18 months

Baby girl.....I mean big girl is 18 months and counting.

She is one busy little bee and she thinks she is boss of the house too.

She is super smart and is picking up new words daily.

She loves to play outside and likes to swing on her tummy (all by herself). She also likes to squeal really loud when her sisters bother her.

She likes to sit on the potty, but I don't think we will start potty training just yet.

She loves to eat and tries anything put in front of her. Some she ends up wearing, some she ends up eating.

She loves shoes and will try on any pair that she can get her little toes in.

If the phone rings, she will ask if it's Memom and Papa. If you say yes...she will throw a fit if you don't let her talk to them. And by talking that means smiling at the phone and listening to them talk to her.

She is strong willed and when we tell her no or move her from something she will yell out our name.

It's cute, but she still doesn't get away with too much.

Sarah is wearing 18-24 month clothing, size 5 shoes, size 4 diapers. She sleeps great and takes one long nap during the day (about 2-3hrs) and then goes to sleep between 730-8pm and doesn't get up until after 7am.

Sarah has 10 teeth with two more bottom molers working their way in.

She weighs 24 lbs 8oz and is 33 1/2 inches long! (She is 50% for weight and 95% for height)

*****Meghan and Jenna also had doctor checkups late last week.

Meghan is 52.25 inches tall and 51 lbs

Jenna is 47.75 inches tall and 43lbs

first room done....well almost

This is my first time doing "big" home improvement. I had Rob help me get the shelves down....and we were not too happy to find out that they were glued on the wall (they were screwed on too). So as you can see in some of the pictures I had to do some patch work. I didn't do that great of a job...I thought I did, but when I started painting it was noticeable that I didn't make the spackle completly flat with the wall....

The wallpaper boarder came off pretty easy, but it took me two days (I only work when Sarah is sleeping).

Rob supervised and I did all the work! I have wanted to do something like this for so long, I couldn't wait for his help. I had to paint inside the closet (it was the bright green color) and the ceiling was blue.

It was pretty easy to paint the ceiling and I actually started liking the green walls as the blue was disappearing.

The base boards were blue too....so I painted them and the closest doors white.

Jenna LOVES orange and that is what she wanted her room color to be.....so here ya go.

We still need to decorate....and down the road the carpet will change too.

Next paint project is called playful pool......Meghan's room.

Praying

When you pray, are you asking a certain thing and expecting a certain answer??? I use to pray like that...but as I have grown in my faith and traveled over more of life's roads I am learning that is fine, but sometimes I have to pray for the strength to handle what will be given.

And with that said, we don't always get what we are asking for....and that doesn't mean God didn't hear you....it just isn't in his plan for you. He isn't punishing you for something you did......he isn't ignoring you, it just wasn't meant to be. This is hard to type and actually understand as I read a blog about a family dealing with their 5 year old with Cancer.

I think I was praying a certain thing when Rob was up for the RIF.....I didn't want him to get out because of what we would be loosing, but at the same time, I said my prayers and I actually let go of my worries. I was heartbroken and still am with the fact we are no longer active duty but I was able to handle it a little better because I knew that God had a plan for us....we didn't know what it was, but he would be with us....no matter what. No, loosing a job isn't like fighting with Cancer, but it was still a life changing time for me and I grew in my relationship with God. We went many months without a job opportunity and as time drew closer and closer to unemployment stress did get higher, but I never lost trust nor my faith that God would provide.

I really do believe in the power of prayer and I had many family and friends praying for us and I think we could do the same for Lucy and her family.

Reading Kate's posts on her blog bring tears to my eyes, aches to my heart and makes me hold on tighter to my girls and loved ones. I'm taking more time out to build a lego house and letting my real house stay messy....because my girls won't stay young for long nor can I make up for moments already gone.

I was reading Kate's blog last night and my big girls saw Lucy's picture with no hair.....I didn't want to lie, so I told them she was very very sick and needed lot's of prayers. Jenna asked if she got a lot of prayers would she get better. That was so hard to answer.....I told them no. I told them, it was in God's hands if she got better but in praying for her (and her family) we are asking for healing for her and strength for all of them in whatever was going to happen.

For me the biggest thing to get out of Kate's blog and so many other blogs I have read. She is angry and hurt and broken....but she has never lost faith nor turned away from God.

#2....7 years

7 years ago today.....I was living in California and gave birth to baby girl #2.

She was two weeks early and is still a little early bird.

On the girls' birthdays they get to pick what they want to eat....for all three meals. Jenna asked for eggs, bacon and waffles for breakfast today. She also likes a little cheese on her eggs.

After breakfast we headed out to the Boonshoft museum for a little family fun (minus Daddy). Someone has to bring home the bacon:)

This was our second time at the museum and I still think we could go a few more times before we get to play with everything.

We pack a lunch when we go to the museum, or we would have to eat out of vending machines. For lunch Jenna had a lunchable.

When Daddy arrived home from work, it was present time! We like to wait so the whole family is involved in the fun.

Jenna received some super cute clothing, a gift card, legos, a Ken doll (with two extra outfits) and $$$.

For dinner Jenna picked...shells and cheese, cooked carrots, chicken nuggets, and strawberries.

For her cake she picked carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.

Jenna LOVES basketball and she received this cute little outfit from Memom and Papa. She is showing you her new Ken doll....and I think he is named Spencer, after the guy on iCarly:)

(I will post stats late tomorrow or this weekend. Jenna and Meghan both have annual checkups tomorrow and Sarah has her 18 month checkup and shots on Monday, so stay tuned for that info too)

Boonshoft Museum

We had a blast at a museum in Dayton yesterday. We got there bright and early (930am) and stayed until 230pm. We could have stayed longer, but Sarah was in need of a nap. We still have areas in the museum to play in and some to return to and stay longer. We are members and will be back many many times to explore, play and learn.

Air Force Museum

The girls and I headed to the Air Force Museum the other day. We enjoyed looking at all the planes and extras and we read as much information and learned as much as we could.....not sure if any of us could pass a test, but maybe after a few more visits, we will remember some of the history and information.

I love how the old air craft have really cool pictures on them.

Two seater, not sure what kind of jet this was...I was too busy keeping an eye on the girls to read the info on this one. There was a few little boys that wanted to knock the girls out of the way to play in the cockpits.

The above picture was taken for Sarah.....this is what we have recently called her.

Birds eye view....not that I would want to be the bird looking down the front of this aircraft.

I love this picture of some of the first women pilots....the writing on the plane says....Pistol Packing Mamas!!

Meghan or Jenna took the picture of the blue and yellow plane.

My three pretty little ladies.

small world..... after all

Our neighbors from England are in the area and we were able to meet their new family member....baby girl Kate.

She was a big hit with the girls. Sarah even wanted to hold baby Kate.

It was really cool to see Sarah looking like such a big girl and was really interested in Kate.

Sarah did try and steal Kate's paci!!

My big girls are in love with all babies, so it was such a treat to hold and love on Kate. They are pros at holding babies and turn into little mommies when it comes to caring for babies.

Rob has also run into another "old" neighbor from England!

It really is a small world and I love how we meet back up with friends from all over.

would be wordless....but

The past few weeks, I think about posting just pictures for wordless Wednesday...but I don't think to do it again until after Wednesday!ha

So this post has pictures and words.

This first picture is a little blurry, but I wanted to share it because Sarah has a sweet little smile.

This last picture is a little blurry too. It's hard to get a picture of Sarah...she is on the go and stays busy. I mean

she is NONSTOP!

light changes

We changed out the ceiling fan in the dining room. We like fans, but not in the dining room.

before......

after.....

Next up paint!

birthday

I wanted to show off my yummy birthday cake. Made by Rob and decorated by Meghan and Jenna. I think I need to let them go a little wild with sprinkles a little more often.......

I had a great 30 something birthday! ha I'm actually not embarrassed of my age. I just have a hard time believing I'm actually 38.....because I feel like I'm in my 20s!ha

Shopping, lunch out and watched the girls play in the water fountains at the Greene.

I didn't shop as much as I wanted, but the girls were in great need of some water therapy! Jenna told Rob and I last night....."when I have kids and we go out like we did today....I'm going to do what they want first."

front flower bed...before and after

I looking for a few more small plants to put in this bed. I did pull up most of the bulbs and will replant them sometime later....just not sure where I want them.

before....

before....

I leveled the dirt and fixed the bricks (made them straight).

I also had to fight with some vines (not shown in the before pics). I have a feeling I haven't won that battle and will need to keep pulling out the vines for a while. I wasn't sure what it was and it didn't look manageable to me.

after....

after.....

The plants and flowers should fill in nicely without looking over crowded. I really enjoyed planting and fixing this area and I am already thinking about what to do with the bushes (some dead, some just not my style) in front of the windows out front. I will also post some pictures of my garden soon. I have some plants coming up and I have two tomatoes that have made an appearance.