Beautiful Disaster

Joshua's First Day of Preschool!

2010-09-13T16:54:00.008-05:00

Today I "officially" started homeschooling Joshua. As parents, we are our childs' first teacher - so technically I've been homeschooling Joshua for the last 4 1/2 years, but I digress.

Here is Joshua all dressed up with his backpack.

Rachel wanted to wear her backpack too!

Rebekah bounced in the doorway as Joshua & I made waffles (see previous post) and counted all the measurements of the ingredients.

After breakfast, Joshua played Chutes & Ladders to help him count to 100 while I made all those waffles!

Then it was "Time 4 Learning" computer time!

After I got Joshua started on a lesson upstairs, it was time to feed Rebekah some rice cereal.

She is such a good eater!

And such a happy baby!

I sure do love my camera. It makes everyone look good. It even blurs out the background so you can't see that although the pictures I post may look like I have it all together.....my house is a mess most of the time.

After Rebekah's feeding, Joshua worked on some writing sheets and dot to dot worksheets to strengthen his fine motor skills needed for writing. And then before we knew it it was time to make dinner. Tomorrow, we will do it all over again!

Making Waffles!

2010-09-13T15:17:00.008-05:00

I've been having fun experimenting in the kitchen and watching all kinds of cooking shows on The Food Network. One of my favs is "Good Eats" with Alton Brown. His episode about making your own waffles was intriguing since we go through a good amount of waffles per week here in the Bailey household. During one of my weekly phone calls with my grandmother, we got on the subject & long story short - she sent me her mother's old waffle iron (that would be my great-grandmother).

Wahoo! Brian & I anxiously waited for the UPS man to deliver it and were so excited to have homemade waffles for a fraction of the store bought kind! So today I made a triple batch to freeze. The recipe and photos are as follows (Remember this is a triple batch):

3 Cups each of All-Purpose & Whole Wheat Flour

9 Tbs Sugar, 3 tsp Kosher Salt, 3 tsp Baking Powder, 1 1/2 tsp Baking Soda

6 Cups Buttermilk

9 Whole Eggs

6 oz Melted Butter

Mix the dry ingredients together first then whisk eggs in separate bowl. Slowly whisk melted butter into eggs, then slowly add buttermilk. Add wet ingredients into the large bowl containing the dry ingredients and gently mix together.

While still lumpy, let the mixture rest for 5 minutes

Turn on & preheat your waffle iron

Spray with nonstick spray and scoop mixture into waffle iron.

When (and only when) the light indicates the waffle is done, open and see your delicious waffle!

Let cool completely & slice apart.

Freeze & never buy Eggos again!

Clearly the kids enjoyed them!

Time 4 Learning Product Review

2010-09-10T15:11:00.000-05:00

I recently had the opportunity to let Joshua test the Time 4 Learning online curriculum and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. Joshua has always loved using the computer so I knew this would be a good fit. He finished half of the Level 1 Preschool units on the first day! I had trouble getting him to only do a few units at a time because he loved them so much.

The small issues I have:

Subjects - Being that Joshua is Preschool aged, the amount of subjects are limited. I would like to see that level expanded. (There are tons of units for K-8)
Reports - It seems that there are no reports available for the Preschool level and I would love to be able to track his progress more. (I understand reports are available for K-8)
Passing A Unit - Joshua had particular difficulty getting the hang of patterns. When given the choice of what comes next, he would often choose the wrong one first. Then he would choose the right one because there was no other choice. He did this for almost every question, but was still given a "check mark" that he finished that unit. I would love it if there was a way to not give a child the "check mark" until they answered the questions correctly at least a passing percentage of the time or if there were a report showing that he does not have comprehension in that area, so I know to make him go back & do that exercise again.

Things I love:

Each lesson was fun, kept his attention all while teaching him fundamental subjects.
Ease of use! This is such an easy and comprehensive curriculum!
Joshua LOVES it. And that really says it all. Joshua is retaining the things he's learned and having a blast at the same time, so to me - it's completely worth the money.

I highly recommend this as a comprehensive curriculum to anyone homeschooling or looking to enhance their child's public school learning.

Wanna see if Time 4 Learning is right for you? Visit their website and sign up. They have a money-back guarantee. I believe you'll be glad you did. I sure am!

Homeschooling Adventure Begins...

2010-08-01T22:11:00.002-05:00

With back-to-school around the corner I've been researching Pre-K curriculum and I've been invited to try Time4Learning's online curriculum for one month in exchange for a candid review. My opinion will be entirely my own so be sure to come back and read my experience with Time4Learning's educational program. Click to find out more or if you would like to apply to be considered for a review.

Rebekah's First Field Trip

2010-04-22T23:55:00.001-05:00

We took a field trip to ride the train and play at Brackenridge Park. It was Rebekah's first big trip out. She's still so tiny in her car seat!

Cousin Tyler & Cousin Ryder
Auntie Heather & Cousin Summer

What you talkin' bout mama?

Cousin Ryder & Uncle Chris

Joshua sitting in a seat named after him!

The family minus Brian (he was at work that day)

Beans!

2010-04-19T23:26:00.001-05:00

My sister & the kids all came over for a playdate. We decided to bust out the Bin-O-Beans to keep the kids busy. Home made sensory games at work!

Rebekah Grace has arrived

2010-04-04T22:40:00.002-05:00

Rebekah Grace 6lbs 7oz and 20 in

Born at 10:15am on Easter Sunday!

Rachel's 2nd Birthday & Joshua's 4th Birthday

2010-03-11T20:35:00.003-06:00

Rachel in her 311 shirt

Wondering what we're all doing...

Seriously, what are you guys doing?

Time to eat cake!

Presents with cousins & Granny

Fire Hoses & Faces

2010-02-25T16:46:00.005-06:00

We went on a tour of our local firehouse today with my MOMS Group. Heather, Chris & the kids came along as well. We had lots of fun learning about fire safety and when to use 911.

Here are the kids with Fireman Eddie.

Here is Joshua with Fireman Eddie.

Rachel is smiling as usual.

Ryder is....well I'm not sure what he's doing...

Such a happy girl.

The kids listening to Fireman Eddie talk....well Heather was listening.

Joshua was so excited to sit inside the Fire Engine.

Watching how they attach a hose to the engine to pump water.

Rachel trying to wink at the firemen.

Tyler got to shoot the fire hose! It really made his day.

See I was really there too.

The whole group in front of the Fire Engine. Rachel isn't too sure about Fireman Eddie, even though his mannerisms reminded us of Dad.

That was our first field trip to a fire station. We really enjoyed it and can't wait to go again in the future!

Sibling Rivalry?

2010-02-11T20:12:00.002-06:00

We have been blessed with two children who get along for the most part. Oh sure they have their moments, but they are finally to the ages where they can play together. Here they are the other day playing in a box. Remember back in the day when we would in boxes or built forts with blankets & chairs? I love turning off the tv and letting the kids just play with their toys and their imaginations. They come up with the funniest stuff!

Learning is Fun!

2010-01-21T19:38:00.001-06:00

My sister and I took our kids back to The Witte Museum for some fun and learning.

Here is Rachel playing in the water.

Check out the red highlights in her hair!

Joshua watching the water fall out of the top of the turbine.

Joshua spinning the wheel to close the waterway.

Tyler

Summer

Rachel & Ryder

Happy Birthday Jesus!

2009-12-25T22:06:00.013-06:00

The kids woke up this morning around 8am and we went downstairs for our traditional birthday cake for breakfast.

We sang "Happy Birthday" to Jesus and
then Joshua blew out the candles.

Rachel really enjoys this family tradition!

My wonderful husband Brian
Rachel double-checking to make sure
it's okay to tear the wrapping paper.
She eventually got into the swing of things.
Joshua playing with his pop gun from Granny & Grandad
Rachel playing with her baby doll from Nana & Papa
Joshua excited to open his new toy - a Leapster2
Rachel's new wooden kitchen set - isn't it adorable????Merry Christmas Everyone!

Christmas Pictures 2009

2009-12-22T22:47:00.002-06:00

Here are Christmas pictures of the kids. Don't they look so grown up?
I can't believe how fast time is going by....

My New Present

2009-12-21T20:32:00.002-06:00

I got an early Christmas gift to myself (with help from Grandma's Christmas Money) - a new lens for my camera. It's the one MckMama recommends for getting those sought after blurry backgrounds. I've been taking lots of pictures trying to perfect my craft. These are some pictures of the kids from last week.

Museum Fun.....For FREE!

2009-12-01T20:16:00.001-06:00

I love taking the kids out to visit places and discovered that the Witte Museum is free on Tuesdays from 3pm to 8pm. Needless to say we will be making many more trips to The Witte in the future!

In the HEB Treehouse, they have a light-up dance floor where you chase the lights and stomp on them. The kids LOVED it!

There's all kinds of things to learn about at the museum. Joshua made a light bulb turn on just by spinning the wheel!

Rachel played with Lincoln Logs and ran around with Joshua.

It was a rainy day, but it was a good day. They really had a lot of fun and we can't wait to return.

4 Generations

2009-11-28T19:49:00.004-06:00

While my mom & grandma were visiting we took the
opportunity to get pictures of all 4 generations together.
Here are all the women of the family.

Here I am with my sister & grandma. I'm trying to convince her to move to TX and maybe move into our house! I'd love to have my kids make great memories with her like I did when I was little.

Me and my Mommy
My mommy with her mommy

All 4 Generations

Thanksgiving.....Finally.

2009-11-27T18:15:00.004-06:00

After a horrendous trip, my mom & grandma
finally made it to San Antonio.

All the grandkids were so happy to see them!

The Roadschooling Ryans came to visit.
We were so blessed to fellowship
with them and have the children play together.

Joshua just loves his Great-Nana!
I'm so excited that my sister will be living close to us!
We had so much fun visiting with everyone, it wasn't even that bad having 18 people in our tiny house at once! At least we have more square footage than the Ryan's do in the RV!
We perfected the art of feeding
everyone and making an assembly line.
Here we are with all our kids on the last night of their visit!
We hope they have fun and safe travels and look forward to seeing
them again if they make their way back to Texas.

2009-11-26T18:49:00.002-06:00

it's official, american airlines has ruined thanksgiving. my mom & grandma were supposed to fly in today, but aa's complete & utter incompetence won out.

National Day of Miscarriage & Infant Loss

2009-10-16T10:59:00.002-05:00

This year the day snuck up on me and I forgot to post yesterday. October 15th is the National Day of Miscarriage & Infant Loss so I just wanted to take the time to remember those who have lost a child/pregnancy. Especially those who I know personally: My sister Heather, my friend Jamie who has lost 2 babies, and my mother in law who has also lost 2 babies. Thank you to all who prayed for me during my own miscarriage this last May. We will be reunited with our babies in Heaven. If you are someone or know of someone who has suffered a loss, please feel free to post a comment and I will pray for you. God Bless!

Early Gender Prediction Test #2

2009-09-22T10:55:00.005-05:00

Today I am exactly 10 weeks along, which is the earliest you can do the Intelligender Test. I got this test at our local grocery store when I found out I was pregnant the last time. After we lost the baby, I couldn't bring myself to return it to the store. I've been anxiously awaiting the 10 week mark so I could get an early indication of the gender. We are hoping for a girl, but of course we just want a healthy baby of any gender and already have names for both.

So the 2nd result is...........................GIRL!!!

It was kinda green & kinda orange, so I sent the pic to the Intelligender Customer Service Department, which helps when people aren't sure of the results and this is the email response I got:

Hello,

Based on this picture this is a girl result!

Congratulations and please let us know when you confirm.

The Moms of IntelliGender

So, I still have another 10 weeks until the "big" ultrasound, but it's fun to get a sneek peek at what gender you might be carrying!

Prayers for Heather

2009-09-19T10:52:00.000-05:00

Please keep my sister Heather in your prayers. She miscarried last week. We were excited to be preggo at the same time again. She is keeping busy by getting their home ready to sell, but the heartbreak never fully goes away.

Early Gender Prediction Test #1

2009-09-11T17:23:00.004-05:00

So I had another ultrasound today to make sure the baby was growing at the right rate and to confirm the due date. I was right on the money and am still due April 20, 2010. I got to see the little "gummy bear" (as the Dr called it) moving around & hear a strong heartbeat. I found a cool website that does gender prediction based on heartrate & it says we're having a girl. I'll be doing another gender prediction test in 2 weeks by Intelligender and we'll see if the results are the same. I'll keep you all updated...

Exciting News...

2009-08-17T20:51:00.002-05:00

I know it has been a while since I have posted. A long while. In my last post I asked you to pray for Stellan as he had recently been admitted into the hospital. I'm happy to report that he is recovered and back at home with his family.

And now on to the other exciting news, we are expecting a baby again! Even as I try to type these words, my hands freeze mid-stroke. Some of you know, some of you don't, that we lost our last pregnancy very early on just a few months ago. When I discovered I was pregnant last week I decided that this time I would wait before telling too many people. Sure I phoned my family right away and they were overjoyed with our news, but I felt as if I was holding back. I felt that I couldn't fully embrace the happiness that goes along with such a miracle because there is still such a fresh scar on my heart from the recent loss. "I'll just tell close friends & family" I said, rationalizing. But to do that robs God of the Glory for His miracle. He saw fit to bless us once again with a child. And if He decides to take it away again, that will be His decision and we will accept it. Will we cry? Yes. Will we be angry at God? No. He knows what's best for us and while we don't always understand, we choose to love and obey Him anyway.

So even though at times I catch myself trying to not get "too attached" - I have to just let it all go. I can't live in fear of things that may never happen and I can't put God in a box and tell Him I don't trust that this pregnancy will last. "We walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Cor 5:7 (Thanks sis for reminding me of that today.)

So we thank God for such a wonderful blessing and pray that this pregnancy is smooth and complication-free. We can't wait to meet the next member of our family and see the unique personality that God gave him/her. "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." Psalm 139:13

Emergency Prayer Request - Stellan

2009-07-27T09:38:00.001-05:00

Please pray for Stellan. He was admitted to the hospital a few days ago, but last night was his worst night yet. The Dr. said "He's in bad shape." The family is distraught as you might imagine. Here is the link to MckMama's blog for more specific details of Stellan's latest battle. I will keep you updated as we learn more.

Prayer Request - Pray For Mary

2009-07-23T14:20:00.003-05:00

I received the following email from my friend Hannah requesting prayer for her sister-in-law:

Hi Everyone,

My sister, Mary is in need of dire prayers. Her health is not improving and she has been in the hospital now just shy of a month. Her body is very weak and not getting much stronger. She has just recently developed another infection and cysts in her throat. She remains in good spirit yet I know her spirit struggles. She needs all the prayers and good energy that can be sent her way. Please pray for her recovery and health.

For those of you who are not fully aware of my sister's condition upon admittance to ICU, she went into ER with DKA, unidentified infection, pneumonia and chronic cough. She then developed two more infections, one life threatening that is in her lungs and continued with high blood sugars. She is at Loma Linda Univ. Med. Ctr. in unit 6300.

Thank you for your prayers and please send this to anyone who may wish to pray for her as well.

P.S. Please pray for my parents strength and health through this as well.

Miniature Golf

2009-07-11T18:54:00.004-05:00

We stopped by the local miniature golf course last weekend and had some fun. It was blazing hot, but the kids enjoyed it. We'll be back in the fall when the weather cools off a bit.

Flashback Friday - Nina's Baby Pictures

2009-07-10T06:59:00.000-05:00

Here are some old pictures of mine that I scanned in so everyone can see just how much Rachel looks like me when I was a baby.

4th of July Pics

2009-07-09T14:28:00.002-05:00

Here are some pictures of adorable Rachel from 4th of July.

Vote for "The Herd"

2009-07-06T06:51:00.002-05:00

My friend Bridget has entered her adorable family in Chick-Fil-A's "Show Us The Cow" contest. They're currently in 11th place! Please go here and vote for them. The winner gets free food for a year, and with 5 little mouths to feed, she really needs to win! Please go vote!!

**Remember to click on the confirmation email they send you so that your vote counts! And if you have more than one email account (work/home) you can vote with each one!**

Independence Day - 2009

2009-07-04T06:44:00.001-05:00

The 4th of July has always been one of my favorite holidays. Not only does it mean that my birthday is 12 days away, but it stands for so much more. I love our country and the freedoms we enjoy, so it's nice to take a day to reflect on what a wonderful nation we live in. I am so thankful that I was born in the United States and not a struggling, violent third world country and I believe that we should help those who also wish to be free from tyranny.

I know that we have Veteran's Day and Memorial Day, but I believe Independence Day is a military holiday just as much as the other two, because we would not be free if it were not for those brave men who shed their blood for us. So tomorrow when you're enjoying the hot dogs & fireworks, take the time to thank an Airman, Marine, Soldier, Sailor or Coastie for their service to our country and for the sacrifice they and their families make for this great nation.

God Bless America!

Summer Fun

2009-06-28T18:44:00.006-05:00

We recently got annual passes to Sea World - San Antonio and have been enjoying the water park for the last few weekends. Here are some pics of the kids playing in the water.

Joshua's First Roller Coaster Ride - He LOVED It!

Ketchup

2009-06-27T18:49:00.002-05:00

I've been really behind so I've added some "ketchup" posts with pictures from the last 3 months. I put the "correct" dates for each of them, so scroll past the Father's Day ones!

Here's a quick pic of Rachel feeding her baby doll.
Isn't that precious? Enjoy!

Father's Day 2009 - Continued

2009-06-21T20:00:00.004-05:00

I just had to post a pic of our BBQ masterpiece. Brian got new BBQ tools (from The Pampered Chef of course!) and broke them in by grilling us some BBQ Bacon Ranch Cheeseburgers. They were to die for! I'm going to have to do step for 2 hours to work this off!

(You have to click on the picture to really see it in all it's glory.)

Father's Day 2009

2009-06-21T11:05:00.008-05:00

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there.
You play an important part in the lives of your children and today is the day we say "thank you."

First to my own daddy - Thank you for always being there for me and for loving me. You are a great father. I know that your own father wasn't a part of your life, but you overcame that and always treated us with love and kindness (and me like a spoiled princess, but let's not get Heather & Beth mad.) I love you! Happy Father's Day!

And to my wonderful husband - Thank you for being such a great dad and the father of my children. I love you more than words can say and I love watching you grow and learn alongside me as we continue on this journey of parenthood. Thank you so much for loving me and our kids. Happy Father's Day!

And to my Brother-in-Law & Father-in-Law - Happy Father's Day!
To my beloved grandpa-I miss you and I'm thinking of you today too!

Playing in the Park

2009-06-07T19:43:00.006-05:00

It was a nice day today, so we decided to take the kids to the park to play. They had a blast!

Easter 2009

2009-06-04T19:14:00.000-05:00

The kids had fun hunting eggs and Rachel was just trying to figure it all out. Please ignore the grass that needs to be mowed so desperately!

Another of my Favorite Things

2009-06-03T09:15:00.003-05:00

We all want to provide our children with the best and safest foods right? Well if you've also followed MckMama for a while, you know she's all about organic foods. Here is her post about how to eat organic foods without breaking the bank. Which leads into one of my favorite things - Fit Wash. People who are worried about pesticides on their fruits & veggies encourage others to wash them well with soap & water. I don't know why, but I have trouble doing this on a regular basis. Maybe I'm lazy or maybe I don't like the taste of soap, but I'm so glad I found Fit Wash.

I found it at Walmart near a display of apples one day & was intrigued by what I read. I didn't buy it that day, but I went home & did some research on the computer. Most organic junkies recommend the soap & water method, but I was really impressed with the scientific studies I found on the Fit Wash website. Also, Fit is endorsed and recommended by food experts everywhere. Fit is the only produce wash certified kosher by the Orthodox Union, Fit is the only produce wash certified vegan and approved by the American Vegetarian Association, Fit is approved by the Vegetarian Society for use on all fruits & vegetables and Fit is the only produce wash endorsed by the Metabolic Code Diet™ and recommended by Laura LaValle, RD, LD, chief clinical nutritionist at the LaValle Metabolic Institute.

I guess it comes down to safety & convenience. I want my food to be safe, and I love that I can keep this handy spray near my sink to quickly & effectivly sanitize my fruits & vegetables! So everyone, Get Fit!

**In no way have I been compensated for this review. I just like sharing my favorite things with you. And besides, I would totally tell you if I got stuff for free!**

Sean Goldman Is Going Home!

2009-06-03T09:08:00.003-05:00

**Update** Another heartbreaking blow to this case, another judge overturned the decision that was to reunite Sean & David. For more updates here is the link to the official website.

Some of you may be familiar with the battle of New Jersy dad David Goldman to be reunited with his son Sean who was kidnapped by his mother a few years ago. The mother fled to Brazil with Sean & then when she died, custody was given to her BOYFRIEND not the boy's father! This story was featured on Oprah (where I saw it) and it compelled me to participate in the letter writing campaign to help bring Sean home. Well it finally worked!!! A Federal Judge in Rio De Janeiro issued an 80 page ruling on Monday 1 June, ordering the return of Sean Goldman to the United States in 48 hours. David left for Brazil Monday evening and will be reunited with Sean Today, June 3rd at 2:00 p.m. local time at the United States Consulate in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. I can't wait to see their reunion!

Sprinklers

2009-05-31T19:28:00.000-05:00

It's not "officially" summer yet, but this is Texas where it's summer all most year-round. Here the kids are trying to cool off by playing in the sprinklers. Notice how I'm trying to use my newly learned "MckMama " photography skills by making the background blurry.

Memorial Day 2009

2009-05-25T10:34:00.004-05:00

Last night I was thinking about Memorial Day and all that it means. I was also thinking about everyone I know who is currently serving or has served the armed forces. There are many who come to mind, but only one that I know personally who was Killed In Action: Abraham Simpson. So in honor of him, I've posted his autobiography and picture. I still can't believe he's been gone for 5 years. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and those of everyone who has a loved one in the armed forces. Thank you for serving our country. You are our heroes!

The Biography of Abe Simpson

Abe was born March 16, 1985 in Fullerton, California. The year he turned 3 his 2nd brother was born, he had moved to Chino Hills with his family, and one night after a Bible story and bedtime prayers he asked Jesus to come and live in his heart. He began attending Calvary Chapel Chino Hills with his family when he was in Kindergarten.

When Abe was in the 2nd grade he went on his 1st backpacking trip with his dad in the San Jacinto Mountains. All he carried in his backpack was a canteen and a teddy bear. Also that year he became one of the founding members of Cub Scout Pack 227 that started meeting at Briggs Fundamental School. His den leader, Dave Carlock, was a Brea Policeman and set such a good example for Abe that he decided one day he would become a policeman, too. That same year he determined that he would first serve his country in the United States Marines.

In the 8th grade Abe's science project on where to place the weights on a pinewood derby car won 1st place at his school and 2nd place in the district. He left the county science fair with a 1st place ribbon.

Abe attended two Christian High Schools where he made lots of friends, Carbon Canyon in Brea and later Southlands in Walnut from which he graduated. Abe was a smart kid, but always fought the image of being intelligent. He just wanted to blend into the group as one of the regular guys.

Also during his high school years Abe served as Senior Patrol Leader of his Boy Scout Troop, and attended Buckskin, a scouting leadership camp, the 1st year as a candidate, and as a staff member thereafter.

In the spring of Abe's junior year he attended a midweek urban evangelism school with his class that changed his life. He later wrote an essay about the experience and told how somehow God touched his heart during that trip and he had been changed forever. When he returned he signed up for every mission trip he could, and enrolled in an evangelism class called "The Call."

Abe joined the Marines in the beginning of his senior year, according to his lifelong plan. He arranged his boot camp entry date so that he could, complete a DVD of his last mission trip to San Jose del Cabo, graduate high school, complete his last session of "The Call," staff Buckskin, hike the sierras with his dad and troop, and have his Eagle Court of Honor before he left.

Abe entered boot camp Monday, August 11th, 2003, graduated boot camp Friday, November 7th, joined 3rd battalion 1st Marines Tuesday, February 10th, 2004, left for Iraq Friday, June 19th, and was killed by a direct hit of a rocket on Tuesday, November 9th during the battle for Fallujah.

In the Marines Abe left a lasting image with those he came to know. He considered the Marines to be a huge mission field, as well as an opportunity to give something back to his country. He was a friend and example to all. Most importantly, he looked forward to one day meeting his Savior face to face, and today that hope has been realized.

Something to smile about

2009-05-19T17:11:00.004-05:00

Brian and I have been saving for months and Friday was the final paycheck before we could go shopping for a new(ish) car. Despite the events of last week, it was nice to get my mind of things. We got lost & ended up finding an out of the way car lot that had exactly what we needed. Everyone there was super sweet and treated us like family. We got an amazing deal on a car I never thought we could afford. It was truly engineered by God. Anyways, here is a picture of our new minivan. Yes, that's right. A minivan. We've become that family...

For those of you who are curious,

it's a 2005 Chrysler Town & Country.

Flashback Friday - 5th Anniversary

2009-05-18T09:49:00.005-05:00

Saturday was our 5 year wedding anniversary. We celebrated by going to the Texas Roadhouse for some steak & ribs. It was really nice to be able to smile after the trying week we had.

Here are some flashback pics from our wedding and the hand ceremony that Mike performed that day.

The Hand Ceremony

Kristina, face Brian and hold his hands palm up so that you may see the gift they are to you. These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong, vibrant with love. These are the hands that will work alongside yours as together, you build your future. These are the hands that you will place against your belly one day until he too feels the child stir within you. These are the hands that are strong and hard yet will so gently hold your babies. These are the hands that will work long hours for you and your children. These are the hands that will wipe away your tears of sorrow and tears of joy. These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes. These are the hands that look so young now, but you will have the joy of watching them grow old and weathered as they are used up in love for you. Kristina, place a kiss in the hand of your love and never forget how precious they are.

Brian, please take the hands of Kristina palms up that you may see the gift they are to you. These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong, vibrant with love. These are the hands that will work alongside yours as together, you build your future. These are the hands that will hold each of your children in tender love, soothing them through illness and hurt. These are the hands that are soft, gentle yet will smell of detergent and bleach at the end of some days. These are the hands that will work long hours making your home for you and your children. These are the hands that will massage tension from your neck and back in the evening as the pressures of life and the responsibility of family bear upon you. These are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick and console you when you are grieving. These are the hands that look so young now. Brian, you shall have the joy of watching them grow old and graceful as they are used up in love for you. Brian, place a kiss on the hand of your love and never forget how precious they are.

Please pray...

2009-05-13T10:14:00.002-05:00

Our little one was not meant to be and was born into heaven yesterday. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

To my dearest Moms on Mother's Day

2009-05-10T10:23:00.004-05:00

Dear Mommy,
Thank you for being the best mommy I could ever have. You taught me that even with a house full of screaming kids, there's no place I'd rather be and to appreciate the sanctity of life. I will forever carry the memories of all the little things you did for us growing up, like our heart-shaped place mats & chocolates at the breakfast bar on Valentine's Day or just wanting to cuddle up with us on the couch. Now that I'm a mother I see myself through your eyes and have a more complete understanding of your love for me. I'm sorry for all the times I made you cry when I was a dumb teenager and I'm sure you can't wait for me to call you when Rachel does the same thing to me. Motherhood has brought us closer than I could have ever imagined and I thank God for choosing me to be your daughter. I love you mommy! Happy Mother's Day!

Dear Heather,
I am also very blessed to have you as my sister and fellow mom. I love that we call each other as much as we do and share advice and mommy dilemmas. You have shown me that even though your journey into motherhood began early and was very difficult, you had the spirit of perseverance. I can't wait until you can come to San Antonio so our children can grow up together. For a few years at least... I love you sis! Happy Mother's Day!

Dear Grandma,
I don't even know where to begin because you have taught me so much. Not just how to sew or bake, but the value of working hard and earning something which is a quality sometimes lost on the current generation. I cherish the wisdom and experience you impart to me whenever I call asking some silly question. I miss living close to you and will continue to beg you to move to San Antonio every time we speak! I have so many loving memories of us and I'm so thankful that you are my grandma. I love you so much! Happy Mother's Day!

Grandma Nori,
Even though you are no longer on this earth, you are forever in my heart. You taught me the power of goofiness. I know you lived a difficult and sometimes painful life, but you were immensely loved by your sons and granddaughters. No matter how bad things get, you remind me to just smile, put a gift wrap bow on my head & stick out my tongue. You've got to be able to smile in the face of adversity. I miss talking to you and hugging you. I see you every day when I see my kids and the traits they possess. I miss you so much! Happy Mother's Day!

And to all the other mothers that I didn't mention: my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law and all my friends who are moms, I hope you have a wonderful day filled with joy and laughter.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

Early Mother's Day Gift...

2009-04-30T12:04:00.002-05:00

Hello everyone,
This isn't the post I was expecting to share today, but you know I can't keep a secret!
Brian and I are expecting our third child!!!

It's still VERY early, but it looks like I'll be due in January 2010. We are thrilled and can't wait to welcome our next bundle of joy!

Looks like I'm going to need a maternity bridesmaid dress at my sister's wedding in October!

Post coming soon...

2009-04-15T08:36:00.002-05:00

Hello Everyone,
I know I'm soooo behind on posting and I have so many pictures to post from our trip to California, Disneyland and Easter. To say that we have been busy would be an understatement, but I am going to try to get some stuff posted soon! =)

The Party and the ER

2009-03-30T11:26:00.004-05:00

Well we had a great party yesterday at my mom's house. The guys BBQ'd, the kids bounced and the rest of us drank sangria and ordered Pampered Chef products. Things were going smashingly until...."SMASH" Joshua fell against a brick planter & split his eyebrow open. Fortunately, it was not a "gusher". Unfortunately, it needed a few stitches. We packed up & headed to the ER. Well actually, first we tried to go to Urgent Care to save us from the $50.00 ER co-pay, but they didn't take our insurance - so we had to go to the ER anyway. It was not too crowded and we got into the triage nurse within 15 minutes. We only spent a total of 2 hours there, which is super fast in ER time. We got away without stitches. They used the surgical super glue to close up his gash. Here are the pics:

The gash

Waiting...

The aftermath...exhausted & sleeping

Ice Cream for our brave boy

Pray for Stellan

2009-03-23T14:58:00.004-05:00

**Update 3/25**
The update is that there really isn't any new information. Stellan is still in SVT and on an array of different medications. This is of course taking a toll on MckMama, so please pray for her and the family too. None of this is a suprise to God, so whatever His plan, we ask for guidance and peace for Stellan's mommy & daddy.

MckMama's precious baby Stellan is in the hospital with SVT (high heart rate) that will not come down. Please pray for him! Here is a link to MckMama's blog & the latest update.

Favorite Things

2009-03-19T10:03:00.002-05:00

So I'm going to take a page from Oprah and tell you one of my favorite things - Mommy Necklaces! About 5 months ago I was desperate to find something that would keep Rachel from pinching & biting me while nursing. I did a search for "nursing necklaces" and found Mommy Necklaces. FINALLY! Necklaces that I could wear everyday that looked fantastic! (Why didn't I think of this???)

These necklaces are safe for babies to play with while nursing. All the components are CPSIA Compliant and they have a nifty breakaway closure so your baby/toddler can pull on your necklace & you don't have to worry about it breaking & beads flying everywhere. I honestly hadn't worn necklaces on a regular basis since Joshua was born because of all the ones he broke! I wish I had known about these 3 years ago!!

Also, In my line of work (Daycare Provider) I'm constantly around kids who are pulling at me. So even when Rachel stops nursing, these will continue to be extremely useful to me.

Another way these are great is for children with special needs. I just enrolled my best friend's son who is autistic. He LOVES necklaces and I don't have to worry about them breaking! He will sit in my lap and play with my necklace for hours.

There's no doubt about it, if you have kids of any age - you need these necklaces! It's totally worth the investment and are cheaper than certain necklaces (that rhyme with "right-on") and these won't break!

Okay, so here's the super fabulous news - they've started a blog & are giving away necklaces to celebrate the kick-off! Just go here and leave a comment to get yourself entered to win! I know you'll love your Mommy Necklace as much as I love mine. (I own 6 already!)

Birthday Parties!

2009-03-16T06:31:00.006-05:00

Yesterday was Joshua & Rachel's birthday parties. It's so nice that they're young enough to have combined parties without them complaining yet. I'm sure that won't be the case as they get older, but whatever.

I tried uploading all the pictures, but blogger is having trouble, so I made a slideshow.

Here is the direct link if the slideshow is taking too long to load.

Flashback Friday

2009-03-14T10:07:00.005-05:00

Sorry this is late, I'm running around going crazy trying

to get the house cleaned for the kids' birthday parties tomorrow!

Since Wednesday is Joshua's 3rd birthday,

here is our firstborn on his actual birth-day.

I was in labor with him for 15hrs and

he was a chunker at 8lbs 12oz!

Happy 311 Day!

2009-03-11T08:32:00.003-05:00

Today is 311 Day. It also happens to be my daughter's 1st birthday. That is no coincidence.

Most of my friends know that 311 has been my favorite band since way back in the day. Here are some other tidbits: My blog "Beautiful Disaster" is named after my favorite 311 song, the verse that describes my blog is taken from Ecclesiastes 3:11 (I was so stoked when I found it and it matches perfectly!), and finally - I had my daughter induced specifically so her birthday would be on 3/11! I know. I need help.

Now I'm not normally that crazy and obsessed, but her due date was so close that I decided to try for it. Brian was like, "There's no way the dr will induce you on whatever day you want." And I'm like, "I'm the one giving birth & I'll have her whenever I want!" Hahaha. It was touch & go there for a while. At my last appt before Rachel was born (a Friday), the dr said I wouldn't make it to my induction day (Tuesday) and that I would probably be seeing him that weekend. I scoffed and said, "No - I will see you on Tuesday." And I did just that. Rachel and I had an understanding. She's been on my side ever since!

She's such a happy and loving baby and I can't believe it's been a whole year already! We are having the kids' birthday party this weekend and I'm praying it doesn't rain (40% chance). I'm going to post some pics today of Rachel in her shirt that says "Birthday Girl" when I get a chance. Until then, crank up the 311 music and have a great day!

Flashback Friday

2009-03-06T07:48:00.004-06:00

I can't believe my baby is growing up so fast!

Next week Rachel will turn 1, so here is a flashback from

one year ago when she was born on 3/11 Day!

Our Hero Has Returned

2009-03-02T11:10:00.005-06:00

My brother-in-law Chris has returned safely from his deployment in Iraq! He came home to Virginia early Saturday morning and the family awoke with excitement. We are so proud of him and happy that he is finally home. My sister Heather has been holding down the fort in his absence and is very happy to have her hubby back! Thank you to everyone who has been praying for him and all of our brave men and women who serve this great country.

Only two people have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the military. Amen!

Recovering...

2009-02-23T07:34:00.002-06:00

Brian & Joshua are still recovering from the flu. Brian is still coughing and Joshua is still cranky and tired. For the time being, Rachel and I have dodged the bullet and do not appear to be getting sick. I hope and pray that we stay healthy. As you other moms out there know, we don't get sick days! ;)

Flashback Friday

2009-02-13T06:07:00.000-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day Y'all!

Okay, sorry about the y'all. Maybe I've been here too long.

Anyways, here is a picture of Joshua from Valentine's Day 2006.

Look at that big round head!

My Weekend

2009-02-09T10:44:00.005-06:00

This weekend I did not do laundry, I did not make dinner, and I did not do much cleaning. I did however sew. I told Brian that I had some sewing projects that I wanted to tackle this weekend and I was going to finish them if it killed me. Well, I survived, but the kids barely did. They were hungry most of the weekend & burned out on Blue's Clues videos I'm sure, but I finished. Here are the fruits of my labor. I'm very proud each of them.

First up is Elodie the Elephant:

This is Millie the Monkey:

And this is Mae:

Now before you ask, No I am not going to start selling these. I have my hands full right now with 2 home businesses and starting one more is not on the agenda. I will however, be making these as gifts for friends birthdays/Christmas presents. The monkey & Mae dolls are for Joshua & Rachel's birthdays next month. So I will be keeping busy making more for my nieces and nephews this year. If you click on the links you will be directed to Bit of Whimsy's Etsy shop where I purchased the patterns. The directions were very easy to follow and I had lots of fun figuring out what fabric I was going to use for each. The hardest part was finding the time to sew, and my husband was great at keeping the kids distracted long enough for me to get them done. I hope you like them!

Flashback Friday

2009-02-06T08:33:00.003-06:00

It's so hard to believe that Rachel is going to be one next month.

In these pictures from January 2007, Joshua

was the same age that Rachel is now.

He looks so cute with his big bald head!

Prayer Request

2009-02-03T07:48:00.002-06:00

I just read a prayer request from Angie on Twitter. Please pray for Yummy Mummy (aka Cynthiaa), she just lost her baby boy Aiden from cord strangulation just 2 weeks before her due date. She had a c-section to deliver him and a photographer from Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep was present. Please pray for her as she is grieving the loss of her precious son.

Flashback Monday?

2009-02-01T22:48:00.005-06:00

Sorry, I forgot to post my Flashback Friday on Friday,

so here it is. Better late than never, right?

I have recently reconnected with my old friend Jenna.

Okay she's not that old, and neither am I, but

we've known each other since I was 5 and she was 1.

Anyways, here are a few pics of us from back in the day.

Here we are at my baby shower for Joshua.

Pay no attention to the fact that my bra is showing.

Or that my neighbor Jessie is about to eat a

yummy sandwich in the background.

Here we are at my parent's house on some random day.

This was New Year's Eve 2001

One of our trips to Las Vegas. This one was April of 2002.

Pay no attention to the cigarette in my hand.

Anyways, It's been a long time and I'm so glad we're back!

I love you Banana!

Flashback Friday

2009-01-23T08:27:00.012-06:00

Monday will be one year since my Grandma Nori passed away and went home to be with Jesus. It's hard to believe that it has been that long. I have a special bond with each of my grandparents and losing two of the three within 6 months of each other was very difficult for me.

I hold one large regret with regard to my Grandma Nori, I never got to interview her the way I had done with my other grandparents. I actually had planned on doing it when we went to California to visit in July 2007, but my grandpa suffered a heart attack and passed away 3 days before we were to make that trip and those plans were put aside. I then resolved to do it when we returned to California for Christmas a few months later, but that was not to be either.

Just a few months after losing my grandpa, my grandma was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer that had spread to her brain. She deteriorated so quickly that by the time we got to California in December, she was in a nursing home and barely hanging on. I'll never forget when my mom took me to see her in the nursing home for the first time. She directed me to the room she shared with another woman. I walked in and looked at each of the women. My grandma was not in there. I backed out and looked at the names listed outside the door and one was clearly marked "Noriko Ishikawa". I walked back in confused. My mother walked toward the first bed and the woman opened her eyes and smiled at me. It was my grandmother, but I had not recognized her. Her hair had fallen out from the chemotherapy and her face had become round from the high calorie meals they were giving her to keep up her weight which had always been 100lbs or less even before the cancer. I smiled and went to her bedside trying to be upbeat, but I wanted to cry. I was devestated by her condition and the realization that she would not live to see Rachel be born. I had only found out I was pregnant weeks before my grandpa passed away and now here was another of my beloved grandparents that would not live to see her bright eyes and beautiful smile.

My grandma was so proud of my and my growing family. I see so much of her in Joshua. He has her nose and silly personality. When referring to my husband Brian, she would always ask "How is your beloved?" She knew I had been waiting for him a long time and rejoiced with us at our wedding.

She would call and leave voicemails asking how I was doing and if I needed any money. She lived on the thinnest budget, but would always try to slip money into my pocket when no one was looking. I always slipped it back when she wasn't looking.

I miss my grandma dearly and I'm crying while writing this post, but at least I have hope in knowing we will be reunited again. She is safe in the arms of our Savior Jesus Christ and finally at peace. She had such a hard life and I'm glad she is now in a place where she can experience true rest.

I honor her by keeping the memories alive in this digital age of technology. Please share these memories with me.

Here she is in the 1970's - check out her friend with the 'fro!

My grandma Nori always wore the most outrageous outfits.

I smile when I think about that.

Here we are in the 1980's - check out the

size of the tape players we had!

This was as taken in the late 1990's.
Heather was pregnant with Tyler at the time
and one of her relatives was visiting from Japan.

This is all three of my grandparents visiting Heather
in the hospital after Tyler was born in November 1999.

This was at a Japanese restaurant for her birthday.
She was upset because the chef was Korean and not Japanese.

This is me with my grandma at Heather's civil wedding ceremony in July of 2001.

This is us at my wedding in May 2004.

Here she is with her great-grandson Joshua after
we came home from the hospital in March of 2006.

Here we are after my grandpa's funeral in July 2007.

My dad with his mom.

Me with my first born son and her with hers.

Happy and smiling with all her great-grandchildren.

Thank you grandma Nori for being a true survivor and

teaching me to enjoy my children and embrace the silliness.

I am in love...

2009-01-21T09:13:00.005-06:00

with my new toys! You can call them late Christmas presents, but I call them both great deals! I've been saving up for a little while and finally got a new (sort of) vacuum and camera. My vacuum is the Consumer Guide #1 rated Kenmore Progressive that I got on eBay. It is so cool! It has IntelliClean technology that lights up when there is more dirt in an area that it is picking up so you know to keep vacuuming until it's all gone. My carpets have never been cleaner. Except when they were new and before we had kids. But you know what I mean.

And my other new (sort of) toy is my Canon Rebel XTi

with Sigma 18-125mm lens. I also got this on eBay for a steal!

It was still expensive of course, which is why I had to save up.

Here are some of the amazing pictures I've taken

while I'm still learning to use it.

Praying for our President

2009-01-20T07:28:00.002-06:00

Today is Inaguration Day and now more than ever, America needs your prayers. The Bible says that we should pray for our leaders and those placed in authority over us. Please take a few minutes (preferably with your spouse and/or children) to pray for Barack Obama, his incoming cabinet members and this great nation. Also, please head over to this website to register your name and commit to pray for our new president and our country.

God Bless America!

Flashback Friday

2009-01-16T06:18:00.001-06:00

Since most of the country is freezing cold I thought

I'd post some pictures from my honeymoon in Hawaii.

Here we are at Waimea Canyon, dubbed the

"Grand Canyon of the Pacific" by Mark Twain

This is us at Fern Grotto where Elvis filmed "Blue Hawaii"

Here we are at our luau. The food was delicious!

And so were the Mai Tai's!
Our helicopter ride. It was scary, but super fun
and a must-do if you ever visit Kauai.
Actual pictures we took from the helicopter.

Our last day in Kauai.
Our last sunset on Barking Sands beach.

Flashback Friday

2009-01-09T06:48:00.000-06:00

Since Rachel has been sprouting new teeth this past week, lets go back in time.

Here's a picture of Joshua showing off his new teeth from 2 years ago.

No More Yard Sales?

2009-01-05T08:48:00.002-06:00

I just found out some disturbing news. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act is set to go into effect February 10, 2009. Here is some facts that I learned from Liz:

Any item being made for anyone 12 and under must go through third party testing to test for the presence of lead
Any item being made for anyone 3 and under must also go through third party testing for the presence of phthalates
ALL products being sold after February 10, 2009 must meet these standards and be labeled as such
This includes ALL items manufactured prior to February 10, 2009
Regardless of testing of item components the FINAL product must also be tested
This will include any items sold at thrift store, consignment stores, ebay, craigslist, etsy, and yard/tag sales
Millions of items will have to be cleared from the shelves of stores and sent to the landfill, as they will not be allowed to donate these goods either
Thousands of stores and small business will close shop
The price of clothing and toys (new) for children will go up, but there will be no where to buy anything used, at least not for a significant period of time
There has been no attempt to make testing accessible for small businesses and manufacturers who wish to be compliant
There has been no clear communication with regards to what is really required, by whom and when

I do understand the intent of this law/act is to protect our children, but sadly it is horribly short sighted.

I have already written my local congressman and encourage you to do the same. Please get the word out because this will negatively affect our economy and those less fortunate than us who depend on thrift stores for their children's clothing. Here is a link to find out who your congressman is.

Stellan Is Home!

2009-01-02T18:45:00.002-06:00

Stellan has been given a clean bill of health and discharged from the hospital! Thank you to all the prayer warriors out there!

Flashback Friday

2009-01-02T06:02:00.000-06:00

This is a picture from New Year's 2001.

It's crazy to think that it was 8 years ago!

From left to right are: My mom, me, Jenna, my sister Heather & my sister Beth.

Congratulations to Beth and Hal who got engaged on December 30th!

May everyone have a wonderful and blessed 2009!

Stellan Update

2008-12-31T15:36:00.003-06:00

**Another Update** Stellan is doing so good!!! Going home tomorrow is a distinct possibility.

**Almost Home** Stellan had a good night off o2! Once he slows his breathing rate and starts retracting a bit less, he can go home!

**Great News** Stellan is OFF oxygen still...for a few hours now. Holding his own o2 sats steady at 95 with no help!

**Another Update** Stellan was moved straight to the floor! Praise the Lord!

Stellan is being moved to the step-down ICU!! (And quite possibly soon to "the floor," where all of the regular pediatric patients are.) He has most certainly turned the corner in starting to kick this RSV and is getting much closer to being out of the woods. Hip, hip, hooray!!

Emergency Prayer Request

2008-12-29T18:33:00.002-06:00

**Update** Stellan is still in the Pediatric ICU and his blood gases are still very low. He did not have to be put on a ventilator after all, but all the equipment is out just in case. He is not allowed to eat or even have sugar water which is very hard for his mother to watch as her baby boy cries for her breastmilk. We are confident that God will see him through this battle. Please continue to pray for his breathing problems and his family who is wracked with distress over this tiny guy. More updates to come as things progress.

Please pray for baby Stellan. He is in the ICU with RSV and things are not looking good at all. He has been put on a ventilator because his oxygen saturation is so low. I will be updating my blog as I know more, but here also is the link to MckMama's blog.

Merry CHRISTmas!

2008-12-26T16:20:00.001-06:00

I hope everyone had a great Christmas. Here are some pictures from the past few days:

Joshua with a book from Nana on Christmas Eve.

Rachel and her new purse.

Our birthday cake.

Joshua enjoying chocolate cake on Christmas morning.

My favorite family tradition!

Opening presents on Christmas morning.

Joshua playing with his new baseball set.

Rachel on her new ride toy.

Me & Rachel outside Target the day after Christmas.

So tired from all the shopping!

All my loot!

I would have posted sooner, but our internet just came back up. The neighbor's dog keeps digging up & destroying our internet wire, so the past few days have been like living in the stone age! Anyways, we love you all.

The Mother Letter

2008-12-23T17:17:00.002-06:00

A wonderful man started "The Mother Letter Project" as a gift for his wife this Christmas. I wanted to participate and here is the letter I wrote and submitted (Warning-it's long). It is an open letter to all mothers. If you are a mother, I encourage you to submit your own letter. Everyone who submits a letter before Christmas will get an electronic copy of all the Mother Letters (over 500!) What an amazing thing to share with future generations.

Thank you to all the mothers out there, especially to my own mommy. I love you very much! I'll write you your own letter one day, but I've already cried writing this one, so I'm all cried out for today. ;)

Dear Mother,
Do you know how fast time goes by when you are a mother? Scientifically it does not move any faster than before you had children, but it sure seems that way. Do you remember staying awake all night on Christmas Eve because you were too excited to sleep and you watched the clock tick so slowly you were sure the battery had died and time was standing still? Do you remember how long it used to take for summer vacation to come during the school year?

Growing up I couldn’t wait to be a mother. My youngest sister was born when I was six years old, so I had my own personal baby doll. Truth be told, she didn’t learn to walk or talk on time because I carried her everywhere and knew what each of her whines and grunts meant. We had our own secret sister language.

In high school everyone was focused on finding the career field they wanted to pursue after graduation. Me? I just wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. There’s no job fair for that position. I took home economics and cared for the “flour-bag baby”, but it’s not the same.

My middle sister got pregnant at 19 and once again I had my own "baby doll" to help take care of. I loved every minute of it.

Time still moved so slowly back then. When would I meet the man who would become my husband? When would I get to be a mother? Years went by and my heart ached for a child. I was sick of being single.

Finally I realized that I would never find my husband in the places I was looking. What my heart really ached for was God. He was calling me. I was finally done pushing Him away.

He gave me my husband in May of 2004. We wanted to wait at least a year before we started a family so we could have some “us” time before we were overrun with little ones. Time couldn’t have moved slower.

Finally we began trying. Each month came and went with no blue line on the pregnancy tests. I knew something was wrong. The thing I wanted most was not coming to pass. I couldn’t wait the whole year before seeing a doctor. She agreed to run a blood test on my hormone levels to placate me. “The test will come back normal, and then you’ll just have to wait to come see me after it’s been a year.” Then, two weeks later she called me at work. “I guess you found something.” I said. I was not producing any FSH hormone, therefore I was releasing no eggs. I had to have an MRI done to make sure I didn’t have a brain tumor that was affecting the gland responsible for the FSH hormone. The results would take another agonizing 2 weeks.

The good news: You do not have a brain tumor. The bad news: We don’t know why you aren’t releasing eggs. I made an appointment with a fertility specialist to go over our options. There was a long waiting list. I don’t do well with waiting as you can imagine.

In the meantime, we had been given the opportunity to go on a mission trip to Germany with our church. The scenery was beautiful, the food was wonderful, but the weather was humid and the enemy was attacking me. Everywhere I looked I saw mothers with their children. I tried to focus, but one night I just broke down crying. The women prayed over me and shared their experiences. I felt loved and comforted. The next day our pastor also prayed for me with his hand on my belly, asking for healing and a miracle.

Just a few days later was our free day to sightsee and shop. I realized the date and a voice inside me said to take a pregnancy test. I argued with myself to just wait until we were back home to take one. There’s that waiting thing again. I can’t wait. I have to know now! So I went to a drugstore and bought a pregnancy test. It was in German. I had two choices: Schwanger or Nicht Schwanger. I didn’t need to speak German to see two lines. This couldn’t be. I went right back to that drug store and bought another test. The checkout person gave me the funniest look. I put the second test in my backpack and went to take a nap. I was sure I was just hallucinating the second line because I wanted it so badly. I woke up and took the second test and it also showed two lines. I started crying. This time it was tears of joy. I told my husband and we were ecstatic. We got our miracle.

Joshua was born in March of 2006 followed by Rachel in March of 2008. Maybe we’ll try for one more in March of 2010 just to make things even.

Being a mother is everything I ever dreamed it would be. Even when it’s hard and I’m sleepwalking at the 3am feedings. Even when I’m scolding my two year old to stop being mean to his sister. I’m so grateful and blessed.

But then there’s that time thing again. It flies by at a rate I never imagined. I blink and my baby boy is reciting the alphabet. I blink and my baby girl is cruising around and babbling mama.

I’m one of the fortunate ones. I have the luxury (and it truly is a luxury) of being a stay-at-home mom. My dream finally came true. And I try not to forget it. I have my own home daycare that allows me to be home with my children every day, but I see the pain in the eyes of the mothers that leave their babies with me.

Time moves fast when you are a mother. So savor and appreciate every moment. Even the bad ones. Even the sad ones. Even the messy ones. Because for every moment you cherish with your kids, there are thousands who would give anything to have one more moment with the children they lost.

Love,
Kristina Bailey

Flashback Friday

2008-12-19T06:20:00.000-06:00

I can't believe Christmas is less than a week away. Here are some old pictures I found of Christmas 1985 - that's right, I said 1985. Thats 23 years ago people!

Here I am as Mrs. Claus in my elementary school Christmas play.

Here are me and my sisters.
Here I am sitting on my grandma's lap.

This will be our first Christmas on our own. Unfortunately we weren't able to make it back to California this year, but we will be visiting at the end of March 2009.

I'll update everyone more on our upcoming trip in future posts.

Until then, Merry CHRISTmas!

Baking with 2 year olds...

2008-12-18T11:35:00.005-06:00

Today we are baking cookies.

Here is Joshua helping me in the kitchen.

Don't worry, I put that in the sink afterward.

Rachel laying on the floor putting God knows what in her mouth!

Oops! This is what I was dreading...

The finished product

Yum! I hope these last...

My new blog makeover!

2008-12-15T15:46:00.002-06:00

I just got my new blog makeover installed, isn't it terrific?!?! It's one of my Christmas presents. Danielle did an amazing job. I love it!

Flashback Friday

2008-12-12T06:28:00.000-06:00

Here is me as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in the Chino Christmas Parade way back when I was in Girl Scouts. Brownies to be exact.
I'd also like to give a shout-out to my friend Marcie who is also in the picture and who I had lost touch with many years ago. We ended up on the same mommy board when we were pregnant with our first born sons and due in March 2006. I recognized her maiden name from her username & messaged her to see if it was her, and it was! She was living in Ohio! What a small world!

Merry Christmas!

AJ Update

2008-12-11T09:15:00.002-06:00

AJ has just been discharged from the hospital! They have adjusted his asthma medication and he will have to be given nebulizer treatments on a daily basis from now on to control his asthma. Hopefully those changes will keep him from suffering from any more breathing problems in the future.

Advent Conspiracy

2008-12-11T07:18:00.002-06:00

This is a video I saw on Angie's blog. Hopefully it will change the way you think about Christmas. Don't forget to scroll to the bottom & pause my music first!

Emergency Prayer Request

2008-12-08T16:48:00.002-06:00

**Update on AJ** He is staying in the hospital another night. His O2 stats keep falling in the middle of the night & he has been given oxygen when this happens. They are keeping him to do more tests & to keep an eye on him.

**Answered Prayers** Adrienne is doing fine and the baby is great. She and the baby are not in any danger. Praise the Lord!

**I don't have an update on Adrienne yet, but I have another prayer request: My best friend's son AJ has been admitted to the hospital overnight due to severe asthma symptoms and trouble breathing. He's getting breathing treatments every 2 hrs & will be starting him on steroids tomorrow. Please pray for a quick recovery!**

My friend Adrienne is 13 weeks pregnant & has begun leaking amniotic fluid, which can be a pre-cursor to miscarriage. If it is a tear, it could repair itself, so please pray that it is God's will that her baby is safe and that she does not miscarry. I will update this post as I get more information.

Thank you.

Flashback Friday

2008-12-05T14:15:00.003-06:00

On December 10th, it will have been 5 years since Brian & I got engaged. I'm still so impressed that he actually yelled out "Will you marry me?!?" from the balcony of the mall during the height of the Christmas shopping rush. Strangers were coming up to us crying because it was so romantic. I'm so mushy in love with him that I'm sure it makes everyone sick, but it's my blog and I can be mushy if I want! =)

Brian, thank you for asking me to marry you...twice.

Rebel For A Cause

2008-12-03T21:58:00.002-06:00

I have been kicking around the idea of upgrading our little point & shoot camera to a super cool "real" camera for a while now and here's a great way to maybe get an awesome present under the tree & help out some wonderful causes. A raffle is taking place over on MckMama's Blog for an amazing prize package. Check it out & tell a friend!

Flashback Friday

2008-11-28T06:04:00.002-06:00

Since tomorrow is my nephew Tyler's 9th birthday I thought I'd feature him in today's Flashback Friday. I had the pleasure of helping take care of him for the first few years of his life and he was my "practice baby". Happy Birthday Tyler! Auntie loves you and your card is in the mail!

Seven Things

2008-11-25T20:09:00.000-06:00

My friend Bridget tagged me to make a list of seven things you may or may not know about me:

Seven things that attracted me to my husband-
1. His eyes. They're super cool. They are greeen when he wears green & blue when he wears blue.
2. His commitment to the Lord. That was at the top of my list of requirements for a husband.
3. His butt. I always used to give him "special hugs" where I go to hug him, but grab his butt instead!
4. His smile.
5. He knew how crazy my family is & still wanted to marry me anyway..
6. He always helps me when I ask.
7. Easy going personality (I need that in a husband) That's how he puts up with me! (Amen Bridget!)

Seven things I always say-
1. Bad Monkey! (When Joshua does something bad)
2. Joshua, do you need to stand in the corner?
3. Go get a book.
4. Miiiiieeeer! (When calling my hubby downstairs.)
5. Seriously!?! (usually talking about a mess the kids made etc.)
6. I-Boo! (Sort of my nickname for Rachel that I say when she is chewing on shoes or getting into something.)
7. Oh my poor baby! (When Rachel is crying.)

Seven things I love to eat-
1. BBQ Sunflower Seeds
2. Dr. Pepper (okay I drink this & not eat it, but it's my favorite!)
3. Salad with cheese, sliced black olives & ranch mixed with salsa
4. Orange Chicken from Panda Express
5. Chicken Bacon Ranch from Subway
6. Eggo waffles for breakfast
7. Teriyaki chicken on a bun w/mayo.

Seven things I can do-
1. Take care of 3 babies under the age of 9 months and a 2 1/2 year old without going crazy. (Well most days anyway.)
2. Breastfeed while reading a book to Joshua.
3. Tell you the name of most NASCAR drivers based on their number. (I know, I know. What do you want, I live in Texas now...)
4. Sew a super cool blanket without a pattern.
5. Get my husband to do just about anything with just a pouty look.
6. Recite lines from TV shows & movies that correspond to any daily situation. (Dude, my sister would know!)
7. Pay all my bills online & use my Excel spreadsheet to organize them all.

Seven things I can't do-
1. Whistle.
2. Be away from my kids.
3. Smell cinnamon without gagging. (Especially hard during Christmas time when they have those nasty scented pinecones in every store!)
4. Go more than one day without talking to either my mom or my sister Heather.
5. Do math (which makes me hesitant to homeschool in the future.)
6. Let a dog kiss me or lick my face (I know where it's tongue has been and I can't help but think about poop! - Me too Bridget!!! Ewwww - yuck!)
7. Stop worrying about my kids' future. (Like what would happen if I died & they didn't have a mommy. =(

Now I tag you...feel free to do your own and leave me a comment so I can check out your 7 things.

Brag On Your Man

2008-11-24T07:01:00.005-06:00

My friend Bridget found the blog called Brag On Your Man, so here goes:

My husband and I have been married for 4 years, but have known each other for almost 15 years. We actually went to the same Jr High and were in band together in 7th grade. I was in colorguard and he played in the band. We didn't actually meet until high school and under sad circumstances. You see, Brian is best friends with Jeff, one of the boys that lived next door to me growing up. And it wasn't until Jeff's younger brother Tim was in the hospital that we met. Actually, it was in Jeff's car on the way to the hospital when we met for the first time.

After that I saw him from time to time when he would visit Jeff. We hung out in different crowds in high school. I was involved in student government, ASB & cheerleading and he was busy playing trumpet in band and causing mischief with his '67 Barracuda. Boy was that thing loud!

Anyways, fast forward to 2003. I had done the whole "bad girl" thing and hadn't found what I was looking for even though it was in front of me all along. "Hiding in plain sight" as it were. I had finally come to a place in my life where I truly knew what I was looking for in a husband and BAM! There he was! I always knew he had a crush on me, but he never followed me around like a puppy dog or anything. He had standards too. And I love that about him. He could have moped around feeling sorry for himself, but instead he simply purposed in his heart that he would never date me while I was living my life for anyone other than God.

Well he finally got his chance and we've never looked back. To say that he adores me is an understatement. He is so good about cleaning the kitchen after I've cooked and loading & unloading the dishwasher (I hate to do it!). He always comes downstairs from his computer when I see something funny on TV and pause the TiVo for him to watch it. (Even though it's usually like 20 times a night!) He is such an amazing father to our two children and has never hesitated when I've asked him to help me out or change a diaper. And of course the one thing I want to brag about most is that he gives me a back & foot massage at least 5 times a week before bed. Yes, seriously. He's so good that I'd suggest that he become a masseuse, but then I'd have to share him and I'm too jealous for that. ;)

He is the spiritual leader of our household, my best friend and I couldn't be happier. We often tell each other "Thank you for marrying me." And today, (even though you're going to kill me for this post) I say again, Thank you for marrying me.

Flashback Friday

2008-11-21T06:18:00.002-06:00

This is a picture of Joshua at 6 months old.
It's hard to believe how he's grown into a little man.

My Daddy came to town

2008-11-18T09:07:00.005-06:00

So my Daddy just finished his whirlwind tour of the United States, visiting my sister Heather in Virginia and then stopping here in San Antonio. Sunday was a beautiful day and we decided to go to the zoo after church. Here are the pics.

Joshua pointing at fish

Brian showing Joshua more fish

Papa with the kids

Me & Brian

The Bailey Family

The petting zoo

Joshua is rethinking this idea

Joshua is not a happy camper

Trying to get away from the animals

Me & Joshua

Flashback Friday

2008-11-14T17:37:00.001-06:00

My daddy is visiting me for a few days so I thought I'd post a flashback of us when I was a baby.

Emergency Prayer Request

2008-11-11T13:01:00.004-06:00

**Update** Jamie lost the baby. Please continue to pray for her during this difficult time.

Our very close family friend Jamie Anglen is a few weeks pregnant and has been rushed to the ER. Please take a moment to pray for her and her unborn baby. We pray that the baby will be okay, but ultimately that God's will be done. I will update this post as I find out more.

Take a moment...

2008-11-11T06:12:00.003-06:00

Today is Veteran's Day and I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge how much I appreciate everyone who has ever served our country. This country would be nothing without the sacrifices that our brave military personnel make on a daily basis for our freedom and national security. My dad's father, Norris Skadsem was in the Army and so was my father-in-law Steven Bailey. My brother-in-law Chris Perry is in the Air Force and is currently serving in Iraq, and my beloved grandfather James Costello was a Marine.

From the bottom of my heart....Thank You.

**Update** Applebees Restaurants are testing out a new promotion to honor all active duty & veterans of the military. Military members will receive a free entree & sides on Veteran's Day when they provide proof of military service. Here is the link for more info: http://www.applebees.com/VeteransDay.html

Personally, we will be dining at Applebees tonight to show how much we appreciate their support of our Armed Forces.

Flashback Friday

2008-11-07T07:14:00.005-06:00

So my friend Bridget does "Flashback Friday's" on her blog & I'm jumping on the bandwagon.

Here is a picture of me in the Don Lugo parking lot my Jr year of high school. Can you believe this picture was taken 14 yrs ago?!? Time flies...

Seven Prayers A Day

2008-11-06T08:53:00.008-06:00

Okay, so in my favorite blog Bring the Rain, Angie has come up with 7 verses to pray for your children each day for 7 days. I substituted my kids' names & printed out each verse onto scrapbooking paper & then glued them onto more cutesy paper last night. Today I taped them up all over the house in places that will help remind me to pray.

Here are the verses that Angie picked:
When they wake up: "Let the morning bring Joshua & Rachel word of Your unfailing love, for they have put their trust in You. Show them the way they should go, for to You they lift up their soul." (Adapted from Psalm143:8)

When they are getting dressed: "Therefore, as God's chosen child, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Lord, help them bear with others and forgive whatever grievances they have against others. Help them forgive as the Lord forgave them. And over all these virtues, help them put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." (Adapted from Colossians 3:12-14)

When they go out of the house: "Joshua & Rachel, do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-His good, pleasing and perfect will." (Adapted from Romans 12:2)

While they are eating: "Teach Joshua & Rachel the secret of being content in any and every situation whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Teach them that they can do everything through him who gives them strength." (Adapted from Philippians 4:12-13)

While they are washing hands: Lord, give Joshua & Rachel clean hands and a pure heart, and let them not lift their soul to an idol or swear by what is false. Let them receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. Let them be part of the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. (Adapted from Psalm 24:4-6)

When they are going to bed: "The Lord Your God is with you; He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17)

While they are sleeping: "I pray that Joshua & Rachel will do everything without complaining or arguing, so that they may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which they shine like a star in the universe as they hold out the word of life-in order that they may boast on the day of Christ that they did not run or labor for nothing." (Adapted from Philippians 2:14-16)

Go Vote!

2008-11-04T13:13:00.002-06:00

Here in Texas we have what's called early voting, so I already voted last week, but in an election where so much is at stake, please take the time to go and vote. It's a privilege to live in a free country, so exercise your right to vote today!

PS - Rachel cut her first tooth on Halloween! Pictures will be forthcoming...

Halloween 2008

2008-11-01T10:15:00.004-05:00

Last night we went to the YMCA for trick or treating. Here are some pics of our brave fireman and adorable ladybug.

Joshua with fairy princess Ava!

Dang I look sexy!

On the move

2008-10-28T09:48:00.003-05:00

Rachel started crawling on 10/15/08, just one day after she started sitting up on her own!

Fall Harvest Festival #1

2008-10-25T09:55:00.001-05:00

Today we went to the Fall Harvest Festival at Lackland AFB with the Bryan Family. Here are some pics of Joshua with his "girlfriend" Ava.

Decorating cookies to eat

At home

2008 Alzheimer's Memory Walk

2008-10-12T23:16:00.004-05:00

Saturday, people across the country walked to raise awareness and money to help fight Alzheimer's disease. My sister Heather walked in honor of our grandfather in Virginia & my family walked here in San Antonio. We also raised $470 & $500 respectively for the Alzheimer's Association. This will be a yearly event for our family and we wanted to thank all of you who donated and supported this cause. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Just like daddy

2008-10-06T09:32:00.002-05:00

Brian's new passion is grilling on the BBQ and Joshua loves to sit with dad and grill like a man!

Just Parkin'

2008-10-03T08:52:00.003-05:00

We took a little "Field Trip" to the park today.
It was hot, but everyone had lots of fun.

Rachel

Zoey

Me & Carolyn

AJ & Carolyn

Ashley & Dylan

Sue & Nicholas

Austin

Playing on the train

Joshua & Ava

I'm sew cool!

2008-09-15T09:38:00.002-05:00

Since I'm a stay-at-home mom, I figured I'd better start sewing, right? Well I'm extremely glad that my grandma taught me how long ago because I'm finally able to put that training to good use. I needed a shopping cart cover that fit the double seaters at HEB & Sam's Club. I purchased a pattern on eBay and it took me 3 days to finish, but the final product is pretty good.

Beautiful Disaster Begins

2008-09-01T13:20:00.001-05:00

Welcome to my blog. This is where I can rant and rave about being a stay at home mom & running my own home daycare. I hope you're all ready for the ride!