Our Whirlwind Is Calming

These last few months

have been nothing but chaos.

I don't think we have stopped at all

just to breathe.

It has been good changes,

good reasons for change,

but still,

change is hard.

We have been spending all our free time looking 

for a place to live.

If anyone has ever ventured past the wonderful 

world of Smiths Falls to look for houses,

you understand.

I couldn't believe my eyes.

The prices are CRAZY!!!

You are looking at double, sometimes triple the amount

of money for the same place.

I would have to say

it got discouraging pretty fast.

Finally,

after months of searching and running back and forth to Ottawa,

we finally found it!

A house that we can call home!!!

We will be moving in at the end of May

and I cannot wait!

It has everything we were looking for!!!

3 bedrooms plus an extra in the basement,

fully finished basement,

a decent backyard which is HARD to find in the city,

and a kitchen with NO carpet!!!

Not that most people put carpet in the kitchen anyways...

but that was one of our requirements

moving from this place that does.

It's a great little spot and I have to say I am excited to 

start this new adventure with our little family!

In crazy news....

Luke only has 1 week left at Smiths Falls Free Methodist Church.

It is quite insane to think about.

That has been our church for the past 16 years

so it is going to be a little hard to say goodbye.

We met in the front pew of that church,

grew up in those pews,

climbed over and under them,

had sleepovers in that church,

and made so many memories there.

So many people in that church have watched us grow up,

get married,

start a family.

It's wild to think we are going to leave.

We are so excited about the new adventure God has for us though!

Chapel Ridge has already been so welcoming

and open to us!

I don't think God could have picked a better spot to plunk us in.

We just have to get over the nerves

and the fears and the unknown.

Another fun thing we have been battling lately

is an AWFUL mouth virus!!!

Pea & Ellie developed this crazy virus in their mouth

that was just downright disgusting!!!

At first we had no idea what it was,

Pea just started developing these canker sores all over her tongue.

She had about 10 or 12 of them.

Then the next day they turned into huge blusters,

some were bleeding and raw.

Her gums got all inflamed and swollen.

You could not brush her teeth because her gums would start bleeding instantly.

You could barely even see her eye teeth

because her gums were so swollen.

Poor little thing, didn't eat anything for 7 days. 

Ellie didn't get it quite as bad

which I am so thankful for!!!

We spent a full week in lock down, not going anywhere.

The poor girls were so excited the first day we went outside again,

they were jumping up and down as they walked.

After multiple Dr visits and a visit to the dentist,

we found out that the virus was not hand, foot mouth.

It was a cold sore virus.

Apparently it is rather common in kids 5 and under that have never 

come in contact with it before,

to react the way my girls reacted to it.

Oh the things you go through when you are a parent.

I hope no little kids I know ever have to go through this thing.

The Dr said it is worse than HFM disease

and much more painful.

Thankfully it is over,

my girls are back to eating for the most part.

Pea has lost a fair bit of weight 

but what can ya do when she doesn't eat for a week!?!?

They say once your child has this virus,

they will never have it again like this.

And because pretty much every adult has had a cold sore 

once in their lifetime,

it is not contagious for adults.

Only to children who have never come in contact with it before.

Thankfully it is over!!!

Another big thing that happened this week

is the fact that we found out we are having

A BOY!!!!

He is 100% for sure a boy!!!

There are no doubts,

he was completely open for us to see!!!

At first it took a bit to get my head around.

I think just because I am so used to girls that I didn't really think

about having a boy.

We are really excited though!!!

I will definitely need to change our house up a bit and add 

some boy things around our new place

because right now,

our house is very much owned by girls!!!

And boy clothes!!!

Although I am sure the girls will get him in a few tutus here and there.

So that is exciting news for us!!!

All in all,

our last few months have been insanely eventful 

and we are just thankful that everything is coming together!

Now if only the weather would warm up a bit!!!!

We did take the girls out the other day to Randy's house

to visit some little chicks that just hatched!

The girls were so excited, it made their entire week!

possibly month!

They held one each and were so great!

Pea was so extremely gentle with the little chick,

it was adorable!!!

I will leave you with a few pics from our little outing:

 

A Special Present

I have been keeping my eye out for a tv stand for a while.

I`ve seen this done before

and I really wanted to make one myself!

A kitchen made out of an old tv stand.

So I have been scouting Salvation Army,

looking for just the right tv stand.

A few weeks ago, I found it!

I snatched it up for $15!

We brought it home and it sat in my hallway for almost 2 weeks 

before I got the strength up to actually start.

Where do you start?

I found a couple old doors on a swap shop 

that I thought would be perfect for an oven door

and that was my starting point!

From there, my mind just started racing!!!

Oh the possibilities!

I got my handy man husband to get on board with me.

Heck, I was not going to be able to do it all alone,

so we went to the hardware store and picked up a few tools

and off he went.

We started with a few alterations

and a good coat of primer.

Then came the fun of designing it!

We found a bunch of stuff from "The Real Deal" to help us get going.

Of course thrifting was going to be the way to go!

After a lot of LATE nights and many hours,

we finally got it all put together 

and we are SO HAPPY with the results!

 We wrapped it all up for the girls to open a little bit early

for their birthday.

Their birthdays are a week apart so we figured this would be 

a good present for the both of them!

They were so excited when they unwrapped it!
I also made matching aprons for them.

And this is how it turned out...

Sorry Friends

Our lives are changing fast.
As most of you know,
Luke accepted an assistant pastoring job in Stittsville.
He starts May 1st.
Lately our lives have been consisting of every
ounce of spare time looking at houses online,
making appts to see them,
talking about them,
searching for a van
and trying to stay caught up on our photography
which has been booming for the first few months of this new year
and we have actually had to turn a fair bit of people down for family sessions and such.
In the middle of all this craziness of searching,
Luke is still working full time
and we still have our two little bundles that keep us insanely busy.
House hunting has been a stressful endeavor
that we really didn't think was going to be so hard.
But,
when you start looking into the surroundings of Ottawa for a house,
everything gets a lot more pricey and a lot less spacious.
So here we are,
in the midst of a whirlwind
with a pregnant mommy who has a bawl session almost daily,
trying to figure out how everything will work out.
Commuting is not an option.
If Luke was at a 9-5 Monday-friday job,
we would consider commuting
but with pastoring, you just can't.
Your time is so chopped up
with an hour here and 2 hours there.
So all of that being said,
we have been horrible friends.
We have barely socialized with anyone in the past little while now
and it is not that we don't want to,
it is just that any spare time that we have had,
we are exhausted because we have been running back and fourth,
here and there.
Our world has shifted,
in a good way
but we are just trying to stay sane while coping with all the changes happening.
Thank you all for being patient with us,
if I haven't returned an email, commented on your facebook,
or given you a phone cal recently,
please don't take offense.
I have been limiting the amount of time I spend on the computer
because there are so many little things around here that I need to spend my spare time on
such as dishes, laundry,
organizing our house for showings because our house is up for sale now
and there usually is a shower in there once in a while. lol
We are so grateful for all our friendships we have and we are very sorry if we have seemed distant.
We would really appreciate your prayers,
I know God has it all planned out for us
but right now it looks like everything we thought was going to work
has fallen through.
We are onto a new adventure and we are ready for all the unknowns to be shown.

Thanks so much!!!

My Spirited Child

Knowing your children and their personalities is SO important.

I can't stress how incredibly important it is!

Especially when you are staying home with them 24/7.

I have really been trying to understand my youngest.

Ellie.

Pea was so easy to get.

Right from the start,

I noticed so many personality traits of myself in her.

I just seemed to get her right away.

Ellie on the other hand,

I have struggled to understand.

She is becoming more and more her own person

as she grows older and older.

From the beginning, 

we had this idea that she may be a really quiet, shy girl.

then she got her voice

and everything changed.

She really grew into herself more and more

and each day her personality grew.

She is such a vibrant

full of spunk little toddler.

She has a mind of her own and she is not afraid to let you know.

Luke sent me an article not too long ago

about the "spirited child"

written by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka and this is what she said:

 

"Living with a toddler can be like sharing a house with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. And if your child is "spirited," the toddler years can be especially trying.
What defines a spirited child? "All toddlers are busy: They're climbing and jumping and throwing things," says Mary Sheedy Kurcinka, author of the popular books Raising Your Spirited Child and Kids, Parents, and Power Struggles: Winning for a Lifetime."But the high-energy kid is the one who can get to the top of the refrigerator.
All toddlers say 'no' too, but a spirited child's 'no's!' are louder and more frequent, and his tantrums last longer and are more intense. You gradually realize that as a parent you're working harder than your neighbor, whose child is simply not as intense, persistent, and emphatic as yours. Your child is still normal, he's just more of everything."
Spirited kids are definitely a challenge, but there are ways to defuse daily battles and help your toddler learn to control himself. Here are Kurcinka's top strategies:
Let him know what's coming.
All toddlers become anxious when they can't predict what's coming next, but most spirited children need events spelled out to a degree that you might not expect. When it's time to leave the playground and your 2-year-old throws herself on the ground howling, it might be because she's insecure about what's coming next. Tell her in detail: You'll go to the car, we'll drive straight home, find Sis and Dad there, and have spaghetti for dinner.
Remember that with toddlers, words aren't always enough. You might tell her "Daddy will pick you up from daycare this afternoon," for example, but she may well have trouble remembering it all day. In this case, you might ask her daycare provider to remind her later in the day that Daddy's handling pick-up duties.
Sometimes visual cues can help. If Grandma and Grandpa are coming for an annual visit, show her photos ahead of time. You might even make a picture book outlining her bedtime ritual: Bath, pajamas, story, bed. You can't cut all the surprises out of your toddler's life, of course, but you can minimize the stress by giving her a heads-up when you can.
Be clear and consistent.
Spirited children need the security and consistency of clear rules, so it's important to set limits. If nap time is always after lunch and your spirited 3-year-old puts up a fuss, be firm and confident as you enforce his rest period. If movies aren't allowed after dinner but you let him watch "just this one" tonight so you can make a phone call, he'll test you and demand one – forcefully – every night for the rest of the week.
Maintain physical contact.
"As toddlers move toward independence, they still very much need connection," says Kurcinka. Maybe your toddler would like a backrub before bed. Or she might enjoy cuddling with you in a rocking chair in the morning. Have her bring toys into your room so she can play near you while you dress for work. At daycare, sit with her on the floor until she moves into the group on her own.
These tactics may seem to slow you down initially, but they'll actually save you time in prevented tantrums and battles. "Toddlers need to know they can trust you to be there for them. That way they'll ultimately be more independent," says Kurcinka.
Create a "yes" environment.
"Me do!" are a toddler's favorite words, says Kurcinka. Let your child pour his own juice out of a little pitcher, use a fork at dinner, and put on his own shoes. Even if everything is a little messier and takes a little longer, his increased independence and cooperation are worth it.
Also, look at how your house is organized. Is there a low cupboard in the kitchen filled with pots and plastic containers that he can play with? Are his toys and books easy to reach? Is there a bed, couch, or floor pillow that he's allowed to jump on? The more child-friendly your home is, the less you'll be fighting with him to keep away from special things and places.
Avoid danger spots.
If your highly energetic child can't sit still at the table, choose restaurants wisely – or plan a family picnic in the park instead. If she's slow to adapt to new people, don't plop her on Santa's lap. Stay with her and approach Santa gradually – or just wait until next year. And if you find yourself in an overly stimulating situation, such as a playmate's big birthday party, don't be shy about leaving early – before your toddler loses it.
Soothe his senses.
Help your spirited child wind down when the intensity level starts to rise. Water can be especially soothing: Give him a warm bath on a cold night or put a cool washcloth on his forehead on a summer afternoon. For older toddlers, finger paints and modeling clay are also calming sensory activities. For younger toddlers (under 2), it feels good to spread sand, cornmeal, or shaving cream on a play surface.
Acknowledge feelings.
Talk to your spirited toddler about why she's starting to melt down and let her know she's not the only one who is overcome by difficult emotions sometimes. Try saying "The people and the noise are bothering you. They're bothering me too. We'll leave the mall as soon as we've paid for these shoes."
Even if she doesn't seem to learn much from what you say at this age, explain it to her anyway. (Just don't become angry with her when your perfectly logical explanations don't result in quick compliance.) Toddlers usually aren't able to change their behavior in response to verbal reasoning, so keep it short and sweet.
For now, this exercise will help you empathize with your child. And eventually she'll learn to recognize what winds her up before she goes over the edge.
Reward good behavior.
Don't worry that your spirited toddler will get a big head if you praise him. Reinforce his efforts with positive messages: "Good job getting out of the tub when I asked you to" or "You really used your quiet voice at Peter's house today." Try not to pass up a chance to praise the behavior you're trying to teach.
Set realistic expectations.
The many daily transitions adults take for granted – getting out of the house, in and out of the car, to daycare, to the store, home again, going to bed – are especially hard on a spirited toddler, who needs extra time to cope with change and who may become overwhelmed by people and noise.
Ask yourself, "Can I reasonably expect my toddler to handle this? " And when possible, skip unnecessary trips and demands. Do you really have to make that last stop or could it wait?
Avoid using negative labels.
Most important of all, examine the way you describe your toddler. The "wild child" who is "stubborn," "exhausting," and a "crybaby" is also a spirited child who is persistent, energetic, and sensitive – all traits that are admired in adults. Use positive labels when discussing your child with relatives and teachers, and they'll come to see his wonderful attributes too.
And with increased self-esteem, your spirited child will want to learn to behave well. You'll know you're on the right track when your 3-year-old announces to Grandma, "I had lots of energy today!" instead of saying, "I was a bad boy." When you focus on your child's positive features and strengths, it changes your behavior, and that in turn changes your child's behavior.
Give her time to run and play.
Toddlers like to keep moving. Make sure she gets plenty of physical activity and time to explore every day – especially outdoors. Unless they're sleeping, toddlers shouldn't be inactive for more than an hour at a time.
Being active does more than help your toddler improve muscle control, balance, and coordination. When you play games with her where you each take turns, such as kicking a ball back and forth, she'll get practice exercising self-control. As she masters a new physical skill, she'll also gain self-confidence. And the more confident she is, the more well-behaved she's likely to be.
Take care of yourself.
You may find it difficult, if not impossible, to admit that you need more time for yourself. But the house doesn't have to look perfect and the dinners don't have to be gourmet. If it's already midnight and you're exhausted, leave the dishes in the sink.
Rest or take a bubble bath when your child naps instead of vacuuming the living room. Take full advantage of your time at night after your toddler goes to sleep to connect with your partner or a friend, or to relax on your own.
Most important of all, says Kurcinka: "Build a support system. You can't do this seven days a week, 24 hours a day." Your child will benefit when you're revitalized, and so will you. Whether it's your partner, a friend, a relative, or a babysitter, find a consistent caregiver you and your child can trust and let them help out."

As I started reading through this,
I realized this is Ellie in a nutshell.
And how many times have I described her as
"the wild child"
This article really opened my eyes to who Ellie is
and that her traits are not negative.
She is an amazing child
with such a glow and spark!
Sometimes, ok often that spark tires me out.
Often those moments of being in a public bathroom and she hears the
toilet flush or the hand dryer go off and she starts freaking out,
those moments,
they are part of her.
I can't get upset.
I can't get frustrated.
She needs to know that it is ok
and it will not last forever.
That I am here for her
and I will take care of her.
The moments when stopping in at one more store
will set her off,
I need to be ok to not go in.
To just find another time to go.
She is sensitive.
So sensitive.
And that is not a bad thing.
I am 28 and I am probably one of the most sensitive people I have ever met.
but that is one of Luke's favorite qualities about me.
It's funny when you see it on a toddler,
you think so negatively.
Why can't she just stop crying?
Why can't she just be normal?
Why does she have to cry after every little thing that happens to her?
That is just her.
She is perfect the way she is
and I am slowly learning ways to keep those amazing traits
while helping her learn to control them.
Parenting is not easy.
I have said it time and time again.
And the older my children get,
the more effort I have to put into this amazing role God has called us into.
Ellie is my persistent, energetic and sensitive little girl
and I am going to embrace that with all I have.
Even though days will be tough,
understanding her more and more makes
it that much easier to give her a little more patience,
a little more grace,
a little more understanding when needed.

 

 

I Am An Introvert

I used to think when I was in high school

that there was something wrong with me.

I wasn't the class clown,

I wasn't the girl always answering the teachers questions,

I wasn't the teachers pet,

I was barely even remembered a lot of times from teachers.

I almost felt invisible sometimes.

 School did not mix with me

because I kept to myself.

I had my core group of friends,

but beyond that,

I didn't really go.

I didn't participate in the crazy games on stage during lunch.

I wasn't in school plays

or on student council.

I was the person behind the scenes,

doing the hair and make-up for the school plays.

For the longest time,

I never really thought I had much purpose.

I saw all the extroverts,

people who everyone knew,

everyone liked,

everyone wanted to be around.

And then there was me.

In grade 12,

I pushed myself out of my little shell.

Not to be someone I wasn't,

but to see what I could do.

I pushed myself on stage for our youth rally

which was HUGE for me,

I pushed myself to be more outgoing.

but it just wasn't me.

As much as I pushed myself,

I never got over that uncomfortable feeling.

The feeling like I wasn't myself.

I thought maybe I had issues,

maybe there was something wrong.

Over the years I have really started understanding myself more and more.

There was nothing wrong with me.

There still isn't.

Not everyone is built to be on stage.

Not everyone is built to be the loud mouth.

I can still have a loud mouth,

but it is not going to be heard in front of a huge crowd.

I am much better one on one.

That is where I am strong.

I am better in small groups.

And that is ok.

I don't "HAVE" to be the center of attention.

and that's ok.

I have really started learning about my strengths,

and why God made ME the way I am.

So for all those people that constantly come up to me and say

"can't wait to see you singing on stage with your husband and little girls"

or 

"when will I see you up on that stage",

it's probably not going to happen.

I am not made for that

and I have come to realize that

THAT IS OK!

As much as I push myself,

that is just not me.

We need extroverts for this world to run

but we also need the introverts!

It takes all kinds of people and just because you are not like the person next to you

does not mean that there is something wrong with you.

Luke showed me this blog the other day and I really enjoyed some of the articles I have read:

http://www.thepowerofintroverts.com/

A little quote I read recently

"COME OUT OF YOUR SHELL"

"That noxious expression that fails to appreciate that some animals 

naturally carry shelter wherever they go,

and that some humans are just the same"

Susan Cane "quiet"

And I saw this on Pinterest:

 

The Joys Of Parenting

I am having a really hard time right now.

This blog is a way for me to vent.

and if I can't be honest with myself,

than who can I be honest with?

These last few days have honestly been horrible.

I am not going to lie.

They have been darn right awful!

You think that going on a trip away for a week

will be so amazing and you will come back so relaxed and ready for anything.

We really did have an amazing trip

but I was not prepared for what I came back to.

The first 2 days back were great!

I was so happy to see my girls,

they were so happy to see me.

Life was grand!

We were playing, reading stories, laughing!

Then everything changed.

The girls started getting very bold with me,

not listening,

fighting ALL THE TIME!

Ellie has been in an awful mood, talking back, 

dinner has become a scream fest.

I don`t know what has happened! 

Where everything went wrong.

We've had more tears in the last 3 days than we have in the last month!

I have been on the verge of insanity,

trying to hold it together but barely passing.

I know parenting is tough,

maybe I am a wimp.

Tonight,

after a scream fest at dinner,

I decided to let the girls have a bath.

It started out ok, the girls were laughing and playing together.

Then the screaming started,

the hitting started,

the splashing started, 

the crying.

It was RIDICULOUS!!

I have never seen a bath turn so awful in the blink of an eye.

I took them out immediately,

got their pj`s on, 

read them a story,

gave them their bottles

and put them to bed.

At 6:30pm.

Maybe I will regret it tomorrow morning when they wake up at 5am

because I put them to bed so early,

but right now, 

I just can`t handle it.

I am going to lose it!

I don`t know if this is what I get for leaving them for a week,

or if it is just a phase they are starting

but something has got to change.

 I am ready for Luke to be home tomorrow so I can have a break,

to re-group.

Figure out how we are going to survive this stage.

I love my girls to death!

But having 2 toddler girls in the same house while you are pregnant,

not sure if it was the greatest idea! lol

I know God gives you nothing you can't handle,

but right now,

I am really feeling like I am at the end of my rope.

Who knew parenting was so hard.

 

The Battle

Facebook.

I have been battling facebook for a while now.

They say facebook has opened up a whole new way to communicate.

but then again

it has closed so many forms of communication.

I really like facebook for being able to share pictures and videos

of my girls to my best friends that are out of town.

I love how easy it is for them to be able to be part of our lives,

even when they live so far away

and we only get to see each other maybe once a year.

Other than that,

I really dislike facebook.

I hate how facebook has made it so easy to see what 

is going on with people in your very own town.

Instead of calling them up

or having them over for tea,

you can go to their page and get caught up on everything that has

been going on in their lives lately.

I am such a culprit for this.

It is aweful!

You can creep peoples pages without leaving a trace.

Facebook makes "relationships" too easy.

It bothers me.

but can you really call them "relationships"?

"friendships"?

 Everything is done online.

Life outside of the online world is non existant.

I am really having a hard time with this.

I have debated deleting my facebook for this very fact,

but then I am cutting out those closest to me that are so far away.

 I am not sure how to balance it

or how to change it.

Facebook.

My daily dilema.

and where do I go from here?

I have wasted too much time on this silly little site.

time away from my girls.

time away from my husband.

Does anyone else have this problem?

It sucks you in.

If you have any curious bone in your body,

you find yourself going from one page to the next.

But where do you call it quits?

How do you break this habit?

Do you just cut it off?