A Prayer

Dear God,

I have a heavy heart this morning. 

Please help me trust what I know to be true.  That you have a plan.  And that plan is perfect in ways I could never understand. 

Please put your strength behind those in my family that need a boost right now. 

Please show me how to help.  I am good at handling these medical issues, Lord.  But from hundreds of miles away, I feel helpless.

I know you will show me what you want me to do.  And for right now, it's praying and asking for prayers.

Amen. 

Moosey's Secret

Have you smelled baby Eva lately? 

She always smells so fresh and so clean. 

 Want to know why? 

She starts every morning with a heavy application of Secret.

Powder fresh scent, of course.

Cutie Holiday Happenings: Updates

Dear Santa,

Thank you for another wonderful Christmas.  We stayed up late playing with the gifts you left us and enjoying being a family.  Eva loved the Baby you left her.  She also loves the blocks from Auntie Leslie, choo choo and blocks from cousin Amanda and pillow pet from Auntie Dana. The candy you left in her big sister's stockings.. that they left unguarded on the floor, was also delicious.

I am addicted to the happiness plastered across their faces.  Among Mia's favorite gifts was a set of animal tails that clip to her pants, a worm farm, and Go-Go My Walking Pup. 

I don't know how many years of magic we have left with this big girl, Santa. 

But this year was great!

She has enjoyed the Playstation Move you left us the most. 

 She also loves the Razor scooter her Grandma and Pop Pop got her and her panda pillow pet from Auntie Dana.

We really hit the mark with Auntie's gift this year.

I love it when you give someone something they forgot they wanted!

Daddy loved his "Coach Joe" sweater from his girls. 

 He got lots of Nebraska Husker stuff and enjoyed his Christmas dinner while watching football.

Maybe next year you'll find us in California for Christmas?

I was spoiled this year with three excited, healthy, loving baby girls,

a great husband,

two handsome nephews and a precious niece,

one best sister and brother in law,

and two wonderful parents

ALL TOGETHER.

Okay, I also got some great stuff too.

Like a button that says "I love placentas" and another that says "Midwives help people out".

And some Origins bath stuff, a bike and a baby trailer and my favorite Starbucks gift card.

"Pier!" "Eba!"

I love that these babies love each other!

Santa, Iris is a girl of few words of lots of noise 

but I'm pretty sure she can't wait until you come again next year.

Pop Pop got a crock pot and a "Cuties Calendar". 

He mostly liked the wrapping paper and bows though I think.

And thanks for the baby sling you left Mia-with-the-guilty-conscience.

She was convinced she was at the top of naughty list.

Santa, do you know something I don't?

The naughty list??

Hope you're catching up on your sleep today. 

With Love,

Katie and the Cuties



Christmas Vacation

Christmas vacation is my favorite!  It's so much better than summer vacation.  Summer vacation is so long that the days run into each other and the whole business starts to feel monotonous.  Christmas vacation is all anticipation and family time... and then playing with your new toys until school starts. 

Christmas in Texas is very unlike my childhood holidays.  I looked all over for a "back in the day" photo to post, but I think I'd have to dig through the archives at my mother's house to find  one of little me all snowsuited up building igloos or gigantic sledding hills.  While there's no snow, there is plenty to do on a 70 degree "winter" day with my darling girls! 

On Monday we loaded up and spent the day at Going Bonkers and then enjoyed lunch with our cousins!  We spent the terribly warm afternoon in the backyard playing soccer (go figure) and then had a fried chicken family picnic on the living room floor while we watched the Disney documentary "Oceans". 

On Tuesday we spent the day playing around the house, reading Christmas books, listening to Christmas music, playing soccer outside (again), and going grocery shopping.  When Daddy got off work, we grabbed a bite to eat and then I got to enjoy Tangled the movie with my big girls while Daddy and Eva hung out at Barnes and Noble.  We took the long way home, enjoying the Christmas lights through the neighborhoods.

Today we left little Eva with Grandma and volunteered with Natalie's soccer team at Grace food pantry.  I was so impressed with these caring, hard-working,mature little ladies!  They sorted through tons of donated items and then put together hundreds of food parcels for needy families.  It is such a blessing to be able to come together and give back to the community, especially during Christmas!  We spent the afternoon wrapping gifts, baking, and (you guessed it) playing soccer in the backyard. 

Natalie sorting canned food with her soccer team.

Amelia constructing a nativity scene.  

While wearing a bathing suit.  In December.  With cheetah ears. 

And a mysterious bruise in the middle of her forehead for which she can offer no explanation.

Cause that's just how she rolls.   

I love that Baby Jesus is nestled in a shoe.  Definate improvement over a manger.

How Cuties Do Christmas Prep

A video. 

Declaration

I have a dedicated spirit.  I didn't know that about myself until after Natalie was born - unplanned and very wanted by two young, terrified college students.  I was halfway through a very competitive nursing program and after applying for a semester's leave to welcome the new baby, my request was denied by the dean of the college.  She added a few negative remarks about the likelihood that I would complete the program after having a baby.  My only option was to withdraw and return within a year to a campus over an hour away to complete my degree. 

My dream as a young adult was to be a stay at home mom.  My mom stayed  home with my sister and I and I was convinced that was the "right" way to raise children.   It is the "right" way for some people.  I realized after a couple years of being a family with Joe and Natalie, that it was not the "right" way for us.  God gave us all qualities to be used in His name and I was called to be a mother and a nurse.  Joe was called to be a hands-on Daddy.  A pattern of 50/50 has emerged in our house and we are happy. I can't think of a better gift to give three little girls than a close relationship and loving dependence on a reliable Daddy who wants to be with them whether it's watching cartoons and eating cereal, changing diapers or coaching their soccer practices. 

 Some people say that college is a choice and that if you choose to go that route, then don't expect any sympathy when your life gets tough and complicated and you get stressed out.  I suppose it is a choice, just like getting up in the morning is a choice and eating breakfast is a choice.  The truth, in my opinion, is that a college degree in today's world is comparable to the value of a high school diploma 50 years ago.  I doubt if a college degree will be a choice for my girls if they decide to join the career force.  I love my job.  I love caring for the families I see every weekend.  I love my fantastic coworkers who inspire me constantly to be a better mom and wife and who keep things in perspective for me.  I am not ambitious.  I am passionate about birth, about women's health and about educating women of their choices concerning both!  I know I can make a small difference in the lives of the women I will serve as a midwife and that is why I made the decision to go back to college with three small children at home.  I don't want sympathy.  I have understanding from my daughter when I can't make it to her soccer game. I have support from my husband when I ask him to entertain the girls all evening so I can study, write a paper or take an exam.  I have encouragement from those crazy girls like me who know what it takes to go back to school! And I have a dedicated spirit which means that I will not stop until I've completed what I set out to do.  That's just who I am.   

After the births of my three beautiful daughters, this is my proudest moment.  Graduating nursing school after moving an hour away to a new campus.  With my daughter.  And my husband.  And in a year, I'm gonna do it again.

Sick of Being Sick

With the colder weather came the sniffles.  There is not a clear sinus in this house.  We are pretty much tired of tissues and Vicks and Nyquil and humidifiers.  The hot tea, hot chocolate, cozy slippers and warm fire - those can stay for a while.  Fortunately, the girls haven't missed any school, but Joe and I had to cancel our mad-dash-mini-vaca to New Orleans.  I'm taking the longest to get well it seems and I'm convinced that it is due to the heavy stress of having one last final hanging over my head.  The procrastination can't go on much longer... I'm ready to take it just to put myself out my own misery!  Pray that I pass!!

Here are some random, unrelated facts...

Eva has a rash.
Ali is on page 51 of Beezus and Ramona.
Joe is playing soccer.  It's late.  I think he's nuts.
Mia no longer listens to her "bad brain" favoring her "good brain" instead.
I am slightly paranoid of lightening.  I will not shower during a storm nor will I bathe my children.

Tomorrow is the Preschool Christmas Program!  We may finally find out what Eva has been trying to sing for the last month! 

Her Own Space

The plan was that our children of the same gender would share a room. 

And then we had 3 girls and that sorta left one of them out on her own...

After 7.5 years, we figured that Ali had served her time well.

She made it quite clear she was ready to move on.

And little Eva is following big sister "Mi-Mi" around more and more everyday wanting to play, read books, hold hands, watch cartoons, and just do big girl stuff. 

So while everyone was at school, Joe and I disassembled the crib, de-bunked the beds, moved stuff around,  reversed the closets and presto!  The biggest sister has her own space!  And the middle sister has a new roomie!

Joe and I could hardly contain ourselves when she came home from school! 

 We came up with some really clever trick to get her to go into the room...

"Hey Ali, could you go grab me a diaper from Eva's room?"

SURPRISE!!!

She loved it all.

  I took down "EVA" from the wall and hung up "ALI". 

 The quilt on the bed is made from the girls baby clothes and the one folded at the foot of the bed was my quilt when I was little.  She wasted no time putting her personal mark on the space and she was the first kid to bed last night! 

And then there's Eva's adjustment to her new big girl bed..

Eva noticed her lovies all piled up on the bed in the girls room and got very excited!

"Mine night-night!  Mine  night-night!"

And then 8 pm came and we tried to lay the little sisters down.

Eva thought we were playing the best game ever!!

After several different attempts to settle her in her new bed,

at 9:30 we gave up and moved on to Plan B.

Pack n' Play in the closet.

 Mia is rapidly learning that it is quite something different to be the "big sister". 

She came out of the bedroom last night and said, "Eva keeps getting up.  I have to hold her hand and put her back.  She tries to get in my bed with me.  I have to hold her hand and put her back.  She keeps talking and I have to keep shushing!  This is too much work!"  

Of course Ali takes every opportunity to smirk at Mia and say things like, "Now you know what it's like."

I think it's going to work out great! 

Ali and Mia are already showing the benefits of having their own corners to retreat to.

Sisters!

Big Nuts.

Compliment - noun: an expression of esteem, respect, affection, or admiration;

especially : an admiring remark

 

"Pop Pop!  Your tree has big nuts!"

 

 

Old - adjective: : dating from the remote past : ancient

 

"Mom?  Were cars invented when you were little?"

 
 

 

Speculate - verb:  to meditate on or ponder a subject : reflect

 

"Ali?  How does Santa get all those presents to all the kids in the whole world?"

"I don't know for sure, but I think he probably uses the internet somehow."

 
 

Thanksgiving - noun: day appointed for giving thanks for divine goodness

 

"Nobody TOUCH their food until we're ALL SEATED!"

 

Thanks Ali.

 

Spirit - noun: a lively or brisk quality in a person or a person's actions.

 

Mia:  "I don't want to sit next to Pierce.  He makes a mess when he eats."

 

Uh, he's two.

 

 

Happiness - noun:a state of well-being and contentment : joy

Bling Part II

The time finally came for my favorite niece to join the ranks of her girl-cousins-with-pierced-ears.

This tradition started when Baby Ali was about a year old and I couldn't take another compliment of

 "what a handsome little boy you have there" 

 from another well-meaning older person.

Ponytails just weren't in the genetic makeup

 and her Daddy liked to dress her in Laker's gear, okay?

Pink shoes.  Pink carseat.  Baby doll.  She's a girl, for crying out loud!

Auntie Leslie suggested that we pierce her ears.

So with Daddy's blessing, we did.

Two baby sisters followed with the same hair growth pattern

and the tradition was born.

Iris certainly doesn't lack in the ponytail department.

Or the cuteness department.

With a mommy like that, she couldn't be anything but pretty and girly.

I think you'd have to be legally blind to think she's a "he".

But her mommy feels it is important for her to fit in with her hispanic counterparts.

And her cousins.

 Our favorite ear-piercing salon is Sweet and Sassy.

Auntie Leslie and Pierce let Grandma and I tag along for moral support

 and we passed some time messing around in Santa's Workshop.

Santa wasn't home. 

This is probably as close to Santa as Pierce will get this year anyway.

Of course we loaded up on lattes at Starbucks and rode the stationary bull.

Then the main event.

There was blood, and crying, and chaos and Grandma passed out.

People!  I'm just kidding!

It was quick and easy and she barely even cried.

My sis is smart and immediately after the procedure she popped a tootsie pop in Iris's little mouth.

A couple licks later, Iris surrendered the treat to her big brother.

He had sympathy pains.

And  now Iris sparkles with her new baby bling.

Dog Pile!

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About Mia

Which is better: being a big sister or little sister?
- being the little sister because you can do whatever you want.
What's being the big sister like?
- big sisters like privacy and school.
Who is your best friend?
- Claudia from preschool. Moosey is my best sister.
Why Moosey?
- because we goof off in your room. But she usually cries.
When you grow up, what are you going to be?
- mom-my.
What?
- no. Mommy. I'm gonna be a M-O-M.
Oh! How many kids are you going to have?
- 3. Two boys and a girl. Like auntie.
Do you know what their names are going to be?
- simba, mufasa, and Gloria.
What's your favorite animal?
- a cougar. Because they're cool and fast.
What's the best thing Ali taught you?
- playing BORING games.
Why are they boring?
- because she always wants to teach me and she talks, talks, talks, and I'm learning as fast as I can.
Um, why don't you like to smile for pictures?
- because I don't have a good smile.
What??!
- I just don't like to.
What do you want for Christmas?
- a pillowpet and a safari.
One more, what's the best thing about playing soccer?
- winning sometimes.






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Happy Haunts!

Good thing we warmed up our happy haunts at preschool! 

We were READY for tick or treating!

Raise your hand if you like phat Mooses in tight pants!

I do, I do!

Flutterbies!

Yes, that's my nephew James.

  I assure you that  his Mommy and Daddy tried to talk him into a different costume. 

But he insisted he was going to be a beautiful princess angel fairy.

  I am very proud of my sister and brother-in-law for being secure enough parents to let this little 4 year old boy live in his un-gender-biased, innocent world for another year.

Besides, if you tease him, his cousin Mia will beat you up.

The girls were so excited that Joe and I dressed up this year.

Our costumes were planned by Ali who figured I'd make a good witch...

And Daddy was a vampire-that-just-woke-up.  Hence, the pajamas.

We were all impressed by her cleverness.

 Auntie Leslie and Grandma decked out the trailer and we got to go house to house in style!

 Sweet fangs, Dad!  Eva wasn't scared of her Daddy at all.  Pierce on the other hand.....

 I vant to eat your candy!

Pop pop and his new truck.

 My Cuties!

You get it, right?

The Princess and the Frog.

 Uh, and a cheetah!

 Say "Cheese!"

Say "Cheese!" some more!

 Pierce be naughty. 

Pour milk on Grandma's floor.

Mommy put Pierce in time-out.

Pierce cry.

Grandma get Pierce out of time-out.

Pierce love Grandma.

 I even did the big, fake eyelashes.  Daddy liked. 

My little ribbit.

Eva got kicked out of the treat or treatin' wagon after she got greedy.

She started screaming "more! more!" at people when they tried to go back in the house after handing her a piece of candy...

Maybe I should have dressed her up as a bank robber?