where does the time go...seriously

With having no spare time to blog lately...which 5 kids will do to you...I leave you with one thought...PEEK!

a few of her favorite things...

Josie turned 15 months old the other day! She is a joy beyond words. Here are a few of her favorite things...

playing outside, toddling up and down the sidewalk, picking up the rocks and giving them to Mommy (wondering why I keep putting them back) playing in the sandbox, laying down in the sand, digging a little with a shovel, trying a bite here and there,
stopping along the way to smell the flowers
and enjoying a popsicle every chance she gets (especially after owies)...they can fix anything!
a few more of her favorite things...

exclaiming "ahh da" whenever she decides she is finished with something

kissing anything that remotely resembles a baby ("day dee")

feeding her "day dee" her bottle

waving "ba bye" to anything or anyone leaving including cars going by

catching bubbles, and tasting the bubble wand

her bottle ("ba ba")

following all burps with a fake one or two, then a laugh

trying to copy a wink by scrunching up both eyes really tight

drinking from a straw

spinning and spinning and spinning

dancing by bouncing up and down at the knees

climbing up the slide...all the way to the top

pulling the petals off Mommy's roses

going "ba bye"

her blanky

pulling her hair clips out

screaming really loud when she doesn't get what she wants

reading books

singing songs, even humming along when I hum to her

playing peek a boo

tickling toes and playing "this little piggy"

giving eskimo and butterfly kisses

bedtime snuggles

making Mommy smile:)

cloth diapering

I starting using cloth diapers on Josie when my sister helped me become aware of some pretty scary facts. Some people have given me "that look" like your crazy for using the "old-fashioned" diapers, but when they hear some of the reasons, suddenly I'm not so crazy anymore. Anyway, I thought this might be a great place to share some things I've learned about diapers...

• Disposable diapers "feel dryer" so they are changed less often (sometimes as infrequently as every 4-5 hours) allowing more bacteria to grow thus increasing the incidence of diaper rash.
• Furthermore, plastic does not "breathe" to let out the ammonia formed in the bacterial breakdown of urine, while a cotton diaper and nylon or wool wrap are breathable, allowing air to circula te to the baby's skin, keeping it healthy.
• Of a more serious concern, disposable diapers contain traces of Dioxin, an extremely toxic by-product of the paper-bleaching process. It is a carcinogenic chemical, listed by the EPA as the most toxic of all cancer-linked chemicals. It has not only been shown to cause cancer, but also birth defects, liver damage, and skin diseases. It is banned in most countries, but not the U.S.
• Disposable diapers contain Tributyl-tin (TBT) - a toxic pollutant known to cause hormonal problems in humans and animals.
• Disposable diapers contain sodium polyacrylate, a type of super absorbent polymer (SAP), which becomes a gel-like substance when wet. A similar substance had been used in super-absorbancy tampons until the early 1980s when it was revealed that the material increased the risk of toxic shock syndrome.
• In May 2000, the Archives of Disease in Childhood published research showing that scrotal temperature is increased in boys wearing disposable diapers, and that prolonged use of disposable diapers will blunt or completely abolish the physiological testicular cooling mechanism important for normal spermatogenesis.
• Then of course you have the environmental aspect that I won't go into detail about, check out the links below for more info.
• Cloth diapers are way cheaper over time

http://www.mothering.com/articles/new_baby/diapers/joy-of-cloth.html

http://www.realdiaperassociation.org/diaperfacts.php

It's too bad that more people aren't aware of these facts, but there you have them!

my sister...

This morning Jordan and Taylor came up with something that made me laugh...a lot! I overheard Jordan refer to Brendyn as "my brother from another mother". Now this I had heard before but then he said, "and Josie is my sister from another mister". Made my day!

summer summer summer,

So I know it's been a while, but here are a few recent pictures. This one was before Josie's first trip to the beach! Here she is playing in the sand.
And here Josie is all set to go...somewhere, even though she will have to drag the bag behind her:)

Let's see, what else is new...

• Jordan has swimmer's ear again, just like last summer. He was in the ER Wednesday night and then Saturday back in to see the doc because it got worse. The drops weren't getting in where they needed to go so it spread to a middle as well as outer ear infection, very painful. Poor kid, so now he's on oral antibiotics, too.
• We got a new swingset, or at least new to us. My brother, Jody, was looking to find a new home for the one he made now that his kids outgrew it so we gladly accepted! And another brother, Jeff, was kind enough to help haul it here and put it back together, which was a 2 day job! Thanks Uncle Jeff!! Did I mention it's a giant one!
• Kaden and Brendyn have spent lots and lots of time playing "Tarzan" on the new swingset!
• Jordan and Kaden took swimming lessons for the first time this month and they both passed with flying colors. In fact, Jordan advanced all the way from level 2 to level 5 in three short weeks! Now they can both swim like little fishies.
• I started a new job. I am no longer working for my Dad, I started doing home day care again. It was getting way too hard bringing Josie to work with me and it was time for a change. Now Josie has playmates, and Mommy only has to do one job at a time!
• Josie is talking a little more here and there. She now says, "Daddy", "teys" (for keys), "oots" (for oops), "kickle kickle" (when she decides to tickle tickle your toes, or hers), "ee" (for peek), and "mmmm" after she takes a drink or bite of something yummy.
• She also understands more and more all the time of what we are saying. She loves to do "This Little Piggy" and she can find her belly button...or anyone elses, too! It's hilarious! She gives kisses and comes up to you saying "mm ma", then plants one on you.
• Oh, and I'm thinking of taking her off of the "older infant formula" soon since she is eating like a champ, except for vegetables. But she learned that from Brendyn!
• We are going camping next weekend with Sarah and Sonia and their families. My biggest challenge is figuring out who we have to strap to the roof of the van because we will never fit everything in the van with all 5 kids!

new words

Josie has been trying very hard the last few days to mimic words that she hears. She can say "eye", "mama", "dada", "fa" (for fan) and has attempted a couple others.

This morning during our morning snuggle in Mommy and Daddy's bed, Josie was looking at the picture of the flowers on wall. I said "flowers", and Josie replied with a her very own version of the word..."FOWIE"

No matter how many times you hear a child learning new words, it never stops being amazing!

pitter patter

The pitter patter of first steps...

Kaden is 8!

Happy Birthday to the sweetest boy I know! Kaden...you have all of my heart. I love you so much.

In case you are wondering, the song in the slideshow is the song Kaden and I sing when I tuck him in at night, or at lease a version of it:)

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

on the day you turned one...

on the day you turned one
I gave you your first balloon
I let you play with the real remote
rip up the newspaper
push buttons on the telephone
eat on my lap
bite my nose
mush up a whole cupcake
I treasured every giggle
gave you extra kisses
played with you a little more
held you a little tighter
rocked you a little longer
put you to bed a little later
prayed for you a little harder

and when you were asleep

I went into your room to check on you

I looked at you a little closer

and I remembered

how tiny you once were

how much we had gone through

and I realized

how far you've come

how tall you've grown

how much you've learned

and how proud I am of you

then I envisioned

all the years to come

and what each one would bring

dollies, wagons, picking flowers

pony tails, beaches, and bugs

baking, shopping, painting nails

and lots of kisses and hugs

and then as my heart overflowed
and as the tears fell

I had never felt so lucky

then right there in your room as you slept

one year made one word real

miracle

the party

the decorations have been taken down, the cake has been eaten, Mommy's tears have fallen...but here is the memory of one day we will always remember

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

one amazing year

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

this and that

A few things that we have been up to in the last few weeks...

• Kaden had a field trip to the YMCA to go swimming yesterday. I overheard him telling Brendyn about a concern he discussed with his friend, Paul, in the locker room while they were getting ready. Kaden apparently said to Paul, "I can't believe the girls are going to see my nipples!" Oh boy!
• We have been working hard outside on our landscaping. We replaced or moved most of our bushes and are putting in stone instead of the mulch we had. I planted 6 rose bushes and I am thrilled that they all appear to be thriving! I was never promised a rose garden, but I am enjoying mine nonetheless.
• Jordan has started playing flag football again! He is becoming more and more social every day, and we don't see much of him lately. Right now he is playing flashlight tag with a group of guys in the neighborhood. To be 12 again!
• Josie has taken her first steps...and she has learned how to SCREEEAM very loudly, hmmm, around here, who'da thunk it?
• Taylor has been playing the piano and tennis. We went and watched her tennis match today, and although her team didn't win the match, they won more of their games than last time...
• Brett started a new job! He decided to go with an inside sales position here in Appleton, something more stable than the real estate market has been. We are both thankful for the consistent paycheck as well as the routine and regular hours the job provides. And so far he is enjoying it quite a bit.
• Brendyn turned 9 years old today...happy birthday, kiddo! We celebrated with a small family party and a homemade ice cream cake! YUM! I was very impressed with how the other kids gave him some of their own toys or games (that they no longer play with) that they knew he would like. I could just feel the love!
• Oh yeah, Josie and I bought a couple of fishies the other day! She loves to watch them swimming around in their little tank, and so far, they are still alive...whew! We are still trying to come up with names for them.

Well, that's about it for now...thanks for stopping by!

Woo hoo! Tax money...

...and just in time for a new dishwasher! Ours conked out on us slowly over the last month or so and I'm so tired of washing all the dishes by hand...honestly, I've been spending forever in the kitchen!

...there are just some things about the good old days that are not so good, and washing dishes is one of those things.

ohhh!

Josie's latest facial expression...she does it dozens of times every day, and it cracks me up every time! Oh, in the picture she's modeling the newest of my creations...I have been sewing again.

And here she is...busted messing up my bowls in the kitchen...

thought of the day

...sometimes I don't know why this old world can't leave well enough alone

name that song and singer for bonus points...

baby update

Little Rylee continues to do well. She has spent some time under the bili lights, has been digesting her feedings, and has put on a couple of ounces. She did need a blood transfusion because of low hemoglobin, but is still breathing all on her own and is very fiesty:)

welcome, rylee marie

My niece had her baby at 27 weeks 4 days this past Saturday morning. Labor was imminant and she was breach so they took her c section. Rylee Marie weighed in at 2 lb 5 oz and 15.25 inches long. As of yesterday morning she is miraculously breathing all on her own! No respirator, no CPAP...nothing. I was lucky enough to sneak in a visit today and I was truly in awe. I will keep you up to date on how this new little one is doing!

update on Kristen

Last night Kristen started bleeding from what is most likely a placental abruption, her placenta is peeling away from the wall of the uterus. Her and the baby are still stable, but her doctor doesn't think it will be long before the baby is born. The risk of infection is high, even though she is on antibiotics, because her water is broken, so they wouldn't try to stop contractions if they were to start. They said that her body doesn't want to be pregnant for some reason any more, and in this case it would be safer to let the baby come than to attempt to keep it in.

Kristen will be 26 weeks pregnant tomorrow, which is a much better place to be at than she was a week ago, so that's great. But it's still very very early and they have a long road ahead of them with the best of circumstances. Please keep this little baby girl in your prayers so that she will be born strong and ready for her fight.

request for prayers

My niece, Kristen, is 25 weeks pregnant, and last night she started leaking amniotic fluid. They did an ultrasound and most of the fluid was gone but she was not having any contractions. She will need to stay in the hospital until the baby's born, which will hopefully not be for another 7 weeks at least. She is on meds to ward off infection and has gotten the steroid shots to help mature the lungs. Now she waits...Please pray that this baby is able to stay put long enough to come out healthy and strong! I will keep you posted.

just because...

I took a lot of pictures over the weekend, here are some of my favorites...

new trick

Josie was suppose to be going to sleep tonight when Daddy caught her standing up in her crib for the first time. She was so proud!

blog name change

Just wanted you all to note that I've given my blog a more positive name (it was Stop the Ride)...it's a reflection of a bit of an attitude adjustment on my part. For those of you who know me well, I've already said enough. For those of you who aren't as familiar with the workings of my mind, lets just say that I'm trying to count my blessings:) I'll let you know how it goes.

Saturday Morning Fun

Fort Fun!! Here are Josie and Kaden in a fort they built by the couch.

Get ready...first the pillow...

...then the blanket...

Jordan's 12!!

Last weekend we celebrated Jordan's 12th birthday! Here he is as a baby:) Him and his friends decorated the cake all by themselves, don't you love it?? Happy Birthday, Sweetie!

Imagination

Tonight Kaden and Brendyn were playing Cadoo...a game that sometimes involves one player drawing a word that the other players have to guess. Brendyn was up and had to draw something, but he had no idea how to go about putting this secret image onto paper. Kaden had the solution,

"It's easy!" he said, "you just trace your imagination."

Huh! Now why didn't I think of that?

(Kaden when he was little:)

Josie Little Josie

Josie just had her 9 month check up last week, and she is doing great! She is reaching all of her developmental milestones and we are so proud of her. She is crawling and kneeling (not quite standing) up on things. She is clapping and even doing "SO BIG" with her little hands together over her head:) And you should hear her little giggle, it just cracks me up!

The only thing the doc was concerned about was her weight gain. She went from the 80th percentile down to the 30th in the last 3 months. She now weighs 17 lbs. 14 oz, a whole pound less than her 6 month old cousin, Joseph! But the little stinker just isn't very interested in solids AT ALL! We're doing everything to entice her to eat, but for now it's mostly the bottle for her. I don't think I'm quite as concerned as the doc at this point, I'm not a big believer in those growth charts, and she is doing so well in every other area. Sooner or later every child grows and learns to eat, but for now, our little Josie, will be little.

Valentine's Day

Here is a gift I made for Brett for Valentine's Day:) By the way, the second song on the slide show is the one he played while he proposed to me.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Our Little Munchkin is 8 Months Old!

Happy 8 months, Josie! Here she is taking a bath. She loves the tub,

and the camera...whenever she sees it she opens her mouth and gets

all excited and full of smiles. Naptime...all that scooting around on her tummy tired her right out!

Plus, she's catching a nasty cold...poor baby! Jordan tried a hat on Josie and took a few pictures, it looks like she's

waving at us in this one. By the way, I've been sewing again and I made the jammies she has on.Here she is with her big sister, and both of them are in their new jammy

pants...I made them, too:) Everyone in the family got a pair, I've been busy!!

Art Teachers

Today Kaden and Brendyn were working on a little art project and they got on the subject of art teachers. Here's what Kaden had to say,

"Yeah, art teachers aren't very smart, they're just obsessed with art."