event in my day. In fact it is one of my absolute favorite things to do. Well, she comes over, and we hold hands and begin to pray. Tempie is playing in the background. All of a sudden, unprompted, she comes over to where we are and takes our hands and bows her head with us!!! I lost it. My baby is taking her first steps towards imitating her mother in prayer! There have been few moments in my life where I have in an instant cried and laughed all at the same time. One was when we learned I was expecting this precious child. This moment is another. Every time I think about it I have the same reaction. I want to shout and cry all in joy. <br />
This morning I decided to take this a step further. I asked Tempie if she would pray with me. Just me and my little girl. It was in the middle of her breakfast. I took her hands and bowed my head and began to pray. She joined me! She bowed her head and just listened till I was done. (I kept it short...no need to test her on this just yet!) Now I want to build this into our family routine somehow. I guess we should have been doing this all along, but now is a great time to start! <br />
I am so excited I can't stand it!!!! Oh God, would you please make my little girl into a woman of prayer one day!! I love her, and if she only learns one thing from me I hope it will be to love you and to love your people. Lord, let this imitation of posture be just the beginning!!Sarah Maehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12564278182553801524noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589780992273431092.post-81638704797922791072010-08-08T11:26:00.000-04:002010-08-08T11:26:59.713-04:00I think Grandma Carswell was right!!So, on the way home from church Temperance will often fall asleep in her carseat. We then have to quietly and carefully lug her and that heavy carseat upstairs and try not to wake her up. There is no transferring her from the carseat to her bed. If she falls asleep there, that is where she will take her nap. I've been known to read a book in the car as she finishes her nap. Well, this morning, we'd made it into our neighborhood without Temperance falling asleep. So I decided to try to keep her up so she'd sleep in her crib. (I just think that must be a better nap for her.) Don't you know, I tell Bert what I'm going to do, I turn around and start playing with her, and she plays for half a second, then turns her head to the side and pretends to be asleep!!!! I was messing with her face poking her, all the things that would normally rile her up. And don't you know she just stays still as stone in her sleeping position. I KNOW she's not asleep! Then after a minute, she pokes one eye open and smirks!!!!!!!! Bert saw it in the rearview mirror and we both just died!!!! We are going to have a time with this one!! She then 'woke up' and played with me. Can you believe it!! She is something else. She's going to keep us on our toes that's for sure! What a girl!!Sarah Maehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12564278182553801524noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589780992273431092.post-90568866417029116582010-08-07T17:04:00.000-04:002010-08-07T17:04:52.445-04:00Afternoon lunch rollercoaster<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Parenting can be such a rollercoaster of emotions!!! Today's lunch would serve as example #1. I had the hardest time getting her to eat her cereal. She kept whacking the spoon and telling me she was done. Mind you, this is the first things she's eaten for lunch, she's not full! We've been having such struggles at meal times. Sometimes she wants baby food, sometimes she wants grown up food. Sometimes she's just being plain stubborn and doesn't want to eat at all. So, I was very frustrated by the time we got most of the cereal in her. Bert and I were eating a pizza for lunch. We like the California Kitchen Margarita pizza. We will often give her the tomatoes and chunks of cheese off the pizza. She really likes it. She's very partial to tomatoes and to pesto flavored things. She was gobbling it up this time!! I was very happy she was finally eating something willingly. Then I wanted to see if she could handle the crust of the pizza as well. So I let her chew on it a little. She did great. So eventually I just gave her the last bit of my pizza. She ate it up with ease! She even waited till she had swallowed one bite before taking another. (Major accomplishment!) I was elated and so proud!! She's my little girl! I love her so. Here's a video of her eating some pizza. I think it leaves you hanging at the end, but no need to worry, she handled that big bite just fine! And soon after, she dropped the pizza and it was no more!! Copper the winner this time!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw3R5u2ABa5MBOCfA1M6_0zkGB5gA-YZ6v5-jxH_FNU-fprACLeXICjYbivUkMXRhR0Zc-_y8jexA26sOsLww' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Sarah Maehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12564278182553801524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589780992273431092.post-90124657102993584242010-08-07T14:12:00.003-04:002010-08-07T14:29:02.200-04:00Saturday mornings in August<div class="mobile-photo"></div><div class="mobile-photo"></div><div class="mobile-photo"></div><div class="mobile-photo"></div><div class="mobile-photo"></div><div class="mobile-photo"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mwvYEoAUkLZ_k6rB8tCN53yTU5RekwmBXlkk1Vzr_tZ4Pd-Evqf5n1LZOwd2wG6RwWjAuSe6W6sTMvzsljGL8g6xIrrudYwz8AfKVlZZN8v5P1AVctB3hXrhHFLzEfwckNFcv2JX0EvS/s1600/0807100804-722192.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502732382878497842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mwvYEoAUkLZ_k6rB8tCN53yTU5RekwmBXlkk1Vzr_tZ4Pd-Evqf5n1LZOwd2wG6RwWjAuSe6W6sTMvzsljGL8g6xIrrudYwz8AfKVlZZN8v5P1AVctB3hXrhHFLzEfwckNFcv2JX0EvS/s320/0807100804-722192.jpg" /></a>The past two Saturday mornings, Bert, Temperance and I have been going to the local farmer's market. We've been buying local produce and just enjoying the atmosphere and entertainment. As we are leaving I always think how much I love Lexington. As most all of you know, I am a Georgia girl through and through!! When my daughter gets old enough I'm going to teach her that she lives in KY but she is <i>from</i> GEORGIA! With that said though, I have fallen in love with Lexington. It is a big city, with lots to do, but manages to keep a small town feel to it. If we were to ever leave, there are so very many things I would miss about this town. The excellent farmer's market and focus on local businesses/produce would be one of them. Actually most everything I would miss about Lexington are the local things, my favorite bookstore, Joseph-Beth, the many great local restaurants, etc.<br />
Well, this morning, after going to the farmer's market we went to the library. It was only a block away and I needed to return some things. We all went and Tempie and I both got some books. I got some Andrew Greeley novels, and she got some Sandra Boynton books (our favorite children's author). It was such a wonderful family affair! I hope we do this every Saturday. Here's a pic of Temperance enjoying the farmer's market as well.<br />
Hope you all have a wonderful Saturday. Enjoy some local produce and read a good book!Sarah Maehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12564278182553801524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589780992273431092.post-71116665990994010462010-08-04T21:22:00.000-04:002010-08-04T21:22:38.519-04:00Tempie's favorite pastimes...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
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</div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div>My little Temperance LOVES to swing! Here is a picture of her swinging back in April. There is a small park area across the street from my work where this was taken. Masha takes her swinging usually twice a week. I try to take her after work at least once a week. She knows the path there and is always excited anticipating the fun of the swing. She almost always will cry too when we take her out of the swing. She just loves it. </div><div><br />
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</div><div>Here's another highlight of her day...waiting for daddy to get home!! (Or just watching all the cars go by.) </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgPVRmbr0rr4muAt6OasELekrtqx5egKVsqvPSUqzIIlgEtPt0PqUFpt7resXvWX4XeFbg7-EPf2Fv6Ga3OOSgS2HUzo_vq9Uz7yVshLRPC-pCCB4v_gS_E5KhqR3ezG1TPT_mKEVu3s-/s1600/IMG_1162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgPVRmbr0rr4muAt6OasELekrtqx5egKVsqvPSUqzIIlgEtPt0PqUFpt7resXvWX4XeFbg7-EPf2Fv6Ga3OOSgS2HUzo_vq9Uz7yVshLRPC-pCCB4v_gS_E5KhqR3ezG1TPT_mKEVu3s-/s320/IMG_1162.JPG" /></a></div><div>She loves to watch the world outside. She'll sit there and squeal at who knows what and just enjoy herself to no end. It is very helpful when we are cooking dinner! </div><div><br />
</div><div>These are just a few of Tempie's favorite pastimes.</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div>Sarah Maehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12564278182553801524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589780992273431092.post-31584687654749266132010-07-31T21:54:00.003-04:002010-07-31T22:32:21.945-04:00Let the races begin!Temperance's favorite activity for a long time has been walking circles around our house while holding our hands. She has now taken her first steps unassisted. Here's a video of her practicing her new skills. I'm so proud of her!! I'm not sure what this means for our evenings now. Will she walk circles around our house with out us? Can we sit on the couch once again? Who am I kidding? Now we will be chasing after her keeping her out of where she doesn't belong I'm sure. Oh well.<br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxdl2ldzsJwp0lB2APYtM6wkrX1VISECu68m3dgDkThl66Y41TZLh90HmbX0v614Cm7xiOWoF0DiTyzPKl5wQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Sarah Maehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12564278182553801524noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589780992273431092.post-10587054947438553612010-07-18T11:38:00.002-04:002010-07-18T11:44:21.864-04:00Long awaited updateTemperance has been so busy since I last updated. She is ten months old tomorrow. I am in total amazement. She is clapping, waving, babbling, crawling, cruising and even trying to walk! She took three unassisted steps this past Monday. She was going from me to Bert. I was so happy! I was always so petrified that one of us would miss that moment. But we didn't! We didn't even see it coming. Well, we knew it would be soon. All she ever wants to do is walk around the house holding our hands, but she's very nervous about letting go of us. So we were both surprised when she did it. I don't really think she even realized what she did. She hasn't done it since. But I'm sure her days of upright mobility are just around the corner.<br /><br />She was in her first wedding last weekend. Her uncle Josh married a wonderful girl named Brittany. All three of us were in the wedding. It was beautiful, and Temperance loves her new Aunt Brittany. <br /><br />We will of course be videoing her all the time now looking for more independent steps. As soon as we get something I'll post it. Love you all!Sarah Maehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12564278182553801524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589780992273431092.post-15461332518354720022010-05-19T14:32:00.003-04:002010-05-19T14:53:27.691-04:00Masha<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwvIjQTbQQMBSfGPuqivZik6MRo-T9WGLZ-GG2oh_CbMOaasARbclqedjX5lBVSJlrqEPFn0zI3ZY2sZju_dCTeB6yly60CUBENY95GjLcju3yJdR5-G94PbIzhEUF8Z4KdPcMQmw8uPj5/s1600/IMG_0996.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwvIjQTbQQMBSfGPuqivZik6MRo-T9WGLZ-GG2oh_CbMOaasARbclqedjX5lBVSJlrqEPFn0zI3ZY2sZju_dCTeB6yly60CUBENY95GjLcju3yJdR5-G94PbIzhEUF8Z4KdPcMQmw8uPj5/s320/IMG_0996.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473053804751211362" border="0" /></a><br />At the first of the year, I was becoming overwhelmed by taking care of Temperance and working at the same time. I was in serious need of help. One Monday night I was praying with two girls and they asked how they can pray for me and I mentioned that I am seeking a nanny, but very very nervous about the whole thing. We prayed and after we were done praying, one of the girls told me that she is looking for work, that she loves babies and that she would love to take care of Temperance. Her name is Masha. She is from Russia and has been in Kentucky for two years. Her husband is a graduate student at UK. <br />I was very nervous about the idea of a nanny at the beginning, and Temperance was not doing well going to other people. I felt like God had sent Masha to us, but I wanted to be sure. I invited Masha to come spend some time with Temperance one afternoon. I wanted to see how Tempie would react. I knew that if she went straight to her, then it was most certainly God. She did! Not only that, but one of my students came in to the office and asked to hold her while Masha was holding her. Masha handed her over, and she immediately started crying! Masha took her back and calmed her down. Up to that point, almost no one but Bert or I could do that! I knew it was from God. She has been keeping Temperance at my office two days a week since that time. And it has been truly wonderful. She has been such a huge blessing to ME these past few months. I could never have asked for someone with a more genuine sweet spirit. I prayed when looking for a nanny for someone who would pray over Temperance and love her as a spiritual being as well. Masha certainly does this. Often while Tempie is playing, Masha will be reading the Bible to her (in Russian). Temperance LOVES her Masha!!! <br />It is such a blessing to trust God. He alone can give more than we can ask or imagine!<br />We love you Masha!!Sarah Maehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12564278182553801524noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589780992273431092.post-27436274008021841042010-05-06T21:53:00.004-04:002010-05-06T22:16:55.910-04:00Character SuspicionsIt's so much fun to see Tempie's personality come out every day! For example, we have learned that she is a straight faced clown. Early on I had worried that she wasn't a very happy baby. She would splash around in the tub, which we thought was funny, but she wouldn't even crack a smile. She did all the things that most babies do and laugh about, but she didn't laugh. We have since learned that she just enjoys making us laugh. She will do something that makes us laugh, (like right now the joke is for her to put something in her mouth and then shake her head) and she will keep doing it, keeping a straight face. She will occasionally give a little smirk that lets you know she knows what she is doing and she is enjoying your laughter. It is a funny sense of humor, probably very similar to mine! <br />Another early prediction came from her great grandma Carswell. Temperance seems so serious sometimes. She will study everything around her. I wanted to think that she is a wise, observant, studious baby. Grandma Carswell had other thoughts. She thinks that during these times Tempie is cooking up a mischievous plan. She says it's something in her eyes. I never saw it, until we took this picture...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Fh9PlMWI15vsoHMdaZvsPTkI0Jc7oUrom-y4BpsWm2A39a0DU16NrV8hCKS8Jy6MylJwIFX1-YmPZc7fx5t7_TZttJVhVGhpyWHF4gqxVZ2gJnkINr7AnPJn-n5qPzI2tDH2aOhkddXh/s1600/IMG_0902.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Fh9PlMWI15vsoHMdaZvsPTkI0Jc7oUrom-y4BpsWm2A39a0DU16NrV8hCKS8Jy6MylJwIFX1-YmPZc7fx5t7_TZttJVhVGhpyWHF4gqxVZ2gJnkINr7AnPJn-n5qPzI2tDH2aOhkddXh/s320/IMG_0902.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468345290568201762" border="0" /></a><br />Well, Grandma Carswell, you may be right. I guess time will tell. It will be fun to see what happens to all my predictions once she can talk. Then we will have a better idea of what is going on inside that pretty little head. That is if she will tell us!!Sarah Maehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12564278182553801524noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589780992273431092.post-35848557664480062922010-04-30T15:11:00.002-04:002010-04-30T15:15:20.036-04:00Tempie loves to dance!Here's a video of Tempie and I dancing to Sandra McCracken. She seems to love her music as much as I do!!<br /><br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eGEvDk1P5Ek&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eGEvDk1P5Ek&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Sarah Maehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12564278182553801524noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589780992273431092.post-42837624655001265012010-04-27T17:16:00.003-04:002010-04-27T17:30:52.491-04:00Busy Busy BusyWell, I realize it's been over a month since I've last posted. But it is not for a lack of things to write about! Temperance is growing so much and learning something new everyday! She is now sitting up unsupported. She is also trying so hard to crawl. She still has some work to do there. She is in the rock and roll stage. She will get on all fours and rock. Then get frustrated and roll over. I'll have to post a video of it soon. It's very cute! <br />She has also fallen in love with books! This is an answer to prayer! I LOVE to read!!! And I've always hoped my children will too. I read to her almost every day. She has gotten to where on certain books, she knows the last page and she will begin to fuss when I get to it knowing the book is almost over. She will cry until I begin to read to her again, or distract her with something else! Isn't that sweet! She is also learning to turn the pages herself. She loves to do this. Sometimes she gets so happy about it, I can hardly get the words on the page out before she has flipped to the next page. It is so cute! We can get through any board book you give us in record time! You would think we were in some kind of speed reading race! Some of her favorites right now seem to include: <span style="font-style: italic;">I Love You Through and Through</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Happy Baby Colors</span> and we both love <span style="font-style: italic;">Horns to Toes and In Between</span>. (Sandra Boynton is a great children's writer!) My personal favorite is <span style="font-style: italic;">You Are My I Love You</span>. This isn't one of Tempie's favorites yet though. It is not a board book, so she can't turn the pages as easily. I think that is part of it. <br />I have so many pictures and videos to share. I will try to take all of Tempie's nap times tomorrow to work on uploading them all. She is so beautiful and so precious. I just love her so much! I hope you are all blessed this week and be on the look out for more posts!Sarah Maehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12564278182553801524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589780992273431092.post-31404173891661610102010-04-02T10:31:00.013-04:002010-04-28T14:23:35.991-04:00Fun times in Georgia!<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Well, I would say that our first road trip with Temperance was a success. That is, as long as you don't define success as easy. She did wonderful in the car on the way down and on the way back. We didn't hear hardly any crying out of her at all! She played and slept happily most of the time. The troubles began when we asked her to take a nap in a new place. Then we heard as much crying and more than we did on the whole car ride. We learned a lot! Like don't expect our daughter to be able to sleep well in three different places in three days. Poor girl. She was a trooper though. She really did well! We got to see Nana Carrie, Grandpa and GiGi (my dad and Deb), Grandma and Popa J (Bert's parents), and a ton of our wonderful friends from college. I just want to say that we have some amazing friends!!! They were so sweet to drop what they were doing to come and have dinner with us on Thursday night. Some of them drove an hour to see us! Not only that, but many of them stayed out until after 11 p.m. knowing they had to work early! (Don't worry, Tempie did not stay out until 11 p.m.) We really and truly have the best friends anyone could ask for! We love you guys!!! Unfortunately I didn't get a pic of our friends, but here are a few from the trip.</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Getting ready to go!!<br /></div> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqc9YUQWcueUg_5PyovLR4nyEKaZCa3Ovw11y75j0UXaVgdhcGxzDiGJMGVjIefK4kJhlgIHR_KkpEEZ7flmSmDFvuLSaq8s4AMmzw4E6ijUuuuS3o2eae5HzZcllrkL0G-nqSvA7Gi0w/s1600/IMG_0892.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqc9YUQWcueUg_5PyovLR4nyEKaZCa3Ovw11y75j0UXaVgdhcGxzDiGJMGVjIefK4kJhlgIHR_KkpEEZ7flmSmDFvuLSaq8s4AMmzw4E6ijUuuuS3o2eae5HzZcllrkL0G-nqSvA7Gi0w/s320/IMG_0892.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455552314364420962" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Chillin in the awesome baby hot tub at Grandpa and GiGi's house!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kSfyolzbW5uZOMPfTrSNZ_-pGYUugqAEED-ez_czo67D8nDKsO_RYbdWAfaalYj4R7-Vm1HDyrvttwP1qGDwWUrbeZ-P5OU5NhOsQhyphenhyphenZVon4yulPHunDacsaid7QL2H5lQTA2ip0czLd/s1600/IMG_0898.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kSfyolzbW5uZOMPfTrSNZ_-pGYUugqAEED-ez_czo67D8nDKsO_RYbdWAfaalYj4R7-Vm1HDyrvttwP1qGDwWUrbeZ-P5OU5NhOsQhyphenhyphenZVon4yulPHunDacsaid7QL2H5lQTA2ip0czLd/s320/IMG_0898.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465250729115521010" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Taking a nap on Nana Carrie's bed. We couldn't get her to nap in her crib. I had to lay next to her for her to fall asleep. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixq6SwE1RkKPOTXZRdeaaN5chsA1Hs4EvxgX30yOsFzMTYCpUS0hJfgKYq2M-Mw8qG_mQ9Zd8CWoq9IQeoKvg0Y4Y6oIbP9Pkh6EuoEfIKXnGLON3TvBmKZXUqSVlpF6GcaKS2uDESsinL/s1600/IMG_0907.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixq6SwE1RkKPOTXZRdeaaN5chsA1Hs4EvxgX30yOsFzMTYCpUS0hJfgKYq2M-Mw8qG_mQ9Zd8CWoq9IQeoKvg0Y4Y6oIbP9Pkh6EuoEfIKXnGLON3TvBmKZXUqSVlpF6GcaKS2uDESsinL/s320/IMG_0907.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465251988964810658" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Hanging out with Nana Carrie and her pup pup Bo.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1GbQa30F67ALEhd_AkKYGGWxGHoAWXtp8ZAHMDJ30yEP4cti1SKQDPOVLBv1CiqSmTWA7Kc6cxH552ixD42knC0qOJIa_G9rNrlsSGV2ZO39UDJC9lsxbP6RPB57fo6vk0KefqE3OPWd/s1600/IMG_0914.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1GbQa30F67ALEhd_AkKYGGWxGHoAWXtp8ZAHMDJ30yEP4cti1SKQDPOVLBv1CiqSmTWA7Kc6cxH552ixD42knC0qOJIa_G9rNrlsSGV2ZO39UDJC9lsxbP6RPB57fo6vk0KefqE3OPWd/s320/IMG_0914.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465251698086174834" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0vSipmZz8fyjfxrWXRuPQi3Vp0NB9_PsoE9oQzKs8ghWEe0prrXFEzBdzxdO_MtuyYWyAMgG0QD1FdO5oMutbayaS7Ed9syCRYvND7zjW5rEJPtORK9teTl5_qaIkqIoTRbKQbO4ynwmS/s1600/IMG_0909.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0vSipmZz8fyjfxrWXRuPQi3Vp0NB9_PsoE9oQzKs8ghWEe0prrXFEzBdzxdO_MtuyYWyAMgG0QD1FdO5oMutbayaS7Ed9syCRYvND7zjW5rEJPtORK9teTl5_qaIkqIoTRbKQbO4ynwmS/s320/IMG_0909.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465252362449023554" border="0" /></a><br />My Grandma Lynn and Papa J threw a party for me. Lots of family and friends came. Here I am meeting my cousin Hendrix. My Aunt Brittany and I bonded a lot that day!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-HxZTLd2NqHjiazS9-i4_LBZoN4NKlpL9AGDlZtTZdHG6MRCgdUxojBgxy5TVMxIufBbi6udKOChM0-YNjOVCWwlgzGzw2c3wwRsnZNfyDZiDXHleLmQgsazl1ZeuYLaA_USz02AXxHQ/s1600/IMG_0917.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-HxZTLd2NqHjiazS9-i4_LBZoN4NKlpL9AGDlZtTZdHG6MRCgdUxojBgxy5TVMxIufBbi6udKOChM0-YNjOVCWwlgzGzw2c3wwRsnZNfyDZiDXHleLmQgsazl1ZeuYLaA_USz02AXxHQ/s320/IMG_0917.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465252757965110978" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Playing with Grandma on the floor.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_VarvK2aHq3FsOQCaZSwDM0E_-PZG6nabG_amEM-K1_HJJlnxsc8A95B42DPIWKlgGPoSFBdCDG3_wNHkpGs2QayFuakgOIhGft_jAz_HaEtbYAK_hI4rClMuV2S33tB9_0vkuvu2x8V/s1600/IMG_0919.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_VarvK2aHq3FsOQCaZSwDM0E_-PZG6nabG_amEM-K1_HJJlnxsc8A95B42DPIWKlgGPoSFBdCDG3_wNHkpGs2QayFuakgOIhGft_jAz_HaEtbYAK_hI4rClMuV2S33tB9_0vkuvu2x8V/s320/IMG_0919.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465255054910963842" border="0" /></a><br />Sleeping the whole way home!! :)<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGWVk0hHkMlzwXHUL302oTEp08ZH8k7oKEatQg7jMiiEdftAp9wC5L_x_QA2y-kK-qh_DF_PPT4L6rSX-Yvcg7I4nk2il-GNk1jDfbUnKNNYQni1OK-6bMOQxmcWPevCOV9UkWxX44hJK/s1600/IMG_0923.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGWVk0hHkMlzwXHUL302oTEp08ZH8k7oKEatQg7jMiiEdftAp9wC5L_x_QA2y-kK-qh_DF_PPT4L6rSX-Yvcg7I4nk2il-GNk1jDfbUnKNNYQni1OK-6bMOQxmcWPevCOV9UkWxX44hJK/s320/IMG_0923.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465255302611550834" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1GbQa30F67ALEhd_AkKYGGWxGHoAWXtp8ZAHMDJ30yEP4cti1SKQDPOVLBv1CiqSmTWA7Kc6cxH552ixD42knC0qOJIa_G9rNrlsSGV2ZO39UDJC9lsxbP6RPB57fo6vk0KefqE3OPWd/s1600/IMG_0914.JPG"><br /></a>Sarah Maehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12564278182553801524noreply@blogger.com3