Eleri Cate is 9 months old

3/4 of this past year has just flown by! Our sweet baby is loosing so much of her baby-ness! Eleri has started to enjoy baby food a little more and especially likes using her self baby feeders. She had started mashing her gums, so I started giving her some table food. She has enjoyed green beans and mandarin oranges so far. It sure makes for an extra mess in the kitchen. Where are the inside dogs when you need them?;)
Here are some great things that Eleri is doing:
waking with her walker
won't be sat down she wants to be standing and is starting to step between objects when she cruises
lays her head down on pillows/blankets
still has her sweet squinty smile
Eleri is getting more and more hair, although not as much as Mali had at this age. We get compliments on it all the time. Most people comment on how she has her daddy's hair.
learned to turn light switches off. I love watching her learn and the light in her eyes when she discovers something new.
Plays peek a boo with the closet doors
loves playing with books and being read to, when I actually take the time.
Loves patty cake and smiles and giggles
learning sign language, especially signs for all done and more
waves bye bye the way her sister taught her

At Eleri's 9 month appointment she weighed 18.9lbs, was 28.5" long and her head was 43.4cm. Her height and weight are
average for a 12 month old. Mali's stats were the exact same!!! Eleri looked great and healthy at her 9 month appointment. Our pedi said to go straight to all table foods except eggs. I'm excited and ready, besides the mess and that it means Eleri is loosing the remaining babyness. At her appointment, our pedi said that waking every 30 minutes at night at this age was very normal because babies are experiencing anxiety for being all alone. This makes sense because Eleri is screaming everytime she wakes up. Our pedi said to let her cry it out and not to go in at all. I'm ready for this because I'm absolutely exhausted from being up for nights upon end. But I also know it's going to be hard to let my sweet baby cry for me. We've done it before, but I seem to have lost ALL resolve! Eric is on board too and has informed me he will be inserting his Bose earphones.

Little Bo Peep

Mali has been learning about nursery rhymes at preschool and the lessons culminated with a nursery rhyme party today. Each kid had to dress as a nursery rhyme character and memorize and recite the rhyme that went with that character. Mali dressed up as Little Bo Peep. I realized I didn't even let her choose I just told her what to do, sort of! I will have to be more careful about that. But, we had a costume that went well for Little Bo Peep. Yippee for being able to reuse ballet costumes. Mali did amazing and I was very proud of her achievement and personality!:)



Mali is learning so much at preschool. She knows the sight words of a, is & the. Mali loves to ask us how to spell things and then write it. Currently, she is practicing writing her birthday invitations. Mali and her daddy are actually in the other room watching baseball and I'm listening to Mali ask him what the letters spell. This is what I heard 'what's M-L-B' spell! I imagine that made Eric's day. She wrote P-O-W-E-R today after she helped me start the laundry and spent this evening working on how to write I love you, with Eric.

Mali also LOVES singing and dancing. She loves doing all the cheers she learned at cheer camp and spelling S-A-N-D-I-E-S. I also had to include this picture of what she copied the other day off of our coffee cups. Future barista? I hear Starbucks is a good employer!:)



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Play by play

I'll spare you the drama, and complaints, but we currently don't have Internet so I'm going to post from my phone so bear with me on the crazy iPhone corrections. Really, I'm smarter than that, well maybe not, but it embarrases me terribly to make these mistakes.
The other night, Eric was drawing plays on Mali's dry erase board. I was so cute and hilarious to watch her expressions as she listened and then to watch her interpretation of drawing plays!


Back to the post....these are videos of Eric and Mali drawing plays. It is so cute!

The Tallest of Smalls

I've stumbled upon an awesome opportunity for a book lover like me! I've become a blogger reviewer for Thomas Nelson publishing. In exchange for reviewing the book and posting it on my blog, I get to keep it! Books to read and books for free, yippee!
Today in the mail we received our first book, "The Tallest of Smalls" by Max Lucado. This is a children's book, but in a style similar to that of Dr. Suess, is appealing to all audiences. I loved the rhythm and rhyming of the words! Lucado's book addresses the issues faced by so many children in our world today; being left out for not conforming. All that a little boy wants is to be like the popular crowd but he learns that being at the "top" has its downfall. He ends up even more sad and lonely. But then the best part of the book, Jesus comes along, lifts him up, and reminds him that He created the little boy just the way he was and did not make a mistake! Many children's books allude to Jesus' help and love in their lives, but this book makes the message clear that Jesus made us and that we are His. Also, illustrations of "Jesus" are included that just point our children to Jesus as the answer to being left out, lonely, being different, and any other difficulty children to adults face. This type of book is exactly what I want my girls reading and listening to. The message of Jesus as the reason for hope is very clear. Mali even said, "that's a great book Mommie, read it again." I'm excited to have this book, and message, added to our collection!

unCandy Land

This past week, Eric had two out of town games. It was nice to not have to bundle up to go brave the weather, but we missed cheering him on. Our tradition on out of town game nights is to have a girls night. Before Eleri, Mali and I would put on make up, drink hot chocolate, and take bubble baths. It has changed a little now, but is still fun and special. Thursday night, we popped popcorn and played Candy Land. Since the last time we played, Mali has become more competitive. She cried and cried when she drew the gingerbread man card and had to go all the way back, right when she was about to win. She had a meltdown, traded my piece with hers, threw away the card, had another meltdown, and finally conceded. I was very thankful for that moment to teach her perseverance and to do the right thing, even when its hard. Also, I got to tell her that sometimes when we do what God wants us to do, it doesn't sound like a good idea, but that God always knows what's best, and we don't see that until the end. Mali ended up winning anyway! The next night we played again, and she lost, another meltdown !!! I think we just need to play more and more!

On another Mali note, she amazes me at her creativity! She is so good at imagining and drawing. I certainly don't have creativity in the drawing area, so it is really neat to see! Her Grammie and Aunt Zina are pretty artistic, so maybe that is where she "got" it. I just love this girl and love watching her grow and learn. She really is turning into a big girl!

The Good Stuff

Yesterday we had a really good family day! It was such a blessing, and it is pretty obvious what my love language is, since I enjoyed it so much! These moments are rare during football season and with all of our projects, etc. It was nice to do nothing and to actually be in Amarillo...as a family.
We went to church, which didn't last long. We brought both girls into the service to avoid H1N1 contamination, then left for the Cafe and then ended up just going home. While Eleri napped, we had a picnic lunch on the floor and then enjoyed movies all afternoon. I helped Eric with a small project in return for a power nap. I feel like I got some good Mali time in sitting on the couch drinking hot chocolate and eating chips and salsa! The girls actually "played" together. This involved Mali pulling Eleri around in a crate from Eric's weather station box. Then they cuddled with toys and a blanket. It was too cute, the pictures don't do it justice. Eric and I got to dance to Ryan Adams. Apparently, he IS a good dancer, I just can't follow his lead. Hmmm.:) We ended the night with Eric bathing Eleri, a shower/bath with Mali, a warm fire, Amazing Race, and cookies! It was a really nice day!

Spent

I just had to blog this while it was all fresh on my mind, and yes if you are wondering, I'm neglecting my children while I blog. Or maybe I could say I'm encouraging them to play independently! Ha!
Last night I was spent! In the last nine months I've had 9 full nights of sleep. It seems that Eleri's sleeping is actually getting worse. Some nights, I can nurse her and she's right back to sleep. Some nights I've been up every 30 minutes at night with her. Night after night has ern a challenge. I've been recovering from a stomach bug and it has just been a hard time to be a mom of two. The night I was sick, Eleri decided to not sleep and was up for three hours. Eric even helped me. All you moms understand, and I have plenty of you as friends that have been sick recently too. Being a mom and being sick is just not fair! Add on top of that, the fact that I've been up a lot with Eleri in the middle of the night and haven't been able to get the rest I need. Eric was out of town in Lubbock for a game, so I was excited all day about putting the girls to bed early and myself going to bed early, even foregoing a shower just to crawl in my cozy, cushiony bed a few minutes sooner. Well, Mali came yelling into the room as soon as I got Eleri to sleep about a dog outside. Needless to say, Eleri woke up and was ready to go! About 20 minutes later, Eric came home. Both girls were so excited to see their daddy that there was no bedtime in site for either of them. My attitude was horrible towards Eric at first, and I did have to apologize. I just wanted to go to bed, but he was thrilled that he had gotten home earlier than expected and would get to see his girls since he wouldn't get to see them until Saturday some time. That's when the attitude started, and it continued throughout the night, the multiple times I was up with Eleri and then with Mali when she had to go to the bathroom in her sleepwalk state. At 5am, Eleri would not go back to sleep. I felt myself getting angry at her, which is so irrational. She is just a baby, I kept saying, but I couldn't stop feeling angry, and so I put her in her crib. I took a mom time out while she watched her peaceful projector, and then got her about 30 minutes later. Then Mali got up at 6am! I was so struggling with my attitude. I realized that it all had to do with expectations and selfishness. I had expected to go to bed early and was mad about that, I had expected to go back to sleep at 5am and was mad about that. It was also selfishness. I had started thinking about how much I needed sleep and how sick I had been and what I needed! All this thinking is so wrong and had led to my wrong attitude and anger! I knew that I needed to be thankful and was trying so hard! I also, in my irrationality I must admit, became worried about SIDs and how devastated I would be. So I did check on Eleri, who has been fine! I was trying so hard to pull myself out of this! And, after talking with Beth, I realized that I was also angry at God. I had begged him to let Eleri go back to sleep and He didn't answer my prayer! Didn't he know I needed sleep, and that if I didn't get sleep I wouldn't recover and my immune system would be compromised? I certainly had a lot to deal with this morning in my attitude. Several of my friends, actually I must say, all of my friends, have had pile on top of pile of things to deal with and has left us questioning why God has done this to us, and not looking at what God has done for us...like our beautiful, healthy children that we really cherish. We just all seem to be stuck under the piles of sickness, sleeplessness, swine flu, and sucking issues!
Then, God showed me this verse when I went to His Word "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it." I Thessalonians 5:23. So in the last 24 hours I've been very much guilty and full of blame! But God IS faithful and he WILL do it and keep my spirit, soul and sick, tired body blameless if I rest in Him.
So the solution that Beth and I came up with on the phone today...venting is ok and necessary. Satan wants us to be angry at God and believe his lies. I need to replace Satan's lies with truth,but Satan knows in my emotional/too tired state I don't go to that truth but rely on my own fleshly feelings. Be thankful for what God does give us, don't expect an early bedtime, but be thankful when we get it. We need a break, but may not get one, rest in His strength and wait patiently for when the break comes.
I'm praying Peace over all of my friends and myself. I'm amazed at just how reading God's truth has settled my soul, spirit and body. And how it has refreshed me to keep on going. And, how talking with a friend has made me realize that I'm normal and that we were able to laugh at our crazy thoughts and irrationality but to encourage each other in choosing God's way, not our own.
Now back to my precious, precious gifts. Holding my sweet, squishy little baby and watching and laughing at Mali as she sings and pretends!
Also, in case anyone is wondering, I will not be receiving the Mom of the Year award again this year...there is always next year!:)

The Hulsey's

This weekend, we celebrated Kisha and Josh's marriage with a reception in Dalhart. Kisha looked beautiful and the girls had fun. Eleri slept through most of it and Mali danced the night away...at least until 9:30. It was a good family weekend and we were thankful to spend so much time with Auntie Kisha. Here are several of my favorite pictures from the event...and this was also my first try at photography outside of my own family. It was fun, and I hope I gave them enough good pictures!

AHS Pep Rally Video

Here is video clips from Mali's performance today at the Amarillo High pep rally! Blow Sand Blow and beat Midland High!!!!

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AHS Pep Rally

Today, Mali got to cheer at the Amarillo High pep rally! I was so proud of her, and teared up a little. I started thinking, will she be in high school and I'm still tearing up when she plays/performs??? I was very proud of her and I'm thankful that God is teaching me to be excited about what she is excited about! (Cheerleading is not my personal thing, but she did great!)
Here are some pictures. Mimi and Papa came down and surprised her by watching! And, as you can see, Eleri slept through Mali's performance.

You be the judge

Yesterday, Eleri wore one of Mali's outfit so I just had to share the pictures of each one in this super cute outfit. Mali was exactly 11 months (2 1/2 months older than Eleri is now). Eleri is 8 1/2 months. You be the judge of whether or not they look alike:
AND I WANT COMMENTS!!! NO MORE OF THIS READING MY BLOG WITHOUT COMMENTING!:) Just kidding of course! But I would love opinions on the girls!

Cheerleading Camp

Saturday Mali went to her first ever cheerleading camp! She was pretty cute! Mali said her favorite part was eating cookies. Sounds about like Mali!:) Here are pictures and video of her performance. Grandpa and Nana even stopped by to watch! Mali might have received little bit of special treatment for being a coach's daughter too! But it was cute. The first video clip, YES it is sideways from my iPhone, is the cheerleaders putting Mali up! She loved it and just said "blow sand blow" on her own and made the cheerleaders laugh. The rest of the clips are from their performance!

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Its Winter Time!

It is officially winter in the Panhandle of Texas...its been in the 30's the last few days! We have been blessed with plenty of firewood for the rest of the winter! Yesterday, my dad surprised us by dropping off a ton of firewood. We have enjoyed having fires the last two days and we are so thankful for the wood!!!

What it looks like to be a coach's daughter

During football season, Eric spends a ton of time in his office. Yesterday, while Mali was at cheer camp, Eleri and I brought Eric lunch. Here Eleri is watching film with Eric and then playing in Eric's "playpen"!:)


And, after Eric's games Mali can't wait to run and greet him on the field. Friday, she got to help him carry the game balls back to the office.

Guilt

Guilt...I'm the queen of it, and it has been hitting me particularly hard since Eleri's birth. If you regularly read my blog you may have read some similar posts. But God has really been dealing with me on this one. I've realized that having this guilt...this stronghold...is a serious sin in my life. I remember someone once said that "conviction is from God and guilt is from Satan." I want to be aware of what God is convicted me of and change, but I also heap on a TON of guilt on top of myself and some times that guilt can become debilitating. Confession is part of dealing with my sin...so I guess this is me venting but at the same time confessing and at the same time, maybe, giving encouragement or at least allowing others to know they aren't alone in these feelings...unless of course I'm the only one that feels like this!:) So what is some of my guilt? Well, leaving the girls in the nursery is one of them. My motives and intentions are perfectly good, I think, but still a stronghold. God told me to be a stay at home mom and so I want to give 100%, I know that this is a short season and I'm committed to giving all that I have for those very few years that I have the girls solely at home. So, I don't want to spend every day placing them in the nursery at church so that I can have some me time. There is nothing wrong with that and I have plenty, okay all, my friends that love and cherish and need that time. I feel differently. It leaves me feeling guilty and sometimes sick that I'm not doing my job. Which, when I examine it, means that I'm placing all responsibility upon myself for raising these girls. Yes, it is my job and I am responsible, but God is the one who will work in my girls and through me. By clinging so tightly to them, I'm actually exercising a form of pride...thinking I'm the only one that can give my girls what they need. Uugh! I could cry! Isn't it true though? Aren't I their mother? This is just what God is dealing with me on right now! And, my absolutely best friend was used in part of this process of conviction! I love Carrie because she tells me the truth, even when it isn't easy!:) Carrie helped me to see that sometimes we parent our children with our fears...so I'm afraid of my children being rejected by me so that is part of my issues with leaving them in the nursery, I don't want them to feel rejected!
I also feel guilt about not giving a 100% to Mali. Nearly every night I could lie in bed upset that I didn't read a single book to Mali or I told her "just a minute" too many times during the day. I also feel a ton of guilt that I'm constantly multi tasking with Eleri. I spent so much one on one time with Mali as a baby, but rarely give that to Eleri. I feel so much guilt about this and worry about our bonding because of it! I also feel guilty that I don't pray for Eleri like I did for Mali. Only time will tell though, and I imagine there will not be a perceivable difference in the girls as they get older.
I also feel guilt about: the piles of papers that need to be filed, that I forget a million things a day, that I'm not the best wife, that I forget about my friends, that I forget to pray for my friends, that I leave the girls to work an hour a day, that I don't always pick up Eleri when she cries when I'm working, that my brain is mush about 110% of the time, that I have debt....so the list could go on! BUT HERE IS THE TRUTH....
God has been showing me scripture and reassuring me with truth.
Through BSF:
Do I have this need that I have to be everything to everyone? This is NOT biblical thinking. I'm not called to do everything, but I am called to do specific things.
God's opinion of us is really all that matters, because at any given time you will either be thinking too little or too highly of yourself.
Knowing the truth about yourself is knowing who you are and who you are not. (I'm keeping a list of WHO I AM and WHO I AM NOT as I come across scripture with those truths).
Our deepest need is not to be on top politically to have everything we want, or to be free from hardships. Our need is to be cleansed by God.
Scripture:
Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God
2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us

Okay, well its not as well shared as I had anticipated as this has been building in my head, but its out there, and the girls are up!:)

Moving on up

This weekend I moved Eleri out of her infant carrier to a big girl car seat! I can't believe it is already that time. It has already had some negative consequences, primarily that if she falls asleep taking Mali to preschool I have to get her out of her carseat resulting in waking her up. But what can I do? Such is the life of a second born!
Here is a last picture of her in her carrier! She always held on to the sides like this! Maybe I'm a bad driver????

WHAT is this?

Today we came home from bible study and I was throwing something in the trash and happened to find a CHUNK of hair. I looked at Mali and asked her what it was. She matter-of-factly informed me that it was her hair. And from where??? Mali pointed out to me the left side of her head where she had cut, but I couldn't really tell. What I was most shocked about was 1. I didn't even notice 2. I have NO idea when she did this. Oh the memories! I'm just thankful it has taken her 5 years to figure out that she can cut her hair!

Sisters

Here is a video of our recent sister interactions! Eleri seems to be fighting back and lets Mali know when she doesn't like something. I think we have two equally strong willed girls on our hands! However, I am really enjoying watching them play together!

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Eleri video

Here are video clips of Eleri at 8 months old!

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Friends

We have amazing friends!!! God has blessed me throughout my life with wonderful, godly friends to encourage me, sharpen me, spur me on, love on me, and just have fun with me! While Eric ventured to Mexico for 24 hours, we ventured to Lubbock for 24 hours. We hadn't met Baby Grant Dallas yet! So there was definitely an excuse for our visit! We were blessed to stay with Angie and Graham Hill and Jackson. Angie and I were college roommates. Jackson is 3 and is just so cute. He is so well spoken and smart and adorable. Much to my surprise, Angie is expecting their second baby in April! We had fun talking and watching our big kids play together. We were also there to help Beth while Tim worked some. It was a little bit of a crazy household with 6 kids among us, but we got some visiting in and the kids didn't fight at all! I was able to help Beth with the craziness of getting the big kids to school, at least I hope I helped! We got to visit with Melissa and Mailey too while Zach and Calyn were at pre-k. Beth took Grant to the hospital for the weight check clinic and we got some good visiting time in while we wrangled the four kids between us! Then we all met for lunch. We ate at McCallister's with 11 kids among us (one was in utero). An employee actually stopped by to tell us how well mannered our kids were! It must have been a good day!:) However, I'm sure they weren't so thrilled with our kids once we left and they had to clean up all of Eleri's puffs and the remnants of oozing jelly from 5 pb&j sandwiches! It was a fun trip!