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Instagram 2012

I randomly decided to look back at the past year of instagrams the other day and I thought it would be fun to share my favorites. Here are the top 12 from 2012
 January 3- still living in Texas
 March 17- SJ shaking her finger at a stranger wearing a matching dress
May 15- My best friend and I were hooked on The Hunger Games 
June 16- Lots of gardening and a little romance

June 23- Getting ready for New York City and my 30’s 
July 21- J turns 36
August 28- SJ at her new deaf oral school 

 September 26- Little did I know I was 4 days away from meeting my baby.

 October 1- Thrift store shopping hours before delivery! 
October 21- Z!!!
 November 22- Thanksgiving morning

 December 30- My final instagram of the year (see my last post)
This is the small stuff. There are so many milestones that happened this year that overshadowed all the little snippets. These are just pieces of my life that could just as easily be disregarded, but how cool is it that I can look back and cherish all of those little moments as well? Here is to another year of phone photos! 

By |2015-05-14T23:15:38+00:00January 4, 2013|Uncategorized|2 Comments
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I Was On a Plane to Michigan When…

I shot up out of my seat before take off and ran to the closest flight attendant. In a panic I asked

  “Is it too late to get off the plane? I can’t go. I need to get off the plane!”

Let’s hold it right there and back up two days before. It was December 28th I was working on a puzzle and I get this text from my best friend.

It did sounds a little crazy after all to travel from Kentucky to Michigan at the last minute like this, but with my mom working for the airlines the standby flight was only $50, E could ride along for free. We decided to go for it. I could leave on Sunday and come back New Years day. As I waited at the Cincinnati airport I knew our schedule didn’t have too much wiggle room, so when the flight was delayed I started to get a little nervous. The problem was I could make it to Detroit, but I would probably miss my connecting flight to my final destinations. This would also mean missing the party. Long story short we decided that someone would drive three hours to Detroit to pick me up and with that plan in mind I boarded the plane.

 It was really crowded and I was holding a baby so the people around me finally offered to help me out and I shoved my boarding pass in the seat pocket, they put the diaper bag on the floor, and my laptop in the overhead compartment. Then I plopped my exhausted self down while the announcements started up over the intercom. My mom called before they made us turn off our cell phones and when I told her the latest itinerary she reminded me that the car seat and my suitcase were headed to my final destination NOT Detroit. This meant I would arrive and have no carseat, clothing, or toiletries. That’s when I pleaded to be let off the plane. They brought me my bag and I headed back up the jet bridge feeling like a total psychopath for the way things just went down.

Back at the gate I began to regroup and make a few phone calls. People that were picking me up in Michigan needed to know not to, and someone needed to come and pick us up from Cincinnati. Finally, everything was settled and I was just about to let out my breath and head to baggage service where they said that my stuff would be. Just before that happened I remembered one last thing. With what little bit of strength I had left I headed over to the gate agent and said “this just isn’t my day…”. It turns out I had left my laptop in the overhead bin on a plane that was now on it’s way to Detroit.

I won’t make you suffer through a story that would include every detail about how many people I talked to online, on the phone, and in person over the next two days. Instead let me just skip to the end which is that my laptop was eventually located at the Detroit airport and my mom flew to Detroit yesterday (she flies for free) and brought it back to me so that I could  type all of this drama out for you. The ironic thing about it is my macbook came back the same time I should have. I left my computer on the plane, but since it made it to Michigan on Sunday and came back New Year’s day I am  beginning to feel like it left me!

As far as Michigan is concerned it was quite a debacle. I am determined to make up for it one of these days, but next time I’m leaving the laptop at home!

By |2015-05-14T23:15:38+00:00January 2, 2013|Uncategorized|4 Comments
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Gifts

Despite J and I not buying Christmas presents for our kids or each other we all still manage to be spoiled silly every year.

Some of my favorite gifts this year included a new Sonicare toothbrush, a beautiful vase with the ASL alphabet on it, and a denim shirt.

SJ got a snowsuit just in time because it snowed Christmas night and there is several more inches falling tonight.

Z got an explorer kit and naturally the kids made a spaceship out of a cardboard box. They drew all over it with crayon including some detailed drawings of the control board. It’s already been busted and taped back together once. You have no idea how much enjoyment I get from watching them play with a box!

Z also got a puzzle of Ellis Island, because he LOVES New York City and the statue of Liberty. We started putting it together and the only problem was it is a 500 piece puzzle. I could have just said we’ll save this for when you are older, but no I got sucked into some geeky puzzle world where I was absolutely obsessed with completing it, which was not easy. I worked on it for two days. I don’t know how many hours total. I need to have a confession time for the things I said to the kids if they tried to touch the puzzle while I was working on it, or touch the table that the puzzle was on for that matter. I am not joking! J joined in for the last 50 pieces (which I will admit were the hardest because they all looked alike) I warned him to let me do the last piece, but he started to do it anyway and I screamed so loud the neighbors were probably like “did you hear that?”. Yeah, he got a kick out of that. 

As far as gifts we gave, I found this cool pizza wheel that looks like a circular saw for my brother

 and my sister in laws reaction to this wooden box that J made for her was priceless.

It’s all been so much fun, but my favorite gift exchange for the year was from Z to SJ. He saw a commercial for the Dora Pony Land Adventure a long time ago and he always thought SJ would love it, so he saved up all of his chore money to get it for her for Christmas. We had a picture of the toy hanging on the fridge and he’s been working toward purchasing it since October!

She loved it and needless to say I am so proud of his generous heart. This year’s Christmas wrapped up beautiful memories for me that I look forward to reopening for years to come. 
By |2015-05-14T23:15:38+00:00December 29, 2012|Uncategorized|5 Comments
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Santa and Tooth Fairy All In One Night!

It’s been a couple weeks since Z came downstairs with not one, but two loose teeth. I had kind of forgotten about them in the midst of all the holiday hustle and bustle, but then sure enough on December 24th my oldest son lost his first tooth. I took a photo and shared my excitement all over the internet. The next morning Z would wake up with a dollar under his pillow and his stocking full of treats. That’s a lot of anticipation for a little 5 year old. I for one was a little nervous about my first shot at representing the tooth fairy. Once Z was sound asleep I grabbed the ziplock containing his little baby tooth, slipped a dollar in it’s place, breathed a sigh of relief and walked away with a smirk on my face. The next morning we want to document the event so we woke him up and started recording everything. What happens in this video is a %100 unrehearsed genuine reaction.

We were shocked to find out that Z had lost his second tooth in the middle of the night and put it under his pillow expecting the tooth fairy to do her thing. Luckily he is not at the stage where he is waking up early for Christmas or checking under his pillow first thing in the morning. That is what made the second switcheroo possible. Although the video shows Z saying “All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth” what he really wanted was money in exchange for two front teeth and he got it, but boy that was a close one!

By |2015-05-14T23:15:38+00:00December 27, 2012|Uncategorized|1 Comment
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I’m Ready For Christmas!!!

Every year with kids Christmas just gets better and better. Last night we got our first dusting of snow, I finished wrapping presents, and both kids are officially on Christmas break. I really want to do some wrapping tutorials at some point, but for now let me just show a few quick pics of some of the fun I’ve had wrapping gifts this year. 
Normally I am all about the reusable bags, but when I saw this idea on pinterest I started collecting brown paper bags from Trader Joe’s. 

I didn’t think the kids would appreciate this look as much as the adults so I used wrapping paper, but I stole this paper curling idea from a friend of mine.
 
She posted on Facebook how she hates wasting the extra cut off paper so she spontaneously decided to curl them to use as ribbon. I loved how it turned out. Waste not Want Not. Thanks Susan! 
There is one present that is too big to wrap and I had this idea to put this note in a little present.

 I can just picture the whole family busily unwrapping their gifts and chatting away when the recipient shouts “WHERE IS MY PRESENT?” that will be our cue to bring it in from the garage for the grand reveal. I can’t wait! 
Lastly, this was my first year to do teacher presents because I didn’t have any children in school until now. I found these baskets for 50 cents- SCORE. 
I filled them with all kinds of goodies, most of which was pinerest inspired. I loved the idea of the reindeer holding the card until I realized that wouldn’t be an easy to grab gift for a busy teacher on the go, so I wrapped them in clear plastic bags. 

I have had a blast with all these projects. It truly is better to give than receive. Although, to be perfectly honest, I look forward to both. 
By |2015-05-14T23:15:38+00:00December 21, 2012|Uncategorized|2 Comments
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Precious Girl

SJ had an audiologist appointment a week ago and got more volume added to her C.I. although it is still not up all the way. This first month of hearing has been an emotional roller coaster for sure. In this past year of learning that SJ is deaf I have been building a wall. Every disappointment, every failed attempt at hearing added another layer to my wall. I have confessed to crying when she had her cochlear implant turned on because she didn’t react in the way I had hoped. To quote my blog post from a month ago I said “I want to know that she hears and I am hoping it will not take extensive detective work to be able to recognize it.” Unfortunately it hasn’t been quite that simple. SJ still doesn’t seem to respond to much sound at all. However, in the past month the Lord has been working on tearing down my walls of skepticism. The first time she turned when I said her name I had to wrestle with my unbelief. The voice in my head said it was a coincidence; we’ve seen it a million times, it LOOKS like she is hearing, but really she is feeling vibrations. Time after time I would fight this voice. Fortunately there was another voice, the voice of Holy Spirit living in me that comforted me and gave me permission to rejoice. I felt like the Lord was leading me to embrace EVERY moment of victory. When I THINK she heard something and want to dismiss it I turn that doubt into a victory and I embrace it. It’s been a struggle, but since the moment I decided to stand up against the doubt I’ve seen one victory after another. For example today SJ was sitting in front of the TV bobbing her head to some music doing a little dance in her chair so I looked at the TV to see where this joy was coming from. SJ has always loved to dance, but it’s all about the motions. She has always been copying dance moves rather than ever hearing any music. I expected to see some happy dancing people on the TV, but instead I saw this commercial and I almost cried. 
You may wonder what the big deal is because it’s such a simple commercial. So simple in fact that there is no visual stimulation whatsoever. SJ was actually HEARING the music and bouncing to the beat! I screamed for J to come and see. It’s the little things like this that keep me going. It might still take some detective work to know that she is hearing, especially when loud trucks or barking don’t even make her flinch, but I am very grateful for each little milestone. 
Two years ago (the year SJ was born) Veggie Tales came out with the movie “It’s a Meaningful Life” There is a song in there that Larry the Cucumber’s character sings to their adopted daughter Emma. This became a song that I always sang to SJ. I even wrote it down in her baby book. The kids love this Holiday movie and when we watched it over and over this time last year I had no idea how much that song would eventually mean to me. Here are some of the lyrics 
Precious Girl,
In our lives,
making every moment bright.
Your Mom and Daddy love you.
You fill us with delight.
Precious Girl,
so special too.
God has got a plan for you.
We can see it clearly,
as you shine His light.
Do you realize when you shine 
everyone sees you?
The lives you touch,
you’re worth so much,
That’s just how God made you.
Precious Girl,
Can you see?
You’re part of our family.
This one thing I promise:
God’s plan for you is true.
You are worth so much, and 
It’s just by being you.
Oh goodness, I am a blubbery mess just from typing out the words. I am sure there are many ups and downs ahead when it comes to all this, but that song says it all. I hope someday as she HEARS this song and learns the words she will really hear the message too. 
By |2015-05-14T23:15:38+00:00December 20, 2012|Uncategorized|5 Comments
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And The Part of Baby Jesus goes to…

The youngest baby in the church.

Our baby boy seemed like the perfect candidate to play the role of baby Jesus therefor J and I are Mary and Joseph for this year’s Christmas program. We did 2 appearances on Sunday and E was a natural. 

We are going to be doing a flash mob at The Florence Mall this Sunday December 23.
I am pretty excited about it. It will be my first time doing anything like this. The December traditions new and old have been a welcome guest in our lives lately.
The past couple weeks have been filled with baking, parties, and shopping (along with all the mundane responsibilities that I am not going to think about right now because it’s Christmas time!). 

We’ve gone to two different light displays, one of which is the only underground light display in the world.

 One of my favorite evenings consisted of watching White Christmas while drinking hot chocolate with candy canes as stir sticks. We even ate Turkish Delight straight from Turkey. My parents had an exchange student from Turkey 6 years ago and he still sends a Christmas package every year. 
Another night we were going to see Santa at the local parade, but it ended up being a bust because of the weather. It literally rained on our parade. No biggie, there is still so much to look forward to. It’s been 2 years since my family celebrated Christmas together and we’ve added two new members since then. I don’t even know how we are going to fit all of the presents under the tree. According to our Christmas tree countdown on the fridge, which Z faithful updates daily, there are only  10  6 days left.

 I can hardly wait! 

By |2015-05-14T23:15:38+00:00December 19, 2012|Uncategorized|4 Comments
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Pain

 I had a very happy Christmas post written and scheduled to be published, but I just haven’t felt like it would be appropriate yesterday or today in this time of grieving. I have been so broken over the tragic school shooting that took place in Connecticut. I know everyone is, and I don’t feel in any way obligated to comment, but I can’t NOT say anything. Maybe this is just for me, but I want to express my deep sorrow. I want to tell the families that I am praying and that we are all hurting with them.

On September eleventh of 2001 I woke up and turned on the little square TV in our tiny apartment. I changed the channel because there was an action movie about the destruction of New York city, or the end of the world, or something. I wasn’t interested and I changed the channel. The same “movie” was on every channel and it was really happening. 9/11 was terrifying. It meant that our country was at war. It affected me personally, not because I knew anyone in the twin towers, but my brother had been in England and was actually on his way home the time of the attack. His plane safely rerouted to Newfoundland and he had to spend a week in Canada before they allowed people back into the country. 9/11 was big and scary. It meant we had to come together because a group of terrorist were attacking our nation.

This Connecticut school shooting is different. It’s on a smaller scale and maybe that should make it better, but in some ways it’s worse. It seems more personal. More intimate. It wasn’t a terrorist attack, it was a sick young man that claimed the lives of the innocent and he’s dead now. How do we cope with that!? There is nothing to fight for. No justice can be served here on earth. Granted there are plenty of people fighting and blaming each other in the middle of it all, but I have been processing it differently than them. I see a tragedy that could have just as easily happened to anyone of us. I know this going to sound like it’s coming from left field, but I don’t see myself as exempt anymore. I never ever thought I would have a deaf child, but I do. I used to think there would never be an act of violence against my family or community because we don’t live in a rough area, but Newtown Connecticut is about as safe as they come. I am not saying this because now I live in fear. What I am saying is that I don’t feel as distant as I might have previously.

 This event has shaken our country and I want to shake my fists and say We are stronger than this! You can’t get the best of us! and that might have worked on 9/11, but not now. There is no Bin Laden to capture this time. This time I just feel sorrow. It really hurts. It’s so painful and I want to ignore it because it’s Christmas, but I THANK GOD that it cannot be ignored. I am so extremely grateful for the pain, because it means we can still feel. I don’t want to be around for the day that we see so much violence that we don’t even feel anymore.

I know we will all move on and that’s good and healthy, but I guess this is my way of sharing my condolences. The Christmas blog post can wait.

By |2015-05-14T23:15:38+00:00December 15, 2012|Uncategorized|1 Comment
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Z’s Growing Up

*Not sure why half of this is in all caps!? I have tried to change it, but it’s stuck that way for now. Oh well. 

Z came downstairs yesterday morning with his glasses off, his pajamas still on, and his finger in his mouth. “Look” he said as he wiggled his two bottom teeth. At first I panicked and asked him what happened. He said “I just went to sleep and now they are wiggly”. My mom said  “It sounds like someone is ready for his first encounter with the tooth fairy.” We all got really excited and even SJ stopped eating breakfast to give Z a hug. 

I just can’t believe how much he is changing and maturing. I am loving this age. The other day I had to go to the store with the kids and I purposefully picked Z up from school first rather than go with just the two little ones. I never thought I would see the day that Z would be more of an asset than a liability, no offense. It seems like only yesterday shoppers were gawking at me as I abandoned my shopping cart full of groceries to chase my holy terror through the freezer aisle.  

Granted he still challenges us with his antics. If it’s not one bad habit it’s another. He used to bite the collar of his shirt. Then he went through a stage where he started asking “what’d you say?” after EVERYTHING to the point that we even talked to SJ’s ear doctor thinking maybe he had hearing problems. His latest most irritating habit has been blowing in peoples faces, but I think he is over that one now too. I only mention these things because I don’t want to give off the impression that I have an angelic 5 year old. 

His teachers think that he is, and I am not quite sure how he pulled that one off. He has some amazing teachers and does so well in the classroom setting. When we moved out to the country I worried about the lack of peer interaction, but school has filled that void. He is learning to read and has the most beautiful thirst for knowledge. When I read to him he wants to see how many of the words he can read himself. He will take the word van and sound it out very slowly and I just wait. 
Vuh.  Aaaaa. Nuh. 
Vvvvah-nuh. 
Vana? 
VAN! 

And when it clicks and he realized he took letters and decoded it into a word he just lights up. It is such an amazing experience as a mom to see the wheels turn and watch him grow up. It’s one of the perks of my job and I love it. 

By |2015-05-14T23:15:38+00:00December 12, 2012|Uncategorized|6 Comments
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